Privatization not a panacea

| 12/09/2014

(CNS): The country has to recognize that privatization is “not a panacea that when poured down upon a Public Service will miraculously cure all ills,” the civil service association boss has stated in a message to the membership. In the wake of the publication of the Ernst and Young report on the rationalization of the civil service James Watler the CICSA president urged members to read and familiarize themselves with the document and pass their feedback to the management council on the proposals that could if implemented radically alter government and the wider community. 

Watler pointed to concerns about selling off the public sector and that in the end it will be civil servants, whose jobs are now on the line, who will have to implement the cuts and changes.

“Many privatization efforts have failed to achieve their overall objectives locally and internationally,” he said in his message Thursday. “Like any other government initiative in order for true success it is the individual civil servants that must make it happen. Thus our involvement is critical and not just as secondary stakeholders."

However the president pointed out how difficult this might be given the manpower problems across the public sector.

“Unfortunately, for the last decade, many of our service agencies have been operating with below optimal staff numbers while others may have been overstaffed compared to the practical demands placed upon the service. Once again we must suggest a full man power survey to better understand the current staffing situation and needs for the entire organization and a formal determination of essential services and staff to function and provide the requisite services that people expect their government to provide.”

Watler explained that such an assessment would inform the fair cost of a service otherwise investors run the risk of their privatization failing to achieve the savings, services and profits that could be expected.

Urging the association’s membership to offer their thoughts he said the management council was closely reviewing the proposals but it was crucial that civil servants aired their views. While government has made no announcements about what it will choose, if anything to implement from the report, Watler reminded the civil servants that the deputy governor is committed to carrying out policy obligations to reduce the cost and size of the service.

“While Civil Servants do not make policy the Association will act as an advocate for the rights of our members and look to ensure that the employer’s moral, contractual and legislative obligations are honored. We will also act as a conduit for our members to make representation to the Civil Service management and to the Government as we try to limit the negative impacts of the changes as much as possible,” Watler stated in a message to his membership on Thursday.

Although Watler stressed that the CS was keen to see government work efficiently and effectively he pointed out that some services cannot be privatized, outsourced and or sold because of the social impacts of the profit or the loss of the service.

“The Civil Service Association will engage with the Portfolio of the Civil Service and the new rationalization unit to work with them to find the most effective and most respectful ways to bring about whatever policy changes are decided on. But that will only occur if we are proactive about engaging with each other,” he added.

Watler asked the CS to think about the proposed changes and to express their thoughts in preparation for meetings to openly discuss the report and other issues. But in the meantime he urged them to email CICSA@gov.ky with their input.

Meanwhile, following the publication of the EY report, the deputy governor has also written to the wider civil service about the report and pointed out that once Cabinet makes any decision about its implementation the new unit headed by Mary Rodrigues would “create a sense of urgency” to see the policy changes pushed through. Promising to be transparent about the progress and development of this rationalization, Franz Manderson, acknowledged that there was a “high level of interest” in the findings and the implications of the EY report.
He said that he and government were committed to “ensuring that the social, economic and human resource implications of each change decision are identified and considered and that public servants are treated fairly.”

Any public sector worker who is no yet a member who wants to make their voice heard can join the CICSA by emailing CICSA@gov.ky.

See the message from the CICSA, the deputy governor’s letter to government workers and a related CNS story with the EY report attached below.

EY-points-major-sell-off

 

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Here's hoping someone reads this. For all of our sakes.

    1. I regularly load my truck up with garden tree and bush cuttings, as well as other stuff that I have that I cannot put into my regular garbage bins, and drive down to the drop off facility. It is an excellent facility. How is charging me money going to encourage me to continue doing so when I can just as easily dump the contents of my truck on a remote piece of vacant land? (Yes, I do undersand this would be immoral and illegal. But this is beside the point.)

    2. I place my regular household garbage in two containers awaiting collection once a week (used to be two). An excellent system. if I am to be charged for every time i place my garbage out for collection what is to stop me decling to pay and instead dumping my garbage somewhere or other?

