THE agricultural sector could benefit tremendously from having a high-ranking police officer assigned to network with its stakeholders.

That’s the view of Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), James Paul. Speaking to The Barbados Advocate following Friday’s National Consultation on Praedial Larceny hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Paul insisted that just as there is a Tourism Liaison Officer in the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF), a position akin to that is required to deal with the instances of crop and livestock theft plaguing farmers in this country. Paul says such an appointment would signal that the issue of praedial larceny is as serious for the authorities as it is for the farmers.

There is a recommendation for a dedicated police unit to deal with the issue, but Paul, cognisant of the manpower concerns, admitted that while a good idea, it may not be feasible at this time and an agricultural liaison officer maybe the better fit. That individual, he said, would be responsible for keeping in contact with farmers groups around the country, allowing them to get a sense of where thieves are likely to strike. He added that then where there may be a need to augment that law enforcement support during a particular season, because of high demand for particular produce, it could be done.

“If we had someone in the Force monitoring what is happening in the sector, we could catch the culprits in the act and they would be able to address the issues that farmers bring to them. Right now there is no specific officer in the Force that farmers can go to, but if there was, I am sure that farmers would more readily report cases of praedial larceny, because I can tell you right now I don’t believe farmers report all the cases due to frustration and a feeling that justice will not be served,” he stated.

His comments came as he said among the main concerns farmers have in the fight against this illegal activity, is the slow response time of police when contacted about incidents of praedial larceny and the failure of the courts to impose maximum penalties.

The BAS official is of the strong belief that imposing the maximum penalties could help to discourage those who engage in reaping what they have not sown. The BAS head maintained that if Barbados is to truly get a handle on the praedial larceny issue, there must be proper enforcement of the existing legislation, even as efforts are made to bring new legislation on board.

“There is a manpower problem in the police force, and putting wardens as proposed by the new Act may work, but the truth is to what extent will wardens really help when you still have to come back to the judicial system to get a conviction? So the ability of the police force to deal with cases of praedial larceny needs to be considerably enhanced and the judiciary needs to respond to the concerns of the farmers in terms of the sentences, because no one piece of legislation will solve the problem if all the players are not on board,” he maintained.

Paul went on to say there is also a need for a public education drive to raise Barbadians’ awareness about praedial larceny and its negative impact. He said at present such theft is often not frowned upon by the general public, and this he maintained must be addressed. So long as that callousness continues, he said, praedial larceny will continue to be condoned.

“It is against the law, but we hear people say they only took a little cane, or a few potatoes. It is stealing, plain and simple,” he contended. (JRT)

Students considering continued studies at one of the island’s 11 Six Form schools converged at The St. Michael School, yesterday.

The second National Sixth Form Fair, hosted by the Barbados Association of Principals of Public Secondary Schools (BAPPSS) gave third to fifth year students from both public and private secondary schools an opportunity to hear from representatives of the island’s six form schools about what each one offers, and how to choose the right subjects from early.

“In an increasingly competitive national and global environment, it is critical that students and parents make informed decisions regarding education and career paths,” President of BAPPSS, Juanita Wade expressed during the opening ceremony.

“The job opportunities that exist at present and that will manifest themselves in the future, are changing at a rapid pace; therefore, we believe it is incumbent on us as educators to keep abreast of the administrative, guidance and pedagogical best practices that will redound to the benefit of students across the island,” she added.

In addition to Business, Mathematics, Literature, Foreign Languages, Pure and Applied Sciences, and the Humanities students were also told that they can pursue subjects as diverse or new age as Law, Physical Education and Sport, Art, Entrepreneurship, Digital Media and Tourism at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) level.

Wade, who is also the Principal of Harrison College therefore encouraged the students to take advantage of the event.

“This fair is important because sometimes our students don’t always know what they want to do… They really only know what is  being offered at their school, so it is important for them to understand what else they can do; what else is being offered. Also, it is not just about the CAPE programme but what activities are being offered at the other schools as well,” she said.

In 2017, the 1st National Sixth Form Fair was hosted by the Parent Teachers’ Association of the Lester Vaughan Secondary School, under the leadership of Donna Sealy.

“Since then, BAPPSS has seen the benefit of exposing the nation’s children to the possibilities of the bright future that lies ahead of each of them. Therefore, this year, BAPPSS, utilising the expertise of Ms Sealy is pleased to host the second fair,” Wade said. (TL)

The month of June has been designated as Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month and as such, the Myasthenia Gravis Association of Barbados is doing its best to raise awareness about the chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease, which affects some Barbadians.
Twenty-eight year old Deanne Phillips, the youngest member of the Myasthenia Gravis Association of Barbados, who has been diagnosed with the condition, spoke to The Barbados Advocate about efforts to raise awareness, to help persons better understand the battles persons with myasthenia gravis face, how they try to cope and what more can be done to assist those in the Association.

According to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disorder, characterised by fluctuating weakness of the voluntary muscle groups. The Mayo Clinic meanwhile points out that there’s no known cure for myasthenia gravis, but treatment can help relieve signs and symptoms, such as weakness of arm or leg muscles, double vision, drooping eyelids, and difficulties with speech, chewing, swallowing and breathing. Though this disease can affect people of any age, it’s more common in women younger than 40 and in men older than 60.

