August 5, 2025 • 58 mins
This week, we are talking di tings with the CEO of the Grenada Tourism Authority, Stacey Liburd.
Stacey shares her personal and professional journey; from the influence of her parents, to becoming one of the most visionary figures in the region’s tourism sector. Together, we explore the power of travel, the importance of intentional community centered leadership, the importance of sustainable tourism, our mutual belief that luxury is more than five-star amenities; it is thoughtful rooted experiences that feel both elevated and authentically warm.
Stacey speaks candidly about her commitment to sustainability, community inclusion, and the preservation of Grenada’s heritage, as well as her vision to position the island as a premier destination for luxury, without compromising authenticity.
Our conversation goes far beyond tourism; we discuss our Caribbean upbringing, leading with intention, the importance of having a positive attitude, and the empathy and vision required to appreciate and honor the soul of an island and share it with the world.
So grab your tea, coffee, or a glass of wine, and let’s talk di tings!
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If you enjoyed the episode, leave us a 5-star rating, share this episode, and follow Let’s Talk Di Tings on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Listen to LTDT on: SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6akOR9kAnsbANiszBDcVOL?si=aa70627937124c3eAPPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-di-tings/id1662696625
Stacey shares her personal and professional journey; from the influence of her parents, to becoming one of the most visionary figures in the region’s tourism sector. Together, we explore the power of travel, the importance of intentional community centered leadership, the importance of sustainable tourism, our mutual belief that luxury is more than five-star amenities; it is thoughtful rooted experiences that feel both elevated and authentically warm.
Stacey speaks candidly about her commitment to sustainability, community inclusion, and the preservation of Grenada’s heritage, as well as her vision to position the island as a premier destination for luxury, without compromising authenticity.
Our conversation goes far beyond tourism; we discuss our Caribbean upbringing, leading with intention, the importance of having a positive attitude, and the empathy and vision required to appreciate and honor the soul of an island and share it with the world.
So grab your tea, coffee, or a glass of wine, and let’s talk di tings!
.
.
.
If you enjoyed the episode, leave us a 5-star rating, share this episode, and follow Let’s Talk Di Tings on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Listen to LTDT on: SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6akOR9kAnsbANiszBDcVOL?si=aa70627937124c3eAPPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-di-tings/id1662696625
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
From the Anguillin Shores to Grenadian Hills. Jamaican born Stacy
Lybert's path exemplifies visionary leadership in motion. Appointed CEO of
the Grenada Tourism Authority in June of this year, she
enherits not just a title, but the privilege, as she
(00:23):
expresses throughout this episode of Shaping all the World sees
and experiences Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique. As the former
Director of Tourism for Anguilla, Stacey is renowned for forging partnerships,
expanding sustainable airlift, and crafting travel narratives that honor culture,
(00:49):
service and people. Stacy's legacy in Caribbean tourism is already profound,
with more than fifteen years of award winning leadership, including
a historic tenure in Anguilla. Stacy brings a rare blend
of strategic foresight, cultural reverence, and visionary grace to the
(01:13):
Spice Isle. In this episode, we discuss the importance of community,
the warmth of the Grenadian people, sustainable tourism, her mission
to elevate Grenada as a leading luxury destination, and how
collaboration and cultural authenticity remain at the heart of her work.
(01:37):
We also discuss the true definition of luxury and feeling
at home that we have both experienced in Grenada, not
as a buzzword or a cliche phrase, but as an
honest reflection of the Grenadian warmth and community. This episode
is more than just a conversation about tourism, is a
(02:00):
reflection of our Caribbean upbringing, leading with intention, the importance
of having a positive attitude, and the empathy and vision
required to appreciate and honor the soul of an island
and share it with the world. So grab your tea, coffee,
(02:21):
or a glass of wine and let's talk the Things.
Hello everyone, Welcome back to Let's Talk to Things, where
we discuss personal growth, travel, music, beauty and wellness while
(02:43):
encouraging you to live fearlessly and fabulously. I'm your host, Ash,
and this week we are talking to Things with the
newly appointed CEO of the Grenada Taurism Authority and former
Director of Taurism for Anguilla, Renowned for forging partnerships, expanding
(03:03):
sustainable airlift and crafting travel narratives that on our culture,
service and people, Stacy Librard. Hi, Stacy, how are you?
I am?
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Wonderful? Ash? How are you doing.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
I'm well, thank you, Thank you so much for coming
to talk the things with me.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
My pleasure. I love to talk to things, don't we,
all right, as canby and woman, that is our thing, Yes,
it is ESSI as we talk about, you know, empowerment
and sharing information exactly. It is so critical for us
to share, right, I think it's through sharingly we learn
(03:44):
and empower. So thank you for the opportunity. Thank you
for creating this platform. I think it's amazing. Congratulations.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Oh, thank you so much. And here, you know, we
put a different spin on it because we're talking the
positive things. It's not your usual taught the things you know, yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Yes, yes, yes, of course, and we love that.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
We love that, yes of course. All right. So for
our first time guest and for persons listening for the
first time, we begin each episode with our listener's favorite segment,
and it's called that sounds safe.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Oh God, I'm afraid.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Don't no, don't be afraid, don't be afraid. All positive things.
So I'm going to read messages or social media posts
that listeners sent in. And if you think it sounds
crazy or a little concerning, maybe you just don't agree.
You would say that sounds safe and explain why, and
if you agree, you say you agree or that sounds
safe and explain why sounds good? Okay, all right, all right, perfect,
(04:45):
all right. So the first person said, as you get older,
you need to actively protect your optimism.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Ooh, that sounds safe.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Yeah, I agree. I agree. I think you know, as children,
I always talk about it here, like, as children, you're
so free to like do things that you like to
do and try new things. And I feel like as
we get older there's a lot of discouragement that happens,
you know, so you really do have to protect your
dreams and your hopes for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
No, I agree. I think it's you know, in everything. Listen,
I'm forty eight. I just turned forty eight last week,
and I feel like thank you, and I find that I
am When I got over forty, I recognize that I've
started to become a bit more intentional. So you know
(05:35):
that if I choose to spend time with you, it's
because I want to. So I live in that space intentionally.
So I'm sitting in front of you, I'm not on
my phone, I'm not you know, my mind is not
wandering off. I am very much present because I want
to be there, right. I also feel like you know,
(05:58):
at this age, you know, you know, we go through
so many things as women. I think we just need
to protect our space. In general, I think you have
to be intentional about who you keep company with, where
you go, what you do, what you say, especially what
you say about yourself. So I think in every aspect
(06:21):
of your life, you have to be intentional. So yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
I think we have to. Yeah, that sounds safe. I
like I like that.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Yes, me too, I love that, and I love your
your theory on that, because you have to be kind
to yourself in order for other persons to be kind
to you, because people correct how you treat yourself, you.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Know, correct, correct, correct, correct.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Definitely definitely all right, that sounds safe. All right? The
next person said, this is so funny. The next person said,
why do parents talk so loud when they're talking to
family back home, as if they have to scream for
them to hear you know what?
Speaker 2 (06:59):
No, all right, that sounds safe because here's why I
don't think that we're speaking loudly, right, I think because
as a people, we're passionate, so.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
I know it's true.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
So I found that depending on what we're talking about.
Oh lord, if we're talking about sports, oh, passion, we're
debating music passion, we're debating food passion. Yes, we're differently
a political position, oh gosh, definitely passion. And then when
(07:36):
the excitement comes in, I think that you know, someone
may walk by and they hear and it looks like
people are arguing because also the hands start going, the
body movements a little bit different, and then you couple
that with the tone, and you know it sounds like
either we're too loud or we're arguing on but it's
(07:58):
not you. We're people. I love it. I love it.
I love everything.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
About that that's true.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
I love everything about that. We're colorful people, We're flavorful,
and that's so true in so many ways, right. I
think how we dress, how we express ourselves, how we laugh,
how we dance, how we sing, how we chare for
the culture. And when I say the culture, I meaning
the culture as a Caribbean. Right, I'm not singling out
(08:26):
any one destination. But when you look at us collectively
and you put you have someone representative of each different
Caribbean destination, you realize that there's one commonality and it
is that we are a colorful people.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
That's so true, and that's why I have this platform
because so many persons from so many different Caribbean cultures,
you can see we have that all in common. We
like to laugh, we like to have fun, but we're
also very intelligent people and also people that are raised
with a lot of respect, a lot of self respect,
(09:03):
a lot of bra upsy, which is my favorite word.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
I love that word. I love that word. I love it.
I love it.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
I love it, you know, yes, And I was just
saying this on a previous episode. I also use this
platform for persons that aren't Caribbean for them to listen
and know that we're not just one dimensional. We have
so many layers to us, you know, And I think
that's the only way to change the narrative is to
actually show people and let people hear and see all
(09:33):
of the wonderful things that we're doing, you know what
I mean, as a community. So yeah, definitely really important.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
That's why I'm such a strong proponent of travel, because
I think through travel you get to see, experience and
appreciate different cultures. You know, how people are. I think
there at times, you know, we can look through a
very narrow lens, and we make judgments on what we
(10:01):
see in a very limited space. And I think when
you travel, because you become so exposed, I think that
you are a bit more understanding, a little bit more
of tolerance, if you will, for lack of a better way. Yeah,
So that's why I think travel is so important. I
think it's you have to get out. You have to
(10:22):
see the world. You have to see people, like truly
see people in their element, to appreciate, you know, the culture.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Right, absolutely, absolutely. I think that's just such a gift
to be able to appreciate other persons culture. And I know,
you know my parents, I was so blessed that they
took us, you know, everywhere. We were going to Israel,
We're going to Egypt, and so by the time I
got older, I was very aware of other persons cultures,
(10:50):
you know what I mean. So I think it's so important,
even for children if you can afford it, because obviously
it's expensive, but just to take them with you so
they can take in other people's way of life. Absolutely
agreed that one is safe. So see, so far, so good,
nothing crazy, so far.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
So good. Yeah, I'm gonna take a turn though, I
don't treat no, oh.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
My good angelie, no no, no, no, I promise, all right, okay,
all right. And the final one this is also I mean, honestly,
I don't think we're gonna have any not safe, but
the final one. If you want to know what a
man is like, and I think this means man as
a man or woman. But if this is a quote, actually,
(11:36):
if you want to know what a man is like,
take a good look at how he treats his inferiors,
not his equals.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Safe safe safe safe. You know there are true things
they say. They say an angry man or a drunk
man or woman tell no lies right and true, or
or let's let's do it like this, you know how
I think Caribbean. I don't think it's necessarily a Jamaican
saying that Simea one live with me is an X right.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Yes, I think.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
It's through the experience in Beple. That's why I think that,
Oh gosh, oh gosh, I love this part. Okay. I
think that's why it is so important to spend time
with people. And I think it's so important to accept
people at where they are, right. I think there are
a lot of times we place people in expectations without
(12:31):
them even knowing what the expectations are, and then we're
disappointed when they don't live up to that expectation. But
here's the thing. How can I live up to an
expectation that I didn't even know exists?
