DPA rewards long-serving staff |31 December 2013

The Department of Public Administration (DPA) has rewarded its longest serving employees. Members of staff who have spent from five to 25 years in the department were rewarded with certificates and gifts in the annual DPA Award Presentation Ceremony held at the National House yesterday morning.

Vice-President Danny Faure, who is also the minister responsible for Public Administration, was the guest of honour at the event which had also assembled the department’s chief secretary Jessie Esparon, other members of staff as well as former employees who have now retired.

Mirela Iwoku received the award for the longest serving employee. She has served for 25 long years after joining the DPA on September 1, 1987. Among the 25 years, she has spent 19 in the Registry Unit, with a six-year spell as a secretary in between.

Other DPA long-serving employees who were rewarded yesterday are Hugette Adeline (15 years), Fadette Laurence and Helda Henri (10 years), Manuella Fred, Trevor Monthy and Saalimah Yusuf (five years).

In a short speech, Vice-President Faure referred to workers who are seldom absent from work even if they sometimes happen to be ill, those who show real passion and love for their jobs and those who are always voluntarily ready to go the extra mile as good contributors in society.

He added that the Seychelles’ work force will depend on those good qualities in the future. He assured people who are currently jobless that jobs are available for everyone as there are currently around 13,000 expatriates working in the country and as we also need to replace the retiring  Seychellois workers.

“We have a moral obligation to go out there and tell those of working age and who are not working to take up a job and join the world of work,” the vice-president asked the invitees.

In the name of President James Michel and the government, Mr Faure thanked all the DPA staff for their devotion and commitment and wished them Happy New Year. He ended by reminding all Seychellois workers that after the New Year holidays, we should be all back to work on Friday January 3, 2014.

On her side, Ms Esparon thanked her staff who have served with loyalty and dedication for long years. Qualifying them as “champions”, she also informed other staff members that their good work is appreciated and valued.

“As you gather long years of service, you become champions of excellence in your work. In fact all DPA employees should be champions in their work as all other outside organisations look up to us for approval, guidance and support.”

The chief secretary concluded by congratulating staff who have successfully completed training courses during the year or who have been promoted to more senior posts. She also thanked and praised those who have taken part in outreach activities.

After the ceremony, the DPA treated all present to an end of year lunch, but not before the staff had presented VP Faure with a token of appreciation for his support, and had offered their greetings to Ms Esparon who was celebrating her birthday yesterday.

Our main photo on the front cover shows the DPA family in a souvenir photograph with VP Faure and other guests.