Deanne explains, “To put it simply, it means grave muscle weakness, it affects voluntary muscle. So we get tired quickly. Simple things like exercise or going up and down stairs, those kinds of things exacerbate the condition, so we have to be careful and watch what we do”.

“The number of persons that we know with myasthenia gravis is small, because a lot of people can live with the condition, but may not know that they have it. In terms of the symptoms of myasthenia gravis, if you are feeling tired, if you notice that your eye is drooping, if you notice that you are having problems swallowing. Those are the main symptoms that you look for. It doesn’t mean automatically that you have the condition, it can be something else going on, but if you experience those symptoms, you should definitely get it checked out, to make sure that everything is OK,” she pointed out.

Deanne meanwhile explained that she started out with “ocular myasthenia gravis”, a form of myasthenia gravis in which the muscles that move the eyes and control the eyelids are easily fatigued and weakened and then it later
progressed to the general form.

Pointing out that catching a simple cold can at times see her being hospitalised due to a weakened immune system, Deanna however noted that once persons understand their triggers, they can better cope.

“It affects everyone differently. I used to like to be out for Crop Over, but with the diagnosis, I am now unable to do that, because it takes a while to recover. Something as simple as a cold can actually trigger a myasthenic crisis, which is when the myasthenia acts up and you get problems swallowing, you get problems breathing or you can feel really weak, and you may need to be hospitalised,” she said.

“But I can still go out and have fun. I can still hold down a job, though there are times when it gets tedious, because it is hard on the body and sometimes it takes you longer to recover [from sickness] than it takes a normal person, if your immune system is compromised,” Deanne added.

Noting that she was recently diagnosed with arthritis in her knees at such a young age, she noted this as an additional complication. However, she is determined to live life to the fullest and to give of her best in all spheres of endeavour.

For the month of June, she is asking that persons wear teal, the international colour designated for myasthenia gravis, as the local Association makes the switch from its previous choice of emerald green. Barbadians can use the social media
platform to show off their attire and assist in raising awareness as well.

Deanne Phillips is also reaching out to corporate Barbados for assistance at the level of the Myasthenia Gravis Association, noting that with adequate funding, some members would be able to travel for conferences to enhance the Association’s effectiveness and do more outreach in Barbados.

Acknowledging the strong support of family and friends to date, Deanne however wants to see persons living with any disability, treated better and given more opportunities to excel.

“I find that a lot of the time people with autoimmune conditions are seen as people who are disabled or disadvantaged, because we are sick a lot. But what people don’t realise is that when we are actually there, we give a whole lot more, because we feel as if we have to prove ourselves to people. So then we come and we give of our best,” she noted.

“I have been a victim of discrimination. I would be the perfect candidate for a job, but if upfront I say have myasthenia gravis, employers don’t want to hire you anymore. I however wish some people would give us more of a chance. Once we have everything under control, we would actually be very valuable employees for the organisation,” Deanne concluded.

Surprise was the word used by St. Gabriel’s School student, Adriel Bayrd to describe to moment she found out she was the top female in this year’s 11-Plus examination.

Bayrd gained 99 percent in Mathematics, 97 in English and a C in her composition. She is allocated to Harrison College. She said she is pleased with her marks especially given that on her way to sit the 11-Plus she was nervous.

“When we were driving there, I was really anxious but then my mom and I prayed that I would get good marks and go in their calm and I did and I have come out and I am really happy with my marks.”

She further told The Barbados Advocate knowing she was the second top performer overall was “kind of overwhelming. I was really surprised but I knew that I went in their calm and I had God on my side and that is all I really needed.”

Her mom, Ronaele Dathorne-Bayrd and dad, Adrian Bayrd too are pleased with their daughter’s accomplishment. Her mom said she left the final decision on where her daughter would go secondary school to God.

“I prayed for Adriel to be admitted to a school where first, she would be nurtured, she would have good relationships, good friendships, that she would learn well and be safe and I put in in God’s hands to send her wherever that was going to be. I took guidance from her teachers in terms of what the better options were and we left it to God and let her do her best.”(MG)

The shortage of nurses at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) is being addressed.
Director of Nursing Services Henderson Pinder has given this assurance, while also making it clear that the number of healthcare professionals who departed the island’s primary acute care medical facility for opportunities overseas, has not been as vast as reported.
“The exodus of nurses from Barbados has always been an area of great concern. Yes, there are persons who have left the institution to go overseas, but at this time I want to say that we have not recorded that level of exodus which persons are referring too,” he stressed.

“Yes, some of the funds that are being offered in the remuneration packages do entice others but for all intents and purposes our nurses have not been leaving in any great numbers. I personally keep a daily check on our numbers to look at the exit rate and it has not been a large number”.

Pinder was at the time speaking to members of the media on the sidelines of the closing ceremony of CancerSupport Services (CSS)Palliative Care Enrichment Programme 2019.

