THE COUNCIL of Presidents of the PSOJ said yesterday that it was time for the country to turn its attention back to its serious economic and social challenges and put the Omar Davies issue "behind us".
Also, it called on Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and the government to address "with extreme urgency", the wider issue of governance in Government Ministries and to ensure that proper checks and balances are put in place to ensure that the civil service be held accountable in implementing and monitoring budgets and agreed targets and have a mechanism for reporting on these targets.
The statement was released by the PSOJ yesterday following a meeting with Dr. Davies to discuss the controversy surrounding the statement he made at a People's National Party constituency meeting in St. Andrew North West on February 9.
The text reads:
"The Council of Presidents of the PSOJ held a meeting with the Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies, to discuss the recent presentation made by him at a party constituency meeting in St. Andrew.
"The Council expressed serious concern regarding the tone and content of his statements and indicated to the Minister that this was inappropriate, unacceptable and seriously impacted his credibility.
"The Minister understood the concerns raised by the private sector representatives and, in his reply, indicated his regret for the statements made. He also unreservedly apologised to the president and members of JEF for his unfortunate reference to their members.
"As a result of these discussion and the Minister's prior public apology, the Council of Presidents of the PSOJ believes that it is now time to put this matter behind us, and to return the country's attention to the serious economic and social challenges that face us as a nation. In closing the meeting, the Council agreed to forge a closer working relationship with the Minister and to have greater collaboration on these issues.
"...Proper checks and balances must be put in place, to ensure that the technocrats in the civil service be held accountable to implement and monitor budgets and agreed targets and have a mechanism for reporting on these targets."
