The Internet, Projectization, and Science and Technology: Strategic Tools to

Develop Caribbean Cultural and Creative Industries

By

Ian W. Walcott

Abstract
The Internet presents the single greatest opportunity for developing nations to increase
their insertion into the global economy by way of trade. However, this must be done by
developing strategic programmes in E-government, e-commerce and e-business which
must be underpinned by national strategies that speak to developing Science and
Technology as it relates to favorable insertion into the Digital Global Economy. With
these systemic features in place, then ‘projectization’ becomes the effective tool for
planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
This paper is set within the conceptual framework of International Political Economy and
examines, in particular, the Caribbean knowledge structure (as it relates to science and
technology) and cultural policy. A more narrow focus will be on the Caribbean island
states and their strategies for developing the cultural and creative industries. A closer
look at the region’s e-readiness will show that there is little evidence to support the
Caribbean’s willingness to seize the opportunities on the Internet as a global trading place
for its cultural goods and services. Such limitations will therefore hinder the region’s
attempts at global insertion.

Key Words: Global Insertion, Cultural Policy, Science & Technology, Digital
Economy

JEL Classification #: O14, O22, O32, O38

1
Introduction
International Relations in the 1990s were characterized within a post Cold War context.
For a very brief moment it appeared as if all was well and a new period of global peace
would ensue. It was against this platform of renewed global peace that neo-liberal
economic globalization galloped ahead and as a region, the Americas would be embroiled
in the debate over the formation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). In fact,
so taken in were we by the prospects of globalization and the FTAA that the Republic of
Trinidad and Tobago fancied itself as a potential headquarters of the regional body. As
such, that island state made several strategic policy decisions to reposition its capital, Port
of Spain to be the house of the FTAA.

The common feature in the reconfiguration of the 1990s post Cold War world was a
renewed dominance of the USA within the international system. The fear of a new
Pacific century was subsiding as Japan was plunged into a ten-year recession and
debilitating deflation. The USA would now push the FTAA agenda and the Clinton
Administration became a period of scientific and technological reinvigoration; the
American internal deficit was substantially reduced and the European Union would
finally consolidate into a regional body that would refashion global balance of power.
The new century would once more shift to the Atlantic.

In the meantime, Harvard’s Professor Samuel Huntington was painting a bleak picture of
international relations and politics by reconfiguring the world into a space of civilizations
that would eventually clash and challenge Western dominance. Though Huntington’s
argument had a number on conceptual flaws regarding his definitions of the West versus
‘other’ and how contemporary religions correlate to civilizations, he made the basic point
about the world as follows:

“The West obviously differs from all other civilizations that have ever
existed in that it has had an overwhelming impact on all other
civilizations that have existed since 1500. It also inaugurated the
processes of modernization and industrialization that have become
worldwide, and as a result societies in all other civilizations have been
attempting to catch up with the West in wealth and modernity. Do these
characteristics of the West, however, mean that its evolution and
dynamics as a civilization are fundamentally different from the patterns
that have prevailed in all other civilizations? The evidence of history
and the judgments of the scholars of the comparative history of
civilizations suggest otherwise. The development of the West to date
has not deviated significantly from the evolutionary patterns common
to civilizations throughout history. The Islamic Resurgence and the
economic dynamism of Asia demonstrate that other civilizations are
alive and well and at least potentially threatening to the West. A major
war involving the West and the core states of other civilizations is not
inevitable, but it could happen. Alternatively the gradual and irregular
decline of the West which started in the early twentieth century could
continue for decades and perhaps centuries to come. Or the West could
go through a period of revival, reverse its declining influence in world

2
 affairs, and reconfirm its position as the leader whom other civilizations
follow and imitate.”1

Then came the Asian financial crisis of 1997-98 which, perhaps, demonstrated in a real
and tangible way, the vulnerability of the developing world in the face of relentless
economic globalization. The Asian crisis was marked by the following:
(1) a shortage of foreign exchange that caused the value of currencies and equities in
Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea and other Asian countries to fall dramatically;
(2) inadequately developed financial sectors and mechanisms for allocating capital in
the troubled Asian economies;
(3) effects of the crisis on both the United States and the world; and
(4) the role, operations, and replenishment of funds of the International Monetary
Fund.2

For the first time, leaders in the developing world were presented with a case to take to
international fora in order to rationalize putting brakes on reforms that were linked to the
alignment of their national economies to a globalizing structure. The Asian crisis gave
them a way out.

In the meantime, the Caribbean was facing its own financial crisis, Trinidad, Jamaica and
Barbados all faced crippling recessions in the 1990s that would eventually lead to
changes in government. The region would also become a hotbed for natural disasters,
being struck almost annually by hurricanes that were becoming more and more intense.
In the absence of a Cold War dichotomy, political and ideological alliance to Washington
became more relevant, necessary and simply the pragmatic way to negotiate our way
forward in the new century that was upon us.

