Employee of the Year for 2011 Royston Percival (left) is pictured here with His Excellency the Governor Mr. Boyd McCleary, CMG, CVO receiving one of his awards at a ceremony held last week in his honour. Photo: Ronnielle Frazer/GIS

Mr. Percival, who was chosen from among four groups of past Employees of the Quarter 2011, was honoured at a presentation ceremony last week at the Treasure Isle Hotel Restaurant.

In his remarks, Mr. Percival expressed how humbled he was to be chosen for the coveted award and shared how public officers can accomplish much through one common goal.

Mr. Percival inspired the audience, which consisted mainly of public officers by saying, “To have a world class public service in the Virgin Islands we must rid our minds of the Me, Myself, and I mentality that presents itself ever so often. This kind of mentality can cripple any workforce. As professionals, it is therefore important that each of us embrace an attitude of service for others in all we do with sincerity. As a motivating factor, let us use the challenges we are faced with by the global economic down turn to be the impetus and catalyst with which to inspire our commitment in achieving the goal of excellence and professionalism within the Public Service.”

He added, “I commend the Department of Human Resources and the Employee of the Quarter/Year Steering Committee for their hard work, stellar commitment and profound dedication to this initiative. I would like to publicly express my gratitude to them for their continued labour of love in finding creative ways to inspire us as public officers and to encourage reward for outstanding performance. This I believe is very admirable and worthy of emulating.”

Among well wishers and public officers from all levels were His Excellency the Governor Mr. Boyd McCleary, CMG, CVO, Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE, Deputy Premier, Dr. the Honourable Kedrick Pickering, Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Mark Vanterpool, Minister for Education and Culture, Honourable Myron Walwyn, Deputy Governor Mrs. V. Inez Archibald, Permanent Secretaries from the Deputy Governor’s Office and the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Mr. David Archer and Mrs. Petrona Davies, respectively, Cabinet Secretary, Ms. Sandra Ward, Acting Director of Human Resources Mrs. Michelle Donovan-Stevens, whose department was responsible for organisation of the programme, and Keynote Speaker, Barrister, Ms. Janice A. Stoutt. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour, Mr. Ronald Smith Berkely chaired the ceremony.

During this motivating event the previous Employees of the Quarters for 2011 and the outgoing Employee of the Year for 2010, Mr. Keon August of the Water and Sewerage Department, also received special recognition. The Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor’s Office, Mr. David Archer and the Ag. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Works, Mrs. Arlene Smith-Thompson received the top Permanent Secretary Participation Awards.

As the Employee of the Year, some of the incentives Mr. Percival will receive are free gym membership for one year at the gym of his choice, free membership to the Civil Service Association for 2012 and exceptional service award at the end of his reign. As a new feature to the programme the Employee of the Year is expected to have a platform on matters of community importance and Public Service change.

Mr. Percival’s mandate includes the delivery of quarterly motivational addresses to help enhance service delivery, become an active participant in a non-profit organisation and he has chosen the Family Support Network and participate in all Employee of the Quarter Ceremonies in 2012 among other responsibilities.

The Employee of the Year programme was implemented to recognise the top employee from the employees recognised during the four preceding quarters for exemplary performance. The first employee of the year ceremony was held in 2005.