Task Force to look into “Ease of Doing Business” in St. Lucia Task Force to look into “Ease of ➤ Doing Business” in St. Lucia Grenada Gets Top Rank for ➤ Investment Promotion First Citizens holds Global Market ➤ Outlook seminar Thursday Safety at work to become priority of ➤ participants Details of Quality Awards to be ➤ provided on Tuesday Civil Service Credit Union holds ➤ visioning exercise Friday Floral Society holds first-ever ➤ Valentine’s Day Market Caribbean Airlines has begun its ➤ St. Lucia service Former Labour Commissioner to be ➤ honored on Thursday Fuel increases in effect from today. ➤ No increase on LPG. OGM Communications wins ➤ Independence logo competition Fraud detection seminar to be held ➤ here end of February 1st National management training to ➤ improve performance No protection for businesses over ➤ influx of Chinese Lucian Aid and LIME cleanup Praslin ➤ beach Issue 164 February 13, 2012 START paving their path to lifelong success with Minimum Opening Balance $100 Interest Rate Guaranteed; 1.00% above the regular savings rate Contributor: Anyone 18 years or over Benefits Minimum Term 3 years Maximum Term 15 years Low risk as returns are fully guaranteed by Bank of Saint Lucia A SUBSIDIARY OF www.bankofsaintlucia.com Government and the Chamber of Commerce have appointed a Task Force to study the “Ease of Doing Business” in St. Lucia. The Task Force is headed by retired Justice of Appeal, Hon. Justice Michael Gordon and comprises Mr. Gerard Bergasse, the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Richard Peterkin, Tax and Corporate Services Partner at Price Waterhouse and Coopers. The three member task force will first review the World Bank Report on the “Ease of Doing Business in Saint Lucia” and consequently identify laws, policies and procedures which currently encumber the Call us at Caribbean Business Report (453-2418, 485-3363) business process. St. Lucia slipped from 27 to 52 over the past five years, but remains number one in the Caribbean in the World Bank’s ranking. The Task force is expected to present a preliminary report by March 15, 2012, for review and consideration by both parties. Headlines » Grenada Gets Top Rank for Investment Promotion Grenada’s Industrial Development Corporation has been ranked first among 77 investment promotion institutions in Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific. This is according to the Global Investment Promotion Benchmarking 2012 report, a joint effort by the World Bank Group. The country’s GDIC was ranked ahead of Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, which finished second and third, respectively; the country’s overall rank was 26th worldwide. The report said that, despite having a team of only five people, the GIDC focused on “speed and teamwork.” It pointed to Grenada’s high-speed approach, which focuses on quick responses to inquiries. In 2009, for example, a St Lucian manufacturer was looking to get a facility up and running by the end of the year. “In eight months, GDIC took the company from initial inquiry to operations, getting factory space built, licenses issues and workers hired,” the report said. The investment brought $5 million in capital investment to the economy, or about 0.5 percent of Grenada’s GDP that year. Source – Caribbean Journal CTV News nightly at 8:00 with Kirby Allain LIME ch 44 ; Karib Cable ch 54
Transcript
Task Force to look into “Ease of Doing Business” in St. Lucia
BenefitsMinimum Term 3 years Maximum Term 15 years
Low risk as returns are fully guaranteed by Bank of Saint Lucia
A S U B S I D I A R Y O F
www.bankofsaintlucia.com
Government and the Chamber of Commerce have appointed a Task Force to study the “Ease of Doing Business” in St. Lucia. The Task Force is headed by retired Justice of Appeal, Hon. Justice Michael Gordon and comprises Mr. Gerard Bergasse, the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Richard Peterkin, Tax and Corporate Services Partner at Price Waterhouse and Coopers.
The three member task force will first review the World Bank Report on the “Ease of Doing Business in Saint Lucia” and consequently identify laws, policies and procedures which currently encumber the
Call us at Caribbean Business Report (453-2418, 485-3363)
business process. St. Lucia slipped from 27 to 52 over the past five years, but remains number one in the Caribbean in the World Bank’s ranking.
The Task force is expected to present a preliminary report by March 15, 2012, for review and consideration by both parties.
Headlines »
Grenada Gets Top Rank for Investment PromotionGrenada’s Industrial Development Corporation has been ranked first among 77 investment promotion institutions in Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific. This is according to the Global Investment Promotion Benchmarking 2012 report, a joint effort by the World Bank Group.
The country’s GDIC was ranked ahead of Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, which finished second and third, respectively; the country’s overall rank was 26th worldwide. The report said that, despite having a team of only five
people, the GIDC focused on “speed and teamwork.”
