High-ranking boss may get the boot

Sat, April 14, 2012 - 12:00 AM

THE NATIONAL CULTURAL FOUNDATION isn’t the only statutory organization experiencing uncertainty at the top.

Word reaching Cou Cou is that another high-ranking boss is biting their fingernails as the final days of their contract pass with no firm word yet as to renewal.

According to sources, while not wanting to take bread or rice out of anybody’s mouth, the staff are anxiously awaiting the authorities’ decision, but few are hoping for this boss to get the nod.

The reason?

They’re claiming this officer has done little to advance the organization during their tenure and the chances of any improvement are slim as they have alienated many, from managers to line staff.

Those in the know say this person made the staff lots of promises that have not materialized, while the general working conditions and job security have worsened.

Staff sensed something was not right when the individual suddenly took a low profile and started trying to fly under the radar. They saw this as possibly a move to ease into a new contract under the noses of top officials in Government whom, it has been suggested, do not particularly care for this boss and want to see them gone.

This individual’s last saving grace may be the minister with direct control of the particular agency.

But if our information is spot-on as usual, even that could prove dicey for this boss, as a number of times they have even challenged initiatives put in place by the said minister and bragged afterwards about getting their way.

Political hanky panky

INFORMATION IS LEAKING OUT of a certain Government agency like water from a basket. Apparently, the staff there are so fed up with the political hanky panky going on that they are willing to spill the beans on just about everything. This week we received a letter and two phone calls from separate people.

The angry staffer wrote: “This is a follow-up on the item printed on March 31 headlined Not Smart Move By Govt Agency.

“The rent is not twice what was previously paid but four times. That is not the only issue. The big boss has two large offices for himself while the accounts department, which has about six officers, is cramped up in a small space.

“There is also a large office reserved for another big-up called a consultant, who is paid big bucks to occupy for half a day each week.”

The writer claims that when a certain big shot was in charge of this agency, “about 12 unqualified people” were brought in and paid big bucks – more money than appointed officers. They are at this time doing nothing, yet the one responsible for them sponging off taxpayers is crying over Government’s spending.

One of those who called told Cou Cou the $9 000 cellphone bill, which was run up when the person it is assigned to was on a pilgrimage, was cleared this week.

And the other caller revealed that the consultant was the one who had racked up the big cellphone bill. That caller also claimed that the consultant rakes in $11 000 a month – nearly as much as a Government minister.

Special favours

THE OFFSPRING of a well known woman is to be hired as a manager at a major statutory corporation.

That the mother and child have a similar political persuasion would not normally be a talking point as that is what each party does – in times of plenty, they put their own in sweets. They advertise the job and then choose from among their faithful.

The problem in this case, though, is that the job was not advertised.

Those in the know are wondering whether the child has gotten the nod because she enjoys a special relationship with the boss of the agency.