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It is likely that we will have a General Election before the end of 2021.  Without fail friends and family ask the popular question … “Who are you voting for?”

I wish to change ask a slightly different question.

What three (3) things would you like to see achieved for all of us?  Yes 3 things to improve all our lives.

Please feel free to share yours as a comment below or send me an email at kean@smithkas.com

Below is my list of three (3) which are not listed in order of priority:

1. Provide an adequate living wage adequate to maintain a reasonable standard of life in The Bahamas;
2. Decrease inequality in The Bahamas; and
3. Pro Domestic Land Ownership Policy regardless of age.

Living Wage[1]

            I take inspiration from all of the labourers who work in The Bahamas and have dreams for themselves and their families.  Unfortunately, without earning a living wage, it is unlikely that those dreams will ever be achieved.

Decrease inequality

The Bahamas Living Conditions Survey 2001[2] reported that The Gini coefficient for The Bahamas was estimated at 0.57, which was probably the highest in the Caribbean.  If we continue along this path of inequality, I believe that our quality of life will continue to spiral down and out of control.

Pro Domestic Land Ownership Policy

            On 24 March this year the Prime Minister tabled a resolution in Parliament which would give “young Bahamian professionals ” between the ages of 18 and 45 years old access to affordable land in an upscale community in western New Providence.[3]  If professionals with their education and salaries need assistance to access affordable land then skilled, semi-skilled and labourers need a policy change from “yesterday”.

[1] Reynaud, E. (2017). The International Labour Organization and the Living Wage: A Historical Perspective (No. 90). International Labour Organization. https://ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/—ed_protect/—protrav/—travail/documents/publication/wcms_557250.pdf

[2] Department of Statistics. (2004). Bahamas Living Conditions 2001. https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/wcm/connect/d01ce76a-75b4-4229-baae-af3b87b6816c/Bahamas+Living+Conditions+Survey+2001+report-Copy.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

[3] Smith, S. (2021, March 25). HOME SWEET HOME: PM outlines affordable housing plan for young Bahamian professionals. Eyewitness News. https://ewnews.com/home-sweet-home-pm-outlines-affordable-housing-plan-for-young-bahamian-professionals

Are you exploiting or supporting the exploitation of children’s labour?

Are you not sure?

Please continue below.

“Background

The International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the World Day Against Child Labour in 2002 to focus attention on the global extent of child labour and the action and efforts needed to eliminate it. Each year on 12 June, the World Day brings together governments, employers and workers organizations, civil society, as well as millions of people from around the world to highlight the plight of child labourers and what can be done to help them.”

“The issue of child labour

Today, throughout the world, around 218 million children work, many full-time. They do not go to school and have little or no time to play. Many do not receive proper nutrition or care. They are denied the chance to be children. More than half of them are exposed to the worst forms of child labour such as work in hazardous environments, slavery, or other forms of forced labour, illicit activities including drug trafficking and prostitution, as well as involvement in armed conflict.”

“What is child labour?

Child labour is work carried out to the detriment and endangerment of a child, in violation of international law and national legislation. It either deprives children of schooling or requires them to assume the dual burden of schooling and work.”

“Labour standards

Child labour that is proscribed under international law falls into three categories:

• The unconditional worst forms of child labour, which are internationally defined as slavery, trafficking, debt bondage and other forms of forced labour, forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict, prostitution and pornography, and illicit activities.
• Labour performed by a child who is under the minimum age specified for that kind of work (as defined by national legislation, in accordance with accepted international standards), and that is thus likely to impede the child’s education and full development.
• Labour that jeopardizes the physical, mental or moral well-being of a child, either because of its nature or because of the conditions in which it is carried out, known as “hazardous work”.”

Source: Information above was taken from https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-day-against-child-labour/background

On the morning of 1 June the temperature started out at about 57F and was expected to reach a high of 73F!  How do you say “Spring”?

It is now more than one year ago since the Director General of World Health Organisation declared on 11 March, 2020 COVID-19 a pandemic.

So, as I reflect on how my life has changed, I also reflect on “the miracle of our human lives”.

Human intervention not needed

This miracle starts with two sex cells, male and female. 

Without a GPS or asking for directions, one of these cells locates the other. There is no doubt that these cells are fully equipped with everything they require to complete their task.  No instructions needed.

Elections or Academic qualifications not needed

Without consulting healthcare regulators, seeking directions, or human intervention. Without alarm clocks or without vacation leave, one cell fertilises the other and that now single cell begins to divide and continues to divide into exact replicas of itself. This division happens whether you live in the Amazon or Karura Forest, or the Tabernas or Gobi Desert.

These identical cells then decide somehow, without a general election, a general assembly or annual general meeting, which cells will form into tissue, organs, and bones.

