THE draft of a comprehensive Barbados Human Resource Development policy will soon be considered by the Cabinet’s Governance Committee.

This was revealed by Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Freundel Stuart as he delivered featured remarks at the milestone ceremony for the European Union-funded Barbados Human Resource Development (HRD) Strategy held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on Saturday night.

Noting that it is through the people of Barbados that successes have been achieved socially and economically, the Prime Minister said in order to further advance the country over the next 50 years such a framework must be created for a sustained, collaborative human resource development programme.

According to the Prime Minister, “The policy will seek to create a framework of rules, incentives and institutional capacities that can catapult Barbados’ social and economic progress into that global sphere where the global indices of competitiveness, innovation, doing business and human development dominate.”

The Prime Minister highlighted the achievements and successful implementation of the Barbados Human Resource Development Strategy, executed principally with the collaboration of the European Union between 2011-2016. He described the strategy as the pinnacle of efforts to build the human capital capacity, while increasing Barbados’ competitiveness, promoting sustainable growth and to alleviate poverty.

He said it is also a reminder that as a people, Barbadians can be thrifty, innovative and prudent in the management of the country’s limited resources.

“It is my view that the several initiatives undertaken through the HRD Strategy embody concepts such as encouraging life-long learning and much more.”

He noted that it has supported training, culture, small business development, agriculture, entrepreneurship, among others.

“It has implemented and supported projects to develop and empower young employed persons and persons with disabilities, supported certification, accreditation, enhanced skills development, while also providing an opportunity to work closely with partners in the private and non-governmental sectors to enhance the human capital framework.

“All of this has been done to enhance our effectiveness in labour market organisation and management, our productivity and our economic competitiveness.”

Prime Minister Stuart thanked the European Union for its ongoing support of Barbados’ national development agenda. “Partnerships like this, in a vital area like this one, have been essential to our survival, and to our future existence as a nation in a highly competitive world,” he said. (JH)

We must recognise that we can do nothing without women.

This is according to Chairperson of the St. James Parish Independence Committee, Rhonda Bryan-Hutson during the Gardens Church of God's Mother's Day Service.

Bryan-Hutson visited the St. James church with the 2017 Parish Ambassadors, Camara Babb and Christopher Nelson, who were supported by their attendant, Romel Bishop. The St. James Parish Ambassador team was there to share information about their upcoming parish project as well as plant a tree, which is part of the national planting initiative – Planting Pride. Additionally, the chairperson revealed that May is the month designated to the parish of St. James.

Bryan-Hutson explained that the fruit tree planted on Mother's Day will symbolise the roles mothers play in the growth and development of Barbados. Also, she highlighted the importance of replenishing fruit trees indigenous to the island.

Two of the church’s members, 99-year-old Marion Burnham and the youngest member, her great grand-daughter three- and-a-half-year-old Karis Burnham-Hinds planted the golden apple tree to the south side of the church.

Before the ceremony Bryan-Hutson spoke to The Barbados Advocate about the significance of the plant at the Gardens Church of God.

"...As the tree grows, it also signifies the span and breadth of what women can do within this nation…. And as the fruit bears on the tree, it shows we can eat, partake and also share in the successes of women," said Bryan-Hutson. (KB)

AN Anglican priest is making the appeal for women to be allowed to live their lives in the freedom with which God has created them, so that they can be effective nurturers in their communities.

As Barbadian women joined others across the world to celebrate Mother’s Day, yesterday, Rector of St. George Parish Church, John Rogers, said he is of the opinion that too many women within society are subjected to physical, emotional and mental abuse, making the process of them fulfilling their roles as nurturers a difficult one.

“The role of mothers within society is very important, but they must be able to live out that role, in terms of nurturing our children, or the entire community falls apart.

“What we don’t have is the family structure and perhaps we need to focus on the important role of the family and we also need to be aware that mothers cannot do it alone,” the reverend said.

“A lot of mothers nowadays find themselves having to work very hard while keeping households together and it’s not easy, because the world today offers so much scope for deviancy as opposed to the world before,” he added.

Reverend Rogers, who based his special Mother’s Day sermon on 1st Peter Chapter 2, verse 9, spoke about motherhood from the context of the church, reminding the packed congregation that the “Church is the mother within the community”.

He said in every community, the church plays a role in terms of its nurturing, but that role would only be effective, and as strong, as the living stones that make up the church.

“The mothers and families have a role within the Church because the families are really the building block of our community. Families need to be more cohesive because they are the living stones of the body of Christ,” he said.

The mothers of St. George Parish Church were treated to tokens of appreciation, prepared by the Sunday school children. (AH)

ERCILLA SEALY of Bridgecott, St. George is celebrating her 100th birthday today.

But the centenarian’s grand celebrations started yesterday with her rejoicing and singing praises at the Newbury Nazarene Church, St. George, where she was the centre of attention.

“I am feeling good and blessed today. I love the church,” she told The Barbados Advocate.

