Public officers in Dominica have been advised to work for the success of the Government of the day within the confines of the law.
Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Ambassador Irwin Larocque made the call during the awards and recognition ceremony of the public service at the weekend.
Meantime, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit who also addressed the ceremony, called on public officers to defend the public service.
Dominica has celebrated Public Service Day biannually since 1999 to highlight the work of public officers in the development of the country.
The main objectives of that day are to encourage comradery among officers, to allow public officers the opportunity to socialize, recognize the contributions of retired officers in the development of the public service, and recognize excellence in delivery and performance of services with a view to improving efficiencies and ultimately improving the administration of the public service.
The theme, for this year’s Public Service Day ‘Embracing the Challenge: Rethink, Rebuild and Transform’ was deemed “very fitting” in the wake of Tropical Storm Erika which devastated the island last August.
A number of activities were been scheduled to mark Public Service Day 2016 which is celebrated worldwide on June 23 every year.
These included:
-Two hikes; in keeping with the Ministry of Health’s health thrust in educating the general public bout Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases on Saturday June 25, 2016 from Laudat to Grand Fond on the Chemin Letang trail and October 1, 2016.
-A sports day, on September 3, 2016, with old time sakes games such as lime and spoon, sack races and three legged races along with the traditional games like cricket and rounders.
-A walk for Lupus on September 10, 2016 as individuals affected by the auto-immune disease partaking in the event cannot generally cover large distances nor tolerate prolonged exposure to the sun.
-Two educational talks on the public service and spirituality, carded for September 22, 2016 and on November 10, 2016 and will provide an overview of the “much debated and misunderstood general orders”,
-A flea market on July 30, 2016.
-A talent night dubbed ‘Rock the Runway’ at the Arawak House of Culture on November 26, 2016.
The events climaxed on December 2, 2016 with the Public Service Awards and Recognition Ceremony.
