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Provide resources based on needs, says Williams

September 23, 2016, 9:00 pm
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CEO of Cave Shepherd, John Williams, delivering the feature address at CTUSAB’s 11th Biennial Delegates Conference opening ceremony.

(From left) BUT Head Pedro Shepherd congratulates former President of the National Union of Public Workers, Walter Maloney.

Head of the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union, Mary-Anne Redman, smiles brightly upon receiving her certificate.

 

THIS island’s limited resources must be delivered to those with a genuine need, insists Chief Executive Officer of Cave Shepherd, John Williams.
 
“I believe that when we are allocating resources, we must do so based on needs. We cannot provide houses to everyone, so let us make determinations on genuine needs rather than how long you’ve been on a list or how well you are connected. Let’s base our provision of public health care on ability to pay. As a Chief Executive Officer, why should I get the same prescription as someone receiving a basic pension?” he stressed.
 
Delivering the feature address at the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados’ 11th Biennial Delegates Conference opening ceremony at the Savannah Hotel on Thursday night, he further highlighted that more efficient and effective use of funds must come with the entitlement restrictions.
 
“Provision of public services must be benchmarked against best practices to ensure value-for-money in their delivery. Consumers and taxpayers work too hard for their money for it to be poorly or inefficiently spent,” he added.
 
Williams also turned the focus on standards and accountability, highlighting that high standards must be set and those in positions of responsibility should be held accountable for maintaining these.
 
“We must make sure that the support series that underpin access and opportunity are delivering what they are supposed to. So we can’t tolerate poor schools. Protecting an underperforming teacher at the expense of the futures of our children is no acceptable. Similarly, a lazy business cannot be protected from competition at the expense of the consumer. Nor can a poor Minister continue in their post where he or she cannot demonstrate effective leadership of their portfolio. 
 
“Where decisions, behaviours or actions are wrong we must say so,  not look for excuses for the individuals or entities involved. Not turn a blind eye. Speaking out is what accountability is about,” a frank Williams added. (JMB)
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Inniss pays tribute to new investment in Barbados

September 23, 2016, 9:00 pm
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The new One Welches complex which was officially opened on Thursday night.

A taste of the interior of Ernst and Young at their new home in One Welches.

 

Donville Inniss, Minister of Industry, International Business, and Commerce & Small Business Development has praised the team for the investment in Welches St. Thomas.
 
Thursday was the official opening of the modern, fully equipped One Welches, which is the newest commercial office development in Barbados.
 
The Minister reminisced, “I well remember when this area was just a two lane street with a bit of pastureland land around and few houses interspersed with a few commercial activities. Obviously the developers of this project and several others in the area had the vision to acquire the surrounding lands, as well as the skills, determination and capacity to work hard in order to get us to the point now where this Warrens/Welches area is quickly becoming the town centre of choice in our island. 
 
I publicly thank James Edghill, Director of One Welches and his team for this investment. We now stand in what is the tallest and perhaps most luxurious building in my constituency, St. James South. Your work here is a deep manifestation of the faith that you have in your island, its people and its economy.”
 
He stressed, “In order for such investment to flow we must have the right enabling environment. This is always a touchy subject as it can mean different things to different folks. In the case of this project here, I wish to thank the staff of the Ministries of Public Works, Housing and Lands and Finance as well the Town and Planning Dept, Surveyors, Drainage Dept, Environmental Dept and all other public officers who had the vision and made the recommendations to widen the roads here and to install needed infrastructure as well as facilitating the appropriate planning permission to get this and other projects in the area going. We may criticise the public sector for time to time, but it is their collective wisdom and work that often times provide the foundation upon which many private sector ventures succeed in Barbados. In this case such a foundation may both be interpreted literally and figuratively. It is the intention of the GOB to complete the road works and infrastructure along this stretch of road from Warrens to Redman Village. However, I wish to advise you that apart from the millions of dollars spent on works here to date, including roads, roundabouts, drainage and boulder wall for the residents of Welches Grove next door, we now have to provide almost $17 million in funding to acquire lands along this highway for completion of road works. Add to that the actual road works and you begin to appreciate where your taxpayers dollars are going. I leave it to the Ministry of Public Works to make any more definitive statements on the works scheduled for the area.”
 
He added, “Having done such an impressive building it is only fitting that you are able to attract equally fitting tenants. Anchored by world class accounting and advisory services firm Ernst and Young, and supported by Tricor, Regus, First Citizens Investment and Carib LPG, this building well reflects a modern corporate Barbados that is island flavoured but internationally focused.” (NB)
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GET TOUgh!

September 24, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Barbadians urged to stop littering

 

Merdene Cadogan and Carol-Ann Whittington speaking about the various natural products offered by Earth Mother Botanicals Ltd. 

 

Stop littering! This is the strong appeal coming from Special Projects Officer at the National Conservation Commission’s (NCC), Ricardo Marshall.
 
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of NCC’s Environmental/ Arbor Expo at the Codrington, St. Michael headquarters yesterday, he said that if those litterbugs persist, then perhaps there is a need to implement tougher penalties.
 
“I remember years ago in St. Lucia there were ‘litter wardens’ within the City and Castries was the cleanest I have ever seen it. Those wardens [patrolled] the City and if you were 
caught littering you were fined,” he recalled.
 
“Obviously that would not fall under our particular mandate, but these are perhaps things we could look at… or things that agencies or the responsible ministries are perhaps considering.”
Marshall is also reminding Barbadians that it costs the State to keep public areas clean.
 
