GGMC staff members oppose appointment of foreigner as Deputy Commissioner

Apr 28, 2013 News

Staff members of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) are expressing dissatisfaction over another occurrence at the Agency, this time rejecting the apparent imminent imposition of a foreigner to the post of Deputy Commissioner (Technical).
According to a source at the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, the GGMC staffers are unhappy over an apparent boycott of long standing personnel with suitable qualifications, since there are signals that an abundance of interest is being placed into the European candidate for the empty post.
Kaieteur News was told that the named female in fact worked at the Commission in 2003 on a one to three-year contract rendering geological consultancy services to the agency.
Allegations are that the post was not advertised internally and staffers at GGMC say they cannot recall hearing that there was an opening for the position. Another staff opined that the job must have been externally advertised since the foreign applicant is being considered.
Nonetheless, workers say there is no need for the British applicant since there are suitably qualified persons available and an imposition of the woman would be “eye pass.”
Kaieteur News was further told that at the time of the woman’s tenure, like several other foreign contract workers, she was tasked with going into the fields to collect and test samples in relation to mining prospects and to further produce reports on her findings.
Subsequent to her leaving the GGMC, sources said the woman worked with private firms, rendering geological services to individuals and mining companies. Additional accusations are that the foreign applicant during her time at GGMC had no satisfactory record, having allegedly completed none of the programmes assigned to her.
A former senior staff who worked with the foreigner during her time at GGMC however told Kaieteur News that the woman is qualified as a geologist and is relevant in the technical field and well capable of working in a geological capacity. He however said that for the position signaled, she needs to be au fait and knowledgeable of local laws governing mining.
She would also need at least 10 years experience within the mining world to be able to efficiently man such a position. For that reason, the senior staff member told Kaieteur News that it would be highly unusual that this woman should get the post knowing that staffers exist at GGMC with the relevant qualifications, the experience and the age limit. The woman is over 50 years old and policy recommends that applicants should be below that age range.
Currently, there is a staff member acting in the available capacity, but emphasis is being placed on the foreigner. GGMC staffers say that they however see the pending imposition as the Ministry wanting to have a deeper hand into the affairs of the agency.
A staff member said, “They move into our building, now they want to move into our affairs.” By arbitrarily putting the woman in that position, the Ministry could have influence over what she does, the staff member said.
Kaieteur News was told that the post of Deputy Commissioner (Technical) entails the holder having a say in the approval of mining concessions and prospecting permits. The candidate will also assist in the evaluation of persons apply for mining lots.
When contact was made with the representative for the agency, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) said that it was unaware of the developments at GGMC as staffers did not report the matter to them.

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