A select group of students at the Sharon Primary School in St. Thomas, have been dubbed the Sharon Environmental Avengers and their job is to lead by example, in ensuring that the environment there is kept litter-free and is indeed pleasing to the eye.

During the installation ceremony held recently at the school, Principal Pamela Small-Williams noted that the environmental initiative started with an idea from three seven to eight-year-old boys.

“On Thursday November 2017, three boys, Jeighon Williams, Razario Connell and Jared Padmore expressed their desire to commence a litter-free campaign at the school.

After permission was obtained from their parents, nothing seemed more attractive to the boys after lunch, than their goal – a litter-free environment. Today, this has evolved into an Environmental Avengers Club, with Miss Maxine Walker as the coordinator,” the principal explained.

“While the benefits of creating and maintaining a healthy school environment must be understood, the reality of children at the tender ages of seven to nine who understand the importance of a sustainable hygienic environment and are motivated to organise themselves to assist in such a tangible way, is quite remarkable,” she added.

During the installation ceremony, the boys and girls in the Club received their certificates from Minister of the Environment and National Beautification, Trevor Prescod as Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Cynthia Forde, who serves as the Parliamentary Representative for St. Thomas, looked on in support.

Minister Prescod stressed that he is depending on the Sharon Environmental Avengers and youth in general in schools to spread the word about the need to better take care of the environmental, so that the adults can catch on.

“What you are doing here is creating a new culture, not only at the schools, but a culture that you will take through the physical environment in which you reside and you can start to influence your parents, your neighbours, other children in the community, because what we want to do ultimately, is to have the cleanest and the most beautiful country in the Caribbean – coming out of Barbados – and you are the [pioneers] who will take the initiative in doing that,” he stated.

“I want you to help me to do that, because if it is not done, I will have to bring strict legislation, because people must learn how important hygiene is, having these sanitary conditions around us,” the Minister further commented. (RSM)

MORE than 63 000 Barbadian households as well as 1 700 businesses will be getting back outstanding refunds totalling millions of dollars.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley announced yesterday that this one-off payment will cost the Government $39 million, and that since it represents a debt owing to taxpayers, this payment will not only put cash into pockets but keep the country on track with its debt reduction targets.

However, to receive refunds, individuals need to go to the BRA website or office and fill out a simple form. She also promised that the sum payments for pensioners will be made on March 29.

According to her, amounts above $1 000 will be repaid in full over the course of the next three years as and when cash flows allow. “In total, the last government held back $108 million of taxpayers’ money. In three years’ time we would we would have paid back every last cent,” Mottley assured.

“In total, non reimbursement of overpayments of VAT and corporation taxes by companies from 2011-2016 reached a staggering $166 million,” she said.

“As with personal income tax refunds, these payments will directly reduce our debt and in addition to boosting growth in our economy, lower our debt levels, which will support our credit ratings.”

Ms Mottley said that these are one-off payments to taxpayers, timed to help transition the economy from stabilisation to growth.

“We expect that this tax relief will pull the economy out of the contraction we saw last year. Against this background we look forward to a resumption of growth in 2020.”
(JB)

The Government of Barbados continues to provide targeted assistance to the manufacturing sector by way of the Special Technical Assistance Programme administered through the BIDC.

So says Ronald Toppin, Minister of International Business and Industry, who was speaking at the launch of BMEX 2019 at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre yesterday.

He explained: “This programme was established with the specific goals of fostering the development of a sustainable internationally competitive export sector; assisting indigenous enterprises to develop and expand their share of the local market, and assisting enterprises to achieve independent financial sustainability.
“Almost $50 million have been disbursed from the Fund over the 18 years of its administration. Some 414 companies have received direct benefit from this intervention, to the tune of $25.9 million or 51.8% of total disbursements. The competitive position of these companies was further strengthened through 35 sector initiatives to which the remaining $24 million were allocated.

Among these were initiatives geared towards the development of condiments, crafts, fashion design, food and beverages, furniture, garments, jewellery, rum, animation, botanicals, creative industries, music and the cruise sector. These initiatives also facilitated participation by clients in a myriad of trade missions and local and overseas trade shows, including Barbados Fashion Week, Caribbean Fashion Week, the Barbados Manufacturers’ Trade Exhibition and the Caribbean Gift and Craft Show.”

He added, “Indeed, this long-standing exhibition, which has been the premier platform for the introduction of exciting new products to the market, has been a major beneficiary of support, with BDS$12.8 million or 26% of those funds being channeled into the BMA/BMEX/CRAFT Enhancement Programmes.

