Grenada’s Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas on Thursday congratulated the Immigration and Passport Department of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) for placing second in the 2012 United Nations Public Service Award Program. The Prime Minister noted that the achievement is in keeping with his government’s ongoing efforts to improve the ability of the Grenada Public Service to deliver quality customer services to its clients. “This is an outstanding achievement for our Immigration Department. It is even more significant considering that this programme involved the entire 192 member states of the UN. I congratulate the department on this achievement, which should encourage all public officers to focus on improving the quality of service we provide to the community,” the Prime Minister said. The UN Public Service Awards is an annual event which promotes the role, professionalism and visibility of public service. According to the Director of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Haiyan Qian, the award is the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service and rewards the creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions to a more effective and responsive public administration in countries worldwide. “Your institution’s outstanding achievement has demonstrated excellence in serving the public interest and I am confident it has made a significant contribution to the improvement of public administration in your country. Indeed, it will serve as an inspiration and encouragement for others working for public service,” Mr Qian said. In a letter of invitation to the Head of the Immigration Department, Mr. Godfrey Fleming, the UN Director said the award is “particularly significant” as it marks the commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the United Nations Public Service Day and Awards Ceremony. On June 23 each year, the United Nations organizes a ceremony to commemorate the United Nations Public Service Day, during which the most innovative initiatives in the public sector around the world are recognized. Over 400 participants, including the President of the General Assembly, the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, high-level government officials from around the world, are expected to attend. Participants will also include world leaders, ministers, senior government officials, mayors, and representatives from civil society, academia, the private sector, and international and regional organizations.