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  • Sloppy administration or malfeasance?

    Sloppy administration or malfeasance?
    published: Friday | November 9, 2007


    Dennie Quill, Contributor
    The handling of the Cuban light bulb project does not appear to have passed the smell test. While the nation awaits the outcome of investigations, it is generally agreed that the allegations of financial mismanagement made by Minister Clive Mullings are serious ones. In the meantime, there are also clouds gathering over the much-troubled waste management authority judging from the sounds coming from Minister of State Robert Montague. This means within the next few months, we can expect to hear much more about the financial mismanagement/abuse of government finances. The involvement of the police suggests that persons may face criminal charges for malfeasance under their watch.

    While the politicians cannot dodge ultimate responsibility for the actions of their ministries, it is conceivable that some may want to blame sloppy administration within their ministries for financial mismanagement. It means that we may also have to place Permanent Secretaries and chairmen of public sector boards under the microscope. Permanent Secretaries are charged with the day-to-day operations of their ministries. They are expected to be impartial, honest and fearless in carrying out their functions.

    Politically neutral
    As the name 'permanent' implies, these senior civil servants are expected to be, politically neutral so that they can carry out the function of assisting the Government of the day in formulating policies, carrying out directives and administering public service. The figure of the powerful civil servant offering policy options to politicians and standing up to politically connected board chairmen seems passé. Today, the profile of some high-ranking civil servants is akin to that of a clerical officer blindly carrying out instructions of board chairmen or politicians.

    The Jamaican civil service is largely patterned off the Westminster model with the Permanent Secretary being the chief accounting officer of the ministry, with primary responsibility for managing the financial affairs of the ministry. Their duties include financial planning, resources allocation, record-keeping and financial reporting. The Permanent Secretaries are accountable to Parliament and are charged with the responsibility of giving the public via Parliament full information about government policies, decisions and actions. Yet, year after year, the Contractor General points fingers at some ministries for poor financial management and lack of administrative oversight resulting in waste of money and other resources. I cannot recall any Permanent Secretary being dismissed for incompetence or dereliction of duty.

    To be fair, I believe the jobs of some civil servants have been made more difficult by the growing practice of creating political appointees known as 'special advisers' to various ministries.

    Although they operate like civil servants, they are, in fact, strategically placed to do the bidding of the politician. In many instances, the activities of these appointees have served to water down the intended political neutrality of the civil service. For example, one hears of a minister jetting off to faraway places with a special adviser to negotiate important deals on behalf of Government with no input from civil servants.

    Freedom of Information Act
    The Cabinet Secretary, the capable Carlton Davis, is the current head of the civil service and one believes he is the type of person who would defend his Permanent Secretaries if there are instances of interference from the political branch. From the outside, we cannot tell whether there have been any bruising encounters between politicians and civil servants.

    It would be pretty interesting for the media to use the powers of the Freedom of Information Act to take a peek into the minutes of the meetings held with Permanent Secretaries in a bid to determine whether any of them have suffered from political manipulation and interference. One has to also consider the fear factor. Are Permanent Secretaries and other civil servants confident that their jobs will be safe if they blow the whistle? High time for the promised whistle-blowing legislation to be put in place.

    P.S. I am overjoyed to see that prisoners are being used to bush the May Pen cemetery and coming so quickly after my column on the need to treat the dead with dignity and recognise cemeteries as places of interest. Good going.
    Dennie Quill is a veteran journalist who may be contacted at denniequill@hotmail.com.
    "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

  • #2
    Excellent article!
    ...another of my thoughts being put out there by someone with clout!
    "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

    Comment


    • #3
      See the part to highlight here:

      To be fair, I believe the jobs of some civil servants have been made more difficult by the growing practice of creating political appointees known as 'special advisers' to various ministries.

      Although they operate like civil servants, they are, in fact, strategically placed to do the bidding of the politician. In many instances, the activities of these appointees have served to water down the intended political neutrality of the civil service. For example, one hears of a minister jetting off to faraway places with a special adviser to negotiate important deals on behalf of Government with no input from civil servants.

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by Willi View Post
        See the part to highlight here:

        To be fair, I believe the jobs of some civil servants have been made more difficult by the growing practice of creating political appointees known as 'special advisers' to various ministries.

        Although they operate like civil servants, they are, in fact, strategically placed to do the bidding of the politician. In many instances, the activities of these appointees have served to water down the intended political neutrality of the civil service. For example, one hears of a minister jetting off to faraway places with a special adviser to negotiate important deals on behalf of Government with no input from civil servants.
        There is a saying; if you do not stand for anything, you will lie down for anything! (...ro, some such thing?!)

