LEADER of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), Mia Mottley, is urging those who are eligible to vote in the upcoming General Election to go and check to see that their names are on the voters list.

Mottley issued the reminder yesterday afternoon, at the National Housing Corporation (NHC), Country Road, St. Michael, where her party’s 30 candidates paid their deposits.

“It is important for people to go and check the list themselves. Of course, we have candidates and canvassers doing it. But if you really want to make sure that you can vote on May 24, don’t wait for a canvasser or a candidate to check that your name is on the list.

“Go to blp.org.bb, or call the electoral office hotline and check yourself. If your name is not on the voters list, by Monday evening you will not be able to vote. Please go and check, if it is not there, then you can go to any of the centres. I want you to check the list for your name,” Mottley advised.

Since the year started, the Barbados Labour Party showed signs that the candidates were gearing up for the 2018 General Election. The fact that the BLP was ready became obvious, when Prime Minister the Right Honourable Freundel Stuart, through the Government Information Service (GIS), exactly one week ago, announced the dates for Nomination Day as May 7, and May 24 as Election Day. The BLP’s campaign machine began moving.

“We tried to get ready. We have said to people, as far as two years ago that we were focused and ready, people thought it was just a slogan. Now, we have to let them know that it wasn’t a slogan. A brand is as real as it is credible, our brand is credible,” Mottley said, as she spoke of the readiness of her Party’s campaign.

The candidates arrived in grand style, shortly around 2:30 p.m., to pay their deposits. They were greeted, hugged and received kisses from scores of party supporters, that awaited their arrival. (AH)

Finance Minister Christopher Sinckler does not see the Central Bank’s review of Barbados’ economic performance in the first quarter of 2018 impacting the Democratic Labour Party’s chances for re-election.

On Wednesday, Governor Cleviston Haynes said that the outlook for the Barbadian economy remains challenging.

However, Sinckler, the DLP candidate for St. Michael North West who sought to explain aspects of that report, said that he is confident that Barbadians will make the right choice come May 24.

“We have the best candidates, so there is no other choice. We know that we have a lot of work to do and we will get right back to it the day after.”

Sinckler was speaking to reporters after paying his $250 deposit to the Treasury at the National Housing Corporation (NHC) Headquarters yesterday morning, alongside candidate for St. Michael North East, Patrick Todd; Steve Blackett, candidate for St. Michael Central; Michael Carrington, candidate for St. Michael West; and James Paul, candidate of St. Michael West Central.

He said that the entire team is ready and raring to go, and that their campaign is going according to plan.

“In 2013 we had a very measured, controlled and disciplined campaign and the same will be the case on this occasion.”

“All of our candidates have been out canvassing and the responses have been in some instances overwhelming; people have been very engaging. If they have issues they raise them, but they do not allow those issues to obfuscate from them the fact that the Democratic Labour Party has done its absolute best in the circumstances as difficult as they have been. And has been able to produce and protect Barbados and to keep Barbados as strong as we have known it to be and as is possible in these circumstances,” Sinckler stressed.

“We are proud of our achievements as a country, proud of our people as citizens of the country and we believe that together this journey that we took in 2008 will continue.”

General Elections are upon us and whoever wins the seats of power come Election Day on May 24, the General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), Toni Moore, has thrown out a challenge to them.

Moore’s challenge came during the May Day event, which took place at Browne’s Beach on Tuesday evening. Under the theme ‘The Future We Want’, Moore called for “those who want to form our next government” to commit to enacting legislation which seeks to strengthen trade union registration.

“We will not miss the opportunity to say publicly to those seeking to lead this country into the next five years that even where we are looking to encourage investment, the welfare of our citizens must not be undermined in the process,” she said.

“Let us reflect on those periods when we considered Barbados to be at its strongest. An empowered workforce means an empowered people who are inspired, exulting free … and greater will our nation grow in strength and unity.”

Moore noted that this May is a time for the workers of Barbados to make a serious analysis of the times in which we are living and set out to chart a course for the future that they want.

“The future we want must be one driven by social justice and a fair share for all; a Barbados that leaves no one behind,” she said.

“Our people want decent jobs, access to quality free health care and education, an honest and responsive government, a clean and healthy environment, a fair chance in life, an upturn in our economic situation, a re-commitment to genuine social dialogue and partnership. We want a future where our government is prepared to represent and take on the interests of the many and not the few.”

Therefore, the general secretary believed it was important to tackle the rising issues such as inequality and the like. She expressed that they wanted a future where the youth felt empowered.

“Job creation must be a foremost concern for all those who seek to serve the people of Barbados. We need a renewed commitment to creative avenues of productive employment to make sure that our young women and men are given the opportunity to make a contribution to our society,” she said.

After the fanfare and campaigning have died down, Co-ordinator and Senior Assistant General Secretary, Orlando ‘Gabby’ Scott, hopes that the theme used throughout the May Day celebrations, ‘The Future We Want’, resonates heavily with the public.

