SOME schools in Barbados are failing to prepare for natural hazards.

In 2015, the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) completed and presented to the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation its School’s Emergency Operations Plan, designed specifically for local use.

However, according to the DEM’s Director Kerry Hinds, to date, many schools have not adopted the plan with most still only having single hazard plans, such as for fire.

“The Department of Emergency Management has for some time implemented a National Schools’ Programme, which focuses on increasing hazard awareness among the island’s school-aged population and their teachers,” Hinds said. The Director made her point as she addressed her department’s Schools Hurricane Symposium, held at the Queen’s Park Steel Shed.

Despite the efforts by some schools to follow the plan, Hinds said the DEM, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, will continue to assist schools with the adaptation and subsequent annual testing of the model emergency operations plan, in addition to conducting the symposium annually to assist students in learning more about hazards that have the potential to affect Barbados’ landscape.

The DEM head said students should know the main hazards that affect their schools, participate in preparedness drills, have an emergency “go bag” or box in their classrooms, have a preparedness plan, know what to do and how to take care of themselves in an emergency or disaster, and where to evacuate to in an emergency.

The seminar was organised for there to be a better awareness of the need for schools and individuals to have emergency plans, and to encourage increased awareness regarding the hurricane hazard.

Hinds urged the students from various schools, to take an active lead in some of the hurricane preparedness activities at their schools, a task which can also be done at home.

She told them that the seminar was a golden opportunity for them to learn as much as they can about the hurricane hazard and hurricane preparedness, and prompted them to share what they have learnt with some of their school friends and family.

“To all the teachers in the audience, I encourage you to engage your students in the classroom to be able to do well making informed choices and taking the necessary actions when a disaster strikes. Additionally, I ask that you play an active role in making your school a safer place,” Hinds urged. (AH)

Youth unemployment, limited access to funding for young entrepreneurs, the potential impact of the approaching increase in the National Social Responsibility Levy on July 1 and youth not being taken seriously when making proposals to Government, were all issues raised at a Youth Forum held yesterday.

The Global Shapers Bridgetown Hub hosted the Youth Forum at the Olympus Theatres in Sheraton Centre yesterday, under the theme “Barbados Economy: Youth Perspectives”.

Kemar Saffrey, Incoming Curator of the Global Shapers Bridgetown Hub, indicated that the Global Shapers Community is a worldwide network of hubs developed and led by promising young leaders who want to build on their achievements and entrepreneurial drive, to make a positive contribution to their communities.

“The Youth Forum is designed to offer young people an opportunity to voice their opinions, share ideas, and think together about what they can do to improve the current situation in Barbados,” he said of the initiative.

The Forum was moderated by talk show moderator and youth advocate, Corey Lane, and he engaged a four-member panel consisting of youth activist Imran Richards, economist Jeremy Stephen, entrepreneur Kemar Saffrey and BGLAD founder and human rights activist, Donnya Piggott. Various youth led organisations, such as the UWI Guild of Students and the United Youth Leaders of Barbados were present, as well as youth from secondary schools.

Addressing the issue of youth unemployment, economist Jeremy Stephen acknowledged that in a few years’ time, youth will have to compete globally for jobs and may even find that a number of services will be computerised, reducing the need for human effort. He therefore advised youth to choose their career paths carefully and to work on their critical thinking, as well as people skills.

Entrepreneur Kemar Saffrey meanwhile recounted numerous instances where he experienced a number of setbacks in approaching government for assistance in implementing proposals for his charity, the Barbados Vagrants and Homeless Society, but he noted that he did not let this deter him. Instead, he decided to seek other avenues for assistance. As such, he encouraged youth to follow their passion, to not be deterred by those who view them as “too young” to accomplish great things and to work in a way that their initiatives speak for themselves.

Youth activist Imran Richards meanwhile called on youth to be confident in themselves and to be patient, since reaching the pinnacle of success does not come overnight. Human rights activist, Donnya Piggott meanwhile advised youth to look for areas in which they could make money to advance themselves and still assist their country, for example, getting involved in community tourism.

THE demand for coconut products is growing strong, but Ansari Hosein, the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) Country Representative for Barbados, warns that as that demand increases, so do the challenges associated with coconut production.

He made the comments while delivering opening remarks at the start of a coconut growers stakeholder meeting, held yesterday at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic. It is one of the efforts being made to help chart a path forward for the local coconut industry as part of the Coconut Industry Development for the Caribbean Project, which is being funded by the European Union and executed by CARDI.

“Some of the challenges include the high cost of inputs and labour, an ageing population, a limited coconut gene pool, several pests and diseases, lack of quality planting material, inadequate coconut usage and development, antiquated infrastructure, poor agronomic practice, fragmented industry organisational structure and lack of an integrated approach for transforming the industry at the regional and national levels,” he said.

Hosein said that to combat those challenges, there is a need for policy intervention and broad-based stakeholder engagement as well as investment from the public and private sectors. With that in mind, he said the project being undertaken in Barbados to advance the industry is aimed at building the local coconut industry, using the private sector stakeholders to drive the process, while the Government and institutions such as CARDI would provide support to assist the development, as has been done in several other countries.

He made the point while speaking to the current status of the local coconut industry. According to him, research shows that there are over 60 coconut water vendors selling the commodity on the roadway and there are a number of people who are interested in planting coconuts on a commercial scale. Moreover, he said several businesses are already using coconut in their products.

However, he said, one of the key needs of the industry is high yielding planting material. Given that, he said the Ministry of Agriculture is evaluating local germplasm and are also looking at overseas sources for the germplasm as well.

