Editorial
Board Appointments should benon-partisan
As the new Government settles into office,public expectations for the fulfillment of campaign promises continueto be a basis on which its performance will be judged.
Soon, the new team will have been in office for its first 100days, a psychological benchmark period during which people oftenassess the Government's actions on all fronts, against what itstated it would accomplish.
Unfortunately, this period may also be one in which people adopta of a "wait-and-see" attitude, and, when things donot appear to be happening at the pace they may have expected,apathy is likely to creep in.
During these first days, part of getting down to the businessof governing the country for the next four years will of courseinvolve finding and appointing the right persons to critical positionson Government and statutory boards - the kind of talent that willbe effective in helping the Government meet its objectives inensuring responsible and accountable public sector management.
This is certainly no easy task. Indeed, it is one that shouldbe approached with a certain sensitivity towards possible conflictof interests and a critical eye on the track record of the personschosen.
It is also important that those who have the authority to makesuch appointments recognise the need for a non-partisan approachto their selection - that persons should be chosen on the basisof merit, rather than in reward for any political or social allegiancesthat they may have with those making the appointments.
They must call the breadth of experience that is in the community,and on the persons willing to serve, for the sake of serving,rather than for personal gain.
A fair selection process must also seek out and recognise thetalent and contribution that can come from as wide a cross-sectionof the community as possible.
Processes like the recent General Elections, and before that theconsultative drafting of the Vision 2008 Strategic Plan, certainlybrought to fore a profile of some of the qualified and experiencepeople - Caymanians and non-Caymanians -- residing here, and thekind of worthwhile and workable ideas that can be generated, oncepeople get involved.
The Government's involvement of as broad a cross-section of thesociety as is possible, on public sector and statutory boardscan be one way of lessening societal apathy. More importantly,it sends a strong signal of Government as a partnership with thepeople.
That is the kind of campaign promise that Government would bewise to keep; it is also an approach that would ensure they loyaland support of the public.
Afterall, government of the people must involve all the people,not just a handful.