Scores of Barbadians will benefit from the Vincy/Bim Food Market initiative of two companies here and Vincentian farmers who have provided more than $10 000 worth of fruits, vegetables, and other ground provisions for people in need.

During the handover of the produce to the Ministry of Elder Affairs and People Empowerment and the Kiwanis Club of Barbados North on Wednesday, CariGro Services Inc. and Multinational Wholesalers said they wanted to engage in a give back initiative to help Barbadians grappling with the high cost of living.

“We recognised that there were some families in need and we have taken some of our items we have for sale from the region and internationally . . . . We understand that this is a trying time and we are willing to help and give our support,” said Antonio Waterman, managing director of the Six Roads, St Philip based Multinational Wholesalers where the handover took place.

The produce includes bananas, avocados, onions, beets, kiwis, plantains, and yams.

Farmers from neighbouring St Vincent who are part of the initiative send produce to Barbados.

Director of CariGro Services Inc. Damian Bowen explained that the intention was not to undercut Barbadian farmers but to fill gaps in local production.

He said the concept originated as a solution to the challenges associated with regional trade that were negatively impacting Vincentian farmers.

Minister of Elder Affairs and People Empowerment Kirk Humphrey and the chairperson of the Kiwanis Club of Barbados North community services committee Emmerson Beckles expressed gratitude for the donation.

Humphrey encouraged other businesses to engage in similar acts of kindness to assist people in these hard economic times.

He added that his ministry would soon be launching a programme in which it would partner with families and businesses to assist less fortunate households with meals.

Beckles, meantime, said his organisation usually distributes hampers to residents in his district and the donated produce would be among the items used in the next batch of packages. (SZB)

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Businesses in Barbados are again being challenged to make a concerted effort to employ more people with disabilities.

Minister of Labour Colin Jordan reiterated the call during the media launch of the Deaf Ambassador Project at the Barbados Council for the Disabled (BCD) headquarters on Wednesday.

He said the launch of the new initiative, which seeks to encourage more hearing impaired individuals to enter new job spaces, is an important step in normalising cooperation between deaf and hearing persons for more fruitful economic and social development on the island.

“The objectives of the project to be launched today are to encourage hearing persons to interact with deaf persons and to heighten our collective awareness to the fact that our deaf citizens can also contribute to economic development, and indeed want to contribute, through involvement as productive workers once they are given the opportunity and once employers make reasonable accommodations,” Minister Jordan said.

“These objectives are critical; there are those employers who do not reach out or act because they are simply not aware.… Awareness building must be a continuous exercise and it will take effort, but I encourage us never to tire of educating and sharing and encouraging the inclusion of persons with disabilities.”

Under the initiative, six deaf persons are working in various job environments, from the video editing department at the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation to housekeeping within the hospitality sector.

“Today, the launch of the Deaf Ambassador Project is another step for the Barbados Council for the Disabled to help you recognise that we, the disabled community, have a contribution to make and with your support and assistance, we will transform Barbados to be the truly inclusive country that we all deserve,” declared BCD president Kerryann Ifill.

Maude White, who is a Permanent Deaf Ambassador at the National Petroleum Corporation (NPC), said her work experience has been an exciting and fulfilling one.

Her advice to businesses seeking to employ deaf and other differently-abled persons is to be willing to learn and adapt to new ways of interacting with these eager workers.

“Another way you can make your environment accessible to deaf people is by relaying important information in a way that is clear. For example, some deaf [persons] can read lips, others can’t; some can understand written standard English, others not too well; some depend on sign language and interpreters.

“The key really is to find out the best way and the best method to communicate with a deaf person and to find out the best fit,” White said. (SB)

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Since the start of the Clean and Green initiative, about 400 000 trees have been planted across Barbados and environmental officials are pressing to ensure more than twice that number is eventually planted, National Tree Planting Coordinator Darwin Philips said on Friday.

Speaking at the launch of the latest Clean and Green exercise in Pavilion Terrace, Deacons Farm, St Michael, he said that despite some setbacks, the island remained on track to plant one million trees, as Government seeks to maintain green spaces across the country to help mitigate the effects of climate change,

“We have thus far planted just around 400 000 trees across this island . . . . We have a mandate that this country has signed on to with the Paris Agreement . . . which states [focus on] reducing or mitigating the climate effects with respect to global warming. We are on our way in doing that, in getting our one million trees. It may be slow, but we will get there,” Philips said.

Member of Parliament for St Michael North West Neil Rowe was pleased to have a new recreational site in his constituency, but used the opportunity to express disappointment with the amount of illegal dumping around the country, including in Deacons Farm.

“Please desist from taking it upon yourself to just find an open area to just dump what you don’t want…. I am begging you, those of you who know who you are, to just stop doing the illegal dumping in certain areas of the Farm. It then gives my team more work, especially the Clean and Green team that I have, when it comes to cleaning the area.

