Reducing Costs: Civil Servant’s Winning Ideas
[Updated] Reduce Ministers and other senior civil servants use credit cards, demand more accountability for sick days, close CITV and reduce spending on frivolous items were some of the suggestions in the winning submission to the SAGE Commission.
Written by Magnus Henagulph, who works within the Department of Communications and Information [DCI], the 19-page document covered a multitude of ideas to reduce Government expenses.
The SAGE Commision initially said they would post the winning submissions on their website, however they were pulled down later that day.
In explaining why, the SAGE Commission said, “We’ve received a number of queries about the submissions that were posted on this site yesterday afternoon.
“After the winning submissions were posted, it was brought to our attention by one of the winners and by senior members of the Civil Service that there may factual errors and possible breaches of confidential information in some of the submissions. We’ve asked those affected by this to review their entries before we repost them on the SAGE Commission web site.
We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate the interest we’ve received in the Awards Programme.”
A few points extracted from Mr Henagulph’s submission are below:
- Sick Days are abused. Demand more accountability for sick days
- Plants in Departments – contracts to supply and maintain plants not needed
- International Day of: We seem to celebrate everything now – Day of Families, Intellectual Property Day, Teachers day, Administrative Professionals Day etc. Stick to a few key, important days and scrap the rest. Each time a proclamation and event is held money is spent on items such as PA system (can run into thousands), flyers, banners, posters, food and beverages, and the time (cost) of civil servants putting these events together.
- End of budget year spending: At the end of the budget year many Departments (including DCI) will spend the remaining funds they have – often on frivolous items/events. EG i-pads for DCI Public Affairs Officers – though useful, we don’t need them. Have heard of several examples of Departments scrambling to spend their last funds before the end of the budget year (on printers, website development etc.)
- Audit of equipment in every Department. DCI example: there are eight TVs in the Department (mostly expensive flat screens) and a smart board. Most never used. One is on all day with no one watching it. Also have about ten air filters of which most are never used. Everyone has a printer but we should all be using the one main shared printer. We also have computers and printers that are not used, a wine fridge in the media room (for water!) etc.
- Credit Cards – Ministers (and other senior civil servants) have credit cards and often use them for ‘personal’ expenditures such as lunches, dinners etc. that may have little to no relevance to Government business. They may be reported as ‘business lunches/dinners’ but this business can be done in the office without spending tax-payer money on food and drinks.
- Ministries: Perhaps legislate Ministries. The cost of constantly changing Ministry names every time there is a new administration or Premier becomes very expensive. New business cards, logos, signs, uniforms etc. Also the time for DCI to redesign all materials, e-Gov to change website etc. Have fewer Ministries (saves money on Minister’s salaries) Also don’t need a Minister without portfolio.
- Tourism: ADHT – grant of $150,000 to ADHT but no evidence it attracts any visitors (More than $2 million spent in last ten years). No measure of ROI.
- CITV was started as partly as a way for Government to bypass media and partly as a vanity project. It is now a luxury we cannot afford. CITV employs a staff of seven people and there is much overtime as they attend many evening and weekend events. Anecdotal evidence is that very few people watch CITV. There are already local TV channels both commercial and non-commercial. We shouldn’t be trying to compete with the private sector. Suggest closing CITV and either selling off equipment or keeping and incorporating into the education syllabus for a media studies/production type course. Some staff could be retained to run the course.
- Youth, Sport and Recreation: Vastly reduce grants to national Cricket and Football teams and direct them towards youth clubs rather than adult international teams. Bermuda, with such a small population, is never going to compete on world stage in team sports. A luxury we can’t afford. We may be able to compete in individual sports on the world stage and this is where funding should be directed. (Sailors, track and field, equestrian etc.)
