A six-week in-service training programme for 15 records personnel is underway at St. John School for the Deaf in Kanifing.

The training, which jump-started on Tuesday, is being organized by the National Records Services, NRS, in conjunction with the Personnel Management Office and is for 15 records personnel.

The 15 records officers were drawn from across the country and they comprise records officers from the security services and civil service.

In his opening remarks, Mr Omar G. Sallah, Permanent Secretary at the Personnel Management Office also Chairman of the National Records Advisory Committee, NRAC, said the principal objective of NRS is to ensure that offices, institutions and individuals responsible for the generation and maintenance of public records, strictly conform to sound  records management principles and practices. He pointed out that the mandates of NRS also include the establishment and implementation of procedures for the timely disposal of public records of no ongoing  value and the permanent preservation as archival materials, of records with continuing value for exploitation by present and future generations.

 Mr Sallah urged the officers to, all times, ensure that they operate within the framework of confidentiality and professionalism in order to meet and maintain the high standards for an efficient, effective, dynamic, well trained, responsive and result-oriented civil service. 

Speaking earlier, Mrs. Elizabeth Bahoum-Mendy, Director of National Records Service, asserted that the purpose of the six-week training is to equip participators with the requisite skills to deliver effective and efficient service to their clientele i.e. action officers and public at large.

"In managing the Government of the Gambia information resource for effective planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes, you are contributing positively towards the socio-economic development of the nation," she explained.

"Your operational roles in taking this great nation to higher heights, therefore ,are enormous and should be shouldered with maximal professionalism. Due execution of your day duties, making the right records available to the right person at the right time should be your guiding principle."