As the new Government of Barbados seeks to start work officially this morning, the Barbados Road Safety Association (BRSA) is urging it not to put road safety on the backburner.
Speaking to The Barbados Advocate over the weekend, President of the BRSA, Sharmane Roland-Bowen, in congratulating the Barbados Labour Party on its unprecedented victory, pledged its support to assist the new government in efforts to keep all road users safe, as she said she looks forward to meeting with the new Minister of Transport, Works and Maintenance, Dr. William Duguid, as well as the Minister in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Maintenance, Peter Phillips, as soon as possible. Her comments came against the backdrop of six road deaths last week, which brought the total for the year to 15.

“While the majority of Barbadians are celebrating victory, six families are experiencing grief from mourning the loss of their loved ones through accidents that could have been avoided. The welcoming mat for the new BLP government is not good; it is welcoming them to the stark reality of what is existing out there on our roads – too many lives being lost. This is only the fifth month of the year and already we have lost more than half the lives which were cut short last year and we have not even entered the Crop Over season yet, which is a time of the year where persons utilise the roads more frequently,” she lamented.

Reflecting then on the road deaths to date and those recorded over the last few years, Roland-Bowen feels strongly that road safety needs to be one of the priorities for the new administration.

Noting that the legislation to deal with road safety is already in place, with the passage of the Road Safety (Amendment) Act by the previous government last November, she is calling on the new government to enforce the provisions of that law, in particular, she said, the section which speaks to drink driving and breathalyser testing.

The road safety advocate says that steps need to be taken as soon as possible to ensure the preparatory work is done regarding the acquisition of equipment and training of police officers, to have that aspect of the Act functional. That, she maintained, is one of the key measures required in Barbados to assist this country playing its part in meeting the primary target of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety, which is to stabilise and reduce the number of road deaths around the world by 2020.

“We would like this new administration to make this a priority, because the same people they fought for at the polls, for their lives and their betterment, are the same people using our roads. Nothing is more important than life and road fatalities are preventable with law, enforcement and education,” she added.

The sixth deaths over the last week have also prompted the BRSA president to appeal for greater caution and care on our roads. As she expressed condolences to the families, Roland-Bowen made an impassioned plea for all road users to do their part to keep our roads safe. She also reiterated a call made earlier this year for passengers in vehicles to play their part, while noting that a number of those who have died on our roads so far for the year, have been passengers.

LEADER of the United Progressive Party, Lynette Eastmond, maintains that the instrument is already contained in the Constitution to allow the Governor General of Barbados to carry out her functions, in the absence of a leader of the Opposition, to fill the two vacant spots in the Senate.
In a press statement Eastmond, whose first-time party also suffered a crushing defeat at the polls, noted that following the May 24 elections, all 30 seats were returned for the BLP and there is therefore no official Opposition, leaving the office of the Leader of the Opposition incapable of being filled.

According to Eastmond, “Section 75 (a & b) of the Constitution deals with this eventuality. During any period in which there is a vacancy in the office of Leader of the Opposition, the Governor General is required to act in her discretion, in the exercise of any function in respect of which it is provided in the Constitution that the Governor-General must act in accordance with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition.

“Further, in circumstances where the Governor General is required to act on the recommendation of the Prime Minister after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition, the Governor-General will act on the recommendation of the Prime Minister alone,” it was explained.

Eastmond added, “Section 36 of the Constitution provides that the Senate must consist of twenty-one qualified persons. The Governor General must appoint 12 of these Senators acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister. Two Senators are to be appointed by the Governor-General, acting in accordance with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition.

“Seven Senators are to be appointed by the Governor General, acting in her discretion, to represent religious, economic or social interests or such other interests as the Governor-General considers ought to be represented, after consultation with stakeholders she deems relevant to her decision.

“Reading sections 36 and 75 together, it is therefore the case that the Constitution empowers the Governor General to use her own discretion to appoint the two Senators who would normally have been appointed in accordance with the advice of the Leader of the Opposition,” Eastmond contended.

Over the weekend, Prime Minister Mottley said that the need for an urgent amendment of the Constitution to allow the Opposition Political Party securing the highest number of votes to recommend two appointments to the Senate was discussed with Her Excellency Dame Sandra Mason.

“Because we believe even though there has been no official leader of the Opposition, my government would wish to have accommodated the views of the main Opposition party that secured the largest amount of votes. In this instance we are effectively speaking about the DLP,” she stated.

