THE commissioners of the Public Service Inquiry yesterday heard that the public service is littered with old computers and technicians are forced to “hack” and ‘steal’ software on the Internet to keep the systems going.Assistant Development Coordinator Ryan Cumberbatch who has responsibility for Information Technology told the commission that the purchase of software is not included in the Public Service Department budget, and is something that needs to be corrected. This, he said will help the ancient handicap systems to operate with greater efficiency while preventing technicians from resorting to an illegality that smacks of copyrights infringement.
The commission was told that the systems to which Cumberbatch referred are Dell computers, most of which were acquired in 2006. According to Cumberbatch, overtime, key parts of these systems wore out, and they had to be sourced overseas since parts of other system do not work on Dell.

He lamented that monies are not released for the purchase of computers and the Information Technology team utilise their skills to the maximum in putting parts and the hacked software together to get the old system going and to revive discarded ones. Some of Comberbatch’s concerns might be soon addressed as Advisor on E-Government Floyd Levi recently met with regional representatives of Microsoft and CISCO Corporations to discuss support for government’s planned ICT initiatives. These projects are geared towards centralising key services and licensing for government ministries and agencies.
Meanwhile, junior Human Resource Management Consultant Kemo Benjamin, a University of Guyana law graduate told the commissioners that he believes some persons who attain retirement age should be retained. He said many are still fit and mentally agile at their work and can contribute to the continued professionalisation of the public service and the development of Guyana.
A nervous Benjamin said his legal training was handy when it came to the analytical aspects of his job, but pointed out that his work is limited to the Personnel Section of the Public Service Department. Benjamin joined the Public Service about two years ago through the Public Service Management Modernisation Programme and when the programme ended, he was absorbed into the Public Service proper.
Never forced
According to the young consultant, he was never forced by his superiors to do things he was not supposed to do, and on most occasions, he keeps to himself.
Chair of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Professor Harold Lutchman enquired of Benjamin if he was uncomfortable divulging information to the commission and would prefer the hearing to be done in-camera. But Benjamin declined, saying he is comfortable speaking on facts rather than hearsay. He nevertheless pointed out that the public service rules are too rigid, and are rigidly enforced. The consultant suggested that attention be shifted from a rules-based to a policy-based approach so as to maintain firmness and some flexibility in the approach to work.
Benjamin also called for more emphasis to be placed on training in the public service, pointing out that while training programmes exist at the management level, persons have to be selected to attend them. The commission also heard that there is no proper orientation for new employees. In the past, Commissioner Samuel Goolsarran related that all new employees were given an orientation, were trained for the job they will assume, and were given a general breakdown on how the different public service agencies are related.
Benjamin also told the commission that a lot of persons in the Public Service who are university trained do not get an opportunity to put their talent to work, a situation he described as unfair. If this situation is corrected, he said it will go a far way in boosting the morale of the many professional public servants.
Aside from Professor Lutchman who chairs the commission, the body comprises Samuel Goolsarran and Sandra Jones who are commissioners, and Geeta Chandan-Edmond, who is Secretary to the Commission. The purpose of the commission is to enquire into and make recommendations on the roles, functions, recruitment, training, remuneration, conditions of service and other matters pertaining to personnel employed into public service.

By Tajeram Mohabir