“For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1 The day after the Trinidad and Tobago general election, which was on Monday, September 7, two colleagues said to me, quite independently, that they observed a different atmosphere in the country as …
“God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.” – 2 Timothy 1:7 My last two columns were entitled “Staying young at heart” and “In time to come”. There has been some interesting geographically diverse feedback which is very gratifying and which I …
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13 On Saturday, July 25 I was privileged to be in the audience at the “Caribbean Kaiso Monarchs in Concert” performance, featuring …
“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” – Matthew 19:26 Over the years, I have occasionally remembered the literary work “On His Blindness” by John Milton (1608-74). Now, please do not think that, by any stretch of the imagination, I am a literary scholar …
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” – Proverbs 2:6 I was minding my business a week ago last Saturday in Trinidad when, out of the blue, I received a phone call from the Antigua and Barbuda Hitz 91.9 FM radio station in St. John’s, asking whether I would sit …
“In him we live and move and have our being.” – Acts 17:28 Canadian Christian minister, author and radio personality Eric Butterworth (1916-2003) wrote: “God is not in you in the same sense that a raisin is in a bun… God is in you as the ocean is in a wave. The wave is nothing …
“In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9 In the 1960s the so-called More Developed Countries (MDCs) in the Caribbean – Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago (1962) and Barbados and Guyana (1966) – gained their independence from Britain. Singapore became independent in 1965 and is about …
“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free.” – Romans 8:2 One of the first persons that I greeted last Friday morning as I arrived at St. Mary’s church for the official funeral of Lady Dorothy Springer, widow of my uncle Sir Hugh Springer, said to me: “I …
“And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving orders, you are really serving God.” – Ephesians 6:7 What a Week in Barbados! (1) An appeal by former Prime Minister, Owen Arthur, to the Government to tell the people all about the recommendations of …
“Do not neglect your gift…”. – 1 Timothy 4:14 Each of us has been blessed with 24 hours a day and we have the free will to choose how we use this resource. If we waste the time, it is gone forever. Each of us is blessed with unique talents and abilities and we need …
“You wisely and tenderly lead me, and then you bless me.” – Psalm 73:24 At this time of the year in particular, I give thanks for the spiritual blessings bestowed on me over the last year, take stock of my life, vision my future and put plans in place for the next year. One of …
“Keep on asking and it will be given to you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking and it will be opened to you.” – Matthew 7:7 Why is it so difficult to find a solution to sustainable Caribbean growth? The societies and economies in the Caribbean are in a state of …
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” – Matthew 5:8 The human resource is our most precious resource and we must develop it to the fullest. This was the theme of a guest speaker from Singapore at a launch of The Knowledge Development Institute in Barbados in 1994, some 21 …
“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 On the occasion of International Consultants’ Day, June 4, 2015, I was honoured to be asked by the Caribbean Association of Certified Management Consultants (CICMC) …
“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.” – Ephesians 5:14 Wherever we are in life, each of us can set the strategic vision for the rest of our life which could include communication with God, maturity in relationships (family, colleagues and friends), our physical and emotional fitness, success in …
“That this is God, our God forever and ever. He will be our guide forever.” – Psalm 48:14 International Consultants’ Day is now an established date in the diary of events of many management consulting institutes around the world. This year it falls on June 4. Management consulting is the practice of helping the public, …
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28 Electioneering is warming up in Trinidad and Tobago and CNC 3 TV has mounted a weekly panel discussion on issues to be considered as the election campaigns get into high gear. During last …
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” – Hebrews 11:1 The Barbados Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals 2008 was presented on Monday, July 7 by the late Hon. David Thompson, then Prime Minister and Minister of Finance (pp 103,106). Under the heading “Innovation”, the Minister of Finance …
“The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom.” – Luke 2:40 The first week of May, may be referred to as the Springer grandchildren birthday celebration week. The world wide web facilitated, albeit virtually, participation in the celebrations. In each case there was the observation “Oh how much they have grown”. In the business …
“As a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.” – Isaiah 61:11 On Saturday, April 25, the world received the news of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Nepal. Amidst all the headlines and news stories informing …
“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.” – Matthew 5:9 One has merely to tune into local media outlets to be greeted by negative international, regional or national news. There are political and …
“And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19 This weekly column is published in a series entitled “Serious Business”. However, one verbal comment recently at a casual meeting of a friend was “keep sending me those inspirational columns; I do …
“Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate”. – Mark 10:9 The opening paragraph of a February 2007 article by Sharon White entitled: “The Shrinking Global Village” reads as follows: “In the early 1960s, Canadian theorist Marshall McLuhan coined the phrase “global village” to describe how television brought information, entertainment and culture …
“It is you who light my lamp; the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.” – Psalm 18:28 The first and last paragraphs from the Abstract of a 2013 Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) study follow: “This survey posits that improving global prospects especially in the United States and Europe will …
“Who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” – Romans 8:24-25 I do not usually focus on political commentary in this column, but I thought I should rise in support of the editorial of the online media organisation “Barbados Today” on …
“My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” – Psalm 121:2 What is the purpose of life? How often do we pause to consider this question? I believe that at many different points in life, we find ourselves reflecting on an answer. Then we drift along and, depending on what course life …