“I am begging you to just work with us, work with the Government, work with me, with the Minister to help make things a little easier,” Rowe pleaded. (SB)

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Barbados and the rest of the region are running out of time to build more resilient economies “for the sake of current and future generations”. The effort will require a multisectoral approach with major inputs from the business community.

This assessment has come from President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Dr Gene Leon, who called for a revisit of the “fundamental roles and responsibilities in economic development” in light of the massive disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Simply put, we need a new deal,” Leon told the gathering at the launch of the Business and Management Research Think Tank (BMRTT) and the Business Roundtable Forum at the Cave Hill School of Business and Management (CHSBM) on Friday.

“Time is against us, and we cannot foresee or predict the next big upheaval. However, we can prepare for it by building resilient businesses, institutions, social systems, and economies. The private sector has perhaps the most pivotal role to play in that process. For the sake of current and future generations, let’s forge a new deal,” he insisted.

The BMRTT is an agreement between the CHSBM and the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA) and the Business Roundtable Forum is an agreement between the CHSBM and the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI).

The deals between the learning institution and the business community are designed to guide research and innovation that can influence the business environment and lead to the reform of industries.

Welcoming the new agreements, the CDB head said private enterprises had a major role to play in the delivery of sustainable development outcomes.

“Sustainable development is really about improving the quality of life and capabilities of the Caribbean people by utilising our resources in a manner that achieves current objectives without compromising the prospects of future generations,” said Leon.

“Sustainable Development is not ‘my business’, you may argue. I am therefore calling on you to re-engineer your mindsets about who is responsible for what. The basis of my appeal is simple – sustainable development is too important for it to be the exclusive purview of our governments,” he told the audience, which included some of the island’s key private sector players.

“Profitability and development are not incompatible. On the contrary, private enterprise should apply the ingenuity, innovation, entrepreneurial drive and goal-oriented approach employed in commercial pursuits to national and regional development,” said Leon.

He noted that in order to achieve sustainable development the building of a “resilient ecosystem” was needed – “one that encompasses all dimensions of resilience including social, financial, environmental, institutional, and productive capacity resilience.

“In doing so, our areas of focus and facilitation include food and nutrition security, energy security, climate security, education and skills development, social protection, digital transformation and economic diversification,” he said.

“Development has to be a shared responsibility, one where individual stakeholder egos are subordinated through the notion that development of the whole will always imply development for all,” he added.

The economist called for a re-imagining of how private-public partnerships were viewed in the region, stating that “the public-private partnership or PPP as we know it, will remain constrained in raising its effectiveness”.

“That was a mechanism for yesterday. We need solutions for tomorrow. Let me invite you to re-imagine PPP. What prevents us from reframing PPPs as partnerships for prosperity and profits?

“When you drill down on the areas of focus and anticipated impacts of the sustainable development agenda, they speak to the very heart of your business objectives. Programmes that enhance education and improve skills development will create a knowledge-oriented workforce with the extensive skills base necessary for industries of the future. That’s sustainability,” he said. (MM)

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Whatever plans Government has for the old Treasury Building, converting it to a City dump is surely not one of them. But once again locals and visitors alike are being subjected to the disgusting sight of garbage being collected and stored on its premises by person or persons, right in the middle of what we like to call historic Bridgetown. Certainly, authorities should be able to do something about this once and for all.

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A young woman was given a three-year suspended sentence after she admitted to being the lookout during a burglary.

Falicia Shauntell Browne’s sentence was ordered by Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell when she reappeared in the No. 4 Supreme Court earlier this week.

Browne, of Sunrise Drive, Rices, St Philip and co-accused Akeem Griffith had been charged with entering the dwelling house of Everton Evelyn as trespassers between January 5 and 6, 2015 and stealing $27 000 worth of items including four watches, one camera, one hard drive, 20 bed sheet sets, a blender, soap, eight perfume sets, snacks, drinks, shaving sets and six packages of boxer briefs belonging to Evelyn.

Browne had pleaded guilty to the offence earlier in the Assizes.

In handing down her sentence Justice Smith-Bovell told the woman that she had deemed a starting point of five years to be suitable.

However, she said a one-year deduction would be made due to a favourable pre-sentencing report which pointed to a low risk of re-offending, the fact that she had no previous convictions and that she had shown remorse.

Justice Smith-Bovell pointed out that another year was deducted because of a delay in having the matter heard and Browne was also given a one-third discount for her early guilty plea.

After the deductions were made, it left one year and 343 days of the sentence.

Justice Smith-Bovell, however, suspended the sentence for three years.

She told the convicted woman that if she found herself back before the court during that period she would be made to serve the remaining time of her sentence.

Browne was represented by Leslie Cargill-Straker while Senior State Counsel Rudolph Burnett appeared on behalf of the State.

