Premier Presents Public Service Strategic Plan
Premier David Burt presented the Public Service Strategic Plan for the Period 2024 to 2027 today [Sept 27], which “will be implemented over the next three years, until December 2027.”
Speaking in the House of Assembly, the Premier said, “This new Public Service Strategy transitions to an operational plan to improve and enhance the delivery of government services, which builds upon the foundation laid by the Government Reform Plan. It recognizes the significant strides made in enhancing the Service’s capacity and capabilities, through initiatives such as the Digital Forms, Public Service Excellence Awards, and the Leadership Programme.
“The Public Service Strategic Plan will be implemented over the next three years, until December 2027. Action items will be incorporated into Ministry and Department Business Plans and in individual employee annual performance objectives.
“Activities will be funded from operational budgets. Communication will play a crucial role in the implementation process. Mechanisms are being put in place to ensure all public officers are aware of administrative and public policy developments within the Service.”
The Premier’s full statement follows below:
Good morning, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to present to this Honourable House, the Public Service Strategic Plan for the Period 2024 to 2027. Honourable Members will recall the earlier Government Reform plan for the period 2019 to 2023 was tabled in this Honourable House on 1st March 2019.
Mr. Speaker, this new Public Service Strategy transitions to an operational plan to improve and enhance the delivery of government services, which builds upon the foundation laid by the Government Reform Plan. It recognizes the significant strides made in enhancing the Service’s capacity and capabilities, through initiatives such as the Digital Forms, Public Service Excellence Awards, and the Leadership Programme.
Mr Speaker, the development process and timeline of the strategic plan highlight comprehensive and inclusive planning. It began with a situational analysis, identifying performance gaps, and deciding what elements from the earlier Reform Plan should be carried over. A thorough review of strengths, opportunities, future aspirations, and results was also conducted.
The actual strategy formulation was iterative and participatory. The collaborative effort across the service ensured a wide range of insights contributed to setting up core values, and formulating new goals, objectives and actions, setting a solid foundation for future aspirations and results.
Mr. Speaker, the resultant Public Service Strategic Plan sets out the operational priorities for the public service and the actions that will be driven from now to 2027.
This Plan aims to ensure the public service is well-positioned to deliver on the Government’s strategic priorities, and sets out a strategic framework to enhance the business operations of the public service. It continues to strive for a Vision of a Future-forward Government for the people of Bermuda by focussing on its Mission to Enhance the lives of the people of Bermuda.
Mr Speaker, the Public Service commits to the core values of:
- 1. Customer-centric, being user-friendly and putting our customers’ needs front and centre;
- 2. Future-focused, by being agile and innovative and making decisions based on data; and
- 3. Promoting Prosperity by promoting economic and environmental sustainability in the public service and Bermuda.
These principles will serve as a compass, guiding every decision and action toward the goal of a forward-thinking and prosperous society. By committing to these values in all aspects of operations, the public service will demonstrate a steadfast dedication to fostering a government that not only meets the current needs of its citizens but also anticipates and shapes a thriving future.
Mr Speaker, the Service will operationalize the strategy through a focus on five strategic goals as follows:
- 1. Acting Strategically,
- 2. Being Customer Centric,
- 3. Putting People First,
- 4. Effecting Digital Transformation, and;
- 5. Delivering Excellence.
Mr Speaker, each goal is not just a statement of intent but a commitment to action. It is the roadmap for the public service to follow as it looks to improve the lives of Bermudians.
Mr Speaker, the strategic plan is deliberate about joining the digital revolution. For the next period, a key focus is digital transformation, which is positioned as a catalyst to improve effectiveness and efficiency. The Plan proposes that digital transformation will help the public and employees alike, by using technology to close resource gaps.
Mr. Speaker, the Public Service Strategic Plan will be implemented over the next three years, until December 2027. Action items will be incorporated into Ministry and Department Business Plans and in individual employee annual performance objectives. Activities will be funded from operational budgets. Communication will play a crucial role in the implementation process. Mechanisms are being put in place to ensure all public officers are aware of administrative and public policy developments within the Service.
Mr. Speaker, to effectively measure progress and achievement within the public service, a robust monitoring and reporting system is essential. This system will hinge on key performance indicators such as the number of services successfully digitized, insights from annual employee feedback surveys, and data from customer satisfaction surveys. These metrics will provide a comprehensive overview of performance and areas for improvement.
Progress and achievement will be continuously monitored through regular reporting within the public service. Customer satisfaction surveys will measure service user satisfaction. Public perception surveys will gauge public opinion of the public service overall. The number of new services digitized will be tracked and employee feedback surveys will measure staff satisfaction and adoption of our mission and core values.
Mr Speaker, these measures will be coordinated by the Office of the Head of the Public Service and reported to Cabinet, the Public Service Executive, the Leadership Team and to staff via individual Departments and Teams.
Mr Speaker, as we embark on the journey from 2024 to 2027, the outcomes of the Public Service Strategic Plan are eagerly anticipated. I look forward to sharing with the Honourable House, updates on the achievement of the goals, particularly those related to service delivery.
Mr Speaker, as I conclude, I acknowledge the dedication and hard work of public officers, providing essential services that add value to the community. The collaborative efforts of all involved are crucial for the successful execution of the plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
