Our Roots
Our Story
Carigro is a leading Caribbean advisory orchard of experts with a proven track record of investment and trade facilitation across the region’s agribusiness and related sectors. Our canopy of knowledge and service delivery covers trade and investment facilitation, intellectual asset strategy and management and growth optimization.
Across the globe, the Caribbean is best known for its astounding physical natural beauty, biodiversity and cultural flavour. We are one of the most attractive tourist belts in the world with many visitors longing to lie on the white sand beaches drinking rum, listening to steel pan and enjoying exotic foods.
Remarkably, most of these foods, fruits and vegetables used in our tourism and hospitality sectors are traditionally imported from outside of the Caribbean. Indeed, across Caribbean economies, we bare an unmistakable trade commonality: we historically import more food than we export.
Consequently, regional leaders find themselves in an unenviable conundrum in their quest to reduce the fiscal deficit; against the economic reality that there can be no true possibility for development if there is no security around the most fundamental of human needs: food.
The time has therefore never been riper to optimize on our intraregional competencies and synergies across Agri sectors; to explore and optimize new dimensions for trade and export stimulation across the globe; as well as to facilitate and invigorate transnational Agri-investment within key Caribbean nations where gaps in food security exist.
These are the roots out of which Carigro was born as our expert community possesses the experience, linkages and knowhow to channel our clientele towards optimizing the Caribbean’s fertile ground of golden growth opportunities.
Out of our intellectual seeds, our valued clients reap fruit, and our Caribbean economies take one step further towards strengthening food security, eliminating hunger and catapulting GDP.
Get in the KNOW with Carigro!
Board of Directors
Dr. Erica Smith
Mr. Damian Bowen MSc
Mr. Al Elliot LLB
Dr. Erica K. Smith is an experienced international business development consultant with over 20 years’ experience. She is also a well-known business strategist with specific expertise in intellectual property rights and innovation. She has worked to design, execute and manage various projects assisting clients to develop and execute marke
Dr. Erica K. Smith is an experienced international business development consultant with over 20 years’ experience. She is also a well-known business strategist with specific expertise in intellectual property rights and innovation. She has worked to design, execute and manage various projects assisting clients to develop and execute market expansion plans and commercialization strategies; organizational assessments, gap analyses and strengthening across the Caribbean given her sound understanding of the Caribbean business and trade environment.
Mr. Al Elliot LLB
Mr. Damian Bowen MSc
Mr. Al Elliot LLB
Mr. Elliot began his legal practice in 2005 in St. Lucia and soon thereafter developed a legal practice in St. Vincent and the Grenadines as well. He now oversees the operation of his firm’s two offices in each of the jurisdictions. Mr. Elliot is also manages ACE Corporate Services, a company offering specialized corporate legal services.
Mr. Damian Bowen MSc
Mr. Damian Bowen MSc
Mr. Damian Bowen MSc
Mr. Damian Bowen is a Finance and Performance Management professional with a proven fifteen-year track record in regional business development, operations and finance reengineering, insurance and risk management, offshore project management, business strategy formulation, talent and network mobilization, as well as growth optimization.
Ms. Shivdi Singh MA
David Bowen - Executive Advisor to Board of Directors
Mr. Damian Bowen MSc
Shivdi currently supports multinational corporations to improve sustainability efforts along their global supply chains and has been working in private sector development for over eight years supporting a range of projects focused on corporate social responsibility, local economic development, value chain upgrading and women’s economic em
Shivdi currently supports multinational corporations to improve sustainability efforts along their global supply chains and has been working in private sector development for over eight years supporting a range of projects focused on corporate social responsibility, local economic development, value chain upgrading and women’s economic empowerment. Shivdi has extensive experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder engagement processes working across a range of actors from small holder farmers and MSME’s to state agencies and international organizations.
Ms. Natallie Rochester MA - Trade Advisor
David Bowen - Executive Advisor to Board of Directors
David Bowen - Executive Advisor to Board of Directors
Natallie has supported traders and governments in interpretation and implementation of trade commitments, identification of regulatory gaps, and the development of policies, strategies and action plans to strengthen domestic ecosystems, value chain linkages, and import and export business processes. In addition, Natallie has taught inte
Natallie has supported traders and governments in interpretation and implementation of trade commitments, identification of regulatory gaps, and the development of policies, strategies and action plans to strengthen domestic ecosystems, value chain linkages, and import and export business processes. In addition, Natallie has taught international trade subjects at the University of the West Indies, Mona and Cave Hill campuses, including a graduate and undergraduate course on the World trading system covering the World Trade Organization Agreements.
David Bowen - Executive Advisor to Board of Directors
David Bowen - Executive Advisor to Board of Directors
David Bowen - Executive Advisor to Board of Directors
Mr. David Bowen was Minister of Agriculture in Barbados during the period 1992 to 1994. He joined the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations in 1995 as the Resident Representative to Jamaica (with accreditation to Bahamas and Belize) until 2001, after which he was transferred to Trinidad in the same capacity with accredit
Mr. David Bowen was Minister of Agriculture in Barbados during the period 1992 to 1994. He joined the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations in 1995 as the Resident Representative to Jamaica (with accreditation to Bahamas and Belize) until 2001, after which he was transferred to Trinidad in the same capacity with accreditation to Guyana and Suriname until 2004. From there he served in the Gambia again as Resident Representative for three years until 2007.