“There is a perception that because it’s a government area and Government is cleaning it, then there is not a cost – there is a cost for everything. The staff has to be paid, you have to purchase the machinery, maintenance for the trucks and so on,” he pointed out.
 
“A lot of people that would throw cups and so on out of their car window, or who don’t use the bins provided – I am pretty certain that if you pass by their homes, you don’t see them throwing stuff out through their windows. So they have to be mindful of the fact that these areas are for all of us to enjoy – for us Barbadians as well as visitors… Be more considerate,” he urged.
 
The expo formed part of global celebrations to mark National Arbor Day, celebrated annually on September 22, under the theme: Arbor 2016: Celebrating 50 Years of Independence with Pride. 
This year’s event showcased various products and services consumed and used on a daily basis  – derived from trees.
 
The Special Projects Officer added that visitors also had the opportunity to attend a number of workshops and demonstrations during the day focused on areas relating to greening. These included plant care, plant propagation, recycling, composting and alternative energy solutions. (TL)
 
 
 
 
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‘Lets Smile Away Cancer’ Gold Button Drive launched

September 24, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Participants in the respect for law essay competition showing their certificates. Also pictured are members of the Progressive Optimist Club of Barbados and President of the Barbados Cancer Society,
Dr. Dorothy Cooke- Johnson.

 

Grantley Prescod Memorial Primary School students now have a chance to assist with raising funds for youth who have cancer through the “Lets Smile Away Cancer” Gold Button Drive.
 
As explained by President of the Progressive Optimist Club of Barbados, Janelle Ottley, this Drive, which was launched at the school on Friday, was done to sensitise students to possible causes of cancer while encouraging them to be compassionate and kind towards their classmates, their friends and relatives who may be affected by the disease.
 
Grantley Prescod Primary was the first public primary where the Drive by the Club was launched. Ottley pointed out that it will also be launched at Codrington High School in St. John next week Wednesday and at the Springer Memorial Secondary School on October 7.
 
We wanted to start in the school first because it is children who are affected and we want to raise awareness there. We are looking to expand the Drive in the future, she further stated.
 
Through the Drive, students will make a contribution of $2 and receive one of the campaign’s buttons. The funds raised will be donated to the Club’s childhood cancer programme as well as to the Barbados Cancer Society.
 
Principal of the Grantley Prescod Memorial Primary School, Marline Abrams, said the educational institution was pleased to be a part of the Drive.
 
“I am indeed happy to be of assistance to the children of our nation who are suffering from cancer. We always teach our children here that they should look out for each other and indeed for those in the wider community.
 
Also on Friday, the winners of the Optimist International’s respect for law programme’s essay competition were presented with their prizes. (MG)
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SPECIAL CASES

September 24, 2016, 9:00 pm
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SIDS need ‘greater policy space and policy flexibility’

 

Barbados’ Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister has issued a call for dialogue between development partners and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), as well as “greater policy space and policy flexibility” for such countries.
 
Delivering a wide ranging address to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly at the UN Headquarters in New York City yesterday afternoon, Senator Maxine McClean touched on a number of issues faced by countries such as Barbados, including climate change; the withdrawal of correspondent banking relationships; and the “unilateral and unidimensional graduation policies” imposed on SIDS by international development agencies. Through the latter, she said, SIDS are penalised for progress in human development, with no consideration given to our obvious vulnerabilities.
 
The Foreign Affairs Minister said that these issues, coupled with the persistent and unwarranted attacks on our international financial services sector and the imposition of onerous conditionalities, not only threaten our economic stability, but our ability to participate in global financial trade and economic systems. Moreover, she said they undermine our capacity to achieve full implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
 
Her comments came as she called attention to the recently launched Caribbean Human Development Report 2016, under the theme “Multidimensional Progress: Human Resilience Beyond Income”, which she noted highlights the unique situation of SIDS and low lying coastal states in the Caribbean. The three central points that stand out, she indicated, are vulnerability, resilience and sustainability.
 
“Barbados welcomes the report, it validates the consistent call by the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, CARICOM and of SIDS in general for SIDS to be recognised as a special case for sustainable development,” she said.
 
McClean further stated that the Government of Barbados is devising and implementing effective strategies to strengthen social, economic and environmental resilience, which are 
consistent with the national growth and development philosophy. This, she explained to the international body, is based on four pillars - to support a Barbados that is socially balanced, economically viable, environmentally sound and characterised by good governance. In that vein, she said Barbados is already pursuing the ideals enshrined in Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.
 
Turning her attention to climate change, the Foreign Affairs Minister said Barbados has long been a leading advocate for coordinated action at the international level to address the sources and consequences of SIDS’ vulnerabilities. And, she affirmed, the country has been leading by example, having developed a National Climate Change Policy Framework, which has worked well with the Barbados Sustainable Development Policy to address issues of climate adaptation and mitigation.
 
She went further, as she disclosed that the Government is developing a comprehensive National Ocean Governance Strategy for Barbados, intended to address the sustainable management of our maritime space and the sustainable use of the country’s marine living and non-living resources. With that in mind, she added that the Barbados delegation was collaborating with other members of the Association of Caribbean States to strengthen the level of support for the Caribbean Sea Resolution, aimed at having the Caribbean Sea designated a special area in the context of sustainable development and she called on all present to support the resolution. (JRT)
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Clear vision for eye care centre

September 24, 2016, 9:00 pm
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A CONCERTED effort is on the way to significantly reduce wait times in the eye care clinic at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, which unfortunately could lead to long-lasting 
and irreversible damage to patients.
 
