Shanka Watson (left), final-year nursing student at Kingston School of Nursing, and Tameka Nelson give children a lesson in proper hygiene, at a health fair staged at 59 Mountain View Avenue yesterday. The fair was organised jointly by Faith Chapel United Pentecostal Church and Life Tabernacle United Pentecostal Church as part of their community outreach progamme.- Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

THE ANNUAL commemoration of Civil Service Week culminated yesterday with Prime Minister Bruce Golding reiterating his commitment to reforming the public sector as part of cost-cutting measures.

The weeklong celebration which ran from November 15-21 ended with a church service at North Street Seventh-day Adventist Church in central Kingston.

Civil Service Week is dedicated to highlighting the contribution of civil servants to Jamaica, as well as to review the work of the civil service.

The prime minister, in a letter which was read by education officer in the Ministry of Education, Carol Hunter, said this year's observance of Civil Service Week saw the Government wrestling with challenges "never before experienced".

Golding added that it is now critical that the country "demonstrates fiscal discipline, increased productivity and manages its out-of-control debt burden".

address concerns

He continued: "The Government's public-sector reform programme will seek to address these concerns. Some crucial components of the programme will involve the rationalisation of public bodies and entities in order to streamline operations, remove waste and duplication, as well as reducing the public-sector wage bill which takes out a considerable chunk of the national budget."

Golding sought to assure persons who might be affected by the looming cuts that the reform process is necessary for the betterment of the country.

"While we understand that many civil servants are apprehensive about the impending reform programme and the impact it will have on their own jobs, at the end of the reform process there will be a leaner, more efficient government service that will augur well for the future of Jamaica," he said.

The highlights of the week's celebration included the civil service long service awards which was held at King's House last Wednesday, and brain games at Eden Gardens in St Andrew on Friday.

Judith Maloney of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries was the recipient of this year's Civil Servant of the Year award.