The Government has reiterated its commitment to improving the efficiency, quality and cost effectiveness of the public sector.

This is stated in a Ministry Paper on Jamaica’s second quarterly review of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The document was tabled in the House of Representatives on December 24 by Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips.

According to the Ministry Paper, the terms of reference for technical assistance for the review of the public sector employment and remuneration has been completed and a consultant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has been contracted. The review is expected to be finalised by March 31, 2014.

“To support the rationalisation of  public sector employment, we will improve the public service databases in e-Census, by ensuring that it is up to date and covers all Ministries, Departments and Agencies by May 2014,” the Ministry Paper notes.

It also points out that procurement of the human resources software system is progressing and is expected to be contracted by the end of May 2014.

“Implementation of the system is expected to be completed by the end of September 2014 for Tax Administration Jamaica and the Jamaica Customs Administration,” the Paper states.

The Executive Board of the IMF has approved a disbursement of some US$30.8 million for Jamaica. This follows the December 18 completion of the second review of Jamaica’s economic performance by the Board, under the Extended Fund Facility arrangement.

So far, a total of US$272.2 million has been disbursed to Jamaica under the agreement.

For the four-year Extended Fund Facility arrangement, the Executive Board has approved for disbursement, a total of US$948.1 million, the equivalent of 225 per cent of Jamaica’s quota in the IMF.

By Latonya Linton