Flipping Grand Bahama

So, just thought I'd drop new mugs right there, but all I really wanted to know from all readers is.... What do you think will make Grand Bahama "Grand" again? I have talked forever about the topic and during the recent general election campaign, I have asked the candidates vying for seats in Grand Baham their thoughts on this question which some interesting answer. But now I want to know, what are your thoughts. Please do comment.

With a new government are we expecting more unlikely surprises? First, it was a record election that was completed earlier than expected, the landslide was not foreseen and the Ministry for Grand Bahama going to Sen. Kwasi Thompson also a surprise. None of these were bad surprises, just surprises. Now to rebuild and hopefully with better ways of doing things. A CPA to balance books, our very own Member of East End, who is the Deputy Prime Minister K. Peter Turnquest says he will change the way the money is handled. This is something the country needs and we can't wait to see. What does this mean for Grand Bahama? Well, we promise to have a word with the new Minister for the island to find out. Many changes are expected and the way of the past is expected to change, despite the fact that the majority of the cabinet members are old/career politicians. Hopefully, there will be a push to have things changed. We are looking for a great ease of doing business in Gran...

So, it's been five days since the general elections in The Bahamas and great revelations all over the country. How does a country feel about the people they have elected to power at any point in time? Will a people unify to tell someone they don't want them? The landslide victory for the Free National Movement was a surprise for many. For some, it was a delight to see their party win by such a huge margin. But there are some who worry that such a large margin is a cause for grave concern that without a proper and good opposition, tyranny can ensue. There was a prediction that the FNM would win and then there would be a riot. But, we know the people of this country are not particularly violent in numbers unless greatly provoked. We have not seen any rising up for years and certainly not over elections since the early days. What does it all mean for Grand Bahama and Freeport in Particular? So one has adequately addressed the changes brought on by the recent amendmen...

At four we are in the heat of a very interesting election season which thankfully ends tomorrow. There has been so much said. There has been a lot of character assassinations. There has been a lot of concerts. There have been some promises.... hmmmm by so many parties. There have even been some independents whose messages has gotten lost and certainly have not been heard due to the loud megaphones of the major parties. There has even been a call to spoil the ballot. There are calls to make sure you bring even land papers to be able to vote to make sure you are not stopped from exercising your constitutional right. It has been an interesting month, to say the least, and in Grand Bahama, there have been some improvements for some persons by an opposition candidate... the first to be seen..... as normally it's the Governing party candidate who would use the Governments (our) funds to make improvements to look good to be re-elected. Things that make you go "hmmmmm...

The dawning of a new day. A day filled with hope. Just being alive and breathing can give you a purpose even if you are flat on your back. Listening to inspirational stories of many persons who made it without limbs or even being able to get out of bed, has brought home the thoughts that even with insufficient populations there is something that everyone can do to bring about a change for the positive. What is on your agenda? How do you intend to carry it out? For those looking for things new ideas as entrepreneurs, here we have another set of ideas for you that could work in an island nation. Here I went to Pinterest and got this list from the Thrifty Garden publication on making money from home: Well, you can try Blogging and with the right directions you can make money doing it. Something that lots of people need but few know where to find, offer proofreading services. You can offer this through advertising at home and through looking for such services online. ...

The Grand Bahama Port Authority is really going all out this year as they are not only hoping to bring in investors but also to create more investors/entrepreneurs at home.  This is a very favourable turn of events with the new Business Development Department. This conference would be the third event launched by the Port this year, the first being the My Grand Bahama Campaign, then the Customer Service Workshop and now the Economic Empowerment Development Conference.  As the world turns and the seasons for each place, especially Grand Bahama, is just about complete with its valley times for now, we are moving closer to the mountain and looking forward to some mountain top experiences. Here it's about setting a stage for all players to be ready. Grand Bahama will flourish with more residents. But for more residents, we need more money making reasons for people to travel and to live here.  If, for those who believe in Bahamians only, we cannot organi...

So again listening to the great Napolean Hill I picked up on something that seems to be slipping by in our culture and in our world at the moment ... the whole idea of giving more of yourself without expecting much in return. His idea was, "Going the extra mile promotes you". How many times a day do you hear "that's above my pay grade" or "I'm not paid to do that"? This is the idea that has to be changed on a whole and head back to going that extra mile as good Christians. The Bible admonishes us to go above what is asked of us. If it's above our pay grade, one day it will be within our pay grade or even below our pay grade as we are promoted. When working for a company, one is apt to think that we are doing them a favour by showing up. Does that mean that in reverse they are doing us a favour by paying us? Something else I've learned along the way, you get paid what you negotiate. If you say you will take anything, remem...