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The Fair Trading Commission’s (FTC) sometimes competing roles of regulator on one hand and advocate on the other, have come sharply into focus during the on-going application by the Barbados Light & Power Company (BL&P) for an increase in electricity rates.

Much to the chagrin of consumers, the FTC has already granted the Canadian-owned power supplier an interim increase, until a final decision is made on the substantive request.

Any business will try to extract the highest level of returns for its products or services, but a utility company is a special animal because the good that it is selling is a necessity for the proper functioning of a modern society such as ours.

Importantly, any further increases in the cost of electricity will have a negative ripple effect throughout the economy as this recurring cost will be passed on by most enterprises and will likely result in increased costs across the board.

That it comes at a time when most households are already facing difficult financial times, is even more vexing.

As consumers, we are relying on the FTC to be cognizant of the first word in its title “Fair”. And though the FTC is a quasi-judicial body, its establishment has emerged from a need not only to regulate but to ensure that consumers’ rights are not trampled and that they get an equal voice in such deliberations.

Observing the tumultuous start to the proceedings this week, consumers must be scratching their heads and wondering whether this process is a David versus Goliath fight. The BL&P, of course, is well “armed” with a battery of legal and other experts, while the consumers of Barbados must rely on the charity and goodwill of intervenors such as Attorney-at-Law Tricia Watson, David Simpson and perennial objector Ricky Went.

However, it is the miserably unprepared Public Counsel, though not of her own doing, that makes us shake our collective heads in resignation that this is a wholly unbalanced fight.

The Office of Public Counsel has been an intriguing addition to the mix. Represented by Miss Sharon Deane, the attorney is so fresh on the job that she admitted she is yet to read all of the thousands of documents submitted as part of the process, far less devise a proper response for the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) whom she represents.

As an onlooker, one has to ask some questions and hope that the answers are forthcoming. Why is the Office of Public Counsel so sparsely staffed with legal experts that illness of one attorney will upend the entire office? Should not the office have been better prepared with additional resources since early last year when the BL&P first signalled its intention to seek a rate hike?

We empathise with Miss Deane and support her efforts to seek some kind of relief from the High Courts through an adjournment to allow the Public Counsel’s Office to be better prepared for what appears to be a process tipped in favour of the utility company.

So far, BL&P has got half of what it wanted. It has the experts on its side, it also has the fear factor looming over the island. For when homeowners and businesses repeatedly hear that without the increase, the BL&P cannot guarantee a “reliable” service, they understand the subtext.

Attorney for the BL&P, Ramon Alleyne, has contended that the Office of the Public Counsel had no locus standi (right or capacity to bring an action) in the hearings.

To add to the fears of many consumers was the position taken by the BL&P that the Public Counsel was essentially not a party to the proceedings and that the only person who could request a review is a party to the proceedings.

Furthermore, the BL&P side gutted the position of the 30,000 strong BARP by arguing that as an incorporated body, BARP did not have a right to be represented by the Public Counsel.

We eagerly await the outcome of the current process, but one cannot help but be concerned about the representation of domestic electricity consumers. It must be pellucid to Government that consumers are not pleased with the current mechanisms, laws and regulations for the protection of consumers’ interests when it comes to complex and weighty examinations such as a rate increase application.

Consumers have stated clearly, they do not want to pay more and cannot afford to pay higher prices for electricity.

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With four months still to go with a cap on several food and household items at the supermarket, Chairman of the Barbados Private Sector (BPSA) Trisha Tannis is issuing an early warning that the private sector will be hard-pressed to maintain this Compact once it comes to an end on January 31, 2023.

In fact, explaining that the business community continues to grapple with high and rising prices that were out of its control, Tannis said perhaps the time had come for Government to take another look at incoming freight costs, which continue to be a major headache for businesses.

Effective midnight March 14, the cost of freight was capped at $7,350 per 20-foot container and $8,000 for 40-foot containers, which represented the average costs of freight in 2019. This measure is to last one year.

“So when we get to the end of these initiatives, what lies beyond is something that we need to come back to the table and discuss. Can we we keep it (the cap on food and household items) much longer? I don’t think that we can. What else can be done is a very good question at this point,” said Tannis.

“The Government is sacrificing as part of the Compact as well. The period of time that is about to lapse where they are going to . . . reevaluate whether or not they can lift the cap that they have placed on the inward freight is something that we have to look to see what happens there

“We are not seeing those freight rates normalise, not back to pre-COVID levels. They have abated somewhat relative to 2021, but they are still excessive, at least twice what they were pre-COVID,” she said.

Her comments came in response to the controversy over whether some supermarkets were adhering to the capping of prices on the 47 items included on a Value Added Tax (VAT)-free list, which took effect at the end of July. In some cases, customs duties were removed from certain items paving the way for reduced prices to consumers.

