“On his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season … In all that they do, they prosper” – Psalm 1:2, 3 David Cameron Gikandi’s book “A Happy Pocket full of Money” espouses “Your Quantum Leap into the Understanding, Having and …
“Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!” – Psalm 150:4 In my last column “Seek Comfort in Good Business Health”, I drew a business analogy with the child mortality rate (the death of a child before the child’s fifth birthday) which globally declined from 89 per 1000 children (8.9%) in …
“As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you.—Isaiah 66:13” According to Webster’s dictionary, comfort means to give strength and hope; to ease grief or trouble. “Comfort” was the Daily Word’s offering on Saturday supported by the following: “No matter what difficulty you may be facing today, God wants to bring you comfort. …
“For God all things are possible” – Matthew 19:26 Last week the focus in this column was on the potential for the youth. They were encouraged to turn their ideas and innovations into sustainable commercial realities. They were advised that even if a situation may seem impossible or a problem may appear to be unsolvable, …
“Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart” – Luke 2:19 There is an organisation in Johannesburg South Africa called “Young & Able” which started operations in 2003. Its mission is to help young people live up to their potential by discovering their purpose. Its aims are to (1) inspire youth to …
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff–they comfort me” – Psalm 23:4 I have been relentlessly promoting concepts of enterprise development in this column. The reason is simple. Sustainable economic growth is a necessary component of socio-economic well-being of the …
“If they listen, and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasantness” – Job 36:11 There is an interesting line of which I was reminded recently “The past is history, the future is a mystery and Today is a gift. That is why we call it the present”. Maybe we …
“You shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands” – Isaiah 55:12 The inequitable distribution of wealth is an inevitable consequence of our history, politics, policies and practices. We continue …
“Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord” – Psalm 31:24 I was recently introduced to the term crowdfunding at an interactive dialogue session on “Smart partnership inclusivity strategies for leveraging technology – Financial Inclusion” in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The participant, an African Ambassador resident in Europe, …
“Revive me according to your word” – Psalm 119:25 The CIA World Factbook reports at February 21, 2013 as follows: “Barbados is the wealthiest and most developed country in the Eastern Caribbean and enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in Latin America…in recent years the economy has diversified into light industry and tourism …
“Peace be to the whole community, and love with faith, from God” – Ephesians 6:23 I have recently interacted fairly passionately with several segments of the enterprise and mentorship community in Trinidad and Barbados. While facilitating a retreat in Trinidad last week, I had occasion to mention the visionary quote “sustainable economic growth can only …
“You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forward I make you hear new things, hidden things that you have not known” – Isaiah 48:6 The Caribbean team of three, Dianne Lalla-Rodrigues (Director of the Antigua and Barbuda Bureau of Standard), Lennox Lewis (Owner and Chairman, I.T. …
“The Lord is good…he protects those who take refuge in him, even in a rushing flood” – Nahum 1:7 I came across a beautiful article on balance while surfing the net, it was about the potential harmony of a dining experience. The synopsis was “Your dining experience is more than great food. It is a community …
“I am going to bring it recovery and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security” – Jeremiah 33:6 The troubled economies of the Caribbean are sure to keep us looking for ways to address all the talk of recession, depression, inflation and currency devaluation in the years ahead. …
“The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” – Genesis 2:7 When a baby takes its first breath this begins the process of life on earth and this life ends when the last breath has been taken. In the interim, since the lungs …
“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act” – Psalm 37:5 Three weeks ago a friend of mine from school days and I were reflecting on recent changes in our personal lives. He wrote “If you remember many years ago you introduced me to The Power of Positive Thinking …It …
“You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be” – Deuteronomy 15:8 Each country in the world strives for sustainable development. One element of sustainable development is sustainable economic growth. Sustainable economic growth in any given country can only take place, one successful enterprise after another. Each …
“Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good” – Genesis 50:20 On my return from my first focused visit to Singapore in 1993, I wrote an article to the press entitled “Barbados the Singapore of the Caribbean”. This interest signalled the advent of a hobby to develop an innovative …
“Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path” – Psalm 27:11 The Brundtland Commission’s report (1987) defined sustainable development as: “Development which meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. The principles of sustainable development are not only associated with …
“My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance” – James 1:2-3 “Patience is a Virtue” is a proverbial phrase that has withstood the test of time. Difficult times in one’s life might be induced by economic …
“This is my comfort in my distress, that your promise gives me life” – Psalm 119:50 We all have moments of distress but God’s ever present love should be our greatest comfort. This was manifested this week by a scenario which occurred at a bank. I have a relationship with the tellers at this bank …
So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas,a]”> and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ Luke 19:13 I met a Caribbean colleague for the first time at Compete Caribbean’s strategic regional dialogue on private sector development in the Caribbean and the Compete Caribbean regional consultative forum two weeks ago. …
“Peace be within you” – Psalm 122:8 One way to establish peace and harmony both within ourselves and in the world is to create smart partnerships. A partnership is entered into because of the synergy which one expects to gain from the relationship. The twain or many shall become one and the benefits are expected …
“Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation” – Psalm 25:5 The Caribbean Centre for Organizational Excellence (CCOE) presented their inaugural Conference in Barbados on March 12, 2013. This year’s conference, hosted under the theme “Achieving Excellence in Caribbean Organizations”, examined how organisational excellence contributes to organisational …
“I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” – John 8:12 As the light of life falls on our children, shadows are cast. It is in the comfort of these shadows that parents reflect on their stewardship as parents. A …
“With us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles” – 2 Chronicles 32:8 Let us borrow from the concept of “persistency” usually associated with an insurance company. “Persistency is the percentage of the company’s already written policies remaining in force, without lapsing, year after year. Since persistency is a …
“You will be protected and take your rest in safety”– Job 11:18 With the aftermath of the general elections and looking to the future, the Caribbean Institute of Certified Management Consultants (CICMC) – Barbados Chapter will be hosting its inaugural, fund raising lecture and panel discussion under the theme “Strategies for accelerating growth in the …
“Love one another deeply from the heart” – 1 Peter 1:22 It is my belief that we human beings, especially those who have passed “middle age”, often reflect on the purpose of life and become concerned about our rating if we were to be objectively assessed by the Supreme Being regarding our stewardship here on …
“David said to the Philistine, You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts” – 1 Samuel 17:45 The government and opposition parliamentary representatives have been elected. The Prime Minister has now selected government senators and announced his cabinet members to …
“My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely” – Job 33:3 The Barbados election is now over. Congratulations to Prime Minister Freundel Stuart on leading the DLP to victory. Through his calm, cool, patient and affable personality and brilliant intellect he has confounded the critics and analysts. …
“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye” – Psalm 32:8 Last week we introduced the combination of spiritual awareness and logical reasoning in the context of relative right- and left-brain strengths; this week we shall seamlessly review the power of the …
“O Lord, you have searched me and known me … Where can I go from your spirit?” – Psalm 139:1, 7 When my next column is published (D.V.) on Monday Feb 25th, whichever party wins the general election called for Thu 21 Feb, the Barbados Prime Minister will probably have chosen, if not announced, his …
“Let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe forever” – Psalm 40:11 On February 21st in Barbados we shall elect 30 members, primarily from the two major political parties, to the House of Assembly which is the third oldest Parliament in the Commonwealth. The members of the House should work together to govern …
“Unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” – Matthew 18:3 Helen and I have just completed the first week in our lives without the living reality of our mother Rita. This heralds a change in our lives. We have confidence in our capacity to show our resilience …
“Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have.” – 1 Samuel 25:6 I was in the throes of writing my weekly column on Saturday grappling with a “Strictly Business” topic, around the issue of innovation policy as a driver for sustainable business growth, when I …
