AS the Lester Vaughan School celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, the Acting Principal Tanya Harding pledged that the institution will work closely with parents to ensure that students are taught good morals and values.

Speaking at a service at the Holy Innocents Anglican Church, St. Thomas, on Sunday, Harding pointed out that though the institution continues to excel in academics, sports and other areas of school life, the struggle to teach students the morals and values they need to know, continues.

She said from her interaction with students and parents, there is a need to get students to stop paying great attention to material things that cannot play a major role in their development.

Harding said it is important that students be taught important values that will make them good citizens of the nation.

“So much challenges that we face is in this world of instant gratification, where answers could be taught at the press of the button. It is hard for us to convince our students that they actually have to work hard for what they want,” Harding said.

“And even as we put in place programmes so that our children can develop, to ensure that they leave school with the values that we know are important in their lives, we have to forge greater ties with their parents. I have had parents sit in front of me, after their child has done something wrong, and say, ‘But she has everything she needs,’ when in fact, what that child needs is guidance in moral values,” she added.

The Acting Principal promised that as the school continues to grow, it will focus on ensuring students do well in sports and academics.

But she said getting parents involved in their children’s school life will also be seen as a priority. She indicated that parents must understand that a child’s lesson begins at home.

“A lot of parents don’t seem to realise that a child begins to learn from the time they open their eyes and they are seeing and hearing. What happens in the home before the child could even speak one word, says a lot for how that child would be as an adult.

“So certain things are happening in the home and certain things are said in the home, that’s what your child is absorbing,” Harding said.

Rector of the church, Rev. Anthony Harewood, prayed for the continued growth of the intuition, which has been named after an educator who made a major contribution to society.

At the service, Lester Vaughan’s choir delivered a sweet rendition of ‘How Great is Our God’.

The school officially turns 20 on Saturday, October 7. (AH)

WITH the first six months of Government’s current financial year behind us, a Cabinet Minister is expecting that growth will continue to be the trend in the local economy, but warned it may not reach initially predicted levels.

So says Government’s principal spokesperson on financial and economic matters. Speaking to the media yesterday, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Christopher Sinckler said that with “such a tight fiscal programme”, demand will be constrained and he explained that if that occurs in an economy like Barbados’, growth is likely to return.

“We don’t think that is going to be as significant as some people are pointing out, as much as 1, 1.5 per cent; we believe it will be about 0.5 to 0.7 per cent. So we wouldn’t get two per cent growth as was originally predicted at the beginning of the year, before there was this Budget,” he added.

Minister Sinckler made the point as he said that in respect of the fiscal side of things, Barbados seems to be on track. However, he said it is imperative that they make concerted efforts to ensure that they keep the expenditures under control.

“That’s the other point, people only look at the revenue side, we have to look at the expenditure side and things come up from time to time that are unexpected and that you have to make provision for, so we are hoping we can keep those to a minimum,” he added.

The Finance Minister made the point just moments after he told the media that in spite of a slow start for some of the budgetary measures announced in May, they are progressing relatively well at present. He spoke specifically to the two per cent commission on foreign exchange transactions intended to help safeguard the country’s foreign exchange reserves.

“As you know we had to phase that in two – deal with the overall stuff first and then deal with the credit cards after. That delay would shave a little bit off of what we expected to get, but by and large from the figures I have seen, preliminary though they are, it seems we are pretty much where we expected to be,” he stated.

To that end, he said if all goes well Government should, this financial year, realise the estimated $52.5 million it expected through the introduction of that fee. (JRT)

Finance and Economic Affairs Minister, Christopher Sinckler, remains adamant that the Freundel Stuart Administration will not be going the route of debt restructuring.

“We said it to S&P [Standard and Poor’s] very clearly, Barbados is not doing a debt restructuring. That’s not what we are doing and we don’t contemplate doing it, certainly not in the traditional way that people understand it to mean,” he affirmed during an interview with the media yesterday morning as he reflected on S&P’s most recent downgrade, which saw Barbados’ long-term local currency sovereign credit rating being reduced a notch to ‘CCC’.

Minister Sinckler revealed that rather than going that route, Government intends to look at putting a voluntary liabilities management exercise in place to deal with its current debt situation. That, he said, would include not only the debt held by the Central Bank and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), but the private financial entities as well.

“We said in the Budget that since Central Bank and NIS are two major holders of government paper, and they are internal to Government because they are government institutions, we will have a conversation with them about the possibility of looking at putting a liabilities management exercise in place that will be voluntary. When we say liabilities management, you have your liabilities, you know when they come due, you know how much money you have to spend and you look at how such can be managed and handled in a way to ease the pressure off of Government’s fiscal budget and the country generally,” he said.

The Minister reiterated that such an exercise would not be mandatory, as they do not intend to command anyone to participate.

