–PM tells cadets

IN the discharge of duties a public officer shall execute the lawful policies of the government and the integrity of the public service is guaranteed, since no public officer shall be required to execute or condone irregular acts on the basis of higher orders.
This is according to Prime Minister (PM) Moses Nagamootoo during his address as a guest lecturer to the outgoing Public Service Cadets of Class 2018, on Monday at Ogle Estate, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

Under the theme “Politics and the Public Service”, the prime minister said an independent and effective public service is one which responds well, and in a timely way to the public or social demands of the day. “It consists of getting done all the work of the government, not any political party.”
The prime minister explained that in 2003 the Constitution of Guyana was amended to guarantee the independence of the public service from political influence. The statesman said that in order to insulate the public service from political influence, the Constitution provides for the establishment of a Public Service Commission and consisting of six members who are appointed on the basis of consultation.

“You are entitled to your personal political views and association, but you must ensure that these do not interfere with your public duties. You are however, the dedicated citizens who not only serve the government of the day but work for Guyana,” Nagamootoo said.
In advising the public service cadets, the PM noted that public servants must act professionally with honesty, consistency and impartiality; place the public interest over personal interest and provide apolitical and non–partisan advice regardless of political party affiliation. He challenged the cadets to commit themselves to become career public officers since the career public officer survives the life of governments.

“Government may change, but you remain, aim to be a professional whose opinions and advice carry value and worth, whose duties are to country and in fulfilment of the national Pledge,” the prime minister noted. President David Granger established the Bertram Collins College with a vision to transform and improve the public service in Guyana. In 2016 the first batch of students were enrolled.

The cadet programme is designed for new recruits or intakes into the Public Service of Guyana. It is intended to make them the catalyst for positive change within the executive arm of the government. The programme has a classroom component and provision for work attachment. Its duration is for a period of one year. At the end of the training programme, the successful cadets will be eligible for appointments within the Public Service and the wider Public Sector.