Christopher's Chicken Stew Recipie

Nutmeg Nanny came to Grenada in November and early December to participate in the Pure Grenada Nutmeg Festival. This festival was hosted by the Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association, and was aimed at strengthening the linkages between tourism and agriculture, as well as raising the profile of our yummy spice heritage.

During the course of the festival, Nutmeg Nanny and another blogger that publishes Running to the Kitchen served as judges for the culinary competition, the mixed drink competition, as well as just enjoying all the great things Grenada has to offer; white sand, vibrant colour, lush vegetation...the usual.

The article she wrote was inspired by a visit to our home in early December. :) You can view the story here:
Nutmeg Nanny Chicken Stew or www.nutmegnanny.com

An excerpt of her recipe, adapted from my husbands is pasted from her blog below.

Grenadian Chicken Stew

This Grenadian chicken stew is made with bone in chicken legs, vegetables and lots of flavorful spice. It's the perfect Caribbean chicken dish.

yield: 2-4 SERVINGS

 

prep time: 15 MINUTES

 

cook time: 65 MINUTES

 

total time: 80 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS:

6 chicken legs, skin removed
3 carrots, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 yellow onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
2 teaspoons curry powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon oregano
Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons sugar
2-3 cups chicken stock
1 tablespoon ketchup
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, for topping (optional)

Adapted from Christopher

DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl add chicken, carrots, garlic, onion and bell pepper. Mix together.

Sprinkle on curry powder, smoked paprika, oregano, kosher salt and pepper. Stir to evenly coat the whole mixture in seasoning.

In a large pan (I used my 3.5 quart braiser pan) add sugar over medium high heat. Keep an eye on the sugar and watch it start to melt and slowly turn from clear to golden brown to dark amber brown. You have to keep your eye on the sugar as it can go from perfectly caramelized to burnt in a few seconds.

Once the sugar is dark amber in color (think the color of maple syrup) add in the chicken and just enough chicken stock to reach the top of the chicken without totally covering it.

Stir in ketchup, cover with a lid and let simmer over medium heat until the chicken is fall off the bone tender and fully cooked, about an hour. The mixture will cook down so if it starts to get dry and the chicken is not fully cooked simply add a little more stock.

Once full cooked sprinkle with cilantro and serve plain or overtop rice.

The Pure Grenada Story

‘Pure Grenada’ began in 2012 when Ethical Ideas was hired to develop projects for the Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association (GHTA). After consulting with the Board of Directors I designed two projects - a sustainable energy campaign and a marketing campaign. My company facilitated the adoption of the GHTA's 2012 Earth Day Declaration where the Members agreed and then published a release stating they wanted to be the first carbon free destination in the Caribbean (or world, if possible).

The period between 2009 and 2012 was extremely difficult for the tourism sector and Grenada’s economy as a whole, with an overall growth rate of -1.2% (yes that’s negative) during that period. Ethical Ideas was hired through a grant provided by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives to conduct a member survey and prepare an economic recovery plan. The findings of the survey were startling: 47% of hotel properties surveyed indicated that they would be closing/foreclosing by 2015 without a tectonic shift in the way the destination was managed. The sector, which influences 20% of the GDP and ¼ of the national employment, could not afford to fail in such absolute terms without serious consequences for Grenada as a whole.

The core recommendations of the Economic Recovery Plan included: increasing airlift services to Grenada; improving destination marketing; reducing energy costs and carbon footprints; pursuing commercial finance solutions; developing Grenada’s human resource base, and developing a sustainable tourism policy.

There was a change in Government in February 2013; followed days later by a default on a payment to the World Bank. The newly elected government inherited an insolvent nation and was forced to embark on an immediate structural adjustment programme to address the XCD $15 million dollar monthly deficit and soaring debt burden. Ironically, this was a financial situation not too dissimilar to the one the Hotel sector was facing.

The Hotel Sector Economic Recovery Plan was received by the Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, in a formal presentation with Canadian diplomats, and it was taken very seriously. Fortunately, the Minister of Tourism in this administration, Hon. Alexandra Otway Noel had considerable past professional experience in Tourism, enabling her to step into swift action. The Minister immediately embarked on improving airlift, closing the Grenada Board of Tourism (GBT) and opening the new Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) and addressing the other recommendations contained in the report.

Meanwhile, Ethical Ideas invited the Discovery network TV series, “Survivorman” to film 2 episodes in Grenada while the Tourism sector donated their time, services and hospitality to the film crew for the duration of their time on island. The filming took place in July 2013 and aired in December, reaching 2.2 million ‘targeted’ viewers who would likely value the unspoiled features Grenada has to offer. In the narration of both episodes, the star of the series, Les Stroud asserts Grenada’s natural beauty and unspoiled characteristics should earn the designation a world heritage site.

