Channel: Barbados Advocate - News

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UWI: All are welcome

September 3, 2016, 9:06 pm

≫ Next: BUT’s turn to tour schools next week

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There will be no tolerance of abuse towards any student

By:

Jenique Belgrave

The doors of the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies are open to any student regardless of their sexual orientation or sexual identity.

Making this clear at the campus’ Matriculation Ceremony on Friday, Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal, Professor Eudine Barriteau also asserted there would be no tolerance of abuse towards any student.

“We welcome all students and we respect your sexual orientation or if you view your gender identity as existing outside of the male / female binary. The University of the West Indies respects differences, and we reinforce to all within our academic community that being different must not be read as an invitation for any form of abuse. It will not be tolerated. Once you meet our matriculation requirements, there is a place for you at the UWI, Cave Hill,” she insisted.

Delivering a speech entitled ‘The UWI Cave Hill Campus: An Inclusive University Space’, Barriteau noted that the institution’s dedication to inclusivity extended to ensuring that every person who wanted to pursue a UWI education and that was qualified to matriculate were presented with the opportunity to do so.

Expressing pride at the formation of a club by the university’s differently abled students, which, she expressed, will lead to greater sensitisation of their needs, she revealed that in its push to ensure those regarding mobility were catered to, infrastructural works to expand the access ramp and install an elevator in the 3 W’s Pavilion have been approved.

Outlining that enrolment figures currently stood at 4,418, with an overall gender ratio of 67.1 percent female and 32.9 percent male, she made an urgent appeal to young men in Barbados and the region to make the time to invest in a University education and “reap a lifetime of benefits”.

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BUT’s turn to tour schools next week

September 3, 2016, 9:08 pm

≫ Next: MCTV, Co-operators Insurance launch local business promotion

≪ Previous: UWI: All are welcome

Carla Phillips (centre) Customer Service Representative with the Transport Board, sharing information about the bus service with Beverley Payne and and her son, Devon Inniss while Public Relations Officer of the Barbados National Parent-Teacher Association (BNPTA) Donna Sealy (second from right) and President of the Barbados Union of Teachers, Pedro Shepherd, looks on.

By:

Marsha Gittens

The Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) will be conducting a tour next week of some of the schools that have undergone renovations during the summer vacation.

BUT President Pedro Shepherd disclosed this yesterday as he spoke to the press on the sidelines of a joint ‘Get on Board!’ initiative staged by Barbados National Parent-Teacher Association (BNPTA) and members of the Transport Board’s marketing team. It was aimed at raising the public’s awareness of the BNPTA and its role as well as educating them about the routes of the school bus service.

“I believe that by September 12th all the work should be done. All the cleaning should be done and all the schools should be ready, but as I said, we are going to have our own tour sometime next week to have our own inspections, sort of, as to whether the schools are indeed ready.”

Shepherd shared that the BUT visited the Westbury Primary School, one of the schools that had some major repairs, on Friday on invitation from the principal and the shop steward. He stated that the “school is not going to be ready for the planning week so the principal has sought permission and gotten permission from the Ministry to have planning week at the Ministry of Education next week.”

Meanwhile, stating why the union was not involved in the recent day-long tour conducted by the Minister of Education, Science and Technology to eight public schools which have undergone renovations, he said the BUT was not invited.

“Sometime, maybe four years ago or so, we were invited every year to attend the bus tour which is done by the Ministry of Education as they go around to schools that are under the summer programme for renovations and so on, but within the last four years, we have not been invited to join the ministry on such tours so we have not gone to the schools. We are planning however as a union our own visits sometime next week during the planning week where we are going to be going to a few of the schools.”(MG)

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MCTV, Co-operators Insurance launch local business promotion

September 4, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Entrepreneurs need to do more research

≪ Previous: BUT’s turn to tour schools next week

Cheryl Forde, Marketing & Human Resources Manager of Co-Operators General Insurance Company Ltd, Nicole Collins, MCTV Marketing Officer at the media launch of the MCTV & Co-Operators General Insurance Company Ltd.

MCTV & Co-operators General Insurance Company Ltd is “Keeping it Bajan for the 50th” with their recently launched promotion.

The word coming from Cheryl Forde, Marketing & HR Manager, is that the campaign celebrates local businesses in Barbados by offering different vouchers from the small business.

At the launch at Co-operators General Insurance Company Ltd. office in Lower Collymore Rock, Nicole Collins, MCTV Marketing Officer, indicated, “Multi Choice Television is proud to be a partner with another locally owned business, such as Co-operators General Insurance Co. Ltd. for this promotion.

“This promotion is a collaborative effort of two Barbadian brands, which have both been serving Barbadians for many years. The promotion is geared towards rewarding customers of both companies and giving them an opportunity to ‘Win Big’.

“Businesses globally are operating in what economists consider to be the worst financial crisis.