His comments came as he outlined that some of the issues stakeholders have identified are also a challenge for the industry, including rats, a lack of climbing technology, nursery development and product development. In respect of the latter, he said assistance is being sought from other institutions such as the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation and the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation.

Hosein revealed that some of the activities planned to help develop the industry include the establishment of six observation trials and germplasm banks of local high yielding varieties, in order to provide planting materials to farmers; training in nursery management and coconut production; and assistance to vendors and processors to enhance their operations. The CARDI official added that plans are on stream to develop a national stakeholder committee to lead the development of the industry and to conduct a value chain analysis of the industry.

Additionally, he said consideration is being given to importing new dwarf varieties from Brazil and other countries. (JRT)

Healthy employees may result in more productive employees.

That is the belief of Philip Straughn, Co-ordinator of the Health & Lifestyle Fair at the Turtle Beach Resort.

Speaking to The Barbados Advocate recently at the resort in Dover, he indicated that the event is in its 11th year and is growing bigger. He also pointed out that the staff look forward to the health fair, which features skin care, nutrition, and physical checks, etc.

More importantly, he highlighted, “We don’t only have absenteeism in the hotel industry, it tends to be now considered a Barbados practice and with the increase of non-communicable diseases, as a nation we do have to look at our health and this could improve productivity.”

Straughn, who is also the Chief of Security, added: “It is important that staff can check their health, and working in the industry is demanding and over the years, it has helped tremendously. Some find out their blood pressure is high, etc… We have taken it further, we also go to the National Trust Hikes as a group.”

The Co-ordinator also noted that the health fair could not be possible without the support of the general manager and management at the Turtle Beach Resort, “and we appreciate that they do see the importance for a healthy work environment”. (NB)

NEW things are in store for this year’s kiddies jump up.

Junior Kadooment producer Rico Cumberbatch told the media that this year, a band from Bermuda called the H&H Gombey Troupe will be coming to Barbados to open the July 29 Crop Over experience, scheduled to be held at the National Stadium, with a cultural showcase.

Cumberbatch was speaking on Wednesday evening, at the National Cultural Foundation, St James headquarters where a meeting was held for Junior Kadooment bandleaders to draw their positions for the order of parade.

Junior Kadooment will also be bigger this year, with three new bands coming on board, including Wonderland Experience in collaboration with Wills Primary School, Blackbird Productions and the Dragon Fly Kids Band, which is a tribute to veteran band leader Renee Ratcliffe.

Co-bandleader for Dragon Fly Keisha Murray told The Barbados Advocate that the concept of the band this year is to, through the different sections; bring back some of the bands Ratcliffe would have produced over the years.

The sections are Dragon Fly, Neverland, Space Invader and Under the Pop. The band’s designer is Marlon Brewster, who is also designing the costumes for Jump Promotions.

“Of course we are going to make her proud; she is going to be smiling when she sees us,” co-bandleader Nakeisha Gittens said.

Quimby’s Explosion, Dragon Fly Kid’s Band, Wonderland Experience in collaboration with Wills Primary School, Fifth Element, Youth Explosion, Girl Guides Association, Blackbird Productions, Xante, Young Spirits Community Group, Gwyneth Squires, Island Spice Designs, M-Visions Children, Triple Force, Arthur Smith Primary School, Northernmas, Wednesday 2000, Good Shepherd Association and Milton Lynch Primary, is the order in which the bands will be parading before the judges. (AH)

Variety the Children’s Charity is seeking to give the gift of mobility to a special young lady.

To do so, the registered charity officially launched its very first Crowdfunding Campaign “Stand Tall” at Sharkey’s Bar, Sugar Complex, St. Lawrence Gap, yesterday.

Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising monetary contributions from a large number of people.

Executive Director of Variety, Donnah Russell revealed that the initial goal of $7 500 will allow Rasonte Parsons to receive the life enhancing prosthetics she needs to run, jump and play.

“In this climate of economic uncertainty, we find that donations are dwindling and are a threat to the very existence of non-profit organisations who depend on public and corporate donations to fund the services that they provide to their clients, and Variety the Children’s Charity is no different,” she pointed out.

“While we are grateful for all our faithful partners who know very well the importance of what we do, we are still very much compelled to look for new avenues for funding and new streams of sustainable income.”

Russell observed that Crowdfunding has been used to fund a wide range for-profit entrepreneurial ventures such as artistic and creative projects, medical expenses, travel, or community social entrepreneurship projects.

She is assuring all who contribute to the campaign, referred “Rainmakers”, that their funds will be put to good use, revealing that Rasonte, 15-year-old is a quadruple amputee, excited and very optimistic about life and what it has to offer. Born a ‘normal’ baby with ten fingers and ten toes, she lost both hands on March 14, 2003 and both feet on March 21, of the same year.

“I must admit that from the response – we will reach that goal,” she indicated.

“However, we have many more children with mobility needs that will benefit should we exceed the goal”.

The Executive Director also took the opportunity to welcome Courtesy Garage Ltd, as well as the Rotary Club of Barbados as Rainmakers to this worthy cause. (TL)

A local tree scientist is of the view that Barbadians have forgotten the importance of the environment.

In a recent interview with The Barbados Advocate, Nigel Jones, dendrologist and Director of the National Botanical Gardens (NBG), expressed that he believed Barbadians needed to be reminded of the important role that the environment played in our day-to-day lives.

He revealed that the NBG recently held a training workshop where participants were reminded of the basics behind growing plants. He noted that he realised that some persons did not recognise that plants and people were exactly alike when it came to taking care of them.

“When you reach your 50s or 60s and have various diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes and so on, the care that you will give at that level will not be the same care that you apply when the child is at the age of 11 or 12. So there are different care strategies that you will use in the plant’s life cycle,” he said.

