The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Public Service Commission travelled to Grand Bahama for the first time to meet with the various heads of government departments on Monday at the Ministry for Grand Bahama.

Minister for Grand Bahama Dr Michael Darville called the visit “historic” in that it is the first time that the five-member commission has travelled outside of the New Providence to hear concerns and issues affecting public officers here.

He commended Rev Dr James Moultrie, Chairman of the Public Service Commission, and the other members, including Ruth Miller, Idris Reed, Prenell King and Barbara Barnes, for coming to Freeport.

Dr Darville said the Ministry for Grand Bahama is a new government ministry that has unique challenges.

He was very pleased that members of the commission saw the need to come and address some of their specific concerns, as well as concerns of the other government departments.

“As a Family Island representative and the Minister for Grand Bahama, I am pleased that the government is now reviewing very closely its Nassau centric policies and working closely with Family Island communities to ensure that all residents, irrespective of their location are able to benefit from all government programs and policies,” he said.

Rev Moultrie said the Public Service Commission is committed to addressing concerns and matters affecting public officers in the Bahamas.

“We know that there are concerns here. I have given our assurance that the PSC will not hold up or delay matters, we will process matters immediately,” he said.

According to Rev Moultrie, most of the concerns were about appointments, promotions, re-classifications, in-service awards, and other career-related matters.

He said all public officers could expect fairness and equal opportunity. There is no room for favouritism, he said.

“We are an impartial group. There are laws that govern our work, such as the Public Service Act, Pensions Act, and regulations. We are quasi-legal, so everything has to be properly done because we are subject to appeal,” he said.

“We have a tremendous amount of matters and we meet almost every day because there are so many matters.

“We work every day although we are not full time. We have to work every day just to keep pace with the volume - you talking about 20,000 public officers. The work is continuous and tremendous, but we are up to the task.”

Rev Moultrie said the PSC is also committed to ensuring that the public service is efficient. “We are dedicated to transforming the Public Service, and training is extremely important to us,” he said.

Chairman Moultrie also said it was important for them to come to the nation’s second city so that public officers can see who they are.

“We want to put a face on the commission; we are just ordinary people who have gone through the service and have tremendous experience in the PS,” he added.

The PSC is appointed for three years. Chairman Moultrie said the commission is comprised of highly experienced persons who have gone through the ranks.

“Every one of us has had at least 30, 40, and close to 50 years in the PS so we understand it fully. This is probably the most experienced Commission in a long time. I served in a previous commission and we were not as experienced.”