Leader of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), Mia Mottley, expressing concern about the slowly moving wheels of justice in this country, is promising to address that issue head-on if elected to office.

Speaking at St. Patrick’s, Christ Church on Sunday night, Mottley told those gathered that the backlog of criminal cases in the court system is one of the major issues addressed in their recently launched manifesto, such that they are proposing to appoint two new judges. Her comments came as she contended that no more than nine months should pass between laying a charge and the first hearing, six months for first appeal and another six months for the second appeal.

She spoke to this as she criticised Prime Minister Freundel Stuart for the Democratic Labour Party’s plan for Barbados to leave the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) if re-elected. Questioning who PM Stuart consulted on the matter, she contended that it is not a move that the BLP would support. Mottley, a former Attorney General, said the suggestion to leave the CCJ is simply because the Prime Minister does not like the decisions handed down by the court. She went on to suggest that it was also connected with the recent ruling concerning the right of Commonwealth citizens to vote, a claim that PM Stuart has refuted.

“Can you imagine that you have these judgements at first instance, at the Court of Appeal; you mean you still had to move the Caribbean Court of Justice last Sunday morning? The mere fact that a court outside of Barbados, in Trinidad, the final court of Barbados, but it meet on a Sunday morning 11 o’clock, what that tell you? It’s urgent; they recognise it is critical. You get a decision you didn’t like and by the next weekend you talking bout you gine pull Barbados out of the Caribbean Court of Justice,” she said.

Speaking one day before Mottley, at a meeting on Saturday night at Eagle Hall, PM Stuart, as he first raised the CCJ de-linking intention, maintained that if it were the first time he had raised the concern, it could be argued it was because of the voting issue. However, he contended that having talked about it months ago, stating that he was “unhappy with the virtual slanders that were hurled at Barbados through that court”, meant no one could question his “bona fides or credibility on this issue”.

Meanwhile, on the issue of court backlogs and lengthy remands, Mottley said the criticism of Barbados by the CCJ is no different from the thinking of every other major court in the world.

“It is now recognised that that is a major breach of human rights. A man in our country is presumed innocent and when you keep a man on remand for three, four and five years, sometimes longer than the sentence he would got to spend, or near as long as the sentence, it is wrong,” she said.

Dr. Denis Lowe could have called it quits, however the Christ Church East candidate said that his work in that constituency is still ongoing.

Recalling the slew of rumours that he was dying, had gone to Canada, had Cancer as well as AIDS and even lost a leg, he therefore explained that his recent absence from public life was a result of a terrible fall.

Dr. Lowe said that he shattered his knee which resulted in two surgeries.

“I could have called it quits; people suggested that I hang it up, but I said ‘No! There are still many more people to help,’” he insisted.

The incumbent was at the time reassuring his constituents while addressing the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) political meeting in Parish Land on Friday night that he is staying the course.

“I want to give you the assurance that my knee is on the mend and I am on my way back to 100 per cent,” he indicated.

“In fact, my opponent thought he saw a glimmer of hope and was walking around telling people that Derek Alleyne was running for me up here. He said that I was on my last leg and I wouldn’t survive. I am standing here tonight because of the Grace of the Almighty and I am in this fight tonight because of my love for you. Have no fear, I will be here for a long, long time. The best is yet to come.”

Dr. Lowe took the opportunity to defend his political record, highlighting that in the last ten years, the DLP administration has been able to find close to 500 jobs for his constituents. Moreover, he described the work carried out as “historic”, stating that representation is about getting on the ground and “making sure that things happen for your people”.

“I have not only done jobs and supported schools, and build parks all over, but I sought to assist the shop keepers in the constituency. When I hold up my record, I can tell you beyond the shadow of a doubt that I am the highest performing MP this constituency has ever seen.”

“So, you have a choice to make and your choice is not just about a Party choice, it is not just about an MP choice – it is about a choice that will move your opportunity and state of life further along. All want to do is to
help you to realise your dreams; all I want to do is to ensure that through my work you can look back and say ‘Thank God Denis Lowe passed through,’” he told supporters. (TL)

THE impression given by leader of the Barbados Labour Party that the Hilton Barbados could have been sold in three days is off track.

So says Democratic Labour Party candidate for the City of Bridgetown Henderson Williams who was speaking on the platform on Saturday night in Eagle Hall in support of candidate for St. Michael West Michael Carrington.

Williams, who accused the BLP leader of trying to discredit members of the DLP as an tactic to win the Government, gave the example of his salary being placed on a screen in Oistins for all to see. “As though it was a crime to be paid for work.”

He also drew reference to threats that Needhams Point would be picketed because there was an attempt to sell out the Hilton Barbados. “She was supposed to stop this meeting that was supposed to be taking place to sell the Hilton Barbados.” “The meeting was cancelled even before she got up there parading.”

“So the same persons that gave her the information, because of course, what she was talking about is really a shareholders meeting and there are only three shareholders. So one of the shareholders would have obviously leaked the information to her, but that has become the norm in this country.”

“Then she is laying claim to blocking the sale of the Hilton Barbados. If the Government of Barbados was intending [the sale of] the Hilton Barbados in that meeting – what power does Mia Mottley have to stop it?”
“Then she is creating in the minds of regular thinking Barbadians that you can go into a shareholder meeting and in the next three years a country is sold. This is coming from a QC in this country saying this to regular Barbadians.”

Williams said that even a house takes three months to a year for the sale to be fully completed.

“The process to selling an asset like that the first thing is an agreement... in the minds of the shareholders that the property should be sold in the first place. Then when you get the agreement from the shareholders... They are the majority shareholders, but there is a board in place that has responsibility to execute anything in relation to that property, because the board itself has a fiduciary responsibility for the company and directors can be sued in their own right.”

