More young entrepreneurs needed, says Lashley

A CALL has been made for more young entrepreneurs to establish businesses, which, though they have their base here in Barbados, can earn foreign exchange and re-energise the local economy.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley, issued the call on the occasion of the launch of a new and innovative electronic health records management system called MedRegis, which has been created by young entrepreneur Dale Trotman, a graduate of the Ministry’s YES Programme.

The launch took place in the Minister’s Conference Room, Sky Mall, St. Michael yesterday.

“Bringing new products to market is a challenging process. We need however to have more young entrepreneurs like Dale coming to the fore with their skills and products and services, that will re-energise the Barbados economy,” Minister Lashley remarked during the launch.

“In fact, it is my view that some of the current economy challenges we are facing, is as a result of the absence of more young entrepreneurs who have their base here in Barbados and who see the world as their market.

The urgent re-establishment of indigenous businesses offers the best chance for sustained economic growth in Barbados, and here I speak of seeing our young entrepreneurs taking leadership in all areas of economic activity, whether it be the Cultural Industries, Sports, Tourism, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Technology,” he added.

“We must understand that our economic model upon which we relied in the ’80s and ’90s and up to now, are no longer relevant to an emerging Barbados economy and we have to provide the tools and market access to our young business men and women, so that they can drive the earning of foreign exchange, while reducing our dependence on foreign goods and services,” he maintained.

“That’s why I am excited in saying kudos to Dale on his accomplishment. It speaks too of the vital role that Government must play and is playing in
empowering our youth to assist with the urgent transformation of our economy,” Minister Lashley further stated.

Trotman, Founder and CEO of MedRegis, has meanwhile noted that the start-up’s goal is to reduce the widespread use of paper in ambulatory care within the Caribbean. Hence, medical staff will now be able to experience a more efficient workflow with every patient visit, using the health technology that provides a user-friendly layout that allows for quick documentation of patients’ health records and also provides an efficient means of providing prescriptions and bills, electronically.