RGD No Longer Depends on Country’s Budget

It has taken the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) just eight years as an Executive Agency to achieve the coveted Model ‘C’ designation.
This means that the RGD is no longer a call on the country’s budget for its daily expenses, as it earns money from its operation to pay its bills.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the RGD, Dr. Patricia Holness is justifiably proud. “The 2008/2009 financial year was a crucial one for the Registrar General’s Department, as this marked the second year that the Agency was operating as a Model C Executive Agency,” Dr. Holness said at a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’, at the Agency’s Half-Way Tree Office.
She said this positive position continued, despite adverse worldwide conditions, including massive jumps in the price of oil and the resulting increases in the prices of electricity, fuel, water, telephone and other items. This affected the RGD’s bottom line.
“Income fell by eight per cent to $513.4 million in 2008/2009, compared to $558 million in 2007/2008,” the CEO reported.
Dr. Holness explained that the RGD’s wage bill, which increased by 15 per cent as a result of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU 2) and two days of lost production caused by the passage of Tropical Storm Gustav in August last year, contributed to the decline in earnings. The passage of Gustav, she said, severely affected income in the parishes of Portland and St. Elizabeth, which suffered most damage from that weather system.
Still, the RGD has continued to blaze a path among public sector bodies, and is a beacon for others to follow. For example, financial statements outlining the Agency’s income and expenditure are prepared monthly and were up to date on April 1, 2009.
“To date, we have completed statements for February 2009. Emphasis has been placed on increasing income and reducing expenditure,” she said.
Dr. Holness explained that the RGD has put in place measures to reduce expenditure.
“In recognition of the global economic climate, the RGD implemented a number of cost-saving measures in 2008. These included the recycling of paper and reducing the number of printers. Staff transportation was also eliminated along with the virtual printing of financial posting reports. Vacant positions have been placed on hold and only essential items are being procured,” she said.