Carib Scope

分类： business

  • REOI: Business Development & Mentorship Consultant (Part-Time)

    REOI: Business Development & Mentorship Consultant (Part-Time)

    The Grenada Sustainable Development Trust Fund (GSDTF) has issued a public call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from qualified independent consultants to fill a part-time position focused on supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) under a major marine conservation-linked livelihood initiative.

    The selected consultant will support the Gender-Responsive Livelihood Support Initiative, which operates within the Woburn–Clarke’s Court Bay Marine Protected Area. This initiative centers on expanding sustainable, conservation-compatible livelihood opportunities for three key marginalized groups in Grenada: women, young people, and local fishing communities. The core of the role is to deliver end-to-end business development, skills training, and ongoing mentorship across every stage of SME development for participating ventures.

    The overarching objective of this consultancy is to provide integrated, targeted support that guides participating SMEs from initial application screening and business plan development through to formal business registration, preparedness to access seed grant funding, and post-funding growth mentorship. This holistic approach is designed to build long-term, resilient businesses that align with the marine protected area’s conservation goals, creating a mutually beneficial balance between local economic development and environmental protection.

    The scope of work for the consultant outlines five key responsibility areas. First, the consultant will lead the assessment of SME applications and conduct professional appraisals of submitted business plans to select viable ventures for the initiative. Second, they will design and facilitate a practical, hands-on training program tailored to the needs of small local businesses. Third, they will coordinate specialized training modules focused on marine conservation practices and at-sea safety for ventures operating in the coastal and marine sector. Fourth, the consultant will guide participating SMEs through the process of business formalization and official government registration. Finally, they will deliver structured ongoing mentorship to funded micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and prepare regular progress reports for GSDTF.

    The consultancy assignment is scheduled to run over 7 months, from November 2026 through to June 2027, with a total time commitment of up to 160 working days. The deadline for interested consultants to submit their expressions of interest is 2 October 2026. The GSDTF asks that all direct enquiries about the terms of reference for the role are submitted to the GSDTF Project Officer no later than 28 September 2026.

    GSDTF has outlined clear criteria for the ideal candidate. The successful applicant will be an experienced business development professional with a minimum of three years of hands-on experience in SME development, business plan drafting and appraisal, entrepreneurship training, and post-grant or post-investment mentorship. Strong skills in stakeholder coordination, training facilitation, and professional report writing are required, along with working knowledge of Grenada’s business registration process managed by the Companies and Intellectual Property Office (CAIPO). Prior experience working with women-led and youth-led enterprises is also a mandatory requirement. Additional assets that will strengthen an application include prior experience working in the fisheries sector, with marine protected areas, or on community-led conservation projects.

    All applications must be submitted electronically to GSDTF with the subject line “Business Development and Mentorship Consultancy”, addressed to Jenifer James, Chief Executive Officer of GSDTF. Applications should be sent to [email protected], with a copy marked to [email protected]. Full details of the role’s terms of reference are available via the dedicated page “Gender-Responsive MSME Business Mentor – Grenada MPA” or on the GSDTF official website at www.gsdtf.org/opportunities.

  • Hassan Hadeed is IGA International Retailer of the Year for the Caribbean

    Hassan Hadeed is IGA International Retailer of the Year for the Caribbean

    A homegrown Grenadian retail brand has cemented its status as a global standout in independent grocery, after Real Value Supermarket IGA’s top leader earned one of the industry’s most prestigious international distinctions. Managing Director Hassan Hadeed was officially named IGA International Retailer of the Year for the Caribbean, an honor presented during the Independent Grocers Alliance’s landmark Centennial Global Rally and Awards of Excellence held in Atlanta, Georgia.

    The 2026 award ceremony marked a dual celebration for the 100-year-old global IGA network, which gathered industry leaders and top-performing retailers from across the world to recognize excellence in independent grocery. For Hadeed and the entire Real Value team, this latest accolade is far more than a personal honor: it marks a major milestone for both the company and the Caribbean island nation it calls home.

