THE Chairman of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Peter Earle, is contending that the Barbados Workers’ Union’s (BWU) effort to force the cash-strapped state-owned entity to pay increments over and above scales would be tantamount to a salary increase.

As 20 per cent of the company’s employees took industrial action for the third consecutive day yesterday, over the paying of increments, Earle explained that while the Corporation placed on the table the payment of outstanding increments from July 2013 to July 2017, the BWU has been unreasonable in trying to get “the value of those increments and pay them over the scale”.

“Some of the people were already at the top of the scale. So if we agree to pay increments, and they are already at the top, then there are no more increments for them. But the Union wants to go beyond that and that doesn’t happen in Barbados.

“So we are saying that is tantamount to a salary increase because legally that doesn’t happen. Now if for instance we had paid these increments every year, we would not have gone over the scale,” Earle explained, during a press conference at the Pine, St. Michael-based Corporation.

The Chairman pointed out that he was assured that CBC could pay the increments only if its parent ministry agreed to certain proposals, along with CBC generating additional revenue with the implementation of new initiatives.

“That was the basis on which CBC agreed to pay the outstanding increments. The figure of $102 000 we put on the table did not include increments over the scale,” he said.

He further explained that he had sought clarification from former General Secretary of the BWU, Sir Roy Trotman, regarding going over the top of the scales, and was assured that “we were not going above the top, but that we would discuss the scales at a later date”.

“I did that because the management team wanted clarification. I went back and told them that the agreement was not one that would take persons already at the top of their respective scales.

“Once they reach the top, there were no more increments. The General Manager also spoke to Sir Roy and he said the same and also indicated that we would discuss the scales at a later date,” he said.

According to Earle, any agreement to go over the top of the scale means that the Corporation would have agreed to a wage increase for the affected persons.

He lamented that there was no proposal for a wage increase, as Section 20 (c) of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation Act, Chapter 276 states that “no salary in excess of such sums as the Minister may determine and notify in writing to the Corporation shall be assigned to any post without the prior approval of the Minister”.

“The Board never sought approval because we understood that we were negotiating increments, not salaries,” Earle pointed out.

Meanwhile, the Chairman apologised to viewers of Channel 8 and listeners on the Corporation’s radio stations, for the inability to present several regular scheduled programmes as a result of the industrial action against the CBC.

He said the Corporation’s financial difficulties have been well chronicled in recent months during the much publicised negotiations with the BWU, and noted that the strike action was causing a further loss of revenue.

The strike action is having an impact on the daily operations at the state-owned broadcaster, he stressed.

He said the three radio stations remain on the air with some periods automated while TV8 has made some adjustments to its schedule, including a temporary break to Mornin’ Barbados and Midday News.

“Because the vast majority of the staff has not joined the industrial action, we have been able to maintain our customer service operations for MCTV.

“TV8 has been able to maintain its major Evening News product and our three radio stations continue to function,” he said. (AH)

Timothy Antoine, Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) believes that the “The immediate task is that we must convince the rest of the world to get on board and fight climate change because it is real.”

He also argued, “We have to address this analytical absurdity and this callous classification that these small poor vulnerable countries are high income and cannot qualify for grants and concessionary finance.”

The ECCB Governor was speaking at the Bitt seminar entitled, “Central Bank Meets Blockchain” at Hilton Resort, but against the backdrop of the recent devastation caused by hurricanes in the region he used the platform to indicate, “The most immediate challenge we have right now is to convince the rest of the world, that are doubting, that climate change is indeed real. We have an urgent task to ensure that everybody gets it, looks at it. The US just got the worst storm in history and in the region we got hit with Category 5 Hurricanes. Therefore, the immediate task for us, is to convince those that are still on the fence and those that are doubting that Climate Change is real, and we have to do something about it as a community. It is not enough for the Caribbean to care about it because we by ourselves cannot make changes but the fact is that we are the most affected victims, so we need to get the rest of the world to pay attention.

"I am emotional because three of my members are hurting and I’m hurting with them. We had a direct hit in Dominica, Anguilla and Barbuda. They are our bothers and are disasters and if anything I have extra motivation to move to transformation because that is what these countries need at this time. You can’t put back the old infrastructure that they had because they can’t withstand another Category 5 hurricane and everything we heard about climate change tells us that these incidents will occur maybe more frequently – so what are we going to do?”

Antoine added another concern, “At this moment this region is averaging less that two per cent growth per annum; we need to get to at least five per cent – that is the goal of the ECCB. How are we going to get there? Before Hurricane Irma & Maria, we were talking how we can attain five per cent and sustain it; create 60 thousand jobs over the next eight years because that is what we need to get to single digit unemployment. Last year we were at 2.6 per cent, now we have to rebuild” (NB)

The Chairman of the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF), Dr. Sherwyn Williams, is sending out a message to the more developed countries (MDC) of the Caribbean to honour their commitments.

Delivering remarks at the Sixth Meeting of Contributors and Development Partners of the CDF recently at the Accra Beach Hotel and Spa, he said that there are a number of areas that are of concern for the region and need to be addressed, such as those relating to human capital and these can include initiatives relating to climate change, energy, the creation of knowledge-based jobs and the development of the blue economy by utilising the Caribbean Sea as its source.