“Each year, this signature event of the BMA and its industry partners, provides the opportunity for local producers and service providers to interact with their publics, obtain feedback, create new networks, solidify their patronage and be exposed to the interests of regional and international buyers. This year’s BMEX has several new features that I hope can bring new life to the event. The BMA has relooked its efforts to better facilitate the promotion of economic activity throughout Barbados and will be introducing a number of pop-up exhibitions leading up to BMEX 2019 to be held June 7-10th. These pop-ups represent collaborative efforts with key agencies such as the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., the Barbados Tourism Product Authority and the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association and will feature a photo-snap competition.”

Toppin acknowledged, “It is no secret that Barbados is currently enduring one of the most difficult periods in its economic history. At the core of all that the current government has achieved thus far in striving to positively transform this economy, is the programme aimed at Retooling, Empowering, Retraining and Enfranchising Barbadians. As we seek to modernise, upgrade and transform the Barbadian economy to one that is highly-skilled and knowledge-based, the manufacturing sector has a critical role to play.

“In recognition of this, the Government endorses yet another new project about to be launched on March 27th by the BIDC. Accelerate 20/20 is a collaborative initiative, which aims to identify, prioritize and provide integrated developmental assistance to 20 high-growth potential companies that have the capacity to earn significant foreign exchange through exports or provide meaningful foreign exchange savings through import replacement. This programme runs to the end of 2020. Accelerate 20/20 is supported by two other initiatives of the BIDC: The New Product Development Programme and the Innovate Barbados campaign. These three programmes will work in tandem to foster the growth of more Barbadian businesses that operate at the intersection of creativity and commerce. And you will be hearing much more of Accelerate 20/20 in the coming days.”

Is government considering the introduction of casino gambling in Barbados?

Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley made this query in light of the announcement by Prime Minister Mia Mottley in the 2019 Budget that effective May 1, there will be a 20 per cent withholding tax on winnings from lotteries and betting, as well as a 17.5 per cent gambling tax on the net-drop of all gaming establishments.

In his reply, Atherley stated that government’s movement of taxes for betting and gaming from $3 million to $13 million in the Estimates was the first signal that “something significant was coming down relative to this activity”.

“It seems to me as if we are intending to introduce casino gambling in Barbados, from these figures and from what was said. If I am wrong, please correct me. I do not want to be misled or be misleading anybody. That is my understanding. We cannot sneak it in by not mentioning its name,” he said in the Lower House yesterday.

He pointed out that this move appeared to be intended for tourists and to target foreign exchange and therefore asked for clarity on the move.

“Government expects to benefit from this activity by means of a 20 per cent withholding tax on gambling winnings and a 17.5 per cent gambling tax on the net drop of all gaming establishments. I am not here suggesting anything one way or the other as to the advisability of that. I am simply saying it seems so to me. If we are going to do it, just say so very clearly because whatever we call it and however skilfully we introduce it, it still becomes a part of our reality, but the caution would be that the countervailing impact upon our social and institutional landscape could well be realised in corruption, money laundering, organised crime and other socially undesirable phenomenon,” he noted. (JMB)

OPPOSITION Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley has knocked the ad hoc fashion in which the government’s fiscal measures are seemingly being implemented.

In his reply to the Appropriation Bill 2019 in the Lower Chamber yesterday evening, Bishop Atherley drew reference to a number of changed policies which he says are coming across as impulsive.

Bishop Atherley used the change of water rates for businesses as an example. “At July 1 2019, the second tax band will be over $50 000 and at a rate of 33.5 per cent. Then we are told by January 2020, it will drop back to 28.5 per cent. There seems to be a lot of movement. A lot of fluctuation in tax policy,” he stated.

“I do not know that makes for certainty and gives comfort either to the business community or to the private taxpayer. It almost suggests that the government is engaging in fiscal policy formulation by impulse. Whatever the driver, both individuals and businesses suffer injury,” he said.

He pointed to the hotel VAT rate intended for January 2020, to move from 7.5 to 10 per cent rather than 15 per cent as previously indicated.

“At the same time as that proposal was made last year, it was said as a temporary measure as we reach that level of VAT, in this context, there would be a room-rate levy which would be temporarily applied. We are told now that temporary room rate level is now to be permanent, even as the VAT moves from 7.5 to 10.”

