The Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs (MPEA) is advising the public that the National Senior Games (NSG) will resume in 2023.

Minister, Kirk Humphrey, has expressed his regret that it would not be possible to host the senior games this year. “We will be working with the various organisations to ensure the games are held in 2023, and that they will be bigger and better than ever,” he stated.

He added: “It is our hope to invite overseas participants, as well as increase the number of activities and place them in even more communities for the 2023 games.”

The NSG was last held in 2019, just before the COVID19 pandemic. (BGIS)

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The local pleasure cruise sector could be hit by layoffs as operators struggle to recoup millions of dollars in COVID-related business losses over the past two years and maintain staff levels in the face of an expected bleak summer tourist season.   

The assessment was made on Friday by director and owner of Cool Runnings Catamaran Cruises, Robert Povey, on the heels of news that the iconic Jolly Roger had been placed on the market for $350 000.

The party ship, which made its first sailing trip out of the Careenage in Bridgetown in 1969, entertained locals and visitors for decades.

Povey said while he was not aware of any other local cruise companies planning to fold, that could happen, especially for those that depend on tourists.

“I would say it is very possible . . . . Especially now going into summer, it’s definitely going to be a struggle,” Povey, who has been in the sector for 25 years told Barbados TODAY.     

Povey, whose company has at times assisted the 53-year-old Jolly Roger, said it went out of business due to a combination of circumstances – the death of its owner Martin Bynoe and the lack of cruise ships coming here. “Martin was very good in that area [party cruises] and that’s the unfortunate thing, that he passed away. That has contributed to the Jolly Roger not operating . . . and also the lack of cruise ships,” the entrepreneur said.

Looking at the industry as a whole, the Cool Runnings boss said his colleagues who operate 30 to 40 catamarans and two to three larger cruise vessels are currently in survival mode.

He said the COVID-19 pandemic and the disappointing summer ahead did not make things any better.

In fact, Povey said he has had to dip into his own pockets to keep his workers employed and he believes some employees in the sector may have to be sent home during the late June to September period.   

“Maybe in summer. I myself have struggled because I like to keep my employees. I have a good relationship with them. I had to use my savings to keep some of these guys that I have known for 15 and 20 years, who not just work for me but I know and love and I really respect them,” he said.

“My struggle was that I had to dip into whatever savings that I had to be able to keep everyone at a level, and I was hoping that summer would be better than it is looking . . . . I am hoping that layoffs would not be around the corner for this long summer.”

Turning his focus to the financial fallout from the pandemic, Povey expressed deep concern at the substantial debts of cruise and pleasure boat businesses which have had a domino effect on other areas.

“I would definitely have to say millions and millions of dollars, not just in the cruise industry but everyone that is attached to it . . . taxi drivers, chefs . . . . I myself have four chefs that work for me alone. There [are] about 30 or 40 different taxi drivers that work in the industry, and that is only one company. So, if you add up everyone, it is quite large,” the catamaran company owner said.

Povey said patronage had picked back up since the COVID-19 restrictions had been lifted, but he warned that industry players will have a hard time during the summer.

However, the businessman did not predict all doom and gloom for the sector, as he said he anticipates an encouraging winter tourist season.

“I think the winter is looking pretty good. I am hoping that by November the cruise ships will start back up. It is not my full market, but I much rather when the cruise ships are here. It is spread throughout the entire industry in every area of our economy,” Povey said.

He suggested that the various players in the local cruise business diversify rather than depend on tourist arrivals, although he acknowledged that it would be a financial challenge to make such a move at this time.

“I think a lot of them [businesses] are in the hole after COVID, in different debt . . . . To diversify now is going to be also challenging because they still have to try and get back two years of losses,” he pointed out.
emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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After taking part in 21 consecutive Grand Kadooment events, one of the island’s largest and most popular Kadooment bands, Baje International will not be hitting the road this year.

The band made the surprise announcement to its followers in a social media post on Thursday, in which it blamed logistical issues brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic as one of the main reasons.

Speaking to Barbados TODAY, founder of Baje International, Richard Haynes explained that the band simply was not in a position to provide revellers with the usual high-quality costumes because of issues with suppliers. The possibility exists, that costumes would not have been on the island in time for Kadooment Day.

Haynes gave the assurance that every option had been explored before making what he described as a “heartbreaking” decision.

The band leader said while Baje usually catered to around 1200 revellers, this year they had had been hoping to bring a scaled down band of between 700 to 800 persons.

“We’ve done 21 bands before COVID hit us, 21 consecutive bands. All 21 bands had challenges as all bands do but we managed to deliver to our revellers each and every year on time and as promised. This year we had every intention of doing the exact same. As a matter of fact we have our band designs, we have our prototypes produced, we have our marketing campaign ready, we’ve done all of that over the last few months, as it was it was late notice but we were certainly excited to get back to the road for 2022,” he said via telephone.

