Headlines - Calabash TV

Issue 328
Call us at Caribbean Business Report (453-2418, 485-3363)
May. 26, 2015
Micoud barber, Ornan Jules, is Young
Entrepreneur of the Year
A Micoud barber who gave two years
of free haircuts has been judged as
the Youth Entrepreneur of the Year as
the Ministry of Youth Development
and Sports presented the Youth
Awards over the past week-end.
Ornan Jules, fresh out of school was
having a hard time getting a job and
so to pass the time started giving free
haircuts from his father’s balcony.
As the electricity bill increased, his
Ornan Jules Micoud barber
father suggested that the operation
be shut down. Ornan, who had been doing this for two years, eventually built a little shack from
where he offered his barbering service. His clients eventually suggested that he charge for the
haircut. His rates were so low they recommended that he increase his fees. He eventually did.
Ornan Jules left for Canada where he spent two to three years and upon his return found the
barbershop shut. He re-opened OJ’s Hair Studio at a different location and utilising the knowledge he
garnered in Canada sought to focus on customer service and innovation as the keys to success.
Ornan Jules became inventive offering convenience to busy customers through appointments on
Fridays and Saturdays. Anyone with an appointment would be served at the scheduled time or
within 30 minutes. Someone waiting that long would get a free drink. Then Ornan improved his
service offering the ‘hot-towel shave’ to minimize razor bumps. He used his creativity in ‘designer’
haircuts. He is now moving into grooming with services such as head massages, eye-brow trimming
and hair washes.
But key to his success is the friendship that he builds with clients. Ornan says patrons return not for
a haircut but for an experience.
OJ’s Hair Studio is located at Up the Line in Micoud. He has been in business for over twelve years
now. Ornan, who became a Christian at age 17, supports community development initiatives and is
an avid basketball player representing his team Micoud Hustlers.
They are doing poorly in a current national basketball tournament losing 6 of 8 games so far. He
believes the team needs a more disciplined approach to training if it is to improve its performance
and to graduate to a higher division.
He is hoping the motivation and self-control which has made him a successful entrepreneurial will
influence the other members of Micoud Hustlers and unemployed youth in the community.
The thirty-two year old Ornan is encouraging youth to pursue self-employment possibilities instead
of relying indefinitely on job opportunities from government or the private sector. Apart from one
or two short employment stints, Ornan has worked for himself ever since he left the Vieux-Fort
Comprehensive Secondary School.
»» Headlines
¤¤
Ornan Jules of Micoud is Young
Entrepreneur of the Year
¤¤
Dupes, young entrepreneur/
entertainer wins youth awards
¤¤
Eleanor Joseph of Vieux-Fort North is
Youth of the Year
¤¤
Corporate St. Lucia chooses Carnival
Queen Representatives
¤¤
KM² Solutions takes anti-bullying
message to Marchand Primary
¤¤
Caribbean’s specialty food industry
receives US$469,000 in support
¤¤
Making spas more Caribbean in
appeal and experience
¤¤
First Citizens Wednesday presents
Annual Budget Review Seminar
¤¤
St. Kitts gets two year commitment
from Carnival Cruises
¤¤
LUCELEC now requires land register
for new connections
¤¤
Mango Beach and Rainforest
Hideaway in “Hall of Fame”
¤¤
Visa free travel for Grenadians
¤¤
Young entrepreneurs to be told about
Green Economy
¤¤
Valley Soccer Academy gets support
from the M&C Group
¤¤
Artists invited to showcase at
Aquarius Crossing Building
Dupes, young entrepreneur/entertainer wins
youth awards
St. Lucian entrepreneur and music producer Sherwinn
‘Dupes’ Brice has secured two key awards at the
National Youth Awards presented over the week-end.
Brice secured awards for Most Outstanding Youth in
the Performing Arts and Most Outstanding Youth in
Innovation and Technology.
The singer/songwriter/music producer and music
publisher is also engaged in other entrepreneurial
activities operating a restaurant, guesthouse, duty
free store and travel agency, all in the town of VieuxFort.
Dupes sherwinn brice wins young
entrepreneur/entertainer youth awards
In the music business he is the CEO and Founder of
House of Wax Productions and CEO and Founder
of Dupes Did It Music Publishing. Dupes recently
performed at the launch of Jazz 2015. His current hit
and latest official music video is entitled “Guilty”.
Eleanor Joseph of Vieux-Fort North is Youth
of the Year
Volunteer, youth advocate and the
current president of the Vieux-Fort
North Youth and Sports Council is
the Youth of the Year. Eleanor Joseph
was given the distinction over the
week-end at the Ministry of Youth
Development and Sports National
Youth Awards.
Eleanor has a long history in
community development and youth
work and is currently completing her professional degree in the area of youth work.
As a volunteer of the Vieux Fort North Disaster Committee where she functions as the ViceChairperson, Eleanor was instrumental in the recovery efforts and assisted with clearing of roads,
identifying the affected and bringing relief and aid to those most affected.
She also served as a contracted facilitator with the Ministry of Social Transformation and was
involved in the efforts of helping young children of Vieux Fort South deal with the psychological
impact of the Christmas Eve trough. Eleanor aided in executing the “Return to Happiness”
programme at the Plain View Combined School and the Vieux Fort Primary and Infant schools.
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Eleanor in 2014 trained debate teams in Vieux Fort North and South in the art of public speaking.
Both teams experienced a level of success with one team getting to the quarter finals while the
other went all the way to the finals of the National Lottery Debate Competition.
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Corporate St. Lucia chooses Carnival
Queen representatives
Seven private sector companies have stepped
forward to sponsor this year’s Carnival Queen
Contestants. The St. Lucia Tourist Board has
volunteered once again to be the benefactor
for one of the contestants.
The eight beautiful and talented ladies who will
vie for the title of Carnival Queen 2015 were
paired with sponsors at a sashing ceremony
last week at the Sandals Halcyon Beach
Resort St Lucia. The eight were chosen after
island wide auditions and presented after a
series of workshops and training exercises.
Here are the 2015 National Carnival Queen
Contestants and their sponsors: Anya Edwin
is the new Miss Piton with Digicel selecting
Francillia Austin as its representative. Miss
Flow is Denise Nelson, with Yvanna David
being sponsored by Nagico Insurances.
Bebiana Mangal is the representative for
Columbus Business Solutions, whilst Khadija
Mason is Miss Boka Group. Super J IGA will
be the patron of Ayana Alexander with the St.
Lucia Tourist Board agreeing to sponsor Laura
Bruce.
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KM² Solutions takes anti-bullying message to
Marchand Primary
At KM² Solutions, success as a multinational business is grounded
in becoming a positive and contributing member of the local
communities where the company operates. Its commitment to
employees, the environment, and local charitable organizations
has become an inalienable part of its operations and strategy.
These initiatives are made possible by KM²Cares, the company’s
internal corporate social responsibility division. Through KM²Cares,
the company has taken initiative to support social and charitable
causes focused on health and education.
In April of this year, KM²Cares turned its attention to St. Lucia, aiding the Marchand Primary School
in a campaign to end bullying on campus. KM2 volunteers presented two interactive anti-bullying
classes to students in the 1st grade and 6th grade. Students were then issued commitment cards
after taking a “stop bullying” pledge.
Mel Smith, director of the KM²Cares university initiatives, commented, “Programs such as these are
designed to help younger generations become more conscious members of their great communities.”
KM²Cares had also made considerable donations to the St. Lucia Balata Primary School Library in
January.
Caribbean’s specialty food industry receives
US$469,000 in support
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has pumped an additional $469,000 USD into the
region’s specialty food sector. It is doing so via a Supplemental Grant to the Caribbean Export
Development Agency (Caribbean Export) under the Caribbean Aid for Trade and Regional
Integration (CARTFund) Programme, which is funded by the Department for International
Development (DfID).
The region’s specialty foods include a range of processed foods and beverages that typically
can command a premium price due to characteristics such as their high quality ingredients,
sensory appeal, branding, packaging, and origin, among others. Despite the global economic
downturn, consumers continue to purchase premium products.
There are some 300 agro-processors in CARIFORUM who face a number of constraints that
hinder their expansion and competitiveness. Following the development of the Regional
Specialty Foods Sector Strategy and Action Plan in 2012, a number of recommendations were
made to strengthen and expand this important export sector. One of the primary activities, as
a result of the allocation of these additional resources, will be to conduct a feasibility study and
design of an in-market liaison service to support CARIFORUM Specialty Foods export to the
EU and USA markets.
Markets to be covered include Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Saint Lucia, and
Trinidad and Tobago.
