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Team Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining

Grand Finale of Public Sector Debate Competition on July 10

The Ministry of Tourism (MOT) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining (MOAFM) will compete in the final of the 2025 Public Sector Debate Competition. Organised by the Transformation Implementation Unit (TIU) in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, this year’s staging brought together 26 teams, with 19 returning entrants and seven first-timers. Executive Director of TIU, Maria Thompson Walters, told JIS News that the goal of the competition is to bring minds from across the public sector together to discuss important topics. “More importantly, I think it stimulates thoughts about different areas of the public sector. The debate regarding pensions is a very good example. There are some proposals that came out of that debate that are food for thought. So, it does stimulate discussion in the public sector, and it also can help in terms of how we are shaping the transformation of our public sector,” she said. Captain for the MOT Team, Matthew Blake, told JIS News that advancing to the finals feels like a deserved reward for their showing throughout the competition as first-time entrants.   “It feels like our hard work that we’ve put in over the last couple of months has borne fruit and it’s our first time entering competition, so it feels like a good reward for our effort. We played teams like Teaching Service that were in third place last year [and] Ministry of Justice who are the defending champions. So, I think that prepared us [and] we became more confident,” Mr. Blake said. He further shared his excitement about the final match. “I’m looking forward to facing the Ministry of Agriculture. They are a team that has experience. They would have entered the competition before and they have done well [so] it will be a good match-up and I’m excited to really put our best foot forward and to see what the result is,” he said. Meanwhile, Captain for the MOAFM, Andrae Bogle, pointed out that the competition this year has been interesting, with moots across different subject areas. “The moots cut across so many relevant areas, but the biggest thing is having all of us working together. It’s one of the most amazing parts of this experience so far. The whole competition puts you in that position to really work with your coworkers in a manner that you probably never would have before and you can see that sense of camaraderie around working towards a common goal [that] is genuinely beneficial to the public sector and to your very own ministry,” he said. Mr. Bogle adds that preparations are under way for the finals. “We would have started from the moment we got the moot. We have been meeting every day,” Mr. Bogle said. The match between MOT and MOAFM will be held on Thursday, July 10 at 11:30 a.m. with the teams debating the moot ‘Be it resolved that addressing mental health challenges requires societal reform more than individual treatment’. Both matches will be streamed live on the TIU YouTube channel. Teams will be vying for a share of almost $5 million in cash and prizes.   Source: The Jamaica Information Service Source Link: https://jis.gov.jm/grand-finale-of-public-sector-debate-competition-on-july-10/

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Gov’t Finalising Next Phase of Public Sector Modernisation Programme

