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‘CONSIDER CRIMINAL LAW’

October 14, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Chief Justice, Sir Marston Gibson (second row, centre), poses with the new attorneys and other members of the judiciary.

 

Barbados needs more criminal defence lawyers.
 
Once again making this appeal, Chief Justice (CJ) Sir Marston Gibson insisted that this was necessary to help deal with the pileup of cases continuing to plague the court system.
 
“There is a huge backlog of pending criminal cases in our court system and one of the several reasons for it is that there are very few lawyers practising in the field of criminal law. I can count on the fingers of one hand the names of criminal lawyers whose names are routinely called by prisoners when asked to name their attorney,” he stated.
 
He pointed out that more law students were gravitating towards “the more financially rewarding areas of practice, with the result that our few criminal lawyers are being asked to be in two places at the same time”.
 
Speaking directly to the 45 new attorneys admitted to the Bar yesterday during a special sitting of the Supreme Court, Sir Marston encouraged them to consider dedicating some time to criminal law.
 
“You are needed!” he asserted frankly.
 
Congratulating the group, he reminded them that in spite of their success in reaching this goal, they had not yet ‘arrived’ and much was expected of them.
 
“I have been told that even at the law schools, students have been heard to say what type of house they wish to own and what type of car they wish to drive! Before, however, you get to the house or the car, or the clients who will fund those dreams, you have, first, to become an officer of the court. And being an officer of the court brings with it very awesome responsibilities,” the CJ added.
 
Also issuing his congratulations, Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite said that the large group was very diverse in which areas of law they would be pursuing and therefore stated that the profession was in good hands going forward. (JMB)
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Historic graduation

October 15, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Longstanding relationship between Campus, Gov’t
Advocate Journalist, Cara Leigh-Ann Foster, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Advocate Journalist, Cara Leigh-Ann Foster, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Chad Christopher Jordan graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree, First Class Honours.

Chad Christopher Jordan graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree, First Class Honours.

By: 
Patricia Thangaraj

THE graduation ceremony for the Caribbean’s premier university is one that would go down in history, because it is being held in the same year that this island would be marking its 50th anniversary of independence.

This is coming from the Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (U.W.I.), Cave Hill Campus, Sir George Alleyne, who delivered the Chancellor’s address at the morning session of the Ceremony for the Presentation of Graduates yesterday at the UWI
He said that this causes persons to stop and reflect on the relationship between this campus in particular, the UWI as a whole and the Government of Barbados, one which is held in high esteem and one which must continue to reap success.

“This is a special graduation for several reasons. The first and most important is that it is being held during the year in which Barbados is celebrating its 50th year of independence. It is well to remember, record and applaud at this time the close relationship between this Campus, our University and the Government of Barbados – a relationship which we value very highly and do our best to preserve and strengthen.”

The Chancellor stated that this relationship has a long history, and it goes as far back to one where the Father of Independence, the late Prime Minister, Errol Walton Barrow, is connected, as he is the one who chose the location for this campus, and he had a vision of how this university could contribute to the lives of its citizens.

“This relationship goes back in history to the close association between the father of the nation and the campus. Mr. Barrow chose the site, and I wish to believe that he chose a hill deliberately as a symbol of what the University should be.

“He had a clear vision of the idea and ideal of our University contributing to the life of Barbados. He was proud of what could be achieved through improving human capital, through attention to health and education.”

This vision has indeed come to pass, as the university has seen many persons who enter its campus exit with degrees, diplomas and certificates at various levels. In fact, in the last decade alone, it has seen more than 10 000 persons graduate with Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate level degrees in a variety of disciplines, said Alleyne.

“The notion of the University participating in the life of countries is one which has concerned all who are involved directly or indirectly in university administration, and we reflect frequently on the essential functions we should exercise.

“The credentialing function is one which I believe we have performed well. Over the past 10 years, this campus has graduated over 10 000 students at Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral levels.

“We are pleased to see our graduates occupying responsible positions in public and private life, but also among our staff. A good University without being incestuous, must produce some of its own seed corn.”

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Youth influencing technology

October 15, 2016, 9:00 pm
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To give their input through virtual town hall meetings
From left: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Energy, Immigration, Telecommunications and Invest Barbados, Senator Darcy Boyce; Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Barbados, Conor Looney; and Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Senator Harry Husbands, as they attended the launch surrounded by some of the students that will participate in CoderDojo.

From left: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Energy, Immigration, Telecommunications and Invest Barbados, Senator Darcy Boyce; Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Barbados, Conor Looney; and Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Senator Harry Husbands, as they attended the launch surrounded by some of the students that will participate in CoderDojo.

As THE country looks towards another 50 years of technological advances, a series of virtual town hall meetings are being planned for the youth.

Making this disclosure yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office with responsibility for Energy, Immigration, Telecommunications and Invest Barbados, Senator Darcy Boyce, said that the events would be targeted so young people “could say to us how they see the technology going, how they feel we ought to respond to that, and what role they can play in it”.

He insisted that it was critical to make decisions now while listening to the voice of the nation’s youth, as they were the island’s future.

