Newsletter of the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration December 2010 Volume 5 Issue 3

T he Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD) will hold the thirtieth

Meeting of its Board of Directors as the institution continues to celebrate 30 years of service to the region. The Board Meeting will be held at the Fort Young Hotel in the Commonwealth of Dominica, December 1-3, 2010. In addition to the Meeting of the Board of Directors, CARICAD will host a public lecture on the theme: “Regional Integration; Priority Issues and Implications for Public Sector Transformation.” The purpose of the lecture is to promote Public Sector Transformation as

an important component of regional integration. It will be delivered by a distinguished Caribbean academic, former Prime Minister of Saint Lucia and former Director General of the OECS Secretariat, Dr. Vaughan Lewis. CARICAD remains committed to advancing Public Sector Transformation on the regional agenda. In this regard, it will build on the foundation of excellence that has been established in its 30 years of existence and continue to work with national public sectors to improve their managerial performance and strengthen their systems of public administration.

Board of Directors Meets as CARICAD Celebrates 30 Year Milestone

Pictured above (l-r): Members of the Management Sub-Committee of CARICAD’s Board of Directors - Ms. Jennifer Astaphan, CARICAD’s Executive Director, Mr. Michael Archer, Director of the Office of Public Sector Reform-Barbados, Ms. Irma Edwards, Chief Personnel Officer in the Personnel

and Training Department-Dominica (CARICAD’s New Chairperson) and Mr. Charles Gibson, Chief Establishment Officer in the Ministry of Public Service, Governance, Improvement and Elections and Boundaries-Belize.

Executive Director’s Holiday Message ………………………………….2

CARICAD Conducts Training for Immigration Officials ………….3

CARICAD Participates in Knowledge Management

Workshop in Shanghai, China ……………………………………………...4

Implementation of the Regime for the Free Movement

of CARICOM Nationals: Issues and Challenges……………………..5

ICT Strategic Planning in the Caribbean Parliaments Project...6

CCSI Evolves into Foundation.................................................7

Caribbean Christmas Treats ...................................................8

Inside this Issue:

Season’s Greetings

From CARICAD’s Board of Directors and Staff

P A G E 2

Executive Director’s Holiday Message

T his year has been very significant for CARICAD as the institution celebrates 30 years of service to the

Caribbean region. Indeed, we are grateful that during our 30 years of existence, we have been able to live up to our mandate to assist member states in improving their managerial performance and strengthening their systems of public administrations. I am satisfied that through our commitment to excellence and by collaborating with our strategic partners, CARICAD was able to have a highly successful and rewarding year. We were able to undertake assignments in the vast majority of our member states. Additionally, we produced a 30th Anniversary Magazine, increased the production and dissemination of CARICAD’s publications, hosted the Second Regional

Conference for Public Service Commissions in the Region and conducted training for Immigration Officers at the regional and national levels. Indeed, we look forward to improving our efforts in 2011 as we aim to be even more responsive, effective, efficient and innovative in the services we provide to the Region. As is our tradition, we wish you a very happy holiday season and an incoming year filled with peace, joy, productivity and prosperity. The New Year looks like an exciting one for CARICAD as we strive to continue serving our member states.

Jennifer Astaphan

Executive Director, CARICAD

Pictured above: The Executive Director and most members of staff at CARICAD.

P A G E 3

I n June 2008, the Sixth Meeting of Council of Ministers responsible for National Security and Law

Enforcement approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide training for border officials. In July 2008, that MOU was signed between the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD) and the CARICOM Implementing Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS). The MOU provides a framework for the development and implementation of a comprehensive human resource development programme for Immigration and Customs Officials within CARICOM States. The programme is geared towards the harmonization and standardization of the policies, practices and procedures utilized by border security officials. Additionally, training is provided to promote a better understanding of the issues pertaining to border security management. In keeping with the mandates under the MOU, CARICAD in collaboration with IMPACS, conducted three regional training programmes for Immigration Officials. The first training programme was conducted in Jamaica in 2009 and the second and third training programmes were conducted in Trinidad and Tobago in 2010. At least 10 member states were represented at each training programme.

The primary objective of the regional programmes is to improve the level of service delivery while securing regional borders. More than 50 Immigration Officials have been trained to date. In addition, five national training programmes were conducted in: Grenada, Guyana, Dominica, Saint Lucia and St. Kitts and Nevis. These national training programmes were specifically designed to:

Improve the knowledge and understanding of the officers regarding the legal and administrative arrangements for the Free Movement of People within CARICOM Emphasize the critical role Immigration Officers are required to play in securing regional borders Clarify the roles and functions of national Immigration services with regard to CSME and National Security Expose Immigration Officers to the fundamentals of fraud and imposter detection Provide guidelines for the detection of counterfeit documents

A total of one hundred and fifty-eight officers were trained from the five Member States. Funding for all training was provided by the British Department for International Development (DFID) under a project with CARICAD, designed to support regional integration.

