by Linda Straker
- PM called on workers in the public sector to give 100% performance in their duties
- First official meeting with staff at the Ministry of Finance on Thursday, 7 July
- PM encouraged Heads of Divisions to place greater attention on workers’ health and safety
Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said that his ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) which was elected to office on 23 June 2022 does not have a magic wand to fix all issues. He has called on workers in the public sector to give 100% performance in their duties.
Speaking with staff at the Ministry of Finance on Thursday, 7 July 2022, Mitchell, who is the Minister for Finance, highlighted areas of importance that he plans to address in the short term. This was his first official meeting with the staff.
“These include greater use of technology in government business with the goal of going paperless and the regularisation of the staff in the next 12 to 18 months.” Mitchell is a corporate lawyer by profession.
Though there is the option of an in-person transaction, several government services where a payment is required are already conducted online and these include payment of driver’s licence and property via the portal pay.gov.gd.
This payment portal was one of the fast-track initiatives undertaken by the ICT department because of Covid-19. The objective was to reduce the interaction of individuals face to face.
“The government does not possess a “magic wand” to fix all issues, and he highlighted the need for all workers to give 100% in the performance of their duties, as increased productivity will ensure successful output and alignment with the government’s priorities,” said a news release from the Government Information Service (GIS).
The release said that leaning on the people-first team-spirit approach, the Prime Minister encouraged Heads of Divisions to place greater attention on workers’ health and safety whilst consistently improving their physical working conditions.
On the campaign platform, the NDC promised that there will be changes to the public sector if elected into office. “Regularise the status of persons operating within the public service. This includes public officers on acting, probationary and temporary appointments, as well as persons holding contracts of various types, but, carrying out the duties of public officers,” said the manifesto.
The party also gave the assurance that it will undertake a review of the pay and grade structure within the public service as well as train and retrain public officers and other government employees.
GND’s issues will not be solved merely by changing governments, though it is a start. The country needs to focus on its primary resource: its people. They need housing, healthcare, education, and employment. More and better agreements with SGU and with the businesses serving the tourist industry could go toward providing more jobs. Public-private partnership with SGU to create more scholarships for undergraduates at SGU; more career ready training at TAMCC could help shape a better informed and skilled workforce to fill those jobs. Similarly, a public-private initiative between the govt and SGU to improve the quality of healthcare through GND is imperative.
It is wise to avoid making too many deals with the Chinese or the U.S. (or Russia or Brazil, for that matter). This is just a form of economic colonialism, and while some benefits might accrue, the price will be high.
The biggest commodity in the 21st century is going to be information and big data. GND should be working toward becoming a repository for that information: to keep it secure and to be able to transmit it quickly when needed. Ultimately, such an industry (for which much of the infrastructure already exists) would be much more lucrative for the country than the tourist industry and SGU combined.
All these things will take time, planning, and GND will need to put aside its love affair with bureaucracy to make it happen, but these are certainly achievable goals. Grenadians are brilliant and highly capable. They simply need the opportunity to realize their potential.
What is “Throy” talking about
from 2014 to 2020 the gdp of Grenada skyrocketed , there is more money circulating in Grenada than every before , our dept to gpd ratio is in a much better position than other islands, even after the NDC pays out pension we will be in better position than other islands
the NDC will have a lot more money to play with compared to the NDC of 2008 to 2013 and the nnp of 2013 to 2018
it seems like alot of Grenadians do not understand the history of government financing and only got into politics recently because of dickon face.
the NNP was not perfect and nor will be the NDC
I predict that the NDC’s good marketing tack tick of “change” and “transformation” will loose momentum , when people start realizing that from a historical context( we are a young nation) fundamental work still need to be done and change and transformation is really continuing the iterative work of improving the country, not miracle work.
Once again, we have been Doop, or maybe we choose to remain willfully ignorant because of greed, jealousy, and hatred against our own. We chose poorly. An administration without a plan, adrift in the wind is a bad beginning.
I totally is in agreement. When you are out of the kitchen you have all the promises but once inside the narrative changes “gimme a break”
Our country is being destroyed from within. Do you honestly believe the leader of the ruling party runs the country? To control people, you have to divide them and let them fight amongst themselves. Our country was sold a long time ago. Bishop died trying to prevent the sale. Mitchell lost his administration trying to stop the sale. Now, they put someone in power to finalize the sale. Ask yourself this question. If you have millions to spend, will you spend it in a place where you have no control over its people? Look around you, Chinese, Americans, Europeans, Arabs, and even Russians, the question is why. The enemy is in the house. While you fight, they take. Do not let greed be our downfall. Could it be that that old African thing is raising its ugly head amongst our people? The belief is that it is in the best interest of a nation to sell our mothers, brothers, daughters, and even our children for a little money. Be careful my friends, be very careful.
http://gd.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zxhd_1/202201/t20220121_10631902.htm Beware of this ‘friendship’ – actually t is NOT a friendship – The CCP does NOT have friends – they look for a weakness and then ………. watch how Sri Lanka is imploding .
The magic wand to help Grenada –
Selling Citizenship for $ : bad idea
Chinese influence in Grenada : bad idea look at Sri Lanka !!
SGU : Grenada’s life line – help this flourish
Legalize marijuana – look at St . Vincents … dont miss this boat !!
Seek out individuals to hlep ( dont have to be Grenadian )
We are in for a rough ride, Magic wand, kitchen garden, go paperless, and the sale of passports cannot fix a bad economy. What next? They will be selling tickets to the resurrection.
To Albert Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, what do you mean by “excuses already ”
This administration has to undo at least 23 years of wrong doing by NNP party, are you expecting them to do it all overnight.
I will respectfully ask you to say nothing when you have nothing to say. People like you may be educated, but lack common sense and contribute nothing to the betterment of Grenada.
Do you really really the new lot will be any better than the last?
Or the lot before them? Or the lot before them? Or the lot before them? Or the lot before them? Or the lot before them? Or the lot before them? Or the lot before them?
Common sense suggests they gonna be just as bad….
Excuses already??? Good heavens!!! Whatever next??? Broken promises???
Your troubles just started. What did you expect money to fall from the sky? Wake up before it’s too late.
Ma be you should help him find his magic wand then get a basket and pick up money that will solve all the problems.