Sustainable develop-ment has become a key element of postal development.
“It can be used to improve relationships with partners; create new markets; respond to customer’s expectations; ensure the professional development of employees and social dialogue; and to educate the public about the environmental and social causes,” says Universal Postal Union (UPU) representative Ann-Claire Blet.

She was at the time addressing yesterday’s opening ceremony of the Sustainable Development Workshop, held at the Caribbean Postal Centre, located in the General Post Office building at Cheapside, Bridgetown.

Mrs. Blet told participants that sustainable development is a real driver of performance, innovation, profitability and social progress for all Posts.

“Sustainable development is good for business,” she stressed, while stating that the message conveyed by the UPU is the need for governments to include Posts in national sustainable development strategies.

“Many postal operators have already embarked on a path to sustainable development. The UPU wants to help its members to develop economic practices, socially and environmentally responsible.

“To this end, the UPU has signed agreements with several international organisations, including the International Labour Organisation, UNI Global Union and the United Nations Environmental Programme. These partnerships allow us to help Posts integrate into their strategy the elements of sustainable development. The stakes are high for the sector and postal sector,” she explained.

The UPU Representative also revealed that the workshop will be organised around the three pillars of sustainable development – the social pillar, environmental and economic.

“Whatever the level of development, it is clear that integrating the requirements of sustainable development becomes a priority for Posts. That is why we welcome the holding of this training seminar as part of the Caribbean and we hope it will fully be implemented when you (participants) return back home,” she said. (TL)