Opposition senator calls for automatic public service appointments, warns of systemic issues

Opposition Senator Andre Worrell has called for permanent appointments in the public service to be automatic and free from political influence. Speaking in the Senate on Friday, he also highlighted several challenges affecting the efficiency and morale of the civil service.

“Even though there are provisions within the civil service that should make these appointments automatic, we need to get to that stage within the civil service where these appointments become automatic,” Senator Worrell said in the debate on the Public Service Appointments Bill, which seeks to regularise thousands of civil servants in January.

He warned against appointments appearing as political favours rather than routine civil service processes.

“These legislations should not have to come to Parliament for a debate to make it seem as though any one particular administration is favouring or granting favour to civil servants, because within the general orders, there are generally rules as to the appointment of civil servants, and we need to get to the stage where we follow and adhere to those rules. There are also rules as to the acting appointment of civil servants and the promotion process as well.”

He identified several major challenges affecting the public service.

“We have human resources and staffing issues, we have compensation and benefit and industrial relations issues, issues with management, governance, and accountability, and in that we see the possibility for political interference as well and for accountability.”

He also raised training gaps and inefficiencies in service delivery.

“We also have training issues and capacity skill gaps within the civil service which need to be addressed and looked at, and we also have the bureaucracy and service delivery problems which many Barbadians complain about on a daily basis.”

Turning to technology, Senator Worrell criticised delayed digital upgrades, particularly at the Barbados Licensing Authority, citing his personal experience.

“I have no hope, and I don’t buy into any of the technology advantages which they’re buying into… I have been renewing my driver’s licence using the easy pay service. Then I was told, from this year that is no longer available, which resulted in me having to travel to the licensing authority to renew the driver’s licence, and after that, you couldn’t even get your driver’s licence card updated there.

“So I have no hope in any of the technological advances brought by this government because one, they have been proven not to work. Two, they have been proven to be exposed to hacking. And three, well they generally are a complete waste oftime and do not improve the efficiency of the civil service.”

He also highlighted legislative and structural constraints, as well as health and safety concerns, which he said have contributed to “brain drain” in the public service.

“One of the reasons for that loss would be brain drain in terms of persons seeking opportunities elsewhere outside of Barbados because of the opportunity to earn better salaries,” Senator Worrell said.

He stressed that retaining experienced officers required fair compensation. (LG)