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Opportunities exist for agricultural, manufacturing sectors

September 8, 2016, 9:00 pm
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There is again a call for the local agricultural and manufacturing sectors to work closer together to meet the food demands and needs of Barbadians.
 
It has come from Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), James Paul, in a recent interview with The Barbados Advocate, as he suggested that Government’s newly imposed National Social Responsibility Levy which will put a two per cent tax on imported goods, can be the driving force behind that increased collaboration. He said by manufacturing more basic food products locally, they can reduce the cost to Barbadians.
 
However, Paul is adamant that if the agricultural sector is to truly flourish and there are to be greater synergies between that sector and local manufacturers, then investments are needed. 
 
“I think even our present economic situation should send the message to Barbadians that we need our producers to do more. We are just talking a good game sometimes but we are not actually doing, we are not putting our money where our mouth is so to speak. There are key local investors in this country that have an opportunity to make a difference in terms of encouraging local producers to do more in terms of the manufacturing and agricultural sectors, but they are not taking advantage of it,” Paul lamented.
 
The agriculturist is of the firm belief that the local business community has a duty to do more to help advance agriculture and to assist the country in achieving food security. But he charged that it would appear that they are more willing to sit back and allow foreign investors to provide the money so that they are not exposed to any risks.
 
“We have the attitude that someone from outside can come and do it for us, or we encourage Government to do it. This is the attitude that we have and I am saying that by simply rearranging the way we do business, simply enhancing our relationships we have with each other that we can automatically create avenues for products that can be sold both locally and abroad,” he stated. 
 
He is also reiterating that it is essential that commercial banks and other financial institutions in this country offer greater support to the agricultural sector, suggesting that if the banks embrace the agricultural sector, it could help potential investors recognise and appreciate the sector’s worth and encourage them to get involved as well. (JRT)
 
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Praise for private schools

September 8, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Some of the students at the Erdiston Teachers' Training College collecting their forms.

Some of the students at the Erdiston Teachers' Training College collecting their forms.

By: 
Patricia Thangaraj

 

Over the years, there has been a tremendous improvement in the education that is being offered by the private schools in Barbados.
 
This is the belief of Acting Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Senator Harcourt Husbands, who delivered the feature address at the recent Opening Ceremony for the Bachelor of Education Programme (Primary) and the Vocational Teachers’ Training Programme in Adult Education, at the Erdiston Teachers’ Training College.
 
“Private institutions can now more readily access training; and let me say about the private institutions, when I was at school and when I was at Erdiston, a lot of what was given as private education in Barbados was below the standard of what attained at Government schools. Since I have come back to teaching, since I have come back to education, I have visited many of these private schools and the standard is extremely high,” he highlighted.
 
He pointed out that this is because while the publicly-funded schools tend to cruise by on the achievements that they have already made, these private schools make an effort to improve their standards.
 
“I am saying that while we rested on our laurels, these people were coming to Erdiston. There are more trained teachers in the private sector – I believe without having the evidence – than at any time in the past, and if we continue…to pull down the schools that we teach in and hold them up to public ridicule, more and more people are going to save their pennies and cents and send their children to some of these private schools that offer a quality education,” he charged.
 
It is with this in mind that the Acting Education Minister urged persons to be very careful about what they say and to whom they say it.
 
“So we have to be very careful when we discuss our schools and when we discuss education in Barbados. We can actually be 'spitting in the' air if we are not extremely careful and that 
applies not only to you, but people in the Ministry, people like myself…
 
“There are some private schools in Barbados that offer an extremely high, quality education at an international standard and it is not as expensive as you might think,” Husbands added.
 
 
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New offerings in education

September 8, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Front row, from left: Senior Tutor at the Erdiston Teachers Training College, Maxine Moore; Tutor at Erdiston, Ramona Archer-Bradshaw; Chairman, Board of Management, Erdiston, Dr. Leah Garner-O’Neale; Acting Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Senator Harcourt Husbands; and Acting Principal, Erdiston, Patricia Saul, among those in attendance at the Opening Ceremony for the Bachelor of Education Programme (Primary) and the Vocational Teachers’ Training Programme in Adult Education on W

Front row, from left: Senior Tutor at the Erdiston Teachers Training College, Maxine Moore; Tutor at Erdiston, Ramona Archer-Bradshaw; Chairman, Board of Management, Erdiston, Dr. Leah Garner-O’Neale; Acting Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Senator Harcourt Husbands; and Acting Principal, Erdiston, Patricia Saul, among those in attendance at the Opening Ceremony for the Bachelor of Education Programme (Primary) and the Vocational Teachers’ Training Programme in Adult Education on Wednesday evening at the Erdiston Teachers’ Training College.

By: 
Patricia Thangaraj

 

 The Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation is embarking on a series of initiatives at various levels of the educational system, all in an effort to make the educational experience in Barbados more holistic.
 
Delivering the feature address at the Opening Ceremony for the Bachelor of Education Programme (Primary) and the Vocational Teachers’ Training Programme in Adult Education on Wednesday evening at the Erdiston Teachers’ Training College, Acting Education Minister, Senator Harcourt Husbands said one of these initiatives is increasing the number of sixth form schools in this island.
 
“I want quickly to draw your attention to several other aspects of this restructuring that I say is taking place in education in Barbados. Firstly, the expansion of the number of sixth form schools. Not only the expansion, but the courses that are being offered which lie outside the traditional offerings.”
 
