GOVERNMENT has given assurance that the three commissioners spearheading the Public Service Commission of Inquiry (CoI) will be paid a salary, and that a contract was already discussed with them. Last week, the commissioners, Professor Harold Lutchman, Sandra Jones and Samuel Goolsaran had told a news conference that they had not discussed any form of payment with the government for services which will be rendered to the CoI.
Lutchman was the first to make this disclosure.
“I have not stipulated, nor have I asked how much you are going to pay me,” he said.
“I don’t think that was a major concern for any of us here; we wanted to do a professional job, in the interest of our country, and the public interest,” he added.
But when quizzed last Friday at a post-Cabinet press briefing on whether these commissioners were aware of how much they are being paid, Minister Harmon responded in the affirmative.
He agreed that the only document presently guiding the work of the Commission is a Terms of Reference (ToR) which stipulates that the CoI is to inquire into, report on, and make recommendations on the role, functions, recruitment process, remuneration and conditions of service for public servants.
He, however, explained that there does exist a draft contract, and that it is just a matter of signing that document now.
“There’s not a signed contract,” Harmon said. “There are sums of money set aside for the purpose of paying these commissioners, so there is no possibility of them not being paid once they start working.”
The life of the commission is expected to last between three to five months, but according to Lutchman, this timeframe is subject to change, given the nature of CoIs. He revealed that upon nearing the end of hearing, a new development, with the magnitude to significantly affect the recommendations, can result in the life of the commission being extended. As such, this timeframe is not set in stone.

STATEMENTS FROM U.S. CANADA, UK

Additionally, it was noted that so far, over 30 statements and memoranda have been received by its secretariat. This was revealed by Secretary of the Commission, Geeta Chandan-Edmond, who noted that these statements and memoranda were received from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The aim of this CoI, according to Lutchman, is to have a professional public service which will serve as an engine for whatever government is in power. The public hearings, which are opened to the general public for oral presentations, will be conducted at the Secretariat Building of the Public Service Ministry on Waterloo Street, Georgetown.
This initiative was embarked upon by the APNU+AFC Government after their assumption to office, to investigate the prevailing conditions of the public service. Meanwhile, the opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has received an invitation from the government to participate in the Commission of Inquiry (CoI).
However, the party’s General Secretary Clement Rohee revealed at a press conference yesterday that the PPP is interested in participating, but will not do so until a “qualified consultant” prepares a report on the Terms of References (ToRs).
“We do have an interest in the Commission of Inquiry into the Public Service but the modus operandi which the government chose to go about it, differs from our understanding of how it should be done,” Rohee told reporters yesterday.
The commissioners will begin their hearings today, at 10:00 hrs, at the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of the Public Service Building on Waterloo Street, Georgetown.