“O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires.” – Isaiah 54:11. COVID-19 is a tough, rampant and persistent virus which has led to a global health care crisis. We know little about the COVID-19 pandemic response cycle. We are …
“Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.” Psalm 107: 19-21 Our generations …
“And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.” – Matthew 24:6 In the past, an act of war was related to economic, territorial, religious, nationalism, revenge, civil, revolutionary and/or defence issues and it …
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” – Psalm 133:1 What a week as we watched the COVID-19 virus attack homo sapiens on planet earth – https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries. Despite the political, economic, spiritual, social and ethnic diversity, it is war against this microscopic enemy and we …
“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.” – Psalm 57:1-2 In 1918, at the end of the first World War, a strain of influenza known …
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31 A government’s mandate is to perform regulatory and service functions in support of the private sector, whose …
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2 An essential component of an economic recovery and transformation process is economic …
‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” – Jeremiah 29:11 May I congratulate Dr. Jean Holder on his stewardship as a diplomat in the Barbados foreign service, in the tourism industry …
“Say to him: Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!” – 1 Samuel 25:6 Seven years ago to the day, as a CARICOM citizen, I decided to relocate from Barbados to Trinidad. I was officially retired; it was a journey into the unknown …
“So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who testified to the word of His grace by granting signs and wonders to be done through them.” – Acts 14:3 Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) programme adviser Dr. Kevin Greenidge set the stage by giving an update on BERT progress …
“Beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses, but in the abundance of love and care that God has for you; which is a treasure that does not corrupt.” – Luke 12:15 Now that I am in the “retirement” phase of life, fortunately with …
“Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” – Matthew 9:17 The Caribbean is a unique diverse multicultural, multiethnic, multireligious, multiculinary, multigenre (musical) …
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10 In 1964, Uncle Errol and Aunt Carolyn attended our wedding in London, England. They were in Scotland on government business and made it just in time to advise the small gathering why he made …
“His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” – Matthew 25:23 Errol Walton Barrow was born in the parish of St. Lucy in Barbados on January 21, …
“Who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” – Romans 8:24-25 Last week, in her first major address in the New Year, Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley painted a clear picture of her mission to restore Brand Barbados, …
“The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want.” – Psalm 23:1 My son, Bevan, shared with me a recent message from Bishop Dale C. Bronner, Founder/Sr. Pastor of Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral in Atlanta. Over the last few weeks the theme was “AWE-PSALM” where Bishop Bronner’s teachings were based on the …
“All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” – Proverbs 14:23 Marketplace Excellence Corporation (MPE) is a 10-year old U.S. registered corporation founded and led by my son, Bevan Springer. MPE is a full service, integrated marketing firm committed to excellence in the fields of public relations, media …
“The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, …
“A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.” – Proverbs 27:12 Last weekend, while attending a meeting in Miami, I had the unexpected opportunity for a one day visit to the Health City hospital in the Cayman Islands, as an international patient. Health City Cayman …
“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” – Proverbs 13:20 Successful people and organizations leverage the ideas, resources and money of others to help achieve their goals. Collectively this contributes to the holistic growth of a country. In this column, I shall share some of my experiences with …
“Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honour to whom honour is owed.” – Romans 13:7 Last week, a two-day island-wide blackout in Barbados crippled businesses, closed schools, shut polyclinics, gas stations, and airport check-in kiosks, …
“He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. God loves a cheerful giver.” – II Cor. 9:6, 7. On June 20, 2016, I published a column entitled “Investment Strategy”. The column postulated that the concept of the circular flow of money is pivotal to the vision of business success. Money for investment in individuals and …
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us…” – Romans 12:6 In my first 33 years of life, my energy abounded, but there was a lack of experience. Parental care, Montessori, primary school, secondary school and tertiary education abroad. Sunday School, Boy Scouts, photography, music and several sports. Marriage, children …
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. ” – 2 Peter 1:5-7 Economic growth takes place as a result of the mix …
“All of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” – 1 Peter 3:8 It is wonderful to be blessed with the opportunity to reflect on life and record it for the benefit of posterity. Founded in 1843, Rothamsted Research, previously known as the Rothamsted …
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” – Romans 8:28 The task of Cricket West Indies (CWI) is challenging for the men’s team, let alone the women’s team and the respective junior teams, where talent …
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11 Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley passionately delivered the 16th UNCTAD Raúl Prebisch Lecture – “Invisible Yet Indispensable” – in Geneva, Switzerland, on September …
THE BEAMING RAYS OF PROFESSOR PERSAUD’S VISION – BASIL SPRINGER COLUMN OCTOBER 14, 2019 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11 Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley passionately delivered the 16th UNCTAD Raúl …
“Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding.” – Proverbs 3:13 The meaning and purpose of life are to create happiness and avoid pain for oneself and all those within one’s sphere of influence. This is ideal. In my experience, one will never make a perfect score because of the complexity of …
“Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.” – Proverbs 21:5 The late E.G.B. Gooding (1915-1987) was a world-renowned Barbadian botanist who carried out classic ecological studies of the island. He also made significant contributions to local agriculture, including crop diversification, the introduction of onion growing and the development …
“Therefore, speak I to them in parables: because seeing they see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.” – Matthew 13:13 Lack of appropriate funding of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) has been and still is the most critical constraint to enterprise development. This issue was once again a topic of …
“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” – Proverbs 12:25 Cricket West Indies (CWI) stakeholders were ecstatic about the excellent performance by the men’s team, led by interim coach Richard Pybus, against the highly-rated England. This series ended just prior to the CWI election on March 24, …
“…for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” – Matthew 12:37 On Wednesday, September 4, 2019, there was an email advising “CWI Media Advisory – Media Conference with CWI President, Vice-President and Executives. CWI invites the media to a press conference at 11am to midday on Monday, …
“In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.” – Proverbs 14:23 One of the international speakers at the Barbados Entrepreneurship Foundation’s first annual SUMMIT, held November 2010 at the Barbados Hilton, was Dr. Edmund S. Molloy, from the Republic of Ireland. Eddie was then and still is the Honorary …
“And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” – Matthew 7:25 At this time of year, the hurricane season is upon us and we are reminded of the mariner’s ditty: June – …
“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” – 2 Corinthians 9:6 Much water has flowed under the bridge since the abolition of slavery in the 19th century. Some of the fertile lands of the Caribbean are still available …
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7 We all share the vision of Caribbean sustainable success. The success of the development sectors within a Caribbean country is facilitated by the efficient management of …
“For it is not you who will be speaking – it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” – Matthew 10:20 I have been officially retired from my mainstream business consulting activity for many years and I am thankful that my mental faculties, often stimulated by mingling with the …
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3 Last week, in this column, we revisited the Singapore model and alluded to that country’s successful strategy to diversify from the traditional tourism sector. Dr. Dillon Alleyne, deputy director of the Economic Commission for Latin …
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” – Psalm 32:8 David Commissiong, Barbados’ Ambassador to CARICOM, as guest columnist in the Barbados Today edition of Thursday, June 6, 2019, wrote an article entitled ”A vision for the economic …
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – Philippians 4:8 The systems of a human body …
“He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness; For His name’s sake.” – Psalm 23:3 Age has an effect on our eyes, just like it does on our joints and other parts of our bodies. When I reached my 40s, the natural internal lenses in my eyes became …
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!”- Psalm 133:1 A Caribbean airline is vital to CARICOM development. The demand is created primarily by government, business, tourism, sports teams, education and trade. LIAT, at present, has 15 Caribbean destinations. Regional airline investment government policies are not …
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11 At the beginning of 2019, Cricket West Indies (CWI) appointed an interim head coach, Richard Pybus, an Englishman with experience working …
“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1:7 In this series, we have addressed the issues of governance structure, financial security, marketing life and operational growth which are required to establish LIAT (2019) Limited, a new airline to replace …
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:32 At the beginning of this year, the Barbados Economic and Transformation Recovery Programme (BERT) was established and the first two main issues of (1) debt restructuring and (2) reduction of government expenditure were addressed. The third BERT …
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” – 2 Corinthians 9:6 Today, we look at what is involved in ensuring profitability and growth from the technical and support operations of LIAT (2019) Limited. There are at least five thrusts that are mandatory. 1) Efficient …
“To answer before listening – that is folly and shame.” – Proverbs 18:13 There was instructive feedback to last week’s column on regional airline LIAT, which led me to a St. Lucia Times article by consultant David Jordan. Mr. Jordan also directed me to a comprehensive online conversation between media and PR executive …
LIAT (2019) LIMITED: INNOVATIVE INVESTMENT FINANCE – BASIL SPRINGER COLUMN MAY 20, 2019 “Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established.” – Proverbs 15:22. In the last column, we addressed no-nonsense governance policies which must be an integral part of the foundation of LIAT (2019) Limited. Today, we explore …
“Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.” – Matthew 5:15 In the last column, the mood was that the existing LIAT operation be closed down and that the best price be sought for …
“No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment … a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins … the wine will burst the skins.” – Mark 2:21-22 Last week we suggested that a solution-oriented leadership approach is a preventive maintenance and curative …
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7 Many thanks to those readers who endorsed and augmented the content of recent columns in this series, out of which a comprehensive mix of concepts …