He said that the QEH has been redoubling its efforts in terms of recruitment from other countries, such as the Philippines, India, Africa as well as our Caribbean neighbours.

“Also, we are working with the Barbados Community College (BCC) and the Ministry of Education to see if we can improve our pass rate which will ensure a greater number of new graduates coming into the nursing profession,” he indicated, further explaining, “BCC takes in students every year and they have been reporting good pass rate with the BCC examination. The problem arises when in order to practise within the Caribbean region or anywhere in the world, you need to sit and pass the regional examination which is your licensure examination.”

“However, to help in the situation we have opened up a number of positions at the hospital that we call a“graduate nurse” so that person would have passed the BCC exam, but not the regional exam – and they could function in that capacity for about 18 months before successing the programme”.

At the QEH there are currently 436 registered nurses, 185 nursing assistants and 50 health aids.

Accident & Emergency Department
“We have been increasing the number of nurses in the Accident & Emergency because of the plans for expansion of that department, so we have been incrementally increasing the number of nurses,” said Pinder, noting the placement of an additional six nurses in A & E in recent weeks, bringing the staffing compliment in that critical department to approximately 30.

“These persons were recruited specifically for the area. They come with critical care and emergency nursing training. They have come from extra-regional areas and they are helping us in terms of meeting the numbers for the projected expansion in A&E.”

The Director of Nursing Services further expressed that the QEH is always seeking to increase the number of persons with the prerequisite training to work in the A&E Department.

“One could understand that the persons who are in Accident and Emergency are kind of a “special breed” – their training, personality; the characteristics that they possess are critical to helping us keep that customer service basis going, yet the speed of operation in A&E and that common touch”. (TL)

“Great”, “Excellent”.

This in a nutshell was how Brandon Squires summed up the feeling of being the 2019 top performer overall in the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination (BSSEE).

The People’s Cathedral Primary School student wore a big smile as he spoke to The Barbados Advocate yesterday about this achievement. The Deputy Head Boy gained 100 per cent in Mathematics, 97 per cent in English and an ‘A’ in Composition.

In September, he is set to attend Queen’s College. He is looking forward to this because he will be joining his brother, Ethan Squires, who is a pupil of that school and he will be following in the footsteps of his mother, Miranda Squires, who also attended there.

His dad, Dwayne Squires, said both parents were happy for Brandon and his success.

“This is what he was aiming for, I am very grateful. Grateful to God first of all. Brandon is a Christian and we really give God thanks for this and I am thankful for his mother… She really took charge and she pushed Brandon along and I am really grateful.”

He added, “We knew Brandon would do well and this was his dream. I am just grateful he got his goal.”

Class 4 Teacher, Yvonne Green, was present during the interview and she too shared her joy about Brandon’s accomplishment of being the top overall and the top male student.

“It was stressful and challenging at times, but we persevered and Brandon is a very determined student and I knew he had the ability, so as his dad said with God’s help, his hard work, he achieved his goal.” (MG)

The Cabinet of Barbados has already approved new Postal Delivery Regulations for the island, which will serve to make the delivery of postal services a bit easier.

Minister of Home Affairs, Edmund Hinkson revealed the above to members of the media, as he toured several post offices across the island yesterday, with a top team from his Ministry and the Barbados Postal Service. The tour commenced at the St. Lucy Post Office, followed by the St. Peter Post Office, where Minister Hinkson interacted directly with staff and heard their concerns. He was also scheduled to visit the St. James, Eagle Hall and Welches Post Offices, concluding with the Brittons Hill Post Office.

“On Thursday in fact, Cabinet would have approved the actual regulations themselves and they will be shortly laid in Parliament, by way of what is called negative resolution, which would mean that 40 days after, once there are no objections by any member of Parliament, that they will become the law of Barbados. This will make the delivery of postal services a bit easier,” Minister Hinkson indicated.

“It will address a vexing issue, where dogs for instance may leave properties, because they are not well harnessed on the properties and harass postmen and that is unacceptable. It happened in my neighbourhood, while I was a Minister. I fully supported the stance taken by the Post Office then not to deliver the mail, because the dog was running all about the neighbourhood. So I experienced this by firsthand knowledge and in that case, the legislation will say ‘look, we are not delivering the mail if it is dangerous to our workers.
You have to come and collect your mail for a fee, at the post office’,” he maintained.

The Home Affairs Minister further noted that in terms of residential developments, once there is a community of more than 50 homes, the regulations will say that there must be a common area where postmen can deliver the mail, rather than have to go to all fifty or more houses in the development.

“For high rise buildings, both offices and residential, again, there must be an area on the ground floor where the mail can be delivered. All single homes will have to have a mailbox, because we know again that it is difficult on occasion delivering mail, if there is no mailbox,” Hinkson also said of the coming regulations.

The Minister also spoke of a study that is being conducted, which will lead to the modernisation of the postal services in Barbados and to make the Barbados Postal Service on a whole, more competitive.

It was October 6, 1976, when the citizens of Barbados and Cuba, stopped and recoiled in horror, at the terrorist bombing of Cubana Airlines flight 455 from Barbados to Jamaica. This tragic event took the lives of 73 passengers and crew, and left their friends and family to grieve over the lack of justice which was never served in the aftermath of the tragedy.

