THE 2017 graduates of the Barbados Fire Service Fire Cadet programme have been urged to discover who they are, their purpose and what life is all about.

While delivering the featured address at the graduation ceremony at the Arch Hall Fire Station, Arch Hall, St Thomas last Friday, featured speaker Pastor Dale Haynes told the graduates that when they experience good and bad times, it means that they are alive.

He encouraged them to take the rough and smooth roads that come with life and learn to be the best that they can be.

Urging the young charges to covet the best gifts, the pastor reminded them that they do not need talent to be on time, have a good work ethic, make an effort, possess a good body language and attitude, have energy, or have passion, but must be purposeful about what they want to achieve.

“You don’t need talent to be coachable. If you know everything, it means that you don’t know anything. You got to be coachable where people can teach you things, people can impart knowledge on to you.

“You don’t need talent to do the extra. When others are sleeping you do the extra. You might not have all the talent but you can do the extra. You don’t need talent to be prepared,” Haynes said.

Throughout the six weeks programme, the junior cadets were taught a high level skills of discipline which they can use not only to fight fires, but also to enhance and enrich their lives. The cadets were taught first aid, how to operate a hose and hydrant and how to tie ropes and knots among life saving techniques.

Divisional Officer Henderson Patrick commended the instructors assigned to ensure that the cadets were trained in the best possible way.

Patrick also gave credit to the students for their hard work and commitment to succeed, though initially, they were hesitant regarding what the programme had to offer.

The Divisional Commander urged the graduates to follow their dreams, especially those who aspire to join the ranks of the Barbados Fire Service.

“What you have experienced, is part of the course of life that you have experienced. It is not the beginning and certainly it is not the end, it is part of the process. It is just like an input into a manufacturing process. What you have to do is to ensure that this input gives you the maximum input, that you allow this process to cause you to benefit as much as you possibly could as you continue on your course of life.

“Everything that you do from here on should have the stamp of what you experience here at the Junior Fire Cadet Camp. If it is a matter that relates to discipline, then you should think back on your experience here and apply that level of discipline . . .,” the Divisional Officer said.

There were almost 30 participants in this year’s Fire Cadet programme. Fire Cadet Aliyah Sampson was the Best Overall Fire Cadet. (AH)

THERE seems to be a growing appreciation within the international community about the importance of international business to the Barbados economy.

So said Donville Inniss, Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development.

He has told a conference sponsored by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados (ICAB) that this appreciation came across to him following the forum of the Harmful Tax Practice held in Paris (France) last Thursday.

Small countries like Barbados have not been seeing eye to eye with some in the global community on the sector. The global community led by agencies including the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) based in Paris, have accused the small domiciles as being uncooperative and engaging in harmful taxation practices. About two years ago some European Union member countries had weighed in on the matter as well, resulting in Barbados and some of the islands in the Caribbean being blacklisted for non-cooperation.

However, Inniss said that he is very heartened about the appreciation shown at the recent forum. The Minister said that his Ministry recently responded to correspondence to the European Union which he feared may be taken up and used against Barbados as being non-cooperative.

He wants his Ministry to submit a detailed report to a meeting of the Barbados International Business Association (BIBA) which will be held on Friday, and to allow for feedback from members. Terming this as critical even for those are not familiar with the sector given they are not involved in the day to day operations.

The Minister said that it is important “we share with you point by point the areas of concerns that we have or that the OECD has,” and that there be constructive dialogue and feedback on the sector. (JB)

A trade unionist contends that to seriously address the problem of crime in this country, households must once again have access to disposable income.

That’s the view of President of the National Union of Public Workers, Akanni McDowell. Speaking at the opening of the 76th Annual Delegates Conference of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) at Solidarity House last Saturday, McDowell explained that such money is used by mothers to invest in child care, by fathers to get children with learning difficulties extra lessons and keeps children from “living the kind of hand to mouth existence”, which he contended makes them prime candidates for gang and block activity. He made the point as he also lamented that with the government camps closed; several mothers are forced to scramble to find safe places to leave their children.

He raised the issue of numerous burdens faced by workers across the country, as he noted that public servants have not received a salary increase in almost a decade. That fact, he alluded, that has been compounded by the recently increased National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL), which he indicated will certainly put additional pressure on already cash strapped parents as they seek to get their back to school shopping completed.

“So for all those who think our fight is over with regard to the NRSL and coping subsidy, it cannot be over. We have only just started. We have to keep fighting so that the workers of Barbados can have their dignity restored,” he said.

McDowell’s comments came as he maintained that the workers of this country are in fact the bedrock of the economy, and therefore, he is adamant that any plans to fix the economy cannot be successful if the main stakeholders, the workers, are not considered.

