Opportunities for East and West Grand Bahama

With painstaking detail the Minister for Grand Bahama, Hon Dr. Michael Darville spoke to a packed room on Thursday evening in Eight Mile Rock on the already implemented business concessions that has been put in place as of July 1, 2014.

So all the businesses in Grand Bahama will be able to apply for duty free concessions … provided they have a business license and the concessions they are asking for pertain to their business. Also of great interest, the owners with these concessions can now build duty free homes.

Here I have put it rather succinctly but there are some complications but this is the gist of what will be taking place.

A story was ran recently in the local daily about the first person to take advantage of this new business perk.

Also of great interest was the representative of the Bahamas Entrepreneur Venture Fund who spoke of the funds that will be available to those persons who are in need of help to further their business ideas.

Of course there are some things you must have in order to qualify for these funds:

You need to ask yourself if your idea/plan is viable?

Is it sustainable?

And will it be profitable?

The last question begged another question – are these grants that you have to repay?

But never the less it is something to try.

The point is, things are being put in place. It does not matter which governing body does it, you have it and the least you can do is try instead of assuming you won’t get it. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

So, in the business world outside of Freeport, more can go on. It takes us to do it.

Im sure the Venture Fund is not just for outside of Freeport, as the representative said during the meeting, it’s for Bahamians everywhere in The Bahamas.

Work your ideas and make sure you have air tight responses to these questions, then go for it.

If you need help in making sure your ideas are on par, there are consulting firms on island that do assist, such as Flint Stone Inc.

The excuses are getting less and less. What are you doing for you today?

 

Sale of Grand Bahama Port Authority

Is the Grand Bahama Port Authority still for sale?

 

Some years about, within the last five years, there has been a few rumours about persons who were interested in purchasing the “Port”and one that stuck out in my mind was the British Parliamentarian Lord Michael Ashcroft.

 

This flirting idea I was made to believe was rejected. True or not, we are left to speculate.

 

Earlier this year I was able to get my hands on another investor who wanted to purchase shares in the Grand Bahama Port Authority, I guess with the hopes of being the major shareholders promising the world.

 

Their report was left with members of the Grand Bahama Port Authority and is called “the Flemming Strategy” which took a look at the island as it is (was in 2009) and gave their ideas which would bring in lots of money and jobs to the island, beginning with a $26 billion injection right away.

 

The report was compiled by Global Fulfillment Services in 2008. But I wonder, what were the circumstances under which these ideas they espoused and their ability to fulfill them made them unsuitable to purchase the shares?

 

It appears they had in mind to make Grand Bahama the next economically thriving Dubai or Singapore.

 

In their executive summary they noted the decline in the economy of Grand Bahama and the country over the past 20 years but said, “billions of dollars in investment, careful attention to detail, empathy with people involved and an unrelenting determination to prevail” was the answer.

 

They got me so far… I do agree with this analysis on a whole.

 

The report said their goal was “to create the most significant off shore commercial centre in the Western Hemisphere” with the Principles of “Principles: transparency, good governance, triple bottom line sustainability, profitability”.

 

They had estimated contribution of +/- 28 billion between 2008-2020 and contribution to the Bahamas GDP of  +/- 5.5 billion in 2020 and a labour force of 132,000.

 

I think for the jobs alone the Bahamian populace may ask, what happened?

 

But of course what did they plan to do was a critical question to which the report said they had intentions of bringing businesses; to create a commercial and industrial powerhouse to reverse the slow economic decline, noting that it would take an innovative and determined approach towards reconstruction to reverse the damage that has been done to Freeport over the past 20 years.

The report said that it would also take billions of dollars in investment capital but it can and should be achieved.

 

Things that make you go, hmmm.

 

It went on to say that while they would be buying out the Port, they will partner with Hutchison and the Government but that they would step back to allow Hutchison to dictate the future of Freeport.

 

The group what compiled the report is no longer in Grand Bahama and a search of the company brought some dubious articles. Are they related or was the group unfortunate?

 

 

 

 

 

Ideas Inc

The great depression took place in the 1920s; the stock markets crashed again in the 80s and we had a great surprise when the markets crashed again in 2008/2009.

Did you know that during each of these times there were people who thrived and even became millionaires?

