Office of the Prime Minister

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Chairman of the Consultative Monitoring Group (CMG) at the Public Sector Transformation Unit, Peter Moses, emphasises that his role is not that of a chief cutter, but to assist in identifying the efficiencies that exist within the public sector. Looking on is the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Sector Transformation Unit (PSTU), Patricia Sinclair-McCalla. They were guests at a Think Tank held today (January 19) at the Half-Way-Tree Road offices of the Jamaica Information Service.

A number of initiatives, including an early retirement incentive package, is to be implemented to assist persons, who transition out of the public sector.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public Sector Transformation Unit (PSTU), Mrs. Patricia Sinclair-McCalla, who was addressing a Think Tank at the JIS' Half-Way-Tree Road offices in Kingston today (January 19), said that the incentive package is still in the embryonic stage.

"As you would imagine, that will require a pool of funds to facilitate it. We have not been able to develop the entire programme as yet. I think we are going to be getting assistance with this particular package. What we need is to identify funds that the Government is able to sign off on to facilitate this," she informed, noting that no further details could be disclosed until a meeting with the relevant stakeholders is held.

The Chief Executive Officer of the PSTU told JIS News that discussions are also taking place with players in the business sector, including CEO of the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), Valerie Veira, to help persons identify business opportunities.

"We have been in touch with Valerie Veira because there are going to be business opportunities. What is now being considered is a special window at Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) where a different set of criteria may have to be applied for public sector officers, who will transition out," Mrs. Sinclair-McCalla informed.

She said that educational opportunities will also be available, and Executive Director of the Heart Trust/NTA, Dr. Carolyn Hayle "is developing a very innovative training package for those who will transition out of the public sector."

"We are not just thinking about business. It could be the opportunity that I wanted to do teaching, nursing or accounting, so the next step for us is to discuss with the head of the Student Loan Bureau to find out if a special window can be created. Only last week, we were scheduling meetings with the heads of tertiary level institutions to ask how they can facilitate those who may seek the opportunity to go back to school," Mrs. Sinclair-McCalla told JIS News.

In the meantime, she informed that a "multipronged approach" will be undertaken "to treat with our human resource management, in light of the possible transitions that will occur."

"We have been in discussions with psychologists and psychiatrists, who will be developing a programme not just for those who are leaving, but for those who are staying because it has a psychological impact whether you remain or you go, so we have to look at the mental health. The reality is it affects all of us so we have to treat with that very sensitively and sensibly," she pointed out.

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