Carib Scope

分类： business

  • Who Approved HRCU’s Forty-Million-Dollar BEL Loan?

    Who Approved HRCU’s Forty-Million-Dollar BEL Loan?

    A brewing public controversy centered on a $40 million unsecured loan extended by Belize’s Holy Redeemer Credit Union (HRCU) to state-owned Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) is putting the member-owned financial institution under intense public scrutiny, with opposition leaders demanding full transparency and HRCU defending its processes behind a veil of legally mandated confidentiality.

    At the heart of the dispute is a long-simmering question: how much access do HRCU’s 100,000+ member-owners have to details about large-scale investments that put their collective savings at risk? Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar Panton, who counts herself as a long-standing HRCU member, has laid out specific demands for the credit union, citing BEL’s public audited financials that confirm the $40 million facility carries a 5% annual interest rate and a five-year repayment term. Panton is calling for full disclosure of the internal committee that approved the transaction, the independent risk assessments conducted before committing members’ funds, the specific safeguards in place for the unsecured debt, and whether the favorable terms extended to BEL would ever be offered to ordinary HRCU members or small local businesses.

    Panton’s core argument pushes back against the idea that working Belizeans’ savings should be used as a convenient financing pool for government-linked entities, framing the controversy as a matter of accountability for member-owned cooperative institutions. HRCU has struck back sharply against the criticism, releasing an official statement that accuses Panton of intentionally maligning the institution’s reputation. The credit union has defended its due diligence process, noting that every transaction adheres to written internal policies, approval protocols, and external regulatory oversight. HRCU also emphasized that the institution’s decades-long business relationship with BEL stretches back to 2003, and past investments in BEL debt have generated more than $24 million in cumulative interest for the credit union’s membership over the past two decades. According to HRCU’s account, BEL approached the credit union seeking new capital investment in 2023, and HRCU opted to structure the arrangement as a loan facility to grow its overall lending portfolio rather than purchase additional debentures.

    While HRCU has reaffirmed that all members’ savings remain secure, and that consistent returns from investments like the BEL loan support annual dividend payouts, interest rebates, and the expansion of the credit union’s branch network across Belize, its response has left a series of critical questions unanswered. Most notably, the credit union has not named the individuals or internal body that signed off on the $40 million facility, nor has it shared details of the independent risk evaluation completed for the unsecured debt. HRCU has cited confidentiality requirements outlined in Belize’s Credit Union Act, which prohibits its leadership, auditors, and staff from disclosing protected client business information publicly. The institution also notes that the deal was reviewed by multiple internal departments including internal audit, compliance, finance, and risk management, before being cleared by external auditors and the Central Bank of Belize.

    The legal claim of confidentiality, however, has failed to quiet calls for greater transparency from members and political leaders. Critics argue that confidentiality rules do not bar HRCU from providing its own member-owners with a general overview of the institution’s credit exposure, its approval framework, and the risk controls put in place for the transaction. Without access to these basic details, members are unable to independently verify the safety of their own savings, Panton argues. Beyond the specifics of the BEL loan, the controversy raises larger questions about the core obligations of member-owned cooperative financial institutions: how can these entities balance legitimate commercial confidentiality requirements with the transparency and accountability that their member-owners are entitled to? The Opposition Leader has called for a full independent review of the transaction to resolve outstanding questions. HRCU maintains it followed all required safeguards and acted in the best interest of its membership. Ultimately, it will fall to HRCU’s member-owners to decide whether the institution’s current assurances are sufficient, or whether a full public accounting is required to preserve long-term public trust in one of Belize’s largest member-owned financial institutions.

  • Productivity down as workforce shrinks, UWI warns

    Productivity down as workforce shrinks, UWI warns

    Barbados is facing a mounting threat to long-term economic growth as plummeting workforce productivity and a shrinking labor pool collide, prompting two leading Caribbean institutions to launch a new collaborative initiative to reverse the trend. On Tuesday, the University of the West Indies (UWI) at Cave Hill joined forces with the Human Resource Management Association of Barbados (HRMAB), signing a landmark memorandum of understanding to tackle pressing workplace challenges that are holding back the island nation’s economic potential.

