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EDITORIAL - Other aspects of the light bulb saga
published: Friday | February 8, 2008
It is up to the law enforcement and judicial systems to determine whether the former junior energy minister, Kern Spencer, acted corruptly or engaged in a criminal conspiracy in the Cuban light bulb affair, as has been suggested by Contractor General Greg Christie.
But apart from the possibility of ministerial misbehaviour, one thing this scandal has again highlighted is a laxity among professional managers in the public service and the need to hold them accountable.
Indeed, Mr Christie's report underlines the old observation that corruption on the part of politicians demands a certain acquiescence on the part of civil servants, usually through acts of omission than actual commission. They, too, often fail to demand that the rules are enforced.
Another aspect worthy of substantial note about the Christie report is its usefulness as a case study in not only how governments ought not to do business, but how they should not engage in bilateral projects. In that regard, this document should be made required reading to senior public servants and other officials.
In the case of this project, in which Cuba provided four million energy-saving light bulbs for free distribution here, it appears to have been a word-of-mouth agreement between the former energy minister, Phillip Paulwell, and Cuba's President Fidel Castro.
Perhaps the Cubans wanted it that way, but Jamaica should have known better. And according to Mr Christie's report, the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), the ostensible implementing agency, was warned that it should not be that way.
Indeed, when it was being contemplated to take the project national after a pilot in Mr Paulwell's East Kingston constituency, Robert Stephenson, then an adviser at the PCJ, stressed the need for a formal bilateral agreement between Kingston and Havana, requiring the involvement of the foreign ministry. An upgraded project document was also required, and while the PCJ would be the implementing agency, the bulbs would be stored by the Jamaica Defence Force.
For whatever reason and whomsoever's interest, if anybody's, these recommendations were not taken on board; or, if they were, not pursued with any rigour. Perhaps detail and certainty would get into people's way.
It appears that officials at the PCJ and the energy ministry did stir themselves early on, soon after the project was announced in April 2006.
It, however, took them seven months to cobble together a project document to which no one ever paid any attention, so much so that it was never formalised. It was in this environment that Mr Spencer, verbally given responsibility for the project, was able to unilaterally engage contractors, some of whom, on the face of it, appear to be his friends and family.
It is true that officials at PCJ might have raised "questions and concerns of one type or another" about the project at various points in its planning and implementation, but they appeared not to have been robust and determined enough in demanding that the proper procedures be followed. And they paid the bills.
At the energy ministry, officials seem to have adopted a Pontius Pilate defence, which is not good enough. There is enough insulation for public servants to stand up to politicians.
There was a failure of accountability all round that must be cured.
The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.
published: Friday | February 8, 2008
It is up to the law enforcement and judicial systems to determine whether the former junior energy minister, Kern Spencer, acted corruptly or engaged in a criminal conspiracy in the Cuban light bulb affair, as has been suggested by Contractor General Greg Christie.
But apart from the possibility of ministerial misbehaviour, one thing this scandal has again highlighted is a laxity among professional managers in the public service and the need to hold them accountable.
Indeed, Mr Christie's report underlines the old observation that corruption on the part of politicians demands a certain acquiescence on the part of civil servants, usually through acts of omission than actual commission. They, too, often fail to demand that the rules are enforced.
Another aspect worthy of substantial note about the Christie report is its usefulness as a case study in not only how governments ought not to do business, but how they should not engage in bilateral projects. In that regard, this document should be made required reading to senior public servants and other officials.
In the case of this project, in which Cuba provided four million energy-saving light bulbs for free distribution here, it appears to have been a word-of-mouth agreement between the former energy minister, Phillip Paulwell, and Cuba's President Fidel Castro.
Perhaps the Cubans wanted it that way, but Jamaica should have known better. And according to Mr Christie's report, the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), the ostensible implementing agency, was warned that it should not be that way.
Indeed, when it was being contemplated to take the project national after a pilot in Mr Paulwell's East Kingston constituency, Robert Stephenson, then an adviser at the PCJ, stressed the need for a formal bilateral agreement between Kingston and Havana, requiring the involvement of the foreign ministry. An upgraded project document was also required, and while the PCJ would be the implementing agency, the bulbs would be stored by the Jamaica Defence Force.
For whatever reason and whomsoever's interest, if anybody's, these recommendations were not taken on board; or, if they were, not pursued with any rigour. Perhaps detail and certainty would get into people's way.
It appears that officials at the PCJ and the energy ministry did stir themselves early on, soon after the project was announced in April 2006.
It, however, took them seven months to cobble together a project document to which no one ever paid any attention, so much so that it was never formalised. It was in this environment that Mr Spencer, verbally given responsibility for the project, was able to unilaterally engage contractors, some of whom, on the face of it, appear to be his friends and family.
It is true that officials at PCJ might have raised "questions and concerns of one type or another" about the project at various points in its planning and implementation, but they appeared not to have been robust and determined enough in demanding that the proper procedures be followed. And they paid the bills.
At the energy ministry, officials seem to have adopted a Pontius Pilate defence, which is not good enough. There is enough insulation for public servants to stand up to politicians.
There was a failure of accountability all round that must be cured.
The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.