St. Lucia Business Focus 105 by AMS St. Lucia

Issue No. 105 Dec/Jan 2020

RODERICK CHERRY Chief Executive Officer

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Peter & Co. Distribution

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Dec /Jan

No. 105

BF DEC/JAN 2020

CONTENTS FEATURE Invest St. Lucia

38 Message from Honourable Bradley Felix 39 Message from Chairman of the Board of ISL – Pinkley Francis 40 Meet the ISL Board of Directors 42 An Exciting Future Beckons - Unveiling the New ISL, its Mandate 44 Vision & Mission 45 ISL Providing Shopping For All Your Senses 46 Invested in the Holistic Development of Southern Saint Lucia 48 Meet the ISL Management Team 50 Team Work, How the ISL Dream Works 52 Invest Saint Lucia Supports Next Generation of Business Leaders 54 ISL Strengthens Entrepreneur Support System 56 Q & A with CEO Roderick Cherry 60 Promoting Foreign Direct Investment 62 BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING - OJO Labs to Lead the Way in St. Lucia’s Push for A 64 MANUFACTURING - Manufacturing Industry Resurfaces with Caribbean Quality Meats 66 HOTEL DEVELOPMENT - Canelles Resorts Soon To Break Ground in St Lucia 67 AVIATION - I AM Jet Centre: High-Level Experience for Jet Users 68 LAND DEVELOPMENT: Anse de Sable Faces Master Plan and Major Change 70 LAND DEVELOPMENT: Unplanned Land for Mutual Benefit 71 LAND DEVELOPMENT: ISL Aims for 500 New Property Owners 4 6

Editor’s Note Business Briefs

Governance Guru

8 Think Board Members Should Own Their Company’s Shares? Think Again!

10 The Landings - The Coffee Shop Now Open Coaching Culture

12 The Link Between Culture and Leadership

Economy & Trade

14 Caribbean Competitiveness

16 Baron Foods, Breaking New Ground in Russia 17 Saint Lucia Partners to Manage Port Castries Terminal Facilities 18 Saint Lucia Establishes Cannabis Commission 19 Local Farmers’ Markets Boost Socio-Economic Wellbeing 20 CDB President Calls for Regional Coordination in International Business Sector 21 New Look for Saint Lucia’s Seamoss 22 SMJ Beverages Saint Lucia Launches New ‘LowSugar’ Busta Chill 22 Caribbean Export Signs Three MOUs with Strategic Partners to Support the Caribbean’s Export Growth 23 Rum, Sauces Top Caribbean Exports Since 2008 Signing of CARIFORUM, EU Pact

Money Matters

24 Republic Bank Closes Acquisition of Scotiabank Operations in Seven Caribbean Countries 25 CIBC Sells 67% Stake in FirstCaribbean Bank for $797 Million 26 USAID Launches US$25M SME Funding Loan Guarantee Across Caribbean 27 NCPC Partners with IFC to Develop Modern Secured Transactions Framework for SMEs 28 Retirement, Income, Debts and Regrets 29 Make Insurance More Affordable – Says CARICOM’s LaRocque

30 Caribbean Craft Distilling - Connoisseurs of Local Fruit Brandies Business Tech

32 Practicing Climate Smart Agriculture 34 Implementing Innovation Through Motivation 36 CARICOM Looking to Remove Roaming Charges Towards a Single ICT Space

72 Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Must Reads

74 Lies, Damned Lies and Work Lies

In The Know

76 The Employee Experience and the Impact on Business 78 Customer Centric; The Best Way to Market Your Business? 79 Tourism Ministry Spearheads Plan to Ease Traffic Congestion in Castries

80 The Art of Autism: Orrin d’Auvergne’s Solo Exhibition 81 Saint Lucia Works Toward Gender Equality 81 Taiwan Contributes Charity Supplies to Saint Lucia’s Vulnerable Groups Throughout the Island

Tourism Focus

82 Make Our Region the Top Destination 83 Study Launched to Improve Tourism Strategic Planning for 2020 83 St. Lucia Showcases at Canada’s Largest Travel Show 84 St. Lucia Voted #8 in Caribbean and Atlantic 84 CTO Reports Increased Visitor Arrivals to the Caribbean 85 Antigua Gov’t Gets Green Light to Secure MultiMillion Dollar Loan for LIAT 85 Caribbean Airlines Introduces Branded Fares

Environmental Focus

86 Oceans Economy, Blue Bio Trade & Climate Change: Building Economic Diversification & Resilience 88 New Study Reveals Investments in Climate Change Are Good Business 89 St. Lucia to Finalise National Ocean Policy

Youth In Focus

90 The In PsyDA Perspective: Getting to Know the Bully 91 Anti-Violence Campaigns for Three Saint Lucian Primary Schools 92 OECS/USAID Early Learners Programme: Changing lives and improving the reading levels of children in the OECS! 93 NYC President Addresses OECS Education Ministers 93 CFYR Program Participants from Anse La Raye Graduate

Health Focus

94 Stalking and What to Do About It 96 Saint Lucia Arthritis and Lupus Association Observes World Arthritis Day 97 PAHO Hosts HEARTS Initiative Workshop in Saint Lucia 97 Serology Testing Essential for Expectant Mothers 98 Events 99 Major Moves 100 New Comapany Registrations 102 Advertisers Index

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

The Festive Season and A New Year Beckons. A Time for Reflection, New Challenges and Opportunities! How quickly time flies! It’s is already December and 2019 is almost over, the Christmas commercials are abundant in the media and decorations at the commercial establishments usher in the Festive Season. Shortly thereafter, we will welcome 2020 and all the exciting possibilities centered around another New Year! At Business Focus, we close the year 2019 with this issue of our Magazine conscious of the challenges and difficulties faced by the local commercial community. Tourism has continued to be the mainstay of our economy with continued growth and success. The island as a destination has received a number of international awards. Major investments in the construction of a new and improved Hewanorra International Airport, a new Cruise Port at Vieux Fort and expansion of Port Castries among others are encouraging developments going into 2020.

Lokesh Singh Editor / Managing Director

International Horse Racing comes to Vieux Fort in December as a new addition to our Sports Tourism initiatives causing a great divide amongst the populace with this project being given priority over the reconstruction of the new St Jude’s Hospital. Agriculture and Manufacturing are showing good growth and export potential with technical support being provided by Export Saint Lucia. INVEST SAINT LUCIA is the focus of Our Special Feature in this Issue. ISL is now under new leadership which has generated new energy in the entity. ISL has since rebranded and is positioning itself to unveil a number of new and exciting initiatives as we enter the New Year. The exciting possibilities of the Blue and Orange economies are stimulating the interest of a new wave of entrepreneurs and it is hoped that these can be explored to carve out emerging and vital sectors to further diversify the economy. Congratulations to the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce and Industry on the successful hosting of their 2019 Business Awards. Special Congratulations go out to the entire Team at 1st National Bank of Saint Lucia Ltd on being named the Business of the Year and to all of the other Winners in the various categories. We look forward to 2020 with the Government creating an enabling environment for business to thrive and also for the Private Sector to grow and expand with opportunity. We wish to thank you all for your support during 2019 and extend our sincere best wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a rewarding journey through 2020. Enjoy reading the many articles from our contributors and other articles on various subjects which continue to impact our lives. Look us up online at www.businessfocusstlucia.com and share the Magazine with your business associates, friends and family.

Happy Holidays and a Wonderful New Year! BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

BUSINESSFOCUS The Saint Lucia Business Focus magazine is published every two months by Advertising & Marketing Services Limited (AMS) Ltd., Saint Lucia. Managing Director: Mr. Lokesh Singh – lokesh@amscaribbean.com Project Manager: Ms. Ashwini Singh – ashwini@amscaribbean.com Editor’s Note

Advertising Sales: Ms. Cavell Robertson – cavell@amscaribbean.com Graphic Designer: Ms. Darleen Smith Editorial Assistance: Ms. Alisha Ally Webmaster: Advertising & Marketing Services (AMS) Ltd. Photography: Ashley Anzie | Invest Saint Lucia | Allin Fevrier The St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce Industry & Agriculture | Baron Foods | OECS | Buki Cahane Contributors: Lokesh Singh | Ashwini Singh | Dr. Chris Bart Surren Maharaj | Nirmala Harrylal | Trudy O. Glasgow Kurt Augustin | Invest Saint Lucia | The St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce Industry & Agriculture OECS | Lyndell Halliday | Tanya Smith | Kezia Preville Buki Cahane | Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) | Ginelle Nelson | Dr. Minerva King Contact Us: Advertising & Marketing Services (AMS) Ltd. John Street, La Clery P.O. Box 2003, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia Tel: (758) 453-1149; Fax: (758) 453-1290 email: info@businessfocusstlucia.com www.businessfocusstlucia.com Business Focus welcomes contributions from professionals or writers in specialized fields or areas of interest. Reproduction of any material contained herein without written approval, constitutes a violation of copyright. Business Focus reserves the right to determine the content of the publication. On The Cover: Roderick Cherry – CEO Invest Saint Lucia

Issue No. 105 Dec/Jan 2020

RODERICK CHERRY Chief Executive Officer

Jamecob's Quality Construction

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

BUSINESS BRIEFS Government Sets Sights On ‘Orange Economy’

The Government of Saint Lucia has placed culture and creative industries as one of the top ten priorities for development. The new term being used to define culture and creative industries is the orange economy. Minister responsible for Culture and Creative Industries, Sen. Hon. Fortuna Belrose believes that the creative industry can be maximized for economic growth, and is cognizant of the role that the services sector plays within the creative industries. She said government has begun to put the legal framework in place to grow the new orange economy.

IGY Rodney Bay Marina Receives 5 Gold Anchor Accreditation Again

IGY Rodney Bay Marina’s 5 Gold Anchor accreditation, equivalent to a 5-star hotel rating, which we are proud to receive for the third concessive time in nine years (Marina assessments done every 3 years).

and more importantly the facilities’ environmental procedures and processes. General Manager Sean Devaux says, “I am proud of the IGY team who worked tirelessly towards this achievement. IGY Rodney Bay Marina is the only accredited marina in the southern Caribbean with such an award. Our sister marina – Yacht Haven Grande in St. Thomas was the only platinum award in the western hemisphere.”

Dec /Jan

sustainability, the preservation of our rich Saint Lucian history, culture and heritage and our vanguard work here as we strive to eliminate single-use plastics,” says Executive Director Eroline Lamontagne.

$3.5M BBD to Support Firms to Export and Grow

Mr. Devaux who also serves as SLHTA’s Director for the Maritime Sector states that “Many vessels and captains use this accreditation to choose their destination. It gives me great honor to share this good news as we continue to improve with such assessments, specifically from an environmental stand point and gain recognition for the yachting sector on island.” The SLHTA extends congratulations to the team members and management for this Golden Achievement.

Fond Doux Plantation & Resort Wins ‘America’s Most EcoFriendly Hotel’ Award

The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) in cooperation with the European Union has awarded over $3.5M BBD (€1.5M) under their 2nd Call for Proposals for the Direct Assistance Grant Scheme (DAGS). The 2nd call for proposals was launched in April of this year and the Agency received 104 grant proposal applications from across the region and fifty-five (55) proposals have been approved for grant funding.

“It is widely acknowledged that the most significant impediment noted by CARIFORUM business when it comes to business development and expansion is the lack of access to finance” informed Damie Sinanan – Manager, Competitiveness and Fond Doux Plantation & Resort was Export Promotion at Caribbean Export. awarded the 2019 Americas’ Most Eco- “The Direct Assistance Grant Friendly Hotel at the prestigious World Scheme aims specifically to tackle this Boutique Hotel Awards ceremony held issue to enable more companies to export at the Merchant Taylors’ Hall, London on and grow.” November 6, 2019. The total grant funding awarded to The Boutique Hotel Awards is the first and CARIFORUM firms under the 11th EDF only international awards organization now stands at over $8.3M BBD or €3.7M exclusively dedicated to recognizing and the Agency intends to award more unique excellence among boutique hotels. grants in the upcoming year. The Awards, now in its ninth year, honors Grant funding has been used for a the people behind these outstanding range of projects including food safety properties and brings together members certification, equipment modernisation to of The Master Key Society where enable increased production, marketing relationships are built exclusively among and branding, product development the award winners by facilitating hotel amongst others. exchange visits between them.

This assessment is conducted by the independent Yacht Harbor Association based in the UK. The valuation takes into consideration the marina size, services, amenities / activities, mystery shoppers, “Thank you to Boutique Hotel Awards customer service, community programs for recognizing our commitment to

BusinessFocus

Business Briefs BUSINESS BRIEFS

BUSINESS BRIEFS DCA Helping Cabot St. Lucia, Invest Saint Lucia on Proposed Development

Miss St. Lucia Earlyca Frederick has copped a nomination system, and an evaluation the 2019 Miss OECS title. She outperformed mechanism designed to align with the five other contestants at a competition institution’s high standards and brand held at the Windsor Park Sports Stadium values. Ms. Danzie-Joseph credited her Forecourt. The contestants competed in success in part to her supervisor Senior the following rounds: Swimwear, Evening Relationship Manager, Sales & Platinum Wear, Cultural Spectacle in Creative Banking, Mrs. Carol Mangal, whose National Costume, Performing Talent, and “support and strong leadership earn results Question & Answer. for us individually, and as a department”. Frederick won the awards for best creative national costume, miss photogenic and best in national costume. Miss Grenada Odessa Merryman secured the first runner-up spot garnering the award for Best Talent, while Miss Dominica Marisol John placed second runner-up. She received the award for Best Evening Wear, Best in Evening Wear and Best Response to Question.

Caribbean Tourism Organisation Being Restructured

The Development Control Authority (DCA) is currently working with the Cabot St. Lucia Inc. team and Invest Saint Lucia The last OECS pageant was held in Dominica to ensure that their proposed touristic/ 20 years ago and Miss Dominica Kamala residential development inclusive of a golf Jno. Baptiste-Aaron won that competition. course proposed for the Cap Estate/Cas En Bas area is executed to the standards of the DCA and other sister agencies. The development team met with officials from the DCA on November 7 where discussions focused on the finalization of their designs. Cabot representatives indicated that they were committed to executing a design that had been tested and proven compliant with the highest international standards taking into consideration the environmental and archaeological sensitivity of the Cap Estate/Cas En Bas coastal area. To ensure best-fit designs in that regard initial site investigations are currently ongoing. Cabot St. Lucia Inc. and Invest Saint Lucia have expressed their willingness to comply with all the requirements of the DCA in observing the conditions under which approval can be obtained. The Cabot team is excited to bring to Saint Lucia their world-class standard tourism product.

Saint Lucia Wins Miss OECS Pageant

Saint Lucian Among CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Top 10 Performers in the Region

The CTO is closing its offices in New York by December 31 and the UK by January 31, 2020, and warns there may be job losses during the restructuring process. An audit of the Barbados office will also be conducted “to better streamline our operations and finances”.

“Over the past two decades, there has been much discussion surrounding the promotion and development of tourism in the Caribbean, the world’s most tourism dependent region. While there have been many visions, plans, papers written and philosophies espoused, there has been widespread acceptance that much improvement is needed to elevate Ms. Sadé Danzie-Joseph, Sales Specialist tourism development in the region,” the at the Bridge Street Branch of CIBC release said. FirstCaribbean International Bank, has emerged as one of the bank’s Top Ten These solutions included marketing the Performers regionwide for 2019. The Caribbean as a single brand, more inprestigious award is given on an annual depth research, and a greater uniformed basis in recognition of exemplary work and approach to policy formulation and dedication to the brand values of the bank. product development. The CTO said it recognises it plays a critical role in the Ms. Danzie-Joseph distinguished herself changes needed to “achieve the longas a top performer along with nine others held view to enhance tourism’s role as a in the region from among the bank’s tool for sustainable development among 2900 employees. She was also selected member states”. for a special distinction award. The news was disclosed to Ms. Danzie-Joseph by And while this exercise “will lead to some CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Country Manager, displacement”, the CTO said it would lead Ladesa James-Williams, during a surprise to revitalisation of the organisation, which is “a necessary process to ensure tourism celebration in her honour. plays its most vital role as a means to bring Mrs. James-Williams described the award about opportunity and prosperity for the as a prestigious one because it is based on people of the Caribbean”.

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

THINK BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD OWN THEIR COMPANY’S SHARES? THINK AGAIN! By Dr. Chris Bart, FCPA, C.Dir, F.CIoD

Governance Guru

Think Board Members Think Board MembersShould ShouldOwn OwnTheir Their Company’s Shares? Think Company’s Shares? Think Again! Again!

The Case “FOR” Stock Ownership Requirements for Directors The requirement for directors of public companies to own a specified number of shares in their organization has become a standard operating procedure for Boards everywhere. The logic and rational behind this so called “best practice” is that share ownership by directors:

guidelines have on board or corporate performance. Nevertheless, the belief that they do have an impact still persists with the same strong conviction once held in the Middle Ages that the earth was flat. Perhaps time will tell otherwise.

The Case “AGAINST” Stock Ownership Requirements for Directors

• helps to lessen general shareholder risk.

Notwithstanding the pervasive arguments promulgated by shareholders, institutional investors and various “institutes of directors” in favour of share ownership by board members, there are persuasive counter-arguments which need to be considered in making a final determination on this matter.

In short, share ownership by directors assures shareholders that the board is there to “maximize shareholder value”.

Various sources have contended that the major reasons against share ownership by board members can be stated as follows:

• helps “align” the ‘board’s interests’ with the interests of the organization’s shareholder community; • delivers a strong message regarding the board’s commitment to the stock price; and

As a result of these claims, it is not • a director’s ability to act independently/ objectively/impartially in the surprising that the percentage of performance of his or her duties could Fortune 100 companies that disclosed be significantly impaired under certain board ownership guidelines or holding circumstances such as: requirements in any form was reported to be 87.6% in 2016. Interestingly though, § when ‘shareholding directors’ are despite their current popularity, there is faced with the spectre of significant little proof regarding the effect that these BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

financial loss resulting from potential bankruptcy, they may find it extremely difficult to act – as required in law – in “the best interests of all stakeholders” (such as employees and other creditors) versus over-protecting the equity interests of shareholders (of which they are a part); § directors with a near-term need for share liquidity may be hesitant to back potentially solid ‘long term investments’ which they perceive to possibly have an unfavourable influence on the company’s share price in the more immediate timeframe; • e xpecting directors to hold certain amounts of shares does not take into consideration the differences in their individual willingness (given their personal risk tolerance and risk appetite preferences) and/or ability to own the stock; • highly qualified potential board candidates with limited discretionary funds (such as academics, younger millennial candidates, environmentalists, consumer advocates, “ordinary” employees, etc.) will be self-selected out of the running, thereby robbing the organization of

the significant viewpoints they might bring to the board’s conversations and decision making. These all appear to be valid and important grounds for directors not being required to own their company’s shares. However, with the exception of the last point, they would also seem to apply to the case against directors voluntarily owning any of their organization’s shares as well.

Director Compensation I would also argue that there is no need for required share ownership by directors particularly if they are being fairly compensated for carrying out their various roles, duties and responsibilities as board members. The job of a director, if it is to be done diligently, is professionally demanding, time consuming and fraught with significant personal liability. Directors therefore need to be compensated for the work and risks that they accept in taking on the job. Sometimes, especially in small start-up corporations, director compensation comes in the form of shares and stock options because these organizations do not have sufficient money to pay board members and so, a director’s “reward for services offered” comes in the form of appreciation in the value of the shares awarded and being held. However, once an organization has the ability to compensate directors with cash, the need to offer directors shares, or demand that they own them, disappears. Accordingly, to the extent that director fees are currently judged to be fair and adequate, there would appear to be no need for them to own – or be required to own – shares in their company.

Legal Duty of Directors

Naturally, wise directors will always seek out and take into consideration the views of all relevant stakeholders when making important decisions. But their decision-making thought process should be “unfettered” and not inordinately influenced by considerations of concern for one or more stakeholder groups (including themselves) versus the best interests of the corporation. This is because the organization, as a corporate entity, is generally recognized in law as a “legal person” which is completely helpless and totally dependent upon its board of directors for its care and survivability. A director’s duty of loyalty must therefore be totally and unreservedly to the organization. Share ownership threatens that loyalty particularly if it is beyond some nominal dollar level.

Director Independence Finally, there is the well established and accepted governance concept of “Director Independence” which most jurisdictions have defined to mean ‘a non-executive director who is free of any business or other relationships that would materially interfere with, or could reasonably be perceived to materially interfere with, the exercise of his or her unfettered decision making pertaining to the institution.’ In other words, the level of individual director shareholdings at a particular company may not, in and of itself, potentially interfere with their unfettered decision making. However, the perception that it could interfere, depending on the circumstances, appears to be a constant governance concern that requires boards to address.

Some Final Thoughts Boards are being called upon more than ever before to help produce high performing organizations by making high quality decisions in the best interests of their company that are “unfettered” and not distracted by self interest or loyalty to any stakeholder group. I therefore consider the case against directors owning shares in their organization to be more persuasive and more legally correct from both a fiduciary and loyalty perspective.

Interestingly, at the heart of all commentaries arguing against directors owning shares, there lies the universally recognized “fiduciary duty of directors”. This law states that a director shall always act only, and exclusively, in the best interest of the organization on whose board the director sits and NOT to any particular stakeholder group, be they shareholders, members, employees, customers, Accordingly, I recommend to Boards of creditors, environmentalists, etc. Directors everywhere that, once they

have the ability to compensate fairly their directors other than with shares, they should consider: • adopting a “no ownership” policy;

required

• rescinding any of their current minimum share ownership guidelines; and • over time, as current ‘share owning directors’ retire, replace them with others who agree to a new “no share ownership” rule until at least a majority of the board (and eventually 100 percent) can be perceived as truly independent. So here’s the big, uncomfortable question for Caribbean directors: to what extent do you think your board’s decision making quality is sufficient, appropriate and unreservedly independent? If you think that there’s room for improvement in the way your board makes its decisions and deals with real and perceived conflicts of interest, of which director share ownership is but one, you might want to consider sending them to one of the corporate governance training programs available in the region – like the extraordinarily unique 3 day Chartered Director Program (“C. Dir.”) currently being offered by The Caribbean Governance Training Institute. After all, it’s not education which is expensive, but rather ignorance. n

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.

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

The Coffee Shop at the Landings Resort and Spa

NOW OPEN! Luxurious, hospitable and serene are striking words synonymous with the Landing’s brand. The resort hugs the Caribbean Sea on the northern peak of the island boasting

The Landings St. Lucia

warm caramel sand beachfronts, marbled interiors, formidable pillars and exquisite accent pieces perfectly marrying the modern architectural framework with a Saint Lucian flair. Stunning villas expertly positioned to soak in the dramatic views of the resort’s private yacht marina, well-appointed amenities including a 7000 square foot spa and a fully-equipped airconditioned Health Club all add to the allure of the world class property, set in the mecca of tourism for Saint Lucia. Welcome to the Landings Beach Resort & Spa! Your home away from home. The perfect escape!

attracting foreign and local guests alike to dine at one of three restaurants, or enjoy a cocktail or two at three well placed bars. For dining, the intimate Palms serves up an international and locally infused cuisine, Callaloo is the laid-back beach restaurant famous for its comfort food, while The Beach Club offers covered and openair dining with buffets, live music and a vast menu, all with an amazing Caribbean vibe. Guests seeking only a cocktail and finger foods, while breathing in the alluring atmosphere, can visit the Turquoise Bar, Viscount or head to the beach by the Callaloo Beach Bar, one of the best spots on the island to view the breathtaking sunsets. Landings truly has something for everyone! To further enhance its culinary experience and satisfy the ever-changing needs of its clientele, the resort has added a new complementary aspect to its product offering; The Coffee Shop! Dec /Jan

The newest addition to the Resort’s stellar offerings is The Coffee Shop at the Landings Resort & Spa. Bold, modern and a bit quirky, this chic new spot is much more than a hole-in-the-wall. With its amazing cuisine, daily fresh brew and services to add that ultracomforting element which the resort is known for, The Coffee Shop adds an extra layer of trendsetting magic. Beautifully designed, easily accessible through the main lobby and well-equipped, The Coffee Shop is the quintessential addition to the already delectable culinary experience on offer at The Landings, in a warm family-

The Landings features incredible dining experiences,

BusinessFocus

The Coffee Shop! What can you expect?

friendly atmosphere. The magnificent design inside the shop carries a new element of contemporary chicness transforming the space into a modern-day hangout, while capturing the essence of the resort’s ultra-luxurious features which are uniquely Landings. Patrons can pop in to indulge in the authentic French pastries, enjoy hot and cold beverages including infused health drinks and of course, the must-have exclusive Landings signature coffee drink; a secret and much treasured recipe. Come try, you will not leave disappointed! The Coffee Shop is also the perfect spot for the avid reader looking for a quiet place to lounge, or the busy executive seeking refuge with a healthy breakfast and a quiet meeting space. Whether you want to unplug in the comfy setting or plug in with accessible charging ports for all devices, we have created the idyllic rest stop. Guests can always expect a warm ambience, exceptional customer service and quality affordable products.

The Lan

ndings St. Lucia

Why choose The Coffee Shop? 1. Lounge in comfort inside the shop or in the vast Viscount Lounge. 2. Conduct intimate business meetings in a relaxed setting. 3. Indulge in authentic French pastry. 4. Enjoy a family friendly atmosphere in air-conditioned comfort. 5. Purchase gift vouchers to share the experience. 6. Savour gourmet coffee. 7. Connect with the world with Wifi.

The Coffee Shop by the Landings Resort & Spa awaits your arrival. Open daily from 7:00am to 5:30pm, the shop is one stop you wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to miss.

Ready to get acquainted with us? Then letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get social! Ready to get acquainted with us? Follow Us on Facebook (The Coffee Shop at Landings) & Instagram (@CoffeeShopLandings), tag us and add #CoffeeShopLandings, and you could be 1 of 5 lucky persons to have your first cup of coffee FREE!

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

The Link Between Culture Leadership How to Engageand Employees – A Manager’s Guide

The Link Between Culture and Leadership By Surren Maharaj

Brian Chesky, Co-founder and CEO, Airbnb stated “Why is culture so important to business? Here is a simple way to frame it. The stronger the culture, the less corporate process a company needs. When the culture is strong, you can trust everyone to do the right thing.”

employees and utilizing punishment and reward as control mechanisms for both the employee and the organization. This style of management is often referred to as “coercive management.”

Directive Leadership is best known for a culture of consistency. The leader All leaders understand that the right dictates the behaviors that persons in corporate culture is a valuable tool the organization are expected to follow. in attracting and retaining the best This tends to produce results that are employees. It is verifiable that a healthy predictable and there is consistent culture leads to improved productivity. employee performance across the The more engaged employees are the organization. On the other side, this greater the tendency for the organization consistent and predictable culture comes to be more innovative. at the expense of organizational agility. In Organizational culture can be defined as a order to strive in today’s ever changing system of shared assumptions, values, and work environment, employee flexibility beliefs, which governs how people behave and autonomy helps them to become in organizations. These shared values have more creative and innovative. Employees a strong influence on the people in the also need to have their voices heard, organization and dictate how they dress, especially in the planning process, if they act, and perform their jobs. Research are to “buy-in” to an organizational system has shown that “Leadership” plays a of change. Sadly, the characteristics of major factor in shaping the culture of an Directive Leader does not lend itself to organization. What then are the different this type of culture since it focuses on a types of leadership and which one is best top-down approach to management. for your organization. The Transformational Leader is one There is a type of leadership where who encourages, inspires and motivates the person in control utilizes a “Top- employees to create change and innovate Down” approach to management. In in a way that will help grow and shape the this Directive Leadership style, the future of the organization. They are all leader does not encourage dialogue, about exploring what defines the culture openness or collaboration. They create of the organization and then implements a culture of class distinction based on those ideas to bring about the desired the person’s position in the company. change. A Transformational Leader Directive leaders believe in controlling provides honest feedback to employees and encourages the same from them. In BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

addition, they encourage employees to identify opportunities and challenges within the organization and then work to find solutions. Transformational Leaders are all about fostering positive change. The results are undeniable, realignment of an organization along these lines improves overall productivity. For this reason, this type of leadership fosters a Culture of Inspiration. Susan Fowler in her book “Why Motivating People doesn’t Work….and What Does” states “Motivation generated from values, purpose, love, joy, or compassion is different from motivation generated from ego, power, status, or a desire for external rewards.” Let’s face it, everyone is motivated to work for a pay cheque. However, employees who rise to greatness within the organization are motivated or inspired by much more than financial rewards. Ego, status, and money are shortterm motivators. The Transformational Leader motivates his employees and the team by providing them with the knowledge that they are working for a purpose much higher than themselves. Another type of leadership is that of Servant Leadership. This type of leadership is also called a Culture of Inclusion. Here we see the organizational pyramid turned upside down. The culture of Inclusion creates an atmosphere where everyone is a leader. The employees become champions of specific roles and goals based on their individual strengths and the managers serve in a supporting

role as the employees work to accomplish the objectives set out. As can be seen, the Servant Leader is focused on serving the stakeholders of the organization. Allowing employees to participate in the leadership of the organization allows them to feel empowered by assuming a supportive role that helps the employees accomplish the style goals. It is the service component of this leadership style that differentiates it from the other leadership styles. Essentially, the leaders who adopt this style go beyond their own self-interest.

don’t say. When you learn how to do this in a systematic way, you become much more effective at knowing how to develop the ideas you have.”

