SURESH RAMPHUL
They keep telling us that they are modernizing the country. But must not modernization go hand in hand with a strict control over wastage of public funds?
At a time when numerous people are going through extremely difficult times financially (loss of jobs, reduced salaries, a hike in the price of food products and vegetables, and there is talk of the price of bread increasing), it is inconceivable that the authorities are unable to tackle rationally the issue of interdicted public officers or policemen who continue to draw their salaries.
A work involves a salary. Salary is paid for work accomplished. Even a layman has no difficulty understanding that if someone does not work, he cannot be paid. How is it that successive governments have not understood this? People who have been suspended have been receiving their salaries as normally as possible. Millions of rupees are spent every year. It is high time to give the necessary importance to this problem.
Staying home and getting paid month after month for work not done is, in my view, something that does not sit well with the concept of modern management of public funds. We must be bold enough to face the harsh reality and take the appropriate measures to end a practice that remains fundamentally unfair and unjust. It is terribly de-motivating for the public. We need political will to go ahead.
Let us deal with interdictions within a reasonable delay. Let us find out why cases of interdictions take so long. Where exactly is the shoe pinching? The press has reported the case of a policeman, from the Audit Report, receiving Rs 2.8 million during nine years of suspension. This cannot go on. We understand that officers are apt to make mistakes in the course of their duties but it is unacceptable that they get interdicted for longer periods than necessary, for this entails waste of public money.
It creates an absurd situation: many families are toiling for endless hours and yet they are not obtaining enough to live a decent life. Saving money is impossible. It is a dream for them. On the other hand, a few who may have faulted in one way or another in their jobs continue to obtain full pay or half pay for years and years.
There is no logic in this.
Prolonged interdiction is undesirable
The authorities can no longer sit around with crossed arms and let the situation worsen. Money must go to people who are productive. Those interdicted are not productive. They are not contributing anything to the economy of the country. They are not using their knowledge, their skills, and their experience in the interest of the country. We need to have a look again at the system. Interdiction is a serious matter and it must be given the importance it deserves. Instead of taking a long time, sometimes decades, to clear the issue, we must set up the proper mechanism whereby a case is solved within a few months.
It would benefit the nation. Let us not forget that the some people who are suspended and yet are fully or partly paid generally do another job in the meantime, like running a small business, or opening a store, or working as mason. Thus, they obtain money from two or more sources.
Good governance is about acknowledging there is a problem, studying all its implications and considering all the aspects, and tackling it as soon as possible. Let us stop being extravagant with public money.
There is also a pressing need to make public officers more responsible and inculcate in them the necessity to work conscientiously and professionally. We must put in place a culture of responsibility. We will thus have fewer cases of suspension.
The moment an officer or a policeman is interdicted, disciplinary proceedings must begin as quickly as possible.