Members of the public are advised that on Monday, September 19, the day of the funeral for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the National Flag should be flown at half-staff on buildings in Barbados.
In addition, persons are further advised that Monday is not designated as a bank holiday in Barbados. (BGIS)
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A video circulating via WhatsApp that shows a cockroach on a loaf of bread, allegedly manufactured by Purity Bakeries (Purity), has been reported to the Police as a blackmail attempt intended to injure the Company, following Purity’s refusal to pay a significant sum of money to the complainant.
Purity informs the public that the police are presently investigating this matter, and the Company is asking persons to whom the video has been circulated to carefully consider their actions before perpetuating the fraud against the Company by forwarding the referenced video.
The Company has a well-established consumer-friendly product-returns procedure by which it addresses legitimate product complaints.
Purity is committed to the highest standards of production and quality control in the manufacture and delivery of all its products to valued customers in Barbados, as is evidenced by its rigorous internal hygiene regimen, and adherence to internationally accredited food safety standards.
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By Morissa Lindsay
Darian King has turned into the saviour for Barbados as he once again came to the rescue and won his singles match in straight sets against Osgar O’Hoisin of Ireland to draw level in the first round World Group ll Davis Cup tie at 1-1, at the National Tennis Centre, Wildey, St. Michael.
After Matthew Foster-Estwick lost 6-2, 6-1 against Ireland’s number one ranked player Simon Carr on the opening day of competition, it was left up to King – winning 7-6, 6-3 – not to let the Irish go up two straight in the tie heading into the second and final day of competition tomorrow.
During the post-match interview, King said that he felt amazing to register the win over O’Hoisin knowing that this has been six months since he played tennis. “First match in six months playing on home soil against a good team Ireland. We see how Osgar played today. We can tell he is on tour playing a lot of matches. For me I am just happy and excited to be playing for my country again but also being back on court.”
King added: “We needed the win, we were down 1-0 and I am glad that I was able to deliver.”
With the Barbados and Ireland flags being flown at half-staff as a sign of respect to the late Queen Elizabeth II of England, the first match got underway at 1:30 p.m. because of persistent rain. However, when the hardcourt dried, it was an intense battle by the top players from both countries.
King won the toss and opted to receive as the 811-ranked O’Hoisin took the lead 1-0 but it did not take that much long for the national ace to equalize. Knowing that Barbados’ hopes in the singles rested on his shoulders, King, currently ranked 868 needed to take care of business against O’Hoisin who went ahead 2-1.
The rallies between the two players were entertaining to watch, with some fantastic shot selections. King, with those great forehand and backhand swings, was patient in his approach to O’Hoisin, forcing the Irish to make the mistakes. That resulted in King equalizing 2-2 and in search of the break point but that never materialized because O’Hoisin extended the lead 3-2 in his favour.
That was okay in the eyes of King as he answered the challenge of responding each time from behind 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 6-6 but O’Hoisin showed great resistance not to allow the Bajan ace to take the lead. King at times struggled to get his returns over the net but that did not really matter in the end because he got the job done in the first set 7-6, winning the tiebreak 9-7.
The second set was no different as King upped his game as well as O’Hoisin accounting for the first break point of the match accompanied with a 2-1 lead. But King with great composure came from behind and equalized 2-2 in which he broke O’Hoisin and had his first hold of the match at 3-2 which was the position he needed to be in with victory in sight.
King continuously held the upper hand as he found a rhythm and played tennis like the world class player he is, not discrediting the tremendous play of O’Hoisin who had his moments.
However, as King who won the second set 6-3 said during Wednesday’s press conference before the tie, anyone who wants to beat him on home soil has to come good and his excellent home record remained tops after two hours of competitive tennis.
In the other encounter, Ireland number one player Simon Carr with a world ranking of 767 won the toss and asked Foster-Estwick who went into the match as the underdog to serve. It was a positive start from the Barbadian with his strong attacking style of play.
Even though Foster- Estwick won the first point in what was an aggressive start, he needed to slow it down a bit especially with those long serves that went out of bounds.
Carr capitalized on those errors and managed to tie the game 1-1 and took a 3-1 advantage in the opening set. Foster- Estwick needed to reduce his power going after those forehand shots and particularly the backhand returns in the front court.
Capturing the fifth point was a must for Foster-Estwick and after being down 30-0 he dug deep to win 40-30 finishing the point off in style with a lovely volley to trail 2-3 and keep his hopes alive in the set.
However, Foster- Estwick while executing brilliantly at crucial moments of the match was also growing in frustration at his unforced errors. There were times he double faulted but once he got the serves right they were beautiful to watch especially those aces.
It is evident that Foster- Estwick’s game has improved thanks to competition played on the International Tennis Federation Futures circuit. Even though he struggled to get his serves over the nets with sweat dripping from his palms which seemed part of the reason he was unable to grip his racquet properly, technically his game looked good.
Carr with his tremendous serves that had lots of power and speed behind them, advanced and went on to take the opening set 6-2 and put the Barbadian number two seed under a bit of pressure.
In the second set Foster- Estwick serving from the end closest to the National Aquatic Centre did similar to what he did in the first stanza and got off to a good 1-0 start.
Knowing that a win in the second period was a must, Foster- Estwick needed to bring his best and each point won was met with a fist pump and rightfully so given Carr on paper is Ireland’s best player and far from a walkover.
Carr did similarly to what he did in the first set and came from behind in the second to once again tie and then went on to lead 4-1 over Foster- Estwick.
At that stage of the game, whether Foster-Estwick could come from behind remained to be seen. There were the constant calls for Foster-Estwick to stay locked in but unfortunately he was unable to hold on and lost the second set 6-1.
