BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS (May 20, 2015) -- With its fertile soils and reliable rainfall, the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has the potential to be a regional food basket, and an official of the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis is inspiring young people to venture into agriculture while assuring them support.
The bank’s Business Support Officer, Ms Jasmin Primus, made the remarks last week when she visited Mr Karime Carey, 29, a livestock farmer based in Tabernacle who has made considerable economic progress after he chose the Development Bank to be his development partner.
Mr Carey explained that he had been in the business of rearing goats since age ten, and as he put it, “since I was a little boy coming up.” He was into sheep, goat, rabbit, and duck rearing.
“You see anything you are interested in, follow your dream and with help you can accomplish anything,” observed Farmer Carey. “All you need is a strong mind and will - without those things you can’t go anywhere. I followed my dreams to a lending institution that is there to help people accomplish their dreams.”
The lending institution was the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis and the first loan he applied for and got in 2009 was to assist him to buy fencing wire for the paddocks, because he wanted to have the animals enclosed. At the same time he did not want to have his crop production counterparts complaining that his animals were destroying their crops.
“In my own estimation, the Development Bank is friendly to farmers,” said Mr Carey. “It is very helpful because some other banks will give you a run around, especially if you did not have an account with them. Development Bank does not see that as a hindrance. The staff is very friendly and helpful and very easy to deal with. They handle you like you are a brother to them.”
Seeing that he was doing well, he decided to venture into chicken rearing and once he would have finished off paying the first loan, he in early 2014 followed his new dream and was back to Development Bank where he asked for a loan to enable him to buy 500 day-old chicks from Miami.
When the chickens got to the egg-laying stage, he felt that he needed to go back to the Development Bank to see if they could assist him with a loan to buy a pick-up truck as he was paying other persons to transport the eggs for him and that was not very convenient for a farmer whose dream was to become one of the best.
“As an established small business person, he approached the bank for the loan to buy the pick-up truck,” explained Ms Jasmin Primus, the bank’ Business Support Officer. “We visited his business place and realised that the pick-up was very well needed for the progress and the success of his business.
“The bank is always willing to assist any small business person that would make a difference in the economy and society on a whole. We are also encouraging young people to put their ideas into business mode. Someone might have an idea that could make a small profit as a hobby, but when you turn your hobby into business then you realise the worth of an idea like that. The bank is there to make that happen.”
Saying that agriculture and farming is one of the industries that would add economic growth to the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis especially given the fact that the Federation is well endowed in terms of the land space and favourable weather, she appealed for more young people to channel some of their ideas into the agriculture industry.
Mr Karime Carey’s loan to purchase the pick-up truck was approved by the bank, and he acquired the vehicle in November last year.
“The pick-up truck has made 99% difference in my business because travelling from here to the farm where I have produce planted is over three miles, and I used to go there by foot,” he told Ms Primus.
“To take eggs to the market I would pay someone to do it for me. Now with my own transport, I am able to deliver on time and I am working on very flexible time. I do it on my own time, but if you have to use another person, they have a timeframe which you have to fit into, depending on when they will be available. But with my own pick-up truck I can go on my own time, and as a result I have more time to do other things.”
He advised the youth of the country, all who have goals and dreams, to take a step forward in order to accomplish their goals.
“You have to take a step forward and ask for help, assistance, guidance, someone who will be able to listen to you,” advised Mr Carey. “Development Bank is a good place to go, especially for persons who want to start a business, and even better for those with an existing business trying to further themselves. As for the bank staff, you can’t ask for more accommodating people.”
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