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10 January 06

Working for Our Future
The Way Forward

In the political/economic arena some recent calls for change have been risible. Not least an IMF official's pronouncement for a possible banana industry funeral. As ever the long Dominican road towards peace and prosperity by continuous change requires much change in processes and attitudes. As always the continuous journey will be an experience of heartaches and happiness. By all informed accounts macro economic change through the Government/IMF partnership programme has been accomplished. Public sector investment led growth is a reality. Now Dominica stands out as a beacon to her CARICOM comrades to take the same macro medicine she did. To rejuvenate or atrophy, that is always the challenge in a world of continuous change. But what further change must Dominica undergo to capitalise on the testicular fortitude of her past five years; to become the shining pentacle of the Caribbean; to be a winner in CSME?

According to the World Bank International Finance Corporation's (IFC) Doing Business in 2004 research, there are four key attributes for developing countries to become winners in the global economy. The underlying theory to acquiring such attributes is that countries grow out of poverty not only when they manage their fiscal and monetary policies responsibly but also when they create an environment at the micro economic user level that makes it easy for people to start businesses, raise capital and become entrepreneurs. They must also subject their people to foreign competition. Because companies and countries with foreign competition always innovate faster. The IFC's designated attributes for an enabling environment are:

$ High Grade Infrastructure of roads, seaports, airports, utilities and telecommunications.
$ Effective and efficient regulatory institutions.
$ Education and continuous education structures aimed at employability.
$ Enlightened cultural ethos for relations with the world and treating foreign investors as a strength instead of a threat.

The IFC's Doing Business survey asked 5 basic questions about how easy it is to 1) start a business in terms of local rules, regulations and license fees, (2) hire and fire workers, (3) enforce a contract, (4) get credit and (5) close a business that goes bankrupt or is failing. The bottom line is that countries that make all these things relatively simple and friction free are becoming winners in the global economy; those that have not are stalled at the macro fiscal reform level and are not likely to prosper under the new world order. The message for developing countries is that if you change the regulatory and business environment conducive for the private sector, i.e. give them the tools to be successful, they will do the rest.

The fiscal reforms of recent years were achieved by order and steadfastness of the Government. Those necessary fiscal reforms were a prelude to the necessary environmental changes outlined herein. They met with little constructive criticism but with much verbal abuse in opposition thereto. However unlike the implementation of those fiscal reforms the environmental changes still required will need a much wider base of social partners participatory support and parliamentary social responsibility if they are to be achieved successfully.

Fortunately for Dominica many of these winning strategies are underway or in the pipeline. These were first spearheaded for implementation by the late great Prime Minister Dame Mary Eugenia Charles in the early 1990's under the auspices of her Working For Our Future National Campaign. That campaign was underpinned by Canadian Consultants and a strategic plan for service sector led growth. That initiative however was cast aside in 1995 and Dominica ended up on a merry-go-round and pie-in-the-sky voodoo economics resulting in economic stagnation and decline. Through the Government/IMF partnership of 2002 Dominica's economy was stabilised and recently returned to a path which if adhered to is destined to make Dominica a winner in the global economy.

In his 1993 Epic (Preparing for the 21st Century) Paul Kennedy aptly stated the challenge facing Dominica and other countries - 'the pace and complexity of the forces of change are enormous and daunting, yet it may still be possible for intelligent men and women to lead their societies through the complex task of preparing for the century ahead. If the challenges are not met humankind will have only itself to blame for the troubles and disasters that could be lying ahead@. Since 1993 there is no doubt that Dominica lost valuable years of opportunity to capitalise on the vision of Prime Minister Dame Mary Eugenia Charles' Working For Our Future strategies. However Dominica is now back on course to become a winner rather than a loser in 2006 and beyond.

Keiron Pinard-Byrne

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19 Novermber 05

Top level training by top level consultants

From:
Barbados National Productivity Council

Mr. John Pilgrim, BSc, MA Mr Pilgrim is the Executive Director of the Barbados National Productivity Council. He has been involved in the design and development of Productivity Improvement programmes in Barbados and throughout the wider Caribbean.  Some of the countries assisted are St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Curacao, Grenada and The Bahamas.

