Caribbean Business Report for 22nd Oct 2012

7/31/2019 Caribbean Business Report for 22nd Oct 2012

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Issue 199 October 22, 2012Call us at Caribbean Business Report(453-2418, 485-3363)

New regional airline or touchdown

in 2013

Laborie opens Tourism Week 2012

Sea Adventures Inc wins award or

most outstanding project

St. Lucia to beneft rom microfnance

programme

Prime Minister surprises GEW

partners meeting

Gerard and Catherine Matty are

Unsung Heroes 2012

Nearly 2.5 million Euros awarded by

Caribbean Export

CFL sponsors Agriculture Lecture

Series or Secondary Schools

Strong response to Chambers

awards orientation

How Does VAT Aect Your Phone Bill?

St. Lucia Discount Card oers nights

at Bay Gardens Hotel

The Classic Moke is coming to the

Caribbean.

Marigot and Black Pearl win La Wenn

Kweyol

Comedy and Fashion at Bay Walk

Mall or Creole Heritage Month

Headlines

New regional airline for touchdown in 2013

Air Turks & Caicos (ATC), the nationalairline o the island-country locatedto the north o Haiti and south o theBahamas, has set its sights on becomingthe regions rst true PanCaribbeanairline starting next year, said Chairman& CEO Lyndon Gardiner.

As such, the airline will criss-cross the

Caribbean, including to and rom Puerto

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Rico, with more fights than any other local or global carrier, he added. ATC now has 50 daily fightsout o the home country plus the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and the Bahamas.

Were considering a change o name to create a brand that refects our new role and mission,which is to become not just the avorite and most convenient airline in the region, but also thebrand that brings all islands and countries together, like no other brand does today, to createa single Caribbean experience, no matter how many countries the customer will visit, he toldCARIBBEAN BUSINESS.

ATCs PanCaribbean business plan also coincides with the drawdown in Puerto Rico o leadingregional airline American Eagle, which is cutting back as part o the national and global retrenchingby parent company American Airlines, which is in merger talks with US Airways.

JetBlue and other airlines have picked up some o those routes, and were studying the processcareully to see how we can best t in and serve the regions travelers, Gardiner said, adding thatthe airline is in the process o meeting all requirements to begin fights to Puerto Rico.We will begin in the Northeast Caribbean, which is our strength right now, and eventually cover thewhole region.

By ALEX DAZ

Source www.caribbeanbusinesspr.com

CalabashTV and the Caribbean

Business Report will provide

special coverage ofGlobal

Entrepreneurship Week

November 12th -18th 2012.

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Laborie opens Tourism Week 2012The Ministry o Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries and the Laborie Community will hostTourism Week 2012 with what is being described as the Ultimate Community Tourism Experience.The theme or the week is Katjil Tourism, Katjil Sent Lisi. Think Tourism, Think Saint Lucia.

The activities which begun yesterday with the ocial opening in Laborie will run until October28th.

There will also be a Tourism Symposium on October 24th

at Debbies Restaurant and exhibitions,live entertainment at the Papel, the Crat Centre at Rudy John Beach.

The week will culminate with a Market Day on Saturday October 27 th and on the Sundayeaturing Kweyol Breakast, Kweyol Church Service, a Village Food Fair, Cultural Parade andentertainment.

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Sea Adventures Inc wins award for mostoutstanding project

Ree Alliance has awarded St. LuciasSea Adventures Inc. the annual Ree

Alliance Award or most outstandingproject, which took place on the 27thannual International Coastal Clean-up

Day. In support o the occasion theconservation program, Ree Alliance,and its sponsor companies, SNUBAInternational and Sub Sea Systems,hosted its ourth annual Ree AllianceDay.

