3 May 2007

Cooks reviews public works provision

7:09 pm on 3 May 2007

The Public Service Commissioner in the Cook Islands says he hopes a review of the Ministry of Works can ascertain what core functions of the ministry should be maintained by government, and what could possibly be commercialised.

The Public Service Commissioner, Navy Epati, says a decision on who will carry out the review is expected to be made this week, with six companies, four local and two from New Zealand, having expressed interest.

Mr Epati says having some parts of the ministry privatised is in line with global thinking as well as the country's own public sector reform philosophy.

"It'll be good to see those areas of the ministry that can be and should be privatised, be privatised. And those areas in the interests of the public to manage then that remains. But yet, there needs to be a clear identification of what needs to stay and what needs to go."

Navy Epati says the Ministry of Works review should take no longer than four to six weeks.