St. Lucia Business Focus 100 by AMS St. Lucia

FLOW

No. 100

NOV/DEC 2018

CONTENTS FEATURE

Advertising & Marketing Services

28. Tribute to a Lifetime’s Labour of Love 30. Realising the Dream 32. Q & A - Lokesh Singh’s Personal Journey in Business 34. A Passion for Success and Service 36. A Lion Leader Committed to Service and Community 38. The People Behind Our Brand 40. AMS - A Market Leader in Guyana 42. Inspiration for the Next Generation 44. A Trendsetting Standard Bearer Known for Quality 46. Business Focus: Celebrating Success and Chronicling History 48. Business Focus Goes Regional! 50. Taking a Bite Out of the Tourism Pie 54. Corporate Testimonials 56. Business Focus Covers 4. 6.

Editor’s Note Business Briefs

Leaders' Corner 8.

Promotion Tips For Taking Your Career To The Next Level

Money Matters

10. Invest Saint Lucia CEO Promises Professionalism 11. Insurance Council of St. Lucia Concludes Successful Inaugural Insurance Week 2018 Invest Saint Lucia 12. Saint Lucia - Best Caribbean Island to Invest 14. ECCB to Issue New Polymer-Based Notes in 2019 16. ECCB Celebrates 35th Anniversary 16. Caribbean Banks Support CARICOM In Regional Integration Efforts

NAGICO 18. NAGICO - St. Lucia's Leading General Insurer, Four Straight Years

Business Tech

20. SLHTA's Virtual Agricultural Clearing House 21. St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce Gets Ready for GEW 2018

B & B Money Savers 22. B & B Money Savers Celebrates 20 Years of Exceptional Service 24. Exploring Greater Productivity Through Innovation Caribbean Awnings Production Ltd. 62. Caribbean Awning - Let Us Cover Your World

Must Reads

67. Objectives & Key Results

Atwell Dalgliesh Co. Ltd. 68. Atwell Dalgliesh Co. Ltd. - Still Standing Through Testing Times

Economy & Trade

70. Export Saint Lucia’s Mission to Cuba True Value Building & Hardware Supplies 72. True Value - Two Decades of Excellent Service 74. Chamber Discusses National Debt Strategy, Economy 75. Saint Lucia Exports Breadfruit to U.S. 76. Regional Ferry Service Viable, Says World Bank Study 76. MovieTowne Sets Eyes on Saint Lucia and Jamaica 77. 11th Annual Saint Lucia-Taiwan Partnership Trade Show 77. Saint Lucia Network of Rural Women Producers Develop Micoud Chocolate Bar

Tourism Focus

78. Sandals Commits to Eliminating SingleUse Plastic Throughout Its Resorts 79. Regional Hoteliers Not Taking Full Advantage of Tourism Benefits 79. SLHTA Nurtures Young Leaders Development Initiative 80. The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority’s UK Showcase 80. Caribbean Launches “The Rhythm Never Stops” Marketing Campaign

In The Know

Lewis Industries Ltd. 82. Lewis Industries Ltd. - A Passion For Perseverance, How Dr. Thecla Fitz-Lewis Beat the Odds 84. Legal Fraternity Hosts Ganja Debate

85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91.

The Importance of Clear Advice Ted Advocates for Regional Arts T’is the Season of Giving? Network Like a Pro Emergency Exits and Exit Signs Meet a Member of the NRDF Team, Ms. Yvette Regis New National Taxi Union President Reveals Plans 91. Chairman’s Reserve Unveils a Limited Edition

Youth In Focus

92. OECS 30 Under 30 Winners Represented at Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative 93. CDB Hands Over Gender Socialisation Curriculum & Training Kit to UWI 93. “With Her: A Skilled Girl Force”, International Day of the Girl

Environmental Focus

94. Saint Lucian Keithlin Caroo Combines Agriculture, Technology & Gender Equality 96. Preventing the Propagation of Invasive Agricultural Produce in the Eastern Caribbean 97. Agriculture Ministry Encourages Small Ruminant Production 97. The Trade Export Promotion Agency Encourages Organic Farming

Health & Wellness

Vision Express 98. Vision Express - Over 30 Years in St. Lucia 100. Actions Agreed to Improve the Health of Women, Children and Adolescents Across Their Life Course 101. ‘Walk For The Cure’ Still Making Its Mark 102. Think About Your Eyes 103. Who Are You Really? 104. Health Tips For The Season 105. Save Lives By Practicing Fire Safety 106. World Bank to Aid Saint Lucia’s NCD Strategy 106. Caribbean Women Have Highest Obesity Rates 107. Events 108. Major Moves 110. New Company Registrations 112. Advertiser's Index BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

BUSINESS FOCUS

100 Not Out! A Time for Celebration!

Christmas is around the corner and yes, it is time for celebration. In addition, we come to the close of 2018 and will soon welcome 2019 with customary excitement and expectation of good things to come. We wish to thank you all for your support during the year and extend our sincere best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a Happy Christmas to you and your families with a New Year full of all good wishes for all things bright, beautiful, healthy and prosperous. For us at AMS, we are extremely proud to celebrate the release of our 100th Edition of our Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine being our November/December 2018 Issue. What a way to end the year with the achievement of this amazing milestone! Take a bow Saint Lucia for it is because of your support and encouragement that we have Editor / Managing Director been able to travel this journey of successfully publishing this high quality, informative and educational Magazine over the past twenty years.

Lokesh Singh

Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine has enjoyed the distinct honour of chronicling the commercial history of Saint Lucia’s private and public sectors whilst sharing the stories of our icons of enterprise and unsung heroes as we seek to instill the best qualities and provide motivation to our next generation of entrepreneurs to excel and aim high. This Magazine has enjoyed the admiration of people across the island and beyond our shores for its quality, presentation and content. In addition, it has earned the iconic record as being the longest published Business Magazine across all countries in the English-speaking Caribbean. What a special accolade for all of us from this small island nation of Saint Lucia. This celebration and recognition are not to be relished by myself and family only, but must be shared with all members of our AMS Staff who have played their respective roles in shaping and delivering this “labour of love” from our AMS house. Thanks to Team AMS for a job well done!

BUSINESSFOCUS Business Focus magazine is published every two months by Advertising & Marketing Services Limited (AMS), Saint Lucia. Publisher/ Managing Director: Lokesh Singh - lokesh@amscaribbean.com Project Manager: Editor’s Note Ashwini Singh - ashwini@amscaribbean.com Editorial Assistants: Stan Bishop | Ashwini Singh Graphic Designer: Tannel George | Carlisle Searles Advertising Sales: Cennette Flavien - cennette@amscaribbean.com Webmaster: Advertising & Marketing Services Photography: Ashley Anzie | Stan Bishop Contributors: Lokesh Singh | Olivier Bottois | Stan Bishop Kezia Preville | Lyndell Halliday | Trudy O. Glasgow Dr. Charmaine Gardner | Wayne Monrose Mandy Preville-Findlay | Rohan John Baptiste James Ellsmoor | Dr. Minerva King | Satish Singh Anushka Singh-Polius Editorial, Advertising, Design & Production: Advertising & Marketing Services P.O. Box 2003, Castries, Saint Lucia Tel: (758) 453-1149; Fax: (758) 453-1290 email: info@businessfocusstlucia.com www.businessfocusstlucia.com Business Focus welcomes contributions from professionals or writers in specialized fields or areas of interest. Reproduction of any material contained herein without written approval, constitutes a violation of copyright. Business Focus reserves the right to determine the content of the publication.

We also wish to thank all of those persons who have been a part of this journey with us over the many years in shaping and building the brand that is Business Focus today. We have fashioned and shared the stories of so many others. Now it is the time to share our AMS story as the Special Feature in this issue. We sincerely hope that you will enjoy reading about our company and our exciting journey to date. In addition, we have also included many articles from our contributors and others on various subjects which continue to impact our lives. Look us up online at www.businessfocusstlucia.com and share the Magazine with your business associates, friends and family. Happy Holidays and a Wonderful New Year!

BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

On The Cover: Lokesh Singh, Managing Director Advertising & Marketing Services

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FICS

BUSINESS BRIEFS BUSINESS FOCUS

Christmas Barrel Concessions Approved

Following a solid financial performance for the year ended December 31, 2017, the East Caribbean Financial Holding Company (ECFH) has reported strong results for the half-year ended June 30, 2018. ECFH reported a half-year profit after tax of EC$13.5 million, compared to the same period in 2017 in which profit stood at EC$4 million. Total assets grew from EC$2.118 billion as at December 2017 to EC$2.160 billion as at June 30, 2018.

The Government of Saint Lucia has once again approved concessions with regard to the importation of barrels at Christmas. Concessions are for the period of November 15, 2018 to January 31, 2019. The concessions on barrels are in accordance with the following terms and conditions: • 100% waiver of import duty on personal items, food, clothing, toys and other household consumables, contained in barrels. Electronics are explicitly excluded. • The number of barrels qualifying for concessions is 2 per household. • The upper limit on the value per barrel is EC $2,500.00 per barrel on the items qualifying for concessions. • Qualifying items must be for personal use and not commercial use. • The usual penalties and fines apply if the goods are used for commercial purposes. The House of Parliament on October 30th 2018 approved to allow for the exemption of Value Added Tax (VAT) on all qualifying items (food, clothing, toys, household consumables, personal items) imported within barrels during this period.

BOSL & ECFH Report Strong Half-Year Results

The strong half-year results reflect the performance of the sole subsidiary of ECFH, Bank of Saint Lucia (BOSL). BOSL achieved an improved capital position of 19%, well above the 8% regulatory minimum level. Balance sheet growth was attributed to increased customer deposits during the six-month period.

Nov/Dec

Government of Saint Lucia in delivering meaningful results and outcomes that are sustainable,” said Dr. Justin Ram, CDB’s Economics Director. The CDB said the funds will be used to finance the third and fourth stages of a four-stage implementation and delivery mechanism being piloted in Castries, with support from the Bank. “The project is consistent with CDB’s strategic objective of promoting good governance, as well as its corporate priorities of strengthening evidence-based policymaking and improving economic, and fiscal management,” the Bank said.

Flow Doubles Internet Speeds in Saint Lucia

Managing Director, Bernard La Corbinière, stated that the results were indicative of improved efficiencies in several areas.

St. Lucia to Receive US$5M from CDB to Establish Performance Management and Delivery Unit

Chris Williams Flow Saint Lucia Country Manager

The Allen Chastanet administration is in the process of developing a Strategic Development Plan for the period 20192022, and has committed to adopting a new approach to executing its strategic priorities, with a focus on implementation. “CDB’s research has shown that implementation of projects and policies identified in national development plans and annual budgets remains a weak area for many countries in the Region. In addition, implementation deficits and lack of capacity often limit the effectiveness of the Bank’s projects in the Caribbean. “As such, CDB is committed to helping our Borrowing Member Countries to overcome these challenges. Through this new approach, we hope to assist the

BusinessFocus

Business Briefs BUSINESS BRIEFS

Flow customers are once again reaping benefits from significant investment in infrastructure and technological assets. Residential subscribers to Flow’s fixed broadband service have been enjoying a drastic improvement in their web experience, thanks to the company’s recent decision to increase internet download speeds island-wide at no additional cost. The latest system upgrade allows Flow customers across Saint Lucia much more bandwidth for work, study, or play. Once the user restarts his or her modem, a speed test will confirm the increased download speed. Earlier this year, Flow increased upload speeds on residential broadband, with the TV platform also experiencing an upgrade

BUSINESS BRIEFS to a new firmware and interface that clears Saint Lucia has won the award for the way for exciting features such as Video the ‘Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination’ at the 25th annual World On Demand. Travel Awards. The award ceremony, which Flow Saint Lucia home internet download celebrates some of the finest travel brands speeds are up to 100 MBps, with unlimited in the Caribbean and North America, took browsing, messaging, emailing, online place at Sandals Montego Bay, Jamaica on September 23, 2018. shopping, and downloading.

SOL St. Lucia Wins Multi-million-dollar Fuel Contract in the BVI

The British Virgin Islands’ Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) has awarded a major fuel contract to SOL St. Lucia Limited (Ltd) to supply the government-run utility with fuel and lubricants for the next five years. SOL St. Lucia Ltd. has also been awarded the contract to supply diesel fuel and petroleum for BVIEC’s fleet of vehicles, while Delta Petroleum will provide the lubricating products. SOL St. Lucia Ltd. had proposed in their bid of July 2018 to provide fuel for the entire BVIEC vehicle fleet for $467,992.

With three of its four properties now Green Globe-certified, Bay Gardens Resorts remains committed to environmental protection by doing its part to ensure a greener planet throughout its operations; This is the ninth time the island has improving the social, environmental and won the award in ten years and the win economic sustainability of St. Lucians; and represents Saint Lucia’s fifth consecutive keeping its island home green. title as ‘Caribbean Leading Honeymoon destination. Saint Lucia is also a nineLIAT Proposes 3-Year time winner of the ‘World Leading Salary Freeze Honeymoon Destination’. “Romance has helped to establish the Saint Lucia brand and continues to be a significant niche market for the destination. This award is a result of the hard work of all our tourism stakeholders and truly is an award for the people of Saint Lucia,” stated Tiffany Howard - Chief Marketing Officer and acting CEO of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority. The Destination is also nominated for ‘World Leading Honeymoon Destination 2018’. The grand finale gala awards event, which acknowledges first class excellence of travel brands from across the world, takes place on December 1, 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal.

Bay Gardens Resorts Phase Out Use of Plastics

SOL had further proposed to supply lubricating oil to the BVIEC for $1,285,555 and diesel fuel for the Henry Wilfred Smith Power Station, on Tortola and the Anegada Power Station, at a cost of $88,145,137.

Saint Lucia Once Again Crowned Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination

occupancy sensors in its guestrooms, leading to a 15% energy use reduction per occupied room.

Bay Gardens Resorts will phase out the use of plastic by November 2018 in favour of biodegradable vessels and utensils made from wood, paper, compostable plastic and sugar cane bagasse. The resort chain’s reduction of its carbon footprint follows increased global awareness of the harm plastic litter causes. Over a year ago, the company began to reduce its impact on the environment by ending the use of all Expanded Polystyrene (Styrofoam) products at its properties. It has also embraced other ecological innovations, such as installing GEM Link

Cash-strapped regional airline, LIAT, is proposing a salary freeze for the next three years for its employees and that future salary increases be dependent on employee performance. These proposals form the basis of discussions between the airline and regional trade union representatives as they discussed the future of the Antiguabased airline, whose major shareholders are the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and St. Vincent. LIAT’s Chief Executive Officer, Julie ReiferJones, told the trade unions that if the airline is to remain sustainable it would require all stakeholders to support the changes. She added that the airline is not in a position to meet its ongoing obligations to employees and suppliers and the current situation requires urgent attention. Reifer-Jones said the unions are being asked to consider several recommendations, including the wage freeze for the years 2018-2020 and that future salary increases be based on employees’ performances and the profitability of the company. There is also a proposal that the unions accept a revision of job descriptions in keeping with modern airline operations and the implementation of an appraisal system over the next six months. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

BUSINESS FOCUS

Volume 12

LEADERS'

CORNER

Promotion Tips For Taking Your Career To The Next Level

Promotion Tips For Taking Your Career To The Next Level You may have been at the same job for some time and just assume that a promotion will come along for time served. Realistically, you have to do more than work long hours to make it to the next level. More responsibility means actively showing and eventually telling your boss that you’re ready to take on a new role. However if you just do it you may not have to ask. Over the years I promoted many people in leadership positions at hotels and resorts. Many did not have much industry experience. A reality especially working in some remote locations where often experienced qualified labor is rare in the resort industry with talented people settling for long term comfortable government jobs, or qualified labor has moved to more lucrative locations. Work permits are not granted easily and identifying local talent that can grow and eventually get promoted is key to the company’s success. We always need talent. People who can do it. People who know how important their role is to the mission of the company. We want to promote employees who are driven by helping our brand succeed. Opportunities to get promoted are out there! Nov/Dec

• Display commitment • Show pride in your work • Drive, determination • Self awareness • High engagement and get involved • Take initiative and be proactive • Show you can solve problems • Avoid office politics and gossip • Welcome feedback • Take ownership from start to finish and take charge! Follow up • Attract and lead great talent • Be a team player. Collaborate and support your colleagues. • Do more with less • Communicate and report regularly your progress and achievements • Network with the right people and stay connected • Smile and be exceptional! • Do the job! Start...Don’t wait... • Make your boss’s job easier • Don’t count the hours, but do what it takes to get the job done. • Share credit Of course peer endorsement also helps. The key is paying attention to what a person’s colleagues are saying about them. It is not all about you putting yourself forward. If senior management notices that a certain employee’s name is constantly associated with success, then this is a staff member they are likely to consider as a vital part of their company, one who needs advancement to help the company achieve goals.

By Olivier Bottois

BusinessFocus

Here are some tips on getting promoted, based on employees I have seen rise through the ranks:

Sometimes we do have to act as if. Don’t wait around until someone gives you a new title to take on new challenges. Instead, take on new challenges that are part of the role you want to be promoted to, that will prove why you deserve the title bump. You don't always have to ask for permission. Olivier Bottois is a third generation Hotelier with broad hospitality experience in France, England, Germany, Canada, USA and The Caribbean. He is a Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts alumni who led Leading Hotels of The World, Relais & Chateaux, Small Luxury Hotels and Preferred Hotels properties as General Manager, Managing Director and HOA President. After the successful repositioning and expansion of Ladera Resort in St Lucia (2011-2016) as Vice President of Operations & Marketing, Bottois joined Marriott "Autograph Collection" in the US, and presently engaged in projects in the West Indies leading Lussoria Hospitality Management Services. The company specializes in repositioning hotels and asset value enhancement for independent owners and has offices in St Lucia & the US. Engage Olivier on LinkedIn: Olivier JP Bottois

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MONEY MATTERS

Invest Saint Lucia CEO Promises Professionalism

Invest Saint Lucia CEO Promises Professionalism By Stan Bishop

Chief Executive Officer of Invest Saint Lucia (ISL), Roderick Cherry, says the organization must be a world-class promotion agency and business enabler to remain relevant.

Chief Executive Officer of Invest Saint Lucia Roderick Cherry

Cherry’s appointment took effect on October 2, 2018, mere weeks after he resigned as CEO of the St. Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association (SLHTA). With over 20 years’ experience serving as Senior Manager and CEO of various organizations, he believes he is capable of ensuring ISL builds on its successes.

“My focus will be on strategic promotion of the country externally,” he said at an October 8 media briefing. “I think we need to develop a targeted strategy for promoting local and regional investment. My view is that we need to use technology as an enabler for business processes within the country. We also need to improve communications with the wider society.” ISL is tasked with attracting foreign investment and facilitating business; and managing Saint Lucia’s strategic assets, such as lands vested to ISL for the purpose of economic development. Cherry said ISL’s “pretty solid team of people” is well supported by the Board of Directors, adding that “ISL does a hell of a good job” which often goes unnoticed. “It’s probably one of the best-kept secrets in Saint Lucia,” he said. “We obviously will not be able to deliver confidential information, but a lot of the work that ISL does should be made available to our media partners…I think that lack of information breeds misinformation, which can lead to mischief.” The main pipeline projects Cherry is expected to deliver on includes the Desert Star Holding (DSH) project in Vieux Fort. He stressed the need for checks and balances, due diligence and general management of this and other projects, affirming his commitment to professionalism. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

“Political interference is a reality. I am a professional: I am not a political person, I have no political affiliation. I will be guided by the best decisions that I can make based on my ability, training and experience of what I think is the right thing to do,” Cherry explained. Prior to Cherry’s appointment, McHale Andrew and Gillray Cadet served as ISL CEOs, the latter leaving the job in December 2017 after a threemonth stint. Cherry acknowledged the high turnover rate of the position, but pledged to deliver on his targets. “Of course, I have checked on what has happened before. But, as a professional, I have a duty to perform at ISL and I’m quite clear as to what the terms are and my ability to deliver as per the terms identified to me upon accepting this position. What has happened in the past is in the past. I’m looking towards the future and my ability to deliver on the promise of ISL,” he said. He said his reason for leaving SLHTA after a few months as CEO was because ISL’s targets and goals are larger in scope and more impactful nationally, adding that given his extensive career he felt he needed to grasp the opportunity. “It is an exciting time for me and Invest Saint Lucia and I think we have the opportunity to bring real improvement in the livelihoods of Saint Lucians,” Cherry explained. Describing Saint Lucia’s investment climate, Cherry said there is room for improvement, but promotions have to be more targeted to realize the results being sought. “We do not have the biggest budgets and it’s a very competitive market,” he said. “One of the major issues facing us is our slide in the ease of doing business rankings. It’s very important that ISL takes the lead in trying to be in the forefront of improving our ease of doing business.” Stan Bishop’s career in journalism began in April 2008 as a reporter for The VOICE newspaper in Saint Lucia. He covers current affairs, politics, tourism, environmental issues, business, arts and entertainment and human interest stories and also had two regular columns in The VOICE, namely “Strictly Business” and “If You Asked Me”. In September 2012, Bishop was among the first batch of students in the one-year Journalism and Media Studies course run by Monroe College (St. Lucia) campus from which he graduated with a certificate in that field. Bishop has covered assignments further afield in Barbados, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of China (Taiwan), Morocco and Israel. From March 2017 to February 2018, he was Editor of The VOICE. He is now a freelance writer and writes features for Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine, OECS Business Focus Magazine, as well as for other publications and clients.

that it provided members an opportunity to make meaningful contributions via telephone. More so he said, “It underscored the need for them and the wider body of the Insurance Council to continue to play their parts in providing a major boost to the insurance industry, all in an attempt to bring together local and regional players of insurance who are involved in bringing back some semblance of normalcy to the lives of persons following catastrophic events, both man-made and natural.” Meantime as part of the 43rd AGM held on October 4, 2018 at the Sandals Regency Golf Resort & Spa, a new executive has been elected to oversee the affairs of the ICSL for the next twelve months. Claudius Francis remains as President with Fred Malakyhan Guest speaker at the event Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica as Vice President and Waren Montgomery as Secretary/Treasury. Other members of the executive include Immediate Past President Royer Felix, Chairperson of the Motor Subcommittee Ursuline Mitchel De Beauville, Chairperson of the General Sub-committee Joralia St. Louis, Chairperson of the Public Relations/Education Sub-committee Kirk Maraj, Chairperson of the Social committee Anne Marie Herman, Chairperson of the Broker's Sub-committee Tamara Dantes, President of the Insurance Institute of Saint Lucia ex-officio Dione Simon and Chairperson of the Life/Medical Sub-committee Sabina Kirton Charles.

Insurance Council of St. Lucia Concludes Successful Inaugural Insurance Week 2018

A spirited ecumenical service, an engaging Annual General Meeting and a highly interactive panel discussion were among key activities undertaken as the island’s main insurance advisory body, the Insurance Council of St. Lucia (ICSL), brought the curtains down on the first ever installment of Insurance Week. The rationale for the week of activities was to draw attention to the work of the Council in terms of its public advocacy efforts, while at the same time helping to set, guide and regulate standards for the business of insurance here on St. Lucia.

Guest speaker at the event was Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica who delivered a rousing address while highlighting the need for greater insurance coverage among the region’s populace, in light of the $1.3 billion destruction heaped upon his country following the passage of Hurricane Maria in 2017. According to P.M. Skerrit, insurance must increasingly be seen as a prime means of mitigating the impacts of climate change. Skerrit told his audience, “Radical solutions are required; new instruments; new premium models. We know that the industry is keen to play its part; we must all work together to overcome these challenges; we are eager to begin the dialogue, and that is why I am here today.” He also called for more resources to be made available to vulnerable small island developing states in order to build resilience and to respond to catastrophic events.

The Service, held at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Castries on September 24, 2018, set the tone for the rest of Week’s activities and was seen as an opportunity for members to gather and celebrate their achievements and blessings for the year to date.

The formation of the Insurance Council of St. Lucia dates back to 1975 when insurance industry players came together primarily to lobby government over the provision of the proposed amendment to the 1968 Insurance Act, in particular the proposed amendment of section 61. In an effort to give back and contribute to the lives of the employees of its members, the Insurance Council of St. Lucia started a scholarship programme in 2002.

Yet another highlight of the Week was the staging of a live radio panel discussion on September 26, as part of the talk show Straight-UP, where an esteemed panel chaired by Insurance Council President Claudius Francis and including panelists Ms. Gillian Polius and Messrs. Leathon Khan & Milton Haripaul, delved into an animated discussion that centered around the theme of this year’s 43rd Annual General Meeting “Catastrophic Events The New Reality or Cyclical"?

The ICSL still maintains its original function as a body to act as a medium for consulting with government and now also lists amongst its objectives as being a body to foster the development of insurance on the island. The ICSL maintains regular and close contact with the Registrar of Insurance on matters pertaining to the industry and a system of regular quarterly meetings between the Executive of the Insurance Council and the Registrar’s office has been in place for many years.

Newly elected Chairperson of the Public Relations/Education Subcommittee Kirk Maraj, lauded the inaugural panel discussion, noting BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Invest Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia - Best Caribbean Island to Invest

SAINT LUCIA

BEST CARIBBEAN ISLAND TO INVEST

Saint Lucia has won the award for Best Caribbean Island to Invest in. That’s according to European Business Magazine, Europe's leading subscriber-based publication, which boasts close to 90,000 C-level readers who range from senior corporate executives to decision makers, from some of the leading businesses across Europe. Saint Lucia emerged as the front-runner, surpassing several other Caribbean islands including Jamaica, which was the 2017 awardee. Newly minted Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Invest Saint Lucia, Roderick Cherry, is elated by this latest accolade. “This Award is testament to the hard work and dedication that Invest Saint Lucia has devoted to targeted investment promotion and marketing over the last few years,” he noted. “Indeed, our current projects, as well as those in the pipeline, are as a direct result of our more assertive and proactive investment promotion efforts at related overseas events and in various targeted international publications. “We are now witnessing the benefits of our refocused branding and promotions, which began close to 10 BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

years ago. ISL’s efforts have managed to alter the public and stakeholder perception of the agency as simply an investment facilitator, landlord and source of inexpensive land for both commercial and residential purposes. This repositioning to promote Saint Lucia as a more ‘investment friendly’ island, has apparently paid dividends and we’re looking forward to facilitating additional foreign direct investments into Saint Lucia in the not too distant future.” According to publisher Nick Staunton, “Saint Lucia’s award for ‘Best Caribbean Island to Invest’ was based on new projects; the expected returns on investment for the new projects in question; the yield and return on real estate; and Government assistance as it relates to tax incentives. “The island received over 30,000 votes over a 6-month period, with readers citing areas of significance such as standard of living, the preservation of domestic laws and ease of access,” he explained. Readers were also impressed with the current projects from international investors, which signals investor confidence in the island’s potential as a choice investment location.

www.investstlucia.com

INVEST SAINT LUCIA CALLS FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR INVESTMENT-READY PROJECTS Invest Saint Lucia recently put out a call for expressions of interest (EOIs) from the private sector in relation to business proposals, project concepts or products that are available for investment. According to Manager for Investment Promotion and Fulfilment, Alana Lansiquot-Brice, this EOI is being presented to increase the participation of the local, private sector in investment promotion. “Over the last year or so, we’ve realized that our successes in identifying investors and matching them with assets with the potential for investment, have left us with a severely limited stock of new concepts to present to investors. Taking into consideration our mandate to promote investment-ready projects, we have decided that the best course of action to garner information to replace those projects that are no longer available, is to publicize our request,” she explained. She further stated, “ISL needs the local individuals and the private sector to engage with the investment market to ensure that not only large-scale projects receive attention from potential investors. This necessitated a public announcement calling for private citizens and or businesses to provide us with

the information on the specific opportunity, project concept and or business proposal to augment ISL’s own contribution to the product offerings.” Following a review by ISL, the information being sought will be uploaded to the ‘Sector Opportunities’ page on ISL’s website for the consideration by both current and potential investors; domestic and foreign. In addition to this promotional avenue, information received will be packaged and presented as part of ISL’s promotional portfolio at overseas conferences, packages, investor missions, etc. This information will also form part of the investment-ready project catalogue generated through the Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA). Users can log on to www.investstlucia.com to complete the appropriate forms and provide the required information on available investment opportunities. This campaign is expected to run into 2019, giving project owners sufficient time to provide accurate information and suitable photography/videography on their respective proposals.

MONEY MATTERS

ECCB to Issue New Polymer-Based Notes in 2019

Trevor Brathwaite Deputy Governor of the ECCB

ECCB to Issue New Polymer-Based Notes in 2019 Some of the new polymer-based notes slated to be issued by mid-2019 The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) is preparing to roll out a new suite of enhanced bank notes by mid-2019. The new notes, which will be made from a polymer-based material, will replace the current notes made from cotton. The Bank issues notes for eight countries in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU). Deputy Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), Trevor Brathwaite, made the disclosure during a recent appearance on “ECCB Connects”, a programme produced by the regional bank. Brathwaite said polymer is a much more durable substrate with a number of features that enhance the durability of the notes, resulting in the notes lasting much longer in circulation and costing less in printing costs. “Eventually, it will reduce the cost that the Central Bank has to incur in printing notes,” Brathwaite said. “So that’s a longterm benefit – a reduction in cost – hence the use of the polymer substrate.” A key difference between the current and proposed new notes is the orientation. The new notes will be lateral -- not horizontal like the current ones. Other crucial differences are the enhanced security features. The $20, $50 and $100 notes will have a ‘holographic window’, or see-through window, so when one holds the note up to light, they will see through that holographic panel. Therefore, if someone BusinessFocus

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attempts to make copies of the note, that portion will turn black. The $5 and $10 have similar holographic windows but on a smaller scale. There’s a triangle with a feature coloured plant and in that holographic window – the smaller one – will have the same feature so if the note is held up, one can see through that particular holographic window. For the $20, $50 and $100 notes, the Bank has opted to include a full holographic pane with features embedded in it so that someone holding up the note to light will see the features through the pane, which protects the note against being counterfeited. “The security features that we have on the current notes will be enhanced and will remain so that persons who are using their notes will see that there’s some familiarity,” said Brathwaite. “We didn’t want to disturb the concept of notes that people have been accustomed to all these years. So we have enhanced graphics of the same features using modern technology.” According to Brathwaite, many so-called First World countries are now issuing their currencies on this substrate and the sub-region will be the first in this part of the world to issue all of its notes on this particular substrate. “Trinidad and Tobago had issued a $50 note on a polymer for the anniversary of its Independence, I believe, sometime ago. But that’s the only existing polymer substrate note in our jurisdiction at this point in time.