In the years 2004/2005 Grand Bahama went through the greatest devastation every, and still the island is suffering but there are people here still thriving.

What is their secret and how can we call get in on it?

Some years ago I realized my gift is not necessarily to run a business but to give ideas. I later took an entrepreneurial course so that I could put legs to  ideas. I had once thought of a business called Ideas Inc but never did anything with it, but that did not stop me from talking mainly with young people about how far they can go.

As I have been saying my this blog for this past year, the main problem for many of us is our thought process and because we think we can’t, we don’t even try.

What would you do if you didn’t know you couldn’t do something?

What is your passion but you thought the lack of money means you cannot do it? What is it that you really want to see in Grand Bahama but can’t imagine it working here? What is the lack that you can fix but need something more?

Through the years and travel I have found that finding money is not the problem… it’s what you do with it when you get it. The banks have trouble lending to people these days because some persons get mixed up when they get the money… instead of using it for what they said they wanted, they use it for something else. Your dream depends on your focus. You need to focus on the reality of the dream to accomplish it.

Flint Stone Inc is one company that is giving a lot of free advice on where to find money for the great ideas and like my daughter said, there is a lot of money waiting to be made right here in Grand Bahama if only the people knew it and went after it.

The changes needed are coming, as soon as the people here begins to get ready for them. Some will be dragged out of the ideas of lack and depression and hit it big as soon as our thoughts are big enough and our voices echoes it instead of the doom and gloom talked about almost daily.

We only need to change the way we think and the way we speak and watch the changes begin to unfurl. It’s a hugh gift given to us from 2006 but no one dared to open it thinking it is something bad or worst that what they had endured.

As the scriptures says, “weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” In the words of Jesus, “…. be it unto you as you believe.”

What are you believing and what is your passion? Make your dream a reality today!

What are you doing for you today?

Catch more of this type of sailing today at the Grand Bahama Regatta at Taino Beach. Big boats on the weekend. Support the local regatta.

 

Start something, there will be something

Funny enough I got this thought from my pastors sermon on Sabbath. But we all know this is usually meant in the negative – Don’t start something and there will be nothing!

I was listening out for the great things the Grand Bahama Port Authority and the Government of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas have for this island and it seems the great plans are a little ways off.

On Friday as I was praising persons for their ideas that are starting things, I saw in The Freeport News that the East End Project is still coming…. but no dates were given.

This project should be a lot of employment and more developments because now we will need more apartments out east for those who will move closer to work. The residual money earners are what I am looking at.

Even with the big companies we presently have there are opportunities if we have the know how, to make a small thing better that can make us the world.

Just this week I was listening to “Think and Grow Rich” and heard the story of Edwin C Barnes who put into his head the idea of becoming partners with Thomas Edison, and still held these thoughts when he was hired by Mr. Edison but made his move to become the salesman for the Edison Dictating Machine which got him his desire to work with Edison, no for Edison and also earned him riches.

More recently there was the story of a small company noticing a small part needed to make the cell phone more accessible as “pre paid” devices. They were building on something already there and made millions.

How can you make something easier for consumers/developers/businesses?

These thoughts bring ideas that bring the desired fame and fortune.

But at the base of it all are the words from Zig Zigler, “you can get what you want, as long as you help others get what they want.”

The advice today for persons looking at ways to change Grand Bahama is really to start something, even if it is long a small part to help an already established business and see how far it goes.

We all just need to start something, so that there will be magic in the city and we all will benefit. But you have to want it, instead of sitting in the doom and gloom corner thinking it can never happy.

Go forth, and start something.

Don’t forget the Grand Bahama Regatta this weekend at Taino Beach

 

Composting

I can never say thanks enough to the people who are reading this blog and hoping that someone, somewhere out there will be inspired to do something and begin to physically create the magic needed in Freeport/Lucaya, Grand Bahama.

I was getting a big discouraged with what my eyes were seeing as I read the responses of others to my last blog. It seems that once seeing the word “Freeport” emotions of pity and despair on some people.

I find this interesting and depressing … hmmm

But I see the potential. There is a lot of potential. But you have to see Freeport/Grand Bahama the way Wallace Groves saw it … as land mass with a lot of financial potential.

I could never believe that he would have used all of his own money to bring this to light… the secret to great wealth most of the time is to use someone else’s’ money. Find like minded persons to invest in your ideas, but it is also important to put some of your own money, time and sweat.