Tomorrow at 10 a.m. the doubles will take place as King and Haydn Lewis will team up against Conor Gannon and Osgar O’Hoisin followed by the reverse singles. morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb
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Two young men got lucky on Friday when they avoided being remanded to prison after missing their court dates.
Contending that he had witnessed too many people in the last two weeks failing to turn up to court on the right days, Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes initially told assault accused Edgrick Livingstone Yearwood and alleged thief Jeremy Che Weekes that he was going to make “an example out of them”.
When they reappeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court and were asked why they did not make their scheduled court appearances, Yearwood told Magistrate Weekes he had forgotten his date. He said he had also contacted his surety who did not know the date either.
Meanwhile, Weekes – who the Chief Magistrate said was not related to him – indicated that he had written down his date as September 16 instead of September 15, the correct date.
Yearwood, 21, of Maxwell Coast Road, Christ Church had been on $2 000 bail after pleading not guilty to assaulting Vinara Hinds on March 28, 2022.
Weekes, a 24-year-old resident of Welches Terrace, St Michael, was on $350 bail after he denied stealing 24 packs of chocolate valued $44.90 belonging to PriceSmart Inc., on September 26, 2019.
“I am tired of a lot of you accused persons not understanding how important it is to know your date, and I am tired of sureties not taking their responsibility seriously. This has been happening regularly for the last two weeks.
“When people miss their dates, we have challenges and my staff has to work harder but y’all do not care. The fact that the surety does not even know the date shows they are not taking their responsibility seriously either,” the Chief Magistrate said.
“There is only one good way for you to understand and for the sureties to understand. That is to either remand the two of you today or to take money from the sureties. If the two of you do not return to this room today with your sureties, it will not end well.”
It was at this time that Yearwood indicated to the court that his surety, an attorney-at-law, was out of the island.
After being directed to stand in the court for about 15 minutes, the Chief Magistrate then gave each man 90 seconds to state their case in order to keep their freedom.
“I take responsibility for missing my date but I have never missed a court date in the last three years. I would also like to get up and go to work in the morning,” Weekes, who went first, said.
“You escaped the noose,” was the Chief Magistrate’s reply.
Weekes then chose to change his plea to guilty. He will return to court on September 23 when the facts will be read and he will be sentenced.
After much prompting from the Chief Magistrate, Yearwood then said: “The main reason I don’t want to be remanded is because I am currently working and I have never missed a court date in my life. I also have a child on the way.”
The Chief Magistrate accepted his response, congratulated him, and gave him March 27, 2023, as his date to return to court.
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Chairman of the Employment Rights Tribunal (ERT) Mr Justice Christopher Blackman carries a significant load on his shoulders as the lead arbiter of disputes involving the cases of unfair dismissal of workers in this country.
Justice Blackman, who enjoyed an impressive career as a jurist on the local Appeals Court bench before his retirement, has been an important advocate, not only for workers who have sought justice from this quasi-judicial body, but he has also pushed for the strengthening of the institution itself.
The ERT chairman has been consistent in his rulings, which have often gone against wayward employers. There have also been cases in which employees were told there was no merit to their claims.
He has advised repeatedly that employers should simply follow the law and give workers due process before seeking to be punitive in the handling of infractions and other disputes.
In a November 2019 address to the Barbados Employers’ Confederation (BEC) Justice Blackman lamented that employers were too quick to fire workers without due process and in flagrant violation of the law, thus leading to them being ordered to make large compensation payouts to workers for unfair dismissal.
“The Employment Rights Tribunal is largely concerned with the process . . . . It speaks to fairness. Largely speaking, employers sometimes act on will, and as a consequence, they have to pay for it.”
Making specific reference to the case of Debra Brathwaite versus First Citizens Bank in which the former employee was awarded more than $300 000, the ERT head expressed bewilderment at the actions of the financial institution.
He queried what would have led the bank to fire Brathwaite – an employee of over 20 years – for a first-time offence that appeared to be an innocent mistake.
The ERT chairman has also had to defend the ERT from unwarranted attacks, rejecting suggestions that it had some animus towards employers.
Justice Blackman has also publicly chastised Government too for not providing the necessary resources to efficiently operate the Tribunal so that it does not replicate the ridiculous backlog that exists in our criminal and civil courts.
Despite the efforts of Justice Blackman to dispose of as many cases through the case management process and eliminate the need to engage in lengthy hearings, we submit that not enough is being done to adjudicate the pile-up of cases brought by aggrieved.
Workers who have been made jobless and their lives upended by the actions of managers and business owners should not face double jeopardy from the system that is supposed to protect them.
The current system is simply not working fast enough. A dismissed worker does not have the luxury of four, five, or 10 years waiting for the ERT to even commence the process, far less see it through to a determination.
Justice delayed is justice denied. If this holds true in courts at Whitepark Road in Bridgetown, it also holds true for the Employment Rights Tribunal. The ERT has been labelled by a Barbados Workers’ Union representative as falling short of its mandate. We concur.
There are too many complaints from dismissed workers that they remain in ERT purgatory with no word on when they will get justice.
Mr Justice Blackman, to his credit, has been most vocal about the lack of a permanent home for the Tribunal, the lack of simple resources like a pool of administrative support staff to effect the proper work flow of the ERT office.
We credit the chairman for his call to empower the ERT to deal harshly with employers who fail to pay awards that have been ordered by the Tribunal.
We also support Justice Blackman’s condemnation of attorneys who are also contributing to delays at the Tribunal by not prioritizing hearings of that body.
We have had promises from Minister of Labour Mr Colin Jordan to provide more backup on the legislative end. He has asserted that drafting instructions have been given to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel’s Office to amend the Public Contracts Act to deny contracts to businesses that owe government and awards to unfairly dismissed workers.
That is a good move Mr Minister but also give the ERT the resources needed to make it efficient so that workers can get a fair hearing in a timely manner.
