His Excellency the Governor, Daniel Pruce has assented to the Public Service Management Act, 2024, marking the completion of Recommendation B36 of the Commission of Inquiry’s Report.
Recommendation B36 expressed that the Public Service Management Code be finalised and transitioned into an Act. The Act sets out a historic shift and formally establishes guidelines for the management and operations of the Public Service of the Virgin Islands
Acting Governor, Mr. David D. Archer said that the assention of the Public Service Management Act, 2024 brings the Public Service into a new age, and makes provisions that will allow for the modern and efficient operations and management of the organisation.
Mr. Archer said, “This legislation represents our collective mission to the transformation of the Public Service. Collectively, we are working to build a Public Service that efficiently meets the needs of the Territory. This is a step in the right direction.”
Through the Public Service Management Act’s nine key (9) parts, vital details of the Public Service’s operations are now legislated. These parts include, The Public Service; Duties, Responsibilities and Powers of the Governor and Deputy Governor; Permanent Secretaries; Heads of Department; Role of the Director of Human Resources; Virgin Islands Public Service Learning Institute; Registration of Interest of Specified Public Officers; Integrity in Public Life and Miscellaneous Provisions.
Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Sharleen DaBreo-Lettsome, MBE expressed gratitude to public officers who worked to deliver the Act and those who contributed during the extensive consultation phase.
Mrs. Dabreo-Lettsome said, “The completion of this phase of the Public Service Management Act, 2024 is a firm representation of our commitment to building a Public Service on foundations that will stand the test of time, and become a guiding light on our mission of transformation. Public officers across various sectors have worked extremely hard to get us to this stage and this is an achievement worth celebrating.”
The Public Service Management Act, 2024 will come in force on 1 January, 2025
The next step will see the Office of the Deputy Governor beginning the work of converting the current Public Service Management Code into the Public Service Management Regulations, which will serve as a tool to support the Public Service Management Act, 2024 in the management and direction of the Public Service.