On Saturday September 15th, Projectcoordinator, Anthony Leonce, and 20

local volunteers, scoured the beach and ree o Pigeon Island, collecting more than 500 lbso trash and debris. The crew worked or several hours cleaning a 2 mile stretch o land.Items collected included: over 500 plastic beverage bottles, 30 cigarette lighters, 25 bleachor cleaning solution bottles, 10 buoys, 8 shing nets, 30 oil bottles rom vehicle service,2 appliances and much more. Post cleanup, Cox and Company Ltd provided ood anddrinks.

The criteria or selection included: number o volunteers recruited, amount o wasterecovered, completeness o Data Cards and post cleanup report, and overall impact on thecommunity.

Although the cleaning crew considerably improved the beach and ree surrounding PigeonIsland, Mr. Leonce shared, the problems o waste in this area are signicant, and ongoingcleanups and community education will be necessary.


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Fiteen micronance institutions in the

Caribbean will participate in the second

phase o the regional Micronance Capacity-

Building Project or the English-speaking

Caribbean (Carib-Cap II), a program aimed at

helping the region develop its micronance

industry.

The program is a joint eort by the Multilateral

Investment Fund, member o the IDB Group,

the Caribbean Development Bank, the

European Commission and Citi Foundation.

Carib-Cap II, a $2.7 million technical

cooperation program, will provide

individualized capacity-building training to15 micronance institutions in the region,

building on Carib-Cap I successes in new

client outreach and improved nancial

perormance. Beneciaries will include

micronance institutions rom The Bahamas,

Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, St Lucia,

and Trinidad and Tobago.

The program tackles the unique growth

challenges aced by micronance institutions

in the English-speaking Caribbean, by

providing training on areas including

management, marketing, product design and

nancial tools.

St. Lucia to beneft

rom microfnance

capacity building

programme

As the excitement and enthusiasm growsleading up to GEW 2012, the ourth and nalGEW Partners Meeting took place on ThursdayOctober 18th 2012, at the Bay Gardens Hotel.GEW Partners include the corporate sector,universities, schools, media personnel andyoung aspiring entrepreneurs keen on helping

young persons with talent unleash and sharetheir ideas.

Prime Minister and Minister or FinanceEconomic Aairs, Planning & Social Security,Dr. Kenny Anthony made a surprise visit to themeeting and spoke with the gathering.

Dr. Anthony congratulated the St Lucia

Prime Minister makes a surprise visit at GEWpartners meeting

Prime Minister Dr. Anthony addressing GEW

Partners

Chamber o Commerce, Industry and Agriculture or spear heading this global initiative, emphasizing

the governments endorsement and support o GEW and encouraging corporate St. Lucia to getinvolved and support GEW 2012. In his remarks the Prime Minister reminded the gathering thatbeing an entrepreneur means that you are rmly independent.He encouraged entrepreneurs tothink beyond our borders and expand regionally and internationally when thinking o their business.

Partners got the opportunity to engage the Prime Minister in open discussion on entrepreneurshipand youth and some o the areas where more work and support was needed. He took questions romthe Meeting and also gave advice on some o the areas where GEW could provide support to.

CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank haspresented its 2012 Unsung Heroes awardand it goes to a husband and wie team inDegazon whove been providing shelter to theunderprivileged or 13 years.

First Caribbean says this years UnsungHeroes epitomises the notion that it is notlies circumstances or situations that make theindividual, but how one deals with the situationor challenge that shapes a persons character.

Catherine Matty is one such individual who hasembraced a negative situation and created apositive outcome that has had a ripple eect

creating positive change in the lives o others.

Gerard and Catherine Matty are UnsungHeroes 2012

Unsung Heroes 2012 Catherine and

Gerald Matty

Together with her husband Gerald Matty, the couple has welcomed children and amilies to their home,providing a place to live or the underprivileged.

In their community o Degazon, the Mattys have made their house a home to over 25 individualsincluding some small amilies. Children rom inancy to 18 years old have had the Mattys to thank orproviding a loving environment to nurture their growth and development during their ormative years.


