Sustainable Development

In this world of more frequent and more intense disasters, Egos and Greed must be transformed into Communal living, because such selfishness drives The Me, Me, Me Economy. A global economy with persons in pursuit of Money before Morals, widening the dangerous WEALTH GAP, loosening principles and abandoning ethical behavior. Noting that, Selfishness destroys Nations by damaging living standards and economic growth. Hence, it bears repeating, This is Not the last Crisis! Lives and Lifestyles remain under threat. And it is now widely accepted that Impoverish Communities, people who work numerous jobs for a minimum living wage, and contribute to economic growth via consumption, and who can least afford it, are the ones to suffer the most in any crisis 

Leading Leaders

We all play a role in leadership. No one is a permanent leader. The process is constantly shifting from Discuss, to Decide to Do, utilizing Experts, Executives and Everybody Else. Experts Discuss problems and form solutions. Executives Decide on which solution will be most efficient and effective. Everybody Else must buy into the solution and participate in its enactment to better lifestyles and fuel Happiness. The Vision is a future driven by Sustainable Development for all. The Mission involves all, and is in danger, if anyone is left uneducated, driven purely by Ego or Greed. Hence, understanding Leadership or Education is vital.

The Human Condition

Centuries after centuries the human race has been taught to pursue resources and hoard anything that could attract a value as wealth. It is unfortunate that human beings have chosen to divide up the planet’s natural resources. This system worked via individual physical strength, until family, tribe, and social power defeated the individual warrior king. Manipulation and Management systems were introduced as soon as a method was found to value a productive individual male/female human being. Attempts at true and total equality has never worked. Equality seems unattainable as every societal grouping, race, religion, etc., has always had and survives with a hierarchy system.

Happiness

The God sent pandemic of 2020 will leave the World with better hygiene, and Safe distancing practices. There is No such thing as Individual happiness – Happiness is communal. The individual pursuit of more money, wealth, and power will destroy the human race. Communities which share resources, and responsibilities, for and with each other, prosper. We must close the wealth gap and provide a basic living standard for all. A society with Jobs (Purpose) for all #EconomicDrivers, well built and maintained #Infrastructure, mandatory and compulsory Lifelong #Education, Free or Affordable #Healthcare and of course, Justice for All #Security, is a Happy Society.

Life before Lifestyles

I continuously think of myself as a leader. As many would seek my thoughts on future societal trends. But I confess that I played no role in the early alarms of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given my age and present state of health, I started wearing face coverings from very early and called on others to do so. I sympathize with the families of the dead, the ill, those economically displaced and those on all frontlines. As I foresee mitigation measures as having to last an exceptionally long time. This new reality will be different, better I hope, but difficult for many of us.

This is NOT the last Crisis!

YES, SYNERGIES! The interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, operations, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate resilient effects.

Understanding that society effects everything in an individual’s life. And that politicians are communicators between specialists and the public. Hence, accept that public basic survival needs can only be addressed by such experts. The public gets to choose their representatives and should know which Experts have the politician’s ear. Or should the public also vote for the Expert?

Public Revenue

The Public must never be allowed to take #EconomicDrivers for granted. Highly Trained and experienced professionals employed, in the public interest, at an Independent Office Of Budgets (OOB) must guide and measure, via Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) and National Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Global sectors and industries profitability. Incentivize and develop Business Models which can Constantly Transformed public policies to drive dependable Economic Growth. Such Business Models must be continuously measured to judge viability, Preservation and Growth. Hence, a nation depends on its Mature Economic Drivers to provide Security, Healthcare, Education and Infrastructure, able to contribute to bettering GDP, Taxes, Jobs and Lifestyles.

