Cultural maturity can best be exemplified by a statement by Singapore’s founding father, Lee Kwan Yew, who said that the ultramodern city-state he built is every bit a First World nation but the state should not rest on its laurels until there are clean public toilets (this expresses care for your fellow man) and arts, including music, in all schools (this reveals an appreciation of the finer things in life).
In a wide-ranging address about the agricultural sector, the minister said that unless somebody is prepared to do what has to be done, he is afraid that the agriculture sector would not move forward. He went on to say that he was fed up that such development was not being taken seriously and he contended, “It is either that my administration is going to take it seriously or I will resign – simple as that. I don’t waste my time, I don’t butt my head against a wall – I either move the wall or I am gone.”
Whenever I am asked “How are you?” my spontaneous response is “Superb, thank you”. I find it helps me to tune into the person who is making the enquiry whether the motivation is polite exchange or genuine interest in my welfare.
His reflections on his career have been captured in his 2010 book: “A Life in Public Service” which chronicles the variegated life and career of H.E. Charles Maynard. It highlights his significant contribution to Dominica’s political, economic and social development for more than five decades. He shall be missed by many, may he rest in peace.
In the context of a country, prosperity may be measured in terms of the success with which that country has been able to convert the many types of capital (human, physical, natural, intellectual, social, financial, cultural and spiritual) with which it has been blessed, into wealth. Countries with high GDP per capita, high levels of foreign reserves, low unemployment, a high human development index (high standard of living), high practical technological knowledge and shrewdness, widespread infrastructure, optimal land use practices and high spiritual awareness may be described as prosperous countries.
The Shepherding Model has its genesis in dialogue with the stakeholders; it is focused on hand holding, dynamic interactive dialogue, experiential training and anecdotal exchanges; it is enterprise specific; it promises to mitigate the risk of business failure on an enterprise by enterprise basis by adopting the 25 cell Management of Business Matrixâ„¢ approach.
There are many non-fossil fuel alternative sources of supply that Barbados can consider as options. They include Biomass cogeneration, Wind, Solar, Waste to energy incineration, Combined heat and power, Imported power, Landfill capping, Wave, Tidal, OTEC, Fuel cells and Nuclear.
We have established that on the one hand, the business life cycle can be intrinsically much longer than that of the human being but on the other hand the increasing failure rate is the real problem. How can we address this? Well, of course the answer is the CBET Shepherding Model which has been tested over the last three years.
I am at the stage of life when funerals come fast and frequently. Before one’s parents would represent the family at funerals but that is no longer the case. Indeed, I now find myself, at an alarmingly increasingly rate, attending funerals of persons younger than myself.
Corporate governance is the system by which businesses are directed and controlled. It involves a set of relationships between a company’s management, its board, its shareholders and other stakeholders; it deals with prevention or mitigation of the conflicts of interest and is intended to increase the confidence of stakeholders. It addresses the accountability of the people in the business with the purpose of safeguarding its long-term success. Threats to good corporate governance are disharmony in the ranks, and egos getting in the way.