Complaints Commission needs more power
Talk show host Karia Christopher has posited that the Office of the Complaints Commission should be given more powers as this could help the public to understand some of the issues affecting the public sector.
The Office of the Complaints Commission was established as an independent body that investigates grievances that members of the public bring against government agencies.
During a discussion on her Real Talk programme, Christopher said these investigations could unearth some issues affecting government departments that often result in maladministration or poor service.
“I think the public service gets unfairly labled in a lot of ways and it very much pains my heart. The limitations a lot of the government departments get, you cannot do better — lack of staff, lack of funding, and a lack of a lot of stuff. There are so many other factors,” Christopher stated.
While making her point, Christopher pointed out that heads of government departments should be held accountable but stressed that public officers face a lot of obstacles on the job as well as constant public scrutiny.
“Perhaps if I never worked for the (public) service, I would have a lot of the feelings that the public has. But I work there for now and I understand so much of the limitations that public servants feel. On top of having such public scrutiny, on top of having a lot of bashing when there’s not a lot of things you can do personally,” Christopher added.
During the discussion, constitutional review commissioners Noni Georges and Maya Barry pointed out that they have been tasked with reviewing the effectiveness of bodies such as the Office of the Complaints Commissioner that are responsible for holding government accountable.
However, both commissioners said the issue raised by Christopher could be addressed by amending the Complaints Commissioner Act rather than the constitution.
In the meantime, public officers have been facing increased pressure and scrutiny in recent times, especially amid the heightened good governance standards the United Kingdom has mandated for implementation in the BVI.
Some elected leaders have revealed that there are public officers who are afraid to do their jobs because of the increased scrutiny and the fear that they will be reprimanded if they make errors.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
the UK should bring in their own Complaints Commissioner and staff to investigate complaints about civil service personnel. Its ridiculous for BVI civil servants to investigate other BVI civil servants.
K* need to be careful what she ask for – the way she, allegedly, sit on peoples trade licence applications and, allegedly, thief their ideas for her own a powerful commission might put her behind bars.
K* need to be careful what she ask for – the way she, allegedly, sit on peoples trade licence applications and, allegedly, thief their ideas for her own a powerful commission might put her behind bars.
Yup, I summited a business plan to a government agency I won’t mention here. They confirmed receipt of said business plan and said they would get back to me.A month goes by with no feed back. After I left serval phone messages and emails asking for the status of my proposal I still got no response. Finally I sent an email to the said agency withdrawing my business plan and only then did they respond saying they were out of the office for 5 weeks and would withdraw my plan. The pace is corrupt beyond measure. It’s actually embarrassing. Tell you what though; the moment I see my idea in someone else’s pocession will be the moment I take the old me off the shelf and accept the consequences that come with my actions.
Can the complaints Commission compel the governer, deputy and Premier to pay the civil servants the increments due them over eight to ten years and counting/going?
Is it not a civil human right to be treated right and fair?
Those officials are criminally insane. They clearly do not care about people, respect their human rights to be treated fairly in the work place and give them what is duly theirs..
But they can find money to raise their salaries, pay them retroactive monies, increase their perks and allowances. They go on daily with their full stomachs, pockets and bank accounts.
Meanwhile, the voters and other ordinary workers, who are owed their monies are wilfully and diabolically denied and neglected..
Retirees from the civil service in particular are suffering unduly due to many factors. They are owed increments some ranging back many, many years to almost a decade, but those heartless people do not care if they eat, starve, or go medically untreated.
They could care less if we all lay down and die.
Rulers, deputy rulers, Premier and others running people’s govt affairs are treating the workers and civil servants very poorly.
I heard you the first time
Why is Erica channelling her inner Ayatollah
Khomeni in that photo?
K CHRIS HAVE A LOT OF NERVE. SHE US CORRUPTION UNCARNATE
More power for her to do what? You all who ever is responsible please send this woman HOME on early retirement. The grim look on her face is enough.
Power in the wrong hand is dangerous, power in the right hand is good. Ain much people with power use wisdom and fairness. Most of them use it to oppress, show off and for revenge. So Be Careful who we giving power to.
Hence reason why it is bogus for Government
To demand Anegada applicants submit a business
Plan to a land committee to apply for land they are entitled to. That land committee like all others cannot be trusted. Who are they to approve or deny people their rights
The Complaints Commission needs to do their jobs! Stop make noise and do your Job!
DO YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE PREMIER IS WHO APPROVES TRADE LICENCE AND NOT KARIA. ALL APPLICATIONS MUST GO TO THE HIS OFFICE..
JUST GET OFF HER BACK.
Power? What power? I had a matter many, many years ago when the Late Mr. Elton Georges OBE was the Complaints Commissioner against one of the Ministers at the time and nothing came out of it even though Mr. Georges tried his best to assist me.
I had another one when Mrs. Shiela Brathwaite was there and NOTHING came out of it!! Mrs. Smith-Penn is now on board and I am sure she has seen the second one and up to now I haven’t heard anything from her office as to the status of the matter!
I see the reason now. She wants to be able to solve issues, but her hands are tied behind her back! She may have to get advice from other entities on what decisions to make on matters.
If she is being stymied from making independent decisions it is best for Government to close that office down. There seems to be corrupt hands at the wheel steering this office.
Close it down and stop wasting tax payers money! Commissioner after Commissioner is not getting anything done. The public needs to see a report on cases solved and those outstanding(leaving out names, of course).
Shut it down!!