CARICAD Conducts Training for Immigration Officials

Pictured above: CARICAD and IMPACS Officials with the participants of the Third Regional Border Management Training

Programme, held in Trinidad and Tobago, November 15-19, 2010.

Continued on page 4

From left: Mr. Herman Browne, Immigration Consultant at the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS),

Ms. Yolande Deleon, Research Administrator at IMPACS, Mr. Oliver Joseph, CARICAD’s CSME Coordinator and Mr. Franklyn Michael, CARICAD’s Programme Officer, discuss

CARICAD’s partnership with IMPACS to continue training for Immigration and Custom Officials in the Region.

P A G E 4

Based on the evaluation from officers, the training was very timely and relevant. Officers now have a better understanding of the procedures for Free Movement of CARICOM Nationals. At the closing ceremony for the training programme in Saint Lucia, the Minister of Home Affairs and National Security, Senator the Hon. Guy Mayers, said that his government welcomed the training provided by CARICAD and IMPACS and looked forward to future training that will enhance the skills, knowledge and competence of immigration officers.

Source: Oliver Joseph, CSME Coordinator

CARICAD Participates in Knowledge Management Workshop in Shanghai, China

CARICAD Conducts Training for Immigration Officials ...continued from page 3

Pictured above: Minister of Home Affairs and National Security, Senator the Hon. Guy Mayers, presents a participant with a Certificate of

Participation in the National Training Programme, held for Immigration Officials in Saint Lucia.

T he United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs-Department of Public

Administration, (UNDESA/DPAM) facilitated CARICAD’s participation at a workshop entitled: “Harnessing Knowledge Management through Web 2.0 Tools in the Era of Government 2.0”. The workshop was held in Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, from September 25-28, 2010. CARICAD was represented by eGovernment Advisor, Mr. Andre Griffith and UNPAN ‘s Focal Point, Ms. Cynthia Bleau.

Representatives for the UNPAN Training Course spanned five continents: Asia, Africa, North America, Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean. The workshop exposed UNPAN partners (including CARICAD) to new tools for knowledge sharing in public administration. In addition, participants shared their experiences, lessons learnt and best practices from their countries and regions with respect to Knowledge Management. They also discussed using ICT tools to improve Knowledge Management and increase their ability to impact local and regional development for t h e a c h i e v e m e n t o f t h e M D G s . It was noted that UNPAN is at the very top of online rankings in public administration due to the continual contribution, by partners, of up-to-date information related to public administration. Since the workshop, CARICAD has increased its use of and contribution to the global public administration portal and is actively seeking partnerships in the region for knowledge sharing. In part, through our partnership with UNPAN, CARICAD is the number one website out of 2.2 million (returned from a Google search) using the terms "public administration" and "Caribbean". Our aim is to maintain this position and to leverage it by providing timely, up-to-date information regarding public administration in the Caribbean Region.

Pictured above (l-r): Mr. Denis Suzar, Governance and Public Administration Officer of the Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM), Ms. Cynthia Bleau, UNPAN’s Focal Point, Ms. Haiyan Qian, DPADM’s Director, Mr. Andre Griffith, CARICAD’s eGovernment Adviser and Ms. Candace Hosang from the UNPAN Management Unit at the UNPAN Workshop on Knowledge

Management held in Shanghai, China.

Source: Andre Griffith and Cynthia Bleau

P A G E 5

Implementation of the Regime for the Free Movement of CARICOM Nationals: Issues and Challenges

T he Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas establishing the Caribbean Community including the CARICOM

Single Market and Economy (CSME) was signed by Heads of Government on July 5th, 2001. However, the CMSE became a legal entity on January 1st, 2006. Twelve member states of CARICOM committed to the Free Movement of People. These are: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. The right to Free Movement means that a qualified CARICOM national can live and work in any CARICOM state that participates in the Free Movement regime without the need for a work permit. The Free Movement of Community Nationals is the most critical element to the successful implementation of the CSME. In this regard, CSME member states are required to establish appropriate legislative, administrative and procedural arrangements to facilitate Free Movement of Persons including skilled nationals. CARICOM Heads of Government have agreed to ten

(10) categories of workers that qualify for free movement. These include: University Graduates, Media Workers, Sportspersons, Artistes, Musicians, Professional Nurses, Qualified Teachers, Artisans with a Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ), Holders of Associate Degrees or equivalent qualifications such as two CAPE or ”A” Level subjects and National Technician Certificates and Household Domestics with a Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQ) or equivalent qualification. However, member states have not achieved full legislative compliance for all approved categories of Community Nationals. The “Appraisal Report on the State of Implementation of the CSME” found that the required processes and instrumentalities are not sufficiently developed and streamlined. As a consequence, some have not become an established part of the governmental system and this does not facilitate effective continuous/orderly operation of the CSM. There are still many gaps in the regulatory arrangements, in respect of the required infrastructure, and the capacities which are needed to give full effect to the CSME.

