When police officers stopped a man travelling along Dalkeith Hill, St Michael yesterday for not wearing a seat belt, he told them his name was Omar Phillips.

He also gave his address as Windward Gardens, St Philip.

And when asked for identification, the man said he had none with him at the time.

However, police later discovered that he was actually 24-year-old Daniel Oneal Weekes from Culloden Road, St Michael.

Weekes pleaded guilty to not wearing a seat belt and to giving police a false name and address.

Asked by Acting Magistrate Alliston Seale why he had done such a “stupid thing” as lying to police, Weekes replied: “When I see the officer I got afraid, Sir.”

“Afraid what! You thief something?” the magistrate replied.

Seale said legislators had implemented the seat belt laws to protect people and had he given police the right information, he may have escaped with a fine or a warning.

Instead, the magistrate said, he was at court facing two charges.

Weekes agreed that his actions did not make sense.

He was convicted, reprimanded and discharged on the seat belt offence but was ordered to pay a $250 fine for giving false information.

“I don’t like people lying to the police,” Seale said as he sentenced Weekes.

The Freundel Stuart administration is in a position to start construction on its proposed state-of-the-art multi-purpose sugar facility at Andrews in St Joseph this year, after months of doubt and controversy surrounding the project.

The Inter-Sugar Partnership (ISP) today announced it had signed an agreement with Government that not only opens the way for Barbados to borrow US$250 million from the US-based National Standards Finance (NSF) to fund the Cane Industry Restructuring Project (CIRP), but also to begin building the facility.

Under the arrangement, construction would begin no later than September in order for it to be completed in time for the 2017 sugar crop.

More than 300 people are expected to work on the project that would provide additional long-term employment for traditional seasonal workers.

The agreement calls for a facility which would generate 25 megawatts of green electricity annually, and the further potential use of 60 megawatts of waste heat from electricity generation.

In a statement issued today, the ISP explained that would make the multi-purpose factory self-sufficient and allow it to generate an additional 22 megawatts that would provide power to a large number of Barbadian households and businesses, thereby reducing the island’s dependency on oil imports.

New farm equipment would also be introduced under the arrangement, as well as training for field staff and increased global marketing of Barbados’ sugar cane industry.

Once completed, the multi-purpose factory will manufacture raw brown sugar for domestic consumption, produce and refine premium specialty sugars for sale to niche markets, increase output of molasses for the Barbados rum industry, and generate 25 megawatts of green electricity fuelled by cane bagasse and sustainable locally produced biomass.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding partners the Barbados Cane Industry Corporation – set up in 2007 by Government to promote the project – with ISP and its partners.

The ISP statement said the agreement represented the final hurdle to proceeding with the project and it would now recommence advanced discussions with international financial institutions to secure the funding for the venture.

Minister of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resources Management Dr David Estwick said the project would have “a positive impact on the island in many ways”.

“Not only will it create jobs and value through both the construction and operating of the factory, it will also result in welcomed cost savings for the Government and the country as a whole,” he said.

The minister said the project would enable the island to rebuild a proud and historic industry while providing a multitude of financial benefits to the economy.

Director of ISP Edward Marston added: “We are delighted to have signed this agreement and look forward to playing a vital and long-term role in the economic, environmental and social development of Barbados by enabling the island to reclaim its reputation as one of the leading producers of premium sugar products in the world.”

The future of the CIRP was thrown into doubt late last year when the original investors pulled out over concerns about Barbados’ credit rating. On the heels of that development, Estwick and Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler were at odds over funding for the project, with the Agriculture Minister going as far as writing to Prime MInister Stuart asking him to reprimand his colleague for presenting inaccurate information on the project to Cabinet.

Two members of the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) top brass have said a firm “no” to allowing people with dreadlocks and nontraditional hairstyles into the law enforcement agency.

Acting Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith and Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Eucklyn Thompson gave the thumbs down to the recommendation during today’s launch of the Customer Satisfaction Survey that gave mixed reviews of lawmen.

Acting Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith (right) and Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Eucklyn Thompson.

In addition to the public’s suggestions about officers’ dress and deportment, the Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit in the Office of the Attorney General found that people highly favour the police force and have confidence in its ability to prevent crime.

The suggestion for the force to “accept locks and other different styles among police officers” was among the wide-ranging ideas put forward by those interviewed in the survey.

But rebuffing the proposal, Griffith said while he had no issues with different hairstyles, the RBPF had to operate as a disciplined organization.

“If there’s a Ras Iley who comes to join the force tomorrow with his locks sweeping the ground, should we have him in the organization? . . .