    Deputy Principal Professor Winston Moore of UWI Cave Hill issued a stark warning about the current state of Barbados’ labor market, revealing that the country’s total workforce shrank by approximately 2,700 workers during the first half of the current year. Driven largely by an aging population where retirements are consistently outpacing new entrants to the workforce, this contraction comes on top of years of sluggish productivity growth. Since 2018, annual labor productivity has averaged just 0.8% nationwide, a figure that leaves Barbados at risk of hitting a permanent “long-run speed limit” on economic expansion, Moore emphasized.

    Barbados’ economy is uniquely dependent on its human capital: the service sector, which employs 86% of all working Barbadians, forms the backbone of the country’s overall output. This makes effective human resource management not just an administrative concern, but a core determinant of Barbados’ global competitiveness, Moore explained during the signing ceremony held at the Jacqueline Wade Conference Room. “Our competitiveness is therefore a human resource question in the most literal sense, and the people in this room are the ones who manage it,” he stressed.

    Moore pointed out that while the Barbadian economy has posted more than 20 consecutive quarters of expansion and unemployment has fallen to roughly 6% in recent years, these positive headline figures mask the underlying demographic and productivity challenges. With growth in economic output reliant on just two drivers – more workers, or higher output per worker – the island is quickly exhausting the first source of growth. “If productivity continues to grow at 0.8% while the labour force contracts, then 0.8% is close to our long-run speed limit, whatever we write in a development plan,” Moore added.

    Contrary to common narratives that frame productivity growth as purely a matter of technological advancement or capital investment, Moore argued that organizational people management is the unsung driver of productivity gains. “Most of what economists call the productivity residual is, on closer inspection, management. It is how work is organised, how people are selected, how quickly a new hire becomes competent, whether a supervisor knows how to have a difficult conversation, whether a good employee sees a reason to stay,” he said. This reality positions human resources professionals as key leaders in solving Barbados’ productivity crisis, particularly through management practices that boost employee engagement and output.

    As the largest provider of skilled new graduates to the Barbadian labor market, UWI Cave Hill carries a unique responsibility for building the nation’s future skills base. The campus currently serves roughly 6,600 students across seven faculties and more than 350 academic programs, producing more than 1,200 graduates annually – 914 at the undergraduate level and 360 at the postgraduate level. “Every decision we take about a course outline, a competency, an assessment method or a work placement becomes part of the national skills stock three or four years later,” Moore noted. “There is no other institution in this country whose curriculum choices show up so directly in the productivity statistics, and none that carries a heavier obligation to get those choices right.”

    The new partnership with HRMAB is designed to bridge the gap between academic training and employer needs, giving the professional association a formal voice in curriculum design and program review at UWI. For the university, HRMAB provides on-the-ground insight into shifting labor market demands, including emerging skills that evolve faster than traditional academic curriculum committees can adapt. In exchange, UWI brings its teaching expertise and research capacity to the partnership, enabling evidence-based testing of workplace interventions rather than relying on anecdote or assumption.

    Under the terms of the agreement, UWI students will gain access to structured work placements, industry mentorship, and exposure to professional HR standards set by HRMAB. For HRMAB members, the partnership opens access to continuing professional development opportunities, UWI faculty expertise, and campus research facilities. The two organizations also plan to conduct joint, cross-sector research on productivity trends to build a more robust evidence base for policy and practice.

    Moore proposed that the first joint initiative under the new partnership be an annual skills demand review, co-conducted by both institutions to align academic output with labor market needs. “If we do that well, it will be worth more than the signature we are about to witness,” he said.