“So the first thing that must happen is that the shareholders must agree that they sell the property. Then the board has to get a resolution from the shareholders with the intention to sell. Under the Companies Act, again the board has the responsibility to ensure the soundness of any transaction in relation to the disposal of an asset. So the Board has to meet, and the board has to be comfortable that the anticipated action is indeed a sound one. If the board determines that the anticipated action is indeed a sound one, then the board has to write to the bank and the bank must have that in writing. You also need to write to the bond holders for permission to sell the asset.”

Williams said that in spite of all of these steps, Mottley is giving the impression that the sale could be completed days before the election. (JH)

THERE are a number of questions still left to be answered by Opposition Leader Mia Mottley, and Finance Minister Chris Sinckler is querying why so many people and institutions, including the church, have gone silent on issues that could have a major impact on Barbadian society.

According to Sinckler, “One of the groups that seems to have fallen asleep in Barbados is the church. You know you can’t hear a peep out of the church. Can you believe that there is a potential for Barbados’ political system and culture and potentially its economy to be corrupted by foreign influences…and you can’t hear a word out of the church,” he queried.

Sinckler said the church leaders appear to have “backed their cloth and are hiding”.

“A major political party in Barbados produces a manifesto, in which they are promising to have referendum on same sex marriage, and you can’t hear a peep out of the church. It is probably the first time in the history of the elections not only in Barbados but across the world where you can’t hear the church.

“Where are the church leaders tonight who preach in the pulpit every Sunday about corruption, and about corrupting influences, and after we spoke on Sunday a week ago, you can’t hear anything out of the church.”

Sinckler even called out Reverend David Durant of Restoration Ministers who was in the crowd to speak out on the issue. “Where is the voice of the church? Have you no opinions, are your tongues tied? Where are you hiding? What guidance are you going to give to Barbadians even as you prepared to go to the polls on Thursday? These are the questions that have to be answered,” Sinckler told the party faithful in Villa Road on Tuesday night.

He said that the questions posed to Mottley with regards to ties to a Nigerian businessman must be answered. “We have our suspicions, but the leader of the Opposition has not answered the question.”

Additionally he stated that the Barbados Chamber of Commerce, the Barbados Private sector Association, the two major Trade Unions and even the Barbados Integrity Movement have been woefully silent.

“This election must be defined by the fact that when put to public scrutiny Mia Amor Mottley, could not ’fess up and speak …to the public of Barbados. If we are going to allow this as the people in the US allowed Trump to get away with every possible thing under the sun, what do you think will happen if she becomes Prime Minister of Barbados? You think you will be able to ask her anything?” he queried.
(JH)

“The lesson to be learned is that sometimes the medicine is bitter like gall, but it is the thing that kills worms”.

Mounting the platform at Villa Road, Brittons Hill on Monday night, Democratic Labour Party’s candidate for Christ Church West Verla Depeiza told those gathered that the austerity measures put in place by the Freundel Stuart administration over the past ten years were necessary to put the country on a path of economic growth.

Urging them to recall the unpopular political decision Former Prime Minister Sir Lloyd Erskine Sandiford made to save this country in the 1990s, she drew a comparison between then and the present, while noting that he was now hailed as a hero to the masses.

“We are in a “medicine moment” in this country and these are not time for “corn beef and biscuits” promises in manifestos. These are times again like the early 1990s for sober and steady steering of the ship. So when you see all of the giveaways in a manifesto, you know they are only courting your ‘x’ but they do not have the best interest of their country at heart,” the attorney-at-law added.

She insisted that this election was one where morality was an issue and persons must save the soul of the country which was “at stake”.

“This is not the time to be voting sentiment. This is not the time to follow family because they are accustomed to doing things in a particular way. This is the election beyond all other elections that happened in this country, where we sit and think and reason and make that intelligent vote for the future of your country,” Depeiza insisted. (JMB)

BARBADOS maintained its proud tradition of representing the best of Barbados at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show 2018 in London, widely considered to be the ‘greatest flower show on earth’, the chosen theme of this year’s Barbados Horticultural Society exhibit is ‘Where Rum Comes From’.

To recreate the island’s natural beauty with a floral representation of a rum still in action, the team travelled with over 70 large shipping boxes, carefully packed with a vast array of colourful blooms and foliage of all hues, shapes, sizes and textures. The magnificent collection includes classic Caribbean favourites such as Heliconias, Anthuriums, Torch Gingers, Bromeliads, Ornamental Pineapples, Banana Flowers and Orchids; fascinating varieties of indigenous Palms, Ferns, Succulents and Sugar Cane.

Having flown overnight last Wednesday, the team immediately set about creating their splendid exhibit on Thursday morning and continued working long hard hours, every day, right up to the deadline for completion on Sunday night, in time for judging during the early hours of Monday morning.

Pride of place amongst the display belongs to a new Tulip Torch Ginger, Etlingera hemispherica ‘Flower Forest’, named after the Flower Forest Botanical Gardens where it was propagated. Officially registered with the Heliconia Society International, it is a hybrid cross-pollination between two torch gingers, the mother being Etlingera hemispherica, the father undetermined. This was the first time that the new flower had ever been seen outside Barbados. Many observers were also intrigued by the rare ‘Wood Roses’ draped along a length of copper tubing, designed to represent the still.

To give authenticity to the exhibit, the team brought with them actual rum barrels, sacks of raw Bajan sugar and cane baskets. And, to add some extra flair, they included three giant cocktail glasses containing rum punch, pina colada and banana daiquiri, all of which fascinated the tens of thousands of people visiting the Barbados stand.

