Saint Lucia joined the global community in commemorating International Public Service Day on Monday, with Public Service Minister Dr Virginia Albert outlining a series of reforms aimed at repositioning and rebranding the public service to improve national service delivery.
The day formed part of a weeklong celebration under the theme Repositioning and Rebranding the Public Service to Improve Service Delivery. This marks the final year this theme will be used.
Albert emphasised the importance of accountability in the public sector, stating, “Public officers are paid by taxpayers, and therefore they are held accountable on a daily basis.” She extended appreciation to those delivering quality service and called on others to meet the standard: “We also want to encourage those who have not been living up to their expectation to try and do their best.”
A major aspect of the reform strategy is legislative modernisation. Albert said, “We are reviewing the legislation that governs the public service… the staff orders that have been in existence for over 40 years.” A new code of conduct and ethics is being finalised in collaboration with the Attorney General’s Office to modernise standards and ensure accountability.
She also highlighted the reclassification of the public service. “The last time we did the reclassification for the public service was in 1992,” she said, and current requirements no longer match today’s job market. The updated system will align salaries with “skills, abilities, experience and efficiency”.
In terms of infrastructure, plans are underway to relocate public service operations to a centralised space. “We are looking at the Orange Blue Plaza… so that we can have the different units working and actually building a new culture for the public service.”
A completed strategic plan and implementation manual will help ministries identify focus areas and measure progress. “That would guide us… and measure whether we are achieving our goals,” Albert said.
As part of the Public Service Week of Activities, the government hosted a church service to start the week.
Other scheduled events included Mingle Tuesday” on June 24, where officers gained insight into other agencies’ operations, followed by “Career Awareness Wednesday” to encourage youth to shadow public servants. On Friday, the public is invited to the Public Service Fair and Gospel Explosion at Derek Walcott Square, where ministries will showcase new initiatives and interact directly with citizens. “We bring them down on the ground and we can talk to people and discuss with them and hear some of the concerns,” Albert explained, referencing public access to ministers and senior officials.
The Minister’s Top Performer Award ceremony will be held on August 2 to recognise outstanding service by public officers.
Those I own the force, I make the rules type of officers please take note. You’re being paid by taxpayers yet still you disrespect them on a daily basis. Majority of them have no respect for the uniform provided by taxpayers. Joy riding around in the police vehicles stopping at bars drinking. Always want to shoot someone, assaulting civilians.
Someone call me when there are concrete steps being taken to revolutionize public service…rebranding & reforming is just the duopoly’s tactic for “kicking the can down the road”; aka protecting the status quo via electoral musical chairs!