“Now some people think I’m too involved that I should perhaps sit back and let things take their course…” There’s been, “more energy put into arguing among ourselves…”leveling at the Public Service
“But change happens slowly and there appears to be a fair amount of resistance or reluctance or confusion around some of these changes.”
Halfway into her first year as Governor of Montserrat with direct responsibility for the public service, which of course includes the Legislators, Her Excellency Elizabeth Carriere had pronounced on the Public Service which she said needed serious reform. Now she is saddened that her achievements in her eleven and half months were not as she anticipated.
Today, July 22, 2016, in her most recent press conference, the Governor expresses sadness believing she has achieved less than she expected on her arrival in Montserrat. “Let me start by saying quite honestly that I have achieved less than I wanted to and less than I thought I would be able to,” she began her recapture of the eleven and a half months.
She said it was not for want of trying that this was the case. “… for those of you who know me and what I have been trying to do, you will know that it’s not for lack of effort from me and from my office,” she declared.
As background to her disappointing report, we bring to our readers. In January this year: the Governor responded, “On the point about relationships with the public this is part attitudinal, its part training, its part issues around having the right people in the right places, the movement of people but it really is also an attitude that the public service is a public service and we must carry out the right kind of service not just for Montserratians but also for people who are visiting Montserrat, so this is also an area of focus for improvement.”
She had spoken straight on the matter of capacity, the public service and in particular the Human Resources (HR) department. She said that public sector reform must happen for effective development planning and a delivery to take place.
In her March press conference the Governor speaking on the issue of the lack of capacity in the public service. “I think on that (capacity) and the acceptance of assistance from outside help, in and outer, and that issue has been identified, she said.
“It’s not only a lack of capacity,” she continued, “there is capacity in some areas – we (do) need to develop capacity. I think we have to be open to accepting assistance from other places – that’s my view on the whole thing about external assistance. We do need it, there’s no question about it. It’s been identified all over the place in the public service…”
She had promised, “That whole thing about succession planning and integrating the bringing in of specialists; the training packages and scholarship packages that we offer to people in that with a very clear objective to developing the public service.” In this regard, one day ago a remark was, ‘the HR has messed up badly in a very corrupt way’.
The Premier speaking on his own in respect of the government’s programs geared towards economic development had said changes in public service delivery and better management of finances are keys to Montserrat’s economic revival. “Unless there is significant change in those areas I can’t argue for any money and I’m not going to get any money, we’re not going to get the funding that will make the difference we’ll get funding but not to the level that would transform our nation. Funding can come for whatever is needed for us to get back on our feet I’m convinced of that. However we have to change for our own good.”
Miss Carriere laments once again, recalling criticisms which she notes again, were not near polite. “Now some people think I’m too involved that I should perhaps sit back and let things take their course. I’ve actually being told publicly not too politely I have to say to stay away from some issues that are clearly within my responsibilities,” she said.
The Governor said she understands her responsibilities constitutionally and they are considerably, “and I take them seriously and I remain as I was when I took my oath almost a year ago completely committed to carrying these out in the interest of Montserrat and its people.”
“But,” she said, “Quite frankly these efforts will be less than fruitful, if we are not successful in revitalizing the public service,” repeating again what she noted several times before as we’ve shown above.
“So many people from both within and outside the public service have stressed this to me and expressed alarm at the current state of the service,” confirming the opinions expressed and published by TMR over and over again.
At this point, points squarely at what she now opines is the problem, suggesting that not all is bad, she was complimentary of those she says from the half of the work force in Montserrat that makes up the public service, many dedicated, hardworking and capable public servants.
However, she declares: “While I’m impressed by the efforts of the many dedicated, hardworking and capable public servants, I am concerned that there seems to be in some instances a lack of understanding of the duty of public servants which is to implement Government policy whether you personally agree with it or not and to provide unbiased services to the public.”
She explains further: “A part of this might be a lack of awareness and application of the public service code of conduct as it’s laid out in the (not so new) Public Administration Act.” Becoming hopeful, she concluded, “And where there is no doubt that some things need changing, and in fact things are changing, a better awareness and adherence to these standards of conduct and the duty of the public service to deliver Governments policy, could address some of these issues.”
As the subject and concern arose regarding the public service’s adherence to standards, conduct and duty, its performance falling below the expectations of Her excellency the Governor, she pointed to their lack of understanding and awareness, causing her to confess she fell short in her desired achievements. She did this at her recent press conference today.
She hinted to problems surrounding Public Administration Act that two months ago in May she said there were no Regulations to the Act saying, “we need those regulations and we need to get on with it because there’s actually some draft regulations.”
When she responded to the question what some of the problems that retarded her own achievements, she cited for example along with the problems with the HR, reforms, etc. the time it takes to process everything, including legislations.
It was on one such topic she had said, “I am very much pushing for us to resolve that quickly because it is one of those bottlenecks and it’s one of those ‘why not’ questions that that I would very much like answered,” as she sought answers why ‘things’ do not get done.
