News Releases

For Release Upon Receipt - March 13, 2024

St. Augustine

St. Augustine March 13, 2024– “On May 6th, The UWI Institute of International Relations’ (IIR) Diplomatic Academy of the Caribbean (DAOC) will mark a decade of delivering innovative, modern diplomatic studies-related learning solutions to a range of individuals and institutions. In this regard, the lasting impact of the Diplomatic Academy’s Protocol and Diplomacy flagship training module stands out; not least because it has been offered since the academy’s inception.” This according to The DAOC’s Manager Dr. Nand C. Bardouille who, on March 1st, addressed graduands of the academy’s most recently held offering of the module on ‘Protocol and Diplomacy: A Guide for the Modern Professional’.

This customized, in-person training, which took place from February 26th to March 1st, attracted the largest ever intake of participants of any DAOC module to date. The training deliverable was specifically designed for and geared toward 50 staff of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB). The ECCB’s headquarters in Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis served as its venue.

Dr. Bardouille also hailed ECCB’s Executive Committee for its “vision and foresight to back the development and delivery of customized Protocol and Diplomacy training for Bank employees.” He noted: “The DAOC is uniquely positioned to support the ECCB in that regard, not least because of its outstanding module teaching team.”

The module’s lead facilitator, Ms. Gail P. Guy, a retired diplomat and protocol consultant, said: “There was a clear desire on the part of the ECCB staff to participate in the training on offer. They were very receptive to the information imparted and questions and challenges to their accustomed behaviour led to very animated sessions, which were mutually enjoyable and satisfying.”

Ms. Marise Warner, an attorney-at-law and international law specialist, served as the module’s co-facilitator.

In delivering welcome remarks during the module’s Opening Ceremony on February 26th, Acting IIR Director Dr. Annita Montoute said “as small states with limited physical capacity and natural resources, it is important to strengthen our human resources and social capital and leverage these in our engagements for optimal results.” Dr. Montoute noted further: “I am particularly impressed that ECCB employees from across the various levels (managerial, administration, technical, HR etc) are being trained in this important area. This is an indication of the recognition of the relevance of this type of training for all levels of the organization.”

The importance of this training was underscored by Dr. Valda F. Henry, ECCB Deputy Governor, who emphasized its alignment with the Bank’s vision of delivering exceptional service and influential policy advice to support the development of a thriving Currency Union. Dr. Henry commended the DAOC for its preparatory work in customizing the curriculum.

In his feature address to the module’s Closing Ceremony on March 1st, ECCB Governor Mr. Timothy N. J. Antoine reaffirmed Dr. Henry’s viewpoint.

In remarks on behalf of module participants, Mrs. Karel Forde-Harrigan, Country Manager, ECCB Agency Office in Antigua and Barbuda, characterized the training module as a “transformative journey … [a] learning experience [that was] exceptionally relevant and impactful.” Mrs. Forde-Harrigan concluded: “I speak for everyone when I say that this week has been an invaluable investment in our professional development. We eagerly anticipate applying the knowledge and skills acquired to enhance our daily practices.”

Module participants relayed their thanks and gratitude to Dr. Henry for “championing” this training initiative, indicating that her “presence and active participation [in the module] set the tone for the training and underscored the importance of this program.”

The DAOC celebrated the achievement of this cohort in a ceremony featuring the presentation of module graduands, who were all subsequently conferred with Certificates of Training. During this ceremony, with their certificates in hand, respective graduates were congratulated by Mr. Antoine, Ms. D. Tracy Polius (the ECCB’s Chief Director - Policy), Ms. Guy, Ms. Warner and Dr. Bardouille.

END

About the Diplomatic Academy of the Caribbean

The DAOC is the Caribbean's premier professional development-oriented diplomatic studies centre. An integral part of The University of the West Indies’ Institute of International Relations (IIR), it was established in 2014. The DAOC has a primary teaching mandate in the area of diplomatic studies, offering short, highly specialized training modules in the broad field of diplomatic studies.

For Caribbean professionals seeking to expand their capabilities to advance an international career, the DAOC is a trusted educational partner. Combining a world-class suite of curricular offerings, which align with topical policy and learning trends, with a programme of advocacy and partnerships regarding the relationship between diplomacy and the Caribbean, the Diplomatic Academy provides a unique setting for stakeholders to deepen diplomatic skills/knowledge and enhance policy expertise.

The DAOC has yielded substantial and complementary benefit to the IIR, which was established in 1966 by agreement between the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of Switzerland.

Integral to the DAOC's mission is its commitment to help close human resources capacity gaps in international affairs and diplomacy in the Caribbean, by providing capacity-building and skills development training in diplomacy to up and coming diplomats and to aspiring diplomats from the Caribbean Region. This diplomatic learning and training facility also strengthens the University's capacities for research/analysis, knowledge‐sharing, advocacy, and partnerships and dialogue on the relationship between diplomacy and the Caribbean broadly conceived, with the goal of helping to facilitate policy-relevant awareness-raising on international affairs issues of import (and that are topical) to the Region.

The Diplomatic Academy derives its character from its global outlook, real-world impact, and Caribbean mindedness which, in sum, constitute The DAOC Advantage™. For more information, please visit: https://sta.uwi.edu/daoc.

About The University of the West Indies

The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development, residing at the center of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for over 75 years.

From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with nearly 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Global Campus, and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

The UWI offers over 1000 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and the wider world.

The UWI has been consistently ranked among the best in the world by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). Since The UWI’s 2018 debut in THE’s rankings, it has performed well in multiple schemes—among them including World University Rankings, Golden Age University Rankings (between 50 and 80 years old), Latin America Rankings, and the Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Well-being; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

Learn more at www.uwi.edu