|
The expected time frame for the planning exercise will be approximately nine months – beginning in the first week of October 2005 and running until June 2006. Consistent with modern planning precepts and the Chief Minister directive, that the planning be “consultative”, the process contemplated will be highly participatory and aimed at tapping into and obtaining the input from the people of all the family islands and from the various economic and social sectors. In terms of the management of the process, the proposal is for the planning to be directed by a Steering Committee chaired by the Chief Minister or his Appointee, with the bulk of the research and analytical work being done by a team of consultant experts and specialists. The work of the consultants would be monitored by a Technical Committee jointly chaired by the Director of Planning and the Chief Economist with other members of staff of Department of Planning (DOP) and the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics (DEPS) providing logistical support.
To ensure that the opinions and views of the people in the several islands and in the various economic and social sectors are taken into account, approximately 27 Island and Sectoral sub-committees will be established. In addition to monitoring the work of the consultants, another important function of the Technical Committee will be the naming of persons to the Island and sectoral sub-committees and monitoring the work of these groups. These sub-committees would include DEPS and DOP staffers who would lead in organizing and scheduling their meetings, serve as resource persons and rapporteurs, provide technical advise and statistics, recording the discussions and reporting back to the Technical Committee. Useful ideas and other pertinent information obtained from these groups would be channeled by the Technical Committee to the Consultants for possible incorporation into the plan.
Two major coordinating workshops are to be held involving all the members of the Steering Committee and the members from the Island and Sectoral sub-committees. The first workshop will be held about one month after the consultants have commenced their diagnostic review to obtain and begin coordinating the views of the various sectoral interests. The second workshop will be held after the consultants have completed the first draft of the Plan in order to obtain the views and recommendations of the people about the draft.
|
