The winners of the Anguilla Public Service Employee Recognition Awards 2016 were announced at a ceremony at Government House on Thursday, June 23, in observance of the globally-recognised UN Public Service Day.
Mr. Leslie J. Hodge, Director of Lands and Surveys, and one of the youngest Heads of Departments, was adjudged Public Servant of the Year 2016 as well as the winner in the-Above-and-Beyond-the-call-of- Duty category.
The other award winners were in the following categories – Outstanding Customer Service: Ms. Sherri-Ann Roberts, General Post Office; Innovativeness: Inland Revenue Department; Security/Safety Achievement: Solid Waste Team, Department of Health Protection; and Anguilla Public Service Image Award: Mrs. Aunika Webster-Lake.
Speaking on the night of the awards ceremony, Governor Christina Scott congratulated all nominees: “Whether you win an award or not you are winners in having been recognised by your colleagues as being inspirational. Thank you also for being leaders, for showing what is possible, and or acting as role models to others.”
Earlier, the Governor said: “There are some goals of the people of Anguilla we are here to serve. Real, tangible goals are what public service means to the people we serve; the ease with which they can do business; how well their vulnerable relatives are protected and supported; the health and security of the environment where they work, study and relax; and the future prospects of their children.”
Governor Scott continued: “Our job as public servants is to make the system that delivers the public all of these things the best it can possibly be. As public servants – at every level – we must all take responsibility for the effective and efficient delivery of the Government’s programmes and ministers’ priorities, ensuring an engaged and productive staff and the provision of high-quality services to the public.”
She urged public servants to aim at three objectives: empowering, inspiring and connecting which she said were what people across the Anguilla Public Service were saying are their leadership priorities. “These aren’t my ideas,” she noted. “In fact, these are three of the key and ambitious themes that have emerged clearly from the wide consultation undertaken by the Department of Public Administration over recent months.”
The Governor thanked all those who made the nominations. “I hope that many more will do so next year. I also thank the committee for their time in assessing the bids,” she added.
