St. Lucia Business Focus 94 by AMS St. Lucia

FLOW

No. 94

NOV/DEC 2017

CONTENTS FEATURE

38. Marketing and Promotions 40. Shop and Ship Early 41. Sharing Gifts 42. Sprucing Up For the Holidays 44. Refurbishing the Kitchen 46. Painting 48. Tiling, Refurbishing the Bathroom 50. Changing Or Installing A New Fence 52. Need Furniture For The Season 55. Coca-Cola Announces “One Brand” Global Marketing Approach 56. Shopping For Jewellery 58. Buying A New Vehicle For The New Year? 60. Hosting a Christmas Party for the Staff or Staff Lunch or Dinner 62. Catering For Christmas 63. Going Away for the Holidays 64. Christmas Safety 4. Editor’s Note 6. Business Briefs Governance Guru 8. Improving the Board's Involvement in Corporate Strategy: Directors Speak Out (Part 1) Leaders Corner 10. Hospitality Focus: Revenue Strategy Trends For 2018 Money Matters 12. New IMF Study Looks at Loss of Corresponding Banking Relationships on the Caribbean 14. CDB Unveils US$40.8 Million Plan for New BNTF Programme 16. International Financial Institutions to Review Lending Policy 18. LIAT Secures US$7 Million CDB Loan After Finances Take Hit From Hurricanes 19. Caribbean Export to Host Major BPO Conference on Attracting Business to the Region

Money Matters 20. Caricom Launches Online Platforms to Promote Regional Trade 21. Flow, C&W Business Back 2017 Business Month 22. Digicel Opens New Regional Hub in St Lucia 23. Whatsapp 'Delete For Everyone' Feature Lets You Unsend Embarrassing Messages 23. EU Re-launches Trade Export Website 26. J.E. Bergasse and Xerox: The Future Is Now! 32. The Christmas Season 33. The Cash In The Opportunities 34. Business Merchandising Must Reads 66. The Power of Candour Economy & Trade 68. Brexit and The Caribbean - The Next Steps 69. Prime Minister Chastanet Proposes New USCaribbean Trade Initiative 70. Caribbean Countries Urged To Monetise Intellectual Property 71. World Bank Supports Eastern Caribbean Transition To A Blue Economy 72. St. Lucia Set to Benefit as a RIM Destination 73. Key Report Taps Benefits of Offshore Medical Universities to Small CARICOM States 74. World Bank says Reducing Risks in the Caribbean Key to Spur Investment, Growth 75. Saint Lucia Slips to 91 in World Bank Doing Business Report 76. OAS and OECS to Co-operate on Development Issues 76. French Oil Company Total Makes Foray Into Guyana 77. Government Continues to Deliver on Tax Relief with Three Year Land and House Tax Exemption 78. ECLAC Wants Closer China, Caribbean Ties 78. ECLAC Revises Economic Growth Projections For The Caribbean

79. ECCB Governor Antoine Commences Second Round of Country Outreach Mission 79. IMF Projects Economic Growth for Some Caribbean Countries 80. Caribbean Investment Forum Puts Resilience Into Sharp Focus 80. Liberty Global Restructures, to Establish Latin American & Caribbean Operations In The Know 82. China Reaffirms Commitment to Caribbean, Latin America 83. Go Lean Or Go Home? Social Media Etiquette for Business 84. Flow Supports New Folk Research Centre Publication 84. CXC Signs Partner Agreement With ACCA Tourism 86. Sandals Foundation And CDB Supports Innovative Coral Restoration Project In Saint Lucia 91. Eastern Caribbean Islands Assure Cruise Lines of Readiness For More Calls 92. CTO Ranks Saint Lucia As The Second Fastest Growing Destination 92. Region Needs to Cash In on Heritage Tourism Market 93. Saint Lucia Records Yet Another Win For Tourism Education Health In Focus 94. Think About Your Eyes 95. Beyond Carrots - Other Foods for Healthy Eyes 96. PAHO Director Re-elected for Second Term 97. Diabetes Basics 98. Maintaining Positive Mental Health in the Work Environment 99. Events 100. Major Moves 102. Advertisers Index 103. NEW COMPANY REGISTRATIONS BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Celebrating Entrepreneurship and Caring for our Community!

Lokesh Singh Editor / Managing Director

BUSINESSFOCUS

COP 23 will be held in Bonn, Germany in November 2017 with most countries of the free world in attendance to discuss the topical issue of Climate Change and its resultant negative impact on the economies of the Small Island Developing States of the world.

Business Focus magazine is published every two months by Advertising & Marketing Services Limited (AMS), Saint Lucia.

The election of President Donald Trump in the USA has seen him since reject the Climate Change philosophy and stating that the USA will withdraw as a signatory of the Climate Change Agreement. This has caused major divisions across the USA with many States and public and private sector leaders denouncing this decision and stating that they will support the efforts to reduce Global Warming.

Graphic Designer: Tannel George | Carlisle Searles

Caribbean island nations have been at the forefront of this campaign, and with the recent devastation of the 2017 Category Five Hurricanes will be using this to highlight the negative impact of Climate Change in the Caribbean and the disastrous effect on our coastal areas and our means of earning a livelihood. The larger industrialised countries

of the world are being blamed for creating the negative conditions and resultant Climate Change. COP 21 in Paris, saw a consistent message from Small Island Developing States pushing the agenda for a reduction in Global Warming. Since then we have seen a major thrust of the Green Agenda worldwide with most countries exploring and implementing Renewable Energy initiatives and reducing their dependency on and consumption of Fossil Fuel. In St Lucia we have seen the recent launch of the first Solar Farm being implemented by the St Lucia Electricity Services Ltd. Many Corporate entities and private homes have since established similar Renewable Energy systems with demand on the rise. 2017 will go down in history as possibly the worst Hurricane Season in recent history. The impact of the two Category Five Hurricanes Irma and Maria has left a trail of death and unbelievable destruction across the region. The immediate response and level of support of the Caribbean people rallying in support of the most affected islands was truly overwhelming and amazing. It is that time of year when we usher in the festive Season of Christmas. It is a time of joy, sharing and giving and spending time with friends and family celebrating the spirit of Christmas in true St Lucian style.

Publisher/ Managing Director: Lokesh Singh - lokesh@amsstlucia.com

Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note

Advertising Sales: Cennette Flavien - cennette@amsstlucia.com Cleopatra Jules - cleopatra@amsstlucia.com Webmaster: Advertising & Marketing Services

Contributors: Lokesh Singh | Dr. Chris Bart | Olivier Bottois Kezia Preville | Brian Ramsey | Glad Taylor Dr. Celia McConnell-Downes | Lyndell Halliday Debbie Ransome | Claudia Gardner | Lisa Ellis Dr. Owen Day | CMC | Jamaica Observer | CARICOM Trinidad Guardian | Antigua Observer JEB Bergasse CHTA | FLOW | Digicel | OECS | Carib Export | CDB Editorial, Advertising, Design & Production: Advertising & Marketing Services P.O. Box 2003, Castries, Saint Lucia Tel: (758) 453-1149; Fax: (758) 453-1290 email: ams@candw.lc www.amsstlucia.com, www.stluciafocus.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.

Christmas for most of us in business â&#x20AC;&#x201C; is the best season for all of the good business reasons. It is the time when there is hype and excitement associated with increased spending and consumption. Be frugal and practical with your spending and also share and care for the less fortunate. As we close 2017, on behalf of the entire staff of AMS, we wish to thank you all for your support during the year and to offer our sincere best wishes for a great Holiday Season and a wonderful New Year. 2017 will be a year of new challenges and we will all be required to deliver our best efforts if we are to enjoy continued growth and success with our business initiatives. We wish you every success in your endeavours and look forward to our continued collaboration.

A Season For Good Business Reasons

Happy Reading! BusinessFocus

On The Cover

Nov/Dec

Windward & Leewards Brewery Ltd.

BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Business Briefs BUSINESS BRIEFS

BUSINESS BRIEFS World Council of Credit Unions

At a World Bank-convened High Level Meeting on Recovery and Resilience in the Caribbean, Mitchell echoed billionaire Sir Richard Branson’s September 17 call for a Marshall Plan to help the Caribbean recover from, and build back betterprepared for, annual flagellation from hurricanes and tropical storms. ¤

activates Caribbean Relief Fund

The World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) has activated a Caribbean Relief Fund to support Credit Unions that have been affected by Hurricane Irma that recently devastated sections of the Caribbean. According to the WOCCU, there are more than 10,000 active credit union members in Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands and St. Kitts Nevis – countries that felt the wrath of Irma, the most powerful Atlantic hurricane in recorded history. Unofficial estimates from the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions, a member of the World Council, indicate that approximately US$1.9 billion may be required for reconstruction in the affected countries. “It is through these difficult times that out global community comes together to show its strength and reach beyond borders to help those in need,” said Brian Branch, the President and Chief Executive to WOCCU.

Suggesting that Government seemed to have one eye on its fiscal and economic problems, and the other on the next general election, S&P lowered Barbados’ long-term local currency rating from CCC+ to CCC. And in giving the rating a negative outlook, S&P said this reflected “the potential for a downgrade over the next 12 months should the Government fail to advance measures to significantly lower its high fiscal deficit, strengthen its external liquidity and reverse its low level of international reserves”. In reaction, Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Eddy Abed was not confident Government would achieve the three targets. He urged the Freundel Stuart administration to urgently reconsider its stance not to approach the International Monetary Fund for help. ¤

Caribbean to Put US$5b to Climate Resilience

The WOCCU is raising funds through the Worldwide Foundation of Credit Unions, its official gift receiving and grant making arm. In addition to the Caribbean region, the foundation is raising funds to provide relief for those impacted by storms in the United States. Over the past four years, the foundation has delivered approximately US$1 million in aid to credit union organisations affected by natural disasters in the Philippines, Nepal, Ecuador. ¤

Barbados’ Creditworthiness Further Downgraded International rating agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) in early October downgraded the island for the second time in about six months. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Digicel Rebrands Its Home Entertainment Service

The home entertainment service formerly known as Digicel Play has been rebranded to Digicel. Director of Marketing for Digicel Caribbean Limited, Peter Lloyd said the move was about “simplifying our business to deliver the best and most amazing experiences and innovation to our customers as one single unified brand”. “Digicel has built up a 17-year legacy of success, so we’re excited to be streamlining all our products and services under one powerful brand as a total communications and entertainment provider,” he explained. Digicel said the rebranding exercise consisted of a seamless name change with no impact to customers. There were no changes to the rates, contracts, package structure or service.

The Caribbean Community (Caricom), of which Trinidad and Tobago is a founding and financial member, plans to invest US$5 billion to make the region climate resilient, current Caricom Chairman and Grenada Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell said Friday in Washington. A major part of the plan is to reduce fossil fuel imports, much of which, for Caricom, comes from T&T.

The company said while the names of packages would be changed to ensure simplicity and transparency, the purple colour that was once synonymous with Digicel Play will be changed over time to Digicel’s iconic red. ¤

Atlantic University School of Medicine students remain in limbo: report Students of the Atlantic University School of Medicine are still unaware when the institution will become accredited.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

A source close to the matter told OBSERVER media that many students are growing more anxious about the situation. The institution recently moved from St. Lucia to Antigua and Barbuda, reportedly, because the St. Lucia government was pressuring it to get accredited. Both St. Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda are members of Caricom. And, in Caricom, the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions or CAMHP, is the body that accredits medical schools, allowing graduates to practice in Caricom jurisdictions. The Atlantic University lacked this accreditation in St. Lucia and it hasn’t gotten it in Antigua since it moved here. The US body that certifies foreign medical graduates to use their degrees in the US is the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates – ECFMG. The body said it would not certify degrees from Atlantic University unless the institution is accredited in this jurisdiction.

represent them in the Caribbean Market. Island Promotions will be responsible for key regional markets, including but not limited to, Martinique, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados. Regional Tourism arrivals have seen significant increases in the past few years, and all three Bay Gardens Resorts properties benefit from this by providing an authentic Saint Lucian destination for both business and pleasure. Reporting directly to Senior Management, Marketing Consultant, Dinesh Daswani of Island Promotions will lead media and public relations, travel agent and tour operator management, direct consumer marketing and seek other valuable opportunities for the resort chain. Mr. Daswani is the former Marketing Manager for the past year and has been with Bay Gardens Resorts for over 3 years. ¤

Government Approved Concessions on Christmas Barrels to Start Earlier

OBSERVER media called Michael Browne, education minister, for an update on the situation but he did not answer our calls. ¤

Bay Gardens Resorts Hires Island Promotions The locally owned and operated awardwinning resort chain, Bay Gardens Resorts in St. Lucia, announced that it has selected the marketing consulting company, Island Promotions, to

On October 24th 2017 the Cabinet of Ministers approved the granting of concessions on barrels imported for the period 15th November 2017 to 31st January 2018. The concessions and conditions include: • 100% Waiver of Import Duty on personal items, food, clothing, toys

and other household consumables, contained in barrels imported between 15th November, 2017 and 31st January, 2018. Electronic items are explicitly excluded. • The number of barrels that would qualify for the concessions would be limited to two (2) per household. • There is an upper limit of EC$2,500 per barrel on the value of items qualifying for the concessions. • The items contained in the barrels must be for personal use only and not for commercial use. Usual penalties and fines apply if the goods are used for commercial purposes. Before a Motion to the House of Assembly on Tuesday October 31st 2017 for the waiver of Value Added Tax to facilitate the concessions, was approved, Prime Minister Hon. Allen Chastanet, explained: “In keeping with the spirit of providing good cheer at Christmas time, tax exemptions for goods imported in barrels by families during a specified period is considered. This year we propose to commence the barrel concessions two weeks earlier than was done over the past four years, but a similar period as in 2012/13 and with the same duration of twoand-a-half-months. The earlier period was intended to facilitate the ease of clearance of the barrels to avoid as much as possible the hectic Christmas traffic at the ports.” ¤

St Lucia Marketing Board and the Fish Marketing Corporation to be Merged The Cabinet of Ministers has decided that the St. Lucia Marketing Board and the St. Lucia Fish Marketing Corporation will be merged and the resulting entity will be funded through a public/private partnership. This was one of two options presented to Cabinet by a special committee appointed to pursue financially viable models of operation for the cashstrapped entities. Both entities have been struggling with their business operations for many years to be financially viable and have been heavily dependent on the Government Treasury to fulfil payment of significant debts incurred. ¤ BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Governance Guru Improving the Board's Involvement in Corporate Strategy: Directors Speak Out (Part 1)

Improving the Board’s Involvement in Corporate Strategy: Directors Speak Out (Part 1) By: Dr. Chris Bart, FCPA, F.CIoD Chairman, The Caribbean Governance Training Institute & Chairman, Caribbean Institute of Directors Recent research has shown that there is an increasing tendency for Boards to be more actively involved in helping to set the strategic direction of organizations. After all, the purpose of governance is to facilitate high quality executive decision making and thus improve organizational performance. Since strategy is one of the most important activities that a CEO and his/her executive team can perform, it would seem only fitting that this is a decision area in which the board should be quite involved. One way that a board’s constructive involvement in strategy has been operationalized is presented in Table 1. But what do directors think about their strategic role and what changes do they believe need to be made in order for the board to fulfill its fiduciary responsibilities with respect to good strategic governance? The Question Accordingly, I asked 183 directors: What are the three major issues facing boards as they attempt to constructively engage with their managements in setting the strategic direction of their organizations? The answers they gave were ultimately grouped into 13 major “strategic issue categories” which were ranked as follows: 1. A more formalized involvement with management in strategic planning 2. Setting standards for board education and the understanding of strategy and strategic decisions 3. Improvements in Board operation 4. Improved competitive analysis & external factors 5. Additional information on the firm’s current financial status and long term financial objectives 6. Presentation of strategic alternatives and the opportunity to review the choices rejected 7. Better interaction with senior management BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

8. The use of a third party facilitator in strategic retreats with the board 9. More discussion of the organization’s formal risk assessment 10. Having the Board meet independently from senior management to discuss the strategy 11. The need for independent experts to assist in strategic planning 12. Better analysis of internal strengths and capabilities 13. Improved dialogue with stakeholders (customers and employees) This article focuses on the top 4 issues and will save discussion of the remaining items for a subsequent issue of Business Focus. 1. The degree of formal input. Having more formal, structured involvement with management in the strategic planning process was the number one issue that directors identified in terms of improving their engagement with management. This is a particularly interesting finding since directors have Dr. Chris Bart, FCPA, F.CIoD is a recognized global governance authority and Co-Founder of the Caribbean Governance Training Institute. The Institute is the first to offer throughout the Caribbean an intensive 3 day governance program leading to the prestigious and internationally recognized Chartered Director (C.Dir.) designation. For more information visit CGTI’s website: http:// www.caribbeangovernancetraininginstitute.com/ or phone Lisa at 758 451 2500

recently been given – through regulation – new powers to be more actively involved in the strategic planning process, including approval of the strategic plan. The various individual comments indicated however that there seemed to be a number of factors adversely affecting the quality of the board’s “strategic interaction” with management. For instance, many directors complained that senior managers (especially the CEO) appeared to resent the new powers of the board into what was traditionally the latter’s exclusive domain. As a result, CEOs appeared to be trying to keep their board’s involvement to minimalist levels. Other directors wrote about how senior managers often simply failed to appreciate the role that the board could play in terms of bringing an unbiased and outside perspective to the organization’s strategy. “They like to say ‘trust me’ a lot or that we ‘don’t understand’ because we don’t fight in the trenches every day like they do” one director wrote. And then there were a few directors who suggested that their fellow board members were either entrenched in past practices or simply unsure of the correct level of involvement. Accordingly, they opted for taking a laissez faire, hands-off or “rubber-stamp” approach with the CEO. By way of a solution, many respondent felt that by making their involvement more formal – say as part of the board charter – it might help to reduce the tension, friction or confusion which some CEOs or directors have regarding the board’s proper engagement in this vital area. Many also commented on how it would be good to specify the exact nature of engagement in terms of “who does what” (along the lines of Table 1) in order to remove some of the fears that CEOs have regarding a board becoming too involved or micro managing – as well as to remind “laid-back directors” about the need for their engagement. 2. Setting standards for board understanding of strategy. The term “strategy” is an abstract concept with no universal or common definition. As a result, most directors have different interpretations of the word (and what constitutes a strategic decision) based upon either their previous MBA training or corporate strategic planning experiences. This does not make for good communication or facilitate understanding between the board and management – or even among the directors themselves. It was probably for these reasons that the directors in this survey cited “setting standards for board education and the understanding of strategy and strategic decisions” as their number 2 issue. “We need to make sure that we are all focusing on the truly strategic stuff” was a comment oft repeated among the survey respondents. Directors expressed unhappiness about how often they felt that they were “getting dragged into tactical issues” by either management or their fellow directors. They cited the reason for this as there being no common understanding of what they, as directors, were supposed to be concentrating upon. Or, as one director put it: “We need to figure out – or just simply agree - which issues are strategic decisions and which ones are not.” Many also commented that without some clarification and mutual understanding on this, a lot of board time was being wasted on matters that properly belonged to management. 3. Improvements in board operation. As the third ranked strategic issue, directors appeared to emphasize two aspects of board operations in particular. The first was the number of meetings devoted to discussion of the strategy. These were meetings over and above the one or two sessions (often a special retreat) in which the strategic plan was formally presented, considered and approved. Those commenting

on this issue felt that not enough regular board time was being given to this important board responsibility and most argued that some discussion of the strategy, including both its progress and obstacles, should form part of the agenda of every board meeting. A second major consideration regarding the board’s operations focused on the use of committees. Directors felt that since strategy was such a significant board responsibility, it should not be delegated to a committee the way other responsibilities (such as Audit or Compensation) are. Moreover, as one director also pointed out: “If the board is supposed to help set strategic direction, it’s critical that every board member participate in its development and understand the implications of the choices being made. The last thing you want to hear some director say six months after the strategy has been approved is: ‘I never would have done that’!” Accordingly, boards should see their role in strategy as something which is not delegateable. 4. Improved competitive and external factors analysis. The responses from the directors revealed that they appreciated how a solid understanding of their organization’s competitive/ external environment is essential for determining the appropriateness of the current strategy or any changes contemplated to it. Amazingly, in a few instances, some directors claimed that they were part of organizations in which virtually no information related to the competitive landscape – or trends in the political, economic, social or technological (PEST) sub-environments – was being presented to them. In most cases, though, directors were more concerned about the type and timeliness of the information they received. Many were upset that too little information was being presented especially the kind which might give them a better understanding of what their organization’s ‘value proposition’ relative to the competition was. And a number of directors mentioned how environmental information only seemed to get presented at the strategic planning retreat and then again as part of the final strategic plan presented for board approval. However, if ‘setting strategic direction’ is to be truly regarded as one of the board’s most important responsibilities, then giving directors information which would serve as a key indicator of the strategy’s ongoing viability should be continuous. The way forward In conclusion, the way to build better boards is by having better informed directors. So here’s the big, uncomfortable question for Caribbean directors: given the Big Four “strategic issues” identified above by your board colleagues, to what extent is your board experiencing them as well? If you think that there is room for improvement in the way your board addresses these issues, you might want to suggest that they consider going to one of the corporate governance training programs currently available in the region – like the extraordinarily unique 3 day Chartered Director Program (“C. Dir.”) currently being offered exclusively by The Caribbean Governance Training Institute. Over 500 Caribbean directors have attended this program to date (including all the Governors of the ECCB and the entire Government of Saint Lucia!) By attending programs like this one, your organization’s stakeholders would then know that their interests are being represented not just by individuals with successful track records in business, but also by men and women who have the governance qualifications - and the certification - necessary for effective board leadership and oversight of their organization’s strategic activities. After all, it’s not education which is expensive, but rather ignorance. ¤ BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Hospitality Focus: Revenue Strategy Trends For 2018

Volume 7

LEADERS'

CORNER

Hospitality Focus: Revenue Strategy Trends For 2018 By: Olivier Bottois My recent participation and training at the Marriott Headquarters in Maryland was quite enlightening as Marriott General Manager (GM) and revenue teams were getting ready to implement the new Marriott "OneYield2" revenue management program. It was the realization that the revenue sector is moving fast and hotels can benefit from taking advantage of the new trends. The new approach with this updated revenue tool is to look now at the "average spend per stay" instead of the "average spend per night". With 30 brands, Marriott is the world hospitality leader and continues to expand at a rapid pace, leading the industry with the latest technology to enhance ROI (Return on Investment) for hotel owners. The technology that powers Marriott's revenue management system is constantly updated with the noticeable increased presence of automation. Automation increases revenue management efficiency and helps General Managers focus on driving profitability. Managers' time is better spent on strategy while logistics are automated and the system interpreting data. Clearly, revenue management strategies are now driven by a shift to profit management. A focus on profit is becoming prominent as revenue managers move away from reliance on RevPar (revenue per available room) to GOPPAR (gross operating profit per available room) as the main key performance indicator. Hotel investors have been increasingly concerned about the rising costs of distribution and marketing, especially at smaller properties where fighting for market share in light of the new competition can drain profit margins. An increased focus on direct hotel bookings has been a priority for General Managers and their revenue teams in order to drive profitability. Brands such as Marriott and Hilton have done a great job increasing brand loyalty and generating return business. At some properties, one of the monthly goals for the front office team is to sign up a percentage of guests to the Marriott loyalty program if they were not members yet. Steering guests away from OTA's (online travel agencies) and building brand loyalty is recognized as an important part of hotel revenue strategies. Opportunities to market with the customer through direct communication channels has allowed hotel operators to upsell additional services, upgrades and promote special offers. A website "built for sales" is key reaching out to potential guests and directing them to book via the website. A strategic digital BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

marketing campaign must follow. It is important for hotel owners and operators, especially independent properties without brand support, to choose the right partner in that regard. In my experience working with a leading digital marketing firm in the US, I saw a return averaging 5/1 to 7/1 on investment. An investment that drives profitability by promoting direct bookings and avoiding 17/25% fees to OTA's. Smaller independent properties are especially affected often paying higher fees and not in the best position to negotiate. Airlines package boutique hotels that are expected to significantly drop their rates and profit margins. While OTA's are still a necessity the flow of business directed to them should be carefully balanced with other channels. Efficient use of customer data continues to provide great insight when making business decisions. Small independent properties should see the value of investing in data reporting and analysis tools as they help drive profits by learning the insights that efficient use of data provides. For several years access to such software was beneficial to the revenue turnaround of a remote boutique resort I managed and aligned with the big brands' successful revenue strategies. Online reputation will continue to be critical and a great tool especially for independent non branded properties to build brand advocacy at a time travelers value peer recommendations, and more likely to choose a hotel with great comments over price. Encouraging guests to share their experiences on social media with incentives and photo contests started a few years ago and now adopted as a best practice across the industry for the past few years. 2018 will continue to see a significant rise in mobile interactions and bookings. While the main hotel website will remain prominent, investing in a quality mobile website built for optimum performance, will become critical to drive direct bookings and for any hotel to be successful. Brands are ahead of the trends and growing at a rapid pace reaching out to independent property owners who see their revenues drop or stagnant year after year as new competition appears including Airbnb - that should not be underestimated. Revenue Management has become critical to any property's success. Digital marketing is no longer a luxury but a necessity to stay in the game. The choice of digital marketing partner is now more important than ever to increase performance and gain market share while retaining optimized margins. Running a successful and profitable hotel in 2018 will depend on a successful revenue management system and a team with the skill set to develop and implement strategies. The team's expertise will be even more critical if the property is not branded. Â¤ Olivier Bottois is a third generation French Hotelier with luxury hotel experience in six countries. Bottois is a Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and Leading Hotels of the World alumni, who led iconic, urban hotels and remote resorts in the US, Canada and the Caribbean.