He also pointed to the move in Corporation Tax rate from 25 per cent to 30 per cent some months ago. “Almost before the ink could dry on those documents, we were hearing that the tax rate...was then to be brought back to a point of 1.5 to 5 per cent.... so that we could satisfy some requirements with respect to our overall corporate tax rate, vis a vis domestic companies and international business companies to satisfy international institutional requirements. So that was a change. I am suggesting that one could easily think that there is ad hoc and impulse at work in these very important matters.”

The Opposition leader also alluded to the 40 per cent tax rate in the first budget of June to be applied to those earning $75 000 and up.

“We are now doing away with that. We announced a debt restructure which captured in its net a class of pensioners in Barbados, relative to a specific category of security. They were caught in the debt. And after hue and cry, government changed its position...”

“Debt restructuring to pensions was revised as well. There is the impression that there is ad hocism and impulse at work.”
(JH)

The Budget, as presented by the Prime Minister of Barbados, and Minister of Finance, Mia Amor Mottley, outlines two incentives for Barbadians to invest in developing the country.

This comment was made by John Edward Clarke, COO and General Manager Sagicor Life Inc., during a panel discussion that took place during the Post Budget Breakfast Discussion, hosted by the BCCI in collaboration with PwC, which was held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre yesterday morning.

“This budget is one of the first where we actually see two incentives for Barbadians to invest in developing the country. We have been clamouring for this, the green bond fund certainly is going to be a big plus for Barbadians,” he said.

He believed that this was something that needed to be done, as individual Barbadians were in dire need of more avenues to invest in.

“There is very little to invest in in Barbados, the stock market is dormant; we need to generate opportunities and this is an incentive for people to put their money into something that can generate good returns and I agree with Winston, I think the tax credit is a wonderful avenue for that,” he said.

“There is no doubt that the additional cash flow coming out of the Vat refunds and Income Tax Refunds, and the lower Income Tax rates, there’s going to be much more spendable income and I am hopeful that people don’t just spend all on material items and consumer type items, although that would help businesses in Barbados, but I would like to see some investing money wisely.”

He lightheartedly added that he believed that some “wise financial thinking would help them for life” as he believed that it was time for the wider Barbadian public to understand the value of investing.

Clarke highlighted that trying to help and work with the wider Barbadian public to understand the value of investing was something that has been tried in the past and results were not promising, however, he believed that now was the time to tackle this problem again and help persons to see the true value of taking risks, managing a risk and getting returns for that risk.

There is a common misconception that persons with disabilities are not able to be productive and creative but one senior teaching administrator is emphasising this is simply not the case.

Earlier this month, Head of School of the Challenor Creative Arts & Training Centre, Sonia Pile spoke to The Barbados Advocate about the work the St. Thomas institution is doing in the areas of arts, craft, technology and culinary arts.

During the inaugural science and technology festival at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Pile showcased the tech talk devices as well as the projects being undertaken by the Adult Training Facility. Pile explained that students there learned about the process of yeast rising in baking through the preparation of Chelsea buns.

Creation of mahogany wine racks and amplifiers
The school’s presentation also included wine racks and wooden amplifiers made from mahogany trees found at the institution. Pile said that the amplifiers on display were sold to UWI and the facility makes other items for sale such as cutting boards, ironing boards, chess boards and its pieces.

The Head of School wanted to dismiss the misconception that the students do not have skills and pointed out that all of them have capabilities but it is how to expose that talent.

Change of perception needed
Talented as the students are The Barbados Advocate asked if any efforts were being made to sensitise others to the disabled community. Pile noted that in the past, children at the primary level were invited to a Children’s Christmas Party at Challenor. The Head of School explained the Primary School children just stared at the children with special needs. Pile expressed the view that there is a need to talk and learn more about persons with disabilities in the home and the wider society.

“The wider society has to accept persons with disabilities first before their children can do it,” said Pile.

It was a deeply emotional moment for the recently installed New Zealand High Commissioner, Anton Ojala, as he paid a visit to Barbados’ Jama Mosque to share his condolences and support to the representatives of the Muslim community here on the island.

Between moments of visible sadness, the commissioner revealed that there had been and significant outpouring of grief across New Zealand as the country came to terms with the senseless and brazen terrorist attack it experienced the week before. Though he acknowledged his homeland was still trying to come to grips with the attack, he assured persons who were gathered at the mosque today, that the Government of New Zealand had no shred of tolerance for violence, extremisms, or antagonism against the muslim people or others peacefully practising their faith.