This was revealed during the recent third Equipment Prospectus, an initiative of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to encourage the philanthropic spirit of Corporate Barbados, with the view of recommissioning the clinical suite of the Lion’s Caribbean Eye Care Centre. The QEH is a registered charity and all donations made are tax exempt.
 
With numbers being seen at the clinic reaching a record 26 161 last year, 903 of which were cataracts, Head of the Ophthalmology Department Dr. Trevor Drakes noted that even though more patients were seen, there is a significant increase in the number of persons awaiting care, which stands at 711. This includes 500 patients with cataracts.
 
“Sadly some patients lose vision, and this is irreversible, while waiting for surgery. This falls short of what our mandate is. The proposal here and the way forward is we need to recommission the Eye Theatre Suite. When The Lion’s Caribbean Eye Care Centre was built it was custom- made for ophthalmology. It had a clinical section and surgical. We have manage to recommission the clinical section. We are at the point where we are ready to recommission the surgical section.”’
 
This he noted, comes against the backdrop of 23 clinics being conducting in the eye clinic and the work which also extends to the Winston Scott polyclinic which is responsible for 11 schools’ eye clinics and two non-communicable disease eye clinics.
 
He explained that the procedures at the QEH take place in the main surgical suite of the hospital. “While not ideal, we have made the best use of it. The problem with having one theatre is this - in spite of the expertise we have and surgical capacity, consultants are only able to operate two days on a fortnightly basis. It has resulted in increased wait times – up to a year. The surgical output not in keeping with the potential that we have. So there has been an increase in the backlog.”
 
Noting that the equipment could be quite costly, he assured that they would produce significant benefits including increased capacity, increased operating time, an increase in the surgical output and a reduction in waiting time for surgery. He noted that there would be a potential for revenue generation.
 
“ The recommissioning of this suite will allow us to realise the vision and mission of Lion’s Club...It will have extra capacity and be able to fund and finance a lot of our inherent cost and therefore reduce the overall dependence on the hospital budget.”
 
Some of the equipment needed includes an operating microscope with comes with a price tag of up to USD $200 000, as well as a Constellation System, which will bring about shorter recovery times and better surgery outcomes.
 
Dr. David Callender said the eye care centre is poised to deliver first world ophthalmic care. He assured that a plan is being devised to tackle the backlog of cases by the end of the financial year.
 
He reiterated there is an urgent need for more theatre time, with two or three functional theatres to offer a full suite of services already in the clinic, while eliminating the need to go overseas and attracting regional and international patients to Barbados for eye care. (JH)
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Check children for signs of cancer

September 24, 2016, 9:00 pm
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President of the Barbados Cancer Society, Dr. Dorothy Cooke-Johnson interacting with the pupils of the Grantley Prescod Memorial Primary School. On Friday, the Progressive Optimist Club launched the ‘Let’s Smile Cancer Away Gold Button Drive’ at that school.

President of the Barbados Cancer Society, Dr. Dorothy Cooke-Johnson interacting with the pupils of the Grantley Prescod Memorial Primary School. On Friday, the Progressive Optimist Club launched the ‘Let’s Smile Cancer Away Gold Button Drive’ at that school.

By: 
Marsha Gittens

 

Parents are being encouraged to pay close attention to their children to detect any signs of cancer.
 
This advice comes from President of the Barbados Cancer Society, Dr. Dorothy Cooke-Johnson, who stated that children “have an enormous chance – probably a 60, 80 or a 100 per cent chance – of recovering from it [cancer], depending upon what it is and of course, how late it has been diagnosed. 
 
“I am imploring all parents out there to look at your children carefully in case there are any lumps or bumps; in case they are nauseous or sick; in case they have headaches; in case they walk into the wall or they get an eye movement or they have white in their eyes or maybe they have got bone pain, because the bones at the end where they start to grow, that is where cancer comes in – osteo-cancer – and so then that would be found early. The earlier the better,” she noted.
 
Cooke-Johnson pointed out that presently the number of children diagnosed with cancer is about “10 or 12 children on the go or over time. Some of them are ill and some of them are recovering”.  
 
The president was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the launch of the “Let’s Smile Cancer Away Gold Button Drive” by the Progressive Optimist Club, which was held recently at the Grantley Prescod Memorial Primary School.
 
She encouraged students and their parents to be supportive of the initiative, while also commending the Progressive Optimist Club for introducing it.
 
“It is a beautiful school with lovely children and it is the best place in the world to start this drive for children’s cancer, to alert children by giving them this wonderful maxim, ‘Smile Away Cancer’. 
 
“And after they smile away cancer, there is this beautiful badge here which has got a lovely smiley face on it and what it really is trying to do, is to get the children at this age… to be aware of cancer in a simple way, so that they would perhaps be able to recognise any symptoms in themselves, and they would be able to have empathy and support for any other children that they hear of who may have cancer.”
 
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Fogging schedule for September 26–29

September 24, 2016, 9:00 pm
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The Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Health will continue its efforts to eradicate the Aedes Aegypti mosquito next week, when its fogging programme moves into several parishes.
 
