Urging his newly-appointed ministers to be results-oriented and transparent, President Irfaan Ali said yesterday that part of his Government’s immediate agenda is constitutional reform, electoral reform and other aspects of governance such as the revamping of the security sector.
He spoke just after he swore in 19 ministers at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.
He warned the new ministers, a mixture of old and new faces, that they would be held accountable, not only by his administration and Parliament, but importantly, by the people of Guyana.
“I expect that this team would be result oriented, that this team would work in an efficient and transparent manner,” President Ali declared moments after the ministers took their oaths in the presence of family and friends and other special invitees.
According to the president, the multifaceted nature of the skill sets that comprise his new ministerial team is what Guyana requires to ensure that the aspirations of all its people are fulfilled. Among the ministers, the newly-minted President pointed out, one can find private sector experience, legal experience, experience of working in various agencies in Government, medical experience, and educators, among others.
His said his new team of ministers provide newness, youth, energy, experience and they have skill sets that are of immediate importance as the government tackles the important issues.
“It is a multi-faceted fusion of experience and skill sets that are brought together,” the president said, adding that there will be many other important appointments that will be announced shortly. The new President disclosed they are working on an inclusive and broadened form of governance that would support the executive.
He described the swearing-in of the 19 ministers as an “important event” as they would be responsible for the execution of the programmes of his administration.
Turning to the families of the ministers, President Ali told them that they would have provide a supportive role and sacrifices would be required as their jobs are not 8 to 4 jobs. But he expressed confidence that all are committed to the task of giving their bit in the interest of the country and the betterment of the Guyanese people.
The President said that the ministers were appointed swiftly because there is a lot of work to be done and informed that some functions were realigned to remove duplicity and to make it easy to conduct business with government. He also said this would remove bureaucracy, increase efficiency, and ensure that they operate in a cost effective, productive and results-oriented manner.
