Work continued under the Public Sector Transformation Programme:
• The Government signed two agreements with international consulting firm, Ernst and Young, for a compensation review and the introduction of shared corporate services in some areas of Government operations.
• Sixty workers from state entities were trained and certified as Change Managers to assist with the transformation process.
• Approximately $1 billion in savings has, to date, been realised from the rationalisation of some 30 public bodies.
These include the merger of the Fair Trading Commission and Consumer Affairs Commission; closure of the Correctional Services Production Company and integration of its operations into the Correctional Services Department; closure of National Energy Solutions (NESol) and integration of that entity’s functions into the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology; and the integration of the Golden Age Home into the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development.
Medium-Term Socio-economic Policy
• Cabinet approved the Fourth Medium-Term Socio-Economic Policy Framework (MTF), which underpins implementation of the country’s long-term National Development Plan – Vision 2030 Jamaica;
• The fourth MTF covers fiscal years 2018/19 to 2020/21, and presents the medium-term development priorities, strategies and actions to be pursued under each of Vision 2030 Jamaica’s 15 targetted National Outcomes.
Education
• Some 250 students from 30 tertiary institutions islandwide have benefited from education grants from the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission, totalling more than $50 million, over a five-year period, up to 2019.
• The Commission also facilitated 72 students under its annual internship programme last year.
Students’ Loan Bureau
• The new 11-member Board, which was appointed in December 2018, assumed office in January.
Chairman is Nicholas Scott, with Sandra Glasgow serving as Deputy Chair.
Public Sector Debate Competition
• The Trelawny Municipal Corporation won the inaugural Public Sector Debate Competition, defeating the Ministry of National Security in the finals.