Public Service Minister Urges Greater Dialogue on PSTP

KINGSTON — Minister with responsibility for Information and the Public Service, Senator the Hon. Arthur Williams, is urging greater dialogue among stakeholders in Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies on the Public Sector Transformation Programme (PSTP).

This is necessary, he contends, if the initiative is to deliver on its vision of a transformed public sector that is performance-based, efficient, cost effective and service oriented.

Addressing the Management Institute for National Development 12th annual graduation ceremony at the institution’s Old Hope Road campus, on December  10, Senator Williams expressed “disappointment” that a number of Ministries, Departments and Agencies had not adhered to the stipulated programme of establishing inter-disciplinary transformation teams to familiarise employees with developments on the transformation process.

“I hold the view that communication is critical to the success of transformation. As the Minister with responsibility for the Public Service, I have Ministerial custody of the transformation exercise. But as I have always said, it will not happen without all of us co-operating to make a success of this critical endeavour. To the senior managers of the sector, I call on you to make sure that your team members are made aware of the developments, that you get their inputs and feedback, and see to it that there are no surprises for your staff,”  he urged.

“I, therefore, implore everyone to get involved and to focus on how we transform (the public service) for the benefit of Jamaica,” Senator Williams exhorted.

Citing Singapore as an example of a state with an efficient transformed public sector, Senator Williams said the Asian nation had been transformed from a country devastated by World War II to a powerhouse, “where the world goes to do business.” He pointed out that, during the mid-1990s, Singapore’s leaders saw the need for the public service to become more efficient in its operations.

“They accepted that innovation was not a responsibility of the entrepreneur and businessman only. But that, public sector workers can also bring creativity into their workplaces. There is much that we can learn from them. The key behind all the continued success in that country is the fact that government, unions, and the private sector, largely, rally behind shared visions. The public service is a place where innovation and creativity can flourish, once each individual makes a commitment,” Senator Williams argued.

Some 232 graduands were awarded certificates, diplomas and degrees during the  ceremony. They represented approximately 6.37 per cent of the over 3,641 persons who participated and successfully completed 77 courses and programmes across 11 disciplines, delivered this year.

Valedictorian was Senior Internal Medical Resident at the Savanna-la-Mar General Public Hospital in Westmoreland, Dr. Andrew Salmon, who was awarded a Post Graduate Diploma after successfully completing the Public Sector Senior Management Development Programme.

By Douglas McIntosh, JIS Reporter