With this in mind, the senator therefore lauded telecommunications company Digicel for launching the island’s first CoderDojo free coding club programme for 50 students.

While participants are currently from Eden Lodge Primary, Ellerslie Secondary and Queen’s College, Boyce insisted that all schools should benefit from such programmes, “so that every one of our children will learn how technology works and how to create businesses from the technology”.

Admitting that it would not be fair to allow the private sector to finance this burden alone, he suggested that it may be necessary to look at the Universal Service Fund to find support for this initiative.

“This Universal Service Fund is an arrangement where, for a very small fee attached to communications bills, that allows you to go into a dedicated fund for the public good in the telecommunications industry, so when you pay your phone bill, there may be a little cent or two that goes into funding the broadband support that schools would need to have,” Boyce explained.

He made the comments at Digicel’s head office in Warrens. (JMB)
 

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RDC celebrates 20 year anniversary

October 15, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Debbieann Edwards showing off her incredible hand-made handbags to the Minister of Housing, Lands and Rural Development, Denis Kellman. 

By: 
Cara L Foster

 

2016 is the year Barbados celebrates its 50th anniversary, but this year is also a year of celebration for the Rural Development Commission (RDC), which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
 
Speaking at the Open Day that the RDC held in celebration at its headquarters on Friday morning, the Director of the Commission, Randolph Outram, explained that the Open Day was just another phase in the celebration process.
 
He revealed that the celebrations actually began in August, as they had held a church service at the St. Lucy Parish Church to commemorate the beginning of the celebrations. Outram said that for 20 years, from 1996 to 2016, the Commission provided many solutions to the housing, roads and electrification problems of the island. He added that the Commission has also “assisted in the development of a lot of small businesses around Barbados.”
 
The Director explained that the Open Day was a part of their 20th celebrations and was a way to provide to the public a chance to see their offices, as well as see exactly what the RDC does. He noted that some of the exhibitions on display were by their clients, staff, and other
government agencies. Outram added that the morning was also a time to acknowledge the commitment of six of their loan clients who obtained loans from the RDC over the years, and have used the money that they have invested from the Commission wisely, turning their businesses into successful ones, as well as honouring the commitments that they had with the RDC. 
 
One such successful business owner was Debbieann Edwards. She grew her business of making clothes, to making beautiful handbags out of burlap and finding creative ways to decorate them. One of her pieces was cleverly decorated with one cent coins while another handbag had painted seashells. She now owns a store, Debbie’s Closet, located in Pelican Village. 
 
Edwards was also one of the loan clients that was rewarded. The RDC awarded her for her contribution, commitment and performance in the manufacturing of handbags. Joseph Hackett was awarded for his contribution of fruit and orchards in the agricultural sector.
 
Ronald Sealy was rewarded for his outstanding contribution in the production of vegetables in the agriculture sector.
 
Amy Lemane and Sandra Weekes were awarded for their outstanding contribution, commitment and performance in the manufacturing of aromatherapy products and services area. However, they were unable to attend and a representative of the company, Earth Mother Botanicals, Vele Lucas, graciously accepted the award on their behalf.
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‘Voices for Lupus’ promises to inspire

October 15, 2016, 9:00 pm
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A section of the choir as they go through their final preparations for the 'Voices for Lupus' concert which will take place tonight.

 

THE stage is set for what is promised to be an uplifting, inspiring and empowering night of song.
 
Tonight at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, the Hope Foundation will present its annual “Voices for Lupus” Concert featuring an 80 member strong choir, conducted by world-renowned, singer, songwriter, producer, musical director and vocal coach – Mike King.
 
Speaking to The Barbados Advocate ahead of the concert, King revealed that tonight patrons will hear for the first time the song “Voice of Hope”.
 
He explained that within a couple of days, he with the help of his wife Carol, and the added input of other persons with lupus, were able to lyricise this uplifting song which captures the deep feelings and experiences of lupus patients, their families and friends, while expressing their hope for a better tomorrow with the unwavering support of the Hope Foundation.
 
This combined choir, he says is extremely powerful and emotive as they are singing from the heart. The group is made up primarily of lupus patients, friends, and family who are able to verbalise the kind of pain felt, support needed and the ongoing struggle for those who live with the disease.
 
The conductor says it is hoped that this song will be eventually recorded, with an accompanying music video. “However this is just a taste of what is to come,” he smiled knowingly.
 
“I wanted the song to be inspiring. It talks about the struggles – but through the Hope Foundation and through the choir – we have a space that we can get through it together; we can help each other; we have a support network. It is a positive and empowering song, as well as talking about the negative side of living with the illness.”
 
President of the Hope Foundation, Shelly Weir, also commended the work of the committed choir members, who effortlessly learned ten songs in just three weeks, even though many of the choir members will argue that they can’t sing, or haven’t performed for many years.
 
Musing that the tickets for the fundraising event are moving like “hot fish cakes”, she encouraged persons to get any remaining tickets from the Hope Foundation’s office in Belleville. The concert will also feature performances by Nathan Richards, Paula Hinds and the inimitable Stedson “RPB” Wiltshire.
 
