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NCPC Productivity Ambassadors Motivate Graduates

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Young Leader Tevin Shepherd with CSS Graduates

Queen’s Young Leader Tevin Shepherd with Corinth Graduates

Long, regal academic gowns and caps! Hues of blue, grey, green and red. A simultaneous feeling of euphoria and trepidation fills the air. Proud parents, family, faculty and supporters look on in admiration.  Graduation is here and everybody is in a celebratory mood. Years upon years of hard work and sacrifice have culminated in this long-awaited moment and the ensuing ceremonies are full of pomp and circumstance, and rightfully so!
Graduation is undeniably one of the most important milestones in the journey from childhood to adulthood. It signals the end of an era of certainty and the beginning of another era characterized by limitless possibilities, significant responsibility and the “great unknown.”
When the NCPC was established in 2013, its main purpose was to facilitate the enhancement of levels of productivity and competitiveness in Saint Lucia. As part of this thrust, the Council has identified young people as critical in cultivating a new generation of productive, self-driven and success-oriented citizenry. 
With this in mind, in June 2016 as thousands of secondary school leavers island-wide prepared to cross the threshold, Productivity Ambassadors from the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC) had a moment in the spotlight at their graduation ceremonies.  Their role was to offer some encouragement to new graduates and remind them of their individual roles in improving their own and ultimately Saint Lucia’s levels of productivity and competitiveness.
Janai Leonce poses with CCSS School Principal

Deputy Chief Economist in the Ministry of Finance and NCPC Council Member poses with Marva Daniel, CCSS Principal

As the Castries Comprehensive Secondary School 2016 Graduation Ceremony opened under the theme “Rising to New Possibilities from One Foundation,” NCPC Productivity Ambassador/Council Member, Janai Leonce, Deputy Chief Economist in the Ministry of Finance asked graduants to let productivity guide their thoughts, “If you develop a mindset of making maximum use of your resources you will become more thoughtful and deliberate in your actions and this will helpful you through life.  You will also quickly realize that one of the most valuable resources that you have is time. Be mindful of it, be crafty with it.”
In similar fashion, at the Corinth Secondary School Graduation, Queen’s Young Leader, Youth Enthusiast and Productivity Ambassador Tevin Shepherd, chronicled the obstacles he faced growing up and how he did not allow them to determine his future. Addressing the graduants he said, “This graduation’s theme, “I am not a product of my circumstances, I am a product of my decisions” is very fitting. I know all too well how easy it is to let challenges prevent us from realising our full potential. I want to implore you to be the owners of your destiny! Never give up! The world needs vibrant young minds like yours.”
Managing Director of Algas Organics and young entrepreneur Mr. Johanan Dujon also had the opportunity to share his own story of finding and nurturing his passion and eventually living his dreams to a group of over 100 students of the Leon Hess Comprehensive School 2016 Graduating Class. Mr. Dujon cautioned the students not to expect anything to be handed to them on a platter. He further encouraged them to find what they loved and to passionately and relentlessly invest in it and make a career out of it.
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Johanan Dujon, Managing Director, Algas Organics with LHCSS 2016 Graduating Class

 The transition from Secondary School to the real world can be very daunting for students. The Inaugural NCPC Schools’ Graduation Tour, aims to promote an awareness and understanding of the notions of productivity and competitiveness and help the youth to understand how powerful they are as agents for change. Through this commitment to increasing knowledge and re-shaping mindsets, we will continue to see improvements in all facets of society.

July 12, 2016
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Productivity High on Mental Wellness Nurses Agenda

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There’s a popular saying that goes, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.”  When a cup is empty, no amount of work or wishing could produce a drop out of it. In the very same way, as individuals, when we push ourselves beyond our limits (emptying our physical and mental reserves) and more is required of us, we are then unable to produce in a manner that is efficient.
The notion of productivity is steeped in the ideals of efficiency, continuous improvement and excellence.   In fact, the Business Dictionary defines productivity as the “measure of the efficiency of a person, machine, factory, system, etc., in converting inputs into useful outputs.”
In a field like nursing, where the work never ends, achieving maximum productivity is a difficult feat. A normal/typical day does not exist in the life of a nurse. As primary caregivers, nurses are often found balancing diverse tasks to ensure that their patients are well cared for, all while putting their own needs aside. Regrettably, the effects of caregiving on their health/well-being and output are often considerable.

