Public service needs lift

 By MALUM NALU

NEW Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari says the public service has become a “monster” that must be brought under control. 

He has been named to replace retiring Chief Secretary Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc.

Lupari, 51, from Wabag in Enga, who was enjoying a round of golf yesterday in Port Moresby, said the public service was a huge burden on the country.

He held the position of Chief Secretary from 2007 to 2009, and had been a career public servant since 1987.

Lupari also held the position of secretary in the Treasury and Personnel Management departments, and PNG ambassador to the European Union in Brussels.

“My message to all leaders, at all levels, to work together to trim this monster that we’ve created – a monster that is ineffective and dysfunctional,” he said.

“We are carrying a lot of weight but unable to deliver. It’s dysfunctional. My task is to work with the Government to ensure that the public service is trim, lean, cost-effective and functional.”

Lupari said he realised this as Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s Chief of Staff in the past three years.

“Under his (O’Neill’s) leadership we have seen remarkable change in this country,” he said.

“Services are being delivered. There is progress everywhere – improvement in service delivery in the districts, visibility of Government services. The challenge is really to get the public service to work.

“That’s the biggest challenge for me, for the public servants to understand each other, respect each other, work as a team, and clean up the public service.

“There is a lot of duplication, overlap. People are just being paid for no work literally being contributed – lack of productivity.

“The task is not only for the Chief Secretary. I will require the support of Government and leaders at all levels. It’s a huge task for me but I look forward to doing that work.”