Speaking with The Barbados Advocate on the sidelines of the May Day celebrations, which took place on Tuesday evening at Browne’s Beach, Scott expressed that persons at the BWU have been very concerned about the level of talk that has been happening in the nation concerning the issues of youth violence. He noted that because the youth are our future leaders and workforce, the BWU decided to campaign in this May Day celebrations against violence.

“We hope that what we were campaigning about would resonate in the minds of people, because almost every month we were hearing that there has been a murder and that is something painful. It’s not just the fact that someone dies and someone is incarcerated, but it really sullies the whole atmosphere of the country because it shows that we cannot deal adequately and sensibly with our issues,” he said.

“So we are hoping that after all this, the campaigning and the performances, that the message would resonate in the minds of all Barbadians, not just the young people, that we should deal with each other with love. I think we need to do that because love really is the foundation that glues us all together.”

Scott went on to note that he was certainly impressed with the turnout of Tuesday’s event, adding that he considered it to be very successful. He was especially proud of the number of youth that played a role in the celebrations as students from the Darryl Jordan Secondary School, Christ Church Foundation School and The Lodge School participated in the festivities.

In addition to the entertainment, such as karaoke, beach obstacle courses and a song selection by the Mighty Gabby, the BWU also sought to honour Peace Ambassador Ayra Newton of the Princess Margaret Secondary School as they believed it was appropriate to highlight and congratulate her efforts in dealing with conflict, as they believe her actions can be and should be copied by the people of Barbados. (CLF)

Reverse Mortgages have been discussed in Barbados, however there seems to be lingering concerns as to whether they should be offered in the Barbados market. However, Tony Marshall, Director
of the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) made it clear that Reverse Mortgages would be beneficial in the Barbados market.

Marshall, while speaking on Wednesday at Capita Financial's Reverse Mortgage Roundtable at Hilton, stressed that in Barbados we need to focus on what are the needs of the market and that a product is missing and that is Reverse Mortgages. According to him, “The Commercial banks continue to enjoy a very sizable portfolio of savings and throughout the years with the exception of recently they have been able to utilise that portfolio to finance consumer lending and they did this at rates in double digits.

“I believe the banks and other lending houses who raise funds from the people have a social responsibility to make Reverse Mortgages available and the contention that it is not necessary because it does not have a fixed repayment programme, I abhor.”

The BARP official explained, “This topic is overdue and the moment persons hear the terms Reverse Mortgages it raises an interpretation of complexity, difficulty, risk and so on, but this should not be the case. The important point of the reverse mortgage is that it does not necessarily require any repayment arrangement during the life of the loan, it requires repayment arrangements on retirement of the loan. At BARP we have taken this matter seriously and our President insisted that we prepare a model which would satisfy the membership of BARP but any other Barbadian of the appropriate age. The President put together
a number of lawyers who prepared legislation that was submitted to the Government of Barbados a couple years ago, we are not now looking at this we have been looking at it for some time because of its importance.”

He indicated, “Barbadian senior citizens are said to be asset rich and cash poor, Barbadians believe that we should own our own properties, however as times goes on persons mature and become pensioners and hence the income declines. As you drive around the country we see properties in a state of dilapidation and that comes from the inability to maintain the property. Most Senior Citizens are able to pay their utilities but are unable to keep their properties in good state of repair or keep up with their medical expenses...If you are unable to maintain that property then it is better to get a reverse mortgage that the property is ruined and decreases in value. Some persons are unfortunate to have children that don’t get along and you will see some properties around the country that are rotting because of disagreement of the
beneficiaries.”

Marshall highlighted, “Reverse Mortgages are not new, they existed in Canada since 1986, and in Barbados we are still struggling to convince the bankers, lending houses that this is needed and to touch the social conscience that this is something that should exist in Barbados.” (NB)

IT is being suggested that an intra-governmental committee or a separate department in the Ministry of International Business should be created in this country to help face and properly deal with the threats and challenges posed to the country’s international business and financial services sector.

So says Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs, Adriel Brathwaite, who said such can assist in maintaining Barbados as a well-regulated and recognised jurisdiction for financial services. He was speaking as he delivered last week’s Astor B Watts Lunchtime Lecture on the topic “Protecting Our Financial Borders” at the Democratic Labour Party’s headquarters.

“The issues are far-reaching, the goal posts are moving all the time and many jurisdictions like us are reactive as opposed to proactive. So you spend lots of money going to meetings in Geneva and in France and far-flung places, to sit and to understand what the issues are etc. I believe that given the fact that this is not going to change, that we should form a team of specialist persons whose sole responsibility will be to guide us through these challenges that we will continue to have,” he said.

Brathwaite further indicated, “As I said over the years, every time we believe that in fact that as a region or that as a country we are complying to the international best standards in terms of knowing your client
and your due diligence responsibility, that it changes all the time.”

