Rationalisation of 190 public bodies being fast-tracked
FINANCE AND the Public Service Minister Dr Nigel Clarke has disclosed that the rationalisation of 190 public bodies as part of the Government’s public sector reform is being fast-tracked to place the country firmly on a path to economic independence.
Clarke, during his address to a Labour Market Forum in Kingston yesterday, pointed out that there were 190 chief executive officers managing the public bodies and an equal number of boards of directors that have to meet. “The complexity this introduces is simply unmanageable for a country of our size and resources,” he said.
“The sheer number of public bodies compromises the ability for effective parliamentary oversight, reflection, and review required for good governance,” Clarke said. “Furthermore, to the extent that with thought and imagination we could do with fewer public bodies, it means that we are absorbing resources in time and money that could be deployed elsewhere, making our economy more efficient,” he added.
Clarke reasoned that it was not economically viable to add public bodies over time without the means to sustainably fund them. The Government has set a target of six weeks to conclude consultations with the unions representing public sector
workers over the rationalisation of public bodies.
According to Clarke, the timetable would consider all the opportunities with respect to divestment of public companies that have a commercial focus but which are not necessary for Government to carry out its key functions. It will also focus on the merging of public sector entities where they perform similar key functions in order to achieve more effective delivery of service. Public bodies will also be reintegrated into their parent ministries.
The timetable for the rationalisation of public bodies will be integrated within the administration’s programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, the finance minister said that the country would not wait for the IMF’s next visit to start the exercise, noting that the fund’s next review was in six months.