Dressed in a beautiful gold frock, with a matching hat and pair of shoes, the mother of three was greeted with hugs and kisses from members of the church she has been attending for over 60 years.

Walking into the building with little assistance, Sealy told everyone how blessed she was feeling to be able to say that she is 100 years old.

“I got here by the grace of God because it is He who helped me up. Everything in church I used to attend and I was thanking and praising God. Sometimes I feel fairly good, and then other times the body feel a bit weak, so I lay down, but I good you know,” she declared.

The centenarian, who was described as one of the best seamstresses in her community during the years she sat at the machine, advised young people to serve the Almighty and they will be blessed with long life.

She testified that life was not always easy, or went according to her plans, but noted that God was always there directing her path and she faithfully followed the directions, often leading her to a place where she felt contented.

“He is always here for me and I won’t let Him down; I will serve Him until I die,” she shouted out, as members of the congregation looked on before the start of the service.

The centenarian’s granddaughter, Pamela Sealy, said her “mama” is not able to hear as well as she used to, but that does not stop her from making her way around the house on her own.

“She is still very much active, just look at her,” the granddaughter said.

Head of the church’s Elderly Care Ministry, Gloria Miller, said it was fitting for the church to set the tone for Sealy’s birthday celebrations, because she devoted much of her time over the years to leading several ministries.

Miller explained that Sealy now only attends church occasionally, as she is not always feeling her best.

“But she was very active in the church when she was able to. The only time she missed church was if she was out of the island, or not well.

“The only Sunday she missed when she was in the island was the Sunday before Christmas, because that was a busy time for a seamstress.

“She has a very good memory and remembers all the Bible verses and I still call her and give her the lesson we are studying in Sunday school, so that she can follow,” Miller said.

Sealy has seven grandchildren and 11 great-grands. (AH)

Minister of Culture, Stephen Lashley, is assuring the Barbados Association of Masqueraders (BAM) that all their issues raised will be looked into by both the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) and himself.

Yesterday, addressing the 2017 Crop Over Thanksgiving Service at the Vauxhall Methodist Church, Adams Castle, Christ Church, said that he is aware of BAM’s issues and will certainly work with them to solve any outstanding matters.

“They are among our valued partners and we treat all of our valued partners with tremendous respect,” he expressed to the congregation.

Earlier this month, BAM’s President Chetwin Stewart told the media to expect some protest action on Kadooment Day if several issues facing bandleaders are not addressed urgently by the NCF and respective Ministries. These include: reduction of VAT; subvention increases; and being able to benefit from the Cultural Industries Act.

Noting that the Crop Over Festival has been controversy free over the past six years, Lashley promises that where there are issues, they will be solved very quickly.

“We value the contribution of all our partners in the Festival and I always say that when we have issues, we will sit down and we will work them out,” he stressed.

This year’s festival will be celebrated under the theme ‘Catch the Feeling’. According to the Culture Minister, “This is a theme that feeds the very spirit of the Festival. It seeks of course to invoke that very jovial and infectious feeling that is simply unexplainably contagious and which ignites a unity among us.”

Lashley further acknowledged that Crop Over brings tremendous economic benefit to Barbados’ economy, in excess of US$50 million.

“I agree that all of the players who help to ensure that Crop Over can be the kind of outstanding and successful Festival that it is – all of our partners and supporters should be a part and share in that kind of economic benefit.

“Even outside the standard calendar of the NCF, there is a growing calendar of events by private promoters that continue to grow. I want to salute the contribution of our private partners in continuing to provide the kind of variety that this Festival has certainly benefited from outside the traditional events,” he added. (TL)

Whether asthma symptoms are mild, moderate or severe, they need to be taken seriously.

In fact, Dr. Vincent Hutchinson, a Barbadian Paediatrician, Immunologist and Allergist, is calling on parents to learn more about this chronic disease of the lungs.

“I think that parents need to know exactly what is asthma. They need to know that once you have the diagnosis, you have to try to control it and use the medications that are shown to be effective and safe,” he stressed.

Having worked at Harlem Hospital in New York for 40 years, Dr. Hutchinson is now retired and lending his expertise to the Asthma Association of Barbados, which since 1990 has been improving the quality of life of asthma sufferers and their families through education and sensitisation on the treatment and control.

He recently shared with The Barbados Advocate that over the years he has noticed parents’ unwillingness to accept the diagnosis of asthma.

According to him, there is a lot of denial. “Then what happens is that they do not follow the physician’s recommendation on the treatments or what to do to control the asthma. So subsequently the child may get recurring asthma attacks, which may cause hospitalisation, emergency room visits or days absent from school.”

While there is no “cure” for asthma, there is effective treatment allowing persons to lead an as normal and active life as possible. This includes being able to exercise.

“We try to impress upon all children and their parents that they have to exercise – that way they improve the lung function. Some of the greatest athletes in the world have been bad asthmatics… You can participate in activities; you don’t have to be left behind,” Dr. Hutchinson said.

