Dear Editor,
No lesser a person than the President of Guyana has stated “that public servants must enjoy their leave when it is due”, stating that “this encourages the development of a good career system in which the subordinates are allowed to act”.
This pronouncement came based on questions he was asked about the Police Commissioner being sent on “special leave” on November 24, 2017 – the day he was slated to return to his duties following four months’ annual leave.
And we are well aware of so many other persons who were made to proceed on their accumulated leave such as the former CANU head, a Permanent Secretary, senior GRA officials, etc, and no one can find fault with this reasoning.
Having senior employees take their vacation helps the entire company — from the employee’s mental state and productivity, to the company’s bottom line.
But somehow the President’s viewpoint and the Government wishes seem not to matter one bit to the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown.
At this institution from the administrative head, the Town Clerk, to several other senior officers, refuse to proceed on their accumulated vacation leave and yet their Human Resources Manager does nothing about it. Neither does the Council nor the Communities Ministry seem to have the slightest concern for this gross anomaly.
When one sees such a situation prevailing at a company, one can be assured that something is extremely wrong at that institution. Most times, it is either corruption or financial malfeasance that these officers are sitting on and are afraid that if they leave their desks, it will all blow.
With the lack of an audit for years, with the institution totally bankrupt, with the Council owing hundreds of millions to many, many suppliers and contractors, with employees and pensioners not being paid, with most municipal services not being delivered, is it not time for these senior staffers to take their leave? Is it not clear that they are physically tired and mentally bankrupt and need some rest? Is it not time for fresh ideas and approaches from their deputies?
City Hall is broken and no one seems to want to seriously fix it.
Sincerely,
Mark Roopan
