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UTECH Jamaica to house Caribbean Regional Procurement Centre

UTech

UTECH Jamaica to house Caribbean Regional Procurement Centre.

  • Professionalisation of public sector procurement in the Caribbean region has led to continually increasing demand for a cadre of highly skilled procurement professionals.
  • Stronger procurement knowledge is needed to fulfil economic, government and private sector goals in the region, while ensuring more efficient use of scarce public resources in a region still burdened with debt following the recession of a few years ago.
  • The Centre will support development of transparent public procurement processes, which reflect the highest ethical standards.

A procurement centre of excellence for the Caribbean is being built by a strong consortium of organisations.
The University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) has been selected to house a Caribbean Regional Procurement Centre, which aims to improve procurement practices across the Caribbean. Funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the World Bank (WB), the centre will provide high-quality training services accredited by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS).
UTech is developing the curriculum and training materials in partnership with a consortium led by BiP Solutions Limited (BiP) – a consultancy firm specialising in procurement – and CIPS, which offers globally recognised qualifications through its education and training programs. BiP is creating a tailored foundation course in public procurement best practice, which will reference local processes and procedures, providing procurement staff with essential knowledge to aid in the professionalization of government procurement. In conjunction with this, CIPS is supporting UTech to become an approved International CIPS Study Centre with the ability to deliver their internationally accredited procurement courses.
Focusing initially on the training detailed above, the Regional Procurement Center will be further developed to provide a range of additional services including research, policy work, and advisory and consultancy services. Although the centre will initially focus on the public sector, the long-term aim is for it to serve both the public and private sector.
The centre will partner with key organisations in the region, such as national governments, academic institutions and corporations to ensure training is tailored to the immediate needs of the region.
Douglas Fraser Head of Procurement at the Caribbean Development Bank said: “Congratulations to UTech, Jamaica, for being selected after a very demanding process. I expect the project to achieve a transformation for the region in terms of public procurement and the development of a cadre of professionals to take public procurement to the next level.”
“The World Bank is delighted to join with the Caribbean Development Bank in supporting the launch of the Caribbean Regional Procurement Centre. This initiative underlines the World Bank’s commitment to working collaboratively in building sustainable institutions in the Caribbean. We believe that, by establishing a strong cadre of professional public procurement officers within Caribbean governments, the centre will make an invaluable contribution to promoting the effective use of public funds and to the improved delivery of public services. The World Bank notes, with particular satisfaction, that the establishment of the Centre will provide public officials, for the first time, with an opportunity to earn internationally recognised professional qualifications in procurement, awarded locally by a Caribbean institution,” said Joao Veiga Malta, Practice Manager in the Governance Global Practice at the World Bank.
Scott A Smith, Global Commercial Director at BiP Solutions Limited remarked: “We welcome the opportunity to support the development of the procurement center of excellence in the Caribbean region. The efforts to strengthen the procurement function in both the public and private sector will have a permanent home in the region.”
John Pickford, Business Development Co-ordinator at CIPS commented: “CIPS has been working in the region for some time now, so I’m delighted that we now have a centre of excellence to support not only the development of current professionals and new professionals, but also to help public and private sector organisations in the region get the best out of their procurement.”
Dr. Paul Golding, Dean, College of Business and Management at the University of Technology in Jamaica said, “Some 9-13% of GDP passes through public procurement in developing countries, so this raises public concerns related to management and mismanagement of funds, ethical issues and issues of corruption. These all increase the need for procurement to play more of a strategic position, rather than a peripheral one in organisations.  The launch of the Procurement Centre at UTech, Jamaica, is therefore an important step in moving this goal forward.”
CDB has committed financing up to USD 137,875 and an estimated additional USD 45,895 in resources, such as staff time, to the project, which will be delivered under the Programme for Improved Public Investment Management through Sustainable Public Procurement Capacity Building in the Caribbean Region.  WB has committed USD 320,000 in grant funding.
The centre is expected to be fully operational by late 2017.

