July 13, 2018
It is mind-boggling to address this topic of ‘TC’s’ having made some observations on the subject, time and time again. The uneducated, perhaps best uninformed rhetoric that continues, by some commentators, politicians, all either uninformed or are hypocritical to the realities and truths of the facts concerning the procurement of TCs and their need.
One of the statements made says, we have people here who can do the work. Please give some examples. Admittedly there may well be that possibility, but very few. And that there are Montserratians or lovers, and potential lovers of Montserrat out there, but who know nothing of this need.
From 2012 and maybe before we know there was a list of some 80 vacant posts that needed to be filled. Maybe this is the reason that public service reform has gone from bad to worse, and seemingly with the new empowerment project in train, there is complaint, there has been no improvement.
From the 2013/14 (April 2013) Aide Memoire, we find:
“GoM suffers critical capacity gaps. In 2012/13 DFID provided funds for both longer term skills development and to satisfy immediate and critical needs. Whilst uptake of the Annual Country Training Scheme (ACTS) has been good, with the allocation brought into the recurrent budget in 2012/13 and fully utilised, GoM has not taken good advantage of the short term (STTC) and long term technical cooperation (LTTC) programmes, utilising around 30% of the support available. Although delays can be justified to some extent by fulfilling time-consuming recruitment protocols, GoM should consider where efficiencies could be made to enhance use of the support available. (Our Comment. Note how DFID encourages, prompts – 30%? ACTS has been good but if that were good then, did it continue it’s now five years later)
“DFID agrees with GoM that a Statistics Director is a priority LTTC post and welcomes the recruitment of a Senior Social Policy Planner. (Comment: Has either of these posts been filled yet – when and who are they?)
“DFID provides LTTC – to support the recruitment of expertise for certain critical line posts which are currently vacant (these appear on GoM headcount and are not additional posts).
“In addition to LTTC support, a STTC fund is also in place. This will continue to finance dedicated pieces of capacity development, work, advice, or research, over a finite period. This fund enables GoM and DFID to source and fund essential expertise in an efficient manner. Funding for this does not sit on the recurrent budget but is retained by DFID and disbursed on the basis of requests submitted by GoM and in accordance with an agreed set of protocols.
Cabinet is considering the list of requests and related costs and will submit this to DFID. The agreed amount should be reflected in GoM’s recurrent budget.
At April 2014
DFID complained and pointed out referring to outstanding debts and a sudden number of lost cases in court. “These include rising levels of litigation and a lack of clarity about legal aid responsibilities DFID provides LTTC – to support the recruitment of expertise for certain critical line posts which are currently vacant (these appear on GoM headcount and are not additional posts).
Then – ”Challenges remain in TC recruitment, although this situation has improved over 2013/14. Of 12 critical LTTC posts identified in 2013/14, four remain unfilled, with a further new post recently added. Serious delays have occurred in the recruitment of a Chief Economist, Chief Statistician, Crown Counsel, Child Safeguarding Specialist, a Senior Social Worker and Community Mental Health Officer. GoM and DFID will work together to agree an alternative strategy (for example, more effective advertising, reviewing the use of recruitment agencies and benchmarking of salaries) to improve the utilisation of TC. “
“STTC funds allocated in 2013/14 to Education have been severely under-utilised.
“DFID recommends that MoEYS (Ministry of Education Youth and Social Services) discusses TC requirements with HRMU, and with the DFID Education Adviser, to urgently re-prioritise TC needs.”
Does any of these people do any homework or any studies of the history of anything about the conduct and the running of Government for let’s say, from 2008 to now and that’s 10 years? You see, these facts are there, documented and will never be lost. But they are used against Montserrat when needed.
One thing is absolutely sure is the need for use of effective advertising. Yes, DFID has pointed that out times over and over, as well as proper communication. It is shocking to note the continuous refusal to use the one medium that will provide the universal reach necessary to reach the interested and the best available. Ignorance or hate! Jealousy or the TRUTH! And, there are of course other related matters, such as e.g. the recent matters of PMO firing, recent loss of the HRO, naming of the new Attorney General, appointing the CEO. All very important positions to the immediate and future development of this little gem. It is Montserrat that hurts people.