Public Facilities

The public takes #Infrastructure for granted. But highly trained and experienced Professionals, with state-of-the-art tools, equipment, techniques and processes, are involved in better supplying and outfitting of structures and networks. Water and Waste Management is an essential part of human existence which needs to be renovated. Power Generation, fueled by coal and petroleum, releasing carbon into the atmosphere, has been found to cause rapid negative climate change. Communication and Transportation are essential for human interaction, social connections, an exchange of ideas and moving Goods and Services. Shelter is key, crucial and critical. The ideal structure, proposed by specialty professionals, must bring all human basic needs together.

Public Lessons

The public must never be allowed to take #Education for granted. Highly trained and experienced professionals, hearing a calling and employing the most modern tools, techniques and procedures, are essential to the preservation of knowledge. The foundation of a Lifelong Love of Learning, at an individual’s own speed, is generally prior to and includes Early Childhood Education (age 0-5). At the Primary Grades (age 5-11), students must be encouraged to explore Critical Thinking methods, while learning social skills. In Secondary Grades (age 12-17), students must focus on problem solving, as learned from historical lessons improved upon by each generation. All tertiary adult education, vocational or academic, trains students to research, analyze, test, present, criticize and manage with confidence.

Public Wellness

The public must never be allowed to take #Healthcare for granted. Highly trained and experienced professionals, employing the most modern gears, equipment and procedures are essential. Nutritionists, from pregnancy to death, must provide knowledge to nourish a healthy lifestyle. Other trained Scientists; Biologists, Chemists; etc., track and test microorganisms that may harm or help life. Physicians must monitor, diagnose and follow treatment protocols to preserve life and lifestyles. Along with other specialists, the aim is still to reduce accidents, viral disease spread and lifestyle chronic illnesses via mental and physical exercise, cleanliness and safety practices, and of course, proper nutrition.

Public Peace

The public takes #Security for granted. Highly Trained Officers, tools and equipment are essential on the front lines. Emergency Management Services are generally among the first call outs in cases of accident and violent crimes. Especially, when Non-Police Security Companies are already contracted and employed by institutions, to maintain Decency, rules and regulations. The society Law and Order Police must also be engaged to establish the case facts and respond to current or ongoing disquiet. Ably assisted by The National Defense Force, whose main mission is to secure the nation’s borders, but will assist if called upon, by a nonpolitical commander and chief to keep the peace.

Crisis Management 101

Society needs you and your opinions! A difficult person is one thought of as opinionated and fixed in their own ways, at least, this person has thoughtful opinions – A Professional. Discourteous and Egocentric but with no opinion will object to any decision made by someone they do not like – A Politician. A personality who has no opinion and does not even buy into others’ opinions is just lacking in morals. Such persons do not understand right and wrong and therefore, respects the Professional while, fuels the needs of the Politician. The essential need is for humanity, all of us, to care about each other to avoid and mitigate disasters. So, when does a Politician hand over to a Professional? Only to avoid a crisis.

Caribbean Economies in Pandemic mode

This is in reaction to an academic note “COVID-19Policy Response for the Caribbean” by Justin Ram. This is a summary targeting a wider audience with opinions on the presented facts.

The world is in for it! As politicians and other persons in leadership roles, many without the necessary training, must make decisions to save lives or protect lifestyles. A likely two years away from a potential treatment, social distancing is the only way to stop this virus pandemic spread, saving lives but damaging, Taxation Revenue, Sales Income, Salaries and Jobs, the very economy. Institutions, Local, Regional and International, with political and financial power are being asked to discuss and consider actions. As any action will be at a cost. Money which would be firstly needed for increased medical demands, the social distancing and related economic inactivity, and then, to restart and rebuild.

Farming and Food Processing

As wise people abandon densely populated cities. Headed for greener fields or bluer seas, and they will now be able to telecommute globally. The once coveted skyscraper penthouse suites will be converted to farms. Not the old impression of farms but highly scientific and efficient laboratories. These buildings would have to be renovated and refitted to house its own water, electricity and air supplies. Expanding the food supply chain, via vertical farming, of animal and plant life with onsite processing of certified healthy foods. fit primarily for human consumption. The demand for healthy fresh foods will naturally outstrip supply as populations increase globally. And as a result, food stocks will grow in financial value over the old real estate funds.

