Flipping Grand Bahama

At the beginning of this week I asked a question that still only one person has answered. The question, "What future do you see for Grand Bahama?" This was one way to find out how many persons are actually reading the posts even though in total we have around 15,000 views so far and for the article on Sarah St. George at the Grand Bahama Business Outlook we have almost 500 views alone, the highest views per page yet. It was great to hear Terence Gapes"  view during the Chamber of Commerce meeting this week though, almost in answer to the question, but he also brought with him a pamphlet entitled, "Economic Crisis in Freeport: A Call to Action Volume 1." This is what I wish to share today. The attorney noted that this was an article written since September 2012 with a follow up, "Call to Action II: Freeport 2015 and the Bridge to Nowhere." Mr. Gape further said that since the Call to Action I the conditions of the economy in Freeport...

A very thought provoking speech on Grand Bahama and its future was given attorney Terrance Gape during the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce today. He had a wealth of information that many agreed with so here is his full speech: My speech today is titled “The Forgotten Island” because for years I have been saying that the only Investors that we get in Freeport are either those that are ship-wrecked or those that get off by plane by accident (But it is remarkable to note that those few who do by happenstance arrive very often fall in love with what Freeport has to offer). Let me say immediately that, aside from the depressing state of the economic affairs of Freeport, I am excited about the prospects we have before us in this exciting year of 2015, to bring about change in our wonderful town, to cause it to be the work engine and job production engine that it should be for the whole Bahamas. I believe this year will mark the beginning of a new experience for Freeport and The Baham...

It has been a while since I have been posting regularly and I realized that I have been posting for two years. Again... I face another anniversary - 7/5/2013. It was a great time to start. It was the ending of an era. And still I face the challenges of moving forward. I say... Following your dreams. I believe in dong just that. But.. there are dark days in the trails and its not always easy to do just ant you want to, but Im told and I believe that if you persevere you will make it through and to the end of the tunnel. Thats when the idea of its not about the destination but all about the journey that appears for you. And lessons learned during the journey is what makes your stronger and better able to handle the next phase ... whatever that is. I came across this quote and wanted to use it with this title some time about, " Low expectations and fear of failure impede the poorest from getting ahead. How can this be reversed?" Yes indeed, how can it be reversed. ...

This month for the second time in years a number of Grand Bahamians volunteered to be part of a cruise ship staff. Following training and during the graduation ceremony Sen. Julian Russell, Chairman, Hotel Corporation of the Bahamas,  told the  Standard Training and Certified Watch Keepers ( STCW95) that the return of the Grand Celebration on which they will be working is expecting to bring great numbers of passengers to Grand Bahama. He told the recruits that the Global Cruise industry will be watching closely in anticipation to see how well the first successful recruits from Grand Bahama Island will deliver on The Bahamas' reputation as a regional tourism leader and as one of the worlds leading cruise ports of call. Just last year the Celebration was taken out of services after an accident at the Freeport Harbour but a new and bigger ship, a luxury cruise and stay product has joined the Celebration and will be taking passengers between the countries three times a week....

We have looked back for a long time wanting to turn things around to what it used to be. But is that the way to go? There are several schools of thoughts on looking back. We all wished that Grand Bahama/ Freeport took off as the vision was for this island. To this end many things have been done over the years at intervals to recapture the dream. But now we need to settle on the school of thought that says, "move on, for life is not meant to be traveled backwards." I was reading the news this past weekend and noted the passing of the first Prime Minister of Singapore Lew Kwan Yew who is credited with single handedly changing the country. To read his biography is to read the history of this country ... all the reforms he led and policies established to make that country celebrated as an economic success despite the small population. I take to heart the words he left in his last book entitled "One Man's View of the World" published in 2013 whic...