Entrepreneurs urged to grab business opportunities

Careen Prevost
Careen Prevost

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Employment and Foreign Affairs, Careen Prevost wants small business entrepreneurs to grab opportunities and enhance their competitiveness in both the Caribbean and the world.

Prevost was addressing the start of a two day, second module of the four part training program with the University of Texas in San Antonio Institute for Economic Development at the Public Service Training Center on Thursday.

“With these investments in small business development it is our hope that these opportunities are embraced by Dominican Entrepreneurs and the possibility of enhancing the competitiveness of our Medium/Small Business Enterprise (MSBE) sector, on the regional and international markets is especially comforting based on these Small Business Development Center (SBDC) models,” she said.

She also urged employment and small business agencies to seek inexperienced individuals and find persons within the industry who are more experienced to guide and assist them.

“We would like to encourage the employment and small business agency, that we are also looking at apprentice and mentorship program because people who have gone before, successful business persons, we would like them or we would like you to be able to assist particularly the young people who have shown strong interest of late in starting their own businesses,” she stated.

Prevost also strongly encouraged the pairing of successful persons and others who are willing to adopt new or improved methods of doing business as this will do well in the attainment of objectives.

The training is being held in collaboration with the Organization of American States (OAS), Department of state United States, Institute for Economic Development, Caribbean Export Development Agency and the Small Business Development center Network and the Dominica Employment and Small Business Support Agency.

About forty people are being targeted.

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37 Comments

  1. Public Officer
    August 26, 2013

    No wonder the Public Service is upside down and we have such low productivity. I am experienced, hard worker, qualified and I tell you this is not a motivating factor for other people in the public service like myself. This is why we remain in the service because we look forward to being promoted but low a and behold people with political connections are just placed ahead of us and we have to teach them the job. This is utter rubbish, the Public Service Commission is breeding dissatisfaction within the public service by making those kind of appointments. Have nothing against the young lady, wish her well; but this is how the system breaks down. We spend our monies too for upgrading ourselves in preparation for promotion. God be with the people who continue to hurts us Public Officers.

  2. pinky
    August 25, 2013

    is so so people are rightly called domi in cans. you all want a man who only reach third/fourth form in gramma school to be priminister but the young lady who have all her qualifications all u want to make a mess. Get the hell out them blues blues.

  3. dhfuiwefj
    August 24, 2013

    Well if is one thing i know to be true in Dominica is, trying to get a job on your feet will absolutely not work. Congrats my girl you did it the way it actually works

  4. tante merle
    August 24, 2013

    Too many PS’s these days are being appointed base on politics. This just frustrates other public officer when persons are appointed in these positions and they do not have any experience as administrators in the gov’t service. Lots of examples.

  5. magwe sa
    August 23, 2013

    i hear rumors bout a young lady being given the post of PS because she is the ex of a government official………THE CHRONICLE THAT SAY…..is it true column?????

  6. Real Dominican
    August 23, 2013

    Congrats PS Prevost. Your concerns and protection of Dominica’s Foreign Affairs Policies will be archived with someone like you working along with our “Focused” Leader and Minister for Foreign Affairs, The Right Honorable Roosevelt Skerrit and his assistance Sen. The Hon. Alvin Bernard.

    By the way PS Prevost, Hon Charles A Savarin is a God’s Gift to Dominica’s Diplomatic Aspirations, “Keep Him Very Close to YOU”. He is a VERY POWERFUL DIPLOMAT

    • dafriend
      August 24, 2013

      Man you can not be serious!?

  7. ernie
    August 23, 2013

    went to high school with her,SDA….been a smart student,proud of you.

  8. diaspora
    August 23, 2013

    congates 2 u my dear and may the Lord be ur guide as u take up this huge responsibily one love

  9. anonymat
    August 23, 2013

    papamet. I swear I read the headline about entrepreneurs and not an announcement for the post of PS. It must be a prize winning contest for PS?

  10. yessa
    August 23, 2013

    yayyy miss prevost :) you are an inspiration

  11. pass student
    August 23, 2013

    congrats….Miss Prevost……..now the country going forward

  12. Ohhh Dominica!
    August 23, 2013

    I think it’s becoming a disturbing trend where we see persons are being pulled from all over and are being placed in top positions in the ministry. Promotion from within does not seem to be getting too much of a thought from the public service commission. Almost all young persons working in the Ministry either have degrees or are currently pursuing degrees, meaning that they are equipping themselves for bigger roles. However when teachers, nurses or other public servants outside of administration comes in and takes up the top positions administratively we are telling the junior and senior clerks within the Ministry that this is as far as they can go.

    Most recently we saw it happened in the ministry of health and now foreign affairs.

    I can imagine that it is vry demoralizing for workers within the ministry to see persons who are no more qualified or competent than they are being pulled from all over and placed ahead of them.

    If this is not unfair tell me what is.

    • Ohhh Dominica!
      August 24, 2013

      Well my comment was offensive papa, someone will sue DNO over me saying that public service commission needs to go back to he good old days and promote first from within. I worked in the government service for years and this is how I knew that it has been done in the past. When a position for PS would surface you would first look at all Assistant secretaries, see if they are fit and then other employees within the administration before going outside to look for persons.

      The reason for that is simple. Anyone who holds a job and has some ambition looks forward to growing on that job and as long as persons are pulled from all over and placed ahead, opportunity for growth is slim to nil.

      • dafriend
        August 24, 2013

        That is the way I should be. But I guess some people are owed favours or know ‘somebody’ and the rest is history. Like in a true BANANA REPUBLIC.

      • zon machaste oui
        October 10, 2013

        With such an attitude public servants get complacent and begin to feel entitled. It’s good to have situations like these so that people know that hard work pays off. Too many times public servants want to drag their feet on basic issues, giving Govt. a bad name and lack initiative within their sphere of control. However, they expect raises and promotions to just land on their lap. It’s more than just education. It’s showing what you can do with the knowledge you have obtained. Ms. Prevost has proven that. Do some introspection and figure out what you need to do to improve your work ethic and morale.

  13. brois
    August 23, 2013

    nice talk . . .but folks the reality is not being described here.i am talking from experience.my brother and I wants to start a small business here .we would be employing 10 people minimum.our biggest hurdle is the money.institution do not want to lend or they make it very difficult.the most frustrating part is we meet the criteria for small business intrepreneurship instead the banks and government people move the goal post.grants and loans I know are set aside for small business in dominica given to them by NGOs and foreign states . .where is the money?

  14. dominican in US
    August 23, 2013

    give a young person a chance. I hope u can change some of the nonsense in that ministry. You are bright and u can do the job. Be careful with the clicks in that ministry. I love u Miss Prevost. I am on my way to my masters because of you

  15. E.James
    August 23, 2013

    Another young St.Joe person moving up the ladder.
    UN ambassador, President, Police commissioner, sports coordinator and more.
    Way to go St.Joe city

  16. ha
    August 22, 2013

    i smell a political rat!! aaah aaah zor ka satiye?

  17. Grand Bay!
    August 22, 2013

    OH WOW!!!! Congrats Ms.P!!!
    God’s blessings and guidance

  18. President
    August 22, 2013

    congrats girl. you should run for the Prim minister.compare to other persons in government you are over qualified for the job.

  19. Ursula
    August 22, 2013

    Congratulations Prevost. You have what it takes to the job. My Prayers are with you. You will leave the critics dumbfounded. You are wll qualified for your position. God bless you.

  20. beware
    August 22, 2013

    What is this young lady’s experience, expertise and qualifications in foreign affairs? We seem to be mixing pears and oranges. Does she have any background in international relations or diplomacy which she can use to advise Government on foreign policy? Like recent predecessors in that position she has been thrown in at the deep end. She may be good at what she did at the State College but being Government’s chief policy Advisor on Foreign Affairs is a horse of an entirely different colour and that colour is not RED!

    • Sonz
      August 22, 2013

      This is the kind of problem we experience in Dominica. It is about time the oppotunity is given to young ,talented and brilliant individuals who can contribute a wealth of new ideas to an institution. I applaud my colleague and my friend. I am proud of you. It has been a pleasure to work with you as a UWI e-tutor and colleague at the DSC and I expect the best from you in this new position .Love you my girl!!

    • IPO
      August 23, 2013

      What was Obama or even George Bush in Foreign Affairs????

      She is very qualified and she is only a PS….others with no qualification but just a racio station and a loud obnoxius voice wantx to be PM…

      What gives…who does that????

    • President
      August 23, 2013

      Beware of Beware..She is a World class Hater

    • Observer
      August 23, 2013

      What do you know about this young lady’s experience and background? People like you are never willing to give someone an opportunity to prove themselves. Down-presser.

  21. Private
    August 22, 2013

    Really? That’s a big one to handle coming from a teaching background….foreign affairs, trade, investments. I wish you well, best to you!

  22. Finesse Beauty
    August 22, 2013

    this is the ideal person for the Job, she is passionate about what she does and has a genuine interest in young entrepreneurs….as a young entrepreneur myself, i can breath a sigh of relieve and wait for her plans to unfold….way to go Ms prevost

  23. August 22, 2013

    Get into small business and then the Gov. will give out the same thing I trying to sell?

  24. Donny
    August 22, 2013

    This young lady is a remarkable individual. She is a good role model and mentor to the young people. So I am so happy she has attained this position. I wish her continued success in her endeavours. Congratulation again to you Ms. Prevost.

  25. past student of hers
    August 22, 2013

    way to go miss prevost thumbs up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  26. youth
    August 22, 2013

    congrats ms.prevost’ i know u will do a wonderful job. you taught me small business management inwhich i got an A+ and marketing with a B+. thx for the wonderful job you did not just for me but all the other student you taught. all the best in ur future endeavor. muah, muah,muah. much love.

    • observation
      August 23, 2013

      You have done well but have you been able to turn your excellent qualifications into running your own business successfully? I really hope this is the case, but that would be the proof.

  27. Observer
    August 22, 2013

    Pssshhh. Carwo! Congrats girl

  28. Sylvester Cadette
    August 22, 2013

    CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR APPOINTMENT TO PS. I know you can!! Very welcomed initiatives. It is important that after such wonderful initiatives, individuals do not merely assimilate information but that it is utilized for their development and for the common good of the state.

    SUCCESS TO YOU, YOUR MINISTRY AND TO ALL THE PARTICIPANTS

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