Barbados’ first prime minister and National Hero Errol Walton Barrow famously referred to the island’s public service as “an army of occupation”.It was not a term of endearment but symbolic of the frustration in seeking to properly manage the tens of thousands of people employed by the state.In 2022, we must consider whether Barbados’ public sector has become too big, too entrenched with outdated structures and rules, and too fragmented to undertake its functions in an efficient, cost effective way.Revelations from the most recent issue of the Auditor General’s report highlights some examples of dysfunction in the operations of our public service.Some of the Auditor General’s complaints reflected systemic issues, some are failure to adhere to established procedures, an absence of enforcement of the rules, as well as systems that are not fit for purpose. In some instances, there is just plain neglect of duty and attempts to abuse the system for personal gain.