The same day the Economic Recovery Plan was published, the GHTA submitted a proposal to Compete Caribbean, which led to the preparation of a Cluster Competitiveness Improvement Plan (CCIP) written by Inter American Development Bank (IDB) consultant, Ken Heynes. Before the plan was completed, Ethical Ideas consultant Jennifer Alexis volunteered her time and her professional networks to support a 2-day ‘visioning’ exercise that would focus the sectors definition of what Grenada’s value proposition was. The exercise which was fully supported by the Ministry of Tourism marked the beginning of a public private partnership (PPP) between the government and the GHTA.

Volunteers who were brought in to support the process included: Russ Jarman Price, Chairman of the Caribbean arm of Inglefield Ogilvy, Mather; Jonathan Tourtellot, Geotourism Editor, National Geographic Traveller Magazine, along with Wendy Turner and Laura Bombier of Les Stroud Productions. The workshop, hosted by the Minister of Tourism and facilitated by Jennifer Alexis featured presentations by Russ Jarman Price, Jonathan Tourtellot and Martha Honey, was hugely successful in determining Grenada’s value proposition. It was obvious to everyone in the room on both days that Grenada’s personal touch and her unspoiled ‘geotouristic’ characteristics were the value proposition. The group brainstormed together until ‘Pure Grenada’ was born. The session featured 2 days of meetings with a cross-section of stakeholders spanning varied tourism sub-sectors, agri-business, civil society, academia, legal affairs and Grenada’s public service.

In November, 2013 a Cabinet presentation was made by Alexis and Price outlining Pure Grenada and the idea became official. At that time, the CCIP was submitted to the Compete Caribbean investment panel and was unanimously approved. Confident that funding would follow shortly thereafter, the team of brand champions began to work on a voluntary basis. A private screening of the Survivorman Grenada episodes was planned for the beginning of December; but due to delays in the arrival of project funds, the event was cancelled. The “Survivorman” Grenada and Frigate Island episodes aired on the Discovery network in the first quarter of 2014 with dozens of re-runs worldwide. In the same month, the Government closed the GBT.

In January 2014 the Government of Grenada opened the GTA and the Minister of Tourism was eager to ensure the new destination marketing arm had a brand in hand to promote Grenada with. The costs associated with creating a corporate identity could not be incurred twice and the government was reluctant to incur expenses to promote Grenada with the old brand for a short period of time. In addition, the strength of Pure Grenada was becoming increasingly evident and the Minister was concerned about protecting the identity. With assurances that the Compete Caribbean funding contract was being prepared; the GHTA and the Government agreed to launch Pure Grenada on Valentine’s Day.

The importance of the Compete Caribbean project to the brand launch was pivotal; because the project was developed to provide financial resources to develop Grenada’s market positioning and social media exposure. The PPP that had been forged to develop the Pure Grenada identity depended on those funds – particularly at a time when the Government was having difficulty meeting its financial obligations thus limiting the availability of funds that had been budgeted for the GTA in the national budget.

Following the February launch, the GTA and the Minister of Tourism focused on external promotions – knowing full well that with the limited budget they had – it was imperative that they succeed in generating a great big wave in the international market if they were going to succeed in saving half of Grenada’s hotels from closure the following year. While the GTA and the Minister did their work overseas, the ‘Pure Grenada’ team (Laura, Russ, Jennifer and the GHTA) continued to volunteer their services to get the brand off the ground.

Thankfully, they were successful and the international market did respond. By the end of the first quarter of 2014, growth rates in Grenada’s three main markets had grown on average by 6%. By the end of the second quarter, that growth more than doubled to approximately 18%.

If the Pure Grenada brand had not held so much potential for becoming a catalytic force in Grenada, it is unlikely that the change in the tourism brand would have been noticed. But Pure Grenada’s power was quickly recognized, and a broad based public discussion developed. Not surprisingly, in an island culture where change happens slowly; the focus of the discussion was on how Pure Grenada might impact Grenadian’s “Isle of Spice” national identity.

Up until this public discussion arose, there had not been any consideration into the possibility that changing the tourism destination brand could be perceived as a threat to Grenada’s national identity. In fact, just three years earlier the Marine and Yachting Community, along with the then Board of Tourism had changed the tourism brand identity to ‘Grenada Grenadines’ without anyone taking much notice.

Following about a month of discussion on talk shows, TV shows and community meetings, the Prime Minister determined that changing the tag line from “Free to Wander/Wonder” to “Spice of the Caribbean” would be a suitable compromise that would put the brand on a win-win footing. The tag line was officially adopted by Cabinet and public debate subsided immediately.

