“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” – John 15:7 Last week I was on the 10th floor of the Central Bank of Barbados looking down on the roof tops of Bridgetown. I was awaiting the start of …
“Then God said – Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds – and it was so” – Genesis 1:11 Last week we witnessed the official opening of the 2008-2013 parliament which lived up to expectations with its display …
“Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you” – Hebrews 13:17 We have been reflecting on the value of the social …
“Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you” – Hebrews 13:17 Last week we focused on the new political dispensation in …
“But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength burst across the island and blew us out to sea. The sailors couldn’t turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale” – Acts 27:14 -15. This year’s theme in the 2008 calendar of CLICO International …
“You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them” – Genesis 6:21 The inspiration for this column came primarily from a comment on the FAO-Carib-Agri list serve as follows: “Rising food prices in the region have caused a number of …
“When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe man’s labour on earth – his eyes not seeing sleep day or night – then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its …
“Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown. When he said this, he called out, He who has ears to hear, let him hear” – Luke 8:8 The Christmas season has peaked and, after we herald the advent of a New Year, …
“Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall.” – 2 Peter 1:10. Barbados is now in election mode. The election will take place on January 15, 2008 and as usual both parties are confident of winning in the …
“If you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your rightful place. Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be” – Job 8:6,7. The CMEx team, led by Bevan Springer and efficiently supported by Simone Christian in St. Lucia, secured sponsorship primarily …
“And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing” – Genesis 12:2 In last week’s column I reflected on the Prime Minister’s Independence Message on the occasion of the 41st anniversary of Barbados’ Independence. He exhorted his fellow country …
Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. ..We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth” – 3 John 1:5,8 Fifteen years ago I began to focus in my writings on an alternative …
“You may require payment from a foreigner, but you must cancel any debt your brother owes you” – Deuteronomy 15:3 Last week, I promised “More anon about how carbon trading is done and how developing countries may benefit”. Well, I was very encouraged by the responses which I received: “Very interesting article. An important topic …
“Then God said: I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food” – Genesis 1:29. There are so many issues of concern in our daily lives, so many decisions to be made but I postulate …
“Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you…We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth” – 3 John 1: 5, 8. In my last column on Planning and Performance, I extolled the virtues …
“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty” – Proverbs 21:5 As we discussed in a recent column, the management of small economies in the Caribbean poses a significant challenge especially when the pride of sovereignty militates against the consideration of proposals based on economies of scale. If …
“They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed…and so profane My holy name” – Amos 2:7 One of the gratifying features of writing a weekly column is the diversity of oral and written responses that it elicits from a wide spectrum of …
“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty” – Proverbs 21:5 The management of small economies in the Caribbean poses a significant challenge especially when the pride of sovereignty militates against the proposals based on economies of scale. If there were one sovereign CARICOM nation, we could experience …
“But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today” – Deuteronomy 8:18 There was much interesting global feedback to last week’s column “Education and Poverty”. These comments reflected on “the full …
“Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin. The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor” – Proverbs 10: 14-15. If I propose that there is a high negative correlation between education and poverty, I would certainly expect to get general …
“He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, my power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me. But remember the Lord …
“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life” – John 5:24 I was once asked: “how do I decide on the topic for my weekly column?” Which comes first – the title, …
“Many curry favor with a ruler; and everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts.” – Proverbs 19:6 It is a common experience how people tend to flock around a generous person. Certainly everyone is a friend to the philanthropist. Philanthropy is the act of donating money, goods, time, or effort to support …
“Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of any man, for judgment belongs to God. Bring me any case too hard for you, and I will hear it” – Deuteronomy 1:17 If one researches business policy as espoused by many governments, in large or small countries, …
“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity” – 1 Corinthians 13:13 Faith is the strong belief in God, the controller of human destiny; Hope is a wish with expectation of fulfillment; and Charity is the theological virtue of love directed first toward God but also toward oneself …
“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 Mens sana in corpore sano is a famous Latin quotation, literally translated as “A healthy mind in a healthy body” but often interpreted as “A sound mind in a …