“We are one of the most multicultural nations in the world, and we value and celebrate our diversity. New Zealand stands in solidarity with the Muslim community around the world against terrorism, extremism and hate. We are deeply grateful for the many messages of support we have received from across the region, including from the Muslim community”, Ojala said.

He also shared how Barbadians could assist in this time of grief, by not sharing the disturbing video of the attack, which has been seen on all corners of social media being shared.

He added, “…there is no need for any right-thinking person to view or share this material. Doing so only compounds the grief of the victims’ families.”

Members of the Jama Mosque located in Kensington New Road, also shared their condolences with the visiting commissioner. Leader of the mosque, Imam Akhil Bhula, thanked Ojala for his support and the support of the New Zealand government, who after the attack, sought to reassure the Muslim community, that they were always welcome to practice their faith amongst them, without fear of intolerance.

“What was a source of strength, was that people all over the world, from different faiths and backgrounds, supported and offered words and encouragement [to us]. Generally, the tendency throughout the world, was that of sympathy and compassion. I would like to take this opportunity, and I hope that you will be able to pass on this message to the Prime Minister of New Zealand; the leadership she has shown throughout this whole unfortunate event, the compassion, the love and empathy; that was something that shows what true leadership is about. I am sure New Zealanders around the world, [are] proud of her for showing this sort of character.”

“Tax relief on one hand and a tax grab with the other.”

Democratic Labour Party (DLP) President Verla Depeiza used this statement to describe the 2019 Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals.

Speaking at the Errol Barrow Gallery yesterday, she outlined that while direct or indirect taxation were ways to generate revenue, a “muddling” of the two created “too much of a burden”.

“When you have relief from income tax but then you have to pay higher land taxes and worse, you have to pay a penalty if you cannot afford to develop your property, then the net effect hurts. On top of that, tax on online transactions – which was not dealt with in the budget – would come on stream shortly…

“On top of that it seems like you are spreading the pain when you move businesses from being zero rated to being exempt… For example, if you have inputs like stationery and you have to spend VAT you can claim it back even though you have a zero-rated business. Moving it to exempt, you don’t have to report it at all, so you would not have an opportunity to set off the VAT you have paid out, and that seems as though it is making businesses pay more on their tax liability, but what are these businesses to do other than transfer it to their consumers. So once again the cost to the consumer goes up,” she added.

Depeiza also outlined the ongoing issue of retrenchment, while saying that more information was needed on the process.

“Adjusting income tax only benefits you if you have a job. It will have zero impact on the thousand that have already lost their job from the public sector, the thousand to come or any number, because we have not been told any number in relation to the job losses in the private sector, but we know they are happening,” she stated.
(JMB)

As of September 2018, there has been an active and vibrant sign language programme at the Lawrence T. Gay Memorial School and one member of the disabled community believes that this can be extremely beneficial to students’ academic learning abilities.

During an interview with The Barbados Advocate, Felicia Gaskin, affectionately known as “Aunty Fay” by the students, noted that since she is affected by loss of hearing, she felt extremely privileged to be able to teach the children in Reception, Infants A and Infants B, how to sign.

“They are very enthusiastic about the programme and I love their passion. There is always that eagerness to want to learn and I’m so thrilled about that,” she smiled.

“As scientists have noted those years between birth and seven years of age are the most critical years in a child’s development; that is because their brain is like a sponge and what they learn during that time sticks, so at a very young age, the students at the Lawrence T. Gay Memorial Primary school are encouraged to be bilingual.”

She considered learning sign language to be a second language as children are now able to answer questions using sign language.

Gaskin went on to note that there were many myths about what sign language was, and clarified that knowing one language helps us to understand the other. She explained that in English, we read the words, but sign language helps us to understand the meaning of those words.

She expressed that while the children learn sign language, it helps them to think about how they are going to illustrate with their hands what they want to communicate as they are trained to think of logical sequences of actions when learning to translate phrases.

Gaskin added that she believes having children learn sign language from a young age is practical.

“Think about the practicality of it all, when the children enter Class 1 and start writing compositions, they would already have the idea of how to put ideas into logical order as they are trained from as early as reception on how to think and brainstorm ideas,” she said.

Despite yesterday’s grey skies, the students of Lawrence T. Gay Memorial School were in high spirits as they enjoyed their Health and Disabilities Awareness Day.

