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Fly All the Way to Barbados When $1 Canadian was Worthed $1.72 Back in the Day

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Submitted by Due Diligence
1956 Financial Post
1956 Financial Post (Canada)

I really could not make this up. I was out on Saturday to an auction sale at an old home in an high-end neighbourhood (not my neighbourhood). Among the stuff they were selling was a bunch of old books, magazines and (1956) newspapers. Thinking it would be interesting to compare the news of the day to the news of almost 60 years ago, I picked up three editions of The Financial Post published in May and June 1956.

The Financial Post, which is now a daily section in the National Post newspaper, was then “Canada’s National Weekly of Business, Investment and Public Affairs”.  This was not a newspaper read by the ordinary Canadian; rather its readership was the business elite – those in the upper income levels who in 1956 had the resources to make an annual trip to the places of sea, sand and sun – for some even to own a second home. In 1956 DD was still a primary school student, had no investments and no interest in public affairs, so had no reason to read  “Canada’s National Weekly of Business, Investment and Public Affairs”

Today I decided to leaf through the three 1956 newspapers. My first thoughts were that they were talking about the same business, finance and investment issues in 1956 that are being discussed in today’s papers. Then, to my utter shock, an advertisement on page 12 of the May 26, 1956 edition of The Financial Post jumped out a me.

You have probably guessed – the Ad was for BARBADOS.  It reads in part YOU CAN FLY ALL THE WAY.  You’ll enjoy this beautiful unspoiled island for a delightful fully informal summer holiday. American plan accommodation from $4 (Can) a day.  Consult travel agent or Barbados Publicity Committee.

There were no advertisements for holidays in Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic etc. in any of the three 1956 papers because there was no tourism industries in those countries in 1956 – Barbados was one of the few places in the Caribbean where the well-off could go for sun, sea and sand.  Only the rich could do so in 1956. The only other Ad in any of the three papers that could be even remotely connected to tourism was an Ad for Trans-Canada Air Lines (now Air Canada); so it had to be the only option in Canada for someone to “Fly All The Way”.

See Photos of the two ads:

It is interesting to note that the address of the Barbados Publicity Committee is in Montreal, where Trans-Canada Air Lines was/is headquartered.  No doubt a strategically chosen location to develop a close relationship with Trans- Canada.  Is it the case that that the absence of Barbados properties in the Air Canada Vacations’ newspaper ads in 2013, reflects a deterioration in the relationship cultivated in 1956?  Or is it simply that BTA has not paid its bills to Air Canada?

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32 responses to “Fly All the Way to Barbados When $1 Canadian was Worthed $1.72 Back in the Day”

  1. David Avatar
    David

    The following was sent to BU by Due Diligence as feedback.

    I was expecting to tell you that there is a Sandals Barbados full page ad in the Star or the Globe today; but not so.
    There is a 3/4 page Sandals Royal Bahamian ad in the Star Travel Section, and a full page Sandals Grande St. Lucian ad on the back page of the Globe Travel section. I am not familiar with Drop Box, but attach a photo of the Sandals Grand St. Lucian ad. This is from a June 28, 2013, article from the Jamaica Observer at the link below, that you might find of interest
    In a wide-ranging statement issued on February 13, Nicholson-Doty said Caribbean tourism growth “outpaced the rest of the world” in 2012, which saw 25 million visitors that year. She further expects international visitor traffic to the Caribbean to grow by “another four to five per cent” in 2013.
    Tourist arrivals to the Caribbean from the US increased 4.1 per cent in 2012 compared with 2011, “holding steady with the pre-recession levels of five years earlier,” said Nicholson-Doty. US arrivals increased in all of the reporting Caribbean countries, she added.
    In addition, Caribbean hotels are generating stronger results, with regional properties reporting improvement in four key performance indicators for the second consecutive year.
    “The overall occupancy for the Caribbean increased by 7.1 per cent; average daily rate went up 4.8 per cent and total room revenues by 8.9 per cent,” said Nicholson-Doty. Revenue per available room also rose by 12.4 pe rcent in 2012. “Should these trends continue, it certainly augurs well for 2013,” she added.
    Canada is the fastest-growing Caribbean travel market, according to Nicholson-Doty, posting a 5.9 per cent arrivals increase in 2012, marking the country’s fifth straight year of growth. In an “encouraging sign” visitor spending in CTO-member countries totalled US$27.5 billion in 2012, a 3.6 percent increase over 2011 and the third consecutive year of growth.
    I know there are many factors at play; but I am sure the absence of advertising, in Canada at least, is one of the major factors in Barbados not enjoying the the growth of tourist arrivals that other Caribbean countries are experiencing
    Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Sandals-continues-to-expand-while-other-operators-falter_14593033#ixzz2jWMZQn3s
    http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Sandals-continues-to-expand-while-other-operators-falter_14593033

