August 19, 2025 • 37 mins
What happens when you leave behind the familiarity of corporate America for an uncertain future on a small Caribbean island? For Stacey Liburd, it became the first step in an extraordinary journey toward becoming the CEO of the Grenada Tourism Authority.
Stacey's story is one of courage, faith, and purpose. Ten years ago, she abandoned her New York-New Jersey commute for Anguilla, a tiny island of just 35 square miles and 15,000 residents. What began as a personal quest transformed into professional leadership when she was appointed to Anguilla's Tourist Board and later became Director of Tourism.
Her recent appointment as Grenada Tourism Authority CEO represents not just a career achievement but a vision for community-centered tourism development. Throughout our conversation, Stacey shares her approach to destination management – one where success is measured by how tourism dollars reach small local businesses, not just major resorts. Her leadership philosophy centers on transparency, community buy-in, and developing local talent to assume management positions throughout the hospitality industry. Beyond Grenada itself, Stacey articulates a compelling vision for regional collaboration to enhance Caribbean tourism.
For anyone contemplating a major career pivot or seeking to lead with greater purpose, Stacey's journey offers profound inspiration. As she reflects on the principle that guides her work – "To whom much is given, much is required" – we glimpse the heart behind her leadership: gratitude expressed through service, opportunity translated into responsibility, and personal success measured by community impact.
Connect:
Grenada Tourism Authority - https://www.puregrenada.com/
Stacey Liburd - LinkedIn
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello everyone, welcome to another episode of
Carry On Friends the CaribbeanAmerican experience.
And I know every time I saythis I'm excited about my next
guest.
But for anybody who know me andthe next guest, they know that
this excitement is legit, legitlegit.
So let me first introduce youto the incoming CEO of Grenada
(00:24):
Tourism Authority, Mrs StaceyLiburd, but I know her as Stacey
Boothbob.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
We're coming from a far away.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Very far.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Primary school.
Yes, remember, yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
I'm so excited for you and congratulations.
And I'm ready for the audienceto get to know you.
As there's this video, I'mexcited to have you on the
podcast, so why don't you tellthe community of friends a
little bit about you?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
And I already told them about your role.
But kind of talk, education andwork experience is grounded in,
you know, being in New York andabout 10 years ago, that cross
commuting between New York andNew Jersey we all can, you know,
testify to that that it took atoll and I was at the point
(01:43):
where I wanted somethingdifferent.
I wanted a different pace oflife.
I just didn't know what thatlooked like and I was like you
know what?
I'm just going to go to thatisland, the last island I
visited and it was Anguilla atthe time and move there, not
with any real goals, right.
I just knew that.
I just wanted a different paceof life.
(02:03):
I think at the time, you know Iwas looking for something else.
I just couldn't put a finger onwhat that something else was.
And you know, I remember when Ivisited Anguilla at the time.
I remember this very smallisland, 35 square miles, you
know, 15,000 people in terms ofpopulation.
(02:25):
I remember when I said to myparents I'm moving, like,
literally, it was like March2015,.
I'm moving.
And they looked at me.
It was like what you know?
No wonder we don't.
We've never even heard of thisisland.
Why are you doing this to usand they thought what I had here
was, you know what any Jamaicanor Caribbean parents think a
(02:45):
great life.
But for me it wasn't.
At that point it wasn't anymore.
So fast forward, moving toAnguilla and working within the
hospitality segment, andprivately, right.
So, working for, you know,hotels, representing villas, and
(03:08):
even starting my own businesswith my now husband, and got
called on to serve on the boardof directors of the Angola
Tourist Board, and that startedmy journey into the public space
.
And I think I served on theboard from July to December and
(03:32):
they were like um, we think youshould be our director of
tourism.
Wait, what?
Because now this is apolitically appointed position.
And I was like no, no, no, no,no, I have to talk.
You know, my business was goingwell, it was growing, and
essentially, what would thatlook like?
Would I be jumping ship and,essentially, leaving my husband
too, right?
So we had a discussion and thisis how I looked at it this
(04:09):
island gave me so much.
How can I give back?
How can I show my appreciation?
And I think one of the greatestthings that we could do as
people is serve right.
Whether you serve people, youserve an organization, whatever
it is.
And for me, I wanted to servethe people of the island, to say
this island gave me a life thatI couldn't even conceive and my
parents thought I was crazy.
(04:29):
And now let me just say this Iwent into it with that process.
The journey was not easy, but Istayed the course because I
recognized that if God did notwant me to be in that space, it
(04:50):
just would not have happened.
And I said you know to him thatwhen I fulfilled my purpose,
let me know, let it be so clearthat you're moving me out.
And that's what he did inFebruary.
He's like okay, you've donewell, it's time for the next
step.
And the next step was Grenada.
(05:12):
This process, this journey, thistime around, I recognize it's a
little bit different, and Idon't know if it's because I was
part of the recruitment andselection process and not just a
minister saying this is mychoice, right?
So I had to apply, I had to gothrough the process.
So it's not political in thatsense.
(05:34):
You understand what I mean.
And so what I found was thatthe people have been so
welcoming, so warm.
I just had my public meet andgreet where the community was
invited and outpouring was morethan anyone could ever ask for.
(05:58):
So I've been able to, five weekson the job with confidence, go
out, coming out into our youknow our markets, to fly the
Grenadine flag and feel like I'ma daughter of the soil.
That is just how I feel in justtalking about the island,
talking about the experiences,talking about the future, and I
(06:22):
have such great plans for thedestination.
And what I love is that I havea team and a board, that I
already have the buy-in and thennow meeting our I'm right now
at the consulate here in NewYork and just met the ambassador
and the council general andhaving that, our visions are
(06:46):
aligned.
This is the first time we'remeeting and talking.
The vision is aligned for thisdestination.
So it gives you so much hope,it fuels your drive and your
passion and I'm so excitedbecause I also feel like I have
the Grenadian people at my backsaying we've got you, go ahead,
represent us.
(07:06):
You can represent us well, soit's good.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
It's good.
Wonderful.
I am so excited and I'm reallyglad that you touched on the
journey.
You know we were there at thebeginning when you were
wrestling with this, and yourparents, and you know what
that's been like for them andyou know, let's be honest,
that's not a unique experience.
Caribbean parents veer tosomething different, outside of
(07:31):
their comfort zone.
It is more like you're my child.
How am I going to protect youfrom afar?
But I think, navigating thisprofessional change leaving New
York to Anguilla and goingthrough this process, I think
it's a really powerful story,especially, as you know, black
(07:52):
women, caribbean people now haveto come to, like, what does an
unconventional career look like?
looks like Right, exactly, right, exactly.
And you know not, I mean we'renot, we're not telling our
business.
You know time and place foreverything, but, being honest
(08:14):
about the the the challengesthat come with it, and I think
that is where we need to saythere will be challenges.
