Together with Civil Servants Chart the Way Forward on Integrity Issues
The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams kicked off a week of Integrity Related events at the Little Oasis Well Center on the Well Road in Cole Bay on Monday. The events, which forms a part of St. Maarten Government’s ongoing Integrity Program, was geared specifically towards members of the Ministry of General Affairs with the Other Ministries being part of the program in weeks to come.
Project Manager for the Integrity Program Tammy Richardson explained that the sessions would be focused on reconfirming the commitment and examining the achievements of the Integrity Investigations and explained that some 1800 civil servants have attended the Integrity Training to date. It was also explained during the session that persons of confidence where established to which persons can direct their concerns with regards to integrity.
The Prime Minister stated that it was the right moment to take stock of the Integrity Issue and to move forward with the program: "We believe that we are at a point in the entire integrity program that it would behoove us to look back and see how far we have come and to chart the course for the future. Steps have indeed been made in terms of the Integrity Program of Government and it is the intention that a number of you from the Ministry of General Affairs will be engaged in this exercise looking at where we are right now with regards to the Integrity Program. The Integrity Program of Government has been only as successful as it has been because participants have been obliged to participate and those of you who here are fortunate to be in this setting and to be the first of this celebration in terms of how far we are with Integrity. When it comes to what Government is doing it was determined several years ago that the Government itself will examine itself regarding the matter of integrity. We have created the awareness especially amongst the employees of Government to establish that this is something that lives in the community. After looking at several things that should be done it is apparent that we have come a distance so it behooves us to come together and jointly discuss where we have come from and the way forward which we should take," commented the Prime Minister.