The post originally appears on <a href="https://antiguanewsroom.com/calvinair-helicopters-assisting-with-monitoring-st-vincent-volcano/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer">https://antiguanewsroom.com/calvinair-helicopters-assisting-with-monitoring-st-vincent-volcano/</a>&nbsp;and we republished with permission.
The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Coordinating Unit, has selected CalvinAir Helicopters (CAH) as the top helicopter operator in the Caribbean to carry out the work of assisting scientists with monitoring the La Soufriere volcanic activity in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
According to a recent agency report, this support is extremely urgent to allow the scientists to analyze the data and present to the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines an informed interpretation of the current volcanic events.
It is against this backdrop that CAH was selected to assist the team with this undertaking, and will be responsible for providing The University of the West Indies (UWI) Seismic Research Centre&rsquo;s (SRC) scientists with helicopter services for a period of seven (7) days, and then on an &ldquo;as needed&rdquo; basis.
According to CAH&rsquo;s Director of Aviation, Mark Fleming, the decision was made after considering several other regional helicopter operations. &ldquo;One of the requirements was to secure pilots with extensive mountainous terrain flying, as the peak is over 4,000 feet.
So it can be quite challenging with the strong winds at that altitude.
Additionally,&rdquo; he added, &ldquo;CalvinAir Helicopter pilots actually have extensive experience with flying for the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) with a scientist there. So we will be doing very similar flying on this mission; conducting observation flights around the dome; transporting equipment and supplies to monitoring sites; transporting the seismic research scientists and trying to find safe landing spots, where they will be able to set up and maintain their remote monitoring stations to analyze data.&rdquo;
According to Fleming, the Antiguan-based helicopter operation conducts tours and charters around Antigua and Barbuda and surrounding islands.
&ldquo;As well,&rdquo; he said, &ldquo;we&rsquo;ll do more humanitarian work with Medevac flights as well as search and rescue and emergency missions like these, with the Montserrat Volcanic Observatory and now St. Vincent.&rdquo;
The operation&rsquo;s aircraft are stateof-the-art and not seen before in the Caribbean region. The Airbus EC130 is known to be the gold standard in helicopter aerial touring machines.
In addition, the style of its tail rotor reduces outside noise by up to fifty per cent, earning it the nickname &ldquo;ECO-Star&rdquo;.
&ldquo;CalvinAir Helicopters is the best of its breed in all-purpose helicopter operations,&rdquo; said Calvin Ayre, owner of the company. &ldquo;I am extremely proud of what our team has put together.
We can offer services across the spectrum, from search and rescue or medical airlift.&rdquo;-&nbsp;POINTE EXPRESS

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) Coordinating Unit, has selected CalvinAir Helicopters (CAH) as the top helicopter operator in the Caribbean to carry out the work of assisting scientists with monitoring the La Soufriere volcanic activity in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

