Just Lazy : 4/21/2009
We all know that Barbadians are inherently lazy people. Yes. We are; and progressively so! We take things for granted, behave as if the world owes us something, and are only pleasant to tourists. Try calling the licensing authority one of these days and see if someone even bothers to answer the phone! It's ridiculous! We have all of this talk about "service excellence" that is just that; talk.

Culture Baby Culture : 4/21/2009
I left Barbados 37 yrs ago just out of Secondary School. I have been returning every year since. I'm often perplexed, vexed, calling for a manager and sometimes cancelling my bank account, wishing a doctor or nurse to be zoomed to the planet Mercury because of their callous behavior and most often swearing when on a line. Barbadians can't help it at home. That behavior is due to Bajan air because when Barbadians come abroad they dance to a different tune, so it's in them. Unions is not the problem. Be careful what you wish for. Barbados is still a light skin, straight hair country for the most part. If you Bajans want unions out and promotion be based on someone saying you did a good job only don't make no dang calypso about the light skin immigrants taking yuh jobs and promotions.

: 4/21/2009
I agree Philip. The unions are too WEAK and close to the GovernmenT. Not only the short man, the former tall man who had a speech impediment. But it's the union members who allowed them to be fish and fowl too. You can't run for a Political party and run back as union leader when you lose. Only in Barbados. Dumb

SHAPE UP! : 4/21/2009
The may to improve the Civil Service is by process improvement. The first step is to identify what is the problem and then move a organize and systematic way to improve it. Compliance is one of the best drivers for process improvement. Start by promote base on proformance rather than and time serve. Look at some of the things that The Chief Justice has been able to achieve to move forward the efficient running of the Judical system.

: 4/21/2009
Mr Health Minister, I cannot thank you enough for your comments which were long overdue. This said attitude drove me, as a dedicated person who truely wanted to serve from the Civil Service. I do agree that they are to many enjoying the Civil Service with all it's benefits as their gravy train and tea party. They produce NOTHING for which somehow they are rewarded with promotion. They are too many who use government to obtain study leave, gain qualifications and give back NOTHING. Yet those who sit and double up their duties daily are left behind. Don't get me wrong, qualifications ar important, but some return with an attitude of selfishness and not selflessness. Suddenly the Civil Service seems not to be interested in motivation, dedication, committment and experience. Public Sector Reform is another joke. What have they done since implementation? And if analysed carefully, you will find that some in that office are also wrongfully placed. But let me also say Mr Minister that some politicians too are responsible for the level of decay in the Civil Service. Public Service Administration like the Judiciary need to be allowed to function INDEPENDENTLY. Most of those who rope their way in through political means are the true empty heads and troublemakers because as they say, they have "backing." Therefore one has to understanding the hurt that the faithful Civil Servants endure sometimes for years, and when they become hardened and fail to function anymore they are branded. They are also too many unsuitable supervisors who use and abuse subordinates for their own gratification. Permanent Secretaries should not be allowed to hold the same Ministry for years although I understand that continuity is important. They like Heads of Departments need to evaluated on some sort of timely basis too. Mr Minister, I believe you are sincere, and I wish you well. Right there in that hospital, a good few staff members need to be transferred. Retired Civil Servant.

: 4/21/2009
This problem resides in both the public and private sector...have you been to a private bank recently?..have you had to wait forever to be served?...no apology...only a snobbish face is presented when you do reach the counter...we can all do better and we must all try ...because we are ALL guilty

: 4/21/2009
as someone whose mother and brother work in the public service and have now relocated to the US i can contend that alot of the public service of which I can only really talk about the Ministry of Health is completely inefficient! people go to work late, procrastinate, take their cool time doing little and complain too much. they don't take pride in themselves and be thankful that they have a job. i think especially those that works in the Inspectorate need to be fired for wasting the governments money while they stay home in their beds and make up false reports, it's a sad shame.

: 4/21/2009
the problem is the unions... unions have done a good deal for workers but it also has done a world of bad. The reason the public sector is so terrrible is because people can do all manner of foolishness and not get fired, because all they have to do is run to the union and that silly short man! Other places in the world you get to work late or slack on the job you're through just that simple.