To that end, the Attorney General said the committee or unit he has proposed would be tasked with ensuring that as a jurisdiction, Barbados keeps ahead of the curve and complies with the international best standards. If established, he is confident it will go a long way in helping Barbados to continue promoting itself as the best regulated jurisdiction in the region, if not in the world. Brathwaite’s remarks came as he charged that the government – of which he is a part – has not been given enough credit for maintaining the level of employment and business in the financial services sector, in spite of the challenges it has
encountered.

He was referring to the decision by Canada to alter its tax and banking laws, which resulted in some international business companies leaving Barbados and the country recording a $200 million loss in tax revenue annually since, and the new rules constantly being imposed by international agencies on the sector.

With that in mind, he said Government has not sat idly by, as he noted that over the last decade, Barbados has signed more double taxation treaties under the present DLP administration, than under any other government in the history of this country. Additionally, he said the country has also sought to diversify by going into new markets including Mexico.

“We have not stood still and said to you the public that there is nothing that we can do and that these international agencies are driving us out of the market, because the industry is too important to us… One of the challenges that we have going forward is the fact that we are going to have to address the issue of the fiscal incentives that we give; not only us – it is a worldwide issue – and try to reinvent ourselves,” the AG said. (JRT)

THE Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidates from the north of the island are ready to contest the upcoming General Election.

On Wednesday led by candidate for St. Lucy Denis Kellman, candidate for St. Peter Dave Cumberbatch and candidate for St. Joseph Denis Holder arrived at the Treasury Department located in the National Housing Corporation to pay in the mandatory $250 deposit to contest the elections come May 24.

Speaking to the media briefly on Wednesday after exiting the building, Kellman stated that he feels comfortable. “We have a job to do. We have done a very good job in some difficult times, but you know in life, if you do not have a challenge – you do not have anything to conquer. Too many people bellyache whenever they have a challenge. Life is about some challenges and solving them.”

Kellman said he is not concerned about his opponents but is more focused on the constituents of St. Lucy. “I think there are things that I have to do for them and I will try to complete those things.”

Noting that he is one of the longest serving members of Parliament, he said he is in company with Opposition Leader Mia Mottley, candidate for St. Michael North Ronald Toppin and candidate for St. Andrew George Payne. “So when they say I have been in parliament too long they are actually admitting that they should go and the reason they should go is they served 14 years in the Cabinet whereas I only served seven,” he said.

Meanwhile candidate for St. Joseph, Denis Holder, who came up short in the 2013 election said he is ready this time around. “I might have been in the race a little late last time and I probably did not have enough time to get through the constituency on the last occasion. Having been on the ground lounger, I feel much better. I think more people know me now. I have established myself in the constituency and the response is very good. I expect change in St. Joseph,” he said.

Holder said a major concern expressed by constituents that even though St. Joseph has primarily been a stronghold of the BLP, there has been little to show for it on the ground.

“I have already put in place a number of things I have put in place to boost the representation. The youth are asking for activities.”

Holder said he has worked on the refurbishment of the play park in St. Elizabeth and will move on to one in Blackmans. He said he has also been able to coordinate with the depot of the Ministry of Transport and Works to repave a by-pass road for the troublesome Joe’s River bridge.

“I am pleased I have been able to achieve some things in St. Joseph even though I am not the MP for the area. I always say St. Joseph is fortunate. They have two representatives. The one that is paid by government and one that volunteers his services,” he mused.

First timer in St. Peter, Dave Cumberbatch, says he too feels good about his chances in the race.

He said the constituents have been asking for assistance with jobs, not necessarily from government, but to own their own businesses. “That has been the centre of my philosophy. I believe the economy must be small business driven and I am working hand in hand to ensure those who are desirous of owning their own businesses do so, by providing information, providing advice and so on,” he said. (JH)

The Barbados Water Authority’s (BWA) financial model is not sustainable. It simply does not work.

This admission came yesterday from BWA General Manager Keithroy Halliday, who revealed that the Water Authority’s existing loans being serviced, as well as those which are about to be drawn down, bring the BWA’s total commitments to about half a billion dollars.

“On the topic of finance, the BWA has significant challenges” Halliday acknowledged during a press conference convened at BWA Headquarters in the Pine St. Michael.

“The BWA is not simply a plumbing organisation. There is a certain level of sophistication that is increasingly required to make sure that we can do the job and to do the job responsibly and capably. There is a certain level of engineering and skill sets that must be on hand and that has been at the heart of the development of the BWA [lately],” Halliday added.

“So finances have had to be distributed to be able to deal with that. Whereas, I think it was in 1999 we had a rate increase of about 60 per cent to try to match some of the need, the increase in it would not have addressed, in retrospect, the financing or investment needs that we’ve had to engage over the last two years and will have to continue to actively engage, if it is that we are to continue to make the BWA relevant in terms of its delivery, both on the potable water side, as well as what we need to do to shape up deliverables on the waste water division side,” he continued.

“So it means then that our financial model as is, is not sustainable. It has not been sustainable for some time. The financial model as is, does not work and at some point in time [very soon], we have to look at it and take some hard decisions as to how we can move toward a model, that is a more relevant to our needs” the general manager asserted.