“The difficulty with entertaining some of these exotic hairstyles is that it is taken too far, way too far. If you allow the style, then it means that you have to accommodate the fact that they’re not going to wear the headdress. And we’ve had some difficulties with that already, people not wanting to wear their headdress,” the police chief insisted.

Meantime, Thompson said the recommendation should not sway lawmen.

”Our members [should] not be caught up in the views of the public to the point where they want to conform to the public’s views . . . You must stand up to the principles and ideals of the force,” he said during the question and answer segment of the survey launch.

Another recommendation was for the police uniform to be changed to better suit the Caribbean climate, and for lawmen to begin wearing shoes that are more suitable for pursuing suspects.

Acting Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith

While he was clear in his opposition to any move to change the uniform, citing the history involved, Commissioner Griffith disclosed that consideration was being given to having a different uniform for police officers who work on beaches.

“We recognize that working on the beach [requires] a much more flexible type of uniform. So that’s on the cards,” he said.

Among the findings of the survey, the police were rated highest on professional appearance with some 82 per cent of those interviewed describing it as good.

The Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit, in its report, found that 61 per cent of the 1781 adults interviewed over a three-week period in 2013 said they had a high level of respect for the RBPF.

However, many of the interviewees complained about poor customer service, trustworthiness, aggressiveness and the force used by members of the Special Services Unit and Criminal Investigations Department in carrying out investigations and conducting search warrants.

Senior research officer in the unit, Kim Ramsay who presented the findings during a ceremony at the District “A” Police Station, cautioned that a police force that has high levels of complaints about its members runs the risk of losing the respect of the public.

“The public believes that the police use excessive force in extracting confessions and also targeted certain sections of the community when conducting warrants. The long awaited video recordings of interviews need to be implemented as a matter of urgency.

“Police working conditions also need to be improved. Government may consider loans or funding from international organizations to assist in the rehabilitation of police stations. There’s also the need for an increase in vehicles,” she said.

Ramsay also recommended an independent body to investigate complaints about policemen, similar to an internal affairs department.

“There needs to be a revision of the qualifications and remuneration to join the RBPF. Recruitment to the RBPF should be more attractive and there should be more consideration of perks and increase in pay for policemen to join. The RBPF should also consider recruitment of persons who are not policemen to work in specialized areas,” the unit spokesperson said.In addition, she noted there were complaints about political interference in the running of the force.

Speaking directly following the presentation of the force, Commissioner Griffith sought to boost the morale of the force, saying the report generally painted a picture of “a job well done.”

“We should be proud of our performance as an organization. Our job is often very confrontational and so I believe that that in itself would result in a not as favourable rating as in other professions. But, generally speaking, you have to say that the results speak well of the Royal Barbados Police Force and probably stands out as the most outstanding force in the region. So, we should take some kudos for that,” he said to loud applause from the lawmen present.

“I am sure that when we further analyze the contents of this survey and go back to the drawing board the force would be even better off as an organization. We are already aware there is quite a bit of room for improvement and so, the next time around.”

carolwilliams@barbadostoday.bb

A potential candidate for the presidency of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) has suggested that the commitment of some people to political parties rather than trade unions is “killing” the movement in Barbados.

Danny Gill, who is expected to contest the April 1 election, leveled the charge as he contended that workers had lost interest in the movement because they did not see them as effective.

In an interview with Barbados TODAY, he disclosed that some union members did not agree with the NUPW-organized protest march in support of retrenched National Conservation Commission (NCC) workers because of their association with the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Government.

Danny Gill

“There were some members who did not think that the union should embarrass the Freundel Stuart administration. Paramountcy of the party and not paramountcy of the trade unions is killing the movement in Barbados,” said the NUPW national council member.

“We have a situation where members of the unions are seeing unions as places where persons from the ruling Democratic Labour Party can worm themselves into positions of power. They are not about representing the workers, but about party. This became crystal clear during the retrenchment process when workers were complaining about it.”

Gill further charged that all the island’s major unions were losing members because workers believe they are “not doing anything” for them.

“Trade unionism in Barbados is at the crossroads and something needs to be done. This is why I am involved in the movement,” he declared.

Barbados TODAY understands that in addition to Gill, first vice-president Akanni McDowall, second vice-president Margo Bannister, and Ronnie Greaves-Thorpe will throw their hat into the ring for the post of president.

An elderly couple is Barbados’ newest super millionaires.

Elmer Jordan and his wife Joycelyn this morning collected a whopping 5.45 million dollars after winning the super lotto jackpot.

