FREE
Take & share
with a friend
SAINT LUC IA BUSINESS, PEOPLE & LIFEST YLE MAGA ZINE
SL YOU
Live Saint Lucia
GET ON UP WITH
THOSE STARTUPS
Small Entrepreneurs
seem determined to
get their startups going
ECCB DIGITAL
CURRENCY
BITT & ECCB making
easier for future digital
financial activity in
the OECS
AUTOMOTIVE ART
Expands in the South
Welcome to the very first issue of SLYOU, the business, people and lifestyle
magazine that promises to keep you up-to-date with the latest trends in a
wide array of areas -- business, leisure, arts, entertainment, environment,
health and wellness, tourism, science and technology, to name a few.
After diligently poring over scores of pages of equally informative and rich
content, we’ve managed to narrow this issue down to just the right mix we
know you will enjoy and be inspired and informed by.
Our reader-friendly magazine is for every demographic – from young to not-
so-young – and features page layout formats that are pleasing to the eye. In
fact, everything about the magazine was designed with a critical eye, if only
to crave your indulgence for subsequent issues.
Three years ago, when Kwency “Pringles” Griffith and Elijah Williams took a
huge leap of faith and started their own radio station, they did so with the
conviction and determination that they must succeed in not only growing the
business or following their dreams, but also satisfying their customers and
other stakeholders’ expectations. That is why our SLYOU team deliberately
chose to make Vybe Radio the main feature of our first issue. We wish them
the very best going forward as we, too, chart our course.
While SLYOU Magazine is run by a team of professionals with many years
of experience in various creative fields, the magazine actually belongs to
YOU – each and every Saint Lucian who makes up this great country of ours.
With that in mind, we endeavour to cover as much as we can under the sun,
especially YOU.
Again, welcome, and keep reading!
`
Students
Science an Impress At
d Technolo
gy
Story and Photos
by Stan Bishop
Stan Bishop
Editor/Chief Content Officer
Art
otive the
Autom
nds in
Expa
th
Sou
Exploring
The Amazing
Strength of
Women
process.
of
ds in the
nal awar the Employer es
ed
rpris
and regio
of local ve Art has earn Medium Ente on, the
plethora
l and
moti
. In additi llence
seen a Locally, Auto d in the Smal
and 2018 eting Exce
.
awar
we have south,
the Year for 2016, 2017 rd for Mark in early 2018 ve
the years nsize in the
rds
e over
or dow south.”
category won the Awa ess Awa the Automoti
. Whil
s close
Busin
,
the
any
of the
operation of businesse
itted to
e comp last St. Lucia regional front winners
Year
the mov
number remained comm
at the
on the was crowned chise of the
Story and Photos by Stan Bishop
trumped customer Meantime,
, 2016
h,
Fran
we have
team
all
Art
Josep
- 2015 Fort
years
Yannik
the over of comfort, Art St. Lucia Automotive
Vieux
rvisor, improving
ecutive
areas
gh, the
wed
Store Supe pivotal in
prestigious three cons wasn’t enou ) was besto
h in the
g
and
rd for
Lucia
if that
as bein e in the sout y.
Art (St. l Store for 2017
as Awa 2017. And
motive
himself
experienc ce and safet
and
Smal
ribed
in his branch of Auto ce Award –
desc
tic
convenien
who
ecsta
rman
to
, was
customer,
They are the Perfo
streak
x Fort for many years for them.
nning
iling
high
.
One Vieu
award-wi e and had
is A1
mer
the deta are 2018
ce
in
the
custo
have
llenc
utes
r servi They expla
According to UN WomenWatch
they
a loyal
I
g.
s
mer exce loyees: “We
day attrib
mation,
“Custome
Organization: “Rural women play
praise: they are carin some infor to know. And
Mr. Halli itment to custo ve Art emp Our employee
mer
a key role in supporting their
friendly, car. If you need you need the community a comm the Automoti motive Art.
al custo
that
to
for
ess.”
households and communities
at Auto
exception
of your give you all
praise
service
ering
nued succ
llent team
to
in achieving food and nutrition
g a good
there
an exce ly about deliv al to our conti st auto-care
are doin
security, generating income, and
’s large
services.
