Shadow Labour Minister Shawn Crockwell claimed last night that sacked civil servant LeYoni Junos was the victim of political interference, describing her firing as a "singularly unethical act".

Mr. Crockwell said the UBP applauded the former administrator of the African Diaspora Heritage Trail (ADHT) Foundation for taking on Government and winning her case for unlawful dismissal in the Supreme Court. And he said the case highlighted the need for Bermuda to get whistle-blower legislation to protect civil servants who seek to expose wrongdoing.

"Ms Junos' brave stand is an example that right can prevail in the face of an apparently spiteful, certainly heartless government," said the Opposition MP.

Puisne Judge Ian Kawaley ruled on Friday that Ms Junos, 47, was unlawfully fired but was not the victim of political interference from Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown.

Mr. Crockwell said the evidence in the civil case may not have proved that the sacking was politically motivated but "we believe the circumstances and sequence of events make it clear that Ms Junos was indeed the victim of political interference".

He pointed to Ms Junos' claim that she was threatened with the sack by Dr. Brown after raising concerns about false claims made by a US company — Henderson Associates Inc. — contracted as event planner for ADHT and the fact that she was dismissed the day after a face-to-face meeting with him.

"Our belief that Ms Junos was indeed the victim of political interference is underscored by the fact that no one challenged the validity of her concerns [about] a contractor using false information to raise money under Bermuda's name and no one challenged the quality of her work or, indeed, her dedication to the job. The only plausible remaining context for Ms Junos' firing lies in her dogged effort to correct a continuing wrong by a contractor whom she alleged had close ties to the Minister."

The case heard that the first warning flag was raised in December 2007 when an e-mail was sent out by Henderson Associates claiming that the foundation had US charitable status and asking for donations for ADHT to be sent to an unknown entity called FACTS Institute Inc. The following March, Ms Junos spoke out again when the same information was published on the ADHT.net website.

Mr. Justice Kawaley said there was no suggestion that Henderson Associates was motivated by anything other than "excessive enthusiasm" to raise funds for the foundation. But Mr. Crockwell said it was clear that Ms Junos, of Warwick, was "completely justified in her concerns about the contractor".

"It is a very serious matter when anyone or any entity uses false information under Bermuda's name to conduct business; in this case to raise money."

He added: "That the contractor reportedly continued to pass itself off as a US-based charity after Ms Junos brought its false claim to light completely justifies her concerns and exposes her subsequent firing as a singularly unethical act. "The Junos case underscores our continuing call for whistle-blower protection legislation to protect the right of public civil servants to speak out without fear of repercussions."

A Government spokesperson said last night: 'The judgment has only recently been delivered by the Court and that's what the department is in the process of reviewing at this stage. The Court's view on the quality of these contentions is now a matter of public record. A number of allegations were released to the media and never aired in the Court. The department feels that to address allegations that were not part of the case would not be fruitful. Therefore we are not prepared to comment at this early juncture.'