Top Down Prescriptions

The economic solution remains the same, in and after every global crisis. Politicians debate and approve bailouts through the banks. For it is the banks, which have the best records of financial data and activities on every individual, SMEs and large corporations, which would need help to recover. The Treasury gives money to the banks to lend to those most affected, at very low or no interest rates, to meet living and operating expenses and boost future revenues, as if the crisis never happened. The question is why does not the Treasury, Tax Collection Division have the same or better data, with which to make such money distribution?

Crisis Opportunities

The future is never clear or predictable. Human Beings cause and react to change in various ways. While many preach of gloom and doom, others focus on solutions to return society to where it was, but yet some, a very few, think of how this crisis can make life better. Science has developed many ways to annihilate mankind, as artistic movies have shown, but has always stopped short, developing protocols and cures. For every known natural or manmade disaster, procedures are in place to mitigate dangers. However, the questions surround the unknown. Think Tanks, armed with the best minds, are charged with solving and preparing for such unknown circumstances by deploying natural Human Roles.

Services ‘An Economic Driver’

Legally Protecting an idea. The service sector or industry is borne out of a consensus of laws, rules and regulations, giving rights to ownership of skills and talents. The right to oversee professions, to practice law, license as a medical practitioner, operate specified facilities, certify accounts and other professional documents, are established in law. Further executing works or inspections, which requires advance training or higher education, to develop and for the monitoring of talents will also need the protection of laws. But one only has rights they can defend. Proving in a jurisdictional court that this idea is yours, can be a daunting task. Hence the need to patent it.

People born into Poverty

Economic Opportunities, Jobs, decent work for unskilled workers, which pays a national minimum wage, that is a living wage, able to support a basic standard of living. Many people, in society, that are offspring of poor, vulnerable or disadvantaged parents will find themselves repeating the same behaviors, trapping their own children in a circle of poverty. This cycle can be broken by a mix of simple policies aimed to eradicate poverty. The mainstay of which is described as “Earn to Learn”. People born into Poverty, who find themselves as an unskilled and untalented adult, must be afforded such options.

Bottom up Solutions

Numerous decisions are made to protect society from disasters. Whether natural or man-made, threatening lives or economic growth, Governments must make decisions to preserve lifestyles. Wide ranging economic decisions, bringing Government and Large operators together, will affect investors, as to supporting entrepreneurs, in which sector or industry, and licensing and regulating operators. Many other disasters, all with wide economic impacts, will see negative effects on employment and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) owners. But the poor and other vulnerable persons in the society do not get to have a say. Even as such disasters will send more into poverty.

Leadership Crisis

In a democracy, the electorate votes to elect moral and ethical persons to serve in leadership roles. Not to enrich themselves or to win the next election, but to collectively make life better for their society. Such leadership must avoid misfortunes, wars or insurgencies but be constantly prepared for natural disasters and to put down external or internal threats to the nation. This leadership must prevent but prepare for public health emergencies. The leadership must instill a lifelong Love of Learning in and across the population. All to inspire confidence throughout the society, in its laws, its policies, its infrastructure and its revenue generating, economic drivers.

Urgent Actions

Human Beings are dangerous to their own existence. The solutions cannot be anyone individual’s effort. It will take a multi-prong approach driven and funded by Economic Drivers SYNERGIES, converting raw materials into sellable products. Infrastructure SYNERGIES combining structures, water, fuels, electricity, communications, transportation, with its maintenance and operations. Education SYNERGIES exist to build tolerant and peaceful communities, by developing skills and talents, from historical knowledge. Healthcare SYNERGIES involves treatment and recuperation, safety regulations, nutrition and exercise to enhance wellness. Security SYNERGIES must incorporate justice, law and order, punishment and rehabilitation, protection of people and property.

