The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) says that the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira usurped the powers of the Public Service Commission (PSC), when she purportedly gave the Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Amerindian Affairs Ministry, Sherie Fedee, marching orders.
GPSU President, Patrick Yarde said that the union became aware of the letter after its representation was sought.
Yarde, in a missive to Teixeira said, “I consider the said letter a most outrageous usurpation of the powers of the Public Service Commission and an abuse of authority by you, the author of the letter in your capacity as a Minister of Government. My acquaintance with your political history/experience tells me that you are well aware that Ms. Fedee’s appointment as Permanent Secretary is on the Pensionable Establishment of the Guyana Public Service.”
He added that in accordance to Article 201 of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Fedee’s appointment falls under the jurisdiction of the PSC, which is the body “vested with the authority to remove” Fedee from her public office as PS.
“Ms. Fedee’s appointment was not revoked by the Public Service Commission and you were not otherwise empowered to revoke her appointment or contribute to the unceremonious removal from office described in your letter,” Yarde wrote to Teixeira.
The GPSU President noted that Fedee is a career public servant with over 25 years of “unbroken service”, having joined the public service in November 1995. He said that Fedee rose from the position of Clerk to Personnel Officer to Senior Personnel Officer and then to Deputy Permanent Secretary, after which she succeeded to the position of Permanent Secretary in 2019. She was confirmed in the latter position in 2020 by the Public Service Commission.
Guyana Standard understands that Fedee was sent on leave. Yarde said that the union expects that the official’s remuneration and other benefits are available to her during and after the conclusion of her sabbatical and that she returns to active duty at the status of Permanent Secretary, unless she concurs with any change that is proposed to her.