He expressed that hosting the training workshop was his way of reminding participants of the importance of the environment as well as giving them the knowledge they needed to develop it.

“Bear in mind that we fundamentally survive on plants. Seventy per cent of the fruit and vegetables that we use on a daily basis comes from plants. Also, plants provide secondary food for animals that we feed on such as cows, sheep and pigs,” he said.
Therefore, Jones expressed that plants were the cornerstone of our survival, as they are what sustain us on a daily basis.

Additionally, Jones explained, that the way in which we treat our environment directly affects the environment’s ability to retain water in the soil, as well as helping to reduce the amount of flooding that takes place in the event that there is heavy rainfall. He believed that this information alone should drive Barbadians towards being more mindful of the way they treat their environment and grow more plants and trees.

A MODERN approach to Barbados’ agricultural platform is being developed, and is expected to fundamentally improve the relationship between consumers and suppliers of agricultural products, locally and abroad.

With just a tablet or even a smart phone, local producers, after registering with the Ministry of Agriculture, can advertise items for sale, while consumers large and small can check prices and purchase produce through the new platform, which the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. David Estwick, believes can change the outlook on agriculture.

Speaking to the media at his Ministry’s Graeme Hall headquarters yesterday afternoon, the Minister explained that for a long time Barbados has been stuck with the agricultural sector contributing approximately 2.5 to 3 per cent of GDP. This, he said, was partly because of the size of production, but also as a result of the weakness in the relationships and institutional structures that allow the farmers and the market to interact in a timely manner.

“What would normally result is a situation where there is a disconnect between what is produced in Barbados and what is consumed in Barbados.

He revealed that this move to modernise had its origins approximately two years ago where the Ministry of Labour, working with the European Union, developed a Human Resource Development Strategy out of which the MOA’s input was to look to develop a modern agricultural platform, advancing two basic elements, namely agripreneurship and agribusiness.

He explained that the devised Knowledge Management System includes three features, including a farmers market. “A buyers’ and sellers’ market, where producers of farm products would interact with a real-time feature very much like Amazon, eBay, where they would advertise their products, quantities, prices, not only to the local market but regional and international markets.

Customers and consumers, whether individual or companies like hotels or restaurants or supermarkets would interact in real-time with the website and make offers to purchase what is advertised on that website,” he elaborated.

The Market Information System (MIS) is the second element of the Knowledge Management System. “The MIS evaluates the agricultural market in Barbados, the products, how much is being produced, produced by whom and forecasting variables like when they will be harvested. That information is arranged with respect to volume per price… whether it is fish, potatoes… that MIS now works in an integrated way with the buyer/sellers forum.”

He said the third component would also include a Farm Management System, which is designed to allow the farmers to upgrade their management practices. “So that they essentially produce a product that is of accepted quality given that you are now selling a product for consumption. So it has to sit within the international framework of sanitary and phytosanitary measures as well as a framework with respect to food safety.”

The Minister stressed that once the farmer can manage to farm effectively, it is likely that the price will be driven down adding that, secondarily, there is now competition with regard to the products themselves on the system.

“That in itself will help to drive prices down or stabilise prices where there are fluctuations. Those are major steps forward to help develop small- and medium-sized farming and I am looking forward to adding phase two and three, which will radically transform the agricultural sector in Barbados.”

The Buyers’ Forum is operational, the Management Information System should be operational in August, meanwhile, consultants are awaiting feedback from three methodologies being evaluated in the field to determine which farmers’ management system will be implemented.

The Minister stressed that this new platform is simply a facilitatory tool. “One of the things I have learned is that the Ministry should not get engaged in market activity to distort market reality. That is at the level of the person selling and buying. What we do is facilitate,” he stressed. (JH)

A MODERN approach to Barbados’ agricultural platform is being developed, and is expected to fundamentally improve the relationship between consumers and suppliers of agricultural products, locally and abroad.

With just a tablet or even a smart phone, local producers, after registering with the Ministry of Agriculture, can advertise items for sale, while consumers large and small can check prices and purchase produce through the new platform, which the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. David Estwick, believes can change the outlook on agriculture.

Speaking to the media at his Ministry’s Graeme Hall headquarters yesterday afternoon, the Minister explained that for a long time Barbados has been stuck with the agricultural sector contributing approximately 2.5 to 3 per cent of GDP. This, he said, was partly because of the size of production, but also as a result of the weakness in the relationships and institutional structures that allow the farmers and the market to interact in a timely manner.

“What would normally result is a situation where there is a disconnect between what is produced in Barbados and what is consumed in Barbados.

He revealed that this move to modernise had its origins approximately two years ago where the Ministry of Labour, working with the European Union, developed a Human Resource Development Strategy out of which the MOA’s input was to look to develop a modern agricultural platform, advancing two basic elements, namely agripreneurship and agribusiness.

He explained that the devised Knowledge Management System includes three features, including a farmers market. “A buyers’ and sellers’ market, where producers of farm products would interact with a real-time feature very much like Amazon, eBay, where they would advertise their products, quantities, prices, not only to the local market but regional and international markets.

Customers and consumers, whether individual or companies like hotels or restaurants or supermarkets would interact in real-time with the website and make offers to purchase what is advertised on that website,” he elaborated.

The Market Information System (MIS) is the second element of the Knowledge Management System. “The MIS evaluates the agricultural market in Barbados, the products, how much is being produced, produced by whom and forecasting variables like when they will be harvested. That information is arranged with respect to volume per price… whether it is fish, potatoes… that MIS now works in an integrated way with the buyer/sellers forum.”