Taking note of this, checks and balances have been put in place to make sure that the brand does not fall victim to political cycles; by formalizing the brand partnership between the GTA and the GHTA so that in the event that the government ever decides to give up the brand, the brand will revert wholly back to the GHTA as the entity that commissioned it in the first place.

Russ Jarman Price who is one of the world’s leading experts in branding has noted to Grenadians that an effective brand isn’t just a ‘selling’ tool – it stimulates culture change that makes a company/destination/product more competitive. Since the 2013 Ethical Ideas publication of the Economic Recovery Plan had posited that Grenada’s competitive advantage was in sustainability and niche market development; the brand has been a catalytic influence towards mainstreaming this concept.

In July of 2013; geotourism, sustainable tourism, niche market development and competitive advantage were completely absent from the development discourse on the islands of Grenada. In July 2014; it is the primary consideration of both the GHTA and the GTA, a guiding principle for the Minister of Tourism who has become its greatest champion, and a rallying call for many stakeholders outside tourism who see their own community and business interests aligning with Pure.

Following the 3rd Symposium for Coastal Innovators in Tourism; Grenada has benefitted from 147 delegates from Grenada learning about the linkages between development, tourism, society and the environment and how these linkages can both threaten and benefit Grenada. In the closing plenary, Grenada’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Angus Friday asserted that he would like to see Grenada become a world leader in geotourism; a statement that was been met with resounding support by participants. A geotourism workshop hosted by National Geographic geotourism Editor, Jonathan Tourtellot the following day, formally cemented this commitment with the Public Private Partnership (PPP) team members of the GTA and the GHTA.

The proposed next steps include a public engagement series that will deepen Grenada’s engagement with Pure; by involving people on the basis of sector (agriculture, fishing, artists, etc) to define their ‘geotourism goal posts’. These goals will then be crafted into a road map for going forward locally; while the sustainable message continues to be shared internationally.

Ghetto's and Prime Minister's

When you're living a life filled with juxtaposition - consider yourself lucky.

I do.

This weekend I had the pleasure of a meeting with the Rt. Hon. Owen Arthur, M.P., Former Prime Minister of Barbados. We had an informal discussion about economics that was both challenging and fun. It is refreshing to meet someone (anyone really) that understands the difference between growth for growth's sake, versus growth that is inclusive of the poor. I was encouraged to see that I had a lot in common with someone who is noted for bringing the unemployment rate of Barbados from 20% to 9% under his leadership. Great minds think alike? ;o)

This is the fourth country leader I have had the opportunity to engage in with some depth and I feel so honoured to be living a life that doesn't just offer me these great personal experiences but is also solely focused on doing good for the world.

An even bigger give-back from the Universe came less than 48 hours later, when a young man who knows of my work asked me to come and speak to a youth group he's forming with some young men from his neighbourhood. He said he and the 'boys' want to meet with me so I can help them learn how to start up an organization, and keep financial records and do things right so they can last as a group and not fight. I asked him if these young men were Ghetto boys (The young man who was requesting my help lives in a ghetto). He said "yeah" with a bit of shame - to which I replied - "All the better! If these young men want to 'big-up themselves' count me in".

In Grenada, 37.7% of the population are absolutely poor (cannot meet food and non-food needs)and 61.5% of them have jobs.

Ukraine Crisis: The Ultimate Challenge for Neoliberal Economics

In the early 1990's when Glasnost led to the liberalization of Russia's borders, politics and markets; the dominant neoliberal economic paradigm basked in the glory of virtually undisputed domination around the world. The basic premise of neoliberalism was that opening markets to trade and globalized production would generate a new form of global security because the cold war style of aiming bombs at the enemy would be very complicated if your enemy was a trade partner.

This basic premise is now being challenged in the Ukraine, where Eastern and Western allied troops are going head to head over a dispute about geopolitical alliances with Russia and Europe. They are trade partners, and economically dependent on each other - so it this crisis is a test of the geopolitical commitments both sides have and whether those commitments trump the hardships that will result from a stand-off or worse yet an armed conflict.

This east/west dynamic makes this crisis dangerous for the international governance system because the movements of the eastern and western allied troops in the Ukraine are challenging the fundamental credibility of the UN Security System and our global commitment to international treaties.

It is a dispute that is not just about the Ukraine or Crimea - it is about our commitment to the international judicial, state and security system. I honestly think it's a fools game for any of us to profess to have a magic ball to foretell the future - but I do think it is reasonable for all of us who can see the extended ramifications of this crisis to talk about it, encourage peace and restraint and respect for all human life regardless of religious or political affiliation.

