caribbean podcast

Adele Jn Baptiste is young; but still a veteran in the Caribbean Insurance Industry with more than 17+ years experience she now holds a Country Manager role with a regional market leader.

Hear her story from an Executive Assistant to a successful multi-family property investor and AirBnb multiple "Super Host" awards recipient. Learn how she was able get on the property ladder, weigh her investment options and ultimately begin her journey to Financial Freedom. 

Gain real insight into how she was able to deal with the choices and challenges of the property development process as a single woman and her ultimate SECRET on how anyone can achieve similar success.

Jade Hutchinson is a talented, customer-centric and solution-oriented Industrial Designer. He is on a mission to effect positive change through the use of technology, specifically in the areas of Agriculture and Renewable Energy. 

His career journey included leading multidisciplinary teams through complex infrastructure projects at the 2012 London Olympic Games, strategic brand implementation for a medical corporation in Qatar, and more recently the creation of at least three new businesses including Guru Marketplace and Noah Energy.
With longer, hotter summers every year and July 4, 2023 having been declared as the hottest day ever by leading meteorologists; the need and cost of cooling are now real issues for all. For Property Investors, especially short-term accommodation providers; it's vital that you understand how to manage and reduce your power bill, driven primarily by air condition use; if not your business will be at risk.

Jade takes us through the entire business case, explaining what is required to start, the application process, the diverse regulations across the islands, sizing based on needs/budget,  financing, installation, generating, storing, consuming, getting paid and everything else you ever wanted to know about solar panels and photovoltaic renewable energy systems. 

This episode is very informative and if you have ever had questions about renewal energy a must listen/watch! 

Odette Carey-Russell always knew that she wanted to own a home. More than that; she always wanted at least two units with the second helping to subsidize the other one that she would occupy. Follow her amazing journey with disappointments, twists, turns, lessons and ultimately, success.

Learn what to look for when selecting a location to purchase property. Get insider knowledge on where best to get information to discover the future hot spots in your country. Hear how she pivots many times to create opportunities for herself and how to start your journey if you can't do it alone!

Finally, if you have enough self-belief, get a clear understanding of how to go about building more than one home on the same lot and how to achieve the ultimate; not living for FREE; but getting PAID to live in your own house!!!   

Brian has been in real estate since 1999 when he started as an agent. In 2006, he opened BSRG and specializes in helping customers and clients realize their buying/selling goals through a patient, knowledgeable approach.  He manages all parts of the process from the initial meeting, to the attorney processes, through to closing for his clients. 

With more than two decades of customer and sales leadership experience, he is multilingual (English, Spanish, French, Portuguese) and has always enjoyed learning and actively seeks out ways to build value in his professional relationships. 

In late 2020, Brian began focusing more on investing in real estate and has formed various joint ventures and partnerships with the goal of further developing his portfolio. He will soon  embark on his first full renovation project in the South Bronx, New York. 

Get real-life insights into his learnings from past projects and what property investors like himself are looking for if they are to partner with a Caribbean developer. Understand their thinking; the keys to successful partnerships and what every developer (large or small) must do to land a foreign money source!

With skills unconsciously forged by his creative environment, Roger Skeete always loved building things with his hands from a tender age. Having a brother who is a chef, well-known for his unique recipes, a serial entrepreneur as a mother, a professional landscaping aunt and a preeminent architect as an uncle; there was little surprise that his career path would lead to a profession in building and design.

After high school, he attended the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College where he was formally introduced to Architecture & Building Technology. His interest then lead him to Jamaica to pursue an Associate Degree in Architecture at the College of Arts, Science and Technology (formerly CAST), now called the University of Technology (UTECH) and then to Barking (& Dagenham) College, London to complete a course in Industrial Model Making.

Learn the different types of architectural models, their varying benefits, different uses and what determines the type of model needed. Understand the challenges of this intricate process and ultimately what you must consider to maximize your return on investment.

Werner Houson is a Physical Planning Officer in the Department of Planning with more than ten years experience. The Department also houses the Development Control Authority (DCA) - the authority which grants the approvals for all land and building development in St. Lucia. 
With degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Environment and Natural Resource Management, a Masters in Coastal Engineering and also being part-time Developer; he takes us through the requirements, guidelines, challenges and offers recommendations to help make this mandatory step in the development process a lot more efficient, less frustrating and potentially save home-owners thousands of dollars!

Nestor Alfred is the Chief Executive Officer of St. Lucia’s Citizenship by Investment Programme. He has held  numerous executive positions within the financial services sector in taxation, banking (offshore & domestic) and financial regulations across the Caribbean. In a former role as  Chief Regulator for Saint Lucia’s Offshore and Insurance sector, Nestor acquired extensive expertise in compliance; anti-money laundering and counter- terrorist financing and was the first ever Caribbean Financial Action Task Force Mutual Evaluator coming out of Saint Lucia. He is also a Commissioner to the CARICOM Competition Commission.
In this episode Nestor introduces the St. Lucia CIP Programme, its qualifying criteria and the associated application process. Most importantly, he takes us through the detailed steps required for the Real Estate Investing route and the significant opportunities available to Property Developers.

Melissa Marius OECS Brand Manager at Unicomer Saint Lucia Limited (better known as COURTS) is a  detailed oriented, creative and enthusiastic marketing and communications professional. With over nine years experience in managing regional and international brands learn how her company with its increasingly wide product range and financing options can help keep more money in the pocket of landlords while at the same time offer unique benefits that provide protection and growth opportunities which will improve your Property Investing  ROI.

One week prior to the first eruption of the La Soufriere volcano in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in April 2021, we sat down with Maurice "Mr. Property" John - a computer science major who leverages the power of technology and innovation with his love for real estate development and real estate education. Hear how being the son of a property valuator, thrusted him into this field and how he has used this "home schooling" to launch future-looking property development projects with family and fellow church members. Maurice also makes an appeal for much needed help for his homeland. #StVincentStrong

In celebration of International Women's Month 2021, we conclude our "Women in Property" Series with Customer Service Professional, Entrepreneur and Property Developer Suzette Merille-Alexander. This self proclaimed "normal home-owner", "normal property investor" shares her career experiences and how she ended up with their income suite. Understand her rationale for the investment, design, how she decided on her target tenants and if it really is an advantage to have a contractor as a husband.

In celebration of International Women's Month 2021, we continue our "Women in Property" Series with Accountant, Investment Banker, International Project Manager & Property Developer Amanda Jean-Baptiste. 
Becoming a qualified accountant by 22 and then pursuing an MBA in Finance paved the way for her to be recruited by top-tier investment bank Lehman Brothers where she was assigned to their Real Estate Group. For many years to come she would manage commercial property projects both in the UK and West Africa. With a growing sense of nostalgia after seeing the impact of the projects on communities in Africa, and after more than 2 decades away, she decided it was time to do something of her own back home. Learn how her experience in International Commercial Property Development can help you maximize your Residential Property return on investment.

We continue our celebration of International Women's Month 2021; in this episode we pivot to address the burning issue raised by our viewers and listeners - FINANCE! Meet Rolf Phillips newly appointed Managing Director of Bank of Saint Lucia Ltd (BOSL). A senior financial services professional with tremendous Caribbean-wide experience (Barclays/FCIBC) and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Financial Services (UK). He takes us through the definitive step by step guide to getting started on your property journey - what you NEED to know!  Learn of the partnership with CPI Podcast and get his perspective on "Women in Property".

In celebration of International Women's Month 2021, we continue our "Women in Property" Series with GM,  Accountant, Entrepreneur & Property Developer Karen Fontenelle-Peter. Being number 9 of 11 children, her love for numbers was inevitable. Learn how to beat the financing trap and the trick to pay less and get more to help anyone get on the property ladder - not just as a home owner but as an investor. Hear her tips for maximizing your return, how to successfully manage contractors and ultimately achieve success in your property project.

In celebration of International Women's Month 2021, we continue our "Women in Property" Series with Entrepreneur & Property Developer Debra Tobierre. As a home goods, hardware and building supples retailer, she recognized the inherent advantage of her position if she were to delve into land and property development to address the luxury and middle income housing needs in the south of the island. Just two years after the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), hear how her willingness to take risks, do the research and acquire knowledge in the construction industry made her formidable and changed the south forever!  

In celebration of International Women's Month 2021, we kick off our "Women in Property" Series with Financial Executive Crisy Laurent. With a deliberate intention of always having a tenant subsidize her mortgage, Crisy had a plan for property, but as a single Caribbean woman faced with the typical onerous costs and challenges of building, hear how she was still able to achieve her property investing goal! 

The journey begins! Two podcasters from Jamaica recount their migration experiences.

~

If you've ever craved some Caribbean Energy, whether you live on the islands or overseas...

PRESS PLAY! ... and then Subscribe!

🇯🇲 🇦🇬 🇧🇸 🇧🇧 🇧🇿 🇩🇲 🇬🇩 🇬🇾 🇭🇹🇱🇨 🇰🇳 🇻🇨 🇹🇹 🇹🇨 🇸🇷 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 🇨🇦

Following on from our episode entitled Has Protectionism Failed Us? we discuss how creativity and modern day innovations are rewriting the script in the commercial world, allowing those who explore to escape the shackles of protectionism. Let's get on the supply side of the economy. Here’s how.

Visit our website for show notes and to join the discussion on this episode.

Connect with us on LinkedIn HERE.

You might not have realized how harnessing the power of logistics can transform your own medical practice and by extension, the healthcare industry in the Caribbean on a whole.

In this episode, RDL's Medical Logistics Solutionist Dr. Cherise Vanderpool joins our host and Logistics Director Collis Williams in discussing how Caribbean medical practitioners can use logistics as a tool to drive the cost of patient care down, while at the same time elevating their patient experience and propelling their practices forward.

Visit our website for show notes and to join the discussion on this episode.

Connect with us on LinkedIn HERE.

Our host Collis Williams invites you to join the debate; protectionism or free trade? He also challenges you to consider whether protectionism is in the interest of the people of the Caribbean or is it instead in the interest of a select few? Further, is protectionism a function of it being more politically expedient to protect capital rather than to protect the people?

Visit our website for show notes and to join the discussion on this episode.

Connect with us on LinkedIn HERE.

It’s a fact—demurrage plagues us in the Caribbean. And we can’t help but notice how it has made a shift from penalty to profiteering.

Following on from our recently published article ‘On Demurrage: Developing A Level of Reasonableness', our host Collis Williams, gives his thoughts on the plague that is demurrage. Can we find a cure for this crippling malady in the near future?

Visit our website for show notes and to join the discussion on this episode.

Connect with us on LinkedIn HERE.