“This being said, at MCTV we understand the unique value of each customer and we are constantly looking for ways to reward customer loyalty. For without loyal customers our businesses could not remain in existence.”

Collins added, “The Keeping it Bajan for the 50th Promotion commenced on Friday September 2 and will run until December 28, 2016.

The promotion will be executed via one of the CBC stations of choice, 94.7 FM on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:35 am in the form of a five minute segment.

In celebration of our country’s 50th anniversary of Independence there will be fifty interim prizes.

Each radio winner will win the interim prize of the day and will automatically be entered into the draw for the Grand prize.

The promotion carries a two pronged approach, in that, if you’re not a radio winner you can still have a chance at the Grand Prize of one year’s free auto and property insurance compliments of Co-operators General Insurance Company Ltd, and one year’s free MCTV subscription compliments of Multi Choice television.”

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Entrepreneurs need to do more research

September 4, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Holas encourages students to shape region's future

≪ Previous: MCTV, Co-operators Insurance launch local business promotion

Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Cave Hill School of Business (CHSB), Dr. Jeannine Comma, recently observed that a number of people become entrepreneurs, whilst not adequately prepared.

She explained that they may have a bright idea and decide to start a business, however, this is without going through a systemic way of developing a business plan and market research.

“We [the University] have been doing a number of things to help to narrow that wide-open space of just deciding, ‘I want to dive in,’ but let us look at it in a more systemic way.” she said at the launch of Caribbean Innovation Competition (CIC) 2017, at the

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

While reaping positive results with programmes such as the Student Entrepreneurial Empowerment Development (SEED) which is a part of the undergraduate curriculum at the Cave Hill Campus, Dr. Comma, however, disclosed that CHSB had to suspend its Master’s in Innovation and Entrepreneurship programme, due to poor registration.

“We can only run programmes when we have enough students, so we haven’t run it because we haven’t had enough people registering for it. We found this interesting because we thought, granted yes, it is an academic programme but the curriculum is – what I would say – fairly innovative and dynamic, that you would think more young persons would want to become a part it.”

The CEO also observed that several young people having completed their Management Degrees were not trending towards the Master’s programme. In light of this, CHSB has therefore revamped the Master’s in Innovation and Entrepreneurship as well as the Diploma in Entrepreneurship programmes.

“We want to ensure that they have a lot more experiential orientation and innovative aspects, but I suppose it is a sign of the times. It does cost money to participate in those programmes,” she said. (TL)

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Holas encourages students to shape region's future

September 4, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Church of the Nazarene’s contribution to Barbados lauded

≪ Previous: Entrepreneurs need to do more research

At a time when the region needs more investment in innovation and knowledge creation, we have seen governments within the regional landscape retreat from this activity in the face of declining revenues and more strained budgets.

If the region is truly serious about economic growth, not only must there must be an increase in the number of students attending university, but a higher involvement in the role of these tertiary institutions.

President of the Guild of Students of the University of the West Indies’ Cave Hill Campus 2016-2017, Olvine Holas, made the point while welcoming new students at Friday’s matriculation ceremony.

Saying that a mere six per cent of persons in the region were able to pursue tertiary education, he stated that the Caribbean region possessed one of the lowest per capita rates of access to tertiary education in the world – “a terrible recipe for economic growth”.

“At a time when the region needs more investment in innovation and knowledge creation, we have seen governments within the regional landscape retreat from this activity in the face of declining revenues and more strained budgets. I acknowledge that there are clear challenges with negotiating this particular period in time, with such strain placed on the budgets and the global economic recession giving way to a slow and painful recovery. We in the Guild of Students are deeply concerned about the future that we will have,” he stated.

Admitting that students therefore had a critical role to play, Holas insisted that there must be a commitment to the advancement of the regional mission of deeper integration; in shaping the region’s future; and in taking the first steps towards strengthening ourselves and our approach to the global market.

“We, as the educated and thinkers of our society have a responsibility to create a vision for the region we want, while staying true to the values that define the Caribbean person. We, a people of dance and musical expression, of great religious foundation and of tremendous diversity must show how we can change a difficult situation into a marvellous success. Certainly, we will succeed, we have fought and surpassed greater challenges, and as a people immersed in struggle we know that history will eventually absolve us,” Holas asserted. (JMB)

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Church of the Nazarene’s contribution to Barbados lauded

September 4, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Comissiong: Why no action taken as yet?

≪ Previous: Holas encourages students to shape region's future

THE Church of the Nazarene has made an indelible contribution to Barbados. So says Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development, Steven Blackett, while delivering greetings at the 90th anniversary thanksgiving service, held at the Abundant Life Assembly, last Sunday evening.

The Minister Noted, that as a Nazarene, spending 60 of those 90 years with that Church, the contribution made over the years came not only in its spiritual ministry, but also in various acts of charity, mission programmes and community outreach projects.

