Public service still needs systemic reform
Even as the territory recognises the many hard-working, conscientious government employees during this Public Service Week, it should commit to reforming the public service from the ground up.
Comprehensive reform is urgently needed, especially in light of Premier Ralph O’Neal’s announcement on Tuesday that as of May 31 revenue was 39 percent less than originally projected.
Of course, this situation is not particularly surprising, given leaders’ failure to take meaningful action before now. Amid much fanfare last June, Mr. O’Neal and then-Governor David Pearey announced 14 measures designed to cut costs in the public service. Those initiatives, which amounted to less than $1 million in savings, were a step in the right direction, but they fell far short of what is needed — especially considering the recent cost overruns in capital projects like the new hospital, the greenhouses, the incinerator and several smaller projects of questionable merit.
At the time, this newspaper called for deeper, systemic reform designed to ensure that the public service is as efficient, apolitical and cost-effective as possible. The VI Civil Service Association, the BVI Teachers’ Union and others made similar recommendations.
But subsequent action appears to have been minimal. Perhaps the most notable step was government’s Efficiency, Innovate and Save programme. This initiative was a sound plan designed to gather ideas from the community, but it is not enough. Thus, we were glad to hear the premier say on Tuesday that an agreement to raise revenue will be presented to the House of Assembly “shortly.” We hope it comes soon.
To date, however, we have not heard plans for what is most needed: medium- and long-term strategies for reforming the many government entities that still are plagued by poor service standards, unnecessary bureaucracy, political interference, conflicts of interest, waste and other problems.
To understand the possible consequences of failing to act decisively, the VI need only look across the water to the United States Virgin Islands, where Governor John de Jongh Jr. recently submitted the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The budget included drastic steps to protect the USVI’s coffers, including authorisation to lay off 600 government workers.
Mr. de Jongh blamed the layoffs in part on the USVI’s failure to implement various pre-emptive proposals designed to cut back across the board.
We hope that no large-scale layoffs will be necessary here, but we are beginning to wonder. Though the VI’s opaque budget document precludes a clear understanding of the territory’s finances, we know that at least one project — the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College culinary centre — has been delayed because of what officials called “cash-flow issues.” And this delay could be the tip of a large iceberg.
In the coming election campaigns, candidates should put forward specific ideas for meaningful reform in the public service. Without such measures, the VI may find itself facing much harder decisions in the near future.