Recently, Prime Minister Mia Mottley disclosed during a press conference that “majority of the people are working with the prices that have been recommended. There are a few instances – two or three – in some commodities, where people are still charging more”.

“I suppose people will balance those higher charges with convenience and determine whether that is a price they are prepared to pay, especially since in some instances they are smaller units that may have a limited base,” said Mottley.

Earlier this week, Minister of Elder Affairs and Empowerment Kirk Humphrey noted that he was aware of “some of the bigger stores” where their prices did not reflect the commitment that they made.

“I have seen it in smaller places as well,” he added.

However, acknowledging that price increase was a “sensitive issue” for many residents who have been forced to change their eating habits in order to minimise the impact, Tannis dismissed the notion that those involved in the Compact with government to cap the prices were not doing so.

“What we have seen and what we have heard from the retailers that are party to the Compact is that there have been some shifts in prices but they have stayed true to their commitment on those 47 items in relation to freezing the mark-up,” she said, adding that the recently published data from the monitoring mechanism by Government “showed clearly there was broad compliance with the Compact”.

She reiterated that the Barbados Private Sector Association did not have control over the informal sector and smaller independent operators and it was possible some of the continued high prices were among those players.

“The signatories to the Compact are the larger players that we are satisfied represent about 70 per cent market share in Barbados. However, we don’t have control over mini marts and other small independent players. We do appeal to them to follow the spirit and intent of the Compact but we really don’t have control over that sector,” said Tannis.

She explained that while people were quick to blame the private sector whenever they see a change in price from one week to the next, it was important to understand that there were several variables that go into pricing of the goods on the shelves including that of freight.

“There are so many other variables that input into a price, not the least of which is the original invoice cost of that product,” said Tannis.

“Most notably would be the price of fuel, and that essentially has been the case over the last few months, but we have actually, with all of the feedback, been continually keeping in contact with the signatories to the Compact and are satisfied that there is broad compliance,” she said.

She further explained that the private sector “from the onset, made it clear there were a couple of things, that while we froze the mark-ups, we had no control over the price of origination”.

“What that means is that prices are still going to be fluctuating as international prices fluctuate and of course, as long as your inventory lasts. So we set that expectation straight out front. Therefore, whilst there is a targeted price at that point in time, it would have been on a case on all things being equal and continuing,” she explained.

marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb

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The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) geared at bolstering the region’s disaster preparedness.

Executive Director of CDEMA Elizabeth Riley said the agreement will benefit all CDEMA participating member states.

She said the two bodies, which had built a relationship under the Regional Response Mechanism, will collaborate through knowledge management, strengthening capacity to support vulnerable migrants at risk of disasters, and strengthening technical capacities and the use of human mobility data to inform decision making.

During the brief signing ceremony which took place during the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) and IOM workshop at the Radisson Aquatica Resort on Thursday, Riley said hazards had become prevalent in the region in recent years, and with projections pointing to more drastic weather events, the Caribbean must be prepared.

“Hazards are occurring with an increasing level of complexity and intensity. Climate change is in motion and it is gaining momentum; all climate parameters in the region are changing and climate change is a critical factor driving human mobility in CDEMA participating states,” she said.

“Weather related to sea level rise which is expected to reach or exceed one metre by the end of the century, air and sea surface temperatures which are trending upwards, and global climate models suggest that the region may be up to 17 per cent drier by the end of the century. The reality is that climate change is already increasing the displacement of populations in our states,” cautioned Riley. (SB)

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Former Opposition leader Bishop Joseph Atherley hopes that Barbados’ next International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme does not mean more economic hardships for Barbadians.

Saying he was not surprised by Government’s move to secure more IMF funding, Bishop Atherley stated his fear is that citizens would be forced to endure stringent measures that may make it difficult for them to cope in the current economic climate.

“The question is, once you re-enter a new arrangement, what will be the conditions attached to that? What does this mean for Barbadians who are already facing difficult economic times? But I have been saying since last year that I believe this Government will have to go back to the IMF for funding,” he said.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley announced on September 9 that Government intended to enter a second arrangement with the IMF to get financing for the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) to the tune of US$130 million (BDS$260 million) under a three-year agreement.

Barbados current IMF-backed programme comes to an end this month but according to Prime Minister Mottley the new arrangement will also give the country access to another US$210 million (BDS$420 million) under the Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST) established by the IMF in May, to open up funding to countries to invest in resilience building.

Atherley told Barbados TODAY that while Barbadians are awaiting the full details of the provisions that will be included in the new arrangement, the reality stands that the country still has no platforms to generate growth revenues and no credit worthiness making it difficult to go to the  international financial market to seek assistance.

He also noted that while there was a relaxation of the stringent measures under the first arrangement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BERT 2.0 means the country will have to face the music.