Williams said that they are hoping that work on these initiatives can start in the second cycle. However, in order to ensure that the region can embark on making these initiatives a reality, they need both the MDCs and the Less Developed Countries (LDC) to put resources into the CDF and while these nations have committed themselves to this goal, the economic challenges have resulted in these funds being slow in coming. This is only made worst by the devastation caused by the recent hurricanes of Irma and Maria.

“For each of these areas mentioned, where I believe great opportunities will become available for the CDF in the near term, more resources will be required than we currently have at our disposal. It is in the very essence of regional integration that these resources must first come from within, from both the LDC and MDC groupings of CARICOM.

“All of our contributing member countries understand this, which is why they have renewed their commitment to the replenishment of the Fund during this second cycle. However tough fiscal circumstances have meant that contributions have been slower in coming than expected. The recent devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria has only exacerbated the tight fiscal constraints faced by the affected Caribbean states in particular.”

Williams stated however, that the fund is needed now more than ever to assist these islands that have been impacted.

“However at the same time, these severe natural shocks, which I know many of the islands are still reeling from, provide the CDF with the opportunity to orient at least some of the resources earmarked for Country Assistance Programmes (or CAPs), towards the recovery and rebuilding effort. Indeed, it was contemplated when the Fund was set up that we would assist regions disadvantaged by reason of impairment of resources resulting from natural disasters.

“Within that context, the CDF stands ready to assist both Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica with their economic reconstruction efforts post Hurricanes Irma and Maria, since we are yet to develop new CAPs with these countries under this current second funding cycle.”

The CDF Chairman urged the MDC to honour their commitment to ensure that the LDC can benefit in their time of need. “In pursuing this approach, the first order of business is to once again appeal to the MDC members of the CDF to honour their commitments to the Fund at a time when the LDCs of CARICOM are in desperate need of the support of the wider region.”

The Frederick Smith Secondary School has won “The Olweus School of the Year” award for 2016/2017, for its efforts at denouncing bullying, as well as other forms of youth violence.

The award was presented to Deputy Principal Clyde Collymore and Chairman of the school’s Bullying Prevention Coordinating Committee, Simeon Nicholls by Jane Riese, Associate Director, Safe and Humane Schools of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Programme at the Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life, Clemson University, USA.

She was in Barbados to join in Supreme Counselling for Personal Development’s Celebrate Kindness Week of Activities, under the theme, “Creating a Bully Free Barbados”, and the actual award presentation was made on Friday, designated as “Celebrate Kindness No Name Calling Day”.

“How we treat each other matters,” Riese told the students of Frederick Smith.

Shawn Clarke, CEO of Supreme Counselling for Personal Development and Certified National Olweus Bullying Prevention Trainer & Consultant, who runs the Olweus Bullying Prevention programme in schools, meanwhile noted that Frederick Smith holds a special place in his heart, as it is the school where he got his education and his foundation for life.

“It made something of Shawn Clarke and it can make something of each and every one of you,” Clarke told the students, as he encouraged them to work to make their school one of the best in the island and to continue to step up and speak out against all forms of bullying.

Chairman of the Bullying Prevention Coordinating Committee, Simeon Nicholls also encouraged the students to speak out against bullying and to work to eliminate it.

“Don’t be afraid to say no, that is not right, that isn’t nice, even if you are the only person saying so,” he advised.

The Olweus Bullying Prevention Programme was initially launched in February 2013. Supreme Counselling and the Bullying Prevention Coordinating Committees of the participating schools, have since continued to educate and raise awareness about the different forms of bullying, while focusing on empowering bystanders.

During SCPD’s “Celebrate Kindness No Name Calling Day” on Friday, a mural against bullying was also unveiled at Frederick Smith, and student Reynardo Wickham as rewarded for his artistic contribution to that mural. The unveiling was witnessed by Jane Riese and her husband Don Riese; Julie Sorenson, Vice President of Customer Relations with the Sprigeo Online Reporting App in the USA, who officially launched the anti-bullying app here in Barbados, as well as her husband Greg Sorenson.

Ambassador against bullying, Peter Ram, as well as other entertainers Marzville, spoken word artiste Adrian Green, the Multifarious Dancers and Lava Lamp later entertained teachers and students, before the SCPD team moved on with its tour of two other schools, Wesley Hall Infants and Grantley Adams.

The redevelopment work of Sam Lord’s Castle into a five-star hotel is on target for 2020.

Acting Prime Minister, Richard Sealy disclosed that some excavation has been completed and work is ongoing. He shared this as he addressed the gathering at Friday’s reception in celebration of the 68th anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China at the Chinese Embassy.

“As I speak to you, at least five of the buildings have been excavated and work on the foundations in two of those buildings is ongoing and indeed we have at least had one draw down from the EXIM Bank to see that the major project of 450 rooms is completed during the course of 2020.”

Sealy in his remarks also highlighted the areas, including education, culture and healthcare, through which the countries have cooperated over the years.

Turning his attention to speak about the visa waiver signed to allow travel between Barbados and China, Sealy said “it is my certain knowledge that our friends at tourism have been working on destination awareness in the People’s Republic of China while at the same time partnering with the distribution channels in the airline. So we too are doing our part to see if we can have more Chinese coming to Barbados in the not too distant future.”

Friday’s reception was attended by a number of government officials and members of the Consular Corps.