“However, obviously core to our process was negotiations with our suppliers. There is no secret that there are major global challenges right now, especially as it relates to supply chains due to COVID-19. We do get most of our materials externally. We purchase as much as we can locally and regionally, but we have to go outside to our suppliers for a lot of our materials and our discussions became more and more intense and we started to realize that these problems can even present an issue where we may not be able to get our materials and our costumes here on time for our revelers.

“We explored several different options and up until literally 72 hours ago we were exhausting and having conversations with our suppliers and every network we have and when the feedback came back that, ‘look we can produce this band for Baje but we cannot guarantee 100 per cent that it will be in Barbados in time for your revellers Kadooment Day,  then at that stage we had to make the extremely difficult and emotional decision to pull the plug.

“We know that we made the right decision because we cannot subject our revellers to that risk. They have been loyal to us for 21 bands and we certainly cannot subject them to that risk, so what we have done is we have pulled the band for this year,” Haynes added.

The veteran band leader however, promised that Baje would be back on the road for 2023, giving the assurance that they had already started preparations for next year’s Crop Over Festival.

“We are on the road for next year, we’ve started our production process already and thankfully our sponsors have been very supportive, our revellers have been very supportive although they are very disappointed as are we. It literally feels surreal to not be part of the festival this year…but we are head down and focused on 2023 to bring back a band to the road that people can expect of Baje – of the highest quality,” Haynes said.

He revealed that Baje would be hosting an event in July for “its revellers and for Bim”. randybennett@barbadostoday.bb

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Some landlords are reportedly refusing to rent their properties to persons with disabilities, even though there is evidence those individuals are able to pay.

The charge was levelled by the President of the Barbados Council for the Disabled (BCD) Kerryann Ifill who told Barbados TODAY that many people with disabilities regularly face discrimination when attempting to secure accommodation.

She said that in addition to being turned away by landlords, disabled persons had difficulty purchasing homes because of limited access to private funding.

“The reality is that many of us who live with disabilities are barred from owning our own homes or even renting spaces,” Ifill said.

She noted that in some cases, property owners specifically stated they would not be renting to individuals who are blind, while others were reluctant to make renovations to their properties for the mobility challenged.

The BCD president said prospective landlords seemed to believe that disabled persons were incapable of paying rent.

“I recently heard of a situation where two persons were going to rent a house. Actually, the able-bodied person was going forward to rent the house and when the landlord learned that the package included a family member with a disability, he said he don’t want them in his house. That didn’t happen in 2002, 1972, or 1902; that happened in 2022,” she said.

Ifill, who is also Deputy Chairman of the newly formed National Advisory Committee on Persons with Disabilities, said housing solutions for the vulnerable group is one of the pressing issues set to be reviewed by the committee which was set up to guide the establishment of a commission for improving the lives of persons with disabilities.

“When these persons don’t get through with renting one property they have to keep hunting, to be honest. And if the hunting has no successful outcome, they have to stay where they are until they find an alternative. Many persons with disabilities are on the National Housing Corporation’s (NHC) waiting list. And while NHC doesn’t discriminate, the wait is a long one. So, these persons are left hunting,” Ifill said.

Chairman of the Advisory Committee, Edmund Hinkson said it was no secret that persons with disabilities face discrimination on several fronts.

Pointing to one such scenario, he said that while Barbados has implemented free education in its legislative regime, some parents of disabled children have to foot the bill for special education.

“Fortunately, some of the locally-based trusts like the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust fund some of this education, but in a lot of cases, the reality is that you have to pay for special needs education, and that can’t be right,” Hinkson said.

He also indicated that the unemployment rate among people with disabilities is high. According to Hinkson, the 2010 national census showed that about 90 per cent of adults with disabilities in Barbados were jobless. anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb

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Government is set to receive the final design for a proposed new road at White Hill, St Andrew.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Works Santia Bradshaw gave this update on Friday as community spokeswoman Carlitha Andrews pleaded on VOB’s Down to Brass Tacks call-in programme for Government to pay special attention to the plight of residents of the rural district.

She lamented that the only road leading to White Hill was now in dire condition.

“The road is getting smaller and smaller every day and you can see it is getting very dangerous. Now, if this collapses there is no way in and no way out for White Hill folks,” Andrews complained.

In response, Bradshaw assured that White Hill is a priority under the Chinese-funded Complant/Scotland District Road Rehabilitation Project. More than three dozen roads in the Scotland District will be rebuilt under the project, starting with White Hill.

“Up to last week, I met with the Complant team. They have two designs on the table and I think when we meet with them next the intention is that they will be in a better position to say which design they are going to go with,” the Transport and Works Minister said.