“Other countries have gone there before and faced the music. The Barbados economy is not growing to such an extent and at a rate that people in the international markets will be impressed with what we are doing and therefore be willing to entrust us with funds. We are not operating at an investment rate right now.

“If we were lucky enough to get somebody to lend us something, it would be at exorbitant rates. So in a situation where you are not generating your revenue through export growth, in a context where people on the international financial market look at you with closed eyes, I don’t think the Government has a choice but to go back to the IMF for a second term.

“When the General Elections were called for January, I repeated that. I believe one of the reasons the Government called the elections a year and a half early is because they knew mid year, this year, the current arrangement with the IMF would come to an end and that they would have to renew that,” he said.

The former opposition leader added that the Government should be informing Barbadians about plans for the future of the country’s pension policy and about the plans for state owned enterprises.

“We have to focus on managing our expenditure, generating revenues. Those things have implications for the Barbadian public.” (AH)

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The business community and tourism sector have welcomed changes to COVID-19 protocols, with the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) particularly excited about the ease in the mask mandate and removal of travel protocols which it says will make the island more appealing to visitors.

BHTA chairman Renee Coppin said the decision announced by Acting Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw was a clear signal that Barbados is ready to welcome visitors with all the warmth and hospitality for which it is known.

“We certainly look forward to sharing our smiles with our guests once again,” Coppin said on Friday when the change in COVID-19 directives took effect.

A week prior, she had complained about the protocols, saying they were making Barbados uncompetitive as several other destinations had eased or removed their own restrictions.

“We would primarily ask that the 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,” Coppin pleaded at the BHTA’s 70th anniversary reception last Friday.

On Thursday, Bradshaw announced that on the advice of health authorities, the Cabinet had decided that mask wearing would be optional from now on, except in schools, healthcare facilities, penal institutions, and on public transportation.

Noting that the lifting of the restrictions would make Barbados more competitive, Coppin said she was confident that, as it had done throughout its management of the pandemic, the Ministry of Health’s advice had been based on careful assessment.

She said BHTA stakeholders would do their part to ensure safety in the tourism and hospitality sector.

“We will continue to provide careful attention to health and safety as we always have in this industry. We will also maintain the strict cleanliness and sanitation standards and all else required to provide a safe environment for our teams and guests,” Coppin said.

Head of the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA) Trisha Tannis said the business community was also pleased about the ease in protocols but was moving forward cautiously.

She said businesses would continue to provide safe work environments for employees to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks.

“I think what is critical, though, is that the sanitisation will definitely have to continue – maybe increased, to be honest. But I think you will see what looks more like normal as you go throughout the length and breadth of Barbados,” Tannis said.

Meanwhile, President of the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) Dr Lynda Williams has advised Barbadians that in the absence of restrictions, they should continue to exercise caution.

She said this was especially important because elderly and vulnerable people were still being significantly affected by COVID-19, in some cases dying.

The BAMP president further noted that there had been a slowdown in the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, and the number of people presenting for voluntary testing had also been falling, as many people were doing at-home tests.

Commenting on the removal of travel protocols, Dr Williams said: “Most people travelling to our shores from our source countries have also been vaccinated and boosted. And, therefore, the risks for travel are being reduced, though these have not been eliminated.”

On the optional nature of mask wearing now, she added: “BAMP agrees, therefore, with the cautious approach being taken, preserving mask mandates for those institutions where fast spread of a highly infectious virus is still possible, and in places where care is given to the elderly and vulnerable and on public transport and in education settings.”

Dr Williams said that while some would prefer to see restrictions removed altogether, the pandemic is still ongoing and there is the potential for the emergence of new variants in the upcoming fall and winter seasons.

“While mandates are removed, good common sense must prevail. If you are infected, please stay at home, wear your masks and follow home isolation protocols. Most businesses, places of worship and gathering still continue to offer hand sanitisation, they still have markings for social distancing and encourage mask wearing, particularly indoors and in air conditioned environments. This should not stop,” Dr Williams advised.

“We encourage Barbadians to get vaccinated as the ultimate layer that would assist us in reducing severe COVID-19 disease. We are still talking about 57 per cent uptake of two vaccines when really we should be talking about and reporting the uptake of boosters, particularly among the elderly and vulnerable.”

anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb

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Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Association (SBA) Dr Lynette Holder agrees that should Government “hastily go down the road” of trying to achieve a certain fiscal surplus under a new International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, the country’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) will not get much-needed assistance.

She expressed concern as she described the sector as a vulnerable group and insisted that it was critical for the Government to continue providing support through its various agencies.

In an interview with Barbados TODAY, Holder recalled that under the first Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) programme which was supported by a four-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF), the Government was initially aiming for a six per cent primary surplus, which was later revised downwards.

She said there could be “serious implications” for spending on the MSME sector should the Government commit to a similar target.

“If you as a Government commit to that in an IMF programme that is going to equate to significant austerity measures being inflicted on your populace. That is the concern I would have . . . and then you wouldn’t be able to provide for MSMEs,” said Holder.

“Government has to intervene in economies like ours and play a greater role and, therefore, provide greater support for vulnerable groups within the economy to be able to function . . . . MSMEs, by their very nature and characteristics, are considered vulnerable groups.”

Earlier this week, Director of the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) Professor Don Marshall cautioned that if Barbados enters a new agreement with the IMF as it intends to when the current arrangement ends on September 30, its ability to help MSMEs will be limited.

He also noted that while other countries were engaged in deficit spending to get out from “the deep economic morass”, Barbados was focused on achieving primary surpluses.

“The logics that are often brought by even the new-age IMF run contrary to what other countries are doing in their economies and to stimulate small business – which is, they are engaging in expenditures, subsidies and research and development, they are sponsoring it deeply and this is the kind of state intervention that the IMF decries,” Marshall said as he addressed the SBA State of the Industry Conference on Tuesday.

Holder told Barbados TODAY she agreed with Marshall and feared that the Mia Mottley administration would be hard-pressed to provide the necessary assistance for the MSME sector through its various loan and grant funding schemes, once the new IMF programme starts.

“I do appreciate the professor’s intervention and, yes, it would be a concern of ours here. We wait and see then what are the implications, for example, in funding the Trust Fund,” said Holder, who noted that the demand for finance from that scheme had outstripped its ability to provide the funds.

The SBA CEO noted that while the Government often challenged the private sector to “do more” to create economic growth, MSMEs required assistance to do this.

“The fact is that we are in these challenging environments and we are not a totally capitalist country. We are a social democratic country, that is our ideology. So based on that focus on being socially democratic, government then is required to play a greater interventionist role,” said Holder.

“It is against that backdrop that I understand and appreciate Professor Marshall’s intervention.”

Talks between Government and IMF officials began here this week as Barbados seeks US$130 million under a three-year EFF to support a revised BERT programme.

marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb

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There was no need to establish an advisory body to look into improving the lives of people with disabilities, says general secretary of the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) Dennis De Peiza. The work had already been done, he said.

Deeming the establishment of this committee as “political engineering” and “unnecessary” De Peiza noted that CTUSAB had already collaborated with a number of agencies to publish a document in 2019 to empower the disabled community.

During a press conference at the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) headquarters in Welches, St Michael on Friday, the general secretary said that in January 2022 the CTUSAB wrote a letter to the Ministry of Labour and Social Partnership Relations, which was copied to the Prime Minister’s office, requesting that the Social Partnership signed off on the document and for it to be presented to the stakeholders of that body.

The document entitled A Code of Practice for Persons with Disabilities, was created following consultation with the Ministry of Labour and Social Partnership Relations, the Barbados Employers’ Confederation, the Barbados Council of the Disabled, the National Disabilities Unit and the Barbados Organisation for the Disabled.

However, De Peiza said that CTUSAB has never received any correspondence regarding the matter and the document was never presented to the Social Partnership.

“We are a little taken aback . . . to be told of another committee setup for a purpose of doing the same thing, to repeat work that has already been done.”

He recalled that CTUSAB wrote to chairman of the  National Advisory Committee Edmund Hinkson last month outlining what work had already been done by the congress and the congress’ concern at not being included on the committee.

He said there was no response.

“It raises red flags. If we are partners . . . why are we being left out or our work is not being recognised as it should? Is it to give credit to some other person for what has been done?”

The Code of Practice for Persons with Disabilities document speaks to a number of issues including a quota system to promote equal employment opportunities  for the disabled.

It stated that the disabled community represented six per cent of the national working population and therefore, Government should allocate one sixth of jobs for the disabled community and the private sector should account for the remaining five sixths.

The advisory committee chaired by Hinkson, Member of Parliament for St James North and a former Government minister, was expected to guide the establishment of a Commission for Improving the Lives of Persons with Disabilities. The Deputy chairman is President of the Barbados Council for the Disabled Kerryann Ifill. (SZB)

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The Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs and the National Disabilities Unit (NDU) have launched an initiative that will, among other things, help the deaf and hearing impaired better communicate when conducting business in both the public and private sectors.

Speaking during the launch of the Deaf Empowerment Project, Minister Kirk Humphrey said the programme seeks to incorporate the deaf and hearing impaired more into society.

“The Deaf Empowerment Programme is a consolidation of services for the deaf and the hard of hearing, offered through the NDU, and it seeks to facilitate full inclusion of the deaf into all aspects of society by focusing on addressing their most urgent needs – from the provision of communication services to focusing on vocational and rehabilitation services, with the intent to ensure that persons with this sensory impairment are able to function effectively,” he explained.

One area that Humphrey sees as integral in the initiative is the communication support service which, when launched, will help the island’s deaf residents interact with several government agencies.

“The communication support service is intended to meet the most critical needs of the deaf and the hard of hearing – that is, communicating with critical agencies and public and private sector institutions to be able to allow persons to transact business. This communication support service, believe me, will make a big difference to people’s capacity to be able to communicate with other people.

“In essence, what we are trying to do is make sure that when a person who is deaf or hard of hearing goes to a business place, that they can ask a receptionist or they can pull out their phone and that we will have on-call, five persons who are able to communicate using sign language with them and communicate that back to the business place with whom they are interacting.”

The agencies that will utilise this new service include healthcare sites such as the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and polyclinics, the Welfare Department, Licensing Authority, National Housing Corporation, and the National Insurance Department.

Minister Humphrey explained that under the Deaf Empowerment Programme, several other services would be expanded and reworked to improve the support mechanism for deaf people seeking to integrate more easily into their communities and workplaces.

These include sign language training, interpreting services, and advocacy and consultation.

“We are also going to be looking at information and referral services, guidance and counselling, telecommunication services, and employment training and placement which is important because persons with disabilities are still disproportionately reflected in the unemployment figures in this county,” he added. (SB)

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Centenarian Marie Phillips gave birth to two children, but she boasts that she was a mother to hundreds.

Marking her 100th birthday on Thursday, Phillips proudly stated that for many years, she made her contribution to national development through shaping the lives of wards at the now defunct Glendale Children’s Home, St Thomas and Farrs Children’s Home, St Peter, in her role as House Mother.

She told relatives, friends and members of the media who visited her No. 13 Independence Drive, Husbands Gardens, St James home to celebrate with her that some of those whose lives she touched still call to show their appreciation and say “thank you”.

“They tell me, ‘Mummy Phillips, whatever I am, is because of what you had put in me’. I dealt with them as though I brought them into the world, as though they were mine personally, not that I was being paid to take care of them. That is how I felt about them all. I can’t help saying that they were my children,” Phillips said.

The centenarian who is in generally good health was full of joy and laughter as she engaged Acting President The Right Very Reverend Dr Jeffry Gibson in a lively conversation when he paid her a virtual visit.

The mother of deceased legendary calypsonian and prominent business executive Don Jose Lamont Marshall, who was known as Sir Don, told Dr Gibson about how much she loved caring for the wards of the children’s homes.

Phillips, who has five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchildren, said she felt blessed to be surrounded by her loved ones who cherish her and cater to her needs and wants.

She made particular mention of her daughter and caretaker, Magaret-Ann Joseph, who she pointed out was always at her beck and call.

The elderly woman, who looks forward to a meal of tilapia and cou cou or ground provisions, said she spends the majority of her days praying.

“I am not a fanatic. People think because you pray all the time that you are a fanatic. But I have discovered that it is because of the strength that God has given me and he allows me to be able to communicate with other people and not be selfish.

“You know people are alcoholics, I am a prayer-holic,” said a smiling Phillips.

Grandson Matthew Joseph, who introduced himself to the Acting President as Phillips’ favourite grandchild, said it has been an experience living with the matriarch who is the glue that keeps the family together.

“Your upbringing and everything else is what moulded all of us. Everybody here loves you and is here because of you. I just want to say happy 100th and put in a couple more for me,” he said.

Pastor of the King Street Seventh Day Adventist Church Leon Phillips joined the celebration to say a special prayer for Phillips who is a member of his congregation.
(AH)

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A young male has died following a shooting in St Philip Friday night, police say.

Just before midnight, police at the District ‘C’ Station responded to a report of gunshots being fired at Long Bay, St Philip.

On arrival, officers found the body of a young male lying on the ground in a bushy area next to a residence with a wound to the back of his head. He was pronounced dead at the scene by a Medical Doctor.

Police are appealing to members of the public for assistance in identifying this male. If you have witnesses or have knowledge of this incident, kindly call the District ‘C’ Station at 416-8200 or 8204, Police Emergency 211, Crime Stoppers at 1800-TIPS (8477) or the nearest Police Station.

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Chairman of the Small Business Association (SBA) Neil Corbin is calling for cyber security legislation to protect consumers and businesses, as Barbados continues its push for greater use of digital transactions.

He said while the Data Protection Act which was passed in 2019 and proclaimed in early 2021 was welcomed, lawmakers must go further.

“An enabling business environment is required to flourish beyond the Data Protection Act,” Corbin told the opening of the SBA’s State of the Industry conference earlier this week.

“Where are we on issues of cyber security and cyber crime? At present, there is no requirement for businesses to report cyber attacks. Legislative improvements are needed to protect both consumers and businesses operating in the digital space.”

