Entrepreneurship can easily become the key to Government’s plan in facilitating employment creation and stimulating the economy in Barbados.

This message came from Minister of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development, Senator Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo, as she addressed a group of entrepreneurs and budding business persons at the launch of Global Entrepreneurship Week at Divi Southwinds, St. Lawrence, Christ Church, earlier this week.

Senator Byer Suckoo also took the opportunity to acknowledge local entrepreneurs for their courage and persistence, despite various daily challenges.

She maintained, however, that in order for more persons to look towards entrepreneurship as a path to success, there must be a cultural change in Barbados because, “too often we hear that Barbadians are not naturally risk-takers and therefore not naturally entrepreneurs”.

“I understand the important role which entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship play in economic growth. I also understand that there needs to be a different mind-set, as well as new behaviours to create jobs not only for ourselves, but for others.

“When we talk about changing attitudes and changing cultures, we know it is not going to be easy. So, why should we bother, you might ask? Because entrepreneurship is the very engine of the much needed economic growth,” she asserted.

Another featured speaker was veteran Barbadian fashion designer, Rhaj Paul, who recounted several anecdotes from his experiences of being an entrepreneur. One of the highlights of his message was his opinion on failure.

“Failure is feedback…When you’re committed to a task, you stop counting how many times you fail… [Failure] is not a stopping point; it’s a position for you to reassess where you went wrong and to tweak your process because you’re committed,” he advised those present.

The event was hosted by the Caribbean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Livelihoods, and this year’s theme is: Celebrating Entrepreneurs: Promoting Entrepreneurship.

 

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