Dear Editor,
Reference is made to the news article published in the electronic and print media (News Room, News Source Guyana, dated July 19, 2023 and Guyana Times of July 20, 2023) instant on the caption “GPSU challenges Mohandatt Goolsarran’s nomination to Public Service Commission”. Therein, the Attorney General of Guyana, Anil Nandlall made commentary while on his programme “Issues in the News” and opted to make several unprofessional and misleading statements. These statements can be interpreted as a malicious attempt to mislead the public, discredit and silence the work of the Union in upholding the Rule of Law.
In this regard, the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) anticipates your support in publishing its response to the public pronouncements of the Attorney General.
It is spurious for the Attorney General to have stated that the work of the GPSU in defending the Constitution of Guyana in light of a possible breach (nomination by the Senior Staff Association) “amounts to an attempt to sabotage the work of the Government”. Further, the Attorney General is quite aware that the Union previously objected to the Parliamentary Committee on appointments consulting with the Senior Staff Association.
It is rather unfortunate this attempt to mislead the nation with inaccurate information since as the Attorney General and a Member of Parliament for seventeen of these twenty years, Mr. Nandlall ought to have been aware of the Union’s objections from the inception of Resolution No. 24 as enacted by the 8th Parliament of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, sitting in its Second Session (2002- 2003). In addition, as the holder of this Constitutional Office, the Attorney General has an ongoing duty to be honest at all times and accurate in his postulations on issues of public importance.
In the Union’s letter of March 14, 2007, the GPSU strongly protested its objection to Resolution no. 24 and informed the Parliament that –
“…it is beyond any shadow of a doubt that the GPSU is the sole union with a Certificate of Recognition for workers appointed by the Public Service Commission, we firmly insists that the Guyana Public Service Union is the legitimate union to nominate persons to be appointed members of the Public Service Commission in consonance with the Constitution of Guyana… we are not aware that any of the other bodies mentioned in resolution no. 24…enjoys such a status and can be realistically be described as among those that appear to represent classes of public officers…”
The Union’s objection has not been done in isolation to similar views expressed by members of the said Parliament of Guyana. Former Member of Parliament Mr. James Mc Allister, also registered objection to the inclusion of this inapplicable body which he termed as a “mischief of parliament”, as published in Kaieteur News dated April 11, 2006. During this very consultation process, a member of the Committee of Appointments, which is headed by the Hon. Gail Teixeira, expressed identical concerns about the legitimacy of including the Senior Staff Association in this constitutional process. The Union has since written to the Attorney General, copied to the President and the Prime Minister, and provided their offices with pertinent information, detailing the basis upon which the GPSU is maintaining that it remains the only recognised association or Organisation representing public officers or classes of public officers.
After twenty years, there continues to be a settled determination on the part of successive governments to erode the Constitution of Guyana by adopting this irregular, procedurally flawed and unconstitutional practice. This unlawful conduct and the government’s continued attitude of reneging on its obligation to participate in meaningful dialogue, led the Union to resort to the action it has taken.
The GPSU considers this matter as an important feature to the welfare of all Public Servants and also believes that accurate information (the truth) ought to be shared with sister unions, other organisations and the citizens. The Union will continue to pursue legal actions in defence of our Constitution and the rights of Public Servants thereunder.
Yours sincerely,
Indira Thakurdin
Guyana Public Service Union