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Right?
Speaker 2 (12:46):
So I think that it is very very important. That's
why I started out by saying intentional right, because I
think instead of focusing on changing people, maybe be focused
on changing yourself. And then through your interactions, people will
(13:07):
normally meet you where you are, but you also have
to be accepting of a man or woman where they are.
But you also have to listen to both what is
being said and what is not being said. I always
add that far, yes, yes, it's true, it's true. I
(13:27):
always ask God for wisdom to hear the things that
are not being said, because sometimes people talk to you
and they share and it is you know, sometimes they
don't know how to bring across something maybe because for
various reasons, right right, right, And I think you have
to be able to say, Okay, I think from what
you're saying, this is what I've been able to deduce.
(13:50):
But however, I feel like there's something else at large
that maybe you're not saying, and I want you to
know that this is a safe space to really truly
express yourself, right, So I think that's where wisdom comes
in and listen and truly listening and being present in
a moment. So yeah, man, I like, I like that question.
I like that's it.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Yeah, discernment is very important. And wow, Stacy, you said
a lot. You really come to tat things today, so
I appreciate that. It's true. It's very very true. It's
very very true. All right. Well that was fun, nothing crazy,
everything was safe, you see, perfect? Fine, all right, So
(14:32):
now we're really going to talk to things. So Stacy,
can you tell us who Stacy was as a child,
where you grew up, and how your love for the
Caribbean first formed? Really?
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Oh wow? So I was born in Jamaica, in Montego Bay.
I'm a Montigonian, and like many Jamaican parents, my other
first migrated to the US and then my mom and
I joined him later. So I did most of my
(15:07):
schooling in the US. My entire career, you know, was
developed in the US. So you know, I've been able
to appreciate being an immigrant in the US. But also
(15:30):
because I think the Jamaican culture is so strong no
matter where you live in the world. I think that
as a people were very proud of our culture. So
when I found myself in music PR and touring with
Third World Band, it was out of Yes, it was
(15:51):
out of my love for our music. Because I'll tell
you my favorite genre of music is Dan Tall. My
my two favorite dancehall artists, you know, our vibe, Cartel
and being a man. Right, So I have this, but
I also have an appreciation, of course for Reagan other
(16:11):
genres of music. But if I'm sitting at an event
looking board, all you have to do is drop a
dance all and I come alive.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
Right.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
So and so when I was working in in that
space in music and in music PR, you know, and
moved to Anguela, and I think Anguela is what exposed me,
really exposed me to the Caribbean, other Caribbean islands. Yes,
(16:47):
through my work as a director of tourism, you know,
traveling the Caribbean. Because even when I traveled with Third
World and we traveled throughout the region, it was always
in today's sound check, show tomorrow the following day, right,
So you really didn't get to experience right a destination.
(17:08):
So it was through my role as a director of
tourism that I really got to experience other Caribbean destinations
and cultures. And again, I love that we are a colorful, ambitious,
passionate people. We love culture, We love all things Caribbean.
(17:29):
And what I love is that, you know, we can
embrace each other's culture. People will travel in February to Trinidad, right,
so we're able to you know, people are going to
crop over. So I think, you know, we embrace each
other's culture. And that's where my love for the region
came about. How it was birth, It really was birthed
(17:50):
through you know, through exposure through that. So as a
child growing up, I think, you know, someone sent me
a very lovely note the other day that says, you know, Stacy,
what I love is that you have brought such elegance
to the role in how you carry yourself. And I
(18:11):
remember as a child sitting on the bathroom floor watching
my mom get ready for work, every hair in place.
I don't think at that time she owned anything that
was store bought. Everything was custom made to her size
and specification. She carried herself with such grace and I
(18:34):
saw that also in my dad everything. There were very
disciplined people, right, they still are in terms of, you know,
how they presented themselves. And my mother would always say,
you don't dress with the position you have. You dress
for how you want people to view you. Because sometimes
you don't get to speak to someone, they don't get
(18:56):
to know who you are. Right. Sometimes you just have
five minute interaction with someone. Right, What you don't want
to do is have someone draw a conclusion based on
how you're dressed. Right, And she's always said, don't disadvantage
yourself because already you know the cards are you know,
(19:16):
sort of already stacked. Again. You're a woman and you
are black, right, so you want to ensure that how
you present yourself in you don't want to stack another
card against you. So, you know, I I I remember
those moments because I had two great role models in
(19:37):
terms of my work ethic, you know, my drive, my passion,
you know, just how I am as a person as
a woman. I had, you know, my dad and my
mom to emulate and I and I still do. My
mom is one of my best friends. We have a
great you know, friendship and relationship. I cannot think of
(19:59):
a time that she has not supported me, and my
dad is has been an example of what a strong man,
you know, looks like in terms of you know, being
a father, being a husband, and just being a generally
great human being. My personality I attribute to my dad
(20:21):
because he is that very larger than life right. Always
JO feel very social and so I you know, I'm
just really grateful. I think my childhood and growing up
with you know, both parents in the household and seeing
them lead by example is truly the reason why I
(20:42):
am where I am.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
I love that. I love that, and hearing you talk,
I'm like God is all over this podcast because we
have so much in common. First of all, my dad
in the music business, so J and Uncle Kat like
I've known them my whole life. Yeah, so I definitely
know what that's like to be in and out of
places and to be on tour with them and you
(21:06):
don't really get to see everywhere because you're just there
for a show and then you're gone, so for sure.
And then my mom was an airgea MAKA flight attendant
for many years from the seventies through the nineties, so
I used to watch her get ready same way and
till this day, I've never seen my mom in a
sneaker or a T shirt or anything that's just not
(21:28):
immaculately made. Ye, yes, yes, So it's so funny how
we have so many similarities. And you know, similarly, I
think I get most of my personality from my dad,
but I think I get a lot of my drive
and my willpower from my mom, and my ability to
want to show up in spaces as my best self,
despite how you may do it, you know, or despite
(21:51):
how persons may ask, oh, why are you so dressed up?
And why do you have to do this? And do that?
It just goes over my shoulder because I had the
the opportunity to watch a woman carry herself in a
certain way where she didn't care what anybody said and
held her head high and still does to this day,
you know. So I think we're both very blessed to
have those examples, because a lot of persons don't get
(22:14):
to see that and have to build that thought process
on their own without an example.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Yeah, you know, I agree. I think you know what
I get. You know, we say we get the best
of both worlds, right, So, that outgoing personality that has
landed me in positions like you know, all right we
have For instance, I remember the reason why I got
to work with Third World was because the manager at
(22:40):
the time said, you know, it was down to you
and someone else. But what pushed you over the edge was,
you know, the way they thought that I was a
better fit in terms of chemistry. I eat the personality
how I carried myself for the road. It's important. And
I think also when I look at, you know, for
(23:01):
every role I've held, when it's come down to you know,
me and someone, I always ask why was I the
successful candidate? And it's always because of again, the synergy
how you carry yourself. So I tell people this all
the time that your attitude is going to determine your altitude. Right,
(23:24):
that cannot beat up great attitude, positivity, how you carry yourself,
how you speak, how you show up, because there are
a lot of times people think showing up means showing
up well dressed, but no, you have to show up intentionally, right.
(23:45):
If you want something, prepare for that thing that you
want right, show people that you've done your research and
that you know this is what you really want to do.
I think the thing that I get from my mom
is that that love for people. She is amazing with people.
She has great friendships. There are people who call her mom,
(24:08):
so many people who call her mom because she's always
willing to serve. And I have to tell you that
spirit of service is what has also helped me in
this field that we call tourism and hospitality because when
you think about it, you are serving so many people.
(24:28):
So there are lots of times people about you are
the CEO. That title means nothing. You have to be
able to serve at every level. Right. So I think
that my mom seeing my mom serve in so many ways,
be it in church, at work, at home. Because to
this day, my dad won't get dressed without her putting,
(24:50):
you know, his clothes bed because she knows that she
doesn't do that. He'll just put anything on and go
out alone. Right, So I I have gone to the
age where he's like, I'm over it. Right. So I
think I've watched her serve in every area of her life.
And let me tell you something, it is so important,
(25:10):
it really really is.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Yes, absolutely absolutely, oh I love that love that. Okay,
So now you have arrived in Grenada and everybody by
now knows that I absolutely love Grenada. Oh I do,
I do. I've had such a beautiful experience there and
met so many really lovely people, and I just love
(25:32):
the culture and the people, you know, So I'm sure
it's been just an amazing time so far. But Grenada's
cultural richness, you know, from the cocoa farms to community festival,
I think remains underutilized in tourism or under exposed, right.
I think this year we've seen a lot more exposure,
which I think is great. So what are your plans
(25:55):
to really like elevate or lift the heritage through maybe
marketing our product development? Would you see?
Speaker 2 (26:02):
I am so excited that you said that. I want
to start by saying that the people are unlike anything
I've experienced. Sincerely warm, sincerely supportive. Mm hmmm, sincerely, I
(26:27):
don't know.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
I feel the same, speechless.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
Yes, Yet they are excited that I'm here, and I'm
still like, why because you don't really know me?
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Right, right?
Speaker 2 (26:41):
And everyone has said no, but we've done our research.
You are coming here to represent us. We have done
our research, and let me tell you, it is not
people who are in government or in the professional organizations.
These are people I come in contact with on the streets,
you have come up to me and said that I
(27:03):
am happy, or here, I think you're going to be
a fantastic job. And you know, sometimes you pass because
you're waiting for the other shoe to drop right right.
And it's not only that that is also married with
a hug or you know, a nice message that says,
(27:25):
I have this business and I want to treat you
to a massage. I want you to come and stay
at my property. I want you to come and do
the store I want, I want, and I'm completely blown away,
completely blown away. So my experience since arriving here to
(27:46):
now has been only positive. I am so happy. A
friend of mine said to me, every single photo that
I have posted since I've been here, I have been glowing,
And I said, and I said to her, I said,
it's because I am happy the people. And in my
first you know, meet and greet, and what I did
(28:07):
didn't do something public. I wanted to do something private.
