Daily opportunities

Steve Lyston, Contributor

Everyone wants opportunities. Daily, people are crying out for opportunities, and some are saying that the problems exist because of a lack of opportunities. But God, according to Psalm 68:19, daily loads us with benefits!

The reason many can't see these benefits is as a result of the way they view things; because opportunities always come in the way or in a package we least expect. Opportunities are often found in ways and places we quickly disregard, the slums, the dump, the muddy places! They are found among and within people we scorn, belittle and push aside!

Let's take a test. Let us say that your organisation is going through a rough time. Who would you see as an opportunity to restore your organisation to profitability, a present millionaire or a broke man with good business acuity? Your first inclination would probably be to go to the millionaire because he possesses the resources to help you get out of a rough spot! However, that millionaire may just use his/her wealth and influence to take your company from you without your realising it. But the broke man may have learnt some things from his experience and has a wealth of knowledge he can pass on to you to help your business get back on track, and so there is a mutual opportunity realised.

CARICOM

Most national leaders are looking for opportunities with the 'big players', while ignoring the 'small' players that can help to build the economy and get the nation back into a forward-moving position. For example, look at CARICOM. They are the biggest opportunity to revive the Caribbean community. The CARICOM nations need to work together to increase growth and stability. Instead of the Caribbean purchasing oil from other countries, countries including Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela can sell oil to CARICOM member states at a much cheaper rate than those outside of CARICOM. Alternately, they can benefit from the relationship by being extended lower prices for the products of the nations with which they trade.

CARICOM needs a vision that is bigger than each island within it! They need to work together to help each other with resources. They need to focus on increasing trade among each other that will further enhance tourism and increase growth. They will also help to cancel each other's bad debt. They also need a time of repentance, forgiveness and restoration, so that change can take root. They need to build more universities within the region. They need to pool resources to market the Caribbean community. There needs to be greater border control for all Caribbean and Latin communities. They need to build hospitals and improve present ones within the CARICOM region, so that instead of flying to other countries, there can be efficient facilities within the region that are just as good or better than First-World nations.

CARICOM needs to be reformed. For example, the head of CARICOM is usually an existing prime minister or president, and they usually have a short term in office, not as much as is needed. There needs to be somebody full-time; and their authority should be equivalent to a prime minister's in order to drive the vision of CARICOM.

If CARICOM does not unite and get their act together, then very shortly, their sovereignty will be threatened and soon decisions that are to be made by CARICOM counties will be made by countries external to the CARICOM member states. Then it will be the end of CARICOM.

The petty issues that exist among members of CARICOM must be put aside so that these countries can grow and prosper.

Sports And Entertainment

There are great opportunities within the areas of sports and entertainment, and so there must be a broadening of our focus beyond track and field. The Jamaican bobsled team, Janelle Atkinson, Alia Atkinson, Sean and Rachel Brinn, and Samantha Albert, have all shown us that there is great potential in Jamaica for us to expand on our opportunities in the area of sports.

The film industry in Jamaica has great potential. The Harder They Come and Dancehall Queen have shown that to us. Furthermore, the Jamaican pantomimes past and present can equal any Broadway show! Jamaican models have hit international runways!

There may be future gymnasts, synchronized swimmers and film stars among us that can propel the nation and themselves into great paths, but our view of where and how opportunities are presented to us must change.

Steve Lyston is a biblical economics consultant and author of several books, including 'End Time Finance' and 'The New Millionaire'.