Frontline public servants get deputy governor’s gongs

(CNS): Senior Social Work Assistant Donette Morris-Seymour was the first government worker to receive the Deputy Governor’s top civil service award for this financial year when she was named employee of the month for July. Morris-Seymour was described as giving much of her own time to ensure her clients' needs are met, coming in early, staying late and working weekends. Meanwhile, in August Marlon Hodgson the manager at the Immigration Detention Centre (IDC), which saw an escalating number of escapes earlier this year was named employee of the month for his work handing the centre over to the prison service.

Morris Seymour was said to not only be very helpful to her clients having earned the title of "most helpful" she also holds her clients accountable and tries to empower them to improve their lives.

The deputy governor, Franz Manderson, who created the awards to help boost morale during uncertain times for the civil service and to award those government workers who stand out praised Morris-Seymour for her sensitivity and for putting in extra hours to complete urgent assignments and projects.

Although the Immigration Detention Centre had been at the centre of some controversy recently after numerous escapes and a near riot at the Fairbanks location when numbers of Cuban migrants detained there increased significantly as a result of repatriation problems, the manager Marlon Hodgson was said to have ensured the refugees receives decent, fair and humane treatment.

“Hodgson singlehandedly managed IDC’s recent handover from Immigration to the Prison Service, overseeing all aspects of the transition, including: finance, operations, support services and staffing. He has risen to the challenge of managing and providing a first class service to residents,” a government official said.

Hodgson was also credited with improving physical conditions at the IDC, raising the standard of services for detainees, enhancing staff response to changing client needs and better information sharing about the IDC between the Governor’s Office, the Home Affairs Ministry, Immigration and the Prison Service.

Knowing the importance of communications to maintaining good relations, Hodgson has also been learning Spanish to better communicate with the detainees.