I wanted to do something public. I wanted to meet
the people. I wanted the people of the community to
come out. I wanted to love on them. I wanted
them to feel like they were a part of my
you know, introduction if you will to Grenada, and you
know it was. I thought it was one of the
(28:28):
best things I could have ever done, because I think
it gave them a view into what my vision is
as a leader, right, I want to lead from a
place of inclusion and equity. I want people to feel
(28:51):
as though I am committed to seeing even the man
on the street that set up a little table and
umbrella and sell soup will benefit from tourism dollars. I
don't want them to feel like it stops at the top.
And when I say at.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
The top, exactly be it.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
You know the five star properties, right, we have three
all inclusive properties, and I hope that the government will
be intentional about not adding anymore because I think that
we want to be able to create an opportunity for
our visitors to go out and experience Grenadeer authentically. You
(29:31):
want to go out and experience the off the beaten path.
You want to go out and experience the local cuisine.
You want to go out and experience, you know, all
the soft adventure. You want to be able to for
them to jump on the ferry and go over to
carry a coup and petite martinique and see how it's
(29:52):
three different you know destinations. It's complimented. Yes, we're a
trial and state and we're all one grenade a button.
We offer three different experiences and that's what we want
to be able to convey in our marketing message is
that you can get three islands in one vacation, and
(30:12):
we want you to encourage you to go on and
experience that. It's funny that you ask about, you know,
cultural preservation and what we're going to be doing in
terms of the marketing strategy. I will be working with
a publisher called Gray Door. I worked with them in
you know, my former post. And what we want to
(30:34):
be able to do is and we've already shot the
cover for this publication and the cover and what I
said to my team is that and I think that
my doosm is brilliant because she perfectly captured and conveyed
the vision and the photographer like nailed it. So I said,
(30:56):
I want the cover to be eight rights of passage? Right,
how do we you talked about our farms, cocoa and
you know Nutmeg. I wanted to be shot in the
farm and I want to show, you know, an adult
showing a child. How do you pick the nutmeg and
(31:20):
separate it?
Speaker 1 (31:21):
And right?
Speaker 2 (31:23):
And it is and it's an education in terms of
I am now passing this on to you so that
you can pass it on to your future generation, so
that we can preserve what makes Grenada the spice isle
of the Caribbean. Right, So when you think spice, you
should automatically think Grenado. That is that brand identity that
(31:47):
we want to ensure that we are preserving. I said, So,
I didn't say this part in terms of having it
set against a backdrop. I just talked about the farm. Well,
the photographer came back and he shot it with a
beautiful waterfall in the background. So you are getting culture
(32:07):
in the foreground. You are getting soft adventure, leisure. You
know what makes Grenada pure, right, because now you have
in the background this waterfall that symbolizes so many things.
We're going to use that publication and I cannot wait.
I'm going to be releasing the cover soon because I
(32:28):
want to get excited about this vision. Now, what's going
to be included in the magazine? Yes, we're going to
have the leisure supple, We're going to have each destination Grenada, Caricoul,
Petite market, will have their own section that talks about
their culture, their offerings, right, and then we will talk
(32:51):
about how we as an island as a destination, how
we're preserving culture. What does we're going to define or
redefine why pure? What makes Grenado pure? Grenado? I think
everyone already understands. I know what we mean when we
say the spice island of the Caribbean. It's clear, but
(33:13):
the word pure is so open ended. We want to
further define what makes Grenada pure? Right, So that is
what this publication is going to do, and we're going
to use It's going to almost look like a coffee
table book. Is going to be in your hotels, it's
going to be at your ports of entry. We're going
(33:33):
to use it to welcome whether it's dignitaries. When we
do a little swag bag you know media, you know, trade,
ash travel, trade or ASH or as. We're going to
have a complimentary map because we know when we go
to trade events, people like maps. They want to see
how they get around the you know, the islands to
keepsake for them. So that's one of the ways in
(33:55):
which we're going to market holistically what we have to offer.
We're also going to be focusing largely on on luxury
because we have amazing luxury villas and properties here and
we're going to elevate brand Grenada on that luxury scale.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
Right.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
We're also going to I use this word and in
my meet and greet dominate global domination, And that's what
it is. I'm coming the team and I are coming
to dominate. We're going to reclaim market share. We are
going to you could travel to Africa, Asia, and when
(34:36):
we say Grenada, you should be excited because you know,
you know by saying Grenada what we have to offer
where we are right. So that's what I mean when
I say global, I want Grenada to be on everyone's lips.
I want them to be excited to add this beautiful
(34:56):
destination on their bucket lists, you know. So we're looking
at the mice, the meeting and incentive space. We're looking at,
of course sustainability because that is where the world is
heading right now. We have to be able to leave
the planet better off than we met it for our
children and our grandchildren and great grandchildren. So you know,
(35:17):
we are, you know, trying to do much better here
on the island. As it relates to sustainable practice, what
the sustainability look like as it relates to even just
the cultural part of it and the people right and
equity we are going to I mentioned not sure we're
looking at the yachting and diving segment. Nice, Oh my gosh.
(35:40):
There are so many.
Speaker 1 (35:42):
Things, so many facets, right.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
So many facets, and we are you know, as much
as we're also marketing in those niches, we also are
developing the product on the island because here's we don't
want to go out and you know, tell that true
Grenada story and when you get here you're not met
with right. It has to go hand in hand. So
(36:04):
the service level must be on par the product must
be pristine. So it's a lot but ash, I am
so excited.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
Well I'm excited too. Sounds like, you know, there's a
lot of passion behind it, and we spoke about passion
ironically earlier. But I think that's important because I think
when other persons that haven't been to Grenada, when they
see how passionate that you are about it and how
passionate others are about it once they visit, I think
that's the best marketing that you can have. I know,
(36:36):
you know, for me. I just I just felt so warm.
I went there for my birthday and the amount of
hugs I got, and I'm a hugger, but the amount
of hugs I got just from strangers and just feeling welcome.
And that's why I'm so passionate about talking about Grenada
and telling people my honest experience. So I would definitely
love to be a part of whatever it is that
(36:57):
you guys are doing to support that, because it's really
genuine the love that the people have for their culture
in Grenada, and just also the warmness that you get
when you come there. And I think when you talk
about luxury, you know, everyone knows my favorite is Silver Sands.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
Yeah, a person's.
Speaker 1 (37:16):
There, you know, like the general manager, Like everybody there
is just so kind and so like genuine. And I
even told him, I said, you know, when you go
somewhere and I've been to the Maldives, I've been all
over the world, and I've experienced luxury, and I realized
it's not just about the esthetics, you know, it's all
the persons treat you on the property that really makes
(37:38):
a difference. So yeah, I'm definitely behind you one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
And I think and also be careful what you ask for,
you know, Ash, because I am going to loop in
anyone I can to be ambassadors for this destination, Me
and Stacey.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
I A ready, Okay, I just wrote.
Speaker 2 (37:58):
That part down because the island is deserving of it.
The people are deserving. There is such a national pride right,
and I never thought I would waitness national pride, you know,
because we know Jamaican's Jamaican.
Speaker 1 (38:14):
Right, because we are the number one when it comes
to pride. So you know.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
Why you have stiff competition from Grenada because when you
drive through the island, you don't have to guess what
the colors are the national colors are. You see it,
you see it represented. You don't have to ask who
you know the past you know prime ministers have been
our heads of state because you know there is a
mural you know, throughout the island that depicts that right.
(38:43):
You don't have to You don't have to guess what
the national food. You know, people talk passionately about oil down,
you know, and I think that when you have people
that are so proud to be Grenadian, it gives you,
(39:05):
it propels you to want to ensure that you embody
that and everything that you do. But also at the
level of pressure make up. You don't want to let
anyone down down, you know, let anyone down. But I
am having such a great time right now. We have
(39:26):
mapped out what twenty twenty six is gonna look like
in terms of the framework for the strategy, so you
know that is underway. We're going to our team is
going to be on island. We're looking at possibly the
end of August, after Spice Mass to sit around the table.
I want everyone's voice. I want every single We're not
(39:50):
drafting this in isolation. I want every single person so
when we are right, when we're executing the strategy, you know,
each employee can see their voice how they would have
contributed to the strategy. Not only that, we are going
to broadcast it live. We are going to do Facebook
(40:11):
live of the presentation of the strategy. I want buy
in at every single level because what I find is
that when you have a community that buys into the
vision right and they know what you are doing, you
can get greater support. Right, They're going to meet you
at every level. They're going to say, you know what,
(40:32):
Immigration is going to say, you know what, We're the
first touch point. And I remember in a strategy we
talked about this is what the focus is going to be,
and this is what is required. So guess what buy in.
I'm going to meet every guest with a smile and
a friendly because they could have chosen somewhere else, but
they chose Grenada and this is my home, and they
chose my home to visit. One you come outside and
(40:57):
your ground transportation met again, friendly smile because again they
have bought into your vision and to your strategy. You're
dealing with a local vendor. They bought into the vision
and the strategy. So now they're going to be your ambassadors,
you know, because people return to a destination that they feel,
(41:19):
they feel welcome, they feel a part of it. People. Yeah,
people aren't traveling for sunsand and sea anymore. They can
go anywhere. They can go to the Jersey shore and.
Speaker 1 (41:30):
Get that, right, They could literally on their patio and
get that.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
So what we're selling is not that. What we're selling
is authenticity. What we're selling is culture and heritage. What
we're selling is the amazing food. We want you to
touch it, feel it tasted. It's an experience. When you
leave Grenada, you should be planning your next trip back.
(41:54):
That is what we want to That is what we're trying. Well,
that's what that's a message. That's a message. Well, you
succeeded with me because it definitely worked and all of
those things are so true. I can attest to that.
You know, those are things that you'll experience now. So
even though you haven't had that meeting yet, I could
only imagine what it will be because that's already stuff,
(42:17):
you know, that's his experience now. So yeah, so I
love that. Love that love that all right.
Speaker 1 (42:22):
So last question before we get to our final segment. Sure,
if you could speak to the younger Stacy in Jamaica,
in Montego Bay, what would you say to her now,
now that you've lived life and you've accomplished so many
different things, what would you say to her?