On Monday, September 26, areas to be fogged in St. James and St. Peter are Sion Hill with Avenues, Lancaster, Westmoreland, Howells Gap, Brathwaite’s Road, Upper Carlton, Rock Dundo with Avenues, Bakers, Gibbs and the environs.
 
On Tuesday, September 27, the team will be in St. Lucy, fogging Sutherland, Fryers Well, Checker Hall, Checker Hall Cross Road, Checker Hall Tenantry, Ellis Road, Fustic Village and surrounding areas.
 
On Wednesday, September 28, fogging continues in St. George in Charles Rowe Bridge, Glebe Land, Rowans Park, Walkers Park, Thorpes Cottage and neighbouring districts.
 
On that same date, a team will fog Maxwell Road, Deal Gardens, Maxwell Coast Road, Dover Gardens, Dover with Avenues, St. Lawrence, St. Lawrence Gap and the environs in Christ Church.
 
On Thursday, September 29, the fogging exercise continues in St. James in Holetown, 1st and 2nd Street Holetown, Jamestown Park, Sunset Crest, Hibiscus Avenue, Cemetery Lane, Mayhoe Avenue, Cordia Avenue, Laynes Road, Paynes Bay, Chapel Road, Clarke’s Road, Appleby Gardens, Risk Road and surrounding areas.
 
Householders are reminded to open their doors and windows to allow the spray to enter. The fogging exercise runs from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. each day.  쇓
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‘Give us better facilities!’

September 24, 2016, 9:00 pm
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By: 
Cara L. Foster

 

THE owners of Public Service Vehicles (PSV), which are stationed at the Lower Green and the River Van Stands, say that it is time for them to get better facilities. 
 
In fact, one PSV driver noted that there should be a focus on the fact that the surroundings of the Lower Green van terminal are “borderline atrocious”, a sentiment that was shared and expressed by many of the PSV owners who were stationed at the Lower Green, when they spoke of their challenges and needs to The Barbados Advocate recently. The PSV operators are all of the belief that it is time for the area to be outfitted with better facilities and bathrooms for themselves and commuters.
 
“What we would like is a bathroom for us to use down here,” a driver of the number 3 route taxi, who wished to remain anonymous, lamented. 
 
He went on to say, with the agreement of his other colleagues, that for years there was no bathroom for them to use. 
 
Another driver, who also expressed his want of anonymity, complained that there needed to be proper facilities for them. 
 
“We need a couple bathrooms and an actual van stand,” he said. 
 
When it was pointed out to them that there was a bathroom near the Princess Alice Highway bus terminal for them to use, many of them pointed out that the facility was not theirs. They strongly believed that it was time for them to receive their own. 
 
Meanwhile, a PSV op-erator in the River Van Stand noted that there needs to be more attention paid to the work currently being undertaken to provide a terminal for that area. He was referring to the work being done on the old Queen’s College school building, located adjacent to the van stand, which is being retrofitted to accommodate the new River Terminal on the ground floor. 
 
Speaking to The Barbados Advocate earlier this month, Minister of Transport and Works Michael Lashley said that construction was progressing smoothly, with the second phase of the new terminal expected to start in a few months’ time. He indicated that substantial work has been carried out on the building, adding that based on the state of the renovations at that time, he expected the building would be ready to open by November.
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UN Development Programme supporting the Caribbean

September 24, 2016, 9:00 pm
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THE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been scaling up its support to the Caribbean.
 
Helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion, UNDP has deployed very capable national and international staff through its network of offices across six countries in the Caribbean and from the regional hub in Panama, under the leadership of Regional Director Jessica Faieta.
 
Word of this came from Administrator of the UNDP, Helen Clark, during a recent visit to Barbados to launch the 2016 Caribbean Human Development Report.
 
“We have relocated staff from UNDP headquarters in New York to the Panama regional hub to respond more efficiently to requests for technical support from Caribbean governments. We have increased our expertise in the areas of disaster risk reduction, citizen security, and climate change with the recruitment of new international staff dedicated to the Caribbean.”
 
Together with Caribbean governments and regional institutions, Clark disclosed that the UN Development agencies have also developed a five-year UN Multi-Country Sustainable Development Framework, which identified priorities for action from the UN Development System in the Caribbean. 
 
“All these issues are reflected in the report… Thus this report presents another opportunity for all partners to engage in substantive discussions around how to translate the UN Multi-Country Sustainable Development Framework into concrete support for national and regional development initiatives,” she said.
 
“The UN Development System is already rolling out its support to countries in the region to mainstream the SDGs in national planning and policies, and accelerate progress on the Goals. This report and the practical tools which accompany it support these efforts. One of the analytical tools, Poverty Risk Analysis, or POVRISK, uses household-level data over time to estimate the risk of people falling back into poverty – and the key factors associated with that risk.”
 
The UNDP Administrator also stressed that the eradication of poverty in the region requires not only lifting people out of poverty, but also keeping them out of it.
 
According to her, a new generation of public policies is required to address structural issues.
 
“These structural issues are limiting the Caribbean’s economic transformation, and inhibit the efforts of governments to ensure a more equitable, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable future for Caribbean countries.” (TL)
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Study needed on why some businesses fail

September 24, 2016, 9:00 pm
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IT is being suggested that research should be conducted among local businesses, looking at what factors contribute to or hinder business continuity in this country.
 
The suggestion has come from Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development, Donville Inniss. Minister Inniss spoke to the need for such studies in a recent interview with The Barbados Advocate, as he raised concern about the number of businesses, particularly those within the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector that have ceased operations when their founders retired or died.
 