    Now, I know there is "enforcement", whatever that means. But the point is my garbage is not where it should be, is it?

    And if I decline to pay my garbage fee for roadside collection, what is going to happen? My garbage is left uncollected to rot by the kerb? I am taken to court and (if successful) the government has the garbage fee deducted from my earnings?

    Rest assurred, dear CNS readers, I personally would continue to take my truck to the drop off regardless of a fee. And I would readily resume paying my garbage collection fee. But my point is how many others would not and this concerns me.

    For the sake of common sense, let us not not pursue this crazy idea of charging people for garbage collection (it hasn't/won't work) or for using their gas and time to take stuff to the drop off. It is pure foolishness, okay?

     

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Garbage fees should be added to cuc bills. You don't pay, you sit in theh dark.

      • Anonymous says:

        No. I'm not contracting with CUC to pick up my garbage. I'm contracting with someone else. And if they do a bad job and I withhold payment until it is resolved – something that happens with other bussinesses – then the bussiness I don't have a problem with, and does not have a problem with me, should not be inovlved. I always feel sorry for CUC when this suggestion comes around. They must just shake their head at people trying to pull them in to a problem that is not theirs. I imagine they have enough trouble getting their own bills paid some months as it is.

    • Anonymous says:

      To the people who gave thumbs down for "Here's hoping somebody reads…",  did u really read what this person said? This is a legitimate concern.  EY's recommendations may sound good on paper, but when u consider the human factor,  many simply are not going to work, particular in these difficult economic times.  

      Here in Cayman we had to work hard to change attitudes regarding dumping on nearby properties, a practice which use to be rampant before we had organized garbage collection.  This included dumping worn out appliances.  Those times are recent enough for many of us (slightly) older Caymanians to remember vividly. 

      we have gotten over that and we don't want to go back to that, thank you.

      there is a reason that most countries, if not all, do not outsource garbage collection.

      EY, you don't have to be a brain surgeon to make most of your recommendations — most have already been thought of — the question is, will they work?

    • Anonymous says:



      has anyone actually verified that a) the facts and assumptions upon which the report is based are true and factual? b) what associated or relevant facts have been taken into consideration when making some of the suggestions that have been made, i.e., CAL should increase fares, has anyone done a market analysis on average fares per mile flown and markets that are afected, Jamaica for one cannot objectively absorb a fare increase and any other increase will drive passengers to the other carriers serving the destnation and we will have less and less CAL passengers. at a time of open skies and free market competition CAL will lose. c) has anyone consdered that selling all the assets will leave the country equity poor and in a very compromised position. it seems that the instructions to carry out this exercise was poor at best and has employed a hatchet man menality of cut and slash for large corps to benefit only. The average caymanian will lose even more and trhe devide will be larger between the have and have nots.

  2. anonymous says:

    It seems to me that the bigger picture is being missed here. Judging by the amount of realtor signs littering the roadsides, the level of corruption and cronyism, it is apparent that everything is for sale in Cayman.

    Votes, permits, residency and now government departments are up for sale.

    So why not put the entire Cayman islands on an internet auction site like kajiji and let it be sold to the highest bidder.

    That way, you still get an outsider to blame, the thirst for short term money is satisfied and I may get to sell my house within two years.

    Everyone's a winner babe, that's true.

    • Anonymous says:

      I had to bribe the guy who was meant to arrange my bribes.  That is how bad is had become.

  3. Anonymous says:

    I read about the ideas for the future of refuse collection in today's Compass. There's a very good reason why in most countries the cost of collection and depositing at recycling centres is financed from general government coffers and not from individuals. If anyone is crazy enough to expect any other system to work, well then go ahead and have a go. Maybe you know more than all the other countries who recognize that living in a sea of dumped garbage by the roadside with rats running round the place isn't exactly condusive towards the maintenance of good public health. But go ahead anyway. I'll give it 6 months before the scent of rotting garbage finally causes the penny to drop. We need residential refuse collection (as now – great job!) and  proper public drop off centres in each district (privately run if you want). The one I use in Fleetwood in the U.K . is a model of efficiency. There are at least 15 or so disposal areas outside of the skips for general household refuse, with a helpful staff on hand to direct you accordingly, and even assist you in the unloading of your vehicle! But there is no charge for bringing your disposable items – they want to encourage you to visit! Please, folks, let's think this thing through, okay? There's a lot more to things other than turning a profit, surely?