Speaker 2 (42:41):
Hmmm, oh my gosh, so many things, because I gosh,
I've made so many mistakes in life. Some I regret,
some I don't. I think it would be be patient,
(43:01):
because I think there is wisdom and patience. You know,
there are so many things. You so many times you
jump to a conclusion or you rush to decisions, rush
to things, and I think if you. You know, there's
one thing someone said to me. I can't remember where
maybe I heard it, is that you know, when you're
getting frustrated, you feel it, you know it, and they
(43:25):
say counter five in your mind, because I guarantee you
your initial reaction, it will be different right to your
initial reaction. Absolutely, and that is and I and I
and I and I find that to be true. Patience
(43:46):
has served me well in my latter years that I
think that my life probably would have been would have
looked a little better. Are and not better but different.
Maybe it looked a little different. I don't say I
won't say better, would look at it because I think
that everything I've gone through has Yes, it's it's maybe
(44:08):
who I am today, right, and who I am today
I'm very happy with, right, So I think that, yeah,
it would have made life maybe a little easier, certain
you know, certain decisions. So I would say, patients, be patient, youngsterays,
be patient, be patient, all things, all things in due time.
Speaker 1 (44:28):
Yes, yes, for sure, for sure. I love that. Okay,
So in our final segment, I'm going to ask you
a few rapid fire questions and you have to answer
with the first thing that comes to mind.
Speaker 2 (44:43):
All right, I love these perfect.
Speaker 1 (44:47):
Name your top three favorite Grenadian artists.
Speaker 2 (44:56):
Oh my gosh, I haven't been here that long, but
I can name the one that I'm loving okay right now.
Speaker 1 (45:06):
And his name okay.
Speaker 2 (45:06):
Blacka Dan, and he has this music, this song, that music,
this song called blessing. Every single time I hear it,
and now I have learned the words, I don't have
me to sing it, and so now every single time.
And then because there was some a friend of mine,
her name is Asha, we were out and I was like,
(45:29):
you know, I was looking at her because the song
was playing, and I think the DJ probably pulled it
up a couple of times and I was like what
song time? She was like, do you understand the words?
And I was like, at the time, no, And then
she shared it with me. I think the reason why
I like it it's it's his storytelling, right, the way that
he tells the story of you know, you know this
woman who left him and he now sees her with
(45:50):
her new person. And he was saying that you know,
at the time that you know she broke up with him,
of course he was sad, but he later realized it's
a blessing, right, was a blessing. You have to listen
to it.
Speaker 1 (46:02):
I have to listen to that.
Speaker 2 (46:04):
And I'm telling you every single time I hear it,
and I say to my staff, they haven't delivered yet
on this but this request, but I said, can you
bring into the office. I just want to meet him.
I just wanted to know that. I love the song,
the writing, the delivery, the composition. It is just a song.
(46:25):
When you hear it, you just you dance and your
your hands are up. And I love it. I love
that song.
Speaker 1 (46:31):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (46:31):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (46:32):
I love that, love it, love it. Okay, what's your
mister killer?
Speaker 2 (46:38):
Of course?
Speaker 1 (46:38):
Yes? Yes, what's your favorite Caribbean food?
Speaker 2 (46:42):
Mm hmmm.
Speaker 1 (46:46):
That's hard, right, I know, I know that's hard. Just okay,
all right, maybe too, I'll give you too.
Speaker 2 (46:54):
I'll give you too Caribbean food. Yeah, I listen. I
love oxtale. I think you can you can win me
with a good oxtail, proper ox stale. And then geez.
I love breadfruit, and and what I love is that. Yes,
(47:14):
I love breadfruit. And people will say, how do you
like it? Cook anyway anyway, ROAs and fry, roast, boil
and listen, it is it is, and you know that
it's one of the main ingredients in this oil down.
It's a problem. I yes, yes, good, okay, okay, that's good.
(47:35):
Those are two good choices. Okay.
Speaker 1 (47:37):
What is a proverb or Jamaica saying that your parents
told you as a child that you repeat till this day.
Speaker 2 (47:48):
None? No, none, none. I can't. I can't recall growing
up in a household where they used these Jamaicans sayings
are proverbs because I can't. I know to this day.
(48:12):
If I have a friend who grew up with her
grandmother and that's all she uses when we have conversations,
and then like, what do you mean my sorry?
Speaker 1 (48:23):
Okay, that's what answer.
Speaker 2 (48:24):
Listen, they're gonna go for but sorry, no.
Speaker 1 (48:31):
You know what, no equal opportunity here. You didn't have
that experience, and that is quite fine, No problem, thank you.
Speaker 2 (48:38):
Thank you. So Jamaicans don't come for me please.
Speaker 1 (48:40):
Yes, yes, you're safe here. It's that same space, thank you.
All right. Two more? What is one principle you repeat
to your team often?
Speaker 2 (48:50):
I don't know that I repeat it to my team,
but when in interviews people ask me what's the legacy
I want to leave? And I say I want to
leave the organization better than I met it. I want
to leave you know, staff who feel empowered, they buy
into the mission vision of the organization, that they are
(49:11):
working from a space of purpose because they can see
themselves moving up through the ranks. You Know, what I
say is we want to promote from within and fill
the lower positions. Because in filling the lower positions, what
that means is that you always have constant growth throughout
the organization. You have identified, you know certain you know
(49:33):
skill sets, you have closed the skills gaps, you have
a succession plan. So you know what I loved was
when I came in on my first day and there's
a young lady who is my assistant, Cazelle. She organized Yes, Yes,
And when she sat before me, she said, she's working
over a the accounts unit, and my assistant who's to
(49:55):
be my assistant, is on maternity leave, and so she's
just filling in and and she sat down before me
on the first day she said, my goal is to
be the CEO of the organization. And I looked at
her and I said, Okay, we're going to work on it.
And at the time she may have thought I was
just saying it just to say it. But you know,
I told her at the end of October, we're going
(50:17):
to move her to you know, another department, and we're
gonna craft a training and development plan for her to
have this goal realized. And I introduce her or I
talk about her as the future CEO of the g GTA.
Speaker 1 (50:36):
I love that. Yeah, I love that. I absolutely love that.
I love to see women uplifting other women, of.
Speaker 2 (50:44):
Course, and she's beautiful, she's smart, she's well spoken, you know,
and I could see her. I want to look ten
fifteen years from now because what I told her is
that she should go and also work in the private
sector to be able to get experiences. Well, yeah, and
I want to look ten fifteen years from now and
say when she is in this role and say I've
(51:05):
contributed in a small part to her being there. Yeah,
that's the legacy that I love that.
Speaker 1 (51:12):
Beautiful. Okay, and I said two more, but it's actually
one more question. What is your favorite book right now? Yeah?
We love reading over here, so I have to ask.
Speaker 2 (51:27):
So it's the let Them Theory by mel Robbins. I
read me and Andrew.
Speaker 1 (51:33):
Were just talking about that on her episode.
Speaker 2 (51:36):
Yes, yeah, it is. I listened to the audio book
on Audible and I actually got well. I bought myself
a copy somewhat, my best friend bought me a copy,
and then I gave you additional copy to another friend
that I thought could benefit from some of the themes
you know throughout the book. And I love it. I
(52:00):
love it. I love it. I love it, I love it.
I love everything. I love how it's written. I love
how it gives you, you know, examples from a personal
and a professional you know, whether you're a mom, whether
you are married or dating. I think Mel Robbins is
(52:23):
so wise, and I love how simple it is in
terms of her writing, so anyone at any level can
understand it. But what I also love it is that
I paused and thought about what she was saying, you know,
like I would stop the Audible and just thought about
what she said, and I put it in context of
(52:45):
my life and where I am currently. And I have
to tell you, when I finished the book, I recognize
instant changes I made in my life. Instant.
Speaker 1 (52:53):
I love that instant.
Speaker 2 (52:56):
I'll tell you what I want to elaborate on this
because I think it is very very important as women, right,
you have to recognize who you are and the things
that hold you back. Right, you have to do an audit.
You go into an organization, The first thing I want
to say is audit. This audit at why are we
(53:17):
not auditing our lives ourselves? I have made an audit
that I can overanalyze a thing, and I am so
quick to go down that rabbit hole because I live
in my head and there are times where I might
be spot on, and there are other times where I
(53:38):
recognize that, oh my god, I was wrong. I overanalyzed
the situation, and when I finally got around to having
a conversation, I recognize that how I view a situation
was so far frenched right and so, and then I
think also, and it all goes back to emotional intelligence.
You have to invest in that because it will serve
(53:59):
you in your personal and professional life, right absolutely. And
I remember having a conversation with my HR manager and
my previous post who is now a friend, who said
to me that the one thing that she thinks I
should work on is the emotional because she thinks that
(54:20):
there are times when I can get so emotional because
I feel things deeply right, and when I get to
the point of where maybe I'm either frustrating or disappointed
about situation. I can live there a little bit longer
than I should. And when Mell said, when someone doesn't
invite you to something, let them let them. Your life
(54:43):
is not going to stop as a result of you
not being there, right, she talked about the fact that
you know because she said there are things that affect
that proximity. Because she mentioned when she moved you know her,
you know, she introduced a friend that also moved in
the neighborhood with you know, people that she met, and
she recognized that she was no longer being included or invited,
(55:05):
and she recognized that a proximity it's had nothing to
do with her, was just proximity because then this friend
lived across the street from another friend, so it was
easier for them to maybe run into each other and
make plans. Right or proximity it's sometimes the reason why right,
But she's like to let them write, why are you
getting you know, you know, upset or bothered? But it's
(55:28):
this thing about Lettin. That's why I also said to
you in the beginning of our talk about the fact
that you have to be intentional and you have to
meet people where they are. But what I also wanted
to say, you just have to let people, just just
let people. I think that every person. And I think
this is also should be something that teenagers should read
(55:50):
because I think that developing your emotions early is going
to be something that's going to be beneficial in the
long run. Right, So absolutely, that is the book I
read last year, that and was it last year earlier
this year? And I have the physical copy and I
(56:11):
will reread it. I will, I will that, I will.
Speaker 1 (56:15):
That's beautiful, beautiful. Okay, Well, unfortunately the episode has come
to an end, but I always do a little thank you,
so Stacy. From our conversation, I surmise that your leadership
reminds us that tourism isn't just about sites, it's about people,
(56:36):
place and possibility. I think that you've shown that a
destination can be elevated not through spectacle, but through stewardship,
and not through profit but through purpose. And so far,
you know, in your role, you reflected a woman who
really seems to listen before listen before she speaks, and
a leader who's committed less to headlines and big names
(57:00):
than to heritage. Right, Like you're really about the people,
and I think that matters. And you are a visionary
that's working patiently, deeply, and really intently with intention, as
you said throughout the episode, to place Grenadians at the
heart of their own narrative. I think that you exemplify
(57:21):
what it means to lead with clarity, compassion, and you
really have respect for the culture, which I think is important,
and that through your leadership, you're reminding us that change
begins with listening and as you said, not just with
stakeholders or statistics, but to the spirit of the place
and the people. And in your case, that place is
(57:43):
not just Grenada, it's the broader Caribbean, where identity and
innovation have to walk side by side. So yeah, thank
you so much for coming to talk the things with me.