The World Trade Organization was finally established in 1995 and almost concomitantly,
the region was under immense pressure with the threat of losing its preferential access to
the European market for its traditional exports of agricultural raw materials.

Furthermore, all the gains of the first 25 years of independence were now threatened by
deep-rooted violence, the spread of HIV/AIDS, moral and social decay, economic crisis;
and calls from the society at large that a political vacuum was emerging with the change
from the old guard that led the region to independence, to the new guard charged with the
responsibility of managing crumbling social structures.

Then came September 11, 2001 and Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations seemed more
real than ever. President Bush stated publicly that the world was now divided into two
camps, those siding with the USA and those against. The balance of power was once
more being reconfigured and the Caribbean was left wanting. The FTAA lost its steam as

1
See, Samuel Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1996) Chapter 12, The
West, Civilizations, and Civilization
2
See, Dick K. Nanto, Specialist in Industry and Trade Economics Division, CRS Report, THE 1997-98
ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS. Source: http://www.fas.org/man/crs/crs-asia2.htm

3
Washington refocused on the War on Terror and Brasília derailed the negotiations.
Regional economies built on the tourist industry went into shock and once more our
economic vulnerability was staring us in the face. Nonetheless, these external shocks
gave impetus to a renewed process of regionalism. The region, as a whole, would now be
grappling with new ways to reduce its external vulnerability.

At the just concluded University of the West Indies (UWI) conference sponsored by the
Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) in Trinidad, the
overall mood was one of pessimism. Many of the papers presented together with the
research findings, showed a region that is challenged, compromised and maybe on the
brink of despair. With the exception of Trinidad and Tobago, that has been benefiting
from large inflows of oil revenues, the English-speaking Caribbean is seriously debt-
ridden; far behind global levels in terms of productivity, innovation, science and
technology together with a continuing brain drain. Our options seem very limited as the
Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) appears more rhetoric than reality.

In true Caribbean style, the conference also reflected on the region’s extremely poor
record of policy implementation. At the regional and national levels, there is a large
number of policy papers, consultants’ reports, green papers, and recommendations that sit
on the shelves and desks of permanent secretaries (government’s management structure)
catching the proverbial dust. The region is suffering an acute bout of inertia.

The one exogenous catalyst that should have made a difference has now proven to be a
dismal failure. The 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup to the region will be tantamount to the
2004 Olympic Games to Greece.3 In other words, when the bill is finally tallied, citizens
will be shocked at the large sums of money that was wasted on an event that was a total
flop.4 The rhetoric of legacy is just that, rhetoric. Since the notion of legacy was first
touted in the 1970s there is no one experience in either the developed or developing
world to suggest that economies really benefit from hosting such mega sporting events.
Though wealthier economies may fare better, the evidence to support legacy in
developing economies is wanting; especially those that are not experiencing
comparatively high levels of growth.

Some Caribbean governments recognize that they are desperately running out of
developmental options and are strategically turning to the cultural and creative industries
as a means to help reposition their economies. This area too has received much attention
and debate in the region and dozens upon dozens of studies have been conducted on sub-

3
See, In Athens: the bill is still rising, Source:
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=442659&in_page_id=17
70 Also see leading Caribbean journalist Rickey Singh’s recent article, “World Cup Fiasco”
http://www.nationnews.com/story/289708072685482.php
4
See leading Caribbean Journalist Rickey Singh, “World Cup fiasco” Published on: 4/8/07.
http://www.nationnews.com/story/289708072685482.php and the views of a World Cup volunteer in
Trinidad who speaks of the lack of cultural sensitivity on the part of the ICC, Ian S. Mohan, A volunteer's
viewpoint, “Crushing the essence of the Caribbean” April 5, 2007, http://content-
usa.cricinfo.com/wc2007/content/story/288885.html

4
sectors ranging from cultural heritage to film to fashion to music and the performing arts.
It is now left to be seen if the recommendations in these policy documents will be carried
out or if these too are subject to catching the proverbial dust. One thing that is for sure is
that the cultural industries present the region with some degree of competitive advantage
since this is perhaps our best natural endowment.

In fact, at the 2005 International Meeting in Mauritius to Review the Implementation of

the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing
States, the well represented panel on culture determined that “island culture and heritage
provide important pathways to sustainable development through such things as
sustainable tourism, traditional knowledge, music and festivals.”5 However, though our
culture has been making some breakthrough in the international markets, a lot more has
to be done if this area is to be properly structured as an industry and as a strategic vehicle
for social and economic development.

