Social Cohesion on trial

Jun 30, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor;
Depending on the party holding executive power, this determines which section of Guyanese are employed generally in the public service and public corporations and other public entities. This is especially the case in senior positions. The minority member of the coalition, the AFC is not doing anything whatsoever to remedy this ill..
There must be some mechanism to ensure there is balance in hiring practices in the public service especially, and the private sector as well. I feel the private sector is somewhat balanced and the private sector cannot be dictated to by the government.
If President Granger is serious about Social Cohesion, then he should start with the areas he has control over. This is the public organisations. There must be balance in the employment practices in public organisations. There must be! There is not even a 50/50 representation of the population in the employment practices despite 23 years of the PPP in office. The PPP was incapable, afraid or too incompetent to fix this problem. It is a problem! The PPP placed its supporters at a disadvantage by not fixing this problem which existed since earlier PNC administrations. The PPP tried to get around this by hiring contract workers which is a “wishy washy” solution.
One source of the problem here are the incompetent, unprofessional and bias Human Resource Managers and other personnel who channel the persons they want to be hired and “duck” the other applicants who may sometimes be better suited for the job. This exists in all sectors of the public service and public organisations and it is not acceptable.
I propose that President Granger push to have a balance first in the Human Resources departments. That these be staffed with professionals comprising both ethnic groups. That Permanent Secretaries and their deputies, CEOs and other Heads of Departments and their deputies be balanced. Either one representing a different segment of the population at all times. I hope the President is serious about Social Cohesion and will do this. Glen Lall needs to take up this part of the struggle as well. He knows that this country can only move forward united. The PPP should lobby for this too. We need to use this mechanism now until we evolve and the process becomes fair and equitable.
Rules must be strictly enforced. No politicians and no one belonging to a political party, whether previously or currently should be appointed to a public service or public organisation position in this small nation. We need to create a professional public service with neutral and objective persons who can continue to manage the affairs of government whichever political party assumes executive office. This will create the “space” for neutral and objective persons who are willing and can tribute to nation- building. Currently what obtains, is that politicians “hog” the “executive space”, the “administrative space” (public service and public organisations) and the “economic space” as well. So many of them are in business while holding public office. There is no room for neutral and objective Guyanese who do not want to get into the gutter where politicians dwell and thrive.
Politicians should dictate policy not perform administrative roles which leads to corruption. Those politicians who want to get into some economic activity should get out of the executive. Really persons cannot do both at the same time.
H. Singh

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