Mr
President, as a Public Servant I am affected and disturbed by the
reintroduction of the Travel Clearance.
You
may wish to note that this was an unnecessary mechanism used by the past regime
to micro-manage the civil and public service.
Actually,
it was widely considered as enslavement and an infringement upon our freedom of
movement, as one was always required to be cleared by the Office of the
President or Vice President, even for private and personal travels.
Can
you imagine being informed of an emergency family function (e.g. funeral)
across the border on Friday for Saturday, and you are stopped from traveling at
the border because you do not possess a Travel Clearance?
Are
you aware that even when on a personally sponsored travel (e.g. vacation), one
was required to obtain clearance?
These
Mr President were the realities of the recent past. So under your dispensation,
it is unimaginable that we are once again reliving the nightmares of the past
government.
In
the light of the above, I urge you Mr President to discontinue the request for
Travel Clearance.
After
all, what’s the purpose for such? Even if required, I firmly believe that Heads
of Institutions are better placed to clear their staff, and for official
travels only.
Good
day Mr President
By
Ernest A. Mendy
