No hiding under cloak of political affiliation
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – CIVIL servants were issued a second warning earlier this week by Prime Minister the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas to render an honest day’s work for an honest day’s wage or face the consequences.
The first warning was issued during Dr. Douglas November 2011 press conference and the second on Tuesday (Jan. 31) during his ‘Ask the Prime Minister’ radio programme.
The St. Kitts-Nevis Leader told the nation that recently the IMF Executive Board indicated that in order to ensure fiscal sustainability and public financial management, the civil service and the Social Security System are among the areas which would be the focus of further reforms.
It was against this backdrop and in response to a caller that Dr. Douglas candidly issued a second warning to civil servants who are cheating the public purse by accepting a salary having not put in corresponding amount of hours of work.
“What this caller has said a moment ago clearly identifies the reason why we have to make sure that there is continuing reform of the civil service if we are to cut out the wastage and the high unnecessary expenditure that the government incurs, because of unscrupulous persons, civil servants who believe that they have a right to earn a wage and a salary without working. That attitude has to come to an end. And far from thinking that we are sending home civil servants as part of the new economic programme that we are following, that’s not what it is.
“We are demanding that public servants work, that they give the government their eight hours per day that they are being paid for, and those - as this caller who has just said - who are working a second job using government time to do a second job, getting full pay of government.
“That has to come to an end! And that is exactly what we mean when we speak of continuing to reform the civil service. This kind of nonsense has to come to an end and this caller is right! She knows exactly what she is talking about…this caller knows exactly what she is talking about…because what she said, sadly, is so. Too many complaints keep coming into the office of the Prime Minister and, otherwise, where people are being paid and they are not working. This will have to come to an end!”
A stern warning was also issued to those persons who snuggle under the cover of political party support and who are of the view that they can loaf because they support the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party.
According to Dr. Douglas, he is not one to condone such attitudes but noted that he provides opportunities for persons to prove themselves
“The caller basically said that a lot of them are hiding behind the cloak of being party supporters. Well, I am not going to hide anybody under the cloak of the Labour Party. The Labour Party – as a political party – has done its very best to ensure that its supporters and other citizens of this country are provided opportunities for employment.
“I am one of those who believe very strongly in giving people a chance and an opportunity. It’s up to you once you’ve been given that opportunity and chance to maintain it. If you fail because of your attitude, poor performance, then you should go, simple as that!”
