Moved after voodoo claims, BIR employee threatens legal action

A senior female employee at the Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) has issued a pre-action protocol letter to the commissioner of inland revenue saying she was unfairly transferred to another unit over allegations that she practised voodoo.

The four-page document, dated February 10, was signed by the woman’s attorney, Kiran Panday, and addressed to the commissioner of Inland Revenue, Deomati Ramdass.

According to the letter, the employee, an acting Stenographer III in Port of Spain, got a letter from HR on December 10, 2024, informing her that she was being reassigned to BIR’s legal unit.

She tried to enquire about the reason for the reassignment and was allegedly accused of practising voodoo. She was also shown a picture of an artefact supposedly linked to voodoo.

Panday said the allegations were “completely untrue” as his client is a devout Hindu.

The object in the cellphone image was a cultural artefact gifted to his client by a colleague who had returned from a vacation in New Orleans in September 2024.

The employee had placed the artefact on her work desk.

A senior colleague confirmed that the artefact had no religious or supernatural significance. However, the attorney contended his client was labelled “evil queen” while being shouted at.

Panday said his client went on vacation on January 6, 2025, “suffering from shock and embarrassment” owing to the allegations.

The situation escalated further when the employee returned from vacation on February 3, 2025, and was denied access by security personnel to the floor where she previously worked.

Panday contended that the reassignment was baseless and amounted to victimisation, citing emotional distress and reputational damage.

The letter demands that she be reinstated to her original position or face legal action in the High Court.

Additionally, the letter calls for reimbursement of legal fees totalling $1,500 and requests a formal response from the BIR within 14 days.

The letter said legal action will be taken if the commissioner does not respond within 28 days.

The letter added although his client wants the matter to be settled peaceably, it is unwilling to postpone filing a lawsuit past the allotted 28 days.

Attorney Surya Deonarine is also representing the employee.