MPA HOSTS ORIENTATION PROGRAMME FOR NEW DEPUTY PERMANENT SECRETARIES

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

28 May, 2014

 

MPA HOSTS ORIENTATION PROGRAMME FOR NEW DEPUTY PERMANENT SECRETARIES

 

Forty recently promoted Deputy Permanent Secretaries participated in an intensive Orientation Programme hosted by the Ministry of Public Administration. The first three days of the Programme got underway on Tuesday 27th May, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad.

The Programme forms part of the Ministry of Public Administration’s Executive Leadership Development Programme (ELDP) which aims to strengthen leadership skills of senior executives of the public service. The intention is for them to develop competencies in vital management areas including organizational transformation, institutional development, change management and focusing on results.

The Orientation Programme aimed to enhance the awareness of the new Deputy Permanent Secretaries on their roles and functions, their understanding of issues related to national development, public policy implementation, public procurement, human resource management modernization, and service delivery in the public service. Participants also benefitted from sessions on ethics and integrity, as well as managing the political environment in which they operate.

Among the speakers addressing the opening session was Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Administration, Ms Gillian Macintyre, who congratulated the new Deputy Permanent Secretaries on their promotion. She reminded them that there were many changes taking place within the public service including the transformation of the public service architecture from a pyramid to a diamond-shape and their responsibility as leaders is to create other leaders.

Mr Reynold Cooper, Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister and Head of the Public Service elaborated on the role of the Minister and the Permanent Secretary as defined in the Constitution and emphasised the importance of building trust. He stressed that the leadership of the public service must work collaboratively, providing support and rendering assistance to each other.

Keynote speaker, Mr Gervase Warner, President and Group CEO of the Neal & Massy Group of Companies urged Deputy Permanent Secretaries to lead the change by becoming conscious leaders. He emphasised that for change to happen it must be led and to truly lead is to serve. He outlined the attributes of Conscious Leadership as being analytical intelligence, emotional intelligence, spiritual intelligence, systems intelligence, servant leadership, integrity and a great capacity to live and care.

The remaining sessions discussed the global outlook for Trinidad and Tobago, the national development planning agenda, the financial management outlook and expenditure management issues. There were also sessions on procurement and human resource management to help to sharpen their skills in these areas. The final three days of the Orientation Programme are scheduled for June 2014.

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For further information, contact:

Rae Ann Harper-Walters - Director, Corporate Communications

623-4724 ext. 2076, 688-2068 or email: harper-waltersr@mpa.gov.tt