The Board of Management of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) wishes to remind the public that its Haematology, Neurosurgery, Diabetes and Psychiatry Out-Patient Clinics have returned to the Main Out-Patients’ Block on the QEH compound. As such, patients attending these out-patient clinics are directed to visit the QEH on Martindale’s Road for future out-patient clinic visits. Conversely, the hospitals’ Antenatal Out-Patients Clinic continues to operate from the hospital’s Belleville Annex located on 6th Avenue Belleville, St. Michael.
To ensure safety and reduce crowding in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and at our Belleville Annex, out-patients are reminded that they should present to clinic no earlier than 30 minutes before their scheduled appointment time.
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”.
For more information on the operations of the QEH, please call the QEH Help Desk at 536-4800. You can also visit us at www.qehconnect.com or follow us @qehconnect on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates.
I wish to assure Barbadians that the Ministry of Health and Wellness continues to pay very close attention to the global outbreak of Monkeypox.
From the time this new threat to global health emerged, the Ministry of Health and Wellness swung into action by taking the very important step of sensitizing our public health professionals who are responsible for public health management.
Let me assure the public that the Ministry of Health and Wellness is fully prepared to handle any cases of monkeypox in our nation.
In addition, the Ministry’s Port Health staff will continue to conduct public health surveillance at our ports of entry.
The Ministry’s public health team is well trained on surveillance and detection, and as has occurred in the past when faced with any global outbreaks of infectious diseases, this team will continue to monitor our borders and protect public health in Barbados.
Please be aware that any travellers arriving at any of our ports with any pox symptoms will be assessed and investigated accordingly.
Our state of readiness will also involvesensitizing those workers who help us to maintain border control, such asImmigration, Customs, Barbados Port Inc., Grantley Adams International Airport, and others who perform a critical role at our ports of entry.
Monkeypox is rare disease caused by infection with the Monkeypox virus and is part of the same family of viruses as smallpox.
Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder; and monkeypox is rarely fatal.Monkeypox is not related to chickenpox.
Monkeypox can be contracted throughclose intimate contact of an infected person.The symptoms of monkeypox can include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, a rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, such as the hands, feet, chest,genitals or anus.
The rash goes through different stages before healing completely. The illness typically lasts two to four weeks. Sometimes, people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. Others only experience a rash.
I wish to assure the public that the Ministry of Health and Wellness will continue to take all necessary precautionary steps to minimise the risk of any disease outbreak in Barbados including monkeypox.
There are no vaccines available in Barbados for Monkeypox. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that mass vaccination is not required nor recommended for Monkeypox at this time.
Human–to–human spread of Monkeypox can be controlled by public health measures, including early case findings, diagnosis and care, isolation and contact tracing.
The absence of vaccines should not cause undue alarm since monkeypox is rarely fatal. The Ministry of Health and Wellness will continue to follow the WHO guidance as part of the global response.
Any persons presenting pox symptoms will be clinically assessed, and swabs may be taken for testing, and the patient would be required to isolate as a risk mitigation measure.
The Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory recently acquired the capacity to do the diagnostic test for Monkeypox and will therefore be conducting tests locally on any suspected cases. This ability by Best-dos Santos is a major accomplishment of which the Barbados health service can be justifiably proud and should be a source of comfort to all Barbadians.
For full disclosure, the Ministry of Health and Wellness will update the public on the results of the one sample which was sent to the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory. Samples from two previously suspected cases were sent for testing at the CAPRHA laboratory in Trinidad. Those results were negative.
Todate, there have been no confirmed cases of Monkeypox in Barbados. The Ministry of Health and Wellness will continue to maintain transparency whilst adhering to patient confidentiality. (MHW)
The armed robbery and rape trial of two accused ended in a mistrial before the High Court on Wednesday.
Justice Carlisle Greaves made that decision following a verbal confrontation which took place on Tuesday between supporting court staff and defense counsel Marlon Gordon which resulted in him leaving the No. 3 Supreme Court without the trial continuing. The verbal encounter occurred in the presence of the jury hearing the matter and potential jurors before the judge took the Bench.
Gordon is representing accused Simon Thito Blades, of Newbury, St George while accused Akeem Fernando Wickham, of Flat Rock in the same parish has Queen’s Counsel Michael Lashley as his lawyer.
The two are charged with robbing a female of one $925 cellphone and having sexual intercourse with her without her consent on September 10, 2012.
They are also accused of robbing the female’s male companion of a laptop, two bags, one bracelet and one cellular phone all valued at $6, 860.
The men who pleaded not guilty to the charges were on trial before the nine-member jury in the No. 3 Supreme Court.
The judge, who heard what had transpired between the parties in his absence, discharged the jury. There were only three witnesses left to be called by Senior State Counsel Neville Watson.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury it is my understanding that you were present yesterday morning when there was an outburst in your presence. And you are well aware of the absence of counsel yesterday as a result of his part [in] that conduct.
“I have conducted an inquiry and I have carefully considered all that I have been told. I have accepted submissions from counsel for the defence that in the circumstances it is untenable for this trial to continue.
