by Linda Straker
- Public Service Commission Regulations of 1969 prohibit personal comments on any national, local, political or administrative matter
- Circular 13/2024 dated 28 March 2024 was signed by Jacinta Joseph, Chief Personnel Officer
- PSC is aware of social media posts made by public officers which have potential to bring public service into disrepute
Public Officers in Grenada have been reminded that they will face consequences if they continue to violate the section of the Public Service Commission Regulations of 1969 which prohibits them from making public comments which has the potential to bring the service into disrepute.
Section 60 sub section (1) of the regulations states, “An officer shall not, without permission of the Permanent Secretary or Head of Department broadcast on the radio or the television or publish in any other manner any statement which may reasonably be regarded as being in the nature of a personal comment on any national, local, political or administrative matter unless is official duties requires him to do so.”
Circular 13/2024 dated 28 March 2024 and signed by Jacinta Joseph, Chief Personnel Officer, stated the Public Service Commission (PSC) is aware of social media posts made by public officers which have the potential to bring the public service into disrepute. “In this regard, I have been directed by the Commission to advise public officers to avoid making posts on social media which can reasonably be determined to be of a nature which will bring both themselves and the public service into disrepute.”
The circular with its subject as “Use of social media by public officers” stated, “The Commission thus hereby requests all public officers to be responsible in their pronouncement made via social media and other broadcast media,” and “Consequent to this circular, the Commission will take action as deemed appropriate should it be brought to its attention that officers by their posts have brought both themselves and the public service into disrepute.”
Addressed to the Secretary to the Cabinet, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Department, it further instructed, “I shall be grateful if this circular is brought to the attention of all officers who are required to sign a copy of the same to indicate that they read and understand its content.”