    What makes this recognition particularly meaningful is that it is not the first time Real Value Supermarket IGA has earned global acclaim from the IGA network. The company claimed its first international IGA award back in 2009, during a ceremony held in Sydney, Australia. Seventeen years later, this second win underscores the brand’s unwavering commitment to upholding the highest standards across every area of its operations, from customer service and retail innovation to community engagement.

    This international achievement also aligns with another major milestone for the Grenadian retailer: 26 years of continuous service to local communities. Since launching, Real Value Supermarket IGA has experienced steady, intentional growth, consistently reinvesting in its workforce, upgrading customer experience, integrating new retail technology, expanding convenient shopping options, and supporting the local neighborhoods it serves.

    In his acceptance speech, Hadeed emphasized that the award is a collective win, not an individual achievement. Accepting the honor with humility and gratitude, he dedicated the recognition to the entire Real Value team, the company’s loyal customers, and the people of Grenada as a whole. Hadeed went on to credit the shared effort of every stakeholder that has contributed to the company’s success over the decades, from frontline employees and senior leadership to local suppliers, business partners, and generations of Grenadian shoppers who have supported the brand since its launch.

    Leadership at Real Value Supermarket IGA echoed that sentiment, extending congratulations to both Hadeed and the entire team for the hard work that earned this international distinction. For the Grenadian retailer, the honor sums up its identity perfectly: it is a brand rooted in Grenada, now recognized across the globe for its excellence.

  • Belize Joins Regional Plans for Investment Network

    Belize Joins Regional Plans for Investment Network

    At the 2026 World Trade Organization Public Forum held in Geneva, Switzerland, Belize has formally joined a coordinated regional push to boost cross-border investment and streamline business operations across Latin America and the Caribbean. The September 16 forum discussions, which brought together high-level government representatives and global development leaders, centered on advancing implementation of the WTO’s Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement and identifying actionable strategies to upgrade regional investment and regulatory environments. Representing Belize at the invitation of World Bank Vice President for Countries and Regional Integration Anabel González was Narda Garcia, Chief Executive Officer of the Prime Minister’s Office. A core focus of the talks was the proposed Regional Network for Investment Facilitation and Promotion, a collaborative framework designed to connect participating nations across the region. Under the network’s structure, member states will gain access to structured platforms to exchange successful policy experiences, upskill institutional teams, and secure targeted technical and financial resourcing to refine their domestic investment frameworks. The Inter-American Development Bank has already thrown its institutional and financial support behind the project, with formal launch ceremonies scheduled for October 20 in Panama. Once operational, the network will prioritize deepening regional coordination on investment policy, supporting member states in rolling out practical regulatory reforms, and closing capacity gaps for public institutions tasked with attracting and retaining foreign and domestic investment. Belize’s participation marks a key step toward expanding the initiative’s reach across Central America, aligning the small Caribbean nation with broader regional goals of inclusive economic growth through improved investment accessibility. Development leaders note that the agreement and accompanying regional network address longstanding barriers to investment in the region, including fragmented regulatory processes and limited institutional capacity to support new business ventures. For Belize, joining the network opens new opportunities to attract sustainable investment, share its own development experiences with peer nations, and access global expertise to refine its business climate.

  • ECAB Says ATM Services Restored Following Network Outage

    ECAB Says ATM Services Restored Following Network Outage

    Customers of the Eastern Caribbean Amalgamated Bank (ECAB) can now resume normal ATM transactions after an unexpected network outage disrupted cash withdrawals, transfers and other digital banking services across the institution’s entire ATM fleet. The regional financial institution confirmed Wednesday that the technical disruption, which had locked customers out of core automated banking services for an undisclosed period, has been fully resolved.

