Ramjattan is a square peg in a round hole
A former Commissioner of Police doing immigration. A former Investment banker doing ambassadorship in India. These men are working out of their areas of training and expertise. Running a government is about recruiting skilled and competent people. Bureaucracies must be managed to deliver goods and services efficiently. All sound political and management principles we had learned and inherited from the British colonial masters have been thrown out the window. And, we as a nation became bungling and backward.
I am in New Delhi purchasing rugs. Salesman threw out one and said price is $5,000; another $3,500; and yet another $2,000. The cheapest looked prettier and more aesthetic to my eyes. I have no idea how to evaluate rugs. Salesman said to look under the rug for stitches per square inch, the more stitches the more expensive. Minister Ramjattan is touring Camp street prison and Lusignan improvised holding facility.
Knowing nothing about prison control and safety – like me knowing nothing about rugs – Ramjattan simply did not know what the hell he was looking at.
A disaster was waiting to happen but he could not see it. He could have asked his subordinates simple questions and he would have gotten answers to enhance his understanding of the problem – but he didn’t.
Some managers ask a lot of questions; they are “a quick study” and they make good managerial decisions. Some folks are too lazy. They will screw-up every time. The very definition of Guyanese politics works against competency. You were a good organizer, loyal to the party – but have no formal or technical education or training – and you will get a Ministerial job. This nation called Guyana will pay a huge price for this crazy politics. By the way the real price for the $5,000 price-tagged rug was $1,500. Like me a tourist waiting to be scammed, Ramjattan a Cabinet Minister waiting to be exposed as a square peg neatly fitted in a round hole.
Mike Persaud