Consultations on Public Service Transformation launched

July 05, 2012:

Public Administration Minister Holds Initial Meeting With TTPBA

The Ministry of Public Administration (MPA) will launch its series of consultations on Public Service Transformation at a meeting with the Trinidad and Tobago Publishers and Broadcasters Association (TTPBA) and other media representatives at 08:30 a.m. on Friday July 6, 2012 at the Trinidad Hilton.

Commenting on the planned consultations, Public Administration Minister, Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan said, “We have to know how different interest groups feel about the services they access now, what kind of services they want, and how they feel about the timeliness, cost, efficiency and quality. Our aim is to be citizen-centric or have our services geared to the people of the country. We cannot do that without consulting with them and keeping the consultation process going.”

The Public Administration Minister explained that there were several inter-related and simultaneous developments that will merge in future to produce the citizen-centric society that is the goal of public service transformation. She explained, “The present structure of the public service is bottom-heavy and we are going to professionalise it so that it will become diamond-shape. People who are now at the lower levels will get the opportunity for promotion and further training. At the same time, we will explore technology solutions to produce a ‘one-stop-shop’ type of service delivery platform where you can access all the services from one location – even your cellphone. The consultations are intended to give us as clear a picture as possible about what our citizens want. These will all come together in the future.”

The planned consultations follow the Ministry’s Public Service Week celebrations which gave members of the public the opportunity to interact with public service providers from all the Ministries and Agencies of the Government. “Our next big event apart from the consultations,” the Minister says, “will be the Gala celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Public Service. Here we will honour fifty distinguished public servants, unveil the new architecture of the public service and present awards to three Government entities who achieved a high standard of service delivery. We will announce the date shortly.”

Minister Seepersad-Bachan has stated that the MPA will be willing to hold consultations on public service transformation with organisations from the public, private and voluntary sector who want to participate in the process. These organisations are asked to write to Gillian Macintyre, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration Level 7 NALIS Building, Port of Spain or call 625-6111 extension 2207.

EDITORS PLEASE INDICATE YOUR ATTENDANCE. A REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE IN CONTACT WITH YOU TODAY. For further information, please call Ms. Anna-Lisa Gore at 625-6111 ext. 2084 or email communicationsdivision@mpa.gov.tt