1. Issue 164 Call us at Caribbean Business Report (453-2418, 485-3363) February 13, 2012
Benefits
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A SUBSIDIARY OF
Task Force to look into “Ease of Doing Business” ➤ Task Force to look into “Ease of
Doing Business” in St. Lucia
in St. Lucia ➤ Grenada Gets Top Rank for
Investment Promotion
Government and the Chamber of Commerce have appointed a Task
Force to study the “Ease of Doing Business” in St. Lucia. The Task ➤ First Citizens holds Global Market
Force is headed by retired Justice of Appeal, Hon. Justice Michael Outlook seminar Thursday
Gordon and comprises Mr. Gerard Bergasse, the President of the
Chamber of Commerce and Mr. Richard Peterkin, Tax and Corporate ➤ Safety at work to become priority of
participants
Services Partner at Price Waterhouse and Coopers.
➤ Details of Quality Awards to be
The three member task force will first review the World Bank Report provided on Tuesday
on the “Ease of Doing Business in Saint Lucia” and consequently
identify laws, policies and procedures which currently encumber the ➤ Civil Service Credit Union holds
business process. St. Lucia slipped from 27 to 52 over the past five years, but remains number one in the visioning exercise Friday
Caribbean in the World Bank’s ranking.
➤ Floral Society holds first-ever
The Task force is expected to present a preliminary report by March 15, 2012, for review and consideration Valentine’s Day Market
by both parties.
➤ Caribbean Airlines has begun its
St. Lucia service
Grenada Gets Top Rank for Investment Promotion ➤ Former Labour Commissioner to be
honored on Thursday
Grenada’s Industrial Development Corporation has been
➤ Fuel increases in effect from today.
ranked first among 77 investment promotion institutions in
No increase on LPG.
Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific. This is according to the
Global Investment Promotion Benchmarking 2012 report, a
➤ OGM Communications wins
joint effort by the World Bank Group.
Independence logo competition
The country’s GDIC was ranked ahead of Trinidad and
➤ Fraud detection seminar to be held
Tobago and Jamaica, which finished second and third,
here end of February
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.” ➤ 1st National management training to
improve performance
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. ➤ No protection for businesses over
influx of Chinese
“In eight months, GDIC took the company from initial inquiry to operations, getting factory space built, licenses
issues and workers hired,” the report said. ➤ Lucian Aid and LIME cleanup Praslin
The investment brought $5 million in capital investment to the economy, or about 0.5 percent of Grenada’s beach
GDP that year.
» Headlines
Source – Caribbean Journal
CTV News nightly at 8:00
with Kirby Allain
LIME ch 44 ; Karib Cable ch 54

2. Safety at work to become priority of participants
Participants of a just concluded
First Citizens holds
weeklong course on Occupational
Health and Safety say they are
Global Market Outlook
committed to ensuring that closer
attention is paid to the issue of safety at
seminar Thursday
the workplace. The five day workshop
First Citizens Investment Services will host its
organised by the St. Lucia Employers
Federation with funding from the sixth annual Global Market Outlook 2012
Ministry of Labour in Canada focused seminar on Thursday 16th February, 2012 from
strongly on the need for greater 9am to 11am at the Bay Gardens Beach Resort,
inspection of workplaces. Rodney Bay.
Participants and course facilitators This seminar will provide an economic overview
Participants of Occupational Safety and Health course agreed that many accidents can be
for the local, regional and international
prevented if causes of accidents and
economies, as well as, explore expectations
potential hazards can be spotted early and corrected. The lack of inspectors in St. Lucia and some
and projections for 2012 with valuable insights
OECS states was a major cause for concern and there was sentiment expressed that this be addressed
with some urgency. into key performance indicators.
Key issues to be addressed include the Global
Also identified was the need to pay closer attention to proposed legislation and the International Labour and Regional Economic Overview, International
Organisation [ILO] Conventions relating to Occupational Health and Safety. The ILO Conventions have Market, Fixed income Market, Regional stock
not been ratified in some jurisdictions in the Caribbean but in the case of St. Lucia most of the provisions Markets, ECSE stock market, Brief review of
are included in the St. Lucia Labour Code, still a source of contention in some quarters. 2011, and Projections for 2012.
