Reorganising government agencies

I have a problem with how the division of labour among government agencies is done here in Singapore. I don't like it because it doesn't make sense.

The statutory boards I'm referring to are the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), the National Environment Agency (NEA), and the National Parks Board (NParks).

Let's take a look at what each body is currently in charge of.

AVA:

• food safety such as random checks on imported consumables
• food supply and security such as importing food and regulating local farming industry
• animal control including managing stray and wild animals
• enforcement of animal-related laws such as illegal wildlife trading and cruelty towards animals
• licensing of pets and pet shops
• plant health and maintenance of balanced ecosystem

NEA:

• weather forecasting
• climate change
• disease outbreaks such as dengue
• management of all food outlets
• food hygiene standards such as licensing of food handlers
• enforcement against littering and other forms of dirtying the surroundings
• oversee public facilities such as toilets and swimming pools
• issues pertaining to the dead such as crematoriums and cemeteries
• all types of pollution control including air, water, soil, noise, radioactive and chemical
• energy efficiency such as the labelling of electrical appliances

NParks:

• take care of all the greenery
• manage parks including the wildlife within
• planning to achieve balanced ecosystem
• community gardening initiatives

There is quite a bit of overlap in terms of responsibilities. This leads to inefficiencies when multiple agencies have to get involved in a single project. It's a case of too many cooks.

For example, when there is a food safety lapse and a disease outbreak occurs, NEA steps in as it manages the food establishments, AVA has a role to play because it has to test samples of food and determine if it is fit for consumption, and the Ministry of Health also joins the fray due to the spread of disease and treatment of the infected.

Another example is the annual Operation No Release. PUB, the national water agency, and NParks appeal to the public not to release animals into the environment. NParks, being in charge of parks and nature reserves, strives to uphold the integrity of the ecosystem which is threatened by the introduction of invasive species. However, AVA is also involved as the issue at hand has to do with animals, which is under its jurisdiction.

See how complicated things can get? Wouldn't it be better to re-allocate some of the jobs to ensure a more streamlined workflow?

Here is the new structure I propose.

Animal Management Authority (AMA):
This new agency will be created and AVA scrapped. It will be in charge of all matters related to animals, including strays, wild animals, and domestic animals. Illegal wildlife trading and animal cruelty cases will also come under them. It WILL NOT have anything to do with the ecosystem or biodiversity, except for punishing people who release animals into the parks and nature reserves.

NParks to be renamed to National Plants Board (NPB):
All plant-related issues will be overseen by this agency. It will retain its current portfolio with the exception of management of wildlife inside the nature reserves, which will be handed over to AMA. It will also take over the plant-related area currently handled by AVA.

NEA:
It will be in charge of pollution control and waste disposal as well as weather and climate, as it is now. It will continue to deal with littering and illegal dumping, and administer the labelling scheme for energy-efficient electrical appliances. In addition, it will take on the planning and maintenance of a balanced ecosystem and biodiversity. Managing the dead and everything to do with diseases will be given to the Ministry of Health.

Public Facilities Management Group (PFMG):
Running the public toilets and swimming pools, which are currently the responsibility of NEA, will be handed over to PFMG, a new agency. PFMG may also take over the running of other public works such as roads, freeing up other agencies to focus on improving standards and quality instead of getting bogged down in the day-to-day operations.

Food Authority of Singapore (FAS):
This new body will look into food safety and ensure a reliable food supply through importation and locally based farms as AVA does currently, and take over managing food establishments and licensing food handlers from NEA.

Some inter-agency cooperation will still be involved, such as NEA requiring the help of AMA and NPB to manage the ecosystem. However, much of the bloatedness that exists in the current system has been pared away, leaving each agency to focus exclusively on one area.

A side benefit of the reshuffle is that two new agencies have been formed. This will create more jobs and reduce the unemployment rate.

Of course, my idea for the new agencies is just personal opinion and it may not even stand up to critical analysis. But I really do think that a shake-up is needed in these three agencies in particular. They're each putting their fingers into one another's respective pies, and getting in one another's way. As a result, their focus is diluted and they don't do their jobs properly.

A reorganisation is just what the doctor ordered.