It pointed to Grenada’s high-speed approach, which focuses on quick responses to inquiries. In 2009, for example, a St Lucian manufacturer was looking to get a facility up and running by the end of the year.
“In eight months, GDIC took the company from initial inquiry to operations, getting factory space built, licenses issues and workers hired,” the report said. The investment brought $5 million in capital investment to the economy, or about 0.5 percent of Grenada’s GDP that year.
Source – Caribbean Journal
CTV News nightly at 8:00 with Kirby Allain
LIME ch 44 ; Karib Cable ch 54
Safety at work to become priority of participantsFirst Citizens holds Global Market Outlook seminar ThursdayFirst Citizens Investment Services will host its sixth annual Global Market Outlook 2012 seminar on Thursday 16th February, 2012 from 9am to 11am at the Bay Gardens Beach Resort, Rodney Bay.
This seminar will provide an economic overview for the local, regional and international economies, as well as, explore expectations and projections for 2012 with valuable insights into key performance indicators. Key issues to be addressed include the Global and Regional Economic Overview, International Market, Fixed income Market, Regional stock Markets, ECSE stock market, Brief review of 2011, and Projections for 2012.
Registration is FREE. To obtain more information and register for this seminar contact First Citizens Investment Services at 450 2662 or email [email protected]
Participants of a just concluded weeklong course on Occupational Health and Safety say they are committed to ensuring that closer attention is paid to the issue of safety at the workplace. The five day workshop organised by the St. Lucia Employers Federation with funding from the Ministry of Labour in Canada focused strongly on the need for greater inspection of workplaces.
Participants and course facilitators agreed that many accidents can be prevented if causes of accidents and
potential hazards can be spotted early and corrected. The lack of inspectors in St. Lucia and some OECS states was a major cause for concern and there was sentiment expressed that this be addressed with some urgency.
Also identified was the need to pay closer attention to proposed legislation and the International Labour Organisation [ILO] Conventions relating to Occupational Health and Safety. The ILO Conventions have not been ratified in some jurisdictions in the Caribbean but in the case of St. Lucia most of the provisions are included in the St. Lucia Labour Code, still a source of contention in some quarters.
Thirty-three participants representing Employers Federations in the OECS, the relevant Government Ministries and private sector organisations are now expected to train other trainers and embark on public awareness activities on Occupational Health and Safety. The two facilitators were Occupational Health and Safety Experts out of Canada both with over 30 years experience.
Participants of Occupational Safety and Health course
Civil Service Credit Union holds visioning exercise FridayThe St. Lucia Civil Service Cooperative Credit Union will hold a visioning symposium on Friday to chart its future direction. The objective is to better position the financial institution to respond to the needs of its members and to become a major player in the financial services sector.
Credit Union members are being invited to submit comments, observations and suggestions prior to the symposium for consideration by a panel of specially invited experts and
Ralph Wharton - GM Caribbean Federation of Credit Unions
representatives of business organisations. Submissions can be emailed at [email protected]
Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony is expected to address the symposium.
Among the presenters are Mr. Francis Fontenelle who will speak on the “Current Macroeconomic Environment with focus on the financial sector and possible opportunities for Credit Unions” and Mr. Melvin Edwards will speak on “The Harmonised Cooperative Societies Act and New Ways of Doing Business”. Mr. Ralph Wharton the General Manager of the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions will make a presentation on “Growth and Sustainability for Credit Unions in the Current Economic Environment”.
There will be an open discussion forum at the end of the presentations and submissions.
Details of Quality Awards to be provided on TuesdayThe St. Lucia Manufacturers Association (SMA) will be holding a Press Conference on Tuesday, February 14th, 2012 at 9.00 am at the Office of the St. Lucia Bureau of Standards, Bisee, Castries, to officially announce details of its Quality Awards Ceremony, the Sponsors for this event, and the Selection Committee established for determining Awardees.
The SMA Quality Awards Programme is the first of its kind to be
The St. Lucia Floral Cooperative Society has begun a series of initiatives aimed at promoting greater use of local flowers especially during high profile events. On Saturday members of the Society held a Valentine’s Day Market outside its offices along the Vibe Bouteille Highway. The office is located in the “Skeete” building next to Renwick and Company.
The society is hoping to position its members for greater advantage of special events such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, weddings, corporate events and the cruise-ship season.
A valentine’s gift store [Mind, Body and Soul] managed by Cheryl Skeete and members of the Creative Development Network also participated in the Valentine’s Day Market.
