No witch hunt among government boards, please

Thursday, January 12, 2012

WE were naturally pleased to see the proactiveness of Mr Godfrey Dyer who stepped down as chairman of the state-run Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), to make way for the new tourism minister to appoint another, should he be so minded.

The appointment of state boards is something about which we have a keen understanding and so we commend Mr Dyer for doing the gentlemanly thing. We know of board chairmen who have dug themselves so deep into the entity which they chaired that they were severely traumatised — to the point of tears — when told they would have to resign upon the election of a new administration.

It is our belief that the appointment of government boards provides the new Portia Simpson Miller administration with a unique opportunity to signal the kind of political foundation it will be laying for the next 50 years of Jamaican Independence.

The secret has long been out that many people are appointed to boards as a way of rewarding them for political friendship. Some are put there as agents to watch over the interest of the party, and even to ensure that to the victors go the spoils. Such beneficiaries need not have the requisite skills that could move the entity forward and achieve the service deserved by the long-suffering people of Jamaica.

We regard government boards as a critical part of the governance structure. They are frequently closer to the ground than central government and can make a huge difference in the quality of service provided by the State.

It would be naive, let us be the first to admit, to expect a new administration not to have some people on such boards who are like-minded. A government trying to implement policies promised in a manifesto and assumed to be approved by the electorate, must have people who will understand the concept and vision and move with dispatch to implement. That is, to borrow from the Americans, not rocket science.

What concerns us is when a board's membership is configured to ensure that the politically connected are the ones who get a straight line to the troughs and pork barrels. When an appointment is made to the board it must be obvious that the appointee has the related skill set and is able to bring that to the table. And the public should be told at the time of the announcement which should include their resumes.

The new Government will find people on boards who are supportive of the previous administration. But not all of them will act as saboteurs or news carriers. Many of these Jamaicans are there because they want to serve their country.

We are also willing to admit that determining the ones who are bona fide can be a ticklish undertaking. But if the approach is one of inclusiveness, on the belief that Jamaicans have a right to their party affiliation and as long as they are willing to serve to the best of their abilities, the administration will get boards that work and work well.

Let us bear in mind too that the skills pool is not as exhaustive as we would like to believe. A party-inspired witch hunt is the last thing we can afford.

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COMMENTS (8)

wanda woeman
1/13/2012

@John Anderson, if you read the Gleaner editorial dated January 13, you will see that when a new administration takes office in democracies it is usual for people on boards to resign. “Such resignations are predicated on an assumption that a new government would be given a relatively free hand to appoint who they want.” The editorial goes on, “It is the decent thing to do.”
Dear John this does not happen only in 3rd world countries where people’s minds are small. Wherever did you ever get this idea?

John Anderson
1/13/2012

No wonder a country like Jamaica cant rise above 3rd World sub-standard. So u lot r saying everytime da govt. changes da various gov. agencies' board needs changing.
Then Jamaica will never rise above being labelled a 3rd world country, because the ppl's mind are small and petty. How do u expect 2 achieve what the leading countries in da world achieve?

Richard Kitson-Walters
1/13/2012

No witch hunting....I agree, but please weed out dead weight and the incompetent.

Michelle Anderson
1/12/2012

Being appointed to Boards is a little scrutinized area where much feeding at the trough takes place by political hacks, who receive swanky lunches, stipends, smartphones, etc.
Some Boards are used to victimize public servants so that the higher ups can keep their hands clean.
They must all resign and allow the respective Ministers to make their choices.
The cream will always rise to the top. To the others I say, pack your bags and goooooooooooooo before you are pushed!

Jeff Orange
1/12/2012

Given what has transpired at the UDC, it is imperative that the entire board step down immediately so that a new board can be appointed by the new administration and the appropriate investigations be launched to investigate the performance of this Public Agency over the past 4+ years. There is no other way. We need a clean slate to prevent cover-ups!

Wa Tch
1/12/2012

The directors must go. As simple as that.

wanda woeman
1/12/2012

It is not a matter of a witch-hunt. All we are demanding is that if there are those who robbed the public purse they must be made to pay. It can’t be that people do what they wish while in office then plead “witch-hunting” when they have to pay for their criminality. It will have a salutary effect on the present administration as well, if they know that when a new administration takes office they will be prosecuted if they are found wanting. Let the chips fall where they might.
At the same time a number of others should follow Mr. Dyer example and not wait to be pushed. They know who they are.

John Christian
1/12/2012

Back in the 60's I was appointed to a significant board that was charged to oversee the Jamacanisation of the Telephone company....anyone remember JAMINTEL..We completed the Jamacanisation process succesfully...the Govt changed..and we all resigned...thats how it must be...All board members appointed by the previous govt must immediatly resign and allow this govt to make there appointments...daily stipends are over go back to your previous life.

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No witch hunt among government boards, please