Happiness vs. Power

Power is a mix of Knowledge and Network. Many in leadership positions display on to others, that sense of entitlement, which says; pass a few tests, build trust, produce work, be graded by your peers and be rewarded with appointments, is all there is to attain Happiness. Leading a team that achieves its preset mission, being a team member that produces its goals and objectives, being a support specialist or a routine service performer, will provide income and maybe savings and investments, but will never deliver Happiness. Obviously, Power, over material and human resources, is required in each role. However, only from giving freely of yourself, brings true Happiness.

A Perfect World

Why Not? What would it take? Where do we START? #SYNERGIES.

In this perfect and preferred world, we are all our neighbor’s keeper. #Security is to preserve life, limb and property, as if it is our own. Protecting the weak from the strong, the many from a few. Defending against natural and man-made disasters, against biological and health threats, against misinformation and intrusions, and of course, against Human Greed and Ego. Electing and selecting a few persons from the bowels of society, where they reside and serve their community, to craft laws, rules and regulations. And others, independent thinkers, highly qualified and experienced professionals to implement, effectively and efficiently and adjudicate fairly. A Perfect World of Moral Leaders.

Understand Banking

Worldwide, the mystic of banking must be exposed. Banks are in business to earn profits, much like any other entity, in the service sector. People, initial contributors or shareholders, pool their savings, develop financial products, fees and charges, and sell mainly loans at a competitive interest rate. Such financial products are designed to be fully or over secured, by fixed marketable Assets, easily cashed in to liquidate outstanding debts. Hence Entrepreneurs must firstly learn, such banks are not interested in an idea or startup business and more so, a business must never be started with loans, startups require risks capital, and banks are not where equity investments are made.

Data vs. Land

The investment value of Land is currently being replaced by Data Investments. Lands, the subject of many wars out of world history books is losing its glitter, forth over by Monarchs and Religious leaders, for its surface farming and mining values. Such wars and other criminal activities created a lot of affluent, wealthy, rich people and having been passed on legally, via inheritance, generated prosperous family estates. Data is on a very similar track, raw data gathered and stored is being targeted and forth over by many, so call ‘Black Hackers’. Such Cyber Crimes, unabated, will produce some wealth on the same scale as past Land grabbers, but the future gains and prosperity will come from very legal Data Analysis Monetization.

Future Development

Best is a moving target. Whether addressing team building or the essential #SYNERGIES; #Security, #Health, #Education, #Infrastructure #EconomicDrivers, which powers life, but Better is good enough for process and progress. The earnings, from productive and profitable, efficient and effective Sectors and Industries, from Economic Drivers must be essential to fund all other expenditure. The facilities, shelter (living, working and relaxing spaces), communication and transportation, must be suited to sustain and grow productivity. The people, from birth to death, at their basic learning time, at their productive period and at their reflective stages of life, must be protected, fit and knowledgeable. All together to achieve Future Development.

Better vs. Best

I write because everybody wants to teach or give unsolicited advice. Advice and opinions on every topic under the sun, before knowing the abilities and capabilities of their audience. Assuming that, only they have answers and solutions and that, you should listen without interruptions. A highly skilled and experienced aircraft pilot must sit quietly as a highly enthusiastic hobbyist explains the cause of a recent plane crash. The discussion may progress much better if questions are asked about the listener and in turn, interchange talking and listening. Much better, if decency and respect are employed and all parties engage in learning rather than teaching.

Raising Cash

Yes, Cash moves Entrepreneurial Ideas into Industry. After significant Research and Development, inputs of time, effort and very valuable sweat equity, a dynamic strategic plan has been structured. This highly confidential strategic plan will allow, a dated Prospectus to Investors and a Business Plan for Lenders, to be extracted and offered, hence, selling a percentage of the idea to individual or group investors, who expect to earn a superior Return on Investment. Such Equity Investors will calculate the risk of earning, as compared to losing their money. The Lender, however, will demand some tradable fixed form of tangible asset to hold as financial security.