The Small Business Minister said that at present there is only anecdotal evidence about why some businesses in this country have failed, but he said, if we are to ensure the long-term viability and sustainability of the various operations within the MSME sector, then the reasons for the demise of local businesses must be thoroughly explored. Inniss is adamant that this is of even more importance now, given that globally the MSME sector is considered to be the driving force behind the modern economy; and he said the situation will be no different in Barbados.
 
“So this must be a matter of concern to all of us. First, we need to have proper research done in terms of the number of businesses that have survived beyond one or two generations and the types of businesses they are. On the other hand, we have to look at the failures and ask ourselves why they’ve not succeeded. But I think anecdotally we can certainly indicate that sometimes there are family issues, there has not been succession planning put in place, challenges of inadequate financing, a lack of interest on the part of the next generation, sometimes a feeling and a culture that frowns upon entrepreneurship and business,” he said.
 
He added, “A number of these businesses may have been successful mom and pop operations, but they don’t pass on to the next generation. Instead, the children go and do law or medicine and the business dies.”
 
Inniss admits however that this is not a problem unique to Barbados, as internationally many family-owned businesses do not make it to the third generation. He nevertheless said that persons must not adopt a defeatist attitude, but be optimistic and work at ensuring long-term success. With that in mind, he maintained that there is a need to foster a greater culture of entrepreneurship in this country, in particular among the youth. This, he said, would be one step towards helping create the requisite environment for business and wealth to survive multiple generations. (JRT)
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Cobley: University’s role is to inform public debate

September 24, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Deputy Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus, Sonia Mahon; Pro-Vice Chancellor, Undergraduate Studies, UWI, Professor Alan Cobley; and Lecturer in Sociology, UWI, Cave Hill Campus and CARICOM Commissioner on Marijuana, Dr. Alana Griffith, listen to the questions posed by various members of the audience at the Marijuana Symposium under the theme of ‘Perpetual Problem of Potential Problem Solver for Barbados’ held at the 3W’s Oval on Thursday.

By: 
Patricia Thangaraj

 

ONE of the roles of good universities regardless of where they are situated in the world is to stimulate public debate on a variety of issues affecting their respective countries. 
 
This is according to Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Undergraduate Studies at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus, Professor Alan Cobley, who delivered remarks at the Marijuana Symposium under the theme of ‘Perpetual Problem of Potential Problem Solver for Barbados’ held at the 3W’s Oval recently.
 
He said that one such debate here in this island should centre around the advantages and disadvantages of decriminalising marijuana and this is where the UWI comes in.
 
“Here in Barbados the debate is also ramping up. Just a few days ago, the Attorney General indicated that before there could be any move to liberalise the law on marijuana use here, there had to be a clear understanding of the potential effects of any such move on our society. This is where the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill comes in.”
 
In fact, the Cave Hill campus has already led the charge in this regard on a number of areas, said the Pro-Vice Chancellor.
 
“Good universities the world over have a responsibility to inform public debate with the most up-to-date scientific knowledge, produced as a result of cutting-edge research. In fact, the UWI at Cave Hill has been doing exactly that in recent years, informing public debate and policy decisions in Barbados on a wide range of important issues. 
 
“Recent examples include world-leading work on Diabetes and other Chronic Diseases; the UWI Task Force established to counter the threat of the Zika virus led by Cave Hill’s Deputy Principal Professor Landis; the recent symposium on meeting the challenges posed to our beaches by the Sargassum seaweed; critical work on environmental sustainability, food security, renewal energy. Important work is going on at Cave Hill in all these areas – and in many others – right now.”
 
He stated that this symposium is yet another example of the Campus’ efforts to encourage public debate on matters that affect the country.
 
“This symposium, therefore, is an outstanding example of how a good university should work – informing public debate on an important developmental issue for our country through measured and objective scientific discourse, informed by cutting-edge research. The UWI is proud to be playing its part.”
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Don’t only talk; purchase locally made items

September 25, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Operations Director at Sky Mall, Everick Eastmond is calling on individuals and businesses to not only voice their support but to show it by purchasing locally made products.
 
He further stated that this support should not only be given during this, the 50th anniversary of Barbados’ Independence but it should be done continually.
 
“I am really calling on the commercial houses and of course, the Barbadian public to really show support, particularly in this year [but] not just in this year but forever because we really need to expose the talents of the people in Barbados and to make sure that there products are seen as good quality products in the marketplace and that we as Barbadians would like to have them in our houses and use them however it is [or for] whatever purpose we buy them for.”
 
His comments came while speaking to the media on the side-lines of the final presentation for the Sky Mall Summer Promotion on Saturday. Priscus Howell was the grand prize winner while Janelle Gill and Nicholas Croney received the second and third prizes respectively.
 
Eastmond stated that individuals visiting Sky Mall have an opportunity to obtain locally made products when they pop into Barbadiana Discovered Treasures.
 
“We have an indigenous shop here it is called, Barbadiana and they have over 350 different items all made by Barbadian craftsmen and entrepreneurs. So we are really encouraging people not just to talk support but show support and… there are nearly 50 to 55 entrepreneurs and 90 percent of them are women.” (MG)
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Arts students encouraged to expand their vision

September 25, 2016, 9:00 pm
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By: 
Cara L. Foster

 

Noting that not everyone in Barbados has the opportunity or finances to leave the island, young, talented artistes are being advised to expand their vision and look for other ways of pushing their talents.
 