- Defence: The Bermuda Regiment costs approximately $7 million per year. We have no external threats from foreign entities and in any event would likely be unable to muster much of a defense against a determined, well armed enemy. Also, the US and UK would never let Bermuda, with its strategic location, be occupied by a foreign threat. So what purpose does the Regiment serve? Largely ceremonial and to assist in times of natural disaster such as hurricanes. There is also the element of bringing diverse young Bermudians together which builds relationships. However, these reasons seem a luxury when faced with Government’s annual operating deficit. Suggestion is to dramatically scale back the regiment according to a pre-defined plan to the point where it no longer exists as a ‘military’ entity.
Update: The SAGE Commission has re-uploaded the submissions to their website, and the submission by Mr Henagulph appears to have been slightly amended.
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Well written Magnus.
It was actually not well written at all…but produced some good ideas.
This guy had a personal vendetta. Many of us CSes work with Magnus and his counterparts in DCI. We know who we prefer working with and why. Many on the outside are giving praise, but this guy is NOT a neutral civil servant and has made his bed, he now needs to sleep in it.
Good point… somewhat overly critical perhaps, but good point.
The OBA made a promise to clean up the mess made by the PLP. Well promises made…promises kept. I am very disappointed in the PLP.
the part about spending at the end of the financial year is definitely true. Much money wasted because of the – if you don’t spend it your budget will be slashed next year mentality.
Good suggestions from a very, very brave civil servant.
I am sure he will discover, if he hasn’t already, why so many Bermudians use pseudonyms when discussing topics such as this.
The messenger will, and already has been attacked, while the message is completely ignored.
Suggestions: Police executive out of Veritas Place (Questionable lease as is in building owned by former PLP MP.) Annual rent for 2013/14: $156,000
this guy doesnt talk about all the OBA/UBP supporters who are collecting the 13 million in rental money from the government
but he can single out a PLP supporter as having a questionable lease
dude is as anti PLP as it gets and borderline
Not too long ago you were advocating for the size of Cabinet to be reduced and the waste of money being spent on the Premier’s press secretary et al.
Now you want them to stay?
How about reduce the number of MP’s. We have some people in charge of about 1sq mile and about 1000 people.
We don’t need that many people in the house and they all cost money. The cabinet is more important as they actually make decisions and devote a considerable amount of time to the nation.
I completely agree…but I also think that certain portfolios can be combined to reduce both cost to the taxpayer and increase efficiencies.
But to have 36 MPs plus another 12 Senators to lead an island that would constitute a small US town is not necessary and simply a drain on the public purse.
And don’t you find it strange that the brand new police building cannot house the police executive? Who’s bright idea was that?
He’s anti-PLP for advocating the elimination of Leah Scott’s and Shawn Crockwell’s position?
One day I hope you turn into a true Bermudian as opposed to a simple partisan that you have become.
@ Chris Famous,Chris Famouss,Chris Famousss. Please go back to sleep, the plp are out and the OBA are in. Live with it.
And? Why does being anti-PLP disqualify him from being right?
Oh, wait. Forgot who I was talking to.
DCI: Could be restructured to be more efficient with less staff
This is his own co workers he is talking about2 hours ago ·
So???
And? Does that make him incorrect?
Whoops. Direct question to Chris Famous. He doesn’t answer those.
Hmmm. I can’t really disagree to any of those points. Sounds good to me!
+1
Cut the regiment
Cut government road paving
Cut out press secretary
Cut out Chief of staff
Cut out 2 ministers
Cut DCI
Cut Sustainable development
so where will those persons go?
Where is any of that mentioned in this story?
Hi Mike, I think Mr Famous is referencing the full document.
The Bernews article above only has some selected excerpts. Mr Henagulph’s full submission was a 19 page word document.
While SAGE has taken it offline, it is available in a pdf form on Catch-A-Fire.
Read his submission in full
then get back to me
And I asked a specific question.
But I forgot who I was talking to.
My bad.
So Chris, given the full list of suggestions, wouldn’t you agree that characterising the guy as ‘anti PLP’ is pretty ridiculous?
No answer, Chris? Changed your mind?
You forgot who you were talking to.
Direct questions to Mr. Famous will never be answered.
That’s not how demagogues and propagandists work.
