SAINT LUCIA

TRADE FACILITATION TASK FORCE

TN/TF/W/143/Rev.2

WTO negotiations on trade facilitation self assessment

guide.

Page 6 Part C:Participation

Composition tailored to suit domestic condition, example:

Transport Ministry was not included;Services Coalition is on the task force.

COMPOSITIONCOMPOSITION

28 PERSONS REPRESENTING 14 AGENCIES

1 representative; 1 alternate

Both members invited to meetings;Both members receive documents.

1. Small Business Association

2. Customs Brokers

3. Shippers

4. Chamber of Commerce

5. Coalition of Services

6. Manufacturers Association

PRIVATE SECTOR

PUBLIC SECTOR

1. Trade, Commerce and Industry (Chairs);

2. Customs (Co-chairs);

3. Agriculture;

4. Health;

5. Attorney General’s Chambers;

6. External Affairs;

7. Economic Affairs.

STATUTORY BOARDS

1. Air and Sea Port Authority;

2. Bureau of Standards.

COORDIANTION

•To assist in the establishment and coordination

of the task force;

•To prepare terms of reference (work in

progress);

•To prepare work plan (template given during

needs assessment).

TN/TF/W51WTO Trade Facilitation Support Guide

AUTHORITY

CABINET OF MINISTERS AUTHORISED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TASK FORCE AND

ITS COMPOSITION.

ROLE OF THE TASK FORCEORIGINALLY, ESTABLISHED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT. HOWEVER, THE ROLE OF THE TASK FORCE IS NOW WIDER:•Monitor multilateral, bilateral trade facilitation negotiations;•Monitor the implementation of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation;•Support border reforms and modernization activities.

MEETINGS5 SO FAR: 3 PRIOR TO NEEDS ASSESSMENT; 2 THEREAFTER

Introduction; August 2008

Assignment of proposals; October 2008

Mock needs assessment exercise; November 2008

4 HOURS ON 4 HOURS ON AVERAGEAVERAGE

NEEDS NEEDS ASSESSMENTASSESSMENT

NATIONAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT CONDUCTED AS PART OF A SUB REGIONAL

EXERCISE

•Sub regional Preparatory Workshop Saint Lucia; September 2008.•Needs Assessment exercise: December 1-5, 2008 Saint Kitts•All agencies except Shippers, Small Businesses Assoc. and Chamber attended

Saint Kitts, Saint Vincent and Saint Lucia

TRADE FACILITATION OVERVIEW OF FINDINGS

[49] proposed measures were considered:PreparednessAlready compliant with 12 (24%)Partially compliant with 23 (47%)Not compliant with 5 (11%)Not applicable 9 (18%)

POST NEEDS ASSESSMENT

•Addition of 1 agency: Shipping Association;•Preparation of the TORs and work plan;•Agency Presentations:

1. Ministry of Economic Affairs January 9, 20092. Saint Manufacturers Association January 9, 20093. Customs Brokers Association January 31, 20094. Ministry of Agriculture March 9, 20095. Shippers Association March 11, 20096. Air and Sea Ports Authority March 26, 2009

SAINT LUCIA AIR AND SEA PORT AUTHORITY

SAINT LUCIA AIR AND SEA PORT AUTHORITY

•Do not call too many meetings! People are busy;•Do not call too little! You loose momentum;•Call necessary meetings & provide a draft agenda;•Smaller meetings of specific agencies;•Give sufficient time to review documents for meetings;•STRICT deadlines.

HOW TO KEEP MOMENTUM

• Keep persons informed;• Team Building exercises;• Trade Facilitation work with other

agencies.

SEA PORT VISIT BY TASK FORCE

SEA PORT VISIT BY TASK FORCE

•Attendance at meetings;•Agencies following negotiating proposals;•Technical nature of the proposals;•Too much information particularly for the private sector;•Financing.

•Snacks, rotate venue, guest speakers;•Agency reps present NA findings (ownership);•Technical & legal officers attend meetings;•Presentation on trade facilatitation work e.g. Benchmark Study;•Team building activities;•Categorizing proposals.

PLANSVisit Air Cargo transit shed in Hewanorra; Present to remaining agencies on the task force and agencies who were not present at the needs assessment;

Review results of the needs assessment; Presentation on various TF work, border reform and modernization activities e.g. CLOVIS.

PRESENTATION ON ASYCUDA++PRESENTATION ON ASYCUDA++

COLLABORATION (Regional)COLLABORATION (Regional)→OECS Secretariat: support &

coordination→OECS Technical mission:

support & coordination→Saint Kitts: document sharing

SAINT LUCIA’S TASK SAINT LUCIA’S TASK FORCEFORCE

TTHHAANNKKYYOOUU

CONTACT INFORMATIONPermanent Secretary: MR. LEO TITUS PREVILLE

Ava MariusCommerce and Industry OfficerMinistry of Commerce, Industry & Consumer Affairs4th Floor Heraldine Rock BuildingWaterfront, CastriesSaint Lucia

Tel: 1(758) 468-4216/18Fax: 1(758) 453-7347Email: avmarius@gosl.gov.lc