I would like to suggest that in the interest of transparency, public sector companies present reports similar to their private sector counterparts that are publicly listed companies on the stock exchange. These reports would include the following:

1. Annual budgets indicating their plans, investments, expenditures and income for each year;

2. Quarterly reports setting out their achievements, income, expenditure and balance sheets for the quarter and plans and key projections for the next quarter.

Reports to be made public

With regard to government ministries and other public sector agencies, similar annual and quarterly reports should also be made public.

One concern which is likely to be raised will be the cost to publish these in the newspapers. This however can be avoided by having a website dedicated to this information or make it a part of the Jamaica Information Service's website and have the organisations put the information on their own websites where these exist.

I believe that with the transparency which the above simple annual and quarterly reports would provide, every Jamaican would feel far more comfortable, knowing what our investments in the public sector are achieving.

I am, etc.,

ROBERT STEPHENS

Pragma Consultants Ltd

bspragma@hotmail.com