“It is only fair to the country that therefore those amendments be made to be able to secure their voice rather than to have them absent from the Parliament of Barbados,” the PM further pointed out.

Prime Minister Mottley explained that in the event that they fail to respond positively to the Governor General, Her Excellency will appoint two senators acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister. This, Mottley said would take place after she as Prime Minister has consulted with organisations and interests which are believed to be important to be reflected in the Senate. “So that the amendment will therefore speak to both of those issues,” she said.

The new Government considers the oil and gas sector to be important and is intent on putting measures in place to assist that sector in reaching its fullest potential.

That’s according to Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who revealed that her government will have to review contracts which were signed under the former government to advance the sector. She was speaking to the media last Friday after being sworn in, as she said that her Government intends to put emphasis on the country’s maritime jurisdiction. That intent was evident in the announcement over the weekend that there will be a Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, to be headed by parliamentary representative for St. Michael South, Kirk Humphrey.

“Many of you would recall that when I was previously Attorney General we would have done the arbitration with Trinidad and Tobago and secured 99 per cent of what we had been arguing for, for 30 years. So the oil and gas sector is one that we consider to be important. The government previously had said that it had signed contracts with Repsol and BHP Billiton, we have to review those files and see where we go from here,” she stated.
Mottley was referring to the licences that had been awarded between 2015 and 2016 for offshore blocks – two to the Australian-based mining company BHP Billiton and one to the Madrid-based energy company Repsol S.A by the previous administration. The intention was to find petroleum resources in the country’s territorial waters and develop the offshore petroleum sector.

Her comments came as she said that emphasis was also going to be placed on freedom of information and integrity in government. She told reporters that high on their agenda is getting the Integrity Commission Bill passed. She said this is a major priority for her new administration and they intend to lay that Bill in Parliament on the first working of the Parliament.

“The freedom of information will come. I have made the point that we will have regular communication and that is going to affect our approach generally to the public’s right to information and to a different form of citizen engagement especially in a digital world,” she added. (JRT)

FORMER Prime Minister of Barbados, the Rt. Hon. Freundel Stuart, made his way to the St. Paul’s Anglican Church on Sunday morning, where a thanksgiving service was held for the St. Paul’s Fiesta, which was successfully staged at the end of last month.

Stuart, who with all candidates of the Democratic Labour Party suffered a crushing defeat at the polls by the electorate in the early hours of Friday morning, appeared to be in good spirits and was warmly received by the congregation and Reverend Erma Rose, who wished him well in his future endeavours. The former Prime Minister was named an honorary member of the church.

He was also well received by congregants after the service.

Hypertension, if not addressed in a timely fashion, can have a significant economic and social impact.

Dr. C. James Hospedales, Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), therefore believes that combined and co-ordinated efforts at local, national, regional and global levels are needed to increase awareness of the dangers of high blood pressure and address the risk factors associated with this silent killer.

“This disease may go undetected, so getting checked every year is important, so that you are not at risk for complications. In the Caribbean, most people with ‘pressure’ already know it, so equally important is for someone diagnosed to take it seriously and stay on their preventive treatment and lifestyle plan,” he urged.

Dr. Hospedales also observed that although the prevalence of hypertension usually rises with age, the disease is preventable and treatable.

“The factors which contribute to hypertension are like those of the other major chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as obesity and diabetes. These factors include unhealthy diet, high salt intake, obesity, inadequate physical activity and excessive use of alcohol.

“It is important to note that the higher your blood pressure, the more work your heart does. Check your blood pressure numbers regularly to be assured of good health. If you have been diagnosed with hypertension, it’s important to stay on the treatment prescribed by your doctor or health provider, especially if you have other risks like diabetes, high cholesterol, or are a smoker,” CARPHA recommends.

Former Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate for St. John and Party General Secretary, George Pilgrim, was at the Mount Tabor Church, in St. John on Sunday with colleagues.

He gave thanks during that occasion, also using it to congratulate the new MP for the constituency, Charles Griffith. He also pledged his support for the new MP, with a focus on developing the people of St. John.

The General Secretary indicated the party was looking to the future.

THE Barbados Labour Party’s manifesto pledge to abolish Road Tax and replace it with a smaller tax on fuel, is getting support from the Barbados Road Safety Association (BRSA).

