As part of a strategy to strengthen trade, commerce and tourism ties, the local Private Sector Commission (PSC) and the Grenada Tourism Authority on Thursday hosted an expo showcasing a range of items from spices to technological innovations
The Pure Grenada Expo which was open to the public at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, in Kingston, Georgetown, highlighted the Spice Isle’s cultural heritage, spices and tourism offerings, featuring rum and chocolate tasting, a cultural display and exhibits.
The initiative which was spearheaded by Grenadian Prime Minister, Dickon Mitchell, coincided with plans for the launch of a direct flight between Grenada and Guyana by interCaribbean Airways which is scheduled to start around September 28.
Project lead for the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA), Melinda Tekesford, told the Sunday Stabroek that the mission was really about the collaboration between Guyana and Grenada.
Tekesford’s display featured Grenadian spices, in keeping with the island’s moniker, the “Spice Isle’, and included nutmeg, which is one of Grenada’s top spices. Tekesford explained that years ago, Grenada was known as a top producer of cocoa and nutmeg and the latter remains one of its top sellers. The nutmeg was displayed both in the shell and in its raw form including the mace, which she noted is great for baking and flavouring food and baking. Also on display was cocoa. Tekesford said that while Grenada is a grower of high-quality cocoa, it doesn’t produce as much as it did in the past. The focus is on quality over quantity. “So, whatever we produce in terms of cocoa, it goes back into our production to make some of the world’s finest chocolates.”
Other spices on display included cinnamon, turmeric, bay leaf, ginger, and clove.
Another exhibitor was Tricia Simon, she is a lawyer, a manufacturer of mostly agro-processed products and also founder of the group “Grenada Agro Tourism”. At the Expo, her display focused on agro-processing as well as agro-tourism, with Simon displaying mostly products made in Grenada by small businesses who are part of an agro-tourism group.
One such business was Mt Parnassus Plantation, which offers a tour of a traditional Grenadian cocoa, nutmeg, and spices plantation. Visitors can also experience their health and wellness food and skincare offerings. Items on display included spices, bush tea, and nutmeg.
Simon explained that Grenada Agro Tourism operates as a co-operative and assists small agro-processors in growing their business. Another agro business was Infinite Flavors, which displayed products made from tamarind as well as mango. Another, I’ll be Well, had on display items made from honey.
Other displays included items such as bush rum which is known as `under-the-counter rum’; jams made out of nutmeg blended with fruits like golden apple; castor oil capsules; moringa – known as the tree of life; turmeric; dried fruit such as star fruit, mango; dried breadfruit; dried coconut; chocolate; skincare products such as soaps, oils; condiments such as pepper sauce and green seasoning; and rum punches.
Software
Another business at the Expo was Sonover Inc, Grenada’s leading software development company, with a platform called Saturn powered by low-code, no-code and AI technology. Chad Fraser, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Sonover Inc, said that the idea is to bring operational efficiency to its clients since it can reduce up to 90 per cent of email communication. When using Saturn, staff no longer have to create documents, and reports to send out to stakeholders as Saturn can manage all of that and provide clients a platform that will help them run a very efficient organization. The platform targets businesses and governments only.
Fraser disclosed that although Sonover has been in business for some for eleven years, the Saturn platform is only two years old in Grenada and they are now introducing it into Guyana.
“We are interested in partnership and I believe strongly that as Guyana is developing, the local entrepreneur, the local tech people should have the opportunity to offer these kinds of solutions in their own country. So, wherever we go, our services are used in many Caribbean islands and in most of them, we try our best to work with local partners, and train local citizens so that they can offer [tech] support and build solutions.” The CEO said he had made some good contacts and is close to starting a partnership with a local company.
Another exhibitor was Island Pure, the only manufacturer of water wipes in Caricom versus the same products sold in the Caribbean which tend to be ‘white labelled’. This is when one company buys its product from another company and rebrands it as their own. The company which sells the final product to the consumer is usually not involved in the manufacturing process.
According to Chief Executive Officer and founder of Island Pure, Elo Akin, the wipes are 99.5 per cent water, which guarantees that “you are really wiping your skin with water.” It is made from leading quality fabrics. She assured that the remaining 0.5 per cent in the wipes is functional and allows parents to cleanse their baby with the wipes.
At the Expo, the company displayed three wipes: the refreshing wet wipes, baby wipes and disinfectant wet wipes.
The refreshing wet wipes cater for general use, preferably by adults especially in the hot, dry season, as it is designed to keep persons ‘Fresh on the Go’ with 99 per cent water. It is made from organic materials and is alcohol free and dermatologically tested to be allergen and paraben free.
These three products are available locally in supermarkets including Bounty; pharmacies along the East Coast of Demerara including Medicare Pharmacy, as well as through a local distributor, Hewley Griffith.
Then there was Theresia Msacky, who represents the Entrepreneurs’ Hub which consist of a network of small business owners from Grenada. She showcased products from 21 small-business owners including mango chutneys, kombucha (a fermented tea), rum punch, wine, skin care products, spices, jewellery and scented candles.
Msacky said that she was looking forward to doing some networking in order to showcase to the Guyanese private sector what the Grenadian companies have to offer from the small-business sector, while exploring the possibility of getting some of their products on the Guyanese’s market.
Another display highlighted rums from Westerhall Estate, Grenada. According to the Sales and Marketing Manager, Akimbie Worms, he is hoping to have his products in supermarkets and hotels so that Guyana can enjoy a piece of Grenada. “Just to ensure we give you guys a piece of Grenada to let you see what Grenada has to offer.”
One of the rums on display was Westerhall10XO, a ten-year old dark premium blend with characteristics of vanilla and caramel. It is one of the most popular rums in Grenada and exported as well.
Others included Jack Iron and White Jack which are overproof rums and a favourite of fishermen.
Tour Spice is a Grenadian tour company that makes life easier for you by planning your vacation to Grenada. It provided a list of all the tours and all the excursions that they can do which includes transportation cost for the customer. The tour company offers a full package. According to Garth Woodroffe, owner and operator of Tour Spice, one thing that is unique about the company is its reliable service. “We are the only party bus on the island and when it comes to anniversaries, birthdays, and kids who want to go and have a good time on night tours; we do all of that. No one [else] does that.”