Making spas more Caribbean in appeal
and experience
“A Practical Guide to Incorporating Caribbean Cultural Assets into Spa Services” will be
a key tool developed for Spas across the region by the Caribbean Export Development
Agency (Caribbean Export). This will be made possible through a Supplemental Grant from
the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) under the Caribbean Aid for Trade and Regional
Integration (CARTFund) Programme, funded by one of Caribbean Export’s strategic partners,
the Department for International Development (DFID).
The Caribbean’s strategic geographic position, its rich and varied cultural heritage and
botanical resources, and its strong and vibrant tourism industry are considered unique selling
points not to be overlooked when branding and marketing the regions spas.
As such, Caribbean Export will seek to deliver technical assistance to a total of 32 selected
spas in eight territories, specifically Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada,
Jamaica, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with a view to increasing their capacity
to infuse a menu of distinguishing features of Caribbean culture and natural environment into
their spa products and treatments, distinguishing their services and product from competing
international destinations.
First Citizens on Wednesday presents Annual
Budget Review Seminar
In an effort to educate and enlighten the populace about
financial issues First Citizens Investment Services continues
its drive to hold informative seminars to promote discussions
on various issues affecting the public and private sector.
On the heels of the just concluded Budget presentation
First Citizens Investment Services will be hosting its annual
Budget Review Seminar on Wednesday May 27th from 9am to 11:30am at Coco Palm.
The purpose of the seminar is to analyze and break down the Estimates of Expenditure and
Budget Address and allow the public the opportunity to get their questions answered by a
panel of experts which includes prominent accountant Mr Richard Peterkin of GrantThorton,
the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Finance Dr. Reginald Darius and First Citizens
head of Research and Analytics Mrs. Vangie Bhagoo-Ramrattan.
To obtain more information on registration for this seminar contact First Citizens Investment
Services at 450-2662 or email seminars@firstcitizensslu.com.
St. Kitts gets two year commitment from Carnival
Cruises
Following a series of high-profile meetings with European cruise companies, St. Kitts’ new
Minister of Tourism, Honourable Lindsay F.P. Grant, has confirmed there will be 33 calls to St.
Kitts from Carnival UK Group cruise liners over the next two years.
From 27 April to 1 May, Grant led a delegation of local cruise stakeholders on sales calls with
cruise decision makers in Europe, which also included meeting with Carnival UK Group’s
chairman of the Board of Directors, David Dingle and Steven Young, Carnival UK Group’s
director of Port Services and Government Affairs.
Young confirmed to Minister Grant that the Carnival UK Group had committed seven ships to
visit St. Kitts during the 2015-16 and the 2016-17 seasons. The ships are the Azura, Queen
Mary 2, Britannia, Adonia, Arcadia, Ventura and the Oceana, which together will make a total
of 33 calls to St. Kitts during that period.
LUCELEC now requires
land register for new
connections
Effective immediately, anyone applying
for a new electricity connection, including
temporary connections from the St Lucia
Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) must
provide a copy of a current land register
for the location at which the connection is
required.
This document is in addition to the existing
requirements of an Inspection Certificate from
the Ministry of Infrastructure, Port Services
and Transport as well as a valid national
identification document (ID).
The land register is necessary to confirm that
the applicant seeking the electricity connection
owns the property or has permission from the
landlord or property owner. The copy of the
land register is valid for one day so applicants
are urged to obtain the Register on the date
of application. The land register is obtained
from the Land Registry in the Ministry of
Physical Development, Housing and Urban
Renewal.
Use of the Land Register ensures the company
connects electricity only on property where
the requested individual has permission to
do so.
For homeowners who live on Crown Lands,
an authorization letter from the Commissioner
of Crown Lands granting permission for the
electricity connection is required in lieu of a copy
of the Land Register. Similarly, homeowners
on property belonging to the Housing and
Urban Development Corporation (HUDC) and
National Development Corporation (NDC) or
Invest St Lucia must provide LUCELEC with
written permission from these bodies for the
electricity connection.
The copy of the land register is required for
both domestic and commercial connections.
Mango Beach and Rainforest Hideaway in “Hall
of Fame”
Mango Beach Inn and Rainforest Hideaway
Restaurant on the north side of Marigot have
both been welcomed by Trip Advisor into
its “Hall of Fame”. This unique accolade is
granted only to those businesses that have
won the Certificate of Excellence for five
years in a row.
Owner John Verity is delighted with this new
accolade: Rainforest Hideaway has twice
been listed by Trip Advisor as “One of the
Top Ten Fine Dining Restaurants in the Caribbean”, he
says “and both our restaurant and our guesthouse have
received a Certificate of Excellence every year. Keeping
up standards is hard work, but literally hundreds of
great reviews on Trip Advisor means that our guests and
diners are speaking up on our behalf.”
