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…says fired Sport director Chris Jones
Director of Sports, Christopher Jones was on Monday relieved of his post and was sent on one month leave.
A former Member of Parliament for A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), Jones was appointed sports director in 201`5 following the coalition’s victory at the polls. He was also a candidate for the APNU+AFC coalition at the March 2, 2020 elections. He was one of several officials of the former administration who are in the firing line for the PPP/C government. He is quoted in sections of the media saying that he does not have a problem leaving the job, once he receives his benefits. He was handed a new contract back in March.
Meanwhile, Jones’ dismissal comes days after the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) government, assured that it has no intention of “taking away food from people’s mouth, as its only concern right now surrounds former political appointees who are reluctant to move on”. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Hon. Gail Teixeira explained that there are still individuals who served under the previous administration that have refused to adhere to the Standing Operational Protocols in Parliamentary Democracy.
Minister Teixeira appeared on a live broadcast moments after an address was made by former President David Granger calling on the PPP/C administration to desist from what he said is a “witch-hunting” exercise. In responding to the address, Minister Teixeira noted the new PPP government is not seeking to remove hardworking public servants from their jobs. The Minister reminded that upon the change of any administration, ministers automatically lose their jobs, and political appointees who are usually selected by the president of the day, are also expected to resign. “Unfortunately, there are a number of political appointees who were advised to hand over their vehicles and vacate premises paid for by taxpayers but have refused to do so. We are looking to address the political appointees at the Office of the President. While we have not dismissed and terminated people, we have asked persons to remove from government premises.”
“We want to assure all people that we are not here to take away food from people’s mouth. We are not here to take away public servants who are working hard in the system. We are not dealing with public servants.” Minister Teixeira reminded that back in 2015 when the PPP lost the elections, officials did not resist what was expected of them.
Delivering a statement live Friday morning on his party’s online platform, Granger said that it did not take the PPP/C long before it reverted to its “dangerous pattern” which has negatively impacted innocent persons and those perceived to be politically affiliated. He said that such unbecoming acts would not go without consequence. “Guyanese, the People’s Progressive Party, within hours of the swearing-in of the new President following the ‘declaration’ issued by the Chairman of the Elections Commission…commenced a vulgar, divisive and vindictive campaign of alienation, discrimination and separation against former A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) Coalition ministers and members of Guyana’s Public Service,” he said.
“Former ministers whose normal residences are located in the rural and hinterland regions were swiftly ordered to vacate their government quarters, unreasonably, within 36 hours. Public servants were locked out of their offices without explanation. Contracted officials were threatened with arbitrary and summary termination of their service.” Indeed, media reports are that at least four former government ministers were given 36 hours to vacate the government property they were occupying at various locations Georgetown. Letters giving the order were dispatched form Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaac after he was instructed to do so by Teixeira.
APNU+AFC Region Three Information Officer and General Manager of the Guyana Chronicle, Ganesh Mahipaul was asked to vacate the government property he occupies at Leonora on the West Coast of Demerara within an unreasonable 72 hours. The instruction came from the PPPP/C Administration through the Regional Chairman, Julius Faerber. Mahipaul responded: “…if it is the desire of the newly formed Government to have me vacate the Government house, I respectfully request that it be done within the confines of the laws of Guyana and in keeping with the Public Service Rules.
There were also media reports that several staff attached to the Ministry of the Presidency were asked to resign just days after President Irfaan Ali assured Guyanese that public servants have “nothing to fear” under his administration. The Former President and PNC/R Leader said that he is reminded of the violence unleashed by “PPP hooligans against” innocent schoolchildren travelling in a school bus at Bath Settlement in the Mahaica-Berbice Region on March 6, 2020 not long after the elections. He said that an atmosphere of “fear and loathing” enveloped the nation both then and now and this should not be expected after elections in our country. As such, he warned: “The People’s National Congress warns the People’s Progressive Party to desist from pursuing this dangerous pattern of aggression against officials, members of society and persons perceived to belong to other political parties. The PPP will bear responsibility for the consequences of its conduct.”