“I will apologise to you for the apparent wastage of your time. Yesterday’s outrage, I think, was the camel that broke the straw’s back. I know that you expected me to say the straw that broke the camel’s back . . . and that one was big enough to bring everything to an end.
“In the circumstances I discharge you from further hearing this case. I thank you very much for your service,” the High Court judge said.
He then informed the two accused that their bail had been extended and their case will be mentioned before Supreme Court No. 2 for a new date and trial on September 20.
A 19-year-old labourer has been remanded to Dodds until August 8 on gun and ammunition charges.
Tyrique Tyrese Herbert, of Kensington Lodge, Passage Road, St Michael appeared before Magistrate Manila Renee in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ No. 2 Court located at a Cane Garden, St Thomas charged that he had in his possession on July 6 an illegal firearm and 22 bullets without the required permit.
Herbert, who is represented by attorney-at-law Shadia Simpson, was not required to plead to the indictable charges. Sergeant Kenmore Phillips was the prosecutor in the matter.
Former national field hockey player Rhea Callender is just 24 years-old but she is no stranger to challenges. Not only has she been diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease, but the health complication left her paralysed from her waist down.
In April, she had surgery at a Texas hospital, to remove a rare cyst called teratoma that led to her losing lower body motor functions.
WebMD, characterise teratomas as a rare tumour which may hold different types of tissue such as bone, teeth, muscle, and hair. The tumours are mostly found in the ovaries, testicles, and tailbone, but may also sometimes grow in the nervous system and abdomen.
Following the surgical procedure and aggressive therapy, fortunately, the University of the West Indies (UWI) student has begun to gradually get back feeling and movement of her body parts
“It has been really hard for me but I have come so far. I started off not being able to move a simple toe, but now I can move my toe and my knees. I cried so much. But I am happier now because I have come so far. It is time to be positive,” Callender said, recalling that she spent many days and nights in recent months crying as the illness led to a number of dramatic changes in her life.
Rhea Callender in hospital in Texas.
The emotional young woman recalled that on April 16, while visiting a relative in Texas, United States she started vomiting and developing a fever. She said after three days the symptoms remained and the decision was made to visit a doctor who diagnosed her with gastro and prescribed medication, which did not work.
She returned to the doctor who told her to go directly to the emergency room where scans showed that there was a cyst on her right ovary.
Callender said she was taken to another hospital where she said test results showed there was fluid on her back and brain.
“I got some fluid removed from my back and then I was at another hospital. I was totally unconscious that whole time. At the other hospital they said I had meningitis, but I didn’t have meningitis. My sister said I was hallucinating and I suffered memory loss. Then I went to the last hospital and whatever they did, got me back conscious, and they are the persons that then did the tests and they had this theory that it could be the cyst.
“They had a discussion with me, my parents and my boyfriend over zoom. So then I had the surgery to remove the cyst and to remove the whole right ovary because they didn’t want any fractions left back. After they removed that I had something called a plasma exchange to clean the blood and I had that treatment six times every other day,” she said, explaining that she started having feeling in some of her body parts again as she underwent that treatment.
During her treatment, she said doctors put her on Rituximab medication to ensure she had a chance of survival. Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody medication used to treat certain autoimmune diseases and types of cancer.
She was then moved to a rehabilitation centre where after three weeks of treatment she was finally able to sit up for an extended period.
“It was more expensive for them to keep me up there than to send me home. So they made sure that I was to a point where I can do physiotherapy here and could get the required medical care. They paid for me to come back home and for the nurse to come to me and gave me a wheelchair,” she said.
Returning to Barbados last week after being given the green light to travel once accompanied by a nurse, Callender is facing the reality that in order to fully recover she is in dire need of additional medical attention.
Sitting in a wheelchair at her Gall Hill, Christ Church home, she told Barbados TODAY that she has to undergo additional therapy and treatment to stop her immune system from attacking itself once more.
Facing a staggering US$1 million medical expenses bill, Callender is appealing to Barbadians to assist her on the road to recovery.
She is anxious to start walking again and her family is fighting to help her get to that point, but they need help.
“I just came from legitimately playing field hockey for Barbados. I was very involved in the sport and on the board. I played for Combermere.
“It was very depressing and frustrating not being able to move, can’t do anything for yourself, especially down to where I am fully dependent on my boyfriend to change my pamper.
“But I am getting stronger so I am happier and I am home now. I just want to get back on my feet again. I came a long way but I just need Barbadians to help me get further please,” Callender said, pointing out that she currently requires home care from a nurse.
While she has had to put her Bachelor’s in Physics and Computer Science on hold due to her medical challenges, she is concentrating on her Tuesday therapy sessions and making even more progress using the equipment.
She has to return to the US in six months for further medical care which will include another round of the Retuximab.
Barbadians who want to make a donation to Callender’s fund can make donations to GoFundMe account Help Rhea to get back on her feet again, organised by Shawn Ollivierre, her cousin who is based in Texas.
Donations can also be made to Republic Bank account 021530461001 which was set up by Callender’s mother Shirley Callender.
The young woman expressed gratitude to her family and friends who have remained at her side as she strives to overcome this obstacle in her life, particularly her parents Shirley and Greville Callender, sister Rachelle Morris, cousin Shawn Ollivierre, and boyfriend Daniel Williams. She is also thanking the medical teams in the US that went above and beyond to save her life.
