Acting Chief Immigration Officer being probed

NALINEE SEELAL

Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon is awaiting a report from his permanent secretary, who initiated an investigation into allegationsagainst acting Chief Immigration Officer Charmaine Gandhi-Andrews.

Yesterday, Dillon said the outcome of the investigation should be made available to him shortly. He said any alleged violations by anyone in high office should be a cause for concern.

On August 7 last year, over 300 members of the Public Service Association — namely immigration officers — signed a petition expressing no confidence in Gandhi-Andrews. They complained of issues with management, general indiscretions, court cases, facilities and internet, information technology and communications.

Newsday understands that a letter was also sent to Auditor General Majeed Ali. The letter was copied to the Chief Personnel Officer, Director of Personnel Administration, and the permanent secretaries in the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of National Security.

One of the major issues highlighted in the letter was that no solution had been implemented to alleviate the backlog created by the closure of the Moonan Building on Frederick Street, which houses the Permanent Residence and Citizenship (PR&C) section of the Immigration Division.

The petitioners said the building was closed but no alternative arrangements made for the services being offered there. Additionally, it said, there are 4,000 outstanding PR&C applications that are yet to be completed.

Also there are about 400 requests to lift deportation orders, with no solutions to reduce the number. Newsday could not reach Gandhi-Andrews for comment yesterday, as calls to her cell phone went unanswered.