Spatial Innovisions Limited, Land Mapping and Consultancy firm and Totally Male Spa and Club Limited are Jamaican finalists from among a pool of 155 applications from Jamaica.

An impressive total of 580 small and medium business enterprises throughout the Caribbean that entered the competition were whittled down to eight finalists with Jamaica, The Bahamas, Belize, Guyana, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago making up the territories represented.

For being country winners, the (SMEs) are to receive a US$40,000 grant to invest in training and technical infrastructure.

In the regional finals, teams will compete for the prestigious title of Pioneer of Prosperity Caribbean along with a handsome grand prize of US$60,000 at the final awards ceremony in Montego Bay in September.

Karl Samuda, minister of industry, investment and commerce, addressing the awardees, said they were entrepreneurs of the highest calibre and although capital was important, being an entrepreneur was also about creativity, confidence and commitment.

Silburn Clarke, Spatial Innovisions Limited's president and chief executive officer, told other operators to live their passion and never give up.

"Its extremely important that your creativity be converted into solutions," he said.

From dream to reality

Totally Male Spa and Club Limited owner, Sandra Samuels, said entrepreneurship was very challenging, as it meant taking your idea from dream to reality.

In encouraging potential entrepreneurs she said:

"It is important to believe in yourself and stay focused.The people who get on in this world are people who do not talk about the bad circumstances, but look for the circumstances they want and if they can't find them, make them."

Mocking Bird Hill Hotel in Portland also received honourable mention for its contribution to sustainable development and ecotourism.

The Pioneers of Prosperity's Caribbean Awards Programme is a subsidiary of Pioneers of Prosperity, a global programme that seeks to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs in emerging economies.