The Government of Jamaica, the World Bank, the British Government, and the European Union finance the Public Sector Modernization Project (PSMP), that began in 1996. The Project, which is to be completed in June 2002, seeks to improve the quality of service provided by certain government agencies, enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of selected Ministries, and reduce the size and scope of the public sector.

Through an output-oriented approach increasing attention was paid to:

a) Resources at hand, that is, the funds available for financing and personnel;

b) The Action Plans for the individual components; and

c) The related optimistic but realistic targets.

The Performance of the Executive Agencies and Modernized Entities

The start of FY2001/02 witnessed the establishment, through delegated authority, of an additional four (4) Executive Agencies, bringing the total number of these Agencies to eight (8). All but the National Works Agency were created from mergers. In effect, the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) represents a merger of JAMPRESS and JIS; the National Land Agency (NLA), a merger of the Department of Lands and Land Valuation, the Survey Department and the Office of the Registrar of Titles; and the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), a merger of the Natural Resources Conservation Authority, the Land Development Utilization commission and the Town Planning Department.

Jamaica Promotions (JAMPRO) and the Customs Department, targeted for Executive Agency status, started their modernization processes using the ‘Existing Management Model’.

The ‘Change-Management’ and ‘Re-engineering’ process within the Agencies were achieved, for the most part, within the time frame targeted, and in most instances, with the desired participation of the respective Trade Unions.

Within the newly created entities, key project components were implemented in keeping with the revised Work Plans. For the first time, actual expenditure kept abreast of projected quarterly expenditure levels.

The submission of the Executive Agencies Bill to the Legislative Committee and the subsequent passing of the Bill marked another milestone for this year.

In addition, and in keeping with the PSMP’s thrust to establish a coherent and widely articulated vision and strategy for the Reform Agenda, considerable time and effort was dedicated to disseminating information on the modernization process to the Jamaican public, using the print and electronic media and workshops.

The commissioned Price Waterhouse Cooper’s Review of Human Resource Management within key Ministries of Government (GOJ), recommended ‘inter alia’ the need to address policy issues relating to capacity-building, training and development and the need for a sound reform strategy. The PSMP is already acting on some of the recommendations made.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The major accomplishments for the period, which were in keeping with specific project targets were as follows:

• The Template of the Performance Agreement for Chief Executive Officers was developed;

• The Executive Agencies’ Bill, soon to be enacted based on Cabinet’s decision;

• The Final Review of Pensions and the Trust Deeds. This should come into effect by late January 2002 and will be linked with Regional Health authorities and any Executive Agency that has completed the due processes, as the first members;

• An Electronic Filing System for the PSMP which is almost operational;

• The ‘Start-up’ of The PSMP Documentation Centre which seeks to record all the ‘Critical-Steps’ taken to date, in the reform/modernization process, since the start of the Project;

• The Recruitment Processes for the Agencies that have been accepted, established and implemented with ‘built in’ Psychometric tests for Senior and Middle Managers.

The immediate focus of the PSMP is listed as follows:

• Securing funds to complete the activities within the entities, as scheduled in their respective Implementation Plans, by the Project Assistance Completion Date (PACD);

• Revisiting with the Consultants, work that can be realistically accomplished by end of the project and revising all Contracts to meet the new timelines and deadlines;

• Working with the World Bank to obtain an extension to the Project as is deemed necessary;

• Identifying key modernization approaches critical to the Government of Jamaica’s continued Reform process;

• Finalising, with the help of the actuaries and the relevant legal persons, the key activities under the Pension Scheme for the Executive Agencies, currently being established;

• Coordinating the Evaluation and Audit Activities required by the World Bank in respect to the implementation of the Project Activities;

• Organizing the official ‘handing over’ of the Executive Agencies’ Documentation Centre.

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