Project
Management and the Political Process
Speech Delivered by the Director of Planning, Mr.
Otto O'Neal at the Ministry of Health Project Planning Symposium,
At Fort Burt Hotel Conference on 22nd March 2001
The purpose of the public service is to implement the agenda of the
politicians who are given the mandate to lead the country under most
political systems including democracy.
The politicians have a mandate from the people to implement programmes and
projects to meet the hopes and aspirations of the persons they represent
with or without consultation.
The measures that Ministers want to implement usually are intended to
reach the goals incorporated in the their overall development strategy. We
as public servants must remember that the politician got to this position
based on the vision that he presented to the electorate.
The proposed programmes and projects under your particular ministry are
but a part of a set intended to meet some over- arching goal such as to
improve the quality of life and standards of living for BVIsanders.
The collection of projects proposed by all of government is normally
referred to as the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP). Part of our
mission as the public service is to ensure the implementation of the PSIP
in accordance with the agenda of the government overall. The PSIP is
nothing more than the investment side of government. In most instances it
represents investment in infrastructure in order to deliver programme
services in a more efficient way.
We all know from the history of our country that the Government of the
British Virgin Islands is the largest operation here in terms of spending
and employment. GBVI actively promotes, regulates and manages the tourism
and financial services sectors among its many responsibilities. In fact we
can say without fear of contradiction that GBVI is the most critical
development institution in the BVI as it provides financial support,
technical assistance, supportive infrastructure and management for
economic, social environmental and spatial activities. Government delivers
these services through programmes and projects.
Given the importance of government to development in this country, it is
of utmost importance that its programmes and projects be implemented
efficiently and timely so as not to restrict growth and to compromise the
Ministers agenda. Remember Ministers projects are to meet the hopes and
aspirations of the people.
A programme or project really is a political decision and it cannot exist
without such. This is a fundamental point that must not be lost on us as
civil servants. In fact we can really say that a project is a political
activity and as such there is a great public interest because of the many
stakeholders.
So when the public or the press takes a keen interest in the status of
projects such as the hospital, the clinics or the incinerator it is
because these are critical to development, important to their interest or
they are using their political rights to insist on good government and
good governance. As civil servants we must respect these rights and
interest as legitimate and necessary.
Because the role and function of the public service is to support
Ministers in the implementation of the decisions, we must be keenly aware
of our role, the political environment and the agenda of Ministers. In
project management our role is to operationalize the policies of Ministers
by supporting the implementation of their vision.
In project management our role is to development, implement, advise, and
inform. We must understand the technical and political aspects of project
cycle management, the public service delivery mechanisms and systems.
Designing, developing and implementing a project is really managing the
application of a set of integrated skills in finance, engineering,
administration, economics, sociology, physical planning, environmental
sciences and many other fields. Generally there is a great level of
co-ordination necessary as these skills are usually spread out over
various agencies, departments and ministries.
Although the technical aspects of project management are important, in
fact they are less critical to the political process. There are others
more competent speakers in this area later in your programme.
Implementation and monitoring are two very critical activities, which
attracts a lot of attention in the political process.
Politicians/Ministers have milestones and achievements, which they must
realize as success criteria. Managing a project is managing the roles of
the developers, the agenda of the Minister and the various interests of
non-governmental organizations
As a project manager you must control the flow of information about your
project or Fletcher, Cromwell, Edmund or someone else from the media will
do it for you. You must provide Ministers with policy statements for
parliament, progress reports for Executive Council, Legislative Council,
the press and the general public. Remember the public has a right to know
and that there is a great public interest.
The idea here is that stakeholders, critics and other parties pursuing
their various interests will be monitoring, measuring and misrepresenting
the situation if you do not challenge them with the facts.
Remember you are implementing the Minister’s programme and many people
have a legitimate interest in the outcome, good or bad.
To sum up what I have said to you. Project management is the mission of
the public service and activities here are seeking to put a political
vision in place. Projects are legitimate political decisions aimed at
meeting the hopes and aspirations of the people. The main role of the
Ministry is to ensure the technical and bureaucratic processes are
executed according to policy and strategy. Projects are political
decisions and are therefore firm instructions to civil servants.
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