The United Progressive Party (UPP) is calling for greater ministerial accountability following a series of high-profile transfers within the public sector, arguing that the government is scapegoating civil servants while shielding ministers from scrutiny.
Speaking on Observer Radio on Friday, UPP Chair Dame D. Giselle Isaac raised concerns over the recent reassignment of senior officials, including the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and the Director of Public Works, Aldin Crump. She questioned why ministers presiding over troubled departments were not themselves held to account.
“How is it that the Prime Minister can get up and always be heaping blame on public servants, and the people who are supposed to be leading them are not held accountable at all?” she asked.
Isaac argued that the transfers appear politically motivated, particularly in the case of the Ministry of Education. The reshuffling followed an industrial dispute involving striking teachers over unpaid allowances—a matter the UPP says was mishandled at the highest levels.
“Where is the responsibility there?” Isaac asked. “Did the minister follow up on the order? Did she ensure a report was delivered? This went on for days when it ought not to have.”
In the case of Public Works, Isaac pointed to the reassignment of Crump—who was blamed for the poor state of roads—as contradictory. “He’s not performing on roads, you say, but you’re going to send him off to the airport to perform on the runway?” she said. “It’s a contradiction.”
Prime Minister Gaston Browne recently signalled that more shakeups are likely across the public sector, citing underperformance. However, the opposition argues that the government’s reactive approach to governance has failed to deliver long-term planning and effective leadership.
“The people at the top seem to want to lead from behind,” Isaac said. “You can’t just pick up people who are not performing, according to you, from here and put them there to do what? Not perform again?”
The UPP maintains that accountability must extend beyond bureaucrats and that ministers must be answerable for their roles in policy implementation and departmental oversight.
There has been no official government response to the UPP’s criticisms.