It is difficult for anybody who has never been to the Chelsea Flower Show to fully appreciate just how significant it is to actually win any kind of medal, not just a Gold. This is a competition that attracts the absolute best of the best in the horticultural world and has established the very highest set of standards. To put matters in perspective, if any British company wins a medal at the Chelsea Flower Show, any medal at all, then that achievement is recognised on their company letterheads, business cards and any form of promotional material. In short, winning a medal at Chelsea is regarded as the ultimate accolade.

It is against that background that we should now consider this year’s Gold Medal success of the Barbados Horticultural Society team and its many willing supporters. Quite incredibly, this is the latest in a spectacularly successful record of a total of 19 Gold Medals, 11 Silver-Gilt and one Silver during a remarkable sequence of 31 consecutive years at the Chelsea Flower Show.

One of the significant secondary roles of the BHS exhibit at Chelsea is to promote the importance of tourism to the economy and lifestyle of Barbados, as well as to portray how the amazing beauty of our natural environment is an integral factor in making our island such an attractive place to live or visit. With that goal in mind, the BHS, well supported by the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, Virgin Atlantic and other corporate and individual sponsors, has undoubtedly done an outstanding job of spotlighting Barbados to a massive British and international audience.

The beautiful and striking ‘Barbados – Where Rum Comes From’ display has generated tremendous interest and inspired numerous compliments from the many thousands of people who have visited the stand so far, and the approximately 165,000 who will continue to do so throughout the week. This was particularly evident during Monday’s special Celebrity and Media Day, when Barbados was represented by Sir Michael Stoute, a famed son of the soil who is renowned as one of the world’s most successful thoroughbred racehorse trainers. Other distinguished guests included Christopher Holder of the Maria Holder Memorial Trust and Cheryl Carter of the BTMI.

The working team at Chelsea this year comprises Jenny Weetch, Trevor Inniss, Wayne Ramsey, Jacqui Ferdinand, John Leach, Sally Miller, Julie Alleyne, Trevor Hunte and Peter Whitehouse, with Keith Miller giving support with PR and Media work. In addition, there is a small army of other volunteers, headed up by Shirley Anne Howell, who do diligent work behind the scenes throughout the year. (PR)

Finding and implementing alternative sources of energy generation that are more friendly on our environment will be key to protecting this region for future generations.

This is according to Chairman of CARILEC and the CEO of the Grenada Electricity Services Ltd., Collin Cover, who delivered the Chairman’s Remarks at the Chief Executive Officers and Leadership Conference, held recently at the Hilton Hotel Barbados.

“We in the scientific community have collectively brought us here – where energy production is carbon based, not maliciously, but as we explore new frontiers we sometimes cause unintended consequences, collateral damage – and our dalliance with carbon based energy has certainly brought with it consequences.”

Therefore, Cover stated, it means that this same community must seek out ways in which to reverse this trend.

“And we in the scientific community will have to find a way to reverse what we have wrought on ourselves. We will pursue these through several means. The lowering of our carbon footprint through the use of renewable or non-carbon based energy and energy efficiency.

“Another way we can aid this process is through reforestation. It does not have the sexy ring as GHS reduction, but every little bit helps. However, the main point that I want to make is this: to get us started there will be a need for donor funds and we welcome the Caribbean Climate Smart Decelerator and other donors. But we have to find a way that our processes must make economic sense. They must become sustainable businesses. Failing that, our future is at stake. And when I say ‘our future’, I do not mean the future of the utilities, I mean the future of the Caribbean people.”

The CARILEC Chairman added that this would be imperative in ensuring that our future generations are able to live, work and enjoy the same environment that we do.

“Utilities must provide clean, affordable, reliable and available power to our people to empower the advancement of the Caribbean. I remember two years ago at our conference in the Cayman Islands, it was said that this is not the utility of our grandfathers, and in that two year span, I have come to realise that it is not the utility of our fathers or even our utilities. What I see evolving in front of us is the utility of our children.

“Our job is to find sustainable business models that will preserve our environment and deliver energy to our people. And hence our conference theme, “Leadership in an Age of Disruption – Managing the 3 D’s – Digitalisation, Decarbonisation and Decentralisation”.

BARBADIANS will go to the polls today to choose a government to handle its affairs for the next five years.

In what will be a historic election, over 130 candidates will be vying for seats in the 30-seat Lower House, with the prospect of either a third term for the incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP) under Prime Minister the Right Honorable Freundel Stuart; or the election of the first female Prime Minister, in leader of the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP), Mia Mottley; or the emergence of another political party, either the United Progressive Party (UPP) under Lynette Eastmond, or the Solutions Barbados party under Grenville Phillips. Also in the mix is the Barbados Integrity Movement (BIM), under Neil Holder.

The reality of so many political parties, in addition, to a number of Independent candidates, makes for an unpredictable election. With no public polling available, turnout as usual will determine the result of the election. Which party has convinced its supporters to come out to the polls today?

The poll has come after the most recent session of Parliament expired in early March and will feature some interesting match-ups. Prime Minister Stuart will face an eagerly anticipated contest from first-time challenger Kirk Humphrey in St. Michael South, while Opposition Leader Mia Mottley will face new DLP St. Michael North-East candidate Patrick Todd, who is the former City of Bridgetown M.P., but lost that seat to current BLP incumbent for the City, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Bostic, who faces DLP candidate Henderson Williams. Both Bostic and Williams will have to navigate a crowded field in the City, with UPP Leader Lynette Eastmond contesting the seat after not having success in the St. Phillip West constituency. Independent candidate Natalie Harewood, is also contesting the seat as an Independent.