In humanity I trust.

The Little Things That Count

Yesterday, someone gave me an Easter card to show appreciation for the varied campaigns I've undertaken for Grenada over the years. When I got this post-it note stuck inside an Easter card yesterday it really made me feel good! Not only did it show appreciation, but it reinforces the strength of what I'm doing on 'behalf' of other people. It energizes me to do more.

The sentiments expressed in the note really got me thinking about how our relationship with money affects our relationships with each other. How often do we pay people salaries to do "work" and because of that, forget to say "Thank You" or show appreciation for what they do? In this instance this person is telling me they feel appreciated and they want me to know I am too - so the best thing I can do with that is pay it forward by encouraging anyone who reads this to show appreciation for someone you know who deserves it - and doesn't get enough of it.





Thank you for giving me this little note - it's like fuel for this lady who lately, is most certainly 'on fire'.

Pure Grenada

Although it's been several months since my last post, this update flows seamlessly from the last because my inability to post has been due to being too busy making change to have time to write about it. Here's what happened:

Anyone that follows this blog knows that I've been working on the sustainable energy campaign for the Tourism Sector since the Earth Day Declaration of 2012 when the hotels said they wanted to be Carbon Neutral. That's making progress because funding has been approved to reduce the hotels energy efficiency. It's a small grant of USD $300,000 from the CARICOM Development Fund, but it's one of the few examples where a donor has invested money that will actually generate a measurable, positive developmental result - which is a breath of fresh air!

Then, another grant I had been pursuing got accepted - from Compete Caribbean. This one valued at USD $500,000 that will be used for value chain development - and in this case - it was to support geotourism brand positioning in a public private partnership with the Government of Grenada. So far so good! There are some growing pains (ok a LOT of growing pains) to work out in terms of how this public private partnership is going to work logistically - but we have created the brand, launched it, and begun mainstreaming the sustainable principles that support it.

What's really amazing is to see how far we have come since the GHTA 2012 earth day declaration and how far we are bound to go now that we have such a practical tool (the brand) to get us there. I am so proud to see that the campaign now has so many champions now our next challenge will be how to make space for all these new leaders. LOL! How awesome is that?!

On a more personal note - there are some really amazing people who have been pivotal in helping me achieve what I have worked so hard for:

Hon. Alexandra Otway Noel - because she understands that leadership is about enabling other people to shine, rather than imposing her will upon others.

Russ Jarman Price - for bringing the world globalization and helping us take it back (LOL). You're the bomb Obi-Wan Kenobi!!

Everyone at Les Stroud Productions - because the "Survivorman" team have done so much to support our sustainable agenda I can't even begin to list the ways.

Denyse Ogilvie - Mostly I am amazed at her ability to put her ago aside for the greater good. The world needs more people like her and believe me - we would not be at this cathartic crossroads in development without her.

The GHTA - for being brave enough to take bold steps and for standing by me when the previous government threatened to punish them for working with me.

Russ Fielden of True Blue Bay Resort - For being brave, saying it straight, having limitless generosity and walking the talk.

And to the past government for intimidating me, interfering with my work, frustrating me, refusing to work with me - and ultimately motivating me to care more, work harder and make sure that everyone knows I AM POLITICAL but it has nothing to do with party politics, and everything to do with loving this country and this planet. I'll work with anyone who genuinely wants to make a difference.

A fire has been lit in Grenada and I know we are about to go from the brink of a failure to an example for others to follow.

Watch this space!

Sustainability: Our Competitive Advantage

It's a bitter sweet victory to feel like I'm within a hair's breath of achieving something I've been working towards for three decades: We're on the doorstep of reaching the critical mass necessary for a cathartic change in a society; and it's happening right here in Grenada, right now.

Sustainability may become our economic driver.

Leaders of Grenada's largest industry, the biggest economic contributors to the island are poised on the precipice of a decision about whether or not to embrace 'sustainability' as the cornerstone that defines who we are, what we offer to the world, and how we want to head into the future. Ironically, what Grenada decides to do at this change point in it's history could have a global impact - because what happens here can and does happen everywhere. The only real difference is that we're 100,000 people on a rock in the middle of nowhere so every little thing we do is visible and counts. And what sets us apart is that we've got the critical mass ready to embrace it.

Is a post-industrial sustainable society possible?

One thing I'm convinced of is that if it is, it's got to be led by the private sector. Without wanting to offend my public service colleagues around the world; the difference between the private sector and the public sector is an important once. The public sector tends to focus on process and the private sector tends to focus on results.

We need results and we need them fast.

Because we are small we can rise fast. But because we are small, we can fall fast too.

