Minister with responsibility for the public service, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley yesterday told her first press conference that all government scholarships issued during her tenure will be made public.
“All scholarships granted during my tenure as Minister of the Public Service will be made public as the scholarships are being funded by public monies and citizens have a right to know who has received scholarships and for what programme,” she announced at her Waterloo Street Office.
Noting that the process for the award of scholarship has constantly been in the headlines the Minister explained that there is a formal process for the granting of scholarships by the department which does not involve special treatment; anyone can apply.
“It goes through the scholarship unit. They have a process of making sure the person who apply reach the eligibility requirement and then there is a panel. It is not one person’s saying you get it and you don’t. There is a panel which sits, goes through the applications and there is a process where persons are interviewed and after that scholarships are issued,” she explained adding that there are currently 103 undergraduate scholarships to the University of Guyana.
The eligibility criteria includes being accepted for the proposed programme and demonstrating its usefulness to Guyana’s developmental agenda.
Asked specifically about the scholarships issued to the children of Minister with responsibility for youth, Simona Broomes, Sarabo-Halley reiterated that they went through the process and were deemed suitable by the scholarship panel. The children are currently part of a group of 73 students who are studying overseas on Government of Guyana Scholarships.
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has publicly claimed that “millions” were transferred into the personal account of the students without explanation but Stabroek News was able to confirm that it was the normal practice of the government to make such transfers to scholarship recipients who are then responsible for paying their expenses.
She also noted in response to questions that an investigation is ongoing into a possible breach of contract terms by the daughter of former Minister Dr Frank Anthony.
The Minister also announced that a following the receipt of Cabinet Approval, a National Human Resources Survey is to be commissioned.
Also approved is the development of a national training plan by sectors to guide public investment in human capital; the regular publication of labour market information to guide private investment and the design of an immigration policy to support the acquisition of skills.
These are expected to quantify the skills and competencies needed by the economy so as to satisfy work force and training needs
Further, the defunct Management Services Unit is to be reestablished following approval from President David Granger.
The Unit assesses the organizational design and skills required to deliver government programmes and manages the flow of information supporting their execution. Once reconstituted the unit will work to bring the current management structure of various government agencies in line with the Human Resource capabilities review. They will also review and revamp job descriptions, build capacity response to skill and planning needs as well as develop rapid assessment capabilities.