    HRMAB President Tisha Peters echoed the urgency of the partnership, noting that the global future of work is already reshaping skill needs in Barbados. Citing the World Economic Forum’s *Future of Jobs Report 2025*, Peters explained that the global economy is projected to see net growth of 78 million new jobs by 2025, as 170 million new roles created are partially offset by 92 million existing jobs displaced by technological and economic change. By 2030, an estimated 39% of current workers’ core skills will either be transformed or rendered obsolete, she added.

    Peters emphasized that this shift does not mean fewer opportunities, but rather different types of opportunities that require coordinated preparation from academia, professional associations, and employers. “Some graduates may build careers in artificial intelligence, data analytics, cybersecurity, renewable energy or digital transformation. Others will enter familiar professions such as HR, finance, education and healthcare—but will practise them in very different ways,” she said. “The future of work is not only about new jobs; it is also about new ways of doing existing jobs.”

    Pushback against the common claim that technology will displace human workers, Peters noted that the real risk lies in failing to adapt to new tools. “People who did not learn how to work with technology could be at a disadvantage,” she said. She called on academic institutions to combine rigorous core academics with digital literacy, interdisciplinary training, and hands-on practical experience, with the goal of enabling students to use emerging technologies critically, ethically, and responsibly. “The goal is not to replace sound academic thinking with technology, but to use technology to extend it,” she added.

  • HRCU Defends Loan Facility

    HRCU Defends Loan Facility

    A high-profile controversy has erupted in Belize over a $40 million loan facility extended by Holy Redeemer Credit Union (HRCU) to state-owned utility provider Belize Electricity Limited (BEL), with the country’s opposition leader launching sharp criticism that has prompted a full defensive response from the credit union.

    Opposition Leader Tracy Taegar Panton has publicly questioned the legitimacy of the lending arrangement, raising two core concerns: the process through which the loan was approved, and critical safeguards that are meant to protect the personal savings held by HRCU’s thousands of working-class members. Panton argued that members’ hard-earned savings should never be used as a source of financing for government entities or state-controlled companies, framing the deal as a risky misallocation of funds that belong to ordinary people.

    In an official statement released September 8, 2026, HRCU pushed back against Panton’s claims, accusing the opposition leader of intentionally maligning the institution over a standard business transaction that it says aligns with its long-standing operating practices. The credit union emphasized that it has maintained a formal financial relationship with BEL dating back to 2003, when it first began investing in BEL-issued debentures. Over the more than two decades of that partnership, HRCU reports those investments have generated a total of $24.4 million in regular quarterly interest payments, all of which have been properly disclosed in audited financial statements presented to HRCU members at annual general meetings.

    The credit union outlined the origins of the current loan arrangement: BEL first approached HRCU in October 2023 to request additional capital via new debenture purchases. Rather than moving forward with the debenture structure, HRCU chose to structure the $40 million commitment as a formal loan facility, a decision that fit into the institution’s broader strategic goal of expanding its overall lending portfolio.

    HRCU stressed that every transaction it undertakes is subject to rigorous multi-layered oversight and internal control protocols. The lending agreement went through mandatory checks and due diligence conducted by four separate internal departments: Internal Audit, Finance, Compliance, and Risk & Controls. All requirements under the institution’s existing governance and regulatory framework were fully met, the credit union confirmed.

    Beyond defending the approval process, HRCU explained that this investment and lending activity is core to its ability to deliver benefits to its membership. Returns from loans and investments like the BEL facility allow the credit union to maintain its branch network, operate smoothly, and distribute surplus funds back to members through annual dividend payments and rebates on loan interest. The institution reaffirmed that all members’ savings remain safe and fully secure, and that it continues to operate with full accountability under established regulatory rules.

    The exchange has brought public attention to the intersection of credit union investment strategy and state-owned enterprise financing in Belize, with both sides standing firm in their positions ahead of likely further public discussion over the deal.

  • Sipaliwini krijgt 26 lokaal opgeleide keukenassistenten voor toerismesector

    Sipaliwini krijgt 26 lokaal opgeleide keukenassistenten voor toerismesector

    Suriname’s inland tourism sector in Sipaliwini has taken a major step forward in workforce development, with 26 local residents graduating from a fully subsidized Level 1 Kitchen Assistant training program. The new graduates received their official certification during a ceremony held on September 4 at the LBO practical training center in Atjoni, marking the completion of a skills-building initiative designed to strengthen local human capital and raise professional standards for tourism-focused hospitality services across the country’s interior.

    The multi-week training curriculum covered core competencies critical to commercial kitchen work, including foundational food preparation techniques, professional food handling protocols, rigorous kitchen hygiene standards, comprehensive food safety practices, and occupational safety protocols for kitchen work environments. Upon certification, the new kitchen assistants are now qualified to fill open roles at local hospitality and tourism operations, including wilderness lodges, coastal and inland resorts, catering companies, and other tourist-focused service providers. Beyond formal employment, the skills gained through the program also open pathways for entrepreneurship: graduates can launch their own small catering businesses, local casual dining spots, or home meal delivery services to serve both local communities and visiting tourists.

    The entire training program was funded through a grant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Labour Alignment with New Industries project, implemented by the Directorate of Welfare and Labour under Suriname’s Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Labour (VWA). The Suriname Hospitality and Tourism Training Centre Foundation (SHTTC) led on-the-ground delivery of the program, which fell under the “Leri Fu Feni Wroko” sub-project aligned with the Training for Employment (TFE) framework developed by VWA’s Deputy Directorate of the Labour Market. As part of the project’s public workforce development goals, no tuition or training fees were charged to participating students, removing financial barriers to skills access for local residents.

    Speaking at the certification ceremony, VWA Deputy Minister Raj Jadnanansing emphasized that culinary experiences are a core driver of growth for inland tourism. He encouraged the new graduates to prioritize the professional, hygienic preparation and presentation of local dishes and native ingredients alongside standard international menu items.

    Jadnanansing noted that tourists who travel to Suriname’s interior seek authentic, one-of-a-kind experiences they cannot find anywhere else in the world. Local cuisine, he explained, acts as a unique introduction to the culture and traditions of inland communities. When prepared and presented to professional standards, these culinary offerings do more than just create new jobs for local workers: they also help raise global appreciation for and preserve the unique cultural identity of Suriname’s inland populations.

    Beyond cultural benefits, increased consumer demand for local Surinamese dishes creates new economic opportunities for small-scale local agricultural and food producers, according to the deputy minister. This ripple effect allows tourism growth to support the development of a broader, more interconnected local economic ecosystem across the country’s interior.

    Other key stakeholders echoed the deputy minister’s remarks, including Oyeleye Adeniyi, Program Manager of the IDB Project Implementation Unit (PIU), Nazara Kranenburg, acting director of SHTTC, and Don Elliot, chair of the SHTTC Board of Directors. All three reaffirmed the critical role that targeted vocational training plays in advancing the tourism sector, noting that sustained investment in local human capital is essential to meeting the fast-growing demand for qualified skilled workers across Suriname’s expanding hospitality and tourism industries.

  • Punta Cana Airport receives international accreditation for accessibility

    Punta Cana Airport receives international accreditation for accessibility

    One of the busiest travel hubs in the Caribbean, Punta Cana International Airport, has added three prestigious industry distinctions to its growing trophy case, cementing its reputation as a leader in passenger-centric infrastructure across Latin America and the Caribbean.

    The most notable new honor is Level 1 Accessibility Accreditation issued by Airports Council International World (ACI World), the global governing body for airport operations. This accreditation recognizes the airport’s targeted work to build a more inclusive travel environment for passengers living with reduced mobility. To earn the designation, the airport had to demonstrate full alignment with three key frameworks: the accessibility mandates laid out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a 2019 ACI World resolution focused on disability inclusion, and the latest global best practices for accessible airport design and service.

    In a public statement following the ceremony, airport leadership noted that the accessibility accreditation is more than an award—it is a validation of the institution’s long-term strategy, formal policies, and early-stage infrastructure initiatives that prioritize greater comfort, independent navigation, and personal safety for travelers with disabilities. The accreditation paves the way for the airport to pursue higher-level accessibility designations in future assessments as it expands its inclusive initiatives.

    Alongside the accessibility recognition, the ceremony brought two additional top honors for the Dominican Republic hub. For the ninth time in its history, Punta Cana International Airport took home the title of Best Airport in Latin America and the Caribbean for hubs handling between 5 million and 15 million annual passengers. This repeat win underscores the airport’s consistent delivery of high-quality service across years of growing travel demand.

    The airport also retained its Level 3 Customer Experience Accreditation for the second consecutive year, a distinction that celebrates the airport’s sustained investments in upgrading passenger services, refining operational workflows, and raising industry standards for customer care across the region.

    Taken together, these latest recognitions highlight Punta Cana International Airport’s ongoing commitment to iterative improvement as part of its long-term development plan, with accessibility, customer experience, and service quality at the core of its strategic goals.

  • 80 Grand Bahama jobs at risk at Bahama Rock

    80 Grand Bahama jobs at risk at Bahama Rock

    An impending shutdown at a major Grand Bahama mining operation has placed nearly 80 local jobs in jeopardy and triggered widespread concern over potential economic ripple effects across the island, according to official company announcements. Bahama Rock, an aggregate mining firm currently run by global materials company Martin Marietta, is set to wind down all production activities on September 18, after decades of operations exhausted the permitted limestone reserves the company has access to. Currently employing 82 local Bahamian workers, the firm has already initiated temporary layoffs for hourly staff as it prepares for a full halt to operations. The coming closure carries notable weight for Grand Bahama’s economy: industry estimates show the company injects roughly $25 million into the island’s economy each year, making its potential shutdown a significant concern for local business and community leaders. To avoid this outcome, Bahama Rock has submitted a formal proposal to the Bahamian government to take over and mine 270 acres of land previously owned by the defunct Bahamas Cement Company (BCC), located near the planned Freeport Harbour expansion project. If approved, the new site would grant the company access to enough untapped limestone reserves to resume operations long-term and retain its full local workforce, company representatives say. The proposal has not moved forward without intense pushback from local communities, however. Back in July, the Bahamas’ Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) hosted a public consultation to gather feedback on the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), where dozens of West Grand Bahama residents voiced strong opposition to the expansion plan. Many local homeowners shared accounts of past blasting operations run by Bahama Rock causing structural damage to their properties, alongside persistent noise pollution and unhealthy dust accumulation that has disrupted daily life in the area. Amid growing public and political debate over the proposal, the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce stepped in recently to conduct its own independent review. Last week, Chamber president Ralph Hepburn and members of the organization’s board of directors held a closed-door meeting with senior Bahama Rock leaders, followed by an on-site tour of the current mining facility to gain first-hand context for both the company’s proposal and the environmental concerns outlined in the EIA. Hepburn confirmed that the Chamber is preparing to release a formal public statement outlining its position on the project this Wednesday. Bahama Rock officials have moved quickly to refute growing criticism that the company’s warnings of impending job losses are a calculated tactic to pressure the government into fast-tracking approval for the new mining site. Company representatives emphasized that the BCC site is the only viable path to preserving local operations and employment, and framed the project as compatible with strong environmental protections. “This is not an either-or situation between protecting local jobs and safeguarding our environment,” a company spokesperson said in a statement. “Our goal is to find a balanced solution that protects existing employment, maintains critical investment in Grand Bahama’s economy, secures long-term access to essential construction materials for the entire country, and addresses all community and environmental concerns thoroughly.” Up to the time of this reporting, Bahama Rock General Manager TJ Mackey has not responded to multiple requests for direct comment on the impending shutdown or expansion proposal.

