Questions in Parliament
| Thursday February 25, 2010 00:00
To ask the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration to state: MP Gilson Saleshando of Selebi Phikwe West)
Answer: Whether research was carried out before the Public Service Management Directive No.2 of 2008 on Attraction and Retention Policy was implemented considering the mistakes that were made in the process of implementing the directive;
ii. The cost effectiveness of the exercise since implementation considering that new employees are registered as an when they are categorised as qualifying for the scarce skill allowance;
iii. Whether government has plans to carry out further research on the scarce skill in the country in order to determine if the skills initially categorised as scarce are still scarce; and
iv. Whether government had plans to implement other cost effective pay structures in the public service intended to benefit the entire public service and not just a few.
Answer: Madam Speaker, before issuance and implementation of Public Service Management Directive No.n bbn 2 of 2008 on Attraction and Retention Policy, Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis (BIDPA) was engaged by government in 2007 to conduct a study and advise government on Attraction and Retention Policy.
The recommendations from this study informed Public Service Management Directive No.2 of 2008 which introduced payment of scarce skills to identified cadres.
Madam Speaker, the exercise is cost effective because since implementation of the Directive there has been an overall decline in vacancy and attrition rate for posts that have been awarded scarce skills allowance.
Madam Speaker, government has plans to undertake further research on the scarce skill to determine if the scarce skills initially categorized as scarce are still scarce.
Madam Speaker, government has plans to implement other cost effective pay structures in the Public Service to benefit the entire public service. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Question by Abram Kesupile MP for Kanye South:
To ask the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration if she is aware that people with severe and profound disabilities go through life with great difficulties placing a heavy burden of care on their families; if so what strategies are in place to assist their families and the disabled.
Answer: Madam Speaker, I am aware that people with severe and profound disabilities go through life with great difficulties placing a heavy burden of care on their families. A number of programs are in place to assist people with disabilities and their families to cope.
Amongst the key programs is the Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Program administered by the Ministry of Local Government in collaboration with the Ministry of Health to promote integration and participation of people with disabilities in all social and economic spheres of their communities.
There are other numerous programmes run by the various Ministries and Non-Governmental Organisations to assist people with disabilities in this regard.
In my response to question 259 asked by the Honourable Member for Shoshong, I outlined the various programmes for the disabled in the different government ministries. I have attached the earlier response for your reference.
Madam Speaker, Government has found it necessary to establish the coordinating office for People with Disabilities under the Office of the President to improve the overall coordination of their programmes as well as provide strategic direction in the delivery of disability programmes. I thank you, Madam Speaker.
Question by Okavango MP Bagalatia Arone:To ask the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration what the Government is doing about the Media Practitioners Act, which is receiving resistance from key stakeholders such as the media and the Law Society of Botswana.
Answer: Madam Speaker, all Committees that are needed for the implementation of the Media Practitioners Act are in place safe for the appointment of an appeals committee due to failure by the Law Society to recommend a Legal Practitioner to serve as the Committee's Chairperson as prescribed in the act. I thank you, Madam Speaker.
Question by Ngami MP Tlhabano:To ask the Minister of Defence, Justice and Security;
i) How many people suspected of disrespecting the President by uttering words of insult have been charged;
ii) How many were deported before or after being charged and convicted ; and
iii) What were their nationalities
Answer: Madam Speaker, Since April 2008 to date, a total of thirteen (13) persons were charged for showing disrespect to His Excellency the President by uttering words of insult. Three (3) foreign nationals were deported.
Madam Speaker, The nationalities of the three (3) deported foreign nationals are one (1) Indian, one (1) Pakistani and one (1) South African. I thank you, Madam Speaker.