refinishes care deep es. This is critic
think they country.”
it
Caribbean ucts and
motive
the
improving rural livelihoods and
paint
rienc
is the
ados,
prod
and to
in the auto automotive on, expe
ve Art
overall well-being.”
ncement ters in Barb sive of 15
roots lie
lier of d. In additi
Automoti of car enha
quar
ve Art’s
ng supp
tries
tries, inclu
providing retailer corporate head
the islan
Automoti It is the leadi
60 coun s in nine coun ates
In education, women’s roles in
ve
lies on forefront of
its
oper
s in over
market. -body supp
automoti , With
store
Art
the
ensuring that they instil values in
to
trade
ve
hise
at
ing
ies and
the years to currently ve Art franc
and auto ve Art is
Automoti
their children from a young age
and train d. Over
elle, Castr
bean.
n
moti
islan
Automoti expertise
have proven to be a major factor in
has grow tyres, Auto ghout the Carib : At Vide Bouti
t the
cted
ucts
nical
ghou
Lucia
expe
prod
ves,
tech
throu
their children’s social development.
s throu olio of
s in St
the
lopment
ical additi ucts.
body shop any’s portf
two store Vieux Fort.
Moreover, over the years, more
of deve DSH project,
ucts, chem audio prod
ney,
of a surge such as the
and
the comp iling prod
La Tour
women have become empowered
es
light
ed
deta
in
com 37
ssori
ly
x Fort
veArt.
port.
le
ti
Women comprise nearly 43% of
For centuries,
part
of being
a
include tools, acce
to finish high school and tertiary
experienc a
is time
in Vieu
Peop
e ship
Automo
has
yle & synonymous
ing
ww w.
excited
a chic to take place
the world’s agricultural labour
woman
has been
the cruis
education, often to increase their
batteries,
Lucia) years, earn
esss Lifest
rt and
opened
was very ns are
(St.
Busin
new
t
|
has
airpo
day,
force,
with
as
much
as
70%
in
with
many
great
expectations
and
self-esteem and improve the socio-
U
Art
The
new
Halli
) Ltd
SL-YO
ve
in recen
Fort patro t their
x Fort.
ha’s
Lyndell
some countries. As mothers, they
responsibilities. While in some
economic standing of their families.
(St. Lucia ney, Vieu
Vieux
Automoti nal growth
at Mart
e abou nued
Manager, store: “Our
ve Art
La Tour tly located
also play the largest decision-
cultures women are virtually
In many instances, too, they have
ey
passionat
conti
phenome
and takes General
Tourn
Automoti store in
new
very
way
La
their
enien
the
new
Fort
worshipped as gods, other cultures making role about family meal
t. The
t the
shattered glass ceilings, thereby
and are
is conv Laborie High
ful for
elle
Vieux
290
brand
enhancing
h,
store
454-8 2019
Road outle a more abou mely loyal
Vide Bouti
planning and diet. Women are the
choose to discriminate against
empowering and inspiring other
x Fort/
are grate
(758)
s was
the Sout
ies
June-July
extre
expanded on the Vieu
New Dock customers
Castr
and we in our mind mers in
444 com |
new
and
primary
caretakers
of
children
and
what
they
deemed
“the
fairer
sex”.
ious
women via such precedents.
les
453-6
s
ing
ing
mag.
this
prev
custo
(758)
most
vehic
park
offer
Build
with
of the
the elderly in every part of the
Notwithstanding the disparity,
ation
www.slyou
better
store
mark
e for our
ort. Fore
the place Tourney oper environment, cular, the
h supp ping experienc have hit the
world and are resilient whenever
there is no denying that the roles
In Saint Lucia, women account for
we
In parti tools, whic
shop
ve
new La le shopping
ucts.
ty
the family’s economic fortune is
women play trump even the Oscar
51.08% of the population in 2019.
prod
we belie
July 2019
ents for
of quali
comfortab
tion of
| June-
threatened.
for Best Actress.