Independent Senator Dr Kristina Hinds says the Safety and Health at Work (Amendment) Bill 2022 falls short of addressing the changing nature of the workplace, even as she expressed broad support for the legislation.
She told the sitting of the Senate on Wednesday that the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the workplace is no longer just brick and mortar establishments and the legislation should therefore have acknowledged that it can be a private residence and address critical issues related to that.
“I believe that we need amendments to acknowledge occupational health and safety when persons’ work places move into the home, move into the private sphere. The legislation, as I mentioned, relates to things that are very conventional as to what is work and where work happens,” Dr Hinds said.
She made clear that while employers were not expected to change conditions in a home or neighbourhood, steps should be taken to ensure employees working remotely can safely do their jobs while maintaining productivity.
“I do think we need to have some provisions in place so that when persons are working from home remotely, telecommuting, that they have safety considerations in mind and that these are not at their expense.
“So we know that there are provisions within office settings – ergonomics, the chairs, the padding for your typing so that people don’t get carpel tunnel [syndrome]. So these things need to be taken into consideration when we move the workplace into the home, and it’s not just in cases of emergency,” the Senator said.
She further urged authorities to take into considerationInternational Labour Organisation (ILO) provisions that call for employers to take responsibility for ensuring their workers are trained and knowledgeable about how to perform their duties safely from home.
“So it is not that we are just pushing work into someone’s private home and letting them deal with the working situationthemselves. Things need to be put in place to ensure that people know about taking breaks, about standing up, about taking breaks for your eyes, ensuring perhaps that there is some kind of division between your work space and other spaces in the house,” Dr Hinds said.
“So these are some of the things that I would have loved to have seen in the amendment. I was hoping to see an amendment that takes into consideration how we are changing the workplace, whatever that may be, so that all of those people who are in this new normal are also provided for in this new legislation,” she added.
In his contribution to the debate, Government Senator Andwele Boyce noted that the legislation not only recognises the inherent value of workers as producers of capital but seeks to provide an enabling environment to help employees work safely.
Responding to Dr Hinds’ concerns, he said Government has already embraced a flexible work arrangement policy and a Future of Work Committee chaired by Barbados Workers’ Union General Secretary Toni Moore that is plotting the way forward on the issues related to the changing world of work.
As the Senate debated the Safety and Health at Work (Amendment) Bill 2022, at least one member of the Upper House has called on the relevant authorities to pay closer attention to the design of commercial buildings and provide regular health checks for workers in high-risk environments.
Senator Dr Christopher Maynard first addressed the issue of “sick buildings”.
“Just a couple of years ago, I witnessed the demolition of the old National Insurance building on Fairchild Street, a beautiful building but one which was abandoned because of the numerous health issues staff endured while working there. I believe that if the measures in this Act are not enforced, we may lose many more buildings under similar circumstances,” he warned.
“In looking more closely at this matter, is it merely a case of inadequate maintenance, or was it that the buildings were not designed to suit this climate? Often we see new buildings going up, but when you look at them closely, are they really suited for this environment in terms of the provisions made for ventilation, and can they be maintained properly?”
In pointing out the issues at the relatively new Supreme Court Complex in Whitepark Road, which forced the closure of the building for maintenance purposes three years ago, Maynard called for regular maintenance, inspection and air quality surveys, “because if this is not done, workers will continue to suffer”.
In terms of workers and their overall safety on the job, Maynard spoke to the Workmen’s Compensation Act which was introduced in England in 1923 and is still in force, noting that some of its provisions were included in Barbados’ own National Insurance Act but often not used.
“The Workmen’s Compensation Act provides compensation for people who were injured while on their jobs. For example, those who might have gone blind, lost their hearing, or ended up with respiratory tract illnesses. Our National Insurance Act has a similar feature. For example, there are people who have become deaf after having worked in sugar factories all their lives, and under the National Insurance Act they can obtain hearing devices. However, not many people know that this exists, and in terms of this current Act, if there is no compliance or enforcement, workers will not benefit from it,” Senator Maynard said.
“Workers who are exposed to a lot of noise should have their hearing tested on a regular basis. I understand that this takes place at the airport and at the Bridgetown Port, but to my knowledge, police officers and those in the special services who are also exposed to a lot of noise in their lines of duty do not get such tests.”
Dr Maynard also expressed concern about people working on high-rise buildings without the necessary safety equipment.
“But I must commend the firm presently painting the third floor of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, because they have ensured that all their workers are wearing safety harnesses and do not let anyone start working until they are properly equipped,” he said.
The Safety and Health at Work (Amendment) Bill, 2022 should make better provisions for the island’s sanitation workers, an Independent Senator has suggested.
Senator Lindell Nurse, who praised the efforts of workers who keep the country clean, and others who clear drains and perform similar tasks, declared “it should be mandatory that sanitation workers have a free [health] examination done every six months”.
