Heather Robinson
HAVE YOU been successful at criticising your employer publicly and retaining your job? Most persons in the private sector would never even contemplate such a course of action. Further, those who have problems with the way the institution is run reserve their comments for staff meetings or for the anonymous suggestion box. So what is it that separates the private sector employee from the public sector employee - apart from salary? What gives the public sector employee the 'right' to criticise his employer, the Government of Jamaica?
Invitations to speak at public functions are extended regularly to important individuals who can attract attention from the media. Such newsworthy individuals in planning their speeches attempt to address controversial matters, or turn matters into controversy. In some cases they speak from an uninformed position while performing the role of guest speaker.
'FOREIGN POLICE'
Last weekend, Errol Greene, who is the head of the National Solid Waste Management Authority, addressed a dinner hosted by the St. Catherine South Division of the Jamaica Consta-bulary Force (JCF). Mr. Greene criticised the decision of the Jamaican Government to employ foreign police officers within the commissioned rank of the JCF.
He identified Deputy Commis-sioner Mark Shields and Assistant Commissioner Les Green as the two officers whom Jamaica could do without (my words). Mr. Green asked that additional training be given to senior officers to better equip them in the carrying out of their duties.
I have no problem with asking for additional training for all our police officers, but for Government employee and political appointee Errol Greene to believe that it was in the best interest of his employer to publicly criticise a policy decision of the Cabinet of Jamaica is beyond my personal comprehension. This is a decision that was taken after much public debate and in concert with the private sector.
Most of us know the proverb, 'If you live in a glass house, don't throw stones'. Perhaps we should remind Mr. Greene of this proverb.
If your house is clean and able to stand the glare of public scrutiny, then you may just be able to get away with certain remarks. But if you are the person responsible for keeping Jamaica clean, perhaps your time and effort would be best spent soliciting the support of the members of the JCF in your 'keep Jamaica clean' campaign.
Perhaps Mr. Greene made such an appeal, but the media did not carry that. Any experienced worker would know that his remarks about 'foreign' police would make the headlines over all others.
DETRACTORS
One can only wonder how Mr. Greene would feel if suggestions were to be made that there were foreigners who could assist him and his team in keeping Jamaica clean.
In another two weeks Jamaica will have a new Prime Minister, who at present is the minister responsible for public cleansing. Will she tolerate such criticisms of decisions made by the Cabinet that she chairs? Or will she at the outset make it clear where and when public servants' criticisms will be acceptable.
And those who are viewed by her as 'detractors', will they join her political detractors in some corner?
In order for Jamaicans to move forward together, to overcome the problems of crime and unemployment, all sectors will have to unite.
The public and private sectors and the party members and supporters must of necessity come together for the good of Jamaica.
Those who are winners must find ways of embracing losers, without using the threat of a big stick or confinement to corners. Criticisms are a necessary part of life, but please begin with self. That is your first right and responsibility.
Heather Robinson is a life underwriter and former Member of Parliament.
