MORE than 45 vendors from across the island are participating in an integral Caribbean Digital Transformation Project, which provides ICT training.
The training aims to improve their computer literacy skills and sale productivity by employing digital payment platforms such as point-of-sale machines.
The vendors are currently involved in training as part of ongoing initiatives under Component Three of the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project. The project aims to grow the digital economy of Saint Lucia as a driver of growth of economic productivity and diversification, providing access to increased digital services and job opportunities.
The vendors availed themselves of the opportunity to receive computer training which includes components such as basic computer literacy, registering a business, and increasing sales productivity by employing digital card services.
Peter “Ras Ipa” Isaac is the President of the St. Lucia Vendors and Dry Goods Association.
“We appreciate the people, those who are involved in getting this programme together for us the vendors. It is a good thing for them to be thinking about us in the way that they do, especially because we are making a significant contribution to the development of this country and to the GDP of this country,” he added. “So, therefore the kind of attention must be deliberate. I am happy that it is a deliberate intention to get us into this digital world so that we would not lose out in the long run.”
Project Coordinator for the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project, Francilia Soloman was satisfied with the number of vendors representing the first cohort of the two-week computer-literacy course organised in collaboration with the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College.
“The training opportunity is part of a three-prong approach to have you the vendors capitalize and continue to contribute to the economic development of Saint Lucia,” she explained. “We will be working with SEDU to assist you with registering your business… and in addition, we will be partnering with the Bank of Saint Lucia on easier access for you for your point of sale machines.”
Soloman added that apart from stipends and meals provided to participants for the training the project will further support the improvement of more reliable Wi-Fi and internet access points at various vending locations. She also promised additional training to assist vendors in marketing and growing their businesses.
“So, this is a small step towards bigger things, better things, and brighter things and we don’t just want to welcome you but embrace you and give you the comfort and promise that we will continue to be there with and for you as best as we can over time,” she noted.
Arleta Rate-Mitchel, Senior Manager, Retail Banking at the Bank of Saint Lucia encouraged the vendors to register their businesses to be able to capitalize fully on the benefits available to them within the banking sector.
“We will come back and tell you about our point of sale machines which are the card machines that you have seen around the place, and also how you can access those machines, how you can access other bank facilities which we have available to you our small business people,” explained Rate-Mitchel. “You are the ones who really make our economy work. You contribute significantly to our economy and so we appreciate you and today is an example of how we give back to you. The beginning of how we give back to you.”
During Productivity, Awareness Week in October 2022 the Saint Lucia Bankers Association and the NCPC held a sales productivity showcase for Vendors at the Vendors Arcade where vendors were made aware of the benefits of employing point-of-sale machines to maximize their sales output.
According to a NCPC spokesperson, this computer literacy training facilitated by the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project was borne out of a request by some of the vendors for a greater understanding of the digital world.