Imagine landing a coveted job with one of the most prestigious companies in your country without having to do a job interview or public screening process —one of the main qualifying criteria - is consistent and active loyalty to the brand or the size of your political contribution.
Becoming the Chairman of a public agency or government board lies in the hands of the Government Minister in charge of that agency of the ‘say so’ of the PM and Cabinet.
There is no public scrutiny, objective criteria, or parliamentary committee screening.
When I first became a Cabinet Minister and was naive to the process that in politics, ‘loyalty trumps competence.’ I figured that persons with years of experience running profitable corporations successfully would understand the importance of efficiency, innovation, and best management practices to get things done and move agencies in the right direction.
How wrong I was.
“Lisa, don’t you know he is a Labourite?”
For this financial year, the MOF expects 53 Public Bodies to realize revenue of approx. $646.21 billion representing 48% of the national budget of $1.34 trillion; expected to spend $96.44 billion on capital expenditure.
If the National Housing Trust Board has not been meeting its mandate, who will hold it and others accountable?
Is the public expected to wait for the Minister to question and terminate the board?
I believe HEART and NHT, which receive billions of tax dollars directly from the public to fund their programmes and infrastructure to improve Jamaicans’ lives, must have governing heads of boards and members who go through a public vetting process rather than only being Ministerial appointees to be approved by Cabinet.
Additionally, the boards’ performance should be evaluated every 2 years against their targets for the public and parliament.
It’s time to demand more public accountability from our leaders. Both political parties have been guilty of tribal nepotism for too long, which has only stagnated long-term economic growth, education, and the quality of life for our people.