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Our First Webinar: CARICOM’s Procurement Framework and 2018 Plan

As perhaps the most longstanding regional organisation, with nearly 20 associated institutions through which it touches the life every Caribbean citizen, the projects undertaken by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) can have far-reaching impact. However, as a regional organisation, CARICOM can seem a bit removed from the business community. As a result, its procurement procedures and processes tend not to be well understood, which undoubtedly would affect the number and quality of the tender responses it receives. Additionally, the organisation will soon be rolling out a Community Procurement Regime within the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), which has the potential to transform public procurement not only within CARICOM itself, but also in each of its Member States.

Purpose and Objectives

This webinar has been organised to increase awareness among Caribbean Consultants and Vendors (of goods and services) of the changes that are being made to CARICOM’s procurement procedures, and to provide insight into the priority projects (at the regional level) that should be open for tender in 2018. Accordingly, this webinar hopes to achieve the following:

  • Apprise attendees of the soon-to-be-implemented Community Procurement Regime, its benefits, opportunities, implementation timeline, and how Consultants and Vendors would be affected
  • Provide an overview of CARICOM’s current procurement procedures
  • Share CARICOM’s procurement plan for 2018
  • Get the Consultant and Vendor community more aware the procedural changes in procurement occurring at the CARICOM level, so that they may be better able to position themselves to adjust and better capitalise on the opportunities that are likely to emerge.

The Speakers

Philip McClauren – Deputy Programme Manager, CSME Unit

Originally from Saint Lucia, Philip has been a career public servant for almost three decades, focusing on areas such as Trade, Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Currently, is the Deputy Programme Manager of the CSME Unit in Barbados, and he will be walking us through CARICOM’s new procurement’s framework, the Community Procurement Regime.

Chester James – Programme Manager, Procurement, CARICOM Secretariat

Chester James started his career in St Vincent and the Grenadines. Currently is the Programme Manager, Procurement, of the CARICOM Secretariat located in Guyana. At the webinar, Chester will be sharing with us CARICOM’s procurement plan for 2018, which he would have been instrumental in preparing.

Michele Marius – Host and Moderator, Project Calls

Michele Marius is an experienced Consultant, Manager, Regulator and Engineer who has worked in the private and public sectors, and in developed and developing countries in the Caribbean, the South Pacific, and Southeast Asia. She is the Founder of Project Calls, and has organized this webinar. She will also moderate the proceedings.

Webinar Details

WHEN: Tuesday, 20 March 2018

TIME: 10:30 a.m. (Barbados time, GMT -5)

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN:  https://projectcalls.clickmeeting.com/caricom-procurement-framework-2018-plan/register?_ga=2.9889456.488434950.1520865779-994586815.1516292113

NOTE:  Places are limited, so do log in 5—10 minutes before the session begins to ensure a place!

 

 

Images:  P McClauren; C James; M Marius