The Alliance For Change (AFC) on Thursday said the move to replace some members of state boards and commissions because of advanced age was not discriminatory and warned that the issue was being deliberately twisted to create a racial divide.
Newly-elected leader Raphael Trotman told a party press conference that President David Granger has already explained that the move was not intended to be done in a discriminatory manner.
He pointed out that the AFC’s youth arm and its leader have already indicated that there was a clamour for young people to take their rightful places in decision-making. “I believe that ways have to be found,” he said.
Justice Cecil Kennard, the Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority and Justice Prem Persaud, the Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission, have been asked to leave office owing to their advanced age. Justice Kennard leaves at the end of this month and Persaud next month end.
Granger, when asked about the move on Wednesday, said that Justice Kennard’s removal was in keeping with government’s plan to establish an age limit for persons who sit on state boards, agencies and commissions. The decision had to be taken, he added, as it is paving the way for younger persons to take the lead.
The President did not mention anyone else who was asked to leave office because of age and observers were very critical of the move, pointing out that former mayor Hamilton Green, who headed the Board of the Central Planning and Housing Authority (CH&PA) was over 80 years old.
Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Thursday told a post-Cabinet press briefing that as part of government’s plan to establish an age limit for persons who sit on state boards, agencies and commissions, Green would not be asked to return when the new CH&PA board was sworn in; this is to be done shortly. “We as a country have to strike a balance where efficiency is concerned, where a person’s age is concerned. We do not believe age is a deterrent in and of itself but the fact that we have so many younger persons who are there, competent as well to carry out these duties, we believe that they ought to be given a chance. It is no disrespect and disregard to the work of these individuals [who held the posts] but we have to provide upward mobility within the system,” Harmon said.
Trotman, unaware of Harmon’s announcement, was asked about Green and whether it was fair to have him remain while others were sent home. In response, he said that he was not aware of the life of the board and, therefore, could not comment further as to whether Green should be removed. “That is a matter for the minister with responsibility, which would be the Minister of Communities but I believe that his Excellency has clarified the context in which persons had been asked to consider demitting and that in my view is sufficient for me. Sometimes things are done in a manner that leaves room for criticism and could have been dealt with differently,” he said.
“Knowing the President and knowing the history of these matters I am happy that the President has cleared it up,” he later added.
Meanwhile, Ramjattan, who was also at the press conference, said that people are “twisting the thing around” and giving it a “racial flavour.”
He said that was not the intent at all. He pointed out that there were age limits for many professions, such as judges, chancellors and members of the Guyana Police Force. He questioned whether this will now be seen as discriminatory or whether it was now expected that these age limits will change in the light of the criticisms and twists.
Ramjattan later accused PPP leaders, including parliamentarian Anil Nandlall, of twisting the matter. He said that what was being done was “dangerous in this multi-ethnic society.” Ramjattan pointed out, “We have to be cautious about these very sensitive issues.”
