JIS Radio Producer and Civil Servant of the Year Finalist Living His Purpose

For writer, producer and presenter at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), Andrae Palmer, being shortlisted as one of 14 finalists for the 2025 Civil Servant of the Year awards was one of the proudest and most significant moments of his professional life.

Mr. Palmer, who has been in the Radio Department for 16 years, was nominated in the Mid-Managerial category for persons serving in supervisory or middle-level management roles.

Mr. Palmer tells JIS News that learning that he was a finalist for the prestigious honour was nothing short of surreal.

Even after receiving confirmation from the Human Resource Management and Development Department and beginning preparations for the interview stage, he admits that there was still a sense of disbelief.

“It is something that I wasn’t expecting to be nominated for and then shortlisted… so disbelief would basically describe my initial feelings,” he says.

“It was a privilege and an honour, to be honest, knowing that out of all the public-sector workers, I was shortlisted. I would have witnessed several of my colleagues being nominated and winning but I have never really thought about being in that category,” he says.

The planned celebrations to announce the winners were cancelled this year due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa; however, all 14 finalists were recognised at a church service held on November 16.

Mr. Palmer tells JIS News that the occasion was “deeply meaningful” and a tribute to his years of hard work and dedication.

His wife’s observation at the church service was that he appeared to be the youngest finalist in the group.

“It felt good,” he says. “In this line of work, you pour everything into what you do, but you don’t always hear whether it’s making an impact. So, to be honoured in this way was encouraging; it showed that the work matters,’” he says.

Mr. Palmer believes the recognition came at exactly the right time in his life and career.

“Over the years, there were a lot of near misses,” he says. “You do the work because you love it, but sometimes you just don’t know if it’s appreciated by those you want to impact. Right now, based on what has been happening in my life personally, I think this recognition is perfectly timed. It feels like confirmation that what I’ve been doing for the country is meaningful,” he says.

Mr. Palmer’s role spans writing, producing, presenting, and even stepping into technical positions when needed.

He is responsible for producing the JIS Radio programmes Healthline, Calling Farmers and Tourism Roundup. He attributes much of his nomination to his willingness to serve wherever he is needed and to support colleagues both new and experienced.

“There are days when I’m writing my stories while covering someone else’s desk because they’re out sick,” he points out.

“There are times when I’m engineering studio sessions or editing programmes to ensure production goes out on time,” he adds.

He also plays a crucial role in helping new staff transition from mainstream media to government communications, offering guidance, clarity, and practical support during the probationary period.

His strong cross-departmental relationships, technical knowledge, and productivity-enhancing suggestions all contribute to what he calls “keeping the wheel moving”.

Mr. Palmer’s approach to leadership is shaped by his faith, upbringing, and deep respect for JIS’s mission, which is to inform the Jamaican public about government projects, policies and programmes.

“When I discovered that the vision of the JIS was based on the idea that the people of Jamaica need to know what the government is doing, that resonated with me,” he says. “Nothing is ever wasted from a press conference. I squeeze every story I can find because people need to know what’s going on,” he says.

Mr. Palmer’s leadership style is also rooted in the lessons that he learned from childhood, where his parents instilled the value of service within the home and wider community.

“Serving people is very important and, if you can help, you must always give a helping hand. That’s one of the lessons that my mother taught me. If you have the opportunity to help somebody who is in need, don’t say no. That has driven my approach to work in terms of leadership, to always be ready to serve,” he notes.

As such, his commitment to the agency is driven by a sense of duty to the people of Jamaica.

“I see it as a duty as well as an act of service to share information because I may know what is going on, but the general public may not know. If I don’t share the information, somebody will not get [the information] they need to carry out their function as a person,” he notes.

The passage of Hurricane Melissa reaffirmed the importance of that purpose and crucial role the JIS plays in times of disaster.

“It was drop everything and run,” Mr. Palmer says. “We had content prepared but once the hurricane threat became real, the focus became getting essential information to the public fast,” he points out.

Despite the urgency, accuracy and clarity remained non-negotiable. Coordinating health, agriculture, and public-safety updates demanded intense collaboration, rapid output, and flexibility. By midday, after a morning press conference, the team already had multiple stories ready for dissemination.

The information had to be simple and easy to understand, which required a lot of creativity while remaining firmly grounded in facts.

“Familiarity with the ministries I cover helps with accuracy,” Mr. Palmer says. “After years in these sectors, I understand the jargon, the priorities, even the communication patterns of ministers.

That understanding allows me to creatively present the information in a way everyone can understand,” he points out.

Mr. Palmer tells JIS News that he has been committed to the public service since he joined the JIS in 2009, as he discovered a job that integrated all his interests.

He says that the longer he stayed at the agency and became more embedded he knew he had found purpose.

“I made a commitment to God to serve in government, and I’ve felt at peace ever since. I feel fulfilled working for my country and serving my country at this level because what I say has national importance and it impacts persons’ lives on a personal level,” he says.

Receiving feedback from Jamaicans helps to validate that purpose. He recalls a memorable moment a few years ago when a teacher from Trelawny told him how much she enjoyed the ‘Jamaica’s Promise’ programme, which he produced at the time.

“That kind of feedback encourages you… she said she loved listening to the programme every week. You realise what you do is meaningful to someone as well as the fulfilment that I feel doing the work, knowing that I’m doing something that really aligns with everything that God has put inside of me… . I don’t see myself doing anything else,” he says.

As he reflects on this unexpected honour, Mr. Palmer offers a simple encouragement to public-sector workers.

“Continue to hope. Continue to believe. Continue to serve. Continue to find a reason to do what you love. Once you work hard at what you love, God will reward you in the end,” he says.

The Servant of the Year awards recognise excellence in performance, values, leadership, and public impact.

In addition to Mid-Managerial, the other categories are Managerial, for senior leaders in the public sector, and Technical support, for crucial technical or administrative staff.

There is also the People’s Choice, which is awarded based on public votes and recognises overall excellence.