Public interest to guide cuts
(CNS):The premier has reassured civil servants that government won’t be implementing the EY report on the rationalisation of the civil service wholesale. Speaking during the professional development conference for public sector workers organised by the Cayman Islands Society of Professional Accountants, Alden McLaughlin said public expenditure couldn’t continue to grow as it has done in the past decade which was why it had commissioned the report. But he said the final decisions on the report will be made by Cabinet and Caucus and none will be made unless the PPM administration believes it is in the public interest and not just to advance private sector interests.
“Before we take any decisions about privatisation, amalgamation or restructuring, this administration will have to be convinced that any action Cabinet takes will be in the best interest of all the Caymanian people,” McLaughlin told an audience of civil servants at the internal government seminar. “Unfortunately there are some interests that believe the objective of Government should be to improve their position in the private sector. That isn’t the case at all,” the premier added.
He said there were several recommendations in the report that will require additional research or information before decisions can be made. McLaughlin stated that while the government agreed with some of the recommendations in the report there were others that will be modified, some which are already under way and some which they will not implement. However, the premier did not go into any details about what Cabinet or Caucus has agreed is in the wider public interest.
Although government has not yet revealed very many details of what it will be taking from the EY report the premier pointed out that the ProjectFuture Steering Committee, chaired by the Deputy Governor was in place and it would ensure that Cabinet’s recommendations, would be “swiftly implemented.”
McLaughlin said that Franz Manderson would ensure the committee’s approach will be consistent and in-line with the highest standards in governance and project management. “This includes development of a proper business case for all projects undertaken in carrying out the recommendations,” he reassured the audience.
Regardless of what cuts or sell offs there will eventually be in government McLaughlin said government had to provide services more efficiently and effectively. The premier also noted that he was well aware civil servants were increasingly expected to deliver more and more services with less and less resources.
The premier spoke about the need to “find ways to work harder and smarter with less,” as he said this would drive down the cost of doing business and that in turn would free revenue to reward the men and women in the public sector who step up to the plate as top performers.
Category: Crime
The headline is a bit misleading.
It should read, "Political, Personal, and Public interest to guide cuts".
I feel that "Public Interest" is usually a much lower priority than Political and Personal Interests.
Is this bad? Not really, it is what it is. Democracy is a messy business and the above statement is true in all democracies throughout the world.
I just wish that the headlines would be a bit more honest and tell it like it is instead of telling it like it should be.
can we all please stop taking pot-shots at alden…..pleeeease………….
its too easy………
Things we have had a lot of in Cayman…..reports/research/money spent but ZERO ACTION
As for all the cries of no action I think we need to realize that this is not the first Government that looked at this and did nothing. It is a sad day when we pay all this money get the report and nothing is done. What will be even more disgraceful is if the next Government does the same and the next and the next. I think you get the idea but it is the Government way.
That being said if the private sector had its way they would just cut and cut. Then you will wonder why certain Government jobs are not done. You then wonder why you cant get certain things etc.
Good luck with a solution.
I do hope and believe that there will be some sections privatised but cutting jobs I dont see that much as they have been cutting for the past number of years. The problem is that they cut from one section and add to another.
PS I dont even think we have the right to touch police.
How about a report of the many reports commissioned by government over the last 10 years? Further, an analyis into the number ofrecommendations implemented from those reports. And more interestingly, the similarities and, if any, differences between these reports. Party Politics will indeed ruin this country like it has done to many others. Lord help us we pray!
And in another fast breaking and exciting story- absolutely nothing was done today in all other areas of concern to the people of Cayman and resident workers. Our readers will recall this has been the case for as long as anyone can remember.
Ergo…We commissioned a report by an independent organization to cut government costs after a demand by the public. We will therefore not follow it's recommendations. But it looked good for a minute there…didn't it?
If you believe that report was independent then you are seriously deluded. That said something needs to change.