Dr. Angela Jennings, Paediatrician at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), further explained that an individual still has asthma even though they may start to feel fine and have no symptoms.

“A lot of times when persons are well, they don’t remember to take the asthma medication, because they are not feeling ill. But you always have asthma; it’s always there with you. The importance really comes down to educating both the parent and child about what this illness is and how best we can work together to make them as symptom free as possible.”

Dr. Jennings believes not a lot of people are accessing the wealth information available at the Asthma Association of Barbados.

“If there is one thing that we really want to emphasise, is the importance of the Asthma Association and how it can help in the day to day living with asthma,” she stressed.

Ambassador Kirk Brown
Kirk Brown recognises the vital role of the Asthma Association of Barbados, and is ready to bring their work to the fore in his role as Ambassador.

The Entrepreneur, DJ, Actor and Artiste struggled with asthma from an infant, and spent many years in and out of the hospital.

“They described it as from the environment because I was actually born at home, two months premature on our floor… I had jaundice, bronchitis, bronchial asthma and I spent the next 14 years basically living in the hospital. I can recall having exams at school and going back to the hospital for observation. Going home late nights and first thing in the morning checking in.”

However, today Brown leads a normal, active life. “I have been an entertainer for 10 years and I have never been sick since then; never had a sick day, never missed a performance… I changed my diet, picked up swimming, and I started to do a lot of reading on building lung capacity and on diet.”

As Ambassador, he will also be calling on fellow entertainers who are struggling with asthma to come on board.

“It would be great for them to come share their experiences and maybe encourage persons to come spend some more time with the Asthma Association. The expertise is here and I find that it is not fully utilised”.

The Asthma Association, led by Rosita Pollard, functions as a support group, and takes part in many health fairs and exhibitions demonstrating the correct use of the Asthma inhaler, the Spacing Device, the Peak Flow Meter and also performs Peak Flow readings for asthmatics. (TL)

THE demand for anti-acne and skin care products has pushed a local medical aesthetician to develop a product line for the Barbadian market.

But, Danielle Gonsalves is not stopping there; she hopes that in the not too distant future, persons from across the Caribbean region and even further afield could have access to her products.

“Only for now it is a Barbados thing, but I know it can help so many people... it is just that right now this is my capability, but I want to reach other markets.

“I am not this big manufacturer like L’Oreal, Proactiv, or Neutrogena, and people can appreciate that, because they know I am in there with the chemists telling them what I want and why I need it. I think that will help persons to appreciate that it is something special to me and personal,” she said in an interview with The Barbados Advocate, following the official launch of Glo Skin Care Products on Saturday night at the Radisson Aquatica.

The 30-year old entrepreneur said that at this time the products are only available from her spa, Rejuvenate Spa, currently located at her home, but which will shortly be moving to Wildey, St. Michael, and she is hoping to get them on the shelves of local stores soon as well. She also wants to make the products available online, noting that it would be the first step towards exporting Glo regionally and internationally.

Her comments came as she indicated that the real work on the creation of the nine products in the line – the gentle cleaner, clarifying toner, hydrating daily moisturiser with SPF, revitalising complete vitamin serum, pigment correction serum, purifying mask, glycolic acid wash, advanced blemish treatment and the Glo oil – started three and a half to four years ago, and involved a lot of trial and error.

With that in mind, an upbeat Gonsalves said she did not let the fact that she lives in Barbados be a factor in her decision to create the products, and she is urging other local entrepreneurs and innovators to adopt the same mindset.

“I live on a small island, but I don’t have a small island mentality. I am obsessed with continued learning, and in the industry I am in, there’s always something new. Every year there is a new conference, or they are introducing new technology, or a new ingredient that you can put in your products, and I am always on the lookout for those things so I can give my clients the best,” she added.

Earlier in the evening, in a video presentation, Gonsalves explained that the product line, named in memory of her late grandmother, Gloria Jones, came about from a desire to treat her own adult acne. She explained that while enrolled in a medical aesthetics course, she would come home after class and try what she had learned on herself, and eventually started to see results... results she wanted to share with others.

“I said, well, I’m not going to stop here I’m going to keep learning, I’m going to keep reading, and I became almost obsessed with the idea that I could help myself and then in turn help other people with their skin problems. Eventually I completely cleared my skin up and I was just so blown away with my results, and I just knew I could help other people,” she added.

The skin care expert added, “I did my research, I found a lab and I got to work. I started talking with the chemist and I told him exactly what I wanted to do, what I wanted to achieve, and a couple years later we have Glo Skin Care Products – products I am finally a hundred per cent confident in recommending to my clients.” (JRT)

Governor General of New Zealand, Her Excellency The Rt. Hon. Dame Patsy Reddy, and her husband Sir David Gascoigne, paid an official visit to Government House yesterday, to meet with Governor General of Barbados, His Excellency Sir Elliott Belgrave.

Her Excellency Dame Patsy Reddy and her husband were accompanied by New Zealand High Commissioner to Barbados, Her Excellency Jan Henderson; Aide-de-Camp to the Governor General of New Zealand, Lt. Holly Swallow; Private Secretary to the New Zealand Governor General, Gregory Baughen; and Second Secretary to the New Zealand High Commissioner, Rachel Pringle.

After greeting the Governor General of New Zealand and her official party, Sir Elliott engaged Dame Patsy in light conversation, after which they exchanged gifts and then posed for photographs.

Having arrived in Barbados on Sunday May 14th, New Zealand’s Governor General is currently scheduled to leave Barbados today, Tuesday, May 16th. However, as part of her official duties here, Dame Patsy was treated to a tour of Kensington Oval, where she met with the Barbados Cricket Association. Dame Patsy was also scheduled to attend a reception at the Barbados Hilton Hotel, with Barbadians who have previously studied in New Zealand, members of the diplomatic corps and other specially invited guests.

Dame Patsy Reddy, a lawyer, was sworn in as New Zealand’s 21st Governor General in a colourful, public ceremony at Parliament, on September 28th, 2016, for a five year term. She is said to be the third woman to take on the role. (RSM)

Local internal auditors continue to face the challenge of some organisations within which they work, not knowing or appreciating the role they play.

That’s according to Eric Small, President of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Barbados Chapter. He made the comments while speaking to the media on the sidelines of the IIA’s Awareness Month Breakfast Seminar, which was held at the Accra Beach Hotel.

“As internal auditors I see ourselves as the conscience of the organisation, that little voice that tells you, you are going a little bit off track and this is what you have to do to get back on track. Our remit is to help persons improve controls to the point that they can then achieve their organisational objectives,” he said.

Small added, “In the last few minutes of the session just now, the presenter was speaking to if you have an audit team and who do you report to. If you report to a financial controller and you are trying to identify issues that the financial controller might be doing, you would tend to get quieted.”

He made the point while noting that occasionally, internal auditors have lost their positions for “standing up”, and employing the ethical best practice. With that in mind, he said it is important that persons are educated as to what the role and responsibility of the internal auditor is supposed to be.

“If we can do that, we can help organisations to better themselves and by doing that we strengthen the nation as a whole because then we have strong, effective organisations that are profitable,” the president stated.

He maintained that if internal auditors are allowed to do their jobs, and the information is passed on to the relevant authorities within the company and they act on it, then there can be significant improvement in businesses across the country.

Meanwhile, Secretary of the Association, Krystle Howell, added that within a company, the internal auditor also acts as an advisor to help a company get ahead of the curve and makes sure that there are no risks to the controls that are in place, to meet the company’s objectives.

“You need to look at the benefits. It is not just another person there to tell you what’s going wrong or to come in. We are changing the mindset that we are like the police; we are trying to get persons to come out there and see us as persons who can help you, especially before persons on the external side, like FSC [Financial Service Commission], comes in and finds all the deficiencies within your organisation. See us as persons who help you to get things cleaned up before somebody else, who can inflict fines and penalties on you, finds them first,” she said.

Howell explained that a company’s failure to comply with certain legislation and regulations could result in fines as high as $500 000. But if they can make sure that all the I’s are dotted and T’s crossed, they can help the organisation save a lot of money.

“Think of us as preventative care, [like] when you go to the dentist,” she added. (JRT)

Winning gold is plan number one for the Barbados Horticultural Society (BHS) over the coming days, when they participate in the 2017 Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show.

This event will come off in England from May 23rd to 27th. Barbados has participated in this Show for the past 30 years, and during that period has won 18 golds medals, 10 silver guilts and two silver medals.

Shirley Anne Howell, Co-ordinator of the local exhibit for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, said the BHS will be aiming to obtain another gold this year.

“Every year we hope to capture the much sought after gold, and we shall do our best to win another gold this year.”

She added that the BHS’s participation in the event “has benefited Barbados.

“It has helped to put Barbados on the map… Our exhibit is always surrounded, sometimes four and five deep people looking at our exhibit, and they all say this must be Barbados. Always well received.”

Howell was speaking to The Barbados Advocate yesterday at the BHS headquarters, where packing and preparation for the Flower Show was ongoing. She pointed out that the drought experienced locally has had an impact on the flowers acquired. However, despite this, she said they have gotten some lovely plants, and she thanked everyone who has provided the BHS with flowers and foliage.

On this occasion, the BHS exhibit will carry the theme ‘Barbados, This Is How We Live’. It will feature beautiful gardens in front of three different types of local dwelling places. The images of the dwellings are paintings created by local artists Shanika Grimes, Hilary Armstrong and Barbara Delmas. Their work depicts a luxury villa, a plantation great house and a typical chattel house. (MG)

The Barbados Bar Association is not happy about one of their members being verbally attacked by a Government Minister for acting within his right as a citizen in going to the Law Courts to question the ruling Democratic Labour Party’s approval of the multi-million Hyatt Hotel.