We're going to rise. And 20 years from now, we'll be the envy of the world over.

The Fixer

After suffering a incredibly demanding production schedule while the crew of the hit TV series "Survivorman" were here; a beloved member of my family passed away. As a result, my blog slowed down and my work piled up!

Now that I am back in the saddle, I've got lots of positive things to talk about.

The production of 2 episodes of hit Discovery Channel series, "Survivorman" was very successful! One episode was filmed on an uninhabited island found off the south coast of Carriacou. Can't find it on a map? - don't be surprised - it's really in the middle of nowhere! The island, perched within the archipelago known as the 'Grenadines' is happily one of the few places left on earth that is still teeming with wildlife. There's an abundance of shore birds, turtles, fish and cactus there making the island an incredibly interesting place to visit. A Galapagos in the Caribbean! It's not easy to access however, with a rocky shoreline that prohibits access from most boast seaworthy enough to battle the big waves to get there. The second episode was filmed at the top of Mt. St. Catherine's and an old estate called Tufton Hall. The volcanic mountain may not have jaguars and other scary things on it, but that's part of what makes is so great - a rain forest accessible to those of us with the stamina to climb high heights without being afraid of what we'll encounter when we get there. Even though I was up at the Mt. Edgecombe Estate with the production crew; I don't know much about what's in the episodes the star, Les Stroud filmed - because unlike most reality TV shows - he actually does what he says he's doing. It's not staged - so the only people who know what's going to be in the show before it airs, are the people who edit the footage he took while he was alone in the wilderness. The crew I was with are there to get landscape shots that are edited into Les' footage. Apparently in show biz, it's called "B-Roll". :oP

Les Stroud, who is not just a survivalist and reality TV star - was captured by Grenada as he wrote the following words on his Facebook page:

Les Stroud: “Hey all – whew!!! What a whirlwind tour of Grenada! I am finally back home and getting only a quick rest before I head out to film more Survivorman. Up next?? – Survivorman and Son! ......I have to bring you on board with something: and that is that Grenada is a place you MUST visit. It is the Caribbean’s best kept secret. An unbelievably beautiful place with a lot to offer; world class diving with unique coral reef we had not seen anywhere else, world class sailing, and my favorite – an interior mountainous cloud forest that has breathtaking views of the dark green jungle. I spent my time surviving in an area called Tufton Hall – and it was outstanding. Grand Etang is not to be missed either. As well I survived on a private island off the coast a few hours – simply beautiful. My friends at the True Blue Bay Resort will set you up well for all your adventures and I sincerely hope to go back there with some down time to just enjoy what is now one of my most favorite tropical destinations. Make sure you eat at The Aquarium or Savvy’s while you are there! You guys know I would [not] steer you wrong and lead you somewhere that wasn't amazing – and Grenada – still struggling after Hurricane Ivan can use your visit to get it going again – the people are wonderful and the island is not to be missed. If I could I would get UNESCO to designate it a world heritage site tomorrow!! But for now – I just want to sit on my dock, crack open a Guinness and watch my Muskokan sunset while I think about what it is going to be like to have to survive with my son in two weeks……to be continued….L”

Now that's what I call a rave review!

....but my work here is not yet done. Not while our unemployment rate is over 30% poverty rate near 50% and our precious environment hanging the balance. My next project is to assist the Grenada Chocolate Factory. I've volunteered my time to help them develop a funding proposal that will facilitate "Change Management" (among other things) to ensure that this wonderful thing Mott Green created does not die with him. For more about Mott Green and the Grenada Chocolate Factory, see my posts for May and June 2013.

Surviving "Survivorman" :o)

After publishing the Economic Recovery Plan for Grenada's Hotel Sector, I felt compelled to offer more than a paper with a to-do list for the sector's survival - so I sought to solve the one of three of the #1 problems identified in my report: Marketing.

Grenada's got a GREAT tourism product, but not enough resources to bring that product to 'market'. How many people know how special Grenada is? That our underwater park was listed as one of the wonders of the world, alongside Victoria Falls and so on? Or that National Geographic rated Grenada as one of the top ten places in the world to visit?

Answer: Not enough.

So.....making a long story short, with the blessings of Grenada's Tourism Minister, I approached the Survivorman production crew to come to Grenada....and now they're here! I'm working as a support for them for all the on-the-ground logistics which, I've discovered is what a "Fixer" does. Sweet! Fits me like an old shirt.

In the middle of it all right now - feels like full time madness right now - but of the greatest kind!

Why?

Because I firmly believe that the people who like Survivorman, are the kind of people who will appreciate the unspoiled characteristics Grenada has to offer. I also believe that profiling Grenada this way (rather than through traditional marketing) builds a stronger relationship with Grenada's potential market - the kind of relationship that will bring quality visitors to our shores, because we don't want to be a mass tourism destination.