Alden you might as well make the hard decisions sooner rather than later because later is always worse in politics and besides this is your last term anyway !!! We the people can guarantee that ole boy !!!!!!!!!!
alden the braveheart………zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Alden you have already lost the 2017 elections. The psycophants you hang around with- in the bars that you attend regulalrly till the wee hours- will tell you what a great man you are. The truth is you are far from respected and seen as walking in Kurt's shadow and highly unreliable.
You may make a comeback if you take bold decisions like cutting government spending
Ahh, of course, committees and research are the answer. Courageous action never got anyone anywhere.
Stop paying for costly reports then if you have no intention of following through with the recomendations
I like the part about Cabinet’s recommendations would be “swiftly implemented.”
The only thing I can think of being swiftly implemented is the issuance and use of credit cards. Will there be any changes here?
No of course not! It's a UK conspiracy man! Where have you been? Haven't you heard what Mac's been saying? Swarbrick is clearly corrupt if Mac says so.
Ignorance is bliss.
Same lame responses, Same lame results from the same lame leadership. But I'm happy because I just won $50 by betting that they would end up doing nothing. Its what they have always done. Its what they will always do. Now they will get right on the next problem and I have to find another fool to bet with me on the next big thing.
The Caymanian way of solving big problems……Talk about it then decide that you don't have the discipline to do whats right and you don't want to do the wrong thing so you do nothing. Failure in the future is the Caymanian way of life.
It's in the public interest to provide cuts
No backbone. Always telling the crowd what they want to hear. Isn't it in all of Caymans best interest to put government on a sustainable path, not using the Civil Service as a welfare program. And isn't it the private sector who pays the bills of the country?
Unfortunately the civil service is too big of a voting block, so politicians won't make the necessary cuts. The country will never climb out of the hole we are in now b/c Politicians care more about the next election than they do the country's future.
The Civil Service is a welfare state for the middle classes so what is wrong with that?
i say No job/wage cuts to civil service personnel- our goverment just announced 100M surplus and a bonus for all. With better management of our gov.portfolio, our government should be able to create more jobs and hire more workers this coming year for sure……
So in other words we want your vote…
Now I can agree with that rationale. However, Government itself has to be mindful that every time it wants a program done, it no doubt carries with it certain demands for human capital. The civil service hasn't grown on its own, piling up dead weight. It has grown because each successive government wanted to implement more and more programs, or introducd legislation that required a regulatory body.
Perhaps when government wants to introducea program in the future, they should check to see if someone in the private sector wants to take up the challege first.
So no cuts that will affect the civil service voter base.
Yep. Same thing happened in Greece, look at the mess they're now in.
Sorry, that was caused by Dart taking over the countries loans.
Nutter- and a cheap shot. Greece was in far bigger trouble than the few hundred million Dart was involved with, 100s of times more. And as you appear so knowledgable, pray tell, if you lend me money and I don't pay it back, that's alright? And if you decide to sell that loan for 50 cents on the dollar to someone else because you can't be bothered to enforce it, that's your choice, right? And if the new owner enforces your original rights and gets all the money back from me, that's how it should be, right? I should pay back money I borrow in full. So what exactly did Dart do wrong apart from taking on a completely corrupt government and win? If he had lost, what kind of example does it set to other countries? That they do not have to repay loans? Go read some books on it.
More positive news from the regressives
Talk is cheap.
PPM put us all in this financial mess the last time they led the Caymans. Recent announcements demonstrate they have no ideas or plans to do what is necessary to fix things beyond paying for more glossy consultant reports which they ignore. It seems as if political expediency and reelection are more important to Premier McLoughlin and his band of merry men than being responsible. A very disappointing lot with a rudderless ship.
The Progressives 2017 election slogan should be "When in doubt blame the private sector or Expats."
It's the Cayman Islands! Or just plain ol' "CAYMAN" you moron.. Sick of hearing "the Caymaaaans"..
Correct 09.30, we am Cay-mon.
The Premier cowardly avoids taking necessary action when it might cost him votes. Again. Again. Again. Again . . . .
Get real. ALL elected officials do!
But no-one does it so often and obviously as Alden.