Govt to launch digital academy for public service

The government is set to roll out a digital academy for the public service as part of efforts to ensure the country’s workforce is equipped to deliver on the wide-ranging measures announced in the national budget.

Speaking during the debate, Minister of the Public Service and Talent Development Kay McConney said the initiative will focus on building digital capacity and leadership across government, particularly at the managerial level where key gaps have been identified.

The academy will be supported by the National Transformation Initiative, which has already begun developing tailored training programmes for ministries and will help expand digital learning across the public service, the St Philip West MP said.

McConney pointed to findings from a recent survey on digital readiness, noting that while Barbados is generally able to recruit technically skilled workers, the real challenge lies within existing leadership structures.

“The problem was not the people being hired… the problem was the people already within government and within the private sector, most of whom were at the management and supervisory level,” she said.

She stressed that addressing this gap is critical to improving efficiency and ensuring that public sector systems are “fit for purpose” in a modern, digital environment.

The minister also highlighted a budgetary provision offering support for businesses seeking to digitise their operations, describing it as part of a broader push to modernise how both government and the private sector function.

However, McConney warned that without meaningful changes in culture and execution, even well-designed policies could fail.

“We have a lot of talented people within our public service… but the culture has not always been focused on solving problems,” she said.

McConney cautioned that the success of several key initiatives outlined in the budget, including a beneficial ownership registry and planned reforms to the justice system, will depend heavily on the ability of public officers to implement them effectively.

“These cannot work unless people do what they are supposed to do,” she said.

Beyond the public service, McConney said the wider workforce must also rise to the occasion, emphasising that the success of the budget depends on active participation from all sectors of society.

She pointed to opportunities for homeowners, farmers, businesses and community organisations to benefit from various measures, but stressed that individuals must take the initiative to access them.

“The budget will only work if people engage with it,” she said, reinforcing the need for a workforce that is equipped, accountable, and ready to deliver. (TD)