Finally, this article will look at the Authoritative Leadership Style. In this leadership style, it is the organization that dictates the role and explains the role to the individual as to how they fit into the overall long term vision. This leadership style builds a Culture of Compliance where the leader leads by example and they inspire employees to follow. The danger here is that it also creates a rankThere are three common pillars of and-file culture that can stifle professional excellent organizational cultures: Trust, development, innovation and collaboration. Pride, and Enjoyment. These organizations The organization is defined by a rigid develop and support their leaders organizational structure where employees towards forming a servant approach and know their place in the organization. What mindset. They create a culture where we have here is an organization with a the employees feel trusted, empowered, top-down command and control style or supported and treated fairly. Leaders are a traditional pyramid-shaped hierarchical encouraged to give-up their “autocratic structure. The leader in this style establishes command and control” style and leverage goals, policies and direction without any every ounce of the employees’ potential input from employees. into achieving whole-system change. A Culture of Compliance makes it difficult Participative Leadership is a style of to foster an organizational culture leadership that relies on a democratic of empowerment and professional approach. This approach to leadership development. This is because employees creates a Culture of Innovation as it might not feel valued and they do not see strives to build consensus among the the connection between their success team members. Here the leaders make and that of the organization. In a market the final decision by going through a where millennials are becoming a larger process of collaboration and compromise. part of the work force, this style of They build consensus that engages all leadership sends a clear signal to stay clear members of the team. In true democratic of organizations that promote this culture style, Participative Leadership relies on of compliance since they prefer work in a a culture of information sharing – an holacracy rather than a hierarchy type of egalitarian structure that allows all team organization. The research shows that even members to have a voice in the process. “baby-boomers” prefer a team-oriented This not to be confused with the concept and participative leader. Therefore, the of “perspective talking” where leaders culture of compliance can face resistance make an effort to understand the point from employees of all ages. of view of team members. This process So, how do we set the tone for our is considered to be more “perspective Organization’s Culture? It is a known fact giving” as the organization encourages that the leadership style sets the tone for shared values, engagement and the culture of the organization. Therefore, enthusiasm from its employees. Of critical it is on the shoulders of the leader to importance, it requires an environment establish policy direction and goals of the that makes the team members feel safe organization in addition to deciding who and encourages them to take a risk and gets a voice on how the process, policies engage in independent thinking. It does and goals are decided. this through open dialogue and shared values. The Participative Leader fosters It is important to decide and build the type a culture of empathy where innovation of leadership which will create the kind can grow and flourish. “Empathy means of culture you desire in your organization. taking in the perspectives of others and Servant Leadership, Participative Leadership, paying attention to what they say and and Transformational Leadership encourage

Surren Maharaj (MBA; BA; PCC) is the Principal Consultant and Chief Coach for Boundless Coaching Consulting and the President of the Life Coaching Association of Trinidad and Tobago. As a Professional Certified Coach (PCC), he is part of an international community of Coaches and is constantly called upon by local and regional clients. He has designed and delivered coaching courses. He is an active Mentor with YBTT and one of the Shell LiveWire Trainers. His career history includes over 20 years of expertise in Leadership and Management in the financial, logistics and retail sectors of Canada.

collaboration and open exchange of ideas in varying ways. Organizations are rewarded with a culture of Innovation, Inclusion, and Inspiration. But there are possible downsides to improper implementation of these leadership styles. Some possibilities can include:- confusion, and resistance to non-hierarchical power struggle just to mention a few. Directive Leadership and Authoritative Leadership provide clear direction, goals, and purpose. Organizations are rewarded with consistency and predictability. However, they can be hampered by a lack of collaboration, lack of innovation, and lack of leadership development. This can leave employees feeling disengaged, undervalued, and tempted to look outside the organization for growth professional and advancement. Ultimately, company cultures that help individuals thrive help organizations to thrive. n

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

ECONOMY & TRADE

The Power Of Partnerships Caribbean

Competitiveness

Caribbean Competitiveness By Nirmala Maharaj

The World Economic Forum on October 9, What do these results mean? 2019 released the Global Competitiveness As we look towards the 2020s, productivity Report (https://www.weforum.org/reports/ growth needs to accelerate for the how-to-end-a-decade-of-lost-productivity- Caribbean region. Accelerate is the key growth). This report explores the word and not incremental. The productivity competitiveness relationship. It illustrates growth began slowing for the Caribbean that there is no trade-off between building countries before the financial crisis and competitiveness, forging more equitable continued thereafter. Many of the policies societies providing opportunities for advanced by governments of the region all, and ensuring an environmentally reveal as we move into the 2020s that we sustainable ecosystem. are still wrestling with reforms to stimulate The Global Competitiveness Index (GCI) productivity growth. 4.0 provides insights into the economic prospects of 141 economies. The GCI 4.0 framework is built around 12 main drivers of productivity. These are Institutions; Infrastructure; ICT adoption; Macroeconomic stability; Health; Skills; Product market; Labour market; Financial system; Market size; Business dynamism; and Innovation capability. The top 10 competitive countries from the 141 economies were: 1. Singapore

6. Japan

2. United States

7. Germany

3. Hong Kong

8. Sweden

4. Netherlands

9. United Kingdom

5. Switzerland

10. Denmark

What’s the Caribbean Competitiveness? Of the four (4) Caribbean countries that took part in the WEF GCR, they ranked as follows: 77. Barbados 78. Dominican Republic 79. Trinidad and Tobago 80. Jamaica BusinessFocus

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Nirmala Maharaj is passionate about developing a strong, integrated relationship with academia, government, private and non-governmental organisations that will nurture, develop and grow social entrepreneurs in the Caribbean region. As a social entrepreneur guru, she is a writer in this subject area in her column of the Trinidad Guardian entitled – About Social Entrepreneurship. Her doctoral research is also in the area of social entrepreneurship. She is the Director, Internationalisation and Institutional Relations at the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business (UWIALJGSB). Her research contact details are +1 868 689 6539 or you can e-mail her at socialprogressinst@gmail.com

What is the way forward? In this worrisome global context, Caribbean policy makers are challenged Why is this alarming? The GCI 4.0 results for 2019 in the context to arrive at innovative policy options of global competitiveness revealed the that can stimulate productivity while size of competitive deficiency. According simultaneously addressing inequalities. to the WEF GCR, “Of the 141 economies, Some options according to the WEF GCR the average score studied was 60.7 which report include: meant that the ‘distance to the frontier’ 1. Increasing equality of opportunities stands at almost 40 points. On 9 of the 12 for instance in income, family policies, pillars, the average gap globally stood at equitable access to education, equal more than 30 points. Advanced economies access to quality health care, fair and perform consistently better than the rest dignified employment, social safety nets. of the world, but overall, they still fall 30 2. Fostering fair competition by stronger points short of the frontier. Singapore, the enforcement of antitrust policies and best performer overall, still falls 15 points a reduction of barriers to entry remain short of the ideal.” important but approaches that address What does this mean for equality? As a social entrepreneur guru, I now turn to share a few thoughts on the implications of the WEF GCR results for equality. The results show that income inequality has increased for both advanced and emerging nations. Growth in developing and emerging economies has been accompanied by increased inequality. Drivers of this are attributed to technology and the displacement of low skilled jobs; decline in public and private productivity investments; and inequality in social mobility opportunities.

the effect of concentration without stifling innovation could be adopted, including using technology to reduce barriers to entry and shifting the focus from price levelling to address broader socioeconomic effects of winner-takeall business models. 3. Fostering competitiveness-enhancing investments such as targeted fiscal policy towards productivity-enhancing investments in infrastructure, education and innovation could revive productivity growth, support employment and broaden aggregate demand. n

Unicomer Ltd/Courts

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

ECONOMY & TRADE

Baron Foods, Breaking New Ground in Russia

Baron Foods, Breaking New Ground in Russia On the quest of maintaining its company vision in creating a world-renowned brand, inspired by the Caribbean, the team at Baron Foods (St. Lucia) Limited are extremely proud to announce its entry into the largest country in the world, Russia. With its territory occupying one-ninth of the world’s land surface area, Russia extends over 11 time zones covering the whole of northern Asia and Part of Europe. The population of Russia currently stands at 142 million. The main distribution hub for Baron Products will be the capital city of Moscow where 10 million people reside. To date, the company has safely secured a healthy business relationship with a Russian company that has shown great interest and supported the Baron Foods brand in the Russian market, where initial product awareness has already been garnered with the launching of an online store, www.baronfoodsrussia.com and social media pages. Based on the response of the Russian market, two full container load orders

have already been received, with the first shipment fulfilled, having set sail in the last week of September and the second order already prepared. From the range of over 150 products, the Russian orders consisted of hot-sauces, condiments, marinades, salad dressings, specialty and gourmet sauces. Over the last five years, Baron Foods has been the proud recipient of numerous International Quality Awards varying from the International Taste Institute’s Superior Taste Award to most recently, 2 Monde Selection Quality Awards. Baron Foods is an organization that is led by visionary leadership. It has been over 25 years in the making and we have emerged as one of the leaders in agro-processing. We came with a vision of providing quality products to our customers and we have penetrated every household as being the preferred choice when it comes to delivering the heat and flavour across the world. Our products can be found in Cuba, Reunion Island and the British

Virgin Islands, with our largest export markets being the USA, Canada and the United Kingdom. It has remained a trend at Baron Foods to continuously innovate – not just by formulating new products, but also having that translate into our design and packaging. As the company is approaching 30 years of delivering world-class food products regional and internationally, we have undertaken to celebrate this milestone with a rebranding campaign of our entire product line. Apart from the penetration into foreign markets, we are also currently undertaking a project to sell our products directly on Amazon’s platform in the USA, Canada and Europe marketplaces. This will be a first for a manufacturing company in the OECS region to officially have a registered store with a personalized URL under Amazon’s platform. You can also expect many new products to be introduced into the market which will bring an entirely different flavour profile to the palate. n

ABOUT BARON FOODS: Baron Foods represents a dynamic and reputable manufacturing company with plants located in three (3) Caribbean countries. In November, 1991 Baron Foods opened its doors for business, with an initial product range that spanned 12 products. The company currently manufactures over 167 products, certified against FSSC 22000:2010. As a manufacturer of innovative Caribbean-style food products of the highest quality and superior presentation, we produce exotic and gourmet sauces, condiments, spices, flavourings, low fat mayonnaise, salad dressings and drink cocktails. The company is export-oriented and currently serves markets in the USA, Canada, Europe, Guyana and the entire English, French Spanish and Dutch speaking islands of the Caribbean. The company also caters to the needs of contract packaging and private labelling markets; currently employing close to 200 employees across its plants situated in the islands of St. Lucia, Grenada, and Trinidad and Tobago.

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

The Government of Saint Lucia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Cruises to form a joint venture to manage the existing cruise pier and terminal facilities in Saint Lucia, and to design, construct and operate a new cruise port in the south of the island.

PARTNERS TO MANAGE PORT CASTRIES TERMINAL FACILITIES

The MOU was signed during a ceremony October 21 in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the FCCA Cruise Conference. The ceremony included David Candib, Vice President, Development & Operations, Carnival Corporation; Marie McKenzie, Vice President, Global Ports & Caribbean Government Relations, Carnival Corporation; Micky Arison, Chairman, Carnival Corporation; Arnold Donald, CEO, Carnival Corporation; Hon. Allen Chastanet, Prime Minister, Saint Lucia; Adam Goldstein, Vice Chairman, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.; Hon. Dominic Fedee, Minister of Tourism, Saint Lucia; Miguel Reyna, Associate Vice President, Commercial Development, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.; Russell Benford, Vice President, Government Relations, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

Saint Lucia Partners to Manage Port Castries Terminal Facilities

confidence in our amazing destination,” said Prime Minister Chastanet. “It is essential that we continue to diversify As part of the MOU, Carnival Corporation what we have to offer, grow our brand and Royal Caribbean and the government and ensure that different sectors in our of Saint Lucia will establish a long-term island's economy benefit from the growth concession agreement to formalize the in cruise tourism and that Saint Lucians terms and responsibilities for the joint can benefit from the opportunities which venture to manage and operate the arise from the increased numbers; which current cruise pier and terminal facilities means we have to improve our capacity. This signing is historic, as this project will at the Port of Castries. have a major impact on the sustainability Additionally, the joint venture will design, of the cruise sector and the reach of cruise finance, construct and operate a new tourism to the south of the island. This cruise port in Vieux Fort that will be able will also mean employment at several to accommodate the latest and most phases of the project, the expansion of innovative ships in the cruise industry, existing businesses and the formation according to a press release. of new enterprises. We look forward to Prime Minister of Saint Lucia Honourable this partnership as this marks a new day Allen Chastanet has called the signing of the and a significant achievement for our MOU “historic” and “a major step towards government, for the people of the south of enhancing Saint Lucia's tourism product.” Saint Lucia and for our island as a whole.” “Saint Lucia has had record breaking cruise “This is an exciting day for our guests who arrivals over the past few years and we already love the beauty and deep culture thank our partners Carnival Corporation of Saint Lucia and an important step in and Royal Caribbean for their continued sustaining cruise tourism growth for the

island,” said Giora Israel, senior vice president of global port and destination development for Carnival Corporation. “We look forward to working closely with our JV partners to give cruise passengers great experiences when visiting the island. With the new development project, Saint Lucia will be very wellpositioned for jobs and significant economic impact for years to come.” “The cruise market is the fastest growing sector of tourism and in the next decade cruising in the Caribbean region is anticipated to increase by 40 percent,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean. “We are excited to partner with the Government of Saint Lucia to ensure that the destination directly benefits from that growth, while giving more guests the opportunity to visit this unique gem in the Caribbean.” Together, the cruise line brands of Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Cruises currently account for 75 percent of all cruise ship deployment to Saint Lucia. n

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

ECONOMY & TRADE

SAINT LUCIA ESTABLISHES CANNABIS COMMISSION

Saint Lucia Establishes Cannabis Commission

Cabinet, at its meeting held on the 29th The Cannabis Commission is chaired by July 2019, approved the establishment Mr. Michael Gordon QC, Attorney at Law of a Commission to review and make and held its inaugural meeting on Friday recommendations on the regulatory September 6th 2019. framework for cannabis. The Minister The Commission will consult on a number of Commerce, International Trade, of issues fundamental to the design of a Investment, Enterprise Development and new legislative and regulatory framework Consumer Affairs, the Honourable Bradly for restricted cannabis use and will be Felix, is spearheading this initiative guided by the following: given the investment potential and 1. Protect Saint Lucians by keeping consequential positive impact on GDP. cannabis out of the hands of children Realizing the changing tide towards and youth. the decriminalization and regulation of 2. K eep profits out of the hands of Cannabis by regional and international criminals, particularly gang-related. counterparts, Saint Lucia is intent on positioning itself to take advantage of the 3. Reduce the burdens on the police and the justice system associated with transformative economic benefits in the simple possession of cannabis offences. Cannabis industry, while simultaneously addressing human rights and public 4. Prevent Saint Lucians from entering the health issues. The Minister agreed that criminal justice system and receiving the positive impacts of a regulated criminal records for simple possession cannabis market outweigh the potential of cannabis offences. negative impacts, and that areas which 5. Protect public health and safety by may be a cause for concern can be strengthening laws and enforcement mitigated with regulation and proper use measures that deter and punish more of public education. “We must however, serious cannabis offences particularly thoroughly consider all aspects of a selling and distributing to children and regulated cannabis program, including youth, selling outside the regulatory its impact on the youth, public health, framework and driving under the criminal justice and state revenue, and influence of cannabis. mitigate any potential risks associated 6. Ensure Saint Lucians are well-informed with it. I thank the members of the and provide appropriate public health Commission for their time and expertise campaigns for youth in particular as we work to craft a model program.” to understand the risks involved in Said Minister Felix. cannabis use. BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

7. Establish a system of strict production, distribution and sales, taking a public health approach, with regulation of quality and safety, restriction of access and application of taxes with support for treatment, mental health and education programs. 8. Provide access to quality-controlled cannabis for medical and scientific purposes. The Commission will be overseen by Invest Saint Lucia and will consist of members from the following agencies/ departments: Mr. Michael Gordon QC, Attorney at Law (Chairman), Attorney General, Invest Saint Lucia, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Equity, Cannabis Movement, Leader of the Opposition, National Youth Council, St. Lucia Christian Council, and Iyanola Council for the Advancement of Rastafari. The next steps for the Commission in the next few months are to finalize operational activities and work plans, schedule meetings and consultations with national stakeholders, NGO’s, Communities and the general public to gain insight on their sentiment and concerns and share the proposed approach on the establishment of a well-regulated Cannabis industry in Saint Lucia. n

LOCAL FARMERS MARKETS BOOST SOCIO-ECONOMIC WELLBEING BY AMANDA-FAYE CLARKE, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

In a move to forge closer relationships crops: pineapples, cabbages, sweet on their own have decided to have their with the community and consumers at peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, watermelons, own farmers’ market. That is a very large, agriculture leaders in partnership and cantaloupe and honeydew melons. good indicator that the farmers’ market with the Taiwanese Embassy have “These are crops that farmers have concept is working.” initiated a series of events that will serve been producing for a long time in Saint Saint Lucia has eight agricultural regions. to build interest in locally-produced foods, Lucia, and farmers have the technical Ms Eudovic said the strategy is to hold at the people who grow them and the needs savvy on the production of those crops. least one event in each region, thereby of the consumers. They have been deemed important and increasing the chances of interaction This forms part of the import substitution traditional, and farmers have the ability between the community and farmers, project which focuses efforts on increased to produce them. However, we do have and the penetration of messages on the production of seven crops that will assist challenges: we do not have a consistent socio-economic benefits of buying and the Ministry of Agriculture’s strategy to supply at times of the year because of our consuming locally grown foods. reduce the national food import bill. open-field agriculture concept and the “We have had many engagements with production (style) used by the farmers. our stakeholders, we have had trainings The farmers market, embracing the Unfortunately, this coincides with the with the extension officers because they ministry’s theme of “Eat Fresh; Saint tourist season when the demand is at its are a vital part of the executing arm of this Lucia’s Best” is a strategic move to highest. So, through this project, we will project, we have had engagements with meet the general population at their introduce new technology that will allow the different ministries for information point of need: apprising consumers the farmers to produce year-round.” of the latest developments within the gathering, meetings with chefs and agri-food sector, farming trends and Ms. Eudovic said the initiative is purchasers, and we are currently hosting food safety, providing an outlet where gaining momentum. a farmers’ training program where 100 farmers get the opportunity to showcase “Our aim is to have one farmer’s market farmers are being trained island wide in their produce and encouraging the per month. But, in looking at the current new technologies.” consumption of local crops. trends, some places where we have The agriculture ministry continues National Coordinator of Fruit and Vegetable Import Substitution Project, Adline Eudovic, said the focus is on generating interest on the seven targeted

already hosted a farmers’ market, like Micoud, are already requesting that another event be held. The initiative has so far been successful and farmers

to interface with its stakeholders on improved, sustainable actions to encourage farming livelihoods as a means for growing the subsector. n

Local Farmers' Markets Boost Socio-Economic Wellbeing

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

ECONOMY & TRADE

CDB President Calls for Regional Coordination in International Business Sector

CDB President Calls for Regional Coordination in International Business Sector A PRIVATE sector-led, regionally-coordinated approach can help the Caribbean reap the full benefits of the international business and financial services (IBFS) sector, says President of the Caribbean Development Bank, Dr. Warren Smith.

The CDB President stated that countries prevalent global trends promise significant which failed to make changes to their benefits for the Caribbean’s IBFS sector. regulatory frameworks faced the real “Digital transformation is the new nexus threats of the loss of correspondent for growth and development… Barbados banking relationships and of ‘blacklisting’, must adopt the technology of tomorrow, pointing out that: “Since the recent threats today. We are already seeing the efforts in Speaking at Barbados’ International of ‘blacklisting’ Barbados, many Caribbean this light with the modernisation of public Business Week 2019 conference, Dr. Smith countries are even more aware of the sector service delivery.” noted that the increasing attractiveness pressures that the international community To this end, he recommended some of the Region as an offshore centre had can exert on the international business and key areas which could be enhanced by financial services sector.” brought closer attention to the sector. employing digital technology, including He strongly advised stakeholders to adopt the domestic payment systems and data “According a recent OECD report, since 2010, a regional approach to protecting this collection. The CDB Head also called for developing countries have accounted for a valuable sector, and establish the Region the private sector to be more involved in larger intake of foreign direct investments as “a zone of excellence” for financial shaping the direction of the IBFS, advising than their more established counterparts. services, stating: “We should embrace a that the private sector has a role to play in But, the growing attractiveness of these regional approach that supports regulatory policy and strategy development: “There economies to multinational corporations convergence and the adoption of common is untapped potential in the Caribbean for has come at a price, bringing them increased principles among CARICOM countries.” sustainable and inclusive growth through visibility and greater scrutiny,” he stated. greater private sector involvement,” Dr. He drew attention to the increase in He added that a threat to the reputation Smith said, adding: regulation requirements with the passage of one Caribbean country is a threat to all, of the United States’ Foreign Account emphasising: “In this business, what we “The engagement of the various private Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), and the trade on is our good name. The blacklisting sector actors is not limited to the provision Organisation for Economic Cooperation and of any one Caribbean country will have of financing. Rather, the private sector Development (OECD)’s Common Reporting an immediate negative effect on the brings to the table valuable knowledge and insights that can help shape better Standard, noting that compliance with the reputation of the entire Region.” various rules “places a bureaucratic burden Amidst these acknowledged challenges, the policies and build proactive strategies on governments and institutions”. Bank’s head sounded an optimistic note, based on regional and international suggesting that digitalisation and other exposure and experience.” n BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

Coco Palm Resort

New Look for Saint Lucia’s Seamoss

New Look for Saint Lucia’s Seamoss By Export Saint Lucia

Coco Palm Resort

Saint Lucia’s sun-dried seamoss is undergoing a major branding and packaging change. Spearheaded by Export Saint Lucia, with support from the Department of Fisheries, Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards and Saint Lucia’s Seamoss Farmers Associations, the island’s seamoss is poised to be more competitive under the Taste of Saint Lucia brand and with new eco-friendly packaging. The Taste of Saint Lucia brand features a special collection of premium food, beverage, and wellness products for those who want a taste of the island life. The brand assures customers and clients that the products meet the requisite quality standards that ensure one is getting the best from Saint Lucia. Under the brand, the island’s sun-dried seamoss will stand out as being uniquely Saint Lucian, distinguishing itself from similar products on the market, and helping customers to truly appreciate the uniqueness of Saint Lucia’s seamoss. CEO of Export Saint Lucia, Sunita Daniel noted: “Various market visits and trends have indicated that Saint Lucia’s seamoss has a very strong presence in the vegan, vegetarian and millennial niche markets. According to the Vegan Society’s Website, the number of vegans in the United States grew from 4 million in 2014 to 19.6 million in 2017. For this reason, the sale of food products consumed by this community is projected to be $24.3 billion US dollars annually by 2024”. To benefit from this emerging trend, steps have been taken toward improving the competitiveness of the product, including changing the packaging from plastic to an environmentally friendly paper pouch. With Export Saint Lucia’s commitment to procuring the initial consignment of paper pouches, Saint Lucia’s seamoss will be going completely ‘green’ in the months ahead. Seamoss farmers have remained resilient despite battling adverse weather conditions, and continue to supply the US and the UK markets with exports on a near-weekly basis, helping to boost economic activity along the island’s east coast. The first week of October 2019 saw the most recent shipment of seamoss to the US with regular, sustained shipments anticipated. n BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

SMJ Beverages Saint Lucia Launches New ‘Low-Sugar’ Busta Chill

ECONOMY & TRADE

SMJ Beverages Saint Lucia Launches New ‘Low-Sugar’ Busta Chill

SMJ Beverages Ltd Saint Lucia introduced sugar content is only 4.8 grams per 100ml,” a new product to the Saint Lucian market. Harry explained. According to the company’s assistant general “At SMJ Beverages, not only will we continue manager Gaius Harry, SMJ Beverages Ltd, to strive to satisfy the needs of our customers recognizing its social responsibility, has with great-tasting products, but we are responded favourably to the World Health equally committed to offering beverages Organization (WHO) mandate of a reduction with a focus on healthier lifestyles for the of sugar in carbonated and fruit drinks. entire family – while maintaining that same “Weight gain and obesity are said to be refreshingly great taste,” Harry stated. major risk factors for a number of chronic Busta Chill is an addition to other smart diseases and the high sugar content in choices distributed by SMJ Beverages in some food and drinks compounds this Saint Lucia, such as Fruta Lite juices and issue,” Harry said. Chubby soft drinks with 25% reduced sugar. “And so, over the years, SMJ Beverages Ltd has worked assiduously to reduce the sugar contents in its products. It must be noted that we introduced healthier low-sugar and no-sugar beverages years before it became a requirement,” he added.

Fruta is also evolving in terms of newly introduced packaging and rebranding.

live longer, healthier lives, with more opportunities to enjoy the things we love most, including SMJ beverages,” Harry said. Formed in 1924 in Trinidad and Tobago, today SMJ Beverages Ltd is in 60 countries including the Caribbean, North America, Brazil, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia. SMJ Beverages Ltd opened its doors here in Saint Lucia in the year 2000 where it now manufactures and distributes Chubby and Busta carbonated drinks, Fruta and Kool Kidz Juices, Classic Cola, Seagram’s Ginger Ale, Cool Running Water, Viva sparkling flavoured water and now Busta Chill. n

The company says that attaining its goals of making their brands global, requires sticking to high standards which ensure superior product quality. SMJ Beverages Ltd says that it also strives to achieve an integration of work and spiritual consciousness, a harmonious balance between its business, its people and our planet.

“Busta Chill, comes from the well known and loved Busta family – but is a low-sugar version of the popular soft drink that comes in a 350mL bottle. The reduced-sugar drink comes in four bold and exciting flavours – “At the end of the day we believe that it is Apple, Orange, Fruit Punch and Grape. The in this spirit that we can all succeed and

the Caribbean Export Development identify key sectors that will become the Agency and key stakeholders in Europe, economic drivers assisting both regions Caribbean Export Signs namely, the BVMW (Der Bundesverband – but particularly the Caribbean – to reap mittelständische Wirtschaft), the GIZ the benefits of the EPA.” Three MOUs with (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Minister of Trade and CARICOM Affairs Strategic Partners to Zusammenarbeit GmbH) and the from Grenada, the Hon. Oliver Joseph Support the Caribbean’s Caribbean Council. thanked the Caribbean’s partners, the Export Growth Caribbean Export Development Agency European Commission and GIZ as well (Caribbean Export) in collaboration with as the new partners LAV, BVMW and the the European Union and GIZ hosted the Caribbean Council with whom MOUs were 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum. Over signed, for supporting the Caribbean and 200 participants witnessed the signing its people’s use of the CARIFORUM-EU EPA, Caribbean Export Signs of the MOUs which were put in place to “We need to take full advantage of this Three MOUs with Strategic ensure continued success of the strategic agreement. We must also realize that as a sectors and collaboration between the region, as small developing economies, we Partners to Support the two regions. cannot do it alone. And so I want to thank Caribbean’s Export Growth “The CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum was our partners in Europe, the European designed as a platform to do exactly this – Commission, the GIZ, our new friends Source: Caribbean Export to strengthen business networks and foster in Germany, the LAV and the BVMW, the Caribbean Council from the UK… you The recently held CARIFORUM-EU Business a closer trade and investment relationship are helping us and will be helping us to Forum drew record numbers of senior level between the Caribbean and in this case make the EPA work for the peoples of the European and Caribbean policy makers, Europe” informed Anthony Bradshaw, Caribbean.” European buyers and Caribbean exhibitors, Officer in Charge, Caribbean Export. to the 4th hosting of the event and the first “The Business Forum’s main objectives are “Making business work for the people of ever to be held in Frankfurt, Germany. to create awareness about the EPA, to the Caribbean is our commitment as an Agency. If there is a way, we will make it Three MOUs were signed between promote business opportunities and to happen.” Bradshaw said in closing. n BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

Rum, Sauces Top Caribbean Exports Signing of CARIFORUM, EU Pact

Rum, Sauces Top Caribbean Exports Since2008 2008 Signing of Since CARIFORUM, EU Pact

signing of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in 2008.

Regional participants in the recent 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum held in Frankfurt, Germany are reportedly rating the event as a considerable success particularly in the light of what, reportedly was the strong Caribbean presence at the event. Reports reaching Stabroek Business on the forum held under the theme ‘Building Strategic Partnerships in a Dynamic Global Economy’ indicated that a panel led by Caribbean Export’s Competitiveness and Export Manager Damie Sinanan, made public the results of a study commissioned by the Agency which highlighted that rum and sauces have been the region’s two most successful exports since the

The report also bared the fact that the Dominican Republic bested Trinidad and Tobago as the largest exporter of products and services to Europe. The DR Is the largest rum exporter in CARIFORUM, with almost seven times more rum exports as Jamaica. Exports of sauces and seasonings to the EU increased by 59% between 2014 and 2018, according to the Report. The report also indicated that EU imports of rum and related products from CARIFORUM increased by almost 31% (in value) from 2014 to 2018. Further, in 2018 The Dominican Republic exported almost 70 million euros in rum products to the EU, a 32% increase from 2014. Arising out of the findings of the report the Frankfurt gathering reported that European Business Support Organizations are now even more keen for the creation of strategic relations with CARIFORUM in order to enable the furtherance of trade.

The period of the event saw over seventy industry buyers and investors conduct some one hundred and fifty business to business meetings with the sixty-three exhibitors from the Caribbean’s food, cosmetics and cultural industries. The event, recorded over 600 visitors who came to discover what the Caribbean has to offer. From all accounts including those of Anthony Bradshaw, Caribbean Export’s ‘point’ person in Frankfurt, the Forum’s purpose as a platform with a view to strengthening business networks and promoting closer trade and investment relations between the Caribbean and Europe was manifestly fulfilled. Singled out as one of the highlights of the event was the designated Consumers’ Day, which saw visitors enjoy Caribbean products, as well as Caribbean culture. In addition to rum tastings, cooking demonstrations and courses, more than eleven music performances were also put on by renowned artists. n

Sagicor Life

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

MONEY MATTERS

Grenada. Scotia’s Grenada operations have been merged with the group’s existing subsidiary in Grenada, Republic Bank (Grenada) Limited. A new subsidiary has also been established in St. Maarten, Republic Bank (St. Maarten) N.V. to oversee the operations in that territory.

Republic Bank Closes Acquisition of Scotiabank Operations in Seven Caribbean Countries

Gina Severin, Republic Bank Country Manager – Dominica, chats with a customer on opening day (Republic Bank photo)

REPUBLIC BANK CLOSES ACQUISITION OF SCOTIABANK OPERATIONS IN SEVEN CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES On the heels of being blocked from taking over Scotiabank operations in Guyana, the Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL) announced that it closed its acquisition of seven Scotiabank operations on October 31, 2019. In a release, the bank said following receipt of approval from the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and the Central Bank of Curacao and St. Maarten, and the execution of the Banking Business Vesting Orders in five of the Eastern Caribbean territories, RFHL formally acquired Scotia’s operations in Anguilla, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines. The acquisition will add 350 team members to its staff complement, US$1.5B to the Group’s total asset size, and US$20M to its net profits. The total asset base of the Republic Group will

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

grow to approximately US$14.5B with profits of approximately US$260M. Expressing his appreciation to all those who contributed to the successful completion of the transaction, which was originally announced in November, 2018, Chairman of the RFHL Group, Ronald F. deC. Harford stated, “I would like to express my thanks to the many regulators and the governments of the seven countries for their expressions of confidence in the group. I would also like to extend my appreciation to the staff of both RFHL and Scotiabank who worked tirelessly to make today a reality. I assure all of the group’s stakeholders that their confidence and efforts are not misplaced and that the group is looking forward to creating tremendous value in all seven jurisdictions.” RFHL has established a new subsidiary in St. Lucia, Republic Bank (EC) Ltd. which will serve as the Head Office for the Eastern Caribbean operations, excluding

As indicated, when the transaction was first announced, there was no loss of jobs by staff in any country. President of the RFHL Group, Nigel Baptiste, welcomed all new team members saying, “The RFHL Group is built on our people, since we believe that is what differentiates us from any other financial institution. It was important to us that the people behind the success of Scotia’s operations in each country continued to be the main drivers of the success of our new operations in those countries. I am very pleased to welcome each of them to the Republic family and I look forward to their growth and ours, in the years and decades to come.” Back in September the Bank of Guyana denied RFHL plans to take over the operations of Scotiabank in Guyana, Dr. Gobind Ganga had confirmed. Dr. Ganga, the Central Bank Governor, had told the Guyana Chronicle that both of the banks were informed of the decision. He said that the denial of the application for takeover by RFHL was due largely to the high level of concentration of the banking system, noting that “it would lead to systemic issues” which would have affected the health of the financial system here. Dr. Ganga explained that the move would have led to lower cost efficiency, adding that it would have stymied competition in the sector here. He said Republic Bank would have had over 50 per cent assets and deposits in the local sector adding that it would have raised “major concerns” such as impact on competition. Both banks have done very well in Guyana, Dr. Ganga said. He said the Republic Bank has played “a very good role in Guyana and this is why they would have wanted to advance their footprint.” However, he reiterated that the planned move would have had an adverse impact on the banking system. He said Scotiabank is free to sell their operations and with the evolving oil and gas industry here, it can take advantage of the opportunities which lay ahead. n

CIBC Sells 67% Stake in FirstCaribbean Bank for $797 Million

Source: Bloomberg

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce agreed to sell two-thirds of its Caribbean banking unit to a company run by Colombian billionaire Jaime Gilinski for $797 million, reducing its exposure to a company that has lost $1.6 billion in value since 2006. GNB Financial Group Ltd. will buy 66.7% of CIBC FirstCaribbean shares from CIBC, leaving Canada’s fifth-largest lender with about a 25% stake in the Barbados-based bank, according to a statement Friday. The sale values FirstCaribbean at about $1.2 billion, compared with $2.8 billion when CIBC took over most of the business. “The Caribbean is a low-growth market that presents idiosyncratic risks to the bank (e.g., hurricanes),” National Bank Financial analyst Gabriel Dechaine said in a note to clients, calling the transaction “positive” from a risk standpoint. “At the risk of being flippant, the only time we hear about the Caribbean is when there’s a problem.” For CIBC, the sale marks a scale-back in a region it has been banking since 1920, when the Canadian lender first opened branches in Barbados and Jamaica and

expanded in the region. CIBC combined the operations with Barclays Plc in 2002 to create FirstCaribbean, and four years later bought the British bank’s 44% stake for $988.7 million. FirstCaribbean has had annual profits since 2015.

stakeholders as well as those of CIBC,” Shawn Beber, who heads general counsel and corporate development at CIBC, said in the statement.

Strength and Stability The sale gives GNB Financial expanded Capital Ratio banking operations in the Caribbean CIBC had faced woes in the Caribbean region. GNB is wholly owned by Starmites during and after the 2008 financial crisis, Corporation S.ar.L, the financial holding with a series of profit declines and losses company of the Gilinski Group, which that forced it to take impairment charges has banking operations in Colombia, in 2014 and reorganize the operations Peru, Paraguay, Panama, and Cayman to get it on firmer financial footing. Islands with approximately $15 billion in FirstCaribbean has more than 2,700 staff combined assets. at 57 branches in 16 regional markets, “I have been impressed by the strength and according to CIBC. stability of FirstCaribbean and am excited CIBC will record a loss of about C$135 about its prospects for the future,” Gilinski, million ($102 million) from goodwill in chairman of GNB Financial Group, said in the fourth quarter from the sale, though the statement. will see about C$280 million in foreigncurrency gains and a 40 basis point CIBC tried unsuccessfully last year to raise improvement in its common equity tier 1 as much as $240 million by selling a stake capital ratio when the deal closes in 2020. in the Barbados bank through a U.S. initial public offering, but scrapped the effort in “FirstCaribbean is a well-performing April due to “market conditions.” At the business and we believe this transaction time, CIBC was looking to reduce its stake will support its long-term growth to 73% through the share sale. n prospects while creating value for its

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MONEY MATTERS

USAID Launches US$25M SME Funding Loan Guarantee Across Caribbean

USAID Launches US$25M SME Funding Loan Guarantee Across Caribbean The initiative also provides targeted support for the energy sector, with an even more narrowed focus on renewable energy in Jamaica and the Caribbean to help build resilience and economic self-sustainability. John Barsa, Assistant Administrator, Latin America & the Caribbean Bureau, USAID highlighted that the timing of the partnership is perfect as we currently navigate the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

Minister of Industry Audley Shaw (standing, centre), witnesses the official signing ceremony between USAID NCB. Signing (from left) are Deputy Chief of Mission, United States Embassy, John. W. McIntyre; Assistant General Manager, NCB, Stuart Reid; Assistant Administrator for the Latin America and the Caribbean Bureau, USAID, John Barsa. Others (background) are Senior General Manager, NCB, Brian Boothe (left); and “The recent events that crippled our Country Representative, USAID (Jamaica), Jason Fraser. neighbours in The Bahamas, is a harsh reminder to Jamaica, the United States The National Commercial Bank Jamaica interest rates as low as 7% for JMD loans or and the rest of the region of how Limited (NCB) and the United States 5% for USD loans with repayment terms up devastating natural disasters can be. Agency for International Development to 15 years. Loan amounts are available up While these events are unavoidable, (USAID) have entered into a partnership to US$5 Million with guarantee amounts what we can do, is put resilient measures valued at US$25 Million. of up to US$2.5 Million. in place to lessen the impact on our Brian Boothe, Senior General Manager Through the initiative, known as the resources. The US has identified that one of NCB’s Corporate, Commercial & Development Credit Authority or “DCA” of the major concerns within Jamaica and Consumer Banking Division said the Loan Portfolio Guarantee Agreement, the region is to advance the resiliency and NCB/USAID agreement marks the first- assistance will be made possible to SMEs security of the energy sector,” said Barsa. ever regional loan portfolio guarantee. via access to funding for Energy Saving The NCB/USAID agreement marks Along with Jamaican entities, financing is and Clean Energy Production Projects. the first-ever regional loan portfolio also available to Small and Medium Size Boothe said that “SMEs are engines guarantee. Along with Jamaican entities, Enterprises (SMEs) operating in Barbados, of job creation and are essential to financing is also available to SMEs The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, strengthening our economy. Therefore, operating in Barbados, The Bahamas, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, NCB has recognized that it is our Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, St. Lucia and the twin-island republic of responsibility to ensure we help create St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and the twinTrinidad and Tobago. the optimal environment for such a island republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The guarantee agreement allows lending critical sector.” Barsa continued by highlighting that to registered SMEs with no more than Jamaica’s Minister of Industry, Commerce, the partnership with NCB was birthed 250 employees and gross annual sales not Agriculture and Fisheries, Audley Shaw, through a pledge of additional support exceeding US$20 Million. The partnership in an address lauded NCB and USAID for for energy security, following a meeting agreement was signed on Thursday, the initiative which he said had a massive last year with heads of CARICOM states. October 31 at the NCB Wellness and potential to stimulate SME growth “This partnership is a testament to what Recreation Centre. and subsequent national and regional can happen when the public and private Boothe said that funding will also be economic development. “I served for six sector come together to address common available for investments in machinery, years as Minister of Finance and one of the issues. This partnership will allow NCB, via equipment, facilities, business expansion goals I set out was to bring the economy the loan portfolio guarantee, to reduce and small-scale irrigation system projects. back to single-digit interest rates, so I am risk exposure and enable them to utilize The Loan Fund under the agreement is happy today to see that an initiative of their resources to increase lending for available to SMEs who are customers this magnitude has achieved that. We are energy investments in Jamaica and the Caribbean,” Barsa concluded. n of NCB as well as other banks and offers going in the right direction,” Shaw said. BusinessFocus

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NCPC Partners with IFC to Develop Modern Secured Transactions Framework for SMEs Source: CDB

NCPC Partners with IFC to Develop Modern Secured Transactions Framework for SMEs

The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council has partnered with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, with support from the Government of Canada to develop a modern secured collateral resources to help create new we still need as well. One of them is the transactions framework to enable alternatives for SMEs to obtain financing. insolvency act which again we have a bill increased access to finance for small Elaine MacEachern is the Senior Financial but it’s not being passed and without that and medium-sized enterprises (“SMEs”) Sector Specialist with the IFC. the lenders are not really going to get into using movable assets as collateral. lending to movable assets so we need a “Approximately 57% of the firms in St. Lucia Research indicates that approximately numbers of things that have to change have access to finance challenges. Only 70% of a firm’s wealth is concentrated over the next year or so in order to open up 24.5% of those firms have a bank loan in its movable assets such as equipment, our markets to new types of products that or line of credit and 98% of those loans inventory and account receivables. will allow transactions to flow and finance to small and medium-size firms require to be available to those who traditionally In a bid to improve access to finance collateral over 1.9 times the load amount. have a problem getting it.” for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises 13% of those companies have credit to (SMEs) and St. Lucia’s ease of doing finance their working capital and 23% their Business Development Officer for Axcel business ranking, the Government of St. investments leaving SMEs largely to self- Finance, Mervin Agiste, said this bill aligns Lucia is moving to introduce legislations finance their operations and obviously this with his company’s model of credit financing. under the “Security Interests in Movable impacts cash flow challenges.” “It is off course heartening to see that Property Bill.” Access to finance had St. Lucia is currently ranked 161 out of 189 everything is coming into place through been a long-standing issue for the economies on the World Bank Ease of Doing legislation and of course institutionalization, private sector particularly SMEs. Last Business, getting credit indicator. However, so Axcel Finance will definitely continue in week representatives from the banking, this ranking is expected to improve with the path that it has been to ensure that our finance and legal sectors alongside the passage of this new legislation. small businesses continue to grow through government officials participated the use of movable assets to secure their in a two-day workshop on Secured “Once the Security Interest in Movable financial stability.” Transactions and Collateral Registry. Property Bill is tabled and approved by Permanent Secretary in the Department parliament, the design and the development Irvin Springer, Business Development of Finance, Cointha Thomas highlighted of the collateral registry will be the next Manager at 1st National Bank, indicated that the lack of access to finance inhibits step in creating the enabling infrastructure that the passage of this Bill will go hand in hand with a new initiative his bank a firm’s competitiveness and productivity, to increase access to credit for SMEs.” its ability to expand its operations and Partner at Grant Thornton, Richard is pursuing. provide much needed employment. Peterkin, said though the piece of “We’re actually going to be launching a “This initiative with the IFC/World Bank legislation is very technical and many SME Competency Centre in the coming Group will allow businesses to access persons may not initially grasp the concept weeks which will be providing products and financial services to the SME sector financing using their moveable properties it can increase access to credit for SMEs. or assets such as equipment, vehicles, “We are close to getting a bill from what so the secure transaction bill now being inventory, receivable and others as I see and that’s good but like everything passed will actually enhance this effort security/collateral for loan financing. This else in life getting the bill is just the first because one of the biggest challenges is important as 70% of a firm’s wealth is step. The ability to establish that registry faced by SMEs is the inability to provide said to be concentrated in their moveable which would list all the assets allow users security for credit.” assets. To support this initiative a legal to go online and see whose got what, what The IFC is hopeful that other member framework and a registry system will be security is there, it’s going to be a tough countries of the currency union will be put in place for providing credit using task but I am glad to see that the World motivated by St. Lucia’s advances and moveable assets.” Bank and NCPC and the Government of consider making this solution a regional The International Finance Corporation works with governments across the globe to develop frameworks that allow borrowers to obtain loans by using their

Canada are working with the Government of St. Lucia to make this a reality in the not too distant future. I think in many instances there are bits and pieces of legislation

one. The two-day workshop was held at the Finance Administrative Centre November 5th to 6th, 2019. n BusinessFocus

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MONEY MATTERS

Retirement, Income, Debts and Regrets

Retirement, Income, Debts and Regrets BY TRUDY O. GLASGOW B.A., LL.B (HONS), BVC, LL.M, P.C.H.E* Debts are inevitable: be it a college loan, longer, due to advances in medical research, business loan, car loan, mortgage re- better lifestyle choices like eliminating financing or a hire purchase agreement. smoking, reducing drinking, exercising We have all borrowed monies that we more, getting enough sleep. So by the time need to pay back: to our local credit union, we are ready to retire at 62, 65 or 70, we bank, friends and family. What we must have many productive years ahead of us. strive to do is to avoid being in debt by the Retirement planning has become essential time we are ready to retire. to ensure we do not run out of money when we are retired. In this article, we will look at income sources that we rely on when we are ready Some people look at retirement as an to retire. We consider what is the magic extended holiday, a time to relax and do all number that should be our target to reach the things they didn’t have time to do when our retirement goals? Will your retirement they were working (and raising a family). income be enough to allow you to retire For others, it means slowing down and comfortably? Will you be able to retire seeking part-time employment to finish when you plan to? paying off their debts or avoid suffering from sheer boredom by keeping busy There are three main sources of income as long as they can. Either way, financial to consider in this process of retirement advisers insist that we approach retirement planning: your pension (if you have one); as another phase in our lives that we must National Insurance Contribution (in other plan for, work towards and prepare for. countries referred to as social security They warn that there is no ‘one size fits all’ benefits); and savings. The one that you retirement fund or income. They suggest have the most control over is savings. You treating retirement like a business where decide how much you will save; how often your income should exceed your expenses. and eventually build up your “nest egg” so you can retire in style. In order to retire, we are urged to consider our current age, intended age for retirement, The age of retirement has shifted over time life expectancy, current earnings, income based on a number of socio-economic and sources during retirement, expected political factors. We live in democratic and savings, amount of current retirement progressive societies largely free of overt savings and inflation. corruption and abuse in the Western world. We have experienced a global economic What is the magic number? Financial depression from 2008 comparative to the experts agree that the figure will be Great Depression in the 1930s. However, different for everyone. It depends on a we are slowly recovering and the economic number of varying factors: what does your forecast looks promising. We are living retirement plan look like: do you want to BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

go on cruises and holidays every year or sit at home and read a book; do you want to take up new hobbies or watch television all day. Are you in good health? Have you planned for possible health issues and funeral expenses? These are just some of the items that you need to consider for your retirement. Planning for retirement should be a lifelong process. There should be a series of goals throughout our lifetime, and we should try to reach them. It is important to be able to save and invest for retirement but it is equally important to plan for retirement. n

Ms. Trudy O. Glasgow is a practicing attorney at the law firm Trudy O. Glasgow & Associates, a court-appointed mediator and author in Saint Lucia (and has also taught law at University level in the UK)* Ms. Glasgow is also the former Vice President of the Bar Association of Saint Lucia (2015-2019); President Elect of the Rotary Club of Gros Islet; Chairperson of the National Research and Development Foundation and Co-Chair of 100 women who care, St. Lucia Chapter.

Make Insurance More Affordable – Says CARICOM’s LaRocque

Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, has called for the cost of insurance to be more affordable.

Source: CARICOM Today

Justifying his call, the Secretary-General explained that governments in the Region lack the fiscal space to afford the insurance required to provide adequate financial resilience. This, he further explained, is due to the increase in intensity and frequency of natural disasters linked to climate change.

At the time, Ambassador LaRocque was speaking on a panel at the Insurance Colloquium: ‘Insurance in the Age of Climate Change,’ organised by the Inter- Ambassador LaRocque pointed out that in American development Bank (IDB), the the Caribbean Region, there was a 66 per Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the cent protection gap between the economic Government of Barbados. The event was costs of damages and insured losses as held on Tuesday, 5th November 2019, at the against 55 per cent in developed countries. Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre in Barbados.

He stated that it was the most vulnerable in the society who were most affected and who had the least capacity to afford the insurance which increased the responsibility of governments to provide the necessary relief. “This at a time when insurance premiums keep rising,” he added. Speaking on the challenge of Climate Change, the Secretary-General said the real need for the region was to address its vulnerability prior to a disaster. He pointed out that each dollar spent on resilience saves between four and seven dollars of reconstruction and rebuilding costs after a disaster. He reiterated his call for using vulnerability as the criterion in determining concessional development financing instead of GDP per capita. n

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The Connoisseurs of Local Fruit Brandies

Caribbean Craft Dis Caribbean Craft (CCD) (CCD)

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t B readfrui Eau de V ie 39%

Banana Eau de V ie 39%

Eike Lauff founded Caribbean Craft Distilling in 2016. The company is a Saint Lucian-based craft distillery which only produces high quality spirits from locally grown fruits and agricultural products. By combining local Caribbean fruits and roots with a longstanding European distilling tradition, the company has

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Five Finger Gin 40%

created some very rare and unique novelties not found anywhere else. Lauff said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I started by looking at all the fruits spoiling throughout the seasons and I asked myself, what can I do with what we have locally. In Europe, there is this old tradition of fruit brandies where seasonal fruits get turned into high grade spirits. So, I wanted to try it out here. It began

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Mango Eau de V ie 39%

with using breadfruit and other nontraditional fruit to make fruit brandies and then we built it up from there. It took just under two years of experimenting with the flavours of different fruits until I could find the right blends.â&#x20AC;? During the experimentation phase, Lauff used produce that was available in

CaribbeanSpiritsLtd

stilling Distilling

abundance to make sample batches of gin, vodka and Craft Distilling can only produce a limited number of Eau de Vie – modifying the taste based on the feedback products for the time of year. he received. Lauff spoke of the beginning of the journey “Each fruit family has a different flavour. Originally, I just saying “It was a bit costly to start up. I had to go back to wanted to make an Eau de Vie but then I branched out to Europe to source equipment that was small enough to make vodka, gin and liqueurs. It took a lot of experimenting bring back but big enough to see what was possible.” with fruits. There’s five finger gin. I tried Crème de Sorrel These award-winning spirits are produced by batch which is our festive Christmas offering. There are so many distillation in copper and stainless-steel stills in other fruits available that I am eager to try.” keeping with international regulations for the various Over the past eighteen months the company processed in spirit classifications. excess of 1600lbs bananas, 1000lbs of dasheen, 1000lbs “I used the European regulations to guide the production of the fruit brandies. It was to maintain quality and standard of the product. I sent the products to a competition in Austria which is where we won these awards.” Caribbean Craft Distilling walked away with a Gold and two Silver Awards at the 2019 World Spirits Awards in Austria – one of the top spirit competitions in the world. The event takes places in Austria annually with over 100 distilleries from 30 nations participating. In their 2019 publication, the World Spirit Awards referred to the 100% Distillate Category (which comprises pure fruit distillate) as being “often described as the Formula 1 of spirits. They underlie the strictest production criteria. Foreign alcohol, flavourings, sugar or sugar colour are not allowed in production.” Fresh mangoes, breadfruits, starfruits (five-fingers), dasheen, bananas and sorrel are all seasonally sourced and purchased across the island from small farmers or private homeowners who have the produce in their yards. Because of the seasonal availability, Caribbean

of breadfruit, over 2300lbs of mangoes and over 3400lbs of starfruit (five fingers). This speciality product brand began bottling in 2018 and so far, can be found at local hotels and restaurants like Coco Palm Resort, Cap Maison Resort and Spa and Jacques Waterfront Dining. Island Mix in Rodney Bay, the Marina Market and the Rum Shop at Pointe Seraphine are retail venues. Lauff envisions the company growing to a formidable force in the export market despite the challenge of working with seasonal produce.

e retailers V is it one of th ttle of to get your bo rel

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for the Festiv

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BUSINESS TECH

Practicing Climate Smart Agriculture

Practicing Climate Smart Agriculture Farmers, students, and agriculture stakeholders from seven OECS Member States were recently trained in Crop Scheduling and Water Use Efficiency for Climate Change by the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), Saint Lucia. The two-day workshop, held in Saint Lucia from September 24-25, utilised Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to analyse market trends, schedule production, map farm locations and integrate automated and injector irrigation systems into farm practice. The training was part of the Advancing ICTs for Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) project funded by the Japan-CARICOM Overseas Friendship and supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Physical Planning, Natural Resources and Cooperatives, Saint Lucia. Over 30 individuals participated in the event from Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

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Honourable Ezechiel Joseph, Minister of Agriculture in Saint Lucia; and Mr. Toshihide Kanaya, Second Secretary at the Embassy of Japan in Trinidad, visited the first day of the workshop. Minister Joseph on visiting the workshop expressed, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am happy to see so many young farmers here today. We have to embrace the technology and begin to make the necessary changes if we are going to reduce our food import bill. We also need a regional approach in creating and implementing policies, so I am pleased to have our OECS Member States represented here today. There is need for serious research in adopting these kinds of technologies that consider the challenges of climate change.â&#x20AC;? Climate variability and change continues to impact the Caribbean region and affect food production systems. Changes in

temperature and rainfall directly affect crop yield and animal production and can create an unstable market. In Saint Lucia, cultural festivals like Creole, Jazz, Carnival and Christmas also affect the demand and supply of the market. Farmers, therefore, need to implement practices that allow for an effective and consistent supply of produce to meet the market demands. Coupled with increases in production and productivity, this will contribute towards reducing the food import bill of Saint Lucia. CARDI supports the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture in Saint Lucia in working towards a reduced import bill for cabbage, lettuce, tomato, bell peppers, cantaloupe, watermelon and pineapple under the Import Substitution Programme. ICTs examined in the workshop included a web-based crop scheduling application and an automated irrigation application, both of which can be used on mobile phones.

Fertigation and injector irrigation systems were also examined along with the use of sub-surface irrigation and soil moisture probes to effectively manage water. The mobile application ‘Terra Sync’ was used on over 100 farms to map locations and these maps allowed for recognition of soil types, landslide and flood zones. Information was also shared on how to prepare for such potential hazards in these zones and potentially reduce the impact. Farmer Garvey Charlemagne said, “I would definitely endorse the use of ICTs on farms around the island, especially in an effort to mitigate the effects of climate change. We need to embrace the use of technology in agriculture. This results in major cost savings for the farmer, as it is less labour intensive, ensures that water is used effectively for irrigation and addresses the high cost of weed management. The technology which we were exposed to in this project will undoubtedly enhance the agricultural sector, not only here in Saint Lucia but for our Caribbean colleagues as well. I have embraced the use of ICT as a tool for marketing and networking with other farmers and I am presently working towards implementing other aspects that I was exposed to – such as fertigation, automated watering, the use of tools to measure soil water levels, the application of sub-surface drip tapes and the use of mulching to eliminate the need for constant weeding.”

and Conference Centre in Dennery, Saint Lucia, and was facilitated by Dr. Govind Seepersad, Dr. Dave Goorahoo and Ms. Shivani Seepersad. The project is managed by Ms. Andrea K. Veira at CARDI, Saint Lucia.

University Campus, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. About the Japan-CARICOM Friendship and Cooperation Fund (JCFCF):

The Friendship and Cooperation Fund has facilitated funding from the Japanese government to Caribbean CARDI was established in 1974 to Community Member States in a variety serve the agricultural research and of areas including small and mediumdevelopment needs of the Member States sised enterprises, culture, agriculture, of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). information technology, environment CARDI is positioned to contribute to protection and participation in various the sustainable development of the trade fairs; and funding from the Japanese Caribbean by the co-generation, diffusion private sector in the areas of energy, the and application of knowledge, through environment and tourism. n agricultural research for development. The Institute’s Headquarters is located at the

About the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI):

The workshop was held at the CARDI Field Station and the Bethel Blessings Events

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

BUSINESS TECH

Implementing Innovation Through Motivation

Implementing Innovation Through Motivation By Kurt Augustin

“The only way you survive is you continuously transform into something else. It’s this idea of continuous transformation that makes you an innovation company.” – Ginni Rometty (CEO IBM) The world is continuously evolving through development and in order for businesses to remain competitive, innovation must be considered. Innovation provides an organization with the ability to deal with rapid change by methods of problem solving, ideation and development. Many workplaces have a very difficult time implementing innovation; therefore methods have been deduced to ensure proper implementation. One of the concepts which is assumed to provide generous support to innovation is motivation.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

NON MONETARY INCENTIVES

TEAMWORK & COLLABORATION

LEADERSHIP

Salary, Insurance, Accommodation, Allowances

Recognition, Professional Growth, Flexibility, Entertainment

Personal Connections, Team Building, Trust, Problem Solving, Communication

Charismatic, Open, Transformational, Influential, Forward Thinking

ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE

JOB DESIGN

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Idea Friendly, Resilient, Invite Diversity, Empower Employees, Creative

Task Variety, Task Significance, Reflection Time, Employee Interaction

eLearning, Conference, Virtual Reality, Blended Learning

Free, Playful, Open Office, Simplistic, Ergonomic, Bright

Empirical evidence concludes that motivation can be used to foster innovation since the performance and overall satisfaction of an employee positively contributes to innovation in an organization. There are many factors which influence motivation but consequently eight (8) of these factors are known to contribute directly to innovation and they are compensation and benefits, non-monetary incentives, teamwork and collaboration, leadership, organizational culture, job design, training and development and work environment. The unification of these eight factors of motivation will drastically increase job performance and employee satisfaction which are the main components of innovation and creativity.

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Dec /Jan

JOB PERFORMANCE

EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION

INNOVATION

MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS ANALYSIS

JOB PERFORMANCE & SATISFACTION CHECK

INNOVATIVE STRATEGY SELECTION

The organization should ensure that every factor is implemented or evolved to achieve full motivation

Confirm that there is an increase in job performance and employee satisfaction

A suitable innovative process framework should be implemented based on the service offered

Kurt Augustin is a Business Development professional who amalgamates his experience in innovation, marketing, project management and technology to develop a very impactful and successful product or service. Kurt Augustin is the founder of a technology company (KPA Technologies) and a consultancy firm (Dystinctiv) which aims to service the entire Caribbean region. He holds a Bachelors in Information Technology from the University of the West Indies St Augustine and an MBA with specialization in Innovation and Project Management. He also obtained one of the world’s best internet security certifications (CompTIA Certified Advance Security Practitioner) which allows him to critically analyze and develop policies which motivate the security and success of any organization. He can be contacted at info@ kpatechnologies.com or (758) 715-4449.

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Dec /Jan

BUSINESS TECH

CARICOM Looking to Remove Roaming Charges Towards a Single ICT Space Grenada's Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is exploring the possibility of removing roaming charges throughout the community. According to a statement from CARICOM, Ministers with responsibility for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the region have agreed to collectively approach the Regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s telecommunications providers to eliminate roaming charges in the push to achieve a CARICOM Single ICT Space. At a Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (ICT) in early November, by video-conference, the Ministers agreed that this would provide social and economic benefits to the people and to the Region. A number of regional

CARICOM Looking to Remove Roaming Charges Towards a Single ICT Space and international organisations and CARICOM Youth Ambassadors also took part in the discussions, CARICOM said. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister of Grenada, Keith Mitchell who said this issue, once addressed, would give a real boost to regional integration and had the potential to drive growth and development in the Community. CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque concurred with the sentiments of the Prime Minister noting that the Single ICT Space should be realised as soon as practically possible.

The Ministers emphasised the importance of cyber security in underpinning the Single ICT Space. The Ministers also identified priorities as: developing the ICT sector as a catalyst to foster closer regional economic integration; enhancing the competitiveness of the Region through a vibrant ICT industry; and using the Single ICT Space as a driver of the CARICOM digital economy and the transformation of key sectors.

The Understanding notes that the realisation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the fulfilment The Single ICT Space will allow for of the United Nations Sustainable harmonisation of the ICT and other Development Goals (SDGs) can be greatly legislative frameworks in CARICOM, advanced by the strategic application the removal of roaming charges, the and increased usage of ICT and applying encouragement of digital entrepreneurship, a whole-of-government approach. The equipping all CARICOM nationals as CSME allows for the free movement of digital citizens and looking at ICT financial goods, skills, labour and services across the 15-member grouping. n solutions among other regional benefits.

Grant Thornton

Quality Aggregates

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

Invest St.Lucia

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

Message from Honourable Bradley Felix

Message from Honourable Bradley Felix Minister for Commerce, Industry, Investment, Enterprise Development and Consumer Affairs

to a maximum of 21.52 percent in 1981. Currently, we have over US$1.5 billion of foreign direct investment that is committed to coming to Saint Lucia over the next two years.

s Saint Lucia’s premiere investment promotion agency, Invest Saint Lucia must be highly commended for the considerable strides it has made over the years in attracting sustainable foreign investments into Saint Lucia. This, coupled with several transformational projects in the pipeline, means Saint Lucia is well poised to become a leading investment location in the Caribbean over the next five to ten years.

This is a time when the government of Saint Lucia is moving to activate major changes and improvements in the economy, many of which are geared towards increasing much-needed foreign direct investment in the country. Saint Lucia’s national revenue relies heavily on this. For example, the average value of FDI for Saint Lucia grew from a minimum of 2.61 percent in 1996

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Dec /Jan

In anticipation of the growth that is expected to result from these investments, the government is going full steam ahead with plans for major infrastructural developments in the coming months. These include the expansion of Hewanorra International Airport, building new roads and reasphalting feeder roads in various parts of the countryside, rebuilding infrastructure in several villages, and sprucing up Castries.

focused on innovation, technology and developing Saint Lucian talent at its core. Presently, we’re targeting specialized businesses, such as those involved in state-of-the-art agro-processing and dairy production, the production of nutraceuticals that can make effective use of Saint Lucia’s abundant biodiversity and traditional medicines. The government is also keen to partner with business-and knowledge - process outsourcing operations (BPO/KPO), training institutions and alternative energy production companies— investments that would enable Saint Lucia to augment our diversification strategies and broaden our economic base.

