Hold appointment of new GGMC boss

Dec 21, 2011 News

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–    establish Parliamentary Committee first – GPSU

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) has called on government to hold off on the appointment of a new Commissioner for the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) until the establishment of Parliamentary Committee to oversee the body.
The call was made yesterday by the union’s President, Patrick Yarde, during a press conference at the entity’s headquarters.
Flanked by top GPSU officials, Yarde explained that the union has taken note of reports in the media that there are plans to restructure GGMC and appoint a new head. The comments were reportedly made by the new government official in charge of mining, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud.

GPSU is insisting that the current position should go to Karen Livan, the current acting Commissioner, who has been with GGMC for over 30 years.
During a recent forum, the new minister disclosed that changes will be coming to the mining industry which is experiencing a high from record-breaking gold prices. His ministry is a new one created under the Ramotar administration to tackle forestry, mining, the Low Carbon Development Strategy and the emerging oil and gas sectors in a more comprehensive manner.
Previously, forestry fell under the Agriculture Ministry, while mining was the responsibility of the office of the Prime Minister. The LCDS was handled by the Office of the President.
The gold rush recently has seen a rash of violence in the interior and there were complaints that the situation was getting out of control with Brazilians, Venezuelans and others looking to cash in. There have been calls for firmer control on that sector, whose contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) has steadily been rising in recently years.
NO NEED
Yarde insisted that his union has been removed from sitting on the GGMC board under the Jagdeo administration and that there is a comprehensive programme for the modernisation of the GGMC that commenced in 2007 when that agency participated fully in the Government of Guyana Public Management Modernisation Programme (PMMP).
This plan included critical management aspects of performance; finances; human resources; accountability framework; governance and regulation and information technology.
Already GGMC has taken action by implementing a five-year strategic plan which started in 2008 and concludes next year. A study is underway to computerise the Commission, and there is an active pursuance of International Standard Organisation (ISO) certification commencing with the Land Management Department which achieved certification in March 2011.
“A consultancy by S.V Jones Associates to guide the implementation of the Human Resource Management recommendation. The S.V. Jones Associates report recommendations were progressively implemented by the GGMC.”
The union leader believes that GGMC has progressed and there have been a series of tremendous developments to which the current management has developed intimate knowledge and acquaintance.
“Hence, it seems strange for the Minister to suggest that the GGMC has not been keeping abreast with developments in that industry or as he put it “a 20th century organisation serving a 21st century sector”. Further, the claims of the Minister has put the Hon. Prime Minister Samuel Hinds in an untenable position given that Prime Minister Hinds was the subject Minister and is far more qualified to make pronouncements on the mining sector.”
According to recent reports, Rickford Vieira, a senior official of the WWF Guianas, has been tipped for the Commissioner’s post.
But Yarde yesterday said that his union was unhappy with such moves.
“With respect to the vacancies that exist and would exist in the future, persons were trained and groomed as successors. Yet it is rumoured that the Minister favours the appointment of an individual, who previously served at a junior level within the Commission and left that employment over a decade ago.”
He emphasised that the rumour was not denied.
“This rumour was not negated or corrected by the Minister, but if true, would bring the converse effect to the Commission, which would be to foist a man with 20th century knowledge on a 21st century institution. The actions of the Minister disclose an intention to avoid appointing Ms Karen Livan, who has given yeoman service to the Commission for over 30 years, in favour of his preferred candidate.”
QUALIFIED?
Yarde pointed out that the GGMC advertised the position of Commissioner in August 2011, but to date interviews of shortlisted candidates, have not occurred.
“It goes to say that any planned appointment does not satisfy the requirements for transparency and would not augur well for the Institution. The planned appointment of a new Commissioner of the GGMC and other staff seems to be contrary to the administrative rules of GGMC, as there was no mention of the succession planning and other administrative considerations that GGMC would have initiated. Rather, the Minister’s statements give the view of ad hoc impositions on the institution, without proper invasive consultation with its Board and Management.”
Yarde also took issue with plans for the establishment of a mining school since the GGMC from its inception has been involved in the training of miners to the extent that mining and geology diplomas and degrees are part of the University of Guyana curriculum, based on the initiative of GGMC.
“…that organisation continues to be identified with and offer scholarships to citizens. Given this, much clarity needs to be given as to what is intended and how will it impact on the existing training available to miners.”
He said that GPSU is of the firm view that the natural resources of Guyana belong to its citizens. Constitutionally, the best forum at which the control and allocation of such state resources should be handled is the highest forum of the land, Parliament.
“Hence, such control must not be at the discretion of the Minister or Cabinet, especially in the present context of a minority government. It is therefore recommended that with urgency a Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Natural Resources be established to oversee this sector, its operations and to examine and review all allocations of state resources of significance.”
Asked yesterday whether he has contacted the relevant authorities on his complaints, Yarde said that the union learnt of the proposed changes to GGMC in the media and as such, he is addressing it in that forum.

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