A word of caution

A word of caution

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Details: Parent Category: Aug 2011; Category: Week ending Aug 20th, 2011; Published on Sunday, 28 August 2011 18:28; Hits: 1680

Editorial

With the carnival festival out of the way, it is now back to the business of running the affairs of the country for the Tillman Thomas-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government. Topping the agenda for consideration is the same old bogey - getting the economy up and running on a stronger footing especially with greater job-creation from a number of projects that have been in the pipeline for the past three years.

There is no need to look back at why many of the projects have not started. Priority should be given to getting all the realistic ones on stream within the next six to twelve months. THE NEW TODAY is talking about projects such as the Kuwaiti-funded rehabilitation of our agricultural feeder roads, the Office Complex on Lowther's Lane, the different aspects of the Greater Grenville Project, the Roads and Bridges for St. Patrick's and some of the CDB school-funded projects.

The next year is the most critical period for the government, which should be extremely concerned about whether or not it has squandered the goodwill of many of the persons who rallied to the call for regime change in July 2008. Too many in the team have turned out to be major disappointments and instead of concentrating on the job at hand within the government, they became self-seekers.

A few weeks ago, this newspaper was forced to comment that only if some elements within the government could have concentrated on nation building instead of constantly battling each other like what took place under a previous NDC government involving George Brizan and Dr. Francis Alexis.

In recent days, the government has signaled its intention to appoint an Ambassador for the Diaspora. The NEW TODAY is suggesting to the government that it should exercise caution in the manner in which the appointment takes place for fear that the issue might take on too much of a partisan political outlook.

This important post should not be treated as "a job-for-the boy" in New York, London or Toronto because of support for the party. Grenadians living in the Diaspora cut across the narrow partisan political line. They represent all shades of Red, Green, Yellow and whatever other colour one might choose to be associated with.

Equally important is the fact that there are thousands of Grenadians who have formed their own special interest groups, which by no stretch of the imagination can be considered to be, linked to either of the two major political parties operating in the country at the present time. The Tillman Thomas government should look at a formula in which the Diaspora Community can be actively involved in the selection process for an Ambassador of the Diaspora.

This might be a win-win situation for the NDC in keeping with its own motto: "Let the people's voices be heard". There is no need to foist or hoist anybody onto Grenadians living in the Diaspora for fear of sending the wrong signal to those whom the government is trying to really make a meaningful contribution to the total development of their homeland.

The other issue of importance relates to the hiring of persons under the controversial 340 vote that became a hallmark of the former Keith Mitchell-led New National Party (NNP) administration. This was the Line Vote in each ministry that was used by the former rulers to hire many of their supporters and give them jobs in the public service.

In many quarters, it was felt that the 340 was being used by the Mitchell regime to create its own civil service to rival that of the Public Service Commission (PSC) that is recognised by the Grenada Constitution as the sole legal body responsible for hiring and firing of public officers. Hundreds of workers were brought into the service through this route and left there after the elections to co-exist with the established civil servants.

The Kenrick Fullerton issue has once again brought to the fore for urgent attention the hiring of persons of a political flavour under Vote 340. Prime Minister Thomas, who is a strong advocate of respect for independent institutions of the State, should not allow the opportunity to pass for his government to adopt a policy on this that can be followed by other incoming governments.

Our preference is for a system to evolve in which all persons who are hired outside of the PSC to demit office with those who hired and brought them into the system. The country really needs an established public service that can become a truly professional body that can be relied upon to serve whichever government takes office after elections.

This is something that should be demanded by those political parties now occupying our attention. The Vote 340 needs to be addressed.