‘[O]ptimum functioning or malfunctioning of the Public Service Commission … depends on the type and nature of the regime within which the institution operates.’. (Shahan, Asif (2008) Politics − Bureaucracy Relationship in Bangladesh: Consequences for the Public Service Commission.)
This obviously goes for most public institutions but is still a good reminder as we consider the controversy surrounding President David Granger’s diktat to the Police Service Commission ‘that there be no consideration of promotions for members of the Guyana Police Force … until further notice’(SN: 09/08/17). The president did this in spite of Article 226(1) of the Constitution, which states that ‘in the exercise of its functions under this Constitution a commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority.’
The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, even if being disingenuous and somewhat alarmist, expressed a general concern. ‘This is yet another vulgar and authoritarian attempt by the President to trample upon the independence and functional autonomy of a Constitutional Agency’ (Ibid). However, it appears to me that both the president’s action and Mr. Jagdeo’s worry have resulted from constitutional deficiencies which should be corrected in the next round of reforms.
