-new recruits of BCCPS charged

THE Bertram Collins College of Public Service (BCCPS) on Monday received its second batch of students from across the country.
In a statement, the Ministry of the Presidency said that 60 young persons were enrolled as the second batch of cadets at the institution. They were charged to learn all they can to transform the Public Service into a professional institution.

The charge was delivered by Senior Director of the BCCPS; Colonel (rtd) Lawrence Paul during a two-day orientation exercise which concluded Tuesday at the Lecture Hall of the college’s Ogle, East Coast Demerara headquarters. Colonel Paul said once transformed, the Public Service will serve the citizenry as it should.

“Do so without fear or favour, affection or ill will and regardless of your political persuasion, because it is an arm of the state and is not an arm of any political party. Political parties may come and go but this arm will be here all the time,” he said.

Paul cautioned the new recruits against using public office for private gain and encouraged them to take steps to curb any instances of misappropriation of office that they may encounter during their training. “So, our vision here at the Bertram Collins College is to embrace change very positively in the Public Service, not only positively but perpetually… so that this college may become that transformative institution that will bring about fundamental performance in the Public Service and fundamental change of behaviour of public servants,” he said.

The BCCPS Senior Director also encouraged the cadets to envision themselves as the future of the Public Service as all their current senior officers will, someday, retire. “You’re the ones who will be taking over and whatever you carry into the Public Service from this college will remain with you. They cannot stop you from being the leaders because they will not be there all the time,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Executive-Director of the BCCPS, Randolph Leitch, like Paul, told the cadets that they are expected to gain self-confidence, to become grounded and to capitalise on every opportunity to learn during their training.

“We are giving you an opportunity to learn and to focus on your studies and your task now is to deliver. Our job here is to make you well grounded. Apart from content, we will be working on your attitudes, behaviours, values system and to understand the importance of these things and what is corruption and bribery.

You will be the change in the delivery of Public Service in Guyana. You will be the carriers of change,” Leitch stated. Director of Training, Calvin Benn, and Manager-Planning, Phillip Walcott also attended the exercise. (MoTP)