He told the Upper House during Wednesday’s debate on the Safety and Health at Work (Amendment) Bill, 2022 that this was important given the nature of their jobs,
“It is critical, I think, for those categories of workers. We spoke of the effects of the recent pandemic, and again from time to time we started to hear little things about proper equipment being available, proper PPE [Personal Protective Equipment] and so and I would like to think that we recognise that these are all important issues that have to be addressed under the safety and health legislation,” Senator Nurse said.
Fellow Independent Senator Andrew Mallalieu, in his contribution, lamented that the Bill does not adequately address the responsibilities of employees.
While expressing broad support for the legislation, he pointed out that the 136-page Bill which contains 138 sections only has 15 lines in Section 9 that place equal burden on employees for safety and health in the workplace.
“And in this [COVID-19] pandemic, what we did learn if anything at all is that we need to be responsible for each other. What personal choices we made affected everyone around us,” Mallalieu said.
Highlighting Section 9, Mallalieu pointed out that it requires and obligates employees to take reasonable care of their health and safety and that of persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions and to cooperate with their employer as far as necessary to enable the duty imposed on the employer by the Act
“I think we have missed a huge opportunity in these amendments not to address that which was in the media, in the public forum, for the last 24 months – at least since vaccinations were available since testing was available,” he said.
“It is clearly now proven that is irresponsible of someone who may be ill to go into a workplace, but why have we not taken this opportunity andthese amendments to make it absolutely clear that is an employee’s responsibility – not to bring sickness into a workplace?”
Mallalieu made clear he had no objection to the amendments, but suggested that Government should have done more to address such issues.
At least one man was injured at 2nd Avenue, Thomas Gap, President Kennedy Drive, St Michael when a gunman disrupted a quiet Wednesday afternoon with a hail of bullets.
Police say they received the report around 1:10 p.m. and one man was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) by private vehicle, while investigations are continuing into whether another man was also injured during the incident.
One resident, who spoke to the media but declined to give her name, said she was visiting her daughter and two grandchildren when gunshots shattered the peace.
“I hear these shots, shots up in the gap, then I tek off, put the little children in my daughter’s house and ran coming down, and when I get down, a car was reversing coming out and the body telling me ‘go back, go back, go back’, and when I turn in, another car pass me and went long up the gap,” she recounted.
“I thought it was my son. I saw a fellow lying on the ground. My nephew was shot in his thigh and he tell me ‘Aunty, Aunty, I get hit’.”
The resident expressed dismay at the spike in gun crime in the country.
“Gun violence real rapid…. Yuh don’t know if you are going to live today or tomorrow when you walk the road, that is how life is. But if you live by the gun, you will die by the gun,” she warned.
Another frustrated neighbour called for an end to the violence, as he expressed anger that the senseless shooting could have resulted in worse tragedy.
“This is outrageous, totally outrageous, because we got children running about this neighbourhood…. It it is one of the most peaceful neighbourhoods when you look at it, but you see this here, it isn’t good enough,” he lamented.
“Right now the [Crop Over] season coming in and people want to spend money and enjoy themselves. How you could do this here, how you could do this here In a community like this so small? It ain’t no wall houses about here…. Shots can go through board and hurt people.
“I got a son that wounded all now and … sometimes the house so hot that he comes out and breeze out at the shop next door. Fortunately for he, he went and get dressing this morning and we now come up and couldn’t even get in the neighbourhood. This isn’t good enough, it happening all around… So law enforcement, please step up and do wunna duty like normal but put more enforcement on it,” the resident urged.
As health authorities await test results from a suspected Monkeypox case, Minister of Health Ian Gooding-Edghill has confirmed that the country now has capabilities to test for the virus here.
And he has assured that authorities are fully prepared to handle any cases and would take steps to prevent any spread, while the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) has urged residents to be extra cautious as they attend Crop Over events.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George on Tuesday disclosed to Barbados TODAY that there was a suspected case of the disease – in which a Barbadian male with no travel history presented with signs of lesions on his body – and samples were sent for testing.
Minister Gooding-Eghill said on Wednesday that while samples from two previous suspected cases were sent off to the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in Trinidad for testing, and returned negative, the latest case is being tested locally.
“The Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory recently acquired the capacity to do the diagnostic test for Monkeypox and will therefore be conducting tests locally on any suspected cases. This ability by Best-dos Santos is a major accomplishment of which the Barbados health service can be justifiably proud and should be a source of comfort to all Barbadians,” he said.
“For full disclosure, the Ministry of Health and Wellness will update the public on the results of the one sample which was sent to the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory.
“To date, there have been no confirmed cases of Monkeypox in Barbados. The Ministry of Health and Wellness will continue to maintain transparency whilst adhering to patient confidentiality,” Gooding-Edghill assured.
He further assured that his Ministry will continue to take all necessary precautions to minimise the risk of any disease outbreak in Barbados, and stressed that there would be no vaccination drive at this time.
“There are no vaccines available in Barbados for Monkeypox. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that mass vaccination is not required nor recommended for Monkeypox at this time. Human-to-human spread of Monkeypox can be controlled by public health measures, including early case findings, diagnosis and care, isolation, and contact tracing,” the Health Minister said.