Shape up. : 4/21/2009
Barbadians have been hearing this jargon for 45 years now. A late prime minister once refered to the public workers as an "army of occupationist". Successive goverments has yet to do more than pay lip service to this issue. Mr. Minister, your heart may be in the right place, but we need action, we are accostomed to the "feel good" old talk. By tomorrow, this would be old news, and like Old Man Rivers the old policies keep rolling on.

Barbados' Public Sector : 4/21/2009
Uproot the Army of Occupation I understand that The Right Excellent Errol W. Barrow referred to them as an 'Army of occupation'and it seems that they are now well entrenched. I think that Public Sector Reform will on be a success when all the long standing Public Servants are retired. Innovative, modern and adaptable persons should be specially trained and engaged/re-engaged for a modern Public Service. Old habit die hard and it is sometimes impossible to teach old dogs new tricks.

MONEY/ WASTED : 4/21/2009
Is it because of ignorance that public servants are allowed to treat the public the way they do ? just a question,or is lack of training,some things in Bim. has changed but the right things has yet to be changed speaking of MANNERS THEY ARE LACKING TERRIBLE GOD HELP ALL OF US PLEASE DO NOT GET ME WRONG ITS ONLY SOME OF US

Minister Inniss Thank You For being Frank : 4/21/2009
Minister Inniss thank you for having balls to be frank about the tardiness of the Public Sector. For some reason some Publis Servants seem to think that once they make it to work that is it. They don't need to drive a stroke for the day. They are very rude and dismissive of the public. Minister Inniss made a very important POINT, that is, that many PUBLIC SERVANTS don't seem to understand that time is money, especially in these very difficult economic times. Recently I have had a very BAD experience with a SENIOR OFFICER in the CUSTOM DEPARTMENT. His behavior was impious. I left severals messages on this gentleman voice mail, not once did he returned any of my calls. I had to hunt down this man, when I did find him he was so rude,all he said was I am a busy many. This man inaction has allmost destroyed my small buisness. This is the kind of behavior that is dish out to the PUBLIC of Barbados each day. It is the time for the Government and the UNIONS to sit down and work out new rules for the PUBLIC SERVICE. WE need to get rid of this mentalaty that once you are employed by Government that your JOB is safe. There are too many people you work in the Public Service that should be home sitting down, and a lot of them are SENIOR OFFICERS who allow JUNIOR OFFICERS to do as they like. I must conclude, that there are lots of hard working PUBLIC OFFICERS who should be highly commended, and are a real blessing to the CIVIL SERVICES. Minister INNISS I hope your Government will have the guts and balls to do something about this horrible situation. I was once a PUBLIC SERVANT every day I went to work I gave 150 % of myself to the PUBLIC because I think it was important to serve them the best I could.

Public Sector : 4/21/2009
I'm glad to hear that you, Minister Inniss, are willing to touch this subject abour our government workers and those responsible. There are many barbadians who are in working in the public sector for many, many years and have not been appointed in their positions. These people have been doing an outstanding job and yet the ministry responsibil for their various positions cannot find it possible to appoint them. What is the keepback? We barbadians are too slow and laid back when it comes to business and this is the wrong approach. If we continue like this we certainly will keep missing out on some of the best workers wer have in the island. When it comes to pay everyone looks forward to their paycheck. If you work you should get that paycheck on time like any other private sector does for their employees. Wake up ministers and do your job. Do the right thing for your people.

: 4/21/2009
shape up... do you want a letter from the Minister? Did the former PM keep his promises to you? shut up!

The time has come.. : 4/21/2009
Mr. Minister, I wish you good luck. Your words are long overdue. I am hoping that some action will result from your comments.

shape up : 4/21/2009
MR Donville Inniss did not say what he was going to do,all he said is what we know already know exist,again he is hiding and saying government,it is about time that he states what he along with his colleagues are going to do,we don't need promises,we need action and ew need it today