Weir urged persons to make their way to the concert for a special surprise on the night, because “something’s happening,” she hinted with a smile. (JH)
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UWI lauded

October 15, 2016, 9:22 pm
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Institution credited for its contribution to country’s development
By: 
Patricia Thangaraj

 

One of the roles of any good university is to make a valuable contribution towards the development of the country in which it operates and this development especially relates to its material prosperity.
 
This is especially important for a small island developing state (SIDS) like Barbados, which has absolutely no natural resources of which it can depend on such as our neighbouring islands have and, as a result, it has to place heavy emphasis on its human resources and the knowledge and skills of these citizens. 
 
This is according to Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (U.W.I.), Cave Hill Campus, Sir George Alleyne, who was speaking yesterday during a Ceremony for the Presentation of Graduates.
 
“I would contend that it has contributed to the material well-being of the country as well. Countries like Barbados without the physical resources with which some of our neighbors are endowed has to be firmly fixed in the knowledge economy.”
 
It is through the acquisition and implementing of this knowledge from persons of all ages that enables the university to make its greatest contribution to a country. In fact, the attainment of knowledge being a driving force in development even applies to metropolitan countries like the U.S.A., said Alleyne.
 
Delivering the Chancellor’s address at the morning session of the ceremony yesterday at the U.W.I., Cave Hill Campus, he stated that this was the vision of the late Prime Minister of Barbados, Errol Barrow.
 
“As Mr. Barrow said cogently in 1968 at one of our graduation ceremonies, the University represents our best path to prosperity. Sir Arthur Lewis echoed similar sentiments when he affirmed that ‘We must train every talent we possess or condemn ourselves to poverty’.
 
However, one must be careful not to lose this valuable influx of knowledge as a result of the decreasing contribution of governments, which would only lead to the lessening of that knowledge fountain, said the Chancellor.
 
“But our University like many others is having to deal with a major paradox. The paradox is that although there is acceptance of the importance of knowledge and of the role of the University in producing it, at the same time we see shrinking contributions by governments, which taken at its face value, would diminish the production of that knowledge.”
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Food, hampers for those in need

October 15, 2016, 9:23 pm
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Phyllis Reece (right) and Annette Boucher as they prepare the hampers to be delivered.

By: 
Janelle Husbands

 

MEMBERS of Soroptomist International of Jamestown got a jump start on World Food Day celebrations, which is being recognised globally today.
 
When the media caught up with the group at the Soroptomist Village in Eden Lodge yesterday, the team was busily at work putting together a delectable spread of savoury food and hampers and ensuring that the packages would be ready for delivery.
 
President Hortense Trim-Gaskin noted that this is just one of the initiatives carried out by the charitable organisation, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
 
She explained that members were asked to identify at least two persons in need from different areas across the island who would receive a hamper. Head of the Food Health & Safety Committee Monica Hendricks and her team brought together the food items for preparation and distribution.
 
The President encouraged Corporate Barbados to help the organisation in any way possible with a number of ongoing projects. This includes an upcoming eight-week Public Speaking workshop for secondary school students. Other projects will focus on recycling as well as offering further assistance to those in need through the installation of running water into their homes.
 
However, she noted that the major project that is being targeted by Soroptomist International of Jamestown is a multi-purpose centre for troubled girls.
 
“So that is the big picture. Everything leads to that,” she said, acknowledging that this would be a major undertaking. She said this would help the organisation with its mission to educate, empower and enable young girls. Trim-Gaskin noted that any assistance to get this venture off the ground would go a long way to help those who have been abused or even placed in homes with the view of rehabilitation and a seamless re-entry into mainstream society. (JH)
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LIAT is vital

October 16, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Chairman of LIAT, Dr. Jean Holder, presents a token of appreciation to Rector of the St. George Parish Church, Rev. John Rogers, during the service yesterday morning.

Members of the LIAT Executive, staff and well-wishers during yesterday’s service to mark their 60th anniversary.

 

Regional airline LIAT has facilitated as much as US$145 million of incoming tourist expenditure to the Barbados economy in 2012.
 
That’s according to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, Donna Cadogan, who noted that in the same period 
the airline also facilitated US$107 million towards the balance of payment surplus associated with tourism. 
 
Moreover, she said that in addition to the 90 staff members in Barbados, which accounts for 14 per cent of the company’s 669-strong staff complement, the airline is also responsible for generating a number of indirect jobs in the Barbadian market.
 
“It is estimated that LIAT’s activities generated 472 indirect jobs and 649 induced jobs through supplier relations and activities. The related supplier expenditure is estimated to be US$26 million,” the Permanent Secretary added.
 
Cadogan was addressing the congregation at the St. George Parish Church yesterday morning where the executive and staff of LIAT gathered to commemorate the regional airline’s 60th Anniversary. Her comments came as she spoke in-depth of the valuable contribution the airline has and continues to make to Barbados and the wider region, transporting last year alone some 733 000 passengers, a figure they are also expected to meet this year. 
 
