For 33 years I have withheld the following comments on the Public Service leadership but can no longer remain silent. This is no new revelation, but it has become necessary, at this time, to place it on the front burner so we can give it our urgent attention and resolve to do something about it before it is too late.
I write from 10 years of administrative experience with direct working relationship with both political and Public Service leadership from 1968 to 1978. Let me say, at the outset, this is not about me and I seek no redress. But, suffice it to say, mine was an unforgettably frustrating experience, which no professional civil servant, with any integrity, should be forced to undergo, which ultimately led to my premature resignation. Unfortunately, the tragedy continues unabated, aided and abetted by the Public Service leadership. If my comment serves only to start a healthy discussion of the problem, it will have been worthwhile.
In a nutshell, the leadership of the Dominica Public Service has replaced its professional prowess with partisan, political obedience. The leadership of the Public Service, which include Permanent Secretaries, Department Heads, Chief Technical Officers, Commissioners of various Government Boards and the Police Force, have become politicised. By that, I mean, the Public Service leadership have abandoned their role of advising the political leadership on policy and its implementation and, instead, now do the bidding of the political leadership.
This state of affairs had its beginnings several decades ago when Dominica assumed Statehood and became the norm at the dawn of Independence. Who advises Government today? Most will agree the Government chooses its own advisors. The Public Service leadership has surrendered its legitimate role of advisor to the Government and adopted that of obedient servant to the Government and their preferred advisors. Government no longer seeks advice from, but have become masters of, the Civil Service leadership. In graphic terms, Government tells the Public Servant, “You do as I say, or else”. The Public Servant replies, “Yes sir, as you wish, sir!” Indeed, the once respected Public Service, one of the most solid and reliable legacies of the British colonial system, is virtually dead.
Every five years in the true spirit and principles of Democracy, the Dominican people choose a group of mostly untrained individuals, to set the political direction of their country as promised by their party manifesto. By default, this elected group is not expected to be knowledgeable in the substantive operation of Government. So, they rely on an established, trained and independent professional Public Service to advise and guide them. At least, that should be the practice. So, why is it no longer this way?
Several reasons can be offered why the Public Service leadership have exchanged their professional advisory status for obedience. But, whatever the reasons, I lay the main responsibility squarely in the hands of the Public Service leadership themselves. They failed to take full charge of their ministerial departments and provide the necessary, independent, professional advice to the new groups of elected representatives. Consequently, it didn’t take long for the political novices to take it upon themselves to make and take decisions without advice. The Public Service leadership succumbed without a fight to eventually become a new breed of ‘yes-men’.
As far as I am concerned, the Public Service leadership, as a collective, was not coerced into submission. They willingly abandoned their legitimate, Constitutional role and continue to do so today. Hence, the popular charge is that the leadership of the Public Service has become politicised. In my own experience, as a trained Health and Hospital Administrator at Ministry of Health, I considered this political interference frustrating and unacceptable.
The immediate consequences of a politicised Public Service leadership are evident in its powerlessness to perform its legitimate role as stipulated in Chapter five (V) of the Dominica Constitution. To mention a few:
• Its leadership is forced to implement the dictates of the ruling party even if they are not in the best interest of the country.
• Its leadership appointments tend to reflect the political philosophy of the ruling party.
• Its leadership become open to compromise, including bribery and curruption.
• Nepotism and favouritism become the bases for appointments and promotions.
• The Public Service Commission has become irrelevant in the supervision of the Public Service.
Any Public Service leadership, which allows itself to become so entrapped by the political demands of a few untrained politicians, who are here today and are gone tomorrow, can only fall into disfavour and disrepute.
Can the Public Service regain its true stature and role as stipulated in our Constitution? That is the million dollar question. Some might say the situation has reached a point of no return and any recovery would entail a complete replacement of the entire Public Service leadership incumbents by a re-empowered Public Service Commission.
This would be a drastic and near impossible undertaking. So, let me boldly recommend some actions which may help ameliorate the problem:
• Raise the issue at Question Period in Parliament
• Let the Media, the so-called watch-dog in a democracy, keep the problem on the front burner until it receives appropriate attention
• Mount public forums and debates on the issue to include participation by Public Service leadership
• Invite political leadership on talk shows to help us understand how they view the problem
• The Public Service Union to take up the issue as a talking point at meetings and on public radio.
