EMPLOYMENT should be based on meritocracy. Regardless of whether it is at the highest level of society or in the ordinary run of the mill scenario an individual should be rewarded appropriately for his or her achievements. It matters not the age, race or social class of the individual, there should be a human resource policy in place that governs the criteria by which individuals are rewarded. This human resource policy must be implemented to cater for the needs of all Guyanese, not excluding the more mature citizenry. This policy must also be formulated in such a way, that no group will be discriminated against; and the principle of meritocracy must be institutionalised in all sectors of society.
In every society, there are groups that are systematically disadvantaged. For those groups which experience pockets of disadvantage, there should be some mechanism in place which would provide them with the necessary resources to compete with and achieve the outcomes of the more advanced groups.
The significance of the theory of meritocracy is that a society in itself is a living system, and because of this the individuals of that society must be able to suitably adjust within that society, to find their rightful place within its strata, and contribute appropriately, as finding one’s correct place in society will also determine his/her functional contribution to the society. Hence, the place an individual occupies in society and their functional contribution to society are related, and gives a sense of the need, to reward capable, deserving individuals. If this principle of meritocracy were to be applied in Guyana, it would maintain a smoother, more natural flow of competition among individuals, and would allow for all the sectors of society to be occupied and exploited meaningfully. The principle of meritocracy makes it imperative that the individual earn his/her rewards. In applying the rewards for works principle, persons will be motivated to be the best that they can be, and strive for higher heights. Natural, healthy competition will take effect, and the productivity level will increase, improving the standards of the workforce, and society in general.
In Guyana, people who have political affiliations or those who may be channelled to persons of position expect to be given jobs for which they do not possess the necessary requirements; often, they are. Because of this, there are many ‘square pegs in round holes’ in the workforce, and workforce efficiency is diminished. This should not be the case, rather, persons should be rewarded on the basis of their professional and academic qualifications and performance.