On July 22 the Governor, Elizabeth Carriere, claimed there were issues with the civil service resulting from their lack of understanding and awareness of the role of a professional civil service within a modern democracy. However, as many of our senior civil servants have lived and/or earned degrees abroad, this argument lacks merit.
Put simply, civil servants in general, and senior civil servants in particular, are fully aware of the roles of elected and non-elected officials in a modern democracy.
Elections are held to enable a community to shape and redirect the future of their society. The elected officials act as trustees in creating laws and opportunities that reflect the wishes of the electorate. As all civil servants are also voters, each civil servant must be fully aware of this principle.
When civil servants fail to honour the direction and instruction of the elected trustees, they are undermining democracy, and they know this. These civil servants are using their position for their own gain or for the benefit of others. This is corruption and must result in their immediate dismissal, regardless of the rank of the employee.
Members of the assembly who encourage or are aware of such behaviour and fail to publicly condemn these actions also fail to uphold and defend the tenets of democracy. This is equally corrupt.
All civil servants are public employees who have a reasonable expectation of keeping their jobs after elections are held only if these conditions are met.
- Civil servants use their expertise and specialised knowledge to provide their best, unbiased advice and assistance to the government.
- Civil servants faithfully implement all democratically enacted laws without exception, modification or favour.
- Civil servants are competent in their job. (customer service skills, timeliness, professional, knowledge)
Failing any one of these requirements must result in immediate disciplinary procedures that are fully supported by all members of the assembly and the entity responsible for the civil service, the Governor.
David McKeand
Woodlands