In fact, women accounted for the
r array owing segm store and
r selec
mag.com
a wide
new
st-gr
a wide
stocking of the faste the expanded
www.slyou
be
will
one
ing of
24 SL-YOU | Businesss Lifestyle & People
www.slyoumag.com | June-July 2019
represents any. The open
the comp
le
Peop
U
36 SL-YO
esss
| Busin
Lifestyle
Take
of Yo Charge
Visio ur Child’s
n He
alth
www.slyoumag.com
Noel, who hails
co-founder of from Laborie, is
which creates Invictus, a company
various areas, workable solutions in
water supply including improving
in drought-affected
areas. The innovativ
e spirit,
said, continue
s to blossom. he
“I never stop
learning and
experimenting.
I have like four At any given time,
or five possible
innovations
swirling in my
just waiting
for the right head,
time
opportunity
to be pitched,” and
Last February
, the Ministry he said.
Education, Innovatio
of
n, Gender
Relations, and
Development Sustainable
and private and key public
sector stakehold
launched the
ers
Decade of Research
and Innovatio
n
themed Unleashi (2019-2029)
ng Our Creativit
Crafting Our
y,
Destiny.
Fair
| June-July 2019
The aim is to
stimulate and
develop a culture
scientific thinking of innovative
nationally-driven and analysis with
research
designed to
offer sustainab studies
solutions to
socio-economic le
issues within
the
foster apolitica local context and
evidence-based l, sustainable and
decision- making.
A reduction
“From sheer
of the island’s
frustration in
continued reliance
school system,
the
van help students
on metropo
countries to
cope. However I just couldn’t
litan
produce
offer
solutions to
issues that impact solutions to
challenges such
that to interfere , I never allowed
climate change,
us, as well
as
with my desire
as
maximizi
to contribute
ng opportun
technological noting that recent
to
ities for
infusing innovatio
read, experime my nation. So I
a huge impact advances have had
national economy ns across the
I worked some nted and created.
many areas, across the globe in
that foster
sustainable
including improvin
fund my need terrible jobs to
national developm
water and energy
g
and visionary
waiting for the to experiment, just
ent
management,
transportation
is expected to problem-solving,
opportunity,” right time and right
systems and
be among the
safety.
he told the students
public
outcomes.
.
s
Noel said his
“Technologies
success was
Dr.
Gale Rigobert
mixture of good
a
, Minister
intelligence, such as artificial
for Educatio
big
work and support luck, hard
n,
biology, satellite data, synthetic
and advice
Sustainable Innovation and
from well-cho
and drone
Development,
technologies
sen friends and
that over the
said
mentors, viewing
can create
years
opportunities
each failure
showcased some students have
an opportun
as
ity
sustainable to address
brilliant projects
at the fair. However
development
journey more to begin the next
numerous areas,
goals in
, she noted
that her
noted, is the intelligently. This, he
health, agricultu including poverty, necessar Ministry will provide
recipe for creating
the
solutions for
y shepherd
today’s problem the water scarcity, re, education,
take the students ing that would
He said science
and alternati
s.
’ ideas to
sources of energy,”
ve
and technolo
to commerc
gy
he stated.
ialization to market
www.slyoumag.com
profit-
making.
During activities marking this year’s
Women’s Month, observed in
March, Alliance Francaise hosted
a forum which attracted women
from various spheres of society:
government, business, media,
non-governmental organizations
-- you name it, they were there.
Past Babonneau MP, Alvina
Reynolds, and Governor General
Emerita, Dame Pearlette Louisy,
were among the nearly two dozen
women sitting in the circle in
The Pyramid at Pointe Seraphine
discussing, analyzing, critiquing and
They soon learn how
to operate a machine
-- from a man who
introduced them to it
-- that makes low-cost,
biodegradable sanitary
napkins, which they sell to
other women at affordable
prices. This not only helps
to improve feminine hygiene
by providing access to basic
products, but also supports and
empowers the women to shed
the taboos in India surrounding
menstruation – all while
www.slyoumag.com | June-July 2019
&
6 SL-YOU | Business, People & Lifestyle
SL-YOU | Businesss
Lifestyle & People
A Close Shave with
Success for a Saint Lucia
Entrepreneur
VYBE RADIO
Celebrating 3
amazing years!