Addressing the gathering, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Barbados, Zou Xi made mention of the waiver as well. He shared a hope “that our bilateral visa waiver arrangement will further promote the exchanges in economic, trade, tourism and other areas between our two countries.”

Speaking specifically about the Sam Lord’s Castle project, he said “looking ahead into the year of 2018, I hope that Sam Lord’s Castle Resort could be rehabilitated and open for business as scheduled to benefit the local economy.”

Moreover, he shared a hope that “the second Chinese Medical Team will fully apply their expertise to provide great medical services to local patients.” Also, that all the teaching programme “at U.W.I.-China Institute of Information Technology will build a wider platform for young Barbadian people’s academic study and career life, as well as to attract more Barbadian people to know and fall in love with the Chinese language and culture.”

THE grim reality facing the state-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has been outlined by General Manager Doug Hoyte, who says not only is the company faced with millions in debt, it is also faced with shrinking revenues.

His comments came yesterday against the backdrop of the Barbados Workers’ Union led strike action which has gone into the weekend as approximately 20 percent of the staff protests the non-payment of increments dating back to 2013. However CBC principals maintain that to exceed the salary scale would be the equivalent of a pay increase, which was not agreed upon and not their decision to make.

Stressing that the goal is to preserve jobs, he stated that there is a possibility that the BWU would have to create a ratio – how many jobs to go in order to meet their demands.

Hoyte maintained that CBC simply does not have the money to meet the demands of the BWU, which he explained would cost the company an additional $102 000 per month to pay staff. Employee costs for the year are currently $7.32 million.
In an interview with the Barbados Advocate yesterday, Hoyte explained that as of August 31 2017 the accumulated deficit stood at $124 972 000. Revenue to date stands at $16 million while the net loss is 3.7 million. “We are down approximately 2 million when compared to last year at this time between April and August.”

Hoyte explained that the big-ticket earner, MCTV has been hard-hit by competitive forces which have substantially eroded its profitability. Comparing 2017 to 2016 he said advertising revenue has seen a dip of $600 000. All of this he stressed, without getting a subvention from government in two decades.

In fact, Hoyte says since he joined the corporation in April last year, MCTV subscribers have dipped to 19 000 from 27 000. “We are haemorrhaging 150 subscribers per month. When you juxtapose that with all the other technology like smart phones, not to mention competitors on the market...and they have advantages such as duty free status allowed to them under the Telecoms Act which the CBC is not entitled to.”

Additionally, he noted that advertising dollars have also taken a hit, which he attributed to social media effect.
He reiterated the company’s position, saying that when it was agreed to provide increments for employees, it was done with the understanding that it would not exceed the existing salary scale. In fact, he explained that going above the salary scale is in reality a salary increase, which according to the Caribbean Broadcasting Act, can only be administered by the Minister.

“The Union is asking for us to pay above the scale. The challenge with that is that it creates anomalies for people. To pay outside of the scale means a salary increase. We would be granting salary increase only to 27 percent of the employees. About 68 people out of 246 employees. How can you give a salary increase to those people? As much as 10 percent in some instances,”

“There is a chance that if we were to exceed the scales we would have some managers earning more than the deputy general manager....or we would have janitors and our maids earning more than a reporter with a university degree.”
Stressing that this would be procedurally incorrect, he stated that such an increase would pose additional hardship for the already cash-strapped company.

“I don’t know how we would accomplish it given our financial situation. Some would suggest we should close our doors and it is a real juggling act, because we want to preserve jobs, yet we are faced with the pressure of coming up with additional money which we don’t have. So how do we deal with it?”

Hoyte also revealed that the company has still managed to reduce costs over the years, and has a number programmes set to come online in the final quarter of this year geared towards increasing the revenue stream.

He lamented that the company is also incurring some heavy losses during this period of this strike, noting that with radio and television personnel of the job “substantial” advertising revenue is being lost.

Hoyte apologised to all workers and assured that all efforts are being made to ensure that normalcy resumes to the CBC as soon as possible. (JH)

Culture was vibrantly displayed when the Tourism and Maritime Week 2017 came to a close yesterday, starting with a tourism parade through the streets of Barbados’ capital. It was one of the two signal events occurring on the day.

Tough the light morning showers did delay the annual parade, which was organised by the Barbados Tourism Product Authority’s (BTPA), it eventually moved off from Fontabelle and made its way to Independence Square.

Along the route, onlookers witnessed a spectacle, which included dancing by members of Dancin’ Africa and the Sun Shine Dancers as well as gymnastic presentations by troops from Blackman and Gollop Diamonds, Christ Church Green Stars Cheerleaders, CCFS Golden Panthers and the Princess Margaret Secondary School.

The float from Portvale Sugar Factory and the stunts by the green monkeys, shaggy bears and stilt walkers were captured by members of the public on their mobile devices for prosperity.

All eyes were on the Mother Sallies, who moved to the sounds played by the tuk band. Participants in traditional dress, the Barbados Cadet Corp band and those in large king and queen of the band costumes were also the centre of attention during the morning’s activity.

Chief Executive Officer of the BTPA, Dr. Kerry Hall described the parade as a success, though it rained. She said that on this occasion great attention was paid to have youth involved in the street parade.

