KINGSTON, Jamaica — State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator Abka Fitz-Henley, says the decision to issue a moratorium on non-essential official overseas travel across the public service is among the first of several moves by Prime Minister Andrew Holness to increase efficiency and improve service delivery to Jamaicans.

In a statement, Fitz-Henley noted that on Thursday, Holness advised all government ministers of the moratorium, while Cabinet Secretary Audrey Sewell issued a similar advisory to permanent secretaries.

The moratorium extends to all non-essential official travel across the public service.

“The prime minister has for some time been sensitising the public to his intention to increase efficiency and productivity across Government. Therefore, the advisory concerning travel should come as no surprise. In fact, it is among the first of a number of steps that the prime minister will take towards ensuring the good functioning of Government and that an approach which reflects a more conservative and productive use of public resources is applied”, Fitz-Henley told the Observer Online.

He noted that Holness had a few years ago also put in place a quota on travel at the ministerial level but has moved to refine and expand the initiative to achieve greater efficiency.

Fitz-Henley said the occurrence of multiple, frequently recurring crises in Jamaica and the region, including external shocks and climate change, has intensified the need for more efficient output across Government.

“The fact is that one of the most significant accomplishments of the Holness administration has been keeping the economy relatively stable despite the occurrence of these multiple, frequently occurring crises, including COVID-19 and hurricanes Beryl and Melissa. However, as we seek to transition from stability to significant economic growth, Government has to first look within and implement actions to ensure more prudent and efficient use of resources. The moratorium on non-essential official travel should also be received in the aforementioned context, as it is part of the moves which the prime minister had previously intimated he intended to implement”, Fitz-Henley said.