This paper will posit the notion that the Internet presents a platform for achieving greater
international insertion by using it as a means to conduct international trade of our cultural
industries and services. However, there are several correlating factors that must be
addressed at the level of national strategy, policy and implementation. I have opted to
focus on just two of these areas: regional and national policies for science and technology
and the strategic and tactical implementation of national projects, programs and
interventions together with constant project and program evaluation. This I will refer to,
in an overall concept of projectization. As such, the paper will briefly examine what these
cultural and creative industries are, what is meant by international insertion, the
implications of not having science and technology policies in the region, and
projectization. Hopefully, after this examination, there should be a set of conclusions and
recommendations that regional governments will wish to pay attention to if we are to
make any serious head roads into reducing our external vulnerability.

5
United Nations A/CONF.207/7/Add.3, Summary of Panel Discussions at the 2005 International
Meeting in Mauritius to Review the Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable
Development of Small Island Developing States, Mauritius, 10-14 January 2005. Panel three - Role of
culture in the sustainable development of Small Island developing States.

5
Caribbean Focus on Cultural & Creative Industries
For the purposes of this paper, we will adhere to the broad categories that were outlined
by UNESCO which states that cultural and creative industries “combine the creation,
production and commercialisation [sic] of contents which are intangible and cultural in
nature. These contents are typically protected by copyright and they can take the form of
goods or services.” The emphasis on intellectual property is also underscored by David
Throsby who states that “cultural goods and services involve creativity in their
production, embody some degree of intellectual property and convey symbolic
meaning.”6

The following categories therefore broadly define the cultural and creative industries:

1. Arts and Culture

a. Performing Arts
b. Visual Arts
c. Literary Arts
d. Photography
e. Craft
f. Libraries
g. Museums & Galleries
h. Archives
i. Heritage Sites
j. Festivals
k. Arts Supporting Enterprises
2. Design
a. Advertising
b. Architecture
c. Web and Software
d. Graphics
e. Industrial Design
f. Fashion
g. Communications
h. Interior and Environmental Design
3. Media
a. Broadcast (Radio, TV, Cable)
b. Digital Media (including software and computer services)
c. Film and Video
d. Recorded Music and Publishing

However, within the context of the Caribbean, since the late 1970s and 80s there has been
a strategic link with festival tourism and the cultural industries whereby cultural festivals
were used both to attract visitors to the region and secondly as a platform to showcase

6
David Throsby, Economics and Culture, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2001, pg 112.

6
and promote the region’s cultural and artistic talents. Dr. Keith Nurse of the UWI, St.
Augustine Campus in Trinidad is the leading researcher in the region as it relates to the
cultural industries and perhaps has become the lone loud voice yelling at our leaders
about this sector’s potential.7

Though the data is hard to come by, Nurse has been able to demonstrate over and over
again the potential of sector. He has explained that in the absence of exit surveys it is
hard to pinpoint the real contribution festivals are making to the region. Though at a first
glance his numbers appear questionable, the fact remains that festival tourism must
continue to be an important plank in this strategy. For example, the most recent economic
impact assessment of the 2001 Crop Over Festival done by Boamah and Codrington of
the Central Bank of Barbados showed that over a four week period this festival generates,
conservatively speaking, some US$25M in economic activity. The table below will show
that “direct impact accounted for over $29 million, while indirect and induced impact for
just over $24.4 million, and VAT receipts for around $1.3 million.”8

7 See Dr. Keith Nurse Proceedings of the Fifth Annual Caribbean Conference on Sustainable Tourism
Development
KEEPING THE RIGHT BALANCE – EMBRACING OUR HERITAGE IN THE GREATER CARIBBEAN, Organized by the
Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), in collaboration with the Association of Caribbean States (ACS)
and the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis - St. Kitts Marriott Royal Beach Resort, St. Kitts and Nevis,
September 9th to 12th, 2003
8
National Cultural Foundation of Barbados, Economic Impact of Crop Over 2001, Prepared by Dr. Daniel
Boamah and Harold Codrington. Final report submitted July 2002.

7
 Table 1 - Economic Impact of Crop Over 2001: A Summary Table9
$ $ $
Total Injections (spending) during Crop Over 2001, 8,806,642
of which:
NCF Sponsored Events 4,446,042
Other Spending 4,360,600
Less: Tourist Spending at Crop Over (1,860,000)
Total Local Spending 6,946,642
Net Spending by Tourists 22,216,593
Total Injections Arising from Festival (Direct Impact) 29,163,245
of which Personal Income 5,368,320
Indirect Plus Induced Impact* 24,438,791
VAT Receipts 1,311,231
Total Economic Impact 54,913,257
Estimated Employment Generated 2,297

*
Without a detailed input-output table it is not possible to estimate multiplier coefficients separately for
sales and personal income. To simplify the analysis, we have used an aggregate multiplier of 1.838 to
estimate the indirect and induced impacts. This multiplier is derived from an economy-wide marginal
propensity to consume of 0.68 and an average tax rate of 0.33.

9
Op. cit. Please note that the final report did not show the source of data.

8
I can only support Nurse’s call in urging the region to look at product differentiation
since there is now significant evidence of duplication and copying of the music festivals
across the region. They are all using the same regional and international artists and very
shortly will start to see their audience numbers declining unless they urgently seek to
address this shortcoming. Of equal importance is the fact that Caribbean people are now
traveling from country to country to enjoy these festivals and if this is to be sustained,
then differentiation must be ensured.

