The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC) will be hosting its first ‘Productivity Awareness Week’ during the period 13 – 18 October 2014. The event is aimed at raising the awareness of how productivity improvement can positively impact on the overall growth within the economy.
The NCPC will be collaborating with key stakeholders within the economy in order to organise the activities for the productivity week. It is expected that stakeholders within the public and private sectors as well as civil society and schools will participate in the activities for the week.
During the week, there will be the sharing of information on innovation and practical approaches to become a more productivity society. The week of activities will engage Business Leaders, Managers, Directors, Media Personnel, Policy Makers and Government Officials.
The NCPC Productivity Awareness Week will ultimately work towards highlighting these findings and reinforcing the ideals of productivity that the Council has already began addressing. This will be done through a range of activities that will keep individuals enthralled and entertained, whilst educating them on the country’s productivity standing and the measures needed to elevate the current levels of productivity. Activities will include interactive forums, business events, presentations, school activities and guest appearances.
The “Productivity Awareness Week” forms part of the overall objectives of the Council to raise the awareness of productivity as well promoting initiatives that will lead to productivity enhancement.
Since its inception, the Council has worked at achieving many of its objectives: 1. Raising the awareness and understanding of the importance of productivity and competitiveness to a country’s economic well-being. The Technical Secretariat of the Council has published weekly newspaper articles which focus on topics related to productivity and competitiveness in an effort to create a greater understanding of these concepts. Additional material such as productivity tips, quotes, newsletters, press releases have been circulated to the public through social media, government intranet etc.
2. Monitoring aspects of productivity growth and competitiveness in the nation, as it relates to other countries. The NCPC has commissioned a National Productivity Assessment which seeks to provide both past and current levels of productivity in Saint Lucia. This study will benchmark Saint Lucia’s productivity performance against other regional and international countries. The study will assess productivity levels in both the private and public sectors. The results of the study should be available by September 2014.
3. Providing the Government with advice on actions to promote productivity growth and competitiveness in Saint Lucia. The NCPC earlier this year presented its first set of recommendations to the Government on reforms that would improve the state of the current economy. The NCPC also participate in discussions that promote competitiveness in Saint Lucia.
4. Assessing specific productivity and competitiveness topics in greater detail. A research team has been formed to examine specific topics in greater detail.
5. Advocating on actions that would promote productivity and competitiveness. The Council has been meeting with key stakeholders to discuss sector plans and strategies that impacts on productivity and competitiveness in an effort to provide the necessary advocacy and technical assistance.
6. Undertake key initiatives that promote productivity and competitiveness. The Council with assistance from Compete Caribbean and in collaboration with the Government and the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court is now in the process of operationalizing the Commercial Division of the Court. This initiative is one of the pilot project being undertaken by the NCPC in an effort to promote competitiveness as well as improving the general business environment.
As stated before, a major undertaking of the Council this year has been the compilation of an inaugural National Productivity Assessment for Saint Lucia. The study is set to provide reasons for the current levels of productivity in Saint Lucia and will also aid in the proposal of key policy actions that will enhance productivity.
As part of this ongoing productivity assessment, the Council embarked on a number of consultations at the sector and community levels in an effort to widen the discussions on productivity. The objectives of those consultations were to bring about a general understanding of productivity as well as to solicit feedback from business establishments and the community at large on the factors that they perceive as affecting productivity in their sectors and at the national level.
(For more information on the NCPC Productivity Week, contact the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council on Second (2nd) floor, Financial Centre Building, Bridge Street, Castries. We can also be contacted at 468 -5571/5576 or visit the Council’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/stluciancpc or email them at stluciancpc@gmail.com)
NCPC = National Counsel on Poverty Creation. Chairman: PM Kenny G Anthony.
All other members may be identified by how much of their hands are stuck in the chairman’s back pocket.
What a complete farcical organization! This excuse for an organization couldn’t organize a Piss Up in a Brewery far less do anything productive. The only competition here is who all among its members can make the fastest buck before the whole farce collapses with the remnants of the economy. Utter Bullshit.
Does anyone find this Ironic that the chairman of the Productivity Council is here issuing a statement on making people aware of how productivity can affect the economy while he himself cannot be productive and deliver a bridge. We have heard many stories on why the bridge at Bois d’orange cannot be completed.
I find it strange that the person in charge of the Government’s policy on productivity is found wanting while he tries to tell others what they should do. Is it a case of do as i say (maybe crap)not do as i do. Try teaching that to the kids. This is why kids pretty much teach themselves they are fed up of adult hypocracy. Try also telling them that breasts are sex objects while the have been sucking on them their whole life. Nobody sees anything wrong with that? It must be pretty terrible looking at the world through the eyes of a St. Lucian