The first in a series of Visioning Workshop was convened today by the ARD, at which Public Officers began collaborating on the direction and composition of the NSDP.

In welcoming participants to the Workshop, ARD Chief Executive Officer Mr. Richardson Andrews said it is important that Grenada seeks to bring about a “national directional approach to our development effort.”

Mr. Andrews said the Plan must not only focus on the economic aspects, but also on the social and physical aspects of Grenada’s development. Moreover, the National Strategic Development Plan will not be a desk level plan but rather will give emphasis to participatory planning.

The Workshop on January 27th was Step One in the process and was attended mainly by Public Officers from various Ministries, along with some private sector representatives. Future Visioning Workshops will include the non-governmental community as well as the wider population.

Mr. Andrews said that in order for the plan to work, it requires a significant measure of social cohesion, noting that all ARD initiatives are governed by this type of thinking.

In his feature address, Minister of Finance and Planning Hon. Anthony Boatswain echoed the sentiments of the ARD Chief Executive. Minister Boatswain said it is important to plan with the people rather than plan for the people.

“This Workshop marks an important landmark in the National Strategic Development Planning process. It is the first in a series of workshops in which stakeholders are being engaged in the process of formulating a vision and charting a new direction for Grenada’s development.”

The ARD has been collaborating with the donor community on this major undertaking. The Commonwealth Secretariat through the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation is providing technical assistance and the UNDP is also lending support to the process.

Critical among the policy issues and mandates to be addressed are the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and targets, particularly in the area of poverty, gender and sustainable development.

Minister Boatswain said the Government of Grenada anticipates the successful completion of the National Strategic Development Plan and more importantly the strategies for stimulating growth and empowering people to create liveable communities and sustainable livelihoods.

Leading the formulation of the NSDP is ARD Macro Economist Dr. Sylvia Charles. Dr. Charles explained that the process will entail the identification of resources, the use of performance indicators and an evaluation mechanism.

The steps in this process include identification of critical issues and strategic goals, setting priorities, activities and projects and indicative finance planning, among other steps.