Public officers should not impede the nation’s development— Skelton-Cline
This message was conveyed by social commentator and Pastor Claude O. Skelton-Cline during his "Honestly Speaking" radio programme on June 17, 2025, when he highlighted complaints from citizens, ministers, and their subordinates that progress is not being made.
According to Skelton-Cline, "We need to have some honest conversations among ourselves. You are there to help build the country, and regardless of who is in government—whether you voted for them or not—I believe that most of you should be mature enough to carry out the mandate following all protocols, rules, and regulations. You cannot be the stumbling block or hindrance."
He further stated, "We understand having to operate in cramped circumstances when there is much more potential. It's like having to operate in 6-inch shoes when your foot has grown into 12 inches, but we don’t have time to waste; we must focus on building and rebuilding this country."
Greater love for country needed
He mentioned hearing complaints from both the ministerial level and subordinates, noting that supervisors and directors are unable to move projects forward.
Pastor Skelton-Cline lamented that permanent secretaries and public officers are capable of more and are more intelligent than their current actions reflect.
He appealed for a greater love for the country, urging these officers to recognise the importance of their roles.
He added that the average citizen, who is the end user of services, experiences stagnation, and called for a rethinking, refocusing, and reclaiming of the narrative of the country. He emphasised the need to stop living in fear and insecurity.
He urged public officers not to allow themselves to become obstacles to the upliftment and development of the country. "You are not part of the fourth estate; you are there to complement, not compete," he concluded.
.png)
Follow Us On
7 Responses to “Public officers should not impede the nation’s development— Skelton-Cline”
This isn’t hypothetical. Too often, these individuals simply bide their time, waiting for the next electoral cycle—motivated by 1) the desire to make the current minister look incompetent and 2) self-preservation, hoping their preferred party returns to power. The result? A government paralyzed from within.
Yes, performance evaluations may exist on paper. But what matters is real, enforceable accountability. Each ministry should be guided by three clearly defined, high-impact objectives—“big rocks.” And Permanent Secretaries should be evaluated directly on their ability to deliver those outcomes. If they succeed, reward them. If they fail, replace them or at the very least put them on a performance enhancement program . commit or comply either way , there must be consequences.
Given them some exampled Claude...