He said the third component would also include a Farm Management System, which is designed to allow the farmers to upgrade their management practices. “So that they essentially produce a product that is of accepted quality given that you are now selling a product for consumption. So it has to sit within the international framework of sanitary and phytosanitary measures as well as a framework with respect to food safety.”

The Minister stressed that once the farmer can manage to farm effectively, it is likely that the price will be driven down adding that, secondarily, there is now competition with regard to the products themselves on the system.

“That in itself will help to drive prices down or stabilise prices where there are fluctuations. Those are major steps forward to help develop small- and medium-sized farming and I am looking forward to adding phase two and three, which will radically transform the agricultural sector in Barbados.”

The Buyers’ Forum is operational, the Management Information System should be operational in August, meanwhile, consultants are awaiting feedback from three methodologies being evaluated in the field to determine which farmers’ management system will be implemented.

The Minister stressed that this new platform is simply a facilitatory tool. “One of the things I have learned is that the Ministry should not get engaged in market activity to distort market reality. That is at the level of the person selling and buying. What we do is facilitate,” he stressed. (JH)

MERE hours before the start of a series of revenue-raising measures outlined in the 2017 Budgetary Proposals go into effect, inclusive of the increase in the National Social Responsibility Levy moving from two to ten per cent, this island’s fiscal performance has been singled out for praise, with an emphasis on work which still needs to be done.

This was the assessment coming from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) following its recent visit to the island, at the invitation of the local authorities.

The highlights of the outcome of the visit from the IMF are as follows:

• The Barbadian economy continues its recovery on the back of stronger tourism performance, but improving public finances remains a critical challenge;

• Economic growth in 2016 is estimated to have been 1.6 per cent and to have accelerated in the first quarter of 2017 to two per cent; and

• The IMF stands ready to assist the government of Barbados through continued policy dialogue and technical assistance.

The IMF team, led by Judith Gold, visited the island from June 20–29 to review recent economic developments and discuss the 2017 budget. At the end of the visit, Gold stated: “The Barbadian economy continues its recovery on the back of stronger tourism performance, but improving public finances remains a critical challenge.…The stronger economic performance has supported a reduction in the unemployment rate to 9.7 per cent in 2016 from 11.3 per cent in 2015. Inflation started to pick up in the second half of 2016 after deflation in 2015, and on a point-to-point basis reached 3.2 per cent by end-December 2016 mainly due to higher food prices.The current account has further narrowed by two percentage points to 4.5 per cent of GDP on the back of improved tourism receipts, a robust increase in exports, and low oil prices. Notwithstanding this improvement, international reserves fell to B$682 million by end-2016, about two months of imports. Delayed official loan disbursements and privatization, as well as lower private-sector inflows, were key drivers of this decline. Net International reserves remain relatively low.”

The IMF praised Government’s efforts to reduce the fiscal deficit and suggested that it maintain its fiscal discipline to further enhance its economic profile. It also suggested that while inflation would increase due to the imposition of the NSRL and other taxation measures, that things would start to revert to normal in 2018.
“There was some progress in reducing the fiscal deficit in FY2016/17, which is estimated to have declined to 5.5 per cent of GDP from 6.8 per cent in FY2015/16. The majority of the adjustment was generated by lower government spending, while fiscal revenues held steady. Despite this progress, the large government financing requirements were a challenge, as banks reduced their sovereign exposure. As a result, the government had to increasingly resort to funding from the Central Bank of Barbados (CBB). Growth in 2017 is projected to slow to less than 1 per cent, reflecting the fiscal consolidation efforts introduced in the FY2017/18 Budget. Inflation is expected to continue to accelerate to 6.7 percent by year end because of the increase in the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) and other taxes and fees, but revert to more historical norm in 2018 and subsequent years. There are important downside risks related to the increase in domestic and global uncertainty, including the impact of the Brexit on the British pound.”

The IMF also stated that the recent Budgetary measures were designed to deal with the structural challenges within the economy and offered a chance to control the public finances. “The May 30th budget accelerates the pace of adjustment. It seeks to address the fundamental imbalance between revenues and expenditures that has characterized Barbados’ public finances in the past decade, and to significantly reduce new funding requirements. The budget is primarily focused on raising revenues while shoring up international reserves, including through an increase in the NSRL – which mostly impacts imported goods – from two percent to ten per cent. The government also plans cuts in current expenditure, to complete ongoing privatization efforts, and to undertake new divestments. In addition, the government seeks to initiate a voluntary exchange of debt instruments with the National Insurance Scheme and the CBB to reduce the interest bill. If implemented as envisaged, the 2017 budget would lead to substantial gains toward improving public finances.”

A call was also made for Government to continue to reduce transfers and subsidies to statutory boards and entities. “Over the medium-term, further fiscal adjustment would be needed on the expenditure side to decisively reduce debt and debt service costs. Transfers to public enterprises of close to eight percent on an annual basis represent the second largest expenditure item, after the wage bill, and about the same magnitude as the interest bill on the public debt. Both expenditure categories weigh heavily on public finances and critical reforms are needed over the to restore sustainability and confidence. Reduction in transfers to public enterprises must be supported by structural reforms to reduce SOEs’ operating costs, rationalize their programs, and raise their revenues. Consideration should also be given to divesting commercial SOEs that can be run more efficiently and profitably by the private sector. Other structural reform, especially those focused on improving the investment climate and fostering growth are also critical.”

The IMF also offered its assistance in any way to help the country continue on its progress to deal with its fiscal challenges.

“The IMF stands ready to assist the Government of Barbados, including through continued policy dialogue and technical assistance. The team would like to thank the authorities, technical staff, representatives of civil society, and the private sector, for their open discussions and constructive dialogue,” the release added.
The mission met with Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Christopher Sinckler, Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce, and Small Business Development Donville Inniss. Acting Central Bank Governor Cleviston Haynes, the leader of the opposition Mia Mottley, senior government officials, and representatives of the private sector.