    Before the full restoration, ECAB had issued an initial alert informing account holders of the widespread outage affecting all its ATMs. The bank noted immediately that specialized technical teams were deployed to diagnose the root cause and bring services back online as quickly as possible. During the outage, customers were directed to access routine banking services through in-branch teller operations to meet their financial needs.

    In a public statement released following the fix, ECAB extended a formal apology to its customer base for the disruption to daily financial activities. The institution also expressed gratitude to clients for their patience and understanding while technical crews worked to resolve the issue. As of the latest update, ECAB has not released any details regarding the source of the outage, leaving questions about whether the disruption stemmed from a technical failure, maintenance issue, or other unforeseen event.

    The restoration of ATM service marks the conclusion of the incident, with regular automated banking operations now fully available across all ECAB locations.

  • Guatemalan exports to Dominican Republic could exceed US$2 billion, Agexport says

    Guatemalan exports to Dominican Republic could exceed US$2 billion, Agexport says

    A new collaborative agreement between Guatemala’s leading export body and the Dominican Republic’s national business organization is set to reshape bilateral trade ties, unlocking massive untapped growth potential for Guatemalan goods and services in the Caribbean market, according to official announcements from the business gathering in Santo Domingo.

    Currently, annual Guatemalan exports to the Dominican Republic hover around $282 million, but the Guatemalan Exporters Association (Agexport) projects that this figure could surge past $2 billion with targeted market development and improved trade connections. Six key sectors have been flagged as holding the greatest room for expansion: agribusiness, general agriculture, manufacturing, apparel and textiles, digital technology, and creative industries. Beyond growing existing trade flows, Agexport has also pinpointed a range of goods that the Dominican Republic currently sources from European nations, China, and other global suppliers that could be competitively provided by Guatemalan producers, opening new market share for Central American exporters.

    To turn this potential into tangible economic gains, Agexport and the Dominican Republic’s National Organization of Commercial Enterprises (ONEC) have formalized a new partnership focused on three core goals: strengthening long-term business-to-business ties, streamlining connections between Guatemalan exporters and Dominican importers, and pinpointing specific, actionable opportunities for cross-border trade and direct investment.

    The partnership was officially launched during the “Guatemala Closer Than You Imagine” business forum hosted in Santo Domingo, an event designed to introduce Dominican industry leaders to the full scope of Guatemala’s export offerings and cross-border investment opportunities.

    Paola Álvarez, Agexport’s International Export Promotion Manager, emphasized that the Dominican Republic has been designated a priority market for Guatemala’s export expansion strategy, with plans to grow both existing product lines already available in the country and break into entirely new trade categories. For her part, ONEC Executive Director Jenniffer Troncoso noted that the alliance will give enterprises on both sides improved access to critical market data, professional networks, and potential partnership openings, while fostering ongoing, productive dialogue between the two countries’ business communities.

    The forum also featured additional programming to deepen bilateral engagement, including detailed presentations on investment incentives and opportunities across Guatemalan industrial sectors, and firsthand case studies from Dominican companies that have already established successful trade and operations with the Central American nation.

  • Cooper sees cruise-and-stay potential in Sandals deal

    Cooper sees cruise-and-stay potential in Sandals deal

    A transformative $3 billion deal that sees Royal Caribbean Group acquire a 50% shareholding in Caribbean hospitality giant Sandals Resorts International has emerged as a potential game-changer for the stalled redevelopment of a closed resort in the Bahamas’ Exuma region, according to the country’s tourism minister. Cheste Cooper, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Exuma, told local media this week that the fresh capital injection from the major global cruise operator is set to unlock long-awaited progress on the conversion of the shuttered Sandals Emerald Bay property into the new Beaches Exuma family resort.