My challenge may not be yourchallenge, but expect a healthy
dose of it.
And I think what you've showedis the resilience because we
know, like all of us, couldn'tcome to Anguilla and move with
(08:35):
you, right, but you had to dealwith not being around your
friends.
So I really, really wanted tosay that you are an example of
what it looks like to pivotcareers in different ways in a
different country and actuallylead, you know, public sector
work and you know, maybe I'm notsaying dispel some myths, it's
(08:58):
not- easy.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
But you know, especially in tourism.
You know a lot of peoplethought that when my tenure came
to a close in Anguilla that thenatural progression would be
private sector.
Because, you know, everybodylikes to talk about the soft
life, Like, why would you haveto have gone through so much,
(09:21):
why would you choose to go backinto the public sector?
And I have to say that it's notfor the weak of heart and
because I recognize that for memy purpose is not fully realized
, right?
I think that you know, anguillalaid the ground, the foundation
(09:42):
for me, laid the ground, thefoundation for me, and I think
that God recognized that thereis so much more and I can bless
somewhere else with my, with mytalents.
I think that I had to grow.
There were some growing pains,you know, some of it of my own
making, I'll be fair and I'll behonest about that.
But I think I'm better off forit because you don't go through
(10:04):
what you went through and notlearn and not do a bit of
introspection.
And was an idea, right, thecrying at the brunch Right now,
(10:32):
right, and see, oh my gosh.
Remember that.
Yes, oh my gosh, okay.
So, and I remember um sayingthat God really does bless you
where you are, because Iremember not even asking, I
didn't plan anything.
I think when I moved to youknow, anguilla, my mom is the
one that says oh, you go thereto get this, you go there.
I did no research, I you know.
(10:56):
I just said I'm going right.
But even when God is not in themidst of the decision, he will
still bless you.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
I'm telling you he wastes no experience.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
He takes every single thing and mold it for his
purpose when I look at even mycircle of friends who have
served, as I always think of.
You know them with their armorand me in the middle right and
there's this protection, thishedge of protection I think of.
(11:32):
I have a Kerry, I have aMichaela, I have a Sin, I have
an Alcyon right.
I can look at each of and it'sjust like God is like okay,
these are the people who areinstrumental in your journey in
New York.
I'm going to mimic that becauseyou'll need that in Angola and
I know he'll do the same for me.
I've already met amazing peoplein Grenada, like sister friends.
(11:54):
That feels like you've knownthem for ever, people who have
shown up to me.
Just one little message is done.
You know the support has justand you know what it speaks to.
It speaks to the Caribbeanspirit of sisterhood right and
of a community that is about,you know, people and
(12:14):
togetherness and unity.
I know that the public likes tothink that we are divided and
we're like crabs in a barrel.
It's not.
You can't generalize a culture.
You know what I mean.
This is not everyone At thecore, I think that there is
unity and strength and power andjust the need to see each other
(12:39):
, grow and flourish, and that'swhat I'm experiencing.
That's what I've experiencedsince my move.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
I love that you said that and I love this idea of you
know like I posted somethinglike I'm Jamaican rooted but I'm
Caribbean American, like theCaribbean shapes my lens.
Of course, jamaica roots mebecause that's where I born and
grew.
We see the diaspora, the region, for the power and the might
that we know that it has.
(13:07):
Now let's shift a little bit toyour new role into.
Grenada in this role, like Ifeel like that's a superpower to
have all of this culturalcontext behind you.
How are you taking thisperspective to shape not just
(13:30):
Grenada but I mean Grenada isyour priority but as a
representative of the widerCaribbean still?
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Of course, yeah, yeah .
Speaker 1 (13:39):
That's what it is.
So talk to me about what thisnew role is, what about it is
exciting and what you bring tothis role, given this unique
hybrid or mash of experiencesthat you bring to the role.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Yeah, I think it's Grenada.
There's something about Grenada.
There's something about Grenada, there's something about the
people.
I'll tell you something thathappened.
So I moved to Grenada two weeksbefore I started my position
because I didn't want to getthere on like Saturday or Sunday
and jump into the role, right.
I wanted to get a feel for theisland.
(14:16):
I'd only visited, you know,twice before and I wanted to get
a feel for the island, get alay of the land, right, because
you know, whereas Anguilla isflat, grenada is not.
And I wanted to get used to theroads and driving there and
seeing where I get my groceryand, you know, all of that good
(14:36):
stuff.
And I have a friend there thatI met in Anguilla who works in
Grenada.
She's been there for a year anda half and she has just been
just such a resource.
And then someone else inGrenada said oh, I have a sister
friend there and I introducedyou and they've both taken me
under their wing and I'mgrateful we were going to.
(14:58):
There's this thing calledhashing, it's hiking, and you
know, someone said it's a greatway to learn about Grenada and I
and I agree 100%.
But I didn't have hiking shoes,I don't hike, so I needed to go
get some stuff and my card, myAnguilla card they were doing
some maintenance so it wasn'tworking.
When I went to pay and I, let'ssay, the bill, I think, was 280
(15:24):
EC and I had 265, whatever itwas, I was short 15 EC and I
said, oh, I have some US, canyou?
And a gentleman behind me saidno, no, no, no, don't break your
US for the 15.
Put it on my bill, he said tothe lady, and I was like no, no,
no, it's no problem, I'll, youknow, as long as she could break
it.
Um, he said no, he said thatdoesn't make any sense.
He's like I'll pay the bill.
(15:46):
And he did.
He covered, just just like that, um, and sincerely nice,
respectful, um, you know, andthat's the sort of kindness I've
been met with.
Now, let's translate that intothe role of kindness I've been
met with.
Now, let's translate that intothe role, because what is
important to me is that I getbuy-in, of course, on the
(16:07):
government level, but also Ibelieve that the community
should buy into your vision.
You are representing the island.
I have a lot of bosses, theisland, I have a lot of bosses.
Right, You're representing theisland because tourism
(16:28):
represents the number onerevenue stream for the
destination.
I want buy-in.
That's why I would have had thecommunity meet and greet is for
people to see me hear what thevision is right.
It really is about the people.
Now having the people reach outvia social media and through my
(16:49):
email and stuff like that andsay, oh, we're so happy you're
here.
And I'm saying to myself, whyare you so happy I'm here?
You know nothing about me.
They're like, yes, yes, yes,we've done our research, we've
seen you, your whatever, and wethink you're going to do well
for the destination.
Do you know what kind of?
What sort of encouragement thatgives you as someone sitting in
the seat?
It is pressure that is notmeant to.
(17:14):
What should I say?
Make you fearful?
It's accountability, because ifyou're going to hold me
accountable right, and I thinknow I am able to say, okay,
they're entrusting me with theisland how do we make sure that
we get by in terms of thestrategic vision?
(17:34):
And so that is something thatwhen we draft the 2026 strategy,
we're going to present it live.
