Archive for December 9th, 2013
Good governance goes beyond managing cash
(CNS): Good governance is not just about managing public finances, the governor said last week during Government Professional Development Week. Helen Kilpatrick was one of the presenters at the week-long event, organised by the government and the Cayman Islands Society of Professional Accountants, and she was also interviewed by Auditor General Alastair Swarbrick on the subject of public sector governance. Kilpatrick said the three priority areas in relation to good governance are core values and a good business ethos; having clear accountabilities and systems; and holding people accountable by measuring performance and outcomes.
“The foundation of an efficient and trusted public service is good governance,” she said during the Q&A with Swarbrick. "Without this bedrock we cannot have performance management, accountability or the trust and confidence of citizens or investors."
The governor said that in the modern civil service leaders should be focusing on influencing others to achieve positive outcomes as it is more satisfactory than issuing directives.
“It’s all about being proportionate and having good processes, structure, and regulation,” she added, pointing to the various performance measures, including those that come from the people using public services.
“It’s a huge mistake to think that ‘good governance’ only relates to finance, because everyone, including politicians and members of the public, have a role to play,” Kilpatrick stated.
During the week-long event in which the financial secretary, the finance minister and the chair of the Public Accounts Committee and a host of international speakers all spoke about issues relating to public finances and accountability. The workshops and presentations focused on ethics, risk management, technology, project management, and the role of chief financial officers.
Managerial staff from government departments and authorities as well as private sector employees attended the event