Florists and cut-flower growers are looking for a spike in sales for Valentine’s Day.
Caribbean Airlines has officially commenced service to St. Lucia providing travelers with a choice of carriers on the Trinidad Route. This is a non-stop daily service from Port-of-Spain Trinidad to the George F. L. Charles airport. A short welcoming ceremony was held just after touchdown.
Caribbean Airlines says there are plans to offer a service out of Hewanorra International Airport to destinations further north and North America. The George FL Charles service provides connections to Caracas, Suriname, Guyana and Tobago. A service to London is expected in the second quarter of the year.
The welcoming ceremony also included the presentation of a special gift to the Director of Tourism Louis Lewis. Mr. Lewis says the non-stop flight from Port-of-Spain will help boost arrivals from Trinidad, St. Lucia’s 3rd largest market in the region. He notes that this new service will help strengthen and deepen regional integration.
Ms. Margaret Anne Xavier, the Head of Product Development in the Ministry of Tourism says this new service will not only strengthen business links between the two islands but also assist St. Lucian students at universities in Trinidad.Ms. Xavier who deputized for the Minister of Tourism says the partnership with Caribbean Airlines was a strategic one that will benefit in many ways.Caribbean Airlines leaves Trinidad at 1:45pm and arrives at 2:50pm and departs for Trinidad at 3:25 daily.
Caribbean Airlines has begun its St. Lucia service
held in St. Lucia, as it is based on a rigorous third party assessment of companies against internationally recognized standards developed in conjunction with the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards. The Programme has been designed to drive excellence and quality improvement in the Manufacturing Sector.
The Selection Committee comprises of reputable persons both locally and regionally, in the field of business and quality standards. The criteria for judging is linked to categories of Leadership, Implementation of Standards and Best practices, Product and Customer Service Quality, Marketing Strategies, Human Resource Development and Social Responsibility.
The Quality Awards Programme will culminate in the Awards Ceremony to be held on Saturday, March 3rd at 7.00 pm at Sandals Halcyon Hotel. Calabash TV will on Thursday air excerpts of the launch of the SMA Quality Awards and the Press Conference on Thursday after the CTV News which airs at 8:00pm on Channel 44 on LIME Digital and Channel 54 on Karib Cable.
Floral Society holds first-ever Valentine’s Day Market
Calabash TV will soon commence a series of television reports and discussion programmes taking a closer look at the cut-flower industry. On Tuesday night in our Inside Edition series following CTV News at 8:00, Calabash TV Bernard Fanis will speak with the President of the Floral Society and the Peace Corps Volunteer who initiated the Valentine’s Day Market.
Happy customers at the Valentine’s Day Market
Caribbean Airlines at George F. L. Charles Airport
OGM Communications wins Independence logo competition
OGM Communications Ltd. (St. Lucia) are celebrating yet another logo design award, this time it’s for the 33rd Anniversary of Independence logo, an award they previously won to celebrate 30 years of independence back in 2009. This year, OGM’s design theme of was titled ‘Evolution’ which OGM knows much about in their four years of operation in Saint Lucia.
“We’re over the moon to win an award which celebrates such a milestone in Saint Lucia’s history,” said OGM’s General Manager Anicia Fowell. “This is our second logo design award this year as we were also responsible for the winning design for the 2011 Saint Lucia Business Trust logo.”
OGM’s interpretation of the ‘Evolution’ theme is that the logo suggests motivation to move forward and upward. Encouraging movement and personal advancement through small beginnings is seen in a fully formed abstract hand. The outstretched hand reaching for the star illustrates a drive for greatness whilst the theme of ‘One People, One Nation, Limitless Possibilities’ unites the abstract with the achieveable.
SERVICESJ.E.B Bldg, Vide Bouteille, P.O. Box 102, Castries, Saint Lucia Tel: (758) 456-6500, Fax: (758) 456-6508
The Government has put out a release noting that as a result of the increases in international oil prices in recent times, the prices of fuel in Saint Lucia will be adjusted effective, Monday, February 13, 2012 as follows:
Gasoline: from $3.22 to $3.30 per litre;•
Diesel: from $3.31 to $3.37 per liter.•
The price of kerosene will remain •unchanged at $6.00 a gallon.
The increases will only affect fuel. The Government of Saint Lucia has decided to maintain the existing prices on the 100 and 20 pound cylinders of LPG.
However, rather than pass on the full impact of the price increases to consumers, Government has decided to absorb half of the increase in fuel prices and to pass the other half on to consumers. The implication of this decision is a further reduction in the level of excise tax on gasoline and diesel and an increase in the subsidy on the 20-pound cylinder LPG. It should be noted that the subsidy on the 20-pound LPG is now $17.06 a cylinder which is higher than the cap of $15.00 which was established in the 2011/12 budget.