I was thinking just now about the comments Luckner Timothee made during the TEDx GrandBahama on the soil .. He said for those who did not attend … that the exposed soil loses its nutrients and then he spoke of the need to cover the soil.

With this in mind I think Grand Bahama is in that stage now … it like the soil, has been scraped clean and has some compost over it which of course does not smell nice all the nice and may not even feel nice, but it give the soil the nutrients it needs for the organisms within to grow and flourish and eventually to put forth great crop and a bountiful harvest.

I think of people like Angelika Christie who had Radient Health Centre and is presently offering to help people free of charge with life coaching, a great way to break up the ground and prepare the way forward; of Raquel Hart of Out of the Box Strategy Group who wrote of book to help people understand the dynamics of getting in to business in Grand Bahama; of my daughter Alishia Duncanson  who had Flint Stones Inc and through which she too is trying to assist persons interested in business to find their own way and to even find the necessary funding.

I think of people like Ian Rolle of the Grand Bahama Port Authority who is always trying to come up with new and exciting projects to restart Freeport, and I must tell him that one day Down Town Freeport will turn around.

I think of people like Fredricka Black and Ruthann Newton Lighbtourne who expanded their entrepreneurial mindsets to take on such things as becoming Lifestyle and Business Coach and Marketing Professional respectively.

As my boss Spencer Mallory says to me, if something doesn’t work right away, find other ways or other things to add to the business to make it better.

Everything does not have to be in Grand Bahama … as Nareka Swann did with her concept Go Global even moving to Nassau when she could not find the encouragement in Grand Bahama.

I can’t in this respect forget Flawless Mango Skin by Kaylisa Beneby who is taking her Bahamian skin care product world wide.

I know I have mentioned some of these people before and what they are doing but do deserve to be seen for what they are doing and then for others to take on the same zest for life and create something of their own.

Like Mr. Smith from Spartan Hardware who is so hard working he has put all his passions together including advertising, electronics, contracting/building, MMD, etc. I just cant keep up with it.

He is my ultimate hero I’d have to say because my dreams are just so diverse when people are always saying find one thing and concentrate on that. But why?

My background is writing and so is my passion but I can do and have done a lot more. So many of us put ourselves in boxes because we feel that society would not accept us for what we are .. diverse.

Wake up, get up and let’s show up Grand Bahama. The nation is 41 and Freeport has been around for almost 60 years. We should know how to do something by not just stay alive.

Happy Independence Bahamas

This past weekend for the first time Tedx GrandBahama was held here in the Canal House, Pelican Bay and I am so glad that I did not miss this event.

Even more than that I had expected this event blew my mind away. I know that Bahamians are capable of mature intellectual discussions, but for a very long time I had not been any where to hear the ideas and thoughts that were not politically motivated.

What I was visualizing in my last post I saw a glimpse of on Saturday just looking at the audience and hearing the speakers.

Again I commend Earl and Katariah Taylor for bringing Tedx to Grand Bahama and hosting such a great day. I trust that as they continue to do this on an annual basis, more people will endeavour to take part and to sponsor.

Prior to this event and after my last post on Friday I was ready to give writing this blog a sabbatical, but I could not after hearing so much.

I wondered if I could put down some of the things then I remembered that this week we in The Bahamas and Bahamians everywhere are celebrating 41 years of independence this week.

As with most things I think so far we may have come out of the cell but we are still within the institution and its time for us to put our thinking caps back on to push this country forward.

Sitting on the traffic light the other day I began to think about culture and progress and if they really can co-exist. Back in the 1950s and 60s this country was awash with new ideas and unrest as women fought for the right to vote and men simply wanted one man one vote to create a level playing field.

If the women suffrage movement did not join with the call for majority rule and had reached the mark first, what would have happened I wondered? Would our laws for women still be the same? Would the women’s suffrage movement have died as it did once the right to vote was won with the call for majority rule?

We have more women in parliament now than before, and great women leaders from Grand Bahama has taken part in the democratic process from the front lines, but … how does the rest of women in the country feel? Have they been really represented?

With three, then four, then five, now six representatives in the House of Assembly representing Grand Bahama, politically, where are we?

