One Hundred and Forty-Three (143) teachers from across the Territory have completed the three-day Public Service 101 course, a key offering from the Virgin Islands Public Service Learning Institute.

The educators gathered at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium from February 14 to 16, and engaged in presentations tailored to their work in the education sector.

Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Sharleen DaBreo-Lettsome, MBE addressed the attendees on the benefits of serving as a public officer, the role of the Public Service, and the classification of Public Offices.

Mrs. DaBreo-Lettsome also spoke on the role of Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments, and the Separation of Powers. The presentation aimed to provide a foundation for public officers to understand their roles and how the Public Service functions as an organisation.

Deputy Governor, Mr. David D. Archer Jr., was the event’s final presenter and spoke of the importance investment in public officers. He said, “We have a responsibility to provide opportunities for the consistent learning and development of all public officers, including our educators. As they work year after year to build the minds of our future, we must, in turn continue to invest in them. This is a tangible representation of that commitment.”

Public Service 101, is aimed at educating public officers on how the Government operates, presenting knowledge of all departments, systems and procedures within the Government. The course allows individuals to hear from a cross-section of experts in various fields within the Public Service and voice their suggestions on these systems and procedures.

A featured offering, the “Permanent Secretaries Panel,” afforded educators the opportunity to hear from Senior Managers on their journey in the Public Service.

Panellist, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Marcia Potter provided the teachers with valued knowledge as an experienced educator.

Dr. Potter said, “Educators play a critical role in the development of the Territory and we must never lose sight of this. The discourse and questions asked during Public Service 101 showed a genuine interest in their profession and this will certainly assist them in charting their way forward."

The Virgin Islands Public Service Learning Institute has hosted over 600 public officers for Public Service 101 in four sittings since its launch in 2023, reaffirming the commitment of the Government of the Virgin Islands to the learning and development of all public officers.