Yesterday, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Jerome Walcott, along with Cuba’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodríguez, took part in a wreath laying ceremony at the monument dedicated to the victims of the Cubana Airline disaster located in Payne’s Bay, St. James.

Senator Walcott was adamant about the importance of remembering the tragedy; not only to pay tribute to those who lost their lives, but to also use the opportunity to fight for peace around the globe.

“The monument at which we are gathered today was erected by the Government of Barbados as a simple but eloquent tribute to the memory of the victims of the Cubana crash. We come together annually to honour these victims whose names are carved into the monument and denounce this senseless act of terrorism. It is therefore imperative that the pursuit of international peace and security be of paramount importance to Barbados, Cuba and all peace-loving nations. Terrorism constitutes a major threat to the peace and security of the hemisphere and must be condemned in all its forms.”

Minister Rodriguez also mirrored the remarks made by Senator Walcott, stressing the importance of the Caribbean community being united as one against this and similar acts to terrorise its people. Justice for the victims was never fully realised to this day, but for the Minister, it is still of the utmost importance that we in the Caribbean stand firm against such violence.

“The masterminds behind this attack, who were true assassins and terrorists, lived peacefully in Miami until they died without facing the punishment they deserved according to the law and the seriousness of the crime they had committed. The monument that has been erected here is a proud remembrance of the victims of this abhorrent crime. It is also an expression of the sorrow shared by our Caribbean brothers and sisters who were also victims of the abominable attack,” Minister Rodriguez said.

After these brief remarks, both ministers laid wreaths on the monument with members of the Caribbean communities, diplomatic corps and families of the victims also gathering to pay their respects.

Pinelands Creative Workshop (PCW) is committed to helping equip this nation’s youth with the skills needed to be successful in the world of work.

During the opening ceremony of the 19th Annual Career and Life Management (CALM) Programme held this year under the theme “Employ-Ability”, which is being hosted by PCW, with support from the Maria Holder Memorial Trust and the Inter-American Development Bank, among other sponsors, Chief Executive Officer of the PCW, Sophia Greaves-Broome spoke of PCW’s thrust in that area, while noting that over the years the organisation has grown from a single focus of culture, to one that now focuses on economic and social development.

Referring to studies conducted by the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) in 2007 and 2011, she said males and females between the ages of 15 and 24 were considered most at risk and the main barriers to employment in that age group were related to them having poor basic education, poor work ethic, lack of marketable skills and a lack of work experience.

Greaves-Broome speaking to the findings of Employers Survey conducted between 2017 and 2018 through the Skills for the Future Programme, noted that employers in all sectors are still generally unsatisfied with the skills displayed by school leavers from both secondary and tertiary institutions. That survey, she noted, was carried out by MRSB Consulting Services, the firm contracted by the IDB to undertake the study.

“Concerns were with the inadequate level of adaptability, the inability to collaborate, poor communication, conflict resolution, customer service, decision making, time management skills and work ethic. Overall, the soft skills of secondary school leavers were of high concern. It was also suggested that this type of personal and professional gap can be a significant barrier to employment,” she said.

She added, “Over the last 19 years, the Pinelands Creative Workshop has had the opportunity to work with approximately 570 students to enhance their capacity to move effectively and efficiently in the workplace; to move towards further education, as well as explore entrepreneurship as a viable self-employment option… Education for sustainability used in the CALM Programme, encourages those involved to ask critical questions, clarify values, develop their transferable skills or soft skills, encourage them to envision more positive futures, think systematically and explore the relationship between traditional and innovation”.

Greaves-Broome added that as the world continues to shift, the purpose of education has shifted from that of economic wellbeing to that of international economic competitiveness.

“Although the economic wellbeing remains an important outcome of education for countries, communities, families and individuals, we are shifting again into global citizenship, social justice and sustainability. We should not get too comfortable, the world will continue to shift, but in the interest of our children are we keeping up? Are we aligning our education with the demands in the creative industries, blue and green economy and other emerging areas that can become avenues for economic sustainability at the individual and national level?” she queried.

Speaking also of the ease with persons can pursue higher education, including using online modalities, she said there is a need for international transferability and recognition of qualifications and credits. (JRT)

Today, on World Sickle Cell Day, the Hope Foundation continues to lobby for mandatory screening of newborns for this inherited blood disorder.

President of Hope Foundation, Shelley Weir, reiterated the need for early diagnosis, stressing that it is key to ensuring healthy and successful lives for sicklers, given the fact that babies with sickle cell usually appear normal at birth and only show signs of the condition after several months.

She said that with screening, babies with the disorder would be detected before complications occur.

Weir was at the time addressing a press conference held yesterday in observance of the 10th anniversary of World Sickle Cell Day, at the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) Headquarters.

“We have repeatedly advocated for this screening to be done. If we can have this facilitated in Barbados, we are confident that we would be able to answer the question of how many people in Barbados have sickle cell disease or the trait. Such testing will help to ensure that we can answer that question, but even more importantly, that those persons afflicted can have early access to treatment.”

