Published 6 June 2024
St Kitts, Basseterre,
Buckie Got It Media Source
Bootcamp Enhances Public Sector Communication Skills
Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, 3 June 2024 – Inadequate and ineffective
communication may act as a barrier to accessing social protection by people in need.
This was the sobering message emerging from a recent ‘communications bootcamp’ held
at the Saint Kitts Marriot Resort.
Attended by public sector officials with responsibility for implementing social protection
programmes, the intensive two-day workshop sought to bolster their communication
skills, better positioning them to speak about their work and its impact.
The Bootcamp covered a range of topics including developing strong objectives,
identifying and understanding target audiences, crafting meaningful messages,
multimedia channels, storytelling and engaging the media. In highly interactive sessions,
participants shared experiences and problem solved as they honed their communications
skills.
According to lead facilitator Faine Richards, Communications and Advocacy Officer at the
United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office in Trinidad and Tobago, the role of public
sector officials in interfacing with the media is vital. “Consistent, transparent public
information underpinned by a human rights philosophy is key to ensuring the most
vulnerable can access basic public goods and services, including healthcare, education
and nutrition support,” she said, stressing the importance of helping taxpayers to
understand the need for investment in social programmes.
Ms. Jeweleen Manners-Woodley, Project Officer with the Ministry for Social Development
and Gender Affairs, spoke of the role of the training in strengthening participants’
communication skills . “…This workshop was excellent for technical staff because, while
we are pretty good at implementing programmes, we don’t have the same level of
confidence speaking to, or answering questions from, the media. The training targeted
our work …helping us to understand the importance of communication and refining our
skills so that we can more confidently face the media.”
The Communications Bootcamp was hosted by the Resilient Caribbean: Engaging and
Training Youth, Strengthening Integrated Social Protection Sector Delivery
Joint Programme, which is being implemented in Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands,
Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis and the wider Eastern Caribbean through the
Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Commission. This workshop forms part of a
suite of capacity strengthening initiatives on which the Joint Programme is currently
collaborating with the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis, including a media workshop
highlighting social protection issues.
