‘Conflict of interest’ attacks on Patrick...

persons are narrow minded, petty and have a grudge.

Conflict of interest seems to be the buzz word. Mr Yarde mentioned to the Executive Council members on Friday May 19, that after a meeting of the Dependent Pension Fund Board held the day before, Prof Harold Lutchman raised the issue of conflict of interest with him, which he dismissed. Prof Lutchman then told Mr Yarde that the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Public Service had some recommendations with respect to the PSC. Mr Yarde reminded him that the CoI’s recommendations were not fully supported by the GPSU. In fact, it should be noted that the GPSU had publicly stated that it did not agree with some of the recommendations of the CoI.

The Professor then told Mr Yarde that he was certain that his position as Chairman (ag) of the PSC would be challenged as one of conflict of interest. It seems as though Prof Lutchman was privy to some information, since only a few days later we saw all these criticisms in the print media.

Why all this brouhaha? Freddie Kissoon mentioned instances of judges recusing themselves from cases where they may have an interest, and said that the same could be done in the case of the Chairman of the PSC.

If public servants do not agree with any decision of the PSC they can always seek redress from the PSAT whose members are not PSC Commissioners.

Mr Earl John has branched into an area of no concern to him in his letter captioned ‘We are caught in an injudicious system’ (Stabroek News, May 25). He needs to check the Constitution to become acquainted with the composition of both the PSC and JSC. The fact that Mr John is dumbfounded by the action of President Granger in appointing the acting Chairman of the PSC to the JSC speaks poorly of him, and exposes his double standards and his bias against working class people and trade unions. The Constitution clearly states how the Chairman of the PSC is to be elected and the members of the JSC appointed.

On the occasion of this 51st Independence Anniversary of our nation there ought to be expressions of enlightenment and upliftment in pursuit of harmony, unity and sustainable development, on which I am certain that all open minded and forward thinking Guyanese would focus.

Yours faithfully, Dawn Gardener