The Integrity Dilemma Training, came to a successful conclusion on Friday afternoon, June 15th 2012. The Training was a very interactive one where civil servants and invited guests got the opportunity to learn about Integrity and how to deal with Integrity related dilemmas. They were also made aware of the importance of trust, credibility, paradigms and principles that will help when making Integrity based decisions.On Thursday June 14th the staff of the Ministers cabinet had the opportunity in the morning to attend the training and later that day the Ministers themselves were able to attend a session with Mr. Ralston Eric Bennett of Life Transforming Institute, (LTI), the facilitator of the training.
The government of Sint Maarten defines Integrity as a conscious choice of an individual or an organization to consistently act according to applicable rules and regulations, norms, culture, values and ethical standards regulated by law and society's values. To be more specific, an individual civil servant can act according to the principles of integrity prescribed in the LMA, Code of Conduct and applicable rules and regulations. The government organization can operate according to the principles of integrity which are regulated in integrity legislation in keeping with the principles of good governance.
Mrs. Tammy Richardson the Integrity Program Manager at the Department of the Interior and Kingdom is very satisfied with the content, the trainer and most of all the attendance and participation of the over 900 participants who attended the workshops. Some of the goals covered in the workshop were increasing one's personal credibility, having courage to stand for principles and getting results in a way that inspires trust and Integrity. The participants included civil servants from all levels, like Secretaries General, Department heads, policy workers, clerks, cleaners and guards. Invited guests from USONA, Ombudsman's Bureau and General Audit Chamber, also had the opportunity to attend this training.
As part of the Integrity program for The Government of Sint Maarten and the Integrity project funded by means of Dutch Development Funds via USONA, there are plans to continue with more trainings and workshops, the intensification of the current Integrity awareness campaign and the establishment of an Integrity Bureau, by the end of this year.