Deborah Stoute-Burke, Senior Teacher and Public Relations Officer told The Barbados Advocate that the idea of yesterday’s awareness day was a result of them aiming to look at healthy, physical activity with their students. She noted that since the school’s theme this year was “Working Together to Build Strong Communities” they sought to include members of the disability community as well.

She revealed that they had persons from the Cancer Society, Kidney Association, Endometriosis Association, Asthma Association and persons offering alternative medicines in attendance as well.

She noted that they also had aerobics sessions led by Westbury Primary School Teacher, Dario Stoute, and line dancing.

The PRO expressed that it was their hope to introduce children to persons with disabilities in society and show them that those persons still had a role to play in the community and wider society.

“We also involved parents in the day. So, it’s like a community outreach because we realise that when we involve the parents in these activities we get a better response from parents when it comes to checking in on how their children are performing, and they feel more comfortable to come in and talk about their children’s progress,” she said.

She added that on top of the physical activity the children were going to be involved in, they were also going to be exposed to healthy food options as they would be encouraged to eat natural foods and drink water and natural juices.

She went on to explain that the reason they chose to include persons of the disability community to be part of their fun day was because they realised that the children were becoming more aware of persons with disabilities, and they are hoping to play a significant role in helping to sensitise students.

“We found that our children, because of the community we live in, are more aware of persons with disabilities and we also have a volunteer who is with us every day, ‘Aunty Fay’, and as part of our outreach programme she’s here on a regular basis,” she said.
“So disability is not new to this school and we are hoping to play our part in sensitising our children and making them more aware.”

Members of this island’s Environmental Health Department will be involved in training during the coming week in the area of water safety.

Chief Environmental Health Officer, Francina Bascombe disclosed this as she spoke the St. Philip Polyclinic’s World Water Day ceremony yesterday. This event was comprised of a number of informative presentations by representatives of governmental and non-governmental agencies.

“As a Department, we are embarking on training of our team of officers starting next week, where we are ensuring that all of us understand the value of our scarce resource and to ensure that when we go out there all of us are speaking the same language and doing the same things. So we intend to train our officers over the next couple of weeks to ensure that the water you receive is safe. That the potable water you are using for drinking is safe; the water that you are using when you go to the swimming pools – that too is safe.”

During her remarks, Bascombe also highlighted some of the duties of environmental health officers which include routinely collecting potable water samples and having them tested for bacteria, as well as collecting and testing water in swimming pools. This is done to ensure that locals and visitors will not get sick when they drink water from the tap or use swimming pools across the island.

She reminded those present not to take having access to clean drinking water daily for granted.

“The theme for World Water Day 2019 is ‘Leaving No One Behind’. As a water scarce country, we in Barbados must make sure that we are not left behind. To this end, every citizen in Barbados must play their part and conserve water so that our precious, scarce resource can remain safe and assessable to all.” (MG)

THE issues concerning the Caribbean airline, LIAT, are being dealt with and progress is being made.

In an interview with media, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, explained that they are currently embarking on a series of emergency meetings, which he has called as Chairman of LIAT’s majority shareholding governments.

This meeting is the second of its nature, as Barbados would have played host to one earlier this month at Government Headquarters.

This meeting came about as a way for the governments and shareholders to find solutions and ways to ensure that the airline continues to operate despite the much-needed infusion of funds.

Following that meeting, Gonsalves highlighted that progress had been made and that they are on the right path towards finding solutions for the financial difficulties the Caribbean airline is currently facing.

Yesterday’s meeting was another step in the right direction.

“We just finished the meeting and I don’t want to comment on what we have done as yet, except to say that we are embarking on a series of consultation emergency meetings which I called,” Gonsalves said.

He noted that it was his intention to have Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, present and as such had to hold the meeting yesterday as Mottley is set to travel to the People’s Republic of China shortly.

“We had the President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) here and representatives from Dominica and also Antigua and Barbuda, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, and the management, so it’s a work in progress,” he said.

“On Wednesday at 11 a.m. here in Barbados, we have a further discussion with the unions and a message to give to them from this meeting. So it really is just a work in progress at the moment.

“We are trying to maintain an airline service while at the same time trying to carry out the requisite restructuring including our options, which hitherto have not been considered but which are all on the table as outlined with the consultancy report from the CDB.”

As such, Gonsalves noted that he was not able to divulge the details surrounding the meeting they had yesterday.

Being screened and getting tests done regularly are important.

