Former Chief Probation Officer points to loopholes in probation work, judicial sentencing guidelines

Dec 20, 2015 News

Profound concern for the Public Service sector that might have been the main reason that 90-year- old, Cecil Morris, testified before the Commission of Inquiry set up to inquire into Guyana’s Public Service.
The senior citizen told Commissioners, Harold Lutchman, Sandra Jones and Anand Goolsaran, on Friday that he served as civil servant for some 30 years.
Morris’ stint as a public servant started in 1940s. During this period, the witness was a Chief Probation Officer attached to the Ministry of Social Protection, (previously the Ministry of Human Services).
According to Morris, this was the era when Guyana’s Public Service was at its peak but a lack of training and suitably qualified persons in leading positions, has literally led to a breakdown in the sector.
The witness also spoke of the poor record keeping and preservation of important documents at Government offices. The elderly man noted that there are instances, whereby persons visit the Probation Office but cannot obtain the relevant documents, when required.
He recalled that in his day, that was never the case. Morris told the COI that the Probation Office was once fitted with one of the best libraries on the matters of Social Work and Public Administration. Alluding to the fact that the modern world is powered by information technology, Morris noted that this should be an advantage, as it relates to preserving data. He recommended improved data collection and storage.
Speaking specifically about Probation Service, the witness said that Judicial Officers, (Magistrates and Judges) should have better guidelines in terms of handing down sentences. He opined that there are many disparities in the manner in which sentences are imposed.
The witness suggested that it be mandatory as in parts of Europe, for sitting Judges and Magistrates to visit the prisons to get acquainted with the reality there and to have a better understanding of what the penalty really means before the sentence is imposed.
The witness asserted that, “Long sentences do not solve the problem.”
The Commission was 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 COI 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.
The Inquiry is also slated to conduct a detailed examination of how the salaries and wages of Public Servants are determined and allocated; review the age of Public Servant retirement and make recommendations in this regard.
Following his election to office, President David Granger stressed the need for a more efficient and satisfactory Public Service.
According to President Granger, Public Servants must possess expert knowledge and high standard academic education.
He expressed his intention to introduce a Public Service Staff College, in which persons entering the administrative branches of the Guyana Public Service are required to undergo training.
The President had promised, too, that this would ensure that persons serving the nation would be better equipped, with the basics of Public Service delivery and a better understanding of how the Public Service is meant to operate.
The COI was established as part of a plan to support President Granger’s vision for a modern Public Service and the establishment of a Public Service Staff College.

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Former Chief Probation Officer points to loopholes in probation work, judicial sentencing guidelines

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