Recommendations from the Sage commission have not fallen by the wayside, according to Michael Dunkley.

In a statement this afternoon, the premier said that the results of the report were being used to drive the public service reform initiative, intended to make the Bermuda Government operate more efficiently.

“We have been actively working within Government to realise some significant objectives and I am encouraged by the work we have done thus far,” he said. “The government is working to reform the public service and the public should be aware that considerable energy and resources have been devoted to this initiative.”

The 140-page Sage (Spending and Government Efficiency) report, tabled in 2013, was intended to provide recommendations on how to create a more efficient and accountable government.

Mr Dunkley said that several recommendations from the report, such as a revised ministerial code of conduct, the retention of an independent body to negotiate with unions and a review of “duplicate, redundant and inappropriate functions” of government by the Management Consultancy Services unit, were leading to organisational changes in government.

“The aim of the overall public service reform initiative is to create greater operational efficiencies and to reduce costs,” Mr Dunkley said. “Through the utilisation of the working groups we are able to have the broadest consultation with stakeholders, while maintaining disciplined policy development processes. We are also able to measure results.”

The premier also stated that several other initiatives were under way, including the work to ensure a sustainable pension programme.

“The Pensions and Benefits Working Group has considered a substantive review of the Contributory Pension Fund, Public Service Superannuation Fund and the Government Health Insurance Plan; proposed amendments to the Pension Increase Act 1972 with respect to the cost of living increase; and advanced recommended premium increases related to the Government Health Insurance Plan.

Further initiatives include organisational structure changes in accordance with the Public Bodies Reform Working Group, the development of a fiscal asset management plan, a greater digitisation of government services and “harmonising” the government’s human resources infrastructure.

In total, five working groups have been tasked with implementing “strategic actions to achieve specific objectives” in accordance to recommendations from the report.