In a press statement, the Association expressed its concern over recent statements issued by a Minister of Government who labelled social activist David Comissiong, an Attorney-at-law, as an “enemy of the state” for seeking judicial review of Government’s decision to approve the construction of the 15 storey hotel at Lower Bay Street, The City.

The statement said that “enemy of the state” is normally a term reserved for a country, government, group or person that has been engaged in hostilities or treasonous acts against the State and is not a term to be used lightly.

“The unjustified use of such a term may be seen as an unprovoked attack on the civil liberties of the individual which have been jealously guarded and preserved by successive governments in Barbados as well as by our Judicial System. By its nature, it is an aggressive statement intended to offend or alienate the person or group to whom it refers,” the statement said.

The statement also read that the right of a citizen of Barbados to seek Judicial Review of administrative decisions or actions of public officials is a lynchpin of the justice system and is necessary for the protection of “our democracy and the rights of the individual enshrined in our Constitution”.

The Bar Association contended that the system of judicial review affords a necessary check and balance to prevent abuses by the State and to protect citizens against improper decisions by those in authority where the law provides no other practical or realistic remedy.

“It is an option which can be exercised by any concerned citizen acting in his own interest or in the interest of a class of persons,” the statement said.

The release further went on to state that those in authority need never fear the process of judicial review since any lawful and proper decision of a public official can be vindicated through the same inter partes process in the Law Courts.

The Association is also of the opinion that invariably, it is only through the due process of the law and the full ventilation of a matter before the Law Courts that the rights of the individual can be and are protected or the actions and or decisions of public officials legitimised.

“Judicial Review is a remedy which should be welcomed by any progressive democracy as an avenue to protect the rights of individuals or citizens generally. In the premises, the comments of the Minister are ill advised, untimely and unfortunate and portrayed Mr Comissiong, a citizen of Barbados and a member of the Barbados Bar Association, in an unflattering and undeserved light for exercising his fundamental legal right through the Law Courts to ensure that transparency, accountability and due process are observed in respect of important governmental affairs,” the release stated.

Just last week, though stating that he would not be discouraged by the verbal attacks and intended on following through with the Judicial Review, Comissiong said he was disappointed that various sectors and groups across the country did not defend him. (AH)

One of the goals that the Government of Barbados has set out for the tourism sector is to make this island attractive to visitors year-round.

This is according to Tourism Consultant and Public Relations Expert in the sector, Hugh Foster who spoke at a tourism development seminar recently at Sandals Barbados.

He said that from the early 1970’s onwards there was always an issue in the tourism industry where this island saw an increase in arrivals during the winter months, but a decrease in arrivals during the summer months and this is a scenario which still holds true today.

“In the 1973 to 1977 development plan, it was stated that a major problem that confronts the tourist industry is the serious nature of its’ operations demonstrated by its concentration of arrivals – 40 per cent in the winter season – mid-December to mid-April and the slackening of demand during the summer months – mid-April to mid-December – 60 per cent which generates adverse effects on income and employment. (There has been) not much change there (as) this still holds true (today).”

However, the Government of Barbados is working on seeing that they get visitors coming to this island throughout the year. In fact, the summer months are when the real action happens in Barbados regardless of what a tourist’s interest is and they are going to use this as a tool to attract more visitors to this island during these months, said Foster.

“Government however, is always working steadfastly to balance these realities and promote Barbados as a year-round desirable destination. Summer is the period when the niches example sports, meetings, incentives, conferences, events, festivals, weddings and honeymoons come to the fore to bolster traffic.”

The new hotel that is currently being constructed at what was once the Sam Lords Castle is another initiative aimed at generating summer traffic.

“The Wyndum Grand which is currently under construction at Sam Lords Castle is an international brand that generates summer business, a key reason (that the) Government has partnered with them.”

The next major period of growth in tourist arrivals in Barbados was in 1987 when we received our 400,000th visitor. Long stay arrivals rose by just over 14 per cent and cruise ship arrivals by 57.4 per cent in that year, he said.

“Returning to history, the next major leap in arrivals was in 1987 when we cracked the 400,000 arrivals ceiling. I was among the welcome party at the airport to fete the 400,000th long stay guest and share our thanks to them for choosing BIM. That year our long stay visitors rose by a large 14.1 per cent and cruise ship passengers were up a massive 57.4 per cent.”

It would then take a little more than one decade before Barbados experienced that kind of major arrivals again and this was in 2015 followed by 2016 when we had two really good years in terms of visitor arrivals.

“There was talk in those days of a cycle (of) three good years followed by two bad years. Barbados was in fruitful years then and so was the world economy. As our base numbers grew however, our increases moderated and it took another 12 years before we reached 500,000 arrivals in 1998 and until last year, 2016 before we achieved the 600,000 long stay arrivals threshold to 631,513 making 2015 and 2016 the biggest years ever in the history of the Barbados brand, two record years in a row.” (PJT)

It is predicted that there would be a five per cent growth in visitor arrivals to Barbados for 2017.

