a short story by Peter Poulsen

The Advisor dozes as the plane drones on over the endless blue ocean … blue, blue as far as the eye can see … not even a cloud or reef to break the endless blue.

The Advisor's dozing is disturbed by the change in the note of the plane's drone; followed by the Captain's announcement: "shortly we will begin our decent to Kiritong, the fasten seat belt sign is now on. The local time is 10 am and the weather forecast: mainly fine."

As the plane begins to lose altitude, the first islands of the main Kiritong group comes into view. Small dashes of emerald green, surrounded by turquoise lagoons, lost in vast expanse of the deep blue Ocean. As he sits there looking out of the window, the Advisor's mind drifts back to his pre-departure briefing given him by the CDLO (Country Desk, Liaison Officer) of the VSCDBU (Very Small Country Development Bank Unit.)

"The VSCDBU, has only recently been established, following extensive review by the Bank's management, and continuous pressure form the VSCRG - the Very Small Countries' Regional Grouping. It is a sub-section of the SCDB (Small Countries Development Bank), which links back through various connections to the main regional Development Bank …" The Advisor had lost interest as the CDLO had waxed lyrical about the exact connections … His attention had returned when the CDLO started to discuss Kiritong.

Kiritong, a small group of islands straddling a wide area of the Pacific … none of the islands very large … (between the size of a pin prick and fly spot on the average map of the Pacific Ocean) … closest neighbor the Teakongs … land area some 800 square kilometers, at least twice that at low tide … population below 100,000 --- though no one is quite sure since the last census was more than 10 years ago and the migration, birth and death statistics have not been kept up to date since the hard drive crashed on the computer in the Statistics, Information and Details Department (SIDD) …

The CDLO had then turned to the objectives and terms of reference (TOR) of the project under which The Advisor was to operate. One of those 'institutional strengthening' projects … review operations … establish capabilities for project planning and debt management … on-the-job training of counterparts … advisory post not in-line … quarterly reports etc. VSCDBU to fund advisor and travel costs, host government to fund counterparts, office space, computer facilities etc. …

He had been given a copy of the project document, tickets and a paper on living conditions, what essentials to bring etc. Flights to Kiritong are infrequent, a few times a week, most of the time. He had checked his itinerary: more than one day from when he left to when he arrived in Kiritong … several stop overs, but all of relatively short duration, with early morning departure for the last leg.

The Advisor is shaken from his reflection as the wheels touch down on the coral packed surface of the runway, and the engines scream into reverse -- the run way is only just long enough to take medium sized jets and the pilots have to brake very hard so as not to overshoot into the lagoon. The plane taxis to buildings … all new and gleaming, recently completed under an aid project funded by the Pacific rim country interested in exploiting the fishing opportunities presented by Kiritong's large 200 mile zone.

Stepping out of the plane the passengers are hit by the heat and glare of the sun off the coral surface. A single queue forms at the one desk open for immigration, a notice pinned on the door apologizes for the non-operation of the air-conditioning in the arrival hall.

Passport officer to The Advisor:

"Welcome to Kiritong, may I see your visa?"

"I was told I could get one on arrival, I am going to work as a Consultant in the Ministry of Planning, Counting, Numbers and Monetary Matters (MPCNMM) for two years."

"You should have got a visa."

"I was told I could get one here."

"OK, when you get into town take your passport to DVT&M they can give you a visa."

"Excuse me, what is DVT&M ?"

"The Department of Visitors, Travelers and Migration, they can give you what you need. Have a nice stay."

The Advisor moves on to the baggage collection point. Various people are milling about: large local people lugging large boxes and bags containing all manner of item, and several groups of non-locals, mostly looking a little dazed and unsure of themselves. A smiling suntanned Caucasian approaches The Advisor: "you are The Advisor? I have been sent to meet you, everyone calls me Stayon, got your bags … good … follow me." Soon they are through customs, and bundled into a large van and pulling out from the airport.

As they pass a coconut tree studied landscape, interspersed with villages containing a hotchpotch of buildings, made from a mixture of local and imported materials, Stayon chatters on: "delighted to see you … expect you must be tired, terrible schedules we have … conditions somewhat changed since project drawn up … oh, that's headquarters of the main church … Department Head recently changed … over there you can see some old examples of traditional meeting houses … we'll put you in a hotel for awhile, rented housing hard to find … over there is the embassy of the Pacific Rim Country, who funded the new airport building … no point in you coming into the office today, just rest and come in when you feel like it tomorrow … afraid the road is rather bumpy, due for an upgrade under a project to be funded by the GofC … The Advisor half listens, as the country side trundles by, trying to minimize the discomfort from the loose spring in the seat.