“As you can see, the BTPA, we are putting a lot of focus on our youth and today there were a lot of young people in our band because we understand clearly that they are the future tourism leaders and if we don’t try to get into their minds and impress upon them and educate them and sensitise them on their role, the industry would not be sustainable because generation next, they are the ones who are going to take this industry to the next level.”

Dr. Hall further said that the BTPA will “continue to put on events like this every year because I know that once it resonates with the Barbadian society and community more and more people would want to get on board and I believe this is going to get bigger and bigger and more and more spectacular every year and the BTPA is committed to ensuring that we celebrate all of Barbados in our parade.”

An instruction manual on physiotherapy that would educate physicians on exactly when they should recommend a patient to go
see a physiotherapist, will soon be a reality.

This is coming from President of the Barbados Physical Therapy Association, Dr. Nicola Yard, who spoke with The Barbados Advocate on Saturday night after that association’s Awards Dinner at the Accra Beach Hotel and Spa.

She said that the book is now in the proposal stages and it will also educate the general public on what exactly their profession entails because in this day and age, nobody should be asking them what it is that they do.

“Well, not only thinking in terms of the profession, but obviously also continuing education. I am not only thinking in terms of being a part of a sports team or writing journals or stuff, but in terms of making changes. Right now we are trying to put forward a proposal that actually has an instruction course for physiotherapy for doctors, so that when their (patients) come out they (doctors) know when to recommend them for physiotherapy. So things along those lines; things in terms of like you know, giving back and just being more visible so that people then know what physiotherapy is because in 2017, nobody should ask me what is a physiotherapist. Nobody asks a doctor or nurse what their job is, nobody asks a policeman what their job is or a lawyer, so why don’t people know what a physiotherapist is?”

Another area that the book will serve to educate the public on is that not everybody who offers massages is trained in physiotherapy.

“I think that if we all come together, move forward and continue to educate persons. We have found that there are people who are coming in and doing things and saying that they are physiotherapists who are not really physio-therapists, so we are trying to stamp that out, trying to let people know what physiotherapy is and to let them know that not everyone who massages is a physiotherapist, not everyone who works with a sports team is a physiother-apist. So those are the sort of things that we are trying to do, trying to educate the public and once everybody plays their role, we are hoping that would make the changes that we need,” said Yard.

In the meantime, she will be working on getting the profession to be more visible in the island.

“So that is why we need to get to the point where we are so visible that people know who we are, if they did not know... So that is basically what I want to do in that regard. Of course, I still want us to be physiotherapists that are known for great work and so forth, but I want us to be more visible, so that people know what physiotherapy is. That is my main thing.”

While younger women do not usually think about getting breast cancer, a local medical expert is reminding women in this country that such a diagnosis can happen at any age.

Medical Co-ordinator of the Breast Screening Programme of the Barbados Cancer Society, Dr. Shirley Hanoman-Jhagroo, says even though the majority of cases of breast cancer in Barbados are found in women between the ages of 50 and 65, more women under the age of 50 are being diagnosed with the disease, which is the most common cause of death from cancer among Barbadian women.

“It is always considered a post-menopausal disease, but it is not necessarily. We are finding women in their 40s and 30s and we have had a few in their 20s; we’ve even had an 18-year-old a few years ago,” she said in an interview with The Barbados Advocate after a service yesterday morning at the St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, to commemorate the Breast Screening Programme’s 15th anniversary.

This reality that breast cancer does not discriminate, has prompted the Breast Screening Programme to seek to target female students enrolled in secondary schools, in order to teach them how to perform breast self-examinations. She said that by teaching them the importance of doing self-examinations as teenagers, they are hoping that they will take this knowledge into adulthood, which would go a long way in ensuring early diagnosis of breast cancer. According to Hanoman-Jhagroo, they are waiting on approval from the Ministry of Health to move forward with the initiative.

“The breast self-examination is very important. You know why? The majority of breasts’ changes are found by the women themselves – five to eight per cent and some of those are found by the partners. But if you examine your breasts diligently, you will know when something feels different. So we are trying to emphasise this and we teach this. We have the mobile unit which goes around the island teaching women breast self-examination,” she said.

The Medical Co-ordinator’s remarks came as she noted that breast self-examination is the first aspect of the three protocols for early detection of breast cancer. The second, she said, is the mammogram screening, which usually starts at age 40; and the third is having an annual check performed by a health professional. (JRT)

AS many as 90 000 clients have passed through the Breast Screening Programme of the Barbados Cancer Society (BCS).

That’s according to Medical Co-ordinator of the Breast Screening Programme, Dr. Shirley Hanoman-Jhagroo. She was speaking yesterday morning during a service at the St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, where officials from the BCS and the Ministry of Health gathered to mark the Programme’s 15th anniversary, as she told the congregation about the success of the initiative over the years. In fact, she said it is rated as one of the best early detection clinics in the English-speaking Caribbean.

Hanoman-Jhagroo’s comments came as she noted that breast cancer remains the most common cause of death from cancer among Barbadian women, and so the programme seeks to reduce the number of premature deaths from breast cancer through early detection. As such, she said that persons attending the clinic are guaranteed excellent service at a rate which they can afford. She made the point while lamenting that prior to the commencement of the programme, the majority of breast cancer cases which were diagnosed were in stages four to five. With such diagnoses, she said patients were being given less than five to 10 per cent, five years survival. Today, she revealed that the majority of patients diagnosed with breast cancer in this country are in the stages zero to one.

