The Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC) with funding from the United Kingdom Border Force (UKBF) conducted a Middle Management and Operational Leadership Course, aimed at Supervisory staff of member Customs administrations. This course was delivered at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Miami from 12th -14th February 2019. Eighteen middle managers from the Greater Antilles, Dutch Antilles, the OECS, Central and South America, including Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Guyana attended.
CARMS a UK based human resource development company was contracted to deliver the training course. CARMS tutors comprised academic and ex law enforcement professionals, with many years of experience in consultancy, training delivery, mentoring, and support services.
The following topics and learning outcomes which were demonstrably achieved were based on European Union Management Competencies.
- Understanding the current and future issues and demands of a manager and the organisation
- Recognize the need for good leadership practices and the effects different leadership styles can have on individuals and teams
- Recognize the need for good Management practices and the effects different management approaches can have on individuals and teams
- Explore the roles and responsibilities of a manger in the operational setting
- Discuss the key skills and attributes of a leader and/or manager including:
- Setting an example
- Communication
- Motivating and inspiring
- Assessing and analyzing people and situations
- Problem solving
- Developing people and projects
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Explore the JESIP approach to multi-agency working
- Discuss the Joint Decision Model (JDM)
- Link the JDM to management and Leadership principles
- Recognize the elements of Command and control relating to their role within the command structure in major/critical incidents
- Prepare an operational plan (to be used in the final exercise
- Be able to account for and defend decisions and actions
- Apply the newly acquired skills in a table top exercise to test knowledge levels
PS CCLEC in his opening comments to participants stated that the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council and its strategic partners are dedicated to providing Customs middle managers with the skills needed to deliver a high quality of leadership and management on the job. Due to the limited resource base of most small countries represented, such training must be grabbed with enthusiasm and replicated on the job for the benefit of the department, state and society. He further encouraged participants to emulate those small units of the region who with little resources, moderate specialized training and fiery enthusiasm, continue to yield unparalleled results in revenue recovery, contraband seizures, indictments and overall benefits to their society and the region.
The UKBF and CCLEC PS were present throughout the training course signaling these agencies dedication to this training initiative, the course’s refinement and sustainability in the future.
Participants were divided into two cohorts, each being tutored on the same material by two tutorial teams. The material was very well delivered. At the end, all participants were able to demonstrate learning via desktop exercises finally delivered in plenary and a test. Despite being delivered in three days, the course content was ably assimilated by all students. Students stated that this training was opportune, as most of them were recently or just about to embark on middle management roles and felt better equipped to lead and manage their Customs units.
The CCLEC Secretariat and Border Force thank all member administrations who participated in this training course for their dedication. We hope that the new learning will make a qualitative difference in the work being delivered at their departments.
Albert Sandy
PS CCLEC.
