“He who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.” – Proverbs 10:4 The primary concern of each nation is economic development because, with good leadership, it can reduce wealth inequality and foster greater socioeconomic well-being. The collective thrust of successful businesses leads to economic growth, which drives …
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 COVID-19 has been devastating to both lives and livelihoods. It is expected that the vaccination program will give us a new lease on life and …
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” – 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 As in the two World Wars, the Spanish flu and other disasters in the 20th century, many lives were lost prematurely and some sources of income vanished, …
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 Sir Courtney Blackman was eight years my senior. We overlapped at Harrison College in Barbados, but never met at school. He graduated from the University of the …
“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. 34 The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.” – Leviticus 19:33-34 In the period after the emancipation of slavery, Caribbean people migrated to Panama …
“And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.” – Exodus 35:31 “And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship.” – Exodus 35:31 …
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7 A healthy dialogue resulted from my recent column entitled “HOW CAN THE USVI ENERGIZE CARICOM?” As a follow-up, I thought I would engage in lateral thinking and adopt a …
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5 The leadership charged with the authority to govern a country or organization (policy, actions, outcomes) is responsible for introducing best practices to achieve sustainable success. In the 21st century, leaders have the resources of people (body, mind, …
“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” – Matthew 11:15 The Caribbean is a multicultural, multiethnic, multireligious, multilingual region. The Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM-1973) was initially a group of former British colonies. Today, CARICOM’s membership and associate membership includes Suriname, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. The islands …
“We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28 My parents were born in 1914 at the beginning of the first World War. My father sojourned to surpass three score and 21 years, and …
“Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.” – Jeremiah 33:6 Medical tourism refers to travel to another country for medical care. The decision to seek medical care overseas may be because of (1) the lack of availability of …
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12 The causes of depression may be bereavement, fear, isolation, loss of income, alcohol and drug abuse, physical health issues, insomnia, …
“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 In our routine day-to-day activities, physical well-being can be nurtured through a balanced mix of (1) good nutrition – engenders a healthy immune system; (2) appropriate exercise – builds …
“You wisely and tenderly lead me, and then you bless me.” – Psalm 73:24 This is the 15th column in the series “Tourism is our key”. These columns summarize the Caribbean tourism opportunities which are available as we pivot to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and reinstate our livelihoods that have been severely affected …
“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.” – Psalm 96: 1-3 Mark Honigsbaum’s “The Pandemic Century – A History of Global Contagion from the Spanish Flu to COVID-19” has been heralded as a …
“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.” – Romans 12:16 The community-based tourism opportunity involves residents of the destination (often rural, poor and economically marginalized), who invite tourists to visit their communities. Locals provide overnight accommodations and meals, and …
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” – Luke 6:37 Christmas is celebrated by billions the world over and the Caribbean is no exception. The spirit of the Christmas season, centered around our families and friends, is one of giving, …
“If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” – Psalm 139:9-10 Over 20 years ago I was at an international conference in Langkawi, Malaysia, adjacent to the Thai border, known …
“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, think of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” – Philippians 2:3-4 The opportunities from the tourism industry and its linkages have made a significant contribution to economic growth in the Caribbean …
“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 In the third column in this “Tourism is Our Key” series, we explored tourism’s …
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6 The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) along with its partners and sponsors are promoting the theme “Tourism is Our Key”, as we transition from the COVID-19 economic disaster to …
“For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.” – Luke 12:23 On July 20, 2020, Howard Schneider penned an article entitled “When the U.S. sneezes, the world catches a cold. What happens when it has severe COVID-19?” – https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-economy-usa-analysis-idUSKCN24L0EO . That was nearly four months ago! There is now uncertainty …
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 The tourism sector’s “Economic Gearing System” is mainly driven by the arrival of tourists on airlines and cruise ships from far and wide. Good balance between these drivers augurs well for the recovery and future of the hospitality industry which has been dealt a …
“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” – Colossians 4:5 Over the last 60 years, the Caribbean has emerged as one of the most tourism dependent regions of the world. Since mid-March, the advent of COVID-19 has resulted in closed borders, grounded airlines, berthed cruise ships, …
“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26 This series of columns, on the theme “Tourism is Our Key”, positions tourism as the sector which can best be the catalyst to lead the Caribbean COVID-19 transition recovery thrust …
“Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.” – Proverbs 21:5 The Caribbean is a leading, exquisite, warm weather, diverse multicultural, multiethnic, multireligious, multiculinary, multilingual, multigenre (music) tourism-based region. Global leisure, business, sports and entertainment travelers yearn to visit. The Caribbean tourism sector, by dint of its …
“One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich, both come to poverty.” – Proverbs 22:16 Tourism economic recovery, as we transition the COVID-19 experience, must be tackled by the private and public sectors together. What better way is there to build a solid foundation for …
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” – Proverbs 17:22 The Caribbean is the most tourism dependent region of the world and the COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a devastating economic blow to the traditional travel patterns of the global industry. The World Travel and Tourism Council – the …
“Like cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a distant land.” – Proverbs 25:25 Last week, senior economist at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Dr. Justin Ram, identified a dip in the average income of Caribbean countries, below the global average, as one trend that, if continued, would make the region …
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17 As Joel Barker, the futurist, would say: “When a paradigm shifts, everyone goes back to zero – your past success guarantees nothing.” Two paradigm shifts have recently changed the world – an increased focus and reliance on data and digital marketing, and the economic …
“Where there is no counsel, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” – Proverbs 11:14 The ideal cyclical management process for a government, business or family, guided by a mission, involves the garnering of people, technology and money and smoothly executing along a familiar groove, in order to achieve specific …
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.” – Proverbs 22:6 This last week, I reflected on my journey through life. If I had another chance at life, would I do anything differently? Am I happy with what I have done and …
“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” – Galatians 6:10 Over the past week, amidst the despair over the battle to restore jobs and livelihoods in the face of the pandemic disaster, I was exposed to many pockets of …
There “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1 “When the going gets tough, the tough get going” which means that when the situation becomes difficult, the strong and motivated will work smarter and harder to meet the challenge. Until there is an effective treatment …
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13 This was the week that was! The week culminated with a most impressive state funeral – https://www.facebook.com/NationBarbados/videos/317520732924011 – in honour of former Barbados Prime Minister Professor the Right Honourable Owen S. Arthur. …
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” – Philippians 4:8 The nation of Barbados prepares to pay its last respects to Professor the Right …
“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 This week, we continue the final column in the series on disruptive innovation with a focus on the succession system of a business. As human beings, …
“And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” – Luke 11:9 Today, we continue the series of disruptive innovation with a focus on the operations system of a business. As human beings our operations system is …
“For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11 We took a break last week to propose specifically that the establishment of a public-private sector Trust was an urgent appropriate change in strategic governance …
“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 LIAT (1974 Ltd) has been hemorrhaging for a long time primarily because of weaknesses in governance …
“Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.” – Psalm 112:5 Last week we noted that in the same way that the skeleton and muscles provide structural stability for the human body, in business a disruptive innovative Governance system creates a sound foundation …
“Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” – Proverbs 11:14 I began this uninterrupted series of weekly columns exactly 27 years ago. Next Monday I shall begin my 80th year on planet earth, Deo volente, with my cognitive energy intact. Writing this column …
“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” – Galatians 3:28 The second paragraph of the United States Declaration of Independence states as follows: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are …
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” – Ephesians 3:20 In a column I penned just under a year ago, entitled “CARIBBEAN SUSTAINABILITY” (https://nothingbeatsbusiness.com/2019/07/caribbean-sustainability-basil-springer-column-monday-on-july-29-2019/), I posed the question “When are we going to open …
“Oh, that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!” – Job 19:23 John C. Maxwell describes “The 5 Levels of Leadership” as: (1) Position – people follow because they have to; (2) Permission – people follow because they want to; (3) Production – people follow because of …
“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 On October 16, 2017, I penned a column entitled “Time for change now” – https://nothingbeatsbusiness.com/2017/10/time-for-change-now-basil-springer-column-october-16-2017/. …
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself.” – Galatians 5:13-14 In the face of an unstable …
“Do everything in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:14 Those of us who are occupied as housewives or househusbands, are retired, home-school children, have a virtual job enabled by digital technology or conduct business from home, tend to naturally manage our time in a home environment. On the other hand, when a …
“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 It was only just over 100 years ago, on January 1, 1914, when the world’s …
“Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13 The secret formula, which underpins the way forward as we vision and plan our future post-COVID 19 dispensation, is to be found in the inspiring Caribbean video “We got this” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXcY7MK7X6Q . …
“When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear …
“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” – Proverbs 21:5 How can we minimize the impact of the struggle that small nations will inevitably face as we attempt to kickstart our economies post “World War III”? The answer, I propose, is …