CalvinAir Helicopters assisting with monitoring St. Vincent volcano

calvinair-helicopters-assisting-with-monitoring-st-vincent-volcano

Baby Kairo&rsquo;s parents, Jusette James and Tarik Spencer, now alive with optimism, expressed gratitude for having received the donation they almost thought would have been impossible, after reaching out to various organizations.
Kairo was born prematurely on January 16th and was diagnosed with Small Bowel or Intestinal Atresia. The condition is one in which there is a narrowing of the segment of the intestine that connects the stomach to the large intestine. As such, Kairo has not eaten since birth and often regurgitates any food given to him via intravenous methods.
According to cincinattichildrens.org website, all children with intestinal atresia and stenosis require an operation, and the exact type of operation differs depending on the location of the obstruction.
With no on-island paediatric surgeon to perform this type of surgery, the family was faced with waiting for a visiting surgeon, before Kairo could be examined. The significant impact on travel caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, would delay Kairo&rsquo;s chance of survival, as his condition would become critical after two weeks without&nbsp;immediate medical intervention.
When the CAF team met with the parents and uncle of Baby Kairo, it was a meeting punctuated by anxiety, hushed tones to disguise tears, but mostly of hope.
Speaking on their feelings of their precious son&rsquo;s condition, Jusette, a nurse by profession, said &ldquo;I think that this (being a nurse) is the hardest part for me; seeing and knowing the drastic ends of both of it. I know first-hand that anything can happen, at any time. This is the hardest thing I&rsquo;ve ever had to deal with &ndash; I never expected to have so much difficulty having my first child. Some days I don&rsquo;t know feel like I can cope with it &ndash; I don&rsquo;t know what else to do.&rdquo;
Tarik added that for him, this was a very emotional time seeing Kairo like this, struggling and seeing Jusette stressed out and crying everyday. &ldquo;I just want him to get through it and for him to be okay,&rdquo; he said.
During the emotional presentation on Tuesday at the Ayre Group&rsquo;s Canada Place Headquarters, the family accepted the donation in the amount of ES$67, 327. This will cover Kairo&rsquo;s flight by air ambulance to Jamaica&rsquo;s Bustamante Children&rsquo;s Hospital, the cost of surgery and hospitalization.
CAF&rsquo;s Executive Director, Corinna Delowsky, said, &ldquo;We receive so many applications for assistance and the task of selecting the causes we support is very difficult. We would love to assist many more. Covid-19,&rdquo; she added, &ldquo;has posed an immense challenge and we have had to refocus towards Pandemic Relief. This new baby, who is only two weeks old, and his first time parents&rsquo; story really stood out to us. We hope our contribution gives Kairo a fighting chance.&rdquo;&nbsp;
According to Ayre Group&rsquo;s Media Relations Specialist, Jamilla Kirwan, &ldquo;Kairo&rsquo;s story is very relatable, as many families can envision themselves going through something similar and can empathize with his family and how they are navigating this challenging ordeal. We, at the CAF, are so elated to be able to assist this family in covering their medical expenses, including the medical airlift, hospitalization fees and fees for Kairo&rsquo;s surgery.&rdquo;
Curlson James, Kairo&rsquo;s uncle and the family member that reached out to the Calvin Ayre Foundation, described the bittersweet ordeal as such; &ldquo;You watch your siblings everyday and when something like this happens, you can&rsquo;t help them and you don&rsquo;t know the extent of stress they&rsquo;re going through but being able to sit behind a computer and send out a plea (requesting assistance) and getting the response we have, is remarkable.&rdquo;
Under the consultation of Dr. Abel of the Mount St. John&rsquo;s Medical Centre (MSMJC), the arrangements to have Kairo flown out can now be made.
The advent of Kairo&rsquo;s surgery is promising as it is medically shown that children who undergo surgery for intestinal atresia, in general, do well and complications after surgery are rare. (<a href="http://www.cincinattichildrens.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.cincinattichildrens.org</a>)
The Foundation, was founded by business mogul and Special Economic Envoy to Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Calvin Ayre in 2005. CAF&rsquo;s Pillars of giving are Emergency Response, Social Development, Education and Sports.
&nbsp;
UPDATE: It is with much sadness that we inform of Baby Kairo&rsquo;s passing, due to complications he developed. Kairo&rsquo;s story is dear to us as we felt like he was our baby too.
We send our condolences to his family at this time of immense loss.
- Executive Director, Corinna Delowsky

One grateful family is now moving forward with hope upon learning that they would receive a donation for their two-week old son, Kairo Spencer’s, emergency airlift and expenses, from the Calvin Ayre Foundation, in the amount of EC$62,327.00.