Belize to Commence Discussions with Bondholders

US Government Bond

The Government of Belize today announced that it intends to commence discussions with holders of Belize’s U.S. Dollar Bonds due 2038 (the “2038 Bonds”) regarding the serious economic and financial challenges currently facing the country.

These challenges include low growth, rising fiscal deficits, a deteriorating balance of payments position, and declining sovereign debt indicators. Belize’s challenges have been exacerbated by slow global growth, U.S. dollar strength, Hurricane Earl, a substantial decline in key commodity production and prices, and the higher than anticipated arbitration awards.
A detailed description of the economic challenges facing Belize is contained in the International Monetary Fund’s Staff Report for the Belize 2016 Article IV Consultation published on October 27, 2016 (available here: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2016/cr16334.pdf).
Belize’s 2038 Bonds were issued in 2013 and are the only Government debt securities outstanding in the international capital markets. For a variety of reasons, Belize’s economy has significantly underperformed in comparison with the projections used at the time in setting the terms of the 2038 Bonds.
Belize intends to meet with individual bondholders or a committee representing the bondholders (if the bondholders elect to form such a committee) before the end of November to discuss measures necessary to place the 2038 Bonds on a fully sustainable basis. The Government of Belize has retained Citigroup Global Markets Inc. as its structuring advisor and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP as its legal counsel in this process.
“Any amendments to the terms of the instruments that may be agreed with holders of the Bonds will need to be implemented before the authorities submit their 2017 fiscal year budget to the Belize Parliament,” said Joseph Waight, Financial Secretary of Belize. “The budget is finalized in February of each year and then submitted for Parliamentary consideration, hence the need for an expedited creditor consultation process.”

Illegal mining: Dredging in Gladden Caye, Stann Creek District

Belize Press Office

The Ministry of Natural Resources is reminding the Gladden Caye Resort Ltd. and its agent that a CEASE and DESIST order was issued on November 2, 2016.  

The Ministry is in the process of levying the necessary penalties under Sections 2 & 109 of the Mines and Minerals Act Chapter 226, Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000 – 2003. The Developer is further advised to contact the Mining Unit, Ministry of Natural Resources no later than November 15, 2016.
The Ministry reminds the general public that it is an offence to mine, prospect and/or remove minerals without first obtaining a permit/license from the Mining Unit of the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Any person who is found carrying out these activities without the requisite permit or license will be held liable on conviction to fines and imprisonment under the Mines and Minerals Act Chapter 226, Substantive Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000 – 2003.
The Ministry further advises that an Environmental Compliance Plan (ECP) issued by the Department of the Environment, is not a permit and approvals are still required from the requisite regulatory bodies for permits for various activities under the ECP.

Minister of Defence Resumes Countrywide Tour of BDF Installations

Countrywide Tour of BDF Installations

Minister of Defence Hon John Saldivar has resumed his countrywide tour of Belize Defence Force (BDF) installations.

Accompanied by Deputy BDF Commander Colonel Steven Ortega and key personnel from the Ministry of Defence, Hon. Saldivar toured BDF bases in Corozal and Orange Walk. In Corozal, those included, Consejo, Free Zone Area, 4 Miles Lagoon, Patchakan, San Victor and Eyles Camp; and in Orange Walk, Douglas, San Roman, Campechito, Santa Cruz and Blue Creek.
The Minister began his nationwide tour back in early September, before the National Celebrations, when he visited BDF Headquarters at Price Barracks, the Air Wing at Phillip Goldson International Airport, and Militia Hall in Belize City. The next leg of his tour will take him to installations in the Cayo District.
The purpose of the Minister’s tour is to assess the state of readiness and the level of efficiency of the force in executing its various functions.

Grenadian born UWI lecturer urges full participation in the referendum process

Dr. Wendy Grenade. Photo Credit: The Sun

As Grenadians prepare to cast ballots in its first attempt at constitutional reform since independence, a Grenadian born UWI Lecturer is urging all to be a part of the process.