Thank you for your voice, your ambition, and your unwavering
belief in the promise of the Caribbean region.
Speaker 2 (58:03):
Thank you so very much. I appreciate it. Thank you
for having me on. It was fun and I am
happy to come back on at any time. I really
enjoyed our time together and I look forward to seeing
you in Grenada.
Speaker 1 (58:17):
Yes, I can't wait. I cannot wait. Thank you so much.
From the Anguillin Shores to Grenadian Hills. Jamaican born Stacy
Lybert's path exemplifies visionary leadership in motion. Appointed CEO of
the Grenada Tourism Authority in June of this year, she
enherits not just a title, but the privilege, as she
(00:23):
expresses throughout this episode of Shaping all the World sees
and experiences Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique. As the former
Director of Tourism for Anguilla, Stacey is renowned for forging partnerships,
expanding sustainable airlift, and crafting travel narratives that honor culture,
(00:49):
service and people. Stacy's legacy in Caribbean tourism is already profound,
with more than fifteen years of award winning leadership, including
a historic tenure in Anguilla. Stacy brings a rare blend
of strategic foresight, cultural reverence, and visionary grace to the
(01:13):
Spice Isle. In this episode, we discuss the importance of community,
the warmth of the Grenadian people, sustainable tourism, her mission
to elevate Grenada as a leading luxury destination, and how
collaboration and cultural authenticity remain at the heart of her work.
(01:37):
We also discuss the true definition of luxury and feeling
at home that we have both experienced in Grenada, not
as a buzzword or a cliche phrase, but as an
honest reflection of the Grenadian warmth and community. This episode
is more than just a conversation about tourism, is a
(02:00):
reflection of our Caribbean upbringing, leading with intention, the importance
of having a positive attitude, and the empathy and vision
required to appreciate and honor the soul of an island
and share it with the world. So grab your tea, coffee,
(02:21):
or a glass of wine and let's talk the Things.
Hello everyone, Welcome back to Let's Talk to Things, where
we discuss personal growth, travel, music, beauty and wellness while
(02:43):
encouraging you to live fearlessly and fabulously. I'm your host, Ash,
and this week we are talking to Things with the
newly appointed CEO of the Grenada Taurism Authority and former
Director of Taurism for Anguilla, Renowned for forging partnerships, expanding
(03:03):
sustainable airlift and crafting travel narratives that on our culture,
service and people, Stacy Librard. Hi, Stacy, how are you?
I am?
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Wonderful? Ash? How are you doing.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
I'm well, thank you, Thank you so much for coming
to talk the things with me.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
My pleasure. I love to talk to things, don't we,
all right, as canby and woman, that is our thing, Yes,
it is ESSI as we talk about, you know, empowerment
and sharing information exactly. It is so critical for us
to share, right, I think it's through sharingly we learn
(03:44):
and empower. So thank you for the opportunity. Thank you
for creating this platform. I think it's amazing. Congratulations.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Oh, thank you so much. And here, you know, we
put a different spin on it because we're talking the
positive things. It's not your usual taught the things you know, yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Yes, yes, yes, of course, and we love that.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
We love that, yes of course. All right. So for
our first time guest and for persons listening for the
first time, we begin each episode with our listener's favorite segment,
and it's called that sounds safe.
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Oh God, I'm afraid.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Don't no, don't be afraid, don't be afraid. All positive things.
So I'm going to read messages or social media posts
that listeners sent in. And if you think it sounds
crazy or a little concerning, maybe you just don't agree.
You would say that sounds safe and explain why, and
if you agree, you say you agree or that sounds
safe and explain why sounds good? Okay, all right, all right, perfect,
(04:45):
all right. So the first person said, as you get older,
you need to actively protect your optimism.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Ooh, that sounds safe.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Yeah, I agree. I agree. I think you know, as children,
I always talk about it here, like, as children, you're
so free to like do things that you like to
do and try new things. And I feel like as
we get older there's a lot of discouragement that happens,
you know, so you really do have to protect your
dreams and your hopes for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
No, I agree. I think it's you know, in everything. Listen,
I'm forty eight. I just turned forty eight last week,
and I feel like thank you, and I find that I
am When I got over forty, I recognize that I've
started to become a bit more intentional. So you know
(05:35):
that if I choose to spend time with you, it's
because I want to. So I live in that space intentionally.
So I'm sitting in front of you, I'm not on
my phone, I'm not you know, my mind is not
wandering off. I am very much present because I want
to be there, right. I also feel like you know,
(05:58):
at this age, you know, you know, we go through
so many things as women. I think we just need
to protect our space. In general, I think you have
to be intentional about who you keep company with, where
you go, what you do, what you say, especially what
you say about yourself. So I think in every aspect
(06:21):
of your life, you have to be intentional. So yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
I think we have to. Yeah, that sounds safe. I
like I like that.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Yes, me too, I love that, and I love your
your theory on that, because you have to be kind
to yourself in order for other persons to be kind
to you, because people correct how you treat yourself, you.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Know, correct, correct, correct, correct.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
Definitely definitely all right, that sounds safe. All right? The
next person said, this is so funny. The next person said,
why do parents talk so loud when they're talking to
family back home, as if they have to scream for
them to hear you know what?
Speaker 2 (06:59):
No, all right, that sounds safe because here's why I
don't think that we're speaking loudly, right, I think because
as a people, we're passionate, so.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
I know it's true.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
So I found that depending on what we're talking about.
Oh lord, if we're talking about sports, oh, passion, we're
debating music passion, we're debating food passion. Yes, we're differently
a political position, oh gosh, definitely passion. And then when
(07:36):
the excitement comes in, I think that you know, someone
may walk by and they hear and it looks like
people are arguing because also the hands start going, the
body movements a little bit different, and then you couple
that with the tone, and you know it sounds like
either we're too loud or we're arguing on but it's
(07:58):
not you. We're people. I love it. I love it.
I love everything.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
About that that's true.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
I love everything about that. We're colorful people, We're flavorful,
and that's so true in so many ways, right. I
think how we dress, how we express ourselves, how we laugh,
how we dance, how we sing, how we chare for
the culture. And when I say the culture, I meaning
the culture as a Caribbean. Right, I'm not singling out
(08:26):
any one destination. But when you look at us collectively
and you put you have someone representative of each different
Caribbean destination, you realize that there's one commonality and it
is that we are a colorful people.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
That's so true, and that's why I have this platform
because so many persons from so many different Caribbean cultures,
you can see we have that all in common. We
like to laugh, we like to have fun, but we're
also very intelligent people and also people that are raised
with a lot of respect, a lot of self respect,
(09:03):
a lot of bra upsy, which is my favorite word.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
I love that word. I love that word. I love it.
I love it.
Speaker 1 (09:10):
I love it, you know, yes, And I was just
saying this on a previous episode. I also use this
platform for persons that aren't Caribbean for them to listen
and know that we're not just one dimensional. We have
so many layers to us, you know, And I think
that's the only way to change the narrative is to
actually show people and let people hear and see all
(09:33):
of the wonderful things that we're doing, you know what
I mean, as a community. So yeah, definitely really important.
Speaker 2 (09:40):
That's why I'm such a strong proponent of travel, because
I think through travel you get to see, experience and
appreciate different cultures. You know, how people are. I think
there at times, you know, we can look through a
very narrow lens, and we make judgments on what we
(10:01):
see in a very limited space. And I think when
you travel, because you become so exposed, I think that
you are a bit more understanding, a little bit more
of tolerance, if you will, for lack of a better way. Yeah,
So that's why I think travel is so important. I
think it's you have to get out. You have to
(10:22):
see the world. You have to see people, like truly
see people in their element, to appreciate, you know, the culture.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Right, absolutely, absolutely. I think that's just such a gift
to be able to appreciate other persons culture. And I know,
you know my parents, I was so blessed that they
took us, you know, everywhere. We were going to Israel,
We're going to Egypt, and so by the time I
got older, I was very aware of other persons cultures,
(10:50):
you know what I mean. So I think it's so important,
even for children if you can afford it, because obviously
it's expensive, but just to take them with you so
they can take in other people's way of life. Absolutely
agreed that one is safe. So see, so far, so good,
nothing crazy, so far.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
So good. Yeah, I'm gonna take a turn though, I
don't treat no, oh.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
My good angelie, no no, no, no, I promise, all right, okay,
all right. And the final one this is also I mean, honestly,
I don't think we're gonna have any not safe, but
the final one. If you want to know what a
man is like, and I think this means man as
a man or woman. But if this is a quote, actually,
(11:36):
if you want to know what a man is like,
take a good look at how he treats his inferiors,
not his equals.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
Safe safe safe safe. You know there are true things
they say. They say an angry man or a drunk
man or woman tell no lies right and true, or
or let's let's do it like this, you know how
I think Caribbean. I don't think it's necessarily a Jamaican
saying that Simea one live with me is an X right.
Speaker 1 (12:07):
Yes, I think.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
It's through the experience in Beple. That's why I think that,
Oh gosh, oh gosh, I love this part. Okay. I
think that's why it is so important to spend time
with people. And I think it's so important to accept
people at where they are, right. I think there are
a lot of times we place people in expectations without
(12:31):
them even knowing what the expectations are, and then we're
disappointed when they don't live up to that expectation. But
here's the thing. How can I live up to an
expectation that I didn't even know exists?
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Right?
Speaker 2 (12:46):
So I think that it is very very important. That's
why I started out by saying intentional right, because I
think instead of focusing on changing people, maybe be focused
on changing yourself. And then through your interactions, people will
(13:07):
normally meet you where you are, but you also have
to be accepting of a man or woman where they are.
But you also have to listen to both what is
being said and what is not being said. I always
add that far, yes, yes, it's true, it's true. I
(13:27):
always ask God for wisdom to hear the things that
are not being said, because sometimes people talk to you
and they share and it is you know, sometimes they
don't know how to bring across something maybe because for
various reasons, right right, right, And I think you have
to be able to say, Okay, I think from what
you're saying, this is what I've been able to deduce.
