Now I am not paying enough attention to comment on the budget or the deficit, but I did come across an explanation of just how big a trillion actually is.

To help grasp the enormity of this number, let’s think in seconds.

• 1 million seconds is equal to 11.57 days
• 1 billion seconds is equal to 31.71 years
• 1 trillion seconds is equal to 31,709 years

A trillion is a big number.

~ejr~

Hopefully it won’t too painful for either of us!

You’ll find here an archive or articles I have written over the last couple of years, originally published in Grand Bahama Info and Nassau Info newsletters and BahamaIslandsInfo.com, all of which I am the editor.

~ejr~

For those without family ties and a heritage in the outlying areas of Grand Bahama, we may have little cause to travel to the western areas of Eight Mile Rock or West End, or the central communities of Pinder’s Point, Russell & Williams Town or Mather Town, or to the eastern settlements of Freetown, High Rock, Pelican Point or McLean’s Town. But if you take the time to do so you will discover world’s that are both fascinating and sobering.

There is tremendous history in West End and Freetown that helped shaped the origins of society on Grand Bahama. Many of the original builders–that is, the people that actually constructed–Freeport’s canals, roadways and buildings came from and still live in these outer communities. Thousands of those that make up Freeport’s current workforce, licensees and student population commute from these communities. Without these vital parts of the society that makes up Grand Bahama, Freeport would be unable to sustain itself.

These communities also have a somber side to them that we also must not overlook. There are many that are challenged with physical and mental disabilities, disease, and that struggle to survive financially even with the day-to-day costs. Without the support of churches both within and outside these communities there would be some that would not survive. Unfortunately, there are some churches within these communities that have rampant poverty literally within their backyards, yet their parishioners have no trouble dressing finely for funerals and weddings and weekly worship services, all while their next door neighbours subsist only on the goodwill of people from other communities.

All is not dark, of course. There are some organisations, such as the Young Men’s Training Association (YMTA) in Lewis Yard, that have effectively impacted their own community with determination and vision to help give purpose and hope to their neighbours. With the support of local and international Rotary Clubs, construction companies that provide services at no cost, and other non-governmental organisations, Lewis Yard’s YMTA has become the model for a community centre that other settlements–and the national government–should try to emulate.

~ejr~