    • Anonymous says:

      I have only skimmed through the EY report, but what has struck me is the chutzpah of EY.  They have a lot of nerve to make such comprehensive and all-encompassing recommendations.  As a result, I think this is a dangerous report, full of the hubris of youth.

      i don't believe they fully understand some of the many ramifications of changes they might be suggesting, and I urge the Cabinet to be very careful in assessing what they will take and what they will discard.

      Having said that, quite a few of the recommendations have been mooted for some time or even tried and failed.

      for example, the previous government had adopted the strategy of hiring PR staff for each ministry.  That proved expensive and did not really result in any better communication.  Right now the Premier's Office does have its own press officer.  Are we really getting any more information out of that no doubt high paying position?  Isn't that what EY is complaining about?  Meanwhile, GIS' staff has been cut to survival mode already to serve the entire government.  I think GIS has something like three or four Information Officers compared to the some eight that would be required to have one within each ministry.

      This makes EY's recommend,endation actually a more expensive prosition — which is weird, as EY was to save money.  

      What EY has not done as far as I could see is to look at how more effectively agencies could carry out roles.

      Don't  tell me that in a small country we cannot have central agencies to serve common needs if there is the proper organizational approaches and good will.

      one of the problems when you break up communication is that government then begins to speak with several dofferent voices.  In the past in-ministry formula we actually found that different spheres of government atarted to level blame at other areas and that in some cases  they were unaware of policies across government.  A central mediating agency helps to fill these gaps and to bring the necessary cohesiveness to the government brand.

      Anoer issue is the use of scare resources — with the eight or so PR officers needing supporting graphics arts, etc., how do we prioritize?  Or will each ministry have its own support communication staff?  Or better still, will we be outsourcing to the private sector?  Maybe that is the idea — the  private sector with its expensive flair must be panting at the bit for change.

      This is just one example of some ramifications that I am sure can be easily perceived in even a cursory analysis.

      what I want to know is why we had to pay all those dollars to hear something that could have been developed over time within the civil service, with its depth of understanding of its own workings and all the ramifications of meeting public needs.  

      Is it because the Cabinet has to have an external body to support the changes that they were always aware they needed to make but were too scared to do without "permission"?

      • Dread On Dread says:

        Correction it was the PM Government who hired Accountants and HR person for each Ministry under the failed Accrual Accounting system.

    • Anonymous says:

      Cayman shouldn't be compared to socialist states in worse fiscal shape than we are.  We don't want that here.  Someone has to pay, would be ideal if our government bothered to keep track of funds, stay on budget, and maybe rebuild a reserve.

      • Anonymous says:

        Do you understand that the residents in the so called "socialist states" are much better off on the whole than those in the U.S.for example? From Canada through Western Europe people (all of them) receive decent health care, housing and, yes, garbage collection (it's, er, a public health issue). Ask yourself why in a recent survey the Danes are the happiest people in the world. Please do some research and learn about the so called "socialist states" with their higher standards of living and low infant mortality rates. And don't be duped by the "capitalists"!

    • The only way to privatise garbage and collect fees says:

      We all know the only utility we are slaves to is CUC!  So if there was any hope of collecting fees, it would have to be added to the electricity bills.

      I cannot see the average Joe standing up or standing in line to pay for garbage collection when it has been FREE previously.  Howeever, if you were to take my household annual fee and bake it into my electric bill (or water bill?) then $200 per year for a residence divided by $12, well yes certainly would pay my $16.66 per month to a utility.