Additionally, all sectors of the economy To this end, I wish to applaud Invest will continue to benefit substantially from Saint Lucia for embarking on not just a improvements in communications, water cosmetic change but rather a complete supply, sewerage, and port facilities. These transformation in the way the agency improvements, combined with our stable conducts its business and interaction national and international political environment and educated work with audiences and investors. force, will enable Saint Lucia to attract increased foreign investments that are I urge Invest Saint Lucia to continue the crucially needed in several different sectors. good work and know that it has the full In the coming years we expect to make support of the Government of Saint Lucia. even greater strides with a shift in the This will certainly help to strengthen the types of investments we’re seeking to investment base of our country. Well done! attract and retain. Businesses that are

Message from Chairman of the Board of ISL – Pinkley Francis Invest Saint Lucia, A New Era of Investment Message from Chairman of the Board of ISL – Pinkley Francis

powerfully and creatively than we did, trust me, we take note of it. All of it informs our strategy for success. There are the five prongs of Invest Saint Lucia’s plan. 1. Develop Competitive advantage in support of Investment Promotion Activities 2. Create Sustainable Revenue Streams to ensure Long term sustainability of ISL. 3. Enhance image of ISL locally so that its is seen as the authority on “Business in Saint Lucia” 4. Design and implement a Business Process Improvement Programme

5. Restructure organization to support the Strategy and Action Plan

the Singapore of this hemisphere in terms of efficiently run public services, infrastructure, clean, safe, smart cities? Will we become the Romania of the Caribbean in terms of having 95 percent of our citizenry owning land and property and having economic security for generations to come? Will be become the Germany of CARICOM, with regards to education and employment? Where our youth are trained for the jobs of the future and where vocational training is treated as no less esteemed than academics? Will we be taken off the list of the top plastic polluters per capita because we have eliminated plastic waste through recycling to the point we help other islands recycle their plastic waste?

When the baby boomer generation fades nvest Saint Lucia is often the first point of contact and the ones on the ground, Even if as an investment promotion and generation X starts to enter its third trying to address the needs of investors agency we successfully enacted the act, is this a place they including our who are grappling with the vicissitudes of methodologies and operational changes own returning nationals, will want to international trade, commerce, social and for all five of these prongs, we are just retire in because it has safe, accessible, global cultural trends. When investors face one national agency in this mosaic. Like all well-planned real estate development challenges with human resourcing from the our partner agencies, we depend on our supported by the private sector services outputs of our educational system and labor ministerial stakeholders for governance, needed for quality of life? force, we hear about it. When investors guidance, enforcing legislation and giving When our tourism rests squarely on the have concerns about the realities of climate final approval. backs of millennials, will our tourism change, natural disasters and Sargassum Therefore, there must also be an development be ready for what they are seaweed, we are aware of it. Whatever overarching vision, a national development looking for in a destination? Will they our social and environmental issues are, it policy that tackles at a macro-level our choose here over Bali, Costa Rica, Bhutan always impacts the investor and therefore it national developmental goals and gives or Amsterdam? impacts our strategic focus. not just Invest Saint Lucia, but all our Most importantly, when the global We are also aware of our competition. national agencies, the ability to do more consensus does its roll call and yes, our Saint Lucia is special to us because this is than facilitate but forecast and pro-actively nation was one of the hundreds who our country and we love our island. But in solve problems. signed on to Agenda 2030, will they the world’s eye, we are just one of many This overarching vision and mandate must say, “Saint Lucia sets the benchmark developing, post-colonial countries. We transcend any regime change. It must for success! They might be small, but are still perceived as being far from what be patriotic and non-partisan, so that they are mighty when it comes to is considered a successful country by all it is consistently followed regardless of rapid attainment of the Sustainable the international indices. Every time other changes in leadership. It must be guided Development Goals. One of the ways in comparable tropical markets with similar by one simple question. which they did it, was attracting the right offerings overtake our nation in attracting What kind of Saint Lucia do we want to foreign investment and most importantly, sustainable investment by ethical players see in 2030 and beyond? Will we become growing indigenous entrepreneurship.” because they seized the moment more

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

Meet the ISL Board of Directors

RONALD JAMES DIRECTOR Mr. Ronald James has spent the last two decades with the National Farmers and General Workers Co-operative Credit Union. His twenty-year career in finance, Mr. Jodi Boodhoo sits as the Deputy recently earned him the post of General Chairman on the Board of Invest Saint Manager of the Credit Union, which has Lucia, a post which he has previously branches in Castries, Vieux-Fort and Bois held. Jodi Boodhoo is a co-founder and d’Orange. Mr. James’ area of expertise Director of Business Development at is not limited to financial management. AVANCE, a boutique deal structuring and Throughout his career he has undertaken project finance consultancy. Mr. Boodhoo a number of human resource functions as is a former member of the Saint Lucia well as risk management and marketing. He Tourist Board and has assisted with holds a Professional Certificate in Strategic the development of the island’s export Leadership in Credit Union Management, development strategy. He holds a BA from the Florida International University; in Political science, an LLB and LLM. Mr. a Certificate in Cooperative Studies Boodhoo keeps active in national service and a Diploma in Management from and charitable drives, and is passionate the University of the West Indies. He is currently pursuing his MBA. about development issues.

JODI BOODHOO DEPUTY CHAIRMAN

PINKLEY FRANCIS -CHAIRMANMr. Pinkely Francis is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Invest Saint Lucia. Mr. Francis is the owner and CEO of SIXT Car Rental St. Lucia, Europe’s fastest growing rental car agency, as well as Innovative Business Solutions St. Lucia Inc., a Technology integrator and business solutions enterprise. He is also a Director at Island Marine Supplies, the sole distributor for Mercury Marine in Saint Lucia. Prior to becoming self-employed, he spent over fifteen (15) years in the private sector, holding several senior managerial positions with Cable & Wireless. For a period of two years, Mr. Francis was the country manager for Antilles Crossing and TeleStlucia, a wholesale internet service provider. He holds an MSC in Information Systems Management from the University of Sheffield and specializes in New Business Development; Telecommunications; Negotiations; Strategic Planning; Business Development; Project Management; and Change Management. BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

PAULA VALERIE JAMES DIRECTOR

Mrs. Paula Valerie James is the Executive Director of the Saint Lucia Manufacturers Association. She brings over thirty years of banking experience to ISL’s Board having worked in the sector both locally and regionally. She served as a member of the Public Service Commission for five years; Chairman of the Tax Appeal Commission for six years and as Coordinator of the National Volunteer Programme during the staging of Cricket World Cup 2007. She is a recipient of the Saint Lucia Les Piton Medal and has also been bestowed with the Melvin Jones Fellowship – the highest award attainable from the Lions Clubs international for Dedicated Humanitarian Service. Mrs. James is dedicated and passionate about community service and youth development.

MODESTUS LOUIS DIRECTOR

IMELDA SMITH-ST.ANGE DIRECTOR

Modestus Louis brings a wealth of Ms. Imelda Smith-St.Ange is a Retired Bank knowledge in immigration/border control Manager. She spent 30 years working and security to Invest Saint Lucia’s Board with the Bank of Nova Scotia and 7 years of Directors, having spent the last twenty in the Industrial Relations department years as a law enforcement officer. This is at Winera Ltd. She brings in a wealth of coupled with a decade’s worth of practice as knowledge in Banking & Financing. During a security specialist with a leading business her tenure as Bank Manager, Ms. Smithorganization in Saint Lucia. Additionally, Mr. St.Ange gained international, regional Louis has worked in public relations and and local training in Banking, Sales boasts of a three-year stint as a radio talk- and Service Coaching, Operational and show host and customer service trainer. Financial Risk Management, Anti Money However, all of this comes in a distant Laundering and Compliance. She holds a second to his burning desire to see Saint Letter of Accomplishment Certificate in Lucia succeed and live up to its true potential. Banking from the Institute of Canadian He believes strongly that a nation which Bankers and Post Graduate Diploma can produce two Nobel Laureates as well in Management from the University of as movers and shakers on the international Wales. Ms. Smith worked in the private scene - from the meagre resources of ‘sea sector and always strived to contribute to water and sand’ - is a nation with the ability the community, now that she has retired to be a world-class leader. The desire to see she is ready to serve her community and this fulfilled is his driving force. country full heartedly.

SOPHIA M. HENRY DIRECTOR Mrs. Sophia M. Henry is currently the Ag. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of

Commerce, International Trade, Investment, Enterprise Development and Consumer Affairs. She joined the Public Service in September 1994 and has over two decades of experience in tax administration. Mrs. Henry has served in various capacities at the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) including Audit Supervisor, Assistant Comptroller of the Audit Section and for over four years as the Comptroller of the Inland Revenue Department and the Competent Authority (delegate) responsible for Saint Lucia’s adherence to international tax transparency standards. She is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (Acc. Dir.) She served as an Alternate Director on the board of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) for three years and is currently the Chair of the Trade Licence Board and member of the National Export Council. Mrs. Henry is committed to serving the Government and people of Saint Lucia with excellence and integrity.

KIMBERLEY ROHEMAN DIRECTOR Kimberley Roheman qualified as a Barristerat-Law in the United Kingdom in 1992 and was called to the Bar in the United Kingdom on 9th February 1993 and in St. Lucia on 23rd June 1993. On her return to St. Lucia in 1993 she took up employment as The Deputy Registrar of the High Court where she served for 2 years and then as the first Magistrate of the Family Court which was established in 1996 and where she served for a period of 1 ½ years. She joined the Firm of McNamara & Co. as an Associate in August 1998 and was appointed a Partner in 2009, she engages mainly in Civil and Commercial Litigation and has an extensive practice in Family Law, Conveyancing, Wills, Probate and Administration, Intellectual Property and Company Matters. Kimberley Roheman served on the Disciplinary Committee of the St. Lucia Bar Association from 2006 to 2016. She has served as Chairperson of the Police Complaints Commission since July 2015 and she is currently a Director on the Board of the Intellectual Property Caribbean Association (IPCA). She has also been a contributor to the World Bank Doing Business Publication. BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

An Exciting Future Beckons - Unveiling the New ISL, its Mandate

An Exciting Future Beckons Unveiling the New ISL, its Mandate

ver the past few months, Invest Saint Lucia has completed an intense audit processes to evaluate and decide how the agency will move into the future. The goal is to become a purpose-driven, vision focused and professional investment promotion agency that advances Saint Luciaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s socio-economic development by promoting, stimulating and facilitating direct investment while making a reasonable return on assets. ISL must be a leading business enabler, generating sustainable investments for the transformative development of the economy of Saint Lucia. Invest Saint Lucia has strategic objectives that it must fulfill in the next five to ten years and it must do this at a time when globally the world is trying to attain the Sustainable Development Goals outlined in the United Nations Agenda 2030.

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Dec /Jan

Brand Saint Lucia is a new government policy which requires all national agencies utilizing the name â&#x20AC;&#x153;Saint Luciaâ&#x20AC;? to fall under a unified branding platform. Invest Saint Lucia is an investment promotional agency (IPA) facing competition from other IPAs that have invested in building their brands from the ground up. ISL wanted to ensure that it is running with the pack by undertaking an intensive rebranding exercise which went beyond a logo. While the cosmetic changes are the most visible and impactful, they do not give the full picture of how deep the ISL cultural shift will be. It is an exciting time and ISL has an energetic and knowledgeable team ready to take on this shift. Essentially, ISL is aiming to have a ruler brand personality which is going to help the agency stay competitive in the global investment market. What is a ruler brand? The new look

of Invest Saint Lucia is called the royal standard. Royal blue and gold are now ISL’s main brand colours. They convey the fact that our island is something precious— a queen, a crown jewel. We have something precious to offer investors. We are looking for investors who treat our island like it were their own precious home. Hence ISL’s new tagline, “Make it your Own”. At the same time, the tagline speaks to Saint Lucians to purchase a piece of the island through our residential land developmental programmes, making it their own.

One of the most important changes Invest Saint Lucia will be making is in its engagement with our Saint Lucian people. A huge part of ISL’s rebranding is its public relations and corporate social responsibility activities which will address the false perception that ISL is only about benefitting foreign investors. ISL will be launching the, “Invested In You” campaign, to educate citizens of all the ways ISL supports those who are entrepreneurs.

with key promotion agencies such as the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, Export Saint Lucia and the Citizenship by Investment Programme to create a united front for the promotion of Saint Lucia as the location of choice for investments, visitors and exports. ISL will be engaging more with other agencies to spread this excellence around. We are all working towards the common purpose of advancing the country’s socioeconomic development. n

ISL does not plan to do this on its own and therefore the agency is forging partnerships

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Vision & Mission

VISION STATEMENT To be the leading business enabler, generating sustainable investments for the transformative development of the economy of Saint Lucia.

MISSION STATEMENT To advance Saint Luciaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s socio-economic development by promoting, stimulating and facilitating direct investment while making a reasonable return on assets.

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

ISL Providing Shopping For All Your Senses

nvest Saint Lucia has had a monumental effect on the advancement of three key pillars in the island through its operations: manufacturing, infrastructure and tourism. While each has been briefly touched on in this publication, it is imperative to highlight one of the oldest, yet most significant contributions to the tourism industry of Saint Lucia, Duty Free Pointe Seraphine (DFPS). In 1986, the Government of Saint Lucia dedicated much of its efforts into creating a hub for cruise ship passengers—a duty free tourist-oriented shopping complex. Overtime, the shopping centre became a balanced environment that is now both local-friendly and tourist-driven. DFPS has enhanced the visitor experience for cruise ship passengers and created employment for Saint Lucians through entertainment and several quality duty-free shops to choose from.

Saint Lucia, as the island became a must-see for travellers around the world. At a time, DFPS has hosted close to 10,000 cruise ship passengers in a day and continues to make strides in creating an experience that leaves visitors wanting to come back. In recognizing the value of tourism on the island, through ventures like this, ISL has proved to have placed great emphasis on the development of the cruise and retail industry. With decades of experience, DFPS has rooted in Castries, and its management is eager to branch off into new, attractive and exciting ventures for the benefit of tenants, Saint Lucians and the company. In the future, DFPS’ primary intentions are to change customer perception and the

brand image of the complex by shifting the narrative from “duty free” or “solely for tourists”, to a more inclusive, upbeat, fresh and fun spot for locals, cruise passengers, hotel guests, and regional visitors to enjoy year-round. This burst of inspiration comes from the newly revamped and rebranded parent company, Invest Saint Lucia, who continuously ensures that DFPS is always on par with the same standards. The cosmetic renovation to be considered for the next year includes monuments, lounges, more service businesses and a calendar filled with events year-round. The ultimate goal of Duty Free Pointe Seraphine, however, is to provide shopping for all your senses! n

It is without a doubt that DFPS is also a staple in the country’s history, considering that at one point it was the only major shopping complex in Saint Lucia at the heart of the island’s city, Castries. But although it is the longest standing shopping facility, DFPS continuously aspires to be amongst the top choices of shopping malls for locals, and tourist alike. Within the span of 30 years, DFPS underwent some major infrastructural changes including the facilitation of an additional berth and a second shopping phase. This was done to accommodate the growing tourism industry (specifically the cruise sector) in BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

Invested in the Holistic Development of Southern Saint Lucia

Invested in The Holistic Development of Southern Saint Lucia The following is Invest Saint Lucia CEO Roderick Cherry’s feature address at the Southern Business Association’s 2019 annual general meeting.

e at Invest Saint Lucia, want the entire island to know that the south shall rise again! To help you gain a picture of where we are going, let us first look at where we came from.

None of us were alive to see it, but Vieux Fort, which is the second most populated town on our island, used to be the capital of Saint Lucian economy and governance. This was the epicenter of the sugar industry and still has some of the most fertile agricultural land on its miles of gently rolling hills. Named for the 17th-century Old Fort, our island’s first sugar works was founded here in 1765.

aristocracy there and the wealthy plantation owners on our island. Even when the sugar economy collapsed, that model of investment enterprise of exploitation of the Global South by the Global North continued all through the colonial era and sadly also after our independence.

We are fulfilling our mandate to improve the quality and quantity of homes and increase home ownership by our citizens. The Beauchamp Development located in the community of Ti Rocher, Micoud is that mandate made manifest. These properties are perfect for small households as starter homes with room to grow and expand. Long before the Hewanorra The industrial and commercial lots will International Airport, Vieux Fort’s As many of you may know, Invest Saint help to spur SME and MME enterprise natural deep-water harbour was one Lucia has undergone a complete rewithin the community, providing of the busiest in the region, taking branding with strategic objectives. employment and helping to alleviate the precious commodities of sugar, Invest Saint Lucia has already begun the high unemployment rates in cocoa, coffee, spices and more out of to make the southern part of our the region. our island, to Europe, enriching the island the epicenter of these strategic

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The linear, unsustainable, exploitative model of investment may have been what defined our history, but I am here to say that it will not define our future as a nation. The title of this address comes with reason. Holistic means that ecological and social development are just as much priorities as economic growth.

objectives that will bring holistic, national development. The type of investor that is interested in long-term, far-reaching community benefits of their enterprise on the island, is already here! The types of projects that will bring holistic benefits to this part of Saint Lucia, is already here!

It only gets more exciting from here. Our the Hewanorra International Airport. It You may have noticed that Invest Saint industrial estate at Vieux Fort is already will add a hotel room stock of 417 and Lucia’s tagline has changed to “Make It Your home to OJO Labs which employs over provide higher end residential property Own”. This reflects the kind of investor we 300 young Saint Lucians and has one of investment of 617 residential properties. will be prioritizing. If that investor is from the best work environments on the island. It is its own self-contained, mirco-city, another country, we want them to treat Invest Saint Lucia will be leveraging the complete with a commercial village and Saint Lucia like it was their own country success of this BPO and KPO enterprise so Town Hall, fringed by a Public Boardwalk and our people like their people. For our far to attract even more investors in that overlooking the beautiful beach. It aims citizens, we want them to stop feeling like sector. We intend to make the island’s to provide everything needed for living, this island is not theirs to own. It is! We south the Silicon Valley of Saint Lucia. We working, fitness, business, conferences, want fellow Saint Lucians to remember that have investors in negotiations as we speak, shopping, events, eating, daycare, health, everything we offer to foreign investors is to set up new businesses there. Vieux Fort beauty and recreation. available to them! What is more, we have is about to boom as a place for jobs, both Anse de Sable’s commercial village area a mandate to ensure every Saint Lucian highly skilled and unskilled. will be open to the public, thus inviting owns land and a home. Of course, the talk of the town is the horse commerce from the wider Vieux Fort The well-being of our people is at the very racetrack but what many may not be area which includes several underserved heart of our holistic development of our focusing on is the massive development middle and upper-income enclaves where island. Are you ready for the south to rise around that single attraction. Extensive families are currently eager for better again? Invest Saint Lucia is invested in you! n residential and commercial development shopping and entertainment facilities, not are in store. We are actively looking for provided by the town. No more driving investors in the provision of everything up to Castries and Rodney Bay to see the from medical services to ancillary tourism latest blockbuster or to enjoy fine dining services. Expansion of the Hewanorra and shop for designer brands. In fact, the Airport will also bring increased operational kind of development Invest Saint Lucia capacity to support all this industrial and has in mind will have the traffic flowing commercial growth. down here and with it, prosperity and Black Bay has been earmarked for a full- opportunity for our southern communities. service resort that has low ecological impact and provides high quality employment for our people. But perhaps the most ambitious project Invest Saint Lucia will be undertaking is Anse de Sable, a multi-faceted, hybrid real estate development on approximately 117 acres inclusive of the Queen’s chain of beautiful beachfront in the scenic southern coastline of Vieux Fort. It overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and is just a five-minute drive from

Speaking of opportunities, Invest Saint Lucia knows that an entrepreneurial spirit runs within our people. We are not just depending on foreign investor enterprises to employ our population. We want our people to own business and work for themselves. So, in addition to everything we do to attract investors, we are also helping to incubate and accelerate local start-ups. We’ve already had two major events and we plan more, especially for the south. BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

Meet the ISL Management Team

RODERICK CHERRY

JEREMIAH EDWARD

Senior Manager, Finance and Administration

Chief Executive Officer

Meet the ISL Management Team

NICOLE DUBOULAY

Senior Manager, Human Resources

VANESSA WILLIAM

Legal Counsel/Corporate Secretary

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Dec /Jan

DAVID DESIR

ALANA LANSIQUOT-BRICE

LYNDON SAMUEL

DELIA DIDIER-NICHOLAS

Land Administration Manager

Information Systems Advisor

Investment Services Manager

Project Manager, Land Rationalization & Office Manager (Vieux-Fort)

RODERICK CHERRY

An accomplished senior management executive and holder of an MBA in Strategic Management, Roderick brings a wealth of leadership and experience to his role as Chief Executive Officer. With twenty-five years in management and marketing, fifteen of which was spent at a senior management level, he has extensive experience in Strategy Development and Strategic Management, Dispute Arbitration, Corporate Governance and Change Management. Prior to his appointment he served as the St. Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association’s Chief Operations Officer and subsequently, as its CEO. He has also served as the CEO of the National Insurance Property Development & Management Company (NIPRO), the Executive Director of the St Lucia National Conservation Fund and the Senior Manager for Marketing at ECFH. Roderick is a former Chairman of the National Conservation Fund, a former Commissioner on the Board of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (NTRC) and has served on both the Boards of the Solid Waste Management Authority and the Soufriere Marine Management Association (SMMA).

JEREMIAH EDWARD

Jeremiah joined Invest Saint Lucia in August of 2000 as an Accounts Officer. During his seventeen-year tenure he has succeeded up the ranks from Accounts Supervisor to Senior Accountant. He was promoted to his current position in 2016. In his capacity as Senior Manager, Finance and Administration, Mr. Edward is responsible for ensuring that all internal controls and procedures are adhered to and maintained. He possesses a wealth of experience in the field of Finance and Accounting and is in the final year of completing ACCA qualification.

NICOLE DUBOULAY

A Certified Human Resource Leader (CHRL) through the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario, Canada, Nicole has over twelve years of senior level Human Resource Management experience. Her last four years were spent developing and executing the Human Resources (HR) Strategy for one of the leading utility companies in the Caribbean. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from York University in Canada, and two Masters Degrees in Business Administration (McMaster University, Canada) and Training & Performance Management (University of Leicester, United Kingdom). Nicole is also a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in the United States.

DAVID DESIR

David previously served as Deputy Chief Physical Planner and Acting Commissioner of Crown Lands with the Government of Saint Lucia. He is a member of the Minister’s Task Force responsible for reviewing planning standards in Saint Lucia. He is also integrally involved in community work and serves as a Justice of the Peace. He is the holder of a Bachelor of Science Degree in Horticulture and Soil Science from the Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, graduating with first class honors. He also holds a Professional Master of Arts Degree in Urban and Regional Planning with a specialization in Land Use Planning.

ALANA LANSIQUOT-BRICE

Employed with Invest Saint Lucia since April 2010 as an Investment Officer, Alana has been promoted twice during her seven-year tenure. She has been serving in the capacity of Investment Services Manager since 2015. In this role, she is responsible for all investment promotion and facilitation efforts of the organization. Alana is an accomplished professional with international experience in the areas of finance, accounting, law, sales, project analysis and brokerage investment. She is the holder of a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in International Business.

VANESSA WILLIAM

Vanessa joined Invest Saint Lucia as the Legal Counsel/Corporate Secretary in April 2018. Prior to this appointment, she worked in private practice for nine years, which included her elevation to the position of partner at a private law firm. During her career she has gained extensive knowledge and experience in civil law practice and procedure including company law, contract law and property law. She holds an LLB from the University of the West Indies, Cavehill Campus and a Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad. A member of the Bar Association of Saint Lucia, her interests also include business development and project management. She recently obtained a certificate in Project Management, which is useful in her work as part of a Non-Profit organization focused on community empowerment ventures.

LYNDON SAMUEL

Lyndon is Microsoft Certified and has headed the Information Technology Department since 2004. His skills include the deployment of key Information technologies including system design and integration, client server networks, desktop and database management systems. He also has in-depth expertise in Microsoft Enterprise platforms including Windows Server, Exchange Server, SQL Server and SharePoint that he has used to implement people-focused solutions to employees and partners; increasing their engagement; and allowing them to deliver maximum productivity. Lyndon is a graduate of Saint Mary’s University. He holds a Bachelor of Science and Diploma in Engineering.

DELIA DIDIER-NICHOLAS

Delia joined Invest Saint Lucia in 2018 as the Project Manager for Land Rationalization. She is a Land Development Appraiser, Urban and Environmental Planner and Building Construction/ Structural Engineering Technologist with thirty (30) years’ experience in safe land development and building construction practices in the public and private sectors. Delia holds a MSc. In Urban Land Appraisal, BSc. in Urban Planner and Environmental Resource Management, Professional Diploma in Project Management, and Diplomas in Building Construction and Structural Engineering Technology. She has also pursued certificate courses with the World Bank including Disaster Risk Management; Safe and Resilient Cities; Climate Change; Integrated Transport Planning; Sustainable Land Use Planning; and Climate Finance.

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

Team Work, How the ISL Dream Works

TEAM WORK, How the ISL Dream Works

o matter the investments, the type of investors, economic growth or rise in GDP, no matter the decreased rates of youth unemployment or the myriad of accommodation options for tourists, Invest Saint Lucia can only attribute its progress and growth over the years to its invaluable, talented and skillful staff. From the investment promotion officers who facilitate potential clients of Saint Lucia from ground-breaking to ribboncutting, to the dedicated lands teams pushing for timely and quality delivery on the ground, ISL’s human resource is an exceptional combination of skills and seamless team work.

ISL’s staff takes seriously the mandates of the agency to promote social and economic change for the benefit of Saint Lucians. With the new tag line “Make It Your Own”, the organisation is working even harder to make this phrase a reality for locals. The staff ensures that as dedicated Saint Lucians themselves, the rest of the country can reap the rewards and benefits for years and generations to come.

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In reality, rigorous research and the tasks completed behind ISLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s closed doors is what prepares CEO Roderick Cherry to make announcements of outstanding wins for the country in the global investment arena. Following his leadership and that of ISLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Board of Directors, ISL employees are able to go above and beyond to achieve their goals and by extension, that of the Government of Saint Lucia. The ISL team hopes that one day the entire country will share in this goal too. n

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

Invest Saint Lucia Supports Next Generation of Business Leaders

Invest Saint Lucia Supports Next Generation Of Business Leaders

or the second year running, Invest Saint Lucia lent its support this August to a youth mentorship initiative organised by local company HRWise. Called EDGE, the not-for-profit youth mentorship programme is designed to equip young persons between the ages of 16 and 21 with the information and life skills required to manage their transition from the school environment into the workplace and develop into well rounded citizens. EDGE is an annual three-week summer workshop followed by internship opportunities. HRWise uses EDGE to serve as an induction program for young Saint Lucians about to enter the world of work and it is designed to improve knowledge, clarify workplace expectations and build strong work ethic.

The programme included topics such as career planning and development,

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communication, workplace etiquette, customer service excellence, employment essentials, personal brand, interview skills, social media, and entrepreneurship. Speaking at the cheque presentation ceremony, Ms. Goretti J Paul, founder and Managing Director of HRWise, expressed her deep gratitude for Invest Saint Lucia’s continued support and emphasized the value of this innovative exercise, “EDGE serves as a platform for responsible corporate citizens to work together and make a positive impact on the social transformation of our young persons. This important group is key to the future success of our companies and by extension our country.” ISL has pledged assistance to sundry programmes that encourage entrepreneurship especially among young people. EDGE works towards a quality workforce for investors and entrepreneurs to benefit from and

provides a service not commonly found for graduating students. Both outcomes enable ISL to achieve improved economic status through investments. Commenting on ISL’s sponsorship, marketing officer, Shirlyn Elliodore stated: “For Invest Saint Lucia, the programme is a perfect platform to engage young persons on the benefits of youth entrepreneurship. We see this programme as a nursery for many young and aspiring business-oriented individuals to grow to appreciate entrepreneurship on a small and global scale as well as the intangible value of career-oriented mandates and goals. In addition, there is the added benefit of having access to a pool of job ready applicants but more importantly participating in engineering the overall success of Saint Lucia’s future business leaders” n

Invest St.Lucia

Duty Free Pointe Seraphine Shopping Complex is conveniently located within walking distance of the city of Castries. Do remember to bring along your Airline Ticket and Passport so that you can take advantage of the duty free bargains available!

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

ISL Strengthens Entrepreneur Support System

he Government of Saint Lucia through Invest Saint Lucia (ISL) has embarked on launching a business incubator and accelerator programme to intentionally foster a source of vibrant entrepreneurship on the island. This entrepreneurship hub hopes to nurture new businesses and business ideas into full-fledged, successful projects from the bottom up, and to provide already established business owners with assistance to catalyse their product or service into markets.

grow immensely as opposed to focusing • Creating economic opportunities and purely on foreign direct investment. wealth for citizens Entrepreneurship allows for locals to enjoy • Economic development and diversification, the economic benefits as well as creation including increasing exports of jobs. Countries with higher rates of • S trengthening the business ecosystem to entrepreneurship also have corresponding boost the creation of firms and SME (Small levels of productivity. and medium-sized enterprises) growth However, as concluded in the recent • Improve the ability of SMEs to access finance by cultivating channels for their OECS Innovation and Entrepreneurship financial readiness Ecosystem Diagnostic Scoping Report, • F oster innovative and entrepreneurial many start-ups do not know where to thinking and support the emergence of a access relevant support for starting a National Innovation System business especially when it comes to • F oster collaboration amongst government, planning, policy and legal information. quasi-government and non-profit agencies. It stated: “Handholding is still required

While Saint Lucia is known for having one of the healthiest entrepreneurship cultures in the Eastern Caribbean, it is evident that the entrepreneur ecosystem needs to be for fledgling entrepreneurs as much In the meantime, ISL hosted two strengthened. ISL acknowledges that the administrative information is guarded entrepreneurship meet- ups in September youth unemployment rate remains at a in secrecy and new entrepreneurs need and November which provided innovative high percentage, and this programme guidance as to where to look for it.” This is tips to local entrepreneurs along with will give the creative and innovative the thrust behind the business accelerator priceless networking opportunities. The youth an opportunity to contribute to and incubator programme. ISL intends September 2 event featured a panel the economic development of Saint Lucia. to boost entrepreneurship by giving discussion showcasing Nydia Norville, owner To this end, before officially launching businesspeople an avenue to find all of Choiselle; Henson Hunte of Fun Foods the first phase on a virtual platform, ISL required resources and guidance. – Island Pops and Ian Mitchell of eMagine invited Saint Lucian youth to participate The virtual business incubator programme Solutions. The three spoke about challenges in creating a logo and name for the is anticipated to b e available by the first faced in the entrepreneurship arena and programme. This initiative is one of many quarter of 2020. Whether someone has a recommendations to stay on top of the in fulfilling the agency’s commitment to business set up at home or otherwise, the game. Judging from the eagerness of the entrepreneurship and recognizing the services offered by the business accelerator 140 participants to ask questions and learn creative talent Saint Lucia has. and incubator programme will be available about starting or running a privately-owned The competition ended on November online where entrepreneurs can log in, business it proves the desire of locals for ISL’s 29, 2019 and the winner will be register and enjoy. ISL plans to set up the incubator and accelerator programme. n announced in December. physical location by the third quarter of 2020. Research has shown worldwide that maintaining a conducive environment for entrepreneurship enables economies to BusinessFocus

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These are the intended strategic objectives for the incubator and accelerator programme:

Embassy of The Republic of China (Taiwan)

Taiwan marks Double Tenth National Day buoyed by its strengthening economic outlook. With farsighted policymaking nurturing the industries of tomorrow, the country is attracting fresh investment and emerging as Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s go-to hub for entrepreneurship and R&D.

NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATION OCTOBER 10, 2019

Driving this economic transformation is the five-plus-two industrial innovation program. This comprehensive initiative is fostering the high-growth sectors of biotech, green energy, national defense, smart machinery and the Internet of Things, and promoting two core concepts: the circular economy and a new paradigm for agricultural development. The spirit of innovation and international collaboration underpinning the program is on full display at Taiwan Tech Arena. Established last year, the state-supported incubation hub has already attracted dozens of startups from home and abroad, as well as leading accelerators from countries including Canada, the U.K. and U.S. Impressive progress in cultivating an outward-looking digital economy is further underscored by increased investment from top global tech firms, with Amazon, Facebook and Google all moving to expand their local presence. Taiwan manufacturers that shifted production overseas are also pouring funds into the country. Under an incentive project launched in January, enterprises have pledged to spend billions of U.S. dollars in relocating production back home. Taiwanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proactive policymaking is revitalizing the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manufacturing base and bolstering its role in global tech R&D. Such stellar strides toward a flourishing innovation-based economy provide cause for great celebration on Double Tenth National Day.

(Taiwan)

CIBC First Caribbean

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Q & A with CEO Roderick Cherry 1. ISL is viewed as the island’s premier state-owned entity with a mandate for generating foreign direct investment into the island to stimulate economic activity and increased employment. Share your thoughts on the review of ISL since you took office and its performance prior to your arrival in fulfilling its mandate. During my year plus at Invest Saint Lucia, I have interviewed every staff member, every board member, the major stakeholders and agencies which Invest Saint Lucia deals with. I looked internally and externally to get a solid idea from early on of what stakeholders feel about ISL and how the agency can be improved. With that information I went about reviewing the strategic plan and within three months I was able to put together a review package to the board in terms of what I felt the direction

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should be. ISL’s 2015 final report had many unfulfilled objectives, including many plans which had not been executed. So, I spent another three months of refining the strategy and it was adopted by the board of directors.

S ome of the main things on the new plan include a more focused approach to marketing. The market has told us what Saint Lucia is good at and that is tourism. We must focus on the type of investor that we want in order to align the marketing approach.

What I found is that ISL has a high quality of staff and that there was a lot of demand placed on Invest Saint Lucia as the mandate is a broad one. However, they needed to be more focused on exact delivery. In addition, I realized the amount of work that Invest Saint Lucia is doing is not well known by the general public in Saint Lucia. These major findings determined the new strategic plan. One of them would obviously be to let people know what I call the best kept secret in Saint Lucia and to show the volume of work that Invest Saint Lucia does to achieve the mandates of economic development and jobs for people.

We’re also devoting lots of energy into BPO, manufacturing and agriculture. One of the main things that we have received much interest in is cannabis cultivation. 2. You come to ISL with the solid experience of having served in senior leadership positions in finance and tourism, two critical sectors of the local economy. Having analysed the structure and operations of ISL, what is the suggested new approach to promoting and delivering significant new foreign direct investments for Saint Lucia?

In reality, my new approach is not that new. What we must change is simply to focus on the areas that we have a competitive advantage. Saint Lucia has been able to develop an excellent tourism product through the years in a time when the approach was not as refined. My approach now would be to develop it in a more focused manner. Saint Lucia currently doesn’t have many major global hotel brands. At the moment, the island does not have a Marriott or a Hyatt which are featured elsewhere in the Caribbean. These brands are interested in Saint Lucia and we intend on targeting them soon. Going out and casting a wide net is inefficient for a country so small with little. Therefore, we must look at high value manufacturing and what suits us. A niche has been carved out in the AI sector with OJO Labs. As a result of that, many similar companies are looking at us so we need to take advantage of that and do our work on the back end to ensure our policy is aligned to the type of investor that we’re looking for. We must make sure that we’re targeted, and the policy framework supports this new approach. 3. Recently, it was noted that you unveiled a new rebranding of Invest Saint Lucia. What was the rationale for the rebranding and the anticipated benefits? The rebranding is two-fold. Saint Lucia is moving toward a national brand identity. Given that our primary industry is tourism we have had significant market presence. Saint Lucia is recognizable in the tourist market by the twin peaks that is going to be our national brand. It was an opportune time while ISL considered where we want to be introspectively. So, a new strategic vision and rebranding marked significant change for us. We needed to communicate that to the world. The rebranding was also necessary for us to align with the national brand. 4. Tourism in the last decade has leap frogged as our primary industry with good results in occupancy levels, export earnings and linkages to the other local commercial sectors. In addition, there is continued interest in developing new hotels and related services. What are your thoughts on our expansion and high dependency on such a fragile

and volatile industry which is especially prone to the threat of climate change where we are experiencing stronger storms, rising sea levels and unusual weather patterns? T his is absolutely true of the tourism industry. However, it continues to be one of the fastest growing industries in the world with good reason. What is important for us to understand, in terms of our future development, is that our product must be as sustainable as possible. If we’re expecting sea-level rise, it would be incumbent that any plans for any new hotels would take that into consideration. T he fragility of the industry is a reality, but it is not as fragile as people think. Hurricane preparedness is factored into any business plan and development so natural disasters are already considered in the planning process for the tourism industry. We have to do our best to plan for it, but we cannot get away from it. It’s simply a risk factor. ut we should focus on the benefits and B linkages of the industry, which many times are usually taken for granted.

products such as meats and juices. We are actively working with the various sectors to develop those linkages. A s mentioned earlier, a targeted approach is the best strategy for us to improve on our product as a country, and that includes recognising the linkages we need to focus on. 6. W ith major construction projects now becoming active in the south of the island to include the new international airport, a cruise port, a new hospital and significant road construction among others there will be a major demand for construction workers. Generally, they will gravitiate from tourism and other industries which are likely to affect agricultural and manufacturing output. What would be your proposal to ensure adequate local production to minimise imports and how do we address potential new investors seeking skilled and experienced employees? W e have a particularly high youth unemployment rate. With the anticipated increased construction as a result of the various projects that have been earmarked, it would assist in reducing the island’s unemployment rate. We have an idea of what would be happening in the next two to three years and part of our advocacy would be on skills development in anticipation of these construction projects and the increased employment.

5. Most countries have built their economies on several planks to cushion the risks associated with a high dependency on a single industry. Over the years we have seen serious declines in high employment sectors like agriculture and manufacturing. 7. T he local business sector in saint lucia has These sectors offer huge opportunites been clamouring for the same benefits for linkages to satisfy demands for local and concessions being offered to foreign consumption for the tourism sector, investors when they are embarking on import substitution, export potential new investment projects. This has been and employment. compounded with the concept of using Is there a strategy to enhance the the CIP as a major catalyst to attract investment and development of these foreign direct investments. sectors with such visible and rewarding What is the approach from ISL to tap this opportunities available? local investor pool, especially knowing T hey obvious answer to that is yes. No industry can stand on its own, particularly one like tourism. There are many linkages within the tourism industry itself, it is the mainstay of our economy and so we must nurture these linkages. T here is tremendous opportunity for the manufacturing sector. A prime example is the opening of a poultry processing plant that we have facilitated. That investor has also contracted several local chicken farmers. The linkage is growing and there’s also an opportunity for other

that they will always be based here and looking for further growth and investment opportunities and, moreso, how can we be integrated into the CIP model currently in force? I have to emphasize that at Invest Saint Lucia, we treasure and recognise the importance of our local investors as much as foreign investors. To us, investors are just that, no matter the colour, size or nationality. T he incentive regime and legislation are open to everyone and several businesses in Saint Lucia take advantage of them. The BusinessFocus

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idea that it is not available to locals is just the perception, a myth. The qualifying factors would be the level of investment and economic impact that is anticipated by the investment and industry. That will unlock the incentives that is available whether local, regional or international. In one of my earlier investigations that question always came up. As a result of that we adopted the strategy to inform the local business sector of the incentives available and to tell the sector that whatever is available to international investors is also available to locals. We have started and we will continue to say that: An investor is an investor. 8. Caribbean islands are now competing fiercely for the same foreign direct investment in the same economic sectors using the sweeteners of tax incentives, etc. To gain an advantage. The most recent example is the decriminalisation of marijuana and the opening of a legal and lucrative new marijuana industry across the region. What are the plans for St Lucia taking advantage of this new high demand and lucrative industry especially with large acreages of arable land being under utilised? There has been a lot of interest in the cannabis industry and as result of that Invest Saint Lucia has advocated for the reinstatement of the cannabis commission and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been instrumental in getting it to operate. Our advantage is that we can learn from the mistakes of other countries that are jumping into it. The cannabis commission has constituted stakeholders from various facets of government and private sector groups which have an interest. We see the potential and we want to ensure that we have a properly regulated framework in place for if and when the cabinet of ministers decide to enact the legislation. However, while we learn from others rushing into legalising marijuana, we still need to move quickly. The industry is most profitable in the early stage and if we wait too long for it to become commoditised, the prospect of huge profits would be gone. At the same time, we need to ensure that everyone is properly educated and that the possible negative effects and risks are managed properly. We must ensure BusinessFocus

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that the legislation we put in place considers all the potential pitfalls of the decriminalisation of marijuana. We will take our time and do it properly. When we do so, our intention will be to have the best legislation for the cannabis industry that will allow for properly managed and regulated trade. I SL is on the cannabis commission and we also serve as the secretariat. It has a few working groups that do the actual research and provide the papers to the commission before it makes the decision. Once the final report is ready it would then be given to the minister of commerce and he will table it in Cabinet for approval. Cabinet will have to go to parliament depending on what the recommendations of the commission is. 9. Housing continues to be a major challenge for average Saint Lucians. It is noted that the increasing value of real estate is putting property out of their reach and forcing them to settle further inland. Does the potential for housing development using ISL lands across the country provide an opportunity for creating a housing and construction boom and if so, please expand on the suggested model? I n a former life, ISL was the National Development Corporation which was vested with government land where there were issues of illegal occupation of the land. One of the things ISL has embarked on, is increasing the land ownership by Saint Lucians. It is one of our corporate targets to ensure that citizens get ownership of a piece of Saint Lucia on an annual basis. The corporation is judged by that now and it is something that I insisted upon as being a headline corporate target. e have the joint mandate of providing W revenue to sustain the organisation as well as economic development and now, providing land ownership. These three things must be balanced in order to achieve any. T he other initiative is lands that have been occupied illegally so we have undertaken a Land Rationalisation Project where we develop the area and facilitate utility installation and we sell the land at a reduced cost to people who have lived there for a long time. This is a tedious project and the aim is not to make a profit but to promote land ownership and

t o enable Saint Lucians to live a better quality of life. T hese projects enable us to participate and interact with the community as well. 10. T echnology has opened the doors for a new breed of young entrepreneurs who are now using their skills to compete globally by developing marketable technology products and services whilst staying on the island. The new generation of youth today are all very tech savvy and capable of becoming technology leaders. W hat plans does ISL have in place to expand the BPO sector and encourage the development and export of homegrown software and related products for export? I n terms of the BPO sector, we have recognised the potential and we are actively pursuing that industry. We are renovating properties we own that may be suited to that sector in anticipation of the growth in that industry. On the flip side we have started an incubator project for which we brought in an international consultant and the main reason for that is to alleviate youth unemployment and small business is really the engine of growth for the economy. S mall businesses today will become the medium-sized businesses and large businesses of tomorrow. It is our aim to create a better business environment in Saint Lucia by helping and doing our part by incubating small businesses. 11. The south of the island seems to be the hub for major investments, development activities and obviously employment with the DSH horse racing project, the new international airport, the cruise port and the hospital all happening at the same time. What is the long-term vision for the south and what is ISLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role in ensuring all of these developments benefit the people of St. Lucia? I nvest Saint Lucia also owns land in the south and our role is to facilitate in some developments taking place; we hold their hands and guide the processes. Right now, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re assisting the government with DSH through facilitation. Moving on, ISL will continue lending support to the Government of Saint Lucia in its own mandate of supporting sustainable and socially profitable

developments on the island, and more recently in the southernmost point.

However, it is too early for us to speak of a national master development plan. It is something we have as a mediumterm objective in terms of looking at the various areas of the country that lend themselves to certain types of development, but as you can tell, Invest Saint Lucia has a lot of great things coming.

My hope for ISL is captured in the Invest Saint Lucia vision which I was instrumental in developing. Invest Saint Lucia has the opportunity to change the lives of Saint Lucians and the landscape of business in Saint Lucia. But that is only possible if we take a long-term view of which the whole country must be aware.

13. You are in a very critical position to influence and shape the future development of St. Lucia with the type, value and national impact of new investment projects especially with the challenges of climate change and its Invest Saint Lucia is in a transitional stage, impact on small island states like ours. but the agency has always held national What is your vision for ISL and the development as the utmost goal in all its implementation of transformational endeavours. Under new branding and investment projects for the strategic plans, this is no different. We are benefit of Saint Lucians and the working towards ensuring that all Saint national economy? Lucians can benefit from our progress.

Where we are going and when we all come together to do it are the key catalysts right now. What I would like to see is that all institutions buy into the development of the country. If we all know where we are going, then we can all do our part to get there. At this point I don’t think we’re there yet. I will do my best to ensure that ISL leads the way, not just for ourselves but for our children and the future benefit of the country. n

12. With all of the developments which have taken place in the north and now the south – the rest of the communities around the island do not seem to be benefitting from the high investor interest. What is ISL’s approach to ensuring there is an equitable spread of investment projects being executed across the island? This might just be the opportunty to unveil an ISL national master development plan.

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Dec /Jan

Promoting Foreign Direct Investment

Promoting Foreign Direct Investment for Economic Progress

his country has been benefitting from foreign direct investment for over four decades. During the 70s and 80s, Saint Lucia’s manufacturing sector employed a sizeable number of persons, particularly in the south of the island where most industrial estates are located. By the start of the new millennium, however, successive governments agreed to concentrate more of their efforts on diversifying the sector and it turned from one focused on clothing and textiles to a sector geared towards agro-processing.

process outsourcing, knowledge process outsourcing and contact centers. Part of ISL’s mandate therefore, is to enable employment creation and provide opportunities for skills transfer, to enhance the island’s human resource capacity. ISL also works to facilitate the growth of new and emerging sectors and niches; provide opportunities for linkages between and within sectors and the development of downstream industries; and attract investments that protect and enhance our most important asset—the natural environment.

Fast forward to present day, the paradigm has shifted not only in the now award-winning sector which has attracted more locally-owned companies, but also in new and emerging avenues such as information and communications technology (ICT).

There are detailed criteria for approving FDI projects and for prospective investors. This includes rigorous background checks and due diligence procedure as part of its vetting process.

Invest Saint Lucia provides a means for investment opportunities in Saint Lucia to be explored in many sectors including tourism, manufacturing and business

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Smart specialisation lies at the heart of the new investment policy by concentrating efforts and resources on attracting investment in sectors which have growth potential and where Saint Lucia can develop a comparative

advantage relative to peer countries. Focus is particularly placed on sectors which are both a source of investment (value-added investment) but also act as catalysts for additional investment (value-creating investment). These include infrastructure, renewables, ICT and education. ISL’s FDI search focuses on key economic sectors and niches in which Saint Lucia has a competitive advantage. In ISL’s view, FDI can deliver sustainable growth if investments are reviewed holistically bearing in mind the development trajectory. Thus, FDI should be considered with the broad tenets of economic viability, social equity and environmental sustainability. ISL also recognises the limitations of small island developing countries and seeks to strike a balance for the investor and the country, ensuring the size and nature of the investment is consistent with Saint Lucia’s development goals, its scale, and its absorptive capacity. n

St. Lucia Distillers

Celebrating this Christmas with Bounty Sorrel BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

ISL SUCCESS STORIES BY ECONOMIC SECTOR: BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING - OJO Labs to Lead the Way in St. Lucia's Push for A

BUSINESS PROCESS OUTSOURCING: OJO Labs to Lead the Way in St. Lucia’s Push for AI

ne of Invest Saint Lucia’s primary mandates is to support the Government of Saint Lucia’s efforts at initiating a shift in the types of investments Saint Lucia attracts, with emphasis on businesses that are focused on innovation, technology and developing local talent.

There was clear indication that ISL’s quest for innovative investments had borne fruit in 2017 with the establishment of OJO Labs, an artificial intelligence software development company in Vieux Fort. The company is currently housed at the Hewanorra Free Zone, one of ISL’s real estate facilities. The factory shell was previously used as warehousing space and had to be retrofitted for more commercial use. The company, headed by CEO David Rubin, is the Saint Lucian subsidiary of the USbased OJO Labs headquartered in Austin, Texas. It is credited with developing Artificial Intelligence-enabled apps or chatbots designed for the real estate industry in the US and Canada.

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OJO’s AI and customer-service facility in narrow down their search for homes. The Saint Lucia is the only one of its kind in OJO Labs employees are trained in customer the Caribbean. The company’s employees service issues. are trained in the coding language used to OJO Labs’ decision to choose Saint Lucia was programme the OJO app or digital assistant. not a random one. The island became the It answers potential homebuyers’ questions home of its first Caribbean business and that about listing information, neighbourhood was prompted by a visit from Prime Minster locations and other related home-buying Allen Chastanet to the parent company questions to help users simplify the house- where he stirred management’s interest hunting process. The Saint Lucian workers with his plans to make Saint Lucia a regional are trained in programming the app to hub for technological companies. He respond to user questions and help them emphasized that the government needed

businesses capable of providing locals with opportunities to become highly skilled in the development of cutting-edge technologies. Prior to opening its doors, OJO Labs received hundreds of applications and prospective employees gathered at the Vieux Fort branch of the National Skills Development Centre (NSDC). Interviews and specialized training for prospective employees were being conducted there. This underscored the timeliness of efforts by ISL and the government to facilitate OJO’s entry into Saint Lucia. OJO currently employs approximately 300 staff members, many of who are young Saint Lucians from southern parts of the island. They all work in comfortable and modernised conditions, and management is committed to maintaining a healthy work environment. The company set up a state-of-the-art lunch room and kitchen that provide the staff with free meals. OJO’s chefs source food produce and ingredients from local growers in the surrounding communities and serve meals to the staff during all three shifts. The company has also set up a games lounge equipped with a pool table and table tennis equipment which the staff can visit at any time

of the day if they feel like taking a break from “Saint Lucia welcomes the opening of exciting the computers. ISL CEO, Roderick Cherry has new investments, including the outsourcing acknowledged the importance of the company’s of technology development, as in the case of technological investments to Saint Lucia’s OJO Labs. Such multimillion-dollar projects economic development. He added that ISL is are crucial to job creation, particularly those extremely proud of the young people OJO Labs earmarked for the south—an area that has the has taken on board, and their ability to adapt potential to be developed into a regional mecca of tourism, entertainment and technological and work skillfully on computer applications. innovation,” Cherry added. n BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

MANUFACTURING Manufacturing Industry Resurfaces with Caribbean Quality Meats

MANUFACTURING: Manufacturing Industry Resurfaces with Caribbean Quality Meats

ith the high demand of poultry production on island, Invest Saint Lucia embarked on guiding the investment of a Caribbean Quality Meats plant in Dennery. ISL renovated and retrofitted the factory in preparation for the new poultry processing plant. This project is going to be worth just under $5 million when it is completed, an investment being made by Caribbean Quality Meats. The factory shell value is slightly over $1 million, and it is HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) certified.

based on the strength of the business plan. It was a proposal which convinced ISL that the agency should retrofit the shell and it was worth spending the vast amount of money. “If a company is willing to do that,” said ISL CEO, Roderick Cherry, “with a solid track record, with a solid business plan, this is something that we would go with and this has been the case.” Caribbean Quality Meats promises at least 50 jobs on opening and that number is expected to grow afterwards. Caribbean Quality Meats is looking to supply the local and possibly regional market.

HACCP is an international certification which most hotels demand for their meat and poultry supply. The investor, The factory is scheduled to open by the Caribbean Quality Meats, recognised end of November. the importance of having such a ISL continued, “We know from research qualification which can assist with that the linkages from manufacturing hotel needs. Because of this, the level are greater than even tourism. The one of ISL’s retrofitting was a lot more dollar spent in manufacturing reaches than the usual standards for other more Saint Lucians than tourism. We are manufacturers. Caribbean Quality aware that 100% of his suppliers would Meats was approved for this investment be local.” n

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

n a e b b i r a C g n i r “Delive ” e l b a T r u o Y o T r u o v a l F Baron Foods Ltd.

A #superiortaste needs a superior look Baron Foods (St. Lucia) Ltd Vieux – Fort Industrial Estate St. Judes Highway, Vieux Fort St. Lucia

Baron Foods (Grenada) Ltd Seamoon Industrial Estate St. Andrews Grenada

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Email: info@baronfoodsltd.com

Web: www.baronfoodsltd.com BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

HOTEL DEVELOPMENT - Canelles Resorts Soon To Break Ground in St Lucia

HOTEL DEVELOPMENT: Canelles Resorts Soon To Break Ground in St Lucia

onstruction work continues apace The hotels are planned to include 330 “The Canelles Resort development is on two new five-star all-inclusive rooms along with restaurants, bars, a prime example of the opportunities resorts which form part of a bigger conference centres, spa facilities, available to international investors as luxury accommodation project children’s clubs and entertainment well as vacationers and home buyers called Canelles Resort situated in facilities. Caribbean Galaxy Real Estate in search of a unique, exotic and life Canelles, Micoud along Saint Lucia’s’ Ltd, a subsidiary of the Galaxy Group, is changing experience in one of the eastern coastline. the developer. It is also spearheading the world’s most beautiful destinations,” The resorts which are soon to begin construction of the Ramada Resort in St. said ISL CEO, Roderick Cherry. construction are set to become the Kitts. The Canelles resorts investment He added: “Saint Lucia has had a latest testament to the forward-looking is estimated at US$300 million and is strong history of attracting and approach being adopted by Invest Saint expected to generate hundreds of jobs protecting investments. Our CIP gives Lucia as it continues to work hard at during the construction phase and after potential investors the opportunity and promoting the island to international it becomes operational. incentive to choose Saint Lucia ahead investors and seek out new business The Canelles site was initially lodged of other prospects by providing them opportunities for the island. to Invest Saint Lucia (ISL) in keeping with a greater degree of security for with the Government of Saint Lucia’s themselves and their family members, The Canelles Resort development is decision to declare Canelles a Special along with other potential advantages. being constructed on approximately 209 Development Zone as part of a ISL will continue to focus on attracting acres of land. The resort sites will consist concerted drive to expand the hotel world-class investments like the Canelles of two of AMResorts’ brands—Dreams sector beyond the north of Saint Lucia Resorts that can add tremendous and Zoëtry—which will both be fiveto the south and south-eastern parts economic and social value to Saint star properties plus Canelles Oceanfront of island. The Canelles Resort proposal Lucia and contribute significantly to the Apartments. The latter promises to offer was presented to and approved by the sustainable development of the island.” spacious rooms and suites luxuriously government under Saint Lucia’s equipped with ideal beachfront settings Canelles Resorts will be a significant and a high level of luxury for couples, including those with children.

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

Citizen by Investment Programme (CIP), then subsequently sold to the developer.

hotel expansion, set to begin beforethe end of this year. n

AVIATION - I AM Jet Centre: High-Level Experience for Jet Users

he IAM Jet Centre offers a premium aviation experience for business, diplomatic and private high-end clients via a 7,000 square feet world-class terminal compound intended to deliver a concierge guest service package, an efficient customs and immigration station situated immediately after the point of entry, a business centre inclusive of highspeed Wi-Fi access, shower facilities, and a jet fuel supply station. The Caribbean Aviation Services provider has grown to enjoy considerable success within the islands of Barbados, Jamaica, Grenada, and Tortola where tourism remains a top revenue generator.

The Saint Lucia tourism market is truly an ideal fit for the fixed-base operator facility as it is expected to bolster the international profile of the island the country which already enjoys the esteemed reputation of being the world’s leading honeymoon destination (World Travel Awards 2018). According to the Chairman of IAM Jet Centre, Paul Worrell, “Saint Lucia is known for its lovely accommodation, natural beauty and beaches and our intention is for our presence at the Hewanorra International Airport to accentuate the island as a prime destination. We are particularly pleased that our timing coincides with the commencement of works towards a new modern commercial terminal facility. The two projects will take Saint Lucia tourism to a whole new level.” It is for this reason that the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) agreed to sign an agreement in principle to establish this state-of-the-art complex to complement the proposed master plan for the Hewanorra International Airport and enhance the service profile of the airport. Construction of the project is well underway and is expected to be completed and fully operational by December 2019. n BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

LAND DEVELOPMENT: Anse de Sable Faces Master Plan and Major Change

istory runs deep at the southern end of Saint Lucia. The island’s second-largest town, Vieux Fort, sits on a scenic plain where long stretches of grey, volcanic sand flow into waters teeming with coral. The town name still references an old fort that used to gaze south toward St Vincent.

When Invest Saint Lucia (ISL) decided to solicit ideas to create a new seaside development in the southern quadrant of Vieux Fort, it was recognised as a special opportunity to do more than just draw tourists.

At the same time Anse de Sable will welcome visitors for an authentic experience of nature and culture. ISL’s master plan for the Anse de Sable area in Vieux-Fort, as part of a planned redevelopment of the southern town is well on its way to grooming the town for this experience.

As far back as 2001 plans for a mixed-use development for Anse de Sable were being considered by the investment promotion agency. ISL’s recently announced master plan for the popular recreational beachfront area The goal is to connect everyone will complement the government’s included more deeply to the pristine proposed redevelopment of Vieuxnature and rich culture of Vieux Fort Fort, which envisions a redesign of while achieving goals of social and the Hewanorra International Airport economic growth. Travellers, guests, and the construction of home-porting investors and residents are meant to facilities at the seaport. participate in a harmonious merge Following an international bidding of new environmental preserves, process, ISL approached a team of opportunities for local business, and experts at renowned architectural firm international investment to fortify the OBM International (OBMI), to discuss community from the ground up. the plan for Anse de Sable. Back in

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Dec /Jan

December 2018 OBMI representatives held consultations with ISL and other key stakeholders on the proposed development, including the Saint Lucia National Trust (SLNT) and the Saint Lucia Air and Seaports Authority (SLASPA). Since then OBMI has submitted a detailed master plan for the Anse de Sable area. ISL is preparing to move on to the next phase of the process. ISL CEO Roderick Cherry, assured the stakeholders present that Anse de Sable and the surrounding communities in Vieux-Fort stood to

benefit substantially from the proposed mixed-use development plan. He also emphasized that ISL would ensure transparency by hosting consultations with residents and interested parties during the implementation phase of the project. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We envision an enhanced community that will encompass schools, health care facilities, retail, entertainment centres, as well as a host of other communitybenefiting amenities,â&#x20AC;? said Cherry. The plan for Anse de Sable is for it to be a small city-like development with a commercial area, town hall and boardwalk. There will be availability for all services for living to be provided in this area including fitness, beauty, business, events and dining. The area will not be exclusively for residents, it will be open for the public to generate revenue. n

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

ince operating as National Development Corporation, Invest Saint Lucia battled the issues of squatting and unplanned developments on both private and public lands. Squatting is such a common practice because it is continuously difficult for locals to find available areas for residential, commercial and agricultural use. However, this hinders ISL from providing adequate planning on these lands.

LAND DEVELOPMENT: Unplanned Land for Mutual Benefit

To reduce negative impacts of squatting on ISL property, the agency adopted a Land Rationalisation Project to operate in eight communities in Dennery and Vieux Fort which practice mainly residential, residential and agricultural and light commercial unplanned land use. The project areas are in Pierrot, Lumiere, La Pelle, Despinoze, Grande Ravine, La Ressource, Coolie Town, La Retraite (Grace), Hope Estate and Morne View. The aim is to bring these areas up to par with planning standards and sell the property at a better quality to former squatters, allowing them to own the property. ISL hopes to “provide revenue to the corporation, to improve the standard of living for the occupants and reduce environmental vulnerability and degradation” through this project. To achieve this, the Land Rationalisation team will go into the area, put in utilities and supply preferential rates to people who have lived there for long periods of time. ISL understands that squatting issues are rooted in legacy. Squatters and their families have been occupying lands for decades. There are different forecasted start dates for each community, but all would begin by December 2020. Still, Invest Saint Lucia has already recorded some achievements. Keeping to the agency’s goals, eleven unemployed youth were hired to conduct socio-economic surveys for the project. The surveying period was kept well within stipulated timelines and the Land Rationalisation Project team is pleased with its positive discussions with credit unions and the Saint Lucia Development Bank on behalf of occupants of these phase which is expected to run through unplanned lands. Communities have 2020. Lumiere, La Pelle and Grande been engaged in meetings and are Ravine are expected to get full approval expressing general willingness to in the coming months. participate in the project. The Land Rationalisation Project is But the team continues ahead. Some the epitome of the community-level areas such as Grace are still in the drawing investments which ISL is making in the

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Dec /Jan

country. At least to these eight areas, the agency hopes that the message of national growth, development and commitment is relayed, and it will be a testament of ISL’s work for years to come through the new property owners. n

LAND DEVELOPMENT: ISL Aims for 500 New Property Owners

The lot sizes are prepared for marketing to the higher end of middle-class buyers, especially young professionals. As part of most developments, a Development Control Authority requirement is to at least provide one commercial and one institutional lot. This requirement was met for this development. This is to enhance the lives of the residents especially within a development as large as Beauchamp. The development is a fair distance from Micoud village so there are opportunities to invest in businesses such as a minimart, or daycare. La Fargue Development:

nvest Saint Lucia is dedicated to enriching Beauchamp Development: the lives of many citizens by giving them a The Beauchamp Development has been chance to acquire ownership of residential designated for both residential and and commercial property at a reasonable commercial use which makes it a very cost. The investment promotion agency attractive option for potential landowners has spearheaded the development of of this subdivision. The multipurpose prime three major projects along the east and property is located on approximately 20 west coasts of the island specifically in the acres of relatively flat land and is comprised districts of Dennery, Micoud and Choiseul of 59 lots ranging in size from 5,000 square respectively. Over the next two years, feet to 26,000 square feet. Ideally, the lots ISL is aiming to generate between 500 will consist of four multi family lots, five and 600 new property owners either by commercial lots, two institutional lots and development or land rationalisation. 48 single family lots. Bois Jolie Residential Development Phase 2:

The La Fargue Development is another project that offers both residential and commercial use, however, this prime property is located on the west coast of Saint Lucia near to the calm waters of the Caribbean Sea. It is on approximately 28.4 acres of flat land and comprises 120 lots ranging in size from 4,193 square feet to 16,867 square feet. The La Fargue development will consist of four multi family residential lots, two commercial lots, two institutional lots and 112 single unit residential lots. At present, the development is within the approval stage and the estimated date of completion is forecasted to be within the first quarter of 2020. n

This area of prime residential property is located on approximately 8.43 acres of sloping land and comprises 25 single unit residential lots ranging in size from 3,800 square feet to 8,400 square feet. The Bois Jolie development has garnered loads of interest from the constituents of Dennery and its environs. The 25 lots are already sold out, however, due to the overwhelming demand, a third phase of the development has already been proposed and is currently in the design stage pending approval to commence actual development. This development is situated on the lower end of the middle-class spectrum of property owners and ISL expects to hand over ownership by the end of 2019. ISL is also looking into other initiatives that will target lower class buyers, exploring options such as multi-family offerings in which case persons can purchase the unit within a duplex or apartment complex at a lower reasonable cost. BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

St. Lucia Distillers wi ns EXPORT ACHIEVEM ENT OF THE YEAR AW ARD

Chamber of Commerce Bank wins 1st National THE YEAR AWARD Business Awards F SO GE BUSINES LAR

Bay Gardens wins AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Live from the Events Auditorium at the ramp on Rodney Bay, The Saint Lucia Business Awards 2019!

versatile local band, DYP, who transitioned the evening with great aplomb into the ever-popular Peter and Company Distribution (PCD) After-Party that went on well into the early morning hours.

The Saint Lucia Business Awards 2019 Ceremony brought together the full spectrum of corporate St. Lucia, ranging This year’s Winners of the St. Lucia from veteran business men and women Business Awards 2019 are: to the new and emerging business class, • Award for Corporate Social creating a remarkable celebratory business Responsibility: Unicomer extravaganza at the Events Auditorium at • LUCELEC Award for Environmental the Ramp, Rodney Bay. Stewardship: Bay Gardens Resorts Arriving guests were greeted with a St. Lucia Distillers Welcome Cocktail, then • M&C Group of Companies Award for Service Excellence: 1st National Bank St. made their way onto the Unicomer Red Lucia Limited Carpet with the usual glitter and glam and flashing lights of the cameras which was • Small Business of the Year: Abby’s Exotic only the start of the evening’s festivities. Blends Ltd The St. Lucia Distillers Welcome Cocktail • WLBL Employer of the Year: Unicomer was in full swing as one entered the doors Saint Lucia with an array of additional special brews also being made available from the award- • Invest St. Lucia Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Shop D Caribbean winning company. The Awards Ceremony Hall had been • Export Achievement of the Year: St. Lucia Distillers Limited transformed into a glamorous setting with a huge stage and full corporate seating • Massy Stores New Business of the Year: for all patrons. On every table were three Serenity at Coconut bay choices of wine all from the BARBAY Wine Cellars accompanied by exquisite • Non-Profit or Association of the Year: Faces of Cancer St. Lucia hors d’oeuvres flavoured by Baron Food’s delectable sauces and condiments. A • Digicel People’s Choice Award: The snazzy and smooth ceremony ensued, Independent Film Company interspersed with excellent entertainment • Prime Minister’s Award for Innovation: pieces that made for a captivating InVictus television awards ceremony. • Business of the Year: 1st National Bank The Awards Ceremony culminated with St. Lucia Limited a performance by the ever-popular and BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

Additionally, Dr. Charmaine Gardner, long-time active Chamber member and Past President, known for her sterling contribution to business, education, women, and the less fortunate – locally, regionally and internationally, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. The St. Lucia Business Awards 2019 was the 10th Edition of the Awards in its current format and was presented by the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister and was well supported by the business community of Saint Lucia. Our sponsors are included: the Office of the Prime Minister, Invest St. Lucia, Digicel, 1st National Bank St. Lucia Limited, Baron Foods Limited, Bay Gardens Resorts, Carasco & Son Ltd., Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa, FLOW, Fosters Law Firm, M&C Group of Companies, Massy Stores St. Lucia, Peter & Co. Distribution, Republic Bank (EC) Limited, Sagicor Life Inc., Saint Lucia Distillers Group of Companies, Scott's Sports and Awards, St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited (Lucelec), Unicomer, MediaZone, Windward & Leeward Brewery Ltd., St. Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA), and Bel Jou Hotel. The St. Lucia Business Awards Committee congratulates all winners and thanks our generous service providers and supporters for their contribution towards the overall success of the St. Lucia Business Awards 2019! n

Photos By: Allin Fevrier

Abby’s Exotic Blend wins SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD

1st National Bank wins AWARD FOR SERVICE EXCELLENCE

Faces of Cancer wins NON PROFIT ASSOCIATION OF THEYEAR AWARD

Independent Film Company wins PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

Shop De Caribbean wins ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD

St. Lucia Distillers wins EXPORT ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR AWARD

Serenity at Coconut Bay wins NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Dr. Charmaine Gardener given LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Unicomer wins EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR AWARD & CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AWARD BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

MUST READS Volume 33

Lies, Damned Lies and Work Lies Striving a Distracted World Lies,inDamned Lies and Work Lies

By Lyndell Halliday BSc., MBA, CPA, CMA “The problem is not lack of competence; it is confidence without competence.” ― Paul Gibbons Society is awash with zealous leaders too bereft of self-awareness to understand the limits of their expertise. In the business world hubris sells and research reveals that confident men and women are disproportionately selected for and promoted to leadership positions irrespective of their level of competence. The effect is unmotivated teams and underperforming or outright failing organizations. This issue of Must Reads discusses a new book by Marcus Buckingham that addresses one of the potential causes of this crisis. Nine Lies About Work: A Freethinking Leader’s Guide to the Real World by Marcus Buckingham and Ashley Goodall (Harvard Business Review, April 2019) Marcus Buckingham is the contrarian’s contrarian. A self-descried data geek, the Cambridge University graduate has written several best-selling books, including First, Break All the Rules: What the Worlds’ Greatest Managers Do Differently; Now, Discover Your Strengths (co-authored with Donald O. Clifton) and The One Thing You Need to Know. First, Break All the Rules was reviewed in a previous edition of Must Reads. The core premise of all of Buckingham’s books is this – to challenge deeply entrenched preconceptions about performance and other business fundamentals. His co-author in this new book is Ashley Goodall, the Senior Vice President of Leadership and Team Intelligence at CISCO. Goodall has decades of experience with large organizations and has been published in the Harvard Business Review. In Nine Lies About Work, Buckingham and Goodall aim to address widespread “misconceptions, or myths or even misunderstandings” that persist in the corporate world. Buckingham and Goodall prefer, however to use the term “lies”. The authors want you to become a freethinking leader – to reject dogma, and uniformity and embrace a work place in which “the weird uniqueness of each individual is seen not as a flaw to be ground down but as a mess worth engaging with.” In order to do this, the reader needs to understand and reject the nine lies about work. BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

The nine lies are identified as follows: 1. People care which company they work for. 2. The best plan wins. 3. The best companies cascade meaning. 4. The best people are well rounded. 5. People need feedback. 6. People can reliably rate other people. 7. People have potential. 8. Work life balance matters. 9. Leadership is a thing. Intuitively, most if not all of these maxims appear self-evident. But Buckingham and Goodall offer strong supporting empirical evidence for the contrary. Be mindful that not all of their ideas are radical. For example in discussing Lie 1: People care which company they work for – the authors delve deeply into the relative importance of cultures and teams and posit that what people really care about is the team that they work with and the subculture of that team, irrespective of what company they work for and that company’s overall culture. “Local experiences – how we interact with our immediate colleagues, our lunching-on-the-patio companions, and our huddling-in-the-corner partners – are significantly more important than company ones.” This idea isn’t groundbreaking and most good leaders understand it. Similarly, Buckingham and Goodall’s contention that “people are weird” is not so off base either. We understand that we are all different and effective leaders readily embrace diversity to the benefit of their teams. But where most organizations do fall short is in the futile expense of resources in the attempt to address the perceived weaknesses of employees. Instead, according to Buckingham and Goodall, leaders should focus less on weaknesses and direct all their attention to leveraging the strengths or spikiness of each individual for the benefit of the team. Buckingham and Goodall do espouse more unconventional ideas. They expound that people don’t want feedback (Lie #5) and they argue against the lie (#7) that people have potential. I found these two chapters in particular to be very insightful and thought provoking. The central reoccurring tenet throughout this book is about understanding the power of individuality. Corporations want conformity and control, and over time processes and systems have developed to maximize this objective at the expense of the individual. Overall Nine Lies About Work is a compelling read with many useful ideas. You don’t need to accept everything in this book – I myself was not fully sold on all the ideas. Instead by all means, read the book, think about its ideas and do your own research. If nothing else, this book will challenge you to question at least some of your long-held assumptions and to think more deeply about leadership and management. n Lyndell Halliday is an avid reader, lifelong learner and awardwinning business executive who has served in a range of leadership roles across the Caribbean. He is currently employed as the General Manager of Automotive Art (St Lucia) Ltd. Mr. Halliday has also lectured for several years in a range of courses at the Master of Business Administration level.

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Dec /Jan

IN THE KNOW

The Employee Experience and the Impact on Business

THE EMPLOYEE EXPERIENCE AND THE IMPACT ON BUSINESS BY TANYA SMITH

“Customers do not come first. Employees What exactly is employee experience? of your brand. Happy employees make come first. If you take care of your First off, let’s be clear about what happy customers which, in turn, creates a employees, they will take care of the “employee experience” means. Essentially, happy bottom line. customers.” – Richard Branson employee experience refers to everything The Financial Impact on a Positive Many companies that appear at the top an employee experiences at work – their Employee Experience of “great places to work” lists also land interactions with their boss, their software, Some companies have even replaced at the top of lists for providing excellent their teams, and hundreds of other things. the role Chief Human Resources Officer customer service. It’s no coincidence It’s holistic term that considers the full position with Chief Employee Experience that designing work environments to spectrum of an employee’s experiences Officer. But those of us who have been serve people – employees and customers throughout their entire time at a company. in the people business for a while may – creates a cycle that’s great for both. To One easy way to understand employee wonder how experience is different than win the battle for customers, companies experience is to think of its popular satisfaction or engagement or happiness. need to treat employees as valuable assets, counterpart, customer experience. Think What is employee experience, in practical engage them in a higher purpose, optimize about everything that falls under the wide terms? their experience and enable them with umbrella of customer experience, then The Globoforce WorkHuman Analytics digital tools to serve customers better. simply replace the concept of customer and Research Institute and IBM Smarter Today companies can’t get by with with employee. Workforce Institute sought to answer this just offering basic benefits and health Customer expectations are constantly question in a ground-breaking study of insurance, they must go above and beyond evolving, and it can be difficult to keep more than 22,000 workers in 45 countries by providing employees with an exemplary up. While there are many resources and and territories. experience in the workplace. The technologies you can invest in that may employee experience is the sum of all the provide a competitive edge, there is one The study outlines essential human interactions they have with your company. resource that is infinitely valuable and workplace practices that lead to a positive It involves the culture, benefits, physical often overlooked: your employees. Your employee experience, such as: work environment, and tools you provide employees are the first point of contact • Organizational integrity and co-worker to make them successful, and it can be for customers and leave a big impression support linked to revenue. In fact, companies with throughout the buyer’s journey. A poor • Meaningful work high employee engagement pull in 2.5 employee interaction could cost you a • Feedback, recognition, and growth times more revenue than companies with customer for life. That’s why it is vital to low engagement levels which can impact engage your employees, ensuring they • Empowerment and voice everything from your company culture to are knowledgeable, empowered, and • Work-life balance your bottom line. motivated to act as an advocate on behalf It also reveals some links between a positive employee experience and BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

work performance, flexible effort, and employee attrition.

than 2x the return on sales, compared to organizations in the bottom quartile.

The data shows what many have long suspected – that taking care of your people reaps significant financial rewards and Employee Experience is not just about feeling good at work.

What’s even more interesting is even a small increase in an organization’s employee experience index (EXI) score can make a huge impact on operating income. This means for a company with sales • Return on assets (ROA), a ratio of net revenue of $600 million and ROS of 15%, income to assets, is used to evaluate how increasing its EXI score by just 0.25 would profitable a company is relative to its lead to an increase in operating income of total assets. The higher the ROA number, $11 million. the better, because the company is The is coupled with the fact that employee earning more money on less investment. workplace practices – such as recognition, • Return on sales (ROS), also known as empowerment, and feedback – that lead to operating profit margin, is a financial these financial outcomes do not require a ratio of operating income to sales. ROS complete overhaul of your business. These calculates how efficiently a company are simple tasks that are often overlooked is generating profits from its revenue. or undervalued, however are easy ways to Organizations with high ROS show higher show appreciation to your employees. levels of efficiency. Organizations with a score in the top 25% on employee experience report can result in nearly 3x the return on assets and more

What employee engagement workplace practices does your organization use? Are there specific areas you’d like to improve on in 2020? n

Tanya is a Master Coach and Trainer in NLP, Professional Trainer and Speaker. She is the owner of Tanya Smith International, a personal and professional development company that provides coaching, training, workshops and events for Leaders and Entrepreneurs Internationally. Tanya is based in Antigua & Barbuda, W.I and Toronto, Canada. Keep in touch by following her on LinkedIn and check out her website for more information: http://tanyasmithinternational.com/.

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Dec /Jan

IN THE KNOW

Customer Centric; The Best Way to Market Your Business?

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

ess? n si u B r u o Y t e rk a M to y Wa success of many entric; Theen aroBuned st ted as the reason for the ep acc ing be , ars ye Customer“CC mer over the for the past few lsive focus on the custo ustomer Centric” has be s is an obsessive-compu the brand. d azon’s succes The buzzworthy term is the driving force behin the secret sauce to Am s im cla n azo hy, operations and ideas, Am of sop O ilo CE ph , ’s zos ess Be sin bu Jeff s. the firm central to ensuring the customer is competition. In essence,

Benefits of a Customer-Centric Approach By focusing on the client, the emphasis is more on satisfying their needs, creating loyalty and maintaining the customer base. It is more efficient and a lot easier to reach the customers already in your base. Messages are more targeted as the relationships built over a period of time would greatly assist with defining the product or service offering and ensure customers keep coming back. Applying a customer centric approach includes using Lifecycle Marketing and forecasting the customer lifetime value through their engagements with your firm. Success is measured by the churn rate (rate at which customers are lost), net promoter score (measures customer loyalty based on whether they would recommend the company) and customer lifetime value (measures the total revenue contributed by a paying customer as long as they have been a customer with you).

believe in the shared vision? Get the entire team on board so your company can start implementing this approach.

• Know your customers’ journey. Creating a Customer Journey Map permits you to metaphorically walk in your customers shoes to objectively critique each interaction for flaws and determine methods for improvement.

• Focus on what your customer wants. You wouldn’t sell melons if your customers want apples. It’s important to ascertain exactly what the customer wants and • Do your market research. Ensure you know zero in on what you should be offering, your customer well by collecting data on all to build sustainable relationships as part aspects of your business; sales, customer of the process. service, product development etc., and integrate the data to maintain a clear and • Analyze, plan and implement a carefully true picture of the business’s operations. formulated customer strategy. This plan is aimed at meeting and exceeding the expectations of customers. It is arguably the best way to transform the customers expectations into reality and must be aligned with the business and brand strategy.

• Create a customer experience strategy. Aligned with your company’s strategic goals and brand strategy, the customer experience should always exceed the expectations of the customer.

• Conduct customer satisfaction surveys. • Reward your customer. Giving back Don’t assume to know what the to customers is not always about the customer is going through. It is prudent discount. Remember they chose you to conduct meaningful and in-depth and not the competition. To ensure you surveys to ascertain the complaints outshine the competition, reward loyalty which plague your consumer base. The by directly letting them know that you Main benefits of being a customer centric results may shock you! value their business. entity; it supports Loyalty, Efficiency, Agility and Differentiation. Your company • Listen to your customer and act. It is not • Incentivize your employees. One of can stand out for the right reasons. enough to collect all the feedback on the most important aspects of the what aspects of doing business with your customer journey is the interaction with How do you become a Customer company are taxing, but a concerted the employees who are the frontline. Centric Company? effort must be made to resolve these By empowering your employees, and • Be passionate about what you do. This issues. Some grievances can be minor offering an incentive to promote passion must be seen throughout the and require little to no effort to fix, while your brand of customer service, your organization. Does your management others may take a more substantive customers’ needs will be met. team know your vision? Do your approach and require a greater response. Good luck in your journey to create a employees know your brand story or No action is the worst response. customer centric entity! n BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

Tourism Ministry Spearheads Plan to Ease Traffic Congestion in Castries

Tourism Ministry Spearheads Plan to Ease Traffic Congestion in Castries Motorists navigating Castries should Moreover, it creates a negative image expect ease in congestion in the coming for Saint Lucia that can only reduce its year, as plans to prepare a traffic circulation destination appeal”. plan aimed at relieving traffic conditions, The Traffic Study is an important initiative parking, and the safe movement of for the Ministry of Tourism, as it will pedestrians in the downtown Castries city address an age-old issue that has recently area gets underway. been compounded by the fact that Activities to accomplish this plan is being large cruise ships berth near the city spearheaded by the Ministry of Tourism, and passengers are deposited within a Information and Broadcasting, Culture and few yards of Jeremie Street – a primary Creative Industries, who have contracted street which connects northbound traffic the Danish-based firm, COWI, under the navigating the city. OECS Regional Tourism Competitiveness On cruise ship days, more than sixty (60) Project (ORTCP). taxi operators also occupy Jeremie Street, The Danish-based consultants, who are engaged to prepare the traffic circulation plan, are currently consulting with relevant stakeholders in Castries to get an idea of the prevailing issues that are contributing to traffic congestion at peak periods.

further cramming an already crowded downtown area.

Over the next few weeks, discussions will be held with representatives of several relevant government departments before making recommendations on how to improve the flow of vehicles and pedestrians, in order to improve the safety and experience in Castries, for both locals and tourists.

• Traffic plan for downtown Castries;

To alleviate this situation, Dr Nicholas observes that “improving urban mobility and accessibility is critical not just for motorists and local pedestrians, but for So far, discussions have been held with tourism enhancement. The idea is to the St Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority introduce a program of low cost/high (SLASPA), Council for Public Transport, return measures that would be easy to Holiday Taxi Association, Cox and implement with minimal disruptions to Company, National Council for People city life”. with Disabilities, and the Castries As part of the plan, the consultants, under Constituencies Council (CCC). the Ministry, will deliver the following: • Complete redesign of the Jeremie Street / Compton Highway intersection; • Plan and detailed design of improvements for efficient movement of pedestrians and public transport vehicles around La Place Carenage;

Head of the ORTCP, Dr Lorraine Nicholas, • Plan and detailed design of other contends that “the traffic congestion improvements in intersections (including has the potential to adversely impact specifications for traffic lights) and business in Castries and by extension, the walkways in downtown Castries; and economy of the island. It not only slows • Assessment of training needs, and down urban traffic, but contributes to on-the-job development to improve make downtown Castries unattractive for the capacity of key governmental tourists, and creates a security hazard departments involved in urban mobility for all pedestrians, both local and foreign. in the broader Castries urban area. n BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

IN THE KNOW

The Art of Autism: Orrin d’Auvergne’s Solo Exhibition

The Art of Autism: Orrin d’Auvergne’s Solo Exhibition By Buki Cahane, MeCurator Art Gallery

“In my imagination, I see my paintings adorning the walls for all to see. For all to observe and pick out the colour hues of yellows, reds and blues that accentuate my pieces. In my imagination, I see a crowd of people, complimenting me on my talent and paintings, asking what inspires me and what will I paint next. In my imagination, I see my close relatives; my favourite Cousin Monica with her afro, my cousin Renoir and my Aunt Sharon coming all the way from Canada to support me. In my imagination, I see my parents – my dad eloquently giving his vote of thanks and my mum being an amazing host. In my imagination – I see my paintings, from the very first, depicting Scruffy the dog, to my most recent and popular piece ‘Field of Glory’.”

This painting, along with 45 others, was displayed at the MeCurator Art Gallery on the 2nd November 2019. An inquisitive group of art lovers, friends and family came to support the young artist as he held his first solo art exhibition. The MeCurator Art Gallery reopened its doors with its unique format of a pop-up “one-night exhibition” concept; making the art more exclusive and in higher demand, giving art lovers a one-time opportunity to view and invest in the paintings that were on display.

The launch night of d’ Auvergne's paintings was a night of success, with over 20 pieces and numerous postcards of his paintings being sold. Quite impressive for a young individual who has a difference. The artist’s innocence Imagination turned very much to reality in depicting Saint Lucian scenery for this young artist. “In my imagination” is no doubt comes from the different the genuine title of an abstract painting by perspective in which he views our young Saint Lucian Artist, Orrin d’Auvergne. island. For d'Auvergne has a unique

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

difference to most of us. At the age of six, his world was to be defined more clearly. d'Auvergne's uniqueness and difference was diagnosed as Asperger's Syndrome, which lies within the Autism Spectrum. d’Auvergne turned to paintings as a means of expressing what was on his mind. Buki Cahane of the MeCurator Art Gallery wanted to highlight the difference of neurodiversity; showing through art the importance of valuing Autism and those who fall within this spectrum. For further information on Austim, please contact the Child Development and Guidance Centre located at Gordon Ave, La Clery, Castries. And for those interested in artwork by d’Auvergne, his website is live www.orrinspaintings.wixsite.com/gallery. n

Saint Lucia Works Toward Gender Equality

The second phase of training under the project “Mainstreaming Gender Equality in Saint Lucia’s National Sustainable Development Plan” recently concluded at the National Skills Development Centre. “Gender mainstreaming relates to having “We are currently training individuals within The project was launched earlier this year, gender in the forefront of planning 20 government departments and we are with the inception mission by consultants throughout the government service. introducing gender concepts and issues from Niagara College, Canada. In many cases, gender was always an related to gender analysis,” Dr. Claudia The Gender Mainstreaming project seeks afterthought when programs were being Louis said. “They are representatives of to ensure that gender is mainstreamed developed. The Gender Mainstreaming their various ministries and departments throughout the public service. Since Project seeks to ensure that in planning and they are expected to go back to their May of 2019, public servants have been and budgeting, issues related to men and departments and multiply the training introduced to gender concepts and women are dealt with equally, so that within the department. As part of the gender analysis with the aim of ensuring whomever is benefitting from any project project, we will keep a network of the that during planning and budgeting in the or program implemented by any agency various participants to ensure that they get the support to present the concepts to public service, issues relating to men and would benefit men and women equally.” their various ministries.” women are dealt with equally. The latest training exercise served as Dr. Claudia Louis, Project Coordinator, said the project ensures that issues related to men and women are dealt with equally.

Taiwan Contributes Charity Supplies to Saint Lucia’s Vulnerable Groups Throughout the Island

Counsellor Bill Shih-Chung Huang hands over the sample of charity supplies to the Honourable Minister Lenard Montoute

A sample of charity supplies from Simplyhelp Foundation

both a train-the-trainer exercise. as well as a pilot project.

The project is being implemented by the Government of Saint Lucia through a grant from the Caribbean Development Bank. n

Taiwan Contributes Charity Supplies to Saint Lucia’s Vulnerable Groups Throughout the Island On behalf of His Excellency Douglas friendship and profound connection of Shen, Ambassador of the Republic of hearts between the peoples of Taiwan and China (Taiwan) to Saint Lucia, Counsellor Saint Lucia. The foundation is more than Bill Shih-Chung Huang handed over a SimplyHelp, it is a great help. full container of charity supplies to the Hon. Lenard Montoute also addressed Honourable Lenard Montoute, Minister for the needs and the challenges of local Equity, Social Justice, Local Government vulnerable groups and expressed his and Empowerment at a ceremony held deeply appreciation for the consistent at the National Emergency Management contribution from the government of Organization (NEMO) on 15th October Taiwan and the Simplyhelp Foundation. He 2019. The charity supplies were donated assured that the supplies will be provided by Simplyhelp Foundation, a Taiwanese- via local community and international nonAmerican NGO based in Los Angeles. governmental organisations’ network to Speaking at the event, Counsellor Bill the most needy people of the island. Huang praised Simplyhelp Foundation for Simplyhelp foundation was formed in 2000 its generous donations to the people of in Los Angeles and is active in 23 countries Saint Lucia since 2015. He mentioned that with a strong presence in Central America Simplyhelp is continuing to provide items and the Caribbean. It is founded by Mrs. Tina including clothing, toys, shoes, baby supplies Bow, a Taiwanese American and, dedicated and electronics for households needs this to relieving poverty by providing emergency year. The unselfish and unconditional love disaster relief, vocational training, and care from Taiwanese expatriates to Saint Lucia for the homeless and elderly. n is yet another testimony of the abiding BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

TOURISM FOCUS

Make Our Region the Top Destination

Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley is calling on Caribbean governments to come together and form partnerships to make the region the strongest tourism attraction in the world. Equally important, she said, was the need for regional stakeholders to join hands in the fight against climate change while at the same time improving resilience. Mottley made the suggestions in Puerto Rico, where she was the special speaker at the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association’s (FCCA) annual conference and trade show.

She said that to put things in perspective, “It’s not just the physical environment; it’s the people of The Bahamas understood who we are and how we express ourselves. now that Carnival Cruise Lines and others We have to recognise the global community were not fair weather friends, based on needs the story and expression of that their quick humanitarian response to the uniqueness of the Caribbean civilisation.” island chain’s devastation by Hurricane Adding that the world had found itself Dorian last month. in a state of turbulence in areas such as “We thank you for your quick and appropriate Asia and the Middle East, Mottley said it support. There are few other entities in the was necessary for the Caribbean “to work world that can deliver 20 000 meals in a together in partnership and be strategic day to the people of The Bahamas, in the to create that oasis in happiness that all way in which you have,” she said, with FCCA human beings long for and want. Chairman, billionaire cruise line owner “But we can’t do it by serendipity. There Mickey Arison, in attendance. are a number of things that we must now

She again stressed that the Caribbean’s uniqueness continued to make it a region “That’s why we appreciate not just confront in order to be able to stay the which could boast of being a big player in the partnership with cruise but the course and go the distance.” appreciation that tourism, more than any She said the first was the climate. the tourism market. other sector, can grow back the quickest “The tourism industry has been growing because it depends on how we host and “We are on the frontline of all of the damage way beyond the pace of growth of exports what experience we create.” that is coming as a result of the climate and merchandise across the world. Cruise crisis. But we were not on the front of is the largest and fastest grower. This Mottley added that the Caribbean created those who caused it in the first place. It region is responsible for over a third and that experience that could give people, in means we have to spend money to do just under a half of the revenue created. It one short period, a microcosm of every things we otherwise would not have had to part of the world, and it had a particular spend money to do. There’s still a limited is easy for us to sprint to do well. message which could be sent to the rest pool from which to draw. That is the most “But how do we command that position for of the world. significant development for this industry. the largest growing sector in the largest “There are for us moments in history we industry in the global community?” she “The cruise industry, in recognising asked. “You don’t want to lose the race, would rather not remember, but we are their investment, needs to go beyond ever. Staying the course and going the conscious those moments, so blended and the destination, but also to actual port distance means the partnerships we have conspired, bring together the best of every development,” she suggested. n now have to be strengthened,” the Prime race and religion that exists in the world. That’s part of the allure. Minister added. BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

Study Launched to Improve Tourism Strategic Planning for 2020

Study Launched to Improve Tourism Strategic Planning for 2020 By Ministry of Tourism

Restaurants, Tours & Excursion Agencies, send the surveys via email and can be Transportation, Entertainment and Event conducted online. All respondents will Companies are all invited to participate remain anonymous and the results will be The Ministry of Tourism, Information and in the largest data mapping project of the grouped by industry. Broadcasting, Culture and Creative Industries Tourism Industry. The survey which ends in November 2019 is currently working with the Department If your business or commercial activity will be used to generate a Tourism Industry of Statistics to conduct a Tourism Satellite directly benefits from the Tourism Industry, Report to be published by April 2020. Account (TSA) study to assess the economic you are invited to engage the Ministry of The report will be publicly available and impact of tourism on the local economy. Tourism and Central Statistics Office for your indicative of important industry trends, Private Sector firms directly impacted by TSA Survey ID Number. observations and reference investment tourism are encouraged to participate in recommendations. Saint Lucia first conducted a TSA Study in 2008. the island-wide economic survey which was It was a global study, spearheaded by the Through a greater appreciation of the impact launched in September 2019. United Nations World Tourism Organisation of tourism on various economic sectors, the With an official report to be prepared by (UNWTO). The statistical instrument is Ministry of Tourism anticipates that the April 2020, the aim is to develop government uniquely designed to measure economic entire government as well as commercial policies and sectoral initiatives that are better sectors that are impacted by tourism. enterprises will be able to better strategize geared towards improving competitiveness from an informed position. and overall development of the sector that The TSA looks at various data fields from are directly linked and dependent on the both the private and public sector such As such, the Tourism Satellite Account as revenue generated, expenditure and (TSA) was launched in collaboration with Tourism Industry. services utilised to analyse the impact of the Central Statistics Office as a means of The TSA survey, which commenced in tourism on the local economy. mapping out the broader landscape of the September 2019, is required for private impact of the country’s largest revenue The study, which is conducted via the businesses to complete by 30 November 2019. earning sector. n Department of Statistics Saint Lucia, will Hoteliers, Bed & Breakfast Accommodations,

St. Lucia Showcases at Canada's Largest Travel Show

St. Lucia Showcases at Canada’s Largest Travel Show

The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) participated in the 31st edition of the (SITV) in Montreal from October 25 – 27, 2019. The SITV show is the largest travel show in Canada, it provides destinations with an opportunity to meet one on one with thousands of potential travellers in the French market to provide guidance on their next winter getaway. With the participation of more than 400 exhibitors from the tourism sector, including 100 countries and more than 250 tourist regions, the SITV 2019 received over 30,000 visitors during the weekend.

