Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Mar 10, 2010 News
By Sharmain Cornette
It may very well be the fault of the education system that many people are still acting and thinking as colonials even today. This assertion was made recently by General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Oscar Clarke. According to him, although Guyana was able to gain its Independence 44 years ago and is a Republic 40 years running, many Guyanese still live in the colonial past.
Clarke was at the time speaking in the capacity of Chairman of the Personnel and Training Committee of the Georgetown municipality during a session geared at improving the management ability of senior officials of the city entity. The one-day forum was spearheaded by the Guyana Local Government Officers’ Union (GLGOU) and was held under the theme ‘Re-shaping the municipality for better administration, effective and improved service delivery.’
In brief remarks to the gathering of mainly senior officers and executive union officials, Clarke stressed that it is of utmost importance that persons recognise that even after so many years with established systems, many people continue to behave as back in colonial times.
“Mind you, I recognise that I am an old man now dealing with some young people who have come along. And it therefore could be the failure of the education system that we are still acting and thinking as colonials even 40 years after gaining Republican and independence status,” Clarke opined. He further explained that since attaining Republican status many people have become managers, a development which would not have been realised “by a long shot if we were still a colonial people. We would not have had the chance of rising to the top of any administration in Guyana.”
But even though many persons have been lucky enough to become the ‘top dog’ within their respective departments, Clarke pointed out that many do not behave in the manner that is desirable in such a capacity. He highlighted the point that there is much lacking in the area of communication, and by extension, the delivery of management responsibilities.
According to the Committee Chairman, in order to foster change in the future, efforts must first be made to look within the municipality to see what must be modified even as he asserted that there are many changes that must be made at the level of the municipality before things can notably improve.
“I would like you to identify where you might be a victim of this colonial hangover and seek a change because in my view that single act of emancipation will help you to do your jobs better.” However, Clarke cautioned that those who are of the belief that they have already emancipated themselves and “can operate and function as if you are in charge. Then you don’t have to worry with what I said just continue doing what you are doing.”
He further highlighted that at the level of management, persons must also seek to be acquainted with the laws and rules that govern management even as he underscored that some persons believe that they do not have to worry about such issues. He speculated that it is the belief of some that “they will pick it (knowledge) up on the way or that they will learn it by trial and error. No way! You have to acquaint yourself and become fully up-to-date on all of the important matters relating to your particular sphere of activities to which you are involved.”
He disclosed that there are many instances when the persons charged with supervising are left to supervise themselves while the colonial ways seem to rub off even more at the lower levels, indicative of using damning means to motivate work. And this could be addressed Clarke said through training and if managers seek to lead by example.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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