The Permanent Secretary indicated the carrier is also expected, in the upcoming winter season, to operate some 558 flights per week to 18 destinations across the Caribbean.
 
“For Barbados, LIAT is a very important carrier operating on average 112 flights a week… This is about 20 per cent of LIAT’s total flights and 52 per cent of all flights operating out of the Grantley Adams International Airport… The Barbados market accounts for almost 20 per cent of LIAT’s total passenger revenue. Inclusive of labour costs, LIAT’s operating expenditure in Barbados is estimated at US$4.4 million annually,” she added. 
 
The Permanent Secretary made the point as she also noted that LIAT’s 60 years have not been easy as the airline has struggled to keep the region connected. She lamented that only a few governments invest in the company in an effort to maintain and improve the service, while the vast majority of those who benefit, insist that they will contribute when the service has improved. In spite of this she maintained, the airline has pressed on. 
 
“…While not even its biggest fans believe that it offers a perfect service, LIAT has not only outlived several of its competitors, but continues to connect the region to an extent that strains both its present resources and belief,” she stated. 
 
Her remarks came as she noted that during the past two years, the airline, in an effort to restructure its operations, completely transformed the entire fleet from 18 DASH 8 airplanes to nine, soon to be 10, ATRs. This, she said, was done without any break in operations and they have also been able to skilfully negotiate the sale of the old planes. (JRT)
 

 

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Unit taking note of changing face of crime

October 16, 2016, 9:00 pm
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THE Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit (CJRPU) is taking note of the changing face of crime in Barbados and the methods being used to address it.
 
Director of the Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit (CJRPU), Cheryl Willoughby, noted recently that her department has been tracing the evolution of the criminal justice system in Barbados over the last 50 years and since the Unit’s establishment, it has been conducting research that can prove valuable in informing the decision-making process of key policymakers.
 
“No longer are our policymakers making decisions based on anecdotal information. They are now gathering their information based on empirical data, obtained from our Department, with regard to crime,” Willoughby pointed out.
 
“If you want to know how many persons committed homicides over a five-year period, what are the demographics of persons who are committing certain aspects of crime, what is the recidivism rate of crime in Barbados, that is information that you can get from our department and in doing so, you are able to put together your research projects,” Willoughby stated.
 
The director, meanwhile, noted that she is looking forward to the country moving in a direction where more science is used to solve crime.
 
“If you look at our justice model for example, we are moving more away from a punitive justice model, more towards a restorative justice model. We are seeing developments in the area of policing, where we are seeing more science being used, more equipment and technology being used, in order to detect criminal activity,” she said.
 
“I look forward to Barbados moving in that direction, to the point where we no longer rely on information garnered from criminals themselves, but we use technology, we use CCTV and we use science to solve crime, because certainly, if you look at Barbados from the perspective of a criminologist, you would recognise that the nature of crime has changed as well. Crime has become more complex and as we have free movement across the Caribbean and beyond the region, you will recognise that persons can access Barbados easily and commit crime and move on and so we need now to have more connectivity in terms of what we do and be more science driven, in seeking answers to some of our problems,” Willoughby said.
 
Her comments came recently as the Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit held a career showcase for secondary school students at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, to educate them about the types of careers available to them within the criminal justice system. (RSM)
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Ministry refocusing efforts on research and development

October 16, 2016, 9:00 pm
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THE Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management is refocusing its efforts on one aspect of its mandate, that of research and development.
 
Chief Agricultural Officer in that Ministry, Lennox Chandler, made this known recently.
 
“I want to stress that as long as I am the Chief Agricultural Officer at the Ministry, our focus will be on research and development and this obviously will be supported by agricultural extension, plant protection and agricultural services,” he noted.
 
Chandler went on to state that some persons often overlook the Ministry and turn to institutions overseas for key information about Barbados, when doing agricultural research. However, he issued a reminder that the Ministry has published extensively on a number of agricultural topics and also has produced a number of publications, from which key information is taken by some of these very same overseas-based institutions.
 
“This Ministry has done a lot of work. We have published extensively on tropical agriculture and we are leaders in terms of agricultural information for the entire Caribbean. We are noted for our publications in tropical agriculture, which some of the same universities that you go to and take your information from, put up on their own websites and you go to their website and download it and bypass the Ministry’s website, where you can get the actual original information,” Chandler further pointed out.
 
He added, “I will be first to admit that we in the Ministry would have fallen away from our core responsibility of research and development and publication of research findings, and for various reasons which I am not going to go into now. 
 
But my intention is to reverse that trend. We have to return to our core responsibility of doing research and sharing that information with the farming community and the public at large,” the chief agricultural officer remarked. (RSM)
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Minister looking to address housing issues

October 16, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Minister of Housing, Lands and Rural Development, Denis Kellman making a point.

Minister of Housing, Lands and Rural Development, Denis Kellman making a point. 

 

Minister of Housing, Lands and Rural Development, Denis Kellman, has again raised the issue of the large number of unoccupied houses in the country, and he is suggesting that a study may be required to identify why these properties remain empty.
 