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Officials of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) are pleading with authorities to do more to urgently tackle the issue of gun violence and to remove the remaining COVID-19 restrictions, which they say continue to make the destination uncompetitive.
Chairman of the BHTA Renée Coppin warned that if the violence was not arrested then the struggling industry, which has been suffering from very little business over the past two-and-a-half-years could come under even more pressure.
She argued that while she understood there were some impacts from international threats over which the island had no control including the climate crisis, inflation and “rumours of war”, BHTA members were concerned about the threat of violence on the island and the COVID-19 measures.
Coppin said while they feared drawing attention to the issue by speaking about it, the association feels that if they keep quiet “then we do not lend our voice and support to the efforts to reduce it”. This, she said, placed them “between a rock and a hard place”.
“We are a destination which has safety as one of its brand planks and so, any increase in crime is a threat to our industry,” she said.
Last month was recorded as one of the bloodiest months for Barbados this year, with the shooting death of several individuals and injury of others. A number of the shootings took place shortly after the Attorney General Dale Marshall and Commissioner of Police Richard Boyce addressed the crime situation in a briefing.
Last week, Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that Government intended to amend the Firearms Act to introduce new sentencing as she called for a “whole of nation approach” to tackling the upsurge in gun violence.
Coppin argued that a full recovery of the tourism industry was paramount to being “part of the solution to giving our people options and opportunities outside of crime”. As such, she said the BHTA was prepared to work with communities, schools, civil society and government “to combat the scourge of lawlessness”.
“Barbados must be made safe for all of us and, when that happens, we do not need to worry about whether it is safe for tourists,” she said.
In relation to the further extension of the Emergency Management Act and the COVID-19 protocols, Coppin said the BHTA could no longer keep “quiet or be coy” about it, as she noted that the industry wanted answers.
“To what end? When does this end? We in tourism have had to bear the brunt of Barbadian’s ire during COVID about prioritising livelihoods over lives. We faced backlash from our calls for persons to get vaccinated and select vaccine mandates.
“We have had to defend ourselves every time we called for the country to open and allow our sector to rebuild. I wish to say that there is no contradiction between the need to earn in order to live and to live in order to earn,” said Coppin.
Her comments came as she addressed the BHTA’s quarterly meeting and panel discussion on Friday at the Mount Gay Visitor’s Centre.
Earlier this week, Minister of Health and Wellness Ian Gooding-Edghill announced that the protocols would be extended for another three months.
“It has been a long and difficult road for our families, businesses and the government, but we have a duty to maintain our surveillance and take the necessary precautions,” he told lawmakers on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday.
However, Coppin told BHTA members that while tourism industry officials take pride in the fact that they supported the Ministry of Health by implementing and enforcing the measures, it was time for them to be further relaxed.
She pointed to a “relatively stagnant” vaccination rate and declining positivity rates. “We feel that a more targeted response is required at this stage so that we protect the most vulnerable without imposing undue restrictions on all.”
“The time has come for us to return to being responsible, self-determining human beings. The time has passed for the state to feel the need to manage and direct us. We are therefore asking for an end to those things that make mandatory what should by now be a matter of choice,” said Coppin.
“We would primarily ask that the mandatory mask mandate be removed and that masks only be mandatory in high-risk settings. We would also like that the distinctions between vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers come to an end. In the face of a barrage of external threats, please give us the best chance to have our best winter,” she pleaded.
Referencing a recent presentation by President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Nicola Madden-Grieg, Coppin said it was noted that the removal of the COVID-19 restrictions in the majority of the islands across the region was contributing to the growth in the tourism sector regionally.
However, questioning why Barbados continued to maintain its restrictions, Coppin said “There has been no indication of any concomitant negative health impacts for these islands when compared to Barbados. What I am trying to say is that they have had no worse health outcomes but have had significantly better tourism outcomes.”
Newly appointed CEO of the BHTA Geoffrey Roach also joined the call for an easing of the measures, as he recalled that it was after a meeting with Ministry of Health officials last month that the 10-day quarantine was reduced to seven days.
“The association will continue to make representation on the other areas such as mask-wearing which is perhaps the remaining single largest potential determining factor on the decisions of potential visitors,” said Roach.
“While not specifically a protocol, as we see protocols, a requirement for travel is to complete the BIMsafe app. The experience has been that the BIMsafe app continues to be a bugbear as it does not always work as it is expected to, and as such can create a negative to the travel experience, even before embarking the aircraft. If the app cannot be made fit-for-purpose in short order, its use should be discontinued,” he recommended.
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An independent body should be set up to manage and distribute pensions to elderly people who are at risk of being cheated out of their money, particularly in the absence of trustworthy caregivers.
That recommendation has been made in the draft National Policy on Ageing for Barbados 2022-2023 which suggested that agency would work closely with the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) to put stringent measures in place to ensure the finances of senior citizens are not abused or mismanaged.
Lead consultant on the policy, Professor Dwayne Devonish, said the proposed body would also work with other relevant agencies, family members, community members, and vigilant caregivers to build and execute robust surveillance and reporting systems and protocols for monitoring, investigating, and addressing matters related to the misuse and abuse of pensions and other social security benefits of older people.
He highlighted some areas of the draft policy during a national consultation hosted by the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on Friday.
Another key area, Professor Devonish said, is educating older people and their caregivers about the rights of those senior citizens to “sound and proper use and management of their pensions and other social security benefits to sustain their protection and care”.
He said there is also a need to continually educate, guide, and instruct people who are seeking permission to act on behalf of elderly persons about “their duty of care and responsibilities in the management of pensions, social security of the elderly beneficiaries”.
