The Jap Caribbean Courtroom of Attraction has set Could 2 because the date for listening to the attraction within the COVID-19 vaccine mandate case.
The case was initially scheduled to be heard on February 1.
The listening to was adjourned after a member of the three-judge panel was unavailable to listen to the matter.
Since then, public sector staff who have been dismissed underneath the federal government’s 2021 COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which the Excessive Courtroom later dominated was unlawful, have been awaiting the brand new date for the listening to.
On March 13, 2023, Excessive Courtroom choose Justice Esso Henry — who has since been appointed as a Justice of Attraction — delivered what Jomo Thomas, a lawyer for the claimants, described as “the authorized equal of a slam dunk”.
Henry dominated in opposition to the federal government in all however one facet of the case, introduced by the Public Service Union, the St Vincent and the Grenadines Lecturers Union, and the Police Welfare Affiliation.
The federal government appealed the ruling however Justice Mario Michel, who was president of the three-member panel, mentioned that one of many members was unable to sit down as a part of the panel on February 1.
“Accordingly, and regrettably, this matter will probably be adjourned to a date to be mounted by the chief registrar in session with counsel,” Michel mentioned.
He mentioned he wished to guarantee the attorneys concerned within the matter that the chief registrar can be requested to seek out the primary obtainable date handy to counsel.
Since then, the events have been anxiously ready for a date for the listening to of the attraction.
Thomas confirmed to the Caribbean Media Company (CMC) on Friday that events within the matter have been knowledgeable that the attraction will probably be heard on Could 2, when the Courtroom of Attraction sits in Antigua.
In her March 2023 ruling, Henry held that the general public sector staff dismissed underneath the federal government’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate by no means ceased to carry their jobs.
She ordered the federal government to pay all of them wages and advantages they might have obtained had it not been for the federal government’s determination to terminate them.
The choose additional ordered that the federal government pay punitive damages.
The court docket has granted a keep of execution of Henry’s judgment, pending the listening to of the attraction.
