In Focus

TAX CLINICS

Read more, pg 2

You Are ReadingVol. 01 Issue. 03 March 15, 2013

Edition

The Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development, the Hon. Donville Inniss’ promotion to be the champion of industry in Barbados augers well for SMEs and business in general. The new Minister who is considered by many to be a man of action (given his performance in his former Ministry of Health portfolio) is himself a small businessman and therefore in tune to the problems which face the sector. His plan to place emphasis on business incubators is one which is supported by the SBA. His “not business as usual” approach is welcomed news for SMEs. We look forward to working with the new Minister to identify and remove all impediments to SME growth to ensure that small businesses have every opportunity to succeed. Welcome Minister Inniss!.

SME PRIDESmall, Micro and Medium enterprises can rest assured that their interests will be well represented by the presence and contributions of newly appointed Independent Senator John Watson. Senator Watson, himself a business man and owner of Exstrawdinary ( an Arts and Craft business), was also one of the pioneers of the Small Business Association (SBA) and a founding president. He remains committed to the development of entrepreneurship and enterprise in Barbados. Senator Watson has been a vocal and fearless critic of policies and environments that seek to impede the growth and development of small businesses and it is widely known that his love for the sector fuels his passion. This love and passion is expected to drive his tenure in the Upper House and Outlook looks forward to many spirited debates and fearless SME representation by the Senator. One issue that has already engaged

the

attention of Senator Watson, is the closure of the Social Investment

Fund (SIF). He expressed his concern that “welfare” type businesses, those that exist on the micro level, would not be able to properly access funds through FUND ACCESS, the entity now charged with the responsibility of disbursing funds previously allocated through the SIF. He also took issue with the alternative of transferring the funds to the Welfare Department pointing out that “we are not trying to encourage welfare we are trying to encourage work”.

The SBA stands in support and lends its voice to the Senator’s .

FINAL WORKSHOP - 50 FREE TECH SMART WEBSITES

MAR 19, 2013 EXCEL TIPS & TRICKS

MAR 18- MAR 20MEMBERS’ MEETING

MARCH 26, 2013WALK THE TALK COMMENCES

MON APR 1.

IMPORTANT DATES MANUFACTURERS TRAINING & DEVELOPMENTTRADE & INVESTMENT

CONVENTION (TIC 2013)

BY The Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association,

June 12-15, 2013

Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

TECH SMART WEBSITE .................................................MAR 9, 2013

BEC - MANAGING CONFLICT ...............................................MAR 27, 2013

REACH THE SBAHEAD OFFICE

1 Pelican Industrial Park,

Bridgetown, Barbados

Phone: (246) 228-0162

Fax: (246) 228-0613

Email: theoffice@sba.org.bbWebsite: www.sba.org.bb

TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN ....

Independent Senator John Watson (l), paying rapt attention to Govenor General, His Excellency Sir Elliott Belgrave

GCMG, CHB, QC

SBA Outlook Newsletter March 15, 2013

GET PREPARED The Small Business Association (SBA) will host a series of tax clinics in the month of March to assist members in their statutory compliance.

These clinics serve to educate small businesses about the correct process of filing their statutory payments, debunk the myth relative to the responsibility associated with paying taxes, and inform persons about the role of such agencies in the development of small economies such as Barbados.

Expert personnel from

the Inland Revenue Department, National Insurance Department and Customs and Excise - VAT Division will be on hand to answer questions and guide members on compliance. A tax clinic will be held on Tuesday March 26, 2013 at the Bagnall’s Point Gallery, Pelican Village at 6:00 PM. Entrepreneurs and the general public are also invited to attend this very important session as we prepare members to meet their obligations for the fiscal year 2012.

TAX READY THOUSANDS SIGNED UP TO WALK THE TALK54 SBA member companies are part of the over 100 companies that have signed on to WALK THE TALK when the programme gets officially on the way on April 1, 2013. To date some 2,400 employees from the companies registered are preparing to take those first 10,000 steps of the programme. Coordinators of the programme have indicated that pedometers have been

ordered and distribution will take place between March 25 through 28, 2013. On April 7, 2013 the Ministry of Health will be

observing World Health Day and one feature of this day will be a walk organised by the Ministry.

SBA members who haven’t yet committed are encouraged to contact the SBA to get involved in the programme .

Young Entrepreneurs Benefit from TrainingA number of young SBA entrepreneurs recently benefited from an Enterprise Skills Training Workshop conducted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in collaboration with the

Barbados Employers Confederation (BEC).

The idea came out of the recently concluded ILO study of the Enabling Environment for Small

Enterprises (EESE) in Barbados. ILO Enterprise Specialist Mr. Kelvin Sargeant, identified the improvement of management skills of start-up companies as an action item that should be pursued. This was

recognised as a means of increasing the number of new businesses being established as well as improving the success rate of new companies.

