Dear Sir,

It was disturbing to read that a senior civil servant blamed a “broken system” for the failure of the existing checks and balances with respect to the contracts now being investigated by the Commission of Inquiry.

His contention that the methodology dates back to the last century is probably correct, but of course the last century was only 17 years ago, when many of the present incumbents were already in place.

Surely, he must be aware that the public perception is that the Civil Service is very much a self-creation. Ministers come and ministers go, but the Civil Service goes on for ever and is not really answerable to anyone.

On reading the carefully tailored responses of the senior civil servant, one sees striking parallels with those of the legendary “Sir Humphrey Appleby” of the famous British comedy Yes, Minister.

Of course, that was only a television programme, but still the similarity is uncanny.

Sometimes life really does imitate art.

UNCONVINCED