(13:50):
But however, I feel like there's something else at large
that maybe you're not saying, and I want you to
know that this is a safe space to really truly
express yourself, right, So I think that's where wisdom comes
in and listen and truly listening and being present in
a moment. So yeah, man, I like, I like that question.
I like that's it.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Yeah, discernment is very important. And wow, Stacy, you said
a lot. You really come to tat things today, so
I appreciate that. It's true. It's very very true. It's
very very true. All right. Well that was fun, nothing crazy,
everything was safe, you see, perfect? Fine, all right, So
(14:32):
now we're really going to talk to things. So Stacy,
can you tell us who Stacy was as a child,
where you grew up, and how your love for the
Caribbean first formed? Really?
Speaker 2 (14:46):
Oh wow? So I was born in Jamaica, in Montego Bay.
I'm a Montigonian, and like many Jamaican parents, my other
first migrated to the US and then my mom and
I joined him later. So I did most of my
(15:07):
schooling in the US. My entire career, you know, was
developed in the US. So you know, I've been able
to appreciate being an immigrant in the US. But also
(15:30):
because I think the Jamaican culture is so strong no
matter where you live in the world. I think that
as a people were very proud of our culture. So
when I found myself in music PR and touring with
Third World Band, it was out of Yes, it was
(15:51):
out of my love for our music. Because I'll tell
you my favorite genre of music is Dan Tall. My
my two favorite dancehall artists, you know, our vibe, Cartel
and being a man. Right, So I have this, but
I also have an appreciation, of course for Reagan other
(16:11):
genres of music. But if I'm sitting at an event
looking board, all you have to do is drop a
dance all and I come alive.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
Right.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
So and so when I was working in in that
space in music and in music PR, you know, and
moved to Anguela, and I think Anguela is what exposed me,
really exposed me to the Caribbean, other Caribbean islands. Yes,
(16:47):
through my work as a director of tourism, you know,
traveling the Caribbean. Because even when I traveled with Third
World and we traveled throughout the region, it was always
in today's sound check, show tomorrow the following day, right,
So you really didn't get to experience right a destination.
(17:08):
So it was through my role as a director of
tourism that I really got to experience other Caribbean destinations
and cultures. And again, I love that we are a colorful, ambitious,
passionate people. We love culture, We love all things Caribbean.
(17:29):
And what I love is that, you know, we can
embrace each other's culture. People will travel in February to Trinidad, right,
so we're able to you know, people are going to
crop over. So I think, you know, we embrace each
other's culture. And that's where my love for the region
came about. How it was birth, It really was birthed
(17:50):
through you know, through exposure through that. So as a
child growing up, I think, you know, someone sent me
a very lovely note the other day that says, you know, Stacy,
what I love is that you have brought such elegance
to the role in how you carry yourself. And I
(18:11):
remember as a child sitting on the bathroom floor watching
my mom get ready for work, every hair in place.
I don't think at that time she owned anything that
was store bought. Everything was custom made to her size
and specification. She carried herself with such grace and I
(18:34):
saw that also in my dad everything. There were very
disciplined people, right, they still are in terms of, you know,
how they presented themselves. And my mother would always say,
you don't dress with the position you have. You dress
for how you want people to view you. Because sometimes
you don't get to speak to someone, they don't get
(18:56):
to know who you are. Right. Sometimes you just have
five minute interaction with someone. Right, What you don't want
to do is have someone draw a conclusion based on
how you're dressed. Right, And she's always said, don't disadvantage
yourself because already you know the cards are you know,
(19:16):
sort of already stacked. Again. You're a woman and you
are black, right, so you want to ensure that how
you present yourself in you don't want to stack another
card against you. So, you know, I I I remember
those moments because I had two great role models in
(19:37):
terms of my work ethic, you know, my drive, my passion,
you know, just how I am as a person as
a woman. I had, you know, my dad and my
mom to emulate and I and I still do. My
mom is one of my best friends. We have a
great you know, friendship and relationship. I cannot think of
(19:59):
a time that she has not supported me, and my
dad is has been an example of what a strong man,
you know, looks like in terms of you know, being
a father, being a husband, and just being a generally
great human being. My personality I attribute to my dad
(20:21):
because he is that very larger than life right. Always
JO feel very social and so I you know, I'm
just really grateful. I think my childhood and growing up
with you know, both parents in the household and seeing
them lead by example is truly the reason why I
(20:42):
am where I am.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
I love that. I love that, and hearing you talk,
I'm like God is all over this podcast because we
have so much in common. First of all, my dad
in the music business, so J and Uncle Kat like
I've known them my whole life. Yeah, so I definitely
know what that's like to be in and out of
places and to be on tour with them and you
(21:06):
don't really get to see everywhere because you're just there
for a show and then you're gone, so for sure.
And then my mom was an airgea MAKA flight attendant
for many years from the seventies through the nineties, so
I used to watch her get ready same way and
till this day, I've never seen my mom in a
sneaker or a T shirt or anything that's just not
(21:28):
immaculately made. Ye, yes, yes, So it's so funny how
we have so many similarities. And you know, similarly, I
think I get most of my personality from my dad,
but I think I get a lot of my drive
and my willpower from my mom, and my ability to
want to show up in spaces as my best self,
despite how you may do it, you know, or despite
(21:51):
how persons may ask, oh, why are you so dressed up?
And why do you have to do this? And do that?
It just goes over my shoulder because I had the
the opportunity to watch a woman carry herself in a
certain way where she didn't care what anybody said and
held her head high and still does to this day,
you know. So I think we're both very blessed to
have those examples, because a lot of persons don't get
(22:14):
to see that and have to build that thought process
on their own without an example.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Yeah, you know, I agree. I think you know what
I get. You know, we say we get the best
of both worlds, right, So, that outgoing personality that has
landed me in positions like you know, all right we
have For instance, I remember the reason why I got
to work with Third World was because the manager at
(22:40):
the time said, you know, it was down to you
and someone else. But what pushed you over the edge was,
you know, the way they thought that I was a
better fit in terms of chemistry. I eat the personality
how I carried myself for the road. It's important. And
I think also when I look at, you know, for
(23:01):
every role I've held, when it's come down to you know,
me and someone, I always ask why was I the
successful candidate? And it's always because of again, the synergy
how you carry yourself. So I tell people this all
the time that your attitude is going to determine your altitude. Right,
(23:24):
that cannot beat up great attitude, positivity, how you carry yourself,
how you speak, how you show up, because there are
a lot of times people think showing up means showing
up well dressed, but no, you have to show up intentionally, right.
(23:45):
If you want something, prepare for that thing that you
want right, show people that you've done your research and
that you know this is what you really want to do.
I think the thing that I get from my mom
is that that love for people. She is amazing with people.
She has great friendships. There are people who call her mom,
(24:08):
so many people who call her mom because she's always
willing to serve. And I have to tell you that
spirit of service is what has also helped me in
this field that we call tourism and hospitality because when
you think about it, you are serving so many people.
(24:28):
So there are lots of times people about you are
the CEO. That title means nothing. You have to be
able to serve at every level. Right. So I think
that my mom seeing my mom serve in so many ways,
be it in church, at work, at home. Because to
this day, my dad won't get dressed without her putting,
(24:50):
you know, his clothes bed because she knows that she
doesn't do that. He'll just put anything on and go
out alone. Right, So I I have gone to the
age where he's like, I'm over it. Right. So I
think I've watched her serve in every area of her life.
And let me tell you something, it is so important,
(25:10):
it really really is.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Yes, absolutely absolutely, oh I love that love that. Okay,
So now you have arrived in Grenada and everybody by
now knows that I absolutely love Grenada. Oh I do,
I do. I've had such a beautiful experience there and
met so many really lovely people, and I just love
(25:32):
the culture and the people, you know, So I'm sure
it's been just an amazing time so far. But Grenada's
cultural richness, you know, from the cocoa farms to community festival,
I think remains underutilized in tourism or under exposed, right.
I think this year we've seen a lot more exposure,
which I think is great. So what are your plans
(25:55):
to really like elevate or lift the heritage through maybe
marketing our product development? Would you see?
Speaker 2 (26:02):
I am so excited that you said that. I want
to start by saying that the people are unlike anything
I've experienced. Sincerely warm, sincerely supportive. Mm hmmm, sincerely, I
(26:27):
don't know.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
I feel the same, speechless.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
Yes, Yet they are excited that I'm here, and I'm
still like, why because you don't really know me?
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Right, right?
Speaker 2 (26:41):
And everyone has said no, but we've done our research.
You are coming here to represent us. We have done
our research, and let me tell you, it is not
people who are in government or in the professional organizations.
These are people I come in contact with on the streets,
you have come up to me and said that I
(27:03):
am happy, or here, I think you're going to be
a fantastic job. And you know, sometimes you pass because
you're waiting for the other shoe to drop right right.
And it's not only that that is also married with
a hug or you know, a nice message that says,
(27:25):
I have this business and I want to treat you
to a massage. I want you to come and stay
at my property. I want you to come and do
the store I want, I want, and I'm completely blown away,
completely blown away. So my experience since arriving here to
(27:46):
now has been only positive. I am so happy. A
friend of mine said to me, every single photo that
I have posted since I've been here, I have been glowing,
And I said, and I said to her, I said,
it's because I am happy the people. And in my
first you know, meet and greet, and what I did
(28:07):
didn't do something public. I wanted to do something private.
I wanted to do something public. I wanted to meet
the people. I wanted the people of the community to
come out. I wanted to love on them. I wanted
them to feel like they were a part of my
you know, introduction if you will to Grenada, and you
know it was. I thought it was one of the
(28:28):
best things I could have ever done, because I think
it gave them a view into what my vision is
as a leader, right, I want to lead from a
place of inclusion and equity. I want people to feel
(28:51):
as though I am committed to seeing even the man
on the street that set up a little table and
umbrella and sell soup will benefit from tourism dollars. I
don't want them to feel like it stops at the top.
And when I say at.
Speaker 1 (29:07):
The top, exactly be it.
Speaker 2 (29:09):
You know the five star properties, right, we have three
all inclusive properties, and I hope that the government will
be intentional about not adding anymore because I think that
we want to be able to create an opportunity for
our visitors to go out and experience Grenadeer authentically. You
(29:31):
want to go out and experience the off the beaten path.
You want to go out and experience the local cuisine.
