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Becoming the SINGAPORE of the Caribbean

The pace at which Singapore has achieved so-called first world status- in a generation- has ensured mention in case studies to be found in any management volume of standing. By every account it is a well managed country directed by a relevant strategic plan, disciplined society, adequate workforce with required skill sets to execute plans,…

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The pace at which Singapore has achieved so-called first world status- in a generation- has ensured mention in case studies to be found in any management volume of standing. By every account it is a well managed country directed by a relevant strategic plan, disciplined society, adequate workforce with required skill sets to execute plans, routine enforcement of laws etc. You get the picture. It is a country serious about effectively and efficiently directing its resources.

One cannot recognize Singapore’s success without the mention of the benevolent dictator Lee Kuan Yew whose approach to governing is labelled authoritarian pragmatism. Whether a benevolent or malevolent dictator Lee Kuan Yew was able to operate above the strictures of a democracy therefore charting a course for Singapore from a personal vision. What we are seeing today is the legacy effect of his tenure from 1959 to 1990.

The preamble serves to introduce Rwanda which has been dubbed the Singapore of Africa. The average person will remember Rwanda for the genocide that occurred against the Tutsi group a short 25 years ago. It is reported that 800, 000 million were killed. The question that immediately springs to mind is how in a relatively short time Rwanda was able to undergo a transformation to be the Singapore of Africa.

“If you hear a voice within you saying ‘you are not a painter’ then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.”

– Vincent Van Gogh

Enter former military leader Paul Kasgame. What is common is that both Singapore and Rwanda have been led by ‘dictators’. Both countries have scarified on civil liberties in order to advance the country on the economic prosperity index. The observation one can make is the key role transportation has played in the transformation to support being a significant business hub player.

Watch the following video to appreciate why we have to lift our game. The facile approach to policy formulation and execution will not significantly move the needle to achieve a model for success necessary to sustain our people by being competitive in a muy competitive world. The 65k question – what should be Barbados’ model for success.

The video is a short 13 minutes which aligns with the attention span of many on the blog.

123 responses to “Becoming the SINGAPORE of the Caribbean”

  1. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ Hal
    The major attractions were: the people; the cleanliness; very good hotel workers at all levels; safety ( previously low) crime levels; the climate ; then excellent roads and the general quaintness of the island. Of course the food , and beaches.
    If you peruse the above , you would see a decline . I stopped once to have breakfast and I saw bagels! Check the food competitions and you will see spanish names creeping into the menu. We no longer want BICO we boast about imported ice cream. There are locals who never touch Pine Hill Dairy milk. We don’t want fuel efficient cars; we drive gas gazzling trucks.
    There are no Lord Radios and great combo bands. The Island Inn on Monday nights with the entertainment was magic. The Pepperpot gone; Bel Air jazz Club gone; Baxter’s Road gone.
    The product declined and we have ourselves to blame. We going to have a hotel corridor etc.
    Peace

  2. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    Rwanda is the best social and financial model so far to emulate. They have made significant progress in the advancement and progress of their RULING Black population, hopefully the blueprint is not being copied SOLELY to promote minority thieves in Barbados as is the norm…to continue the social and financial genocide, the sabotage, barriers and malicious, deliberate impediments directed at the majority for 60 years by the black faces in the parliament.

    what is annoying is that Mia can get some really good advice and assistance in a way forward, but she refuses to PROMOTE BLACK PEOPLE who elected her and pay her salary, in her love affair with RACISTS and THIEVES…so the backlash will continue until she sees the light..

    “This forum will allow us in the region to learn from Rwanda’s 20-year experience and to share with each other what the challenges and successful approaches have been thus far. It is also an opportunity for people across the Caribbean to pose the questions that are on their mind. I encourage everyone to tune in and to take advantage of that opportunity,” the Governor said.

  3. NorthernObserver Avatar
    NorthernObserver

    https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2020/10/21/handguns-seized-cincinnati-were-labeled-auto-parts/6004526002/

    Customs seizes illegal shipment of guns in Cincinnati.
    US Customs & Border Protection officers found 3 hand guns & 7 ammunition
    magazines after opening a shipment labeled as automotive parts.
    There were automotive parts in the shipment in addition to guns with
    serial numbers filed off & the magazines.
    It came from a resident in North Caroline & was bound for an individual in
    Barbados.

  4. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    https://www.nationnews.com/2020/10/23/police-playing-catch/

    The guns are still coming.

    Despite Government’s efforts to tighten security at the ports of entry, with new scanners and other state-of-the- art risk assessment customs software, Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith says that most of the guns, which wind up in the hands of criminals, are still getting through.