This is coming from Tourism Consultant and Public Relations Expert for the industry, Hugh Foster who delivered remarks recently at a tourism development workshop at Sandals Barbados.

He said that they hope to achieve this with an expanded airlift and increased marketing efforts via the various media forms which showcase this island as offering something special apart from its competitors.

“Government predicts a five per cent growth this year and with expanded airlift and intensified marketing underway we are quietly confident of getting there. The future looks bright. We intend to strengthen the Barbados brand in the face of fierce competition. For example, we introduced brand guidelines and a new brand video was developed along with a new promotional video to assist selling efforts to our partners. This helps in consolidating the messaging around factors that differentiate Barbados from its competitors.”

In addition, the administration has specific plans for each of this island’s major source markets for visitors. In the U.K., they plan to offer more airlift while in the USA, they would be focusing on the MICE factor as well as attracting the Diaspora.

“Allow me to leave with you a selection of the array of initiatives underway to promote the brand Barbados. In the U.K. which represents 35 per cent of our market share we anticipate more airlift from key gateways. In the USA, we are focusing inter alia on the MICE – the meetings, incentives, conferences, event markets and the Diaspora. The USA is our fastest growing market.”

Meanwhile, in Canada, they would be revitalizing their ‘Barbados on the Waterfront’ campaign as well as attempting to attract leisure travelers. Increased airlift would also be the focus for continental Europe and leisure travel for tourists from the neighbouring islands and Latin America.

“In Canada, we are re-starting the highly successful ‘Barbados on the Waterfront’ campaign after a five year hiatus while intensifying efforts to woo leisure travelers, sports and events travelers and the Diaspora. In continental Europe, this market has been growing steadily and with major new airlift from Air France, it is expected to perform better. In the Caribbean and Latin America, visitors continue to respond to the Barbados brand and are travelling here for leisure, sports and business,” said Foster.

A significant effort would also be placed on intensifying the promotion of sports since this year has been dedicated towards that area, he said.

“This year, the Barbados brand is dubbed the ‘Year of Sports’ and a huge effort is underway to maximize arrivals through [various] disciplines.”

There has not been enough investment in terms of information technology (IT) in the area of internal auditing.

That’s according to Carolyn Bell-Wisdom, Partner, Risk Assurance Service at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Jamaica. She spoke to the lack of this investment as she delivered a presentation on the topic, ‘Internal Audit Sourcing: A Value Driver to Audit Committees and Chief Audit Executives’, at PwC’s ‘Better Risk Management, Better Business Performance Seminar’, which took place yesterday at the Radisson Aquatica.

The PwC partner made the point while noting that IT has made the world small, such that people do not need to be in a physical location to access services from another jurisdiction, and so, she said companies cannot afford to operate inefficiently and must embrace the technology in the internal audit function.

“Business is now driven by IT and of course you have lots of threats in the area of IT, so that is an area that certainly internal audit functions would certainly need to step up in order to help the business,” she said.

Her comments came as she noted that in addition to the independence, objectivity and assurance that internal auditing brings to an organisation, there is also a consulting and value-added role that it is supposed to play, of which she contended more persons need to be aware.

“Many, many years ago, especially if you were a member of the audit committee, the primary function that you had in those days was to ensure that the annual financial statements were OK; you had to sign off on that, you had responsibility for the relationship with the external audit providers. But what we have found in many of the jurisdictions, and I believe it would apply here as well, there is an expanded role, expanded responsibility for the audit committee members,” she said.

Bell-Wisdom explained that in addition to the annual financial statements, the audit committee members are also required to sign off on all other financial reports. Likewise, she said, the audit committee has an expanded role as it relates to risks, and she noted that in many jurisdictions those responsibilities are set out in law.

“So if you don’t do what you’re supposed to do and something goes wrong … you could end up in jail,” she stated.

With that in mind, she told those gathered that in respect of ensuring better risk management, it is important that the internal audit function acts as the final line of defence.

“Internal audit needs to be strong function as your last line of defence and if you have challenges with finding the right talent to get it to where you need it to be, co-sourcing or sourcing may be an option you can look at,” she added. (JRT)

DESPITE solid evidence indicating taxation is the best approach as a public health tool to address the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the Caribbean, not enough countries are implementing this strategy.

This observation from Sub-regional Programme Co-ordinator, Caribbean PAHO/WHO, Jessie Schutt-Aine, who was addressing the opening ceremony of the two-day Caribbean Subregional Workshop on Alcohol, Tobacco and Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) Taxation, taking place at the Accra Beach Hotel.

The purpose of the workshop is to find cost-effective public health measures for the prevention and control of NCDs in the Caribbean.