A full statement on the future of the “pass through” mechanism will be made in the Budget Statement of 2012/2013.
Fuel increases in effect from today. No increase on LPG.
Fraud detection seminar to be held here end of February The Caribbean Business Report understands that Certified Information Security has confirmed the facilitation of a Fraud Detection and Investigation Seminar at the Bay Gardens Beach Resort from February 27 to March 02, 2012. This seminar has not been held in Saint Lucia since 2005 and may not be held for the next two years. This provides an opportunity to be part of a seminar that is vital to helping companies guard against business fraud perpetrated by employees. Fraud has serious financial implications for businesses and its early detection can save time and money.
Interested persons are asked to take advantage of this opportunity here as other courses involve traveling to Trinidad, Jamaica or New York.Registration closes on February 23rd, 2012.
1st National management training to improve performance
1st National Bank is getting their management team reacquainted with ways of improving their modes of operation at a seminar hosted by a strategic management consultant.
Last week managers were hard at work learning new skills in working more effectively from a management consultant company. This is not the first time that Strategic Alignment Limited has conducted training seminars for the staff of 1st National Bank. Simply put, SAL helps companies, organisations and agencies like 1st National, improve their management performance.
The training is hands-on and allows the bank’s employees a real-time opportunity to document and measure how they are adding and creating value based on more efficient performance. As an indigenous organisation, the benefits to 1st National Bank’s stakeholders are tremendous. Robert Winter Managing Director of SAL says they return regularly to 1st National Bank to reinforce and update the principles of more effective operations to the employees who in turn will pass them on to line staff to streamline functions.
The National Workers Union (NWU) at its Industrial Forum on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at the Conference Room of the Royal Saint Lucian Hotel will be paying tribute to a major contributor to industrial relations practice in Saint Lucia.
Mr. DON PATRICK HEDWEIGE ROSEMOND, a former top civil servant, currently on retirement, will be recognized and honoured by the National Workers Union (NWU). This will take place at a Hotel and Tourism Workers Forum to be held by the National Workers Union where twenty-eight (28) participants will be in attendance.
Mr. Rosemond, while in the Civil Service, served in the capacity of Labour Commissioner from 1970 to 1987. It could be said that during his employment at the Ministry of Labour, he stood as the custodian of industrial relations, with his guidance being effectively utilized at the domestic, conciliatory, mediation and tribunal stages.
The hallmark of his contribution was his six (6) months stint with Professor John Cronin, a labour lawyer attached to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), then on assignment to Saint Lucia. Mr. Rosemond was also at the centre of Saint Lucia’s industrial unrest with strikes and demonstrations by farm labourers out of Mabouya, Cul de Sac and Roseau Valleys.
Former Labour Commissioner to be honored on Thursday
No protection for businesses over influx of ChineseThe Gleaner newspaper in Jamaica is reporting that External Affairs Minister Alva Baptiste has said that his government would help local entrepreneurs become more competitive rather than give them protection against Chinese investors.
The minister also dismissed a recommendation from the small businesses that Castries should factor in competition from Chinese businesses as it reaches a decision on whether to re-establish ties with Beijing.
Mr. Baptiste contends that St Lucia and the OECS should always forge relations with other countries on the basis of fuelling a development agenda.
The head of the St Lucia manufacturers’ group, Paula Calderon claims that in recent years there has been a sharp increase in the number of Chinese nationals setting up shop in St Lucia and the OECS.
Calderon added: “We know, for instance, that in Dominica passports can be purchased by the Chinese to allow them to come in and invest but once that has been done, they automatically have access to the other OECS markets.”
Source – Jamaica Gleaner
Lucian Aid and LIME cleanup Praslin beachThe Praslin Beach has been brought back to a pristine condition thanks to the Lucian Aid Foundation who worked together with LIME and residents from the Praslin community to clean up the beach on Sunday, 5 February. The Lucian Aid Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Praslin. It’s comprised of volunteers from around the island who undertake
a variety of community projects aimed at poverty alleviation, crime reduction through youth interaction and adult education, and fostering development through community service. On Sunday, dozens of LIME staff led by General Manager, Lawrence McNaughton turned out to support the beach cleanup. They included members of the LIME Sports Club, colleagues from Telesales, the LIME Blue Coral retail store, LIME Vieux Fort and the company’s management team, all of whom were more than happy to lend a helping hand.
