UPP Demands Accountability from Ministers, Not Just Civil Servants
The United Progressive Party (UPP) is calling for greater ministerial accountability following a series of high-profile transfers within the public sector, arguing that the government is scapegoating civil servants while shielding ministers from scrutiny.
Speaking on Observer Radio on Friday, UPP Chair Dame D. Giselle Isaac raised concerns over the recent reassignment of senior officials, including the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and the Director of Public Works, Aldin Crump. She questioned why ministers presiding over troubled departments were not themselves held to account.
“How is it that the Prime Minister can get up and always be heaping blame on public servants, and the people who are supposed to be leading them are not held accountable at all?” she asked.
Isaac argued that the transfers appear politically motivated, particularly in the case of the Ministry of Education. The reshuffling followed an industrial dispute involving striking teachers over unpaid allowances—a matter the UPP says was mishandled at the highest levels.
“Where is the responsibility there?” Isaac asked. “Did the minister follow up on the order? Did she ensure a report was delivered? This went on for days when it ought not to have.”
In the case of Public Works, Isaac pointed to the reassignment of Crump—who was blamed for the poor state of roads—as contradictory. “He’s not performing on roads, you say, but you’re going to send him off to the airport to perform on the runway?” she said. “It’s a contradiction.”
Prime Minister Gaston Browne recently signalled that more shakeups are likely across the public sector, citing underperformance. However, the opposition argues that the government’s reactive approach to governance has failed to deliver long-term planning and effective leadership.
“The people at the top seem to want to lead from behind,” Isaac said. “You can’t just pick up people who are not performing, according to you, from here and put them there to do what? Not perform again?”
The UPP maintains that accountability must extend beyond bureaucrats and that ministers must be answerable for their roles in policy implementation and departmental oversight.
There has been no official government response to the UPP’s criticisms.
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the Dame has spoken!!!
Why you did not provide accountability when you as the Chair of the Party walked out of a Retreat to which you came nearly 2 hours late. I heard your account recently of what happened and you continued your damn lying (as a so called Catholic Christian) as to why you left. None of the MPs present ridicule you since Harold was the first to speak and your walkout happened after that. You are nothing short of a notorious liar and is the reason for the present tailspin of the UPP. I am amazed at how the UPP continue to turn a blind eye to your lack of political common sense. If they think your writing of sometimes useless Press Releases will boost the Party’s election fortunes then the Party need to wake up.
Absolutely, accountability should be right across the whole of the public services, especially this God forsaken government.
Promises made and Promises broken over two terms of governance.
The Gastonites are WILFULLY keeping Browne kn power. I recently watched an ABLP rally in disbelief when I witnessed supporters dancing with pictures of Gaston Browne.
Now I can understand revellers dancing with ABLP paraphernalia (like banners, tee-shirts and the like), but jumping up and down with photos of Gaston Browne is truly stomach churning.
Sometimes I wonder if his SCIOLISM supporters are somewhat lacking knowledge. So superficial …
To tell you the truth, if the UPP is to get anywhere they probably need a leader like Giselle to crack the whip. It works for the PM. Don’t you see no one dares challenge him?
I thought she already left the UPP,now you can see that she is still active in the UPP, and still making her remarks against the government, even when the government are doing what is right for Antigua, and Barbuda,she still have her remarks to make,by wanting the Prime Minister and his government to look bad….
How about also holding your own elected officials accountable? Your party was silent when the dancer went to Trinidad’s carnival, and not a peep out of you regarding Serpent and his rental unit.
Clean your own house first…..
He dare not take any action against any minister, he is afraid of the upheaval that will cause, they are waiting for a reason like that to throw him overboard and he senses it so he has to drop the hammer on the civil servants because a vast number of the jobs are political favors
What a stupid woman
The woodworms have come out again. Instead of speaking to the subject, they are on the attack. Since the Alfa Nero scam , they all pulled back into their shells and have been monitoring to determine when they can emerge but the issues highlighted need fixing and despite what the Money-Hawk said; Alfa Nero is not going away.