Dr. James Fletcher responds to a social media “notice” claiming that public officers will be negatively affected if the current government is re-elected.
Statement by Minister for the Public Service on a Social Media notice on the Public Service
My attention has been drawn, as Minister for the Public Service, to a notice that is being circulated on social media suggesting that the Labour Government has plans for the Public Service after elections that will negatively impact the livelihoods of public officers.
I wish to respond to the following claims that have been made in the social media notice titled “Attention Public Servants.”
There is absolutely no truth to the claim that public officers on temporary appointment will be placed on contract for two years. It is also patently false that officers who are on contract, or any other officers for that matter, will be dismissed if they score less than 85 percent on their appraisals.
There are no plans to change the pension arrangements for officers on permanent establishment. In other words, the claim that when officers on permanent establishment retire they will not receive a gratuity but will receive only a monthly pension are outrageous and an absolute fabrication.
Finally, there are absolutely no plans to implement the 5 percent salary reduction. Because of our collective sacrifice we have been able to close the fiscal gap and stimulate growth in our economy. We need to continue to build on these gains and catalyse even more positive sustained growth in our economy.
I can however state with a high degree of confidence that the Labour government intends to undertake the following measures in the public service in its new term of office:
Establish a state-of-the-art modern training facility for public officers at Union, in what was previously Spinners, to equip public officers with the necessary skills to operate even more efficiently and effectively.
Initiate a comprehensive programme to upgrade and enhance the information technology skill sets of public officers.
Create a child care facility on the Waterfront to provide a safe place for the public officers who work on the Waterfront to keep their children in the period between the dismissal of school and the end of the work day.
Continue the Employee Assistance Program to provide support to public officers who may be experiencing distress that is impacting on their ability to function in the work place.
Integrate the new Unified Communications System in the operations of all government offices so that public officers may communicate more effectively with each other, using voice-over-IP technology and having greater ability to host teleconferences and video conferences.
Continue to address the several occupational health and safety issues that plague some of the Government offices, so as to ensure that our public officers are not exposed to hazards in the work place.
Complete the digitization of all government records and make it possible for processes such as leave management to be done quickly and more efficiently on an online platform.
Integrate the successful 311 Contact Centre with the emergency 911 and 999 services for greater efficiency and more efficient response times.
Complete the Vieux Fort Administrative Complex to provide public officers in the south and the general public with modern, spacious premises to work and transact business
Make it possible for more government services, such as renewal of driver’s licences and application for birth certificates, to be done online via the Government of Saint Lucia’s web portal.
