Cayman government services under scrutiny

Responding to media reports that a self-review would be ineffective, the Deputy Governor said members of the project team were carefully selected and includes personnel from the Internal Audit Unit who have experience and training in auditing the performa

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, December 7, 2009 - Services provided by government companies and statutory authorities in the Cayman Islands are coming under inspection in fulfillment of promises the administration made to secure money from the United Kingdom government.

The country’s prison, Department of Tourism, Public Works and Cayman Islands National Insurance Company (CINICO) will be the first four to go under the microscope at the middle of this month, in a comprehensive public service review led by members of the civil service.

The review is being done as part of an agreement between the government of the British Overseas Territory and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office following the UK's approval of Cayman's borrowing request earlier this year. In September, the UK granted permission for the government to borrow up to $229 million of the $372 million it had asked for, on the grounds that it makes cuts and broadens the country’s revenue base.

“Government should be continually improving the way it does business. However, in these economic times of rising costs and diminishing revenues we need to critically examine all the services we provide for the public and ask fundamental questions,” said Deputy Governor Donovan Ebanks.

"In essence, the reviewers will explore whether a service should be discontinued, outsourced or should stay within government, but delivered more efficiently.”

The review is central to government's effort to reduce public expenditure, and Ebanks said he hoped to have it completed well before the end this financial year.

Responding to media reports that a self-review would be ineffective, the Deputy Governor said members of the project team were carefully selected and includes personnel from the Internal Audit Unit who have experience and training in auditing the performance of government departments. Moreover, he said, private sector individuals have also been invited to be part of the review.

"I believe that together we have the talent and energy in the Cayman Islands to drive this review without having to rely heavily on foreign consultants that will only add costs," Ebanks said.