Dear Editor,
Six years ago, I stood with pride and a lot of tears, as I watched my son leave Guyana to take up a scholarship in Cuba to study engineering. While I was saddened because he would have been away from his family for such a long period, I was also proud of the fact that when he returned he would have become a qualified professional and that the sky would have been his limit.
My son communicated with me throughout his period in Cuba and, while he tried his best, the studies were extremely challenging. Many times he wanted to give up but had to be constantly reminded of the benefits that would eventually arise from his sacrifices. So he soldiered on through all of the trials and tribulations and eventually he completed his studies.
A few weeks ago, with great pomp and ceremony, the largest batch of Cuban students returned home filled with eager expectations to commence work as engineers, doctors, etc. Among that batch was my son. Once again I stood with pride and with tears in my eyes as I watched him disembark from the aircraft.
One would have expected the government, which placed an onus on them to return and serve their country, would be prepared for such a large influx of professionals. It was expected that systems would have been in place to integrate these graduates into the public service at the earliest possible time. However, doubts started arising when these graduates had their first meeting with the government representative, Ms Westford, after their arrival in Guyana. The engineering graduates were placed together and assigned to the Ministry of Agriculture.
It was claimed that the reason why the engineers were assigned to the Ministry of Agriculture was to ensure that all of the graduates were placed on the same salary scale.
At a follow-up meeting the graduates were informed that the Ministry of Agriculture was only able to offer employment to some of the engineers and the remainder were to be assigned to GuySuCo and the Ministries of Public Works and Housing.
At this time the government representative indicated that the government would have tried to get the remaining students on job contracts.
My son was assigned to the group that was to be employed by GuySuCo. Upon reporting to the company for his interview he was informed that the he would be employed as a management trainee and paid a monthly stipend of approximately $65,000. He was also informed that this training was to last for two years. This amount is far less than what the engineers at the Ministry of Agriculture were receiving, and what was mooted to be the rate for all graduate engineers.
You could imagine the immense disappointment my son experienced. Here he was, now a qualified engineer, with high expectations that he was going to receive a salary commensurate with his qualifications only to be told that he was going to receive a stipend. Yet he was luckier than the others who still await employment with the Ministries of Works and Housing. Many started questioning the value of six years of sacrifice to become qualified.
It seems as if the government made no preparations to employ this large batch of graduates. How else can you explain employing these graduates as trainees while others still remain to be employed? It was stipulated in the students’ contract that the government was to offer them employment immediately upon their return to Guyana.
When my son enquired about seeking alternative employment he was informed that he could do so, as long as it was within the public service. When a similar query had come from the students at an earlier date they had been abruptly informed that no one was to seek employment as they were going to be assigned jobs by the government.
It seems as though the government is unable to provide employment for all the Cuban graduates.
If this is indeed the case, then why can’t those students be allowed to seek employment in the private sector? Somehow our government seems to be of the impression that the only way that these graduates can return service is through public employment. Yet, the private sector plays a similar or even bigger role in this country’s development. So, if the government can’t employ all of these graduates then they should allow them to seek alternative employment as long as it is within Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
M. Abraham, Snr
Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to Public Service Minister, Dr Jennifer Westford, for any comments she may wish to make.
