The ineffectual ICF should start from scratch
I, like many other readers, always enjoy a chuckle at some, perhaps not all, of the cartoons published on the Other Views page of your newspaper, but the one that was artfully integrated and almost hidden at the bottom on Page A22 of the April 11 edition was a real classic and definitely an LOL inclusion which brightened up my morning considerably.
At first I thought that it may have been a belated April Fool joke but then, after I had read it, I realized that it was actually serious.
I refer to the ad posted on behalf of that boondoggle organization, the Island Corridor Foundation, seeking a new chief executive officer. The incompetent ICF, for a considerable number of years, has banqueted off the public purse and achieved absolutely nothing. They have talked ad infinitum, had meetings, discussed, ho-hummed and expensed forever, but with what tangible results?
And now they are looking for a replacement CEO? I note that there are no details of remuneration or benefits package, but I can lay favourable odds that it, like many other quasi-official, publicly funded pork-barrel clubs, will be substantial in the extreme. The exorbitant package will, of course be justified by the well worn phrase of being “Necessary in order to attract candidates of the highest caliber”.
Even more amusing was this sentence included in the ad “will work in concert with the ICF rail operator to assist in expanding rail services…blah, blah etc.…however, previous rail experience is not essential”.
Hang on just a minute here, what rail services? When was the last time anyone saw a commercial train actually moving?
I fully understand the non-requirement for previous rail experience as this also brought on a somewhat wry smile. Why would a CEO need this kind of experience when, there ain’t no rail?
And yet, the ICF will go year after interminable year, not cap in hand, but arrogantly to the authorities demanding more and more funds to feed the monster that has been created.
For those that would say that perhaps criticism of the ICF should cease and solutions put forward instead, here’s a suggestion, how about disbanding and shutting down this crumbling and ineffective bunch and start again from scratch with those who may actually get something done? Nope, can’t do that — it would cost far too much in severance because of those wonderful packages that exist.
Michael Wilson
Cobble Hill