Belize’s 15th Annual Public Service Awards Program

“Belize Public Service – making heroic sacrifices, displaying extraordinary humanness, providing service before self” – that is the theme for this year’s Public Service Day, celebrated annually on June twenty-third. Today, at the Biltmore Plaza in Belize City, public officers who have provided twenty-five years and more of service to the country were honoured by the government. News Five’s Duane Moody was there and files this report.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Over fifty public officers attended a ceremony held today to honour them for having worked with the Government of Belize, servicing the people, for quarter of a century. They join thousands more who have since 2006 been honoured for their years of service.

Freya Parham-August

Freya Parham-August, Quality Assurance Supervisor, Ministry of Public Service

“While Belize joined the United Nations in 2005 to celebrate the value and virtue of the public service by adopting public service day to the celebrated on twenty-third June annually; it served as a springboard for the deepening of our recognition and appreciation for our human resources. Over the years, the Public Service Awards Program has grown from recognising persons upon having served for twenty-five years to persons for ten through to thirty-five years in increments of five years. Today, more than nine thousand public officers have recognised under this program.”

Keynote speaker for the event was Belize City Mayor Bernard Wagner who says that public officers have a key relationship with the Belizean public and are entrusted to service the people.

Bernard Wagner

Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor

“Over the years, you have remained unwavering in your call to service. And while the journey like most journeys may have had the occasional hiccups along the way, I am fortified that the hearts of our public servants are in the right place. I am reinvigorated knowing that our public servants are committed to the goals and ideals of good governance, transparency, accountability and one mix to a pledge to decency and to country first.”

Public Service Minister Henry Charles Usher provided words of gratitude to the senior public officers who were from various departments – from B.D.F. soldiers to personnel from the National Fire Service and education.

Henry Charles Usher

Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Public Service

“Public service is not the most glamorous of jobs nor a profitable line of work, but it is one of the most important. Public officers, you are the face of the government, you provide direct interaction with our citizens; your daily work is the fuel for the government engine and keeps democracy alive.”

Also in attendance were Prime Minister John Briceño and Governor General Froyla T’zalam. T’zalam, in giving the official toast, spoke of the importance of public officers in the development of a country.

Froyla T’zalam

Froyla T’zalam, Governor General

“I have been asked to give the toast this morning and so the first person I called was my sister who received this same award ten years ago. And I asked her, what do you remember from that ceremony and she said, “To be honest, not much.” I can’t tell you who the guest speaker was or what was said, but I remember the excitement and the pride that I felt being present. She was being recognized for her service and she didn’t expect that. She said, when I started nursing, I did it because I loved the job. Every day I got up, wanting to work despite the challenges that I encountered.  May you continue to work with honour and integrity. And when you leave, may you be remembered for your kindness and your dedicated service to Belize. May the Almighty continue to bless you all.”

Duane Moody for News Five.