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Govt. officials call for evaluation of civil workers

Oct 07, 2015 News

A number of concerns have been raised and recommendations made by Government officials testifying at the Commission of Inquiry, (COI) into the Public Service.
On Monday, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Culture Youth and Sport, Alfred King, and Principal Personnel Officer of the Ministry of Social protection, Shelton Daniels, were among the officials providing information to the COI.
The COI has been established to inquire into, report on and make recommendations on the role, functions, recruitment process, remuneration, conditions and other matters pertaining to the personnel employed in the Guyana Public Service.
The exercise is also expected to determine measures to improve the efficiency of the public service, to review the methodology used in the classification and recruitment of public servants.
This has been the third week of the public hearings which is being facilitated at the Ministry of Presidency Department of Public Service Building, Waterloo Street, Georgetown.    Yesterday, Daniels, the Principal Personnel Officer of the Ministry of Social Protection, told the panel of commissioners, comprising Professor Harold Lutchman, Samuel Goolsaran and Sandra Jones, that an improved public service system is one that allows for evaluation of workers to enhance the moral aspect of the service.
On Monday, the Personnel Officer spoke of a system in which civil servants can undergo evaluation, including personal and professional to improve the work ethics within the sector.  Daniels also spoke of systems which will boost the performance of civil workers, prior to retirement.
“The closer that person gets to retirement their performance level will drop… They may come to work when they want …” he added
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, Alfred King, detailed his education and qualification to the commission.
He told the commissioners that he has at least 31 years of experience in Guyana’s Public Service.  In detailing his work, King told the panel that he was first employed in the system as a teacher and subsequently, as Chief Training Officer in the Guyana National Service.
King said that he also had an integral role in the establishment and expansion of the President Youth Award Programme (PYAP).   Given his core responsibility for the project, King said that the National Youth Award Council has expanded from an average of 123 members to 2,500 young people. During this time, King said that he managed to pursue and acquire a Masters Degree  in Public Policy Analysis.
In 2009, King was appointed Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. Since then, he said that he has been tasked with the key administrative and accounting officer of the   Department.   King revealed that he is currently employed on contract.
As part of his responsibility, King related that he is in charge of monitoring the operations of staff, finances and other resources in the Ministry
Strategic planning and making recommendations to the Minister based on policies, were also listed as part of the Permanent Secretary’s duties.
While testifying before the Commission, King was given the opportunity to raise concerns and make recommendations for the overall improvement of the public service sector.
He said that an objective system of assessment and selection can be instrumental in the employment of public servants.
King believes this is necessary to ensure that those employed in the sector possess the necessary qualifications and competence to provide the service. He also advocated for a higher retirement age for civil workers.
The Permanent Secretary held that persons with good health, experience, and qualification can serve at least until the age of 65. In welcoming the notion for a reformed system, King asserted that a good public service is one that is characterized by core values such as integrity, impartiality and intelligence.
These three things, he said, in addition to managerial and communication, planning, and skills, are necessary to raise the standard of the sector.

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