I was fortunate to work at the Public Buildings for four years, and as part of my Nostalgia series to preserve my memories of my beautiful Guyana, I am compelled to share this insight of the workings of the government during the period of our evolution towards independence. This may serve no useful purpose, apart from kindling memories of other civil servants, now retired. The fact that I write from my ‘noggin,’ without the benefit of research, dilutes the benefits of my recollections, but Hell, read at your peril and leisure!
‘Fortunate’ is appropriate, as employment in the civil service was the goal and wish of every Guyanese parent, who strove and sacrificed so that their ’nuff picknies’ could be somebody/something in our emerging society.
On June 15, 1955, I joined the staff of the Chief Secretary Office, Public Buildings – this privilege extended me due to my Higher Senior Certificate (Matriculation) – starting as Class II Clerk with a salary $20 above the norm, ie $96 per month with (guaranteed) increments of $11 annually until you reached $181 – by which time any dunderhead would be promoted to Class I Clerk! Hell, this was the civil service – safe cushy employment – minimum qualifications Senior or GCE (just introduced with at least 3 credits).
Of course, if your father had stature – lines and other assets – you joined the Royal or Barclays Bank or Commerce at $20 more per month, no disrespect to you guys intended!
I was a dispatch mail clerk, so for the first two years across the desk of this 18-year-old passed all the files of all personnel in the service of her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in BG, as well as their careers and complaints. Now this is not a ‘tongue talk’ expos