I have long stood on the side of the majority – the masses – whom I wish would only begin to write their representatives and tell them what they want to see in their communities. If you elect someone or even if your party does not win, the person representing you has the right to take your views to the point of making legislation for the good of the community and the country.

Where are the town hall meetings? Do you go if its your party representative in charge? Do you want to see the necessary changes?

Putting politics aside is what we all need to do and begin the work that will push us forward.

With that idea of pushing forward the Progressive National Party came along. Not just to make us independent but to make us the best little country in the world. About ten years after independence it appears that the goals had already been reached and there was no where else to go, but we have not reached anywhere yet. Since 1983 what great intellectual progress has been made in this country? We the people need to think about it and to make it. It does not take politics as we know it, but your own politics of picking up you one rock to move it to build the wall against poverty, lack, indecisiveness, etc; as we move into a state of togetherness with progress in business, technology, world status.

We do not live in a vacuum. We cannot forget that we have a responsibility in the country and to the world of which we are apart. Make your move and make it easier for you, your family, your neighbour, your island and your country.

On our 41st Anniversary let’s pledge again with renewed vigour to make this the best little country under the sun.

(ok I stole this one but it said what was needed 🙂 )

Visualize our future

So, I was just thinking of what Grand Bahama would look like when the magic is brought back.

I think of the numbers of people who would have moved here from around The Bahamas and around the world being a mixed and varied culture, like the United Nations.

I see the businesses on the island thriving and new and innovative creations coming on stream that were not possible before.

I see lots of Bahamian entrepreneurs savvy in new age equipment and not afraid of the internet.

I see international business being done here without getting on a plane or even leaving your home.

This is the way the world is going and the way will be thinking.

I see the process of getting into business here being made a lot more streamlined and able to accommodate everyone within three to four weeks.

You have to visualize it. A better life for you, and a better life for your family and friends, a better life for your country without everyone or anyone feeling threatened by foreigners but embracing the differences because as I’ve been told, it takes all kinds to make a world.

Maybe these past ten years after the hurricanes of Frances and Jeanne and then next year of Wilma was a wake up call, and all the work that has been going on has been going on underground to make strong roots that will last.

The growth coming out of the ground that I see so far seems to be coming from, for and by the women on the island.

For the past two years Fidelity has been having empowering workshops for women the see tremendous growth each time. The information garnered is not all about business but about living and they are always exciting. This is the second year that Tweak Your Chic was held and again a huge success. Many of the networking albeit pyramid businesses, are being led by women.

The natural soap business Island Soap House and the ultimate of body products for women – Flawless Mango Skin are being ran by women here in Grand Bahama.

Coaching for women and men are being conducted by Raquel Hart of Out of the Box Strategy Group and Angelika Christie of Radiant Health is offering life coaching sessions free at the moment for women on the island. If you click on the underlined words you go straight to the information on all of these businesses.

I’m not saying that men are not part of the movement, they are, but you see a lot more for, by and of women at present.

Keep watch out and stay on course. It is all just around the corner for all of us.

 

PS: Thank you to all who read this blog with a special thanks to Cynthia (Cindy) Rolle for her words of encouragement following my last post. I will be sending you something more tangible soon.

How to be successful!

In two words I give you what others take pages and pages in a book to this secret: Stay unsatisfied!

This morning I decided to talk about stay hungry; stay thirsty and for me I said I would look at the reason for this blog.

Thinking it was only a year old, I discovered I began writing on 7th May 2013 .. Congratulations to me … I missed my anniversary.

But the point is that when I began it was to try to prick the minds to persons who could remember the magic of Freeport and Grand Bahama to bring some of it back to life. If you can visualize it, you will see it.

I had found that a lot of people blamed the hurricanes of 10 years ago for a lot of things on this island being the way it is, but seeming to have no idea and completely beaten down on who to restore.

A long time ago in my life I realized that when everything you have is gone, its only time for something new and more exciting .. if you let it.

If we would just stop cursing the darkness and begin to rebuild we can surprise ourselves.

Last week I commended a number of young people for the work they are doing to bring the magic back.

I attended the Tweak Your Chic and was once again impressed by LeShan Ferguson and the amount of work it takes to put on such an event that is so successful.

