Mr. Kenneth Hodge, a former top public servant, with almost forty years of experience, and now an Island-wide Electoral District Member, has delivered a pertinent address on good governance to the Anguilla House of Assembly.
Mr. Hodge recently retired from the public service where his last appointment was to lead the process of reform, working in conjunction with the Deputy Governor’s Office. He was subsequently elected as a candidate of the Anguilla Progressive Movement and now serves as Minister of Home Affairs.
He spoke in the House of Assembly on Tuesday, August 11, during the debate on the Resolution for the establishment and appointment of the Public Accounts Committee.
“I have had the good fortune of being a civil servant for close to forty years and I got an opportunity to work alongside many administrations over the years,” he told the House. “And so I take very seriously the whole concept of good governance and the responsible conduct of public affairs and management of public resources. I think I also want to thank the Deputy Governor, as well, for having given me the opportunity for some time to have spearheaded the transformation programme.”
He said he wanted to share with the House of Assembly some principles of good governance, at the global level, endorsed by the Committee of Ministers in the Council of Europe in 2008.
He explained that those principles of good governance covered such issues as ethical conduct; the rule of law; efficiency and effectiveness; transparency; sound financial management; and accountability.
Mr. Hodge continued: “I go to principle 2 on the whole question of responsiveness where objective rules, structures and procedures are adapted for the legitimate expectations and needs of citizens. Indeed, Madam Speaker, we have heard on many occasions that our citizens question the fact that this House of Assembly sometimes seem not to offer to our people the requisite influence or their involvement in the decision-making process, and this is so important.
“As a former civil servant, Madam Speaker, I have heard the cries of our people on the provision of good services. Sometime, prior to my retirement from the public service, we conducted a public service survey that outlined quite a number of issues of concern to the public dealing with customer service and other aspects. It is my hope that in my sojourn into the next five years, that my colleagues and I can assist with helping to see many of the recommendations from that survey come to fruition.”
The newly-elected parliamentarian also spoke on efficiency and effectiveness in terms of making the best possible use of resources – and a performance management system to evaluate and enhance efficiency and effectiveness of services.
He went on to speak on several other principles of good governance, among them being ethical conduct where the public good is placed before individual interest; and effective measures to prevent and combat all forms of corruption. “That is why I am so happy to see this Public Accounts Committee has been set up once again – because we have to be very serious about the need to ensure that we provide openness and transparency to the public.”
After addressing a number of other matters, Mr. Hodge took a sympathetic sideline view of one of the burdens affecting persons on the island. “Madam Speaker, we have seen right now the effects of this Covid-19 on Anguilla and, indeed, on the world,” he stated. “We have seen where our economy has been brought to its knees. Many of our people are unemployed at this time, and even though we are offering one thousand dollars to them that can in no way alleviate the stress and strain of families seeking to survive.”
Aside from that reflection, he added: “I look forward to a productive term of the Public Accounts Committee and, wherever I can, to work with it over the next five years.”
