Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM
Former OP was overstaffed by 200 persons – says Harmon
– Hydar Ally set to go, Lumumba gone
The Ministry of the Presidency, which houses the offices of Head of State, David Granger, was overstaffed
Head of the Public Service Ministry, Hydar Ally
by almost 200 persons.
The new administration has started to trim the new ministry. Several of the ‘useless staff’ are gone, including advisors to the former President, Donald Ramotar, and “research” personnel.
Questioned Wednesday about reports that an entire department has been axed, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, made it clear that his Government does not lay off entire departments.
A recent report on personnel in the public service submitted by former head, Hydar Ally, indicated a startling 200 persons working there at the President’s offices, Harmon said.
The ministry was “grossly overstaffed”.
The Minister said that the issue of staffers will surface when it comes to budget debate in the National Assembly. Questions would be asked about certain employees, their functions and salaries.
“I will have to answer to that when we go into Parliament. When the Opposition started shooting bullets across the floor, I will have to answer for it.”
Shortly after taking office, following their victory at the May 11 General Elections, the coalition Government found evidence of scores of staffers at what was once known as the Office of the President.
While a few have remained on the job, many of them including relatives of former senior Government officials were not even reporting to the compound.
Several of them were reportedly being paid by the state-owned National Communication Network to mask
Commissioner of Information, Charles Ramson
their true salaries.
The NCN management later claimed that the company was ordered by the NCN Board of Directors to pay the persons. They had never worked a day at NCN.
It came to light, later, that quite a few of them were actually doing political work for the previous Government of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
The work included monitoring letters to the editors in the newspaper and Facebook and responding to the critics.
Several Presidential Advisors, people like Odinga Lumumba, who had responsibilities for “Youth Empowerment” are also reportedly gone.
With regards to Hydar Ally, a senior figure of the former Government, he was asked to stay on for the rest of the month, to complete his work, Harmon revealed.
Meanwhile, another senior functionary who was supposed to be independent and who still has his offices at the Ministry is Charles Ramson Snr. Ramson is the Commissioner of Information.
Minister Harmon, when questioned, disclosed that Commissioner Ramson is a constitutional appointee whose presence at the Ministry of the Presidency may not be such a good idea.
Harmon said that moves are underway to have Ramson established in an independent office elsewhere.
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