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Pulse of the Caribbean
The Pulse of the Caribbean Podcast with Kysha captures the Caribbean spirit. Listen to the latest news from the region, interviews with beautiful Caribbean people making exceptional contributions worldwide, and travel with us as we highlight destinations and activities. Inspirational messages are also shared. Experience the essence of the Caribbean right here.
Pulse of the Caribbean
#32 Service Beyond Words: Dr. Haldane Davies on Empowering Regional Growth through Education
What if the key to transforming Caribbean higher education and development lies in a blend of regional collaboration and the wisdom of a seasoned leader? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Haldane Davies, a distinguished university president and author. He takes us on an inspiring journey from his humble beginnings in the British Virgin Islands to his impactful role in higher education. Dr. Davies shares how his parents’ unwavering belief in the power of education shaped his path, and he reflects on his academic and professional milestones that led to his current role at Orion Consultancy Services.
Join us for an enlightening conversation aiming to foster growth and excellence within the Caribbean community and beyond.
Dr Haldane Davies, higher Education Administrator, university President, executive Director of Orion Consultancy Services and author, is our guest on today's Pulse of the Caribbean podcast. Hi, welcome to the Pulse of the Caribbean podcast. I'm Keisha. Dr Haldane Davies, higher Education Administrator, university President and author, is our guest on today's Pulse of the Caribbean podcast. Dr Davies is renowned for being a forward-thinking leader with a strategic mentality, remarkable company development skills and the ability to forge important connections. With that, we say welcome to Dr Haldane Davies to the Pulse of the Caribbean podcast. Welcome.
Haldane Davies:Thank you so much, keisha. It's a pleasure for me to be here with you and to have this opportunity to have a conversation about life, about the realities that exist around us and for the opportunities that are before us, so that the future for each one of us, those listening on this podcast today and others would have the opportunity to ensure that what they see now is not where they ought to be, but there's more beyond that. Thank you.
Pulse of the Caribbean:Thank you. We are the Pulse of the Caribbean, so tell us what is your Caribbean connection? What makes you Caribbean?
Haldane Davies:I was born in the Virgin Islands, british Virgin Islands, tortola to be exact four boys and having the opportunity to grow up in such an environment allowed us to be quite industrious and to look at those things and activities that were important to life and to be able to ensure that we had other opportunities beyond that. It's certainly great growing up in the Caribbean fishing, swimming, playing, enjoying the natural environment and all of those things that so many pay millions of dollars from all over the world to come and see and enjoy that Caribbean background. It gave me and my siblings and others the opportunity to come and see and enjoy that Caribbean background. It gave me and my siblings and others the opportunity to grow and excel. Our parents did not have much in terms of resources. They did not have the opportunity to expand in their educational pursuits, as we have those opportunities today. They only had a third grade education.
Haldane Davies:My father was a carpenter, a boat builder, a contractor.
Haldane Davies:My mom was a home economist In those days it was called a housewife but they were determined that all 10 of us should have the opportunity to grow, to excel and to become what we desire to be. And as a result of that, we have all grown, we've all excelled, we're all professionals and in various rights whether in medicine, in law, in administration, in aircraft operation, in technology and it's a whole host of areas. But more than that, the value that they placed in us stood out more and more, to the point where we were able, in turn, to take care of them until the day that they passed away. They did not desire to be in a home for the aged or anything like that. They wanted to be at home. Along with their resources and our collective resources, we ensured that they were comfortable right to the end, and that brought joy, and still brings joy within our heart to know that, within the Caribbean context, we are still able to take care of our parents. They invested in us and we invested in them.
Pulse of the Caribbean:That is so wonderful to hear about your background, your beginnings, and certainly the example that your parents provided, and certainly the values that they instilled in you and your siblings and the care that you took for them as you elevated all of you elevated in your lives to make sure that they were taken care of. As they poured into you, you and your siblings also poured back into them. Now tell us about your educational background, the foundation of your professional life, and where it started.
Haldane Davies:I had my early education, primary education, at a school known now as the Willard Whitley Primary School in the BVI. The name was different at that time it was the Major Bay Primary School. Then I went on to the BVI High School at that time. Beyond that, for my first degree, my bachelor's degree, my first degree is in theology and I actually did those studies in Trinidad and Tobago at the University of the Southern Caribbean, I worked for a while in ministry and then continued into higher education realm, even though the ministry, environment and service was very outstanding and profound and I truly enjoyed it.