Speaking to The Barbados Advocate recently, President of the BRSA, Sharmane Roland-Bowen, described the move as one that had the potential to assist in making the nation’s roads safer. Roland-Bowen suggested that the fuel tax could cause persons to think twice before using the road unnecessarily, and possibly reduce some of the traffic congestion currently being experienced as well as environmental pollution. She is also suggesting that fewer vehicles on the roads could also lead to less aggressive driving and by extension, a reduction in accidents.

“If the intention is that the more you drive, the more you pay; then we can see the benefits. There are some persons, especially our seniors who may own vehicles but do not use them every day, perhaps only for going to church, to go to the supermarket and run a few errands. Therefore, removing the Road Tax would ease them of that burden and so we see it as a fairer tax. There are drivers who use the roads less and pay the highest amount of road tax for private vehicles, while in some instances the ones who use the roads more and contribute to more wear and tear, congestion and pollution pay the same, and in many instances less,” she said.

The BRSA head added, “This new system if implemented as promised, will allow drivers to pay this tax on an instalment basis, something that is now done in a lump sum with persons finding it difficult, especially in these times to do, leading to unlicensed vehicles on our roads. This will put an end to that problem. It allows drivers control over the amount of tax they pay, by controlling the amount of miles they travel.”

Roland-Bowen further stated that she hoped that in removing the Road Tax and placing the tax on the fuel, that a major part of the funds collected will actually be used for road maintenance, to make our roads better and safer and to promote road safety through such things as lighting, de-bushing, proper road markings and pedestrian crossings.

Roland-Bowen is however advising the new government that if it does follow through with the proposal to abolish Road Tax, that it comes up with a plan to ensure that the owners of vehicles pay their insurance as required by law. Her comments came while she noted that the Road Tax system has helped to ensure insurance compliance, as a valid insurance certificate is required to pay Road Tax. She is suggesting that insurance companies may have to issue a document similar to current Road Tax disc which drivers can attach to their windshields to prove their insurance is up to date.

The BRSA made the remarks while noting that as it stands there are still too many people who do not have motor insurance driving on our roads. In such cases she explained, if they are involved in an accident and are at fault, the only course of action for the aggrieved party is the court of law.

“So it is the BRSA’s belief that there needs to be collaboration between government and the insurance sector to determine how best to address that issue so as to benefit all road users,” she stated. (JRT)

THE Barbados Public Workers’ Co-operative Credit Union Limited (BPWCCUL) has been working to enhance the delivery of service to its customers, to ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction and most importantly, to meet members’ needs.

Michelle Ashby, Branch Operations Manager with the Barbados Public Workers’ Co-operative Credit Union Limited on Belmont Road, St. Michael, acknowledged the above as she spoke with The Barbados Advocate yesterday, as the credit union, which has over 80 000 members and assets in excess of $1 billion, celebrated Member Appreciation Day.

“Our main focus is maintaining the personalised service that we are known for. We have a vast variety of products and services, but it is now to ensure that our delivery is supreme, is superior in terms of convenience and how we interact with our members and how we go about finding out what it is that they need and meeting those needs,” she commented.

Acknowledging that the last few years have been somewhat difficult for some credit unions’ members who would have lost their jobs or would have been struggling financially due to the state of the economy, Ashby stressed that the BPWCCUL has gone above and beyond to try to work alongside its members for the best outcomes and this has seen many more persons turning to the credit union for assistance, leading to an even stronger membership base.

“Even though there would have been challenges in the economy and such like, still we’ve been able to expand and still we have been able to grow our membership base and I think that is basically because we work along with our members,” Ashby acknowledged.

“Take for instance the fact that people would have been retrenched, they lost their jobs and such like, (but in such cases), we don’t seek to go after you, that is not our first option. What we do is have you come in and talk to us. You explain to us the challenges that you are facing and we try to come up with a plan with you, so that you would be able to bridge that gap,” she further explained.

“We have a Financial Education Unit which helps persons. We offer a Micro Business Loan as well. That was designed specifically to meet the need, when we saw some of our members being laid off. Then we came up with a loan product, so if you are say a small business person, or you decide you want to establish a business, now that is a way for you to earn an income, instead of just sitting at home doing nothing,” Ashby said of the credit union’s efforts to work with its customers, enhance its range of services and ensure members are able to thrive.

