Newly appointed Cabinet Secretary Audrey Sewell says her assignment as head of the country’s civil service presents a new opportunity to perform and give of her best to Jamaica.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Monday announced the appointments of Sewell, retired army chief Lieutenant General Rocky Meade and Arlene Williams to “pivotal positions within the Government”.
Meade, who is on his third assignment in under a year, is to assume the role of permanent secretary (PS) in the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), while Williams will take up a similar post in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation.
Sewell served as PS for both portfolios.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to serve at another level of the civil service,” Sewell, the first woman to be Cabinet secretary in Jamaica’s history, told The Gleaner on Monday.
“My journey has been a very long, interesting and rewarding one notwithstanding some challenges along the way. Being given this opportunity is another chance for me to perform and to give of my best service to our country,” she added.
The news release from OPM said Sewell, who has served over 40 years in the public service, brings a wealth of experience and exceptional qualifications to her new role as Cabinet secretary.
“Throughout her distinguished career, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the development of Jamaica through her exceptional leadership and dedication,” it said.
Her qualifications include a master of science in human resource development and a bachelor of science in management studies from The University of the West Indies (UWI).
Additionally, she holds a certificate in management studies from The UWI and an advanced certificate in educational administration and leadership awarded jointly by the Swedish Institute for National Development and the Vocational Training and Development Institute.
Sewell has also participated in international high-level studies and research methodology courses at the University of Michigan.
Her career as a PS began in 2008 at the Ministry of Education. In 2011, she was reassigned to the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, and later, in February 2016, she was appointed to the same capacity at the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation. In that same year, she took on the dual role of PS for both ministries, serving in OPM.
Meade is currently serving as ambassador plenipotentiary with responsibility for National Strategic Initiatives, a post to which he was appointed in February.
He had declined the post of Cabinet secretary last year following concerns raised about the constitutionality of that appointment.
The Cabinet secretary is the head of the civil service and its most senior policy adviser.
The Gleaner had reported that there were questions and concerns in relation to Section 92 (1) of the Constitution, which stipulates that the person appointed Cabinet secretary must come from the public service.
Meade had retired from the military, which is not considered a part of the public service.
Meanwhile, Williams, the OPM release said, brings a diverse range of expertise to her new role.
She has been instrumental, it said, in spearheading major capital projects and overseeing significant spends in the Ministry of National Security and Jamaica Constabulary Force.
“The prime minister has tasked these individuals to improve service delivery and efficiency in government. This with a view to ensure the significant gains made by the administration are felt by Jamaicans from all walks of life,” the OPM release said.