“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 15:5-6 “You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the …
“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 Throughout my professional life in an attempt at problem solving, I have seen firsthand the …
“And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.” – Nehemiah 2:18 The Caribbean region is a land of abundant culture, history, talent, and natural resources, but it has struggled with economic development. To promote economic growth, the governments of the Caribbean need to place greater …
“If you give some of your own food to those who are hungry and to satisfy those who are humble, then your light will rise in the dark, and your darkness will become as bright as the noonday sun.” – Isaiah 58:10 As a Caribbean business columnist, I cannot stress enough the importance of food …
“My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” – Psalm 121:2 Although we go through life not knowing exactly how long we shall live, I think that it is safe to say that, given my age, I am probably well into the final quarter of my life and am planning as such. …
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” – James 1:19 Crime and other antisocial behaviors are destroying lives and the quality of life of residents in the Caribbean. If left unchecked this could negatively impact our bread-and-butter tourism industry. …
“Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.” – Proverbs 3:23 The economies of the Caribbean are heavily dependent on tourism. Trinidad and Tobago’s (T&T) economy, unlike that of most of the English-speaking Caribbean countries, has been led by growth in the petroleum and petrochemical industries. The major …
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” – Psalm 23:1 One role of a central bank is to be innovative in stimulating the growth of the economy. What if a central bank can initiate and nurture a project which can significantly reduce a high five-year startup business failure rate and grow the economy? …
“If you lend money to my people, to the poor among you, you are not to act as a creditor to him; you shall not charge him interest.” – Deuteronomy 23:19. The appalling global startup failure rate of 90 percent in the first five years of operation would suggest that they are weaknesses in the …
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”- 2 Corinthians 9:6 Caribbean tourism is a business where the value proposition clearly communicates the product and services our warm weather destinations can deliver to our “customers”. It has the potential to be exploited as an even stronger …
“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.”- Psalm 143:5 I am linked to the influence of Errol Barrow from my father’s and mother’s side of the family. My father was Charles Reginald Courtenay Springer (1914-1995). My father’s second brother, The Right …
“He restores my soul. He leads me on paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” – Psalm 23:3-4 Judy and I are privileged to have …
“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 …
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” – 3 John 2 When one conjures up a visit to Barbados, thoughts of an idyllic paradise spring to mind. Barbados, at Christmas or other times of the year, certainly delivers on that promise time and …
“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:30-31 Whatever lens through which we view life whether …
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” – Proverbs 16:3 At this time of the year there is much reflection on annual performance, and introspection about plans for the new year, since the calendar year represents the financial year for many. Government’s financial year varies from country to country and …
“In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.” – Proverbs 14:23 Former West Indies cricket captain Carl Hooper was known by the sobriquet “Sir Carl” as he elegantly stroked the ball around Kensington Oval in a manner which reminded Barbadian fans of Sir Frank Worrell and later Lawrence Rowe in …
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” – Exodus 20:12 God is love, and Christmas is about God’s gift to mankind. Indeed, Christmas is about love and family! The basic family unit is the nucleus around which society is …
“Whoever has ears, let them hear.” – Matthew 11:15 On November 21, Zimbabwean billionaire businessman and philanthropist Strive Masiyiwa delivered the Barbados Central Bank’s 47th Sir Winston Scott annual memorial lecture. It has been reported that he believes Barbados can lead the region in creating a venture capital ecosystem to help grow entrepreneurship. Masiyiwa cautioned …
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” – Ephesians 4:29 As human beings we have a responsibility to communicate wholesome thoughts for the betterment of all. Let us focus in turn …
“And the Lord answered me and said: ‘Write the vision and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it.’” – Habakkuk 2:2 The Caribbean has been positioned as one of the most desirable year-round, warm weather destinations and the Caribbean tourism sector has contributed significantly to economic development over the past …
“Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.” – Proverbs 10:4 Somehow or another my previous attempts to share my travelling experiences in this column have tickled the fancy of and resulted in positive feedback from many readers. Two other experiences with strong messages of business success have recently come to mind. It …
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” – Proverbs 16:3 In a recent MPE Caribbean Tourism Authority dispatch, I echoed the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s (FCCA) call to develop attractions and activities to respond to the influx of cruise visitors expected to the region this winter season and beyond. We …
“And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.” – Mark 2:22 The 42-year-old British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg while running …
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” – I Corinthians 13:13 We must exhibit a proliferation of faith, exude positive vibes of hope and, above all, infuse a deep feeling of love for all around us and in all that we do. What is love? “Love is …
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” – John 13:34 The current Barbadian population distribution is Caucasian (White) from the United Kingdom and Ireland (2.7 percent); South Asian (1.3 percent); with the majority being mixed and of …
