TAX Administration Jamaica (TAJ) and the Passport, Immigration, and Citizenship Agency (PICA) were among State agencies hailed by Finance and the Public Service Minister Fayval Williams on Thursday for notable advancements in delivering more efficient and reliable services to the public.

“Today, we celebrate the extraordinary achievements of public servants and agencies that have gone above and beyond,” she said in her main address at the Government’s Service of Excellence Conference and Awards ceremony at Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

Williams commended TAJ for simplifying and streamlining tax processes, pointing out that older Jamaicans will remember that this was not always the case.

“I know we have a long way to go still, but the changes at the Tax Administration are evident,” she said.

Williams also recognised PICA’s efforts in enhancing the accessibility of essential services, particularly noting the reduced time it now takes for individuals to obtain passports, compared to previous years.

Additionally, Williams noted that she has observed an improvement in efficiency at the National Health Fund, Registrar General’s Department and the National Land Agency as she re-emphasised the importance of quality public service being “the foundation of national development”.

“Excellent service reinforces our diaspora’s connection to home. It assures them that no matter how far they go, Jamaica is always willing to reach, ready to support, celebrate, and partner with them. Even as we look at improving external services, internal services are equally important within our industries, departments, and agencies.

“Our internal customers, our public servants all play an indispensable role as well. They are the engines of our public services [and] when they are empowered with the tools, training, and encouragement they need, the results are transformative,” said Williams.

She acknowledged that there is more work to be done and urged the public sector to continue evolving in order to meet the increasing demands of a digitally connected world.

“As we live and grow, as our country becomes more of a digital country [and] as we all travel, our expectations grow as well as how we are to be treated, and so even though we are celebrating today, I am saying to you, we cannot rest here, the world keeps moving and we have to keep apace with it as well,” said Williams.

“We have to be ahead, because if we are not, if we just stay here, we are going to wake up and find that we are way behind. So the successes are a testament to the hard work and vision of those who dare to believe in public service and serve with excellence,” she added.

Williams also emphasised the MyHR+project as being a key initiative within the Public Sector Transformation project.

Launched in 2017, this system manages human resource and payroll information, aiming to improve HR operations across the public sector.

She encouraged all ministries to join the project, highlighting its significance in simplifying access to employment information for employees.

“We want to give people the power to be able to get the information they need in a time frame in which they may need it. And I am pointing that out just to say that the MyHR+ system has been around the Government for a long time, but not all the ministries have embraced it.

”I’m saying to those ministries that have not, please get on board. It’s going to take you a while to get it done but the important thing is that you begin and that you keep at it because at the end of the day it will significantly improve your service, your employees in your ministry, and the service of your ministry to external persons,” said Williams.