Charles Cyrus, Director of The National Council for Science and Technology (NCST) (Ag.) affirmed, “Some of the challenges faced in Barbados can be addressed in Barbados through science and technology.”

According to him, “Science and Technology are being recognised worldwide as major drivers of achieving economic development and growth. The NCST is aware that greater national promotion of science, technology and innovation cannot be totally successful without the public understanding of the critical role of science, technology and innovation, as part of Barbados development. In this global economy technology, innovation and national progress are closely interlinked. It is important we collaborate and spread this message….”

While he was speaking at the recent opening of The Ministry of Education, Science, Technology & Innovation and NCST 3rd Biennial Science and Technology Symposium under the theme “Fostering Innovation through Research in Science and Technology” at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Complex, he noted, “Innovation tends to take place at the firm level, research and development occurs at University and public institutions, which is especially true in developing countries such as Barbados. It is imperative that there is a strengthening of the linkages between the University and other educational institutions and industry if Barbados is to improve its innovation input…

“As a society one of the main rewards we can reap form scientific research and development is through technological innovation and advanced knowledge. The NCST believes that this symposium and speak off competition is an important aspect of this work since it provides for the scientist and technologist to highlight their work and demonstrate its link to national development …”

Cyrus pointed out, “The council is also attempting to bridge the gap between scientist, technologist and the general public. The NCST is also cognisant of the importance of building capacity of science, technology and innovation at the secondary level in our educational system.”

Dr. David Farrell, Principal of the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology & Hydrology believes there is a problem when people look for a job and not an opportunity to innovate.

He noted, “to become extremely successful one has to be innovative. It is important to keep redefining yourself,” therefore, he suggested when you finish studying to, “work in industry first and see what people really need. People who choose not to innovate are afraid of taking risks!”

Farrell believes that it is important to note that science is about solving problems, he suggested that those in science should do a course in social science. (NB)

Five women topped the list of eight exceptional employees who were recently feted for their outstanding performance in 2016 by regional bank CIBC FirstCaribbean and its parent CIBC.

The five women, three men and their guests embarked on an enchanting cruise from Florida to Cozumel, Mexico and Belize City, Belize, aboard the Regent Seven Seas Mariner in January; as part of their reward for exceptional performance in the areas of Leadership, Sales, Management and Process Improvement. They joined hundreds of other winners in the group’s “Achievers’ programme” from across the CIBC global network, in addition to several senior officers of the bank’s parent company.

The celebrations continued recently in Barbados when the top performers were given a red carpet welcome and meet-and-greet at the bank’s
regional headquarters, the Michael Mansoor Building in Warrens, to start a weekend of further celebration with the bank’s senior executives led by Chief Executive Officer Gary Brown.

Brown noted that the winners were the “best of the best for” the bank, and praised them for their commitment and contribution to CIBC FirstCaribbean’s success.

“These continue to be challenging times in a lot of our markets, and relationships with our clients are what will distinguish us from the competition. We continue to build our business – one client at a time – and each of these Achievers has proved that client relationships are paramount.

“I have stressed to our people that we should all be doing something each and every day to positively affect the client experience and that we should all come to work knowing that our clients are pretty much the only reason we have for coming in each day. Through our brand promise we have committed to deliver for our clients; to ensure we are there for them when they need us. Our winners are fine examples of our bank doing that.”

The winners were, from the Bahamas: Lorraine Johnson, Branch Manager for exemplary leadership; Sonia Rutherford, Senior Corporate Manager, for Outstanding Sales; Barbados: Karen Bannister, Sales Specialist, Outstanding Sales; Gregory Blackman, Manager, Sales and Business Development, Exemplary Leadership; Sheldene Pinder, Platinum Relationship Manager, Outstanding Sales; Cayman Islands: Dallas Neatham, Private Banker for Outstanding Relationship ; Jamaica: Shaune Sewell, Sales Specialist, Outstanding Sales; Regional Head Office: Graeme Best, Systems Analyst, for Process Improvement.

An awards dinner at Champers Restaurant on Barbados’ south coast as well as an island tour with lunch at the historic Sunbury Plantation capped the weekend of celebrations.

THE people of St. Michael Central are my business!

This emphatic message was sent to members of the Opposition Barbados Labour Party from parliamentary representative, Steve Blackett, during a fiery presentation at the George Lamming Primary on Sunday night.

His comments came against the backdrop of criticism levelled against him by two members of the BLP camp, after he went about a mass canvass exercise in his constituency last week. According to Blackett, he was accused of looking after his personal business when he should have been stabilising the country instead.

“The representation of the people of St. Michael Central and the visiting of them is my business. And if I am being accused of looking after my business, I stand guilty man!”

According to Blackett, “I want to tell them this – social care and social protection is not a 8-5 job, it is a year round commitment and vocation.”

Blackett told the party faithfuls that neither his stewardship nor performance need validation from the BLP, maintaining that his record in the constituency is stellar. He acknowledged that one of the concerns in the constituency was that he was not visible enough.

“That is one of the shortcomings of most MPs, especially if you hold ministerial positions. That is not an excuse... but after all you are human beings. The mere fact that somebody wants to see you is an indication that they still want to see you, they still have time for you, so I am going to be correcting that very shortly,” he said.

Blackett highlighted the breakfast feeding programme which reaches on average 140 children every morning in the constituency. He alluded to 40 houses that were built and repaired throughout the constituency, with two new homes under construction, along with de-bushing programmes and several repaved roads, as some of the work carried out in the constituency.

He said in spite of the challenges facing the country, there are still fail-safe mechanisms that have been put in place to ensure that society is largely insulated and capable of withstanding any adverse economic conditions.

Additionally, he said the Ministry of Social Care, which he leads, has the responsibility as the foremost body for social protection in Barbados, to roll out programmes with broad enough cover and influence to strengthen weak family units, to reinforce fragile communities, to re-equip social care delivery institutions, and introduce programmes that will directly touch and positively change the lives of those captured in the social safety net. (JH)

WHILE there can be differences in the details, the basic anatomy of financial crises is generally the same.
This is according to

Dr. Patrick Honohan, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, who was the Central Bank of Barbados’ 4th Distinguished Visiting Fellow. Dr. Honohan has since left Barbados.

Speaking to officials from the private sector during a presentation on the topic, “Recovering from Crisis: Lessons
from Europe”, Honohan asserted that financial crises are usually the result of one or more of three factors: prodigious borrowing by the private sector, especially at times when interest rates are low; excessive borrowing by the public sector; and a loss of competitiveness for the country due to high wages or prices.

Using Europe as an example, Honohan identified countries where each of these factors was principally responsible for a financial crisis. He cited Italy as a country whose challenges were largely the result of a lack of competitiveness, and Greece as one where excessive government played a significant role. Exuberant spending by the private sector, he explained, was the source of Ireland’s troubles.

According to Honohan, financial crises begin with what he termed a “sudden stop”, an abrupt change in the government’s ability to obtain external funding, or to do so quickly. The government then needs to make adjustments in its spending, which potentially has an impact on the country’s level of output and can also necessitate layoffs. Increased unemployment often results in loan defaults, and the general uncertainty about the economic situation can lead members of the public, even those not currently affected, to spend and borrow less. This in turn leads to reduced tax revenue for the government, compounded by increased pressure to provide social safety nets for those citizens who are suffering due to the economic downturn. This creates a feedback loop where the effects of the crisis actually compound the crisis.

Honohan maintained that it is possible to recover from crisis, however, and he outlined five strategies that worked in Europe, and Ireland in particular.

He emphasised that early acknowledgement of the depth of the crisis was essential. This allowed the Irish government to act immediately, which allowed it to restore some measure of confidence among creditors. Beyond taking early action, it was important to have coherent medium-term goals, five-year and 10-year plans, that provided direction and further motivation for the country to follow through on the necessary corrective action. He added that seeking assistance from partner countries within the European Union was also important.

Honohan also stressed that having credible forecasting was important as this allowed countries to better monitor their progress. He contrasted the accuracy of Ireland’s forecast when checked against its actual economic performance with the significant deviation between Greece’s five-year performance and what had been projected.

A fifth – and key – component to Ireland’s recovery, Honohan revealed, was its policy of maintaining open communication with the public. During Ireland’s financial crisis, unemployment rose to 15%, public servants’ salaries were cut by an average of 14%, taxes increased (VAT was 23%), and social services were reduced. The Irish public was angry, he admitted, but they were also worldly people who had seen financial crises play out elsewhere and knew that tough measures were necessary. “Adjustments are always painful, but if the public understands them, they might accept them.”

Honohan maintained throughout the session by saying that recovery is a lengthy and difficult process, one that requires governments to make hard decisions and to have the discipline to see them through. As for what does not work, Honohan mentioned three behaviours: procrastination, threats and grandstanding, and rigidity.

CHEERS echoed throughout the Lingwood Hall of the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) yesterday as several of its members, including three females, moved up through the ranks.

Corporal Kevin Wickham was the lone promotion to substantive rank, while 11 others were promoted to acting ranks and seven more granted permission to wear local ranks.

All promotions went into effect on April 1, but yesterday in a brief ceremony, the individuals were each presented with their letters of commendation by the newly appointed Chief of Staff of the Barbados Defence Force, Colonel Glyne Grannum.

Congratulating the soldiers, the head of the BDF said he is proud of the individuals, adding that the entire force is made up of “an absolutely brilliant set of people”.
“The finest and the best Barbadians, I think, anywhere to be found,” he indicated, gaining the applause of those gathered.

He urged persons to take advantage of the opportunities that came their way for self-advancement, while encouraging them to always put the best for their country first.

“Let’s go forth in unity, seize the crown, do great things and bring honour not only to ourselves, but bring honour to Barbados,” Grannum said.
Earlier in the morning, the troops also took part in a Tradewinds presentation led by Captain Carlos Lovell, and a Central Church Parade led by Father Clement Paul, while winners of the Central Mart Christmas competition ‘Keep Going’ received their prizes. (JMB)

THE Ministry of Agriculture has been placing a heavy focus on the areas of research and development to better aid local farmers in successfully growing their crops.

Chief Agricultural Officer, Lennox Chandler, recently acknowledged the above, noting that the latest effort to aid farmers in boosting onion production in Barbados is a key example of the Ministry’s efforts in this area.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management recently invited onion farmers to participate in a field day exercise at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Graeme Hall, Christ Church and at that event, officials of the Ministry discussed with the farmers, tips on farming and transplanting the crop. The field day followed the holding of an onion varietal trial by the Research Department of the Ministry at its Graeme Hall headquarters, which aimed to evaluate a combination of five to six varieties of yellow and red onions, sourced from Guatemala and The Netherlands.

Chandler said of the exercise, “We are focusing on our core responsibility, which is research and development and provision of technical information to the farming community.

“Since I took up the post, I made it clear that we are going to move in that direction, where we not only provide technical information, but we provide training. Because I always argue that you can go on the Internet and see anything, but with this interaction right now between the farmers and the researchers and the extension people, you can actually see the crop growing in Barbados, not a picture on the Internet. So this is where we need to go,” he further stressed.

He also stated, “One of the things that we are aiming to do over the next couple of months, is to have a series of training events, not only for crop production but in areas of pesticide management (etc.), so that we can train our farmers.”

“It has to be a marriage therefore between research and development and demonstration, where the products that are coming out of the research effort will be demonstrated for farmers and other interested persons to come and see. So going forward as long as I am here ... the focus will be on this sort of activity,” Chandler commented. (RSM)

Members from forty-five New Testament Church (NTCOG) of God branches celebrated their centennial anniversary with an opening ceremony on Palm Sunday.

With the church’s origins traced to the United States, the present Church of God is one of the leading Pentecostal churches globally. Senior Pastor of NTCOG, Reverend Davis Browne during his opening remarks said the flame of the Pentecostal light came to Barbados in 1917.

“...The New Testament Church of God Barbados has lived and carried that Pentecostal fire. One hundred years later this year, by the grace of God, we are still here. We are still bearing the strips of our calling alighting this nation in Christ-centred Ministry, Christian education and community outreach,” said Reverend Browne.

The pastor outlined the seven core values of the church which were committed to pray, Pentecostal worship, world evangelisation, church planting, leadership development, care for families and communities and interdependence within the body of Christ.

Under the theme, Celebrating our Pentecostal Heritage, Evangelising and Discipling the Next Generation, the opening ceremony focused on highlighting the achievement of the church over the years, honouring their centenarian church members and acknowledging the new, young baptised NTCOG members. In keeping with the theme, the Pentecostal flame statue was passed from an old member to a new member of the church. Additionally, the congregation viewed a brief video, a Memorial of church servant leaders between 1917 to 1942.

NTCOG Barbados has been instrumental in the social and physical development throughout its hundred year existence. The church which was incorporated in the Parliamentary Act of 1940 is a registered charity and it has helped many within the Barbadian communities and abroad. One of the major projects has been collaborating with the Breakfast Club and the St. Ambrose Anglican Church. Over five years, $350,000 has been dedicated to the support of this programme in addition to providing care for the elderly, repairing homes and providing social care for those with financial challenges within the church and its communities. The church has also provided relief in Haiti, Grenada, Dominican Republic and Malawi.

With its strong religious presence in the Barbados, past members have formed several other churches like Living Water Tabernacle, Victory Pentecostal and Faith Deliverance Temple.

On Sunday, three centenarians were honoured for their service to NTCOG. Doris Greaves, age 102, Rupert Springer, age 101 and Maizie Williams, age 102 (who had sent a relative on her behalf). Each received a gift basket during the service at Ministerial & Educational Resource Centre (MERC).

Earlier in the ceremony, Administrative Bishop of NTCOG, Martin Brewster consecrated the wooden flame statue of the NTCOG and unveiled the anniversary logo. The calendar of events began in April with the celebrations ended in January 2018.

The Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) is fully aware of the law.

Re-elected President, Mary-Anne Redman made this clear, noting that members do know that their salaries could be docked for strike action. However, she contends that the recent ‘March of Disrespect’ was not a strike.

“If we intended to strike, we could have done it at a time that would have had greater effect,” Redman indicated as she addressed BSTU’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at Harrison College yesterday.

“We had a meeting to draw attention to the public of Barbados to the various forms of disrespect that we were suffering as a Union. And the best way to have that meeting and to get our matters across to the public was to take it public,” she explained.

“And they want to deduct our salaries for a day for having the march that was caused by their disrespect… But, who is paying you, the teachers for all the vacation classes you are having free of cost this Easter holiday? Who is paying you for your work with the Key Club, Interact Club, Literary and Debating Society, Language Clubs... Every time you pay for lunches, uniforms, shoes, books, tours, paper to print the SBAs and the ink – who is paying you for all of that?... We do all of this because we are teachers, more interested in the ‘poor children’ than the persons who like to portray us differently, at so many levels,” she asserted.
According to Redman, her members are not fazed or scared. She stated that threats of a pay deduction will not deter them from doing what they are forced to do to demand respect and consideration like any other workers in Barbados.

“And we will fight the efforts to deduct our monies,” she stressed.

Redman strongly believes that the Ministry of Education is determined to stop the teacher trade union from meeting. She also pointed out that the Ministry has responded to every meeting BSTU has sought to hold as industrial action.

“When the present Chief Education Officer held meetings with the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT), nobody in the position that she now holds was writing her and telling her that those meetings would be seen as industrial action,” she recalled.

Redman told members that there is a concerted attempt to undermine Unions in Barbados, “We see an attempt to instil fear in the hearts and minds of members and to break the backs of the Unions. But, we are not fearful and our backs cannot be broken”.

“The law in relation to the docking of pay is written in such a way that it allows for discussion of the circumstances leading to the strike action, when it is strike action. Ours was not strike action. If culpability is on the part of the employer then there is precedent for reasonableness and fairness to operate and for the recognition that the union was left with no choice but to strike, and therefore pay should not be docked,” she added. (TL)

Government will continue to build houses, repair roads and make needed efforts to improve constituencies across the island, up until the night before the next General election, which is constitutionally due in 2018.

This is the promise coming from Minister of Drainage and Member of Parliament for Christ Church East, Dr. Denis Lowe who charged that if the conversation of detractors is to suggest that Government is only helping Barbadians in need due to the approaching election season, the record shows that his Administration’s work has been on-going for the past eight years.

“So if there are persons who want to term that as a way of trying to sweeten anybody, people have already decided what they want to do and we don’t canvass,” Lowe said.

The Member of Parliament (MP) was speaking to the media yesterday, at Parish Land, Christ Church, where Marlene Bourne received a three-bedroom house, through the Ministry of Social Care’s Poverty Alleviation Reduction Programme.

“There is no way that a constituency can have a record of having 300 persons helped with the repair or rebuilding of homes... we had a guy in our constituency who use to live in a pig pen and a house was built for him,” he stated.

Lowe highlighted that during the past eight years, close to 300 houses had been repaired, over 150 wells dug, and close to 400 street lights installed for his constituents.

The Member of Parliament also said that approximately 320 job opportunities have been created for constituents to ensure that “people are better off today than they were when we intervened”.

“So, this is not any election gimmick. If there are those who label it as that, it is very unfortunate that they are so ill-informed and perhaps mischievous in this time of election silliness. We were given a mandate when we took over our Ministries and the Cabinet continues to monitor our performance in the delivery of that mandate,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development, Steven Blackett added his voice to the subject, stating that Government has been building and repairing houses over the past nine years, in an effort to alleviate households afflicted or affected by intergeneration poverty.

“So this programme is not an electioneering programme. It is an on-going programme by the Ministry of Social Care and when occasions like this are recommended by the Members of Parliament, from either side I want to add, we respond as the Ministry of Social Care to alleviate and reduce the poverty situation that these households find themselves in. So this is no electioneering, this is an on-going thing from the point of view of the Ministry of Social Care,” Blackett said. (AH)

At least nine families will be receiving new houses this year, through the Ministry of Social Care’s Poverty Alleviation Reduction Programme.

This was the word from the Minister heading that Ministry, Steven Blackett, who also announced that a number of dilapidated houses will also be repaired.

According to the Ministry’s Project Manager, Ken Knight, approximately 44 houses have been built and repaired through the six-year-old project, to provide housing solutions for poor Barbadians.

“We identify families who are in need of housing solutions because their house has fallen under disrepair. Leaving it to them to effect repairs or rebuilding of the houses would be an impossible task,” Blackett said.

Yesterday, Blackett handed over the keys to Marlene Bourne, the owner of the first house built for the year, at Parish Land, Christ Church. Bourne and her family of six received the three-bedroom, one-bathroom house, which took five weeks to build, at a cost of Bds$74 000.

Blackett said he was approached by Minister of Environment and Drainage and Member of Parliament for Christ Church East, Dr. Denis Lowe, who identified Bourne, who had been living in deplorable conditions for many years, as a deserving recipient of the Ministry’s generosity.

“I did not see the house before it was rebuilt, but I understand that it was in deplorable condition. I am happy this morning Miss Bourne that we could deliver this house to you so that you and your family could be much more comfortably accommodated. I hope that with God’s blessings that you continue to take care of your house,” Blackett said.

Lowe also said that 320 job opportunities have been created for constituents to ensure that “people are better off today than they were when we intervened”.

“We don’t build houses for people who can build their own homes. We don’t repair houses for persons who can repair their own homes.

“We identify persons who need the support of the state. If, it is one thing that I am proud of in our Government is that we have not just talked about it, we have gone out and we have done it,” Lowe said, adding that he was extremely pleased that the Bourne family would now be living in comfort.

Bourne, who is retired, said she was pleased with her new abode, stating that living in the previous structure was “rough” before the intervention was made.

She thanked the Government for the help rendered to her family.

Lowe suggested that efforts were being made to assist the family with furnishing the home. (AH)

THE problems at Combermere are not over.

Re-elected President of the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU), Mary-Anne Redman, disclosed that this term has seen a continuation of smells and stench invading different sections of the school compound; sometimes forcing the evacuation of individual classrooms or larger blocks.

Redman, who was at the time addressing BSTU’s Annual General Meeting held at Harrison College yesterday, said that she received reports from members during the course of every week of the recently concluded term about the ongoing problems.

“Whether it is the sabotage that some have stated based on the reported presence of paper towels described as hand towels or the torn exercise books that the expert team has reportedly seen no actual evidence of, neither have they seen any pictorial evidence which the Minister claims to have.

“Whatever it is, we are putting the Ministry on guard. Our teachers and students have put up with and made accommodation for this ongoing major health hazard all term long. It will not continue into next term,” she stressed.

“The Ministry should have been made aware of all of the reports – the reported number of students that have fallen ill, the number of times that ambulances reportedly have had to remove children from the compound this term, the number of teachers that continue to fall ill. The reported situation is untenable and unconscionable.”

Redman told her members that neither the administration of the school nor the president of the PTA can be allowed to reportedly misrepresent the situation by stating as before that it is a garbage truck or a truck containing offal passing the school, or that the students who were photographed on the field by the press were there because it was break time.

“We have to stop burying our heads in the sand… Common sense and caring and concern for the health and well-being of all persons on the compound must now take precedence over anything and everything else … and all parties involved had better be aware of our position on this,” she stated.

Problems at St. George Secondary School

Focused on health and safety issues, Redman also highlighted that the BSTU recently visited the St. George Secondary School on two occasions. She said that they were able to see a well overflowing into the school yard, and on investigation they were informed that it was a sewage well.

“I could see small bits of toilet paper evident in the flowing, smelly water,” she revealed, pointed out that the water flowed across the school yard by the Resource Room and along various teaching areas.

According to the President, her officers were made to understand that this has been happening for a while, and that reports have been made, and that on occasions sanitary pads could also be seen floating.

“Again, we ask ourselves what is happening in some of our schools? What are some of our administrators and Boards of Management thinking? How has this problem not already been addressed? What message is being sent to workers and students in such circumstances in relation to any concern or caring or respect for them as workers and as people using that compound? And then when these people turn to the Union for help, what do administrators, ministry officials and boards of management expect the Union to do? Then when we have to act, why is their reaction a hostile one?”

Redman assured members that the Union is presently in the process of writing to the ministry in relation to that issue, as well as serious ongoing concerns at the school as it relates to student-on-student violence and student-on-teacher attacks, both of a physical and verbal nature.

“The teachers there are exposed to some of the most horrendous comments that children can make to adults,” she pointed out.

“I commend highly the teachers who work there and continue to give of their best under the most difficult, frustrating and demotivating of circumstances… A meeting with education officials must be had in short order to address the serious concerns there if the school is to have the type of start that the Ministry of Education might want at the beginning of next term… 2017 is a year of action… Anywhere we have members, we are addressing their concerns in the same way, with the same level of energy and commitment.” (TL)

AS a descendant of Robert Downes, one of the founders of Rock Hall, Adisa ‘AJA’ Andwele is publicly apologising.

He is sorry for the actions of the enslaved at Mount Wilton Plantation, who acted against the 1816 Bussa Rebellion, and were given money for doing so, and used it to purchase land to create the first free black village in Barbados at Rock Hall, St. Thomas.

“History shows that the enslaved at Mount Wilton Plantation, during the 1816 rebellion, did not participate in the rebellion, and in fact, they also sort of ‘blocked the way’ for the enslaved from the North who were coming to join in that rebellion… Years afterwards, the owner of Mount Wilton Plantation, as a gift to his enslaved for not participating in the rebellion, gave them money.

“The enslaved at Mount Wilton did not participate in the rebellion to get money to buy land. For whatever reason they did not participate, maybe they were threatened, like most of the slaves were... But, some of them took the money and came down to Rock Hall and purchased land, creating the first free village in Barbados. Two of those persons who would have done so, would have been my great, great, great-grandmother and grandfather – Hagar Jane and Robert Downes,” he revealed.

AJA shared this during a recent press briefing and site visit for the Bussa Lives concert, which takes place on Saturday, April 15, at the Freedom Monument, Rock Hall Freedom Village, St. Thomas, at 7 p.m.

This free family event, which is part of AJA’s apology, is being held by AJA Productions in association with the Commission for Pan African Affairs Barbados, featuring AJA & the ReEmergence Band, and performances by Riddim Tribe, Dancin’ Africa, the Israel Lovell Foundation, and the Haynesville Drummers.

Already, AJA has released an apology in the form of a poem, “De apology – Bussa I’m Sorry”, which refers to the fact that despite the reasons why or how Rock Hall Freedom Village came into being, its purpose should not be diminished.

“On Saturday will be more than a performance. It is about the healing process, transforming the monument into a symbol of consciousness, of Barbadians becoming conscious and aware of their history and talking about it,” he expressed.

Dr. Deryck Murray, Director of the Commission for Pan African Affairs, said that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth considers the ‘Bussa Lives concert’ to be a tremendous effort by AJA. He noted that it falls within the season of Emancipation, which starts on April 14 until August 23.

“We consider the work that AJA has put into this apology to be extremely significant. You may be aware that every time the black community seeks to do something about our own self-healing, our own emancipation, there are always voices that are eager to point out the historical divisions that we as a people have amongst ourselves.

“There has been some discussion about the betrayal of the Bussa rebellion by the people who formed the first freedom village, and that is a historical division that we need to heal. So, it is extremely important and courageous for AJA to take on this project, where we are seeking to first have unity and heal ourselves while we take on the other emancipatory projects,” Dr. Murray pointed out.

Parking for the concert will be available at St. Thomas Parish Church yard, with a shuttle service in effect. (TL)

THE procedure for licensing dogs in Barbados is quite simple.

Paul Bellamy, Assistant Animal Control Officer with the Animal Control Centre of the Ministry of Health, acknowledged the above whilst encouraging more persons in Barbados to come forward and ensure that they comply with the law, by registering and licensing their dogs.

Bellamy explained the simple process as the Animal Control Centre set up a booth inside the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Monday, as part of its outreach programme to target persons who would otherwise find it difficult to get to their three licensing stations at Lazaretto, Black Rock, St. Michael; the Six Roads Polyclinic in St. Philip; or the Maurice Byer Polyclinic, in St. Peter.

“What we would need is the breed of dog, its gender, its age, the colour of it and its name. That’s the basic stuff we need and then with that you will be issued a licence tag, which is like our ID number,” Bellamy said of the licensing process.

“Then there’s a fee structure of $5 for one year, per dog or $10 for three years, per dog,” he added.

“Then we would also collect the owner’s information, in terms of name, address and so on. So we would have the dog tagged and all the information is then linked to the owner’s information, so in case a dog is lost or stolen, they can be reunited. So the licensing process only takes a couple of minutes,” Bellamy stressed.

Acknowledging that while some persons have been faithful in the process of licensing their dogs, he however noted that others would only rush to do so if a negative incident involving dogs surfaced in the press.

He however issued the reminder that, “From the time you get a dog, the law says from six months of age, they must be licensed.”

He was however happy to report that QEH employees, as well as members of the general public, were showing a very good response to the Animal Control Centre’s outreach efforts that morning and persons were coming forward to initiate the licensing process, as well as to have renewals carried out. (RSM)

The Animal Control Centre is placing great focus on the responsibilities of pet ownership, with heavy emphasis on the welfare of dogs, during Animal Care and Control Week, which is currently underway.

Acting Animal Control Officer, Peter Belgrave has noted that this week, the Animal Control Centre will be embarking on a number of outreach programmes, to bring into greater focused the need for the licensing of dogs and better care and treatment of these animals.

“This week, we are giving general information about dog care and welfare, as we celebrate Animal Care and Control Week and what this week involves, is basically two things. It involves, one, acknowledging those persons who have made contributions to animal care and control in Barbados and then two, trying to bring greater awareness amongst Barbadians, about the need to care and control their animals,” Belgrave revealed.

“So what we have decided to do this week, is to have more community-based approaches, where we go out into the wider public and reach persons as they conduct their daily routines, as opposed to having them schedule time to go to the Animal Control Centre,” he added.

“We are just trying to meet people where they are and encourage them to get their dogs licensed,” he further remarked.

Under the theme, “My Pet, My Responsibility”, the Centre got going with its first community outreach session at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Monday. Another session was held at the QEH yesterday Tuesday, April 11th, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Today, April 12th, a team will be at the Carters General Store in Wildey, St. Michael, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on Thursday, April 13th, the team will go to Massy Warrens from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

On Saturday, April 15th, the team will take its outreach to the Popular mega store in Kendall Hill, Christ Church, from 9:30 a.m. (RSM)

Not only does the Ministry of Health’s Animal Control Centre investigate complaints laid concerning the mistreatment of dogs in Barbados, but it stages interventions as well, in cases where dogs are posing a threat or a nuisance to the public.

This was the reminder issued recently by Acting Animal Control Officer, Peter Belgrave to the Barbadian public, who may have problems with troublesome dogs or who cannot take seeing them badly treated.

“What will happen, is as long as we have been called to the scene in a situation where we think the dog is being kept in inhumane conditions – the dog could have been observed without food and water for a number of days, it could have been chained, it could have been so emaciated that it could not stand, it may have various cuts or sores or other scars on its body which need medical intervention – those are some of the reasons why we would intervene,” Belgrave noted.

“We also investigate complaints. So if you realise every morning that you have to deal with a dog that is pulling down your garbage can and creating a nuisance, we would also intervene in those situations,” he further explained.

“We also intervene basically, if a dog is in a public path and we don’t see a collar and there is no indication that this dog has an owner. We would intervene and remove that dog, for the safety of the general public,” the Acting Animal Control Officer added.

Whilst the mandate of the Animal Control Centre is the licensing and control of dogs in the country, Belgrave explained that Animal Control also plays additional roles, such as offering technical support where it is needed and assisting members of the Royal Barbados Police Force as well.

The Animal Control Centre also carries out a number of educational programmes in schools and for the benefit of the general public, so as to better inform persons about how to be responsible canine owners and also in addressing any concerns they may have, in relation to problems with dogs. (RSM)

Whilst come countries have produced a “dangerous dogs” list and have even gone as far as to have a ban on certain breeds of dogs following a spate of dog attacks, one local animal control officer is suggesting that focus should not be placed on certain types of dogs, since “any breed of dog can be dangerous”.

These sentiments came recently from Peter Belgrave, Acting Animal Control Officer, with the Ministry of Health’s Animal Control Centre.

“Basically, I would say any dog that you have has the potential (to be dangerous) if it is not socialised, if it is not trained, if you do not understand its innate characteristics from early.

You could find yourself in difficulty,” Belgrave indicated.

“I have had very small dogs with some very serious aggression, that as long as you put the food in the pan, you couldn’t touch that dog bowl when the dog was there. Then of course, you can find that a dog that has a food aggression in its early life, can develop other types of aggression later down,” he further explained.

“There is also something called frustration aggression and that basically is, as long as you don’t walk a dog, a dog is on a chain 24/7, of course when you release it off the chain or you take it out of the kennel, it’s not going to want to go back in. And therefore, when you try to put it back, it can appear to be aggressive,” he added.

“So it’s how you treat and how you train your dog, covertly or deliberately, that sometimes results in some of these problems that we have with dogs,” Belgrave maintained.

He meanwhile acknowledged that there are certain breeds, which some perceive to be naturally aggressive.

“We have had a stigma over the years, where pit bulls are seen as being aggressive dogs. We cannot deny the history, that they were used in earlier times in dog fighting and that stigma still seems to exist amongst many persons,” he noted.

“But for those persons who have owned a pit bull, they will tell you that a pit bull is one of the most loyal and loving dogs there is. So you would find both sides of the coin, some people who would tell you that pit bulls are aggressive and
they need to be banned and others who have owned them, who would tell you they are loyal,” Belgrave concluded. (RSM)

Whilst come countries have produced a “dangerous dogs” list and have even gone as far as to have a ban on certain breeds of dogs following a spate of dog attacks, one local animal control officer is suggesting that focus should not be placed on certain types of dogs, since “any breed of dog can be dangerous”.

These sentiments came recently from Peter Belgrave, Acting Animal Control Officer, with the Ministry of Health’s Animal Control Centre.

“Basically, I would say any dog that you have has the potential (to be dangerous) if it is not socialised, if it is not trained, if you do not understand its innate characteristics from early.

You could find yourself in difficulty,” Belgrave indicated.

“I have had very small dogs with some very serious aggression, that as long as you put the food in the pan, you couldn’t touch that dog bowl when the dog was there. Then of course, you can find that a dog that has a food aggression in its early life, can develop other types of aggression later down,” he further explained.

“There is also something called frustration aggression and that basically is, as long as you don’t walk a dog, a dog is on a chain 24/7, of course when you release it off the chain or you take it out of the kennel, it’s not going to want to go back in. And therefore, when you try to put it back, it can appear to be aggressive,” he added.

“So it’s how you treat and how you train your dog, covertly or deliberately, that sometimes results in some of these problems that we have with dogs,” Belgrave maintained.

He meanwhile acknowledged that there are certain breeds, which some perceive to be naturally aggressive.

“We have had a stigma over the years, where pit bulls are seen as being aggressive dogs. We cannot deny the history, that they were used in earlier times in dog fighting and that stigma still seems to exist amongst many persons,” he noted.

“But for those persons who have owned a pit bull, they will tell you that a pit bull is one of the most loyal and loving dogs there is. So you would find both sides of the coin, some people who would tell you that pit bulls are aggressive and
they need to be banned and others who have owned them, who would tell you they are loyal,” Belgrave concluded. (RSM)

THE pop-up exhibition currently being showcased on the upper floor of the Massy Stores in Warrens has been well received by patrons and has already translated into sales for some of the artists.

Curator of the exhibition, Oneka Small, told the media yesterday that the exhibition held under the theme, ‘Revoclectic’, has received a good response as she thanked Massy Stores Barbados Ltd. for allowing local artists the space, which she noted is well patronised by the public in the busy shopping centre.

She encouraged Barbadians to make an effort to view the exhibition, which she said is revolutionary, by popping up in non-traditional spaces and eclectic because it is a mix of different artists, themes and media.

She said while it has not been easy selling work during the recessionary period, there are persons who are purchasing pieces, while acknowledging that many persons still believe that art is collected solely for visitors to the island.

The curator said she would like to see more persons investing in art, but stressed that this would require a mental shift.

She explained that persons should view art as an investment, adding that persons can arrange terms of payment with artists, if they believe it may be a bit expensive for a one-time purchase.

As it relates to additional pop-up exhibitions, Small mused, “We go with the flow.

“We have something planned for August – CARIFESTA and in November for Independence. But if someone approaches us, if the space is appropriate we will go with it.”

Persons visiting the Revoclectic exhibition will see constructions, paintings, sculptures, textile work, to name a few. The exhibition, which began on April 5, will continue until April 30. (JH)

IT is important for us to have gender equality discussions as these are still prevalent and ongoing issues in the Caribbean.

This comment came from Tonni Brodber, Acting Head of Office of UN Women, as she spoke during the Official Handover of the Draft Gender Equality Protocols ceremony, which was held at the UN House yesterday evening. Brodber explained that although there has been significant progress in the gender equality discussion in the Caribbean, having a healthy discussion is often dismissed due to the fact that many persons tend to highlight the work that women have done in the public sector or the number of women that graduated from the University of West Indies.

“This leads to a dismissal of gender equality as a development priority, when in fact it is a fundamental element in the ability of small island devel-oping states empowering and benefiting from the fullest capacities of their populations,” she explained.

She went on to announce that Barbados has signed the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and noted that within a year, they will have reports on the progress towards equality and justice.

Brodber explained that CEDAW General Recommendation 33 says that women should be able to rely on a justice system free from myths and stereotypes, and on judiciary, whose impartiality is not compromised by these biased assumptions. She expressed that Barbados will be able to report to the CEDAW Committee that this protocol was a success as an indication of not only political will, but also tangible steps being taken within the last five years.

Acknowledging that Barbados is the first of its kind to be a part of such an agreement, Brodber congratulated the Judiciary of Barbados and the Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers (CAJO) for having reached this milestone. She believed that equality could not exist without the notion of fairness or justice.

“A well-functioning legal and justice system can provide a vital mechanism for equality,” she said.

Additionally, she added that laws and justice systems shape and are shaped by the society and the conscious and unconscious biases, and highlighted that the courts have been a critical site of accountability for individual women to claim rights. For this reason, Brodber said this is why UN Women has supported and continue to support work on increasing access to justice in the Caribbean for over a decade. (CLF)

Barbados is the first CARICOM country to have gender protocols developed for its judiciary system.

Word of this came from John Furlonge, regional project co-ordinator for the Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers through the Judicial Reform and Institutional Strengthening (JURIST) Project as he spoke during the Handing-Over Ceremony, which was held at the UN House in Marine Gardens yesterday evening. The JURIST Project partnered with regional judiciaries, led by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and the Government of Canada/Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, to support the increased efficacy of courts and the judiciary to resolve cases effectively and fairly in the Caribbean region.

Highlighting that yesterday’s handing-over ceremony fell within the cross-cutting theme of gender equality, Furlonge formally commended the judiciary for their continued progress towards addressing gender-related issues in Barbados.

He revealed that “the sustainability of judicial reforms throughout the region will continue to be a key aspect in our decision-making”, and explained that while their mandate was regional in scope, their intent is to measure the success, identify best practices and encourage other countries to implement those reforms.

“We recognise that one size doesn’t fit all, and any initiative will be tailored to meet the unique circumstances in each judiciary,” he said.

Furlonge revealed that the Draft Gender Equality Protocols will now be reviewed, circulated and ultimately finalised by or before the end of September 2017 and mentioned that this will be undertaken by the Local Implementation Committee that has been established in Barbados and will work closely with the JURIST Project. He added that the Committee is also central to the organisation and participation of gender sensitisation training within the Judiciary and Magistracy of Barbados.

He noted that there is much work for the JURIST Project to do, but noted that they will continue to partner and support wherever possible. He highlighted that they entered an agreement with UN Women to ensure the integration of key gender equality principles in the implementation of the JURIST Project. Furlonge went on to reveal that the JURIST Project has partnered with the Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers as well.