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Issue date: November, 2016

MONEY MATTERS

New IMF Study Looks at Loss of Corresponding Banking Relationships on the Caribbean

New IMF Study Looks at Loss of Corresponding Banking Relationships on the Caribbean A new study examining the loss of corresponding banking relationships (CBR) in the Caribbean has found that global banks have reassessed their individual business models, deciding on different strategies in response to changes in the macroeconomic and regulatory environment that has lowered the expected profitability of correspondent banking. The study notes that given the various drivers, there is no “silver bullet” to solve the problem of withdrawal of CBRs and that coordinated efforts by various stakeholders are called for to mitigate the risk of financial exclusion and the potential negative impact on financial stability. “Policy initiatives must address drivers related to risk or risk perceptions as well as those related to profitability,” the study noted. The latest International Monetary Fund (IMF) Working Paper titled “Loss of Correspondent Banking Relationships in the Caribbean: Trends, Impact, and Policy Options,” notes that evidence confirms that the number of CBRs and value of CBR transactions has indeed fallen in several Caribbean countries over the past few years. The authors of the study note that depending on specific country characteristics and those of the correspondent and respondent banks, there’s a full spectrum of outcomes. “At one end of the spectrum, some global banks have broadly withdrawn from CBRs worldwide; others have withdrawn from the Caribbean region or a particular country (e.g. Belize), others have targeted individual banks and others have maintained services but to a restricted set of clients of respondent banks and charged higher fees”. Caribbean governments have in the past complained about the loss of CBRs and have mounted several missions to the BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

United States in a bid to get a reversal of the policy. Caribbean countries have also taken country-specific efforts to improve compliance with international standards and enhance risk-based supervision even though challenges remain in ensuring effective implementation of national AML/CFT frameworks. “Nonetheless, enhanced international coordination and action by all stakeholders are still required to address CBR challenges. Home authorities of global banks should continue to proactively communicate their regulatory expectations to correspondent banks. “International standard setters need to be more mindful of the unintended consequences on developing countries of efforts to improve the resilience of the international financial system. At the same time, the affected countries should continue to strengthen their regulatory and supervisory frameworks, including for AML/ CFT to meet relevant international standards, with the help of technical assistance where needed,” the authors wrote. They said that respondent banks need to proactively engage correspondent banks to give them comfort on the adequacy of their own customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, and AML/CFT frameworks. “Similarly, correspondent banks need to be more forthcoming to respondent banks on their expectations with respect to these issues. Industry initiatives will be crucial to facilitate the enhanced customer due diligence expectations and help reduce compliance costs. Small respondent banks in the region should actively explore options, including through mergers or other forms of collaboration, to bundle transactions to generate more business volume for correspondent banks and improve their own risk management processes.” (CMC) ¤

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MONEY MATTERS

CDB Unveils US$40.8 Million Plan for New BNTF Programme

CDB Unveils US$40.8 Million Plan for New BNTF Programme The Caribbean Development Bank’s (CDB) poverty-fighting flagship programme, the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) has unveiled an ambitious plan for its ninth cycle. The bank has negotiated more funds for the BNTF, taken steps to improve the programme’s efficiency and effectiveness, and will strengthen partnerships with the private sector. These innovations are being outlined to BNTF stakeholders during a series of project launch workshops, which are taking place in the nine participating countries, where stakeholders will also receive guidance on implementing the new cycle. CDB’s Acting Portfolio Manager for BNTF, George Yearwood, said the countries stand to benefit from a grant allocation of US$40.8 million, which could be boosted by funding secured through private sector partnerships. “CDB has negotiated increased contributions for the Special Development Fund, to secure grant resources for BNTF subprojects to tackle poverty in the Region. Also, the Bank will seek to leverage additional resources through partnerships with the private sector, charities and other civil society organisations,” Yearwood said. He also noted that country projects found to be performing well during the mid-term review may be in line for additional funding. “The funds from BNTF are to be carefully targeted through an evidence-based Country Policy Framework or action plan which responds to poverty, particularly in rural areas. And, CDB has set aside an incentive amount of US$5.2 million, which will be BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

distributed at mid-term based on project performance,” Yearwood added. Other changes designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the BNTF programme and to accelerate social transformation include: • restructuring of implementing agencies in some countries. • expansion of the areas of support to include livelihoods enhancement. • shortening the process flow from identification to implementation. • increasing the upper limit of a sub-project’s cost to US$1 million. • improving CDB’s internal processes for sub-project appraisal and approval. • introducing new tools for enhanced monitoring and evaluation. Project launch workshops have since been held in Saint Lucia and Guyana with other launches scheduled for Jamaica, Belize, Grenada and Suriname. BNTF’s ninth cycle was approved in March 2017, and will run until December 31, 2020. Under the eighth cycle, BNTF allocated US$12.388 million for supporting projects in Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and the Turks and Caicos Islands. ¤

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Nov/Dec

MONEY MATTERS

International Financial Institutions to Review Lending Policy

International Financial Institutions to review lending policy The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has been lobbying consistently for a reversal of the policy of graduation which sees some Member States denied access to concessionary development financing. The policy which uses GDP (Gross Domestic Product) per capita as a major criterion sees their graduation to middle-income status and attracts commercial rates for development loans. According to CARICOM, this situation increases already high debt burdens in the Member States. In a statement CARICOM said Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque met with President of the World Bank and the Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently in Washington, where they expressed willingness to reassess the policy of GDP per capita attached to concessionary development financing. LaRocque said the Banks are willing to work with CARICOM, but they cautioned that a final decision resided with the countries which sit on the boards. The lobbying for reassessment follows closely on the recent hurricane season which left a number of member states working to rebuild their nations. Secretary-General LaRocque pointed out that “you borrow to build, it gets destroyed and then you have to borrow to build again when you have not yet paid off the first set of borrowing. That compounds the debt burden of our region.” He further explained that “in a very, almost diabolical way, construction adds to your GDP. Your per capita income increases and our countries are labelled as middle income. Hence, they cannot access concessional development financing. It is a trap. The criteria of per capita income especially as low lying coastal states, such as ours in CARICOM, must be changed.” The United States – in respect of renewable energy and natural BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

disaster management – and Japan had signaled their willingness to support the Community’s position. Now, the Community is intensifying its advocacy to other third state partners, including Spain, which has membership on the board of Financial Institutions. There is no way, he added, the economy of hurricane-ravaged countries could generate enough economic activities to reconstruct by themselves. When hurricane Maria struck Dominica on 18 September 2017, the island had not yet fully recovered from the ravages of Tropical Storm Erika, which struck in 2015. The total damage and loss then were estimated at US$483 million, equivalent to 90 percent of Dominica’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to a damage and impact assessment conducted in collaboration with the World Bank, United Nations, and other development partners. The cost of Maria’s damage is estimated at $1 billion US, 200% percent of GDP. Hurricane Irma devastated Barbuda (the sister isle of Antigua and Barbuda), the British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Anguilla, as well as St. Marten and St. Barts. The islands of Barbuda, Tortola and Josh Van Dyke were left in ruins. Irma also caused significant damage in The Bahamas and Haiti and affected St. Kitts and Nevis. The US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Cuba were also left reeling from hurricane damage. ¤ (L-R) Amb. Colin Granderson, Assistant Secretary-General, Foreign and Community Relations, CARICOM Secretariat; His Excellency Javier Maria Carbajosa, Plenipotentiary Representative of Spain to CARICOM; and Amb. Irwin LaRocque, CARICOM Secretary-General.)

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Nov/Dec

MONEY MATTERS

LIAT Secures US$7 Million CDB Loan After Finances Take Hit From Hurricanes

Shareholder Governments Commit with Loan Guarantee

Regional carrier LIAT is on course to get some relief from its shareholder governments after Hurricanes Irma and Maria left a deeper hole in its finances. The Antigua-based airline is soon to receive a US$7 million loan secured by the governments of Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Chairman of LIAT’s shareholder governments, Dr Ralph Gonsalves told journalists at a news conference this week that LIAT had to cancel 408 flights since it could not provide services to Dominica, St Martin, Tortola and Puerto Rico which were significantly affected by the Category 5 hurricanes last month.

“But it is going to turn out that we are going to have a loss of about EC$35.6 million (US$13.2 million). That is what is forecast.” As a result, a 15-year loan from the Caribbean Development Bank was secured. Antigua and Barbuda will be responsible for US$2.4 million; Barbados, US$3.72 million; and St Vincent and the Grenadines, US$840,000. ¤

“These markets account for 30 per cent of the total flights and 35 per cent of total revenue,” he said, adding that this translated into “revenue loss of EC$5 million (US$1.8 million).” Gonsalves, who revealed that shareholders governments met last week, said they were told that the financial impact of weather systems this hurricane season would amount to EC$6.5 million (US$2.4 million) and market recovery would take as long as 12 months. “Continuing, we will lose about US$780,000 on the St Martin route, about US$1.3 million on the Puerto Rico route, and about US$950,000 on other route with the depression of the market,” he said. The Vincentian leader disclosed that LIAT was initially expected to make an EC$2.8 million (US$1 million) operating profit this year. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Ralph Gonsalves Prime Minister St. Vincent & the Grenadines

Julie Reifer-Jones CEO Liat (1974) Ltd

to Host Major BPO Conference on Attracting Business to the Region Caribbean Export to Host Major BPO Conference on Attracting Business to the Region

The Barbados-based Caribbean Export Development says Jamaica will host a major conference later this year to discuss how best to attract more business from international companies to the Caribbean in areas such as call centre operations, website and animation design, and legal and accounting services. It said that more than 100 industry leaders from the public and private sectors across the region are expected to converge in Jamaica on December 6 for the event. The first-ever Outsource to the Caribbean Conference (OCC) will be held under the theme “Leveraging the Nearshore Caribbean

for Outsourcing Services”. It is being organised by the Caribbean Export Development in conjunction with the Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA) and funded by the European Union through the 11th European Development Fund (EDF). The conference will focus on the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector, specifically “nearshore outsourcing” which involves contracting the operations of specific business processes to thirdparty service providers in neighbouring or nearby countries. Executive Director of Caribbean Export, Pamela Coke Hamilton, said that outsourcing business to the Caribbean is beneficial not only to the region but to any international businesses investing here. “The Caribbean is an excellent place to do business. We have a highly skilled, educated multi-lingual and cost effective labour pool. There is also a flexible work environment and a supportive regulatory framework which allows for low operational costs." (CMC) ¤ Photo: Prime Minister Andrew Holness gets first-hand information on business process outsourcing (BPO) following a groundbreaking ceremony for the first of three Bioprist Knowledge Parks in Montego Bay. Standing behind him is Marlene Malahoo Forte, member of parliament for West Central St James.

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Caricom Launches Online Platforms to Promote Regional Trade

BUSINESS TECH

Caricom Launches Online Platforms to Promote Regional Trade Additionally, the launch was told that the system can guide the education system, helping it to meet market demands through academic, technical and professional development programmes designed to build and repurpose those already in the workforce and those about to enter. The Community Public Procurement Notice Board should help both the private sector and governments by facilitating the exchange of information on procurement opportunities and contract awards. Governments, in particular can, through improved coordination of their public procurement exercises, maximise the potential economies of scale. Suppliers, including small and medium enterprises, can access opportunities both in their national space and engage in joint-bidding with other regional suppliers for opportunities across the region. The platform can also facilitate the capture of statistics on specs, pricing and other areas which can be used for future tenders and budgeting.

The Caribbean Community’s development of a Single Market and Economy has been given a boost with the launch of four new online platforms aimed at promoting trade and improving the ease of doing business. The CARICOM Secretariat, with support from the European Union recently launched the CARICOM Online Companies Registries, Labour Market Information System, Community Public Procurement Notice Board and the CARREX Platform and On-Line Public Portal, at a ceremony in Barbados. In a release Caricom said the Online Companies Registries provide a region-wide electronic platform for online name searches and name reservation, business and company registration, public access to records, e-payment and e-signature, among other features. It will also facilitate a better overview of the prevailing business climate in the Region, helping for example, to identify areas of saturation, those with growth potential and even the role of the informal economy. The EU’s Dr Stephen Boyce, in his remarks at the launch, said at least one recent high profile example illustrates the critical importance of this platform. “A few years ago, the inflight magazine on LIAT was rebranded as LIME. This was just a few weeks before a telecommunications giant in the region acquired a similar moniker. The result was a further rebranding to ZING to avoid any confusion. A regional register would have avoided this,” he noted. The development of this platform required automating the more than half of the national company registries in CARICOM which were still paper based, upgrading those already automated, and providing a functioning web software/application information system. With the Labour Market Information Systems there is now a central depository for data on the labour markets in participating CARICOM Member States. This allows for better matching of skills with available positions at the regional level, and will thus facilitate movement of skills in the region and better management of labour migration within the Single Market and Economy (CSME). BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

The CARICOM Rapid Alert System for Dangerous (non-food) Consumer Goods (CARREX) Platform and Online Public Portal should help business-customer relations by serving as a source of public information on dangerous non-food consumer goods that pose serious risks to the health and safety of consumers. CARICOM Deputy Secretary-General Ambassador, Manorma Soeknandan, in her remarks at the Launch, noted that significant strides have been made in advancing the CSME’s regional and sectoral policies but that more is left to the done. “These have been enumerated in the CSME Review considered by the Conference of Heads of Government and the Conference has approved the Implementation Plan for the CSME 2017-2019 in line with the CARICOM Strategic Plan which will see work progressing in these areas.” The EU’s Dr Boyce stressed the need for building resilience in the system across the region: “During the past three weeks, the path of devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria has reminded us of the fragility of our built infrastructure. As our brothers and sisters across the region rebuild their lives and livelihoods, attention must also be paid to building a more robust and resilient digital infrastructure. At the regional and national levels, it will be vital to create technology recovery strategies as part of the business continuity planning process.” Barbados Ambassador to CARICOM, Robert “Bobby” Morris, speaking on behalf of the country’s Foreign Minister, stressed the importance of the CSME to regional development. “The realisation of the CSME is seen as a major item in the advancement of the Caribbean and in recent times the COTED (CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development) and the Conference (of CARICOM Heads of Government) have had the CSME and Freedom of Movement, in particular, under intense scrutiny in attempts to realise the full benefits of integration for the masses of our people,” he said. ¤ Photo: (From left) Barbados Labour Minister, Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo; CARICOM Deputy Secretary-General, Ambassador Manorma Soeknandan; Barbados Ambassador to CARICOM, Robert 'Bobby' Morris; Ms Gladys Young, CARICOM Secretariat; EU Representative Stephen Boyce

Flow, C&W Business Back 2017 Business Month

Anselm Mathurin (Flow), Sabina Valmont (Southern Business Association), Titus Preville (Department of Commerce), Paula James (Manufacturers Association), Wilton Jeremie (Youth Business Trust)

Flow, C&W Business Back 2017 Business Month The island’s leading telecommunications service provider is joining the Department of Commerce, International Trade, Investment, Enterprise Development and Consumer Affairs to present November as Business Month. The slate of activities is sponsored under the C&W Business and Flow 4G LTE brands. The theme of the month, which includes a Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Finance Symposium, the Saint LuciaTaiwan Partnership Tradeshow, and a TEPA / ICT Association Digital Marketing Symposium, is “Promoting an Entrepreneurial Culture – Innovation and Creativity.”

Titus Preville

With a total contribution in excess of $50,000.00, Flow will provide all telecommunications infrastructure services for all official events, catering for the Digital Marketing Symposium, prizes for various activities, advertising and promotion of the exciting series of events, and facilitation

of a live stream. Flow, Official Communications Partner of Business Month, was represented at the launch on Wednesday morning at Hewanorra House. Among the other organisations represented were the Southern Business Association, the Manufacturers Associations, and the Youth Business Trust. Anselm Mathurin, Commercial Lead for Flow Saint Lucia, said: "We thank the Department of Commerce for inviting us to collaborate on this initiative, which lines up with our support for programmes like Junior Achievement, which help encourage young people to explore their fullest potential. We are also partners with the Government of Saint Lucia in the creation of a National Start Up Tech Incubator, and of course we have embarked on a major eCommerce project with the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association and two other private sector partners. "Our continued investment in technology platforms, network, and systems, to ensure that our fellow citizens can enjoy affordable, reliable access to First World services, is just a platform for our young (and not so young) people with great ideas, with wonderful concepts for new products and services. I encourage you to buck the trend, take advantage of the opportunities that are out there - and there are many. Find the courage to start something today, even while you hold down your day job." Other key contributors to Business Month include the Trade Export Promotion Agency and the Information and Communications Technology Association of Saint Lucia. ¤ BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Digicel Opens New Regional Hub in St Lucia

BUSINESS TECH

Hon. Allen Michael Chastanet, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, Mrs. Rosalia King, wife of the Hon. Stephenson King Minister for Infrastructure, Ports, Energy and Labour and Shanel Chedy from Digicel’s Finance Department get set to cut the ribbon to open Digicel’s new hub office in Saint Lucia.

Opens New Regional Hub in St Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet says St Lucia is “Open for Business” as telecommunications company, Digicel, on Saturday 4 Nov 2017 opened a new Hub in St Lucia. According to Chastanet, this is the beginning of plans to make the island a Hub for regional and international business. A company statement noted that the installation of the St Lucia Hub comes as a part of Digicel’s global transformation programme launched in February of this year in response to the many changes in the industry in terms of the competitive environment, customer needs and wants and technological advances. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Digicel CEO for the Caribbean and Central America, Vanessa Slowey, said that the commitment Digicel makes to any and every country in which it does business is to community and to advancement for all. “We make that same promise here today to give back to St Lucia and to drive opportunities for St Lucians. We are proud to call this the home of our Hub and grateful to have been welcomed by you. Our transformation is a work in progress but our ambitions and BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

our intent are clear and we look forward to delighting you in the future with what we do and how we do it,” she said. In officially declaring the building open, Prime Minister Chastanet thanked Digicel for its commitment to St Lucia and the region noting the he anticipates far reaching benefits for the people of St Lucia with the opening of the Hub. “Since Digicel began operations in the region, we have watched it grow and increase its services to the people and provide so many St Lucians with an opportunity to work in a dynamic environment. “It has been committed to corporate social responsibility and training and development of its team. We are pleased that it continues to have confidence in St Lucia and we pleased to partner with Digicel in order to create even more opportunities for the people of the region,” he noted. Under the banner of Digicel 2030, Digicel is promising customers a completely new communications and entertainment experience made possible by a more agile and customer-centric deployment of resources and underpinned by a network experience and a commitment to putting customers in control. ¤

WHATSAPP 'DELETE FOR EVERYONE' FEATURE LETS YOU UNSEND EMBARRASSING MESSAGES messages you’ve sent within the last seven minutes. Once that period of time has passed, your message is there to stay. Delete for Everyone works on all types of messages, including text, images, videos, GIFs and documents.

Whatsapp 'Delete For Everyone' Feature Lets You Unsend Embarrassing Messages

To unsend a message, simply highlight it by tapping and holding the line of text, select Delete from the menu and hit the Delete for Everyone option. “This is particularly useful if you sent a message to the wrong chat or if the message you sent contains a mistake,” explains WhatsApp in an FAQ. “Messages you successfully delete for everyone will be replaced with ‘This message was deleted’ in your recipients' chats. Similarly, if you see ‘This message was deleted’ in a chat, it means that the sender deleted their message for everyone.”

WhatsApp’s much-anticipated “Unsend” feature is finally ready. It's been in development for months, but has now started rolling out to users. The feature, which is officially called “Delete for Everyone” has also been widely referred to as “Recall” and “Revoke”. It lets you unsend messages, making them completely disappear from a conversation. They'll be hidden from both yourself and the other people in the chat. However, both you and your recipient need to be using the latest version of WhatsApp, and it only works for

WhatsApp group voice calls will let you ring all your friends at once. WhatsApp says you’ll be notified if Delete for Everyone hasn’t worked. It also warns that, even if the feature does work successfully, there’s a chance the person you’ve been chatting to may have already seen the message before you decided to revoke it. According to WABetaInfo, the rollout of Delete for Everyone is proving “very slow”, so don’t worry if you’re unable to make use of it quite yet. ¤

EU Re-launches Trade Export Website to export to Europe. The tool reflects in real time the EU’s import conditions for any type of product, be it machinery, chemicals, textiles, food or wines.”

EU Re-launches Trade Export Website

The European Commission’s Directorate for Trade recently relaunched its Export Helpdesk under a new name with a new look. According to the Commission, the new website is highly responsive to mobile devices and is free of images and graphs to keep it light so that it can be used in regions where internet connectivity might be weak at times. It can be accessed at www. tradehelpdesk.europa.eu “The European Commission has put in place a freely accessible online service that informs business in and outside the EU on how

According to the Commission, the Trade Helpdesk Service is publicly accessible via the internet, is free of charge and does not require registration. “Businesses in particular small and medium enterprises, business organisations, chambers of commerce, export promotion agencies are urged to utilise the service. The core part of the database is the product requirements such as sanitary and phyto-sanitary rules, technical standards, labelling rules for the EU market. They are regularly updated according to changes in the EU legislation and can be searched by product-code.” The database also includes the applied import duties for all goods listed in the EU tariff schedule (around 15,000 entries) information on import procedures for the EU and for each member state together with contacts of competent authorities in each state. “The VAT and excise duty rates in the 28 Member state and trade statistics complement this information. Companies can also send their individual requests.¤

BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Sold Out Within Minutes Tim, a teacher, had travelled around 80 kilometres from Heidelberg to collect the phone he had ordered online. “All the reserved models were sold out within 10 minutes,” he recalled. The new device was not creating such a buzz in the Greek capital of Athens, however, where no queues formed in front of the licensed Apple dealer in the city's chic Kolonaki quarter. But the company's marketing officer in Athens, Natalia Revela, insisted she was expecting “strong demand” and a “successful launch” for the phone.

