Statement from the Office of the Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo

Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo today convened a meeting with a number of Ministers, as well as all Permanent Secretaries, Regional Executive Officers, accounting officers of key semi-autonomous agencies, and other officials at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. 

The meeting focused on a number of measures aimed at improving management in the ministries, regions, and other public sector agencies, with special focus on accountability and transparency, including in relation to procurement transactions, government payment systems, and information dissemination with the public, in order to ensure more effective delivery of government programmes.

At the meeting, Vice President Jagdeo emphasised the important role of the Permanent Secretaries and Regional Executive Officers in ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations while ensuring sound and efficient management of the public resources allocated and entrusted to their respective ministries, regions, and agencies.

The meeting also discussed a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening the tracking of compliance, including with procurement and payment systems. The Permanent Secretaries, Regional Executive Officers, and other accounting officers were also cautioned that breaches and violations would lead to consequences for those responsible. 

Vice President Jagdeo reiterated to all gathered the People’s Progressive Party/Civic government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring effective delivery of government services including with the use of modern technology, in the interest of ensuring that citizens enjoy a better experience when interacting with state institutions, receive better quality public services, and ultimately realise a better quality of life.