Dear Editor,
The Private Sector Commission meeting took place recently and interesting things were said. I was very excited when President Ramotar made a pitch that what the government was doing was to provide a more educated work force. I was confused, because the President is yet to explain if his government is serious about an educated work force. How could his minister appoint to a very important position in terms of responsibility – more important than any senior public servant – as Town Clerk a person who lacks the required qualification advertised for that key post, and was the least qualified of the applicants interviewed by a panel identified by his minister? I believe the public is entitled to an explanation for this contradiction.
After the said meeting, the question of the council acquiring used trucks was discussed. Let me make it clear, I am not and was never concerned with the supplier of the trucks, or whether it made sense to buy new or second-hand trucks; the issue is one of principle and governance, which I plead with decent members of the community to understand. The authorizing document is supposed to be signed by the Mayor, who asked that the matter be further discussed as to whether we should buy new or more second-hand trucks.
Instead of that discussion, the Town Clerk boasted that Minister Whittaker had signed in lieu of the Mayor. This impropriety is palpable. This violates the principle of a local government system, Article 71 of the Constitution of Guyana, not to mention protocol and decency. That is to say, to have respect and regard for those established institutions which are part of our democracy.
Yours faithfully,
Hamilton Green
Mayor
