Not a Qualified Farmer

I AM JOSEPH DOWAY

People often ask me why I formed Caribbean Farmers Without Borders, since I am not a farmer. My answer is always simple. I followed God's direction. That small voice you hear when you are in the War Room.

My life has always been geared around "doing for others" and trust me, from the age of 21, I have been trying various methods to educate our people and create a Culture of Independence. I gave lessons in small business management, trained people in writing business plans, presented projects for funding and loans and eventually trained others to become computer literate. During my career in the hotel management industry, I trained my Front Desk staff and later on started a program to teach people "The Art of Satisfactory Customer Service"

In life, I have learnt that it is not all about money, but what you impact on the life of genuine people to improve their way of living. I have helped many along the way. Some have turned against me, others have stayed with me and others are still benefiting from my efforts and shared knowledge.

On many occasions, I have been told that due to my knowledge and the I have helped other become successful, I should be a Millionaire. But I did it all, because it is part of God's work and my calling.

I realized that Farmers and Agribusiness owners and operators needed some form of representation, especially the female entrepreneurs. These businesspeople needed an avenue to work on their behalf, to find them new markets to encourage production, get them crop insurance, help reduce praedial larceny and open a network where they can work together, share knowledge and information, find produce and learn how to ship products regionally and internationally.

I am a Business Plan writer, one who does Content Writing, one who is capable of writing Response For Proposal and Expressions of Interest on projects, up to the level of presentation to the Caribbean Development Bank and the World Bank on behalf of my clients.

One of the biggest achievements was working with TYPSA Group, working together on an Expression of Interest to do the Hewannora International Airport on Saint Lucia. I represented Amarna Consult, an engineering company on Saint Lucia. TYPSA Group is an independent consulting and engineering service group.

Today, I am proud to be the lead consultant and business developer for the owner of Shiver Caribbean (a subsidiary of Shiver Bahamas Premium Ice-cream and Sorbets.

I have one objective in life, and it is focused on reducing Food Wastage, the increase of crop production in the Caribbean, so that they can have enough yields to meet the demands of the regional and international buyers and distributors. I have been calm, not looking for any media fame or popularity, but to set a legacy that will be long lasting.

I help my clients focus on a long-term plan for the future. As a Visionary, I have clear ideas of the future, which I communicate to my clients to foster a community of collaboration and teamwork. I prioritize emotional intelligence, emphasizing growth, introducing management styles that are forward-facing and inspiring others to pursue a common future.

Doing good does not always gain you the best of acceptance. Politicians have detested some of my writing when I was a columnist. They said I was Anti Government because I was always bashing government policies. But that's me. I have always been a Social Activist, with the aim to make sure that people are treated fairly. I went through my hell on earth, but I never ever stopped being Joseph Doway.

I may not have a Doctorate in any discipline, but my grass root experience, my education and my hands on experience has made me the man I am today. I am a man of my word and if I don't is because I really cannot solve the problem. I am a researcher, so that makes me a creative business developer. People tell me I am a Master of all Trade. My response is I learnt what I needed to know, so I dabbed in architecture, aviation, hotel management, tourism development, photography, poetry and drawing real artistically.