        Why do you think I have always said, any fool can become MP and or Minister?

        I am expecting the career civil servants...the real professionals to 'run tings'. Make the MPs and Ministers look good...after all is said and done it is the civil servants who have the experience, expertise and professionalism.

        ...and, they are hired to make things 'run right'.
        Last edited by Karl; November 9, 2007, 02:40 PM.
        "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Karl View Post
          There is a saying; if you do not stand for anything, you will ly down for anything! (...ro, some such thing?!)

          Why do you think I have always said, any fool can become MP and or Minister?

          I am expecting the career civil servants...the real professionals to 'run tings'. Make the MPs and Ministers look good...after all is said and done it is the civil servants who have the experience, expertise and professionalism.

          ...and, they are hired to make things 'run right'.
          I agree, but we ALL KNOW that in today's environment, any CS that stands up to the politicians will be marginalized and or fired. That is what we call a CLM... a career limiting move.

          The civil service has been decimated from the time of the Pickersgill Committee in the 1970s. That was the end of civilization as we knew it.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by Willi View Post
            I agree, but we ALL KNOW that in today's environment, any CS that stands up to the politicians will be marginalized and or fired. That is what we call a CLM... a career limiting move.

            The civil service has been decimated from the time of the Pickersgill Committee in the 1970s. That was the end of civilization as we knew it.
            I do not know about that!
            The Pickersgill Committee in my mind showed that the civil servants had no balls!

            They were there before that committee came into being. In fact, it could be said that the committee came into being on the back(s) of the 'no balls' civil servants. If men and women with principle were in those top civil service spots the committee...forming such a committee would not even be attempted.
            "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Karl View Post
              I do not know about that!
              The Pickersgill Committee in my mind showed that the civil servants had no balls!

              They were there before that committee came into being. In fact, it could be said that the committee came into being on the back(s) of the 'no balls' civil servants. If men and women with principle were in those top civil service spots the committee...forming such a committee would not even be attempted.
              Fact is that the committee vetted people for "ideological suitability" and retired those senior ones that resisted. It was part and parcel of a combative era that caused people to opt out of the system out of frustration or keep them head down not to be out of work. Add to that that many in the CS were in AGREEMENT with the P. Committee at that time and would act to undermine the CS leadership. A house divided against itself.

              You know I am very familiar with this as you could say I spent a lot of my childhood as Jacsicera Park.

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by Willi View Post
                Fact is that the committee vetted people for "ideological suitability" and retired those senior ones that resisted. It was part and parcel of a combative era that caused people to opt out of the system out of frustration or keep them head down not to be out of work. Add to that that many in the CS were in AGREEMENT with the P. Committee at that time and would act to undermine the CS leadership. A house divided against itself.

                You know I am very familiar with this as you could say I spent a lot of my childhood as Jacsicera Park.

                ...but, you do not remember what occurred within the civil service before that led up to that - civil servants sold out each other to get the promotions. Pure cut throat. Some members retired when the infighting got down and dirty.

                Has not changed...that is why I have moved on to demand (poor mi no clout ) firing and jailing of civil servants who allow rules and regulations to be flouted and in fact assist in the flouting of those rules and reguilations...and, join in (dem affi sign off pan most things - 99.99%) the wrong doings.

                You also forget that in the Seaga time - Seaga was god - and made his own rules as he went along...often rubber stamped by Parliament.

                ----damn I just re-read what you are saying and it is basically what I am saying.

                btw - when were you often at Jacsicera Park...specific years?
                In the 80s I was there a lot.
                Last edited by Karl; November 9, 2007, 05:29 PM.
                "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Karl View Post
                  ...but, you do not remember what occurred within the civil service before that led up to that - civil servants sold out each other to get the promotions. Pure cut throat. Some members retired when the infighting got down and dirty.

                  Has not changed...that is why I have moved on to demand (poor mi no clout ) firing and jailing of civil servants who allow rules and regulations to be flouted and in fact assist in the flouting of those rules and reguilations...and, join in (dem affi sign off pan most things - 99.99%) the wrong doings.

                  You also forget that in the Seaga time - Seaga was god - and made his own rules as he went along...often rubber stamped by Parliament.
                  I wil shock you and agree with you on all points.

                  Seaga was not a paragon of virtue. No one here has ever argued that. The argument here has been about RELATIVE ratings.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Willi View Post
                    I wil shock you and agree with you on all points.

                    Seaga was not a paragon of virtue. No one here has ever argued that. The argument here has been about RELATIVE ratings.
                    Just posted that we really were saying the same thing...& asked when you used to visit...I was often there in the 80s.
                    "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

                    Comment

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