Baby Kairo Receives Medical Emergency Funding From Calvin Ayre Foundation

baby-kairo-receives-medical-emergency-funding-from-calvin-ayre-foundation

Bitcoin is a revolutionary technology and can be quite complex; for most people, it&rsquo;s a steep learning curve - but it doesn&rsquo;t have to be.
The following article, originally published on December 29th on CoinGeek.com, announces the launch of the BitcoinSV Academy, developed by the Bitcoin Association.
As part of the Bitcoin SV Academy, Bitcoin Association has curated a range of educational information and resources to establish a curriculum, from which training modules and courses have been developed to best serve the needs of the Bitcoin SV community.
ZUG, Switzerland &ndash; December 29, 2020 &ndash; &nbsp;<a href="http://bitcoinassociation.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bitcoin Association</a>, the Switzerland-based global industry organisation that works to advance business with the <a href="http://bitcoinsv.com/">Bitcoin SV</a> blockchain, today announces the official launch of <a href="http://bitcoinsv.academy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bitcoin SV Academy</a> &ndash; a dedicated online education platform for Bitcoin, offering academia-quality, university-style courses and learning materials.
Developed by Bitcoin Association, Bitcoin SV Academy has been created to make learning about Bitcoin &ndash; the way creator Satoshi Nakamoto designed it - accessible, accurate and understandable. Courses are available in their entirety online and offered in three distinct streams:
Bitcoin Theory &ndash; covers the design of Bitcoin as a system as prescribed by Satoshi Nakamoto.
&shy;&shy;Bitcoin Development &ndash; provides vanguard information for application developers building with Bitcoin, including tools and techniques for leveraging the unique features of the network.
Bitcoin Infrastructure &ndash; looks at the underlying architecture of both the Bitcoin network and ledger, including how the network is constructed and scales.
Within each stream, courses are offered at introductory, intermediate and advanced levels, following a progressive structure designed to build on the concepts and knowledge introduced in the preceding course. At the conclusion of each course, participants will undertake an online assessment to test their understanding of the material, with certification available to those who pass.
The first course to launch, the introductory module of the Bitcoin Theory stream, is now available for enrolment at <a href="http://www.bitcoinsv.academy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.bitcoinsv.academy</a>. Introductory level courses will be offered free of charge for the foreseeable future, part of Bitcoin Association&rsquo;s commitment to making Bitcoin education available to as wide of an audience as possible.
Speaking on today&rsquo;s announcement, Bitcoin Association Founding President Jimmy Nguyen, commented:
&lsquo;Education is a cornerstone of the work we do at Bitcoin Association, as we help businesses and individuals alike understand the Bitcoin system envisioned by Satoshi Nakamoto, and how Bitcoin SV is the only project implementing that Satoshi Vision. Bitcoin SV Academy will be a key component of that work moving forward, providing a platform to deliver a robust curriculum tailored to all levels of ability and knowledge, as we educate the world about just what&rsquo;s possible with the power of the original Bitcoin protocol.&rsquo;
Also commenting, Steve Shadders, Technical Director of the Bitcoin SV Infrastructure Team, said:
&lsquo;The most important piece of infrastructure that Bitcoin can have is access and availability of education - not only does it broaden the pool of talent available to work and build with Bitcoin, but it also helps to spread awareness of what Bitcoin as an entire technology system can do and is truly capable of. The launch of Bitcoin SV Academy is a huge step forward in making meaningful change in this area &ndash; and having taken the first course myself, I can confirm that there really is something for everybody to learn in there.&rsquo;

Bitcoin is a revolutionary technology and can be quite complex; for most people, it’s a steep learning curve - but it doesn’t have to be.  The following article, originally published on December 29^th^ on CoinGeek.com, announces the launch of the BitcoinSV Academy, developed by the Bitcoin Association.  As part of the Bitcoin SV Academy, Bitcoin Association has curated a range of educational information and resources to establish a curriculum, from which training modules and courses have been developed to best serve the needs of the Bitcoin SV community.