With the recent Parliament, at start of the previous term in 2013 being split 16-14 between the two main parties (DLP and BLP), the fight for control of the Lower Chamber will be intense. The BLP will be defending a number of seats which it captured in 2013, but still face challenges from the DLP. In addition to the City of Bridgetown seat, St. Michael South East is shaping up to be a titanic battle between incumbent Santia Bradshaw, who won the seat narrowly in 2013, by just ten votes, facing off against former Pinelands Creative Workshop (PCW) head Rodney Grant, who is leading the DLP charge in the competitive seat. Of interest, is the fact that Bradshaw has been supported by former DLP candidate Patrick Tannis, who lost the DLP nomination to Grant. Grant, is being supported by former three-time representative Hamilton Lashley, who defeated Bradshaw’s father, Delisle for the seat. This seat is expected to be a close contest.

BLP incumbent Trevor Prescod is facing a tough battle from new DLP candidate Nicholas Alleyne, who is well-known in the constituency. St. Michael East has been competitive in the last two election cycles and is expected to remain that way.

St. James Central is also competitive with BLP incumbent Kerrie Symmonds facing off with DLP challenger George Connolly, in a seat which has changed hands every election since its creation in 2003. Symmonds has the unique distinction of winning the seat, then losing and then narrowly regaining it. Add UPP’s Wendell Callendar to the mix, in what is a crowded field of six candidates.
St. George South features another huge clash. Considered a bell-weather seat, Incumbent BLP representative Dwight Sutherland will have his hands full fending off former M.P. Dr. Esther Byer-Suckoo. Sutherland bested Suckoo in 2013 and should have a tough fight on his hands.

St. Michael North looks interesting with long-time BLP incumbent Ronald Toppin facing off against DLP first-timer Kim Tudor, plus Maria Phillips of the UPP and Angela Gibbs of Solutions Barbados. The Barbados Labour Party has shown renewed attention in the seat, which could indicate a degree of anxiety.

St. Michael Central looks competitive as usual with DLP incumbent Steve Blackett tackling BLP’s Arthur Holder, while St. Michael West has DLP incumbent Michael Carrington tackling former M.P. Reverend Joseph Atherley and BIM head, Neil Holder among others.

St. Michael South Central has DLP incumbent Richard Sealy facing new BLP Candidate Marsha Caddle, plus former BLP M.P. now UPP candidate David Gill. Gill and Sealy had significant close battles for this seat, so this one bears watching.

Christ Church West will be interesting. With former BLP representative Dr. Maria Agard (now UPP) not in the running, it is effectively a straight fight between BLP candidate William Duguid and former M.P. for the constituency, and DLP candidate Verla DePeiza, who narrowly lost the seat in 2013.

Christ Church South sees DLP incumbent John Boyce facing off with Ralph Thorne of the BLP; in Christ Church East, DLP incumbent Dr. Denis Lowe will once again tackle BLP’s Wilfred Abrahams. BLP Economic Adviser Ryan Straughn will tackle Ronald Jones in Christ Church East Central, with DLP’s Stephen Lashley tackling the BLP’s Adrian Forde.

This is the first election in over 30 years which will not feature a Thompson on the ballot in St. John. With Mara Thompson opting not to run, DLP General Secretary now candidate George Pilgrim will seek to keep the DLP stronghold safe from the challenge of BLP’s Charles Griffith. Former BLP Candidate Hudson Griffith is representing the UPP in the fight, as well as DLP Member now Independent candidate Leroy McClean.

Having retained the St. Michael South East seat, the first order of business will be obtaining jobs for constituents in need, within a wider focus of rebuilding the economy.

Victorious Barbados Labour Party candidate, Santia Bradshaw, revealed the above as she spoke with members of the media on location at the Parkinson Memorial Secondary School in the wee hours of Friday morning, after she was declared the duly chosen representative for the constituency, to serve in the House of Assembly.

When queried as to her first order of business, she remarked, “To get people some jobs, to start to get the economy moving again.”

She meanwhile expressed her confidence that investors will come to the fore and there will eventually be an upward movement, in terms of the economy.

“This victory has demonstrated that people have confidence in a Barbados Labour Party government. Not just the people that are at the bottom, but the people in terms of investors’ confidence and I anticipate that we are going to see an uplift in the Barbados economy, over the course of the next few months,” she stated.

“We have a lot of work to do, but I do believe that we are going to be able to start to make jobs a priority, so people can start to feed themselves, feed their families and become independent once again in this country and in this community,” Bradshaw remarked. (RSM)

This country’s new Prime Minister Mia Mottley is promising to have more open communication with the local media and Barbadians in general.

Speaking to reporters after being sworn in as the country’s eighth Prime Minister in a cer-emony at Government House, PM Mottley revealed her intent to have regular communication, stating that initially such will take place at least twice a month and thereafter as required. So serious are they about having accurate and timely flow of information, Mottley said there will not only be a press secretary to the Prime Minister Office’s, but a person would be appointed in a similar role to assist the Cabinet.

“We recognise that in the absence particularly of an official Opposition, we have an even greater duty to keep the public of Barbados informed at all times and I intend to ensure that is done,” she said.

Meanwhile, the six-time Member of Parliament, who is the country’s first female Prime Minister, while stating that they hope to have the official opening of Parliament in as little as two weeks, stated that there could be a hiccup regarding when the new Parliament will have its first working sitting. While contending that it will be soon, she explained to the media that there is a challenge in that the building was not designed to accommodate one side possessing all of the seats and as such, she said they are working with the Clerk of Parliament, Pedro Eastmond, to remedy the issue.

