New Caledonia’s public service has been strongly criticised by the French territory’s audit office over claims of poor decision making concerning the finances of the territory.
In a report, the audit office argues that attempts made to carry out public sector reform have failed. They say that despite the large expenditure to re-organise the territory’s public service, there has been very little outcome.
Another factor found to have contributed to the poor state of New Caledonia’s public sector is the frequent leadership changes, which has caused instability, the report states.
The territory’s auditors have found cases of misspending, adding that assistants employed by the government have been hired and paid outside the regular process.
New Caledonia’s public service employs about 17,000 people; the territory is a small economy, largely dependent on nickel and public money. New Caledonia possesses the 25 per cent of the world’s nickel resources.