The University of the West Indies Cave Hill campus professor pointed to another suggestion in the document that work be done to extend acceptable and improved social security coverage through targeted and approved legal and other structural reforms, for older people with little or no social security coverage.
The draft policy also calls for efforts to support and advocate for the rights of older people to get jobs.
Professor Devonish said legislation, policies, and other interventions at national and institutional levels should be used to remove social barriers to older people gaining and maintaining employment.
“Some of these initiatives may include enabling older people to continue to work as long as they want to work and are able to work and/or removing disincentives to working beyond retirement, and eliminating age barriers affecting older people wanting to find and maintain jobs and alleviating the onset of disadvantages experienced by older workers in employment situations,” he said.
“Organise tripartite interventions among government, employers, and trade unions to encourage and incentivise employers to hire and retain older workers in organisations, as well as invest in training and development opportunities to reskill and upskill these workers to maintain their levels of motivation, morale, and productivity within the workspace,” he added.
Professor Devonish said the National Policy on Ageing is one of the most progressive attempts to address several issues facing the elderly and he called on all stakeholders in the public and private sectors, as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs), to work in tandem to support and protect Barbados’ elderly population.
“We have a policy document – it is in draft form, it’s being finalised but we need to ensure that the implementation is done properly. We are calling for not just the Government, but all stakeholder partners to come together….
“This is what we call a whole of country approach to this policy response. That’s why we have this session here, where we are saying that even though the Government, through the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs has commissioned this exercise, we are asking people to come on board to provide, not just at the conceptualisation stage where we are still at, but also at the execution and even the monitoring and evaluation periods,” Professor Devonish added.
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President of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Dr Ronnie Yearwood is calling on Barbadians locally and in the diaspora to present themselves to serve as candidates for the next General Elections.
Dr Yearwood announced on Friday that all seats in the party are vacant and invited prospective candidates to step forward as efforts to build a new DLP moves full steam ahead.
“Every single one of the 30 seats is vacant and I issue a call for all Barbadians to step forward to serve their country. It cannot be any clearer that this new party is turning a leaf and we are getting ready.
“If you want to be a part of this big tent, this new politics, understanding the underlying principles of service, duty, accountability, transparency, openness and you have a genuine desire to serve your country, step forward. We want to hear from you as we embrace new talent and new prospective candidates to deliver what Barbadians are calling for, a new Democratic Labour Party,” Dr Yearwood said.
Delivering the featured remarks at the DLP’s Astor B Watts lunchtime lecture, at the George Street Auditorium, Belleville, St Michael, the leader said the party would announce when persons interested in becoming candidates can write to the party and indicate interest and in which constituency.
He said prospective candidates will be required to present relevant documents, including curriculum vitae, police certificate of character, testimonials, in addition to outlining their plans for the constituency they are seeking to represent.
“You will have a transparent scorecard so you know the areas that you are being scored on. You will know exactly what is required of you, and you will know exactly what would happen in the process. You will come to the party, the branches, there will be discussions, there will be interviews and then there will be a selection process to let you know if you have passed. So this will be a serious, detailed, step by step process.”
He also gave notice that he would be calling on certain organs and persons within the party to develop what he has referred to as an empowerment test.
“We cannot do things the same way and expect different results. If I am serious about empowerment, I have to have a method, a way to test it. . .There has to be a test by which you measure policies to see if it is working, you can’t be shooting blind,” he said.
The party president declared to supporters that he would be unafraid and uncompromising in executing his job to get the party ready to govern.
A confident Dr Yearwood said that politics alone does not make a country. He declared that good leadership is also necessary to ensure successful governance.
“That is why I am calling for this new policy. A new politics that is people-focused. A new politics that has participation where people can have a say,” the law lecturer at the University of the West Indies (UWI) said. He noted his readiness to hear what Barbadians have to say and what type of Barbados they want to live in.
“It makes no sense for me to sit here at George Street, in an office, writing policies, developing things for a party that has not heard the people. There will be a disconnect. I have a Barbados in my head that I want to create, but that may not be the Barbados that most people want.
“I have to understand what you want so that I can deliver on that promise. Fundamentally, a new Democratic Labour Party government must and will be, under my leadership, committed to empowering all Barbadians. And that must run through every single thing that we do,” he said.
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Health authorities have announced an initiative to address the eye surgery backlog at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) and they are hoping to show significant progress in three months.
Minister of Health and Wellness Ian Gooding-Edghill told a Down To Brass Tacks radio talk show on Starcom Network on Friday that he is on a mission to cut the number of patients waiting for cataract surgeries and to improve care in the shortest possible time.
The minister promised to monitor the situation over the next three months, assuring the public that if the numbers did not reach the targeted level, he would turn to the Cubans for additional manpower. He said when he took up the ministry, there were 1,750 patients waiting for cataract surgery, but after meeting with the Department of Opthalmology, he was assured the backlog had started to be reduced.
“On a monthly basis, I am requesting the number of surgeries being performed on the patients with cataracts. The information I will give you will be at September 12. We have conducted 34 public surgeries. Those were surgeries that were performed.
“Back in July there were 68 completed and in August, the number was a bit lower, 34, but there were issues related to doctors with COVID and therefore they couldn’t operate. What has been provided to us is that the opthamologists are prepared to do at least 95 cases per month,” Gooding-Edghill said. He noted that the eye specialists had experienced some challenges with the equipment, almost all of which have now been resolved.
“We have had to source additional packs. These are packs that are used for cataract surgeries, and we are expected to receive 120 from Trinidad and Tobago and another 300 from a local supplier this week,” he revealed.
Gooding-Edghill also said he had directed the QEH to ensure it has at least 750 packs to ensure that there are no delays in surgery due to the unavailability of such packs.
