Students take a look at Public Servants
International Public Service Day will be observed on June twenty-third, but in anticipation, government departments mounted all day exhibitions at the Charles Bartlett Hyde compound in the City today. The target audience was made up of students who were eager to take in as much as possible on what public officers and departments are all about. News Five’s Andrea Polanco was on hand at the event organized by the relevant line ministry.
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
Fourteen departments provided information to the public, showcased their products and engaged visitors in interactive educational games, with the aim of sharing vital information that can be used in everyday life. Chairperson for Public Service in Belize City, Anissa Perdomo, says that the Public Service Information day is timely:
Anissa Perdomo
Anissa Perdomo, Chairperson: Public Service, Belize City
“Well like it said, the name said, it’s information that you want to share, the public and the children who are gonna be the future of our country need to have information at hand about this. They’re gonna learn about these departments at school so we felt that it’s necessary and it’s a good time to do it now.”
For some of the departments their displays sent a poignant and well-timed message to the public:
Jermaine McDougall
Jermaine McDougall: Y.F.F., Belize City
“Well under the booth today we have a game on HIV and if you look down yonder there’s a dead box that’s the violence reduction unit showing to the public aright if you don’t choose the right path you’re going to end up in a box like that, so stay away from violence.”
Elisa Aguilar, BELIPO
Elisa Aguilar
“What we’re trying to promote here today is the local businesses and the trademarks that we have registered with us. We have some industrial designs from a Mayan Group in PG; they’ve been making the purses. We have umm just a couple samples of copy rights deposits as well. Basically we’re trying to bring awareness to the public of the importance of having a registered, to register your intellectual property nuh.”
While the displays were a hit, the information day received impressive feedback:
Lino Chan
Lino Chan, Marshall- Supreme Court
“We’ve actually had a very busy morning, we’ve had a lot of students but mostly students, we’ve had a lot of persons visiting a lot of kids have the impression that the court deals only with criminal matters only they were telling me about murder, rape none of them told me anything about civil, so it would seem that people have the impression that the Supreme Court is all about criminals but the Supreme Court does deals with criminal matters, civil matters and also family matters.”
Andrea Polanco
“So you are certain that this morning the students learned something?”
Lino Chan
“Yes I am quite sure they did. Actually they were quite impressive actually they had impressive questions to make.”
Andrea Polanco
“So do you find that people who stop by since this morning know about GST?”
Normajean Vanegas
Normajean Vanegas: General Sales Tax Officer
“Surprisingly yes and as an officer I feel good about that because as consumers we need to know our rights when we go to the different establishments especially the grocery stores and for the children it’s exciting to see that they know what the tax is about, the rate, we advise them to ask for a receipt when they go and buy.”
Public Service Information Day will follow in different municipalities and will conclude on the twenty third of June to commemorate Public Service Day 2011. Reporting for News Five, I am Andrea Polanco.
