Too much sexual harassment in civil service
While the Public Service Management Act 2024 has been hailed as a significant improvement in civil service governance, local commentator Kishma Penn believes there is a pressing issue within the system – unchecked sexual harassment.
During the Speak Out BVI show, Penn praised the Act as a “step in the right direction” but criticised its failure to address sexual harassment directly.
Penn described the Act as an overdue update to outdated governance rules, commending its clarity on job roles, accountability, and codes of conduct. “It’s a step in the right direction in terms of accountability,” she said.
However, she expressed grave concerns about the pervasive issue of sexual harassment in the civil service, calling it an “unchecked and unmentioned” problem. “Too many department heads [are] complicit in dealing with the issue. Too many heads of sections are complicit… and too many supervisors are the ones who are, in fact, the persons who prey on the employees and put them in those very uncomfortable positions,” Penn stated.
According to her, victims often face retaliation rather than support when they report harassment. “If the employee is even brave enough to say something, they are the first, the same head of section, the same department heads… who will pull the old boys’ club colours and protect the perpetrator,” she explained. This culture, she claimed, has derailed many promising careers and made repeat victims of those who complained.
“Some were fired, some were pushed out, and you know what happened to a lot of others? They get stagnated,” Penn said. “‘Oh, don’t worry, sis. Yeah, you didn’t put out? Don’t worry’, you’ll never get another increment. You’ll never get another position. You’ll never get another promotion. And when the time comes to leave the service, you’ll get a little bit of money.”
Penn called on the Deputy Governor to revisit the legislation, urging for explicit measures against sexual harassment to be included. “Don’t just leave it up to common law,” she said. “Put something that is clearly defined so men in the civil service who act inappropriately know that sexual harassment will no longer be tolerated.”
The Public Service Management Act was designed to modernise governance within the civil service, addressing issues like conflict of interest and accountability. However, Penn insists that its lack of explicit provisions for dealing with harassment leaves room for continued and unchecked abuse of vulnerable persons in the civil service.
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Some of those disgusting men were the reason women had to change jobs SMH…One day a woman will get tired and “Lorena Bobbit” one of them
Let me help you all out here smh as a professional gyalist some these dudes don’t get it. They get high salary jobs some got drugs money and believe money is the only key to their conquest. These females in the work place aint impressed by that what opens them up to suggestive behavior is being WELL GROOMED SMELLING GOOD and the rule of HANDSOMENESS. Lets face it a lot of you all got money but you ugly and mouth stink to bomboclaath. Skin gross your touch gross like the one few years back that wanted to suck up the employee TT gross mouth stink touch awful but got a lot of bread.
Its not our fault that the ladies looking good
On my work place, there is one that is married and continue to bring his bs to me. I already warned him that if he continue with the nonsense, I am going to arrange with someone to cut his penis off and send his penis in a zip lock bag to his wife. The message would be keep your fast hand horn dog under control.
Agreed, it is time for an example to be set. Cut off their private parts and start sending their cut off private parts to their wives, woman or who they are dealing with. Enough is damn enough. A person will deal with things like this until they snap.
Ms. Penn stated. ” Don’t just leave it up to common law,” she said. “Put something that is clearly defined so [*men]in the civil service who act inappropriately know that sexual harassment will no longer be tolerated.”
If Ms.Penn is not aware…That harrassment goes both ways Just like…
These old man on too much Viagra!
Too much sexual harassment in Civil Service.
By implication then,their is an acceptable amount.
Please let us know how much sexual harassment in the workplace of Civil Service is enough and does not cross the line to become ” too much “