Public Servants must master the craft of politics- PM Nagamootoo
– Bertram College hosts guest speakers
– Theme ‘Realities of the Public Service’
DPI, Guyana, Monday, November 26, 2018
Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo has said that Guyanese public servants must understand the science of politics, but should not indulge in “partisan politics.”
“Politics is the art and science of Government, the way in which the principles, the procedures, the rules, the laws guide the governance of a country…public servants have always been told that they shouldn’t dabble in politics, I don’t share that view, because public servants, who serve the people must understand politics.”
The Prime Minister was speaking at the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service (BCCPS) presentation of guest speakers on the theme “Realities of the Public Service.” The event was hosted at the GuySuCo Main Lecture Hall, Ogle.
Delivering a lecture on ‘Politics and the Public Service,’ Prime Minister Nagamootoo noted that often times, people think of the word politics as a “bad word, but it is an instrument by which you can affect policy changes, policy implementation and transformation of society,” he said
Speaking to the cadets of the Bertram College, the Prime Minister explained that public servants are protected under Guyana’s Constitution from political influence. “You have to be careful in your roles as a public servant, that you neither commit nor condone irregular acts and you are protected. There will be no sanctions if you stand up for what is right, there will be no sanctions against you without due process, meaning that you have to be allowed to be heard.”
He pointed out that the role of public service is to implement the government’s decisions, policies and programmes, to deliver services to the community, develop and advise on public options and help to draft legislation and to manage the resources, assets and manage finances of the state.
To the cadets, Prime Minister Nagamootoo advised, that as future public servants, they must at all time execute their mandate professionally, with honesty and be impartiality and be consistent in delivering quality service.
The Bertram Collins College of the Public Service (BCCPS) presentation of guest speakers continues over the next three days. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon will present on Thursday, November 29.
Synieka Thorne.
Image: Jameel Mohamed.