By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE service commissions established by law in Trinidad and Tobago are no longer serving and should be abolished.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said that in 2024, he will bring to Parliament, legislation to dismantle the current four service commissions and replace them with one single tribunal.
While the method would have worked from 1962 to present day, it was time for a change, the prime minister said.
Speaking at the party’s sports and family day at the Toco Secondary School on Sunday, he said the underperformance of the public services was due to a lack of proper management.
Dr Rowley said, “These so-called independent service commission’s that are hamstringing this country, there are certain things that will never change, that will never improve, as long as basic management tenets are not being met.”
He added, “What we want in the 21st Century, is to abolish all those service commissions and replace them with one tribunal.”
The main purpose for the establishment of service commissions in 1962, was to protect people from arbitrary action of the incoming new government which was led by former prime minister and leader of the PNM Dr Eric Williams, he said.
There were some people who would have been afraid of racial discrimination amongst other things, Dr Rowley added.
Four service commissions fall under the purview of the Service Commission Department: the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC), the Police Service Commission (PSC), the Teaching Service Commission, and the Public Service Commission.
Dr Rowley said if change was what the population really wanted, then the abolition of the commissions would be supported.
“If the political pundits and all the supporters and columnists, if they really want change in this country, let us by public acclamation, across the nation, make the change of abolishing service commissions in total. Put modern management systems in place. Put a tribunal in place for the public service arrangements,” he said.
He continued, “And any public officer, whether it is a prison officer or policeman or teacher, if you have a problem with the management, you go to the tribunal and the tribunal will protect you. And that will give us a giant step and that is reform of the Constitution.”
Dr Rowley also said he suspected that the Opposition would not support the commission’s abolition.
Another announcement he made on Tuesday was that the party would begin its internal nominations for local government elections.
Sunday was a day filled with fun activities for the party which was attended by various MPs and supporters from the different constituencies.