Bitcoin Association launches online education platform Bitcoin SV Academy

bitcoin-association-launches-online-education-platform-bitcoin-sv-academy

In the December 2020 issue of the Luxury Locations magazine (pages12-14), a stellar feature is presented on Special Economic Envoy to Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Calvin Ayre; which includes his vision, his views on the super powers of Bitcoin SV and its utility, and his plans for the future.&nbsp;
Visionary, entrepreneur, industry pioneer and philanthropist, are just a few adjectives that have been used to describe Calvin Ayre. The phenomenal backstory about his rise to billionaire status is definitely one for the books.
Born in 1961, Calvin credits his modest upbringing on his family&rsquo;s pig farm in rural Canada, for tempering his extraordinary ambition with humility and a heart for humanity, particularly the less fortunate.
From early entrepreneurial ventures such as fruit delivery and internet service provider, to revolutionizing online gaming, Calvin pursued every opportunity that presented itself with passion and determination.
Calvin&rsquo;s success and reputation as the leading man in the online gaming industry were firmly established in the early 2000&rsquo;s. His re-invention; transitioning from the Bodog online gaming brand to blockchain technology - specifically Bitcoin SV - illustrates his relentless inventiveness and ability to transform entire industries.
Through his strategic partnerships with Bitcoin industry leaders, Calvin now uses his various platforms, including CoinGeek.com, to educate the world - from major businesses, investors and policy-makers to the man-on-the-street - about the unique superpowers of Bitcoin SV.
We think this is the just the beginning of the epic second chapter to a phenomenal&nbsp;career, destined to be ranked among the best of the century.
<ol>
<li>The Digital Assets Business Bill has recently passed into law in Antigua &amp; Barbuda. We understand that you were involved with the bill and its creation, are you happy with the outcome, what changes do you think will come in the future?</li>
</ol>
Yes, I am definitely happy with the outcome. Antigua&rsquo;s forward-thinking legislation was inspired by the Bitcoin SV blockchain and has the potential to usher in a new era of safe, credible and regulated digital asset businesses coming together to foster economic innovation.&nbsp;
I say that the legislation has potential to revolutionize the economic landscape because, in order to take full advantage of the legislation to foster economic innovation, while ensuring safety and credibility, Antigua and Barbuda must only support technology and a platform that works within the existing and coming legal frameworks of the free world, which is only possible via the Bitcoin SV blockchain. Other platforms and technologies seek anonymity and attempt to enforce their beliefs through rebellion, as opposed to through legal mechanisms, which cannot be tolerated in a functioning society. The foundations of these other technologies and platforms enable criminals to violate the law with impunity, which would create a system in Antigua and Barbuda that not only creates unworkable businesses that do not comply with the law, but a system that would enable terrorist funding and other extremely serious crimes. The Bitcoin SV blockchain does not allow illegal activities in any form and would facilitate an honest system that would allow this innovative legislation to achieve its potential on a global stage.&nbsp;
In terms of innovation, I believe the future will be driven by the tokenization of everything, all assets, and that means real assets too, not just digital. Similar to my views above regarding choosing the right technology and platform, in order to maximize the opportunities presented by Antigua and Barbuda&rsquo;s forward-thinking legislation, scaling and utility will be vital, which again is only possible on the Bitcoin SV blockchain. Other platforms do not scale and are focused on short-term results and fast money, which has created a market of worthless projects and tokens that have no utility other than pumping and dumping for profits, which has destroyed the personal wealth of honest people and will damage Antigua and Barbuda&rsquo;s economy. The Bitcoin SV blockchain is a massively scalable blockchain, with real utility, that will create a long-term and sustainable economy that has the potential to revolutionize the world.&nbsp;
Antigua and Barbuda&rsquo;s legislation lays the foundation but the Bitcoin SV ecosystem&nbsp;is what will allow Antigua and Barbuda and responsible businesses to realize the possibilities and opportunities of this innovative and unique network.
<ol start="2">
<li>How will the bill affect businesses in Antigua and do you think it will stimulate an industry for crypto currencies based businesses to operate from Antigua?</li>
</ol>
As mentioned above, to affect businesses positively, realize real economic value and ensure Antiguan businesses are rooted in credibility, we need to ensure growth is fostered through innovative, safe and credible technology, which is only possible through the Bitcoin SV ecosystem. If the wrong platform is used, the amazing potential of this Act will not be realized.&nbsp;
The legislation has the potential to significantly stimulate the Antiguan economy as it provides a complete structure to govern a wide range of digital assets, which is not easily found in other jurisdictions. The Act is also intended to foster adoption and innovation through regulations that will encourage and make it easier for the citizens of Antigua and Barbuda to run responsible digital asset businesses, which will ensure we create a sustainable economic vision and future for Antigua and Barbuda.&nbsp;
