Service Commissions

Jul 18, 2023 Editorial

Kaieteur News – It is better late than never, and Guyana now has not one, but two Service Commissions ready to roll into action. There is the Public Service Commission (PSC), which was quickly followed by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC). Though many Guyanese may have hoped for less politically-oriented people onboard at the two newest sworn-in bodies, a quick glance indicates that the hope went a begging.

There are some fair-minded Guyanese on the PSC, which even the Opposition recognised. On the other hand, there are those who should not be considered for commissions such as these. One luminous Guyanese PSC commissioner has long, deep, and the sturdiest of roots in the politics of Guyana. They are not what seeps into local politics, but what saturates it. Though all are entitled to their political choices and leanings, sometimes their political history is so obvious, so overpowering, that having he or she on a national commission saddled with very sensitive and delicate work is not representative of the best judgment, the wisest course of action that could yield the fairest results. In such a situation, every decision becomes prone to endless questioning, constant second guessing. Everything takes on a political complexion, and adds to the intensifying polarization sweeping across Guyana.

A second nomination to the PSC, now confirmed by oath of office, is alleged to have compiled a record of heavy partisanship, and one with too close of a relationship to senior political figures. With such a history, there would always be suspended over that commissioner’s head that positions taken came about through political influence, or an awareness of what would please political champions. When there is the perception of too close political relationships, then it is almost a foregone conclusion about how matters will be voted on, with the merits taking second place. Political debts have to be repaid, political expectations must be fulfilled, and political work is what is usually done. That is, even in places, like commissions, where politics, at the conceptual level, should have no place.

When the new JSC, finally in place after a number of years, is looked at using the same standards as seemingly employed for presence in the PSC, there is a strong tilt in the direction of politics, through some of the notables now in that body. It stands to reason that their thinking, inclinations, and actions will be primarily towards what favours political interests, political expediencies, and political conveniences. Taking both the PSC and JSC into consideration, the odds are that the bulk of the work, the greatest majority of decisions, coming out of either of them is likely to have some degree of political aroma. One could as far as to conclude that there will not be anything that goes against the political grain, in that there are no departures, no surprises, with some level of independence and neutrality about them.

This is not helpful to fostering trust or building confidence in the work of government. Once again, what is glaring is that the kind of quality consultations and give and take that should characterize governance in Guyana is sadly lacking. Moreover, the attitudes of political leaders are the equivalent of take it or leave it, for it is what it is, and that is all that is going to be given. In addition, it is telling that a government which holds itself out as being transparent, and with the interests of all Guyanese at heart, could be so doggedly plugged into a standard of practice that is wholly self-serving, that welcomes no other outcomes.

In time, the handiwork of both the PSC and the JSC will confirm how much this government is genuine in its leadership vision of ‘One Guyana’, or how much of it is nothing but shallow talk. From both Service Commissions, it will be apparent of how much their tails are being twisted by external forces, how they are told to bark, who is identified for them to bite, who should be kept in the fold, and who must be kept out. Service Commissions like Guyana’s PSC and JSC have much riding on them. It is how independent they will be, and how much integrity their people possess.

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Editorial, Judicial Service Commission (JSC), opposition, political, Service Commissions

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