Three sectors in for reform

GOVERNMENT is  conducting a thorough assessment of the Welfare Department, health care services, and the Ministry of Education to bring about reforms in these three sectors.Proposals on reforms system-wide, including the Barbados Drug Service, care of the elderly, medical professional registration and management, and acute care interventions, are also under consideration.This was disclosed yesterday by Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment, Urban and Rural Development Chris Sinckler, at the official opening of Chefette’s 14th restaurant, at Black Rock, St Michael.As he spoke of Chefette’s ability to rise and succeed in the face of many challenges, and the various measures undertaken by this restaurant to maintain its competitive edge, Sinckler said as Government looked at reforming the social sector services in Barbados, reforms implemented at the Urban Development Commission had seen the emergence of higher levels of efficiency and standards to the betterment of clients.“Currently, the technical experts are completing a similar proposal for the [Rural] Commission. We similarly deployed the National Productivity Council to conduct a thorough assessment of the Welfare Department, its governing legislation, structure and operations, with a view to making it more efficient, proactive and ultimately accountable to the clients it serves,” Sinckler stated.He said that in two weeks’ time the Cabinet Committee “will initiate the Cabinet level examination of the National Advisory Commission on Education (NACE) Report, which was recently submitted to the Minister of Education.“This holds with it certainly the potential to generate the significant reforms in the education sector of Barbados in a quarter century.“The Social Policy Committee is also considering fundamental reassessments in the provision of health care services, with a view to containing costs, improving patient care and increasing technological and human resource effectiveness.He disclosed that the committee had already dealt with proposed changes and improvements in labour legislation, including the idea of 24-hour workdays and minimum wage legislation.He said in his capacity as leader of Government business in the House of Assembly, he intended to have these and other legislative instruments brought to the House before the end of the current financial year.