EPOC to utilise more reporting channels
KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — The new iteration of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) will be diversifying its channels of reporting to the public to include social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Co-Chair, Keith Duncan, said the platforms will be used to educate Jamaicans on the range of terms used when referencing Jamaica’s economic programme under the precautionary standby agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“[For example], what does a primary surplus mean; what does fiscal space mean; what do all these terms mean to you as Jamaicans in your daily life. We want to break it down so that Jamaicans can really have an ownership of this plan, and to see that if we are to be able to execute and to deliver on this plan, Jamaica will be in a much better place,” Duncan said.
He was addressing a press briefing at the Sagicor Life Building in New Kingston on Tuesday.
On November 21, the Government signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with EPOC to continue oversight of fiscal, monetary and financial sector indicators underpinning the standby agreement, which was also signed with the IMF last month.
“We look forward to really working with every Jamaican, educating and engaging them, and ensuring that they understand the plan, that they can own the plan and see themselves in the plan and why it will work for Jamaica, and what it will mean for Jamaica at the end of the day,” Mr. Duncan said.
Meanwhile, the Co-Chair noted that EPOC will be working closely with the Economic Growth Council (EGC) and the Public Sector Transformation Oversight Committee (PSTOC) to coordinate reporting to the public.
He said meetings have been held with the Chairmen of the EGC and PSTOC, and mechanisms are being developed to ensure that reporting on Jamaica’s macroeconomic performance is combined, objective and comprehensive.
The committees will all report quarterly within a three-week period, Mr. Duncan said. “All reports should give Jamaica a full and comprehensive understanding of where we are as an economy,” he added.