And your solution is??????????????????
LOL at the end of the day spending must be cut as the PLP’s spending was not and could not be sustained.
You do know the PLP cut spending right and the OBA increased it.
No way….the PLP has bene harping on about budget cuts all thsi time and how “anti-Bermudian they are” blah blah blah. Now you tell me the PLP are the ones who cut the expenditure?
I feel like I have been lied to…but no surprise
Evidence of that, “Antoine”?
@Chris Famous…why do you assume that cut govt workers have no place to go. THOUSANDS of Bermudians have lost their jobs and they are looking for new ones. And they will find new ones. That’s life. You will notice we have car mechanics now instead of horse and buggy repair men. Are you stupid? You act that when folks loose their jobs they loose the right to look for new ones. You act like people have no intelligence.
This seems somewhat insensitive. Try it yourself. It’s not so easy being the victim of such sweeping changes and can easily wreck lives.
Might we take a more measured approach? Perhaps something that suggests we actually care about the lives of our Bermuda family?
Hmm?
Is it “insensitive” that car mechanics have replace the horse & buggy repair man?? The truth is the truth fool!!!!
Sounds to me like the people calling for government to be cut and all those poor people to be put out work work won’t particularly care what happens to them. Until re-election time.
Chris please stop burying your head in the sand and see it for what it is….I and several other tax payers watch haplessly as money was wasted and government employee numbers swelled and excuses were made. Its time to do the right thing. Yes it hurts to see people loose their jobs, but be honest and admit that its better for everyone involved if the indignity of ‘working’ 2 hours whilst getting paid for 8 hours is stopped.
Where is your dignity Chris?
ya, he aint worried, hes got his nice cuishy job at Belco, hes HAS to defend the civil service
I have often wondered this; I Mr. Famous works at BELCO, how does he have so much time to post things on various internet pages?
Define work.
Work (the current definition) means to simply show up and do as little as possible.
It’s not cushy working 12 hrs in d power House @ Belco
Wow, that’s an incredibly selfish statement. How does it hurt you again?
Why do you not understand that we cannot afford to have all these people on the payroll anymore?
The government cannot afford them anymore.
SOme should not have been hired to begin with.
We are on borrowed time and money until the IMF get here.
Then who is left to hire the unemployed? Or do they just submit an application to go on financial assistance and the government pays for them anyway?
My question is: Are you paying anyone’s mortgage that being a family member or friend so that they don’t lose their house? If the answer is no, then STFU. I’m seriously tired of seeing unemphatic people like yourself posting BS on forums about stuff you don’t even know about. The government needs to absorb the debt or else this island will be crippled and will sink faster than the Titanic. People are struggling and some people can’t even buy all of their children groceries. This ain’t no ****** joke.
They go where all the private sector unemployed went!
Why should we pay higher taxes to keep people employed.
We have a declining economy/tax base that simply cannot sustain the present size of the civil service.
BIg Bob cannot borrow money forever, we are maxed out now.
At the end of the day, the IMF will arrive and the Bermuda dollar will worth-?
By the way, I am paying MY Mortage and my wife finally got a job.
Make do with less. it is no joke.
Haven’t really thought this through have you. Who do you think is going to have to pay for them if they loose their jobs and are unable to support themselves or their families. Oh wait, the Bermuda government. so we take away their jobs and their self worth and send them home sit on their backsides where we will have to pay for them anyway. In the meantime they get desperate and maybe are forced to commit crimes to be able to feed their families.
Why not let them keep their jobs, but reduce their base salaries while introducing performance based pay for those who actually want to work hard doing work that we actually need to get done!
The world isn’t all right or wrong, but shades of grey. Try taking some baby steps with your ideas and maybe actually show that you care about your fellow Bermudians.
The selfishness is overwhelming on this blog!
I understand where you come from but we are running out of time and money.
In other islands , they have laid off thousands.
I am employed in the private sector, would you care if I was laid off?
have you cared about all the people laid off before?
What is so special about the civil service?