The Barbados Advocate recently got the chance to speak with a few young adults who left Barbados to pursue their dreams of further developing their crafts. Chris Rose, a former student of the Combermere Secondary School, who moved to Canada with plans to study Engineering, quickly changed those plans as his love for music eventually pushed him towards music production, a field he is now heavily involved in. He explained that there is very little support for artistic and talented persons in the island, and Rose is of the firm belief that given the variety of talent that can be found in Barbados, local artistes could easily compete with similar talent in North America.
 
He noted that even though Barbados has the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA), the problem arises when persons wish to achieve greater skills in their craft or wish to showcase it, but are not provided with the opportunities to do so.
 
A young lady that left Barbados to study the arts in New York, who wished to remain anonymous, said that “there is a lot of talent in Barbados. And I’m not only talking about the singers and dancers, I’m talking about the painters, the graphic artists and the web designers as well.” 
 
She mentioned that one could start an Instagram page, where they post their best work for others to see and then promote the page.
 
“Get a SoundCloud page and just post your beats or your original pieces and then promote like crazy!” she exclaimed.
 
Rose agreed and said that the internet could be used as an outlet to showcase the talents and arts of locals to the world because it provides a way for Barbadians to easily promote themselves on the arts scene around the world. 
 
Melanie Jean-Baptiste, a former student of University of the West Indies, who left Barbados to pursue her Broadway dream mentioned that even though Barbados is small, there is a way for young artistes to find work, “you just need to network and put yourself out there so that you’re easily found by people looking to hire young, local artistes”.
 
Each of them believed that leaving Barbados did help them to nurture their skills and talents. This move, they say, also allowed them to make the necessary connections that they would have needed to succeed in their craft; much quicker than if they were living in Barbados. But they all agreed that the artistes that cannot afford to do so should not lose hope. Their advice to aspiring artistes like themselves is to use the technology and social media outlets that are available to them – YouTube, Instagram and SoundCloud in order to promote and market what they do, as they work towards being successful.
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Include us!

September 25, 2016, 9:50 pm
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BET Credit Union president wants movement represented in social partnership

 

President of the BET Credit Union Ltd Michael Alleyne while delivering his remarks during the 50th anniversary anniversary and awards ceremony on Saturday night.
By: 
Janelle Husbands

 

WITH a membership of over half the island’s population and with over 1.8 billion in assets, a call is being made for the credit union movement in Barbados to be represented at the level of the social partnership, with its own place at the head table.
 
The call was made by President of the BET Credit Union Ltd., Michael Alleyne, as he delivered remarks at the 50th anniversary dinner and awards ceremony of that credit union at the Hilton Barbados on Saturday night.
 
Directing his comments to Finance Affairs Minister Christopher Sinckler, who was in attendance, Alleyne said, “The movement continues to play its role in the socio-economic development of its membership. It has never shied away from its corporate responsibility. As a matter of fact [it] stood the test of time during every economic crisis that has befallen us. We came up with ways to support our membership to maintain their quality of life during these challenging times.
 
“It is therefore my view that the movement needs to be more properly invited to the policy-making and decision processes that guide the direction of our beloved country. It should not be remembered for restorative medicine when the patient is on its back, but at the time when the analysis of the sick is done. The credit union movement needs to be fully representative at the level of the social partnership, it should not be subsumed into any grouping, but should have its own place at the head table.”
 
Alleyne, while giving a history of the BET Credit Union Ltd, recognised as the ninth oldest in the country, reported that through a loan portfolio that started from around $5 000 it has now grown to a maximum of $350 000.
 
That, he said, has been supported by a savings portfolio including term deposits with attractive interest rates. However, he stated that this will not be enough to keep this credit union going in the near future.
 
“The level of delinquency has been a bugbear in our efforts to increase our loan limit. Rest assured members, we are looking at ways and means for further effective management of this portfolio including deeper discussions with the Financial Services Commission,” he assured.
 
Alleyne explained that changes in the operations of the credit union movement are being demanded at domestic local and international levels, where directors are cognisant of this and have embarked on a strategic plan to refocus the operations of the credit union to face those challenges.
 
He cautioned that the demands of regulatory and compliance authority will test the strength and survivability of some units in the overall credit union movement. 
 
“In order for us to deal effectively and timely with those requirements, strategic alliances or even mergers must be seriously contemplated among some of the medium sized and small units within the credit union movement. This idea or suggestion is not new, but I am only re-emphasising what has to be done as soon as possible.
 
“If there must be mergers, that must be the way to go. We should no see them as negative things. But where there is no vision the people will perish,” he warned. (JH)
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B’dos Fire Service praised for its efforts

September 25, 2016, 9:53 pm
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The Barbados Fire Service on parade yesterday.

By: 
Peta Rowe-Forde

 

Vehicular accidents and fires are on the decline in Barbados. 
 
This was disclosed by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Gayle Francis-Vaughan, during a brief congratulatory address for the Barbados Fire Service (BFS) as it celebrated its 61st anniversary with a service at the Western Light Church of the Nazarene, St. James yesterday.
 
“We would like to thank the BFS upfront for all they have done this past year to carry out their remit, and the fact that you have done a great job has been seen in the decrease in fires, both domestic and commercial, due to the higher awareness of fire safety. And as it affects the BFS, because they are called out to serious accidents, we also want to note that vehicular accidents are significantly down this year,” stated Francis-Vaughan.
 