With respect to funding, he pointed out that to date, the BWA is subject to a lot of multilateral agency considerations and loans in particular, as there are a number of projects underway in the BWA’s Project Management Department. However, recognising the need to adequately service these loans and get on with its projects as well, the BWA has been seeking grant funding, and has had some success in this area to date.

“We are about half a billion in commitments. The existing loans that are about to be drawn down, as well as the existing loans that we are servicing, would be about half a billion,” he stressed.

“We are actively trying to, wherever possible, source grant funding. So for instance, we are [engaging] with a private sector [partner] to help us with specific activity on the South Coast,” he revealed.

“In terms of servicing some of the obligations, there is one in particular that the government services on our behalf. In terms of the others, we are still trying to fight it with our own cash flow. Because our cash flow has not been sufficient – and of course we need assistance with that – we are trying to restructure to deal with that it and it has been climbing as result, because the money has to come from somewhere,” Halliday stated. (RSM)

Many of the problems that continue to be faced by the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) in relation to the South Coast Sewage Plant are the result of illegal actions taken by members of the public, including hundreds of illegal connections.

That’s according to Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management, Dr. David Estwick. Yesterday morning, Estwick, the Democratic Labour Party’s candidate for St. Philip West, told the media that as the DLP rolls out its campaign, he intends to outline the truth regarding the failure of the plant. He stated that while some persons may want to blame the problems on poor maintenance, nothing could be further from the truth.

“It is not a maintenance issue; what has happened with the South Coast Sewage Plant is that the distribution system has collapsed, the foundation of the distribution system has collapsed… The other issue of importance is that somebody gine [sic] have to explain to me how come there are 16 000-plus people who [are] connected and ain’t registered with the Barbados Water Authority to pay their bill. Somebody gine (sic) also have to explain to me how come that you could have an entire bath towel, an entire face towel, diapers, plastic bag and all sort of stuff down a sewer when only water and faeces supposed to be down in there. And all these sort of things will have to come out during the elections,” he stated.

Estwick added, “In addition, the number of illegal connections has been tremendous and many of those connections have broken the Town Planning rules and the EPD (Environmental Protection Department) rules and the rules of the Barbados Water Authority. I have all of them and some of them are keeping the most noise, I have nothing to say to them until. All I will say is this, it is illegal and against the Town Planning rules to take the water off of your roofs and run it into the sewers of Barbados. When the sewers are overflowing with respect to when raining is falling, that is where the water is coming from,” he said.

With that in mind, he made it clear the BWA is facing the problem head on. As such, he disclosed that some of the culprits have already received letters from the Authority regarding the illegal connections, outlining the breaches in relation to the rules of the BWA, EPD and Town Planning, and have been asked to make the necessary corrections. The minister said while he hopes they comply, if they choose not to, he said there are alternate steps for the BWA to pursue.

“I’ve made it quite clear to management, if you have to utilise legal force to make sure that they comply, then that is what you have to do in the interest of the people of Barbados,” he said.

His comments came as he contended that the sewage issues are not a political matter, but a technical one. Estwick maintained it is a matter of engineering deficits which he argued were not caused by the current Administration. Moreover, he explained that the number of connections and the volume coming through existing ones have skyrocketed.
“Let’s say a hotel that would have been 40 rooms is now 150 rooms and other hotels would have been built. What has happened is that the capacity issues in regards to the plant have been surpassed,” he affirmed.

The Water Resource Management Minister made the point while noting that it is the current government which is responsible for setting up the Wastewater Division at the BWA, though such had been recommended under the previous government. He said such a division was definitely needed as the technologies applied to potable water and wastewater are different, as are the administrative management practices.

“[Therefore] in the middle of a crisis I took that decision to form a Wastewater Division led by Patricia Inniss and as a result of that over the last few weeks we have been staffing it… It is out of that new management that the information is being revealed as to what had been the practice and the custom over the many, many years,” he indicated. (JRT)

THE Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development and the Child Care Board (CCB) are committed to the development of policies, programmes and activities to empower and protect the vulnerable within society, especially children.

This reminder was made clear by Permanent Secretary in that Ministry, Janet Phillips, as she delivered the feature address at yesterday’s National Children’s Service, which
was held at the Western Light Church of the Nazarene, Oxnards, St James.

Phillips said Barbados has been a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child for 28 years and is guided by international benchmarks on the treatment of Barbados’ children. And, in January 2017, Barbados defended its position before the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, in Geneva Switzerland, a delegation which Phillips was a part of.

“Barbados was the only Caribbean country to be represented at that international forum and to present our successes and developments since the last reporting period. While there are areas in which improvements can be made, I am happy to relate that as a country we have a lot to be proud of as it relates to our children’s development,” she said.
Phillips said as Barbadians, children are owed a life free of violence and fear. She said the prevention of child abuse and neglect of children is a social responsibility that all must bear.

