President swears in members of Public Service Commission

By Stabroek News On In Guyana News |
Despite objections from Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton to several of the newly-selected appointees to the Public Service Commission (PSC), President Irfaan Ali yesterday went ahead and swore in the members of the body. The six commissioners who were administered their oath of office yesterday are Leila Ramson, Mohandatt Goolsarran, Manniram Prashad, Janice Bowen, Maurice Gajadhar, and Melcita Bovell. Prashad was elected chairman while Bovell was elected vice-chair at a meeting held immediately after the swearing-in. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Office of the President. Ali told the newly sworn-in commissioners who will serve a term of three years, that he expects the PSC to work in the interest of the public sector and not just be a ceremonial body. He said that the commission’s appointments have come at a crucial time as the country pushes ahead with its transformation. “It is to our benefit as a country and as a people that we not only hold public officers accountable… but very important in this process of transformation, that productivity and delivery become an important output of the public service,” the president was quoted as saying. He charged the commissioners to work against slothful bureaucracy and work towards ensuring that every public entity is staffed with experienced and knowledgeable professionals. While he declared that the commission will be free of political interference, he advised the commissioners to work with the government which in turn is working diligently to improve the livelihood, welfare, and quality of living for all Guyanese. “The Government of Guyana recognises and respects the need for an independent and impartial Public Service Commission. The commission can be assured that there will be no political interference in the discharge of this mandate.” Meanwhile, Norton in a missive to Ali dated June 23 and seen by this newspaper, registered his objection to the nominations of both Bovell and Ramson. “In the case of Ms. Melcita Bovell and Mrs. Leila Ramson, they have a history of involvement in partisan politics or close links to a political party and or political party senior operatives. Consequently, I cannot support them being part of an Independent Public Service Commission,” he pointed out. Acting on Norton’s behalf, attorney-at-law Roysdale Forde in a letter dated July 5, to Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, declared the Leader of the Opposition’s objections as “an indisputable fact.” He noted that Ramson, is the wife of a former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs in the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration and mother of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson, in the current PPP/C administration. Regarding Bovell, Forde stated that she is “known to be a close associate of a senior political party operative which brings into question her ability to be independent.” However, he signalled his support for Gajadhar as validated by his curriculum vitae and the fact that he is not a known political partisan and therefore had no issue in recommending him to be a part of the independent Public Service Commission. Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira, however, rebutted Norton’s objections and noted that Bovell and Ramson have served Guyana with distinction. Ramson, Teixeira argued, has served on the independent Teaching Service Commission established by the Constitution as a member thereof for 12 consecutive years commencing in 1994, and then served as Chairperson of the commission for another 10 years – all without legal challenge. With respect to Bovell, Teixeira stated although an allegation of political association was made by Norton, no details were provided that would permit either an interrogation or a considered response. But Forde on June 28, informed Teixeira that the consultation period was short and prevented the opposition from conducting any meaningful investigations into the candidates. This, he noted, renders the consultative process meaningless. In response to these concerns, the minister informed Forde that President Ali has maintained that the trio proposed have provided distinguished public service to the nation as reflected in their curriculum vitae, and are persons of good standing. “In His Excellency’s opinion, they are qualified to serve as members of the Public Service Commission.”
Despite objections from Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton to several of the newly-selected appointees to the Public Service Commission (PSC), President Irfaan Ali yesterday went ahead and swore in the members of the body. The six commissioners who were administered their oath of office yesterday are Leila Ramson, Mohandatt Goolsarran, Manniram Prashad, Janice Bowen, Maurice Gajadhar, and Melcita Bovell. Prashad was elected chairman while Bovell was elected vice-chair at a meeting held immediately after the swearing-in. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Office of the President. Ali told the newly sworn-in commissioners who will serve a term of three years, that he expects the PSC to work in the interest of the public sector and not just be a ceremonial body. He said that the commission’s appointments have come at a crucial time as the country pushes ahead with its transformation. “It is to our benefit as a country and as a people that we not only hold public officers accountable… but very important in this process of transformation, that productivity and delivery become an important output of the public service,” the president was quoted as saying. He charged the commissioners to work against slothful bureaucracy and work towards ensuring that every public entity is staffed with experienced and knowledgeable professionals. While he declared that the commission will be free of political interference, he advised the commissioners to work with the government which in turn is working diligently to improve the livelihood, welfare, and quality of living for all Guyanese. “The Government of Guyana recognises and respects the need for an independent and impartial Public Service Commission. The commission can be assured that there will be no political interference in the discharge of this mandate.” Meanwhile, Norton in a missive to Ali dated June 23 and seen by this newspaper, registered his objection to the nominations of both Bovell and Ramson. “In the case of Ms. Melcita Bovell and Mrs. Leila Ramson, they have a history of involvement in partisan politics or close links to a political party and or political party senior operatives. Consequently, I cannot support them being part of an Independent Public Service Commission,” he pointed out. Acting on Norton’s behalf, attorney-at-law Roysdale Forde in a letter dated July 5, to Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira, declared the Leader of the Opposition’s objections as “an indisputable fact.” He noted that Ramson, is the wife of a former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs in the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration and mother of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson, in the current PPP/C administration. Regarding Bovell, Forde stated that she is “known to be a close associate of a senior political party operative which brings into question her ability to be independent.” However, he signalled his support for Gajadhar as validated by his curriculum vitae and the fact that he is not a known political partisan and therefore had no issue in recommending him to be a part of the independent Public Service Commission. Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs, Gail Teixeira, however, rebutted Norton’s objections and noted that Bovell and Ramson have served Guyana with distinction. Ramson, Teixeira argued, has served on the independent Teaching Service Commission established by the Constitution as a member thereof for 12 consecutive years commencing in 1994, and then served as Chairperson of the commission for another 10 years – all without legal challenge. With respect to Bovell, Teixeira stated although an allegation of political association was made by Norton, no details were provided that would permit either an interrogation or a considered response. But Forde on June 28, informed Teixeira that the consultation period was short and prevented the opposition from conducting any meaningful investigations into the candidates. This, he noted, renders the consultative process meaningless. In response to these concerns, the minister informed Forde that President Ali has maintained that the trio proposed have provided distinguished public service to the nation as reflected in their curriculum vitae, and are persons of good standing. “In His Excellency’s opinion, they are qualified to serve as members of the Public Service Commission.”

Despite objections from Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton to several of the newly-selected appointees to the Public Service Commission (PSC), President Irfaan Ali yesterday went ahead and swore in the members of the body. 

The six commissioners who were administered their oath of office yesterday are Leila Ramson, Mohandatt Goolsarran, Manniram Prashad, Janice Bowen, Maurice Gajadhar, and Melcita Bovell. Prashad was elected chairman while Bovell was elected vice-chair at a meeting held immediately after the swearing-in.

The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Office of the President.