STRESS & SEX
Stress can destroy
so many areas of
your life including sex
WWW.SLYOUMAG.COM
On the cover is Vybe Radio
Celebrating 3 years of success
Published by SL YOU Media
P.O. Box 844
Castries General Post Office
Email: [email protected]
www.slyoumag.com
Editor/Chief Content Officer
Stan Bishop
Creative Director/Production
Manager
Carlisle Searles
Advertising
email: [email protected]
Publisher SL-YOU Media
Contributors: Allan Haynes, Stan
Bishop, David Lloyd, Manendra
George-Roberts, Erin Gray Claire
Thompson, Gyanchand Rayman
Photos: Stan Bishop,
Gisele Bernard, Pexels,
Vision Express
61
Information contained in our published
works have been obtained by SLYOU
Media from sources believed to be
reliable. However, neither SLYOU Media
nor its authors guarantee the accuracy or
completeness of any information published
in print or on slyoumag.com.
”
While
a grea technology
can
it can t tool for
learni be
serio
your
usly
damag ng,
child
’s ey
e
July 2019
es.
www.slyou
mag.com
| June-
”
SL-YOU
SL-YOU | Businesss Lifestyle & People 25
CUT BUDDY
Copyright & Disclaimer
The opinions expressed in this magazine
are those of the author(s) and do not
reflect the opinions of SLYOU Media or its
Editors.
| June-July 2019
Although
screening many
at scho children
those
evaluatio ol or by receive
vision
ns aren their pedi a vision
Dr. Milli
atric
’t enou
health. issues and
cent
Parents
manage gh to iden ians, and
their
who
senio Knight,
tify
over
child
developm r vice- a mother,
and corre ’s vision take a proa all visio
optometr
n
ent for presiden
everyday ct prob health can ctive role
t of
ist
Essilor
in
lems
life.
of Ame customer
before help identify Schedule
rica.
a
they
One
impact compreh comprehensiv
com
importan ensive eye
e eye exam
myopia. mon issue
exam
t duri
are
59
myopia Better know affecting
ng child s are part : Regular
deve
n as near children
Optometr loping
icularly
hood
objects is a cond
rapid
when
is
ition
sigh
ly.
everythin appear clear
in whic tedness, eye exam ic Associati
eyes
on reco The Ame
ination
h close
g beco
least
but,
focus.
rican
mme
at
once
-up
at a
mes
If untr
distance, annually between 6-12 months nds a first
blurry
eyes
at risk eated, over
ages
and
betw
of
age,
3-5, then
een ages
condition
out
time
for
at
6-18.
s, inclu serious visio it can put of Monitor
at least
early
screen
cataract ding retin n-threat the be a
degenera
time:
enin
great
al
Whi
tool
tion and developm detachm g time
can lead for learn le technolo
glaucom ent, mac ent, in
ing,
gy can
There
to digit
tired
a.
ular
al eyes all that scree
vision eyes, head
impacts, can be
train,
and incre aches,
resulting n
too. Near significa
help
itchy
with
ased
reduce
nt
eyes,
myo
ly
perio
blurred
eyestrain sensitivity
classroom pia expe 50 percent short-ter
dic
m
to
myopic , and 41 rience diffi of children remembe breaks whil , have child light. To
culty
percent
r to
e usin
children
ren take
scree
with
in
everyday claim their of parents the have n time and strike a bala g devices
study
and
child
with
show
nce
outd
activ
conducte
ren strug
n that
between
oor
ities,
be at
Essilor
kids who time, as
d by
acco
a
gle
issues. reduced
studies
those of America. MetrixLab rding to
risk of play outs
struggles
a
However on beha
developin ide may
Only
lf of
as myo
, reco
41
g visio
pia
gnizing Protect
recogniz percent
n
of pare isn’t alwa
ed
to reme eyes from
from
ys easy
nts in
myopia. their child
the stud . are outd mber suns the sun:
ren were
Pare
suffering y eyes are oors, but creen whe nts tend
If your
they
n
heighten just as impo
sometim children
for symp child is suffe
celebrating
the achievements and
lion’s share of the population for
outdoors ed risk for rtant. Child es forg
objects, toms such ring from
et
myopia,
aspirations
of women.
as squi
every five-year period since 1950
retinal
ren
beca
to adul
sitting like the
nting
damage are at
look
ts, are use their
board
to see
and are projected to continue that
too
insid
pupils,
whe
larger
books
distant
close
in the
e the
The audience
trend until 2095, according to the
and was first
outd
compare n
eye
harm
experienc tablets to the TV classroom
ful blue is clearer, oors and
d
treated to ing
a screening
Central Statistics Office.
