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Momodou
Denmark
11823 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Nov 2009 : 13:11:08
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The Hiring and Firing Tactics Continues
COMMENTARY
By Bijou Peters
The hiring and firing tactics continues. This practice, which commenced since 2004, has perplexed most sober-thinking Gambians particularly when no reasons for these frequent hiring and firing of senior civil servants are reported. This gives rise to speculations and rumor mongering in the country.
We recall that the former P.P.P. regime was ousted due to the accusations of corrupt practices and incompetence. We remember the commissions of enquiry, which were promptly inaugurated by the military junta of Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (A.F.P.R.C.) to investigate these malpractices and bring all officers found guilty to justice. We are all aware that the ensuing legal procedures were costly and they actually dragged on for many months. Civil servants found guilty of misdemeanors had their houses and properties confiscated. That period was a most unhappy one due to the syndrome of ‘Round pegs in square holes’, which prevailed in the civil service at that time.
This unsatisfactory practice is detrimental to progress generally and sustainable development of the country. The community then, believed that this demoralizing practice had disappeared with the deposed P.P.P. government, but alas! This does not appear to be the case; this syndrome seems to be raising its ugly head to present because of the several dismissals, which have been reported in recent months of this year 2009!! Does this imply that the present government, which had vehemently decried the former regime of corruption and other misdemeanors, are guilty of similar crimes, we wonder? This is the pertinent question being asked today. If so, the public is dismayed and disillusioned by these latest developments occurring in the country.
Who then can be saved and where are the dedicated men and women of integrity. We ask ourselves? At the present time we discover that there are about four ministries without S.O.S’s including that of the ministry of communications, a most important department. We realize that it is the president’s prerogative to hire and fire senior civil servants, but to replace the officers who have been fired, with competent alternative at short notice or with immediate effect cannot be that simple and/or easy. The sudden and unexpected dismissals must inevitably create vacuums here and there and result in much disruptions and discord in the various departments involved.
Thus necessitating the president to oversee a few ministries on his own. These actions must surely hamper the smooth and efficient functioning of the departments. The president has often boasted that he has over a million Gambians to choose from to replace dismissed officers, but is this a reality? It cannot be an easy task to discover competent men and women at short notice, of this we are convinced. Up to date the community has been supportive of these strict disciplinary measures initiated to streamline the civil service generally and make staff take their work seriously and giving of their best to the service thus effecting sustainable and comprehensive developments in government and the entire country.
The bombshell, which has shocked and surprised the country, is the dismissal of the top brass of the military; the Chief of Defence staff, Lang Tonbong Tamba and some other senior military officers. The former seemed to be a competent, senior military officer who had been given several promotions in recent months. This must have been a blow to him and his family and a source of much stress to them. Sympathy is extended to them all for this latest misfortune especially at this stage of a successful military career.
Source: Daily News
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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