Mental Wellness Centre Staff At Retreat

Saint Lucia National Mental Wellness Centre Staff Retreat

The nurses of the Rehabilitation Unit #3 of the St. Lucia National Mental Wellness Centre provide mental health care services to the patients on the unit.  Their patients include long stay patients who are sometimes geriatric and independent patients who have been undergoing treatment for periods exceeding ten (10) years. Their primary goal is to prepare patients for re-entry into society by ensuring that they adhere to their stipulated treatment regime. The delicate nature of their work means that the nurses are constantly on the go.
The team of nurses who service the unit came to the stark realization that continuing in the current “always on the go” fashion would do more harm than good to their overall job efficiency. It was with this in mind that on June 24th, 2016, the nurses broke away from their usual work setting and decided to invest in their own self-care and development. 
In an attempt to boost overall staff morale and productivity at the Centre and by extension help them to achieve even greater results on the job, the idea of a teambuilding retreat was birthed. The activity which was observed under the theme ‘Celebrating Our Achievements, Striving to Give our Best’ opened with a debriefing session facilitated by Mr. Martin Weekes, a training and management consultant professional. During this session, the nurses had the opportunity to examine where they were at professionally and personally and where they would like to see themselves advance and the required actions to needed for their advancement.
The highlight of the day however was a presentation on “Productivity in the Workplace” by Mrs. Fiona Hinkson, Executive Director of the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council. Having identified productivity as critical to improving the existing work environment at the National Wellness Centre, when Unit Manager, Ms. Enda Edward approached the Secretariat, the response was a resounding yes.
The presentation sought to give the nurses an overall understanding of what productivity is, the existing productivity climate but more so as it pertained to the health sector, the importance of productivity and most importantly ways to improve it. Mrs. Hinkson was very pleased at the level of interest and interaction during the presentation and in closing applauded the Unit for taking the initiative to improve their productivity. “You cannot pre-empt how any given day is going to unfold or the number of patients that you may have to care for. However, there is so much that you can do to take care of your own personal well-being and ensure that your needs are met,” Mrs. Hinkson stated in her opening remarks to the participants.
“Understanding productivity and what impacts it, means that you now have the tools to work in a manner which is more efficient and will yield greater results. While you strive for greater output, you must not neglect the quality of that output. Your investment in yourselves today, is reflective of your willingness to be better at what you do and I applaud that. Today is a step in the right direction which can only augur well for the health sector.  The NCPC urges you to continue to invest in yourselves so that your patients can continue to receive an even higher quality of health care.”
Productivity continues to be a major impediment to organizational efficiency, growth and development. More often than not, a lack of understanding of the part that each individual has to play in improving productivity is what creates barriers. As we pursue productivity on a national level, we must continue to challenge current mindsets and highlight the need for continued efforts at attaining excellence.

July 9, 2016
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How Can Business Leaders Strengthen Saint Lucia’s Competitiveness through Investments in Education?

