So what will fundamental difference be?
Monday 2nd November 2009, 4:56PM GMT.
WITH the States having signed up last week to a fundamental spending review aimed at saving the taxpayer more than £70m. by 2014, it is clear that some considerable changes will have to take place if that level of economy is to be delivered.
In particular, individual departments – so criticised by external reviewers for their silo mentalities – will need to behave radically different if they are to act in the island’s common interest rather than follow their own instincts.
Just how hard that will be is perhaps illustrated by the Health and Social Services Department.
Having opened its new clinical block, it is now saying that it does not have enough money to staff it properly – please give us more.
At about the same time, its chief officer was writing in the department’s staff magazine again reiterating the view that HSSD will not be able to remain within budget next year, so give us some more money please.
The gulf between Guernsey’s public and private sectors could not be wider when it comes to the careful control of cash. Even the BBC which, like the States of Guernsey, is in the enviable position of not having to earn the money it spends so lavishly, is looking to make nearly £80m.-worth of salary savings.
Here, by contrast, when senior civil servants were asked whether they would follow the example of their chief executive and two of his colleagues in not taking an increase, the response was ‘no comment’.
Moreover, when it went around the grapevine that this newspaper was asking chief officers individually whether they would forego an increase, the Policy Council PR machine quickly cut in to put out a ‘don’t approach them, it’s no comment…’ line.
So, is there a real will within the States to use taxpayers’ money efficiently? The various reviews make it clear it did not exist when the consultants were investigating.
Indeed, the man responsible for highlighting the ‘financially profligate culture’ at work made it clear to reporters the other week that not only did he stand by that comment, he had chosen his words very carefully indeed.
So what will make things different this time?
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Guernsey Press
Mr Digard(-by-proxy?) OPINES
“The gulf between Guernsey’s public and private sectors could not be wider when it comes to the careful control of cash.”
This is a nonsense. A spiteful political comment aimed at destabilising the States by causing more disrespect amongst islanders.
You have no possible proof that this is true. Last time I looked the private sector was begging for trillions after it was so efficient!
The private sector is JUST as wasteful, ASWELL as demanding a margin, and the public sector DOES care about offering value for money. The staff DO take initiative to make their job more efficient, management DO look at cash saving processes. All that needs changing is the infrastructure.
Instead of banging on REPEATEDLY about how rubbish all the public sector workers are, lazy, rude, wasteful, uncaring – it never ends – why not provide a like for like example of how the private sector would run the island.
While you’re about it, please list former public services that have been privatised and are now providing a better service to the public at a comparatively cheaper rate than previously?
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Arnald
Your increasingly rabid defence of the public sector workforce tends to back up previous posts suggesting you ‘work’ within the public sector.
Unless you have several days off each week the timings of your posts indicate that you waste a great deal of tax payer funded man hours each week on attacking every facet of the Finance industry.
No problem airing your well known feelings of course but I would think most tax payers would want you to do that in your own time
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Ray
Why bother commenting? Don’t you feel like you’ve just wasted a bit of your life speculating on what sort of life an anonymous poster on a local news forum leads?
I’ll give you a clue. You probably do.
Now, tell me where my post is incorrect. I don’t work in the public sector, never have, but I have a brain and I can see the wood for the trees, and having this drivel poured out daily is an insult to the public.
Big, multi operational operations are inherently inefficient. Blaming workers for that and denigrating their efforts to help society function to its potential is just plain spite.
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Arnald
Yet another work time post
Now you have made me annoyed with myself for breaking my promise to never read your posts again
( after all I read the same stuff from you last month and last year )
B…gger. Now I’ve wasted even more of my life replying !
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Arnald
So you say: “I don’t work in the public sector, never have…”.
Hmm….so a taxpayer-funded body is not the “public sector” then ? Well, it sure isn’t the private sector and its the taxpayer who is funding your endless time while you are posting. I would tend to call that “splitting hairs”.
I also would take issue with your initial posting this morning. I don’t recall the Guernsey finance sector “begging for trillions” of help.