close
;
or
the
which
light
eyestrain when read holding into the
enables lens
from
of the documentary,
eye.
duri
ing;
or
Enco
the
mor
In addi
Period.End of Sentence., headaches. and do ng the sun’s urage kids sun to ente e
Clearly, the role of women
can also tion to mon
go
peak
to
r
which won the Academy
should not be underestimated.
with outside, have hours, and stay insid
child’s take proa itoring symp
both
e
ctive
when
Award
this
for
Best
However, that’s not always the
them
visio
tom
protectio blue
step
n year
they
wear
heal
th with s to protect s, you
n that light prot
sunglasse
Documentary,
Short
case, especially in a culture where
86 SL-YO
ectio
blocks
s
U | Busin
Subject.
The 25-minute- these tips your
male machismo and stigmatization
UVA and n and
esss Lifest
from
UVB rays. UV
long documentary,
against women often blur the
yle & Peop
le
released in April 2018,
true picture of a woman’s worth.
takes viewers through
For instance, even if a woman is
qualified for a job, she is more than the lives of women in
www.slyou
rural India who struggle
likely to lose that job, not given a
mag.com
with periods still being
pay raise or refused promotion if
| June-
July 2019
taboo and often end up
she refuses to give into the sexual
being the end of a girl’s
desires of her male supervisor or
education.
employer.
ISSUE 1
JUNE JULY
2019
PRINT | DIGITAL INTERACTIVE | MOBILE
Explore the business, people and lifestyle of
Saint Lucia inside and be inspired.
Science and
technology plays
crucial role in
a
year’s National
Whether it’s our everyday lives.
Schools’ Science
getting a flu
Technology
&
Fair.
vaccine or
checking your
problem,” she
on your iPhone, WhatsApp messages
“You have the told the students.
The three-da
innovation made some level of
y event, held
sometimes we answers and
Walcott
at Derek
it all possible.
starts with an
Some of the have to look to you.
It all 29, had Square from March 27-
very
a focused
the importan idea and that’s where
you are displayin projects that
Resilience Through theme: Building
t role of inventors
g at the Science
comes in.
and Technolo
Science
Technology.
gy Fair can be
Schoolchildren and
solutions to
the
some very difficult
across the island
from
situations we
array of projects, showcased a vast
currently face.”
various categorie competing in
s. They all seemed The Science and
poised to win
showcased 49 Technology Fair
and
even
inspired
and impresse
from schools of the best projects
d
applauded their many patrons who
around the island.
This year, WASCO
efforts, especiall
when they describe
collaborated
y
with
the Ministry
During the opening d their projects.
of Education
create a new
to
Giannetti George, ceremony,
category, dubbed
the WASCO
Water Challeng
Officer, Natural Curriculum
which students
e,
Sciences, said
science and
were encourag for
technolo
to develop projects
ed
to us being resilient gy is crucial
relating to the
sourcing and
people,
adding that
supply of potable
Science, Technolo
water.
Engineering
and Math helps gy,
There was
solve many everyday
definitely no
Feature speaker,
problem
She encourag
shortage of
Karlis Noel,
innovation
when the Ministry
inventor of a
ed the students s.
become the
water desalinati
to
of Educatio
world’s next
Innovation,
plant, told the
on
Gender Relations n,
batch
pioneers.
HEALTH of
Sustainable
while he wasn’t students that
and
Development
CORNE
a straight-A
up with the
student
teamed
R at school,
Saint
“Do not think
Science Associati Lucia National
reader of Popular he was an avid
young to be that you are too
on to host this
an innovato
Popular Science Electronics and
r or find
the solution
to a difficult
experimenting magazines, often
60 SL-YOU
societal
and re-creati
| Businesss
he read.
ng what
Lifestyle & People
FREE
Take & share
with a friend
| Busin
esss
Lifestyle
& Peop
le 87
All rights reserved 2019. No part of any
SLYOU Magazine work may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, without written permission
from the publisher and authors.
www.slyoumag.com | July-August 2019