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Lowe: Water scarcity has always been an issue

October 25, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Water shortages are nothing new in Barbados insists Minister of the Environment and Drainage, Dr. Denis Lowe.
 
Speaking as Parliament resumed from its summer break yesterday, he pointed out that as a water-scarce country, the island, especially its rural districts had suffered from outages from time to time and suggested therefore that criticisms of the Barbados Water Authority and the Minister with responsibility for water were unwarranted.
 
“I do not know why people want to persecute the Minister of Agriculture, as though he is going out there and purposefully not supplying communities with water,” Lowe said.
In fact, the former minister of water resources noted that during his tenure, the island was losing 60 per cent of its water due to burst mains. 
 
He therefore lauded the current minister for implementing a mains replacement programme, while doing other meter related projects.
 
“The problem is that we are water-scarce to begin with, there has been a reduction in rainfall and therefore we are having challenges with the water supply, but that too shall pass because the honourable minister has a plan, where he is implementing new measures to supplement the water supply around the island. So whether it is St. Andrew, St. Joseph, St. Thomas, St. Peter or wherever it might be, this government has set on a path to correct those issues once and for all,” he said.
 
Leading off the debate on a resolution on the Barbados Green Economy Scoping Study, the minister expressed concern with the deterioration of the coral reefs.
 
“Our coral reef systems around the island have been hit hard by climate change factors. There is an exacerbation of coral bleaching and if you take a dive around the popular areas of the island, you will see the devastation that has occurred,” he said, noting that a project would soon be launched to help this important ecosystem. (JMB)
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BAC announces semi-finalists in Secondary Schools’ Debate Competition

October 25, 2016, 9:00 pm
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THE Barbados Accreditation Council has announced the schools that will be taking part in the semi-final rounds of its Third Annual National Secondary Schools’ Debate Competition.
 
According to Katrina Ifill, Information Officer with the Barbados Accreditation Council (BAC), the semi-final rounds will take place on Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at the Horatio Cooke Auditorium of the National Union of Public Workers, starting at 10 a.m.
 
The teams competing in the semi-finals will debate the moot: “All tertiary educational institutions in Barbados should be accredited to ensure global recognition”. In the first round, the Proposition, Queen’s College, will go up against the Opposition, St. Winifred’s; whereas in round two, the Proposition, The St. Michael School, will be up against the Opposition, Harrison College. The third round will see The Lodge School up against Deighton Griffith as the Proposition and Opposition, respectively. The BAC has, meanwhile, noted that members of the public are welcome to attend the semi-final rounds of the debate competition.
 
Whilst the BAC hosts the debate competition annually, this year it will serve as the Council’s contribution to Barbados’ 50th Anniversary of Independence celebrations.
 
The finals, which will take place on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation at 1 p.m., will focus on the moot: “A National Qualifications Framework makes life-long learning more appealing”. (RSM)
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water relief

October 25, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Taps back on in several St Joseph districts
Krystal Grant showing members of the media that the water is back on in Horse Hill, St Joseph.

Krystal Grant showing members of the media that the water is back on in Horse Hill, St Joseph. 

 

The Barbados Water Authority (BWA) has been able to restore water to several St Joseph districts.
 
BWA’s Corporate Communications Specialist, Joy-ann Haigh, visited Lammings, Horse Hill, Bissex Housing Area and surrounding communities yesterday to check in with residents, who were in some instances without tap water for months.
 
The residents are getting relief now that the BWA commissioned the second borehole at Sweet Vale, last weekend.
 
“Water is gradually being restored to all areas impacted that feed off the Castle Grant reservoir. We are checking district to district to see how the water situation is…We want to see who 
is receiving water and if there are persons in the areas not getting as yet, and we want to obviously take note of that,” Haigh indicated.
 
Also, she revealed that throughout the day crews from BWA’s Leak Detection Department were busy in that parish. “Now that the water is on they are throughout the districts testing for leaks. They are ensuring that we are not the losing the water that we just put into the system.”
 
The Communications Specialist also wants residents to understand the importance of conserving water in and around their homes.
 
“We want them to know that though the water is back on they still have to conserve it… They have been asking how long will it last. No one can actually state how long anything would last for… It is really up to usage, infrastructural failure such as a burst main, a power outage or equipment failure. But the one we are concerned about is the drought like conditions affecting some of the higher areas. And even though this borehole is in St George in the Sweet Vale basin, and if no rain comes, over a period of time that also will start to be impacted.”
 
Hal Holder, a resident of Horse Hill shared with the media that he wasn’t getting water for about the last 16 weeks.
 
“I honestly feel good to have the water running again. Since Saturday it has been on and I have been getting a good shower, no more using buckets.”
 
Krystal Grant also from Horse Hill gave birth to her son Iniko only six weeks ago. She expressed that it wasn’t easy dealing with the outages especially with a new baby.
 
“I feel good now that we have water again. I am still in shock to see it running, but I am happy and I hope it stays on a little longer than usual,” she said.
 
Bissex resident Sandra Parris was busy doing laundry when Haigh visited. Although happy to have the water back on, she recalled that the last few months were difficult.
 
“It wasn’t easy with the water off. Some mornings I had to go far to the East Coast to catch water.”
 
Parris also took the opportunity to ask Haigh why BWA was still sending residents of St Joseph, like herself, water bills.
 
“The BWA never stopped anyone from questioning their bills. If persons are not happy with the bill reflecting usage, they are free to come in and have that discussion. The BWA will make whatever adjustments that needs to be made to the bill…We are doing it case by case,” Haigh told the concerned resident. (TL)
 
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Golden Soca helps BARP

October 25, 2016, 9:00 pm
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From left to right: Michael Goodman of Golden Soca team; Veteran Calypsonian, Cutloose; Producer, Peter Boyce; BARP President, Ed Bushell; and BARP Business Development Officer, Karen Barker.

 

“A win, win, win, event.” 
 
This is how Peter Boyce, producer of Golden Soca 2016, described the highly successful show, which achieved its main objectives of presenting a quality event at a good price, which made a tangible contribution to the Crop Over 2016 season.
 
At yesterday’s presentation to BARP President Ed Bushell, Boyce said that he was also pleased to be able to make a contribution to BARP from the proceeds of Golden Soca. “Not only were we able to entertain BARP members, but we were able to make a con-tribution to the well-being of members through this contribution to their Personal Assistance Fund,” he added.
 
On receiving the presentation from Boyce, the BARP president said that he was very grateful to the producers for the contribution from Golden Soca and that BARP was always looking for donations to the BARP Personal Assistance Fund to help those of its members who find themselves in dire straits.  
 
“We used to find that members needed help with housing repairs and such things, whereas more and more it is now going towards assistance with medical costs,” added President Bushell. 
 
Another member of the production team, Michael Goodman, said how pleased he was to be able to present Dame Maizie Barker-Welch as ‘Mabel’ in one of her most celebrated roles from Okras in de Stew. Co-starring with Jennifer Walker as ‘Lottie’, they performed one of Jeanette Layne-Clarke’s hilarious sketches, bringing another dimension to the show. 
 
“Golden Soca is much more than just a concert,” explained Goodman, “and we plan to include more veteran performers and classic sketches and spoken material next time, so that it is a complete evening’s entertainment.”
 
Veteran Calypsonian Cutloose, who received a Golden Soca Award for being the oldest person to perform during Crop Over 2016, also made an appearance at the presentation. “It was very, very nice for me to be in the Golden Soca show,” said Cutloose, “and I have a song already which I am working on and hope to perform that at next year’s show.” 
 
Boyce explained that the response to the event had been excellent. “People connected with us on social media and we received letters from people who were very satisfied with the event, which targeted their demographic and was offered at a good price.”  
 
However, despite many requests to present another Golden Soca event during the 50th Anniversary celebrations next month, the producers have decided to concentrate on building a bigger, better and ‘Goldener’ show for Crop Over 2017.
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Be careful

October 26, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Some of the business owners and professionals during the panel discussion entitled “The Role of The Private Sector in Managing Disaster”, which was hosted by the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), at the Hilton Resort yesterday. INSET: Former Director of Emergency Services, Clive Lorde.

Some of the business owners and professionals during the panel discussion entitled “The Role of The Private Sector in Managing Disaster”, which was hosted by the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), at the Hilton Resort yesterday. INSET: Former Director of Emergency Services, Clive Lorde.

A warning has gone out to media practitioners in Barbados, who brave tropical storms and other bad weather to give coverage to the damage brought by these weather systems.

Clive Lorde, a former Director of Emergency Services in Barbados, is telling media personnel that they run the risk of putting themselves in danger when covering the damages wrought by weather systems.

He said that it is unfortunate that there is an attempt by some media personnel in Barbados to emulate the external media outlets like CNN, MSNBC  and other networks in the USA.

Lorde cautioned that news personnel from those networks tend to make sure that they are on safe ground and positioned themselves very close to buildings which can give them protection in the event of a mishap. So here you have to be cautious, he advised.

“There is a difference between what you (in Barbados) do and what CNN does – they know what they are doing,” he advised.

In supporting  Lorde, Melony Jones of the Barbados Employers’ Confederation suggested that the vehicles which local personnel are using to get around need to be inspected, they must be up to date, and there is need to do a quick inspection to verify if the vehicles are safe to travel through water.  (JB)
 

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Collaboration needed in the judicial system

October 26, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Justice William Chandler; Senior Probation Officer, Roseann Greaves; and Chief Justice, Sir Marston Gibson conversing at the head table.
 
By: 
Peta Rowe-Forde

 

Upon the conclusion of a panel discussion held to discuss, “The Criminal Justice System of Barbados, 50 Years and Beyond”, a common consensus coming out of it, was that there needs to be greater collaboration among the agencies within the judicial 
system.
 
Word of this first came from Chief Justice, Sir Marston Gibson, who stated that he has been pleading for greater collaboration within the judicial system for quite some time. He explained that such agencies do not speak to each other and the public as often as they should, and if there is to be any more efficiency within the system, the lack of communication must be discontinued. 
 
Continuing further was Justice William Chandler. Chandler, made mention of the backlog which is a topic of discussion whenever the judicial system comes up. His honour noted that there is not a country in the world without a backlog and that contrary to popular belief, there are many extraneous variables which contribute to it. Explaining this, he mentioned limited staffing, the fact that not many lawyers practice criminal law and the unfortunate situation where there are only ten magistrates.
 
However, without lamenting on the problems for long, Justice Chandler insisted that the system is in need of reform. He spoke of the 120 reform recommendations that were made at a retreat, out of which only three were acted on.  Interventions, such as information technology advances and division of labour were two being looked at. Further, he stated that reform cannot be done “willy nilly” but, “We have to understand that resources have to be allocated all through the system.” Justice Chandler emphasised that entities such as UWI would need to be employed to do research to find out the exact problem areas that require reform.
 
The Royal Barbados Police Force contributed to the discussion as well through Assistant Commissioner Erwin Boyce. Boyce concurred that reform and communication is needed in the system but advocated that the Royal Barbados Police Force is doing a great job at doing so thus far. He noted that the Force, in the face of the recession and knowing it is a heavy investment by the Government, sought to reduce wastage and increase productivity and moved from a reactive style of policing to a proactive one. Added to that, the Force has developed several programmes but according to Assistant Commissioner Boyce, it has faced many challenges regarding its efficiency and effectiveness over the years.
 
Also on hand were representatives from the Barbados Prison Service, The Probation Department and the Forensics Lab. All of whom outlined the challenges faced within their agencies but hope that greater communication will bring about efficiency in the next 50 years.
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Sutherland dismisses Scoping Study presentation

October 26, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Member of Parliament for St. George South, Dwight Sutherland.

 

An exercise in cosmetics.
That’s how Member of Parliament for St. George South, Dwight Sutherland described the presentation made by Environment Minister Dr. Denis Lowe on the Barbados Green Scoping Study in the Lower Chamber on Tuesday evening.
 
Sutherland argued that the Minister spent over four hours to present the study, adding that while it may be useful to “technocrats”, it is a two year old document that does not fully reflect what is happening in 2016. He said it is a sign of the “inertia and lethargy” of the government.
 
He stated that a green economy is intended to improve human well-being and social equity, and charged that looking around the country, as it relates to the piles of garbage and treatment of SSA workers, this definition must be questioned.
 
Sutherland further challenged that if government does not accept responsibility for the pileup of garbage and unavailability of equipment, who then will accept responsibility for championing the Green Economy Scoping Study and to enforce elements such as the protection of fragile ecosystem, climate change and water saving techniques.
 
The St. George South MP said there must be more stringent regulations on garbage separation in homes and contended that there are basic needs critical for development in this country. “This country is suffering from developmental stagnation as a result of the DLP,” he charged.
 
As it relates to agriculture he lamented that areas of high agricultural potential are rapidly changing and are being put to commercial and residential use. He said Scotland District cannot be glossed over, noting there are areas available for farming.
 
Additionally, he stressed that environmentally friendly methods of farming must be identified, particularly in the area of green houses and hydroponics.
 
Sutherland said that the transportation sector needs to be completely overhauled, saying that the BLP Plan for traffic congestion included more than just flyovers and was completely abandoned by the DLP government.
 
He said greater focus must be put on reducing the number of private vehicles on the road, by improving the public transportation system. (JH)
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GAIA donates to three local charities

October 26, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Operations Manager with the Barbados Council for the Disabled, Roseanna Tudor (right) accepting a cheque from Director of Engineering at GAIA, Karen Walkes. She also accepted the cheque on behalf of The National United Society for the Blind.

 

Operations Manager with the Barbados Council for the Disabled, Roseanna Tudor (right) accepting a cheque from Director of Engineering at GAIA, Karen Walkes. She also accepted the cheque on behalf of The National United Society for the Blind.
 

 

Three local charities have been on the receiving end of donations from the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA).
 
This presentation was done during a brief ceremony at the GAIA on Monday for the start of Airport Week 2016.
 
The charities are: the Barbados Council for the Disabled; the Barbados Kidney Association; and The National United Society for the Blind. A special donation was also made to the Charnocks Pentecostal Church on the day.
 
As explained by GAIA’s Corporate Communications Specialist, Keith Goddard, the funds donated were those collected from the boxes placed in the Departure Lounge of the airport, in which visitors and locals had the opportunity to place money. This cash goes towards assisting various charities across Barbados with the work they do.
 