“There are some logistical issues we have to work out. I don’t think the Parliament of Barbados was ever built to accommodate 30 seats at one side. So that is the very real logistical issue that we have and we have to determine how best we will set it out, recognising that the Clerk has already advised me those are some challenges. But without prejudice to that, we do have urgent business,” she added.

With that in mind, she reiterated their campaign promise that on the first working day of Parliament, the controversial National Social Responsibility Levy will be repealed.

TWO pieces of legislation passed close to the end of the former Democratic Labour Party Government’s term in office, could see further amendments being made to them.

In reference to the Police (Amendment) Act and the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, which the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) had expressed grave concern about, newly elected Prime Minister Mia Mottley said her Government will consult the public on those laws and where necessary, repeal the sections which they find “offensive or repugnant”. She made the comments while being interviewed by media personnel at Government House yesterday afternoon, moments after being sworn in as Prime Minister. The BLP had a convincing win at the polls on Thursday, managing to get a clean sweep of all 30 constituencies, a first for Barbados.

Meanwhile, she added that her new government intends to address immediately and head on, the backlog of criminal cases in the local court system. That is an effort which she said will be led by Attorney General, Dale Marshall. Noting that the figure is as high as 10 000, Prime Minister Mottley maintained to have such a vast number of cases which remain in limbo is unacceptable, and promised to do what is necessary to reform the criminal justice system. Also on the cards, she said, is to establish a commercial court and a family court, which has hybrid jurisdiction.

“That is in fact a tremendous amount of work for the Attorney General, in addition to his normal duties of having to preside over legislation and also to be able to advise. I think that we have a number of contracts that have to be reviewed because of the contingent liabilities to which government is exposed and we need to have clarity as to where we stand,” she added. (JRT)

Given the fact that the Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF) is considered an important programme for the region, an official of the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) believes that more support and funding should be given to ensure the longevity of the programme.

This is the view of CIMH Principal David Farrell, who spoke with The Barbados Advocate on the sidelines of CariCOF, which took place at the Accra Beach Hotel yesterday morning. Farrell disclosed that this year was particularly challenging for them as they did not have a guaranteed source of funding at the beginning of the year. However, he revealed that thankfully, the US Government saw the importance of such a programme, along with the Barbados MET Office, and through them, they were able to receive funding.

“One of the challenges we have is that if CariCOF is viewed as such an important programme in the region, then maybe we need, as a region, to do a bit more or provide a bit more support to CariCOF. Not arguing at this stage that we should absorb all the cost, but we should start to absorb more of a cost-sharing arrangement to ensure that CariCOF does continue, especially if judging from the discussions here that people view CariCOF as providing information to support decision-making that is significant and important for socio-economic activities in the region, especially in the climate sensitive areas,” he said.

Adrian Trotman, who heads the Caribbean Regional Climate Centre and was also the co-ordinator of yesterday’s forum, noted that the forum began on Tuesday, where they trained 22 regional meteorologists in the art of Seasonal Climate Forecasting.

“Now this is different to weather forecasting. Weather forecasting, you will hear what’s happening over the next few hours, maybe the next day or two, but the training here is different to that. We look at what we can provide information on that could last three to six months in advance,” he said.

“So the World Met Organisation has been guiding the globe towards providing more climate information to support decision-making.”

The University of the West Indies (UWI) has officially launched a Gender Policy, which has been developed to formalise the UWI’s commitment to gender justice and establish a modern framework for its implementation.

The launch of this policy, led by the University’s Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS), is intended to act as the framework to inform changes necessary at the various levels of the regional University, towards the promotion of gender justice. Programme features include the introduction of a regional Gender Mainstreaming Committee which will champion gender justice across The UWI and lead initiatives intended to shape positive attitudes towards gender justice throughout the Caribbean.

The Launch Ceremony for The UWI Gender Policy and Forum took place on Tuesday morning at The UWI Regional Headquarters in Mona, Jamaica. Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice Chancellor of the UWI and Professor Eudine Barriteau, Pro
Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UWI, Cave Hill Campus, were amongst the list of speakers endorsing the new Gender Policy. A live stream of the event was viewed on UWItv.

Chairperson Dr. Camille Bell-Hutchinson, Registrar of the UWI’s Mona Campus noted that the launch was indeed historic, as the Gender Policy had been promised for some time.

“While there is still work to be done, the launch of the Gender Policy can be seen as nothing else but historic at the University of the West Indies. This policy is intended to guide the UWI’s actions to mainstream gender across the institution, by ensuring gender equity in all of the university’s practices, policies, procedures and programmes and is expected to be used as a framework to guide the creation of a supportive environment for men and women in all aspects of university life,” Bell-Hutchinson said.

Professor Eudine Barriteau meanwhile noted that the launch of the UWI Gender Policy accentuates the university’s resolve to promote gender justice, as one of its five core values, with the other four being integrity, excellence, diversity and student centredness.

Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, in his remarks, said the Gender Policy will be constantly monitored and reviewed for continued improvement.

“It will not be a static document. It will be an organic document that will be subject to ongoing research and review so that we can take whatever corrective action is required,” Beckles said. (RSM)

A climatologist from the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) has forecasted a relatively cool summer season for the region.

Speaking with The Barbados Advocate yesterday on the sidelines of The Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum, which took place at the Accra Beach hotel yesterday morning, Cedric Van Meerbeeck revealed that from the period of June to August 2018 forecasted a relatively cool summer season.

