The Indian Action Committee (IAC) says it views with grave concern the removal on Friday of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Power & Light (GPL), Bharat Dindyal.
Dindyal was advised of the ending of his tenure on Friday by Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson. The move came, among other things, after Dindyal and his deputy Colin Welch became embroiled in a public row after the latter on two occasions attempted to evict senior GPL managers with the help of the police force.
The IAC, formerly the Indian Arrival Committee, says it believes that the manner in which Dindyal was removed “will precipitate much disquiet among employees of the State, especially those of East Indian extraction”.
The IAC says it believes that the prevailing uneasiness is not only counterproductive to the efficient and fearless discharge of duties by public servants but also runs counter to the government’s position of inclusiveness and national unity.
“Given the manner of Mr. Dindyal’s dismissal and those who suffered similar prior, it appears that an extremely difficult environment is being created for professionals of certain ethnic background to function”, the IAC asserted.
The group called on the government to re-examine its position regarding such issues to better forge the unity and professionalism which it continues to advocate within the public sector.
“If it were that his dismissal was not a deliberate act, then it brings to the fore the seeming lack of a clear mechanism by the government to foster professionalism with respect to State employees and the management of the human resources therein”, the IAC said.
It added that in the recent past it had voiced similar concerns over the dismissal of Guyanese, more specifically, Indo-Guyanese.
It also called on the opposition PPP/C to take up its seats in the National Assembly to ensure these issues are “represented at the highest institution of the land as a priority”.
It suggested that the Opposition may want to consider calling for the establishment of a Com-mission of Inquiry into the termination of services of affected Public Servants and the perception that Indo- Guyanese are being unfairly targeted for sanction and\dismissal.
“The IAC believes it could be a useful mechanism to allay fears and to uphold professionalism which could be pertinent in the building of social cohesion as the APNU-AFC government has pledged to foster.
