Expansion plans are on the way for the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

During her mini-Budget presentation on Monday, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley stated that the A&E would undergo a $10 million expansion project, and in getting a first hand look into the facility yesterday morning, new Minister of Health and Wellness Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic outlined its necessity, as the demand for services is outstripping the unit’s capacity.

After a tour with QEH management and staff, he identified the need for additional treatment rooms and beds, as well as the need to change several internal processes.

Revealing that some 40 000 patients pass through the doors of the A&E annually, he told the media that half of these numbers could be treated elsewhere.

This, he said, is the reasoning behind the decision to open the Randall Phillips and Winston Scott Polyclinics on a 24-hour basis.

“Once we get the two polyclinics up and running, numerically that will take some of the load off of Accident and Emergency, and what we want with the polyclinics is to provide diagnostic and dispensing services so that those patients who attend those polyclinics, generally speaking, will have no need to come to Accident and Emergency unless the situation merits that,” he said.

Bostic also insisted that ensuring the safety and security of the public and staff utilising these clinics will be paramount.

Noting that he would be visiting these two medical centres next week, the minister expressed his intentions to visit every public health care facility in the coming weeks to view the concerns of staff and management.

While unable to reveal when the actual construction at the A&E would begin as analysis was ongoing, he said the project would take some six to eight months to complete.

“We do not have six to eight months in terms of improving health care services in Barbados, so we are going to working concurrently with the polyclinic project, and I believe that we should be able to say to the public that within the next two or three weeks exactly what is going to happen with that project and when we are going to be ready,” Bostic added. (JMB)

The Barbados Water Authority is at present undertaking a project which will see that entity working with householders and commercial businesses on the South Coast to eliminate fats, oils and grease in the sewer lines.

Grafton Best, Safety and Health Officer and the project’s Coordinator, who will be working along with a team from the Wastewater Division of the Barbados Water Authority (BWA), briefed members of the media about their plans yesterday as the BWA continued its work of conducting inspections on sewer network connections and grease traps in the area. The briefing took place on location at Mojo’s car park in Worthing, Christ Church.

“Given the challenges with fats, oil and grease within the sewer system, we have had tremendous problems…so that the Barbados Water Authority now needs to eliminate them from the system.

“In order to do this, we did commence a programme to rid the manholes of the quantity of grease that was coming into the main sewer line. We did that and now that we have the injection wells into operation at the plant, we discovered that there is still further grease that has to come out of the system,” Best explained.

“Now the grease traps are within the households and hence the programme to meet and touch base and rub shoulders with the householders within the 12 catchment areas, starting from west of Dundo Lane to east of Enterprise Coast Road. Our target is to visit a lot of these households within the coming days and months to discuss with them the issue of fats, oils and grease and to sit with them and seek to have a programme that is conducted by the Wastewater Division to eliminate this grease from the sewer system,” he added.

“Our aim is to inspect all of the grease traps where they are installed at the domestic and commercial properties such as restaurants and hotels and where there are no grease traps, we would want to encourage householders to install the grease traps,” Best stressed.

He meanwhile noted that the BWA will be making sound recommendations as to the suppliers of grease traps to ensure that the best quality and construction and their ability to be maintained over a period of time.

Best is also sending the message to householders especially, to become more environmentally friendly and refrain from depositing their fats, oils and grease in the sewerage system in the meantime. (RSM)

The unfair environment created by the concessions offered through legislation to the tourism industry cannot be allowed to continue.

That’s according to Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, who, as she acknowledged the inequality created through the Tourism Development Act, made it clear that the Ministry of Tourism, under the leadership of Minister Kerrie Symmonds, will be looking “early on” to address the situation. The goal, she indicated, will be to bring about “greater equity as well as fairness and transparency in the management of those concessions”.

Her comments came as she told tourism stakeholders attending the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association’s Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, that the concessions have unfortunately created three classes of hoteliers in this country.

“Those like Sandals that get everything without consultation and hold it in bond; those who have to come to the Ministry of Tourism, and I believe every two weeks the Ministry of Tourism is taken up with having to push paper which is nonsense; and then those who don’t get anywhere near the Ministry of Tourism or anywhere near the concessions because their cash flow is such that they have had difficulties in being able to meet basic statutory requirements. As a result, therefore, they are precluded from being a beneficiary of any of those concessions,” she said,

PM Mottley maintained, “This cannot be the way, this cannot be the Barbados way to which I just referred.”