There are some further ‘disconnects’ in the region as it relates to cultural industries
policy. Here are some of the main challenges:

1. Since the regional cultural policy was developed in 1994 at the CARICOM level,
very few countries have developed cultural policies of their own. To date, these
countries are Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad.
2. Very often, policy makers argue for curriculum reform to enhance national
strategies and policies. However, experience has taught us that this is hardly ever
feasible since the basic requirements on the curricula are already overloaded.
Hence the 'disconnect' between the development of the cultural industries and
curriculum reform remains critical.
3. Government subvention and other support for the cultural industries remain, at
most, pure rhetoric. National cultural agencies are now forced to look towards the
private sector to finance their programming as government finance is being
tightened.
4. Certainly in the case of Barbados, there is an aging plant and infrastructure to
support the arts. This plant was last upgraded in 1981 for the Caribbean Festival
of the Arts (CARIFESTA) and has since fallen into disrepair. Yet new buildings
and infrastructure are going up everyday. For example, in Barbados, over the last
ten years, calls have been made for the establishment of a National Art Gallery to
no avail. Yet the said government has found funding to build a museum at the
airport to house the relic of the retired aircraft, the Concorde. This certainly says
that there is a premium on showcasing foreign design over local art and design.
5. CARIFESTA has become a dismal failure by not addressing in any real sense,
contemporary expressions of the grassroots culture. It now runs the risk of
becoming an elitist platform of what culture is supposed to be and represent.
6. As a forum of Caribbean cultural expression, it also shows many signs of
mismanagement, disorganization and chaos. In fact, the Trinidadian press referred
to the just concluded CARIFESTA IX in that country as CARIFIASCO.10 It is
now left to be seen whether or not CARIFESTA X in the Bahamas 2008 will be
worse that the last three in St. Kitts, Suriname and Trinidad respectively.
7. The region failed once more to implement the new CARIFESTA strategy and
impressive business model that was prepared by Dr. Keith Nurse for CARICOM.

10
For references of CARIFIASCO see the following online newspaper articles and/or blogs,
http://www.guardian.co.tt/archives/2006-10-14/Lisa-Allen-Agostini.html;
http://www.newsday.co.tt/politics/0,49452.html; http://ankhkara.blogspot.com/2006_09_24_archive.html

9
 In fact, it was during a panel discussion at the said event that participants made it
quite clear that they were unaware of the new plans for CARIFESTA. Once more
we point to a top down approach that is hardly consultative. As such, the end
result is what we saw in Trinidad.11
8. The lack of funding to the arts and artists continues to be the major hindrance to
the development of the sector. Very few countries in the region have any
meaningful sustained funding programs to support the sector. This is a
'disconnect' insofar as governments are benefiting from their arts festivals but at
the same time seem unwilling to give incentives and create other financial grants
and schemes that would further propel the sector.

11
See, Reinventing CARIFESTA: A Strategic Plan, Prepared by: Dr. Keith Nurse Consultant Prepared
for: CARICOM Taskforce On CARIFESTA, Caricom Secretariat, Georgetown Guyana, June 2004

10
Global Insertion
Reinaldo Goncalves in his 1994 work The New Insertion of Brazil in the Global
Economy, developed the concept of global or international insertion based on three
levels of openness:
1. Commercial openness refers to the coefficient of exports over GNP;
2. Financial openness refers to the ratio of foreign debt to GNP;
3. And the third level of openness has to do with “real production” as it relates to the
amount of foreign direct investment (FDI) and the portion of capital stock
detained by multinational corporations (MNCs)

Goncalves went on to demonstrate that Brazil’s openness in the 1990s stood at 10%
which he argued was relatively high for continental countries. In the 80s, owing to its
high level of debt, its financial openness accounted for 3% of GNP, while MNCs
accounted for 11% of capital stock and 32% of the country’s total production. He further
posited that the degree of openness was less important than the nature of a country’s
international insertion. In other words, if a country’s openness increases its external
vulnerability, then that relationship in problematic. The real issue therefore is to negotiate
a place within the international system that reduces vulnerability in the face of the
structures of production, finance, knowledge (technology) and trade.12

When we apply this concept to the English-speaking Caribbean it is clearly evident that
the region has an equally high degree of openness and vulnerability. As such, this type of
international insertion is not favorable. Herein rests the challenge for regional policy
makers as they attempt to find novel ways to trade our cultural goods and services on the
international market. At the end of the day, one would hope that this trade leaves us with
net foreign exchange earnings.