In conclusion, I believe all ‘right thinking people’, as some like to say, would welcome a Public Service untainted by party politics; one where its members are not beholden to any political leader for favours given; one where candid advice will be given on the basis of informed facts; one where personal integrity stands supreme in the performance of duties.
Is it too much to expect a Public Service to execute its functions as clearly stipulated in The Commonwealth of Dominica Constitution Order 1978?
Raglan Riviere has been Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs (1968-1970) and Hospital Administrator of the Princess Margaret Hospital in the Ministry of Health (1970-1978).
Very good point, certainly note your knowledge on the subject. This is the first time I go, but I assure you will not be the last, I hope everyone who reads this I think the same.
When Mr. Riviere had the chance to make a difference He resigned , in His own words, ‘prematurely’
Where is the difference with the current public service who may not have the opportunity to resign & seek their fortune overseas?
with all your well written stories of politics influencing the public service leadership etc.. all this blah blah blah will do nothing but fall on death ears. you spent 33 yrs taking s***, securing your career and pension, now you are old with a comfortable bank account, you are now coming with nice words to encourage young pple to revolt and sacrific…blah blah blah..do you think the young pple are going to sacrific their jobs by listenning to pple who have been in the same sh** for 33 yrs and did nothing about it untill they retired….blah blah blah
Well if that is what u intend to hand to you child “if u have one”, its not what I’m going to hand down to mine. So I am willing to make the sacrifice and help to create something better so even your child blah blah blah will benefit. So stop killing the messanger..
Typical issues which arise when you try to fit a square peg in a round hole. Mr. Rivere calls the system handed down to us from Westminster ‘reliable’. Yet it was handed down 31+ years ago (and we are still trying to use it without serious reform) and Westminster itself operates on systems unrecognizable from those used in the 70’s. Witness the latest spat in the UK home office or the issues around the resignation of their Secretary of Defence. Westminster today cannot run without the myriad of political appointees each administration has to make in order to advance its manifesto agenda and resulting policy framework. Yet here we are painting the illusion that in a country of 70,000 we can maintain an ‘independent’ Public Service system with faceless bureaucrats answerable to no one but themselves… and at election time the ‘clueless’ politicians are the ones to carry the can at the ballot box. Surely, Mr. Rivere you can see the unsustainable nature of this situation. Is is beyond the capabilities of man in the 21st century to devise a system where those who have the responsibility to do the taxpayers and electorates bidding (politicians) can work with those who have the administrative skill (if not integrity) to manage the country in a reasonably transparent and safe way? Because that is not what we had ‘back in the day’!
“It is beyond the capabilities of man” he says. So u are saying that there are no more people with Integrity in the world?? U saying that God and Goodness is dead?? WOw. Now I know why our MORAL leaders voices are so timid. U mean to say the LUST For MONEY has infiltrated the heart of every god fearing and christian man and woman in our society??? Then woe be Unto us!! And we chastize men like Sir brian when he comments…SMH we have cultivated a society which ignores ethics, and hates honesty! How many of us can stand up and do the right thing, not only when everyone is watching, but even when no one is?? People we have to understand that for our country to blossom we must act honestly and responsibly for the COLLECTIVE GOOD! It is mans SELFISHNESS and GREED that has brought us to the precipice and it iS the COMPASSION for each other that can bring us back. THAT! Is what christ left for us, whether in church or state.
My comment should have read ….”Is it beyond the capabilities …. etc” a rhetorical question… I am saying it CANNOT be beyond us to come up with a reasonable solution
ahhh okay got you!
Impressive Mr. Riviere .. and about time too! 33 years is a long lng time to keep quiet!
Your expressions on the State of and responsibility of the civil service in governance could not be more correct!
The truth will not hide and one day good men like us will foster change in this country!
Why the serious brain drain again? Public Servants with brain + integrity have left the mess. You cannot keep battling like Richard of York!! I am speaking from experience. Thanks Mr. Riviere.
Mr. Raglan Rivierre is indeed a very good writer. I however cannot agree with what he said because his observations from a distance at his retirement home in Ontario, Canada is not accurate.
Mr. Rivierre cannot compare the public service of yesterday to the one of today.
“Indeed, the once respected Public Service, one of the most solid and reliable legacies of the British colonial system, is virtually dead”. As a young modern thinking Dominica I am glad that Dominica is an Independent Country and is steering her people in a new direction.
