SAY SORRY

PUBLIC Services Association (PSA) president Watson Duke yesterday demanded that President Paula-Mae Weekes apologise for describing public officers as “inefficient, stagnant and inept.”

At an award function hosted by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) at Cipriani Labour College in Valsayn on Wednesday, Weekes said the public service has developed a reputation for inefficiency and this stigma had to be eradicated

In a WhatsApp video, Duke said, “We call on the President to unreservedly apologise. We call on her to take these statements back and be more respectful to those who work in the public service.” He described the President’s statements as “hurtful to a wounded public service who is still reeling from negative stigmatisation by successive governments.”

The PSA leader was baffled as to why Weekes would choose to attack public officers at an event which was held to honour excellence in the public service. He said her words were premature and “somewhat uncalled-for.”

Saying public officers are the ones who ensure services such as health, security and mail are provided on time, Duke said, “These are the workers who leave their beds three, four and five in the morning while the President is still relaxing. These are the ones who do not have a pension equal to the salary...the President has.”

Duke argued that the people who received awards at the IDB function would have done so on the backs of the same public officers that Weekes criticised. “I am disappointed in the President and I hold her accountable for the words she should have made (sic) against public officers,” he said.

Employers Consultative Association president Keston Nancoo agreed with Weekes about the public service. Nancoo said there are many good public servants but the public service’s reputation is being tarnished by those who do not perform, and the perception of inefficiency in the service is one that has crept into the society over time.

Nancoo said management-performance effectiveness was key to improving the public service. He cited the Police Service as an example of the way effective performance management can influence public perception of an organisation.

In her speech on Wednesday, Weekes said public institutions are the platform through which people are served and act as the bridge between people and government.

“They should be functional, modern and well run. Sadly, our public sector has earned the invidious reputation for ineptitude, inefficiency and stagnation.” Weekes said while no one doubts there are pools of competence within the service, the overall impression is disheartening and alarming.”

The President also said, ““The public sector must therefore became an exemplar of excellence in service delivery with the capacity to manage technological, social and economic changes that have taken place and will continue to take place here.”

She added that institutions will prosper only if led by those who understand if one is to lead, one also has to serve, and sometimes that requires a suppression of ego.