“Our efforts as a community will impact not only what happens today but they will also shape the future of our island. As adults and children you need to educate yourselves about the dangers that exist and seek to help when necessary,” she said.

The Permanent Secretary stressed that parents need to pay attention to children’s friends, including those online interactions.

The CCB as the Chief Executing Agency for matters relating to children will continue its national public education on the theme of Breaking the Silence on Children Abuse through its collaboration with its stakeholders namely UNICEF, the West Indies Cricket Board, Churches, the Ministry of Education, Community-Based Organisations, and other Government Departments.

In addition, the Board will continue its preventative initiatives as its Community Outreach to schools, Parent Teacher Associations, churches and community groups.
“The Child Care Board will also continue to address the issue of adolescents, cyber abuse, cyber bullying and its implications by conducting a series of interventions at primary and secondary schools using drama and the theatre arts as the modality for education.

“In addition, the Board will develop educational material which would assist the students in dealing with the issues associated with Cyber Abuse and Cyberbullying,” she said.
“The Board is also putting plans in place to provide a training opportunity for representatives of the Media in which Ethical Reporting Standards for matters involving Child Protection and Children would be addressed,” it was further stated. (AH)

THE General Secretary and manager of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) 2018 campaign, Dr Jerome Walcott, is prescribing that Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Freundel Stuart focus on the latest Central Bank report, which paints a picture of Barbados’ dire economic situation, instead of focussing on the billboard blunder that occurred in the City of Bridgetown constituency this week.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Stuart described the poster mix up where BLP candidate for The City, Jeffrey Bostic was identified as the representative for the St Michael South constituency, as an example of the BLP’s unpreparedness for the May 24 General Election.

However, while speaking during a press conference at the BLP’s Roebuck Street, St Michael headquarters, on Thursday, Dr Walcott said he was surprised that the Prime Minister could find time to comment on the blunder, but not on the state of the economy.

“As a journalist you know that with the best intentions you can make errors, you can make typos. These posters were put up during the night, the error was noticed and it immediately came down. I think you all are trying to create a storm in a cup and there are so many important issues facing the electorate in this country, to spend columns of news print on a simple error as though not one of the media houses has ever made an error,” he said.

Also speaking to the media that same day, BLP leader Mia Mottley said the error on the billboard is something that happens. Mottley said she has told her candidates that in a campaign there is no perfection, but it is their duty to stay focussed, calm and remain measured.
“And that is what team BLP 2018 will give the people of Barbados in this campaign, as we will give you the people of Barbados in government should you elect us as your government.”

“The fact that the Prime Minister is more consumed with the billboard, rather than the Central Bank Governor’s report is of note to me. And we would perhaps wish that he would spend a little more time focussing on the fact that in the last quarter our economy has declined. . .,” Mottley said. (AH)

The United Progressive Party is ready to hash out any of the issues affecting the country on a national debate.

Speaking to the media on Thursday morning after paying in her $250 deposit to contest the May 24 poll, United Progressive Party leader Lynette Eastmond made it clear that her organization was ready take on all comers, but there had been some reluctance shown by other parties to engage in such a dialogue.

In fact, she outlined that many entities including the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and the Barbados Employers’ Confederation had pushed the idea of having a debate amongst the leaders of the party, but various party leaders had turned down such a proposal.

“The United Progressive Party has made it clear that we are ready for any debate on any topic whatsoever and essentially they have come back to us to say that one party or the other was not in favour. So we are ready to debate anybody, because we are confident about our policies.
We have researched them and know them well and we know that we have the solution to all of the issues, which Barbados now confronts. So we are ready to take on anybody in a debate,” she said.

Surrounded by her candidates at the National Housing Corporation where the Treasury Department is temporarily located, Eastmond told the gathered media, “For some reason those who claim to be most ready and most competent seem to be afraid to debate us.” (JMB)

Barbadians are demanding a change and United Progressive Party (UPP) Candidate for St. Michael South Central David Gill is promising just that.

Addressing the media moments after making his deposit to the Treasury, he said that there was a concern that representatives from both the Barbados Labour Party and Democratic Labour Party were interchangeable.

He highlighted that this would give the UPP, which is facing its first election “a very good chance.”

Gill chided both traditional parties for not addressing many of the issues affecting the island.

“For example, right now neither of the parties is addressing head on the foreign exchange problem. We spend too much foreign exchange on food,” he noted, while detailing that a UPP government would from week one, call together representatives from the Central Bank, commercial banks and food importers to reduce this bill.

“We are going to say ‘cut this food bill by five percent in month one and thereafter one and a half percent for the next ten months, so you get about ten percent at the end of the year. They are not telling the car importers, whose bill is $300 million, the same thing – five percent, one and a half for the next,” he said.

Cutting government’s petroleum import bill is also on the UPP’s list of objectives, as well as reducing the size of the Cabinet.

