Kenneth Dill was accused by former civil servant LeYoni Junos of failing to investigate her complaint of political interference by Premier Dr. Ewart Brown after she was sacked last year.

Court documents seen by The Royal Gazette show that Ms Junos, who recently won a civil claim for unlawful dismissal against Government, wrote in her grounds of appeal that the head of the civil service "refused to investigate the applicant's evidence of political interference and accusation of misconduct".

Major Dill — who was asked by Dr. Brown to retire last Thursday but refused, in what the Opposition claims is a clear case of ministerial bullying — rejected Ms Junos's appeal against her dismissal.

But the top civil servant is understood to have suggested to her in a letter last August that the issue of political interference could be a constitutional matter and that she may wish to seek redress somewhere else.

Ms Junos, who was involved in a relationship with Major Dill more than a decade ago, launched legal proceedings against Government last October.

Puisne Judge Ian Kawaley found last month that she was unlawfully sacked as administrator of the African Diaspora Heritage Trail (ADHT) Foundation on April 10 last year, but he did not agree that she was the victim of political interference by Tourism Minister Dr. Brown.

Ms Junos' Supreme Court affidavit reveals that Major Dill asked assistant Cabinet Secretary Ellen-Kate Horton to primarily deal with her appeal against her dismissal.

The 47-year-old says in the sworn statement that Ms Horton told her Major Dill wanted to know what Ms Junos wanted. "I thought this was a strange question and I answered that I wanted what was stated in my appeal — reinstatement to the post," said Ms Junos.

"She told me the head of the civil service had said this would not be possible 'because the Premier would not want you back' and that he wanted to know if I would accept payment until September 2008.

"I was shocked by this statement because I had been encouraged by Ms Horton and others to fight the termination and the political interference behind it. I had been told it was wrong, that the Minister should not be interfering with employees."

This newspaper reported on April 23 last year that Bermuda Public Services Union was receiving increasing complaints from civil servants about political interference and bullying.

BPSU general secretary Ed Ball was quoted as saying he was glad Major Dill was "actively pursuing all matters brought to his attention".

Ms Junos's sacking and the article on workplace bullying came in the same month that Government launched its Dignity at Work policy, aimed at "eliminating inequality, harassment, bullying, victimisation and discrimination" in the civil service.

Ms Junos told Supreme Court she was sacked a day after she was called in to see the Premier and reprimanded for the way she was handling the Department of Tourism's contract with US firm Henderson Associates Inc.

She alleged her firing was punishment for raising concerns about the behaviour of the contractors, with whom she claimed the Premier had close ties.

Ms Junos' affidavit reveals that it was Ombudsman Arlene Brock who suggested she write an open letter to the ADHT board after she went to the independent government watchdog with "deepened concerns" about Henderson Associates and the way it was using false information to solicit funds for ADHT.

Ms Junos sent the letter on April 9 and claims she was then interrogated by the Premier, before being sacked the next day.

Ms Brock referred administrative and financial concerns about ADHT to the Auditor General, who told this newspaper he was planning audits for the years 2007, 2008 and 2009 after recently learning that ADHT fell within his "legislative audit mandate".

Major Dill — who has not commented on Dr. Brown's attempt to get rid of him — did not respond to questions this week about whether he investigated complaints of political interference last year or what his findings were.