Dear Editor,
Recently, there has been much talk about the reported improprieties of the Factories Corporation of Jamaica board of management.
As a way of increasing the quality of public sector board directors, appointments should be the result of a formal application process. In Australia, for example, formal calls for public sector board directorship applications are standard. Applicants must first familiarise themselves with the functions of the public entity, the relevant legislation that establishes the board, and the constitutional and internal policies applicable to the public entity, among other things. Shortlisted applicants are then subject to pre-appointment checks. These include referee, bankruptcy, police and private interest checks. Some states in Australia even maintain a register of interested and eligible candidates who are willing and able to serve — once a vacancy arises, candidates on the register are considered for appointment.
While the pre-appointment check process would become an added function, it is a small price to pay for increasing the quality of public sector board directors. Opening up the process to formal applications would also be a good way of promoting diversity and increasing the participation of women, young people, individuals with disabilities and other marginalised groups in national decision-making processes.
Stacy-Ann Robinson
Kingston 8
stacyann.robinson@gmail.com
Recently, there has been much talk about the reported improprieties of the Factories Corporation of Jamaica board of management.
As a way of increasing the quality of public sector board directors, appointments should be the result of a formal application process. In Australia, for example, formal calls for public sector board directorship applications are standard. Applicants must first familiarise themselves with the functions of the public entity, the relevant legislation that establishes the board, and the constitutional and internal policies applicable to the public entity, among other things. Shortlisted applicants are then subject to pre-appointment checks. These include referee, bankruptcy, police and private interest checks. Some states in Australia even maintain a register of interested and eligible candidates who are willing and able to serve — once a vacancy arises, candidates on the register are considered for appointment.
While the pre-appointment check process would become an added function, it is a small price to pay for increasing the quality of public sector board directors. Opening up the process to formal applications would also be a good way of promoting diversity and increasing the participation of women, young people, individuals with disabilities and other marginalised groups in national decision-making processes.
Stacy-Ann Robinson
Kingston 8
stacyann.robinson@gmail.com