This sentiment is being stressed by President of the Cancer Support Services (CSS), Henderson Griffith. During an interview with The Barbados Advocate yesterday morning, Griffith highlighted that data showed that colon cancer was ranked third on the lists of cancers that directly affected Barbadians, and since colon cancer was one that was not easily detected until it was too late, he believes it is important for persons to be tested regularly.

Yesterday, the Cancer Support Services hosted a Colon Cancer Screening event at their new headquarters in an effort to continue to raise awareness on the importance of regular testing.

“This morning we had 20 people come in so far to be tested and we were able to give away the first 10 free tests that we advertised,” he said.

“It has been proven that screening saves lives, following instructions saves lives. And unfortunately, you would find that more men have the tendency to succumb to this cancer than women and to me it’s because men don’t like to be checked. So I try to emphasise the importance of screening and getting these tests done.”

Griffith stressed that the CSS was going to keep hosting events such as yesterday’s until persons understood the importance of getting screened.

In his presentation, Griffith highlighted that the data showed that colon cancer was one of the cancers that affected Barbadians.

“The numbers are there. We just need to get it out to the public and educate them. That’s really what this is all about, educating and getting the community to do regular checks and things done and then following the doctor's orders when they get checked,” he said.

He went on to note that 50 was the age persons would go in to get tested for such a cancer, however, the number of persons who were younger than 50 years old developing colon cancer was increasing.

It is against this backdrop that Griffith is urging persons to take their “medical situations in their own hands” and get screened regularly, because when you start to notice the symptoms of colon cancer, it may be too late. (CLF)

A CALL has been made for greater clarity on the hotel projects earmarked for development on the island which are said to represent an investment of nearly $2 billion in a three-year period.

Speaking in the Lower Chamber on Thursday night, Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley in this reply to the Appropriation Bill 2019 called into question, the Hyatt Hotel, the Sam Lord’s Castle project, the injection of funds to the Hilton Barbados and the property at Paradise.

“Humbly, I suggest that we need some further clarity on government’s position with respect to the Hilton. We have been told the government is not selling the Hilton as the last administration apparently were determined to do. We are told the Hilton needs $40 million of injected investment. We are told that having renegotiated the deal, I am using the language – ‘we have successfully renegotiated that deal so that government remains in full ownership. The $40-million investment still takes place and is funded by a share of new profits’.”

“In other words, and I’m quoting, ‘profits over and above what the government is now receiving’. That language is not clear to me and maybe the fault lies with me, but I understand that the former government made some arrangements to sell. That deal is now a matter of past but this government has indicated it is not interested in so doing.”

“I still would like to know – the past administration intended to sell – to whom it intended to sell the Hilton? What is the source of the $40-million investment which will still be inserted into the mix of things with reference to the Hilton and what are the profit sharing arrangements of which the statement of yesterday spoke?”

Additionally he called for greater elucidation on the Hyatt Hotel and the property next to it which has been compulsorily acquired.

“The question I would ask is what is the market value of that old property? Are there any planning gains to be associated with the potential development relative to the Hyatt? What is the current status of the planning process around the Hyatt project?”

“Controversy had swirled around this project relative to the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment. We are now advised further than the development will be configured otherwise than originally planned and with completely different proportions over a larger land space. So one would hope that the appropriate consultations with the community mostly impacted would have taken place or that there are taking place. That the requisite studies would have been undertaken or in the process of being undertaken. Studies with reference to environmental, coastal and community impact.”

As it relates to the future of Sam Lord’s Castle, he said the presentation by Prime Minister Mottley on Wednesday suggested the sale of Sam Lord’s Castle. “This would perhaps be unfortunate if this option for sale prevailed over the equity investment arrangement option which it also seems to be in existence.”

“Parliament needs to be updated on the property-related debt issues and the extent to which these debt issues has been tidied up.”

He also queried about the envisioned development of Paradise, and called for greater information on the failed project.

“Information relative to the high level of National Insurance Funds invested in the project over which there is still not full declaration as to the eventual outcome with respect to those funds and investment in the project, and also Government’s guarantee of $120 million to the Ansa Bank Trinidad and Tobago.”

“Paradise, over the years has had a lot of controversy attached to the site. In more recent years a lot of controversy in various phases. Barbadians need to hear to the extent that this information is... What has become of investment relative to NIS funding and the government guarantee for the $120 million out of the bank in Trinidad?” he queried. (JH)

The Government’s retrenchment exercise is not a cue to the business community to follow suit.

In fact, Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations, Colin Jordan is encouraging the private sector to use layoffs as a last resort.