It is also Hope Foundation’s desire that persons interested in starting families have that genetic test done. The goal is to know whether or not the family carry the sickle cell trait and if there is the possibility they could have a child with sickle cell anemia.

Furthermore, high on the Hope Foundation’s list of priorities for sicklers is pain management. Weir explained that sicklers experience intense pain and often times, excruciating pain which can be acute or chronic.

“In 2001, because sicklers were being told at the Accident & Emergency Department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital that they were neither accident or emergency, we called for them to be treated with the same priority as asthmatics. That call was thankfully heeded and it is important that it continues to be the order of the day,” the President stressed.

“Managing the pain of this disease has always been a major concern and has at times been ineffective, leading unfortunately to some patients being hooked on the medication prescribed to them, doing creative things to ease their pain such as forging prescriptions, injecting themselves and so on.”

While there may be a cure for sickle cell disease, Dr. Cheryl Alexis, Haematologist and Member of Hope Foundation’s Medical Advisory Board expressed that it is only “doable” in a small percentage of the sickle cell population.

“Those who have a sibling who matches them and that is basically about 10 per cent of the population,” she pointed out.

“So, in the meantime, we have to rally around our sickle cell community, help them as we can because the management is not only pharmacological, but it is also psychological…The persons who do well are the ones who have a lot of support rallying around them.”

Dr. Subira Hinds, who has battled sickle cell since childhood, shared that it is not easy living with the disease.

She said there are times when she is so ill that she cannot even bathe herself; so fatigued that an hour can seem like an entire day, and the painful crises are the worst.

“I have my family and friends who are all in my corner…Good support, education, quality medical care and self-advocacy all played roles in my life and my success. The whole community has a part to play when it comes to dealing with sickle cell - the individual, parents, teachers, church, employers and doctors just to name a few,” said Dr. Hinds, a member of Hope Foundation for over 20 years.

“I always wanted to do more for persons such as myself and contribute in some way to others who either have the condition or know someone with the condition. As such I became a member helping to raise awareness and advocate for sickle cell warriors.”

For some 10 years, World Sickle Cell Day has been commemorated every year on June 19th and Hope Foundation has been steadfast in its efforts to ensure that Barbados’ knowledge about this blood disorder, which can be lethal, is greatly enhanced. (TL)

The gun violence that has stained this country’s landscape in recent times is straining the already limited resources of the country’s main medical institution.

Minister of Health, Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic told the media the gun related incidents – which have claimed 19 lives since the beginning of the year – is impacting heavily on the Accident and Emergency (A&E) department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

“It is not only a case of the murders, but in particular gunshot wounds, because those require a lot more attention at the Accident and Emergency section of the QEH. It is having a serious impact and it is something that is creating some serious challenges for the team there, but they have been working flat out and I commend them for that,” he said.

Speaking at the Accra Beach Hotel on Monday, he told reporters that the A&E has also encountered several hiccups in the planned expansion of this department.

“With regards to the physical expansion of the A&E, we have had some challenges there. For example, the architect who was dealing with the project resigned and architecture and engineering within a hospital or any medical facility setting is not the same as the average building that you are constructing. It is very specialised. So there was some setback and we are at the stage now where we have a team together that is looking at one or two alternatives to what we wanted to do,” Bostic said.

While remaining upbeat this work would soon begin, he noted that in the interim, several initiatives were implemented by the hospital’s board and management to take the pressure off the A&E.

“I am speaking for example of the Minor Cases Unit and the establishment of a second triage station, which is the station where you can be assessed and the severity of your situation determined. So if you are non-emergency, they refer you to the Minor Cases Unit, where the wait time is far less than what you would normally spend. The A&E is an emergency facility so if you have a mass casualty situation or you have someone coming in with a gunshot wound, they are given the priority. Also, there is a Short Stay Unit; so if, for example, you have been prescribed with medication or you are waiting on results of an x-ray or something, instead of having you accommodated at A&E, which means you are taking up bed space, you will go to that...unit until you can be assessed,” he noted. (JMB)

BARBADOS’ Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has highlighted the significant role which Carib Rehab Limited, a local company is playing in the delivery of healthcare services in Barbados.

Addressing a 30th anniversary ceremony of Carib Rehab, a leading supplier of rehabilitation and also a health provider, located at Hothersal Turning, St. Michael, on Monday night, the Prime Minister said it is a critical facility which is very necessary in Barbados. “Believe you me, while you have sought to keep an enterprise alive you have made a meaningful difference to tens of thousands of Barbadians,” she told the ceremony attended by owners Patrick and Hilary Bethell, employees, suppliers, customers and other specially invited guests.

Mottley who admitted to having benefited from the services offered by Carib Rehab, said that the ability to receive services from the company, is really the difference between managing pain and not being able to sleep through the night with pain. Saying that Barbados is grateful for Carib Rehab, Mottley who is also the Parliamentary representative for the area, saluted the personal care that is afforded people going there and argued that it is that kind of service which is a key recipe for the success of businesses in Barbados.

