BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, January 4th 2010 (PAM Secretariat) - Constituency Two representative for the People’s Action Movement, Roy Fleming has expressed the urgent need for the reorganizing of the civil service.
Fleming said that in the 21st century it is very pertinent to ensure that the civil service could be reorganized so as to address the growing challenges facing the Federation today.
He said that in the Federation civil servants are faced with hopelessness, resulting in rapidly increasing poverty, social and economic ills. He pointed out that despite advancement in technology, there are still instances of backward trend of operation being applied by agencies and departments. He noted that corruption continues to soar, pointing to what he said are clear cut evidences of government agencies that are corrupt to the core.
Fleming, who continues to express confidence at winning the seat in Constituency Two, believes that part of the corruption stems from the fact that wages and salaries are just too low for civil servants. He noted that some 14-odd years ago, the Prime Minister had promised that once elected workers in the factory would take home no less that $300.00 per week, noting that they have had to wait for 14 long gruelling years to get that.
“How can we continue to pay our workforce such low meager salaries and expect them to perform or much less to eradicate corruption, as many persons see things today as bread and butter,” he said.
Fleming reiterated his view that the civil sector is facing a severe challenge where there is now a bloated army of contract employees. “It is so sad to see that every Minister today wants to provide jobs for all of his supporters, irrespective of if a vacancy exists or if the individual suits the job. It’s a system where there is payback for support; so regardless of the fact that there are no vacancies, we see some Ministers and top officials creating vacancies so as to support their friends and allies.”
The former pilot, who has given up his profession to pursue a career in politics, said that the salaries being paid to contract employees, which includes cronies and supporters, amounts to millions while some gets gratuity among other benefits.
“The public needs to know the truth and I therefore urge the Prime Minister to disclose all the information that he has. We (PAM) have all the details and are prepared to release same,” Fleming declared.
Fleming explained that if the civil service was to be reorganized and there is “an effective management of the various ministries”, then there would be a better civil service which would evolve in the Federation being better managed.
Fleming added that if some of the same money that is being used for purposes not legally intended and was to be reallocated to the civil service, the sector could be reformed and attract better individuals who are not corrupted.
