TTEITI- FCO Promoting Best Practice in Natural Resources Management

in the Caribbean.

Barbados Workshop Evaluation Report

Prepared by: Nazera Abdul-Haqq (Policy Coordinator, TTEITI).

Date: 14 September 2017.

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Table of Contents Project Description ....................................................................................................................................... 2

Overview of Participants ............................................................................................................................... 2

Data Analysis ................................................................................................................................................. 3

Participants’ understanding of EITI. .......................................................................................................... 3

The perceived need for and the relevance of the EITI in Barbados. ...................................................... 3-5

Levels of satisfaction and interest in the Workshop .............................................................................. 5-6

Effectiveness of advertising ...................................................................................................................... 6

Successes & Lessons learned ........................................................................................................................ 7

Sustainability: What are the next steps? ...................................................................................................... 8

Appendix 1 .................................................................................................................................................... 9

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Project Description The Trinidad and Tobago Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (TTEITI) Steering Committee

received grant funding from the British High Commission Trinidad and Tobago, through the UK Foreign &

Commonwealth Office Prosperity Fund, to implement a project aimed at promoting best practice in

natural resources management in the Caribbean. This project comprises of technical workshops, one to

be held in each of three identified countries: Barbados, Belize and Jamaica. The goal of these workshops

is to build stakeholders’ capacity and highlight the benefits of EITI implementation and show the

linkages between local extractive sector issues that are of national importance and the EITI.

The Barbados Capacity Building Workshop was held on Tuesday 12th of September 2017 at the Accra Beach

Hotel Conference Center. Refer to Appendix I for the Workshop Agenda.

This document serves as the TTEITI Secretariat’s Evaluation Report for the Barbados workshop.

Overview of Participants Based on a headcount conducted during the pre-lunch session, 42 persons attended the event, including

members of the media and excluding Speakers. This attendance compared with the target of 60

participants. The Secretariat was only able to capture personal information on 31 participants because all

participants did not provide their details at registration.

The majority of workshop participants (39%) represented Civil Society Organizations such as the

Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) and the Barbados Union of Fisher folk (BARNUFO). There

was equal representation by persons in Government (19%) (e.g. the Division of Energy and

Communications) and from the Solutions Barbados Political Party (19%). Hart Energy and Trading and

Caribbean Oilfield Services were two Companies in attendance and there was representation from the

British High Commission and the European Union. One university student of the Centre for Resource

Management and Environmental Studies UWI (Barbados) also participated.

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Data Analysis Of the 31 persons registered at the event, 26 (or 84%) completed the feedback/evaluation form. Most

respondents answered all questions while there were five forms with nonresponses to a couple questions.

Participants’ understanding of EITI. Most of the participants (92%) stated that they better understood the purpose and role of the EITI having

attended the workshop, while the remainder (8%) were unsure about any change in their level of

understanding. See Table 2.

Table 2

Q1: I now have a better understanding of the purpose and role of the EITI

Yes No Unsure Total Respondents

23 0 2 25

The perceived need for and the relevance of the EITI in Barbados.

Similarly, all respondents answered this question and 100% of them believed that the EITI was relevant to

Barbados. While this finding may suggest that all participants were on board with the EITI, responses from

the Breakout Session presented a less certain picture.

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From the Breakout Session, some persons expressed that there was difficulty in comprehending the

relevance/ benefit of the initiative to Barbados.1 The explanations provided by the Secretariat focused on

reconciliation of extractive sector receipts and payments, access to data and access to a regional network

as the primary benefits of the EITI. Emphasis was also placed on the citizens’ ownership of the country’s

natural resources and their right to information on how they are exploited. It is important to note that

the Secretariat did not initially tailor its messages/ responses to the Barbados mining and fishing sectors,

which are arguably more current, relevant or valuable to the audience when compared to the oil and gas

sectors.

Based on the participants’ responses, these explanations did not resonate with some. This presents the

opportunity for the Secretariat to tailor key messages to convince participants of the relevance of the

initiative to the different host countries and to emphasize these messages in the TTEITI overview

presentation. These messages can also be incorporated in the Information Folder given to participants.

To do this effectively, the Secretariat must better understand/foresee what is important to the different

types of organizations. The answer largely depends on the current extractive sector issues facing the

country. While oil and gas are pertinent to Trinidad and Tobago, it may not be as relevant to other

Caribbean countries. For example, one participant from the Barbados Consumers Research Organization

(BARCRO) did not believe that the initiative would apply to the country’s oil sector. In addition, members

of BARNUFO were interested in knowing how the EITI can protect the fishing industry or compensate

fisher folk in the event of damage to the sea from oil production. Likewise, a representative of the Division

of Energy and Telecommunication also wanted to know what practical regulatory/institutional changes

the EITI offers the Barbados extractive sector. We pointed out that ‘extractives’ applied also to forestry,

fisheries etc. and that the EITI principles and practices were equally relevant.