A MODERN approach to Barbados’ agricultural platform is being developed, and is expected to fundamentally improve the relationship between consumers and suppliers of agricultural products, locally and abroad.

With just a tablet or even a smart phone, local producers, after registering with the Ministry of Agriculture, can advertise items for sale, while consumers large and small can check prices and purchase produce through the new platform which the Minister of Agriculture Dr. David Estwick believes can change the outlook on agriculture.

Speaking to the media at his Ministry’s Graeme Hall headquarters yesterday afternoon, the Minister explained that for a long time Barbados has been stuck with the agricultural sector contributing approximately 2.5 to 3 per cent of GDP. This, he said, was partly because of the size of production, but also as a result of the weakness in the relationships and institutional structures that allow the farmers and the market to interact in a timely manner.

“What would normally result is a situation where there is a disconnect between what is produced in Barbados and what is consumed in Barbados.

He revealed that this move to modernise had its origins approximately two years ago where the Ministry of Labour, working with the European Union, developed a Human Resource Development Strategy out of which the MOA’s input was to look to develop a modern agricultural platform, advancing two basic elements, namely agripreneurship and agribusiness.

He explained that the devised Knowledge Management System includes three features, including a farmers market. “A buyers’ and sellers’ market where producers of farm products would interact in real time feature very much like Amazon, eBay, where they would advertise their products, quantities, prices, not only to the local market but regional and international market and customers and consumers, whether individual or companies like hotels or restaurants or supermarkets can interact in real-time with the website and make offers to purchase what is advertised on that website,” he elaborated

The Market Information System (MIS) is the second element of the Knowledge Management System. “The MIS evaluates the agricultural market in Barbados, the products, how much is being produced, produced by whom and forecasting variables like when they will be harvested. And that information is arranged with respect to volume per price … whether it is fish, potatoes… that MIS now works in an integrated way with the buyer/sellers forum.”

He said the third component will also include a Farm Management System, which is designed to allow the farmers to upgrade their management practices. “So that they essentially produce a product that is of accepted quality given that you are now selling a product for consumption. So it has to sit within the international framework of sanitary and phytosanitary measures as well as a framework with respect to food safety.”

The Minister stressed that once the farmer can manage to farm effectively, it is likely that the price will be driven down adding that, secondarily, there is now competition with regard to the products themselves on the system. “That in itself will help to drive prices down or stabilise prices where there are fluctuations. Those are major steps forward to help develop small- and medium-sized farming and I am looking forward to adding phase two and three, which will radically transform the agricultural sector in Barbados.”

The Buyers’ Forum is operational, the Management Information System would be operational in August, while consultants are awaiting feedback from three methodologies being evaluated in the field to determine which farmers’ management system will be implemented.

The Minister stressed that this new platform is simply a facilitatory tool. “One of the things I have learned is [that] the Ministry should not get engaged in market activity to distort market reality. That is at the level of the person selling and buying. What we do is facilitate,” he stressed. (JH)

A WHOPPING $48 961 598 in outstanding bill payments from customers.

That’s the figure found on a memo placed on Minister of Agriculture and Water Resource Management Dr. David Estwick’s desk yesterday. He shared the information with the media as he outlined some of the challenges facing the Barbados Water Authority when asked to quantify the losses incurred as a result of illegal connections in Barbados.
While not having that figure to hand, he explained that non-revenue water, otherwise known as physical losses, are separated into two categories, physical and commercial. He noted that the Smart Meter Project is seeking to address the commercial side.

While physical losses include the illegal connections, he noted that these losses go a lot further. “The physical losses would also be mains that are leaking that we don’t know anything about. And because we have 100-year-old mains in Barbados and some of them massive mains, unless you have a pressure and flow meter how do you know they are leaking?”

“So we know that the physical losses are between 40 and 60 per cent. That’s massive. If you pump 100 per cent water in the mains 40 to 60 are going back into the ground. And that has nothing to do with the illegal connections that you have onto the system,” he stressed.

He noted that this was confirmed by Water Management Caribbean during a past pilot project.

“The challenge that you have is that if you go back into an old main system and it is 15 miles long, if you only have money to change five or ten miles, you burst the other old mains down the line because it can’t take the sudden increase in pressure which is the problem. So managing a utility like this is extremely difficult. I don’t think Barbadians appreciate or understand the challenges which we face,” he told the media.

He said the BWA will be further challenged now that it is being brought under the Fair Trading Commission, which is setting rules and regulations of services some of which are punitive in nature. “In order to do that your internal infrastructure and capacity has to be on the international standard and we are not there yet. We are struggling to get there. All we can do is try our best to upgrade with what funds we have and utilise those optimally,” he said.

This is the report Minister of Education Ronald Jones gave, as he broke his silence about the closing of the St. Peter-based institution, just days after word reached the public that his Ministry met with teachers on Monday, to inform them that the plug would be pulled on the school, established almost 22 years ago to cater to the specific needs of students with learning disabilities.

The teachers and students will be relocated to other secondary institutions.

Speaking at the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) weekly lunchtime lecture yesterday, Jones said the school’s current population stands at only 60 students, noting that no student who sat the Barbados Secondary Schools Entrance Examination (BSSEE), in the past two years, has passed for Alma Parris.

“Last year, no students from the 11 Plus went to Alma Parris. This year, no students from the 11 plus went to Alma Parris. So, Alma Parris was essentially imploding. It was essentially dying. To have just 60 students isolated from the regular school environment is wrong for those children, straight up!

