“The public servant has often been the object of scorn, but the role is being reinvigorated (albeit in a somewhat different guise) by contemporary political and administrative change. Public servants may still not be the most popular figures for the average member of the public, but they do have crucial roles to play in making the contemporary state function. And it is indeed in part because they have those multiple roles that they are becoming more important to the policy-making process. The ability to provide a range of solutions for policy and administrative problems enables these “bureaucrats” to be central actors in governing” (Still The Century of Bureaucracy?: The Roles of Public Servants, by B. Guy Peters, University of Pittsburgh).
Constitutionally, responsibility for the Anguilla Public Service rests with the Governor. Conventionally, however, this responsibility is delegated to the Deputy Governor. The task of managing the entire public service must be an overwhelming one – not only because of the sheer numbers involved but also because the general public demands and expects much from public servants and rightly so.
Public servants, as the name implies, are servants of the people. They are responsible for assisting the Government of the day in the execution of its mandate in an efficient, cost-effective and timely manner. It is expected that they will provide a high standard of customer service to the members of the public with whom they interface on a daily basis. Perhaps it is the high expectations that members of the public have of public servants, or perhaps the fact that the public has to rely on them in order to access several services, that their performance is always the subject of public comment.
Undoubtedly, there are several inefficiencies in the public service some of which are the result of outdated policies and practices that do not accord with current reality or ways of doing business, while others may be caused by the indifference or ineffectiveness of some public officers. Issues of this nature can be addressed through policy reviews and efficiency reviews. In fact, I recall being informed that an efficiency review was conducted a few years ago and several recommendations made for improvement. I am unsure of what has happened in relation to the implementation of those recommendations, but it would be a shame if, like so many others, they are sitting on a shelf somewhere. I would imagine that deficiencies in public officers themselves can be addressed through a proper performance management system. However, I also believe the time has come for reviewing and revising the process of disciplining a public servant or terminating his or her appointment. From my days as a public servant, until now, it seems as if once you are in the service you are there until retirement, death or resignation simply because the processes for discipline or termination are so cumbersome and lengthy that all efforts in this regard are frustrated and eventually aborted. Hopefully this is something that we can begin to address. I must urge, however, that equal consideration should be given to how exemplary public servants can be recognized and rewarded.
While the public service is not perfect, I must admit that there are many, many dedicated and productive public servants who go beyond the call of duty on a daily basis, working late into the night, sacrificing weekends and personal time so that they can accomplish whatever task is before them. The highest concentration of Anguillians qualified at the Bachelors or Master level can also arguably be found in the public service. I believe any elected Government can rest assured that there are qualified and experienced technical personnel and administrators working alongside Ministers. While Ministers do not always, and indeed have no obligation to, follow the advice of their “technocrats”, they should be confident that the advice given is sound. There is no doubt that many public officers, especially those in middle or senior management positions, are of extremely high caliber. Many departments in the service offer superior service to their customers and ought to be commended.
It cannot be easy being a public servant. It is a thankless job. Public servants are caught between a very critical public which finds fault with every action taken – and the demands of Ministers who, because they are politicians, are agitated when their political agendas cannot advance overnight because of the bureaucracies of the service (which, though viewed as obstacles, are really measures to ensure transparency, accountability and good governance). Public servants can easily end up being public enemy number one: blamed by Ministers for not advancing their agendas or for decisions that are unpopular with the electorate – and ridiculed or criticized by the public for whatever it thinks has gone wrong. In my view, this is unfair and unnecessary.
By and large, I believe most public servants do the best they can with the resources they have. They have taken salary cuts, put up with public hostility, faced attacks by Ministers (in this and previous Governments); and while many may be discouraged, they still persevere trying to maintain the same standard of delivery (or to improve the standard) with fewer resources at their disposal. Perhaps the rest of us should simply say “Thank You” in recognition of their efforts. Wouldn’t it be better to show appreciation rather than to constantly denigrate? After all, these are the persons who are ultimately responsible for delivering the wide range of Government services we all depend on. Their role in the proper functioning of the country ought to be acknowledged and celebrated.
