Constitution – Chapter 7 – Part 2 – Appointment etc. of permanent secretaries and certain other officers

Appointment etc. of permanent secretaries and certain other officers.

79.- (1) This section applies to the offices of Secretary to the Cabinet, permanent secretary of a department of the Government, head or deputy head of a department of the Government, any office for the time being designated by the Public Service Commission as an office of a chief professional adviser to a department of the Government and any office for the time being designated by the Commission, after consultation with the Prime Minister, as an office the holder of which are required to reside outside Saint Christopher and Nevis or whose function relate to external affairs.

(2) The power to appoint persons to hold or to act in offices to which this section applies (including the power to confirm appointments), and, subject to section 87, the power to exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in such offices and the power to remove such persons from office shall vest in the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the recommendation of the Public Service Commission.

Provided that-

a) the power to appoint a person to hold or act in an office of permanent secretary on transfer from another office carrying the same salary shall vest in the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister;

b) before the Public Service Commission makes a recommendation to the Governor-General with respect to the appointment of any person to hold an office to which this section applies (other than an appointment to an office of permanent secretary on transfer from another such office carrying the same salary) it shall consult with the Prime Minister and if the Prime Minister signifies his objection to the appointment of any person to the office, the Commission shall not make a recommendation to the Governor-General to appoint that person;

c) in relation to any office of Ambassador, High Commissioner or other principal representative of Saint Christopher and Nevis in any other country or accredited to any international organization the Governor-General shall act in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, who shall, before tendering any such advice in respect of any person who holds any public office to which appointments are made by the Governor-General in accordance with the recommendation of some other person or authority consult that person or authority.

(3) References in this section to a department of the Government shall not include the office of the Governor-General, the department of the Attorney-General, the department of the Director of Public Prosecutions the department of the Director of Audit, the department of the Clerk of the National Assembly or the Police Force.

 

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