He was speaking during a press briefing at the Ministry of Housing, Lands and Rural Development, to update the media on this week’s United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, commonly referred to as Habitat III, which is being held in Quito, Ecuador. His comments came as he said that efforts also have to be made to see how those properties can be brought back into the housing stock in order to help meet the housing needs and demands of Barbadians.
 
“We as a small island developing state cannot afford to be demolishing houses that we can make good use of,” he said.
 
The Minister added, “I have already identified a section within the Act… and we also have the Health Act and we also have the Land Acquisition Act, and those are things we would have to put to Cabinet because we cannot afford to waste resources.”
 
He is adamant that Government has to find a way to ensure that houses are not abandoned and allowed to become dilapidated. Moreover, he said that in addition to returning those properties to the occupied status, he wants to encourage ordinary householders to reconfigure their large homes to provide rental accommodation for persons.
 
Wasted space
“Something we will also have to look at is the situation where we have in Barbados large homes where only two people are living in those homes, and we will have to see how we can encourage those persons to recognise that we cannot afford as a small island developing state to have waste space… and create something called a commercial living house,” he said.
 
Kellman explained, “That is, you are able to live in your house, but at the same time recognise that you can separate that house in such a way that you can create revenue for yourself while accommodating other persons. And one of the things I might also be able to do is ask persons to look at the possibility – recognising that they would have already paid the mortgage most likely – that they need not to be so harsh on those new persons looking to find a solution and that the rent does not necessarily have to be at a very high rate.”
 
Kellman said that in such cases the rent could be placed at an “accommodating rate”, suggesting that Barbados needs to return to the “village life” and embrace the culture of looking after each other.
 
Meanwhile, on the topic of undeveloped residential lots, the Housing and Lands Minister said this is not a major concern for him at this time, what is of concern, he said, is when those lots are allowed to become overgrown with bush as it would pose an environmental problem. As such, he is encouraging persons to ensure their lots are kept clean. (JRT)
 
 
 
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Changes en route for LIAT

October 16, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Acting CEO of LIAT, Julie Reifer-Jones, speaking to the media.

Acting CEO of LIAT, Julie Reifer-Jones, speaking to the media.

 

Some changes are coming to regional carrier LIAT.
 
Confirmation came from Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Julie Reifer-Jones, while she was speaking to the media yesterday morning after a service at the St. George Parish Church to mark the airline’s 60th anniversary. 
Reifer-Jones’ comments came as she responded to a question from the media regarding the airline’s ability to meet the demands for regional travel, given that it has changed its fleet from 18 DASH 8 planes to 10 ATRs, the last of which is to arrive by next month.
 
“We will meet the demands of the region based on routes that are profitable for us. Our mandate from the major shareholders is to try to find ways to be self-sustaining and to be profitable. So although we will try to meet our social obligations in connecting the region, we will do that taking into account the extent to which the route will cover our operating costs. So we will make some changes, but they will largely be to make the operations more commercially viable,” she explained. 
 
Reflecting on the anniversary, she said it is an important occasion for the airline and they are celebrating the fact that they have been serving the region for such a long time.
 
“There have been a lot of changes to LIAT over the years, but we have never wavered in our commitment to serving the region… We know we have challenges and we have to focus on improvement. Reverend Rogers challenged us to do better, and internally we are having lots of discussions about how we can serve the public in a much more customer-friendly way. I would like to think that in 2017 that LIAT will be something that we can all be proud of, because that is our objective as we move forward,” she said.
 
Earlier in the service, Rector of the St. George Parish Church, Reverend John Rogers urged the LIAT representatives present not to be daunted by the challenges they face, but to use the anniversary as a time of introspection and reflection to ensure that they give of their best to the communities they serve. 
 
“I want to encourage you to continue your work… seeking renewal, seeking to chart a new path for your institution, for your airline in the 21st century, recognising that God has endowed you with what is necessary to make this airline better, a better servant to the people of our region,” he said. 
(JRT)
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New Berean Bible Church dedicated

October 16, 2016, 9:00 pm
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The new Berean Bible Church located at No. 1 Hothersal Turning, St Michael.

The new Berean Bible Church located at No. 1 Hothersal Turning, St Michael.

 

Berean Bible Church has been blessed with a new building as it celebrates its 60th anniversary.
 
Yesterday, in the presence of the Governor General of Barbados, His Excellency Sir Elliott Belgrave, Pastor Ronald Trotman dedicated the new church building which sits on approximately 3.9 acres of land at No. 1 Hothersal Turning, St Michael.
 
This multi-purpose complex houses a large sanctuary, pastor’s office, junior church and hospitality room, nursery, admin office and state-of-the-art multimedia room. The new building replaces the former Baxter’s Road location, which had outgrown its usefulness.
 
“It is a miracle, nothing short of a miracle, for us to be sitting in this place today,” expressed head of the church, Pastor Trotman as he thanked all who made the building a reality.
 
“We need to reflect on the goodness of God and thank him for all he has done.”
 
Deidre Boyce in her presentation said that the new Berean Bible Church, which started construction in 2014, has been made possible through the selfless sacrifice of the congregation. She recalled that the church’s Board started an intense drive to raise funds through pledges of donations made by the congregation.
 
