To All and Sundry: (This is my personal reflection and commentary on today’s CayCompass editorial, entitled: “EY report: A test of our will and courage”) This publications “Editorial Board” commentary is perhaps of more than coincidental timing, as we today observe the decade post-Hurricane Ivan. During the preceding ten years, the Cayman Islands Civil Service has given most of the “skin and skill” to build and maintain the secure foundation than anyone seems willing to acknowledge today. And, we have done so in an upstanding, honest and respectable fashion – never mind being the usual sacrificial lambs who are thrown under the busses of “Convenience”, and who now apparently should be sheepishly relegated to positions of wholesale shame. Yes, this is indeed a time of redirection, but wherever there is a divergence, there is also a moment of convergence, when the optimum opportunity presents itself. Management gurus call it the “sweet spot”. At that time, both voices must be heard, and a reasoned debate of issued should result in a brighter, better way forward. Presumably, Cayman’s divergent paths are (A) the traditional Public Service model and (B) the new ‘rationalised’, privatised model. Any objective and cooperative undertaking would be welcomed as we all seek to streamline services and work more efficiently. But, bearing those two directions in mind, the participants and beneficiaries must therefore identified, as these are the critical components. Is it more expedient to choose one path over the other? If so, whose successes are being weighed in this balance – and who is responsible for calibrating these newly-presented scales? Has this moment of convergence passed us by? If so, why has the broader Civil Service not been consulted or met with in the process? Yes, select groups were involved in interviews, but they themselves (from what I gather) made limited attempts to survey all workers and make their representations. This is especially disturbing for two reasons: The Draft Rationalisation report had been in circulation within Government for many weeks already. The Civil Service Association’s first (vague) communique on the topics was just issued this morning…after the fact, and predictably so. But, in general, the tenured, and new, talent within the Civil Service need no external lectures on the manning of the “Good Ship Cayman.” As a telling indicator, most of us still hold fast and proudly to the name “CaymanIAN”. Why then should we meekly accept to “follow the new course that has been charted for (us)”? After all, we devised the original plans, laws and strategies which resulted in the creation and maintenance of our two major industries. We worked to stabilize and uplift the country in times of crisis; sacrificed untold amounts of salaries (now frozen for almost a decade), as well as overtime hours. We therefore know that, whether the vessel is at sail or adrift, the last thing that is needed on-deck are flowery words and hands encumbered by heavy iron gauntlets. We know best when to haul the painter, when to drop anchor, when to set sail, or when to tack or jib. We have the calluses, blisters and splinters to show for it. Even so, our only real job security has lied mainly in the hope that our good work would maintain our small Islands and our families, even as the economies of industrialised countries those around us have fallen. We have always met with resistance – both direct, as well as the weasly, misinformed mumblings from the champagne wings. Those amongst us with an “entitlement” mentality are in the minority. There is actually no guarantee of “lifetime tenure” and “generous salaries” are enjoyed by precious few. Perhaps the only benefits that differ from our “private sector brethren” you speak of, is that (thankfully) we are assured that our pension contributions (for which we pay half) and health benefits are indeed deposited, and don’t mysteriously disappear, as has happened in so many “respectable” private sector companies. We are seen as a drain on the treasury. There are no breakdowns of funding liabilities of health & pension benefits, but Civil Servants are unfortunately lumped together with All beneficiaries of such – indigent, retirees, veterans, Parliamentarians etc. These are all usually presented wholesale as the “recurrent civil service” liabilities. Amongst us, there has long been no argument to us paying a fair part of the health insurance premium – provided that we can have (as does private sector) freedom to choose our medical service providers. And, why are means Tests still not applied for scholarships and other benefits? Who are the beneficiaries there? In terms of reducing the number of government entities and, staff, this is neither a novel nor an unwelcomed proposition. In contrast, binders full of prior reports and consultancies, as well as scores of civil servant submissions on how to streamline and optimize services, have been presented for decades. As your editorial concedes, “the walls of Cabinet are papered over with good reports commissioned, paid for and ultimately neglected”. That is not the fault of civil servants, but of the policy-makers. Yes, the EY report is a map, but who is setting the directions and the fate of our people? Who determined that CIG owns “surplus” properties? Why should even more assets be sold for private development, instead of perhaps leased? We locals cannot even maintain ease of access to many beachside rights of way, not to mention the wholesale devolution of our remaining tracts of Crown property. Of the results of privatization, I will not expound, except to say that we know what will be the real cost-of-living results of our water, ports, airline, buildings, and the health and education services are wholesale handed over to the private sector. We also know well who retain the predominant interests in property and business; who seek to monopolize key areas; and who are their vocal “agents of change”. Suffice to say, basic tactical strategies of ancient and modern warfare are: capture and control communications and the transportation services, and divide the people – then any city or country will be effectively besieged until it implodes or falls. Public service staff have to bend to the politics and policies as they change year by year, so those who deserve the stated “support” are those in the trenches. We are told what colour is the “flag of the day”, who should be seen as the common enemy, what side of any issue we must stand (or be mute on), and upon what matters to take careful aim. But then, what is at the root of this change of philosophy in our Government model? Is efficiency now degraded to a position of ethics? Of which side possesses elevated moral turpitude – and which side are degenerates? Wasn’t this attempted in the previous restructuring exercises, and even the failed Vision 2008 venture? Of the failings and leeway given to the other side, should I cite examples such as the mega-millions in private sector import duties owed, or waived for developers? Or, what of the millions in resort room taxes collected, but then stolen from the Government (not to mention their staff gratuities). The private sector should be healthy, as it is the de-facto tax-collector for our Islands. Most staple foods are duty-free, yet we pay beyond premium prices. Their ventures reap billions revenue, including from Government subsidies and infrastructure provisions: from roads and cruise tendering, to funding or subsidizing the landfill (no tippage fees are paid), public education and scholarships (to the benefit of many private companies). Almost amusingly, even the Miss Cayman Islands pageant has been nationalized for many years now due to private sector failure to support it.. and even the Miss Teen Pageant has for the first time fallen due to a lack of corporate support. On our side, yes there are, and will always be, workplace inefficiencies – which should be reduced or eradicated wherever possible. I will not delve into the upper realms of Government, suffice to say that if fiscal prudence had been maintained in the top echelons over recent decades, our Islands would now be resting on a healthy surplus; instead of paying out the funds we worked so hard to amass, to cover for avoidable lawsuits, project cancellations and changes of plans every four years. And so, as we face a new future, as post-Ivan millennials, there is much to do and much work ahead. However, bear in mind that, the Captains of Industry have always made their fortunes on the backs of those who toiled in the dark and sweaty steerage. God Bless these Islands. Lennon Christian-Cayman
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 01:42:01 +0000
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