“This is not for you to say you have accept this and the Government is going to, as has happened in other countries, we are going to cut your interest rates and cause you to lose money on the debt that you hold for Government regardless of whether you want it or not. It has to be a voluntary exercise where all the parties sit down and agree that going forward this is what we are going to do; this is how we are going to handle the market when we come up with future issues,” he stated.

However, Sinckler admitted that pursuing such initiatives can cause credit rating agencies to “get a little anxious”, thinking that a government might do a debt restructuring exercise which would see the lenders’ profit margin being cut as a result of reducing the interest rates. In turn, he explained, they adjust the credit rating downward to alert people in the market of that possibility. But, he made it clear that while they respect the rating agencies’ role, the reports they produce are not used by governments to determine economic policy.

“When we do programmes we look IMF, we look CDB, we look IDB, we look at other agencies, we do not look at rating agencies; rating agencies do not determine economic policy. They may comment on it, they may have an opinion on it, and they may issue that opinion based on what they perceive to be the threats or potential threats to people who have lent money or are about to lend money,” he said.

Sinckler went on to acknowledge, however, that their opinions do have an impact.

“…They are important in the process and clearly can create hysteria as you have seen among people domestically and otherwise, and we have to manage that. But we have to stay focused with what we have to do and proceed with it and that is what we are basically doing.” (JRT)

THE CIBC FirstCaribbean and the Barbados Cancer Society Breast Screening Programme “Walk for the Cure 2017” which took place on Sunday attracted over 18 000 participants.

While delivering brief remarks before the scheduled 4 pm start of the event, FirstCaribbean’s, Managing Director, Donna Wellington thanked the thousands for supporting the cause. She revealed that BDS$200 000 had already been raised in pre walk funds and explained that the money would be donated to support the work of the Breast Screening Programme.

“It’s really great to see this turn out this afternoon. I am hoping it’s bigger than last year. Thank you for joining us for this wonderful cause. This walk and run is more than a walk and run. It is an exercise that is very dear to us.
“We can see that you care about cancers impact, about raising awareness about the disease and about supporting our partners at the Breast Screening so that they can offer support to scores of women who need it,” Wellignton said.

“This is our fifth walk and the bank normally does this in 17 countries around the region, but, this year unfortunately, with the passage of Irma and Maria, many of our brothers and sisters in those five islands cannot hold their walk as they try to restore some order to their everyday lives,” the Managing Director added.

The massive crowd that turned out demonstrated 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.

Pregnant women, men, teenagers, church groups, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), the elderly and even babies in strollers, came out in their numbers to support the worthy cause.

Also speaking before the start of the event, Medical Co-ordinator of the Breast Screening Programme, Dr. Shirley Hanoman-Jhagroo said the funds raised this year, will be used to update equipment currently being used for radiotherapy, at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

The Medical Co-ordinator said the equipment currently being used is unacceptable and noted that there is a need for a linear accelerator which is what is used in first world countries. “We have to send our patients overseas to have this radiotherapy. This should be available on our island because it is not only used for breast cancer; it is used for so many other cancers.

“It is going to cost millions and I don’t think the Breast Screening Programme can do it on its own. We need the support of Barbados to do it and we can,” Dr. Hanoman-Jhagroo said.

The 5K Walkers, who created a sea of pink, started from opposite the CIBC FirstCaribbean Head office to the Hinds Hill stop lights; headed to Queens College, turned right by the stop lights at Queens 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. (AH)

Recognising that women are the most adversely affected by climate change, Environment Canada, in partnership with the Women’s Environment and Development Organisation (WEDO), held a Caribbean Women Climate Change Negotiators Workshop at UN House yesterday.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme, which is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is hosting the four-day workshop and National Coordinator, David Bynoe, joined with High Commissioner of Canada to Barbados, Marie Legault, to emphasise the importance of such a workshop, for women in Barbados and across the region.

“This workshop is particularly important, in light of the most recent devastating climatic events faced by the Caribbean. Hurricane Irma and Maria clearly demonstrated that although the Caribbean did not contribute significantly to climate change, we are the ones most vulnerable to it,” Bynoe told those gathered.

“The importance of this workshop is augmented by the fact that women are the most adversely impacted by climate change. Climate change-driven events such as hurricanes, the likes of which the Caribbean has recently faced, do not ask whether you are a man or woman. However, when the dust has cleared from Hurricane Maria and Irma, the stark reality is – these climate change-driven events will have impacted women differently and disproportionately, when compared to men.

He added, “It is a great global injustice that women are the most impacted by climate change, but yet they are under-represented at all levels of the climate change dialogue and policy making process.”

He meanwhile suggested that the workshop will serve as an important step in changing the status quo. “It will develop skills among our Caribbean women in leadership and diplomacy with reference to climate change, including drafting text for interventions, decisions and other written outcomes of the negotiating process, with the aim of strengthening participants’ capacity to participate effectively in the negotiating process,” Bynoe asserted.