“This effort was quite successful and was the most significant fund-raising effort to date. The process of fund-raising continued with a flea market held the last Saturday of every month. A fund-raising committee was also established which hosted fund-raising events,” she noted.
 
The congregation continued to contribute, donating windows and doors, as well as financing building materials. Persons living overseas associated with the church also contributed significantly.
 
“We are moving into a new era. The Berean Bible Church has an even greater role to play than ever before in an age when it matters even more…Our move to this new church will equip us to do even more work in the service of our Lord,” she highlighted. 
(TL)
 
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Statisticians facing increased demands

October 16, 2016, 9:00 pm
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THE Region’s statisticians are faced with increasing demands to fulfil the requirements, for example, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Small Island Developing States Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA Pathway) and the Community Strategic Plan 2015-2019.
 
This is according to Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, as he observed the occasion of the 8th Caribbean Statistics Day, which has special significance given the endorsement of the Action Plan for Statistics by CARICOM Heads of Government at their 37th Regular Meeting.
 
This endorsement signifies the recognition of the vital role of statistics in enabling governments to confront the economic, social and financial challenges that they face in seeking to provide an improved quality of life for the people of the Community. It also recognises the support that must be provided to statistical offices and systems if they are to produce relevant, timely and high quality data to aid in decision-making.
 
In recognition of that endorsement, the theme for Caribbean Statistics Day 2016 on Saturday was “Improving the Lives of People – Advancing the Action Plan for Statistics in CARICOM”.  
 
Ambassador LaRocque recalled that the Action Plan arose out of the Second High Level Advocacy Forum on Statistics (HLF), which was held in Grenada in May 2014.
 
“The Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (SCCS) in its follow-up to the HLF identified key recommendations/actions required by Member States which included: The strengthening of the National Statistical Systems (NSS), and specifically the National Statistical Offices (NSO) through: the provision of adequate staffing and training of staff; updating of statistical legislation; transforming and modernising the NSO and NSS utilising the framework of the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS); financial support including for the establishment of a continuous multi-purpose survey programme; and access to administrative data sources utilising IT networking data exchange arrangements in order to realise efficiency gains.”
 
“It also included promoting of careers in statistics through embedding statistics as a science in the curriculum of primary and secondary schools and enabling scholarships at the tertiary level,” he highlighted.
 
The Secretary-General of CARICOM therefore indicated that his intention is to monitor the advancement of the Action Plan for Statistics, since its success is integral to the improvement of the lives of our people as set out in the CSD 2016 theme.
 
“The SCCS must be commended for its role in facilitating the endorsement of the Action Plan,” he expressed.
 
“I encourage all statisticians to continue this thrust to ensure that high quality and timely statistics can be realised throughout the Community as we seek to anchor our sustainable development efforts in reliable and timely data.” (TL)

 

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Crosswalks to be upgraded

October 16, 2016, 9:00 pm
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The Barbados Road Safety Association (BRSA) is set to roll out in conjunction with the Ministry of Transport and Works, a new crosswalk improvement project aimed at upgrading at least 50 crosswalks by November 30.
 
Word of this has come from President of the BRSA, Sharmane Roland-Bowen who told The Barbados Advocate that they pitched the idea to the Ministry of Transport and Works, which only recently approved it with the guidelines that will have to be met by the participants. Roland-Bowen said the project will officially be launched at the end of this month and she is issuing a call for businesses across the island to join in the fight to make Barbados’ roads safer, by sponsoring a pedestrian crossing through the initiative. 
 
“The crosswalk improvement project is being executed through the Ministry of Transport and Works, where under their Pedestrian Safety Partnership Programme through which interested businesses can adopt a zebra crossing for upgrading. This crossing can either be situated close to their place of business or any of the other approved locations across the island. We also anticipate that some new locations which are in need of crossings will also be added through this project,” she said.
 
Two areas in particular she believes are in need of such crossings, are along Highway 1 and Highway 7, areas she said which are frequented by visitors to the island. She made the comments while noting that the project will also have an educational component to it, to ensure that pedestrians and motorists alike understand how crosswalks should work.
 
The BRSA president added that the upgrade includes better signage which will ensure that approaching drivers know where the crossing are located, and will feature a better quality of paint, making it more durable and more resistant to skids. For those businesses interested in participating in the programme, she said, the sponsorship includes full maintenance of the signage and markings and it is for a period of two years. Additionally, she said that businesses taking part in the initiative will have their names and logo placed on a sign as close as practical to the crossing, and a stencil marking of their logo placed on the two outmost bars of the crossings.
 
“The BRSA understands it is the responsibility of the Government to look after pedestrian crossings, but as a country we cannot always wait on Government. This is a way for businesses to assist and speed up the process as this initiative can help save lives. This project is for patriotic businesses that really want to contribute and give back to Barbados, to give something tangible to their communities and fellow Barbadians, not only for this 50th year, but for years to come,” she maintained.
 
