WHILE smarting that it was not advised by the Government about the appointment of former army man, Lieutenant General Rocky Ricardo Meade as cabinet secretary and head of the public service before the public announcement on Tuesday, the Opposition says it will “not be making a fuss” but will be keeping his performance in its cross hairs.

The Office of the Prime Minister announced the appointment Tuesday morning, making it so that Meade will succeed Ambassador Douglas Saunders who will be stepping down from the position on October 1. Saunders has been cabinet secretary and head of the public service since 2008.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness noted that Meade’s long-standing service in Government will allow him the opportunity to continue the tradition of excellence when he assumes his new position.

Speaking with the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday evening, People’s National Party spokesperson on the public service, Senator Lambert Brown said while there was no legal obligation on the part of the prime minister to involve the Opposition, it would have been the decent thing to do.

“We can say there was no consultation with the Opposition on this. And I am not saying it is a requirement by the constitution but [as a matter of] decency, given that the role of a cabinet secretary usually transcends political parties in government, one would think that the prime minister would have at least informed the leader of the Opposition in advance to making public statements but also to give a sense because the country needs national unity on issues,” Brown told the Observer.

“A cabinet secretary would be one such issue where we believe decency, if not the legal requirement, would have allowed for some consultation between the prime minister and the leader of the Opposition. That not being so, we accept that it’s the prime minister and the governor general’s decision, based on the prime minister’s advice, to make the appointment,” Brown said further.

He said it was hoped that the new cabinet secretary “will be a source of national coming together and that he will do better as cabinet secretary than what [was seen] in the security field where murders climbed under his tenure”.

“We are not going to make much fuss about it. I know people are complaining about the militarisation of the country — the army in charge of the police, the army now cabinet secretary — but for us, everybody is entitled to a job once they are competent, and we will judge Rocky Meade by his performance going forward,” he stated.

Brown’s reference was to the fact that the police commissioner is Major General Antony Anderson, former chief of defence staff.

On Tuesday Meade, in responding to his appointment, expressed optimism.

“I am humbled and honoured to be considered for this critical role. I pledge to further the positive evolution of the public service for the benefit of the wider society,” he said.

“I would like to thank the outgoing cabinet secretary, Ambassador Saunders, for his guidance and support as I move into this new position,” he added.

The cabinet secretary is the most senior policy adviser in the civil service. He is secretary to the Cabinet, responsible to all ministers for the running of Cabinet, and is also the head of the civil service.

As secretary to the Cabinet he provides support and advice to the Government and oversees the provision of policy and secretariat support to Cabinet and Cabinet committees. He organises the minutes of the Cabinet and conveys the decisions of the Cabinet.

As head of the public service he is responsible for developing a highly professional public service able to effectively execute government business.

As head of the Permanent Secretaries Board he is responsible for guiding the execution of ministry plans that align with Government’s priorities.