Dear Editor,
It is interesting to note that at page xxxii of the Sunday Chronicle of June 30, 2013, the Guyana Prison Service, through the Ministry of Home Affairs; invites applications “for the positions of four (4) Medical Officers (Georgetown, Mazaruni, Timehri and New Amsterdam) on GS 10 – $207,224 per month (Revised 2012).”
First of all GS 10 is a scale which reads as follows: $126,594-$207,224. This means the ‘contracted employees’ will start at the maximum of the scale.
Secondly, one must wonder whether the Ministry of Health has previously been consulted on the matter, particularly since the National Estimates show the establishment of the Prison Service to be restricted to the following:
– Director of Prisons – GS 12
– Senior Superintendent of Prisons – GS 10
– Superintendent of Prisons – GS9
– Accountant – GS 8
– Assistant Superintendent of Prisons – GS 8
– Cadet Officer, Prison – GS 7
– Administrative Assistant – GS 6
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– Agricultural Officer – GS 9
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– Chief Prison Officer – GS 8
– Principal Prison Officers II – GS 6
– Field Auditor – GS 6
– Prison Trade Instructor – GS 5
While there are other positions graded at GS 5 and below, there are no positions whatever at GS 10.
Presumably, the positions would have been created after the amended budget was approved.
The above apart, it is still for consideration as to what the reporting relationships will be. Who will supervise the work of these (imprisoned) medical practitioners?
Incidentally, nor is there provision in the National Estimates for the advertised position of Nursing Assistant, which is shown as GS 4 in the Ministry of Health Section of the 2013, that is Scale $46,434-$54,292, and not the advertised GS 3 which scale reads $44,408-$51,726.
Finally, readers may also note that while only the maximum of GS 10 is quoted in the advertisement in respect of Medical Officers, the converse is true in inviting applicants for the position of Nursing Assistant, not only on the wrong scale, but at Minimum of that scale – clear evidence of the transparency, earnestness and competency, with which compensation is managed in the Public Service of Guyana.
Yours faithfully,
EB John
