New Category : Opinion

Letter To The Editor - Paradise Island Lighthouse & Beach Club Co. Ltd

Fri, Jun 11th 2021, 01:31 PM

Paradise Island Lighthouse & Beach Club Co. Ltd. continues to campaign to the Government of the Bahamas to have the Crown Land Lease offered and accepted to be honoured. Why is it Bahamians have to beg, fight and take the government to court while we watch foreign entities come to our land and get what they want with red carpet treatment?

The Minister of Tourism, Dionisio D’Aguilar has been broadcasted on television stating that Paradise Island Lighthouse & Beach Club has a “valid lease”. Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Vice President Russell Benford has gone on public record stating RCL does not have a lease. The government of the Bahamas has offered a lease to Paradise Island Lighthouse & Beach Club which they accepted more than a year ago and yet the government refuses to honor it. The game’s up!

Prime Minister has nothing to show for Foreign Direct Investment. Actually, he doesn’t even have anything to brag about for Domestic Direct Investment. Even more embarrassing for him and us as a country is he blocks Bahamians from moving ahead and sends a very dangerous message to local and international investors that his government does not honor written agreements but insists he is “Most Honorable”.

The Minister of Tourism publicly challenged Bahamians to offer shore excursions of scale months ago, we publicly accepted his challenge and yet the government refuses to come to the table embracing the challenge sent out: proving its just idle talk and makes for good headlines! The government have a plausible, all Bahamian development ready to go since day one, nine years ago, and yet they say nothing! They blame every natural disaster: Irma, Dorian, Covid but not Hubert! Lead, follow or get out the way!

Paradise Island Lighthouse & Beach Club is ready to go and judging by the temperate of the Bahamian voters: its looking like Minnis has overstayed his welcome.

Thank you very much.

Captain Toby C.S.  Smith,

Lighthou1thse Keeper.

Bahamians at a crossroads
Bahamians at a crossroads

Fri, Jun 11th 2021, 07:31 AM

Seek God's forgiveness
Seek God's forgiveness

Thu, Jun 10th 2021, 11:27 AM

Labor pains

Labor pains

Thu, Jun 10th 2021, 11:26 AM

This past week, The Bahamas celebrated Labour Day. In one of the stranger twists of the annual celebrations, for the second year, there has been no parade - and even an attempted motorcade was blocked by the relevant authorities. It is an understatement to say that the labor movement in The Bahamas has gone through severe pain in the last year. The pandemic has been particularly brutal to workers as we have seen the unemployment rate soar, workers have had their cars and homes repossessed and some who have never had to depend on social service have had to lean on social assistance for survival.

Workers in many ways went through a helpless experience. There was no bargaining power because the issue of the day was survival for businesses who could not pay workers because their income was severely reduced and the tourists who drive our economy were barred or limited from entering The Bahamas. In my lifetime, I have never seen such a quandary and hopefully will never see again. Thee year 2020 was brutal for workers and brutal for business and employers also. Everyone suffered under the weight of the pandemic. We are now seeing signs of a turnaround – but what does this mean for workers and what does the future look like? I have served as a worker, a manager, human resources manager for a local food store chain, an employer, businessperson, business and corporate consultant and trainer and motivational speaker for many businesses. I believe this qualifies me to speak on labor issues and what the future looks like for the Bahamian worker. I can say with assurance that we have many good, competent, loyal and diligent workers. I can also say with some assurance that we have many unproductive, unfruitful, lazy, inconsiderate and incompetent workers. The bad workers make life hard for the good workers. As both employer and manager, I have been astounded at the attitude and performance of some workers. Unfortunately, I have witnessed a high level of stealing; employees who fail to show up for work and who do not call; workers who do not develop their skills and enhance their knowledge of their profession; workers who simply do not show up for work for periods of time and who give the good workers a hard time because of their negative actions. We also have good and bad employers. Some employers take advantage of workers and are totally unreasonable in their expectations and demands as they exploit workers with low pay and unreasonable burdens. There are problems on both sides of this equation. What I can say with assurance is that what is needed to reduce the labor pains is an upgrade on both sides of the ledger. The Bahamian work ethic is in desperate need of an upgrade, and this is where unions have the capacity to influence the outcome. Union leaders need to have a frank and open discussion with workers, informing them of the current state of affairs and outlining what it will take to improve their prospects for a better tomorrow and to upgrade the name and value of workers in The Bahamas.