Her comments came as she pointed out that last year there were seven pedestrian fatalities out of a total of 23 road fatalities recorded. (JRT)
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MP Hinkson: What about the campus in the north?

October 16, 2016, 9:00 pm
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The Shadow Minister of Education wants to know what happened to the promised campus in the north of the island.
 
The disappointed Member of Parliament for St James North, Edmund Hinkson told The Barbados Advocate that the campus, which was said to be an extension of the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (SJPP) would have been ideal for his constituents.
 
It was back in 2010 that the Minister of Education, the Hon. Ronald Jones announced the need for greater space to accommodate students at that Pine, St Michael institution. Jones explained that the northern campus would have been focused on teaching specialised programmes, also noting that it would be beneficial in that it will eliminate the long journey of those students who live in parishes such as St. Lucy, St. Joseph, St. Peter, and St. Andrew.
 
Addressing his concerns on the side-lines of the donation of tablets made by the Aron and Christina Foundation to St Alban’s Primary School, Hinkson stressed that there is a situation where the Barbados Community College (BCC) and SJPP have been neglected by government.
 
“We have a situation where this government has increased the amount of sixth form schools, which is probably the only major educational policy that they had that has some maybe positive effect on education of young people in Barbados. However, what happens after they leave secondary school...In a lot of cases the University of the West Indies has been “closed off” to many of them because of the imposition of tuition fees which a lot of students can’t afford because of the economic circumstances of their families.”
 
“Therefore, one would have thought that the government of Barbados would have led the charge to “beef up” education at the BCC and SJPP, to put more funding in those institutions; to expand them to allow them to increase the capacity and intake of students that want to go to those institutions,” he said.
 
Hinkson explained that BCC, with its Fine Arts and Liberal Arts Programmes, including Nursing, Care of the Elderly and Information Technology courses – should be “beefed up”, encouraging young people to go there if unable to attend to the Cave Hill Campus. As for SJPP, he said that more financial resources should be put into that institution to allow for greater technical skills.
 
“The polytechnic is an old plant, many of the buildings are badly in need of repairs…capacity for student intake at SJPP needs to be enhanced,” he stressed.
 
The Education Shadow Minister further pointed out, “If 4,000 odd students are leaving secondary school every year and this year only 1,000 have moved from secondary school into the UWI because of the poor policies of the Democratic Labour Party government – what is happening to the rest?”
 
“We want to create a society that we can be proud of and that after 50 years of independence can take us forward to the next 50 years to exceptional heights…But we are not going to be able to do that with the educational policies that the Democratic Labour Party has and without enhancing and building up capacity of BCC and SJPP,” he added. (TL)
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More sixth forms on the cards, says Senator

October 16, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Senator Harcourt Husbands making a point as he delivered the lecture.

 

Barbados is set to introduce sixth forms in at least three additional secondary schools in the coming school year.
 
That’s the word from Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Senator Harcourt Husbands. Delivering the Democratic Labour Party’s lunchtime lecture on Friday after at the Party’s George Street headquarters, he told the modest audience that The Alleyne School, Ellerslie Secondary School and Coleridge and Parry are the schools they are currently considering. He said this is part of the Ministry’s plan to expand the number of sixth form places available in the country. He noted that originally there were only four sixth form schools, a number that has increased in recent years with St. Leonard’s Boys’ School, The Alexandra School, The St. Michael School, Christ Church Foundation and Springer Memorial being brought on board.
 
“We were just at Grantley Adams [Secondary School] and the principal publicly made an appeal to have his school on the list and the Minister publically assured him that that school will be added to the list. He wants a special set of subjects, the CVQs; he wants his school to be known as the sixth form institution for the Caribbean Vocational Qualifications. So that one hopefully will be added to the list and as we go on we will add more,” the Senator stated.
 
This is being done, the Parliamentary Secretary said, because they recognise that many parents and students prefer the school setting that sixth forms provide, as opposed to the post-secondary institutions like the Barbados Community College, including its Hospitality Institute commonly referred to as PomMarine and the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic. Added to that Husbands said, the demand for those educational institutions remain high and there are not enough places to meet the number of students who apply or are even qualified to enter those institutions.
 
“We are in a situation in the institutions where we don’t have enough places and we are madly attempting to ramp up the number of places available in these institutions to deal with the demand, especially an institution like the PomMarine. This country is currently experiencing tremendous expansion in the tourism sector and we have to do a tremendous amount of training in tourism related fields and skills if we are to meet the demand for employment that we project in 
the tourism sector in the coming years. So there is a critical need for expansion at the PomMarine,” he said.
 
With that in mind, he explained that some of that lack of capacity is being met by the expansion of the number of schools offering sixth form education. Moreover, he said that as they expand the number of sixth form offerings, they will also be introducing non-traditional subjects. To date, he said, such subjects as Design Technology, Building and Mechanical Drawings, Entrepreneurship, Physical Education and Agricultural Science have been added to the curriculum. (JRT)
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Sir George says farewell

October 17, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Valedictorian, Dominique Lovell accepting her Bachelor of Science Degree, First Class Honours.