Apple's iPhone X hits stores as profits soar Apple's flagship iPhone X hit stores around the world Friday, as the company predicted bumper sales despite the handset's eyewatering price tag and celebrated a surge in profits. Apple enthusiasts around the globe were lining up to get their hands on the new device which features facial recognition, cordless charging and an edge-to-edge screen made of organic light-emitting diodes used in high-end televisions. The new gadget marks the 10th anniversary of the first iPhone release and is released in about 50 markets on Friday, starting in Asia and then followed by Europe and the Americas. The launch came as Apple announced a 19 per cent jump in net profit to US$10.7 billion in the fiscal fourth quarter to September 30. Revenues were up 12 per cent at US$52.6 billion. I Don't Like To Wait “If I don't get it on the first day, I may as well wait until next year's model — I don't like waiting,” said Mathew Kam, a 21-year-old film student who has been queuing outside the Apple store on London's Regent Street for 16 hours. The line had grown to around 100 by 0800 GMT. In Paris, where a queue had also formed in front of the Apple Store near the French capital's Garnier Opera house, 21-yearold engineering student Jeremy said he had worked throughout the summer so as to be able to treat himself to a new phone. He bought the most expensive version of the model costing 1,300 euros, which is more than the minimum monthly wage in France. In Frankfurt, Germany's financial capital, Apple fans had been lining up since the early hours. Timo, 16, said when he arrived at 7:30 am (0630 GMT), the queue already stretched about 100 metres. “I wanted to be one of the first to see it,” he said. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Vyron Hatzidromou, a 38-year-old lawyer, said he “never missed” a new Apple launch. “I always buy the latest models when they come out for the hype and the fun,” he said. The 1,300-euro price tag is nearly three times the minimum monthly salary in Greece. It was certainly expensive, “but worth it,” Hatzidromou said. Earlier in Asia, buyers ho had pre-ordered the phone online queued to pick up their new purchases, saying they were willing to pay for what they saw as a landmark model. “It's the 10th anniversary phone — anyway, other phones like the Samsung are not much less,” said banker Tony Yeung, 35, as he queued outside the Apple store in Hong Kong's Festival Walk mall. IT'S WORTH IT Around 300 customers waited overnight outside Singapore's Apple store, the first shop in Southeast Asia to sell the new model. Supakorn Rieksiri and Kittiwat Wang, both 22, said they had flown in from Bangkok on Thursday to pick up pre-orders of two phones each. “With all the different features like facial recognition and the bigger screen, it's all quite worth it,” said Rieksiri, adding that the second handset was a gift for his mother. Apple is setting an ambitious goal for itself to reinvent the smartphone as it strives to fend off fierce competition from rivals, especially in China. The iPhone is its main profit driver, accounting for more than half its revenues. Apple closed out its fiscal year with full-year profit of US$48.35 billion and revenues of US$229 billion. Smartphone sales climbed by about a million units to 46.7 million in the final quarter of the California company's fiscal year, which Apple chief executive Tim Cook called a “very strong finish” to 2017. ¤ Apple CEO Tim Cook greets customers as the new iPhone X goes on sale at an Apple Store on November 3, 2017 in Palo Alto, California. The highly anticipated iPhone X went on sale around the world today. (Photos: AFP)

C&W Invests in Innovative Hospitality Solutions for Regional Tourism Sector As a leading investor in innovative hospitality solutions Cable & Wireless Business brought its technological expertise to bear in the recent regional discussions at the CTO State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC), in Grenada. C&W Business showcased its new cutting edge integrated Hospitality Solution aimed at making the Caribbean hospitality sector more globally competitive to meets the demands of the “connected guest”. Regional Sales Director at C&W Business, Juan Bailey said, “We are proud supporters of the Caribbean Tourism sector who are catering to the exacting standards of the next generation of “explorers” who have a strong focus on staying connected no matter where they are. Now more than ever, today’s ‘connected guests’ expect no less than world-class technology experiences during their stays. So we have partnered with the Caribbean Tourism Organization and SOTIC in the ongoing dialogue across the region to deliver the necessary technological solutions to enable property owners of all sizes to compete and win.”. C&W Business, who were also Gold Sponsors of the event also used the opportunity to speak about supporting the region during the hurricane season. In the “Re-build & Recover” panel discussion at the Conference, Bailey highlighted the resilience of the company’s network which was put to the test during the most

recent Category 5 Hurricanes. Our networks proved very resilient during the passage of the storms, and at times we were the only network operating in some of the impacted territories. In the panel discussion on “Spicing up the Caribbean Brand”, Regional Communications Manager, Sheldon Keens-Douglas identified “three key areas that must form a part of any brand revitalization discussion – “Differentiation, Innovation and Creation”. Keens-Douglas who has also held Regional Marketing and Brand positions within Cable & Wireless and was part of the team responsible for rolling out the Company’s new consumer brand – Flow – across the region in 2016 which involved the complex task of retiring our legacy brands while simultaneously introducing a newly refreshed brand that represented the combined corporate entities across 14 markets. The 2017 SOTIC was held under the theme Super-charging the Brand: Meeting the Needs of the New Explorers, and is the preeminent educational forum for Caribbean hospitality and tourism professionals. C&W Business was a Gold Sponsor of SOTIC and hosted the Ministerial Luncheon. ¤ BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

J.E. Bergasse and Xerox: The Future Is Now!

J.E. Bergasse and Xerox:

The Future Is Now!

Scores of St. Lucian business executives got a full appreciation of the equipment that drives the future office, and how it can positively impact productivity and profitability at the Xerox Future of Work Global Tour. Xerox in conjunction with J.E. Bergasse & Company Ltd on Friday October 20th exhibited a new generation of workplace assistants that will revolutionise how tasks related to printing, copying, scanning and storing documents are performed. J. E. Bergasse is the leading supplier in Saint Lucia of office and production equipment, stationery and supplies, as well as cutting edge business solutions & software. In addition, they have been a Xerox premium business partner and distributor for over 40 years.

Anthony Bergasse with Xerox Regional Executives Joel Mendoza (left) - Country Manager , Development Market Operations and Martin Sharpe (right) – XPPS/ MPS Business Manager

St. Lucia was the first in the region to have a demonstration from Xerox of newly launched workplace technologies from the Xerox ConnectKey® portfolio of twenty-nine (29) new Xerox AltaLink® and Xerox VersaLink® multifunction devices and their associated ConnectKey apps. The new suit of Xerox machines improves workplace productivity by automating everyday office tasks. Xerox representative at “Future of Work” Included in the more than 40 apps available on Xerox’s App Gallery are the Xerox Easy Translator Service, which can instantly translate documents fed through the scanner into more than forty (40) languages, and the Xerox Healthcare MFP Solution, which allows for the secure sharing of patient information in healthcare settings.

Demonstration station with new Xerox technology BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Registration in progress

Audience pays rapt attention

Managing Director of J. E. Bergasse & Company Ltd, Anthony Bergasse noted that ‘the featured multifunction printers are driven by apps that allow a wide range of tasks to be performed quickly and efficiently’. The new technology from Xerox allows for apps. to be customised to a business’s specific needs and requirements.’

Martin Sharpe making a presentation Anthony Bergasse addressing the audience The event which was held at the Finance Administrative Centre Conference Facility in Point Seraphine took the format of a lunch and learn session and provided guests with the experience of a solutions technology demonstration, making the event truly interactive. On display were five (5) Solutions Showcase Zones featuring an Intuitive User Experience with Apps@Work, A Gateway To New Possibilities, Mobile and Cloud, Benchmark Security and Next Generation Services. While getting hands-on experience with the new devices – including learning how to create personalized apps and solutions, the J.E. Bergasse Sales Team and Xerox Executives demonstrated the capabilities of the Xerox AltaLink and Xerox VersaLink machines as well as the print output. The event’s exclusive sponsor, Cable & Wireless Business supported the solutions showcase area with dedicated internet access and wireless points. Guest Speaker Jonathan Cox – Corporate Account Manager, Cable & Wireless Business said, ‘technology continues to change our daily lives in and out of the workplace. Cable & Wireless Business understands this change and will continue to provide solutions for adapting to those changes. For the new apps of the Connectkey technology we can bring to our partners and customers, solutions that will enhance its features of mobility, security and customisation so they can improve the way they work.”

Joel Mendoza making a presentation

BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Representatives and Analysts custom training, and exclusive access to sales and assessment tools. The program embodies Xerox’s sustained efforts to help customers with small businesses to optimize their document processes and printing costs. The feedback overall was very positive and the participants were enthralled and excited about the new ConnectKey technology. Adding to the excitement was a grand prize raffle of a Xerox VersaLink C405 multifunction printer won by Ms. Gillian Polius from Sagicor General. J.E. Bergasse receives 2017 Xerox Certification/ Accreditation for Channel Managed Print Services. L-R: Jovan Marshall – Technical Analyst, Anthony Bergasse – Managing Director, Shirman Alphonse – Sales Representative

For more information on the Future Of Work Global Tour in Saint Lucia please contact J.E. Bergasse & Company Ltd. via email at sales@jebergasse.com or (758) 456-6500/ 44. ¤

The event’s exclusive sponsor, Cable & Wireless Business supported the solutions showcase area with dedicated internet access and wireless points. Presenters at the event included, Xerox Distributor Group: Joel Mendoza - Country Manager, Development Market Operations and Martin Sharpe – XPPS/ MPS Business Manager, Latin America & Caribbean Region who provided in depth knowledge on all the new Xerox ConnectKey-enabled printers and multifunction devices and how these products come in different sizes, speed and functionalities for small to medium businesses and large enterprises. All backed up with apps. for the digital experience of cloud, mobile, security, workflow automation solutions and managed print services. During the presentations J.E. Bergasse also received special recognition and accreditation for Xerox’s Management Print Services (MPS). The Xerox MPS Program provides Sales J. E. Bergasse technical staff explaining new technology

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Nov/Dec

J. E. Bergasse team and participants

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Nov/Dec

1st National Bank

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Nov/Dec

SPECIAL FEATURE

A SEASON FOR GOOD BUSINESS REASONS

BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

The Christmas Season

eason The Christmasss S And Economic The Christmas Season

Driving A Hectic Busine s Acitivity Across Most Sector

Christmas Season Drives Our Economy As the winds change and the decorations can be seen in the a few store fronts in the city, we can all cheer as Christmas will soon be here. Besides the beautiful dĂŠcor, shoppers start to flock the streets looking for presents, household items and more, all in time for the holidays. Tis the season to be organised indeed. Business owners must strike a balance between providing products and services to the regular customers, while anticipating a major increase due to the season. As hectic as it gets, as the busiest and highest grossing period, ensuring sufficient planning for the season is the key to surviving the season with a significant profit. Each sector works to close off the season and plan for the New Year. For the Tourism industry it only gets more intense as winter guests flood the islands for warmer climates while the construction industry hurries to close off any major projects before all staff take a much-needed break until the building resumes in the following year. Other sort after sectors like the automobile use this season to launch its latest models and offer huge discounts on the old ones or great financing deals on the new ones. For the jewellery and precious metals, targets are often surpassed as BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

these are usually the go to gifts for most persons. Whatever the industry, each complements the other as everyone tries to hit the Christmas targets and close on a strong note. This economic activity fuels the economy and added to the trickledown effect which aids in everyone making some money during the season, it is also a time when a year in review is undertaken (who were the winners and who were the losers?) As consumers are encouraged to spend and online shopping frenzy continues, local businesses will continue to bump up sales and offers to entice repeat buys or lure first time buyers as they demonstrate why their products are better (and the cycle continues). Â¤

The Cash In The Opportunities Whether You Are Offering Products Services Which Are All In High Dem Or and

We can’t help but be swept away by the frenzy of Christmas. Cheerful décor, brightly lit streets and warm welcoming storefronts add to the allure and at times whimsical fancy. Whatever the product or service on offer, happy shoppers set out to spend their Christmas bonus, blow off steam with endless bargain hunting or simply fill their Christmas list, eager to find the perfect gift for that special someone. Unlike any other season, this one is known for showing joy to all men, the perfect atmosphere for tapping into the cognitive faculties controlling judgement and impairing its ability when faced with a shopping decision. We've just got to have it!

new notion stands true. So, give the people what they want and need. Make your product stand out and start cashing in on the Christmas opportunities. Impulse buying is triggered by Christmas bonuses and an awesome way to feel great after a long year of working and in some cases sacrificing.

Smart businesses with well thought-out marketing strategies plan ahead. Even with high in demand products and services, the final touches and retouches depending on the demand in this high season are necessary to end the calendar year with a bumper sales quarter. Shoppers spend a bit more as a reward to themselves. At no other time than our birthdays do we consciously indulge in luxurious and downright decadent treats but Christmas. Spas are filled as we pamper ourselves and holiday trips booked without a moment’s thought.

Keep your customers happy one purchase at a time. ¤

To set your company apart from the competition, know your worth and learn from past mistakes. Keep track of what customers are buying and ensure the shelves are stacked in time for the rush. Keep a mailing list and encourage regulars to sample new offerings especially for them. Feeling special, a regular customer will return and repeat purchase.

Customers historically also spend more on food and drinks, Christmas presents and home improvements. The out with the old and in with the BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Business Merchandising

Business Merchandising r

and Interio A busy time for Shop Front as Shoppers. tm ris Ch oo W to s or at or ec D ‘Dress up for Christmas’ Big, small or medium sized, every storefront needs a little Christmas magic to draw in customers this season. Statistically, a happy customer would be twice as likely to enter a store if it has attractive and attention-grabbing décor than one that has forgotten tis the season to be jolly. Adding a little pizzazz to the façade with the right number of alluring accents on the inside, will make the world of difference to any business no matter what’s on sale. Dressing the store to impress is especially important at Christmas, the busiest shopping period on the calendar and almost guarantees dollars in your pocket just for a visit to tinsel town. Think smart merchandising can save Christmas? We think so too. Here are some tips to help you get in gear for the season: 1. Marry the budget and concept. Starting with a budget helps but this goes hand in hand with the concept so ensure this is done properly and with the help of an expert so your store isn’t lost in translation causing customers to turn away. Less is more in some cases so don’t get carried away adding every design style that comes to mind. Edit your choices consciously. 2. Dress the window to impress. You must ensure that the window tells a story and the punchline is ‘come on in, we are open!’ This is the first line of sight and should stimulate the customers senses enough that they will become powerless BusinessFocus

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and must enter your store. Show off your best pieces and appeal to their curiosity and sense of bewilderment. 3. Keep the theme Christmassy. Ensure the theme is so true to the season that customers would ask for a hot beverage in your winter wonderland or try to pet your reindeer pulling Santa Claus along. Or add a cultural mark with banana leaves and rattan stockings. 4. Dare to be different. Adding a cultural note is a great way to be different without taking away from the complete product. Playing folksy Christmas songs form legends like Pelay will add the xmas touch but bring customers back to the good ole days. 5. Beat the clock. Don’t wait till the last minute to make arrangements. Starting the process early will provide ample time to get exactly what you want and make it as perfect as possible. If you are ordering any specialty items, order in advance to avoid the rush. 6. Prop it up. Use the décor like ladders or sledges to display products, incorporating it into the design. These will add character to your store and can be great space savers. 7. See an Expert. We are all born with a little creativity in us but execution is not always right. Seek expert advice to realise your concept and make your business the perfect Christmas zone. ¤

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Nov/Dec

COURTS Optical

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Nov/Dec

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Nov/Dec

s n o ti o m o r P d n a g n ti ke r a M d

ur Advertising an This is the time to Launch yo act Customers Marketing Campaigns to Attr Do you know what your customers want? Indeed, an interesting question deserving of some serious contemplation. However, the impulsive response is almost always in the affirmative without sparing a moment’s delay – why else be in business, right? As the busiest season is drawing near, it is the perfect time to roll out the Christmas Campaign and claim your slice of the market share. Launch Christmas sales early Knowing when to launch your campaign is determined by the product or service. For fast-moving consumer goods like supermarket products, the prospects of winning hampers and cash prices for example on items which your customers would normally purchase anyway, should start at the beginning of the season for maximum effect. Customers will shop for more high-end and specialty items which they may not regularly use, on the savings they make. Christmas is just as much about indulgence as it is about joy. Customers will treat themselves especially at this time, so be sure to stock up on new and excited varieties of specialty items they can really appreciate. Collaborate this season Home improvements are always at the top of homeowners’ Santa letter with refurbishments as small as new curtains and décor pieces for specific rooms, to larger budget items likes BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

a new perma-clad roof. Collaborating with other industry stakeholders can help customers BOGO or get a chance to win big! Cross marketing is a great tool to help share the cost of marketing, attract new clients and benefit from the development of new strategic alliances. Larger purchases like automobiles tend to require some more time to develop the purchase campaign as new model release dates may be out of the dealers control. Nonetheless, these are usually towards the end of the year and are more successful then as the prospect of ringing in the New Year with a new set of wheels would tick anyone’s bucket list. Sales on last year’s models is a great way to drum up some sales and get customers flocking to your door. Turn up the promotions to maximise the effect of the marketing spend. Get social Whatever medium used, be sure to compliment the traditional advertising streams with social media and boost your opportunities to net a sale. Customers are now more than ever glued to their devices and seek more than just a fancy flyer to seal the deal. Wow them with testimonials, and dazzle your way through a successful Christmas season, ripe with possibilities. Link your advertising to your website and drive customers there to view before coming into store. ¤

Goddard Catering

Shop and Ship Early

l Ports - Both Air This is a Busy Time at al ustoms and Sea as Well as at C Christmas is a jolly time of year. Make a list, check it twice then stock up for the season well in advance. As consumers get more demanding each year, businesses need to remain a step ahead to guarantee customer satisfaction in the busiest shopping period where getting the right gift or home improvement item has never been more important. Being spoilt for choice and access to online shopping has made today's consumers very tech savvy and demanding. They have opinions and are not afraid to voice it, to the detriment of your reputation. With great demands come great responsibility. Stock availability can be the difference in a sale or losing out to the competition. Remember, customers are a lot wiser and finding an alternative option is a mere click away. Keeping them interested and coming back to you is not a Christmas miracle but down to proper planning. Customer retention is made easy with great customer service, keeping them informed of delays and paying attention to trends. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Competitions are like vultures. Do not feed them your customers. So how should a business keep the competition at bay while managing the expectations of it customer? It is simple. Shop and ship before things get crazy and deck the halls with boughs of holly. Starting the process before the air and sea ports gets backed up as is customary each festive season is a sure way of keeping your customers happy. A great way to get the best products off the docks and into the customers hands is to track the best seller items and ensure stock levels are aligned with the usual demand. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t overstock and have a lot of product left over either. Striking a balance is key. Be sure to make allowances for promotional items and ship ahead to avoid the hassle. During the heaviest periods, a shipment which may usually take a few days to a week to be cleared, could take over two weeks and become available after the season. Smart planning is the key. Â¤

Sharing Gifts Explore the Many Opportunities The Christmas season brings out the best in us all. A time to give back, show appreciation and reflect during this joyous period. Showing kindness to friends, family and co-workers through small and large gestures have bred a cultural phenomenon which has created expectations in the festive season. We expect gifts and feel slighted or unappreciated if we don’t receive any. Choosing the perfect gift for your business associates can be tricky. Strike the right balance of appropriate but thoughtful – while staying within a budget. Getting presents for co-workers comes down to taste really. If you know the person really well, then picking out a unique present would go a long way in saying thank you for the amazing year working together or simply dish out for a delicious box of chocolate as a safe default option when you are not sure of what they are really into.

Business associates on the other hand need a bit more planning. It is important to share the merriment with those who help drive your business activities externally. They definitely deserve some Christmas cheer as well. A smart way to reward their efforts is giving a festive gift basket filled with your products, send an invitation to a yuletide soiree to make them feel special or maybe package branded gift items to show appreciation for doing business throughout the year. In doing so, your product or service is promoted and the relationship is nurtured all at the same time. Whatever you decide, don’t be a scrooge. Remember the perfect gift can set the tone for future partnerships and cultivate better relationships. Be smart. Invest some time to discover what each person may really like, or find something useful and gift them something well thought-out. Online offers lots of inspirational options which will steer you in the right direction. Happy shopping! ¤

BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Sprucing Up For the Holidays

ay Sprucing Up For The Holid men Start Early As Skilled Trades Are In High Demand

We spent the entire year wishing Christmas would come. Then, we fantasize about all the upgrades we would make to our homes, just in time for the holidays to come around again. As the season quickly rolls into the actual holiday, we are often left scrambling to make whatever minor changes in time to receive guests. And, more often than not, the last-minute coat of paint or newly installed fixture never truly lives up to the expectations. Why scramble every year? Why not take charge and spruce up your home the way you want? Home improvements can be a challenge but investing in the key components will make the process a lot easier. Find some helpful tips to get you going: 1. Book a professional early and relay your vision. They will make it happen or be honest and at least you know what is realistic within your space. 2. Do an assessment and decide which area needs the most work. Don’t try to do it all if it isn’t within budget. Opt for the more important areas first and do it right instead of stretch your budget and having an unfinished product. 3. Plan and consult your expert before deviating from your plan. It is easy to get expert advice but change whilst working when new inspiration comes knocking. Be smart, functional may trump all. 4. Get inspired from online sources and browse. Stepping outside of your comfort zone can be challenging but recommended if you want something truly amazing in the end. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

5. Dabble in colour for an immediate change. Sometimes a few coloured pieces, new curtains or a fresh coat of paint can breathe fresh new life into a space. Explore the possibilities. 6. Changing your furniture can liven up a room and give you more space. Sectionals, rectangular dining-room tables or even collapsible furniture are all space savers which can add a modern twist. 7. Add to enhance not to clutter. It truly takes a keen eye to make a space more inviting but less cluttered when more pieces are added. 8. Think about functionality before moving forward. We all love to change rooms around especially the living room space. Be careful how this is changed as creating a space with the right feng shui is a talent on its own. 9. Don’t forget the bathroom. This space is usually the smallest room in the house but used frequently. Create a warm aerated space with minor edits to the walls, tiles, and accessories. 10. New appliances can upgrade any kitchen. Think logically when getting new appliances as they need to function in the space but also have an aesthetic appeal too. 11. Use eco-friendly options when possible. The go green concept is a global phenomenon and worthy of embracing as it has long term benefits. 12. Go bargain hunting. Don’t accept the full price. Thrift shops offer oldie but goodie treasures to add a bit of class to a room. 13. Don’t forget to decorate for the season. ¤

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Nov/Dec

Refurbishing the KitchFloenors

Walls and A Great Selection of Tiles for rge and Small Home and a Wide Range of New La ajor Dealers Appliances are Available at M

Refurbishing the Kitchen - A Great Selection of Tiles for Walls and Floors and a Wide Range of New Large and Small Home Appliances are Available at Major Dealers.

and bundle up for the season. Use reputable brands with great warranties and have a Merry Christmas with a clean brand-new kitchen.

Often called the heart of the Caribbean home, the kitchen is the birthplace of the succulent ham, fresh creole bread and moist fruit cake. The most frequented space during the festive season to munch on goodies or drink freshly distilled rum punch, but, the most neglected when upgrades are to be made.

Change your tiles A major upgrade to a kitchen are the tiles. Replacing old flooring or sprucing up the floor and walls with pops of colour will impress your guests and give you more reasons to love your kitchen. Be sure to negotiation on bulk purchases and get some extras in case of breakage. Choosing the right type of tile is important too. Check on porosity, slippage and durability.

Get new kitchen appliances Dishing out warm season’s greetings in stunning crockery is a great start to any Christmas story. Trade in appliances which came with the house, to modern sets from this century will produce tastier treats and gift you more time to spend with your loved ones. Capitalise on the seasonal promotions and getting matching sets too! Competition is usually fierce at this time so make sure you shop around to grab the best bargain, just in time show off your culinary skills. Larger appliances can be a bit costly and more research needed when making such large purchases. Check out what’s on offer BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Set the tone for the rest of the house and get inspired with the new kitchen space. Refurb Your Countertops Had your heart set on new granite countertops but it never made it in the budget? Christmas is the perfect time of year to get a deal on what you want. Check out the prices around and be prepared to haggle for reduction in installation. With a new granite countertop, cleaning is a breeze, every surface is a prepping area and your kitchen will have a new appeal. ¤

Tiles Plus

Open Monday - Saturday | Beausejour Rd Tel: 4509156 | Castries 1-758-453-7939 | Vieux Fort 1-758-454-8864 | Email: Tileplusltd@gmail.com

EC Global

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Nov/Dec

Painting

Varnishes and A Colourful World of Paints, Are Available Interior and Exterior Options Every tile has been buffed, the kitchen glows with new appliances and even the dining room gleams under the new light fixtures recently installed. As you stand awash with pride at your handy work, something just doesn’t feel right. Could it be the curtains? No, these were the thick decorative ones specially ordered. Walking from room to room, glancing from corner to corner to single out the mysterious disturbance, it dawns on you. The walls are faded. The beautiful antique furniture has lost its glow. The metal gate hangs sans it's regular shine. You are in luck. With the Christmas season comes Christmas bargains. A kaleidoscope of paint and varnish exists in your friendly hardware store. Many deals even extend to the brushes, rollers and other accessories for much larger savings too! So, you can get what you want and do it yourself, or hire a professional for the hard to reach places with all the savings you made from your purchase. A new paint job will protect your home sealing in the surfaces, plus add some modern effects with accent walls and bold colours you couldn’t find in the past. A great way to maximize the value of your home, is to keep the façade as fresh and bright as the inside. Often, when we think of a paint job, we neglect the outer walls and focus on the interior.

BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

What usually happens is our homes would get a facelift for years on the main parts which are exposed to the elements and the first thing seen by guests and neighbours. With new technology, paints have come a long way to add a variety of hues with the added protection from rain, fading, chip resistant and adheres to just about any surface. The array of colours are sure to match every personality and individual taste especially as kids grow up, a change from pink to purple can help a preteen transition easily or bold accents to warm a room are great ways to make a change on a budget. Once prices are in bargain mode, stocking up on your favourite is also a smart way to save as some colours can be used in other areas requiring a retouch later on. For wooden pieces already used to varnishes and stains, the same concept would apply with many added benefits. Nowadays, wood which isn’t termite resistant can be treated and fortified with varnishes and stains with added qualities to seal in the protection. Besides a beautiful finished product, the item would have lasting power and stay part of the family for years to come. A pre-sale site visit to the nearest hardware store is a clever way to find out what is in store and eye ball your favourites. Once the sale is on, you can go directly to what you want and avoid the rush. Happy shopping! ¤

Sun General

CIBC

BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Tiling, Refurbishing the Bathroom

Tiling, Refurbising the Bathro

e Available for Many new Ideas and Styles ar d Faucet Fittings, your Comfort. New Shower an irrors Solar Hot Water Systems, M

The bathroom is often the most neglected room. Home improvement upgrades extend from the exterior to the interior over a period of time but the last room which is given attention is the bathroom. Minor dings and cosmetic changes are made with not enough emphasis placed on the room as a whole to help not only tie into the rest of the home, but add a fresh new appeal to a room we use every day, sometimes more than once for the day. Get tiling Tiles are a great start to giving any room a facelift especially the bathroom. When remodelling and with a colour scheme in mind, look for a colour palette which makes the room larger, adds more light and complements the décor. Tiles come in many shapes, sizes and textures. Expert advice and the local tile shop can walk you through the many options. Be sure to check out the demo bathrooms to gain some inspiration. Touch, feel and envisage yourself in the show room bathroom. Think how the tile works for you and your space. New shower or jacuzzi can be a treat Whether you are a shower or soak in the tub kind of person, close attention must be paid to how these areas can be enhanced (sometimes on a budget). Changing your shower can make a world of difference too. Upgrade your regular shower to a full spa quality nozzle for multiple sensations. The upgrade could be as BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

simple as a new shower head with adjustable buttons. To truly bring the spa home, install a jacuzzi for jets of relaxing moments. If you have always had your eye on a jacuzzi and it was just never in the budget, now is the time to revisit this long-time obsession. Think of the health benefits, endless relaxation and of course, because you are worth it. Solar water heaters Hot water on the fritz? It may be time to replace it. A huge chunk of the budget goes into fixing hot water systems but with a solar water system, the initial upfront cost makes up for the long-term savings. Capitalise on the Christmas discounts and offers not available any other time of year. Warm water is therapeutic and a nice way to feel refreshed on a cold day. When all fails, check online or in store for more creative options. Adding new lighting, bold framed mirrors and other embellished accessories, will add another dimension to your bathroom décor making your refurb a success. Wherever you gain inspiration, do it in the season and save big. ¤

Christmas Sorrel Recipe If there’s one drink in the Caribbean which screams “Christmas” it would definitely have to be sorrel. From Trinidad and Tobago in the south (include Guyana in mainland South America) to Jamaica in the north, as you make you way up the island chain… islanders all appreciate a cold glass of sorrel on those hot Caribbean days. As we have islands in the Caribbean so do we have variations of this refreshing drink (recipe), so please use this as a basic guide for making sorrel and do add your own personal touch.

you can certainly spike things up with a dash or two of rum and Angostura bitters. Tip.. double or triple up on the amount of sorrel petals you use and the resulting brew can be used as a concentrate. Simply bottle and store in the fridge. Then use as needed (add a small amount to water, sweeten) when you crave a tall glass of chilled sorrel. ¤

You’ll Need… 1.5 lb sorrel flowers (trimmed) 8 cups water 1 cinnamon stick 2 pieces of dried orange peel 4 cloves thick slice of ginger sugar to sweeten

KPL

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* Note: If you like your sorrel drink stronger, be sure to double up on the amount of sorrel petals you use. Also note that if you’re using dried sorrel petals, 1 lb will give you a much stronger brew than freshly picked leaves. This is a very simple recipe and all it really takes is patience. Remove the core out of the sorrel flowers and discard, then place all the ingredients in a large pot, cover with the water and bring to a boil. * Remember to see my note above about achieving a strong brew! Reduce to a gentle simmer and let it go for about 30 minutes. Then remove off the heat, cover and let it steep for a few hours. Mom would always go overnight for maximum flavor. If you’re wondering what orange peel is.. mom always had the peel (skin) of oranges she would peel for us, hung in a corner of the kitchen to dry. The dried orange peel (skin) would then be used to flavor drinks like sorrel and also make some wonderful (soothing) teas. It’s now time to strain (and discard).. I would recommend double straining with a very fine strainer or cheese cloth to remove any debris. Chill and sweeten to your liking. Traditionally brown sugar cane sugar is used in sweetening sorrel, but you can use whatever sweetener you prefer. Remember to add some crushed ice and sliced limes or lemons when serving and

KPL Logistics

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Customs Brokerage Freight Forwarding Inventory Management Transportation Logistics Commercial Packing and Unpacking Find us at Corinth, Gros Islet P.O. Box 1506, Castries, St. Lucia

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Nov/Dec

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Changing Or Installing A New Fence

Changing Or Installing a New Fence Home improvements are most times kept within the house and immediate vicinity. Little acknowledgement is given to the extremities including the lawn, garden and fencing areas. In enhancing the façade of your property, some thought and consideration must be given to the fencing which has many roles. What does the fence do for your property? • • • • •

Beautifies the space Acts as a security measure Demarcates the boundary Protects pets and small children Keeps the stray animal at bay

In fencing, there are some key areas which must be known before choosing one option or another. For land with an elevation, it may be necessary to add the fence in a step pattern. Ensuring that it is not only aesthetically pleasing but secure as a pivotal rule. When it comes down to budget, ensure the fence isn’t a temporary fix which is never upgraded and a complete eye sore which the neighbours whisper about. A contingency should always be added for such home improvement tasks as they are just as important as a paint job for example. Doing a quick fix will cost more in the long run.

Installing a fence to last is down to materials and workmanship. Choosing the correct type of fencing will start the process. Although we may have our own notion of what should be installed, expert advice is important to ensure the structure remains wind, water and disaster resistant (or as much as humanly possible). With so many different options out there, it is easy to get carried away and choose based on the physical appearances instead of functionality. However, a fence isn’t something which will be redone very often and is the first thing seen when approaching the property so should tie in with the current landscape. Adding textures that complement can help add to the allure of the complete design. Paint, stains and vanishes are all creative ways to add some pop to the perimeter without taking away from the functionality. Be sure to speak to your landscape expert for advice on the best plants or grass which should be near your fence. These can weaken the structure or cause severe damage in some cases if left to grow wild. Fruit trees are also a nuisance as load bearing fruit branches can poise similar issues and should be a cause for concern. Pencilling in a pruning session before installing the fence is strongly advised. ¤

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Need Furniture For The Season

eason S e h T r o F ce n a in F d ee N ns an Optio Lo n io tit pe om C e Th e or Expl d Finance an k an B e th t A e bl ila va A Rate Companies at Attractive

Christmas is often thought of as the most cheerful time of the year. Gifts from family, friends and co-workers. Shorter work days. Closing all projects for the calendar year and of course, Christmas holidays. The cheer and delight of Christmas is undeniable. We all look forward to feeling joy and sharing that euphoria with everyone (most of the time). With bonuses anticipated at the end of the year and lower prices on almost everything, it is hard not to fixate on what you truly need and how you can capitalise on the many offers of finance support to get it. As financial institutions and banks advertise competitive rates especially at this time, isn’t it time you explored how you can benefit from a low interest loan? Been eyeing a new car, home improvement work or maybe you need to consolidate your current debt and pay one lower fee? Whatever the reason, it is worth investigating the offers available before making a decision. Research each offer and compare in a spreadsheet. This way will allow you to evaluate each offer with less strain from a pushy Loans Officer. See how the deposits, interest rates and repayments compare and what total repayment value would ultimately be. Christmas can bring out the impulse buyer in us but when it comes to BusinessFocus

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finances, we really should pay attention to what is on offer remembering to always read the fine print. Seek financial advice before applying. The current financial institution would provide all their facts in a format you would understand, however, they would not be privy to your lifestyle and obligations enough, to provide adequate feedback. Remember, they are looking for sales. Be sure to go into any negotiation armed with your research information and a great attitude. Don’t be easily swayed. Once you are satisfied that all is fine with the terms and conditions and you are able to get exactly what you want (or a close second), don’t delay. Make the move and seal the deal before the offer is gone. Ensuring you sign on the dotted line before the attractive rates are gone is the final part and can be rewarded especially if you just bought something you have been waiting for years to acquire. Whether you picked up a new motorcycle or refinanced your mortgage, it will be a very Merry Christmas in your household this year. ¤

Christmas Ham Recipe Christmas ham is a must in just about every pork eating home in the Caribbean. There are many who choose not to dine in the swine, but I refuse to be prejudice against this wonderful meat, so you know I had to share this wicked recipe. I fondly recall the ham sandwiches our mom would have ready for us at breakfast on Christmas morning as she had other delectable goodies going in the oven and stove. You’ll Need… Ham (smoked/bone in) * about 8lbs 5 sprigs thyme 8 cloves 2 scallions

Glaze… 1 cup pineapple juice 1 table spoon grated ginger 1 tablespoon orange marmalade 1/2 cup brown sugar (golden) 2 table spoon honey pinch of cinnamon Dressing the ham when glazing… 5-8 slices of pineapple 10-15 cloves tooth picks for securing the pineapple slices Note: If using a shoulder ham with a fat cap on the top, be sure to place that side up when roasting. As the fat melt it will keep the ham nice and juicy. ¤

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Nov/Dec

Drinking a Coca-Cola, any Coca-Cola, makes any moment special. In October of this year, Windward and Leeward Brewery Ltd. revealed Coca-Cola’s ‘One Brand’ global marketing strategy that, highlights the iconic appeal of original Coca-Cola across the Trademark, uniting the Coca-Cola family under the world’s number one beverage brand.

Coca-Cola Announces “One Brand” Global Marketing Approach

One Brand Strategy includes the introduction of Coca-Cola NO Sugar and Coca-Cola Light Taste with a new look, that unifies all the options under Coca-Cola’s iconic Red. The new look clearly shows the product name and benefits on the front of the pack to help consumers make an informed choice; Coca-Cola Original Taste; Coca-Cola No Sugar which has the same taste of Original but without sugar and calories and Coca-Cola Light Taste which contains no sugar or calories, but for consumers who want a lighter taste. Following the merger with one of St. Lucia’s most respected and longstanding manufacturing companies; DuBoulay’s Bottling Company, Windward and Leeward Brewery Ltd. is fully committed to bringing One Brand Strategy to St. Lucia. At a recent presentation on the brand’s new initiatives, Sharlene JnBaptiste, Brand Manager gave more details about the brand’s transition and what consumers can expect from the company.

COCA-COLA ANNOUNCES “ONE BRAND” GLOBAL MARKETING APPROACH

Why a “One-Brand” strategy? ‘One brand’ strategy places more focus on the distinct characteristics of each Coca-Cola product and raising awareness of the choices available to consumers. It’s all about the word CHOICE. In essence, the goal of the ‘One Brand’ strategy is to simplify the Coca-Cola trademark, providing more clarity of choice across the brand. By bringing all variants under the one iconic brand and focusing on the functional benefits of each product, it will make it easier for our consumers to make the choice that suits them based on their taste, lifestyle and diet. What is “Taste the Feeling”? “Taste the Feeling” is the tagline for the new global marketing campaign for Coca-Cola and as explained with One Brand Strategy, features all Coca-Cola products. At this time, for St. Lucia, it includes Coca-Cola Original, Coca-Cola No Sugar and Coca-Cola Light Taste. It is brought to life in a fully integrated marketing campaign. Does the replacement of the previous Coca-Cola tagline, Open Happiness mean that Coca-Cola is shifting from a focus on happiness? Absolutely not. Happiness will always be core to the experience of drinking a Coca-Cola. Our new tagline reflects what we learned in our research, that happiness shouldn’t be a mandate or an unattainable goal. Rather happiness comes from the small choices that we all make every day. What changes have been made to the Coca Cola offerings? We are making a bold statement to our market that we as a brand and company are focusing on providing our consumers the best choice that suits their lifestyle. We recognize that No Sugar options are growing in significance. It allows consumers to enjoy the specialness of an ice-cold CocaCola - with or without calories - making the choice that suits them based on their taste, lifestyle and diet. We have recognized the need to increase the emphasis we place on providing these options and so we are doing so not just with ensuring that the No Sugar options are readily available, but also that consumers have options in relations to consumption volume. So you will see updates to what pack sizes are now available; not just in Original but in our No Sugar options as well. ¤ BusinessFocus

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Shopping Jewellery ing foForrJewellery Shopp

Alcohol? Check Perfumes, Special Gifts and ine and Place the Duty Free Pointe Seraph r Specials fo Carenage of Shopping Malls Saint Lucia is abuzz with activity especially during the high traffic tourist seasons with many options for duty-free shopping. Foreigners and nationals alike find more than one reason to descend onto the malls to find the perfect present and a bargain or two for a dose of guilt free personal shopping. Many of us travel during this period which means we need to shop and carry our gifts over the oceans. Once at Pointe Seraphine or La Place Carenage Shopping Malls for example, the options are similar to what would be on offer throughout the year, with a hefty Christmas offer added on to select items. It is always a marathon to the mall to pick up a unique jewellery set, restock your perfume collection or add to the liquor selection in your home bar. The offers are door to door at the malls, ensuring every taste is accounted for. Always a special gift, jewellery never disappoints. Custom made rings, birthstone necklaces or charms for bracelets are all heartwarming and special gifts to give and receive. Capitalise on the season and grab a bargain for upcoming events like engagements as well. Buy now and save. As the bargain rates and specialty discounts donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t last forever, make the investment now and save big. BusinessFocus

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Christmas shopping would not be complete without a few bottles of your favourite alcoholic beverage and a few more for friends and family. 'Tis the season for merriment so top sellers would be the first to go. It is always wise to monitor the stores and make your purchases early to avoid disappointment. Also, drinks which you would not necessarily pick up on a regular basis, should become be a special treat at this time as you usher in a new year with loved ones. Local rums and other spirits are always sort after by family and friends living abroad. Surprise them with a taste of Saint Lucia's award winning rums when you visit. Shopping duty free is an automatic save and also a place to get specialty items not easily sourced anywhere else on the island. Authentic hand rolled cigars, unique festive wear and miniature selections to name a few can only be found at the duty-free malls. Special orders are also available for ease of shopping. Pay attention to the change in shopping times during the season and plan ahead before venturing out to avoid traffic. As streets become busier and parking more difficult to find, gauging the best times to shop is recommended to avoid disappointment. Enjoy the shopping experience! Â¤

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Nov/Dec

Buying A New Vehicle For The New Year?

Buying a New Vehicle for the New Year? Starting the New Year with a brand-new set of wheels can make anyone feel like a kid in a candy store. As the new models are released for 2018, prices are usually slashed for older models with special conditions applied. This truly is the best time to invest in a new vehicle when the deals are bountiful, and some of the best on offer all year round. Making a large purchase like a vehicle is not an impulse buy unless cash isn’t a problem. Research on the various options is integral to find out what is on offer and how it suits your taste and lifestyle. For business, a minivan or pick up may be more practical, where as a car, SUV or luxury van can fit the bill for others looking for a personal vehicle. Knowing what you want can help cut out a lot of time wasted when shopping around for the best option. Most of us have preferred dealers and vehicles we would simply upgrade every few years. In these cases, trade ins are an amazing option to cut costs and get you cruising in no time.

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Financial businesses are already collaborating with dealerships so gaining an offer which fits your pocket is easily accessible nowadays. Some accept deposits with longer term payments and Christmas special interest rates, or no deposits down with the trade in value of your current wheels as the collateral. Whatever you decide, speak to your financial advisor or someone who can help with your personal finances and knows about the automobile market. Luckily, dealerships have relationships with in-house and affiliate independent companies who offer just that. Even insurance premiums are sorted depending on the company’s affiliates. Treat yourself to an upgraded vehicle this season as the prices are competitive and the best you will find. Happy shopping! Vroom vroom! ¤

Christmas Fruitcake Recipe Ingredients: 3 1/2lb Margarine 3/4lb Brown sugar 5 Eggs 8oz Raisins 8oz Currants 4oz Cherries Mixed Peel (optional) 1lb Self Raising Flour Browning 12oz Alcohol 1tbsp Almond Essence 2tsp Ground Cinnamon 1/2tsp Nutmeg 1/2tsp Salt 1cup Liquid Method: 1. Soak fruits as long as desired in alcohol. Some persons soak their fruits for as long as a month and even longer at times.

2. Preheat oven to 215c when cake begins mixing, drop the temperature to 140c. 3. Sift together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. 4. Beat the eggs lightly. 5. Cream the margarine and sugar for about 40 minutes using an electric mixer 6. Add the lightly beaten eggs a little at a time to the butter and sugar mixture. 7. Next, you add the essence and browning (for color), 8. Add some flour mixture to the fruits and mix together (this prevents the fruits from sinking to the bottom of the baking dish) 9. Stir the flour and fruit mixture into the creamed batter. DO NOT BEAT THE MIXTURE. Pour the mixture into a greased baking pan. Bake for two hours or until the skewer inserted comes out clean. (Optional) Pour alcohol/rum over cake just as it comes out of the oven. Pouring the rum over it is optional. This process is what happen in the Caribbean to enhance the flavor. ¤

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Nov/Dec

Hosting a Christmas Party for the Staff or Staff Lunch or Dinner

r Hosting a Christmas Party fo inner the Staff or Staff Lunch or D and Act Quickly as Hotels, Venues emand Restaurants will be in High D

The dreaded Staff Christmas Party will soon be here. No matter the size of your office, the planning must cater for the office dynamic. The first and most integral component to planning an office event besides the budget you are allowed to spend is finding the right venue. Venues which are usually available all year round are snapped up extremely quickly as the season gets busier. Small venue and large venues alike are usually booked solid from months in advance as specific locations are so high in demand, they require a longer lead time.

staff as well as they would have contacts who can help secure the perfect venue or suggest a location you may not have known about.

Depending on the type of event, a venue can be versatile to accommodate the guests. Parties require space to dance and mingle as persons are usually on their feet at least fifty percent of the time. Unlike dinners and luncheons, a party can have sitting and standing space plus a dance floor. For lunch and dinner, indoor or outdoor are both acceptable depending on the weather. As a festive time of year, having appropriate dĂŠcor helps with the appeal and get the staff in the Christmassy mood.

Rethink your strategy for hosting your next staff holiday event. As the season begins, start creating your database and making your own connections so when your next event comes due, you will be in a better position to not only negotiation on your behalf, but be placed on the priority list too. Enjoy the Christmas cheer! Â¤

With the demand high for hotels, restaurants and other venue locations, having a contact from any of the locations can be advantageous. Get feedback from the BusinessFocus

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Reaching out for expert advice from event Planners can also give you the leverage needed to secure the right location. They have the right connections, a large database of known and unknown venues and at times, can transform a non-traditional venue into your next Christmas staff party, dinner or lunch location.

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Nov/Dec

Catering For Christmas

Catering For Christmas Check with the Many Event Planners who Can Help

Plan With A Purpose Planning an event any time of the year can be taxing. Add the stress of the busy Christmas period and things can get even more hectic. To ensure the event is a true success, getting the expertise of an Event Planner can save time and money and can also create a professionally finished product that becomes the talk of the town. Don’t know any planners? Get a referral to choose the best option for your type of event or check online for testimonials and work samples. Small and elegant gatherings, private cocktails or themed parties have very different needs but the action points are quite similar. An Event Planner Guides From the inception meeting to gain a sense of what the client needs, the planner can create a proposal document to suit the client’s requirements. Once agreed, the plan will be developed by the planner showing tentative timelines, proposed themes and a realistic outline. After this discussion and the budget is presented, the real work begins. Although a proposed budget would be predetermined by the client, depending on the type of event, the Event Planner would make a case for increasing the budget to maintain the standard required, or offer alternatives which would reduce the overall cost. In rare occasion, the planner may even BusinessFocus

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decline the job or admit that based on the budget compared to the requirements, the event would be very difficult to pull off and not feasible. Nonetheless, the main role is to guide. Event Planners have amazing relationships with vendors and can negotiate on your behalf. Caterers, wait staff and deejays all fall under this category and are high in demand during the busy season. Booking early is essential to get the appropriate suppliers on your team before anyone else to help create a festive, chic and fun-filled atmosphere. However, only a planner with long-term relationships can fulfil last minute requests from suppliers and as such, great to keep in close. Always Try To Exceed Expectations Think of the Event Planner as an extension of yourself but with a directory connecting the key suppliers. Handling every aspect of the Christmas party, dinner or lunch, your planner must be organized, dependable and possess impeccable negotiation skills. Ensuring the client is happy is the key to every successful gathering. Staying under budget, sticking to the agreed theme and ensuring all vendors know their roles and are on time are a few important success indicators of how well they work. Give your next party a professional touch. Contact a suitable Event Planner today! ¤

Going Away for the Holidays

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Winter is coming! Winter is coming! And that means the Christmas holidays are around the corner. A break can be romantic, fun filled family affairs or solo journeys of selfenlightenment and awareness. Whatever the reason, it is the perfect time to plan the great escape from normal life as you know it. Christmas offers pop up on every website, street storefront and post box flyer. Slashed prices for last-minute travels to exotic destinations fill your inbox and curiosity. Why travel now? The best response is why not! With airfares at the lowest on select locations, bundled price packages for groups and new events created around the globe, it truly is the best time to hop on a plane, train or boat, and take a time out from your hum drum world of work. Ladies trade in your stilettos for flipflops or uggs and men, the only board you will need is a surf board so leave the boardroom hours behind, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to catch the early money surf! Travel agents have made travelling super easy. Get updates on the latest offers tailor-made to your needs. Get help with booking flights, hotels and even renting a car too. With rewards for early bookings and discounted rates for last-minute shopping, it truly is the best time to plan some time away. Â¤

BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Christmas Safety Christmas Safety

By Brian Ramsey

Christmas is near and soon we will hear the sound of boys bursting bamboo in the evenings and also hear the words Peace on Earth and Good Tidings to All Men but unfortunately the statement is not true. We know that it is unlikely that there will be peace on earth and there are definitely people whose appearance at our home is not a sign of good tidings. Unfortunately there are those who view Christmas as the time to get their presents at your expense. The pre-christmas season is a time of shopping. There are gifts to purchase for the children, god children, parents, spouse, siblings and maybe even the boss. There are all the grocery items to obtain for the Christmas Day or Boxing Day lunch, plus the items to obtain at the market for the sorrel, ginger beer, garlic pork and black cake. All of which means that we are walking around with plenty of bags in our hands, tired and distracted which makes us a target for robbers. We know that the shopping has to be done so instead of trying to do it all in one or two days, it is better to plan ahead and spread it out over several days so that on each shopping foray you have less to carry and are not as tired so that you are able to remain alert to what is happening around you. It is very rare to be able to find everything that you want for Christmas in one place and so invariably we go from store to store. If that movement from store to store is being done using your car, you should lock inside the car trunk all the items you have purchased rather than leaving them on the back seat where they would be a visible enticement for thieves. While you are shopping for your Christmas items so is everyone else, which makes the streets bustling with shoppers. Those crowds and the Christmas decorations and Christmas music in the stores adds an air of excitement that some people love and look forward to every year. One group that particularly looks forward to Christmas is pickpockets because it is easier for them to operate in the midst of the jostling crowds. To avoid being one of their victims do not carry a large amount of cash and use credit or debit cards instead, make sure to fasten all pockets and turn all purse flaps towards your body and walk with your hand covering your purse. Another part of the excitement and special feeling that Christmas brings arises from the decorating of the house. The stringing of the Christmas lights outside the house fills everyone with a special glow when they come home and see the twinkling lights each night. One problem that many people have is providing electricity to those lights and so often they use an electrical extension cord, run it through a window and plug the lights into a socket inside the house. That extension cord then prevents the window from being properly secured which provides the opening that a burglar would be looking for. It is much better to hire an electrician or local handyman to install one or two electrical outlets on the exterior of the house so that you do not have extension cords keeping your window open. During the Christmas season we often have people coming door to door seeking donations for various charitable causes. Such BusinessFocus

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requests at this time of year always tugs at our heart strings but is every request real or is it a sham to fleece you out of some money. When responding to these requests you should never give any personal information and should try to establish the bonafides of the request. Traditionally for some families, Christmas or Boxing Day meant open house when friends, family, neighbors and even co-workers would come to visit and while this is now less than before it still happens. Christmas open house however does not have to mean open house with gate and doors wide open. Those completely open surroundings are an invitation for unwanted guests to intrude upon your festivities. Instead you should keep the gate closed and locked and when your desired guests arrive they can call out to you and have you come and unlock the gate for them. Such an approach will not reduce the merriment that will take place within your house but will reduce the chance of opportunistic robbers invading your Christmas celebration. When Christmas is over and the gifts have been unwrapped it is time to discard the boxes those gifts came in. Now you see in front of homes the boxes for the flat screen TV, new computer, latest cell phone etc. Burglars love driving through neighborhoods and seeing these items because then they know which homes have the newest gadgets and so are the best to burglarize. To prevent yourself from becoming a victim you should cut up the boxes and place them in garbage bags so they are not as visible. In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world everyone has learned to economize and especially at Christmas everyone seeks to reduce cost in some areas because of the amount that has been spent on the celebrations. One area where people seek to save a penny is in the purchase of garbage bags. Unfortunately some of the lower cost garbage bags particularly the blue and green ones are less dense than other bags and so you can sometimes see through the bag and identify the contents. When disposing of the boxes that your Christmas electronics came in you should use the black garbage bags to increase the chances that no one knows what is in the bag. Christmas is an enjoyable family time throughout the Caribbean and by being aware of those who would seek to gain at your expense and taking the appropriate measures it can continue to be an enjoyable time. Â¤ Brian Ramsey has a B.A. in Accounting & Management, along with an M.B.A. in Finance and over 29 years in the Caribbean security field. He Christmas is the Safety Regional Development Director for Amalgamated Security Services Limited which operates in Grenada, Barbados, St Lucia, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago and is the parent company of Alternative Security Services (St. Lucia) Limited. He can be contacted at bramsey@assl.com.

