The Editor, Sir:

How times have changed! Shortly after his victorious 1976 election Prime Minister Michael Manley declared that the people had spoken; and he indicated that he wanted a new Public Service Commission.

This resulted in the voluntary resignation of the members of the then PSC, including Prof. Gladstone Mills (chairman) Mr. Eric Abrahams, Mr. Oliver Jones and Dr. Phyllis McPherson-Russell. After that, Mr. Manley recommended to Governor-General Glasspole that Mr. E. Lloyd Taylor be named as the new chairman. There was no fuss.

In January 1980 Mr. Manley again recommended a new PSC headed by Mr. Taylor. This time the Civil Service Association publicly called for a revocation on the grounds that the membership was too much influenced by politics and trade unionism. Manley did not heed the cry.

Loss

However, by December of that very year, he lost to Edward Seaga who immediately set about naming a new Public Service Commission headed by Mr. A.B. Smith, a noted civil servant who had retired. There was no fuss, no controversy, no commotion.

I think it curious that the recently deposed members of the PSC did not graciously take the hint of imminent termination when the signs appeared some time ago. To make matters worse, we are now hearing that legal action is being considered in an effort to keep them in a place where they are obviously not welcome. It may be that they have found the taste of power quite delectable. In which case Shakespearean advice is appropriate: 'Things sweet to taste prove in digestion sour.'

I am, etc.,

KEN JONES

alllerdyce@hotmail.com