‘Permanent Secretaries can belong to political parties’ – Jagdeo

Shannielle Hoosein-Outar

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday asserted that Permanent Secretaries (PS) can be members of political parties.

Jagdeo’s position comes against the backdrop of concerns raised about the presence of Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Shannielle Hoosein-Outar who was seen clad in a red outfit at the recently-held People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Congress. Jagdeo  made it clear yesterday that the PS is indeed a member of the party and that is her democratic right.

Although Permanent Secretaries are appointed by the President, there have been lingering concerns that the PPP/C ad-ministration’s appointees are not career public servants but instead, party members who were parachuted into the position of Permanent Secretary.