ST. JOHN'S Antigua, June 29th, 2012 -- Steps have been taken in the Ministry of Social Transformation to ensure that an integrated, coordinated and effective approach is embraced in the delivery of Public Service.
On Wednesday 27th June, the Ombudsman Mrs. Euslyn Lewis, on the invitation of Parliamentary Secretary Senator Malaka Parker, shared her knowledge with staff members at the ministry.
Mrs. Lewis has operated at different levels of the public service to include Permanent Secretary, Chief Establishment Officer, Cabinet Secretary and leading Civil Servant.
Senator Parker, explained that the invitation to meet with the heads of department and permanent secretary at the Ministry of Social Transformation was to share experiences and best practices, provide a necessary refresher course on the operation, structure and role of the civil service, provide insight as to the dynamics which led to the creation of the parallel non-established service, its impact on the service and the implications resulting, and provide information as it relates to the different models of public service in the region and the pros and cons.
Sen. Parker, being new to the service was also eager to have dialogue about the roles and responsibility of the policy maker and that of the Permanent Secretary, acknowledging that professional relationships is often compromised when these two key areas do not function as envisioned in the Constitution.
The Ombudsman, told officials that parties should embark on a path to promote performance-driven public administration, and this approach inherently requires more coordination and collaboration around the achievement of defined outcomes within the laws.
She stressed that it is important that persons appreciate the process, and build on the capacity of the Public Service in order to adopt a new approach.
She urged heads of departments to ensure that performance appraisals are conducted for persons’ acting in various posts.
Senator Parker added, since invariably several departments contribute to a particular outcome that government wants to achieve, coordination and integration is valued as a critical element for heightened impact and implementation of government policies and programmes.
Efficient, economic and effective use of resources was also discussed. The Ombudsman was delighted to share examples given her many years in the service, highlighting situations that are common throughout the sector.
Mrs. Lewis also told the heads of department that Public servants must be interested in their continuous personal and professional development. The heads of department expressed their appreciation for the wealth of knowledge imparted.
A follow-up meeting was also extended to the Ombudsman to continue the process.
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