Public Sector Leading Productivity Improvement Drive

Contact: Rose Marie Harris

Friday, August 31, 2001 -The establishment of a sustained productivity culture here on the island has been singled out as the underlining factor behind a 12-month long series of seminars aimed at improving productivity across both the public and private sectors.

Organized by the Ministry of the Public Service, and funded by the Office of Private Sector Relations (OPSR), the activity brought together key stakeholders such as employers, employees, and trade unions, who examined developing trends affecting worker productivity, against the backdrop of increased competition and the phenomena of globalisation. 

“In case anyone was doubtful as to the impact of global competition on St. Lucia, the recent developments in our banana, poultry and copra industries should serve as powerful indicators of the realities around us. Recognising the situation facing us, we must attempt to place ourselves in a position not only to withstand the competition, but to be in a position where we can be seen as a credible competitor. If we are to be seen as serious competitors in the business of tradable goods and services then we must be able to produce at a desired quantity, quality and standard level,” said Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of the Public Service, Wilbert King, on Friday, at a one-day consultation that brought the curtains down on the series of seminars.

King said both public and private sectors organizations now need to look inward, in order to identify methods and strategies that would enhance the island’s capacity at producing goods and services more efficiently, competitively and at the highest quality.

 “What is interesting with regard to the experience that our poultry farmers are going through right now is the fact that we have lost control basically of our economic sovereignty and because of our commitments to certain international trading arrangements, as was the case with bananas we now have the situation with the GATT. The biggest provider of services in countries like ours happen to be the state and if we’re not efficient in the production of services at the level of the public service, what it would do is to reinforce those hawks in the international financial institutions who would like to see all what that is currently being done by the state being (handed) over to the private sector,” the Senior Public Service Official ended.

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