Long Serving Civil Servants Pleased At Recognition

Several of the country’s long serving public sector workers, who were recently awarded for dedicated and quality service, are expressing pleasure at the recognition.

“I feel honoured…that there is appreciation… for the hard work that has been done (by public servants)…in the government service,” says Director of the National Meteorological Service, Evan Thompson,

“We are pulling forward in a positive way, as a country, and I believe that civil servants…government workers should really be congratulated for (what) they have done,” he tells JIS News.

Mr. Thompson was among approximately 400 civil servants recognized for long and quality service to the Government and people of Jamaica, at the Jamaica Civil Service Association’s (JCSA) Long Service Award Ceremony, held on November 19 at King’s House.

The ceremony formed part of activities celebrating the Civil Service Week 2014, from November 16 to 22, under the theme: ‘Public Sector Advancement through Partnership and Collaboration’.

Deputy Chief Personnel Officer in charge of appointments at the Public Service Commission, Sonya Jones, is also delighted to have been awarded, pointing out that “I am happy (that) I served…and served well…that’s the most important thing for any civil servant to do.”

Mrs. Jones also welcomes the programme of transformation being implemented in the government service.

“I really do applaud that. We are striving for better customer service and putting the right fit in position so (that) we (can) become a more efficient and effective body,” she tells JIS News.

Citing the transformation of some entities into executive agencies, Mrs. Jones says “we really are reaping…benefits,” from this move.

“Persons are held (accountable for) their performance; and because of our new performance instruments, we now know that we are the ones who (are responsible for gauging) our own performance management. We will know where we have or have not met our targets, (and) so we (will) know (whether) we are performing or not…and I really applaud that move,” she says.

Mrs. Jones, whose public service career spans 25 years, believes in quality service.

“People will tell you that I am strict (but that) I am a fair person in how I execute my duties. Whenever anyone comes to see me, whoever they are, I treat them equally…my door is always open; I have (been given) the name ‘Poor people Governess’. I am there to serve, and that is what I do best,” she declares.

Mrs. Jones is also urging her colleagues in the wider public sector to “work hard, work well,…and do whatever you are doing, to the best of your ability”, adding that “if I were to live my life all over again, I would (work) nowhere else but in the public service.”

Sean Barrow, of the Jamaica Customs Agency, who is also 2014/15 Civil Servant of the Year, welcomes developments to advance the quality of the public service.

“I have seen that there is a push towards quality customer service and I laud that. I see the television advertisements and features (highlighting) public sector entities that are really giving of themselves (and) that is important in this changing environment (because) quality customer service can woo more clients, and that is important,” he points out.

In this regard, Mr. Barrow is urging colleague public servants to “give of your best,” and “really seek to represent (yourselves, and your Ministry, Department, or Agency well).”

“When one gives of one’s best, then that is the best that one can do,” he adds.