      • Anonymous says:

        The suggestion that a government fee should included as part of a private company's service bill (particulary CUC!) has got to be amongst the most bizarre I've heard. Anyone who thinks such a thing is a "good idea" has a most profound need of an education. I'm not sure they are intellectually salvageable, tell you the truth.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Come on, you really think any MLA is going to sell any part of these civil service depts… Of course not, they know if they sell a real business person is going to go in there and fire all the donkeys in the business that have three hr lunch breaks and speak rudly to the customers.. This would mean that the MLAs would have got thousands of people fire and wouldn't get relelcted… 

    Not going to happen… 

  5. UHUHUH says:

    The question must be asked ! Why were no suggestions made to reduce the salaries of members of the legislative assembly and/or those highly-paid heads of Government Authorities, Chief Officers and others who work directly under them?

    Think about this! The average work week for the non-portfolio members of Government, [based on an extrapolated 960 hours  per year, or 20 hours per week [here I'm being extremely generous] earning an average hourly wage of approximately one hundred fifteen dollars [$1i5.00]  plus medical, plus pension, plus all the other goodies like free gas, use of credit cards and free airline tickets to where ever they decide they decide to go! Remember most of them have other businesses that take a lot of their time as well. 

    YET!  We form "another committee" to decide what  minimum wage should be!

    Folks let me say!Or better yet!  Let me give you an example of a Government Business that it is suggested be put up for sale. That business is the oldest and one of the most popular tourist attractions on island today and at one time "during the days of one Dr. Jim Woods" [when it was run properly] maintained an annual surplus of hundreds of thousands of dollars!  That business is "The Turtle Farm" That operation has to be subsidized to the tune of some Ten Million Dollars annually, while trying to pay off tens of millions of accumulated debt.

    Now the question must be asked. Would any business entrepreneur even consider buying this operation unless they would be given some extremely good deal? Absolutely not! Especially when they [prior to making any  commitment] will have given themselves due diligence by having a proper survey done, at which time they will have discovered all the necessary maintenance etc. required to get it back to a proper operating condition.             My opinion! IT WILL NEVER BE SOLD!

    So my advice to government is: Cut all the dead wood from all of government Departments. Cut the extravagant salaries. Appoint knowledgeable people to run these operations, cut salaries, and award bonuses based on a turn-around, which goes from a money losing entity to  [a break even min] or profitable operation. And lastly, when these businesses start loosing money because they are poorly run. Hold the CEO, COO or the CFO, accountable and/or responsible, . 

    We Need Responsible Leadership who put country before self! Leaders who want The Best for, and who will work diligently to insure Positive Growth for our Island and a sustainable future for our youth by providing them with whatever tools are needed, to give them "First Preference".

     

     

    • Anonymous says:

      Yes but where is the good leaderships to come from.  It does not esixt on this island.  

  6. Anonymous says:

    It is quite simple people. Some of E&Y's recommendations will be accepted and some will not. As an example who can argue about Radio Cayman being privatised ? Radio Cayman is an excellent service but is not a core Government function and so it must go. Boatswain's Beach is not a core Government function and in fact neither are any of the Tourism Attractions Board's properties. Get rid of them !!! The Government's function is not business its function is Governance plain and simple. If it does not involve Governance, or some other essential service such as the National Archives and Cayman Airways (yes CAL is an essential service and those who have been here for 20 years or more will understand why it is essential) then I say sell it or close it down. Yes we all understand that employees must be considered but we have 20,000 + work permits in Cayman so don't tell me that we can't find jobs for the approximately 2,000 civil servants that could be laid off.

    But the queston is does this Government/Premier have the will to make the changes ?

    I think not. The Premier has already put his foot in his mouth when he said that civil servants are not going to be losing their jobs. Oh really Premier ??? What is the point of this report then ? To say that the PPM produced a report which you intend to implement in your next term (which you know you won't get) !!!

    I think of the hungry school children and senior citizens that that $190,000 could have fed !!!

    • Dr.Do-Little -Too - Late says:

      TO: It is quite simple people.