This year, the SLTA exhibited with a double booth for prominent placement and maximum exposure. Senior Marketing Manager - Jackie Mathurin, a multi-lingual member of the team was on hand alongside Sales Director, Rod Hanna to ensure communication with the important French market. Saint Lucia was also enriched by the presence of hotel partner Ti Kaye Resort and Spa to highlight the islands dive, romance and wellness offerings. As in previous years, its programming included free admission, lectures and meetings with bloggers who shared their travel experiences and recommendations. A highlight of the show included a couple booking a trip to Saint Lucia with Sunwing Vacations immediately following SLTA’s recommendation for their next winter vacation. Getting to Saint Lucia from Montreal couldn’t be easier with direct service from Montreal with Sunwing beginning on December 14th, 2019 until March 2020. For more information about Saint Lucia, visit www.stlucia.org or call 1-800-456-3984, or 1-888 4STLUCIA. n BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

TOURISM FOCUS

St. Lucia Voted #8 in Caribbean and Atlantic St. Lucia Voted #8 in Caribbean and Atlantic

Condé Nast Traveler has announced the results of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards with Saint Lucia recognized as the #8 Island in the Caribbean & Atlantic, while seven resorts in the destination were named in the Top 50 Resorts in the Caribbean Islands list. Resorts earning a spot on the Top 50 Resorts in the Caribbean Islands list include Jade Mountain (#15); Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort (#17); Cap Maison (#20); Anse Chastanet Resort (#27); Ladera Resort (#33); The Landings Resort and Spa (#34); and Rendezvous Resort (#49). More than 600,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers across the globe submitted a recording-breaking number of responses rating their travel experiences to provide a full snapshot of where and how we travel today.

CTO Reports Increased Visitor Arrivals to the Caribbean Source: CTO Tourist arrivals to the Caribbean increased by a solid 9.7 per cent during the first half of 2019 compared to the same period last year, said the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO). Addressing the media at a news conference at World Travel Market in London, UK, CTO’s Chairman, Dominic Fedee, said this performance was more than double the global average of 4.4 percent.

The Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards are the longestrunning and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry and are commonly known as “the best of the best of travel.” The full list of winners can be found here. “It is a true honor to be recognized by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler not only as a destination overall but also for seven of our resorts, “said Hon. Dominic Fedee, Minister of Tourism for Saint Lucia. “Saint Lucians work diligently to provide impeccable tourism experiences to our visitors from around the world, from exploring the natural splendor of our island to our world-class hotels and culinary experiences, and this accolade is a celebration of everything Saint Lucia has to offer guests.” Saint Lucia is experiencing a record year for tourism arrivals and has several new tourism developments in the pipeline. The Royal Saint Lucia Turf Club horse racing and entertainment complex will debut this December; several hotels and resorts are unveiling major refurbishments; new local restaurants are expanding visitors’ dining options; and infrastructure improvements such as a new airport are underway. The 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards are published on Condé Nast Traveler’s website at www.cntraveler.com/rca and celebrated in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler US and UK print editions. n

CTO Reports Increased Visitor Arrivals to the Caribbean

Between January and June this year, there were 17.1 million tourist trips to the Caribbean, 1.5 million more than the corresponding period in 2018.

Caribbean Tourism Organisation chairman Dominic Fedee addressing the gathering at the World Travel Market in London. (Picture courtesy CTO/Johnson JohnRose)

The foundation of this performance was a strong United States market which grew by 20.2 percent, totalling a first half record of 8.9 million overnight international tourists. During the same period, 2.1 million Canadian tourists stayed in the region, a 2.4 per cent rise when compared to the same period last year.

Several factors supported the gains made so far including increased air capacity between the region and major sources, expansions in the accommodation sector and the positive positioning of the destinations’ brands in the various source markets.

However, the European market was flat, registering a marginal 0.4 per cent increase to 2.9 million trips, with the UK market down by 1.7 per cent, especially in Cuba, which fell by 22 per cent, and the Dominican Republic, down by 15.3 per cent. The strong results recorded in the first half reflect the resilience of individual destinations and demonstrate their ability to skilfully navigate global political and economic concerns, including Brexit and the ongoing trade wars which threaten the stability of the global economy. BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

In the cruise sector, the demand for the Caribbean was so strong in the first six months of 2019, there was a record 16.7 million visits, 1.3 million more than in the same period of 2018. The present rate of growth estimated to be 8.1 per cent, eclipsed that for similar periods in the last four years. The remainder of this year, based on current trends, and various global issues including Brexit and trade wars, the CTO forecasts an increase of between five and seven per cent in stayover arrivals and four to five per cent rise in cruise passenger visits.

Antigua Gov’t Gets Green Light to Secure MultiMillion Dollar Loan for LIAT Parliament has given the green light to government to secure a US$15.8M loan from Banco del ALBA to facilitate the island’s move to acquire additional shares in the cash-strapped regional airline, LIAT. Prime Minister Gaston Browne told legislators that his administration anticipates the recapitalisation will make LIAT more efficient and profitable. “A condition of this new capital would be that there have to be cuts including a reduction in salary and wages. I’m pretty sure that there’ll be some changes even with the directorship of LIAT. We have to make sure that we have a cadre of competent people and we may even create the space for members in the private sector as well to participate,” said Browne. Antigua and Barbuda currently hold 34% of the shares in the airline and earlier this month discontinued its interest in purchasing the some of the shares owned by the Barbados Government. St John’s had sought to acquire the LIAT shares owned by Bridgetown, through a take-over of the liability of Barbados to the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and would have given it 81% of the airline that employs over 600 people and operates 491 flights weekly across 15 destinations. The other shareholder governments of LIAT are Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada.

Caribbean Airlines Introduces Branded Fares Caribbean Airlines has announced it is now diversifying into branded fares. This enhancement became effective as of November 07, 2019.

Antigua Gov’t Gets Green Light to Secure Multi-Million Dollar Loan for LIAT

Browne told Parliament that he had negotiated the loan to fund LIAT in September US$800,000 of the loan amount would be utilised to cover “the transactional expenses at a percentage of two per cent, as well as a one per cent FFE contribution”, which he explained is a “contribution to the bank’s equity”. He said the government would also be required to contribute to a social fund as is customary when seeking funds from ALBA. The remainder will be utilised to recapitalise LIAT. “This loan will be termed over a period of 10 years at 6% per annum with an annual repayment of about US$2M dollars a year. The intention is not to have these funds wasted, but to make sure that they are properly invested. The programme calls for recapitalisation with a simultaneous restructuring of LIAT. So, we’ll be focusing on reducing expenses while at the same time increasing revenue,” he said. Browne said he was hopeful that other shareholder governments will bring the total anticipated contributions to the airline, to an estimated US$35M. “Now clearly this matter has not been approved by the shareholder group as yet, but recognising that LIAT is in need of urgent money, I cannot see the existing shareholder governments refusing to have a capital call to ensure viability or survivability for that matter of LIAT in the first instance and ultimately its viability and sustainability,” Browne added. n

Caribbean Airlines Introduces Branded Fares

The features associated with the branded fares offered by Caribbean Airlines According to the company, Caribbean Airlines is improving the travel experience for its customers by offering more choice and greater flexibility with a range of Caribbean-branded fares. The variety of brand options are namely: LITE, CLASSIC, FLEX, BIZ and BIZ FLEX. The aforementioned brand options have their associated features (see accompanying image for more details). The specific needs of travellers are catered for by the brand fares along with its characteristics. The classic brand, however, is maintained as customers are entitled to one free bag and 100% miles.

airline company highlighted in a press statement. Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Garvin Medera stated, “Our motivation is to offer more choice and greater flexibility, which is becoming the industry standard. These branded options combine the best fares with our award-winning hospitality and in-flight entertainment, tailored to meet the customers’ unique travel needs. These dynamic products can be easily accessed through all sales channels including the Caribbean Airlines Mobile app which has revolutionized how to interact with our customers.”

The enhanced products would benefit persons who travel light, with no checked bag and can take advantage of the LITE brand, whereas passengers who prefer two checked bags can use the Flex economy, The company welcomes questions by encouraging calls to any which also gives a free same-day change and 125% miles. Business Caribbean Airlines Sales and Service Centres or download the travellers can also utilize BIZ or BIZ Flex, which offers exclusive perks, Caribbean Airlines Mobile App, which is available for free at the additional flexibility and easier ticket changes. BIZ Flex is also fully Apple Store and Google Play. More information can also be obtained refundable and customers earn 175% miles. from www.caribbean-airlines.com. n “All branded options have free seat selection and will always be available, even if travel is at the last minute or spontaneous,” the BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS

Oceans Economy, Blue Bio Trade & Climate Change: Building Economic Diversification & Resilience

Oceans Economy, Blue Bio Trade & Climate Change: Building Economic Diversification & Resilience Intervention by Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General of the Organisation of East Caribbean Sates (OECS) at the UN Trade Forum held in Geneva, Switzerland from 09-13 September, 2019. “The Caribbean region has become a veritable graveyard for such ideas, and over the two decades since the seventies, many words have ossified like the fragments of dead coral on our beaches. ‘Conscientization’, ‘participation’, ‘sovereignty’ are still occasionally used, but are in fact little more than vestigial echoes of what they once seemed to purport.” – Professor Gordon Rohlehr 1993 These are the words of Prof. Gordon Rohlehr – a prominent cultural critic – in 1993 in an address to the Folk Research Centre in St. Lucia and I have quoted him here because I would like to start with a reminder that words and descriptors matter only to the extent that they embody the power to transform. In the development world, words and concepts come and go with astonishing speed BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

and sometimes practitioners become so “Do not diminish in my memory villages of intellectually seduced with the novelty absolutely no importance, ... Hoard, cherish of the idea that we forget the elemental your negligible existence, your unrecorded purpose of the agenda. history of unambitious syntax, your clean pools of unpolluted light over close stones.” So today we have the Blue, the Green, the – Derek Walcott, The Prodigal Brown and the Orange economy… and these descriptors have their explanatory power but let us never lose sight of the fact that at the heart of all of these economies is the effort at sustainable human development. For us in the OECS as indeed for all SIDS, this is about moving the poor and vulnerable from a condition of marginality to a condition of prosperity. The focus of our engagement are the coastal villages whose communal economy is focussed on the sea and its bounty and who have eked subsistence livelihoods from resources that are rapidly disappearing from over-exploitation and climate change in the marine space. These are the villages whose resilience Derek Walcott the Caribbean Nobel Laureate celebrated:

The sea is currently a subsistence economic resource for these coastal villages with fishermen undertaking near shore fishing supplemented by charcoal making. These are the real people who are the human focus of our Blue economy work – helping them move from subsistence to prosperity. The Members of the Organization of East Caribbean States (OECS) are surrounded by both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. While we are typically referred to as SIDS, we are also big sea and large ocean states as much as we are small island developing states. For instance, OECS Member States enjoy an Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ)-to-land space-ratio of approximately 85:1 and this implies the huge potential for the sustainable use and commercialization of ocean-based goods

and services. This is the sort of mind-set that we need to adopt to orient us to seeing the vast potential that exists in the Oceans Economy and Blue BioTrade. In a joint publication, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) estimate that by 2030, based on current trajectories, the global ocean’s valueadded will amount to US$4.5 trillion, with employment rising to over 40 million people. Furthermore, both the CDB and the UNDP also estimate that the total global value of key ocean assets stands at roughly US$24 trillion based on the ocean’s earning capacity through direct outputs such as fishing and aquaculture; and indirect outputs such as tourism, trade and transportation. In our specific case, although the Caribbean Sea covers 1% of the earth, the value of our Blue Economy is estimated to be US$407 Billion (the equivalent of 14% of our combined GDP). The proportion of our marine space to our land mass is 85:1 and in some Caribbean States, the Blue Economy employs up to 30% of the labor force. Additionally, in 2012, we estimate that fisheries and aquaculture generated US$5B and US$1.9B respectively. Other industries that constitute part of the Blue Economy included Tourism US$47B; Oil & Gas US$40B and Shipping US$311B.

export diversification, and create new avenues for both domestic and foreign direct investment. In St. Vincent & the Grenadines (one of our most dynamically focused Member States) fish exports increased from EC$1.7M in 2016 to EC$10.3M in 2018!

for select high value products. Exports of crustaceans, mollusks and aquatic invertebrates from OECS countries to the world amounted to $354 thousand in 2017. Within this group of products, a specific mollusk, Conch (Strombus gigas) is a high value delicacy. Sea moss is widely prized as a high nutrition supplement in the cultivation and processing of which we have already accumulated significant community and small farmer expertise. Our intention is to perfect the technologies and modalities of cultivation so that rural communities can directly benefit and also to ensure that our wild stocks are protected and replenished.

The OECS is seeking to capitalize on these opportunities and jointly with UNCTAD we are preparing the launch of a project on seizing the trade and business potential of Oceans and Blue Bio-Trade products for our region. We anticipate that on the completion of this project, our Member States will be in a better position to export high-quality, niche and For many SIDS, an extremely narrow sustainably harvested coastal and marine I wish to recognize the extraordinary resource base and little capacity to exploit products to world markets. For a start, initiative put into this by our small energetic economies of scale makes economic this could include products derived from team at the Permanent Delegation of the diversification critical to our overall queen conch, sea moss and sargassum in OECS to UNCTAD and UN Agencies led wellbeing and survival. Therefore, it is very the food, nutraceutical and personal care by Mr. Stephen Fevriere and the equally important, and I fully endorse UNCTAD’s value chains, and in the case of sargassum enthusiastic effort of Mr. David Devas and focus on Oceans Economy and Blue the export of Algas – an organic fertilizer his team at UNCTAD who are working with BioTrade which holds tremendous promise, derived from this pestilence by one of us to make this a scalable example of the particularly as it relates to a more equitable our 30 Under 30 Youth Entrepreneurs value of Blue BioTrade. and sustainable distribution of our marine Johanan Dujon. This represents the kind of collaboration resources for socio-economic gain. Distinguished colleagues, our approach that is needed between SIDS and our Notwithstanding the vast potential of to the Blue Economy requires much close development partners to pursue and the ocean’s economy, the sustainable collaboration between Caribbean States secure the objectives of economic use and trade of coastal and marine and in the OECS we are taking a structured diversification and resilience. Essentially, based biodiversity products and services approach to this challenge through the leveraging the Oceans Economy Blue remain largely untapped, partly due to Eastern Caribbean Regional Ocean Policy BioTrade could lead to faster economic limited awareness among policy makers (ECROP) project with the World Bank growth, coastal community enrichment, and businesses on their opportunities with collaboration and support from the improved social inclusion, and protection/ and value. Essentially, seizing blue Commonwealth and the European Union revitalization of coastal environments and trade opportunities has the potential to and now with UNCTAD the establishment marine life. n accelerate sustainable economic growth, and cultivation of Bio-Trade value chains

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

ENVIRONMENTAL FOCUS

New Study Reveals Investments in Climate Change Are Good Business

New Study Reveals Investments in Climate Change Are Good Business Professor Michael Taylor of The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is among an internationally respected group of scientists urgently calling on world leaders to accelerate efforts to tackle climate change. The scientists are authors of a study (see here: https://science. sciencemag.org /content/365/6459/ eaaw6974) published in Science Mag which points out that almost every aspect of the planet’s environment and ecology is undergoing changes in response to climate change – some of which are profound, if not catastrophic for the future.

Fellow Caribbean scientist and a co-author of the study published in Science, Dr. Adelle Thomas of The University of The Bahamas and Climate Analytics, agrees and adds, “The current catastrophe being faced by The Bahamas is not an isolated incident. As evidenced by the widespread devastation felt throughout the Caribbean in 2017, extreme events are becoming more intense and smaller island developing states are faced with addressing existential threats. There must be international coordination and transformational change to limit global warming.”

The urgency of responding to climate The Science study also suggests that change is front of mind for Professor reducing the magnitude of climate change Michael Taylor, Dean of the Faculty of is a good investment. Over the next few Science and Technology at The UWI decades, acting to reduce climate change is Mona. “This is not an academic issue, it expected to cost much less than the damage is a matter of life and death for people otherwise inflicted by climate change on everywhere, as recently evidenced in the people, infrastructure and ecosystems. Bahamas with the devastation caused by Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg from the Hurricane Dorian. People from small island ARC Centre for Excellence in Coral Reef states and low-lying countries are in the Studies at the University of Queensland in immediate cross-hairs of climate change. Australia, lead author on the study, explains I am very concerned about the future for that “Acting on climate change has a good these people,” said Professor Taylor. return on investment when one considers

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Dec /Jan

the damages avoided by acting.” The investment is even more compelling given the wealth of evidence that the impacts of climate change are happening faster and more extensively than projected, even just a few years ago. This makes the case for rapidly reducing greenhouse gas emissions even more compelling and urgent. Hoegh-Guldberg further explained the mismatch. “First, we have underestimated the sensitivity of natural and human systems to climate change, and the speed at which these changes are happening. Second, we have underappreciated the synergistic nature of climate threats – with the outcomes tending to be worse than the sum of the parts. This is resulting is rapid and comprehensive climate impacts, with growing damage to people, ecosystems, and livelihoods.” For example, sea-level rise can lead to higher water levels during storm events. This can create more damage. For deprived areas, this may exacerbate poverty creating further disadvantage. Each risk may be small on its own, but a small change in a number of risks can lead to large impacts.

Professor Daniela Jacob, co-author and Director of Climate Services Centre (GERICS) in Germany is concerned about these rapid changes—especially about unprecedented weather extremes. She said, “We are already in new territory. The ‘novelty’ of the weather is making our ability to forecast and respond to weatherrelated phenomena very difficult.” These changes are having major consequences. The paper updates a database of climate-related changes and finds that there are significant benefits from avoiding 2oC and aiming to restrict the increase to 1.5oC above pre-industrial global temperatures. Professor Rachel Warren from the Tyndall Centre at the University of East Anglia in the UK assessed projections of risk for forests, biodiversity, food, crops and other critical systems, and found very significant benefits for limiting global warming to 1.5oC rather than 2oC. “The scientific community has quantified these risks in order to inform policy makers about the benefits of avoiding them,” Professor Warren stated.

Since the Paris Agreement came into effect, there has been a race to quantify the benefits of limiting warming to 1.5oC so that policy makers have the best possible information for developing the policy required for doing it.

are amongst those to be affected most in terms of impacts on economic growth in the absence of strong climate change mitigation,” Professor Engelbrecht explains. In closing their joint statement, simultaneously released today across the globe, Professor Hoegh-Guldberg reiterated the importance of the coming year (2020) in terms of climate action and the opportunity to strengthen emission reduction pledges in line with the Paris Agreement of 2015.

Professor Warren continued. “If such policy is not implemented, we will continue on the current upward trajectory of burning fossil fuels and continuing deforestation, which will expand the already large-scale degradation of ecosystems. To be honest, the overall picture is very grim unless we act.” “Current emission reduction commitments A recent report from the United Nations are inadequate and risk throwing many projected that as many as one million nations into chaos and harm, with a species may be at risk of extinction over particular vulnerability of poor peoples. To the coming decades and centuries. Climate avoid this, we must accelerate action and change is not the only factor but is one of tighten emission reduction targets so that the most important ones. they fall in line with the Paris Agreement. As we show, this is much less costly than The urgency to act is further emphasized suffering the impacts of 2oC or more of by the vulnerability of developing climate change.” countries to climate change impacts as

pointed out by Francois Engelbrecht, co- “Tackling climate change is a tall order. author and Professor of Climatology However, there is no alternative from at the Global Change Institute of the the perspective of human well-being and University of the Witwatersrand in South too much at stake not to act urgently on Africa. “The developing African countries this issue.” n

St. Lucia to Finalise National Ocean Policy

The Saint Lucia Government says it has started the finalisation of its National Ocean Policy that seeks to present an overarching vision, policy statement, and strategic outcomes for the marine and associated sectors.

It said that the Coastal Masterplan will articulate actions to be conducted within the coastal region of St. Lucia, the area that is found immediately around the island and where most marine related activity currently occurs.

A Government statement said that the draft policy has been developed over the last year, and will be presented to stakeholders who have been engaged in its development for validation.

Sustainable Development Minister, Dr Gale T.C. Rigobert said the ocean holds many opportunities for island states like St Lucia, and there are many benefits to having forward-thinking plans in order to best able to capitalise on available opportunities.

“It is envisaged that the final policy will be endorsed by the Cabinet of Ministers in the near future. The Marine Spatial Plan will establish a long term-plan for St Lucia’s Exclusive Economic Zone; this is the entire marine space that the Government of St. Lucia is responsible for managing under the United Nations Law of the Sea,” the statement noted.

The development of the National Ocean Policy, the Coastal Masterplan and Marine Spatial Plans, have been initiated by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission as part of the four-year (2017-2021) Caribbean Regional Oceanscape Project, a Global

Environment Facility funded project endorsed by the Council of Ministers for Environmental Sustainability in 2015. This initiative supports the delivery and implementation of the Eastern Caribbean Regional Ocean Policy (ECROP), which itself guides the sustainable use and management of the region’s marine resources. The plans are key components of the ECROP dedicated to the promotion of the Blue Economy in the Caribbean. The Blue Economy encourages the sustainable use of the ocean’s resources to maintain ecosystem health, promote economic growth, and improve local livelihoods and job opportunities. n

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Dec /Jan

BUSINESS YOUTH IN FOCUS

The In PsyDA Perspective: Getting to Know the Bully

THE IN PSYDA PERSPECTIVE: GETTING TO KNOW THE BULLY Bullying, particularly within the school system, has existed for decades. Many can recall being witness to and/or experiencing that form of victimisation during their school years. Thankfully though, studies on the effects of such a condition have brought this to the fore within recent times, with the focus now being extended to even online and cyber-bulling. To truly combat this societal pandemic that many of your young people encounter, it is necessary to understand the ‘bully’ as well as the ‘victim’. To do this, let us firstly dispel the preconceived images and myths about the bully.

themselves, are aware of their capabilities and talents, and even feel superior to others. It is their sense of entitlement that blinds them to the feelings of others, rendering them void of empathy. Bullies also tend to have an external locus of control. That is, they see their actions as a result of external events. Things are seldom their fault.

By Ginelle Nelson

behaviour. Not every act of bullying involves aggression especially given the varying types of bullying. For example, the most offensive insults (verbal bullying) repeatedly hurled with the intent to cause embarrassment (emotional / psychological abuse) can come from the most amiable female using the softest tone.

In conclusion, a dubiously infamous pop There is also a genetic component to the icon from the western part of the globe totality of the bully. It has been widely postulated that “there really is no difference articulated that some individuals are between the bully and the victim”. In many predisposed to violence and aggression regards, I have to concur. Both suffer from given their genetic makeup. The “warrior emotional disturbances that emanated gene” is a term used to describe a version of from past experiences and situational While writing this article I googled images the monoamine oxidase A gene (3R) which factors which contribute to their current of the word ‘bully’. Its rather disconcerting has been linked to antisocial behaviour. ‘role’. The difference is the observable to see that over 80% of the images revealed Persons with this genetic trait are said manifestation of such disturbances. showed a male, mostly a child or adolescent, to exhibit higher levels of behavioural For some, emotional turmoil produces whose physical structure was larger than aggression, notwithstanding the nature overt aggression, for others it engenders that of his would-be victim. Despite the versus nurture argument. Furthermore, in withdrawal and timidity. The bully and the fact that this literal visual image may have 2009 the journal of Biological Psychology victim: two sides of the same coin! n been used metaphorically to connote the published a study by Dr. Jean Decety, a ‘imbalance of power’ that exists within the neuroscientist at the University of Chicago bully-victim relationship, it still suggests who studies human empathy, or how that most individuals visualise the bully as we share and understand the feelings the big, bad boy! The recently circulated of another person. According to Dr. video involving some adolescent males Decety, children with aggressive conduct here in Saint Lucia did little to dispel this disorder, often associated with bullying, misconception. Newsflash: Anyone can be can recognize negative emotion, but they a bully! Bullies do not fit into a neat little process it in a positive way. Seeing others in box. They come from all walks of life, all distress activated the region of their brains ages, all genders, all races, all social strata associated with pleasure and reward. It Ms. Ginelle Nelson and might I add, all political parties. Anyone should be noted however, that although a Consultant Clinical Psychologist who repeatedly uses their ‘strength’ or person may be predisposed to ‘aggressive/ Managing Director, influence to intimidate or cajole others into bullying’ behaviour, several environmental PsyDA Consultancy Ltd having his/her own way, is a bully. Often, factors must align for that behaviour to this involves the use of verbal, physical and/ manifest. This is where close examination PsyDA Consultancy (pronounced or psychological abuse. of factors within the home, school and ‘Cider’) provides psychological the community are critical. Also bear in services including forensic In the past, the psychological profile of a mind, that these same situational factors consultations, diagnostic assessments bully was that of an individual with low may also increase an individual’s or young and psychological evaluations. self-esteem who masked their feelings person’s vulnerability to becoming a ‘victim’ of inferiority by aggressively acting out. Rodney Bay, Gros Islet, St. Lucia That profile no longer holds. Studies have of violence, aggression and/or bullying. 1 (758) 727-1490 shown that bullies have exceedingly high Having said all this, it is important to psydaconsultancy@gmail.com levels of self-esteem. They feel great about distinguish between bullying and aggressive BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

Anti-Violence Campaigns for Three Saint Lucian Primary Schools

Anti-Violence Campaigns for Three Saint Lucian Primary Schools The Champions for Change initiative was selected after having met certain criteria areas including sports and agriculture born out of a need to build social resilience including the size of the school, the need with the primary objective of promoting throughout the Caribbean Community for the intervention and the possibility of social development of other primary (CARICOM). The project seeks to help partnering with similar interventions by school students. reduce overall crime and violence at the other players. Apart from Saint Lucia, the project is being school level so that these incidences are “The initiative stemmed from a rapid implemented in Antigua and Barbuda, curbed before students reach adulthood. assessment of risk factors that we did in Guyana, Jamaica, and Suriname. n It has been implemented before at March 2019,” Mr. the secondary school level, but in Dodson said. “This 2019 sought to engage primary school is where we sought students. Saint Lucia was chosen as one to find out what of five member countries within CARICOM was happening in where Champions of Change Clubs will primary schools. be established. Louis Dodson, Project That assessment Manager with the Crime and Violence was informed by a Prevention section at the CARICOM similar study that was L i m i t e d Edit io n F l a v o u r Secretariat, said studies revealed that done at secondary s! Ferrands Food Products even primary school students have been schools. The findings exposed to gang activity. of that assessment Ltd were shared at a “The lessons learnt came from what we did at the secondary school level where similar national consultation studies were conducted. We thought with Saint Lucian Sa n that if crime is to be prevented, perhaps counterparts. Their t a ’ s Fr we need to see what is happening at the re co m m e n d at i o n s uit & R u m informed some of primary school level. When we tested for certain variables at the secondary school the interventions we level it was present there including high are now conducting Sp i the M er r y M in t C hip c e d Pu m p k i n levels of bullying, gang violence, and anti- including for social behaviour. When we did the same Champions assessment at primary schools we found Change Clubs.” that there is evidence of primary school students being exposed to gang activity.”

The clubs will be headed by higherThe Champions for Change Clubs will level primary school be established at the Ciceron Primary, students who will Soufriere Primary and Canon Laurie contribute to the Anglican Primary Schools. The project development of their manager noted that the schools were peers. The clubs will be organized around

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

Dec /Jan

BUSINESS YOUTH IN FOCUS

OECS/USAID Early Learners Programme: Changing lives and improving the reading levels of children in the OECS!