Is Mr. Rivierre implying that because the public service is taking us away from the oppression of colonialism, they are yes men and women? I take this as an insult to the hard working employers in the public service.
Having read the article, I can’t help but ask, when was the last time Mr. Rivierre visited Dominica? You cannot just come to a conclusion by setting in front of a computer desk or table reading stuff on the internet and call this an informed analysis. His views cannot be objective because there is no solid information to base this story on. We have to stop going around writing articles on personal feelings and biases. Do some research, collect some statistic, analysis the information then come up with a report. Don’t just jump into the ring because you can write and just put stuff on paper without research. Those nonsense people use to swallow from “the British colonial system” is not working anymore.
For those us who know rags well, this lop sided spin is not surprising.
it is you who are trying to put a spin on it, stop acting like you sympathize with the poor black man in your talk of colonialism. you are the very kind who sold their brothers into slavery when was the last time you hear any one of those “house slave” permanent secretary stand up to any ethical or constitutional challenge? as spineless as they are I am sure you yourself can imagine… even the head of the Union has “sold out” and seems to be more interested in facilitating ministers to get their way, even at the detriment of the public which they serve
1979, the thing with you is that your “imagination” is running wild. It is evident in the responses you give to almost every post on DNO. Wake up from your imaginary dream and face reality. Rags is one of the last persons to speak on what is happening in Dominica. When last did he visit 34 years ago
do your job, but do it well so that it doesn’t insult my intelligence if u deceiving do it well please…
Great, inspiring, insightful article. Totally correct analysis. That situation plaguing Dominica is historical, but has been detrimental in our moving forward as a people.
In a nutshell,the leadership of the Dominica Public Service has replaced its professionbal prowess with partisan, political obedience. La vaywitay Pis, pis, Pis.
Note well the leaders of the Dominica Public Service is not only the Union, but include the PS’s, Department heads,CTOs, Commissioners of various Govt. Boards and Yes, the Police Force. The writer can’t be more correct to state that all have been politicized and doing the bidding of the political directorate. Let truth be told.
A classic example of that heavy partisan influence and the neglect of their roles. Remember the RUBBISH BIN BOBOL? Certainly, something went wrong involving monies from our treasury in that controversial puirchase of rubbish bins. The investigations and facts revealed that there was no transparency. Big scandal. Top public Service staff in the Ministry in question could have advised otherwise and demand accopuntability. Were they manipulated?
Remember the stubborn defense and twists by some politicians about that Rubbish Bin bobol? How comes those involved paid back money to the Treasury although it was claimed that nothing wrong was done? How could the Treasury accept any money without a full investigation into that matter?
Many more examples regarding the writer’s concerns and observations could be posted. The article provides all of us with Good, tasty food for thought.
A story like that every week would keep people on their p’s and q’s. One sector corrupt the other sector and that is how unstable leadership goes around or you could say come about. I am not sure how the saying goes, Money talks and everything else walks, well you all know what the everything is. I must say everyone is looking for their pockets nowadays. Its not hard to bribe people…hummmmmmmm……bribe me somebody bribe me i am broke and need some money…. Give me a f…ing break sheep in wolves clothings.
a certain PS even is a past candidate of theirs.
You hit the nail on the head. The direction that this took since Statehood was all directed toward the present situation. It was not an accident. There was a movement away from true public service to position entitlement.
Mr. Raglan Rivierre is indeed a very good writer. I however cannot agree with what he said because his observations from a distance at his retirement home in Ontario, Canada is not accurate.
Mr. Rivierre cannot compare the public service of yesterday to the one of today.
“Indeed, the once respected Public Service, one of the most solid and reliable legacies of the British colonial system, is virtually dead”. As a young modern thinking Dominica I am glad that Dominica is an Independent Country and is steering her people in a new direction.
Is Mr. Rivierre implying that because the public service is taking us away from the oppression of colonialism, they are yes men and women? I take this as an insult to the hard working employers in the public service.
Having read the article, I can’t help but ask, when was the last time Mr. Rivierre visited Dominica? You cannot just come to a conclusion by setting in front of a computer desk or table reading stuff on the internet and call this an informed analysis. His views cannot be objective because there is no solid information to base this story on. We have to stop going around writing articles on personal feelings and biases. Do some research, collect some statistic, analysis the information then come up with a report. Don’t just jump into the ring because you can write and just put stuff on paper without research. Those nonsense people use to swallow from “the British colonial system” is not working anymore.
