Dear Editor,
I support Phillip Paulwell's recommendation to his parliamentary colleagues for punctuality at meetings. However, I wish to extend the issue and chide our leaders in Government and the Opposition for the lax display the majority of them have shown toward the country's business in general.
This has been the prevailing norm since I have come to understand Jamaican politics, and should in no way be permitted to persist. It is so ironic, contradictory even, how quick ministers are to call civil servants out on impropriety and to demand accountability, failing to accept that they, too, are public servants and thus not a law unto themselves. They, too, are paid from the country's coffers, and many of them if they were to be subject to performance-based pay -- as they are advocating for others -- would earn far less than they currently do.
This is the root of my demand for equity; because are not all public servants employed to do the state's business, and thus remain accountable to the state?
Though I stand far from advocating coup d'états and other forms of violence being perpetuated against governments across the world, I hope to voice the frustration of the populace against the mediocre service of most ministers. As an extension to the issue of punctuality, it also remains true that the behaviour of ministers during sittings is far from desirable. The heavy use of cellphones, persistent cross-talking and gibes should no longer continue. The ministers need to give more respect to the nation's business. At a time like this in our nation's history the citizenry needs the assurance that the nation's business is well taken care of.
Wendy Simpson
ocsa.wendy@hotmail.com
Give more respect to the nation's business
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I support Phillip Paulwell's recommendation to his parliamentary colleagues for punctuality at meetings. However, I wish to extend the issue and chide our leaders in Government and the Opposition for the lax display the majority of them have shown toward the country's business in general.
This has been the prevailing norm since I have come to understand Jamaican politics, and should in no way be permitted to persist. It is so ironic, contradictory even, how quick ministers are to call civil servants out on impropriety and to demand accountability, failing to accept that they, too, are public servants and thus not a law unto themselves. They, too, are paid from the country's coffers, and many of them if they were to be subject to performance-based pay -- as they are advocating for others -- would earn far less than they currently do.
This is the root of my demand for equity; because are not all public servants employed to do the state's business, and thus remain accountable to the state?
Though I stand far from advocating coup d'états and other forms of violence being perpetuated against governments across the world, I hope to voice the frustration of the populace against the mediocre service of most ministers. As an extension to the issue of punctuality, it also remains true that the behaviour of ministers during sittings is far from desirable. The heavy use of cellphones, persistent cross-talking and gibes should no longer continue. The ministers need to give more respect to the nation's business. At a time like this in our nation's history the citizenry needs the assurance that the nation's business is well taken care of.
Wendy Simpson
ocsa.wendy@hotmail.com
Give more respect to the nation's business
-->