“So we are leading in this particular area and we expect that eventually that central banks -- once we’ve had the benefit of this experience -- will see the benefits of issuing notes on this particular substrate,” he explained. The new notes will have a tactile feature for visually-impaired individuals so that they can feel the note. While it is not exactly Braille, Brathwaite said raised bumps on the notes will distinguish the denomination of the notes. Former ECCB Governor, Sir K. Dwight Venner’s image will be featured on the new $50 note, in tribute honouring his legacy and the more than 25 years that he spent at the Central Bank. The $50 and $100 notes will be the first set of notes in circulation, Brathwaite said. Brathwaite said a public sensitization programme will be undertaken prior to the issuance of the new bank notes, including an educational drive targeting people who are visually-impaired. So should citizens be concerned about transitioning to the new notes? Not really, Brathwaite said. He cited the U.K., where the pound is now issued on polymer notes, and where citizens have not been adversely affected. “They’ve accepted the fact that it’s on this new substrate,” he said. “In Canada and Australia as well. So there’s a variety of countries in the so-called First World where the substrate is used.”

Saint Lucia Air & Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA)

BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

ECCB Celebrates 35th Anniversary

MONEY MATTERS

ECCB Celebrates 35th Anniversary Address by Timothy Antoine, Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB)

Caribbean Banks Support Caribbean Banks Support CARICOM In CARICOM InEfforts Regional Regional Integration Integration Efforts

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) is celebrating 35 years of existence, 35 years of service and, most importantly, 35 years of monetary stability. We offer a high note of praise to Almighty God for His greatness and goodness. Indeed, “it is in Him, we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28, NIV). We also thank the people of our beloved region for their unwavering support. Today, we reaffirm that our EC dollar is strong, 98 per cent backed by foreign reserves. This means for every dollar in circulation, we have 98 cents in foreign reserves. Our monetary union commands global respect; engenders confidence; helps deliver relatively low inflation; and encourages foreign direct investment as there are no foreign exchange controls. The ECCB is both a powerful symbol and expression of what we as small countries can do when we come together. The ECCB is a timeless testimony of our capacity to craft arrangements for ourselves that work in our best interests. We seize this opportunity to pay tremendous tribute to the founders and framers of our monetary union. We acknowledge the role of members of our Monetary Council and Board of Directors (past and present). I hail the colossal contribution of my predecessors: the late Sir Cecil Jacobs and Honourable Sir K Dwight Venner. I also recognise our first Deputy Governor, Sir Errol Allen and our current Deputy Governor, Mr Trevor Brathwaite. We applaud our management and staff (past and present) including our retirees. We record our gratitude to all partners (local, regional and international). Every October, we celebrate Financial Information Month (FIM). Our focus this year is on Conducting and Protecting Your Business in a Digital Environment. I therefore encourage you to check out our events which include financial fairs, radio quizzes and business symposia on cryptocurrency and other digital developments. As we commence our next 35 years of service, we will continue to work assiduously for the good of the people of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU). Our strategic plan makes pellucidly clear our intent to pursue socio-economic transformation of the Eastern Caribbean. To this end, we are fortified in the knowledge that we can achieve so much when we embrace common cause and take collective action. Happy Anniversary! BusinessFocus

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The Caribbean Association of Banks (CAB) has commended the Council for Finance and Planning (COFAP) for reaffirming the commitment towards the Caribbean Single Market and Economy and its significance for the regional financial sector, at the sixth special meeting of the Council on September 4 in Barbados. The CAB says it views the resolution taken at that meeting as a step in the right direction to re-energize the regional integration commitment. The CAB added that it was pleased to note that the Council has agreed to address the following areas that contribute to building capacity and efficiency within the financial services industry, as well as stimulate lending to productive sectors of the regional economies: • Enhancing the financial safety-net through deposit insurance; • Developing a regionally integrated capital market; and • Harmonizing credit reporting systems and legislation. Notwithstanding the intent to finalize key instruments, such as a harmonized investment policy and code, an incentives regime and model securities legislation by next year, the CAB highlighted the need for expediency and uniformity in the implementation of these commitments. The CAB endorsed the statement by the chairman of the COFAP, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, who said: “It is imperative for us to pursue urgently the efforts to advance the necessary legal measures to complete those initiatives.” The CAB added that it believes that the timely enactment of key harmonized legislation, agreed by all member states, is critical to the safety, soundness, growth and sustainability of the financial services sector which is the bedrock of our economies. Consequently, the CAB encouraged CARICOM governments to maintain this sense of urgency towards the advancement of the regional integration process.

Sharmark With Options Presents

“Winter Wonderland” They say that team work makes the dream work and Dahlia Francois and Sharmark Leon are definitely proving that statement to be true. For this Christmas season, Sharmark, of Sharmark Designs and Events, and Dahlia, of Options Inc., are collaborating on a Christmas special dubbed “Winter Wonderland”. In fact, the collaboration is so tight that they have even fused their company names to form “Sharmark With Options”! Winter Wonderland will feature Christmas wreaths, Christmas trees, gift boxes and dry arrangements. Sharmark and Dahlia will also be providing gift wrapping and consultancy services for customers requiring assistance in decorating their homes, offices and special functions. The duo, both of whom have many years of experience in designing, promises customers a magical experience and guarantees that no customer will walk away without purchasing at least one item. “As a designer, I always want to come up with original ideas,” Sharmark says. “Everybody wants Options Inc & Shamark Designs to stand out and have something no one else has. That’s why every arrangement is different and has its own flair. “Our products are a cut above the rest and we do not compromise on quality.” That is why, he says, one cannot really put a budget on creativity as beautiful designs bring life and energy into our lives, setting the tones that inspire us. “The beautiful thing about Sharmark and I is that we always want to come up with something new,” says Dahlia. “We’re always brainstorming.” As Sharmark puts it: “If designers can work together, you can get a super designer out of it.” After the ice melts for Winter Wonderland, Dahlia and Sharmark hope to move right into another bold endeavour. Perhaps for Valentine’s Day, as with this experienced combination of skills, the creative juices just never stop flowing.

Tel:758-450-0819 Cel:758-716-5974 Fax:758-452-3172 Email: info@optionsslu.com

DESIGN & EVENTS

Corner of Micoud & Manoel Streets Tel:758-720-6150 (Koutiwiyez) Tel:758-285-2696 (Sharmark Designs & Events) Email: sharmarkworks4u@gmail.com BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

BUSINESS FOCUS

NAGICO St. Lucia's Leading General Insurer, Four Straight Years NAGICO

St. Lucia's Leading General Insurer, Four Straight Years For the past four consecutive years, NAGICO (St. Lucia) Limited has earned the title of top general insurer in Saint Lucia. Unquestionably, this is no easy feat, considering the fact that the company began operations in Saint Lucia in 2011. Such a success story did not come easily, according to its General Manager, Adele Jn. Baptiste, who has witnessed that journey in its entirety.

“It’s a proud achievement for us,” Jn. Baptiste says, commenting on the company’s fantastic four-peat. NAGICO (St. Lucia) Limited is a subsidiary of the NAGICO Group, which was established in 1982 and has its corporate head office in St. Maarten. The Group operates in 21 territories in the Caribbean – from as far north as Turks & Caicos Islands to as far south as Trinidad and Tobago.

NAGICO is financially strong and stable due to risk management being at the core of its decision-making

Jn. Baptiste recalls the first moments of the company’s attempt to set up shop in Saint Lucia, she being the first employee, and literally using her then Executive Director’s home as an office. At the time, Claudia Vitalis, Agatha Biscette and Adele Jn. Baptiste (the first ladies of NAGICO (St. Lucia) Limited) were busying themselves with putting things together and trying to figure out what the local market offered. In April 2016, the company opened its new office at Reduit, Gros Islet, already having laid the groundwork for success. BusinessFocus

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Through its substantial dedicated, qualified and experienced network of agents, brokers and staff, NAGICO (St. Lucia) Limited provides quality risk advice and delivers tailormade solutions to the market. They offer a wide range of services that cover personal (property and home, vehicle, medical, and marine) and business (employer’s liability, public liability, marine, airport

policies, commercial vehicle, director’s liability, professional indemnity, medical, comprehensive & plant, business interruption, commercial all risk, burglary, contractors all risk, fire & extended perils, and money all risk. As a group, NAGICO is financially strong and stable due to risk management being at the core of its decision-making, and it is a preferred provider in the region and number one in many of the islands, due to its reliability, trustworthiness and friendly service – its core values. Staying ahead of the game, Jn. Baptiste explains, comes with considerable sacrifices, especially in a market where NAGICO (St. Lucia) Limited is competing with over twentyfive insurers. This involves constantly studying the market and making strategic decisions.

staff also volunteer to support the Vieux Fort Soup Kitchen for the needy. The company is also a partner of the annual Saint Lucia Premier League (SPL) T20 cricket tournament. Assisting barber, Cutty Ranks, to provide free haircuts to schoolboys and sponsoring prizes for school graduations are also part of its corporate social responsibility. On the importance of being insured, Jn. Baptiste says that based on the massive destruction caused during last year’s hurricane season, being insured is essential. While many people are skeptical about being insured, she believes insurance is a surefire investment toward ensuring continuity when disaster strikes.

“Each market is different, so we have to do our research and ensure that everything is in line with what the market has to offer,” she says. “We have a very experienced team. But all the hard work we have had to go through, and moving from three staffers to thirty, was unbelievable.” Jn. Baptiste says one of the qualities that sets NAGICO (St. Lucia) Limited apart from the competition is the company’s use of a distinct model. "We conduct direct business through our offices in Reduit and Vieux Fort and we have also established 6 Agencies, a few of which have multiple locations and deal with numerous Brokers, all to whom we attribute our success. In fact, two of our top intermediaries are Brokers." Another is the exceptional customer service offered and she believes customers make the right choice with NAGICO because of its efficiency in paying out claims. “We pride ourselves on settling claims fast, fair and we’re always there – like our tagline says. With that comes the necessary assurance that we have re-insurance to back our stake. Most of our money is spent ensuring that we have stable, A-rated re-insurers,” she explains. As a corporate social partner, NAGICO (St. Lucia) Limited has played an integral role in the community, including hosting a health fair on its company grounds last October where patrons benefited from free medical screenings. NAGICO

“We saw a great deal of people being either uninsured or under-insured,” she says of last year’s damage caused by Category 5 hurricanes in various Caribbean islands. “The damages not only took a toll on them emotionally, but financially. Insurance gives you the peace of mind – knowing that starting over is not impossible.” For an insurance company that has woven itself into the hearts and minds of the communities by the sharing of values through the various projects it supports and executes, there’s no reason why you should not choose NAGICO. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

BUSINESS TECH

SLHTA's Virtual Agricultural Clearing House

SLHTA's Virtual Agricultural Clearing House BACKGROUND In Saint Lucia the majority of hotels import most food products from other countries, including fruit and vegetables. Even when a facility is buying fresh produce from suppliers locally often the product has originated from an imported source. With 60-70% of sourced product coming from imports the local agricultural produces were not effectively penetrating the local marketplace within the hospitality sector. In 2014 the SLHTA (Saint Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association) took on the challenge of trying to understand the breakdown in the local supply chain not being the first choice. SLHTA organized collective meetings between the Ministry of Agriculture, approx. 80 farmers (representing both individual producers and some small co-ops) along with chefs and purchasing agents from the hospitality industry. The stakeholder meetings revealed primarily that there was no commonly understood information flow about what is available and from who locally. There was also equal amazement at the variety and abundance of produce being produced locally. Clearly there was an opportunity to bridge the gap between producers and consumers of agricultural produce in Saint Lucia. INITIATIVE In 2016 we struggled with the problem of creating a vibrant and effective linkage program that would unite agricultural producers directly to a marketplace within the hospitality sector. This was needed as the pre-existing format of a marketing board and or ad hoc connections were not working and sadly the best of produce and variety availability within the marketplace was poorly communicated and as a consequence the value of transactions were not being maximized by the farmers. WHAT WAS DONE? After an active brainstorming session we hit on the idea of a Virtual Agricultural Clearing House (VACH) program. We realized that BusinessFocus

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both the farmers and chefs all share a common communication platform via their respective cell phones. We utilized the Digital WhatsApp platform and created two groups namely agricultural producers and chefs through which they intercommunicate. After inception the two groups of over 100 producers and 60 chefs quickly grew and now over 300 messages are exchanged daily creating an active and successful linkage platform for produce exchange. PROGRAM RESULTS • Chefs are alerted to the freshest of available products daily. • Produce can be bartered for by the chefs which ensures the best price being received by the producer. • The need to sell to and buy from a marketing board has been eliminated. • More profit is being retained by the producers as they now can sell directly replacing the middleman. • Greater diversity of locally available products as chefs and producers are collaborating to grow locally what was traditionally imported. • Spoilage has reduced by about 15% as quick direct sales are now achievable for produce at its freshest. • Delivery and receipt of produce has dramatically improved. Chef Juan Bochenski, Jade Mountain Resort: “The Virtual Agricultural Clearing House now allows me to get the freshest and fastest food in St. Lucia allowing me as a chef to work with ingredients at the peak of their quality." Supplies being produced and traded locally within this program include but are not limited to: Bananas, Mangoes, Papaya, Soursop, Golden Apples, Water Melon, Oranges, Limes, Lemons, Guava, Plantain, Yam, Dasheen, Tomatoes, Breadfruit, Avocado, Lettuce, Cucumber, Chinese Cabbage, Carrots, Mushrooms, Honey etc… Over the last 2 years the program has continued to grow – there has been a far greater dependence on local versus imported produce and imported produce for the hospitality sector has decreased by approximately 15% reducing food miles and the subsequent greenhouse gas emissions. The above is one of the best examples of how the digital age has allowed us to create this program with all the extended benefits both to producers and the hospitality industry.

St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce Gets Ready for GEW 2018

Global Entrepreneurship Week will run from November 12–19, 2018, under the theme #GEWYOUTH. This will coincide with the Ministry of Commerce’s “Business Month”, which is also being celebrated during the month of November. Be a part of this global event by attending an activity, plan an event, partner, mentor or volunteer at any of the activities. Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is a celebration of the innovators and job creators, who launch start-ups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand human welfare. During one week each November, GEW inspires people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators. This celebration of entrepreneurs takes place every November with over 170 countries, impacting 10 million people annually and has attracted global leaders, conglomerates, start-ups, the youth and policy-makers. The St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture has been the host organization of GEW for the last seven years and each year there has been a tremendous increase in partnerships. In collaboration with over 45 partner organizations and individuals, a series of activities is being planned for 2018 GEW St Lucia celebrations.

Through a series of GEW meetings which started in early July 2018, partners excited about the event converged at the Bay Gardens Hotel to discuss, network, share best practices, idea generation and plan for a successful GEW 2018. Last year, Saint Lucia observed GEW, featuring 10 activities that were supported by over 50 partners. Held under the theme, “Cultivating Young Leaders For Entrepreneurial Success”, the forum allowed over 60 entrepreneurs to engage with professionals in various fields: law, marketing, information technology, digital marketing, business registration, accounting, customs, finance, human resources, and business management. Among the main activities was a Youth Entrepreneurship Symposium (YES) X Talks at the University of the West Indies Open Campus on Morne Fortune hosted by the National Youth Council (NYC). The event featured an open panel discussion with panelists, including well-known young entrepreneurs such as Mandisa Morrison – Shoe Rehab; Lamar Sifflet – Verve; Taribba do Nascimento – Meme Bete; and Laurah John – Jua Kali Ltd. We look forward to seeing you at one of the many Global Entrepreneurship Week event happening nationwide this year. Some of the many activities include Get In The Ring, RBC Royal Bank Entrepreneurs Forum, GEW Gospel Fest, SLUDTERA Start Up Huddle, DECA Idea Challenge, SALCC Exhibition and Chamber of Commerce Investment Round Table.

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2018-06-27 12:32 PM Nov/Dec | 21

B & B Money Savers - Celebrates 20 Years of Exceptional Service

20 Years of

Exceptional Service B & B Money Savers Inc. is a locally-owned retail company founded by Mr. Donat Boohlie and Mrs. Valencia Cypal Delice in November 1998. The company started its operations in a small oﬃce on 8th Maryann Street, Castries. The directors, Mr. Boohlie and Mrs. Delice, utilized all available resources at their disposal to facilitate the growth of the company. Mrs. Delice served the dual role of secretary and sales agent while Mr. Boohlie was in charge of all other operations which included the remanufacturing of ink and toner cartridges - mainly HP, Canon and Lexmark. As the company started to grow, they were able to hire two employees. In 2002, the company relocated its operations to 79 Chaussee Road and expanded their product oﬀering and services to include the retail of OEM ink and toner cartridges. During this period, the company was able to BusinessFocus

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hire and train a team of four persons for Sales and Marketing. In addition, five more persons were employed for the purpose of doing deliveries and to conduct the daily operations of the company. One of those people, Martha Boulie Eugene proved to be and remains an asset to the company. By utilizing her wealth of knowledge and experience in business, she assisted not only in restructuring the company but also in increasing daily sales significantly. In 2010, the company continued to expand its services to include Stationery, Networking Equipment, Office and School Furniture, Computers, Printers and accessories. Due to limited space, it relocated its offices, storeroom and show room to Marisule, Gros Islet. During this time, the company participated in procurement for local, regional and international organizations and this fostered business links with many suppliers worldwide. The company also established business partners in the Caribbean, USA, Asia and Europe who guided them in recommending the right products based on the specifications required by their growing clientele. The company has been awarded contracts with companies from both the private and public sector. The company is well known for its timely completion of contracts as well as successfully satisfying its clients in terms of price, quality, timely delivery, efficiency and service. In 2014, B & B Money Savers Inc. established its “Everything for The Office” department thereby facilitating a one stop supply for customers to meet all their office needs. However, the company’s growth did not stop there. The company has since then expanded into construction, auto parts and renewable solar energy products. Last year (2017) in order to continue to meet the demands of its clients, the company has further extended

its services to include the supply of janitorial supplies for both home and commercial use. The company now has a larger workforce including a highly trained team of technicians in the different fields of maintenance who provide efficient after sales service and support for all products in addition to those that the company supplies. The firm has fostered an excellent reputation as one of the main suppliers for office supplies on the island offering thirty days’ credit terms to qualified entities as well as free delivery island wide. On April 15th, 2018, B & B Money Savers Inc. along with various prestigious companies from all over the world were the proud recipients of an International Gold Award from the Business Initiative Directions (BID) in Geneva, Switzerland. B & B Money Savers Inc. was the only company from the Caribbean to receive such an esteemed award in 2018. The firm was recognized for their high standards of quality, excellence and success as they provide quality goods and services to their customers on a daily basis.

In addition, B & B Money Savers Inc. would like to acknowledge the continued support, loyalty and patience of their numerous satisﬁed clients who over the years have been the driving force behind this company’s growth and continued success and for this they are most grateful. B & B Money Savers Inc. guarantees that they will continue to excel in providing quality products, professional and excellent services of the highest standard to all their existing and future customers. They were certainly pleased to serve you in the past twenty (20) years and look forward to building on that partnership.

This award comes at an opportune time as the company prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary on November 25th, 2018. The management and staﬀ of B & B Money Savers Inc. are extremely humble, grateful and proud to have received such a prestigious award. As they celebrate their twentieth (20) anniversary and as a newly endorsed member of THE GLOBAL BID PARTNERS CLUB they would like to express sincere gratitude to their dedicated staﬀ.

Marisule, Gros Islet Tel: (758) 458-2506 www.bbmoneysaver.com

B & B Money Savers

• Ink and Toner Cartridges • Printers & Copiers • Equipment Servicing • Paper Products • Computers • Stationery • Ofﬁce Furniture • Janitorial Supplies

& More BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

BUSINESS TECH

Exploring Greater Productivity Through Innovation By Stan Bishop

NCPC’s Productivity Awareness Week Focuses on Untapped Potential The intrinsic relationship between innovation and productivity was explored more deeply when the National Competitive and Productivity Council (NCPC) and other partners hosted activities to mark this year’s “Productivity Awareness Week”, which ran from October 15-19. The displaying of innovative projects and services; customer training; and symposia on research, financial innovation (exploring innovations in cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and blockchain), and ICT/ Technology formed the backbone of the week’s activities. This year’s theme was “Innovation for Greater Productivity”. NCPC Chairman, Gerard Bergasse, said the special week is part of NCPC’s mandate of building awareness of the importance of improved productivity in the economy. In an ever-changing world where technology and scientific advancement changes rapidly, he said businesses recognize that in order to survive and remain relevant, they must be innovative. “The drive for improved productivity and competitiveness lies with both the public and private sectors,” he said. “We must all play our part. Being innovative is especially important to small vulnerable nations like ours. We simply cannot compete on scale.” The NCPC, Bergasse said, has developed ProTool, a productivity tool which helps businesses measure and assess their productivity and recommends solutions to weaknesses identified based on the BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

information inputted into the programme. “The tool has been tested by a few businesses which have given very positive reviews of it,” he said at the opening ceremony at the Finance Administrative Centre at Pointe Seraphine. “It is my intention to have this tool available for a wider pilot programme to further assess the value and usefulness of the tool as a productivity measure.” Bergasse said the long overdue port community single window for trade which uses an electronic data interchange platform that can transform business methods in Saint Lucia needs to be implemented, adding that the economic and social impact of the initiative is often downplayed. He believes increased productivity must be a collective effort. “We must challenge ourselves to find ways to be more productive and creative in all we do and in solving problems. We can work smarter, not harder.” Acting Permanent Secretary in the Department of Education and Innovation, Michelle Charles, focused her remarks on the orange economy, a term coined by British writer John Howkins, which refers to anything developed through people’s creativity and inspiration that becomes a good or service. According to Felipe Buitrago, an author and experienced speaker on creative economy and new technologies, if the orange economy were a product, it would have the

fifth greatest volume of global business. As a country, it would be the fourth leading economic power with a gross domestic product of US$4.3 billion and 144 million workers. Charles believes Saint Lucia is capable of reaping the benefits that from orange economic activities. “We may be tiny, but size is no prerequisite for investment in promoting curiosity and facilitating creativity as such an investment will result in increased entrepreneurial activity and greater productivity leading to economic advancement,” she said. She added: “Numerous studies have shown that innovation has a strong effect on productivity. The innovation strategy of the organization of economic cooperation and development affirms that much multi-factored productivity growth is linked to innovation and improvements in efficiency.” Resident Representative for the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (EECB), Sheran Ferdinand, said the NCPC’s focus for Productivity Awareness Week dovetails with that of the ECCB: conducting and protecting businesses in a digital environment with specific focus on cybersecurity. “If we are asking businesses and people to embrace the technology, we have to also provide them with education and information on how to protect themselves and how to feel comfortable using the technology.”

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FOR ALL YOUR CATERING NEEDS!

BUSINESS FOCUS

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After successfully operating as the official Caterer for Cricket World Cup 2007, Goddard Catering Group saw the need to raise the bar on catering services throughout the region. This led to the birth of GCG Events in October of 2008. GCG Events is an affiliated company of Goddard Catering Group and a member of the Goddard Enterprises Group of Companies. Our vision is to become the premier catering company in the region by providing culinary experiences that consistently meet and exceed customer expectations. To achieve this GCG Events has invested in a state of the art facility, an internationally trained team of event experts, and ingredients that meet our exacting standards. From conception to completion, our experienced team will help you turn your dream event into a reality. GCG Events is committed to making each and every event, “Simply Outstanding” At GCG Events we are dedicated to making you the perfect host. We strive to make every catered event distinguished, blissful and stress-free. Our high standards, supreme service and exceptional quality will make your event a flawless, unforgettable experience. GCG Events is delighted to assist brides, grooms and their families with the menu planning for that significant day of their dreams. From grand and lavish to intimate and informal, we can make your special day something you and your guests will always remember. Your employees and guests will surely appreciate your catering choice whilst consuming each delightful bite of their lunch, canapé or breakfast. Choose one of our menus or allow our chef to create a personalized menu for you that matches your vision and theme. Our team will make sure everything runs smoothly to ensure you and your guests have an unforgettable BusinessFocus Nov/Dec | 26 time.

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EDITION

SPECIAL FEATURE Advertising And Marketing Services Ltd celebrates 100 Editions of St. Lucia Business Focus. BusinessFocus

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TRIBUTE TO A LIFETIME’S LABOUR OF LOVE By Dr. Tanya Destang-Beaubrun

Tribute to a Lifetime’s Labour of Love

thought they were the perfect couple. As the babies came, I watched quietly from a distance hoping that one day, I too, would have “the life”. Flash forward to the early 1990’s when I returned from medical school and opened my medical practice. As the head of Yellow Pages, Lokesh was of immense help to me as a new doctor and business owner. As a young woman in business, I was always grateful to be on the receiving end of his kind words and supportive business advice. Those of you who remember doing business during that era, will know what I mean when I say that these gems of wisdom were few and far between. Not many older persons took the time to listen to our issues or come up with practical solutions. Lokesh was different. He cared. He wanted you to succeed. When Business Focus was launched, Lokesh was such a proud papa. This magazine was a labour of love for him, and he’d often do those early interviews himself. I would wait eagerly for the latest issue to see who had received the honor of being chosen for the cover feature. When I was contacted 10 years ago to be the one featured, I can now admit that a happy dance was made when I got off the phone. Me, the little Doctor who had often doubted her decision to set up a clinic in the Rodney Bay area 15 years before, had caught the eye of Lokesh. Maybe, just maybe, I had done something right. Lokesh continued to support my new ventures as I expanded from a solo practice to a full service Medical Clinic. The Rodney Bay Medical Centre has certainly benefited from our relationship with Business Focus over the years. Today, I get to say thank you. Thank you for taking a chance on me and being one of my first patients.

looked forward to writing this tribute to Lokesh for I’veseveral years. Three things come to mind when I think of Lokesh Singh: • Family man • Astute businessman • Community service I first met him in the early 1980’s. As the young girl who would often spend her vacations working in our family business, he was simply a handsome, polite young man who did business with my parents. As an impressionable teenager, I eagerly followed his romance with a beautiful young woman, Victoria. I

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Dr. Tanya Destang-Beaubrun is a Family Physician, Certified Wellness & Lifestyle Empowerment Coach, wife, mother and a passionate lover of life. She has dedicated her career to helping people feel their best in their bodies so they can live happy, healthy, more vibrant lives. Her dream is to start a movement geared towards empowering women to lead full, vibrant and authentic lives by teaching them how to care for themselves, respect the choices they make and remain attuned to what they can do to heal their lives. She advocates a holistic approach to well-being, with the incorporation of mind, body and spirit practices, so people can connect more deeply to themselves and their truth. Find out more about her at www.tanyabeaubrun.com

Martin Dorville - President St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture The St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture commends Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine on the occasion of its 100th issue. Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine has become a consistent, longstanding staple standard bearer in business magazines in the Caribbean in keeping business people well informed, pointing them to events and issues which they might have missed and keep track of important business happenings locally, regionally and internationally. This has kept Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine relevant and a must-read. From its inception, Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine has featured many firms on the island, capturing their history and inside stories, sharing their challenges and their successes over the years. Alongside these powerful features, Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine has kept its readers informed and current with informative articles on emerging trends and inside stories and tips on important subjects.

Thank you for showing me the effectiveness of great marketing. Thank you for showing us that we can have a family and run a businessâ&#x20AC;Ś and survive. Thank you for showing us that Caribbean unity is more than just a dream. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably shaking his head as he reads this. I always promised him that one day, I would do this. So Lokesh, as you read this, take a moment to savor all that you have done, and all that you have been to so many young business persons throughout the Caribbean. I look forward to your new adventures.

Throughout its 100 issues, the breadth and depth of stories and articles have been truly impressive. The quality and insightfulness of the writing have maintained the interest of its readers and the business community. The willingness and ability to give a high level of exposure to up and coming companies is another outstanding characteristic that must be applauded, with all sectors and areas of endeavour being covered at one time or the other. The St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce is proud to have the Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine publisher, AMS, as one of our longstanding members, providing a valuable and unique service in the information and marketing sector to members and the wider community. The St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture salutes Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine and wishes the magazine continued success and growth as we look forward to another 100 issues.

