Bank of Saint Lucia, the island’s leading financial institution, continues to innovate the way it communicates with its customers and the wider community.

The company has just launched its fresh, minted TV magazine called Money Talks. This new TV programme, which replaces Financial Focus, sees a fully revamped format.

Money Talks covers an array of subjects designed with the viewers’ interest in mind. There is a segment spotlighting key customers and how their stories can serve as an inspiration to others.

The show also provides the public with timely financial advice that would impact them at any stage of their financial journey and shares key benefits of BOSL’s vast portfolio of services and products built around customers. Another highlight is the Bank’s community outreach and how persons and organizations are benefiting from this.

A special component of Money Talks is that it promotes staff participation to the extent that it has a total of five presenters who are employees from across the organization.

During the launch of the TV Programme, Assistant General Manager Bank of Saint Lucia Joanna Charles noted: “With a customer base of over 87,000 persons and our impact nationally, it is important and productive that BOSL continues to have an ongoing conversation with the public. Money Talks is one of the vehicles where we are able to actually create substantial content that are relevant to our viewers and also represents our responses to their feedback.”

She also acknowledged the tremendous effort and hard work of the staff for the programme: “Having reviewed the premiere of Money Talks I am encouraged by the quality of the show and the staff’s presenting skills. Our employees are our most powerful ambassadors and we appreciate greatly their support in being the face and voice of the Bank through this programme,” added BOSL’s Ms. Charles.

Money Talks was conceptualized and produced by BOSL’s Marketing Agency, The Orange Media Group Inc., in collaboration with ECFH’s Marketing & Corporate Communications team – with production by All Biz Limited.

The programme airs every other Tuesday on Choice TV after the evening news and every other Thursday on HTS Television at 8 pm, and rebroadcast every other Sunday on both stations.

Jenai Joseph in her new wheel chair surrounded by her classmates and Digicel

St. Lucia’s special needs community is receiving more assistance as the island’s leading telecommunications provider Digicel continues to fulfill and live up to its corporate social responsibility.

Digicel’s Caring Connections programme is a nationwide intervention thrust designed to lend tangible assistance to scores of individuals and families with special-needs.

Monchy Primary School, like many others, has a robust mix of enthusiastic young individuals who thirst for learning and knowledge. Students come from all walks of life enjoying the journey that is school. With the new academic year 2013 – 2014 opening, one young and bright female student received a very pleasant surprise from Digicel to help make her journey for the new school year literally be a smooth one.

Jenai Joseph a young lady entering grade 5, returned to school with some slight modifications made to the grounds of the learning institution. For better navigation around the school premises, Jenai, a special needs student, confined to a wheel chair, can now move easily to and from her classroom and the rest of the school with the construction of ramps and rails.

Digicel constructed these ramps because Jenai wanted her independence. She could not move around with ease and so Digicel came to her rescue. She additionally received a really big surprise as Digicel gave this bright student a brand new wheel chair as well.

“The wheel chair she now owns is a bit old because the tires are a bit worn out,” said Mrs. Jean, the principal of the Monchy Primary School. “I am so happy for Jenai as the new wheel chair and ramps built give per a bit more freedom around school.”

“People and the youth are at the core of all we do at Digicel,” says Marketing Manager Kerchelle Jn Charles. “We make the necessary interventions to demonstrate that, irrespective of whether they are able or differently-abled, to connect with them.”

Digicel continues to assist several non-profit organizations, individuals and groups who have demonstrated their commitment to improving the quality of life for persons with special needs.

(from left) CIBC President and CEO, Gerald McCaughey, Mr. Michael Mansoor, retiring Executive Chairman of CIBC FirstCaribbean, Barbados’ Prime Minister Hon. Freundel Stuart, Mrs. Maureen Mansoor, wife of Mr. Michael Mansoor, and CEO of CIBC FirstCaribbean, Rik Parkhill, stand under the newly-unveiled sign honouring Mr. Mansoor.

The Board of CIBC FirstCaribbean has announced that Executive Chairman Michael Mansoor will retire at the end of the financial year, on October 31, 2013.