“It has become customary when there are separations in the public sector, it appears as if it is almost followed immediately by separations in the private sector,” he pointed out, while addressing the formal opening of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) 75th Annual General Conference at the Horatio Cooke Complex, Dalkeith Road, St Michael.

"I want to say to every one that the spirit of the social dialogue that we are engaged in; the spirit of the agreement to rebuilding our country and growing our economy, suggest that we are in this together. And that we are going to share in the pain so that in the not too distance future, we can share in the benefits.”

The Labour Minister also reiterated the need for all employers, in all sectors, to treat workers with respect, stressing “treat workers as the human beings that they are”. He said that the Government of Barbados fully supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular Goal 8, which states the need to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

Jordan said that the Government of Barbados practices what it preaches, giving the assurance that the former employees of Barbados Investment & Development Corporation (BIDC) will be receiving their dues.

“I would want to assure you that the government as we speak is working to resolve the matter of those persons from the BIDC, who were separated from employment and we are working to ensure that payments that are due are made in the shortest possible time. The attorneys are working to resolve the matter as we speak because those former workers are human beings and they deserve to be treated as human beings,” he said.

Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley is calling on members of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to “stay focused”.
She gave this appeal yesterday while addressing the congregation at the Calvary Moravian Church during the BLP’s Founders’ Day Service. The Party marks its 81st anniversary this year.

Mottley further urged members to “remain anchored in those values that inspired not just Grantley Adams, but all who were surrounding him at every stage and at every level and all who came on the journey subsequently. Let us remember… that our journey is not only to bring from along those in the country, but to be able to inspire those who we must bring to help in this journey of the Party. We can sometimes take it for granted, but I ask all of us not to.”

The Prime Minister also reminded the party faithfuls that they have a duty to reach out to all Barbadians. She noted that there are multiple ways in which they have the skills and the capacity to make people’s lives different.

She urged them to “individually, collectively to rise up and to make that difference, to be that difference separately that our country so badly needs, that our people so badly want and that our legacy so much requires of us and if we can do that then we can lift our heads high knowing full well that we are truly on a new journey that [is] anchored in a legacy and a set of values that have been there to inspire so many but shall remain to inspire so many more”.(MG)

THEIR Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall culminated their official visit to Barbados with a service of worship, which was held at the Cathedral Church of Saint Michael and All Angels yesterday morning.

During the service, which was also attended by Governor General of Barbados Dame Sandra Mason, Diocesan Bishop, the Rt Rev’d Michael Maxwell described their visit as inspired and commissioned by God, as their Royal Highnesses make a number of stops across the Caribbean.

Bishop Maxwell said that their visit was also important as Barbados continues to face a period of difficulty.
“I believe He sent you to visit us like Moses to see firsthand the economic, social and moral issues that are currently affecting us here in the Caribbean and assist us in addressing them. To pledge your support, to dialogue with us and establish closer ties. To let us know genuine love and care for us and our desire to work with and lend a helping hand to us.”

“So I want to thank you. Thank you for responding to what I believe is God’s commission; for visiting us and offering us your love and support, your well-wishes and assistance; and I thank you as well because you certainly could have had some reservations in coming to us at a time such as this when our current affairs are not the very best. And our history of slavery to some extent still haunts us from time to time.

“But thanks be to God, you responded favourably and you came and you pledged your support to assist us where possible. And thanks be to God that most of us have learned to forgive the past and warmly welcome and accept your offer of support at this time.”

The Bishop told the congregation that the church has adopted seven themes which begin with the letter ‘C’ during the Lenten season. This week the focus will be on “commission”. He said that this does not extend solely to the Prince and the Duchess, but to all Christians to be able to hear the cries of each other and respond.

“Even now, God hears the cries of our Barbadian people. How many more? How many more violent deaths? How many more will turn to drugs, how many more will be laid off? How many more school drop outs? How many more will turn to a life of crime and gun violence? How many more will become indifferent to God and the sanctity of human life? How many more?

“We have not done well in the past to curb the past of the social, moral and economic ills. And so God now calls us, God now commissions us as Christians to rise up and to respond, respond immediately, intentionally and aptly.

“This is our commission my friends and day by day, wherever we are, and wherever we go, God calls on us to make a difference in the lives of others, to establish His Kingdom in their lives. The poor, the elderly, the at-risk youth, the physically challenged, the homeless, the vagrants, the single-parents, the sick and the terminally ill.
“It only takes a spark to get a fire going. Let us then light that spark. And diligently respond as God calls and commissions us to continue the work initiated by his son Jesus Christ.”