Valedictorian, Dominique Lovell accepting her Bachelor of Science Degree, First Class Honours.

THE year’s graduating class of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus is being encouraged to support and give back to the campus.

This encouragement comes from Chancellor of the UWI, Sir George Alleyne. He gave his final graduation address, as Chancellor during Saturday evening’s 49th graduation ceremony where some of the approximately 1500 individuals who completed their studies graduated. This was held at the campus.

“I urge and plead with you to be good alumni, to discharge faithfully the functions that are intrinsic to a relationship with an alma mater. Please take this relationship seriously, support the University and give back to it with generosity born of filial appreciation and sheer self-interest.”

Prior to the conclusion of the proceedings, graduates were asked by Vice-chancellor of UWI, Sir Hilary Beckles, to applaud the Chancellor. He spoke glowingly of Sir George, while commending him on the role he played.

On the other hand, underscoring the significance of remembering the persons or the institution that assisted one to reach one’s goal on the evening, was Valedictorian, Dominique Lovell. She told her peers that while moving forward, “it is important for us to remember that we need each other at all times, and as we take one step closer to our future goals, do not forget those persons who have assisted you along the way”.

Lovell further encouraged the evening’s graduating class to “continue to strive upwards, to pursue excellence and to give of yourself”.

“Never discount yourself or your abilities, because the only sure way to fail is by refusing to try, and as life poses its challenges and disappointments, even when you fail, know that you are not defined by these occurrences.

“Be reminded that the key to success is consistency, and that on most days, you will have to push yourself when you get tired, learn to rest and not quit. Learn from the wise counsel of those who have gone before you, and attempt to build on what they have started.” (MG)

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Full support needed to battle spread of diseases

October 17, 2016, 9:00 pm
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With diseases and illnesses no longer contained by borders, infectious control prevention programmes must be fully funded. 
 
Pointing to the spread of Swine Flu, Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika across various countries in recent years, Head of the Infection Control Department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), Dr. Corey Forde said vigilance and preparation are key in ensuring that the region is ready to contain the spread of such diseases.
 
“What is next on our doorsteps we do not know, but it is up to us to remain vigilant and be prepared in using every single facet of our medical knowledge and our resources available to achieve the task of protecting our population across the region. We must be steadfast in the upkeep of our knowledge and we must strive to keep up the technological advances to achieve the task of protecting our population from the scourge of infectious diseases. 
 
“This means that administrations across the health care system and in the region must put their money and human resources where their mouths are and vigorously support our infectious control prevention programmes across the region. We must not settle for mediocrity, but must always be proactive and not only be reactive to crises and outbreaks,” he stated.
 
Delivering remarks yesterday at the QEH auditorium during the start of Caribbean Infection Control Week, Forde stated, “To many of us we always hear ‘There is no staff’ or ‘There is no money’ or ‘How will we fulfill this?’ but I say, where there is a will there is a way.”
 
Saying that there is a strong partnership between the Pan American Health Organisation and the World Health Organisation, the Caribbean Public Health Agency, Caricom and other agencies in giving assistance to the QEH, he also challenged the University of the West Indies to develop specific modules for infection prevention control as part of their curriculum for the education of the young medical professionals. (JMB)
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Lawyers urged to uphold professional conduct

October 17, 2016, 9:00 pm
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As 45 new attorneys were admitted to the Bar on Friday, Chief Justice Sir Marston Gibson encouraged these individuals to conduct themselves in a manner that would not hurt the profession’s reputation.
 
In a short address during the special sitting of the Supreme Court at White Park Road, he insisted that even though the profession’s standing has been hurt over the years by a few bad apples, it is still a noble one.
 
“One dishonest lawyer often leads to the wholesale castigation of the entire profession,” he stated and therefore told the new attorneys that they were to be their brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.
 
In addition, he warned the group that there are serious consequences for any ethical missteps, noting that throughout their practice they must always be perceived as the “consummate professional”. 
 
Speaking from his own personal observations, Sir Marston also encouraged new lawyers to find the time to head into the law courts to watch court proceedings in order to learn proper court procedure and protocol; a failing which is leading to some “surprising” behaviours.
 
“Regrettably, we don’t see many young attorneys coming to Court simply to observe and learn, and that lack of practical, local knowledge and experience often shows up in remarkable ways. It is sometimes surprising to see an attorney in open court sitting when a judge is speaking to him or her, and on one occasion which I can recall vividly, an attorney was sitting while purporting to address the Court of Appeal in open court!
 
“Another instance which now bedevils the Court of Appeal is the burgeoning number of applications seeking in the Court of Appeal a stay of execution of an order made in the Court below. As a matter of good practice, it is, or used to be, expected that when an adverse ruling was made or judgement delivered, the losing attorney would immediately be on her or his feet respectfully requesting a stay of execution of the order for six weeks,” he added.
 
The Chief Justice therefore gave his support to the intention expressed by the Barbados Bar Association to begin a training programme aimed at introducing new attorneys to the norms of behaviour and practice at the Bar and in the writing of skeleton arguments or briefs, urging the new lawyers to take advantage of this. (JMB)
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