Tropical Shipping Backs Youth Business Trust With US $10,000

THE St Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture business award gala on Saturday January 28 provided the perfect opportunity to make this presentation. Not only is the St Lucia Youth Business Trust (YBT) an initiative of the Chamber of Commerce but Mr. Christian Husbands who is actively involved in youth entrepreneurship and the Junior Achievement St Lucia, was on hand to receive the cheque, on behalf of the organization.

The St Lucia Youth Business Trust is an initiative of the St Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, introduced to St. Lucia in 2008 during the visit of the Prince of Wales. Operations commenced in 2010 following the model developed by the Prince’s Trust, SLYBT provides start-up capital, mentoring, networking and advisory and marketing support services that assist young people to develop their skills and attitudes, and provide access to the resources needed to create and operate a business and become successful entrepreneurs.

Mr. Gerard Bergasse, Island Manger of Tropical Shipping St Lucia Ltd explained why this along with other youth development initiatives were important to Tropical Shipping: “We are honoured to be a part of the St. Lucia business community and we see this programme as a great opportunity for young men and women of St. Lucia to continue the tradition of being business owners or operators who create jobs and contribute to the tax revenue of our country.

“We congratulate the St. Lucia Youth Business Trust (YBT) under the auspices of the St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce and encourage the St. Lucian community to support the participants in this entrepreneurial training programme. We hope that these startup funds will assist the participants in getting to the next level in opening their doors as successful members of the business community. We are also honoured to make a similar donation of US$10,000 to the same programme in Barbados. We give credit to Ms. Tracey Shuffler of the Goddards Group in Barbados for bringing this programme to the attention of Tropical Shipping. This is Tropical Shipping demonstrating that we are fully committed to island life.”

Bergasse will also serve in an advisory role to the YBT in the selection process of the participants identified for the startup funding.