Canadian High Commissioner, Marie Legault, meanwhile encouraged the women to make the most use of the skills learnt, even as they venture back to their respective countries. “Please ensure that when you go back to your country you use these skills, you use the network that is created, as well as the resources from WEDO and UN, to really let your voices be heard,” she urged.

School leaders have been urged by Education Minister, Ronald Jones, to elicit the true potential of their students.

The Minister was addressing yesterday’s church service at Abundant Life Assembly, to mark the start of Education Month 2017 under the theme, “Firm Foundations = Quality Education”.

While noting that the majority of our young people were “good, honourable and blessed,” he said they should be celebrated. “I want to invite the leaders of our schools, in the form of principals, deputy principals, those in the Ministry of Education, who are charged with the responsibility to lead the system, to really engage and bring out of our students what we know they have in them – that goodness, that positiveness, that desire to learn and to be good citizens of Barbados,” Jones stated.

Explaining that his Ministry will continue to give the necessary support and assistance, he told students they too could contribute to their own destiny by “continuing to build on the foundations already laid.” They were therefore urged to stay focused, keep vigilant and be craftsmen of their fate.

The Education Minister, however, bemoaned the fact that too many young, black, Barbadian men were dying from the indiscriminate use of weapons and said it was up to adults and society to continue to work with those who felt lost, had poor self-esteem or didn’t know which path to take.

As he alluded to the theme, Jones pointed out that a good quality education was one that provides our youth with “the capabilities they require to become economically active; develop sustainable livelihoods; contribute to peaceful and balanced societies and to enhance individual well-being.” He further pointed out that all of this could be observed in the actions of his Ministry and the schools, from nursery right through to tertiary education.

Stressing that early childhood education was important to this firm foundation, he revealed that by the middle of 2019, all children would be able to access early childhood education either through the public sector or the private sector.

The Minister also acknowledged that the country had an effective system of career and technical education training, with more attention being paid to CVQs, NVQs and technical expertise at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic.
Stating that that was why Barbados was viewed as the ninth of the 11 best educational systems of the world, he said, “The leadership of the Ministry of Education has been systematically working to enhance the education system of Barbados by adopting, refining and reformatting many of those areas; the ‘Skills For The Future Programme’ is one of those initiatives that gives young people another chance to be involved and to be engaged.”

Jones also pointed out that emphasis was being paid to Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as an important area for future development.

Minister of Transport and Works Michael Lashley expressed concern about the power of the state in acquiring the properties of landowners in this country.

“My view is that if you look at the Land Acquisition Act, one could argue that it is heavily, heavily, heavily, heavily in favour of the state,” he told the House of Assembly yesterday.

He said that in the majority of the cases, landowners whose land was being compulsorily claimed by the state, often explained to the housing ministry – after seeing the notice in the paper – that they wanted to keep the land to use as collateral for loans or to pass down to another generation.

However, the attorney-at-law pointed out that the undefined reasoning of “for the public purpose” in the act caused most of these persons to lose their land.

“Not only is there a human cost to these actions, but indeed some of the families would have had businesses attached to their property where they derived an income to support and sustain their families, but again the emotional attachment to the land – that this land is to pass down,” he stressed.

Lashley therefore insisted that it was time to balance rights of landowner with those of state.

He also commented on the length of time it took for land acquisitions to be approved and for the landowners to be compensated within a reasonable timeframe.

At the time, he was speaking in Parliament after outlining that government was abandoning a previously approved resolution to compulsorily acquire a parcel of land in Weston, St. James.
(JMB)

A MEMBER of the Anglican clergy is of the opinion that service seems to be lacking in every sphere of life within society.

Rector of the Holy Innocents Anglican Church, Reverend Anthony Harewood, believes that there are many negative reports about service in Barbados’ society, as promises of quality service have been short lived.

Delivering a recent sermon at the St Thomas-based church, Reverend Harewood preached that there is currently a lackadaisical approach to service, and indicated that people who are involved in customer service appear to be sluggish and unfriendly, making those at the receiving end feel that “they are begging for something”, or not feel
appreciated.

“Sometimes these promises, after being made, are not heard of after so as to ascertain what is really happening, and this would normally result in there being disappointments, frustration, anger, and hopelessness being experienced among us as a people.

“To battle with these emotions would leave many feeling deceived, let down and burdened psychologically. There is coming a time in this same very Barbados, very soon, when promises will be made left, right and centre,” he said.

Reverend Harewood also noted that quality service is not only lacking within the wider society, but also in the church. He said it is the duty of Christians to live a life that is pleasing and acceptable in the sight of God.