      Yesterday's Cayman Compass, in its story about Hurricane Ivan, had pictures of people [hundreds of them] standing and waiting to leave this Island, and in the foreground there sat "Cayman Airways" ready and waiting, to take those who left the Island, and waited, until those of us who stayed could rebuild and put  things back in order.

      We don't need to sell our airline! What we need is Competent Airline management by people will work diligently to see our airline "at a minimum"  break even, [if not profitable] 

      This can all be done by getting back to how we operated years ago. A time when! From the moment you stepped on-board, you began to experience a sense of knowing, you were on your way to the best vacation you will ever have. Once on-board and service began, you would we served free corned beef sandwiches and homemade lemon-aid and locally made beef patties. "Oh boy I'm starting to get hungry" Then there was available for those who were so inclined, [at a small price of-course] drinks such as rum punch, and other exotic alcoholic beverages. And! there were available, little souvenirs that said "Made in Cayman". But best of all we had those lovely flight attendants who loved what they did, and smiled while speaking with a lovely "CAMANIAN" accent.

      LEAVE CAYMAN AIRWAYS ALONE!

      • anonymous says:

        I guess this rose tinted view of yesteryear does not include the friends, family carnival that took up most of the seats.

        Free flights for life for seemingly anyone who had the slightest connection to the airline is not good business. Employing people due to their accent, not ability is not good business.

        flying an almost empty jet to the Brac is not good business sense. Trying to run a national airline does not make good business sense either.

        What it does create is an opportunity for a budget airline to provide a basic service, without all the overheads and free loaders described above to undercut prices immensely. This will come, the route just has to be negotiated through the myriad of mindless bureaucracy put up by the mediocre.

    • Anonymous says:

      I absolutely disagree re Radio Cayman which provides services that privately run radio stations do not, and would not, but are nonetheless important. Take for example, the broadcast of the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, or the Saturday morning story-telling that helps to preserve our culture.

      You have a very narrow understanding of the role of Government in a small society. You must be an accountant.     

  7. Anonymous says:

    Alas yes! 

  8. Anonymous says:

    and who is going to buy these government owned companies? the last time I check you need to be profitable to be sold. 

    • Anonymous says:

      well  i will buy the water company for sure   🙂

      and radio cayman…………and the tutle store in west bay with the waterslide  lol and the BAR !!!!!

  9. Anonymous says:

    Listen everyone.  The Civil Service have undoubtedly been remiss in its handling of affairs but the way to remedy that is not through the wholesale sell off of the assets of this country and particularly on such a small island that could not sustain competition.  There are several very good reasons to reject the E&Y report

    It is deeply flawed and lacking in detail

    E&Y is connected to C4C and we all know about them

    The government commissioned this report to hide behind it

    The people who will take over many of the newly privatized companies will be members of C4C and the other political elites 

    You cannot create a fair free market in such a small country

     

    So get together in your communities, start protesting, and find a way to make your elected representatives more accountable.  If you think they are not nearly accountable enough, wait till the private sector get their hands on your assets.

     

  10. Concerned 1 says:

    Too Funny:

     

    To me this looks like an issue of failed manegerial practices starting at the very top. To resolve this issue we simply need to hold each individual accountable for their position starting with the Governor and the Premier. This all falls under good governance;

    Any portfolio manager who does not produce and audited account by the designated time should be demoted by the assigned MLA. If the MLA does not demote the mager then he should have consiquences from the Deputy Governor / Premier ect etc. This is all basically a system of failed leaders who find it incredibly had to fire / demote anyone. This is also a reflection of failed leadership from the very top as the each step will only do what the top allows / accepts.

     

  11. Anonyanmous says:

    Some government services can and should be privatized but it is impossible for some to fall in the hands of private companies, the government knows that quite well and did not need an accounting firm to tell them that.  Just follow the lead of the most successful first world countries with similar population size and see what services they privatize and which are run by their government.   

    No one wants job cuts, but if it is necessary then we have to suck it up, bite our bottom lips and just do it.  The world is changing and we are forced to change to keep up.  Goverment sadly have to cut jobs and it should begin with the non Caymanian staff who's positions can easily be filled by Caymanians across the board.

