Issue a3 by Scientific Research Council

Issue 3, March/April 2014

EYE ON SERVICES Thinking Outside the Box

Javier Spencer

While Tourism continues to be one of the main contributor to our GDP, over the years we see that industry figures show a gradual decline. Although the sector has proven to be a significant foreign exchange earner for Antigua and Barbuda, it is highly susceptible to changes in the global economy. For instance, travel safety concerns have emerged from 9/11 and also, the global financial crisis has plummeted consumers spending power; ultimately leading to a decrease in demand for travel services. These are a few salient global occurrences that have had a negative impact on tourism services, but to date, there continues to be a concatenation of global events that could stymie the competitiveness of the Tourism product. For instance, our major tourism markets have devised mechanisms to offer to their domestic consumers the same product that guarantees safety and affordability right at home. For this reason, there is a high possibility that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The beach is just the beginningâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; may not suffice as a means of sustainable growth and development. As such, we

Eastern Caribbean Copyrights and Licensing Association The Antigua and Barbuda Coalition of Service Industries, Inc. (ABCSI) has recently partnered with the Eastern Caribbean Copyright Licensing Association (ECCLA) Antigua and

should proactively seek to diversify our services sector. However, diversification for a small economy like Antigua and Barbuda doesn't come easy; it will require an eccentric and an unorthodox approach to policy formulation that will strengthen other industries in the sector. For instance, a reform of our education policy is a seminal start to foster creativity and cultural confidence viz. the transfer of skills and traditional knowledge. There are hidden treasures in Antigua and Barbuda that could be viable to stimulate growth and development. The Cultural and Creative Industries is an example of a hidden treasure that has great export potential for Antigua and Barbuda. At the regional level, there is passionate discussion to strengthen the capacity of the sector as it is emerging as a key growth sector. Studies have shown that the global demand for cultural content has risen steadily and is one of the fastest growing sectors in the global economy. There is great export and revenue earning opportunities for Antigua and Barbuda

Barbuda Branch, as the organizations join efforts to create a creative and cultural task force in Antigua and Barbuda. The objectives of the collaboration are to: 

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Sensitize members of the creative and cultural sectors to copyrights, reproductive rights and intellectual property. Networking purposes. Build a creative and cultural database. Provide grant and advisory services.

ECCLA is the rights management organization in the OECS sub-region. It was incorporated as a non-profit company in St. Lucia in 2011 and

given that there is strong presence of Cultural and Creative Practitioners. Contributors to the domestic growth of this sector range from local film producers to fashion designers. It is an industry that draws from our cultural heritage and can serve as a fillip for the economy. In light of this, our economy has a comparative advantage as we are blessed with a rich and diverse culture. However, private sector investment is crucial to illume the benefits of this sector. At the international and regional for a, many private sector entities have sought to reap the commercial benefits of the cultural and creative industries. From festivals to theatre arts, many Antiguan and Barbudan youth are becoming more and more involved in the creative sector. As we continue to see a presence of cultural and creative practitioners in Antigua and Barbuda, the time is now to put idea to industry and unleash the potential of the industry beyond the shores of Antigua and Barbuda. To date, the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) is a great prospect for us

registered in St Kitts and Nevis in December 2011. ECCLA was established pursuant to the copyright law to manage the reproduction rights of creators and publishers, whose works are published in print and digital formats. ECCLAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mandate is to facilitate seamless access to and the sharing of content - from academic works, through newspaper articles, novels and sheet music, to photographs and illustrations. Through ECCLAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intervention, creators and publishers will be enabled to meet the needs of their users (government, libraries, universities, colleges, schools, businesses, etc.) in a constantly changing environment, by means of a

to supply our goods and services internationally. In 2008, a bilateral agreement was signed between CARIFORUM States and the European Union (EU) to strengthen and broaden the Duty Free Quota Free access for Caribbean goods and services in the EU market. Annexed to the agreement, however, is the unique Protocol on Cultural Cooperation with the aim to facilitate and enhance the exchanges of cultural activities, goods, and services. This has positive implications for our islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cultural and creative sector as presently, the EU is one of the leading trade partners in services. Under the protocol, the EPA guarantees a legal right to market access for creative goods and services. Additionally, the agreement has enshrined a best endeavor to encourage co-production agreements between local firms and EU firms. By this, there would be increased access to finance and technologies for professionals, especially within the audio-visual sector. The time is now for us to diversify our economy and to seriously consider the opportunities that we could derive

flexible, efficient and convenient mechanism, within the framework of copyright law. In so doing, ECCLA encourages ongoing creation of new works, promotes respect for the rights of those that bring this material to the public, and fosters a viable and efficient marketplace for intellectual property. ECCLA is currently on a membership drive and creators in the OECS member states such as writers, authors, poets, photographers, print journalists, sculptors, painters, music composers and other creative persons are invited to join. Publishers of books, magazines, newspapers and other periodicals are also invited to membership. The eligibility

from the cultural and creative industries. The industry could compliment even our Tourism product/brand to develop what is known as heritage tourism. Notable example at the regional level would be the association of Reggae music and Bob Marley to Jamaica. Studies have shown that this cultural link to tourism have boosted the industry as it appeals to global markets. Comparatively in Antigua and Barbuda, our living hero, Sir Vivian Richards is just an example. Thinking outside the box should start now with the EPA as a viable tool we could use to expand the industry to capitalize on market access benefits. Once we would have proactively capitalized on the EPA, going forward the cultural and creative industries would become priority on our development agenda.

requirement is that you must have at least one piece of works published in printed form. There is no fee to join and publishers and creators stand to benefit enormously from membership. Member States of the OECS are represented on the Board of Directors of ECCLA. Members and or Directors present at the recent meeting were: Linisa George of Antigua & Barbuda (Representative); Irvin C Durand of Dominica (Representative); Sandra James of Grenada (Representative); Desiree Richards of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Director); Camille Crichton of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (Representative); S. B. Jones-Hendrickson from of St. Kitts and Nevis (President of ECCLA and

Director); Attorney Claudette Jenkins, Registrar of Intellectual Property for St. Kitts and Nevis, and Attorney Lydia Elliot of St. Lucia, Corporate Secretary and Legal Counsel of the ECCLA. Read Full Story Here

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highlights the taste, excitement, and revelry of a Caribbean fête. The very first flagship product is “New York Times” featured Bacchanal Pepper Sauce, a unique, all-natural hot pepper sauce full of exotic tropical flavor. This single spicy condiment can brighten up any dish and adds amazing flavor with just the right amount of heat. It has wonderful spicy, tangy & sweet, notes which make it ideal as a daily hot pepper sauce, seasoning or finishing sauce. The brand is all about living passionately and will be expanding its Bacchanal Kitchen line to include luscious jams and distinctive condiments all with a little pepper, because she just can’t resist the heat. Her goal is always to bring to you the buoyant richness of Caribbean culture both in the islands as well as in her Brooklyn community where Caribbean sights and sounds have become wonderfully woven into the New York cultural fabric.

The OECS Study Tour and Business Mission to French Overseas The OECS Export Development Unit with the support of the Caribbean Export Agency hosted a one week Study Tour and Business Mission to the French Overseas Department of Martinique and Guadeloupe. The mission provided an opportunity for exposure for a small contingent to represent the interest of the professional services sector. Four (4)

delegates represented Antigua and Barbuda. Colin John-Jenkins, one of the selected delegates gives a brief synopsis of the Mission.

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Regional Collaboration to Boost

Jenkins states that â&#x20AC;&#x153;Forming friendships, developing partnerships and collaboratingâ&#x20AC;? were the most significant themes expressed during five days of various presentations, intimate business meetings and social gatherings held in Martinique and Guadeloupe respectively. The event brought together private sector representatives from OECS Member States in the Creative Industries, Manufacturing/Agroprocessing, Community-Based

Trade in Services Services are an integral component of the CARIFORUM economies. Across the region, countries are seeking to ensure that the services sector receives the level of attention and support necessary in ensuring its growth and export potential. In order to facilitate this, the region has sought to establish national Coalitions of Services Industries (CSIs) in each country. Today there are eleven (11) CSIs within the Caribbean region. The donor community in collaboration with Caribbean Export Development Agency has been very active in supporting these coalitions, namely German International Cooperation (GIZ), Caribbean Development Bank, UK Aid, Commonwealth Secretariat and a number of governments that values the importance of trade in services. Progress is being made, yet there is much more to be