We all need to do our part to ensure only the highest quality businesses are allowed to operate within our perimeter and the first line of defence is ensuring only businesses working within&nbsp;the Bitcoin SV ecosystem can take advantage of this valuable law. Not only will the Bitcoin SV platform uphold Antigua and Barbuda&rsquo;s reputation as a highly reputable jurisdiction, but it will solidify its reputation as a technological inspiration as only the Bitcoin SV ecosystem has the ability to scale and bring to fruition the full utility of the original Bitcoin protocol, and grow a system in which Bitcoin is used to change the world as Satoshi intended.&nbsp;
<ol start="3">
<li>Have you applied for your license under the bill? How was the process for you?&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
Not only will I be applying for a license under the Act as soon as the regulations are finalized, but as part of my work with the government and as an Ambassador, Economic Envoy for&nbsp;Antigua&nbsp;and Barbuda, I feel it is my responsibility to bring reputable businesses to Antigua and Barbuda to help shape its future as the jurisdiction of choice for innovative and credible digital asset businesses. An example of one of these businesses is The Bayesian Group (Fabriik), a collective of companies operating in the fintech and digital asset market with a focus on solutions for a digital asset-based business world. It decided to build its businesses on the Bitcoin SV blockchain after evaluating other platforms, including, Ethereum, BCH and Litecoin, primarily due to the Bitcoin SV ecosystem's safety and security, low transaction costs and ability to scale, thus leaving the Bitcoin SV blockchain as the only viable and realistic base on which to build new and honest financial and exchange networks. Credible companies such as the Bayesian Group (Fabriik) will be vital to Antigua and Barbuda's growth as a global economic leader in the digital asset space.
<ol start="4">
<li>You have invested significantly in real estate projects in Antigua. What are your plans for the next five years with respect to those projects?</li>
</ol>
Ayre Group&rsquo;s state-of-art headquarters, Canada Place, is a sought-after multi-tenant office complex, which is home to our various pioneering technology companies. It is now fully functional and capable of housing several companies and up to 600 persons.
I&rsquo;ve just completed construction of my own home on the island, so now I am able to concentrate my efforts on the Ayre Resort luxury property brand. The first of several 5-Star Ayre Resort luxury properties around the world will be developed on the white sand beaches of Valley Church, on the verdant west coast of Antigua. Each Ayre Resort will offer guests thrilling moments in the Bodog Casino Club, relaxing beach clubs, world-class restaurants and a unique opportunity to enhance their lives by experiencing the Ayre Wellness Centre and Spa.
My hope is to attract visitors who are interested in experiencing the island&rsquo;s landscape and culture, as opposed to those who prefer spending their entire vacation in the confines of their hotel.
As Special Economic Envoy for Antigua and Barbuda, I fully support the Government&rsquo;s long-stay visa program designed for persons who can work remotely and are desirous of doing so from a safe Caribbean island.
I strongly consider the island to be a prime location for high net-worth individuals to be able to live and work. It is my hope that others, especially knowledge-based experts, will in turn, be motivated to invest and contribute to the diversification of the workforce, through a transfer of knowledge. The recent passing of the Digital Assets Bill, again, provides significant scope for such knowledge and skills sharing.
With one of the focuses of the Ayre Group being Real Estate, I have the capability of providing first-class accommodation, fully equipped with high speed internet and nearby to convenient amenities and, of course, the beach.
<ol start="5">
<li>You have had an illustrious career in online gaming, crypto currency and now real estate projects, what does the future hold for Calvin Ayre?</li>
</ol>
My future is envisioned as a world I helped make a better place.&nbsp;
On the business front, I have always strived to play a pivotal role in developing industries that will benefit people and the economy. You may have noticed that I have a passion to grow and develop the Bitcoin SV landscape. As I see other platforms and technologies destroying global economic well-being, I will fight hard to develop an economy founded on innovation, honesty and doing things the right way, which can only be accomplished using the Bitcoin SV blockchain as an anchor. Part of this mission will be to continue to invest in companies that are contributing to a better world by growing the Bitcoin SV ecosystem.&nbsp;
As mentioned above, I am also focused on growing the economy of Antigua and Barbuda in other ways, such as through the development of a new resort that will focus on health and well-being.&nbsp;
With respect to my philanthropic efforts, I will maintain and strengthen my commitment to The Calvin Ayre Foundation, which continues to make a difference and ensure that we leave the world in a much better place than we found it.&nbsp;
<ol start="6">
<li>What advice would you give individuals who are interested in getting into or learning more about the industry?</li>
</ol>
To those interested in getting into or learning more about the industry, my advice is to avoid short-sighted platforms that damage economic and social welfare and instead educate yourself about the Bitcoin SV blockchain, as it is the original Bitcoin protocol and only platform that realizes Satoshi&rsquo;s intentions to transform our world.&nbsp;
<ol start="7">
<li>Where is your favourite place in Antigua and why?</li>
</ol>
My favourite area of the island is the entire west coast; from Pearns Point, south to Turners Beach. My home atop Ayre Estate Hill, has a breathtaking view of the entire area. You just can&rsquo;t beat the natural beauty, calm, warm Caribbean waters and the relaxing lifestyle.
For more information, visit <a href="https://bitcoinsv.com/en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://bitcoinsv.com/en</a> or <a href="http://www.ayre.group.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.ayre.group.com</a>