He added: “The broadening of nursery education with the construction of six new nursery schools in the country, the first of which would be opening this coming school year – being next Monday – and officially opened in October. This would put us in a position to provide nursery education in very modern circumstances for all persons in Barbados requiring that, and we have to pay special tribute to the Maria Holder Trust for financing the construction of six of these six nursery schools. Without their financial input, certainly even in good times, the Government of Barbados would be unable to pursue a programme such as this.”
 
The Ministry of Education is also working on increasing the number of Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQs) into the school curriculum, said the Acting Minister.
 
“More and more we are introducing CVQs into the educational system, making our educational responses more skill based. This summer for example, there are many young 
people who spent their time getting their CVQs in agriculture, whether they were dealing with livestock or growing crops. 
 
 “The idea is that we are aimed at producing not only in the traditional academic areas, but also a variety of skills where the qualification that is regionally based and the holder of that qualification can travel with that qualification throughout the region to acquire employment.”
 
Husbands continued, “Additionally, the launching of the certificate of secondary level competence, the introduction into the schools.
 
"We have been looking at the construction of new schools; fine-tuning the offerings that are available, but also we must recognise that there are challenges with our young people – behavioural challenges, issues of discipline and so on – and two programmes that we have initiated [are] the Schools’ Positive Behaviour Management Programme and the A Ganar Programme are responses that we hope would engage some of these issues.”
 
 
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Optimist Club of Bridgetown assisting students

September 8, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Adrian Elcock, member of the Optimist Club of Barbados - Bridgetown presented backpacks to Principal of Belmont Primary School, Pamela Ifill

By: 
Tanya Lightbourne

 

The Optimist Club of Barbados - Bridgetown is dedicated to “Bringing out the Best in Children”.
 
This can be seen throughout its many initiatives such as the annual back-to-school programme.
 
Recognising that some parents and guardians have been experiencing trying times, the Club has come to the rescue providing 41 backpacks each filled with stationery, a water bottle as well as a $50 voucher from Pages Book Store.
 
Recently, the Club presented the backpacks to the principals of Arthur Smith, Belmont and Grantley Prescod Primary Schools who will in turn identify and distribute them to those children who need them most.
 
During the presentation held at Exclusive Lighting, Manor Lodge, St Michael, President of the Optimist Club of Bridgetown, Lady Carol Haynes took the opportunity to express special thanks to everyone who helped in making the programme a success.
 
“We really want to thank our sponsors. We have had significant sponsorship from Club members and also Corporate Barbados. Additionally, we had Optimists with families and friend overseas who were able to send us stationery. We have been very well supported in this initiative,” Lady Haynes said, also revealing that the Club has been able to help more students this year – twice as many.
 
“We spent our last meeting packing these backpacks with love. This is truly a project of the Optimist Club of Barbados - Bridgetown to help our young people and to make a difference in the lives of families”.
 
Principal at Grantley Prescod Primary, Marline Abrams expressed “I want to thank you on behalf of the students who will benefit greatly from this exercise. It is indeed a very fine initiative. We certainly look forward to a continued relationship with your Club.”
 
Arthur Smith Principal, Jennifer Hoyte and Pamela Ifill, Principal of Belmont Primary also thanked the Club for the donation.
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Redman discusses appointments

September 8, 2016, 9:00 pm
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President of the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU), Mary-Anne Redman.

 

The appointment of temporary teachers in the service is definitely engaging the attention of the country’s oldest teachers’ union and they are hoping to have the issues settled soon.
 
President of the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU), Mary-Anne Redman, said there are several problems with the process; with the composition of some of the interviewing panels and the way in which some persons are being recommended for appointment, being among the main bones of contention. 
 
Redman disclosed that the Union on Wednesday passed a resolution regarding appointments, as she indicated that the BSTU has always held – that the person acting for the longest period of time should be recommended first – but this seems not to be the case. She spoke to these issues in an interview with the media yesterday evening after meeting with BSTU members at Solidarity House.
 
“Another aspect that we looked at is that persons go for interviews and in most instances they are not told if they have been recommended for appointment or not, and that is an issue that we had asked the Ministry of Education to indicate to the board – that they should at least let persons know if they have in fact been recommended or not,” she stated.
 
Questioned about Government’s recent announcement in the Budget that a Working Committee will be set up to advise Cabinet on a programme to appoint all temporary officers in the Public Service with more than three years’ continuous service, at a threshold date to be determined, Redman said this has been provided for in the Public Service Act and should have been done before now.
 
“I don’t know what all the hee haw and song and dance is about. We still have members who should have been appointed under the Act effective from the January 1, 2008, because they were in established posts and they had been in those posts three years prior. So their appointments should have been automatic. What is the song and dance about? Those people have been disadvantaged for over ten years, they have been held back financially, professionally and otherwise,” she lamented.
 
Redman’s comments came as she revealed that the BSTU is looking to institute grievance procedures against one of the secondary schools and against the Chief Personnel Officer. While not providing many details on the matter, She did reveal that it involves one of their members, a temporary teacher who was working for four years, but was not rehired. She said they have laid out four grounds for their grievance, as they try to clarify exactly what has occurred in that situation.
 