All these people make six figure salaries, yet the small time blue collar worker has to take a pay cut to keep these people on? How important are their functions in serving the people of bermuda?
Elitism at its finest.
Somewhere within government where they may be be more effective resources perhaps? Just a thought.
U tell us since u have articles in another media! U seem to know how to solve everything with u articles. Now don’t get me wrong some of your articles i agree with other than that don’t be the problem.
“Youth, Sport and Recreation: Vastly reduce grants to national Cricket and Football teams and direct them towards youth clubs rather than adult international teams. Bermuda, with such a small population, is never going to compete on world stage in team sports. A luxury we can’t afford. We may be able to compete in individual sports on the world stage and this is where funding should be directed. (Sailors, track and field, equestrian etc.)”
Can’t compete on a world stage in team sports? What about Nakhi Wells, Shawn Goater and others like them? They represent Bermuda as well as their teams – cutting funding to these programs makes it less likely that young men with great proficiency in these sports will get a chance to actually reach their full potential.
Why should 65,000+ taxpayers collectively cover the costs of a small coterie of football players? And what makes you think that these individuals did well because of the increase in funding rather than in spite of it? Goater was doing well years before the massive injection of govt funding that is referenced here.
And by giving scholarships, grants etc to an individual who excels such as the men you mentioned does make more sense than to an entire team. Especially when some end up not being able to travel anyhow.
You missed the point. We spend thousands on the national football and cricket team but they flatly don’t produce any results worthy of the amount of funding given to them. There are many other sports with very talented persons that can greatly benefit from these grants and actually produce results. I.e., track, water sports, equestrian, golf, individual promising talented footballers/cricketers, gymnastics, swimming etc.
“We spend thousands on the national football and cricket team but they flatly don’t produce any results worthy of the amount of funding given to them.”
I don’t think it’s about having Bermuda win the World Cup more than investing in the youth. I’d rather see 100 young men engaged in a meaningful activity than sitting on a wall.
Paying for two national teams does not engage 100 young men in anything.
Then you’re just throwing money away if you’re not getting results.
In any program, if its not producing favourable outcomes, something needs to be changed to make it worth the while.
Funding being wasted on the national teams can be put to much better use in other productive “youth” programs.
Because, Portia, the national teams produce the same results whether you spend $11m on them or $25k.
Actually you are wrong sandy bottom. If we only spent $25K on them they wouldn’t have much of a chance to perform. That would’t get 1 team out of the island let alone the 10 or so that just competed over the summer, with the U15 men’s team only losing out on penalties in the semi-final of the CONCACAF U15 tournament. This team in particular performed admirably against countries with populations in the millions and were never behind after 90mins for the whole tournament. This from a team that had hardly trained or played together much before. It is unfair to say that team sports should get less money and individual sports should get more. IMO though, this is the OBA mentality – take from the masses and give to the few.
Football and cricket teams should not be paid for by the government, other than minimal amounts. If we aren’t represented overseas in football, cricket, tiddleywinks, wrestling, water polo or mud couldn’t care less. The PLP spent millions on that sh1t, for absolutely nothing. Taxpayers shouldn’t be paying to feed the egos of second rate sportsmen. The millions wasted could have been used to hire teachers or to help dissbled kids. Not spoiled teenagers who want a free holiday to play soccer paid for by someone else.
I can hear some civils servants outside complaining now….oh well. At least he didn’t mention a further pay-cut.
For those of you that are interested in my work. I work shifts.
Secondly the OBA stated no redundancies as late as last week. Correct me if I am wrong. So the question remains where will these people go if their present posts were to be cut out?
Into another Government Department?
Either OBA breaks their promise or they continue to pay these folks.
I notice the person makes zero mention of the consultants hired under the OBA .
I bet you noticed that he made no mention of the consultants hired by the PLP that remain on the payroll.
So can you please explain why your opinion has changed so much. I mean originally you were vehemently against the Premier’s Press secretary and the Minister without Portfolio etc and even labeled such appointments as cronyism etc. Now you seem to have switched up on this outlook and do not want them fired? Why? I will give you time to check with Alaska Hall before you respond.
