Former High Commissioner to Canada wants $49 Million from Government for recalling him

Nawbatt, who left his Diplomatic post last year to come home and campaign for the PPP during the elections, believes the new government's move to relieve him of his duties in Canada was wrongful and in breach of his contract.

Former High Commissioner to Canada wants $49 Million from Government for recalling him

Former Guyanese High Commissioner to Canada Harry Narine Nawbatt is suing the coalition government for $49M over what he contends is his wrongful dismissal and a breached contractual agreement he had with the previous PPP/C administration.

Nawbatt, who left his Diplomatic post last year to come home and campaign for the PPP during the elections, believes the new government’s move to relieve him of his duties in Canada was wrongful and in breach of his contract.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall is among the Lawyers representing Nawbatt.

Mr. Nawbatt once served as a Minister of Government under the PPP.

He is asking the Court to award him damages in excess of $25M for breach of contract and “special” damages in the sum of $24,295,104.

He was appointed High Commissioner in February 2015. In court documents filed, he claims that in a contract of employment made on February 9th, 2015, between the Government of Guyana and himself, he was engaged to perform the duties and functions of High Commissioner to Canada effective from the 10th day of February, 2015, to the 9th day of February, 2016, inclusive at a monthly salary of $773,801.

The contract also stated that he was entitled to other allowances and the government would pay the cost of primary, secondary or tertiary education for his children. Mr. Nawbatt would have been allowed to terminate his services once three months’ written notice was given and the same for the government or with a payment of six months’ salary and Station Allowance in lieu of notice.

But according to Nawbatt, in a letter dated 8th of June, 2015, the Director General (ag) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “wrongfully and in repudiatory breach of the said agreement purported to terminate the Plaintiff’s employment and wrongfully dismissed the Plaintiff.”

The letter, which was included in the statement of claim, stated that Nawbatt’s appointment would end on August 31st, 2015 and that he should report to post Georgetown.

Nawbatt says he is owed $4.3M for salary up to February 9th, 2016; gratuity of $5.7M, $4M for 158 days leave; $4.8M in station allowance; $4.6M in station allowance for leave for approximately five months and $2M in business class return air passages, among other things. It was stated that Nawbatt has made “numerous demands for payment but they were all futile.”

You must be logged in to post a comment Login