Private or public sector, inefficiency and lack of productivity is rampant. An ongoing experience with (Price Waterhouse Coopers) PwC since 2012 has left me challenging the statement that public servants are lazy. I am beginning to conclude that the lack of productivity observed in the public service is equally rampant in the private sector. The simplest of transactions take an inordinately long time and quality customer service is the exception rather than the rule.
My current angst is with the reputable firm PwC. In 2012 they were invited to carry out the voluntary liquidation of the Caribbean Games Company (CG09). Seven years later, there is one outstanding matter holding back the finalization of the Liquidation and PwC who is being paid monthly has attached no urgency to wrapping up the Games. As a matter of fact, the liquidator is actively ignoring any approaches on this issue. Contrast this seven year timeline with the PwC British website which boasts that that complex liquidations take an average of 24 to 30 months.
The matter preventing the completion of this liquidation is whether or not the board members should be remunerated for their service. It is a reasonable expectation that service on a Board would attract some form of remuneration unless explicitly stated to the contrary. At the last meeting with the liquidator in May 2019, the following statement: “… a total payment of more than a million dollars to seven Directors for Games which never came off is unconscionable…” raised the ire of the following members: Mrs. Dennise Demming, Dr. Iva Gloudon, Dr. Arthur Potts, Mr. David O Brien, Mr. Douglas Camacho and Mr. Mushtaque Mohammed.
For the record, under the leadership of former Minister of Health, Mr. Jerry Narace, Trinidad & Tobago created history by being the only country to cancel any activity because of the H1N1 scare and this cancellation occurred 6 weeks prior to the staging of the Games. The board had been working diligently for the 30 months between their appointment and this cancellation.
The liquidator has the power to make a final determination but to take seven years to make that decision is unconscionable and unproductive. Further, who is responsible at PwC to question why a simple voluntary liquidation should take almost seven years and counting. If a reputable organization like PwC can’t get a simple voluntary liquidation completed in a reasonable time, then Trinidad & Tobago is doomed!
Dennise Demming 