Government's Civil Service management and recruitment team should be hived off to protect it from political interference, a UBP Senator said yesterday.

Opposition Senate Leader Maxwell Burgess said: "I've already seen threats about tampering with the Public Service Commission. I'm worried about threats of tampering with Personnel Services.'' Personnel Services -- a department with a $4 million budget -- is responsible for training and development in the public service.

Sen. Burgess said it should be turned into a non-governmental organisation with a large degree of control over its direction -- a quango.

He added: "In an attempt to make sure that doesn't happen, a quango should be set up so they can be arms-length away from political threats and threats of political interference.'' The Royal Gazette revealed earlier this year that Premier Jennifer Smith had asked the PSC -- a group appointed by the Governor -- to resign so Government could suggest its own appointees to Government House.

PSC chairman Stephen Kendell confirmed the fact, although Ms Smith later said she was aware of the special arrangements for the PSC, which differs from Government Boards, where members are appointed by Ministers.

Sen. Burgess said: "One way to make sure that Personnel Services is not interfered with is going by way of a quango.'' Sen. Burgess -- to interruptions that he would know from the Government side -- said he was concerned about "the backroom stuff'' which was not seen by the public.

But he insisted: "If I had not seen the potential of this kind of behaviour, I wouldn't be sitting here. That's why I would push for a quango.'' And he added Government could ensure any quango was doing its job by conducting audits of its performance to ensure money was being well-spent.

Sen. Burgess said: "I believe if we set up the quango we would end up with Personnel Services, which has served us well up to now, being granted the freedom to serve us well in the future.'' Sen. Burgess added that black males had to be "equal partners'' going into the next century "or our future will be at risk.'' The former Government Minister admitted: "They have suffered long and hard -- the day now has come and I take some responsibility for that. I always have and I always will.''