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Skills
A country’s stagnant education system can contribute to the decline in a country’s competitiveness. As such, there lies an opportunity for our local business leaders to form partnerships with our educators to affect a workforce that is ready to revolutionize the private sector to spur economic growth and country competitiveness. Global business leaders have long recognized the connection between an effective education system and a qualified workforce.
Additionally, advanced economies have shown that an economy’s long term prosperity depends on the quality of its human resources. Failing to invest adequately in human resources can develop into an economic problem for countries. This is critical since at the core of country competitiveness is the quality of the human resources of a nation. This is greatly influenced by the quality and standard of skills training and the education system.
It is therefore important that Saint Lucia invests in proper education and training of the workforce to prepare students for the relevant jobs in industries where the country has a competitive advantage. Training should also prepare the workforce for jobs in the global market. This means that skilled persons can export their services overseas or investors can outsource services to the country because of the availability of specialized skills. This is particularly important in alleviating Saint Lucia’s high rate of unemployment.
“Business leaders today are engaged in education in ways that are generous, well-intended, effective at alleviating the symptoms of a weak education system, and thoroughly inadequate to help strengthen the system,” says Harvard Business School Professor Jan W. Rivkin.
The current generation of private sector innovators is now inclined to challenge traditional ways of doing things in schools. They see the traditional school system as failing to equip the future labor force with the skills to compete in a global age. They believe passionately that innovative products and approaches could help students perform better. This determination to shake things up within schools has motivated business leaders to invest in schools.
Rivkin pointed out the new developments in education that has been implemented as a result of the private sector getting involved in the education system. He noted developments such as improved teaching and leadership talent, the use of technology in personalized learning and a dramatic upgrade in the quality and use of data analytics to determine what is working in education and which measures are not effective.
So what can business leaders do, to make sure the workforce of the future is getting what they need? It is a matter of acknowledging the problem, realizing what this means for businesses and actually doing something about it. The following are three areas that capitalize on business’s strengths which can result in the greatest returns within the education sector:

  • Influencing policy-In order to promote innovation in education, this process has to start with policy formulation.  Business leaders can exercise a great deal of influence in policy within our local schools. In the US, in Denver, Colorado, businessmen partnered with educators to lobby for an increase in taxes to support education.
  • Building on proven innovation- Business leaders are usually skillful at using innovations that work within their respective businesses. Therefore the educators need to leverage this expertise to help build better schools. ExxonMobil, a founding sponsor of the National Math and Science Initiative, helped to scale two projects: one focusing on improved training for science, technology, and math teachers, the other on improving advanced placement test results in the same areas.
  • Reinventing the local education system. Employers need to get involved and help teachers build curriculums that encourage creative thinking.  Business leaders are now participating in standards validation committees to ensure that learning requirements are up to date. By doing this, they actually create material that actually teaches what their best employee needs to know. They are now investing their time to make sure that experience and innovation become instilled in graduates. This ensures that school leavers get hired!

It is therefore important that private sector leaders not simply wait for the education system to change on its own.  Local businesses have the expertise, experiences and resources to make a shift. As such, something has to be done than to sit and just complain about employees having no skills.
This shift can start before students graduate. In light of this small acts go a long way, whether it is hiring apprentices for projects in the office. Allow them to use real tools instead of having them run errands. Nowadays, nearly every office has some database that needs to be reviewed. Therefore the intern can start there. It may be considered as boring work, but is essential in gaining familiarity with technology and working with data. Alternatively, students can be giving the space to exercise their creativity in coming up with solutions to a work problem.
Successful local leaders need to become part of the solution. They are the teachers that our students truly need. Whether you are a company leader, hiring manager, expert or a job candidate, you have a stake in addressing this issue. The education revolution is upon us and business leaders have the power to effect a positive change which can lead to a more effective and competitive workforce.
 About the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC)
Established in October 2013, The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC) is responsible for the identification of key issues related to competitiveness and productivity in Saint Lucia.
The NCPC and its Technical Secretariat is committed to providing the necessary advocacy and research to produce timely and effective recommendations to policymakers on issues that affect both competitiveness and productivity on island. For more information about productivity or on the NCPC, visit www.stluciancpc.org; www.facebook.com/stluciancpc, call 468-5571/5576 or send an e-mail to stluciancpc@gmail.com
 
 

July 5, 2016
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NCPC Graduation Tour Series Continues

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Queen’s Young Leader and Productivity Ambassador Tevin Shepherd Addresses Students of Corinth Secondary School

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Queen’s Young Leader and Productivity Ambassador Tevin Shepherd poses with        CSS students

