Treasure Beach Cluster Moving Towards Ecotourism Development
In Jamaica, Treasure Beach is a small, but interesting and dynamic community where tourism, fishing and farming are the main sources of economic activity. Despite its size, or perhaps as a result of it, Treasure Beach has found itself in a globally emerging niche market perfect for experiential tourism with enormous potential for diversifying Jamaica's tourism product and creating jobs across the tourism value chain. 

Compete Caribbean is currently providing technical assistance to the Treasure Beach tourism cluster which is currently positioning itself to tap into global tourism markets. One key feature of Compete Caribbean's support is the development of a Destination Management Organisation (DMO). Read More
 
Draft Law Completed for Catch and Release 
Fishing in North Rupununi, Guyana

Attorney-at-law, Nigel Hughes, author of the proposed catch and release legislation, presents the draft to the cluster while (from left) Minister of Agriculture, The Hon. Noel Holder and Vice President and Minister of Indigenous People's Affairs, The Hon. Sydney Allicock look on.

Protocols and draft legislation have been completed for the catch and release sport fishing project in the North Rupununi aimed at preserving the endangered Arapaima fish, while promoting eco-tourism.

The cluster which comprises three eco-lodges - Karanambu, Surama and Rewa - presented the draft to Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs, The Hon. Sydney Allicock at an official ceremony in Georgetown culminating the first phase of the catch-and-release Arapaima Sport Fishing Project, supported by Compete Caribbean. 


Compete Caribbean also funded the upgrade to the solar systems at the three eco-lodges in the North Rupununi - Surama, Karanambu and Rewa - which led to annual savings of approximately USD5,000 which translates to 730 gallons of fuel. Listen below to a grateful recipient.

Pomeroon: Potential Coconut Producing Treasure Trove

 
The Pomeroon is an agricultural region, located along the banks of the Pomeroon River in northwest Guyana. This is a major coconut producing area for the country comprising small farmers. Over the years, the farmers have suffered from an unreliable market and prices for their dry coconuts were generally below their cost of production. 

Against this background farmers tended to seek jobs elsewhere, in gold mining for example, and to neglect maintenance of the fields and of the drainage ditches, which resulted in low production and greater unprofitability of the coconut farms.

In order to resuscitate the industry, the Pomeroon Export Producers Association (PEPA) formed a cluster of farmers and through a USD500,000 Compete Caribbean grant, sought to develop a fully functioning, sustainable value chain from farm to market through a three-pronged action plan: (i) Revive agricultural production in the Lower Pomeroon by building capacity to upgrade the farms and improve yields; (ii) Establish a modern processing facility with secured markets; (iii) Link the two through transparent "win - win" contract farming agreements. 
  
A Compete Caribbean team recently returned from the Pomeroon after conducting a supervisory visit where they visited coconut farms under the project and met with PEPA to discuss the current status of development and future plans for increasing production.
Integrated Value Chain Risk Management

A widespread view in the private sector is that the lack of access to finance is significantly difficult in terms of accessing and remaining in value chains, as well as improving chain performance. 

Access to finance is expensive, scarce, and short term in countries in the region, and it hampers investment and the financial management required to access and remain as participants in a value chain. 

The lack of finance is a consequence of a series of market failures that form the basis for public policy intervention. The region's development banks and specialized agencies have thus designed programs to ease access to value chains and improve their performance. This paper suggests that the public sector could have a more effective role in enhancing value chain access and performance by embracing an integrated risk management approach to value chains. Read More
Betting on Corporate Social Responsibility 
to Build Caribbean Green Economies
By: Kalim Shah

As Caribbean countries work to transition to green economies the role of the private sector is receiving increased scrutiny. The United Nations Environment Programme, for instance, defines a "green economy" as "one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. It is low carbon, resource efficient, and socially inclusive. A crucial question therefore, is how Corporate Social Responsibility platforms can be used more effectively as a development tool that not only supports broader environmental standards but also helps alleviate poverty, ensure environmental justice, and improve standards of 
living for all. Read More
What's Happening...


CONSULTANCY OPPORTUNITY
Deadline - July 15, 2016

The Caribbean Regional Entrepreneurial Asset Commercialization Hub is seeking an 
INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT for the Development of REACH-Supported Case Studies

The Consultant will develop case studies of Caribbean firms who have commercialized intellectual property. The case studies will discuss lessons learned and recommendations for monetization strategies that can be beneficial for smaller firms seeking to be competitive in the Caribbean and international markets. The case studies will be beneficial to students and policymakers in understanding the growth of intellectual asset-based firms in the region. Read More