PM disagrees with Parry Bellot; audio included

Skerrit (left), Bellot

Are 80 per cent of Dominica’s public servants not pulling their weight, as was suggested recently by government productivity consultant Parry Bellot?

The Dominica Public Service Union is seeking an apology from Bellot for that statement – they made that clear in a Tuesday evening meeting.

However ahead of that meeting, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit was quizzed on Monday  on the productivity issue at a news conference.

“We cannot shy away from the fact that the delivery of the services from the state has to be improved.  I mean we hear it on the streets everyday from people,” the prime minister told reporters in response.

When asked however, whether he agreed that it was as bad as 80 percent, PM Skerrit disagreed with that figure, saying “I wouldn’t accept that it is at 80 percent because there is no empirical evidence to show that”.

“But certainly it is a system that we have to continuously re-examine, evaluate, assess and change,”  he said.

Skerrit also drew attention to the fact that limited resources often impacted on the level of service provided, and also mentioned the bureaucratic nature of the public service that tended to slow down the process of providing adequate customer service.

“There are limitations in the public service but there are things that we can do a little more efficiently,” he observed.

The prime minister highlighted what he described as the efficient and constructive work being undertaken by some of the nation’s “hard working” public officers.

“While there are some people who are not pulling their weight in the public service, you have some very diligent people there,” he concluded.

CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN TO AUDIO OF PM ON THE MATTER

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58 Comments

  1. 1979 eTErNAL
    February 9, 2012

    IMHO .. I DON’T THINK PARRY WOULD MAKE ANY PUBLIC STATEMENT WITHOUT IT BEING VETTED BY HIS “BOSSES” AS HE CALLS THEM… THIS MIGHT BE A TOE IN THE POND TO TEST THE WATER, WELL IS NOW THE WATER HOTTTTT…LMAO

  2. Pedro
    February 8, 2012

    If you disagree with Parry, FIRE HIMM

  3. tactical
    February 8, 2012

    Hey with all the blows levied at Public Officers guess what the Private Sector is no better the level of service in some of those private sector institutions are pathetic to say the least so please get of the backs of civil servants.

    On the otherhand is the same Parry that was heard saying recently that this government was the best government in the history of Dominica given its fiscal performance, its progress and achievements in social and infrastructural areas and it was the leading country in the OECS to do business in- they also gave high marks to the government to have been in a position to bail out others in the region from economic stress Anguilla and Antigua for example – HELLOOO – so let me ask who are the ones making this possible – is it the 18 ministers in Cabinet or the technocrats and their line staff that makes the Government look good? and if it is the technocrats and line staff in other words the public servants that are producing at 20% efficiency according to Parry are the ones responsible can you imagine if they were at 80 or 90 % efficiency where Dominica would be – I mean Parry would recommend Skerrit run for president of the United States or that Jesus would rather be in Dominica. Parry complains about budget if he had a done a proper survey he would find out that most of the ministries and departments also suffer the same fate. Ministries have to be juggling budget heads all the time to get things done. If Parry had done a proper job he would have captured the fact that with the increase in Ministers meant that some PS’s have to run two portfolios or Ministries with the same staff therefore line staff have to double up and multi task. But I think the PM’s statement says it all and Parry’s work is to my mind null and void.

  4. Pmh
    February 8, 2012

    That’s is politics too neh .Guys check pmh it might b 90percent too.

    • dominique
      February 10, 2012

      I agree with you 100%

  5. Lego Beast
    February 8, 2012

    All you look joke – more Roro by the bay. Sour Sour. Dominica is in a state of chaos and distraction. Parry is not a qualified productivity consultant- an obvious square peg in a round hole. If the AM/PM is trashing Parry’s report it means that either Parry did not consult the government before calling his press conference or the AM/PM is lying.
    Is it true that Parry is blaming the reporters for his “Assphaltic” report.

