Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas says an improved, efficient, productive and motivated public sector is absolutely essential if government is to achieve its developmental objectives. Addressing Permanent Secretaries and other Senior Managers of the public service in a change management workshop today, the Prime Minister said “the embrace of change is necessary and inevitable as we strive to become a competitive, resilient and sustainable society, delivering quality goods and services to our populace and indeed the wider world.” He called on the public service to adapt to the changing environment, which he said is charactarised by accessibility to information and a more discerning and demanding public. “These expectations speak to their need for improved delivery and quality of goods and services. Additionally, there is the need to be effective and efficient in the delivery of those goods and services to the satisfaction of reasonable expectations. This is the role of government, of which the public service is the primary vehicle for delivery and implementation,” he added. The Prime Minister said it is critical that the public service is adequately structured, properly resourced, responsive and motivated to perform and deliver, adding that despite some progress at reform, there is much to be done. He suggested that the public sector must accelerate the process if meaningful change is to be achieved, with the resulting professionalism and modernization of the service. “This assumes greater significance given the current recessionary environment and the consequent diminishing of resources. We must find creative ways to do more with less and to gain added value and synergies in our approach to the management of our various programs and initiatives,” the Prime Minister said. He called on Senior Managers to “take ownership of the change process”, declaring that “our success at modernizing our public service is contingent on our ability to effectively lead and manage this process.” From THE OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER