BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – AS the global economy continues to undergo rapid transformation, the Human Resource Management Department, in collaboration with the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD), has taken the lead to prepare its staff for an improved service delivery to counter the economic changes.
Almost 20 members of the Department are today (Apr. 28) participating in a three-day workshop geared towards developing a strategic plan to ensure the necessary capacity building in the context of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
According to CARICAD’s Executive Director Jennifer Astaphan, the regional organisation not only supports the regional integration movement of public sectors, but it also has a mandate to sensitise policymakers in preparation for a full-stream CSME environment. She added that the workshop demonstrates CARICAD’s commitment to the government and people of St. Kitts-Nevis, stating that the organisation is “serious in working with the government in its initiative of transforming the public sector”.
“This is not just to change the way systems work but to transform the processes of government and to change completely the way the government does business and interact with the world. The thinking now is a one-stop shop in which citizens can go to a single point in government and access any service in government. That is the thinking that needs to permeate leaders in government in the area of service delivery and transformation,” Astaphan said.
In his opening remarks to the participants, Chief Secretary Joseph Edmeade said although governments around the world are under increased pressure, it is necessary for them to remain responsive to their citizens, adding that the emerging competitive environment demands.
“We live in a very competitive environment and people are no longer going to be putting up with inefficiencies and irresponsibility. We must understand that there is a new cultural shift and we need a new mindset!
“It cannot be business as usual because the environment around is changing rapidly. We want the Human Resource Department to understand the change in the environment and understand that it has a critical function to perform to ensure that the service delivery of government programmes is high, as citizens want to be served in a courteous and a time-responsive manner,” Edmeade submitted.
The Chief Secretary informed that following the closure of the sugar industry in 2005, it became more important for economic transformation as the Federation began leaning toward a service-based economy. He stressed the need to be prepared and educated in order to survive in a competitive environment.
“Capacity building is required! We are not the only economy involved in this transformation to services; our next door neighbour is doing the same thing and so we have to develop some edge and ensure that we create an environment within the public service that is going to augment and support the private sector in doing business,” Edmeade added.
The three-day workshop would feature facilitators from CARICAD, representatives of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and a number of officials from the Ministry of International Trade as the Human Resource Management Department braces itself for economic transformation.
