Dear Editor,
It is encouraging to learn that the new government, as articulated by Minister Raphael Trotman, is listening; that it is prepared to make ‘adjustments’ to the state boards, as recently constructed; and that alarms over pay increases should be stilled. It is comforting to know that the new people are not only listening, but willing to be appropriately responsive. Now I would like to delve some more into this pay issue business; this expands on some thoughts shared previously.
First, if the remuneration associated with public service leads to financial hardship, then it is better to stay in private practice or other professional and career pursuits; public service is not the place for those so impacted. Second, the public service territory is well known going in, as it relates to compensation; therefore, conditions should not be flavoured or moulded (or manipulated) towards self-serving ends; it looks wrong, it smells bad. Third, citizens are already overburdened; do not add to their freight, and to the weight of their mental state. Fourth, public service must cease to be seen as a place (the place) to prosper personally and handsomely, as was the practice; the kinds of personal monetary rewards envisioned is better found in realms of endeavour outside of public service; the interested should go there. Fifth, there are some individuals who stand as singular examples of the self-sacrifice which I continue to advocate: men such as Paulsen and Rubin (US Treasury Secretaries), McNamara (Defense Secretary), and Lew Kuan Yew (PM, Singapore), to name only a stellar few. In some of the instances identified, these contributors gave up tens of millions (US) annually for several years to answer the call of public duty. Sometimes, it was the equivalent of a 99% pay cut. I repeat for emphasis: a 99% pay cut.
This is what I term self-sacrifice. Perhaps, conscientious Guyanese, truly patriotic Guyanese contributors, can learn from these sterling precedents elsewhere. This country needs, and needs direly. It is time to give. Who will?
And it is this call to self-sacrifice that is put again before the diaspora. It is time to cease revelling in being distant armchair experts and generals. Step forward and fulfil the talk and recommendations through daring to walk in the high dirty water, and the higher scorching temperatures by doing part, by giving. Who will? Talk is easy, cheap, and plentiful. Do something. Give up some of the money there, and give something here. The plea made to those in local public service is the same being made to those in foreign self-exile and encapsulated in one word: self-sacrifice. Instead of taking care of self, the emphasis should be on, as FDR said, “the forgotten man at the bottom of the economic pyramid.” Now who will?
Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall
