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| What motivated the establishment of the TF working group? |
The Trade Facilitation needs assessment which is conducted in the context of the trade facilitation negotiations at the WTO |
| What year was it established? |
2008 |
| Do you have other national bodies dealing with WTO issues and/or with TF? |
We have contact points dealing with specific WTO agreements; we have an interministerial council dealing with trade issues, we also have specific Departments in Government dealing with trade facilitation (for example Customs) but prior to the establishment of the task force, there was no set body dealing with trade facilitation in the context of the WTO. |
| Was the working group based on a previously existing multi-agency group/committee (for example a trade and transport faciltiation committee)? |
No; the group was newly appointed |
| What is the current status of the working group (running, pilot phase, study) |
Running |
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| Has the working group been set up as an ad hoc group, or a legal entity/organization? |
In the pure sense, the group is not a legal entity since there is no legislative authority supporting its existence. However, the working group was commissioned on administrative directive by the Cabinet of Ministers. |
| What specific documents were necessary to institutionalise the group and which body and at which level made the decisions? |
The group was established by the Cabinet of Ministers after a Cabinet Consultion rendered it established. |
What is the scope/manadate of the working group? |
Trade Facilitation issues at all levels: national, bilateral, multilateral |
| Does the working group have terms of reference? |
Yes, but the task force is still working on it. |
| Which is the coordinating agency |
Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Consumer Affairs |
What is the structure of the group
(Chair/co-chair, sub-groups etc.)? |
The group is chaired by the coordinating agency and c-chaired by Customs. |
| Do you have a permanent technical secretariat? |
No |
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| Do you have a formal budget for the operations of the working group? |
No |
| If yes, what major items are covered by it? |
N.a. |
| What are the sources of funding? |
N.a. |
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| What are the objectives of the working group? |
No objectives established by the terms of reference as yet. |
Does the working group have a
working plan? |
Yes |
| How do you monitor progress in implementing the working group? |
Ensuring the work set ou in the work plan is done by the agency responsible. (is there a reporting scheme?) |
| How often, and in which form and to whom is the working group reporting? |
The working group is fairly new and does not have much to report on but the task force must report to the Minister. |
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| What public or quasi-public agencies participate in the working group? |
Public Sector Agencies
a. Trade, Commerce and Industry (Chairs);
b. Customs (Co-chairs);
c. Agriculture;
d. Health;
e. Attorney General's Chambers;
f. External Affairs;
g. Economic Affairs.
Statutory Boards / Quasi Governmental Bodies
h. Air and Sea Port Authority
i. Bureau of Standards
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| What private associations or entities participate? |
a. St. Lucia Small Business Association
b. St. Lucia Customs Brokers Association
c. St. Lucia Shippers Association
d. St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce
e. St. Lucia Coalition of Services Industries Inc.
f. St. Lucia Manufacturers Association |
| What is the level of seniority of the participants? |
Most persons are middle to senior level in their organisations. |
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| Does the working group meet regularly? |
Less than once a month (5 meetings between September 2008 and April 2009). |
| What is the level of participation in each of the meetings ? |
Most agencies are very active. |
| Do you use different meetings formats (such as focus groups, brainstorming, Citizen jury's etc?)? |
Yes |
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| How do you keep all stakeholders informed of the working groups' meetings and new documents, upcoming events etc? |
E-mails and official correspondence to agencies. |
| How does the group interace with other working groups / committees working on similar issues? |
Invitation to agencies to report on their trade facilitation work; Guest Speakers etc. |
| Do you undertake special information session for the general public or particular stakeholders? |
Not yet for the general public but for relevant stakeholders for example Ministry of Agriculture. |
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| What was the impact of the work of the group? |
The group is currently presenting to various agencies on trade facilitation and taking part in various trade faciltiation activities. |
| How does it benefit your countries' responsiveness to the WTO negotiation process? |
Presentations to agencies inform national positions, sensitization to trade facilitation negotiations in the WTO. |
Have there been concrete operational outcomes? |
National negotiating positions have been taken and will be communicated at the next NGTF in July if St. Lucia attends the meeting. |
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| What are the crucial success factors? |
Communication, Trust, Understanding |
| What are the greatest obstacles? |
Meeting attendance, legal and technical nature of the proposals, Financing for task force activities, information load. |
| What are the main lessons learned? |
Keep everyone involved in the process: send emails, keep persons in teh loop, team-building exercises, presentations on other trade faciltiation work, example ASCYCUDA ++, Trade Facilitation benchmark study |
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| What are the plans for further development of the working group? |
1. Visiting FedEx Cargo depot to assist in understanding the Expedited Shipment proposal;
2. Presentations on various trade facilitation work, border reform and modernization activities e.g. CLOVIS and ASYCUDA World;
3. Attendance at NGTF meetings;
4. Capacity building exercises (training, workshops etc.)
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Mr. Leo Titus PREVILLE
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Consumer Affairs
Waterfront, Castries
Saint Lucia
Tel.:+ 1 (758) 4522627
Fax: +1 (758) 4537347 |
