Rick Lowe
We all spend a lot of time complaining, myself included, about the politico's, but let's dig a little deeper.
When I first returned home in 1982 and got involved in politics the PLP was the government and giving us much cause for complaint. The infrastructure was falling to bits, the town was dirty, education was a shambles and service from most government offices was horrible.
This continued this way until the FNM was elected in 1992, when there was considerable improvement to the public infrastructure and the town was cleaned up. The results in education remained just as bad as was the service from most government offices.
Fast forwarding to September 30, 2010, the song remains very much the same. We're still complaining the politicians and their apparent ineffectiveness.
Is it my imagination or is it a result of a Civil Service that is largely ineffective?
There are many excellent government workers but they seem overwhelmed by the work ethic, or lack thereof, of many of their associates.
In the grand scheme of things, the politicos are supposed to responsible for the policy matters or the big picture, while the government workers are supposed to deal with the day to day matters. And if the policy makers and Permanent Secretaries are putting out fires all day, because the line workers are not pulling their weight, how can things improve?
The other problem is, each government office is much larger than most businesses in the country. And we know the problems we all face from day to day, and the private sector has the cream of the crop for the most part.
I know one thing, I thank my lucky stars we have pretty darn good associates. I could not imagine for a minute dealing with some of the larger government agencies, departments or ministries.
How does the country get the government workers, bad teachers, failing parents, churches et al to realise that the failure all around them is their responsibility too?
If each of us do not start pulling our weight, what are we leaving for future generations?
….exactly!!!
Rick I visited Nassau a few weeks back after a almost 18 years, ( I left the Bahamas over 40 years ago ) it’s over run by cars, it’s tired, it’s dirty, it’s culture of I don’t care, it’s become in some sections streets of boarded up houses in decay, there is no pride and I could go on, but, the one thing that struck me was the total absence of a middle class. Well lets take a look at yesteryear, it wasn’t that unreasonable, everyone got along, crime was much lower jobs were many and Bahamians were proud. Is there a quick fix, nope, it’s way way to late for that, it will take a new outlook, the FNM or PLP isn’t the answer, it’s time for someone else to step up to the plate and get some international help to rebuild the once great island of Nassau.
How can we improve when the pickings are so slim
When it comes to the government workers, I am reminded of that KB song “Civil Servant”. There are a few classic lines like “Who gat you da job — my MP, when do you start — when I reach, Send da water, Send da power”. I saw a candidate put out notice that he was running, and he was surrounded by people wanting government jobs. Since there is no domestic credit bureau, only people with government pay cheques can get credit. Once you are in the government, it is cash for life, no matter how unproductive you are.
The civil service is bloated, unproductive and unaccountable. It’s time to pull a Cuba, and fire half or more of them.
Rick leadership should inspire change. The PLP and the FNM have spent decades nurturing all the negatives in the public service. I went to ZNS under the FNM and saw ridiculous hirings, promotions and unexplainable expenditures. The same things which the FNM, and me , campaigned against!
The corruption is endemic in the public service particularly because it is endemic in both parties. The public servants dance to the music because the politicos are playing the tunes!!
Gentlemen/Ladies your observations are correct I will now add my two cents worth.
The politicans encourage government employees in their ways by hiring their “cronies and supporters.” They know that they do not have to produce because their faithful vote is job security. In many departments where I have been recently there are a number of new young faces, some, I believe are eager to produce but their superiors are not setting examples, they dont get to work on time, mornings breakfast is eaten at their desks until 10:30, lunch and school pickups begin any time after 2:00 p.m. After this nothing is done for that day. So we the public are at the mercies of this system. Can anyone imagine if private enterprise ran like this what would happen.
The problem is when the “Head” is dead the rest of the body will not function.
What we need is something similar to “The Tea Party” in the USA..How about “The Conch Salad Party” where we have all the good ingredients turned into one to make a better Bahamas.
I agree with the “Conch Salad Party” movement!!!
There are a few things that are absent from our society:
1.) Lack of Risk & Rewards – Promotions are limited, work performance is irrelevant to maintain or obtain promotions,
2.) Lack of a competitive nature – It starts from high school, the top students are normally foreigners. Are people thriving to outperform each other at school and in the workplace?
3.) No Dream – There is the American Dream, what is the Bahamian Dream? Is it just to eat a Bamboo Snack, go to a movie, and mingle?
4.) Dependency – There is a heavy reliance on government for employment, social, and charity donations. How many individuals are willing to own up to their actions and take control of their lives?
A strong leader can implement these changes, but I doubt he has to be crafty! If I ran on the ticket that I’ll decrease the public sector, or if I was to implement a performance measurement system, I doubt I’ll get more than 10 votes.
I said once in a presentation that
The Chinese think in centuries,
European and north Americans think in decades
We Bahamians cannot think past lunch!
In order to “fix” some of our more pressing problems, a newly elected government has got to be willing to LAWULLY reclaim the rule of law, with all the responsibility it entails in the first two years of its term.
It is going to mash corns.
See the lunch thought however.
If there is visible benefit/improvement by year 3, year 4 can be campaign focused for re-election and continued progress.
We cannot micromanage a country into economic success. Nor let the criminals rule the streets.
Nor let Civil servants meddle in business via approvals, permits, etc.
Our minds have been shackled to the wall for the most part, irrationality and emotion has replaced reasoned thought.
In 1992 what most Bahamians thought (by their response at the ballot box) we were headed in a direction to correct the many ills that had plagued our land during the “reign” of Sir Lynden and the PLP. 1997 the vote was a resounding approval of what had taken place in 1992. Then comes 2002, the FNM proved once again that politicans are only after their onwn skin, split in the party and we all know what happened. 2007 the FNM is back and I am certain the favoured are the ones who get government jobs.
The rhetorical question is, will this change? The answer is a resounding NO! Should the electorate decide to change parties will this change, the answer is a resounding NO! So, where do we go from here?
I am deeply sorry for future generations of Bahamians because I believe we have already seen the best Bahamas will ever be.
The Bahamas has been destroy with polictician looking out for families and friends only.The unprofffessional Government workers and poor attitude have made the Government agencies B.E.C,Bahamasair and Water&Sewage failed bankrupt companies.It will take 40 years for the Bahamas to recover ever agian.