Minister defends privacy amid controversy over public officer’s political clothing
Minister defends privacy amid controversy over public officer’s political clothing
Publish Date: 2026-04-28 09:30:00
Source Domain: www.tribune242.com
FOREIGN Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell.
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Tribune Staff Reporter
FOREIGN Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell yesterday refused to comment on the controversy surrounding a senior public officer photographed in political paraphernalia, insisting that “personal conduct is one’s personal conduct” and that personnel matters should remain private.
His remark yesterday followed scrutiny over Melvin Seymour, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who was seen wearing Progressive Liberal Party gear on Nomination Day at a political event on Cat Island linked to Prime Minister Philip Davis.
Former Public Service Minister Brensil Rolle last week criticised Mr Seymour’s actions as a breach of the General Orders and warned that failing to act could undermine confidence in the public service’s neutrality and integrity and make the rules governing political activity by those in office ‘unenforceable.’
But Mr Mitchell refused to be drawn. “I really don’t have any comment to make on any of that, except to say that one’s personal conduct is one’s personal conduct,” he said during a press conference. “And there are people who are responsible for the matters which you’ve raised, but that’s as far as I can go at this point.”
Pressed on whether public officers are treated fairly regardless of their political views, he declined to engage, saying: “It would be inappropriate for me.”
He stressed that privacy should guide how such matters are handled.
“I understand in this dispensation that privacy means nothing to anyone anymore, but my view is privacy is an important issue, and personnel matters are private and personal, unless that person wants to disclose what those issues are,” he said.
“I would rather stay away from any comment on any personnel matters of that nature. All I can say is that no one who is FNM in this…
