Dear Editor,
The political growth of this nation and the holistic development of its people are reliant on rigid adherence to time-honoured principles, rules, laws, universal declarations, conventions and charters. Where there has been some progress in the nation post- 11th May 2015 such must continue and not be undermined by acts that are inimical to growth and progress.
Ours is a republic built on a system of representative democracy. In keeping with the principle that governs this society where the Executive and Legislature are elected by the people to represent their affairs, both branches of government cannot govern ignoring the fundamental rights and freedoms of all. This means whether one votes for a party or not, whoever is given the privilege to govern cannot exclude the interests of those who did not cast a ballot for them, given that under the laws all are considered equal and guarantee equal protection of their rights and freedoms.
Within recent days this nation has been inundated with acts by state and government officials giving rise to justifiable concerns that we are not witnessing a change in the way business is done on our behalf, but continuation of the unsavoury conduct that have characterised the Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar governments.
There are reports of state and government officials acting as a law unto themselves, with little or no regard for tenets of good governance that ought to be guiding their conduct. We are witnessing situations of concern with regards the manner within which board members of state institutions are conducting the business of the organisation.
A board charged with policy responsibility is managed differently than that with executive responsibility. Policy responsibility means that board ought to be engaged in conceptualising and developing policies informed by the organisation’s mission, taking cognisance of internal and external factors. The day-to-day management of the workers and resources are not the responsibility of this type of board. Its duty is to ensure that the resources (human and others) are made available to realise the mission of the organisation. An executive board comprises of managers of the organisation who have day-to-day responsibility for managing the activities within the organisation.
What we are seeing happening is that boards that are charged with policy responsibility are behaving as though they have executive responsibility. This is not new for such has been a practice that characterised the Jadgeo and Ramotar governments. This practice is wrong and must be brought to an end.
The David Granger/Moses Nagamootoo government cannot on one hand tell the society that they will not continue the bad practices of the past, yet at the same time embrace same through action being carried out by board members that are obviously in conflict with their roles, functions and responsibilities. This practice under new state boards and new political administration where board members are operating as a law unto themselves and disregarding fundamental rights, laws and industrial relations practices must cease.
There is no excuse for ignorance and arrogance when it comes to violating universal principles and transgressing workers’ rights. Board members and government officials, elected and appointed, must act in accordance with established tenets, be trained, and where there exists refusal to correct mal-conduct they must be removed, since they are subject to the rules governing the organisation, internal and external. Decision-making must not be guided by these gut feelings, fear or egos.
No state agency has a mission to violate laws and transgress rights and it is for this reason everyone in executing their duty is expected to operate within the confines of these tenets. This government and those who they have placed in positions to operate on the people’s behalf cannot condemn what occurred in the past yet at the same time mimic what operated in the past.
Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis
