Prime Minister overworked and underpaid

“I HAVE the fullest confidence that at the end of the day, in spite of all the bitching and backbiting  which take place in the workplace, for the country’s sake, you would find ways and means to foster team building in carrying out the invaluable work of the Authority.”

This was the advice Israel B Khan SC, Director of Legal Aid and Advisory Authority (LAAA), gave to his staff  during the opening ceremony of a retreat organised by the Authority and aimed at fostering “teambuilding in the work of the Authority.” In his short but fiery speech, Khan said: “I myself have no doubts in my mind that each member of staff is doing at least the minimum amount of work that is required of him/her. But there are others who do more than that minimum — they go the extra mile in providing the required services to those who are in need of legal aid. And there are one or two or maybe three or four of us who subscribe to the ‘work-to-rule’ concept.” He suggested to the workers that they take the attitude: “ Let me see what I can do for the Authority, rather than saying what can the Authority do for me.” 

He added: “The Authority has been doing something for you. It has been paying your salaries. In other words, it has been assisting you to clothe, feed and educate your respective families. I know that you are overworked and underpaid. And so too are our police, teachers and our judges. “At $25,000 per month, taking into account his duties and responsibilities, the Prime Minister is overworked and underpaid. But he does not engage in work-to-rule tactics. I am quite aware that you work under cramped conditions, but so too do the members of staff in the PM’s office —  even Parliament needs more space. We do not live in a perfect world so do not expect to work in a perfect workplace.”

Khan assured his staff that the Board has been trying its best to improve their terms and conditions of work, including more office space, equipment and better pay packages and pension benefits. He noted that the LAAA’s line Minister Camille Robinson-Regis was a very sagacious politician and receptive to the ideas of team unity and team building in the workplace. He observed that the Minister has her ear to the ground and via indirect routes is willing to lend an ear to the captain or the cook, or in “this regard from director to the cleaner.” He recognised that the only person who has the luxury of working out of the workplace was the Director. “Hence the Director has no interpersonal problems with anyone in the workplace, but that does not mean that certain things do not bother me. But that would not prevent me from giving one hundred percent performance.” An example Khan recalled was when he took up office. He said: “ It struck me as odd that there was both a gender and an ethnic imbalance in the membership of the staff. And this is in spite of the fact that we have had three different administrations governing the country during the period — PNM, NAR and UNC.

“At the end of my term of office, the status quo in relation to this gender and ethnic imbalance remains intact. “I personally took up the position — so what if there is this gender and ethnic imbalance? Staff would be recruited and be evaluated only by one set of factors — that is merit, ability and integrity.” Khan told the workers that he was aware that they cannot give 100 percent performance, “but I implore you to continue putting your best foot forward in performing your duties.” He said the Authority is one of the most important institutions of the national life of this country and reminded the workers that if the Authority falters in performing its duty, it would affect the criminal justice system and the rule of law. “Indeed, without the LAAA, the criminal justice system would crumble and man would be against man like a pit-bull... life in this country would be nasty, brutish and short.”