“The positive impacts of your contributions can be seen in the social and spiritual uplift as evidence here and in surrounding communities,” the Minister said.

“The relevance and significance of the work done and the traditions established by the church of the Nazarene over the last 90 years cannot be overstated. The diligence and dedication of your leaders and long-standing members are reflected in your work and those traditions and they ought to be recognised and celebrated.”

The Minister wished for the leaders and members of the church, that as they journey towards 100 years of existence, they will seek to transform the future by generously giving of their time and talents to the Church and wider Barbadian community.

He also implored the leadership to continue the goal of transformation. “Transforming the future can be achieved by connecting communities, and transforming lives across the nation. You can achieve this by renewing the branches of the church all across this island into churches of teaching and learning, holistic development, empowerment and enablement,” he said. (JH)

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Comissiong: Why no action taken as yet?

September 4, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Call for more volunteers

≪ Previous: Church of the Nazarene’s contribution to Barbados lauded

SIX years after the firebomb attack on the Campus Trendz store which claimed the lives of six young ladies, the question is still being asked by individuals from various cross-sections of society as to why nothing has been done about stores in Bridgetown which have a similar layout in terms of only one entrance/exit.

Speaking at a press conference at the Clement Payne Centre recently, Co-ordinator of the September 3rd Foundation, David Comissiong, expressed his disappointment that this issue has yet to be addressed by the relevant authorities.

“Six years later, the very things that we have targeted, that we have complained about and targeted in the lawsuit, little or no action has been taken to correct those things. So it is very disheartening and one would wish to question, ‘Do the authorities only respond when the law courts inflict the punishment?’”

He stated that they were not in place at that particular store and they aren’t in place in many of the smaller stores in Bridgetown.

“We know that they weren’t in place at that particular store and many of us know that they still aren’t in place in many other stores, so the question is, ‘Why after such a tragedy, have we not seen serious action?’ It is really shameful and hard questions should be asked of the Government of Barbados as to why six years after such a tragedy, we have not seen any serious or concerted effort to rectify the many defects that exist of so many of these buildings and shops that occupy these buildings.”

The Attorney-at-Law stated that after this in-cident took place, a concerted effort should have taken place to address this issue.

“The authorities should have opened up after the event of September 3rd, 2010 and should have embarked on a serious and comprehensive programme to address these deficiencies. You know, there should have been some national programme to address them and we have seen no evidence of that and that is what is shameful.”

This is another reason why they have decided to file this lawsuit, he said. “We hope that now that the two criminal cases are over, we would have a clear outline as to the steps that would lead us pretty soon to our day in court, because it seems that it is only a day in court that would get over the message that something needs to be done about these substandard conditions in which so many of the workers in Barbados are forced to function in.”

In fact, Comissiong notes that this lawsuit and its outcome is what would drive the authorities to take the necessary action that he believes should have already been taken.

“It seems to be that they are waiting for the determination of this lawsuit before doing the things that they really should have been doing as soon as that tragedy occurred. As soon as that tragedy occurred, there should have been a proper investigation and out of that proper investigation by the relevant governmental authorities, should have come a serious action plan to deal with this issue of inadequate fire escapes, inadequate firefighting equipment, inadequate regulations being applied to these structures and businesses. Yet none of that seems to have been done.” (PJT)

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Call for more volunteers

September 4, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Media called on to do more

≪ Previous: Comissiong: Why no action taken as yet?

District Emergency Organisations (DEO) across the island are in need of volunteers.

Pointing out that the various outfits are involved in several programmes and projects in their respective communities, Jocelyn Trotman of the St. Peter DEO insisted that more hands are needed.

“One of our major problems is getting people to volunteer. Volunteering is a big problem because when you go out there in the community asking people to come out and help and what-not, the first thing they ask id ‘how much are you paying me?’” she lamented.

However, she highlighted that the various units are there to help those in the community who may be negatively impacted during a disaster, and encouraged persons to foster their own community spirit of wanting to help out their fellow man without payment.

Speaking on some of the activities her own DEO has been involved in, she said that last month it held a bulk cleanup of areas of St. Peter, where 40 tonnes of garbage, including fridges, stoves and other large appliances, were removed from gullies, waterways and illegal dumping areas.

Roderick Yarde of the St. George DEO also noted that these organisations are not only for hurricanes, but for making preparations for the possibility of an earthquake or major fire.

“So before any impact, we go into the communities and try to sensitise the people living in the communities on what they need to do to prepare themselves, as you must appreciate the fact that the first level of response is at the individual level not the DEO. We then share whatever knowledge we have to make the community resilient to whatever disasters, and do pre-impact assessments where persons in the community tell us what are the areas of concern – whether it is a blocked well, illegal dumping…and then we give guidance as to how these could be addressed,” he said, while encouraging more citizens to come on board.

