The Office of Private Sector Relations (OPSR) has engaged the services of local Consulting firm Right Angle Imaging (RAI) who have been contracted to provide business development and marketing expertise as part of a programme of assistance Choiseul Arts & Craft sector. This assistance is being provided under the auspices of the recently launched Strengthening Trade through Rural Investments and Development of Entrepreneurship (STRIDE) programme. The OPSR will be providing support to the community through a series of initiatives aimed at revitalizing the Arts & Craft sector which is expected to contribute to efforts aimed at a reduction of poverty; strengthening the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and encouraging entrepreneurial development in the community. The programme is part of Choiseul has traditionally been a vibrant arts & craft production community however, the sector has experienced many challenges over the years.

Based on the results of the 2006 poverty assessment report for St Lucia, Choiseul was identified as one of the communities exhibiting significant incidence of poverty and economic decline. The revitalization of the arts & craft sector in the community is deemed to be an important part of the response to the economic decline. This important indigenous sector is of significant economic relevance for St Lucia generally, and the Choiseul community in particular for reasons that (i) it is based on self employment , small business and rural industry hence it can provide significant economic benefit at the rural and local economy level; (ii) the low level of start up investment required; (iii) the existence of an expanding tourism industry with a large unmet demand for local craft; (iv) the possibility of additional employment and income through production and marketing linkages (v) there currently exists a significant number of active handicraft producers in Choiseul and (vi) the need to preserve and develop this important indigenous sub-sector of the local economy.

The approach being used by the OPSR in this programme of assistance is one that will support existing as well hopefully encourage the development of a new group of entrepreneurs in the sector, who will be trained not only in arts and craft production, but also in business operations and management.

OPSR’s programme of assistance will run up to November 2010 and will include an integrated programme of assistance including: (i) needs assessment, strategic plan and business plan preparation (ii) marketing and business promotion (iii) entrepreneurial development and capacity building and (iv) product development and production capacity upgrade.

President of The Association of Crafters and Heritage Tourism (Catch)—who has been working closely with the OPSR in the development of this project—Ms Delia Isaac stated that “We are so pleased to receive support of this kind in the community and look forward to improving the arts and craft products in Choiseul and encouraging more participation in the production and business aspect of the sector. It is a very exciting time for the Choiseul community to be able to revitalize this sector and implement a new approach to the business operations whereby the community members will each run their own businesses. All of the community groups are on board and have been very instrumental to date in assisting with this project.”

At the beginning of February, the OPSR signed an agreement with local Consulting firm, Right Angle Imaging who have commenced work on two discrete initiatives namely (i) A Marketing and Business promotion (ii) An Entrepreneurial Development and a Capacity Building programme.

The Choiseul arts and crafts revitalization project is another in the series of initiatives to be financed from the resources of the Stride programme launched in early February 2010. It is part of OPSR’s overall mandate to make “Saint Lucia Enterprising” by inter alia affording opportunities for local business’ to enhance their international competitiveness, and by creating opportunities for robust business growth and development.