Dear Editor,
Having read Ralph Ramkarran’s column ‘Perceptions of discrimination,’ (Sunday Stabroek, August 16)), there are two issues that stand out and cannot be taken lightly since they are coming from a major opinion shaper/leader in this society. One is the perception of government’s decisions being influenced by race when treating with issues of infraction; and two, the description of Bharrat Dindyal, former CEO of GPL as “one of the best and most dedicated managers in the state system.”
If Mr Dindyal is perceived in this manner then one needs to question the quality of managers appointed by the PPP.
- The GPL over the years has been recording approximately a 33 per cent loss of the power generated and under Mr Dindyal who was paid $6 million per month the loss has not been reduced. Performance has to take into consideration the optimising of the operation in its delivery at a cost the consumer and nation can afford.
- It was under Mr Dindyal’s leadership $28 million was transferred by two GPL operatives into their personal accounts. As CEO his was the responsibility to protect the property of the organization, and the system has to be loose to allow a transfer of that magnitude, and he should have done the decent thing and resigned.
- On the issue of the confrontation between him and his deputy, it underscores a lack of understanding of rules and practices. In any system there cannot be different rules for different persons. It has to be one set of rules that everyone must comply with within the organisation.
- If when infractions of a certain nature occur the accused is either sent on administrative leave or interdicted from duty; it has to be applied to everyone regardless of the role played in the organisation. Any claim that the deputy overstepped his bounds by having the police called to the premises to evict the employees must take into consideration the role Mr Dindyal played in opposing the persons involved being sent on administrative leave.
- State institutions do not belong to those who manage them; they belong to the people of the country who through the laws, established procedures and rules are managed in the people’s interests.
On the issue of perception of race, Mr Ramkarran has to be careful. For it is clear while he alluded to discrimination on racial grounds, he excluded for examination those Africans who have also come under the microscope. African Guyanese services were also terminated. It is instructive that though he ignores this group he forgot that the PPP’s prominent Kwame McCoy and Philomena Sahoye-Shury’s contracts were terminated. The cases before the court on acts committed during the life of the past government are two African women, the former minister of public service Dr Jennifer Westford and the Personnel Officer Margaret Cummings of the Public Service Ministry.
Leaders in society must be careful that they do not contribute to the very thing they claim they desire to end. No race, individual or group in a society where laws, rules and procedures are universal should enjoy immunity, preferential treatment or think it is acceptable to commit infractions, violate laws and transgress rights. Similarly, no race, individual or group must feel that the laws, rules and procedures will only be applicable to them and not to others.
This society can only move forward in unison when all are held to the same standards and are subject to the same rules. This nation must strive to ensure this at all times.
Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis
