I am Anne Thomas. I am employed by the Government of Montserrat and currently appointed to the position of Senior Procurement Officer within the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management.
I was afforded the opportunity to pursue studies in procurement to gain formal training with the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) commencing in 2021. The novelty and excitement of being exposed to the field of procurement challenged my hunger for learning and kept me eagerly delving into each Module. The tutors assigned by UTECH gave of their best to ensure all participants had full understanding on the modules presented subject matter. Their dedication assisted me in completing Level 4 in under one (1) year.
Being able to specialize in the field of procurement has been a very fulfilling and interesting working experience. The exposure and interaction with fellow procurement classmates and experienced procurement professionals who through discussions and mentorship gave advice/guidance to us who were seeking assistance to ensure that our procurement requirements are carried out efficiently, effectively and within all required parameters of our respective countries. This specialized skill gave me the impetus to apply the principles of procurement resulting in significant improvement in my output which transferred to an improved performance management appraisal. Armed with the knowledge gained, I am highly motivated and confident to share with colleagues and offer advice to clients; further, I no longer shy away from full participation in meetings/forums where input on procurement is required.
My advice to persons who are about to embark on the journey of acquiring a CIPS qualification is to be aware, you are now entering an arena where you will be expected to uphold the highest ethical standards in procurement; hence, you will be required to sacrifice. Sacrifice time with family, time with friends, time for fun, and in your mind maybe opportunities lost; but, never take your eyes off the finish line, it will be worth it. You will be provided with the full technical support of your tutors who will guide you and reinforce your studies with their expertise. The ultimate outcome is the acquisition of a sound foundation and qualification in procurement and supply highly recognized globally.
I take great pleasure in the successful acquisition of my CIPS qualification and I am delighted to lead on being the first to acquire this qualification in Montserrat.
I express my sincerest gratitude to the Almighty, Caribbean Development Bank, Government of Montserrat, University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech,JA), my fellow procurement classmates, work colleagues and my family for their contribution in my successful journey.
~ Mrs. Anne Thomas
Senior Procurement Officer
The CIPS Level 4 Procurement Training Programme, despite being rigorous and demanding was an enriching experience and has been fundamental to my recent development professionally and personally. The skills and knowledge obtained transcends the office environment and has been a benefit since I’ve begun this journey. This opportunity has allowed me to utilise the skills learned to be more efficient and effective in my overall job deliverables and has resulted in not only an enlargement of my current responsibilities but also the enrichment of my job itself.
The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has sought to improve the way that Procurement is viewed and has recently been involved in revising the legislation that governs such. I was fortunate to be an integral part of the team that worked assiduously to review and upgrade this document along with counterparts at the Caribbean Development Bank. It has also been my privilege to be involved in the activities of our localProcurement Board that is tasked with reviewing all Government purchases in excess of prescribed thresholds. The opportunity to assist in this capacity has further improved my ability as I’ve been able to fully utilise the skills I’ve learned thus far and effectively apply this information to real world experiences.
As a current student in the CIPS Level 5 Procurement Training Programme, I look forward to the furtherance of my knowledge and the opportunities that the successful completion of this endeavour will afford me.
~ Mr. Hqusac Huggins
Procurement Officer
Participating in the CIPS Level 4 programme enhanced my knowledge and understanding of some of the foundational theoretical concepts in procurement, thus improving my ability to deliver more effectively in my current role. The valuable insights into current procurement practices enriched the quality of technical content, which I created and delivered to public procurement practitioners in Trinidad and Tobago.
In addition to the knowledge gained through the programme, the CIPS membership afforded me access to technical resources, templates, articles and reference material, which ensured that my presentations, training material and other capacity development efforts were in alignment with best practices. Overall, I can confidently say that the CIPS Level 4 programme had a positive impact on my personal and professional development.
~ Ms. Melissa Ramkumarsingh
Senior Capacity Development Specialist
~ Ms. Prudence M. Wiltshire
Procurement Analyst
Procurement Policy Unit, Caribbean Development Bank
The CIPS level 4 Accreditation has given me the foundation and structure to develop procurement approaches to handle unique challenges in a systematic and dynamic way.
Using the tools and techniques learnt in the program has eye opening to the importance of the use of theoretical application along with practical approaches to ensure the learner is properly able to solve real work problems and be adaptive to situations that may arise in carrying out procurement management duties.
~ Mr. Renaire Watson
Procurement Officer
The first thing is that CIPS Level 4 helped me to secure a firm foundation in the entire sphere of procurement, whether private or public. I was able to directly use concepts and information from the Modules in my daily tasks and major projects, which was quite regarding.
The Level 4 routine also gave me an understanding of what was happening in the Region since several classmates were from other Caribbean territories.
Ms. Cheyenne McClarthy
Senior Director, Contractor Performance Monitoring, Public Procurement Commission
Completing the CIPS Level 4 Diploma in Procurement and Supply has given me a more complete and wholistic grasp of many aspects of procurement. I have been a practising procurement professional for over 15 years and have gained a wealth of knowledge and experience during this time.
However, this course helped me to better align key concepts with practices for greater clarity and validation of established procurement processes – like the coming together of a beautiful puzzle. CIPS Level 4 training has broadened my knowledge about procurement and supply and their strategic importance in achieving an organisation’s goals. As someone who often advises others, it has helped me to be more confident and certainly has enhanced my credibility.
Therefore, I highly recommend it to both new and experienced professionals in the field of procurement and supply.
Mrs. Janelle Quow
Procurement Consultant