In the December 2020 issue of the Luxury Locations magazine (pages12-14), a stellar feature is presented on Special Economic Envoy to Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Calvin Ayre; which includes his vision, his views on the super powers of Bitcoin SV and its utility, and his plans for the future. 

Calvin Ayre: How Bitcoin SV can help create a brighter future

calvin-ayre-how-bitcoin-sv-can-help-create-a-brighter-future

St. John&rsquo;s, Antigua: Thursday, August, 20, 2020: Imagine being able to choose between 365 beaches for your morning jog and then working while overlooking the ocean. 
These are just a few of the perks which anyone can look forward to, if they choose to reside in Antigua and Barbuda for up to two years. Economic Envoy for Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Calvin Ayre, says he fully supports of the Government&rsquo;s long-stay visa program designed for persons who can work remotely and are desirous of doing so from a safe Caribbean island. Details of the program will be launched on a dedicated government website shortly.
The idea behind this initiative is to grant eligible persons a special resident authorization that will be valid for up to two (2) years in the first instance. &nbsp;Antigua and Barbuda has successfully and impressively managed the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting infection and spread to comparatively very small numbers. &nbsp;Further, its reliable and fast telecommunications network offers a unique setting to work comfortably in an idyllic setting. &nbsp;All applicants would be subject to due diligence and COVID-19 pretesting. 
According to the World Economic Forum, it is estimated that approximately 50% of &ldquo;information workers&rdquo; in the United States (US) are presently working remotely. Companies in Europe with a work from home policy are at a high of 88%, up from 4% that was reported prior to the health crisis. With many technology-based companies, such as Twitter, becoming more open to the decentralizing of their workforce, many are supporting employees in working from anywhere in the world.
Antigua and Barbuda&rsquo;s long-stay program will allow persons and their dependents to reside in Antigua, enjoy the ease of working from a &ldquo;COVID-controlled&rdquo;, luxury destination, and also be able to enjoy all the wonderful amenities that the island has to offer. &nbsp;
With one of the focuses of the Ayre Group being Real Estate, Ayre is ready to offer first-class accommodation, fully equipped with high speed internet and nearby to convenient amenities and, of course, the beach.
Having established his Ayre Group headquarters in Antigua and Barbuda, he strongly considers the island as a prime location for high net-worth individuals to be able to live and work. It is his hope that others, especially knowledge-based experts, will in turn, be motivated to invest and contribute to the diversification of the workforce, through a transfer of knowledge.
The recent passing of the Digital Assets Bill provides significant scope for such knowledge and skills sharing.
Digital Assets Bill
This Bill provides a framework for the establishment of digital assets companies in Antigua and Barbuda and improves the commercial prospect for existing local businesses.
These recent regulations provide an appealing environment for leading players and participants in the digital eco-system, as businesses will, in short order, be able to accept digital currency as a payment option.
Johnny Jaswal, General Counsel at The Bayesian Group, believes that the Antigua and Barbuda legislative framework hits the right balance of regulation and industry flexibility so companies can operate effectively.&nbsp; Governments will use Antigua and Barbuda&rsquo;s forward-thinking legislation as a benchmark for how to bring safe, credible and regulated digital asset businesses together to foster economic innovation. &rdquo;
Roy Bernhard, CEO &amp; Chief Visionary of The Bayesian Group, added - &ldquo;We were impressed to see the Government of Antigua and Barbuda pass such progressive and well-rounded legislation. It is clear that much thought for, not only, the current digital asset business &amp; fintech industry, but also its many potential future uses, were taken into consideration.&rdquo;
Against this backdrop, Antigua and Barbuda offers the ideal remote-work solution.
&lsquo;Unplugging after work&rsquo;, will no longer be an issue, as persons will have enough motivation to step away from the desk and enjoy Antigua and Barbuda&rsquo;s rich recreational options. Get ready to #WorkWhereYouVacay.
About Ayre Group:
We are a global investment group that fund ground-breaking businesses and technologies. We invest in building ventures in real estate, blockchain technology, media, publishing, health &amp; wellness and travel &amp; leisure.
We build and support technology and businesses that break down barriers to entry, democratize opportunity, and positively enhance people&rsquo;s lives.
Visit: <a href="http://www.ayre.group" target="_blank" rel="&quot;noopener">www.ayre.group</a>.com
For more information&nbsp;contact: <a href="mailto:jamilla@ayremedia.com" target="_blank" rel="&quot;noopener">jamilla@ayremedia.com</a>

Economic Envoy for Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Calvin Ayre, says he fully supports of the Government’s long-stay visa program designed for persons who can work remotely and are desirous of doing so from a safe Caribbean island.

Calvin Ayre supports government’s long stay visa initiative and passing of Digital Assets Bill

calvin-ayre-supports-government-s-long-stay-visa-initiative-and-passing-of-digital-assets-bill

