The concluding session was held today, Monday 28 September, at the Nederlandse School voor Openbaar Bestuur (NSOB) in The Hague. Under the theme “Language & Time – The Influence and Operating Environment of the Island Secretary,” participants explored how language and time can be used as strategic tools to influence the direction and outcomes of projects, processes and professional interactions.
Professor Dr Mark van Twist, Dean and Chair of the Executive Board of NSOB and Professor of Public Administration at Erasmus University Rotterdam, led the morning session on Language and Narrative, while Dr Jorren Scherpenisse, organisational psychologist and public administration scholar, led the afternoon session on The Discipline of Time. The programme concluded with a reflection session led by Sabrine Roest, Municipal Secretary of Urk.
The training examined the importance of effective communication for Island Secretaries working at the intersection of politics, administration and society, particularly within a multilingual environment. Participants considered how language and narratives can be used to communicate complex issues, influence processes and support effective administrative leadership.
Attention was also given to the role of time in public administration, including timing, the pace at which developments unfold and the short- and long-term effects of decisions. Participants reflected on how internal processes, such as planning, decision-making cycles, budget years and organisational calendars, interact with the timelines and expectations of governments, businesses, citizens and other partners.
The programme combined academic knowledge with practical experience, allowing participants to relate the concepts discussed during the training to situations and responsibilities within their own working environments.
The training began with in-person sessions in Bonaire in January, followed by a series of online sessions which allowed participants to continue the programme alongside their regular responsibilities before coming together for the concluding session in The Hague.
“Continuous professional development is important, particularly in a role such as that of Island Secretary, where responsibilities and challenges continue to evolve,” said Island Secretary Malvern Dijkshoorn-Lopes. “We began this journey in Bonaire in January and continued with a number of online sessions after returning to Statia, which allowed us to keep learning while applying that knowledge in our daily work. One of the things this programme has reinforced is that many of the challenges we experience on Statia are similar to those faced by municipalities in the Netherlands; the difference is that we operate on a much smaller scale. That makes this exchange particularly valuable. We can learn from one another, share experiences and consider how those lessons can be adapted to our own reality. We have to keep developing ourselves, because strengthening our people ultimately strengthens the organisation and the service we provide to the Statian community.”
The completion of the programme reflects the Statia Government’s continued commitment to strengthening local capacity and supporting the ongoing development of its civil service.