She meanwhile stressed, “Our main focus in terms of growing, is to continue to reach out to our membership base and try to meet their needs and to do so in a very personal, humane manner.” (RSM)

Prime Minister the Hon. Mia Mottley will be recommend-ing to her Cabinet that they continue to give the 10 per cent salary restored by the previous administration to charity.

The docking of salaries, which was part of the then Freundel Stuart led-government’s deficit reduction plan, was restored in 2016, however the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Parliamentary representa-tives refused to accept given the state of the economy and public servants cries for a salary increase.

“One of the first items of my Cabinet’s meeting – and we will have two this week, the first one on Tuesday – will be to ask this BLP Team 2018 to continue to share in the sacrifices being made by our public servants and other sectors of this society.”

Prime Minister Mottley made this disclosure during the Swearing-in Ceremony for Members of Cabinet and Parliamentary Secretaries at the Bay Street Esplanade, on Sunday evening. “For the last year, as a matter of principle, these men and women joined with me, as BLP Parliamentary representatives, and declined to accept the 10 percent pay which the previous government took back by legislation. We took a decision to have our backpay and our continuous 10 percent monthly pay go to charitable organisations, such as the Salvation Army, Diabetes Foundation of Barbados, and a number of other entities on one simple principle, that we will not accept it until the public servants of Barbados, issues relating to terms and conditions, are appropriately resolved in this country.”

“Consequently, I shall similarly recommend to my colleagues a continued commitment that the 10 percent will not be accepted until the public servants of Barbados receive their due,” Mottley said. (TL)

A prominent religious leader has urged the new Cabinet Ministers to live and serve with humility.

Delivering the sermon during the Swearing-in Ceremony at the Bay Street Esplanade on Sunday evening, Head of the Barbados District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the West Indies, Bishop Gerry Seale encouraged the newly elected government to remain humble as they carry out the very important job.

“You have people that are going to go when you say go, and come when you say come, and stand when you say stand, and get out when you say get out. Don’t let it go to your head. Remain humble, when you become puffed up with pride you, we will take care of you.”

He called on them to also live and serve with integrity, warning “If you have come for a piece of the fatted calf, may I suggest that you are at the wrong table. If you have come to feather your nest, may I suggest you are plucking the wrong chicken.”

“I promise you that if that is what you are doing, I will pray as I have done in the past with many others across this country, that God will expose you, strip you and bring you down,” he stressed, making reference to Isaiah 61:8 “For I, the Lord, Love Justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing.”

He said that above all, the new Ministers need to be men and women with understanding “And we are going to be praying for you along these lines. We are going to be lifting you up to God and we are going to be asking God to give you wisdom and understanding because these are difficult days. This 21st century is unlike any century that has gone before. What worked in the 20th century was good for the 20th century, this is the 21st, you need wisdom, you need understanding and you need discipline.”

The Bishop Seale also urged the Mia Mottley-led Administration to live to serve, reminding them that they have been called to serve, not to “Lord it over us”.

Moreover, he believes that those who haven’t already, should build a relationship with God.

“I do not care which church you belong to, but I urge you if you do not have a relationship with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that you will enter into such a relationship because you will need his help as the months and years unfold in the task that you have just been assigned. And I urge you to reach out to him and let him be your guide, let him be your saviour and let him be your Lord,” Bishop Seale insisted. (TL)

Several girls at the tertiary level of education stepped up their technology skills and knowledge during the recent Barbados leg of the Caribbean Hackathon which was described as a success by an Information & Communications Technology (ICT) expert.

The Hackathon which attracted about 60 female students from the island’s secondary and tertiary institutions was among thousands of events held worldwide to mark ‘Girls in ICT Day’ which aims to create a global environment that encourages, educates and empowers girls to pursue studies in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and ultimately launch their careers in ICT.

The event was held at the Cave Hill School of Business under the theme #SafeGirlsSafeFuture and the participants, working in teams, were challenged to address issues of safety in the home, on the street, in relationships and online with ICT solutions. Mentors were on hand to assist the teams.

One of the event’s judges, Director of Data and Corporate Centre Technology at CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank, Trevor Wood said that in only a few short hours, the participants devised a variety of creative solutions which featured chats, websites, mobile applications and even a short film.

Wood who described it as “an absolute privilege to be invited to judge,” noted that the event was meant to reduce any apprehension that girls might have toward ICT and to empower them to use technology meaningfully.