The announcement came as the bank paid tribute to Mansoor on September 5 at a ceremony to name its head office building in his honour.

Chief Executive Officer of CIBC FirstCaribbean, Rik Parkhill, paid tribute to Mansoor during the ceremony: “From my own perspective, I am very grateful for the time Mike has spent with me and his assistance.  He has generously shared his knowledge of the region – its complexities and nuances.  He has tirelessly introduced me to business and union leaders, and government officials … and in the process demonstrated the energy and stamina of a very young man.  With Mike, the evenings are late – there is always one more customer to see, or one more issue to resolve, or a group of employees to visit that have requested a meeting. If it is possible to give your heart and soul to a financial institution, Mike has given his to CIBC FirstCaribbean.”

President and Chief Executive Officer of CIBC, Gerald McCaughey, also attended and spoke of Mansoor’s pivotal role during the integration of Barclays and CIBC in the West Indies that led to the forming of FirstCaribbean International Bank Limited (now CIBC FirstCaribbean).

Staff during ceremony

He noted: “Mike has been instrumental in charting the course for CIBC FirstCaribbean.  Of particular note, is the role he played in bringing CIBC and Barclays together more than a decade ago to combine our operations in the region and become FirstCaribbean International Bank.  His leadership was clearly evident as he guided the bank through this momentous step in its history – as was the strength of his relationships both inside and outside the organization.  He led the internal team through a period of great change, all while maintaining the confidence of key external stakeholders.

“I would be pleased just to recognize Mike’s accomplishments as a business leader.  But that is not the full story.  I have known Mike for many years, and he is a man of tremendous character.  He is a role model, a leader and a gentleman.  It is for these reasons that I am not only pleased to be here, but proud to be part these celebrations.”

Prime Minister of Barbados Freundel Stuart delivered the keynote address. The prime minister spoke of Mansoor’s concerns that the region’s recovery from the current economic downturn may not bring about the level of employment needed to foster a full recovery, and praised the bank for its contribution to educating the Caribbean young people on the possibilities of creating their own employment and wealth through entrepreneurship.

Referring to the bank’s involvement in programmes such as Caribbean Association of Youth Business Programmes, Junior Achievement, and the University of the West Indies Student Entrepreneurship Empowerment Development programme, he said: “The asperities of recessions have often been ameliorated by the multiplicity of innovations that spring from the creativity of ordinary people. And indeed, CIBC FirstCaribbean International bank has been preparing the children and young people for this important role.”

In his response, Mansoor said he was humbled by the gesture and thanked the staff of CIBC FirstCaribbean around the region for their support over the years.

“And I therefore accept this honour in the name of the hundreds, indeed the thousands of very special people who have walked into our offices over these last 15 years, and each day, bountifully gave of their time and talent to create and sustain one of the pre-eminent financial institutions in the Caribbean.

“I cannot say it has been easy, I cannot say there were not bumps along the road, but the benefits of the merger were real in that we were able to offer our customers a better and more relevant level of service, and as a bank, were able to participate in the financing of major transformational projects, such as green energy projects, hospitals, infrastructural projects in the electrical utilities industry and private and public sector investments. Our relationship people have made a difference in the 17 territories that make up our footprint, serving our customers, meeting with our shareholders and other stakeholders; supporting commerce; building capacity, and standing firmly behind the strengthening of Caribbean brands.

“The creation of FirstCaribbean was a decade ago. Today we have an integrated bank that is well positioned to be inherently successful and serve as an agent of transformation in each of the countries in which we operate.”

More than 100 customers, government officials, regulators, staff and friends of the Mansoor family, were also in attendance.

During the event, a choir comprising employees and specially gathered for the evening thanked the chairman in song, to thunderous applause.

ECCO General Manager Steve Etienne *htsstlucia.org

The Eastern Caribbean Collective Organisation for Music Rights (ECCO) Inc., the St. Lucia-based music royalty collection and distribution organization, will today make royalty payments to its local members and members of international affiliates totaling some $340,000.

These payments will include: -

* Fees collected in the ECCO territories for the period January 1 – December 31, 2012 from broadcasting and general licensing.

* Previously unidentified performances rescued from pending sources.

* Overseas royalties received from ASCAP (USA), COSCAP (Barbados), COTT (Trinidad & Tobago), JACAP (Jamaica), PRS (UK), SACEM (France) and SGAE (Spain).

Members should benefit from further distributions scheduled to be made in the months of November and December from royalties derived from the licensing of major live events, including:

Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival 2011/2012
- St. Lucia Jazz 2012
- St. Kitts Music Festival 2012
- St. Lucia Carnival 2013
- Vincy Mas 2013 (St. Vincent & the Grenadines)
- Spicemas 2013 (Grenada))
- National Performance Programme 2013 (St. Lucia)

ECCO General Manager Steve Etienne said: “Although ECCO’s disbursement of royalties is expected to surpass the level achieved last year, these royalties are still relatively small change when shared among our local and international songwriter members whose music continues to be enjoyed throughout the territories but many users remain largely unlicensed. Only by stepping up the licensing of users across the OECS can creators benefit at a level relative to the wide use of the music repertoire ECCO administers.”

ECCO is an association of composers, songwriters and music publishers, and is the legal entity responsible for administering the performing rights of its members and members of Affiliated Societies in the OECS.

Through reciprocal agreements with Affiliated Societies worldwide, ECCO has control of the world’s music repertoire, that is to say, ECCO is responsible for licensing all public use of music in the OECS.

Honourable Sir K Dwight Venner

The Eastern Caribbean Monetary Council is considering a proposed amalgamation of the region’s banks in order to create more efficiency and stability within the financial system.

There are currently over three dozen banks listed across the OECS region where individual countries hold responsibility for licensing banks in their respective territories.

It is a situation which is described by Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Sir Dwight Venner as a “banking overload”.

Sir Venner says there exists a strong case for amalgamating banks across the Eastern Caribbean which has a population of just over half a million.

“Legally we have 40 banks in the OECS and that is to say that because each country licenses banks separately, the Bank of Nova Scotia for example, which has seven branches in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union, is regarded as seven banks, so we end up with 26 foreign banks and 14 local banks.  For a population of 600,000 based on all the arithmetic, these are too many banks.”

The Eastern Caribbean Monetary Council has examined the possibility of amalgamating banks across the Currency Union and there is consensus that steps must be taken to advance this initiative.

But the ECCB Governor advises that the amalgamation process must be undertaken carefully.

“Banks are not like supermarkets, if so they could be closed down with impunity.  Banks hold the deposits of citizens and therefore must be treated differently.  There is also the payment system where cheques are exchanged, not only within countries but between currencies, and any unraveling of that system could be chaotic so one must proceed in a very measured way and that is what is taking place.”

The ECCB governor warns that in order for the region’s banking system to remain profitable and viable several banks must join forces.

Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony.

Public sector wage and pension negotiations between governments and trade unions have been billed a major deciding factor for the success of efforts to grow and stabilise the economies of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union.

OECS heads of governments have decided to convene a meeting between all eight members of the Monetary Council and public sector trade unions to discuss the region’s delicate fiscal position and the implications of wage and pension negotiations in the coming years.

Chairman of the Eastern Caribbean Monitory Council and Prime Minister of Saint Lucia Dr. Kenny D Anthony says such discussions are critical as economic growth in the OECS is forecast to be anaemic over the next few years.

“With wages and pensions forming such a large part of government’s expenditure it is now vital that there is common ground on those issues. We will also need to be very frank and open with the trade unions and public associations across the region to help them understand even better the real challenges and issues that we face because the nature of the adjustments that are required as we move forward are serious and will require understanding among and between all parties involved.”

Dr. Anthony says while government agree to embark on various initiatives to stabilise and grow the region’s economies, the true success is based on the understanding and appreciation of the particular initiatives by citizens and sector which will be impacted.

According to the Eastern Caribbean Monitory Council Chairman  “never before do we require as much understanding of the challenges and the issues as we require at this time.”