“They were implanted in Speightstown; Police Station to the south, heavily trafficked road to the west, heavily trafficked road to the north and they were just in there,” Jones said.

The Minister explained that the school was opened in 1996, out of an experiment, to create an ideal teaching and learning environment to meet the needs of students who were scoring low marks in the Barbados Secondary Schools Entrance Examination. However, the Minister stated that the school never “truly” met its mandate, particularly in the last 15 years.

“I was the leader of the Union at the time, in 1995, when the idea started to develop. In fact, I made some input on the whole notion of special needs
education,” he said.

The Minister also made the point that any slower learner, especially if they are to qualify to sit the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate, needs more than the average five years at secondary school to excel.

“Remember, that used to be an abandoned facility that was refurbished. It never reached the type of infrastructural excellence that one would want.

“Anytime you have slow learners, people with special needs, they should be given the best that any system has to offer because they have already started from a low threshold,” he said.

“I have three schools this year, which out of taking in 450 children, took in 168; 50, 50 and 68. So I have excess capacity in three of those schools where the quality of teaching is extremely good.

“They are able to move children from that early learning deficit, into improved performance, or into improved behaviour, in a seven year period…,” he added.

Jones said that while there are some who may criticise his Ministry’s move to close the school, “that is their business; I have no interest in the nostalgia”.

“I have the interest in ensuring that those children are exposed to the best that the system can offer. I know I am going to hear the spewing of foolishness, but that does not bother me. We, who are in charge at the time, take the decision. The decision has been taken,” he said.

“The Barbados Vocational Training Board can utilise the facility. As far as I am concerned, [it could be] the Alma Parris training centre; do whatever work they have to on it, and train persons in vocational and technical skills in the north,” Jones suggested. (AH)

Managing Director of the Barbados Light & Power Company Ltd, Roger Blackman, has reaffirmed that his company’s partnership with the Ministry of Education to ensure that the next generation is inspired to help Barbados achieve the national goal of 100% renewable energy by 2045, is invaluable.

He was speaking at a recent Media Resource Department and Barbados Light & Power prize-giving ceremony for Electricity and Renewable Energy Science Exposition BMEX 2017 at the company’s headquarters.

According to him, “The work being done in the schools is innovative, creative and aligns with Light & Power’s 100/100 vision for 100% Renewable Energy and 100% Electrification in Barbados by 2045.

“Reducing our dependence on imported oil with renewable energy will improve the economy, generate local jobs, stabilise energy costs, improve public health and environmental quality, and help to create a more reliable and resilient energy system,” he said.

“At Light & Power we firmly believe that by deliberately pursuing our 100/100 vision we are not only being good corporate citizens, but that we will create a legacy of sustainability based on innovative thinking.”
Blackman indicated, “I know some of you have heard about this aspirational vision of ours and have wondered what it really means and how it will work.

“It will work as we continue to collaborate with the Government of Barbados and entities like the Barbados Renewable Energy Association to pursue green or renewable sources of energy, such as our already existing 10 MW solar PV plant at Trents in St. Lucy. It will work as our customers, who already feed around 15 MW of solar energy into the grid, continue to increase their solar production. It will work as more green technologies like wind, biomass, waste-to-energy and battery storage are deployed in the coming months and years,” he explained.

“Because we are pursuing 100% electrification and understand that many renewable sources of energy are intermittent, we recognise the need to establish a cost effective method of storage so that clean energy can continue to power our grid when the sun sets or the wind subsides; and we are actively working towards deploying battery storage on the grid and in homes over the coming year.

“And as Light & Power phases out its use of fossil fuels over the next couple decades, so too will other major consumers of fuel. The transportation sector will also need to make the switch to electricity to improve the island’s environment and reduce the drain on our foreign reserves.

“Can you imagine how much cleaner our air will be when all of our vehicles are electric? How much quieter our streets will be without the rumbling of fossil fuel engines? The benefits of going green through electrification are numerous.”

“Light & Power will continue to invest in ways to make electricity generation cleaner and in getting that energy to market. We will also continue to invest in our communities because we believe that the best results are achieved through collaboration.

“This is exciting for us at Barbados Light & Power because they have excelled in the areas of electricity, renewable energy and innovation. I am pleased that for the second year in a row, BL&P worked with the Media Resource Department to host the Electricity and Renewable Energy Science Exposition for schools, which awards innovation and creative thinking at both the primary and secondary levels. I was even more pleased when our Senior Engineering Manager Roger Beckles, one of the judges for this year’s competition, described the variety of wind applications exhibited by the primary schools and the fusion of electronics with renewables by the secondary students,” the Managing Director highlighted.
(NB)ౠ

Her Majesty The Queen recently presented a young person from Barbados with a Queen’s Young Leaders Award at Buckingham Palace.

The award went to Jamilla Sealy for the work she is undertaking to protect the environment. His Royal Highness Prince Harry joined The Queen in congratulating Sealy, as well as other winners at this special ceremony.

The Queen’s Young Leaders Awards programme, now in its third and penultimate year, celebrates the achievements of some of the most exciting young change-makers from across the Commonwealth, who are all dedicated to transforming lives in their communities. From tackling bullying head-on in schools, to preserving the environment, to promoting gender equality; these young people are taking the lead in driving change in their communities.

Guests including Sir Mo Farah, Liam Payne, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Anita Rani and former UK Prime Minister and Chairman of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, Sir John Major, joined the latest cohort of Queen’s Young Leaders at Buckingham Palace to congratulate them on their remarkable achievements.

Speaking at the ceremony, HRH Prince Harry said, “At home and abroad, I see people – especially young people – doing incredible things. They are creative and innovative, and most importantly, they are committed to making the world a
better, more optimistic, and compassionate place. That’s why I am honoured to welcome this year’s award winners here tonight. The Queen’s Young Leaders award recognises what these incredible young people have achieved – not for themselves, but for others – for their peers, for their communities, for their environment, and for those less fortunate.”

