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'Underutilised' public servants may be rotated to other departments- SFC Report

- Challenge is getting departments to release employees, says HR Director Michelle Donovan-Stevens
In excess of 2500 public officers are currently employed in the Public Service, according to Director of Human Resources (DHR), Michelle Donovan-Stevens. The Government may be looking to rotate employees who are not being 'fully utilised' in the system. Photo: VINO/File
Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) inquired about the possibilities of rotating staff according to the 2020 SFC Report. Photo: VINO/File
Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) inquired about the possibilities of rotating staff according to the 2020 SFC Report. Photo: VINO/File
According to Director of Human Resources (DHR) Michelle Donovan-Stevens, her Department fully supports the rotation of underutilised employees in the Public Service. Photo: GIS/File
According to Director of Human Resources (DHR) Michelle Donovan-Stevens, her Department fully supports the rotation of underutilised employees in the Public Service. Photo: GIS/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - With in excess of 2500 public officers currently employed in the Public Service, according to Director of Human Resources (DHR) Michelle Donovan-Stevens, the Government may be looking to rotate employees who are not being 'fully utilised' in the system.

This was hinted in the report on the deliberations of the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) held between November 20 and 29, 2019 at the Office of the House of Assembly in Road Town, Tortola, where Minister for Health and Social Development, Hon Carvin Malone (AL) inquired about the possibilities.

According to the SFC report on deliberations on the Human Resources Department, "The Minister for Health and Social Development and Territorial Member enquired of the amount of members currently employed in the Public Service. The Director has stated that she provided members with statistics at a glance... which states that there are 2,525 Public Officers."

Send staff to other Departments - Hon Malone 

It was then that Hon Malone inquired about the rotation and stated that there may be persons who are not be fully utilised, hence, could take on new roles in another department.

"He asked the Director her thoughts on the subject. The Director indicated that the department fully supports the rotation programme and indicated that there were internal advertisements on work and learning, where certain officers could apply and work on certain projects without having to be transferred," the report further stated.

It was also highlighted that the move would allow officers to be exposed to more areas and gain certain insight; however, one possible challenge, according to the Director, is that having persons released by their departments has been an issue in the past.

12 Responses to “'Underutilised' public servants may be rotated to other departments- SFC Report”

  • doc james (24/12/2019, 13:38) Like (14) Dislike (6) Reply
    "GET RID OF THEM"
  • Oh My (24/12/2019, 13:40) Like (13) Dislike (3) Reply
    are you gonna put them to be a frig to someone else?
  • My girl (24/12/2019, 14:23) Like (11) Dislike (1) Reply
    Just fire them!
  • E. Leonard (24/12/2019, 16:13) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Governments in small islands like the UK OTs, ie, VI, TCI, CI...etc, small locales/regions, small cities .....etc by necessity is a major employer. In an approx 13,000 workforce, the VI public sector employs directly approx 2525 public officers; more indirect employment occurs through government acquisition/procurement. There are approx 2080 work hours in a year, 160 hours per pay period...etc for each employee. Of the 2080 work hours, approx 580 hours are dedicated to vacation, sick leave, holidays......etc. The question is why hire employees if there are not enough work hours to keep them gainfully employed? Government should hire public officers commensurate with the needed services and work hours. Part-time programme can be employed, needs requiring. In a surge situation, additional employees can be brought on based on demand.

    Nonetheless, it is an open secret that the VI public sector employment is bloated at approx 25% of the workforce. The workforce needs to be cut. However, no politician neither government nor opposition will touch this hot potato with a 100 metre pole. Instead, everyone looks the other way and pretend nothing here to see. If memory serves me correctly, Barbados had a similar issue and took the tough and unpopular decision to cut the public sector. Upfront let me say that no one should get any glee from one losing one’s job. The economy should provide the opportunity for everyone to find employment to take care of one and one’s family. The bloated situation in the VI is not sustainable; public sector needs to be cut. Government must explore means and methods to mitigate the cuts. Some suggestions include a)take action to strengthen, deepen and diversify the economy, a) conduct a rightsizing study, c)implement a hard hiring freeze, d)reduce hiring through attrition, e)incentivizing early retirement by offering selective employees $25-50K to retire early........etc. In addition to cutting employees, the level of productivity needs to be looked at; low productivity cost big bucks. Steps should be taken to reduce/eliminate/avoid duplication, waste, fraud and abuse. For example, every dept does not need its own HR Dept. The territory should have a central HR Dept, serving all Depts, including RVIPF and FD, if it is not already so. Another issue that needs attention is the employee pension fund unfunded liability; the unfunded liability exceeds $300M. Steps should be taken to roll out an employee retiree sinking fund. During an employee work life, he/she , along with government, will contribute to the fund and at retirement, employees will draw from the fund.
    • Raise Hand (24/12/2019, 17:09) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      I will jump at the $50K to retire early. Where do I sign up? Then again this is a big rush.
    • Wonder (24/12/2019, 21:04) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Wonder what it will cost offer an early retirement package. At $25K for 300 employees, would equate to $7.5 M.
    • Targeted/Surgical (25/12/2019, 15:59) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Some free targeted and surgical solutions to cutting the bloated civil service. A consultant would have billed thousands for these obvious solutions.
  • Trelane (24/12/2019, 17:32) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    Cut down on work permits in the private sector, and encourage the underutilized local public workers to apply for the vacancies.
  • Quiet Rebel (24/12/2019, 19:10) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    ” Another issue that needs attention is the employee pension fund unfunded liability; the unfunded liability exceeds $300M. Steps should be taken to roll out an employee retiree sinking fund.” Currently, retiree pension have to compete with other line items for funding. A severe economic downturn should cause a number of sleepless night for pensioners. Where is retiree funding on the priority funding during an economic downturn? Retiree needs assurance as to where they stand on the priority list. Many retirees depend on their pension to meet their obligations. We need to learn from our friends to west and southeast; the stress level among many USVI(GERS) pensioners. The executive branch is proposing selling marijuana to help with retirement. Sad. Second the notion of establishing a retirement sinking fund. However, the sinking fund will be of little help to those well along in their careers; it will help new employees and employees with few years.
  • just (24/12/2019, 22:29) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Give them their pensions and call it a day.
  • John (25/12/2019, 07:38) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes some sit in Lower State on by the bar all day .
  • Oh Well (26/12/2019, 12:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I guess it is open season on Public Officers. That’s ok
    You back broad. We are use to it. Without us, this territory shut down.


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