She tied service delivery there to the high rate of repeat visitors to Barbados, while noting that this country’s magic as a key tourism destination had to do with visitors on their return home, complementing the island for their satisfaction while they were here.

“Whether it is buying food, or buying equipment or having a tourism experience or going to an attorney-at-law, or a doctor… these are the things that would want [to make you] come back,” she remarked. In congratulating the husband and wife team for the 30 years of service offered at Carib Rehab, Mottley wished them more success in the future in that segment of the country’s allied health offering. (JB)

The students of The Rock Christian School have been advised to embrace the changes that come with transitioning to a new school.

This encouragement came from Evangelist Jamar Watts of the Truth Baptist Church, as he delivered the feature address during the school’s graduation ceremony on Tuesday evening.

“As you transition to your new school, embrace the changes but stick to your lifestyle of excellence, knowing that this walk will cause you to face what is going on in your heart and what others are bringing towards you. It won’t be easy and it is not an easy road as it will call for much discipline, but the benefits are worth it,” he said.

“Don’t be afraid when you go into your new school to pray; don’t be afraid to walk with your bible; don’t be afraid when you go into your new school to bow your head to bless your food. Walking in the spirit of excellence means pursuing your academics, pursuing your relationship with God, and as you step into your new secondary schools, don’t be one to encourage violence, be a peacemaker.

“May God protect you, may God elevate you in your school, may God make you a beacon in your school,” he added.

Watts’ addressed focused on different ways to encourage the children to continue to walk in the spirit of excellence that they would have grown accustom to at their primary school.

He urged them to be determined to walk in the spirit of excellence, even when they feel afraid and nervous, and when they have to make a stand, even though they may feel all alone.

“When you walk in the spirit of excellence you can be assured that God will be there to strengthen your heart,” he said.

Chairman of the Board, Marcia Jenkins, encouraged students to always want excellence for themselves, and to continue to push a little harder to achieve their goals.

And judging from the marks they scored in the 2019 Barbados Secondary Schools’ Entrance Examination, she believes that they are already on the right path.
(CLF)

British Airways celebrates 65 years of service to Barbados, and to celebrate, the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. invited 65 travel agents from the UK to experience all that the island has to offer.

During an interview with media, Marc McCollin, Senior Business Development Officer, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, UK Office explained that they were hosting the travel agents from the UK as part of the British Airways 65th Anniversary celebration.

“We thought this was a fairly momentous occasion, so we’ve invited 65 agents to join us here in Barbados. We have a select group here at the Sea Breeze Beach House, and then we also have some staying at Turtle Beach Resort and recently opened hotel, The Sand,” he said.

“We are going to do a bit of everything. They are going to see a few products and they are all keen to see what new products we have here in Barbados. We are also going to make it experiential – where they will get to see the destination; where we will have an island safari planned, take a look at St. Nicholas Abbey, a catamaran cruise and other activities that Barbados has to offer.”

Sales and Marketing Manager for Ocean Hotels, Jacquie McDermott, told The Barbados Advocate that they were very pleased to be chosen as one of the host hotels for the British Airways 65th Mega Fam Group, especially after the recent renovations of Sea Breeze Beach House, which, she noted played host to lovely Sunday lunches and great staycations, open to the public.

Alan Sparling, from Carib Tours in the Republic of Ireland, told media that this was his first time in Barbados, and he was already in love.

“This is my first time to Barbados and already I love it, and you know what makes it special? The people. Immediately from the time I got here, and I saw all the smiley faces, I said I’m going to like this place – and I do! I can’t wait to send clients here,” he said.

“I work mostly with Irish travel agents and if you haven’t seen the product, it makes it very difficult to sell it convincingly to them.”

Sunil Desai, Senior Travel Consultant in the UK echoed Sparling’s sentiments, stating that it was always useful to see the hotels and the products that they are selling to their clients.

“You need to know what you’re talking about, so being able to see and experience it definitely helps,” he said. (CLF)

ALTHOUGH the country may be undergoing a tough period of restructuring and transformation, our Police Force needs to be suitably equipped and resourced to handle the type of policing required in Barbados at this time.

This is the view of Chairman of the Barbados Private Sector Association Edward Clarke who on Wednesday handed over the keys to the retrofitted outpost to be used by the Royal Barbados Police Force to service the Chapman Lane and New Orleans communities.

According to Clarke, “There has been a rise in the number of deaths due to the unlawful use of firearms and it seems such crime has become more prevalent in our society. We must try to reverse this trend in island not only by “after the fact” policing but by working proactively with people especially the youth within our communities to prevent such crimes.”

“We must work with our young people and build trusting relationships with them. We must be proactive in filling the void that exists in the lives of many young people. For many it’s not too late.”

The BPSA head said while there are those who may think this is outside of the RBPF’s remit, it has become clear that it is a very necessary part of the everyday community policing role.

“As Barbadians, we must ensure that we do what is required to protect all Barbadians and visitors to our island. The BPSA would like to see a strong relationship developed and maintained between the Police and the residents in this area, and in presenting this outpost to the RBPF we are offering our support to the members of our Police Force who are there to protect us, and we are asking the members of these communities and all Barbadians to do likewise.”

