The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has recognised and rewarded sixteen members of staff for their devotion, loyalty, hard work and long years of service.
The staff who have dedicated 5 to 14 years and 15 or more years of service to the office were, along with other members of staff, treated to a lunch at the Chilli Bar and Restaurant, La Louise, where they were also presented with their awards, certificates and other prizes.
Aged 55 years old, Lindy Fontaine, a receptionist, is the longest serving staff with 32 years of service. She joined the then audit department, on her first job, as a messenger in April 1989.
“Even if things were not that easy, I think that the working atmosphere and the support I got from the staff and management kept me on the job for that long. It was my first job and I did indeed love it. I think I will end my career where I’ve started,” said Mrs Fontaine, who noted that the death of her former boss, Marc Benstrong, have marked her.
Lindy Sedgwick – 50 years old – on the other hand is the second longest-serving staff with 30 years of service. She started off as a receptionist further to being promoted as a private secretary up to now. Before working at the OAG, she spent six months at the State Assurance Corporation of Seychelles (Sacos).
“The atmosphere is friendly, we work together as a team, but first and foremost I like my job very much and this is the reason why I’ve been around for so long,” Mrs Sedgwick said.
In all there were nine long serving workers reward in the category 5 to 14 years and 7 staff were rewarded in the category 15 years and above.
Addressing the long-serving staff, Auditor General Gamini Herath said the officers have come a long way with the staff, along with new incoming faces, contributing a very good impression in their field of work, to therefore make it more recognisable and look forward to as compared to the past where it was seen as not great help to government.
Mr Herath said as the office couldn’t hold its end of year Christmas gathering because of Covid-19, they have taken the opportunity, with the ease of restrictions, to celebrate the achievements of the long-serving staff in combination with the missed belated celebration.
He congratulated the staff for their dedication, loyalty, hard work and accomplishments shown over the year.
He urged the staff to continue working with transparency, good governance and accountability.
The award ceremony ended with a birthday praise for Mr Herath, followed by some entertainment which also included poems and songs by the staff members.
Source: Seychelles Nation