    Royal Caribbean’s widely reported agreement to purchase half of Sandals Resorts International, first announced in recent weeks, is on track to finalize in early 2027. Once completed, the transaction will bring all 20 of Sandals’ existing Caribbean resorts into a new joint venture between the two travel and leisure leaders. For the Exuma project, which has remained idle since the original Sandals Emerald Bay closed its doors in August 2024, Cooper said the deepened financial backing from Royal Caribbean makes the full redevelopment all but certain.

    The overhaul project is projected to require more than $100 million in total investment to transform the property into a premium family-friendly Beaches-branded destination. Planned upgrades include expanded and updated guest accommodations, new specialty dining outlets, a large-scale water park, new recreational sports facilities, and a range of modern visitor amenities that align with the Beaches brand’s family-focused value proposition. Cooper emphasized that the new capital from the joint venture is expected to flow directly into this project, and could also unlock additional tourism-focused investment across the Bahamas in the coming years.

    Beyond direct financial support, the MP and tourism minister laid out a compelling strategic case for the partnership, highlighting a unique opportunity to create integrated cruise-and-stay vacation packages that leverage Royal Caribbean’s industry-leading cruise operations and Sandals’ reputation for premium all-inclusive resort hospitality. As one of the world’s largest cruise line operators, Royal Caribbean already brings more cruise passengers to Bahamian ports than almost any other competitor, creating a natural synergy with the company’s new resort holdings.

    “This pairing of Royal Caribbean’s global transportation network with Sandals’ world-class hospitality creates a true win-win outcome that will benefit not just Exuma, but also New Providence and every Bahamian island that hosts Sandals properties,” Cooper noted. He added that as the representative for Exuma, he welcomes the agreement and is optimistic about the economic and employment gains it will deliver for local residents.

    Cooper also reflected on Sandals’ long-standing legacy as a homegrown Caribbean brand that has grown into a global hospitality leader. Founded in 1981 by the late Gordon “Butch” Stewart, Sandals now operates a portfolio of all-inclusive properties across the Caribbean under both its flagship Sandals adults-only brand and the family-focused Beaches brand, with locations spanning Jamaica, the Bahamas, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Barbados and multiple other regional destinations. “This is a Caribbean-born brand that has gone global, and that’s something to be proud of,” Cooper said. “I’ve seen firsthand how much it has contributed to the Exuma community over decades, and I’m excited to see what this next chapter brings.”

  • MICE tourism drives higher spending and diversification in Dominican Republic

    MICE tourism drives higher spending and diversification in Dominican Republic

    SANTO DOMINGO – Business events travelers visiting the Dominican Republic for conferences, conventions, corporate meetings and other professional gatherings spend nearly three times as much during their stay as traditional leisure tourists, according to a senior industry leader.

    Aguie Lendor, executive vice president of the Dominican Association of Hotels and Tourism (Asonahores), told attendees at the opening of SDQ MICE 2026 that this segment of the tourism industry delivers outsized economic benefits to local communities and the national economy.

    Lendor explained that visitors traveling for professional events inject far greater revenue into local markets through elevated spending on accommodation, local cuisine, ground transportation, leisure activities and other hospitality services. This dynamic makes the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector a particularly critical growth pillar for the capital city of Santo Domingo, he added.

    Data from the Dominican Central Bank shows that for the first half of 2026, the average daily spending of all non-resident foreign visitors stood at US$179.48. Applying Lendor’s three-time spending premium for MICE travelers, that puts the average daily spending of business event visitors at roughly US$538 per day.

    While exact headcount data for MICE-specific travelers is not yet available, Lendor estimates that this segment makes up approximately 4 percent of total annual tourist arrivals to the country. Between January and August of this year alone, the Dominican Republic recorded 6,610,258 air arrivals, meaning more than 264,000 of those visitors traveled for business events based on Lendor’s estimate.

    Lendor emphasized that the expansion of MICE tourism is a core component of the national tourism industry’s strategy to diversify beyond the country’s long-standing sun-and-beach leisure model, opening new revenue streams for businesses across the island.

