Racial harmony at centre of upcoming GPSU conference

Sep 24, 2015 News

Preparations for the upcoming delegates’ conference of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) are already in full swing. Come next week the nation’s racial discord and professional workforce will be the focus of the conference’s discussions.
The biennial conference will be held from September 30 to October 2 at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre. The last delegates’ conference was in September 2013.
First Vice President of the GPSU, Mortimer Livan, explained that, as part of GPSU’s mandate, there must be a delegates’ conference every two years. The conference will see delegates from all branches assembling to review the Union as well as its future plans. Livan said that already about 300 delegates are expected.
“Each branch of the Union, we have one delegate for every fifty members of the branch or part thereof. So the delegates are selected from a branch under that basis,” he said.
He further said that the delegates will be drawn from all 10 administrative regions of the country. Preparations have been on-going since August. They saw branches submitting their resolutions and motions.
Livan said that a professional workforce is needed in Guyana. He believed that this focus was one that kept pace with the Government’s effort to reinstitute a professional, career driven public service.
Further, he said, the GPSU is aware of divisions in the society, and therefore welcomed the Government’s initiatives to foster social cohesion.
He said that social cohesion is particularly important in the public service. As part of the conference, there will be meaningful discussions on the impact of racial harmony on the development of a professional public service. Following these discussions, delegates will be placed into working groups where they will deliberate and propose suggestions on just how racial harmony can be achieved in the public service.
Livan added that young workers will also be focused on during the conference. The first day of the conference, September 30, will mark the observance of Caribbean Youth 2015. The Union will recognise its young workers, Livan said. This recognition will occur through a youth forum, the findings of which will be presented to the conference for discussion.
“It is expected that youths will discuss issues relevant to work, challenges faced in the public service and plans for the future,” Livan said.
Other issues up for discussion will be wages and salaries, impositions, promotions and debunching of salaries.
The conference will be held under the theme “Enhancing the Process of Restoration of Dignity and Professionalism in the Public Service”. The subtheme for the conference is “Efficient and Quality Service”. There will also be a panel discussion on the theme of the conference.
The opening ceremony will commence from 10:00hrs on September 30 with the main feature being delivered by GPSU President, Patrick Yarde. The conference will be declared open by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon.
Among the invitees are ministers, permanent secretaries, diplomats and, of course, public service employees and others.
Livan also mentioned the Commission of Inquiry (COI) launched into the public service, and indicated that a presentation will be made by the COI during the conference. The presentation will be on the COI and its impact on the public service, Livan said.
“The Union takes cognizance of the COI in the public service operations, and is optimistic that the findings of the COI will result in significant improvements in the welfare, development and work environment of the public service,” Livan said.
Following the conclusion of this year’s conference, a report will be created based on the discussions. This report will cover problem areas and solutions to be looked at during the next two years.
According to Livan, the last report was successful given the achievement of some of the objectives outlined in the 2013 report.
Among the objectives raised at the last conference were: full-day payment for sweeper cleaners; participation in the 2015 General and Regional Elections as observers; and the payment of gratuity for women who would have gone on maternity leave. He said in these areas there have been improvements.
Livan said that the upcoming conference will discuss what was done, what needs to be done, while suggestions will be formulated for what needs to be done for the next biennial conference.

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Racial harmony at centre of upcoming GPSU conference

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