“Why should we have a minister for every mile Barbados has. You may call them Junior Ministers or Senior Ministers but that is a joke with only $2,000 difference in salary per month. So if you were to do that and revert to at least 14 ministers, you can save at least $5 million a month and in a year $60 million and in the lifespan of a Parliament that is $300 million and that is more than enough money to look after helping young farmers, landless farmers, and youth who are unskilled,” he added. (JMB)

Say no! That’s the advice a senior member of the local Anglican Diocese is telling Barbadians should be their answer, should anyone seek to buy their vote in the May 24 election.

Archdeacon of the Anglican Church and Chaplain of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), Eric Lynch, offered the advice as he delivered the sermon on Sunday evening at Solidarity House for the annual May Day Service.

Before an audience that included Governor General Dame Sandra Mason; Minister of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development, Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo and former Barbados Labour Party Members of Parliament, Cynthia Forde and Dwight Sutherland, Archdeacon Lynch encouraged those present that as they look to the future, to remember the importance of God to that future. With that in mind, he contended that the selling of votes to any politician would be displeasing and disrespectful to God.

“You were bought with a price, a price paid in Christ’s own blood; no vote selling by any of you. Rather consider those who would present themselves and their manifestos carefully, using critical thinking with which the Lord has blessed you and consider whom you will vote for, and please vote. The inducement must be to do God’s will as you understand that will, but there must be no vote buying if they offer,” he said.

Lynch added, “We were bought with the price of Christ’s own blood and we are not for sale!”

The Archdeacon as he reflected on the period of slavery, noted that those days are long gone in this country were persons were bought, and likening such to vote buying, reemphasised that no person who has reached the age of enfranchisement should sell their vote.

“Our brothers and our sisters were for sale not far from here, beside St. Mary’s Church. Jubilee Gardens which was a centre of commercial activity for the entire West Hemisphere, that’s how important Barbados was, [but] not again, not again my brothers and sisters,” he contended. (JRT)

“St. Leonard’s Boys’ Secondary School (SLBSS) is creating history,” stated poet, musician and peace activist, Adisa “AJA” Andwele as he addressed just under 180 members of Students Against Violence Everywhere (S.A.V.E.) initiative which was launched on Thursday.

In 2015, AJA was one of the key individuals to start Peace Ambassadors to alleviate violence in schools.

He told the student body that as young people they should applaud themselves as they seek to create peace at St. Leonard’s and across Barbados. The poet also encouraged young boys to take the time to think about what they are doing and the path they are going to take. After the launch, AJA joined the SLBSS faculty and students as they marched around the school compound with their peace placards.

The initiative is the brainchild of senior teacher, Winston Cumberbatch and it encourages students to join and take the pledge to use conflict resolution to settle arguments instead of resorting to violence.

Working With Counsellors, Parents
Principal of St. Leonard’s Boys’ Secondary School, Joseph Maynard spoke to The Barbados Advocate about school social support initiatives and the misconceptions about violence within schools. Maynard noted that violence in schools is not new as there were incidences in the past when it occurred. However he explained that they were fortunate that back then those incidences were dealt with quickly and there was no social media to hype things up.

In February of this year, St. Leonard’s Boys’ Secondary School was placed in the news headlines after several boys were involved in violent incident on the school compound. During his remarks at the launch of the S.A.V.E. initiative, The Principal said that schools were a “microcosm of Barbadian society” and that the school wanted to “contribute positively”. Currently at St. Leonard’s, the Principal highlighted that when problems arise they have two guidance counsellors who can work with the boys. He added in the event that a situation has become very difficult or beyond their capacity to deal with it, they do seek outside assistance to curb the problem. Maynard also noted that in these situations, the parents must be on board.

On the point of parents and their involvement with student affairs, Principal Maynard said that the school has a vibrant PTA and the school has brought in psychologists and representatives of PAREDOS to help some of the parents with their issues. He added that the school will not win all, but they are trying to help as many as they can. Presently Principal Maynard is responsible for 1 050 students within the Eagle Hall community.

THE Barbados Light & Power Company Limited (BLPC) is preparing to host a major conference for players in the Caribbean electricity services industry, later this month.

The Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC), in collaboration with the BLPC, will co-host the 2018 Chief Executive Officers & Leadership Conference on May 20 to 23, at the Hilton Barbados Resort, under the theme, “Leadership in an Age of Disruption-Managing the 3D’s: Digitalisation, Decarbonisation, Decentralisation”.

The CARILEC CEOs and Leadership Conference is the region’s leading utility and energy conference and is specifically designed to meet the dynamic and constantly evolving industry needs of CEOs and leaders.

The high-level conference will attract over one hundred and fifty Energy Leaders, and will feature Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, as the keynote speaker delivering his address via live streaming.

Speaking during a press conference at BLPC’s Bay Street, St Michael headquarters recently, Managing Director, Roger Blackman, said the company began working with CARILEC last year to plan the 2018 Conference programme, noting that he is especially pleased about the theme.