“The Barbados Secondary Teachers Union had a grievance procedure agreed to by the Ministry of the Civil Service even before one existed in law. One now exists in law under the Public Service Act, the Fourth Schedule, and it is very clear there the timeframe in which certain things must occur. There is a process and the process must be followed within a given timeframe and we are expecting that as supposedly responsible officials of Government, they will follow the timeframes and follow through with the process. On our end we will certainly do what we have to do in keeping with best practice and following due process, so that there will hopefully not be the need to take it any further than having the grievances resolved,” she stated. (JRT)
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Mathurin: Region must be equipped to protect interests

September 8, 2016, 9:00 pm
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WITH the region receiving over US$6 billion worth of foreign direct investment in 2014, there is the view that any future liberalisation which Member States undertake, must be aligned to national and regional core developmental objectives. So says Director-General CARICOM Secretariat’s Office of Trade Negotiations Ambassador, Gail Mathurin, who was speaking during the opening ceremony of a workshop for CARICOM trade officials on the TISA negotiations and the Negative List approach, at the Courtyard Marriott on Wednesday morning.
 
The three day workshop will assess its implications for Barbados and undertake an in depth review and application of the Negative List Approach to the scheduling of Services and Investment commitments.
 
In the negative list agreement, countries specifically list which products or services they will maintain trade barriers on. If a product is not listed, no restrictions exist and the product is subject to be traded openly.
 
The Director-General assured participants that the capacity building programme with respect to the services and investment liberalisation has not be embarked upon in a vacuum, recognising that trade in services and investment are extremely vital components of 
economic activity in CARICOM Member States.
 
With CARICOM maintaining a healthy surplus with respect to the balance of international trade in services, Mathurin noted that in the majority of the region’s economies, the services sector comprises the bulk of economic activity, representing well over three-quarters of Gross Domestic Product in several instances. She stressed that the flows of FDI to the region are essential to its economic well-being, especially for a region that is a net seeker of FDI, which she noted accounts for between four and ten per cent of the GDP of CARICOM Member States.Ambassador Mathurin also stated that the private sector must also be engaged in the discussions on the TISA negotiations and the Negative List approach to services and investment liberalisation. (JH)
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Daughters praise ‘good father’ Canon Jones

September 8, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Christ Church Parish Church member, Rosalind Harris, presents Canon Jones with a plaque, while two of his daughters, Angela Bryan (c) and Valerie Goodman look on.

By: 
Patricia Thangaraj

 

A kind man, a disciplinarian and one who dedicated himself whole heartedly to his family. This is how Centenarian, Canon Ivor Jones has been described by his children. Speaking to the media yesterday after his birthday visit by the Governor General, Sir Elliott Belgrave; June Roach, the eldest of his children described her father as a honourable man who thrived on punctuality.
 
“He and mummy were just the most wonderful parents that anybody could have. We are so fortunate to have been their children. First of all, he was very punctual; if you are going anywhere with daddy you have to be on time. Right? He was 
always like that and he was a disciplinarian as well, but a very kind man, so he could always find ways to help us out of any difficulties that we were in. He always encouraged us when we were in school to do the best we can.”
 
She recalled a time when she was a teenager sitting her O’ Levels in English and she was worried about how she would do and he expressed his confidence that she would do well – and indeed she did.
 
The second daughter and third eldest, Valeria Goodman agreed. “My father has been an extraordinary father in every sense of the word. He has always been very supportive, very kind, very understanding in whatever it is that is happening in our lives. So you know, we always had this family support from our parents and that is so important in life today.”
 
She is proud to be carrying on the legacy of her mother as she is a teacher at the school her mother founded, Jones Private School.
 
She said that one of the things that her parents taught her both in parenting and teaching is that while it is essential that you provide discipline for the young people, you must never overdo it.
 
“Both of our parents were teachers right? Disciplinarians yes, but never too over the top. That is another thing too, you know as a teacher – yes, you have to be strict – you have to be a disciplinarian and things like that, but not go overboard with the children. Right? So that, I would say is what I got from them.”
 
Goodman also echoed her older sister’s sentiments that they had the best family life possible.
 
The youngest child and daughter, Angela Bryan, who is her father’s main scaregiver, stated that even though her parents were born in that era, they were still modern enough to accept the things that young people wanted to do.
 
He also expressed upon his children that while it is only natural to want to have fun, you still had to make sure that you put in your work too.
 
Missing, was Canon Jones’ second child and only son, Geoffrey Jones, who works in England and will fly home later on this week.
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Changing times

September 8, 2016, 9:00 pm
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The Governor General of Barbados, Sir Elliott Belgrave (right) congratulates Centenarian, Canon Ivor Jones. 

By: 
Patricia Thangaraj

 

The culture that was once present in Barbados, which all of the older generation Barbadians are so proud of, one of caring and sharing – unfortunately no longer exists today.
 
This was the sentiment that was expressed by Centenarian, Canon Ivor Jones who spoke with the media recently as he celebrated his birthday.
 
When asked to state what life was like growing up as a boy and then later on as a young man, he said that was a time when persons looked out for each other.
 
“All I can say is this; we lived in an age where people shared what they had with other people. It was a lovely age. If you had pumpkins and I didn’t have any, you would get some for me. If you had 
cucumbers and I didn’t have any, you would get some for me.”
 
He expressed his disappointment at how the times have changed, something he has observed in watching the news.
 
“Nowadays you are getting young people shooting one another, so day after day you hear about somebody being shot. So it is a different age altogether. That is nothing like the age that I grew up in because I ain’t know about any shooting until this season when you hear about this person shooting somebody and so on. We didn’t have that in our time. We had nothing like that in our time.”  
 
As for reaching this golden age, he expressed pleasure at reaching this milestone stating that many of his friends passed away in their 90’s so he is grateful to reach this age. Not revealing the 
secrets to his longevity, he stated that he is just pleased to be reaching this age since it was something that he always wanted.
 
