President celebrates public servants

President Paula-Mae Weekes celebrates the hard work, dedication and commitment of public servants, particularly during the covid19 lockdown, on the United Nation’s Public Service Day celebrated on Tuesday.

The President particularly noted the commitment and innovation the public service had in keeping the country running.

“Over the last few months, public servants have played an integral role in Trinidad and Tobago’s proactive response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Some were at the frontlines, providing much-needed expertise, care and protection to those most directly affected by the disease, while others worked diligently in the background to minimise disruption of operations and ensure availability of critical social, financial and health services.”

The need for continuity of public services, she said, pushed many government institutions to become more flexible and innovative in conducting their business.

“Citizens were able increasingly to access government services online, schedule visits to public offices or perform certain transactions over the phone.”

She said the innovation and adaptation of the public service must be sustained if the public sector is to keep pace with the diverse and shifting demands of society.

“Outdated ways of thinking and anachronistic processes have to give way permanently to modern and efficient systems that better serve the public. Technology can improve all levels of service delivery, but must be balanced with maintaining human interaction; this combination will ensure that citizens can enjoy the full range of services to which they are entitled.”

Public servants, she said, are a willing workforce and should be compensated fairly, trained continually and provided with safe and healthy working conditions. Above all, they must be guided by competent and accountable leaders who encourage innovation and champion the visions of others.

“Once afforded the right environment, public servants could truly revolutionise the concept of service to the nation.”