Mr. Jordan who has been playing for years with the same numbers insisted he was still the same man although now a millionaire. The two retiree have clear plans for their winnings.

Leroy Alfred Harris used to work for Elvonda Edghill but when he went to her home on February 17, his intention was to steal.

For breaking into the house and stealing tuna, dishwashing liquid, stain remover, liquid soap and a Playstation, the 39-year-old unemployed man will have to spend 18 months in prison.

Acting Magistrate Alliston Seale imposed the sentence on the Bartlett’s Tenantry, Sergeant’s Village, Christ Church resident after taking his guilty plea into account.Acting Station Sergeant Junior Kirton told the court that Harris used to work around Edghill’s property but she had stopped him from doing so.

Referring to Harris’ conviction card and noting that he had already stolen nine of them and broken into six homes, Seale said: “You seem to be a compulsive burglar . . . and it seems you have an affinity for CBC antennae.”

“I don’t like people breaking into people’s houses,” the magistrate added, noting that in this particular case it was “a serious betrayal of trust”, especially since Edghill had given him work.

Harris told the court he had nothing to say on his own behalf.

 The 34-year-old pedestrian who was struck by a car earlier this week has died.

Police said Jamie Kenroy Selman of St Barnabas, St Michael passed away last night at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he was being treated for injuries sustained in an accident that occurred on Monday around 9:45 a.m.

Selman was hit by a car driven by St James resident Grenville Belgrave on Two Mile Hill Road, near Chapel Gap, St Michael.

Police investigations are continuing.

A third man has been charged with the December 7, 2014 murder of Albert Boyce.

Jamar Jamal Greaves, 28, of Grape Hall, St Lucy is expected to appear in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court tomorrow to face the charge.

He is also accused of two other offences.

They are unlawful possession of a firearm and robbery.

Earlier this week, two St Michael men – Romario Akeem Phillips, 22, of 10th Avenue, New Orleans and Nicholas Akeem Tio Shorey, 23, of 3rd Avenue, Parris Gap – were remanded to prison after appearing in court charged with killing Boyce.

The 21-year-old died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after being shot in Lower President Kennedy Drive, St Michael, after attending the Hennessey Artistry show at the nearby Kensington Oval.

The Barbados Investors and Policyholders Alliance (BIPA) is warning the Freundel Stuart administration that it will be responsible for devastating the livelihoods of more than 20,000 people if it fails to follow through on a restructuring plan for CLICO by April 17.

BIPA president June Fowler said on that date Deloitte Consulting, the judicial manager for the collapsed insurance company, would be asking the High Court to sanction liquidation when it presents its final recommendations – a move the group plans to fight.

Cabinet approved a restructuring plan since March 27, 2014 but no progress had been made.

Fowler said the only reason liquidation was being pursued by the judicial manager is because of Government’s failure to act on its plan.

June Fowler

“Government has procrastinated and prevaricated for much too long, despite having a clear and viable action plan before them which they have unambiguously approved,” she stressed.

“If they do not bring tangible evidence of that plan being put into action before April 17, CLICO will go into liquidation and Government will be directly responsible for the devastation of the livelihoods of over 20,000 policyholders,” she added, following a BIPA meeting last night at the Hilton Resort, the first since the alliance was appointed by the court earlier this week as official representative of CLICO policyholders.

At that meeting, the policyholders declared a resounding “no” to liquidation.

Chastising Government for not implementing the restructuring plan earlier, Fowler added: “If the Government had taken the action detailed in the Cabinet-approved restructuring plan, we would not be facing the catastrophic consequences of liquidation, which will likely result in less than 20 cents on the dollar for policyholders.”

The BIPA head said despite constant reassurances from the Ministry of Finance and Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler himself that action would be taken on the plan and initial funding would be provided before the end of last year, nothing had materialized.

“Consequently, CLICO ran out of cash and had to cease payment of pensions, ring fence premium payments and proposed liquidation as the only remaining option,” pointed out the policyholders’ spokesperson.

She referred to the Prime Minister’s promise that the policyholders would get back their principal and the Minister Sinckler’s recent remarks that “policyholders would be made whole”.

Fowler also recalled the Finance Minister’s “bold” official statement on December 18, 2014, that “any attempts to place CLICO International Life or its associated companies into liquidation will therefore be premature, unwarranted and unnecessary”.

She concluded by quoting from one of the Prime Minister’s favourite philosophers, Plato.

“He who commits injustice is ever made more wretched than he who suffers it,” Fowler said.

Chief executive officer of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) Dr Dexter James has defended the health facility in the face of allegations by a visiting Canadian couple.