Haldane Davies:I wanted to be able to impact the lives of more people. I wanted to be able to touch more especially our youth, our young people, our adults who are returning back into the educational environment from a formal perspective. And thus I continued and obtained a master's degree in education and went beyond that for a doctor of philosophy degree in administration and supervision within the context of a higher education. And so with that background I was able to move on and to impact the lives of so many at so many different levels, whether at USC in Trinidad, where I served for a while, or at the H Liberty South Community College in the BVI at the University of the Virgin Islands, usvi, and also at the University of the Commonwealth of the Caribbean in Jamaica.
Haldane Davies:And with all of that, there was still interaction with a number of other places, a number of boards and associations and organizations on which I served over the years. That helped to grow me further for the work that was ahead.
Pulse of the Caribbean:Certainly that is an amazing background in history and certainly a part of you that I did not know about with your background in theology, know about with your background in theology, so I understand a little more about Dr Haldane Davies. Certainly that is remarkable. Now, as you mentioned, your professional life has been focused on higher education and being more impactful in touching the lives of so many more and your involvement in so many different boards, and you have traveled the Caribbean as well, from Trinidad and Tobago, that's all the way down to the southern end of the Caribbean, all the way to the northern end of the Caribbean in Jamaica, where you served as president of the University of the Commonwealth of the Caribbean. So tell us, though, about your tenure at the University of the Virgin Islands, where you served in several capacities, including that of vice president of business development and innovation.
Haldane Davies:When I started my tenure at UVI. It came after I was brought on to do some work as a consultant in the area of 360-degree evaluation, to be able to ensure that the evaluation process was not just left to the manager but to get input from the direct report from their peers from managers as well as customers, to provide a more rounded approach to help individuals grow and to excel and exceed. I was then asked to serve as special assistant to the president for capacity building and strategic planning, special projects in particular, and to lead the planning initiatives of the institution. Being able to expand the work of the university in that particular area was certainly a joy to me. Seeing colleagues at the university become more familiar with their work, with the potential that they had to grow and to develop, with the latent capacity that existed that they may not have been aware of at that time to collaborate even more with other colleagues for the better good of the institution, and with the projects that we were able to conduct, not only at the university but throughout the Virgin Islands, other agencies with strategic planning and a number of other activities that we're able to help many agencies with. I think one of the more signature areas of my term at UVI, while serving as Vice President for Business Development and Innovation, was the fact of being able to bring to the university, up to this date, that I am mayor of the largest grant in the history of the university.
Haldane Davies:It was a grant that was awarded by the US Department of Commerce, the Economic Development Administration, of $20.6 million for the construction of the Medical Simulation Center on St Croix, the St Croix campus and the Medical Research and Training Center on the St Thomas campus.
Haldane Davies:We were able to expand that some more because we needed some additional dollars to get the projects completed, so additional dollars coming in from the ADA brought the total to about $3.534 million. Overall, those facilities have been completed. The simulation center in St Croix is operational. The medical research and training center in St Thomas was recently dedicated and commissioned, so that should be operational somewhat soon. But being able to ensure that these facilities are in place for first responders, for individuals who need to be at the forefront, for additional training, for upgrades and for the opportunities to grow and develop areas that are so important to the resilience and sustainability of our economy is important for us, and touching lives and helping people be better than who they are right now is my hallmark, and I always look forward to that, than who they are right now is my hallmark and I always look forward to that.
Pulse of the Caribbean:All right, certainly those are large capital I could say more than large but grand capital projects as it relates to the development of those centers, medical centers, and that is something new for or added to the region as it relates to building and growing and cultivating talent within the region. So certainly, kudos to you and hats off to you in fostering that development of those centers which now stand as a platform or the springboard to, as I say, cultivate talent within the region and globally.
Haldane Davies:Certainly, and a few other areas include assistant agencies, for example, government Employees Retirement System, grs, in helping to lead collaboratively with them the development of their strategic plans 2015, 2020, 2020 to 2025, vi Waste Management Agency to assist with their strategic plan as well. And a number of other entities the hospital on St Croix, wong Lui and many other entities that were able to benefit as a result of the work that we did at the university, also including the economic development authority of the US Virgin Islands.