However, in the absence of a strong negotiating position and/or any real influence on the
structures of production, finance, knowledge and trade, it would appear trading in the
cultural industries, as with our tourism product, will continue to add to our vulnerability.
If we are able over the next decade to reverse our dependency syndrome on technology,
finance, knowledge and production, then this third of fourth plank of economic activity
stands a chance of being a viable sector that would help to reduce our vulnerability. In
other words, the technological and other inputs of knowledge and know-how that is
required to make this sector work continue to be imported at a premium; whilst our final
cultural and creative products are constantly sold at reduced prices. Such a gap leads to
dependency and does not favor positive global insertion. This therefore supports the need
for concomitant programs in science and technology and other areas of know-how
necessary to propel this fledgling industry.

In 2007, I would like to add two additional levels of openness to Goncalves’ model. In
the first instance, I believe it is now important to capture the degree to which a country

12
See Reinaldo Goncalves, O Abre-Alas: A Nova Insercao do Brasil na Economia Mundial, Rio de Janeiro:
Relume-Dumara, 1994.

11
participates in e-commerce. The Internet has become much more than the information
highway as we will see in the section below. As a facilitator of international trade, this
virtual space and participation on this platform must now be measured as a degree of
openness and global insertion. Here are some of the research questions that can be
considered:
1. What percentage of exports and imports is facilitated by trade over the Internet?
2. How many private and public sector companies conduct business over the Internet
to both locals and foreign customers?
3. What percentage of local entities including those in the third sector has a presence
on the Internet?
4. What is the measurement of online transactions using credit cards?

As we start to unravel some of these research questions here in the Caribbean we can then
apply this to the export of our cultural and creative industries. In a region that has little
respect for capturing data and proper management of information, one would not be
surprised to note that the very arts and cultural festivals we are pushing on the
international market do not feature at all prominently on the Web. Online ticketing
remains elusive for the region’s major festivals and information is often inadequate or
outdated.

The last level of insertion I would like to add to Goncalves’ model is that of the
perception of a country as a brand. Though this qualitative value is more difficult to
measure, we can see how branding can have an impact on a country’s image and its
ability therefore to attract investment. This, in a circuitous way, is linked to the power of
international media which includes the Internet, international public opinion and the
overall perception as to whether or not a country is a member of the international
community in a positive way.

Let us therefore think of some pointing examples as they relate to branding and image.
Within the Caribbean context, our countries have become known internationally as exotic
tourist destinations and tax havens. The latter reputation was so negative that Barbados’
Prime Minister was forced to lead the fight against the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) to clear his country’s name as a tax haven as this
was deemed a direct threat to foreign investment. The OECD finally concluded that:

“Barbados will not be included in the list because it has longstanding

information exchange arrangements with other countries, which are
found by its treaty partners to operate in an effective manner. Barbados
is also willing to enter into tax information exchange arrangements
with those OECD Member countries with which it currently does not
have such arrangements. Barbados has in place established procedures
with respect to transparency. Moreover, recent legislative changes
made by Barbados have enhanced the transparency of its tax and
regulatory rules.”13

13
See http://www.oecd.org/document/19/0,2340,en_2649_37427_1903251_1_1_1_37427,00.html

12
UWI SALISES research fellow, Dr. Don Marshall has convincingly shown that the
international journals, literature and press have also contributed to this negative view of
the Caribbean in respect of its offshore financial centers (OFCs) and how they are
managed. Marshall’s examination of the literature showed that there is a meta-narrative
of danger and temptation; the Caribbean OFCs are often feminized to align with the
notion of exotica; there is a sense of ‘the post-colonial other’ versus Western ‘self’; and
very often there are unsubtle references to these OFCs as places where criminals hide
their money.14 Though I support Marshall’s findings one must still be wary that some
Caribbean nations have indeed contributed to their own critique.

The same unfortunately holds for what we export as Caribbean culture. We are feeding
the world with art images of poor people living in sub-standard dwellings, scenes of the
beach, and landscapes of palm trees. This kind of art feeds into the whole notion of
exotica and demands very low prices on the international market as it is often deemed
naïve or primitive art. Furthermore, our Caribbean music channels are promoting images
of highly-objectified scantily-clad steatopygous women on offer. Such a portrayal of self
does very little to discourage the international media from branding us as Marshall so
clearly depicted in his research.

Additionally, the whole notion of a country’s brand and image will have serious
implications and repercussions as the Internet takes a stronger foothold in forming
international public opinion. Therefore regional governments would be wise to manage
their country’s image and use the Internet effectively to demonstrate transparency,
stability and good governance as ‘other’ attractive features.

14
See Dr. Don Marshall, “Discourse in scientific finance: the meta-narrative of financial globalization,”
paper presented at the 8th Annual SALISES Conference, March 26-28, Trinidad.

13
A Model of Projectization
Any discussion on International Development will invariably discuss the management of
projects as these are the tactical tools used for the implementation of governments’
developmental strategies and policies. I will posit here, based on my experience as a
project management consultant and lecturer over the last ten years, that one of the major
causes of the region’s chronic implementation deficit is the lack of project management
skills even at the base level of project design and conceptualization. In the absence of
these skills, it is very difficult to imagine that national agendas or recommendations will
move forward.