“So we have come a long way,” she contended.

The medical co-ordinator said that the clinic is second to none, featuring state-of-the-art equipment, on par with those found in first world countries. She said it is also a major tool in helping to raise awareness about the importance of detecting breast cancer early, as is the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk.

“This awareness has contributed tremendously to early detection because with awareness there will be patients diagnosed early because they come early. And, if you’re diagnosed early, your survival rate will be, and can be, almost 100 per cent,” she maintained. (JRT)

Thousands turned out, wearing pink, for the annual breast cancer awareness walk yesterday, demonstrating that Barbadians are definitely becoming more aware of the significant impact the illness has not only on those suffering from it, but also their loved ones and friends.

The CIBC FirstCaribbean and the Barbados Cancer Society Breast Screening Programme’s Walk for the Cure 2017 was a success as women, men, teenagers and babies in strollers, came out in their numbers to participate.

The 5K Walkers, who created a sea of pink, started at 4 p.m. from opposite CIBC FirstCaribbean Head office to Hinds Hill stop lights, headed to Queen’s College, turned right by the stop lights at Queen’s College, continued to the junction by Simpson Motors, turned right and headed to the Massy Car Park for after-walk activities.

There was also a 10K and 5K run.

A genuine misunderstanding.

That’s how Minister of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development, Senator Dr. Esther Byer-Suckoo, has described the issue that led to the strike action taking place at the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). Since last Wednesday, unionised workers of the state-owned broadcasting company have been off the job, citing the Corporation’s failure to pay increments, as agreed, as the reason behind their action.

Speaking to the media over the weekend during a mass canvass in the St. George South Constituency, Minister Byer-Suckoo, giving some background to the negotiations between the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) and the CBC, indicated that she had the opportunity to meet with the two parties and they did come to an agreement, but when it came time to “operationalise that agreement”, she explained there was a misunderstanding in how it should be rolled out.

“I do believe, from where I stand, it is a genuine misunderstanding, but one nonetheless that has to be clarified and I am working to try to get the two parties to, if I can’t broker a solution at this point, certainly to see if I can get the two parties to start to think about coming back to the table so that we can settle this problem. As I said we did have an agreement, but it turns out that in one regard there was a misunderstanding,” she stated.

With that in mind, Byer-Suckoo said she has been, and remains in touch with the General Secretary of the BWU and the management and board of the CBC to offer guidance and advice. She spoke to this as she was asked about the possibility of the strike action being escalated to include workers not employed at the CBC.

“…There is force in numbers, so we would expect that if the unions do not get, as with anything else, if step one doesn’t get you there you move to step two, you move to step three. It would be best if we can prevent it escalating. It has escalated one step, but if we can prevent any further escalation that would be best. But as I said, it is up to the parties to want to come back to the table,” she stated.

The Labour Minister, nonetheless, strongly believes that the parties will return to the negotiating table and that the matter will be resolved.

“But at this point this is a step that it seems the parties have to go through as well, because both sides have a point they need to get across... But at the end of the day, I always maintain this is not the solution, we are still going to have to come back to the table, both parties are going to have to come back to the table… But one way or another they are going to have to come back to the table, because we have to resolve the issue before us,” she said. (JRT)

Legislation to address sexual harassment in the workplace is set to be debated in Parliament quite soon.

So says Minister of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development, and the Democratic Labour Party’s candidate for St. George South, Senator Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo. She spoke to this bill as she canvassed the constituency over the weekend.

Byer Suckoo said that getting this bill, dubbed the Employment Sexual Harassment (Prevention) Bill to Parliament for approval, is a promise she made to the people of that constituency, and she is following through with that promise. The Bill is in fact the only one before the Senate now for debate, and it will originate there as opposed to the House of Assembly.

“They are now coming to the fore and talking about it. Now that we are giving some visibility to the subject, we are seeing people now identifying and saying ‘yes, that happens to me’. But as a doctor, I was able to get from patients that this was a challenge for them in the workplace and so when I became the Minister of Labour, I said good, I am in a position that we can bring this legislation and I said if there was one thing I was able to do while I was Minister of Labour, and before I move on to anything else, I want to bring sexual harassment legislation, and it is in Parliament and I will be debating it in a couple weeks’ time,” she said.

Minister Byer Suckoo added that she believes strongly that it is a piece of legislation that both men and women would be pleased to have. She made the point while noting that contrary to popular belief, it is not only women who fall prey to, or are vulnerable to acts of sexual harassment.

“Don’t be fooled, it is not just women who are victims of sexual harassment; I’ve been seeing a lot of people and we are ready to bring this now on our statute books. So this morning as we went around, we could convince our supporters in the area and residents of the community that I am still at work for them, not only in the constituency working with their young people and helping other needs, but also as Minister of Labour, working to ensure that their needs are also met in that regard,” she added.

Meanwhile, Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs, Adriel Brathwaite, who was accompanying Byer Suckoo on the mass canvass, noted that a public relations campaign will be undertaken regarding the Bill, so as to ensure that the public is comfortable with what is being proposed.

“We are not making the workplace a hostile environment, but we are also protecting rights of the individuals in the workplace,” he said.