“Capital is a vitally important component of the economic equation, as is the government, but the spindle upon which the other components turn is workers. The men and women who everyday leave their homes in sun and rain, in sickness and health to offer their skills and time in order to ensure that both capital and the government can see the returns on investment. In fact some of these workers sacrifice their family life and home obligations to be able to give of their best in their jobs,” he added.

With that in mind, he spoke out against those employers, who he said demand that their workers choose between their jobs and their parental obligations. The trade unionist made the point as he explained that there are some workplaces in Barbados who have single mothers employed and in order for that mother to take her child to the doctor or to attend a form level meeting, she must take that day as unpaid. Lamenting that even within the public service there are sometimes challenges balancing parenting with employment, the NUPW president hinted at the need for these issues to be addressed as a matter of urgency. (JRT)

There are Brazilians in Barbados this week promoting the idea of human milk banks as a means of reducing infant mortality.

Luiz Gilberto Seixas De Andrade, Ambassador of Brazil to Barbados speaking yesterday morning during the opening ceremony of a five-day workshop entitled ‘Brazil to CARICOM: Right to Human Milk as Safeguard of Life – A Fundamental Right’ at the Brazilian Embassy in Hastings, indicated that support from Brazil has seen some 311 human milk banks being set up and operating throughout the world.

“The human milk bank is a technology originally developed in Brazil and an important public health initiative. It contributes directly to reducing infant mortality, with emphasis on the neonatal component. The purpose of the workshop is to support and strengthen those institutions responsible for public health in partner countries in order to work together and in accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, so that the health of women and children is given its rightful place in public policies,” he said.

Those 300 plus facilities, the ambassador said, have been of benefit to almost 18 million women and have been responsible for collecting in excess of 1.5 million litres of breast milk between 2009 and 2016. His comments came as he said that initiative has been the result of a partnership between the Brazilian Agency for Cooperation and Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz) and the Ministry of Health in Brazil. The ambassador added that Brazilian cooperation with respect to human milk banks occur mostly in South America where there are 259 facilities in operation, Central America which has 29 banks, Mexico which has 20, and Spain, Portugal and Cape Verde which have one each.

“In this project as well as in other technical cooperation projects coordinated by the Brazilian Agency for Cooperation, Brazil offers experiences and knowledge of national institutions of excellence in public policy without imposing conditions or requiring compensatory measures,” he said.

He added, “Thanks to the work of the Brazilian Agency for Cooperation, over the last 30 years, Brazil has created a successful model of international cooperation, through the coordination of actions aimed at sharing experiences, knowledge and technology with our partners on a two-way basis. We have carried out more than 3000 projects in a hundred countries during these years. The sectors where there is a higher volume of movement are agriculture, health, education, environment and public administration.”

The Brazilian ambassador’s comments came as he noted that in CARICOM, Brazil is assisting with a number of major projects in such countries as Haiti, Jamaica and Dominica. (JRT)

Health officials are highlighting the importance of all babies being breastfed exclusively for at least the first six months of their lives.

Henderson Pinder, Director of Nursing Services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, speaking to the media on the sidelines of the start of a five-day workshop entitled ‘Brazil to CARICOM: Right to Human Milk as Safeguard of Life – A Fundamental Right’ at the Brazilian Embassy in Hastings, explained that during those initial months babies should really have no access to water or other additives. He contended that breast milk is a complete food for infants and is packed with antibodies that are necessary to help the babies progress healthy.

“As a country we want to ensure that we have a healthier population and because of the properties of breast milk, what can happen is that a child that has been breastfed for the first six months of life exclusively, has a better chance of life. There are lesser chances of contracting the chronic diseases that we have, diabetes, hypertension; less problems in terms of weight control; they have more resistance to disease, because a lot of the antibodies present in the breast milk are passed on to the child,” he said.

Pinder maintained if mothers in this country can utilise breast milk more, they expect that the country will see firsthand the positive effects of that decades down the road, where the population will be healthier.

He made the point as he noted that in countries where greater use of breast milk has been pursued, they have seen a reduction in morbidity rates in relation to chronic diseases.

“This discussion that we are beginning here today, would see us moving away from formula feeds, or let’s non breast milk products to human milk, and it would serve the country greatly if we could see an uptake in human milk, in that we are not using formula feeds or substitutes in order to feed our infants, but we are giving them what is naturally for a baby which is human milk,” he said.

He further noted, “In Barbados we are signatories to a policy that does indeed speak to breast feeding as an important component of the life for infants… In some countries they have established what we call a breast milk bank and the cooperation here today is for us to start to look at the possibility of exploring the establishment bank in Barbados.”

The director of nursing services explained that through such banks, breast milk is collected and stored under special conditions and given to women to feed to their babies. He indicated that not every mother would require milk from a bank, noting that in most cases women can meet their babies’ needs. The service, he said would be reserved for women who for some reason are unable to breast feed or whose babies may be having a medical problem such as hypoglycaemia or jaundice that could prevent them from breast feeding directly.

