New recruits join Western Highlands public service

 By PIUS MON

The Western Highlands provincial administration has recruited more than 100 new public servants to boost its operations this year.

A total of 128 new recruits, including 10 transfers, were welcomed in an informal gathering outside the Kokobango Building by the provincial administrator, Malcolm Culligan.

Culligan said most of the new recruits had taken up positions that were either left vacant by officers who had died, transferred or resign. Others were newly created positions.

He attributed the increase to no restructure for the administration over the last 10 years.

He said most of the casuals, who had been acting against public servants’ positions, had been confirmed.

While urging the new officers to perform to expectations, Culligan warned them that he would not hesitate to dismiss those who cannot perform.

He reminded them that there were public service acts and general orders that guide all public servants and these acts and orders must be observed and followed.

The new recruits would be on probation for the next 12 months.

They bring the total number of public servants, including casuals in the province and the seven districts, to 576.

The new officers would be inducted into the system after completing a two-week induction training on public service acts and general orders and other requirements.