The Parastatal Monitoring Department (PMD) within the Office of the Prime Minister has fulfilled its mandate through a series of engagement meetings with key statutory bodies and state-owned enterprises over the past year.
These meetings are integral to ongoing efforts to reestablish the PMD’s presence among parastatals, solidify working relationships, and gain a comprehensive understanding of each entity’s mandate, governance structures, operational environment, and strategic priorities.
These engagements align with the Government’s overarching goal of enhancing coordination, accountability, and performance across public bodies.
In the last year, the PMD conducted rigorous discussions with several parastatals, including the Regulated Substance Authority, Millennial Heights Medical Complex, Belfund, Youth Economy Agency, Water and Sewerage Company (WASCO), National Skills Development Centre, Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards, and the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority.
These meetings facilitated open dialogue about institutional roles, service delivery, capacity needs, and pressing challenges, all while showcasing the entities’ commitment to strengthening systems, modernizing operations, and responding to national development priorities.
Additionally, the PMD utilized these engagements to evaluate compliance with governance and reporting requirements, pinpoint cross-cutting issues impacting parastatals, and emphasize the necessity of sound financial management, strategic planning, and transparency in the public sector.
Permanent Secretary in the Parastatal Monitoring Department, Ms. Josette Maxwell-Dalsou, highlighted the significance of these engagements, stating: “The Parastatal Monitoring Department’s engagement with statutory bodies and state-owned enterprises is a critical part of our mandate. These meetings serve not only as oversight but as a platform for building understanding, improving coordination, and supporting parastatals in delivering essential services aligned with national priorities.”
The Parastatal Monitoring Department is fully committed to maintaining engagement with statutory bodies to support effective oversight and informed decision-making within the Government of Saint Lucia. These interactions are vital to ensuring that parastatals are positioned to deliver high-quality services and make meaningful contributions to the country’s social and economic development.