    • Hear hear says:

      Hear hear, start with an audit of the $ contracts. Costly moving costs, additional family member insurance and perks? Where is the succession planning? 

  12. Anonymous says:

    The Compass "Editorial Board" (ie David Legge) has come out strongly in favour of the EY Report. That should give us all serious pause for thought.

    • Anonymous says:

      Absolutely agree. Since the new ownership there appears to have been a distinct change of tone in this newspaper's editorial content. It's almost as if its being used as a front for others with very deep pockets and a "manifest destiny" approach to the direction Cayman should be going in. "No looking in the rear view mirror" we are told. Forget your history and culture. They are hiderences to progress. And it's now written, tellingly, in American English, and we all know how that worked out for the native Americans, don't we?

      • Anonymous says:

        It certainly does appear that they are the "mouth piece" for a very, very wealth organization which is trying to take over and dictate Caymans future.

        Wait till you see their plans for the south end of Seven Mile beach.  Think "tunnel vision".

        • Anonymous says:

          Why have people give. You the thumbs down?  What you have said is right on the button.  

          • anonymous says:

            Right on the button, but announcing early will steal peoples time in the spotlight especially if votes are involved.Wait until the population is big enough to fill the vacant properties, the pension  deficit and the financial black hole attached to government expenses.

            Mention that and watch the thumbs down arrive in a fleet of taxis. It's coming though, the only stay is the amount of permit holders leaving and disregarding residency. I sense a u turn will be on the cards to try and build the population for revenue generation, then tax which will then lead to other mechanisms best discussed nearer the time.

          • Anonymous says:

            Glad you (and increasingly many others) can see this newspaper's true agenda, which is really quite subversive and undermining of our history and culture.Of course there is a facade, there always is, but read their editorials and note the language and terminology their reporters use, or are obliged to use. As for the "thumbs down" brigade, well any Tom, Dick or Harry in the world can do that, and the forces that control that newspaper are very good organisers I should imagine!

      • Hear hear says:

        Yeah they own all the casinos we gamble in 🙂

    • Anonymous says:

      OK – let’s just ignore the report, like so many others that we pay for and ignore, and have faith that the magic sky fairy will recognise Cayman is special and not subject to laws of economics. You can then remain smugly sarcastic of anyone who objects to the status quo while Caymsn continues on a path of entitlement ruin.

  13. Anonymous says:

    I have read the report, repeatedly.  I have a couple of questions for E&Y, like what happens to the garbage of those people who don't pay their garbage fees to the new private garbage people?  Does it just pile up forever?  And is there going to be competition?  As long as there is a monopoly we might as well just have the government do it.

    Also, the report says that the government should sell off the Stock Exchange.  Why?  What benefit does that have?  What good does that do?  It pays its bills, what would it add to the exconomy except a one-time possible profit?  This sort of analysis is missing from the report – sure, sell it, but for how much?  What would the benefits be over time?  How do you know you're selling it for enough?  Too little?  Do I have to sell it for $5 million to be successful?  $10 million? If the person who wants to buy it wants a monopoly, is that a good idea?  A bad idea?  How long should the monpoly be for?  Who monitors the Snewly-private Stock Exchange? WHp pays their salaries and benefits?

    Remember, the government is not in the business of selling assets – that's how bad business deals get made. Just google Chicago parking meters for an example of a HUGE disaster in privatisation.

    • Anonymous says:

      Here's a question for you: How does direct taxation (payroll or income) for everyone sound to you? Then you won't have to worry about what happens if someone doesn't pay for their waste collection because the government will make sure you pay (if you have a job and earn wages). 

    • Anonymous says:

      This is the most intelligent comment I have read in any postings so far. The report lacks sufficient basis and analysis. A lot of generic garbage you can take from google to show risks and options. But not a lot of analytical explanation of why it truly makes sense! Having said that, please do NOT sell the government building for a quick hard cash, only to trap future government to pay ETERNAL rent!!! That is so ridiculous for a government to do.