Pulse of the Caribbean:Amazing Now, following your tenure at the University of the Virgin Islands, you moved on to be president of the University of the Commonwealth of the Caribbean. Tell us what led you to that position.
Haldane Davies:Throughout my life there were a few goals that I had in mind to be able to expand my role in high ed, to serve as the leader of an institution, and when the opportunity came at first I was not responsive to it, you know, but when opportunity keep knocking, they respond. It went through the entire process and I was selected and asked to lead the institution, being able to again touch the lives of so many persons.
Haldane Davies:We had over 5,000 students at the institution and five different campuses across Jamaica and moving back and forth throughout those locations and interacting with people at all levels, whether in government at the highest level with the prime minister or the ministers of government, with individuals who are moving on from one degree maybe a first degree to another and having some economic challenges how to get through those challenges or individuals who are just starting you know they may have been challenged earlier on in life and now the opportunity is there and to be able to help them accomplish their dream and their goal was certainly a pleasure being able to expand the presence of the institution in a variety of different ways, in a variety of different areas growth in enrollment and a number of other areas or items that we worked on, as well as a number of other business development projects that I assume would be ongoing now that I no longer serve as president there.
Haldane Davies:But working along with the faculty, the staff, the students, the community, the board, to be able to ensure that we are providing the best possible level and quality education was important. It also gave me the opportunity to continue my service on the Association of Caribbean Tertiary Institutions as the first vice president. That's the association of all colleges and universities in the Anglican Caribbean, from Guyana up to Jamaica, bahamas, bermuda and all of the other islands in between and to meet regularly with colleagues and to lead a number of different initiatives and to help us all grow with colleagues to higher heights and deeper depths in our own experiences as leaders, you know was a joy and a pleasure and I am truly grateful for all of those experiences.
Haldane Davies:Those took me also more on the national scene in the United States, serving on the board of the Certified Public Manager Program, which is highly recognized across the United States and other parts of the world, and being able to help to fashion and guide and to move that institution forward while I served as secretary of that national organization as well as chair of that national organization.
Haldane Davies:As well as chair of that national organization, you know, was also a great opportunity. And now even serving on the board of the International Economic Development Council out of Washington DC, being able to interact with economic developers from across the nation and from around the world looking at what they do. That experience, that exposure, has helped me even more to solidify the work that I do right now with Orion Consultancy Services to help the Caribbean, to help the territories here and in the Virgin Islands to grow, to expand and not be too free. It's all a foreign direct investment but for us to have our goals well laid out and to know what we desire, how to get it and to put the required parameters in place to safeguard our people and to safeguard our resources throughout the entire process. So that's a bird's eye view of some of the areas that have been engaged in, even from the standpoint of serving at UCC and elsewhere.
Pulse of the Caribbean:Amazing. So you did mention your board affiliations and certainly the work that has put you on a national stage, not only in the Caribbean region, but also on a national stage as well. So that gives you more reach. And we spoke about in terms of your capacity to build and forge connections, vital connections. So tell us about the services and the work that you provide as Director of Orient Consultancy Service. We know that is now your central focus, as you have moved now from your professional career quote-unquote per se within the university, full stream to now consultancy. So tell us about those services and your notable involvement in your consultancy services and your notable involvement in your consultancy.
Haldane Davies:All right, thank you Orion.
Haldane Davies:Consultancy Services is focused on going worldwide or reaching worldwide to bring excellence home. That is our focus and whatever we do, we try to do it at the highest possible level. We engage right now in providing economic impact studies for various entities that may need to have an idea of the direct, indirect and induced impact that the investments are having on a particular location and induced impact that the investments have in on a particular location. Also, strategic planning and forward thinking analysis in a number of different areas. The whole matter of business development.
Haldane Davies:We're working now with various entities to bring more investment dollars to the Caribbean region that would allow for more activities to take place, for more economic opportunity to be engaged in growth of their own way of life and own way of living, to allow their revenue streams to be more like what they desire them to be and to see what level of infrastructural development may be needed and necessary to help support various industries in the region. Of course, there are some of the softer sides, like mediation, being able to resolve issues between various parties, and other personalized coaching and leadership development work that we do also at Orion. So in all of that, we conduct our analyses from a scientific base and make sure that all who participates within Orion have the opportunity to really be the best that they could be.
