The SGRSSO placed second in the Public Service Day Celebrations 2011. Barbara Sinanan and Khaysha Cassie-Haven both came second in the Essay writting competition.The celebrations took place at Signature Hall Londonville. There was lots of food, fun and entertainment.
Public Service Day was officially 23rd June 2011. This day was set aside by the United Nations to honour public servants for the contribution that they make to society.The Ministry of the People and Social Development celebrated this day with an essay writting competition, an Open House Day and an afternoon of celebraation to show apreciation to its members of staff.
The Essay Topic
The former UN Secretary-General, in his speech at the World Youth Forum in 1998, stressed the importance of public service by encouraging the world’s youth to enter into this field. He said, “In this changing world of new challenges, we need, more than ever before, dedicated and talented individuals to enter public service. More than ever before, we need people like you sitting here today, to make the choice of service to humankind.”
Based on the above statement illustrate how your choice of employment in the Public Sector has aided in your personal and professional development as a public servant. Please make reference to relevant past experiences.
Essay by Khaysha Cassie-Haven Regional Performance Management Officer SGRSSO
In this modern age of globalization where business transactions are now done online rather than interpersonally the public sector is one entity within which to seek employment. This has impacted on not only the ways on how work is done, but it also enhanced and changed the many job opportunities available within the marketplace and extended the range of jobs e.g. Information Technology and Events Management. Many opportunities are now available in both the public and private sectors.
In addition, to the diversity of career opportunities there are various types of jobs available to the population in the public sector. Movement within Ministries is not classified as changing employers so conditions of employment will remain intact. The government is able to offer jobs for more people which translate into an increased employment rate in the country.
Mahatma Gandhi states “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” In working in the public sector I hope to make a positive difference to society. This involves assisting the clients so that they can improve their lifestyle. At the Ministry of the People and Social Development, clients often cannot afford basic amenities to survive day to day living. In assisting these clients they can get trained and become self sufficient and improve their lifestyle. There are various grants available to provide this type of assistance.
Most clients come into the office as a means for assistance. I clearly remember one time when I had been able to put a smile on someone’s face. A client came into the office for some information and was surprised how pleasant her interaction at the office was. She was happy to obtain the required information and commented on how well she was treated. The manner in which you speak to a client, your body language and how one deals with their transaction speaks volumes to a client.
On the Ministry’s logo are the words, “Helping, Empowering, and Transforming Lives”. I believe employees who embrace these values are better able to serve the citizens of the country.
One of my job functions includes completing a customer satisfaction survey. When I contact clients I obtain feedback on the level of customer service at the organization. It delights me to know that clients are satisfied and happy and would recommend the office to others. I am able to take the feedback received to develop and implement processes to provide better service to clients.
It is fulfilling to know that I can make recommendations that impact people’s lives positively and that I have a “hand” in improving the lifestyle of persons in the Sangre Grande region.
In working in the Public sector I believe that I can assist in improving the health of the country and the people since I can now give back to society. I am a “public servant” – servant of the public which a making a difference in the Sangre Grande Region. This is very rewarding to me than working in a company in the private sector.
Furthermore, with the advent of contract positions many persons can apply for positions within the public sector without having to go through Service Commission. This has enabled me to gain experience and exposure in the workplace.
There are always opportunities for secondment, project work, taskforces and multidisciplinary teams. I had the opportunity to work with the National Secretariat in planning the 5th Summit of the Americas and the Common Wealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2009. This has provided me with opportunities to interact with persons from different countries and to hone my events planning skills. I was able to meet people of varying culture and acquire new skills.
There are also opportunities for training and development. I have participated in an “on boarding training” at the Ministry of the People and Social Development. This has provided me with job orientation as well as I have been able to learn about the Ministry. The Ministry also has a library for employees to gain information on a wide array of topics.
I remember working at the Judiciary and encountering a young man who was only eighteen and was due to pay a fine for possession of marijuana. I spoke to the young man and advised him that he shouldn’t be involved in drugs at such a young age and that he should go back to school. He responded, “Miss my head hard. I cannot do the academics.” To which I advised him that he can obtain a skill like plumbing or become an electrician. Some months later I met the same young man who told me that he was an apprentice with a plumber.
The atmosphere in the public sector is relaxed since the focus is on service. Clients go to various government offices for some type of service or the other such as to acquire documents like a passport, to access social assistance programmes, or to pay taxes. The relaxed atmosphere encourages clients and employees alike to feel at ease.