After a while they arrive at the hotel. Stayon continues "Hope you will be comfortable, not much choice here you know." After filling several forms, and waiting for the key to be found, The Advisor finds himself herded up a flight of variable stairs (no two steps are the same height) and shown into a large rather musty room. Soon he is alone, and collapses on the bed, and sleeps.

Next day, after breakfast, a driver from the MPCNMM arrives and drives The Advisor the few blocks from the Hotel to the Ministry. He thanks the driver and assures him that from now on he can walk. The driver is concerned … people of high rank should drive, not walk, and what would happen to his job if they all started to walk … but he is only a driver and his English is not so good so he just smiles.

At the Department, The Advisor is met by Stayon, "Hope you have slept well … the ADL … Acting Department Leader" he adds, when The Advisor looks puzzled "is ready to see you, please follow me." They enter the building and negotiate through a number of small corridors and rooms, and many piles of papers, Stayon maintaining his tour guide role: "filing section, not easy to find things … a bit messy, all the vouchers you know, have to be kept for 7 years … coffee making facilities, be sure to ask the Coffee Lady … board room … watch your head, some of these beams are low … computerization should help tidy things up … ah, here we are."

 The enter a large cluttered office. A beaming rotund Kiritongi (as the people of Kiritong are called) pushed aside his computer and rose from his cluttered desk to greet The Advisor. "Welcome to Kiritong, we are delighted to see you, did you have a good trip? Do sit down," as he moves a pile of reports from two chairs and places them on the floor. We've been reallocating staff after the former DL left" (Later, The Advisor learns from Stayon, the DL had been transferred to an outer island because he had been caught misusing the Department's social club funds.)

The conversation continues for another half hour or so, ranging across topics such as when The Advisor's wife and children are due to arrive, the number of kids that DL has (not quite enough for a volleyball team,) the difficulty of getting good coffee for the Coffee Lady to brew, variability in the power supply, which team was likely to win the current round of inter-island rugby (rugby being the national sport in Kiritong) … Finally, as the conversation begins to slow, The Advisor brings out his project document and TOR "this is what I was given by the CDLO of VSCDBU, should we discuss the objectives and how you would like me to report to you … ?

"Oh, don't worry about those for now, Stayon will show you to your office, and you can spend a few days settling in, getting a feel of the local situation, don't want to rush things now. We can discuss TORS and such matters later …"

After a few more pleasantries, ADL shows The Advisor and Stayon to the door.

As he trundles off down the corridor, Stayon continues "Come along, let me introduce you to the Acting Deputy, Acting Assistant, Acting …"

A series of smiling facing, hard to pronounce names -- except that they all have Acting in their titles -- follows. "Welcome … hope you enjoy your stay … do drop round for a chat and cup of coffee … do you play rugby? …"

Finally, they arrive at the end of the corridor. Stayon pushes open the door and shows The Advisor in. "Afraid the place is a bit of a mess, the Expert before you left some months ago and not much has been done to keep things organized since then … you know, changes in staff and all that. He was a very messy fellow anyway, never filed anything properly. You've also got the library in here. We did do some cleaning up for you!"

The Advisor enters and looks in dismay at the piles of files, books and papers everywhere, filing cabinets bulging, shelves sagging, table tops groaning! The only space for someone to move is the one chair and a semi-cleared table, and even the chair is occupied by a cat…

As he is surveying the paper mountains, a smiling round face appears around the door followed by a large woman's body. "Ah, this is Helpina," Stayon introduces her. "She is your assistant, ask her where to find anything. I really must be going, have an important meeting to attend."

Being of practical bent, The Advisor comes to a quick conclusion that if anything is to be done, they are going to have to make some space! Over the next week or so, he and Helpina succeed in making enough space for them to work in. After assuring the Acting Assistant (who is nominally responsible for the library) that they were not needed, The Advisor got permission to dump the vast numbers of reports and documents sent by such weighty institutions as the BWD (Bank of Worldly Developments,) the FIMS (Foundation for International Monetary Stability,) VSCDB etc. These documents included all the meetings of these organizations and reports on every country in their constituency, the holiday plans and travel arrangements of all their staff, details of renovations to a head office, the debate on the purchase of a bullet-proof vehicles for one of the organizations Presidents, meeting and cocktail schedules, changes to procedures "substitute the words "Regional Office sub-vote' for 'Headquarter's vote' Chapter 42, subsection A(45)(iii), approvals for purchase of office supplies, menus for regional meetings" … and much more. Among these were a few gems, reports specific to Kiritong, that were of high priority for the library. It was because of these few gems that The Advisor felt obliged to go through all of the papers, rather than just throwing them all out in one go.

