The role of the SBDC, which was launched on November 22, is to encourage, promote, facilitate and assist the establishment, growth and development of small businesses in the Federation.
According to Delwayne Delaney, SBDC Project Officer, this is the first training workshop that the SBDC has had and it comes at an opportune time when musicians need to learn about the rights to their material.
“We know persons will be coming up with new songs, new beats, etc. so this is just a way of sensitizing them as to their rights as it relates to protecting their work,” he said.
Jihan Williams, Registrar (Ag.) at the Intellectual Property Office St. Kitts and Nevis (IPOSKN), was the facilitator of the workshop. She gave an in-depth presentation on their rights as artists.
Shenille Smithen of the Ministry of International Trade spoke to the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), which are trade and development agreements negotiated between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) partners engaged in regional economic integration processes. She gave an overview about tapping into new markets.
Mr. Delaney said that that there will be an upcoming workshop to fully address the EPAs.
“That is coming on stream in terms of training and sensitization about the requirements and what needs to be done to get into the European markets to get more exposure,” he said.
This is just one of many workshops to come from the SBDC, said the project officer. He noted that there will be more sensitization and training. “We are fulfilling what we set out to do,” he said.
The sensitization workshop was held yesterday, December 05 at the Youth Department’s Conference Room. Close to 30 artists were present.