“The absence of vaccines should not cause undue alarm since Monkeypox is rarely fatal. The Ministry of Health and Wellness will continue to follow the WHO guidance as part of the global response. Any person presenting pox symptoms will be clinically assessed, and swabs may be taken for testing, and the patient would be required to isolate as a risk mitigation measure.”
Gooding-Edghill said the Ministry of Health and Wellness will continue to pay very close attention to the global outbreak.
He noted that from the time “this new threat to global health” emerged, the Ministry swung into action by taking the very important step of sensitising its public health professionals who are responsible for public health management.
“Let me assure the public that the Ministry of Health and Wellness is fully prepared to handle any cases of monkeypox in our nation. In addition, the Ministry’s Port Health staff will continue to conduct public health surveillance at our ports of entry,” he said.
“The Ministry’s public health team is well trained on surveillance and detection, and as has occurred in the past when faced with any global outbreaks of infectious diseases, this team will continue to monitor our borders and protect public health in Barbados. Please be aware that any travellers arriving at any of our ports with any pox symptoms will be assessed and investigated accordingly. ”
“Our state of readiness will also involve sensitising those workers who help us to maintain border control, such as Immigration, Customs, Barbados Port Inc., Grantley Adams International Airport, and others who perform a critical role at our ports of entry,” he added.
Meanwhile, BAMP President Dr Lynda Williams has cautioned residents to be extra careful regarding the risks of contracting Monkeypox during Crop Over mass gatherings, noting that the symptoms of the disease can be subtle.
“As a result, sanitisation should be upheld, and given that it is a respiratory droplets infection, the wearing of masks should also be maintained especially in close contact,” she told Barbados TODAY.
Dr Williams advised Barbadians not to wait until any potential symptoms of the virus become prominent, butto report to their doctor or health clinic at the slightest hint of a potential case.
Monkeypox is a disease that is part of the same family of viruses as smallpox and can be contracted through close intimate contact of an infected person.
Symptoms are similar to those of smallpox, but milder, and it is rarely fatal. Symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle aches and backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body, such as the hands, feet, chest, genitals or anus.
The rash goes through different stages before healing completely. The illness typically lasts two to four weeks. Sometimes people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms, while others only experience a rash.
For the second time in less than a week, Democratic Labour Party (DLP) President Dr Ronnie Yearwood has offered to work with Attorney General Dale Marshall on a bi-partisan response to the country’s troubling crime situation.
In an interview with Barbados TODAY on Wednesday, Dr Yearwood said that after hearing the AG’s latest crime plan at a press conference over the weekend, it was evident that he could use some help.
“Looking at what the AG said, I think that he is struggling. I think that he needs help, I think that he is not clear on what needs to happen given this excessive focus on policing,” said Yearwood.
“I’ve extended a hand of bipartisanship to the Attorney General at his last press conference. I understand that he accepted it, but I think those may have been mere words because since then he has not reached out to my office or to me personally to set up our first meeting and see where we are and help us understand what the government’s plan is.
“We want to know how, as the second largest vote-taking party, we can help to widen that net a little bit and bring in other social groups and NGOs and see how we can really do this together as a country,” he added.
As Yearwood spoke with Barbados TODAY, news broke of a shooting at President Kennedy Drive St Michael, adding to a spate of gun play on the island that has left 12 dead in recent weeks.
Over the weekend, the AG warned the country’s criminal elements that they would not be allowed to hold the people of Barbados for ransom.
Backed by Police Commissioner Richard Boyce, Marshall announced plans to reduce the flow of guns from source market countries noting that hundreds of guns had been taken off the streets and intercepted at the ports of entry in recent years.
But the DLP president is not convinced that the AG’s strategy addresses many of the social factors contributing to crime.
“In order for that aspect to succeed and continue to succeed and be sustainable whether in the short, medium or long term, you actually need to address the reasons why someone would take up a gun in the first place,” said Yearwood.
“The reality is that when you look at all the studies and the data, you are not just going to randomly run and take up a gun and go out there and shoot someone. There’s a whole set of push and pull factors often associated with deprivation, poverty, lack of opportunity, poor educational chances, broken families or families who are on the edge and feel shut out from mainstream society,” he added.
According to Dr Yearwood, the AG’s approach need not include just DLP representation, but could also embrace many other well-placed civil society groups and organisations.
“That is where I think the Attorney General is lacking perspective and lacking depth and that is why I propose the bipartisan approach, because I genuinely think that he needs help,” Dr Yearwood declared.
“As a party, we will help and there are loads of other people out there; sociologists, psychologists, youth workers. There are lots of people that he can bring to bear on this situation.
“This does not require some kind of cowboy, tough-man approach, where you say ‘I got this’, because we recognise you don’t have this,” said the DLP president.
Yearwood spoke of growing levels of hopelessness throughout the country due to a lack of opportunity linked to the current economic climate.
He said that the “bipartisan approach” would therefore need to look at providing better opportunities for young men, many of whom, he believes, are the main breadwinners in several households.
Dr Yearwood maintained that his approach to issues like crime would be different from Marshall’s, who, when in Opposition in 2016 called for the resignation of then AG Adriel Brathwaite.