There are numerous opportunities for professional development in the public sector as well as many routes for career progression. There are multiple levels within the organization so staff is promoted from within. Thus, this allows organizations to retain the carefully cultivated skills of existing staff.
In the public sector I have been able to benefit from a better Work/Life Balance. The Ministry does not operate a long hours culture. Thus, staff has sufficient time to spend with their families and participate in leisure activities.
There are also many after work activities being promoted by the Ministry of the People and Social Development in an effort to bring staff together to socialize, to meet and greet each other and share their experiences. The Ministry has hosted Sports Day, “We Fridays” and the “Big Picnic” all in an attempt to encourage staff to socialize together.
The Ministry also hosted its “Fish Day” in 2010 to motivate its staff. This has been able to motivate staff and get them to come together for common purpose as well as show case the talent of the staff. It was a fun activity at the various offices. At Sangre Grande, we had a grand time organizing the activities and performing our “Poisson” song.
In order to become more technologically advanced and more applicant-friendly the traditional application form that took hours to complete is becoming redundant. There are websites that are applicant-friendly where online applications for jobs can be completed.
On the contrary, there is a lot of “red tape” that exists within government organizations which may be seen as a barrier to entry. Every single cent spent and any decisions made is accountable to the taxpayers. Thus, there are very hierarchical and lengthy sign-off procedures on even the smallest projects.
In addition to working within the public sector I also have working experience in the private sector, having worked at a telecommunications company and a bank. The private sector is more concerned with making profits whereas the public sector makes decisions that impacts thousands of people’s lives every day. It’s more fulfilling to know that I can assist one person who lives in poverty or just provide advice and information to a client.
In the public sector costs are spread out over the entire population through the collection of taxes. This is advantageous to a person who is receiving help from the government such as welfare. In the private sector firms must compete with each other in order to gain the consumer’s money.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela. My sister is a teacher and I always tell her to make a difference in the lives of the children you teach. It aids in the motivation and development of a child. In a few years time these children will blossom into adults. It is always nice to hear a child recall a teacher who made a difference in his life.
I remember a teacher of mine who taught me both in primary school and secondary school. She was one of the persons who would have known me for most of my childhood. She was able to motivate me just by her personality and how she spoke. She always had some stimulating material to present. The interest she took in her job has enabled her to be a successful teacher and to produce many brilliant young ladies in the workforce today.
The many challenges within the public service are invigorating. It keeps me motivated and it’s enlightening when I can touch someone’s life. It’s great to be able to make a difference in people’s lives. When clients become rehabilitated it reflects upon the organization in a positive way. It shows the contribution that public servants make on a daily basis to serve the citizens of the country. Public servants make a great contribution to the society of Trinidad and Tobago and keep the country running successfully.
Essay Barbara Sinanan Ag Clerk IV SGRSSO
The Public Service and I
My entry into the Public Service came at a time when my dad and I was living on his pension( Old Age)and was barely make it. I needed steady employment to help us have some of the things that was out of our reach for a while. I sent out numerous resumes to private companies and the Public Service Commission. Those I got responses from all felt that I did not have any experience and was not willing to hire me at the time.
After years of attending interviews, I started a small business, I became self-employed doing sewing and fabric designing such as tie-dying, hand-painting on clothing and household items. This was earning slowly and intermittently, just enough to keep us going.
Then after three (3) years, tha Service Commission Department called me to start as a temporary Clerk I. My father who raised me on his own since I was twelve (12) years old (my mother died around that time) was thrilled that his last child was going to work in the Public Service. As he put it” You will have a Government job and you will be public servant”. It seemed to be something he favoured a lot. He was happy for me and was proud that I was on the way to becoming self-sufficient. He spoke of being a Public Servant as an achievement and felt that the opportunity was indeed a significant one.
Knowing my father’s opinion on the matter, at the time, I felt that I could not pass up the opportunity to have a steady income. This was the beginning of my service to the Public. During the second year I wrote the Public Service Examination which I passed and was appointed as a Clerk I two (2) years later.
I lived in Sangre Grande and was assigned to an office in Salvatori Building, Port of Spain which was coincidently next to the Ministry of Social Development, where I would eventually be appointed on a permanent basis. At that time, it was coming from the quiet country area of Sangre Grande to Port of Spain-the bright lights. I made many new friends from different parts of the country and from varied backgrounds. I got the opportunity to go on many after-work “limes”, and my social life was indeed hectic. Those of us who now started to work and had no real commitments spent a lot of lime together outside of work hours. Some the friendships I forged in the early days have remained strong over time and I can still say we are good friends.