  6. Pacify
    February 8, 2012

    Who is Skerrit fooling? He would say nothing about Parry Bellot’s unscientific research and the comments that 80% of Public Servants are unproductive, if the DPSU had not expressed concern and issued the resolution. The Civil Servants were bundled as the scapegoats for Govt.’s inefficiencies and bad governance. It backfired.

    It is Cabinet,p[resently comprising of DLP politicians, which make policies and call the shots in every Ministry. Most of the ordinary workers simply obey orders and do their best. DPSU members are showing how upset they are. Skerritt now is trying to pacify them.

    Really, what burden has Govt. put on the back of the people having to pay another of the Boys (ProducTV T consultant) a fat salary for being so unproductive?
    A people could not be Fooled all of the time.

    • Concern One
      February 8, 2012

      Read before you comment. The PM spoke according to DNO ahead of the meeting. I think that means before the meeting was held.

      • amazingface
        February 9, 2012

        You are an idiot. Did you forget that the PM has a degree in PSYCHOLOGY???? Stupes. Sit down and be quiet.

  7. 123
    February 8, 2012

    Insight into our work ethics as reported by Hannah Helbert “Walking into the post office in Roseau, Dominica, …..less-than-enthused employees weighing packages and filing paperwork.”

    • February 8, 2012

      I agree with Mr Bellot,many of them have jobs because of their families, friends and who you know not what qualifications one have

      Many of them lack communication, customer services and interpersonal skills, and have no etiquette,some of them do not have the qualifications require to work in many of the areas that they are employed ,however because of who they know,they do have jobs, whereas those with qualifications applying for jobs are being turned down because they have no one to pull the string for them

      • Anonymous
        February 8, 2012

        You are so right, but the worse of it all is the telephone etiquette. Have you ever called the switchboard operator at the Gov’t HQ and listen how lazily the woman answers the phone? “HEADQUARTERSSSSS!” Then when you request a particular dept, she would not have the telephone manners to ask you to hold while she connects you (proper telephone etiquette), you just hear the phone ringing…..
        I mean if this is what we get from a switchboard operator, what does that say aboout the remainder of the employees. 80% is a bit far fetched, but we must admit, there are many public officers who need to shake up you know.

  8. langsal
    February 8, 2012

    SONG, lets sing. they suffering from buy polar 2x yow fou, yow fou, you fou….

  9. En Ba La
    February 8, 2012

    There is a reason why. Why would you disagree with Parry AFTER THE FACT? Is Parry your senior? Is Parry accountable to anyone? Who hired him? Who should he report his findings to? Did you discuss the findings with him and let him know that you are not in agreement.

    I am not saying there are not lazy people – not only in Dominica. I was in the public service when there was orientation before employment. Thanks to Sir Brian Alleyne I have a copy of Dominica’s constitution which was given to everyone attending these back then.

    SHEEPLE might be in majority but PEOPLE still exist.

  10. coming soon
    February 8, 2012

    we are all in agreement with the
    way the Chinese work.well then they should be our role model when it comes to work.Forget the messenger the message is true.

  11. Look IT!!!!!!
    February 8, 2012

    Mouth of the West you good too. ahha I like that comment.

    Anyways today on DBS news Parry claiming is a REPORTER that say 80% he just gave a ball park eg. More Parry speak the more he tie himself.

  12. Aye Dominique
    February 8, 2012

    You see I think this whole issue is a bit of a stretch. Mr.Prime Minister what is “emperical evidence?” You may say that you disagree with the survey or research method, and as a result you’re not comfortable with the results provided, but according to Parry, a survey was conducted. Based on his survey conducted, he came up with the results provided.

    Again you are free to disagree or agree with how the survey was done, but one was in fact done.

    According to wikipedia “The word empirical denotes information acquired by means of observation or experimentation.[1] Empirical data are data produced by an observation or experiment”

    Parry complained that he has been operating without a budget, so make one available to him so you can critic his work properly.