He reminded the congregation that being of service to God, in sincerity and truth, is allowing his presence and his love to be reflected in their delivery of service.

“In addition to allowing God’s love to be a part of us and allowing God to use us, we must also be cognisant of the fact that the type of service we give would either bring honour to almighty God or discredit.

“For service in response to God’s command is about quality and about commitment at all times, even when the circumstances or the conditions are not favourable, we must be able to live up to the expectation,” he said.
(AH)

On October 6, the Anniversary of the 1976 Cubana Flight tragedy, Barbados will host the inaugural Pan Caribbean Peace Conference.

This was announced by Coordinator of the Caribbean Chapter of the International Network in Defense of Humanity, David Commissiong, during a press conference at the National Public Workers Union (NUPW) Headquarters on Monday. The social activist noted that the conference was another attempt to “bring the Caribbean around a people’s movement.”

“The number one thing we need to be doing in Barbados and in the Caribbean is really mobilising our people behind a people-centered progressive agenda of peace and development,” said Commissiong.

Commissiong told the media that the two-day conference was a project of the International Network of Defense of Humanity, The Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration and Cuban Movement for Peace and People’s Sovereignty. He revealed the theme of the event, “Resisting Nuclear and Environmental disaster, Building Peace in Our Caribbean”, and explained the importance of the Cuban organisation in the conference.

“That organisation is very important because it is the Caribbean representative of the World Peace Council and standing behind this World Peace Council (WPC). Last year at the World Peace Council assembly in Brazil, the World Peace Council determined that the Caribbean region should make an effort to concretise a Pan Caribbean Peace movement,” said Commissiong.

He added that it was understood that Barbados would host the first Caribbean Peace conference to carry out the task issued by the WPC. Commissiong who is also the member of the International Executive Secretariat is representing the human rights network which was the brainchild of former political leaders, the Late Fidel Castro and late Hugo Chavez. It is also found throughout Latin America, Europe and Asia.

Nine territories which include Cuba, Venezuela and the United States of America will be represented at the conference with a scheduled start at 8:45 am on Friday, October 6 in the NUPW auditorium. The first day which is open to the public will feature presentations from President of the Jamaica Peace Council, Hope McNish, President of Global African Congress, Cikiah Thomas and veteran trade unionist, economic researcher and political activist from Trinidad and Tobago, David Abdulah, to name a few. Members of church organisations, schools including the University of the West Indies, labour and trade unions have been invited to the first day of the conference. However, Commissiong highlighted that the second day, Saturday October 7 is a closed door session where peace representatives will discuss the various matters and the proposed Pan Caribbean Movement.

After the first day of the conference ends, the participants will make their way to the Monument, a symbol of terrorism’s victims, in Payne’s Bay, St. James. At the monument, Commissiong and his colleagues will lay the wreaths on the 41st anniversary of the bombing of CU-455 flight.

A new Performing Arts category and an online registration process are some of the changes added to this year’s National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA).

Alison Sealy-Smith, Acting Chief Cultural Officer at the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) recently noted that participants in Music, Dance and Theatre will now be competing in three categories – Non-Professional, a new Semi-Professional category and a Professional category.

Earlier in June, as plans got underway for the start of this year’s NIFCA, the NCF communicated some major changes, following an in-depth critical analysis of the last ten years of its Performing Arts component. Also in early June, a public forum and rigorous discourse on both the new Semi-Professional category and the relevant rule changes was held for all prospective NIFCA participants at the Queen’s Park Steel Shed. The sessions were set up both for clarity and for the opportunity to effect any suggested changes before registration began.

“Coming out of that, it was confirmed that this year the participants in Music, Dance and Theatre, now performing in the soon to be concluded preliminary stage will be competing in the three categories – Non-Professional, a new Semi-Professional category and in the Professional category” Sealy-Smith acknowledged.

She also indicated that the criteria for this new Semi–Professional category has made provisions for individuals who: have gained some level of tertiary academic qualifications; have gained intermediate training from a recognised international institution along with their years of experience; and/or use the discipline as a part-time source of income.

According to the NCF, the aim is to create a clear path of advancement for new artistes entering the NIFCA Performing Arts, now moving them through these tiers of development from Non-Professional to Professional, as they further develop themselves within their related fields.

Sealy-Smith also revealed that the prize up for grabs in this semi-professional category is a BIMAP year-long course of study for a certificate in management studies, awarded to the highest scoring individuals in all three disciplines of the performing arts at a value of $2 500 each.

With regard to the registration process, the NCF took NIFCA from paper to electronics, with online registrations for all NIFCA disciplines, similar to that implemented for Crop Over. It was not a full paperless registration this year, but the intention is to move to a full online registration process in the future.

It was also noted that due to renovations at the Frank Collymore Hall, the usual venue for the NIFCA Performing Arts Finals has meanwhile been changed to the Major Noot Hall at the Combermere School, while the NIFCA Gala returns to
its original home at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium Complex.

