“I am ready to work” – Public Service Minister-designate
– “there is a lot of work that can and should be done and I am ready and willing to take up the task
– “I would like to say to young people not to negate the process, not think that the process isn’t important because it is”
DPI, Guyana, Sunday, April 28, 2019
Public Service Minister-designate, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley is ready to work to bring relief to persons affected by issues such as employment and employment benefits among others which fall under the remit of her ministry. “I am ready to serve in the capacity that has presented itself to me. As a member of parliament, I think I can and will represent the views and the beliefs of the people. At the level of the ministry, I think there is a lot of work that can and should be done, and I am ready and willing to take up the task there,” Sarabo-Halley told the Department of Public Information (DPI).
The Minister-designate says she keen to tackle issues relating, education, youth and development. She opined that the “public service is the place where all of those things collide. I am raring to go.”
According to the youngest designate-minister of the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) government her first task is to get acquainted with the various agencies of the ministry which she now has responsibility.
Tabitha Sarabo-Halley was, on Thursday last, sworn in as a Member of Parliament, filling the vacant seat left by the resignation of Dr. Rupert Roopnarine, the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) representative in the APNU+AFC government.
The 31-year-old politician mother and wife is also the chairperson of the Working People’s Alliance. The party nominated her to fill the vacancy created when Dr. Roopnarine resigned his post of Minister of Public Service. His resignation followed the ruling of the High Court that dual citizens are prohibited from sitting as members of the National Assembly.
Her swearing in follows an announcement by President David Granger, on Thursday last, naming her as the Public Service Minister. An honour she is appreciative of, Sarabo-Halley is grateful for the support of her mother, husband, church and extended family.
“I must say first that I thank my party for one, nominating me for that position and also the president for accepting the nomination.”
Quizzed about the journey which led to her appointment the former student of Saint Margaret’s Primary, Saint’s Stanislaus College and Mae’s Secondary says she is also a graduate of the Arizona State University, of the United States of America, where she completed two degrees in under four years before rushing home to serve her homeland.
“I read and gained degrees in political science and African and African American studies. Then I returned at the end of 2010 from Arizona State University. I’ve been back in Guyana ever since. I was very interested in getting involved in politics in Guyana while I was in the States.”
Many nights, she noted, were spent thinking of how best she could serve once she returned home. “I was so eager to come back home I did my two degrees in three and a half years… I have exams in September of this year and then at the end of that, I will have my Master’s in Public Policy and Governance. So, that too, took longer than I expected, but I can’t complain too much, I have two children [born] in that time period, blessings from God.”
Once back home, Tabitha’s choice of a political party was the Working People’s Alliance, which she says attracted her because of its philosophy and unchanging stance in support of the working people.
“I got back home in December 2010. The next year was elections, and I decided to become more involved in politics and the WPA. Eventually, the WPA became a founding member of the APNU in 2011, and from there I’ve continued to serve until now. Today, I’ve been selected to be a Member in Parliament and minister in the government.”
Asked about her view regarding claims that young people are being stifled by lack of opportunities, the former University of Guyana Political Science lecturer says while the perception exists, opportunities come with preparation and patience.
“First, we have to recognise that that perception is real, and a lot of young people are of that view. I also recognise that as a young person nothing comes easy in life; however, we are in a generation where young people think that things should just happen overnight and sometimes the process seems to be too long.”
Referring to her experiences, the Public Service Minister designate encouraged young people not give up on the Coalition government but rather to prepare for the opportunities which will present themselves.
“I don’t think I would have been able to become a minister had I not prepared myself. While we wait for that dream job, I think there are things that we can do on our journey, and the process is as important as where we end up. I would like to say to young people not negate the process, not think that the process isn’t important because it is, and once we get to where it is that we want to be, we would recognise that the experience that we would have gained through that process would help us once we reach the desired job or the desired standard of living that we are hoping for,” noted Sarabo-Halley.
Kidackie Amsterdam.
Images: Department of Public Information, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley.