On Monday night, in an intimate dinner at the Abidah Hotel at Enterprise Beach, a group of distinguished members of Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s Cabinet expressed heartfelt recognition to Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to Barbados, Gustavo Martinez Pandiani.

The occasion comes as Ambassador Pandiani is ending his diplomatic tenure after three years of intense cooperation between the two nations.

A tasteful spread of beef, fish and a parade of desserts were prepared by the Chef and were paired with Malbec and sweet white Argentine wines. The table was artfully decorated while both flags sat in the background as symbols of the strong friendship between the two countries.

In attendance were Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jerome Walcott; Speaker of the House, Arthur Holder; outgoing President of the Senate, Richard Cheltenham; Chief Justice, Marston Gibson; and various Ministers such as Minister of Culture, John King; Minister of the Blue Economy, Kirk Humphrey; Minister of Agriculture, Indar Weir; Minister of Tourism, Lisa Cummins; Minister of Home Affairs, Wilfred Abrahams; Minister of Environment, Adrian Forde; Minister Ryan Straughn; and Minister Marsha Caddle.

Former Minister Edmund Hinkson; Senator Crystal Haynes; Ambassador of Barbados to Argentina, Tonika Sealy-Thompson; Director of Public Affairs, Patricia Parris; Chairman of the National Sports Council, Macdonald Fingall; President of the Barbados Football Association, Randy Harris; and Cultural Ambassador, Anthony “Gabby” Carter were also part of the selected invitees.

The dinner was showered with genuine words of appreciation for the Argentine envoy, who was at times close to tears. The night ended with Ambassador Pandiani expressing immense gratitude not only to the Government of Barbados, but also to all Bajans whom he has grown to love.

OVER the last several months, the island’s medical and other frontline workers have been at the forefront of the battle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yesterday, Vice President, Group Life & Health Sagicor Life Inc Susan Boyea said that the pandemichas reinforced to the world the value of essential services and those who provide these services.

She said it was against this backdrop that Sagicor sought to reward their commitment by providing insurance coverage through a Group plan built specifically with them in mind.

“We started in May with the Healthcare Heroes Plan, offering doctors, nurses, pharmacists, opticians, dentists, orderlies and administrative staff, along with their dependents, affordable Life insurance cover, priced lower than what is currently available on the market.”

“In August we followed this up with the launch of the Frontline Heroes Plan, providing similar coverage to those in the protective services, such as the Fire Service, police and security guards; other essential services, including Supermarket workers, ground transport and delivery services; as well as air traffic controllers, pilots and immigration officers, among others.”

Boyea announced that effective October 1st, the Barbados Fire Service Association has come on board to offer this package to its members.

She also used the opportunity to announce the introduction of Stage three of the Front Line Heroes Plan with the inclusion of “Other Necessary Support Services”,

“This means that groups working in social and welfare services, for example, caretakers or caregivers; welfare officers; charity associations and clubs, will now be eligible to join the Frontline Heroes Group Plan.”

Additionally, eligibility is also now extended to utility service providers, sanitation services, energy services, banking and insurance, and also media and telecommunications.

“Any individual from age 18 to 75, actively working in any of these areas, will be eligible to join this group plan, which provides five levels of life insurance coverage, each inclusive of coverage for accidental death and dismemberment and critical illness.”

“When I speak about critical illness, I’m referring to heart attacks, strokes, coronary artery bypass, cancer, multiple sclerosis, kidney failure, major organ transplant, paralysis, deafness and blindness.”

The vice president said this plan has been developed to protect those who protect us. “ We are truly appreciative of the hard work and dedication these individuals display as we continue to battle this unseen enemy. By their actions they are leading from the front, fighting to ensure we have a future to look forward to,” she said.

Boyea’s comments came as she along with Paul Inniss, General Manager Sagicor Life Inc presented the Barbados Fire Service with five automated external defibrillator units at the BFS’s Arch Hall Fire Station yesterday morning.

Inniss noted that the team at Sagicor has joined in the fight to preserve the life, safety and health of our communities through various initiatives not only here in Barbados, but in neighboring and operating territories of Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Belize, the Dutch-Caribbean territories of Aruba and Curacao and the islands of the Eastern Caribbean.

Efforts include: the donation of three thermal imaging scanners, one at the QEH and two at the Grantley Adams International Airport. These full-body scanners assist with identifying potential carriers of the virus as they enter our island and the nation’s primary medical facility.

Other efforts include the provision of relief to policyowners through moratoriums and payment plans and the provision of relief and assistance to those in the community by donating food supplies and personal care packages. “Sagicor as a provider for Health and Life insurance Products & Services, is committed to our vision of improving the lives of those in the communities in which we operate, with the area of health being one of our key Corporate Social Responsibility pillars,” Inniss said. (JH)

Barbadians can expect the rest of the week to be cloudy as the island is expected to be affected by a tropical wave.

This came from Andrew Daniel, Meteorologist II (Ag) of the Barbados Meteorological Services during an interview with The Barbados Advocate yesterday evening.

The Meteorologist explained that there was some activity over the central and western parts of the island chain early yesterday morning, which resulted in some isolated thunderstorms and moderate to heavy showers due to some localised activity.

He noted that there was a tropical wave approaching the east of Barbados and, based on its progression and the band of clouds approaching with the wave, it is expected to be cloudy to overcast, with moderate showers and some thunderstorms in the area.

“There is an upper level trough over the region and that will likely enhance the cloud development with the tropical wave. We expect this wave to affect us, but as it moves further west we will still experience off table conditions as the upper level feature is still there and that feature by it self will induce weather similar to what we had last week,” he said.

“Later in the week, we are still expecting the instability associated with the wave to affect us. There will still be some cloudiness, but the showers and thunderstorm activity may not be as great as this evening into tonight. And it will stick around until Saturday morning.”

Daniel explained that the reason the MET Office issued a flash flood warning was due to what was shown on the radar imagery. He said that while the showers may not be intense due to the mid levels over Barbados being relatively dry to a point that could hamper or hinder cloud growth, heavy showers and some torrential downpours were still expected in some areas, and that resulted in them sending out the warning. (CLJB)

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into full view the value and importance of statistics.

Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Ambassador Irwin LaRocque pointed out the above, on the occasion of the Twelfth Observance of Caribbean Statistics Day yesterday. It was held under the theme, “Connecting the World with Data We Can Trust”.

“Statistical data drives a myriad of decisions that impact the lives of the people of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and worldwide. In this period of the Novel Coronavirus global pandemic, COVID-19, statistics are required to track the status of the pandemic, and its economic and social impact, reinforcing its value to society. Statistics as a science of learning provides an essential service, through making available data for decision-making in the face of uncertainty,” he stated.

“In the efforts to manage and overcome the pandemic, epidemiological data underpin the information base on the spread of the virus. The collection, compilation and dissemination of basic statistics includes the number of confirmed cases, the daily number of new cases and the pattern over time, the number of deaths, recoveries, active cases and the number of tests conducted. These are just a few of the data elements that are collected by the National Statistical Systems of countries to ascertain the magnitude of the impact of the virus on the population and on the economy, and to drive the decisions for solutions to mitigate that impact,” he added.

“The extent of its effect on trade, government revenues, unemployment, access to education, on children that are below the poverty line with no smartphones or internet, are some of the issues on which our National Statistical Offices and Systems are required to provide information. Sound policy decisions by governments on restrictions to be put in place, on the closing or reopening of national borders, schools and certain business places, will only be possible by utilising trusted data from the statistical offices and systems,” LaRocque further commented.

He also pointed out that globally, statistical methods and analyses are employed to assist the clinical trials that are being undertaken to obtain a vaccine.

“It is clear therefore, that the CARICOM Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics (RSDS), with its strategic visioning for the improvement of statistics over the next ten years, takes on added significance. The strategic framework of the RSDS was endorsed in July 2018, by the Conference of Heads of Government at its Thirty-Ninth Regular Meeting. Already, the Implementation and Communication Plans for this Strategic Framework have been prepared, as well as drafts of the Resource Mobilisation and Monitoring and Evaluation Frameworks, that are to be considered by the Standing Committee of Caribbean Statisticians (SCCS) next month,” the Secretary General asserted.

He therefore stressed that investment in statistics to enable the implementation of the RSDS is critical, and he urged both Governments and International Development Partners to continue to support the RSDS, given the vivid examples that we have seen of the importance of statistics, during this global pandemic.

“St. George North deserves more.”

That’s what Toni Moore, the Barbados Labour Party’s candidate for the St. George North by-election, told people who gathered at Sheffield Pasture, Lower Estate on Sunday night, as she made it clear that with her representation the constituents would get just that. With just about a month to go before the November 11, 2020 election, Moore, putting her case to the constituents, said that she comes from a background where service is nothing new to her, contending that it is ingrained in her.

“Service is something that has to be in you, it has to be diet that you are fed on and that is the diet that I’ve been fed on. I was called into service from 1990 when I gave my heart to God. The next call to service for me came in 2004... In 2004 I was sought after by the General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union, who on the recommendation of a man called Patrick Frost, saw something in me that he thought would make a difference to the workers of Barbados and the people of Barbados. I answered that call,” she stated.

She added then that in 2014 she had to answer another call, not merely to represent workers, but represent workers at the highest level in the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), and again she answered the call.

“There have been repeated calls and not by members of any Democratic Labour Party or any other party, and I want that to be understood. There had been repeated call for me to serve at this level, calls that you have heard me say time and time again I rejected, but when a few weeks ago the opportunity came again and I understood the seriousness of it and I felt the weight of the decision I needed to make if I was going to make a greater impact on behalf of workers and the people of Barbados, it was one that I could not refuse,” she maintained.

She continued, “St. George North I have answered and I have said yes and with the will of God and with your support we will, we can, we must deliver for the workers of Barbados.”

Moore told constituents who are undecided, that as they contemplate who they will vote for, they have to be confident that they are going to place their vote not only with a Party that would make a difference for the people of Barbados, but they must be confident that they are choosing an individual who would uphold those principles.

“...As you contemplate your X, who do you think is best placed to speak for you? That has to be question that guides you, guides your thinking, guides your conversations with other people as we enter the next 30 days plus of this election. It is not enough for some person to say I am not a talker, I am a doer, because where the decisions are made in the seat of power in the Lower House, yuh don’t be doing nutten more than talking at that point,” she maintained.

Moore went on to say that those serving in the Lower and Upper Houses of Parliament are not there to make sport, but to understand the real needs of a society. This, she said, is especially important in the current COVID-19 environment, which is fraught with uncertainty. (JRT)

COVID-19 and its impact on our tourism dependent economies means the time is now for regional governments to implement disruptive and forward thinking programme concepts and policies that fast-track the development of a Caribbean technology economy.

This is the view of Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley who was one of the featured speakers during the official launch of The Pivot Event, a five day virtual gathering of pioneering thinkers in the Caribbean region. Organised by the Inter-American Development Bank, the event is expected to harness big ideas into a manifesto for driving Caribbean transformation.

Prime Minister Mottley made the point that it is only when the cultural confidence is increased and the power of our creative imagination is maximised will one be able to build technologies that unlock our region’s true potential.

“We will begin to see that because we are surrounded on all sides by the sea. Our ocean economy is prime for expansion. We will begin to see that our lack of scale steers us to focus on producing quality rather than quantity, thus enhancing our high value manufacturing sector and what ought to be a propensity for research and development.”

“We would also see that the constant threat of hurricanes makes us global experts in the business of climate resilience. In the immortal words of that great Trinidadian luminary CLR James – Nobody knows what the Caribbean population is capable of. Nobody has ever attempted to find out.”

“I say the duty is ours together to pivot right now, to find out what that Caribbean person is about and what capacity our region is capable of.”

The Prime Minister pointed out that for too long the region has been risk averse and afraid to go after their “moonshot”, which is a radical or ambitious idea.

“Our region in an age of rapid and bold digital innovation globally has been slow to digitise and timid to innovate.”

Prime Minister Mottley noted that without the safety net afforded to other countries, the region has been hesitant to strive to be the best and first in this region. “Our governments, our financial institutions, our schools, our churches and our agencies, have been regrettably too hostile to risk and resistant to new actions and new ideas.”

The Prime Minister said this is unconscionable in a region that has produced the likes of CLR James, Errol Barrow, Brian Lara, V.S Naipaul, Usain Bolt, Viv Richards, Shirley Chisolm and Rihanna to name a few.

“We are a region that has already solved some of the most difficult of the so-called developed world’s problems with our universal education. People don’t talk about it. Our universal education, our universal health care, our stable political system...our freedom of choice and social partnerships are hardly ever mentioned.”

“We are a place of critical creative thinkers, we like to ‘buse one another and we like to use colourful language. We are revolutionaries in our own way. We are inventors, artists and pioneers. We have already produced the best and we have already been the first. But why do we resist scale? Why do we not understand that scale is at the heart of transformation. How as a collective can we not put our own perspective and flare on this digital revolution. Simply put- how can we pivot,” Prime Minister Mottley queried.

She opined that the future of the world and by extension the future of the Caribbean is largely in technology. “True prosperity and transformation... will not come from Caribbean technologies until we have the cultural confidence that Peter Minshall exhibited when he put stilt walkers at the Barcelona Olympiad.”

“We must have the cultural confidence to develop technology for our own kind on a timeline that plays to our strengths and which captures the imagination of our own people. We must become a developer of ideas and technologies. That allows us to overcome the everyday disadvantages of being a small island developing state. That will allow us to overcome our small population, our small economy our vulnerability to natural disasers and our very difficult history of slavery and colonialism,” Prime Minister Mottley said. (JH)

Those who feed and help the homeless and most vulnerable of Barbados, received a blessing this week in the form of a donation of healthy food items, to commemorate World Food Day.

In observance of today, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), in partnership with The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Barbados Agricultural, Development & Marketing Corporation (BADMC), donated ground provisions and fruit in a joint presentation to two organisations, the Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness and Street Lamp Ministries. The handover which took place at the Animal Nutrition Unit, The Pine East-West Boulevard, St. Michael, signaled the answer to a call that was emanating from the two societies which cater to those in need.

Hon Peter Phillips, Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security along with Vyju Lopez, Plant Production and Protection Officer, FAO made the presentation.

Phillips who was assisted by Dr. Beverley Wood, Acting Chief Agricultural Officer, MAFS and Permanent Secretary Terry Bascombe, thanked the FAO for reaching out to the MAFS in what he called arguably the most genuine expression of benevolence for humanity – the act of giving to those who are less fortunate.

The minister also highlighted that the working relationship with the FAO along with the presentation was a strategic part of the community and outreach program of the ministry.

“We at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security consider the sharing of produce and planting material with the public, including institutions such as schools, churches, NGOs and individuals, as being vital to our mandate to advance interest in agriculture and to promote national food and nutrition security.

Lopez stated that the FAO was seeing an increased number of persons becoming reliant on organisations such as the two being presented to, saying they were providing a solution to hunger and lack of access to healthy diets.

“We are humbled and impressed by your dedication, commitment and hard-work in providing shelter, care and hot, nutritious meals to some of those who have fallen on hard times,” said Lopez.

Director of the Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness, Kemar Saffrey said that he was thankful and that the donation would be welcomed by the homeless, as for some reason, they seemed to like a ‘good soup’. Saffrey also explained that feeding was a major part of the drive of his organisation.

“It is always good when we can receive donations, especially in the field where we do a lot of feeding. Covid would have put us in a predicament where we had to up the numbers so it is always good when we can have food to continue the work that we do and in addition to that healthy food,” said Saffrey.

Leader of Street Lamp Ministries Jerome Gittens took time out to thank God for allowing the event to come to fruition and also expressed his thanks to the MAFS and FAO for the produce. Gittens also stated that it was his hope that both organisations remained on board with Street Lamp Ministries.

“We are hoping that you guys stay on board to help us where you can and know that we are going to be doing all that we can as well. The volunteers, the persons that come as well, we want to thank them for supporting us throughout the years. As we move from strength to strength, with the help of God, we hope that Street Lamp Ministries will always be on your minds when you think of a donation to an organisation,” said Gittens. (AS)

Fishermen and others in the fishing industry are no longer neglected, thanks to the work of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy.

Minister of Environment and National Beautification, Adrian Forde suggested the above, suggesting that under the former government, fisherfolk did not have their issues and concerns adequately addressed. He was at the time speaking during a session of Parliament this week, where he lauded Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Kirk Humphrey for the work done to date, to look after the needs of those in the local fishing industry.

“A fisherman once told me in Oistins, that fishing is not an escape from life, it is a part therefore. In a circular way, what he is saying is true. The fishing industry has (long) been a part of the Barbadian (landscape),” he stated, noting that through fishing, fisherfolk have been able to help to support their families, neighbourhoods and also the country by extension.

What Minister Humphrey has been doing in terms of bringing a sense of ownership and enfranchisement to fishermen is amazing Forde said, whilst stressing that no such thing occurred under the former Democratic Labour Party administration.

He maintained that Humphrey has been able to work to ensure that fishermen have a tangible stake in the fishing industry in Barbados and he has been able to do so, through partnerships.

He meanwhile noted the link between the blue economy and his own portfolio, that of the environment adding that the two have to also work together.

Forde also had high praise for Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to Barbados, His Excellency Gustavo Martinez Pandiani, for his work in helping fisher folk learn innovative and self-sustainable techniques of producing fish silage, as a resource for livestock and agriculture. Pointing out that 65 per cent of fish is seen as waste, he stressed that most of it can now be used for profit.

As such, he expressed gratitude to the Ambassador for offering the technical assistance and training needed, to ensure that instead of being placed in the dump, the offal from fish and other materials can be used in the agricultural industry in feeding livestock. (RSM)

“We need action!”

That’s the cry from frustrated residents in communities surrounding the Lower Estate Quarry in St. George, given a flare up of their reoccurring severe health challenges, which they attribute to that nearby dump.

Spokesperson Alan Harvey, along with Kimberley Johnny, Cleviston Miller, Jason Veira and Ian Proverbs who live in close proximity to the dump, in communities such as The Palms and also in Airy Hill, St. George, say whilst they are the ones making their voices heard on this matter, there are countless residents who they have been in contact with, who are also being affected.

“We are in a group with many other residents who are equally affected and agitated and not just affected from a discomfort point of view, but from a health and wellness point of view,” Harvey pointed out.

Public reports indicate that it was back in 2017 that the Ministry of Health issued an abatement notice, instructing Project Recycle Limited, owned and operated by Anderson Cherry to cease its operations in the landfill, after the matter was ongoing for some time. The company was also ordered to clear the site of all materials, within a set time frame. The order came after an investigation, which revealed that the site was being used as a dump, after numerous residents openly complained of smoke, fumes and foul odours emanating from that compound, which impacted their health.

In 2019, in a court case against the recycling company, a magistrate handed down a ruling suggesting that Project Recycle changed the use of the land at the Lower Estate Quarry, originally zoned for mining, and used it instead for solid waste disposal, without the requisite planning permission. A final settlement on the way forward was to come.

Whilst some of the residents have been part of an environmental committee set up to help address the matter and they say that a White Paper has even gone to Cabinet outlining how the matter should be dealt with, they fear that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the matter almost to a screeching halt. The residents say they need a swifter resolution to this troubling matter, as they believe that not all activity has ceased in the dump, given that an adjoining quarry may now be in use for mining purposes.

“The hurtful thing is, if it were just a mistake that a business owner made that unfortunately created this problem and then that owner tried to do everything to mitigate the issue or to support the residents, I think the level of anger and frustration would be less. But the problem is the people who run this dump, they have been given stop order, after stop order from the Town and Country Planning and (the Ministry of Health) and they continue (ignore them). They have also embarked on a new business venture, to quarry the rock in the area and obviously, for sale,” Alan, suggested.

Outlining their health challenges, Alan’s wife Kimberly said they have spent several nights in the Accident and Emergency Department with their young son, who gets an asthmatic attack each and every time the foul stench erupts from the dump, especially now during the raining season. Jason meanwhile lamented being “on lockdown”, each and every time the fumes permeate the atmosphere.

Ian told this newspaper, “My dream house has become a nightmare. That’s not an exaggeration. We didn’t ask for this, they brought it to us and there hasn’t been the slightest bit of empathy or remorse from them. They have broken the law, they have impacted our lives and they are carrying on and getting government contracts.”

Cleviston meanwhile suggested, “Government has to get involved and the same way that they dealt with the South Coast and other critical issues in the society, they have to deal with this issue in the same way, whatever it takes, whatever it costs because we are paying right now with our health.”

In terms of the way forward, Alan said, “They need to stop any and all activity on the site. The government needs to take full control of the area and declare it an environmental disaster area. We need air quality testing done immediately, so that the residents can determine what we are being exposed to and what the short and long term effects of exposure to these chemicals, is going to be. We also need soil testing and water testing, to determine the possible impact on the country’s water table and the Belle Pumping Station, which as we were told serves three quarters of the island’s water.”

“The relevant authorities also need to devise a mitigation plan to fully remove all of the material that is in the dump and revert the quarry to its original state, before the illegal dumping activity started,” Alan said of the serious action that needs to take place. (RSM)

Newly appointed Independent Senator Julian Hunte, says that while the industrial relations climate is generally peaceful, the trade union movement is facing some new issues which have to be addressed.

He was speaking to members of the media yesterday morning, just moments after being sworn in at Government House by Governor General Dame Sandra Mason. Senator Hunte, a former Deputy General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union, now Assistant Registrar at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus with responsibility for industrial relations, said there are matters which are ongoing which the trade union movement has previously not had to deal with, and it requires a “recognition that robust and frank discussions are going to have to happen”.

“I think that generally we are going to be striving towards striking a balance between the rights which labour has fought for and won over the years, with the responsibility that comes with our country’s capacity to maintain those rights, those privileges. So that there is going to be a person such as myself, with my preparation, having seen both sides of the negotiation table as it were – as a representative of labour and a representative of the private sector, I think that I am able to bring a type of balance which is needed especially at this time,” he stated.

The former trade unionist went further stating that “the fate of labour is in the hands of labour and as such labour just has to recognise and step forward to embrace the responsibility that lays in front of it especially in the current environment”.

Asked about the leadership of the movement, Hunte went further stating that he believes that those in the various positions are carrying out their respective mandates as best they can, but he said there can always be improvements.

“And what I know of the labour movement is that it is a movement headed by persons, carried by persons, who are committed to the best interest of Barbados and as such I am satisfied that they are going to be steadfast in pursuing that type of approach,” he stated.

Hunte’s comments came as he expressed appreciation to Dame Sandra for offering him the opportunity to serve as a senator.

“First of all I would like to say what a tremendous honour it is to have been asked by Her Excellency to act as a Senator, an Independent Senator where I will be drawing on my experience serving at a senior level in the trade union movement and in the private sector. I will be focusing primarily on matters and perspectives as they impact upon the trade union movement and the practice of industrial relations in general,” he said.

He added that his appointment is also an opportunity for him to give back to his country and do his part to ensure that the interest of labour and the interest of all who practice industrial relations is heard and adequately represented.

Meanwhile, Dame Sandra spoke about why she chose Hunte for the position left vacant due to the resignation of General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union, Toni Moore to contest the upcoming St. George North by-election.

“I needed someone to look after the question of labour, trade unionism and industrial relations in the Senate, which as you know was very ably dealt with by former Senator Moore, and I am given to understand that Mr. Hunte is quite capable and I am happy to have him as a Senator in the Senate,” she stated. (JRT)

One local charity has plans to assist Barbadian students annually.

Master of Ceremonies and committee member of RED Foundation, Carl ‘Alf’ Padmore stated this during his opening remarks recently. He spoke about the fund-raising efforts of the charity for back-to-school and said with the impact of COVID-19, it is important to help their community.

The charity’s Back To School Committee was formed to provide all primary school students in Christ Church with school supplies.

On Thursday, seven primary schools received the donation from The Red Foundation at Amigos Restaurant in St. Lawrence Gap, Christ Church. Recipients were Vauxhall Primary School, St. Christopher Primary School, Christ Church Girls School, Arthur Smith Primary School, St. Bartholomew Primary School, Gordon Walters Primary School, and Milton Lynch Primary School.

Committee member, Carl Padmore told the media that the school supplies kit included rulers, erasers, scissors, pencil cases, exercise books, colouring books, colouring pencils, glue, and printing paper. He added that the charity accumulated seven barrels of school supplies and this also included school bags and hand sanitiser.

Parliamentary Representative for Christ Church South, Ralph Thorne spearheaded the back-to-school supplies project along with The RED Foundation. The charity sent a letter to the 11 schools in Christ Church to find out what each school needed. Last month, a celebrity T20 cricket match was held to raise funds for the community initiative. At the recent presentation, well-known Barbadian and West Indian cricketer and supporter of the charity, Tino Best joined the head table along with Chairman of The RED Foundation, Alvin Jemmott, patron “Red Plastic Bag”, Stedson Wiltshire, East Point Consultancy Representative, Atoya Hinds, and Member of Parliament for Christ Church South, Ralph Thorne.

Earlier, Jemmott indicated that the charity will be helping Barbadians during the upcoming Christmas season with a fund-raising initiative called “Walk The Talk”. He said that this year, they have been assisted by people outside the region. Over two hundred tablets were donated to Barbadian schools through Carrie-Lyn Grazette Cancer Foundation of Atlanta.

The Red Foundation Chairman also revealed that the charity has a school bag project and the organisation received support from the Barbados Association of Central Florida.

In 2017, the RED Foundation, a non-profit organisation was founded by Cultural ambassador, Dr. Stedson Wiltshire, “Red Plastic Bag” who wanted to give back to Barbados. The RED Foundation team aims to help Barbadian children thrive by creating a social community that empowers, encourages, and nurtures the youth while passing on wisdom, customs, standards, and practices synonymous with the Barbadian culture.

A confident Toni Moore exited the National Housing Corporation in Country Road yesterday after paying in her deposit to the Treasury for the November 11 by-election.

Telling the media she felt “energised, optimistic and highly confident” of a win at the polls, the Barbados Labour Party candidate for St. George North commended the other contenders in the race for offering themselves for service.

“I will not be one of those demeaning others and demeaning the commitment of those who have entered a race which suggests that they are interested in serving Barbados. That being said, there can only be one winner and that winner will give the people of

St. George North ‘more,’” the General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union stated to the cheers of those around her.

Flanked by several Ministers including

Dr. William Duguid, Senator Jerome Walcott, and Dwight Sutherland, along with Director of Public Affairs, Pat Parris, Moore said in their canvassing, the team had received highly positive feedback from residents.

Insisting the campaign is not focused on young people alone, she added that her representation will be focused on improving the lives of all people.

Sutherland, who is the campaign manager for the November 11 by-election said the team is in constant contact with the Electoral and Boundaries Commission, stating that there had been no major issues with the voters’ list and that the time for transferral of persons has already passed.

“It has been a professional process and should remain that way,” he added. (JMB)

The young students of St. Stephen’s Primary School now have additional accommoda-tion in keeping with the national COVID-19 protocols currently in place.

West Indies Rum Distillery (WIRD), which is located just a stone’s throw away in Brighton, Black Rock, recently presented the school with a cheque to cover the full cost of one 20”x 20” tent which will be used to house classes while practicing social distancing.

Stacy-Ann Clarke, Finance and Administration Manager of WIRD, said while the company was focused on the ongoing development of the distillery, they were also committed to supporting the wider community.

“We have quite a few employees who also have children attending St. Stephen’s Primary and we are happy to support this initiative, which will redound to the benefit of all students with the provision of quality education in such a challenging time,” she said.

Dr. Colin Cumberbatch, Principal of the school, welcomed the support from WIRD.

“Our priority is to ensure that all children attending St. Stephen’s Primary are safe and secure, while accessing their education. The tent allows for the easy flow of air, while protecting the students and teachers from the elements. This donation will certainly go a long way as we acclimatise to the new norm at our schools,” he said.

WIRD also presented 12-gallon containers of hand sanitiser, to assist the school in practicing proper hygiene.

The residents of St. George North are being told that there is a wind of change blowing across Barbados and it is not too late to get “that voice” in the House of Assembly that is needed at this time.

That’s the view of the former Second Vice President of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), Simon Alleyne. He was speaking during a spot meeting at Flat Rock, St. George on Thursday night.

“It is not too late to get that voice in the Senate of Barbados to stand up and speak about the issues, whether it is the legalisation of marijuana, whether it is gay marriages, whether it is firearms – we need to have a voice and I am saying to you ladies and gentlemen that Floyd Reifer is that man who is willing to stand in the gap, who is willing to say I am willing to represent the people of St. George North, yes I am willing to stand up and be counted and even though the numbers may be against me, I am willing to serve, I am willing to make myself available to make a change in Barbados. I am saying to you that the wind of change is blowing in Barbados,” Alleyne told those within earshot.

Alleyne made the point as he maintained that this country’s leaders must be held accountable to the people. He charged that too often they are saying what they like and doing what they like to the detriment of the society, particularly those in the lower and middle classes.

“It is very important that our leaders are held accountable to us, but we are hearing a lot of talk about big words and we were given a challenge recently that if you want big works you have to deal with me... but you know what the biggest works are? You the constituents of St. George going on November 11 and voting for Floyd Reifer, that is the biggest work y’all guys can do for yourself,” he stated.

He continued, “They are doing as they like, but I am saying to you this evening as you are hearing my voice, that Floyd Reifer is the man to make things better, to be your voice, to mobilise on your behalf, to agitate on your behalf and make a change for the better in St. George North.”

Alleyne told the constituents, to make that happen, the DLP needs their support and he urged them to vote for Reifer on November 11.

“We can’t do it by ourselves and that’s why Floyd is out here working, that’s why we are working with him, because we believe in him and what he can offer and what he can do for you the constituents in St. George North. So stand with us November 11, stand with us and vote for your children, vote for your future, vote for improvement in the quality of life for yourself and your family by giving you support, by giving your X to no other than Floyd Reifer,” Alleyne stated.

The Rotary and Rotaract Clubs of Barbados South have embarked on a project aimed at introducing children to backyard farming to teach them about proper nutrition.

The pilot, which was officially launched yesterday on World Food Day, will see students of George Lamming, Arthur Smith, Hillaby Turners Hall, and West Terrace Primary Schools test their green thumb through the Owen Arthur Agrokids Initiative. The Rotary Club has chosen to honour the late Prime Minister, Professor The Rt. Hon. Owen S. Arthur and his agricultural legacy through this project, and as such have chosen to name the project after him.

Addressing the ceremony at West Terrace Primary School, Chairperson of Agrokids Initiative, Rosaline Clarke revealed the overall aim of the Rotary initiative is to help fight obesity in children before Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) develop later in life.

“By using this hands-on method, we hope to educate children about healthy dietary habits and exercise; strengthen and sustain the country’s food security; and by our involvement we will mentor children to help them achieve their full potential,” it was stated.

She went on to explain that the initiative is about examining how the food gardening environment impacts on the dietary behaviours of children in Primary Schools. In addition, on completion it is hoped that recommendations can be made to the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Ministry of Education, Technical & Vocational Training to help form policy to create a healthier food environment for children and by extension all of Barbados.

“We want to increase the interest of the children in protecting the environment, in organic farming, watching plants grow to produce food to eat. By getting the students involved it can help them to see farming as being more exciting, sparking an educational interest where before there was none, especially for those students who learn better by using their hands. It can also prepare them for the future world of work by giving them that entrepreneurial drive or create an interest in them in a career in agriculture or environmental studies,” it was further pointed out.

Clarke also took the opportunity to thank the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) for assisting the Rotary and Rotaract Clubs of Barbados South in getting the gardens back into active production, some of which were in need of major work after being unattended during the months the students were away from school due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Widow of the late Professor Arthur, Julie Arthur commended Rotary on the initiative, which she revealed was being launched on the eve of his birthday. She said that to truly know her husband was to know of his love not only for country, but for his family and his passion for gardening.

“That is why his family wishes to thank the Rotary and Rotaract Clubs of Barbados South for creating this admirable and practical project which will bear his name,” she expressed.

“Owen’s love for plants was demonstrated by his constant and determined fight to keep one special plant alive – the one that belonged to his late mother. In Owen’s eyes, keeping her plant alive, kept him with her,” it was revealed.

“Despite his hectic schedule as Prime Minister and later as Professor of Practice at The University of the West Indies, he found time to spend with his family and enjoyed the simple things in life… And we in the Owen Arthur family stand ready to work with you to ensure that this initiative is a success. I assure you that this venture would have made Owen very proud,” she said.

Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, Santia Bradshaw gave the initiative her full support.

She told the gathering that the former Prime Minister understood the importance of agriculture.

“He understood it not only against the background of what was important in Barbados, but he also understood it against the context of CARICOM. He understood that if we were able to get back to our roots and use new technologies to be able to build out our agricultural sector, that we would be also creating a generation that could be very sustainable in terms of food production in this country as well. And that in turn we would be able to export products overseas in particular to the region.”

Minister Bradshaw also agreed with Mrs. Arthur that the initiative is a fitting tribute.

“I am pleased that Lady Arthur has agreed to allow the Rotary Club to use his name… He would not want his name to be associated with any and everything, but I do feel this is a project that would have been very near and dear to his heart,” it was stated.

“And one certainly that within the Ministry of Education we totally support not just from the Rotary’s end, but in terms also of the preservation of his name as well, and to ensure that this project is sustained,” she assured. (TL)

The eight-week 2020 Grow Barbados Challenge recently wrapped up and already, Adrian Reid, Co-Founder of Victory Gardens Caribbean which launched the initiative, is looking forward to helping more first time gardeners grow their own crops, in phase two of the project.

In the interest of food security and to help Barbados reduce its high food import bill, Victory Gardens Caribbean, in partnership with FarmFinder and the National Conservation Commission (NCC), launched the challenge.

Just yesterday in a closing ceremony at the NCC, the winners, which included both children and adults, were announced and lauded for their efforts in battling various agricultural challenges as they grew crops such as lettuce, Chinese cabbage, okras and cucumbers. They received vouchers from sponsors such as Massy Farm and Garden, Seedburst Nurseries, Nature Care, Carter’s General Store and Landmark Nurseries, which they can redeem in-store.

“We have finally come to the end of the 2020 Grow Barbados Challenge by Victory Gardens, FarmFinder and the NCC and we have our winners, eight participants who were successful over eight weeks, in trying to grow their crops as backyard gardeners. We actually had kids involved in this as well. Our youngest child was six-years-old. So we are just hopeful for the next generation after us, to continue the legacy of growing food,” Reid remarked.

He meanwhile noted that Victory Gardens and its partners are looking forward to phase two of the initiative, which will come off in November and which will see about 200 participants who would have joined the challenge, also doing their part to grow food and cut down on the island’s food import bill.

The youngest participant, Jaina Sylvester, who grew a number of crops but who won first place for her crop of lettuce, said she enjoyed the challenge which she completed with her mother Philipa Sylvester, who won first place for her cucumber crop.

Adult participant Sherry Coleman, who won first place for her okra crop, meanwhile noted that she intends to continue growing her own food, following such a successful challenge.

If you are on welfare or receiving financial assistance from government or any other institution, do not to waste the funds given on false eyelashes and expensive shoes.

This stern warning came from Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Cynthia Forde, as she knocked the decisions being made by some of these individuals after receiving financial aid.

“Some people come and say ‘Ma’am have you got any vouchers?  – the vouchers which have been distributed, because most of the stores are offering now – and I say ‘I have a few but there are restrictions. When you get these vouchers I expect you to buy food and toiletries’. Some of them get their welfare cheque and then the next morning you see them with false eyelashes, gold earrings and fancy expensive shoes,” she said, before pointing to her own $15 pair.

Make do

“I go [to] Swan Street and I dig up and I got these for $15. I am saying you have to learn to cut and contrive and that is what our parents taught us. Make do [with] what you have. Do not go out there and ask any man for anything cause something for something,” she stressed.

At the time, she was addressing a group of young people attending the ‘Budgeting During Covid-19 Workshop’ hosted by the Bureau of Gender Affairs at the Sharon Moravian Church hall.

“Make sacrifices for your children. Try to avoid leaving your children to go out to fetes, because when I hear about Reggae on the Hill or all of those fetes, you – both women and men – are dressed in the latest, hot hot hot and when the rain soaks down and the mud to break off the shoe heels in outfits I would want to wear to a wedding. That is how ridiculous it is!” Forde opined.

Sharing her own experiences growing up in a poor household with eight other children, she also noted that persons must consider how to stretch their dollar as far as possible.

“Buy some reasonable foodstuffs. When I give you the $100, because you come and tell me you need the money because someone has fallen sick and you go in Chefette and spend $50 of the $100, do not come back because you could have bought a whole chicken, pack of rice and can of peas, two cucumbers and you could have gotten a meal to serve you two or three times,” she emphasized. (JMB)

Government’s intention to legalize same-sex civil unions continues to receive major backlash from churches across the island.   

So much so, that some members of 49 churches joined together to protest this decision, which was announced during the recent Throne Speech.

With placards in hand displaying strong messages of ‘Love People Yes! Legalize Sin No!’; ‘Mekking it Legal Ain’t Mekking it Right!’; and ‘God Says No, Nature Says No, De People Say No, Government Say Yes: Wuhloss!’ – the upbeat protestors made their way from Trents Playing Field, Holetown, St. James to Sandy Crest and back to Trents Playing Field for a worship session.

“We are clear that such a decision to include those kinds of policies which are in disharmony with our laws, and out of sync with our constitution and all of the morals, standards of this nation will have a detrimental and deleterious effect on our nation,” Pastor Paul Leacock, Chairman of Family-Faith-Freedom Barbados warned.

He told members of the media that from studying countries where such policies have been implemented, that it had led to significant sociological dislocation and problems.

“We know as counsellors, persons who counsel those who have various disfunctions, that it has led to a lot of dysphoria, particularly among our young people who are going through various changes in their lives.”

“We can see from those other places – Canada, Europe, United States – we have seen massive confusion. We have seen all kinds of psychological issues, high rates of suicide, high rates of various disfunction in families and we know that Barbados cannot sustain such decisions. It is not appropriate for Barbados,” he maintained.

Furthermore, Pastor Leacock is a firm believer that Barbados has to stand on its own, “It does not matter who has criticized Barbados, we have to be able to do what is right. Just because it’s legal does not make it right,” he stressed.

“Therefore, we want to say that righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. And therefore the various churches from all across Barbados are demonstrating that they are not in favour and the same people who have elected government is saying to the government, who are the servants of the people, and the servants of good, and the servants of God – rescind your orders, turn around and do not bring this evil upon the country.” (TL)

The High Commission of Canada welcomed members of Pink Parliament Barbados for an Inner Circle talk with H.E. Marie Legault, High Commissioner of Canada to Barbados, yesterday.

The informal discussion allowed the aspiring parliamentarians to learn more about diplomatic relations and underscored Canada’s commitment to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

High Commissioner Legault took the opportunity to share highlights from her 25-year diplomatic career and offered guidance on effective ways to meet professional challenges, particularly as a woman in leadership.

The Inner Circle also allowed the future female leaders to share their views on the regional political landscape, and their aspirations to contribute to a more gender equal Barbados.

High Commissioner Marie Legault noted that “globally, the Government of Canada seeks to empower women to be equal decision-makers and agents of change in economic, social and political processes by improving women’s status and respecting women’s rights and contributions”.

She further stated, “Canada believes gender equality must play a key role in creating lasting solutions to global challenges.”

The engagement marked the first collaboration between the High Commission of Canada and Pink Parliament Barbados, a joint initiative by Life in Leggings: Caribbean Alliance Against Gender-based Violence and the Barbados Youth Development Council. Pink Parliament aims to equip women and girls (ages 14 to 20) with the tools needed to be effective advocates by providing professional training, mentorship, and networking sessions with political leaders and other women in leadership. The organisation officially welcomed its second cohort of Pink Parliamentarians in a ceremony on Sunday, October 11, at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.

The Inner Circle concluded with a small celebration for the new cohort, including the cutting of a Pink Parliament cake. The engagement, empowering the next generation of female leaders, also served as a fitting farewell for High Commissioner Marie Legault who concludes her tour in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean this month.

As part of the emergency investment in the Caribbean region, is a proposal by the Vice-Chancellor of The University of the West Indies (UWI), Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, to establish a US$600 million multi-donor trust fund to prevent systemic decline in the region’s higher education and research sector.

Vice-Chancellor Beckles issued his call to action, during his presentation on the topic “Fixing the Broken Links: Crisis in higher education, research, international competitiveness and inclusive economic development”, during the first-ever virtual Development Partner Forum held recently, which focused on “Investing in higher education to build more diversified and resilient post-COVID economies”. The landmark meeting was organized jointly with the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC), even as universities globally grapple with funding challenges precipitated by sharp falls in government funding and a decline in enrolment.

Sir Hilary emphasized that the Caribbean region has been woefully underfunded for education and development projects since independence, in spite of centuries of wealth extraction by developed countries. As a result, the contemporary higher education sector is unfit for purpose, with systemic challenges that need to be addressed at all education levels. In spite of over seven decades of government support for education and The UWI’s dedicated efforts, which have led to the regional university’s ranking among the top 4% of universities globally by Times Higher Education, the current constraints of the highly-indebted Caribbean countries and the projected economic contraction of close to 8% in 2020, now pose an existential threat to the higher education sector in the Caribbean, unless a fund to support human capital development is urgently established.

Vice-Chancellor Beckles, who is also the President of Universities Caribbean, a consortium of universities located in the English, Spanish, French and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, did not mince words as he addressed the virtual audience of over 100 participants, including Prime Ministers, Ministers of Education, Ministers of Finance, other government officials, diplomatic missions and representatives from United Nations agencies and development banks. He stressed the severity of these challenges, which come at a time when countries need to draw on research and innovation to build knowledge economies and propel the region’s economic diversification agenda. Sir Hilary explained that the Caribbean’s vulnerability to climate change, chronic diseases and exogenous shocks is being exacerbated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and that the resulting funding crisis for higher education and research is a burning issue that must be red flagged as part of the region’s emergency response to the pandemic.

He thanked the governments for trying their very best to support the regional university in spite of the severe impact on the region’s GDP and also expressed his gratitude to ECLAC for facilitating this important conversation.  Vice-Chancellor Beckles called upon the private sector to invest in research, development and innovation projects that could help boost economic diversification and international competitiveness.  He also urged development partners to help mobilize resources for the multi-donor trust fund for human capital development in the Caribbean, challenging them to an initial capitalization level of US$600 million.

This fund will make it possible to undertake urgent regional projects that would provide widespread access to higher education, advance path-breaking research and innovation, promote much-needed digital transformation, develop technical and vocational skills to support a range of industries and undertake education reform and policy harmonization from early childhood through to university.