Thirty-three participants representing Employers Federations in the OECS, the relevant Government
Registration is FREE. To obtain more information
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 and register for this seminar contact First
Health and Safety Experts out of Canada both with over 30 years experience. Citizens Investment Services at 450 2662 or
email seminars@firstcitizensslu.com
Civil Service Credit Union holds visioning exercise Friday
The 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,
Ralph Wharton - GM Caribbean observations and suggestions prior to the symposium for
Federation of Credit Unions
consideration by a panel of specially invited experts and
representatives of business organisations. Submissions can be emailed at symposium@cscreditunion.
org
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.

3. Details of Quality Awards to be provided on Tuesday
The St. Lucia Manufacturers Association (SMA) will be holding a Caribbean Airlines has
Press Conference on Tuesday, February 14th, 2012 at 9.00 am at
the Office of the St. Lucia Bureau of Standards, Bisee, Castries,
begun its St. Lucia
to officially announce details of its Quality Awards Ceremony, the service
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
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. Caribbean Airlines at George F. L. Charles Airport
The Selection Committee comprises of reputable persons both locally and regionally, in the field Caribbean Airlines has officially commenced
of business and quality standards. The criteria for judging is linked to categories of Leadership, service to St. Lucia providing travelers with a
Implementation of Standards and Best practices, Product and Customer Service Quality, Marketing choice of carriers on the Trinidad Route. This
Strategies, Human Resource Development and Social Responsibility. is a non-stop daily service from Port-of-Spain
Trinidad to the George F. L. Charles airport. A
The Quality Awards Programme will culminate in the Awards Ceremony to be held on Saturday, March short welcoming ceremony was held just after
3rd at 7.00 pm at Sandals Halcyon Hotel. touchdown.
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 Caribbean Airlines says there are plans to offer a
Channel 54 on Karib Cable. 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.
Floral Society holds first-ever Valentine’s Day Market
The welcoming ceremony also included the
The St. Lucia Floral Cooperative Society has begun a series presentation of a special gift to the Director of
of initiatives aimed at promoting greater use of local flowers Tourism Louis Lewis. Mr. Lewis says the non-stop
especially during high profile events. On Saturday members flight from Port-of-Spain will help boost arrivals
of the Society held a Valentine’s Day Market outside its offices from Trinidad, St. Lucia’s 3rd largest market in the
along the Vibe Bouteille Highway. The office is located in the region. He notes that this new service will help
“Skeete” building next to Renwick and Company. strengthen and deepen regional integration.
The society is hoping to position its members for greater Ms. Margaret Anne Xavier, the Head of Product
advantage of special events such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Development in the Ministry of Tourism says this
Day, weddings, corporate events and the cruise-ship season. new service will not only strengthen business links
between the two islands but also assist St. Lucian
A valentine’s gift store [Mind, Body and Soul] managed by students at universities in Trinidad.
Cheryl Skeete and members of the Creative Development Ms. Xavier who deputized for the Minister of
Network also participated in the Valentine’s Day Market. Tourism says the partnership with Caribbean
Airlines was a strategic one that will benefit in
Florists and cut-flower growers are looking for a spike in sales many ways.
Happy customers at the Valentine’s Caribbean Airlines leaves Trinidad at 1:45pm and
Day Market for Valentine’s Day.
arrives at 2:50pm and departs for Trinidad at 3:25
daily.
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.

4. SERVICES
* Sale and Services of: * Sale of:
SERVICES
J.E.B Bldg, Vide Bouteille, P.O. Box 102, Castries, Saint Lucia
Tel: (758) 456-6500, Fax: (758) 456-6508
Email: info@jebergasse.com * Website: www.jebergasse.com * Technical Service and Maintenance
OGM Communications wins Independence logo
competition Fuel increases in effect
OGM Communications Ltd. (St. Lucia) are
celebrating yet another logo design award,
from today. No increase
this time it’s for the 33rd Anniversary of on LPG.
