Public Servants Extraordinaire
Ministry of the Presidency, Department of Public Service, Thursday, June 27, 2019
Field Auditor, Ralph Welcome is the longest serving employee at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MoPI). He has an unbroken service record – 49 years – and has held seven positions during his tenure with MoPI.
Ralphie as he is fondly called by his peers was among 51 Public Servants honoured on Monday, June 24, by the Department of Public Service, as part of Public Service Day 2019 activities.
Welcome started work at the then Ministry of Works and Transport on August 4, 1970 at the age of 18 years as an Unskilled Labourer. In January 1976, he was promoted to Stores Attendant. The following year he was promoted to Stores Clerk 1 and later to Stores Clerk II, in 1984.
In 1986, Welcome was promoted to Stock Verifier and served for three years. The in May 1989, he applied for and secured the position as Assistant Field Auditor, a position he held for 15 years before being promoted to Field Auditor in November 2004.
On January 1, 2008, ‘Mr. Welcome’ as he is called by co-workers retired from the Public Service and was immediately rehired due to his exemplary and dedicated 34 years of service during which time he was written to once for being one hour and 15 minutes late for work.
His re-employment at the now MoPI as Field Auditor on Contract from January 1, 2008 to present has earned him the accolade of Public Servant Extraordinaire with an unbroken 49 years of service to the people and government of Guyana.
The dedicated and easy-going Field Auditor was awarded a plaque and a trip for two to the majestic Kaieteur Falls, for his distinguished service.
During his years at the Ministry, Ralph Welcome has participated in several training programmes offered by the Training Division, Department of Public Service, Ministry of the Presidency and has received glowing and consistent performance appraisals as being “absolutely dependable,” seeks and is always willing to accept responsibility; “helpful to the Ministry,” always goes the extra mile to complete work assignments and always is courteous to the public and colleagues. “One who exhibits great qualities of endurance, dependability and strength, which the MoPI is all about,” according to the Ministry’s Personnel Department.
The 51 public servants honoured for their years of service were drawn from various ministries, departments and agencies within the Public Sector.
For their dedicated efforts, the government hosted an awards ceremony at the Baridi Benab, State House.
During her remarks, Minister of Public Service, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley expressed appreciation for the commitment shown by the public servants over the years.
She said, “We thought it fitting to recognise 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.”
Minister Sarabo-Halley commended the employees who had reached the age of retirement but continued to dedicate their time and efforts to the nation. She appealed to them to use the opportunity to guide the younger public servants, utilising their knowledge “as a teachable tool.”
In addition, the Public Service Minister in the words of American politician Margaret Chase Smith, reminded that “Public service must be more than executing a job efficiently and honestly; it must be a complete dedication to the people and the nation. As such, the Public Service Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to the development of the public service sector.”
Minister Sarabo-Halley declared, “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.”
Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Mortimer Livan echoed similar sentiments to those of the Minister. He charged the public servants to “function to the best of their ability and to ensure that there is accountability in everything they do.”
The list of awardees included well known Public Servants Director of Childcare and Protection Agency, Ann Greene and Director of National Centre for Education Resource Development (NCERD), Jennifer Cumberbatch among others, some of whom have given nearly half a century of service to people and country.
Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams who assisted in handing over awards was among other dignitaries at the awards ceremony.
The United Nations declared June 23 as Public Service Day to celebrate the value and virtue of service to the community.
Images: Marceano Narine