General Secretary of the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU), Thomas Letang, has rejected suggestions that the Public Service Commission is responsible for delays in appointing individuals to positions within Dominica’s public service.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Prime Minister’s Office on October 14, 2026, Letang clarified that the Commission must act in accordance with recommendations concerning appointment dates submitted by the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO).
Addressing concerns surrounding doctors appointed or recommended for appointment by the Ministry of Health, Letang, who is also a
member of the Public Service Commission, explained that the Commission does not challenge the effective dates specified in the recommendations it receives.
He stated that when the CPO recommends that an appointment take effect from a particular date, the Commission accepts that recommendation without questioning it. “So if we are told by the CPO that the person should be appointed from the 6th, it is done, absolutely no question about it,” Letang declared.
Letang stressed that the responsibility for determining the effective dates of appointments does not rest with the Public Service Commission, urging the public to understand the distinction between the Commission’s role and that of the CPO.
He maintained that the Commission should not be blamed for decisions over which it has no control, insisting that the established process must be clearly understood to avoid misconceptions about how appointments within the public service are handled.
