Jordan Times
Sunday, October 31, 2004
Gov't to embark on 'quality,
structural changes' — PM
AMMAN (JT) — Prime Minister Faisal Fayez on Saturday said the government will
embark on “quality and structural changes” in its work and decision making
mechanisms, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
At the conclusion of the government's three-day retreat at the Dead Sea, Fayez
said Cabinet members will in one month set their ministries' priorities and
action plans — which will be included in the 2005 budget, according to Petra.
The premier added that higher productivity, accelerated development and better
economic welfare are key targets in the coming stage.
Petra said the ministers agreed that their plans to focus on investment, health,
human resources, tourism, culture, media, judicial reform and poverty
alleviation “are directly connected with improving citizens' living conditions.”
Fayez said certain measures will be coupled with the plans to ensure their full
implementation.
Chairing part of the retreat on Thursday, His Majesty King Abdullah told the
Cabinet that everyone should take part in the development and modernisation
process, which seeks to create jobs for citizens, alleviate poverty and increase
productivity.
Fayez said better coordination between ministries is essential, noting that the
four ministerial committees, formed last week, will play a key role in a well-organised
decision making process.
The four committees are:
1. The Committee on Public Sector Reform, to be headed by Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs and Government Performance
Marwan Muasher.
2. The Socio-Economic Development Committee, to be headed by Minister of
Planning and International Cooperation Bassem Awadallah.
3. The Human Resources Committee, to be headed by Minister of Education Khalid
Touqan.
4. The Legal Committee, to be headed by Minister of Justice Salah Bashir.
Last Sunday, Fayez made the first reshuffle since he took office a year ago. Ten
new ministers were sworn in.
Muasher now is in charge of overseeing government performance. The new ministry
was created to ensure government accountability with a preliminary mandate to
revamp the policy making body's administrative structure.