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Nov/Dec

Must Reads The Power of Candour

MUST READS Volume 24

The Power of Candour

By Lyndell Halliday BSc., MBA, CPA,CMA

"Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off" - Colin Powell, Former US Secretary of State and Retired US Army Four-star General

Most of us are taught from very young that we need to be kind to others. A common adage is “if you can’t say anything nice, then say nothing at all”. While this is rudimentary sound advice for day to day interpersonal interactions, in a business environment it can be problematic. Strict adherence to this approach can render a leader ineffective and result in a destructive organizational culture. In this week’s Must Reads, author Kim Malone Scott explores how to build a culture that strikes the right balance between candour and humanity.

Radical Candor: Be a Kickass Boss without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Malone Scott When someone who has worked at an executive level at both Apple and Google writes a leadership or management book, take note. When that someone is also a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, and has served as a CEO coach to several top technology CEOs including Dropbox and Twitter, pay even more attention. Radical Candor – with Americanized spelling- is the first business book by Harvard Business School graduate, Kim Malone Scott. Scott pours her life experiences into this book as she tells countless personal stories - often laced with humour - from her tenure as an exfaculty member at Apple University, a former head of the AdSense, YouTube and DoubleClick Online Operations at Google; and as a start-up CEO. Early in Scott’s management career, she struggled in being candid with a well-liked employee. This staff member had become a drag on the performance and morale of the company. When she eventually gained the courage to directly challenge him, it was too late to save the employee and the company ultimately went out of business. She blamed the eventual failure of the business partly on the many leadership mistakes she made. Her key takeaway lesson from this experience was that leaders have both a moral and fiduciary responsibility to tell their employees the truth. Failing to do so not only hurts the employee, but also endangers the business. BusinessFocus

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Radical Candor is divided into two parts. In Part 1 – A New Management Philosophy, Scott lays the foundation of her approach to leadership. Scott tells about her first hand experiences at several companies, including technology behemoths Google and Apple, learning how to become a “kickass boss”. Scott is forthright about the mistakes she made along the way as she learnt through trial and error and from more experienced leaders. Thus, while ostensibly a book about communication, it is in fact about much more than that. It is a book on how to cultivate a corporate leadership philosophy that builds a people-centred, high-performance culture. At the heart of this philosophy is: “bosses guide a team to achieve results.” An effective management approach therefore encompasses three key elements: guidance, team building and results. Part 2 - Tools and Techniques is the practical how to guide on how to go about building radically candid relationships. In communicating, leaders typically fall into three traps: ruinous empathy, manipulative insecurity and obnoxious aggression. • Ruinous empathy is the most common communication mistake and occurs when the leader is trying too hard to avoid hurting another’s feelings – hence avoiding speaking difficult truths or sometimes even outright lying. • Obnoxious aggression is the polar opposite – giving harsh and direct criticism with little regard for the feelings of the person to whom it is directed. • The third danger - manipulative insecurity is the most destructive of the three traps, however, because it is neither considerate nor honest and direct. A typical example is the all too common insincere apology. According to Scott, effective leaders should be on guard to avoid these traps and aim instead for “radical candour”. Radical candour involves challenging others directly while still showing that you care personally. Scott expounds that radical candour should be organization wide – not just from a leader to his or her direct reports. It is as essential for a leader to obtain radical candour from his or her subordinates. And it is imperative to encourage the use of radical candour on a peer to peer level. Radical Candor: Be a Kickass Boss without Losing Your Humanity is a refreshingly different book in the management and leadership genre and highly recommended not just for managers, but for anyone whose job entails building successful relationships. ¤ Lyndell Halliday is an avid Must Read reader, lifelong learner and The Power of Candour 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 also lectures Leadership & Operations Management for the Australia Institute of Business MBA programme at the National Research and Development Foundation.

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Nov/Dec

ECONOMY & TRADE

Brexit and The Caribbean - The Next Steps

Brexit and The Caribbean - The Next Steps By Debbie Ransome

One month after the UK’s Brexit referendum, Caribbean leaders, officials, affected industries and academics have started to piece together what a post-Brexit world would mean for the Englishspeaking Caribbean.

For the CTO, the US still provides the largest amount of visitors to the Caribbean, but CTO officials admitted that Barbados, a firm favourite with a wide range of British visitors, would feel the impact of Brexit.

While the Caribbean Diaspora in the UK was feeling the pinch of a weaker pound, reducing the value of their money sent home, the region’s tourism sector was the first of the key organisations to look at the immediate and medium-term impact for tourism.

CTO Chairman Richard Sealy said that the organisation was constantly monitoring the situation as it changed from day to day. Mr Sealy, who is also Barbados’s Tourism Minister, said that Britain was the number one source of tourists in Barbados and that “it would remain that way for the foreseeable future”.

The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) held one of its regular state-of-the-industry briefings on 6 July. The Q&A session to announce the industry conference later this year was inundated with questions from the Caribbean and abroad about the potential impact of Brexit on the all-important tourism industry. CTO Chief Executive Hugh Riley told journalists that tourism was “incredibly vulnerable” to global financial and political change and that “Brexit provides one of those challenges”. But he added: “The Caribbean has been able to rise above these challenges.” Brexit visitors The CTO had clearly made an early start in charting the challenges ahead, including: • a likely trend for American and Caribbean tourists to find Britain an attractive destination with lower prices as the pound falls • a possible decline in British visitor numbers to the Caribbean • a possible reduction in the amount spent by Brits abroad. BusinessFocus

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He outlined how Barbados and the wider Caribbean had been able to chart their way through global changes, which he characterised as moving from “historic low” to “historic high”. The CTO line has been that there is nothing to panic about and that the Caribbean had been pushing diversification of tourism a long time before Brexit, seeking visitors from Asia and the wider world, as well as encouraging more tourism within the Caribbean. Their message was to redouble the CTO’s efforts and not forget the British visitor. Early trade deals For one long-time advocate of Caribbean interests in Europe, David Jessop, redoubling efforts on trade and services negotiations is the key to progress. Mr Jessop, the former Director of the Caribbean Council for Europe, has helped to advise and steer the Caribbean in its European trade and service deals over several decades, from the days of the West India Committee to the current world of the Cotonou agreement.

Mr Jessop, now a consultant with the Caribbean Council, was one of the speakers at another post-Brexit analysis session, this time organised by the Ramphal Institute on 15 July. He told trade officials and analysts at the Ramphal brainstorming session that this was not the time for the Caribbean to be waiting to see how the Brexit process worked out. “Wait and see is absolutely wrong,” he told the gathering.

Prime Minister Chastanet Proposes New USCaribbean Trade Initiative

Prime Minister Chastanet Proposes New US-Caribbean Trade Initiative

He said that it was “critical” for the Caribbean and other developing countries to collect detailed trade and service analysis, in order to look at the role the UK played in their own economic development. He also flagged the importance of looking at the impact of possible changes in regulations and air services agreements – issues which he described as “very big questions” for the Caribbean. Jamaican Ransford Smith, a former Deputy Secretary-General for Economic Affairs and Development with the Commonwealth, also told the Ramphal session that developing countries needed not only to be looking at their future bilateral ties with the UK, but also at changes in the European Union’s relationship with developing countries once the UK’s influence in the EU had come to an end. The UK had been the go-to country for pushing the best deals for the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) grouping and is also the largest importer of ACP products entering the EU.

On the side-lines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Prime Minister Allen Chastanet has been speaking to the American business network CNBC.

He too urged negotiation, even with the “uncertainties inherit in Brexit” serving as a backdrop.

Prime Minister Chastanet discussed the recent hurricanes that have devastated parts of the Caribbean, rebuilding the Caribbean and Caribbean – US relations.

He cited Guyana’s Shridath Ramphal, Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral for 15 years, who recalled in his book, Glimpses of a Global Life, how the ACP moved quickly when Britain first joined the then European Economic Community (EEC). Mr Smith said that the same level of co-ordination would be needed for this “mirror situation” of Britain coming out of Europe. Free-for-all free trade Jodie Keane, economic analyst with the Commonwealth Secretariat, advised on the need to collect data to work out “offensive and defensive” options for negotiating with a postBrexit Britain. Trade experts at the conference pointed out that, with the possibility of a post-Brexit UK turning inwards as trade deals were being sought, the Caribbean’s trading bloc, Cariforum, could find itself placed lower down the queue in the new free trade agreement pecking order. A month after the vote, it became clear that even the triggering of the Lisbon Treaty’s Article 50, the EU’s exit mechanism, would not happen straight away. This means that on the present timetable, despite a 52% vote in favour of Brexit, the UK will not leave the EU until the start of 2019 at the earliest. The CTO’s Hugh Riley summed up the only approach the Caribbean could take following the UK referendum and ahead of the forecasted long drawn-out move towards Brexit. “All of this keeps us on our toes,” he told journalists. ¤

He said recent events have showed that the Caribbean needs to diversify in terms of its sources of food, pointing to a shutdown of the American hub of Miami for several days. “The support has had to come from the south because while we were going through this, you had two hurricanes heading up north and literally Miami was on a shutdown. So unfortunately the American hub got shutdown almost for ten days out of Miami. And so it really has shown us that we need to diversify ourselves a bit and maybe look a bit more to Panama in terms of supplies of food,” Chastanet. Chastanet said the resilience of the Caribbean is very strong and the region will band together to recover from the disasters. Chastanet proposed the establishment of a new private sector led initiative which would allow US companies to invest in St Lucia tax free and have their resources sent back home without facing heavy US government taxes. He said there are great investment opportunities in the Caribbean for American companies. “Can we not get an incentive, and that’s what we’re in discussions with the US about, that if US companies invest into the Caribbean, that those investments in our books are always tax free that the US allow those funds to be repatriated back into the US tax-free, only on those investments. So, it accomplishes getting the funds back into the United States of America. It creates an avenue for the private sector to participate in this growth and brings a lot of money to the table, Chastanet said. ¤ BusinessFocus

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ECONOMY & TRADE

Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports Olivia Grange

Caribbean Countries Urged To Monetise Intellectual Property

Caribbean Countries Urged to Monetise Intellectual Property By Claudia Gardner

Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports, Olivia Grange, has urged Caribbean countries to place greater emphasis on monetising intellectual property (IP).

“It is interesting that $50.8 million was paid out to foreign societies, whereas only $19.1 million was paid to JACAP members based locally and overseas,” she noted.

Addressing the Association of Caribbean Copyright Societies (ACCS) regional conference on October 7, the Minister said only a targeted multi-disciplinary approach to monetising IP, which includes the public and private sectors, will help Caribbean economies increase value-added and gain a greater share of the global economy.

The Minister said, although alarming, the imbalance in royalty payments represents both a challenge and an opportunity to decrease consumption of foreign content in the country’s tourism product, on the airwaves and in public spaces, while offering an opportunity to increase local content through quotas.

“Hosting these intellectual discourses signal on the part of government and the collective management organisations (CMOs), the importance placed on intellectual property rights in Jamaica. We are operating in a time and space when monetising intellectual property related to our creativity has become an imperative,” Grange emphasised. The Minister noted that as the Caribbean’s traditional export sectors – sugar, banana and bauxite – have stagnated in large part due to lack of economies of scale, increased competition in the global market, and/or high production costs, “our creativity has increased, yet we earn a mere pittance from those earnings.” Turning to the issue of copyright and royalties in Jamaica, Grange said although there have been modest increases in the collection of distributable royalties by the Jamaica Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers (JACAP) over the last few years, most of the funds have to be paid over to foreign entities, due to the high level of usage of non-Jamaican material. BusinessFocus

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She also expressed concern about the impact technological advancement in the digital environment has been having on music, and urged the ACCS to be advocates and vanguards in the challenging technological environment. “In 2016, US streaming revenue represented 51.4 percent of music industry revenue. Digital downloads and ringtones represented 24.1 percent, physical sales amounted to 21.8 percent and sync sales 2.7 percent. Globally, streaming income represented 50 per cent of total music industry revenue and overall, digital revenues increased by 17.7 percent in 2016. Some 432 billion songs were streamed on demand in 2016,” she said. “Despite these phenomenally high numbers in relation to streaming and digital downloads, the low payment resulting from digital services is one of the most frequently mentioned problems in relation to the digital environment. Composers and artistes from all around the world complain about the low payment that comes from digital platforms, especially from those that use the technology of streaming,” the minister said. ¤

World Bank Supports Eastern Caribbean Transition To A Blue Economy

World Bank Supports Eastern Caribbean Transition to a Blue Economy The World Bank has approved a US$6.3 million grant to support Eastern Caribbean countries to preserve and strengthen resilience of coastal and marine resources, and implement regional policies to stimulate blue growth. This will allow countries to better manage natural infrastructure, which is the first line of defence against storm surges and damage from rising frequency of extreme weather events, such as the recent hurricanes. The Caribbean Regional Oceanscape project will be implemented through the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission in close collaboration with member-states. “This project will support the Eastern Caribbean policy-makers in identifying smart policies to harness the ocean and all its natural assets, and prepare for a successful transition to a Blue Economy and socially equitable ‘blue growth’,” said Tahseen Sayed, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean. “As the region is greatly affected by recent hurricanes, it is equally important to build the resilience of coastal communities and promote sustainable development of the ocean resources.” According to the World Bank report “Toward A Blue Economy, A Promise for Sustainable Growth in the Caribbean”, the Caribbean Sea generated US$407 billion in 2012, including mainland Caribbean coastal countries. The Caribbean Sea covers an area of 2.75 million square kilometers and is a crucial resource for the 40 million people who live along its shores. OECS countries play a key role in the regional ocean governance as they rely heavily on coastal ecosystems for their income, employment, health and well-being. At the same time, poorly

planned development poses threats to local communities as it erodes the coastal and marine natural protection and other important natural ocean assets. “This project supports the implementation of the Eastern Caribbean Regional Ocean Policy, a comprehensive policy endorsed by all OECS Heads of Government. This initiative sets forth the long-term vision to ensure the future health of the ocean space while sustainably deriving ocean wealth,” said Sylvia Michele, World Bank Environment Specialist. The Caribbean Regional Oceanscape project supports Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines to transition towards a ‘Blue Economy’ model, where sustainable ocean-based industries help deliver jobs, reduce poverty and promote shared prosperity across the region. Specifically, the project will: • Support the implementation of regional policies, including mapping ocean assets, developing coastal and marine spatial plans and national ocean strategies through active citizen engagement. • Collaborate with private sector technology companies and education platforms to advance ocean education. • Improve OECS ocean data coverage and access through collaborative public-private platforms. This project is financed by a US$6.3 million grant from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). ¤

BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

ECONOMY & TRADE

St Lucia Set to Benefit as a RIM Destination

St Lucia Set To Benefit As A RIM Destination

St Lucia Set to Benefit as a RIM Destination Saint Lucia is now officially one of the destinations in the Caribbean where a node of the RIM will be located. The Caribbean RIM Platform Initiative (CRPI) for regional cooperation, investment and trade has as one of its objectives the establishment of a framework for the stimulation and enhancement of investment and trade relations, including trade in services. The node located in Saint Lucia will serve the entire Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). This announcement was made during the fourth Trade and Investment Conference and the second RIM Conference held at Earth University in Costa Rica from August 29-30, 2017. Chairperson of the grouping and its adviser, Dr Mark Griffith, also named the other nodes to include Panama, Barbados, as well as Cuba and Haiti. Guyana will serve Guyana and Suriname. Over the years, Trinidad, Barbados and Jamaica have been the main beneficiaries and promoters of trade and Investment between the region and Central America. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has a partial scope/bilateral trade agreement with Costa Rica. Griffith expects a change in that trend and hopes that, following this year’s successful conference in Costa Rica, the Eastern BusinessFocus

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Caribbean will feature more prominently. This view is well supported by David Jordan, Chair of FRIEETAD in the OECS Inc., one of the organisers of the Conference, and Ramiro Crawford, of Limon Roots in Costa Rica. During the Conference, Costa Rica President, Luis Guillermo Solis, also announced Port Limon as one of the provinces of Costa Rica as a Special Economic Zone for the Caribbean. The Conference was also addressed by the Minister for the Environment, Edgar Guiterierrez Espelta. This year’s Conference was attended by business persons, primarily young entrepreneurs, including a group from Ecuador. The students of the Green Valley High School were also special guests. During the B2B sessions, a major leisure maritime investment between Trinidad and Costa Rica was explored, while Belize, through Hot Mama Belize, also explored avenues to launch its sauces and condiments in the Costa Rica market. Other promoters sought to market indigenous clothing designs. Next year’s event is scheduled for the last week in August 2018 in either a Caribbean territory or Central America once again. ¤

Key Report Taps Benefits of Offshore Medical Universities to Small CARICOM States

Key Report Taps Benefits of Offshore Medical Universities to Small CARICOM States At the end of September, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) headquarters in Port of Spain hosted an expert group meeting (EGM) which discussed the ECLAC study “A global value chain analysis of offshore medical universities in the Caribbean.” According to ECLAC, the study takes a closer look at the Caribbean offshore medical university (OMU) cluster. It examines the contributions that the OMUs make to their host countries. Other factors affecting the competitiveness and long term viability of the OMU cluster in the Caribbean were discussed by experts from Barbados, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. “The OMUs are distinct from traditional regional medical universities; the former target and train students seeking to practice medicine in the North American market, while the latter train students to practice in the Caribbean territories,” ECLAC explained. The factors favouring the Caribbean as a location for OMUs include close proximity to the US, lower tuition costs, language similarities, low requirements for setup, and the excess demand for medical education in the US. “The OMUs provide a series of distinct economic benefits, including the expenditures by students and faculty, as they spend on accommodation, travel, personal expenses and other goods and services. The OMUs also contribute to their host economies

by the corporate and student taxes paid by the medical universities and their enrolled students; the income tax paid by the local faculty staff in the medical universities; and the tariffs charged upon imported products.” The ECLAC meeting found that the benefits of hosting OMUs could prove especially significant for some of the smaller economies of the sub-region, such as those of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Dutch territories which have un-diversified revenue earning potential, lack mineral natural resources and rely mainly on agriculture and tourism to earn revenues. “The study provided several policy recommendations for improving the competitiveness and optimizing the economic contribution of the OMUs to regional economies. Some of these include avenues for further integration of the sector, e.g. exploring options for increased utilization of regionally trained nurses along the value chain, the harmonized accreditation of the OMUs in the cluster and using the industry to improve general health care domestically.” In Guyana, there are a number of offshore universities, including the Indian-owned Texila American University. That University recently unveiled a brand new multi-million dollar Campus at Providence, East Bank Demerara in Guyana. ¤

BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

ECONOMY & TRADE

World Bank says Reducing Risks in the Caribbean Key to Spur Investment, Growth

World Bank says Reducing Risks in the Caribbean Key to Spur Investment, Growth A new World Bank report says reducing risks in the Caribbean and other developing countries is key to spurring investment and growth. The report says a stable business environment, effective regulations and political stability are among significant drivers of foreign direct investment (FDI) into developing countries. The survey of 750 executives of multinational corporations is part of the Global Investment Competitiveness Report 2017–2018, the first of a biennial series exploring the drivers of investment competitiveness in developing countries, the World Bank said. The report was launched at the World Bank’s Investment Competitiveness Forum which brought together corporate executives, donor partners, and academics, and senior policymakers of developing countries that have implemented significant investment policy reforms. The report finds that international investors prioritize political stability, security, macroeconomic conditions, and conducive regulatory environment when deciding where to make investments that can spur growth and create jobs. “A business-friendly legal and regulatory environment along with political stability, security, and macroeconomic conditions are key factors for multinational companies making investment decisions in developing countries,” said Anabel Gonzalez, Senior Director of the World Bank Group’s Trade & Competitiveness Global Practice. “Combining a survey of global investors with analysis of investment policy issues makes this report a powerful contribution to our BusinessFocus

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understanding of how developing countries including fragile states can de-risk their economies and unlock FDI,” it adds. The report explores how FDI creates growth opportunities for local firms, assesses the power of tax holidays and other fiscal incentives to attract FDI, analyzes characteristics of FDI originating in developing countries, and examines the experience of foreign investors in countries affected by conflict and fragility, according to the World Bank. Combining first-hand investor perspectives with extensive research and data analysis, the report highlights the importance of a conducive and low-risk investment climate for multinational as well as local companies. It recommends specific reforms that can help countries attract foreign investment and maximize its benefits for development, according to the World Bank. “The ‘Global Investment Competitiveness Report’ goes beyond an examination of broad trends in foreign investment. It explores key drivers of FDI in depth,” said Ted H. Chu, the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) chief economist. “It also offers practical and actionable recommendations to help developing countries ensure they get the most out of international investment.” The World Bank said the effort to increase FDI flows into developing countries reflects the importance of the private sector in meeting global development goals. ¤

Saint Lucia Slips to 91 in World Bank Doing Business Report Doing business in Saint Lucia has not gotten easier in 2018. The annual Ease of Doing Business Index from the World Bank downgraded Saint Lucia from 86 to 91 out of 190 surveyed countries. • What caused the slide? The Ease of Doing Business index studies the key processes for starting a business. Each component is scored for an overall Doing Business rank. Saint Lucia lost the most ground in the dealing with construction and getting electricity processes. Dealing with construction permits proved more tedious in 2018 – Saint Lucia dropped 20 points from 2017. A total of 14 procedures are involved that take more than 100 days to complete at a cost of more than $6500. Nonetheless, Saint Lucia leads the Caribbean having the most expeditious construction process.

In 2017, the World Bank flagged Saint Lucia for making the process to get electricity more difficult due to LUCELEC requiring a land registry extract for new customers. Despite other adjustments in 2018, the cost of getting electricity has stymied Saint Lucia’s progress on the Doing Business index. The six procedures to install electricity at an average Castries warehouse could run you more than $40,000. Saint Lucia is still second in the region to Antigua & Barbuda for getting electricity. Regulations for paying taxes and protecting minority investors improved and there were nominal changes in the other steps for starting a business. The World Bank again ranks Jamaica number one for doing business in the region. ¤

Caribbean Countries Ranking In Doing Business Report Saint Lucia Slips to 91 in World Bank Doing Business Report y

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ECONOMY & TRADE

OAS and OECS to Co-operate on Development Issues During the signing ceremony, the OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagro, recalled that among the 34 active OAS member states, six are also member states of the OECS.

OAS and OECS to Co-operate on Development Issues

After signing the agreement, the OAS leader said, “This brief ceremony represents a reaffirmation and a strengthening of the spirit of collaboration which both the General Secretariat of the OAS and the OECS Commission acknowledge as critical to the realization of our mutual goals for improving the lives of the people whom we serve.” For his part, the Director General of the OECS, Dr Didacus Jules, himself a former recipient of an OAS scholarship, discussed the benefits of the agreement in that area.

OECS Director General, Dr Didacus Jules (L), with OAS Secretary General, Luis Almagro

The Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission recently signed a cooperation agreement to strengthen their cooperation in areas related to development in the region, with special emphasis on education and training opportunities.

“We are very gratified to sign this agreement; it covers a number of areas, but historically education is one of the key ones and included is not just an assistance in helping to popularize and spread the scholarship program of the OAS but importantly to make use of some of the existing instruments available through the OAS such as the platform for teacher education and training,” he said. In the framework of the ceremony, the leaders of both organizations discussed how they could join forces to assist in efforts to recover from the effects of recent natural disasters in Dominica. ¤

French Oil Company Total Makes Foray into Guyana French Oil Company Total Makes Foray Into Guyana

France’s Total has agreed to pay US$1 million for an option to buy a 25 percent stake in an oil exploration block offshore Guyana, its first foray into an area close to where ExxonMobil made one of the largest discoveries of the last decade. Eco Atlantic Oil & Gas, a small Canadian exploration company which earlier this year was listed on London’s junior AIM market, said recently, Total now had the option to acquire the stake in the Orinduik Block for another US$12.5 million, following the analysis of recently collected 3D seismic data. “In the event that the option is exercised by Total, the deal proceeds will recoup all our expenses on the expanded 3D BusinessFocus

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programme and fund us for drilling a minimum of two wells based on current well costs,” said Gil Holzman, President and CEO of Eco Atlantic. If Total proceeds with the deal, Eco Atlantic’s interest in Orinduik will fall to 15 percent, while partner Tullow Oil maintains a 60 percent stake and the block’s operatorship. Tullow Oil declined to comment and Total was not immediately available for comment. Eco Atlantic’s London shares were up 9.5 percent at 1057 GMT and traded up to 19.5 pence, the highest in more than five months. Tullow’s shares traded 2.1 percent higher, while Total was down 0.3 percent. “It is of course positive to see a company such as Total show interest in this exploration licence, but the manner of the agreement, as an option, shows a certain degree of to-beeducated geological caution on the part of Total,” said analysts at Jefferies. The waters offshore Guyana and Suriname have been a hotbed for oil and gas exploration since ExxonMobil made its huge Liza discovery in 2015, part of the Stabroek Block where it estimates lay 2.25-2.75 billion barrels of oil. In June, ExxonMobil and its partners gave the go-ahead for the $4.4 billion development of Liza, one of a handful of mega-projects approved at a time when the oil industry remains in cash-saving mode. (Reuters) ¤

Government Continues to Deliver on Tax Relief with Three Year Land and House Tax Exemption

Government Continues to Deliver on Tax Relief with Three Year Land and House Tax Exemption Government reduce the Value Added Tax (VAT), cut the former administration’s Vehicle License Increase by 50 percent and increase the School Feeding Programme and School Transportation subsidies. Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Growth, Job Creation, External Affairs and the Public Service, Honourable Allen Chastanet brought the legislation before the House of Assembly on Tuesday 31 Oct 2017, explaining that this three year exemption will benefit 11,220 registered residential homeowners who will save $5.2 million annually.

