Trust needs to be restored in the Public Service Commission

May 24, 2017 Letters

Dear Editor,
I should be grateful for the publication of this letter with reference to two sets of recommendations of the 2016 Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the Public Service, headed by Professor Harold Lutchman:
i) The appointment of the Public Service Appellate Tribunal by President David Granger is welcome. This is in keeping with the recommendation number 60 of the COI affirming that the Tribunal be constituted with suitably qualified and experienced persons of high integrity and independence to function in keeping with the provisions outlined under the Public Service Appellate Tribunal Act 17 of 1984. It was a grave injustice to Public Servants not to have this Commission appointed since May 2005.
The Public Service Appellate Tribunal considers appeals in matters of appointments, transfers, promotions, and discipline including dismissals by the Public Service Commission under Article 215 A of the Constitution of Guyana and under Act No. 17 of 1984. The COI stated that the existence and effective functioning of the Tribunal are essential to ensure fairness and justice for Public Servants to have their grievances addressed with appropriate redress.
The COI notes that rights and interests issues are matters for collective bargaining negotiations with the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) headed by Patrick Yarde for some thirty years now, not withstanding controversies over union elections over the years. Following the Carville Duncan saga, and external political pressures on Commission members, Patrick Yarde has just been sworn in as acting Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), although there is no such constitutional position in the PSC. What manifest conflict of interest and double dealings, and a total disregard for the spirit intent of the Constitution and the national good?
ii) The Public Service Commission (PSC). The public must assess and pronounce on the judgement of those responsible for the nominations and appointments of members of the PSC – the Executive and the Members of the National Assembly. It is a clear case of appointments based on partisan political interest against the national interest. No wonder the COI into the Public Service recommended (recommendation No. 8) that the PSC be constituted with suitably qualified and competent persons of high integrity to exercise their duties in strict fairness, impartiality, and on the basis of merit. The COI notes that it is desirable, as is the case of the Public Service Appellate Tribunal, that members of the Commissions should possess experience and show capacity in matters relating to administration, human resource management or public affairs.
The life of the current PSC is coming to an end in August 2017. It is hoped that His Excellency President David Granger and the National Assembly would take seriously the recommendations of the COI in the Public Service in the appointment of new members to the PSC of the calibre recommended. Public confidence, trust, professionalism, political neutrality in the execution of their duties needs to be restored by the demonstrated conduct and performance of members of the PSC.
Joshua Singh

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