“This topic, especially in the context of the active hurricane season we all experienced in 2017, should help us to think differently, see our current circumstances within the context of what the future holds and to realise that the future is in fact much closer than we imagine, as we work together to strengthen our various businesses,” Blackman noted.

CARILEC’s Executive Director, Dr. Cletus Bertin, said the conference is important because it is an opportunity for players in the industry to network, and share best practices and knowledge in the region’s energy sector.

“We are expecting a really good turn out from the leadership across the region. We have some really interesting features this year, one being a round table where we bring together international NGOs, financiers, to meet with the utility leaders basically to talk about how we finance the transition to a cleaner, greener future, and how we overcome some of the challenges in terms of the utility business model and the transition that would be required. We have a really packed agenda,” Dr Bertin said.

A few key topics to be presented at the Conference are as follows: How Demand Response Can Keep Energy Costs Down and Customers Engaged; Pokigron Hybrid Energy Project, Disruption and Innovation, the Path to Resilience in the Energy Sector, Safety Leadership – What we as leaders often overlook; Corporate Resilience in the Caribbean’s Electricity Markets: Challenges and Prospects; The Power of Alignment through a Nationally Led Energy Transition Process; Recovery and Resilience in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma; Creating a Consumer Centric Utility; BLPC’s Digital Transformation Strategy and Lessons learned; The Utility Business & Home of the Future: What will the utility involvement behind the meter look like in 2030?; and The Digital Utility of the Future; Growth of the Renewable Energy Sector in Barbados: A story worth telling. (AH)

Inspired by the success Supreme Counselling for Personal Development (SCPD) has had locally with the internationally acclaimed Olweus Bullying Prevention Programme, Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda, His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams, wants to see the programme replicated in his homeland.

The Governor General, accompanied by his wife Lady Williams, recently visited Barbados to witness firsthand the local version of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Programme in operation. Shawn Clarke, the founder and CEO of SCPD, who serves as a Certified National Olweus Bullying Prevention Trainer & Consultant, hosted the Governor General and his wife.

Following a visit to two of the four schools in which the anti-bullying initiative is run, Clarke explained the alliance, noting that this very week he will be in Antigua to start his work to launch a national anti-bullying campaign there, at the country’s request.

“They contacted me to assist them with developing the Olweus Bullying Prevention Programme in Antigua. I had initial visits with them, met with Sir Rodney Williams and I am happy to report that we will be implementing the programme in six schools in Antigua. I will actually be travelling there on Thursday May 10th to start that process,” Clarke told The Barbados Advocate.

“So they wanted to come over to Barbados to have a look not only at the Olweus Bullying Prevention Programme, but at the entire Supreme setting, to see if we can implement such a programme in Antigua and how best it would work for the young people there. So I am extremely happy to help them visit us here in Barbados,” Supreme Counselling’s CEO added.

Clarke further noted that it is the shared interest and love of youth that has seen both parties working together.

“I think it is because of our love for children. I think both myself, Lady Williams and Sir Rodney Williams share a love for children and we want to see not only the Barbadian youth and Antiguan youth, but youth of the Caribbean develop and grow in the right direction,” he pointed out.

“The reality is that I cannot look at what is happening in Barbados in isolation and not concentrate on what is happening in Antigua and St. Lucia and St. Vincent, because at the end of the day, you have a lot of migration happening throughout the Caribbean. So I think it is something we need to look at, a Caribbean approach, if we want to solve a lot of the problems that we are having,” Clarke commented.

He meanwhile stressed that Antiguan officials are looking to embrace the anti-bullying programme on a national level, and while he is happy about this, he would like to the see the same approach adopted here.

“The thing about Antigua is they are not only embracing it in terms of the schools, but I have actually put together a national campaign for Antigua, so we are going to be doing town hall meetings throughout Antigua, billboards will be posted on the highways, we will be doing radio shows and public service announcements. It’s going to be a massive, massive effort in Antigua and it is my prayer and my hope and my desire that Barbados will follow suit,” Clarke remarked.

“Although I am a Caribbean man, I am Barbadian first and foremost and I would love to be able to utilise my skills here in Barbados for the development of Barbados, for the betterment of Barbadians and to take the programme to such a level, that Barbados can be seen as the flagstaff of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Programme in the entire Caribbean region,” he added.

A sea of red was flowing at Weymouth, St. Michael last night as the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) launched its Campaign Lift Off.

Thousands of party supporters, dressed in red, carrying red flags, posters, whistles, and even bandanas, packed the venue to officially meet the candidates seeking to form the next government, and to hear about the philosophies of BLP 2018.

The “swarm of bees” started arriving as early as 2 p.m. for the 6:30 p.m. start of the event which kicked off with performances from local artiste including Pastor John Yarde, Dancin Africa, Mark Lorde, Sing Out Barbados, Edwin Yearwood, Peter Ram and Lil Rick. In his welcoming address, General Secretary and 2018 Campaign Manager, Dr. Jerome Walcott, reminded those gathered of how the party arrived to a point of readiness for the General Election scheduled to take place on May 24, noting that it was not an overnight journey.