David Taylor, 61, told Barbados TODAY a week ago that his 64-year-old wife went through horror after she broke her leg and sought treatment at the QEH.

A photo of Pamela Taylor (wife of David Taylor) on her recovery bed at North York General Hospital in Toronto.

He said the emergency medical technicians (EMTs) were insensitive to his wife while she was being transported to the hospital, did not have any conversation with them, and little attention was paid to her as she waited for hours in the Accident & Emergency (A&E) Department.

However, James said there was a misconception that once patients showed up at the A&E they were served immediately.

CEO of the QEH Dr Dexter James

“When patients get into the Accident & Emergency Department, this is not a first come first serve basis. This is not a KFC outlet where you queue up and you get . . . first come, first serve. It is not like that. You are seen by a nurse, you are triaged in order of emergency type condition, you are seen in order of life-threatening circumstance,” he stressed.

James admitted, however, that the A&E was a fast paced department where nurses and doctors did not always have the time to engage in social interaction.

“At times they could get very caught up in their work and sometimes they only see the end. It is really patient care and the whole socialization in A&E sometimes is lost,” he said.

He also dismissed the allegation that Mrs Taylor was placed on a broken stretcher in the crowded A&E.

James said the stretchers were lowered but that was done for patient safety.

“It is not true that we have broken down stretchers in the Accident & Emergency Department. That’s an ignorant statement. It is for their own welfare that we place them on these stretchers and lower the stretchers so that they don’t fall and injury themselves any more,” explained the QEH boss.

He also responded to the suggestion that EMTs do not have conversations with patients they transport.

The CEO said: “We have what is called a run sheet that one has to document on it the name of the patient, the condition of the patient and other pertinent information. As a measure of protecting the integrity of the service and the sacredness of the service, we have what is called a black box that tapes the nature of the conversation between the dispatcher and the patient.”

“All you have to tell me is the date that the incident happened, perhaps the location and the name of the patient and we can go back to the black box and listen to the tape to validate whether the claims have been made sometimes are in fact true or not true.”

The chief administrator at Barbados’ lone public hospital is suggesting that authorities may have to consider discontinuing treatment for some terminally ill patients.

Chief executive officer of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) Dr Dexter James said today while such a move posed an ethical dilemma, it was an agonizing reality that the healthcare facility faced frequently.

He raised the controversial issue as he delivered a lecture organized by the University of the West Indies Open Campus on the topic Is Free Health Care Sustainable?

James told the gathering that packed the Grande Salle of the Central Bank that sooner or later, consideration would have to be given to taking brain-dead patients off life support, as one means of reducing spiraling health care costs that were likely to make the provision of services unsustainable.

Chief executive officer of the QEH Dr Dexter James

“The question I want to ask . . . ‘is Barbados ready for a conversation and a debate around futility of care versus rationing?’,” he said, explaining that futility of care was where “medical care cannot provide the patient with the quality of life that is meaningful to the patient” and was determined through assessment by a medical team.

“We agonize every day when our treating physicians would come to us and say, ‘we have a patient on the ward who has a stroke, the prognosis is poor and is occupying the ICU bed and by the way, we have a 35-year-old in the Accident & Emergency Department  . . . with a stroke [and] his condition could improve if he gets ICU support’.

“That is an ethical dilemma that we have to address if we are really serious about fixing some of these systemic problems in the system,” James added.

He said there were cases where the QEH kept patients on life support even though all the indicators pointed to them being brain-dead.Somebody had to make the call on addressing that matter, the hospital CEO insisted.

He acknowledged that there were legal implications to cutting the lifeline of that category of patient.

However, he noted: “If Joseph Fletcher was the CEO of the QEH, he would make decisions based on his understanding of situational ethics that the quality of life was more important than the mere length of life.”

James pointed out that Fletcher, an American professor who founded the theory of situational ethics in the 1960s and served as president of the Euthanasia Society of America, did not accept the cultural traditions that life had absolute value.

He also pointed to the views of one scientist who argued that parents of children with Down Syndrome should not feel guilty about putting those children away, “whether it is putting away in the sense of hidden in a sanitarium or a more responsible lethal sense”.

The hospital’s chief told the audience he had raised those controversial views to demonstrate the thinking with respect to keeping patients alive when there was no real hope of them having a meaningful life.

He said while this was one way of cutting costs, there were also additional options such as greater efficiency in deploying resources, instead of asking for more funds.

