Economic Empowerment Zone Agency opens new office in St George’s

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A new Economic Empowerment Zone office opened yesterday on Ordnance Island, St George.

It will be staffed by businessman and entrepreneur Raymond Lambert, who has experience running Windjammer Watersports and Snorkel Park.

Mr Lambert described the Old Town as “a gem” and said he looks forward to helping local businesses and entrepreneurs make it “vibrant once again”.

Erica Smith, director of the Economic Empowerment Zones Agency, said: “We are more than ecstatic to have a presence here in the town of St George’s. We think that St George’s is on the cusp of great things.”

Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Patrice Minors said the office will give local businesses “all the support they need to prosper”.

She listed a range of new shops and restaurants that have opened recently in the town the Lingerie Boutique and Cave men’s wear store on Duke of York Street, the Surprise scrapbooking store in the town square, Triton Tattoo on Water Street and Sweet Pea coffee shop which opened in partnership with the Bermuda Perfumery.

In addition, a new restaurant, Tamasun’s Japanese House, will open on the corner of York Street in mid-August.

“More and more entrepreneurs are looking to St George’s and the east end as a viable place to set up business,” said Mrs Minors.

The new office won the backing of existing business owners in the town.

Juliette Hoerrmann, owner of Temptations cafe on York Street, said she was helped by advice from the Hamilton EEZ office when she set up her business seven years ago.

“It gave me my first start and I would think that with all the newcomers coming to St George’s, they can get a lot of valuable information from them at the start so they know where to go, even with things like accounting,” she said.

Michelle Wales, who owns the Conscious Vibes fair trade store and CV cafe on Water Street, said: “I think it’s fantastic. Anything that’s going to bring new business to St George’s is a good thing.”

The office will be open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am until 5pm until mid-September, and five days a week after that. It is located at the Storekeeper’s House, 5 Ordnance Island, and can be reached on 292-5570.

It joins existing EEZ offices in Hamilton and Somerset in offering a range of advice to new and existing businesses.

Useful website: www.bedc.bm/economic-empowerment-zone.

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