The Visual Arts Exhibition will be held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre and the usual opening will be twinned with the Literary Arts Gala in an Evening of the
Arts celebration. (RSM)

UNDER the chairmanship of Ministry of Labour Dr. Esther Byer-Suckoo, a meeting has been convened today, bringing together management of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) to find a resolution to the grievance related to increments which has led to a week long strike at the state-owned television station.

However, General Secretary of the BWU, Toni Moore, says the Union is not going to the meeting to renegotiate, since an agreement had already been reached between the two parties. “The BWU’s position is the same as it relates to the agreement.”

“We don’t know if that is their intention. If it is their intention that is unacceptable because an agreement has already been reached and that agreement needs to be honoured. For all and not just for some.”

“We know what was agreed and it is our view that whether we call it increments, or whatever word we use for it, that is the agreement that we will be advocating and needs to be honoured.”

On Monday night the BWU held a meeting at Solidarity House with its committees of management where they were brought up to speed on the proceedings which at that time had been marked by six days of strike action.

Moore said that the letter suggested that the Minister now of the view that the CBC is more amenable to adopting an approach which was suggested to her at a meeting since Tuesday last week. “Specifically the approach that the Minister proposed last Tuesday, was one that would see the parties moving away from making references to increments, because it was felt that suggestion would create some confusion in the mind of many.”

“Indeed we have experienced that over the last few days where increments is being touted as being core to what the BWU proposed and what the parties agreed as opposed to representing merely a calculation for a performance payment that should have been made to the workers of the CBC over the past four years,” she added.

Moore said the mood coming out of Monday’s BWU meeting was one of disappointment and concern. “That an agreement would be reached and that parties would then go away having reached an agreement and then dishonour the very agreement that was made. So that is really where our members have deep concern because it is the view that if that approach is one that is allowed in the case of the CBC, in the case of the BWA, then it is one that we might have to become used to going forward, and certainly for a union – that would not be a comfortable position to be in.”

Stressing that strike action at the CBC has not been called off she noted that the solidarity shown by the Barbados Water Authority has been suspended but if needed, other divisions of the BWU will be called out, pending the outcome of today’s meeting. (JH)

This year’s Micro Macro Internship Programme has been successful in providing Barbadian youth, with critical employability skills.

Micro Macro is the flagship programme of the local charity, Small Enterprises for Education and Development (SEED) and in June of 2017, 112 distinct applications were made by young Barbadians, interested in becoming interns of the Micro Macro Internship Programme, Summer 2017.

According to SEED Trustee, Jason Francis, “Since the first internship in January 2012, Micro Macro has placed 49 interns in multiple organisations”.

He however noted that whilst the 2017 summer programme intended to place 40 interns for a six-week programme, various constraints meant that only 25 interns were able to receive placement.

“Interns began their first week of training on July 24, 2017, followed by four-week placements at various businesses. Following their placements, interns returned for one final week of training with a total of 19 interns satisfying the requirements to complete the programme” he indicated, noting that a graduation ceremony was held last month at the Grace Bible Church in Deacons, St. Michael, for those who were successful.

“Guided by a Leadership Team of eight members and liaisons from nine hosting organisations, Micro Macro interns gained hands-on learning experience which allowed them to integrate their formal education in the areas of Early Childhood Education, Sales and Marketing, Event Planning, Information Communication Technology, Administration Management, Development Research, and Entrepreneurship,” Francis revealed.

“During their two weeks of training, held at Class Act Conferences, sixteen professionals volunteered their time and expertise to conduct training sessions to build soft skills and competencies. Interns were encouraged to look within to define themselves, their purposes and their life goals. They were also given tools to expand their networks, overcome obstacles and plan to reach their personal goals. Finally, they were challenged, to speak openly about their experiences and prepare themselves for their exit interviews,” he added.

He meanwhile noted, that to date, SEED has been successfully partnered with a number of small businesses to increase private sector engagement in youth development and education in Barbados and to promote good Corporate Social Responsibility practices. SEED is also able to support small businesses by creating mechanisms for them to interact with and give back to their communities in meaningful ways while assisting Micro, Small and Medium-Enterprises in their growth.

SEED housed two interns this summer, Mr. Samuel Boston and Ms. Asantie Murrell, who played a key role in assisting the organisation in its revamp process. Implementation of more new programmes is expected for 2018, to add to the Micro Macro Internship Programme. (RSM)

This country’s latest road fatality has prompted the Barbados Road Safety Association (BRSA) to call for motorists and pedestrians alike to exercise greater caution on the
nation’s roadways.

President of the BRSA, Sharmane Roland-Bowen, made the call as she expressed sympathy to the family of the late Hanannia Reeves, a 13-year-old student of the Princess Margaret Secondary School, who was struck and killed by a vehicle on Tuesday evening.

