Caught in the crossfire of internal politics

I was so happy when I was selected as the External Communication Consultant of a state authority. This was the first time in my career that I was going to work within a public sector setting. I burned so much of midnight oil working on strategy, writing copy and coming up with concepts to promote a value based society that will say no to all addictive substances and dangerous drugs. I had discussions with Radio Stations, TV Stations, Bloggers, Social Media Experts and even Artists and Musicians to promote good values.We were going to carry out a great campaign against dangerous drug trafficking in Sri Lanka.

Clean up Sri Lanka perhaps?

 

Then disaster struck our entire plans.

A petition against the Director General of the Institution (My Client)was sent to the highest authority in Sri Lanka. This appeared to be the work of a rival of my Client who was eyeing his job. My Client had just obtained an extension of 2 years even though he had reached the age of retirement. We were working on a multi million campaign. Allegations of misappropriation of funds, wastage of public money, work being given to “friends” were bombarded against my Client. The campaign had to be stopped because an internal audit had to first clear my client. Well, the audit cleared him and showed that all allegations were false. However, the man at the top was convinced not to extend the service period of my Client who had reached the age of retirement despite the fact that Number 2 of the country had extended my Client’s service period by 2 years.

So my client had to leave…

The project was shelved and the contract I had with the Institution was cancelled “until further notice”.

I demanded one month’s consultancy fees (For the period for which I worked) and I was paid in full.

Were there any other obvious elements behind the cancellation of this anti drug campaign? Or was I just caught in the crossfire of internal politics, jealousy and spite?