Civil Servants Must Understand Their Roles - Jones

Civil Servants Must Understand Their Roles - Jones

Monday, 31 October 2011 10:33

Senior Advisor, Public Sector Establishment Division, Office of the Cabinet, Wayne Jones (at podium), addresses participants attending the Management Institute for National Development (MIND) Quarterly Policy Forum, held at the entity’s Old Hope Road, St. Andrew campus, on October 28, under the theme: ‘Leadership, Transformation, Governance: Imperatives for an Effective Public Service’.

KINGSTON — Senior Advisor in the Public Sector Establishment Division of the Cabinet Office, Wayne Jones, has underscored the importance of civil servants, at all levels, having an understanding of their roles and responsibilities in the delivery of public services.

This, he contends, is necessary within the context of the transformation process currently being effected within the public sector.

Speaking at the Management Institute for National Development (MIND) Quarterly Policy Forum, at the entity’s Old Hope Road campus in St. Andrew on October 28, Mr. Jones said discussions on civil servants’ roles and responsibilities are appropriate at this time, given efforts to improve the quality of service delivered.

“We are doing so against the backdrop of increased demands and expectations from the population that we serve and given the multi-dimensional aspect of the public sector transformation process that we are engaged in. If we don’t understand our roles, then the leadership that we are called upon to provide to this transformation process, will not be there,” he said.

Focusing on the theme: ‘Leadership, Transformation, Governance: Imperatives for an Effective Public Service’, Mr. Jones argued that, “unless you are there to lead the people and to manage these processes effectively, we are really wasting our time.”

He emphasised that this disposition is necessary, particularly against the background of “growing demand” among the populace for public sector entities to “step up their game," in the provision of quality services, especially to persons who rely on these on a daily basis.

"The majority of the people of this world rely on public services to get by on a daily basis. It, therefore, makes it more imperative that in shaping and re-organising the public bureaucracy, we gain an active understanding of the relationship between the ordinary man and woman and the policy makers and their advisors, and other support staff (civil servants),” he said.

“Only with such a robust appreciation, as the foundation, will we be able to transform the sector, providing the kind of governance that will actualise the dream of making Jamaica the place of choice, to live, work, raise families, and do business - Vision 2030,” Mr. Jones added.

MIND's Quarterly Policy Forum supports the Government’s efforts to enhance accountability and strengthen the quality of leadership and good governance, to underpin a transformed public service.

MIND is the government’s leadership development and management training institute serving Jamaica, and the wider Caribbean.

By Douglas Mcintosh, JIS Reporter