BHTA CALLS ON UNION FOR DETAILS ON HOTELIERS RENEGING ON AGREEMENTS AND TAKING WORKERS FOR GRANTED

By Marlon Madden

Bring us the specifics and tell us who the offenders are.
This is the advice from Chairman of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) Renée Coppin to General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) Toni Moore following the latter’s claims that some hoteliers were guilty of taking workers for granted and even reneging on agreements.
Moore levelled the accusation on Monday, as the BWU hosted its May Day celebrations at the National Botanical Gardens, which attracted hundreds of workers and their families.
Calling on workers to unite in order to overcome challenges, Moore said there were always attempts to undermine and erode workers’ rights. She charged that “far from recognising the rights that were already fought for” some hoteliers were “repealing some of those rights”.
“I remember well in 2020 when hotel owners, faced with their proverbial backs against the wall, solicited the solidarity and the interdependence which was so desperately hailed by all as the only way out,” said Moore.
Noting that the BWU had doubts that the plans entered into at the height of the pandemic would benefit workers, Moore said “Once the battle to keep hoteliers’ heads above water was over, a number of them stopped applying the terms and conditions of the collective agreement.”
However, during a BHTA quarterly media briefing on Thursday, Coppin told Barbados TODAY she was not officially made aware of the accusations being made by the BWU’s General Secretary.
“That is something I feel should take place directly. If we have not been made aware of the specific issues then I cannot speak to them in the public forum,” said Coppin, when asked to respond to Moore’s claims.
“The BWU would need to come to us and say that these are the offending members so that we can work with them to resolve any issues, but we have not been made aware of those issues,” she said.
Coppin explained that from time to time when concerns are raised, the BHTA would request the details and once received, the BHTA would resolve them.
“Whenever these kinds of allegations come up in the public we always ask them to please provide us with details and once they do so we are definitely willing and able and will work with them to try and get them resolved. But often we find that there is a reluctance to provide specifics. But it is not our preference to deal with those matters in the public,” said Coppin.
In her May Day speech, which also saw Moore giving a tongue-lashing to several private sector firms and some government agencies for not dealing with issues affecting workers, the union head said the BHTA was aware of the issues affecting the workers in the hotel sector.
In addition to not giving workers a fixed day off from work, Moore complained that with the COVID-19 concerns now largely behind, some hoteliers have been quick to “go back into patterns where they don’t value workers, where they don’t value their dignity”.
Moore said she first raised concern about hoteliers not applying the terms and conditions of the collective agreement earlier this year during the Budget debate.
“The result was that a letter came into the Barbados Workers’ Union from the BHTA telling me ‘less talk and name them’.”
“But you know them,” said Moore. “You know them because they are some of the same voices and they were among the loudest voices in the room back in 2020 in Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre and they are the ones who are the chief offenders. If the loudest voices are the chief offenders, what more for the ones who don’t turn up to the dance at all?” added Moore.
marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb

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The world of financial services is constantly evolving. The intersection of technology and finance has resulted in phenomenal advances in how financial services are delivered to consumers.

For average consumers of financial services, these advances have improved the convenience and speed of doing business with banks, credit unions, insurance companies, and investment firms, for example.

Even with all the advancements that have taken place, consumers still need to know that the people working in financial institutions are making ethical decisions, that they are knowledgeable, and that they are not making decisions that put people’s savings and investments at risk.

In the United States, observers are keenly following the rising number of bank failures. The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in March reportedly panicked financial markets. It was the first major bank failure in the US since the global financial crisis of 2007.

Soon after Silicon Valley Bank’s demise, Signature Bank, an American regional bank folded. If this was not enough to spook depositors in financial institutions, First Republic Bank also ran into trouble.

First Republic Bank catered to high-net-worth individuals, operated 93 offices in the US, with total assets of US$212.6 billion in 2022. It too began teetering on the brink of collapse as worried depositors began pulling their money from the bank.

It was eventually taken over by UBS, in a move that prevented the institution from imploding.

Why does all this matter to us in Barbados? Our financial system has been described by regulators as strong and well capitalized. However, there is no doubt that local depositors are keeping a very close eye on their nest eggs.

Today, our Financial Services Commission (FSC), which along with the Central Bank of Barbados, is responsible for ensuring the stability of the local financial sector, disclosed it was preparing to overhaul some aspects of its supervision of non-bank financial institutions.

The FSC supervises the operations of insurance companies and insurance intermediaries, mutual funds, pension funds, credit unions, and securities. It is currently inviting industry stakeholders to provide feedback on two Regulatory Guidelines it says are designed to strengthen the stability and soundness of the non-bank sector.

The extremely low interest rate environment has meant that people are constantly searching for secure avenues where their savings can safely grow.

Earlier this year, we witnessed the spectacular collapse of Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL) in Jamaica where eight-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt said his more than US$12.8 million invested had been stolen.

Expectedly, the Jamaica Financial Services Commission was lambasted for the fiasco that occurred on its watch and right under the noses of its regulators.  It was a stunning failure of governance at several levels.

The local FSC leadership is seeking to ensure that there is a tighter governance structure in place in Barbados-based institutions, which collectively are managing billions of dollars in assets on behalf of institutions and individual Barbadians.