Furthermore, if projects do go forward, the region at the public sector level records high
levels of cost overruns, poor coordination among public utility firms, and late delivery on
projects. If and when the projects are concluded, there is hardly ever any evaluation done
to measure the overall impact. As such, mistakes are made over and over again costing
the region’s tax payers million and millions of dollars. This lack of evaluation became so
acute that the Caribbean Development Bank financed a Masters program in Project
Management and Evaluation in 2001 at UWI Cave Hill Campus, in order to address this
deficit. The good news is that since 2001, there has been a marked increase in graduates
in Project Management and other professionals seeking to enhance their skills in the
discipline. The region has attracted the godfathers of modern Project Management such
as Dr. Harold Kerzner and Dr. David Cleland. The bad news is that public sector projects
still appear to be grossly mismanaged.

Therefore, when I refer to projectization, I speak of the process of bringing project

management to the fore in the national strategic agenda for the private, public and third
sectors. If it follows that most of the region’s debt is linked to projects funded by
international lending agencies, then it is only logical that greater emphasis be placed on
this skill. Furthermore, if countries like Barbados, Trinidad and Jamaica are to truly
embark upon developing their creative economies, then the proper management of these
national programs and projects will become paramount. The table below will give an idea
of the size of the region’s project portfolio financed through World Bank loans. The
sample is for active projects in Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad, Guyana, OECS and the
Caribbean Development Bank.

14
Table 2 – Sample of Active World Bank Projects in US$ (millions)15

Project Name ID Commitment Product Country/Area Status Approval

Amount* Line Date
CARIBBEAN HIV/AIDS I-BARBADOS P075220 15.15 IBRD/IDA Barbados Active 28-Jun-01

CARIB-GEF-Implementation of Adaptation P090731 2.1 Global Caribbean Active 7-Sep-06

Measures in Coastal Zones Environment
THE PAN CARIBBEAN PARTNERSHIP P080721 9 IBRD/IDA Caribbean Active 25-Mar-04
AGAINS HIV/AIDS
Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate Change P073389 5 Global Caribbean Active 17-Apr-03
Project Environment
OECS-Catastrophe Insurance P094539 14.2 IBRD/IDA OECS Countries Active 8-Mar-07

Telecommunications & ICT Development P088448 2.7 IBRD/IDA OECS Countries Active 12-May-05
Project
OECS Protected Areas and Associated P073267 3.7 Global OECS Countries Active 20-May-04
Livelihoods Project Environment
GY (CRL) Water Sector Consolidation Proj P088030 11.3 IBRD/IDA Guyana Active 28-Jul-05

HIV/AIDS PREVENTION & CONTROL P076722 10 IBRD/IDA Guyana Active 30-Mar-04

PROJECT
Public Sector Technical Assistance Credit P074762 4.76 IBRD/IDA Guyana Active 17-Dec-02
(PSTAC)
Debt Reduction Operation Project P053094 6 Debt Guyana Active 23-Oct-98
Reduction
SAC (IDA REF2) P007267 3.5 IBRD/IDA Guyana Active 23-Dec-92

SAC SUPLM II (IDA REFLOW) P007265 3.1 IBRD/IDA Guyana Active 26-Nov-91

SAC SUPPLM II P007262 18 IBRD/IDA Guyana Active 11-Jun-91

SAC SUPPLM II P007261 4.3 IBRD/IDA Guyana Active 6-Nov-90

SAC SUPPLM P007255 3.4 IBRD/IDA Guyana Active 28-Jun-90

P091299 29.3 IBRD/IDA Jamaica Active 29-Mar-06

JM Inner City Basic Services for the Poor Project
JM - REFORM OF SECONDARY P071589 39.8 IBRD/IDA Jamaica Active 24-Oct-02
EDUCATION PROJECT II
National Community Development Project P076837 15 IBRD/IDA Jamaica Active 24-Oct-02

(SECOND PHASE OF THE MULTI-COUNTRY P074641 15 IBRD/IDA Jamaica Active 29-Mar-02

HIV/AIDS PREVENTION & CONTROL APL
Social Safety Net Project P067774 40 IBRD/IDA Jamaica Active 4-Sep-01

HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Project P075528 20 IBRD/IDA Trinidad and Active 27-Jun-03
Tobago

275.31

15
Visit the World Bank’s project database for more complete project data at
http://go.worldbank.org/N43ZO9W0L0

15
The small sample above of the region’s active project portfolio does not account for the
entire Caribbean-defined region, projects funded by other international lending agencies,
or locally-funded private and public sector projects. In other words this ought to give
researchers some insight into the huge value of the region’s project portfolio, especially
in light of a home and building construction boom in some countries as well as
preparations for the Cricket World Cup. Given such a scenario, the region has no excuse
for not training project professionals and creating the proper management infrastructure
for its public sector projects. Let’s imagine that 0.5% of the value of the region’s project
portfolio were allocated to this effort.

