Dear Editor,
A memo is circulating in the Caricom Secretariat, that if several persons of different nationality apply for a job at the secretariat, including Guyanese, that preference will be given to non-Guyanese. The rationale is that a lot of Guyanese are already working at the secretariat. This seems wrong. The job ideally should be given to the best candidate.

Yours faithfully,
Ganesh Singh

Editor’s note
We sent a copy of this letter to the Caricom Secretariat for any comment(s) they may have wished to make and received the following response from Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Lolita Applewaithe on behalf of the Secretary General:

“The Caricom Secretariat as the principle administrative organ of the Caribbean Community, is obligated by the Revised Treaty of Chaguar-amas to bear in mind the principles of highest standards and equitable geographic distribution in recruitment of staff. 

The relevant Article states specifically: “…In the recruitment of such staff, consideration shall be given to securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, bearing in mind the principle of equitable geographic distribution.”  It is clear from this that the Secretariat has to balance two principles in recruiting, that of obtaining the highest standards of competence and that of equitable geographic distribution.

It may interest you to know that, at present, one Member State is overwhelmingly represented on the staff of the Secretariat.

As I am sure you are aware, other international institutions have established quotas to ensure equitable distribution of posts. We, in the Carib-bean Community, however, have made the conscious decision not to go that route.”