Finance Minister Urges Productivity Push

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, has charged directors of public-sector boards to hold staff to greater levels of productivity and efficiency.

He said that increased productivity will put the country on the “path to prosperity”.

“In every quarter, we have to stress the need for everyone to be more productive… if something can take one hour to do, don’t let it take a day or a week,” he implored.

Mr. Shaw was addressing new directors appointed to serve on the boards of agencies under the Finance Ministry at a Corporate Governance Sensitisation session at its National Heroes Circle offices in Kingston on June 15.

The Minister said that bureaucratic hold-ups, resulting in unnecessary delays in procedures, must be addressed.

“The only way we are going to deal with it is for each of us to understand individually that we can have some impact on breaking down the barriers that are created by undue bureaucratic modalities and behaviours,” he noted.

Mr. Shaw stressed that the public sector must come to understand that it needs to be more diligent and deliver services to the private sector more efficiently, in order to realise the growth and prosperity for which the country aspires.

In the meantime, the Minister thanked the board directors for their willingness to serve.

He noted that while it is voluntary service “it does not in any way diminish the importance of your work… we still expect diligent work from you”.

For his part, Financial Secretary, Devon Rowe, also thanked the board members, noting that their “responsibilities are enormous”.

“The Ministry of Finance sees your responsibility as not just managing the organisation, but also ensuring that broad policies for public bodies are in place which meet with the overall policy objectives of the Government,” he said.

State Minister in the Finance Ministry, Hon. Fayval Williams also hailed the board directors for accepting the call to serve.