“We also know that (getting) small
personal loans are much more
difficult for entrepreneurs than
for a salaried person,” John, the
filmmaker behind the popular and
riveting documentary, Who Are
You?, said.
Nevertheless, Chastanet said
government’s best plans to aid
small business is contingent on
attracting enough foreign direct
investment (FDI), adding that
government’s fiscal challenges
limits its spending and, therefore,
what areas in which it can spend.
It all comes down to whether the
risks are justified, he said.
“Small businesses are like turtles
laying eggs; hundreds of eggs are
laid but only a handful of those
eggs actually succeed in becoming
adult turtles,” Chastanet said.
“But the fact is that you don’t
know which ones are going to
be successful. Nevertheless, the
tourism industry is a platform to
help small businesses, especially in
the export market because it brings
that market to our shores.”
Head of Startup Huddle Saint
Lucia, Michelle N. Samuel, has
been playing a pivotal role in
empowering startups with the
requisite knowledge.
Just this month, Export Saint Lucia
announced that that agency was
able to create export opportunities
between Saint Lucia and the
United States for local businesses,
including startups. It’s definitely a
huge achievement, with the agency
promising to ramp up efforts to
create links where barriers still
exist.
If you’re already a startup or
thinking of setting up shop, there
are several agencies from which
you can seek advice, including the
Small Enterprise Development Unit
(SEDU), St. Lucia Industrial and
Small Business Association (SLISBA),
and Startup Huddle Saint Lucia.
Through their regular workshops
and trade shows, you can also get a
sense of what the market expects.
So are you ready to get your feet
wet? Yes? No? Well, I’ll tell you
this: after interviewing scores of
entrepreneurs over the past eleven
years, I learned this much: that to
become successful, you have to
first believe that the dream is worth
the risk, the risk is worth the effort,
and the effort is worth the hard
work and dedication you’re willing
to bring to the table.
The least you can do is start. The
best that can happen is that move
up.
Let’s get this started, shall we?
HEALTH TIPS
Tomato is a superstar in the fruit and
veggie pantheon. Tomatoes contain
lycopene, a powerful cancer fighter.
They’re also rich in vitamin C. The good
news is that cooked tomatoes are also
nutritious, so use them in pasta, soups
and casseroles, as well as in salads.
The British Thoracic Society says that
tomatoes and apples can reduce
your risk of asthma and chronic lung
diseases. Both contain the antioxidant
quercetin. To enjoy the benefits, eat
five apples a week or a tomato every
other day.
www.slyoumag.com | July-August 2019
SL-YOU | Business, People & Lifestyle 73