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 The Government has put out a release noting
winning design for the 2011 Saint Lucia Business that as a result of the increases in international
Trust logo.” oil prices in recent times, the prices of fuel in
Saint Lucia will be adjusted effective, Monday,
OGM’s interpretation of the ‘Evolution’ theme February 13, 2012 as follows:
is that the logo suggests motivation to move • Gasoline: from $3.22 to $3.30 per litre;
forward and upward. Encouraging movement • Diesel: from $3.31 to $3.37 per liter.
and personal advancement through small
beginnings is seen in a fully formed abstract • The price of kerosene will remain
hand. The outstretched hand reaching for the unchanged at $6.00 a gallon.
star illustrates a drive for greatness whilst the
theme of ‘One People, One Nation, Limitless The increases will only affect fuel. The
Possibilities’ unites the abstract with the Government of Saint Lucia has decided to
achieveable. 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
Fraud detection seminar to be held here end of the increase in fuel prices and to pass the
other half on to consumers. The implication
February of this decision is a further reduction in the
level of excise tax on gasoline and diesel and
The Caribbean Business Report understands that Certified Information Security has confirmed
an increase in the subsidy on the 20-pound
the facilitation of a Fraud Detection and Investigation Seminar at the Bay Gardens Beach Resort from
cylinder LPG. It should be noted that the
February 27 to March 02, 2012.
subsidy on the 20-pound LPG is now $17.06
a cylinder which is higher than the cap of
This seminar has not been held in Saint Lucia since 2005 and may not be held for the next two years.
$15.00 which was established in the 2011/12
This provides an opportunity to be part of a seminar that is vital to helping companies guard against
budget.
business fraud perpetrated by employees.
A full statement on the future of the “pass
Fraud has serious financial implications for businesses and its early detection can save time and
through” mechanism will be made in the
money.
Budget Statement of 2012/2013.
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.

5. 1st National management training to improve
Former Labour Commissioner
performance to be honored on Thursday
1st National Bank is getting their management team
reacquainted with ways of improving their modes The National Workers Union (NWU) at its Industrial
of operation at a seminar hosted by a strategic
Forum on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at the
management consultant.
Conference Room of the Royal Saint Lucian Hotel
will be paying tribute to a major contributor to
Last week managers were hard at work learning new
skills in working more effectively from a management industrial relations practice in Saint Lucia.
consultant company. This is not the first time that
Strategic Alignment Limited has conducted training Mr. DON PATRICK HEDWEIGE ROSEMOND, a
seminars for the staff of 1st National Bank. Simply put, former top civil servant, currently on retirement,
SAL helps companies, organisations and agencies like will be recognized and honoured by the National
1st National, improve their management performance. Workers Union (NWU). This will take place at a
Hotel and Tourism Workers Forum to be held by
The training is hands-on and allows the bank’s employees a real-time opportunity to document and
the National Workers Union where twenty-eight
measure how they are adding and creating value based on more efficient performance. As an indigenous
(28) participants will be in attendance.
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 Mr. Rosemond, while in the Civil Service, served
to line staff to streamline functions. 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
No protection for businesses over influx of Chinese guidance being effectively utilized at the domestic,
conciliatory, mediation and tribunal stages.
The 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 The hallmark of his contribution was his six (6)
protection against Chinese investors. months stint with Professor John Cronin, a labour
lawyer attached to the International Labour
The minister also dismissed a recommendation from the small businesses that Castries should factor Organisation (ILO), then on assignment to Saint
in competition from Chinese businesses as it reaches a decision on whether to re-establish ties with Lucia. Mr. Rosemond was also at the centre of
Beijing.
Saint Lucia’s industrial unrest with strikes and
demonstrations by farm labourers out of Mabouya,
Mr. Baptiste contends that St Lucia and the OECS should always forge relations with other countries
Cul de Sac and Roseau Valleys.
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 beach If you have missed the nightly CTV News
The Praslin Beach has been brought back to which airs at 8:00, then visit the Calabash TV
a pristine condition thanks to the Lucian Aid
YouTube page www.youtube.com/calabashtv
Foundation who worked together with LIME and
residents from the Praslin community to clean for reports and special features. The Calabash
up the beach on Sunday, 5 February.
TV website is under construction but this copy
The Lucian Aid Foundation is a non-profit of the Caribbean Business Report can be
organization based in Praslin. It’s comprised of
accessed at www.calabashtvstlucia.com
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.