The Hon Alexander Downer AC, Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, added, “I am delighted to welcome these exceptional young people from 36 Commonwealth countries to Australia House this evening. The leadership these talented Queen’s Young Leaders have shown, and the lasting difference they are making in their communities, is inspiring.”

Barbados Award Winner Jamilla Sealy, speaking at the event, noted that, “It’s such a huge honour to receive an Award from Her Majesty The Queen in recognition of the work to help others at home. It’s been an amazing week here in the UK meeting all of the other Leaders – I’ve learnt so much and I can’t wait to put it all into practise. Being part of the Queen’s Young Leaders family is really exciting and I’m looking forward to seeing what the future now holds.”

The Queen’s Young Leaders programme was established in 2014 to help talented young leaders to realise their potential and achieve even greater success in the future that will benefit people’s lives across the Commonwealth for generations to come.

A MAJOR headache.

This is what the members of the fishing industry get when they enter talks with insurance companies about accessing coverage for their fishing vessels.

According to member of the Barbados National Union of Fisherfolk Organisations (BARNUFO), Henderson Inniss, about 80 per cent of the 1 000 fishing vessels in Barbados are not insured, because the owners, who are operating in an unstable industry, cannot afford to pay the high premium rates insurance companies are telling them they have to pay.

“People have intentions of insuring their boats. But when you got to pay Bds$13 000 or Bds$12 000 a year, in an unstable fishing industry… It don’t matter if you don’t get into an accident, it don’t reduce, unlike a car where you can get No Claim discounts.

“Then there are guys that have more than one boat; some got two, three, four and five boats. If you have to say it costs Bds$12 000 to insure a boat, and you got three boats, that is Bds$36 000 a year,” he said.

The BARNUFO member said lack of insurance has been a major issue for boat owners for many years, because when their vessels encounter technical problems, “it is difficult to find the money to repair it, because there is no insurance backing”.

Inniss argued that while insurance companies often give the explanation that boats encounter high-risk situations, hence the reason for the high premium rates, in his opinion, that is an out-dated and invalid case.

“Insurance companies have this vision of the 80s and 70s that a boat is so high risk, and that is not true. We got about 1 000 boats in Barbados and a couple hundred thousand cars in Barbados, but when you look at vehicular accidents compared to boat accidents, there is no comparison. So this vision that the insurance companies have about boats, it is old,” he said.

“Years ago, a boat would go ten miles out at sea and get lost because they had no proper electronic fishing equipment. These days, boats go 500 miles out at sea, spend a month, and find back Barbados because of the sophisticated navigation equipment.

“If you [get] lost, you can send a signal and somebody would pick it up in the States and relate it back to the Coast Guard,” Inniss added.

Inniss was speaking on Thursday evening at BARNUFO’s Fisherman’s Day Panel Discussion, titled: ‘Fisheries’ Contribution to Food Security in a Changing Climate’, at the Fisheries Division, Princess Alice Highway, Bridgetown, St Michael.

In the audience was Rosalind Bowen, of CGM Gallagher Insurance Brokers (Barbados) Limited, who told the media that her company is interested in working with BARNUFO to assist boat owners in accessing insurance coverage.

“What we would do is we can get together over 50 persons and see what we can do for them, offering broader terms at competitive prices. We were invited here to see the concerns that they had so that we can put it together in one insurance structure for them,” Bowen said.

The Vice President of CGM’s Property & Casualty Barbados & Eastern Caribbean said that insurance companies are now more open to insuring fishing vessels, considering that the vessels now operate with sophisticated navigation equipment, as Inniss pointed out. (AH)

WITH 300 persons seeking treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) for renal failure, a nephrologist at the hospital wants to see a programme put in place to screen patients, with the view of stopping the progression to kidney disease.

Nephrologist, Dr. Nerissa Jurawan, was speaking yesterday morning at a press conference in the Boardroom of the QEH, to announce the success of the third living-donor kidney transplant performed by a team from the QEH and the United Kingdom-based charity Transplant Links Community on June 27. Dr. Jurawan raised the need for such an initiative as she expressed concern about the impact that dialysis treatment is having on the island’s lone tertiary hospital.

She made the point while noting that the incidence of kidney disease in Barbados is secondary to diabetes, hypertension and obesity and suggested that if those diseases are well controlled, then the progression to end stage renal disease is completely preventable.

“So what I would like to see in addition to this transplant programme taking off, is a programme where we can actually screen and prevent patients from progressing to chronic kidney disease due to these lifestyle diseases, so that we can help this burden from becoming any worse,” she said.

Jurawan added, “When I first came across to Barbados… I was shocked to see the burden of chronic kidney disease in Barbados and for a population of 300 000 it’s alarming. Currently there are 300 patients on dialysis and I can tell you that having been here a couple of months, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the resources are stretched to the maximum for those patients.”

Reflecting on the living-donor transplant programme, she said it has the potential to improve the lives of so many patients that are on dialysis. She added, that with surgery, patients can have a better life and a better chance of survival.

“So I hope this programme continues, because Barbados needs it, really, really needs it,” she stated.

With that in mind, she said, eventually, it would serve this country well to develop a deceased donor programme. Her comments came as she noted that given that Barbados is “riddled with diabetes and hypertension” and a lot of the patients, because it is a genetic component, cannot turn to relatives for kidney transplants as they are not suited to donate.

“So I think if we can in the long run develop that, that would be good for Barbados,” the nephrologist added. (JRT)

The Civil Aviation Department is experiencing a staffing crisis, says President of the Barbados Air Traffic Control Association (BATCA), Rico Simpson.