    Everyday persons complain of public officers and how they lack enthusiasm for the job, as I’ve said before, there may be several underlying factors for that to include low wages. However the issue still remains….are majority of public officers efficient at what they do? The answer is no…and we all know that to be a fact.

    Now we have a choice, to camouflage the problem and let it persist or to address it by first being honest about its existence.

    Some things you just should can’t play politics with, and this is one of them.

  13. Praying
    February 8, 2012

    Was a study or audit done to determine the statement made? If not then why not use the opportunity to conduct a study on the issue?

  14. employee
    February 8, 2012

    you want them to work harder, but when they get appointed it take years for their increase (retroactive)why pm.people dont know want public officers going through

  15. Anonymous
    February 8, 2012

    :lol: :lol: :lol: Do you really believe that Parry Bellot did not have blessing of the PM when he release that statement??

  16. Ya man
    February 8, 2012

    give me the AM when things smooth

  17. CIA on the watch
    February 8, 2012

    Hon. Prime Minister, If you so disagree why do you still have this on the job sowing seeds of discontent between the employer and the employee, if the empirical evidence does not exist, why should this gentleman who is contracted by the tax payers to improve productivity in the public service should conclude that productivity is at an all time low, base on his conclusion it appears that public officers are just clocking in at 8:00am and do nothing for 6 hours of their productive time, i suspect it was full moon on the day he made that statement. He should be fired

  18. THE DOMINICAN
    February 8, 2012

    While you may state your opinion I take issue on your personal attack on Mr. Bellot. and while you are at it learn to spell “nonsense”

    • Jacky chan
      February 8, 2012

      Essentially the productivity consultant is non productive or should I say useless

    • i am dominican
      February 8, 2012

      oh please shut up………u sounding like one the fools supporting Parry Bellot and his crap talk…….smhhhhh

  19. ალბერტ პოლ
    February 8, 2012

    MY COMMENT IS NOT NECESSARILY RELATED TO THIS ARTICLE….BUT TO DNO IN GENERAL.

    I MUST SAY THAT SINCE THE CHANGE IN MANAGEMENT THE STORIES, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, ARE MORE BALANCED, HONEST, STRAIGHT-FORWARD AND SUPPORTED BY FACTS AND TANGIBLE EVIDENCE….GREAT JOB GUYS, KEEP IT UP.

    THAT’S THE KIND OF REPORTING WE NEED…NOT BETH,HE-SAY SHE-SAY AND ACCUSATIONS….THANK YOU.

    • Extreme Dominican
      February 8, 2012

      Ok, you stole this comment from me. I am so pleased with all these amazingly well balanced stories. This is what news should be all about. The stories ate entertaining, informative, uplifting profesdionally oresented and just what I feel is a awesome news reporting.

      I hear about all the wonderful thinngs that are happening in Dominica, that if I were to be listening to other outlets, is nonexistent. I hear about the stories that make me laugh, cry, think, analys, evaluate and come to my own damn conclusion.

      Every morning I look forward to your posts, and I am delighted to add my two cents. Thanks for this outlet, and for transmitting and honest representation of news in Dominica. Mwah!!

      • CIA on the watch
        February 8, 2012

        I too honestly agree

      • Extreme Dominican
        February 8, 2012

        typos totally courtesy of my iphone…lol

  20. hmm
    February 8, 2012

    Not bad Mr. PM..I think you hit the nail on the head about 1000 times in that speech.

  21. tetsi
    February 8, 2012

    when politicians just send pple on the job w/o checking the background nor their capacity or capability to do the job..whether they hqualified or not what do you expect.this is among the many reasons for parry’s 80 percent and the politicians are culpable to the highest level.

    • En Ba La
      February 8, 2012

      This is it – STOP HIRING PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY SUPPORT OR VOTED FOR THEM. The create positions/offices for people who are not occupied just gossiping/talking. I have seen it first hand.

