Building a Better Jamaica

BY INGRID BROWN Observer senior reporter browni@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, April 01, 2010

THE Public Sector Transformation Unit (PSTU) has submitted to Cabinet its initial recommendations for a leaner, more efficient public sector, which could result in the merging of some Government departments and agencies as early as this month.

The disclosure was made by Information Minister Daryl Vaz at yesterday's post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.

"I do know for sure that you should start seeing some of these recommendations being implemented shortly after the budget presentation," Vaz said, adding that while some of the proposals can be implemented in short order, others would require a longer time to be put into effect.

He, however, could not provide details as to whether the staff-cut component of the restructuring would begin in April.

According to Vaz, Cabinet has concluded preliminary discussions with the PSTU on the work it has done as well as its initial recommendations for the restructuring of ministries, departments and agencies.

He promised that a lot more details will be forthcoming from Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Finance Minister Audley Shaw during the upcoming budget debate.

The scope of the PSTU includes a review of all ministries, agencies and public bodies to determine what function should be retained, privatised, contracted, abolished or merged with other public sector entities.

As part of the PSTU work, ministries were asked to provide information on their mandate as well as on the entities falling under them, their portfolio subjects, staff complement, budget along with their own recommendations for restructuring.

"The Cabinet is to give additional directives on this matter after a further review of the report which was submitted," Vaz said.

This, he said, could be done as early as the next Cabinet meeting because the issue was being treated with great urgency.

He said very little will be changed in the original recommendations.