“Then you would have something to give them which would be more nutritional, more beneficial and more closer to what the body would produce,” he stated.

While noting that he could not say if and when Barbados would go the route of setting up a milk bank, he did indicate however that such a facility would certainly be welcomed. He made the point while disclosing that some women have already been querying if such facilities existed. Pinder added however, that should Barbados establish such a bank, there will be some cultural challenges that would have to be worked through in order for it to be successful.

THE Rock Hall project as a Living Museum was officially launched as a CARIFESTA XIII event, but Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley has given the assurance that it will remain a permanent fixture in the community.

Speaking during the official launch on Sunday afternoon, the Minister noted that the project speaks to the tangible and intangible heritage that is the foundation of the Rock Hall Freedom Village and will have benefits for locals, visitors and residents.

“There are plans on stream to resuscitate the area and you will be hearing much more about this in the near future.”

He said the community programme is intended to be one of the legacies of CARIFESTA XIII.

He revealed that in carrying out the idea of a Living Museum, a community-oriented approach was implemented that placed the residents at the heart of the planning process.

“The residents have taken on board the ideas for this site to be transformed into a venue for future activities and as a viable community tourism project. As I understand it, the area is visited daily by tourists and we will be working with our partners at the Barbados Tourism Product Authority and residents to map out a programme that would allow this Living Museum to become a sustainable community tourism project.

“More importantly, one that is managed by the residents. Projects such as this could very well serve as a plank to diversify our tourism industry. We have not yet begun to tap into the tangible benefits to be derived from community tourism and heritage tourism. This is a vast untapped market, especially amongst the African Diaspora who are interested in matters relating to slavery and Emancipation,” he said.

The Minister explained that the Rock Hall Freedom Village has a special place in the hearts of working class Barbadians, particularly those of African descent.

“It is a story of economic and political enfranchisement by a group of labourers – former slaves from Mount Wilton Plantation, who at a time when only the plantocracy could own land, dared to break through that barrier.

“Their story of empowerment resonates with us even today as the Ministry seeks to encourage young people in particular to discover, embrace and celebrate their unique heritage and to use it as the basis for the provision of goods and services in a sustainable manner.”

To this end, he stated that the Rock Hall Living Museum not only celebrates the achievements of the Village, but those of the early settlers who laid the foundation for the village to be free. “This event is unique in nature as it seeks not only to celebrate, but to educate and reaffirm our belief in our cultural heritage. The Ministry, along with the Barbados World Heritage Committee, will remain at the forefront of educating communities about the importance of this,” he said. (JH)

Twenty-seven years after being first unveiled to the public of Barbados, the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium was once again placed in the hands of the people of the island. After being closed for almost 18 months for renovations by the government of the People’s Republic of China, the island’s premier indoor sports and cultural venue was officially handed over to the government of Barbados.

Being closed and handed over to the Chinese government back in March last year, the Gymnasium’s renovations were projected to be completed in a 15-month time frame by the Shanxi Construction Engineering (Group) Corp. With the contractors encountering an unforeseen circumstance, work was forcibly postponed by five months. However, the same deadline was met within 11 months to see the facility ready in time for CARIFESTA XIII, which was held in Barbados over the past few days.

A price tag of BDS$19 million, funded by the Chinese government, has seen the facility sporting, among other things, a new multi-purpose floor, a solar photovoltaic system, new electrical, lighting, surveillance and air conditioning systems; and repairs to the roof and balcony areas.

Speaking during an official handover ceremony yesterday, Chinese Ambassador to Barbados Her Excellency Wang Ke stated that the Gymnasium served to symbolise a strong bond between the two countries.

“The project commenced in October 1990 and was completed in July of 1992. Ever since then, the Gymnasium has become Barbados’ main indoor and multi-faceted facility for sports as well as many cultural and social activities. It is not only an important landmark on this beautiful island, but testimony of the friendship between China and Barbados,” she said.

Echoing her sentiments, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth Stephen Lashley said that the bilateral agreement between the two continued to augur well for Barbados, as numerous advancements had been made over the years.

“Our records show that it was some 31 years ago, May 16, 1986 to be exact, that China committed to the construction of this Gymnasium with the signing of the China Aid agreement. This agreement has been pivotal in Barbados’ developmental efforts, particularly in the areas of sports and culture; and Barbados continues to be appreciative of the accrued benefits,” Lashley said. (MP)

Breast cancer, unfortunately, remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer amongst women in Barbados.

In fact, it is the number one cause of death from cancer amongst Barbadian women, says Dr. Shirley Hanoman-Jhagroo.

The Medical Co-ordinator at the Barbados Cancer Society (BCS) Breast Screening Programme, pointed to this during the press launch of BCS/CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank “Walk for the Cure” 2017, held at Sugar Bay Resort yesterday.