We're going to live stream it,because I want you to know how
we're spending the government'smoney.
I want you to know how we'repositioning the destination.
I want you to know because, asa service provider, you should
(17:56):
be able to identify anopportunity and ready yourselves
right.
So let's look at it this way Ifyou are a ground transportation
operator and I now tell you Iam tapping into the luxury
segment and this is what thataudience requires, you're gonna
see an opportunity and say, well, I wanna add a black SUV or
(18:21):
whatever to my fleet, becausethat is something that's missing
A sprinter, to be able totransport groups, right.
I want you to start thinkingabout how you can leverage the
strategy and be able to monetize.
I measure success by how thebusiness, the tourism dollars,
(18:42):
trickle down to the mom and popbusiness.
I want to be able to pull up tothe mango vendor on the side of
the road and say how businessgoing and be like well, listen,
girl.
You know the cruise ships comein, and now you know I'm getting
people to buy, and you knowwhat I mean.
It must trickle down.
I think that's also.
You make it equitable, right.
(19:04):
So you know it's, it's everyoneshould be able to benefit, and
so that is really the strategyI'm going to present.
It live and just so againpeople can ready themselves and
position themselves.
The other thing is that, aslocal people, we also have to
ready ourselves as it relates totalent.
(19:24):
We have to equip ourselves tobe able to take the post of
general manager so that we cansee people like us right
Represented at the top.
Right, not just housekeeping,not just kitchen, not just, you
know, wait staff.
I want to see a Grenadian at,you know, at Silver Sands as the
(19:45):
general manager, right?
And I think if we had to givean example of who is doing that
in terms of elevating theirstaff at Spice Island Resort,
and that's what we want.
That's where we want to geteveryone on that right.
But so now we, the GreeningAdult Tourism Authority, has a
training program where we'redoing training and development
(20:07):
at every level, not just linestaff, but also supervisors and
managers, right, so we are goingto continue that.
The other thing that I'm focusedon is people.
So I think we have, as leaders,sometimes that limited focus
where we focus out instead offocusing inward.
So you have to lay thatfoundation.
(20:31):
It's just like you're buildinga house.
Thinking about when you'rebuilding a house, right, you
know that whatever foundationyou put down, it has to be able
to sustain the structure.
Right, the foundation is theinternal client, right?
So we have to make sure I can'tgo out and train people out
there and not training my staffinside, because I know if I get
(20:51):
their buy-in I'm going to seethe passion, if they can see
themselves in the future of theorganization.
My first day, the young ladythat is subbing for my assistant
, who is on maternity leave,said to me that she wants to be
the CEO one day.
Here's what we've done.
We've already drafted a planfor her.
(21:11):
She'll serve as my assistantthrough October until my
assistant comes back, and thenwe're moving her to support
another department and thenwe're going to do some
cross-training, because what issupposed to happen is, if now a
position becomes available inmarketing, which is where she
wants to be, we should be ableto promote her.
(21:32):
So I want to promote fromwithin and hire only for the
lower positions.
That way people see themselvesgrowing in the organization.
So you know, those are justsome of my initial strategies.
Right, to be able to not onlymove the country forward but
also to move the people forward.
Right, because they are thevery foundation of this tourism
(21:56):
thing that we all see arepushing.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Yeah, stacey, I just love what you're saying because
you know many gripes as adiaspora person, and I mean
again that experience of growingup in Mobe, specifically
Jamaica's tourism capital,knowing what it's like to walk
past the craft market andknowing what that looks like on
(22:19):
the ground, that you aren't justtalking from theory.
You know what it was like to seethe people at the craft markets
or whatever the cruise ship andeverything to get, you know, to
get some money and to make surethat whatever is coming in gets
into their pockets as well.
There's one segment that Iwanted to ask you if you've
considered what role does thediaspora play in the plan or the
(22:42):
strategy that you have, Becausethey are the ambassadors.
Listen, listen, I know this isabout Grenada, but you know, as
a Jamaican, I sometimes feellike the diaspora is often not
considered as tourists, becausewe come and spend our money.
You know how we do when we gohome.
You understand we may stay home, but we don't spend money.
(23:03):
We at least spend a night at ahotel.
We say all right, we boom.
So like, how are youenvisioning the Grenadian?
Speaker 2 (23:10):
diaspora that we all struggle with is seasonality,
right, and so why not go to yourhotels and ask them to offer
whether it's local rates,returning residence rates,
caricom rates right, I know thatwe have staycations where you
(23:32):
know locals are able to.
You know this is how youencourage spend within the
island, because we know thatevery year, people will leave
the island to go vacation.
But sometimes, you know, withthe rise of these airfares,
people are not able to do that.
So how can they vacation athome and feel refreshed and
(23:54):
reset and feel like they leftthe island Really and truly?
It's promoting to them as well.
Right, that's the low-hangingfruit.
I think a lot of times we lookso far afield that we forget
what is right in front of us,and it is the local diaspora.
It is, you know, diaspora inmarket.
(24:14):
We have to market to them aswell, encouraging them to come
back home, experience yourcountry, see your country in a
new light.
And that is just the Grenadacontext.
Let's look broader in terms ofthe region.
The region again suffers in thesummer months because we find
(24:36):
that people typically go toEurope.
They can move around Europe.
It's cost effective, they getto hit a couple of countries,
it's easier to get around right.
Why aren't we promoting as oneCaribbean?
Speaker 1 (24:53):
Because her island travel is difficult.
That is the solution.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
And we're working on that.
But here's the thing.
I am in the South, so rightnext to me is Trinidad.
On the other side of me is StVincent, then there's Barbados,
there's Antigua, we have a lift.
So why aren't we comingtogether and pooling our
resources to be able to againsay fly into Trinidad, start
(25:20):
your vacation there and then hopover to Grenada, then hop over
to St Vincent?
Right, if I'm just looking atmy tri-island state, come to
(25:43):
Grenada, because if you hop overto Carriacou, that experience
is going to look different.
If you hop over to PetitMartinique, that experience is
going to look different.
Power as a diaspora.
Encourage people to come home.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
No, you know what I mean.
Yeah, it's living in thediaspora, which is why I think
that for you, in this role, youhave almost a 360 view.
You know what it's like to growup in the Caribbean, live in
the diaspora, you lived onanother and now you're here that
you can bring this perspective.
You brought something innovationright.
(26:14):
And the other aspect ofpreservation or sustainability,
rather, given where Grenada is,or the tri-island state coming
out of burial from last year andwhat the sustainability and
resilience but yet innovation inthe tourism product look like
for you in your role.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Yeah.
So let me tell you right now Ican happily say that Karikou is
just about, I would say, between80 to 90% recovered, right, in
terms of the groundtransportation, the service
providers, at least 76% of therooms, the properties have
(26:58):
reopened.
I visited there two weeks agoand the island is just amazing,
right, I think what we need todo is be able to um, because I
think they kind of get lost inthe Grenada story, right, um,
and and so we have to be able totell the story where it is.