  5. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    @NA
    There was one other recent occasion where weapons en route to Barbados were intercepted, one wonders how many got through.
    The authorities should know the prospective recipient and should take appropriate measures.

  6. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    @ Sargeant
    Here we go again. A COP admits an approach is not working. This is a direct negative on current policy. The AG needs to respond, that’s what we pay them both to do. Are we back to three or so decades ago ,when then COP Durant said his hands “were tied” as examined by Red Plastic Bag in a calypso.
    Once more it’s time to be fair. Some on BU for about three years almost every day, leading up to the election of 2018, used to call for the resignation of the then AG. Crime , especially gun related , is now at record levels and not a word from them.
    But that’s how we are, once it’s our party we in power we go silent. To paraphrase @Hal , it’s the BLPDLP condition.

  7. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    When the guns are addressed to minorities from the cartel, friends and family, fowls and people on standby to commit mischief to help their political nastiness, no one investigates..

  8. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    David

    Rwanda gets nearly all of its perceived economic success by stealing the resouces of Congo in a conspiacy with Western governments and corporations.

    Congo, the location of bountiful strategic minerals has been made unstable for this very purpose. It’s by far the richest country for cobalt, gold, gems etc.

    Paul Kegame is and has always been an American agent.

    Uganda acts as the main artery to transport Congo’s wealth to Western markets. We have personal knowledge of this.

    There is no economic magic to it.

  9. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    ……… We have personal knowledge of this…..(Quote)

    Evidence?

  10. David Avatar
    David

    @Pacha

    Rwanda’s turnaround and forward progress can be attributed to many factors least of which on a corrupt Congo.

  11. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    I never researched Rwanda to understand the dynamics at play, but this is what they are saying…Pacha

    Free enterprise is a great driver of economic growth, monopolies STIFLE ECONOMC AND SOCIAL GROWTH…Barbados is a prime example…of that backward stupidity…keeping entrepreneurship in the hands of a corrupt minority class only is always a recipe for disaster and a HUMILITATING ECONOMIC CRASH…as we are seeing right now…

    “The economic growth in Rwanda has been primarily driven by liberalization in the agricultural sector—mainly coffee and tea, the country’s main exports. These reforms allowed producers to greatly benefit from an export boom, increasing incomes and boosting productivity through capital investments. Dynamic tourism and industrial sectors—mining and construction—have also contributed to the recent economic success.

    Entrepreneurship, usually the main driver of economic growth, and innovation should lead this transition. In the Rwandan case there has been noteworthy dynamism in household enterprises, which are dedicated to nonagricultural activities and usually located in rural areas. Even though they only employ 10 percent of the labor force, more than 30 percent of families relied on these enterprises for income in 2006.

    The country’s relative business dynamism would not have been possible without an improvement in the regulatory and institutional framework.”

  12. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    HUMILIATING ECONOMIC CRASH…..a la Barbados…

  13. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    Plus they relaxed restrictions for the return of Africans in the Diaspora by removing the coloniial slave laws from their statute books, which will cause an influx of investments, I understand it’s very easy to register a business there, housing is very affordable and really attractive………all of which will work in their favor and drive further economic success, don’t know about the politics though, i tend not to get involved..

  14. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Waru

    Maybe we should look up the Congo, not Brazzaville, to see what Rwanda is doing there.

    The reading of that piece seems self serving.

    This writer was in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo over a year ago.

    Tomorrow, i ‘ll check a reference for ypu.

  15. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    Yeah Pacha…i need more info, it will be welcomed…here is some news on what they are doing there right now re Diasporans interacting in Rwanda…

    https://youtu.be/1i-8YUQeVE8

  16. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    https://youtu.be/sWvSjjYAw6g

  17. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    https://youtu.be/d3pTaEsWs3c

  18. Pachamama Avatar
    Pachamama

    Waru

    It just came to mind. Check “Friends of Congo” website. They are in Washington.

    Maybe on youtube as well.

    They speak all the time about Rwanda’s hideous role.

  19. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    Ok Pacha….thanks..

  20. WURA-War-on-U Avatar
    WURA-War-on-U

    Pacha…some of the leaders, but not all, are realizing that ALL colonial borders in Africa….MUST BE REMOVED and permanently ERASED…..that is one of the main problems on the continent…the erection of borders that successfully DIVIDED AFRICANS…..and caused more strife that was already tribal affairs, hatred and civil wars…

  21. David Avatar
    David

    https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

  22. David Avatar
    David

    The DOW has started to rally.

  23. Paul Kagame’s to Visit Barbados | Barbados Underground

    […] on October 21, 2020 by David 122 […]

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