Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has said that the public service plays a critical role in ensuring proper systems are put in place to strengthen the country’s preparation and response mechanisms to natural events.
He made that statement while delivering an address at the Public Service Awards and Recognition Ceremony held at the State House recently.
“The public service therefore, plays a critical role in ensuring that the proper systems are in place to strengthen our preparation and response mechanisms to natural events,” Skerrit said. “In this competitive global arena, our small size and vulnerabilities are no longer considered to be primary factors for preferential treatment, nor are they sufficient to cushion us from the harsh realities of globalization and trade liberalization.”
He continued, “Therefore you are being called upon to identify and implement new responses and strategies to combat the likely effects impacts on globalization on our economy.”
He explained that the imperative of the CSME for example, “will pose major challenges for the public service as more pressure is being placed on government to address issues such as, change in relationships among member states, of setting of the balance of skilled man power within states and the composition of civil society as a whole.”
However, Skerrit pointed out that issues of sovereignty remain prominent on this agenda and would require our collective knowledge, skills and energies to bring about the necessary changes in our governance structures.
“In addition to structural changes that continues to be a real shift in public expectation,” he remarked. “Society today is more consumer oriented and therefore services must be delivered in a timely, transparent and courteous manner, in order not to operate as a deterrent to cost effective and profitable operations of the business sector.”
Skerrit went on to say that productivity which deals with the variables of inputs and outputs is dependent on a great extent on the capacity of the government to provide adequate resources to implement and sustain targeted programs and services.
“The public sector can boast of having the most qualified workforce and leads the way in new innovations and technologies,” he noted.
However, he said there is a need for higher levels of efficiency in the use of scarce resources and greater commitment and dedication of public officers to respond appropriately to the increase demand for service.
“The changing context and the share skill and complexity of work in government calls for greater collaboration, coherence and teamwork among all sectors, and each sector’s contribution can only be as good as its people,” Skerrit stated.
“Government remains committed to its responsibilities to build and shape a strong economy…,” he added.
Skerrit commended the retirees for their dedication and contribution. He also congratulated the nominees and recipients of awards for their commitment to excellence and service.
He said the government recognizes that hard work and creativity of public officers in the rebuilding and transforming of our communities to be more resilient.
Skerrit further stated that the work continues, so do the challenges as the country was affected by a trough system last week, “which created further damage to the roads in some of our communities.”
According to him, the threat is real, “and we must be prepared as a small nation for the effects for climate change.”
Public Service Day was observed under the theme: “Embracing the Challenge- Rethink, Rebuild, Transform” which speaks to the numerous challenges that Dominica faces as a small island developing state.
Skerrit lost all his credibilty, nobody takes what he says serious, he just blowing hot air
we important? respect us and increase our salary. Nurses work so hard . you all have no heart for the nurses.
and when your sharing your cheese we not in it.
As far as I am concerned, the public service could play a greater role in terms of at least controlling the corruptive role you and your Government have put on this beautiful country.