Dear Editor,
There is a reason why the public sector was called the civil service or the public service; and the Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Prison Service and the Guyana Fire Service are called the disciplined services. It is for the simple reason, that these institutions and organizations were established to provide public services. Just to remind workers in the public sector what the meaning of public service is, “It is a service which is provided by government to people living within its jurisdiction, either directly or by financing the provision of services.”
The meaning of service, it might be important for them to note, is something that is done to help people rather than to make a profit; it is the action of helping or doing work for someone.
I am writing this letter with almost tears in my eyes that as a people we are so uncaring and disrespectful to each other. Recently, I had two experiences at two separate police stations; these were not things done to me directly, but I was a witness nevertheless to the performances.
The first experience was at the Kitty Police Station last December. Someone came to make a report of an incident or rather to follow up on a report; however, apparently, the officers needed transportation to go for the person against whom the complaint was made. The person who had made the complaint, refused to take the officers in their vehicle for reasons which were perfectly logical. What happened thereafter was unbelievable. The officers, to use Guyanese Creole language, ‘tear off on the person’; it was as if the person had committed an offence by refusing to take them in their vehicle. I felt badly for the citizen, who felt that the right thing to do, was to go to the police for help because that is what the police are there for, but instead, it was as if that innocent citizen had committed an offence.
The second experience was at the East La Penitence Police Station. I went to the station on some business; however, at the same time someone had called, I gather enquiring about the transfer or whereabouts of a prisoner, or something to that effect. Anyway, what I heard and saw was unbelievable. About two other officers spoke to the person and then another senior officer was called to speak to the person; the performance of that officer was horrifying. He started to shout, why are they calling him, and he went on and on and then slammed the phone down on one of our citizens who was on the other end of the line. His senior, who was sitting outside, casually said to him, “Don’t let them send up yo pressure”. Now Editor, I was embarrassed, ashamed, but more moved with empathy for the person on the other end of the line.
I tried to put myself in that person’s position, being anxious because someone who I cared about was incarcerated, and I am trying to get some information to develop a plan as to what to do, where to go, what to take with me, who to call. Possibly, doing all of this with my limited resources. Maybe borrowing someone’s phone to make the call, maybe not feeling well and some information over the phone would be of great help. Or trying to arrange with someone to pick up the children from school or to keep them, or need to ask the boss for some time off and this information from the police will help me in planning my next move.
A point to note here is that the fact that these officers were behaving in this ridiculous way in the open station with members of the public present, means that they felt comfortable behaving in that manner and that it was acceptable behaviour. I wish to state that it is not acceptable behaviour!
The Minister of Public Security should accept that all of the training for the disciplined services, all of the millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money and donor funding, must, and I repeat must be translated into actual improved services. It must be translated into a response when someone at 02:00 hours in the morning, calls 911. Firstly, there is an expectation that someone will answer, secondly, that someone who is competent will answer and thirdly, that they will see a response to the call. In some developed countries service is at such a high level, that a call to 911 would see the fire service tuning up to remove a cat safely from the roof. Now that is service.
On another point, we desperately need the public service college, the main thrust of which should be to promote and instil in public servants shared values, a spirit of solidarity and mutual understanding, so that we can position Guyana to be competitive for the next 50 years and to be a strong leader regionally and globally.
The efficiency and effectiveness of the public sector is critical to the efficiency and effectiveness of the private sector and ultimately for economic growth in this country.
Yours faithfully,
Audreyanna Thomas