    • Anonymous says:

      The report is short on detail yet the devil is in the detail.  For the report to have any validity you would think our premier would have brought in a company who is not tied to the island to conduct a truly unbiased report.  This is in effect not privatization but monopolization and it can only turn out bad for us common folk.  

    • Walker says:

      You are so wrong on the stock exchange issue. Most stock exchanges are Limited companys or publicly traded. So who benifits from a puclicly traded exchange? The investors, you, me, and the government if they neogitate a equity ownership in the new company. Self-regulatory organisations, SRO's, and a overseeing commission regulate most exchanges around the world. You should note much can be gained in terms of jobs if an aggressive public company could expand the listings and services of the exchange.  

    • Walker says:

      Remember, Government should not be involved in running business, it should be involved in Governing.

    • Anonymous says:

      the garbage fees will be collected together with the cuc bill

      if you dont pay your 100 per month garbage fee you will have no light in your house

      end of story   …we are all screwed AGAIN

      why sell assests ? …install good managers who take care of business  make them accountable once and for all   !!

  14. Anonymous says:

    Privatization is unavoidable consequence of top level civil servants failing to adapt to their known obligations and continuing for years along a course of fiscal negligence.  Not only am I not sympathetic, I truly hope there are charges and fines and historical record brought upon those that turned the country from surplus to near bankruptcy.

  15. Knot S Smart says:

    The 'priviliged' civil servants wont let go of their 'entitled' positions easily…

    • Anonymous says:

      So someone earning an average salary – are you categorizing them as "priviliged"(sic)? Care to explain?

    • Anonymous says:

      That is a true statement. Some of them should be in prison. 

  16. Anonymous says:

    Civil Servants may feel they have rights, but in reality, what these department heads have had is an obligation to the public to keep adequate accounts and trim their budgets.  Their stubborn refusal to honor their duty has resulted in over 10 years of grand-scale accounting negligence on the part of government.  Nobody has had a "right" to steal or waste our public funds.  From that honest perspective, this comes down on them, and their unwillingness to change, or adapt to the tasks that were asked of them.  How they did not see this coming is some kind of psychosis.

  17. Anonymous says:

    If done properly, privatization works well. However, as seen from above article, with no discussion, defense and sabotage plans are already being formed. They don't want change, because it is nice and warm in the sh#t….

    • Anonymous says:

      Look at what privatization did in the UK.  You want to model yourself on USA?  Bet its the old cronies of those in government andthe top ten families to buy off the assets of this country.  Now your people will really be held to ransom.  But who cares about the little man in Cayman, certainly not the wealthy Caymanians.

      • Anonymous says:

        In the UK millions of "Sids" made quite a fortune out Gas and other sales…

    • Anonymous says:

      You could not be more wrong.  We do want change but not the change that Ernest and Young are proposing.  The report is shallow with very little detail and certainly does not come up with hard fact. Our Civil Service is way too big, our leaders way too unaccountable but privatization is not necessarily the route to remedy those problems.  How dare you suggest that we, the people of the Cayman Islands do not want change.  Try talking to us!

      • Anonymous says:

        How dare I? Look at the comments on here…enough proof of Caymans unwillingness to change? Westbay road ladies with their futile court case? Ex pats constantly blamed for the policy stupidity of your own politicians and their kleptomania? Come on…say it ain't so…

  18. Anonymous says:

    Privatisation might be more effective than privatization.

  19. Anonymous says:

    Who would benefit more from privatization of government companies and assets than a major accounting firm? Talk about conflict of interest!

  20. Anonymous says:

    well we could at least get rid of the little hotel (John Silvers) and land across from boat doc in WB.  Hopefully neither of these have been sold at bargain basement prices after being bought from cronies at inflated prices.

    • Anonymous says:

      Better wait till property values get back up  Had an evaluation done lately?

  21. Uncivil Servant says:

    Screw that. Every man for himself! Let’s just make sure that the Captains are the ones to go down with the ship, as its meant to be.

