Bro, We know that some Gambians have not been receiving their salaries in time,that poverty in the country is out of control,over D300 for a bag of rice,D200 for a bag of cement etc,these people never reacted.Now they are putting their jobs on the line to defend "their right " to drive a government "CAR" home .What a nice football match for Jammeh. For Freedom Saiks >From: [log in to unmask] >Reply-To: [log in to unmask] >To: [log in to unmask] >CC: [log in to unmask];, [log in to unmask] >Subject: [>-<] No More "Wah Duul, Nohpi Deyh"/ Free Yourself From the Fear >of Yahya Jammeh Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 14:42:11 EST > > 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. > _________________________________________________________________ Want to block unwanted pop-ups? 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