Government of Montserrat Puts Outsourcing on Hold

The Honourable Premier Donaldson Romeo says the outsourcing of government’s cleaning services is being reviewed by the Office of the Deputy Governor.

He made the disclosure in Friday’s sitting of the Legislative Assembly, where the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report was debated.

Premier Romeo thanked the PAC under the chairmanship of the Honourable Leader of the Opposition, for its report, saying it was fair and reasonable.

He said improvements were needed, and hinted at the restructuring of the Cleaning Co-op.

Honourable Premier Donaldson Romeo

The Public Accounts Committee conducted the inquiry into the outsourcing of government cleaning service in May 2018, and submitted its report to the Legislative Assembly in December last year.

The PAC stated that it recognized the value of outsourcing to the private sector, but highlighted the lack of a clear and coherent Government policy.

It also calls for a review of the cleaning service to ensure it provides value for money.

In its response the government states that the future of the outsourcing of the cleaning service is being reviewed by the Office of the Deputy Governor.

The government also says it has no intention of outsourcing any more government services at this time.

Meantime, Honourable independent member of Parliament, Dr. Ingrid Buffonge, took the Government to task for its response to the PAC report.

Dr. Ingrid Buffonge.

And Honourble minister of agriculture David Osborne appealed to members of the Assembly not to make the PAC report a political issue.

Minister of agriculture David Osborne