‘Urgent explanation required’
Robinson wants USF Board to clear up recruitment debacle
THE PEOPLE’S National Party’s (PNP) Shadow Minister of Science and Technology, Julian Robinson, has expressed alarm at news that some 24 qualified candidates had submitted applications for the position of executive director of the Universal Service Fund (USF) but were rejected in favour of a former Jamaica Labour Party councillor who was not qualified to fill the post.
In a news release, Robinson said that he was stunned by the news that 24 qualified persons, including very experienced Jamaicans with more than the minimum qualifications had applied, but their applications were set aside to accommodate the selection of someone without the necessary qualifications.
He said that this level of unfairness was unethical, noting that it lacked transparency and only served to corrode public perception and erode trust in public administration.
Robinson who is also PNP General Secretary said that favouritism, cronyism and nepotism within the realm of government, were apparently more widespread than originally believed.
He said the decision of the board to toss aside the applications of so many qualified individuals for an unqualified and “connected” member of the JLP required an urgent explanation as persons with reasonable minds must be confused about the motives of those who are put in charge of public bodies.
A report at the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee on Wednesday indicated that applicants with Masters and doctoral degrees in the technical areas applicable to the work of the USF were not shortlisted and considered to fill the post.
“Too many Jamaicans have sacrificed and stayed the course of education, and are shafted from getting top positions of merit because of the practice of nepotism and cronyism at the highest levels. This must be justly condemned,” said Robinson.