MORANT BAY, Jamaica, October 6, 2024 – Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, says that a long-term approach to dealing with coffee farm roads must be taken, to propel the nation’s coffee farmers by granting easier access to their farms.

“What I have said to the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA) team [is that] we have to take the coffee road programme out of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) farm road programme, because the small fixes, they help, but we need some big fixes,” said Mr. Green, at the handover of fertilisers and herbicides to coffee farmers in the Buff Bay Valley area of Portland, recently.

He explained that for the short-term approach using resources already available, at least six roads in the coffee belt will be dealt with every year. In this financial year, this will include roads such as Wakefield to Mahoe and Bangor Ridge to Mahoe in Portland, as well as others in St. Thomas and parts of St. Andrew.

Mr. Green pointed out that he has asked JACRA to work with the National Works Agency and do a comprehensive assessment of how much money it is going to cost to fix the coffee roads once and for all.

“Because one of the things that we know, if we are able to fix access to the farms, you will produce more. And if you produce more, the country will make more money from coffee. So, the reality is that the investment in coffee will pay back for itself. So, we have to fix the infrastructure,” the Minister emphasised.

CONTACT: MICKELLA ANDERSON-GORDON

                    JIS REGIONAL OFFICE

                    MORANT BAY

Providenciales, Turks And Caicos Islands, 6th October 2024 – Experience Turks and Caicos has partnered with the Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence to offer two free training opportunities in Grand Turk on October 18th and 19th, 2024.  One session will focus on Product Development, and the other on Vendor Service Excellence.

The Product Development Tours and Guest Experiences course is a full day workshop which will teach participants how to reimagine and create new tour products and guest experiences that respond to today’s needs, and will also include other key factors that are necessary for success. Topics will include: Finding opportunities, knowing the trends, Pricing and adding value, determining product readiness, and getting experiences to market.

This workshop targets tour operators, attractions, experience providers, cruise destinations, and small tour operators.

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – A cohort of 21 administrative professionals from the Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG) successfully completed the first two days of a comprehensive four-day training series in Providenciales on Monday, 16th September, and Tuesday, 17th September 2024. The programme, which will conclude with sessions in Grand Turk on Tuesday, 1st October, and Wednesday, 2nd October 2024, is designed to equip TCIG administrative professionals with essential skills to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of government operations.

Facilitated by experienced government officials, this training series covered a wide range of topics critical to the administrative function in the public sector, including:

• Operating in an Executive Office Environment
• Effective Communication Techniques
• Policy Drafting and Submission
• Organisational Skills
• Standard Government Protocol
• Financial Oversight and Management
• Ethical Standards in the Workplace

Participants are required to complete all four days of the programme, culminating in a final presentation and examination. In addition to the core content, participants will also have exclusive access to the Effective Writing Skills for the Public Service course, offered by the International Centre for Parliamentary Studies (ICPS). This supplementary training will further enhance their ability to contribute effectively to policy drafting and professional communication within the public sector.

This first cohort, consisting of 21 Heads of Secretariats and Executive Administrators, marks the beginning of a broader initiative, with additional cohorts planned throughout the year for all other administrative staff within the Public Service.

The training was facilitated by Ms. Renessa Williams, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Human Services and former Head of Secretariat, Ms. Julianna Musgrove, Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Office of the Deputy Governor, and Ms. Sherrill Poitier, Director of the Training and Development Directorate.

Ms. Julianna Musgrove spoke to the tailored nature of the training: “This programme was carefully designed to address the specific needs of our administrative professionals. Every aspect of the training was tailored to reflect the unique challenges and opportunities they encounter in their roles. The sessions were highly interactive, incorporating discussions, exercises, and real-world scenarios that provided participants with practical tools for their daily responsibilities. Our aim was not only to inform but to equip them with skills they can immediately put into practice.”

Her Excellency, Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, Anya Williams, attended both days of the training in Providenciales, showing her continued support for professional development across the TCIG. She highlighted the importance of strengthening the skills of administrative staff:“The success of any government depends on the quality of its public service. By investing in the professional development of our administrative professionals, we are demonstrating our commitment to excellence and our dedication to serving the needs of our community. The Administrative Excellence Training programme is a vital step in our journey to build a more responsive, efficient, and accountable government. I am confident that this initiative will equip our staff with the skills and knowledge they need to drive positive change and ensure the long-term sustainability of our public service. I am delighted to see this training initiative come to life and look forward to witnessing the long-term positive impact it will have on the public service as a whole.”

The final two days of the training will take place in Grand Turk, focusing on further developing the participants’ expertise and solidifying their role in driving government efficiency. Upon successful completion, participants will be equipped to play a more strategic role in supporting the growth and professionalism of the public service, ensuring that TCIG continues to deliver high-quality service to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.