    • Milly
      February 8, 2012

      what do u suggest? give all the jobs to people with Bachelors and forget the young ones coming up with CXC’s that need a job, nonsence. Firstly there is no way someone can make it in any business or even the public service with out papers to show that they can do the work, and even if they dont and they get a job as a messenger, we should all be happy that another individual is gaining an means to eat. i think that the main issue here is lack of customer service, punctuality and inconsistency. when the salaries increase i see no reason for one to arrive late nor stay home cause they have no money for bus. we all know the miracles money can bring forth. so stop short paying one set and overpaying the others, create a balance. let Public Servants see that they are appreciated and they shall return the favor. untill then……lets see how the “demonstration” works out.

  22. tactical
    February 8, 2012

    Andria J with all due respect to you this is not just a man with an opinion; this is Governments paid productivity consultant therefore his statement has weight. It is obvious to all that the methodology he used is flawed, baseless and irresponsible. His pronouncement exhibited disregard for protocol and of process and a total disrepect to the public servants and the government of Dominica. Parry should have known that he needed to have informed the Prime Minister and by extension Cabinet before going public with that nonsense/ and save the government this embarrassment. I am therefore not surprised that the Prime Minister is now saying publicly that he is not in agreement with Parry’s findings and is now disassociating himself with that statement- So it is now more than reasonable for Parry to come out publicly to apologize to the public officers and to government. I it reasonable also for Parry to expect no further contractual work in that field by Government and or any other entity. When one believes that he is an expert on all and sundry that normally happens to them.

    • Roz
      February 9, 2012

      What apology? Mister should be fired for incompetency.

  23. Gee
    February 8, 2012

    ****Rejecting your “consultant’s” work***

    You higher a consultant to do work on behalf of the government then you’re saying you don’t belive in your consultant work?

    Then what do you belive in Mr. PM

  24. Rule
    February 8, 2012

    An APOLOGY!! For factual findings through analysis?
    When you collect statistical data, you compile it and compare it with the level of productivity!
    Why should the PM dispute these results?

    • Just sayin'
      February 8, 2012

      “…factual findings through analysis?
      When you collect statistical data, you compile it and compare it with the level of productivity…”

      I must have missed all that…tell me where you saw it. Bello said he had no facts, only anicdotal conversations, then plucked a number from his imagination. And he gets big man money for THAT?

    • Roz
      February 9, 2012

      Rule, you pulling things out of thin air. Parry himself say he have no statistics to back up his statements

  25. indispensible
    February 8, 2012

    I agree with the Hon. PM. to say 80% of the public service is inefficient that means we not producing any work at all and therefore the public sector is a waste of time…..Parry needs to retract his statement and do a real survey and gather relevant information. I am a hard working public officer and I can attest that my ministry has diligent employees. His statement could be very detrimental to the public sector. My opinion is that Parry should not be getting paid for a job which produces inaccurate results. Speaking of inefficiency, that is just what his results are showing that he is………inefficient!!!!!

  26. Mum
    February 8, 2012

    Did the PSU listern to that recording? THANKS DNO.

  27. February 8, 2012

    The issue of removing some of the internet access is not at all limited to gov’t. many private sector entities have gone down the same route. Workers generally spend too much time on the internet and using it as well to cause disruption among employees.

  28. .....
    February 8, 2012

    “While there are some people who are not pulling their weight in the public service, you have some very diligent people there,” he concluded…….THANK U PM!!!

  29. Andrea J.
    February 8, 2012

    There obviously is an issue with the public service and productivity. Irrespective of the percentage as quoted by Mr. Bellot. Mr. Bellot is a consultant who provided and analysis of the service. Therefore, the emphasis should be on correcting whatever discrepancies with the services that would demonstrates that employees are not as productive as they should be. Not seeking an apology. This is one man’s opinion. Stop focusing on the negative and being small minded and finding someone to blame but gather your strengths and efforts and make it better.