Pulse of the Caribbean:And certainly a part of the strategic planning and providing those various entities. Certainly we do have, you know, wonderful plans that are developed, that are developed. So are you also integrally involved in helping them to implement those plans as well? Because sometimes we have the plans but then it's the fortitude to move forward and I know that is not on your consultancy, it is on the entity to bring to life those plans that you, of course, would develop with their insight to move forward. So tell us about you know, planning and implementation.
Haldane Davies:All right, very good question. Our approach to strategic planning is a collaborative approach. If you really want to see plans sit on a shelf and nothing happen with those plans, then you just go in as a consultant, get a few views and ideas from the entity and sit down and write that. But that's not our approach. We have a planning task force that's made up primarily of individuals within that particular organization. They are engaged at every step of the way in identifying those things that are done well, those things that excite them, those things that bring concern to them and those things that they need to do better and throughout the entire process, to be able to make the requisite recommendations to ensure that when the plans are implemented, that they are implemented well because they are engaged.
Haldane Davies:It is their plan. It would not be Orion's plan, it would be the plan of the entity. They would be there, they would be the ones implementing. But we also work along with the organization to give guidance during the implementation process, because the officers of the organization those are the individuals with the power and the authority to implement. We'll be there as advisors to guide that implementation process, to keep them on time and on task and to ensure that it is something that is done and the plan is not just placed on a shelf somewhere.
Haldane Davies:The collaborative strategic planning is so important and a lot of the follow-up work is not to be done by the consultant, but by the individual, who are the bona fide owners of the plan, of the strategy, with the support and the guidance of the consultant.
Pulse of the Caribbean:So it's important that that occurs, and that's what Orion is all about is all about and that is so important in terms of while you may have those relationships and agencies that may seek the value that you bring that Orion brings, it's also important to know that it is a working team to bring to fruition those things that are certainly put together to move forward Because it's not just about Orion, it's also about that agency and bring about change, necessary and needed change that is required in so many different spaces. What are the most pressing issues, as you see it, facing our world and the Caribbean region today?
Haldane Davies:I think, in addition to the whole matter of economic stability, we find within our region the matter of continuous human source development. Sometimes we tend to become somewhat content with who we are, with where we are, and not look for other opportunities or allow our minds to be open to ideas and to information that may be different from those that we have, and we can only be as good as the ideas and information that we are open to. Be sure, you have to test all of those and ensure that they are for the greater good and for our individual growth and development. But seeing beyond where we are, you know, just recently I was speaking with another leader across the Kruger region and we were talking about the whole idea of balancing the environment, a balance within development.
Haldane Davies:There are those who would like to see our natural resources preserved in a pristine way, as they have been for generations, that there should not be any development in certain areas, while at the same time, they're crying and saying well, look, well, what's happening? What is the government doing? You know we can't get anything done. We need to progress our various countries. So we were talking about the whole idea of making sure that there is balance in our overall growth so that sustainability still occurs. Yes, we need to look beyond where we are. We need to develop some of our areas that may be reserves, but develop them in such a way that the impact on those areas will be minimal, while, at the same time, providing an economic boost for the particular jurisdiction, being able to ensure that our economies grow and expand, that our people are given the opportunity to be engaged in leading organizations and leading entities leading organizations and leading entities and not just being managed, because when people have the opportunity to contribute, they become excited, they see, they take ownership of what's there and they're able to grow and to excel. So the matter of human resource development, economic development and sustainability yeah, those are the areas that we need to look at.
Haldane Davies:Throughout the Caribbean region, we're seeing different changes in the environment more storms or fewer storms.
Haldane Davies:You know, seemingly many of the hurricane forecasters are a little baffled right now. We should be at the height of the hurricane season, but things are still somewhat quiet. But whatever these changes are that are occurring across the region and in other small island development states across the world, we need to pay close attention to them. In states across the world, we need to pay close attention to them and those who are contributing to the deterioration need to step up to the plate and to assist financially and in meaningful ways those that have been primarily impacted as a result of these changes that are occurring. As a result of these changes that are occurring, we want to make sure also that our infrastructure throughout the region, that those are in place Good healthcare systems, good educational systems, roads, ports, airports, seaports are up to date and up to par. That will allow for our economies to grow, to expand and to sustain themselves. Opportunities are bound before us every day, but we have to identify those that would be best for various locations and work hard to ensure that they are implemented.
