‘Efficient, reliable’ public service needed to push Guyana’s transformation- President says as new PSC sworn-in

The six members of the Public Service Commission (PSC) were sworn in on Thursday and President Dr. Irfaan Ali underscored the need for these Commissioners to help the country develop a highly competent, professional and efficient public service.

The new Commissioners are: Mohandatt Goolsarran, Janice Bowen, Leila Ramson, Maurice Gajadhar, Melcita Bovell and Manniram Prashad.

They are appointed for a period of three years. When they meet, the Commissioners are expected to elect a Chairperson and a Deputy Chairperson.

The PSC, a constitutional body, oversees the public service; it can appoint persons to public office and exercise disciplinary actions, including the removal of persons from office.

And President Ali told the Commissioners that their role is critical to the development of a reliable, efficient and transparent public sector needed amid Guyana’s ongoing transformation.

“It is important that this Public Service Commission understands that in the new world of result-oriented governance and results-oriented policy making, you have to have your own independent analysis as to how those charged with implementing the policies are performing.

“You can’t be the fastest growing (economy) and have the least efficient public service or the fastest-growing and the most unreliable (public service),” Dr. Ali said in an address after the Commissioners were sworn-in.

According to him, Guyana’s public service is filled with talented workers but people’s attitudes and work culture must change so that the services provided are delivered more efficiently and reliably.

“The people’s business must not be held hostage to slothful bureaucracy,” the President said seriously.

He also said these workers must be held accountable. As such, he said the PSC cannot be a ceremonial body.

President Ali promised that there will be no political interference in the work of the PSC, though he encouraged the body to work along with the government as it strives to train persons and ensure that they are capable of delivering services needed across the country.