Chief Public Servant, Huh! The Prime Minister?
Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell appearance on a local talk show was heralded by a reference to him being the Chief Public Servant. Indeed, in the last 40 years of Independence, no other sitting Prime Minister has ventured to reconfigure in the minds of citizens the role and function of this office. For starters, public servants are appointed by the Public Service Commission (PSC). He is an officer of the crown and exercises his duties without partisan considerations. The rules that Public Service prohibits public officers from holding elected office in a political parties or organisations. His tenure is permanent in nature as his continuance in the service of the state is not encumbered by the results of general elections (or so it was envisaged) Section 81 (1) grants the PSC the power to appoint, discipline, transfer or remove public officers. The Prime Minister, on the other hand is appointed by the Governor General in Chapter IV Section 58(1) of the Constitution c...