Mr. Tony Walcott, Executive Director of

Participants collaborating in groups during the 3 day Enterprise Skills Training Workshop session

the BEC officially opened the three day workshop expressing his hope that the skills learnt during the sessions would translate

into more sustainable businesses for the participants. The training provided skills to aspiring business owners covering analysis

of the initial business idea, enterprise organisation and operations as well as legal responsibilities and financial planning.

Participants also received certificates of participation at the end of the workshop.

SBA Outlook Newsletter March 15, 2013

The Small Business Association (SBA) is the island’s non-governmental, non-profit representative body for micro, small and medium enterprises. The SBA seeks to expand business opportunities for its members, provide educational and developmental services and lobby to ensure an enabling environment

for the growth and sustainability of the SME sector. For more information on the work of the Small Business Association, please visit our website: http://www.sba.org.bb

The Caribbean Centre for Organisational Excellence (CCOE) recently held its inaugural conference in Barbados. CCOE is a non-profit organisation devoted to excellence in public and private institutions in the Caribbean.

In his keynote address, His Excellency, the Honorable Robert Morris, Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM noted that there were several organisations in the region which have developed solid reputations for their brands and more research needed to be done on these organisations. He added that Caribbean people needed to be aware of the best models existing

around them and to use these as templates to replicate success. Other notable speakers at the conference included Dr. Emily Dick-Forde, Head Programme Planning, UWI, Dr. Basil Springer, Change Engine Consultant and

Jerry Blenman, Financial Analyst and Director of CCOE. As part of the activities, conference members were invited to tour the Sandy Lane Hotel, one of the world’s leading hotels to get a better sense of what excellence entails.

NX Technologies Ltd, was founded by its CEO and Chief Technical Director Mr. George Collymore in 2010. It is an innovative IT solutions company providing both network and communications services and solutions to residential and commercial customers. Some of its services and solutions include Home Smart Cabling and Networking, Network Infrastructure Management and Support, Network Engineering and Design, Remote Access/VPN, Wireless Networking, Structured Cabling Solutions,

Network Security and Documentation, Security Cameras, Access Control, and Telephone PBX solutions.

The company is an authorized business partner and reseller for some of the global technology leaders such as Axis Communications, Avaya, Cisco, Panduit, and Ruckus Wireless among others. NX Technologies Ltd focuses on its customer needs, deliver quality solutions and seeks to exceed their customers’ expectations. NX Technologies’ core values are honesty, integrity and quality from inception. NX Technologies Ltd can deliver scalable, turn-key solutions that are designed to individually suit any infrastructure and budget.Call: 246 231 5111 or 246 435 2512.

Email: george@nxtechnologiesltd.com

SBA MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE

Recently I had members and non members alike expressing their frustration with the long delays in the VAT and Income Tax refunds. This frustration was compounded by the fact that they were being requested to pay their corporate taxes to avoid penalties or contravening the law. From where I sit, I have a unique perspective of seeing the ills that face the SME sector, in addition to witnessing the challenges of government and other agencies in settling their payables to small businesses.

Over the last ten years, I have also gained a greater appreciation for the unique concerns of small firms. Yes, there are similar challenges that may confront entrepreneurs as a body, but very often I am faced with the peculiar challenge of what it means

to be small in an aggressive business environment. Challenges can range from the inability to pay statutory requirements, meeting weekly payroll and overhead costs, finding committed and competent staff, and exploiting opportunities to grow the business. In some cases we have even had to intercede on behalf of members in disputes with their landlords and suppliers.

No one likes to lose their voice. It troubles me therefore when I come across cases of entrepreneurs crying out in frustration and despair at the ineffectiveness of their voice. The inability of entrepreneurs, brimming with ideas, to effect simple business transactions is

LAST WORD FROM THE CEO

neither humourous nor character building. Being reduced to a state of begging for consideration is more humiliating than it is humbling.

The SBA is here to help business owners find their voice and to ensure that that voice is amplified so that their causes, issues and concerns are clearly heard through the corridors of power and the offices of bureaucracy.

We will therefore continue, through our strategic focus and work plans, to find unique ways to give our membership a competitive advantage. Providing training to ensure that our members (and aspiring entrepreneurs) have the requisite skills to build and sustain their business and

to be able to quickly adapt to environmental changes. Our marketing efforts are being streamlined to ensure that the visibility of our membership remains at a high profile. Indeed, our Tech SMART Website Project will raise the visibility of at least 50 of our members in the marketplace. And our BE SME Smart Campaign will significantly heighten the awareness of the consuming public about the high quality and availability of goods and services produced by our local small businesses.

In what may sometimes seem a wilderness of business uncertainty, the SBA is here to help micro and small enterprises find their voice.

A Voice in the Wilderness

CCOE participants on tour at Sandy Lane