Spencer promises 'full statement' on public-sector transformation

Rudyard Spencer, state minister in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, on Wednesday promised that come next week he will make a disclosure on the progress of the public-sector transformation programme.

"What I can tell you is that we are far down the road and next week I'll have a full statement," Spencer told The Gleaner after the long service awards ceremony for civil servants on the lawns of King's House.

More than 500 members of the Jamaica civil service were recognised for 25 years and more of service to the public.

Spencer's comments came after Monday's announcement by Prime Minister Andrew Holness of the Public Sector Transformation Oversight Committee (P-STOC), which will be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the public-sector transformation programme and social- protection targets as set out in the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP) agreed with the International Monetary Fund.

The P-STOC will be co-chaired by president of the Hugh Lawson Trade Union Education Institute, Danny Roberts, and Cabinet Secretary Ambassador Douglas Saunders.

The prime minister said Saunders has been asked to co-chair, in his capacity as head of the public service, to ensure that the rights and interests of public-sector workers are protected in the transformation process.

Transformation process

Roberts told The Gleaner on Monday that P-STOC has the task of monitoring the public-sector transformation process and to ensure that the timelines set in the IMF agreement are met.

He said much of the committee's work would be supported by a secretariat, noting that "what we need to ensure is that we are on top of the work to find out whatever difficulties or challenges that there may be, and to try and use our best influences to ensure that those are cleared".

He also reminded the gathering that the Economic Growth Council would monitor the implementation of growth policies and outcomes as set out in the MEFP agreed with the IMF.

Meanwhile, Ivette Ferguson of the Social Development Corporation is the 2016 Civil Servant of the Year.

"I feel really elated to be chosen after working for 34 years. All my life I have been doing community development. When I look at some of the community groups, where they are now, I feel fulfilled because they are actually on their own, implementing projects that make them employable to earn. So, I feel really elated and fulfilled today," she told The Gleaner.