Public officers can now access greater opportunities to diversify their professional experience and build capacity.

This follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on January 25 between Chief Executive Officer of the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), Mr. Paul Bayly, and Director of the Department of Human Resources Mrs. Michelle Donovan Stevens.

The objective of the MoU is to provide a framework and procedures for the identification and sourcing of talent within the Public Service aimed at developing and promoting the human capacity building of technical and managerial professionals.

Mr. Bayly expressed that his interactions with the Department of Human Resources has not only been a pleasure, but “the level of professionalism in developing the MoU, and selecting public sector secondees has been outstanding.” He added, “This is a very important step by the RDA in supporting capacity building here in the BVI.”

Mrs. Donovan-Stevens who signed on behalf of the Government of the Virgin Islands said, “We are looking forward to the benefits of the MoU in the immediate and the long term.”  She shared, that it is undeniable that the public service houses the most diverse range of competent and competitive professionals.  It is from this group that some officers will lend their expertise to the RDA.  In other instances the MoU will also provide a live learning platform for officers to expand their skill set as they work with the agency.  Through the agreement, officers will continue to make invaluable contributions to the development of the Territory and the progress of the public sector transformation programme.   

Mrs. Donovan-Stevens added that the agreement formalises the partnership between the Virgin Islands Public Service and the RDA for long and short term secondment opportunities for
public officers. It outlines the objective and the core roles and responsibilities of each party and the terms and conditions of the secondment agreements.  

Through this partnership, public officers within key technical disciplines such as project planning and management, will be seconded to work alongside expert professionals from the global marketplace so that they may expose, mentor and enhance officers' knowledge, training and experience in their respective fields.  

The establishment of the MoU materialises an important commitment made by the RDA to support building the local workforce.  

The signing of the agreement is a crucial move forward for the partnership between the Government and the RDA, as they both strive to build a stronger, smarter, greener and better British Virgin Islands.