Entrepreneurial Support

Entrepreneurial Ideas will grow the economy, create opportunities and increase jobs. Hence, pointing out growth sectors and industries, with unique competitive advantages, for the nation’s targeted focus development, shows the need for Nation Building EDUCATION. This Economic Expansion can only be driven by persons encouraged and respected, with lessons to produce and strengthen a feasible Strategic Plan. A strategic plan, from which a Prospectus to Equity Investors and a Business Plan to Debt Lenders, can be extracted. It is such a dynamic detail strategic plan which pushes the entrepreneur to achieve the mission day in and day out towards the successful attainment of their vision.

The Me, Me, Me Economy

Selfishness has no place in Success. The Success of any Economic Driver is based upon demand and supply. Demand created by people; consumers, users, customers, retailers and resellers. Supply is also generated by people; extractors of raw materials, transporters, manufacturers and processors of inputs. This supply and demand rules across all basic living components. Infrastructure demands architectural, engineering, designs, building materials and construction skills to Supply housing, roads, vehicles, industrial, commercial and entertainment spaces. Similarly, Security, Health and Education all need people, groups and teams, horizontally and vertically integrated, to provide and produce any measure of success. The selfish actor can only cause breakdowns.

Happiness vs. Wealth

Sometimes, for a wider audience, a pure academic debate needs to be flavoured with some common sense, to move from ideas to implementation. Whether a nation or society is supported by one large economic driver or many smaller revenue sources, is not the core issue. The mission must be to create and preserve A Happy Society which will require consensus between decent people. The widening wealth gap presences the greatest risk to human peaceful development and existence and while the debate continues, the status co persists and nothing new and innovative is getting done to slow or stop or reverse this devastating gap.

Defining Success

Success is to make life better, judged by the wider society. Many nations elect politicians based on their track record on economic issues; Job Creation, business opportunities, Productivity measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Diversification across Standard Industrial Classification (SIC). Therefore, the focus is on and across new Economic Drivers SYNERGIES to meet the nations’ highly needed Revenue Earnings projections. The historical risks, in such thinking, has always been, leaving people behind in a state of poverty, unemployment, increasing crime and eventually leading to insurrection. A new measure is slowly taking hold as nations seek to close the Wealth Gap. Success must and will soon be measured by A Happiness Index.

Foreign Direct Investment 2020

(An extract from Foreign Direct Investment 2020)

The World Bank forecasts global growth, as continued to soften in 2019. Subdued investment in emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs) is dampening potential growth prospects. Risks to the outlook remain firmly on the downside, including the possibility of escalating trade tensions. Another concern is rising debt, which may make it difficult for EMDEs to respond to adverse developments and to finance growth-enhancing investments. The International Monetary Fund (IMF): Global growth is forecast at 3.0 percent for 2019, its lowest level since 2008–09 and a 0.3 percentage point downgrade from the April 2019 World Economic Outlook. Growth is projected to pick up to 3.4 percent in 2020 (a 0.2 percentage point downward revision compared with April), reflecting primarily a projected improvement in economic performance in a number of emerging markets in Latin America, the Middle East, and emerging and developing Europe that are under macroeconomic strain.

People drive Diversification

(An extract from Foreign Direct Investment 2020)



Historical Economist will point out many successes and failures which proves that diversification is more about tax revenue collection than increasing local opportunities and jobs. As the world became a more connected place, through electronic technological advances in intelligence, communication and transportation, worldwide competition destroyed mid-central opportunities and jobs. Today, economic drivers consolidate, in locations of the finish product, essential raw material inputs and employ, global communication and transportation strategies, in its distribution channels. The future must, therefore, adapt to the movement of highly educated, skilled and talented people, following the sustainable development, growth opportunities and their dependable jobs.