Financial Times

Out of the box Mr. Public Servant
By Random Access Memory (RAM)
The ability to say 'NO' to wrongdoing is indeed a virtue. It is even more significant when it is a minister who is the wrong doer and his public servant secretary is the one saying 'no'. We say three cheers to the Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for his courage and outright conviction. No matter what names you are called by fishy dealers, through the goodness of the moral stand you took, you are doing yeomen service to the people and the economy of this country.

It also comes at a time when the economy is recovering and donor fund commitments are forthcoming. For chances are, that corruption and misuse will once again rapidly follow the path of the funds. The saying goes 'make hay while the sun shines' and many of our 'leaders' in politics certainly know much about hay and where and when the sun shines best.

In an environment where most ministry secretaries and top officials do not dare question the 'wisdom' of the 'elected representatives' and often hold the position 'when a minister tells you to do something, your job is to get it done', what our Mr. Public Servant has done is indeed 'out of the box'.

These are days when nepotism and favouritism are undermining transparency and meritocracy. Limited to words, these virtues are taken over by political and business buddy-buddyism and the phenomenon of old school networking. The Public Services Commission - though appointed - is yet to assert its independence while the secretary to the ministry of public administration it appears has been finally appointed after months of dilly dallying.

Secretaries and top officials often focus on the perks of the foreign trips, mostly for visiting friends and relatives (VFR) and turn a blind eye to wrongdoings rampant around them. Some even aid and abet the processes and justify the deeds covering up on the paper trails. If the public service is to regain itself in the context of Regaining Sri Lanka, the example set by Mr. Public Servant must become the norm and not the exception.

For it to be the norm, true leaders must uphold the deed and commend the rightful action. No matter what the wrongdoing minister says, the leadership must have the courage and conviction to point out that he is in the wrong. The Organization of Professional Associations (OPA) has stood by our Mr. Public Servant and hats off to them too. Most of the body corporates in the private sector are yet to even notice that a good public servant has been forthright in his convictions.

They perhaps will privately acknowledge the good deed, but publicly there is no demonstration of support forthcoming. The reason perhaps is the attitude 'this does not concern the business community'. What is of most concern to the business community these days are the seminars and presentations on better trade relations, free trade agreements, tax breaks, amnesties, law and order issues, the bull runs, ceremonies to hobknob with politicians and the like.

A public servant's good deed does not earn him a 'Man of the Year' or a 'Good Governance' award, for we do not see the symbiotic relationship of this deed and business profitability. One can also argue that there are other pressing priority issues to focus on. True, there are other issues, but the fact remains that the donor funds earmarked for growth need to pass through the domains of these public servants for they are the true custodians of the interests of the people and the public. For far too long, the private sector had complained about the inefficiencies and misdemeanors of the public service.

When one of them shines bright and comes out a winner, it is time for the private sector to sing his praises. 'Incentives and recognition' after all are the key tools used by the private sector to motivate individuals to perform better. Why not use the same yardsticks to demonstrate appreciation and win the support of the private sector for good corporate governance all around.

To do this some may even have to bury a few skeletons of their own. Let us practice the 'out of the box' thinking we preach and make a call for an award for standing up for what is right, for our Mr. Public Servant.

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