Dr. Hanoman-Jhagroo also highlighted that in the United States, statistics show that one in every seven women is expected to be diagnosed with the disease. “In the US, Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, but the second most common cause of death. While in the United Kingdom, it is third most common cause of death.”

She said that statistics show that in all three countries, the number of new cases diagnosed per year continue to increase with a notable increase in younger women – below 50 years old.

Even though breast cancer incidence rates have been increasing in Barbados, she revealed that the good news is, the mortality from breast cancer has remained between nine to 11 per cent over the last decade.

“When compared with all other cancers, this can be attributed to early detection with more treatment options, improved treatments and research.”

Dr. Hanoman-Jhagroo took the opportunity to thank sponsors and partners for once again joining with the Barbados Cancer Society in its efforts in reducing premature deaths from breast cancer by early detection.

She disclosed that the money raised from “Walk for the Cure” 2016 was used to replace an outdated 15-year-old Medic Software program to a new Vistec one from International Medex with Dragon-reporting features, facilitating reports being ready within hours – at a cost of US$75 000.

As it relates to the funds raised from this year’s “Walk for the Cure”, the Medical Co-ordinator said it will be used to subsidise mammograms and breast biopsies necessary for early detection; maintenance of service contracts for equipment (approximately BDS$120 000 per year); and increase their visual and social media promotions of breast health and breast cancer awareness throughout the year.

This national walk for breast cancer awareness will take place Sunday, October 1, starting at 3:30 p.m., from CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank in Warrens. (TL)

The island’s sole cement manufacturer, Arawak Cement Company Limited has achieved a major safety milestone of achieving one year accident-free.

This achievement was recognised at a luncheon held recently during the which the company treated all staff and contractors to a sumptuous buffet lunch and branded gifts. General Manager, Manuel Toro, congratulated the staff and emphasised that safety was top priority for CEMEX when it took over the operations in St. Lucy, noting the importance of the company slogan – “Zero4Life”.

Toro, Group Safety Director for TCL, Ray Parrott, Arawak Cement Safety Specialist, Seema Juman and Operations Manager, Raul Bustamante and Barbados Workers’ Union shop steward, Primera Moore, all lauded the staff and contractors for their major achievement. Moore spoke of the value of the safety initiatives to the workers.

Parrott who came to Barbados for the Recognition Luncheon disclosed that the Arawak Cement Company was the only company in the TCL Group to achieve over a year accident free.

Bustamante noted that the company had a very simple desire to ensure that all staff were able to go home safely to their families. This simple concept was one that resonated with staff who are encouraged to “Take Five” to prepare so that they can put safety first in everything they do.

Shane Cumberbatch, National Union of Public Workers shop steward confirmed the impact on workers of the concept of going home safely to one’s family and paid tribute to the Arawak Cement Company’s genuine commitment to safety based on the reports from her colleagues.

While recognising that safety has always been a focus at Arawak, Cumberbatch lauded the more recent initiatives noting that, “it has taken upward and onward steps, and they have seen the safety culture change, such that safety now takes centre stage.”

“It has worked to let us know management’s stance where safety is concerned, that safety comes first, then production and so on, and we are indeed pleased about this. It has worked to foster an atmosphere where staff within the organisation feel valued. Supporting this atmosphere is the personalisation of the safety message,” Cumberbatch noted.

The NUPW Shop Steward recounted how surprised she was to receive a personal safety letter at home from Arawak Cement. She also expressed the workers’ appreciation of the many other safety initiatives undertaken by the company that had contributed to the excellent safety record. These include floor repairs, erection of pedestrian barricades, “tool box” talks, enhanced protective gear, safety education, driver training and the internal ‘Zero4 Life’ campaign focusing on Zero incidents, Zero accidents and Zero loss of life.

Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has described CARIFESTA XIII, held in Barbados from August 17-27, as being “a phenomenal success”.

Stuart noted that in any undertaking, whether small or large, challenges often appeared at the last minute to thwart even the best laid plans. He noted that in Barbados, nature intervened to test to the limits the logistical skills of organisers.

“Following the postponement of the opening ceremony and other arrangements due to the passing of Tropical Storm Harvey, accompanied by heavy rains, the necessary adaptations had to be made. It was nothing short of a miracle that the show went on, culminating in the fabulous and inclusive closing ceremony on Sunday evening.

“This reflected the true capacity of Barbadians, thousands of whom had been involved in CARIFESTA XIII. These included young people at all levels – visitor reception; transportation; hotel arrangements; site preparation; lighting, stage management and infrastructure; security and hospitality. There was significant participation in and attendance at most of the venues across the island in support of the 500 activities,” the Prime Minister stated.