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REALISING THE DREAM

Realising the Dream

s a young man, Lokesh Singh arrived in Saint Lucia in September 1978 from Guyana to take up a position as a Sales Executive with Caribbean Publishing Company Ltd. Forty years later, after committing to a life in Saint Lucia, despite many starts with businesses in various sectors and overcoming the many other challenges not uncommon to the experience of countless others, he has evolved into a formidable and respected home grown entrepreneur with a history of success in commercial life, leadership in business and social organisations and giving back to community. His professional journey began with the Yellow Pages â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a start that was fundamental in moulding him into the corporate and business professional he would become. Initially, there was a difficult period of adjusting having accepted the offer to join the company as a very young person, as leaving your country of origin and starting a new life elsewhere was not an easy task. All in all, he spent some twenty-two years with the company and was allowed the opportunity to overcome numerous challenges, realise his true potential, to grow and mature as a business person and to fulfil his vision of a successful life. When CPC was established in Saint Lucia, Lokesh was employed as a Sales Executive, the most junior of three BusinessFocus

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persons, and was the first official employee of the company. As he reflects on his early development, he greatly values the personal support and encouragement afforded to him by the Directors. Caribbean Publishing Company (CPC) was under-capitalised for the work at hand and depended heavily on sales and cash flow to fulfil its mandate which necessitated a heavy travel schedule. Despite many challenges, CPC experienced exponential growth across the first twenty years of operations under the combined leadership and efforts of Nikolas Van den bok who later became Managing Director and Lokesh Singh who became Regional General Manager based in Saint Lucia. Lokesh remembers starting out by walking the streets of Saint Lucia and the other islands of the region selling advertising before being appointed as the Sales Manager and then Regional General Manager of the company. The opportunity allowed him to expand his horizons by gaining exposure to all Caribbean countries from Suriname and Guyana in the South through to Florida in the North. It gave him the opportunity to get to know the entire Caribbean intimately thereby allowing him to build extensive linkages within the commercial community.

successful. His many interfaces with these types of people have helped to fashion his thinking. There are several elements apart from a great idea which need to come together to make a business successful. Years of experience that include overcoming disappointments and failures to help forge a stronger leader with robust character. The old adage of “Behind Every Successful Man – Is A Good Woman” needs to be changed to read “Alongside Every Successful Man is a Real Strong Woman”. Lokesh admits that he has had the good fortune of having an amazing woman as his wife, friend and business partner alongside him and that she has been a pillar of strength in his every success. They have been bold and brave enough to venture into and explore potential opportunities and strong enough to make the difficult decisions to move on when necessary.

It had always been his ambition to establish private enterprise and a booming economic environment in Saint Lucia and the wider region opened his eyes to many opportunities. However, he admits that it was his wife, Victoria, who became the catalyst that sparked their several entrepreneurial initiatives. Having sent her two young children off to school and being at home, she kept emphasizing that she needed something to do so a number of potential ideas were explored. The enterprising couple first dabbled in the catering business before establishing N.V. Commercial Services which offered personalized diaries and other give-away items as promotional material. With their combined efforts business continued to grow while they looked for other opportunities to expand. They ventured into the office supply business and established Island Enterprises as a partnership. Lokesh and Vicky then moved on to establish Business Office and School Supplies (BOSS), a company that became a leader in the supply of office products, paper, office furniture and computers. However, that business was very inventory-intensive and the advent of the Internet and Online Shopping resulted in the decision to get out of the retail business. They both concur that the most strategic and successful decision they made was in deciding to open Advertising & Marketing Services which has over the last twenty years established itself as a market leader not only in Saint Lucia but in Guyana and the wider OECS region. Throughout his life, Lokesh has always been drawn to older and successful people, driven by the admiration of their achievements and curiosity about what made them

Gerard Bergasse - Island Manager Tropical Shipping (St. Lucia) Ltd. For more than thirty-five years, Tropical Shipping has served St. Lucia with unrivaled freight services. From Canada to the United States, the Bahamas and the wider Caribbean, we work to provide the highest level of freight services to our customers and the communities we serve. “Over the years, we saw a shift in our market dynamics and as our clients’ needs evolved to meet those changing demands, we felt the need to increase our brand awareness and reaffirm our commitment to delivering quality on time cargo solutions to the business community. We chose the Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine for several reasons, they understood our advertising goals, anticipated our needs and brought years of expertise and knowledge. The St Lucia Business Focus was an excellent fit for our company and helped us expand our market reach to old and new clients, with diverse backgrounds. “If you are looking for an effective way to get the word out on your products and services, we highly recommend using the Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine. Their magazine is current, professional and well-informed and can help you expand your reach like it did for us.

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Q&A –

LOKESH SINGH’S PERSONAL JOURNEY IN BUSINESS experience and the collateral required by the banks and finance houses as a loan guarantee. The other issue is to accept that Cash from Sales is NOT Profit.

Q & A - Lokesh Singh’s Personal Journey in Business

Question 1: What is your business background? I come from a family with a background in trading. Our family operated a grocery shop in the community and I got my grounding selling behind a counter and interfacing with all types of persons. This gave me a great foundation of developing people to people and amazing sales skills. Question 2: Can you describe your earliest foray into business? If possible, can you say whether the results were what you expected? My first job was as a Sales Executive with the company responsible for publishing the Guyana Telephone Directory and Yellow Pages. This company also published the Trinidad, Jamaica and other regional directories and allowed me to have my first exposure at doing business in the Caribbean. Question 3: Starting out in business, you would have obviously been beset by many obstacles that made the journey a challenging one. How were you able to remain not only focused on your goals, but also achieving them? We will all make mistakes as we start a business. The first thing to learn is that despite having a brilliant idea, you need to have cash resources to invest and allow the business to develop. The biggest obstacle in most cases of business startups is the lack of investment capital and the ability to source funding not having the BusinessFocus

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Question 4: Obviously, family plays a great role in the development of a successful business. How instrumental was your family in that process? My wife is my life partner and we discuss and dissect the initiatives and possibilities as potential business ventures and take a consensus position. We have made many mistakes along the way and been able to learn from those experiences. Understanding our respective strengths and weaknesses is also critical. She is a perfect partner to me when you assess our personalities. I generally will go with my gut feeling whilst she would be critical and calculating. She is also exceptionally good at money management and system controls. Question 5: Another crucial factor to a successful business is the ability to forge formidable partnerships. How has that been for you? Many people use the phrase “It is not who you now, but who knows you.” Creating a network is critical especially if you are in a sales and people-oriented business. Nothing works like putting a face to a name. I have been able to develop a great network in Saint Lucia, across the Caribbean and beyond. In my life, I evolved into being a relatively well-known public figure through my membership in the Lions Club, as the company’s representative at the Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association and also as the Guyana Honorary Consul to Saint Lucia. It is important to expand your network both professionally and socially and build on the linkages. Question 6: The publishing business would have undergone many changes since you got into it decades ago. Can you list some of those changes – equipment, portfolio, etc. and how you were able to adapt to those changes? I believe instinctively I am a natural survivor and have accepted that we have to keep adapting to a changing environment. I come from the school where we believe in the printed page. Technology has made the biggest impact across the industry with equipment, systems and processes to deliver all types of products including creating new competition. Today everything is digital or going digital and continues to evolve at a rapid pace challenging the market space of the printed page. The key is to accept that there is still a place for the printed page. In our industry, we cannot provide enough copies of our Magazines for the market. What we need to do, is find the balance to integrate technology and print to our advantage. In addition, you also need to integrate the new generation with the natural inclination and training in the respective technologies to support your efforts and remain relevant and competitive.

Question 7: How does it feel knowing that your labour of love has become such an insightful source of information to readers? It gives me a personal sense of satisfaction when we meet with business leaders, advertisers and ordinary persons as they congratulate us on the quality and impact of the Magazines. It feels awesome because we did not seek the response and we feel good to know that our product is reaching the target audience. Moreso today, as we are delivering this our 100th edition of the Saint Lucia Business Focus is extra special and a great statement of confidence for us and our product. We need to express that it is the entire Team at AMS who all play a part in what we deliver as a finished product and we thank them for their contribution. Our people are our greatest asset and they are as deserving of these kudos as much as we are. Question 8: Many young people, especially those interested in start-ups, might be inclined to draw on your story to set up their respective businesses. What advice do you have for them? Being positive and confident and believing that you can overcome all obstacles is key. The reality of life is that we will not all become business persons, but we will all have an opportunity to carve a niche for ourselves in our chosen fields. Grabbing your opportunity with both hands, improving your technical and professional skills to make yourself more marketable and seeking advice from experienced persons who can serve as mentors. Also remember, competition is healthy as it brings out the best in you. Question 9: It took 22 years for you to actually realize the 100th issue of the Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine. Despite the fact that you publish other magazines, this truly must be a special moment. Going forward, have you set new goals for the magazine? We have had our ups and downs since 1998 with this project and we have persevered. This is indeed a special achievement for both myself and our entire Team at AMS, as we have done what was considered impossible. I always remember my former colleague saying to me â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lokesh, you will run out of ideas to keep this going.â&#x20AC;? Maybe that was the catalyst that spurred me on. The Magazine has grown and positioned itself as a staple in the environment and we need to make the transition to keep it in focus. My wife and I are not as young as we used to be and we are happy that our elder daughter, Ashwini is now a part of our business and gives us the hope of continuity and succession. Maybe it is her time to shine and move us forward into the new direction. More than 15 years ago, I crafted a Master Plan inclusive of other initiatives which can be integrated as support elements to perpetuate the publication and expand the market. Perhaps the time is now for us to move ahead with some of these ideas. Look out for us in 2019. Question 10: Any final comments? We are very thankful for the support and encouragement we have received over the years as we charted our path in the world of private enterprise. It has been a great journey and we hope that our story can be a source of inspiration to the many young persons who aspire to share and believe in their dreams as we have done.

Anthony Samuel - General Manager Goddard Catering Group St. Lucia Ltd. Goddard Catering Group St. Lucia Ltd. first signed up with Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine in 2004. I distinctly remember when Cennette initially called to offer their services and to suggest what packages might be most suitable for our business. She convinced us to use Business Focus Magazine as an avenue to showcase what Goddard Catering Group St. Lucia Ltd. and its subsidiary, GCG Events, was all about. It has consistently been a pleasure to work with Cennette and her team. If the benefits to be derived from advertising with Business Focus is not reason enough to place your business ads; Cennetteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relentless motivation for service, her professionalism, pleasant and positive attitude and convincing mannerism will surely convince you to do so. I have always known Business Focus to be a reputable magazine that you can count on for the highest quality and service. With GCG Events being new to the events market, we needed an advertiser who could be effective and would make persons realize that GCG Events is simply outstanding. Cennette and her team at Business Focus understood what our goal was and focused on bringing out the very best of our company. Since being featured in the 99 th Issue of Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine, on the cover page and as the main feature of the magazine, it has truly made a difference in in the amount of calls we receive and the overall business generated. Thank you, Business Focus. We have not regretted a single day in our 14 years of partnership.

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A PASSION FOR SUCCESS AND SERVICE By Dr. Charmaine Gardner It was not long before Lokesh was fully integrated into the life of not only the business community, but he also found time to include and make civil society and the service club sector a major part of his commitment to Saint Lucia. Indeed, his enthusiasm, his meticulous nature, his intuitive sense to be the best in all his undertakings, his deep engagement for hard work no doubt led him to discover that niche where he soon recognised the opportunity to fill a certain need in the local business landscape. Thus, “Business Focus” was born and has blossomed into the prestigious signature marketing product of Lokesh Singh’s Advertising and Marketing Services Ltd. Group, with headquarters in Saint Lucia and regional offices in Guyana.

A Passion for Success and Service

t is a pleasure to have been asked to write a few lines in honour of Lokesh Singh, one of Saint Lucia’s outstanding adopted sons, on the occasion of the 100th published edition of the Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine.

I have known Lokesh from the earliest days of his coming to this island from Guyana, and even then was struck by his unbridled passion for finding his niche and making a positive difference to Saint Lucia in general and the Saint Lucian business environment in particular. I and many were happy to welcome him as a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture and to encourage him to be part of the regional private Sector body, the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC), where his sound guidance and counsel were a welcome addition at all meetings.

Through his publication, he has brought the business community and all its undertakings to life; and throughout has highlighted the noteworthy successes of the many companies across sectors that make up the Saint Lucian Business Community - an endeavour we should all be proud of. Today, one can safely say that we in the business community as well as in the public sector, would be far less informed and stimulated without the reality of the quality “Business Focus” publication, to which we look forward every other month. My sincerest congratulations and continued success going forward to Lokesh and his team!!! Dr. Charmaine Gardner is an iconic Saint Lucian, she is currently the Managing Director of the Carasco and Son Group of Companies, and has served as the President of the St Lucia Chamber of Commerce and the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC). She is also a former Acting President and then President of the Senate and the UWI Cave Hill School of Business and was the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the West Indies.

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A LION LEADER COMMITTED TO SERVICE AND COMMUNITY By Wayne Monrose The extensive urban shift of the 1980’s and beyond saw significant developments in the northern communities with a parallel population explosion resulting in a demand for service that the Lions club of Castries could not readily provide.

A Lion Leader Committed to Service and Community

Lokesh accepted that challenge and on the 21st January 1992 the Lions Club of Gros Islet was chartered with a membership of twenty four (24) service minded men and women, proudly led by Lokesh Singh as the Charter President. One may recall the very expansive and impressive ceremony that marked the occasion at the Rex St. Lucian hotel in Rodney Bay. In attendance was the then Governor General of St. Lucia – The late Sir Stanislaus James and Lady James, The Parliamentary Representative of Gros Islet – the Hon. Julian R Hunte, The Lion District Governor and of course many other dignitaries within the Lions family, the Region, the Zone, family, friends and wellwishers.

Nostalgically I recall my first encounter with Lokesh Singh, which coincidentally was as we exchanged greetings while travelling on a flight to Jamaica more than 25 years ago. Having quite a bit of disposable time, our confab developed into a more permanent conversation; invariably towards the topic of service to humanity as it related to the work of the Lions in St. Lucia, and indeed around the world. I later came to realize that this wealth of information conveniently delivered without deception was in fact an introduction to Lionism. By the time I arrived in Kingston, I had discovered the story of Lionism as expertly articulated by Lokesh and I was fully sold on the prospect of becoming a Lion, though at the time I was not invited to do so. What I also did not know at that time was that Lokesh – then a member of the Lions Club of Castries was given the daunting task of organizing and establishing a new club in the Gros Islet community.

Lokesh, now is a veteran Lion as one may choose to call him. In his youthful life he started serving as a Leo – The Youth movement of the Lions organization, maintaining a continuous life of service to humanity throughout his adult life. At all times he exhibited exceptional leadership skills, was a team player and a stickler for high ethical standards as he strived to enhance the image of Lionism in St. Lucia. Undoubtedly, he has grown into an exceptional communicator as he provided the Club with the vision, guidance and motivation necessary for the Club to provide unsurpassed quality of service to the community of Gros Islet. He is the recipient of many Lions awards and recognition for distinction of service, having served beyond his Club at the Lions Clubs in St. Lucia as the Zone Chairman and the Regional Clubs in the Windward Islands and Barbados as the Region Chairman. Above all, he was recognized by his Club with the highest Lionistic Award for Service by being named a Melvin Jones Fellow (MJF). I have personally valued his friendship over the years, and under his leadership which I closely followed and to some extent emulated, I was indeed happy to inherit a very disciplined and motivated Club to serve as its third President.

Wayne Monrose is a Charter Member and former President of the Lions Club of Gros Islet and an outstanding Lion Leader who has served at the highest levels locally and regionally. Professionally, he is the Managing Director of Universal Freight Services and Universal Auto Supplies.

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THE PEOPLE BEHIND OUR BRAND The People Behind Our Brand

Victoria Singh Director of Administration and Finance

Ashwini Singh Operations and Business Development Manager

Cennette Flavien Account Executive

Victoria Singh has been the Director of Administration and Finance at Advertising & Marketing Services Ltd. since taking on the role full-time in March 2009. Prior to that she was the General Manager at Business Office & School Supplies (BOSS), but she had always handled the accounts and back office operations for the business so she was already attuned with the operations and demands associated with the entity’s daily functions.

Ashwini Singh first joined the Company in November 2016 as General Manager of our Antigua operations. In May 2018 she relocated to the Saint Lucia office where she took up the role as Operations and Business Development Manager.

Cennette was employed by AMS as an office assistant 14 years ago, and has been the driving force of AMS’s sales and marketing team for the past 10 years. She’s the face and voice customers interface with most and has made AMS a strong business partner for advertisers.

Victoria always had a natural affinity for numbers and by extension, a knack for accounting. She says that she relishes working with figures and generally enjoys her role but notes that it is not without its challenges. Part of her responsibilities entail ensuring that everyone is kept to task and delivers to timelines, which is not always easy. “I do my best to ensure that we all stay on track, while keeping the best interests of our customers and the business, in general, in mind.” Her level-headed nature and quiet demeanour are often the calm in storm amidst the chaos of managing multiple jobs to production and print deadlines. She is always practical and approaches business and personal challenges with a solutionoriented focus. Victoria emphasizes that all of our staff bring certain strengths to the table which we try to leverage in the best interest of the business. Victoria feels that the 100th issue of Saint Lucia Business Focus is a monumental achievement and emphasizes that all staff should be proud of this accomplishment. She looks forward to seeing how far the magazine can go as AMS continues to build on all of its’ brands.

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Ashwini has demonstrated fearlessness and fortitude in her ability to manage and lead the production process by liaising with our sales and graphics teams and our customers. She is fundamental in coordinating in-house projects to fruition as she handles all aspects of pulling together the Saint Lucia Business Focus and OECS Business Focus Magazines, as well as our weekly OECS Business Focus Newsletter. Our processes have become more streamlined and organised due to her presence. She is always willing to learn and eager to engage customers. She provides a seamless customer service experience while also managing to timelines, which is no small feat. Ashwini reflects that she is grateful to have the opportunity to work so closely with her parents and learn the business directly from them as not many people are afforded that luxury. She plans on taking full advantage of their presence by continuing to absorb their teachings while also incorporating her own style of doing things into the business. In addition, Ashwini says that her time at AMS has been both intriguing and challenging thus far; but in a good way. “I am constantly exposed to fundamental aspects of the business such as general management, accounting and operations, and by extension leadership. This is a valuable experience that I certainly intend on continuing to make the most of.”

“Basically, I sell and market our publications by targeting businesses which I think need greater exposure,” she says. “I explain to them the value of advertising and marketing and what it can do for them. I’m very passionate about what I do. I think it comes naturally, it just flows.” Cennette believes that she sells a powerful tool to customers. Many people don’t realize that advertising is an important aspect of their business. It’s her job to explain to them the benefits of advertising in Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine. “Just seeing and hearing the expressions from clients when the magazine comes out makes me content knowing that they’re satisfied with the end-result, knowing that they got value for money,” she says. “What’s even better is when they reach out to let me know that feedback to their stories was positive and that they would continue advertising with us.” At the time she joined the company, the 25th issue of Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine was in progress. The journey, though inspiring, has not also been smooth. “It’s been a very challenging journey, especially trying to meet timelines and targets. But I feel very honoured to be celebrating the 100th issue of such a prestigious magazine,” she notes.

“The journey to the final product is amazing,” he says. “It’s like starting out with a ball of clay and creating a greatlooking vase that you did not think could have taken that shape or fashion. The creative process starts with something simple which becomes a bigger character.” On creating the appealing ads featured in the magazine, he says: “You have to ensure that the emphasis in the ad matches that of the demographic you’re targeting. It has to fit with the advertiser’s communication standards and branding.”

Sean Dubois Driver/Messenger Sean has been with AMS for the past 12 years and is a familiar face to especially customers and readers of the magazine. “I started working with BOSS – Business Office & School Supplies, which has since closed. I then transferred to AMS. It’s been an interesting experience working with AMS, especially meeting hundreds of people because our distribution network is spread across the island,” he says.

“It’s interesting to see how a family in business – husband, wife and daughter – interact so efficiently and harmoniously. They’re very inter-dependent and supportive. In many other businesses, you don’t find that kind of dynamics,” he says.

Stan Bishop Feature Writer

Stan Bishop first became a contributor for Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine in April 2009, a year after becoming a reporter for The VOICE newspaper. That relationship lasted until September 2010 when he migrated to the U.S.

“People look forward to receiving the Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine because of the valuable information it contains. It’s good seeing the expressions on their faces when the magazines are delivered to them and the interaction that follows.”

Tannel George Graphic Designer Tannel has been working with AMS since September 2016. She says her role as a graphic designer is important because it basically entails creating the AMS branding. However, she admits that it can be a difficult process at times because it takes a great deal of mental energy to achieve that goal.

Carlisle, who has been with AMS for the past two and a half years, has an extensive background in marketing. He works mostly on special projects, such as annual reports, and Internet-based matters (social media, analytics, etc.). He explains that the job provides the platform to showcase his creativity.

“Sometimes when I see the finished product, I’m amazed at the part I would have played in putting the magazine together. It makes you appreciate what you do more. I truly love graphic design and can see myself doing this for the rest of my life,” she explains.

He also describes the working relationship between the Singh family, one of the factors that contributes to the business’s success.

Sean believes the magazine plays an important role in informing people about the business opportunities that exist not only locally, but regionally.

Carlisle Searles Graphic Designer

other programmes in greater detail.

“Figuring out an end-point is not always easy,” she says. “There’s also the fact that you have to work on various projects simultaneously. This is challenging because you have to remember the creative direction of each project since you don’t want all the projects to look the same.” Tannel is a self-taught graphic designer who started playing around with GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) at her former job where she did sales. She later graduated to PhotoShop and downloaded other programmes from online sites. After joining AMS, she was introduced to Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, WordPress and

He recommenced writing features and advertorials for the magazine in January 2012 upon returning to Saint Lucia two months earlier. However, due to a heavier workload at The VOICE, he again ended his relationship with the magazine in April 2014. After resigning from The VOICE in February 2018, he resumed writing for the magazine two months later. “I have gained a great deal of experience in terms of how businesses operate,” he says. “I am especially inspired by the success stories clients tell me, as well as the struggles they face.” Bishop, who now freelances for the magazine, says it has widened his knowledge of the local and regional business landscape, prompting him to started his own regular column, “Strictly Business”, which ran in The VOICE between 2015 and 2017. “I credit Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine with giving me my first big break to write for a magazine,” he says. “The fact that I’m tasked with coming up with messages to appeal to customers’ tastes forces me to be creative. The magazine truly does make a meaningful contribution to advertisers, readers and anyone thinking of getting into business. Happy 100th issue, guys!” BusinessFocus

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AMS - A MARKET LEADER IN GUYANA

AMS - A Market Leader in Guyana

Lokesh Singh and the AMS Guyana Staff with Hon. Dominic Gaskin Guyana's Minister of Business (centre).

lmost twenty years ago, AMS ventured into Guyana to expand its operations and began looking for creative marketing and publishing opportunities to leverage its corresponding skill set housed in Saint Lucia.

Guyana had just elected a relatively new Government and the economy was showing signs of expansion with a number of potential and new investments by both local and overseas investors. The relationship with our printers in Trinidad proved to be a significant advantage when the quality of our work was presented as the Guyana marketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s printing capacity was not geared to deliver to such high standards. This was further compounded by an unreliable supply and high costs for electricity. AMS made a major breakthrough in 2003 when it won a competitive tender to publish the Explore Guyana Magazine (The Official Tourist Publication of the Country) on behalf of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana. The company has continued to publish the Explore Guyana Magazine for the past sixteen consecutive years. After a few years of supporting this project and other work through AMS in Saint Lucia, the volume of business necessitated the opening of a full-service office to attend to our growing clientele and volume of projects. We are very fortunate to have been able to attract a wonderful team of young energetic people whose efforts continue to show growth in the market and highquality creative skills. AMS has now earned the reputation of being the Market Leader for the design and print production of high-quality full colour

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publications and print projects in Guyana. In addition the company has created a range of other niche market publications covering investment, sport, culture and tourism which have been published through strategic alliances with the public and private sector. The company also executes creative marketing and major Annual Calendar projects for a number of the large corporate entities. With the Guyana economy poised for unprecedented growth with the recent significant discoveries of Oil in its offshore waters, we are excited about the possibilities for the future.

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INSPIRATION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

okesh and Victoria Singh – our parents, come from humble beginnings and large families. They were both talented and made it to the best Inspiration for the Next Generation secondary schools where they got solid academic foundations. Their efforts at persevering and raising a tight-knit family with strong values and a focus on achieving higher education, The Singh Children (from left): Anushka, Ashwini, Satish were the driving force behind their success. They challenged us to be the best and afforded us the best other have paid off! education while challenging us to be good citizens of the world. We are honoured to share our thoughts on their lives, their efforts and achievements. My parents have always been extremely passionate and fully engaged in any business endeavour that they have undertaken – from committing to starting a catering business, to being the owners of Business Office & School Supplies (BOSS), to seeing them evolve into the Directors of Advertising & Marketing Services Ltd. They have maintained the constant of being devoted to their customers along with feeling an immense sense of responsibility toward their employees. Most people do not speak about the compassionate side of business but that is very much present in them both. I have borne witness to countless conversations where they weighed business decisions based on the impact that it would have on staff, taking into consideration people’s livelihoods and not wanting to adversely impact anyone’s ability to provide for their families. These are the qualities of empathetic business owners and human beings, which in my opinion, we need more of in our society – people who understand the true sense of community. They have set great examples as humanitarians. Despite their similarities, they could not be more different as people. My father does not shy away from the limelight while my mother prefers to stay in the background and this of course reflects in the way they carry out their affairs. My mother is consistently contributing to causes and donating anonymously. It is not unusual for her to cook for soup kitchens or donate substantial amounts of food and clothing for worthy causes but always behind the scenes without any need for accolades. My father, by contrast, has always been actively involved in clubs and carries out his corporate social responsibility by serving publicly – driving efforts from the frontlines. My point is that whichever way they have chosen to manifest their contributions, they have always been consistent in giving back – in their devotion to their family, their employees and to their island

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home. They have been nothing short of great examples for us all and I am blessed and proud to have been raised and loved by them both. May they continue to be sources of inspiration for so many. Congratulations to them and our team for accomplishing this great milestone of having arrived at the 100th issue of the Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine. Your hard work, determination and commitment to business and each

- Ashwini Singh

rowing up in our household our parents traveled a lot and worked long hours to support our family. Through their hard work and determination, they were able to build a successful company celebrating a major milestone with the 100th issue of the Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine. In addition, they also provided the three of us with a solid upbringing and education. To outsiders it could easily appear as though it was all smooth sailing. However, it was not until I became much older that I came to learn of the many failed business ventures, lost contracts, disagreements with close friends and business colleagues, job changes, etc. along the way on their tortuous journey. Despite these challenges, they persevered and learned from their many mistakes while keeping all three of us largely insulated from the hardships they constantly faced. In my opinion, their entrepreneurial risk-taking also extended to their parenting style. Whilst many of my friends received push back from their parents on decisions regarding their education and career paths, for better or worse, my parents fully encouraged me to experiment and explore options entirely unfamiliar to them and completely outside of my comfort zone. I ultimately have their business exposure to thank for that. My experiences of being held accountable for the decisions they allowed me to make at an early age, experiencing failures early on, and being comfortable in uncomfortable situations are very much at the core of the person I am today. In a few weeks, I will also become a parent. As this date nears, I constantly ask myself questions like, “What kind of parent will I be?” and “What qualities do I want my son to have?”. After listing several line items, I eventually come to the realization, in another lesson learned from my parents, that I must be the one who is willing to adapt to his needs in the same way they have adapted to their children’s and their customer’s changing needs throughout the years. Yet another one of the ways in which AMS has had a

deep impact on my life and will leave a longer lasting impact on future generations in our family. In closing, congratulations to the AMS team on achieving this major milestone! Thank you for your contributions and wishing you all many more milestones along your journey.

- Satish Singh

s a child, there are two ways in which you learn from your parents. The first way is directly, through the intentional lessons and values they work to instill in you. The second, is indirectly through your own observation, it’s what you learn from their actions and how they live their lives. Throughout my life, watching my parents build this business, there has been so much that I have learned from observing them. Here are just a few of those things: 1. Dedication My parents would not have gotten to where they are today without dedication and sacrifice. Travel, late nights and early mornings, were just a part of life as an entrepreneurs. They knew what they had to do and they were dedicated to making it happen. I am sure there were struggles and difficult times, but giving up never seemed to be an option. 2. Vision To create this business, take it across countries, and have a portfolio of multiple brands absolutely took vision. They have been innovators in their own right and have continued to seize the opportunities presented before them. They have been even more creative and visionary to continue to have these brands thrive over the years. 3. Partnership There is no way my parents could have done this without each other. I've observed them leveraging their separate strengths, Dad being the charismatic negotiator and Mom being the cool, calm and collected problem solver. Their opposing attitudes of course have lead to disagreements, but in those moments you still see their desire and passion to make things work. Above all, one of the greatest lessons from my parents’ business endeavours was - “never forget your why". What was their why you ask? Did they do it because it was their dream? Did they do it for the money, the fame, the recognition? They did it for us - for their family, for their children. This whole journey has been driven by their desire to make a better life for us. To make a better life than they had growing up and provide us with opportunities they could never dream of.

Trudy O. Glasgow - Attorney-at-law & Court-Appointed Mediator, Trudy O. Glasgow & Associates I have been a regular contributor to Business Focus for a few years now. I really enjoy the rapport with the management and staff. They are friendly, flexible and responsive. This helps with my writing process as we are given ample notice of the deadlines for articles. I also enjoy reading Business Focus. From the layout to the content, it is always rich with information and thought-provoking articles that you won’t find anywhere else. It is always topical, newsworthy and relevant. Thank you, Business Focus, for the opportunity to be part of this venture which is both inspirational and educational. A job well done!”

SOL EC Ltd.

As a consequence, they created something so much bigger than themselves. And I don’t even think my parents have had the privilege to step back and think about what they’ve created. The Business Focus brand alone has been a huge contribution to Saint Lucia and now the wider OECS. This publication has documented the history and development of Saint Lucian business, and has provided an outlet for professionals to be appreciated and recognized. It celebrates our own and is something we should all be proud of. My parents have been such a great example for me both in business and in life. They are my role models, and are so deserving of what they have worked so hard to accomplish. Thank you for doing this for us.

- Anushka Singh-Polius BusinessFocus

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A TRENDSETTING STANDARD BEARER KNOWN FOR QUALITY With a natural leaning towards the publishing industry, I saw the opportunity for creating a whole new division within AMS utilizing the strength and depth of our creative capacity and combining this with my sales experience and wide business network.