  30. The truth
    February 8, 2012

    the PM can say what he like. i not for nor against him. being a neutral i will stand firm and say that the police in dominica is shameful. we all know that all they do is eat, drink rum, party with the people they meant to be arresting and then go home and sleep. teachers in dominica are amazing so no comments on that. our education is second to none, even when their pay is delayed, they take pride in their work. the others i have no idea about

  31. as i see it
    February 8, 2012

    Who say the PM has not responded? Of course he did by removing most websites from public officers internet. We cannot even listen to MATT in the morning anymore. Is that the begiinning of censorship of the media? Is this a measure of the PM’s statement “This country is too free?”. Is the white haired man a scapegoat towards the PM’s thrust in shutting up democracy, asking persons to not advertise on q95 and limiting our freedom? I hope not

    • Papa Dom
      February 8, 2012

      I cannot agree with you here. All over the world employees are restricted in which sites they can view at work through the employer’s system. Every organisation which I know of has an IT protocol so while I do not support skerritt, on this one the government is correct.

    • riiiggghhhttt
      February 8, 2012

      Because listening to Matt in the Morning.. or checking non-work-related websites is what you should be doing at work! You get paid to work. and thats what you should be doing there. Every employer wants to maximise productivity in the work place.. so if a worker doesnt have the scrupples to stay focused.. then yeah.. “censor” away!

    • Reader
      February 8, 2012

      Wait … people in DA need the Internet to listen to Matt and Q95? What happen, they stop sell radio or folks don’t know how to use it anymore. Rather ridiculous comment … as I see it.

    • Ihatemedard
      February 8, 2012

      Chavez and Castro teaching him well

  32. Mouth of the West
    February 8, 2012

    Many people in the public service have no tact, professionalism and poor work ethic. But to say its 80% with no evidence to support that is ridiculous. 80% of what comes out of parry bellot mouth is nonesense.

    • Adult ED
      February 8, 2012

      It is irresponsible and unprofessional for MR. Bellot to boldly state a percentage without empirical data. I believe this kind of proclamation is an offence against the workers an justifies an apology since there was not an adequate or proper evaluation conducted by Mr. Bellot. Like the PM said there are persons not pulling their wait and there are those who are. PM is very much aware that there is a need for improvement at the public service level irrespective of the many limitations. But as to putting a figure to it the PM rightfully shy away since there is no date available data to substantiate the actual percentage. That being said Public servants should take heed that they need to improve or continue to strive to improve their level of service regardless of the findings. It can benefit them, the people they serve and the country!

  33. Extreme Dominican
    February 8, 2012

    I am not sure why someone should have to apologize for their findings. Obviously, there is a public service issue in Dominica as noted by the Prime Minister himself, but for a hired analyst to apologize for his findings is not customary. Obviously the Public Service Union feel slightly exposed, but apologize, no way.

    • Papa Dom
      February 8, 2012

      What consultant? parry didn’t do any analysis, he spoke to people who just took the guy for a joke, so gave him silly answers to the stupid questions he asked.

      • FORKIT
        February 8, 2012

        exposed, by words from a mad man.. come on, the government knows his condition yet they creat a job to put money in his pocket.. the 80% of those ministers are unproductive because they all must say thank god for skerrit after any speech they make..

      • Rule
        February 9, 2012

        What he did falls under the umbrella of consulting and statistical data. He spoke to people by asking questions based on the job they perform, and he recorded the answers they gave him. It was NOT his opinion; it was the answers he received from the people who perform these duties.

    • T. Winston
      February 8, 2012

      When a man States his findings is based on anecdotal evidence when delivering a damaging statement then he needs to apologize as he has not done the work required. Parry for sure is part of “his” eighty percent. He has to apologize for misleading the public into believing an obviously false statement as he has not done any survey nor does he have anything to show that this is true. Parry doesn’t even know the Job description of the people he supposedly spoke to.

  34. anonymous2
    February 8, 2012

    The problem is that I don’t believe that most of these govt. workers have been adequately trained in terms of their jobs and more specifically what it means to “serve” the public rather than just put in time at a job.
    The moral is also very low and the attitude is not good.

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