The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica. Monday, March 3, 2025—A cohort of 10 new protocol officers from the Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently underwent protocol training provided by The Diplomatic Academy of the Caribbean (DAOC) at The University of the West Indies (The UWI). At the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the DAOC, which is part of the University’s Institute of International Relations (IIR), conducted a virtual and customised version of its flagship training module, “Protocol and Diplomacy: A Guide for the Modern Professional,” from February 17 to 21. This initiative is part of the Academy’s ongoing efforts to support the development of the capacity-building program for the Ministry.

“This module builds on the success of other DAOC-facilitated diplomatic training that Bahamian public officials have benefitted from in recent years, including an in-person Diplomatic Academy module on protocol and diplomacy that was mounted exclusively for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nassau in June 2024. The recently concluded follow-on module is a testament to the successful training partnership between the DAOC and The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” said the DAOC’s Manager Dr. Nand C. Bardouille.

He commended the Ministry’s leadership team for backing this training, hailing the cohesive and productive working relationship the DAOC has with The Bahamas Alrae Ramsay Institute of Foreign Affairs (BARIFA). The training arm of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, BARIFA supported the delivery of the customized module. “These kinds of training initiatives are aligned with and are responsive to the country’s foreign policy priorities, and we are honoured to lend our expertise accordingly,” Dr. Bardouille added.  

During remarks he delivered at the module’s Opening Ceremony on February 17th, Permanent Secretary Mr. David Cates informed participants, “The [training] programme is comprehensive with a number of exciting topics.”

The module’s curriculum was designed to fit the specific needs and context of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stemming from consultations between the DAOC and BARIFA.

The goal of this training was to upgrade the relevant protocol skills of participants, such that they are able to perform their protocol-related duties flawlessly and professionally. In this regard, four objectives took centre stage in respect of the following training-related framing: diplomacy, protocol, the role of the foreign ministry and the protocol department, and planning state events.

Ms. Gail P. Guy, a retired diplomat and protocol consultant, served as the module’s lead facilitator. Ms. Marise Warner, an attorney-at-law and international law specialist, served as the module’s co-facilitator.

Ms. Guy noted, “Module participants were enthusiastic about the training.” She also commended their engagement with assigned coursework, underscoring the camaraderie of the cohort and the robust peer-to-peer learning on display.

A key feature of the protocol-dimension of the module was a virtual roundtable, held on February 21st, which Ms. Guy spearheaded. The roundtable topic: ‘Protocol as Praxis’. Module participants were thus exposed to subject area perspectives and professional experiences of senior international experts in the field. The panelists were as follows:

Ambassador Marilyn Zonicle (Moderator), retired Ambassador-at-large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
Ms. Phillipa Lawrence, former diplomat and international affairs professional (formerly Chief of Protocol at the United Nations Office at Vienna).
Ms. Keisha Rochford-Hawkins, Certified International Etiquette and Protocol Consultant (formerly Protocol and International Relations Advisor to the Office of the President, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago).
Ms. Sheila Roseau, Advocate and Leader in Gender Equality and Social Development (Conference Coordinator, 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States).

Acting IIR Director Dr. Annita Montoute, who delivered welcome remarks during the module’s Opening Ceremony, noted that “recent global developments have raised questions about the relevance of diplomacy, particularly as larger states assert their influence and impose their will on others.” Her contention: “These circumstances underscore the necessity for smaller states to be well-prepared to navigate the complexities of an increasingly turbulent environment and the constricted policy space they face.”

Dr. Montoute concluded, “Given our status as small states with limited physical capacity and natural resources, it is crucial to enhance our human resources and social capital, leveraging these assets to achieve optimal outcomes in our engagements. By the conclusion of this training, you will be better equipped and your skills refined to operate with greater effectiveness and confidence within your respective fields.”

Ms. Keva Bain, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered the feature address to the module’s Closing Ceremony held on February 21st. In recalling the curricular focus of the module, she affirmed its value to and importance in supporting the development of a cadre of Bahamian protocol professionals.

Ambassador Zonicle also delivered remarks at the module’s Closing Ceremony. Her remarks, capped off by a strong endorsement of this training, reinforced key aspects of protocol-related learning in the module and best practice in the field of protocol.
Following this well received send-off for the module participants, a representative of the cohort moved a vote of thanks to the DAOC, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all resource persons who contributed to the success of the customized training. This task fell to Mr. Kwano Nottage, Executive Guest Services, Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation, who also took the opportunity to reflect on key takeaways for the learners regarding the module.

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About the Diplomatic Academy of the Caribbean

The DAOC is the Caribbean’s premier professional development-oriented diplomatic studies centre. An integral part of The University of the West Indies’ Institute of International Relations (IIR), it was established in 2014. The DAOC has a primary teaching mandate in the area of diplomatic studies, offering short, highly specialized training modules in the broad field of diplomatic studies. For Caribbean professionals seeking to expand their capabilities to advance an international career, the DAOC is a trusted educational partner. Combining a world-class suite of curricular offerings, which align with topical policy and learning trends, with a programme of advocacy and partnerships regarding the relationship between diplomacy and the Caribbean, the Diplomatic Academy provides a unique setting for stakeholders to deepen diplomatic skills/knowledge and enhance policy expertise.

The DAOC has yielded substantial and complementary benefit to the IIR, which was established in 1966 by agreement between the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of Switzerland.

Integral to the DAOC’s mission is its commitment to help close human resources capacity gaps in international affairs and diplomacy in the Caribbean, by providing capacity-building and skills development training in diplomacy to up and coming diplomats and to aspiring diplomats from the Caribbean Region. This diplomatic learning and training facility also strengthens the University’s capacities for research/analysis, knowledge‐sharing, advocacy, and partnerships and dialogue on the relationship between diplomacy and the Caribbean broadly conceived, with the goal of helping to facilitate policy-relevant awareness-raising on international affairs issues of import (and that are topical) to the Region.

The Diplomatic Academy derives its character from its global outlook, real-world impact, and Caribbean mindedness which, in sum, constitute The DAOC Advantage™. For more information, please visit: https://sta.uwi.edu/daoc.

About The University of the West Indies
The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development, residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for over 75 years.

From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with nearly 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Global Campus, and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

The UWI offers over 1000 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and the wider world.

The UWI has been consistently ranked among the best in the world by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). Since The UWI’s 2018 debut in THE’s rankings, it has performed well in multiple schemes—among them including World University Rankings, Golden Age University Rankings (between 50 and 80 years old), Latin America Rankings, and the Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Well-being; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

Learn more at www.uwi.edu