I’m looking forward to attending the Entrenpreneur & Small Business Meet Up on Wednesday where Administrator Alexander Williams will take about business outside of Freeport/Lucaya; and then on Friday for the TEDx Event.

Although I missed it I applaud Velyn Cooper for trying so hard with the Bahamian published authors to get their work out through Festival of Books which was held in the Circle Mall three days last week. Another inspiration because I do have books that need to be promoted and I find that not a lot of un-required books are being purchased. But we have some great authors like Ms. Cooper who have great books here.

Also the production that was held on Saturday night past at the Regency Theathre, written by a local. Unfortunately it was held on a night that was crowded with other events including the Rotary Club of Lucaya’s ball. But I do hope it is put on again.

We can go far, we can do a lot, if we would simply stay unsatisfied.

Satisfied people can sit back and just enjoy what they or what has been created and do nothing else. Unsatisfied people, hungry people, thirsty people have to get up and head out to make their fortunes daily. This is not a selfish call, but one for the island and the nation.

In Nassau I see a lot of small business activities are taking place realizing that with the failure rate of small businesses there is a need to keep people motivated and to show them what can be done to make the businesses more successful and to grow.

Everyone reading this has a dream … a dream for themselves, and this island as well as this country. Please don’t let it die in your heart. Let’s get together to make it all come together and be the success we know it can be.

Stay unsatisfied.

(Photos are from Tweak Your Chic)

Don’t complain! Do something!

Since the last post I was reminded of few other persons that were missed and others that move up the ranks.

Mentioned last time but moved up was Nevar Smith who not only won in the Local Government elections but is now Deputy Councillor  for the City of Freeport Council. Congratulations.

Then here is Chervita Campbell who is serving her second time on the Council but this time as a female Chief Councillor for the City of Freeport while she gets ready for the Grand Bahama Regatta as the first female to take on this hugh undertaking. All the best to you.

Kaylisa Beneby who came up with a great new product – Flawless Mango Skin. She has broken into something new and just shows what we can do.

But as have been said in the past, passion is needed to make it to success realizing that as you go through your success there will be tests time and time again but you have put push on.

I read this quote by Shawn Parr, The Guvner and CEO of Bulldog Drummond, and innovation and design consultancy headquartered in San Diego, “Before you start a business, make sure it’s your passion, because you will be tested time and time again. Be ready to work harder than any of your friends and surround yourself with the best and brightest people. You will learn so much from the people you spend your time with. Surround yourself with people you trust implicitly, whom you can turn to when you need advice. Lastly, have fun. Even in the midst of all the long hours and work you will put into your business, you will have the time of your life doing it!” 

Looking for other mentors in Grand Bahama I came across this: Pabel Saunders. Im not sure what it’s all about but I see the potential.

Then I thought of those persons who may be looking for businesses but can’t seem to come up with any and got this list which is really not all but a start:

 

Mobile car / truck wash – You go to customers houses or place of business. 

Manufacture, using discarded wood products. Many people with even a slight artistic bent are making good money from what others throw away.

Carpet cleaning

Home exterior cleaning – Buildings need to be washed of dust and dirt. Hose, power washer, couple of ladders, vehicle, and you’re in business

Paramedical equipment supplier. Making and selling customized first aid kits to…..

Condom shop – They’re small, the markup is huge, and there is a constant demand.

Consultant: Do you know something others don’t, that they’ll pay for? beauty, career, home decoration 

Manufacture pet houses: Pets are big business, and some pet owners will pay big bucks for homes for their cats, dogs, birds, gerbils.

Teaching youth financial planning – A great need, and few of the “big guys” in financial planning are addressing this need well.

Web-based consulting and info service – Your office is your computer

Pet trainer and pet psychiatrist – And you do not need any fancy qualifications or training

Clown service Kids parties, corporate retreats, weddings, family reunions… all could use a good laugh

Specialty food importer – You purchase those special sauces from Indonesia, mark them up, and resell to specialty stores. 

Temp help service – You’re the go-between, providing temporary help to businesses in need.

Evening day-care – Sort of an oxymoron, but you know what I mean. How come all day cares close at around 5 or 6 PM, and are not open on weekends?

Tea house – Does your area really need another coffee shop? But how about a tea house?

These and others are businesses not presently being done in Grand Bahama and can be started on very little. 

Need a business plan? There are many consultants who are willing to assist with this on island.