The Government of Saint Lucia continues to deliver on tax relief measures and passed an amendment to allow Residential property owners to benefit from a three-year exemption on Land and House Tax Act for 2017, 2018 and 2019. The relief measure forms part of the Government’s “Five to Stay Alive” pre-election promise which has already seen the

Said Prime Minister Chastanet: “It means that the owner of a residential property will not pay Land and House Tax for the three mentioned years. The total impact of this three year exemption is that residential homeowners obtain a reprieve from current taxes and an opportunity to take advantage of the ongoing tax amnesty to settle their arrears with the Inland Revenue Department. In addition it provides the Property Tax Division an opportunity to further strengthen its administrative framework to enhance the administration of property taxes in Saint Lucia.” ¤

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ECLAC Wants Closer China, Caribbean Ties ECLAC Wants Closer China, Caribbean Ties

ECLAC Revises Economic Growth Projections For The Caribbean

ECLAC Revises Economic Growth Projections for the Caribbean The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has revised its 2017 growth projections for economic activity in the region, foreseeing 0.3 per cent expansion for the Caribbean. In 2018, ECLAC is predicting a 1.9 per cent expansion for the Caribbean.

ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena Delegates attending the first high-level Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) academic forum have underscored “the enormous opportunities” for economic, social, political and cultural cooperation between China and the LAC. According to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), delegates particularly recognised these opportunities “in the current international context marked by uncertainty, the effects of climate change and the revival of protectionist trends.” Chile’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Heraldo Muñoz, spoke of “the significance of holding a gathering of this nature in our region for the first time, just months before the Second Meeting of Foreign Ministers from CELAC and China scheduled for next January in Santiago. “It will be, without a doubt, a historic milestone in that it will allow us to deepen ties between both sides even further. The opportunities for cooperation across diverse areas are huge,” he said. The Director General of the Institute of Latin American Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (ILAS-CASS), Wu Baiyi, noted that while China and Latin America and the Caribbean may be geographically distant, encounters such as this forum help to strengthen ties between both sides. “As Chinese President Xi Jinping put it, friendship can bridge distances,” he said, adding that cooperation between China and Latin America and the Caribbean is “of the utmost importance, especially in a world as globalised as today’s.” ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena said “there is no better time than the present, marked by economic and political uncertainties and dire environmental effects worldwide, to open a debate between China and Latin America and the Caribbean.” ECLAC said delegates, on different panels, have been addressing the economic reforms in China and their implications for Latin America and the Caribbean, especially ahead of the upcoming 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China during October in Beijing. (CMC) ¤ BusinessFocus

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But overall, it foresees an average expansion of 1.2 per cent for Latin America and the Caribbean this year, which is slightly above the forecast from last July. A rebound in the region’s economies is expected for 2018, with growth averaging 2.2 per cent, which would be the highest rate since 2013, ECLAC said. As in the last few years, it said growth dynamics are seen differing between countries and sub-regions. ECLAC said the economies of South America, specialized in the production of primary goods (particularly oil, minerals and food), will grow at a positive rate (0.7 percent) this year after two years of economic contraction. “Greater dynamism is expected for this sub-region in 2018, when it is expected to grow two per cent on average,” ECLAC said, noting that Central America’s economies are forecast to expand 3.4 per cent this year and 3.5 per cent in 2018. For the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, average growth is seen at 0.3 per cent for 2017, a figure that was downwardly revised versus July’s projection, mainly due to the damage caused by Hurricanes Irma and María in some countries of that subregion. In 2018, however, ECLAC said “increased dynamism is forecast with a growth rate of 1.9 percent, influenced in some cases by spending efforts aimed at reconstruction, as well as a somewhat more dynamic global context in terms of growth and foreign trade.” According to ECLAC, “the capacity of the region’s countries to generate a more dynamic economic growth process that is sustained over time depends on the space for adopting policies that support investment, which will be fundamental for mitigating the effects of external shocks and averting significant impacts on economic performance in the medium and long term.” In this context, ECLAC said bolstering both public and private investment is “essential,” along with diversifying the productive structure to achieve one with “more value added and greater incorporation of technology and knowledge. (CMC) ¤

ECCB Governor Antoine Commences Second Round of Country Outreach Mission

IMF Projects Economic IMF Projects Economic Growth for Some Growth Caribbean Countries for Some Caribbean Countries

Alleviating the plight of small traders when transacting business in regional markets, and promoting competitiveness, productivity and global connectivity through greater use of digital payments solutions, were among the broad issues discussed as Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) Timothy N. J. Antoine commenced the second round of country outreach missions with engagements in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said recently that the economic prospects for the Caribbean are generally improving and that growth in the tourism dependent economies in 2017-18 is projected to be 2. 4 per cent, up from 2.1 per cent last year.

The Country Outreach Missions are in keeping with the ECCB’s strategy to improve stakeholder relations. They are intended to engage and solicit input from political, social and business leaders to better identify ways for the ECCB to support the development of its member countries.

In a report titled “Latin America and the Caribbean-Stuck in low gear” the Washington-based financial institution said that the baseline projections reflect data available before the impact of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, which hit the Caribbean recently.

The mission to St Vincent and the Grenadines took place over the period 25 – 26 October, where Governor Antoine met with the Cabinet and Members of the Opposition, representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, civil society, commercial banks and the media. During the engagements Governor Antoine presented the ECCB’s strategic vision and priorities; and the scorecard for St Vincent and the Grenadines, which reviewed the country’s performance in relation to the Bank’s key strategic priorities of maintaining the stability of the currency, financial sector resilience, promoting fiscal and debt sustainability and economic development and competitiveness.

It said that the data do not, therefore, reflect the devastating impact of these hurricanes on a number of countries in the region and the risk they pose to their growth outlook, at least in the short term.

The other broad areas discussed included: • Improving resilience to climate change in areas such as construction and infrastructural development, fiscal legislation and improved agricultural practices; • Strengthening the implementation capacity at the national and regional levels to better access finance, for development and climate change adaptation; • Improving access to credit to small businesses and enhancing financial education and awareness; and • Revamping the education system to cater to the new digital economy. Governor Antoine describes the discussions in St Vincent and the Grenadines as “very fruitful” and expresses gratitude to all the stakeholders for their participation and valuable contributions. He says the ECCB looks forward to working in partnership with these partners to identify solutions to the issues identified. ¤

But in the report, the IMF noted that for commodity exporters, growth is projected to rise in 2017–18 to 1.3 per cent, from –3.3 per cent in 2016. “There is, however, substantial variation across countries. Economic activity in tourism-dependent economies is estimated to have expanded in the first half of 2017. There are a few exceptions, however, such as Barbados, where growth in 2017 is estimated to have slowed, reflecting necessary fiscal consolidation efforts,’ the IMF said. It said that in a number of cases, weather swings and hurricanes are expected to take a toll on overall growth this year, including in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Haiti, which is still rebuilding from the effects of Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. The financial institution in its Regional Economic Outlook report noted that slightly faster growth is projected for 2018, based on the acceleration in global demand, as well as country-specific factors, such as the expected entry into full operation of a new international airport in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. (CMC) ¤ BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

ECONOMY & TRADE

Caribbean Investment Forum puts resilience into sharp focus Caribbean Investment Forum Puts Resilience Into Sharp Focus

A high-level meeting of representatives from Caribbean governments, development partners, and regional organizations was recently hosted in Saint Lucia with a call for urgent investment into infrastructure more resilient to climate change to allow Caribbean island nations to achieve clean energy and sustainable development plans. In the wake of the shocking damage inflicted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, delegates focused on rebuilding national infrastructures which will withstand extreme weather and give them the chance to implement ambitious climate action plans put forward under the Paris Climate Change Agreement. Nyasha K.K. Hamilton, Environment Educator from the Ministry of Economic Planning, Sustainable Development, Industry, Information and Labour of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, said climate change should be seen as not just an environmental issue, but a developmental one as well. Sen. Hon. Dr. Ubaldus Raymond, Minister in St Lucia’s Ministry of Finance said: “It is technically feasible to construct buildings, roads and other infrastructure that can withstand Category 3 and higher hurricanes, but the cost of new construction, especially for Category 5 hurricanes would be significantly higher, and in some cases, unaffordable. According to Dr. Raymond, many countries are experiencing Category 4 hurricanes so there is need for further research and analysis.” Inspired by the Pacific Energy Conference in 2016, which raised more than USD $1 billion for Pacific Island energy projects, the meeting was aimed at galvanizing key development stakeholders to lay the groundwork for a wide range of projects across many sectors, to provide clean energy, safe drinking water, and ecofriendly transport solutions among others. The six member states of OECS have set ambitious targets in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) for environmental sustainability and protection from climate change. NDCs are national climate action plans submitted by signatories of the Paris Agreement setting out their plans for reducing carbon emissions and for adapting to climate change. ¤ BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Liberty Global Restructures, to Establish Latin American & Caribbean Operations

Liberty Global plc (“Liberty Global” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: LBTYA, LBTYB, LBTYK, LILA and LILAK), the world’s largest international TV and broadband company, recently announced that Balan Nair, currently Chief Technology & Innovation Officer for Liberty Global, will assume the position of President and CEO of its Latin American and Caribbean operation once the split-off from Liberty Global occurs, which is expected around the end of the year. Mr. Nair brings to his new role nearly 25 years of experience in the telecommunications, internet, cable and media industries. As one of Liberty Global’s top executives over the last 10 years, he has managed the group’s fixed and mobile network operations, broadband and video product development and strategic planning. He currently oversees a workforce of 7,500 employees and an operating and capital budget of more than $5 billion in Europe, as well as the technology and product roadmap for Latin America. Mr. Nair will remain in his current position with Liberty Global until the split-off is completed, and a search is already underway for his successor. Liberty Global CEO, Mike Fries, who will serve as Executive Chairman of the Latin American company after the split-off, said: “Balan is an exceptional technologist and operating executive who has delivered tremendous value to our company as CTO. He has led us into the future with next-generation broadband, video and mobile products, and has transformed our entire technology operating model. I am excited that Balan has agreed to lead this new company into the future, and I look forward to continuing our close working relationship as part of the broader Liberty family.” Balan Nair added: “It’s been a privilege to work with and learn from Mike Fries and John Malone, and I am proud and humbled to have the opportunity to continue collaborating with them in my new role as President and CEO of Liberty’s Latin American and Caribbean operation. I plan to leverage my experience to build operating and strategic momentum for us in one of the world’s most exciting growth markets.” In addition to Mr. Fries, who will serve as Executive Chairman, and Balan Nair, the board of the new company is expected to include John Malone, currently Chairman of Liberty Global, Liberty Global directors Paul Gould and Miranda Curtis, and Liberty Global CFO Charles Bracken. Liberty Global has also identified three additional directors who will add regional expertise and strategic value – Eric Zinterhofer, lead independent director and former chairman of Charter Communications; Alfonso de Angoitia, Co-CEO of Grupo Televisa N.A.; and Brendan Paddick, former board member of Cable & Wireless Communications Plc, and founder and former CEO of Columbus Communications. ¤

Caribbean Companies Urged to Take Advantage of EPA Benefits Trinidad & Tobago’s Minister of Trade and Industry Paula GopeeScoon said in spite of some challenges, the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) has the potential to help local and regional companies penetrate European markets.

and intellectual property, transparency in public procurement, environmental and social aspects and personal data protection. It also pertains an over-arching developmental co-operation chapter.”

“The EPA has the potential to expand market opportunities for the regional private sector within the European Union (EU)” she said. Gopee-Scoon spoke recently at the Third Meeting of the CARIFORUM-EU Parliamentary Committee Meeting hosted at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

She said while the EPA has not yet come into force it has been provisionally applied since 2008 by all parties with the exception of Haiti. She pointed out that there are challenges and referred to the first review of the EPA and said that market penetration for regional companies has been very difficult.

She said nine years ago this month, the EPA Agreement between the CARIFORUM states and the EU was signed, ushering a new legal basis for preferential trade between the two regions. The purpose of the Agreement is to make it easier for people and businesses from the two regions to invest in and trade with each other and thus to help Caribbean countries grow their economies and create jobs.

Boleslaw Piecha, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of European Parliament’s Delegation to the CARIFORUMEU Parliamentary Committee who also spoke said that the EU Delegation would visit several local companies who have already entered the EU market including Angostura and T&T Fine Cocoa. “The EPA is a very good agreement which provides trade and investment opportunities,” he said. ¤

The Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) is a subgroup of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States and serves as a base for economic dialogue with the EU. She called on visiting EU Parliamentary Members who were at the meeting to influence the EU Commission in adopting a more flexible approach in the challenges which CARIFORUM countries face. “Especially in this time of difficult economic conditions and our vulnerability to natural disasters.” She called the EPA a “comprehensive trade and development agreement.” “The Agreement addresses a number of areas like trade in goods, services and investment, competition policy, innovation

Paula Gopee-Scoon Minister of Trade and Industry BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

IN THE KNOW

A section of Jamaica's North-South Highway, one of the major projects that China has undertaken in the Caribbean and Latin America region.

China Reaffirms Commitment to Caribbean, Latin America

China Reaffirms Commitment to Caribbean, Latin America According to a foreign ministry document, China will encourage its enterprises to expand and optimise investments in Latin America and the Caribbean on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. Zhang Run, Deputy Director General of the Caribbean and Latin America Department of the of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at a press briefing, held up Jamaica's North-South Highway, Brazil's and Ecuador's hydro-power plants, and Peru's copper mine as major projects that China has undertaken in the region. The Brazil project, he said, is one of the world's biggest powergenerating and supply companies in the world, while Jamaica's North-South Highway is the first build, own and operate project undertaken by a Chinese company outside the mainland. “There are many more examples of projects undertaken in Latin America and the Caribbean that have enhanced the cooperation between that region and China,” said Zhang. “Latin America and the Caribbean, like China, are developing countries and we will continue [to play a role to ensure economic development and prosperity,” he added, while praising the region for supporting the One China policy. Panama, which now supports the policy, was “welcomed to the circle of friends”. Noting that there are 2,000 Chinese enterprises in the Latin American and Caribbean region with investments of US$27.3 billion, Zhang said the region is the second-biggest destination of Chinese overseas investments, only behind the Asian continent. “The Latin America and the Caribbean region is like an extension of China's Silk Road project, and we are ready to get more deeply involved,” said the foreign ministry official. “There is the peopleto-people bond despite the distance. We believe in the equality of all countries — big and small — as we continue to work together for lasting peace.” BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

He said there are also opportunities for scholarships and training, and announced that China will, in 2018, have training opportunities for 500 journalists from Latin America and the Caribbean, as he stressed the “important” role of the media in cultural exchanges. At the same time, he announced that the second Forum of China and the Community of Latin America and the Caribbean (ChinaCELAC Forum) will be held next year in Chile. He said tremendous progress has been made since China hosted the first forum in 2014. According to the second China Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean, published in November 2016, the forum has provided a new platform for cooperation between the two sides, setting the course for simultaneous and complementary development of bilateral and collective cooperation between China and the region. “The development of China cannot be possible without the development of other developing countries, including countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Since 2013, the Chinese leadership has set forth a series of major initiatives and measures on strengthening China's relations and cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean in a wide range of areas, which have provided new development goals and new driving forces for the relations,” said the paper. The publication of the second paper, said China, is a blueprint for the future and provides a comprehensive explanation of the new ideas, proposals and initiatives in China's Latin America and Caribbean policy “for the new era, and promote China's cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean”. ¤

Social Media Etiquette for Business

Go Lean Or Go Home?

By Kezia Preville

• Don’t misrepresent your business. Fact checks exist. • Don’t respond rudely to fans. One bad review can cause unnecessary damage. • Don’t assume each platform is the same. Research which ones suits your business. • Don’t keep trying to sell, share informative info as well. Developing a holistic social media plan aligned with the business’s communication strategy and marketing objectives, is a good place to start. A business account needs to reflect the values of the company and add value to the other mediums used to promote the business. It also gives you access to competitors, and of course, competitors will be watching your every move. So, plan well down to the image or video and the message attached to it. Some best practices which can help before posting include:

A decade ago, social media barely existed. As consumer needs changed, so did the various social media platforms (albeit to keep up with the latest trends and gain access to valuable consumers). Some were able to keep their head above water like Facebook and others retired to the kiddie pool like MySpace. With such an explosion of social media owing in part due to the emerging technologies helping everyone gain access to everything at any time with the handy mobile phone, having your business on social media has never been more important. Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to name a few, have become integral to a company’s survival. These not only gave insights in the consumers experience but act as a great way to gain more market share through the various applications – especially information sharing. As a relatively new phenomenon constantly faced with upgrades and restrictions, business accounts have flooded the Web with some positive and negative results. Why should a business be concerned with how their social media accounts are managed? The simple truth is business accounts aren’t personal accounts. Your personal opinion can shape the company’s social responses but shouldn’t determine it. If a business wants to reach its consumers and gain access to potential ones, social media platforms have paved the way. As you know, everyone has an opinion and with the growing liberal movement, no one is shy to voice it through social media for the world to see. However, there are some housekeeping rules which affect businesses when it comes to social media (which personal pages are seemingly immune too). To get a better sense of the proper social media etiquette for a business: • Don’t ever mix your business with pleasure. Your business brand should stand on its own. • Don’t post randomly with no substance. Have a message and share it. • Don’t be reactive, some planning is advised. • Don’t constantly share the same post. Customers will get annoyed.

• Research the various platforms before posting. • Test various posting times as this will differ depending on your clientele. • Go back to the objectives. Does the post add value? • Always respond to comments, politely. • Keep the conversation interesting for your target audience. • Stay away from auto-messaging. Customers want a personal touch. • Try not to engage in trashing the competition. • Post with caution. Proofreading is a must. • Managing a business page is not entry level work. Hire a professional. • Add some great PR pieces in with promotions. Consumers like businesses who give. • Make posts easy to read and understand. • Avoid plagiarizing. Give credit to your source. • Hashtags can be very distracting. Strike a balance to maximize your reach. If your business is on social media and you do not have a plan, develop one. Sites like Hootsuite and Buffer offer support and step by step tips to help develop a strategy guide that is right for you. Although business accounts are generally free, ensure social media has an allocated budget as its reach is outweighing traditional mediums and should be given the same importance. Need more information, learn more from AdVizze Consulting Inc or visit www.ad-vizze.com ¤ Kezia Preville is a Business Development and Marketing Specialist with over 10 years’ experience in various industries. For more information on Business Development, Marketing, PR and Event Management, contact her at AdVizze Consulting Inc or kezia@ ad-vizze.com or visit www. ad-vizze.com. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

CXC Signs Partner Agreement With ACCA

IN THE KNOW

Flow Supports New Folk Research Centre Publication

CXC Signs Partner Agreement with ACCA

Flow Supports New Folk Research Centre Publication

With the nation’s month-long celebration of its Creole heritage and culture now well underway, the recently renamed Msgr. Dr. Patrick Anthony Folk Research Centre has announced an exciting new project in honour of its eponym. The project is a book entitled The Road To Mount Pleasant, featuring selected essays on Saint Lucian culture. Compiled and edited by John Robert Lee and Embert Charles, the tome is a belated 70th birthday gift for Msgr. Patrick Angus Butcher Anthony, also known as Paba. The noted Roman Catholic cleric, some of whose essays are featured in the compilation, was ordained shortly before the Folk Research Centre was established in 1973. Since, Father Anthony and the Folk Research Centre have been heavily engaged in research into, as well as documentation and promotion of Saint Lucian culture. The project, which is set for completion during Creole Heritage Month, has received a financial boost from Flow, Saint Lucia and the Caribbean’s leading telecommunications service provider. The company, which has been at the forefront of celebrating Saint Lucian culture and cultural icons through the years, has been a staunch supporter of the Folk Research Centre. The two entities have partnered time and again for the staging of Jounen Kweyol activities in communities across the nation. Flow Saint Lucia Communications Specialist, Terry Finisterre said: “We are delighted to have been granted the opportunity to collaborate with the Folk Research Centre as it embarks on producing this groundbreaking publication. As a company that has been operating in Saint Lucia since the 1800’s, we at Flow believe that it is our duty to uphold our national patrimony, to promulgate Saint Lucian culture, and to assist agencies such as the FRC whenever possible. This is a commendable effort from our longtime partners in celebration of one of the true heroes of our very own culture.” The Road To Mount Pleasant features cover art by the late Sir Dunstan St. Omer, a foreword by Floreta Nicholas, an introduction by Embert Charles, and a biography of Msgr. Dr. Patrick Anthony. The esteemed list of contributors includes Lindy Ann Alexander, George ‘Fish’ Alphonse, McDonald Dixon, George Goddard, Kendel Hippolyte, Alcess Ismael, Dr. Kentry JnPierre, Marcian W.E. Jean-Pierre, Dr. Didacus Jules, Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy, Vladimir Lucien, Dr. Anthea Octave, Professor Gordon Rohlehr, Kennedy Samuel, the late Harold Simmons, Professor Hazel Simmons-McDonald, and Karl R. Wernhart. ¤ BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

The Barbados based Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) providing for the establishment of mutual co-operation between the two institutions. The landmark agreement, that will be in place for three years in the initial period, is seen as a significant step for the region. According to CXC Registrar Glenroy Cumberbatch, the MOU leverages a natural synergy between ACCA and CXC and is a significant milestone in regional and international cooperation. “CXC, a premier provider of globally competitive curriculum development services, examinations, certification and education services is delighted to partner with a global brand such as ACCA to provide incentives for Caribbean students and learning and development opportunities for Caribbean teachers,” he said. Head of Business Development with the ACCA, Paula MarcelleIrish, said the ACCA is pleased to partner with CXC – the Caribbean’s premier examinations body. “ACCA continues to grow in its influence across the region, and partnering with CXC will speak directly to our objectives of providing unlimited possibilities to those persons possessing the aptitude and attitude for success in finance and accounting,” she said. With this agreement, collaboration will include but is not limited to: teacher workshops, syllabus review and development, support for regional top performers, employability initiatives and marketing and promotion of joint events and activities. The Caribbean Examinations Council, was established in 1972 under Agreement by the participating governments in the area to conduct and regulate examinations, award appropriate certificates and diplomas and prescribe the qualification requirements of candidates. CXC comprises 16 participating countries across the Caribbean, and in its 45 years has expanded its services to include syllabus and curriculum development, test construction, teacher training and psychometric analysis among others. ¤

Group appoints new head in Jamaica corporate and banking law, mergers & acquisitions, corporate restructuring. Noel joined Scotiabank in Jamaica in 2001 as legal counsel and led the Legal, Compliance and Corporate Secretary departments before moving to Canada in 2008 on a leadership development rotation in Toronto. In 2010, he took on the role of District VicePresident for East New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. He returned to Toronto in 2012 where he worked in global risk management. In 2013 he was appointed managing director, Caribbean East, leading the bank's operations in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

David Noel takes the helm as president and CEO of Scotiabank Group Jamaica today. His appointment follows the resignation of Jacqueline Sharp who held the position for four years. Noel is an attorney-at-law and CFA charterholder with numerous years of experience in banking across a spectrum of functionalities including commercial and retail banking, credit risk management, Loan/Credit agreements, compliance - financial services, corporate secretary, anti-money laundering compliance,

In November 2016 Noel was appointed deputy chief executive officer of the Scotia Group Jamaica Ltd with responsibility for the subsidiary units, including retail and commercial banking, life insurance, investment management and brokerage, microfinance and mortgages. Speculation that he might be a replacement for Sharp was denied by the bank at the time. Noel obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree with honours from the University of the West Indies in 1995, the Certificate of Legal Education from the Norman Manley Law School in 1997, and became a CFA charterholder in 2006. ¤

Bounty introduces six exciting Flavours and gets ready for Export Bounty Rum, the spirit of St. Lucia, has introduced its six exciting new flavours. Bounty Rum took to the Gros Islet Friday Night Street Fair to celebrate the introduction of its family of six flavours. For decades, St. Lucians have enjoyed Bounty Gold –the spirit of St. Lucia. Now there is Bounty Coconut, Bounty Gold, Bounty Lime, Bounty Premium, Bounty Spiced and Bounty white. One of the new additions, Bounty Spice celebrates St. Lucia’s love affair with spices. Bounty Rum has traditionally defined the rum experience in St. Lucia and intends to continue doing so by urging patrons, through a new tagline “Love that Lucian Rum”. A number of local artistes entertained the Gros Islet street fair during the launch of the six flavours of Bounty Rum. Local entertainment has been the root of Bounty’s relationship with the St. Lucian community. The six engaging Bounty flavours are now available islandwide, and for the first time, Bounty Rum will be available for export globally. ¤ BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS

