A major shake-up is underway at both the political as well as the top echelon of the public service – a move which appears to be linked directly to the recent political upheaval in failed attempts to dethrone the ruling GNUT coalition.

At the political level, the leadership of the Independent Group in Parliament has changed hands.

Former deputy prime minister Manasseh Maelanga is now the leader, after Hon Peter Kenilorea Jnr was forced to withdraw due to lack of support due to numbers as a requirement.

Hon Kenilorea Jnr is also the Parliamentary Wing Leader of the United Party (UP). It is unclear whether he will rejoin the main Opposition grouping led by Hon Matthew Wale – the MP for Aoke-Langa Langa Constituency.

Hon Wale returned from a recent two-week visit to China, where he reportedly acknowledged for the first time the diplomatic change to China in September was the right decision.

In the changing of the guard at the political level, Hon. Maelanga barely scrapped through with support by just two others – former prime minister Manasseh Sogavare and former Minister Freda Tuki.

Except for Hon Maelanga, Hon Sogavare and Hon Tuki suffered the most in terms of the salary earnings – from ministerial salaries at more than $300, 000 a year to an ordinary MP’s salary at just over $200, 000 a year.

At the top public service level, the GNUT-led coalition is reportedly moving to terminate up to six permanent secretaries whose contracts are up.

These include the permanent secretaries of the following Ministries:

• Police and National Security
• Lands, Housing and Survey
• National Planning and Aid Coordination
• Environment
• Finance & Treasury
• Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Labour and Immigration

The list appears to consist of former Prime Minister Sogavare’s protégé. The government is also believed to be in the hunt for a new Attorney General – a move which could regenerate political instability owing to ethnic and factional grouping within GNUT.

John Muria jnr from Guadalcanal Province is the incumbent Attorney General appointed by the Sogavare’s government.

It is understood the government is also seeking to appoint a new Special Secretary to the Prime Minister otherwise known as SSPM.

This is a key position in the Prime Minister’s political office. If this is true, the SSPM would be the first high profile political appointee to be given the boot.

No reason was given for his potential ouster except that his contract is said to be up.

Solomon Star has established that contracts of most of these Permanent Secretaries had expired and “GNUT will not renew their contracts” citing conflicts of interest, non-performance and Political affiliations.

“Some of the Permanent Secretaries have not served with neutrality over the past year. In fact, most were politically impartial in the execution of their mandatory roles,” insiders told Solomon Star.

By Alfred Sasako