A prominent regional public servant has described some Solomon Islands Permanent Secretaries in the public service as hindrances to change.
The Chief Executive of the Office of the Public Service Commission in Samoa, Dr Lofi Luaiufi made the observation after holding workshops for the Permanent Secretaries in the Solomon Islands public service.
Dr Luaiufi says she leaves with mixed feeling about how successful the attempts to reform the public service in Honiara will go, because she believes some secretaries have become too comfortable.
"...and being in those positions and being comfortable in those positions for too long, that they're not willing to change things in the country. On the downside I go away feeling very sad the time the money and the skills given to them have been underutilised because they have been in their comfort zone."
Dr Luaiufi however acknowledges there are some good permanent secretaries who can make the difference with their committment to the good of the country.
Her visit comes with the attempts by the Regional Assistance Mission to have neighbouring island countries contribute to the civilian work of the mission.