He explained that 41 fully rated controllers and ten cadets are performing the job of 72 fully rated controllers.

Addressing BATCA’s 40th Anniversary Dinner and Awards Ceremony held at the Hilton Barbados Resort on Friday night, he expressed that this places tremendous strain on the Operations section as it is often very difficult to pull controllers off the shift for development or refresher training, which is a local and international requirement.

Simpson also pointed out that the entire Civil Aviation management team has been acting in positions for several years, with some even retired and never appointed to the post.

“This poses a greater challenge to the already strained system and is extremely frustrating especially since some of these management positions were advertised several months ago and no interviews for appointments have been conducted.”

The President is therefore calling on the Minister responsible for the Civil Service, Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Freundel Stuart to give this matter of appointments of staff in the Civil Aviation Department his very urgent attention.

“Simply because we cannot expect the rest of the world to take us seriously when it appears that we want to have a movie cast at the helm of a very important and critical department of government,” he stressed.

“Therefore, the association looks forward to the appointment of persons to posts starting with the position of Director of Civil Aviation and proceed down the ranks as per the agreement between the Barbados Workers’ Union and the Ministry. This would be the first step in bringing some semblance of order to a department where anyone can be moved at any time because no one is appointed anywhere,” it was further noted.

During the ceremony, Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Richard Sealy, assured the Association that government recognises the need for more staff. He noted that cadets are currently in training.

“If we continue to develop tourism on its present course with more hotel rooms, the cruise industry with more breathing space at the Bridgetown Port, more home porters – the airport is only going to get busier and busier, and therefore we will need to have more skilled air traffic controllers and we will need to have more numbers as well,” he pointed out.

Sealy also shared that the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) expansion plan includes the construction of a new tower.

“While we have done a lot with the existing tower, there is only so much we can do with that old plant. Therefore, in the context of the jet bridges, proposed expansion to the arrival area and improvements to the shopping experience... The question of a new control tower has been high priority in terms of the airport expansion project,” the Minister said. (TL)

A Cabinet minister wants to see a change in the mindset of Barbadians towards skills training.

Minister of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development, Senator Dr. Esther Byer-Suckoo, spoke to this at a media briefing yesterday morning to introduce the WorldSkills Barbados Team that will be going to Abu Dhabi this October for the 44th WorldSkills Competition, as she lamented that technical and vocational education and training is still too often looked down on, and considered a last resort for persons. The team this year will be led by Executive Director of the TVET Council, Henderson Eastmond and the competitors are Roshida Griffith, Takiya Jordan, Akeil Craig-Browne and Tinisha Hall.

“It is important that young people know that we attach a lot of significance to technical and vocational education and training, we are trying to change the conversation. Still in too many corners of Barbados there is this feeling and this expression that unless you have qualified academically, unless you have eight CXCs, in fact nowadays eight CXCs aren’t anything, you have to have ten or 12, and unless you have that you are not really saying anything and we have to change that conversation,” she maintained.

With that in mind, she said Government’s willingness to invest in that type of education and training, says to others that it is worthwhile.

“We don’t want parents to think oh well the child can’t accomplish anything so let him go and learn plumbing; or she can’t do anything let her go and do nails or something like that. We want to change that conversation, because it is important that Barbadians know that whatever skills they have are important to our development; we need all our skills,” the Labour Minister maintained.

Byer-Suckoo’s comments came as she said she looks forward to the day when work permits do not have to be sought for certain skilled positions such as A Class carpenters, because there are persons residing here with the requisite skills. To that end, she argued that greater focus needs to be placed on technical and vocational qualifications, as this would help to ensure that there is full employment in Barbados.

“Not that we don’t want migrant workers to come in, but the justification would not be we don’t have any available in Barbados and that’s what I want to see – that every person in Barbados can fill those niches, and we don’t have to bring in persons because we are not producing enough persons at that level of excellence,” she said.

Furthermore, for this country to remain competitive there is a need to ensure that every Barbadian can achieve and participate in our society and in our economy. Byer-Suckoo said that for that to be achieved there must be avenues established for persons to contribute, whether they are academically or vocationally trained.

“For persons interested in entrepreneurship, we and by we I mean the Government, we have to be able to ensure that there are areas, incubators for them to develop and other opportunities for them to be able to carry their dream forward,” she said.

The minister also pointed out that for our economy to grow, and all Barbadians to contribute socially and economically, and to be able to achieve and for us to make our mark globally, every effort must be made to ensure that everybody is able to get “their piece of the pie”. (JRT)

Former Cabinet Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Sir Philip Marlowe Greaves, KA, QC, has been sworn in to act as Governor General of Barbados.

Chief Justice, Sir Marston Gibson, administered the oath to Sir Philip during a brief ceremony just after midnight yesterday morning at Government House.

Following the ceremony, Sir Philip pledged to do his best to carry out the duties of the office of Governor General.

Also attending the ceremony were Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force, Colonel Glyne Grannum; Acting Commissioner of Police, Oral Williams; Cabinet Secretary, Andrew Cox; Aide-de-Camp, Captain Ashton Caddle; and Private Secretary, Sandra Watkins.

Sir Philip was first appointed as a Cabinet Minister in 1965 by then Premier of Barbados and National Hero, the Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow. He is the only surviving member of the delegation chosen to go to England in 1966 to negotiate for Barbados’ Independence.

He retired from elective politics in 1994, and in 2009, he was conferred with Barbados’ highest honour, Knight of St. Andrew.

Former Governor General, Sir Elliott Belgrave, retired on Friday, June 30, after serving as Head of State since June 1, 2012.