Barbados: Revenue Authority Hosts First Residential Phase of CATA Senior Leadership Programme

By, Lynette Taylor, Headquarters Services | Communications & PR, BARBADOS REVENUE AUTHORITY (BRA) (Bridgetown, Barbados)

The Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) was pleased to host the first residential phase of the 2023 CATA Senior Leadership Programme (SLP) from September 4 th – 15 th .

Over 25 participants met at the Hilton Barbados Resort, where the programme began with a brief Opening Ceremony addressed by the Barbados Minister with Responsibility for Finance, the Honourable Ryan Straughn; Executive Director of CATA, Duncan Onduru; Revenue Commissioner with the BRA, Louisa Lewis-Ward, and Chief Executive Officer of Invest Barbados, Kaye-Anne Greenidge.

Onduru told participants that the programme was designed to empower them with the tools necessary to navigate an ever-evolving tax landscape that demanded innovative approaches and collaborative solutions. He noted that by fostering an environment of shared learning and open dialogue, CATA’s aim was to equip them with the insights and strategies needed to address these challenges.

The Barbados Government Minister echoed Onduru’s sentiments, adding that programmes like the CATA SLP are critical for building the kind of capacity that would allow countries and their tax administrators, as well as relevant government departments and other agencies, to be able to stay on the cutting edge with respect to the evolution of business, tax policy, and the global drive for digitisation and digitalisation, particularly as it relates to the exchange of information.

In welcoming fellow participants to the island, the BRA Revenue Commissioner spoke to the challenges they will all face as tax administrators.

**Revenue Commissioner with the Barbados Revenue Authority, Louisa Lewis-Ward, addresses participants of the CATA Senior Leadership Programme in Barbados.**

“We are the ones to whom staff will look for guidance, support, and more importantly, for examples of what good and effective leadership looks like. As senior tax administrators, the decisions that we make impact lives and influence people’s opportunities and aspirations. This type of leadership comes with a high level of authority, but also carries a significant level of responsibility. When our teams see us demonstrating integrity, accountability, fairness, and dedication to the public good, they are more likely to behave similarly, creating and maintaining a culture of ethical and operational excellence”, said the BRA leader.

Additionally, Lewis-Ward challenged participants to embrace innovation and change at the pace that the dynamic socio-economic landscape demands it. She said

“stakeholders are demanding more agile services to be delivered in real-time with credible results, and this calls for tax administrators to be able to pivot and deliver strong, strategic management, oftentimes, with limited resources. She encouraged them to make the most of the CATA training opportunity and to “build greater capacity to shape economies, promote social welfare, foster sustainable development, learn from each other’s experiences, and build a legacy of responsible and visionary tax leadership”.

Throughout the training, participants built a global network of peers and enthusiastically engaged in discussions on leading self and others that explored why they lead, how to maximise performance, and how to take advantage of change.

They were treated to the local culture at a Beach Extravaganza Dinner Show and an Island Safari tour and were hosted to a cocktail reception by the British High Commission.

In Phase 2, the training will continue with e-learning and action learning, before participants reunite in London, UK for Phase 3, where they will explore topics focusing on leading current and future tax administrations.

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