    He added that the MICE sector is already gaining solid traction across multiple key destinations, including the capital Santo Domingo, the second-largest city Santiago, and multiple popular spots in the country’s eastern region. Beyond direct visitor spending, the growth of MICE tourism is creating new small business opportunities across the country and strengthening local supply chains for hospitality and event services.

  • National seminar highlights strategies to strengthen Dominica’s livestock sector

    National seminar highlights strategies to strengthen Dominica’s livestock sector

    On September 22, 2026, Dominica’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy brought hundreds of livestock industry stakeholders together at Goodwill Parish Hall for a landmark national seminar focused on revitalizing the country’s domestic poultry and pig sectors. Under the guiding theme “Produce Local, Consume Local, Secure the Future,” the collaborative event was co-organized by the Ministry, the East Caribbean Group of Companies (ECGC), and regional local distributors, creating a shared space for cross-sector dialogue and actionable planning.

    Attendees spanned every segment of the local livestock ecosystem: small-scale and commercial farmers, veterinary and agricultural technical specialists, animal feed and input suppliers, and retail distribution representatives. Core discussions centered on updating outdated production practices, addressing persistent supply chain gaps, and building more integrated, mutually beneficial connections between producers, processors and local markets to support long-term sector growth.

    The seminar unfolded against a backdrop of major public investment in Dominica’s livestock infrastructure, anchored by the fully reconstructed National Abattoir at Layou Park. First destroyed when Hurricane Maria pummeled the island nation in 2017, the upgraded facility represents a transformative upgrade for the local meat industry. Built with more than EC$5 million in government investment, plus additional public funding earmarked for farmer preparedness and production support, the new abattoir boasts a processing capacity of 1,000 poultry birds per hour and up to 50 pigs per day. As of 2026, the facility has entered its final stages of completion and operational testing, with officials set to launch full operations in the coming months.

    Government leaders outlined three core goals for the new abattoir: creating a consistent, reliable formal market for local livestock farmers that eliminates inconsistent pricing and market access barriers, raising national meat processing and food safety standards to meet both domestic consumer demand and regional export requirements, and cutting Dominica’s heavy reliance on imported poultry and pork products to keep more food spending within the local economy.

    Seminar organizers reported strong engagement from all participating groups, noting that the event successfully created space for on-the-ground producers to voice challenges and collaborate with policymakers and industry leaders to identify practical, implementable solutions for building a more resilient, productive local livestock sector. The seminar and upcoming abattoir launch form part of a broader, ongoing government strategy to expand domestic agricultural output, upskill local farmers, and strengthen the country’s long-term food security by meeting growing consumer demand for locally raised poultry and pork.

  • ECAB Says It Is Working to Restore ATM Services Following Network Outage

    ECAB Says It Is Working to Restore ATM Services Following Network Outage

    Customers of the Eastern Caribbean Amalgamated Bank (ECAB) have been unable to complete routine transactions across the institution’s entire automated teller machine network after an unplanned outage hit the system this week, the bank has confirmed. In a public statement addressing the service disruption, ECAB shared that its in-house technical team has been deployed full-time to diagnose and resolve the root cause of the outage, with the top priority being bringing all ATM terminals back online as quickly as possible. Until full service is restored, the bank is directing all customers seeking to access cash or complete account transactions to visit one of its five physical branch locations, which remain fully operational. These in-branch facilities are situated at Coolidge, Redcliffe Street, High Street, Woods Mall, and Dockyard respectively. ECAB has issued a formal apology to its customer base for the inconvenience caused by the unexpected outage, and expressed gratitude for clients’ understanding and patience as the technical team works through the issue. Notably, the regional financial institution has not yet released any details regarding what triggered the network outage, nor has it provided a concrete estimated timeline for when customers can expect full ATM functionality to be restored.

