Gov’t applauded for quickly correcting “mistake”
Speaking on his weekly programme ‘Umoja’ last evening February 2, 2012, Mr. Smith said Government’s recognition of its mistake and correcting it was a “good sign”.
“I want to applaud the Government for recognising and correcting its mistake in asking Commissioner of Customs Wade Smith to take such a long vacation all at once....It’s a good sign when we see a Government recognising its mistake and making corrections right away. It shows a sign of humility and it shows a sign that they are listening and they are acting in the best interest of our Territory.
Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith had announced on February 1, 2012 at a press conference at the Central Administrative Complex that Mr. Smith’s leave had been deferred since it would not have been convenient since Government was introducing new initiatives at the ports of entry.
Smith’s leave was to take effect on February 6, 2012 for some 200 days. “I have therefore asked that his requirement for leave be deferred to a more suitable and mutually agreeable time frame to allow the work of the department to proceed unimpeded,” he disclosed.
When questioned if he was aware that Smith was to be sent on leave, was going on leave, why it wasn’t handled differently and if he was pleased with how it was handled, the Premier responded: “The situation was being handled but it was pre-empted by information being given out, leaked out and so this pre-empted the process which was being instituted by informing myself and the officer.”
He had also stated that he was unaware that Smith was to be sent on leave up until that time.
On a different note, Cromwell Smith also applauded the Government for reducing the duty on imports, stating “so that we could get lower prices on necessities and establishing a monitoring process to make sure that the savings are passed on to the consumers even though of course we shouldn’t have to monitor the business community, they should know that their responsibility is to pass on those savings”.
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