Participants at CARICAD’s seminar on Regional Integration and Public Sector Modernisation and Transformation held at the CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana.

Continued on page 6

P A G E 6

In order to realize the full potential of the Single Market, Member States need to implement all of the decisions taken by the Heads of Government. Some States are more advanced than others with respect to the legal and administrative arrangements for Free Movement. This situation has led to differential treatment at the border in certain Member States. CARICOM Nationals are not able to enjoy the rights and the appropriate treatment which are prescribed under the Revised Treaty. The Conferences of Heads of Government in July, 2007 agreed that: “All CARICOM Nationals should receive entry of six months upon arrival in a Member State in order to enhance their sense that they belong to and can move in the Caribbean Community, subject to the right of Member States to refuse undesirable persons entry and to prevent persons from becoming a Charge on public funds.” One of the biggest challenges facing the implementation of the CSME is the failure of Member States to honor obligations. Arrangements need to be put in place to:

Implement the decisions of the Conference for six months entry for all CARICOM Nationals

Introduce the single certificate system

Implement the decision to allow skilled nationals to work during the six-month period

Implement the post-entry verification procedures for Skills Certificates

Amend the Caribbean Community Skilled Nationals Act to provide for new eligible categories as

decided by the Conference of Heads of Government. Some CARICOM nationals continue to express skepticism, apprehension and frustration about the implementation of the CSME and the benefits that can be obtained. Several complaints were received by CARICAD and the CSME Unit with respect to the treatment of CARICOM Nationals at the border by immigration officials. In some instances entry was denied. CARICAD is working with member states to build capacity in the public sector to implement the administrative procedures for the Free Movement of People Member States are expected to take the necessary legislative measures to ensure consistency and compliance with provisions of the Revised Treaty. Introducing legislation and administrative procedures alone will not guarantee the rights of CARICOM Nationals, what is needed is a change in attitudes. Nationalism is still strong in CARICOM. Negative attitudes towards other CARICOM nationals are present and appear strong among certain officials who are tasked with implementation. This is one area that needs urgent attention if the CSME is to truly succeed and achieve the effectiveness set out in the Revised Treaty.

ICT Strategic Planning in the Caribbean Parliaments Project

Participants at the Workshop on ICT Strategic Planning in Parliaments of the Caribbean, held at the Accra Beach Hotel,

Barbados, September 27 to 29, 2010.

CARICAD in collaboration with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, through the Global Centre for ICT in Parliament organised a workshop on ICT Strategic Planning in Parliaments of the Caribbean. The Workshop was held from September 27 to 29, 2010 at the Accra Beach Hotel, Barbados. Parliamentary Clerks and other representatives from twelve countries in the region attended the workshop which aimed to raise awareness regarding the potential of ICT in parliaments and the ICT Strategic Planning Process.

Implementation of the Regime for the Free Movement of CARICOM Nationals ...continued from page 5

Source: Oliver Joseph, CSME Coordinator

P A G E 7

T he Caribbean will soon have the first indigenous private Foundation dedicated to the development

of Caribbean children. It will evolve from the 8-year-old Caribbean Child Support Initiative (CCSI) programme. The CCSI programme of CARICAD is an Early Childhood Development (ECD) and family support programme aimed at strengthening the care environment for young, disadvantaged children. The CCSI was established in 2002 by the Bernard van Leer Foundation (BvLF) to address issues relevant to poor parenting practices and inadequate cognitive stimulation of young children living under difficult social and economic circumstances. Over the last 2 years, a regional Think-Tank and Task Force comprising persons from the media, marketing, Public Sector Modernisation, Human Resource Development, education and banking sectors have had several meetings which focused on the reconstitution of the CCSI so that it could attract funding from the private sector and international donors to sustain existing initiatives. Feasibility studies and business plans have been pivotal to these discussions. Representatives from both the Think-Tank and Task Force openly embraced the idea of establishing a Foundation with a Regional Support Fund. They considered the establishment of an indigenous, successful, large-scale regional early childhood development support mechanism, with sustained funding to support the development of all disadvantaged young children, as being both desirable and feasible. Such a regional entity should be indigenous, not-for-profit, non-political, non-governmental, non-denominational with the assurance of a continued support and the leveraging of additional resources. Why a Foundation for young, disadvantaged children in the Caribbean?