Responding also to a question from the floor on the concessions granted to Sandals, PM Mottley, referring to Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, head of the Sandals Resorts International, said she is prepared to dialogue with the Jamaican national on the issue. At the time Sandals entered the market, while its presence was welcomed by the Mottley led Barbados Labour Party, then in Opposition, and the tourism sector, concerns were raised about the level of concessions that it was given in comparison to the existing hotels.

“I want to carry you back to a speech I made to the Chamber of Commerce, when I indicated in 2014 that I think Mr. Stewart might have to become a Barbadian. I didn’t know how much I’d need him to become a Barbadian, but we do need him to become a Barbadian. And rest assured, Barbados is a country governed by the rule of law, but by the same token Barbados is a country that [is] fuelled by consultation and conversation, and I have every confidence that [with] a conversation that sets out what the issues are, what we face and what we have to do to go forward, we can get people to do the right thing in this country,” she said.

The Prime Minister continued, “And let me say therefore, I look forward to meeting with Mr. Stewart on behalf of the Government and people of Barbados and at the very least, let’s start where we need to start, with the room levy. So I look forward to that conversation as we move forward together.”
(JRT)

THE Central Bank Crop Over Visual Arts Festival is promising to be an epic event this year.

According to Chief Executive Officer of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), Cranston Browne, the product offering has been enhanced by exploring the endless possibilities for creativity and business development with a fusion of the Performing Arts through “Evenings of Interpretations”.

“We have broadened the scope by offering themed categories that challenge the creativity of the artists to provide intriguing interpretations that visually record the mood of the country or to depict a particular story or time in history.

This year, the usual opening of the Festival was conceptualised to include a Public Village and Art Walk,” Browne said, during a launch of the Visual Arts Festival at the Courtney Blackman Grand Salle. In addition, this year, the public will have an opportunity to discover that inner artist and to add their own creativity to the mural art that will later occupy a home in the beautiful environs of the Church Village Green.

“The Central Bank Crop Over Visual Arts Festival is perhaps one of the events with the longest run on the Crop Over calendar. It is also one of those events with a sponsor that has demonstrated itscommitment for many years – I believe some
24 years now. So let me begin by expressing our sincerest gratitude to the Central Bank of Barbados for continuing to see the vision of a Festival that is representative of more than just our costumery, mas’ and revelry,” Browne said.

Yesterday’s launch was the start of the mural art which will later appear at the official opening in its intended position for the public to add their touch throughout the remainder of the Festival. Browne, and Manager of the Frank Collymore Hall, Fran Wickham, were the first to add their touches to the art piece. (AH)

The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Administration has come to “make wrong things right”, and not to dwell on the damage done.

This is according to Member of Parliament for St. Michael North West, Neil Rowe, as he stood in full support of the Mini-Budget delivered by Prime Minister, the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley. According to him, the measures announced were long overdue.

“What was revealed was way better than the increase of taxes by the last administration. Being able to give and take so that ordinary Barbadians can live was the way to go,” he stressed.

“The Budget allowed Barbados to breathe for the first time in ten years. The future is bright for the people of this country and I can say that the five per cent increase for public servants is a good sign. Also, the fact that Barbadians no longer have to worry about the distasteful NSRL tax is a sign that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that was a tax that crippled a lot of small businesses in this country especially a few entrepreneurs within my constituency – a tax that caused the cost of living to increase.”

Rowe also admitted to the House that it was heart-breaking to see the number of non-contributory pensioners within St. Michael North West falling by the wayside; not having any form of income.

“The former representative for the constituency and Minister of Finance refused to help those poor people at that point in time. But, found it easier to give away duty-free concession and whatnot to current businesses at a time when the treasury needed money and in a time of need.”

The MP further expressed, “I have to say thank you again to our Prime Minister for giving hope to those non-contributory pensioners. Thank you for giving an increase so that these individuals will be able to put food on their table.” (TL)

Across the world there is a growing interest in persons wanting to learn about their roots. Assistant Archivist in the Department of Archives, Stacia Adams highlighted that this interest is growing in Barbadians as well.

Her comments came following the morning session of the Genealogy workshop, which took place at the Department of Archives yesterday morning.
“I would say Barbadians are very interested in learning about their roots and heritage. They see their roots as being bundled up with their identity, so we get a lot of locals as well as persons from the UK and Scotland and the region coming in to do family history research,” she said.

“I think it is important for us to learn about our heritage. The past defines the future for us, so as I said before, learning about yourself is bundled in your identity. Even in terms of health, some persons may find themselves getting a particular disease or ailment, and sometimes it may be from an ancestor who may have gotten something in the past, so a lot of our ancestry and our past dictates the future for us,” it was explained.

She further noted that they saw a steady flow of persons coming into the Archives Department daily to learn about their heritage.

Adams revealed that the Department put on the Genealogy workshop to assist persons who were looking to do family research and helping them to know the importance of family research.

“This course that we’re doing it to help people know the importance of family research and recognising some of the mistakes that are made and the pitfalls encountered in doing family research and just developing a love for it,” she said.

“This is also something that you could be doing one day and then put it down for a while and then revisit the idea in the future. We had a stream of people who have been coming in for the past five, 10, 15 years; so it’s something that you can put aside for a short while and pick back up in the future,” it was further pointed out.

THERE is nothing to be gained by a devaluation of the Barbados dollar.

This reminder is coming from Prime Minister the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, who, while speaking during a press conference at her Bay Street, St. Michael, Government Office, yesterday, said that the motive of her Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration is to stop the dollar from being devalued.

“Remember that I said from the outset that all we are doing is to save our quality of life and to save the value of our dollar. With every succeeding day, I am confident that we will get there, and that is why I said relax, we got this one.

“I don’t believe in being boastful, but trust me, what we have done thus far has impressed people that we are a serious Government, that we know what we are about, that we are not putting our people on the front-line of adjustment, but we are asking our people to lift weight.

“But equally, we are serious about bringing the Barbados Government and the way in which Barbados does business into the 21st century. And that in so doing, that will bring about a level of competitiveness which is the platform for growth,” she said.

Prime Minister Mottley said she is confident that if Barbados remains disciplined and focused on what is needed to be focused on, the country can get out of the burdensome economic hole it is currently in.

She affirmed that there is nothing to be gained from the devaluation of the Barbados dollar, as Barbados scarcely has natural resources to export.

“We don’t have any goods that are exported that will become cheaper. And in terms of our tourism, our tourism is not price competitive in that way. Our tourism is competitive in terms of quality… The only thing we get from a devaluation, and this has been our medicine, is a hard lash for bad behaviour. And we have had a lot of fiscal bad behaviour for the last decade.

“The [former] government went on a spending spree and we don’t see the results of where it went. We left debt at six billion dollars, debt today is at 15 or so billion dollars. Where has the nine billion dollars gone? We can probably build a sewage plant on the South Coast for one per cent of that billion dollars,” she said.

When asked whether there was the possibility that job cuts would be a part of her Government’s austerity measures to get Barbados out of the economic crisis it has found itself in, Prime Minister Mottley said she does not know, while stressing that if there is any at all, it would be the last resort.

“We don’t know. I said on Monday that we are going into Phase 2 and Phase 3. For me to tell you that up front would be to tell you a lie. What we are going to have is a discussion across the country as to what the options are. There has to be expenditure reform. There has to be greater efficiency in terms of how we spend money. Part of it is also being with the reality of what we have inherited… But even if there is a need for any form of job cuts, we have said that we will seek to work with those persons,” she said. (AH)

Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Cynthia Forde, is encouraging victims of elder abuse to report any violations of their human rights to the appropriate authority, such as the Royal Barbados Police Force.

She offered this advice on the occasion of “World Elder Abuse Day” yesterday, admitting that almost on a daily basis it is common for the social services agencies in Barbados, especially the National Assistance Board, to receive reports of older adults being ill-treated, improper use of older persons’ finances, poor quality of care and sometimes abandonment at home and at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

“I can say that I have interfaced with and made a number of referrals to the National Assistance Board for assistance over the years.

“Coupled with this, in recent times, both the electronic and print media have been highlighting cases of elder neglect and abuse which have been occurring in Barbados. These reports have led to much public uproar, with calls to develop policies against, and enact and actually enforce appropriate and enabling legislation,” she told the congregation at Breath of Life Seventh Day Adventist Church.

“Many people believe that the introduction of the relevant laws with their attendant sanctions will prove very instrumental in either reducing or eradicating instances of elder abuse by way of having the perpetrators incarcerated or charged, as there are serious concerns about the welfare of the rapidly increasing elderly population.”

