Public Service Commission General Orders>Miscellaneous

MISCELLANEOUS

Introduction

1200. This chapter covers matters for which provision is not made elsewhere in the General Orders.

1201. (a) All nominations for appointment as Chairman and members of Boards and Committees coming within the sphere of responsibility of the Minister should be cleared with the office of the Prime Minister prior to appointments being made by the Minister

(b) In notifying the Office of the Prime Minister of the nominations, the following information should be provided.
(i) Name of the Board/Committee
(ii) Names of the current Chairman and member
(iii) Names and background of the person(s) being nominated. This should include information on:
1. Address of the person(s) being nominated.
2. His qualifications and experience
3. If he has any criminal record
4. If he is an undischarged bankrupt.

(c) An Officer who by virtue of his official position or duties is appointed to serve on a board or committee, whether statutory or otherwise shall not receive any remuneration separate and additional to his official salary. Any such fees should be paid into Government revenue.
Purchase from Officers

1202. No article of any description which is the private property of an Officer may be purchase on behalf of Government without prior sanction of the Supplies and Service Board.

Protecting of Building

1203. (a) Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments are responsible for seeing that all public buildings under their charge are as far as practicable burglary and hurricane-proof and that fire precautions are adequate. Any defects in this respect should be reported in writing to the Divisional Engineer concerned.

(b) In institutions, steps must be taken to lay down fire drills and to ensure that all concerned are conversant with it.
Keys
1204. (a) Permanent Secretaries and heads of Departments shall keep a register of all keys in their Departments. All Officers must acknowledge the receipt of such keys by signature in the register

(b) Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments are responsible for the safekeeping of all keys and any loss must be reported immediately to the Permanent Secretary or Head of Department. An Officer who loses a key will be required to pay for any expenditure involved as a result of the loss unless he can satisfactorily establish that such loss did not arise from his negligence.

External Work by Government Departments

1205. Subject to the prior approval of the Permanent Secretary for Finance in each case, work may be undertaken by Departments of Government for other administrations, Local Authorities, Statutory Bodies, private firms or individuals in accordance with conditions as prescribed from time to time by the Secretary for the Public Service.

Government Vessels

1206. (a) All Government vessels will be slipped annually to coincide with the require- ments of the Marine Board for Sight and Full Surveys. Major overhaul work should be organized in conjunction with Full Survey to lessen down time but must be commensurate with Survey and Safety requirement.

(b) A deck log book shall be kept on the bridge and all details relevant to the vessel's voyage and conduct shall be entered by the Officer of the Watch and counter- signed by the Master. A separate engine room log book shall be kept and all relevant details as to running hours, fuel consumption and faults shall be entered by the Engineer on Watch and countersigned by the Chief Engineer. Full logs must be forwarded to the Fleet Superintendent or Fleet Engineer for scrutiny and retention and if not entirely full then at intervals not exceeding one year.

(c) Accidents must be reported immediately to the Fleet Superintendent and written
reports submitted to the Director of Marine in accordance with Section 86 of the
Marine Act 1986.

(d) No Government vessel shall proceed to sea without appropriately qualified and
certificated Officers and Engineers being on board other than in cases of immediate peril.

Use of Government Vehicles

1207. (a) Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments will be responsible for ensuring that all persons authorized by them to drive Government vehicles hold valid driving licenses under the Traffic Act and they will be pecuniary responsible for any liability incurred by Government that may result from the disregard of this General Order.

(b) Government vehicles are to be used for official business only and carrying of unauthorised passengers or private goods is forbidden.

(d) All runs must be recorded on the daily running sheet GP Form 75.

(e) A driver who commits any traffic offence whilst on duty must report this to his Supervisor immediately.

(f) Any accident involving a Government vehicle must be reported to the respective
Supervisor and Police immediately.

(g) An Accident Report Form (GP Form 28) is to be completed and submitted in
quadruplicate with full details without delay.

(h) Garaging of a Government vehicle at an Officer's home is forbidden unless prior permission has been obtained in writing from the Head of Department

Flags

1208 (a) No flag other than the National Flag shall be flown on official premises except with the permission of the Secretary to the Cabinet, provided that the National Flag may be flown with the Blue Ensign at the gaff over Marine Department establishments.

(b) The Director of Marine shall issue instructions governing the flying of flags,
ensigns, pennants, etc on vessels of the Government fleet.

(c) If the National Flag is not flown daily as a matter of routine it shall be flown all Government flagpoles from 8.00 am until sunset on the following special days :-

6th February : Her Majesty's Accession
21st April : Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen.
31st May : Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day
IOth June : Birthday of the Duke of Edinburgh. 1 1211.
June (on the day appointed): Official Birthday of Her Majesty the
Queen and Commonwealth Day.
26th July : Constitution Day.
4th August : Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen Mother.
10th October : Fiji Day.
24th October : United Nations Day.
14th November : Birthday of the Prince of Wales.
November (on the day appointed) : Remembrance Day.

Provided that whenever any of these dates fall on a Sunday the National Flag
Shall be flown on the following Monday except on Remembrance Day when it
shall be hoisted on the appointed day.

(c) The Secretary to the Cabinet after consultation with the President and the Prime Minister shall issue instructions to Heads of Departments and Divisional Commissioners on those occasions when the National Flag is to be flown at half mast. It should be noted that the flag is not flown at half mast on Remembrance.

Compensation for Loss of Private Property

1209. NO Officer shall of tosses of or damage to private property incurred through fire, theft, riot, hurricane, earthquake or otherwise, in the course of his service. In the event of destruction by hurricane or earthquake of property purchased by an Officer with the assistance of a Government advance (houses, cars, refrigerators, etc), the Officer will continue to repay the advance. No compensation will be paid by Government. In special cases, if it is clearly established that the loss or damage was attributable directly to the nature of an official duty which an Officer was performing at the time, compensation may be considered as an act of grace. No such concession shall however, be made in respect of losses which in the opinion of the Secretary for the Public Service were due to negligence of which the Officer or which could reasonably have been covered by insurance

Air Insurance

1210. When an Officer is required to travel on duty by air, the Officer may claim, in himself only, a refund of insurance premia paid on passenger flight insurance cover of up to $30,000.

Use and Storage of Industrial Explosives

1211. (a) Only authorized Officers holding a valid Blaster's License of Fiji, shall use industrial explosives in connection with his official duties.
.
(b) Only Officers specifically authorized in writing by the Assistant Director of
Mines, shall store industrial explosives and/or explosive accessories in connection with his official duties, other than in approved premises licensed by the Principal Inspector of Mines.

(c) No Department shall establish explosive magazines for the storage of industrial
explosives and/or explosive accessories, without first submitting site plans and building specifications to the Principal Inspector of Mines for approval and licensing of the premises.

Tenancies of Land and Buildings

1212. The Secretary for the Public Service shall authorize tenancies of land and building for office accommodation and other official purposes. No arrangement may be made by Departments with owners of land and building.

Office Accommodation and Furniture

1213. The Secretary for the Public Service shall be responsible for the following :
(a) Allocation and reallocation of space in Government-owned and rented
buildings.
(b) Conduct negotiations for renting of premises.
(c) Approve the renting, renewal or termination of leases for rented premises.
(d) Control funds and approve alterations and additions to the office accommodation.
(e) Control funds and approve supply of office and quarters furniture