Outstanding performers receive public service awards

The Department of Human Services works to improve services across the country and update the regulations that govern the sector.

Minister of Public Service and Gender Relations Dr. Virginia Albert Boyot stressed that the continued promotion of the Public Service Awards is in line with this mission.

The department gave out the Ministerial Best Performance Award during Public Service Week in June, but the award has been rescheduled to August.

Each ministry staff is asked to select one top performer from their respective departments to compete for the award. An independent panel is appointed to evaluate and select the top performers from each ministry.

At the recent awards ceremony, the Best Performance Award was presented to Mr. Serius from the Ministry of Elections. A total of 18 awards were given to outstanding performers from various ministries.

“We often hear about the negative aspects of the civil service, but we don’t hear about the positive contributions they make,” Dr. Albert-Boyot said at a press conference on Monday.

She added: “I believe that by focusing on the positive and rewarding those who excel, we can motivate and boost morale.”

The theme of the public service activities and recognitions is: Modernising the Public Sector – Repositioning and reinventing public services to improve service delivery.

Furthermore, the minister mentioned that the department is seeking to “ensure a common space where all government departments responsible for the management of public services” can come together in one place.

“We are close to finalizing a strategic plan which will include an operations manual and a public service implementation and action plan,” she noted.

The minister also mentioned that the department is reviewing the current legislation governing the civil service, which has been in place for more than 40 years, and said: “It is time to revisit that legislation.”

“We are working hard to improve the services we provide to Saint Lucians,” affirmed Dr. Albert-Poyotte.

At the awards ceremony on Saturday, Prime Minister Philippe Pierre described the event as a “wonderful moment” to pay tribute to hard-working public servants.

“Without good public services, there can be no successful government,” the Prime Minister told the meeting.

He added: “The civil service is very important to us because you are the ones who make the votes count, you are the ones who drive the government’s agenda.”

Prime Minister Pierre stressed that the agenda adopted by the civil service is not political or party driven, but that of the Government.

The prime minister said the government did not want to clash with civil servants as it would “harm” the management of state affairs.

He noted that the government is committed to implementing public service reforms and has taken major steps to improve service levels.

Prime Minister Pierre cited reforms in the customs department, which currently allows customs officers who do not meet “benchmark” qualifications to be eligible for promotions based on their credibility and years of service in the department.

The Prime Minister described Saint Lucia’s civil service as “very well-qualified”, probably one of the best in the region, with many young civil servants performing well.