THE Government is losing the confidence of Honiara residents and businesses to handle any economic challenges over the next 12 months.
This was found in the Public Sector Satisfaction Survey carried out by University of Queensland Institute for Social Science Research, who partnered with a local organization to collect data and perform the field work (ie. undertake questionnaires) in October 2015.
According to the findings, half of the Honiara residents (51%) and businesses (48%) had little or no confidence in the SIG ability to handle any economic challenges over the next 12 months.
There are 703 Honiara residents and 68 registered businesses with the Chamber of Commerce that participated in the survey.
Seven hundred twenty eight (728) respondents came from Public Servants which brings the total number to 1500.
The reasons for lack of confidence:
1. favouritism/wantok system – 94%
2. acceptance of bribery/imposing of commission – 92%
3. lack of leadership and accountability – 90%
4. lack of leadership more generally – 89%
Furthermore, majority of businesses feel less confident in SIG’s ability to provide quality services because of:
1. lack of transparency/accountability – 90%
2. lack of strategic foresight and planning – 90%
3. acceptance of bribes and imposing of a commission – 90%
They claim the conditions for Business would improve if:
1. better government budgeting and spending
2. increased competition (new businesses and foreign investors’ confidence)
3. predicted increased spending
4. improving infrastructure
5. better social services
6. positive economic conditions
7. increased in trade and tourism
They also claim that conditions for Business would be weaker due to:
1. a weak Public Service
2. corruption
3. lack of coherence
4. lack of stability in government and poor economic management
5. reduction in aid, lack of industrial development, trading difficulties etc
Chairman of Public Service Commission, Elaim Tangirongo said it was the first kind of survey carried out since Independence in 1978 and will act as a useful tool to direct Permanent Secretaries and other public agencies to identify their weaknesses and improve on it.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
