Increased monitoring led to more effective implementation – Harmon

Govt projects

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, has said that increased monitoring of the Public Sector Improvement Programme (PSIP) during the latter part of 2017 has resulted in the effective disbursement of funds and better project management.
The Public Sector Improvement Programme is the main mechanism for spending in the Government’s capital programme. It is the budgeting and strategic planning tool available to translate the administration’s policies and plans into tangible projects and programmes.
According to Harmon, significant sums of money have been allocated under the project in 2015, 2016 and parts of 2017, but those sums have not been effectively utilized.
“Several contracts had been poorly administered and involved overruns in some

cases. It was decided, therefore, that Cabinet would hold monthly statutory meetings with Permanent Secretaries to ensure efficient and effective disbursement of PSIP funds, and to monitor such spending. Cabinet also resolved to institute whatever measures were necessary to ensure that contracts awarded under the PSIP will be executed in the time-frame specified, and that appropriate penalties would be applied for default,” Harmon noted.
The Minister of State explained that during the recently concluded meeting with the Permanent Secretaries and technical officers involved, there was a review of spending for 2017 and crafting of work plans for 2018. He also highlighted issues that affected the efficient and timely spending of PSIP funds. The review of spending for 2017 included an overall analysis of the PSIP, overturn for the fiscal year (2017), project execution rates at the half year 2017, and the PSIP expenditure by the month end of 2018. As a result of that, he noted, procurement plans for 2018 have been prepared for the relevant agencies, as have formats for reporting and analysis.
“Also highlighted for effective short-term spending were the following prioritizing disbursements for small non-technical projects while planning for large technical contracts; compulsory training for relevant staff; institutional strengthening, and improved working relations between the relevant agencies,” he added.
It was also noted that there have been improvements in the performance of the various Ministries, for which the Permanent Secretaries were commended. This improvement was credited to the introduction of monthly statutory meetings with Permanent Secretaries and technical officers from the Ministry of Finance, to ensure efficient disbursement of PSIP funds.
Projects and programmes under the PSIP represent investments in the country’s economic and social infrastructure. They are also designed to improve the standard of living of the citizens, and provide the foundation for economic growth and human development.
As the capital expenditure component of the National Budget, the PSIP is focused on projects and programmes that would achieve sustainable development.