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Sorry David, you’re looking really petty now. I can discuss my employment terms and who exactly pays me in private if you so wish.
Without the trillions from the world governments Guernsey would have sunk much much lower. Stop being naive. For a highly paid finance industry executive you’re not setting much of an example.
So the finance industry wasn’t subsidised by the Guernsey population? I’ll split hairs with you all you like, but I’ll be right and you’ll be wrong. Like on nearly EVERY single issue i’ve raised.
Now stop moaning and generate wealth, you do know about how to do that don’t you? What’s your stats?
It’s pathetic you have to bring it down to idle threats.
You’re wanting to ‘out’ me because I have an opinion that disagrees with your narrow views. An opinion that is standing up.
Whatever fantasy land you live in, this is an internet common forum. If I had been guilty of lying I would expect some proof.
Instead I am backed up by academic analysis. Sorry David but using your advantage over me like this is unacceptable.
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Gentlemen
Although I’m sure he doesn’t need my help I feel I have to defend Arnald on this occasion.
I fail to see what benefit there is to calling his integrity into question or speculating over his employment situation. I also don’t see why he needs to justify posting during the day – if there is an issue there that is between Arnald and his employer.
Please can we stick to the issue at hand and not resort to mud-slinging – this is not the House of Commons! Civilised yet robust debate is healthy; mud-slinging is petty and dishonourable.
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David
It is somewhat silly to assume that Arnald was referring specifically to Guernsey when he said referred to to “begging for trillions” of help.
You must have realised he was making a general comment.
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Stephen
No, not silly of me at all. Arnald has a tendancy to deliberately treat the Guernsey finance industry as being a replica of the global finance industry. Which it isn’t. I have just re-read his original post and its clear now as it was when I first read it that this was how it should be interpreted.
Arnald
On reflection, I will try to soften my stance and I apologise if you feel that I went over the top. I will try to count to ten (thousand) before I reply to you in future.
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Arnald
I’m not the one who made the claim about not working in the public sector whilst rabidly criticising anyone who dares to suggest that public sector cuts should be made. So its a very fair question in the circumstances.
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David
And all I get is ridiculous claims of transparency and legitimacy and an amoral stance that deliberately chooses to ignore blindingly obvious causality.
Guernsey OFC cannot pretend it is not directly connected to the whole system. Our ‘well regulated, transparent and respected industry’ can only be as good as the shonky rules it notionally abides by. These rules are drawn up by the industry, for the industry and regulated by the industry.
Forgive me if the near collapse of the western world isn’t cause enough for me to keep ranting on, a greed driven crash, only mitigated by trillions of public money, and that Guernsey’s finance houses have been kept operating by the public’s generosity, both home and abroad.
The idea that we exist as a ‘sophisticated’ stand alone entity is complete nonsense, and you know it.
I’m sorry if you think defending the public sector is so offensive. I find it’s degradation offensive, non more so than you are likely to be in the generation that profited the most from decades of UK austerity and high taxes to build the stability and infrastructure that got you where you are today.
What value that, hmm?
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As someone who is quite frankly getting sick and tired of Arnald’s bleating I would love to know where he thinks Guernsey’s income is going to come from if the finance industry suddenly disappears?
A large part of the public sector is a drain. An unsustainable pensions policy, over-staffing, a lack of cohesion on operation matters etc etc, it really does start to become irritating after a while.
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Phil
I get bored typing it.
I get bored explaining that it is only the attitude that condones the abuse of tax and hides criminality that I rail against. Why does that mean the industry will collapse? What are you trying to say?
Of course efficiency must be striven for within the public sector, but it is too easy and too wrong to blame any economic problems on frontline services. If there is any reduction in the level of care for the vulnerable, or to the peace of mind of the elderly, it will be as a direct cause of the private sector, and the mistaken idea that there is infinite growth attached to low tax.
You may be bored, but I bet you feel safe. I bet those LBGsy depositors know who to blame for their ‘drain’.
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