Cox: 'It cannot be business as usual'
Premier Paula Cox said Government was having a “radical rethink” about the Civil Service as her administration “re-calibrates” ministries.Ms Cox and her Government ministers yesterday outlined the progress they have made since she became Premier three months ago.She said consultants from the UK's National School of Government have returned to the Island to conduct a thorough review of the Civil Service and make recommendations for change. She added that they had not been tasked with cutting costs of the Civil Service. Former Premier Dame Jennifer Smith undertook the last Civil Service review 13 years ago.Yesterday Ms Cox said: “With a change in leaders it provides a opportunity to review your course and it seemed timely to me given the fact that Government has grown and has been asked to take on a number of aspects that hadn't been contemplated in 1998. This was a chance to redraw the map.”The consultants did a brief review in December. They returned in January to do a more detailed review. They leave today.The Premier added: “It is a chance to clear out some of the debris in terms of our policies and a chance to look at things with fresh eyes. I think it is an opportunity to have a radical rethink about how we do things and also to effect some necessary changes.“The necessary reform of Government is pivotal. During the first 100 days, ministries have been re-calibrated so that we can raise the bar and deliver with a new integrated approach to the delivery of services.“There have been teething pains, but it is necessary that your Government change the way it does business. It cannot be business as usual.”Ms Cox said the Budget had been pushed back a week as Government needed more time to prepare. She has pledged to cut $150 million from this year's Budget, which will be delivered on February 18.When asked if it has been a difficult Budget, she said: “When you have people forced to change the way things have been done in the past it always presents challenges.“When you have ministries that have been reconfigured and realigned, that also adds another factor to it. I think we as human beings always resist change and sometimes change, as unpalatable as it can be, is necessary.”Ms Cox concluded: “Although difficult choices will be necessary, the task and direction are clear. Challenges throughout the global environment require a new paradigm for local empowerment that will enable us to secure our people's future.”Among the initiatives mentioned yesterday:* the moratorium on work permits for landscape workers, cleaners, kitchen and bar porters and skilled labourers, such as construction workers, will continue for another three months;* the new Tourism Board has been tasked with creating a sound business model for the industry;* the establishment of a Youth Council to advise on ways to implement the Mincy Report on young black males;* Government is in talks with a European Space Agency interested in establishing a temporary rocket launch tracking station at Cooper's Island;* a reduction in crime through the help of a Gang Task Force;A status report on the first 100 days of Ms Cox's administration will be released on the Government website today at 10am.The report will be available in both pdf and electronic booklet formats.Related websites: www.gov.bm, www.nationalschool.gov.uk.100 Days at a glance:A review of Government Ministers' highlights for the new administration's first 100 days.For Works Minister –Derrick Burgess:n The unveiling of a new war memorial on the grounds of Cabinet;n The passing of the Base Lands Development Act, allowing the Nine Beaches lease to go forward, plus a Bill allowing tourism development at Morgan's Point.Attorney General and Justice Minister Michael Scott included:n A review of all rehabilitation, monitoring and treatment of offenders programmes;n Bermuda's hosting of the first International Association of Prosecutors' North American and Caribbean regional conference;n Supreme Court convictions for Andre Curtis (financial crime), Alvone Maybury (unlawful shooting), Anthony Swan and Quincy Brangman (attempted murder) and Germaine Pearman (murder).Among her remarks, Education Minister Dame Jennifer Smith praised:n Retaining the Board of Education's chairman and deputy, Darren Johnston and Vincent Ingham, to ensure continuity in the public school system;n Securing $100,000 in private capital through the Adopt-a-School Programme, for nine primary schools in need of refurbishment.Economy Minister Kim Wilson, meanwhile, spoke of balancing the needs of local business with safeguarding job opportunities for Bermudians.Ms Wilson pledged to extend an August, 2010 moratorium on work permits for a further three months.Submissions in the landscape gardener, cleaners, kitchen and bar porter, housekeeper and skilled labourer categories will be denied, she said.However, applications will still be considered in areas where “the human resources are critical to the success of our global competitiveness”.Tourism and Business Development Minister Patrice Minors said:n Bermuda's insurance-linked securities regime was improved, and the jurisdiction's tax assurance certificate extended from 2016 to 2035, through the efforts of the Business Development and Regulatory Unit;n Government met with six hotel developers keen on building facilities in Bermuda;n The Island's first hospitality careers fair was attended by 130 high school students, in an effort to recruit younger Bermudians.Public Information Minister Neletha Butterfield said the Ministry was “resetting the dial”. Ms Butterfield congratulated:n The Bermuda National Library's launch of its digital newspaper archive, with 4,205 people viewing databases for the 17th century between November and December;n The Bermuda Archives' pending release of the 1980 Cabinet proceedings;n The Registry General's planned amendments to the 1978 Charities Act, holding Bermuda to recommendations from the International Monetary Fund.Walter Roban, of the new Ministry of Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy, pointed to:n The speedy completion of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital redevelopment's planning application;n The achievement of a “paperless office” by the Department of Land Valuation, which also cleared a backlog of stamp duty cases;n A bid by the European Space Agency to set up a temporary station on Cooper's Island for tracking rocket launches.Health Minister Zane DeSilva praised:n King Edward VII Memorial Hospital's public private partnership with Paget Health Services “a first for Bermuda”, with work started on the new building;n The Health in Review report, also a first of its kind, appraising the state of health in Bermuda;The completion of the National Health Plan for Bermuda, shortly to be released to the public.n The Health Insurance Department's Health Financing conference.Youth, Families, Sports and Community Minister Glenn Blakeney gave special credit to:n The Anti-Doping in Sport Act, which sets up local bodies for testing athletes in accordance with global standards;n The awarding of Cultural Legacy Fund grants to 21 recipients;n Breaking ground on the National Sports Centre's new national swimming pool.National Security Minister David Burch:n The Gang Taskforce has brought about a reduction in crime rates, as reflected in the latest police statistics;n The Harbour View apartments will be ready as soon as they are approved by the Bermuda Fire Service.Transport Minister –Terry Lister commended:n Bermuda's new cruise ship schedule;n The Island securing US connections to Baltimore and Atlanta through AirTran;n Plans to widen Town Cut in St. George's will be transparent, and will be open to a variety of views.Minister without Portfolio Michael Weeks congratulated Government's decision to establish a Youth Council.