He will wipe every tear from their eyes … for the first things have passed away. … See, I am making all things new.—Revelation 21:4, 5 Today, this country celebrates “Errol Barrow” day in Barbados. It is the anniversary birth date of one of its most illustrious sons, National Hero the Right Excellent Errol Walton …
“Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace” – Proverbs 3:17 The Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) has a stated role to influence the social, economic and business environment of Barbados in order to create sustainable economic progress and quality of life for all residents of this island. It …
“I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” – Isaiah 43:19 We have just concluded the end of calendar year 2012 and many of us have transitioned seamlessly into 2013. Last week we discussed taking action in 2013 and recognised the richness of the resource of …
“Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me” – Psalm 139:4-5 Christmastide is a joyous occasion and opportunities for social interaction abound. As this season ends we are thrust seamlessly into thoughts of the New Year. …
“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed” – Jeremiah 17:14 Traditionally, the twelve days of Christmas are the festive days beginning Christmas Day (25 December). This period is also known as Christmastide which is the season of the celebration of the birth of Christ; it is the season which feeds on the spirit …
“With upright heart he tended them, and guided them with skilful hand” – Psalm 78:72 The new book “SUPER BRAIN – Unleashing the Explosive Power of Your Mind to Maximize Health, Happiness, and Spiritual Well-Being” authored by Deepak Chopra and Rudolph E. Tanzi was recently reviewed by Kirkus Reviews , an American book review magazine …
“The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord, searching every innermost part” – Proverbs 20:27” We have been lurking in the dark in the quest for sustainable economic growth in the emerging small state economies in the Caribbean. We recognise that economic growth can only take place one successful enterprise after another. We have …
“I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you” – Psalm 32:8 The phrase “Clarity of Vision” would normally be used metaphorically, rather than as a description of a person whose eyes are working well. To have clarity of vision is to understand …
“The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head”- Mark 4:28 The Daily Word website reminds us that Divine Order underlies creation in all its forms. When the seed is planted, we imagine the harvest to come. Then, as we gather the harvest, we remember the …
“I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing” – Ezekiel 34:26 Last Tuesday, The University of the West Indies (St Augustine, Trinidad) hosted a Distinguished Lecture by leading UK entrepreneur and business guru Alex Pratt, titled “Innovation and Enterprise in a Small Island Developing Economy”. He began the …
“You shall take your tambourines, and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers” – Jeremiah 31:4 There has been much discussion this week about the IMF’s advice to Barbados and other small economies, which includes the devaluation of its currency, and reports that the Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, Dr. DeLisle Worrell, …
“Those who are wise understand these things; those who are discerning know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them” – Hosea 14:9 The Mission of the Barbados International Business Association (BIBA) is “To work in partnership with government towards the development of the international business sector in …
“I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart” – Psalm 86:12 In the United States there are 19 special annual occasions only ten of which are Federal holidays. Last Thursday was a Federal holiday “Thanksgiving Day” when families and friends gather to give thanks for the year’s blessings. In many …
“So we can say with confidence: The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?” – Hebrews 13:6 Last week there was a vibrant email exchange on the subject “Immigrant entrepreneurs: The Chilecon Valley challenge” an article in The Economist magazine drawn to our attention by Peter Boos. …
“As a spiritual being, I draw upon divine strength to do all I need to do, to be all I can be, to achieve my heart’s desires. What an inspiring truth! The joy of the Lord is your strength” – Nehemiah 8:10 First of all let me congratulate Darren Sammy and his team for bringing …
“God has brought laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me” -Genesis 21:6 As I was practising my early morning Internet surfing routine, I came across a blog by Kelly. The caption was “Laughter, Strength and Food – the Philosophy for a Good Life”. Then there were other quotes with which I empathised: …
“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets… For there is still a vision for the appointed time” – Habakkuk 2:2,3 The phrase “taking stock of the future” conjures up in my mind visions of “sustainable development”. As we are often reminded the term sustainable development was used by the Brundtland Commission which coined what …