THE 2010 ST. LUCIA BUSINESS AWARDS
January 28, 2010
Edward Harris At Large!
THE 2010 ST. LUCIA BUSINESS AWARDS
WERE WELL RECEIVED!!!
It was a glorious night as the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in collaboration with the Government of Saint Lucia hosted the Saint Lucia Business Awards on Saturday 23th January, 2009. I congratulate the organizers and the service providers who made the event such an outstanding one.
Upon arrival of guests, photographs were taken at the entrance to the lobby of the Jefferson Clinton Ball Room. At the far end of the lobby interviews were done in a setting that caused many to stand in awe. The back drops at all points of interest were outstanding. In my recollection of all the functions I attended at the Sandals Grande, the setting and the gathering were exceptionally outstanding. This was a classic event graced by the presence of the Governor General and Prime Minister. It is a night that will long be remembered. I was very impressed with the attendance of young Executives from the public and private sectors.
In most things hind sight will always prove valuable and while not taking away any of the luster from the event there are many views that will help to make the next event a better one. Generally, it is felt that the Awards should take on a more national scope and involve all sectors if it is to live up to its title – St. Lucia Business Awards. When all aspects are considered, it will be nice to award the movers and shakers operating in all areas of industry and commerce in our midst. The door to a whole new initiative has been opened and it is time to put a secretariat into operation to plan and execute St. Lucia Business Awards. Take the project to the next level where an indepth look at the operations of each company nominated will be undertaken.
I take it that any company worthy of an award should have no difficulty in providing information about its operation, except in cases where age old secret formulae are involved. Method of Distribution, Fair Compensation and outright policy position in relation to recognition and the treatment of operators in the distribution chain and the end user should one of the key areas for scrutiny. Corporate Social Responsible must be featured in every category. Businesses must reach out to communities to empower their customers - socially and financially. That brings me to the point that effective distribution can create jobs.
To the companies which received the awards, I challenge the management and their staff to live up to the high expectations of the nation and in particular the guests who witnessed the ceremony. It was a moving experience. Two young Executives walked away with the Entrepreneur of the Year and Idea of the Year awards – Adrian Augier and Rayneau Gajadhar respectively seem to be ready to take Saint Lucia to the next level. Lots of great things can come out of the simple recognition of our leaders in the private sector. This is surely one important step in motivating our Entrepreneurs to a level of excellence.
I await with bated breath the IMAC (Internet Marketing Association of the Caribbean) Internet Marketing Seminar scheduled for the 6th & 7th of February 2010. Experts in the field of Internet Marketing from the United States will teach St. Lucians how to use the Internet to create employment. Mr. Choix Melchoir, principal promoter of the two day event makes the point that “there is No Government Agency, No Industry, No Business entity in St. Lucia that can provide jobs for all our people; we need to empower ourselves and to provide income for ourselves; the Internet is the only medium that we know that can most adequately provide employment for our people”. Please visit http//www.imacaribbean.com for further details on the event.
While we plan for the next big occasion, one where we will have to take note of excellence, I must make the point that the time is right for an exclusive MAN SHOP in St. Lucia. A Hand Book on Dressing for Success will also be helpful. There are few times that an invitation is sent out with the dress code being FORMAL, last Saturday evening was one such occasion. Usually the dress code is ELEGANTLY CASUAL which is not clearly understood by many, so is business attire. It is time for us to get specific. The ladies are always at their best. Maybe it is because there are so many Boutiques around, catering almost exclusively to women. It is time for the men to get fussy and be well groomed. Let us do it in 2010!
***CES closes the books: 120000 attendees and 5000 press trekked to Vegas***
Keep the Faith, God is in Charge and expect Daily Miracles!
Edward Harris
Biblicist, Freelance Journalist, Realtor, Business & PR Consultant
Email: eaharrisdestiny@gmail.com
Websites: www.stluciasimplybeautiful.com www.brainstorminggroup.webs.com
www.cariblist.com St. Lucia – Agent ECREDMC