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Open Letter to the President through the Editor.
26th February, 2018
His Excellency Mr. David Granger President of the Republic of Guyana Ministry of the Presidency
New Garden Street, Georgetown
Dear Sir,
The Head of the Scrap Metal Unit at the Ministry of Business, Mr. Ian Smith was convicted on a drug trafficking charge and sentenced to four (4) years imprisonment on June, 27th, 2014 by Magistrate Fabayo Azore. From the
questionable manner in which he was employed by the Ministry of Business, it would appear that someone is fully aware of his conviction, but caused him to be employed anyhow. Scrap Metal Dealers are deeply concerned over this new revelation since our scrap metal is being shipped to many countries around the world and this would have a negative impact on our containers overseas.
The Guyana Chronicle reported on December,23rd, 2013 that Caretaker, Ian Smith, appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on a drug trafficking charge and Kaieteur News reported on June 28th, 2014 that Magistrate Fabayo Azore convicted him and sentenced him to four (4) years imprisonment.
The Facebook picture of Mr. Ian Smith, Head of the Scrap Metal Unit, was compared to the mug shot picture at
the Criminal Record Office, CID Headquarters of the Ian Smith that was charged and convicted and it is the same person. His picture was also shown to several neighbors of 23B Norton Street, Georgetown where the police found drugs and they all confirmed that he grew up in that house and lived there until he was arrested and charged in December, 2013. A scrap metal dealer lives two doors away and knows him very well since he was a school boy.
In February, 2017, the Ministry of Business advertised the vacancy for the Head of the Scrap Metal Unit. The required qualification was a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration or Public Management with at least eight (8) years’ experience in a senior managerial position (see attached). The Minister set up a Committee comprising the Permanent Secretary, the Deputy Permanent Secretary and the Legal Liaison Officer to the Minister to find a “Fit and Proper” person to fill the position. Over fifty (50) persons with a Bachelor’s Degree and ten (10) with Master’s Degreeor t e Jo evera o t e app !cants ave many years o experience in senior manager positions. Applicants were interviewed and three names were shortlisted and submitted to the Minister for consideration. However in July,
2017, the Minister employed Mr. Ian Smith as the Head of the Scrap Metal Unit. Mr. Smith never submitted an application for the job nor was he interviewed by the committee set up by the Minister.
On Mr. Smith Linkedin page for his qualification he stated Penn Foster, 2012-2016, no diploma or degree. For his experience he stated only the time he was appointed Head of the Scrap Metal Unit, September, 2017; no other experience. At the time he was arrested in December, 2013, he stated to the police that he was a caretaker.
Our investigations revealed that Mr. Smith did not successfully completed high School, has no managerial experience and was convicted for narcotics in June, 2014 and sentenced to four (4) years imprisonment.
Scrap Metal Dealers are deeply concerned about the following ;
(a) Mr. Smith does not have the necessary qualification nor experience that is required to function as the Head of the Scrap Metal Unit and he is not capable of moving the trade forward.
(b) Several of Mr. Smith’s friends are of highly questionable character and several vacancies are presently advertised in the Scrap Metal Unit and applications must be sent to Mr. Ian Smith for consideration. Mr. Smith’s employment at the Ministry of Business was done in a very sinister manner and we fear the same will happen again as he might very well employ some of his friends in the same manner he was employed.
(c) All our scrap metals are exported to several developed countries around the world and with a convicted drug dealer as the Head of the Unit administering the trade, every container of scrap metal leaving our shores will be viewed with suspicion by the importing country.
Your Excellency, The Honorable Minister of Business, Mr. Dominic Gaskin must do the decent thing and dismiss Mr. Ian Smith immediately.
Sincerely,
Concerned ,Scrap Aka/ Dealers.
CC: (i) All cabinet Members
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