A Trend Setting Standard Bearer Known for Quality

ith my experience in advertising, marketing, printing and publishing and the demand for a higher standard of creative marketing materials from clients on the island I thought it was a great opportunity to establish an Advertising Marketing Agency to fulfil the needs of this growing sector as this need was being serviced by companies out of Barbados and Trinidad. Hence Advertising & Marketing Services Ltd (AMS) was then established as a wholly owned enterprise of Vicky and me. This company grew rapidly and evolved as the market leader executing work for a number of the principal companies, hotels, tour companies and manufacturers operating on the island including Cable & Wireless. We were able to attract overseas creative talent from Trinidad and Europe who were both exposed to generating creative marketing work for more sophisticated and highly competitive environments and this allowed us to carve a niche in the local market. AMS is credited with having designed a number of the flagship posters and branding for the early years of the St Lucia Jazz Festival and a local marketing campaign for Cable & Wireless with a BMW Prize promotion. After my departure from Caribbean Publishing Company Ltd (CPC) after twenty two years, I ventured into AMS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; already a well recognized business as the Managing Director.

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We originally ventured into the Tourism Industry and launched Paradise St Lucia as a small sized high quality full colour Tourist Magazine making it a more portable option. The market responded and we were then able to expand distribution into SLHTA Member Hotels and across the island. This was followed by the launch of our popular Paradise St Lucia Tourist Map which helped to open opportunities to work with operators in the industry. Subsequently, we launched Business Focus Magazine with a mandate to share successful entrepreneurial stories and business information to encourage and stimulate business development. The company has since ventured overseas and operated offices in Antigua until earlier this year and continues to operate an office in Guyana. AMS is today recognized in St Lucia, the wider OECS and Guyana as a standard bearer in the design and print production of high quality full colour business, tourist and specialty publications. We are proud to share that we have totally transitioned to a full complement of local staff in each location who have the requisite skills to continue delivering the high quality of creative work which has become synonymous with our name.

1st National Bank

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BUSINESS FOCUS: CELEBRATING SUCCESS AND CHRONICLING HISTORY Issue No.

98 Jul/Aug

2018

Special Feature

he Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine was first published with AMS as a strategic partner in 1996 with Issue no. 1 being released in July 1996. After publishing a further two issues, unfortunately the Magazine ceased to be published.

To our esteemed and valued advertisers, many of whom have been with us from the inception, our heartfelt thanks for your support in choosing Business Focus as your preferred advertising medium. We look forward to our continued partnership. The success and quality of the magazine has stimulated interest from other markets and as part of our growth and expansion strategy we launched Business Focus Antigua & Barbuda and Business Focus Trinidad & Tobago. However, the logistics and viability of these two projects did not support continued publishing and instead we are proud to have since delivered the OECS Business Focus as a regional Business Magazine. The magazines are all printed and distributed FREE across Saint Lucia and the wider OECS and extended Englishspeaking Caribbean. In addition, the magazines are also available online. We are indeed pleased to have delivered the Business Focus brand of magazines over the past two decades and look forward to building on these projects to keep them relevant while expanding into new avenues and markets.

In late 1998, AMS concluded negotiations and relaunched the magazine under the AMS umbrella in early 1999 as a bimonthly full colour glossy magazine utilising in-house staff and resources. The AMS concept and thinking behind the editorial direction of the magazine was that “Business Focus is a Magazine for People in Business, Sharing Information on Business Developments to Stimulate Investment, Highlighting Success Stories in Business as Role Models and Inspiration for Persons wishing to venture into the world of business.” Since 1999 through to 2018, it being 19 years of having published the Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine, we have built a brand and product which has captured the attention and interest of the business and wider local community and have received positive responses on graphic creativity, relevant and interesting content and first-world quality finished print production. Whilst the magazine is distributed locally, we are pleasantly surprised at the number of copies which make their way across the Caribbean and further afield. We are proud to present this our 100th Edition of the Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine – making us the longest-serving Business Magazine in the entire Englishspeaking Caribbean. In the process we have chronicled the history, evolution and success of the Saint Lucian business community sharing the stories of so many of our sons and daughters who have and continue to make us proud. A special thanks to our entire Team at AMS for their commitment and dedication. Not forgetting our Editorial Team including contributors and photographers who have provided yeoman support. We are indeed proud of their efforts and support over the years. BusinessFocus

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Business Focus: Celebrating Success and Chronicling History Saint Lucia Distillers

RAYNEAU Construction & Industrial Products

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Business Focus Goes Regional! BUSINESS FOCUS GOES REGIONAL! The timing was therefore right for us to launch our first regional publication. We made an approach to Dr Didacus Jules, Director General of the OECS and he immediately supported the idea of a quarterly magazine being published by AMS. The first edition of the OECS Business Focus Magazine was launched in August 2015 in conjunction with the OECS Commission. This Magazine has grown in stature and been very well accepted across the region and beyond. We have since published ten editions of the OECS Business Focus Magazine.

ith the success of our Saint Lucia Business Focus and looking at the possibilities for growth and expansion of AMS as a business, it was natural that we looked towards establishing the brand in other markets across the Caribbean. Being based in Saint Lucia and armed with a history of having publishing the Magazine for some time, we were able to review operations based on our experience, the market size and the economy to measure the critical factors which needed to be addressed if we were to venture successfully outside of Saint Lucia to establish a new Magazine in another market. Establishing an office in another country where you do not live is a major challenge for what is called absentee owners. For this to work you need to have dedicated staff with the right leadership and attitude to promote and build your brand. Taking all factors into account, we agreed to venture into Antigua as the first offshore location and launched the first edition of Antigua & Barbuda Business Focus Magazine in late 2002 through a relationship with a former associate. Sustaining Antigua’s Magazine proved to be a major challenge, however, we persevered by using our Saint Lucian resources for creative graphics, accounting and print production.

Whilst all of our Magazines are offered online as digital versions, it was noted that the quarterly publishing of the OECS Business Focus leaves a huge void with all of the business news being generated during the intervals between publications. This presented another great opportunity to create a product to tap into the online market and in mid-2018 AMS launched the OECS BUSINESS FOCUS WEEKLY – as an ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER. This new online product is now circulated weekly to thousands of private and public sector persons across the OECS, the wider Caribbean and beyond. If you are not on our Mailing List, send us your email to lokesh@ amscaribbean.com and we will happily ensure that you are added. We value and appreciate the support of all persons and businesses who have played their part in supporting our publications and growth and we look forward to delivering many more projects to support local and regional growth and development.

EGS Freight Services

The game changer for Antigua was when we won the contract to publish the Antigua & Barbuda Telephone Directory and Yellow Pages in 2005. This provided the opportunity to establish a fullservice office inclusive of a Sales Team and Graphic Designer and the Magazine survived without question on its viability. After publishing 62 issues of the Magazine, we closed our offices in Antigua and ceased publishing Business Focus in Antigua. We subsequently ventured into Trinidad and published Business Focus Trinidad & Tobago. Unfortunately, the Trinidad project was launched at a difficult economic period and we ceased publishing after releasing four editions.

OUR SERVICES

With the experiences of both of these markets and the growth in stature of the OECS Commission and OECS Free Movement and the efforts toward a single market and economy, it was most prudent to target a regional publication which brought a larger market to the table when the islands were grouped.

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TAKING A BITE OUT OF THE TOURISM PIE is circulated island-wide at all popular tourist locations. It is always a wonderful sight to see the many visitors walking the streets of the towns and villages with a Paradise Tourist Map or Magazine being used as their guide. Our Maps are also being offered by Car Rental companies when they rent vehicles and is a popularly requested item when Cruise Ships make their calls to Port Castries.

ia St. Luc 9

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.COM

ESTLUCIA

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Taking a Bite Out of the Tourism Pie

AMS is now working to improve and strengthen our online presence by updating our website and social media presence to facilitate the growing demand for our products by the tourism sector. Looking to visit, explore and enjoy Saint Lucia? Ensure that you arm yourself with a Paradise Saint Lucia Tourist Magazine and Paradise Saint Lucia Map and be sure to check out our website at www.paradisestlucia.com.

s • Activitie nt • Restaura g • Shoppin s ce rvi Se •

SCAN FOR

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ince the early 1990s tourism in Saint Lucia has been on a consistent growth trajectory with continued investment in the construction of new hotels. In the last decade, the industry has eclipsed Agriculture to become the most dominant economic sector and largest earner of foreign exchange on the island. All Governments since 2000 have placed emphasis on wooing major hotel chains and airline companies to establish a presence and provide additional air service to the island. The coming of Sandals Resorts some 25 years ago and their expansion to having three luxury Sandals properties on the island, with a fourth on the way, has paved the way for all of the major hotel chains to look at expanding in Saint Lucia. With almost 100,000 stay over visitors annually and an everexpanding hotel and services sector, the call to enter the tourism market and get a piece of this lucrative pie was a no-brainer. AMS took the bold step and launched our Paradise brand range of publications. The first product launched was Paradise Saint Lucia Tourist Magazine – a small but colourful and attractive 100page publication filled with information to excite our visitors to explore our island. This publication was very well-received in the market and was circulated through the airports, seaports, hotels, restaurants and major tourist attractions. Our next foray was the launch of our ever-popular Paradise Saint Lucia Tourist Map – which is published annually and again

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Michael Chastanet Saint Lucian Business Magnate Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine is a wellrecognized magazine based on the type of information provided but, above all, it is the consistency of the magazine which has enhanced its sustainability. The information provided on the back pages of the magazine is a big draw to most individuals as it highlights the service providers on island and abroad. “The in-depth information provided by successful personalities is an area which is well-received. The advertising format and the quality of the magazine has an eye-catching element which immediately entices one to review the contents of successive issues. The benefits of the magazine which extend well beyond our shores is priceless as it provides potential foreign investors with a real insight of the region.

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Exclusive

Corporate Testimonials

CORPORATE TESTIMONIALS

Jonathan Calderon - Director & Financial Controller Caribbean Awning Production Co. Ltd.

Lyndell Halliday - General Manager Automotive Art (St Lucia) Ltd

We at Caribbean Awning Production Co. Ltd. have had a great relationship with Advertising & Marketing Services Ltd. specifically with respect to their Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine. Mr. Lokesh Singh and his team have never been too busy to attend to any of our needs and have always been accommodating. Our brand image has improved through our business relationship with AMS and demand for our products has also increased as a result of great quality advertising on their part. We are better off today as a company after marketing with AMS over the years. We will continue to market our products and brand with AMS as they are always looking for ways to improve their service and quality of their product.

Every two months I look forward to receiving my copy of the Saint Lucia Business Focus. Indeed, in talking to others, I have noticed that I am not alone as it is widely read by discerning professionals in Saint Lucia. This demographic is important to Automotive Art in our quest to thrill car owners throughout the island; which is why we regularly advertise in the Business Focus Magazine. It especially helps that our Account Executive, Cennette Flavien, has become a trusted business partner - proving herself to be knowledgeable, flexible and genuinely interested in understanding our business and helping us to succeed.

Feolla Chastanet - Chairperson Coco Resorts

Dr. Thecla Fitz-Lewis - Director of Operation and Human Resource Development, Lewis Industries Ltd

Congratulations Business Focus on your 100th issue! Well done on producing a glossy magazine featuring the leading business personalities and activities. As Coco Palm and Ti Bananne is a preferred corporate hotel patronised by businesses locally and regionally, Business Focus targets our clients as we take business seriously. Coco Palm has been proud to invest in Business Focus to share news on our team and activities while capitalising on Business Focusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s distribution and circulation both locally and internationally. Keep up the great work and we look forward to reading many more issues of Business Focus. Happy 100th issue!

The business focus magazine provides an overarching perspective of what and whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trending in the business community in Saint Lucia. As an ardent reader of the Business Focus Magazine, I have found the information to be engaging, empowering and intended for advocacy for new and existing entrepreneurs or potential investors who require knowledge or strategies for conducting business in Saint Lucia. The information in the magazine is current; increasingly unsung heroes are highlighted, success stories are featured, and information for networking is available. Our business has continuously benefited from advertorials and advertisements placed in the Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine.

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Terry Finisterre - Communications Specialist Flow Even before talking about the broader impact of the magazine, I must say that, as a former editor, Saint Lucia Business Focus Magazine has been instrumental in my personal development. This publication has provided in-depth coverage of the local media landscape, education, technology, telecommunications, hospitality, and so much more over the years. Building on our early work with the OECS Advocate, it is wonderful to see BF expanding its footprint to the wider regional community.

Dr. Celia McConnell-Downes - General Practitioner Fitz St. Rose Medical Centre It has definitely been a great experience working with the Business Focus family. I say family because from my first encounter with the staff I was welcomed with open arms. The continuous encouragement and support given to me by the team has been totally awesome.

Kezia M. Preville - Principal Consultant AdVizze Inc. More than a magazine – Looking back to when I first started contributing to the Business Focus Magazine some years ago, I remembered waiting eagerly for feedback on my first article on fire protection. Was it adequate? Did it make the grade? The professional approach, and response from Lokesh Singh and team was so encouraging, our work relationship seamlessly evolved. I was fortunate to work alongside the team to produce features and assisted with editing for a few issues as well. The AMS team, although small, possesses creative and dynamic individuals, who are persistent in their quest to deliver a well written and thoughtprovoking business-oriented publication. Congrats’ to issue 100!

Renees Construction

As a contributor to the magazine, it gives me great pleasure to share my knowledge and experience with the public. It also helps me to keep abreast with current practices and updates in medicine. From the public, it brings a smile to my face whenever someone sends me a picture of my article indicating that they had seen and read it. Also it's encouraging when someone asks, what are you writing on next? It means they are interested in learning more and it gives me the motivation to feed their hunger for knowledge. For my practice, when a client walks in and says I learnt about you when I read your article in the business focus, it means we are doing something meaningful. The magazine is reaching an audience that wants to take better care of themselves. On this 100th issue of the St. Lucia Business Focus Magazine, I say congrats and keep up the great work!!

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Merry Mint Chip Locations: Main Office - Bois D’Orange: (758) 452-9887 Hewanaorra Airport: (758) 454-7470 After Hours: (758) 485-1528 Best Cars, E-mail: budgetcars@candw.lc Great Rates, e vic Website: www.budgetslu.com Superior Ser

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Available in 16 oz & 1L P.O. Box 34 Castries, Saint Lucia, W.I. Tel: (758) 451-5227 Fax: (758) 453-1884 Email: info@ferrands.com BusinessFocus

Eggnog Ice Cream Available at Cream N’ Bean & Selected Stores

Nov/Dec

Caribbean Awning - Let Us Cover Your World

Anniversary

"LET US COVER YOUR WORLD"

Elongated Dome Awning Royal St. Lucia Hotel

Canopy Cover

St. Vincent

Sandals La Toc

Caribbean Awning Production Company Ltd was launched in 1998 by Lawson and Paula Calderon with its head office located in the north of the Island. The vision of energy saving products and climate change products was always in the back of their minds even then, and so they began the production of awnings and blinds moving into security and hurricane shutters.

Caribbean Awning Production Company Ltd. (CAPCO), registered in St. Lucia, has been the premier producer of shade, shelter and security products in Saint Lucia and the other Eastern Caribbean dating back some 20 years! The Company has built a reputation for constantly introducing new and innovative products in the marketplace.

CORE VALUES Retractable Shades BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Customer Service, Quality of Products, On Time Delivery, Team Work, Care for Employees and Integrity.

Paula A. Calderon, slpm, J.P. Paula A. Calderon, slpm J.P. has been the Managing Director of Caribbean Awning Production Company Ltd for the past fifteen years and took over the leadership since the death of her husband Lawson E. Calderon. Under her astute and strong Management, Caribbean Awning Production Company has grown and developed into a successful manufacturing operation with an expanded portfolio of products and services, generating much needed employment and catering to the needs of the OECS community. As Managing Director Paula has taken the Company to regional and international levels and in the process gained the distinctions of International Awards (IFAI), ISO Certification, Contender to World Class and more recently consistently winning Diamond Awards in all categories of the St. Lucia Manufacturerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Awards held every two years for which she was instrumental in introducing as President of the St. Lucia Manufacturer's Association.

Natasha Leigh Calderon Director

Samuel A. D. Calderon Director

Jonathan Martin Calderon Director

Natasha Leigh Calderon is a Director of Caribbean Awning Production Company Ltd and has been working for the Company since 2009. She leads the Company's Social Media Department and is responsible for overseeing marketing and advertising campaigns on all platforms, Website, Face book, Instagram and Print.

Samuel Alexander Dean Calderon, is a Director of Caribbean Awning Production Company Ltd and more recently as Branch Manager of Caribbean Awning Grenada responsible for the Management and Marketing of the Company .

Jonathan Martin Calderon, is a Director of Caribbean Awning Production Company and is the Financial Controller and Sales Manager.

Natasha has a Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Degree in Architecture from the University of Technology, Jamaica and a Masters in Human Settlements from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. Natasha worked as an architect with Inter Island Architects in St. Lucia then worked as an Architect for three years in Dubai for TYPSA.

Samuel has a Degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Corporate Communication & Public Relations and Entrepreneurship. A natural Entrepreneur, Samuel has a Company called Aerial Vision International working with the Government of Canada in regulating and establishing the Legislation for UAV (Drones) . The Company specializes in industrial services such as search and rescue, surveying and aerial inspections.

Jonathan has been working with the Company since 2007 and is expected to take over the Company from his mother Paula Calderon. Jonathan has a degree in Finance from the University of Western Ontario, has completed his USA Securities Brokerage Licensee Series 7 and 63 and has passed the Chartered Financial Analyst Level 1 Exam and is pursuing the Charter.

Christie Lucien, General Manager Christie Lucien joined Caribbean Awning Production Company Ltd in the year 2000, as Secretary, to the then Managing Director Lawson Calderon. Over the past 18 years Mrs. Lucien has been trained in Sales Level 1 & 2, Customer Service, Accounting, Introduction to Time Management, Quality Management, First Aid and CPR, Fire Safety Management, Diploma in Human Resource Management and is currently pursuing her degree in Human Resource Management. Mrs. Lucien can multitask and has tremendous knowledge about the workings of the Company. She has represented the Company overseas at several International Conferences and Trade Shows. We are proud to have Mrs. Lucien as a member of our Management staff.

Richie Victorine, Supervisor Fabrication & Installation Richie Victorine has been with the Company since the year 2004 working in production and installation. He was an intern from the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College where he majored in Engineering. Richie Victorine has been trained in Sales, Use of Safety Equipment, Roles of an effective Supervisor, Electrical Installation 1, 2 and 3, Quality Management, First Aid and CPR, Fire Safety, and has also represented the Company at Conferences and Trade Shows internationally. Richie Victorine is the Technical Supervisor in the Production Department and is very knowledgeable about the various products manufactured by Caribbean Awning Production Company and we are proud of his commitment to the Company.

Mandie Philogence

Junior Accountant - 10 years

Joe Cayol

Fabrication & Installation Technician - 11 years

Eldora Skelly

Soft Fabric Fabrication Technician - 10 years

Angela Adjodha Secretary - 5 Years

Dagma Phillip

Fabrication & Installation Technician - 4 years

Shawn Regis

Fabrication & Installation Technician - 4 years

Maradona Joseph

Fabrication & Installation Technician - 1 year

Koralie Wilkie

Receptionist - 1 year

Our Professional Staff are an important component of the Company and are engaged in decision making as their feedback is valued and necessary for improvement. The work ethic and culture is one of "Measure Twice, Cut Once" environment. As all jobs are customized our staff are continually trained in Occupational Health and Safety, Fire and Safety Hazards, Quality Management System, Sales, Lead Audit to name a few areas. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

ABOUT US From a single back room doubling as office and worktable, in 1987, to a 100 square feet workshop under the name of Beautiful Windows, Paula and Lawson Calderon entered the world of Manufacturing.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Simple awning structures were replaced by complex customized designs, and new products were gradually introduced as the pace of training enabled new staff to deliver high quality products. Since 2000, Caribbean Awning has been located at Goodlands, in a customized 9,000 square feet facility. The Company obtained ISO 9001/2008 certification and Contender to World Class, with exports today throughout the OECS. The Core Values of the Company include Customer Service, Quality of Products, On Time Delivery, Team Work, Care for Employees and Integrity. Caribbean Awning Production Company Ltd. (CAPCO), registered in St. Lucia, has been the premier producer of shade, shelter and security products in Saint Lucia and other Eastern Caribbean countries dating back some 20 years! The Company has built a reputation for constantly introducing new and innovative products in the marketplace. A tried, tested, proven, and reliable operator in the marketplace, Caribbean Awning is not just known as a manufacturer and supplier of products but is also known for product maintenance and backup services. The Company remains on the cutting edge of climate adaptation efforts by constantly introducing “go green” products that are better suited to our climate, and averts potential negative effects from climate change.

Caribbean Awning has a Corporate and Social Plan which includes donations to several charities, communities, schools and individuals. Caribbean Awning launched the Lawson Calderon Scholarship which has been very successful over the years. The idea of the Scholarship is to promote Lawson Calderon's vision by assisting an under-privilege technically inclined student for a period of 2 years giving them the opportunity to pass their CXC exams. The chosen students are allowed to work at Caribbean Awning during their holiday period to learn about the company and the manufacturing of its products. Those who have been assisted to date include, Kentsia Leonard who was the first recipient, Bernard Mauricette, Andrina Ferguson and Darnley Albert from the Ciceron Secondary School. Darnley our current recipient attends Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. Roll Up Steel Door

Over the past four years, CAPCO’s diversified its product focus by methods of horizontal integration into similar products and services which either complemented the existing product line or created new market opportunities. Some of these include the manufacturing of outdoor cushion covers, customized van tarps, marine products, and small byproducts such as tote bags, go green bags, and pencil cases, all from recycled material.

Aluminium Railings

O UR P R O D UCT S

BUSINESS FOCUS

ROLLING SHUTTER

ACCORDION SHUTTER

ESTATE GATES & GATE OPENER

Caribbean Awning Production Company Ltd. CHAIRS / UPHOLSTERY

GAZEBO & TENT COVER (ST. KITTS)

POOL COVER

VERTICAL DROP AWNING

LATERAL ARM AWNING

MARINE

FAUX WOOD BLINDS

ROLLER SHADES

PVC CEILING & WALL CLADDING

BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Goodlands, The Morne, Castries awning@candw.lc 758-457-7466 www.caribbeanawning.com

Caribbean Awning Grenada

caribbeanawning@gmail.com 1-473-414-7466 Caribbean Awnings Production Company Ltd

MUST READS Volume 29

Objectives & Key Results Objectives & Key Results

By Lyndell Halliday BSc., MBA, CPA,CMA

“Success breeds complacency. Complacency breeds failure. Only the paranoid survive” - Andy Grove, former CEO Intel.

The late Andy Grove - co-founder and former CEO of Intel - was a pioneer in the microchip industry. During Grove’s tenure, Intel grew from being an obscure builder of memory chips with revenue of US$1.6 million into the world’s largest manufacturer of semiconductors with revenue of over US $26 billion. Grove’s legendary success has been widely attributed to his focus on management concepts and he has been called “the greatest manager of any era.” Central to Grove’s management approach at Intel was the concept of Objectives and Key Results (OKR) which is the subject of the featured book in this issue of MustReads.

Measure What Matters by John Doerr (Portfolio, April 2018) John Doerr is an engineer and venture capitalist who worked for Intel for many years under the leadership and tutelage of Andy Groove. At Intel, Doerr soon became an expert in OKR and would later go on to introduce the concept to over 50 other organizations – both profit and not for profit. One of his most prominent clients was Google where OKR was readily embraced and widely adopted. According to Google founder, Larry Page, OKRs was critical to helping Google achieve “10x growth, many times over.” OKR has subsequently been implemented by other world-class companies including LinkedIn, Oracle and Twitter. OKR is a collaborative goal setting framework for companies and teams. Defined by Doerr as a “management methodology that helps to ensure that the company focuses efforts on the same important issues throughout the organization” OKR is said to “drive clarity, accountability and the uninhibited pursuit of greatness”. Doerr warns that OKR cannot take the place of strong leadership. An organization must have strong fundamentals.

But with strong fundamentals in place, OKR can help drive organizational excellence. OKR starts off by asking the question – what is most important for the next three to twelve months. It demands a ruthless focus on key initiatives that can make a real difference, deferring lesser priorities. Doerr cautions “if we try to focus on everything, we focus on nothing.” In OKR, goals must be clearly defined and clearly communicated. To be effective, all goals must be paired with key results. Effective key results are specific, time-bound aggressive, realistic, measurable and verifiable. Most managers would already be familiar with this SMART approach for goal setting. It is a deceptively simple concept, so a seasoned manager might be skeptical of the value of a book like this. It must be emphasized, however, that OKR is not just a goal setting system – it is a philosophical approach to management that emphasizes focus, collaboration, openness and communication. Experienced managers and leaders would already be familiar with the concept of Management by Objectives (MBO), the dominant management philosophy which was developed by Peter Drucker in 1954. In MBO, objectives are jointly agreed to by managers and their subordinates in a systematic and rigorous process. Although MBO has decreased in popularity since it’s heyday in the mid-20th century, the overlying importance of goal setting has remained an integral part of successful management. Objectives and Key Results is an attempt to improve on Peter Drucker’s MBO. OKR differs from Management by Objectives in several key ways. For example, OKR emphasizes quantitative goals, more frequent reviews, and a greater level of transparency. Much of the value of Measure What Matters consists of the story telling. Managers often have difficulty in implementing concepts. This book shines in this regard through the use of detailed case studies. The reader can learn from the experience of real worldclass organizations through the numerous case studies presented. One of the most useful features of this book lies at the end - a 27 page resources chapter that is akin to a cheat sheet to assist the manager in implementing OKR. On the other hand, where Measuring What Matters falls somewhat short, is in helping the leader to clearly understand how to set the right objectives in the right place. Overall, Measure what Matters is not a groundbreaking book but it is still very instructive, though perhaps redundant at times. Even if you think you already know a great deal about goal setting, you may be surprised at what you learn. This is a useful book for managers at every level.

Lyndell Halliday is an avid reader, lifelong learner and award-winning business executive who has served in a range of leadership roles across the Caribbean. He is currently employed as the General Manager of Automotive Art (St Lucia) Ltd. Mr. Halliday has also lectured for several years in a range of courses at the Master of Business Administration level.

BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Atwell Dalgliesh Co. (St.Lucia) Ltd.

Atwell Dalgliesh Co. Ltd. - Still Standing Through Testing Times

The Success Story of Atwell Dalgliesh Co. (St. Lucia) Ltd.

Still Standing Through Testing Times Atwell Dalgliesh Co. (St. Lucia) Ltd. is among the few companies that have blazed the entrepreneurial trail for Lucia. Such tenacity and sterling achievement cannot be iconic homegrown businesses have been forced to wind up

growing hotel sector, providing a wide range of disposable items used in food and beverage. Haircare, hardware, plumbing and electrical products were also added to the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growing inventory.

Clearly, Atwell Dalgliesh Co. (St. Lucia) Ltd. truly has made

Today, Atwell Dalgliesh Co. (St. Lucia) Ltd. is a major distributor for disposable food and beverage containers and tableware such as knives, forks, spoons, etc. In keeping with social and environmental consciousness, these items

The company was established in June 1974 and was previously located on High and Peynier Streets in

They also specialize in cleaning products for home,

canned juices, and so on. The store quickly became a popular spot for customers.

The company, which has now relocated to La Pansee, Castries, is a reliable retailer and wholesaler for a wide

BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

and detergents.

range of quality brands and its excellent delivery service covers the length and breadth of the service. Managing Karen

Director, Hippolyte,

growth and longevity to the quality service oﬀered by its 20 dedicated team members and its growing list of quality products. “There are many dynamics in the business return to us,” she said. “I think it’s primarily because of our high level of service and the goods we provide. We deal in quality products – that’s the diﬀerence. The hotel sector especially does not compromise on quality and neither should we.”

Atwell Dalgliesh Co. (St.Lucia) Ltd. Atwell Dalgliesh Co. (St. Lucia) Ltd.

customers as the company also focuses on expanding its The company hopes this winning formula remains its benchmark as it extends its decades-long quality service to its customers.

BUSINESS FOCUS

This lack of progress by the Saint Lucian companies prompted Export Saint Lucia (TEPA) to complete a review of its interventions as well as those of the said companies in the Cuban market. Coming out of this review, Export Saint Lucia (TEPA) deemed it necessary to carry out a mission to Cuba to dialogue with the relevant authorities and companies to address the stagnation and identify the way forward for Saint Lucian companies. According to Export Saint Lucia (TEPA) CEO Sunita Daniel, the mission was a resounding success and it allowed for the clearing up of a number of misconceptions about the Cuban market.

Export Saint Lucia’s Mission to Cuba

Daniel says “the main purpose of that visit was really to go into Cuba and speak with the officials there, speak with the persons that can really make the decisions and the changes for us as well as to have meetings with them and address the concerns that our individual companies would’ve had. Some of them would’ve had registration issues; some may have had difficulty in getting further orders.” She revealed that the trip was one of enlightenment; and says that Export Saint Lucia (TEPA) being on the ground in Cuba was really a representation of the agency’s clients, giving them firsthand view of the market’s landscape. The assessment also revealed that many companies lacked the pertinent market entry information which is applicable to their product type. Client Manager with responsibility for the Northern Caribbean including Cuba, Hyde Constantine-Felix, says now armed with the information, the agency’s clients can have a greater appreciation for the processes associated with Cuban market entry.

Export Saint Lucia’s Mission to Cuba Officials from Export Saint Lucia (TEPA) recently embarked on a four (4) day mission over in Cuba. The delegation which also included officials from the Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Commerce, was in Cuba from Monday 17th September, to Thursday 20th September, and had as its mandate to identify and correct some of the inhibitors that may be keeping Saint Lucian exporters from penetrating the Cuban market. Export Saint Lucia (TEPA) has been actively pursuing the Cuban market since 2012. Many of the Saint Lucian companies which have been exposed to the Cuban market over the years have gained the interest of Cuban buyers as well as government officials. However, with the exception of Baron Foods St. Lucia Limited, none have been able to successfully penetrate the market and secure a contract with a buyer of interest. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

“Cuba is a different type of economy; we know it’s centrally controlled so the process of doing business with them is quite different from what our companies are used to. So there’s a lot of registration with the companies, you need to operate through government authorized importers and despite being certified internationally, your products also need to be tested within Cuba.” The Client Manager goes on to indicate that the potential is there for greater collaboration between the two countries. “We do anticipate some more support, from the companies and authorities in Cuba. They were happy to have us there to dialogue and discuss with us so we believe that will help the process.” Export Saint Lucia was grateful for the support of the Ambassador of Saint Lucia in Cuba and the Ministry of Commerce during the mission as this collaborative effort was important to achieve the objectives of the mission. With the information now being filtered through to the clients of Export Saint Lucia (TEPA), it is anticipated that the necessary changes will be made to allow for greater penetration into the long elusive Cuban market.