“I don’t wish to perpetuate that kind of politics and that’s why I would hope that he has grown up to recognise that a bipartisan approach is probably the way forward. I can only wish that he has learnt from what he did when he was in opposition,” said the DLP President. (TD)
With Crop Over and other public events making a return this summer, the Central Bank of Barbados is encouraging Barbadians to be vigilant when making cash transactions and to check their money as soon as they receive it.
“The level of counterfeiting in Barbados is generally quite low, and has been even more so over the past two years,” revealed Octavia Gibson, Director of the Bank’s Currency and Payments Oversight Department. “But we don’t want people to become complacent. With the country opening back up and many mass activities on the calendar, there will be an increase in commercial activity, and it is at these times that we also tend to see an increase in counterfeiting.”
Gibson said, “Counterfeiters know that businesses are busy, people are in a hurry, and during Crop Over in particular, many of the events take place at night. So, they try to take advantage of your distraction or of poor lighting to pass you a counterfeit.”
The Central Bank official urged Barbadians to take steps to protect themselves. “Learn three or four security features and use them to authenticate your notes as soon as you receive them. Not after you get home – as soon as you receive them. It doesn’t take a long time. If it’s dark, use the flashlight on your smartphone. We have lots of information on our website and we post tips on social media regularly so you can easily find out what to look for.”
The Central Bank of Barbados has announced that it will issue a new series of banknotes that will be harder for fraudsters to replicate but easier for people to authenticate. Those notes will go into circulation on December 5. But Gibson assured the public that the current notes contain several security features that are effective.
“The key is to check your money. Counterfeiters are hoping that you won’t. They are opportunists. Don’t give them the opportunity.”
The Women In Action Network (WIA) is questioning why the Government Industrial School (GIS) is still using detention rooms with prison cell features.
During Tuesday’s tour of the $1.4 million renovation project at the GIS at Dodds, St Philip, Managing Director of Front House Designs Studio Raquel Thompson, in her capacity as Project Manager, explained that detention rooms at the reform facility would be equipped with prison grade furniture – that is, bed frames would be secured to the floor – and measures will be taken to prevent toilets in the room from being taken apart.
“It will still have a mattress, it will still have a sheet, they still are able to have pillows. So it’s just a measure so that a student or ward is not able to injure themselves. So prison grade might sound a bit harsh, but forgive my use of the term,” she had said.
But the WIA spokesperson, Tempu Nefertari questioned why the building, in its description, referred to punitive measures with respect to how the GIS wards should be treated.
“They have cells, what are the cells for? Is this a jail?” Nefertari said in an interview with Barbados TODAY.
The buildings at Dodds are being retrofitted to accommodate female GIS wards who are currently housed in Barrows, St Lucy.
Speaking to the media during the tour, Minister Abrahams indicated that the panel conducting the enquiry into the operations at the GIS is awaiting at least one more witness. He said while their work should have been completed two weeks ago, female wards absconding from the Barrows facility had delayed the process.
However, Nefertari said she has no confidence the results of the enquiry will be known anytime soon.
“Who are these witnesses that he is waiting on? Because there are a whole lot more witnesses for him to wait on, so he will have quite a few other girls to interview. So I don’t know when that report will come. I have no confidence in it and the Minister needs to get past this point,” Nefertari said.
On June 30, WIA had given Minister Abrahams a July 7 deadline to report on the findings of the enquiry.
“We have not even reached the stage where we can talk about that paradigm that is required as it relates to how we treat children and how we treat children who are at risk and how we treat children who come in contact with the law out of running for their own safety,” Nefertari said.
“We have not even begun to discuss those issues and we want to get there because the aim of this really is to restore some kind of dignity and respect when it comes to the family.
“We want to get back to having a better family life and a better society. But we are held up now dealing with this back and forth . . . . So I have no confidence in anything the Minister is saying right now,” she added.
The spokesperson suggested that Minister Abrahams listen to the WIA’s views and perspectives on what should be done for the benefit and wellbeing of Barbadian children.
The WIA group, comprising close to half a dozen non-governmental organisations and individual women from all walks of life locally and the diaspora, is focused on helping girls at the state-run GIS, several of whom allegedly have unresolved issues in relation to treatment at the institution.
Scores of warders at the adult penal institution at Dodds, St Philip have drawn the ire of their boss after attending a pool party that included ex-inmates, a situation the chief claims breaches the Prison Act and affects their jobs.
Sources closely connected to the Barbados Prison Service (BPS) informed Barbados TODAY on Wednesday that as a result, Acting Superintendent DeCarlo Payne started issuing letters of potential disciplinary action to the estimated 40 officers who attended the party, but did not complete the distribution.
Investigations revealed that one of the two prison officers who organised the paid social event, went to collect her letter but was informed it had to be re-worded before she could get it.
The initial memo signed by Payne, a copy of which has been obtained by Barbados TODAY, directed the recipients to submit in writing the reasons for their actions which the correspondence indicated could impact their employment in the prison service.
“You are hereby directed to submit in writing to the Superintendent of Prisons (Ag), reasons for your actions which when examined, appear to be in contravention of those laws which govern your terms and conditions of employment within the Barbados Prison Service,” the document stated. The letter ended by ordering that “your statement should be submitted by Thursday, 15 July, 2022. Treat as urgent.”