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Nearly 2.5 million Euros awarded by Caribbean

ExportCaribbean Export has announced the successul conclusion o its regular procedure call or proposalissued June 6, 2012. A total o 92 rms and business support organisations (BSOs) rom across theregion were awarded approximately 2.5 million Euros in grants.

This programme, unded by the EU under the 10th European Development Fund (EDF), has awardedover 142 grants over the past 12 months spanning 2011 to 2012.

Grants have been awarded to export businesses across a multitude o sectors with by and arthe largest sector awarded being manuacturing. The unding provided to these beneciaries willbe used to modernize equipment, upgrade acilities to international ood and quality standards,enhance products and packaging, implement alternative energy systems, train sta, developcollateral materials, market and promote products and services.

The scheme is part o continuing eorts to enhance the technical capacity among rms in thearea o proposal writing across all 15 CARIFORUM member states. With just over 71% o rmsand BSOs either achieving or exceeding pass mark o 60% under the recently concluded regularprocedure call or proposal, it is clear that member states are beneting exponentially rom thetraining received rom Caribbean Exports proposal writing workshops.

CFL sponsors Agriculture

Lecture Series or

Secondary Schools

As the island observes World Food Day, a

new agriculture lecture series or th orm

students o six secondary schools has been

launched. The series is aimed at exposing

students to a wide range o careers in the

eld o agriculture while strengthening their

understanding o the subject.

The new series is a component o the

Agricultural programme HOOPSS (Helping

Out Our Primary and Secondary Schools)

coordinated by the St. Lucia Agricultural

Forum or Youth (SLAFY) and IICA with

unding rom Consolidated Foods Limited.

Kurt Harris, President o SLAFY says the

new series underscores the continued

commitment o the three entities to nding

new approaches to educating and inspiring

young persons to view Agriculture as a

career and understanding the skills required

or employment throughout the agricultural

supply chain.

The series will be conducted over six

months, during which time students will be

exposed to presentations and discussions

on Producing Sae Food or the Consumer,

Climate Change and Agriculture, Inormation

and Communications Technologies in

Agriculture, Linking the Agriculture Value

Chain, Retooling Agricultural Extension or

the 21st Century as well as Agricultural Risk.

The lectures will be delivered by experts

rom the business community and the

public sector including Dunstan Demille,

Perishables Manager o Consolidated Foods

Limited who will present on Public-Private

Sector Partnerships in Agriculture.

Strong response to Chambers awards orientationInterest in the St. Lucia Business Awards continues to grow evidenced by over orty ve persons

attending the Orientation Nomination Workshop on Tuesday October 16th 2012 at the Bay GardensHotel.

The Orientation Nomination Workshop was acilitated by Mr. Ben Menald, Mr. Randy Cato, Mr.Eldon Mathurin, Mr. Andie George and Mr. Crispin DAuvergne rom the Awards Panel o Judges,who provided guidance and insight to the participants on the approaches to be adopted whensubmitting applications within the various categories. The Judges also shared their experiencein reviewing the nomination orms and highlighted some o the better practices and approachesnoted, as well as what was unacceptable.

Executive Director o the Chamber Mr. Brian Louisy, described the Adjudication process andthe methods adopted by the St. Lucia Business Awards committee to ensure its condentiality,independence, and integrity. He urther explained the selection process or the panel o Judges,reassuring the participants o their credibility and experience. The deadline, or submission onominations is December 3rd 2012, and the 2013 St. Lucia Business Awards is scheduled orJanuary 26th 2013.


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Telecommunications services are among those on which VAT willbe charged at 15%, and all service providers and consumers willbe adjusting accordingly. But Herman Edward, Head o Financeat LIME, says that whereas there will be increases or landline,Internet and LIME TV customers, mobile customers will see noreal changes with VAT.Previously mobile services were charged 15% telecommunicationstax, so when you did a TopUp or when you were charged or usage

on your mobile account, there was that extra Government tax,Herman explains. VAT now replaces the telecommunications tax.Since the rate is 15%, the tax will not make topping up more costly,and postpaid customers will not see any tax-related increase in theusage charges on their mobile bills.Prior to October 1, 2012, however, landline, Internet and LIMETV services were not subject to sales tax. Though customers willpay more or those services with VAT, prices are unchanged. Billsissued in October will refect service-usage charges or September.

