St. Lucia Simply Beautiful

GET SMART ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS – BASIL SPRINGER COLUMN (MARCH 7, 2022) “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?” – 2 Corinthians 6 Malcolm X is credited with the following quote: “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those […]

For those trainers who are fortunate to have seasoned mentors in their lives, count your lucky stars and remember that you cannot buy experience, it is accumulated with the passage of time.

In January 2015, McIntyre-Pike penned an article on the objective and purpose of the Countrystyle Community Tourism Village programme, which rests in the fundamental vision of Countrystyle to empower and develop communities, on a sustainable basis; dynamically marketing and exposing their natural culture, talents, passions and potential to the world; and packaging each individual community as a unique destination (product) within their general destination.

The community tourism value proposition has been established. The public and private sectors must work together to create an enabling environment. Investment finance must be secured from godparents, including the Diaspora. Public relations and sales and marketing expertise must be secured to make the public aware of the opportunity. Operational systems must be introduced to increase productivity and nurture the enterprise to profitability. The people, as a major stakeholder, must be trained as to how they can participate in community tourism.

When planning for our children’s development it is difficult to find words that embrace our feelings more effectively than those of the worldwide hit “Greatest love of all”. “I believe the children are our future, Teach them well and let them lead the way, Show them all the beauty they possess inside, Give them a sense of pride to make it easier, Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be.”

In the Irwine Clare interview we discussed the impact of her international image at COP26 in Glasgow at which she eruditely and comprehensively analyzed the issues and made succinct proposals for addressing the funding required to address climate change. At that meeting she charged that if immediate action were not taken it would accelerate the demise of the most vulnerable states, including the Caribbean. Can this thrust not be extended to garner funds for regional development?

In my column of October 11, 2021, I wrote: “My limited knowledge of political science posits that the Barbados Labour Party, with a massive majority in the Barbados parliament, could call a snap election now as the Democratic Labour Party is still in siesta mode, and easily get a further five-year term with a comfortable majority.”

Focus on the positives and control your destiny. This takes willpower but with passion, persistence, and patience, we can control our destiny. Discipline and self-restraint are major elements in controlling willpower. 

I later learned how to command respect from others by practicing the tenets of Rotary International’s Four Way Test: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned (win-win)?

Here is our chance during this festive Christmas season to practice “loving thy neighbor as thy self” as we vaccinate and reunite with family and friends, albeit within the COVID-19 public health restrictions.