In the one-and-a-half-page document, the prison boss told his officers that it had been brought to his attention that on June 26, 2022, they allegedly attended a planned and promoted social event at a guest house in Christ Church.
The memo continued, “It was further alleged that a number of ex-inmates attended the said event. While the staging of the event was harmless on the surface, the damaging and alarming factor was the presence of ex-prisoners at that same location,” the prison chief pointed out.
“Consequently, this alleged occurrence is in direct contravention of the laws relating to good prison governance and the code of ethics governing the public service,” Payne wrote.
He cited Section142 of the Prison Act Cap 168 which states: “A prison officer shall not knowingly communicate or associate with an ex-prisoner, or with the friends and relatives of a prisoner or ex-prisoner, except with the permission of the officer-in-charge.”
The prison boss also referred to the Public Service Act Cap 29, Schedule 2: 4d (d) which deals with ethical standards governing particular professions. He noted that 9 (1) says “Officers must conduct themselves in a manner that will ensure the efficient and effective discharge of their duties.” However, the issuance of the letters has equally angered many of the officers, who, according to another source with intimate knowledge of the situation, immediately reached out to their attorneys-at-law while others had reportedly planned to “sick out”.“He wanted persons to ask for permission to attend a party in their private life. So persons got really mad and some have written to their lawyers. The lawyers are supposed to be sending in letters. Another set has been planning to send in sick leave. To sick out on the prisons. So as a result of that, he got word of it and he called back the letters, but by the time he got to call back the letters, some of the officers had already gone on sick leave,” the source told Barbados TODAY. The source also said various ranks were represented at the event.
“And it was good to help build camaraderie among the staff,” the source disclosed.
“How are you going to stop somebody from attending a paid party?” one prison warder asked.
Persistent calls to the acting prison superintendent went unanswered.
The Ministry of Finance’s move to swiftly meet with the hierarchy of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and the Treasury Department, to address the obviously embarrassing revelations in the Auditor General’s report is an expected and desirable move.
Many of the disclosures from the 2021 Auditor General’s Report were damning. They were not a good look for a government that is seeking to extricate itself from the crippling effects of successive global crises.
There is not much more that can be said about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, as we now face an inflation disaster.
For even though its worst effects are subsiding, the loss of gross domestic product (GDP), the near implosion of travel and tourism, and the extensive borrowing that resulted in an effort to keep the economy afloat during the pandemic are serious remnants that will take time to normalise.
The fact that individual households have been trying to keep a tight rein on expenditure, leveraging every possible cent that could be saved, Leigh Trotman’s report has understandablygalled many taxpayers.
The thought that, for example, almost $4 million in pension payments were made to the accounts of dead people, some of whom departed more than a decade ago, was the kind of stuff for which heads should roll.
This too, at a time when seniors have been bombarding the radio call-in programmes to complain about the late payment of pensions, and the impact it was having on their ability to purchase food and pay utilities.
However, Minister in the Ministry of Finance Mr. Ryan Straughn disclosed to the media that he met with top officials of the two departments and was confident the payments to the dead did not represent a “systemic” issue.
Some may argue that for accounts of deceased persons to receive cash each month for ten years, in of itself, portends to systemic deficiencies.
Tax payers will be somewhat gratified by the assurances from the Minister that some of the millions of dollars has been recovered, though we have not been told how much.
“I am satisfied that the issues raised are not systemic in relation to pensions and the process has already been started with respect to recovery of those pension funds, as that would belong to the estate of the deceased, and we will work to get those monies back.
“We are meeting with all of the financial institutions involved to be able to get this done and we have already recovered some of those monies,” Straughn was quoted as saying.
Of interest was the Minister’s statement that he was not aware of the situation and should have been informed of the issues surrounding the development.
“One of the things that I did indicate, especially to the Treasury and to the NIS, was not alerting me as to the fact that the Death Register was not available for the past three years,” he said.
We agree that as the Minister, he should be informed. But to average onlookers, this appears to be a rudimentary part of the workflow of the NIS and the Treasury, to which a supervisor or head of department should address.
Is this not what we pay our public sector functionaries and managers to address?Why should the Minister in the Ministry of Finance, who has to develop policy, introduce necessary legislative changes, manage the hundreds of millions of dollars we have borrowed, among other high level responsibilities, be consumed with the Death Registry.
Something about this scenario seems mix-matched.
We compliment the Minister for wanting to be on top of what is happening in his Ministry, but he cannot be expected to put out every grass fire in the various departments over which he has authority.
There has to be accountability by the leadership of institutions, especially those that have stewardship of our revenue collection and revenue generating arms.
Where there are deficiencies, lack of resources, outdated systems, or plain failure to perform by those who are paid to do so, then it is for the management of those entities to take the required action.
What we do want to hear from the Minister are his thoughtson the ridiculously conflicting figures between the Treasury and the Barbados Revenue Authority on receivables owed to the state.
It is more than embarrassing that these two departments could have variances of hundreds of millions on what is owed to value added tax, corporation tax, land tax and personal income tax.
Mount Gay Distilleries recently ramped up its sustainability efforts by hosting a hands-on exercise in a biodynamic-farm setting for its team members.