Workers in many ways went through a helpless experience. There was no bargaining power because the issue of the day was survival for businesses who could not pay workers because their income was severely reduced and the tourists who drive our economy were barred or limited from entering The Bahamas. In my lifetime, I have never seen such a quandary and hopefully will never see again. Thee year 2020 was brutal for workers and brutal for business and employers also. Everyone suffered under the weight of the pandemic.

We are now seeing signs of a turnaround – but what does this mean for workers and what does the future look like? I have served as a worker, a manager, human resources manager for a local food store chain, an employer, businessperson, business and corporate consultant and trainer and motivational speaker for many businesses. I believe this qualifies me to speak on labor issues and what the future looks like for the Bahamian worker.

I can say with assurance that we have many good, competent, loyal and diligent workers. I can also say with some assurance that we have many unproductive, unfruitful, lazy, inconsiderate and incompetent workers. The bad workers make life hard for the good workers. As both employer and manager, I have been astounded at the attitude and performance of some workers. Unfortunately, I have witnessed a high level of stealing; employees who fail to show up for work and who do not call; workers who do not develop their skills and enhance their knowledge of their profession; workers who simply do not show up for work for periods of time and who give the good workers a hard time because of their negative actions.

We also have good and bad employers. Some employers take advantage of workers and are totally unreasonable in their expectations and demands as they exploit workers with low pay and unreasonable burdens. There are problems on both sides of this equation. What I can say with assurance is that what is needed to reduce the labor pains is an upgrade on both sides of the ledger. The Bahamian work ethic is in desperate need of an upgrade, and this is where unions have the capacity to influence the outcome. Union leaders need to have a frank and open discussion with workers, informing them of the current state of affairs and outlining what it will take to improve their prospects for a better tomorrow and to upgrade the name and value of workers in The Bahamas.

God is our refuge and strength
God is our refuge and strength

Thu, Jun 10th 2021, 11:22 AM

So much further to go

Wed, Jun 9th 2021, 08:36 AM

HERE'S WHY YOUR BUSINESS ISN'T GROWING

Wed, Jun 9th 2021, 12:00 AM

AG says govt will appeal shantytown ruling

Tue, Jun 8th 2021, 11:30 AM

Edge of the cliff

Wed, Jun 2nd 2021, 09:05 AM

Economic and financial analysts and experts have characterized the 2021/2022 budget, presented by Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Dr. Hubert Minnis in the House of Assembly a week ago, in mixed tones – from safe and predictable, to unrealistic and lacking in vision.

“If you were rating it as a baseball hit, at best it might be a double, or likely a single, but it sure will not be regarded in my mind by anybody as a home run,” said former Minister of State for Finance Zhivargo Laing, who analyzed the budget on his Guardian Radio show “Z Live” over the last several days. “What will matter more than anything is how it translates in actual effect.” In the coming fiscal year, which commences July 1, the deficit is projected at $951.8 million, 7.7 percent of GDP. The government projects to take in $1.8 billion in proceeds from borrowing.  In the first nine months of the 2020/2021 fiscal year, the government borrowed $2.1 billion as compared to $530.9 million over the same period a year prior. Government debt is projected to rise to $10.3 billion in 2021/2022. This is a chilling and sobering reality, especially in light of the fact that the Minnis administration has yet to outline a debt management strategy. “In the short term, the only option is to borrow,” said Gregory Bethel, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) president, in an interview with National Review.

“If you were rating it as a baseball hit, at best it might be a double, or likely a single, but it sure will not be regarded in my mind by anybody as a home run,” said former Minister of State for Finance Zhivargo Laing, who analyzed the budget on his Guardian Radio show “Z Live” over the last several days.

“What will matter more than anything is how it translates in actual effect.”

In the coming fiscal year, which commences July 1, the deficit is projected at $951.8 million, 7.7 percent of GDP.

The government projects to take in $1.8 billion in proceeds from borrowing. 

In the first nine months of the 2020/2021 fiscal year, the government borrowed $2.1 billion as compared to $530.9 million over the same period a year prior.

Government debt is projected to rise to $10.3 billion in 2021/2022.

This is a chilling and sobering reality, especially in light of the fact that the Minnis administration has yet to outline a debt management strategy.

“In the short term, the only option is to borrow,” said Gregory Bethel, Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) president, in an interview with National Review.

