An institutional review of planning budgeting and monitoring in the Caribbean: Challenges of transformation
International Journal of Public Sector Management
ISSN: 0951-3558
Article publication date: 26 January 2010
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present an institutional overview of the budgeting systems that are employed during three major periods: pre‐1960s, post‐1960s and 1990s to present New Public Management (NPM budgeting) in five Caribbean countries: Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Belize, Guyana and Jamaica.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper looks at the budgeting systems that are employed during the period of colonial rule, when the countries attained independence and the budget system that is presently employed. It relies heavily on the financial regulations to explain the procedures that are employed in budgeting during the pre‐independence period.
Findings
It suggests that while the budgeting systems during the pre‐1960s may have been effective, given the scope and functions of government at that period, as countries attained independence the systems would have been found to be inadequate to meet the needs of the country since the scope and size of public sector activities would have increased considerably. The paper then examines the attempt by the various countries, during the 1980s and 1990s, as they attempted to introduce New Financial Management Initiatives as one aspect of the move towards NPM. While a number of these countries attempted to introduce the foundation on which to introduce the initiative, however, it is found that there are a number of challenges in introducing these changes. The paper accordingly examines some of these challenges.
Originality/value
This paper is to date the only attempt to assess budgeting in Caribbean territories.
Keywords
Citation
Bissessar, A.M. (2010), "An institutional review of planning budgeting and monitoring in the Caribbean: Challenges of transformation", International Journal of Public Sector Management, Vol. 23 No. 1, pp. 22-37. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513551011012303
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2010, Emerald Group Publishing Limited