“The geological studies have been done. The next stage obviously for us is to move to actually determining when that project will actually start. This is it, it is in motion, you are not going to be neglected,” Bradshaw assured.

Since November 2014, when a huge chunk of the main road leading into White Hill collapsed as a result of heavy rains, residents have been pleading for help.

Bradshaw acknowledged that White Hill has been a challenge across various administrations but insisted that now funding has been secured for the project, it will be given priority.

Andrews also appealed to Government to find lasting solutions to the water woes affecting White Hill and wider St Andrew, St Joseph, St John and St Thomas.

She not only lamented that taps in the area were often dry, but said residents have been getting discoloured water at times.

Minister Bradshaw noted that elevated areas like White Hill continued to suffer water shortages because of the number of bursts in the Castle Grant system which serves those communities.

She said staff at the Barbados Water Authority were working daily to find the ruptures but stressed that as part of the Scotland District Rehabilitation Project, some of the old pipes will be replaced which should help to alleviate the problem.
(SD)

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Over the next few weeks the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) will be rolling out a patient services department to improve the delivery of communication between patient and staff, particularly in the Accident and Emergency Department (AED).

The announcement came from QEH’s Executive Director Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland who told Barbados TODAY that the hospital intended to adopt examples from the hotel sector in the area of customer service to improve the way it communicates with patients.

She said the introduction of the department was necessary to address numerous complaints from members of the public regarding the level of communication in the AED.

“I think what we have at the hospital are professionals who are doing their best to provide the clinical services. But the expectation of the public is for improved communication. People want to know if they are waiting, why they are waiting. Is this wait a part of the clinical process? Are there unknown factors that are impacting on waiting time? I think that if we are able to communicate with people more effectively about what is happening to them individually or their relatives, people are going to be a lot more understanding of what is happening behind the scenes,” she said.

The Executive Director added that the new initiative that will be rolled out by the patient services department will also benefit from a similar project which was successfully executed at the Harrison’s Point Isolation Facility, St Lucy.

Bynoe-Sutherland recalled that during the earlier days of the COVID-19 pandemic Harrison’s Point was receiving negative publicity on social media regarding claims from people who visited the facility.

She said that in an effort to get the situation under control, QEH piloted a client relations department under the leadership of Dr Ria Corbin.

“We would have converted some of our orderly and housekeeping staff into positions called client aides. What we did was to take the opportunity in a small setting like Harrison’s Point, to learn what we can do with technology and what we can do with personalised, individualised attention. Each patient at Harrison’s Point, if they have any issues, they have someone that they can reach out to who can respond to their queries and concerns. We want to bring a similar kind of ethos to QEH. We are saying that if we can do this at Harrison’s Point, we can also do it at QEH.

“Harrison’s Point has given us the opportunity to pilot how we can do it and the kind of technology that we can use because we have an application that we are already using there. So we have a nice model, we have seen how it works and we have the confidence that the hospital will be able to roll out such a programme,” Bynoe-Sutherland said. anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb

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Some of the students at the Lawrence T Gay Memorial School who have been affected by “chemical” odors have already been relocated.

The decision to move was made following a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Education and parents last week.

President of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Steffanie Williams told Barbados TODAY three churches; Sharon Moravian, Grace Hill and Christ the King had been identified to accommodate the children.

She said the students moved to their temporary locations from Tuesday. Class 1 students have been relocated to the Grace Hill Church in Spooner’s Hill, St Michael, just a stone throw’s away from Lawrence T Gay Memorial, while students from Class 3 were now at the Sharon Moravian Church in St Thomas.

Williams said Class 2 students would transition to Christ the King Church in Rock Dundo, St Michael from June 7.

She said the students had so far settled into their new environments.

The PTA president said no timeline had been given as to how long the children would remain at their new locations.

“The Class 3s are in a much better environment. They have room to play and I haven’t heard about any complaints so I would say that it is ok. I’m not really sure about the Grace Hill location and how the students from Class 1 are coping, but I will believe that the situation is much better than what they were experiencing at school,” Williams told Barbados TODAY.

“We all are just hoping that the situation is resolved so that the children and the teachers as well, can be in a healthy and conducive environment.”

President of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) Rudy Lovell said that while the union had not been invited to the meetings he was aware of the planned relocation.

The Ministry of Education is still continuing its investigations into the foul odor which has disrupted classes at the Lawrence T Gay Memorial’s compound where teachers and students have complained of being affected by sewage and gas odors.

During a site visit just over a week ago education minister Kay McConney promised that the Environmental Protection Department would be extending its investigations into the neighbouring communities after no evidence of contamination was found on the school’s compound.

This is not the first time Lawrence T Gay Memorial has been affected by environmental issues.

In November last year parents and students staged a protest outside of the school’s campus. At the time they claimed that students and teachers were falling ill as a result of the foul odors at the school.
randybennett@barbadostoday.bb

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Barbados will be one of the first two Caribbean countries in which a common central bank digital currency (CBDC) is to be rolled out.