(27:21):
You understand what Grenadaoffers, you understand what
Karikou and Petit Marquis offers, but recognize that it is
tri-island and it's threedifferent experiences, but it's
what the one similarity is goingto be the people and the
national pride, right.
And then here is whereinnovation comes into place how
(27:42):
do we tell the story and how dowe use the platforms that we
have at our fingertips, iesocial media, right, people are
not spending a lot of moneytoday on print because,
essentially, what a publicationcan tell me is how many
subscribers and where theycirculate, right, it doesn't
(28:03):
give me where.
I run a campaign on socialmedia and I can see all the
figures, you know demographics,right, and all of that good
stuff.
It is a cost-effective way ofreaching a large amount of
people.
So it's again how are wetelling that story authentically
?
How are we making itaspirational so that people want
(28:26):
to come to the destination, butnot only that.
How are we making aspiration insuch a way where you know the
diaspora is excited about someof the products that we've added
and how they can rediscovertheir island home in a different
way?
Right?
So I think it's being able toutilize social media to tell our
(28:48):
story.
And then we know AI is now thisbig thing.
You can't go to any conferenceand not talk about AI and how
that plays a role.
So in the customer journey, ifthey're looking at social media
to get inspiration, what's thenext step in that journey?
(29:09):
We want to drive that trafficto the website.
Now, is our website easy tonavigate?
Is the information there that'sgoing to trigger them to make
the decision?
You know when we are asleep,can they still get information?
Because we have to recognizethere are time differences,
whether it's Dubai, whether it'sAsia, you know wherever.
(29:29):
So we don't want them toabandon their research simply
because, again, the informationwasn't easier, it wasn't readily
available.
So we're looking at.
Well, we're looking atstreamlining the website, but
also adding a chatbot so it'sfrequently asked questions and
then being able to train it togo above and beyond the
(29:53):
customer's request.
Right, I know you asked for X, y, z.
However, have you consideredyou know what I mean plug that
in.
So again, it's like, oh, but Inever thought about that, right?
So you know, those are some ofthe innovative ways, but for us,
(30:14):
it's using our arrivalexperience to be the first
impression of the destination,right?
So I think that the airportprovides, or the seaport
provides, a clean slate for usto do amazing things.
So, when you walk in, does itmarry with your perception of
(30:37):
the destination?
You know what I mean.
So are we using our you knowwall space for visual arts?
Are we using that space whereyou're waiting for your luggage
and we know sometimes you canspend a lot of time in that area
?
How Are we using that spacewhere you're waiting for your
luggage and we know sometimesyou can spend a lot of time in
that area?
How are we using thatopportunity to captivate folks
while they're waiting?
(30:58):
You know whether it's, you know,the screens with all your, your
videos, your destination videosand photos, or perhaps right
now we have some of our statuesthere that tell a story and we
just put up a billboard thatgives you a brief history of
everything, so you don't have towonder well, why are these
statues here Right Now?
(31:18):
I want to educate you Now.
I want you to say, oh, but thatwasn't.
The water park wasn't on myitinerary.
Or going to Granite Tang wasn'ton my itinerary.
Or oh, going to Street FoodWednesday at True Blue Resort
was not on my itinerary.
Or going to Granite Tang wasn'ton my itinerary.
Or oh, going to Street FoodWednesday at True Blue Resort
was not on my itinerary.
Right Is using that opportunityI'm going to use the word to
upsell, right?
(31:40):
So it's.
You know, those are some of theinnovative ways that we're
looking at again educating,capturing, upselling, but most
importantly is to have you welllocked in on the cultural aspect
of the destination.
Speaker 1 (31:55):
Absolutely.
And as you were talking abouteducating, as you know, I
produce other podcasts and onepodcast I produce is a history
podcast, strictly Facts, and wetalk about, you know, the
tri-island state, how thecarnivals you know originate,
you know, and the different feel.
And then recently, on thispodcast, I had a young lady who
is helping the museum in Karakulbuild back you know, because a
(32:19):
lot of that you know was lost inbarrel and you know just the
work around sustainability.
So the diaspora and contentcreators like me, we're doing
the work because it's love thatwe're doing this, so this is
amazing, and I can't wait to seewhat you do in the role.
Thank you, and which otherisland you end up in?
Speaker 2 (32:38):
uh, not yet but, um, no, grenada says I'm not going
anywhere there.
Yes, yes, they, I've heard that.
Yeah, they're like you're notleaving, you know.
So this will be the last time.
And, listen, I'd be happy forthat to be the case, right,
because I think that there is somuch potential and there's so
(32:59):
much work that, listen, ifthey'll have me, I really could
see myself just saying, yeah,this is where I want to be, and
even if I'm not in the publicspace, perhaps there could be an
opportunity for private.
You know, maybe we have theagency granny, you know.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that works.
So, as you wrap up, I want tohave some little fun questions
really quickly.
Okay, what phrase, proverb orsaying is grounding you right
now in your journey.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
To whom much is given much is required, always been
and it will always remain Towhom much is given, much is
required.
So as God has blessed me, it isincumbent on me to bless others
.
I don't have to ask him tobless Kerry.
If there's a way for me tobless Kerry, he has given me the
means to do so.
(33:52):
I could do it right.
So I think that is somethingthat I always look to to ground
me and propel me right.
It's this life is bigger thanjust me.
Speaker 1 (34:05):
Wonderful.
And then, what tune did I run?
Reggae Lock.
I know you love your music.
Thank you so much.
Even the people that must singthe song.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
I have to be honest, I just love when the guy comes
in and says bad man, shit,listen.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
Love the seven-year-old and the
10-year-old.
We're like wait.
Even they jump the lyrics in.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
That makes sense.
Yeah, but we also know thatwhen we were growing up, there
were songs that we shouldn't besinging, that even if you said
right yeah, I don't think theyknow what they're saying.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
No, they don't know.
They're just like the beat, yes, and it's like the
seven-year-old bad man, chillout.
I was like what you know, butI'm glad all right, so no no,
there's another one.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
No, no, no.
So there's a song that I fellin love with from one of our
local artists, and I have to saythis here because I said to my
team that they have to bring himto the office.
I want to meet him.
His name is Blackadan and thesong is Blessing.
And it started see my ex with anew man, feel like she new
(35:10):
brand, and it's just the, it'sthe storytelling and it's just
the listen.
I could listen to that song andlast night we were at an event,
a media event, and the pan guystarted playing it and I was
like, oh my God, my song.
But you know, I was there and Ihad to be in.
Yes, yes, but I was like, oh,my song.
(35:31):
But, yes, that's another one.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
Lovely.
And then your call to action,your last words, if for anything
you didn't say that you want tomake sure that you say before
we sign off.
