Latest update April 18th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 10, 2016 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom
The holders of public office should avoid abusing their office. They must not use you their positions of power to attempt to bring pressure on private corporations and individuals to act in their favour or to overlook their debts. They must not attempt to have their colleagues bring influence to bear on their personal affairs.
Holders of public office are in a position of a conflict of interest if they do any of the above. They are also in a position of conflict if there is an appearance or likelihood that their positions can be used to benefit themselves or their businesses.
A more detailed code of conduct for all public officials, but especially for senior political functionaries, is needed now. The draft code published for Ministers is too limited in scope and coverage. This code must go beyond merely specifying the value of gifts that may be received at any one time, reporting gifts beyond the stipulated value and indicating what is appropriate conduct for government officials.
Power is intoxicating. Codes of conduct must therefore cover issues such as attitude towards work and towards others. Many bosses verbally abuse their staff. People are belittled and tormented and often have no recourse, because everyone is afraid of the boss, and the boss of the boss is disinclined to sanction the boss for wrongdoing.
A code of conduct must cover relations with women, because there are many big ones in this country who use their power to force women into sexual relations. They also harass women in the workplace. Those who do not touch and rub, throw remarks. The sexual harassment that women have to endure in Guyana is simply unbelievable. Somebody needs to devise rules to deal with sexual harassment.
The present APNU+AFC administration has not changed this situation. In fact it has gotten worse. Young and old girls have been enticed into the lair of a known womanizer at one public institution. In other places, young ladies have opted to leave rather than be constantly be “hit” upon by newcomers. These girls walk rather than resist. A code of conduct is needed to reduce sexual harassment in the workplace.
A great many women in Guyana are flummoxed about the reaction over the comments Chris Gayle made to an Australian reporter. They do not see that as a form of sexual harassment because they receive more direct comments each day about their “bumper” and they are “hit” upon almost daily. The lines have become blurred as to what is sexual harassment and what is flattery.
When it comes to financial affairs, there is a need for rules to govern those government officials who have private businesses, regardless of whether that business is in the sector in which they operate. If you are senior public official, your business should be put in trust until such time as you demit office. A Minister should have nothing to do with the running of a business when he or she is a minister. This is a standard rule that helps to guard against persons using their positions of power to benefit their businesses.
This means that even if you have problems with another business, your office will not be called into question, because there is a clear separation between your business and the public office that you hold.
If you cannot afford to let go of control of your business while you are a public official, then you should do the right thing and resign. There should be dual responsibilities. It is incumbent on the government to ensure that this is understood loud and clear by all its senior officials. This will avoid a lot of problems and a great deal of embarrassment.
JAGDEO ADDING MORE DANGER TO GUYANA AND THE REGION
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