Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has told Permanent Secretaries that he has been in government for long enough and he knows that nothing can magically happen unless they make it happen.

While speaking to Permanent Secretaries at their Retreat in Denarau, Bainimarama also highlighted to the Permanent Secretaries that if they spend their days delegating, they will not get anywhere particularly when it comes to the civil service reforms.

He also stressed that if they want something done well, as Permanent Secretaries they need to see it done themselves.

Bainimarama adds that they will not take their foot off the pedal until they reach the high international standards they have set for the civil service.

He made it clear that government, through the reforms is uprooting privilege in all forms and not entrenching it in some new form.

The Prime Minister told the Permanent Secretaries that when they operate within the reformed framework of the civil service, they do not have free license to reward their friends and close confidantes in their ministry.

He also reminded the Permanent Secretaries that their salaries are paid by the Fijian tax payers ‑ theirs and his as well.

Bainimarama reminded the Permanent Secretaries that friendships are fine around the grog bowl, but when they get to work, they are an objective professional.