Government of Saint Luca

Go to Homepage

[Feedback]

[Site Map]

[Contact Us]

Search this Site

Time to change the way we do business - New Corporate Plan


Governor General
Prime Minister
The Cabinet
The Senate
House of Assembly
St. Lucia Ambassadors
The Constitution
The Staff Orders

National Television Network

Saint Lucia Gazette
Press Releases
Speeches
Features
Notices
Vacancies

Saint Lucia 25th Independence Celebrations

About Saint Lucia
Frequently Asked Questions
Web Links
Government Directory
Browse by Agency
Site Help
Subscribe to NEMO News
Updates to Hurricane Frances

Weather Information Service Number

(758) 454-3452

Contact: Claudia Monlouis

Tuesday, March 16, 2004 - The Ministry of Commerce, Investment and Consumer Affairs closed shop on Friday, March 12th to convene a staff retreat for 78 employees at the Mount of Prayer, Coubaril. According to officials from the Ministry, the exercise, which provided staff with the opportunity to dialogue amongst themselves and with heads of department on the way forward for the Ministry, was a resounding success.

The staff retreat was held to awaken staff to the awareness that the Ministry was now operating under very different national and international paradigms. Lead Facilitator of the retreat, Mr. Cletus Springer explained that the conditions which catalysed the island’s earlier development is gone or otherwise significantly diminished, and consequently, the only option that remained for Saint Lucia’s continued development and viability, is to throw its hat into the ring of global competitiveness.

Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Investment and Consumer Affairs, Mrs. Allison Jean told the staff that the efficiency of public servants was critical to St. Lucia’s capability to reap tangible benefits from the tough globalised market. Mrs. Jean reiterated that the contribution of every worker was invaluable to this process.

“I’m sure that most of you are hearing a lot about trade liberalisation and globalisation. This means that internationally the world is changing and these changes are impacting significantly on us in small St. Lucia. You’re hearing a lot about the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and World Trade Organisation (WTO). Now we have better educated consumers and I am sure the Consumer Affairs Department can attest to that, given the number of redress cases that we have to deal with, on a daily basis. We also have a vigorous business environment and all of these are now forcing us in the Ministry of Commerce and in the whole government service to change the way we do business”, Mrs. Jean said.


Mrs. Jean was at the time speaking at a one day staff retreat for the Ministry of Commerce, Investment and Consumer Affairs. The retreat was designed to set the tone for repositioning the corporate vision of the ministry. The objective of the Ministry of Commerce for 2004 and beyond is to become an effective instrument of delivery service to the private sector, to facilitate economic growth.

Minister for Commerce, Investment and Consumer Affairs, Honourable Philip J Pierre, who attended last week’s staff retreat told participants that the age of globalisation called for new attitudes in all spheres of life, even in regard to the personal decisions that citizens make on a day-to-day basis. Minister Pierre says Saint Lucians must not underestimate the impact that international forces have on the country and its citizens. He says citizens at all levels within the society will have to re-orient their thinking to cope with the massive scale of competition that comes with the liberalisation of markets.

Honourable Philip J Pierre imparted this message within the context of the new role that his Ministry has to adopt, in order to keep pace with the present global shift: “Many people do not understand the transition, the changes that are taking place in the world and how these impact on Saint Lucia and how we cannot continue as we did ten years ago; we cannot”, asserted the Minister.

He reminded the staff that the entire country benefited from the mandate of the Ministry of Commerce by making available, the most basic commodities, such as sugar, rice and flour to all households regardless of the income bracket. He said, “We often complain and overlook the little graces that we have as a country. The prices of rice, and sugar and flour have not increased in St. Lucia for the last decade.’

By June of this year, the Ministry’s new corporate plan is expected to be fully implemented.
 

 


Home ] Up ] Search 2004 Press Releases ] [Site Help]

© 2004 Government Information Service. All rights reserved.

Read our privacy guidelines.