Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade yesterday moved to put to rest controversy over statements made by a PLP candidate earlier this week about the removal of "disloyal'' top civil servants.

PLP Hamilton West MP Mr. Eugene Blakeney, who is also general secretary of the Bermuda Public Service Association, told supporters at a PLP rally that civil servants were supposed to be impartial and serve whatever Government was elected.

There could be "one or two'' who were too close to the United Bermuda Party Government, he said.

"If in fact it's felt that they cannot be loyal, then obviously, our Leader, Brother Freddie, will do what he has to do.'' His statements evoked harsh criticism from Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan on Tuesday who accused Mr. Blakeney of creating "anger, anxiety and fear'' in the civil service.

But Mr. Wade defended Mr. Blakeney on the same day, saying he was quoting from Government's General Orders manual which said Permanent Secretaries were appointed by the Premier and that the Premier has the option to dismiss them.

Mr. Wade said the PLP would go into Government with "an open mind'' and expect all civil servants to have integrity and loyalty.

But Sir John attacked the PLP on the issue again yesterday, accusing the party of having a "sinister intent to bypass the process of good government and replace it'' with one based on political affiliation.

Sir John said it was "totally wrong'' for Mr. Wade to say Permanent Secretaries were appointed by the Premier.

"Permanent Secretaries are appointed by the Governor,'' he said. "He does so after advice from The Public Service Commission, a body identified in our Constitution and created to ensure there is no political interference in the appointment of civil servants.

"Not only do the remarks of Mr. Wade denote a total lack of understanding of the way Government works, serious enough in itself coming from the Leader of the Opposition, but more importantly they suggest a sinister intent to bypass the process of good government and replace it with one based on where a key ingredient of suitability to a job in Government would be political affiliation.

"It would not take long for Government to end up being staffed by partisan political hacks.

"This would quickly degenerate the public service, loose the respect of the community and eliminate the reputation for impartiality that our public servants have earned.'' Referring to Mr. Wade's comments that Mr. Blakeney, as a representative of civil servants, "would know better than me which Permanent Secretaries are loyal'', Sir John said: "The very thought that Mr. Blakeney is keeping secret records of who is and who is not loyal to the PLP is unbelievable.

"For Mr. Blakeney, earning as he does some $24,000 in Parliamentary salary and $84,000 plus from his BPSA wages, to be involved in this type of political conspiracy is outrageous.'' But Wade, who repeated that he expects Permanent Secretaries to act with professionalism and integrity, continued to stand by Mr. Blakeney's remarks.

And he said Sir John was not telling the truth when he denied that he had a say in the appointment of Permanent Secretaries.

"Permanent Secretaries are appointed by the Governor on recommendation of the Public Service Commission after it consults with the Premier,'' Mr. Wade said, reading from Section 82.2 of the Constitution.

"So when Sir John Swan says he does not have anything to do with the appointment of the Permanent Secretary, he does not know the law himself,'' Mr. Wade said.

OCTOBER 1993 ELECTION