PSC to be a separate body

THE Public Service Commission will be given the recognition it deserves through legislation, Public Service Minister Peter O’Neill said on Monday.
Mr O’Neill, who is also the Minister for Works and Transport, had another commitment, but had his message delivered by Department of Personnel Management (DPM) secretary John Kali.
He said at present, the PSC and its secretariat were physically located in one house when they should be totally separated as distinct bodies.
“The commission as a constitutional body having its constitutional status and roles, while the secretariat, a subservient body established under the Public Services (Management) Act to service the commission and is staffed with public servants who are subject to the secretary for DPM.”
Mr O’Neill said experience had shown that this arrangement was risky and unsafe because it poses a threat to the commission to compromise its independence and roles, especially when it is seen to involve itself with the administrative decision making, affecting the operations of the Commission. 
Mr O’Neill said therefore, the best option was to amalgamate the two legally.
“I am committed to the making and passing of an organic law to amalgamate the two, to accord the commission the constitutional recognition it deserves. “
Mr O’Neill made the statement during the launching of the PSC Corporate Plan 2009-2013 at the PNG Institute of Public Administration.
He said this was important as it would enable the commission to undertake its constitutional duties, functions, and responsibilities independently without interference and void of compromise.
Mr O’Neill said PSC is not a Government department, but a constitutional body having a vital and critical role to play in the review of personnel matters, and in the appointment, suspension and revocation of departmental heads, provincial administrators and chief executive officers of statutory bodies.