Published: Friday October 10, 2008
Former Senior Lecturer at the University of the West Indies, Dr Trevor Farrell, yesterday pointed to a three-pronged initiative calling for the urgent reform of the public sector and strengthening the social fabric of Trinidad and Tobago in its drive to eventually become a developed country.
Farrell was the main speaker at a panel discussion entitled "The Way Forward for T&T-Whither Vision 2020", which was the closing session of the UWI-hosted Second Annual Conference on the Trinidad and Tobago Economy (COTE 08), whose theme was "Economic Planning in a Turbulent Environment". The two-day event served to pay tribute to Farrell, who taught both undergraduate and graduate courses during the period 1974-2007 at UWI's Department of Economics.
Farrell, one the country's leading authorities on strategic planning, expressed doubt that Government's much-heralded plan for Trinidad and Tobago to gain developed country status on or before the year 2020 could become a reality.
Looking at the current situation of the country, "we are nowhere near" developed country status, "nor will we get there in 12 years", said Farrell, whose career has spanned the worlds of business, government, academia and international organisations.
He noted that mechanisms for execution of policies in the so-called Vision 2020 plan do not exist. Also, the other problem with that plan was one of communication, he added.
Turning to his three-item proposal for Trinidad and Tobago, Farrell said, "We are urgently in need of public sector reform."
He explained that part of that reform should call for the establishment of a public service academy and a police service academy to train the public sector leaders the country requires.
Secondly, "we need a true entrepreneurial programme", said Farrell, adding that the nation also needs "a social institution programme that impacts on the family" and especially on the male component of the family unit.
"I'll be happy" if that initiative is put in place to move the country forward, he said.
Farrell also expressed a wide range of views on planning in today's world and noted that "the environment is always turbulent".
Noting that globalisation and technological advances have an important impact on planning strategies, he said "strategic planning is far tougher now than when I started".
Other panelists at yesterday's session included Head of UWI's Department of Economics Prof. Dennis Pantin, Economics Lecturer Dr Dhanayshar Mahabir, BB Holdings Limited CEO Lyndon Guiseppi and head of UWI's Department of Agricultural Economics Dr Carlisle Pemberton.
Source: Trinidad Express Newspapers
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_business?id=161385695
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