14 public officers, TTBizLink get awards

FOURTEEN public officers and an online service were honoured at the Ministry of Public Administration’s Public Service Excellence Awards on June 20.

For the second time, the awards ceremony was held as part of the Public Service Week Expo at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port of Spain.

The expo was part of a week of activities, organised through the collaborative effort of ministries, departments and agencies across the country, celebrating Public Service Day on June 23.

The ministries' staff winners, who received trophies and a certificate for a one-night stay at a local hotel, were Analisa Baal of the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service; Ayanna La Fleur of Sport and Community Development; Cee-Jay Edwards of Trade and Industry; Deidre Rahaman of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts; Devon Wilson of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries; Kemba Moses-Henry of Digital Transformation; Kevin Showers of Housing and Urban Development; Marva Reeves La Roche of Rural Development; Kinnesha Edwards of Public Administration and Janyne Rattansingh of Planning and Development.

The 2024 awardees also included Petal Kennedy of the Tobago House of Assembly; Javier Forrester of the Office of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs; Patricia Gulston-Hutson of the Office of the Prime Minister – Communications and Keith Archer of Central Administrative Services Tobago.

TTBizLink was awarded Best Online Service.

A news release from the Ministry of Public Administration said, “In keeping with the theme of ‘Tech for Good: Transforming Public Service through Innovation’ the Ministry of Trade and Industry’s Online Service, TTBizLink, was judged as Best Online Service. The service was lauded as exemplifying “excellence in digital innovation and public service delivery.

“This platform has significantly streamlined business processes, enhancing efficiency and accessibility for users. TTBizLink's user-friendly interface, comprehensive range of services, and robust support system have set a new standard for government e-services.”

It said, in 2024, the ministry broadened the scope of the occasion to include several events held on collaboration other ministries.

They included the Public Service Windball Cricket Tournament, held from April 2-13 at Constantine Park, Macoya, in which the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries emerged as champs.

The Public Service Iron Chef Curry Duck Competition was held on April 20, which the Office of the Prime Minister – Communications beat out 16 other teams to win the grand prize.

Two free seminars on resume writing and the art of the job interview were also hosted by the Human Resource Management Association of TT. And the next event will be the Public Service Week Expo, Tobago, on July 5 at Shaw Park, Scarborough.