“We have also identified additional space at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital that can be easily retrofitted to allow for more surgeries to be performed,” he told his radio audience. “We are taking steps to bring this on stream. But I can tell you we are committed to reducing the backlog without compromising other eye surgeries,” the minister said.
He disclosed that the plan also involves increasing the number of nurses so that cataract procedures can be done in the morning and in the afternoon.
“In the longer term, we will also have to look at another theatre. We are working on that. But our immediate goal is to clear the backlog of cataract surgeries, and I give you the assurance that I will be monitoring progress on a monthly basis,” he pointed out.
“There has to be a high sense of urgency in dealing with the cataract because obviously, it can lead to blindness,” he added.
“We will ensure that the doctors have the equipment and they have the necessary resources. But at the same time, we have to measure progress because if we still have a population asking and people complaining that they can’t get the surgeries, then we have to have plan B.
“So plan B is an opportunity to seek assistance where required and if necessary,” the minister pointed out. “What I will do is that I will monitor the monthly reports, I will see where we are going over the next three months in respect of the number of surgeries performed.
“Obviously, if we hit the target, everything is a home run as they say in baseball. If that doesn’t happen, I must tell you that I will have to continue discussions with the Cuban Ambassador with a view of obviously having additional resources to mobilise to get to Barbados,” he disclosed.
Emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb
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Minister of Health and Wellness Ian Gooding-Edghill has revealed plans to spend more than $160 million to replace equipment at the island’s only public hospital over a five-year period.
He has also recommended the creation of a fund to pay for improvements to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) plant in the longer term.
Gooding-Edghill spoke about the planned capital expenditure programme while appearing on Down To Brass Tacks on Starcom Network on Friday, when he said he would be taking a comprehensive proposal to the Ministry of Finance shortly.
“I came up with a five-year capital plan. We have to discuss it with the Ministry of Finance and, subject to their approval, we are going to spread the replacement over five years.
“It’s not a situation where we are going to buy everything in one year. In the first two years we have projected, based on the plan that we have, we will spend in excess of $60 million and then obviously the remainder over the next [three] years that will be well over $100 million,” the Health Minister disclosed.
Gooding-Edghill has also put forward the idea of a capital expenditure retention fund so money for new equipment beyond those five years would be readily available.
He explained that seven to ten per cent of the QEH revenues could be set aside every year “and put in a fund to replace equipment on an annual basis”.
“So, let’s say you do it in this first year, then you can spend that money in equipment replacement in the second year while you also collect,” Gooding-Edghill said, adding that this fund would help to keep the hospital plant in good shape.
He said among other initiatives under consideration is the relocation of the QEH’s non-clinical services to its Enmore compound, opposite the hospital’s main building, where other administrative offices are currently located.
“So, if we can build out that area and take the non-clinical services out of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, like administration and so on, that will free up the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for more clinical services to be performed,” the Minister told his radio audience.
“The other issue has to be the Lion’s Eye Care Centre, on the third floor especially, where we are going to have to build out… We are looking to see how best the hospital can carry this cost and once we have finalised the scope of work, then we would be in a better position to do what we have to do.”
The Health Minister said that with several capital projects and other plans in the pipeline to improve services at the QEH and related areas, the hospital needs all the funding it can get. emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb
He pointed out that the Health Services Contribution (HSC) Levy which was introduced in October 2018 to help fund QEH operations has been assisting the hospital in its cash management.
“Truth be told, the QEH needs at least $200 million to make sure that we cover all of our costs and do all of our services. But Government has been very good to the QEH and to the Ministry of Health and they continue to provide us with the resources.
“What we have to do now is to perhaps get better and keep [efficient],” Minister Gooding-Edghill said.
He reported a steady decline in revenue from the HSC levy between 2019 and August this year.
In 2021, the Government collected $49.9 million, which was down from the $53.7 million collected in 2020. In 2019, revenue from the levy stood at $59.3 million.
Taxpayers have so far this year paid $46.6 million.
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The Barbados Water Authority (BWA) is warning that its ability to supply the vital resource is in jeopardy because of customers’ non-payment of more than $26 million in arrears.
General Manager Keithroy Halliday served notice on Friday as he appealed to delinquent customers to take advantage of the extended grace period which the BWA is giving to settle their accounts.
Customers now have until the end of October to make arrangements to pay their bills, failing which their water supply will be cut off.
“Given that we have exercised all possible measures of leniency for the past 30 months, it is clear that we can no longer continue to do so. As bills continue to be unpaid and our arrears have climbed to over $26 million, this is untenable and, if continued, will severely affect the Barbados Water Authority’s ability to produce water as we will not be able to pay our bills in turn or our salaries or our suppliers,” Halliday cautioned.
“If everyone, therefore, makes an effort to pay what is arguably the most valuable commodity and start to put the Barbados Water Authority first, we will be able to reverse the current climbing trend of arrears and ensure that we can continue to do our part and improve on the safe delivery of water and wastewater services for all of us. Help us to help you,” the general manager pleaded.
Halliday has encouraged indebted customers to visit the BWA’s Pine, St Michael headquarters between 8.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. to work out a payment plan.
“Our repayment plan teams have been trained and they are on standby to assist you in working out a most appropriate flexible plan,” he assured.
“…. We have already extended the grace period until the end of October of this year to ensure that each of you… has an opportunity to come in and settle your arrears.
“Following this period of amnesty, the BWA will have no choice but to recommence the disconnection of the water services of customers whose accounts are still in arrears, once no effort has been made to engage the Authority to settle the debt,” Halliday warned.
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Tourism officials are upbeat about a promising winter season ahead, and are already outlining plans to address a weak summer 2023 through targeted marketing.
With the industry currently suffering from a lower than usual summer period, Chairman of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) Renée Coppin reported on Friday that the association was in the final stages of developing a two-tiered campaign intended to capture what business it could for the remaining few weeks of the period and drive forward bookings for summer 2023.