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Media called on to do more

September 4, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: New petroleum prices

≪ Previous: Call for more volunteers

Co-ordinator of the September 3rd Foundation and Attorney-at-Law, David Comissiong, is calling on media houses in Barbados to pay close attention to how they cover events.

Speaking at a press conference at the Clement Payne Centre recently, he said that first of all, the media houses here seem to be following the trends coming out of North America when it comes to the way in which they cover events, one which seems to be dominated by an individualistic and materialistic culture.

“Our media system nowadays are so dominated by a mass communications culture coming out of capitalist North America, that if we are not conscious about it, if we simply allow ourselves to be swept along by what are the prevailing trends – what are the prevailing international trends – as opposed to you know, really taking stock and saying that this is not the direction that we want to go in and therefore doing deliberate things to change that mass communications culture, then we would continue along the road that we are currently on – a more atomised, self-centred, individualistic, materialistic, money by hook or by crook, money lock up or dead, seeing ourselves as winners or losers divided and that would be to our ultimate destruction...”

Another trend which seems to be prevailing is one where the media houses give more coverage to events organised by persons of a higher socio-economic status and the media really needs to rethink the kind of message they are sending to the society when they do this, he stated.

“Poor people are celebrities too, so when you cover your celebrity functions and you are sending a message that only a people of a certain status are worthy of covering their parties and their social functions, you need to rethink that. What is the message that you are sending? You need to rethink that.”

Comissiong said that the general public also has a role to play here as they can send out a message of their own to the media houses, letting them know that they need to take their roles more seriously.

“Even though as citizens we may not be in a position of great individual power, that if we can pinpoint some of the key institutions of socialisation in our country and we can raise our voices and we can insist that they take their responsibilities more seriously in creating that social ethos in which we value every human being, in which we show interest in the fostering of the development of every human being in this society, we would be helping to correct the situation that led to the tragic deaths of these six beautiful young women six years ago.”

He continued, “So we are saying once again to the Barbadian people, yes, we may not be in positions of Government, but we can raise our voices, we can send a message to our media practitioners – to our television stations, to our radio stations, to our newspapers – we need you to do more.” (PJT)

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New petroleum prices

September 4, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Get tough on gun laws

≪ Previous: Media called on to do more

Consumers will now pay less for gasoline, diesel and kerosene, and more for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

From midnight, Sunday, September 4, the retail price of gasoline moved from Bds$2.85 per litre to $2.82, a decrease of three cents per litre. The price of diesel dropped from Bds$2.04 to $1.95, a saving of nine cents. Kerosene will now retail at 90 cents per litre, down from 98 cents.

Meanwhile, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) will retail at Bds$137.95 per 100 lb. cylinder, up from BBD$135.27, an increase of $2.68 The price of the 25 lb. cylinder is now $39.50, an increase of 58 cents, while the 22 lb. cylinder costs $34.92, an increase of 51 cents. The price of a 20 lb. cylinder has moved from $31.28 to $31.75, a 47 cents increase. (BGIS)

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Get tough on gun laws

September 4, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: More work on new River Terminal soon

≪ Previous: New petroleum prices

Senator Rev. Dr. David Durant, Founder and Senior Pastor of Restoration Ministries International, addressing the 36th Anniversary Church Service of the NAB.

From left: Chairman of the Child Care Board (CCB), Kenneth Knight; the Hon. Steven Blackett, Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development; and Eleanor Blackett during the 36th Anniversary Church Service of the National Assistance Board (NAB), held at Restoration Ministries International yesterday.

The National Assistance Board (NAB) Choir performing at the NAB’s 36th Anniversary Church Service held at Restoration Ministries International, yesterday.

A Government Senator is calling for firm action against persons who commit gun crimes.

Acknowledging that the legislation is already there, Senator Rev. Dr. David Durant wants to see it enforced.

“The Offences with Firearms Law in Barbados is very strong, but what we need to do is make sure we enforce what is already written in our books.”

He revealed that according to Chapter 179 Section 18 of the Laws of Barbados, “Where a person has in his possession any firearm or ammunition with intent thereby to endanger life or cause serious injury to property, or to enable another person by means thereof to endanger life or cause serious injury to property, whether any injury to property has been caused or not, that person is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction on indictment to a fine of $150 000 or to a term of imprisonment of 25 years or both such fine and imprisonment.”

Dr. Durant was at the time addressing the 36th Anniversary Church Service of the National Assistance Board (NAB) at Restoration Ministries International, yesterday.

He stressed that too much lawlessness is pervading the country, as he highlighted the shooting death of 46-year-old taxi driver, Ricardo Bryan, in the car park of Lucky Horseshoe, Warrens, last Thursday. On exiting his motorcar, Bryan was approached by four men who shot him multiple times.

“The last week we had some Wild West scenes in this island… We have to be concerned about the youth.

“We need to get tough on gun laws in this country, so that the young people can get the message… Life is not important to some of them anymore. We can’t play around with this issue anymore and if we have the law to support it, then we need to use it,” he stated.

However Dr. Durant, who is the Founder and Senior Pastor of Restoration Ministries, made it clear that there are still some very good young people across our nation.

“But, I must say there are some who are on the deviant side or who are on the ‘black’ side and we need to see that colour change… We need to see some more of our young people come into a revelation of the love of God. Some of our young men and women are trapped in the vicious cycle of drugs and gun violence,” he said. (TL)

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More work on new River Terminal soon

September 4, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: NHC not involved in Lancaster sale

≪ Previous: Get tough on gun laws

IF all goes well, construction on the second phase of the new River Terminal should start in a few months’ time.

That’s the word from Minister of Transport and Works, Michael Lashley. Providing an update on the project, Minister Lashley said that the deadline for bids to be submitted to undertake the work on this final phase, which includes the concourse, closed just two Fridays ago and the response was “pretty good”. This phase, he explained, is all part of the $3.5 million earmarked for the River Terminal project, which is intended to greatly improve the conditions for route taxi and minibus operators who are posted there and the commuters utilising their services.

The Transport and Works Minister further told The Barbados Advocate that over the next few weeks officials will be carefully examining the bids that were submitted, so that the contract can be awarded with the view of starting construction no later than early October.

“As soon as the Special Tenders [Committee] meets and they decide on the successful bid, then the contract can be drawn up and signed and the work can start. We hope that can be started at least by the last week in September or the first week in October,” he stated.

His comments came as he added that work continues on the site of the old Queen’s College School building in The City, which is being renovated to accommodate the main terminal on the ground floor.

He indicated that substantial work has been carried out on the building, and stated that based on the current state of the renovations he expects the building should be ready to open by November.

“Workers from MTW are working on that building getting it ready for commuters. We are installing an elevator shaft; the building is being painted; offices are being constructed; interior plumbing is being done – the work is really quite extensive,” he said.

Included in that building, the Minister noted, will be the main terminal outfitted with washrooms for male and female commuters, offices for the Transport Authority and an outpost for the Royal Barbados Police Force.

This modern multi-purpose facility, he insisted, will bring order to the bus stand and make it easier for route taxi and minibus operators to ply their trade. (JRT)

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NHC not involved in Lancaster sale

September 5, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: David Thompson Classic to get off the ground this month

≪ Previous: More work on new River Terminal soon

By:

Jenique Belgrave

The sale of land at Lancaster to Chefette had nothing to do with the National Housing Corporation (NHC).

Speaking to The Barbados Advocate yesterday, Minister of Housing, Lands and Rural Development Denis Kellman made it clear that while Government previously owned the land where the fast food restaurant chain is set to erect its newest branch, it was not the one that had been holding the title deed during the latest transaction.

“That land was commercial land selling at $35 a square foot, not at $5 or $18 a square foot as some people have been saying, and services were put into the land and NHC paid C.O.Williams Construction with that land, instead of money so that it did not affect its cash flow. The sale of the land to Chefette had nothing to do with NHC. It was a sale by C.O. Williams to Chefette,” he revealed.

Defending against charges that the land was to be used only for housing, Kellman insisted that the area had always been designated for both housing and commercial activity, with approximately 11 spots developed for the latter purpose.

The minister disclosed his expectations that the stretch from Lancaster to Sunset Crest would soon become a major commercial area on the island.

“As I have said in the budget and elsewhere, the Lancaster area would be one of the most significant commercial areas in Barbados, because where previously the Sunset Crest area was narrowed to a particular location. If this is done correctly, we would be able to expand the Sunset Crest and the Holetown and that area would not now be a small commercial area but would run from the sea up to the Lancaster development,” he stated.

In addition, the minister outlined that other “significant developments from other private sector players” were expected to take place opposite the Royal Westmoreland and Sugar Hill shortly.

Kellman therefore said he would not be bogged down with the criticisms coming from various parts.

“My job is to understand that I maximise the returns for NHC. We found a large deficit when we came and I have to find commercial land and commercial lots…that NHC can sell because of location to maximise returns so that we can have resources so that we can continue with the program to deal with the needs of poor people,” he added.

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David Thompson Classic to get off the ground this month

September 5, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Senator Durant: ‘I was shocked’ at article

≪ Previous: NHC not involved in Lancaster sale

Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development, Steve Blackett and his Permanent Secretary, Janet Phillips, drawing names to allocate the 30 teams in their zones for the 2016 competition.

Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development, Steve Blackett and his Permanent Secretary, Janet Phillips, drawing names to allocate the 30 teams in their zones for the 2016 competition.

THE David Thompson Memorial Constituency Councils Football Classic is back again for 2016. Despite the turbulent economic climate, the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development are digging deep to ensure that local footballers and small enterprise owners, who usually stand a chance to benefit, have an opportunity to earn some of the monies generated by the annual tournament.

Now in its fifth year, the tournament, which was launched yesterday ahead of its September 18th start, will run for the next three months, as the 30 teams duke it out. Speaking during yesterday’s media event at the Warrens Office Complex, Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development, Steve Blackett, highlighted the fact that the competition had found its way into the hearts of the local communities, as it provided social and economic stimulation for many.

He went on to say that although times were tough, it would be a tragedy to give the tournament a miss, especially this year.

“Each year, the tournament commemorates the outstanding commitment of the late Prime Minister, the Honourable David Thompson, to football at the community level. It is seen as a means of social inclusion and social mobility and my ministry is whole-heartedly committed to ensuring that this tournament remains on the national calendar, especially this year as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of our nation.

“While we might not be able to engage in the flair, pomp and pageantry that we would typically wish to see in this jubilee year, it is a testament to our commitment to the community and youth development, that this tournament is being organised and being played,” he said.

Going on to say that the bare necessities were being engaged for this year’s tournament, Minister Blackett added that administration and operations costs, as well as prize monies, inclusive of the $30 000 purse for the winners, would be coming from a grant of $400 000 from the Arts and Sports Promotion Fund, managed by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs.

With the only major change this year being the switch of venue of the opening ceremony, signature features, such as the mandatory inclusion of four Under-20 players in each squad, will remain in place.

According to Tournament Co-ordinator, Mark Forde, this initiative has paid dividends in aiding to develop young players, and as such, the next step would be to turn the entire tournament to an Under-30 affair, ensuring that the up-and-coming players would be given their due opportunity to perform at one of the highest local levels.

With all 30 teams already selected and in training, the other 29 will be gunning to defeat last year’s champions, Christ Church East-Central. Minister Blackett and his Permanent Secretary, Janet Phillips, conducted the zone draw yesterday, and when the action kicks off on September 18th, with the parade of teams at 4:00 p.m., the defending champions will be playing their first Zone 2 fixture against St. Michael North-West at 6:00 p.m., while St. John are slated to take on St. Michael South-Central at 8:00 p.m. in a Zone 5 match-up.

The final of the 2016 competition is set for December 11th at Kensington Oval. (MP)

Zone 1: St. Michael North, Christ Church South, St. Philip North, St. James North, St. Philip West
Zone 2: St. Michael East, Christ Church East-Central, St. George North, St. Michael North-West, St. Peter
Zone 3: St. Michael Central, St. Michael West, St. George South, St. Michael North-East, St. Michael West-Central
Zone 4: St. Michael South-East, St. Lucy, Christ Church East, St. Philip South, Christ Church West-Central
Zone 5: St. Michael South-Central, St. Michael South, St. John, St. James South, St. Andrew
Zone 6: St. Joseph, St. Thomas, City of Bridgetown, St. James Central, Christ Church West

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Senator Durant: ‘I was shocked’ at article

September 5, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: MP concerned about violent acts

≪ Previous: David Thompson Classic to get off the ground this month

Totally out of order!

This is how Chairman of the National Assistance Board (NAB), Senator Rev. Dr David Durant described the August 21st article “Durant: Pay cash for babies”, published in another section of the press.

Since then, he has received backlash for the report which stated that he suggested that Barbados may have to consider giving a monetary incentive to married couples to have more children.

“I was called and asked just about a couple of stats for the elderly, which I gave. So just by the side after that we were discussing what we need to do for this problem that we are facing. My conversation was not meant to be in the press,” he told the 36th Anniversary Church Service of the

NAB at Restoration Ministries International, as he took the opportunity to make it clear that he did not make such a statement to the journalist.

“I was shocked. As a matter of fact my mouth dropped, when I saw it in the newspaper the next day.”

Dr Durant said that he actually told the journalist that it would be good to give some incentives.

“Money never came out of my mouth,” he stressed.

“Whenever you talk to people about getting children, they say it is too expensive. Therefore, a good way of trying to encourage that maybe is to give some incentives. I didn’t mean money because we don’t have it. It could be given in the form of tax reliefs; more tax reliefs for couples who are getting children. Or maybe during the first six month pampers are provided by the government, or baby milk is supplied for the first six months… I was just offering a few different solutions for us to look at because it is problem we have address anyhow in the future.”

The NAB Chairman also said that if the journalist had said they preferred that conversation and wanted to report on it, he would have explained it differently. He told the congregation that he did not want to come over as discriminating against people who are having children out of wedlock.

“As a matter of fact, I am one who was born out of wedlock,” he revealed.

“As a matter of fact, this church supports young people who have gotten children outside of wedlock. It is not something we advocate and it is not something I would propagate or even encourage because I want to stand straight on the word of God. But if it happens, then of course every child in country has to be taken care of….If we offer an incentive to married couple of course by extension we have to do the same for those who would be born out of wedlock.”

He added, “I don’t want to blame anyone or any reporter. I think they are doing a good job. But I just want them to have a bit more responsibility and also be a bit more respectful in their reporting so that the level of integrity will maintain.” (TL)

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MP concerned about violent acts

September 5, 2016, 9:00 pm

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A Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Member of Parliament has raised concern about the “senseless slaughter’ that is taking place in this country.

Speaking on Sunday evening during his constituency branch meeting at the constituency office, St. James Central Member of Parliament, Kerrie Symmonds said he is embarrassed to be part of a Parliament which is on long leave, a 10-week vacation, while “there is a river of human blood flowing in the streets” of this country. In addition to insisting that the matter needs to be discussed at this highest law making level and that the MPs should revisit some of the laws that are relevant to curbing the growing problem, he is urging the Government to move with haste to also find a solution.

“I want to say to you very clearly, that there are number of places in the world, including the United States of America, where the Congress of the United States has been called back to work because a crisis has arisen and it has to be dealt with seriously,” he said.

Symmonds, an attorney-at-law, reiterated an earlier call for Parliament to resume to address the growing violence, as he recounted many of the most recent acts, including that of the stray bullet that claimed the life of Veldene Hinds in May of this year, the recent shooting incident at Wotton, Christ Church in which high powered weapons were reportedly used and resulted in a 16 -year old being shot, to the murder of Ricardo Bryan, who was gunned down in a carpark in Warrens last Thursday.

“This country cannot afford to put on the backburner something as senseless as what is taking place in Barbados, and as dangerous. I make the point here and now and I don’t care who gets vex in the Government, if the Democratic Labour Party Government does not act with urgency to solve this problem, the Americans, the British, the Canadians will by virtue of a travel advisory, solve it for us,” he said.

He added, “The only problem is, when they solve it they solve it in a way that protects their citizens by telling their citizens stay clear of down here.”

But Symmonds, a former Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, warned that Barbados cannot afford for that to happen, especially as the winter tourist season approaches. He noted that not only is tourism is the country’s main economic earner, but the greatest source of much needed foreign exchange.

Meanwhile, on the topic of legislative amendments needed to address the growing violence, he suggested that among the changes necessary is the Firearms Act. This piece of legislation, he maintains is outdated classifying all guns as the same. But, he contends that all guns are not the same.

“The ones were are hearing about are called assault grade weapons that should be far from the streets of this country, and the fact that they are on the streets of this country should cause such a sense of concern in the Administration, that every step of urgency is taken in order to make sure that anybody found with them is visited with the harshest possible penalties known to the law, as a deterrent to keep people from choosing that course of action,” he said. (JRT)

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Barbados taking steps to become a Commercial Arbitration Centre

September 5, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: Symmonds: Society suffering under Gov’t

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Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Maxine McClean.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Maxine McClean, recently revealed that Barbados has made concrete steps to promote, both internally and externally, its reasonable ambition to become a commercial arbitration centre.

However, the Senator, who was at the time addressing the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Young Arbitrators Forum (YAF) Caribbean Series, held at Hilton Barbados Resort, made it clear that the country is under no illusion as to the competition that already exists in the market.

“We also understand that successful arbitrations require a level of experience and expertise that cannot be readily found in all jurisdictions. This constitutes a significant opportunity for professionals and entrepreneurs who want to explore resultant business opportunities.”

Senator McClean also acknowledged that the private settlement of fiscal disputes under tax treaties is a niche in arbitration that Barbados could do well to focus on.

She said that already there are a number of treaty arrangements with African countries, which now include at least three variations of tax treaty arbitration.

“Given Barbados’ ac-celerated programme of relationship building in Africa and our facility with issues related to international tax, we are keen to explore how we could build out such an agenda,” she indicated.

Friday’s forum was the second event in the series of educational conferences and workshops held by the ICC on contemporary arbitration issues. The major themes for this Barbados workshop were “Entrepreneurship and Commercial Arbitration”, which explored the relationship between starting a business or firm and the uses of international commercial arbitration; as well as “Barbados Entities as Vehicles for Investment Disputes”, focusing on the legal nature of trusts and other investment vehicles in Barbados and the region and when those vehicles can be used in an international arbitration context.

“This is one important reason why as a Government we are keen to hear the outcome of the discussion on access to arbitration under investment and tax treaties using vehicles like trusts, which have been a staple of our international business and financial services products,” Senator McClean added. (TL)

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Symmonds: Society suffering under Gov’t

September 5, 2016, 9:00 pm

≫ Next: GIS conference begins this week

≪ Previous: Barbados taking steps to become a Commercial Arbitration Centre

An Opposition Member of Parliament says the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Government has not lived up to its goal to build a society.

