Improving governance and public service in St Lucia

A joint workshop for Cabinet Ministers and Permanent Secretaries in St Lucia will address ways of improving public sector performance by examining the relationship between the government’s administration and its stakeholders.

The workshop takes place from 30 November – 2 December 2007 and is organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Governance and Institutional Development Division (GIDD) in collaboration with the government of St Lucia.

Senior officials will discuss how to increase public participation in government, as well as formulating policy, evaluating performance and responding effectively to crises.

Over the three days, officials will learn about effective decision making in governance through plenary sessions, lectures and an in-depth debate. Trainers and experts from across the Commonwealth will contribute.

“An effective and responsive public service requires political and administrative leadership that works collaboratively towards clearly articulated national outcomes and focus on the common good,” said Jacqueline Wilson, Director of GIDD.

She added: “Although, in Commonwealth Caribbean countries, there has always been a tradition of permanent public servants serving and supporting the government of the day, there are sometimes tensions that affect their relationships negatively. This is especially true because of the small size of the countries, where there is a prevalence of personal and familial relationships.”

The main objectives of this workshop are to strengthen the existing leadership, achieve collaboration and teamwork among Cabinet Ministers and Permanent Secretaries and to promote sustained good governance that will support the public interest and socio-economic development in St Lucia.

The themes to be discussed at the workshop include accountability and transparency; public spending; and the management of public resources.

The meeting will also look at the roles and responsibilities of a Minister; relationships between the Prime Minster’s office and the legislative, judicial and public arms of government; and relationships between the Ministers and their Permanent Secretaries. Broader issues such as globalisation; development assistance; foreign direct investment flows and public policy and policy analysis will also be addressed.

RoseMarie Rita Endeley, an Adviser on the Caribbean and Mediterranean region at the Secretariat said the workshop aimed to achieve improved working relationships based on a mutual understanding and respect for different roles and also increase individual and collective accountability among Cabinet Ministers and Permanent Secretaries for results and improved service delivery in the public sector.

The Secretariat has implemented similar workshops in Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

Key Links:

• Country Profile: St Lucia
• Governance