  • Dominican Republic and Honduras seek to expand trade and investment

    Dominican Republic and Honduras seek to expand trade and investment

    In a major step forward for cross-border economic collaboration in Central America and the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic and Honduras have reinforced their bilateral trade and investment links during the fourth iteration of the Business Forum on Export, Import, Investment and Tourism, hosted at the headquarters of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa.

    Organized under the auspices of the Dominican Embassy in Honduras, the two-day gathering brought together a diverse cohort of senior government officials, C-suite business leaders, and private sector stakeholders from both nations. The core mission of the event was to cut through existing trade barriers, unlock new commercial opportunities, attract targeted foreign direct investment, and build long-term strategic commercial partnerships that benefit both economies.

    Leading the Dominican contingent were high-ranking government officials Andrés Lugo, Zanony Severino, Mérido Torres, Welinton Grullón and David Herrera, who were joined by more than two dozen private sector representatives spanning a wide range of high-potential industries. These included premium rum production, real estate development, automotive manufacturing and parts distribution, fine jewelry crafting, and traditional guayabera apparel manufacturing, showcasing the breadth of the Dominican Republic’s export and investment capacity.

    Conversations and working sessions throughout the forum centered on five key priority areas: expanding the volume and diversity of existing bilateral trade, pinpointing untapped export and import markets for both nations, streamlining cross-border logistics and customs processes to reduce transaction costs, attracting reciprocal foreign direct investment, and exploring innovative public-private partnership models for large-scale infrastructure projects.

    Beyond traditional trade and investment, tourism emerged as a central pillar of discussion. Participants delved into untapped opportunities for investment in Honduras’ emerging tourism infrastructure, while also facilitating knowledge sharing around the Dominican Republic’s globally recognized expertise in hotel operations, destination marketing, and sustainable tourism development.

    The forum received institutional backing from three key regional and local organizations: CABEI, Honduras’ leading private sector body the Honduran Business Council (COHEP), and the national Federation of Chambers of Commerce (FEDECAMARA). By the close of the event, one-on-one business matching meetings between Dominican and Honduran delegates had already resulted in a series of signed commercial agreements and binding trade transactions. Attendees also agreed to a formal follow-up agenda designed to keep momentum going for joint investment projects and deliver sustained growth in bilateral trade volumes over the coming months.

    In closing remarks, senior authorities and business leaders from both nations reaffirmed their shared commitment to ongoing technical cooperation, and underscored their intention to position the Dominican Republic and Honduras as mutually beneficial strategic trading partners within the broader Latin American and Caribbean region.

  • Business sector drives growth as Dominican Republic adds 18,000 companies

    Business sector drives growth as Dominican Republic adds 18,000 companies

    Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — The Dominican Republic’s private business landscape is delivering strong, broad-based growth in 2026, fueled by rising foreign and domestic investment, expanding cross-border sales, and ongoing policy reforms designed to streamline operations and attract new enterprises, according to top industry and government leaders. The positive update was shared during the official opening of the seventh annual Santo Domingo Chamber Hub 2026, a major forum connecting local businesses with global investors and buyers.

    Lucile Houllemont, president of the Santo Domingo Chamber of Commerce, told attendees that the Dominican economy has already hit a key milestone in the first half of the year: 18,000 brand-new business entities have been registered across the country. She framed this surge in new company creation as a clear, encouraging indicator that the nation’s pro-enterprise policies are paying off, laying the groundwork for long-term entrepreneurship, expanded job opportunities, and sustained broad economic development.

    Beyond new business formation, Houllemont emphasized the Dominican Republic’s unique strategic trade advantage: five active free trade agreements that grant local producers and exporters preferential access to nearly 50 international markets, representing a combined consumer base of more than 800 million people. She also noted the nation’s well-developed trade infrastructure, including an extensive national road network, modernized deep-water ports capable of accommodating large deep-draft vessels, and round-the-clock cargo dispatch programs that keep supply chains moving efficiently.