Born in Holy Innocents, St. Thomas, his father was the Headmaster of the Holy Innocents Boys’ School while his mother was a teacher in the same school, making education an important part of his childhood.
 
Religion was another essential element of his childhood as his parents would take him to church every Sunday. In fact, it was in attending these services and hearing the priest preach that challenged him to get into ministry work himself.
 
“They used to take me to the church every Sunday and I used to listen to the preachers and I used to say to myself ‘man, I can preach better than that. I feel I can do better than that’ and that is how I got into the ministry of preaching and then I told them that I have preached in every Anglican church in this island of Barbados. There is not a church that is Anglican in this island of Barbados where Ivor Jones did not preach in the pulpit there. So I preached in hundreds of sermons. I preached sermons for at least 75 years and that is a lot of years to be able to preach."
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Monument construction starting at Garrison Savannah

September 9, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Designed by Taisha Carrington, the monument will be constructed on the inner field of the Garrison Savannah.

 

The 50th Anniversary of Independence Celebrations Secretariat has broken ground to commence erection of the National Monument which will be officially revealed at midnight on November 30, 2016.
 
The monument, designed by 22 year old artist Taisha Carrington, will be constructed on the inner field of the Garrison Savannah in the southern section and will be accessible via the inner “exercise” track.
 
The wheelchair accessible structure which is likely to become a major tourist attraction, will highlight significant events in Barbados between November 30, 1966 and November 30, 2016 and will feature the national emblems of the Coat of Arms, the Pledge, the Flag and the words of the National Anthem. The Monument will house the commemorative Broken Trident, which is currently being displayed across the island. It will also be the home of a time capsule which will be opened on November 30, 2066. Members of the public will have the opportunity to vote on its contents.
 
The monument will represent a journey through time and to the future. It will feature a platform that will encourage persons to observe the past, present and future with the help of a specially designed sundial. It will also remind visitors of the significant events and the defining moments in our history since becoming an independent nation. 
 
Expected to be completed by October 31, 2016 work on the monument will be carried out by the Barbados Defence Force as the building contractor and will cause minimal disruption to the activities at the Garrison Savannah.
 
“Once the preliminary excavation is completed, the construction area will be enclosed. All vehicular traffic to and from the construction site will use the existing access and inner ring road,” explained Director of the Natural Heritage Department 
and Chairman of the Barbados At 50 Monument Committee, Steve Devonish. He added that there were prior discussions with other Garrison stakeholders including the Turf Club, The Barbados Rugby Club and the Ministry of Housing.
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Opposition concerned over declining numbers of Barbadians at UWI

September 9, 2016, 9:00 pm
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The Opposition Barbados Labour Party continues to be extremely concerned and perturbed over the continuing decline in the number of Barbadian students who have been able to enter the University of the West Indies campuses within the last two years.  This from St James North MP and Shadow Minister for Education and Human Resources, Edmund Hinkson, who made the point in a press statement recently. 
 
“Barbadian student enrollment declined by a huge 40 per cent in the first year after the Government imposed tuition fees on our citizens starting from the academic year 2014-2015. We now have the frightening situation where the Cave Hill campus is reporting that less than 1 100 Barbadians have been able to register in courses for this semester, after 2 500 qualified citizens had been accepted. The remaining 1 400 qualified persons or 57 per cent are not going to be able to attend UWI this semester after 50 years of political independence, due to lack of money to pay the tuition fees which have been harshly imposed by the DLP Government. This extremely worrisome situation is compounded by the fact that Minister Ronald Jones had promised that no Barbadian would be unable to attend UWI due to lack of funds.
 
It is even more astonishing since the Minister had initially announced students’ access to bursaries to assist in this funding. Thereafter, in last year’s June budgetary proposals, the Finance Minister announced that $5 million would be available in scholarships and grants to aid Barbadians with their tuition fees”
  
Hinkson stressed that nothing has been forthcoming from the Ministry of Education on the matter.  
 
“Instead, it appears that the bursaries, the grants and the scholarships are presently non-existent. Furthermore, the Government’s funding facilities do not possess the financial capacity to lend for the time being. In all of this, these persons, mainly young Barbadians, have not even received any word of hope or encouragement from either Minister Jones or from Acting Minister Harcourt Husbands. We urge those successful applicants who have been  unable to take up their 
positions at the University not to give up hope and not to despair. We encourage you to seek alternative funding during the next three months although it means delaying your acceptance by at least a semester. Do not give up on your laudable dreams and aspirations merely due to the unfortunate reality which presently exists as a result of an erroneous policy by the DLP administration,” he added.
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NAB committed to continuous staff training

September 9, 2016, 9:00 pm
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The National Assistance Board (NAB) remains committed to its workers’ well-being, their growth and development.
 
This was expressed by Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development, the Hon. Steven Blackett, as he pointed out that programmes and services of NAB are not only geared towards its clients.
 
“Continuous and relevant training in areas such as Alzheimers, HIV/AIDS and Health and Safety issues ensures that the agency has a cadre of workers who are equipped not only to deal with the changing needs and behaviours of elderly recipients but that 
they also acquire skills and knowledge which positively impact their personal development,” he indicated during NAB’s 36th anniversary service.
 
Recognising that the agency has an ageing working workforce, and in keeping with the recommendation by the National Policy on Ageing that “the economic security provisions for older persons must include greater self-reliance and better preparation for retirement”, selected workers from across NAB have benefitted from a ten week training in Retirement Planning that began in June and ended in August of this year.
 
