00:00Well, congratulating 24 newly appointed permanent secretaries and a chief administrator,
00:04Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Bassassar delivered a broader message to the public service,
00:08warning against outdated systems, unnecessary delays and weak accountability.
00:14She also signaled action on defunct state companies and for country's outdated medical formulary.
00:22The Prime Minister wants a more responsive public service
00:26and she says permanent secretaries must be prepared to be frank with their ministers.
00:32Ministers require accurate information, sound analysis and frank, objective advice.
00:41And you know what this also includes?
00:43Maybe they don't want it sometimes, but we really need USPSs to guide us
00:49that we don't do something that at the end of the day is wrong.
00:53So even though a minister may come to you and say,
00:56I'm going to do X, Y, you have the duty because you have the institutional memory
01:02to say, Mr. Hold on, stop. You might end up in a courthouse.
01:06She also revealed that government has identified a number of state companies
01:10that are no longer functioning.
01:13Passat-Bassassar says action will be taken.
01:16I intend to deal with some of those non-functioning companies
01:18as we go into the new parliamentary term.
01:21She's also taking aim at the long-standing practice of public officers
01:26remaining in acting positions for years.
01:30Can we work to take that out?
01:31I have said that before.
01:33I don't know which function, but I know I said it right here.
01:35We have to stop, you know, creating all these actors
01:38and give people real hope and real life.
01:40And the Prime Minister says outdated systems are having real consequences,
01:45pointing specifically to access to medication.
01:48She revealed that the formulary is dated 1975.
01:53But Passat-Bassassar says government will work to address the problem
01:57and to make cheaper medication more accessible.
02:00If the WHO approves that medication, what's wrong with it?
02:05If the U.S. FDA approves it, what?
02:08We better? We brighter?
02:09So if there is these world-known, renowned people who know far more than we do,
02:16who can afford to do more research than we could ever sit in Trinidad and do,
02:20let's do it and let's get these medications.
02:22People are suffering and they're cheaper.
02:28That story takes us to tonight's PeopleMeter.
02:30We ask, do you agree with the Prime Minister's demand for more accountability in the public service?
02:37To vote, text yes or no to the number 766-4886 or 766-4TV6.
02:44We'll have the results for you at the end of this newscast.
02:47Still deco-
Comments