GPSU accuses PSC of bias, nepotism

Mar 14, 2015 News

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-junior staff promoted ahead of qualified, senior staffers

First Vice Chairman of the Guyana Public Service Commission (GPSU), Mortimer Livan, attacked

the Public Service Commission, charging bias and nepotism in the hiring of Public servants.
He said that this has resulted in qualified individuals being denied promotions and employment.
At a press conference held at the GPSU, Regent St and Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Bourda on Thursday, Livan, who was joined by Norris Witter, Vice President of Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), highlighted cases dating back to 2010 and continuing where persons suitably qualified for certain positions were rejected or not even shortlisted.
At the same time, individuals junior to them were employed.
“The GPSU would like to highlight what it considers to be an injustice meted out in a correspondence in the name of the secretary of the Public Service Commission (PSC), in collusion with some members of that commission.”
“The members of the PSC are foresworn to carry out their functions in a fair and just manner.”
According to the Union, there had been an advertisement in 2010 to fill the vacancy of Assistant Chief Labour and Occupational Safety and Health Officer.
Among those who applied were a Senior Labour Officer and the other, a Junior Labour Officer. After the interviews for the position, the Junior Officer was earmarked for the position.
A press release from the Union went on to relate that the Senior Officer subsequently challenged the appointment through an appeal to the Public Service Ministry to halt the appointment, citing supersession.
The next year, the release stated that the Assistant Chief and Senior Labour and Occupational Safety and Health Officer post was vacant. The two members of staff applied.
This time no one was successful, but three junior members of staff, who did not meet the qualification criteria, were subsequently allowed to perform the senior duties.
“The vacancies were again advertised in 2012. Four Ministry of Labour staffers, who had applied for the positions were interviewed, but were told that they were not successful. These included the Senior Labour and Occupational Safety and Health Officer and three junior ones.
“One officer claimed to be informed by a member of the PSC that they were unsuccessful because the Chief Labour officer had provided the Commission with a list of three names that the Minister of Labour wanted to be promoted.”
It was also noted, the release went on to relate, that during the 2012 interviews, only one labour officer was shortlisted to be interviewed, as well as the fact that the Senior Labour Officer was not shortlisted to be interviewed for the post of Assistant Chief Labour Officer, but her junior officer was.
“In 2014, vacancies for Assistant Chief Labour Officer (two), Senior Labour Officer (three) and Assistant Chief Recruitment and Manpower officer became open.
“All the officers were shortlisted and interviewed but by way of letters from the Secretary of the PSC, four of the officers were told that their applications were unsuccessful, despite satisfying the criteria set for academics and experience.”
The GPSU concluded by blasting the PSC, stating that political manoeuvering, among other things pervaded the Commission.
The Union also stated that not only has the indecision at the level of the PSC resulted in wastage from having to air advertisements repetitively at additional costs, but shortlisting for interviews appeared to be sometimes done on the basis of bias and nepotism.
The GPSU also cited the failure of the government to appoint the Public Service Appellate Tribunal, in keeping with the requirements of the constitution of Guyana.
This meant Livan said that public servants could seek no redress for the obvious injustices done to them by the Public Service Commission.
He said that the applicants are thus, left frustrated and angry and that an open season has been created in their career. He also said that they are victims of the PSC, which he feels is undermining and discriminating against the applicants.
Livan made calls for the PSC to be transparent and for an immediate and unbiased investigation to be done on the PSC’s process of appointment.
According to Witter, the acts of discrimination created uneasiness among the workers. He said that actions such as protesting can also seek to engage regional and international organisations such as trade unions.
He said that he spoke to the Labour Minister, Dr Nanda Gopaul, who, he said had committed to look into the matter.
Efforts to contact Carvil Duncan, Chairman of the PSC, were futile.

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