OECS/USAID Early Learners Programme: Changing lives and improving the reading levels of children in the OECS! In June of 2019, the United Nations 6) by improving reading achievement indicated that the world is about to levels of all learners at the early primary fall severely short of its education level (Grade K to Grade 3). The future commitments and needs to implement development of the children of the OECS drastic measures to improve literacy rates. islands is at stake and the ELP has already The OECS Commission has long since begun to make significant strides towards recognized literacy as a major issue, and achieving the outcome of improving early over the last two decades has implemented grade reading in Member States. several education reform initiatives to The OECS/USAID Early Learners Programme address these and other education needs. commenced in March of 2015 and to date One such initiative is a collaboration with has achieved success in several critical areas: the OECS Commission and the United States • The ELP has developed curriculum and Agency for International Development assessment frameworks and is in the (USAID) to change the landscape for early process of implementing an enhanced grade reading in the six independent OECS reading curriculum to ensure the best Member States of Antigua and Barbuda, practices in reading pedagogy are the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, sustained across the OECS. Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis and St. • The ELP has developed and implemented Vincent and the Grenadines. a teacher centred model for professional With literacy, numeracy and technology development in early grade reading at the forefront of education for the OECS across all participating Member States. education leaders, the establishment of the Early Learners Programme (ELP) • The ELP has established a Model Classroom Teacher Programme – where a funded by USAID has prioritized early small group of teachers with outstanding grade reading, to engender a progressive competencies in certain aspects of learning environment in the early stage of reading serve as models to their peers. childhood development. USAID, in their 2011 to 2015 Education Strategy, has • The ELP has provided culturally established a goal to improve the reading relevant and gender sensitive resources skills of 100 million students around the and materials for teachers and globe, recognizing that early grade reading students to support the early grade has been proven to contribute significantly reading programme. towards positive academic achievement • The ELP has established a framework and success in the workplace. for continuous assessment to monitor The ELP’s aim is to contribute to the overall the children’s progress and make improvement in student learning at the adjustments in the learning process end of the primary education cycle (Grade towards greater success. BusinessFocus

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• ELP has supported Member States in drafting Language Policies to support reading instruction in Member States with different language varieties The Head of the OECS Education Development Management Unit (EDMU), Sisera Simon indicated that: “The OECS Commission on the whole is seeking to improve the quality of life for our societies – and increasing literacy through early grade reading is very important to achieving this goal. Early grade reading helps to lay the foundation for learning in all subject areas and is necessary for children to achieve academic success. We must give our students the greatest possible chance and opportunity to learn, grow and become the best possible citizens that they can be. The ELP is driving towards this mission with numerous initiatives completed and an intense programme ahead to continue the advancement of early grade reading. We want to get teachers, parents and the wider society on board in supporting early grade reading and making it a priority for our children.” The work of the OECS/USAID Early Learners Programme (ELP) continues through to September 2020 with the objective of raising the reading achievement levels of students in Grades K-3 by focusing on three major components: A) Teacher Professional Development, B) Curriculum and Assessment, C) Language Policies for Saint Lucia and the Commonwealth of Dominica which will address the needs of students with French creole as the primary language. n

NYC President Addresses OECS Education Ministers Source: St. Lucia National Youth Council The Second Higher Education Meeting presentation zoned in on the issues of of the OECS took place in Saint Lucia on accessibility and lack of finance for students November 5, 2019. In attendance at this hoping to purse higher education, and meeting were OECS Ministers of Education called on the officials present to consider and Presidents/ Principals of National the psychosocial barriers to the attainment Colleges of the OECS. of higher education by less privileged youth. His full address is as follows: The meeting provided the opportunity for NYC President Addresses policy makers and Heads of OECS National ‘’The opportunity to address this prestigious OECS Education gathering is indeed an honor. I applaud the Colleges to: 1. Engage in constructive Ministersdialogue on OECS Commission for consistently making substantive issues regarding higher these spaces available to our regional leaders; this time for those responsible for education development in the OECS; a fundamental pillar in Youth Development 2. Agree on policies and strategies to across the region, Education. We have long advance the implementation of the concluded that the challenges as it relates specific imperatives relating to higher to Education in Saint Lucia are not unique, education in the OECS Education Sector as they are shared by our brother and sister Strategy (OESS); territories. It goes without saying that the 3. Share innovative ideas and successful competitiveness of OECS countries hinges practices that have contributed to heavily on our ability to develop human and educational development at the national social capital, which is reliant on an efficient level. Education system. The Saint Lucia National The President of the Saint Lucia National Youth Council represents the collective Youth Council Nyus Alfred was invited voices of all Saint Lucian youth between by the OECS Commission to deliver a the ages of 10 and 35. A key part of our presentation on the youth perspective as mandate involves advocacy on behalf of it relates to higher education. Mr. Alfred’s young people to ensure that there is equal

Graduates of a workshop in agro-production, social and leadership skills take a group photo with Facilitators Tyrone Sankar and John Victorin, after receiving their Certificates of Completion. The graduates are from the Anse La Raye District where they are getting ready to farm produce for the local market.

Following a two-week training program The young people who are teaming up funded by the United States Agency for to launch their own enterprise, Youth International Development through its Coast Farm, are being guided by local Community, Family and Youth Resilience farmers, agricultural extension officers (CFYR) Program, 18 young people and representatives of the business received Certificates of Participation after community in Saint Lucia. completing a combined workshop on This activity forms part of CFYR’s program Youth Agro-Entrepreneurship, Social and of activities, across five communities in Leadership Skills. These young people, Saint Lucia, to empower youth to become who hail from Anse La Raye District in Saint more productive citizens and reduce their Lucia, completed a 40 hour curriculum vulnerability to crime and violence, and is that included sessions in crop production part of a larger effort by the United States with basic farm and business management, Government to help create a safer and as well as 8 hours of training in social and more prosperous Caribbean. In addition to leadership skills that incorporated sessions Anse La Raye, CFYR implements activities on self-awareness, teamwork, conflict in the Districts of Dennery, Soufriere and resolution and communications.

access to quality education at all levels. The SLNYC remains steadfast in our advocacy strategy as it relates to Education, because inherent in our beliefs, is the view that every child, regardless of their socio-economic background, has the right to accessible and affordable education. A significant aspect of our action plan for the 2019-2021 tenure focuses immensely on improving access to education and the strengthening of student governance structures. Our plan is ambitious, but realistic, as we understand fully the intricacies of Education Sector Development and the challenges common to Small Island States. According to a special UN Report on the progress towards the SDGs, “In 2015, an estimated 617 million children and adolescents of primary and lower secondary school age worldwide – more than 50 per cent – were not achieving minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics. Of these, about two thirds were attending school but were not learning in the classroom, or dropped out school.” n

CFYR Program CFYR Program Participants from Anse La Participants Raye Graduate from Anse La Raye Graduate Vieux Fort, as well as communities within Central Castries (Bois Patat, Grass Street, Leslie Land, Marchand and Morne Du Don). The graduation event, which took place on August 29th at the Jon Odlum Secondary School near Marigot, was attended by representatives from the international development community including the private sector, representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as local residents from the Anse La Raye District, all of whom are fully supportive of the young entrepreneurs in their quest to create opportunities and livelihoods that strengthen their communities. n BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Stalking and what to do about it

BY DR. MINERVA KING

DEFINITION

Stalking and What to Do About It

Stalking is a repeated pattern of behavior (neurotic/obsessional) and unwanted attention, contact, harassment or any behavior directed at a specific person which would cause a reasonable person (victim) to feel a certain degree of fear. Stalking is a crime of power and control done by persons who may have very weak social skills, inability to comprehend and carry out socially normal and accepted courting rituals, and who may even believe there is nothing wrong with their behavior or that, in general, societal rules do not apply to them (sociopathic or psychopathic). As seen with other criminal behaviors such as domestic violence or sexual assaults, stalkers are not limited to any class, group, gender, educational or socioeconomic status. They hold normal jobs, interact normally with others in society who are not their targeted victim or family, friends or close coworkers who the stalker may believe is affecting his/ her relationship with the victim.

Dr. Minerva King is a St Lucian national and graduate of the University of Santa Clara, Villa Clara, Cuba. She is a General Practitioner and Sexual Health Physician. She has been practicing in St. Lucia since 2005 serving at the STI Clinic at the Victoria Hospital and her Private Practice with offices located at Gablewoods Mall, Sunny Acres, Castries. She can be contacted at gashamed@gmail.com BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

The St. Lucia Criminal Code addresses Stalking in Part 1 – Offences Against the Person, Sub-Part B Section 118 as follows: (1) A person who commits the offence of stalking is liable on conviction or indictment to imprisonment for 5 years or on summary conviction to imprisonment for one year. (2) A person commits the offence of stalking if — •h e or she intentionally and maliciously follows about or harasses another person in such a manner as would cause that person to be in reasonable fear of being assaulted or of suffering serious bodily injury or death; • he or she willfully and maliciously engages in a course of conduct that involves an express or implied threat to kill another person or cause serious bodily injury to another person or cause emotional distress to another person;

means of making the victim notice the stalker’s existence. 3. Erotomania

• Cyber-stalking: using the internet to obtain information, befriending the victim on social media, attacking the victim’s character • Visiting the victim’s workplace

The stalker incorrectly believes that the victim is in love with him or her, but for some reason or interference the two • Uploading the victim’s personal information, photos and address to of them can’t be together. This type websites and social media without the of stalker may affect family, coworkers victim’s consent or knowledge and also the victims work in an effort to remove the barrier that is keeping • Violating a protective order them from their perceived love. This type of victimization is very organized, • Physically or sexually assaulting the victim. It should be understood that the stalker’s methodical and calculating. behavior stems from an underlying mental 4. False Victimization Syndrome disorder. These persons need psychological This stalker either consciously or and/or psychiatric treatment. subconsciously identifies his/her role as the ‘Victim’; to gain the attention of Their criminal and unorthodox means the actual victim who he/she may claim of interacting justifies their inept social to be the stalker. This type of stalking is development to have normal or reasonable interaction with others. extremely rare. 5. Resentful

What to do if you are being Stalked?

This stalker experiences feelings of Always remember a stalker’s actions are injustice and desires revenge against unreasonable just like the perpetrators of the victim rather than a relationship. domestic violence –the actions directed They believe they have been humiliated towards their victim escalate and since and treated unfairly. These stalkers there is no psychological or behavioral usually had a father figure who was profile you cannot anticipate their plans (3) In this section “course of conduct” very controlling and unaffectionate. for you – you need to be very careful. means a persistent pattern of conduct Their distressing past childhood and 1. Do not minimize your experiences. comprising 2 or more acts carried out over compulsively reliving their past pain a period of time that shows a continuity may have developed a mood disorder 2. Do not ignore the signs of being stalked – a stalker will not just go away. of purpose aimed at a particular person and/or paranoid disorder. who is a victim of the offence. Treatment would require counseling 3. Trust your Instincts (that Gut feeling) that tells you that something is wrong. and antipsychotic medication. Classification of a Stalker 4. Inform key people in your life of any 6. Predator 1. Simple Obsessional (Rejected) incidents and menacing behavior perpetrated against you. This is the most common type of This stalker has no desire for a relationship with his victim, but a sense stalker. This person has had an intimate of power and control. They take pleasure 5. Be alert and proactive in protecting relationship with the victim (ex-wife, yourself and your family. in obtaining information about their ex- lover; a previous supervisor, boss victim through direct surveillance, social 6. Avoid all contact with the stalker. or colleague or even an acquaintance). media platforms and acquaintances and The stalker may feel that he/she has 7. Document and save all messages, fantasizing about assaulting the victim been mistreated by the victim. When voicemails, gifts, letters, cards and any physically and sexually. This type of attempts to reconcile their connection form of cyber stalking. stalker identifies as a sex offender. fail, they seek revenge. This type of 8. Upgrade or enhance security measures: stalking may end with a degree of Treatment would involve counseling locks, security cameras, alarm systems. violence 70% of time. and psychiatric review. 9. Photograph and log all damaged property. Treatment relies on psychological Examples of Stalking Behavior 10. Make police reports of all incidents counseling to move from an angry • R epeated calling or sending letters or gifts including damage to property, indirect obsessive state to acceptance of the threats to you or family and any direct • Stealing from the victim (clothes, books, loss of that relationship. confrontation. anything personal) 2. Love Obsessional (Intimacy Seeker) • Following the victim 11. Inform your lawyer of the active pattern The stalker is a stranger or casual of threats against you by the stalker acquaintance to the victim. The stalker • Sending the victim photographs, which were taken without consent or knowledge Call the police if you are in a direct believes their victim is their true love. confrontation with your stalker. n The pattern of behavior is usually as a • Vandalizing the victim’s property •h e or she persistently makes harassing phone calls or sends unsolicited mail in any form, to another person in such manner as would cause emotional distress to the other person.

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Saint Lucia Arthritis and Lupus Association Observes World Arthritis Day

The Saint Lucia Arthritis and Lupus Association (SLALA) joined with the rest of the world in raising awareness of arthritis throughout the month of October. The Association undertook a number of activities throughout the month which included a church service at the Streams of Power Ministries, store displays by co-operate entities and culminated with an appearance by Consultant Rheumatologist, Dr Amanda King, on the popular weekly TV show, Health Wise.

Saint Lucia Arthritis and Lupus Association Observes World Arthritis Day

On October 12, the Association held a continued focus on our hallmark Viv Byen bake sale in the William Peter Boulevard, Self-Management Program.” Castries as well as undertook a half The SLALA Chronic Disease Selfday public education campaign where Management Program formerly renamed information was provided to the general Viv Byen, is a 6-week workshop involving public on arthritis, treatment and the commitment to meeting in small management options available to persons. groups for a 2 1/2 hr period. These The education campaign continued with workshops are geared at educating a television appearance by Consultant persons on self-management skills such as Rheumatologist and Internist, Dr Amanda action planning, healthy communication, King, on HTS’ television program-Health exercise and pain management and the Wise, hosted by Dr. Merle Clarke; opportunity to interact with their peers. World Arthritis Day, observed universally President of the St Lucia Medical and SLALA encourages the public to engage in on October 12, seeks to expand the Dental Association. The topic of the night this program and the association, which conversation on arthritis; one of the most was focused on Rheumatoid Arthritis serves many beneficial purposes. common diseases in the world. Arthritis is but also included a general discussion The causes and treatment options inflammation of the joints that can cause on the wide range of arthritic conditions available vary from one type of debilitating joint pain, swelling, tenderness that can significantly affect many other arthritis to another. To find the best Rheumatologic conditions such as Lupus and stiffness of one or more joints. treatment and management strategies, and Fibromyalgia. There are more than 100 different kinds of it is important to determine the type of arthritis and related conditions and affects SLALA has noted that there is a need to arthritis you have. For more information a vast cross section of the population – change the misconceptions that arthritis about Arthritis, Viv Byen, and the Saint from the very young to the very old. Some is something that only affects old people Lucia Arthritis and Lupus Association, of the most common types of arthritis are and that there is nothing we can do call 459-0092/486-7000 (Mondays, Osteoarthritis (OA), Rheumatoid arthritis about, this is why our public awareness Wednesdays and Friday , 9am-3pm) or (RA), Juvenile arthritis (JA), Ankylosing campaigns are such an important part of email slala.slu@gmail.com. SLALA is also what the Association does as well as our available via WhatsApp and Facebook. n spondylitis and gout.

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

Health workers around the island were granted the opportunity to participate in a workshop, aimed at building their capacity on the implementation of the HEARTS initiative.

It is not about the doctor coming to tell the patient what to do but there is discussion, counselling. It is a holistic way of managing a patient with high blood pressure to prevent strokes and heart attacks.”

The workshop was held by the Department of Health and Wellness and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).

Consultant for the WHO Global Hearts Initiative Dr. Kenneth Connell says it is necessary that countries in the Caribbean region engage in health system interventions to ensure better cardiovascular disease outcomes.

The participants were able to gain knowledge on the best practices for ensuring the management of cardiovascular diseases at the primary “HEARTS uses the system strengthening health care facilities. such that we can provide care at a lower Senior Medical Officer for Non- cost that is evidence-based and with Communicable Diseases NCDs Dr. Shana better results. Two simple interventions: Cyr-Philbert says this initiative is extremely take for instance, this isn’t a new drug important and is hoped that it will assist assist cover or even a new way of doing with decreasing the mortality rate of things. It is getting health care providers to work together as a team, it is also cardiovascular disease in Saint Lucia. using the most evidence-based drugs “HEARTS encompasses all the health care which is actually not very expensive and providers; we talking about the doctors, having a structure.” nurses, health educators, nutritionists, the pharmacist. Everybody is on board with The training also focused on identifying HEARTS, everybody has a role in HEARTS, strategic approaches and measures everybody knows what is it that is expected to protect Saint Lucians from and also HEARTS is very patient-oriented. cardiovascular diseases. n

PAHO Hosts HEARTS Initiative Workshop in Saint Lucia

Serology Testing Essential for Expectant Mothers THE VICTORIA HOSPITAL OFFERS FREE TESTING FOR PREGNANT WOMEN.

Serology Testing Essential for Expectant Mothers

The Ministry of Health and Wellness wishes to advise all pregnant women to undertake serology testing during pregnancy.

also ensure that the affected mother can inform their partner so that they can be tested and treated as well.

According to Senior Medical Officer for Infectious Diseases, Dr. Gail Gajadhar, testing, ideally, should occur twice during pregnancy—once within the first three months, and the other within the last three months.

Early diagnosis and treatment reduces the chances of the baby getting HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B, while in utero; it reduces the chances of the baby dying in utero from any of those diseases; and it reduces the chances of the baby dying from any of those diseases after birth. The goal is to have healthy mothers and healthy babies.

Serology testing involves taking a blood sample to test for HIV, Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HTLV1 and HTLV2. All pregnant women can get these tests done for free at the Ezra Long Laboratory at Victoria Hospital. Testing ensures early diagnosis and treatment of the affected mother where necessary. Testing can

All expectant mothers who test for HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, HTLV1 and HTLV2 are exempt from paying any fees for those tests at the Ezra Long Laboratory at the Victoria Hospital. The tests are free for pregnant women. n

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

BUSINESS FOCUS

EVENTS 2019-2020

LOCAL AND REGIONAL ENTERTAINMENT, TRADE SHOWS AND CONFERENCES

CECF SAINT LUCIA

Events

DECEMBER 13TH, 2019 – VIEUX FORT, ST. LUCIA The eyes of the world will turn to Saint Lucia on 13th December 2019 as it celebrates National Day with the launch of its very own thoroughbred industry. Commemorating this momentous occasion is Caribbean Equine Cultural Festival (CECF) Saint Lucia – a two-day luxury lifestyle and racing entertainment event held at the Royal Saint Lucia Turf Club. Enjoy thoroughbred racing and a free concert on the grounds of the Royal Saint Lucia Turf Club.

RAISE YOUR VOICE SAINT LUCIA - ANNUAL FUNDRAISING BALL DECEMBER 28TH, 2019 – ROYALTON RESORT, ST. LUCIA This event is Raise Your Voice Saint Lucia’s annual fundraising event. This year we celebrate St. Lucia through the years: 1979-2019, 40 years of independence in dance, dress, food and culture.

CAPACITY CARIBBEAN 2020 FEBRUARY 11TH-12TH, 2020 – SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO The leading c-level meeting for the Caribbean wholesale telecoms community. Capacity Caribbean 2020 will bring together the industry leaders of the region, promote the fostering of existing partnerships and provides the chance to explore new business opportunities. The event will also host numerous informative sessions designed to encourage discussion and debate, helping shape the future of telecoms in the Caribbean.

THE NEXT BIG INVENTOR - FINAL PITCH: SHARK TANK STYLE FEBRUARY 21ST, 2020 – CASTRIES, ST. LUCIA In this 4th stage of the competition, the Student Team finalists will pitch to 5 judges including Mr. Johanan Dujon and Mr. Joshua Esnard in person, ‘Shark Tank-style’ to win great prizes which include; Paid Internships, Monetary Scholarships, Mentorship Workshops and Entrepreneurship Courses.

THE ART OF MEDICINE CONFERENCE MARCH 9TH - 12TH, 2020 – RADISSON GRENADA BEACH RESORT, GRENADA The Art of Medicine Conference is a platform to learn about some amazing advances in medicine over the past 40 years and enjoy the wonderful island of Grenada. This conference will be a great way to improve your medical practice and reunite with classmates, friends, and faculty all while being in the relaxing, beautiful island of Grenada.

THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EMERGING TRENDS IN ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY (ICONETECH-2020) MARCH 13TH - 15TH, 2020 – FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, THE UWI, ST. AUGUSTINE, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

The International Conference on Emerging Trends in Engineering & Technology (IConETech-2020) aims to bring together leading research scientists, innovative engineers, and environmental policy experts to share their experiences, research results and entrepreneurial methodologies on fundamental developments in science and engineering concepts and their contemporary applications in technological advancements in the 21st century.

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

MAJOR MOVES Major Moves

Republic Bank (EC) Limited has introduced Mr. Gordon Julien as its Country Manager for banking operations here in St. Lucia. Mr. Julien has spent over 20 years in the banking profession, beginning at the Caribbean Development Bank. In 2004, he joined Scotiabank as Senior Manager Compliance, with responsibility for managing the Bank’s overall Compliance program within nine of its territories. Mr. Julien has extensive branch and country management experience, having led teams in Retail, Corporate, Commercial and Small Business Banking, Operations, and Compliance. He has served as Country Manager for Antigua, a position he held for more than five years. His most recent appointment was as General Manager and Country Head of Scotiabank St. Kitts and Nevis in September 2017.

The Ports Council of the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) is pleased to announce the official appointment of Mr. Daren Cenac as General Manager of the organization. Mr. Cenac has been acting General Manager of SLASPA from June 2017 until May 2019. His journey within SLASPA began as the Mechanical Engineer in 1999, where he served dependably managing over fifteen staff members directly until his appointment as Senior Engineer in 2005. He brings to the office over 20 years of experience within the organization and has been a central figure in many developmental and infrastructural initiatives in both our Airports and Seaports divisions.

Mr. Cenac holds a Master of Science Degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Project Management from Henley Business School at the University Prior to joining Scotiabank, Mr. Julien worked, of Reading (UK) and a Bachelor of Science for more than seven years, at the Eastern Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Caribbean Central Bank as a Bank Examiner, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine building a strong regulatory and compliance Campus, Trinidad and Tobago. He is a locally background. Mr. Julien holds a BSc (Hons) registered Professional Engineer, and also an in Economics and Accounting from The internationally recognized engineer with the University of the West Indies’ Cave Hill Engineering Council of the United Kingdom Campus and an MSc in Financial Management where he attained Chartered status. In from the University of London. Mr. Julien’s September 2018, Mr. Cenac was awarded appointment follows the acquisition of the Fellowship status with the Chartered operations of the Bank of Nova Scotia by Management Institute and is also a Member Republic Financial Holdings Ltd. of that institution.

On Tuesday 12th November, 2019, during the termly meeting of the National Principals’ Association, Chairman of the Elections Committee, Mr. Julian Monrose, swore in the new executive of the association. The new executive members of NPA Saint Lucia hail from eight schools on the island and are as follows: 1. PRESIDENT – Mrs. Valerie St. HeleneHenry, principal of Ave Maria Girls’ Primary School 2. VICE PRESIDENT – Ms. Beverley Dieudonne, principal of Camille Henry Memorial School 3. SECRETARY – Mrs. Sonjane MarcelleEtienne, principal of Richford Combined School 4. ASSISTANT SECRETARY – Mrs. Flora Emmanuel, principal of Micoud Secondary School 5. TREASURER – Mr. Adey Paul, principal of Ciceron Secondary School 6. PRO – Mrs. Tessa Charles-Calderon, principal of Dugard Combined School 7. FLOOR REPS – Mrs. Murina JulianJoseph, principal of Boguis Combined School;and Mrs. Theresa Johnny, principal of La Guerre Primary School. The new executive of NPA Saint Lucia, in keeping with the organization’s vision, seeks to promote the professional development of all its members, thereby producing members who are effective managers and leaders. The new executive also expresses gratitude to the immediate past executive for their dedicated service during their term. Dr. Alison Gajadhar and Mandy St. Rose are the two new members elected to serve on the Council of the Saint Lucia National Trust. While the following members remained: Alison King, Calixte George Jr., Sean Compton, Vincent Clarke and Kirk Elliott. We congratulate them all and look forward to their guidance. A heartfelt thanks to the outgoing Council for all their support and commitment. BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

Bank of St. Lucia New Company Registrations New Comapany Registrations

NEW COMPANY REGISTRATIONS COMPANY

NATURE OF BUSINESS

DIRECTORS

A+ Blocks & Trucking Services Ltd

Construction of blocks, Trucking Services, Construction Worker

Aron Marcellin

ACKUA Ltd

Hospitality services to the locals and visitors, Entertainment, Grill and Bar

Cleant Edward, Crystal Wells, Lavern James, Cyril Edward, Clinton Labadie

Arcadia Hotels & Resorts (SLU) Inc

Tourism

Ralph W. Taylor

Avancer 758 Inc

Property rentals, etc

Crisy M. Laurent, Kendra Laurent

BA Law Chambers Inc

Legal representation and associated services

Bapson Uric Ambrose

Bay Heights Bed and Breakfast Limited

Lodging and Holding Company/ Hospitality

Joseph M. Ishmael

Calabash Condos South Hills Ltd

Property Holding Company

Anselm Mathurin

Caribbean Architecture & Planning Inc

Architecture, Project Management, Development Planning

Louis Raymond James

Caribbean Fruits Company Limited

Seafood import and export

Linus Alfred, Pamela Jn. Baptiste

Centre For Advance Studies Limited

Institution / Learning Centre

Ji Hye Jeon, Shahzad Yousuf

Cistern Inc

Property Development and Real Estate Services

Sebastien Albertie

DHANVANTARI Group Ltd

To operate a hospital and diagnostics, to operate a pharmacy, Sale and supply of medical and surgical supplies, Medical Education

Ramachandra Thippaiah

Digital Constructs and Insights Ltd

Capacity Building, Database Development, Green Computing, Policy Development, Systems Analysis, Consultations and other related business

Lyndell St. Ville

Eden Styles Inc

Merchandizing, Branding, Marketing

Ian Minvielle, Jazz LaForce

ELGIN International Inc

Construction

Starfire Inc

Emerald Bleu Concierge Ltd

Concierge Services, Vehicle Rentals, Rentals of Villas

Tara M. D’Agostino

Enviro-Management Inc

General Waste Collection, Recycling and Disposal

Stephen Julien

EURO EXIM LTD

Holding Company

Theresa P. Hinkson, Kaushik A. Punjani

Focal Business Analysts Inc

Financial Management Service

Randall Alexander

G & G Co. Ltd

Logistics and Brokerage, Exports and Imports, Tours, Recruiting, Test Centers

Gaurav Garg

GET IT APP Company Ltd

Courier Services

Anselm Mathurin

Glittering Sands Inc

Tourism related tours, Hospitality related activities

Peron Schouten

Go Saint Lucia Inc

Destination Management Services

Daly Mariatte

Hermlen’s Customs Brokerage Services Inc.

Customs brokerage and consultancy services

Herman St. Helen

IN JOY INC

Tourism & Events based business creating a “Joyful Experience” for the client

Lorraine Pouchet

Junior Sammy Contractors (Caribbean) Ltd

Construction

Starfire Inc

KUDURO Entertainment Inc

Entertainment

Zacchaeus Loctor

LIBRALAW INC

Litigation, Notarial work, Conveyance, etc

Lydia B. Faisal

Maison Angelique Inc

Property Management and Interior Decorating

Phillip O’Shaughnessy

Maraj Agency Inc

Agency

Kirk S. Maraj

MEDEXOTIC Ltd

Herbal, Spice, Fruit and Vegetable oils and cosmetics

Aris Isa, Emanuel Alexander

Medway Holdings Inc

Importing and distribution of goods

Matthew Render

Olympic Tours Inc

ATV Tours and other recreational activities for guests and locals

Angelo Konidis, Nickolas Christopher Konidis

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

100

NEW COMPANY REGISTRATIONS COMPANY

NATURE OF BUSINESS

DIRECTORS

ONCORE Ltd

Project Management and Construction business, specializing in the construction and renovation of golf courses and related amenities

Jimmie L. Barger Jr., Judy Terwilliger

P & C Services (PACS) Inc

Customs brokerage, Accounting

Fabiana Chedy

Penny Pinch Inc

Marketing Solutions

Martin Hanna

PIGGYBACK Inc.

Private Transit Service and Educational Support Facilitator

Tovah Gibson

PVF Security Consultinc Incorporated

Security Consultancy and Services, Any other business generally permitted by law

Vernon Francois

Rastaphairn Inc

Property Holding

Benjamin R. Fairn

Republic Bank (EC) Ltd

Banking Operations, Business & Services and Holdings

Royal Caribbean St. Lucia Limited

Tour Operator Activities

S-ION Energy Inc

Energy related products & services and other general business

Leslie Jack, Deal Lee

Small Farmers Association Inc

Sale of crops

Marcus Ferdinand, Roger Hardel, Victor Charlery, Edward Charles

SMARTPARK SL Limited

Automobile Parking Management & Services and other General Business

Sean Steele, Dandy Richard Joseph, Robert K. Gajadhar, St. Rose L. Eugene

St. Juste Real Estate Holdings Inc

Tourism and Hotel Development, Real Estate purchase, resale and development All ancillary business activities related to above

Bertlyn St. Juste, Shekirah St. Juste, Mable St. Juste-Francis, Kenroy A. Marks

SU CASA Management Services Inc

Property Management

Lorna M. Charles-James, Jr. Lisle R. James

Target Media INC

Advertising and Marketing

Rohan Jn. Baptiste, Alicia Jn. Baptiste

TECHLAND Limited

Renting and leasing of property / holding company

Rondell Herbie Junior Springer, Bertrand Garvin Gaillard

The Furniture Boutique Ltd.

Import, export, manufacture, wholesale, retail and distribution of a variety of items

Radesh Singh, Jodi Boodhoo

TOWNHOUSE 14 Ltd

Property Holding Company

Evan Hermiston

TOWNHOUSE 16 Ltd

Property Holding Company

Evan Hermiston

TOWNHOUSE 5 Ltd

Property Holding Company

Evan Hermiston

TRECCLA Property Group Inc

Tamara Renee April Foster, Roxanne Real Estate and all related services, Property Jodie Farrah Foster, Chelsea Amy Nalina Management, Development and Business Management, Foster, Leandra Jozanne Sita Foster, Eric Property Maintenance and Any business not prohibited Alonso Marcus Foster, Gordon Christian by the Laws of Saint Lucia Marcus Foster

UMYX Events Inc

Providing Event Planning, Marketing and Hosting of Events

Kimberly G. Erriah-Ali, Michelle I. Palmer-Keizer, Derwin Marcus Howell Amin George Habib, Frank Armstrong Monaco

Kwame Earl Georges Spooner

Unite Caribbean Ltd

Generally, to do any other business not restricted by law Thomas Chollet

VIC Inc.

Property Holding

Dreamers Inc.

Xpress Holdings Ltd.

Import, export, manufacture, wholesale, retail and distribution of a variety of items

Pinkley Francis, Jodi Boodhoo

Young Starz Entertainment Inc

Entertainment

Zacchaeus Loctor, Jason Darius, Kareem Stanley BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

101

ADVERTISERS INDEX COMPANY

Advertiser's Advertisers

Index

Page

Advertising & Marketing Services

Bank of St. Lucia

100

Baron Foods Ltd.

Blanchard's Customs & Freight Services

Caribbean Craft Distilling (CCD)

CIBC First Caribbean

Coco Palm Resort

Cool Breeze Car & Jeep Rental

Embassy of The Republic of China (Taiwan)

Ferrands Food Products Ltd

Goddard Catering Events

Grant Thornton

Innovative Business Solutions

Invest St.Lucia

Jamecob's Quality Construction

Marigot Bay Resort, Spa & Marina

PACS Ltd

Peter & Co. Distribution

Quality Aggregates

Sagicor Life

St. Lucia Distillers

The Landings St. Lucia

Trevor Phillip Agencies Ltd

Unicomer St. Lucia Ltd/Courts

COVERS FICS

IFC

Bank of St. Lucia

IBC

Performance Paints Ltd

OBC

BusinessFocus

Dec /Jan

102

Caliente Red Benjamin Moore Colour of the year 2018

Metropolitan AF-690 Benjamin Moore Colour of the year 2019 Table Colour - Chalk SAM-317 Door Frames PPG1001-1 Delicate White

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STORE WIDE

DECEMBER

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