The Labour Minister echoed his comments, as she revealed that she will be taking the opportunity to meet with various interest groups on the
matter.

“I will go on the media as well, and spend as much time as Barbadians need to have me explain the legislation; [and] the Labour Department of course is trained, and they will also be able to answer your questions. But to ensure that Barbadians know that the sexual harassment legislation is not about locking up people… it is about ensuring that a person’s rights are protected, a person can function in dignity and a person can say well look, this is what I want and I am not comfortable with X or I am not comfortable with Y,” she stated.

Byer Suckoo is adamant that the public need not be fearful of the pending legislation and she is confident that the gender neutral bill, once it is enacted, will address the needs of those being harassed and not impose undue hardship on anyone in the workplace.
(JRT)

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President of the Barbados Physical Therapy Association, Dr. Nicola Yard, is sending out advice to fellow physiotherapists to be trailblazers.

Speaking with The Barbados Advocate on Saturday night after her association’s Awards Dinner at the Accra Beach Hotel and Spa, she stated that recently she had calls from overseas with persons telling her that they recognise the outstanding work that Barbadian physiotherapists do and this is something that she would like those in her profession to continue to do.

She would also like them to take the lead and set the example for physiotherapists from other countries across the region and the world.

“What I want us to do is to continue to blaze the trail. Recently, in our week of activities, I have had people from overseas contacting me and saying that they recognise the work that we are doing and that we are doing a good job, and that is what I want us to continue to do. Not wait for other people in other countries to do things and then to say, ‘well, yes we should have done that,’ but for us to set the pace, for us to do the things, for us to be the ones so that other
countries look up to us and say, ‘Wow, this is what they are doing in Barbados, we need to get on board. So I just want us to set the pace, blaze the trail and then let everybody else follow us.”

The President believes that this is a goal that they can attain once they have the support of all of their members.

“The strength of the association lies in the interest and support of its members. The Association is nothing without you. Let us move forward as a united group, educating the public on our profession, facilitating its development. We have gained a lot of public attention in recent months, a wave I would like us to continue to ride on. I want us to blaze a trail in Barbados and across the region. We all have different directions, but our drive, love and passion for physiotherapywill determine the success and sustainability of the profession.”

Yard said that they celebrated their 20th anniversary as an association on September 25, 2017, and they wanted to honour all of those who contributed to the speciality in some form or fashion. 24 members of the 44 member association were recognised in this regard.

This is the first time that they have held an awards ceremony of this nature with the objective being to increase their visibility in this country, to build unity and to show members who have done a lot for the profession that they appreciate their efforts. The association which was formed in 1997, will be placing more emphasis on community outreach initiatives, to get more members and to provide more opportunities for continuing education to those practising in Barbados.
The profession is aimed at “helping persons recover from injuries, getting them mobile from illnesses and diseases and to assist them in improving their quality of life overall”, she added.

Donville Inniss, Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce & Small Business Development announced that one of the ways the Ministry will deepen its relationship with the SBA, will include placing the SBA on the board
of directors of those entities that fall under his ministry.

While speaking at the Small Business Awards Ceremony & Reception at the Radisson Aquatica Resort he praised the work of the SBA and indicated, “The SBA is perhaps one of the stronger advocacy organisations in Barbados, that is a true testament of the sheer determination and sterling leadership of the CEO of the SBA, Lynette Holder.

“As a minister I may feel passionate about certain issues but not be in a position to execute all of them, but I will rely on the SBA to bring their presence and experience to sit on some of these boards to ensure that the voices of the micro, small and medium enterprises are heard. Another concern we have been talking about is finding a mechanism where the state can guarantee that part of the services and goods that we procure for the state are procured from the micro, small and medium sector. If you really want to build a far more resilient economy – a lot more emphasis has to be given to towards the small business sector.”

The Minister also stated, “One of the challenges in the sector relates to access to finance, now I keep telling those that call me and say ‘we need money for our business’ that ‘money is not the only thing you may need’. If you don’t have a good business plan, have not sought good legal advice, nor engaged with an accountant then you may realise the problem with the business development is not just about money. However I’m mindful that young entrepreneurs in particular, face the challenge of access to finance. In spite of the prolonged economic challenges of this economy we were able to find ten million dollars to advance fund access to assist the financing of the sector.

“One area that troubles me is that the administration of some of the affairs in government that are depended upon by the private sector in this country must be seriously questioned. I am always challenged by those that approach government agencies or lending agencies included, seeking assistance, and are treated in the worst possible manner. One of the challenges that I face sometimes is that some in the public sector do not connect with those on the other side and what they are facing to start their business, and then you say to them you want four or five guarantors, if want 20 thousand dollars bring 40 thousand dollars in security, that must come to a screeching halt! Therefore, as Minster I have directed fund access with immediacy to be more flexible in their lending policies towards the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in Barbados.”

“There are too many Barbadians whose dreams are being dashed aside because we are not being flexible. I cannot ask banks to do that because they are private sector owned, but they may hear the call and also be more flexible. However, you can be rest assured that we will bring down the barriers that stand between success of the private sector in this country,” Inniss affirmed. (NB)

The President of the Barbados Small Business sector, Dean Straker, has again issued the call for the promised 40 per cent procurement of government’s goods and services for the SME sector to be made a reality without further delay.