Managing Director Raphael Grisoni explained that the event, which was held at Peg Farm and Nature Reserve under the theme One Team, Sustainably, saw over 120 staff members split into six teams to participate in a number of activities utilizing the Mount Gay High Performance Team (HPT) Code.
He noted: “Each team completed a number of tasks ranging from gully floor clean-up to building bee-boxes, weeding, preparing kitchen garden beds, planting trees, bee-friendly plant and seasonings, feeding animals and preparing meals from local fresh produce.
“Additionally, they had to complete a sustainability quiz and prepare a presentation on their activities as part of their tasks. We wanted to make the day a fun-filled one while emphasising our sustainability mission and highlighting the simple tasks our staff members can perform from day to day in their homes and communities, which will augur well for them and the country on a whole.
“Just a few months ago we received our Bonsucro certification, which further cemented our commitment to the sustainability of not only our industry but the welfare of our employees as well and today’s activity is an extension of those efforts.”
During the event, a number of recognition awards were presented including the Top High Performer of the Year 2021-2022 which went to Sheldon Brathwaite, Maintenance Technician.
Meanwhile the Managing Director’s High Performance Team of the Year award was presented to the Commercial Department, headed by Market Manager, Anies Jordan.
The team was praised for their excellent contribution to revenue growth during the year as well as the mindset of the team members, which Grisoni described as very agile and creative.
THE Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) and the Barbados Entrepreneurship & Tourism Association (BETA) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
The two-year arrangement, intended to reinforce the strength of both organisations in the areas of advocacy and lobbying, will also facilitate the pooling of resources for training, marketing and promotional activities, among other undertakings, on behalf of members.
Chairman of the BHTA, Renée Coppin, said she was pleased to be heading the Association’s Board at this important juncture.
“Today’s signing, especially at this moment in the history of tourism, emphasises the importance of us working collaboratively.
In 2020 we signed a similar MOU with the Intimate Hotels of Barbados (IHB) which continues to be a mutually beneficial arrangement and we are delighted to be teaming up with BETA in the same manner.
“This process commenced under former chairman Geoffrey Roach and it is symbolic that he is now here as our Interim CEO during this period.
I am also pleased that we were able to finalise the agreement while our outgoing CEO Rudy Grant is still with us as he played a major role in the process.
“Within the BHTA we already have a non-hotel accommodation/villa segment which we represent but we also wanted to ensure that the Airbnb type accommodation, which BETA represents, also falls under the BHTA umbrella as this is a great opportunity for the industry to progress initiatives and strengthen the relationships within that segment of the market. We certainly look forward to representing and learning from our new members as we move forward.”
President of BETA, Dawne Pollard, stated that signing of the MOU was a milestone for the Association: “This is really an honour for BETA. Our Past President Deborah Grant started the process and our Executive team is pleased to have brought it to fruition.
Our 60 plus members are ecstatic as it indicates that BETA is now being recognised as a key player
in the shared economy within the local tourism industry and we want to thank the BHTA for this show of confidence.
“To have the backing and collaborative working arrangement with an organisation such as the BHTA gives our members a higher sense of security and will no doubt strengthen our lobbying, negotiating and promotional efforts in the shared economy and vacation rentals segment of the sector.
“We are definitely looking forward to working with the BHTA and anticipate that our agreement will pave the way for a long-lasting relationship and the exchange of valuable information and expertise between our members, which will augur well for the industry on a whole.” (PR)
A total of 311 people, 146 males and 165 females, were diagnosed with COVID-19 from the 871 tests conducted by the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory on Wednesday, July 13.
The cases consisted of 62 persons under the age of 18, and 249 who were 18 years and older.
The number of people in isolation facilities was 36, while 1,781 were in home isolation.
As at July 13, there were 479 COVID-19 related deaths.
The public health laboratory has conducted 714,126 tests since February 2020, and recorded 87,002 COVID-19 cases (39,781 males and 47,221 females).
Under the National Vaccination Programme for COVID-19, the total number of persons with at least one dose is 162,789 (71.3 per cent of the eligible population). The total number of fully vaccinated persons is 153,773 (56.7 per cent of the total population or 67.3 per cent of the eligible population). The eligible population represents those persons who are 12 years and older. (BGIS)
The Barbados Meterological Services (BMS) has issued a small craft warning and a high surf advisory for above-normal sea swells from 6 a.m on Saturday, July 16 to Sunday, July 17.
The forecasters say strong winds of up to 30 knots associated with a tropical wave will be affecting the island throughout Saturday. In response, seas along the eastern and southern coasts will gradually deteriorate becoming moderate to rough in open water with swells ranging from 2.0 to 3.0 meters. Swells are forecast to reach peak heights overnight Saturday and gradually improve throughout Sunday.
The BMS has advised all marine craft operators and beachgoers along the eastern and southern coasts to be alert for the following.
-Large open water swells can be hazardous to some vessels.
– Operation of smaller vessels can be difficult at times due to large swells.
-Some beach erosion is inevitable with most or all beaches submerged particularly below the cliffs and specifically at times of high tide.
-Possible loss of life or injury. (BMS)
