Public servants protest selection

 SENIOR public servants within the Eastern Highlands provincial administration are on a sit-in-strike following the appointment of a fourth consecutive acting provincial administrator.

They petitioned Governor Julie Soso, expressing disappointment that they are fed up of working under acting provincial administrators, and instead would like to serve under a permanent administrator.

The appointment of former senior public servant Alvin Inammoi as acting provincial administrator, replacing Bill Kavanamur, has not gone down well with senior public servants in the province.

“He (Inammoi) has absconded from official duties for one year, his appointment is considered as a ‘slap in the face’ for those who have been serving this government with commitment,” the petition read.

The officers said they were “fed-up” of working under acting provincial administrators after serving under three acting administrators in a space of two years.

Their petition demanded Public Service Minister Sir Puka Temu visit Eastern Highlands and explain the continuous appointments of acting provincial administrators.

Soso assured the officers that the provincial executive council would review the appointment process for a permanent appointment without further delay.

Inammoi described the protesting officers as “self-serving servants”.

“That is a direct result of consistent, systematic transformation of public servants into self-serving at the expense of the rural majority,” he said.

Inammoi said he is now confronted with this daunting task of restoring this and it begins immediately, most of these self-serving may not like to work with himnow but they will soon or never.

“It is critical to restore all governance process within this administration and importantly restore full public service ethics and productivity through accountable and transparent system. “Now the baton is passed on to me, I accept full responsibility and chart my way from here,” he said.