E. Flores streamlines bureaucracy

E. Flores streamlines bureaucracy

The Jakarta Post, Kupang

As part of efforts to streamline the bureaucracy, East Flores
Regent Simon Hayon is planning to liquidate 142 posts in the
regency administration. The plan is being proposed to the East
Flores Regency Legislative Council for approval.

The measure is aimed at economizing spending for government
officials, allowing the government to shift the budget more for
public spending such as building public infrastructure or
increasing the education budget.

"The government officials will surely be mad, but I believe
the policy will be backed by the majority of East Flores people
most of whom are fishermen and farmers," said Simon on Saturday.

Those officials whose posts will be abolished would still work
at the administration by assuming non-structural positions, but
they will lose the allowance given for the structural position.

The decision to streamline the bureaucracy takes place after
the regental government conducted a study on government spending
in the regency, said Simon.

According to the study, the regental government has so far
spent between Rp 6 billion and 8 billion a year to cover spending
by government officials, including allowances and trips to the
regions. By streamlining the bureaucracy, the government will
have more money to subsidize education to prevent children
dropping out of school or to help the farmers and the fishermen,
said Simon.

Under the plan, eight out of 17 offices at the regental
secretariat will be abolished. The nine offices that would remain
exist are agriculture, education, health, public works, forestry
and plantations, fisheries and maritime affairs, transportation
and tourism, cooperatives and small and medium enterprises and
the trade and industry office.