“With the entrance of online payment platforms in the market, primarily due to the lack of e-commerce facilitation by commercial banks, we need to ensure that a business environment is one that allows for transparent, yet safe and user-friendly operation of digital assets,” he added.

Corbin acknowledged that “several solutions” would be required to improve the business climate for the small business sector and protect them and customers while encouraging greater use of technology.

In addition to legislative improvements in the digital space, he said, the Government needs to speed up its multi-million-dollar Smart City build-out, as he pointed out that reliable and safe access to broadband and Internet service was critical for businesses.

“We welcome the announcement of the Government to establish smart cities, as this initiative will enable business owners the access required to do business online wherever they go,” said Corbin.

“This must be fast-tracked to enable the entry in the market of entrepreneurs and small business owners to innovate, engage consumers on the go and facilitate actual trade of goods and services globally,” he said.

The Smart City initiative, which was started in late 2019, includes the deployment of free public Wi-Fi in Bridgetown, computer-controlled parking and traffic management, and the use of mobile apps for self-guided tours. So far, only some parts of the intended areas of The City have been outfitted with free Wi-Fi.

Corbin said while firms had no choice over the last two years but to establish some form of digital presence in order to maintain contact with consumers and suppliers, they “still have some distance to go in being tech savvy”.

He said there was a need for greater investment in digital businesses, as he expressed concern that financial technology was still underutilised.

“We need to promote financial technology and facilitate expansion in this area as far as the overall growth strategy for our economy,” he added.

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The Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) is calling for a speedy resolution of the matter surrounding the suspension of teachers Pedro Shepherd and Alwyn Babb.

“We are really hoping that this matter could be dealt with expeditiously . . We believe that they are entitled to speedy justice. It can’t be that hearings have not been convened or called and not followed through on. It cannot be, if the rules speak to the fact that you can only be suspended for X months.

“We are saying that for some reason, this matter is not seemingly sitting well,” said general secretary Dennis De Peiza during a press conference on Friday.

Shepherd and Babb were sent on half pay leave for six months by the Ministry of Public Service for offering themselves as candidates in this year’s January general elections.

They both were expected to have a hearing on June 7.

De Peiza said he was concerned that the progress of their case was almost at a standstill.

“The powers-that-be need, as keepers of the law, (to) follow the law and we should not allow a lack of justice to be executed in the way it shouldn’t be.

“So our position . . . is to deal with principles of the matter, the fairness of the matter and the dispensation of justice in a fair and reasonable manner. We will hope that this matter could be drawn to its conclusion. If there’s no evidence or there are no grounds to pursue the charge, the matter should be withdrawn and the members should return to their positions,” said De Peiza. (SZB)

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The lawns of Green Acres, The Belle, St Michael were a sea of colour when party-goers descended there for ICE Food Inclusive Garden Party on Sunday.

And while the event’s name is synonymous with cold, the only thing cold at the fete were the drinks at the bar. There was heat generated in the place by the partying crowd that not even the persistent showers could compete with. Each time the rain threatened to dampen spirits or end the festivities it failed – miserably.

Many party-goers were so adamant that the showers would not prevail, that they remained in the pouring rain dancing and frolicking the night away.

No rain could stop the jam and that was because the vibes from the slew of DJs and the live performances made it compelling to party. The only thing the rain succeeded in doing was hampering the VIP parking arrangement and adding to parking delays but that was the farthest thing from the minds of those who came from 4 p.m. and did not leave until the last song.

The event which was scheduled to end at 11 p.m. afforded patrons the added treat of an extra hour of fun. It was clear that if the music had not ended many would have still been there caught up in the vibe.

The crowd was made up of the young and not so young but there was entertainment which catered to both. DJs did a great job in keeping their sets versatile enough to engage the entire party crowd. The line-up of deejays included Ramon G, Hutchy and Sizz, Sheldon Papp & Chasey The Entertainer, Level Vibes, Nico Vybz and Gunner, Bubbles & Evolution, Fullklip, and closed off with Jerry Dan of Freedom Sounds. The hosts were Shana and Ras.

Entertainment went to another level when ‘Daddy landed’ on stage. Mole The Chef performed some of his signature hits and threw the massive into a frenzy. He in turn extended his ‘stage’ as he made his way into the crowd to sing, dance and hype the vibe.

Lil Rick owned the fete when he made the event one huge September birthday party. He paused as he sang his cover of Happy Birthday and invited “all who got a birthday in September” on stage much to the delight of the ICE massive.

With smiling faces, dancing and hands in the air, the “September borns” seemed more than elated to join Lil Rick on stage for their moment.

The fete billed: ‘The End of Summer Experience’ was just that. It was a well-planned and executed fete by promoters ICE Events246. A totally top-notch experience which was great value for money given the admission price. From the food, thanks to chef Greig Greenidge; to the drinks; to the ambience and decor; to the sound system and the vibe – a good time was had by all. (IMC)

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