HIGH COURT JUDGE ENCOURAGES LOYALTY AMONG PUBLIC SERVANTS
His Lordship Justice Kenneth Benjamin underscored the importance of loyalty in the public service as he addressed over 70 public servants at the 2nd Motivational Luncheon organized by the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
“Recent events in the High Court of the British Virgin Islands have placed the judicial system under microscopic scrutiny from the media,” he began. “As it unfolded, I couldn’t help thinking that the integrity of the system could be drastically damaged and degraded if the court’s functionaries, i.e. the staff at every level, didn’t stand firm in the protection of the court system.” Referring to the media coverage which started before and that which went on during and after the trial, Justice Benjamin said history will decide ultimately if the local system of justice stood up to the test. He said he began his remarks by pointing out that particular train of events “to highlight the importance of loyalty in the whole milieu of the workplace”.
The judge described the public service as a composite body of constituent
departments geared towards keeping the wheels of government well oiled
and to ensure that policy demands are rendered effective. He pointed out
that all of this must be done within the framework of the law.
“Imagine what kind of harm…if a member of the staff could have
visited upon the court while this trial was going on, such bad press,
such bad
comments, that at the end of the day we may well have a judicial system
left in tatters,” Justice Benjamin surmised.
He said so too, other public servants must display loyalty to their departments and by extension to the public service in general. According to him, that loyalty is not inconsistent with professionalism, but rather goes hand in hand with dedication to duty. “It is unprofessional for a public servant to seek to give bad press to the administrative arm of the government; indeed public servants must endeavour to promote his organization…in as positive a light as your integrity permits,” the senior judicial official stated. He however said that this does not mean public servants must be the proverbial ostrich “and bury your heard in the sand”. He said it means that if they recognize a failing in the system, they must be part of the solution and contribute to ensuring that the problem is resolved, rather than “standing on the sidelines and criticizing and doing nothing about it”.
Justice Benjamin also advised public servants not to give way to their emotions and personal opinions when carrying out their functions, especially as it relates to dealing with their friends and family. He pointed out that officers in the judicial arm of government have to lead in matters of non-partiality and lack of prejudice. He remarked that the Code of Judicial Ethics adopted by judges of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court should be disseminated to the key partners in the social arena for their comments. He said the Deputy Governor has already addressed his comments to the Chief Justice.
The BVI resident judge compared this Code to the charter each government department is being asked to prepare to outline performance standards. “It is my hope that like the Code, your charters will be rendered effective and worthwhile to the extent that the public will stand up and applaud you.” The luncheon was held Friday May 25th at the Cafesito Restaurant, as part of an initiative by the PSDP to foster a closer working relationship between the ranks of public servants. Another objective of the quarterly exercise is to recognize public servants for the good work they do. Several awards were presented, including a Quality Service Award to Land Registry for consistently giving excellent service to the public. This Department won the outstanding award in the Mystery Shopping programme, an evaluation done by random persons using government services.
Two other Departments also used the opportunity to present gifts to their
outstanding employees. The recipients were Orlando Thomas, Accounting
Officer, Library Services Department and Mrs. Joyce Winters, Accounting
Officer in the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
From the first luncheon, five outstanding employees had their names engraved
on two plaques to be mounted in the two wings of the Central
Administration Complex, based on which department they work. The names
on the plaque for the east atrium are Frida N. Hodge of the Ministry of
Natural Resources and Labour, Errol Flemming of the Department of Education
and Culture and Reynold Corum from the Department of Information and Public
Relations. For the west atrium, the honourees are Jeremiah Frett of the
Deputy Governor’s Office and Faith Maduro-Powell of the Solid Waste
Department.
In presenting closing remarks, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Chief Minister’s Office, Mrs. Rosalie Adams joined Justice Benjamin as he urged public servants not to join with non-colleagues to speak ill of the public service. “The fact that so many of you are here tells us that you are very hard-working and dedicated and that is what we are looking for in this public service right now,” she began. She told the public servants present that they represent people with healthy attitudes and she encouraged them to continue to carry it.
Mrs. Adams recalled the many PSDP initiatives that have already been held, those currently on stream and others to be implemented, including the Health and Safety activities. She encouraged public servants to maintain a high level of interest in the programme and continue to speak about it in positive terms. “For example, speak about our training programmes, not their programme; say ‘I want to be involved in what is happening, rather than what they are doing’…(and) make sure you are actively involved in all activities which relate to your service in the public.
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