–at CARICAD’s 29th Board Members Meeting
The Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD), since its inception, has been in the vanguard championing public administrations and modernization; and during the 1990s, CARICOM countries had committed themselves to the transformation and revitalization of public services, designed to be dynamic and proactive.

CARICAD’s Executive Director Jennifer Astaphan at CARICAD’s 29th Board of Directors meeting

In Guyana, the Government has been focusing on democracy and development and has embarked on public administration and reform processes; and has been utilising more technologies to advance its objectives, Minister of Public Service Dr Jennifer Westford told the 29th CARICAD Board Members meeting and reception at Buddy’s Hotel, Providence.

Against the backdrop of the global economic crisis and the vulnerability of countries to economic shocks, she said that public services will have to be more efficient and cost effective, and that key players must always look at how to do things better.

She said that smaller countries such as those in the Caribbean will be exposed to harsh effects in their financial systems, which will result in a drop in tourism revenues, volatility in oil prices, shifts in foreign direct investment, and the adverse environmental effects of global warming.

Minister of Public Service Dr. Jennifer Westford delivering the feature address at CARICAD’s 29th Board of Directors meeting

Stressing that the public service is no longer the preserve of the public sector, Minister Westford noted that there is adequate room in the delivery of public services for both the public and private sectors.

“It is universally accepted that it is the private sector that is going to provide the main engine of employment growth. However, how to get the private sector to provide good jobs will depend on the regulatory framework. The private sector clearly needs to be pushed towards greater formalisation, that is, to provide greater social security and job stability by becoming more formal,” she said.

This, she posited, can only occur through meaningful partnerships and labour laws that reduce the cost of formality to the private sector.

She urged delegates that they need to keep on challenging existing concepts and practices in the public service, and to look for more cost effective ways of administering economies.

Minister Westford encouraged the Board of Directors to adapt, adjust, update and re-engineer their administrative strategies so that they can safely emerge from the economic crisis.

CARICAD’s Executive director, Jennifer Astaphan, also spoke at the function. In attendance were Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds; Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali; Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jennifer Webster; and Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud. (GINA)