`It is...cause for concern that no woman has been deemed capable of contributing to the management of the Public Service as a member of this Commission. It is a decision, which reflects a judgement that is unacceptable to the women of Guyana, who are the larger number of the population, 50.8 per cent. There are other valid considerations which seem to have been overlooked by the decision makers' NCW
THE National Commission on Women (NCW) has expressed deep concerns that no woman has been appointed to the newly constituted Public Service Commission (PSC) and has deemed the decision "unacceptable".
Members of the PSC were sworn in at the Presidential Secretariat on December 30
Its members are former Public Service Minister, George Fung-On; former Permanent Secretary of the Public Service Ministry, John Worrell; businessman, David Yhann Jnr.; trade unionist, Leslie Melville; Chief Medical Officer of the Guyana Sugar Corporation, Dr Kissoon and Harry Narine Nawbatt, Head of the Poor Rural Support Services Programme (PRSSP).
The re-activation of the Commission ends a two-year hiatus that blocked appointments and affected other key public service business. Recent consultations between President Jagdeo and Opposition Leader, Robert Corbin, on the nominees cleared the way for the setting up of the body before the end of the year.
"It is...cause for concern that no woman has been deemed capable of contributing to the management of the Public Service as a member of this Commission. It is a decision, which reflects a judgement that is unacceptable to the women of Guyana, who are the larger number of the population, 50.8 per cent. There are other valid considerations which seem to have been overlooked by the decision makers..."
The NCW is contending that since the Public Service comprises a larger number of women, policies should be formulated to analyse and positively address the issues of concern to female public servants.
It recalled that the late President Dr. Cheddi Jagan on the inauguration of the National Commission of Women in December 1996 had expressed the commitment of his government towards the policy of having state boards and commissions made up of 33 1/3 per cent of female.
The statement noted that Guyana has ratified a number of conventions, and in particular, the one on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which commits Guyana to the fulfillment of its international obligations.
The NCW observed that it was agreed at the 4th World Conference of the United Nations held in Beijing in 1995, that women's rights are human rights, and as such, participants pledged to fulfill this concept at the national level.
In the context of good governance and inclusivity in the conduct of national affairs, the Commission said this "would be understood to address issues not only of race, but very definitely, gender."
According to the National Commission on Women, the newly appointed Public Service Commission does not reflect the above considerations.
"It reflects continued tokenism at the national level to the aspirations of women who, under any circumstances must be acknowledged as a vital capable resource base for sustainable national development.
However, the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration has welcomed the establishment of the Public Service Commission which it says will end the delay in promotion, discipline and appointment of Public Servants, Police, Teachers and members of the judiciary.
The Commission has a life span of three years and members will elect a Chairman.
The Public Service Commission is pivotal in the establishment of the other Service Commissions, as its chairperson sits on the Judicial Service Commission, the Police Service Commission and the Military Commissioning Board as stipulated in the Judicial Act.
"The Constitutional practice that is currently carried out of integrating membership among the different Commissions has certainly made some appointment pivotal in the administration of Government's business and the appointment of the Chairman of the Public Service Commission is one such pivotal appointment. The Chairman soon to be elected will allow the appointment of the Police and Judicial Service Commissions and the Military Commissioning Board," Head of the Presidential Secretariat (HPS) Dr. Roger Luncheon observed.