Digicel today announced the launch of its “Win with Chelsea” competition in which 11 lucky customers from across the region will each win a trip to London, England to see Chelsea take on Manchester United live at Stamford Bridge.

Digicel’s partnership with Chelsea sees it conduct the Digicel Kick Start Clinics programme across 11 markets in the Caribbean and Central America, culminating in the week-long Digicel Academy in Barbados.

The Digicel “Win with Chelsea” competition is available to all Digicel customers within the 11 Digicel Kick Start host markets namely; Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

Digicel customers in those 11 markets are invited to enter for a chance to win all-expenses paid trip of a lifetime to London with three night’s accommodation in a four star hotel, spending money and prime seats at Stamford Bridge to see Chelsea FC take on Manchester United in the upcoming season of the Premier League.

Commenting on the launch, James Wynne, Digicel Group Head of Sponsorship, said; “Our partnership with Chelsea FC on the Digicel Kick Start Clinics has already made a big impact on the football community in the Caribbean and Central America. This promotion now gives our partnership an even wider reach in the host countries where any resident has the chance to win the football trip of a lifetime.”

“Chelsea and Manchester United are two of the powerhouses of the Premier League so to witness them go head to head at Stamford Bridge will be a real treat for the winners. We encourage everyone in the eleven countries to take part in the promotion and wish them the best of luck.” concluded Wynne.

In addition, each week 15 random customers will be selected from all the entries received within that week from all markets combined, with the first selected winner walking away with a Digicel DL600 handset and the remaining 14 winning US$20 credit or equivalent.

Entering the competition is easy with three options as follows; via text message, through the Digicel Football website – www.digicelfootball.com, or through the app on Chelsea FC’s Facebook page – http://competitions.chelseafc.com.

The competition closes at midnight on October 27, 2013.

For terms and conditions go to www.digicelfootball.com.

Text Lines:
Jamaica: 444-2417
Haiti: 6474
Suriname: 4949
Panama: 2363
Bermuda: 7529
All other markets: 4748

Prime Minister Dr. Kenny D. Anthony and the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Regional Matters engage the CARICOM Change Management team who are currently in Saint Lucia, conducting consultations on the future of the regional body.

Technicians and linesmen employed with Karib Cable participated in a secret ballot poll on Thursday, September 12, 2013.

The secret ballot poll which was undertaken by the Ministry of Labour was supervised by Labour Inspector, Ms. Beverly Dubois.

The process when completed will determine one way or another, the wishes of the workers in support of the recognition claim made on their behalf by the National Workers Union (NWU).

The process began at 7 a.m. with workers being given time off to participate in the exercise.

LIME Head of Customer Experience shows off the new, exciting BlackBerry Q5

Following its mega-launch of the BlackBerry Z10 and Q10 smartphones, Saint Lucia and the Caribbean’s leading telecommunications provider LIME has announced that the new BlackBerry Q5 smartphone will be available in stores in the coming weeks.

“Working with BlackBerry, we successfully launched the Z10 and Q10 in Saint Lucia and both were winners especially among our corporate and business clients. We are now very excited to bring the Q5 to the market as feedback on the features and functionality of the new BlackBerry 10 software has been very positive”, says Joanna Marius, Head of Customer Experience.

“We are known to deliver to our customers the world’s most advanced mobile devices supported by our robust 4G network, Saint Lucia’s fastest mobile data network, and so we are anticipating yet again an overwhelming response to the device, particularly among our more youthful customers.” Joanna adds.

The new BlackBerry Q5 smartphone features a QWERTY keyboard in a stunning youthful design and comes pre-loaded with the new BlackBerry 10.1 software and has been built to provide a fast, effortless experience that adapts and moves with the user.

As part of the BlackBerry 10 experience, the new BlackBerry Q5 smartphone offers a powerful, unique mobile computing experience that continuously evolves to meet your needs. Features and apps work seamlessly together, allowing your every move to meld seamlessly into the next.

Highlights of the BlackBerry Q5 include the BlackBerry® Hub which lets you stay close to what’s important to you without stopping what you’re working on. BlackBerry Time Shift helps create the perfect shot every time and with BBM Video with Screen Share, you can instantly switch your BBM™ (BlackBerry® Messenger) chat to a BBM Video conversation and catch up face-to-face. The BlackBerry® World™ storefront also allows the user to discover the more than 120,000 apps available.

For more information on LIME’s products and services, visit www.lime.com.

For more information on BlackBerry 10, please visit www.blackberry.com/blackberry10

Annatalia (left) was the winner of a bran new Lenovo from LIME!

LIME has brought great joy to another delighted customer and her family through its just-concluded Back-to-School promotion.

Annatalia Charles, an Aeronautical Information Service clerk at Hewanorra International Airport, was the second winner of a Lenovo netbook in the promotion, and that makes her a very happy customer indeed, for several reasons.

Annatalia, who is from Choiseul, recently signed up for Internet service for her family at the LIME Vieux Fort store and also bought a wireless modem for just $99. She automatically qualified for a chance to win, along with numerous other customers.

When she got the news that she had won a Lenovo Thinkpad Edge E420, Annatalia was thrilled, but not just for herself. Her younger brother just entered Sir Arthur Lewis Community College Division of Technical Education and Management Studies (DTEMS) and her younger sister is in Form 2 at Choiseul Secondary. She decided to give both of them a special gift.

“I don’t really use the Internet that much. My younger siblings are usually on the computer more than me, so I just leave it for them. I have a laptop, which I’ve been thinking of giving to my brother, so I’ll give him my laptop and give the new Lenovo netbook from LIME to my little sister,” said Annatalia. She offered LIME her heartfelt thanks for giving her the opportunity to treat her siblings.

Chakera Modeste was the Customer Service Representative who provisioned the service for Annatalia. She said: “I feel glad to know that I played a small part in making Annatalia’s dream come true and bringing joy to her family. This is one of the beautiful things about LIME’s Back-to-School promotion, and all our promotions that are designed to give back to our customers. They can really change people’s lives in significant ways. In fact, we, the staff, get our own reward just by seeing the joy in customers’ faces every time they win!”

The LIME Back-to-School promotion, which ended September 7 gave customers chances to win a variety of fabulous prizes, including a Blackberry Z10 and Nokia Lumia 620 smartphone by texting or signing up for landline, internet and Digital TV services.

Ms. Caniscia Henry $3000 richer after topping up online with Digicel

Digicel’s online customers got rewarded and won big as $3,000 cash was given to Caniscia Henry who walked away a winner this summer for just topping up online.

Many customers top up online as this serves as one of the more convenient ways of replenishing their credit to stay connected to love ones.

By logging on to www.digicelstlucia.com, prepaid customers who topped up $51.75 or more instantly qualified for the online “Back to School” promotion to win weekly $500-cash payouts and then ultimately winning the grand prize of $3,000.

Adding to the value given to customers, they also got double their top up amount when heading to the website to top up. To date Digicel has rewarded five online top-up customers with $500 cash.

It was a Friday afternoon, September 6, 2013, live on Radio Caribbean International, radio personality IWA called and surprised Henry alongside Digicel’s Marketing representative Sergin John Baptiste, informing her that she has just become Digicel’s latest cash winner.

Being a very loyal customer and someone who tops up online very often, an elated Caniscia commented, “This is a happy moment for me as this cash came in at the right time”.

“I would like to say thank you to Digicel for this wonderful prize as it was unsuspected but very welcomed,” she added.

Marketing Manager Kerchelle Jn Charles said: “Digicel is happy to share the extraordinary with our customers. This tangible reward of cash back in such a significant amount will greatly assist Ms. Henry. Digicel is once again happy to give back to its customers especially those who topped up online.”

Keep topping up on www.digicelstlucia.com as your ease of business is important to us at Digicel. Who knows you may be the next lucky winner.

The Government of Saint Lucia has formed a National Security Council to co-ordinate the activities of the state agencies engaged in maintaining the security of the state. Cabinet gave its approval for the formation of the Council in January, 2013.

The Council consists of the following representatives:

Prime Minister (Chairman);
Minister for National Security (Deputy Chairman);
Minister for Tourism, Heritage and the Creative Industries;
Attorney General;
Cabinet Secretary;
National Security Advisor;
Commissioner of Police;
Comptroller of Customs;
General Manager, Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority;
Director, Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA).

Cabinet agreed that the chair may invite additional persons to attend meetings of the Council, when and if required.

The main functions of the National Security Council include:

Acting as a body for ventilating different views on security issues and developing consensus positions;
Elaborating a strategic framework for dealing with current and emerging risks and threats and structuring longer-term planning, including resource allocation;
Devising policy options and recommendations for Government on specific matters;
Coordinating the activity of Government ministries and departments with a security role;
Taking the lead for the Government in a state of emergency;

The inaugural meeting of the Council will be held today, Friday, September 13, 2013.

The Government of Canada today announced the opening of a new visa application centre (VAC) in Port of Spain to make the process of applying  for a visa to enter Canada easier and more convenient.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is expanding its VAC network around the world to provide valuable administrative support to applicants before, during and after their temporary resident application is assessed by a CIC immigration officer.

VAC service agents are available by phone, email or in person to answer questions in local languages and to make sure that applications are complete. This helps avoid unnecessary delays or refusals due to incomplete applications.

For an additional fee, VACs also offer other services, including photocopies, application photographs and self-service computer terminals for those wishing to take advantage of the new online applications.

It is important to note that VACs are not involved in the decision making process and are not authorized to provide applicants with advice about their visas.

Anyone wishing to apply for a visitor visa, study permit, work permit or permanent resident travel document is encouraged to use the new Port of Spain VAC located at:

No.4 Warner Street, Newtown, Port-Of-Spain, Trinidad

Website: www.csc-cvac.com / Email: tt-info@csc-cvac.com / Phone: (868)224-3098

Applications received through the VAC or online are processed on a priority basis and are typically finalized in half the amount of time of other applications.

The Government of Canada plans to create new jobs and stimulate economic growth by attracting an increasing number of visitors and international students as well as skilled temporary foreign workers and immigrants that best respond to current and future labour market needs. For this reason, CIC strives to issue visas and permits as quickly as possible to facilitate travel to Canada.

For more information about the services that can be provided by a VAC, visit www.cic.gc.ca/vac.

A LIAT aircraft

The European manufacturer of turboprop aircraft ATR and the Caribbean carrier LIAT have announced the signature of a Global Maintenance Agreement (GMA) for the airline’s new fleet of ATR -600 aircraft.

Signed for an initial period of 10 years, the contract will cover the four ATR 42-600s and four ATR 72-600s that will be operated by the airline in the near future. LIAT has already started introducing its new ATR -600s into its fleet.

As set out in this GMA, ATR will manage all aspects of maintenance and repair for some equipment for the airline’s ATR ‘-600′ fleet. This equipment includes LRUs (Line Replaceable Units), propeller blades and landing gears.

By entering into the agreement, ATR guarantees LIAT the permanent availability of these spare parts from its logistics center in Miami. The airline will also benefit from ATR’s expertise for all of its maintenance procedures.

Close to 300 ATRs currently in operation are covered by GMAs with ATR. This represents nearly a third of ATR’s total operational fleet.

Chief Executive Officer of LIAT Ian Brunton stated: “We consider the global maintenance agreement as a key part of the partnership we are deploying with ATR for our growth as a key regional carrier in the Caribbean. We want a leading fleet of aircraft, not only in terms of passengers comfort, but also about maintenance and operating performance.”

He added: “We are pleased to expand our business with the new ATR -600s, which are clearly becoming a preferred option regional air connectivity in the Caribbean and in Latin America”.

ATR Product Support and Services Director Lilian Braylé stated: “We are pleased to have been selected by LIAT for the management of their maintenance activities. By signing this GMA, the airline will clearly benefit from our experience and know-how and will have the opportunity of having us as a single channel for all their maintenance requirements. Also, they will benefit from spare parts guaranteed availability, thus contributing to optimally start their operations with ATR ‘-600s’ and to expand their regional network”.

MOU signing

The Caribbean is even closer to fostering an entrepreneurial spirit among the region’s young people through CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank’s renewal of its partnership with a regional youth entrepreneurship organisation.

CIBC FirstCaribbean and the Caribbean Centre of Excellence of Youth Entrepreneurship (CEYE) recently entered into a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to continue their successful strategic partnership.

The MOU solidifies the bank’s commitment to work with the CEYE on entrepreneurial development to inspire creativity and innovation, build independence, create jobs and generate wealth. The project targets young males and females and ultimately seeks to improve their livelihoods and the future for Caribbean youth.

CIBC FirstCaribbean is making available grant funding of USD$200,000 over the two years of the partnership. In addition, youth business trusts/youth entrepreneurship organisations will receive USD $120,000.

The funds will be used to help start up new youth entrepreneurship organisations (YEO) in the Bahamas and St. Kitts and Nevis, as well as, for the first time, support an already existing YEO in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The funding will also be used to continue ongoing development of the youth entrepreneurship programmes in Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica. Additionally, the CEYE will also use part of the funds for capacity development, quality control, and monitoring and evaluation.

The CEYE evolved out increasing requests from CARICOM countries for help from the Barbados Youth Business Trust.

Managing Director, Marcia Brandon, in thanking the bank said, “We are extremely grateful to CIBC FirstCaribbean for their vision and commitment to regional sustainable development, which is what continuing this well-needed partnership contributes to. The bank’s partnership is not only long-term but very high impact.”

She added, “CIBC FirstCaribbean recognises that a strategic approach to corporate social responsibility brings sustainability, but sustainability does not happen overnight, hence their willingness to stay in for the long haul.”

In terms of outcomes, Brandon said that over the past six years the CEYE and its partners in youth entrepreneurship had been able to expose over 3,000 youth to entrepreneurship, start-up approximately 75 young males and females in a range of businesses, and expose 35 young entrepreneurs to access to markets and trade missions.

Chief Executive Officer of CIBC FirstCaribbean, Rik Parkhill, said the bank’s renewal of its partnership with the CEYE was testament to its keen interest in the entrepreneurial development of the region’s young people.

“We continue to be deeply committed to sustainable social and economic development initiatives which have the potential to transform the lives of the region’s youth.”

He added that the importance of entrepreneurship to the continued development of the Caribbean economy and recovery from a recession could not be overemphasised.

The MOU is the third between CIBC FirstCaribbean and the CEYE.

LIME MyPlan Ambassadors, representing for Saint Lucia’s fastest network.

Seven of St Lucia’s most popular and exciting personalities have teamed up with Saint Lucia’s only fully integrated telecommunications provider and they will all serve as product ambassadors for one of the company’s most exciting new products.

They include six of the island’s leading radio announcers, namely Masana Morrison of the Wave, Radio Caribbean’s Levi Chin, Scady Dot P of Blazin FM, Andrew “Yardie” Haynes and Master J of MBC/Real FM, Kimber “DJ Buzz’ Desir of RFI in Soufriere, as well as Valdez Franklin from the popular gaming show, Gamer Vibe.

All of the LIME ambassadors have each been placed on the company’s new mobile offering, MyPlan, a personalized postpaid plan that provides a combination of voice, text messages and data to suit their needs and lifestyles. Several of the new ambassadors can also be seen flashing the flagship handset for MyPlan, the Nokia Lumia 620.

This latest initiative by LIME demonstrates the versatility and flexibility of MyPlan and how it can be adapted to suit practically any lifestyle. Whether you’re a surfer (like Scady, Levi and Valdez) a talker (like Buzz, Yardie and Master J) or a writer like Masana, MyPlan is the plan for you, with an affordable range of personalized options.