    This infrastructure and access have translated directly to tangible export growth: official data shows Dominican exports hit US$9.267 billion between January and July 2026, marking a 12% year-over-year increase compared to the same period in 2025.

    Eduardo Sanz Lovatón, the Dominican Republic’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, echoed the positive outlook, noting that the commercial sector has emerged as one of the nation’s largest employers. More than one million Dominican workers currently hold jobs in commerce, accounting for 20.2% of total employment across the country. Lovatón also highlighted a critical, evolving shift in the national economy: a growing number of Dominican businesses are integrating advanced digital technology and building out higher-value production chains, moving beyond basic commodity exports to compete in more profitable global segments.

    A key topic of discussion at this year’s hub was the accelerating adoption of artificial intelligence across regional business operations. Paula Bellizzia, vice president of Amazon Web Services for Latin America, shared new industry data showing that 76% of companies across Central America and the Caribbean already leverage chatbots or generative AI assistants to streamline customer service and internal operations. Even more notably, 13% of regional businesses have already rolled out dedicated AI tools in core strategic areas of their operations, with separate budget allocations to support ongoing AI expansion.

    The three-day forum brought together hundreds of attendees, including senior Dominican government officials, leading local and international business leaders, and global procurement buyers. The overarching goal of the gathering is to unlock new investment flows, boost Dominican exports, and build deeper, more resilient connections between Dominican enterprises and the global supply chain.

  • When breadfruit season ends, Hierland Peter finds a way to keep it alive

    When breadfruit season ends, Hierland Peter finds a way to keep it alive

    For Saint Lucian entrepreneur Hierland Peter, the small packet of pale cream freeze-dried breadfruit slices resting on the counter of his agro-processing team’s facility is more than just a new food product—it is the culmination of six years of relentless grit, creative problem-solving, and unwavering belief in a gap he spotted in the global market. In a recent demonstration, Peter dropped three of his signature slices into a bowl of warm water and waited. Over 15 minutes, the dehydrated slices slowly rehydrated, deepening from their stored pale hue to the rich, golden yellow of fresh, ripe breadfruit—a beloved staple across the Caribbean. A blind taste test confirmed what Peter had worked years to achieve: the rehydrated fruit retains the exact flavor and texture consumers know and love.

    Through innovative application of agro-processing technology, Peter has cracked a long-standing problem for the seasonal crop: turning a harvest that only grows naturally between July and September into a shelf-stable packaged product with an astounding 14-year shelf life, all while preserving the fruit’s full nutritional profile and natural taste. What sounds like a straightforward concept on paper required years of unseen sacrifice, as Peter shared in an exclusive interview with the St. Lucia Times. His journey to launch this product is a testament to the challenges small local entrepreneurs face in emerging markets—and what can be accomplished with stubborn persistence.

    Peter’s entrepreneurial instincts emerged early in his career. After finishing school, he dabbled in theatre production before pivoting to explore opportunities in food processing, a path he jokes was destiny—his birthday falls on World Food Day. He initially experimented with plantain-based products, but it was a common observation that shifted his focus to breadfruit. Time and again, he encountered Caribbean expatriates and travelers saying they craved access to authentic breadfruit when living or traveling abroad, and many went to extreme lengths to bring the fruit with them: slicing, pre-cooking, wrapping it in plastic wrap, and packing it into checked luggage. “I would think, that’s madness—why are you carrying raw breadfruit in your suitcase?” he recalled. He quickly realized the issue: pre-cooked, wrapped breadfruit still spoils within days, leaving no viable long-term option for off-season or international consumption.

    In 2020, Peter began formally researching potential solutions, consulting agricultural experts and scouring existing markets for comparable products. He found none that matched the need for a long-lasting, flavor-preserving alternative. That search led him to freeze-drying, a preservation method widely used in the global food and pharmaceutical industries, but one that had been largely untapped for local crop processing in Saint Lucia and the wider Caribbean. The technique works by removing moisture from food at freezing temperatures through a process called sublimation, which allows the final product to retain the original fruit’s flavor, texture, and nutrient content when properly processed and packaged.