“The campaign will utilise bookbarbados.com as the primary conversion mechanism. Our recent Crop Over campaign, which was done in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. demonstrated how effective this booking engine can be if marketed effectively,” she told the BHTA’s quarterly meeting at the Mount Gay Visitors’ Centre.
“That weekend promotion saw an exponential increase in bookings on the platform and directly for the members involved. We are confident that with the appropriate targeted marketing and messaging we can replicate that success in our planned marketing campaign,” she said.
For July occupancy was 52.7 per cent, reflecting a 19.8 per cent decline when compared to July 2019, the last “normal year” for the industry. Average occupancy for January to July was 61.8 per cent, compared to 72.2 per cent in 2019.
Coppin said: “We are in recovery mode and the most promising sign of that recovery is that our average daily rates are showing positive signs,” she said.
She reported that average daily rates for the year to date have increased by three per cent from $541.49 in 2019 to $609.20 in 2022. However, the revenue per available room, which was impacted by the decline in occupancies, showed a decline of 10.2 per cent, dropping from $439.11 in 2019 to $394.27 in 2022.
However, an upbeat Coppin said the good news was that winter was “looking promising not only in relation to occupancies [but] members are also reporting good booking pace”.
She said while the hotel accommodation segment will continue to limp through summer with a 43 per cent occupancy projected for this month and a 39 per cent for October, “from November we are encouraged by the projections received of 63 per cent.”
“For December, January and February members have respective projections of 58, 57 and 62 per cent. In polling our other accommodation sectors, we see a similarly encouraging trend,” she said.
Pointing to the need for better tracking performance for the villa segment, Coppin said over 30 per cent of them have reported so far and have indicated that occupancy projected were: 35 per cent for October, 55 per cent for November, 54 per cent for December, 59 per cent for January and 64 per cent for February.
“These numbers are higher when we include periods where the villas will be owner-occupied,” she said.
Also reporting on the sharing economy, Coppin said the Barbados Entrepreneurship and Tourism Association membership was seeing encouraging levels of bookings from February to March next year with some being fully booked from November this year to May, mainly with repeat guests.
“They have recorded some cancellations due to the economic challenges in the UK, specifically the falling rate of the pound,” added Coppin.
She also pointed to a promising cruise season, noting that after no business this summer, cruise services provider Foster Ince has indicated that the upcoming winter season should be around 75 per cent of 2019 levels with an estimated 510,000 passengers.
The BHTA chairman said “We have also been utilising their expertise in trying to rally support from government for a cruise programme to again generate summer business to the destination. The idea is to utilise the smaller cruise lines and work with other southern Caribbean destinations to develop a suite of incentives to create summer itineraries that include our islands. We have been advised that, while we are now too late for 2023, there are considerations and efforts being made by the BTMI for summer 2024.”
Newly-selected Chief Executive Officer of the BHTA Geoffrey Roach pointed to lower than usual airlift for the challenging summer reported.
“In comparing the 2022 summer months against those of 2019 we can see clearly that the occupancies are still lagging the 2019 level. We believe that one of the primary reasons for this has been the level of airlift into Barbados when compared to 2019 levels,” he suggested.
“As anticipated, the supply of rooms has returned to 2019 levels as the island has sought to attract business. We observed a fall-off in the supply immediately after the impact of COVID, with a steady increase in room supply through 2020 to the start of the 2021/2022 winter season. This signals that the country is ready to receive business,” he said.
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A 28-year-old St Michael man is expected to appear in the District A Criminal Court on Saturday on three charges, including cruelty to animal.
Hastings police arrested Davino Shakell Howard, 28, of Bullen’s Avenue, Dalkeith Road on Friday.
Howard is also charged with failing to licence a dog and withholding information.
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By Michron Robinson
The passing of British monarch Queen Elizabeth II has been met with sadness at home and abroad, marking an end of an era. But in some local quarters, young Barbadians say they feel numb to the sadness felt by pro-monarchists.
Barbados TODAY took to the streets to speak with some young academics about their thoughts on the passing of the Queen and its effect on them.
Eighteen-year-old Azaria Strickland expressed sympathy for the royal family but explained that she felt unaffected by it.
“It doesn’t really have an effect on me. It may have an effect on my family because they grew up in those times, you know like when she was really alive and she was more active but for me personally, with the controversy around her and her family I have a bias especially [because of the stories of how they treated our ancestors,” she explained.
“It is a sad outcome with her because she was the Queen of England and everyone looked up to her, but for me, it doesn’t mean anything,” she added nonchalantly.
Another eighteen-year-old who gave her name as “Alexis” said that the Queen’s rule was well executed and for that her respect is earned.
“I feel that she will be missed because she was [a historic figurehead] and because you had people who came and died during her reign which I think means a lot. I think for a woman to be alive and [reign] for more than seven decades is a lot.
I feel that she was a great woman and she did accomplish a lot of stuff during her time and she made a difference,” she said.
Alexis added though that stories surrounding colonization were a concern especially since they were still unaddressed issues.
“However, she did encourage a lot [of colonization] as they said the crown she wore and the jewels in her palace did belong to other countries like Africa and India so in my opinion from that aspect she was not the best but she did accomplish a lot,” she added.
Shamar Robinson suggested that at the Queen’s advanced age, her death was to be expected.
“The news of the Queen’s passing was not [a big deal] for me because I know at her age, obviously she would have to go at some point – although it is unfortunate and I share my condolences to her and also her family. The Queen’s passing was expected.
“The Caribbean on a whole – we are moving away from the Queen [so this isn’t that big for me] that’s my take on it,” he added.
Twenty-two-year-old Johnathan Thomas also shared in the general feeling of disinterest within the young population.