For those us who know rags well, this lop sided spin is not surprising.
O lord Mr. Riviere I wish i could shake your big toe. That’s my cry everyday; the service is not like before. PS’s are powerless; even junior clerks bypassing the Permanent Secretary and bringing stories straight to the Minister, where u ever hear of that before.
well written sir,and this is the absolute truth.i believe that more of our noble, honest and brilliant scholars will start action following their words and change this system in dominica.
Apart from repeating himself ad nauseum, Riviere has offfered absolutely no reason to substantiate his claim that the PSU’s leadership does government’s “bidding.” Not one shred of factual statement offered to corroborate his statement. In other words, his “commentary” is baseless and weak. Yet, i am sure, he expects to be taken seriously in this “commentary?!” Lol! Come again, Rags.
In the PSU’s defence, i think it would be fair to say that they have tried to be responsible and reasonable; certainly NOT doing the government’s bidding. Maybe Rags has been so out of touch that he has his wires crossed.
Stupes.. Peeping Tom!!!! Stupidness and rubbish form you. Do you have cancer of conscience? Sure you do? Dominica is almost lost.!
Is it reasonable to allow the deplorable situation at the PWC carry on for well over a year?? If anything is feeble its the leadership of the PSU. Reasonable? When peoples intrest rates going up on their loans and commitments because of late salaries does anyone reason that??? Sttttuuuupppesss
You must be one of who he is talking about.
You are most certainly one of those opportunists ,leeches who sucked on mamao then Eddo then Rosie, Pierro now the world’s youngest as they love to claim leaders forgetting to add the most corrupt and overtly at that. All due /made feasible to invertibrates like you.just check your name of choice LMAO. you fungus on the D/can tree.
was he referring to the PSU ?or the public service itself ie the ps `s,cpo etc.
Correct! Tht extension to the union is my error.
A whole lot of accusations and empty statements without ONE iota of fact to substantiate these claims. This “commentary” is actually very reflective of the culture in Dominica whereby anyone with anything to say can simply shoot off the hip without substantiating his/her claims and the public seems to accept this irresponsibility.
Riviere, like many before him, is sismply preying on the ignorance of many.
If you read the article carefully, you would know Mr. Riviere is talking about the leadership of the Public Service and not the Public Service Union (PSU) which looks after the rank and file of the Public Service. Well, that’s what it looks like to me.
Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant! We are just in a sorry state of affairs in this country.! WE ARE A COUNTRY IN CRISIS!.
I do understand the gentleman, how many of us remember the days when civil servants were encouraged by the then Civil service Assoc. to leak information to the then Freedom Party so they could embarass the Labour Party..the PSC has always had its own political hacks ( not too obvious); during 1979 I saw civil servants on political platform ( never seen before)..this was encouraged by Eugenia Charles and the Freedom Party; now it has gone too far to pull back…you cannot serve two masters or if you do,be diplomatic and professional enough to do your work properly.
Peeping Tompson served 5 since 1980 lol!
Lol! I appreciate ur sense of humour.
i got one question for mr riviere,when the freedom party was in power,where was the public service leadership leaning,the shoe is on the other feet you see,so now everybody waiting to exhale.
what a well writen commentary!civil servant said that the politcians are professioal! the question is, do the know all the procedure to implement their policy?I hope we can discuss that issue objectively and not as red, green or blue. great piece!
Although I don’t support politicization of the public service, the members of parliament are elected by the people and therefore must set the direction in which the country is taken. The bureaucrats are there to advise, but also the ensure those directions are followed. That is not to say they should not point out pitfalls that may be ahead and should be avoided. But the buck stopped at the desk of the prime minister and despite what the public servants say, they party in power has the final say. That is the essence of our democracy.
I will have to partially disagree with you.
Who is pointing out the pitfalls regarding our PWC??? Who is pointing out the pitfalls in the MANIPULATION of our justice system???
Who is pointing out the pitfalls of having a pair of brothers as minister and permanent secretary in the same ministry??? Who is pointing out the pitfalls of a ministers dictation of a certain “statutory corporation” zor qweh zor sa kioneh tout mourn??
Mr Rivierre
I cannot take issue with you on the matter. You are correct. I have stated that the permanent Secretaries (from 1995 to present, there were a couple of them who were able to stand up to Ministers) are weak and have abandoned their responsibilities. The question, do they know their responsibilities.
