MINISTER of State Joseph Harmon has charged the Public Service in Guyana to remain impartial in carrying out its functions and responsibilities in the respective State agencies and ministries so that the Guyanese public can benefit. Addressing a group of public servants from various ministries and State agencies yesterday morning at the Annual Conference of Personnel Practitioners, held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC), he pointed to the need for the sector to be modernised and upgraded to suit global trends that promote efficiency, reliability and responsibility.

A reformed sector, he added, will address the perception of corruption in Guyana.
“Your ability to give service without fear or favour, partiality or prejudice, are some of the things that we are looking for. We do not want a Public Service that is politically aligned. We are looking for impartiality, we are asking you to provide a service to all Guyanese because that is what you are there for. You are not there for a party…we are asking for professionalism and impartiality in serving the Guyanese people,” Minister of State Joseph Harmon declared.
He said that the conference had come at an opportune time since the public service is currently under scrutiny after it was discovered that there is a definite need for Public Service reform.
This reference was made in relation to the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (CoI), which was established by President David Granger to examine current working conditions, salaries and other areas of the Public Service with the aim of formulating recommendations for implementation.
Minister Harmon said that a reform in this particular sector will ensure that an improved and efficient Public Service is born.
NEW PUBLIC SERVICE
“You, the participants of this conference, are probably the best informed of the myriad of problems that exist within the Public Service, problems such as low wages and salaries, poor and inadequate training, institutional deficiencies as well as the great disparity in the quality of public service being delivered on our coastland as against our hinterland. A new Public Service is therefore envisaged and now required. A Public Service that is accessible, relevant, reliable, resourceful, responsive to the needs of the people; that is equally effective in all regions of Guyana, the coast and the hinterland; in all communities, rural and urban,” Minister Harmon declared.
He said that while challenges are still present in this sector even now, these will not be allowed to persist under the David Granger administration, since a good life for all Guyanese is what has been promised. Harmon made it clear that the new administration has high expectations of the Public Service and so public servants must be able to meet these high standards being set.
“This new Public Service has to be able to deliver in an administratively neutral way and has to be established firmly on the basis of merit and political impartiality. It must also possess expert knowledge and a high standard of academic education. In addition, it should consist of men and women of integrity who are reliable and willing to give advice without fear or favour, partiality and prejudice,” he charged.
CORRUPTION
Referring to the level of perceived corruption in Guyana, Minister Harmon reiterated that the government was serious about transparency and eradicating corruption and the Public Service was the place to start.
“We have a perception of corruption and we will begin to address that through the public servant. That is where you have to begin. If we address the public servant, we can address that perception that is out there because they are the ones who represent that agency or office of the government,” Harmon said.
REFORMED PUBLIC SERVICE
He posited that since the government wants a Public Service which is effective, responsive and fair, it will begin the process of modernising and transforming the sector to achieve these characteristics. He noted that the operational arrangements of the new Public Service will be so fashioned, that public servants will be introduced to new technologies, especially digital technology, so that the much-needed efficiency is achieved. He also promised increased salaries for improved work performance.
“The process of modernising and transforming the Public Service to make it more responsive, fair, efficient and effective cannot be over emphasised. The use of technologies will be employed and the physical facilities for delivery have to be improved. We will provide you with the tools, we will give you the environment, we will provide the quality of remuneration needed to make you more efficient public servants. If you have a trained workforce, you pay them well, they will deliver on your policies and that is something we are taking very seriously,” he emphasised.
It is within this context that need for the understanding of public servants’ functions and responsibilities were underscored by Harmon.
“You the personnel officers are the engineers and drivers of the Public Service, of the “engine of the executive.” In this capacity, you are required to play a very crucial role in the development of a renewed and relevant Public Service. Your traditional mandate will always be important. I invite you to discuss these issues in your deliberations with a view to adjusting your approach to your responsibilities in a way that would enable you to make the best possible contribution to the development of a new and relevant Public Service,” Harmon urged.
In the meantime, Permanent Secretary of the Department of the Public Service, Reginald Brotherson, told the participants that the days of fear and favour are gone and Guyanese now held high expectations of the Public Service. These expectations, he said, must not be allowed to fall.
“I welcome you to an era of exciting times in the Guyana Public Service and you are guardians of the Public Service. Public service is a major pillar of government. We have great expectations of you and we will work with you. We need a new dispensation. We need a chance for public servants to operate free and fair and without ill will,” he said.
PULL QUOTE: “Your ability to give service without fear or favour, partiality or prejudice, are some of the things that we are looking for. We do not want a Public Service that is politically aligned. We are looking for impartiality, we are asking you to provide a service to all Guyanese, because that is what you are there for. You are not there for a party…we are asking for professionalism and impartiality in serving the Guyanese people” – Harmon