“Aram did business with you because of your many products; they exchanged turquoise, purple fabric, embroidered work, fine linen, coral and rubies for your merchandise” – Ezekiel 27:16 At present, there is a large economic divide between Barbados and First World countries, but this gap can be effectively reduced if we diligently pursue successful business …
“On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made” – 1 Corinthians 16:2 The savings principle in the above text has far reaching benefits in accumulating …
“Then the LORD said: I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the LORD, will do for you” – Exodus 34:10. Last week Chairman …
“Apply your heart to discipline and your ears to words of knowledge” – Proverbs 23:12: Brian Lara has now retired and as I have said repeatedly this now provides an opportunity for the West Indies team to begin the reconstruction process. It has nothing to do with Brian Lara’s record and entertainment value as one …
“Apply your heart to discipline and your ears to words of knowledge” – Proverbs 23:12: Whether it is service through a life of public speaking or the regional air carrier LIAT, the key to success is discipline. A well disciplined individual exemplifies the best in character, pattern of behaviour, spiritual strength, moral development and mental …
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 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 …
“Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” – 2 Chronicles 1:10 Two weeks ago I was invited to attend a two day regional forum on reinventing Government in the Caribbean mounted by the United Nations Development Programme, the Caribbean Centre …
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” – Galatians 6:9 Last week, I addressed the question “Can the West Indies cricket team management motivate each player to achieve a batting average during the UK tour which is 10%, …
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” – Galatians 6:9 Two weeks ago, I advised that, in the context of a WI cricket captain, the inner or personal qualities of an individual that constitute effective leadership include humility, …
“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” – Colossians 4:5-6. Last week, I had a meeting with a UN consultant from Mauritius who is new to the …
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you… Romans 12: 3. Leadership is a key resource which must be effectively utilized …
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God” – 2 Corinthians 9:12 Well the Barbados leg of CWC 2007 has arrived. Everybody has come to the party. We must express thanks to God. Ten days ago the Central …
“Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you” Job 22:21 Last week I promised to continue the focus on Barbados by looking at a comparison between Barbados and Singapore and to propose some ways in which opportunities and synergies could accrue, learning from the Singapore experience. …
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name. For the Lord is good and his mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations” – Psalm 100: 4-5. In last week’s column, I proposed the challenge “How can we strive for global …
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name. For the Lord is good and his mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations” – Psalm 100: 4-5. We hear tell that Barbados is aspiring to be a first world Nation. How …
“I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly” – John 10:10 Last Sunday my son Bevan and I, basking in the euphoria that is Dubai, continued our travels to Singapore. We were confirmed in Business on Emirates for the Dubai to Singapore leg (seven hours flying). We stopped in Colombo, …
“I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly” – John 10:10 When I checked in at the Air Jamaica counter in Barbados heading for New York, a week ago last Saturday, I was blessed to be upgraded to Executive Business Class, the airline’s recently rebranded product. The check-in service was …
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you” – 1 Peter 5:6 We are confronted on a day to day basis with what we perceive to be one problem or another. Many get consumed with the negative emotion of worry to the extent that they cannot see …
“Be cheerful. Keep things in good repair. Keep your spirits up. Think in harmony. Be agreeable. Do all that and the God of love and peace will be with you for sure” 2 Corinthians 13:11. As a management consultant, a strategy consultant, a change-engine consultant, one is indeed an advisor to business about efficient management …
“May He give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose” – Psalm 20:4 We are now into the seventh week of the year; 42 days have gone galloping by. What are we doing this year that is different from last year in our quest for “Happiness – a way of mind and …
“Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come” – Daniel 10:14 The Future Centre, under the aegis of Counterpart Caribbean, is being developed as an exhibition site to stimulate awareness of the need for holistic sustainable development …
“I am not telling you this because I need anything. I have learned to be satisfied with the things I have and with everything that happens. I know how to live when I am poor, and how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in …
“The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and …
January 17, 2007 EDWARD HARRIS AT LARGE WILL VISAS REQUIREMENT AFFECT VISITOR ARRIVALS FOR CRICKET WORLD CUP 2007? Dr. Basil Springer writing in the Barbados Advocate Business Monday, dateline 8/1/07 was very critical about the impact of the Visa requirement for visitors from certain countries seeking to attend the ICC CWC 2007 games and he …
“Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously” – 2 Corinthians 9:6 This weekend, we in Barbados celebrate the birthday of the late Rt. Excellent Errol Walton Barrow, national hero, acclaimed as the father of Barbados’ Independence. It is on occasions like …
“This is the day the Lord hath made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it” – Psalm 118:24 Many of us are still recovering from the Christmas celebrations which extend seamlessly into the New Year. It was a period of gift giving, reflection and thanksgiving for the past year, assessment of the present and …