If we had Permanent Secretaries who had the fortitude, many of the corrupt practices and behaviour from 1995 to present would not have occurred.. Frankly, the Permanent Secretaries should be held accountable and liable for most or if not all, of the inappropriate use of tax payers funds and other unauthorised activities by ministers of Government.
A permanent Secretary ( the chief accounting officer)is responsible for his ministry and no one has the authority, not even the Minister, to manage his/her ministry.
But no, from 1995, Minister run the Ministries. One employee received great appraisal when his contract was up and there the position was open. The employee’s Parliamentary Representative said the employee cannot continue in that position.
The matter never reached the Public Service Commission, the Permanent Secretary did absolutely nothing and further, the employee waited several months to receive his other payments – again, the two permanent secretary and the Financial Secretary were powerless to pay the employee. This is the extent of how coward, lazy and weak our Permanent Secretaries are; and guess what, the permanent Secretaries cannot be fired, except for gross misconduct or poor performance. From a glance, Permanent Secretaries in Dominica should be fired as of now for they have failed the people of Dominica.
It is most interesting that the opposition says little about the behaviour of the Civil Service and the Public Service Commission for it was also party to the corrupt practices and if back in power, the party will continue on the same practices as the current government.
Agreed TOTALLY, OVERHAUL the whole damn system.
That’s why I to have seen guy of yesterday politics take over the country and jail all those suckers.But unfortunately most migrated after being cornered economically and other wise they fled never to return to the garbage politics of D/ca leaving it for the fly by night poverty stricken jokers of today who are so bold and unfetted in their greed and calossness.
I would love a roots educated leader to rise and seek out all those pigs confiscate their properties and jail just as Fidel did back in the 60’s
Sir, with all due respect to you, my question to you is; who’ll butter my bread? That’s who gets my attention! You all so left out an important point here, and that’s to mandate all elected officials be trained in public administration before running for public office. I sure won’t employ someone without business training to run my business for me, would you? There in lies the problem. To many untrained officials holding high office, the public servants don’t stand a chance. Our people must be told, so they can vote to change things.
What a piece of enlightment! I will agree that persons are rumbling in private about the public service and its role in front line politics, but I don’t think we have given it enough attention at the national level. I agree and do hope that this would be the beginning of discourse on this issue, so that the crooked and disgraceful behaviour of public servants can be explained.
This is why I knew deep down inside, that Dominica was not the right place for me, and the public service, though this has always been my preference was not the right work place for me. I can’t see evil and be made to ignore it, I will eventually die of suffocation.
I tried bringing about some change in the area that I was but was made enemy no. 1 on the job, because I did not adopt the nasty culture that meant absolutely nothing to Dominica’s developmet. Sometimes we suffer because we choose to be different, but we as christians should not let that discourage us, this is just the way it ought to be.
I hope that discussions on this serious matter will continue, at least, it may help civil servants understand their role, which is to serve country and not party. Some of them get so wrapped up into these politicians, that they forget their responsibility to country.
Great article Mr. Riviere.
I also quit my job as a civil servant and left home for this same reason.
it is so sad.
its the first time i”m reading an article from this gentleman.he seems well informed and i enjoyed reading his article as a young person.These are the kind of people you learn from rather than some of the nonsense comments you read on DNO.looking forward to reading more articles from him on other issues in the country. great article
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Brilliant piece..The country is in total decay…WOW!
LETANG I HAD WARN YOU!! YOU CANNOT SERVE TWO MASTERS…..YOU CUP RUNNETH OVER NOW!!!! IT WAS DAMN TIME!!! I HAVE THE FILES, PWC HAVE LABOU!!!
NOW WE GOING TO SEE LABOU!!! WHEN THAT STONE LIFT UP SEE HOW MANY WAVET THAT GOING AND START FLYING!
LICK IT TO THEM!!! IT WAS ABOUT TIME!!! I SALUTE YOU MR RIVIERE!!!! YOU ARE ONE OF MY HEROS!!!!!!!!
aaaaaaammmmeennnn ahhhhlehluiahhhhhh sooo long i waiting for someone to stop playing moomoo in this country….now we starting to get somewhere!!!!!!!!! amen amen and amen!!!! YOU CANNOT SERVE TWO MASTERS!!!!! TOO LONG WE ARE HELD AT THE RANSOM OF INFLUENTIAL MANIPULATORS!!! YESSSSSS CHANGE MUST COME!!