Speaker 2 (35:42):
So I said something today and I started laughing,
because recently Grenada gotvoted globally number two,
number two in terms of thepurest air quality globally by
the World Health Organization,and I said it to the person that
(36:02):
was interviewing me.
I said the call to action iscome to Grenada and breathe easy
, is come to Grenada and breatheeasy.
And let me tell you, I and thenI thought about that in terms
of even our name pure Grenada,pure air, pure experience, pure
people, pure quality.
(36:23):
That's it right there.
Come to Grenada and breatheeasy.
Speaker 1 (36:27):
Wonderful, wonderful.
Well, stacey, all right, staceyand I are going labrish, but
you know what?
Yes, you all know what I say atthe end of every episode Walk
good Bye, everyone Bye.
Hello everyone, welcome to another episode of
Carry On Friends the CaribbeanAmerican experience.
And I know every time I saythis I'm excited about my next
guest.
But for anybody who know me andthe next guest, they know that
this excitement is legit, legitlegit.
So let me first introduce youto the incoming CEO of Grenada
(00:24):
Tourism Authority, Mrs StaceyLiburd, but I know her as Stacey
Boothbob.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
We're coming from a far away.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Very far.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Primary school.
Yes, remember, yes, yes.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
I'm so excited for you and congratulations.
And I'm ready for the audienceto get to know you.
As there's this video, I'mexcited to have you on the
podcast, so why don't you tellthe community of friends a
little bit about you?
Speaker 2 (01:20):
And I already told them about your role.
But kind of talk, education andwork experience is grounded in,
you know, being in New York andabout 10 years ago, that cross
commuting between New York andNew Jersey we all can, you know,
testify to that that it took atoll and I was at the point
(01:43):
where I wanted somethingdifferent.
I wanted a different pace oflife.
I just didn't know what thatlooked like and I was like you
know what?
I'm just going to go to thatisland, the last island I
visited and it was Anguilla atthe time and move there, not
with any real goals, right.
I just knew that.
I just wanted a different paceof life.
(02:03):
I think at the time, you know Iwas looking for something else.
I just couldn't put a finger onwhat that something else was.
And you know, I remember when Ivisited Anguilla at the time.
I remember this very smallisland, 35 square miles, you
know, 15,000 people in terms ofpopulation.
(02:25):
I remember when I said to myparents I'm moving, like,
literally, it was like March2015,.
I'm moving.
And they looked at me.
It was like what you know?
No wonder we don't.
We've never even heard of thisisland.
Why are you doing this to usand they thought what I had here
was, you know what any Jamaicanor Caribbean parents think a
(02:45):
great life.
But for me it wasn't.
At that point it wasn't anymore.
So fast forward, moving toAnguilla and working within the
hospitality segment, andprivately, right.
So, working for, you know,hotels, representing villas, and
(03:08):
even starting my own businesswith my now husband, and got
called on to serve on the boardof directors of the Angola
Tourist Board, and that startedmy journey into the public space
.
And I think I served on theboard from July to December and
(03:32):
they were like um, we think youshould be our director of
tourism.
Wait, what?
Because now this is apolitically appointed position.
And I was like no, no, no, no,no, I have to talk.
You know, my business was goingwell, it was growing, and
essentially, what would thatlook like?
Would I be jumping ship and,essentially, leaving my husband
too, right?
So we had a discussion and thisis how I looked at it this
(04:09):
island gave me so much.
How can I give back?
How can I show my appreciation?
And I think one of the greatestthings that we could do as
people is serve right.
Whether you serve people, youserve an organization, whatever
it is.
And for me, I wanted to servethe people of the island, to say
this island gave me a life thatI couldn't even conceive and my
parents thought I was crazy.
(04:29):
And now let me just say this Iwent into it with that process.
The journey was not easy, but Istayed the course because I
recognized that if God did notwant me to be in that space, it
(04:50):
just would not have happened.
And I said you know to him thatwhen I fulfilled my purpose,
let me know, let it be so clearthat you're moving me out.
And that's what he did inFebruary.
He's like okay, you've donewell, it's time for the next
step.
And the next step was Grenada.
(05:12):
This process, this journey, thistime around, I recognize it's a
little bit different, and Idon't know if it's because I was
part of the recruitment andselection process and not just a
minister saying this is mychoice, right?
So I had to apply, I had to gothrough the process.
So it's not political in thatsense.
(05:34):
You understand what I mean.
And so what I found was thatthe people have been so
welcoming, so warm.
I just had my public meet andgreet where the community was
invited and outpouring was morethan anyone could ever ask for.
(05:58):
So I've been able to, five weekson the job with confidence, go
out, coming out into our youknow our markets, to fly the
Grenadine flag and feel like I'ma daughter of the soil.
That is just how I feel in justtalking about the island,
talking about the experiences,talking about the future, and I
(06:22):
have such great plans for thedestination.
And what I love is that I havea team and a board, that I
already have the buy-in and thennow meeting our I'm right now
at the consulate here in NewYork and just met the ambassador
and the council general andhaving that, our visions are
(06:46):
aligned.
This is the first time we'remeeting and talking.
The vision is aligned for thisdestination.
So it gives you so much hope,it fuels your drive and your
passion and I'm so excitedbecause I also feel like I have
the Grenadian people at my backsaying we've got you, go ahead,
represent us.
(07:06):
You can represent us well, soit's good.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
It's good.
Wonderful.
I am so excited and I'm reallyglad that you touched on the
journey.
You know we were there at thebeginning when you were
wrestling with this, and yourparents, and you know what
that's been like for them andyou know, let's be honest,
that's not a unique experience.
Caribbean parents veer tosomething different, outside of
(07:31):
their comfort zone.
It is more like you're my child.
How am I going to protect youfrom afar?
But I think, navigating thisprofessional change leaving New
York to Anguilla and goingthrough this process, I think
it's a really powerful story,especially, as you know, black
(07:52):
women, caribbean people now haveto come to, like, what does an
unconventional career look like?
looks like Right, exactly, right, exactly.
And you know not, I mean we'renot, we're not telling our
business.
You know time and place foreverything, but, being honest
(08:14):
about the the the challengesthat come with it, and I think
that is where we need to saythere will be challenges.
My challenge may not be yourchallenge, but expect a healthy
dose of it.
And I think what you've showedis the resilience because we
know, like all of us, couldn'tcome to Anguilla and move with
(08:35):
you, right, but you had to dealwith not being around your
friends.
So I really, really wanted tosay that you are an example of
what it looks like to pivotcareers in different ways in a
different country and actuallylead, you know, public sector
work and you know, maybe I'm notsaying dispel some myths, it's
(08:58):
not- easy.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
But you know, especially in tourism.
You know a lot of peoplethought that when my tenure came
to a close in Anguilla that thenatural progression would be
private sector.
Because, you know, everybodylikes to talk about the soft
life, Like, why would you haveto have gone through so much,
(09:21):
why would you choose to go backinto the public sector?
