UK Commonwealth Director sacked over racist bullying allegations
By ANITuesday, February 22, 2011
LONDON - Mark Collins, the Director of the Commonwealth Foundation, has been sacked from his post over claims that he oversaw an environment of racist bullying at the organisation.
The decision was taken unanimously by the board of the 47-country group, the Daily Mail reports.
Two investigations are already being carried out against him after he was named in at least two internal complaints alleging bullying against non-white staff last year.
The findings of those investigations were presented to a meeting of the board in London last week and both recommended his removal, the paper said.
A source at the meeting said: “The solution was to remove him sooner rather than later.”
The Commonwealth Foundation, funded via grants from its member countries, could now be faced with two employment tribunal cases over Collins’ conduct, the paper added.
His removal comes weeks before the organisation is to be involved in a tribunal brought by ex-employee Anisha Rajapakse. Who was dismissed last month.
She has claimed that she was wrongfully dismissed for revealing the allegedly racially-motivated and sexist bullying at the group. (ANI)
