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The Office of the Prime Minister is responsible for the coordination
of all government policies and strategies, as well as the
various ministries, departments and agencies responsible for
the implementation of these policies. Many of this ministry's
functions are carried out by the following agencies:
The Cabinet Office
The Jamaica
Information Service
The Urban
Development Corporation
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The Ministry of Commerce, Science and Technology’s major
role is to promote business development and job creation, through
the establishment of an appropriate legal and regulatory framework.
This includes the provision of factory space and the liberalisation
and promotion of the commercial, telecommunications, as well
as information technology sectors. Many of this ministry's functions
are carried out by the following agencies:
Consumer
Affairs Commission
Office of Utilities Regulation
Office
of the Registrar of Companies
Jamaica Bureau of Standards
Jamaica Fair
Trading Commission
Scientific
Research Council
The Petroleum
Corporation of Jamaica |
The Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for the conceptualisation
and implementation of government’s agriculture policy.
This includes the provision of extension services and research
capabilities, the results of which are passed on to the members
of the agricultural sector. |
The role of the Ministry of Health is to develop and implement
government’s health policies and strategies, which is
to provide affordable health care to as many people as possible.
The ministry also has the responsibility to regulate the sector,
while ensuring that its manpower needs met.
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The role of the ministry of finance is to conceptualise, develop
and implement prudent macro economic policies and strategies
in conjunction with the multilateral agencies . The ministry
is also responsible for the establishment of an appropriate
legal and regulatory framework, in order to safeguard the integrity
of country’s financial system.
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The ministry of Education, Youth and Culture’s main responsibility
is to develop and implement an education policy, which will
produce a confident, competent and enterprising work force,
capable of functioning efficiently in the global economy.
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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade is responsible
for the management of Jamaica’s international relations
and the promotion, as well as protection of its interests overseas.
This includes the formulation and implementation of foreign
and foreign trade policies, in order to contribute to the country’s
social, economic and cultural development.
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The mandate of the Ministry of Land and the Environment is to
implement government’s land settlement policies. This
includes the clarification and regularisation of land ownership
of some 400, 000 property owners, while protecting the environment.
Some of this ministry's functions are carried out by the National
Environment and Planning Agency |
The role of the Ministry of Labour and Social security is primarily
to ensure that the country maintains a stable industrial climate,
which is conducive to increased investments, productivity and
employment. It is also responsible for the implementation of
the process of labour market reform and the management of public
sector pension funds.
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The mandate of this ministry is to renew the country’s
inner cities by improving the housing, road, sewerage and intellectual
infrastructure. It is also responsible for the control of urbanisation
and local government reform. Many of this ministry's functions
are carried out by the Social
Development Commission |
The Ministry of Transport and Works implements the government’s
transportation policy, the objective of which is to maintain
a safe, reliable and efficient land, air and sea transportation
system. The ministry is also responsible for the regulation
of the system, as well as the maintenance and development of
its infrastructure.
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This ministry has the responsibility to ensure that the country
has an adequate, safe and reliable supply of potable water.
It is also mandated to provide affordable housing solutions
to the population. Many of this ministry's functions are carried
out by the following agencies:
National
Water Commission
Water
Resources Authority
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The major role of the Ministry of National Security is to
develop and successfully implement government’s policies
and strategies to maintain law and order, as well as national
security. The ministry is also responsible for ensuring that
the security forces are properly trained, funded and equipped,
in order to achieve this objective. Several of the functions
of this ministry are carried out by:
The
Jamaica Constabulary Force and
The Jamaica
Defence Force
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The Bank of Jamaica’s mandate is to maintain price and
exchange rate stability, as well as the integrity of the financial
system. The prudent monetary policies which have been pursued
by the bank have resulted in the country recording six consecutive
years of single digit inflation since 1995. This, as well as
the bank’s skillful management of the country’s
recent financial sector crisis, has significantly enhanced its
credibility with the multilateral, and international ratings
agencies, which advise the private capital market.
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The role of the Ministry of Industry and Tourism is to implement
government policies aimed at maximising the country’s
investment, employment, revenue and foreign exchange earnings
potential from the industrial and tourism sectors.
The
Jamaica Tourist Board |
The role of this company is to develop and improve the tourism
product to position Jamaica as a preferred destination and to
ensure that tourism is sustained as a major contributor to the
development of the economy. |
The Bureau of Standards is the country’s product certification
agency. It ensures that local as well as imported products meet
the appropriate international safety standards. Products, which
are in compliance with these standards, are given the Bureau’s
certification mark.
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The Cabinet Office, which is headed by the Cabinet Secretary,
is responsible for the co-ordination, follow-up and implementation
of Cabinet decisions by the relevant ministries and public sector
companies/ agencies. The Cabinet Secretary is also head of the
public service and he is therefore mandated to improve its efficiency
through the conversion of some departments into executive agencies.
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The Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica was established under the
Coffee Regulation Act of 1948. Its main functions are the cultivation,
manufacture, purchase and sale of coffee beans and other coffee
products. The Board also grants licenses to companies, associations
and individuals to produce coffee, while providing marketing
and technical assistance.
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Jamaica’s Consul General in New York provides effective
consular services, including the issuance of passports and visas
to Jamaican nationals, resident in the United States. The Consul
General in New York also assists Jamaicans who are in distress
in that country, as well as in matters affecting the welfare
of family members in Jamaica.
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The National Water Commission is a statutory body, which seeks
to efficiently distribute potable water to the all people of
Jamaica. The NWC also collects, treats and dispose of wastewater
at the lowest possible cost, consistent with its long-term viability.
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The mission of National Council on Education is to promote consensus
in education policies in order to support the nation’s
pursuit of a coherent and consistent education system. |
The mission of the National Council on Science and Technology
is to make science and technology an integral part of Jamaica’s
culture, in order to play a substantive role in the nation’s
social and economic development. |
The main functions of the Planning Institute of Jamaica is to
initiate and coordinate plans, programmes and policies for the
economic, financial, social, cultural and physical development
of Jamaica. The PIOJ also conducts research on national developmental
issues, while providing technical support to the cabinet.
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The role of the Office of Utilities Regulation is to protect
consumers from exploitation and abuse by country’s utility
companies, which operate in a less than competitive market.
The O.U.R also seeks to improve public awareness about utility
issues, as well as about itself, in the exercise of this mandate.
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The National Housing Trust was incorporated in 1975 under the
National Housing Trust Act to improve the country’s supply
of affordable housing units. The NHT also promotes housing projects
approved by its portfolio ministry, while making loans available
to contributors to purchase, build, maintain, improve and repair
their homes. |
