BRENT SYMONETTE COMMENTS ON
SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATIONS (2006/2007)
RECURRENT ACCOUNT EXPENSES) (NO.2) ACT 2007
($17,327,998)
Mr. Speaker,
I rise to offer a few comments on the Bill before
us today as it relates to the sum of $84,240 under Head 13 -The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Speaker,
As a result of the events of September 11th
2001, the Government placed a freeze on employment, increments and
promotions, contained travel, placed a restriction on the purchase
of items such as vehicles, office furniture and equipment and so
forth.
In March 2004, the then Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, the Member of Parliament for Fox Hill advised that his
Ministry had lost Twenty Three (23) staff members through
resignation, transfer or retirement.
The then Minister advised that:
this number – the twenty three (23)
staff, included mid
and senior level staff with years of
experience.
the remaining staff were under
considerable pressure.
morale was low
the Foreign Service was no longer
regarded as a career
of first choice
The then Minister stated the urgent need to
recruit qualified staff and that he was not "merely seeking bodies
but individuals possessed of certain basis skills essential for an
effective Foreign Service".
As a result of the Member for Fox Hill’s
intervention Cabinet approval was obtained to hire seven (7)
officers not all of whom were hired as a result of various
circumstances.
Mr. Speaker,
Notwithstanding the above in June 2006, it
appears that the Ministry was experiencing a shortage of janitorial
and general service workers.
In July 2006, the then Minister made a request
for staffing needs for the Ministry for persons to be hired under
delegated powers for which no provisions were made in the 2006/2007
Budget.
The files indicated that: 10 positions were
identified –
4 Janitresses, 2 Handyman/Janitor, 2
Receptionists and 2 Messengers.
The then Minister in July 2006, directed the
preparation of a Cabinet paper which requested 9 employees (one less
Janitress) to be hired under delegated authority, and at a cost of
$84,240.00.
On Temporary Weekly Terms
Mr. Speaker,
The justification for the Paper was to bring much
needed relief to the Passport Office and because the Ministry was
spread over several physical locations "some essential services must
be duplicated".
Cabinet by conclusion at a meeting held on 31
October 2006 acceded to the then Minister’s request and invited him
to consult with the then Minister of State for Finance regarding the
provision of funding.
Mr. Speaker,
The Permanent Secretary was advised by letter
dated November 17, 2006 that the Cabinet had approved the then
Minister’s Memorandum.
In December, 2006 the then Minister advised that
"I have a number of persons in mind and will revert to you".
In January 2007, the then Minister advised "I
provided three names to Human Resources".
Again in January 2007, the then Minister was
advised that the new staff could not be hired until security
clearance was obtained and that a contract officer was asked to
obtain the necessary forms.
Later on in January 2007, the contract officer
advised the SAS that "the Minister wishes to have the following
persons employed by February 3rd, 2007".
Security clearance had only been obtained for one
employee and funding was still an issue.
Mr. Speaker,
The file indicates further that establishment
clearance was granted on March 30th, 2007 to hire eight
of the nine for a period of six months in the first instance at
$4.48 per hour or $179.20 per week.
The file disclosed further that "Minister
Mitchell has stated he wishes to have these persons assume duty with
effect from Monday 2nd April, 2007" notwithstanding the
fact that only one had obtained security clearance and only one had
a recommended location of work.
As late as April 10th the file
discloses that permission was granted for the hiring of the nine
persons as per Minister’s request, albeit that the applications for
employment were not forthcoming".
I will leave you to guess where the majority of
the applicants lived.
Mr. Speaker,
The Ministry of Finance in granting the financial
clearance on April 18th, 2007 stated
"You are also hereby advised that this
correspondence in now way conveys approval for the creation
of new posts and increases in the establishment under
existing posts or function, which remain under the purview
of the Department of Public Service".
It is interesting that one of the Memos dated May
1st, 2007 relating to the appointment of the nine persons
ends with the notation that the contract officer mentioned above had
his contract renewed "for a second three (3) year period with effect
from 1st February, 2007.
This was the same contract officer who was
advising the establishment as to the then Minister’s wishes.
Mr. Speaker,
On July 25th 2007, I wrote to the
Permanent Secretary as follows:
"These 9 persons were hired for a fixed term
which is coming to an end. We must regularize if services are
needed/funds available or else so advise them".
Mr. Speaker,
A review of the persons hired under the delegated
powers was subsequently conducted by my Ministry and the following
summarizes the results.
Six persons were recommended for
employment for a further 6 months for evaluation purposes.
One regrettably was unable to continue
employment.
The remaining 2 were encouraged to apply
elsewhere in the Government Services and
Salaries were to be adjusted to comply
with the minimum wage established by Government.
Mr. Speaker,
It should be noted that the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs relocated its Headquarters to the Goodman’s Bay Corporate
Centre in early 2007 and in so doing various satellite offices such
as Legal, Maritime and so forth were amalgamated into one physical
office space thus achieving certain efficiencies.
You will recall that the separation of offices
was one of the reasons underpinning the then Minister’s request for
additional staff.
I hope, in short order to achieve further
consolidation of offices at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which
will in turn result in greater efficiencies.
Mr. Speaker,
With these few comments, I support the Bill
before this Honourable House.
Thank you.
