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Senior public servants to maintain good governance as prerequisite to stable society

Contact: Shannon Lebourne

Wednesday 15 June 2011 – The Ministry of the Public Service and Human Resource Development continues to invest in training public officers in keeping with government’s mandate and policy to ensure good governance in Saint Lucia.

In partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat, the government of Saint Lucia hosted permanent secretaries and other senior public officers at a two-day workshop to discuss the importance and role of public servants in promoting good governance.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop Public Service Minister Honorable Lenard “Spider” Montoute indicated that integrity among senior public officers and government officials is critical in ensuring good governance in democracies like Saint Lucia.

“The importance of leadership and management at senior levels is paramount in promoting good governance. It is therefore important to have leaders and managers in the public service with the appropriate skills and responsibilities to discharge their functions effectively; this necessitates an understanding of public and administrative law by public officers so that they can understand the constitutional and legal framework within which they operate.”

The minister said the government of Saint Lucia has, and will continue to take necessary steps including training public servants to promote good governance.

During his address, minister Montoute also urged permanent secretaries and senior public officers who are the primary managers of government’s business, to apply laws and policies impartially and not be influenced by personal interest.

“Establishing good governance requires the building of strong and sustainable institutions of the state. It should also empower citizens through transparency and participation. Good governance should also ensure that political, economic, and social priorities are based on broad consensus in society and that the voices of the poor and vulnerable are heard and taken into account when making policy decisions and allocating resources. It is also widely recognized that good governance is essential to sustainable development.”

The two-day workshop took place on June 8 and 9 under the theme: “Understanding the Roles and Function of Public and Private Sectors in promoting good governance”.     

The initiative was funded by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

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