Returning to the notion of projectization it follows therefore that the careful management
of the region’s project portfolio must be addressed at the highest level of political
leadership. Editors of the work Managing Projects in Developing Countries, Cusworth
and Franks, in an oversimplified manner, state that:
“Whereas the typical project of the early 1970s was the development
of a sugar estate and the construction of a sugar factory, the typical
project of the 1990s is management development for staff in public
enterprises, or review and improvement of systems of cost recovery in
water undertakings. Such projects require little, if any, physical
construction work, but they are nevertheless real projects,
requiring similar attention to the planning and management to be
successful.” (My emphasis)16

Kerzner, on the other hand, though he has a focus on corporate project management, has
been recently at odds with business leaders by trying to instill in them the need to have
project management dealt with at the board room level.17 If we were to draw a parallel
with the public sector, then this call for strategic project planning must be dealt with at
the level of cabinet offices across the region. At present the region faces the following
challenges in the management of its projects:
There are no common national project management standards in the public sector
No common regional standard
Few cases of loosely-defined project management structure exist in Barbados,
Trinidad and Jamaica
Indigenous Caribbean companies also face a similar fate owing to the following:
They are lagging their MNC counterparts or rivals in areas of
– Technology
– Mindset
– HR Skills
– Business Systems
They are constantly re-inventing the wheel
Many of them remain family-owned businesses with relatively small business
structure

16
See, John H. Cusworth & Tom R. Franks (editors) “Development and Development Projects” in
Managing Projects in Developing Countries, UK: Longman Group, 1993 (reprinted 1995, 1996, 1998,
1999) pp. 2-3.
17
See, Harold Kerzner, PhD, Strategic Planning for Project Management Using A Project Maturity
Model, New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. , 255p.

16
 As private companies there is still very little transparency, limited regional/global
reach and limited outward franchising.
The term project management is still used loosely
Few trained project managers
Very few centralized Project Management Offices (PMO)
No career tracks for project managers
Limited knowledge and understanding of project management

The multinationals on the other hand have the advantage because they tend to transfer
knowledge and technology from their head offices; offer higher salaries and attract better
skilled employees. Some examples of these would include, Cable and Wireless, First
Caribbean International Bank (a merger of the erstwhile CIBC & Barclays)
PriceWaterhouseCoopers and the UN Agencies.

Therefore, in addition to more trained graduates in the discipline of project management,

the region needs more specialized project engineers, schedulers, project accountants,
project negotiators and project evaluators. To achieve this, corporate and political
leadership is needed, urgent staff re-tooling, project career planning and certification, and
strategic planning.

I therefore propose the following projectization model especially as we move forward

with the development of our creative and cultural economies.

Strategic Projectization Cycle Model

4. Program 1. National
& Strategic
Project Evaluation Planning

2. Prioritization of
3. Securing Project
Policies, Program
Finance,
&
Implementation &
Interventions
Monitoring

Figure 1

17
The above figure shows that the driving force behind the model is the national strategic
plan. Though history would have shown that twenty-year plans are a waste of time, our
governments continue to produce them. In most cases, they hardly live up to their five-
year party manifestos yet they insist on these useless documents. No wonder
implementation is a challenge. In a region that has no control over the international
system, it begs the question as to why governments would present these documents
knowing that we live in an era of rapid change and uncertainty. I am suggesting therefore
a ten-year strategic plan for the simple reason that most governments in the region can
safely expect at least two political terms, it is easier to think in decades, and from a data
management standpoint, it is easier to trace data over a ten-year period. Also, for
purposes of comparison, most research tends to compare decades.

Based on availability of financial options and national priorities the model then calls for
prioritization of programs, policies and interventions. This is followed by implementation
and close monitoring of these projects before they are handed over to their publics.
Finally, the model calls for continuous project evaluation as a means of reviewing,
learning and improving on Project Management techniques with the ultimate goal of
feeding back into the national strategic planning process. Of interest is the idea that the
model can be applied at the macro or sectoral level. As such, program/project
implementation in the creative economies at the national and regional levels can find
application in this projectization life cycle.

18
Regional and National Strategies for Science &
Technology – Internet & Digitization Policies
This final section deals very briefly with the issues of science and technology as they
relate specifically to taking advantage of the Internet18 and digitizing the Caribbean
region. I move off from the premise therefore that these factors are important in the
developmental process but if there is no strategic plan towards achieving self-sufficiency
and self-reliance in this area of science and technology, then our openness will leave us
all the more vulnerable. We should not desire to become net importers of science and
technology but rather begin to envision a future where the region exports this kind of
knowledge and expertise at a premium.