Pulse of the Caribbean:So, certainly, there are singular things each island nation needs to work on as it relates to their development, as you mentioned, with working on ensuring that they have a strong infrastructure and services that they provide to their communities, as well as the need for balance in development within the region to make sure that we, yes, preserve the natural resources that are so vitally a part of our lives and the environment in which we live.
Pulse of the Caribbean:And one of the things that you mentioned also that is vitally important for the region is the continuous learning and training and development of the human capital, our human resources and sometimes, yes, I do believe that our leadership in certain instances may fail our people in various organizations, and that is something that is vitally necessary to make sure, as you mentioned, that we are growing and grooming the human resources so that way they are able to move into positions of leadership and also, when people are involved and valued, certainly with that as well, they take ownership Ownership in the development of that agency, ownership in ways for moving forward. Like you said, there are opportunities and certainly input is always necessary, and you want to have your people to buy in and to be involved, and that helps, I believe, tremendously with any movement and changes within an organization Changes, I would say, for the positive. Not everyone would certainly agree with everything, but certainly if there can be consensus in certain things that need to change, and a lot of times we do have those persons that are performing whatever task, that are doing those things every day and they may have the insight to provide greater insight to leadership and how things can work better. So person's opinions or person's input are certainly things that are valued and change. That is a part of life and change is also a part of growth.
Pulse of the Caribbean:Now, if there was one thing that you can change for the region and certainly one of the things that comes to mind is that we do have so many different island nations, we do have our individual tasks and things that we need to work on for our countries, and but there also needs to be collaboration as well, because we are one Caribbean and certainly each island nation has value in what they can bring to the table. So, give us your perspective as it relates to while, yes, every nation has its own work to do to build, but tell us about, perhaps even the importance of collaborations within the region.
Haldane Davies:All right, very, very good question there, and one of the areas that I think will work very well because quite a lot of work has been done in this area already is in the area of higher education of the Association of Caribbean Tertiary Institutions. I would say this all along to my colleagues, the presidents and principals and vice chancellors across the Caribbean region, that we have a lot of work to do. We are in a small space and there is no time for competition among us, because when you look at where our people are with access to higher education, we are way below the norm from an international standpoint, whereas in other jurisdictions, other places of the world, you may have about 40 to 50 percent of the population having access to higher education, in some areas we are still down in the single digits. And so whatever we can do collaboratively to share with each other, to impact the opportunities that we all have, we may have a program developed in a particular island, nation or jurisdiction that could be accessed by another. Let's do that, let's share that information, let's co-teach different courses across the region.
Haldane Davies:You know, I was in Mauritius not too long ago and there we had conversations among other colleagues from other parts of the world about being able to share our faculty. This happens, but we need to do it more. But especially in those areas where we have similarities a number of the smaller countries in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific who are similar to us here in the Caribbean region. What could we do? They may be doing some outstanding work in a particular area that we could benefit from. We may be doing some outstanding work in another area that they could benefit from, so that the more we're able to share our resources and our knowledge and the information that we have, it would be better for everyone. And so that commitment to collaboration, especially in that particular space, was a hallmark of my leadership opportunities when I serve more directly in higher education.
Haldane Davies:And even from a consultant standpoint in higher education strategies, to be able to continue to say to colleagues listen, let's be strategic in what we do, the work that we do. Our work here is the development of humankind, of thought processes, of opportunities to grow, to expand. Human capital is our greatest resource and if we fail to provide that human capital in a way that's meaningful, it could be detrimental to our societies and detrimental to our various economies. There must also be information transfer. Even when we do work with others or collaborate with other countries and different parts around the world, we should not be sitting back and allowing them to do the work. We should be seeing exactly what they're doing. We should be learning. There should be information transfer, knowledge transfer, so that we'll be able to build that capacity and the capability to perform those tasks on our own the next time around.