“Although a number of heatwaves are likely to temporarily increase heat stress in vulnerable sections of the population, except in the Guyanas, rainfall total is expected to be lower than usual or similar to the usual,” he said.

“A number of short dry spells are expected even though it is the dry season, along with fewer wet spells than usual, so that leans towards the dryer side, so the latter may reduce the potential for flooding and associated hazards in Belize and in the islands. Never the less there is a concern for flash flooding from extreme wet spells in any areas.”

Van Meerbeeck highlighted that they did not forecast the activity of the hurricane season, rather they looked at the most credible hurricane season forecasts around the world. He revealed that based on the research, they were finding that most of the credible hurricane forecasters around the world were predicting a near normal season, which suggested that it may be less active than last year.

“This by no means implies that there will not be storms or hurricanes, so the message is and remains, prepare for hurricanes no matter where you are in the island. In Belize, there’s always a possibility for a storm or hurricane to impact you and so our message is be in tuned with your weather forecast, because your National MET Services will tell you when its likely to happen and if it happens how bad is the situation expected to be,” he said.

“For Barbados specifically, it does look like it’ll be slightly dryer but not to the extent of having bad drought, so this is good news so it helps us in the first three months of the wet season to reduce the chances of flooding.”

That said, the climatologist noted that the latter part of the wet season, for a big part of the region, may actually end up being wetter than usual, and it is during the wetter part of the season that the concern for flooding becomes greater from September onwards.

First-time candidate for the BLP and the constituency of St. Peter Colin Jordan was elected to represent his constituency by the people of St. Peter and avid supporters in the early hours of this morning. This occurred much later than expected due to unforseen circumstances which saw a delay in one of the ballot boxes reaching its final destination.

The Returning Officer Roger Small made the winner’s declaration and a delighted Colin, who understandably was overjoyed but remained as he later stated, “cool, calm and collected” enough to thank his wife, family and people of St. Peter for all that they had done in assisting him in his pursuit of victory.

Much like the fanfare that surrounded him during the nomination process, his followers danced, cheered and congratulated him with glee, creating an unforgettably joyous and at times humorous atmosphere in the auditorium of the Coleridge and
Parry Primary School in St. Peter.

Jordan himself a product of St. Peter and a resident of Rose Hill will be following along the path of former Prime Minister Owen Arthur, who previously also represented the Parish of St. Peter and who was also leader of the BLP from 2010 – 2013.

Jordan won by an admirable amount of votes after his party’s landslide victory was already established. In fact, his votes were still being counted when former Prime Minister Freundel Stuart spoke with the media, followed shortly afterwards by the first words of Barbados’ new Prime Minister-elect Mia Amor Mottley.

The final tally saw Jordan win 4632 of the 5692 votes, with the DLP’s Dave Cumberbatch coming nowhere close with only 911 votes and Barbados Integrity movement’s Lynroy Scantlebury trailing even further behind with a paltry 139 votes. There were ten rejected ballots.

In terms of the victory Jordan said he was “very, very thankful” firstly to his family and then to the people of St. Peter; crediting his confidence as being instilled in him by his team, from his parents and his late sister.

He stated that his pledge was to serve them to the “best of his ability”.

When speaking with the media in reference to the overwhelming majority of votes secured by the BLP he showed concern that the situation would “present challenges” especially since all the seats in parliament would belong to the BLP with no opposition party present, but he was eager to clarify that everybody’s views would still be heard, repected, and taken into consideration.

His confidence in Mia is abundantly clear, and he assured those present that she is a “communicator” and somebody who loves to talk and speaks to the people, engaging with them and proving that democracy is alive and well in Barbados and that he believes “we have come along way” and can move forward as a country with our new found maturity and without an official opposition.

The Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) failure to pick up any seats in Thursday’s General Election indicates clearly its need to clean house.

“I would advise the DLP to jettison every single one of those candidates and indeed the majority of those supporting acts and the people who have supported them in terms of the administration and they should start to look for and vet 30 new candidates within the constituency branches as soon as possible,” advised Political Scientist and Pollster Peter Wickham.

Noting the party had to do some soul searching at this time, he insisted that to gain the confidence of Barbadians once more, a shake-up in the political organisation, including its policies and procedures, would be critical going forward.

“This nonsense about the Executive choosing people is a relic of an era long since passed. Try and rebuild the General Council under new leadership and ensure that in five years time, the DLP that is currently comprised has nothing to do with the DLP of the future, that they have a new party that is built on the vision of Errol Barrow and that they could face the party without any type of baggage,” he told The Barbados Advocate.

Wickham opined that if this did not occur, the party would risk once again failing to secure seats in the next election.

“If they decide to go back to the polls with the same people or the majority of these same people here they will face the same problem, because this is no garden variety defeat. This is a defeat of proportions that suggests that the people are finished with the DLP in its current composition in any shape or form. So a remake, a complete refashion, a rebranding, new leadership, and new candidates is the way I feel the DLP should go,” Wickham said.

Barbadians in the coming months will have a chance to experience first-hand Argentine culture when the Argentina Embassy in Barbados stages a number of events.

Speaking at Friday’s Cocktail Reception to celebrate Argentina’s National Day, Ambassador of Argentina to Barbados, Gustavo Martínez Pandiani told the gathering that this year Barbados and Argentina are celebrating “half a century of diplomatic relations”. To commemorate this occurrence, the Embassy has organised a programme of activities which will take place under the theme, ‘Celebrating Our Friendship, Sharing Our Culture’.

Pandiani told attendees at his official residence in Christ Church that the “beautiful programme to celebrate our 50 years as friends symbolises our closeness and also represents the way we conceive diplomacy.”