Officials say the CBDC will help to foster economic development and propel the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy (CSME), while enhancing financial inclusion in the region.

On Friday, Dr Jan Schröder, one of the principals behind the proposed digital currency, Carib Dollar (Carib$), said a lot of work has already gone into planning and a whitepaper had been developed.

Started last year, the CaribCoin project as it is being referred to is a joint venture between Schröder, the Chief System Architect, and the Caribbean-based technology accelerator Abed Ventures.

Schröder informed a webinar that Carib$ would first be rolled out in Barbados and Jamaica and then other Caribbean countries.

However, renowned regional financial and economic expert Marla Dukharan suggested that each country in the region could do well with their own digital currency while adding that there was especially a need for a cross-border settlement system, similar to what existed more than three decades.

Pointing to some of the benefits of a digital currency, Schöder said it allowed for faster transactions and was more accessible, safe, sustainable and stable.

“There is an opportunity using digital money. Let’s think about creating pan-Caribbean digital money. So, if you want to buy pineapples as a grocer in Barbados from Jamaica, you just use this currency; you don’t have to exchange to US dollar from the Barbadian dollar and then back to the Jamaican dollar, just use this one digital money across the Caribbean. It would deliver seamless, faster and cheap payments, provide liquidity and enable fast-track towards CSME without a need to replace national currencies, which really is a hassle if you want to go that way,” said Schöder.

He explained that while the digital currency would be based on “good faith” like that of the fiat currency, its stability would also be backed by a basket of Caribbean digitised financial assets and commodities and it would be governed and pegged as defined by Caribbean public and private stakeholders.

“We propose using distributive ledger technology for a sense of safety,” he added.

“We are not just talking, we are building it. June 17, we will have a workshop with businesses to design the trade finance applications for this. This year, we will create an MVP [minimum variable product] with these solutions for trade finance and launch within two countries – Barbados and Jamaica – within six months from now. This is our plan to set this up.”

Schröder gave the assurance that officials associated with the project will look at the possibility of having the Carib$ work offline in the case of power outages, as he also assured that it will be safe against cyber-attacks.

“We still have to set up the business plan, we are just in the phase of setting up a product and doing product-market fit at the moment,” Schöder said, adding that a part of the idea was to reduce the costs for regional trade.

According to the chief system architect, it would start with businesses before a “trickle down”, with the possibility of having salaries being paid using that digital currency.

Dukharan said while countries already had the capacity to allow for settlements within their borders, the Carib$ sounds “technically, like an idea that could work” although she added that “you have the issue of conversion, you have the issue of onboarding and offboarding”.

She said the digital currency was something CARICOM was committed to exploring, while indicating that the Caribbean Settlement Network which was launched in June 2019 was trying to convince the regional bloc to move ahead with such an initiative.

“I feel personally that the safest solution is for different countries to issue their own CBDC and then we have a settlement mechanism between each of the CBDCs and there is interoperability between the networks and you connect all the CBDCs, and each transaction is settled by a conversion using smart contracts around the conversion of the currencies from one into the other,” Dukharan said.

“You can use the US dollar benchmark because that is where we are now, but it does not mean you have to convert to the US dollar. You just use it as a benchmark to value the currency at the point of the transaction and you have a solution there.”

The economist warned that without a cross-border settlement solution, problems could arise where vendors choose to pay in their own currency for goods from suppliers from different countries, disadvantaging the suppliers.

“We will continue to see our intraregional trade be dwarfed by our extra-regional trade, we will continue to see the food and fuel security that we are trying to build stymied by the fact that we cannot trade effectively with each other outside of the use of US dollars,” she added.

“The Central Banks have to agree and the network of the digital currencies have to be connected and there has to be some work around driving that interoperability and connectivity.” (MM)

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The introduction of breathalyser testing is still very much on the cards, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Works and Water Resources Santia Bradshaw declared on Friday.

And while she stayed clear of giving a specific date, she hinted that it could be just a few months away.

Questions have repeatedly been asked about Government’s decision to delay the original April 1 implementation of the test that advocates contend can help reduce the number of road accidents.

Addressing the issue briefly on VOB’s Down to Brass Tacks call-in programme, Bradshaw stressed that while everything was in place to facilitate breathalyser testing, the Ministry put the plan on pause until arrangements have been finalised for new rates for taxi operators.

“We were ready to roll out the breathalyser, we had all of the training done, we signed off on all of the ads that needed to be done. Everybody was ready to roll it out but when I met with the taxi associations, . . . when we were talking about the new rates for the taxis in this country, one of the things that we recognised was that if we are going to say to people put down your vehicles, we have to give people an option in terms of knowing with certainty what it [taxi fare] is going to cost them.