Haldane Davies:You know one of the interesting things about ORIAD and some may think that it should not be, but I'm going to say it anyway In working with organizations, I firmly believe that organizations become better when they know how to do a number of things that they may call us as consultants to do for them. Okay, and even though it may appear as though. Well, you're giving your business away. No, you want people to be inspired. There is still a whole lot of business for everyone, beyond the fact of individuals being able to build some internal capacity to get some work done, Because through it all, we want to make sure that we are all successful at the end of the day. So collaboration is key, and without it, we're just standing as the old saying no man is an island. We just need to be able to see what we can do together.
Pulse of the Caribbean:Certainly, certainly and most recently, you authored Service Beyond Words. Tell us about this new book that you wrote, the title, which is quite captivating Service Beyond Words. Tell us about the title, what led you to write this book and three key takeaways that people will grasp from reading your new book.
Haldane Davies:From time to time it would reflect on my life and the times and opportunities that I had to learn, had to learn experiences gained and to see that this knowledge should not just be resident within me but to be shared with others.
Haldane Davies:And so I decided quite some time ago but, because of my very tight schedule, did not devote the time to get it done is to put pen to paper and begin to share some of my experiences, thoughts, views and opinions with respect to a way forward, also using experiences gained through serving on various boards being a member of the Baldrige Board of Examiners, where we look at organizational performance that award is given by the President of the United States annually and to be able to see how organizations should work to be at their best, and it's a process that's coveted around the world.
Haldane Davies:I then decided from that background, from my background of travel, of service on various boards and associations, as well as within my own work, to be able to write a book, as you said, and there were different titles that I toyed around with with respect to what would be best and what would be attractive and catching to the eye and to the ear, and listed them all down, and one day I was just going through that with a another colleague and we were going through with different words and interchanging here and there and then we came up with, oh yeah, service beyond words.
Haldane Davies:I said that's it. That's it Because it's crafting excellence in organizational performance. We want to make sure that there is service for everyone at every level, that management and leadership understands that they're providing service to their seats, to the staff, to the employees of the organization, that employees and staff realize that they're providing service to the clients, to the customers, and for the customers to realize that they're providing service to the wider community. But it all comes back to the organization how employees are treated, how they are remunerated, how they are viewed as a part of the establishment of the agency of the organization, agency of the organization, how they responded to customers, what leverage and opportunities they have to be able to satisfy the needs of the customers.
Haldane Davies:But I also emphasize in the book that, contrary to the fact that the customer is always right or the customer is king, there's also the other side, Because if the employee, if the associate, if the staff is not king, they can show kingship to the customer and to have an improved business environment where the revenue base will grow, where the customer base will expand and where you have satisfied and raven associates, employees in an organization where they can say my organization cares about me and they care so much about me that I'm going to go above and beyond to care for the customer and to make sure that this business grows and that it stays in perpetuity, well into the future. So Service Beyond Words provided the type of quality assurance, the systems in place to run a high-performing organization. That is what Service Beyond Words is all about. There's another one that I'll be working on in the not-too-distant future. I'm just laying out the manuscript right now for that, outlining it.
Haldane Davies:Hopefully by the end of the year into early next year. We should be able to have that to be published at that particular time.
Pulse of the Caribbean:That is so awesome, to certainly put into writing your knowledge, to share that wealth of information with others, and who should get this book, or who should someone purchase this book for, in terms of sharing this knowledge.
Haldane Davies:Every leader in the organization should have a copy of this book. Every person working in the organization should have a copy of this book, because it touches what each individual does from their particular vantage point. Every board member. Sometimes we have decisions being made in boardrooms that are impacting operations on the ground that are far from ideal, and the service being provided by that particular organization over the years was top notch. But after the pandemic, that service has been less than desirable Because the leaders within the context of the boardroom are just looking at the bottom line.
Haldane Davies:How much revenue could we make? What could we pass on to our shareholders, without failing to remember that you will have more revenue to be realized and to pass out in dividends to your shareholders if you're providing the top-notch level of service that you provided before. And it was very interesting Someone came in and said look, this isn't right. I'm not happy with the service, but this appears to be boardroom decisions without knowing what's happening on the ground. So it's important for us, throughout all of this, to move in a really meaningful way to share the information.
Haldane Davies:I decided to keep it simple and not a long version of the book so that individuals will be able to read this within one reading, within a day, if you just devote some time to it. And once you get started, you should keep going and going and going until you get to the end and then participate in some of the exercises at the end so that you can see where your organization stands and what's needed from the recommendations and advice offered in the pages to be the best organization that there could be.