Blackett said that the training was holistic in its approach and focused not only on the financial aspect but on the mental and physical components as well.
 
“The National Policy on Ageing examines the status of older persons with a view of removing over the next ten years existing barriers in critical areas that may hinder the participation of older persons in mainstream society,” he explained, also revealing that a special committee has been established and mandated to monitor the implementation of policy based on the recommendations contained within the document.
 
“Crucial issues identified include elder abuse, poor intergenerational relations, and social exclusion in areas of health, finance and housing and gaps and shortcomings in the legislation,” Minister Blackett highlighted.
 
“The removal of these barriers to facilitate social inclusion and the creation of an enabling environment for older persons goes beyond imagining a society for all ages to the reshaping of society so as to embrace the principles of equal access, equal 
opportunity and inclusion for all age groups including the elderly. This will require raising awareness at the individual, family, community and national level.” (TL)
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BVHS reports ‘Health for Homeless Fair’ success

September 9, 2016, 9:00 pm
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The Barbados Vagrants and Homeless Society is reporting that its “Health for the Homeless fair” at Queen’s Park on August 27 this year, was a success.
 
“The response was pretty good. Well over 100 plus people turned out for that Fair. They received some HIV testing. They also received food, clothing and a number of different health tests from the Diabetes Foundation,” President of the Barbados Vagrants and Homeless Society, Kemar Saffrey, said in an in interview with The Barbados Advocate this week.
 
He meanwhile noted, that his sights are set on the next health fair, set to take place during the Christmas period.
 
“We were in collaboration with Courts this year, so that was a pretty successful event and we are looking forward to the other one in December – our next health fair which will be “Love Day”. We are looking at December 17th for that,” Saffrey added.
 
“So we are on track for that and we hope that other sponsors will come on board as Courts did, so that we can make that a big success as well, for the organisation. 
 
“We will also be partnering Terry Arthur and his team for Love Day, as we have for the last five years,” Saffrey also commented.
 
The Health for the Homeless Fair was held this year in partnership with s (Barbados) Ltd, trading as Courts Barbados; and a number of volunteers were on hand at booths set up in the Park, to assist in handing out food and clothing to the homeless.
 
The customary health checks included HIV testing, blood sugar and blood pressure checks, as well as homeless persons receiving the opportunity to get free haircuts during the Fair. Over the years, the BVHS has been vetting those persons who turn up, to ensure that only those truly in need, benefit from the Fair’s free offerings. (RSM)
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cash crop

September 9, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Ministry of Agriculture pushing cassava industry
Purity Bakeries’ Sales and Distribution Manager, Christopher Symmonds (right), tells Vermaran Extavour, Regional Cassava Development Coordinator with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (left) and Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management, Dr. David Estwick, about the new cassava blended bread.

 

Purity Bakeries’ Sales and Distribution Manager, Christopher Symmonds (right), tells Vermaran Extavour, Regional Cassava Development Coordinator with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (left) and Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management, Dr. David Estwick, about the new cassava blended bread. 
 

 

Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management, Dr. David Estwick says his Ministry is committed to the development of an integrated cassava industry.  
 
The assurance came yesterday morning as he delivered an address at the launch of the Cassava Blended Bread by Purity Bakeries at Sky Mall, as he said that given the land size of Barbados, if the sector is to be successful, it necessitates the creation of an integrated industry approach. This is an approach that can be employed across the agricultural sector, he said.
 
“We have to take it from the primary product and carry it through to the value added products in all the ways that we can. This is one of the reasons why we in a lot of ways have challenges with the cotton industry in Barbados. 
 
“We have been talking about integrated cotton for about as long as I remember…and it has not moved; we are still at primary products. We’ve had one good successful industry which has been the sugar industry. We took it from growing the raw sugar canes and then we processed it into all of its value added [products] – being sugar, being molasses, being rum, etc. That is the strategy that we are going to be pushing forward with,” he said.
 
With that in mind, he said his Ministry is looking at validating new and improved varieties of cassava for both the fresh and processing markets. Additionally, he said that through their collaborating agencies, extension staff, members of the farming community and other stakeholders will continue to benefit from ongoing training in planting and post-harvest handling of cassava; farmers to market linkages through contract farming; and cassava processing for the development of regional best practice guidelines for improved food safety and handling.
 
“The cassava industry in Barbados is being heralded as a success story throughout the region and today’s launch of Purity’s Cassava Blended Bread not only highlights the significance of communicating, cooperating and forging linkages within the agricultural sector, but it underscores the importance of the value added approach as a means of driving the economy and a viable tool in providing employment for the citizens of Barbados,” he stated.
 
He made the point as he suggested that this and other initiatives within the cassava industry could assist in reducing the high food import bill which is placing enormous pressure on the country’s foreign reserves; promote healthier food choices which could help reduce the incidence of non communicable diseases.
 
Minister Estwick, a trained physician, noted that there is a large body of research which clearly links high levels of gluten to a number of serious diseases affecting humans. He said the evidence is overwhelming that high levels of gluten result in high and sustained elevations of blood sugar, affects the gut and have also been identified as a trigger for a number of allergies.
 