An enchanted silence filled the auditorium when the sea of over 100 students clad in their blue and grey gowns descended upon a crowd of proud family, friends, teachers and supporters at the 26th Graduation Exercise of the Corinth Secondary School.
It was evident from the start of the proceedings that it was going to be an extraordinary evening and the students and faculty did not disappoint in their delivery.
Every part of the evening’s programme from the students’ performance of the song “I Know Who I Am” by Sinach to the Feature Address by Mr. Armstrong Alexis, past student of the Corinth Secondary School,  echoed the theme for this year’s graduation “I am not a product of my circumstances, I am a product of my decisions.”
Following the address by the Principal, Mr. Willard Andrew (an account of the academic year 2015-2016); Mr. Alexis who is currently the Deputy Resident Representative at UNDP gave a heartfelt account of his experiences as a young man growing up in the community of Gros-Islet and his journey at the former Corinth Junior Secondary School. In closing , Mr. Alexis encouraged the students not to allow any obstacles to come between them and their dreams.
The programme continued with many displays of the raw and diverse talent of the Corinth Secondary School students. Each performance further highlighted the message that each student had to play an active role owners of their own destiny and not mere participants.
IMG-20160630-WA0041.jpg.jpegThe evening came to an end on a very high note with a charismatic speech by Productivity Ambassador, 23 year old Tevin Shepherd, recent recipient of the Queen’s Young Leader Award and 2nd Vice President of the Saint Lucia National Youth Council. Mr. Shepherd captivated the students and other guests with the story of his very humble beginnings, growing up in Canaries and attending the Soufriere Comprehensive School.  He spoke of the adversities he faced along the way and how although he could have called it quits at any point, but by making a firm decision to change his story, he went on to have so many opportunities and experiences that many his age have only dreamed of.
Tevin is the perfect of example of what happens when a young person decides to defy the odds. What is even more inspiring about this young man is the commitment he has made to help other young people like himself to realise their full potential and achieve their dreams.
Look out for more excerpts from the 2016 NCPC Schools’ Graduation Tour.
 

July 1, 2016
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6th Americas Competitivness Exchange is ON!

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6th ACE
Further to the 5th Americas Competitiveness Exchange (ACE) held in Arizona and California in April, business leaders and policy-shapers worldwide are preparing for the 6th Americas Competitiveness Exchange (ACE) which is scheduled to take place from September 25th to October 1st, 2016 in Canada.
The week-long tour will include visits to Toronto-Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton and the Niagara Region. ACE participants will gain insight into the best-practices in key Canadian economic sectors such as advanced manufacturing, information and communications technology, clean tech, life sciences, agri-food, and fintech.
For more information on the 6th Americas Competitiveness Exchange (ACE) on Innovation and Entrepreneurship visit http://www.riacevents.org/ace/canada2016/, watch the video http://www.riacevents.org/ace/canada2016/video.html or click here to download the Overview of 6th ACE.
There will be an interactive webinar on June 28th, 2016 at 2:46pm where interested participants can gain more information on the program, application process, logistics, etc. Click here to join this webinar https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/633067957
RECAP OF 6th AMERICAS COMPETITIVENESS EXCHANGE on Innovation and Entrepreneurship
WHAT: The 6th ACE is a week-long tour for key business leaders and policy shapers from the Americas and beyond
WHEN: September 25 – October 1, 2016
WHERE: Province of Ontario, Canada (Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton, and the Niagara Region)
APPLY NOW! http://www.riacevents.org/ace/canada2016/
DEADLINE TO APPLY: July 7, 2016

June 28, 2016
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LAST CALL FOR PROCOM APPLICATIONS!!!

