KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Government has launched its first-ever Service Excellence Awards to recognise and reward public-sector entities demonstrating outstanding performance in delivering quality services to citizens.

The competition is open to all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), and the deadline for the submission of entries is October 6. Winners will be announced on October 25.

The event is being coordinated by the Public Sector Modernisation Division (PSMD), Office of the Cabinet, which is leading the Government’s drive for continuous service improvement in the public sector.

It is one in a series of activities scheduled to take place during October, being observed as Service Excellence Month under the theme, ‘Team Service: Engaging, Empowering and Serving our Public with Excellence’.

Speaking during a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ on Wednesday at the agency’s head office in Kingston, Principal Director, PSMD, Karlene McKenzie Spencer, said the aim of the awards is to recognise organisations that are committed to improving service delivery.

She said MDAs can submit entries to the Cabinet Office under various categories. These are: Customer Engagement, Digital Innovation and Modernisation, Customer Experience, Operational Excellence, Website of the Year, Public Education and Communication, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

The Think Tank was held to discuss activities scheduled to take place during Service Excellence Month as well as other events to celebrate National Customer Service Week from October 1 to 7.

The Cabinet Office is partnering with the Jamaica Customer Service Association (JaCSA) to host its virtual Service Excellence Conference scheduled to take place from October 3 to 4, under the theme, ‘The Power of Service Excellence is Building Trust in a Digital World’.

For more information, individuals can contact the Office of the Cabinet at 876-929-8880-5, Ext. 3123/4 or via email: psmdcommunications@cabinet.gov.jm.

Persons may also visit the Cabinet Office’s website: cabinet.gov.jm for further details.

– JIS