Sandals Foundation And CDB Supports Innovative Coral Restoration Project In Saint Lucia

Sandals Foundation and CDB supports innovative coral restoration project in Saint Lucia By Dr. Owen Day, Executive Director, CLEAR Caribbean

The recent devastation caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria was a stark reminder of the increasing vulnerability of small tropical islands in a warming world. Scientists warn that coastal communities will be particularly at risk from a dangerous combination of more intense storms, accelerating sea level rise and dying coral reefs – all of which are exacerbated by warmer seas. Life-threatening storm surges will be more common, and the cost of slow onset impacts, like coastal erosion, will threaten the economies of Caribbean nations. Over 80% of the region’s beaches are already eroding and often undermining adjacent coastal infrastructure. The cost of addressing these threats using hard engineering will be enormous. The importance of coral reefs and mangroves as natural coastal defences is well known, but it is only in recent years that scientists and coastal managers have started to examine large-scale coral restoration as a strategy to strengthen coastal protection, marine tourism and reef fisheries. Regional efforts have focused mostly on two species of coral – Elkhorn and Staghorn. These fast-growing branching corals once dominated the shallow reefs of the Caribbean, providing shelter for fish and lobsters, and coastal protection from storms and swells – shallow coral reefs typically dissipate as much as 85% of wave energy. A deadly coral disease (White-Band Disease) in the 1980’s and 90’s decimated over 95% of the regions Elkhorn and staghorn. The survivors seem less vulnerable to diseases and higher BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

temperatures, but their low numbers and uneven distribution are hampering their recovery. Growing and propagating these resilient corals, as a form of assisted recovery, is now seen as a regional priority. In May 2017, a coral restoration pilot project funded by the Sandals Foundation was started on the West Coast of St Lucia, as a collaboration with CLEAR Caribbean Ltd., the Department of Fisheries, ANBAGLO (St Lucia’s dive association) and the Soufriere Fishermen’s Cooperative. The project has established two coral nurseries with over 1,300 corals growing vigorously on the specially-designed corals trees. Weekly maintenance of the nurseries is done by a small dive shop (Action Adventure Divers) and local fishers who have been trained by members of the CLEAR team (http://www.clearcaribbean. org/). After about 8-9 months on the nursery, the corals are planted on the reef to help restore the marine ecosystem. The partners are now developing a sustainable financing mechanism with Sandals Foundation and Sandals Watersports to sustain the involvement of local stakeholders, dive operators and fishers in the nursery and coral outplanting programmes. The Caribbean Development Bank has recently decided to join forces with the project and is funding the development of a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in Coral Restoration with the Ministry of Education in St Lucia and CLEAR. The NVQ will be the first of its kind and will allow a growing number of local stakeholders to gain practical training in how to restore Caribbean coral reefs. Resilience through partnerships. ¤

EU Proves Euro 12 Million to CDB to Support Geothermal Energy Development The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has received euro 12 million in grant funding from the European Union Caribbean Investment Facility (EU-CIF) to support the development of geothermal exploration in the Eastern Caribbean, under CDB's GeoSmart Initiative. The EU-CIF funds will be used to provide investment grants in the initial phases, and technical assistance grants to support capacitybuilding initiatives and interconnection studies, the CDB said in a news release. The GeoSmart Initiative was developed by CDB to provide financing to support sustainable geothermal development in five countries — Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. For these countries, the development of geothermal energy could be an alternative to costly and non-renewable imported fuels. “Geothermal exploration development is key to Eastern Caribbean countries achieving a diversified energy matrix and increased energy security,” the release quotes Tessa Williams Robertson, head of the CDB's Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency Unit. “Although the governments have identified this as a priority, there are significant barriers which constrain investment and achievement of their objectives. The EU-CIF contribution addresses critical gaps in the programme by providing grant

funding which is especially important in the early stages of geothermal exploration.” The EU-CIF funds will be distributed under two components: 1. Euro 9.5 million will be used to provide investment grants to fund slim-hole drilling services or full-size exploration drilling; and 2. Euro 2.2 million will finance capacity-strengthening and interconnection feasibility studies. The capacity-strengthening portfolio will build government capacity by developing a cadre of technical officials who can make critical decisions and manage issues related to geothermal exploration development. The feasibility study component will facilitate submarine interconnection of electricity grids and allow the CDB to commission feasibility studies on interconnection options for exporting electricity generated from geothermal resources. A further Euro 300,000 will cover the costs of an audit, evaluation and visibility. CDB's GeoSmart Initiative targets the establishment of up to 60 megawatts of geothermal energy-generating capacity in the five Eastern Caribbean countries. This is expected to reduce dependence on imported oil across these countries by up to an estimated 722 thousand barrels per year. ¤ BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

TOURISM IN FOCUS

while enhancing our common goal of protecting and regenerating valuable coral reef systems, as well as providing more jobs for the people of the region.”

CHTA and DEMA Sign MOU on Caribbean Collaboration

Tom Ingram, DEMA’s President and CEO, said as a worldwide trade association for the recreational diving and snorkelling industries, including more than 1,400 member companies worldwide, DEMA was keen to strengthen its relationship with the Caribbean through CHTA. “Building valued relationships is critical for our organizations and we look forward to leveraging benefits for both our memberships through this smart partnership,” he said. ¤

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and the Diving and Equipment Marketing Association (DEMA) have agreed to work together to enhance the attractiveness of Caribbean destinations to diving enthusiasts. This stems from the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two nonprofit organizations in which they have committed to advocating for coral reef protection, more coral nurseries and cleaner seas through the reduction of plastic pollution. The agreement was signed at DEMA’s trade zevent for the diving, action water sports and travel industries, which was hosted recently. The organisations agreed they will collaborate on identifying effective and appropriate means of generating artificial reefs in the region, as well as partnering with organizations working on reef restoration and coral regeneration. Also agreed upon was the need to promote and expand dive tourism in the region, and for both associations to educate their members on dive travel and on the potential benefits of dive tourism for the Caribbean, such as increased employment for local populations. Promoting the Caribbean Sea as a safe and feasible year-round dive destination, plus allaying fears of hurricanes through the provision of factual information, were also listed as priority activities for the newly partnered organizations. The two associations also saw eye to eye on reciprocal membership and shared promotions, agreeing on the inclusion of a DEMA booth at the Caribbean Travel Marketplace event run by CHTA, and, in turn, a booth for CHTA at the next DEMA Exposition. CHTA President Karolin Troubetzkoy said the agreement would “expand the horizons for the membership of both associations, BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

CHTA President Karolin Troubetzkoy (center) confirms the agreement with DEMA CEO Tom Ingram (left) and DEMA Board Chair Tim Webb

Caribbean Urged to Focus More on Canadian Tourist Market A senior official of the Canadian Tourism Research Institute (CTRI) is challenging the Caribbean to capitalise on the increase in the number of Canadian visitors coming to the Caribbean especially during the off-season. Senior Research Associate Jennifer Hendry, addressing delegates attending the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) sponsored State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC 2017) in Grenada said that over the past six seasons, winter season arrivals (November to April) from Canada grew at an average rate of 1.8 per cent. “At the same time, summer season arrivals grew at an average rate of five per cent. This shift does present an opportunity to further increase the region's market share during those offseason months.” Hendry said over two million Canadians have visited the Caribbean for the first six months of this year, representing a 5.2 per cent increase over the corresponding period last year. However, she noted that the overall increase is not reflective of individual country performances as some countries experienced a decline. “A few countries are still experiencing ongoing declines in visitation but most destinations have seen increased arrivals so far this year,” she said, adding that the increase in some Caribbean countries such as Cuba and the Dominican Republic is driven by price. “Seventy-two per cent of those arrivals this year are to the Dominican Republic and Cuba. Already this year visits to the Dominican Republic have grown by 8.2 per cent and Cuba is up about two per cent,” Hendry said. In addition to price, overall travel to the region is particularly affected by Canadian personal economics, the US exchange rate and the weather.

Jennifer Hendry Senior Research Associate Canadian Tourism Research Institute (CTRI) “Eighty-four per cent of those who travelled to the Caribbean just this past summer live in Ontario and Quebec and these two provinces had a very unseasonably cool and wet summer. So, they seemed to want to flock out of the country in order to actually experience summer in July when we should have had our summer season. “When asked to rate their destination on a variety of factors that we presented, favourable weather received the highest rating from these travellers,” Hendry said. She told the conference that the Caribbean should develop multigenerational travel packages and promote the need for security and access to other non-beach activities, in order to attract the older travellers. Hendry said this is of particular importance since for the first time in the history of Canada, the older travelling population is larger than the 14 and under age group. Additionally, this group is more active than their predecessors. ¤ BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

TOURISM IN FOCUS

Saint Lucia Named "Caribbean's Leading Honeymoon Destination 2017" By the World Travel Awards

Saint Lucia NameD "Caribbean's Leading Honeymoon Destination 2017" By the World Travel Awards For the fourth consecutive year, Saint Lucia has been named the “Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination 2017” by the World Travel Awards (WTA). The island has received the recognition in eight out of nine years since 2009. World Travel Awards celebrates its 24th anniversary this year and is acknowledged across the globe as the ultimate travel accolade. World Travel Awards Caribbean & North America Gala Ceremony had been scheduled to take place at Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa on Saturday 16th September, but was cancelled because of Hurricane Irma. World Travel Awards President & Founder, Graham E. Cooke, said: “We congratulate the winners while commiserating with our friends in the Caribbean Islands and Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Alabama, devastated by the recent hurricanes. The heart wrenching images of areas that have suffered destruction are very saddening to all of us at World Travel Awards. Our thoughts are with all those adversely affected.” Saint Lucia was nominated in two other categories for Leading Cruise Destination and Luxury Island Destination, along with nine Saint Lucian resorts and tour operators who were also finalists in their categories. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Agnes Francis, Executive Chair of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority said: “This is a real honour. We are thrilled to have been recognised. We echo the sympathy and support for our sister islands at their time of recovery. However, 75% of the Caribbean region remains open for business and relies on tourism to thrive so we look forward to continuing to welcome holidaymakers and honeymooners.” World Travel Awards Ceremonies are widely regarded as the best networking opportunities in the travel industry, attended by government and industry leaders, luminaries and international print and broadcast media. World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire. Each year World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective successes within each key geographical region. ¤

Eastern Caribbean Islands Assure Cruise Lines of Readiness For More Calls

Eastern Caribbean Islands Assure Cruise Lines of Readiness For More Calls Antigua and Barbuda joined forces with St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia in a series of fact-finding meetings with the region’s major Cruise Lines and made it clear they were ready for the upcoming cruise season. Antigua and Barbuda’s Tourism Minister Hon. Asot Michael, along with his counterparts Hon. Lindsay Grant of St Kitts-Nevis and Hon. Dominic Fedee of St Lucia led a delegation of cruise tourism officials to meet with several Miami-based Cruise Lines, including Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL), Carnival Corporation, and Norwegian Cruise Lines (NCL). The meetings’ objective was to share information about the post-hurricane health of the ports and destination and to seek an update from each cruise line on short and medium term alterations to their cruise itineraries. Government officials from the Eastern Caribbean and Cruise Line executives who met in Miami to discuss 2017/2018 Cruise Calls to the respective islands.

The Eastern Caribbean destinations verified that they not only collectively had the capacity to fill some short-term berthing gaps caused by the destruction in neighbouring ports, but had already put processes in place to ensure that existing berthing booking details are available to each port to ensure that congestion is minimized. The opportunity was also used to update each Cruise Line on the latest port and cruise facility development and the availability of new services such as fuel bunkering and the possibility for provisioning while in the port of St. John’s, Antigua. Minister Michael not only thanked the Cruise Lines for the confidence they had demonstrated by including additional calls for the destination, but also expressed appreciation for the their efforts in support of hurricane recovery throughout the region, but more so for Barbuda which was devastated by Hurricane Irma and Dominica, which saw widespread damage from Hurricane Maria. “The collective efforts of our collaboration to work with our Cruise Line partners show that we are stronger and better when we work together to move forward as one, in the interest of all our destinations. The commitment to our Cruise Line partners is that we will ensure that we offer a superior product by doing everything necessary to improve the guest experience during their visit with us,” he said. Areas of significant interest to each Cruise Line included the availability of new tours and attractions to ensure that adequate shore excursions were available. This would add to the appeal of the new itineraries and ensure strong customer satisfaction scores. The Cruise Lines also reinforced the need to work closely and collectively with the destinations to repair the negative perceptions in the market that the entire Caribbean was devastated.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Tourism Asot Michael greets CEO and President of Royal Caribbean International, Michael Bayley.

The three Eastern Caribbean destinations agreed to collaborate with the Cruise Lines in an effort to have key influencers and travel bloggers cruise to each destination to share firsthand positive images and messages that the Caribbean is indeed open for business and offers a first class experience to its cruise guests. ¤ BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

TOURISM IN FOCUS

Region Needs to Cash In on Heritage Tourism Market

CTO Ranks Saint Lucia As The Second Fastest Growing Destination Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, says the growth in heritage tourism offers tremendous opportunity for Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. Bartlett noted that recent international tourism trends have pointed to a shift from the traditional “sun, sea and sand” phenomenon towards a more interactive experiential form of tourism.

CTO Ranks Saint Lucia as the Second Fastest Growing Destination Saint Lucia’s tourism sector continues to enjoy robust performance recording the second fastest growth in the region among Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) member countries. Bermuda leads the member countries as at August with 11.9% increase in stayover arrivals over 2016, followed by Saint Lucia at 9.2%. Saint Lucia also recorded the third highest percentage increase for the month of August at 11.4%, behind Belize at 19.1% and Grenada at 16.9%. August marked the third consecutive month of double digit growth for Saint Lucia and fourth for the year; a feat surpassed only by Bermuda with five double digit increases so far for the year. The United States continues to be the market leader with total stay-over visitor arrivals of 12,922 in August 2017. The United Kingdom (UK) showed a marked increase of 36%, a muchwelcomed result after a difficult year for the UK market in 2016. For the month of August, cruise sector visitor arrivals were 20,341 a 6.3% increase over the previous year, contributing to the sectors strong performance. Year to date the cruise sector has recorded an increase of 21.1%. This sector is poised for greater increases in 2018 as the port expansion at Pointe Seraphine Berth No.1 is scheduled for completion in December. The berth 1 expansion, will allow port Castries to accommodate two quantum class vessels, with guest capacities exceeding 4700 each. The tourism sector has seen some important expansion in the year so far with the opening of the Royalton Saint Lucia Resort and Spa, which has 455 rooms in two hotels one catering to families and the other, adults only. Serenity Villas at Coconut Bay Resort in Vieux Fort has also unveiled its 36 luxury villas also catering to adults only. Other planned developments for later this year such as the opening of Harbour Club expected to be opened this winter. The Bel Jou Hotel has undergone significant renovations with a new façade, the addition of 12 new rooms a new rooftop lounge and several other improvements, and is expected to reopen this November. These new offerings will contribute significantly to boosting the sector’s growth even further. ¤ BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

“Over the last decade or so there has been a dramatic increase in the number of tourists, who travel exclusively for the experience of partaking in new, exhilarating and exotic cultures in faraway shores,” he pointed out. “According to the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, the heritage tourism segment represents one of the highest yield tourism groups, ahead of both traditional mass markets and other niche tourism audiences such as arts,” he noted. He said that heritage tourists spend 38 per cent more per day and stay 34 per cent longer than traditional tourists. “From the standpoint of the Caribbean, recent research estimates that up to 75 per cent of adults, who visit the region engage in some form of cultural activity or event. We believe that Jamaica and other islands in the Caribbean and other exotic regions can be positioned as premier destinations for cultural tourism,” he added. “Indeed, Jamaica, like most other Caribbean islands, is widely known for its myriad of spices and herbs, its native food preparation techniques and dishes, its many exotic fruits and grains, its music, its dance forms, its language and other aspects of its exotic culture,” he said. Bartlett said the exotic, exhilarating culture of the islands hold tremendous potential to promote sustainable tourism development in the region by aligning the tourism sector with cultural preservation and infusing more of the cultural element in tourism packages. “This will ensure that tourists visiting these islands will not only get an opportunity to partake in local culture and heritage but will also develop a profound appreciation and respect for the cultures of others,” he highlighted. He said that ordinary citizens will also benefit as they will get increased opportunities to showcase and market their cultural and creative products and services though craft vending, street food establishments, island tours, food festivals, musical and cultural concerts, art exhibitions; and visits to museums, galleries and heritage sites. “The impact of promoting cultural tourism will thus be educational, social and as well as economic,” Bartlett added. ¤

Saint Lucia Records Yet Another Win For Tourism Education

Saint Lucia Records yet Another Win For Tourism Education Chocolat in the bosom of our world heritage site; the majestic Pitons. Is it any wonder that St. Lucia holds the title of Leading Honeymoon Destination”? The Ministry of Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries congratulates Mr. Alfred on a job well done and for representing Saint Lucia to the fullest. The Ministry also wishes to extend sincere thanks to Digicel Saint Lucia for facilitating Mr. Alfred’s travel to Saint Thomas for the Youth Congress. BELOW IS THE SPEECH BY ST. LUCIA’S ROHAN ALFRED Bonne Après Midi Tout Moun. Good Afternoon Everyone. Experiential tourism is defined as the “Experiences that connect the visitor with the essence of a place and its people”. Travelers desire to venture beyond the beaten tourist paths and delve deeper into authentic, local culture, connecting with people in ways that enrich their lives and create lasting memories. Home Stay, Farm-based, Community-Based among others are all encompassed under the broad heading of Experiential Tourism. Seated in your comfortable chairs and restrictive suit and tie you may be asking yourselves “Why should developmental priority be shifted away from sun sea and sand; A mantra which has sold our destinations for decades?”

Rohan Alfred with CHTA President Karolin Troubetskoy The Caribbean Tourism Organization’s State of The Industry Conference (SOTIC 2014) held in St. Thomas US Virgin Islands from September 17-19, came to a close on Friday September 19, with the much anticipated Youth Congress. The theme for this year’s SOTIC was Realizing the Vision: Positioning Caribbean Tourism for Major Change and in true Caribbean style, the eleven Junior Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism delivered. The youth delegates spoke on the topics of “Experiential Tourism” and “Accessible Tourism”, sharing their respective islands initiatives and product development concepts for each, in addition to the ways in which the regional can capitalize on and develop niche markets around the individual themes. For the second consecutive year, Nevis and Saint Lucia have secured first place and second place respectively. The Junior Ministers both presented CTO delegates and judges with exciting thought provoking ideas on Experiential Tourism. Junior Minister for Saint Lucia, fifteen year old Rohan Alfred of the Saint Mary’s College identified the Tree-to-Bar initiative at Hotel Chocolat as one of the many experiences which await visitors to Saint Lucia. Below is an excerpt from his presentation: “Imagine for a moment madam chair a farm based tour where luscious coco pods are harvested to produce delicious, mouthwatering decadent chocolate; a complete Tree to Bar Experience. The experience continues when honeymooners immerse themselves in a sea of chocolate at the luxurious Cocoa Juvenate Spa. Such is the experience which awaits visitors at Hotel

It is because it HAS sold my destination for decades, likewise your own fellow junior ministers. The question therefore is “What sets my Helen of the West apart from your respective islands?” The Development of Experiential tourism is paramount because a diversified tourism product is needed to cater to an equally diverse tourist market. Imagine for a moment madam chair a farm based tour where luscious coco pods are harvested to produce delicious, mouthwatering decadent chocolate; a complete Tree to Bar Experience. The experience continues when honeymooners immerse themselves in a sea of chocolate at the luxurious Cocoa Juvenate Spa. Such is the experience which awaits visitors at Hotel Chocolat in the bosom of our world heritage site; the majestic Pitons. Is it any wonder that St. Lucia holds the title of Leading Honeymoon Destination? A classic example of a diverse tourism product is the rising popularity of Community Based tourism captioned in the Global theme for World Tourism day. Daniel Levine in the 2013 State of the Industry Conference stated “Authenticity is Transparent” and it is off this premise that St. Lucia is well placed to offer a uniquely rich cultural experience. Two of our most noted community based initiatives are Gros Islet Street party and Anse La Raye fish fry. There, visitors delight in culinary offerings and revel in the unique sounds of St. Lucia’s musical talents. Madam Chair, Junior Commissioners and Ministers of Tourism it was John Keats who so aptly said “Nothing ever becomes real, till it is experienced.” As a tourism dependent region we must then ensure that we deviate from the traditional modes of enticing the visitor and grasp their individual nuances so completely that the next thought is “What Next?” I thank you. ¤ BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Think About Your Eyes

THINK ABOUT YOUR EYES By Glad Taylor, CEO of Visions Express

Why Do Seniors need regular Eye Examinations? Did you know that an eye exam can be as effective as a physical in determining your health? The Optometrist or Ophthalmologist may suggested a dilated eye examination. The dilation eye drops simply open the pupil larger for a clearer view inside the eye. Unfortunately, many people over 50 are put off going to the eye doctor if they feel like their vision has not changed. Comprehensive eye exams are important for many reasons. Your eyesight may change very gradually over time, and you may not even know that you need a stronger prescription. Your eye doctor will also perform several tests during the eye examination that will rule out eye disorders such as glaucoma, cataracts or retinal problems. Along with eye-related concerns, eye doctors may even be able to detect other health issues during a comprehensive eye exam. In fact, you may even find yourself leaving the eye doctor with a referral to another specialist because of a specific test that your optometrist or ophthalmologist performed during your comprehensive eye exam. Here are just a few health issues that may be discovered during an eye exam: 1. Diabetes - Diabetes affects the small capillaries in the retina of the eyes. These blood vessels may leak blood or a yellowish fluid, and this may be discovered in an eye exam. If your eye doctor notices this condition, you may have a condition called diabetic retinopathy, and referral to your GP doctor to control your blood sugar levels is vital 2. Hypertension - Blood vessels in the eye may exhibit bends, kinks or tears, and this may be an indication of high blood pressure. 3. Autoimmune disorders - If the eye is inflamed, this may be a BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

sign of Lupus or another autoimmune disorder. 4. High cholesterol - The cornea may have a yellowish appearance or a yellow ring around it which can be a sign of high cholesterol. There also may be plaques in the blood vessels of the retina which could indicate elevated cholesterol. 5. Thyroid disease - One of the telltale signs of thyroid disease are bulging eyes or protruding eyeballs. 6. Cancer - If your eye doctor notices that the structure of your eye is unusual, you may be referred to a specialist. Ocular melanoma can develop in the cells that make pigmentation in the eye. Your eye exam can also help detect skin cancer 7. Tumors - Droopy eyelid or irregularly shaped pupils could possibly indicate a neck tumor or an aneurism. These are problems which relate to the medical condition of your whole body and the Optometrist or Ophthalmologist would refer you to your primary care doctor for an early treatment plan. But, there are also several detectable eye problems which can be found in a routine eye examination, which can be treated to prevent loss of vision. 1) Glaucoma. People of African descent. People with Glaucoma in the family. People with a high, short sighted, prescription are the most prone to Glaucoma. Glaucoma is a build up of fluid pressure in the eye. If detected early this can usually be treated to prevent loss of vision by simple daily eye drops ( cost $15 ecd a month), or by a minor surgery to open the trabeculectomy . Once vision is lost from Glaucoma it cannot be restored and

The best option is to control the blood sugar levels but there are treatments to seal the blood vessels to prevent further damage. So, if you are over 50 an annual eye examination is advised. This may not mean you need to change your glasses but it may be an early way to detect various medical problems and receive early treatment. Book an Eye Examination … check your vision is good for all aspects of your life…including driving … but also let the eye doctor advise you if you need to deal with other medical problems before they develop to become more difficult to control or eliminate . ¤ patients often don’t know they have Glaucoma until vision is lost. 2) Cataracts. Years ago cataract surgery was only performed when the cataract was very advanced. Doctors used the term” mature”. Now surgery can be performed as soon as any sign of a cloudy lens is detected. In fact some patients are now choosing to do lens replacement surgery even before a cataract develops. As cataract surgery is a major surgery procedure, health clearance from a primary care doctor is needed… therefore the younger the patient the easier this surgery is. Waiting until a person is in their eighties to perform this surgery, when the patient may have other medical complications, is often not the best option 3) Diabetic Retinopathy. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to blood vessels in the retina bursting and patchy loss of vision.

Beyond Carrots Other Foods for Eyes Healthy Eyes Beyond Carrots - Other Foods for -Healthy several other vitamins and minerals are essential for healthy eyes. Make these five foods a staple of your diet to keep your peepers in tip-top shape. Leafy Greens They're packed with lutein and zeaxanthin—antioxidants that, studies show, lower the risk of developing macular degeneration and cataracts. Eggs The yolk is a prime source of lutein and zeaxanthin—plus zinc, which also helps reduce your macular degeneration risk. Citrus and Berries These fruits are powerhouses of vitamin C, which has been shown to reduce the risk of developing macular degeneration and cataracts.