General Tourism, Agri-business and Professional Services (Building Development) with a view to advancing the OECS Economic Integration and Trade agendas to expose the private sector to new modalities for doing business and for expanding trade as well as deepening cooperation between the OECS and the French Caribbean islands in key economic sectors. Being one of the few selected by the Competitive Business Unit (CBU) to represent Antigua and Barbuda as a young professional from the Building Development industry maintains a residual feeling of excitement and humility. He continues that the exposure is critical, in order to compliment education and or practical

done. The transition from dependence on the traditional tourism and agricultural sectors to trade in services does not happen overnight. While the development of trade in services is often dependent on national strength and capabilities, there are great opportunities for regional collaboration. As a member of the Caribbean Network of Services Coalitions (CNSC), ABCSI will benefiting from a project funded by Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Caribbean Export Development Agency ( CEDA), which includes two new initiative: 1)the development of a CSI sustainability framework to assist the coalition in enhancing their service offerings while striving for sustainability, and 2) the development of a services export train the trainer programme to be offered on an ongoing basis to service providers and stakeholders in each country. The consulting firm, Global Links Network, with extensive international experience in the support of trade in services, has been retained for both projects, which are

norms. Experiencing different technological approaches and business strategies enriches one’s quality of work. Simply put: “Eye opening” and “thought provocative” succinctly describes the responses, both a personal point of view and moreover the collective. The tour held particular significance and excellent timing, taking into account the Caribbean Integration/CSME/OECS Free Movement dialogue which continues to be a staple on most media platforms politically and socially. Most importantly, learning how to do business in these countries reviled interesting (statically) information as it relates to importation – exportation of

being implemented during the first half of 2014, with the coalition continuing to implement the projects over the next two (2) years.

the various goods and services. Not only from analysing the data received from the French Caribbean islands but comparing same illustratively to other Caribbean countries. As a summary, some of the areas captured included: 

Music Festival Organizations

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Customs rules and procedures to remove barriers The issue of standards Land Use: Export Opportunities Ecotourism and heritage tourism economic development tool Agro-products and Agro tourism. Health and Wellness

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Architects Intra-Regional Status Report

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For many participants these sessions

As agreed by the Caribbean Network of Services Coalitions (CNSC) and the Caribbean Architects Mutual Recognition Agreement Committee (CAMRAC), the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Service Industries (TTCSI) is assisting with the administrative arrangements as the architects of the Caribbean prepare to expand their practice via new opportunities as a result of the CARIFORUM - EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). In this regard, leaders of the architectural community are being supported by the Service Coalitions, the Caribbean Export Development Agency, the CARICOM Office of Trade Negotiations, the CARICOM EPA Implementation Unit and other development agencies, to develop a EU – CARIFORUM Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), which would be the basis for greater access to the European Market. In response to the CARIFORUM States signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU), regional architects have formed a

signal the first step of future mutual or collaborative efforts. “It’s not what we can learn from the French Caribbean but what they as well can learn from us” as cited by one of the participants. Of particular strategic interest were the focus groups, business operation tours and the Business networking sessions. It is here that the bonds were created even among the OECS representatives, via sharing ideas and contact information. In closing, it collectively was felt apart from the Antiguan and Barbudan entrepreneur’s representatives (CJC Jenkins Design, Susie Hot Sauce, Themba Biofuels and Visual Echo) that there needs to be further building of regional expansion but first and foremost comes friendship with our

committee called the Caribbean Architects Mutual Recognition Agreement Committee (CAMRAC) to assist in the preparation of an MRA with the EU. The committee is comprised of members of the Association of Commonwealth Societies of Architects in the Caribbean (ACSAC), the Federation of Caribbean Associations of Architecture (FCAA), Regional Boards of Architecture and the Dominican Republic's Institute of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors (CODIA). Further to a meeting with the EU counterparts, CAMRAC recommends that it would be beneficial for the CARIFORUM States to have an Intra-Regional MRA before attempting to secure agreement on the EUCARIFORUM MRA. This process, which was delayed for a while because of logistical and administrative issues, finally got off the ground in 2012 with the execution of several national consultations. Read More Here

neighbour colleagues to gain trust and understanding cultures before business. Without a doubt stronger regional trade is attainable where amicable partnerships are formed in niches through dialogues and exchange. To end, Jenkins says the stakes are high; we need as many persons to take advantages of these missions and opportunities to forge links creating the foundation for not only strong trade but for strong Caribbean unity. This mission the first of its kind has done just that.

Consultation on Support to Engineers Mutual Recognition Preparations The Caribbean Development Bank has contracted Natallie Rochester King, as a short term consultant to assist the bank in developing Mutual Recognition Agreement for Engineers- Implementation of the CARIFORUM- EU Economic Partnership Agreement. The Mutual Recognition Agreement will aid in the enhanced effect access to foreign markets for professionals through reduced red tape, shorter local training or fewer recertification requirements; predictability and transparency for participation of engineers in foreign markets; higher level of standard practices and adoption of best practices.