The Public Service Academy under the Ministry of Public Administration, in conjunction with the University of the Southern Caribbean, has launched a two-day communications training workshop themed: Strategic Communications for Engaging Citizens Professional. The workshop is tailored to meet the needs of the important cadre of communications specialists within the various government ministries throughout Trinidad and Tobago.
The first round of the workshop was held on September 25th and 26th 2019, at the Ministry of Public Administration, National Library Building in Port-of-Spain. The training was facilitated by a team of professionals, including the experienced and decorated Lt. Col. (retired) Sharon Alfonso-Farrell, who is the highest-ever-ranking woman in the TT military. She is now Chief Protocol and Information Officer of the Caribbean Court of Justice. Her training segments focused insightfully on “Communication in the Public Sector” “Event Planning and Protocol” and “Communication During a Crisis”. Her insights and experiential references redounded to the benefit of all in attendance, based on the questions posed by participants.
The three other presenters are all experienced members of the university community.
Mr. Josh Rudder, the Coordinator of the Integrated Marketing and Communications department at USC, delved into his corporate experience and personal training to address the topics of “Social Media Management” “Corporate Branding and Media Management” and “Communications and the Law”. These were critical themes for the information brokers who participated in the workshop.
Mrs. Sherri-Lyn Legall, Associate Professor in the School of Business, Entrepreneurship and Continuing/Professional Studies, was well received as she attempted to remedy the flawed practice of communicators in her session “Presenting with Professionalism”.
The fourth presenter was Ms. Shelley Lyons, Instructor in the School of Education & Humanities, who targeted two specially requested areas of “Business Writes”, which dealt with the common communication formats used by government communicators, as well as the growing threat to individuals, citizens and government in “Managing the Phenomenon of Fake News”.
This workshop was a welcome intervention for the approximately 15 participants and coordinators. Present at the event was also Mrs. Denise Phillip, Director of the Public Service Academy and Mr. Claudelle McKellar, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Administration. Attendees were given Certificates of Participation.
Soon another batch of government communicators will benefit from this round of training. Both USC and the Public Service Academy are to be commended for partnering on this venture.