He noted that another one of the BPSA’s member organisations, the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association has already made a significant contribution in the provision of security cameras and monitoring equipment. “We have been advised that they will also be contributing to a new mobile unit in St. Lawrence Gap in Christ Church he said.

Clarke acknowledged the companies include that contributed to yesterday’s initiative including CIBC FirstCaribbean, Consumers’ Guarantee Insurance Company Ltd., the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados, SAGICOR and Container Services Ltd, the latter of which constructed the outpost.

The fire that affected operations at the Sustainable Barbados Recycling Centre (SBRC) and posed a health threat to nearby residents has also reinforced the need for established protocols to deal with such emergency situations.

This is according to Minister of Environment, Trevor Prescod. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of Barbados Ridge to Reef Assembly at United Nations House yesterday morning, Prescod, who is also the Minister of National Beautification, said the fire which started on Tuesday and took a few days to quell has taught them a number of valuable lessons.

He made the point while noting that Government will be meeting soon with officials of SBRC, the Sanitation Service Authority and any other relevant entities to develop those protocols. The Minister anticipates that meeting will take place soon after Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley returns to the island.

“What we have already agreed to do is have a meeting with a number of relevant partners. We are going to have discussions on some of the challenges that we faced, elements that probably led to the causality and gave rise to what we had to fight with and what we witnessed there, and even personnel issues and the manner in which we managed a crisis of that kind. It is our intention now to have a protocol and the protocol will derive based on the discussions from the various parties,” he said.

Prescod added, “I think on the first day the difficulty is that there was no formal structure in place. Everybody had the nation at heart, but because of the methodology that was applied in that early stage, I think that while we could have probably brought it to an end in two days, we happened to spread it over two to three days. So the protocol would put us in a better position so those challenges would never reoccur.”

Now while there are guidelines, he hinted that they are not widely known and probably now need to be revamped.

He made the point while noting that early it had to be communicated to all involved that in such situations the Chief Fire Officer would be the principal on the scene.

“Life is dynamic, things change as well from time to time, and there is nothing that is fixed and perfect. Every now and then we have amendments to laws, we have amendments to regulations, we even make adjustments to our writing styles in order to become more effective. I’m not saying there are no guidelines existing before, and I hope that that distortion would not be featured, but the reality is that this is life, no man is a God and therefore we have to rely on the limited intelligence and experience which we have in order to formulate guidelines to see how we can go forward in a very positive way,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said in respect of the affected residents, he is pleased with how that matter was handled. According to him, the Ministry of Health and Wellness made arrangements at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the polyclinics for persons who were experiencing asthmatic attacks or other problems as a result of the fire, to be seen with immediacy. (JRT)

Barbados is well on the way to another record year in tourist arrivals.

This was announced by CEO of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., William ‘Billy’ Griffith, as he delivered remarks during the BTMI/BA Breakfast Tradeshow and Seminar yesterday morning at Sandals Royal.

“Barbados is on track for another record year, already reporting 324 551 arrivals for 2019; which is four per cent above the same period for 2018,” he said.

This year, British Airways celebrates their 100th anniversary and 65 years of service to Barbados, and Griffith believes that in many ways, BA’s successes have been Barbados’.

“We appreciate the integral role they’ve played in our island’s tourism success story. We all know that as a tourism destination, one of the key facilitators of growth is air capacity. And for 65 years, British Airways has been bringing visitors to our shores from our number one source market – the UK,” he said.

“Last year alone, 225 519 of our 681 197 visitor arrivals came from the UK, representing 33 per cent market share. This share from the UK market alone contributes approximately US$400 million in visitor expenditure to the island annually.”

For the past three years, he noted that the BTMI UK team, led by Cheryl Carter, has been able to help grow the overall air capacity by over 10 per cent and they are
projecting a capacity growth of just under five per cent out of the UK market for 2019.

(CLF)

On May 31, 2019 around the world, Hilton celebrated its 100th birthday. At the Hilton Barbados Resort, the atmosphere was full of fun and festivity as the Barbados team joined in the countdown to the worldwide celebrations.

Led by General Manager Tammy LeBlanc, the Hilton Barbados Resort participated in various competitions including a song and poem competition, fiercely contested Pina colada and brownie competitions, and an exciting and colourful costume parade, integrating Hilton’s innovations over the years and Barbados’ culture. The celebrations culminated in grand style with an awards dinner and party, recognising the winners of the various competitions with a special presentation of the Hilton Effect award to Julian Boyce, Recreations and Entertainment Manager. The evening ended with a vibrant fireworks display on the beach, a remarkable end to what was to be the start to celebrations on achieving 100 years in hospitality.

During the 100th anniversary festivities General Manager Tammy LeBlanc commented, “This is a great time for us at Hilton. When Conrad Hilton first opened the Mobley hotel in Texas, he believed that travel could make the world a better place and wanted to share the light and warmth of hospitality. This dream has become a reality achieving 17 brands, in 113 countries with 5 757 properties and 923 110 rooms.”