“Just like when you travel you can go on Uber and you can determine what that price is to get from one point to another, we want to be in a position to have that ready as well,” Bradshaw explained.

She said those matters were being dealt with.

“I hope that within the next month or so we are in a position to roll that out and then shortly thereafter we will be in a position to introduce the breathalyser, so it is still very much on the cards,” the Transport Minister said.

The Barbados Road Safety Association has, however, argued that introducing new rates for taxi operators was not enough to delay breathalyser testing.

President Sharmane Rice-Bowen said it was critical that it be introduced ahead of the Crop Over Festival. (SD)

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The Barbados Defence Force (BDF) must continue training its personnel in modern tactics and processes to ensure the safety of the island if it is called upon.

This was the message delivered by Military Advisor to the Chief of Staff, Lt Colonel Carlos Lovell as he addressed graduates of the BDF’s Training and Development Institute at St Ann’s Fort on Friday.

He said the BDF must constantly remain in top form.

“The leadership of the Barbados Defence Force must seek and spare no effort to ensure that our personnel are trained and prepared to face the many challenges present in this volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous operating environment,” Lt Col Lovell said.

“To quote our Chief Of Staff in a recent interview, he said when there is crisis in Barbados, the Government always turns to the Barbados Defence Force to protect our people, our island, and our national interests. Therefore, when called upon, we cannot afford to fail, because if we fail, lives are at stake.”

The military advisor added that high-ranking officers within the BDF fully understood the gravity of their responsibility.

He said constant improvement of skills will always be a priority.

“The BDF staged these courses to empower you graduates with the tools, the skills, and the knowledge, to drastically improve the operational effectiveness of various departments across the Force, because we understand the importance of the individual to the collective,” he said.

“History has taught us that in order for any military to be effective, its personnel must be well trained, trained hard, and trained frequently. That is the only way to keep the proverbial sword sharp.”

The graduates of the BDF’s Training and Development Institute, who include members of the island’s Defence Force and Coast Guard as well as regional security forces, received training in several areas.

The sessions included Regular and Reserve Force Junior Command courses, Media Operations Training, Office Administration and Management, and Assistant Drill Instructor courses.

Lt Col Lovell thanked the graduating contingent for their dedication to their individual training sessions over the past several weeks. (SB)

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The Breastfeeding and Child Nutrition Foundation (BCNF) is urging mothers not to resort to homemade substitutes or other measures that could harm their babies amid a local shortage in specific brands of formula.

BCNF Executive Director Dr Alison Bernard has warned that local alternatives, such as barley water, are not beneficial to babies.

While insisting that breastfeeding for the first two years of a child’s life remains the best and healthiest option for both mother and baby, the advocacy group acknowledged that some mothers either cannot or choose not to breastfeed and their inability to source formula is, therefore, a concern.

“The BCNF urges mothers to continue to use recommended breastmilk substitutes safely,” Dr Barnard stressed.

“We recommend using the product as prescribed on the packaging and to refrain from either attempting to make homemade formulas, which are unlikely to meet the nutritional requirements of baby, not starting complementary foods before the recommended six months, or hoarding the product as there may be the tendency to do under these circumstances .”

She added: “Parents are also reminded that barley water and other similar homemade mixtures used in our cultural context, which are being used more widely at this time of shortage, provide no significant nutritional value to their babies and should not be used as a replacement for breastmilk or even formula.”

The BCNF advised mothers to seek information from polyclinics, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, private physicians, and the National Nutrition Centre for advice and information about breastfeeding, introducing appropriate complementary foods, and the safe use of breastmilk substitutes including infant formula.

Dr Bernard argued that the need to rely on formula must be urgently addressed to avoid the catastrophic impact on children’s food security.

She reminded that exclusive breastfeeding is proven to not only reduce the risk of common childhood illnesses such as ear infections, gastroenteritis and respiratory infections, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and decreased risk of allergy, but that the long-term effects are rewarding.

“Children who breastfeed are reportedly smarter on IQ tests, are less likely to be overweight or obese, and have a reduced risk of developing noncommunicable diseases in childhood and as adults,” the head of the BCNF said.

“Breastfeeding is also beneficial for mothers as the rates of breast cancer are reported to decrease by nearly five per cent and for every year she breastfeeds the rates of ovarian cancer, postpartum depression and maternal diabetes and heart disease are also reduced.”

Dr Bernard noted that despite these benefits, only 19.7 per cent of Barbadian infants are breastfed exclusively.

She blamed that low rate on barriers to breastfeeding worldwide and on the local front.

“Issues around inadequate breastfeeding support by maternal support systems – professional and personal –, lack of enabling breastfeeding environments and inadequate employment and breastfeeding workplace policies to enable mothers to breastfeed, and no or inadequate legislation in support of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk substitutes to counter aggressive formula marketing tactics, make breastfeeding exclusively or at all, a difficult option for mothers.

