THE senior management team at the Ministry of Communities (MoC) on Monday met with newly-appointed Minister, Annette Ferguson, and updated her on the progress of works at the ministry.

Following a Cabinet reshuffle in April, Ferguson, a former minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, was re-assigned as minister responsible for housing. She replaces Minister Valerie Adams-Yearwood, who is now minister within the Ministry of Agriculture with responsibility for rural affairs.

Ferguson noted her enthusiasm in giving full support to Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkan, whom she has a history of working alongside.

She looks forward to working with him in achieving the goals of the MoC
At Monday’s meeting, Ferguson also had the opportunity to garner first-hand information on the challenges in implementation of the projects and proffered solutions on the way forward.

She encouraged the management team to look beyond their challenges and unite their efforts and energies to collectively and collaboratively work towards bringing much-needed services to the people.

The minister outlined policy that would help chart the way forward for the ministry.
She urged the staff to remember to submit weekly written reports on key projects, particularly when the projects encounter delays in their execution.

The minister said her goal remains to better the lives of the people and, with her wealth of experience and technical capacity, she plans to do just that.

Minister Bulkan noted that although Ferguson’s appointment is specifically to oversee housing, his desire is to see her integrally involved in the operations of the entire ministry.
He reminded staff that they are a team with the overall responsibility to give meaning to the oath of ensuring taxpayers’ resources are spent in a transparent and accountable manner.

Minister Bulkan added that the characteristics to deliver on quality spending revolve around timeliness, thoroughness and trustworthiness, which relate to equity, fairness and accountability.