Pulse of the Caribbean:And tell us where the book is available.
Haldane Davies:The book is available on Amazon and it's available in digital form paperback, as well as hardcover. I encourage as many individuals as possible to get on there and get a copy of it and write your reviews.
Pulse of the Caribbean:Let us know your thoughts and views about it and how this book has been able to help you and certainly if someone wanted to get in contact with orion consultancy, tell us how they may contact you and learn more or to secure services.
Haldane Davies:Certainly. You can contact us at info at orionconsultancieservicescom, or you can contact me directly Haldane Davies at orionconsultancieservicescom, Alden Davies at orionconsultancieservicescom, and our phone number is 786-905-7141. 786-905-7141. As we go on, we will be expanding further with our webpage and then all of our resources will be available there as well.
Haldane Davies:Now what would you like to tell our listeners about Caribbean people, about our rich heritage and global impact?
Haldane Davies:What I would say to our Caribbean folk is that we are a special people, we are blessed people. We are people who have had the opportunity to impact so many lives, not only across our region but around the world. Wherever you go, you'll find individuals of Caribbean descent, caribbean heritage, who are doing great and wonderful things, and we have had that opportunity to go out, to learn, to grow and to expand. What I'd like to ask is that we consider contributing back to our home countries, whether in service, coming back and spending some time, whether one, two, three, four years, as the case may be, or coming back and just being a part of the continued growth and development.
Haldane Davies:As we come back, let us be mindful of those who have been at home for a while. Of those who have been at home for a while, there may be a little unease and discomfort because we may have a particular way, because of additional exposure, of resolving issues or addressing matters, but let us still be mindful of the views and opinions of those who have been addressing them in a particular way for a particular time and to see how collaboratively, we can work together for the betterment of our Caribbean nations and their countries. This is a special place and even though we are in a hurricane zone and maybe an earthquake zone, it is still the most beautiful place on earth for all of us.
Haldane Davies:And so let's do our part to contribute in whatever way possible.
Pulse of the Caribbean:And what is your life philosophy?
Haldane Davies:philosophy. From my standpoint, I look at ensuring that I respond to people in a respectful, honest and meaningful way, so that the life that they lived after our interaction will be a meaningful life, and one that they would desire to aspire to as they move into their own future, any favorite Caribbean sayings and what?
Haldane Davies:There is one Caribbean saying that my son reminded me of just the other day. As he grew up, at times being by my parents, his grandparents and with his other cousins and other individuals in the community, they would at times take chances and do things that would be beyond what was necessary, and he reminded me that Ma or his grandmother would say to him if you don't hear, you will feel.
Haldane Davies:And what that means is we have the opportunity of receiving advice, receiving guidance, of being able to gain and benefit from the experiences of those who have gone on before us from the experiences of those who have gone on before us, from the mistakes that they have made, from the victories that they have won, and they are willing and ready to share that information with us. So it's an opportunity for us to learn and grow. But if we fail, we don't need that. We want to follow our own way and go in our own direction. Sometimes, when we hit a wall, we will feel, so who don't hear will feel. But we want to be able to make sure that, as a people, as a nation and as a country together, and as various jurisdictions across the Caribbean or different parts of the world where we may be right now that we are still doing our work and making our contributions in meaningful ways to help our fellow humankind, Because that's why we're here.
Haldane Davies:Outside of that, you know, we're just here ready to pass on, but as we pass on, let's leave a legacy that will impact the lives of others.
Pulse of the Caribbean:Well, Dr Haldane Davies, higher education administrator, university president and author, we certainly would like to thank you for joining us today on the Pulse of the Caribbean podcast.
Haldane Davies:Thank you so much, keisha. It was such a joy being able to speak with you and to share, and thank you for the great work that you're doing with this podcast and ensuring that the lives of Caribbean people are highlighted and to see how we can all collectively continue to do our part to help advance our various nations and countries and territories in the Caribbean region. Thank you and much success to you.
Pulse of the Caribbean:Thank you.
Haldane Davies:Haldane Davies, executive Director Orion Consultancy Services.
Pulse of the Caribbean:I am the.
Haldane Davies:Pulse of the Caribbean. I am the Pulse of the Caribbean.
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