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1
and
Sc what Miss Dunn described as front line departments I assume
she included the OMELCO Secretariat in that definition).
Sc
that
itself
I
must say, however, I do not care much for the idea that the
Secretariat is not a front line department. I and my
colleagues in
in this
this Council, who also form part of the
Secretariat, could hardly be described as back room boys.
We certainly stand in the firing line more often than most.
Dr. Lam suggested that procedures for dealing with
irresponsible and inefficient civil servants should be put
in place. These are already well-established under Civil
Service Regulations and the Public Service
Service Commission's
advice is sought on disciplinary cases. Punishment can
range from formal warnings to deferment of increment, to
compulsory retirement in the public interest or dismissal in
more serious cases. These powers are certainly used and
during 1986 87, 26 officers were compulsorily retired and
190 dismissed for incompetence, serious disciplinary
offences or on other grounds.
Sir,
λ
لال
Mr. Sohmen commented on the need for stability and
continuity in the public service. The point is well made.
But there have only been three resignations from directorate
officers in the past year, out of a total strength of over a
thousand. The wastage rate in the service as a whole has
fer cent declined from 6 ten years ago to 3 in the last couple of
years,