    Turning the idea into a commercially viable product came with steep barriers. Securing the specialized equipment and industrial production space required an investment of tens of thousands of dollars, a sum Peter did not have on hand. Importing the necessary machinery added extra layers of cost, and navigating Saint Lucia’s challenging small business environment tested his motivation repeatedly. “It can be demotivating, but I was like, ‘hey, I want to do this’; I want to make my future self proud,” he said.

    Instead of abandoning the project, Peter built a structured two to three-year development plan. While continuing to work full-time in the banking sector, he mapped out a tight budget and pursued competitive business grants to secure funding. Over years of testing different formulations, processing techniques, and flavor profiles, he refined his method and landed on a formula that delivered consistent results.

    Today, Peter’s freeze-dried sliced breadfruit is ready for consumers. The product can be rehydrated in minutes and added to stews, soups, and a wide range of traditional and modern dishes. Launching with limited local distribution, the packaged slices are currently available at Saint Lucia’s Fond Latisab Creole Park and Massy Gourmet locations.

    Now that his first product is on shelves, Peter says he is eager to receive consumer feedback and is already developing similar processed crop products to expand his line. Reflecting on his six-year journey, he marveled at how far the project has come: “It’s just interesting to see the 2020 version of Hierland having an idea and 2026, years later, having my product at the supermarket.”

    For fellow aspiring Saint Lucian entrepreneurs navigating the same challenging business landscape, Peter offers a message of encouragement. “I want to encourage any entrepreneur who has a dream to continue pushing on despite what anyone says,” he said. “People told me, ‘Heirland, you sure you want to do that, my boy? You’re spending so much money’ but I told them, ‘This is what I believe in’. I saw that I could solve a problem in and outside of Saint Lucia, and I pushed forward.”

  • Major Landowners to Be Encouraged to Develop Agriculture and Investment Projects

    Major Landowners to Be Encouraged to Develop Agriculture and Investment Projects

    In a bold push to revitalize the agricultural sector and unlock underutilized land resources, policymakers have announced a suite of targeted measures designed to encourage major landowners to pursue large-scale agricultural development and strategic investment projects.

    For years, vast tracts of privately held large land parcels across many regions have remained either undercultivated or repurposed for non-productive uses, creating a bottleneck for national food security efforts and rural economic growth. Officials behind the new initiative argue that engaging the country’s largest landholders is a critical untapped opportunity to boost domestic agricultural output, create rural jobs, and attract fresh capital into the sector.

    The incentive package includes a range of financial and regulatory breaks: reduced property tax rates for land converted to commercial agricultural production, low-interest loans for infrastructure upgrades like irrigation systems and storage facilities, streamlined permitting processes for agribusiness investment projects, and tax credits for partnerships between large landowners and small-scale local farmers. Officials also note that the policy will prioritize projects focused on sustainable farming practices and climate-resilient crop production, aligning agricultural growth with national carbon neutrality goals.

    Industry analysts say the policy addresses a long-standing structural issue in the agricultural market, where fragmented land ownership and disincentives for large-scale investment have held back productivity gains. Early responses from major landowner associations have been cautiously optimistic, with many leaders indicating they are reviewing the details of the incentive package to assess potential project returns. Rural development advocates have welcomed the move, noting that increased agricultural investment will likely drive growth in related local industries, from transportation and food processing to rural retail, lifting incomes for communities across the countryside.

    Policymakers project that if successful, the initiative could bring millions of additional acres of land into productive agricultural use over the next five years, increase domestic food production by up to 15% in key grain categories, and attract billions in new private investment to the agricultural sector. The rollout of the incentive programs is set to begin in the third quarter of this year, with regional authorities tasked with implementing the framework and supporting landowners through the application process.