Three (3) Public officers have completed a one month apprenticeship placements at the Customer Service Care Centre.

The officers are Desima Lambert of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Kesheida Williams from the Survey Department and Mrs. Marcia Green of the Land Registry Department, all within the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Dr. Ronald Smith Berkely commented on the value of officers within the ministry receiving in-depth customer service training stating that the ministry fully supports capacity building for its team.

Dr. Smith Berkely said the officers received a first-hand introduction to the comprehensive operations of the centre, which serves as the public’s first point of contact for the Government of the Virgin Islands.

 “We are happy to partner with the Customer Service Care Centre of the Office of the Deputy Governor on this apprenticeship initiative, which presents a unique opportunity for learning and development,” the PS said.

Dr. Smith Berkely added, “The learning outcomes included improved call handling techniques in a busy environment, increased knowledge of the Public Service through assisting a variety of callers, and improved email drafting and handling. We are committed to ensuring public officers across the ministry are afforded opportunities to advance their individual skills as we strive to provide world-class service to our clients.”

Following the completion of their placement, the officers were hosted by Deputy Governor, Mr. David D. Archer Jr. for a discussion aimed at assessing the outcome of their time, and providing inspiration for a continued effort toward personal development.

Manager of the Customer Service Care Centre, Ms. Abbarah Brown commented on the Centre’s customer-first approach to customer service and the positive impact of cross-ministry trainings.

Ms. Brown said, “The Customer Service Care Centre has adopted an extremely focused approach to customer service and with the support of ministries across Government, we are ensuring that our processes are hassle-free for the public. As we continue to advance in this area, it is vital that throughout the Public Service, learning opportunities like these are presented, as they allow us to ensure that our clients receive the same excellent service, no matter who they interact with.”

The Office of the Deputy Governor established the Customer Service Care Centre in 2020 with a vision to become a state-of-the-art, all-purpose customer service hub. Since then, the centre has expanded its offerings including call handling, email, live-chat and WhatsApp messaging, appointment booking and assistance with filing various applications.

The Government of the Virgin Islands remains committed to the advancement of Customer Service in the Public Service.