His Excellency Nigel de Freitas, Acting President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago delivered the feature address at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) President’s Award for Service Excellence and Innovation (Pr.A.I.S.E) Awards on Tuesday December 10, 2024 at the Hyatt Regency.

The prestigious awards are hosted under patronage of the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and recognizes service excellence and innovation across the public sector. A new category was introduced for 2024, the Catalyst for Community Change Award. This award underscores the fact that improving public service delivery involves not just improving service delivery, but it also encompasses creating meaningful change which uplifts the community and by extension, the nation.

In delivering the feature address, His Excellency congratulated the IDB on the awards programme, now in its 7th year, and noted that, the “initiative recognises transformational initiatives undertaken by public sector institutions across the country and also plays a critical role in reshaping the image of the public sector, not only at home in Trinidad and Tobago, but also, on the global stage.”

His Excellency, Nigel de Freitas, Ag. President was accompanied to the event by Mrs. de Freitas and was presented with a token of appreciation by IDB country representative Mr. Julian Belgrave.

See full text of the speech below:

Good evening.

I am delighted to be here with you this evening as we gather to celebrate and recognise innovation and excellence within the public sector.  

I must confess that excellence and innovation in the public institutions of our nation are not unfamiliar concepts to me. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to witness first-hand how even small improvements and innovations in public services can make a significant difference in the daily lives of our citizens. I have also had the pleasure and privilege of working alongside some of the most dedicated, hard-working and forward-thinking public officers that this nation has to offer. These individuals go above and beyond the call of duty, often working quietly behind the scenes to ensure that public services function smoothly and that the needs of our citizenry are met with efficiency, care and consideration. They are often unsung heroes who run the rails of service excellence, navigating and overcoming systemic limitations, challenges and red tape. They are the individuals who keep the wheels of the public sector machinery turning and who exemplify all that is good about Trinidad and Tobago. They are individuals who clearly embody the words of former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that, “There is no greater challenge and there is no greater honour than to be in public service.”

As I reflect on my own experiences in public office, I am reminded of the importance of having platforms like this one which provide a welcome window into the talent, resourcefulness and professionalism present within our nation’s institutions. I sincerely appreciate that these awards provide an opportunity to reward public officers who have taken on the task of improving old systems by finding new and better ways of doing business. It is through these lens that we are able to witness the ongoing efforts to modernise and overcome longstanding issues within our public sector.  

All too often, the tireless efforts of our public officers go unrecognised or are overshadowed by the flaws and inefficiencies that currently hamper service delivery. All too often, public officers are tarred with the same negative brush and characterised by unfair stereotypes that are not reflective of the true value of their contributions.

I am therefore deeply grateful to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for their foresight in establishing these President’s Awards for Innovation and Service Excellence in the Public Sector back in 2018. This initiative recognises transformational initiatives undertaken by public sector institutions across the country and also plays a critical role in reshaping the image of the public sector, not only at home in Trinidad and Tobago, but also, on the global stage.  

We must keep in mind that Trinidad and Tobago is counted among the nations that have committed to the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. Goal 16 of that Agenda calls for promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions is both a cornerstone of development and progress and a process that requires constant and deliberate effort on our part to ensure that public institutions are continuously innovating, modernising, and evolving to meet the changing needs of our citizens.

These PrAISE Awards showcase that public institutions in Trinidad and Tobago are indeed working assiduously towards this goal and I am exceedingly proud of our finalists who clearly embody this commitment.

These finalists have demonstrated a clear understanding of the challenges within the public sector and, rather than waiting for ‘somebody to do something,’ have themselves taken bold, strategic action to address longstanding issues, implement innovative solutions, and ultimately ensure that public services were delivered more efficiently and effectively.

Their projects, in both the Service Excellence and Innovation categories, reveal a clear commitment to transforming how people interact with public services. From using technology and artificial intelligence to enhance user experience and increase efficiency, inclusivity, and sustainability, to advancing financial inclusion and environmental sustainability, these submissions sought to address both urgent and longstanding challenges within our society

A common thread running throughout was a dedication to empowering citizens and creating a lasting, positive impact on communities. This emphasis tells me that the finalists understand the true purpose of public service—to bridge the gap between the state and the people.

It is this commitment to community change and development that has driven this year’s introduction of a new category: the Catalyst for Community Change Award. I am told that this category was created in response to a particularly inspiring project presented during the judging process. This award underscores the fact that improving public service delivery involves not just improving service delivery, but it also encompasses creating meaningful change which uplifts the community and by extension, the nation.

It reinforces my firm belief, that it is only when we create change that truly benefits entire communities—empowering them, improving their lives, and making services easier and more accessible—that we can claim to be building a future in which all can aspire, and all can achieve.

And so, I thank each and every one of you for your hard work and dedication in ensuring that the public service machinery could achieve this noble goal. You are the backbone of our public service, ensuring that the machinery of government functions effectively and efficiently to meet the needs of the people. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed, and tonight, we celebrate your commitment to making a real and meaningful difference.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the IDB for their continued partnership in advancing our nation’s development objectives. Your support in recognising outstanding public sector projects and providing a platform for these remarkable initiatives is invaluable. This is the seventh consecutive year that the IDB has organized this event, and I can say without hesitation that your commitment to showcasing excellence within our public sector has been pivotal in shifting perceptions of our public sector as well as inspiring other public officers to strive for the same standards of excellence.

It is my hope, and I dare to say, the hope of all of us, that the work showcased here will inspire and encourage other institutions to move beyond business as usual and become catalysts for innovation and ingenuity. We want our public institutions to take bold steps in pioneering new ideas and adopting innovative approaches. We want them to reject outdated practices and archaic systems and instead, embrace modernity, sustainability, and forward-thinking strategies. Above all, we want these institutions to be sustainable – not just for the present, but for future generations. We want our public sector to be seen as a viable, rewarding career option for the next generation of public officers.

In that spirit, I urge all of us to adopt the mantra: Forward ever, backward never!

To the winners, finalists, and indeed all entrants in these PrAISE Awards, I extend both my congratulations and my challenge. I congratulate you for your efforts in bringing our public institutions ever closer to our goal of becoming effective, accountable and inclusive. I also challenge you to continue blazing a trail of excellence across the public sector, and to ensure that your work continues to inspire others to do the same. I eagerly await the community and societal transformation that your efforts will bring, as that is the true litmus test of these awards.

Finally, I would like to thank the judges for their hard work in evaluating the many outstanding submissions. Your task was no doubt challenging, given the high calibre of entries. I am certain that you were as impressed as I am by the resourcefulness and dedication that have gone into these remarkable projects.

Congratulations once again and I hope you know that this nation is forever in your debt. I wish you continued success as you work to exceed your potential, not only in your respective fields, but also, across the public sector as a whole.

Thank you.