And I have to say that it's notfor the weak of heart and
because I recognize that for memy purpose is not fully realized
, right?
I think that you know, anguillalaid the ground, the foundation
(09:42):
for me, laid the ground, thefoundation for me, and I think
that God recognized that thereis so much more and I can bless
somewhere else with my, with mytalents.
I think that I had to grow.
There were some growing pains,you know, some of it of my own
making, I'll be fair and I'll behonest about that.
But I think I'm better off forit because you don't go through
(10:04):
what you went through and notlearn and not do a bit of
introspection.
And was an idea, right, thecrying at the brunch Right now,
(10:32):
right, and see, oh my gosh.
Remember that.
Yes, oh my gosh, okay.
So, and I remember um sayingthat God really does bless you
where you are, because Iremember not even asking, I
didn't plan anything.
I think when I moved to youknow, anguilla, my mom is the
one that says oh, you go thereto get this, you go there.
I did no research, I you know.
(10:56):
I just said I'm going right.
But even when God is not in themidst of the decision, he will
still bless you.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
I'm telling you he wastes no experience.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
He takes every single thing and mold it for his
purpose when I look at even mycircle of friends who have
served, as I always think of.
You know them with their armorand me in the middle right and
there's this protection, thishedge of protection I think of.
(11:32):
I have a Kerry, I have aMichaela, I have a Sin, I have
an Alcyon right.
I can look at each of and it'sjust like God is like okay,
these are the people who areinstrumental in your journey in
New York.
I'm going to mimic that becauseyou'll need that in Angola and
I know he'll do the same for me.
I've already met amazing peoplein Grenada, like sister friends.
(11:54):
That feels like you've knownthem for ever, people who have
shown up to me.
Just one little message is done.
You know the support has justand you know what it speaks to.
It speaks to the Caribbeanspirit of sisterhood right and
of a community that is about,you know, people and
(12:14):
togetherness and unity.
I know that the public likes tothink that we are divided and
we're like crabs in a barrel.
It's not.
You can't generalize a culture.
You know what I mean.
This is not everyone At thecore, I think that there is
unity and strength and power andjust the need to see each other
(12:39):
, grow and flourish, and that'swhat I'm experiencing.
That's what I've experiencedsince my move.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
I love that you said that and I love this idea of you
know like I posted somethinglike I'm Jamaican rooted but I'm
Caribbean American, like theCaribbean shapes my lens.
Of course, jamaica roots mebecause that's where I born and
grew.
We see the diaspora, the region, for the power and the might
that we know that it has.
(13:07):
Now let's shift a little bit toyour new role into.
Grenada in this role, like Ifeel like that's a superpower to
have all of this culturalcontext behind you.
How are you taking thisperspective to shape not just
(13:30):
Grenada but I mean Grenada isyour priority but as a
representative of the widerCaribbean still?
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Of course, yeah, yeah .
Speaker 1 (13:39):
That's what it is.
So talk to me about what thisnew role is, what about it is
exciting and what you bring tothis role, given this unique
hybrid or mash of experiencesthat you bring to the role.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
Yeah, I think it's Grenada.
There's something about Grenada.
There's something about Grenada, there's something about the
people.
I'll tell you something thathappened.
So I moved to Grenada two weeksbefore I started my position
because I didn't want to getthere on like Saturday or Sunday
and jump into the role, right.
I wanted to get a feel for theisland.
(14:16):
I'd only visited, you know,twice before and I wanted to get
a feel for the island, get alay of the land, right, because
you know, whereas Anguilla isflat, grenada is not.
And I wanted to get used to theroads and driving there and
seeing where I get my groceryand, you know, all of that good
(14:36):
stuff.
And I have a friend there thatI met in Anguilla who works in
Grenada.
She's been there for a year anda half and she has just been
just such a resource.
And then someone else inGrenada said oh, I have a sister
friend there and I introducedyou and they've both taken me
under their wing and I'mgrateful we were going to.
(14:58):
There's this thing calledhashing, it's hiking, and you
know, someone said it's a greatway to learn about Grenada and I
and I agree 100%.
But I didn't have hiking shoes,I don't hike, so I needed to go
get some stuff and my card, myAnguilla card they were doing
some maintenance so it wasn'tworking.
When I went to pay and I, let'ssay, the bill, I think, was 280
(15:24):
EC and I had 265, whatever itwas, I was short 15 EC and I
said, oh, I have some US, canyou?
And a gentleman behind me saidno, no, no, no, don't break your
US for the 15.
Put it on my bill, he said tothe lady, and I was like no, no,
no, it's no problem, I'll, youknow, as long as she could break
it.
Um, he said no, he said thatdoesn't make any sense.
He's like I'll pay the bill.
(15:46):
And he did.
He covered, just just like that, um, and sincerely nice,
respectful, um, you know, andthat's the sort of kindness I've
been met with.
Now, let's translate that intothe role of kindness I've been
met with.
Now, let's translate that intothe role, because what is
important to me is that I getbuy-in, of course, on the
(16:07):
government level, but also Ibelieve that the community
should buy into your vision.
You are representing the island.
I have a lot of bosses, theisland, I have a lot of bosses.
Right, You're representing theisland because tourism
(16:28):
represents the number onerevenue stream for the
destination.
I want buy-in.
That's why I would have had thecommunity meet and greet is for
people to see me hear what thevision is right.
It really is about the people.
Now having the people reach outvia social media and through my
(16:49):
email and stuff like that andsay, oh, we're so happy you're
here.
And I'm saying to myself, whyare you so happy I'm here?
You know nothing about me.
They're like, yes, yes, yes,we've done our research, we've
seen you, your whatever, and wethink you're going to do well
for the destination.
Do you know what kind of?
What sort of encouragement thatgives you as someone sitting in
the seat?
It is pressure that is notmeant to.
(17:14):
What should I say?
Make you fearful?
It's accountability, because ifyou're going to hold me
accountable right, and I thinknow I am able to say, okay,
they're entrusting me with theisland how do we make sure that
we get by in terms of thestrategic vision?
(17:34):
And so that is something thatwhen we draft the 2026 strategy,
we're going to present it live.
We're going to live stream it,because I want you to know how
we're spending the government'smoney.
I want you to know how we'repositioning the destination.
I want you to know because, asa service provider, you should
(17:56):
be able to identify anopportunity and ready yourselves
right.
So let's look at it this way Ifyou are a ground transportation
operator and I now tell you Iam tapping into the luxury
segment and this is what thataudience requires, you're gonna
see an opportunity and say, well, I wanna add a black SUV or
(18:21):
whatever to my fleet, becausethat is something that's missing
A sprinter, to be able totransport groups, right.
I want you to start thinkingabout how you can leverage the
strategy and be able to monetize.
I measure success by how thebusiness, the tourism dollars,
(18:42):
trickle down to the mom and popbusiness.
