Public Service Tribunal appointment will improve quality of public servants -Minister Harmon

GINA, Guyana, Thursday, May 18, 2017

The appointment of the Public Service Appellate Tribunal is part of Government’s commitment to addressing the conditions of terms and service, including wages for public servants. The Tribunal, which had lapsed for more than 20 years, had negatively affected the appointments, promotions and other issues for several public servants who had no other recourse other than taking court action, said Minister of State Joseph Harmon.

The Minister at the post-Cabinet media briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency, today, posited that due to this, many cases were delayed and issues unresolved. The appointment of the Tribunal, is part of a raft of measures, Minister Harmon noted that will improve the quality of service of the nation’s public servants, and the issues which need to be dealt with, will not be addressed in a piecemeal manner.

“It is really a commitment we have given to the public servants, and we are keeping that commitment,” he explained.

After more than two decades of not functioning, the Public Service Appellate Tribunal, was yesterday re-convened with the swearing in of its Chairperson, Nandram Kissoon, and two members, Abiola Wong-Inniss and Winston Browne.

A statement from the Ministry of the Presidency stated that the reconvening of the Tribunal will once again provide public servants with a means of recourse in matters of appointments, dismissal or other forms of disciplinary action.

President David Granger has said that the Tribunal is a vital element in the system of public administration as it will ensure professionalism and fairness with regard to promotions and disciplinary action in the Public Service. It will  also aid in boosting public servants’ morale.

 

By: Paul McAdam