The Agriculture Minister also noted that the initiative has the potential to spur growth in agri-business. While lauding Purity’s efforts, he issued a call for other bakeries to come on board and “like a good cassava bread warmly rise to the occasion”. (JRT)
 
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Keen interest shown in FCCA essay competition

September 9, 2016, 9:00 pm
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In the Senior Division, first place student Rhianna Smith was awarded a Bds $4000 Cruise Voucher from the BTPA and Foster and Ince Cruise World, dinner for two at Coral Reef Club and two day-passes to Pirates Cove and a dive ticket on the Atlantis Submarine. Here, she accepts her winnings from Martin Ince (left), CEO of Foster and Ince Cruise Services, Marsha Alleyne, Manager of the National Tourism Host Programme at the Barbados Tourism Product Authority (BTPA) and Dr. Kerry Hall (right), CEO of the BTPA

 

 

 
In the Senior Division, first place student Rhianna Smith was awarded a Bds $4000 Cruise Voucher from the BTPA and Foster and Ince Cruise World, dinner for two at Coral Reef Club and two day-passes to Pirates Cove and a dive ticket on the Atlantis Submarine. Here, she accepts her winnings from Martin Ince (left), CEO of Foster and Ince Cruise Services, Marsha Alleyne, Manager of the National Tourism Host Programme at the Barbados Tourism Product Authority (BTPA) and Dr. Kerry Hall (right), CEO of the BTPA.
 
 

 

By: 
Regina Selman Moore

 

Wolletta-Israel Yaicob of the Rock Christian Primary School and Rhianna Smith of Deighton Griffith Secondary School have been named the winners in the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Children’s Essay Competition, in the Junior and Senior Divisions respectively.
 
And according to Dr. Kerry Hall, Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Tourism Product Authority (BTPA), this year there was an increase in the interest shown in the essay competition. 
 
Marsha Armstrong, Programme Officer for the National Tourism Host Programme at the BTPA, indicated that the 2016 FCCA Essay Competition received 52 entries, 17 in the Juniors and 35 in the Senior Division.
 
The contest, which serves as a tourism awareness initiative, required each student to submit one essay on the topic “If you were a cruise passenger, what would you want to see and do in your destination (Barbados)?” Submissions were to be made to the BTPA, no later than Friday, July 1, 2016. The essays were judged on creativity, content or subject, style or structure and grammar.
 
 Yesterday, the first, second and third place winners in two separate categories received their prizes in the BTPA’s  Lecture Theatre, located on the 1st Floor of the Warrens Office Complex in St. Michael.
 
Junior winners
In the Junior Division, first place winner Wolletta-Israel Yaicob walked away with Bds $300 and one Apple iPad tablet, a lunch cruise for two on the Stiletto Catamaran, two day-passes to Pirates Cove and a dive ticket on the Atlantis Submarine.
 
Second place in this division was awarded to Arielle Harewood of St. Matthew’s Primary. She won Bds $250 along with two day-passes to Pirates Cove and a dive ticket on the Atlantis Submarine.
 
Third place went to Fallon Miller of Harrison College, who won $Bds 200, two day-passes to Pirates Cove and a dive ticket on the Atlantis Submarine. Each school also won a book prize.
 
Senior division winners
In the Senior Division, first place student Rhianna Smith was awarded a Bds $4000 Cruise Voucher from the BTPA and Foster and Ince Cruise World, dinner for two at Coral Reef Club and two day-passes to Pirates Cove and a dive ticket on the Atlantis Submarine.
 
Selyna Hollingsworth of Christ Church Foundation School took second place, winning Bds $500 and 2 day-passes to Pirates Cove and a dive ticket on the Atlantis Submarine.
 
Third place winner Saydiah Russell of Harrison College won Bds $400,  two day-passes to Pirates Cove and a dive ticket on the Atlantis Submarine. Each school also won a book prize.
 
 
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Changes coming to Food Promotion Unit

September 9, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Chief Executive Officer of the BADMC, Shawn Tudor (left); and Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management, Dr. David Estwick, speaking to the media yesterday morning.

 

THE Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) has been given a mandate to rebrand its Food Promotion Unit.
 
Word of this has come from Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management, Dr. David Estwick. Speaking yesterday morning at the launch of the Purity Bakeries’ Cassava Blended Bread at Sky Mall, he said this rebranding has become necessary given that the work currently being undertaken by that arm of the BADMC is not in fact food promotion, but rather agricultural product development and innovation. Given that, he disclosed the Unit will become the Agricultural Product Development and Innovation Centre.
 
“That is what they have done in producing all of these new value-added products from primary products… You can go back to when they developed pasta from cassava, when they developed vinegar from cassava and all the other products that would have been developed at the BADMC, but nobody knows about them. Nobody knows about them because it is not branded as a centre for innovation and product development, so those products can be picked up by our manufacturing sectors and via licensing arrangements or other branding arrangements to start to market those particular products,” he said.
 
Additionally, the Minister said that through this new Centre, persons will also get to know about the range of products made through the agri-preneurship programme. The young agriculturalists involved in that programme, he said, have successfully produced a large number of agricultural products including soaps, cosmetics and creams. His comments came as he said it is important that Barbadians understand that the world, not just Barbados, is their market and so it is important to create products and be innovative.
 
Chief Executive Officer of the BADMC, Shawn Tudor, told the media after the launch that the rebranding effort will take place shortly, and will allow the Corporation to position itself differently when it comes to manufacturers – being able to manufacture under licence and engage the private sector. During his earlier address, Tudor said the BADMC had invested hundreds of man-hours with respect to food science and marketing expertise to innovate and introduce five new, commercially viable, gluten-free convenience foods utilising cassava.
 