Forde therefore revealed that over the next five years, her Ministry will ensure the implementation of urgent policies and appropriate legislation needed to stamp out all forms of elder abuse; train home help personnel; engage health professionals to enhance community outreach programmes; retain retired nurses and other health professionals on a contractual or part-time basis to facilitate the care of the elderly at home and community settings; and promote independent living, including incentivizing home improvements and home adaptations to improve the day-to-day quality of life of seniors.

In addition, she is appealing to individuals, families, organisations, and communities to become more involved in the process of heightening awareness as well as preventing elder abuse, neglect and
exploitation. (TL)

Barbados is in need of a price commission.

That, says consumer advocate Rev. Malcolm Gibbs-Taitt, is a sure-fire way to ensure that there is transparency as it relates to the cost of products being imported into and sold in this country. In an interview with The Barbados Advocate, he said such an entity would also be instrumental in guaranteeing Government gets all it is owed with respect to taxes, and that companies do not overprice the goods they sell.

His comment came as he commended the new Government for its decision to abolish the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) on July 1, but he is not agreeing with the suggestion that it will take as much as two months before consumers see a reduction in prices.

Last Monday in her first Budget presentation, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley said that the “distortionary levy”, which caused prices to increase by double digits and depressed retail sales and economic activity, will come off on July 1, but while welcoming the abolition of the controversial tax, Gibbs-Taitt feels strongly that merchants will not lose out if they drop their prices automatically, as consumers will have more purchasing power across the board. He made the comments while lamenting that merchants often seem more concerned about their own bottom-line, and not about the people who keep them in business and their bottom-line.

“We have seen fuel on the international market being increased and decreased all over the place and when the fuel rates are high on the international market, we are told by the merchants, ‘Oh the prices of good had to go up because of this high rate.’ That was the case when fuel was being sold as high as US$140 a barrel. Fuel had been down in the US$50 range for quite a while, it is only recently that it reached US$80, but when it was low we did not see a price reduction reflecting that change in price. So what I feel is essential is that this country has a price commission,” he indicated.

Gibbs-Taitt envisages that commission, having a database of all goods and services being purchased on the exterior markets and knowledge of how the prices are applied. That way, he explained, when invoices are produced from companies which shop overseas, there is some correlation between the prices the commission has and the
invoices that are brought in.

“A merchant can bring in an invoice for any price and nobody challenges it, therefore that price that is brought in is then levied on the poor consumers of Barbados and all that happens is that merchants get rich very quick, because they have swindled the system to benefit themselves. We have a population who thinks it is better to get a receipt to show what a high price they paid, rather than the quality of the goods they have obtained at a reasonable price. It is not good enough for these things to be known and nothing is done about it, and it needs to be addressed urgently,” he maintained.

The consumer advocate’s remarks while contending that local consumers need to “get smart” and recognise the power they possess. He made the point suggesting that consumers can be their own trading partners.

“We don’t really need supermarkets or any businesses to supply our needs, we can supply our very needs ourselves; it just means a sensible getting together and purchasing from the very places these fellas [sic] purchase from, and selling back to ourselves. It can be done. The fact is the merchants in Barbados will do nothing until that point is reached, and then they say, ‘wait these fellas are going to put us out of business’, it is then they will buck up,” he stated. (JRT)

We’ve got it!

This is the assurance Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Mia Amor Mottley has given to Barbadians, as she told the nation yesterday that last week’s meeting with the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Christine Lagarde was successful.

Just a matter of hours after returning to the island from her visit to the Washington-based international lending institution, Prime Minister Mottley said that her talks with Lagarde went so well, that a negotiating team from the IMF is expected to arrive on the island as early as next month to continue the discussions.

“We have this, relax, we got this,” she assured.

“When we met with Madame Lagarde, we were able to discuss with her and her team the framework that we have put on the table, and we made it very clear that we had mission critical issues that we had to deal with. That we inherited a government with infrastructure that was largely broken, buses that Barbadians couldn’t get, garbage trucks that are not functioning, a sewage system that is affecting the South Coast.

“And we are happy that our engagement with Madame Lagarde recognises that our situation is urgent, that they are prepared to support, as she said in her tweet a day ago, Barbados’ economic recovery and transformation plan. That as a result, they will be sending a team to Barbados on July 2 to start discussions with us between the 2nd and the 12th of July,” Prime Minister Mottley added.

