Two of the three Commissioners of the newly-established Public Service Commission of Inquiry (CoI) were sworn in yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Professor Harold Lutchman and elections commissioner Sandra Jones were sworn in by Magistrate Ann McLennan.
Present at the swearing in ceremony were Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Secretary to the CoI Geeta Chandan-Edmond.
The third appointee was said to be out of town and will be sworn in at a later date. The establishment of the CoI had been announced in June by President David Granger at the Guyana Public Service Union’s 92nd anniversary celebrations. President Granger had then revealed that the inquiry’s objective would be to look into the condition of services, wages, training, salaries and other issues of public servants.
Minister Harmon, speaking with reporters, noted that the CoI was about tending to the overall working conditions of public servants. He stated that individuals will be encouraged to make submissions to the commission so that by the end of the inquiry, President Granger will be fully aware of the conditions under which public servants work and the steps that need to be taken to address the issues underlined.
Harmon expressed his confidence in the competency of the newly-appointed Commissioners and stated that Guyanese can expect work that is “fair, impartial and thoroughly professional.”
Professor Lutchman, speaking about the plans for the Commission, said that the Commissioners were ready and willing to work harder than ever to improve the public service.
Lutchman stated that the CoI would be conducting a total review of the civil service and had already started work. He acknowledged the difficulty of the task at hand but added that the team was hardworking and any issues that arise would be within its capacity to handle.
Lutchman emphasised that all issues regarding public servants are important and take priority, including how individuals are remunerated for their labour. He pointed out that the revamping of the public service is not a political process but a technical one that will benefit everyone involved.
“We don’t see it as a political process, it is very important that that be underlined. It is a technical one which is to be geared to improving the performance of the public service to the extent where, regardless of whatever group is in power, they can see the public service as an asset,” he said.
The CoI is expected to begin its work before the month’s end.