“These are all marketed under the Carmeta’s brand and include cassava cheesecake and sponge cake, as well as the cookies and sorbets… We remain committed to increasing consumer awareness and contributing to the cassava convenience food category here in Barbados through wider retail distribution and ongoing promotional support,” he said.
 
His comments came as he noted that BADMC’s Agribusiness and Agricultural Services Divisions have contributed human and infrastructural resources to the Cassava Value Chain Development Programme in several key areas, including facilitating 34 cassava farmers to securely and cost effectively supply 70 000 pounds of cassava to the bakery industry, which was processed into 22 000 pounds of grated cassava and cassava flour by BADMC. He added that the Corporation has joined Purity and other bakeries in assuring the price accessibility of cassava blended bread by subsidising some 37 per cent of the cost of grated cassava processing. (JRT)
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Not political!

September 9, 2016, 9:00 pm
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THE Minister responsible for Water Resource Management, Dr. David Estwick, is adamant that water should not be made a political issue.
 
Speaking to the media yesterday morning, just two days after several residents of St. Joseph led a protest outside the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) to express their frustration about the prolonged water outages that have been affecting them and called for his resignation, Dr. Estwick contended that blaming him personally for the water woes was a far stretch as he has no control over rainfall, which has been quite low in recent times. He made the point as he noted that the average rainfall per year has been in the region of 55 inches, with last year dropping as low as 31 inches.
 
“The issue is to understand the facts and not play politics with water. Water is not a political issue, water is a life and death issue and my challenge is to fix an old infrastructure that should have been fixed, and in due time I will be going to St. Joseph; I’m going to launch two new mains… That’s a new main from Golden Ridge to Castle Grant under the IDB Programme and the second one from Sweet Vale to Castle Grant, that should have been fixed and done before,” he said.
 
Dr. Estwick added, “But I’m not going to get into that because if a man does not have water, he has a right to protest. But you do not use the protestation politically, because if you got 31 inches last year, which is the lowest rainfall in 76 years, where is the Barbados Water Authority going to get the water from?”
 
Reiterating that the issue is one of low rainfall and an ageing infrastructure, he noted that the country’s rainfall average barely gives the BWA enough to extract the 44 million gallons of water that it takes per day. 
He said that quantity of water has been extracted per day since 1998, but he lamented that it was more than what the “rain was putting in the ground”.
 
“So how can you blame me or the Water Authority for that? We don’t bring politics into those matters. That is the reason why I congratulate former Prime Minister Owen Arthur, because after the Prime Minister got the information on the water management and water loss study, he understood he had to try to augment the water supply, so he built one desal plant,” he noted.
 
Estwick said that at that time more than one desal plant should have been built, and efforts should have been made to upgrade the mains and reservoirs.    
 
“That never happened, so we still have an infrastructure that is a hundred years old and crumbling, at the same time that we have a significant reduction in rainfall,” he stated.
 
Estwick said that his Ministry and the BWA are addressing the challenges, with one of the primary solutions being the construction of additional desalination plants. He noted that they have recently commissioned a temporary plant at The Hope, St. Lucy and are expected to have a second temporary plant commissioned in Trents, St. James in November. He made the disclosure while noting that there are plans to construct two large permanent desal plants, which should help push the daily capacity to as much as 65 million gallons. (JRT)
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Holdip celebrates his 100th birthday

September 9, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Centenarian, Clement Whitstanley Holdip in conversation with Governor General, His Excellency Sir Elliott Belgrave. Looking on is daughter, Lenora Brooks and family friend, Patricia Belle.

Rector of the St. George Parish Church, Reverend John Rogers, was among those present that wished the centenarian happy birthday.

 

Centenarian, Clement Whitstanley Holdip had one hundred reasons to celebrate yesterday.
 
The date was his birthday, an occasion his daughter, Lenora Brooks, said he was looking forward to. 
 
To mark the significant milestone, Holdip was surrounded by family and friends as well as the Rector of the St. George Parish Church, Reverend John Rogers, at his daughter’s home in Dash Valley, St. George. 
 
To make the occasion extra special, he was visited by Governor General of Barbados, His Excellency Sir Elliott Belgrave. During his time there, His Excellency presented a fruit basket, a bottle of non-alcoholic wine and a birthday card to the centenarian. He also shared a light moment with Holdip, who recalled the names of some of this island’s past Governors General.  
 
Brooks shared that the father of two (one child now deceased) and grandfather of two enjoys eating meals such as cou cou and soup. She also said her dad worked as a labourer at Staple Grove Plantation during his 
earlier years. 
 
Stating she felt both “happy and proud of him”, she thanked Almighty God for allowing him to see his 100th birthday. She also spoke fondly of her father.
 
“He was okay when we were growing up. He worked and supported us and cared for us, gave us what we wanted and we thank God for him today and I am so happy that he lived to 100 years.”
 
Family friend, Elaine Gooding, also expressed joy that Holdip was able to celebrate his 100th birthday.
 
“I feel very, very excited and overwhelmed because he has his faculties, but only thing he is deficient in sight. But other than that he is alert and everything and it is a wonderful achievement to have attained that age, having spent so much time in the past assisting others.” (MG)
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YOUTH DEDICATED

September 10, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Agriculture Programme for young people a success

 

Participants of the Youth in Agriculture Programme busy working the field. 
 

 

Dozens of young men and women are now equipped with the skills to work in the field, thanks to the “Youth in Agriculture Programme”.
 
Phase nine, which got under way in May, is being hosted by the Office of the Advisor on Poverty Eradication, with a mission to ensure that the agriculture sector continues to be replete with skilled youth, who will carry on the noble industry in Barbados.
 