I want to be able to pull up tothe mango vendor on the side of
the road and say how businessgoing and be like well, listen,
girl.
You know the cruise ships comein, and now you know I'm getting
people to buy, and you knowwhat I mean.
It must trickle down.
I think that's also.
You make it equitable, right.
(19:04):
So you know it's, it's everyoneshould be able to benefit, and
so that is really the strategyI'm going to present.
It live and just so againpeople can ready themselves and
position themselves.
The other thing is that, aslocal people, we also have to
ready ourselves as it relates totalent.
(19:24):
We have to equip ourselves tobe able to take the post of
general manager so that we cansee people like us right
Represented at the top.
Right, not just housekeeping,not just kitchen, not just, you
know, wait staff.
I want to see a Grenadian at,you know, at Silver Sands as the
(19:45):
general manager, right?
And I think if we had to givean example of who is doing that
in terms of elevating theirstaff at Spice Island Resort,
and that's what we want.
That's where we want to geteveryone on that right.
But so now we, the GreeningAdult Tourism Authority, has a
training program where we'redoing training and development
(20:07):
at every level, not just linestaff, but also supervisors and
managers, right, so we are goingto continue that.
The other thing that I'm focusedon is people.
So I think we have, as leaders,sometimes that limited focus
where we focus out instead offocusing inward.
So you have to lay thatfoundation.
(20:31):
It's just like you're buildinga house.
Thinking about when you'rebuilding a house, right, you
know that whatever foundationyou put down, it has to be able
to sustain the structure.
Right, the foundation is theinternal client, right?
So we have to make sure I can'tgo out and train people out
there and not training my staffinside, because I know if I get
(20:51):
their buy-in I'm going to seethe passion, if they can see
themselves in the future of theorganization.
My first day, the young ladythat is subbing for my assistant
, who is on maternity leave,said to me that she wants to be
the CEO one day.
Here's what we've done.
We've already drafted a planfor her.
(21:11):
She'll serve as my assistantthrough October until my
assistant comes back, and thenwe're moving her to support
another department and thenwe're going to do some
cross-training, because what issupposed to happen is, if now a
position becomes available inmarketing, which is where she
wants to be, we should be ableto promote her.
(21:32):
So I want to promote fromwithin and hire only for the
lower positions.
That way people see themselvesgrowing in the organization.
So you know, those are justsome of my initial strategies.
Right, to be able to not onlymove the country forward but
also to move the people forward.
Right, because they are thevery foundation of this tourism
(21:56):
thing that we all see arepushing.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
Yeah, stacey, I just love what you're saying because
you know many gripes as adiaspora person, and I mean
again that experience of growingup in Mobe, specifically
Jamaica's tourism capital,knowing what it's like to walk
past the craft market andknowing what that looks like on
(22:19):
the ground, that you aren't justtalking from theory.
You know what it was like to seethe people at the craft markets
or whatever the cruise ship andeverything to get, you know, to
get some money and to make surethat whatever is coming in gets
into their pockets as well.
There's one segment that Iwanted to ask you if you've
considered what role does thediaspora play in the plan or the
(22:42):
strategy that you have, Becausethey are the ambassadors.
Listen, listen, I know this isabout Grenada, but you know, as
a Jamaican, I sometimes feellike the diaspora is often not
considered as tourists, becausewe come and spend our money.
You know how we do when we gohome.
You understand we may stay home, but we don't spend money.
(23:03):
We at least spend a night at ahotel.
We say all right, we boom.
So like, how are youenvisioning the Grenadian?
Speaker 2 (23:10):
diaspora that we all struggle with is seasonality,
right, and so why not go to yourhotels and ask them to offer
whether it's local rates,returning residence rates,
caricom rates right, I know thatwe have staycations where you
(23:32):
know locals are able to.
You know this is how youencourage spend within the
island, because we know thatevery year, people will leave
the island to go vacation.
But sometimes, you know, withthe rise of these airfares,
people are not able to do that.
So how can they vacation athome and feel refreshed and
(23:54):
reset and feel like they leftthe island Really and truly?
It's promoting to them as well.
Right, that's the low-hangingfruit.
I think a lot of times we lookso far afield that we forget
what is right in front of us,and it is the local diaspora.
It is, you know, diaspora inmarket.
(24:14):
We have to market to them aswell, encouraging them to come
back home, experience yourcountry, see your country in a
new light.
And that is just the Grenadacontext.
Let's look broader in terms ofthe region.
The region again suffers in thesummer months because we find
(24:36):
that people typically go toEurope.
They can move around Europe.
It's cost effective, they getto hit a couple of countries,
it's easier to get around right.
Why aren't we promoting as oneCaribbean?
Speaker 1 (24:53):
Because her island travel is difficult.
That is the solution.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
And we're working on that.
But here's the thing.
I am in the South, so rightnext to me is Trinidad.
On the other side of me is StVincent, then there's Barbados,
there's Antigua, we have a lift.
So why aren't we comingtogether and pooling our
resources to be able to againsay fly into Trinidad, start
(25:20):
your vacation there and then hopover to Grenada, then hop over
to St Vincent?
Right, if I'm just looking atmy tri-island state, come to
(25:43):
Grenada, because if you hop overto Carriacou, that experience
is going to look different.
If you hop over to PetitMartinique, that experience is
going to look different.
Power as a diaspora.
Encourage people to come home.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
No, you know what I mean.
Yeah, it's living in thediaspora, which is why I think
that for you, in this role, youhave almost a 360 view.
You know what it's like to growup in the Caribbean, live in
the diaspora, you lived onanother and now you're here that
you can bring this perspective.
You brought something innovationright.
(26:14):
And the other aspect ofpreservation or sustainability,
rather, given where Grenada is,or the tri-island state coming
out of burial from last year andwhat the sustainability and
resilience but yet innovation inthe tourism product look like
for you in your role.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Yeah.
So let me tell you right now Ican happily say that Karikou is
just about, I would say, between80 to 90% recovered, right, in
terms of the groundtransportation, the service
providers, at least 76% of therooms, the properties have
(26:58):
reopened.
I visited there two weeks agoand the island is just amazing,
right, I think what we need todo is be able to um, because I
think they kind of get lost inthe Grenada story, right, um,
and and so we have to be able totell the story where it is.
(27:21):
You understand what Grenadaoffers, you understand what
Karikou and Petit Marquis offers, but recognize that it is
tri-island and it's threedifferent experiences, but it's
what the one similarity is goingto be the people and the
national pride, right.
And then here is whereinnovation comes into place how
(27:42):
do we tell the story and how dowe use the platforms that we
have at our fingertips, iesocial media, right, people are
not spending a lot of moneytoday on print because,
essentially, what a publicationcan tell me is how many
subscribers and where theycirculate, right, it doesn't
(28:03):
give me where.
I run a campaign on socialmedia and I can see all the
figures, you know demographics,right, and all of that good
stuff.