He contended that the attendance and participation of several persons from CARICOM also reflected the faith of CARICOM countries in Barbados’ capacity to recover from Harvey’s hiccups. “Their skills left us in awe of the cultural reality and potential of the region,” he stressed.

Stuart extended heartfelt congratulations to the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley, and his team of officials; the CARICOM Secretary-General and the CARIFESTA XIII Secretariat. He also commended the volunteers; sponsors and employees in the Public Service and private sector, as well as the thousands of participants from Barbados and the region, who contributed to the phenomenal success of the festival.

In addition, he thanked each and every individual, government department, members of civil society and corporate entities “for showing the world what Barbados is capable of”. He also expressed gratitude to the CARICOM participants for “demonstrating to the world the wealth of skill and talent that makes the Caribbean the most vibrant cultural centre in the world.”

The Prime Minister acknowledged that Barbados had learnt many lessons and gave the assurance that “we will put the valuable experiences to good use for the future growth of culture and the cultural industries of the region”.

MEMBER of Parliament for St Michael West Central James Paul is hoping for a cultural awakening in Barbados following the recently concluded CARIFESTA 13.

Speaking to The Barbados Advocate, Paul, who commended his Government for hosting the festival, recalled that following the CARIFESTA held in Barbados over 30 years ago, there was a cultural awakening in the country that contributed to many Barbadians becoming more aware of their African connection.

The Member of Parliament said he is hoping that something similar takes place on this occasion, to demonstrate to “our young black people in this country that they need not be ashamed of their African heritage”.

“Let us use this as an opportunity for further cultural development so that we can actually export our culture in a way that it needs to be exported.

“I think one of the things that I am bothered about that we are seeing is that we have so much of an infinity to western values that we are forgetting our own African based culture,” he said.

“I think that those persons who would have attended the events that happened around CARIFESTA and saw some of the culture from other islands, would have formed a deep appreciation of the immense contribution that the African traditions have made to Caribbean cultural life and we should not lose it,” Paul added.

Paul said he was pleased that some of the groups which came to the island for CARIFESTA 13 went into communities to share a piece of their cultural with residents.

He made special reference to some of the members of the St Lucia delegation who stayed at the Lawrence T. Gay Memorial Primary School and got involved in community life.

The Member of Parliament said given the level of violence among the youth, the solution lies in cultural values they must be taught from an early age. (AH)

ANOTHER member of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Government has taken issue with Opposition Leader Mia Mottley’s criticisms of Barbados’ effort at hosting the recently concluded CARIFESTA 13.

Outspoken Member of Parliament for St. Michael West Central, James Paul told The Barbados Advocate on Monday evening, that it was “unpatriotic” for the Opposition Leader to make the statement she made at the Barbados Labour Party’s (BLP) St. Michael South Branch meeting, over the weekend.

Mottley was frank in noting that she was not impressed with how the festival was executed, noting that it was poorly organised and there was a low turnout that left her feeling ashamed to be a Barbadian.

However, Paul said he believes the Opposition Leader was trying to score political points. He pointed out that it is “unfortunate that political leaders cannot recognise the time and place” for making certain matters.

“I must say that I am disappointed with the Opposition Leader and it has nothing to do with politics. It has to do with the fact that as Barbadians, we want to uphold the best of our nation.

“There are some things, as Barbadians, that we should not go into contest about. These are times when we should stand together, shoulder to shoulder, as Barbadians, and try to uphold what is best for us,” Paul said.

“I think really that what we recognise is that we should be trying to stimulate Barbadians to get involved in the cultural arts. I think the fact that we still took it on immediately after Crop Over, despite the fact that Barbadians would have been tired, must be recognised,” he added.

During a press conference on Monday, at the Ministry of Culture, Haggatt Hall, St. Michael, office, Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley said he believes CARIFESTA needed to be defended because Mottley was totally off base.

Lashley described the Opposition Leader’s comments as a “national disgrace” because they really do not have any place within what the context of CARIFESTA did.

Meanwhile, Paul contended that while it must be admitted that the festival’s organisers endured very difficult circumstances, “at the end of the day we came out looking good”.

“I mean, I hear everybody speaking about the closing ceremony. I think that at least when it mattered, as Barbadians, we stood shoulder to shoulder. Now is not the time for that kind of behaviour by the Opposition Leader,” Paul said. (AH)

“WE are at a defining point in the HIV epidemic because we have a functional cure. The problem is we cannot reach persons who are infected with HIV to place them on treatment.”

This assessment came from Professor Clive Landis, Founder and Chairman of the Caribbean Cytometry and Analytical Society (CCAS), during his address at the CCAS Expert Summit: From Care To Cure – Shifting The HIV Paradigm at the Almond Beach Resort Barbados.

