Court rules Robert Rainford was wrongfully dismissed
ROBERT Rainford is to re-enter the public service following a decision by the Supreme Court yesterday to quash his dismissal by the governor general after he stood surety for alleged Ponzi scheme fraudster Carlos Hill.
The decision to quash the termination was handed down by Justice David Batts.
Rainford was terminated in September last year from his post of permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government after it was revealed to the public that he stood surety for Hill.
Although Batts has ruled in his favour on this matter, Rainford is not yet in the clear.
According to Solicitor General Nicole Foster-Pusey, who appeared for the governor general, Rainford now has 14 days within which to indicate if he would like the matter to be referred to the local Privy Council.
If he doesn’t make the indication then the dismissal will take effect.
Rainford was originally dismissed without being given the 14-day period to decide if he wanted the decision to terminate his service to go to the local Privy Council.
Meanwhile, Hill appeared in the Home Circuit Court yesterday on a charge of fraudulently inducing persons to invest in his scheme. He was given a new return date.
— Paul Henry