“We, therefore, ask our government to increase their investment in supporting and protecting breastfeeding through cost-effective public health interventions and necessary public policies and legislation, that enable mothers to breastfeed for longer, where they want to, and without undue influence from exploitative formula marketing tactics.

“The benefits to the health of our children, mothers, our communities, to the environment, and to our economy are innumerable. Response to breastfeeding needs to be a societal one and we implore all sectors of society to play their part in creating a robust breastfeeding culture here in Barbados,” Dr Bernard added. (BT/PR)

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Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams says the recently released 2020 Barbados Drug Information Network Report (BARDIN) will help Government take the guesswork out of finding solutions to illegal drug use in the island.

Delivering remarks on Friday at an awards ceremony for stakeholders who contributed to the report, he said the scientific findings and other data outlined within the document will go a long way in forming policy going forward.

“The BARDIN report presents the Government with scientific, evidence-based reporting and conclusions that allow us to form policy that best addresses the situation. Quite often, people have a kneejerk reaction to things,” Abrahams said.

“You may think that something is an issue and then you throw all the resources at it, and then you realise it’s actually not that, it’s something else….

“What this does is that it allows us to consider all of the parameters. [It] allows us to consider all of the factors, it allows us to make a scientific assessment of what the problems are, what drugs are used in Barbados, the age, gender [and] socioeconomic classification of persons who use them, so that the approach we use to reducing drug consumption and drug abuse in Barbados, and the law enforcement agencies use in enforcing the laws in relation to drug abuse or drug use, is not guesswork.”

Deputy Manager of the National Council on Substance Abuse, Troy Wickham, thanked the several entities who contributed to the national survey.

He also pointed to the expansion of the BARDIN report since its inception 10 years ago.

“The NCSA has continuously sought to improve and strengthen this important monitoring tool, and our partners have supported us at each and every junction,” Wickham said. “We started with a small cohort of contributing agencies with a limited number of indicators, and today our report has doubled in size from our first publication – an indication of how BARDIN has extended, both in terms of data and contributors. The results have resulted in a comprehensive document, which provided a bird’s eye view on the local drug situation. 
(SB)

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by David Hinkson

While Barbados and at least two countries on the African continent, namely Kenya and Ghana, have been forging greater ties and establishing trading and diplomatic relationships, the area of economically viable transportation links remains outstanding.

And there is now a suggestion that Barbados and its Caribbean neighbours should approach the matter differently, especially as it relates to air travel.

Speaking during a recent virtual discussion put on by the Culture division of the Prime Minister’s Office entitled, “Africans at home and abroad: Their experiences and problems faced”, Barbados’ Ambassador to the Organisation of American States (OAS), Noel Lynch, said a regionally based airline should be leading the way.

“Right now, Barbados and many of its counterparts in the region do not own a single boat or aircraft and we have to rely on our former slave masters to carry out these flights between Barbados and Africa. To my mind, rather than signing Memoranda of Understanding between air carriers, I think the best idea would be for us in the Caribbean to actually invest in the flight; we need to fly our own planes with our own pilots.

Right now, Trinidad and Tobago has the only airline operating in the region, and I think if you want that direct airlink, rather than having to go through London or some other city in Europe, we should talk to the people in the Caribbean who have planes and who can fly them.”

Barbados’ Ambassador to Ghana, Phil Phillips, noted that the Barbados Government has already begun negotiating with at least three Africa-based airlines, but added that “We have to put matters into context, because at this time we are coming out of the pandemic, are presently experiencing high fuel prices and many of the world’s economies are not growing at high rates.” Regarding Lynch’s point, Philips said that prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Keith Rowley had talked about establishing a Caribbean Airlines flight from Trinidad to Ghana.

Phillips also noted that ocean freight was another area being considered, but he believed that for this to be viable, “We need to achieve scale, so it would be best if a ship left Ghana and travelled not just to Barbados, but across the rest of the Caribbean and into South America to make it worthwhile.”

One of the other participants in the discussion, Paulette Elliott, who is based in the United Kingdom, suggested a trial run before signing any agreements with airlines. “There are a number of airlines based in Africa that fly directly to destinations in the Americas; why not let them use Barbados as a hub to connect to the other Caribbean countries? Beyond that, we should consider having some direct flights as a ‘trial run’ and then do a feasibility study to determine if it is practical.”

On another matter, Senior Business Development Officer with the Africa Desk at Export Barbados, Madou Diagne, called for greater diplomatic ties between Africa and Barbados, given the fact that more Africans were coming to work and study on the island. “While we have been developing trade relationships, we have not really done much in the area of diplomatic relations.