My appointment (status changed from temporary) was in the Ministry of Social Development. Over the years I have been assigned to many offices in the Social Welfare Division as well as General Administration, Human Resource Unit, Accounting Unit and the Sangre Grande Regional Social Services Office.
The Public Service took me in when I had no experience. It is the one of the only places that does not have the requirement of experience at the entry level. Over the years I have gained knowledge and experience in many aspects of office work ranging from accounting procedures, recording keeping, supervising other staff and interacting with members of the public. It has shown me how people interact with each other. I have seen the intricacies of human relationships and how they translate into productivity and positive contributions. While on the other hand I have witnessed those that by their actions have shed negative light on the Public Service and at times allowed it to be maligned and chastised.
I feel confident that no matter what the public perception is of the Public Service, there are public officers that can hold their heads high knowing that they have made a positive and constructive contribution to the development of the public sector. There are many of us who give over one hundred percent every time we perform our duties as public officers. We take pride in what we do and feel that this is our place and that there is no other place for us.
The Public Service gives one the opportunity to have a level of job security that financial institutions and Embassies require in the processing of loans and visas respectively. This has assisted me over the years in doing many home improvement projects and travelling abroad for vacation. There is also the advantage of the Sick Leave, Casual Leave and Vacation Leave(this can be accumulated up to sixty (60) or ninety (90) days according to the salary range) which officers are entitled to. The vacation leave in particular allows for proper planning and utilization of the time. The Public service affords one the opportunity to have extended sick leave should one be struck with illnesses that prevents one from working. Should this be utilized the officers job will still be available when he/she is better. However, it must be noted that some persons always find ways to utilize leave in ways not intended by the Public Service that create a negative impression of public officers.
The Public Service also affords one the opportunity to take No-Pay Study Leave, Leave to attend to Family Matters and Leave on the Grounds of Public Policy to take up Contract employment. In addition, there are annual offers of Scholarships and Full-Pay Study Leave in varied disciplines. All these are geared to allowing for personal and academic development in areas chosen by an individual. They give one the opportunity to become qualified so as to earn more money either in a higher range in the Public Service or elsewhere.
The Public Service is the largest body of employed persons and contains areas of speciality that sometimes create the slowing of the wheel. This services provided at times seems slow and tied up in long drawn out processes. However, all the processes are intended to have checks and balances that are required in the utilization of public funds. Public officers are to follow the guidelines set out so as to uphold transparency and accountability.
Due to the far reaching arms of the Public Sector-Port of Spain to Mayaro, Toco to San Fernando, Sangre Grande to Couva , Rio Claro to Cedros and Tobago, persons can work in different parts of the country if they desire and as the positions are available. This allowed me to move to an office in Sangre Grande when my son was born. It gave me the opportunity to be closer to my son and father (88 years at the time) and fulfil my family obligations at the time. There are not many companies that are situated in so many places, that can facilitate their staff in the way. Of course, this is necessary for the Public Sector as it must be accessible to the public, but it is beneficial to its employees too.
I would call myself a career Public Servant, as I have been in the Public Service for twenty (20) years and do not intend to leave until I can do so. I have the option to retire between fifty (50) and fifty- five (55) years with permission, go voluntarily between fifty- five (55) and fifty-nine (59) years and at sixty (60) years I must leave. It seems I am almost there, but I still have a contribution to make.
The Public Service is growing everyday with the advent of Contract Employment. More and more Ministries are hiring persons on contract and engaging persons who were once in the private sector or just out of school. It is diversifying its employee base which brings new perspectives and fresh ideas. Contract persons do not have an age limit as such public sector officers who are retired can return in different areas and continue to serve. The Public sector as an employer is now making strides to improve the work place conditions and update its processes with the introduction of new technologies and facilities.
The Public Service and I have been together for some time and as in any relationship we have had some challenges and faced many obstacles. I have remained steadfast in my commitment to give my all when I am at the office, no matter where it was situated-Port of Spain, Arima or Sangre Grande. Even when I had to go to Toco once a month or to Couva to a function or participate in any training course or exercise I did so without fail.. We depend on each other for our survival and I recognise that my role is important as is every public officer. I believe that my employer pays me to do a job and I must fulfil my end of the contract;I must do my job without fear or favour. I think that service to the public is service to you and me and it is very important that in our every day lives.
So now I can reflect on my acceptance of “the government job”and I am sure my father is proud of me. Although, I will never know what would have happened if I did not, I have fared very well and is pleased with where I am.
Los Pioneros 