“It did not really have an effect on me obviously because the Queen is overseas and many Bajans don’t associate with the Queen or anything like that. So it was like it happened and it was just a regular day for me,” he said.
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by Michron Robinson
Residents of the Christ Church East constituency say they will remember their late former Member of Parliament Dr Denis Lowe as a committed, dependable representative and a man of his word.
And although he has not represented them in four years, having failed to win his seat in the last two general elections in 2018 and 2022, they say his passing has left an unfillable void.
The clinical psychologist, who served as MP for the area for two terms under previous Democratic Labour Party (DLP) administrations, died on Friday at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).
Parish Land resident Deborah Trotman, who worked as Dr Lowe’s secretary in his constituency office for 10 years, told Barbados TODAY the former Minister of Environment and Drainage was “very helpful, loving, and fun to be with”.
“He was a people’s person and he would mingle with anybody. He would come and lime with the guys on the block. You would not even believe that he was a minister because he [mixed] with everybody, he was a very pleasant person,” she recalled.
Trotman said she would always remember how Lowe helped constituents when he first won the seat in 2008.
“He was committed to the job and he really helped a lot of people around here with homes, jobs, and whatever it is,” she said.
Sharing her own experience of how Dr Lowe eased her family’s burdens tremendously, Trotman added: “He helped my family a lot. He gave my son a job. My sister passed and then my niece and he helped us a lot and he will be sorely missed.”
“I know that they would not find anyone like Dr Lowe again – not in this constituency.”
Another Parish Land resident, 56-year-old Barbara Best, said she met the former MP when he started canvassing ahead of the 2008 general elections and he proved himself a true friend and worthy leader.
“I know Dr Lowe from coming around and introducing himself to us and telling us to give him a chance, and he made sure that he did not leave out anybody in the community,” she reflected.
“If there is anything that he could assist us with, he did. There was nothing that you asked and he couldn’t assist with; he would try as best he could.”
Best said Dr Lowe’s death had been a surprising and hard blow.
“I felt really bad, that’s the honest truth, because when I was in desperate need of work I went to him and he did say that he would make sure that I get a job [and I did],” the National Conservation Commission worker added.
In Sayes Court, a woman who gave her name as Winifred agreed that Dr Lowe’s legacy would be hard for anyone to follow.
“Dr Lowe cannot be replaced in no form or fashion, don’t care who come,” she said passionately.
“From the time [he] came in this constituency he was doing. Even when he wasn’t a minister he was still helping the people. He really can’t be replaced.”
Winifred wished the next DLP candidate the best of luck but insisted that they would have to be willing to sacrifice.
“Whoever come got to come with a big heart, a strong mind, and got to be willing to work,” she said.
Dr Lowe was known to host annual football tournaments and various activities for which residents said they were very grateful.
“Every bank holiday that we had as a community we had something going on, whether it was Parish Land, Silver Sands, or Sayes Court…. When Dr Lowe had tournaments, it was prize money straight up,” Winifred said as other neighbours agreed.
“I will remember him for his kindness. And you see that smile? You can’t get away from it. I would always remember him for it,” she added.
An elderly resident in the Silver Sands area, Myrna, said Dr Lowe came into the constituency promising to serve and he left serving.
“I found him to be a genuine person. He was friendly, interested and you could ask him [any] question,” she said.
Resident and landscaper in Carters Gap, “Sparrow”, added that Dr Lowe provided opportunities for him in landscaping and he would miss his commitment to the constituency. (MR)
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Former Member of Parliament Dr Denis Lowe is being remembered for his dedication to Barbados, his constituents, his family and friends.
The outspoken former MP for the constituency of Christ Church East under the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Government, died just after midnight on Friday at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) where he had been hospitalised.
As news spread of his passing social media was abuzz with condolences from several quarters.
Former cabinet colleague and General Secretary of the DLP Steven Blackett said in a statement that he was saddened by the passing of his friend and comrade, whom he sat next to in Parliament and the Cabinet, during their tenure in office between 2008 and 2018.
Blackett said over those years, on a weekly basis, he got the opportunity to share Dr Lowe’s immense intellect, humanity, and devotion to his constituents, his late mother, family, relatives and comrades.
“He was controversial in some of his mounthings but that was because his conviction to his philosophical beliefs often unbridled and loosened his tongue to the discomfort of some, but that was who he was. His remarkable oration was informed, practised and cultivated by his exposure to the church as a lay preacher. He was evangelical in his parliamentary speeches and his platform presentations and lectures,” Blackett recalled.
The recently elected General Secretary offered the party’s heartfelt condolences to the 64-year-old’s family and friends.
Also conveying condolences in a statement issued on behalf of the Government and people of Barbados, Acting Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw extended condolences to Dr Lowe’s loved ones, and thanked him for his service to the country.
Brashaw said the clinical psychologist, who served in the Barbados Senate before representing the Christ Church seat in the House of Assembly for two terms, was a faithful servant of the DLP, and was always one of its most ardent supporters and defenders.
She said, Dr Lowe’s robust use of colourful language on the political platform endeared him to many and ensured he was always on the DLP’s most sought after speakers.
She acknowledged that while they operated on opposite sides of the political divide, in Barbados it is recognised that there is much value in the Biblical injunction that there is a time and a season for everything under the sun.
“We may not have agreed often with his political style or the policies that his party pursued, but we do believe that as a Barbadian, Dr Denis Lowe cared about his country and at this moment of his passing, it is appropriate to set aside the cut and thrust of politics to say: “Thank you for your service to Barbados!”
“To his sons Myles and Jaydee, his father and other family members, I extend thanks, on behalf of all Barbadians, for lending him in service to this country,” Bradshaw’s statement read.