Similar sentiments were expressed by PAHO/WHO representative, Beryl Irons, who also addressed the two-day workshop. According to Irons, “Higher tobacco taxes are a central element of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control while alcohol pricing policies, including taxation, are one of the recommended policy areas put forward in the WHO Global Strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol.”

She also noted that the PAHO Plan of Action for the Prevention of Obesity in children and adolescents includes fiscal policies to reduce children and adolescents’ consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.

“Taxation can serve the dual goals of reducing consumption of products such as tobacco, alcohol and SSBs, by raising their prices relative to other goods and services; and generating additional revenue, which could be used for improving population’s health. Government should ensure that the additional revenue is really used for health and not be just a part of the consolidation fund.”

She lamented however that despite the potential impact and the clear mandate at the global, regional and subregional levels, the use of excise taxation as a public health measure in the Caribbean continues to be limited.

“Therefore, this workshop convened by PAHO aims to position taxation of alcohol, tobacco and SSBs as a cost-effective public health intervention for NCD prevention and control, and support national efforts to meet the mandates and commitments that countries have made,” she said.

The workshop, the first of its kind, has brought together representatives from Ministries of Health, Finance, trade officials and academia to discuss this important topic.

Schutt-Aine explained that multi-stakeholder actions are key to addressing NCDs and creating an enabling environment for health and wellness across the Caribbean as stressed in the CARICOM Strategic Plan 2015-2019, and also in the recently endorsed Caribbean Co-operation in Health.

She said it is hoped that the meeting will help to develop an approach that will be expanded to other subregions in the Americas. (JH)

The St James Parish Independence Committee (PIC) continued the ‘Planting Pride’ initiative at St James Primary School, yesterday.

Students joined the 2017 Parish Ambassadors Camara Babb and Christopher Nelson for the planting of a West Indian Cherry Tree, donated by the Soil Conservation Unit.

St Silas Primary and St James Secondary schools have already received fruit trees within the parish, revealed St James PIC Attendant, Romel Bishop.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the tree planting ceremony, he also disclosed that this year, the St James PIC will continue to push its Junior Ambassador Programme for primary and secondary school students within that parish.

The programme is designed to create a strong and lasting sense of community commitment, nationalism among children, and expose them to the parish.

Bishop said that there are currently seeking to get students from St James Primary involved in the programme, as St Albans Primary and St James Secondary are already participating.

“In fact, we are looking to grow the programme significantly, even to a national level. Then we will have more young people interested in the Parish Ambassador Programme from a very young age…”

Parish activities continue on Saturday, May 20th with a Cricket Match at Orange Hill, and a Talent Show on June 17th at the Learning Centre.

St James 2017 Parish Project is entitled “P I E C E S – a part of something greater”.

The goal of this project is to strengthen the St. James community through the collaborative exchange of education, information, training, skills and talents. (TL)

A noticeably satisfied Mary Redman, president of the Barbados Secondary Teachers Union (BSTU) reported that they finally received notice of grievance procedures.

Redman’s comments came as she addressed the media after a meeting that was held at Solidarity House yesterday evening. Following the near four hour meeting she expressed that they did not get to deal with all the issues that they set out to discuss due to the packed agenda.

“After eight months we are actually going to get that grievance procedure,” she said.

She added that since the grievance took so long to happen, another cancellation would “really be incurring the wrath of membership since the meeting should take place on the 23rd [of May].” This procedure will address what the Union termed as “the unfair dismissal” of a teacher that previously taught at the St. Michael’s Secondary School a few months ago.

“We have gotten the grievance procedure that we needed to get and we are of the belief that common sense, decency, caring and empathy will prevail and we will be able to address the other two matters at the level at which they have been taken up to,” she said.

She explained that yesterday’s meeting was to update the members on the status of the three cases of unfair dismissal. In the instance regarding the lab technician who was unfairly dismissed at the Combermere Secondary School, Redman noted that a letter was sent to the Chief Labour Officer in an effort to resolve the matter.

In the case involving a teacher from the Learning Centre, she noted that a letter was sent off to the Ministry of Labour in an attempt to get her to intervene on the matter. Redman noted that their efforts to resolve the matter at the level of the school did not work which is why they went to the Ministry of Labour.

She said that in regard to the cases surrounding the lab technician and the teacher from the Learning Centre, they were ensuring they followed procedure as there are different sets of legislative procedures that need to be adhered to since the lab technician was not classed as a teacher and the teacher from the Learning Centre taught at a private school.

Following reports coming from teachers of the Combermere School, the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) plans to pay closer attention to that institution.

So says Mary-Ann Redman, President of the BSTU, following a meeting at Solidarity House yesterday evening.

“Some distressing facts were revealed today and therefore we would have to give Combermere some serious attention in the next couple of days,” she said.

Redman noted that some of the members of the union were only just hearing some of the information regarding the matter involving a student and a magazine, and based on what was said today, there is a “high level of concern”.

“What I heard today was very disturbing to me and the general membership, and that is why the union now has to seriously investigate and understand really what is happening for the protection of both the teachers and the students involved,” she said.