An unrealistic forecast

Wed, Jun 2nd 2021, 09:02 AM

LET'S TALK SOLAR ENERGY

Wed, Jun 2nd 2021, 12:00 AM

The REAL reason Bahamians lack identity

Mon, May 31st 2021, 12:00 AM

Seek help
Seek help

Thu, May 27th 2021, 12:34 PM

Show up and be faithful

Show up and be faithful

Thu, May 27th 2021, 12:24 PM

In The Bahamas, we have many people who are good at talking, and good at complaining, but when needed in crunch time, they are often missing in action. It is amazing that the people who sometimes complain the loudest are also the most unreliable and unfaithful people. On many talk shows, we hear armchair quarterbacks directing the offense and second guessing the ones who are really in the game. These people never have to produce their credentials or account for their own history, but from the sound of it, you would think these are people with impeccable track records. Yet, many of these same people have nothing to show off their real-life contributions. They have been able to talk successfully about others, but when you dig into their lives, they cannot talk about their own.

Why is it that so many people have answers for others but the answers they are providing are ones they have never used in their own lives? The problem with many such people is that they have a missing ingredient in their lives and that main ingredient is faithfulness to anything. We live in a country where many want the benefits of a job but not the responsibility of actually showing up every day and doing their job faithfully. I have heard many employers complain about the unfaithfulness of workers. I hear the complaint so often, it is almost like there is a disease that exists. Not only have I heard it from others – I have also experienced it over the years. This “disease” has had and is having an adverse effect on the success of our country. As an employer, I have had instances where employees do not show up for work, do not call, or ask someone to call at the last minute with a contrived excuse. They do not consider the ramifications of their actions on the ability of the employer to pay them, but they expect that paycheck on time. Sometimes, my manager would send staff out on assignment and they would go somewhere else, and we would not find out what happened until the customers call and say ‘we are cancelling your contract’. Then, when we asked why, they would say, ‘your people do not show up when they are supposed to’. How can an employee know they are assigned to a job, know what time they are supposed to be there, know the consequences of not being there and still not show up? This is an example of the missing ingredient of faithfulness. The most important quality before any other skill, gift, or talent is showing up and being faithful. Do you possess the missing ingredient or are you one of those people who fail to show up when needed? I remember one occasion where we had a big job, and everyone was excited, and as everyone arrived for this new job and opportunity, there was a glaring absence. The main person who was needed did not show up and called and said something came up, so they could not make it. Everyone else depended upon this person and they waited until the day of the job for something to come up. One of the things I have always prided myself on is that I will show up. If I don’t show up, I call well in advance and make certain alternative arrangements are in place. I showed up for 20 years every Friday night for a job I was not even being paid for until 10 years in. When I hear people complain about some of the trivial things that prevent them from doing their job, I want to ask them to visit my shoes for a few months.

Why is it that so many people have answers for others but the answers they are providing are ones they have never used in their own lives? The problem with many such people is that they have a missing ingredient in their lives and that main ingredient is faithfulness to anything. We live in a country where many want the benefits of a job but not the responsibility of actually showing up every day and doing their job faithfully. I have heard many employers complain about the unfaithfulness of workers. I hear the complaint so often, it is almost like there is a disease that exists. Not only have I heard it from others – I have also experienced it over the years. This “disease” has had and is having an adverse effect on the success of our country.

As an employer, I have had instances where employees do not show up for work, do not call, or ask someone to call at the last minute with a contrived excuse. They do not consider the ramifications of their actions on the ability of the employer to pay them, but they expect that paycheck on time. Sometimes, my manager would send staff out on assignment and they would go somewhere else, and we would not find out what happened until the customers call and say ‘we are cancelling your contract’. Then, when we asked why, they would say, ‘your people do not show up when they are supposed to’. How can an employee know they are assigned to a job, know what time they are supposed to be there, know the consequences of not being there and still not show up?

This is an example of the missing ingredient of faithfulness. The most important quality before any other skill, gift, or talent is showing up and being faithful. Do you possess the missing ingredient or are you one of those people who fail to show up when needed? I remember one occasion where we had a big job, and everyone was excited, and as everyone arrived for this new job and opportunity, there was a glaring absence. The main person who was needed did not show up and called and said something came up, so they could not make it. Everyone else depended upon this person and they waited until the day of the job for something to come up.

One of the things I have always prided myself on is that I will show up. If I don’t show up, I call well in advance and make certain alternative arrangements are in place. I showed up for 20 years every Friday night for a job I was not even being paid for until 10 years in. When I hear people complain about some of the trivial things that prevent them from doing their job, I want to ask them to visit my shoes for a few months.

 

God is on our side
God is on our side

Thu, May 20th 2021, 08:43 AM

Time to grow your own produce

Fri, May 14th 2021, 12:00 AM

It is never too late to repent
It is never too late to repent

Thu, May 13th 2021, 09:09 AM

Understanding intimacy
Understanding intimacy

Thu, May 13th 2021, 09:07 AM