He recounted, “I was partially pleased to hear the Most Honourable, Portia Simpson-Miller, Former Prime Minister of Jamaica who delivered the Sagicor Leo Leacock lecture, express her support for preferential treatment to the vulnerable micro & small business sector, and confirm this as a strategy used in Jamaica.

“The SBA stands ready to discuss more strategies to help in the creation of new methodologies and to ensure the survival of our firms. The time has come for new thinking and new approaches to the way business is done. Let us not miss the opportunity from the current economic malaise to re-imagine what is needed and what our capabilities are.”

While giving the welcome address at the SBA Awards Ceremony & Reception at Radisson Aquatica Resort, he also added, “The natural disasters we have experienced thus far in this year’s Atlantic hurricane season confirmed within fear
of contradiction – that climate change is real. We therefore need to have programmes geared towards the use of more renewable energy technologies, the policy framework to incentivise energy efficiency and a greater seriousness to the adherence of building codes. Many of our retailers, manufacturers and services providers rent office space, at ridiculous rents, and we need to ensure these facilities meet acceptable standards of construction and maintenance to withstand disasters, which are prone to affect this region.

“Additionally, our business model now needs stronger legislative support for electronic trade to enable MSMEs desirous of doing business across the globe. How long have we acknowledged that today’s business is being done in a global village, yet there are small impediments to firms that wish to use e-commerce in a secure and cost-efficient manner. We again call for the necessary legislative framework to support this.”

Straker suggested, “Business start-ups need technical support and an environment to test procedures and new product ideas. Consequently, an incubator model is required as part of the new paradigm for doing business. I am not referring to programmes of concessionary rents being provided to new firms, but a systematic approach where businesses, especially young aspirants, can be enrolled in two–three year programmes, where they can access the technical support and product development services needed to launch new business ideas.

“We have enough industrial estates on the island that technology parks and research centres can be introduced to make products primarily for the export market in several niche areas. Enough research has been done on ‘born global’ approaches, so that products can leapfrog the domestic market and be provided specifically for export. Such a strategy can provide an opportunity to harness the skills of our many university graduates in the social sciences and medicine.” (NB)

The latest report on Barbados from the international credit rating agency, Standard and Poor’s (S&P), was not all bad.

Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Christopher Sinckler, said while many have been focused on S&P’s recent downgrade of Barbados’ long-term local currency sovereign credit rating to ‘CCC’ from ‘CCC+’, few have failed to recognise that they affirmed the foreign debt rating at CCC+. He made the comments while speaking to the media on the sidelines of the launch of the St. Michael Battle of the West Primary School Quiz Competition at the St. Leonard’s Secondary School yesterday morning.

“I think we have to take both things into consideration,” he said.

He made the point as he contended that the rating agencies do not issue ratings in relation to government policy, as that is not their job. Sinckler explained that what entities like S&P do is write opinions on whether a country is likely to make its debt obligations or not and what circumstances may prevent, inhibit or enable a country to meet its commitments when they are due.

“Two of the largest holders of the domestic debt are the Central Bank and the NIS and then of course we have the commercial banks and the other commercial financial institutions, and they are a little concerned about the fact that there may not be enough rolling over of the existing debt and that that poses a risk,” he said.

Sinckler added, “They also expressed some concerns about the fact that elections are coming up and whether the Government, not that the Government’s fiscal programme as I heard somebody said is not the appropriate programme, it is whether the fiscal programme would be implemented, because elections are coming up... Fiscal consolidation programmes are always a little difficult and can prove to be discomforting to members of the populations, the unions [and] the private sector, so they are a little concerned about that. And then they also expressed some concern about the potential for a “debt restructuring exercise” on existing domestic debt.”
He indicated that based on those three issues, S&P decided to make the adjustment. But, he said it was done against a backdrop of almost 10 successive quarters of economic growth.

“Last quarter the economy grew by 2.2 per cent. That is at a faster rate than is occurring in Britain... By the way the UK was downgraded a few days before Barbados, on fears that the fiscal programme in the UK may not achieve the results which the Government is projecting that it will achieve, and also because of the issues surrounding Brexit. So downgrades happen, and they happen to powerful countries, much richer countries; and they happen to countries like Barbados that are considered to middle income,” the finance minister said.

To that end, he said the real question to be asked at this time is whether the things the S&P has identified as concerns are legitimate and true and insurmountable or surmountable. Sinckler is suggesting that they are the latter and that the Government is doing all within its power to address the current circumstances. He made the point as he said that Barbados has never defaulted on a debt payment, meeting all such payments on time and in full. He added there is no doubt that the Government owned institutions will rollover Government debt, and he feels that the privately owned entities knowing that Government meets its obligations will follow suit.

“So I don’t think that is as much an issue as it ought to be played up in the way in which it is being played up. But people have concerns and to the extent that they do, it is a concern that we have to look at,” he added. (JRT)

The “mother of all battles” is shaping up in the St. Michael South East constituency for the next general election.

That is according to former parliamentarian Hamilton Lashley, who insisted that the winner of this contest will determine the outcome of the election on both sides.
The battle lines have been drawn between current representative Santia Bradshaw for the Barbados Labour Party, and the Democratic Labour Party’s candidate Rodney Grant.