It is a cost-effective way ofreaching a large amount of
people.
So it's again how are wetelling that story authentically
?
How are we making itaspirational so that people want
(28:26):
to come to the destination, butnot only that.
How are we making aspiration insuch a way where you know the
diaspora is excited about someof the products that we've added
and how they can rediscovertheir island home in a different
way?
Right?
So I think it's being able toutilize social media to tell our
(28:48):
story.
And then we know AI is now thisbig thing.
You can't go to any conferenceand not talk about AI and how
that plays a role.
So in the customer journey, ifthey're looking at social media
to get inspiration, what's thenext step in that journey?
(29:09):
We want to drive that trafficto the website.
Now, is our website easy tonavigate?
Is the information there that'sgoing to trigger them to make
the decision?
You know when we are asleep,can they still get information?
Because we have to recognizethere are time differences,
whether it's Dubai, whether it'sAsia, you know wherever.
(29:29):
So we don't want them toabandon their research simply
because, again, the informationwasn't easier, it wasn't readily
available.
So we're looking at.
Well, we're looking atstreamlining the website, but
also adding a chatbot so it'sfrequently asked questions and
then being able to train it togo above and beyond the
(29:53):
customer's request.
Right, I know you asked for X, y, z.
However, have you consideredyou know what I mean plug that
in.
So again, it's like, oh, but Inever thought about that, right?
So you know, those are some ofthe innovative ways, but for us,
(30:14):
it's using our arrivalexperience to be the first
impression of the destination,right?
So I think that the airportprovides, or the seaport
provides, a clean slate for usto do amazing things.
So, when you walk in, does itmarry with your perception of
(30:37):
the destination?
You know what I mean.
So are we using our you knowwall space for visual arts?
Are we using that space whereyou're waiting for your luggage
and we know sometimes you canspend a lot of time in that area
?
How Are we using that spacewhere you're waiting for your
luggage and we know sometimesyou can spend a lot of time in
that area?
How are we using thatopportunity to captivate folks
while they're waiting?
(30:58):
You know whether it's, you know,the screens with all your, your
videos, your destination videosand photos, or perhaps right
now we have some of our statuesthere that tell a story and we
just put up a billboard thatgives you a brief history of
everything, so you don't have towonder well, why are these
statues here Right Now?
(31:18):
I want to educate you Now.
I want you to say, oh, but thatwasn't.
The water park wasn't on myitinerary.
Or going to Granite Tang wasn'ton my itinerary.
Or oh, going to Street FoodWednesday at True Blue Resort
was not on my itinerary.
Or going to Granite Tang wasn'ton my itinerary.
Or oh, going to Street FoodWednesday at True Blue Resort
was not on my itinerary.
Right Is using that opportunityI'm going to use the word to
upsell, right?
(31:40):
So it's.
You know, those are some of theinnovative ways that we're
looking at again educating,capturing, upselling, but most
importantly is to have you welllocked in on the cultural aspect
of the destination.
Speaker 1 (31:55):
Absolutely.
And as you were talking abouteducating, as you know, I
produce other podcasts and onepodcast I produce is a history
podcast, strictly Facts, and wetalk about, you know, the
tri-island state, how thecarnivals you know originate,
you know, and the different feel.
And then recently, on thispodcast, I had a young lady who
is helping the museum in Karakulbuild back you know, because a
(32:19):
lot of that you know was lost inbarrel and you know just the
work around sustainability.
So the diaspora and contentcreators like me, we're doing
the work because it's love thatwe're doing this, so this is
amazing, and I can't wait to seewhat you do in the role.
Thank you, and which otherisland you end up in?
Speaker 2 (32:38):
uh, not yet but, um, no, grenada says I'm not going
anywhere there.
Yes, yes, they, I've heard that.
Yeah, they're like you're notleaving, you know.
So this will be the last time.
And, listen, I'd be happy forthat to be the case, right,
because I think that there is somuch potential and there's so
(32:59):
much work that, listen, ifthey'll have me, I really could
see myself just saying, yeah,this is where I want to be, and
even if I'm not in the publicspace, perhaps there could be an
opportunity for private.
You know, maybe we have theagency granny, you know.
Speaker 1 (33:17):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that works.
So, as you wrap up, I want tohave some little fun questions
really quickly.
Okay, what phrase, proverb orsaying is grounding you right
now in your journey.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
To whom much is given much is required, always been
and it will always remain Towhom much is given, much is
required.
So as God has blessed me, it isincumbent on me to bless others
.
I don't have to ask him tobless Kerry.
If there's a way for me tobless Kerry, he has given me the
means to do so.
(33:52):
I could do it right.
So I think that is somethingthat I always look to to ground
me and propel me right.
It's this life is bigger thanjust me.
Speaker 1 (34:05):
Wonderful.
And then, what tune did I run?
Reggae Lock.
I know you love your music.
Thank you so much.
Even the people that must singthe song.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
I have to be honest, I just love when the guy comes
in and says bad man, shit,listen.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
Love the seven-year-old and the
10-year-old.
We're like wait.
Even they jump the lyrics in.
Speaker 2 (34:28):
That makes sense.
Yeah, but we also know thatwhen we were growing up, there
were songs that we shouldn't besinging, that even if you said
right yeah, I don't think theyknow what they're saying.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
No, they don't know.
They're just like the beat, yes, and it's like the
seven-year-old bad man, chillout.
I was like what you know, butI'm glad all right, so no no,
there's another one.
Speaker 2 (34:49):
No, no, no.
So there's a song that I fellin love with from one of our
local artists, and I have to saythis here because I said to my
team that they have to bring himto the office.
I want to meet him.
His name is Blackadan and thesong is Blessing.
And it started see my ex with anew man, feel like she new
(35:10):
brand, and it's just the, it'sthe storytelling and it's just
the listen.
I could listen to that song andlast night we were at an event,
a media event, and the pan guystarted playing it and I was
like, oh my God, my song.
But you know, I was there and Ihad to be in.
Yes, yes, but I was like, oh,my song.
(35:31):
But, yes, that's another one.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
Lovely.
And then your call to action,your last words, if for anything
you didn't say that you want tomake sure that you say before
we sign off.
Speaker 2 (35:42):
So I said something today and I started laughing,
because recently Grenada gotvoted globally number two,
number two in terms of thepurest air quality globally by
the World Health Organization,and I said it to the person that
(36:02):
was interviewing me.
I said the call to action iscome to Grenada and breathe easy
, is come to Grenada and breatheeasy.
And let me tell you, I and thenI thought about that in terms
of even our name pure Grenada,pure air, pure experience, pure
people, pure quality.
(36:23):
That's it right there.
Come to Grenada and breatheeasy.
Speaker 1 (36:27):
Wonderful, wonderful.
Well, stacey, all right, staceyand I are going labrish, but
you know what?
Yes, you all know what I say atthe end of every episode Walk
good Bye, everyone Bye.
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