During their packed tour, Their Highness will visit Cuba, and will become the first British royals to make an official visit to that country. (JH)

THE Barbados Government should have nothing to do with the nine billion dollars which Barbadians have sitting on deposits at commercial banks.

This advice to the government and in particular to the Prime Minister, Mia Amor Mottley has come from George Connolly, a Businessman, and an unsuccessful Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate in the last general elections.

In the Budget she presented last week, Ms Mottley said that the growth and development challenge for most developing countries is how to find capital, often from abroad. Noting however that Barbados is not short of capital, the Prime Minister said that it has nine billion of domestic savings earning 0.1 per cent interest.

“Our growth and development challenge is how to mobilise these savings for domestic investment,” she said.

Connolly told last Friday’s DLP lunchtime lecture that the impression being given is that Barbadians seemed not know how to put those resources to proper usage.

Stating that the present administration is the first government in this hemisphere to have sullied the sanctity of Government bonds, he said that this is coming back to the same citizens who had invested in previous government paper. He said they should have nothing to do with those deposits.

He said that while up to now there has been no decision on the proposed new government bonds he is aware that they will mature in 15 years.

The lunchtime programme dealt with the recent Budget.

Connolly also said that there is no room for governments looking to make commercial investments profitable.

According to him, successive administrations have proven time and again that the government is a poor manager when it comes to commercial entities.

“The nature of government and the way it is set up does not lend to profitable commercial enterprises. We need to look very carefully at how we prevent future governments from being involved in commercial activities,” he advised.

The businessman pointed out that the old ways where lawmakers try to be commercial managers has never worked and will never work.

“We as a country need to make the decision to have government move away from commercial enterprises,” he said, although stating that is not to say that Government cannot have an interest in commercial businesses and taxpayers cannot have an interest.

THE Control of Disposable Plastics Bill is intended to help protect the environment and is expected to help make way for the establishment of new businesses in this country.

Leading off the debate on the Bill in the House of Assembly yesterday morning, Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Kirk Humphrey, said the plastics conversation is an important one to have, given the negative impact that plastics can have on the marine environment, the tourism industry and even our people, given that the microplastics consumed by the fish are in turn ingested by the persons who eat those fish.

His comments came as he explained some of the reasons why Government was seeking to ban single-use plastics. Humphrey, the Member of Parliament for St. Michael South, noted that many of those plastics end up as litter across the length and breadth of this country, and in turn cause significant flooding. Minister Humphrey made the point while noting that petroleum-based plastic bags do not disintegrate overnight, but can take as much as 1 000 years to completely break down.

“They say these bags last forever… The reality is, Sir, that we have to do something about the way we are doing business now in Barbados. Another reason, Sir, is that Barbados has aspirations to be a fossil fuel-free country by 2030. Most of these plastic bags are made from fossil fuels, so the reality is, if that is our long-term aspiration, Sir, it cannot be our long-term aspiration when our short-term issues for convenience is still perpetuating a model that is based on single-use plastics,” he added.

With that in mind, he said while Government is instituting the ban, it is imperative that Barbadians too change their behaviours, so as not to cause further harm to the marine life such as sea turtles.

“When you look at the intestines of a lot of these sea animals, these sea creatures, they are filled with plastic. We are killing the animals of the sea, we are killing the birds of the sky. We were meant to share this earth I believe with the animals, and we have to be careful, Sir, that we do not in seeking to do these things to give ourselves short-term pleasures, destroy a whole ecosystem and then destroy ourselves,” he said.

He added, “I have a big concern of course as it pertains to the reef and the damage that we are doing to the reef. Not by the physical things that lay on the reef, of course those are concerns to me too, but Mr. Speaker, Sir, because all of these things lead to the bleaching of the reef, which then contributes to the reef dying.”

Humphrey said when the reef starts to die that would pose a “big problem” for this country, as the reef is an attraction for tourists and also serves as a barrier between the waves and coast. As such, he said while the cost of the alternatives to the petroleum-based plastics are a little more expensive, he is adamant that there is comparison when compared to the cost to the country for continuing to use styrofoam and other such plastics.

The Minister went on to say that Government’s goal is to make Barbados the cleanest society in the Caribbean, and he is calling on Barbadians to assist them in their efforts.

“There are some simple adjustments we are going to have to make, Sir, to make it work,” he added. (JRT)