SMJ Beverages

SMJ Beverages ( St. Lucia) Ltd.

S.M.J Beverages (St. Lucia) Ltd St. Judes Highway Vieux Fort Industrial Highway Vieux Fort St. Lucia Tel: 1-758-454-7768

Dr . Ramos's Medical Centre ONCOLOGY CONSULTANT

Risk factors of Prostate Cancer Researchers have found several factors that might affect a manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s risk of getting prostate cancer. Age

Having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles a manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s risk of developing this disease. (The risk is higher for men who have a brother with the disease than for those who have a father with it.)

Prostate cancer is rare in men younger than 40, but the chance of Dr. Ramos's MedicalSexually CentreTransmitted Infections having prostate cancer rises rapidly after age 50. About 6 in 10 cases of prostate cancer are found in men older than 65. Researchers have looked to see if sexually transmitted infections (like gonorrhea or chlamydia) might increase the risk of prostate Race/Ethnicity cancer, because they can lead to inflammation of the prostate. So Prostate cancer occurs more often in African-American men and in far, studies have not agreed, and no firm conclusions have been Caribbean men of African ancestry than in men of other races. reached. African-American men are also more than twice as likely to die of prostate cancer as white men Inflammation of The Prostate Some studies have suggested that prostatitis (inflammation of the Family History prostate gland) may be linked to an increased risk of prostate Prostate cancer seems to run in some families, which suggests cancer, but other studies have not found such a link. Inflammation that in some cases there may be an inherited or genetic factor. is often seen in samples of prostate tissue that also contain cancer. (Still, most prostate cancers occur in men without a family history The link between the two is not yet clear, and is an active area of of it.) research.

St. Anthony Medical Center Vieux Fort 1-758-454-4040

Gablewoods Mall Office 10, Sunny Acres 1-758-458-1107

Dr. Angel Ramos Cell: 1-758-729-6134 dramosmedicalcentre@gmail.com

Integrated Medical Care Arnos Vale, St. Vincent & the Grenadines 1-784-431-2488 / 534-7488 BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

True Value - Two Decades of Excellent Service

True Value

Two Decades OF EXCELLENT SERVICE True Value Building & Hardware Supplies is excited to announce its celebration of twenty years in business in October 2018! As a company which has always strived to deliver the highest level of customer service in the industry, we are thankful for the support of all our valued patrons and associates. True Value opened its doors in October 1998, from one unit in a row of derelict warehouse buildings. As our market grew, we realized that to serve our customers more eďŹ&#x192;ciently, we needed to expand and thus built the modern facility we occupy today. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

In March 2017, our company unveiled a campaign to highlight a special activity or interest every month for twenty months leading up to our twentieth year in business. We highlighted events such as our annual Easter Egg Hunt for children in the community, our Build A Bookshelf workshop for customers and families, and our True Value Annual Family Fun Day for staﬀ and their families. We also partnered with other stakeholders to build a home for a needy family, recognized our longest-serving employees and ran promotions with some of our industry partners. We at True Value attribute our success over the last twenty years foremostly to our customers; we thank you for your loyal patronage. We look forward to ensuring customer satisfaction as our number one priority in the years to come. To our staﬀ members, we appreciate your dedication to the company and your zeal to continue to learn and improve and will continuously work to ensure your comfort and well-being.

Vieux Fort-Laborie Highway Vieux Fort Saint Lucia

To our ﬁnanciers and suppliers, we thank you for your continued support of our organization! Your partnership has been a great contribution towards our success. We are also proud of and grateful for our Managing Director, Debra Tobierre. Her enterprising spirit, dedication, tenacity and zeal have carried the company through and molded the True Value we know today. Under her guidance, and that of a vibrant management team, True Value has great things planned for the future! At the end of November, we will host our Twentieth Year Blowout Sale. We will also be unveiling our new Paints Department to better serve our customers! We look forward to celebrating many more milestone anniversaries in our cherished community. Thank you again!!

Tel: (758) 454-3296 Fax: (758) 454-5394

P.O. Box VF 1123 www.truevaluestlucia.com True Value Ltd BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

ECONOMY & TRADE

“The objective of our debt strategy would be to raise reliable and consistent levels of financing for the budget and to meet government’s payment obligations at a minimum cost, subject to prudent levels of risk, and to support a liquid and well-functioning market for securities,” Thomas explained.

Chamber Discusses National Debt Strategy, Economy

Thomas said her Department has adopted a two-pronged approach to debt management: lengthening the maturity profile of the debt stock, and at a reduced cost in order to reduce rollover risk and stabilize debt payments. “We’re also aware of the rollover risk inherent in the short-term instruments. Our aim is to ensure that we minimize that risk by trying to keep the levels of treasury bills at a manageable level,” Thomas explained. To ensure this approach is successful, Thomas said the Department is investing additional time and effort to strengthen its capacity in crucial areas, including beefing up its investor relations. An investor relations programme is being established within the Department, aimed primarily at widening the investor base that will remove some of the inherent risk in the portfolio. “One of the objectives of that programme is for us to have closer relationships with the investors to be able to provide them with more information on a timely basis,” she said.

Chamber Discusses National Debt Strategy, Economy By Stan Bishop

Saint Lucia’s debt level and ways to curb and finance it came in for much discussion when the St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture held its Executive Luncheon at Coco Palm in Rodney Bay on October 3. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Cointha Thomas, delivered her presentation entitled “Saint Lucia’s Debt Position and Economic Prospects 2018/2019”, offering the Chamber’s membership some insights into the public debt, the economy and future prospects. Thomas said the public debt is in the region of 65%-70% of gross domestic product GDP, adding that the debt stock will likely increase over 2017/18 – from $3.22 billion to $3.38 billion. As a percentage of GDP, she said it’s likely to be within the range of 68.6% and 70.3%. Nevertheless, she said a clearly defined debt strategy is being employed to keep public debt within prudent levels. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Prior to Tropical Storm Kirk causing extensive damage to the island’s banana sector in late September, Thomas said there were some positive prospects in the agricultural sector. This means that following thorough post-storm assessments, these prospects will be revised. According to preliminary estimates, between 80-90% of the island’s banana sector was affected by Tropical Storm Kirk, with scores of farmers suffering huge losses. The Permanent Secretary noted that the hotels and restaurants sector is projected to realize some positive outturns this year, albeit less compared to last year’s performance. The construction sector, too, is reporting a decline, due primarily to delays in key public and private sector projects, among them Fairmont and Sandals LaSource. However, a slightly positive performance in manufacturing is being attributed to the buoyant performance in beverage production. While unemployment numbers have been on the decline of late, youth unemployment increased slightly between April and June this year. Thomas said increased inflation, primarily due to increases in global oil prices, has resulted in consumer prices increasing slightly. “Oil prices, from as far back as June 2017, are on an upper trajectory, whereby you have periods of decline and increases,” she said. “In respect of how this translates to our diesel and gasoline prices, it’s sort of a managed increase that we have been implementing. That is primarily to manage some of the inflationary effects translating throughout the economy.” The usual question and answer session followed Thomas’s presentation, during which Chamber members sought clarification on related and other issues.

Saint Lucia Exports Breadfruit to U.S.

Saint Lucia Exports Breadfruit to U.S. Perineau’s Exports, a Saint Lucian exporter with guidance and assistance from Export Saint Lucia (TEPA) successfully exported a test shipment of breadfruit to Miami, Florida in the U.S. on August 28.

Lucia. Breadfruit is a much-coveted fruit in the U.S. This test shipment has passed with flying colours, much to the delight of all involved, especially Export Saint Lucia and the local exporter, Perineau’s Exports.

This success is directly attributed to Export Saint Lucia hosting an “EXPORTING TO THE USA” workshop at the Finance Administrative Centre in July in Castries.

“Thank you to the Trade Export and Promotion Agency of Saint Lucia TEPA for a job well done in the first shipment of breadfruit from Saint Lucia to the U.S.,” Dabney said. “It was a huge success, the buyers want more, the shipment went better than expected. I’m going to ship as much as I can until you guys run out of it. Everyone here was very happy; I’ve been getting phone calls all day about more.”

The workshop took the format of an open forum panel discussion and Business-toBusiness meeting featuring three expert panelists, namely Tim Bascombe – owner and CEO of World Foods Connections; Jonathan Havens – lawyer and expert on the FDA and USDA, Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) compliance; and Emory Dabney – owner of Toro Imports, an import and export distribution company operating in the USA. Participants benefited from one-on-one sessions with industry experts in areas such as packaging, labeling and other product specifications tailored for U.S. market entry. Over the last few years, it has been recognized that the demands for produce has grown significantly in foreign markets and this latest success is also testament to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Export Saint Lucia and the Department of Agriculture. The efforts of Export Saint Lucia, coupled with the tenacity of a local exporter and the interest and persistence of a United Sates buyer, has reaped dividends of this workshop in quick time. Emory Dabney of Toro Imports, during the last week of August, received 500 kilogrammes of breadfruit from Saint

Following this test, Dabney remarked that there is certainly room and potential for imports of much larger quantities, as there is no shortage of demand. The buyer has already expressed interest in purchasing an even larger shipment of breadfruit from the exporter as early as the second week in September. Perineau’s Exports has expressed tremendous thanks to Export Saint Lucia for the various avenues of help that have been derived as a result of the partnership. The company revealed that prior to the services offered by Export Saint Lucia, the business, which started in 1992, experienced a number of challenges before it could even get off the ground. Proprietor Rosemary Perineau said: “Since they were directly involved with exporting generally for Saint Lucia, I found that was a good opportunity to find out what their work entails and how could they assist us in being better able to export produce from Saint Lucia.”

Perineau added: “I have gained a contact in the U.S., and I did more or less of a trial shipment and the result was very good. So I’m hoping TEPA and I can develop a greater relationship, where more produce can be exported to the U.S., which is the most difficult market for us.” While geographically close, Saint Lucia’s exports to the United States have remained low. The major exporters are in condiments and fresh agricultural produce. Very few Saint Lucian exporters meet the requirements needed to enter the U.S. market. Furthermore, even fewer can meet the marketing revenues needed to sustain market entry. Jerson Badal, Director of Client Management Services at Export Saint Lucia, said: “With this test shipment, the staff of Export Saint Lucia basically went through the entire stages -- from contacting the distributor, to finding the shipping logistics, the actual freight weight, the cost -- everything was basically done and recorded in house. “So we know exactly what it takes to get it into the U.S. (market), and how to reproduce it. So we have the expertise, we’re able to share with the exporter and this is something we’re hoping to replicate not only for this exporter but for anybody who wishes to sell breadfruits to the United States, as well as any other agricultural produce.” Officials of Export Saint Lucia reiterated the agency’s commitment to the expansion of exports in markets such as the U.S., as it continues to chart a course with its mandate to increase the aggregate volume and quality of exports coming from Saint Lucia. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

MovieTowne Sets Eyes on Saint Lucia and Jamaica

ECONOMY & TRADE

Regional Ferry Service Viable, Says World Bank Study Deputy Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), Trevor Brathwaite, says that a study conducted by the World Bank Ferry Viable, Says showsRegional that a regional ferry Service service is feasible.

World Bank Study

“The World Bank study shows that a regional ferry service is viable and it is not cost prohibitive. They have just completed their study and they are making a pitch as to how we can now bring in private sector players in developing this ferry service. This ferry will be able to move goods, people and vehicles from north to south throughout the region,” Brathwaite explained. He added that many years ago the Central Bank established a logistical company, known as the OECS Distribution and Transportation Company (ODTC), which he admitted has not been very active. But the rationale behind the company was to find out how a private company could play a role in facilitating ferry services within the region.

sets Eyes on Saint Lucia and Jamaica

MovieTowne chairman and founder, Derek Chin, is eyeing St. Lucia and Jamaica as the next territories for his multi-milliondollar cineplex. MovieTowne’s first cineplex outside of Trinidad and Tobago was in Guyana and is said to be the most significant private sector investment in the South American country. The Guyana facility is set to open between November and December this year, Chin said on September 10. “The brand and MovieTowne and what we have done with it in the last 15 years has really created a brand that many countries are interested in us coming. Offers of land or concessions to come and invest in their island or country is something I am working with,” he said. He revealed that St. Vincent, Antigua, St. Lucia and Jamaica have already invited the company to enter their market.

The deputy governor stated that the ferry system that is being looked at could facilitate individuals across the region who may travel from one island to another for whatever reason, to do so with ease. He gave the example of a person vacationing in Dominica but not wanting to rent a vehicle when they get to Dominica. He said that this person would be able to put their vehicle on the ferry and take it with them.

“I’m looking at St. Lucia after Guyana and then I would like to tackle Jamaica. And, of course, if something happens in North America, we’ll try a shot there, too,” he told reporters.

He acknowledged that this kind of service is the norm in European and Asian countries, adding that the vessels that are being considered are fast and will be able to get from port to port in reasonable time and not take hours to move between the islands.

Chin said construction of MovieTowne Guyana was close to completion. The US$45 million cineplex is located at Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara. “I know the Guyanese are very excited for the announcement of the (opening) date so they can start to partake in what we have done with Trinidad, in terms of improving the entertainment landscape,” Chin stated.

Brathwaite said this ferry system will definitely boost the economies of the islands that it services. He said that tourism would be an area that will likely see an increase. According to him, a lot of tourists like to explore the islands and they would be able to, for example, come to Antigua, rent a vehicle then take that vehicle to St. Lucia. He posited that the islands will “share the spoils.” When asked if this practice would have a negative effect on car rental companies, Brathwaite said that it is time that people change the way they view things and start focusing on the positive and not only the negative. The ECCB deputy governor said that he will personally be pushing for continued dialogue regarding this project because he thinks it is an excellent idea that could reap massive benefits for Caribbean states.

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“I’ve had business investments in Toronto, Canada, where I’m also looking to open the first MovieTowne in that part of the world,” Chin revealed.

On the setbacks which resulted in delays in finishing MovieTowne Guyana, Chin noted: “Like everything else, dealing with costs…in terms of resources to go into a new country; dealing the culture, politics; dealing with the anti-Trinidad sentiments where people feel we’re coming in there just to take over. We had to do a little PR (public relations) to say we are coming to add and augment what Guyana has to offer, especially with their discovery of oil.” Chin said MovieTowne did not enter Guyana with the intention of “being a massive money-making investment”. “Of course, we will like to believe it will be profitable; of course, the oil finds and the improvement in the lives of Guyanese and the fact there will also be an increase in their disposable income helps us. But as a result of what we have done here in Trinidad and, of course, we have changed the landscape of entertainment, the brand is well-known throughout the region,” the businessman said.

11th Annual Saint Lucia-Taiwan Partnership Trade Show

11th Annual Saint Lucia-Taiwan Partnership Trade Show • • •

The Department of Commerce, International Trade, Investment, Enterprise Development and Consumer Affairs in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) will host the 11th Annual Saint Lucia-Taiwan Partnership Trade Show at the Golden Palm Events Centre in Rodney Heights, Gros Islet from November 23rd to 25th, 2018. The Trade Show will highlight a wide range of quality goods and services from Saint Lucia and Taiwan. In addition, businesses from both countries will profit from the opportunity to develop strategic trading and networking alliances. The key objectives of the Trade show are: • To strengthen ties between Saint Lucia and the Republic of China (Taiwan) by facilitating trade between the two nations. • To facilitate local manufacturers and service providers in entering or expanding their presence on the domestic market.

To showcase new and innovative products and services coming out of Saint Lucia and Taiwan. To create linkages between MSMEs and larger companies as a means of further developing the private sector in Saint Lucia. To provide a mechanism that will allow for Saint Lucian and Taiwanese Manufacturers and Service providers to interact with the general public and obtain feedback on their products or services.

An added component of this year’s trade show is the facilitation of Business to Business Meetings between tradeshow participants and the wider business community including local supermarkets, distributors, pharmacies, hotels etc. The aim is to improve distribution and increase availability of quality local products and services on the mainstream market island wide. The Saint Lucia-Taiwan Partnership Trade Show is among the marquee events hosted by the Department of Commerce as part of its Business Month activities being held throughout the month of November. The event provides an ideal opportunity for business professionals, individuals and visitors to the island to sample authentic Saint Lucian products and services and enjoy another side of Saint Lucia’s culture. For more information about the 11th Annual Saint Lucia Taiwan Partnership Tradeshow, visit our website at http://saintluciataiwan. org or contact the event’s coordinator, Mr. Esli Lafeuillee, at the Department of Commerce at email esli.lafeuillee@govt.lc or telephone 468-4214/468-4238

Saint Lucia Network of Rural Women Producers Develop Micoud Chocolate Bar

A rural women’s group is currently marketing its latest product— local Saint Lucian chocolate bars. The ten-member coterie from Micoud is part of a larger body called the Saint Lucia Network of Rural Women Producers. The team produces local confectioneries, juices, and snacks.

initiative. We manufacture 60 percent, 70 percent and 80 percent dark chocolate. We purchase the cocoa only from the Micoud area, which is why the chocolate is named Micoud. If we go outside of the Micoud area, the taste of the cocoa would vary and would cause the taste of the chocolate to vary; so we decided to use cocoa within the Micoud belt to keep a consistent flavor.”

Avelina Augustin, president of the Micoud cluster of the network, said an informal group was first formed in 2003, and achieved formal status when it was registered in 2010.

Currently the chocolate is sold via local business places, with the team hoping to increase production as soon as it receives government approval to inhabit a processing plant at Angier.

“The Micoud cluster has about 10 farmers,” Ms. Augustin said. “Most of the farmers are also doing the agro-processing. Some of the products are ice cream, bay leaf powder, juices, mixed chips, jams, jellies, preserves, and our newest product is chocolate.”

“The Nobletree Coffee Shop at Pointe Seraphine is one of the local businesses that sells our products. Persons who have purchased are coming back for more. The chocolate bars are not mass produced since we don’t have the facility, but we are in production. Because we don’t have the processing plant, we are not HACCP certified, so the members cannot penetrate the supermarkets, but before year-end we are hoping to inhabit the plant at Angier,” Ms. Augustin said.

The team was introduced to chocolate-making through the InterAmerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). “Through IICA we received training via our counterparts in Trinidad. A consultant trained six members late last year between September and October, and from there we started our chocolate

On the heels of its chocolate bars is another chocolate product—a line of chocolate teas— which will be soon be available for purchase. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

BUSINESS FOCUS

Sandals Commits to Eliminating Single-Use Plastic Throughout Its Resorts

Sandals Commits to Eliminating Single-Use Plastic Throughout Its Resorts In a press release, Sandals Resorts International (SRI) announced that all 19 Sandals and Beaches Resorts across seven Caribbean islands – including Jamaica, the Bahamas, St. Lucia, Antigua, Grenada, Barbados and Turks & Caicos – will eliminate the 21,490,800 single-use plastic straws and stirrers used across the resorts each year by November 1, 2018. The release also states that eco-friendly paper straws will be available upon request. The project began on September 17 to coincide with the first day of Pollution Prevention Week. According to the release, Sandals Resorts is committed to moving beyond single-use plastic. This will be done through a new partnership with Oceanic Global, a non-profit focused on providing solutions to issues impacting our oceans. An audit will be done to determine a road map to the elimination of single-use plastic across Sandals resorts. The audit will be conducted in accordance with guidelines outlined in Oceanic Global’s industry-specific sustainability toolkit, The Oceanic Standard. Following the elimination of single-use plastic straws and stirrers, Sandals Resorts International will explore opportunities to eliminate other plastic across its resorts by September 2019. The company has already made headway with the elimination of plastic laundry bags and plastic bags throughout gift shops. “We’re thrilled to partner with Sandals Resorts International, the first all-inclusive brand to join our mission,” said Lea d’Auriol, Founder of Oceanic Global. “Seventy percent of our world is made up of oceans. It’s critical that we take steps to protect this precious resource – and Sandals is sending the message to companies with a major presence along ocean shores that they have a responsibility to take action, and that preserving ocean health can be both efficient and effective,” she added. Meanwhile, Adam Stewart, Deputy Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, has said that the company cares deeply about its BusinessFocus

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commitment to preserving both marine wildlife and human health within the many islands in which it operates. “Love is at the crux of all Sandals Resorts, and this love extends to the oceans and communities around them,” he said. Stewart added: “Eliminating single-use plastic straws and stirrers is only the beginning of our journey toward helping create a plastic-free sea in the region we call home.” This initiative is part of a larger effort to reduce plastic waste in the Caribbean region, where the Caribbean Sea connects more than 700 islands and coastlines that draw more than 30 million visitors each year. Sandals Resorts is already invested in environmental sustainability. The Sandals Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts International, has intensified efforts to reduce plastic pollution in the Caribbean and educate communities on the dangers plastic pollution poses to the environment, health and tourism. The Sandals Foundation’s recent initiatives include distributing reusable water bottles in schools across the Caribbean to reduce the use of disposable bottles among school children, delivering reusable tote bags to supermarkets across the region, and instituting a Solid Waste Reduction Project in Jamaica’s South Coast to clean up the communities and educate residents on how to properly manage their waste. “Plastic pollution is one of the leading environmental issues in the Caribbean. Sandals and Beaches Resorts are rooted in oceanfront communities, and we are committed to protecting our marine wildlife, developing effective conservation practices, and teaching the next generation the importance of caring for their communities,” said Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation. The Sandals Resorts International is the Caribbean’s leading family-owned resort company.

Regional Hoteliers Not Taking Full Advantage of Tourism Benefits Regional Hoteliers Not Taking Full Advantage of Tourism Benefits The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) says empty hotel rooms are costing the Caribbean billions of dollars in economic opportunity each year. CHTA Director General, Frank Comito, said with an estimated 84,000 hotel rooms vacant each night, filling just 10 per cent of them would inject nearly two billion US dollars into the region annually. “We have the room capacity across most of our destinations to further increase the economic impact of tourism. Focused efforts by the public and private sectors to fill the large amount of unused room inventory will yield considerable results,” said Comito, who is also the CHTA chief executive officer. The CHTA will host Caribbean Travel Marketplace, the Caribbean’s largest tourism marketing event, in Montego Bay, Jamaica from January 29-31 next year and Comito spoke of the importance of attending the event. Comito said that research has shown that an additional 10 per cent in visitor expenditures would generate US$628 million more in room revenue each year, plus two-thirds of added spend per visitor on food and beverage, attractions, taxis and ground transportation, retail purchases and local services. “Filling hotel rooms generates the highest spinoff impact on tax revenues, employment and economic activity compared with all other important categories of visitors, including cruise passengers, renters and yachters,” said Comito. “If you’re looking for business opportunity to expand and grow in the region you should be attending Caribbean Travel Marketplace,” he said, adding that online registration for the CHTA’s annual signature event is already open. Comito said that CHTA and its regional partner, the Barbadosbased Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) recently launched “The Rhythm Never Stops”, a marketing campaign which illuminates the Caribbean’s diverse cultures, vibrancies, unmatched natural beauty, and countless attractions and activities all complemented by the incredible hospitality of its people. “As more people discover all that the Caribbean offers, we’re confident that the region’s popularity will continue to grow.” CHTA said that Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2019, which is being produced in collaboration with co-hosts Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association, the Jamaica Tourist Board and the Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, is expected to attract an estimated 1,000 delegates from 26 Caribbean countries, who will meet with buyers from over 20 markets.

SLHTA Nurtures Young Leaders SLHTA Nurtures Development InitiativeYoung Leaders Development Initiative The St. Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) remains committed to the growth and development of our Young Leaders. The association recognized the need for more skilled professionals who are equipped with the knowledge and exposure needed to support the growing industry. In addition, as the principal tourism private sector agency in St. Lucia, with a membership of over 200 companies, SLHTA remains steadfast in providing opportunities that facilitate and support tourism sector development and management in St. Lucia. It does this by providing training and educational opportunities for workers, presenting its membership with as much information and technical support needed to facilitate their individual and collective advancement. The SLHTA remains committed to upholding the interests of its members. As part of its mission to grow and develop the industry’s human resource capacity, the Saint Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association has launched the SLHTA Young Leaders Development Initiative. The project is inspired by the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association’s People Development Committee. SLHTA agreed to pursue this initiative primarily to strengthen the skills of existing employees and develop the talents of young people. The program is expected to develop candidates that will function competently as future managers in the tourism industry and other sectors. The initiative targets employees under the age of 35 years who have the attitude and aptitude for such future roles. The participants of the program are selected from affiliated organizations. They will be engaged in a 2-year leadership program which includes a regional internship component. The educational aspect of this program relies heavily on continuous collaboration with Human Resource Development Agencies locally and regionally, who will be engaged in providing credible and effective training and mentorship opportunities. The training is expected to build individual capacity and encourage upward mobility for participants in their respective fields. The Saint Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association (SLHTA) has invested a total of over EC $75,000.00 in the Young Leaders Development Initiative. The association recognizes the benefits that can be derived from the program and as such, has ensured that its credibility is maintained by procuring all needed resources from reputable affiliated organizations. The program was launched on the 27th June 2018 with twelve candidates who form part of the first cohort. The program will continue in 2019 with a second group of participants. The initiative is led by a committee of tourism professionals who are charged with the responsibility of spearheading and managing the program, ensuring that the structure and integrity is maintained. To date the program has yielded much success and is currently viewed by the CHTA as an initiative to be launched in other affiliate states. The SLHTA is proud of the program’s development and remains committed to its overall success. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority’s UK Showcase

TOURISM FOCUS FOCUS

The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority’s UK Showcase The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority’s UK Showcase provided the ideal preface for many key industry meetings with travel partners and the media. During the week of September 10 - 14, 2018, Saint Lucia tourism officials headed by Minister of Tourism, Information and Broadcasting, Hon. Dominic Fedee conducted face to face meetings with officials from the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA). Saint Lucia officials had two update meetings: the first was with ABTA’s head of media, Sean Tipton; and the second, with the organisation’s head of destinations and sustainability, Nikki White. Topics during the meetings included the impact of Brexit on tourism and the growing trends for British holidaymakers such as sustainable tourism. Speaking on the Importance of the UK visit and showcase Acting Chief Executive Officer and Chief Marketing Officer of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, Tiffany Howard stated “the UK is our second largest market and we are encouraged by its continued growth. There is a strong connection with the destination and as trends move toward more authentic experiences we know that our village tourism project will fill that growing demand.” Saint Lucia also hosted a UK media lunch at Daphne’s, Kensington with twenty-five prominent media houses in attendance including; The Telegraph, The Times, National Geographic, Hello! Magazine and Wisden magazine. Minister Fedee also had an interview with Ben Gardner of Wisden discussing the upcoming English cricket team’s tour of the West Indies in February and March of 2019. Hon. Fedee also participated in a magazine radio programme on Colourful Radio – one of London's most popular commercial radio stations for people of colour – focusing on why Britons should visit Saint Lucia. The Telegraph also conducted an interview with the Tourism Minister on the new airport developments. The press was provided with an Island Update, which highlighted recent developments across the tourism sector and gave an outlook on Saint Lucia’s tourism product for 2019. Latest year-to-date stay-over arrivals figures as at July 2018 show the UK market up 7% from 2017. The Saint Lucia tourism contingent also conducted two other important trade sessions. The first was a Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (M.I.C.E) buyer networking session on Monday, September 10, 2018 where destination officials presented to potential clients and had a chance to have one-on-one interactions. The second trade event was an appreciation dinner with senior airline officials and tour operators on the evening of September 11. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Caribbean Launches “The Rhythm Never Stops” Marketing Campaign Inspired by the Caribbean’s sounds and sights, the region’s leading tourism entities have joined forces to launch “The Rhythm Never Stops” – a vibrant marketing campaign enticing travelers to revel in the Caribbean’s incredible natural beauty, cultures and Caribbean Launches “Thediverse Rhythm hidden treasures.

Never Stops” Marketing Campaign

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) unveiled the fruit of months of collaborative efforts to showcase the Caribbean in a new, dynamic digital campaign, which started on Wednesday, October 10. Supported by a select group of destinations and private sector partners, the video presentation targets social media, including Facebook, Instagram and Google Display. It features the electronic dance music of “Lean On” by Major Lazer x DJ Snake (feat. MØ), one of the most-streamed songs of all time on Spotify. Hugh Riley, Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organization, said the Caribbean aims to be the world’s most desirable tourism destination. “With the resilience of our people and the year-round nature of our product, we are determined to ensure that in the Caribbean ‘The Rhythm Never Stops’.” “In undertaking this collaborative marketing thrust, we hope to reinforce the power of ‘Brand Caribbean’, definitively showcasing and celebrating our diverse cultural appeal through a campaign that will encourage visitors to find their own rhythm in the Caribbean,” he said. Frank Comito, Director General and CEO of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association, pointed out that, from Bermuda in the north to Barbados in the south, the region comprises more than 30 countries, territories and overseas departments, offering constantly evolving rhythmic segues for travelers. “Visitors, past and present, have not been introduced to the offerings of our vast and diverse region. We will change that by highlighting the charms contained in the million square miles of Caribbean Sea, home to French, English, Spanish, Dutch, Creole, African, Asian, American and many other cultures,” he said, encouraging residents and visitors to experience more of the region’s rhythms. The initial phase of the online campaign runs for 12 weeks. It highlights destinations such as The Bahamas in the north; Cayman Islands and Jamaica in the western Caribbean; the French department of Martinique and its eastern Caribbean neighbor Saint Lucia, as well as Grenada and Trinidad & Tobago in the south. Both CHTA and CTO will track results of the digital advertising and social media-sharing campaign and continue to encourage other tourism-related entities to get on board with their longer-term collaborations.