She also took the opportunity to offer both groups some sage advice with respect to road safety.

‘No authority’
“Drivers and conductors of public service vehicles, in fact, motorists in general, do not have any authority to instruct or direct either pedestrian or vehicular traffic on our roads, and they should desist from doing it. If they continue to do it, they should be penalised if any mishap or misfortune occurs; they should hold part of the liability,” she said.

Roland-Bowen made the point as she contended that in respect of drivers of public transportation, their only responsibility is to get passengers safely to their destinations.

Therefore, she maintained that they should not seek to advise or to negotiate crossings for passengers, as doing so could be putting persons at risk of being struck.

“Also drivers in general, when approaching or overtaking vehicles, they have horns, they need to blast their horns when approaching or overtaking a PSV or Transport Board bus that has stopped at a bus stop. Note I said blast, and not blow or sound the horn, blast it so people would be aware of their presence and take greater caution in crossing the street at that point. The horn is a warning device and they need to utilise it as such to alert persons who might be seeking to cross either in front or behind such vehicles,” she maintained.

Roland-Bowen made the point as she called on the adult population in this country to set better examples of road safety for the younger generations.

Show children the right way
Her comments came as she noted that adults were the chief culprits of poor pedestrian behaviour and she is adamant that they have a duty to show our children by their actions, how to safely use our roads.

With that in mind, Roland-Bowen is encouraging pedestrians, wherever possible, to utilise the crosswalks, and when at bus stops to always wait until a vehicle moves off to cross so that they can clearly see both sides of the road, and approaching vehicles can also see them clearly.

“Just wait a minute or two until that vehicle completely moves,” she pleaded.
(JRT)

THE implementation of an increase in the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) from two per cent to ten per cent by the present government, has resulted in an increase in the cost of living in Barbados and more undue hardship on Barbadians.

Member of Parliament for St. Michael South East, Santia Bradshaw, asserted the above as she spoke in the House of Assembly this week on the National Social Responsibility Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

“The NSRL when it was introduced in the Budget of August of 2016, was met with concern across Barbados because it was felt that it would not only increase the cost of living across communities, but indeed that it was another tax burden which was being placed on the entire country,” Bradshaw told the House.

“If that wasn’t sufficient, the following year, the tax which was imposed at two per cent was then increased to ten per cent and that was to take effect from the 1st of July,” she added.

“The impact which the NSRL has had on businesses and consumers has been felt across this entire country. It actually led to over 25 000 Barbadians protesting against the impact of this levy. It resulted in the unions attempting to have a meeting with the government of Barbados, in an effort to introduce a coping subsidy for public servants in this island. I will not deviate to speak to the way in which this matter was dealt with by this administration, suffice to say that the impact of this particular levy has been felt on almost every Barbadian in this country,” she maintained, noting that businesses across the country passed on the increase to consumers.

Stressing that while the Opposition understands the need to raise taxes to pay for important social services to allow the country to run, Bradshaw however noted that where the difficulty lies, is in relation to the questions being asked about the inefficient management of the economy by this present administration. Noting that such observations are being made by international credit agencies and high-ranking banking officials across the region and not just the Opposition, she further queried whether the monies collected to date from the NSRL have been directed to the purposes identified, when the measure was introduced. (RSM)

Government is well aware that the increase in the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL), which now stands at ten per cent up from two per cent, has resulted in an increase in the cost of living in Barbados.

According to Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Christopher Sinckler, it is not an unexpected development. He was at the time responding to comments made by Member of Parliament for St. Michael South East, Santia Bradshaw, suggesting that the increase in the NSRL has resulted in an increase in the cost of living in Barbados and more undue hardship on Barbadians.

“Relative to the comments made by the Member for St. Michael South East, I recognise and (acknowledge) the contribution. I didn’t think that there was anything particularly earth shattering for me to respond to. There are a series of questions which basically answer themselves,” he said of her call for answers in relation to the NSRL.

“The first one is that if we are aware that the increase in the levy has been causing an adverse effect on the cost of living, but we said so in the Budget. We conceded that if you increase the levy from two per cent to ten per cent, it will have an inflationary impact on those items on which the levy is applied. So it is not an unexpected development,” Sinckler stated in the House of Assembly this week, during debate on the National Social Responsibility Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

“People make this point in Barbados as though we said that it would not have impacted on prices and now look what has happened. That is not so. We said that it would have an inflationary impact. We expected that it would have it, but we did it for very specific reasons,” he maintained.

“One, to raise the additional revenue for the Government to assist in helping to close the fiscal gap; two, to also assist with the containment of the expenditure of foreign exchange … and to ensure that we have resources that are made available to the Government, through the Consolidated Fund to do certain things,” Sinckler outlined, noting that Government was on track with financing the country’s public health-care institution – the QEH as promised and also moving ahead in sourcing trucks and equipment for the Sanitation Service Authority, via gains from the NSRL.