How Does VAT Affect Your Phone Bill?

Chris Williams - LIME

Vice-President or Country

Operations

VAT will not be applied to the usage charges on those bills. VAT, however, will be applied on the monthly

rental charge or the month o October and this will be refected in customers October bills.There is also positive news as relates to equipment such as mobile phones, internet modems, landlinehandsets and other telecoms access devices. VAT replaces the previous consumption taxes on suchproducts, so customers will see no increase in cost as relates to their purchase, and in some casesthere will be decreases in cost.

These changes will aect all Saint Lucians, but as industry leaders, we at LIME want our customershad all o the necessary the inormation at their disposal, says General Manager, Chris Williams.

St. Lucia Discount Card Oers 4 Free Nights at Bay Gardens Hotel

St Lucia Discount Card which recently signed on the Bay Gardens Hotel as its Ocial Platinum Member Resorthas gone one step urther by making discount cards available or purchase at Bay Gardens three Saint Lucia

properties. The discount card allows card holders to enjoy discounts o up to 20% at participating restaurants,excursions, car rental services, airport transers and more.

The St Lucia Discount Card was created as a way to add value to a visitors stay at a time when high air aresand taxes such as the British ADP tax have eroded a signicant portion o a vacationers spending power.

Creator o the discount card, well known St Lucia photographer & internet marketer, Kirk Elliott, saysthat he continues to be encouraged by the overwhelming support he has received rom the businesscommunity that have partnered with Kirk Elliott Limited (KEL) on this project.

In addition to oering the St Lucia Discount Card or sale at its properties, Bay Gardens Hotel has also contributed a our (4) night stay to the winner o the St Lucia

Dream Vacation. This prize, to be drawnon December 13th 2013, will be won by a purchaser o the St Lucia Discount Card. The lucky winner will also enjoy a ree private helicopter transer rom HewanorraInternational Airport to Castries, reeexcursions, and ree car rental as well as ree dinners at any o the participating restaurants.


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Also on Saturday the Bay Walk Mall and the GL Foodmarket hosted a number o activities marking Creole Heritage Month. The Foodmarketcontinued its 2nd anniversary celebrations hosting a special comedy perormance by Cokes, Angelbot and Company. This was ollowed atBay Walk Mall itsel by a ashion show eaturing the creation o a number o local designers.

Marigot and Black Pearl win La WennKweyol

The Classic Moke is coming

to the Caribbean.

Get ready or a new version o the Classic Moke motor vehiclein the Caribbean next year.

Moke International says the vehicle will be released by mid-

2013. In a Joint Venture with Chery Motors and their subsidiarySicar Engineering in China, Moke International has decidedto initially produce the MOKE as a low volume car with 1,000units per year. The new Moke will be released by mid-2013.It has been over 20 years since the last Moke rolled o theassembly line in Portugal. Throughout the 70s & 80s it wasconsidered the car with the stress ree liestyle with theattitude o no doors, no roo, no worries!

The new Classic Moke will retain all o the unique eatureso the original Moke but items like engine capacity, brakingsystems and saety standards have been overhauled andimproved on.

The activities marking Creole Heritage Month continued here over the week-end

with the highlight being the La Wenn Kweyol competition. Contestants rom sixcommunities, Marigot, La Clery, Ti Rocher Micoud, Marchand, Anse-la-Raye andDennery/Mabouya Valley vied or the coveted title in an event sponsored by SuperJ IGA. In the end it was Black Pearl o Marigot who walked away with the tiara andtrophy.

Comedy and Fashion at Bay Walk Mall or Creole Heritage Month

Caribbean Business Report for 22nd Oct 2012

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