Dealing with complaints part of public officials' job - Governor
“It is not a nuisance; it is a part of your job. It is part of your delivery of public service,” he said, while speaking yesterday May 7, 2014 during a reception held at Maria’s By The Sea to mark the 5th year of the existence of the Complaints Commission.
“I have always been a great believer in the principle of complaining. I benefitted personally from complaining and I think that I would encourage others to complain once something goes wrong. Because if you don’t complain, the things that go wrong will stay wrong,” he said.
He said too that the Complaints Commission is the agency that ensures the Government of the Virgin Islands is transparent. “Accountability is critical for effective Government,” he said.
The Governor said too that Government should explain its decisions.
“Sometimes as a member of the Executive it is a bit demanding to explain why you are saying yes or why you are saying no, particularly when you are saying no. But I think under the Constitution it is clear that people have a right to know why a decision goes against them,” he said.
“I think it is a good thing to have a sense of challenge, a sense of accountability and I am conscious that the very existence of a Complaints Commission has meant that people now have recourse in a way they didn’t have previously to address their complaints,” he said.
The Governor said that despite the frustrations that the Complaints Commission has experienced, the work of the Commission has made a difference.
“Everyone who complains has the potential to make a difference and everyone involved in dealing with a complaint has a chance to make a difference too,” he said.
The Governor said that as the Commission develops its procedures, members of the public service have become more attuned to the need to respond and give decisions in an effective and reasoned way.
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“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”