St. Lucia Simply Beautiful

Similarly, it is clear to me that the CSF has now launched its “Children Seed the Future” campaign by engaging students in SPISE in this inaugural 2012 program. CSF is teaching our children that they too can make a difference! CSFs comprehensive mission to convert these innovative ideas into entrepreneurial activity will mean that in time there will be a steady advance in enterprise development which will then convert into sustainable economic growth in the Caribbean and beyond.

Your vision must be “optimal well-being”. You must be well in body, mind and spirit – that is the combination about which I speak. It is important at the beginning of every decade that you are privileged to reach, to renew this vision for at least the decade ahead. Your doctors monitor your health and recommend a holistic maintenance programme to keep you in the pink of health but it is up to you to act on their advice.

He drew my attention to his recent article in the New York Amsterdam News where the following extracts are relevant: “…and, the wonderful thing about tourism is you are not forcing things down peoples’ unwilling throats. Tourism, in fact, is the greatest voluntary transfer of wealth from the rich to the not-so-rich in the history of humankind” … and “in the context of the Caribbean, the region’s political directorate needs to lead us into some of these hitherto remote regions to bring home the business, and to use the robust aerial highways between places like Dubai and New York, for example, to tap into the oil-rich Middle East, and upscale Asian travel markets”.

Even though Buffet has been at the head of Berkshire Hathaway for nearly a half-century and Romney 15 years as the day-to-day boss at Bain Capital from 1984 until 1999, when he went off to save the Salt Lake City Olympics; Mr. Romney appears to have the clear edge.

As has been published as a daily inspiration from the Daily Word: “When I clean a window or mirror, I am instantly amazed at how clear my view becomes. The same principle applies when I remove obstacles in my mind. If I am unable to see my way through troubling circumstances, my perspective may be clouded by uncertainty, negativity or self-doubt. As I remove these obstacles, my vision clears, and I more readily see the truth of the situation”. Let us act now; procrastination is indeed the thief of time!

The private sector’s role is to do business; the Government’s role is to provide regulatory and service functions, which include legislation, incentives and appropriate development finance in support of a user friendly enabling environment with macro-economic benefits as the expected return; the trade unions should focus on enhancing productivity through a sound relationship between employer and employee for fair compensation; and all other members of the national team should contribute to supporting the initiatives of the primary players.

I pointed out that start-up businesses may often have the potential to contribute to the growth of the economy. They are seldom able to attract funding from the traditional sources because of their high risk. Hence the importance of a “benevolent” Venture Capital fund. I also mentioned that globally, start-ups fail at the rate of 90% in the first five years of operation and that this may be alleviated by the introduction of the shepherding process which mitigates the risk of business failure. In other words I made the case for the adoption of the CBET Shepherding Modelâ„¢ as a means of supporting start-up enterprises. Indeed, all things can be done for those who believe.

The systems of a business include Corporate Governance, Marketing, Production, People and Investment Finance. The Corporate Governance and the Investment Finance models, in particular, have been weak in the context of the agricultural sector in Barbados. The Corporate Governance must be built around a public/private Agricultural Trading System and an innovative investment finance instrument.

The Trust was established in 1989 in memory of two great Barbadians, Errol and Nita Barrow. Given their passionate belief in education as a tool of empowering all, the primary purpose of the Trust is to raise funds and make financial awards that will enable Barbadians and Commonwealth Caribbean citizens to pursue a course of study that will further the development of Barbados and the Caribbean.

It is amazing the level of ignorance which is displayed by budding entrepreneurs who have good ideas but no knowledge of business management and no access to money.