Former Minister of Public Service, Jennifer Westford found herself defending the integrity of the country’s public servants during the budget debates on Monday in response to claims made by Opposition MP, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley.
Sarabo-Halley, a former minister herself, accused the current government of filling public service roles with individuals who lack the necessary knowledge and experience, favouring those with political connections.
Her comments prompted an immediate rebuttal from Westford, who called for Sarabo-Halley to either provide evidence for her claims or issue an apology.
“I want to ask the [member] who spoke before me to apologise to the public servants… or the member must bring the proof to show who are those unqualified public servants that we have in positions,” Westford said.
Visibly frustrated by the comment, she added: “Public servants work tirelessly for this country… How can she stand in the House and accuse these individuals of being unqualified for their positions? It is disrespectful to the hard-working public servants.”
Westford further emphasised that Sarabo-Halley’s statements were not just unfounded, but dangerous.
The former minister did not hold back, pointing to the period between 2015 and 2020 when, according to her, an alarming number of unqualified individuals were appointed to public service roles.
“Placing unqualified persons in positions has not been a trend under this government.
“These individuals were placed on pensionable establishments, and it has become incredibly difficult to remove them. We’ve seen the consequences of those decisions,” Westford said.
In contrast, Sarabo-Halley’s criticisms painted a grim picture of the current state of the public service.
She described the sector as a cornerstone of society, but one that is being increasingly undermined by appointments of “unprofessional individuals” who are neither equipped with the required experience nor competence for their roles.
“The ripple effect from such appointments runs through the entire system,” Sarabo-Halley explained.
“It frustrates dedicated professionals who find themselves reporting to people who are ill-prepared for their roles.”
Sarabo-Halley further emphasised the importance of prioritising professionalism and merit in the hiring process, insisting that individuals should be chosen based on their qualifications, rather than connections or affiliations.