Following the DLP’s Friday lunchtime lecture, at the George Street Auditorium, where a moment of silence was observed at Dr Lowe’s passing, former DLP candidate Undene Whittaker, said the party benefited significantly from the stalwart’s experience and knowledge.
She explained that when Dr Lowe served as Minister of Social Care, he demonstrated that he understood the importance of creating an environment to meet the social welfare needs of Barbadians.
“This is all part and parcel of what the Democratic Labour Party believes in. As a caring party member, he was the ideal person to take up that position as minister and the party and people of Barbados benefited from his work.
“He had a wealth of knowledge in several areas and utilised that knowledge for the betterment of the party. In his constituency, he was loved. ,” Whittaker added. (AH)
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Police have been called in to investigate what Purity Bakeries described as a “blackmail attempt”, stemming from a viral video of a cockroach on a loaf of bread allegedly manufactured by the company.
The video, which is circulating on social media, features a woman who complained about finding the insect baked into the product.
However, the bakery said it has reported the matter to lawmen as a “blackmail attempt intended to injure the company, following Purity’s refusal to pay a significant sum of money to the complainant”.
It also cautioned “persons to whom the video has been circulated to carefully consider their actions before perpetuating the fraud against the company by forwarding the referenced video.”
However, the woman who complained about the tainted bread, Elisa King, told Barbados TODAY that while she did suggest the sum of $3 000 as compensation from the company, that was not a blackmail attempt.
King, a visitor here, recounted that she purchased the product on Monday and the roach was subsequently discovered by her son.
She said she reached out to both the Ministry of Health and Purity Bakeries to address the matter.
The woman said she visited the Winston Scott Polyclinic where she showed two health inspectors the product and they “had a look”, and then she went to Purity Bakeries where she said she met with the Quality Assurance Manager whom she identified as Mr Johnson.
“He said at his level, he can only give me an exchange of the product,” King said, adding that she turned down the offer.
“He said ‘so what would you want to settle the issue?’ So I said, ‘maybe monetary compensation, just in case my family gets ill’. I told him BDS$3 000. He said ‘I would have to forward it to a senior manager and I will definitely get back to you’.”
After what King described as some delay, she again reached out to the manager and told him she was on vacation and did not want to prolong the issue.
She further told him: “I think issues like this ought to be a priority so I am giving you up to 11 o’clock the Thursday.”
King insisted, however, that was not blackmail.
“I never demanded, I just refused an exchange of the product based on the fact of a visible roach in the bread. He is the one that offered, saying ‘what can we do to settle the matter?’ and I proposed some financial assistance just in case my family got sick to help out.”
“I don’t have time to be blackmailing anybody. How would it benefit me?” King added.
Barbados TODAY spoke with Purity Bakeries General Manager Rakeesh Bernard who would only say: “There’s a process to be followed. The matter was reported to us and we have to do our investigations.”
Purity added in its statement that the company has a well-established, consumer-friendly, product returns procedure by which it addresses legitimate product complaints.
“Purity is committed to the highest standards of production and quality control in the manufacture and delivery of all its products to valued customers in Barbados, as is evidenced by its rigorous internal hygiene regimen, and adherence to internationally accredited food safety standards,” it said. (SD)
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By Shamar Blunt
The National Policy Framework for the development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) has been grossly ignored, charges Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Association (SBA) Dr Lynette Holder.
She pointed to the lack of implementation on the framework as the reason the sector’s growth has remained stagnant.
Though Dr. Holder praised the efforts of entrepreneurs and small businesses over the course of the COVID pandemic, citing the many innovations engaged to keep workers employed despite the many disruptions, she stressed that the framework which was laid in Parliament back in 2017, has received little attention.
“This policy framework, though a little dated, proposed a number of improvements, a number of areas that we needed to work on in order to really create that enabling business environment for the sector.
“This is the challenge that I have with administrations, sometimes we don’t see the continuity across administrations, sometimes we don’t see continuity across leadership and that is unfortunate. At the end of the day, because an administration changes, that does not mean that the needs of your constituent group changes.”
Dr Holder laid out her position to Barbados TODAY as the SBA prepares for the upcoming Small Business Week celebrations from September 18-23 under the theme Exploring The Digital Frontier – The Next Business Revolution.
She noted that the five-year-old policy document included ways to improve the legislative and regulatory framework for the MSMEs sector. It also outlined access to finance improvements, improving productivity and market access and the development of entrepreneurship skills through education and training.
She stated that though progress has been undeniably seen over the course of the last few years, Barbados as a nation has fallen well short of the targets that have been set out.
“There were those, SBA included, calling for a policy for the sector because there was none, there was no comprehensive policy for the sector. We put this in place, 2017, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22… five years, granted we had COVID which may have slowed [progress], but five years and yet we have not implemented this solution.
“From where I sit, Barbados does not need any more studies to be done on this… we have done all kinds of studies. You go into offices, they are there on the bookshelves. What Barbados needs are people who can implement, who can get things done, who have a heart… That is what we need.”
Dr. Holder’s comments mirrored those of Minister of Energy and Business Development Kerrie Symmonds who earlier this week, criticised Barbados’ financial sector for being risk-averse and lacking creativity when it came to supporting MSMEs.
She noted that the framework for MSMEs also covered areas in finance such as e-commerce, which in her view has also been sadly neglected by local banks.
“…We are talking about digitalisation and the disruption of technology, but we still can’t get an enabling environment for businesses who want to do e-commerce for that matter, and may want to use their banking partner. Our commercial banks still have not put in place a framework that allowed economical and safe e-commerce to occur in this country.
“Why shouldn’t a small business look to their commercial bank that they have to make their deposits [to] from the proceeds of their firm, to provide that e-commerce platform for them? We have issues, we are not keeping pace with the changes going on in the business community,” Dr Holder suggested.
shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb
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