  2. iabingy Avatar
    iabingy

    but then this happened. !!!!!
    http://youtu.be/5Ks6-vTHvb8

  3. iabingy Avatar
    iabingy

    oh yes i remember those days. well a little later in the 60 tees
    Canadian tourist loved to come to barbados.but then independence happened
    and the people that took over were greedy and spoiled it all by selling out barbados and doing filthy things to the Canadian women and men ,let us say that were not really a bajan thing but became the great ,i have never been with a black sexual so in my ungodly state let us try it. and balm it turned into a
    sex festival for the Negroes and white Canadians.
    yes i remember it clearly.
    wonderful times.
    then herpes came, things slowed down some .
    then hepatitis c
    then aids
    then white women and men stopped to think a bit.
    if they find a cure for these diseases we would be shotting again man.
    now David got Canadians on here telling we what to do with our own island.
    i do not like that part so much though.
    reason is a huge percentage of Canadians are atheist.
    therefore lowering bajan standards and moral pre -tourism mentality.
    i used to love to say when ya leaving come back soon.
    now all i can say is how much it cost you to bribe your way into staying permanently.
    or did you marry the village idiot so you could become a Barbadian for 10 gran.
    yes it was lovely days.no rap music for one,no soca ,no dub crap,
    just the mighty sparrow and the merry men singing beautiful barbados.
    no ass grinding.and filth and guns and drugs and non rastas with dread locks eating pork cutters.
    oh hell.
    i near fall down.
    so sad.unrepairable.
    done did.
    the rich get richer and the poor stay poor.
    but we must keep the poor out of sight of the tourist.
    remember that.
    to dream of the old days when a man was a man and a woman was a woman.
    and everything was closer to god………………pity.

  4. lawson Avatar
    lawson

    The Ottawa citizen paper again had no ads for Barbados in the travel section this weekend, with the exchange rate a regular blue collar worker makes about what your ministers make about 200,000 that’s not a market to overlook, I just don’t understand ,isn’t now the time to be pushing winter travel. Big story on Nevis trips to st. lucia, mexico ,cuba ,Dominican republic everywhere but Barbados. We have lots of future unemployed senators that may want a trip somewhere, maybe even the mayor of Toronto might need some time out of the spotlight..

  5. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    TELL ALL THIS TO THE BETZPAENIC ASS CALLED CARSON CADOGAN

  6. islandgal246 Avatar
    islandgal246

    The Barbados Government does not want to admit it and will NEVER admit THEY ARE BROKE! The scenario goes like this, the well to do family lives in a very posh and expensive home.

    The owners borrowed money to build it. A few years later they were doing all right paying back the high mortgage then their property increased value. They wanted to do other things they saw other RICH people doing so they decided to borrow against the new improved value.

    Then one day business had slowed down and one of them had to take a pay cut or lose their job. There wasn’t enough money to pay their creditors. Every month there was less and less income. Gas prices had gone up, food prices had gone up, school fees had gone up, road tax had gone up for especially their SUV’s, water rates had gone up and their swimming pool had to be maintained. Electricity rates were rising every month. Yet they pretended that they were ok and wouldn’t stop and let loose some of their vehicles that was guzzling gas and road tax. But wait they owed the bank for them as well so if the bank take them back they would have nothing to drive. What would they do if they take the children out of private school? Nah that would lower their status in society. So the bill kept mounting up. They would still entertain friends by the pool serving wine and gourmet snacks.

