SENIOR officers of the Department of Housing have been urged to execute their professional duties with integrity and impartiality by Minister of Communities, Mr. Ronald Bulkan, at an introductory meeting held on Monday, in the department’s boardroom.Junior Minister of Communities, Mr. Keith Scott, who has direct responsibility for housing, also attended the meeting to familiarise himself with the sector.
Minister Bulkan informed staff members that the re-branded ministry comprises four departments, namely Department of Water Supply, Department of Housing, Department of Local Government and Department of Regional Development.
The minister explained the rationale behind the creation of the new ministry, noting the main reason for this new dispensation is to focus on the quality of life of residents, as opposed to the mere provision of a houselot or a house.
He informed the officers that “President David Granger believes in strong central and strong local governments.” According to Bulkan, “Guyana is too large to be effectively or efficiently managed from the centre.” He also highlighted the importance of meaningfully engaging the local democratic organs: 10 Regional Democratic Councils, six Municipalities and 65 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils.
The minister reminded the officers of President Granger’s unequivocal commitment that his Administration will be for all Guyanese regardless of their race, religion, creed or political affiliation. He also vowed to execute his duties without malice and emphasised that accountability and transparency would be the new order of the day.
Assuring officers of their freedom to be professionals, he noted that staff would be promoted on the basis of performance, experience and expertise and not on party loyalty. “As public servants, I want you to bear in mind that we are here as servants to the people and we have to follow certain guidelines,” Bulkan stated.
Bulkan said the public service would be the engine to bring development to Guyana, as he echoed the words of President Granger. He explained that public servants have to address the growing inequity and inequality in society and they must be responsive to the needs of the people, as well as resourceful, relevant and reliable.
Bulkan stressed that “public servants cannot be politicians” and pointed out the need for administrative neutrality and devotion to their jobs and duties, and added that the central focus of public servants must be to serve the people.
The minister recalled that President Granger has acknowledged that public servants need to be paid better, have better working conditions, and have permanency rather than contract employment. Emphasising his no-nonsense approach to corruption, he quoted President Granger who said that “the public service needs reform and that the public must come to regard the public service as un-bribable.” The new Administration will work to root out graft from the public service and those guilty of this will not have a place there, he noted.
According to Junior Minister Scott, during the 10th Parliament, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) exposed areas where corruption flourished. He assured officers that under his leadership there will be no reason to hide the facts or be worried when answering questions posed by the PAC. He emphasised that corruption will not be tolerated. “Once you are engaged in corruption, we have no choice but to remove you from our midst,” Scott stressed.
“There will be no political interference in the execution of your professional jobs and duties.” He believes that senior officers of the Department of Housing, who are qualified professionals, would now be able to enjoy freedom in articulating ideas and executing their duties.
According to the Junior Minister, A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Manifesto provides scope for the development of careers for the staff of the Department of Housing. He said Government envisions “self-contained communities,” which will see an exciting new phase of development in Guyana.
Scott emphasised that the Administration sees itself on the side of the professional and wants to achieve the set goals to better the lives of Guyanese. He hopes that these goals would be accomplished within the next five years.