We have a number of Africans studying at Ross University and the other offshore medical schools in Barbados, as well as the Ghanaian nurses who have been here for over a year, but when they encounter certain challenges there is no one on the ground representing them. Having a diplomatic presence here would help them tremendously, and would also assist them in sending funds and other items to their families back home.”

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Sixteen tertiary-level students will be gaining valuable experience this summer as they complete a three-month internship at the Central Bank of Barbados.

“The Bank’s summer internship programme has been around for many years, but, unfortunately, it had to be scaled back significantly last year and in 2020 due to COVID,” said Novaline Brewster, the Bank’s Chief of Corporate Communications.

“We are very pleased that we are able to take on a greater number of students this year so that we can give them exposure and on-the-job training to help set them up for success in their chosen fields.”

The students are pursuing degrees in a range of disciplines, including economics, accounting, media and journalism, human resources, and software engineering, and will be working in various departments across the organisation.

Brewster revealed that while the Bank has as much as possible matched the students’ placements to their field of study and career interests, the interns will also learn about the institution as a whole. “To be a well-rounded employee and an asset to any organisation, it’s imperative that you understand what it does and how your job fits into the bigger picture. So, we will be organising sessions to explain the Bank’s two main objectives and how we go about achieving them.”

The Central Bank of Barbados’ summer internship programme was formally started in 2002, and over the years, several students have gone on to have long-term and permanent positions at the organisation. (PR)

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Storm activity during this year’s hurricane season is forecast to be relatively on par with that seen in recent years, which is why Sagicor General Insurance (SGI) is advising Barbadians to ensure they adequately prepare themselves to overcome any unforeseen challenges.

According to the May 31st update by Tropical Storm Risk (TSR), the 18 named storms predicted for 2022 matches that forecast for 2021, out of which eight are expected to develop into hurricanes, with four intensifying to the level of Category 3 or higher.

One year ago, TSR predicted the development of nine hurricanes for the 2021 season, with four of those also forecast to reach a minimum of category 3.

Despite the number of storms being almost level with that forecast for last year, it is anticipated that overall activity during the upcoming June 1st to November 30th period will be 10-15 per cent above the 1991-2020 30-year average, but at levels slightly below that experienced in 2020 and 2021.

The report stated that “Although large uncertainties remain at the April forecast range, we consider that the more likely scenario is for tropical North Atlantic and Caribbean Sea waters to be slightly warmer than normal by August-September 2022, and for weak La Nina conditions to persist through August-September 2022, thereby contributing to reduced trade winds over the tropical North Atlantic and Caribbean Sea. Both these environmental factors are expected to enhance North Atlantic hurricane activity in 2022.”

SGI’s Vice President – Insurance Operations, Mark Prescott, pointed to the experience of recent years, noting the increasingly unpredictable nature of the annual season. “By this time last year,
we had already witnessed the unusual development of Subtropical Storm Ana prior to the official start of the season.

This year we’ve seen a similar occurrence with the formation of Hurricane Agatha, which made landfall along the Pacific coast of Mexico this Monday.

If the experiences of the last two years have taught us anything, it’s that we need to constantly remind ourselves of the unpredictability and uncertainties of life and why we always need to be prepared.”

“Checking roofs, windows, doors and the walls of your property for and repairing any cracks or weak areas is the best course of action,” he stated.

“If indeed your home is damaged by a storm, we will be there to provide the financial and emotional support our clients need to get things back in order, however, by reducing the potential for damage through repairing or reinforcing key areas, any discomfort to you and your family can be significantly minimised.”

Prescott also made the point that updating the rebuilding cost of a property and the market value of their possessions is critical to ensuring that policyholders have less headaches when repairing or replacing anything they own, after suffering an unforeseen disaster or event such as a storm or hurricane.

“If a property is insured for BDS$300,000.00, but the actual cost to replace it based on the current rebuilding costs is BDS$350,000.00, then one can see where a property owner would lose out if they had to suffer the unfortunate experience of losing their home to a storm or hurricane,” said Prescott.

“Therefore, it is in the interest of the property owner to update the rebuilding cost and market value of their contents
on a regular basis to ensure that this discrepancy doesn’t exist.”

This is even more critical given that in a post-storm/hurricane environment where significant, widespread damage has been experienced, building costs tend to increase temporarily due to a likely shortage of materials and supplies.

In today’s COVID-19 environment, where global shipping networks are experiencing significant challenges and delays, the inability to replenish stock quickly will certainly have an additional impact on these costs.

The experienced insurance executive also encouraged all property owners and renters to make a detailed list of their possessions and valuables and seriously consider taking out a contents insurance package to cover any potential damage or destruction that could be caused by a storm, hurricane, or seasonal flooding.

