High level of secrecy in Garcia’s ministry

THE EDITOR: There is a high level of secrecy prevailing in the office of the Minister of Education, Anthony Garcia, that needs to be dealt with by the minister. If he is unaware of it, he needs to know because this does not auger well for his stewardship.

On April 25, I made a call to the ministry to seek an appointment with the minister on an important matter which I had been seeking to have dealt with. After several calls, I finally got through.

The person who answered the phone gave me some information but said the employee who would handle my matter was not at her desk. She was willing to find the department that had failed to handle my matter, even though I told her I am now “at the minister’s door” because that department did not satisfy me.

She was not willing to give me an appointment to see the minister and said I must write a letter to the minister for an appointment. I told her I have written several letters but to date I have not received a reply or acknowledgment. She was unable to find any of my letters and suggested they were still in the mail after all these months.

She was not only unwilling to give me an appointment but also refused to give me her name. What type of public relations is practised in the office of the Minister of Education? This worker needs to be trained for the office she occupies.

There is need for transparency in dealing with the public. This worker must be reminded that she is an employee of the State and her name should be divulged for healthy and productive communication. How will I be able to follow up my matter with the ministry with a no-name worker?

This withholding of name by some employees of the State is a prevalent practice. I have encountered it several times before. There is this idea among these workers that they could hide from their responsibilities. But let me remind them that their deeds will one day find them out. The day is coming when they will be unmasked and it will be very soon.What is the Government’s position on this?

It is my hope that the minister reads this letter, looks into this situation and seeks to change the image I now have of his ministry. All I want is an audience with the minister. Am I asking to much?

REV ROBERT DASH

Baptist pastor

Tableland