  22. Anonymous says:

    "Privatization not a panacea"

     

    Neither is government ownership.

    • Anonymous says:

      Although of the two privatisation delivers better services at lower cost.

      • Anonymous says:

        really?  what about internet services in the us?  Many internet service providers, like comcast, paid politicians to pass laws to prevent government-backed internet from being offered to the public.  government-backed internet is usually cheaper, faster, more cost effective and covers more people where it is offered.  The big private internet service providers in the us have carved up the country into private monopolies this way, agreeing amongst thmeselves not to compete and getting laws passed so that the government wont compete too.  Then they don't offer internet to something like 40% of the country because they don't want to spend the money.  They get the laws passed at the state or city level where they can buy the politicians for the least amounts of money.   Then they offer some of the worst internet speeds for the highest prices because they can never be competed with.  Then, when the local government starts creating internet for the areas the monopoly doesn't want to service, the monopoly's speeds "magically" go up by 100 times for no increase in price….A private monopoly can be, and often is, worse than a government one.  There are loads of examples like this in the US alone – private monopolies are not the solution to government spending issues.

      • Anonymous says:

        Only if there is no monopoly.

        • Anonymous says:

          I suppose hoping there would be decent regulation is unrealistic.  It would just be another bunch of boards looking out for their nieces and cousins.

      • Anonymous says:

        "privatisation delivers better service at lower cost".

        This is one of those sayings that seems to weather all manner of evidence to the contrary. Look what happened in the U.K. And when was the last time you actually got to speak to someone at your bank? My U.K. branch's phone just rings. I had to ring another branch to sort out my business. Totally useless "couldn't care less" service. I once had a standing order for life insurance but kept getting "loan" notices due to "non-payments". The cheeky agent down here actually suggested I simply "pay it"!! As I'd already paid it I reasonably enough refused. Ended up the funds weren't being credited up in Canada. Don't ever assume that old mantra is true!!

    • Anonymous says:

      Okay with what you said but the ultimate problem is that the private sector can say all it wants to but what it has not said is that any of them are willing to take ownership of any of the non profit organizations that are critical to life.

    • Anonymous says:

      No one said it was.

  23. Anonymous says:

    Could we see a list of the management committee of the Civil Service Union? I am a civil servant and i can tell you the bunch of malcontents they got up in there dont represent me. But only the malcontents are prepared to be elected to it. Been like that for 30 years.

    • Anonymous says:

      @20:19 I agree, what I want to know is as a fellow civil servant is why WE had to take a pay cut yet these people were issued govt credit cards to do as they please! Why haven't looked into sourcing fuel from Venezuela! And the banks are allowed to charge outrageous interest fees 19 % including credit union. CUC XXX I live alone no central air, hot water heater, cook twice a week, wash once a week yet I get a bill for $500.00 this is after I've spent thousands installing energy saving items.

      Downsizing the Civil service should start from the top with the ones that abused these cards NOT one of them have PAID back their personal purchases WE the people have with all these INCREASED FEES. For those in the private sector and public let me state this much even though you'll seem to think we get free medical / pension it's not if you only knew our actual salary you would understand the average civil servant makes between $1800.00 -$2000.00 per mth now do the math $1100 mortgage $500.00 cuc $100.00 water gas $160.00 leave ME with $140.00 for groceries

      so Venezuela Gasoline prices, liter Venezuela: We have calculated the price of gasoline using the 2012 benchmark results from the German Development Agency. Then, we updated the data with up-to-date currency values and information on the change in international petroleum prices. Based on these estimates, the price of gasoline is 0.01 US Dollar. For comparison, the average price of gasoline in the world for this period is 1.3 US Dollar. 

      • Anonymous says:

        It should start at the top as its the bottom end that truely deliver the sevrices. The mid and upper levels are management who gives guidance which is fine but this is where people hide personell that they can truelt do without.

    • Anonymous says:

      Would that it were an actual union, but it isn't, sadly. In any other country there would be talks of industrial action, demonstraions, strikes etc. Franz and Mary wouldn't be so cocky, that's for sure.