Advisor on Poverty Eradication, Undene Whittaker, described the participants, who can be seen hard at work in the grounds of the Ministry of Agriculture, The Pine, St. Michael, as ‘dedicated’.
 
YOUTH from Back Page
 
Through the programme they have been harvesting a wide variety of crops, such as cassava, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, watermelons, lettuce and sweet potatoes. Also, engaging in rabbit husbandry. 
 
“The idea is to give them as many skills as possible, both in crop and animal management so they can determine which they want to specialise in. Participants are in an educational environment where they can learn skills and then seek employment across Barbados’ public or private sectors, or themselves.” Whittaker pointed out.
 
She also shared with The Barbados Advocate that the programme has been going strong because of some very generous donors.
 
Ensuring an increase in crop yields through water and fertility management and reduced disease, the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) has provided the programme with a Drip Irrigation System. 
 
This system will deliver water directly to the root zone of a plant, where it seeps slowly into the soil one drop at a time. Whittaker is extremely grateful for this system which will allow almost no water to be lost through surface runoff or evaporation, and soil particles have plenty of opportunity to absorb and hold water for the crops.
 
Since the start of the programme the participants ages 17 to 35 years, have been taught farming techniques by the extension officers of the Ministry of Agriculture, but have also gained 
significant life skills from experienced counsellors, as a significant section of the Youth in Agriculture Programme speaks to the importance of mentoring the youth in areas such as anger management and conflict resolution.
 
The Advisor on Poverty Eradication was also happy to reveal that some of the young men and woman have moved onto the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) in crop management and rabbit rearing.
The rabbitry component of the Youth in Agriculture Programme was made possible through the Maria Holder Memorial Trust and Reverend Peter Phillips. The rabbitry currently houses 63 various breeds.
 (TL)
 
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Upgrading skills important

September 10, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Some of the those in attendance at the opening ceremony on Thursday evening.

By: 
Patricia Thangaraj

 

There is a need for persons to upgrade their skills and knowledge on a regular basis in order to keep up with the changing demands of this world and it is in recognition of this fact that this 
island’s facility for training teachers in this island continues to place emphasis on its continuing education curriculum.
 
Delivering the welcome and opening remarks at the opening ceremony for the Continuing Education Programme on Thursday evening at the Erdiston Teachers’ Training College, Acting Principal of the Erdiston Teachers’ Training College, Dr. Patricia Saul, said that the general public has come to this realisation as well, and as a result, the growing demand for these programmes continues.
 
“We are living in a dynamic world, and knowledge is not static. Therefore, it is imperative that individuals keep upgrading their skills in order to remain current and marketable. It is for these reasons that this continuing education programme has become so popular with members of the public.”
 
In fact, the persons who show an interest in pursuing one or more of these courses are diverse ranging – from people who have recently completed secondary school – to those persons who are looking to change careers, she stated.
 
“Indeed, these programmes are accessed not only by those who maynot have successfully completed their secondary education, but also those who need to change careers, sharpen their skills in their areas of specialisation, or broaden their knowledge and skills sets.”
 
Some of the programmes that Erdiston has on the calendar for this academic year of 2016 to 2017 are Early Childhood Education; Introduction to Special Needs Education; Special Needs Provision; Counselling; Classroom Management; The Teaching of Reading and Mathematics; Technological Skills for the 21st Century; Planning for Instruction and Book Binding.
 
The College wants to ensure that they provide people with the opportunity to live a more productive life regardless of their respective station in life.
 
“Our selection of programmes is inspired by our recognition of the fact that adult education is concerned not with preparing people for life, but rather with helping people to live more successfully. Thus, our programme is designed to help individuals to 
increase their competence, and negotiate transitions in their social roles – whether they are workers, parents, or retirees etc. It is also intended to help them gain greater fulfilment in their personal lives, and to assist them in solving personal and community problems.”
 
They also are aware that human resources is this island’s greatest investment, stated the Acting Erdiston Principal. “Furthermore, as Barbadians we are cognisant of the fact that our greatest resource is our people. Hence, investment in the continuing education of our people is an investment in the future of our country.”
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BTPA donates to ‘Spirit’ Zonal shows

September 10, 2016, 9:00 pm
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For a second year running, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth has been extended a helping hand by the Barbados Tourism Product Authority (BTPA), with a donation towards the 2016 Spirit of the Nation Talent Zonal shows  made on Friday.
 
The first of the shows took place last night, Chief Executive Officer of the BTPA Dr. Kerry Hall made the presentation to Minister Stephen Lashley during an event held at his offices in Haggatt Hall.
 
The donation of $5 000, in addition to a further $11 000 put up between the BTPA and her sister department, the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, are dedicated to this year’s Community Independence Programme with the second sum going specifically to the development of the Parish Independence Committee projects. During yesterday’s briefing, Minister Lashley stated that the talent competition had for years provided persons at the community level with a platform to focus their talent, most times at a very early stage. Thanking the BTPA for their donation, Lashley said that the partnership was one that came naturally as the development of local talent fell within the mandate of the authority. 
 
“They (BTPA) have an important role in building out the tourism product and ensuring that wherever possible, we can diversify the effort. I think it is a vote of confidence for the Community Independence Programme for this to happen because where we could, in terms of our efforts, connect with our young talent across our communities, what it helps us to do is give vent to their creativity and by extension, it also helps to give more colour and more definition to a wider tourism product.”
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