James also suggested that doctors should be paid for their outcomes instead of getting compensated in spite of their patients’ outcome.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb    

On both occasions when 21-year-old Jakeel Stephenson Gittens tried to break into a house, vigilant neighbours caught him in the act.

He therefore admitted in court that he loitered on the premises with intent to commit burglary, and damaged two doors in the process, on November 25 last year.

Gittens, who has no fixed place of abode, was sentenced to 18 months for loitering and a further six months for damaging the doors. The terms will run concurrently.

The court heard that Gail Jones-Forde left home but stopped by a neighbour on the way back.

While she was out Gittens went to her house, took a chair from the verandah and a bucket from her garage, which he placed in the chair. He then put the chair under a bedroom window and removed two louvres.

A neighbour looked out and on seeing Gittens, asked him what he was doing. The young man jumped down, grabbed a rake and pretended to be raking leaves but the alert neighbour sent her daughter to call Jones-Forde.

When the homeowner arrived, Gittens was still there and when he was questioned he said he was “cleaning up the place”.

In the second matter, Antoinette Leon-Aboad secured her house before leaving, but Gittens pulled a latch from the verandah wall and proceeded to pry away the panelling from around a door. He also tried to open the locks with the latch but was unsuccessful. He ended up damaging two doors.

A persistent Gittens then removed the insect screen from a window but after he could not get in there either, he went to the back patio and began pulling at a door.That was when the neighbour who lived directly behind Leon-Aboad’s house saw him and called the police.

“That is the importance of a good neighbourhood watch, even if it is not an official one. We should be our brother’s keeper,” Acting Magistrate Seale said.

After perusing Gittens’ conviction card and realizing that he had previously broken into four houses, Seale chastised the young man, telling him of the discomfort he would have created by a break-in.

“You’ve turned that person’s life into one of turmoil . . . You don’t know what that accused person touched so the first thing you have to do is wash everything . . . then sometimes people are never comfortable again,” he said.

“You, at 21, are basically a notorious breaker. How you could be a reputed thief at 21?”

Gittens’ said he “went back too fast”.“I was trying to show off,” he said.

The magistrate responded: “You trying to impress wrong crowd . . . [Stealing] can only impress ignorant people. You have to take a hold of your life . . . you are not too far gone.”

Let the killing of 23-year-old Lamar Carter serve as a wake up call that something must be done to repair a “disintegrating” society.

That was the advice of Reverend Dr Michael Clarke as he delivered a sermon to a packed St Thomas Parish Church, at the funeral service of the Spring Farm, St Thomas resident whose body was found in the back of a car on February 10.

“We are here today because our community continues to fall apart,” he said.

The church leader urged the gathering, as they reflected on the life of the young man who was snatched from the world at a young age under horrific circumstances, to look at the larger picture.He also accused some parents of failing society by not raising their children correctly and declining to introduce them to God and the principles of religion.

“Don’t just let us talk about how wonderful Lamar is or was. Let us remember that Lamar is a part of Barbados, Lamar is a part of a community that is disintegrating,” he said.

“Lamar’s death would be a waste if we don’t stop for a few moments and reflect as a community and to ask God for forgiveness for the ways in which we have not suffered the little children to come to him, the ways in which he have denied them the presence of God.”

Before Reverend Clarke’s sermon, cousin of the deceased Patricia Edwards delivered the eulogy in which she described the former Sharon Primary and Parkinson Memorial School student as a man of very few words.

Patricia Edwards delivering the eulogy.

She said his grandfather who took care of him when he was younger, while his parents were at work, remembered him as a good boy. Edwards said his grandmother Sybil would miss seeing him on Saturdays.

Other family shared fond memories of the young man who earned a living as a mechanic. One sister Tiffany said he tried to dance but really couldn’t; while another sister, Ruth, recalled that her brother never liked to eat as a child and she had to feed him from a saucer.

This loved one was crying out for Lamar as he hung over his casket.

“To his mother Victorene he was ‘Lah muh sweet boy’. Everything was Lah for her. It was Lah who would take her to work, pick her back up. Lah was there for her no matter what she asked, never complaining, always respectful, not only to her she would say, but to his dad and to his grandparents and all the neighbours . . . ,” Edwards said.

His father Andy, who nicknamed him Flash because of his ability to work quickly in the workshop, remembered that Carter was very dependable and reliable in transporting his mother to work and grandmother to and from town where she went to sell on Saturdays.

Edwards told the congregation: “Andy remembers up to Monday, the last day Lamar worked in the workshop, he was given three jobs to do and his dad left him with the work and went out looking for parts. To his amazement, when he reached back Lamar had everything done in a flash, true to his nickname.”