You want to go out and experience, you know, all
the soft adventure. You want to be able to for
them to jump on the ferry and go over to
carry a coup and petite martinique and see how it's
(29:52):
three different you know destinations. It's complimented. Yes, we're a
trial and state and we're all one grenade a button.
We offer three different experiences and that's what we want
to be able to convey in our marketing message is
that you can get three islands in one vacation, and
(30:12):
we want you to encourage you to go on and
experience that. It's funny that you ask about, you know,
cultural preservation and what we're going to be doing in
terms of the marketing strategy. I will be working with
a publisher called Gray Door. I worked with them in
you know, my former post. And what we want to
(30:34):
be able to do is and we've already shot the
cover for this publication and the cover and what I
said to my team is that and I think that
my doosm is brilliant because she perfectly captured and conveyed
the vision and the photographer like nailed it. So I said,
(30:56):
I want the cover to be eight rights of passage? Right,
how do we you talked about our farms, cocoa and
you know Nutmeg. I wanted to be shot in the
farm and I want to show, you know, an adult
showing a child. How do you pick the nutmeg and
(31:20):
separate it?
Speaker 1 (31:21):
And right?
Speaker 2 (31:23):
And it is and it's an education in terms of
I am now passing this on to you so that
you can pass it on to your future generation, so
that we can preserve what makes Grenada the spice isle
of the Caribbean. Right, So when you think spice, you
should automatically think Grenado. That is that brand identity that
(31:47):
we want to ensure that we are preserving. I said, So,
I didn't say this part in terms of having it
set against a backdrop. I just talked about the farm. Well,
the photographer came back and he shot it with a
beautiful waterfall in the background. So you are getting culture
(32:07):
in the foreground. You are getting soft adventure, leisure. You
know what makes Grenada pure, right, because now you have
in the background this waterfall that symbolizes so many things.
We're going to use that publication and I cannot wait.
I'm going to be releasing the cover soon because I
(32:28):
want to get excited about this vision. Now, what's going
to be included in the magazine? Yes, we're going to
have the leisure supple, We're going to have each destination Grenada, Caricoul,
Petite market, will have their own section that talks about
their culture, their offerings, right, and then we will talk
(32:51):
about how we as an island as a destination, how
we're preserving culture. What does we're going to define or
redefine why pure? What makes Grenado pure? Grenado? I think
everyone already understands. I know what we mean when we
say the spice island of the Caribbean. It's clear, but
(33:13):
the word pure is so open ended. We want to
further define what makes Grenada pure? Right, So that is
what this publication is going to do, and we're going
to use It's going to almost look like a coffee
table book. Is going to be in your hotels, it's
going to be at your ports of entry. We're going
(33:33):
to use it to welcome whether it's dignitaries. When we
do a little swag bag you know media, you know, trade,
ash travel, trade or ASH or as. We're going to
have a complimentary map because we know when we go
to trade events, people like maps. They want to see
how they get around the you know, the islands to
keepsake for them. So that's one of the ways in
(33:55):
which we're going to market holistically what we have to offer.
We're also going to be focusing largely on on luxury
because we have amazing luxury villas and properties here and
we're going to elevate brand Grenada on that luxury scale.
Speaker 1 (34:15):
Right.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
We're also going to I use this word and in
my meet and greet dominate global domination, And that's what
it is. I'm coming the team and I are coming
to dominate. We're going to reclaim market share. We are
going to you could travel to Africa, Asia, and when
(34:36):
we say Grenada, you should be excited because you know,
you know by saying Grenada what we have to offer
where we are right. So that's what I mean when
I say global, I want Grenada to be on everyone's lips.
I want them to be excited to add this beautiful
(34:56):
destination on their bucket lists, you know. So we're looking
at the mice, the meeting and incentive space. We're looking at,
of course sustainability because that is where the world is
heading right now. We have to be able to leave
the planet better off than we met it for our
children and our grandchildren and great grandchildren. So you know,
(35:17):
we are, you know, trying to do much better here
on the island. As it relates to sustainable practice, what
the sustainability look like as it relates to even just
the cultural part of it and the people right and
equity we are going to I mentioned not sure we're
looking at the yachting and diving segment. Nice, Oh my gosh.
(35:40):
There are so many.
Speaker 1 (35:42):
Things, so many facets, right.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
So many facets, and we are you know, as much
as we're also marketing in those niches, we also are
developing the product on the island because here's we don't
want to go out and you know, tell that true
Grenada story and when you get here you're not met
with right. It has to go hand in hand. So
(36:04):
the service level must be on par the product must
be pristine. So it's a lot but ash, I am
so excited.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
Well I'm excited too. Sounds like, you know, there's a
lot of passion behind it, and we spoke about passion
ironically earlier. But I think that's important because I think
when other persons that haven't been to Grenada, when they
see how passionate that you are about it and how
passionate others are about it once they visit, I think
that's the best marketing that you can have. I know,
(36:36):
you know, for me. I just I just felt so warm.
I went there for my birthday and the amount of
hugs I got, and I'm a hugger, but the amount
of hugs I got just from strangers and just feeling welcome.
And that's why I'm so passionate about talking about Grenada
and telling people my honest experience. So I would definitely
love to be a part of whatever it is that
(36:57):
you guys are doing to support that, because it's really
genuine the love that the people have for their culture
in Grenada, and just also the warmness that you get
when you come there. And I think when you talk
about luxury, you know, everyone knows my favorite is Silver Sands.
Speaker 2 (37:15):
Yeah, a person's.
Speaker 1 (37:16):
There, you know, like the general manager, Like everybody there
is just so kind and so like genuine. And I
even told him, I said, you know, when you go
somewhere and I've been to the Maldives, I've been all
over the world, and I've experienced luxury, and I realized
it's not just about the esthetics, you know, it's all
the persons treat you on the property that really makes
(37:38):
a difference. So yeah, I'm definitely behind you one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
And I think and also be careful what you ask for,
you know, Ash, because I am going to loop in
anyone I can to be ambassadors for this destination, Me
and Stacey.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
I A ready, Okay, I just wrote.
Speaker 2 (37:58):
That part down because the island is deserving of it.
The people are deserving. There is such a national pride right,
and I never thought I would waitness national pride, you know,
because we know Jamaican's Jamaican.
Speaker 1 (38:14):
Right, because we are the number one when it comes
to pride. So you know.
Speaker 2 (38:20):
Why you have stiff competition from Grenada because when you
drive through the island, you don't have to guess what
the colors are the national colors are. You see it,
you see it represented. You don't have to ask who
you know the past you know prime ministers have been
our heads of state because you know there is a
mural you know, throughout the island that depicts that right.
(38:43):
You don't have to You don't have to guess what
the national food. You know, people talk passionately about oil down,
you know, and I think that when you have people
that are so proud to be Grenadian, it gives you,
(39:05):
it propels you to want to ensure that you embody
that and everything that you do. But also at the
level of pressure make up. You don't want to let
anyone down down, you know, let anyone down. But I
am having such a great time right now. We have
(39:26):
mapped out what twenty twenty six is gonna look like
in terms of the framework for the strategy, so you
know that is underway. We're going to our team is
going to be on island. We're looking at possibly the
end of August, after Spice Mass to sit around the table.
I want everyone's voice. I want every single We're not
(39:50):
drafting this in isolation. I want every single person so
when we are right, when we're executing the strategy, you know,
each employee can see their voice how they would have
contributed to the strategy. Not only that, we are going
to broadcast it live. We are going to do Facebook
(40:11):
live of the presentation of the strategy. I want buy
in at every single level because what I find is
that when you have a community that buys into the
vision right and they know what you are doing, you
can get greater support. Right, They're going to meet you
at every level. They're going to say, you know what,
(40:32):
Immigration is going to say, you know what, We're the
first touch point. And I remember in a strategy we
talked about this is what the focus is going to be,
and this is what is required. So guess what buy in.
I'm going to meet every guest with a smile and
a friendly because they could have chosen somewhere else, but
they chose Grenada and this is my home, and they
chose my home to visit. One you come outside and
(40:57):
your ground transportation met again, friendly smile because again they
have bought into your vision and to your strategy. You're
dealing with a local vendor. They bought into the vision
and the strategy. So now they're going to be your ambassadors,
you know, because people return to a destination that they feel,
(41:19):
they feel welcome, they feel a part of it. People. Yeah,
people aren't traveling for sunsand and sea anymore. They can
go anywhere. They can go to the Jersey shore and.
Speaker 1 (41:30):
Get that, right, They could literally on their patio and
get that.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
So what we're selling is not that. What we're selling
is authenticity. What we're selling is culture and heritage. What
we're selling is the amazing food. We want you to
touch it, feel it tasted. It's an experience. When you
leave Grenada, you should be planning your next trip back.
(41:54):
That is what we want to That is what we're trying. Well,
that's what that's a message. That's a message. Well, you
succeeded with me because it definitely worked and all of
those things are so true. I can attest to that.
You know, those are things that you'll experience now. So
even though you haven't had that meeting yet, I could
only imagine what it will be because that's already stuff,
(42:17):
you know, that's his experience now. So yeah, so I
love that. Love that love that all right.
Speaker 1 (42:22):
So last question before we get to our final segment. Sure,
if you could speak to the younger Stacy in Jamaica,
in Montego Bay, what would you say to her now,
now that you've lived life and you've accomplished so many
different things, what would you say to her?
Speaker 2 (42:41):
Hmmm, oh my gosh, so many things, because I gosh,
I've made so many mistakes in life. Some I regret,
some I don't. I think it would be be patient,
(43:01):
because I think there is wisdom and patience. You know,
there are so many things. You so many times you
jump to a conclusion or you rush to decisions, rush
to things, and I think if you. You know, there's
one thing someone said to me. I can't remember where
maybe I heard it, is that you know, when you're
getting frustrated, you feel it, you know it, and they
(43:25):
say counter five in your mind, because I guarantee you
your initial reaction, it will be different right to your
initial reaction. Absolutely, and that is and I and I
and I and I find that to be true. Patience
(43:46):
has served me well in my latter years that I
think that my life probably would have been would have
looked a little better. Are and not better but different.
Maybe it looked a little different. I don't say I
won't say better, would look at it because I think
that everything I've gone through has Yes, it's it's maybe
(44:08):
who I am today, right, and who I am today
I'm very happy with, right, So I think that, yeah,
it would have made life maybe a little easier, certain
you know, certain decisions. So I would say, patients, be patient, youngsterays,
be patient, be patient, all things, all things in due time.
