1st Public Service Day Award Ceremony

– Speech by Min. Sarabo-Halley

In recognition of this day, I am pleased to celebrate the awardees who have long toiled in our nation. Your sacrifices are valued, irrespective of which field you serve in or the rank of your profession. Your dedication and professionalism has not gone unnoticed by this government.  The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana thanks you for your unbroken service.

We thought it fitting to recognize those persons who stuck the course. Many of you have worked through several administrations, this act of service shows a love for the people of Guyana and a recognition by yourself of the integral role played by public servants in the development process of your country. To those who have reached the age of retirement but stayed on your jobs, we are grateful and on this occasion, I implore you to share that institutional knowledge with young public servants who have a teachable spirit. Help them to see that “The top priority of a public servant should be to help others irrespective of the situation and circumstances. That an ideal public servant is one who can connect with the causes of the common people, understand their problems and work towards finding a lasting solution to them. That “Good quality public service is one of the pillars of success for any country.” A good leader is one who’s work can go on in their absence. I am calling on the matured public servants to be such leaders.

As Minister of the Public Service, I take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all our Public Servants regardless of the service you provide. Just know we appreciate you. And with the same token I encourage all of Guyana to spare a thought for those who endure difficult circumstances to not only protect our freedoms but our health and peace of mind. To the police, the healthcare workers, the sanitation workers, the clerks, janitors, educators and the long list of professions not mentioned, in the interest of time, I say thank you.

In the words of American politician Margaret Chase Smith, I remind you that, “Public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people and to the nation.” And in keeping with this ideology I promise that as your Minister and in keeping with the commitment of the Government of Guyana we will, together move the public service from where it is currently to a position of respect and eminence. A Public Service you will continue to be proud to be part of; delivering high quality, efficient and responsive service worthy of respect and deserving of reward.

Since coming to office in May of 2015 this government has taken bold steps to improve the lot of not only public servants but all workers. In the public sector we have seen the minimum wage moved from below $40,000 to $64,000 currently with further increases on the horizon.

Since coming to office our government has established the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service, not only to ensure a higher calibre staff but to improve the prospects for the upward mobility of public servants.

We have to date issued hundreds of scholarships to citizens whom are all expected to return and serve in our nation’s development, as we enter the era of an oil producing nation. Public servants continue to benefit from on the job training that is offered not only through the training division of the Department of the Public Service but additionally through bilateral agreements with friendly countries.

To Mr. Ralph Welcome, the awardee with the longest service, let me be the first to thank you and congratulate you for staying the course. The pleasure is mine to inform our audience that we’ve awarded you a trip for two to the majestic Kaieteur Falls. Please understand that this award ceremony is the first of its kind. Next year we will do it bigger and better. It was a small undertaking that took much work, let me take this time to thank the staff of my secretariat for seeing this through.

In closing let me once more remind you that this government, your government respects the work you do and will continue to work to provide the good life for all Guyanese. Long live the public service, long live public servants, long live a government committed to providing the good life for all.

I thank you.