Below is a video of how Les Stroud's adventure began just a couple of days ago. Naturally, his problems were over once he stepped his foot on Grenada's soil **wink**

Grenada Mourns as Chocolate Factory Founder Dies

In a small island culture like Grenada, very few foreigners successfully integrate with the village tapestry and become an integral part of lives joined by centuries of family ties, village history, and stories shared from the cradle to the grave. But Mott did that and more. He became 'one of us'; he inspired us; and there could be no one more deserving of a state funeral than he. I hope he gets one. Though Mott would probably say that would not be something he'd want to partake in (dead or alive).

Mott built more than a chocolate factory. He built a movement that demonstrated that fair trade was more than a logo, that sustainability was more than marketing (solar powered production), and he even showed us all that carbon-free shipping (as was done in the days of yonder) is not only profitable, it's uber-cool.

The video below says it all, posted on Mott's blog this week.
Rest in Peace Mott - because you did it all right - your inspiration will live on!

True Blue Bay Resort Ranked #3 in Caribbean Best Small Hotels

Boutique hotels are all the craze now: A logical shift in a tourism market with increasingly 'experienced' travelers, confident enough to branch out from the all-inclusive holiday packages. As a result, boutique hotels are popping up everywhere, and the competition is fierce.

Grenadian hoteliers Russ and Magdalena Fielden are delighted to learn that their hotel was selected, and ranked #3 in the top ten Best Small Hotels of the Caribbean list published by Caribbean Journal. Added to their 2012 certificate of excellence from Trip Advisor, it shows they're on the right track. Following the publication of this accolade, the first thing the owners did was pass the compliment on to their employees, encouraging them to keep up the good work - which isn't a surprise since of the reasons the hotel was selected was, according to Caribbean Journal because, "The owners just know how to run a hotel - in the hands of others, it probably wouldn't be the same".

The article can be seen here:

http://www.caribjournal.com/2013/05/15/the-caribbeans-best-small-hotels-2013/3/

GHTA Hosts "Farm to Table" Cocktail Event at the Calabash Hotel

The Grenada Hotel & Tourism Association will be holding a social cocktail event at the Bash Bar by Mark B, Calabash Hotel 6 – 7.30 pm on Friday 10 May 2013. The theme of the event will be Farm-to-Table Tourism and is expected to show the linkage between Tourism and Agriculture.

The Prime Minister, Ministers of Government, farmers and persons in the fishing industry have been invited and have been asked to say a few words re the importance of the synergies between agriculture and tourism using statistics or ongoing success stories to highlight their points. They have also been invited to indicate any initiative or opportunities that will/could be undertaken to improve the linkages between agriculture and tourism, increase production of quality produce, or increase demand.

Executive Chef, Mark Banthorpe will speak on things unique about the fruits and vegetables, fish and meats produced in Grenada and the amount of local produce purchased directly from farmers and fishermen.

Tickets to the event are available for purchase by members at the GHTA office at a cost of EC $40. Please note that tickets must be paid for upon collection at the office and only persons with tickets will be allowed into the event.

Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association Thanks Ethical Ideas

GHTA Newsletter, May 2013 - "The Economic Recovery Plan, for which the GHTA received funding from the Government of Canada, was completed at the end of March. A copy was handed over to the Prime Minister at his first quarterly meeting with the Grenada Private Sector Organization in April. Copies have also been handed to the Minister of Tourism and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism. Electronic copies have been e-mailed to members and will be posted on the members section of the Association’s Corporate Website.

The GHTA is grateful to the Government of Canada who funding made this document possible and to consultant Jennifer Alexis of Ethical Ideas for the hard work she put into completing the document in a very limited time frame.

The document will be used as a core communications tool with Government, stakeholders, and agencies, which would harmonize the efforts of all stake holders approaches to economic recovery in Grenada, in an informed and focused way".

Ethical Ideas Raises another million for clients

Ethical Ideas is pleased to announce that a grant funding request to Compete Caribbean has ascended to the next level of consideration with a USD $50,000 grant to prepare a Cluster Competitiveness Improvement Plan (CCIP). The plan, when completed, will be presented to an investment panel to obtain up to USD $500,000 for implementation. The successful application was predicated upon a grant proposal to implement the Hotel Sector Economic Recovery Plan funded by the Canadian Government and drafted by Ethical Ideas.

