Linyon Demokratik Seselwa expresses its disappointment that
President Danny Faure has failed to apply cardinal principles of a democratic
system in the appointment of top government officials announced yesterday.
In numerous instances, political figures have been named to
positions in the public service, in clear violation of the separation of
politics from the structure of the public service. These appointments are
unfair to people who have chosen a career in the public service as
professionals in that politicians are appointed over their heads, thus
depriving them of the opportunity of promotion.
This is the case with the appointments of Mr. Patrick
Herminie, Mrs. Marie-Louise Potter and Mr. Dick Esparon as Secretary of State,
which is a public service position and presented as such in the announcement.
Persons who have held this post up to now have been appointed from the public
service and it has been regarded as the top of the career ladder for the public
service.
Other political figures have been appointed to positions of
Principal Secretary straight from politics. These include Mr. Kevin Vidot and
Mrs. Jennifer Jasmin who were both members of the National Assembly for Parti
Lepep, and Mr. Fabian Palmyre who was a candidate for the party in the last National
Assembly elections. The same criticism applies to a former MNA, Ms. Cheryl
Vengadasamy appointed as a Special Advisor, also a public service post, in the
Police Department.
The proliferation of Special Advisor posts for persons with
previous political connections is also a misuse the public service career
structure.
These appointments come after President Faure has expressed
his commitment to the delinking process which means the separation of the
political and state structures, and also to the creation of a Public Service
Commission which would regulate career issues such as promotion. What we are
seeing is simply politicians being rewarded with posts in the civil service
when the need to depart from such practices has been acknowledged and endorsed.
Roger Mancienne October 31, 2016
Chairman, Linyon Demokratik Seselwa
