7 QUESTIONS FOR PSC BOSS
Newsmakers in their own words

Tonumaivao Navy Epati is the country’s Public Service Commissioner, playing a central role in ensuring that the public service is effective and efficient.
Here – in his own words – are answers to seven questions on:
Three things happiest with as Public Service Commissioner in 2006:
Well about three weeks after taking over as Commissioner, Parliament was dissolved, so most of 2006 was in ‘precautionary approach’ gear. In that context;
1. The sensible and collected manner in which the public service conducted itself from the dissolution of Parliament to the confirmation of the new government.
2. The overwhelming support and cooperation of all HOMs and SIAs to “fix” policy and legislative anomalies still outstanding after the reforms of 1995/96.
3. That while our public service is not perfect, we have more than enough good people with vision, dedication and skill-sets to advance our service delivery, with the humility to admit our weaknesses and learn from our mistakes of yester-years.  
Things you were most disappointed with as Public Service Commissioner in 2006:
1. The lack of sectoral cohesion within our economic sector; Tourism is getting no help from Agriculture which is stagnant, and declining help from Marine which is being revitalised under NZAid assistance.
2. The Island Administrations structure is costly, but we continue to experience “management” difficulties, apparently from a lack of hierarchical appreciation of roles both political and public service.
 
Priorities in 2007:
1st half of the year is to dispense with predetermined budgetary commitments for this financial year. I have also taken the opportunity (since the dissolution of Parliament) to gauge the extent of where everything is, since I left PSC in 2000. I am making the next FY 07-08 as the launching timeframe for some major policy and structural reforms that remain outstanding. I’ll share these with you in due course.
That the Cook Islands public service is not efficient and productive enough:
That criticism will always be there. In a way it’s good because it keeps the service on its toes. It is also a primary responsibility of the public service to receive such public verdicts and change them.
 Comments in December’s Half Yearly Fiscal Update on the need for caution on public service personnel costs:
This is a monster we must always look out for. We’ve been burnt before (1995/96) from irresponsible engagement of unnecessary personnel.  
Its comment that some ministries seem to favour quantity over quality when it comes to staffing:
If that is proven to be true, then it reflects the poor judgement of that HOM. At present, the HOMs assessment criteria, process and template needs serious review. 
On claims of too much political interference and too many political appointments:
This in my experience comes about, more often than not, from ignorance of one’s role, responsibilities and legal obligations. Also whenever “political interference” is mentioned, the inference is always that it’s the Minister or Cabinet. Political advisers/manipulators and crafty public servants usually hide behind ministers and sometimes Cabinet. But we have also had numerous occasions that Ministers and Cabinet have made decisions which were deemed line ministry responsibility rather than central policy.

Headlines : Times 187 12 Feb 2007
- AUNTY MAU HITS BACK
- Good chance to seek arts funding
- Police shift goal posts in crash case George
- Case unheard after 3 years, thrown out
- Police get final warning on 7-month-old case
- Many happy returns, Papa Ralph
- FAO consultant to meet Minister
- New Year, new body challenge
- Telecom connects with community
- Unfinished business waits, says Wigmore

Headlines : Times 186 05 February 2007
- 7 QUESTIONS FOR PSC BOSS
- WATER FROM WHERE?
- Day and night care for young
- You Say: OUR TAHITI LINK
- SKEWS HOPE : Two Tahiti flights could mean more Europeans
- Airport upgrade part of big spend on island
- Back in Raro
- Financial watch unit upgrades data system
- America, here comes Cooks