Highlights

Gov’t launches online gateway to information, services
Prime Minister, Andrew Holness (second right), laughs at a joke made by Science, Energy and Technology Minister Dr Andrew Wheatley (right) at the official launch of the GOV.JM web portal at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kingston. Others (from left) are Chairman of the eGov Jamaica Limited Board, Dr Lloyd Waller; and Principal Director of the Public Sector Transformation and Modernisation Division in the Cabinet Office Wayne Robertson.

GOVERNMENT on Wednesday launched its E-Portal, an online gateway to all government information and services. The portal — GOV.JM — is expected to be the central place to perform online transactions with the government, find

Online portal to fast-track applications for development permits
Principal Director of the Public Sector Modernisation Programmme, Office of the Cabinet, Wayne Robertson.

A Development Applications Review Process (DARP) Public Portal 11 has been created to improve the process of application for environmental and construction permits. It is part of the Application Management and Data Automation (AMANDA) system

Gov’t Committed To World-Class Customer Service Delivery
Public Sector Transformation and Modernisation Division Director General, Veniece Pottinger-Scott.

Amidst complaints about less-than-desirable public-service delivery, the Government of Jamaica is pushing ahead to achieve world-class customer service through the more than 200 public-sector institutions islandwide. This is consistent with one of the Vision 2030

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COVID-19 Presents Opportunity for Public Sector to Become More Innovative

Director General, Public Sector Transformation and Modernisation, Office of the Cabinet, Veniece Pottinger Scott, says the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic can be seen as an avenue for the public sector to retool and become more efficient

25 New MDAs ready for RIM Implementation

The Government’s Records and Information Management (RIM) programme is to be rolled out in 25 additional ministries, department and agencies (MDAs), which will comprise the third cohort under the engagement. This was announced by Minister

Report on Public Sector Boards and Committees Approved by Cabinet

Report as at 31 August 2020 This report covers appointments to 310 Public Sector Boards, Committees, Councils, Commissions, Authorities, Panels, Appeal Tribunals approved by Cabinet up to 31 August 2020.

The Cabinet Secretary is the most senior policy adviser in the civil service. He is secretary to the cabinet, responsible to all ministers for the running of Cabinet and is also the head of the civil service.
As Secretary to the Cabinet he provides support and advice to the government and oversees the provision of policy and secretariat support to Cabinet and Cabinet Committees. He organises the minutes of the Cabinet and conveys decisions of the Cabinet.

As Head of the Public Service, he is responsible for developing a highly professional public service able to effectively execute government business.

As Head of the Permanent Secretaries Board, he is responsible for guiding the execution of Ministry plans that align with government’s priorities.

Biography

Ambassador Douglas Saunders became Cabinet secretary in 2008.

Education

Ambassador Saunders graduated Jamaica College in 1967. He graduated the University of the West Indies in 1972 holding a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Management Studies. He is also the holder of certification in diplomacy from Oxford University and is a Pope Paul VI Scholar of St. John’s University in New York where he earned a Masters Degree in Government and Politics, majoring in International Relations in 1981.

Career

He begun public service career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade and served in different capacities over thirty years;

  • Counsellor (Economic Affairs) at the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York;
  • Deputy Director of Foreign Trade; Deputy High Commissioner in London to Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Spain and Portugal; Director of European Affairs;
  • Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Cuba, the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, the Republic of France, Ireland as well as High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa.

In 2002, he was appointed Permanent Secretary.