“Participants of the summit, we all have a spring in our step. That is because we know that we are on the brink of being able to eliminate the HIV epidemic. But do you think that outside of this room the public feels the same way? Do they feel optimistic? We have to be honest with ourselves: There is a yawning gap between what we the HIV experts know and what the public knows,” said Landis.

“It is just not possible for the public to make rational decisions in such an information vacuum. Fundamentally, the public is still terrified of this disease, and see it as a death sentence. We have to challenge such misconceptions and address the rational concerns among the public: ‘Why should I know my status? What is the point of getting tested if I will just be handed a death sentence? And the fear in my heart is also driving the stigmatising attitudes towards persons infected with HIV, of whom I am afraid.’”

The Chairman contended, “We can and must turn these attitudes around. The public needs to know the amazing medical treatments that eliminate AIDS the moment someone with HIV goes on treatment. And the public needs to know the public health benefits of treatment as prevention. What if we could harness the support of the public to create an environment in which people feel comfortable to be tested and feel supported while accessing care? That is the point of this Expert Summit.”

“THE whole field has now narrowed down to one single goal: To place persons infected with HIV on treatment. It really is that simple and we have the right strategy: The 90:90:90 by 2030 target.”

This is according to Professor Clive Landis, Founder and Chairman of the Caribbean Cytometry and Analytical Society (CCAS).

Landis, speaking at the CCAS Expert Summit: From Care To Cure – Shifting The HIV Paradigm at the Almond Beach Resort Barbados, stated: “If we hit that target we will eliminate AIDS overnight and will probably eliminate HIV within a decade through the magic of treatment as prevention. But without the support of the public, we will not reach these targets because those barriers of stigma and discrimination are not just going to disappear on their own.

“We simply must update our public health message. We must make it more optimistic and more relevant and less obtuse. This 90:90:90 target … it all sounds a bit technical. And what’s all this business about undetectable virus and virological suppression?

“We cannot finesse our way out of this. We must explain clearly and explicitly that placing patients on care and suppressing virus in their body means that they can no longer transmit the virus. I saw this stated openly for the first time in Holland this year on a T-shirt worn at the TREVI symposium emblazoned with U = U or Undetectable = Uninfectious. Now that is a message I can buy into.”

“Who wouldn’t want uninfectious? So we have a choice. We either change our message and explain how treatment as prevention works and why it is so important to reach the 90:90:90 target; or we just accept the status quo where fear and stigma rule our hearts and minds, preventing persons from wanting to know their status and blocking them from having the confidence to access the available care,” Landis noted.

The Chairman urged the attendees at the summit, “Be brave and be bold and be clear in what you are saying. I am convinced that we can recast the public health message and that given accurate and clear information, attitudes can be completely turned around so that the public can become our greatest ally and that together we can defeat the HIV epidemic.

“Test, Treat, Defeat – that is my pitch for a new public health message. I want all of you to think about a relevant and effective public health message that we can discuss and hammer out and endorse out of this Expert Summit.”

THE OUTGOING principal of Lawrence T. Gay Memorial School, Beverly Parris, has been honoured for her long lasting contribution to maintaining and facilitating cultural initiatives in the community.

Member of Parliament for St Michael West Central James Paul, presented Parris with a plaque on Monday evening, for her contribution to promoting cultural awareness at the school where has been principal since 2005 and also in its environs.
Delivering remarks, Paul said as the leader of the school, Parris played a critical role in the development of the community. He said while many people who do good in their communities are not recognised for their contribution, Parris is deserving of being acknowledged for her work.

The Member of Parliament said from his interactions with the principal, he has observed that she has always been appreciative of her African heritage, always showing that she is a proud black woman.

“In many ways, she has been able to have the kind of influence that you see in the community, like Spooner’s Hill and its environs. I really would want to thank her very much for the contribution she has made in terms of the development of the people in the community and the parents who have sent their children here. We can see in her work over the years that she has been able to maintain a class of student that this community in itself is very proud of,” Paul said.

Parris, who will be marking her 43rd anniversary in the teaching service on October 1, told the media that she was feeling humbled at being honoured for her work, noting that the gesture by the Member of Parliament and all others involved, was greatly appreciated.

She said during her years in the service, she has been blessed with parents and colleagues who went beyond the call of duty, to ensure that her stint at the school was rewarding and filled with positive relationships which she will forever cherish.
Cognisant of what is happening in society as it relates to crime and violence, the longstanding educator encouraged young people to try to be leaders and not followers.

At the same time, she reminded that there is a need for more young people to join forces with persons who have positive values, noting that in so doing, they would become motivated to aspire to be citizens that the community and the country would be proud of.

“We need to have parents who understand the importance of the old time values like honesty, trustworthiness and responsibility... get back to some of those basic things that our children are now lacking.”

“If the school, the community and the church and all those persons who have our children’s well-being in mind can do this, we can see a positive turnaround. All is not lost, we have some very good young people among us, and once given the right impetus, I am sure that we will do well,” Parris said.

