Cabinet Secretary Comments On SAGE Report

November 15, 2013

Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of Civil Service Donald Scott offered his initial reaction to the SAGE Commission report that was tabled in the House of Assembly earlier today [Nov 15].

Mr Scott said, the report makes a number of sound and useful recommendations however the overall quality is “diminished in some areas by errors of fact and the reliance on anecdotal stories…”

As it pertains to the Cabinet Secretary the SAGE report [PDF] said, “The SAGE Commission heard account after account from all levels, including the rank and file of the Civil and Public Service, that there is a lack of confidence in the leadership at the top of the Civil and Public Service. The buck stops at the top, and this means the Secretary to the Cabinet. The post holder must urgently address this lack of confidence.”

The report also recommended that the duties of the Secretary to the Cabinet, as currently carried out, be shared by two equal positions: the Secretary to the Cabinet and the Head of the Civil Service, with both positions working under the policy direction of the Premier.

The full statement from the Cabinet Secretary is below:

“My purpose in this initial statement is to make some high-level comments on the overall quality of the Report and some of its findings and recommendations. More detailed comments will be shared and discussed internally to assist Government in determining its position with respect to which recommendations will be agreed upon for implementation.

“The SAGE Commission was given a daunting task to complete in a very short period of time – six months. The process followed by the Commission was very similar to the Spending And Government Efficiency Commission of the State of New York that reported its findings and recommendations to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in February 2013 following nearly two years of work.

“The goals of both Commissions were similar: seeking to reorganize government through consolidation and streamlining; reducing costs and improving service; and building a culture of performance and accountability.

“Bermuda’s SAGE Report makes a number of sound and useful recommendations, some of which build upon reforms and initiatives already underway in Bermuda’s Public Service. Other recommendations are fresh and bold and if adopted can help to address the fiscal challenges facing Bermuda.

However, the overall quality of the Report is diminished in some areas by errors of fact and the reliance on anecdotal stories in a number of important areas.

“One of the more useful sections of the Report is the chapter on Measurement & Metrics where one of the recommendations is to create an over-arching strategic plan based on the governing party’s election platform, the Throne Speech and the National Budget Statement.

“This planning process exists and was used effectively in the immediate aftermath of the 2012 General Election to crystalise the priorities of the new government and to amend ministry business plans accordingly. This was done quickly and enabled a smooth transition in a change between administrations and supported the continuity of government.

“Facilitating smooth changes within administrations and smooth changes between administrations is one of the most important functions carried out by the Civil Service Executive and will carry a heavy weighting in an appraisal cycle that includes a General Election.

“Can the planning process be improved? Yes, it can be improved and many of the recommendations are helpful including the recommendation to publish ministry business plans on a regular cycle.

“However, it is to be noted that contrary to the Report’s finding that not all Ministries prepare business plans, the fact is that every ministry produces a business plan and it is updated annually. Permanent Secretaries are charged with delivering the ministry business plan within budget and managing identified risks to achieve specified programme outcomes and services.

“The chapter on Performance is also useful and it is appropriate that SAGE highlights areas of strong performance in the Civil and Public Service. However, this is one area where errors of fact and erroneous presumptions need to be corrected.

“There is a presumption that the Civil Service Executive does not meet weekly. That presumption is false: the Civil Service Executive meets weekly to share Cabinet decisions and associated business. Major operational decisions at the executive level are recorded.

“The SAGE Report refers to an assessment of Permanent Secretaries and other senior officials that was arranged by the National School of Government in 2011. It is correct that the Report was not shared with the Commission as it fell outside of its remit. It did not have statutory authority for such access as stated in the Final Report. This legal position was confirmed by the Attorney-General.

“I commend the SAGE Commission for recognising the significant differences in the role of a Permanent Secretary and the role of a division head of a private sector business head. The former is expected to promote and deliver on the multiple goals of a political agenda while the latter is driven by a single goal: the profit motive.

“The differences in the roles flow to appropriate metrics and measurements and much else besides.

“The SAGE Commission Report offers some constructive comment and proposes a path for Bermuda to move forward.

“I wish to conclude by stating that the Civil Service Executive is committed to high performance and accountability in the public sector as it continues to execute the political agenda of the government of the day. It is no less than the tax payer deserves.”

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Comments (12)

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  1. Losses says:

    Donald,

    Please give it a rest, the SAGE Report is the first way of trying to clean up the mess you and the PLP made and large debt burden we’ve now all inherited

  2. Meeeee says:

    Donald Scott writes: “However, the overall quality of the Report is diminished in some areas by errors of fact and the reliance on anecdotal stories in a number of important areas.”

    The whole of the Civil Service – of which he is the Head – has a massive problem with the provision of timely good data. Some key data only becomes available after 24 months. And some data is useless.

    Here it is almost the end of November 2013…where are the Audited Statements of the Consolidated Fund for 2012/13 which ended 31st March 2013? These Statements ought to have been ready by 30 September 2013. In the last five years [2008 – 2013, these Statements have been as late as February of the year following year-end.

    Donald was Head of the Civil Service [2010 - 2013] and was Financial Secretary [2003 - 2010].

    Think about that!

  3. Vote for Me says:

    It is interesting to note the not so subtle criticism of Mr. Scott as the Cabinet Secretary and Head of Civil Service. Also a little surpirsed that he gave a public response.

  4. Navin R. Johnson says:

    Spoken like someone about to collect a girt size pension

  5. Real people says:

    Please Secretary Scott,retire with your huge payout,before any more damage is done!

  6. Truth is killin' me... says:

    When dirt happens on someone’s watch…defend, deny and defend again. This island is in a financially uncomfortable position and the truth is going to sting a lot of hands! Either accept the criticism, right the wrongs and move forward or argue the points till the cows come home and fall to the wayside Bermuda.

  7. Triangle Drifter says:

    And there you go, the bloated civil service has a face.

  8. Victor says:

    Somebody is squirming.

  9. JUNK YARD DOG says:

    Who is going to SAGE the private sector, in order to reduce the cost of goods and services,every one needs to be more efficient with a cherry on top……….. A big Smile!

    Equal work for equal pay, so I guess that some of you will have to actually work for your money , time has come for all to work together .

    Bermuda, up your game, to treat you tourist and guest workers like Royalty.

    From the very top down why are we living in a divided nation?

    Go figure !

  10. Michael Tucker says:

    I had the liberty to read through some of the report it reminded me of the EAP research that was done under the PLP.As far as privatizing goes I feel it’s a ploy by the Elite investors in BDA to munupulize the revenues at stake.We in Bermuda enjoy a dream inviorment when it comes to conducting business as far as crime and social know how is concerned .There is not to much disturbance in everyday conduct plus the Bermudian people are so meek and humbled towards designs of how society functions.What Company wouldn’t want to function here?I think the opposition has had little to say of the Sage report because any persons of 65years plus living today in BDA today who are born Bermudian have a view of today’s politics as insulting to the memory of things,plus it’s leader Mr.Marc Bean came into office opposing affirmative actions and telling the young Bermudians they have to get off the wall and work.

  11. paul says:

    Bermuda, we have enough of the BS…time to get rid of party politics …