Two setting-the-scene, background points relevant to my lead issue: (1) I myself was a teacher in the public school system for eleven years before editing and producing educational supplementary readers for the Ministry of Education long before current efforts. I then served in fairly senior positions in the Ministry of Information as well as stints at National Development and the Public Utilities Ministry and Commission.
The above is to indicate that I was a humble (?) civil (?) public servant for a total of 36 years before formal retirement and yet another “hold-on” at the Ministry of Culture etc. So I know about government public service, relatively “colonial” and untainted by corruption and by gross delivery. Then the rot set in by, I’d say, the early eighties.
Secondly (ii), today’s government worker expects to receive wages or salaries however the service rendered. The Private Sector clerk knows he/she has to produce, to be efficient and contributory to the existence and profitability of the firm, the store or the factory. Do they still assess Public Servants’ performance on the job in a fair, objective manner, periodically?
Neither civil nor caring
The colonial folks had reason for describing their government employees as “servants”. After Independence 1966? To the dickens with “civility”! We became public servants as against those (lowly?) private strugglers in the world of commerce and industry.
I suppose, Frankly Speaking, some serious psychology attended the fact of making the government work. Was it that? That which ushered in the haughty uncaring public servants who knew salaries were guaranteed every month? Who once enjoyed duty-free benefits and annual holidays with generous funding?
I am not going to pound a beetle with a sledge hammer by repeating how the public suffers at the hands of some government employees these days. Those in the accounts departments do seem to be “unfriendly” too often.
One of President Granger’s initial encounters was with his senior public servants in May 2015. He then declared his most worthy intention to establish a Public Service Training Institute. It is up and running. I suppose it will teach procedures, protocols, some customer service necessities, legal issues and the like.
I report this incident, discussed with me last week Wednesday, to hope that the Institute assists the trainee Public Servants with insight, breadth of vision – and caring.
One public servant, 200 students
I suppose since revelations of President Granger’s scores of forensic audits, the average conscientious, honest public servant and his/her superiors, are hell-bent on ensuring every procedure is followed prior to the releasing of a Ministry’s funds or other resources. But there must be room for thought and care for the welfare of those who must benefit from the taxpayers’ dollars as long as no mischief is intended.
I was told of the “officer” in Brickdam who insisted on the necessary paper-work – which languished at another agency, whilst 200-plus students suffered from a lack of vital facilities. Much work for the Training Institute, agreed?
Pass the buck! Cheer up!
Okay, I know that the PPP government is gone for now. Okay, I know that the culture and cancer of corrupt practices cannot be excised from those affected, in just two years, of decades of infection.
But if the attempt to be procedural and to be administratively correct is used to deceive the citizens of the Republic it is undesirable and must be exposed.
(I recall that years ago when some pole would topple, injure, cause damage, even kill, agencies would attempt to disown the pole! The pole is owned by GPL; no GTC; no, the Ministry; no City Hall; no, the District NDC, and so on. No entity wanted blame, responsibility or liability to pay.)
If you are an interested tax payer, consider these recent and current goings-on at passing the buck: the millions allegedly utilized by the PNC comrade–councilor for her drug addiction – Who’s about to shoulder the responsibility? The collapse of the base of the Berbice Monument. (“Dem Boys Seh” E is a Afro-PPP comrade!) The burgeoning scandal with respect to drug procurement and supply at GPHC. This a legacy from the former administration but after two years the Coalition tarries as mischief continues. Witness “dis-ownership” and denials galore. Onto more audits and inquiries! Poor us!
“Lock her up!”
During his elections campaign candidate Donald Trump’s ardent supporters would chant “lock her up”, as they called for, demanded that Candidate Clinton be charged and prosecuted for her mishandling of top-security emails as well as for other wrong doings – real or perceived.
To me, Frankly Speaking, Hillary Clinton was /is no angel. None can deny her sterling professional public service but I’ve followed her career since she started to mentor Bill after his governorship in Arkansas. That’s why I was not too “keen” about either candidate last year.
However, the cries of Trump’s supporters to “lock her up” certainly resonate here now as SOCU “assures” that numerous officials are soon to be “locked up”. Since this is being written – was written – quite early this week, I wonder: did it happen?
Ponder and enquire…
When will works begin on the new vendors modernised mall on the site of the abandoned Co-op Bank building in Stabroek?
I’ve always loved the eloquence and oratory of some of our distinguished public speakers of the past. English could be a challenging language.
Blessed are those speakers with wide vocabularies. Justice Franklyn Holder has just impressed me. “Respect for the dignity and majesty of their office…do not consort with the press…politicians are so wont…truculent manner…insolent and disrespectful…loud and bellicose…it has now become…politicized and irretrievably infected with the perception of bias…” Lovely!
Minister Harmon and his colleagues have hastened to define the role(s) of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committees. Say all they want about protocols before and during fact-finding visits, the experience of the Social Services Committee last week reeks of an attempted cover-up. But why?
But my own kudos to two struggling but dedicated workers at that GPHC – the heads of the Pharmacy and of the mid wives.
’Til next week!
