Flipping Grand Bahama

What shall I write about today was something I was grappling with since Tuesday, even thought I knew of something that was coming. My motivators gave me a lot to write about but I thought, what really applies to Grand Bahama. Really… most of it. To "Flip" or change Grand Bahama, we need to start with the mindset of the people. This is what brought me to the topic this morning - "Anything" is not a job. Its nearing that time when thousands of young people all over The Bahamas will be graduating high school. Oh the choices, the ambition, the new life that is within each and every one. Some will get to go off to school and others will stay here looking for a job because of the pressures of life and parents. But what are their dreams? Even if you knew what your kids dreams were, would you help them with it or will you call it silly and say that with this economy it would not work? How open are you to the new era that is upon us and allowing young people to be ...

Freeport is a company owned town. When it was established it was not a unique concept. Business visionary Wallace Groves, tired of his life in the United States moved to The Bahamas first moving and taking over the lumber business in Abaco then moving to Grand Bahama. He shared his vision and got others to see something what there only stood many pine trees. He enthused other business people and even the Bahamian government that approved his vision and began what became known as the first company town in The Bahamas. Now this came about in the mid 1950s, but it was back in 1903 that Milton S. Hershey broke ground n the first company town that began his chocolate empire. In an article from Forbes Magazine, it was stated by Croft Associate Professor of History and International Studies at the University of Mississippi, Oliver J. Dinius that employers had practical reasons for company towns. It was said that in response to the industrial revolution, they needed large work forces...