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13 Welcome to Guyana, the land of six peoples – Chinese, African, East Indian, Amerindian, Brazilian Portuguese and European. British Guiana (BG), the size of England but with 1.25 percent of England’s population, was known as the land of many waters. The whole …
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2 Over the past 65 years, more than 30 warm-weather tourism destinations in the Caribbean archipelago of islands …
“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 The British Empire started in the U.K. in the 16th century and eventually spanned North America, India, Asia, Australasia, Africa, the Caribbean and …
“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” – James 2:17 The body sizes of the elephant and ant species, because of their respective DNAs, are different, even though they both play a part in the natural ecology process. Micro, small, medium and large business enterprises all …
“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” – 1 Peter 4:9 Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) during her 70-year reign symbolized British Commonwealth unity. May she rest in eternal peace. Long live King Charles III. I did meet the Queen and it was an event of unforgettable hospitality. National Hero The Right Excellent Sir Hugh Worrell …
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31 Many years ago, I was asked by a regular reader of my column “when you sit down to write your column every week which comes first the biblical verse, the story you want …
“This God – His way is perfect; the promise of the Lord proves true; He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.” – Psalm 18:30 This week I was moved to revisit my column that was published almost nine years ago on Monday October 21, 2013, entitled “Soul of Leadership”. This took …
“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.” – Proverbs 3:24 Guyanese Derrice Deane, a respected Caribbean-American Washington DC-based journalist, responded to a recent column, by commenting: “Dear Basil: I agree with your prescription for ageing gracefully. I think we would all do better if …
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.” – Proverbs 22:6 My son Bevan recently wrote a piece in his new series “FROM THE HEART”, where he reflected: “Despite my daily telephonic communication with my father, Basil, on every manner of topic, …
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11 The end of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival in 2020 signaled the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the first in over 100 years. How do we …
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” – Ephesians 4:2-3 On the heels of last week’s column “Travel benefits galore”, I had a wonderful weekend at the celebration of the wedding of the daughter …
“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” – Psalm 91:11 “A change is as good as a rest” is an old English proverb which means that changing your environment is as beneficial as taking a break from your routine. Travel is one way of changing your environment. …
“Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.” – Psalm 92:14 Our Creator has a plan for us even though we are not privy to the details. Our responsibility is to make wise decisions to help our bodies live a vibrant and full life and to impart our …
“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” – Proverbs 21:5 In 1998, the Caribbean was faced with the declining fortunes of staple sugar and banana exports. The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) had a vision to create a system to facilitate Caribbean entrepreneurs and contribute …
“For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” – Psalm 91:11 Tuesday, July 5, 2022 marks the 80th anniversary of the birth of my colleague and friend the late Professor the Honourable Oliver Headley who passed away over 20 years ago. We worked on many solar distillation, solar …
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.” – Matthew 6:22 Since early secondary school, I have been impressed by the sonnet “On His Blindness” by English poet John Milton, who lost his sight while he was still in his 50s. The …
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6 Over the past several years various commentators have been repeatedly saying that because of a declining birth rate, Barbados’ population deficit is 80,000 (nearly 30% of the existing population). Barbados needs …
“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” – 1 Timothy 6:18-19 My …
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” – Psalm 73:26 David Anthony Jerome Holford passed away on Monday, May 30. He has been deservingly revered as a cricketing legend. The Prime Minister of Barbados has praised him as “a true gentleman of the …
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” – Isaiah 43:18-19 My father did not know his father. My paternal grandmother migrated to the …
“One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.” – Proverbs 11:24 When The Marketplace Excellence (MPE) Caribbean report recently featured accomplished Barbadian tennis coach Lionel Eli on receiving his “Unsung Hero” award from the Barbados Government at the Barbados Consulate in Canada, Lionel remarked: “I think the best …
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” – Matthew 15:8: St. Lucian Nobel Prize winner Sir Arthur Lewis posited (circa 1950) that “… in the West Indies islands, it is not the case that agriculture cannot continue to develop if …
I was privileged to have been asked by the family of the late Hewley Lyte Hutson to give the eulogy as we celebrated the life of my friend of almost 72 years on Friday, May 6, 2022. This reflection was an emotional experience for me and I was gratified by the family’s expression of appreciation …
“She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” – Proverbs 31:26 Women possess a superior intuition (women’s intuition), an almost psychic — and somewhat frightening — knack for knowing what others are feeling and thinking. Experts say this intuition is based on an ability to read facial expressions and body language. It …
“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.” – Psalm 96:11-12 The concept of sustainable development was described by the 1987 Bruntland Commission Report as …
“Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong.” – 1 Corinthians 16:13 It is important to work hard and smart. Without hard work and smart work nothing grows but “weeds”, some of which are harmful, while others are extremely aggressive and destructive. Failure to act is not an option. This week we …