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LEWIS INDUSTRIES LTD. Lewis Industries Ltd. - A Passion For Perserverance, How Dr. Thecla Fitz-Lewis Beat the Odds

A Passion For Perseverance How Dr. Thecla Fitz-Lewis Beat The Odds Dr. Thecla Fitz-Lewis’s life story is one of trials and triumphs. At age 55 she now reflects on the journey that brought her this far. Earning a doctorate recently is among the highest points in a career underscored by dogged determination, a quality she learned from her father, Mathurin Fitz. “I was motivated by my father, who was a builder,” she said. “He always engaged me in aspects of his work: having me pass nails, pieces of wood, the hand saw. If he was mixing concrete, I had to help carry the blocks. As a child, I was inspired to be in a field within which I could support him.” Inspired by her father, Fitz-Lewis decided on a career in Building Technology. After graduating from St. Joseph’s Convent, she attended Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) to become an architect. Most of the other students wanted to be a doctor, nurse, or administrator. She wanted to be in a male-dominated field. She landed her first executive role at Club St. Lucia in the late 1980s, becoming the hotel’s first female Maintenance and Engineering Coordinator. “I recognized I had skills and desires in training and development. I was part of the hotel’s training committee because they saw my knack for always wanting to train people. I found myself training people without realizing that I inherently had these skills,” she explained. In 1994, Fitz-Lewis was awarded a two-year

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scholarship from the Caribbean Hotel Management Services to pursue an Associate’s Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Technology in Nelsonville, Ohio. Upon returning to Club St. Lucia after graduation, she was an understudy to one of the trainers the hotel outsourced to train staff. However, in 1997, she started her business, Gretec Training Institute, which ran for about four years. She taught Computer Applications and Gretec was among the few certified institutions offering Information Technology back then as secondary schools were not equipped with computers. She also taught Dressmaking and Fashion Design, her first love and a skill she inherited from her mother, Laura Fitz. “My philosophy is that anything you love madly enough, you should be able to make money out of it while passing the knowledge on to others,” she noted. “That way, you get a double reward.” She later worked with the National Research and Development Foundation (NRDF) as a Research Development and Training Manager, designing and including training components for existing programmes, but decided to pursue a Master’s Degree since unqualified training consultants earned less pay. Fitz-Lewis did a post-graduate diploma in Business Administration with the Association of Business Executives (ABE) prior to her Master’s Degree. She could not afford the tuition because she had a mortgage, a daughter at university and three other children in secondary school. She needed a plan. “I wrote the University of Leicester and told them I could promote their programmes in Saint Lucia if I’m allowed to pay my tuition on a monthly basis rather than each semester,” she explained. “The university told me that if I got ten enrollments, including myself, they would allow it. I got ten enrollments -- plus myself!” Fitz-Lewis paid her tuition by teaching evening classes with UWI-endorsed certificates from NRDF. A year later, the university made her their regional representative: she was first made Country Manager for Dominica, becoming Regional Director of the English-speaking Caribbean two years later.

She was Business Development Consultant for the university until she was hired by Laureate International Universities, the largest network of for-proﬁt higher education institutions, for about ﬁve years before deciding to work full-time alongside her husband, Andre, on the family business, Lewis Industries Ltd., where she is now Director of Operations and Human Resource Development. Lewis Industries Ltd., the island’s largest and oldest cleaning company, was established in 1990 and currently has 78 employees, serving about 90% of the private sector. “I felt that, as a Business Development Consultant who was developing other people’s businesses, why not develop mine? Lewis Industries Ltd. was a growing and successful company, but the focus was not on human resource development. However, human resource development is the component that drives the business because we’re a service-oriented company,” Fitz-Lewis stated. She added: “Even if we hire people who have no knowledge of the cleaning industry, we put them through a training regime before sending them out to the customers. Our three-pronged approach involves learning the systems, procedures and expectations; meeting the manager, who helps them understand cleaning techniques; and meeting the supervisors, who mentor them and ensure these practices are followed.” For her Doctorate in Business Administration from Walden University, the research paper was on employee retention

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and focused on strategies human resource leaders should employ. Fitz-Lewis said pursuing the doctorate was predicated on a simple principle: that she could not be an advocate of higher education and not being an epitome of what she preached. “I wanted to challenge myself for several reasons: to be a motivation to young people, because I had my first child during my second year at SALCC,” she said. “It meant that I had maternity before university. However, regardless of my age, I wanted to challenge myself to be whatever I wanted to be.” The savvy businesswoman is also a business coach, mentor, and motivational speaker who wants to use her experience to educate young people and be philanthropic – giving her time and money to institutions that rehabilitate young people. She also wants to help women who have suffered any type of abuse. Mathurin was present at Fitz-Lewis’s graduation in England when she earned her Master’s Degree from Leicester University. She described the moment as the most emotional in her life, especially because her father was ailing with cancer. “He felt like the greatest man in the world, seeing his first daughter graduate with a Master’s Degree,” she said, beaming. “If he were alive today, I know he would be the proudest man because I did promise him that I would pursue a Doctorate and attribute it to the building skills he taught me which have helped me build a career and build people up.”

• Water Damage Restoration • New Wooden Floor Finishing • Restoration & Maintenance of Existing Wooden Floors • Sanibin Service • Washroom Deodorizers

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BUSINESS FOCUS

Legal Fraternity Hosts Ganja Debate

Legal Fraternity Hosts Ganja Debate By Stan Bishop

A September 19 debate on whether marijuana should be legalised in Saint Lucia has added more fuel to the controversial decades-long subject. The debate was held at Bay Gardens Hotel and organized by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Bar Association of Saint Lucia, and centred on the topic: “Should Saint Lucia Legalise Cannabis?” Debators for the topic were Dr. Stephen King and Maurice Compton. Debators against were Tris-Ann Richards, Yohan Willix and Daniela Chambers (from NIC Toastmasters Club). The debate format allowed teams fifteen minutes each to speak on the issue. Subsequently, they had five minutes in the rebuttal phase. Questions from the audience followed. Dr. Stephen King said cannabis should be legalised, referencing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recommendation last April for the approval of an epilepsy medication made with an ingredient found in marijuana. If that recommendation is followed, the drug – called Epidiolex – would become the first cannabis-derived prescription medicine available in the United States. Manufactured by GW Pharmaceuticals, a British company, Epidiolex’s active ingredient, cannabidiol – or CDB – is one of the chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant. However, cannabidiol does BusinessFocus

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not have the properties that make people high. Dr. King, said that the bigger picture needs to be looked at. “The current regime is harmful,” he said. “We have unregulated products, some of which are harmful. We have harmful use of many of these products. We have a criminal environment which breeds violence and, in fact, criminals are enriched in the current environment. If we were to decriminalise, we would now address some of the fundamental issues such as the criminal networks, unregulated product or the harmful use. Hence the reason we must legalise.” In response, the opposition’s Tris-Ann Richards declared that marijuana should not be decriminalised, citing medical and social reasons. “It is a known fact that marijuana has several effects on the brain,” Richards stated. “Some include, but are not limited to, impaired memory, altered senses and in high doses can cause hallucinations, delusions and psychosis. Especially if you already have a family history of psychotic disorders or mental illnesses.” She added: “Saint Lucia, at this time, is not equipped to handle the ramifications or consequences of the full legalisation of cannabis. As such, it should not be made legal.”

Last July, the CARICOM Regional Commission on Marijuana recommended that marijuana be legalised and regulated, similar to alcohol and tobacco. The report, which came following four years of research undertaken across the region, states: “The analysis of the comprehensive information gathered indicates that the current legal regime for cannabis/marijuana, characterised as it is by prohibition and draconian criminal penalties, is ineffective, incongruous, obsolete and deeply unjust.” That report was welcomed by the 19 Heads of State who were, at the time of its release, attending the Thirty-ninth Regular Meeting in Jamaica. President of the Bar Association, Mary Juliana Charles, said the Association usually hosts sessions for members as part of its continuing education drive. However, she noted that the Association felt it should bring the debate on crucial matters to the public space. “As have been said and thought many times, we cannot be left behind in Saint Lucia,” Charles said. “The world is talking about legalizing cannabis: some with a question mark, some without a question mark. We thought that we should at least hear from the public in the Q&A segment, and the best way to do that is by having a debate.”

The Importance of Clear Advice

The Importance of Clear Advice By Trudy O. Glasgow B.A., LL.B (Hons), BVC, LL.M, P.C.H.E*

Sound legal advice starts with explicit facts and details of the matter. The client must outline as plainly as possible what the problem is, so that the lawyer will be in a better position to determine the best solution. When a client walks into a lawyer’s office, he or she is seeking a solution to his or her problem. It is similar in a sense to going to a doctor, something is wrong and you seek professional advice to resolve the matter. In order for either professional to be able to assist the client, the client must give all the necessary information to the doctor or lawyer so that a suitable solution can be reached. This is the foundation on which the advice given will be based, so the client must make sure it is unambiguous, succinct and accurate. A lawyer usually gives advice either orally and occasionally in writing (in the form of an opinion). In this article, we are looking at advice given to a client orally. Whether the lawyer is giving the advice in writing or orally, similar rules apply. Once the lawyer has a clear understanding of the issues involved, he or she will first determine whether there is a cause of action. If there isn’t, then the case cannot be pursued any further. By that same token, if the lawyer decides that the client has an extremely weak case, the advice is likely to be, not to continue with the matter. Once the lawyer has identified the cause of action, formulating the legal points and legal issues is the next step. It is also important to establish what the strengths and weaknesses of the matter are, and set this out clearly when giving the client advice. The lawyer will also advise on the options available to proceed with the matter. Once the lawyer has received the entire story from the client and assessed the matter, it is time to give the client clear advice. Depending on the nature of the matter, the advice may include either going to court or settling out of court. It would be helpful if the advice is free of legal jargon and subtlety, thereby the client is likely to understand the advice given. In turn, the client can give

his or her lawyer clear instructions on how to proceed with the matter after receiving the advice. Communication between the lawyer and client must be comprehensible at all times. There must be no doubt in the client’s mind what his or her lawyer is advising him or her to do. The lawyer will explain the various steps in the legal process, and chances of success in the matter. If the client is unclear of the various aspects of the legal advice being offered, he or she may request this in writing from his or her lawyer as well as further explanation. It is important for the client to understand fully the legal advice being given, so that the client can make an informed decision on how to proceed with the matter. Ms. Trudy O. Glasgow, B.A. (History), LL.B (Hons.), B.V.C, LL.M. P.C.H.E, is a practising attorney at the law firm of Trudy O. Glasgow & Associates; CourtAppointed Mediator and author, Simply law, in Saint Lucia ( and has taught at University level in the UK.) Ms. Glasgow is the Vice President of the Bar Association of Saint Lucia, Chairperson of its Publications committee, Editor of THE BRIEF; Co-Chair of 100 women who care, St. Lucia chapter; Chairperson of National Research and Development Foundation (NRDF); Secretary of the Rotary Club of Gros Islet. She has been writing a weekly legal column, 'Simply law' since 2007, first in THE VOICE and now in THE MIRROR newspaper. This column is for general use only, for advice specifically about your case, please see your lawyer. Share your thoughts and comments; you are invited to email me at trudyoglasgow@ lawyer.com BusinessFocus

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IN THE KNOW

Ted Advocates for Regional Arts Saint Lucian Art Teacher Paints The Broader Picture

Among Sandiford’s many lamentations was that many local and regional companies are outsourcing work beyond the region while bypassing homegrown talent, adding that people often invest heavily in foreign merchandise while regional artists struggle to survive. “We in the Caribbean are rich in tradition, folklore and culture,” said the 38-year-old art teacher. “The world is eager to hear our stories and animation can be a vessel to transport these stories. They want to hear about the bolom, la diablesse and maji noir – because home have. I’m afraid that pretty soon home will not have anymore because all of our talents will leave us.” For the regional industry to excel, Sandiford listed areas that need to be addressed: how society values art/lack of appreciation; parental encouragement/discouragement; lack of intrinsic motivation; art education is generally expensive; lack of resources; failure to collaborate; and brain drain.

“Deep inside every one of us is an artist and I think that education always has a way of bringing it out,” said art teacher and wellknown animator, Ted Sandiford, as he wrapped up the SALCC’s Illumination Lecture hosted at the SALCC campus on Morne Fortune on October 10. Themed “Home Have: The Rise or Fall of Art and Animation in the Caribbean?”, Sandiford focused his address on the Caribbean’s rich artistic talents, which are often ignored in preference to work done internationally. The success of the regional animation industry, he said, depends on the level of appreciation afforded to it by us locally. Animation is the technique of photographing several drawings, positions, puppets or models to create an illusion of movement when the film is shown as a sequence. It’s tedious work but many opportunities exist in the genre. Major international animation companies include Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Blue Sky Studios, and Sony Pictures Animation. While these studios produce groundbreaking work, Sandiford maintains that we have such capabilities right here at home. “The Caribbean is blessed with many gifted artists, animators and animation studios, who continue to make us sell,” said Sandiford, Managing Director & CEO of ACID Kreationz, a company he formed some years ago. Corretta Singer (Jamaica), Francis Butcher (Saint Lucia), Yoane Pavadé, Saidou Bernabé and Alain Bidard (Martinique), and Full Circle Animation (Trinidad and Tobago) are among that list.

Sandiford also recounted his beginnings in art as a boy, with his mother encouraging him to continue developing his craft while his father was not too enthusiastic. He persisted nonetheless and the journey paid off when he became an art teacher at St. Mary’s College in 2000, replacing his former art teacher, Luigi St. Omer, who had proceeded on early retirement and recommended him for the job. Sandiford is best-known for his animated PSAs and music videos and caricatures which he often shares via Facebook and other social media platforms, either to elicit critique or to inspire other artists about the craft. He has witnessed some of his former students losing their passion for art after CXC because of limited avenues available to broaden their horizon. As an advocate for art, he says greater emphasis on education is essential to rectify the issues affecting art and artists. “If parents heard about all the successful artists and animators we have all over the world, they would embrace art and not reject it,” Sandiford explained. “If clients would understand the actual production process and what it entails, they would be willing to pay what the job is worth and not ask for miracles when it comes to turnover. If the education system would stop treating art like just another extra-curricular activity, maybe people would take it more seriously.”

Why should we give back? We should give back because with each action we push life into our future. We give of ourselves and our experiences, thereby passing the knowledge and wisdom bestowed unto us to the next generation. Bleeding ideas into ideas; vicariously ensuring the continuity of learning.

T’is the Season of Giving?

What are the benefits of giving to one’s self and company? Society knows more about what your company stands for which can be very attractive to potential employees and clients. These days, the workforce wants more out of their jobs than a pay-check and employers know this. I believe support of and membership in groups with specific causes is a great way to give back. For instance, the Saint Lucia National Trust depends on yearly membership dues to support its continued management and upkeep of the island’s historical and nature sites. Who said giving couldn’t be fun? People have always given back, not necessarily in front of flashing cameras. Their contributions may be less obvious but no less important. Think of the five most caring people you know – what do they do that draws them to your mind? Do they give their time to tutor children in the community, drop them off to school each morning?

T’is the Season of Giving?

That reminds me of a bus driver who ensured that children in the neighbourhood got to and from school every day whilst others drove straight past, our $0.50 not worthy of the seat which a full fee-paying adult could occupy. He gives of his income by extending his generosity.

By Mandy Preville-Findlay

Individuals can give back without fanfare and thus their contributions go unnoticed. So silent givers out there, we salute you and send you warm wishes for a great new year.

At this time of year, our televisions are inundated with people offering goods and services to people in need. As a nation steeped in religion, Christianity being the predominant faith, Christmas brings with it the feeling of thanksgiving and desire to show love to our fellow men (and women).

In this season of giving, ask yourself – ‘How socially responsible is my company?’, ‘How socially responsible am I?’ As 2019 looms, let’s all give back by not only giving a man a fish but teaching him how to fish. We don’t have to be a business of global proportions to make a difference in people’s lives.

Why this sudden show of generosity, you might ask? Well, if businesses did not live up to the ideal of giving back to society, we would be heaping shame upon them, bemoaning their lack of caring for those less fortunate. However, unlike social groups, businesses are in the business of making money and will invariably try to make every move count.

Happy 100th issue, Business Focus Magazine. May you continue to give back to the community.

Corporate social responsibility is where corporations have a special social responsibility over and above their business purpose. Far from being a stipulation in law, this is a tacit notion that businesses owe it to society to make our lives better. Companies have always found innovative ways to utilise in-house expertise and part of their profits to support our local community. Throughout the year, however, these acts of kindness seem to be less frequent, if at all, and left mainly to social groups to think about how they can give support. We are steeped in the tradition of giving -- from your neighbour shouting across for a hand of green figs or matches to supporting people whose houses whose were destroyed by fire. I am advocating for more, rather than less.

For over 20 years, Mandy has worked within the education sector to promote progress through expert capacity building. With a Masters in Development Management, Mandy acts as a catalyst for leadership development through coaching, mentoring and managing organisational change. She has worked as the Head of School in various key schools across the UK, and is currently a Director at Preville-Findlay Development Ltd coaching various school heads to work within the sector. As a member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) based in the UK, Mandy is also exploring ways to improve the lives of youth, through the charity sector. She firmly believes in developing youth capacity is the key to national, international and global sustainable progress. Contact her at mandy.preville@ gmail.com. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

IN THE KNOW

Network Like a Pro

By Kezia Preville

Business Networking is interacting with other persons with the goal of exchanging information, developing contacts and increasing opportunities to further their careers or business positioning through the activity. Whether you are shy or the most extroverted person in the room, networking can be a devastatingly daunting task. Besides having a charismatic personality or at least a pleasant one, to succeed at networking, specific skills and conditions are integral. Since networking is an excellent way to recruit new employees, source contracts, find a lucrative investment and be known in the industry, actively seeking out opportunities to rub shoulders with legitimate business counterparts has made it quite essential to any business. Beyond managing the social platforms with hundreds of contacts and no real engagement with 90% of them, using a balance of traditional and digital means can just as easily get you some success. How can you add value to your network and strengthen the linkages you may already have? Try these networking tactics to enhance your portfolio and get you on the path to networking like a professional. Start Cold Calling Dust off your ‘rolodex’ and start reaching out to old acquaintances to either introduce or re-introduce your current role and business. You friended them on Facebook years ago but never commented on one photo. Change that now or simply pick up the phone. This is a great way to update their information, catch up on old times and give a short marketing pitch on what you have been up to. Don’t brag but firmly present yourself as a stable and formidable associate who is worthy of an invitation to any upcoming events, for example. You will also get them to start thinking of you when lucrative leads emerge, and be sure to add their contact BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

to your mailing list to keep them informed of what your firm is up to. Sometimes, it is all about who knows you (and how well).

reward important clients, get some one on one time with potential ones and keep your name relevant in the market.

Speak to a Professional Single out industry experts who can demystify the rhetoric and give you an all access pass to industry-specific opportunities. Follow their blogs or attend their seminar and get acquainted. Through this engagement, it will become easier to understand the vastness of your own industry and be included in future engagements. Do your part by providing a product and service which would fit well with their particular industry-related area of expertise, and form a strategic alliance which is a win-win for everyone.

Always Engage Whether you are picking up the kids, or the groceries, don’t miss an opportunity to be pleasant and engaging. This doesn’t mean pulling out presentations and annoying your colleagues when they are on their down time, but concentrate on remembering names, where they work and even sharing an inside joke about their last engagement with you. Networking has more to do with developing a relationship which is meaningful, so make it count every opportunity you get.

Attend a Corporate Mixer Corporate or business mixers can take a multitude of formats with some not being conducive for business to be conducted. Free hors oeuvres, a decent bar and loud chatter with business persons who may already be acquainted makes it difficult to walk over and introduce yourself. Try participating or sponsoring the showcase if possible to get some brand recognition, or find out if any of your colleagues will be attending so they can introduce you to new contacts. Whatever you do, attend the event. Never miss an opportunity to meet new people, both within and out of your industry especially in the early stages of your career. Once you have gained more confidence, then you can pick and choose what’s hot and what’s not worth the trip. Throw Your Own Shindig Have your own networking engagement which can take on a format which is more practical for your business model. Roll out a new campaign, unveil a new product or service and ensure the team is present ‘to put a face to the name’ and increase your networking capabilities. Having your own event will also provide an opportunity to

Kezia Preville is a UK graduate possessing a Master’s in Business Administration. She is a Business Development Specialist with over 10 years’ experience working with regional and national firms. Kezia is passionate about Marketing and Public Relations, working with clients seeking to enter new markets, provide stellar service and develop their Corporate Social Responsibility goals. Currently she manages AdVizze Consulting Inc, hosts the annual Job Fair Expo and the Enterprise Development Forum & Marketplace. Contact her at AdVizze Consulting Inc on info@advizze.co or visit www.advizze.co.

Emergency Exits and Exit Signs

By Rohan John Baptiste

People perceive objects in terms of what they understand. In the event of a fire emergency the first instinct is to escape, and this primal instinct has implications for exit design. Emergency exits should provide simple directions that support escape, e.g., be clearly marked, distinguishable from the surroundings, easy to access, and easy to understand. This is the purpose of all emergency exit signage, and how this design influences the user in all emergency situations.

Figure 2.2 - Pictogram and text form fire exit

The design must therefore provide adequate sensory affordance to assist users to readily follow; they should also consider the physical limitations of various people. An e.g. of this can be seen in figure 1. Figure 1 - Emergency exit door and exit signs Research has shown that emergency exits are sometimes difficult to open because of opening devices that require considerable force to operate or understand. It is imperative that people can easily use the exit and the design should ideally support this use by being simple to operate. If an emergency exit is designed inappropriately, it can affect the evacuation of a building. One example of this is if a sign with the text “No Admittance” is placed on a door of an emergency exit, or “Only staff allowed beyond this point” below an emergency exit sign. In these cases, it can be unclear to people if the exit should be used in an emergency, since the No Admittance sign signals that the exit should not be used and staff only beyond this point is only meant for staff, while the emergency exit sign above the door signals that it should be used. Another example; a pull handle on a door that can only be pushed open. The handle misinforms the user about how the door should be operated. These types of conflicts should be avoided, since they can potentially inhibit people from using an exit.

Emergency exits should be used in emergencies and must lead to a safe place. This information must therefore be conveyed by the signage. The emergency exit sign as shown in figure 2.1 and 2.2 above the door is an example of signage that directs people of how to utilize an exit. The assumption is that people should be familiar with these signs and know that it signifies that the exit should be used in emergencies. Nevertheless, it is imperative that facilities conduct fire tests, drills and prepare evacuation plans with employees and patrons to ensure the safety of all in the case of emergencies. Figure 2.1 - Exit sign

Due to the importance of signage and the risk of causality or loss of life in the event of a fire it’s imperative that consultation with experts is done for buildings to ensure all the above aspects are covered. Rohan John Baptiste, MSc, BEng. F.S.E, M.A.P.E.S.L -- Currently lectures in the Division of Technical and Management Studies (DTEMS) at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. He recently graduated with an International Master of Science in Fire Safety Engineering (I.M.F.S.E) and also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Possessing a keen knowledge in research, analytics and problem solving, along with report writing of fire engineering. He is a Fire Safety Engineer as well as a Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing Consultant. Contact him at rjb.cfses@outlook.com. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

IN THE KNOW

Meet a Member of the NRDF Team, Ms. Yvette Regis

Ms. Yvette Regis has been working with National Research and Development Foundation (NRDF/ the Foundation) from June 2010. She is currently the Senior Project Officer in the Credit and Finance Department. According to Ms. Regis, “The Foundation offered me the opportunity to make a more meaningful contribution towards the development of St. Lucians in terms of financing options and educational opportunities.” As the Senior Project Officer, Ms. Regis negotiates with contractors, small businesses and small housing loans on behalf of NRDF. She also assists in the recovery and collection of delinquent accounts. The contractors’ loans are the major loan product and it is her responsibility to ensure that funds lent to contractors are used prudently and for the intended purposes. Ms. Regis explained that she believes that customer service is very important. She says that she continually acts as the liaison between clients and the Foundation. Part of her job is to deal with customers' queries and find the best solutions to any problems or issues they may have. On a typical day, she may be in office tending to walk-in customers or doing on-site visits to monitor progress of construction projects funded by the Foundation. NRDF deals with a myriad of personalities, and the challenge is be able to know and understand our team members and to create a balance between personal and professional perceptions. “In our department, we deal with credit risk, and one of my most valuable lessons is that life is unpredictable. A client may seem very low-risk at one moment and his/her situation may change overnight. It’s important to learn the signs and take swift action to work with clients when this happens.” BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Ms. Regis lamented that there have been a few challenges but overall it has been a rewarding experience to work at NRDF. One of her recommendations to the management and Board of NRDF moving forward is that “as a training and financial institution, staff should be offered more benefits and privileges to enable them to better take advantage of the services and products offered to the general public.” Her additional suggestion focused on the community initiatives from NRDF: “As a developmental organization, we need to take our corporate responsibility seriously and continuously seek ways to give back to the community and St. Lucia at large as it is the patronage of our clients which has kept our doors open, even in the most difficult of times.” When Ms. Regis isn't working, she considers herself a 'sewist' (sew/artist), as she prefers creating more than sewing. She has been involved in drama and theatre for many years, and is the Treasurer of 'Gemstones Theatre Productions'. She is the proud mother of Angele, age 3.

New National Taxi Union President Reveals Plans

Chairman’s Reserve Unveils a Limited Edition

Chairman’s Reserve New National Taxi Union President Reveals Plans Unveils a Limited Edition By Stan Bishop

Newly-elected President of the National Taxi Union, Lucien Joseph, says he is ready and determined to ensure that the membership realise better results under his watch. Joseph, who was elected to the top position for a two-year term in September 2018, previously served in that capacity for 15 years before giving up the post in 2016. “Right now, I’m looking forward to running with my ideas. I have put forward a six-point plan,” he said. That plan includes: 1. That the policy which guides the Union should be updated to include new operators in the sector 2. That taxi drivers find a pool or collective insurance package 3. That the duty-free vehicles policy be reviewed and reinstituted 4. That there is equal opportunity in the transportation sector for all, particularly for fuel consumption 5. That the regulatory committee of the Ministry of Tourism be reinstituted 6. That the Union strives to harmonize taxi drivers The new executive committee is as follows: • President: Lucien Joseph • Vice-President: Cyril Edward • Secretary: Nigel Dickson • Assistant Secretary: Isidore Brisefert • Treasurer: Stevenson Auguste • Trustees: Kisha Baptiste and Melvine Isidore Joseph, who is also President of Holiday Taxi Ltd., said taxi drivers continue to be shortchanged even as they continue to invest heavily in the sector. By demanding more for the sector, he admitted that taxi drivers will be criticized on several fronts. However, he believes that the true value of the taxi sector should not be underestimated. “Although some people will look at us as being the weakest link in the chain, I believe we are one of the most important elements of the tourist industry,” Joseph explained. “We are among the first and last people who interact with the tourists who visit the island.” Joseph added that the taxi sector will continue to play its part in delivering quality service to its customers. To achieve that, however, he called on the entire membership to be more proactive by broadening their competitive and business skills. “We need to have the people with the business minds so that we can drive the sector,” Joseph said. “In my acceptance speech for my re-election as President, I let the drivers know that we cannot sit down and look for crumbs. We need to be a little more vigilant and put our monies together and go out there and get value for money.”

St. Lucia Distillers, the sole distillery in Saint Lucia and manufacturer of award winning rums, is excited to reveal “Celebrating our Caribbean Passions”, a special Chairman’s Reserve collector’s item that marries the brilliant art of Llewellyn Xavier with the finest Saint Lucian Rum. Since its birth in 1999, Chairman’s Reserve rum has solidified itself as one of the best rums in the World! This unique, handcrafted rum blend was personally selected by the then Chairman Laurie Barnard and is a combination of aged Pot Still and Column Still rums. With its amber colour, the pot still richness comes through on the nose with sweet honeyed fruit and spicy vanilla from the oak. Llewellyn Xavier OBE, is a Saint Lucian born artist whose art is being held in the permanent Collections of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C.; the Museum of Modern Art, New York; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York and The Victoria and Albert Museum, London; just to name a few. He is a multi-media artist, environmentalist, president and founder of the Saint Lucia Sculpture Park Foundation and is seen as St. Lucia’s pre-eminent visual artist. Well known for his oil paintings, Llewellyn’s work radiates brilliant palettes which are inspired by the Caribbean and its environment. This special edition of Chairman’s Reserve rum, produced by St Lucia Distillers, celebrates Saint Lucia’s tradition and passion for the arts. The bottle artwork was conceived by Llewellyn Xavier, whose colourful vibrant works reflect the brightness and vitality of his native homeland. As this unique piece is “Celebrating our Caribbean Passions” this limited edition bottle is a wise blend of art and fine rum, making a great collector’s item for everyone.

