Belizean public sector workers and Belizean nationals who have actively participated in the CARICOM Single Market (CSM) are to be trained as spokespersons in a special training workshop scheduled for February 24 and 25 at the Best Western Hotel in Belize City. The workshop is spearheaded by the Ministry of Trade, Investment, Promotion, Private Sector Development and Consumer Protection – the National CSME focal point in Belize, in partnership with the CARICOM Secretariat and with funding from the Government of Canada.

Participants being mobilized include local CARICOM traders, exporters, professionals and CARICOM Youth Ambassadors, as well as public sector workers who facilitate applications under the four regimes of the CARICOM Single Market – Skills, Goods, Services and Rights of establishment of businesses.

The ambassadorial group will be deployed post training to share their experiences in accessing the CARICOM Single Market and to share with nationals how they too can access the right to work, travel and do business in 12 other CARICOM nations.

Day One of training – February 24 – begins with an opening ceremony at 5:30 p.m. to which media are invited, and will include a refresher on the rights and obligations of all Belizean nationals under the CARICOM Single Market and new developments brought about by the Shanique Myrie versus Barbados judgment.

On Day Two – February 25 – intensive training starting at 9:30 a.m. will focus on interview and presentation techniques to improve participants’ abilities to effectively share information on the CARICOM Single Market with Belizeans from all walks of life.

All participants will be inducted into the regional CSME Spokespersons Bureau at 5 p.m. on February 25, and will be specially welcomed by Andy Sutherland, Deputy Director, Ministry of Trade, Investment, Promotion, Private Sector Development and Consumer Protection – National CSME focal point, Tricia Gideon, Trade Economist and the CARICOM Secretariat. The media are also invited to cover this event.

The Spokespersons Workshop follows a series of teacher training workshops on the CSM in Belmopan and Dangriga, and is precursor to the CSM Media Workshop scheduled for February 26 and 27 at Best Western Hotel in Belize City. Other Teacher Training Workshops on the CSME are planned for April in Orange Walk and Belize City.

All Workshops are key activities under the CARICOM Single Market Information Flows Project which is mandated to set the framework for heightened public education and awareness on the CSME led by the focal point Ministries in six CARICOM Member States. This includes capacity building initiatives, the AccessCSME – The workplace edition series, sustainable public education strategies and information channels. The project is being implemented in Belize, Jamaica, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Guyana.

Contact: Tricia Gideon, CSME Focal Point, Ministry of Trade, Investment, Promotion, Private Sector Development and Consumer Protection

Tel: 501 822 2832