The leader of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration said that Barbados is seeking to have included in a contract with the IMF a one per cent interest payment on any loan.

“There is no where that we can go and borrow money at one per cent interest today, trust me.

“I want to make sure that even as we treat to the issue of debt restructuring that no future generation of Barbadians or this current generation will have to go back to this place again…of a government display of utter fiscal recklessness with the manner in which they handled the affairs of this country.”

Speaking during a press conference at Government Headquarters, Bay Street, St Michael, yesterday afternoon, Prime Minister Mottley said it should be noted that while it takes as long as nine months to reach an agreement with the international lending agency, she is hopeful that Barbados would not have to wait that long, especially against the fact that the country’s debt is now closer to 1.9 billion dollars.

“The bottom line is that there is no easy way to say that you are suspending debt payments. There is no easy way to make an omelette without breaking eggs. And we have to go through the process. The Government of Barbados has hired some of the best advisors with respect to debt restructuring. . . ” she said.
(AH)

One of the goals of the new Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration and the Ministry of Creative Economy, Culture and Sports in particular, is to see how they can further expand this island’s premier festival – Crop Over – on the social calendar, a move which they believe would lay the foundation for artists to carry their careers to even greater heights.

This is according to Minister of Creative Economy, Culture and Sports, John King, who delivered remarks at a church service yesterday at the St. Barnabas Church to mark the start of the Crop Over season 2018, which would be held under the theme, ‘The Art of Celebration’.

“In the fulfillment of this art of celebration only a palette of bright tones will be used to shade in the development of this Crop Over Festival. This season will demonstrate my Government’s plans for the expansion and growth of the creative economy that we believe will pave a better future for the generations of cultural practitioners. We use this season to demonstrate our gratitude for our creative stakeholders as we archive the completed works of the previous festivals.”

He stated that one of the ways in which they plan to accomplish this is via the transformation of some of the events that are already on the Crop Over calendar. They will also be embarking on a series of proficient marketing strategies to promote this festival, both at home and abroad, as well as bringing more events to be included in the festival.

“With renewed vigor, we etch our policies into this work of art. We are creating a new model for culture and the creative industries in Barbados. This will begin with the transformation of some of its festivals and organisations, the marketing and export of our expertise and knowledge capital in the arts and the creation of more events to further stimulate the sector and the economy.”

The Minister of Creative Economy added that they would also seek to include other art forms in this festival as part of their marketing efforts and to make it more attractive to a wider cross section
of the Barbadian community and visitors alike.

“We will herald in the new season with joyful songs of praises for the gifts of the present and with motivation for the future. We join with this church in harmonious chorus to pour blessings over the diverse cultural offerings of Barbados; from its heritage and folk sectors, to the Visual Arts, to Pan, to Calypso, and to the climax of the 2018 Crop Over Festival with Masquerade on Monday, August 6.”

General Secretary of the Barbados Workers Union, Senator Toni Moore, has assured that the BWU was always in negotiation mode.

Moore’s comment came as a response during a brief interview with the media following Thursday night’s meeting for committees of management which took place at Solidarity House.

Moore reported that even though they would have liked to negotiate for a 15 per cent increase, they were appreciative of the five per cent increase that would go to their workers across the board.

“I am sure, as expressed by our constituents here today, that our wider membership, even though they may not be thrilled at the fact that they don’t have truckloads of money to be looking forward to, there is a certain appreciation to the context within which the increase was agreed and the fact that the financial imposition of retroactivity would perhaps be a pill that our Government purse could not swallow at this time. So the bigger commitment of the BWU was ensuring that pensionable emoluments was the order of the day,” she said.

“We were clear from going into the discussions that the Government would have favoured a cost of living allowance and we are pleased that the outcome of the discussion would shift us away from a one off payout.”

Moore highlighted that the introduction of the National Responsibility Levy imposed a great burden on the entire nation and they would have spoken out about it.

“With the NSRL repealed, the rapid shift increases to inflationary impact and so on will be moderated. So we will continue discussions in the public sector and the private sector to see even where there were those areas where we were not able to have a settlement achieved that we will perhaps now still see one,” she said.

“I know that a number of areas will be tightening but the BWU is always in negotiation mode and that is why our executive council has maintained a policy decision that we would present to companies a 15 per cent increase to demonstrate that very fact and we will continue to do our best to see how we can keep our members as closely aligned to cost of living shifts as possible.”

GOVERNMENT will shortly commence the development of water taxi and ferry services, which will link the north, the west and south coasts of this island by sea.

This was revealed by Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Kerrie Symmonds, who delivered an address at a ceremony held to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the maiden voyage of the Freewinds Cruise Ship to Barbados, at the Bridgetown Port on Saturday night.

While not going into details on the ferry service, Minister Symmonds, while thanking the Freewinds team for choosing Barbados over the past three decades, outlined some of the plans on the cards for the new Barbados Labour Party (BLP) government, and encouraged passengers to take a second look at what Barbados has to offer, particularly Speightstown to the north of the island.

“Speightstown is slated to become a heritage and artistic and culinary centre for Barbados. In my own constituency in Holetown, I invite you within the coming months to watch Holetown evolve into a major tourism and entertainment district. In similar fashion on the south coast of this island, a refreshed entertainment district will be found in St. Lawrence, with Oistins being developed as the epicentre of the fishing industry and related services.”

He said that as far as cruise tourism is concerned, the main aim is to actively promote the development of Barbados as the homeport of choice for cruise ships in the southern and eastern Caribbean. “And to establish positive links with hotels, agriculture, industry and other sectors on this island so that the tourism industry will now be at the centre of spearheading a holistic development programme for this island.”

“We also envisage a more in-depth development of the community element in order to collaborate skills development with community-based businesses and to refine their product and provide a platform for the promotion of their offerings. In this regard it is our intention also to continue to support the development of our human resources and to forget strategic alliances and partnerships for sales and distribution of our variety of products to the cruise industry.

“In other words, we have a perspective of developing a holistic and immersive approach to the future development of tourism.”

He said there is a very defined and targeted programme of work before government where the optimisation of cruise tourism is concerned.

Symmonds also stressed that the Government of Barbados is focused on the development of the sector, highlighting the creation of a new ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy.

“We are now proposing to effectively harness the wealth of coastal Barbados, harness the marine resources that we possess, in order to deepen the integration of these resources more successfully into the tourism product.”

The Tourism Minister stated that as outlined in its manifesto, the BLP government has recognised that the tourism and hospitality sector is currently the biggest contributor to the creation of jobs and the earning of foreign exchange for the Barbados economy.

“We believe that Barbados is to realise the optimal benefit s of the sector, we must broaden our understanding, of and to our approach to tourism and hospitality in order to embrace the idea of the visitor economy in the fullest and broadest possible way.”

“This encompasses broader economic activity including sports competitions, exhibitions as well as the development of education and health tourism, and further targeting development of specific niches which can enhance and refresh our tourism product.” (JH)

Several contracts issued by the former Democratic Labour Party administration regarding the Bridgetown Port are currently under review.

That is according to Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Kirk Humphrey, as he took an extensive tour of the facility yesterday.

Insisting that this examination was not part of any “witch hunt”, he noted that with these contracts totalling hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ dollars, it is necessary to safeguard the interest of Barbadians.

The agreements under review by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Dale Marshall, include all of those made over the last few years, including those to construct Berth Five and Six.

“There is a contract signed with Berth Five Projects Inc., I think is the name, for almost $60 million. There are contracts for Berth Six, which will be about $190 million. It is not our intention to have a witch-hunt on anybody, but of course as a government you want to review those contracts, especially when those contracts are so significant and to make sure that the interest of Barbadians was maintained in the execution of all of these contracts,” he said.

Humphrey stated that so far he was pleased with what had been seen in terms of the improvement work carried out at the port, and revealed that a new board should be constituted by the end of next week.

“Then we will sit down and finalise how the port operates and make it the most efficient port that there is. All that is done and all that we are doing here is just to ensure that whatever happens at the port is to ensure that Barbadians get the best deal possible for Barbadians and to make sure that nothing happens that is untoward toward the interest of Barbadians,” he added, as he assured citizens that they would be kept abreast if any issues arose from those contracts.

EFFORTS are on the way to further develop Barbados’ coconut industry.

This was revealed yesterday during a training workshop for local coconut vendors, which was hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture in association with the Ministry of Health and the Caribbean Agriculture Research & Development Institute (CARDI) and held in the Vector Control Unit on Magazine Lane yesterday.

