Pay the court approved compensation to Mrs Bain-Thomas
Monday March 08, 2021 Grenada joined with the rest of the world in the observance of International Women’s Day under the United Nations theme “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 World”. Women are taking a leading role in the management and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, this is commendable, and we must applaud their sterling contribution.
On this day we are all urged to choose to challenge, call out gender bias and inequality, seek out and celebrate women’s achievement sand help create an inclusive world. On this occasion of International Women’s Day, as Grenadians raise their hands high to show that they commit to choose to challenge and call out inequality; I ask that they take a minute silence for women who have been disenfranchised due to abuse and victimization.
I specifically reference the non-payment of compensation benefits to Mrs Gemma Bain-Thomas. This is a woman who has given thirty years of dedicated service to the Grenada Public Service and by extension the Government and people of Grenada in various capacities as a senior Public Officer.
The Court has declared that Mrs Gemma Bain-Thomas was unconstitutionally removed from the Public Service and has awarded her compensation for the unlawful actions against her. It is now a long, hard and tedious battle with the Government to honour and pay the court approved compensation.
As a result, Mrs. Bain-Thomas a family woman has had to struggle at the mercy of the Government for almost three years without any of the awarded compensation; this is an injustice. According to Martin Luther King “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. As we hail International Women’s Day, I call on the government to respect the dignity of all women. As I have done before in my letter to the Prime Minister on December 24, 2019, I now appeal to the government to pay the court approved compensation to Mrs Bain-Thomas.
On this International Women’s Day 2021, I specifically call on the Head of State, the Prime Minister, and the women in Cabinet and other conscious-minded women to choose to challenge injustices. Always treat women with respect and dignity.
Laurel Theresa Bain, sister to Gemma Bain-Thomas