“Although the Hackathon was clearly successful in allowing the girls to develop and express these capabilities, I believe its success lies beyond that. The teams presented passionately, and many of them mentioned that they would continue work on their projects even after the competition. That the girls left the Hackathon with the skill, will and enthusiasm to develop impactful ICT solutions might be the greatest measure of the event’s success,” he said.

He added that he enjoyed watching the teams have fun, and it was heartening to see the commitment and ingenuity they displayed in attempting to solve difficult social problems.

“I am excited about the new generation of tech-savvy, Caribbean problem-solvers, and I would welcome opportunities to assist with other events of this kind in the future,” he added.

Stressing the importance of participating in the Hackathon, of which CIBC FirstCaribbean was a sponsor, he said it signalled to girls that there is room for them in ICT and that ICT did not mean fixing computers, but rather it comprised a spectrum of professional activities.

Wood added that even in his student days, women were underrepresented as students and workers in IT but to create the country’s future, it was important to encourage them, starting when they are young, by making sure they don’t feel intimidated but rather at home in the IT field.

At the start of the Hackathon, participants received inspiring words from Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Development, Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner and Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Cave Hill Campus, Professor Eudine Barriteau, both of whom were featured speakers.

It was the second “Girls in ICT Day” Caribbean Hackathon and was staged by SheLeadsIT and Change Makers Development Ltd.

In promoting the event, Bridget Lewis, Co-Founder of SheLeadsIT said, “To produce a versatile Caribbean workforce capable of navigating the ongoing digital revolution, we must get more women involved. Adding that in the next ten years, 80 per cent of jobs will require a blend of STEM she said, “We believe it is critical to engage women earlier in the pipeline to bridge the digital gender divide.”

Garbage collection was first on the agenda for new Minister of Environment and National Beautification, Trevor Prescod, as he met with officials from the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) on Monday afternoon.

Prescod explained that the meeting was necessary as issues related to garbage collection were on the Mission Critical List which outlines priority issues to be tackled by Government. “The collection of garbage is a critical issue to be addressed. It is the most urgent of urgent and this is the first department I stopped at,” he said at the onset of the meeting.

The new Minister was updated by Acting General Manager of the SSA, Rosalind Knight and Acting Deputy Manager of Operations, Shawn Phillips, on the operations of the SSA and the current situation as it related to garbage collection, disposal and landfilling.

He was also apprised of systems in place to purchase new trucks for the SSA and challenges currently being experienced.

Following the meeting, the Minister said he was in a better position to report back to Cabinet on the status of the SSA and work towards paving a way forward.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification, Daphne Kellman, other Ministry and SSA officials also attended the meeting.

The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) has serious introspection to do, and a former Member of Parliament is suggesting that the quicker the Party does so, the better.

Retired Member of Parliament, Hamilton Lashley, as he suggested that the DLP was lacking some energy in the recently concluded campaign and that a number of mistakes were made, maintained that for the DLP to rebound it has to tap into new talent to ensure that it remains relevant. He made the point during a press conference yesterday at the Marcus Garvey Resource and Development Centre, while contending that with careful and strategic planning the Party can rebound immediately.

“But it cannot be what I call an inside job. The Democratic Labour Party now has to look externally, in collaboration with all of civil society, the collaboration with the business sector, the collaboration with the youth organisations, the collaboration with community-based groups, the Democratic Labour Party could be an energised force again. But if it is an inside job, then of course it will languish and fade into the wilderness,” he said.

Lashley said it would require the Party to have a new thinking and a new method of operations. He said there needs to be cleansing and purging within the Party. According to him, the time has come for many of the old traditional thinkers and die-hard ways of doing things to be revolutionised. Lashley is not suggesting that the Party should discard their elders, but rather develop a council of elders that can help to guide the Party forward.

Moreover, he added that the DLP should see their defeat as a blessing in disguise – to get back to its roots, rebuild and come back better than ever. He made the point while weighing in on the offer for the DLP to take up the two Opposition seats in the Senate. Despite their failure to secure seats in the House of Assembly, Lashley is of the firm belief that the DLP should take up the offer and he is suggesting that the ideal candidates for the posts are Rodney Grant and Henderson Williams, who contested the St. Michael South East and the City of Bridgetown seats respectively.

“Not because Rodney is my friend but if we are looking to rebuild, if the Democratic Labour Party is seriously looking to rebuild the Democratic Labour Party after such a crashing defeat at the poll, then there is a lot of introspection and outrospection [required]… When I say outrospection I mean we have to look across Barbados for the best talent that the Party could find,” he said.