A picture of Lamar being signed by a member of the congregation.

“The work was supposed to continue on Tuesday to work on some other vehicles, but on that fateful Tuesday morning on February 10, [came] the news that shattered the hearts of a family, community and by extension a nation,” added a sad Edwards.

Carter’s body was laid to rest in the churchyard where loved ones struggled to hold back tears, particularly when the casket was lowered into the grave.

A senior member of the island’s largest public sector union believes workers at the lower end of the salary scale should get pay increases and Government should review the process of appointing civil servants.

Danny Gill, a member of the National Union of Public Workers’ (NUPW) National Council, said addressing those two issues would be among his priorities if he wins the race for presidency in the union’s April 1 elections.

In an interview with Barbados TODAY, Gill said while he did not expect all category of Government workers could get salary hikes, those who get lower salaries deserved it. “Government should be able to set aside at least $3 million for this category of worker. Public servants have not had a salary increase since 2009,” he said.

Danny Gill

“Government cannot expect to freeze salaries and pile on the taxes. We should not be surprised at the increase in the level of criminal activity.”

On the issue of appointments, Gill said the emphasis now placed on interviews to make selections was a disadvantage to those who were good workers but who might not be not as articulate.

Arguing that changes to the legislation that dealt with appointments had created some problems, although the authors were seeking to improve the process, he insisted that “the one interview situation is inadequate”.

“You have people who cannot do interviews, yet they are fantastic workers . . . You may be acting in a position for five or six years and you may be well seasoned in the position, but with the current process it only takes one interview for an individual with the requisite qualifications and no experience to secure the job,” he said.

“You can have a situation where you have been acting as an Administrative Officer 1 for five years, a candidate just graduating from university who has never acted as an administrative officer, has never performed the function, but based on one interview that person outtalks you and ends up being appointed in the position.”

Gill, who is a long-serving public officer, lamented that several Government workers who satisfied the stipulations to become appointed were still waiting.

In the wide-ranging interview with Barbados TODAY, the trade unionist also said there was a need to improve working conditions, noting that several public servants were working in “sick buildings”.

“Public servants are crying out about their work environment. We have a lot of workers falling ill. If we slavishly apply the Safety and Health at Work Act, many Government offices would have to be closed,” he contended.

He said the administration therefore needed to be more vigilant about building maintenance.

Hundreds of nursery, primary and secondary school students passed through Queen’s Park today. The occasion was the opening of the highly anticipated Agrofest 2015.

When Barbados TODAY visited, the students, especially the little ones, were all smiles, clearly impressed by the variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, sturdy animals and array of birds at the annual event coordinated by the Barbados Agriculture Society.

A Green Monkey, accompanying a tuk band and Mother Sally, caused some stir among the younger pupils whom he ran after, giving them hugs, and even searching a few book bags. Some of the older students were spotted with their books and pens impressively taking notes.

The Green Monkey trying to take away Lodge School student Sherliza Griffith (centre) from her school friend Sharise Mason.

The pigs will keep grunting and the birds whistling, and the fruits and vegetables will be found tempting as Agrofest, now deemed second only to Crop Over on the island’s calendar of events, attracts expectedly as many as 60,000 patrons this weekend.

This pony was a hit at Agrofest.

Some of the students shared with the Barbados TODAY team why they came to Agrofest on this bright and sunny day.

Ursuline Convent student Ayla Greenidge said she was anxious to view the exhibitions and learn new things.

“Really and certainly I learnt more about sheep and pigs than I have ever known,” Greenidge said.

Her schoolmate Dana Bradshaw indicated that this was her first time at Agrofest. She fully enjoyed the experience and was looking forward to taking home the new pet fish she had bought.

It was also the first time their teacher Gillian Arangnren had attended the event. She said from what she had seen, she should have gone in previous years.

“I find it is very educational for the kids,” Arangnren said.

Toddlers making their way through the park.

It was early in the day, but vendor Natalie Harewood said while teachers were yet stopping by her stall to show the students the variety of what she had to offer, she found that some of the older ones needed a special lesson on the different types of fruits and vegetables, especially those grown locally.

When consultant psychiatrist Dr Beresfod Connell addressed the No. 2 Supreme Court today, his assessment was that there was nothing in Pedro Alfonza Burgess’ profile to suggest that he was “a pathological sexual offender”.

The court heard, however, that he faced several cases of indecent assault.

The Baycroft New Road, Bridge Road, St Michael resident was on remand pending sentencing, but was sent to the hospital to have an assessment done.

