PANIC at Finance
as SoS Keita imposes ‘terror’ on staff
By Ebrima Jaw Manneh
Mar 11, 2005, 08:01
_Email this article_
(mailto:?subject=PANIC%20at%20Finance<br><i>as%20SoS%20Keita%20imposes%20terror%20on%20staff</i>&body=http://www.observer.gm/artman/pub
lish/article_4974.shtml)
_Printer friendly page_
(http://www.observer.gm/artman/publish/printer_4974.shtml)
Staff at the department of state for Finance and Economic Affairs (DoSFEA)
said they have been gripped by “terror’, following the alleged issuance of a
circular by the new secretary of State, Margaret Keita, spelling out new
directives they described as unfair.
According to our source, the Madam SoS, (as she is called by her staff)
reputed for her strictness in dealing with official matters, has ordered that
senior officials park their vehicles at the Quadrangle after closing hours and
hand the keys to the Principal Assistant secretary, Ebou Gaye. In addition,
our source went on to say that the new secretary of state also ordered that any
member who reports to work late, would be sent back home.
However, the directives did not go unchallenged. In a swift query sent to
the office of the secretary general and other authorities, Ebou Gaye, the
principal assistant secretary, queried the new measures, describing them as
demotivating to the officials of the department. He also expressed his disagreement
with the directive especially that which involves the handling of keys of
the vehicles from officials.
In a two page query addressed to the secretary general, office of the
President, Mr Gaye writes: The staff of DoSFEA has been gripped by terror following
the issuance of the above circular which many describe as 'the tip of the
iceberg'. Their gloomy countenance can be likened to that of a bereaved family.
Sir, as you can see, I have been assigned to keep the keys of our vehicles
after working hours. I am very much concerned about the idea of parking the
vehicles at the Quadrangle after working hours and entrusting their keys to me
as stipulated in the circular. I very much doubt whether handling the keys as
directed by Madam SoS is within my purview. Besides, I believe the new
directives have far-reaching repercussions, as they are irrational and unfair to
me. As my conscience doesn't allow me to be a party to the implementation of
decisions of this nature, I voiced my concern to the Permanent Secretaries but
my worries were not fully allayed, neither were my doubts cleared in
totality. This has opened the option for me to turn to you as the NEXT RESORT, hence
my resolve to take the bull by the horn by filing this query for the sake of
justice, fair play and the smooth running of DoSFEA.
Sir, the directives in the circular are contradictory. Madam SoS is asking
her staff to report to work early and at the same time denying them the means
of doing so by ordering them not to take their vehicles home after closing
from work. If she is genuinely interested in her staff reporting to work early,
the best thing to do is to facilitate transport for them, not to deny them
means of transport. It is common knowledge that the Hon SoS never parked her
vehicle at the Quadrangle after working hours while serving as Accountant
General but always took it home. It is also an open secret that she used fuel
coupons before her ascension to the post of SoS. Why is she denying her
successor and his colleagues the very privilege she had enjoyed for quite a long
time? Isn’t this ironical? Is what is good for the goose not good for the gander?
If she considers using fuel coupons a waste, why didn’t she turn them down?
If she holds the view that leaving vehicles at the Quadrangle is the best way
of taking care of them, why didn’t she volunteer to park her vehicle at the
Quadrangle after closing from work as she has instructed? Why not do it now?
In fact history has taught us that leaving vehicles at the Quadrangle is not
always the best solution as far as security is concerned.
A vehicle (green Pajero, Reg No: GG2673) belonging to the Accountant General’
s Department parked at the Quadrangle after working hours had been allegedly
stolen by a night watchman and crashed. It is worth mentioning that the
incident occurred during her tenure of office as Accountant General and that the
vehicle has not been repaired yet. Given the fact that Madam SoS is fully
aware of that incident, I wonder what her rationale is.
These directives have the danger of demoralising the staff rather than
boosting their ego, thereby affecting the running of DoSFEA. Many of the directors
and unit heads concerned, and even the junior staff, work overtime, without
pay, as dictated by the exigency of the job, or render voluntary services
during working hours when the need arises. Can we expect this trend to continue
with these demotivating directives? Some staff members at times attend
meetings which end after working hours. What do we expect those officers to do with
their vehicles in such a situation?
The negative ramifications of the directives are not confined to the staff
of DoSFEA. Our quests have their share of the inconveniences springing from
the stringent measures. Our utility vehicle is used to take guests to and from
the airport, hotels and other places of interest, at times after working
hours, or even during weekends, with the accompaniment of guides from DoSFEA.
What is the fate of this arrangement? Can such hospitality continue if the
measures are applied to the letter as ordained by the ‘mighty’ SoS?
Sir, allow me to lift up my pen now. I am waiting for your response before
handling the keys of the vehicles as instructed. Thus, any key surrendered to
me will be returned to the owner.
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/CGI/wa.exe?S1=gambia-l
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
|
