Garth Rattray | Who really runs things? (Based on true stories)

The Born-on-yah Republic (not to be confused with the banana republic) was riddled with corruption. Many believed that it was solely controlled by the elected government officials. However, in fact, the day-to-day happenings were sometimes directed by corrupt subordinates within every level, and in every corner of government organisations.

Several years ago, someone decided to deposit a very large object on a sidewalk. It totally obstructed the sidewalk and partially obstructed the adjacent roadway. The CEO of the relevant government authority became aware of this, brought it up in regular meetings and repeatedly issued directives for the person who left it there to have it removed.

However, although the CEO gave an order, and the matter was mentioned in meetings, for 7 years nothing happened. Pedestrians were endangered by having to walk out in the road, some were ambushed and robbed by criminals hiding behind the large object, and motor vehicles had to wait until the approaching traffic cleared the way. Eventually, the police became involved and a very senior officer used the law to have the thing moved.

Several years after that fiasco, a young man was heard chatting openly about his job. He ended up spilling the beans that, although the CEO of that government entity had repeatedly issued notices for the offender to move the object, he refused to serve him because the offender was his friend. Obviously, the CEO believes that he is in charge, but the person who delivers notices run things.

Ralph Clarke (not his real name) was a senior newcomer to a certain government body. He had great managerial skills and sought to put his talents to good use for the sake of the republic. With the blessing of his boss, he put forward several changes to the entity that would have made it more efficient and benefit his country immensely. But he was thwarted at every turn and was in a quandary about his failure to get changes made.

Eventually he was invited to meet with a subordinate member of staff within that entity. At the face-to-face meeting, he was courteously informed that, things were not done that way, that that subordinate was there before him, and will be there long after he demits office. So said, so done. Since then, the administration changed hands several times. That civil servant is still quietly but resolutely running things from behind a nondescript desk, nestled deep within the bowels of a government entity.

DISREGARDED ALL RULES

Then there is the case of an edifice that disregarded all the rules and regulations … an in-your-face commercial monstrosity that totally ignores the zoning, building codes, and covenants. That commercial hub was planted within a long-standing residential enclave. The relevant government authority was aware of the problem but has done nothing about it. An attorney-at-law wrote to that authority and copied the letter to several other relevant players, but no one acknowledged receipt. Instead of rectifying the issue, the authority sought to find out on whose behalf the letter was written.

Eventually, having exhausted all channels, the matter reached the ears of the president of the republic. He issued a directive, but it was totally ignored and, instead, the offender was supplied with the name of the complainant, thus endangering him. The offender even took to boasting that the president of the republic cannot touch him.

Several years ago, a very senior elected public servant came across a matter that required rectification. But his efforts met with failure repeatedly. Eventually, it was quietly explained to him that interfering in matters of that nature could get him killed. Such are things in the republic, and there is no end in sight.

In the republic there are many public servants who are deeply and securely ensconced in their positions. They are ‘permanently employed’ in every sense of the phrase. No matter what goes on around them, no matter what directives they receive, no matter how affected the citizens are, these permanent fixtures in varied government entities do as they please. Some are inefficient, some are corrupt, and some are inefficient and corrupt. In the end, the citizens of the republic suffer while corrupt officials become enriched by those intent on flouting the law.

These permanently employed public servants are not elected, they are appointed and therefore they do not come and go with the changing political winds. In other words, it does not matter if the administration is one political party or the other, those individuals remain and are able to spend many years establishing their power base. Some pretend to be sycophants, but it’s all a show to disarm their so-called superiors. They can delay and tie up processes as they see fit. The citizens who want to bypass the regulations know that their ability to do so depends on crooked subordinate staff.

Sometimes subsects within the republic run things by proxy. The ‘masses’, the grassroots citizenry, the people that are seen at political rallies, the people who make up the delegates who choose who the electorate votes for at election time, are often catered to. Rules and regulations are ignored so that they can do whatever they want without any interference from regulatory and licensing authorities. These things are done to appease them so that they will vote in a particular manner.

It’s an illusion that elected [government] officials are always in charge of the Born-on-yah Republic. Sometimes inept and/or corrupt public servants and grassroots electorate run things.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com.