Messaging may be expanded to include the following:

1. The EITI is a mechanism through which the implementing country can improve its regulatory and

institutional systems to improve how the sector is managed, through recommendations put

forward by the EITI Independent Administrator/Auditor. EITI implementation may then result in

better regulation of the mining sector, more licensed quarry operators, better revenue collection

of mining sector revenues, auditing of revenues to ensure that extractive companies pay what is

due to the government, etc.

2. The EITI, through reconciliation of revenue payments and receipts, identifies and helps to plug

leakages in the system.

3. The EITI is flexible and allows civil society leeway to include other aspects relevant to the

extractive sector that are not explicitly required in the EITI Standard 2016 (e.g. environmental

reporting).

4. The EITI provides a platform for civil society to engage directly with the Government and

extractive companies – which otherwise may be difficult to do.

5. The EITI provides a forum for divergent voices to discuss in a safe environment pertinent issues

related to the country’s extractive sector.

1 The data shows that while 19 persons thought that the initiative was needed in Barbados, 6 persons remained unsure. Those who were unsure represented BARNUFO, the Division of Energy, the National Petroleum Corporation and CYEN.

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6. The EITI underscores citizens ownership of the country’s natural resources and provides them

with an understanding of the extractive sectors and independent data on the exploitation of the

resources which will help them to ask the right questions and participate in the decision making

process.

Levels of satisfaction and interest in the Workshop

One member of BARNUFO was not satisfied with the event while another respondent from BARNUFO and

from CYEN were unsure if they were satisfied. The other 22 respondents expressed their satisfaction with

the workshop.

Observation is another useful source of data that may be used to gauge interest. Based on observation by

the TTEITI Policy Coordinator, there was significant interaction throughout the workshop between

participants and speakers and, in some instances, the feedback from some participants could not be

accommodated given time constraints. Persons on every table took notes throughout the presentations

and, in some instances, took photos of some of the slides. Participants also requested access to the slides

after the event. During the mid-morning break, participants were heard discussing among themselves

their interest in Prof. Jupiter’s presentation entitled “How Can Barbados Unlock Its Energy Potential?

Mature Field Development & Attracting Investment” and during the lunch break some expressed their

interest in seeing the other presentations by Gregory McGuire (Saving For a ‘Rainy Day’ & Investing for

the Future: How to Manage Natural Resources Wealth) and by Ms. Louise Poy Wing (How to Minimize

the Impact of Production on Tourism? Environmental, Legal and Regulatory Frameworks). From the

feedback forms, participants overwhelming indicated an interest in Prof. Jupiter and Mr. Gregory

McGuire’s presentations.

BOX 1:

Some of the notable responses to the question 7 “Which part of the workshop was most

relevant/ useful to you?” include:

“Mr. Jupiter and Mr. McGuire’s presentation was very interesting!”(UWI CERMES

Student)

“I need more information. I understand part of it but not all of it.” (BARNUFO

Membership Officer)

“All is relevant! I particularly enjoyed Professor Jupiter and gleaned a lot from his

presentation.” (Solutions Barbados Candidate).

“Most interested in dialogue about the role of good governance and the involvement of

civil society in assisting to guide EITI.” (CYEN, Executive Coordinator).

“Economic information. It is always interesting to hear about studies that are based on

economic findings.” (IT Assistant, BARCRO)

“The first part that explained the initiative, but I need more information.” (BARNUFO)

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Finally, all 26 respondents mentioned that they plan to share the information received at the workshop

with their colleagues. Twenty-two respondents also requested that they be added to the TTEITI

Secretariat’s regional engagement list while 4 persons did not respond to this question.

Effectiveness of advertising

Participants were asked to identify how they heard about the workshop. The options were via Social

Media, Email Blasts, Telemarketing, the TTEITI website, through Referrals and Other. Some participants

learned of the workshop through more than one channel. The data shows that referrals and invitations

from the TTEITI Secretariat or word-of-mouth within organizations (i.e. Other) were the most effective

forms of advertising the event. Social media and e-blasts were also useful. Although the TTEITI Secretariat

engaged in telemarketing, none of the participants identified learning of the workshop through that

medium. This may be because persons may have attributed the source of the advertisement to the email

blast and not to the telephone call, given that the Secretariat shared the email blasts to persons only

having introduced the workshop to them on the telephone. Therefore, since persons had to register

through the link in the email blast (or email their information) they may have associated learning about

the event with the medium through which they registered. In addition, the workshop was not advertised

on the TTEITI website and therefore it was not identified as a means of learning about the event. This

option would be removed from the feedback form if the website is not used in future workshops for

advertisement. See Table 1 below.

