New PSC chair promises ‘equity, … justice and fairness’

Retired public servant Laura Anthony-Browne says she is honoured but surprised by her appointment as chair of the Public Service Commission and the Police Service Commission.

Anthony-Browne, a former director of planning, promised “equity, … justice and fairness” in the actions of the commissions, whose other members are Ingrid Fitzpatrick, Adrian Fraser, Allanson Cruickshank, Shirlan M. “Zita” Barnwell and Ronald Christopher.

“… I have the honour to be appointed as the chair. And it’s an interesting responsibility, one which, of course, you didn’t expect,” Anthony-Browne told NBC Radio after the swearing-in on Wednesday — Old Year’s Day — at Government House, in Old Montrose.

“But because the public service is such an important instrument in the governance of St Vincent, it is important for us to do this well and to ensure that people who work in the public service and the nationals also feel that the public service is being handled efficiently, that there is equity, that there is justice and fairness, and that is what we want to see in the public service going forward.”

She pledged that to continue to ensure that public servants continue to value the work they do and feel well rewarded for it…”

Meanwhile, speaking during the ceremony, Governor General Dame Susan Dougan, who celebrated 50 years of public service in September, noted that the Public Service Commission is an important constitutional institution.

“It’s important because it was established to uphold the integrity and professionalism of the public service,” the head of state said.

She noted that the Public Service Commission advises the governor general on many matters of the public service, including the appointment of senior officers, like the legal officers, heads of department, and permanent secretaries.

“But of course, there is a serious responsibility attached to this institution,” Dame Susan said, adding that the commission is responsible for appointing, promoting, disciplining and dismissing public officers.

“And it’s a power that is vested in you at all times to be impartial.”

The governor general said the commission is expected to ensure fairness, meritocracy and accountability in the management of public officers, “thereby, helping us to strengthen our democracy and to bring a high level of trust to the processes involved in the public service”.

Dame Susan, a former chief education officer and Cabinet secretary, said that a few years ago, there was an ethics committee “trying to bring some semblance of normalcy to how things are done in the public service.

“There wasn’t a final conclusion to that, and I am hoping that, as members of the commission, because you are able, you’re knowledgeable, and you’ve spent many years in public life, that you will assist the chief personnel officer and her officers to bring that back on the books.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister St. Clair Leacock, who has ministerial responsibility for the public service, said that establishing the commission is an important exercise.

Leacock said that the public service exists for a good reason, adding that sometimes, there is “a little confusion, a little absence of clarity where the civil service begins and ends and where public service begins and ends, and whether, in fact, there is any line of demarcation.

“But for good reasons, the public service, and yes, the police service, too, represents continuity in the governance of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

The deputy PM, 73, reflected on his days as a youngster, “when a permanent secretary spoke and you know you’re getting authoritative and objective information on how and well St. Vincent was proceeding with its governance.

“That may be a charge that your commission may want to help to restore,” Leacock said.

He said he had met with Chief Personnel Officer (CPO), Arlene Regisford-Sam, who reminded him “that without an effective public service, our country would not enjoy the prosperity, growth, the productivity, the meritocracy and the respect that the public is entitled to from those who are entrusted with this serious responsibility”.

Leacock told the CPO  that while the government has changed, “you can be assured of nothing but … best practices in the way we deliver service to you, the deserving people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and this administration will hold you to account through the instruments that the Constitution has provided us, and to the individuals of experience and service and dedication and integrity that are before us here this morning”.