But I imagine if they keep them you will shout from the rooftops that they are wastign money on their own consultants and if they made them redundant you will shout from the rooftops that the OBA doesn’t keep their promises. Damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Nothing ever good can come from this Government right Mr. Famous? You are exaclty what you apparently abhor (i.e. people criticising for the sake of criticisng).
Now you are tryign to paint this CS as being anti-PLP because of one suggestion in his report. Did you read where he mentioned other rental spaces that the Government can do away with as well or the other 19.75 pages of suggestions? Instead you read one two line suggestion and are now labeling him as nothing but an anti-PLP zealot?
Can you not see how much of a zealot you have become? Where are your suggestions, or do you believe that continuing on the same tact will clean up our massive financial issues?
There is a reason I don’t speak to people who hide their names.
Secondly I never stated an opinion. I asked where will these people go if the OBA keep their promise of no redundancies.
Secondly the person who submitted the recommendation tooks pains to label the one property rented by the police as a questionable lease. He also took pains to call the persons out as a former PLP MP.
So how many politicians or former politicians of the UBP own property that is rented by the Government. Yet that is not questionable because they are not PLP correct?
Guess you broke that ‘reason’ huh?
Let me ask you a question, where was you concern for Government workers when Dr. Brown eliminated a whole DoT team and replaced them with a foreign firm who in turn had to be replaced not too long after their appointment due to their ineptitude?
Where was your moral outrage and concerns back then?
PS: Either you agree with the employment of such individuals (the ones that you claimed previously were both unnecessary and displayed blatant cronyism) or you agree with the need to cut the fat.
The question remains where will the OBA put this people.
I expressed no opinion. I asked a question of which no one wishes to answer.
These are suggestion, Chris. Many of them are good ones. The question we should be asking (and finally are asking) is: do we really need all these expensive people?
With their 7 weeks vacation and 14 weeks sick pay? And being able to carry forward unused sick days?
Is all that really necessary, Chris?
Chris, are my questions ones that you don’t want to answer?
We learned that from watching you.
And why was a police headquarters built without the capacity to house the police executive?
Remember this is the capital project that was completed behind a blind trust…do you agree with such arrangements which use tax payer monies to enrich a select few?
Ah, but it had executive bathrooms for politbureau members.
How are you pinning the suggestions of one private individual onto the government of the day?
Here we go again with the “The OBA breaks their promises” meme.
It’s all you guys have.
We deserve better from the Opposition.
What is more valuable, a consultant who enables the Government to make important decisions that could shape the Island’s future for the better. Or the Government worker who is overpaid and underutilised because there job is not 100% necessary. Hmmmm? One contributes to a degree of importance and the other does not.
The government can no longer operate as a welfare system for people who cannot get themselves jobs within the private sector.
We are reaping what the PLP sowed, the coffers are dry and we can no longer afford to pay for over employment within the civil service. The nations debt ratio and financial rating depend on it. If we are downgraded because we cannot pay our debts with 80% of Government revenues going to civil service wages then we are stuffed. Our entire Economy relies on commerce. Sure you can talk about pie in the sky ideas of how to diversify the economy but the truth is , if you were to implement just 1 significant industry to diversify revenue in Bermuda it will require investor confidence and 5 + years to set-up large scale operations the size of which could accommodate significant relief to the the Civil Service’s current employment needs. The only short to medium term solution is to cut costs for the sake of the nation. It is not about where certain civil servants will find work in future outside of Government it is about avoiding economic collapse as a nation because we cannot afford to employ them!!!!! It is serious and unfortunately we live in a capitalist society, so there will be have and have nots. Those that survive, educate themselves and work to get themselves into jobs and careers that better their lives or there are those that do not.
