Deadwood II must be done properly

For quite some time now, non-performance in the civil service has been a topical issue. There is a strong public perception that the civil service in general is in a state of rot. The message from the public has been loud and clear - there is a need for a thorough shake-up.

In the past, there have been flippant attempts to reform the system in the form of what was then termed 'the deadwood exercise'. The exercise was largely confined to senior members of the civil service like Permanent Secretaries and directors but this time the shake-up is being extended to other levels.