Clyde Lettsome, former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry Of Natural Resources and Labour. Photo: VINO/File

After two category 5 killer storms, Hurricane Irma and Maria destroyed the Ports Authority Building on the western end of Tortola in September of 2017, Immigration, Customs and Treasury Officers were being housed under temporary tents. Photo: Facebook

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI: Members of the Public Service came in for high praises during a featured address by Clyde Lettsome, former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour.

Mr Lettsome made his remarks on the grounds of the Central Administration Complex, on Monday, October 8, 2018, in observance of Public Service Week 2018.

“Without you, public servants, we have no service and if we have no service, we can neither progress nor develop... In short, we would not have this territory that we built together, side by side” he said.

The former Permanent Secretary also extended gratitude to expats who came to the VI to help with post-Irma efforts, “we value the Expats who came in among us to help to provide these services. They have become our wives, our husbands, our children, our relatives, our teachers, our loved ones, our friends,” Mr Lettsome said. 

Selfish Purpose

He mentioned that while the responsibility of the Public Service is to create an enabling environment through the creation and implementation of laws, the private sector still depend on them to be vibrant, to grow and to develop. 

“The private sector is then in a position to produce the revenue that pays for the public infrastructure and your salaries as it goes about its selfish purpose of earning profits, paying taxes, employing people and being good corporate citizens,” he says.  

However, Mr Lettsome did empathize with the workers in the various public fields given the conditions they work under as a result of the 2017 hurricanes, “I get the fact that you are labouring under very difficult conditions...  You no longer have… air-conditioned buildings and to add insult to injury, many different departments and agencies are sharing a single space,” he said.  

No basic equipment

“Some of you don’t have basic equipment to carry out your jobs. Your documents are no longer as secured as they were and you feel hot and uncomfortable,” he further said.  

“Public service is a vocation; some would even say, a sacrifice… Whenever catastrophes strike, opportunity walks at her side… and that is because humans are remarkably resilient and have a strong drive and instinct for survival,” Mr Lettsome said.

He also highlighted that Mold in some public buildings continues to be an issue, “These are all legitimate concerns and they must and will be addressed…  But while you exercise patience, you have a serious job to perform and the country is at stake if you do not perform that job well,”  he said.

Public Service Week 2018, was held from October 8 through October 15 under the theme, “Transforming Together.”