Having gotten the office into some order (there were still all the papers to sort in all the files) The Advisor calls on the ADL to discuss his work programme.

"Oh, didn't you know, he has gone off to a very important regional meeting" was the response of his Secretary.

 "For how long?"

"Well, the first one is for a week, then he has the annual MDLFPMRTO … Meeting of Departmental Leaders of Financial, Planning and Money Related Type Organizations … in Europe a week later. Because of difficulties with flight connections he wont be coming back in between -- so he should be back in about a month."

"Who should I see then?"

"Well, the officer in charge is Acting Deputy"

The Advisor visit the Acting Deputy, but he is also new in his position, and he suggests that it would be better to wait for the return of the ADL, before discussing The Advisor's work programme. "However" the Acting Deputy continued "we are very short staffed, and I would be grateful if you could look over these few letters we have, maybe you could draft me a reply for consideration."

The Advisor is not sure that the letters cover items that are related to his TOR, but the Acting Deputy looked so hopeful, and The Advisor felt he should try and show that he was flexible and helpful, so he agreed to have a look.

The month passes quickly, The Advisor is not only asked to handle all the planning and debt related information, but also to comment on other letters, and some reports … "could you please attend this meeting, it is very important, a big foreign investment proposal" and so it continues. The Advisor is well qualified to cover much of this work, and he does not like sitting around doing nothing while everyone else around him had so many important meetings to attend, and their in-trays were so full, so he helps.

Finally, when the Acting DL returned, he called The Advisor to see him. "So pleased to hear from the Acting Deputy that you have settled in so well and are making such a contribution to the Department's work load."

"About my TOR and setting up the unit, I still don't have a counterpart or a compute for the data bases I am supposed to set up …"

"Yes, yes … very important work that … must make sure that we are not late with a debt repayments, mustn't miss the deadlines to submit projects, very bad for Kiritong's reputation, very embarrassing for the Minister when he attends important Meetings overseas with the lenders and donors … glad to see that you have been handling all these items."

"I need to discuss with you my counterpart and computer."

"Well, as you know, we have serious budget constraints, not enough funds remain in the equipment vote for a new system, but don't worry, the new budget starts in a few months then I am sure that we can get the system you need."

"And the counterpart?"

"Ah yes, well we did have one identified, a very good office, very conscientious and all that, good marks at University too, great rugby player that one, we were really hoping to win the inter-Departmental rugby competition…"

"But … ?"

"Eh? But ? well, I am afraid that when I met him on my travels, he told me that he had been offered a job with a very important regional organization -- can't stop young people trying to improve their lot now can we ?"

"Do we have an alternative?"

"Well…, there was another one, but she joined the Bank of Reserves, Rates and Overseas Transactions (BRROT) …" he paused and thought for awhile, The Advisor got a little uncomfortable wondering if the ADL had finished, but then he started again "well, there should be some new graduates at the end of the year. We can try and advertise then. In the meantime you can work with Helpina, I believe she is good … one of the best organizers for Department funerals … very important that … social obligations must be remembered …"

"Yes, but she is only a temporary staff, she is looking for work elsewhere."

"Hum, can't stop young people trying to improve their lot now can we?"

"Can't we make her permanent?"

"Well, we could, but it’s a matter of the budget, you understand. The allocations for temporary staff are different to the permanent, we have a ceiling on permanent recruitment. Part of responsible budgeting you know … Must be responsible with our budgeting! Oh dear, its already that time, I really must run, I have an important meeting to attend -- by the way could you take these papers with you to look over, your opinion would be much appreciated."

And so the first year passes. The Advisor works hard. He drafts many letters, review many reports, advises the Minister and ADL on many topics, projects flow to donors on time, donor programmes are utilized, debt payments continue quite regularly, he even goes to a number of important meetings. And in between, he and Helpina complete the sorting out of the papers, files and books. They are able to find much of the information on the existing loans and projects, but gaps exist. Between all the important meetings and other advice that The Advisor is asked to give, he tries to fill in these gaps. Some gaps are impossible to fill: "the old vote book can't be found," "afraid the rats made a nest of those records," "we don't know what these amendments mean," …

Now and then, The Advisor raises the issue of his counterpart, "no one with the right qualifications seems to be available, we had a likely candidate, but he also went off to work for the BRROT … they are able to offer better salaries, you know, they don't have the same financial constraints. Can't stop young people trying to improve their lot now can we?"

He raises the issue of the unit to be established, "yes, we need it, but we should really wait for the full review of the MPCNMM due to start at any time. We don't want to have conflicting reports do we now?"

