Africa-Press – Mauritius. Government’s vision is to transform the public service into a more efficient, innovative and shock-resilient one so as to better serve our citizens, stated the Minister of Public Service, Administrative and Institutional Reforms, Mr Teeruthraj Hurdoyal, this morning, at the InterContinental Mauritius Resort in Balaclava.
He was speaking at the opening ceremony of a Business Continuity Plan Review workshop, organised by the Ministry of Public Service, Administrative and Institutional Reform in collaboration with the Civil Service College Mauritius and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The Head of the Socio-Economic Development Unit, UNDP, Ms R. Beejan, and other personalities were also present at the opening ceremony. This two-day workshop, which regroups some 50 participants from 13 Ministries and Departments, aims to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to present their draft Business Continuity Plan and gather feedback to further improve key aspects of their respective plan.
At the outset, Minister Hurdoyal conveyed his gratitude to the UNDP for providing financial assistance to the Ministry of Public Service, Administrative and Institutional Reforms and other ministries in the formulation a Business Continuity Plan so as to provide round the clock services, ensure delivery of public service without any disruption, and maintain Government business in times of crisis.
He recalled that the COVID-19 pandemic shed light on the need for crisis planning and the importance of a Business Continuity Plan in our Public Service to further strengthen our resilience vis-à-vis unforeseen circumstances.
The Minister highlighted that the workshop will provide a platform for 13 Ministries and Departments to showcase their most critical services and to relate their modus operandi in the event of unanticipated happenings.
His Ministry, he underscored, as a driver of change and innovation, has also embarked on the implementation of a series of innovative projects under the supervision of the Public Service Transformation Bureau.
These projects, he added, will be critical to maintain minimum Government business in any circumstances. Furthermore, Minister Hurdoyal observed that the UNDP has also provided financial assistance to his Ministry for the implementation an Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) on a pilot basis.
The EDMS, he indicated, will pave the way for a zero-paper Government policy while moving away from the traditional and paper intensive file recording system.
According to him, such initiatives will not only contribute to address the inefficiencies inherent in a bureaucratic setup but will allow for business continuity and foster a work from home culture.
As for Ms Beejan, she underlined that this project is being implemented as part of the UNDP’s action towards supporting the transformation agenda of Government across the Civil Service as well as equipping Public Officers with the right skills and aptitude towards business continuity planning.
She added that business continuity planning has proved to be a strategic dimension so as to ensure resilience and contribute to sustain socio-economic growth and human development.
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