TIS lobbies for independent Public Service Commission |08 October 2020

Mr Georges delivering his keynote address (Photos: Louis Toussaint)

Transparency Initiative Seychelles (TIS) hosted a forum yesterday to discuss and reflect on the merits of an independent Public Service Commission in Seychelles.

The half-day forum, attended by mostly human resources personnel from government, parastatals and from the private sector, including politicians, was held at the Eden Bleu Hotel, Eden Island.

The aim of the forum was to raise the awareness of the importance of transparency, good governance and accountability in the administration of the public service and to stimulate debates on how it can be implemented.

The participants discussed on how we can achieve a high performing government sector with the capability to provide strategic and innovative policy advice, how to implement the decisions of the government and meet public expectations.

This was through identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the current public service administration and recommending the best options and models of Public Service Commission for Seychelles.

In his introductory remarks, the chairperson of TIS, Chrystold Chetty, said that the idea of having an independent Public Service Commission has been on the table for a while and had been followed by further discussion with government.

He claimed that an efficient public service should be based on merits and not on how the authority makes of the persons involved.

He claimed that the introduction of an independent Public Service Commission will get people involved in the leadership of the country in promoting ideas and open dialogue with the executive.

“We want a public service where one gets a promotion on merits through the proper evaluation of the work done and not on favours or how he or she gets along with the boss or have connections with the people in authority,” Mr Chetty said, noting that TIS would like to see a public service that will satisfied the tax payers.

He claimed that though the Department of Public Administration (DPA), which administers the public service order (PSO), is working to eliminate such practices, much effort still needs to be done.

He said that with the introduction of an independent Public Service Commission, it will surely rid the public services of such practices.

He noted that the decision taken to introduce an independent Public Service Commission will determine the existence of DPA or its role in the future.

One of the forum’s presenters, Jill Tirant, principal performance management officer, DPA, said that at the moment a Public Sector Commission (PSC) does exist under the umbrella of DPA but is focusing more on workers on public sector commission contracts.

She added that following a public service perceptions survey held in March-April 2019 and wide consultations with stakeholders on the public management system, a diagnostic report was produced indicating the status of the public service and proposed a plan of action which includes looking at competency framework, remuneration framework, capacity building and delegation of authority and role of DPA among others.

Mrs Tirant noted that a high level committee has been put in place to re-look at the role of the public service in this day and age.

She said that a first draft of the PSC proposal has been completed and based on comments done by DPA management, the committee is reviewing the proposal.

She said that DPA, though, welcomes the initiative by TIS for the introduction of an independent Public Service Commission which is also part of the diagnostic review by the high level committee following the survey and consultations.

In delivering the keynote address, lawyer Bernard Georges said that to achieve in getting an efficiently, optimally and transparently public service, there must be a reimagining of the service; meaning an in-depth audit of the strengths and weaknesses of the current system.

He noted that only then the weaknesses can be improved upon and the strengths reinforced.

Mr Georges further said that appointments to the service, and progression through it, must be based on merit, and merit alone.

He added that the service must become as efficient as a private-sector business.

“Merit, hard work, devotion to the service and the realisation that the public expects the best, in the shortest time-frame, transparently and fully, must be the guiding principles of the service,” he cited among a number of steps which must be taken and objectives to be realised for the introduction of an independent Public Service Commission.

“The service must act as a collegial body. Collegiality is a guarantee of success. When people feel proud of being part of a body that is recognised for its capacity to deliver, the body achieves more, does greater things and benefits everyone,” he said.

With regard to the timing of the forum now with the upcoming presidential and legislative elections and the inclusion of politicians in the forum, Mr Chetty said that TIS feels there is a need to address the issue at this point in time during the election campaign to engage politicians to reflect and to commit to the principles of an independent Public Service Commission.

The outcome of the forum will be compiled and later presented to government and other stakeholders.

Established in 2016, TIS is a non-profit, non-partisan and non-political association. It is affiliated with the Transparency International. It was set up to implement projects towards improving transparency, good governance and accountability in Seychelles.

Patrick Joubert