  • SVGTA CEO Shafia London selected for International Women’s Forum Leadership Fellows

    SVGTA CEO Shafia London selected for International Women’s Forum Leadership Fellows

    A groundbreaking milestone for women’s leadership in the Eastern Caribbean has recently been achieved, as Shafia London, Chief Executive Officer of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority (SVGTA), has become the first woman from the sub-region to earn a spot in the International Women’s Forum (IWF) globally renowned Leadership Fellows Program. Beyond this historic selection, London has also been awarded one of the program’s highly competitive tuition scholarships – an honor granted to only a tiny fraction of global participants each year.

    Scholarship funding for the IWF fellowship is extraordinarily scarce, with the organization confirming that typically just two to four full or partial awards are distributed across the entire international cohort of selected fellows. London’s nomination was submitted by IWF Barbados, during a period of major professional transition when she was based and working in the neighboring country. Shortly after her nomination, she returned to her native St. Vincent and the Grenadines to take up the top leadership role at SVGTA on July 1, and will now complete the year-long fellowship while serving in her new position, putting the eastern Caribbean nation on the global leadership stage.

    Founded as an invitation-only global network, the IWF connects more than 8,400 top-tier women leaders across 78 regional fora operating in 37 countries. Its membership draws from every major professional field, including business, government, academia, science, the arts and beyond, uniting women who hold the highest levels of influence and leadership across the globe. Now entering its fourth decade of operation, the Leadership Fellows Program stands as IWF’s signature leadership development initiative. Each year, a highly competitive global selection process chooses up to 50 high-achieving leaders from a diverse range of countries, industries, and professional backgrounds to participate in an intensive 12-month leadership development experience.

    The program curriculum includes immersive leadership training and executive education coursework hosted at world-leading academic institutions: INSEAD’s campus in Fontainebleau, France, and the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. It also adds international leadership programming hosted in Mexico City, before the fellowship concludes with the annual IWF World Leadership Conference and Gala held in Miami. Each selected fellow is also paired with an accomplished veteran IWF member to provide personalized one-on-one mentorship, and all participants are required to complete a legacy project that translates program lessons into tangible, community-focused impact beyond individual professional growth.

    In reflecting on her dual honor of selection and scholarship, London emphasized that the funding made the achievement even more meaningful. “To be selected from a global field for the Fellowship was already an honour, but to also receive one of the very limited scholarships available adds another dimension to it,” she said. “I intend to make full use of the opportunity — not simply for my own development, but to bring the learning, relationships and global perspectives back into the work we are doing to advance tourism in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.”

    London also noted that the unique circumstances of her nomination make the recognition even more significant: nominated while building her career in Barbados, she will take part in the fellowship after returning home to serve her native country. “I am deeply grateful to the women of IWF Barbados who believed in me enough to put my name forward, and equally proud to carry St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the wider Eastern Caribbean into this global space,” she added.

    Drawing from her own personal journey, London highlighted the broader inspirational message of her achievement. “I have always believed that where you begin does not determine where you end. For a girl who grew up in a small village in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, opportunities like this reinforce the importance of dreaming boldly, doing the work and, importantly, having people who are willing to open doors for others.”

    For SVGTA, London’s participation in the fellowship extends far beyond individual professional development. The program will grant her access to cutting-edge international leadership frameworks, elite executive education, and a global network of senior women leaders spanning every major sector. This opportunity comes at a critical time for the organization, which is currently working to strengthen its internal capacity, build new cross-border partnerships, and deliver on an ambitious strategic agenda to boost the competitiveness and global profile of St. Vincent and the Grenadines as a premium tourism destination.

    “Tourism is ultimately a people and leadership business,” London explained. “As we work to strengthen the global competitiveness of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, we must continue to expose ourselves to new thinking, global best practices and networks that can create opportunities for our destination.”

    London’s historic selection marks a key milestone for women’s leadership across the Eastern Caribbean, and brings St. Vincent and the Grenadines into a powerful global leadership network that crosses national, industrial, and cultural boundaries.