Lashley added, “But it has to be built also on experience and performance and that is why I am saying that the best choice going forward right now to look at is Rodney and another youthful person.”

Adding to his comments, Rodney Grant said if the party has an opportunity to represent the people of this country; it is one they should pursue as they have a responsibility to speak out for Barbadians. His comment came as he warned that democracy can be weakened without an opposing voice.

“Although as a Party, the Party has the right and has the opportunity to form their own opposition outside of Parliament, because nothing can stop the DLP from having shadow ministers outside of Parliament to shadow everything that the Government is doing and speak to these issues. However, I believe within the corridors of Senate or Parliament there is a stronger voice and I believe we can do both – I believe we can do it from the inside and from the outside,” he stated. (JRT)

Garbage collection was first on the agenda for new Minister of Environment and National Beautification, Trevor Prescod, as he met with officials from the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) on Monday afternoon.

Prescod explained that the meeting was necessary as issues related to garbage collection were on the Mission Critical List which outlines priority issues to be tackled by Government. “The collection of garbage is a critical issue to be addressed. It is the most urgent of urgent and this is the first department I stopped at,” he said at the onset of the meeting.

The new Minister was updated by Acting General Manager of the SSA, Rosalind Knight and Acting Deputy Manager of Operations, Shawn Phillips, on the operations of the SSA and the current situation as it related to garbage collection, disposal and landfilling.

He was also apprised of systems in place to purchase new trucks for the SSA and challenges currently being experienced.

Following the meeting, the Minister said he was in a better position to report back to Cabinet on the status of the SSA and work towards paving a way forward.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification, Daphne Kellman, other Ministry and SSA officials also attended the meeting.

One of the candidates in the recent General Election has expressed concern that this nation’s youth are not giving their right to vote the respect that it deserves.

Speaking to the media yesterday morning during a press conference at the Marcus Garvey Resource and Development Centre, the Democratic Labour Party’s candidate for St. Michael South East, Rodney Grant, said that reality is one of the issues he saw emerge during the lead up to last week’s poll.

While stating that the views he was expressing were his own, influenced by the years he spent working in civil society and that he was not speaking on behalf of the DLP, Grant contended that the vote buying culture that is permeating Barbados is a problem that this country has to get a handle on. He made the point while warning that if left alone, it has the potential to threaten the country’s democracy and to diminish the actions of our forefathers to achieve the right to vote in the first place.

“I think that for a society who emerged out of the 1930s and fought for labour rights; and was inspired by the 1960s civil rights movement in America; was inspired by independence; and for the people who fought before us for the franchise and the right to vote, I find it a significant insult that in this day Barbadians would want to take their votes so lightly, as to sell their franchise for a hundred dollar bill and a two hundred dollar bill,” the civil society practitioner stated.

He added, “I think for me is one of the most damaging aspects of our electoral process and one which has the potential to derail Barbados’ potential going forward into the future. When I think about it, the fact that a person chooses a political representative not because of what they stand for, not because necessarily of an ideology, not necessarily because of a particular philosophical stance, but because of a short term dollar bill for me is worrying.”

Describing it as one the most worrying aspects of the campaign, he maintained that some of the blatant things he saw and heard about across the constituencies, should definitely be of concern to every right thinking Barbadian. Grant said he it experienced such first hand, explaining that some persons made “strange requests” which he had to put down in “some vociferous ways”.

With that in mind, Grant, the former head of the Pinelands Creative Workshop, said to give away one’s right to vote for something that lasts for a day or a moment is not good enough. His comments came as he suggested that this new dynamic being seen among some Barbadians, may take as much as four to five decades to root out.

The first time candidate also raised concern about “political contamination” of the some local institutions during the campaign. The former DLP candidate said while he is cognisant that as a small society certain biases may occur, it is important for institutions which have influence over the public, remain politically neutral. (JRT)

NOT enough attention is being paid to those Civil Society Organisations (CSO) which are the technocrats in their field of attaining civil rights for marginalised groups.

This is the view of the President of the Barbados Council for the Disabled (BCD), Maria Holder-Small, who also believes that the Caribbean region is not immune to inequality, and governments have to factor in the needs of the marginalised sectors of its society.

The President made this declaration as she delivered remarks at yesterday’s opening of the LIVITY Project, held at the Hilton Hotel.

