Dear Sir,

I am in some disagreement with Derrick Binns on the role of the Civil Service as it relates to the recent Auditor-General’s report.

As a vendor who worked hard on a project for the Government and never was paid for it, I am sensitive to this subject.

As head of the Civil Service, he knows perfectly well that it is not the ministers who write purchase orders, it is not the ministers who pay invoices without purchase orders, and it is not the ministers who pay invoices twice, and it is not the ministers who accept inferior work, and it is not the ministers who are the project managers of capital projects.

Ministers are, as he says, supposed to be deciding policy, deciding how are money is spent and deciding our legislative agenda.

The Civil Service has to wake up to the fact that many of the Auditor-General’s listed deficiencies cannot just be left at the feet of the politicians of the day. Accountability to ensure financial instructions are followed to the letter, with disciplinary action — from permanent secretary down to clerk — has to be guaranteed by the Civil Service. The Civil Service unions who do not support these disciplinary actions must also wake up to this reality. It is correct and fair.

This is the perfect opportunity for the Civil Service to step up to the plate and ensure that this never happens again.

I have faith that Dr Binns knows this and is working hard behind the scenes to find the folks in the Civil Service who were responsible for some of these deficiencies, and will take action.

Regards, KENT STEWART, Pembroke