    Then finally they got letters from the school, the wine supplier, the pool maintenance company their account would be blocked and no further credit extended until they paid their bills. The children would no longer be welcomed at their school. So they enrolled their children in the free Government schools and dropped them off in their SUV’s every morning. One of the SUV’s was stopped by police. There was no insurance and road tax paid for the past four years. The vehicle was seized and taken off the road, now they were down to one SUV.

    Then the bickering started and then the fights all about finances. The lawns and garden were overgrown, the swimming pool had green water with mosquitos breeding. Meals were meagre with very little meat and veggies. The refrigerator was almost empty. They were happy that the children ate free at school from the school meal service so they didn’t have to make lunch for them.

    One day a letter arrived from the bank telling them that their mortgage was in arrears and if they didn’t pay the arrears in 10 days their house would be put up for auction. Ten days passsed and some people arrived and told them to vacate the house taking only their clothing. They were told that the SUV was to be auctioned. They called a relative who came to collect them.

    They were able to find a small chattel house in the village they grew up in to rent. They were given some beds by relatives and some pieces of furniture. They had to eat meals mainly cheese cutters, out of their laps since they didn’t have a dining table. They had to bathe in cold water because there was no solar heater. The small yard was rocky with lots debris thrown there by other villagers.

    They longed for the life the had before but with now only one income coming in because of lay offs it was just a dream. They now had to start from scratch. Their brand name clothing and shoes were worn and threadbare. They now had to shop in Swan Street for deals on clothing and shoes. They were wearing cheaply made goods, brands no one had ever heard of . It was very humiliating when they saw their former friends and acquaintances living the high life. They were once the envy of these same people. How they wished that were just that again, to be the envy of their friends. Yet they kept pretending that they were still up there like their friends and oblivious of the true situation they were in.

    Their poor rakey cousins from St. Lucia were now very well off. They had built some villas and were now renting them out to Tourist in St. Lucia. Their cousins were growing food on the many acres they inherited from their parents and grandparents. If only they had some land in Barbados to call their own and to be able to grow some food. ……..to be continued

  7. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    Former Director of Finance, Mr Erskine Griffith, is very correct in painting a picture of commercial and financial misery and hardship across the country (Daily Nation, November 4, 2013).

    When Griffith was also a Minister of Government in the last BLP Government, the PDC was also at the time telling many people in Barbados that what the country is currently facing, was going to be happening to it today.

    However, Griffith still cannot appear to be absolving himself and the former Owen Arthur BLP Administrations from severe and substantial blame when he and they played a disgraceful role in grossly recklessly mismanaging the political and other affairs of this country.

    You see this is one of the serious and patent failures in mainstream journalism in this country where persons, like Griffith, will make these kinds of statements from time to time, but when one looks at the roles they played in helping to severely mismanage and degradate too many aspects of this country’s affairs, the particular journalists simply report via which ever mediums what those people are saying without historical reference to their contribution to these massive political financial, and material problems facing the country.

    Therefore, we recall that when so many persons in Barbados were crying out about the astronomical high cost of living in 2006 – 2008 in this country, the then BLP government – with Erskine Griffith being a part of it, did virtually nothing about it – virtually nothing about it, yet after this same cost of living would have been exacting a serious toll on the welfare and well being of many people, businesses and other entities in this country, Griffith now is reported in the same Daily Nation newspaper issue as saying that the numbers speak the truth.

    Permanently remove the Damned DLP and Blasted BLP do from the Parliament of this country.

    PDC

  8. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ islandgal246 | November 5, 2013 at 9:44 AM |

    An apt description of what is happening to ‘poor-great’ Barbados as she tries ‘to keep up appearances’. It is a pity she fails to heed advice about the inevitable consequences of the path to ruination she has chosen to follow. The overgrown state of the once arable fields in the countryside and the deplorable dilapidated ill-kempt condition of the South Coast are clear signs Barbados is heading hard to skid row; and she can’t blame this one on the international recession.
    We look forward to future episodes of the tragicomedy called “The fall of a Titan who once punched above its weight”.

  9. Well Well. Avatar
    Well Well.

    Carson must be crying this morning…

    http://www.nationnews.com/articles/view/3-options

    Alvin my friend…………….i love you to death, but i do question your sanity sometimes.

  10. Yagga Rowe Avatar
    Yagga Rowe

    Griffith now is reported in the same Daily Nation newspaper issue as saying that the numbers speak the truth.

