Permanent Secretary Mr Parmesh Chand’s Speaking Notes at the Basic Prosecuting Skills Workshop -6/5/10

Members of the Public Service Commission, Members of the Disciplinary Tribunal, Chief Resource Person, Ms Nazhat Shameem and Senior Staff from the various Ministries and Departments of Government.

Let me first thank you all for attending this first ever two day workshop on Basic Prosecuting Skills here at the Centre for Training and Development.

I take this opportunity at the outset to acknowledge the sensitive and often cumbersome task that is currently carried out by the Public Service Disciplinary Tribunal. Essentially, the role of the Tribunal is to hear all disciplinary charges referred to it by the Commission. It gives the opportunity to the person who has been charged with disciplinary offence to be heard and the Tribunal using principles of fairness and natural justice, compiles its proceedings and recommendations for determination by the Commission.

The increasing number of disciplinary cases emanating largely from Government’s focus on eliminating abuse of procedures and corruption practices in the civil service has really imposed challenges to the work of the Prosecution Officers and Tribunal alike.

The Tribunal conducts proceedings; hears evidence; finds the facts relating to the cases and deliberates for a recommendation which finally gets submitted to the Commission for a final decision.

In the first quarter of this year, a total of 12 cases were cleared while 25 cases are with the Tribunal for hearing.

One of challenges faced by Government, Ministries/Departments and Agencies which bring the cases to the Tribunal is how best to construct a coherent prosecution i.e. the filing of proper charges, the compilation of witness statements, the presentation of witnesses for evidence and cross examination and proper summing up of the case.

As Senior Officers, the two day workshop will prepare you to be equipped with the proper prosecuting skills in the context of disciplinary action on civil servants and that a fair process of hearing and determination of cases will always prevail when appearing before the Tribunal.

Most importantly we are pleased and humbled to have the services of former High Court Judge and Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms Nazhat Shameem who has had extensive knowledge and experience on prosecution.

We will also have members of the Tribunal providing guidance and resource inputs to enhance dissemination of relevant information in this training programme.

Please do take advantage of the opportunity which is being availed to you in this instance. Your learning and sharpening of skills over the next two days will help us in our quest to build a well disciplined, ethical, accountable and most of all efficient civil service.

I wish you well

Thank you