RESTRUCTURING PUBLIC SECTOR WILL CAUSE RESISTANCE.....BUT WE MUST GET IT RIGHT... PM GOLDING

  October 9, 2009

RESTRUCTURING PUBLIC SECTOR WILL CAUSE RESISTANCE.....BUT WE MUST GET IT RIGHT... PM GOLDING

Prime Minister Bruce Golding says he is aware that his efforts to restructure the public sector will encounter friction and resistance as there are some entrenched empires that are going to resist fiercely.

He said ‘There is a culture that is deep rooted...that is not going to voluntarily be transformed.... it is going to have to be confronted and attacked with a determination that requires the authority of the leadership of the country'.

Mr. Golding was addressing members of the Jamaica Exporters Association at their members' luncheon yesterday (Oct 8) at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston.

The Prime Minister has been meeting on the matter with a number of groups and disclosed that a cabinet sub-committee, which he will chair, has been formed. He said a Unit will be established at the Office of the prime Minister that will be structured on the basis of a public/ private sector partnership as he believes it's important in undertaking this exercise to bring a private sector perspective.

‘The reason it is so important is that the government has a luxury that the private sector does not have. When we don't have money in the bank we still draw the cheque and it is honoured. When a private sector operator is running a business that is badly structured...that is  not efficient.... that may be top heavy, if he doesn't deal with that, his cheques will bounce...and he may go bankrupt and they don't like going bankrupt so they do what needs to be done. I want to bring a private sector element to say ... we want you to work with us and bring your approach and guide us... Let us have the benefit of your experience.... so we can make sure we get it right', Mr. Golding said.

Mr. Golding noted that in the exercise of restructuring the public sector, his government cannot afford to make any mistakes.

‘This is not a trial and error business and the last thing you want is to go and dismantle what exists and to put something in its place that  is  even more inept and even more inefficient. And because I can't afford to make a mistake, you want to bring the best brains'

Mr. Golding said he would be spending the next six months clearly determining how to carry out this restructuring procedure because there will be no room for error.