This morning, the Ministry of the Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform held a graduation ceremony for 40 public officers who completed the clerical promotion program.
Informed persons tell us the clerical program is a sort of formal, on-the-job training for new entrants into the public service. The way it works is that experienced public service leaders from different ministries and departments make presentations to the trainees. For example, senior public officers from key areas of the public service, such as the Audit Department, the Belize Tax Service Department, and the Ministry of the Public Service, provide the participants with training about what is expected of them on a day-to-day basis, and what skills they need to develop. This program prepares the public officers for their future in the public service, and those who graduate are then eligible to be promoted.
But, because everything is now done virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic, today's graduates, had to conduct their training using teleconference tools. The Ministry of the Public Service officially recognized their completion of this clerical program with a virtual ceremony today. Here's what the main speakers had to say about this first cohort of online students:
Cordelia Belezaire - Valedictorian, Second Class Clerk "We have so much to be thankful for. Not only have we mastered the online clerical training, but we are the first group to have done so. We are now prepared to take the next step toward advancement in our careers. As I prepared this speech, I keep asking myself what I can say to inspire my colleagues, who like me, have waited so long to be granted an opportunity to sit the clerical program, especially those who have been waiting 10+ years, through no fault of their own. There are many flaws that we can easily pinpoint about the system. But likewise, we need to hold ourselves accountable. Ask yourself, have you given into the notion that public servants are lazy, often associated with corruption or unethical behaviours? How have you helped to make the system better? To be honest, when I accepted my appointment almost 10 years ago, I said, I will make this system better, and that has been my mission ever since, despite a little falter here and there. I am almost certain that for many of you, your mission is to do the same, to have a better public service that is more responsive and accountable to the people, and similarly, its employees. But it can only become a reality if we do our part."
Dean Flowers - Vice President, Public Service Union "Good morning graduates of Cohort 1 of the Clerical Program Class of 2020. On behalf of the Public Service Union of Belize, it is indeed an honour and a privilege to greet and congratulate you on your achievement today. It is important to note that your participation in the clerical program is also a result of the union's long history of partnering with the Ministry of Public Service to create opportunities for public officers to matriculate through the public service and become tomorrow's public service leaders."
Hon. Henry Charles Usher - Minister of Public Service, Constitutional and Political Reform "You have worked diligently and spent months acquiring news skills. In today's world, education, as well as technical skills, are important, some of which you have attained through this program. You're now able to carry on your path ahead. Today, the is not only the certificate that counts, but also, what you have learned along the way, and what you do with what you have gotten on your journey."
According to the Ministry of the Public Service, the clerical program first came into effect in 1982. The examination was first designed to test the public officer's power of expression, general knowledge of the country, and the nation's system of government. All 40 of today's graduates are public officers who are currently working in different areas of the government.