And of cause there were so many other important matters for the Department to do … Stayon, who knows a lot about such matters, is very helpful, "one has to be flexible, you know, TOR can never capture all that needs to be done" … of cause the Advisor likes to be flexible, and he is interested in the other work, so he continues to help as best he can. No one seems to mind if the line between advisor and in-line post is getting blurred. Some times there is just no one else to sign the letters he drafted, everyone is off at important meetings, and the letter, just has to be sent out to catch the next plane. So what could one expect him to do, the ADL didn't mind The Advisor signing on his behalf, so long as it said "for Acting Department Leader," it was OK.

When the CDLO from VSCDBU comes on one of his programming visits, he notes that it is the policy of VSCDBU for the Advisor to stick to his TOR, they do not fund in-line positions. But, the CDLO is also a flexible person, he understands the constraints, and knows that the work The Advisor is doing for the Department is helpful.

The second year progresses. No counterpart is found, but The Advisor is able to work with many of the Acting staff and so provide a range of on-the-job training. He is also able to assist in a range of institutional strengthening tasks in a range of sections of the Department. It became increasingly clear, that much of the original TOR had become irrelevant. But, what with the day-to-day work, the in-trays to empty, the important meetings to attend, time is never available for a proper review of the TOR and redirection of the project. The Advisor sends regular reports, and keeps everyone informed of the work he is doing, but he does wonder from time to time how to get the TOR revised. A new computer is bought in the new budget and the data bases installed, the system works, but there was no one to be trained in its use. After waiting for a while to find someone to update the system, The Advisor does it … after all, he is flexible.

During the second year Helpina finds a permanent job in the office of a foreign embassy. It is a very good job, the Ambassador even rings The Advisor before Helpina gets the job and asks him for his opinion of Helpina's work. The Advisor does not want to lose her help but confirms to the Ambassador that she was a good worker -- after all one can't stop people trying to improve their lot now can one?

Very late in the year a new officer is recruited. He is skilled with computers, and keen. The Advisor is delighted, here is his counterpart -- but there is only a month to go before the Advisor completes his project! There is no way to get the counterpart trained and everything set up properly, especially taking into account the changes to the Department recommended in the Departmental review which finally takes place. ADL says to The Advisor "we'll just ask VSCDBU to extend your contract, I am sure they will understand the importance of what is being done."

The CDLO comes for another visit. He is very understanding, he is flexible, he knows how things really worked, but he also has to meet conditions of the VSCDB.

"As you know, VSCDB does not fund in-line positions, it funds projects. It is very hard to extend projects. You will have to write a big review of what has been done, and what will be done in an extension, objectives, outputs, activities, tasks, time lines, items, issues, points, commas … Government must confirm that it is committed to providing the counterpart, we can be flexible, but there are limits!"

The Advisor consults with ADL and the Acting Deputy and others and drafts a long review with all the revisions. After further review and expansion ("the extension proposal must be at least five times as long as the original proposal" the CDLO had warned.) The request is sent to the VSCDBU. Well, it gets lost in the filing system for a few weeks, and only after CDLO sends a reminder is a new copy sent.

The end of the first projects comes. The Advisor packs up his things. "Have a good holiday," ADL said, "look forward to seeing you when you come back, we are sure that VSCDB is flexible enough and will agree to the extension."

As the plane races down the runway, The Advisor can not help but reflect on his two years in Kiritong … The frustrations and challenges … the easy going friendliness of the Kiritongi … the assumptions of his TOR: that two years was enough time to set up and establish the Unit, that staff and materials would be available, that it would even be possible to establish the Unit effectively when the rest of the Department was suffering from lack of skilled staff, funds etc.

Should he have been so flexible? … was it better to help in a range of areas and so help the overall function of the Department but not get Unit fully operational? … or should he have concentrated on trying to make just one well run section even if other sections needed support? … what will happen now that his counterpart has come, but does not know how to operate the system? … will there be a chance for The Advisor to return and ensure the counterpart is trained? … will the system then be effective? … what happens if the counterpart is offered a job in an important international organization? … are these institutional development projects viable? … is aid viable?? … this was getting a bit too deep! The Advisor knows that these questions haunt many a consciences Advisor/Consultant -- where ever they are working -- but being a practical bent, he takes a deep breath, settles back in his seat, listening to the relaxing drone of the engines, and enjoying the emerald islands set in the turquoise lagoon, in the endless blue ocean … blue, blue as far as the eye can see … not even a cloud or reef to break the endless blue …

©1997 Peter Poulsen
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