Government: a fast-paced work schedule

Well known for his hard-driving management style, when he was in the private sector, President Ravalomanana imposes a fast-paced work schedule on his ministers.
While the latest political crisis, a few weeks earlier, prevented government officials from staying late in their office, the evolution of the situation is currently turning them into night owls.
The accelerated work schedule imposed by the new president is such that the government officials find it impossible to do as they please.
The upcoming release of the administrative budget, for the various government agencies, which was delayed by the crisis, is a perfect example.
Consultants, specialists, and ministers, as well as high-ranking agency officials become, in spite of themselves, night owls who must remain late in their office.

Agency budget preparations, which formerly took several weeks, currently must be accomplished in just a few days.
The aim is to make up for lost time, and to deliver results as quickly as possible.
Because, in the past, the various government agencies functioned by requisitioning funds from the Department of Treasury, they could not maneuver as freely as they wished, regardless of their ambitions.
That is why it is necessary to come up with a 2002 budget, as quickly as possible.

Finalizing the organization charts within each agency also required an accelerated work schedule from the government members.
The Malagasy public officials who, obviously, are not used to this kind of pace, are rather stunned.
Generally, this kind of work schedule is required for each cabinet meeting, not to mention the telephone calls (placed by the president to his ministers, at “ungodly” hours, according to reliable sources) inquiring about the progress of a task at hand.
It still remains to be seen whether or not this work will bring tangible results which will benefit the population in the short-term.
This is a subject near and dear to
the new president since he came to power.
In any event, President Ravalomanana is well known within the private sector, as a quiet, but involved, and hard-driving industry leader.
The only thing is, public sector administration is a whole new ball game for him.

Translated by J. F. Razanamiadana