    Permanently remove the Damned DLP and Blasted BLP do from the Parliament of this country.

    PDC

    —————————–
    PDC really slamming today (as always)
    But Today is really really hitting
    Good Post/comment
    PDC
    I think that PDC might have to take ‘unusual ‘ measures to capture power in Barbados
    get rid of all and sundry
    A talk with Castro and or Sidney Burnett-Alleyne might Suffice
    Atenshun !
    Aim !
    KABOOOOM !
    The Commonwealth of Dominica and Barbados
    emerges

  11. Yagga Rowe Avatar
    Yagga Rowe

    Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaagga—lates dab it races away beating third -man on the boundary–Classic

  12. Due Diligence Avatar
    Due Diligence

    Islandgirl

    Great post.

    This is not a Bee thing or a D thing; but decades of failing to save for a rainy day – the first hurricane in nearly 60 years has arrived.

    DD is anxiously waiting to read the continuation.

    I don’t see how the gift to Sandals, will return the now impoverished family to the status of “the well to do family that lives in a very posh and expensive home.”

  13. sith Avatar
    sith

    Strange, when I look around Barbados recently, I thought it was 1956. The place fall behind in a big way except the prices. They are well ahead of other destinations. Those destinations have a free trading currency. Wonder if that has anything to do with how one competes? In those countries people are living on the reality of what their contribution to the GDP can generate. Not so in Barbados. People have been living on the expectation that a Barbados dollar is really worth 2 to 1 to the US$.

  14. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    LOL @ sith
    “People have been living on the expectation that a Barbados dollar is really worth 2 to 1 to the US$.”
    ************
    …and even if it WAS worth that, …the reality is even worse when you consider that the US$ is ALSO HIGHLY overvalued – and only worth squat because it is the default oil trading currency – and NOT because of any strong supporting GDP.

    ..imagine TWO sets of shit hitting the fan simultaneously…?

  15. Well Well. Avatar
    Well Well.

    I once told someone in Barbados that i changed some bajan money in Miami back in the early 90’s and got 30 US cents per bajan dollar and got cussed and called a liar, they believed within their ignorant little heart that you get US $1 for a bajan dollar….lol

  16. ANON Avatar
    ANON

    PAPER* $$$$ is flat-lining on LIFE_SUPPORT. The pundits know it.

  17. ANON Avatar
    ANON

    Listen to MAX. One of the pundits making any sense

  18. ANON Avatar
    ANON

    Robert Kiyosaki on his financial predictions for the next couple years

  19. ANON Avatar
    ANON

    You guys need to ask your government how much “GOLD” they have in their central bank? For the individual speculator PLEASE buy as much as you can and store it because a “DEPRESSION” is coming.

  20. ANON Avatar
    ANON

    Buildings for BILLIONAIRES (no poverty here) LOL

    http://www.nytimes.com/video/business/100000002512003/buildings-for-billionaires.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_ae_20131104

  21. bucker7buck Avatar
    bucker7buck

    some of this crap is quite entertaining

  22. ac Avatar
    ac

    Flash back in time…..1956 i canadaian dollar can buy ..No airport …small landing strip…no seaport .. only for schooners and small fishing boats. .bus service out by 6 in by 7….now where to go. balcks on one side …whites on the other .hotels for the well to do .blacks can,t go through. pittoilets and oil lamps… sugar is king .blacks like slaves…. how easily we forget. flash forward to 2013 i think some here rather go back..stop the bitching and complaining.

  23. Due Diligence Avatar
    Due Diligence

    According to Central Bank paper An Analysis of the Tourism Sector in Barbados there were 17,900 long stay visitors in 1956

  24. ac Avatar
    ac

    In 1956 longstay visitor arrival sevteen thousands. Flash foward 2013 long stay arrival for first four months aprox two hundred thousand

  25. John Avatar
    John

    … you mean they actually had tourism in Barbados before the D’s came to power?

    I am shocked, amazed and confused by this revelation!!

