As part of Capacity Building, WCO organized a Leadership and Management Development (LMD) Workshop from 11 to 22 June 2018 for 22 senior managers of the Bahamas Customs and Excise Department (BCED). The overall objective of the two-week interactive workshop was to strengthen senior management capacity to lead and drive reforms within BCED. The first week 10 Superintendents attended the LMD Workshop, the second week 12 Chief Customs Revenue Officers were attending. The LMD Workshop constitutes an important part of the overall support WCO is delivering to BCED for a period of two years. The LMD Workshop aimed to reinforce the organization and to install a new management culture that focuses on managing more strategically, excellent people management skills and modern leadership and management skills, attitude and behaviour.

Senior managers from various units of BCED participated in the workshop. A wide range of topics on personal and organizational development was covered. Many of the topics on leadership, knowing yourself, self-awareness, integrity, negotiations, people management, personal communication and change management were new to the BCED senior management, as was the intense way of discovering and discussing all topics. In a pleasurable, open and hardworking atmosphere participants learned how to organize and manage their administration more effectively. At the same time participants realized there is still a lot of work to be done for the next few years.

For many of the participants the workshop was regarded as an opportunity to assess their personal and managerial skills and approach in their work environment. As a result many of them committed to make fundamental changes in their management and communication styles. During daily feedbacks and at the end of the workshop participants recognized how important their role as senior manager is and how BCED as a whole can further improve on its way to WTO membership in two years from now.

For more information on the WCO Leadership and Management Development Programme, please contact Capacity.Building@wcoomd.org.