66 public officers recognized for Public Service Day

Public Service Day is celebrated every year on June twenty-third. This morning, a number of public officers with a quarter of a century of service were honored at an all day event held at the Belize Biltmore Plaza under the theme:  “Public Service! Service for You, Service for Me, Serving the People, Serving Belize.” Duane Moody was at the celebration where sixty-six public officers were recognized for service.

Duane Moody, Reporting

For the past nine years, the Ministry of the Public Service has been honoring those public officers that have given twenty-five plus years of service in the various departments.

Charles Gibson, Minister of Public Service

Charles Gibson

“The whole idea is to ensure that we recognize and honor and we reward these officers for the hard work, the dedication that they have been doing over that period of time. As you can see this morning, we had what I would consider a very impressive ceremony and now we are having a luncheon and it is really, as I’ve said before, to honor them and to tell them thank you for the hard work and the dedication that they have done to assist in the development of this country.”

Putting the program together was an arduous process that started from the beginning of this year. But for some departments; such as that of the police, the constant allegations of police brutality are hardly examples of good public service. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Russell Blackett, has been serving for the past thirty-seven years and he says you must be dedicated and loyal to the job.

Russell Blackett

Russell Blackett, Assistant Commissioner of Police

“After thirty-seven years of service, it feels just like yesterday. I do believe that when you want to do good for your country—bringing peace and prosperity to all—it seems as a god given gift. Whatever I’ve been through over the last thirty-seven years, I know that I was guiding. I put god first in everything and I serve my country to the best of my ability.  As you heard from the head table, sometimes it is generalized. One apple spoils the whole barrel and that is so unfortunate at times. We would like the media to be very fair in exposing who is at fault basically.”

A total of sixty-six public officers were recognized at today’s awards ceremonies including senior secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Candida Allen.

Candida Allen

Candida Allen, Senior Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources

“I have been with Natural Resources for over thirty-three years and it was a tremendous feeling. It was great to be honored for working for over twenty-five years.  In its secretarial grade, we need to deal with the public a lot…mainly with the phones and with appointments so I believe we give the best we can…I’ve given the best I can.”

Duane Moody

“What advice would you give others out there in keeping sane with all these years in a ministry that, you know, has been mired in all that controversy?”

Candida Allen

“I would just say do your best and be honest with yourself. Just do your best.”

In addition to the ceremony today, since May, the ministry has conducted public service information day for the departments within the ministries to showcase the services and work of the government. Duane Moody for News Five.