Public Sector Modernisation Programme Gets $379 Million

A sum of $379 million has been allocated for the Office of the Cabinet’s Public Sector Modernisation Programme II.
As contained in the 2009/10 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives, the allocation will provide for the continuation of the modernisation programme in the Ministry of Education and regional education agencies, national inspectorate agencies, the Forestry Department, Fisheries Division, and the Cabinet Office.
A Performance Management and Appraisal System (PMAS) will also be implemented in five ministries and three departments; a customer service monitoring system will be piloted in a number of ministries; development of the Citizens Charter will continue, so too the Corporate Governance and Accountability framework, while the Executive Agency Regulations will be drafted.
A results-based management framework will also be launched within ministries, departments and agencies; the building development approval process will be improved; while modernisation plans for Customs and the Inland Revenue Department will be put in place.
The project, which is being financed by the Department for International Development, the Government of Jamaica and the Inter-American Development Bank, will enable government ministries, departments and agencies to develop and deliver high quality, integrated, public service programmes, which meet the needs of customers; strengthen results-based management in government; align human resource management strategies with the strategic direction of the modernisation programme; build a customer service structure that facilitates continuous improvement in the delivery of service and accountability to the public; and implement a performance management and appraisal system in all ministries and departments to improve governance and accountability in the public sector.
The initiative, which commenced in April 2003, is schedule to run until March 2012. To date, the modernisation plan for the Ministry of National Security has been implemented and the Ministry has been transformed into a policy-focused agency.
The Passport Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) became the 10th Executive Agency in June 1, 2007, while modernisation plans for the Ministry of Education and Cabinet Office have been developed. The Forestry Department and Fisheries Division’s modernisation plans have also been developed and are being implemented; while a Performance Management Appraisal System has been launched in eight ministries and four departments.
In addition, the strategic review of the justice sector has been completed and 200 public sector employees were offered training in critical skills areas.