Community practitioner Tyrone Trotman, who contributed his life to developing dance at the community level, also played a pivotal role in honouring Parris, including putting together an entertainment package. (AH)

The Government must create opportunities for young people to attain gainful employment.

This is the belief of the Opposition, Barbados Labour Party (BLP) candidate for St. Michael South Central, Marsha Caddle who said that these persons are searching for ways to contribute to Barbados.

“We say that we want our young people to show innovation, but we seem so content to just show mediocrity…You know throughout this country, there are young people who are just waiting and looking for a way to contribute and we seem to think that the same old model of doing things is going to move us out of this economic recession and to create jobs and all these things.”

Unfortunately, there are not many employment opportunities available to certain groups of marginalized youth with some of them in that constituency who have never held a job in their lives.

Yet, these young people are yearning to feel a part of something, she said. “You know, there are young people in this constituency who have never worked; who are 25 and 26 and 27 and ladies and gentleman, have never held a job and I want you to think about that for a moment because work and productivity that we always hear so much about is not just about what you earn for the economy; it is about what you earn for yourself. It is about how you are made to feel like a part of something and when you don’t feel like a part of something what happens? You don’t feel the need to protect it from anything. If you don’t feel like a part of your community, if you don’t feel like a part of your society, you are on the fringe and so anything can happen. You don’t have to protect it from harm or you don’t have to contribute to that harm.”

Caddle said that opportunities must therefore be created for these young people who need them the most.

“So we have to look for new ways of doing things, we have to look for ways to really engage young people in work – productive, decent work so that rather than continuing to award large contracts to people who we know already don’t need them; (who) control the majority of wealth already in this country; instead of continuing to do that and to concentrate wealth in the hands of a few who would not spread it around, they would send it to their overseas accounts maybe or they would keep it in their family.”

Speaking at the St. Michael South Central Annual General Meeting (AGM) at The St. Michael School (SMS) on Sunday night, she said that this can be achieved through legislation, regulation and the awarding of contracts to these persons.

“But you can buy opportunities for young people in your community when you create legislation and regulation and an enabling environment where groups of young men in a community can work together as a small firm and have access to small contracts that you make available to them through your procurement practice as a Government.” (PJT)

Five, young doctors were recognised and praised for the hard work they put in during their internship year at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for the 2016-2017 year.

Speaking during the awards ceremony that took place in the QEH Boardroom yesterday morning, Dr. Clyde Cave, the QEH Internship Co-ordinator, expressed that all 36 interns this year, worked extremely hard. However, he noted that within any group, there are people who excel and he believed it was important to acknowledge the exceptional qualities of these persons. This year’s outstanding interns were Dr. Simone Evelyn, Dr. Adanna Grandsion, Dr. Suleman Patel, Dr. Shai Stewart and Dr. Anesha White.

“This year we have five, young doctors who have demonstrated exceptional qualities. Each one brings a specific characteristic that has been judged as outstanding. It can be in the fields of academia and scholarship, it can be professional or personal attributes or it can be in clinical skills, organisation, or meticulous attention to patient care and I think each of our five outstanding interns has demonstrated excellence,” he said.

Cave explained that the interns were selected based on their performance in the four departments on their rotation which were Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Surgery.

Grandison announced that her true passion was pathology and revealed that she intended to specialise in forensic pathology. Stewart noted that his passion was surgery and expressed that cardiothoracic surgery was his end point. Evelyn said that her plan was to get into Internal medicine, but haematology was a speciality that she was growing to love.

Meanwhile, both Dr. Patel and White noted that their plan was to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) in order to expand their opportunities and specialise in areas not done in Barbados.

Cave explained that the USMLE was an American qualifying exam which persons have to pass in order to get into US Speciality residencies.

“If there are no positions in Barbados and the Caribbean, either because those programmes are full or because they have no such speciality programmes, then there is no other option than to go abroad and this means that they would have to practically spend a year doing those exams and getting acceptance into the programme,” he said.

The Ministry of Education’s cellphone policy is not likely to be ready for implementation at the very start of the new school year, but Minister of Education, Ronald Jones says it is only a matter of time before it comes to fruition.

The Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister has revealed work is ongoing to get the document completed and approved. He made the comments just yesterday as he spoke at a press conference at the Democratic Labour Party’s headquarters to launch the e-version of the 62nd Annual Conference document.

“It will not be rolling out on September 1st. There are two officers in the Ministry that are tidying it up, dotting I’s and crossing T’s, but it also has to go to the Committee of Governance, a sub-committee of Cabinet to ensure that there isn’t anything in there that conflicts one side over the other. And obviously we would ask the Office of the Attorney General to look at the various positions to ensure that they are complementary to each other, both the cellphone policy and the Internet policy,” he stated.

