I read a notice on the Facebook page of the Office of the Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines that began, “For your information…” and ended with three or four exclamation marks. I shared it with a few friends, without commentary.
Independently, they all read it the same way – insulting. The tone was casual and unbecoming of the Office of the Prime Minister. It read as though a young person believed they were addressing friends online, not communicating on behalf of the highest executive office in the land.
Official communication must be measured, neutral, and respectful, punctuation included.
Another breach of protocol observed was ministers rushing to shake the prime minister’s hand. As gentle and sweet as this might appear, protocol must always be observed to maintain the dignity of the office. Let us remember that the prime minister is the leader of the government, and power flows downward. Ministers should not scramble for acknowledgment. Proper etiquette dictates that they wait to be acknowledged, not compete for proximity.
Similarly, public officials should be mindful of body language, seating arrangements, and order of entry at official events. Standing before the prime minister arrives, remaining attentive rather than distracted by phones, and observing correct titles when addressing or referring to senior officials are not trivial details. These things signal respect for the office, not the individual.
Even attire matters. Casual dress at formal engagements, inappropriate familiarity in public settings, and excessive back-slapping or joking in ceremonial moments all erode the dignity of governance. These may seem small, but collectively they project disorder and unseriousness.
There is no such thing as “just a photo” that includes a state official. Protocol dictates that persons should be seated and or standing in the correct place when posing for a photograph; it sends a message. In the official group photo at the end of the swearing-in of the cabinet on Dec. 2, the deputy prime minister stood to the right of the prime minister; he demoted himself by doing that. His place was at the left of the governor general. The order is most senior goes to the centre, next in line goes right of centre, next in line goes to left of centre, and remainders are rotated accordingly in relation to the state’s order of precedence.
Protocols exist for a reason. They are not about ego; they are about institutional respect, order and discipline.
Quite plainly, the team needs training. Get it right!
JJD
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Thanks for the insights shared. What may appear to be “little” or “insignificant” can (and do) send strong messages. Your comments/observations are greatly appreciated.
Old man, Ralph Gonsalves is gone; he is finished, so get over it.
You have nothing better to do?Get a life, it seems you have a lot of time on your hands so make good use of it rather than belly aching, your king has been dethroned so deal with it.
Shows how colonized our minds are… ‘protocols’ !!!! … all of that is insignificant !!! We still wear jacket and tie in tropical weather, instead of a dashiki or appropriate cultural garbs. It is time that we revisit and abandon these colonial practices instead of towing a colonial line that is choking and hanging those clinging to them in the name of formality and protocol.
That’s a lot to keep up with and power may flow downwards, but let’s remember that change comes from bottom up.