He stated that the first activity will be an Argentine Film Festival. Three Argentine movies will be shown during this at the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.

He further said that during the coming months, Barbadians will witness history when an Argentine reggae singer for the first time performs during the annual Crop Over Festival. He said the artiste will be performing at “Pan Fusion at the Prime Minister’s residence and then at Pan Pun De Sand at Brandon’s Beach from July 14th and 15th respectively.”

Also during the Crop Over Festival on August 4th and 5th, the Embassy together with the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) will have a tango show featuring professional dancers from Buenos Aires. Additionally, during Bridgetown Market the Embassy will have a stand and will offering the best wines from Argentina.

Other events to be rolled out include on August 10th and 11th the performance of a play by an Argentine playwright at the Frank Collymore.

A series of training seminars for the performing arts community of Barbados will also be staged during this period at Queen’s Park.

Then, between September 16th and September 22nd the Embassy will have a photography and visual arts exhibit.

PRIME MINISTER the Hon Mia Mottley unveiled a Cabinet yesterday, which has increased significantly in size with the introduction of a number of newly formed ministries.

In a media statement in the Cabinet Office of Government Headquarters, Mottley announced the makeup of the soon-to-be installed Cabinet of ministers, parliamentary secretaries and government senators and addressed the increased size.

“The Cabinet of Ministers will be relatively large because I have not only considered the mandate given to us by the people, but also the scope of the work to be done and the level of expertise that is at our disposal among elected members.

“Given the dire state of our economy and the tremendous work that will be involved in rescuing and rebuilding this country, the salaries of a few extra ministers is relatively insignificant, given that there will be tremendous savings from the containment of wastage and the curtailing of corruption in my Cabinet.”

Mottley, who has taken the position of Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs and Investment, assured that her Ministers will be held to very high standards efficiency and productivity. “I have therefore opted to share the workload across a significant proportion of the parliamentary group rather than conform to the theory of a small Cabinet, thus creating an unrealistic setting for members to function effectively and to produce in this prevailing environment.”

Appointments announced include Arthur Holder, who will be named Speaker of the Lower House; Leader of Government Business Santia Bradshaw in the Lower House; Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Senator Dr Jerome Walcott; Proposed President of the Senate is Sir Richard “Johnny” Cheltenham and Deputy President Rudolph “Cappy” Greenidge.” Chief Economic Counsellor to the Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment, Ambassador Dr. Clyde Mascoll and Ambassador at Large and plenipotentiary Dame Billie Miller. Mottley revealed that Ambassadors Mascoll and Dame Billie Miller will attend meetings of Cabinet as required, “Given the difficulties facing our country to get out of this perilous economic situation.”

Noting that the traditional “bedrock portfolios” still remain, she explained that her Government also looked to embrace new concepts and opportunities.

Barbados will for the first time see a Ministry of Health and Wellness; Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs; Ministry of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology; Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Public Affairs; Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy; Ministry of the Creative Economy; Ministry of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology; and Ministry of Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Commerce. There is also now a Ministry of Environment and National Beautification; Ministry of Labour and Social Partnership Relations; and Maintenance has been added to the Ministry of Transport and Works portfolio. The Ministry of Home Affairs will stand alone and will have responsibility for the Royal Barbados Police Force.

“These are all vital components of the new multifaceted government and economy we are seeking to create, all of which were outlined very clearly in our manifesto.”
Mottley pointed that notwithstanding the nature of the composition of the Lower House of Parliament, the Constitution requires that there be three members of the Senate appointed to the Cabinet. “We shall comply with the Constitution,” she said.

The Prime Minister offered an invitation to members of the public to come to the Bay Street, St. Michael today at 4 pm to witness Governor General, Dame Sandra Mason administer the Oaths to the new members of Cabinet. Traffic restrictions will be in place. (JH)

New BLP Cabinet

• Prime Minister Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment – Mia Mottley
• Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs - Dale Marshall
• Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training and Leader of Government Business – Santia Bradshaw
• Minister of Housing, Lands and Rural Development – George Payne
• Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Leader of Government Business in the Senate – Senator Dr Jerome Walcott
• Minister of International Business and Industry – Ronald Toppin
• Minister of Environment and National Beautification – Trevor Prescod
• Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs – Cynthia Forde
• Minister of Tourism and International Transport – Kerrie Symmonds
• Minister of Transport Works and Maintenance – Dr William Duguid
• Minister of Health and Wellness – Jeffrey Bostic
• Minister of Home Affairs – Edmund Hinkson
• Minister of Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Commerce – Dwight Sutherland
• Minister of Energy and Water Resources – Wilfred Abrahams
• Minister in the Ministry of Finance – Ryan Straughn
• Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment – Marsha Caddle
• Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Trade – Sandra Husbands
• Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations – Colin Jordan
• Minister in the Ministry of Housing, Lands and Rural Development – Charles Griffith
• Minister of Youth and Community Empowerment – Adrian Forde
• Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy – Kirk Humphrey
• Minister of Agriculture and Food Security – Indar Weir
• Minister in the Ministry of Transport Works and Maintenance – Peter Phillips
• Minister of the Creative Economy, Culture and Sports – John King
• Minister of Innovation, Science and Smart Technology – Senator Kay McConney
• Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Public Affairs – Senator Lucille Moe
• Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training Senator Dr. Romel Springer
• Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Neil Rowe.
• Chief Economic Counsellor to the Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment Ambassador Dr. Clyde Mascoll
• Ambassador at Large and plenipotentiary Dame Billie Miller
 
At the first sitting of parliament Leader of Government Business will nominate the following persons: Speaker of the House of Assembly Arthur Holder; Deputy Speaker Gline Clarke; and Chairman of Committees- Dr. Sonia Browne.
 Leader of Government Business will propose that: Sir Richard Cheltenham will be nominated as President of the Senate; and Rudolf “Cappy” Greenidge- Deputy President of the Senate
 Other Senators will include Dr. Jerome Walcott; Kay McConney; Lucille Moe; Rawdon Adams; Lisa Cummins; Senator Dr. Rommel Springer; Rudy Grant; Lynette Holder; Damian Sands; Senator Dr. Crystal Haynes.
 Pat Parris will be appointed Director of Public Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister and Jessica Odle-Baril will be
appointed personal aide as of Monday.