Once again without asking any questions, these cells begin to “build” a human body.  And this is done without hands or feet, without machines or surgical equipment and without pausing to celebrate or observe any international, national, or regional holidays.  These cells develop themselves into an organism – “The Organism within”.  And without a timepiece they complete their specialised work in about 9 months. 

In the fullness of this time period, a human is born.  When you compare this human to its beginning of two sex cells, you must be speechless because all of this work produced such varied outcomes like hair follicles, finger nails and organs like the skin, lungs, and brain.   Even eyes and ears in specific locations.  Incredible isn’t it?

Absolutely incredible.  Working around the clock, without breaks or vacation, without supervision, or measuring tools and for me most impressive in THE DARK.

Wow.

So, when I consider our human lives and this pandemic, I am truly humbled and happy to be here in this body that was “built” without hands in THE DARK!

Despite what we may think about each other, all our human bodies started from two sex cells and are products of an absolute miracle.

I continue to feel happy and grateful to be part of our human family.

2021 Theme: Families and New Technologies

“In 1993, the General Assembly decided in a resolution (A/RES/47/237) that 15 May of every year should be observed as The International Day of Families.

This day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.”[1]

“V. … [United Nations] Member States are encouraged to consider the following recommendations:

(a) Continue their efforts towards the implementation of the objectives of the International Year of the Family and its follow-up processes as conducive to the realization of the 2030 Agenda;

(b) Invest in family-oriented policies targeting poverty to prevent the intergenerational transfer of poverty;

(c) Invest in social protection policies and programmes, promote gendersensitive social protection measures and recognize the role of families as social protection providers;

(d) Invest in a variety of work-family balance policies focused, inter alia, on expanding childcare services and parental leaves, including paternity leaves;

(e) Ensure that family-oriented strategies promote gender equality and the equal sharing of household responsibilities between men and women and recognize the burden of unpaid work;

(f) Enhance efforts to ensure equal pay for equal work;

(g) Safeguard legal identity and birth registration for all newborns to ensure their full participation in society and access to benefits, including social protection;

(h) Promote investments in accessible and affordable infrastructure, including housing and transportation, to benefit families and prevent family homelessness;

(i) Address the causes of family homelessness, including poverty, domestic violence and the lack of affordable housing, and expand efforts to provide adequate and affordable housing with support services for families.”[2]

[1] United Nations. (n.d.). International Day of Families 15 May. Retrieved May 16, 2021, from https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-of-families

[2] United Nations. (2019, November). Implementation of the objectives of the International Year of the Family and its follow-up processes (A/75/61-E/2020/4). United Nations Economic and Social Council. https://undocs.org/A/75/61%E2%80%93E/2020/4

I am happy to be sharing as a panelist of the virtual event below. Please join us!

” … Webster Leiden Student Government Association (SGA) … cordially invite you all to [its] … upcoming webinar on 19 February 2021 from 11 am to 2 pm [CET].

The theme of the webinar is the “Effects of COVID-19 on Human Trafficking and Education.”

The SGA will be hosting a panel of guest speakers Kean Smith, Dr. Sheetal Shah, Amanda Mauro, MA, Dr. Sumaiya. They are from two non-governmental organizations based in the Netherlands.

The event’s objective is to educate the students and public about the forms of modern-day slavery and the numerous ways the current pandemic has restrained resources available to victims.

Also, how the Coronavirus pandemic has further limited the victims’ access to quality education, especially those seeking asylum, and how counseling is used to rehabilitate and reintegrate victims into society.

To register for this educative and informative webinar, kindly use the QR code on the flyers. However, should you experience difficulty with the QR code, please use the link below for registration:

Do not forget to register, share and repost.

Thank you.

Looking forward to seeing you at the event.
#websterleidencampus#society#websterSGA“

Last year, on March 11, 2020 The World Health Organisation declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic. From then to now, all of our lives have changed. Working from home is more common place and businesses in some cases have taken major steps to offer and/or deliver services online.

As a means of adjusting and trying to make my time count, I decided to build my personal capacity. For example, I completed a Bid Writing Course that was delivered online. While the course was very interesting, it is a story for another day. Instead, I would like to share some information with you that might lead to very profitable investments. About one month before the WHO declared COVID-19 a Pandemic, I read a life changing book.

The book I am referring to is “Angel” by Jason Calacanis.

This is a book about angel investing from the perspective of a successful angel investor. I found it be be a hybrid of the history of technology start-ups and a straight forward easy to understand strategy “play book” on how to invest as an angel investor in technology start-ups. Yes start-ups. Technology start-ups like Uber and Linkedin. While it may be challenging to locate these start-ups because you might be new to angel investing, you can always join a syndicate of angel investors. Interesting right? I found the content of the book fascinating.

I highly recommend this book if you are looking to broaden your general knowledge about angel investing and the history of technology start-ups.

Happy reading.

Please feel free to direct any questions or comments to Kean Smith at kean@smithkas.com