Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Feb 18/02) - After jail warden Jeannie Marie Jewell saw her own job advertised last week, she decided it was time to confront her political rival, Health Minister Michael Miltenberger.

She read a statement at a Miltenberger constituency meeting, accused him of being part of a conspiracy against her.

In an interview, she said Miltenberger was involved in a management review of the Territorial Women's Correctional Centre in Fort Smith.

Miltenberger acknowledged having a role getting it off the ground, but said, "I never ever said, 'look at what the warden is doing.' " He said he just wanted to know why so many employees were quitting or taking stress leave.

"I raised the issue as an MLA, concerned about the feedback I was getting. The facility was at one of the best, if not the best, correctional program for women in Canada."

Miltenberger criticized Jewell's appointment as warden last July, suggesting she was not qualified.

In 1995 he defeated Jewell, who was MLA, by just 36 votes. In another 1999 vote, the gap widened to about 80 votes.

As a result of the management review, which Miltenberger said he did not read, Jewell was suspended last month with full pay.

She said six of 15 employees wound up opposed to her leadership because she tried to eliminate favouritism and conflicts of interest.

One employee, she said, always gassed-up centre vehicles at her husband's service station. Jewell also believes what happened to her is linked to the sudden departure of John Dillon, who was the territory's top jailer. "I'm just sitting in limbo," Jewell said of her job status.

"A significant amount of irreparable damage has been done to my reputation."

Jewell said "I went to his meeting to tell him that this interference and vendetta towards me has to stop."