PRIME Minister of Barbados, the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, is being urged to look to God for guidance, and remain humble, as she takes over the leadership of the nation.

This advice came from Rector of the St. George Parish Church, the Reverend John Rogers, as he delivered yesterday’s sermon, which was celebrated as Trinity Sunday in the church. He commended Prime Minister Mottley for making history in becoming the first female Prime Minister of the land.

“I wish to commend her as the first female Prime Minister of Barbados, and the new leader of Barbados with such a large mandate. We are human and all of us are prone to the vagaries of human existence, and it will be important to maintain the humility with which she conducted the campaign, in which she promised the people that they will conduct their affairs.

“Now, you are dealing with human agents and they will not get everything right, but I appeal to the public to give our Government the chance to do their work so that they may carry out God’s work in this part of the vineyard,” he said.

Father Rogers said Barbados has for many years benefited from the fact that there has always been a peaceful transition of power, something which does not happen in other places.

“This is something that we must never lose sight of and never lose hold of. The Lord has been the people’s guide and we will continue to conduct our affairs in peace and when it is necessary to make changes we will make to maintain civility in the society,” he said.

The Reverend said while yesterday was observed as Trinity Sunday, it was coincidental that there is a change in governance, since the vision of Isaiah in the temple was a time of political change in Israel.

“One of the things we noticed about that period is that Isaiah was pushing them not to focus so much on the civil or political solutions, but to focus on God. So it is in that era that we get what is known as the Emmanuel prophecy from Isaiah Chapter 7 and Verse 14…

“It is really a message for us in this time, as we face a transition in government to, as a Church, pray for our leaders. And as Christians, we must continue to offer the guidance necessary so that all things will be premised upon the work of the Holy Trinity,” he said.

Father Rogers noted that the message of the Holy Trinity transcends the time and speaks to us in our time about how we are to rely upon God for guidance. He said the economic situation which Barbadians are hoping to be simply solved by human elements, can only be solved by God since they were caused by greed and hatred. (AH)

The Government of Barbados has pledged to uphold the highest standards of accountability, transparency, fairness, discipline and unity.

Prime Minister the Hon. Mia Mottley, Q.C., gave this assurance to the people of this country yesterday evening, during the swearing in of the new Cabinet under the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Administration, just three days after the historic election win.

Governor General, Dame Sandra Mason, administered the Oath of Office to the 24 Ministers and two Parliamentary Secretaries in a public ceremony at the Bay Street Esplanade, which also saw in attendance Prime Minister of Grenada Dr. the Hon. Keith Mitchell; Prime Minister of St. Lucia, the Hon. Allen Chastanet; Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. the Hon Ralph Gonsalves; and Deputy Prime Minister of St. Kitts, the Hon. Shawn Richards.

According to Ms. Mottley, the composition of the Cabinet reflects a careful balance between experience and youth.

“Its size, as I have indicated previously and upfront, responds directly to the enormity of the task we face in rebuilding Barbados and the urgency with which the Cabinet must now act in leading the national response to and the prompt resolution of, the mission critical issues outlined in our manifesto. Since its publication, three more matters have been added to it, leading to 20 mission critical matters that require our urgent attention in the days and weeks ahead,” the PM stated.

“There will be deadlines for action and constant follow up and revaluation and I have made it clear and do so again, that I will be holding the Ministers of the Crown of Barbados to the highest standards of efficiency and productivity. The people of Barbados will accept nothing less, neither will I,” she stressed.

The Prime Minister also shared that all Cabinet Ministers and all Members of Parliament will subscribe to a Code of Ethics that will guide them in the performance of their duties and pending the enactment of the Integrity Legislation and the establishment of an Integrity Commission, all Ministers will submit a declaration of their assets to be held in confidence by the Cabinet Secretary until the establishment of the Integrity Commission.

“We do not and will not subscribe to the notion of government by stealth as we declared in our Covenant of Hope, ‘You shall always have the confidence of knowing how we as a government will take decisions and how we will act in your name.’ No ministers will be signing important deals or contracts on your behalf, behind your back or behind indeed the back of Cabinet, or without the mandatory advice or opinion of the relevant public service professionals and legal professionals. That is not how a responsible government behaves,” she insisted.

“In all things we pledge to act diligently and responsibly and to make decisions not on the basis of people’s wants, but first and foremost on the basis of the needs of our people… Let’s be real, sometimes we will make mistakes, sometimes we will need to change course, but when this happens I give you the assurance that we will always level with you,” she also pointed out.

Ready and raring to get to work, Prime Minister Mottley further revealed that this morning, her Administration will meet with the Social Partnership, while in the afternoon they will meet to discuss the issues of debt and foreign reserves.

Just hours after winning all 30 seats in the May 24, General Election, the Governor General administered the Oath of Office to Prime Minister Mottley, who will also take up the portfolio of Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs and Investment, as well as to Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Dale Marshall at Government House. (TL)