Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/2808/-1/135/
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ANGUILLA'S PUBLIC SERVICE EXCELS "Your Are Not Corrupt" Civil Servants Told
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Anguilla’s Clinical Psychologist and local and regional Workshop Facilitator, Dr. O. M. Linda Banks, says the island is fortunate that its Public Service is not corrupt unlike situations in other parts of the world where there are high percentages of corruption.
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Senior Civil Servants with Don Mitchell fourth from left
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“Nobody is looking at you and saying you are corrupt,” she told a large number of civil servants from all ministries and departments of the Anguilla Government at a workshop. “What we are saying is that we need to be proactive and to provide a system that protects all of us. This done, we can have a public service that meets the needs of the island very effectively and efficiently. It will be a case where public servants would feel free to use their initiative to create innovative ways of administering their services here in Anguilla, rather than being scared to step out of their comfort zone because of reason of intimidation, pressure or loss of job.”
Dr. Banks was at the time addressing government employees at the Teachers’ Resource Centre on September 8 at the one-afternoon workshop, the first of its kind to be held by the Public Service Integrity Board since its appointment.
In presenting some figures on corruption in some countries, Dr. Banks emphasised: “We are not in that category. In Anguilla we like to do be proactive in doing things rather than to react to them. We are fortunate that as a young island state we in Anguilla can learn from the experiences of others. The more open we are, and allow ourselves to share our experiences and provide suggestions and share insights, the better we will create whatever would best serve the needs of Anguillians.”
The workshop participants were given seven discussion points to examine in breakout groups and to report on their findings. The questions posed were: What are the standards that members of the Anguillian public expect from the civil service? What are the standards that are expected of public servants internationally? How does Anguilla compare with regional and international behaviour in public service? What mechanisms exist to assist public servants to be conscious of what constitutes unacceptable behaviour in public life? Should the Anguilla public service be considering developing a Code of Ethics? Should Ministers of Government, Members of the House of Assembly and members of statutory corporations be bound by similar ethical considerations?
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Dr. O. M. Linda Banks
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The searching questions occupied most of the time of the workshop and reportedly served as an excellent exercise with interesting and useful views from the civil servants.
The workshop was part of a continuing effort by the Public Service Integrity Board to ensure the proper functioning of an effective and noble service for the people of the island. The PSIB has as its vision adherence to the seven principles of public life. According to the Nolan Committee First Report, these are selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
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Civil Servants at the workshop.
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Chairman of the PSIB, retired Judge, Don Mitchell, QC, CBE, thanked the Governor’s Office for financing the workshop. He observed that the House of Assembly had not yet provided “the wherewithal” for the body to meet its own expenses as a result of which it was hamstrung in undertaking some of its activities which require financial commitments. He spoke highly of Dr. O. M. Linda Banks and her skillful performance as a noted Anguillian trainer both locally and regionally.
Similarly, Dr. Banks said she was delighted with the appointment of Justice Mitchell as Chairman of the PSIB, saying his impressive background in the legal profession had made him a very suitable person to head the Board.
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Civil Servants at the workshop. Deputy Governor at right
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Working on the Board with Mr. Mitchell are Deputy Governor, Mark Capes, retired Permanent Secretary and current Chairman of the Anguilla Public Service, Allister Richardson; and Pastor Cecil Richardson of the Central Baptist Church.