By Ravin Singh

THE activation of several Commissions of Inquiry (COIs) initiated by the APNU+AFC government upon its assumption to office last year, has sparked concerns regarding their necessity. But according to President David Granger, these COIs are indeed necessary for the extraction of information which plays a critical role in strengthening State institutions.
The President expressed this view yesterday during the broadcast of his weekly television programme, “The Public Interest.”
After the coalition government assumed executive office last year, it immediately embarked on forensic audits of State agencies, after which there was the activation of several COIs. Among them were a COI into the state of the public service, followed by a one-man COI to investigate the Custom’s Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), and another one investigating the March prison riots which left 17 prisoners dead.
And while concerns have been expressed with regard to the cost of these COIs, and their effectiveness in influencing reform, President Granger sought to reason that the Government needs information before it can draw any conclusion on these issues. As such, the role of the COIs were underscored.
With regards to the Public Service COI, which was recently completed, the President said that while he has not been in receipt of the report as yet, the findings should be the basis upon which the government can draw conclusions about what modifications have to be made to the emoluments of public servants.
Public servants’ participation in the labour force is estimated to be over 20,000.
The President told reporters that were it possible for him to receive the report tomorrow, then Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan would be in a position to study it and be guided accordingly.
He was, however, keen to note that there is no obligation on the part of the government to accept everything that the report says. But, it will nevertheless be used to guide the executive in creating a more profession public service.
As it relates to the ongoing one-man COI into the operations of CANU, the Head of State noted that this should be a simpler, shorter inquiry, and he remains hopeful that by next week, a report with the findings will be released.
And finally, in relation to the Prison COI, President Granger revealed that he has requested that it be brought to an end as quickly as possible.
“We are concerned with the circumstances which lead to the outbreak of disorder at a particular time and place. I would like the public to get the benefit of the recommendations of that inquiry as quickly as possible. We cannot bring about changes in those three areas, without getting the facts,” he said.
Further, he expressed the view that some people are being criticised for their decision to have an inquiry into the prison service disorder.
For him though, he believes it is justified.
Referencing a similar situation in 2003, where a report was compiled, the Head of State explained that most of the recommendations were not implemented by the very administration which convened the inquiry in the first place.
“I had the benefit after that of being a member of the discipline forces commission and even then we made recommendations which were never implemented by the previous administration.
“So what happened last year when the APNU+AFC coalition got into office, there was a stack of unimplemented recommendation and that’s what cause the crises,” he said.
And according to him, if these recommendations were implemented 10 or 15 years ago when they were made, Guyana would not have had the crises it did in March. He stressed that this is one of the legacies that his administration had to bear and is working on now presently.
“That’s one of the reasons I knew almost instinctively that we had to go to Mazaruni. “And within days I went there with the Ministers of State and Public Security to implement, and to consider implementation of the recommendations which were made in 2003 by the Disciplined Forces Commission,” President Granger said. He added that he believes these COIs are important, and that he does not intend to ignore them.
“I am quite confident that some of the problems we face in the public service, prison service, and in CANU could be resolved, if the responsible Minister implements recommendations which come of these inquiries.
“That’s why we hold inquiries; to find out,” the Head of State reiterated.