Pointing out that no one enjoys paying taxes, he however suggested that if Barbadians want to continue to enjoy good social services, such as subsidised public transport, subsidised water, free health care, free education, social welfare and the like, they will need to appreciate that these services can only be provided via the revenue which Government collects.

“We enjoy those services, complaining to the hilt about them, but we enjoy the privilege of having those services, but when you have to ask for a little bit, everybody complains that it is too much,” Sinckler meanwhile lamented. (RSM)

THE well-being of the residents of St. George should take priority over any ongoing operations at the Lower Estate Quarry.

Member of Parliament for St. Joseph, Dale Marshall, who noted that he was “born and bred” in the Lower Estate community, and subsequently moved there in the year 2000 where he became “the happiest man in the world”, noted the above as he lent his voice to a call from residents affected by the operations at the Quarry, for it to be closed. Residents in surrounding communities say they are suffering severely from various respiratory and other health challenges, as a result of the offensive smoke and odour emanating from garbage that constantly burns in the Quarry.

Declaring that he had lost all sympathy for Anderson Cherry and his Project Recycle business, Marshall openly told the waste-hauler and recycler that there is no justification for maintaining what is now the dump site known as Quarry Reduce Ltd. in Lower Estate. Marshall was at the time speaking at a meeting convened at the Church of God in Salters, St. George, to discuss the controversial dump site. That meeting was chaired by Member of Parliament for St. George North, Gline Clarke.

“My children are not asthmatic, but I can tell you that what is happening now has affected the comfort and the way of life that we used to enjoy,” Marshall remarked.

“One of the things that worries me, is the tremendous increase in vermin that I have noticed at my house and in my neighbourhood. Everybody knows that in the country you have rats and in the crop season when they cut the canes, the rats run out. We all know that, but you see rats running across that cart road (by the Quarry) day in and day out in the hundreds and we perhaps live a little further away from the actual dump than many of you. So if I have it, I am sure you have it too and that is a tremendous concern,” Marshall told those gathered.

“Now I have always admired Mr. Cherry. I think he has been a solid Barbadian business man, but … I am very disappointed because when I first read about you first operating a facility in that Quarry, my understanding was that it was a recycling centre. I see trucks going in, but I don’t see any trucks coming back out with any recycling materials. So if all that is happening is that full trucks are going in and empty trucks are coming out, then I think you have misled the people of this community,” Marshall said to loud applause.

Stressing that he is even more concerned now he has heard from former general manager of the Barbados Water Authority, Dr. John Mwansa, about a possible threat to the groundwater supply due to the operations at the dump, Marshall declared, “I am of the view now that there is only one solution. Even if I was sympathetic enough, hearing what Dr. Mwansa has said has now caused me to be terrified.”

“You need to do the decent thing, close the operation and withdraw,” Marshall told Cherry. (RSM)

“Shut it down!”

This is the unanimous appeal St. George residents are making to Anderson Cherry, operator of the Quarry Reduce Ltd. facility in Lower Estate, given the noxious smoke and offensive odour constantly emanating from burning refuse at the site, which they say has been the source of many of their recurrent health problems over the last few months.

Residents of Lower Estate, Salters, Airy Hill, Parish Land, Flat Rock in St. George and surrounding communities have made it publicly known that their health and quality of life is being affected by Cherry’s business, and they remain adamant in their call for its closure, noting that what was once an abandoned quarry, has now been turned into an offensive dump.

Anderson Cherry, the man at the centre of the controversial operation, bore the brunt of the fury of angry residents, during a recent town hall meeting convened at the Church of God in Salters, St. George. The meeting was chaired by Member of Parliament for St. George North, Gline Clarke and scores of frustrated residents, including prominent persons such as former general manager of the Barbados Water Authority, Dr. John Mwansa; medical practitioner Dr. Carlos Chase; economist Dr. Avinash Persaud; and Opposition Member of Parliament for St. Joseph, Dale Marshall, voiced their concerns about the dump, which has been the cause of numerous asthma attacks and other respiratory flare-ups. Residents have also reported various health challenges such as itchy skin, sore throats, a nauseated stomach, constant coughs and burning sensations in the eyes, nose and on the lips.

What’s more, Dr. Mwansa has raised concerns about a possible threat to the groundwater supply, due to the operation of the dump, as Cherry could not say exactly what is being ferried to the dump, except to classify it as “demolition waste”.

“There are two issues (of concern) from the operations in the Quarry. One is the air pollution, which is the same smell you are picking up. The threat to the groundwater is the second one,” Dr. Mwansa commented, noting that he too is constantly nauseated by the smell.

