The Public Service, Government Efficiency and Implementation Ministry on Monday announced the launch of “The Voice”, a new website designed to give citizens a direct channel to share ideas, raise concerns and offer recommendations aimed at improving public services. Subject Minister Zulfikar Ally noted that the launch of this new initiative is in keeping with a commitment by President Dr Irfaan Ali to ensure the government remains in touch with the people. “There are people who have so many good ideas within the various agencies and Ministries that we have and oftentimes we don’t get the opportunity or get the time to speak with them to hear either, what are the challenges, or what are the recommendations that they have to fix issues within the public service so that we can serve the people a lot better,” he noted during a video uploaded to his Facebook page. In fact, Ally said he will personally respond to submissions on the website. “They can put either their suggestions or an issue that they have as a public servant and then I will respond to them directly. Every day I will sit, I will call them, I will engage with them, I will find out more, if I need more details and I will either try to fix the problem, or I will explain to them why the problem cannot be fixed or what are some of the challenges that we have that whatever they would like to see or whatever they’re recommending cannot be done,” he explained. Ally said these engagements will be “very insightful”. The website has already been tested and according to the Public Service Minister, has yielded positive results for users. “We have Ms Clark who’s from Berbice. Ms Clark was not being paid for a couple of months so she reached out, she asked if something could be done about it. So, we reached out directly to the Ministry that’s responsible where she’s working, we spoke with the HR department, we ensured that in this case it was a matter of the paperwork. So, we got that done, Ms Clark was paid and her name is now on the payroll, she would not have that issue anymore,” the Minister explained. He stressed that the website is not just for complaints. “Ms Lall didn’t have much of a complaint but she had a lot of brilliant suggestions, brilliant suggestions on how we can improve the public service, what we can do in the space of education and I called her, we had a fantastic discussion and I listened to her ideas and some of them I will suggest to the President,” he noted. Meanwhile, the Minister explained that this initiative is in keeping with President Ali’s vision of ensuring his Ministers stay connected with the people. “President Ali wants his cabinet, all of us to be engaged, to be in touch with every citizen out there and I found that this is one innovative way in which they can reach to me,” he expressed. Persons wishing to submit suggestions or concerns can visit mpsmandate.gov.gy, where they can complete a short online form with their contact information and details of their issue or recommendation.

“It takes less than a minute to put in your information and your questions or your comments,” he noted as he encouraged persons to utilise the platform.