CIIB Deputy Director Pat Ulett in a specially designed costume featuring the
Investment Bureau’s corporate colours of blue, yellow and green.

Ceasing the opportunity to promote small business development while also supporting a national cultural event, the Cayman Islands Investment Bureau (CIIB) made its inaugural appearance in Cayman Carnival Batabano this year with more than 50 costumed participants.

The Bureau’s masquerade band “Soiree” depicted some of life’s special occasions, featuring three sections: Salute to Life, honouring birthdays; Matrimony, celebrating weddings; and Legacy, the official CIIB section designed with the Bureau’s corporate logo and colours, representing anniversaries.

Celebrating their fifth anniversary this year, Bureau officials say their participation in Batabano demonstrates how small business owners can find innovative ways to promote their business and increase sales.

“We have been encouraging local entrepreneurs to take advantage of the excellent publicity and sales opportunities that such major festivals and events offer,” explained CIIB Executive Director Dr. Dax Basdeo. “The more these events develop and grow, the more they provide business opportunities for our local entrepreneurs.”

Dr. Basdeo said the Bureau is committed to supporting the advancement of Cayman’s “creative industries” where many local artists and craftsmen are eager to turn their talents into enterprise. “That’s where we come in, with our free business counseling service to help these artists turn their adhoc art sales into formal businesses,” he added.

The Bureau is a major sponsor of the Cultural Foundations’ CayFest, with specific emphasis on the development of the local fashion design industry. The CIIB also partnered with the Cayman Carnival Batabano committee earlier this year to introduce “Festival in the Workplace” – a catching concept developed by Bahamian Roosevelt Finlayson as a means of building staff morale and garnering positive publicity for companies through their participation in local carnivals.

CIIB Deputy Director Pat Ulett says: “Although carnival is primarily an expression of culture and heritage, in today’s world it is also a big money-making industry that entrepreneurs at any level can benefit from. Even though our Batabano band was small, we made sure to hire as many local vendors as were available, including make-up artist Leticia Davis Eden, Photographer Ricardo Lindo, Webster’s Tours, Welly’s Cool Spot restaurant, AI rentals, Mac and Son trucking company, One Love Entertainment, Bodden Beverages, Progressive Distributors, Party Mart, and local DJ’s ‘M’ and Renato”.

Ms Ulett says the Bureau also welcomed local fashion designers to meet and work with Trinidadian costume designer Jameel BeHarry. He designed the Bureau’s costumes and traveled to Cayman the Thursday before Batabano to put them together. “We hope that next year our local fashion designers will have developed their skills in costume-making if they’re so inclined, so that more corporate groups can take advantage of and support such local talent.”