PSU President Slams Immigration Officers’ Suspension as Breach of Procedure

The controversy surrounding immigration officers at the Western Border who were placed on administrative leave after calling in sick continues to escalate. The president of the Public Service Union (PSU), Dean Flowerts, is now accusing the Ministry of Immigration of serious breaches of administrative procedure, and at least one of the affected officers has hired a lawyer.

Flowers told News Five that from the moment he reviewed the letters issued to the eight officers, he saw red flags he believes amount to a fundamental violation of due process.

He added that on the same day the officers received their administrative leave letters, they were handed a second letter within the same minute accusing them of sabotage and recommending their dismissal.

“From straight administration to in the same minute and breath, I suspect you are sabotaging, and I will be recommending your dismissal,” Flowers said. “Clear breach of the administrative procedure.”

He said the accusatory letter puts the officers’ reputations at serious risk by levelling a grave charge before any investigation has concluded and noted that at least one attorney has characterised the language as a misrepresentation of the officers’ conduct.

Adding to the concern, Flowers said the letter, despite Minister of Immigration Kareem Musa’s public assurance that no one was named, did in fact identify the officers by name and was circulated among administrative staff across multiple ministries, including the Public Service Ministry, and has since made its way into the media.