At a time when a great deal of diligence and responsibility is expected from employees, sixty Anguilla Government workers have been inspired and empowered following an induction programme for newly-employed persons.
The two-day Induction Programme 2018 was conducted on Monday and Tuesday, March 26 and 27, by Department of Public Administration personnel at the Church Hall of the Church of God (Holiness) on the Queen Elizabeth Avenue.
Deputy Governor, Mr. Perin Bradley congratulated the new employees on becoming officers in the Anguilla Public Service for which he has responsibility.
“I wish them long and rewarding careers,” he stated in a comment to The Anguillian newspaper. “What I want this cohort to understand most is that the public service is more than just a job – it’s a calling. This is a calling to serve your country and truly make a difference in the lives of the people of Anguilla. The road ahead is quite challenging indeed, and in order to uphold our morals and values, we need people in the public service who showcase those high ideals of integrity, selflessness, and objectivity.”
The following is the full text of a press release from the Department of Public Administration as regards the induction programme:
“This year, a record number of officers (drawn from various ministries and departments of the Anguilla Public Service) were in attendance.
“While the majority of the officers were from the Education Department and Customs, there were also officers from the Department of Lands and Surveys, Inland Revenue, Fire, Labour, Post Office, Library, Police and Public Administration. The aim was to ensure that as many officers, as possible, were given the opportunity to share in and benefit from this essential, enlightening, and ‘information-sharing exercise’.
“The officers were encouraged to embrace the different elements of the Leadership Statement of the Anguilla Public Service which was developed in 2016. They were reminded that at the end of the induction exercise, having received the additional information, they should pledge to be inspired about their work, to remain committed in their engagement, and to empower one another to deliver.
“This year there were also brief presentations from Ms Michelle Queeley, President, Anguilla Teachers’ Union (ATU); Mr Steve Mcdowald, a representative from Anguilla Civil Service Association (ACSA); and Ms Melissa Meade, Director Disaster Management. Participants were advised to be a part of the associations and gain the benefits that members usually derive from those organizations.
Ms Meade, Director of Disaster Management, took the opportunity to advise participants that disaster was everybody’s business and it was important that everyone got involved. Total involvement and careful preparation could go a long way in mitigating the damage that disasters may cause.
“Other presentations included topics such as Understanding Government and the Role of the Anguilla Public Service, Policies, Rules and Regulations in the Anguilla Public Service, Who is Who in the Service, Expectations of teachers/officers, Communicating with Stakeholders, Compensation and Benefits, Dignity, Worth and Human Rights, Social Security and You, Pensions, Recruitment, Training and Professionalism in the Workplace.
“The main facilitators for the sessions were Mr Perin Bradley – Honourable Deputy Governor; Mrs Rosanna Browne, Research and Development Officer, Social Security; Mrs Lana Horsford-Harrigan – Director, Human Resource Management; Mrs Ronya Foy-Connor, Gender Coordinator; Mrs Monifa Brooks-Gumbs, Administrator, Public Service Pension Fund; and Mrs Ornette Edwards-Gumbs and Mrs C Charmaine Rogers, Deputy Directors, Human Resource Management.”