Government is calling on public servants who receive $10 billion in salaries annually to become more efficient and effective in their delivery of services to the public.
Making the announcement yesterday was Minister of Public Administration and Communications Maxie Cuffie during an interview with CNC3 Morning Brew host Hema Ramkissoon.
Having recently assumed responsibility for the Ministry of Public Administration, which focuses on how the public service is structured, Cuffie said he intends to drive and push public sector efficiency in the coming months.
Asked if the public sector was efficient or inefficient, Cuffie said the sector was going through changes, which people have been resisting for whatever reason.
“The process has been slower than I would have liked,” Cuffie admitted.
While admitting that the public was not satisfied with the slow pace of services delivered at its 22 ministries, Cuffie said: “I understand what is behind that...and I think the reason why it has not been as fast as we would expect is because there are people who are adversely affected by change. There are people who resist change. I think the change management process has not been done as efficiently and effectively as we had hoped.”
He said to bring about change, dialogue, discussions and communications were required with the Public Service Commission (PSC), trade unions and all ministries.
While he does not think that public servants have outlived their usefulness, Cuffie said there was need for efficiency in the services they provide.
“There are 66,000 employees or positions in the public service. You have 45,000 bodies in those positions. It consumes almost $10 billion annually,” Cuffie said.
Asked if taxpayers were getting value for money with the $10 billion the Government forks out to public servants annually, Cuffie said: “Right now, I would say no.
“It does not mean that public servants aren’t working, What I am saying is that for $10 billion we need to produce more for the country.”
He said while there was a perception that public servants do not work for their salaries, there are many employees in state enterprises who go beyond the call of duty.
Cuffie cited senior forester Keith Campbell who succumbed to injuries he sustained during a fire on Friday at Lady Chancellor Hill, St Ann’s, as a prime example of a dedicated and committed public servant.
Cuffie said there were systemic problems and process issues that contributed to this inefficient service.
“We need to have processes ...procedures to do things more efficiently.”
Asked if the merging of the Ministry of Communications and Public Administration would lead to job losses, Cuffie said no.
“The Prime Minister has given his commitment. And in any case, most people who work in the public service work with industrial agreements with the registered trade unions. You can’t just unilaterally up and say that you are going to cut salaries or cut people. That is not how we do things. As we go along we will ensure that the public service costs less.”
In the coming months, Cuffie said, the Government will come up with proper structures for all ministries to become more well- organised in exercising their duties and functions.
Cuffie said there are also plans to modernise the public service through eGovernance.
“You are going to hear significant announcements in the next few weeks and months over those developments.”
While the PSC has recognised that change was imperative, Cuffie said this has to be approached gradually.
“You have to look at all of the effects of the changes. That is what we are doing now.”