Regional leaders have already expressed the idea that science and technology should be
used to:

Optimize the benefits to be derived from the exploitation of available resources

while protecting the environment;
Develop and make use of skilled human resources as the critical engine for
transformation and growth;
Create dynamism in existing and future Caribbean agriculture and industry to
enable rapid adjustment to technological, market and other changes which affect
competitiveness;
Promote and foster a climate conducive to the development, exchange and
effective use of technology within the region;
Ensure the most cost-effective methods of acquiring and using technology
developed and available within and outside the region; and
Preserve and enrich the cultural heritage of the peoples of the region.19

Once more there is no lack of rhetoric when it comes to strategic and visionary ideas, the
challenge always remains in the implementation deficit. Apart from a few websites and
some basic e-commerce functionality, there is no evidence in the region of a Google, an
Amazon or an E-bay. There are several factors that contribute to this poor showing of
scientific and technological development in the region.
1. There is no enabling environment;
2. No national portfolio planning for research and development;20
3. Low levels of private and public sector investment in research and development;
4. Low levels of venture capital;

18
For a comprehensive history of the Internet see the Internet Society’s website at
http://www.isoc.org/internet/history/brief.shtml
19
See, ECLAC, Caribbean Council For Science And Technology, A Programme For Science And
Technology Management In The Caribbean 2000, General, Lc/Car/G.571, Ccst/99/4, 27 September
1999, Original: English,
20
See, Brian Twiss, Managing Technological Innovation (4th ed.), London: Pitman, chapter 6, “Research
and Development Programme Planning and Control, pp. 190 – 222. Again this author speaks extensively to
the use of project management methodology in managing innovation.

19
 5. School curricula still bent on rote learning and weak in critical thinking;
6. An environment that stifles creativity;
7. Limited information regarding patents, trademarks and copyright opportunities;
8. General popular resistance to technological change;
9. Net importers of science and technology leading to dependency.

In other words, it is not at all unfair to blast the region for its poor showing in this
area of development. However, are there plans to arrest this lag? The S&T activists
continue to pressure regional governments into acknowledging this importance, yet at
the CARICOM level of organization science and technology remain subsumed under
the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED). Small wonder that we
are lagging behind countries like Singapore and Malaysia who have made significant
investments in digital technologies and other communications initiatives.

Since 1997 Singapore, for example, has developed the ‘intelligent island’ concept
aimed at connecting the entire country over a broadband network with applications
that range from leisure and entertainment to banking to education and distance
learning. Singapore ONE (One Network for Everyone) is the platform for this
objective. Malaysia, in 1996, also launched their multimedia super corridor linked by
a $2 billion network of fibre-optic cable. The corridor includes: a new multimedia
university; research labs and a futuristic cybercity for 240 000 people all wired with
the latest technology.21

How are we therefore to address this technological lag and our obvious position in the
global digital divide if we are to use the Internet as a platform for the
commercialization of our cultural goods and services? A quick glance at the UN e-
government e-readiness report paints a dismal outlook for the Caribbean region.

Table 3 – E-government readiness ranking in the Caribbean

Source: UN Global E-Government Readiness Report 2005

21
See, Paul Bocij et. al. Business Information Systems: Technology, Development and Management,
London: Financial Times/Prentice Hall, 1999, pgs. 163-164. See also Business Week Online So This Is
Asia's Net Hub? (int'l edition) Singapore's technocrats wired the island for broadband, but so far, few
are logging on! http://www.businessweek.com/2000/00_02/b3663253.htm

20
The report goes on to state that of the entire region, Jamaica is the one country that
has made a strategic decision to turn their country into the IT hub of the region and as
such has made comparatively significant investments in their e-government
preparation.

In spite of this, the overall picture is one of serious lag and this is rather unfortunate
because this is the one area of opportunity for the export of our cultural products and
services. To complicate matters, the massive capital investments that were just made
in the ICC Cricket World Cup will further hinder the region’s ability to invest in the
digital economy. There is no real evidence to suggest that the Caribbean even intends
to compete globally in this arena, thus compromising our international insertion in the
global digital economy.

21
Conclusion
In closing, one can only wish that the regional governments will start to address the
implementation deficit that is plaguing our development. Cultural activists, policy
makers, and researchers must now advocate and pressure Caribbean governments into
implementation.

The idea that the cultural and creative industries will represent the next frontier of
Caribbean socio-economic development will remain an elusive one unless the three areas
examined in this paper are addressed at the levels of policy, programming and
implementation. These are the bridging of the gaps and ‘disconnects’ identified above
between the rhetoric of developing the creative economy and action supported by
financing; the urgent need for a projectization model that will assist governments in
prioritizing their project needs at a strategic level and placing the creative economy on
the national agenda; and finally, the need shift and redirect national investment and focus
on the development of the digital economy.

The opportunities are there for all to see, but without action and implementation, we will
continue to hear of our potential for yet another decade to come.

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