Llewellyn Xavier - Artist BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

YOUTH IN FOCUS

30 Under 30 Winners Represented at Young OECS 30 UnderOECS 30 at Young Leaders Winners of the Americasrepresented Initiative Leaders of the Americas Initiative

Johanan Dujon, Shane Javed Browne and Janeel Boon Receive Hands-On Business Training Three OECS 30 Under 30 winners have been selected to participate in the 2018 cohort of the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Professional Fellows Programme which builds linkages between young leaders across the hemisphere. YLAI addresses the opportunity gap for youth by empowering business and social entrepreneurs with the training, tools, networks and resources they need to transform their societies and contribute more fully to economic development and prosperity, security, human rights and good governance in the hemisphere. Shane Javed Browne and Janeel Boon of Saint Kitts and Nevis; and Johanan Dujon, of Saint Lucia are currently immersed in a the YLAI Professional Fellows Programme – a 5-week course for entrepreneurs, funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The three OECS entrepreneurs attended the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative 2018 Launch in Detroit, Michigan on September 20, 2018 where they were able to meet over 200 other promising leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean. All three have now been transferred to the various states within the United States where they have been paired with select businesses to expand their leadership and entrepreneurial skills and network through skills-building workshops and opportunities to learn from and exchange with U.S. counterparts. Shane Javed Browne noted the care that was placed in pairing participants with relevant businesses to ensure an effective learning experience. “We are all paired with businesses that are similar to what we do at home. I am quite lucky in that I will be attached to 4 different businesses.” “There is so much to gain and learn from this experience. I am looking forward to working together as a team to research and find new ideas and concepts to expand our businesses and take them to the next level,” Browne commented. Johanan Dujon Johanan Dujon from Saint Lucia is the Founder and Managing Director of Algas Organics, the Caribbean's first indigenous agriculture biotechnology company. Algas Organics uses Caribbean plants to formulate environmentally-friendly agricultural inputs, which are designed to improve crop resilience and increase yields without harming their users or damaging the environment. Johanan is partnered with Little Rock Urban Farming (LRUF), a community based food enterprise located in the heart of Little Rock, Arkansas. LRUF specialises in the production of organic fruits, vegetables, herbs and cut flowers for local markets, and is dedicated to urban organic food production. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Shane Javed Browne Shane Javed Browne from Saint Kitts and Nevis is the Founder and CEO of the retail store SKN Village. Dedicated to satisfying the fashion-forward style of millennials, SKN Village offers trendy gear at affordable prices on an online shopping platform. Shane is partnered with Do Good Co., a nonprofit lifestyle store in Kansas City that offers curated home furnishings and apparel. Through donations and purchases at this innovative retail concept store, patrons make a direct impact in the lives of thousands of homeless pets and children in need across the Kansas City community through the KC Pet Project and KidsTLC. Janeel Boon Janeel Boon from Saint Kitts and Nevis is the CEO of Boon's Computer Repairs, a company that aims to provide computer services and educate community members about the computer world. Janeel is partnered with NWG Solutions, Charlottesville’s new breed of computer repair and managed IT services. NWG offers critical care for computer networks quickly and efficiently, day or night. The YLAI Professional Fellows program concludes on October 23, 2018 in Washington, D.C. The participants will then join the more than 500 alumni of past YLAI Professional Fellows Programmes who maintain a cohesive network across Latin America and the Caribbean to support each other’s efforts to improve their own ventures, share best practices, and collaborate to reduce the opportunity gap and contribute to economic prosperity in their communities. About the Youth Leaders of the Americas Initiative The Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) empowers entrepreneurs to strengthen their capacity to launch and advance their entrepreneurial ideas and effectively contribute to social and economic development in their communities. This programme is open to young entrepreneurs 25-35 years of age, selected for participation via a competitive application process. About the OECS 30 Under 30 in Entrepreneurship Initiative Through its Youth Empowerment Strategy (YES), the OECS Commission launched its 30 Under 30 in Entrepreneurship initiative which recognised thirty young entrepreneurs under the age of 30 as examples of youth success in the region. Winners would form a cohort for business support by the OECS Competitive Business Unit; receive mentorship to aid their professional and business development; receive technical assistance; and be assisted in sourcing markets and financial assistance.

CDB Hands Over Gender Socialisation Curriculum &Training Kit to UWI

“With Her: A Skilled Girl Force”, International Day of the Girl

CDB hands over Gender “With Her: A Skilled Girl Socialisation Curriculum & Force”, International Day Training Kit to UWI of the Girl Successfully addressing gender inequalities in the Region will require incorporating gender strategies in the educational system, especially at the early childhood level. Research has shown that children start to develop and exhibit stereotypical behaviour and perceptions from as early as five years old. These are not biological, but rather, socially constructed, and form the foundation for attitudes and behaviors throughout later life. To address the issue, in 2015, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), partnered with the University of the West Indies (UWI) School of Education, Cave Hill to develop the curriculum for a module entitled Introduction to Gender Socialization in Early Childhood Education. On Tuesday, September 25, 2018, Daniel Best, Director of Projects at CDB, officially handed over the curriculum to Professor Joel Warrican, Director, School of Education, UWI, Cave Hill. “Gender equality is a cross-cutting theme across all of CDB’s work. We are particularly pleased to have been part of this project, as we recognize that gender can impact teaching and learning outcomes in the classroom. It is our hope that the curriculum, along with accompanying training kit, will create awareness, knowledge, skills and a behavioural shift among early childhood practitioners when it comes to gender socialisation among our young citizens,” said Best. A 2015 survey of early childhood development practitioners in the Eastern Caribbean revealed that while 43 percent had obtained high school level education, only 13 percent have certification in early childhood development, revealing a need for targeted gender training. The module introduces practitioners to gender issues in the classroom and provides guidelines on how to create gendersensitive learning environments and instructional material. A complementary training kit contains practical tools and resources. The module and training kit have been incorporated as part of UWI Cave Hill’s ongoing Bachelor of Education Programme in Early Childhood Education and Care. The development of the curriculum and training kit was done through CDB’s Basic Needs Trust Fund Programme (BNTF). The curriculum was piloted in a number of public and private daycare centres, preschools and primary grades across the Caribbean, with a focus on facilities supported by the BNTF, CDB’s flagship poverty reduction programme. Additionally, UWI will oversee the adoption of the curriculum within relevant teacher education programmes in the Eastern Caribbean at the certificate, undergraduate and graduate levels. The training kit will also be distributed across the Region, to early childhood development practitioners and education specialists.

Countries in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States are being called on to work alongside all girls to expand learning opportunities, chart new pathways and rethink how to prepare them for a successful transition into the world of work. This is as the region joined the global community in observing 11 October as International Day of the Girl. Under the theme, “With Her: A Skilled Girl Force”, International Day of the Girl marked the beginning of a year-long effort to bring together partners and stakeholders to advocate for, and draw attention and investments to, the most pressing needs and opportunities for girls to attain skills for employability. United Nations agencies who joined in observing the day said while most girls in the OECS are going to school and staying in school, too many are still not getting the knowledge, skills and work habits necessary for lifelong success. UN Resident Coordinator for the OECS (A.i.) Dr Godfrey Xuereb said: “In order to address the challenges, the UN agencies are recommending that countries deliver large-scale public and private sector programming for girls’ education, skills and market-adapted training; improve the quality and relevance of teaching and learning to enable girls to develop the foundational, transferable and job specific skills needed for life and work; and increase girls’ participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) learning.” The UN RC also called on countries to: ‘Challenge stereotypes, social norms and change unconscious bias in relation to gender roles to enable girls to have the same learning and career opportunities as boys; empower, motivate, encourage and create the space for girls and young women to consider careers in the growing digital world of work; and to create initiatives to support girls’ school-to-work transition, such as career guidance, apprenticeships, internships and entrepreneurship education.’ Of the 1 billion young people – including 600 million adolescent girls – that will enter the global workforce in the next decade, more than 90 per cent of those living in developing countries will work in the informal sector, where low or no pay, abuse and exploitation are common. Young women are often found in the most marginalized segments of the informal economy with fewer assets, greater risks and lower income. The most disadvantaged girls – those in rural areas and humanitarian settings, and those with disabilities – have even less access to decent work. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Saint Lucian Keithlin Caroo Combines Agriculture, Technology & Gender Equality

ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS

Saint Lucian Keithlin Caroo Combines Agriculture, Technology & Gender Equality By James Ellsmoor to leverage technology and fill gaps in the agriculturalfood-tourism system – led by rural women. James Ellsmoor: What an important project! Can you start by telling us why you believe it is so important to focus on women farmers? Keithlin Caroo: Thank you so much, James! For me, the importance of this project started when I was a child. My grandmother worked alongside my grandfather as a farmer but when I found my mother’s birth certificate, I noticed that my grandmother had listed herself as a housewife. I was shocked. I had witnessed her waking up alongside my grandfather at 3:00 a.m. to work on their farm and then at 10 a.m. head to the market to sell their produce. I never forgot that -- and when I met other female farmers who would lament that they were boxed out of commercial markets because everything was under their husband’s name, it reminded me of my grandmother. I had seen situations where a spouse passed away and though the wife, in reality, was his business partner and co-owner of the farm, she would have to start from scratch and get recertified as a farmer. Furthermore, there is an overall problem with gender parity in the workforce: the rate of unemployment in St. Lucia is higher in women than men, but two-thirds of women are small-business owners and, even then, more men are given access to financial markets in the form of loans and grants vs. women. I see this disparity reflected in the agricultural sector. Most people do not regard women as farmers and ultimately leave them out of commercial markets. I believe that with our project we can push rural women to the forefront of modern agricultural techniques and give them greater value in the sector. As part of the Island Innovation series, James Ellsmoor interviewed Keithlin Caroo, founder of Saint Lucian non-profit, Helen's Daughters. This NGO has a special focus on rural women’s economic development through improved market access, adaptive agricultural techniques, and capacity-building. Helen’s Daughters was formed in 2016 in a winning proposal for UN Women’s Empower Women Champions for Change Program. The non-profit has focused on capacity development in the form of skills and business development workshops for rural women as well as partnering with a team of Engineering students from the University of British Columbia to Saint Lucian women farmers in an innovative project on Humanitarian Engineering that matches technical expertise with on-the-ground agricultural issues. Keithlin and her team are establishing a social enterprise solution BusinessFocus

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JE: Saint Lucia is heavily dependent on tourism, but much of that benefit goes to the foreign companies that own the hotel infrastructure. How can projects like yours ensure more direct benefit to local people? KC: Our agri-tourism project has been long overdue. Before tourism, agriculture was the bedrock of St. Lucia’s economy -until the 1990s when preferential treatment ended and Caribbean bananas had to compete with Latin American bananas (backed by multinational corporations). At one point, bananas were injecting $15 million a week into St. Lucia’s economy, and St. Lucia was known as the banana capital of the Caribbean. Although we specialized in one crop, it shows that with the right market, proper linkages and capacity development, we can supply the tourism sector with fresh, local produce.

Right now, we have one hotel that is importing $10-15 million in nine different crops that can be grown on island; the reason for this is that our farmers are disorganized and lack awareness of market demands, price and certifications. With our project facilitating the process, hotels can get access to the farmers without the hassle of sourcing individually. It would be similar to the banana model where Geest Ltd.’s Caribbean Shipping Line was the distributor, transporter and external marketing agency for Saint Lucia’s agricultural exports. I truly believe that we can marry the tourism and agricultural sectors to support each other. JE: What is your favourite thing about Saint Lucia? What would you like readers to know about your country? KC: There are too many things to count. The multiculturalism, the warmth, the natural beauty --but it’s the people that you fall in love with. It’s sometimes sad that most look at St. Lucia only as a tourist destination but it’s so much more than that. The innovation and perseverance of my people never cease to amaze me. Many of my friends have gone on to promising careers, whether traditional or not, but St. Lucians believe in making a mark. After all, we do have two Nobel Laureates, Sir Arthur Lewis and Sir Derek Walcott. I think everything we do, we do it with passion -- from music to the arts to business. JE: How are you incorporating technology into a traditional industry like agriculture What are the challenges? KC: We are incorporating technology into agriculture using three tiers: 1. An information programme that could update farmers regularly on market demands, farming needs and weather; 2. An integrated voice response system that could send agricultural updates via mobile phone to farmers islandwide; and 3. A website that allows hoteliers to easily purchase goods from the farmers registered in the programme We engaged the company Mesur.io, developers of a soil sensor (Earthstream) that provides data technology to farmers. Each farmer would receive a sensor, the data collected from these sensors would be sent to a central hub where we would use the information to formulate best practices that would be translated into our local language and then subsequently transmitted to the farmers via their cellphones.

energy sectors. I’m already seeing it with the creation of Algas Organics, the first biotech company in the country that converts sargassum seaweed into organic fertilizer. I honestly believe that in the next ten years the Caribbean will be at the forefront of agro-tech and renewable energy innovation and I’m excited to be a part of it! JE: What’s next for you? What are your biggest ambitions for Helen’s Daughters? KC: Right now, my main focus is this agri-tourism project. I honestly won’t stop until I see a way to make these two sectors work together; even if it impacts ten farmers or tens of thousands, it would make a drastic change in the lives of rural folk and I’m fully committed to that. Also, I hope to make my own farm one of the first smart-farms in the Caribbean region. I hope that by doing this we can also open up other avenues in tourism such as education and research. That way, rural districts such as Babonneau, where I’m from, are also able to directly benefit from the tourism dollar. I hope that St. Lucia can transform itself into an island at the forefront of smart agriculture. JE: What would you recommend for readers wanting to learn more about Saint Lucia? Can you suggest any books or films? KC: I would recommend watching a documentary called “Who Are You”, directed by Darnel John, which gives an overview of our cultural and natural heritage. Also, I would recommend picking up “Omeros” – it’s a true gem written by Derek Walcott. Of course, I think the best experience is the experience itself. I would encourage others to visit St. Lucia not only for its natural beauty but for its human capital. There is a lot of untapped potential in the country and if you’re looking to invest in our human and social development, we would welcome you with open arms! James Ellsmoor: Congratulations on all you have achieved. I cannot wait to see where this project takes you! (First published in Forbes, September 2018)

The biggest challenges would be to bargain for reduced cellphone usage rates so that farmers could afford to call for agricultural information. Another challenge is the translation of the messages into Creole and ensuring that they are relevant and timely. I think the final challenge is proving to hotels that we are reliable suppliers. Many hotels may not be open to the idea, especially if they have previously had negative experiences sourcing from local farmers. Finally, Helen’s Daughters will be taking charge of quality assessment before the produce gets to the hotels and it will be difficult at first for farmers to understand the expectations of the hotels.

James Ellsmoor writes about entrepreneurship in "unlikely" places and want to change the discourse on where we see startup culture taking place. With experience working in the public, private & NGO sectors, he focuses on building innovation and improving sustainability in remote, rural and island regions. He is Director of Solar Head of State, a non-profit working with governments in the Caribbean and Pacific regions to raise awareness of renewable energy through high profile solar installations and associated publicity campaigns.

JE: There is a strong dependency on tourism for the Saint Lucian economy. What other sectors do you think provide the biggest opportunities for the country?

Ellsmoor has worked and traveled in over 50 countries and his experience ranges from keynote speeches on innovation to working at international climate change negotiations.

KC: I think currently the push for the Caribbean to be a ‘climatesmart zone’ has opened a myriad of opportunities in the tech and BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Preventing the Propagation of Invasive Agricultural Produce in the Eastern Caribbean ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS

Preventing the Propagation of Invasive Agricultural Produce in the Eastern Caribbean Dr. Jules commended the assistance of USDA/ APHIS in building capacity to protect the region from pests over the past ten years and expressed full support with regards to this new sensitization campaign. “I wish to further note the pioneering work done in support of our science-based systems to enhance regional biosecurity and the strengthening of regional and national pest mitigation activities to facilitate and enhance international trade of agricultural commodities through a collaborative process. “We strongly support the traveler outreach programme and would like to see the programme implemented in all ports of the OECS. We look forward to continued collaborative working relationship with the USDA/APHIS that will redound to an improved quarantine and pest management infrastructure in the region,” Dr. Jules said.

USDA/APHIS, the OECS Commission and Saint Lucia authorities are working together to implement the "Don’t Pack a Pest Outreach Programme". The programme provides a platform for participating countries to increase the traveling public’s awareness of the risks associated with carrying food and agricultural items throughout the region and is an essential component of safeguarding agriculture and natural resources. It is suggested that 98% of the entry of pests results from passenger traffic, which has been on an upward trend over the years, given the growth of the tourism industry and an increase in regional travel. With increased activities in the trade and tourism sector in the region, the risk of introducing potential invasive species also remains a major concern and raises a question on the institutional and technical capacities to control and manage pests to protect the environment and ensure the economic wellbeing of citizens. Acknowledging the need to address that issue, a delegation from the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) paid an official visit to the Director General of the OECS Commission Dr. Didacus Jules recently to discuss the implementation of the Don’t Pack a Pest Outreach Programme and the continued collaboration with the OECS on matters related to regional plant health safeguarding activities such as export certification, the regional plant quarantine principles and procedure training course and the exchange of electronic phytosanitary certificates through the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) electronic hub. Dennis Martin, Director of Safeguarding Initiative for the Greater Caribbean, and Renita Sewsaran, Agricultural Scientist, presented the Programme which seeks to draw traveller’s attention to the risks of transporting agricultural produce which may harbour pests in countries of the Eastern Caribbean. BusinessFocus

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As a matter of fact, USDA/APHIS and the OECS Commission have been maintaining a 10-year working relationship under which major projects advancing the management of pests have been implemented: • • • • •

The annual training of plant quarantine officers at the University of the West Indies The training in pest surveillance and the development of a manual for use by technicians The training in pest risk analysis and pest prioritization and the establishment of risk analysis labs in Saint Lucia, Dominica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines The training in the development of a national pest list for the facilitation of a regional one and the development of a manual for technicians The supply of digital imaging microscopes linking the region to the Caribbean Pest Diagnostic Network

Besides the aforementioned initiatives, Dr. Jules further emphasized the urgency for assistance to enhance export certification and inspection services, develop an electronic phytocertification system, support and mentorship to countries that are not equipped with the pest risk analysis laboratory facilities and to implement a phyto-sanitary capacity evaluation and strategy for the Eastern Caribbean. These areas are new opportunities to deepen the existing partnership between both organisations. The delegation of USDA/APHIS and the OECS Commission furthered this official visit to other key stakeholders whose participation will be decisive for the successful implementation of the Don’t Pack a Pest Outreach Programme in St. Lucia. Among them were the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health of the Government of Saint Lucia, Research, Plant and Animal Quarantine, Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) and the Customs & Excise Department.

Agriculture Ministry Encourages Small Ruminant Production

Agriculture Ministry Encourages Small Ruminant Production The Ministry of Agriculture is working to improve the production of small ruminants on the island. Veterinarian and Animal Husbandry Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Daryl Best, said increased production will provide consumers with healthier local options, while boosting the income of farmers. “We want small ruminants to be available on the market, as are local eggs, poultry, and swine," Dr. Best said. "People want to know that they’re buying local products. We want to be at a point where we are producing enough local goat meat to have a good percentage of the market share, and we’re not there as yet. "We need to have more farmers producing and selling. That’s why we, through the IBSA fund are introducing new techniques and technologies and animals, so that we can give the farmers the tools to perform.” Of the small ruminants currently in small-scale production, Dr. Best said the ministry hopes to increase the production of sheep and goats. “We are actually sufficient on table eggs – the only time it runs out is during Christmas because there is high consumption," he said. "We’re doing well with poultry meat and swine. So our next flagship commodity is sheep and goats, and we are trying to get a foot in the door as they say.” He explained that the untapped market can be easily harnessed by newer farmers with minimal inputs. “I met a farmer about a year ago and he had three animals. By the end of the year he had about 12 animals and was already selling meat, so there are new young farmers coming on stream who want small ruminant production to grow in Saint Lucia. There are also backyard farmers. Once you have at least three females, you’re considered a farmer. So there are a number of people with small backyard farms where they can maintain a small herd of probably 10 animals. It’s a simple, low input venture with a high output. So there is an avenue for younger people to come into the agricultural sector.” An increase in the production of local foods, including meats, will aid the reduction of Saint Lucia’s food import bill and improve food security.

The Trade Export Promotion Agency Encourages Organic Farming

The Trade Export Promotion Agency Encourages Organic Farming Jerson Badal, TEPA Director of Client Services Delivery, said organic produce widens an exporter’s market access and increases income. “Growing organic provides farmers with access to a greater market. For example, if you have two identical tomatoes in a US grocery store, one being organic, and the other non-organic, even with a higher price, the organic tomato, under current demand from millennials would move faster. And especially with small countries like ours that don’t produce a large supply, fetching a high price in niche markets is more important than mass production,” he said. While the certification process is expensive, TEPA is able to provide support for organic farmers. “The way organic certification works is that you have to prove to the inspection body that for the last two years you have not used any of the chemicals that fall outside the organic range,” Mr. Badal explained. “We have a few exporters here who are considering it, but it’s a process, because for many years Saint Lucia, which was heavily mono-cropped in terms of bananas, has been using pesticides that do not fall within that organic range. So you would have to stop using them for a period of two years before you could get that certification. “The certification is quite costly. TEPA has tried to assist farmers in the past and we are appealing to farmers who wish to go organic to come to TEPA to see how we can provide support. Officials are encouraging new agricultural entrepreneurs and younger farmers to adopt organic farming practices due to increased health benefits and a higher product value. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

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Nov/Dec

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Vision Express Team in Vieux Fort

Vision Express Team in Castries

Vision Express Team in Gablewoods

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Max and his Optical Lab Team BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Take advantage of the 12 months NO INTEREST Payment Plan with Vision Express and the Credit Unions.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Actions Agreed to Improve the Health of Women, Children and Adolescents Across Their Life Course

Actions Agreed to Improve the Health of Women, Children and Adolescents Across their Life Course Ministers of health from throughout the Americas have endorsed a series of actions aimed at ending preventable deaths among women, children and adolescents; ensuring their physical and mental health and well-being across their life course; and expanding enabling environments, so that no one is left behind. The Plan of Action for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health 2018-2030, adopted by the 56th Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), calls to address the immediate causes of preventable mortality, morbidity, and disability in women, children, and adolescents. The Plan also looks at the underlying determinants of these issues within the framework of rights, gender, life course, and cultural diversity in order to promote positive development, health, and well-being. The plan, fully guided by the themes survive, thrive and transform from the WHO global strategy on this subject, integrates several areas of work in order to build health and reduce health inequalities. The Plan was developed to address uneven progress in women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health in the Region, particularly between and within certain population groups. Indigenous, Afrodescendant, less-educated, poor, and rural groups, as well as some populations of women, children, and adolescents consistently suffer higher burdens of preventable mortality and morbidity. “While progress has been made in women’s, children’s and adolescent’s health in the Region, certain populations continue to suffer higher burdens of preventable mortality and morbidity,” said Dr. Andres de Francisco, Director of the Family, Health Promotion and Life Course Department at PAHO. “Given the knowledge and experience that we have developed in reducing overall mortality, we are now best placed to accelerate and expand achievements to include those that continue to miss out.” In order to ensure that this progress is more evenly spread, issues such as equitable access to health care, the provision of integrated health initiatives that involve families, schools and communities, and the development of policies to provide women, children and adolescents with opportunities to participate in their own health development, must be addressed. BusinessFocus

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The Plan establishes a series of overall objectives for the Region. These include equitable reductions in maternal and child mortality; a decline in early and unintended pregnancy; and an increase in the healthy life expectancy of women in the Americas. To achieve these objectives, the Plan proposes four strategic lines of action: • Strengthen policies to reduce health inequities among women, children, and adolescents, through the development of integrated health policies that understand how health inequities occur; • Promote universal, effective and equitable health and well-being throughout the life course, by ensuring that health interventions are forward-looking and build good heath into each life stage, within families, schools, communities and other social settings; • Expand equitable access to comprehensive, integrated, quality health services, with a particular focus on issues affecting women, children and adolescents; • Strengthen information systems for the collection and availability of disaggregated health data and statistics to develop more targeted and effective interventions. The plan also calls for investment in mechanisms that empower people, families, and communities to actively engage in the protection and promotion of the health of women, children, and adolescents, particularly those in situations of vulnerability. Some expected results of the Plan of Action are: • Infants under 6-months that are exclusively breastfed should increase from 30.5% in 2018 to 70% by 2030. • Most of the countries in the Americas will have a comprehensive school health program within the next 12 years. • At least 90% of women and adolescents of reproductive age should have their need for family planning satisfied with modern, quality contraceptive methods by 2030. • All countries and territories will have introduced HPV vaccine in their immunization schedule in the next decade.

‘Walk For The Cure’ Still Making Its Mark

‘Walk For The Cure’ Still Making Its Mark By Stan Bishop

CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank’s support for the fight against cancer continued with its seventh annual “Walk For The Cure” held simultaneously in Gros Islet and Vieux Fort on Sunday, October 7. Hundreds of walkers turned out for the early morning trek from the bank’s office in Rodney Bay to Pigeon Island National Landmark. The objectives of the walk, which was first held in 2012, are raising funds to assist people afflicted with cancer, raising awareness about the types of cancer, and encouraging healthy lifestyles. In 2012, nearly US$30,000 was raised regionally via the walk. In the years since then, nearly US$500,000 has been raised regionally and the funds have been given to cancer societies in territories where CIBC FirstCaribbean operates. “We’re very proud of this achievement and enthusiastic that we can continue to provide this level of support to cancer patients through organizations such as St. Lucia Cancer Society and Faces of Cancer,” said Carol Mangal, Senior Manager for Relationships, Sales and Platinum Banking – CIBC FirstCaribbean, at the conclusion of the northern walk at Pigeon Island National Landmark.

“We have people who cannot afford their doctor’s visits, so we pay for that,” said Dorothy Phillip, President of Faces of Cancer Saint Lucia. “There are people who cannot afford to pay for their medical tests, so we pay for those. There are people who need to travel overseas for testing and treatment, so we assist them.” Faces of Cancer hosts annual health fairs in four communities, offering free clinical breast exams. People receive free mammograms or ultrasounds, whichever the doctor performing clinical breast exams determine they need. Phillip said Faces of Cancer will launch its Oncology Patient Navigation Programme next year in partnership with the Caribbean Cancer Research Institute, targeting patients from diagnosis to the end of their treatment. The programme will be held in five Caribbean islands, including Saint Lucia. “By doing this, we hope to give everybody a fighting chance and reduce the mortality rate associated with cancer,” Phillip said. “We also have six lawyers based in Trinidad who will work pro bono with any of our cancer patients who need legal services.” According to the Ministry of Health in Saint Lucia, cancer accounted for 20% of total deaths in the country in 2014 and 2015, with breast cancer being the leading cause.

Mangal said this year’s walk was extra special due to support received from Massy Stores. The bank, she said, hopes to continue this inspiring partnership as cancer affects everyone in some way.

Cancers were among the top five killers between 2013 and 2015, with heart disease, stroke, diabetes and hypertension also making that list.

“Cancer is a disease that has and continues to affect us all in one way or another,” Mangal noted. “We hope ‘Walk For The Cure’ will continue to remind cancer patients, cancer survivors, their families and friends that they are not in this fight alone, but that all of us are rooting for them.”

“Breast cancer is ranked as the number one cause of cancer deaths among women in Saint Lucia from since 2006 and the trend shows that the numbers continue to increase,” said Acting National Epidemiologist, Dr. Michelle Francois.

Faces of Cancer Saint Lucia was formed in 2010 by a group of cancer survivors who work voluntarily to assist people with cancer. All monies donated to the organization go directly towards assisting cancer patients, particularly the unemployed and underemployed.

Dr. Francois said many of these cancers are preventable through lifestyle modification, such as decreasing alcohol consumption; quitting smoking; and having regular screening, early detection and effective treatment.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

before the end-stage manifestation of vision loss occurs, and the only way to do this is by regular full eye examinations. One patient’s comment on Glaucoma diagnosis “Thankfully it was spotted during a routine eye test, but if it had gone unnoticed, I could have gone blind, and that would have had a huge impact on how I do the job I love so much.”

Think About Your Eyes

THINK ABOUT YOUR EYES

Vision problems and eye disease can occur at any time, regardless of age, yet many people skip regular comprehensive eye exams. Your EYE HEALTH should be monitored by a Team of Caring Professionals (Optometrists and Ophthalmlogists) who keep a record of any changes in your eyes over the years and can ensure that any treatment is done quickly to prevent Vision Loss, wherever possible.

“Like so many people, my career is my passion, and it’s so hard to be able to imagine doing all the things I love to do if I couldn’t see.” Glaucoma As you no doubt heard this is “the silent thief of sight”. You quite simply don’t notice it is happening. But a full eye examination and checking for any build up of eye pressure with the correct diagnostic equipment and the starting : symptoms of Glaucoma can be detected by your Optometrist. Eye drops and later laser treatment, or insertion of a very very small stent tube to help drain the pressure can stop the build up of pressure and the vision loss which could have occurred without early diagnosis and treatment. Cataracts What is commonly referred to as a cataract is your lens starting to go cloudy and to harden. Many people are now opting to do refractive lens exchange surgery in the late 50’s and early 60’s while they are still fit enough for major surgery and before they suffer any vision loss. Lens replacement surgery, ether pre the lens going cloudy or as your vision starts to deteriorate, is now one of the most successful surgeries worldwide. Again the eye examination is your starting point and discuss your option of lens replacement surgery as a possible form of treatment.

Childrens Eye Health Children should always have their vision tested before going to school. Find an Optometrist specializing in Pediatric Eyecare. Lazy Eye can be diagnosed and treated. Shortsightedness in children can be hereditary and needs to be checked annually. In teenage years children, who are shortsighted, can benefit from wearing contact lenses.

Diabetes In St Lucia this is a major problem. Often the Optometrist can see indications of diabetes before this has been diagnosed.

Plus do you know about Keratoconus ( the cornea starts to grow to a peak)… this can start in teens years. Keratoconus needs careful monitoring and specialized contact lenses fitting, to help flatten the cornea.

Diabetic retinopathy is a serious effect of uncontrolled blood sugar levels. The blood vessels in the retina can burst and sections of vision can slowly be lost. Laser treatment is now available to seal these blood vessels, but the main criteria is control of your blood sugar, or more blood vessels in the retina burst and another section of vision is lost.

The solutions to “earlier years” eye problems are possible but step one is regular eye examinations to monitor and treat problems as early as possible. 80 % of learning in schools is visual. Ensure your child’s Eye Health is checked on a regular basis with Eyecare Professionals who work with children. Over 50 And Potential Eye Problems Like every other part of your body, your eyes suffer the effects of aging. The eyes muscles cannot function as well, so reading glasses are often needed to alleviate this problem. But, when you work with Eyecare Professionals who care about your eye health, then that eye examination can often see the start of problems, which if caught soon enough, mean you don’t lose your vision. Glaucoma, diabetes, macular degeneration, and cataracts— are all preventable causes of vision loss— but need to be detected BusinessFocus

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The control of diabetes is ALL about our diet and what we should and shouldn’t be eating. There is recent research and good results on the effects of regular fasting on helping to control diabetes.

