\n<\/p>\n
I found this from a painful experience years ago in my previous job as editor. The newspaper I worked for had a ready supply of shopping vouchers to be given to readers whenever we held contests or events promoting the paper.<\/p>\n
They were entrusted for safekeeping to the head of the department that ran the promotions. Alas, he was found out through an audit to have used some of the vouchers for his personal needs, and subsequently sacked.<\/p>\n
I realised then that the safeguards in place to prevent this sort of fraud were too lax and the person was given too free a hand to run his unit.<\/p>\n
In effect, I was not doing him a favour because the temptation to pilfer was too great for him, given the loose arrangements.<\/p>\n
If I had been stricter, he might not be so tempted and his career would not have been cut short so abruptly.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
He also had to face the consequences of breaking the law.<\/p>\n
The lesson I learnt is that being stricter on the rules may be better for the officers concerned.<\/p>\n
It is not that they are not to be trusted but that while I trust you, I also want you to know that someone is watching whether you cross the red line.<\/p>\n
In the present case, if officers know that the declarations they make are not scrutinised closely by someone and are only a formality, the temptation to offend might become too great for some.<\/p>\n
“Trust but verify” should always be the operating principle.<\/p>\n
It is a lesson worth learning for the public service as it decides what further safeguards to put in place.<\/p>\n