The issue of contract employees surfaced again in the National Assembly on Monday. For years, public servants were seen as being above the political fray. They were supposed to be neutral. They were not supposed to be the targets of politicians. This seems to be the case no longer. There are the contract employees. According to the minister in the Office of the President, Ashni Singh, there are nearly 9,000 contract employees. And this number excludes those in the constitutional offices.
Responding to questions about whether contract employees should not be brought into the mainstream, Ashni Singh said that it is a matter of choice for the employee. He then said that when the coalition government sought to regularize the situation there were employees who were upset. He described the action by the coalition as high handed. He claimed that the coalition was forcing a situation down the throats of the workers.
The contract employee gets a gratuity of 22.5 percent every few months. Those workers opt to receive their gratuity ahead of their pre-retirement years. They see it as a bird in the hand. They do not consider security of tenure. They see the immediate gratuity as a part of their emolument. Their pay package is therefore enhanced. Those who opt for the retirement package will collect a lump sum when they retire. Many see that retirement package as a nest egg.
But for those who want it now, recognise the need for their money given the high cost of living and the uncertainty of the future. But the question that prompted the high-handed comment was whether the economy would not have been better served to pay the people on retirement rather than to pay them now. With the preponderance of the oil money Ashni Singh could not be concerned about the economy. He was kind enough to remember that some of those who opted to forego the immediate gratuity had made a conscious decision.
In 1992 when the Cheddi Jagan government opted to dismiss the Permanent Secretaries there was a hue and cry. Permanent Secretaries were public servants and should not be the victims of political shenanigans. Dr Cheddi Jagan said that in the United States the president decides who should serve in such a capacity. Memory does not recall any move to the court. What recent history revealed was that while Permanent Secretaries were sidelined, the only casualties were those who opted to resign.
In the scheme of things, the Agriculture Ministry has an acting Permanent Secretary who has been in that position for five years. Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said that she has been doing a good job but he could not explain why she has been not confirmed. One permanent secretary was assigned a desk in the Sophia Convention Centre auditorium with nothing to do. Had she been a contracted employee she would have been terminated. However, some prefer the ready cash and no one should blame them. But there are issues more pressing than whether one chooses to be a contract employee or not.
There is the problem with the deportees from a third country. At a University of the West Indies forum one speaker said that Guyana has agreed to accept deportees from third countries. This announcement has not been made to the Guyanese public. President Irfaan Ali, when questioned about Guyana accepting deportees from third countries was firm that none of the deportees would be placed in prisons. He did not deny accepting these deportees.
He admitted to discussing the issue with Marco Rubio, the United States Secretary of State. Ali insisted that Guyana is a firm partner of the United States. Guyana would do anything to help the United States, he said. He admitted to discussing the migration issue with Rubio. “What we are discussing is our partnership with the US. As the US unfolds its programmes and plans, wherever Guyana can be of support we have expressed our support.”
He said that specific issues were discussed but that he would not disclose these. He then said that there is nothing about accepting deportees. In the same breath he said, “There are some specific issues that I will not go into details in terms of the movement which includes flight and movement of people. “There is nothing specific at this moment.”
People have to be worried. There has been no rejection of the idea to have Guyana accept deportees from third countries. Also worrying is the fact that since there will be no imprisoning of the deportees from third countries, the conclusion is that, once they come, they would be allowed to roam in Guyana as free as a bird.
There are implications for the health system and for the security forces. There will also be pressure on the housing situation. The people in Guyana would be under more pressure. Forget the idea about money from the United States to help support the deportee issue.
Everyone knows how this government handles money. Already Venezuelans are flexing their muscles. On Monday they shot some soldiers in the Cuyuni River, seriously wounding four. And we have many of them in this country. Some of them may be military people.