Continuing her address, the Permanent Secretary spoke of some of the achievements that the BFS has enjoyed for the last year; for instance the replacement of the training and development unit of the BFS to the Barbados Fire Academy. The academy is being housed at the Arch Hall Fire Station, which will be re-opening soon.
 
Another recent achievement is the Barbados Fire Service Association’s initiative to prepare and publish a fire prevention handbook, a copy of which the Permanent Secretary hopes every Barbadian household will possess. Moreover, she stated, “We have also developed and will soon lay out our Customer Service Charter. This is very important because this charter is an agreement between the BFS and the public. The BFS is there to protect you but we expect that the public will make some commitments to do what they have to do.”
 
Looking towards the future, Francis-Vaughan asserted that the BFS intends to enhance the relationships with the wider society and to fortify alliances in the private and public sectors. Added to that, the first response department will be with adequate financial, human and physical resources.
 
To further facilitate this, Francis-Vaughan disclosed that the training of additional personnel is ongoing. “The government recognizes the value of human development and will continue to support the training of the staff through partnerships, especially with education institutions. Long awaited was the establishment of an auxiliary fire service…this is really important because in times of great need for fire fighters sometimes we have not enough appointed firemen. Men and women will be perfectly trained but will be on call when they are needed in the event of increase fire emergencies,” she explained.
 
As the Permanent Secretary closed, she made a sincere appeal to members of the public. “Continue your support of this department by adhering to the prevention and fire safety programmes. It is only by doing this that there will be further reductions in fires and accidents."
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Minister praises ‘Water Warriors’

September 26, 2016, 9:00 pm
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MINISTER OF Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley, has lauded the efforts of the group of Barbadians who over the weekend and in previous weeks sought to bring some relief to residents in St. Joseph experiencing severe water shortages.
 
Yesterday, the Minister highlighted the work of the “Weekend Water Warriors”, a group of concerned citizens during one of the activities to celebrate National Youth Week. He described their efforts as an act of national service, to which many persons, particularly young people, should aspire.
 
“I want to take the opportunity to commend the efforts of all Barbadians in joining the Barbados Water Authority in doing what all Barbadians know that we have to do from time to time. Rolling up our sleeves and joining in some self-help measures. The response in St. Joseph is a good example of national service. It is a good example of how communities can help communities, because the government or private agencies alone can’t do it all,” he noted.
 
The Minister revealed that his Ministry will be seeking to partner with this group, in the near future.
 
“We know in some of our communities there are issues in relation to the availability of water and in particular St. Joseph is hard hit with water outages, and we will be, through the Community Independence Secretariat, launching a major initiative with the parish ambassadors very shortly, where we will be joining that national effort in providing that relief to the parish of St. Joseph in particular,” he revealed.
 
“In the meantime, we also want to commend the efforts of volunteers. Barbadians who have already started going into St. Joseph and providing water relief and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth will be shortly making a donation of water to the Water Warriors, a group mainly of artistes, who have joined in the effort to assist with the alleviation of the water shortages in Barbados. We will be playing our part in a big way,” he assured. (JH)
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MTW seeking to attract more females for technical jobs

September 26, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW), Simone Rudder, engages female students gathered from two secondary schools on the island, the Alleyne School and Combermere, during a break from the Ministry’s Gender Equality Workshop at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

By: 
Regina Selman Moore

 

 
There are only a few women who have chosen to pursue careers in technical areas in the public sector and the Ministry of Transport and Works is seeking to change this dynamic.
 
Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW), Simone Rudder, acknowledged the above yesterday, as she addressed female students gathered from two secondary schools on the island, the Alleyne School and Combermere, as the Ministry hosted a Gender Equality Workshop at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.
 
The one-week workshop which will attract a different batch of students each day, serves as a component of an IDB funded project, and Rudder explained that its primary purpose is to sensitise young females on the benefits of choosing a technical career path for employment within the MTW, which is the second largest public employer in Barbados. The workshop will consist of several presentations targeting females in secondary schools, from ages 12 to 14, as well as a cohort of at-risk female youth in the 16-18 age range.
 
Stressing that gender equality matters, Rudder revealed that, “Women and girls represent one half of Barbados’ population, in the key fruitful years of 25 to 64 years of age.”
 
“Therefore, in an equitable situation, women and girls should represent over one half of Barbados’ potential. Unfortunately this is not yet the case,” she added.
 
“When it comes to gender indicators, the country still shows high levels of inequality between men and women. In particular, women are especially underrepresented in industries such as transport and construction, with about 1 000 women working in each of these industries, while over 16 000 men work in the two industries combined. Meanwhile, women are highly represented in industries such as food services, accommodation, wholesale and retail, with over 20 000 women working in these sectors. More men than women are employed, but yet more women find themselves in jobs which tend to be underpaid and are very unstable. This not right!” Rudder stressed.
 
As such, the Ministry of Transport and Works is moving to develop the conditions to aid more females in accessing more technical jobs, in phase one of this project. Phase two of the project will see a number of females receiving work attachments.
 
