MP Bramble Warns: Public Servants Who Undermine Government Will Face Consequences 

By Val Matthias. Updated 7:17 p.m., Sunday, February 22, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4). 

At a recent West St. George Town Hall Meeting, Member of Parliament Fitzgerald Bramble issued a stern warning to public servants, stressing that professionalism must remain at the core of their duties regardless of political changes in government.  

MP Bramble emphasised that civil servants are employed to serve the state, not political parties:  

“It pays to be professional as a civil servant. Because when you’re a civil servant, you’re here to serve the people. Politicians are not necessarily civil servants, but we serve the people too.”  

He went further, stating that any public servant who acts outside of their professional responsibility to undermine the New Democratic Party (NDP) government would “not be there”.  

“If there’s any public servant who is acting outside of their professional responsibility… to undermine the New Democratic Party government, they will not be there. Plain and simple.”  

MP Bramble also pointed to the Civil Service Orders, noting that they clearly outline how public servants should conduct themselves

“The civil service orders clearly indicate how you should conduct yourself as a public servant. If you go outside of that, there must be consequences.”

This statement directly contrasts with remarks made by Opposition Leader Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who recently asserted that neither the Prime Minister nor ministers have the legal authority to hire or fire civil servants.

According to Gonsalves, such powers rest solely with the Public Service Commission and the Police Service Commission, as outlined in the Constitution and relevant regulations. He cautioned that winning an election does not grant a government “unrestrained, unshackled, unbounded executive power.”  

The Civil Service Orders and the Public Service Commission Regulations in St. Vincent and the Grenadines provide clear guidelines for disciplining public servants. Officers are required to conduct themselves with impartiality and professionalism. Breaches of these orders can lead to disciplinary action, but such processes must follow established procedures, including investigations, hearings, and appeals through the Public Service Board of Appeal.  

MP Bramble’s comments highlight perceptions about growing tension between political authority and constitutional safeguards in the civil service. His insistence that “the buck stops with us” raises questions about ministerial overreach, while Gonsalves’ rebuttal underscores the legal protections designed to prevent political interference in the public sector.  

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