“Adopt and Adapt” — Prime Minister Drew Emphasizes Lifelong Learning in Staff Development Initiative

Basseterre, St. Kitts (PMO) – Prime Minister Hon. Dr Terrance Drew has underscored the critical importance of continuous learning and adaptation during a Staff Development Day, March 12th, for members of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The session, which focused on conflict resolution, team building, mastering communication, and customer service, is part of an ongoing series aimed at fostering personal and professional growth among government employees.

During his remarks, Prime Minister Drew emphasized the dual principles of ‘adopt’ and ‘adapt’ as fundamental to both personal and professional success. “Human beings can do things very well. They can adapt, meaning that if you put them in an environment, whatever the environment is, they can assimilate and survive. But we can also adopt, which means we can take on that which is not from us, incorporate it, and use it to our advantage. And that is the basis on which training and learning are established.”

The Prime Minister linked this principle to the importance of continuous education and skills enhancement in every profession. “Whenever I hear a complaint about anything, the first thing I always ask is: Has that person been exposed to training? If you have not been exposed to training, I cannot fully judge you because you have not been allowed to develop.”

Dr. Drew emphasized that training is not just about professional growth but also personal transformation. “It doesn’t matter what you do—if you’re not increasing your knowledge, you’re not being trained, you’re not being taught, you’re not moving anywhere. You must be given that opportunity to improve yourself on a personal level and a professional level, and these things will translate into your personal life and your overall professional life.”

The Staff Development Day is part of a broader government initiative to ensure that public sector employees are equipped with the necessary skills to contribute effectively to national development. The Prime Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to creating a highly skilled workforce as part of the vision for a Sustainable Island State.

“The overarching goal of this government is to create the first Sustainable Island State. It’s a lofty goal. It’s a moonshot. But anybody who looks at what we have put together in terms of the strategy, even though it is a moonshot, it is very, very possible. We can achieve this in five years. But none of those resources are as important as the number one resource. The number one resource is you.”

The Prime Minister called on all public servants to embrace lifelong learning and professional development, stating that “One of the ways we will get it right is to expose you to high-quality training so that your modification can be positive as we seek to achieve the goal that we seek to achieve.”

The Staff Development Day is one of several training initiatives planned for the PMO staff to ensure they remain at the forefront of leadership, innovation, and service excellence. As the government continues its push toward a modernized and highly efficient public service, emphasis will remain on training programs that equip staff with the tools necessary for effective governance and national progress.