IN THE RECENT DIVESTMENT of the Prime Minister’s portfolio, with the exception of National Security, to other ministers of Cabinet, it was assumed that Town & Country Planning, as a closely integrated element of finance investment and economic development in the Prime Minister’s Office before the shuffle, would continue under the direction of Economic Development.
It was also assumed that the opportunity would have been taken to include in that directorate the Ministry of Lands as a virtual trustee separated from Housing as a principal beneficiary of the trust.
The fragmentation of the functions of the Public Service to serve the political convenience of appointments of members of the House of Assembly and Senate as ministers is inimical to the integrity of the Civil Service as a career for professionals.
The predictable result of this confusion is an acceleration in the decline of the quality of governance of this country in which partisan political expediency supersedes professional competence.
LEONARD ST HILL