Jamaica to host Caribbean-Canada leaders’ dialogue

Jamaica is set to host the next staging of the prestigious Caribbean-Canada Emerging Leaders’ Dialogue (CCELD). The programme is offered by the Duke of Edinburgh’s Emerging Leaders’ Dialogues Canada. The dialogue, built on the proven model of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conferences, is scheduled to run from March 24 to 30 of this year.

The programme is anticipated to bring together a wide range of high-calibre mid-career individuals selected from business, government and civil society across Canada and the Caribbean for a leadership exchange over six days. This year, the programme seeks to provide participants with intensive learning and networking opportunities under the working themes of ‘The Blue and Green Economies’, ’Technology and Innovation’ and ‘Tourism and Culture’.

Some notable alumni of the acclaimed dialogue are Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands the Honourable Sharlene Cartwright Robinson; Dean of Scholarships and Director of Leadership and Change at the Rhodes Trust Dr Nadiya Figueroa; Aloun Ndombet Assamba, former high commissioner of Jamaica to the United Kingdom; and former Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture in the Government of Grenada Alexandra Otwey- Noel.

excellent programme

Chair of the CCELD Local Planning Committee and alumnus of the 2011 cohort, Lisa Bell, managing director of the National Export-Import Bank of Jamaica, lauds the CCELD as an excellent leadership programme both on an individual and national level. “Participants are immersed in a dialogue which gives them the opportunity to challenge each other’s perspectives on a range of thematic issues. It compels leaders to venture beyond the parameters of their organisational domain and engage in a dynamic and critical conversation for sustainable community, regional and international development”.

Similarly, senior manager in the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Training in The Bahamas, Ruth-Ann Rolle, points out that the programme can be rated as a life-changing experience. “This programme has impacted my personal life, as well as my career. It has broadened my perspective on inclusivity and diversity. The opportunity to network with leaders from across the region and Canada was crucial. I was exposed to a wealth of knowledge from a range of entrepreneurs, and it helped me to further enhance my own leadership potential. The time I spent on the programme was just as impactful as the time spent attaining my bachelor’s degree in tourism.”

The dialogue is supported by a local planning committee, which represents a variety of sectors. Partnerships have been secured locally with The University of West Indies and in Canada with The Institute for the Study of International Development, McGill University, in Montreal, Quebec.

The programme seeks candidates who are passionate about impacting growth through sustainable policies and are interested in determining practical solutions to the issues hindering development. Applications are currently being accepted for the dialogue and may be submitted by completing the application form located on the website at https://www.eldcanada.org/cceld-participant-application.html. The deadline for applications is February 15.

For further information, contact Shauyagaye Panton at 876 630-1478.

‘The programme seeks candidates who are passionate about impacting growth through sustainable policies and are interested in determining practical solutions to the issues hindering development.’