News from East Caribbean Financial Holding Company Limited

East Caribbean Financial Holding Company Limited

Issue No. 2

ECFH Increases Support of Saint Lucia Jazz Festival in 2010

ECFH and two of its subsidiaries Bank of Saint Lucia and EC Global Insurance have given enthusiastic support to the island's premier musical event, the Saint Lucia Jazz Festival. The company's level of sponsorship has grown considerably from year to year, and 2010's contribution will be the largest with over $80,000.00 committed to this year's festival. As an indigenous financial institution, ECFH and its subsidiaries have consistently supported the Saint Lucia Jazz Festival due to its commitment to the socio-economic development of the island. Up to 2009, ECFH had contributed in excess of $600,000.00 to Saint Lucia Jazz.

This year, ECFH's largest subsidiary, Bank of Saint Lucia maintains its Gold sponsorship of Jazz in the South and Soufriere Creole Jazz which ensures that the festival's reach and benefits go beyond the north of the island. For the first time, Vieux Fort will be added as a venue for Jazz in the South with the Coconut Bay Beach Resort hosting three nights of jazz performances. Jazz on the Pier rounds out the events that Bank of Saint Lucia will be supporting this year. Its sister subsidiary, EC Global, has given its commitment to Jazz on the Square while ECFH, the parent company, is bronze sponsor of Main Stage Jazz on Pigeon Island. As bronze sponsors, the company will also be providing a bureau de change service through its subsidiary, Bank of Saint Lucia for the convenience of patrons at the venue. Swipe on the go, Bank of Saint Lucia's wireless point-of-sale service, will also be available to concessionaires at the event.

2010's Saint Lucia Jazz Festival promises to deliver the festival's usual high calibre performances and entertainment. ECFH and its subsidiaries will certainly provide more than its fair share of corporate support and goodwill to a festival that has emerged as a world class event of which all Saint Lucians can be justly proud.

EC Global & Traffic Department Share Valuable Lessons

With the number of road accidents rising in Saint Lucia, EC Global Insurance, a subsidiary of ECFH, decided to take the lead and engage the Traffic Department on issues surrounding road safety and other insurance-related matters. EC Global Insurance hosted a two-day forum with the Traffic Department of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force on March 9th and 11th . The forum's aim was for both entities to share information and expertise from their respective areas in order to improve how they each serve the motoring public.

Presentations were made by CEO of EC Global, Leathon Khan on the global picture of traffic accidents; Assistant Superintendent of Police, Milton Desir who spoke about the importance of defensive driving skills; and EC Global Insurance Consultant, Harold Russell who gave an in-depth look at the Motor Vehicle Third Party Risk Act of 2001 and its implications for the role of the police. Approximately forty traffic officers participated in the forum which was held at the Office Shop Conference and Meeting Centre in Sans Souci.

The participants felt that the forum was an extremely useful exercise that gave them critical information, especially with respect to the Motor Vehicle Third Party Risk Act and other related legislation. ASP Desir said that the sessions gave the officers a greater awareness of the issue of liability when conducting their investigations and how important their work is to the insurance sector. For their part, EC Global's CEO, Mr. Khan stated that his company now had a greater appreciation for the challenges that the Traffic Department faces in carrying out their duties.