Lashley, who represented that area for four consecutive terms from both sides of the floor, told The Barbados Advocate yesterday that with the experienced teams of Undene Whittaker and himself backing Grant; and Delisle Bradshaw and Patrick Tannis, who switched political parties last week, supporting Bradshaw, all eyes would be focused on that constituency.

“We are going to be locked in battle… Here is it, you have the BLP with a team of people that represent the higher class, while for the DLP you have a team that represents the interest of the working class and the poor in Barbados,” he said.

Insisting that Grant will reclaim the seat for the DLP in the next election, he also expressed confidence that this party would be successful in retaining government for
a third term.

However, he admitted that it would mean that the ruling party has some groundwork to do.

“The BLP has mastered the art of spectacular public relations and of capturing the minds of the electorate in Barbados and have embarked on a programme that says that the DLP is not capable of administering to the country’s general affairs in the future… but in reality the DLP in my view has an extremely good chance of retaining the government based on their record of performance in extremely trying and difficult times, when they have to cope with a turbulent economic climate. Once the DLP goes on an ‘On the Ground’ programme which is doing community-based activity across the battleground constituencies of St. Michael, we can do and help the ordinary poor people with some of the challenges that they are facing – I am not talking about handouts – but to enhance the opportunities for youth and vulnerable in the society,” he said.

Furthermore, Lashley opined that to recapture the government, the DLP had to win all 11 of the St. Michael constituencies.

He said frankly that this would be possible if the party empowered its newest three candidates in these areas with monetary reserves to sustain their political campaigns.
“The party has to empower these candidates to ensure that they have the power to take on the might of the BLP. You cannot have these attractive candidates and not put the resources behind them,” he opined.

While there may be various social and economic issues confronting Barbados right now, these are situations that the country and its people can overcome.

This is according to the newly appointed Senior Pastor of The People’s Cathedral, Reverend Jewell Callender, who spoke with The Barbados Advocate after the church service where she officially accepted her appointment and pledged her commitment to serve in her new role under the guidance of Bishop Gerry Seale, in front of the congregation that included her family.

She said that while things may not look all that great, it is something that Barbadians can rise above just as Barbadians did in the past once we, like those who went before us, return to the place where we put our total trust and dependence on the Almighty One.

“I would say to Barbadians that we can rise above where we are right now. Things may look bleak right now, but I do know that in comparison with some other places, we are not terribly underneath, you know. We can do better and it is (about) having a dependence on God once again and recognising that this is not something that we would be able to rise above by just putting plans in place and so on; that we need to get back to really depending on God and allowing God to give us the wisdom that we need to allow us to do the things that we need to because when you look at Barbados we do not have many natural resources. You could say that we do not have things that people could consider great tourist attractions, but yet God has blessed us and when you look at that, you know that it is only God that has blessed us and kept us over the years and that we have to go back to putting our dependence on God and allowing us to guide this country once again.”

Reverend Callender also expressed the views that young people do have something positive to offer, whether it be in the church or in society and that they too have the capacity to offer advice and counsel to persons in need of such advice.

“The church is not just made up of one generation, we are a multi-generational church – we have the older ones, we have the younger ones and I know that there has been a thinking that we can only rely on the advice of the older people. But we have a lot of young people who are wise in and of themselves and who can be there to show into the lives, and what they have to give to the church can help the church go forward.”

Dr. David Browne, Principal of Queen’s College, has made a call for school leavers to join the Old Scholars’ Association and continue to be productive citizens.

He was speaking at the Queen’s College and the Queen’s College Association (QCA) joint assembly in the school hall yesterday where he invited the Upper Sixth students to join the association and continue the tradition of the old scholars. Dr. Browne indicated that all over the world, people are proud of their alma mater and continue their support, and he urged young people to get involved.

“We in the Caribbean are very slow in recognising the contribution of our institutions in providing sound citizenship. We want to see a tradition of being part of the old scholars not only at Queen’s College, but throughout the Caribbean,” he noted.

He assured the QCA, “Queen’s College is still a place of serious business. We maintain a strong academic tradition and we have answered the call of those that are afraid of what is happening not only in Jamaica and Trinidad, but also in the Eastern Caribbean. There are citizens that seem not to understand their role of being productive citizens. There is the criticism that some of these individuals are behaving the way they are behaving because the education system has failed them, therefore they are walking around and shooting and killing; I don’t believe that. However, there is a call from schools to do more; we have implemented programmes to do more than the academic to help produce the soft skills that they need in the wider world of work.”

Registrar of the Supreme Court, Madam Justice Barbara Cooke-Alleyne, while speaking at her alma mater, stressed the need for young persons to make good decisions.

She noted, “In life you have many choices, you are either the passenger or the pilot, what do you want to be? There are persons that influence you such as parents, teachers, but you have to choose your path. Excellence is a choice, you just can’t wake up and not study and believe you will do well. You can choose to do what is right, choose to do what is good, choose to study, choose not to do drugs, choose friends that will uplift you and choose not to abuse social media. These choices are in your hands.”

Cooke-Alleyne advised the students, “You have to set your goals. Your goals can change, they are not static, but you have to be prepared to work hard… You have the control to make the best choices. Rise above the negative comments you may get from some persons and strive to achieve excellence. We all have different talents and it is important you believe in yourself.” (NB)