Anguilla’s flambouyant politician, Mr. Curtis Richardson, says he is promoting small business development throughout his Road South constituency and has pointed to a number of enterprises already in that District 6 area.
He made the comment on Monday, August 27, as he travelled through the Blowing Point seaport village to continue his distribution of bags, books and pencils for the children at the Adrian T. Hazell Primary School. He stopped just off his constituency headquarters, now under construction, to thank one roadside business woman, Ms. Lydia Paul, for opening a small cuisine and agricultural products outlet, and to offer his best wishes to her.
“This is where I was raised, and one of the things I thought about over the years is to have business activity from Spawner’s Corner, on this whole road, down to the bay,” he stated. “When I passed here, a couple of weeks ago, I saw they were building this (the abovementioned food and produce outlet) and I said let me see what they were doing. I am very proud to see that God has inspired this movement which is something that I want to see grow in Blowing Point.
“I would like Blowing Point to be very active day and night and I also want tourists to come out of the hotels and to be able to mix in with the people in this community. So this is a very good effort. It is on one of the far ends where nothing much goes on in Blowing Point so I am especially happy about this effort. As you can see, people are already coming here and that it is becoming very popular. I am very appreciative also of the colours she has here.”
Ms. Paul, the business woman, commented: “The name of the business is ‘Go Local’. I was inspired by the need for natural options. We provide fresh juices, smoothies, porridge at mornings and other natural foods and drinks. I am an experienced hotel worker. I have worked at Malliouhana and as Purchasing Manager at Viceroy. I saw the need for something like this, and I have a passion for local foods.”
She added: “I want to have other branches at other places on the island – maybe one at West End, one in the central area of Anguilla and one at Island Harbour. I want to keep it as intimate, small and fresh as possible.”
Ms. Paul is also encouraging farmers to place their agricultural produce at her business for sale to members of the public in search of natural foods.