The first step is always the most important one…. Do something! Anything! But not just sit and complain!

 

The brightest and the best!

Passion + Commitment + Perseverance with Gratitude = Great Success.

Even here in Freeport, Grand Bahama where there is a lot of negative comments about the economy this formula is working well.

Last week I bowed out to allow my oldest daughter Alishia Duncanson to tell her story – what she is doing to make things better in Grand Bahama.

But there are many young people in Grand Bahama that are doing the same thing and I love their ambition and their spirit and I wish them all the best.

These include Kerel Pinder who is quite a gifted young lady that showed all these attributes as she took on the challenge of becoming Miss Grand Bahama a few years back and winning then pushing forward in many areas including business. She and her brother Kenton have formed the Sis Bro Productions and so far have pulled off two “Blooming Orchid” events which showcased a number of new and growing businesses in Grand Bahama.

But Kerel, knowing she had even more to give, despite not winning the young play writes competition back in 2011 decide this year to write and direct a play “Sarah’s Wedding” that is getting raved reviews and the troupe has even taken their show to Nassau. Kudos to you Kerel.

There is young Esther Cooper who is a recent high school graduate working on her own fashion designs and was recently asked to showcase her work in Atlanta. She is the great lady behind the upcoming one week of fashion in Grand Bahama set for next year March. Watch out for her.

Davina Rutherford is another young lady taking on Grand Bahama with great business ideas working along with other persons in the past two Bridal Shows that were held on the island and the recent Sisters of Strength One Day Seminar held for 12th Grade young women. She is the owner of Mirage Wedding and Event Planning.

I can’t miss out Leshan Ferguson who is a great photographer and make up artist who is hosting her second “Tweak Your Chic” this coming weekend. According to Leshan, “This night is dedicated for women to be pampered, entertained & empowered. This event promises to be filled with all the perfect ingredients for women to feel relax, let their hair down and celebrate being a woman.”

Again, all the best to you and with last year’s success, we know that this year will be even better.

Now I have talked a lot about the women, but we have guys who are doing great as well, along with Kenton Pinder.

We have Ricky Martin from Love n Unity Fest which came on the scene in the past few years and with his appropriately named business Flying High Productions they are doing just that. We just had another successful comedy show put on by Love n Unity Fest and they are feverishly working to open the old Jokers Wild as a new venue for their productions and nightly entertainment Cayo.

Taking us to politics we have Nevar Smith who just won his first term in Local Government yesterday. I’m not one for politics but I see that he is giving Grand Bahama his all through is radio show Youth Expressions Radio talk Show that has been on air for about two years now.

Sean Johnson II came on the scene out of college with new ideas and ways to doing things beginning with the “Dress for Success” which was a wonderful idea and taught young men and women how to dress to that interview and get themselves jobs. He later held two successful “Meeting of the Minds” also showcasing businesses in Freeport, and more recently he has been wowing party goers with “The Social” where people can go just to party and possibly network. All events I can say have been great and these are just some, not all that he has done. His company is called EnvyGB and he is also a photographer.

There are many more in Grand Bahama who are on the scene doing great things but not being recognized and if I had an award giving ceremony these people would be on the top of my list, along with Katariah Taylor along with her father Earl Taylor who are bringing TEDx to Grand Bahama.

For persons who do not know what TEDx is, according to their website “TEDx was created in the spirit of TED’s mission, “ideas worth spreading.” It supports independent organizers who want to create a TED-like event in their own community “TEDx was created in the spirit of TED’s mission, “ideas worth spreading.” It supports independent organizers who want to create a TED-like event in their own community.”

Just have a look at some of their previous speakers.

They are coming here through the Taylors and will be featuring such speakers as: Crystal Degregory Ph.D, author; Luckner Timothee, backyard farmer; Attorney Lemarque Campbell,  lecturer Joseph Gaskins and Katavia Taylor, travel enthusiast.

In the name of art and social conscientiousness I say this is an event worth checking out if you could. Only 100 persons allowed in the audience and we do hope this is only the beginning and not a one time thing.

I am looking forward to being there.

As I said before, these are just some of the young movers and shakers in Grand Bahama, there are more… lots more. Some I’m sure I don’t know about yet, but please fill me in.

Focus on the positive and let’s get going.