Just whe n you thought things were at its absolute worst, something else happens.  Hello again and thanks to all who have continued to look out for these posts. I do apologize again for the break but there has been a lot going on ... not all positive in this small island community. A lot of good has happened and looking at Christmas it appears that a lot of people had a fairly ok Christmas ... the lights were put up despite the work still going on from the damages of Hurricane Matthew. But... there are people still out of work and one of the bigger hotels still have yet to re-open. Then came the report that they will not re-open. A release from  Sunwing Travel Group said this: On October 6th of 2016, Hurricane Matthew caused significant damage to the Memories Resort and forced its closure. Despite an immediate response from Sunwing Travel Group and the Government of The Bahamas to secure alternative accommodations, protect flying, and expedite the necessary ...

So.... Grand Bahama has seen many storms as it is in the hurricane belt, but Hurricane Matthew has been said by all to be the worst in known history. However in the bright side, after this hurricane within days we had water; before the end of the first week we had light and for some before the end of the second week we have internet. There is much to be thankful for... But I listen to a question posed to be by my significant other.... How do you pray to the one who brought the storm? And how could you be so happy that he change everything around? Well... the only way to fix some injuries is to break them again and reset. To properly "flip" a piece of furniture, a home, a business... you need to take it apart and check it out. How would you know how fast water, power, and the internet could be restored if you never tested it? If you asked for patience how could you not expect trials to test that you have all that you ask for? It has been a very int...

Ok, also put, "whatsoever you sow, so shall you reap."  This blog is about positive attitudes to change the way we live... in that vein listening to more of Earl Nightingale on the very topic was very refreshing. He said that looking at any neighbourhood one would be able to see the type of people that live there. The service they give to the neighbourhood reflects in the way it looks. He went further to note that richer areas always seem neat and tidy and well kept, while the yards of the persons who are unemployed seem rather unkept.. looking at the contrast those who have the time do not utilize it in their appearances. That was a hard-hitting fact, but a fact nonetheless. Today puts us another day way from Hurricane Matthew, a category 4 storm is forecast at this moment to hit Grand Bahama by Thursday. Late last week it was set to miss us and as it moves on its snail's pace, it is constantly changing direction.  It is has wrecked havoc on a number of C...

It's Monday, Oct. 3rd and we are once again facing a tropical storm which only reminds me of an economist here once talking about the different types of storms that we have faced and were expected to face. Yes, the country has taken many hits over the past 20 years in tropical storms/ hurricanes as well as financial storms and changes. Well actually, the world has had many hits as we meet reality vs a dream world of a false economy. It is easy to change all this as a "friend" said in a recent comment, in a communist country, but in a democratic country, there is a lot of people to go through for approval and then another round of talks and developments to implement. This is not to say its a bad or good thing, it is just what it is. This always gives those persons seeing visions and prospects/opportunities to get themselves together to be ready for come what may. So, what can be the upside of any storm? Well, it gives time to think that weekends don...

This is a time of change ... not just in one place.. but all over the world. The point of this blog is to say that change is coming and it will be better if we set our minds to receive it.  The above video was selected mainly to discuss this topic.  There has been a lot of talk about things that are about to coming, jobs that are coming and lives to be made better. As things have changed but for the worst for some... the affects of three hurricanes in Grand Bahama in 2004/2005 has made a lot of people here very negative and depressed. It's like watching Eww from Winnie The Poo who is forever depressed and has nothing good to say or think. Always feeling that whatever can go wrong, will go wrong and at the worst possible time, a law of Murphy.  But things can and will change. They will change according to how you feel it will take place and if you decide to treat everything as if it has already changed and embrace the change you want to see... we will will be s...

This video has been shown and will continue to be shown as an inspiration to get people to change their ways for the earth to be better. In Grand Bahama on Thursday some very proud parents, students, administration and faculty at the Bishop Michael Eldon School raised the green flag certifying it a Green School. Eco-Schools is an international programmes that aims to empower students to be the change our sustainable world needs by engaging them in fun, action-oriented learning. During the special assembly prior during which the flag was presented by Programe Director of the Bahamas Reef Environment Education Foundation (BREEF) Marcia Musgrove.  This is the first school in Grand Bahama to become Green certified with one more on the day.  And for Earth Day which was celebration on Friday many students from schools around the island look part in various cleaning ups to show our commitment to the earth. Also in the local daily David Burrows, the gentlemen who clean...