In the following article, Special Economic Envoy to Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Calvin Ayre discusses plans for his upcoming wellness resort retreat and the exceptional experience it will offer. This article, that appeared on the <a href="https://antiguanewsroom.com/calvin-ayre-insulted-by-all-inclusive-resorts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Antigua Newsroom</a> online portal, was published on June 15, 2020.
Billionaire Antiguan businessman Calvin Ayre says he is opposed to the &ldquo;all inclusive&rdquo; model of tourism in Antigua &amp; Barbuda.
Ayre was at the time speaking about his US$ 100 million investment in a wellness resort retreat at Valley Church Beach which he says will not be all inclusive because he disagrees with that model.
&ldquo;It will have everything and more but it absolutely won&rsquo;t be all inclusive,&rdquo; Ayre told a radio interview alongside Prime Minister Gaston Browne on Saturday.
&ldquo;I am fundamentally against all inclusives at every level, I think they are horrible experiences and I think they are bad for Antigua,&rdquo; Ayre said.
He added, &ldquo;I find them insulting as an Antiguan when I try to go use one of them and they say no to me.&rdquo;
Speaking of his own resort the businessman said, &ldquo;what I would like to do there is create a wellness community&hellip;the idea would be to bring people in here and introduce them to Antigua and have a fully functioning wellness retreat resort.&rdquo;
He said once completed it will be the best in the Caribbean.
&ldquo;The way I am anticipating doing it is going to be much more extreme on the medical wellness side of it more than anything that&rsquo;s in the region. It will be unique in the whole region,&rdquo; Ayre the Chairman of the Ayre Group said.
Apart from the resort the billionaire says he wants to bring other investments into Antigua &amp; Barbuda in the future.
&ldquo;Unfortunately, some of my plans are immature so I can&rsquo;t get into them right now but I do want to be part of creating some of the solutions to make the problems from the pandemic,&rdquo; he said.
Ayre said COVID-19 has given Antigua &amp; Barbuda and opportunity to diversify the economy.
&ldquo;I think on the tourism side the low-end tourism is not going to come back all that quickly and this is an opportunity to reset Antigua with no risk because the risk is upon us already by the pandemic.&rdquo;
Prime Minister Gaston Browne says he accepts the recommendation to diversify not only tourism but other sectors.
&ldquo;And that is something our government is actively pursuing.&rdquo;

In the following article, Special Economic Envoy to Antigua and Barbuda, Ambassador Calvin Ayre discusses plans for his upcoming wellness resort retreat and the exceptional experience it will offer. 

Calvin Ayre feels insulted by All Inclusive Resorts

calvin-ayre-feels-insulted-by-all-inclusive-resorts

There is no doubt that the onslaught of the novel Coronavirus pandemic gravely disrupted how businesses operate. In this article, we take a look at how the Ayre Group implemented their Work-From-Home policy, as a solution to the high level of lay-offs that some companies faced. Orville Williams of the <a href="https://antiguaobserver.com/ayre-group-pioneers-social-distancing-policy-to-combat-covid-19/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Antigua Observer</a> tells the story originally published on March 18, 2020.
 More than 100 employees of the Ayre Group have been told to work from home as the company &ndash; headed by the Canadian billionaire Calvin Ayre &ndash; implements strategies to fend off the coronavirus.
The firm &ndash; headquartered at Canada Place in Woods &ndash; is taking the lead in the private sector, by enforcing a group-wide social-distancing, work-from-home policy, amid COVID-19&rsquo;s global spread.
The coronavirus had had a significant socio-economic impact worldwide since its inception and has escalated drastically, affecting both the public and private sector. In severe cases across the world, employees have been placed on unpaid, leave had their contracts suspended and even been laid off, as businesses struggle to cope with the impact of the virus.
The Ayre Group, however, is striving to both adhere to international health regulations and support its staff during the crisis. In a media release yesterday, the group explained that the policy will allow employees to work remotely &ndash; given their duties enable them to do so - in &ldquo;protecting the health and well-being of the employees operating in the building&rdquo;.
The company&rsquo;s media relations specialist, Jamilla Kirwan, explained how the decision was made.
&ldquo;We have the capabilities, within our group, to work from home. I know that not many companies have that kind of option and so, I&rsquo;m sure that many people are trying to figure out how they&rsquo;re going to manage staffing, children being home and that sort of thing.
&ldquo;A lot of our work, obviously, is electronic. You know, we&rsquo;re on emails (and) if we need a meeting, we do video-conferencing and so, we&rsquo;re basically just encouraging anyone who has that kind of capability to do the same,&rdquo; she explained.
Kirwan said the company had had a &ldquo;coronavirus-free&rdquo; bill of health among the employees and was actively practicing social distancing to keep it that way.&rdquo;
&ldquo;We have not had any cases of anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, however, we feel that one of the ways we could help to mitigate the spread of the virus is to teach people how to do social distancing.&rdquo;
&ldquo;With our over-100 employees, we thought this would be the best way to assist with the social side of things &ndash; having our people stay home, stay with their families and limit the amount of people coming into their homes,&rdquo; she said.
Additionally, the group announced that one of its subsidiaries &ndash; the Bodog Beach Club &ndash; will be temporarily closed until further notice, also to regulate the spread of the virus.
This temporary closure will not affect staff financially, however, as &ldquo;all employees within the Ayre Group, including: Bodog Beach Club, Calvin Air Helicopters and the Calvin Ayre Foundation, will continue to be paid during the period of social-distancing.&rdquo;

More than 100 employees of the Ayre Group have been told to work from home as the company – headed by the Canadian billionaire Calvin Ayre – implements strategies to fend off the coronavirus. 

