Harris At Large on Sunday! Announcing the Launch of Castries Real Estate Referral MeetUp Group
Announcing the Launch of Castries Real Estate Referral MeetUp Group. Join at https://www.meetup.com/Castries-Real-Estate-Referral-Group-Meetup-Group/ and secure your invitation to the Launch on Sept. 16, 2020.
Sunday 6th September, 2020
Harris At Large on Sunday! Program: #18
Salutation/Introduction:
Hello Folks! Happy Sunday! This Facebook Live Show is coming to you live from Vigie, Castries, Saint Lucia. I am your Host – Edward Harris.
Apology:
I missed you wonderful people last week but it was a very important occasion for me as I was involved with celebrating the dedication of my 8th grandchild – Clive.
Here is my selected Quote for today:
“Hope is a renewable option: If you run out of it at the end of the day, you get to start over in the morning.†– Barbara Kingsolver, Novelist
Housekeeping:
As usual, the notes of my weekly programme are posted on my archive at www.stluciasimplybeautiful.com While visiting you can catch up on over 400 of my articles archived on the site.
My Thought of the week:
The Leaders of this world are challenged to do what is right. To do the opposite is to invite chaos.
Happy Anniversary:
To all those who are celebrating an anniversary or anniversaries this week, I wish you and your loved ones, Happiness with lots of Blessings!
Saint Lucia today:
St. Lucia Simply Beautiful and Blessed! We are so blessed that we must recognise that the peoples of the isles are special. We are in a special category in the world when it comes to the handling of the COVID 19 pandemic. We must be extremely grateful to our health administrators and front line personnel. St. Lucia has recorded no death. Our Real Estate and Tourism sectors should benefit substantially from this achievement. St. Lucia COVID 19 Death Free! Let us continue to adhere to the protocols such as Washing of hands, wearing masks and social distancing. The protocols are worth repeating.
In St. Lucia, things are almost back to normal, the only reminder is when we see persons with masks. More and more people are wearing masks in the streets. That is a positive sign.
The politics is taking centre stage and persons continue to stretch their imagination as to when elections will be called – whether this year or next year. Some so-called pundits are even looking at trends and noted that the incumbent governments in most recent elections, except Suriname and Guyana, have won the elections. We simply have to wait and see. In the meantime, it is a guessing game.
The construction sector seems to be heating up and the people generally are having a good time. Entertainment is back and everybody wants to be involved. Let us try to exercise caution as we venture out.
The crime situation is out of control. Thirty three homicides are too much for this small island state. That is an average of four homicides per month. Something has to be done. A solution has to be found by putting our best minds to work on the problem. In the meantime, let us hold rallies across the country drawing attention to the wanton waste of life in our country.
Air Transportation in the Region:
With Guyana and Trinidad failing to get a handle on COVID 19, air transportation continues to be at a standstill. It is critical to the overall progress in the airline industry for these two countries to open their airports.
Communication:
There was a time when everyone thought that it was only possible to communicate face to face by traveling to meetings. Suddenly life has changed and today we have adapted to Skype and Zoom effortlessly. Many years I have been suggesting that communication via the internet should be introduced, especially in reaching out to the various towns so that business persons and professionals could attend meetings in the comfort of their offices, and save them from having to travel for hours to and from Castries. It is time for due consideration to be given to this suggestion.
Politics in the Region and the United States of America:
CARICOM States
The incumbent Jamaica Labour Party won big in their gamble on early elections, and captured 49 of the 63 seats in Parliament. Prime Minister Andrew Holness should be proud of the environment under which a smooth and fair election was held.
St. Vincent & The Grenadines, and St. Lucia are in the queue to announce their election dates.
The Governments of Suriname, Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago seem to be settling down to business, and the first year will set the trend for the next four years. There is no shortage of appointments. Now, it is to get the job done.
Politics in the U.S.A.
There is never a dull moment in Trump’s USA. The National Conventions of both parties are now behind us and the races are off elected offices and the white house. We cannot ignore the brutal killings and shootings by the police in the USA. There is no end in sight. No black man can feel safe walking the streets of America. This past week has seen President Trump making statements and taking actions that can only be considered un-American. The racial division is being fuelled by President Trump’s rhetoric aimed at inciting strife between blacks and whites. The only sign that gives us hope is that the Black Lives Matter Movement has been able to attract white people into their fold with a loud united voice crying out Enough is Enough – it is time for justice. Change is about to come. I am confident that if it is the will of God to save America, he will surely put a hand in the next election to give a victory to the Democrats in the White House and both the Congress and Senate.
Staying Alive Financially:
If I were to ask what most people are thinking about constantly these days, I am certain the loudest response would be – finding a way to pay bills. While unemployment is soaring, and many people are living paycheque to paycheque, things are getting worse for many households. In some cases, even though maintaining a job, the already low wages are being cut by as much as 30 – 50%. Something has to be done. Our answer is to find creative ways to survive or saying it outright, it is time to find one or more side hustles.
This week, I am writing to the Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. He came out strongly against Ponzi and Pyramid Schemes, but I need him to go further so that in the end the people of the region as a whole could be more informed and once and for all look at the MLM industry as legitimate enterprises – which they are.
At my personal level, I registered Castries Real Estate Referral Group, a MeetUp group to educate and inform Real Estate Agents/Brokers and persons interested in investing and becoming Referral Agents in the Real Estate Industry. It is FREE to join at https://www.meetup.com/Castries-Real-Estate-Referral-Group-Meetup-Group and make a reservation to attend the virtual Launch on 16th September, 2020.
The pest control business with low start-up cost has potential and can provide employment for several persons as in the case of lawn mowing.
Conclusion:
In spite of COVID 19, I feel that the world is moving at a much faster pace than pre COVID 19. The Stock Market is showing unprecedented gains, real estate stocks are declining. Demographics are changing. People are moving out of traditional major states like New York into others and are willing to predict that certain states like New York will never come back.
In all that is going on around the world and especially in the USA, God really needs to put a hand.
Keep the faith, Yahweh is in charge, keep on praying, and expect daily Miracles!
Stay safe, until next week.
Your host – Ed Harris – Bye!