( L - R ) Innerarity, Bartlett

EASTERN ST Andrew Member of Parliament (MP) St Aubyn Bartlett has called for the amalgamation of a number of boards overseeing agencies in the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports.

His recommendation resonated with Faith Innerarity, permanent secretary in the ministry.

Bartlett, who raised the issue during a meeting of Parliament's Public Administration and Appro-priations Committee Wednesday, also received support from other members of the committee.

Single board needed

The Government MP told technocrats from a number of agencies in the ministry that a single board could direct the affairs of the entities.

Heads of a number of entities in the ministry who made presentations to the committee spoke of inadequate budgets to carry out the full mandate of the departments.

Bartlett argued that the oversized agencies should be trimmed and resources redirected to carry out necessary projects.

"The cry here from SDC (Social Development Commission), 'we don't have funds, the cry from IPL, 'we don't have funds,' but yet we have a great staff that we are paying, and experts, we are paying them," he said.

Bartlett further contended, "We have these boards that meet, and the chairman of the board gets so much money, and the members of the board get so much money, and a lot of money is used just for the administration of these things."

Single managing entity

With the rationalisation of the public sector under way, Bartlett questioned whether the ministry should not be seeking to establish a single entity to manage these agencies.

Responding, Innerarity said: "I was wondering whether Dr Bartlett was using spyware in terms of our proposals which we have completed this week with respect to the restructuring."

According to the permanent secretary, portfolio minister Olivia 'Babsy' Grange has proposed the establishment of a sports development commission. This would represent an umbrella body "under which the various elements, in respect of the sport institutions, could operate," Innerarity said.

She told the committee that the Institute of Sports, Sports Development Foundation and Independence Park Limited would fall under this body.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com

Greta Bogues (left), general manager of Wray and Nephew Ltd, converses with Doreen Frankson, a past president of the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association, at the gate of the spirits company's warehouse which was destroyed by fire Tuesday night. Wray and Nephew said the blaze would not affect its ability to supply liquor for the holidays. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer