CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) – Regional integration, economic growth and public sector reform will be some of the highlights at a Leadership Development Programme (LDP), scheduled to begin in St Lucia on today.

The Caribbean Leadership Project (CLP), funded by the Government of Canada, and executed by the Canada School of Public Service, will convene the first face-to-face programme that is designed to support public service leaders in developing their capacity to contribute more effectively regional growth.This phase of the programme will cater to 29 mid-level managers of the public service and officers of comparable rank from 10 national governments and one regional organisation.The theme for this module is “The Confident and Courageous Mindset”. Against this background, participants from across the region will focus on developing a greater understanding of self, beginning with what awareness, competencies and strategies are required to develop, strengthen, recognise, appreciate and learn in order to provide effective leadership that serves a wider purpose.The LDP is being delivered in a multi-module, experiential and blended learning format.In keeping with the CLP’s commitment to promote regional integration, these senior public leaders will travel to a different participating country for each face-to-face module.The second face-to-face module for this cohort will be held in Jamaica, later this year. In the interim, however, participants will be fully engaged in several virtual learning sessions that are facilitated on CLP’s online learning platform.By participating in this LDP, participants are expected to advance regional integration and economic development by bringing practical learning to the workplace and developing a network of trusted colleagues during and beyond the programme.The countries participating in the Project are Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Kitts & Nevis, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago.The regional organisations participating in the Project are CARICOM Secretariat, Regional Security Systems and the University of the West Indies Open Campus.