The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago has lashed out at the country’s Public Servants, accusing them of “ducking work” and using the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse.
In an address to the nation, Keith Rowley said productivity at one unnamed Ministry had dropped by 97.5 per cent.
“I have been very disappointed with the reports I have been getting on the Public Service; people have been abusing rather than cooperating,” Dr Rowley said.
He said pandemic restrictions allowed Public Servants to operate at 50 per cent capacity on a rotation system.
“The reports show very weak management has not taken charge of that; persons have been abusing it, to the point at where a Department that was supposed to have 30 people ends up with eight,” Dr Rowley said.
“Some people have not bothered to turn up at all. It is like a general free-for-all,” he said.
Dr Rowley said he had instructed the head of the Public Service to order his immediate subordinates to ensure that a written roster was kept at all stations, at all locations, and that Public Servants were to rotate.
“You stay home on the day you are to stay home, and you come out on the day you are rostered to come out. This as an authorised action under law,” he said.
“Those who do not turn up to work on the day they are rostered to work are to be deemed absent from work with the consequences to flow from that, including not being paid.”
Dr Rowley’s comments brought a swift response from President of the Public Services Association, Watson Duke (pictured) who described the criticisms as “careless, irresponsible and ill-informed”.
Mr Duke said the Prime Minister’s statements reflected his constant gripe with the Public Service and called on him to present a report to support his accusations.
“The Prime Minister is paving the way to privatise the Public Service,” Mr Duke claimed.
Port of Spain, 13 October 2020
