The Solomon Islands Prime Minister has fired 11 permanent secretaries.
Local media is reporting the move is being described by government sources as part of Gordon Darcy Lilo's ongoing attempts to clean up the government.
Our correspondent in Honiara, Dorothy Wickham, says it is unclear why the public servants have been sacked.
She says in some cases, it may have been based on performance, or political issues.
"They're the key people in the ministries who actually ensure that government policy takes place. And if there are people in there who don't believe in these policies, then it is difficult for them to implement. Then there's disciplinary issues, because we also have an issue of [permanent secretaries] not being at work, and not turning up, and just not being around to ensure that everything is moving along in the ministries."
Dorothy Wickham says the permanent secretaries of key ministries have already been replaced.