Ayre Group pioneers ‘social distancing’ policy to combat COVID-19

ayre-group-pioneers-social-distancing-policy-to-combat-covid-19

The impressive five-story, Canada Place located in St. John&rsquo;s, Antigua, is not only home to the Ayre Group&rsquo;s various pioneering technological companies but serves as a beacon of inspiration for its employees and Antigua on a whole. Dubbed &ldquo;The Greenest Multi-complex in the Caribbean,&rdquo; Canada Place is a highly sought-after office facility, capable of housing several companies and up to 600 persons. As the Ayre Group navigates this COVID-19 new normal, with gradual resumption of work from office, building occupants found it easy to return to this environmentally friendly, state-of-the-art facility. This article serves as a fitting throwback to the building&rsquo;s official opening in 2019. The article was written by Latrishka Thomas and published in the <a href="https://antiguaobserver.com/calvin-ayre-opens-most-impressive-building-on-the-island-deemed-a-modern-green-facility/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Antiguan Observer</a> on November 25, 2019.
&ldquo;This is now easily the most impressive building on the island, hands down. There is no other office complex on the island that could actually challenge Canada Place,&rdquo; Prime Minister Gaston Browne said Friday of the newly opened Canada Place.
Business mogul Calvin Ayre on Friday, opened his global headquarters, which he said &ldquo;shall be home for various pioneering technologies that, it is hoped, will make a significant impact on the economy of Antigua &amp; Barbuda.
&ldquo;In this regard, we have been steadily increasing our employment of Antiguan and Barbudan nationals and expect that our employment levels should approach 600 during 2020.&rdquo;
The five-storey building, which is located close to Woods Malls, is a modern green facility.
Local media relations representative for the Calvin Ayre Group, Anika Potter, described one of the major features in Canada Place as being &ldquo;our solar farm which is actually our car-park for our employees so they have covered parking and that I believe, transmits over 500 kilowatts of energy, so technically our building should be able to function solely on the solar farm, on solar energy&rdquo;.
She said another key feature is &ldquo;the fifth floor which is our employee lounge. It houses our indoor cafeteria, our outside eating area, a games room, our library for our staff to just be able to relax and just unwind.&rdquo;
The media representative also revealed that there are many other amenities within the complex that promote energy efficiency.
&ldquo;The building in and of itself is massive and when I say massive, I don&rsquo;t necessarily just mean in size. I mean in all of the amenities, all of our kitchenettes are equipped with coffee machines and bottle less water coolers.&nbsp;
&ldquo;So, what we&rsquo;ve done, instead of just using the regular water cooler with a bottle we do filtered water through a UV system and that is what our employees use to drink so we don&rsquo;t deal with water bottles. We are trying to have the building be able to operate on its own as well as minimizing our carbon footprint,&rdquo; she continued.
And, according to Ayre, &ldquo;greater reliance on renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, will redound to the benefit of humanity. I, therefore, fully endorse the government&rsquo;s policy of seeking to transition from the use of fossil fuels to green energy. This magnificent complex is a symbol of this commitment to a pollution-free Antigua.&rdquo;
In addition, the building, a &ldquo;US $40 million investment into the Antiguan economy,&rdquo; is equipped with a day care and gym which Ayre said is meant to ensure that all of the employees feel appreciated.
&ldquo;We tried to create an environment where basically the employees feel valued. And I think in the presentation I made earlier (Friday evening) one of the statements that I made was about the fact that, unlike just about every other building I&rsquo;ve seen in my life, the executive suites aren&rsquo;t on the top floor.&rdquo;
Prime Minister Browne, in addressing attendees during Friday&rsquo;s opening ceremony, praised Ayre saying that &ldquo;unlike other exploiters we have a true partner in Calvin Ayre who is conjointly with the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda to ensure the advancement of this beautiful twin island state&rdquo;.
Calvin Ayre is a Canadian entrepreneur based in Antigua and Barbuda who founded the Ayre Group and Bodog entertainment brand and also manages other business entities on the island.
In 2000, Ayre launched online gambling company, Bodog, the success of which made him a billionaire and in Ayre&rsquo;s speech on Friday he credited the success to &ldquo;small but solid steps&rdquo; saying that &ldquo;the initial step taken by me in 2006 when I started business operations in Antigua has had several giant steps added to bring us to where we are today&rdquo;.

Business mogul Calvin Ayre, opened his global headquarters, which he said “shall be home for various pioneering technologies that, it is hoped, will make a significant impact on the economy of Antigua & Barbuda.

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