Govt clarifies appointment policy

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

THE national government will not make wholesale changes to the heads of departments and statutory bodies.
Prime Minister Peter O'Neill yesterday said there would not be any political appointments, The National reports.
"We are making two changes in the public service because they did not follow proper procedures."
Department of Personnel Management secretary John Kali said on Monday that more heads of government departments and statutory bodies would be removed.
Senior government officers who had been removed since the O'Neill-Namah regime took office were Margaret Elias as chief secretary and Gabriel Yer of finance.
Manasupe Zurenuoc took over from Elias while Stephen Gibson was appointed acting finance secretary.
When asked about the confusion the changes would create if a Supreme Court reference challenging his election as prime minister, and the validity of his government, was upheld, O'Neill said parliament had spoken.
He said democracy was demonstrated by the parliamentary process which was determined by more than 50 votes to put a new government in office.
State Enterprises Minister Sir Mekere Morauta said parliament and the courts were independent institutions.
"The government must move on. It cannot wait for the courts to make a decision," he said.
But Sir Mekere said a decision on the matter by the courts would be respected.