For more information and to get the best coverage for those valued possessions, Prescott urged individuals to reach out to the company’s team of knowledgeable representatives using one of many options, such as dialling 431-2800, sending a WhatsApp message to 467-7243, emailing sgi-info@sagicorgeneral.com getcovered@sagicorgeneral.com , or connecting via SGI’s Instagram and Facebook pages. (PR)

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Efective Tuesday, June 7, Haematology, Neurosurgery, Diabetes and Psychiatry Out-Patient Clinics will revert from the QEH’s Bellville Annex, to the previous location in the Main Out-Patients’ Block on the QEH compound.

As such, patients attending these out-patient clinics are directed to visit the hospital’s Martindale’s Road location for future out-patient clinic visits.

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Board of Management thanks you for your support, and looks forward to your continued cooperation as we strive towards “Getting Better Together”.

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There were 145 new COVID-19 cases, 59 males and 86 females, recorded on Friday, June 3, from the 704 tests carried out by the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory.

Of the positive cases, 21 persons were under the age of 18, and 124 were 18 years and older. The number of people in isolation facilities was 43, while 1,602 were in home isolation.

No deaths were recorded, and the number of those who died from the virus remains at 462.

The public health laboratory has conducted 689,579 tests since February 2020, and recorded 81,319 COVID-19 cases (37,105 males and 44,214 females).

Under the National Vaccination Programme for COVID-19, the total number of persons with at least one dose is 162,462 (71.1 per cent of the eligible population).

The total number of fully vaccinated persons is 152,909 (56.4 per cent of the total population or 67.0 per cent of the eligible population).  The eligible population represents those persons who are 12 years and older.

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The Regional Security System has reaffirmed its commitment to the protection of our environment and is invested in the sustainable development of our planet.

This was underscored during a brief ceremony yesterday, where Executive Director of the Regional Security System, Commodore Errington Shurland, planted a Jacaranda tree in the Claudia Rollins Park at Fairy Valley, Christ Church. The activity, which forms part of the RSS’ 40th anniversary celebrations, was held to mark World Environment Day, which is officially recognised on June 5.

Commodore Shurland pointed out that while the RSS’ mission was to ensure the safety and security of the people in our region, it was also necessary for the organisation to play a significant role in the protection of the external surroundings.

“As part of our commitment to protecting the environment, we will endeavour to do more and better with fewer natural resources. At the RSS Headquarters, we have installed water tanks, invested in photovoltaic cells for energy consumption and are in the process of procuring electronic vehicles, all in an effort to reduce our carbon footprint,” he stated.

Alluding to the positive characteristics of the Jacaranda tree, the RSS head noted that: “For years to come these trees will continue to grow and provide shade and oxygen, not only for recreation, but to remind us of the necessity and our dependency on a healthy natural environment.”

The Jacaranda tree was donated by the National Conservation Commission. (PR)

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The following statement was issued by Prime Minister Mia Mottley on the passing of George Lamming:

Sadly, it seems now that almost weekly, we are forced to say goodbye to one of our national icons.

Today, it is our international recognised and respected novelist, essayist and poet, George Lamming, who without doubt stood for decades at the apex of our island’s pantheon of writers. Indeed, George Lamming, must be considered one of the most famous writers this region has produced.

Notwithstanding the fact that he passed away today, four days shy of his 95^th birthday, I still declare that he has left us all too soon. In fact, only this morning I discussed with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office. Senator Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight, my desire to have arrangements made to visit him on Wednesday to celebrate his birthday with him.

Unfortunately, we will now have to switch to a national celebration via an Official Funeral for a man who has given so much to his country, his people, his region and the world.

George Lamming was the quintessential Bajan, born in as traditional a district as you can get — Carrington Village, on the outskirts of Bridgetown. And his education was as authentically Bajan as one could possibly acquire — Roebuck Boys’ School and Combermere.

Perhaps even more critical to the literary giant he grew into, was the fortune he had of being schooled at the feet of yet another Barbadian great, Frank Collymore.

But as Bajan as he was, he still distinguished himself as a world scholar: teaching first at a boarding school in Trinidad, before emigrating to England, where he became a broadcaster with the BBC’s Colonial Service. This was followed by positions that included, writer-in-residence and lecturer in the Creative Arts at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies, Visiting Professor at the University of Texas, the University of Pennsylvania and Brown University, and a lecturer in Denmark, Tanzania and Australia.

Wherever George Lamming went, he epitomised that voice and spirit that screamed Barbados and the Caribbean. And while he has written several novels and received many accolades, none of his works touches the Barbadian psyche like his first — In The Castle of My Skin, written back in 1953, but which today ought still to be required reading for every Caribbean boy and girl.

Barbados will miss George Lamming — his voice, his pen, and of course, his signature hairstyle — but I pray that the consciousness of who we are that he preached in all that he wrote will never fade from our thoughts.

On behalf of the Government and people of Barbados I extend deepest sympathy to the Lamming family. May his soul rest in peace!

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