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Final Update to PROCOM Challenge PIC
Following the launch of the PROCOM Challenge in mid-April, there has been a significant interest from a number of private sector organizations across commercial sectors. Businesses are jumping at this opportunity to improve on their productivity and competitiveness and by extension maximize on their operational efficiency.
Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Saint Lucia are set to receive co-financing of up to XCD$100,000 for the implementation of projects which seek to enhance productivity and competitiveness through the PROCOM Challenge. In addition to the financial investment, winning businesses will receive the technical assistance to ensure that their ideas/solutions thrive and are impactful. The purpose of the Challenge is to encourage businesses in finding innovative solutions which will help improve the overall climate as it relates to productivity and competitiveness.
Executive Director of the NCPC, Mrs. Fiona Hinkson is very positive about the level of interest generated in the PROCOM Challenge and is looking forward to seeing the types of projects which will emerge. Speaking on the Challenge she said, “When the PROCOM Challenge was initially conceptualized, we had identified micro, small and medium enterprises as the sole recipients. We have received significant feedback post-launch and after internal discussion, we went back to the drawing board and further improved on the Challenge. We recognize that great ideas can come from anywhere and we want to ensure that we give equal opportunities to organizations that may have winning ideas but encounter greater challenges in accessing funding. We have therefore included a small-window for start-ups (i.e. businesses that are registered but have only been in existence for 1 to 3 years). We are hoping that the diversified solution stemming from the PROCOM Challenge will transform the business environment.”
The application process for the challenge is very simple. Businesses applying to the PROCOM Challenge are asked to follow these steps:
STEP 1: Before you start a PROCOM Challenge Application Form, carefully review the eligibility criteria and selection guidelines to ensure that you are the right fit for the Challenge. This information can be found in the PROCOM Challenge Brochure and PROCOM Challenge Manual which may be downloaded from the NCPC Website; www.stluciancpc.org or blog; www.ncpcstlucia.wordpress.com. You may also call 468-5576/468-5571 with any questions/queries on the Challenge.
STEP 2: If you think your idea/solution meets the necessary requirements, submit your application using the prescribed forms and supporting documents to the NCPC; stluciancpc@gmail.com no later than 11:59pm on Thursday, June 30th, 2016.
 STEP 3: Wait for confirmation from the NCPC. If your initial application has been shortlisted, you will be invited to a Business Plan Training Session where you will receive guidance on the preparation of your business plan for submission to the investment panel. (N.B Only successfully shortlisted applicants will be contacted by the NCPC)
STEP 4: Completed Business Plans must be submitted to the NCPC no later than four (4) weeks after the Business Plan Training Session.
STEP 5: The Business Plans will be reviewed by the Investment Panel and short-listed applicants will be required to pitch their idea to the panel for final judging. Once approval has been given, the funds will be disbursed after signing of the grant agreement and project work will commence.
The PROCOM Challenge comes to an end this week. Interested businesses are asked to apply by sending their application forms to the NCPC no later than June 30th, 2016.
About the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC)
Established in October 2013, The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC) is responsible for the identification of key issues related to competitiveness and productivity in Saint Lucia.
The NCPC and its Technical Secretariat is committed to providing the necessary advocacy and research to produce timely and effective recommendations to policymakers on issues that affect both competitiveness and productivity on island. For more information about productivity or on the NCPC, visit www.stluciancpc.org; www.facebook.com/stluciancpc, call 468-5571/5576 or send an e-mail to stluciancpc@gmail.com

June 28, 2016
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FIND YOUR PASSION- LIVE YOUR DREAMS

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NCPC Productivity Ambassador, Johanan Dujon with LHCSS 2016 Graduating Class

Graduation- a time for celebration!
Graduation- seeing years of hard work and commitment finally bear fruit!
Graduation- a proud moment for parents and students!
While graduation means different things to different people, the fact remains that this period of transformation from student to graduate is often fraught with uncertainty for students.
 In Saint Lucia, during the months of June to July thousands of students leave behind their secondary schools to embark upon a journey. After five (5)  years of growing accustomed to familiar routines and faces, some are immediately thrown into the world of work while others continue go on to further their studies.
Understanding how difficult this transition can be for students and the possible impact on productivity, the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC) has embarked on a Schools’ Graduation Tour. The tour aims to promote an awareness and understanding of the notions of productivity and competitiveness.
Earlier today, NCPC Productivity Ambassador, Johanan Dujon, the Managing Director of Algas Organics (an agro-processing firm specialising in the production of bio-fertilizers from seaweed) had the opportunity to speak to a group of over 100 students of the Leon Hess Comprehensive School 2016 Graduating Class.
The theme for this year’s Graduation was “Find Your Passion- Live Your Dreams” and Johanan, a young entrepreneur, was able to share his own story of finding and nurturing his passion and eventually living his dreams.
Look out for more excerpts from the 2016 NCPC Schools’ Graduation Tour.
 