The President went on to say that during yesterday’s meeting, they also looked at strategising in terms of whether or not their salaries would be docked following a march they took part in recently, and what avenues were opened to them as well as the best course of action.

IN an attempt to put a dent in childhood obesity statistics in Barbados, some firm measures are being contemplated by the Ministry of Health.

Word of this comes from Health Minister John Boyce, who says this could include imposing a ban on unhealthy drinks in the nation’s schools, against the backdrop of rising level of obesity in the school population.

He was at the time addressing the Caribbean Subregional Workshop on Alcohol, Tobacco and Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Taxation at the Accra Beach Hotel yesterday morning.

According to the Minister, “The WHO Global School Health Survey (GSHS) 2012 in Barbados indicated the prevalence of overweight and obesity to be 31.5 per cent and 14.4 per cent respectively. Girls were at a slightly higher rate of overweight and obesity when compared to boys. The survey also indicated that levels of physical activity and exercise and consumption of healthy diets were consistently low.”

It is for this reason, the Minister revealed, that his Ministry is currently preparing a set of policy options to address the marketing of unhealthy foods to children while they are at school.

“Consideration would be given to a ban on the sale and/or promotion of sugar-sweetened beverages on the premises of schools. These measures are to be considered by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on NCDs and subsequently, the full Cabinet of Barbados.”

The Minister lamented that even though public health practitioners and other entities have been warning against the dangers of unhealthy lifestyle practices, and while education is still an important component in the strategy, officials are not convinced it is enough to bring about behavioural change.

He stressed that a multi-sectoral approach will be needed to tackle these problems, adding that taxation would not be a “magic bullet”.

While highlighting the worrying numbers in the Caribbean, particularly as it relates to premature death, Minister Boyce told the participants of the workshop that while the evaluation of the Barbados experience with the tax on sugar-sweetened beverages is still ongoing, he believes that the imposition of such a tax sends a strong signal to the population and to the world of the island’s willingness to take action to address the root causes of the obesity problem.

He acknowledged that such measures will always meet a degree of opposition from some quarters.

“However, as a Government, our role is to protect the health and well-being of citizens. Therefore, we must use whatever legal and policy measures are at our disposal to make it easier for people to choose a healthy snack, to eat in a smoke-free environment in a restaurant or for our children to have access to healthy meals in and around schools,” he said.

The Minister told the participants of the workshop that it is hoped that the meetings will include greater use of policy and legislative measures in response to the NCD crisis.

“I am confident that you will be able to provide guidance that will help your governments to be creative and decisive in their decision-making,” he said. (JH)

Concerted efforts are underway to revitalise the coconut sector within the Caribbean.

According to Executive Director of the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), Barton Clarke, once successful, the region would be able to take advantage of the growing global demand for fresh coconut, coconut based by-products and value added products. He added that while the challenges may appear daunting, the opportunities for the coconut industry are limitless, and it is imperative that all stakeholders – producers, processors, government and the private sector among others, work together to get the sector going again, so it can become competitive and sustainable.

Addressing those attending the Barbados Coconut Stakeholders Forum, put on yesterday at the Savannah Hotel by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Barbados Society of Technologists in Agriculture and CARDI, he referred to a report by a United Kingdom based food and drink consultancy group, which indicated that the overall alternative water market had grown by 21 per cent in 2016 to a value of $2.7 billion and projected that the figure will double in size, reaching $5.4 billion by 2020. He noted that coconut water dominates that sector, accounting last year for 96 per cent of volume and 86 per cent of value. His comments came as he pointed out that coconut water is but one by-product of coconut that the region can capitalise on, among the others are coconut milk, coconut sugar and coconut oil.

With that in mind, he said CARDI is leading the charge to revitalise the sector, and together with the International Trade Centre (ITC), has started the Coconut Industry Development for the Caribbean Project, with funding from the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) to the tune of 3.5 million euros. Clarke revealed that the four-year project is going well, and has in fact been given additional 500 000 euros. Additionally, he said just this week he received word that two more countries, Barbados and Antigua, will be included in the project, which is now being executed in 11 CARIFORUM nations.

“We, under this project, are responsible for increasing the production and volumes of the right quality of coconuts, and improving the risk planning and access to risk management tools for small producers with particular reference to pests and diseases. Whilst the ITC is improving the co-ordination and co-operation across the region and improving access to advisory services and finance,” he said.

To date, he added, they have completed the value chain mapping of the coconut industry and are now mapping out strategies for the way forward. As he reflected on Barbados joining the project, he said that as steps are made to develop the sector here, it is imperative that surveillance systems are established to safeguard the sector against pests. He made the point while using the example of the sweet potato sector in Trinidad, which was affected by weevils, because their surveillance systems at the ports of entry and farms lapsed.

“So if you decide that coconuts are important to you then you need to put the mechanism in place to ensure that we don’t have a repeat of that particular example,” he said. (JRT)