The PLP are to thank for this, they did not have the foresight to understand the implications of their overemployment welfare plan i.e the civil service, they poorly managed and budgeted the public purse, they overspent on projects to the tune of 100′s of millions- money that would now be invaluable to securing government jobs. Unfortunately like any job, when your employer has made bad decisions then you may lose your job as a result. The PLP made bad decisions and we are seeing the consequences for those right now.
“he truth is , if you were to implement just 1 significant industry to diversify revenue in Bermuda it will require investor confidence and 5 + years to set-up large scale operations the size of which could accommodate significant relief to the the Civil Service’s current employment needs”
Yes, it would! Let’s get on with it as it is the only truly effective solution!
In the meantime lets reduce base salaries and introduce performance based pay so that we can keep people earning while reducing the debt levels, rather than ruining lives!
Like the rest of the world!
They become unemployed.
why should civil servants be any different.
As one of the persons who submitted a proposal to The Sage Commission I was surprised, the winning award was awarded to a submission suggesting to cutting peoples jobs.
My questions is why wasn’t it base on building Bermuda’s economy to create business, visitors to travel to Bermuda, creating jobs for people.
Our Company’s input requires investing but, my personal though Bermuda would be better served looking at a brighter vision for the country for all to proper which I intended to share such as the following.
1)Introduce a Five Year National Tourism Plan I have suggested for years and forward to the powers to be. Well received by overseas bankers. But not in Bermuda.
2)stimulate programs to enhance the retail sector & International Business.
Part of my suggestions is for a Five Star Hotel & Marina project creating over 2000 jobs or more.
If interested you may email myself directly at oceanmarketing@transact.bm we must move forward as a country. +
Capt. Dendrick Taylor
The SAGE Commission noted yesterday that they are tasked with identifying waste within Government operations while increasing efficiencies.
Opportunities to boost Government revenues are not part of their remit.
Why do we consistently want to cater to a 5 star hotel and marina? A.) We are not nor will we ever be Monte Carlo or Ibiza….
B.) Those people can afford to come and rent a beautiful home for their stay to begin with. Why are we not trying to cater to the American, Canadian traveler that wants to see paradise at an affordable rate? When we travel must we stay in 5 star hotels? I know I don’t… its a hotel, I am visiting somewhere because I want to see the place I am visiting not the hotel. If Bermuda can get some affordable hotels here with affordable flights then maybe just maybe we can attract some “Typical” tourists like we used to have!! The type that do buy trinkets and what-nots when they travel.
We need to make our Island inviting like it used to be, it no longer is inviting. Stop trying to offer what we have none of. Big business created a generation of Bermudians who thought they no longer had to be “some of the nicest people in the world”, which is what we USED to be, it made a Bermudian that didn’t care as much about tourists/tourism. Well it is time we find our way back there quickly, because big business isn’t cutting it anymore.
We need the average “Joe” tourists not just the wealthy. The S.P with its 400$ plus a night and its old tacky out dated rooms is not feasible for the average family from the US or Canada.
Government should also seek to offload the numerous properties that are on the books.
Mr. Michael Scott, while in power, noted this last year with the hope of raising $10 million in funds while also reducing the maintenance and upkeep costs of these buldings.
An auction, or some form of bidding process, should be undertaken for properties identified to be offloaded.
You working now, Chris? Just curious, as I do pay for my lactricity.
Hey, Chris. Where’s Marc Bean to? Haven’t heard a peep from him lately. He seems rather reticent to poke his head out, no? Credibility issues maybe? Easier to use frontmen to carry his mail? Just curious.
Perhaps he’s considering which social group to ostracise and bully next, now that his oppression of the LGBT community has been fully laid out.
Verbal Kint loves Marc Bean! Hahahaha! Btw, where is Craig too? How about Dunkley, since the shootings continue? How about Sylvan, lol, never mind! How about the 10 Oba MPs who have spoke for a combined total of 6 minutes in Parliament since they were elected……..? verbal kint has a crush on Marc Bean Mr. famous, and I think he is jealous that you might know him! Lol!
As for the submission, some parts are good points, while others, as Famous says, is plain old bias. BUT, why would Sage make him the winner, yet must have not read his submission as they have removed it because of discrepancies? Boo exposed AGAIN OBA and SAGE!