"Dear Mr. Bellot

Further to our telephone conversation today during which an interest was expressed in conducting Productivity for your colleagues in the private sector in Dominica, I am pleased to confirm that the Barbados National Productivity Council will be available to conduct a one-day productivity session on 21st March 2006...

The key objectives of this one-day educational programme are to:
- create a greater sense of awareness of the importance of productivity; and
- educate participants on practical initiatives for improved employee productivity. "

Download Document >

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11 Novermber 05

Preparations being made for the next fundraising RADIOTHON or TELETHON

Date to be announced shortly. Probably end of January.

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4 November 03

Dominica Forum

I was very pleased to have been able to listen to the first hour of the radio forum that was conducted on DBS on November 2nd, 2003. Although I could not listen to the full broadcast I was very impressed with the level of discussion, and I am in full agreement with many of the ideas that were brought up.

Mr. C. Shillingford raised several points that I can identify with when I have come back to Dominica on any of my many visits. The issue of customer service is very important, and Dominica needs to recognize that and go on an all out drive to improve and maintain good customer service, towards local people as well as visitors. Time should be viewed as an important commodity, and we all should strive to do our tasks in a timely manner, especially when it involves service to the public. On the question of employers setting certain standards and expectation for their employees, this would help motivate employees to perform at a higher and more efficient level, thereby improving productivity in the work place and also improving customer service. Change does not come about suddenly, but it takes the effort of many to be effective beneficial.

I hope that those principles that I heard discussed would be adopted and implemented, to foster improvements in so many areas. I want to wish you all well and hope that you all can serve as a catalyst, as we strive to improve Dominica economically and socially among other areas. Enclosed is the pledge I made for $500 EC. I close by wishing this forum God's blessings and guidance.

Yours truly,
Jennifer Vanterpool Beozer
Dominican living abroad

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5 Oct 03

Prime Minister
Minister of Finance

We should like to apply formally for tax exempt status for funds donated to:

THE PRODUCTIVITY FOUNDATION

a new charity organisation established principally to help fund a National Institute for Productivity aimed at assisting efficiency and productivity improvements in the private and public sectors working with institutions such as the Barbados based National Productivity Council.  (see attached correspondence).  The Foundation is to come under the direct financial control of three prominent Dominicans viz. Messrs Crispin Sorhaindo, Phillip Nassief and Clayton Shillingford, with Mr Parry Bellot  continuing to play a key executive role as the main proponent of this very necessary institution.

We are having a major fund raising activity (November 2nd) targeting Dominicans and visitors from overseas (see attached)and we believe that a tax exempt status will encourage locals and especially companies to pledge significant donations.  Because of the time urgency of this matter, we would appreciate your early decision in the interest of moving Dominica forward.

We thank you in advance.

Sincerely,

Parry Bellot
Parbel Enterprises

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8 Jun 01

Parry Bellot
Parbel Enterprises

NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR PRODUCTIVITY

...Thanks for the background documentation on the above subject which we find very useful...

Sincerely,

Justina V. John
Executive Director
The Dominica Employers Federation

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1 May 00

Hon Atherton Martin
Minister for Planning

Dear Sir

I would be grateful for an appointment to discuss the possibilities for forming a NATIONAL INSTITUTE for PRODUCTIVITY, something I believe our developing nation would greatly profit from.

I enclose some background documentation which indicates how much initial work has been done on the proposal.

I regret that several telephone calls to your office reference the above have remained unanswered.

Looking forward to an early response, I remain

Yours sincerely,

Parry Bellot
Parbel Enterprises

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3 May 1994

Sir Neville Nicholls
President, Caribbean Development Bank

Dear Sir,

In many of your writings and speeches you refer to the increasing need for us to become more efficient, more productive, more competitive.

The attached represents a proposal to address this problem in Dominica.  I might add that the proposed “National Institute for Productivity” has the full endorsement of the Prime Minister, Dame Eugenia Charles.

Is there anyway your institution can assist with start-up funding?

I look forward to your comments at your productive earliest.

Yours sincerely

Parry Bellot
Parbel Enterprises