  26. PLANTATION DEEDS FROM 1926 TO 2013 , MASSIVE FRAUD ,LAND TAX BILLS AND NO DEEDS OF BARBADOS, BLPand DLP=Massive Fruad Avatar
    PLANTATION DEEDS FROM 1926 TO 2013 , MASSIVE FRAUD ,LAND TAX BILLS AND NO DEEDS OF BARBADOS, BLPand DLP=Massive Fruad

    Greed and fraud is what killing tourism at todays number, over building and selling of time shares and land with out clear titles , Buyer beware ,There is a limit to every thing , Adjust or sink , you can not over crowd a small boat,
    Just wait until Cuba open for business , numbers will drop even more,

  27. The People's Democratic Congress Avatar
    The People’s Democratic Congress

    Yagga Rowe,

    Thanks for making clear another acknowledgement of another PDC post.

    But we – along with the many thousands of people in Barbados – will make sure that the Damned DLP and the Blasted BLP eventually go from the Parliament of this country, by means of VOTING.

    Believe it, greater and greater throngs of people in Barbados are seeing the truth and light of the many of the seen and unseen, despicable and deplorable political and other actions of those two stupid jack o lantern factions.

    PDC

  28. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ John | November 5, 2013 at 10:52 PM |
    “I am shocked, amazed and confused by this revelation!!”

    Also flabbergasted in your tongue-in-cheek way?
    Barbados was the location for the island setting of the 1957 film “Island in the Sun” featuring Harry Belafonte with the musical writing in conjunction Irvin Burgie.
    Barbados was an early haven and playground for the rich and famous because of its congenial environment, good infrastructure and amenities including good public health and importantly a totally brainwashed subservient docile people of African descent well trained in the “art’ of serving white people from head to toe.
    The British aristocracy, artistes and the retired managerial class have always seen Barbados as their second home in the tropics. Whether this is still the case is open to debate.

  29. ANON Avatar
    ANON

    2700+ billionaires as of today. net worth 13 TRILLION $$$$. To put that in perspective, that is larger than the GDP of every country on earth bar China & USA. PRICELESS! lol

  30. Well Well. Avatar
    Well Well.

    John………..i have met Canadians, now in their 80’s who were tourists in Barbados in the 1950’s before there was proper housing for the population, they remember vividly the natural state of the island and are shocked that ‘development’ has rendered the island ‘not unspoilt’ anymore…. don’t mind these foolish modern politicians, they are clueless..

  31. Due Diligence Avatar
    Due Diligence

    Yesterday was November 6, the date Sandals was reported to be taking over the operation of Casuarina from Couples.

    Given the amount of advertising by Sandals/Beaches in the Toronto Star and Globe & Mail, I have been expecting to see a Sandals Barbados ad; but not so.

    November 6 Globe had 3/4 page ad for Sandals LaSource Grenada, and November 7 Star has full page (back page) ad for Sandals LaSource Grenada ad.

    DD is curious if the tourism boards in Grenada, Antigua, Turks and Caicos, Bahamas and Jamaica share the cost of newspaper ads with Sandals; and if BTA has not ponied up with its share of the cost to advertise Sandals Barbados – so no BTA money = no ads.

    BTW, November 7 Star included a four page glossy insert for Cayman Islands, including Air Csnada and Westjet logos and contact info.

  32. ANON Avatar
    ANON

    Here’s one instant, immediate solution for the Barbados economy! Members of both political parties declare their outside financial interests to an independent parliamentary watchdog! All politicians take a cut in salary and perks! All politicians including top level civil servants abandon the largesse they have been accustomed to, i.e; BMW’s, MERCKS, 1st class travel, unlimited expense accounts, FREE* food, FREE gas, clothing allowance, soft interest-free loans, bloated office expenses, abnormal pension pots, platinum health & life insurance policies, family perks and a whole host of remunerations that the working-class will never see in a lifetime. Take that slush fund of money and invest it in affordable public housing, schools, public healthcare and agriculture. For the captains of industry, offer tax concessions for serious renewed investment in infrastructural projects and the creation of jobs in technology R & D, creation of export industries, putting real focus in the area of food security, green technology for electricity, cars and exploration of offshore oil reserves.Fundamental to all these proposed areas of development – it cannot be overstated the issue of Integrity & Transparency Legislation that will guarantee more openness in the halls of government. Doing politics the way it has always been done is going to be the death of many already disadvantaged mothers, fathers, grandparents and children. It is hard to contemplate any further extremes!

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