WHEN THE solution to a problem is worse than the problem itself and defies common sense, what usually results is a reductio and absurdum, a Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera which provokes an audience to mirth rather than to consternation.
A case in point is the recent unrest in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) during the course of which 23 of 29 public prosecutors went on sick-out and Mr. Kent Pantry, QC, went on public radio to deny any responsibility for what was happening, claiming not to know why his staff was taking the action which they did.
The Ministry of Justice is advertising for the services of five trained "mediators", with at least five years' experience, no less, to enter into six-month contracts to facilitate team-building between the DPP and his staff.
This seems to us to be professionally infra dig for a department in which highly-trained lawyers are expected to perform specialist tasks in the overall justice system. We wonder what skills the "mediators" themselves will bring to their work? Will other "mediators" caucus to arrive at a fair lunch schedule for the public prosecutors while yet others check on personal hygiene and general office etiquette?
We think that this pussyfooting around is ridiculous and a waste of public resources. It can be necessary sometimes to "clear the air" in a department when conflicts arise and get out of hand for having been swept under the carpet, but once this catharsis has taken place the persons involved must be mature enough to make a new start on their own. No amount of nurse-maiding by "mediators" is going to be able to accomplish this. If personality conflicts are too deep-rooted for a fresh start to be made, then the personalities must be separated and/or removed.
It is time for the Government and/or the Public Service Commission to come up with a fundamental solution for what is obviously a major problem instead of making it worse with cosmetic fiddling.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