Meanwhile, Dave Scantlebury, Project Manager at MTW has noted that females are needed to work in technical areas such as auto mechanics and auto electronics, plumbing and engineering. (RSM)
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UWI, SUNY launch Leadership, Sustainable Development Centre

September 26, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Standing from left to right: SUNY Empire State College President, Merodie A. Hancock;
Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The UWI Open Campus, Dr. Luz Longsworth; SUNY Board of Trustees Chairman, H. Carl McCall; UWI Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles; SUNY Provost and Executive Vice-Chancellor, Alexander N. Cartwright; and UWI Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Affairs, Richard Bernal. 

 

The University of the West Indies (UWI) and The State University of New York (SUNY) have launched the SUNY UWI Centre for Leadership and Sustainable Development on September 20, 2016, at the SUNY Global Centre in New York. 
 
The Centre will build on areas identified in previous UWI-SUNY analyses, while also including research relevant to democratic participation, leadership, and governance, with a focus on solutions to specific problems constraining the achievement of the United Nation’s sustainable development goals, and also focus on serving groups that have faced barriers to equal opportunities.
 
“SUNY’s new partnership with The UWI represents an important milestone in our ongoing conversations about educating and empowering students and faculty in order to make substantial advances in the areas of leadership and sustainable human development,” said SUNY Board Chairman H. Carl McCall.
 
“Our partnership is all the more exciting when you consider the positive impact and practical benefits the application of our research, academic programmes, teaching, and learning will have for our students and faculty, as well as the 
millions of people in the Caribbean, the Caribbean Diaspora in New York, and beyond. We are proud to advance our mutual goals with The UWI and I thank Sir Hilary for his continued passion and leadership.”
 
UWI Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Hilary Beckles said, “Both The UWI and SUNY have agreed that a Centre of this nature is required to provide innovative solutions to the underlying problems that ultimately constrain the achievement of sustainable human development in the wider Caribbean and in the urban areas of New York State, in which there is a substantial Caribbean Diaspora that is served by SUNY. This initiative is part of the programme of international engagement that enables The UWI to play an active developmental role among the wider Caribbean community.”
 
UWI Chancellor Sir George Alleyne said, “My warmest congratulations on this path-breaking initiative which is a part of The UWI’s global agenda which focuses here on a more active, supportive and developmental role that embraces the Caribbean community and Diaspora. It will provide some of that essential leadership training and research needed by the wider Caribbean as it prepares to meet the new sustainable development goals.”
 
At the Centre, joint teams of UWI and SUNY expert teams will take a multi-disciplinary approach and draw on external expertise as appropriate to advance the following goals:
• Creation of a master’s programme in leadership and sustainable development
• Solutions-oriented research
• Student advocacy and mobilisation of the Caribbean Diaspora
• Establishment of an expert network
• Facilitation of a think tank
The Centre will be governed by an advisory board consisting of academic experts, foundation and development professionals and administrative leaders from The UWI and SUNY. It will begin operations at 325 Hudson Street in Manhattan – one of SUNY Empire State College’s three New York City locations.
 
The concept for the Centre has garnered strong support from the Commonwealth and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
 
 Commonwealth Secretary General the RT Hon Patricia Scotland QC said, “I commend the vision and commitment to serving the practical needs of the people of the Caribbean – whether at home or in the Diaspora – that has led to the SUNY UWI Centre for Leadership and Sustainable Development. Commonwealth citizens from the Caribbean, and from other Small Island Developing States will derive lasting benefit from this partnership project, and the focus it brings to the human development needs of our people, wherever they live, learn or work. In this year when we celebrate ‘An Inclusive Commonwealth’ it is good to see The UWI continuing to play an active and innovative developmental role for the benefit of the wider Caribbean community.”
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Sealy: Make food festival part of events calendar

September 26, 2016, 9:00 pm
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I had a dream back in 2009 that this festival can emerge and can eventually be an essential part of our calendar of events in Barbados

 

Stakeholders responsible for organising and hosting the Barbados Food and Rum Festival must see how they can ensure that this event can become a part of the calendar of events and not just tourism events; so that it can attract more locals, as well as, how they can build on it to ensure that Barbados can attract more visitors during the summer months.
 
Delivering remarks at the Barbados Food and Rum Festival 2016 at The Blackwoods Screw Dock on Tuesday night, Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Richard Sealy, said this was something that he thought about back in 2009.
 
“I had a dream back in 2009 that this festival can emerge and can eventually be an essential part of our calendar of events in Barbados – and note what I said just now – our calendar of events. I didn’t say tourism events. Because cast your mind back 40 years ago, the then Barbados Board of Tourism decided that we needed to do something to get some more summer traffic to Barbados.”
 
As a result, a committee was formed and this committee came up with the idea of hosting a summer festival to get persons to come to this island and that was how Crop Over was born and now this event is this island’s national festival and it has grown in popularity and is an event that both locals and tourists take part in.
 
Sealy said that he envisions a similar transition for this food festival. “I believe that the Barbados Food and Rum Festival has to think in those terms. I am not suggesting that we are going to eclipse Crop Over. I don’t think that we should aim for that. However I believe that we should think large and understand that sometimes when tourism officials get together and partner with industrious, creative Barbadians, great things can happen.”
 
The Minister of Tourism stated that this island has something really great going on with this food festival and it has tremendous potential to promote local talent and cuisine as it moves forward through such initiatives as competitions where Barbadian chefs are encouraged to cook more indigenous cuisine.
 
“We are on the cusp of something really large here and I see the food festival that will take into account all of our many local offerings and I am happy to see even the Pudding and Souse Competition there. We need to do that. We need to celebrate what is ours.” (PJT)
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