Lighthouse Bay Resort in Barbuda (www.LighthouseBayResort.com) invites Caribbean nationals from caricom countries to visit the resort and take advantage of its "Caricom Package" with discounted rates of $600 per room, per night, based on single or double occupancy for travel through Aug. 31, 2011. Rates include accommodations in a Junior Suite, three meals daily and non-alcoholic beverages. Transfers from Antigua are not included in this package, but can be added for an additional cost to the package.

Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing & the Environment Hon. Hilson Baptiste has reaffirmed the economic importance of the sector, in the provision of employment and its potential to transform the twin island state through the increased export of produce, and attained food security.

Already, Minister Baptiste said, a board affiliated department of the ministry the Central Marketing Corporation (CMC), has began to export various agricultural commodities to the United States Virgin Islands (USVI).

Epicurean Fine Foods & Pharmacy has launched its own Loyalty card program. This card is visually similar to a credit card and identifies the card holder as a member of Epicurean Fine Foods & Pharmacy Loyalty program.

The card comes with two key tags which can be attached to your key ring and scanned in the same manner as the card. When presented to the cashier at the beginning of the check out transaction, the cardholder will earn points that can be redeemed with future purchases, or saved for future redemption.

Caribbean Entrepreneur Ken Shipley, owner of www.SearchAntigua.com and winner of
Antigua and Barbuda’s Entrepreneurship and Young Pioneer Award recently attended TedxIrie, a part of the famous Ted Lecture series in Jamaica. Shipley found the experience very engaging, “What I mostly took away from this event was that the Caribbean has a lot of out of the box thinkers. And even though many in our society walk on the conservative line there are those among us who have alternate views on how our society can progress especially in this digital age.”

Successful entrepreneurs imagine and innovate. Just ask Bryan De Silvia, owner and managing director of the De Silvia Group Limited – parent company of Paradise Events and Rentals, D’s Trucking, and the DGL Office. Better yet, tell him. With his first ever essay contest, De Silvia is inviting future entrepreneurs to explore ‘the advantages and disadvantages of being an entrepreneur, why you would like to be an entrepreneur, & if you were an entrepreneur, what would you like to say to the government’.

The presence of 34 ocean racing yachts in English Harbour this weekend, preparing for the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Caribbean 600, has given a very welcome boost to the local economy. All the local bars and restaurants are reporting brisk business, and there is not one hotel room currently available in the area. Neil Forrester, General Manager of the Antigua Hotels and Tourist Association, said that he was particularly delighted that the smaller family hotels were doing well at this time.