You've probably heard that carrots and other orange-colored fruits and vegetables promote eye health and protect vision, and it's true: Beta-carotene, a type of vitamin A that gives these foods their orange hue, helps the retina and other parts of the eye to function smoothly. But eating your way to good eyesight isn't only about betacarotene. Though their connection to vision isn't as well-known,

Almonds They're filled with vitamin E, which slows macular degeneration, research shows. One handful (an ounce) provides about half of your daily dose of E. Fatty Fish Tuna, salmon, mackerel, anchovies and trout are rich in DHA, a fatty acid found in your retina—low levels of which have been linked to dry eye syndrome. ¤ BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

HEALTH & WELLNESS

PAHO Director Re-elected for Second Term

Dr. Carissa F. Etienne was re-elected recently for a second five-year term as Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) by the Member States of the organisation. Ministers of Health meeting at the 29th Pan American Sanitary Conference voted unanimously to re-elect Dr. Etienne. Her candidacy, which was not contested, was submitted by the Government of Dominica, her native country. She will assume her second term as Director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau, PAHO’s Secretariat, on February 1, 2018. In her acceptance speech, Dr. Etienne cited her “commitment to deliver to all of our peoples, from all walks of society, a long and productive life, with quality care into our senior years; access to quality health services without fear of impoverishment; access to medicines and vaccines that we can afford, including effective antibiotics; freedom from preventable diseases, with reduced exposure to disease vectors.” She said access to sexual and reproductive health services, to healthy, nutritious food and to clean water and adequate sanitation were important, along with safe refuge and adequate health care in the face of disasters and health emergencies. “Action by the health sector alone will not be sufficient to achieve our objectives,” Dr. Etienne said. “This is why, when I visit your countries, I meet with heads of state and officials from across other sectors. Looking beyond government, however, I am convinced that we must mobilize our partners in academia, civil society and the private sector” to improve health. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who attended the conference, said, “I can see the unity of this region” in voting unanimously for Dr. Etienne. “I have seen her leadership in dealing with Zika, hurricanes and emergencies and how swiftly she reacts. We will communicate often and work well together.” During Etienne’s first term, the countries of the Americas achieved several important health milestones with PAHO’s support. These included the elimination of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome in 2015 and the elimination of measles in 2016. Countries also advanced in the elimination of neglected diseases including trachoma, Chagas disease, and onchocerciasis (river blindness) and the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. PAHO Member States also approved a regional strategy to achieve universal health, becoming the first WHO region to do so. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Dr. Carissa F. Etienne Under Etienne’s leadership, PAHO has supported Member States in coping with major epidemics, including Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever, as well as disasters that have ranged from hurricanes and catastrophic flooding to earthquakes and droughts. PAHO’s technical cooperation has also helped countries strengthen their abilities to detect and respond to health threats of potential international concern, under the International Health Regulations (IHR). Dr. Etienne began her first five-year term as PAHO Director on 1 February 2013, after being elected in September 2012. Previously, from 2008 until 2012, she had served as Assistant Director-General for health systems and services at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Prior to that post in Geneva, she was assistant director of PAHO from 2003 to 2008, in charge of five technical areas: Health Systems and Services; Technology, Health Care and Research; Health Surveillance and Disease Management; Family and Community Health; and Sustainable Development and Environmental Health. During her tenures at WHO and PAHO, Dr. Etienne has led efforts to promote universal health coverage and renew primary health care to strengthen health systems to be more integrated and to function better. She has also spearheaded policy directions for reducing health inequalities and advancing health for all through universal coverage, people-centered care, the integration of health into broader public policies, and inclusive and participatory health leadership. ¤

Diabetes Basics

DIABETES BASICS By Dr. Celia McConnell-Downes

As a medical student, I was told the bread and butter in medicine for the Caribbean are diabetes and hypertension. Two decades later, I am still in agreement with this statement as the number of patients diagnosed continues to rise. Too often when a patient is asked about his/her medical history, you hear, “well I have a little pressure and little sugar”. The nonchalant manner in which these conditions are viewed totally amazes me as many persons are still unaware of the many complications associated with these two conditions. Since we’re approaching the holiday season with all its “good food” and November is Diabetes Awareness month, our focus in this issue will be on Diabetes. Diabetes is a disease in which the body’s ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin is impaired, resulting in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates (starch) and elevated levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood and urine. Insulin is made by the pancreas and acts like a key to let glucose from the food we eat pass from the blood stream into the cells in the body to produce energy. According to the International Diabetes Federation, in 2015 there were approximately 415 million adults with diabetes; by 2040 this will rise to 642 million. The greatest number of persons with diabetes is between 40 and 59 years of age. Diabetes caused 5 million deaths in 2015 and every six seconds a person dies from diabetes. Three main types of Diabetes Type 1 diabetes previously called juvenile-onset diabetes, is usually caused by an auto-immune reaction where the body’s defence system attacks the cells that produce insulin. These patients produce very little or no insulin. It affects people of any age, but usually develops in children or young adults. Type 1 diabetics need daily insulin injections in order to control their glucose levels. Type 2 diabetes previously called non-insulin dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes, accounts for at least 90% of all cases of diabetes. It’s characterised by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency, either or both of which may be present at the time diabetes is diagnosed. Type 2 diabetes can occur at any age and is often associated with overweight or obesity, which itself can cause insulin resistance and lead to elevated glucose levels. The condition can be managed initially with diet and exercise but over time most people will require oral drugs and or insulin. Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a form of diabetes occurring during pregnancy. It’s associated with complications to both mother and baby. GDM usually disappears after pregnancy but women with GDM and their children are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. What is Prediabetes? It’s a “pre-diagnosis” of diabetes. Think of it as a warning sign. It’s when your blood sugar is higher than normal, but not high enough to be considered diabetes. It’s an indication that you could develop type 2 diabetes if you don’t make some lifestyle changes. Risk factors for Diabetes The risk factors for type 1 diabetes are still being researched.

However, it may be linked to a family history of type 1 diabetes, environmental factors and exposure to some viral infections. Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include: • Family history of diabetes • Overweight • Unhealthy diet • Physical inactivity • Increasing age • High blood pressure • Ethnicity • Impaired glucose tolerance • History of gestational diabetes • Poor nutrition during pregnancy Common symptoms of diabetes • Frequent Urination • Frequent thirst • Frequent hunger • Extreme fatigue • Blurry vision • Slow healing cuts/bruises • Weight loss • Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands/feet Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, neurological problems and lower-extremity amputations. Complications can be prevented or significantly delayed by exercising good control of diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol. There’s no cure for diabetes, but it can be managed. Balancing the food you eat with exercise and medicine (if prescribed) will help you control your weight and can keep your blood glucose in the healthy range. Regular follow up with your doctor and doing the required tests are also essential to identifying early kidney disease, etc. Many people with diabetes live long and healthful lives. So as we head into the holiday season try to remember that glucose (sugar) can be found in many foods such as bread, breadfruit, cakes, fruits, ground provision, pasta, pies, rice, sodas and even foods and drinks labelled “no added sugar”. Therefore, pay keen attention to food labels and remember, everything in moderation. ¤

Dr. Celia McConnell-Downes is a General Practitioner of sixteen Diabetes Basicsyears. She graduated from the University of Guyana in 2001 with her MBBS and in 2013 she earned her Postgraduate Diploma in Diabetes (Distinction) from the Cardiff University. Dr. McConnellDownes has spent over a decade working in the emergency rooms at Victoria and Tapion Hospitals and is a certified American Heart Association instructor in Advanced Cariac Life Support. Dr. McConnell-Downes currently operates her GP practice in the Fitz St. Rose Medical Centre on Micoud St, Castries where she sees patients of all ages and gender. She has a keen interest in diabetic patients as they are so vulnerable to developing many complications. She’s a member of the St. Lucia Medical and Dental Association, Secretary of the St. Lucia Heart, Lung and Blood Foundation and Vice President of the St. Lucia Arthritis and Lupus Association. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

We are working in rapidly changing, sometimes hostile environments where the risk of psychological injury is high. We must therefore ensure that our work and life both supports positive mental health.

Maintaining Positive Mental Health in the Work Environment

We can boost our mental health and prepare for the challenges life throws at us by improving our sleep and diet, maintaining healthy relationships, becoming more physically active and practicing mindfulness. Here are four strategies for boosting positive mental health at work: • Even if it's just for 15 minutes, pursue one of your passions. • Keep a report card on your best efforts. Each day note your three best efforts. By week's end, you'll have 15 reminders. • Make a bulletin board. Mount tangible evidence of your value. Look at the board every day and absorb what it means. Be sure to update the collection once a month. • Stop negative thinking; focus instead on how to solve problems. Make a red stop sign and post it on your phone, computer or office wall as a reminder. Every time a negative thought pops up, look at the stop sign and say "stop!" • Switch off after work. Keep a support network outside of work, and try to maintain a proper balance between work and life. Have healthy boundaries in place at work, know when it is getting to be too much. Be truthful to yourself about your needs - whether that’s going out for a lunchtime walk, leaving on time or not taking work home with you.

Maintaining Positive Mental Health in the Work Environment By Lisa Ellis In the past, the words “mental health” and “mental illness” elicited a negative reaction with the general view that those with mental illness were “mad, crazy, cuckoo, or nuts". However, positive mental health is more than the absence of problems. Everyone has problems. Throughout life, we will have problems. We will struggle with ourselves, our relationships and the demands placed upon us by others but we can learn how to be comfortable with ourselves, feel good about our relationships, be able to express emotions in healthy ways and be able to meet and cope with the demands of daily life. We must come to the realization that persons who suffer from mental illness are simply not able to meet the challenges of everyday life. We all at various times in our life can become susceptible to dealing with mental health challenges. Our work is an essential part of our life and thus our workplaces can influence our mental health. The work environment must become a place where everyone, regardless of their story, can thrive. When our working life supports our ability to thrive, the identity, income and purpose our work brings will be good for our mental health. Challenging work conditions and environments can be harmful to our mental health. Indications of poor mental health are evidenced by having: • a low self-esteem and self concept, being unable to relate to others, • being incapable of coping with personal problems • having difficulty distinguishing between fantasy, imagination and reality. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Disclaimer: The information provided is for general educational use only. The information should not be considered as advice or to be used to treat, assess or diagnose a mental health condition. Always consult a qualified mental health practitioner about any mental health concerns you might have for yourself or for others. ¤

About the Author Lisa Ellis (B.A. Psychology/Sociology), (M.Ed Clinical Mental Health Counselling) is a Psychotherapist. She is also certified in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills and PREPARE ENRICH Relationship Education. She currently operates a private practice in Vieux Fort where she sees clients (children and adults) who are affected by sexual abuse, suicide, relationship problems, behaviour problems and other challenges. She is a registered and licensed by the Allied Health Council of St. Lucia. Feel free to share your comments or questions with her at thrivetherapynow@gmail.com.

EVENTS 2017/8 LOCAL AND regional entertainment, trade shows and conferences

Events

10th Annual St. Lucia-Taiwan Trade Show Johnsons Centre,Gros Islet, Saint Lucia – Nov 24th-26th 2017

The St Lucia Department of Commerce, International Trade, Investment, Enterprise Development and Consumer Affairs in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) will this year host the 10th Annual St. Lucia-Taiwan Partnership Trade Show. The Trade Show will feature exhibits of products and services manufactured and offered by businesses from both St Lucia and the Republic of China (Taiwan) as well as workshops promoting entrepreneurship and business development in St. Lucia.

saint lucia chamber of commerce - annual general meeting Gros Islet, saint lucia – Nov 29, 2018 The Annual General Meeting will feature the report of the President and Executive Director on the activities of the Chamber during the last fiscal year in addition there will be the elections for a new executive for the ensuing year.

Saint lucia business awards Location TBA – January 27, 2018 The St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture host the St. Lucia Business Awards annually specifically during the Nobel Laureate week to help promote and foster excellence within the St. Lucia Business Community. The Chamber looks to promote with the help of the awards entrepreneurship, innovation and giving back to ones community among others.

18th annual caribbean energy conference Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, Nassau, the bahamas – Jan 25 & 26, 2018 Join electric industry executives from throughout the Caribbean region at Platts Caribbean Energy Conference to network with colleagues and hear details on the latest power initiatives. The conference will cover; Whats in the power pipeline, Fuel switching, Price outlook and availability, Renewable development outlook, Financing and Distributed generation.

Caribbean travel marketplace 2018 san juan, puerto rico – jan 30 - feb 1, 2018 The Caribbean's largest marketing event! Caribbean Travel Marketplace affords tourism suppliers the opportunity to meet face-to-face with wholesalers from around the world selling Caribbean vacation travel over the course of two days of business meetings. For more info visit: https://www.chtamarketplace.com/

Capacity caribbean 2018 san juan – February 13 & 14, 2018 Now in its 12th year, Capacity Caribbean 2018 will bring together over 200 key senior-level executives, industry influencers and high-level experts from the Caribbean region to connect, network and forge regional and international partnerships.

BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

Major Moves

Cybelle Brown has been appointed as the new Chief Marketing Officer of The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority. Cybelle is a Saint Lucian with over 17 years of Sales, Marketing, Branding and Business Development experience. Her career in tourism started with the Saint Lucia Tourist Board where she ran the Saint Lucia Jazz Festival and later developed and managed a family business, Stonefield Resort. She then led the Eastern Caribbean marketing for Air Jamaica Vacations before moving on to become a senior media executive with Viacom. In addition to rebranding and launching two BET Networks; BETJ and Centric, she became the Vice President of Integrated Marketing for BET Networks, managing the company’s sales team. During her tenure, Ms. Brown was instrumental in boosting sales, gaining millions in incremental revenue by leveraging all BET and Viacom platforms including, television, digital, mobile, print and outdoor. Her vast experience includes the managements of BET’s event production company and leading the production of over 50 hours of television and digital content. Throughout her career at Viacom, she was a member of the Viacom Marketing Council which included the Marketing Heads for MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, Spike TV and Paramount pictures. Cybelle was also the executive in charge of managing BET’s movie studio business and developed marketing partnerships and creative promotions for all new releases with Warner Brothers, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, Paramount, and Disney. With Cybelle’s extraordinary and diverse experience in corporate America, and with her passion for and commitment to Saint Lucia, the SLTA will be positioned to access and drive unprecedented marketing and promotional opportunities for the island. BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

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MAJOR MOVES

Jovan Marshall has been appointed as the Software and Solutions Analyst for J.E. Bergasse & Company Ltd. Jovan Kirkson Marshall first joined J E Bergasse in the service department as a service technician working on Xerox machines. Prior to joining the company, he gained experience working with F.I.N.M.A.N as a Data Clerk and an IT Technician; Marshall’s Electronics as a Technician and at Wireless Doctors as a Cellphone Technician. From 2007 he worked five years at J.E. Bergasse in the service department as a Customer Service Engineer with responsibility for repairing Xerox devices, ATM Machines, Cash Dispensers, Lenovo Laptop’s, Desktops, Servers, and RISOS Duplicators. He then moved on to four years in Internal IT as Network Administrative Assistant responsible for providing support to the JEB Group of Companies on all issues relating to hardware, software, maintenance, user issues, troubleshooting, setup and maintenance of the equipment demo area. He proceeded to acquire the position of Head Technician for SurePay. Jovan now holds the position in the Sales Department as a Software and Solutions Analyst with responsibility for technical consultation, assessments, solutions recommendation and delivery of professional services in the area of presale, implementation and ongoing account maintenance for integrated solutions. These moves can be attributed to his interest and desires to be well informed. He has since obtained CompTIA A+ certification, RISO certification, server and PC certifications from Lenovo, ATM and TCD certification, Manage Print Services certification, Light Production Specialist, and various printer certification in Xerox. He is also an accredited service professional from HPE and holds a Ysoft SafeQ 5 Technical Analyst Certification to name a few.

Scotiabank has announced the appointment of Stephen Bagnarol as Managing Director of its operations in Trinidad &Tobago, as well as Senior Vice-President and Head of the bank's Caribbean South and East operations effective November 1, 2017 In a statement, Brendan King, Chairman, Board of Directors and Senior VicePresident of International Banking at Scotiabank said, "Stephen's extensive knowledge and experience leading teams and driving results position him well to lead our team in the Caribbean South and East." Bagnarol replaces Anya Schnoor who held the position as Managing Director since 2012 and has been promoted to the position of Executive Vice-President, retail payments, deposits, and unsecured lending for Canadian banking from November 1, 2017. King added that Bagnarol would continue to develop and implement local business strategy for the region in alignment with the bank's strategy and risk appetite and in compliance with government and regulatory laws. Bagnarol joined Scotiabank in 1998 and had his first international assignment in Mexico. In 2005, he relocated to New York as Managing director, Derivatives and Capital markets. In 2008, he was appointed to Senior Vice-President, Wholesale Banking in Panama. In 2011 Bagnarol was appointed to his current role as Senior Vice-President, Wholesale Banking in Peru.

MAJOR MOVES The Division of Tourism, Culture and Transportation, and Tobago Tourism Agency Board, are confident that Mr. Lewis possesses the skills, knowledge and expertise to move Destination Tobago forward. The Division of Tourism, Culture and Transportation, and the Board of the Tobago Tourism Agency on 1 Nov 2017 announced the appointment of Mr. Louis Lewis as the organisation’s first Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Lewis most recently served on the Saint Lucia Tourist Board from February 2008 to January 2017, in the capacity of Director of Tourism, as well as Chief Executive Officer. From 2003 to 2006 Mr. Lewis served as Saint Lucia’s Director of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, where he was responsible for the implementation of the budget policy program. Following this post, he was appointed as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Investment and Consumer Affairs, before being appointed as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation. In the 1990’s Mr. Lewis held prominent positions in several key Saint Lucia government agencies, including serving as the Head of the Research Department at the Saint Lucia Tourist Board, as an Economist with the Ministry of Finance, as well as an Economic Statistician with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank at its headquarters in Saint Kitts. Mr. Lewis’ diverse background spans the fields of Tourism Research and Marketing, Economics, Statistics, Consumer Research, Marketing, and Project Management. His experience has equipped him with unparalleled insights in strategic development planning, and places him in a unique professional position. Mr Lewis is a graduate of the University of the West Indies – Cave Hill, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a Masters of Business Administration. He is also a Certified Bank Examiner, and a Project Management Professional.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dominic Warne as our new Director of Commercial, Marketing and Communications. Dominic comes to CWI with over 20 years’ experience in marketing and sponsorship strategy and activation working for both major brands, sports rights holders and marketing consultancies. Dominic will be responsible for the development and execution of CWI’s commercial, marketing and communications initiatives. This includes: responsibility for the commercial operations and revenue generating activities; enhancing and establishing relationships with territorial boards and commercial partners; directing a new digital function to drive fan engagement, including new products and content; and improving the appeal and effectiveness of marketing campaigns and promotions. Dominic said, “I’m really excited to join CWI’s new leadership team and strengthen the iconic WINDIES brand. The flamboyant cricket, colour and atmosphere that so defines Caribbean cricket is unique. We have a great opportunity to connect with fans and excite commercial sponsors, so I’m looking forward to growing partnerships with the territorial boards and sponsors to make the cricketing heartbeat of the region beat stronger.”

Garvin Madera took up his position as the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of Caribbean Airlines (CAL) on Monday 16 October. He stated that he is looking forward to leading the transformation that the airline must embrace if it is to meet the challenges of the fiercely competitive airline industry. Madera is formerly the CEO of Digicel Play, a position he held from December 2015 until early October 2017. Prior to his role as CEO of Digicel Play, Madera served in several key leadership positions at Digicel including Chief Operating Officer, General Manager - Tobago and Chief Technical Officer, managing the company’s full operational portfolio. Madera holds an MBA from the University of Oxford, an LLB from the University of London and M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of the West Indies. The CAL Board of Directors, in a release, expressed their sincere gratitude to the former acting CEO Captain Jagmohan Singh and the Executive Management Team, “who ensured that Caribbean Airlines continued to deliver an enhanced travel experience to its valued customers, while the search for a Chief Executive Officer was taking place.” “The Board and employees look forward to the innovation and collective capabilities that would be developed under the leadership of the new CEO,” the release stated.

The appointment took effect on October 1, and Dominic will be based at CWI’s headquarters in Antigua.

BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

101

BUSINESS FOCUS

ADVERTISERS INDEX COMPANY

Advertisers Index

Page

1st National Bank

Advertising & Marketing Services

Bank of Saint Lucia

Blanchards Customs & Freight Services

CIBC

Construction & Industrial Enterprises Ltd

Cool Breeze

COURTS

COURTS Optical

Du Boulay Bottling Co.

Eagle Freight & Brokerage Services Ltd

EC Global

EGS Freight Services

Fast Cash

First Citizens Investment Services

FLOW

General Security Services Ltd.

Goddard Catering

Grant Thornton

H & L Environmental Services

J.E. Bergasse

JQ Motors

Kleydun Consulting Services

KPL Logistics

Laborie Credit Union

Lazarus Funeral Home

Michelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Electrical

Mon Repos Eastern Co-operative Credit Union

Mr Auto Parts

Peter & Company Auto

Sagicor

Sentinel Security

St. Lucia Workers Credit Union

Sun General

Tiles Plus

Tyrone's Wrecker Service

Visions Express

West Indies General

Windward & Leewards Brewery Ltd.

COVERS FLOW

IFC

Harris Paints

OBC

Automative Art

IBC

BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

102

NEW COMPANY REGISTRATIONS COMPANY

NATURE OF BUSINESS

DIRECTORS

Affordable Car Rental Ltd

Car Rental

Miriam Narcisse Rawl Alcide

Business Executive Aviation (B.E.A)

Private Charter Agent, Aviation Courier, Handling, Catering

Brian Micheal Anthony Hackshaw

C&C Industries Company

Export

Christina Joy Reed Chester St. Helen

CapBreeze Inc.

Property Holding

Las Colinas Inc.

CAPPRO Ltd.

Contracting Services

Kervin Samuel

Century Property Inc

Real Estate Services

Mark D. Maragh

Courtesy Taxi Service Incorporated

Taxi Service

Cecil William Peter Vitalis Kenny Davis

Fleet National Inc

Tool rental company, Garbage Removal Construction company

Theresa Norbert

GP Carib Pharm Limited

Distribution of Pharmaceuticals and Medical and all associated Business activities

Joanna Hossack Jermaine Lowrie

Grupotec (SL)Limited

Construction of Solar Energy Plants

Casar Alejandro Moreyra Martinez

Island Getaway Tours Ltd

Taxi Service, Touring Services and Home Rentals

Shayne Felicien Dayne William

JJ Property Management Ltd

Property Management Limited

Kezia Sam

L & E International Steam Cleaning Inc.

Cleaning Service

Laurie Ron Hutchinson Laurie Hutchinson JR. Elizabeth Gabriel

Madeleine Properties Inc

Vacation & Estate Rentals

Sabina Shera Valmont

Mingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Trading Ltd

Restaurant

Suiying Zeng Yang

Munch Inc.

Quick food Services

Luann Dorothy Maraj

Nationwide Construction Limited

Construction

Charles Anthony Joshua Daher

P.S.L Distribution Limited

Distribution of Motor oil and like products

Yanique Jared Joseph

Planet Stiletto Ltd.

Fashion retail & personal dresser. Makeup Artistry and beauty consultant.

Andra Allen - Joseph Gregory Joseph

Positive Reactions Over Secrets and Fears Inc.

Counseling and education on domestic violence and sexual violence

Souyenne Dathorne Su-Anne Robyn Charlery White Lyndell Steven Cadasse

Range Land â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Holdings Ltd

Property Holding Company

Mohammed Hassan Asaria BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

103

NEW COMPANY REGISTRATIONS COMPANY

NATURE OF BUSINESS

DIRECTORS

Ritchie’s Auto Rental Services Limited

Transportation & Vehicle Rentals.

Octavian Charles Catherine Charles

Savory & Partners (Caribbean) Ltd

Providing services associated with citizen by investment program

John Anthony Scott Atkinson

SMD CAP LIMITED

Real Estate Investment

Sharon Maria Deosaran

St. Lucia Fashion Council Inc.

The promotion and development of the fashion industry and all related industries.

Claudia Jn Baptiste Rose Lascaris Joycie Mederick

Summersled Jet Ski Rentals St Lucia Inc.

Rental of Jet Ski

Summersled Jet Ski Rentals St Lucia Inc.

Terra Foods Import Export Inc.

French Bakery, Café, Catering and all related Services.

Teddy Ratin Naika Pichi- Ayers

Tomlin Insurance Brokers ( Eastern Caribbean) Limited

Providing Insurance Service

Michael Edward William Tomlin

Valley (2016) ltd.

Property Holding Company, Construction.

Valley Holding Inc.

Williams Solar Limited

Supply, design and installation of renewable energy and photovoltaic System

Dr. David Staples Mr. Ralph Williams Mr. Leonard Payne

Woodsview Estate Inc.

Eco - Tourism

Anthony Henry

Zachok Auto Supplies Limited

Import & Sale of Automotive Parts

Denis K. Louis Denzel H. Louis Clinton H. Louis

BusinessFocus

Nov/Dec

104