Goddard additionally said that Monday’s presentation was one of two made “in the last couple of months”. He pointed out that monetary donations have previously been given to the Diabetes Association and the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
 
Representatives of each charity expressed their appreciation to the GAIA. Margarette Wilson of the Barbados Kidney Association in particular explained that the funds received will go towards the “mineral therapy” programme being currently being conducted. Meanwhile, Pastor Fitzgerald Jones of the Charnocks Pentecostal Church stated that the money will go towards continuing the work of the church. 
(MG)
 
 
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Lowe happy to be back

October 26, 2016, 9:00 pm
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“I AM grateful to be here and I am privileged to be alive and well.”
 
Those words of gratitude were expressed by Minister of the Environment and Drainage, Dr. Denis Lowe, as he led off debate in the Lower Chamber on Tuesday on a Resolution for the Barbados Green Economy Scoping Study.
 
Dr. Lowe, who was hospitalised for an unspecified period and did not go into detail about his illness, said he was happy to have the opportunity to lead the discourse in the Honourable Chamber.
 
“Those who were concerned to wish me well during the few days I wasn’t feeling well, I am grateful to them for their support and continued watchfulness over one another,” he stated.
 
Saying that he wanted to place his gratitude on public record, he also thanked the doctors and nurses on ward A5 and A6. “For the tremendous work that they did during my stay and continue to do on the behalf of the Government and people of Barbados,” he added.
 
“I was totally enthralled by the depth of commitment to care not only towards me, but as I observed other patients, it was a blessing to see that in spite of all the distractions that we hear from time to time these professionals continue to demonstrate the highest quality of patient care that you can find anywhere in the world,” the Minister further pointed out.
 
“Sometimes the circumstances under which they deliver this care can be trying, but they continue to do their work and to do their work well and I want to take this opportunity to place on record my gratitude to these wonderful patriots of Barbados in the healthcare profession,” he said.
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Growing more food part of greening the economy

October 26, 2016, 9:00 pm
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THE Barbados Green Economy Scoping Study is a document laden with examples of how the country can “march back to some of the standards that made us a great Small Island Developing State”.
 
This was the view expressed by Minister of Environment and Drainage, Dr. Denis Lowe, as he spoke on a Resolution concerning the Study, in the House of Assembly on Tuesday.
 
Noting that the Study, officially completed in June 2014, focuses on five key sectors (agriculture, fisheries, building, transportation and tourism) in Barbados to scope the transition to a green economy on the island, Lowe suggested that the Study will not be shelved, but utilised in the process of making the country more sustain-able going forward. He pointed to agriculture as one area which could serve the country well, by placing a dent in its high food import bill, if only we could grow more of what we eat.
 
“If we are going to be able to (cut back) … the size of our food import bill … as we are doing with our energy import bill, if we are going to be able to do that, we must grow more of what we eat, more of what we consume in Barbados,” Lowe said.
 
“We plant more flowers and grass now than we plant food. But once upon a time round the house, there would always be what we call a kitchen garden. Nowadays, we want the big pretty lawn and all the beautiful flowers and we don’t grow (anything) around the house anymore, at all. And I am saying that a lot of those values that (focused on) how we lived then, are some of the same values that this Study seems to be promoting among our population,” he further stated.
 
Lowe also suggested that by growing more local food, other sectors can benefit, for example, that of tourism.
 
“We have grown in our hotel stock, but we have not grown in our food production stock. Hotels are now a high demand entity in the country and tourists who are used to eating processed food where they are coming from, want to come and indulge in local vegetables and fresh fruits … so we have to understand the connection,” he said. (RSM)
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NVQ agriculture project gets under way

October 26, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Entrepreneurship Foundation, Celeste Foster.

 

TOO few persons are being trained to meet the demands of the agricultural sector.
 
In its efforts to address this, the Barbados Entrepreneurship Foundation (BEF) has introduced a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Schools Agricul-ture Entrepreneurship Project, which aims to 
encourage interest in the sector to promote innovation, increase entrepreneurial opportunities and increase food security.
 
Pointing out that a mere 50 tertiary students graduate with such degrees annually, Chief Executive Officer of the BEF Celeste Foster painted the picture occurring at the Barbados Community College and the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic.
 
“Enrolment for the Barbados Community College’s Associate Degree in Agriculture Studies occurs bi-annually; approx-imately 20 students started the two and a half year programme in September 2016. The next enrolment cycle will be in 2018. The Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic offers four courses annually with relatively low uptake of less than 75 persons in total. The Diploma in Agriculture Studies is a two-year programme with an average of 16 students per cohort. The Certificate courses in Animal Husbandry, Landscaping and Crop Production, usually attract less than 20 persons each,” she noted.
 
Thirty students therefore from six secondary schools – St. George, St. Leonard’s, Alleyne, Ellerslie, Grantley Adams and Daryll Jordan – will be participating in the year-long NVQ project, at the end of which will see those successful gain their certification in agriculture.
 
The programme contains three elements including a school-to-work programme where students will be released from school at least one day a week for training and practical assignments, and a Business Proposal Pitch at the end of the training where students will get to pitch their business proposals and have them critiqued by industry professionals. 
 
The first component of summer camps, with the Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme’s Camp Enterprise, the Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture’s Youth Farm and the Ministry of Agriculture’s Youth Entrepreneurship Camp, was completed over the last summer break. The programme was launched on Monday at the Cave Hill School of Business of the University of the West Indies. (JMB)
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BLP St. Michael North West goes to Rowe

October 27, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Pure Jubilation! Barbados Labour Party member, Neil Rowe, is the new candidate for the St. Michael North West constituency.

 

It was a landslide win, the people have spoken and the new Barbados Labour Party St. Michael North West constituency representative is Neil Rowe.
 
There was a full house at the Ellerslie Secondary School as residents of the area came out to the nomination meeting at around six pm. Three nominees, Marsha Hinds-Layne, Neil Rowe and Mark Williams were given an opportunity to address the audience briefly before the voting exercise took place. 
 
The first nominee, Hinds-Layne gave a fiery and powerful speech focusing significantly on the political history rather than the community issues. After her presentation, Rowe came to the stage; a humble and timid public speaker acknowledging the current societal problems (poor garbage collection, lack of recreational centres and unemployment) faced by his constituents.
 
In his presentation, he highlighted the fact that he has played an active role in the area by assisting unemployed members of the community with jobs and giving back to the community through his charity. 
 
Williams took the opportunity not to speak about himself but to endorse his younger counterpart, Rowe.
 
An hour later, the boxes with the votes were counted in front of the animated and restless crowd.
 
By the third voting box, it was evident that Rowe, the young man who came from the Brighton and Ashdeane area, had the advantage.
 
The end results were 114 to Rowe with 46 votes going to Hinds-Layne. 
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Democratic Labour Party to launch ‘Talk 50’ competition

October 27, 2016, 9:00 pm
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For the first time in its history, the DLP rolled out its own Independence Walk, at its Headquarters. Here, General Secretary of the DLP George Pilgrim, looks on as Sir Phillip Greaves cuts the ribbon to declare the Walk open, with the help of students from St. Cyprians Boy’s School.

By: 
Cara L Foster

 

The only living delegate of the London Conference, Sir Philip Greaves, joined the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) General Secretary, George Pilgrim, and a few students from the St.Cyprians Boy’s School on Wednesday evening to launch a new exhibition by the DLP called “Independence Walk”.
 
Speaking during a press conference held at the head office in George Street, Pilgrim revealed that the Party was launching the “Independence Walk” as a way to remember the things that made Barbados great, and they have chosen to dedicate the month of November to remembering these great things.
 
Pilgrim explained that the Independence Walk was “a compendium of 50 great contributions of this party to the efforts of nation building over the period.” 
 
He described that the walk will have 50 squares, each illustrated in our national colours, with an achievement of the DLP printed within each square.
 
The DLP General Secretary went on to reveal that the Party was also launching a competition called “Talk 50” held in the Errol Barrow Gallery at the head office in George Street. 
 
He said that at the end of November, students will be given an opportunity to recite all 50 achievements listed in the squares of the “Independence Walk” exhibition. 
 
According to Pilgrim, any student that enters and comes relatively close to reciting all 50 achievements, will be awarded 500 Barbadian dollars for their effort. 
 
Pilgrim told the press that the competition and exhibition was a way to generate knowledge in the students of the nation, and that this knowledge is considered to be a principle reason as to why they exist as a political party. 
 
“There can be no denying the role that education has played as a nation builder and an agent of transformation. As a party we stand by the record of our education success.” Pilgrim said. 
 
He divulged that if any student wanted to participate in the competition, they should contact the DLP office at barbados50years@gmail.com.
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CHANGE THE SYSTEM

October 27, 2016, 9:00 pm
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CARICOM Education Sector Specialist, Dr. Nancy George, outlined that a different type of learner is necessary in today’s world.

 

“The last vestige of colonialism in the Caribbean.”
 
CARICOM Education Sector Specialist Dr. Nancy George used these words to describe the region’s educational system, while giving her presentation at yesterday’s Consultation on Regional Education and Human Resource Development Strategy at the Caribbean Examinations Council’s (CXC) headquarters in the Pine.
 
“Although we have CXC and we have CAPE, it is built on a British model and it still deals with, as has been said, that 30 per cent at the top of the food chain from a 19th century model where in the 19th century you train the best and the brightest to take over control of the rest and you train every body else to work in the factories or someplace where they are under obedience to somebody else. 
 
“The fourth industrial revolution is digital and demands a completely different type of worker, a different type of thinker, a different type of participant in the workplace and a differently prepared adult for the world and for our communities and for society. So this is a very great thing that Caricom is doing in terms of saying ‘let’s actually look and see how we can revolutionise the system’ but it’s not going to happen overnight!” she stressed.
 
Speaking on the development of the 2030 Strategy, she stated that the document would be a major cultural revolution for the region in how education happens, in order to produce outputs that are going to change the system.
 
Pointing to challenges being experienced in the system, George said that one area of concern was how quickly new teachers were leaving the profession in high numbers because their expectations were extremely different to the reality of what was required in educating students.
 
“There has to be something beyond having a piece of paper to be a good teacher. The interesting thing is how many teachers are in teaching because that was there first choice… People use teaching as a stepping stone to something else,” she continued, while stressing that teaching was a skill.
 
She therefore suggested that an induction year should be required for all new educators, before being considered a teacher.
 
“Teaching is not about academics, it is about skills training,” George highlighted. 
(JMB)
 
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Ministry of Health: Mosquito fight critical

October 27, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Principal Environmental Health Officer at the Six Roads Polyclinic, Maurice Gaskin delivering the lecture.

By: 
Peta Rowe-Forde

 

 
 
Deadly mosquitoes need to be eliminated!
 
This is the strong message being sent by officials from the Ministry of Health as they continue their campaign to rid Barbados of mosquitoes. That point was raised by Principal Environmental Health Officer at the Six Roads Polyclinic, Maurice Gaskin, who was speaking at the University of the West Indies/Central Bank of Barbados discussion on ‘Sustaining the Community Engagement and Public Education to Eradicate the Zika Disease’ at the Grande Salle yesterday.
 
Gaskin alerted the audience that there are thousands of species of mosquitoes in the world and so far, Barbados has three of them. The Culex Mosquito, the Anopheles Mosquito and the most commonly known Aedes Aegypti Mosquito. According to Gaskin, the Culex Mosquito feeds from 6 p.m. until 7 a.m. and can often carry diseases such as Lymphatic Filariasis after biting certain animals such as horses and birds and carrying their parasites. Lymphatic Filariasis often results in elephantiasis, which is a parasitic infection that causes severe swelling.
 
Secondly, Gaskin turned his attention to the Anopheles mosquito. This mosquito – which is found in Graeme Hall Swamp – carries malaria. Its feeding times are 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. and again at 10 p.m. until midnight. Gaskin pointed out that this disease is the cause of death for 3.5 to five million persons in Africa and Pakistan, and for it to be present in Barbados it only takes one malaria-infected person to visit the swamp and be bitten by an Anopheles Mosquito to start its spread.
 
He added that just as the Culex stops feeding at 7 a.m., the Aedes Aegypti starts and goes right through the day until 6 p.m., when the Culex starts again. 
 
Gaskin reminded all that the Aedes Aegypti mosquito transmits yellow fever, chikungunya, dengue and Zika. However, yellow fever, which is acquired when mosquitoes bite monkeys, is not prevalent in Barbados because the Green Monkeys that inhabit the island are not good carriers of the fever. Nevertheless, chikungunya, dengue and Zika are no strangers to Barbadians, and he outlined that it is possible to contract chikungunya and dengue at the same time, which can yield a deadly result.
 
Given this, Gaskin stated that the amount of mosquito breeding that is happening in Barbados should not exist. Outlining several ways to check for and eliminate the breeding of mosquitoes, he made mention of the Health Services Control of Mosquitoes 1970 Regulations, which can result in those found breeding mosquitoes to be brought before the law courts. The regulations outline that a person found guilty of such can be fined $5 000 and/or three months in prison, as well as an additional $200 fine for everyday that the offence continues.
 
Noting that fogging is not the sole solution to eliminating the mosquito, he explained that this only eliminates adults and eggs and larvae remain unharmed. Therefore, eradicating conducive breeding environments is the way to go.
 
 

 

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Digicel switches on Barbados’ first 4G LTE Network

October 27, 2016, 9:00 pm
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National Hero and Digicel Brand Ambassador, the Right Honourable Sir Garfield Sobers (left) and Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Barbados, Conor Looney switching on the Digicel LTE network.

 

National Hero and Digicel Brand Ambassador, the Right Honourable Sir Garfield Sobers (left) and Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Barbados, Conor Looney switching on the Digicel LTE network.
 
 

 

To mark the 50th Anniversary of Independence, Digicel (Barbados) Limited is going into overdrive with the launch of the first 4G LTE network on the island. 
 
This launch is the latest phase of an over $50 million investment in its infrastructure in recent months, which included the expansion of Digicel’s network with 12 new sites and the nation’s first full fibre to the home network. 
 
The LTE network is now live in parts of Bridgetown and is set to deliver lightning fast mobile Internet speeds never before seen in Barbados.
 
The LTE network was officially switched on by National Hero and Digicel Brand Ambassador, the Right Honourable Sir Garfield Sobers, and Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Barbados, Conor Looney; while Sir Garry was also the first Barbadian to experience superfast Internet speeds before anyone else in the country using his LTE handset. 
 
“Barbados has been anticipating the launch of 4G LTE, and we are pleased to be the first to switch on this superior service. We’re focused on always delivering the most advanced technologies to our customers and the activation of the LTE network in Barbados is another major step in this direction,” declared Chief Executive Officer of Digicel, Conor Looney at the ceremony to switch on the new service. 
 
“We would like to add that none of this could have been possible without the support of the Government of Barbados, through the Ministry of Energy, Immigration, Telecommunications, as well as that of the Telecommunications Unit.”
 
The project officially got the green light from Digicel’s Chief Speed Officer, Usain Bolt, after successful speed tests over the network, and many Digicel customers now have the opportunity to test drive the island’s first LTE experience. 
 
Looney added, “Barbados’ fastest network just got faster and we are rapidly increasing the number of Digicel customers experiencing the service, and are committed to updating everyone as we deliver coverage right across the country.”  
 
4G LTE is the very latest in mobile technology, capable of delivering more mobile data at the fastest speeds to connect the growing range of Internet-enabled devices. Digicel’s world class service brings High Definition streaming to mobile devices so customers can enjoy the sharpest picture quality, making buffering a thing of the past. Digicel 4G LTE means faster surfing, streaming, sharing and faster responses when navigating apps – allowing customers to do even more with even faster access to the Internet for both leisure and business. 
 
The activation of this network is yet another first-to-market for Digicel and a significant investment designed to equip Barbados with the most modern world class communications and entertainment infrastructure and service. 
 
Looney concluded; “This new service can be accessed via 4G LTE-enabled handsets in a growing number of locations around Barbados. Customers may have to adjust their device settings to take advantage of the very latest in technology. Our ambition is to continue to work with the Government of Barbados to improve the country’s rate of Internet penetration, a key driver of economic growth.”
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stand-out school

October 27, 2016, 9:00 pm
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Grantley Adams Memorial number one in bullying prevention
Entertainer Peter Ram sings the ‘Stop The Bullying’ theme song with Grantley Adams students during the ‘Celebrate Kindness: No Name-calling Day’ initiative.

 

Entertainer Peter Ram sings the ‘Stop The Bullying’ theme song with Grantley Adams students during the ‘Celebrate Kindness: No Name-calling Day’ initiative.

 

By: 
Regina Selman Moore

 

The Grantley Adams Memorial School has been designated the Olweus School of the Year 2015-2016 for its efforts  at bullying prevention.
 
The award was presented to the school yesterday by Certified Olweus Bullying Prevention trainer/consultant, Shawn Clarke, who is also CEO of Supreme Counselling for Personal Development (SCPD), which, under its Project Rescue initiative for youth, currently runs the Olweus Bullying Prevention Programme at Lester Vaughan, Frederick Smith Secondary, Wesley Hall Infants School and Grantley Adams. 
 
Clarke noted that with backing from officials at the Olweus Head Office in the United States, the award was presented.
 
The presentation formed part of SCPD’s “Celebrate Kindness: No Name-calling Day” initiative, which was launched yesterday  across the four schools taking part in the bullying prevention programme, with approval from the Ministry of Education.
 
“From the time we started the Olweus Bullying Prevention Programme, Grantley Adams has taken it [on board]. They ran with it and it’s the school that is doing everything in its power [to push it]. I am not saying that the other schools are not, but I think Grantley Adams really stands out in terms of having regular class meetings; in terms of the principal or other teachers at prayers and so on preaching a message of no-bullying,” Clarke told The Barbados Advocate.
 
 “They are very quick to respond at any reports that they get of bullying and the students themselves are also a big part of the initiative. We believe because of that, the school really needs to be recognised as the flagstaff of the Bullying Prevention Programme in Barbados. So I spoke to the head office in the United States and I shared the idea with them as to what I wanted to do and they gave us their blessings,” Clarke explained.
 
In addition, he revealed that a  poster competition was held in which the student who produced the winning design, “Be a Buddy, Not a Bully”  in a previous logo competition for the shirts now worn by students, also took the top prize in the second competition. His artwork will be used to paint a mural on a wall near the school’s canteen, to reinforce the no-bullying message.
 
Next year, Clarke says, he hopes to go bigger and better with a “Celebrate Kindness: No Name Calling Week” as opposed to just one day, so more schools can be motivated to strive to win the Olweus School of the Year award and get more children involved in pushing anti-bullying messages.
 
 
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Call being made for Reef Rehabilitation Programmme

October 27, 2016, 9:00 pm
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A call has been made for a Reef Rehabilitation Programme to be established in Barbados, to better preserve the marine environment surrounding the island and the reef systems contained therein.
 
 The call came recently from Minister of Environment and Drainage, Dr. Denis Lowe, as he spoke on a Resolution on the Barbados Green Economy Scoping Study, while in the House of Assembly this week.
 
 “We have the Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU) group of professionals who do a tremendous amount of work in studying the particular trends and helping us to understand what needs to be done, but the one trend that we are finding extremely troubling, is the compromise of our reefs and as a result, the inhabitants of those reefs are now taking flight,” Lowe remarked.
 
 “Now pot fishers who have their trade in fishing in reef areas, they are also observing that the fish population has been so impacted, that the fish take has been reduced significantly. I have advised on more than one occasion, the Government, the Cabinet, that we need to do something about it and we need to put in place a Reef Rehabilitation Programme that may involve the transplantation of reefs, of corals, that may involve the implementation of artificial reef systems, as a way of incubating the growth of new corals in the area,” Lowe further noted.
 
 “Now this is vitally important, because reef fish are the producers of sand and if there are taking flight, they are dying off, if there is overfishing, we can compromise our beaches. Our beaches are already far enough threatened by human activity, by illegal dumping in the ocean.  There is a lot of that going on. The EPD has been doing some tremendous work around the Walkers Bay area in identifying some of the challenges there and we are advising those who use the ocean for pleasure and for work, that they must not engage in the pollution of the ocean, by depositing garbage, plastic and so on, on the ocean bed. These objects are causing great concern to the marine space,” Lowe stated. (RSM)
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Olweus Award signals a turnaround for Grantley Adams

October 27, 2016, 9:00 pm
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By: 
Regina Selman Moore

 

Having received the prestigious Olweus School of the Year 2015-2016 award for its efforts at bullying prevention,  a turnaround for the Grantley Adams Memorial School has been signalled.
 
Principal of Grantley Adams Memorial School, Dennis Browne pointed out the above, following a “Celebrate Kindness: No Name-calling Day” initiative hosted at the school yesterday, by Supreme Counselling for Personal Development (SCPD).  Under its Project Rescue initiative for at risk youth, SCPD currently runs the Olweus Bullying Prevention Programme in four schools and Certified Olweus Bullying Prevention Consultant/Trainer, Shawn Clarke, who is also CEO of Supreme Counselling for Personal Development (SCPD), presented the Award yesterday, having received backing from the Olweus Head Office in the United States and the blessings of the local Ministry of Education.
 
 “This is one of the most exciting times in the life of Grantley Adams Memorial School, to be the only school in Barbados to have been able to win this prestigious award and the only school to have the discipline to be able to within the school, to have as minimal as possible, challenges with bullying,” Browne remarked on accepting the award.
 
 He later told The Barbados Advocate, “Words can’t explain how I feel, because we are not looking back, but he in the past, there were negative comments being made of the school and to see that the school has risen from where it was before to where it is now and moving forward and steadily fighting (is an accomplishment). It will be the school of choice in maybe two or three years”.
 
 Browne has meanwhile noted that it cannot be left up to the school alone to churn out students who are well disciplined, model students and as such, he has made a call for more personnel, across the public and private sector to step forward and assist the schools in whatever way they can, “to conquer what we are now seeing happening in society” with some of our at risk youth.
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Two million dollar upgrade for Fire Service

October 28, 2016, 9:00 pm
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The ‘jaws of life’ was used to remove the door and roof of this vehicle to save the lives of those caught inside.

The ‘jaws of life’ was used to remove the door and roof of this vehicle to save the lives of those caught inside.

Keeping a close eye on the proceedings were (from left), Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Llyodson Phillips; Acting Chief Fire Officer, Errol Maynard and Attorney General, Adriel Brathwaite.

Keeping a close eye on the proceedings were (from left), Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Llyodson Phillips; Acting Chief Fire Officer, Errol Maynard and Attorney General, Adriel Brathwaite.

By: 
Jenique Belgrave

TWO million dollars have been spent this year upgrading the equipment of the Barbados Fire Service (BFS).

“On the fleet upgrade and replacement, we have about spent $2 million this year. I think we have two new tankers, and over the next couple of years, it will be between seven or eight million dollars that we will be spending, so that we can have the most cutting edge of equipment,” disclosed Minister of Home Affairs and Attorney General, Adriel Brathwaite.

At the time, he was speaking moments after the end of ‘Operation: Raising the Bar’, a rescue simulation put on by the BFS in the City yesterday.

While the simulation included a water-rescue, the outing of a vehicle blaze and a vehicle rescue, the AG threw down the challenge to the BFS to include a high-rise rescue in its next simulation.

“I said to the Fire Chief that if you are going to do a drill, I would expect to see someone come down from the Treasury Building or going up the Treasury Building ,because in terms of what is happening, we are having more high-rise buildings in Barbados that will be part of our landscape of the future, so whatever is required in terms of our ability to respond to emergencies of all types, we are going to have to try to ensure that we don’t only have the equipment, but all skills,” he said.

The AG underlined the importance of having such drills, noting that these were critical life-savers.

“We have to learn from this morning’s exercise the things that we did not do properly, because based on what I could see, there were a couple areas where we needed to have better co-ordination, but that will only happen through practice.

Brathwaite also noted that a state-of-the-art teaching facility will be created at the Arch Hall station, insisting, “we not only want to teach our firemen and women, we also want to have it available to our brothers and sisters across the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States’.”

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