St. James Central Member of Parliament, Kerrie Symmonds raised the issue Sunday night at a constituency meeting held at his constituency office, as he outlined a number of things that have deteriorated under the Government’s watch. Among the areas of concern, Symmonds said, is the lack of employment opportunities and the rising unemployment especially among the youth, the youth not being able to afford tertiary education, the now sporadic nature of garbage collection and the persistent water challenges which have several rural communities without water for weeks on end.

The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) MP explained that eight years ago the unemployment rate in Barbados stood at six per cent, putting the country on the “threshold of full and complete employment in this country”, but today that figure is said to be around 14 per cent. But, the BLP MP is arguing that the unemployment reality on the ground would suggest that figure is even much higher.

“They say they are building a society and not an economy. The society that they build we have to ask them what type of society is it, because when we left Government we knew, almost with certainty in this constituency, and I can say to you that in almost every part of this constituency there was garbage collection in a regular and systematic way… those days have come to an end and there are parts of this constituency that cannot get garbage collection for two and three weeks at a time,” he said.

Symmonds made the point as he spoke also about the water woes being experienced by some Barbadians and lamented that even where community tanks have been erected persons are still not getting the water they need. This, he explained is because the tanks are not big enough to adequately service everyone.

“In the 50th year of Independence, this Government that tells you they are building a society is taking us back to a point where we were not, in living memory of most of us who are sitting here before us today, and that can’t be right,” he contended. (JRT)

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GIS conference begins this week

September 5, 2016, 9:00 pm

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The Eighth Annual Caribbean Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Conference gets officially underway today at the Hilton Barbados.

The week-long conference will see GIS professionals joining together to discuss and share information about important topics impacting Caribbean communities and exactly how GIS is being used to facilitate decisions and actions.

The event is being hosted by the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association and according to Executive Director Wendy Nelson will feature two keynote addresses and have a full day track developed in partnership with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency to explore best practices for utilising GIS and other tools to prepare for, respond to and manage disasters.

“These GIS professionals are the people – primarily government employees, who use computer mapping technology to make decisions a little easier for government officials and make government more efficient,” she stated, noting that this included advising on where to put roads or even

where to concentrate on a more public response for Zika or whatever illness may be affecting the population at the time.

“For example, you can see where it is occurring and track where the virus is heading. So whatever decision that has to be made that involves a location or an emergency response is where this type of work would come in,” she told The Barbados Advocate.

Conference partici-pants are from 33 countries, including the majority of the Caribbean nations, as well as United Kingdom, United States, Canada, the Philippines and other territories. (JMB)

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AG horrified by murder captured on video

September 5, 2016, 9:00 pm

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HORRIFIED.

That’s how Attorney General, Adriel Brathwaite, described his reaction to surveillance video making its rounds on social media of the callous shooting of taxi driver Ricardo Bryan, who was murdered last Thursday night by four assailants.

Speaking to the media briefly at the Supreme Court yesterday, the Attorney General said it is worrisome that the video looked like a scene out of Hollywood, a reminder that some persons seemingly are not sparing a second thought about taking another person’s life.

“I am horrified. I would expect to see that on ‘Power’ or one of those pictures, but not in Barbados.

“It goes back to what I said about values. Values have disappeared. Human life doesn’t seem to mean as much as it used to,” he lamented.

The Minister of Home Affairs told the media that families have to take a hard look at what is going on in their homes to wrestle this problem to the ground.

“Lots of mothers and fathers and grandmothers need to look within themselves and try to help us with these problems. Because you see these youngsters going into Court or getting into trouble or even killed... and I am not being insensitive… you hear what a nice boy he was, and how nice he was, and when you check with the RBPF, you see that lots of these fellows were far from nice for a very long time.

“Families need to take ownership of these ‘nice boys’ and really try to bring them in line. Make them nice in the sense that you and I appreciate, not nice in the sense that providing them with money and not asking where the money came from.”

The Attorney General said it is often not a criminal issue, but one of a breakdown in values and the fact that many persons are leaving school without qualifications.

“The problem starts from the fact that for too long we have too many young people graduating from our school system without any kind of qualifications, hardly able to read and write. And then we wonder why we are having problems today. And that is where it started.”

He stressed this is why there has been a push for vocational training. “That’s why we acknowledged everybody will not be Einstein, but we need to at least give them tools that they can be good men and women.

“We know, all of us know, that as a country that we are moving away from things like Religious Studies, Religious Education in our classes. We need to find some way even if you are teaching Spanish or French or English – whatever you are teaching, to still be able to instil some values in our young people. Because that is the issue – the challenge is the values.

“There is something wrong with a value system that says that Crop Over coming up, I need to steal so I can go to all the fetes… There is something wrong with that value system,” he exhorted.

“That is why I say it is not a criminal issue; we need to go back to foundation and that is what we are trying to do in terms of looking at our education system. Looking to the Ministry of Family and Youth, look at our family structures, seeing how we can get more, the Community Development Department. We really need to address it from the foundation,” he reiterated. (JH)

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