  The Government is currently finalising the next phase of the Public Sector Modernisation Programme, aimed at enhancing service delivery, streamlining operations, and aligning public administration with Jamaica’s evolving development priorities. This was disclosed by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, who indicated that the next phase of reform will prioritise accelerated digitisation to improve accessibility, efficiency, and transparency, while strengthening institutional capacity to equip public officers for the evolving demands of 21st-century governance. She added that the next phase will be results-driven, embedding performance, accountability, and citizen experience at the core of service delivery. “The next phase will demand more resources, more coordination and much more change leadership than phase one. But the scale of the challenge only reinforces the importance of getting it right,” the Minister emphasised. Mrs. Williams noted that phase one of the Public Sector Transformation Programme laid a solid foundation for reform. “We are now in the final stages of approval for the next phase, and I’m excited about what it represents,” she said. “In transforming Jamaica’s public sector, it is not merely about fixing what is broken; it is about reimagining what is possible. It is about creating a system that serves its citizens with excellence, empowers its workforce and stands resilient against the challenges of tomorrow,” the Minister added. She was addressing the official launch of the Change Management Methodology for the Public Sector document, at the AC Hotel by Marriott Kingston on Wednesday (July 2). The document is dubbed the ‘Change Evangelist’. Mrs. Williams said the Government remains committed to advancing public-sector modernization – streamlining operations, enhancing transparency, and improving service delivery to better meet the needs of citizens and national development goals. “The public sector touches every aspect of our lives… from healthcare and education to infrastructure and social services; it is pivotal in shaping the quality of life for all Jamaicans. However, like many nations, Jamaica faces challenges, some inherited, others emerging. These challenges demand that we reimagine how our public sector operates,” she noted. Mrs. Williams acknowledged that inefficiency and outdated systems continue to hinder growth and innovation across the public sector, noting that the Government has been actively identifying these barriers and implementing remedial measures to address them. “While strides have been made over the years, we must now take decisive and bold steps to modernise, streamline and reposition the public sector. So, transformation is not an option; it’s a necessity,” she added. Meanwhile, Mrs. Williams urged stakeholders to utilise the Change Management Methodology for the Public Sector document effectively, describing it as a comprehensive guide. Executive Director of the Transformation Implementation Unit (TIU), Maria Thompson Walters, described the document as a comprehensive digital playbook that deliberately guides users through a structured approach, emphasising not just theory but actionable steps supported by tools, templates, and real-world stories. “With the support of Ernst and Young (EY), we have created a playbook for our reality. The ‘Evangelist’ is available to every public officer and entity across government,” she said. Cabinet Secretary, Audrey Sewell, said the release of the document signals the Government’s firm commitment to building the systems, competencies, and culture required in the public sector to manage change effectively, consistently, and substantially. The Transformation Implementation Unit, housed within the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, is the central body driving Jamaica’s current public-sector transformation agenda. Source: Jamaica Information Service Source link: https://jis.gov.jm/govt-finalising-next-phase-of-public-sector-modernisation-programme/

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$5m in prizes for 2025 public sector debate competition

Teams will be vying for a share of almost $5 million in cash and prizes in the 2025 edition of the Public Sector Debate Competition. The highly anticipated fourth staging of the event was launched on Tuesday (April 8) at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston. It is organised by the Transformation Implementation Unit (TIU) in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service. This year, 26 teams – 19 returning and seven new teams – will compete, matching debating skills and wit as they discuss topical issues facing the public sector and the nation. Executive Director of TIU, Maria Thompson Walters, in highlighting the growth of the competition, said it has become a key event on the calendar of the public sector. “It remains the only platform in the public sector that brings central government and public-sector entities together,” she pointed out. She informed that in response to feedback, an additional preliminary round will be introduced this year, which means that each team will play two matches before elimination. Mrs. Thompson Walters said that the Public Sector Debate Competition is more than just securing a victory. “It’s also about fostering a culture of open dialogue and progressive solutions. The competition is a testament to the power of debating. It sharpens our critical thinking; it refines persuasive communication and cultivates the ability to engage in respectful discourse,” she said. She urged debaters to be mindful of the overuse of artificial intelligence (AI) during the competition, warning that teams could be penalised. Deputy Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Public Service, Wayne Jones, who delivered the main address on behalf of Portfolio Minister, Hon. Fayval Williams, noted that debates allow public-sector employees to explore and discuss challenges facing various government agencies and the nation. “It is heartwarming to see so many of you here today as you get ready to participate in the competition. It reassures me that we are ready to tackle the challenges facing the public sector and, indeed, our dearly beloved country. As I look around the room, I see a group of individuals who are not just participating in debate competition, but I see future leaders, innovators, problem solvers,” Mr. Jones said. He told the participants: “Through this competition, you will debate issues that are central to the future of our public service. You will tackle topics that require bold thinking and innovative solutions. I urge you to embrace this opportunity with passion and with purpose.” Assistance and training for the debaters will be provided by the Jamaica Association of Debating and Empowerment (JADE) Limited. Founder and Executive Director of JADE, Germaine Barrett and his team, have been partners in the Public Sector Debate Competition since the first staging in 2019. – JIS

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