Well said Sir. The corruption in a small country like Dominica is unbelievable, and some of those involve in allowing it to happen is even more surprising when you think they should know better. But it is all about bribery and scare tactics to stay in power and kill the country. I listen to individuals talk about DA, and the only word I hear is “nice” and we have been stuck on “nice” for a bloody long time, with no strategic way or means to get out of “nice” so we can use words like “develop” or “corruption free”.
Mr. Riviere served Dominica at a time when the political leadeship as he said were mostly untrained in any particular field of enndeavour and so have to depend on a professional civil service to assist in running the various ministries. Today the political leadership like the civil service is also proefessionally trained. Infact soemare drawn from the public service. His service was at a time too when civil servants (senior, junior or mid level)swore allegiance to the state – and not a political party. Today that is not so. Across all party lines and successive governments there are civil servants at all levels who openly espouse their partisan views.How do you explain the rather frequent leaking of imnformation to the media. In formation that is not for public consumption.
The question is. Should we review the role, status and functioning of the public service. Should the status of Permament Secretaries remain the same today and what is was back when Mr. Riviere served. Should we seek for new system of governance such as what obtains in the US, when a government change, the top leadership in the public service also change? I do not agree with Mr. Riviere’s view that our civil service is rotten to the core, but I agree that perhaps we should begin discussing whether we continue with what the British left us or change it. This is a new dispensation in our society. Bye and large the politician of today is equally qualified as the civil. When Mr. Maynard fell ill at Fort Young Hotel recenlty(hope he is feeling better now), it was two politicians (medical Health professionals – one doctor and one nurse) who rushed to his aid servant.
NO MORE SECRETS!!!!!!!!!!
Nor the DR or the nursecould not help.
Put EYES under the table to see what passing. Mizzy porport la ka dance aleh tabla, but is string that making ding dang under the table so.
You know why he fainted?Ask the wife what’s up nin the family.She might just confess why his blood pressure so high and why he’s always with hicupps.
Maybe the problem itself( the one in his family causing him pain should man up( if that’s feasible)
Belle beouf pour Jeff LMAO.
I know Maynard’s real issues making him ill.
So, are you contending that the time Rags served in the civil service, the people who served in government (as “ministers”) did not know what they were doing, because they were not trained tobe in a political job in the country?
If that’s the case, point out this day any so called minister of government in the present day government you believe is properly trained in conducting government business, and is operating effectively in the position in which they are assigned!
If the people in Government at the moment are as trained as you believe, I would not want to see or hear of Dominica’s state, if they were not trained, because as it is, I doublet it can get any worst!
Some of the government ministers at home right now are simply occupying space, getting paid, only because people elected them, and if they were not given a ministerial job, they might jump ship, thus there may not be enough of them to form a government, and be a coalition mught be in the making once more!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
If you did not know before you know now.The Dr who came to his rescue was a vet lol!The nurse helps doctors so if a helper and a vet deceided to treat Maynard, what is to be deduced?The issue of Maynard lies in Don’t ask don’t tell policy of Clinton etc.
Get my drift? let the family fest up.
And where are these health personel working?
The dr is the minister of fisheries and the ns, the minister of culture…
Fair enough. But are any of the two medical health professionals who ran to his aid associated with the ministry of health? no. One is youth and sports, one is environment. Our leaders are not assigned to their specialties. So while it is true they are educated or trained,, what bearing does that have on the roles they are expected to perform?
NOne of the two are associated with the ministry of health. One is youth and sports and the other is environment. Their training has no bearing on the functions they are expected to perform.
What do you mean when you say political leadership are trained now-a-days? I don’t think Mr. Riviere means just having an education or even a degree related to their ministries. I think he means trained in running their ministries. That should not be their jobs. That is for the PS to do. They are usually trained in Public Administration. I don’t think ministers of Government are so trained or need to be. They should concentrate on setting policy in Cabinet and leave the professional PS to run their ministries.
I so much agree with Mr. Rivierre but his suggestions will fall on death ears until suffleing begins from the helm : the Public Service Commission which is ruled by partisan influence. Appointments are decided in the public service after consultations at a cucus every monday in cabinet, then you have the might of the lazy cabinet secretary, dictating to the PS’s and on and on and on….
Much too diplomatic if u ask me!!!