Establishment of a Public Sector Inspectorate Unit at the Cabinet Secretariat, Office of the Prime Minister

The Cabinet Committee on Efficiency in the Public Sector, which ischaired by the Prime Minister, has set up a Public Sector Inspectorate Unitwhich will report to it through the Cabinet Secretariat. The Inspectorate Unitis intended to further inculcate a professional work ethic and to reinforce theprinciples of discipline and productivity within the Public Sector. Theprincipal terms of reference of the Inspectorate Unit are to carry out:

01. Field inspections in all Public Sector organisations to assessattendance, sick leave, use of overtime, use of materials and equipment andother appropriate physical activities; and

02. Value for money inspections with respect to productivity,quality of output provided, cost, service delivery and other related activities.

The Inspectorate Unit will, following the conclusion of eachinspection, forward formal reports to respective Permanent Secretaries, whowill then undertake action as necessary. Permanent Secretaries will reportregularly to the Cabinet Committee on action taken.

The Inspectorate Unit will, in essence, complement line managementin engendering efficiency and productivity and thus it will not supplant workcarried out by internal structures resident within the respective Ministriessuch as the internal audit or inspectorate functions.

Line management authority within the Public Service will in factbe further strenghtened in the immediate future by means of delegatingauthority to Heads of Departments for the undertaking of disciplinary action.

The Inspectorate Unit is scheduled to startoperations immediately. Its programme of works will be carried out duringnormal working hours as well as at night, on weekends, and during publicholidays as appropriate.