“Something has to be done. A deal is a deal. The deal was it was (supposed to be) temporary. So shut it and move on,” Dr. Chase meanwhile asserted.

Seeking to calm the group, Cherry later announced, “First I want to apologise to all the residents for the discomfort and inconvenience that we have caused. As CEO of Project Recycle, I take full responsibility for everything that has happened and we will fix it.”

This was not enough to appease residents however and as Cherry sought to outline his vision to take Barbados to a position of zero-waste someday, residents queried whether the Lower Estate facility is operating legally. Officials invited from the Town and Country Development Planning Office and the Environmental Protection Department were not on hand to answer.

At the close of the meeting, it was decided that a committee would be formed to ensure Cherry works at eliminating the burning garbage at the site as a first priority and residents are to have a follow-up session to further thrash out the way forward. (RSM)

THE National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA) 2017 was launched with a parade and showcase in The City yesterday.

A procession, made up of dancers, drummers and steel panists, left Queen’s Park around 4:30 p.m., made its way through a section of The City, and concluded at Independence Square, where members of the public were given a taste of NIFCA.

“We are here launching NIFCA 2017. As you know, every year we gather the best talent, we gather Barbadians from all walks of life, we get together and we display our talents and we strive in the pursuit of excellence.

“We have been doing this now for well over 40 years. This year we are launching it with this little procession through town so that we can tell everybody that its NIFCA time again,” Acting Chief Cultural Officer Allison Sealy-Smith told the Barbados Advocate.

At the cultural showcase, the Darryl Jordan Steel Pan group, dramatist Brandon Byer-Maloney, Multifarious Dancers, Yolanda Holder, Coleridge and Parry Choir, and the Pinelands Creative Workshop, delivered a variety of artistic pieces. (AH)

ALL eyes will once again be on the Pine today as the management of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) meets with workers’ representatives the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) to discuss the payment of increments to staff.

Both sides have agreed to meet again at the CBC in an effort to bridge “outstanding differences” after a seven day protest by members of staff.

Today’s meeting follows deliberations on Wednesday which went on for ten hours after which CBC General Manager, Doug Hoyte in a statement, said an agreement was reached with the union for the payment of four increments, but there was a “genuine misunderstanding on the Corporation’s part about the terms and conditions of payment”.
Hoyte issued an apology to the members of the BWU saying that the, “CBC deeply regrets that there was a cessation of work late last week, but is pleased that both sides are working towards a full resolution.”

Last weekend, Hoyte painted a grim picture of the finances of the state-owned television station which is faced with significant debt and a declining revenue base.
He 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 two 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. The general manager says since he joined the corporation in April last year, MCTV subscribers have dipped from 27 000 to 19 000.

Sometimes life will prove difficult, other times it will be easy, but whatever life throws at you, work your way through it and be thankful.

This critical piece of advice was dished out by Barbados’ latest centenarian Violet Ernesta Gaskin, for the benefit of all Barbadians, as she reflected on her life and her longevity, during her 100th birthday celebration yesterday.

Gaskin, who resides at Ricks Land, Thorpes, St. James, had the pleasure of a visit from Acting Governor General of Barbados, Sir Philip Greaves, who brought her wine, flowers and a special birthday card, which he cheerfully read to her. Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development, Donville Inniss, who serves as the Parliamentary Representative for the Constituency of St. James South, was also on hand to celebrate the centenarian’s big day and he presented her with a birthday cake and a special award, in the presence of Gaskin’s daughters Monica Wilkinson and Dorothy Crick and other relatives and friends.

“100 years ain’t a 100 days. You have to meet with some ups and downs sometimes,” Gaskin said on reflection.

“It was hard, rough and tough, I must tell you, but I try and bear it and instead of sitting down (to) cry, I get up and try. That is all I could tell you. When the hardness comes, you try and bear it and you pray to God. You try and be satisfied. Sometimes it will be hard and sometimes it will be soft, (but) you give God praise and thanks,” the sprightly centenarian declared.

With a beaming smile, she later added, “So you all must do the same thing. Be thankful however life come and wunna make it to one hundred or more.”

Speaking on the family’s behalf, Dawn-Marie Williams described her great grandmother, better known as “Gran-Gran” to all, as “a remarkable God-fearing woman”. She noted that Gaskin, who was born on October 5, 1917 was raised in Halls Village, St. James and as a young girl attended St. John Baptist Church and School.

“Gran-Gran is the proud mother of five, with two deceased. She has 16 grandchildren and many great grands and great, great grands. She was self-employed for most of her working years and always stated that it was hard work in those years that prepared her to face life’s circumstances, without complaining,” Williams stated.

“We thank God for the legacy of this wonderful, selfless woman that we are very proud to call our own. Happy 100th birthday,” she announced. (RSM)