With the change in administration following the May 11, 2015 national and regional elections, several Perma-nent Secretaries and Regional Executive Officers (REOs) have either been replaced or have resigned because they were candidates for the opposition political party. This unfortunate state of affairs should have never happened since these officials were required to provide the institutional memory and knowledge to aid the transition from the previous administration to the present one. However, for over a decade ago, the previous administration abandoned the principle of neutrality of the Public Service and opted for appointments based on political considerations and party loyalty, rather than on the basis of technical and professional competence, and meritocracy. In the circumstances, in the same way that ministers are replaced when a government changes, so will it be for all those who have been appointed based on their political affiliation.
Today, we are paying the price of setting aside this fundamental principle in public management that the British left us on the attainment of Independence.