In his presentation to the court, Dr Connell said that Burgess had admitted to the drug therapist that he used cannabis from age 19 but did not feel he had a drug problem. The only problem he had was “with jail”, since he wanted to go home, the doctor said.

The therapist therefore determined that Burgess lacked the motivation to deal with his drug problem.

Today, attorney-at-law Andrew Pilgrim QC, apologized for the lack of information and told Dr Connell that Burgess in fact had “more than seven cases of indecent assault”, which had raised his concern about his client’s mental state.

Burgess pleaded guilty last year before Justice Randall Worrell to three of them and the others, which were still at the Magistrates’ Court stage, were also taken into consideration.

Police facts revealed that Burgess rode past several secondary school girls on his bicycle.

He then turned back and either pinched their backsides or squeezed their breasts before riding off.

Given the new information, Dr Connell then recommended that Burgess be seen by the prison psychologist who would then make a determination and contact the Psychiatric Hospital if necessary.

Burgess returns to court on March 20.

The problem plaguing Barbadian egg producers that has resulted in a prolonged shortage of the item could last for another three months.

The Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) said the challenges stemmed from the United States where there also appeared to be a shortage.

Chief executive officer James Paul informed Barbados TODAY that the problem was now resolving itself, but would take a little more time.

James Paul, CEO of the BAS

“I would say that by May producers would have adjusted to the new arrangement in terms of sourcing hatching eggs on the international market and it get back to normal as a result.”

Paul insisted that the situation was a “temporary anomaly”.

“We are trying to build our own capacity in Barbados and this was an anomaly and what we have is a situation where once things get back to normal, we should be able to satisfy the local poultry market as we are accustomed to doing,” he added.

At the same time, he admitted that local producers “fell down” as it related to the supply of eggs, though he said the “peculiarities” on the international scene had caused producers to do advance purchasing, sometimes by as much as six months.

“Where [before] you could order one month and get your eggs in a matter of four weeks or so, that was not the case. You had to do quite a bit of forward bookings, which I think caught a lot of producers off guard. That is something we have to adjust to, however, I think that [this year] we have adjusted and we should see the situation returning to normal as a result,” he said.

The BAS had previously contacted the Jamaica Egg Farmers Association, inquiring about the possibility of supplying an estimated 300,000 eggs.

However, Paul said the BAS had decided not to pursue the matter due to the inability of that Caribbean island to meet the Barbados demand consistently.

President of the Jamaica Egg Farmers Association Roy Baker had told the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper that members could only meet two thirds of the amount requested, based on the short time frame.

Don’t even consider it!

That was the reaction of religious leader and Government Senator Dr David Durant to a suggestion by chief executive officer of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Dr Dexter James that authorities may have to consider discontinuing treatment for some terminally ill patients.

Delivering a lecture yesterday on the topic Is Free Health Care Sustainable? the hospital administrator said it was time to have a serious conversation on the issue, as it could be one way of saving on escalating health care costs.

But Reverend Durant, who heads Restoration Ministries, contended that every family should have the right to see their relative pass away with dignity, and should not have to be taken off life support.

Senator Reverend David Durant

“I think that’s the best the nation can do for someone who lived their life in this island and may [get] terminally ill. Perhaps, they can be healed as well because with God, all things are possible if you only believe. So, at some time that person can be healed and completely restored and taking them off life support is going to negate that possibility from happening,” he told Barbados TODAY.

“I believe that people should, at least, be given that respect and that compassion to leave this earth with dignity rather than being forced by reason of cost. Money is spent elsewhere doing all sorts of things.”

While Anglican Bishop Dr John Holder did not rule out the possibility, he said Barbados should proceed on this issue with caution.

He questioned who would make the determination that measures used to keep a person alive should be stopped.

Bishop Dr John Holder

“If we approach it primarily from the perspective that the person may die anyway, and we are simply prolonging the case knowing that the person is going to die, that is an approach I think that would raise a number of issues because if we hold on to the position that the person should be given care as long as is humanly possible, the question will always arise ‘at what point should we stop that care’?” he said.

Bishop Holder said there was no easy answer to the challenge and it required far more discussion.

“My own position is that there will have to be a discussion and agreement between the medical people and the family because I think that the family should have a say in the process of discontinuing the treatment that would mean the person would die,” he added.

Head of the Barbados Christian Council Monsignor Vincent Blackett was unable to comment as he said he was in the process of preparing to leave the island.

The QEH’s chief administrator came in for some criticism for his suggestion on social media.

