#BTSpeakingOut – NCC is bloated and overloaded

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.

Many years ago, after researching information on the National Conservation Commission (NCC) and other State-owned enterprises (SOEs), I was convinced that in order for government to reduce expenditure, it should put a number of plans in place.

These plans included dissolution, privatization and the creation of public-private-partnerships as major initiatives.

For example, privatization for the Caribbean Broadcasting Corportation, an amalgamation for the Urban and Rural Development Commissions, and a right-sizing for the National Conservation Commission.

Now that the present administration is prepared to take action on a number of SOEs, it is not out-of-place that the public be made aware of a situation that remained unattended for several years.

The National Conservation Commission is involved in works, essentially the core business of a number of other government ministries and departments, therefore creating overlap and wastage of financial and other resources.

The functions of the NCC include among others the following:

• The cleaning and maintenance of public parks and gardens – a function more suitable for the Ministry of the Environment/Sanitation department.

• The cleaning and maintenance of beaches and a Lifeguard service – functions more suitable for the Ministry of the Blue Economy.

• The maintenance and conservation of historical buildings, sites, monuments and topographical features of Barbados – functions suitable for the National Housing Corporation and the Ministry of Transport, Works and Maintenance.

• The operation of a Plant nursery – a function suitable for the Ministry of Agriculture.

A very innovative mind found it convenient to place the NCC under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.

The Commission is easily one of the most overloaded and bloated government entities, with a staff complement of close to one thousand in recent years.

Public Relations, Accounts/Stores, Buildings and Works, Commercial, Field Service, Internal Audit, Transport, Mechanics and Welders and Human Resources and Administration make a total of eight departments within the Commission.

It is therefore no surprise that the International Monetary Funds has requested a streamlining and right-sizing of our SOEs.

Michael Ray