Rainforest Hideaway has been open for eleven years
now and some of the original team, including Manager,
Jean Rene Du Boulay, are still here.
Rainforest Hideaway is also well known as a live jazz
venue with some of the top local artistes such as Jab
Duplessis, Allison Marquis, Emerson Nurse and the
Empress Ila and Zack Popo performing four nights each
week throughout the year.
Visa free travel for Grenadians
The Grenada Government says it will sign an agreement with the European Union
later this month that will facilitate visa free travel to Schengen countries including
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France and Germany.
The accord will be signed in Brussels and will allow for Grenadians to travel to those
European countries for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180-day period.
Last week, Dominica announced that it would be signing a similar agreement with
Europe.
The agreement will allow Grenadians to visit the countries of the European Union for
up to 90 days within any 180 day period without a visa.
Similarly, citizens of the European Union will be able to visit Grenada for the same
period without a visa.
Meanwhile, the Government says effective June 10, Grenadians will no longer require
a visa to travel to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) following the signing of a visa
waiver agreement with the PRC on February 25.
Young entrepreneurs
to be told about
Green Economy
The St. Lucia Youth Business Trust in
conjunction with the St. Lucia Chamber of
Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in an
effort to contribute to the development of
young business owners is seeking to host
a “Green Economy” presentation.
This will be held on Thursday 18th June,
2015 at the Chamber of Commerce,
Industry and Agriculture’s Conference
Room. The objective is to encourage young
entrepreneurs and small business owners
to integrate environmental consciousness
into their operations.
The speaker will be Mr. Crispin D’auvergne,
Chief Sustainable Development and
Environmental Officer of the Ministry
of Sustainable Development, Energy
Science and Technology. As a seasoned
professional in the field of Environmental
Change, Ocean & Coastal Zone, Chemicals
and Waste Management, Environmental
Education & Awareness, Environmental
Policy,
Reporting
and
Sustainable
Development he is well placed to impart
critical information, ideas and approaches
on the topic.
The Green Economy Workshop is a free
event and we invite all small business
owners, young entrepreneurs and potential
entrepreneurs to attend. This will be held
at the Chamber of Commerce conference
room from 5:00p.m. to 6:00p.m. You are
encouraged to register and reserve your
seats by emailing slybtslu@gmail.com or
call 452-3165.
Valley Soccer Academy gets support
from the M&C Group”
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M&C FOOTBALL SPONSORS
The M&C Group of Companies is proud to once again show its continued support of youth
in sport and particularly, Valley Soccer Academy with a monetary donation of three thousand
dollars ($3,000). Ms. Stevie Theophane of the M&C Marketing Department was on hand to
present the cheque to the Secretary, Ms Lela Soomer-James and Head Coach, Mr. Carson
Millar of Valley Soccer Academy.
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The donation will go towards offering financial assistance to some of the members of the
Academy, and help to ensure that they are able to take part in the programmes offered. M&C
Group of Companies recognizes the great work that the Valley Soccer Academy is doing
in producing the “best boys and girls” on and off the field. The Company hopes that this
donation would enable the Academy to fulfil its inspiring initiatives and the personal goals of
their members.
M&C Group of Companies wishes Valley Soccer Academy continued success with their work
in the community.
Artists invited to showcase at Aquarius Crossing Building
Appleton Estate 21 Arts Café, founded by Ms. Sherrie Alcee and exclusively sponsored by
Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum, officially invites artists to apply to participate in their official
launching ceremony in June 2015.
The launching ceremony will allow local artists a first-hand experience in exhibiting their
collections and performing at a sophisticated venue located on the corner of Coral and St.
Louis Street, Castries in the Aquarius Crossing Building. Interested artistes are asked to submit
applications by Friday May 29th.
The Appleton Estate 21 Arts Café provides Artists with a Museum Gift Shop to display and
sell their creative designs, a Café for literary arts performance and a Rooftop Lounge for live
performances of music and theatre arts.
“We are proud to be the first rooftop establishment in St. Lucia and foresee more creative ideas evolving from the Team.
Artists can submit applications by signing up to ARTIST OPEN CALL online on www.AppletonEstate21ArtsCafe.com contact 1758-451-8000 or visit
the office on the 1st floor from Monday to Saturday 9am – 4pm from the 19th to the 29th of May. Deadline for applications from interested artists is
on Friday May 29th.