GTT, terminations and reincarnations, nonnegotiable(s) for senior appointments

Nov 08, 2020 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

Kaieteur News – I start with GTT and what encourages. During October, all personnel that were furloughed are back on the job and with the same salaries as before. This is encouraging because it sets a standard for other organizations, both public and private, to follow. As I understand the situation, some known entities operating here have had severe cuts or reduction in force. With the phased reopening, what appears to me to be an aggressive relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions, state and private sector agencies should swiftly follow the example set by GTT.

Next, there was the mixed bag of encouraging and disturbing. There were a rash of contract terminations relative to construction projects; some of those contractual relationships should not have been in place, and some just were around and nothing else happening. I see some, but not all, as encouraging and overseeing the taxpayers’ money and interests better. Regarding reincarnations into high-profile jobs, that is an error in judgment. Some of those returning left under a cloud of suspicion and known malfeasances; others had accumulated a terrible reputation for always being involved when the questionable occurred. Unless people were setup and railroaded, they should not have been brought back. Start fresh from the deep pool of aspirants panting to get into the action. Then again, the returnees to big positions know where the skeletons are, know the underground people, and are experts on how the system works. Back they come, which is not good for clean oversight of the people’s business.

Last, there was the disturbing, which was also found comical. There are these captions in the letter columns where somebody or the other is extolling the virtues of new appointments to senior positions in the state sector; or from those who claim to know some of the selected for high-profile positions and denounce them as unfit. Both sides disturb because they say so much of the dark side of Guyana. First, it is way too early to speak out in favor of (or against) those put in senior positions. I recommend giving the newly appointed al little time to prove themselves worthy, or to confirm misgivings about unworthiness or crookedness. Second, and of more relevance, I say this most unsparingly: appointment to senior positions in State offices are not influenced foremost by sterling credentials or proven body of work or record of integrity; local practice for the longest while has never been about meritocracy. I say it loudly and clearly, those qualities and kinds of candidates do not feature heavily when politicians are the ones making the selection decisions.

What matters, instead, and weigh most heavily is how intimately and strongly and consistently, the aspirants to high State gigs held on to the shirttails (the petticoat patriots) of leaders, who are expected to remember them when they are in governance paradise. This is what counts, how much they brownnosed the political bosses. The last elections provided ample time and opportunity for those latching on to leaders and doing as they bid then; men fell over themselves to succeed in doing so. Though the PNC has its share of those brownnosers, the PPP has an army of them. Now they line up to collect their rich rewards.

The last thing I wish to say about the public applause for brand new appointments is that it is a friendship club that is also a mutual masturbation society, where men are low enough and classless enough to encourage a plug for themselves from well-wishers, and the friendly doing just so. This is how they pump each other up gleefully, with some personal reward coming down. And, of course, never to be dismissed is the loyalty factor to political godfathers lifting up to prominence. Debts are owed; absolute loyalty expected to rabbi and champion first, with country somewhere down to the back of the line.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

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GTT, terminations and reincarnations, nonnegotiable(s) for senior appointments

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