The vendors were given an opportunity to learn about the importance of sanitation and other best practices in the Ministry’s final workshop in its recent training series and were also encouraged to broaden their scope to consider other products that can be derived from coconut such as oils, milk, flour and even the shells which could be used as mulch.

Agricultural Officer Mark Byer along with CARDI Local representative Ansari Hosein and Senior Environmental Health Officer, Richard Bourne, were on hand to discuss the plans for the sector and the critical role to be played by coconut vendors.

Byer who noted that this process started a year ago highlighted some of the challenges which were identified during a meeting of various stakeholders. These included the disposal of coconut husks, the need to improve sanitation for coconut vendors, the need to acquire high yielding plant material, both locally and externally, coconut tissue culture training and the need to develop the processing component to help broaden the industry.

“We have been able to look at growing coconuts. CARDI brought in a couple of specialists and last year we had some training for the growers. We have been able to look at improving the way coconuts are grown to maximise the yield. So that training is ongoing.”

He also revealed that the Ministry with financing from CARDI has conducted a survey of 200 coconut growers. “That is completed; the analysis is being done, to get an idea of what is happening in terms of production. That is going to underpin looking at those other two things that we said we wanted to do – The Value Chain analysis and Industry Development profile, to see where the advantages are for us to go forward as an industry,” it was explained.

Furthermore, “We have undertaken the mapping of local plant material. Barbados has the way of getting the best of the best. And we have some trees in Barbados that are very high yielding. We have started to identify them, seeking to propagate them. Plus we are looking to get some plant material out of Brazil.”

He said efforts are also on the way to bring in plant material from India, while CARDI is looking at places such as Mexico, all in an effort to improve production.
Byer told the vendors that there have been some concerns in terms of sanitation of vending. “Based on this workshop and as we improve your presentation and your sanitation practices, I believe you are going to get more people to use water. So it is going to benefit you in the long run. More people would be comfortable and purchasing the coconut water,” he said.

The workshop will continue on Wednesday and concludes on Monday with participants receiving their own starter kits and a certificate.

Yesterday’s activity was part of a regional project which targets 11 countries with some financial support being provided through the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), European Union (EU) and the International Trade Centre (ITC). (JH)

The skies opened up and dumped moderate to heavy showers on this island yesterday as a tropical wave moved west along the island chain.

Saying it was the first system of any significance since the start of the Atlantic Hurricane season on June 1, Meteorologist David Best told Barbadians that the weather is expected to clear up today.

“The system created cloudy to overcast skies and pockets of moderate and heavy showers. Our analysis shows that there would be continuation of this overnight and while there is a possibility of cloudy cover (today), we are not expecting such heavy showers,” he stated yesterday.

In its forecast earlier this year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted a 70-per cent likelihood of 10 to 16 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which five to nine could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including one to four major hurricanes (category three, four or five; with winds of 111 mph or higher). An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, of which six become hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.

The NOAA outlined that the possibility of a weak El Nino developing, along with near-average sea surface temperatures across the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, are two of the factors driving this outlook. These factors are set upon a backdrop of atmospheric and oceanic conditions that are conducive to hurricane development and have been producing stronger Atlantic hurricane seasons since 1995, it highlighted.

The Barbados Culinary Team is “locked and loaded” and ready for this year’s Taste of the Caribbean competition in Miami in the USA.

Manager of the team, Henderson Butcher, gave this signal as he spoke during an event which served as the final media update and announcement of the members of the Barbados Culinary Team, who will be heading to the Taste of the Caribbean 2018 competition. The event took place at Divi Southwinds Hotel, Dover, Christ Church yesterday.

“It’s been a wonderful training session. Some days were better than some. Some days were very exciting. Some days were very challenging, but we are at this point and we are ready for competition. And I believe as I said earlier, the team is locked and loaded…the team is ready,” Butcher announced.

He further pointed out that he is comfortable with the level of preparation of those involved in the competition.

“I believe that these guys are ready. This a very strong team. I have no doubts that these guys will actually be performing their best and doing their best for Barbados. They’ve been doing some amazing work,” he maintained.

CEO of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), Senator Rudy Grant, who served as chairperson for yesterday’s event, also expressed his confidence in the team.

