Dear Editor,
I read with interest an article in the Guyana Chronicle titled, ‘President Jagdeo reiterates need for accountability in service sectors.’ In particular, a sentence from President Bharrat Jagdeo’s statement that reads, “Too many little gods in many public institutions who act like they are doing favours when they have to deliver service to the public” caught my attention. The President “warned that they are being paid to serve [the people] and would be held accountable.” I hope once again that President Jagdeo will act on his promise. Words are cheap. They must be matched with action.
This reminds me of Jordan’s King Abdullah who has disguised himself on many occasions in old clothes and visited many of his ministries and public service offices to see what conditions are really like in his country. It beckons me to ask the question, who is in charge of some of these ministries in Guyana and are they supervised? What sorts of mechanism are in place for public accountability? Maybe none exists and can we expect changes after President Jagdeo’s recent statement? Or will Guyanese continue to accept the status quo?
Let me share one example. One can take a camera, like I did to the General Registrar’s Office at the GPO and take snaps of people socializing, chatting on mobile phones, eating and taking naps. I have two pictures of such. They are in my archive somewhere. I was in no mood to share them since I have written much on the subject of the GPO over the past years and nothing has changed.
Instead these same very people refuse to serve those who enter the GPO in sandals, Bermuda shorts and tank tops. They act and speak as if they are above the laws of Guyana. They carry on their leisurely business like GPO is an autonomous island in Guyana, and this is common in the public sector across Guyana. Too often, they raise their voices at the public, treat them as if they are inferiors and in some instances expect gifts. I waited there for one week to have an official sign off on some birth records. While spending the week there, I noticed the pain and anguish of Guyanese from Berbice to Essequibo who were refused service or were told to come back after waiting for weeks and months to get copies of death, birth and marriage papers. There isn’t a modern system in place there in this day and age of technology. All transactions are done in the archaic way which leads to the deterioration of records.
Guyanese people pay a fee for fast and effective service, and those requesting emergency and immediate service can pay an extra fee. There is no queue or number system in place. The basics of an efficient service are missing. As well, the short hours and long lunches need to go. These people working in the public sector must get it through their heads that it’s the Guyanese taxpayers who are paying their salaries.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
