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05/25/2004

Press Release

Key Regional Figures to Become "Champions of the CSME"

A comprehensive public education program for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) continued in May with a series of intensive and interactive training workshops which were held in Dominica, Guyana and Trinidad for 60 Caribbean personalities.

These public figures, from throughout the Caribbean, represented a range of geographical, cultural, vocational and professional backgrounds and were identified during National Focal Points meetings which were held in the region earlier this year. They will now become “Champions of the CSME” and will deliver the message of the CSME to diverse regional audiences in hopes of effectively communicating the advantages of a unified Caribbean.

The workshops formed part of the education program of the CSME Unit of CARICOM and the Caribbean Trade and Competitiveness Development Program (C-TRADECOM), a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-supported initiative. These workshops developed communications ideas for spokespersons to work on in their own countries and sought to increase their understanding of the various tools, techniques and skills to more effectively promote the CSME.

During the sessions, the spokespersons learnt about the main issues of the CSME and explored different types of education activities in which they could participate. Media specialists also prepared them to engage in public speaking sessions and interface with various media outlets in the region.

In addition to this public education program with the CSME Unit, earlier this year C-TRADECOM provided support for the meetings of Chief Immigration Officers and senior officials to implement, at the national level, CSME provisions on the free movement of people. Another team of consultants developed training materials based on the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

C-TRADECOM consultants followed up with a Train-the-Trainer program for over 25 senior immigration officials who will now in turn conduct national training programs for immigration officers in the CARICOM member states.

C-TRADECOM is now in the process of printing the Training Resource Book, Training Supplement and other material for delivery to all member states. It will also make available, on CD, copies of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and a Manual of Administrative Procedures, together with other resources.

At least three CARICOM member states are expected to be CSME ready by the end of this year with the others being onboard by December 2005.

Blueprint for Champions of the CSME Workshops

Caribbean Community leaders have highlighted the need for an intensive Public Education Program for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). At least three CARICOM Member States are expected to be CSME ready by December 2004 with the others onboard in 2005. It is therefore critical for stakeholders and civil society to understand how the Single Market will enable the region to compete within a global economy.

The CARICOM Single Market and Economy Unit, in coordination with the USAID funded program C-Tradecom, is working with a team of regional and international consultants to develop and implement a comprehensive public education campaign. This campaign intends to enhance the education efforts at the regional and national levels, and guarantee sustainability for the future. One strategy of ensuring continuation of the communication/education process is the plan to train sixty spokespersons as CSME advocates.

The team of consultants conducted focus group & stakeholder fora in Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica and Suriname on the CSME to identify the most compelling communications messages for the Single Market. These fora were also necessary to scientifically gain through a sample what is the knowledge of the CSME in the region. In May, the CSME Unit in collaboration with C-Tradecom convened "Champions of the CSME" - a two-day intensive and interactive program to equip 60 spokespersons with effective messages on the CSME and to enable them to become effective messengers and advocates of the Single Market.

The proposed participants were selected from a range of geographical, cultural, vocational and professional backgrounds through a process which included inputs from CSME National Focal Points. This effort is the largest in scale for the Caribbean Community and the end result will be a cadre of persons who will be knowledgeable of the CSME messages and armed with the skills necessary to collaborate with National Focal Points in presenting public addresses and media interventions on the CSME at the local levels.

Training materials were presented at the workshops to guide the sessions. These included a message manual developed by the Single Market Unit of the CARICOM Secretariat. The message manual included regional themes and nuances for various demographic groups, economic sectors and countries. It sought to support the most compelling rhetorical arguments relating to the benefits expected from the CSME.

Other materials/presentations on dealing with the media and an overview of the CSME were developed to provide participants with a thorough grounding in media interviews, public speaking and the intricacies of the Single Market.

The agenda for each workshop included an overview of the campaign approach, an introduction to regional integration and CARICOM development, message presentation and design and mock interviews. There was also be a brain-storming session on possible campaign ideas.

Among the specific outcomes of the sessions were:

•  Development of a cadre of 60 trained Caribbean advocates to drive the CSME message

•  Understanding of various tools, techniques and skills to more effectively promote the CSME

•  Better understanding of the main principles driving the establishment of the CSME

•  Development of campaign communication ideas for spokespersons to work on in their own countries

The two-day spokespersons workshops were conducted in Dominica on May 6 and 7 comprising persons from Dominica, St Lucia, St Kitts & Nevis, Antigua & Barbuda and Montserrat. Guyana on May 18, 19 and 20 (when CSME secretariat staff was also trained) including persons from Guyana, Barbados, St Vincent & the Grenadines and Grenada; and Trinidad on May 24 and 25 including persons from Trinidad & Tobago, Belize, Suriname and Jamaica.

For more information contact pknight@carana.com