In addition, Ethical Ideas has recently learned that another Caribbean Fund is in the final stages of approval (awaiting Board Signature) with a value of USD $300,000. This grant is particularly valuable to the hotel sector, because it involves grant funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy investments. This kind of pragmatic, results oriented investment is rare from donors, who generally prefer to spin wheels with consultants rather than investing money on tangible change making activities. You can rest assured that when this fund is officially launched - I will be posting and raving about this donor!

Combined, the value of these two grants will be in excess of XCD $2 million with even more funds expected that are still in the early stages of the approval process. By the time all the grants come in, the Hotel Sector should have access to XCD $10 million to support economic recovery and energy use reduction.

The best news of all is of course that Grenada's hotel sector is one step closer to their zero carbon goal, and that this environmental solution is directly linked to economic prosperity. The Hotel Sector will be ending this great week with a cocktail party that brings stakeholders from tourism and agriculture together to strengthen the links between the two sectors. Sustainable initiatives that are just 'happening' more than being initiated are so thrilling!

Inconvenient Truths Key for Planning Island Economies Future

North Korea is rattling nuclear sabres; Canada has pulled out of a major UN convention to combat land degradation; the Sea Shepherd Society have been named pirates by a US court; dolphin safe tuna is considered a trade barrier; and yet another strain of bird flu is causing human deaths and forcing the massacre of thousands of birds.

Sounds biblical - if you believe in that kind of thing. But I don’t subscribe to the school of thought that defers my personal responsibilities to God [insert your deity of choice here]. God will do God’s job, I will do mine.

In the eyes of a sustainable development expert, it signals what happens population pressures clash with environmental capacity. No species is immune to its dependency on the environment that supports it. So how does this seemingly esoteric thought lead us back to the realities of development on a small island state?

There are several ways:

I would posit that all the small island states should be structuring their economies in keeping with global trends such as regionalism and market diversification; just enough to keep up with the pack, so to speak. Since you don’t want to pull the plug on what is before you know what you’re heading into. But I would also hazard that any economic planning that is going to carry small island economies into the future must prepare for the CUT OFF.

Imported: Food, medicine, clothing, building supplies, water, seeds, fertilizers, energy, transportation, technology….access to shipping, air travel, free movement of people…

The industrial honeymoon is over and the disturbing world trends mentioned above are only a two week snapshot of headlines.  Anyone that tries to move into the future with a business-as-usual approach will be planning for social, economic and environmental failure.

So what is required to plan for a future unknown to us that balanced between the optimism needed for socioeconomic prosperity and the realism needed for survival? A great place to start would be to recognize the inconvenient truths (Thanks for the phrase, Al, it’s really applicable to so many things!) around us, and then to turn those truths into opportunities before they kick us in our collective ass.

Regardless of why, our climate is changing. So whatever we plan to do our economies it had better be packaged with a high degree of resiliency.  Building codes need to reflect the realities to come, land use planning needs to prioritize food and water first – as a long term profit plan rather than a short term one.

Regardless of why it is happening (psst hint: population pressure, mad scientists, dozy doctors), we are have an ever increasing vulnerability to disease. So whatever we plan had better take this into consideration such as our concepts of productivity, the length of a work week,  sick leave, survivor benefits – and not just quarantine procedures.

We need innovators, not followers. Education needs to generate the intellectual capacity for effective systems management in a small island state so that prosperity can be achieved within our domestic and regional means. The Caribbean follow-the-leader teaching methods need to be expunged from our educational culture as quickly as possible.

And we have to be prepared for the likelihood of a large-scale war as the squeeze between population and resources continues to climb. This means ensuring we have developed core capacities in medicine, science, engineering, agriculture and energy. If we train good doctors but leave ourselves reliant on pharmacological trade cut off by a world war, that’d suck. Ask anyone who’s lived through a cholera epidemic how ‘crappy’ it is to have large scale death for people who can’t access drugs that can cure them. And the argument can be made over and over for all the systems that support the lifestyles we live now.

One very bright lining to this rather troublesome train of thought is that Island people are far more resilient that your average city dweller. We still know how to build our homes, grow things, fix things and do things that a few generations of city dwellers have long forgotten.

Island people are survivors.

Look at Cuba as an example – they may not have an automotive engineering industry, but they sure have succeeded in keeping cars on the road long past their shelf life. Grenadians rebuilt an entire country in three years after 90% of the country’s infrastructure was leveled by Hurricane Ivan. Go there now and you’d never know the event occurred as recently as 2004. And Haitians who have every reason in the world to throw up their arms and give up, defy the obstacles in their way and keep forging ahead.