There are high levels of poverty in the region. One (1) in every three children lives in poverty in the region There are insufficient parental supports, especially for low-income parents and insufficient access to quality ECD services The Foundation will work with Governments to mainstream services that deliberately target the

most vulnerable, using ECD as an important pillar of social safety net programming to meet the Millennium Development Goals Good quality ECD provision (especially for the most disadvantaged) competes with other social issues requiring funding, including some with more immediate and political consequences Educational expenditure as a percentage of total government expenditure ranges from 8.76% in Jamaica to 16.91% in Saint Lucia The Foundation will aim to provide equal opportunities for all children to reach their maximum potential An average of 3.49% of total public education expenditure is spent on pre-primary education, 32.94% on primary education and 31.91% on secondary education Research shows that good quality early interventions coupled with parental support, positively impact children’s cognitive development and school readiness The Roving Caregivers Programme has proven to have a profound impact on children and their caregivers and is substantially cheaper than alternative ECD interventions

Source: The CCSI Team

CCSI Evolving Into a Foundation

L-R (standing) The founding Directors of the Foundation: Ms. Susan Branker, Programme Director CCSI, Mr. Gregory deGannes, Dr. Didacus

Jules, Mr. Cuthbert Didier, Mr. Milton Lawrence, (seated) Ms. Renee Anne Shirley and Ms. Jennifer Astaphan.

P A G E 8

The Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD) 1st Floor Weymouth Corporate Centre, Roebuck Street

St. Michael BB11080, Barbados Tel: 246-427-8535/6 Fax: 246-436-1709

Email: info@caricad.net Website: www.caricad.net

Caribbean Christmas Treats!

Pastelles– Trinidad and Tobago

Ingredients: 3 Cups grated green corn or same quantity in cornballs 1 lb minced beef (cooked) 1 lb minced pork (cooked) 2 large tomatoes 1 tablespoon vinegar ½ teaspoon black pepper Few capers or sweet pickles ½ cup raisins 2 medium onions ¼ Cup cooking oil Piece of sweet pepper 2 blades chive Plantain or banana leaves Method: 1. Chop all green seasonings finely and mix with meat. Brown in hot oil 2. Add chopped tomatoes, raisins and sweet pepper. Blend well together 3. Cut plantain leaves in 8-inch squares, clean them with a damp cloth and steam them over hot water to make them pliable 4. Crush corn and dampen with a little salted water, butter the leaf squares and spread with the corn mixture 5. Place 2 tablespoons of the meat mixture on each square leaving a 1-inch border 6. Fold over and tie securely into a parcel, using thread. Steam for about 1 hour

Source: Wendy Rahamut. Quick Fixin’ Recipes. Trinidad and Tobago: Wendy Rahamut and The Wendy Rahamut School of Cooking, 1996.

Chaudeau (Eggnog)- The Commonwealth of Dominica Ingredients: 10 cups of evaporated milk 5 cups of condensed sweetened milk 1 Guinness 8 egg yolks Lemon rind 1 grated nutmeg 1 tbs. of vanilla

Method: 1. Mix the milks and egg yolks. Whisk slowly until

they are well mixed 2. Cook over a low fire and let boil for 15 minutes. Stir

to avoid sticking to pot 3. Turn off the fire add Guinness, nutmeg, vanilla and

lemon rind. Stir thoroughly until all is mixed well 4. Serve hot or cold

Ingredients: 1/3 cup butter, at room temperature 1 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs, at room temperature 1 ¼ cup milk 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 ½ cups all purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 cup fresh shredded coconut Method: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit 2. Grease and flour an eight by four inch loaf pan 3. Beat the butter and sugar until light and creamy, in a

large bowl 4. Stir in eggs, one at a time, mixing well between each

addition 5. Add the milk and vanilla and mix until smooth. Set

aside 6. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder,

cinnamon, and coconut 7. Add the mixture to the wet ingredients in the large

bowl and stir just until combined 8. Pour into the prepared loaf pan and bake for about 60

minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean

9. Cool for five to ten minutes, remove loaf from pan, and let cool on a wire rack for about half an hour

10. Once cool, store in an airtight container – eat within a couple of days

Coconut Bread– St. Kitts and Nevis

Source: Nevis Island Tourism Information Blog