“Hilton has made its mark as an innovator in hospitality with many firsts. From the first guest in-room TV, running water, mini bar to today the only hotel brand with digital key and straight-to-room capabilities. However, the key to our success has been the relationships established with our guests, within communities, with partners and our team members. As the team at Hilton Barbados Resort celebrated with the various activities, we experienced the passion and dedication our team members give to our guests each day. We look forward to the next 100 years of doing business worldwide and more especially here in Barbados.”

Hilton Barbados Resort recognises the importance of giving back to the community and its surrounding environs and continues to play a vital role in this regard. To this end, the Barbados Team took time to recognise the selfless service of the island’s local Barbados Fire Service and made a special delivery as part of the 100th anniversary celebrations.

The culmination of the festivities saw the Housekeeping Team as the overall winners of the interdepartmental costume competition. Quinta Clarke-Springer from the Culinary team was the winner of the Brownie Competition; Debra Stoute, winner of the Pina Colada Competition, and Nicole Skeete, the winner of the poem competition respectively.

Hilton’s celebrations continue throughout the year with more to come in the upcoming months. Starting June 17 the hotel will be offering a special $100 Table D'hôte menu by Andre Nurse in The Grille restaurant.

Travel agents from the United Kingdom and Ireland are in Barbados to celebrate British Airways’ 65th anniversary of service to Barbados, and yesterday they got the opportunity to meet with a number of key stakeholders in the Barbados tourism sector.

During remarks delivered during the Breakfast Trade show and Seminar, which took place at Sandals Royal Barbados, Cheryl Carter, Director UK for the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. noted that it was her hope for the travel agents to discover why Barbados continues to be the United Kingdom’s number one Caribbean destination, and added that she hoped they would help them to continue to maintain this position.

“This morning, our visiting agents would have the opportunity to meet with 35 of our local partners, representing over 70 hotels; villa companies and attractions. We know that over five days, it is difficult to see every property on the island so we trust that this session will be useful to all,” she said.

“In keeping with this year’s theme of ‘Wellness and Soft Adventure’, three bespoke, experiential itineraries have been created to expose each visiting agent to an eclectic mix of Barbadian product, from Yelluh Meat to Cin Cin by the Sea; from CoCo Hills to Harrisons Cave, etc. These itineraries clearly demonstrate that Barbados is more than Sea and Sun, a message that we need you to help us promote.”

Marc James, Key Partnership Manager, British Airways, noted that they were proud of their 65-year milestone, noting that it was such a proud thing for them to achieve as an airline.

“It’s honestly a big thing for us at the Airline,” he said.

“British Airways is actually 100 years this year, and so for Barbados to feature 65 years of service out of those 100 years is a fantastic achievement. Barbados has and continues to be an important part of the BA network and we are pleased and excited about that.”

He expressed a big thank you to the travel agents for joining them in Barbados, adding that they appreciated their support, as well as thanked the BTMI for the tremendous job they did in pulling the week together. (CLF)

The National Insurance Scheme (NIS) has recognised and honoured several staffers who have shown outstanding commitment and demonstrated a valuable contribution to the department.

They received the Great Employees Matter (GEM) Award during the hosting of the NIS 52nd Anniversary Ceremony at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on Saturday night.

Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Ryan Straughn, commended the awardees for continuously striving for excellence and maintaining high standards in their respective departments to ensure high customer satisfaction.

Reflecting on the theme, “A Nation’s Wealth is in its Health”, he said that it is indeed fitting and timely that a reminder be issued on the importance of having healthy minds and bodies and the impact these can have on the ability to be productive, and to contribute in the most meaningful way to the organisation one is a part of.

“In keeping with this school of thought, the National Insurance Department supports national efforts to increase daily exercise, eat more wholesome foods and
live healthier lifestyles. Healthier communities and healthier staff will have a positive impact on national productivity, the economy and the National Insurance Fund. It is imperative that we all play our part in reducing the monies spent by Government annually on lifestyle/ non-communicable diseases”.

In fact, Minister Straughn revealed that in keeping with its corporate social responsibility, and in recognition of the impact non-communicable diseases can have on the health of persons, the National Insurance Department intends to give back to the nation by increasing the frequency of its offerings of free health checks to the public in support of a national “Know Your Numbers” campaign.

“In this way, persons will be armed with the knowledge necessary to take action to address developing conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity,” he explained.
The Minister in the Ministry of Finance further expressed that the National Insurance Department, established some 52 years ago, remains very much relevant, touching every household in Barbados.

In 2018, the Department received 61 877 new claims of various types and processed benefits for in excess of 40 000 pensioners.

“I salute each member of staff of the department and urge them to continue to show empathy, display a passion for your work, show utmost professionalism while providing consistently excellent levels of service on a daily basis to all clients.”

Minister Straughn also took the opportunity to urge other employers to establish similar programmes and reward systems as a means of motivating employees, providing them with recognition for the goodwill they bring to their businesses.

“Such programmes can only redound to your benefit and that of your customers, while contributing to a positive work environment which can only improve productivity.” (TL)