Facilitator and participants and OECS media workshop
The OECS Secretariat organised a two-day media clinic for media practitioners held immediately prior to the Inauguration OECS assembly where the practitioners were encouraged to dig into the ramifications with a view to understanding and passing on the benefits of OECS integration to the people.
Radio Montserrat, ZBB’s news staffer Miss Tanicia Christopher and editor in chief of The Montserrat Reporter Bennette Roach participated the clinic where Montserrat’s Salas Hamilton, CARICOM Communications specialist was the facilitator.
H E Len Ishmael
As media practitioners, mostly from the GIS and government communication institutions, noted a familiar sound of a lack of communication on OECS matters, they heard from and listened to Director General of the OECS Len Ishmael admit that there were problems with the organization communications link to the public. She however advised that there are plans to recruit a communications specialist.
In the meantime, Montserratian Salas Hamilton reminded media representative of the need to hold technocrats accountable when soliciting information from the sub-regional grouping.
Salas Hamilton
Media practitioners were complimentary at the conduct of the sessions which they found more stimulating than previous such clinics. They took shots at leads following some sessions and one they took target on was, the question that asked, ‘Where are the private sector and do they get involved?’ as they noted that the ‘Private sector absent from talks for launch of OECS Assembly’.
Randolph Cato, Dir. OECS Economic Affairs Division and Bennette Roach
The practioners expressed concern: “Private Sector’s absence from media talks ahead of the launch of the OECS Assembly, a matter of serious concern. They shared concern on the sentiment echoed by Randolph Cato, OECS’s Director of Economic Affairs Division while presenting on the topic “OECS Integration – Common Market”. Mr. Cato declared that while the Organization and its citizens are closer to realizing a single ‘economic space’, there wasn’t any clear activity in the formation of Pan OECS companies.
At the end of the presentation, it had become even clearer that those from the Private Sector who do not utilize the opportunities that a single economic space affords them, run the risk of being subsumed by those that do.
The media specialists had broken into two groups and shared: Energy placed into developing and forging partnerships among member states of the OECS could realize greater economic activity when compared to the current competitive nature in some industries.
They understood and agreed that engaging a new modus operandi towards attracting foreign exchange into the Organization’s member states could see the exploration and packaging of industries different and possibly more positive and attractive ways. Mr. Cato cited examples of promoting an OECS Summer Festival and an OECS Yachting experience.
The Director General Ismael treated the journalists and reporters to information regarding the Treaty which she said, “is really very practical.”
“We will inaugurate the OECS assembly. I like to think of it as the peoples parliament – I think it speaks of political maturity on the part of our region that we’ve been able to come so far,” she actually beamed.
She said that there is, “A very distinctive element of the OECS Parliament or Assembly, is the fact of its regional nature which means that there wont be one side and another side – it requires that type of political maturity for those delegations opposition and government alike to come together at the OECS assembly and be able to speak to the important issues that face us as a region without divisiveness that perhaps we see occasionally at the national level…”
Workshop in session
Clinic and Assembly photos here: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=308357792596840&set=a.308354945930458.65036.307354356030517&type=1&theater