“We are extremely pleased to be partnering with some of St Lucia’s most popular media personalities,” said LIME Saint Lucia General Manager, Chris Williams. “This will be a very special partnership. In this digital age, more and more persons depend on mobile communications, with plans that are straightforward, simple, and suit their personal, business and entertainment needs, and of course their budget. MyPlan only offers great value, greater flexibility and can be customised to suit your needs, plus you enjoy easy access to LIME’s superfast 4G network, Saint Lucia’s fastest mobile service.”

MyPlan offers postpaid customers a combination of voice, text messages and data for one low monthly fee. You can add additional voice, text and data bundles to suit your needs and lifestyle. Customers signing up for a 12 or 24-month MyPlan contract can buy a Nokia Lumia 620 for just $499, or get discounts on several other handsets, or sign up for a rolling one-month plan if you don’t need a long-term contract.

With MyPlan customers can also share their plans with friends and family by adding them to their accounts. MyPlan minutes can be used for calls to any number locally and regionally, as well as to the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands (USVI) and to UK landlines. Text can be used for local, regional and international messaging.

Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) will host the 2013 High Level Caribbean Forum from September 19 to 20, in Nassau, The Bahamas.

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Hon. Dr. Kenny D. Anthony has been invited to deliver one of the Keynote Addresses at the Forum which will be held under the theme, “Building Growth into the Caribbean Sustainability Agenda-A Concerted Approach”.

Dr. Anthony will be accompanied by Dr. Reginald Darius, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs, Planning and Social Security.

The cost of Dr. Anthony’s trip to the Bahamas will be met by the World Bank.

Hon. Philip J. Pierre, Minister for Infrastructure, Port Services and Transport will act as Prime Minister from September 18 to 20, 2013.

Dr. Kentry JnPierre *themajority.com

Dr. Kentry JnPierre, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industries and Heritage will be the guest speaker at the Annual General Meeting of the Folk Research Centre on Saturday September 21.

Dr. JnPierre holds responsibility for the Creative Industries in the Ministry. He is a former Executive Director of the FRC.

He will be speaking on the topic “The Creative Industries and St. Lucian folk culture as a base for its development.”

All members of the 40 year old institution are invited to attend. Those who would like to become new members are also welcome.

On the agenda are the presentation of annual and auditor’s reports as well as the election of new directors for the next two years.

The meeting will be held at the FRC headquarters at Mount Pleasant, Castries at 10 am.

Every year LIME celebrates Jounen Kwéyòl in a big way with its customers by sprucing up its stores with Kwéyòl decorations to delight them and rewarding with Kwéyòl goodies and a variety of great deals and specials.

This year the company is already gearing up for Creole Heritage Month with the launch of a new commercial that is sure to add a unique cultural flavour to its celebrations.

Together with Coaks and Anglasia, two of St Lucia’s leading Kwéyòl icons, LIME has launched ‘Yonn Sèl Pwi’ – a new One Rate ad an Kwéyòl to be aired on radio and TV to further spread the message of its offer of one flat rate for mobile calling. The ad is already a huge hit on YouTube – http://youtu.be/5UdrkTeJdAw – and will also be featured in print.

With LIME One Rate calling, all LIME mobile calls made to any network in St Lucia and 25 Caribbean territories, regardless of the time of day or night, cost the same low price of just $0.60 cents per minute.

Furthermore, from now until October 31, 2013 LIME customers have the chance to win $1,000 in cash every week when they top up $20 or more.

“There is no doubt that LIME is revolutionizing the local and regional telecommunications and changing the way customers think about mobile calling with our launch of One Rate and other transformational offers like 4G and MyPlan,” said LIME St Lucia Head of Marketing & Communications, Laurencia Cadette. “For the first time ever in Saint Lucia, customers can rely on one phone, their LIME phone, to stay connected with friends and family for the best rate on the market.

“Additionally, customers now have the chance to $1,000 every week, up until Jounen Kwéyòl. Bagay la bon! This is a major win for our customers, that’s why it’s necessary to spread the message throughout the length and breadth of St Lucia, including our predominantly Kweyol-speaking communities who form the vast majority of the population, ” Ms Cadette added.