In many ways, we’re better positioned to ride out the future than most countries in the world, but our success in doing so will depend greatly on our foresight and whether we take inconvenient truths into consideration when governing our countries and planning our economic future.  For now, we need to invest in tourism, create jobs, reduce our debt and keep our island safe. But, while we’re doing that, we must plan to achieve food security, energy security, water security and social security as successes defined by our ability to meet these needs without outside help. If any of our Islands in the Region are able to achieve this in the next ten years – our future will be bright indeed.

                                                                                                                                                        

THE BLUE ECONOMY

I am not really a big fan of changing labels on global movements, because it takes an awfully long time for new ideas to catch on. 20 years ago, my classmates in the first graduating class of Environmental Studies at York University Canada were talking about 'green economics'. Precious few others were. Now, the concept of a 'green economy' is starting to go mainstream....which is good! But like most things, once it goes global and has a bunch of hands on it - the original concept gets washed out.

So as the Green Economy gets muddied by the Brown Economy (brown refers to the status quo for anyone asking) - the concept is revitalized with a new label:

THE BLUE ECONOMY.

I like it. And I like this minimalist video that explains so succinctly the common sense foundation to it all.

I am expecting to embark on a contract to draft an Economic Stimulus Plan for the Hotel Sector in Grenada starting Monday. I will do my best to integrate as much of this thinking into it as possible because it will save my clients money, open up new markets and protect the environment.

Let's see what a good saleswoman I am!?

Ethical Ideas Declares Energy Campaign a Success

In April of 2012, Ethical Ideas Consulting embarked on a journey with the Grenada Hotel and Tourism Association to address the major challenge of energy in the small island state of Grenada. Ethical Ideas started the campaign by facilitating agreement among members for an “Earth Day Declaration” that articulated the following:

Desire: Reduce Energy Costs


The Result: Grenada’s Hotels now have the opportunity to invest in 100kw renewable energy systems with net metering and a set price of XCD $0.54 cents per kilowatt hour.

Prior to the Campaign: Hotels could invest in renewable energy systems, but they had to sell 100% of the energy produced to the utility and buy it back with more than a 100% mark-up in cost.


Desire: Liberalize renewable energy, regulated by the Eastern Caribbean Electricity Regulatory Authority (ECERA).


The Result: Renewable energy has been liberalized through the use of ‘special purpose vehicles’ which are companies that are set up for a specific purpose (in this case it would be producing renewable energy). The new energy framework will be regulated by ECERA.


In addition to the lobby with the Government and GRENLEC, Ethical Ideas led the appeal on behalf of the Tourism Sector to have the Clinton Foundation come to Grenada. In addition to giving my most passionate elevator pitch ever to one of President Clinton’s Aides, several project outlines that have been developed for several Ethical Ideas clients were submitted to the Foundation to illustrate the sustainable potential of this small island state. Check them out, the Foundation is a GREAT organization: http://www.clintonfoundation.org/

The Minister of Finance informed the audience at the consultation for the New Energy Framework, that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed between Grenada and the Foundation. Negotiations of this type take place at the highest levels, and details have not yet been shared with any non-state actors.
The SIDSDock Proposal will hopefully be reviewed in April, and if that happens, the Sector should benefit from some grant/soft loan support for Energy Audits and retrofits. This will be great because it can yield 50% reductions in energy consumption.

All of this helps the Hotel Sector reach their goal to become the first zero carbon hotel sector in the Caribbean. Ethical Ideas is very pleased that the exhaustive lobby (captured in previous posts on this blog) has been successful and that all the players who dedicated themselves to making their desires heard have been rewarded. Politically motivated detractors might claim that realizing every single lobby point is luck – but in my experience – luck isn’t that thorough.

I wish I could thank everyone that helped on this campaign personally, but naming names on this small island state is a much bigger political act than anyone in a large country could imagine, and an election is on. So I will have to figure out how recognize people's efforts without blowing up a sand storm in the process. It may have to stand for now recognize the obvious fact that the nature of lobbying requires the input of others so there's a long list of people to be Thanked.

Government Consultation on Energy

The Government will be hosting a 'Public Discussion' with selected stakeholders (I am among them) to go over the contents of the 'A New Development Framework for the Energy Sector'circulated by the Government on December. This is being welcomed by all, since the published document raises as many questions as it answers. Recent statements made in the media by persons connected to this deal also suggest that the sale has not been officially completed. If there is a need to update or correct my previous posts on the subject following this meeting I will - so watch this space!

Greece: The odyssey - People & Power - Al Jazeera English

Greece: The odyssey - People & Power - Al Jazeera English


The link above will lead you to an interesting news documentary presented on Al Jazeera that profiles how Greek professionals - marginalized from their city jobs - are returning to the land with sustainable, entrepreneurial ideas. Grenada shares many economic similarities with Greece, including a culture rooted in the land.