Your Eyes are made up of so many tiny parts and often easily show problems in all parts of your body. So “Think about your Eyes” and book a regular Eye Examination.

Who Are You Really?

Who are you really?

Clinical Psychologist Sheds Light On Caribbean Identity By Stan Bishop Understanding and connecting with one’s identity in the truest sense was the focus of the 4th Annual Lady Marilyn Floissac Memorial Lecture held on October 25 at the Finance Administrative Centre at Pointe Seraphine.

During the discussion that followed, former Governor General, Dame Pearlette Louisy, said the lecture’s theme dovetails with a perennial questioning of the Saint Lucian identity for which many people either seek or dismiss answers.

The lecture, hosted by The UWI Open Campus Saint Lucia, pays tribute to Lady Marilyn, who served as Resident Tutor from 1982 at the former School of Continuing Studies of the University of the West Indies until her retirement in 1993. She died on October 14, 2014.

“The debate continues as to whether the creole culture is important,” Dame Pearlette said. “What we don’t seem to realize is that this is who we are; it is the creole experience which is manifested in so many ways: in language, the way we live, the way we talk, and the relationships we share with each other…For Independence in February, I’m sure we’ll have that same debate.” On the running theme chosen for Independence, “I Am Saint Lucia”, she said: “No matter how you look at it, the statement is asking you to do that kind of self-reflection and decide who we are as a people: what is it that distinguishes – if there is any distinction to be made – as a people.”

Dr. Dianne Douglas, Clinical Psychologist, from Trinidad and Tobago, delivered this year’s lecture themed “Who Am I? Embracing the Self and Answering the Call”, explaining that many people from the Caribbean still grapple with a deep self-hatred spawned by their triple history of slavery, colonialism and indentureship. “Because we were taught that we were inferior, we wanted to look like those who owned us once upon a time,” she said. “Sometimes, even though highly educated, we still carry those cultural injuries in our person and in our psyche.” Dr. Douglas noted that those affected by these scars need to heal and develop beyond that painful past so as to enjoy their variety of shades and not determine their value based on how those who once owned their ancestors thought them to be. However, she said many people allow socio-economic status to create separations: “If we don’t do it with race and ethnicity, we do it with class: high class, low class, grassroots and whatever else.” She added: “Sometimes right in front of us are models of persons that we can admire and respect. Maybe they’re living with honour and integrity. But we bypass them for what we see in movies and on television because we cannot like our own.”

Dr. Veronica Simon, Head of The UWI Open Campus Saint Lucia, said that during her tenure at the learning institution, Lady Marilyn encouraged students to capitalize on the opportunities distance education afforded them as part of the University’s outreach mandate. Those opportunities, she said, have fomented many positive spin-offs for the institution. “They helped to create a critical mass of graduates who, in turn, have been able to make their own investment into the continued growth of their alma mater,” said Dr. Simon. This year, The UWI celebrated a string of regional and international accolades, including placing among the top 5% of universities worldwide, having broken into the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings for the first time. It is now the only ranked institution in the region. There are over 25,000 recognised universities globally and THE ranked The UWI at 591 out of the 1,258 universities which made the list. BusinessFocus

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Health Tips For The Season

Health Tips for The Season By Dr. Minerva King

Here it is again, another Christmas Season when most persons think it’s the best time to be jolly, as another long year is reaching its end. For most, it’s a period to freely spend time with family and friends, conversing and indulging in favorite and special cuisine not typically prepared otherwise; ham, turkey, ginger beer, sorrel. The atmosphere is infectious with fun and laughter. We all long for those holidays where we can rest a little more without the guilt, “you’ve earned it” you may say to yourself, “what’s a little fun and indulgence and it’s the holiHealth days”. The Christmas parties, family luncheons, New Year’s family and hotel gatherings the endless food and drink, all the money spent, time and preparation for each occasion. All these and impromptu gatherings can derail your hard work achieved during the past year. Even the most disciplined of us may make one too many exceptions to our dietary and exercise routines. Some ways to keep on track and stay safe: 1. Planning is Everything Outline a schedule for those special occasions and family gatherings you will be attending and changes to your exercise regimen for the period. 2. Exercise This is very important and like most other things scheduling time consistently without gross deviation or breaking up physical exercise into smaller slots 15 -20 minutes at a time can keep you on track. If gym time is not possible; skipping, body weight exercises, squatting and planks can be done in your living room. Just keep moving – the more you move the more calories are burnt. 3. Food a) When attending family gatherings bring some healthy foods or snacks. b) Drink a glass of water before every meal or snack. c) Eat slowly the stomach takes 20 minutes to signal the brain that it’s full. d) Choose smaller plates and don’t top up. e) Seconds are not necessary: sometimes what feels like hunger may actually be thirst. f) Divide your plate: ½ colorful (anything green, yellow, purple, red, orange) BusinessFocus

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vegetables and fruits ¼ (white, beige, brown) carbohydrates ¼ protein (peas, beans, meat, fish)

4. Hydration a) Water is essential for most if not all cellular processes in the human body. The 8 glasses of water a day are only a myth. For maintaining normal kidney function in the tropics most persons need more. It is hot and we perspire frequently. b) A quick way to calculate your minimal daily water intake: Weight (pounds) divided by 2, then divided by 8 (ounces in a cup) = Cups daily Example if you weigh 160 lbs then you would need: (160÷2) ÷ 8= 10 cups Due to humidity and perspiration most times another 25%, that is another 2.5 cups should be added. Note: persons with kidney and heart disease may require less discuss with your doctor. c) Alcohol, Coffee and Tea all cause some degree of dehydration depending on the quantities ingested. Drink these in moderation and follow-up with water. 5. Alcohol a) All alcohol has calories, sometimes 3-4 glasses may sum up to a meal; these liquid calories cause possible inhibitions depending on tolerance levels and also alcohol has no nutritional value. b) On average it takes 24 – 48 hours to be completely removed from the body, exercising with alcohol in your system causes dehydration. c) Always have a designated driver. Don’t Drink and Drive. 6. Sleep a) Allotting 7-9 hours of sleep daily is essential for weight loss, muscle growth, cognitive development and concentration. Sleep rejuvenates the body. You may need less sleep as you age. b) Ghrelin, a hormone that is secreted when you are sleep deprived, increases your intake of food the following day usually high in carbohydrate content. c) Excessive sleep deprivation may cause poor concentration, fatigue, irritability, memory loss and effects mimicking alcohol ingestion. d) Don’t drive if you are exhausted. So the New Year will begin and with it those new resolutions of change, bigger and better plans for the new you. But most people never come close to realizing even 3 of their resolutions. Usually included in the top five is losing weight or eating healthier or being consistent with their exercise regimen. Don’t think it’s all or nothing for the season, remember moderation. There is no need to back track and stop procrastinating. Think positive, make that plan, 2019 is almost here – Happy New Year!!!! Dr. Minerva King is a St Lucian national and graduate of the University of Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba. She is a General Practitioner and Sexual Health Physician. She has been practising in St. Lucia since 2005 serving at the STI Clinic at the Victoria Hospital and her Private Practice with offices located at Gablewoods Mall, Sunny Acres, Castries. She can be contacted at gashamed@gmail.com

Save Lives By Practicing Fire Safety

Save Lives By Practicing Fire Safety By Stan Bishop

Increasing public awareness on the importance of fire safety continues to be a priority for the St. Lucia Fire Service (SLFS) and this year’s observance of Fire Safety Week provided another opportunity for the department to register the need for practicing fire prevention methods. Held annually in the second week of October, Fire Prevention Week serves as a crucial platform for the fire department to target the public by staging special activities aimed at preventing hazards via proactive measures, essentially preparing people for fire hazards and ways of mitigating them. This year’s theme was “Look, Listen and Learn – Smoke Detectors Can Save Lives”, which Station Officer Mabius Francis explained can be the difference between life and death. The fire department’s emphasis on the use of smoke detectors, he said, has been a perennial calling card given the usefulness of the device. “We’re encouraging homeowners to install smoke detectors,” Francis said. “Education is the best way to go at this point because legislation will not solve the problem. Of course, smoke detectors are costly and it’s almost impossible to enforce laws within homes with respect to safety. But we appeal to people’s intelligence to make the right decision regarding their investments and lives.” Francis said that, by law, business-places are required to have functioning safety systems in place. Part of the fire department’s mandate includes ensuring such systems are implemented. To achieve that mandate, the fire department conducts educational tours of facilities and carries out inspections to verify that business owners are complying with the laws. “We do see a fair level of compliance with businesses installing fire detectors and having fire extinguishers,” Francis said. “However, there’s much to be done and we hope that people become more compliant.” Culturally, many Saint Lucians engage in practices that give rise to brush fires. Burning garbage as a way of disposal is a common

practice despite there being a very sophisticated garbage collection system island-wide. These practices, however, come at a cost to health and destruction of property should these fires become uncontrollable. Slash and burn agriculture and charcoal-making are other serious issues that have implications, especially in densely populated areas. Quite often, the fire department is called on to quell fires that were underestimated by the people who started them. In many instances, it’s too late. Here are some basic fire prevention tips you can follow to be on the safe side. • Avoid the misuse of electricity. Many of the fires the fire department responds to are caused by homeowners providing a “branch” of electricity to a neighbour. However, this practice can lead to an overload of the system, especially if the home is wired for a specific capacity. • Avoid leaving lit candles and stoves unattended. Also, other devices that generate heat – clothes irons, cellphones on charge, standing fans, water heaters – should be disconnected if you’re away as heat generated from these appliances can become fires. • Avoid burning garbage outdoors. Instead, bag all garbage and make arrangement for it to be picked up by the garbage collection service. You can also try composting organic material. • Do not leave matches within reach of small children. • Store all flammable liquids in a safe, dry place. As part of activities marking this year’s observance of Fire Safety Week, the St. Lucia Fire Service visited various schools around the island to spread the fire prevention message to students with the hope that they can become agents for positive change. Students were urged to use the knowledge they gained to create slogans which they posted online for a chance to win prizes. BusinessFocus

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

World Bank to Aid Saint Lucia’s NCD Strategy

Caribbean Have Caribbean WomenWomen Have Highest Obesity Rates Highest Obesity Rates Caribbean women have higher obesity rates and a high risk of developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), according to studies conducted by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

World Bank to Aid Saint Lucia’s NCD strategy Controlling chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Saint Lucia is a recurring issue for the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Saint Lucia has seen a consistently high rate of diabetes per capita, since 2007. Interventions by the Ministry of Health and Wellness to curb this trend is taking a new turn thanks to the World Bank. With USD$20 million in funding from the World Bank, the ministry hopes to complement its existing NCDs policy. The first component of the project is aimed at strengthening and improving public primary healthcare services and facilities to treat NCDs. Preventative measures will be incorporated into the implementation. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Felix St Hill, noted that NCDs are treated and avoided through lifestyle management. “We must be mindful that once persons have acquired the non-communicable disease then you have to treat it. But we are going to put much more emphasis on the avoidance of those diseases. So with the World Bank project, we are hoping that health promotion, health education and such services are distributed evenly, so that people are reassured through our nutritional and dietary services of the best lifestyles that they should keep.” St Hill said that non-communicable diseases can be prevented by making better lifestyle choices like reducing the amount of alcohol consumed and eating well. At present, these types of ailments are costly and are treated outside of the primary health sector. St Hill said the new project will reduce the number of patients in the health system and reduce the cost of treatment for NCDs. “Non-communicable diseases are affected by people’s lifestyles and can be avoided by making better lifestyle choices like reducing the amount of alcohol consumed and eating well. So it means that if you can take care of these at a primary level, you can avoid secondary and tertiary treatment.” The project will focus on three components: improving service delivery through a sustainable benefits package; strengthening the responsiveness of public health systems to address non-communicable diseases; and managing public health emergencies. BusinessFocus

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Being obese, places an individual at a high risk for developing NCDs, such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases, later in life. Non-communicable diseases and childhood obesity are priority health and economic issues for health officials worldwide. “Studies have revealed that women in the Caribbean have higher rates of obesity in terms of Body Mass Index (BMI) compared to men. They also have higher rates of abdominal obesity and are likely to be 3 times more obese than men,” said Dr. Virginia AsinOostburg, Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Director for Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control in observance of the Oct. 11 World Obesity Day. Obesity is a serious, chronic disease that can have a negative effect on our health. In a recent report, PAHO and FAO stated, “obesity and overweight are on the rise throughout the Caribbean and Latin America and are particularly prevalent among women and children. Realising that a whole of society approach is necessary to reduce the burden of obesity and diet-related NCDs, CARPHA continues to support its member states and other regional organizations in their efforts to minimize the impact of obesity in the Caribbean. Several initiatives are being spearheaded by CARPHA to address overweight and obesity in the Region. These include improving food and nutrition surveillance systems, and the implementation of activities associated with its Childhood Obesity Action Plan. Dr Oostburg further stated “We recently unveiled our 6-point policy package for healthier food environments during a CARICOM event at the United Nations High Level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). This initiative, which is aligned with the World Health Organization (WHO) targets for NCDs, includes mandatory food labelling, nutritional standards and guidelines for schools, and reduction in the marketing of unhealthy foods.” The theme for World Obesity Day 2018 was “End Weight Stigma”. On Oct. 11, CARPHA joined its member States and the rest of the world to raise awareness about this chronic disease, and the diseases associated with it. The lack of knowledge and awareness of weight stigma can have a negative effect on individuals and lead to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and suicide, thus undermining overall health. In this regard, CARPHA urged governments, community leaders, healthcare professionals and individuals to work together to create an environment that supports a healthy lifestyle. CARPHA encourages persons to follow a healthy eating plan, increase their physical activity by exercising daily, even if it’s moderately, monitor weight regularly and lastly, be consistent. Following these measures would go a long way in reducing the rate of obesity in the Caribbean.

BUSINESS FOCUS

EVENTS 2018/19 LOCAL AND regional entertainment, trade shows and conferences

ICC Women’s World Twenty20 2018 November 9-24, 2018 – Various locations The 10-team tournament, featuring three-time champions Australia, reigning ICC Women’s World Cup winners England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and defending champions the Windies, plus two qualifiers, will be played across three venues in the Caribbean. For more info visit: https://www.icc-cricket.com/worldt20

11th Annual Saint Lucia-Taiwan Partnership Trade Show November 23-25, 2018 – Golden Palm Events Centre, Gros Islet, St. Lucia The Trade Show will highlight a wide range of quality goods and services from Saint Lucia and Taiwan. In addition, businesses from both countries will profit from the opportunity to develop strategic trading and networking alliances. The Taiwanese contingent is keenly interested in seeking agents for the retail of their products.

Atlantic Rally for Cruisers 2018 Mid - Late November, 2018 – rodney bay marina, st lucia Organized by World Cruising Club, the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) is the largest trans-ocean sailing event in the world and regularly attracts upwards of 200 boats of many shapes and sizes. The journey takes between two to three weeks aided by trade winds and covers more than 2,700 nautical miles. For more information visit: https://www.stlucia.org/atlantic-rally-for-cruisers/

SLBS Understanding ISO 9001 Quality Management System November 28, 2018 – Bisee, Castries, St. Lucia Successful companies have been studied and the common elements identified are captured in a set of international standards known as the ISO 9000 Quality Management System series. A quality management system has been described as business common sense. It is a business improvement tool which provides guidance on good management practices. Training in a Quality Management System based on the ISO 9000 Series delves into the requirements of a quality management system.

5TH BIENNIAL CONFERENCE - The Future of Legal Practice in the Caribbean - Catalyst for Regional Success? December 13-15, 2018 – Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, Jamaica The 5th Biennial Conference will bring together over 300 hundred decision-makers, influencers and policy makers to hear interesting perspectives, find creative solutions, debate issues and make new connections. The 3-day event will be useful for the judiciary, the legal profession, government officials, law enforcement professionals, creative industry practitioners, regulators, banking and other private sector interests. For more info visit: http://www.ccjacademy.org/2018-5th-biennial-conference/

Caribbean Travel Marketplace January 29-31, 2019 – Montego Bay, Jamaica Produced by CHTA, Caribbean Travel Marketplace brings together hotel and destination representatives; wholesalers and tour operators; online travel agencies; Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) planners; and members of the media for several days of business meetings, including a busy program of thousands of pre-scheduled appointments. For more info visit: https://www.chtamarketplace.com/

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BUSINESS FOCUS

Major Moves

MAJOR MOVES

Insurance Property Development & Management Company (NIPRO) and St. Lucia National Conservation Fund. He also held the position of Senior Manager for Marketing at East Caribbean Financial Holdings (ECFH). Mrs. Raymona Henry-Wynne has been appointed to head the affairs of the organisation for a period of two (2) years, September 3rd 2018 to August 31st 2020. Raymona HenryWynne is an Administrator by Profession. Trained in the UK, she holds a Post graduate Diploma in Management (Banking & Financial Services), BA Hons. Banking with Economics and Law and a Master of Business Administration. As a teacher she tutored in Dance, and was involved in coordinating the Schools Marguerite Festival. She is a former dancer who also acted in the theatre productions. Her contributions to Arts and Culture have been as a member of the National Carnival Queen Pageant Committee. Her long association with the celebration of carnival goes back to the 70s from the influence of her father Claude “Buster” Inglis, who was a band leader in the 70’s and 80’s and continued on until 1999. Henry-Wynne has also judged several poetry competitions as well junior pageants over the years. She has worked as an Administrator at the Senior Level for the past 17 years coordinating the Operations and Human Resource Departments of Statutory Bodies and Private Sector Organization in Saint Lucia and the United Kingdom.

Roderick Cherry has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Invest Saint Lucia (ISL). Cherry has over twenty years of management and marketing experience, having served in previous roles with the National BusinessFocus

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Cherry, who holds an MBA in Strategic Management, currently serves as Chairman of the Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund. ISL’s Chairman, Pinkley Francis, expressed profound gratitude towards Cherry for assuming the role, adding that his wealth of leadership experience augurs well for the growth of the agency directly. He said Cherry’s expertise at targeted marketing will most certainly assist the team in its promotion efforts to attract sustainable investments that will advance Saint Lucia’s socio-economic development.

The constitution requires that the Chairman of the Board and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Commissioners represent the same member state.

National Taxi Union Lucien Joseph Elected President of National Taxi Union Lucien Joseph was elected President of the National Taxi Union in Saint Lucia in September 2018. Prior to being elected to his current twoyear term as President, Joseph served in that capacity for fifteen years, until 2016. He is a well-known advocate for better conditions for taxi drivers.

Fedee, Howard Elected Chairs of CTO, CTO Board of Directors Saint Lucia’s Tourism Minister, Dominic Fedee, has been elected to Chair the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) for the next two years. Fedee’s election came ahead of the official start of the State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC) at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas where the CTO held its annual general meeting on October 2, 2018. He succeeds Bahamas’ Minister for Tourism and Aviation, Dionisio James D’Aguilar. Meanwhile, Fedee has named the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority’s (SLTA) Acting CEO, Tiffany Howard, as Chairman of the CTO Board of Directors, in keeping with the CTO constitution.

Joseph’s journey in the tourism industry started with him working on a cruise ship for nine years, serving as dishwasher, kitchen steward, waiter, and satellite supervisor. He later worked as a taxi driver for about a year before serving on the board of Holiday Taxi Ltd., a post he has held for the past two decades. Among his plans for the Union are advocating for more incentives for taxi drivers and getting them to work closely to realize better returns.

Ryan Matthew has been appointed Director, Human Resources at Sandals Resorts International (SRI), effective October 1, 2018, which will see him holding responsibility and oversight for SRI’s entire Human Resources portfolio, encompassing all resorts on all islands.

MAJOR MOVES After a successful career in the airline industry, Matthew, a Saint Lucian national, joined Sandals in 2008 as Group Manager, Training and Service Standards before returning home to take up the role of Operations Manager at Sandals Regency La Toc after a short stint at the then Sandals Grande Ocho Rios. He is currently pursuing an MBA with the Edinburgh Napier University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He has also pursued numerous professional training opportunities, including courses with the Disney Training Institute, the Project Management Institute, the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute and the Mona School of Business.

Saint Lucia Development Bank Appoints New Managing Director Vincent Boland has been appointed the new Managing Director of the Saint Lucia Development Bank (SLDB), effective May 1, 2018. Boland brings a wealth of experience to the SLDB, having served in several senior management capacities at financial institutions both locally and regionally. Additionally, he is an affiliate of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and member of the Associate of the Institute of Canadian Bankers (AICB) – Financial Services.

Jade Brown joined the news team at MBC/ REAL FM on May 28, 2018, where she is now News Director and Anchor of “MBC Prime”, the nightly newscast. Her career in broadcast media at Helen Television Systems in 2013 as a ‘green’ news reporter with her sights on success, during which time she gave significant coverage to the successes and challenges faced by young people. She also worked closely with the Department of Gender Relations, shedding light on the plight of children in the foster care system. In 2015, Brown became a Senior Reporter and Co-anchor of the HTS Evening News. In 2016, she was appointed as Press Secretary to Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony, later becoming Marketing and Branding Manager at Rayneau Construction and Industrial Products Limited.

Neromus E. Monrose has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of the St. Lucia Development Bank (SLDB), effective August 2, 2018. He previously worked for PriceWaterhouseCoopers St. Lucia as a Senior Accountant and Senior Associate with PKF St. Lucia and led numerous financial audits and special business advisory engagements. He also assisted in supporting clients with financial investment management and developing business control processes to reduce business risk. In his capacity as the Head of Department (Finance) at the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards (SLBS), he was responsible for planning, budgetary management and directing the all financial operations of the SLBS, along with ensuring adherence to regulations such as the Finance (Administration) Act, Standards Act of St. Lucia and Metrology Act of St. Lucia. He brought the SLBS’ Financial Statements up to International Reporting Standards.

New National Competitiveness and Productivity Council Members Appointed in Saint Lucia The Government of Saint Lucia, on September 20, announced new members for the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC). Productivity and competitiveness remain top priorities for the Government and the members are fully committed to building on the successes of the previous Council as well as birthing new approaches and initiatives towards the continued enhancement of national productivity and competitiveness levels. Heading the Council is Gerard Bergasse, Island Manager for St. Lucia Tropical Shipping. Bergasse is an active member of the St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce and has also served on the Boards of the St. Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) and the National Insurance Corporation (NIC). The other members of the Council are: Private Sector: • Brian Louisy, Executive Director, Chamber of Commerce • Nicholas Barnard, Managing Director, St. Lucia Linen Ltd. Public Sector: • Jemma Lafeuille, Acting Director, Research and Policy, Department of Finance • Nancy Francis Charles, Director, Investment Coordination Unit, Department of Commerce Trade Unions/Employers: • Cyprian Montoute, President, St. Lucia Civil Service Association and Vice-President of the Trade Union Federation • Dr. Malcolm Charles, Chartered Management & HRD Consultant, Director & Past President of the St. Lucia Employers Federation Academia • Theodora Sylvester, Lecturer at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College BusinessFocus

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BUSINESS FOCUS

Contact:

NEW COMPANY REGISTRATIONS COMPANY

NATURE OF BUSINESS

DIRECTORS

Air Sunshine Ltd.

Airline Services

Mirmohammad Adili

Angel Inc.

Holding and Investment

Lisa Kessell Linda Daher

Asia Joy Limited

Imports and Exports, Footwear, Clothing, Perfumes, Household Items, Liquor, Dry Goods

Deepak Punjabi Dilip Mohan Khushalani

Beautiful Properties Ltd.

Real Estate, Development and Mortgage Services

Adrian Dolcy Cleophus Daniel Phillips

Better Living Health Ministry Inc.

Health Sanitarium, Health Store, Hygienic Vegan Restaurant

Marguerite Evariste Taylor Evariste

Blanco and Sons Company Limited

Landscaping and Farming, Heavy Equipment Services, Retail, Taxi and Touring

Nicholson Blanchard

Blue Escapes Ltd.

To provide Tourist Services and any other business generally permitted by law

Dan Florin Galesanu Catalin Cojanu-Calinescu Liliana Simona Cojanu-Calinescu Daniela Teodora Galesanu

Bugaboos Inc.

Property Holding Company

Laurent Poyen

Caribbean Island Limes Limited

Entertainment

Marva Paul

Caribbean Limes Limited

Transportation Services

Niameki Charles

Caribbean Security Softwares Inc.

To carry on the business of Computer Software development and provisioning of related products and services

Paul Ernest, Alena Marcellina Ernest

Comfy Home Ltd.

Sale of Household Goods

Caroline Chreiki

Concrete Designs Ltd.

Construction and Concrete Products

Daniel Cepal

Cre8 Event Planning and Management Solutions Inc.

Event Planning

Simone Teres Alleyne Foster Nee Roxburgh, Ryan Christopher Foster

E.M.R.S. Ltd.

HemoDialysis

Edmund Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brian Manoj V. Mathew

Edge Marketing Inc.

Advertising and Promoting, Mass Communication

Lisa Joahil

Feliz Tours & Consultancy Services Limited

Consultancy Services, Technical and Professional Assistance in the area of Immigration, to Tourists, Business Travelers, and Pleasure Seekers and Other Professional Services ancillary thereto.

Renin John Junior Francis George

Festiva Touring Inc.

Touring Packages and Events

Ervin Melville

HC Flambeau Inc.

Holding Company

HC Flambeau Ltd. Glitz Corporate Services Limited

Health Zone Ltd.

Medical and Diagnostic Center, Doctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Offices and Dr. Dharmendra Shah Pharmacy Sachin Narhari

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NEW COMPANY REGISTRATIONS COMPANY

NATURE OF BUSINESS

DIRECTORS

Henri Clem Holdings Inc.

Management Company

Erwin Juliana Louisy

JĂŠdonni Farms Ltd.

Agricultural Production, Manufacturing and Food Processing

Jeshurun J. D. Andrew

K & M Produce Ltd.

Exporting of Local Produce

Margaret Mandy Auguste Julian Kenson Auguste

Legal Care Inc.

To provide legal services

Sarah Flood-Beaubrun

Limers Gear Limited

Manufacturing

Marva Paul

Mars AC Cooling Inc.

Sale of Air Conditioning Units

Antonio Mars Chreiki

Ravine Doree Ltd.

Property Holdings

Niameki Charles

Ri-Mar Royalty Caribbean Inc.

Marketing and Distribution

Riyad Mohammed

ROKAM Suites Ltd.

Real Estate Sales and Development

PIF Corporate Services Inc. ROKAM Development Inc.

Shangri La Inc.

Boutique Hotel, Events and Venue Services, Conferencing

Anderson Albert Tarapasade

SkyTel Communications Ltd.

Telecommunications

Catherine Sealys Srinivasa Rao Kadeem Dr. Veeraprasad Makineedi

SLCT Holding Ltd.

Property Holding Company

Alisa Villa, Olmedo Villa

South East Enterprises Limited

General Construction Services, General Agricultural Activities, Real Estate Services

Wayne M. Jeremie

SQZ Inc.

Printing, Advertising & Marketing

Ricardo Velasquez Shara-Ann Velasquez

Talent Scope Inc.

Professional Employer Organization (PEO)

Goretti Julia Paul

Tan Quik Delivery Services Inc.

Sales of Dry Goods and Electrical Plumbing

Reminista Clement-Kawiche

Tet Paul Scenic Trail Ltd.

Nature Trail, Restaurant and Cottages, Farming

Maureen Fontenelle

The Fleet Management Company Ltd.

Fleet Maintenance

Martin Powlette

Travel Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Venture Inc.

Transfers and Excursion Services

Reminista Clement-Kawiche Emmanus Alfred Lester Anthony

Trois Femmes Artisan Products Limited

Importation, Production and Distribution of Artisanal Maxine Paula Nicholas Alcoholic Beverages and Food Products Michele Ince, Camilla Sukumaran

VTR Manufacturing Limited

Manufacturing Operations of the Retail of Toilet Tissue Paper, Kitchen Paper Towels, Napkins and other closely related Tissue Paper

Terence Gustave

West Indies Investment Ltd.

Tourism

Henri Riveti

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BUSINESS FOCUS ADVERTISER'S INDEX

COMPANY 1st National Bank Advertising & Marketing Services Anse Chastanet / Jade Mountain Atwell Dalgliesh Co. (St. Lucia) Ltd. Bank of Saint Lucia Baron Foods Best Rates 24 Hours Car Rental B & B Money Savers Budget Rent A Car Caribbean Awning Production Company Ltd. Chartered Professional Accountants (CAN) Coco Palm Resorts Cool Breeze Car/Jeep Rentals Dr. Ramos's Medical Centre EGS Freight Services Ernst & Young Ferrands Foods FICS FDL Pest Control FLOW Goddard Catering Grant Thornton Invest Saint Lucia J. E. Bergasse & Company Ltd. Kleydun Consulting Services Inc Lewis Industries Ltd. LUCELEC Massy Stores Mr. Auto Parts NAGICO North America Assemblies Northwest Ltd. Options Inc & Shamark Designs RASCO Rayneau Construction Reflections Restaurant at Auberge Seraphine Renee's Construction Rodney Bay Medical Centre Saint Lucia Air & Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) Saint Lucia Distillers Scotiabank SMJ Beverages ( St. Lucia) Ltd. SOL EC Ltd. Top Stone Fabrication Ltd. True Value Building & Hardware Supplies Ltd. Vision Express

Advertiser's

Index

Page 45 81 51 69 41 35 37 23 61 66 21 37 9 71 48 110 61 5 25 1&2 26 81 12 49 60 85 61 52 81 18 60 60 17 52 47 37 55 53 15 46 25 71 43 53 72 98

COVERS FLOW

IFC

Automotive Art

IBC

Harris Paints

OBC

BusinessFocus

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