“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 7:12
Our vacation in Barbados has been a visit with a difference.
First, we were motivated to spend a Bajan rather than a Trini Christmas this year when Rick Andrews, a former Canadian agribusiness consulting colleague of mine from the 80s, announced that he was visiting Barbados for 10 days with his tourism consultant wife Toni, his two sons Stephen and Robbie, and their respective wives, Maddie and Elise. Six-year-old Charles and three-year-old Evie joined their parents, Stephen and Maddie.
Stephen, my Godson, was born in Barbados and is now an aerospace engineering research and development scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory along with Maddie, who is a nuclear engineer. Their bond extends to writing scientific papers together.
Rob, who was CEO of Heliolytics, which is the largest global provider of aerial infrared inspections and advanced site data analytics services to empower the next generation of solar, has recently creatively sold his company to allow him to soar to even greater heights.
Elise is currently pursuing a two-year MBA at the London Business School. Her focus is on strategy and operations for clean tech startups.
The Andrews clan is an accomplished high-tech family and they are already planning their next visit to Barbados with a view to using their expertise to contribute to Barbados’ economic development. National leaders, please take note!
Another feature of my stay was a daily morning walk at Club Rockley’s golf course amidst the rain, which is a new trend in the Barbados, or shall I say Caribbean, weather pattern. My walk buddies include Bowen Wells, a former British MP and a former consultant to the Commonwealth Development Corporation, and Canadian Tom Sears, a former international banking executive. Both, together with their wives Rennie and Jessica, have been regular visitors to Barbados for many years.
Combining both physical and intellectual exercise, our walks have included topics such as central banking, politics, international business, opportunities for economic development, shepherding for enterprise development as a self-sufficient life-giving system, the British royal family, reparations, public-private partnerships, the metaverse, sea island cotton, the future of religion, incentivizing the private sector to mobilize local savings, and the future of sugar cane in Barbados. Very invigorating morning exercises, indeed.
In the midst of all this, I am involved in regular stimulating multi-disciplinary briefings (spiritual, strategic, tactical, creative, digital, innovative, disruptive, artistic) with my partner Judy, her children, my children and the next generation of friends and family.
Christmas 2022 has come and gone and now 2023 is born.
Deo volente, may the many problems of the Caribbean be successfully addressed in the year ahead as we benefit from and apply our various networking experiences into action.
(Dr. Basil Springer GCM is a Change-Engine Consultant. His email address is basilgf@marketplaceexcellence.com. His columns may be found at www.nothingbeatsbusiness.com).