June 24, 2016
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NCPC Releases Saint Lucia Productivity Summary Report 2000-2015

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Productivity Summary Report
One of the key objectives of the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council is the monitoring of productivity growth and the benchmarking of Saint Lucia’s productivity levels with that of other countries. 
Undertaking this inaugural assessment of the levels of productivity is a very critical step in the discussions on productivity and the actions that will be required to raise productivity levels in Saint Lucia. 
Click here to download the  Saint Lucia Productivity Study – Summary-2000-2015

June 22, 2016
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Productive Teams Build Productive Businesses

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ProductivityWorking productively as a team can be difficult for a number of reasons.  Based on various backgrounds and professions, teams are usually confronted with a wide array of ideas and opinions on any particular subject matter that may result in conflicts and disagreements.  These disagreements can sometimes be quite volatile and discussions may sometimes go on for longer than was expected. Regardless of the reason, the end result can prove highly unproductive. 
 
How can we build productive teams? 
For a team to work successfully there must be certain important elements present.  These elements can help the team work effectively together and the end results will be positive.  These elements include:

  • The Presence of A Common Goal
  • Unity and Trust
  • A Dynamic, Empathetic Leader
  • A Sense of Choice and
  • A Good Selection of Team Members

It can be difficult to find a compatible group of people who can work well together. The success of the team is heavily dependent on the circumstances and the reason for the formation of the group.  It is important to note that to achieve a successful business; the employees need to work together in various types of groups in order for goals to be achieved.  In some instances, there will be groups working towards a common goal, where each member has to participate equally, sharing duties to reach the desired objective.   In other circumstances, it may be that each member has a specific and separate role to play in order for the end result to be reached successfully.
There must be a sense of unity among members as unity in turn builds trust. Without trust, there is generally conflict.  Therefore, it is usually wise for a team to have a chosen leader.  The leader’s role should be to successfully guide the team, instilling unity, building trust and avoiding conflicts along the way.
As stated previously, within the team, there must also be an established sense of choice.  This sense of choice means that each team member must feel that their input is respected, accepted and considered by all other team members.  They must feel that the choices given to the entire team are just that, for everybody and not just for one member.  There should also be a balanced sense of competence within the team.  In other words, each member should know their capabilities and be able to apply their skill. They must also be able to trust that all other team members have the ability to do the same.
When a leader is asked to choose members from a group of people, it would be wise to undertake research on prospective members’ background, personality and skills.  Changes may need to be made if one person does not fit well with others within the group. 
Good leaders are those who lead by example. Also, a good leader must show team members how to work through conflict respectfully.   If they have done their job correctly, members will understand the goals set, their role on the team and their specific tasks.  If members are confused about what they are supposed to do, they will encroach on another member’s role, overlapping tasks and wasting time and resources.
Smaller working teams have become a major part of many productive large corporations.  They are formed regularly as they work well at finding solutions to problems and conceptualizing ideas. With a smaller grouping concentrating on working on an issue or theorizing an outcome, results in a greater chance of the right solution being found. Therefore, this means that the right group selections must be made, all team members must have the right mind-set and a dependable positive leader must be chosen.
 
For more information about productivity, visit the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC) Secretariat, 2nd floor, Financial Centre Building, Bridge Street, Castries, log on to the NCPC website; www.stluciancpc.org ; www.facebook.com/stluciancpc ,call 468-5571/5576 or send an e-mail to stluciancpc@gmail.com
 

June 21, 2016
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