“If then your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays.” – Luke 11:36 The student feedback at the two guest lectures which I was invited to give to MBA and MSc. Finance …
“Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord.” – Romans 12:11 We are all spiritual beings mastering the human experience. We expect that our spiritual awareness, while we are enjoying this earthly experience, will continually expand leading to greater abundance. More than a year ago, I attended a seminar organized …
“Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.” – Psalm 16:1 My son Bevan was asked by a colleague in the US to introduce her to a firm or individual in Barbados who could advise on the anticipated growth in renewable energy. I endorsed Bevan’s response to suggest entrepreneur James Husbands and his …
“For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.” – Psalm 36:9 Sir Kyffin Simpson is a Barbadian entrepreneur well known for his stellar contribution to the development of the retail and commercial distribution of energy and energy-related products in the Caribbean and beyond. Last September, he very kindly sent …
“May your friends be like the sun as it rises in its might.” – Judges 5:31 A few days ago, I received a Skype text message from a young colleague of mine with whom I had worked closely for several years in a mentor/mentee relationship. Even though we do not see each often these days, …
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” – 2 Corinthians 3:17 Mises Institute describes itself as an organization promoting Austrian economics, freedom and peace. The Mises Daily is a publication which presents relevant short articles from the perspective of an unfettered free market and Austrian …
“See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.” – Isaiah 42:9 My last column on “Innovation and Economic Growth” stimulated some interesting thoughts which resulted in many responses. I shall share them with you in this week’s column. (1) “Good …
“You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God.” – 2 Corinthians 9:11 In my everyday activity, primarily shepherding start-ups (with the DNA of an Elephant), as they embark on a journey to fulfill their ambitions of sustainable success in the global marketplace, I meet and interact …
“So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who testified to the word of His grace by granting signs and wonders to be done through them.” – Acts 14:3 The population in the Caribbean is estimated to be English Heritage (6 million), French Heritage (11.2 million), Dutch Heritage (0.8 million) and …
“Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” – Galatians 5:1 Many international news monitors over the last week have discussed the impact of falling oil prices on the economies of the world. Oil prices have plunged from more than US$100 per barrel in July …
“You have given him his heart’s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips.” – Psalm 21:2 As I reflect on the positives of the past year and take action now on a life renewal process for 2015, I am reminded of the following quote from the famous “I Have a Dream” speech …
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope”. – Jeremiah 29:11 The British Poet, William Cowper (1731-1800), is quoted as follows: “Variety is the very Spice of life that gives it all its flavour.” …
“Many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see.” – Matthew 13:17 I met a contemporary of mine at a funeral last Saturday and he said to me “how are your children, Basil? I am occasionally in touch with Kevin, by phone, but how are the others? I like interacting with the youth …
“Those … attentive to a matter will prosper, and happy are those who trust in the Lord.” – Proverbs 16:20 On Sunday November 16, I was perusing the online edition of the Sunday Sun newspaper and came upon an anniversary special supplement on Eric Hassell & Son Ltd (EHS) – www.facebook.com/shipwithehs. There was a photograph …
“Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.” – Psalm 33:22 The experience that I have gained in Trinidad, shepherding Entrepreneurs in the Making, Start-Ups and Existing Businesses has been very gratifying. I have interacted with businesses at BizBooster, which is the business incubator at the Arthur Lok …
“Singers and dancers alike say, “All my springs are in you.”” – Psalm 87:7 The renowned management guru Peter F. Drucker, writing in the Harvard Business Review in 1998, had this to say about The Discipline of Innovation: “Despite much discussion these days of the ‘entrepreneurial personality’ few of the entrepreneurs with whom I have …
“So that they may have all the riches of assured understanding … all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” – Colossians 2:2-3 Global Entrepreneurship week was celebrated last week. The activities which were part of the Barbados contribution may be found at http://bb.gew.co. Entrepreneurship is the process of setting up a business the construct of …
“You also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.” – Ephesians 2:22 Today’s column is an amalgam of some of last week’s events and my experiences, cricket, food, equity and death, which have induced a feeling of humility and harmony within me. The four significant pieces of cricket news as we seek …
“The rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth.” – Isaiah 55:10 The Daily word reminds us that “rain falls onto the earth, is heated by the sun, and rises as steam to form clouds. When the clouds get heavy, they break open and …
“Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.” – Psalm 31:24 The immediate international response from last week’s column from West Indians and non-West Indians alike, who receive the column electronically, was overwhelming. It is indicative of the importance of the West Indies cricket brand globally. Here is …
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord.” – Zechariah 4:6 Caribbean cricket supporters woke up to the news recently that the players representing the West Indies ODI cricket squad withdrew their services in the middle of the tour of India ostensibly because the poor internal communication regarding the handling …
“Put away your former way of life, your old self … clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God.” – Ephesians 4:22-24 In my 74th year on earth as a spiritual being attempting to master the human experience, as I reflect chronologically on the decades of my existence, the image …
“Out of the north comes golden splendour; around God is awesome majesty.” – Job 37:22 Fred L. Cozier On January 26, 2013, I penned: “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’, …
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” – Luke 6:38 This year “Eat Bajan Day” will be celebrated on Friday, October 10 to sensitise us about the …
“For wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.” – Proverbs 2:10 Last week we introduced the concept of Godpreneurship and concluded: “Let us now fully embrace Divine instruction and make a contribution to our region’s future.” This was in the context of designing a sustainable strategy to increase …
“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 The one thing that is constant in life is change. Many of us are familiar with the book by Dr. Spencer D. Johnson entitled “Who Moved My Cheese?” If you …