Nawbatt sues Govt over wrongful dismissal

The APNU+AFC Government is being sued by former Guyana High Commissioner to Canada, Harry Narine Nawbatt, for over $49M for wrongful dismissal and a breach of contract.

Nawbatt, is suing the Coalition for its move to relieve him of his duties in Canada, contending that this is a breach of the contractual agreement he had under the previous Administration.

Former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall is part of a team of lawyers representing Nawbatt who is requesting that the Court rule in his favour by awarding him damages in excess of $25M for breach of contract and “special” damages in the sum of $24,295,104.

Nawbatt was appointed High Commissioner in February 2015 and had once served as a Government Minister under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

Nawbatt, in documents filed in the Court, is claiming that there was a contract of employment made on February 9, last year, between himself and the Government of Guyana. He was tasked with performing the functions and duties of High Commissioner to Canada as of the following day (February 10, 2015) being paid a monthly salary of $773,801. This contract would have expired on February 9 this year (2016).

According to the contract inked, the cost of education for Nawbatt’s children would be paid by the Government and he was also entitled to other allowances.

It should be noted that Nawbatt would have been allowed to terminate his services providing that a written notice of three months was given. Likewise the government would have to give notice for the same time frame or pay Nawbatt six months’ salary and Station Allowance if such notice was not given.

However, he contends that in a letter dated June 8, 2015, less than one month the APNU+AFC coalition took office, the Director General (ag) of the Foreign Affairs Ministry wrongfully and “in repudiatory breach” of the above-mentioned contract purported to terminate his employment and therefore wrongfully dismissed him.

INews was told that the letter which has been included in the statement of claim says that Nawbatt’s appointment would end on August 31st, 2015 and that he should report to Georgetown.

According to Nawbatt, he is owed $4.3M for salary up to February this year; $5.7M in gratuity, payment of $4M for 158 days leave; $4.8M in station allowance; $4.6M in station allowance for leave for  five months and $2M in business class return air passages, among other things.