The general election victory of the Progressive Liberal Party on May 12th was the first time that an administration has won re-election since 1997. Permanent Secretary Luther Smith recently sat down with ZNS News to talk about continuity in governance.

Smith said, “in the countries that have done very well, and I think for example of a country like Singapore, they have had just about one continuous government. And so their programs and their planning continue over a period much longer than five years or much longer than seven years. And so when we talk, for example, about a national development plan, which is a ten year plan, that does not bind, for example, an incoming government for the first time but for a government that has already been in power it’s a program that can be rolled out.”

The veteran permanent secretary also spoke to the public’s impression and criticism of public spending. He said, “as one who has worked in the system for many, many years I can tell you that a lot of the information that comes out regarding public expenditure is to say the least sensational. It doesn’t work like that. In order to get anything done you have to go through such a rigorous process that it’s almost impossible for there to be waste or for there to be, what I would call, mismanagement, etc. I think a lot of it is people don’t understand.”

According to Smith campaign promises cannot move forward without financing and adequate personnel. “Often times projects are designed and you do not realize that they have to be implemented not be themselves but by individuals.”

Smith said long term planning, consistency and proper implementation will all be play an important role in turning campaign promises into results.