Dear Editor,
A number of vacancies in respect of the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory were published only in the Sunday Chronicle of March 24th 2013.
Applications are to be sent to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs. Presumably therefore the Laboratory, which it is indicated will be located in the compound of the University of Guyana, will remain a component of the Guyana Police Force.
For some reason however like the ‘civilian’ vacancies previously advertised, there is no clear indication that these ‘Police Service’ positions fall within the purview of the Police Service Commission.
While it is understood that all these initiatives are being generated by the Police Service Modernisation Reform Project, somehow there appears to be no explicit provision for legitimate interventions at the level of the Police Service Commission. Surely there is a ‘Constitutional’ question to be raised concerning the recruitment and appointment process.
Are these new positions to be Public/Police Service positions? Is the Public Service Ministry involved in reviewing the related Job Descriptions and in pronouncing on the respective values of these vis ‘a vis those of comparative or similar positions elsewhere in the Public Service?
One is not necessarily aware whether any of those stakeholders who have been informed of these developments, (without being allowed access to the actual documentation) understand that if the reorganization process starts out in a manner that contradicts the legality and spirit of article 210 of the constitution by which the Police Service Commis-sion must authoritatively function then future behaviour related to this project can possibly be enmeshed in other contradictions, including issues of transparency (while reforming). Hopefully consultants involved will take a cue from the above submission.
Yours faithfully,
EB John