She said were it not for the tremendous support of agencies like the European Union, the standard of discrimination for most of these sectors would probably drop off of the Universal Human Rights Index.

“I welcome you to Barbados. I imagine that like the Barbados Council for the Disabled you are all faced with similar issues and challenges of being representatives of sectors of society that eat, breathe and sleep discrimination and exclusion.

“Our fight, which is aimed at decreasing or eliminating inequity; promoting inclusiveness of disabilities; and establishing environments that are accessible to persons with disabilities, are all issues that require values that are the principles of social justice, and are no different to those that all CSO’s fight for,” she said.

Holder-Small also indicated that the Barbados Council for the Disabled is certainly moving in the right direction at this time, as they seek to join their partners within the region and the Institute for Gender and Development Studies: Nita Barrow Unit in addressing the gaps and exclusionary practices that prohibit marginalised groups from participating in decision-making processes at the political and social levels.

“As the umbrella body for the 22 organisations with 42 years of existence, the Barbados Council for the Disabled have certainly made some inroads towards achieving its goals. We recognise that we have a lot of work ahead of us, but we are encouraged by the opportunities and attention that the European Union is paying to our region with regard to vulnerability of its people.

“This type of support can only strengthen our position, to gain the respect and inclusion that would enable persons with disabilities to partner with CSO’s and other sectors of society, in breaking down those barriers that exclude them from being active participants and to eventually become non-dependent on the State,” Holder-Small said.

The LIVITY Project, which is a joint effort between the Institute for Gender and Development Studies: Nita Barrow Unit, University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, BCD, and the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE), was designed to meaningfully address marginalisation, discrimination and exclusion of persons with disabilities, LGBTI Caribbean citizens, women, girls, youth and the elderly in national and regional decision-making processes through enhancing capacity and participation. (AH)

One businessman involved in the local real estate sector has expressed “hope and confidence in the new government”.

Director of One Welches Limited, James Edghill made the remark while speaking to the media on the sidelines of a presentation to the Geriatric Hospital earlier this week.

His comment comes on the heels of Monday’s meeting between Prime Minister Mia Mottley and members of the Social Partnership. It also comes days after May 24, General Election Day, which saw candidates from the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) winning all 30 seats of government.

The donation was accepted by Manager at the Geriatric Hospital, Joanell Oxley-Worrell; Principal Nursing Officer, Annastacia Jordan; and Senior Sister (Ag.), Moreen Smith. One Welches, jointly with Terra Caribbean, “donated a collection of chairs and equipment to measure blood pressure and various health supplies”.

“We believe that the private sector needs to get more involved in worthy causes. Every year we set aside a certain amount of our revenue to support causes such as these. So this year we chose to support the Geriatric Hospital,” which Edghill gave as the reason for the donation.

He added, “In the past, we have also supported some children’s homes and some schools.”

Turning his attention to speak about how the sector has been doing for the first quarter of the year, the Director of One Welches Limited said: “It has been stable.” He further said he saw “as a positive thing” the “new confidence and the projects starting later this year”. (MG)

Describing the situation with the South Coast Sewage Plant as a “national crisis”, Prime Minister Mia Mottley said she does not know how it was not treated to as a “national emergency” before, and has given
the assurance that her Government will ensure that it now gets the attention it deserves.

She made the comments while engaging the media yesterday afternoon after taking a tour of Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary, which has been affected by the sewage spillage. Mottley and some of her ministers, among them Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Wilfred Abrahams; Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Kirk Humphrey; Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Kerrie Symmonds; and Minister of Environment and National Beautification, Trevor Prescod had the opportunity to see firsthand what is taking place on the South Coast.

“…This government will treat to it as a national emergency because this is what it is. Those of you who are standing here, your noses are telling you that as we speak,” she said.

As she referred to the travel advisories issued by other countries concerning the sewage on the South Coast and the complaints from residents and businesspersons as well, Mottley said it was imperative that her new Government visit the area and see for themselves what is going on and to talk to those who have been affected.

“We have had more travel advisories on this issue than we have ever had on any other issue – on crime, on natural disasters, on anything. So if you have Germany, Canada, UK, US and everybody saying that they express their concerns about it, are we going to wait until the rainy season and the tourism season comes again to deal with it? No, all Bajans will roll up their sleeves and we are going to deal with this now. If it means we can’t do some others because of unavailability of funds, so be it. But we have to have life first, and this is what gives us life in terms of public health and in terms of the economy,” she added.

