Acting Head of Section Regional Programmes and Adviser (Caribbean Region) in the Governance and Institutional Development Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Dr. Joan Nwasike has said that a three-day high level retreat here is aimed at helping policymakers create more effective policies and affording them a better understanding of their roles.
Nwasike, who was speaking to members of the press during the first day of the retreat, stated, “The government invited the Commonwealth Secretariat to do a high level retreat for the ministers in Cabinet. These are people who design and shape how the Commonwealth of Dominica will exist. These are people who make policies to decide who gets what, where and how. It is imperative, within the global context, for them to understand their job and the challenges they face with minimum resources. This retreat is to sharpen those skills and for them to hear more of what is going on in the global environment and put it in the context of Dominica so that their policies can be more effective.”
Nwasike also pointed out that other such retreats in Caribbean states as well as in other regions has been successful at equipping them with information that leads to better management with distinctly defined roles.
She stated, “The Commonwealth Secretariat has been running these workshops in the rest of the Caribbean, in Africa and in Asia and there is a benefit to this because ministers or Cabinets can re-tool and it is a way of giving them that theoretical and conceptual background of what their roles and responsibilities are. Ministers are political and they set the tone for policy development. The administrators are the permanent secretaries. So they are two distinct roles and so you don’t expect the politician to get involved in the day to day running of the ministry.”
She described the meeting as very informative and spoke highly of facilitators Wendell Mottley, a former Minister of Government of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Carl Greenidge, CFTC Technical Adviser to the Caribbean Regional Machinery. She said that Mottley and Greenidge, who was one of the longest serving ministers in the Caribbean with 19 years of service to his native Guayna, will also show the participants what life after politics is like and share with them how best to prepare for that.
A common pitfall with retreat design is that everything tends to get thrown in. In your design work, ensure that all stakeholders are clear on what really needs to be covered versus what they would like to have covered. It may be useful to categorize the possible topics into What’s essential, What would be nice, and What can wait to another time or forum.
Some retreats expect you to take part in the daily running of the centre, such as, being asked to help prepare meals, wash up, and clean the shower area or garden duty. It all depends on the ethos and types of retreat you choose. Other places will cater for your every need. So, when looking for a retreat make sure you check what is on offer and, expectations.
A retreat is usually a great team-building exercise, especially when members of the team respect each other and want to work with each other. If productive, it can yield much fruit.
It is hoped that during this three-day session, participants are able to reflect deeply on their roles and responsibilities to the citizens of Dominica and come away with the determination to do what is in the best interest of the current public and future generations. Issues of good governance and accountability would most likely take up a chunk of the session.
Dr. Nkwaski;
Some of our policy makers are illegally installed. We hope you and your comrades get some info onwhat is really happening here.
It’s not even behind the scenes anymore.
the greatest example is the fire bombing of a former magistrate’s home in an attempt to kill.
You might discover that Waitikubuli needs some outside intervention for the sake of true democracy and policy for the poor people.
We hope you love this island inspite of the mess the ruling policians have turned out to be.
Enough already with your ole nursery rhyme. get a new line.
I HOPE SHE TELL THAT THEY MUST REPLY TO THEIR CORRESPONDENCES. REPLYING TO MAIL IS NOT ON THEIR AGENDA.THEY TREAT PEOPLE LIKE DOGS. ELECTION WILL COME AGAIN IS KATIA DOH MASH UP DOMINICA.
Ministers are political and they set the tone for policy development. The administrators are the permanent secretaries. So they are two distinct roles and so you don’t expect the politician to get involved in the day to day running of the ministry.
The government invited the Commonwealth Secretariat to do a high level retreat for the ministers in Cabinet. These are people who design and shape how the Commonwealth of Dominica will exist. These are people who make policies to decide who gets what, where and how.