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 Alwin
Livingstone Hales represents a diligent breed of Jamaicans that reflects
passion about excellence. That passion has over the years transformed
itself into various achievements and awards all of which have redounded
to the benefit of the wider Jamaican society.
Currently, he serves as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Works, a position he has held since 1998, but prior to that he was also Permanent Secretary at the then Ministry of Local Government and Works between 1996 and 1998. The National Irrigation Commission Ltd. also came in for some of Dr. Hales’ serious work ethic as he was employed there in various capacities, leaving there as Chief Technical Director in 1996. The Urban Development Corporation, the Scientific Research Council and AGRO 21 Corporation are among the other organisations where Dr. Hales has plied his craft. It may appear that this very accomplished gentleman was born with the proverbial ‘gold spoon’ in his mouth but he will hasten to tell you that that is not the case. From the humble district of Leicesterfield in Clarendon, Dr. Hales, attended Edwin Allen High School and Clarendon College. The University of the West Indies, (St. Augustine, Trinidad) was the next step on the education ladder from where he received his B.Sc in Civil Engineering. He followed this up with Post graduate work at the University of Guelph, Canada where he received his M. Sc. in Water Resources Engineering and the University of Southampton, UK where he obtained his Ph.D in Water Management. Dr. Hales is a member of various professional organisations, among them the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, the Jamaica Institute of Engineers and Professional Engineers’ Registration Board. He is married and is the father of two daughters. In his current position as Permanent Secretary, Dr. Hales has been given the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of the Public Sector Modernisation Project at the Ministry of Transport and Works. This is an ambitious project which will ultimately see government Ministries and Agencies become more efficient and accountable. One significant result of this project in the Ministry thus far is the creation of the National Works Agency, an executive agency which is the successor to the former Public Works Department. The Core Ministry is mandated to focus on setting policies and monitoring while operational and day to day regulatory functions will reside with the Agencies. Targeted for early implementation is the modernisation of the Island Traffic Authority, a move which is in keeping with the direction in which Dr. Hales is seeking to steer the Ministry at the moment. To
this end, the first stage of the PSMP has ended with the completion
of the Policy Strengthening capacity of the Ministry. Other objectives
of Phase One of the Project included refining the Corporate Planning
process, modernising the financial and auditing procedures and facilitating
the implementation of an interim structure and the area still being
worked on, delegation of power to the Permanent Secretary. Other
steps and objectives in the next phases of the modernisation process
are to be implemented consistent with the vision and strategy paper
prepared for the Public Sector by the Cabinet Office. |
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