KINGSTON, June 24 (JIS): Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, is reminding state agencies that they have an obligation to provide quality service to the public and ensure the timely completion of projects.
Mrs. Simpson Miller gave the charge while addressing a corporate governance seminar for departments, agencies and statutory boards under the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), held on Wednesday (June 24), at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston.
Describing the OPM as the “premier organisation within the Government”, the Prime Minister reminded the board chairmen, and heads of agencies and departments in attendance that, “we have a responsibility to set the stage and the tone, to ensure that if there is anything close to perfection, it is the work being done by the Office of the Prime Minister.”
She added that the OPM must set the example of providing service of the highest quality and urged those who interface with the public to ensure they display humility and respect for the people they serve.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said the Government continues to place “primary focus” on education, as a means of sustainable growth and continued development.
She said that within the guidelines of prudent, accountable financial management, the Government has ensured that funds are allocated to provide educational facilities and deliver water to several communities that were without the commodity, while also “doing as many roads as is possible.”
The seminar was organised by the OPM to ensure increased awareness of the Corporate Governance Framework, which seeks to promote effective systems of control and accountability and, responsible attitude on the part of those handling Government resources.
It also outlined the specific roles and responsibilities of boards of directors, accountable officers, and accounting officers, among other key officials involved in the running of agencies.
Participants were exposed to presentations on the Public Bodies Management Act, the Corporate Governance Framework, Performance Management, and the Audit Function as a Critical Tool of Corporate Governance, among other topics.