Speaking to The Barbados Advocate after the launch, he indicated that once the policy, which should go to the Governance Sub-Committee within another week or so, has been approved, students will be educated about their rights, privileges and responsibilities relative to the use of technology in schools. As such, he said the existing policy, which currently bars the use of cell phones in schools, remains in place for the time being.

Minister Jones told the media earlier in the press conference that Cabinet has recently given approval to the software management system for schools and to put a new student information management system in place.

“But the policy itself will not be ready for the 1st of September. The society has had a lot of debate and I am conscious of this, but at the same time I am aware of its effective use as a tool within the classroom. I am also aware that in the wider society, there is substantial misuse of the technologies; social media is one of those things. That’s a technology in itself and it is so badly misused by persons in our society, that it is awful. All kinds of rubbish is now placed on the various social media programmes… I believe it is mindboggling and people who should otherwise focus on a developmental agenda, on moving themselves out of their current state, would spend that level of time in such mischief and silly behaviour and promoting violence,” he said.

Despite the negatives, he said the Ministry is committed to utilising mobile and other smart technologies wherever it can aid students in advancing their learning. He made the point as he noted that the Caribbean Examinations Council for example, has been making tremendous use of e-learning and e-assessment tools and he warned that if Barbados does not move in tandem with such efforts, we will be left behind.

“The modern world demands that students should not wait two weeks to get an answer on a Maths quiz, or English quiz; those days are gone. There should be instantaneous response to the production of my work, which means I am in a better frame of mind right at the moment to go through the self-correction, self-analysis and self-improvement to make my learning better,” the minister added. (JRT)

Before you look to expand your company regionally or internationally, you must ensure that all aspects of your business are done well domestically.

Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development, the Hon. Donville Inniss, gave this advice during a speech he delivered during
the graduation ceremony of 17 participants of the Exports Readiness Programme, which was held at Bagnall’s Point Gallery on Tuesday evening.

“I keep saying that if you really want your business to grow and you really want to get involved in export, you have to do well at a micro level. So, any
export thrusts or development into enterprises to get more into a regional or international market means that all aspects of your domestic business must be done and done well,” he said.

He urged graduates not to compromise on matters such as human resources, as it is important to ensure that they have the right employees “in the right spaces, doing the right things with the right kinds of rewards for their efforts”.

He also encouraged them to make the best use of all the technology that is available in the developing processes, and to ensure that their operational
aspects are also streamlined to be as efficient and effective as possible.

He advised them to ensure that their record-keeping skills were “second to none” because no one would take a person going into business seriously, if they did not know what it cost to produce the services that they were seeking to offer.

“And those who sometimes frown upon the tax system, if you’re not compliant with your taxes in the jurisdiction in Barbados, you will certainly face some tough questions when you seek to venture into other markets and realise that they are going to be demanding their pound of flesh as well,” he said.

Generally speaking, the minister believes that once persons have all aspects in their business environment covered domestically, then venturing into new markets would be a lot easier.

POLITICAL scientist, Dr. George Brathwaite, believes that if a Government and its Cabinet are not disciplined, then it is not setting an example for the rest of the country to follow.

Dr. Brathwaite, a lecturer at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill, made the comment while participating in a panel discussion on the current state of the Barbados economy and what should an economic recovery plan look like.

It was sponsored by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados (ICAB).

He drew on the writings of Leon Trotsky, a former intellectual from the Soviet Union, who said that the character of a society is determined by the character of its economy, and that the character of its economy is determined by its use of productive means.

He said that at least three aspects of national life have been developed in Barbados in recent times. Dr. Brathwaite listed them as a culture of procrastination, a culture of excuses and a culture of accepting the lowest denominator.

“If you do those things you shape the very character of the society that you live in,” said the political scientist.

Stating he has been speaking to other political leaders across the region, Dr. Brathwaite said that discipline has to start at the top.

“You cannot look to reduce wastage, you cannot look to bring home the title of enthusiasm for the pride and industry which Barbados is known for. “You cannot do it,” he reiterated.

He argued that there must be more than just political talk.

“It means that you have to make tough decisions, you reach out to your people,” Dr. Brathwaite stated.

He recounted that when Barbados faced economic challenges in the early 1990s, the then Prime Minister Erskine (now Sir Lloyd) Sandiford in devising a rescue package, asked the people of Barbados for their trust. He said this is important for going through with the programme

However, Dr. Brathwaite maintained that with the ongoing economic situation, the country has seen that the statistics and the political rhetoric they have heard do not always match up.

He lamented that all of this has led to a culture of disconnect.

The UWI lecturer indicated that from what has been said by commentators, the business community and civil society have all been calling on the government to something about the fiscal deficit, the rising debt, and other challenges in the economy. Government, he advised, has to talk to the people.
(JB)