A great development

Dear Editor,

Re: Govt moves to curb abuse 

The new process to curb excessive misuse by C.E.O’s of their vehicles is music to the ears of my friends and I at the makeki. 

For far too long we have been mightily sick at the sight of C.E.O vehicles being driven around town by the C.E.Os’ wives or their off springs. 

Just hope that there is a proper and transparent process for non-compliance. Perhaps there should be a name and shame list to be published in the Samoa Observer every month - kidding, of course but the message is clear, enough is enough.

As for streamlining and making the public service more efficient, there are a number of models which could be implemented and I wrote earlier about one such model for the health department.

I recall a conversation at the makeki with a lady who used to work in the public service but has now retired. She told me that the Australian government had an aid project about 17-18 years ago on this very issue of reviewing the role of the P.S.C. 

The thrust of the project was to devolve human resource (and financial) management to the C.E.O’s. For instance, the C.E.O of the health department would be responsible for putting together a suitable workforce to meet her department’s objectives and work programmes. 

Hiring and firing public servants in the health department would rest with her and not the P.S.C. To finance this workforce, she would submit a budget to the Ministry of Finance (and ultimately to Cabinet) for approval. 

Normal and daily financial management functions would again rest with the C.E.O and not the Ministry of Finance.

What will the P.S.C do in this brave new world? It will focus on human resource policy making rather than being tied up with the nitty gritty stuff of hiring and firing people.

My lady friend does not know why this project outcome(s) did not eventuate.

Maybe this is the time to revisit those significant and far reaching public policies and procedures.

 

Vai Autu 

Samoa Observer

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