Business View Caribbean | September 2019

47 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN SEPTEMBER 2019 THE SHERATON MALL For Sheraton Mall, leadership extends beyond overt examples of community support. This is exemplified in its willingness to adopt environmental initiatives and invest in sustainable practices. “We converted all our lighting to LED; we’ve put in new air conditioning equipment using variable speed compressors and pumps to run more quietly and efficiently, to bring air quality to a higher standard; and there are 1.5 megawatts of solar photovoltaic panels being installed,” Oran reports. To complement these sustainability efforts, this past March, Sheraton Mall hosted the No Plastic, No Problem Awareness Fair, which was attended by Barbados’ Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Mr. Kirk Humphrey. The Fair aimed to help educate Barbadians about the island’s upcoming ban on single use plastic, which went into effect on July 1, 2019. The event also brought together community groups, activists, and suppliers from all over the island who are focusing on a laundry list of environmental initiatives from soil regeneration, to recycling, to LED lighting. Participants and guests visiting the Fair were greeted by an art installation focusing on the six “Rs” of sustainability – Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Regenerate, and Recycle - that was superimposed over the canvas of a beautiful glass skylight. As Sheraton Mall celebrates thirty years of retail excellence and community involvement, Director Oran has pledged to give away 900 fruit trees to patrons for them to plant throughout the month. Although the idea was originally conceived to promote the importance of food security and sustainability for a small island, such as Barbados, these trees represent the lasting impact of the Mall on the Barbadian landscape through its business and community leadership. As Oran exclaims, “As we celebrate 30 years of operations, Sheraton Mall commits to being innovative, setting trends, and working with our tenants and community to remain ‘The Mall That Has It All!’”