He told senior public servants attending the Second Planning and Budget Reform Workshop organised by the Ministry of Finance, that it would require the creation of an environment that enables an expansion of the freedoms currently enjoyed in the areas of education, health services, right of establishment of businesses, suitable and affordable housing, freedom of expression, wealth creation and personal advancement.

"It is the desire of this Government that all citizens should be able to pursue their dreams in a peaceful and safe environment," Prime Minister Douglas told the 100 top technicians brought together to devise a plan for a realistic and workable framework for efficient strategic planning and management in government.

Dr. Douglas stressed that the social gains that have been realised over the years in terms of the performance of students, improved standard of living brought about by his Government's actions with respect to the minimum wage of the lowest paid workers and the commendable achievement of being ranked 39th among 177 nations on the United Nations Human Development Index must all be protected in whatever planning framework the public sector develops.

Prime Minister Douglas, who is also Minister of Finance said the Federation's strategic planning framework must also take cognisance of the economic growth agenda, which currently has its main goal the transformation of the economy into a service-oriented economy following the decision to exit from the sugar manufacturing industry.

"Tourism and in particular, high-end tourism. has been identified as the main engine of growth over the foreseeable future.  There are also several other areas such as agriculture, high value-added manufacturing and information technology and financial services that must be boosted in order to give the economy the diversification that it would be necessary to sustain it should any shocks arise in any one sector.  There are areas that you must focus on in the planning process," Dr. Douglas pointed out.

~~Adz:Left~~He suggested that in order to achieve the vision for reform and growth in the context of a service-oriented economy "our human resource development agenda must be at the center of all of our planning efforts."

"Hence training and personal development programmes must be developed for our people.  In light of limitations on our own resources you as managers must use innovative tactics to ensure that your staff obtain the necessary skills to carry out their specific assignment.  In general, we must also devise strategies for ensuring that all of our people, especially our young people have the opportunity to develop their talents and their skills in order to take advantage of the increasing opportunities being offered by the new global economy," said Prime Minister Douglas.

Pointing to the Federation's own fiscal and debt situation as most challenging due to the past impact of large shocks on the local economy, which have resulted in the build-up of public debt, Dr. Douglas said that it was in this context therefore that the planning must also take place.

"It is the environment; it is the framework in which you must determine your planning. This implies that whatever resources we have available to us must be employed in the most economically beneficial manner so that we can receive real value for money from our limited resources," said Dr. Douglas, who encourage the public servants "to make every effort to arrive at a strategic planning framework that is transparent, effective and enhances the corporate governance stance of the Government."

"For too long we have placed emphasis on firefighting mode management.  It is now time for us to begin to place emphasis on fire prevention, which is aptly put one manager "Managing is Planning.  Not to plan is not to manage," said Prime Minister Douglas.