To deal with the challenges being experienced in the Graeme Hall Swamp, Prime Minister Mottley said that a proposed the eight-inch pipe should ease the situation with the swamp considerably and allow the officials the opportunity to determine how best to flush the swamp, or whether to let it rejuvenate naturally. During yesterday’s visit it was evident that sewage had seeped into the nature sanctuary and was posing a risk to trees which were immersed in it.

Given that reality, she said a Cabinet Paper, to be undertaken by Minister Prescod and the environmental officials and due next Thursday, will address the way forward in respect of dealing with the swamp.

“I don’t have eyes in the back of my head, we have to move forward but Barbados should never and Barbadians should never be in this position. I trust and pray that we will now take decisions, not just only for the short term but for the long term, because as I indicated, on a parallel track my ministry of Economic Affairs will ensure that the South Coast and Bridgetown Sewage Plants are the top priority on the public sector investment programme and I have asked also for a brief on how we will treat to the West Coast,” she stated.

The Prime Minister made the point as she said that Barbados will have to move to tertiary treatment of the sewage, to make sure that the water that comes out when it is treated is capable of replenishing either the aquifers or being used for irrigation, which farmers need urgently.

“Remember I’ve said all along government is about choices and we must have the political will. If we do this here it may mean something else here will suffer, but it is our judgement that this is the most important thing nationally outside of the stabilisation of our economy for us to deal with, and that is why we are here and that’s why the decisions will be made,” she contended. (JRT)

Branch Manager at Scotiabank Warrens, Sterl Lyons, says just as local banks are constantly doing their best to keep the funds of their customers safe, the criminal element is also persistently looking for ways to break into accounts.

He told The Barbados Advocate that it is virtually impossible to completely get away from acts such as skimming, but assured that Scotiabank’s approach is, wherever it is identified, customers are refunded.
Lyons stated that it is the bank’s goal to mitigate these threats and noted that vigilance on the part of the bank and customers is paramount. “We tend to intermittently do a check with customers, ask for the last transaction, but customers definitely have to be vigilant, it is their accounts and try to be aware of the scams. They must make sure the right amounts are coming off…a very important step in the process,” he advised.

The bank manager warned: “Just as we are coming up with new technologies to make things convenient for our customers, there are also the bad guys coming up with new technologies to make sure that our customers are cheated.

“All we can do to represent our customers well is where we are aware of it, we make sure we mitigate that risk associated, so we have a plan to address that.

“Some of the technology we put in place recently to help curb it is the chip and pin. Prior to that, the information on that card was on a magnetic strip alone. The crooks figured out ways to take that information off and that created a bit of a challenge so we started to get to technology - the chip which is a computer chip embedded in the car that provides a different level of security.

“So as time goes on things will change. There will be more levels to come. And there will be more creative guys figuring out ways to break it. But that is the nature of things,” he lamented. (JH)

Reports are that another date has been set for the election of a new Anglican Bishop of Barbados.

This comes as efforts to elect a bishop on May 14th reached a stalemate, for a second time.

A previous attempt had been made on April 25th, 2018.

When the Elective Synod of the Anglican Church met at the Ivan Harewood Centre of the Christ Church Parish Church earlier in May, after three ballots, neither Rev. John Rogers, Rector of the St. George Parish Church; nor Dr. Jeffrey Gibson, Dean of the Cathedral Church of St. Michael and All Angels could be named as a clear winner to replace former Anglican Bishop Dr. John Holder, who retired earlier this year.

Rogers was said to have been favoured by the laity, and Gibson by the clergy. However, in order to be elected as bishop, a candidate must gain a two-thirds majority in both Houses – The House of Laity and The House of Clergy.

Diocesan Administrator, Canon Wayne Isaacs, later announced that a decision was taken to adjourn that session and reconvene at a date to be later determined. This was just one of four options presented to the Elective Synod after the stalemate resulted in much deliberation.

The new date for the election of the Anglican Bishop is Thursday June 7th at 5:30 p.m. at the Christ Church Parish Church Centre once again.

If no bishop is selected by the end of August, due to deadlocked sessions, the options are to either allow a select committee which would have until year-end to elect a bishop, or to send the matter to the House of Bishops for a decision to be made on who Barbados’ Anglican bishop will be.
(RSM)