“I am not fazed” – Min. Sarabo-Halley

DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Minister of Public Service, Hon. Tabitha Sarabo-Halley says she is not fazed by recent efforts to tarnish her credibility as a Minister of Government. The minister was responding to a social media post which alleged that her actions have resulted in staff being locked out beyond the start of working hours at the Department of Public Service.

“A little while ago it was brought to my attention, a post by Lloyd Phillips in which the individual is insinuating that I, as minister, hold the only keys to the Department of Public Service, and would have staff waiting on my arrival to gain entry to the office. All of which is false and geared towards tarnishing my credibility as a minister. While I am not personally fazed by the post and the attempts by others who hurl attacks at me, I feel it necessary to clear the air on the matter,” Minister Sarabo-Halley said.

Also, the minister identified the photograph accompanying the post as one taken some time in the recent past. She explained on that occasion the fault lay with staffers responsible for the opening of the building.

“As it relates to the post by Mr. Phillips, I was called and asked, for my set of keys because the staff member responsible for opening the building forgot his key and, on another occasion, for some reason, the keys were not working and again my set of keys were needed. There needs to be a better system in place, but those are the facts. There are several persons with keys to the building. As the minister, I have keys because I would go into my office on weekends or in the evenings to get work done and thought it best not to have to call staff out of the comfort of their home to open the building for me,” Minister Sarabo-Halley explained.

Further, the minister has called on citizens to fact check statements made by all and sundry on social media since many are aimed at distorting the facts in the interest of gaining political mileage.

“I encourage persons on social media to not just run behind ‘every tin-cup that knocks’, simply because most of the ‘cup knockers’ are basically seeking attention or falling prey to those who use them as scapegoats in an attempt to score political points, claiming to share so-called credible information with them,” Minister Sarabo-Halley noted.

She acknowledged the right of every individual to comment on matters of national interest, especially in the new dispensation created by the APNU+AFC government as it continues to strengthen the rule of law and democratic right of every citizen.

“We live in an era where everyone is empowered to speak up and speak out about issues and matters of great national concern. As a government minister, I welcome and appreciate the efforts of those who choose to exercise their right to freedom of expression, however, the problem that we have plaguing society is that persons are irresponsible in exercising that right. I encourage all members of the public if you hear or see any information shared about the Department of Public Service feel free to send a message to my page seeking clarity. I’m here to serve the people, and thus I’m more than willing to engage anyone,” she added.

Minister Sarabo-Halley can be contacted on her social media page;

https://www.facebook.com/Hon-Sarabo-Halley-MP-Minister-of-the-Public-Service