Everybody sees what they want to see. I was made to feel recently that I simply see things through rose coloured glasses because of what I feel can happen in Grand Bahama.  But I remember that Freeport itself became an entity though the vision of a man who stood in the midst of pine trees. That roads and buildings and the homes we presently occupy would not have come about if it were not for an idea that got it all started. There are many naysayers, but even when Freeport began others didn't quite catch the vision but thought we will see about it anyway. From a real estate point of view people are beginning to buy again. The banks have not been very forthcoming with loans so a lot of people are looking for lease to own. Just means people are beginning to think of other ways in which to get what they want. Not many people are allowing their properties to be leased to own but ... funds will be acquired for the purchase of a lifetime. It is still a buyers market but sl...

Recently I have been asked about Grand Bahama its its ability to change by persons from Grand Bahama and who are disillusioned about what can happen. Waking this morning I was wondering what am I writing about today. The negativity gets to me sometimes when I speak to some people. I perplexed by the fact that they cannot see that negativity only spreads and keeps those would have otherwise been great in a mediocre state.  In pockets I see a lot of changes.  Just a bit of paint on a building excites me. Just to see that someone has cleaned up their yard and oh the man who has been picking up garbage off the side of the road on Balao Rd many a mornings over the past few months.  There are people who care and somewhere, some how things are happening and making small changes. Its making Grand Bahama better. We've got a weekend and weekends ahead that are filled with activities.  It's for whatever we want t...

E-commerce, something that has been talked about for years, is finally being upped for the business licensees of the Grand Bahama Port Authority. The Port announced plans for an E-business initiative between them and the Bank of The Bahamas which aims to equip local businesses with basic tools to expand their customer reach and increate prospects for greater success. Now the customer bases is not just local, but global. Yes investors are welcomed to bring new one more business, but for those at home needing more of an audience has found their way into the stream that opens them to billions of consumers. The theme for the training is called "Revolutionise Your Business with E-Commerce" and is focused on the virtual environment, and how local businesses can capitalise on its advantages. Attendees will experience a full day covering day topics including the acceptance of e-payment. Training has been set for Wednesday April 20th and Thu...

The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA), announced plans for an E-Business initiative, which aims to equip local businesses with basic tools to expand their customer reach, and increase prospects for greater success. This initiative works out to be a workshop that will be held tomorrow at the Canal House, Pelican Bay Resort. As its theme suggests, “Revolutionize Your Business with E-Commerce” the training will focus on the virtual environment, and how local businesses can capitalize on its advantages. Attendees will experience a full day covering key topics including the acceptance of e-payments. During a press conference to announce the training, Derek Newbold, Senior Manager of Business Development and Invest Grand Bahama  said that statistics has shown that a significant amount of consumers will research options online prior to conducting a purchase. He went on to say, “This means…if you don’t have an online presence, chances are these consumers are doing ...

Well... there is quite a bit going on in Grand Bahama and many announcements being made. Last week there were several announcements but today we will talk about PharmaChem. According to their release, "this new state-of-the-art facility, supported by Gilead Sciences Inc., will provide life saving drugs. The site on West Sunrise Highway was acquired by Mr. Pietro Stefanutti in 2002, and during the ground breaking he said the time has come to take another step ensuring that PharmaChem is a viable and sustainable operation for years to come. This expansion is said to be costing $130m, and also it is expected to generate an economic impact on Grand Bahama's economy of about $40-$50 million resulting in over 100 contractors being employed on the project. In an overview of the partnership with Gilead Sciences, Stefanutti said that in 2003, a non disclosing agreement was signed between the companies to determine to path for the manufacturing of an HIV compound on the...

Flipping Grand Bahama is not just about Freeport, but the entire island of Grand Bahama ... so I must say that the Coconut Festival held on Easter Monday in Pelican Point was a joy to see and fun to watch. Again the Ministry of Tourism joined with the community to put on a holiday weekend festival and it was something else to be on the Grand Bahama Highway and seeing cars behind and cars in front on the way there and back. The music was great at the festival and hosted beautifully. The coconut dishes and exhibition were on point again. Yes there is more going on in Grand Bahama. There are business concessions now being extended to entrepreneurs outside of Freeport and there is much joy for those persons taking advantage. Pelican Point is not just a place to go on Easter Monday, there are several cottages out there that are quite enticing and garners a number of locals and tourists to the simpler way of life on the beach watching the sunrise and the sunsets...

Another new business has come to Grand Bahama straight out of the UK (possibly US) which helps persons on that go who are unable to keep up with all the cooking. This one is called "We Deliver!" and it has just started this week. You can call them for menus and have them deliver you food from various restaurants around Freeport. It reminds me of being in the UK where I was taken to a website to choose my restaurant then check out their menus online and select what I wanted. It was all computerized and food was hot and delicious when it arrived. If this is what you are looking for.... they have it all in mind just for you.