Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris was crystal clear that the culture of individuals bypassing Government middle managers and making requests to see a ministers to get their issues resolved has to be changed and mechanisms available to deal with those issues must be allowed to work, according to Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris.
At Tuesday’s monthly press conference, Dr. Harris was questioned by a journalist from the Team Unity Democrat newspapaer about a man who claimed to have had an appointment to meet with him since December, 2015 but who to date has not seen PM Harris. Prime Minister Harris’ responded that unless it were a life or death matter that individual should follow procedures and protocols by seeing “functionaries” within the system first.
“I think we have a responsibility to educate and to get people appreciate how a government functions. The Prime Minister not going to say, ‘Well, I see you in two days or three days.’ There are functionaries which should be able to do that and do that satisfactorily.
“But the more critical point…is there a need for this man or any other citizen to see the Prime Minister on a particular matter? The Prime Minister is not the only person with service to the public! And I made the point that the model which we are operating in is a Westminster model and we have ministries where the work has been – as it were – allocated to people and for people to function. Ultimately, it is the job of the Prime Minister, where people are not functioning, to reshuffle the Cabinet and to put people who can deliver.”
The Prime Minister said the system must be allowed to work and that under his Team Unity Government someone wanting to see Minister of Sport Shawn Richards would not be allowed to so ……”not under a Team Unity government”, Harris declared.
“…A lot of times we have people believing that to get a problem solved in sports, they have to see the Hon. Shawn Richards. Not under this government! We are wanting the people to understand the system and to go through the system where the functionaries are being held account(able). When the gentleman reaches to me, unless it’s a matter of life or death, he must be able to say that I went to Mr. DeSuza and Mr.DeSuza was unwilling or unable to help.”
He explained that functionaries should not be unnecessarily taken from attending to significant policy matters to deal with operational matters when there are individuals employed to deal with said matters.
“And so we have systems! If anyone wants to see the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister isn’t available, there is a permanent secretary, there is a cabinet secretary, there are personal assistants. But sometimes people, because of the way they have been conditioned, (believe) that everything must be a politician to do it for you. We have to begin as part of our duty as citizens to say to people, ‘No, that’s not the way, that is not necessary.’ We have to again try to help people to help themselves, because long after we have gone, if people do not know where to go when they have particular needs, you would not have advanced them.”
Meanwhile speaking on Freedom Fm Issues on Wednesday, Parliamentary representative for constituency #2 and chairperson of the SKNLP declared that Prime Minister Harris has gotten arrogant and out of touch with the people. He is supposed to be representing. Liburd declared that Dr Harris is demonstrating his total disregard for ordinary people and their concerns. She pointed ut that harris welcomed all to come and see him at anytime during the recent federal elections, but that he had now distanced himself from them since taking the reins of power and government.
And on FACEBOOK Team Unity community activist Terry Adams said there is now a disconnect between the prime minister and the people, and it is clear that PM Harris has changed.
“While In opposition he said that he is accessible to the PEOPLE at anytime. In simple layman language, able to be reached or entered any place where he is! what has change since Tim became Prime Minister? people dont matter anymore? when i heard the recording today on Freedom FM 106.5 it sound terrible. Extremely distressing, a woman with a sick child who appears to be desperate and need help and felt that she could have speak to the PM to get some assistance. When I told you all about the disconnect and disrespect by the Prime Minister some of you said it is because me aint get what i want why I am criticizing Tim. I am quite sure, YOU who had doubt maybe saying Terry was right. I wonder, what joiner is saying about this. It was the Jurnalist from the Democrat News paper who put the questions and asked the PM. In answering the questions, was it done to send a clear message to Pam and the Democrat? the issue invlove a CHILD and a MIDDLE AGE MAN.” Adams wrote