Absence of political interference is key to a proper-functioning public sector, Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Public Security Angela Johnson told the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the public service yesterday.
In response to an excerpt read by CoI Chairman Professor Harold Lutchman from his book, ‘Interests representation in the public service – A history of the Guyana Public Service Association,’ Johnson was resolute in her position that permanent secretaries should be politically impartial in the execution of their duties.
Johnson agreed that permanents secretaries should not hold office in any political organisation, speak in public on matters of political controversy nor write letters to the press, broadcast, publish books or articles nor circulate leaflets on political matters nor canvass support of candidates.
Johnson said public servants serve the people. Governments come and governments go based on the electorate, she said, but public servants have rules to follow irrespective of the government.
For this reason, Johnson said that permanent secretaries should not get involved in political issues.
Responding to other guidelines read by Professor Lutchman, the witness also agreed with proposition that no civil servant ought, as a result of political interference, to be menaced in the security of tenure of his post in the public service; that the political independence of the civil service should be apparent as well as real; and that no political or other influence ought to operate so as to hamper the freedom of judgement and initiative of the civil servants.
The Chairman also read an excerpt which said “the loyalty and alliance of all civil servants is to government as a whole. Political interference should not, therefore, operate so as to weaken this impartial loyalty.” To this, Johnson said she “totally” agreed.
This prompted the Chairman to enquire of the witness what she understood the term “government as a whole” to mean. Johnson then responded, “The government of the day,” while noting the civil servant should be neutral, but not neutered. “They should be impartial,” she stressed.
She agreed that political interference ought not to militate against the exercise of objectivity of interest on the part of the civil servant.
The witness endorsed also from the extracts read that in the appointment, promotion or dismissal of civil servants, political interference should be allowed only if it can be clearly proved that such appointment, promotion, dismissal or other action directly concerning the conditions of service of a civil servant could not be accomplished without the intervention of the political elements of government.
The PS concurred with the commission that the establishment of such principles can result in a “powerful, professional public service.” Johnson said she believes that if these principles are adhered to, it will allow for a “proper-functioning and efficient public service.”
She noted that such practices would bolster the public service, especially as regards establishing and changing some of the current negative practices.
During her testimony before Commissioners Lutchman, Sandra Jones and Samuel Goolsarran, Johnson was asked whether she thinks some ministers micromanage.
She responded in the affirmative, while stating that “some tend to.” She said that in so doing, the authority of PS and other department heads can become undermined. The witness emphasised that in instances where this happens, she writes so that records can show that “you advised the minister accordingly.”
Asked about her views on the professionalism and use of contracted employees, the witness said that she does not know why but it is a fact that such workers are widely being used in the public sector. Johnson firmly said she is against this wide use of contracted employees. She said while there are times when staff with certain qualifications, experience and skills may be needed at a senior technical level, in certain instances there are too many. She believed that this stifles the upward mobility in the public service, while noting that staff are concerned about security of tenure.
Johnson also said there is the constant concern among contracted employees about the possibility of their contracts not being renewed.
The PS said she has had very good staff members who have left the ministry because of such concerns, coupled with the uncertainty of promotions.
Comparing the performance of contracted as opposed to permanent workers, Johnson said that the former tends to work because of a recognition that their contracts have to be renewed. Among the permanent staff, however, the PS said that in some cases the morale is low and that resultantly, her work becomes very demanding to ensure productivity.
In responding to a question from Commissioner Jones, Johnson attributed low morale amongst her permanent staff to the presence of the many contracted workers. She said that this creates a disadvantage to the permanent workers.
She said that her staff is hardworking and goes beyond the call of duty but the permanent workers feel that the contracted workers have an advantage.
The CoI was set up by President David Granger to inquire into, report on, and make recommendations on the role, functions, recruitment process, remuneration and conditions of service for public servants.
The public hearings will continue on Monday morning at the Department of Public Service Building, at Waterloo Street, Georgetown.