Has Bean fired the guy who illegally sells counterfeit alcohol yet? Or is he too weak as a leader?
Nandi? Craig? leader? Weak? Lol!
Nandi = allegations, yet to be proven, and details yet to emerge.
Burt = factual proof of guilt.
Most of us can see the difference.
So when is Bean going to act?
I asked my question of Mr. Famous (not you), and by the way, he hasn’t answered it.
Congratulations Mr. Henagulph! Very forthcoming, and well thought out submission. Great job!
They can cut out all the ministerial drivers as well. I was amazed to see the amount of waste as MPs were carted around during the Island Games to the various events and seeing GP cars sitting in the parking lot for hours with the engines running and a/c blowing while these drivers sat off with their chairs laid back, sleeping while they waited.
Some time ago I did an evening management course at the Bermuda College. The lecturer was a senior CS. Most of the class were CS people who seemed to be there more because it was not costing them anything & completing it led to a raise in salary level. Only about a third of us were private sector people.
The topic got around to budgeting & how it was done. The lecturer promoted the idea of spending all of whatever was budgeted to your department in order justify your need for a larger budget the next year. Being cost effective was of no concern.
I don’t remember the exact year of doing this course but it was either 1978 or 1979. I did not care to hear anything this lecturer after that evening. He had obviously never had a job where he was accountable for what he did. A career civil servant.
Here we are 35 years later. No change in civil service attitude.
Cut out The Emmission Control,it is a waste of money!
How about we stop dressing them all in expensive embroidered shirts costing us (taxpayers) hundreds of thousands a year, they get enough perks and there is a HUGE difference in their work week, and hours in a week that are worked.
Bda is so small we do not need all of those Gov depts. Farm out the work to the private sector and they will be able to get the job done on time and on budget.If not, they do not get any further work and the project goes to someone else.
Just an FYI, the SAGE Commission has reposted all the winning submissions on their site now.
It will be interesting to identify any edits.
One thing is for sure after reading a lot of these posts, party politics does nothing but bring a divide.
I am horrified to read of all the money wasted. This must be cut immediately. Cut back on the civil servants and send the foreigners from the third world countries back home then there will be work for those civil servants who do not perform well. They may not be earning huge salaries any more but they will be able to provide for their families. No more designer clothes, eating out in fancy restaurants and frequent trips abroad .
I agree. If a private company operated like the government they would be bankrupt and closed down by now. Unbelievable ! Start these cuts IMMEDIATELY !!!
The only logical first step is to cut the waste and stop the hemorrhaging of public funds. One point the opposition makes is true. If too many of the unnecessary civil service jobs go away, the economy will suffer. Having put all that in place, Mr. Famous and his beloved PLP want the Government(please don’t call it the OBA, it’s the Government)to come up with a miracle to fix it, or they will be branded liars and failures. All of that is why I think the Island is painted into a corner, and all the SAGE Commissions in the world won’t be able to right the ship. All that’s left is to tie the bow on the package and say BYE, BYE. Goodbye to the lifestyle you have known. It will never return. When it is gone, you can ask Mr. Famous and Alvin Williams, and Paula Cox to clarify for you why it had to happen. That’s my opinion. Let’s all wait around and see how that turns out, shall we?
Why so many here wants to shoot down the messanger and not the message??We have known for to long that the government, past and present have spend the tax payers monies on trips, lunches etc!! Sage came up with this contest to get ideas?? yes he may have stepped on many peoples feet by speaking his mind, but than again can it be because he is white and that anything whitey says this day in time is not RIGHT!!People look down deep inside and see right is right and wrong is wrong!no matter what colour you are.. P.S, cannot wait to see the comments i recieve,LOL
That’s an easy one to answer.
They want to shoot the messenger because they don’t have a response to the message. Not one based on, you know, sane reality.
Therefore, they have to – as usual – resort to ad hominem attacks to divert from the real topic.