“You all know that we have been working hard, we came with our Covenant of hope – we spoke about the philosophy of the BLP for 2018. We led assemblies with you and listened to your ideas, we had our rubbing shoulders programme, and finally last year we embarked on BLP on the road, all along with meeting, hearing from you, consulting, and that brought us to this place today, where we are confident. We are saying that we are focused and ready to take on the challenges of continuing the development of Barbados.

“You must vote for the Barbados Labour Party to rid yourself of a party that has flooded you with taxes, a party that has caused the cost of living of everyday [living] to increase, a party that cannot look after the public transport system, our garbage collection system in tatters and of course the disgrace with the south coast where sewage still flows almost daily. These are the reasons you must vote for the Barbados Labour Party,” he stressed.

The crowd went wild as BLP Leader Mia Amor Mottley, arrived at the scene with scores of supporters rallying around her. In her usual confident style, Mottley lived up to the crowd’s expectation and delivered an upbeat, fired up speech. The leader spoke of her vision for Barbados, and stressed the readiness of her party to bring the country out of economic turmoil. (AH/TL)

Employment creation, the construction of a new Vauxhall Primary School and the acquisition of land at Cane Vale to develop a multi-sports venue are just some of the plans the Democratic Labour Party candidate and incumbent for Christ Church West Central, Stephen Lashley, has for the area if once again elected to be its representative.

Flanked by several of his supporters during the recent mass canvass in his constituency, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth told the media that there were several projects in the pipeline.

Delivering copies of a report on his stewardship as well as the ‘Looking Forward Constituency Development Plan 2018-2023’, he outlined that government was at an advanced stage of pressing ahead with the provision and conclusion of conveyances to transfer units in Silver Hill and Gall Hill to residents under the 20-year programme.

“We have started the acquisition process in relation to Cane Vale and we want to conclude that so that the Sports Council can take control of that facility and in the first instance, grade it and make it available to the sports community of this constituency. Ultimately, our plan is to build out a mini stadium, once funds are provided that will service Christ Church communities,” he added.

He urged persons not to get swept up in the “noise” surrounding the election, but to listen to what was being proposed to address the critical issues impacting the island.

“We will defend our record in the Democratic Labour Party. We will defend the things that we have done… This election is not about the pomp and flags. It is about the future of Barbados and the principles that should abide during an election campaign. It is about whether or not we can expect from candidates forthrightness, honesty and decency for one another and I can assure that these will be the tenets of how I will function,” Lashley added. (JMB)

Diocesan Administrator, Canon Wayne Isaacs, is defending the local Anglican Church against what he has termed as baseless, irrational and outrageous claims.

In a statement released to the media, Canon Isaacs dismissed the claims as he called on the author and publisher of those statements, in the absence of any proof in support of the allegations, to retract the statements. He made the point while noting that such statements made during the last week, regarding the management and administration of the finances of the Church, are indeed likely to cast a negative light on the Diocesan staff and the members of the various committees, organs and individuals.

“They [statements] have had the effect of tarnishing the integrity of those attacked and offended and damaging their reputations in the eyes of the public,” he lamented.

Seeking to set the record straight, the Diocesan Administrator made it clear that contrary to what may have been suggested, there are no irregularities in the Church’s finances. In the statement, Canon Isaacs said that the Church’s recordkeeping is above board, explaining that its annual Financial Statements, together with notes, are audited in accordance with international standards on auditing.

“The Canons and Regulations of the Diocese require that these Audited Financial Statements are tabled at our Annual Synod where members of Synod, both Clergy and Laity, debate and approve such statements. In addition, the auditors provide a management letter to the Synod every year in respect of such statements. To date, the Diocesan Synod of Barbados has received unqualified reports from our Auditors and the management letters to Synod have not highlighted any infelicities,” he indicated.

He noted too that the governance structure of the Diocese provides for the election of a Chairman of Finance, four lay persons and two clergy persons, and they along with the Archdeacon and four Rural Deans provide the financial oversight for the Diocese. He went on to say that the Committee reports monthly to the Synod Council and at the Annual Diocesan Synod. Bolstering his point of adhering to best practices, Isaacs disclosed that the Synod has over the years selected professional accountants to serve on the Finance Committee. In its current composition, he revealed that the Committee has three professional accountants and one attorney-at-law, plus one of the Clergy representatives also has an extensive background in banking.

Isaacs stated that on top of all that, the Regulations of the Diocese provide for a Synod Council, which gives another mechanism for ensuring “financial astuteness”. That Council, he explained, receives reports from the Finance Committee for inspection before the spending of any funds is approved.

“The tiered system of review, oversight, management, control and administration is entrusted to skilled, respectable, highly trained professionals and lay persons whose integrity is beyond reproach. The functioning of these persons has never been challenged or proven to be irregular or found in any way infelicitous,” the Diocesan Administrator affirmed.