BY SAMIE WAIKORI
The Leader of the Official Opposition Group in Parliament and Member of Parliament for Aoke/Langalanga, Matthew Wale, says consistency and fairness is crucial for a healthy functioning public service bureaucracy.
Wale emphasised this whilst speaking on debate of the Public Service Bill 2025, introduced by Minister for Public Service and Member of Parliament for Northwest Guadalcanal, Francis Sade, last week.
He said by operating under a predefined system of rules, regulations, and standardized procedures, a bureaucracy ensures that cases are treated similarly.
Wale stressed this reduces the risk of arbitrary decisions and helps maintain legality and order.
The Leader added that under impersonality, decisions are made based on established criteria rather than personal favoritism, political connections, or bias.
“Rules are applied universally, without favoritism toward individuals or personalities. All citizens are treated equally under the law and standard operating procedures.
“This impersonality promotes fairness and helps eliminate corruption. Here we struggle with cultural obligations and the pressures of the wantok system.
“We have to acknowledge that we have a particular cultural context, but we must ensure that obligations arising out of culture does not erode or compromise the trusteeship principle,” he said.
The MP furthered that public officials must also execute policy impartially, remaining separate from political motivations or partisan bias.
“I suppose this is the reason why public officials wanting to contest elections must first resign their positions.
“It is in everybody’s interests to ensure the political neutrality of the public service. Once compromised, it will lead to decay in the public service.
“It is incumbent upon both public officers and politicians to protect the political neutrality of the public service,” he stressed.
Wale voiced that it is important the public service implement policies of the government of the day.
“The public service must not assume upon itself any discretion as to whether or not government policy should or should not be implemented.
“It must implement. Further, when being directed by a minister, a public official is duty bound to give advice that is politically neutral, guided only by legality, ethics, and best practice,” he said.
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