“We believe that it is very important that through the Association, we are able to support the team, we are able to ensure that the future, in terms of the culinary delights which Barbados is able to offer, that that future is bright and secure,” Grant said.

BHTA Chairman, Stephen Austin, meanwhile lauded the effort to develop young people in the tourism sector, who can truly live out their passion.

The full team headed to the Taste of the Caribbean competition from Thursday June 21st to Wednesday June 27th, 2018 is as follows:
Chefs:
1. Kiara Riley
2. Rodney Corbin
3. Willis Griffith
4. Derio Boyce
5. Shanese Phoenix
6. Nicholas Ifill
7. Javon Cummins
8. Jamal Whittaker (travelling as an
observer/supporter)
Mixologist:
9. Alexander Chandler
Managers:
10. Henderson Butcher – Training Manager
11. Glenroy Alleyne – Assistant Training Manager
12. Ryan Adamson – Bartender Training Manager

Two separate incidents left hundreds of Barbados Light and Power (BL&P) customers without any electricity yesterday morning.

Just after 8 a.m. crews responded to calls of a burning pole near the Crane in St. Philip, which affected supply to residents in that area and those surrounding including; Belair, Long Bay and Sam Lord’s.

Meanwhile, just before ten o’clock, an installation failure of a transformer at the Spring Garden plant left customers in the north, parts of Central Barbados and parts of Christ Church without power.

Communications Advisor with the BL&P Nicole Scantlebury said, “Our teams have been working to further investigate the cause of the outage and safely restore power in the shortest time possible and we are happy to report that all customers have been restored.

“We sincerely apologise to all affected customers and thank them for their patience during this time,” she said.

The effort being made to develop young people in the tourism sector who can truly live out their passion is laudable.

This is the view expressed by Chairman of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), Stephen Austin. He delivered remarks yesterday during an event which served as the final media update and announcement of the members of the Barbados Culinary Team, who will be heading to Taste of the Caribbean 2018 in Miami from Thursday June 21st to Wednesday June 27th, 2018. The event took place at Divi Southwinds Hotel, Dover, Christ Church.

“I think the development of people is critical in the tourism industry and we need to honour our passion because everyone in here that is going to the competition on Thursday, they know that this is their passion and this is what they want to continue to do for the rest of their lives,” he commented.

“This development by (Manager of the Barbados Culinary Team) Henderson Butcher, the hard work and dedication put in, I believe we will come back with gold and we look forward to welcoming this team home with all gold medals,” he said, as he expressed full confidence in the team and each member’s capabilities.

Stakeholders in the criminal justice system are this week benefiting from a seminar which is intended to give them a better understanding of how the Evidence Act works, according to Chief Justice Sir Marston Gibson, who said he is hoping that the Evidence Act becomesingrained in the stakeholders – such that it is “second nature” – when cases are being tried before the courts.

He made the comments while delivering remarks at the start of the seminar which began yesterday at the Radisson Aquatica Resort and concludes later today.

The seminar, he said, is being held in conjunction with the Government of Australia, as the local Evidence Act is based on Australian Law.

“What this assistance that we are getting from Australia does, is it continues to strengthen the bonds between Barbados and the other Commonwealth countries who have been so prepared to assist us in becoming more proficient at understanding and applying our legal principles and practices, where those legal principles and practices are based on their law,” he said.

Sir Marston's comments came as he said there have been recent developments on the case law in Australia and the seminar was intended to help practitioners understand how those developments can guide them in making more informed decisions here in Barbados.

“Hopefully the day will come when we hear the word ‘hearsay’ and we don’t automatically mention Subramaniam [Subramaniam versus Public Prosecutor]; or we hear confessions and we don’t automatically mention Ibrahim [Veera Ibrahim versus State Of Maharashtra]; or we hear identification and we don’t automatically say Turnbull [Turnbull Guidelines]. We have our own Evidence Act and we’ve in some cases our own decisions, but we’ve got the Australian decisions to guide us as well. So therefore I hope that our Evidence Act will be second nature when we are trying our cases,” he stated.

Speaking to the media after the opening session, the Chief Justice explained that while the tendency is to go to the English Law because we are a common law country, having adopted Australian Law; it is only natural that we look at their statute and see how their courts have interpreted it.

His comments came as he said participants will benefit greatly from the two-day workshop being led by Adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney, Senior Counsel Stephen Odgers, as Odgers not only teaches, but practices law as
well. (JRT)