Dear Editor – May I express my views on contradicting news item headlines over the SIBC in the recent days, regarding the sacking of the permanent secretary of finance and treasury ministry.
One would have thought that after having served this nation with distinction all these years in the finance ministry –only at the eleventh hour and by a Caretaker government, the former Permanent Secretary was fired mercilessly.
Obviously, the Caretaker government saw it fit to discredit such figure at the dying minutes which raises many questions as to why and how this turn of events came about.
We know the former Permanent Secretary and probably the caretaker finance minister were both out of the country on a mission, when the sacking took place.
Am just wondering why the caretaker government had to wait until both men were out of the country before the decision took effect. We know it’s the usual political cowboy game when a public officer refuses to bow down to the political directives and demands one of the options is to have the officer axed.
The firing of the former Permanent Secretary of finance not only tarnished his good image but also those of his close associates, such as working colleagues, friends and more so his very own people or family member.
On the question of noncompliance to a directives by the Caretaker executives government to immediately payoff a twenty or fifty million dollars as reported in the media, to former MPs as terminal grant, I think it is the accounting officer of the finance Ministry, not to do so as yet.
Obviously the crucial question to ask is who is currently important? The fifty former MPs who are currently just ordinary citizens or the five hundred thousand plus people of these country? Its simple logic.
You pay twenty or fifty million dollars to only fifty persons or spend that much on more than half a million people of this country to ensure their livelihood continues to be sustained by way of the provision of basic social services. I believe this simple analysis had cost the former permanent secretary of finance his post.
Further, the parliamentary Entitlement commission in media reports released has recommended one hundred thousand dollars payment per MPs on terminal grant and not four hundred thousand dollars as pressurised by the caretaker government.
The caretaker government in my view should respect the recommendation of the parliamentary Entitlement commission (PEC). As a simple rural man that amount of money in my view, is adequate to sustain any campaign expresses or probably is even more than the amount of total funds to be used during campaigning as required under relevant laws.
I believe if the caretaker government agrees to the parliamentary Entitlement commission’s recommendation, the finance Ministry would not find it difficult to pay off half a million dollar to the fifty former MPs if each receives one hundred thousand dollars only.
Now whilst its normal to fire permanent secretaries for very good reasons, the former permanent secretary finance was fired for being firm as he was, is and will always on matters in his best judgement are crucial to the survival of the country- which means the very people who sleep each night after a day’s hard work in their gardens or doing fishing activities to supplement their diet and wake up each new day to resume their unfinished work from the day before- not knowing how medicines enter the clinics and why nurses work twenty four hours to treat sick patience,- how school in which they send their children continued to be replenished with exercise books, chalks and other essential stationaries and why teachers spend long hours in front of students in classroom each working day.
I believe these are the very ones, whom the former permanent secretary of finance was focusing his attention on to ensure they continue, enjoy these social services. At last he was fired.
Indeed these nations need dedicated public officers who are in daily life display a caring attitude for the people whom they serve. Public officers who decide on what is proper, just or absolutely necessary to undertake for everyone’s benefit.
Public officers who view their role as nation builders by way of implementing government policies effectively but not bowing down to political pressure or demands for a few individuals’ benefits as the matter at hand.
Finally, may I wish to congratulate the former permanent secretary of finance for having performed quite distinctively, serving this nation over the many years before and during the most critical period in our history the ethnic conflict years, in which your usual firmness on all matters pertaining to finances had put your life at risk on many occasions then, but always with your usual simple smile, that everything is ok. NATION FRIST, MI NAO LAST!
EACH DAY BRINGS WHAT IT HAS FOR THAT DAY AND SO TOMORROW.THEREFORE, LET IT BE!
NEVER AGAIN SEES THE BAIT BUT BLIND TO THE HOOK BUT RATHER “LOOK BEFOR U LEAP”
Fred Daoburi
Lumiesi Heights
SM Constituency
