Deputy Governor, Hon. Franz Manderson, today (Wednesday 1 July 2015) launched the CIG Wellness Committee to foster better health within the civil service.
The Deputy Governor will head the committee, which grew out of what was previously the Pedometer Challenge Committee, a group that has run successful fitness events in previous years.
According to its mission statement its goals are: “To develop, manage, and promote a workplace culture of health and wellness that will improve employee wellbeing and performance.”
The committee further aims to provide a holistic framework for delivery of workplace wellness policies and programmes, representatives say.
In order to effectively meet the wellness needs of employees, it will structure the delivery of its strategic actions and objectives around five broad categories. This approach allows the action plan to be diverse and address all areas of wellness.

These areas include

1. Wellness Framework Matters
2. Health Education,
3. The Working Environment
4. Interactive Supporting Mechanisms
5. Linkages with Related Programmes

A strategic plan from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016 is currently being drawn up.
Commenting on the committee’s formation, the Deputy Governor said, “I am delighted that we are promoting all aspects of the civil service’s well-being, which is a subject very dear to my heart. Most of us perform sedentary jobs and it is imperative that we all make the effort to keep our bodies active and our minds sharp. We have to do this ourselves. We owe this to ourselves and our families, if for no one else. I encourage all in the civil service to get active and get engaged in maintaining or improving their health.”

The Deputy Governor has named the following persons to the committee:

Tara Bush and Ventisha Conolly – deputy co-chairpersons;
Camila Ferreira – secretary;
Denise Delpesh – treasurer;
Andy Bonner, Merta Day, Shelly-Ann Davis, Kathryn Dinspel-Powell, Christina Ross,
Patrick Smith and Winston Sobers – members.

Photo Caption:
Civil Service Wellness Committee: L-r – Winston Sobers, Christina Ross, Patrick Smith, Denise Delpesh, Deputy Governor Hon. Franz Manderson, Shelly-Ann Davis, Andy Bonner, Camila Ferreira and Tara Bush. Missing from photo are Ventisha Conolly, Kathryn Dinspel-Powell and Merta Day.
Wellness Committee logo