Dr. Wendy Grenade, the guest speaker at the Constitution Special Assembly held on November 5, outlined the intimate relationship between the constitution and everyday life, saying it affects every citizen in one way or the other.
“The Constitution is about us and the perimeters that govern how we live, how we work, how we engage with each other and with the world,” Dr. Grenade said.
“The Constitution and any other form of constitution reform matters to us, individually and collectively, as an independent people”.
Dr. Grenade praised the people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique for their vibrant discussions and display of citizen activism in the constitution reform process.
The UWI lecturer said, in her opinion, not since independence or the Grenada revolution has the country been engaged in such deep introspection.
“My sisters and brothers, as we discuss the serious business of constitution reform we owe a debt to their struggle and we honour their memory,” Dr. Grenade said in reference to the nation’s fore fathers.
“What we are doing is taking a bold but larger step towards a larger journey”.

Hundreds to gain employment as Levera Beach Resort breaks ground

Levera Beach Resort breaks ground

A major hotel project underway in the parish of St. Patrick is set to employ hundreds of workers.

The new developers have promised that work will be ongoing in various phases, during the Levera Beach Resort Grenada’s ground-breaking ceremony last Friday.
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell was among government officials in attendance as well as investors and community members.
“We guarantee you that it will continue to move forward from this point on. We have put our heart, our soul, our money, everything that we can into this and we’ve got many wonderful people who are starting to join us,” said Randy Oveson, one of the investors.
“We have already started the project. We’ve had over 10 workers, working for close to a year, cleaning the project. We have cut new roads.
We are already cutting the foundation site pads, for the first 14 cottages,” added Robert Martin, another partner investor.
The Levera Beach Resort Grenada project is a 375-acre, multi-million dollar hotel and residential project approved under the Grenada Citizenship by Investment Programme.
The first of the four development phases will include the construction of the Turtle Beach Resort, which will encompass an 80 unit Boutique hotel, 40 hotel cottages, 20 Casitas and Villas, restaurants – including 2 farm-to-table restaurants, pools, spa and organic orchard.
“As the first phase is opened there will be over a hundred people employed, in this very place, and when the entire project is done, it’ll provide over 400 jobs to the island of Grenada,” Oveson added.
The resort is located adjacent to Levera National Park and borders the Caribbean Sea.
The development team pledges environmental responsibility, sustainable community development and employment for Grenadian citizens.
“As activities increase, the Bathway – Levera activity – the locals enjoying the beauty of this place, will expand,” Prime Minister Keith Mitchell said.
“The little shops around different parts, whether it’s Hermitage, River Sallee, the Sauteurs town, the hairdressing businesses, the tailors, the carpenters different persons will in fact benefit and, of course, the retail sector”.

EU works with the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism

Fishing and processing conch is an important economic activity for many Caribbean States Credit: Megapesca Lda. Portugal
Fishing and processing conch is an important economic activity for many Caribbean States Credit: Megapesca Lda. Portugal

EU works with the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism to help to make Caribbean fishery products safer.