James told those gathered for yesterday’s lecture at the Grande Salle of the Central Bank that sooner or later, consideration would have to be given to taking brain-dead patients off life support, as one means of reducing spiraling health care costs that were likely to make the provision of services unsustainable.

“That is an ethical dilemma that we have to address if we are really serious about fixing some of these systemic problems in the system,” he said, noting that there were cases where the QEH kept patients on life support even though all indicators pointed to them being brain-dead.

Posting on Barbados TODAY’s Facebook page, some readers agreed that it was an ethical dilemma and suggested that the decision had to involve family members.

“These are tough decisions that have no wrong or right answers. I suppose inevitably the answer will come down to one of economics,” Santini More wrote.

Tara Inniss-Gibbs contended that “lawmakers should consider how there could be provisions for advanced directives or living wills so that families can make these decisions with the advanced guidance of their loved ones”.

However, there were others who opposed any such discussion or move.

“Only God Almighty has to right to decide when it’s time for someone to die; no one else!” Deighton Mottley said.

David Elcock added: “Seems as though it’s not futility of care that is making this decision but rather one of economics. It is bad when we equate people’s’ lives to money and people lose. How did we get here?”

Robert Holloway questioned whether James had the figures “to prove that this low number of patients is causing such a debt to the Government”, while Sharon Woolley asked how a determination would be made on “who gets the chance of living life longer and who doesn’t”.

carolwilliams@barbadostoday.bb

The next general secretary of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) will come from outside the union.

Barbados TODAY understands that the union’s National Council was last night informed that none of the candidates who appeared before the interviewing panel last week fully met the requirements and the position will therefore be advertised externally.

It is understood that it was also decided that, under the circumstances, Roslyn Smith who was a no-show at last week’s interviews, would continue to act as general secretary for another six months.

Roslyn Smith will continue as acting general secretary for now.

Longstanding trade unionist Delcia Burke has also been confirmed in her position to act as deputy general secretary for another six months.

Delcia Burke is acting as deputy general secretary.

Meanwhile, senior industrial relations officer, Wayne Walrond, who reportedly performed creditably at the interview, has been appointed to act as assistant general secretary of the union. When contacted last night, Smith confirmed that the three acting appointments would run until August and the union would be looking outside for a successor to Dennis Clarke who went into pre-retirement leave last year.

Wayne Walrond is acting as assistant general secretary.

While Smith was a no-show at last week’s interview, Barbados TODAY was informed that Burke, Walrond, and education research officer Richard Greene appeared before the interviewing panel.

That panel included NUPW president Walter Maloney, attorney-at-law Samantha Cummins, former chief personnel officer Frederick Forde, and Sandra Forde.

Meanwhile, Barbados TODAY has learned that Pan-Africanist David Denny, has entered the April 1 race for the presidency of the union, joining Danny Gill, Margo Bannister, Ronnie Greaves Thorpe and Akanni McDowall.

In an interview last week, Danny Gill had questioned the “indecent haste” with which the process of interviewing for a new general secretary of Barbados’ largest public sector union was taking place.

He suggested that the interview process should be delayed until a new executive council was elected.

nevilleclarke@barbadostoday.bb

Justice Randall Worrell today handed down an 18-month suspended sentence to Schimeon Francis who pleaded guilty to causing serious bodily harm.

Hinds died on September 30, 2005 after being stabbed in the stomach with a scissors by Francis who was 15 years old at the time.

“It is up to you to be on your best behaviour,” Worrell told the now 24-year-old.

“Yes Sir, I will,” he replied.

The judge said that even though Francis had resorted to using a weapon, he had taken into consideration that the offender was young at the time, had no previous convictions and had pleaded guilty, thereby saving the court “precious judicial time”.

Worrell also said that Francis’ presentencing report had been favourable and he had undergone “an unwarranted and unprovoked attack”.

Hinds, a 43-year-old mentally-challenged man, had walked up to Francis who was sitting under a tree at the time, and began beating him with a piece of electric wire.

Although Francis did not retaliate in the beginning and tried to protect himself with his hands, he later used a scissors he had to stab Hinds.

Francis was initially charged with manslaughter but the prosecution later reduced the charge to causing serious bodily harm.

Attorney-at-law Desmond Sands, who mitigated on Francis’ behalf last week, had asked the court to consider probation or a suspended sentence.

The lawyer went on to say that Francis had made something of his life by working steadily from the age 16 until now. Members of his community had also described him as quiet and respectful.

Principal Crown Counsel Elwood Watts responded today by saying that he could see “no useful purpose” in jailing Francis, even though he had gone “outside of the boundaries of a person who is defending himself”.