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A public debate between GFC’s Chairman and an APNU MP would be inappropriate

Aug 19, 2014 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
Any public debate between the Chairman of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) Mr. James Singh and APNU MP Joe Harmon is most inappropriate. The GFC Chairman is a civil servant, not elected, and must operate by the rules which govern his office. APNU MP Mr. Joe Harmon outranks him politically. The MP reflects and has a direct mandate from the people. He would be stepping outside of his orbit to engage a civil servant who has no right to “debate” an MP who is legally not so empowered or his equivalent.
The Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Robert Persaud, is the proper person to debate and account for Guyana’s natural resources. Parliament is the best venue, with equal rights of publicity to all.
As a former GDF officer Mr. Harmon would know and would not condone any officer who was not his equal to officially engage him in parity. It’s just not permitted, nor is it the correct route of management. With the extensive alternatives in possession by the APNU MP, it would open Mr. Singh to reprimand that he has overstepped his civil service mandate.
In becoming a Minister in any APNU government, wouldn’t Mr. Harmon be setting a precedent to civil servants under his authority to do their own thing in future? The GFC chairman is not a politician as much as he is with everyday expertise, and the President of Guyana has already addressed the issue.
If he requires additional resources to more effectively do his job, Mr Harmon may be his best friend to procure it for him in parliament.
Mr. Harmon has the power to submit his questions directly to the subject Minister in parliament in addition to engaging him in private communication. That is the democratic and parliamentary procedure. Engaging the GFC chairman could be seen as political ploy and must be avoided at all costs. It would add to the current gridlock should any within the civil service decide that they are with similar authority. Can we in all good sense condone such a development?
Whoever approved the GFC’s chairman’s challenge to debate the opposition MP was ill-advised, and must countermand with apologies to all concerned. The rush to show who the real knowledgeable is on timber must not become another occasion for rancour. Right now the duo is more interested in promoting another boxing match by applause in the media. How many internet streaming dramas can we afford?
Sultan Mohamed

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