A fisheries and aquaculture food safety capacity building activity, funded by the EU and delivered under the technical leadership of IICA and the CRFM, is helping CARIFORUM countries to improve the safety of fish and fishery products for consumers in national and export markets. The activity, which is part of a broader programme and which started in September 2016 and will run until January 2017, has prepared eight new manuals to help fish inspectors apply the best international practices to the inspection of fishing vessels, processing establishments and aquaculture facilities. The subjects covered include HACCP, traceability, and for the first time, a compendium of food safety hazards encountered in Caribbean fishery products. In addition, the project has prepared two manuals for laboratories, on the testing of fishery products to make sure they are safe, and ensuring that laboratory test results are accurate.
To help disseminate these new manuals, the project will also run two one-week courses for 30 participants from CARIFORUM countries, to be held in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines at the end of November. This will present the manuals, as well providing training in best international practices in fish inspection, and demonstrating some of the modern approaches to rapid and field testing to allow better decisions to be made about the safety of fishery products. The course will be attended by participants from Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the Commonwealth of Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Suriname, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.
The fishery sector is important for many countries in the region, as a source of employment, and export revenues. Overall, in 2015, the CARIFORUM countries exported fish worth US$378 million to many countries around the world. Whilst 89% of this is from just five countries (Bahamas, Belize, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago) the fishery sector of many other countries in the region delivers supplies directly to their tourist sector. The continued economic importance of the fishery revenue therefore depends on making sure that fish meets international sanitary standards, and governments in the region are therefore very interested to ensure that typical food safety hazards such a ciguatera and histamine are under control.
The project “Capacity Building of regulatory and industry stakeholders in Aquaculture and Fisheries Health and Food Safety to meet the SPS requirements of international trade” is implemented by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA). The objective of the project is “To build capacities of CARIFORUM States in health and food safety requirements of fisheries and aquaculture (inland, marine) products and as such ensure safe food standards for fisheries products in the region, while meeting the requirements of the region’s trading partners worldwide.”
In this task, IICA, is supported by the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM) and, for the present training activity, also by a team of consultants from Megapesca in Portugal. The project is financed under the EU project “10th EDF Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Project”. The expected result of the current activity is that capacities will be strengthened at the national and regional levels for health and food safety requirements of fisheries and aquaculture (inland, marine) products which will also ensure safe food standards for fisheries products in the region, while meeting the requirements of the region’s trading partners worldwide.

Design Caribbean in Camden London

Design Caribbean

Design Caribbean will be popping up in Camden Market, one of London’s most sought-after shopping areas for those looking for an eclectic mix of unique gifts and hand-crafted products, from November 24-28, 2016.

The Design Caribbean Pop-Up Shop will be the home for six regional firms as they present their range of diverse products to trade and consumers.  Located in the historic former Pickfords Stables, Camden Market is the ideal setting and opportunity for visitors to see a collection of the Caribbean’s leading contemporary designers, who use indigenous techniques to create contemporary products across three core categories.
Participants of the store include jewellery and accessory makers Crystal Forms from Barbados and Haiti Design; handmade bags from Maya Bags from Belize; REECII from St. Kitts and Nevis; and BAUGHaus Design Studio and Khadabra in Harmony from Jamaica, both of whom offer home accessories with lighting, ceramics and art products.
The Design Caribbean Pop-Up Shop comes ideally during the busy Christmas shopping season when London is bursting with tourists and locals looking for the ultimate gifts for their loved ones.
Design CaribbeanDesign Caribbean is a programme of the Caribbean Export Development Agency, and funded by the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Regional Private Sector Development Programme, which the Agency is currently implementing.
Design Caribbean

CDF hosts free cultural festival, Saturday

Caribbean Cultural Festival

The second annual Latin American and Caribbean Cultural Festival will present a theatrical journey showcasing the works of Saint Lucian artistes.

The Latin American Embassies, the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF) and the Audio-Visual and Film Association invites the public to the second annual Latin American and Caribbean Cultural Festival in Saint Lucia.
On screen for Saint Lucia’s featured film and performance night is an amalgamated theatrical journey celebrating and showcasing the works of Saint Lucian artistes, directors, composers, and actors. Immerse yourself in contemporary and conventional productions like “Tormented”, “Swim My Way”, “Leve an Mizik”, “A Conversation with Rameau Poleon”, “88 Miles of Endurance”, “Time to Shine”, “What I Have Left”, “Why Run”, “The Legend of the Ten Chou”, “Fear No Evil”, “Land I Love”, “I’ll Have You”, and “Empress.”
The Latin American and Caribbean Cultural Festival will be held on Saturday, Nov. 12 at the newly refurbished National Cultural Centre. The festival is absolutely free and open to the general public.
For information see PDF attached, or contact the CDF at info@cdfstlucia.org or 758.457.9021.
Attachments:

SJH telephone service disruption

telephone service disruption

St. Jude Hospital is currently experiencing a temporary disruption to its telephone system. As such the hospital is unable to make or receive phone calls. The hospital is working with its service provider to have the service restored as a matter of urgency. St. Jude Hospital apologizes to its patients and the general public for any inconvenience caused.

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