Speaker 1 (44:28):
Yes, yes, for sure, for sure. I love that. Okay,
So in our final segment, I'm going to ask you
a few rapid fire questions and you have to answer
with the first thing that comes to mind.
Speaker 2 (44:43):
All right, I love these perfect.
Speaker 1 (44:47):
Name your top three favorite Grenadian artists.
Speaker 2 (44:56):
Oh my gosh, I haven't been here that long, but
I can name the one that I'm loving okay right now.
Speaker 1 (45:06):
And his name okay.
Speaker 2 (45:06):
Blacka Dan, and he has this music, this song, that music,
this song called blessing. Every single time I hear it,
and now I have learned the words, I don't have
me to sing it, and so now every single time.
And then because there was some a friend of mine,
her name is Asha, we were out and I was like,
(45:29):
you know, I was looking at her because the song
was playing, and I think the DJ probably pulled it
up a couple of times and I was like what
song time? She was like, do you understand the words?
And I was like, at the time, no, And then
she shared it with me. I think the reason why
I like it it's it's his storytelling, right, the way that
he tells the story of you know, you know this
woman who left him and he now sees her with
(45:50):
her new person. And he was saying that you know,
at the time that you know she broke up with him,
of course he was sad, but he later realized it's
a blessing, right, was a blessing. You have to listen
to it.
Speaker 1 (46:02):
I have to listen to that.
Speaker 2 (46:04):
And I'm telling you every single time I hear it,
and I say to my staff, they haven't delivered yet
on this but this request, but I said, can you
bring into the office. I just want to meet him.
I just wanted to know that. I love the song,
the writing, the delivery, the composition. It is just a song.
(46:25):
When you hear it, you just you dance and your
your hands are up. And I love it. I love
that song.
Speaker 1 (46:31):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (46:31):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (46:32):
I love that, love it, love it. Okay, what's your
mister killer?
Speaker 2 (46:38):
Of course?
Speaker 1 (46:38):
Yes? Yes, what's your favorite Caribbean food?
Speaker 2 (46:42):
Mm hmmm.
Speaker 1 (46:46):
That's hard, right, I know, I know that's hard. Just okay,
all right, maybe too, I'll give you too.
Speaker 2 (46:54):
I'll give you too Caribbean food. Yeah, I listen. I
love oxtale. I think you can you can win me
with a good oxtail, proper ox stale. And then geez.
I love breadfruit, and and what I love is that. Yes,
(47:14):
I love breadfruit. And people will say, how do you
like it? Cook anyway anyway, ROAs and fry, roast, boil
and listen, it is it is, and you know that
it's one of the main ingredients in this oil down.
It's a problem. I yes, yes, good, okay, okay, that's good.
(47:35):
Those are two good choices. Okay.
Speaker 1 (47:37):
What is a proverb or Jamaica saying that your parents
told you as a child that you repeat till this day.
Speaker 2 (47:48):
None? No, none, none. I can't. I can't recall growing
up in a household where they used these Jamaicans sayings
are proverbs because I can't. I know to this day.
(48:12):
If I have a friend who grew up with her
grandmother and that's all she uses when we have conversations,
and then like, what do you mean my sorry?
Speaker 1 (48:23):
Okay, that's what answer.
Speaker 2 (48:24):
Listen, they're gonna go for but sorry, no.
Speaker 1 (48:31):
You know what, no equal opportunity here. You didn't have
that experience, and that is quite fine, No problem, thank you.
Speaker 2 (48:38):
Thank you. So Jamaicans don't come for me please.
Speaker 1 (48:40):
Yes, yes, you're safe here. It's that same space, thank you.
All right. Two more? What is one principle you repeat
to your team often?
Speaker 2 (48:50):
I don't know that I repeat it to my team,
but when in interviews people ask me what's the legacy
I want to leave? And I say I want to
leave the organization better than I met it. I want
to leave you know, staff who feel empowered, they buy
into the mission vision of the organization, that they are
(49:11):
working from a space of purpose because they can see
themselves moving up through the ranks. You Know, what I
say is we want to promote from within and fill
the lower positions. Because in filling the lower positions, what
that means is that you always have constant growth throughout
the organization. You have identified, you know certain you know
(49:33):
skill sets, you have closed the skills gaps, you have
a succession plan. So you know what I loved was
when I came in on my first day and there's
a young lady who is my assistant, Cazelle. She organized Yes, Yes,
And when she sat before me, she said, she's working
over a the accounts unit, and my assistant who's to
(49:55):
be my assistant, is on maternity leave, and so she's
just filling in and and she sat down before me
on the first day she said, my goal is to
be the CEO of the organization. And I looked at
her and I said, Okay, we're going to work on it.
And at the time she may have thought I was
just saying it just to say it. But you know,
I told her at the end of October, we're going
(50:17):
to move her to you know, another department, and we're
gonna craft a training and development plan for her to
have this goal realized. And I introduce her or I
talk about her as the future CEO of the g GTA.
Speaker 1 (50:36):
I love that. Yeah, I love that. I absolutely love that.
I love to see women uplifting other women, of.
Speaker 2 (50:44):
Course, and she's beautiful, she's smart, she's well spoken, you know,
and I could see her. I want to look ten
fifteen years from now because what I told her is
that she should go and also work in the private
sector to be able to get experiences. Well, yeah, and
I want to look ten fifteen years from now and
say when she is in this role and say I've
(51:05):
contributed in a small part to her being there. Yeah,
that's the legacy that I love that.
Speaker 1 (51:12):
Beautiful. Okay, and I said two more, but it's actually
one more question. What is your favorite book right now? Yeah?
We love reading over here, so I have to ask.
Speaker 2 (51:27):
So it's the let Them Theory by mel Robbins. I
read me and Andrew.
Speaker 1 (51:33):
Were just talking about that on her episode.
Speaker 2 (51:36):
Yes, yeah, it is. I listened to the audio book
on Audible and I actually got well. I bought myself
a copy somewhat, my best friend bought me a copy,
and then I gave you additional copy to another friend
that I thought could benefit from some of the themes
you know throughout the book. And I love it. I
(52:00):
love it. I love it. I love it, I love it.
I love everything. I love how it's written. I love
how it gives you, you know, examples from a personal
and a professional you know, whether you're a mom, whether
you are married or dating. I think Mel Robbins is
(52:23):
so wise, and I love how simple it is in
terms of her writing, so anyone at any level can
understand it. But what I also love it is that
I paused and thought about what she was saying, you know,
like I would stop the Audible and just thought about
what she said, and I put it in context of
(52:45):
my life and where I am currently. And I have
to tell you, when I finished the book, I recognize
instant changes I made in my life. Instant.
Speaker 1 (52:53):
I love that instant.
Speaker 2 (52:56):
I'll tell you what I want to elaborate on this
because I think it is very very important as women, right,
you have to recognize who you are and the things
that hold you back. Right, you have to do an audit.
You go into an organization, The first thing I want
to say is audit. This audit at why are we
(53:17):
not auditing our lives ourselves? I have made an audit
that I can overanalyze a thing, and I am so
quick to go down that rabbit hole because I live
in my head and there are times where I might
be spot on, and there are other times where I
(53:38):
recognize that, oh my god, I was wrong. I overanalyzed
the situation, and when I finally got around to having
a conversation, I recognize that how I view a situation
was so far frenched right and so, and then I
think also, and it all goes back to emotional intelligence.
You have to invest in that because it will serve
(53:59):
you in your personal and professional life, right absolutely. And
I remember having a conversation with my HR manager and
my previous post who is now a friend, who said
to me that the one thing that she thinks I
should work on is the emotional because she thinks that
(54:20):
there are times when I can get so emotional because
I feel things deeply right, and when I get to
the point of where maybe I'm either frustrating or disappointed
about situation. I can live there a little bit longer
than I should. And when Mell said, when someone doesn't
invite you to something, let them let them. Your life
(54:43):
is not going to stop as a result of you
not being there, right, she talked about the fact that
you know because she said there are things that affect
that proximity. Because she mentioned when she moved you know her,
you know, she introduced a friend that also moved in
the neighborhood with you know, people that she met, and
she recognized that she was no longer being included or invited,
(55:05):
and she recognized that a proximity it's had nothing to
do with her, was just proximity because then this friend
lived across the street from another friend, so it was
easier for them to maybe run into each other and
make plans. Right or proximity it's sometimes the reason why right,
But she's like to let them write, why are you
getting you know, you know, upset or bothered? But it's
(55:28):
this thing about Lettin. That's why I also said to
you in the beginning of our talk about the fact
that you have to be intentional and you have to
meet people where they are. But what I also wanted
to say, you just have to let people, just just
let people. I think that every person. And I think
this is also should be something that teenagers should read
(55:50):
because I think that developing your emotions early is going
to be something that's going to be beneficial in the
long run. Right, So absolutely, that is the book I
read last year, that and was it last year earlier
this year? And I have the physical copy and I
(56:11):
will reread it. I will, I will that, I will.
Speaker 1 (56:15):
That's beautiful, beautiful. Okay, Well, unfortunately the episode has come
to an end, but I always do a little thank you,
so Stacy. From our conversation, I surmise that your leadership
reminds us that tourism isn't just about sites, it's about people,
(56:36):
place and possibility. I think that you've shown that a
destination can be elevated not through spectacle, but through stewardship,
and not through profit but through purpose. And so far,
you know, in your role, you reflected a woman who
really seems to listen before listen before she speaks, and
a leader who's committed less to headlines and big names
(57:00):
than to heritage. Right, Like you're really about the people,
and I think that matters. And you are a visionary
that's working patiently, deeply, and really intently with intention, as
you said throughout the episode, to place Grenadians at the
heart of their own narrative. I think that you exemplify
(57:21):
what it means to lead with clarity, compassion, and you
really have respect for the culture, which I think is important,
and that through your leadership, you're reminding us that change
begins with listening and as you said, not just with
stakeholders or statistics, but to the spirit of the place
and the people. And in your case, that place is
(57:43):
not just Grenada, it's the broader Caribbean, where identity and
innovation have to walk side by side. So yeah, thank
you so much for coming to talk the things with me.
Thank you for your voice, your ambition, and your unwavering
belief in the promise of the Caribbean region.
Speaker 2 (58:03):
Thank you so very much. I appreciate it. Thank you
for having me on. It was fun and I am
happy to come back on at any time. I really
enjoyed our time together and I look forward to seeing
you in Grenada.
Speaker 1 (58:17):
Yes, I can't wait. I cannot wait. Thank you so much.
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