Archives Consultant to Deliver Records Worshops

~~Adz:Left~~Roadtown, Tortola: Thursday, 14 August  – A consultant recommended by the International Archives and Records Management Trust will deliver a series of records management workshops for public servants, beginning next week.

Mr. Kelvin Smith will lead three two-day workshops for Government’s records officers, dealing with topics including records appraisal and retention scheduling of both traditional paper records and electronic records. The first workshop begins on Monday, August 18, at the Public Service Training Centre.

Chief Records Management Officer Mrs. Verna Penn Moll said the objectives of the workshops are to provide hands-on, practical experience using semi-current records from Government departments, and to teach the skills needed to manage backlogs of inactive records in offices and storerooms. More than 50 records officers are expected to take part in the series of workshops.

During his three-week visit to the Virgin Islands, Mr. Smith will also hold meetings with senior Government officials and other stakeholders to discuss plans for the Archives and Records Management Programme.

Last December Mr. Smith was contracted by the International Archives and Records Management Trust on behalf of the Deputy Governor’s Office to develop a proposal for a dedicated archives building and an integrated archives and records management programme in the Virgin Islands. His proposal, submitted in February, is presently under consideration.

Mr. Smith is a consultant and former employee of the National Archives of the United Kingdom. He is the Honourary Secretary of the Commonwealth Archives and Records Managers Association. He travels extensively advising on archives projects in Caribbean, African and Asian-Pacific countries.

The International Archives and Records Management Trust was established in 1989 to help developing nations improve records management. The Trust, which is a non-profit organisation based in the United Kingdom, works with governments to build sustainable laws, policies, systems, procedures, and capacity for creating and managing trustworthy records.

The Archives and Records Management Programme was established in April, 2004 in the Deputy Governor’s Office. Its objective is to encourage proper records management in the government and to develop a comprehensive archives and records management programme.