Table 1

Q8: How did you hear about the workshop?

Social Media 6

Email Blasts 5

Telemarketing 0

TTEITI Website 0

Referral 8

Other 8

Total 27

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Successes & lessons learned

Successes Lessons Learned The presentations were well-received overall and targeted to the interest of the attendees. There was significant interaction during the breakout session.

Presentations should continue to draw on the Trinidad and Tobago experience as offering possible options for the host country’s consideration in their way of doing business.

The TTEITI Secretariat web- checked in all attendees, which minimized delays.

Call speakers and the Chair the day before the flight to ensure that they are aware of their flight times and date. Reinforce the need to be on time given eastbound traffic.

Most participants completed the feedback forms Encourage them to fill out all of the questions on the sheet.

The Secretariat was able to register most attendees.

Modify the registration sheet to exclude ‘Age’ and include Organization. Also, increase the spacing of the rows to accommodate handwriting that is more legible.

The room was organized the night before the workshop so minimal work was needed on the morning of the event.

Create all signage and include TTEITI and BHC logo for better branding and email to hotel for printing. The hotel printed directional signs but they were inaccurate (particularly the sign with the TTEITI’s name). Ensure that the Head and the supporting member of the Secretariat know where the handheld microphones are located. Set up FB Live.

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Sustainability: What are the next steps?

Following the event the TTEITI Secretariat emailed all participants the workshop’s PowerPoint

presentations.

On the morning of Wednesday 13 September 2017, the Chair of the TTEITI Steering Committee (Mr. Victor

Hart) and the Head of the TTEITI Secretariat (Mr. Sherwin Long) met with Minister of Energy and

Telecommunications, Senator Darcy Boyce at his office, and five of his senior officers, to exchange ideas

on EITI implementation. In the afternoon, the Chair and the Head met with three senior officers of the

Caribbean Development Bank's Economics Department (CDB) to discuss how the EITI’s governance

principles might be complementary to the CDB's objectives for their regional projects.

Over the next few months, the TTEITI Secretariat will follow up with Minister Darcy Boyce and senior

government officials to gauge interest in EITI implementation. The Secretariat will also continue to follow

up periodically with civil society and company stakeholders engaged at the workshop about their interest

in EITI related topics and other technical capacity building priorities. The Secretariat will also follow up

with the CDB officials on opportunities for partnership on governance related projects.

The Secretariat also intends to work with Minster Boyce if he decides to pursue his idea that the

Hydrocarbon Basin in the Eastern Caribbean should be treated as an economic zone and, with the help of

the CARICOM Secretariat, create a joint CARICOM Working Group to standardize license and contract

drafting, environmental regulation, local content provisions and other key energy sector matters.

In addition, the TTEITI Secretariat will build a regional knowledge network and provide updates to

workshop participants on EITI developments and other key extractive sector developments online and

through other communications channels.

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Appendix I

PROGRAMME AGENDA

Time Speaker Topics

9:00 am – 9:10 am

Victor Hart, Chair, TTEITI Steering Committee.

Welcoming Remarks

9:10 am -9:15 am

Craig Fulton, Deputy High Commissioner, British High Commission Barbados & The Eastern Caribbean.

Remarks

9:15 am -9:20 am

Senator the Honourable Darcy Boyce, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister on Energy, Immigration, Telecommunications and Invest Barbados.

Remarks

9:20 am – 9:45am Sherwin Long, Head, TTEITI Steering Committee.

How Can the EITI Benefit Barbados?

9:45 am- 9:55 am MID- MORNING BREAK

9:55 am– 10:25 am Jason Cotton, Economist, Caribbean Development Bank.

Setting The Stage: Economic Performance, National Priorities and Challenges.

10:25 am – 11:10 am Professor Andrew Jupiter, Energy Industry Expert.

How can Barbados Unlock its Energy Potential? : Mature Field Development & Attracting Investment

11:10 am – 11:55 pm Gregory McGuire, Energy & Strategy Consultant.

Saving for a ‘Rainy Day’ and Investing for the Future: How to Manage Natural Resources Wealth.

11:55 am – 1:00 pm LUNCH BREAK

1:00 pm – 1:45 pm Louise Poy Wing, Senior State Counsel, MEEI.

How to Minimize The Impact Of Production On Tourism? Environmental Legal and Regulatory Frameworks.

1:45 pm – 2:55 pm BREAK OUT SESSION

2:55 pm – 3:00 pm Mr. Sherwin Long Closing Remarks