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Yes, Mr Bunting, every dollar counts
published: Friday | February 8, 2008
Dennie Quill, Contributor
I was taken aback to hear Manchester Member of Parliament Peter Bunting advance the argument that it was a waste of time for members of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament to discuss small amounts of money which were overpaid to government employees. He submitted that the sums involved and the time that had elapsed since those breaches were committed did not warrant members' valuable time.
Mr Bunting was referring to overpayment of $27,000 to five employees of the Social Development Commission for the period 2004/2005. Thankfully, there were some members of the committee who forcefully pointed out to Mr Bunting the inherent principles involved in the PAC's work of trying to create a culture of accountability among public servants.
The savvy businessman that he is, I believe Mr Bunting was trying to impress by holding the committee to a higher standard of brisk dispatch. However, it had the ill-effect of appearing to be flippant by muting essential information that related to safeguarding hard-earned tax dollars.
Unfortunate statements
Often, politicians make unfortunate statements which they later regret. In the run-up to the September 3 general election, Mr Bunting made a few on the campaign trail. This latest statement to the PAC must also be included in his 'things that I regret saying' column.
Members of this select committee of Parliament have sworn to undertake one of the most important jobs on behalf of Jamaican taxpayers. They are charged with the task of scrutinising the accounts of government ministries and departments to ensure that funds allocated by Parliament are spent efficiently, effectively and that there is value for money. This duty is the PAC's highest priority.
This watchdog role of the PAC can only be accomplished by tracking expenditure, by perusing accurate and objective information on finacial management issues to determine how each dollar is spent and to promote prudent spending strategies. It may include examining purchases and pinpointing recipients of state funding .
As a successful banker in a former occupation, Mr Bunting knows that promoting sound financial management includes correcting past errors and strengthening accountability. I am sure he also knows that one can draw lessons from past successes and failures which can then be applied to future activities. I am positive he knows what it means to improve service while delivering a balanced budget.
When public resources are wasted through poor administration or corrupt practices it is the poor members of society who suffer most because there are no resources to undertake badly needed social programmes.
The public protection agencies likes the auditor general, the Office of the Contractor General and the public defender do not have the capacity to follow up and monitor the fate of delinquent officials who have been found wanting in the performance of their duties. These agencies cannot guarantee that corrupt or irresponsible public officials are dismissed, earmarked for retraining or disciplined.
Few consequences
Often, the purveyors of corruption hide behind the blanket of bureaucracy, and many have become adept at deflecting blame when found out. Terms like 'irregularities', 'lapses', 'deficiencies', 'inaccuracies', 'conflict of interest', occur regularly in the reports coming out of these agencies year after year. Yet, there are few consequences. And we all know that if left unchecked, today's lapse becomes tomorrow's major breach.
This is why the role of the powerful bi-partisan PAC is so critical. It has the awesome responsibility of holding government ministries and departments responsible for their fiduciary dealings.
Its members are all political representatives of the people who are expected to create the mechanism for the entrenchment of a culture of accountability in the public service.
Far from ignoring shortcomings and minor breaches, the PAC should be vigilant and persistent, actively encouraging persons to confidentially report suspected fraud and examples of waste and abuse within the public sector.
No, Mr Bunting, shortcut is not the answer. The attention to details increases the confidence in the validity of what goes on when members of the PAC sit down in Gordon House.
Dennie Quill is a veteran journalist who may be reached at denniequill@hotmail.com
published: Friday | February 8, 2008
Dennie Quill, Contributor
I was taken aback to hear Manchester Member of Parliament Peter Bunting advance the argument that it was a waste of time for members of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament to discuss small amounts of money which were overpaid to government employees. He submitted that the sums involved and the time that had elapsed since those breaches were committed did not warrant members' valuable time.
Mr Bunting was referring to overpayment of $27,000 to five employees of the Social Development Commission for the period 2004/2005. Thankfully, there were some members of the committee who forcefully pointed out to Mr Bunting the inherent principles involved in the PAC's work of trying to create a culture of accountability among public servants.
The savvy businessman that he is, I believe Mr Bunting was trying to impress by holding the committee to a higher standard of brisk dispatch. However, it had the ill-effect of appearing to be flippant by muting essential information that related to safeguarding hard-earned tax dollars.
Unfortunate statements
Often, politicians make unfortunate statements which they later regret. In the run-up to the September 3 general election, Mr Bunting made a few on the campaign trail. This latest statement to the PAC must also be included in his 'things that I regret saying' column.
Members of this select committee of Parliament have sworn to undertake one of the most important jobs on behalf of Jamaican taxpayers. They are charged with the task of scrutinising the accounts of government ministries and departments to ensure that funds allocated by Parliament are spent efficiently, effectively and that there is value for money. This duty is the PAC's highest priority.
This watchdog role of the PAC can only be accomplished by tracking expenditure, by perusing accurate and objective information on finacial management issues to determine how each dollar is spent and to promote prudent spending strategies. It may include examining purchases and pinpointing recipients of state funding .
As a successful banker in a former occupation, Mr Bunting knows that promoting sound financial management includes correcting past errors and strengthening accountability. I am sure he also knows that one can draw lessons from past successes and failures which can then be applied to future activities. I am positive he knows what it means to improve service while delivering a balanced budget.
When public resources are wasted through poor administration or corrupt practices it is the poor members of society who suffer most because there are no resources to undertake badly needed social programmes.
The public protection agencies likes the auditor general, the Office of the Contractor General and the public defender do not have the capacity to follow up and monitor the fate of delinquent officials who have been found wanting in the performance of their duties. These agencies cannot guarantee that corrupt or irresponsible public officials are dismissed, earmarked for retraining or disciplined.
Few consequences
Often, the purveyors of corruption hide behind the blanket of bureaucracy, and many have become adept at deflecting blame when found out. Terms like 'irregularities', 'lapses', 'deficiencies', 'inaccuracies', 'conflict of interest', occur regularly in the reports coming out of these agencies year after year. Yet, there are few consequences. And we all know that if left unchecked, today's lapse becomes tomorrow's major breach.
This is why the role of the powerful bi-partisan PAC is so critical. It has the awesome responsibility of holding government ministries and departments responsible for their fiduciary dealings.
Its members are all political representatives of the people who are expected to create the mechanism for the entrenchment of a culture of accountability in the public service.
Far from ignoring shortcomings and minor breaches, the PAC should be vigilant and persistent, actively encouraging persons to confidentially report suspected fraud and examples of waste and abuse within the public sector.
No, Mr Bunting, shortcut is not the answer. The attention to details increases the confidence in the validity of what goes on when members of the PAC sit down in Gordon House.
Dennie Quill is a veteran journalist who may be reached at denniequill@hotmail.com