The FSC’s Chairman Mr Oliver Jordan and Chief Executive Officer Mr Warrick Ward outlined in a public notice that it intends to address the  Fit & Proper Guidelines to ensure that the people who are being elected or hired in leadership positions at financial institutions are actually fit and proper to hold such offices.

In addition, there will be enhanced guidelines for entities that have been designated by the FSC as Domestic Non-Bank Systemically Important Financial Institutions (DNB-SIFIs).

Messrs. Jordan and Ward explained DNB-SIFIs are non-bank financial institutions whose “distress or disorderly failure would cause significant disruption to the wider financial system and economic activity because of their size, substitutability, and systemic interconnectedness”.

Put in plain language for Miss Brathwaite from Eagle Hall, the FSC will be applying stronger rules for financial institutions which could possibly threaten the entire financial system if there was a messy collapse of their operations.

Dr Ashish Srivastava earlier this year made this important statement: “Governance remains the cornerstone of any organisation and financial institutions are no exception. However, in an increasingly integrated financial system, risks quickly spill over across different verticals of financial institutions, exacerbate through the financial system, and have a contagion effect on the real sector.

“Therefore, it is obvious that financial institutions must have robust governance standards and failsafe systems and controls. Any weakness in the governance edifice exposes the financial institutions to operational risk”.

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Defence says lawyer who stole more than $450 000 can’t repay money

Lawyers in the case of convicted attorney-at-law Norman Leroy Lynch made submissions on sentencing before the High Court on Friday, with the defence counsel indicating the disgraced lawyer was in no position to repay the money he stole.

When the convicted thief’s case was called before the No. 2 Supreme Court, Justice Randall Worrell asked Acting Senior State Counsel Romario Straker and Lynch’s attorney Marlon Gordon to address him on the issue of compensation and delay.

Lynch has been on remand at Dodds Prison since May 2022 after being found guilty of stealing $50 000 belonging to the estate of Arthur O’Neal Thomas between August 18, 2005, and December 21, 2008.

He was also convicted of stealing $407 634, the proceeds of a FirstCaribbean International Bank cheque made payable to Leroy Lynch and belonging to Thomas’ estate, between June 22, 2007, and December 21, 2008; as well as money laundering in the disposal of $457 634, being the proceeds of crime, also

between June 22, 2007, and December 21, 2008.

Justice Worrell made reference to the cases of other convicted attorneys, Cheraine Parris and Ernest Jackman, who had paid back some of what they had taken, noting that was a mitigating factor.

The judge also pointed out that during the course of Lynchs’ trial, the complainants stated they had not received a “red cent” from him. He asked the defence for further submissions on that aspect.

In addressing the judge, Gordon stated that his client had “no financial assets at this point in his life”.

“My instructions are that he is not in any position to pay . . . the parties,” he said. “He is a man without means.”

On the issue of delay, Gordon suggested that 18 months be deducted from his client’s starting sentence after several factors were considered, including the COVID-19 lockdown which impacted court hearings.

However, Straker disagreed. The prosecutor argued that the fact none of the money was repaid was an aggravating feature, especially given the breach of trust.

After hearing the submissions, Justice Worrell adjourned the case until next Monday, April 24 when Lynch is expected to be sentenced.

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Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley plays a stroke on the greens at the Barbados Golf Club as he enjoys a round of golf with close friends. However, his break in Barbados has drawn criticism from some in Port of Spain as it comes amid controversy stemming from a judge’s assertion that T&T and Bajan police worked together to ‘abduct’ a Trini businessman to get him back into the twin-island republic to face charges.

Picture by Haroon Greenidge.

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The head of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) has suggested that farmers and other producers may not be able to meet the increasing demand for more locally-produced healthy foods just yet.

Chief executive officer of the BAS James Paul said while farmers welcomed initiatives aimed at creating healthier food options for Barbadians, players in the agriculture sector have not reached the level of production needed to support that push.

“There is no question at all that we have the capability of producing healthier products in the country but we cannot do this if, on the other hand, we are barely producing what is currently needed with respect to some products and in terms of other products that we are not producing at all. So that is the essential thing…. How do we increase agricultural production?” he said in an interview with Barbados TODAY.

“Truthfully, the only way we can increase it is by trying to ensure that the environment for increasing the overall production of [an] agricultural commodity is favourable for it.”

Paul’s comments came in response to calls on Tuesday from Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Business Sandra Husbands for a larger investment in agro-processing healthy food products for local consumption.

He pointed out that even when healthier local options were made available, producers were still at a disadvantage as they had to compete with imported products.

“One of the unfortunate things that we also face is that there are competing alternatives in terms of the agricultural sector, in that we face competition from imports for less healthy products and also subsidised products. [These] products that come in from overseas that are less healthy but they are subsidised from the country of origin – whether it be the United States or Europe – and they are sold to the local Barbadian public, as opposed to the healthy alternative,” Paul lamented.

“We need to vigorously promote our locally-produced products and more healthy alternatives [compared] to the imported products that are actually coming in at the same time.”

To this end, the BAS CEO said consumers must be educated about the value of locally-produced products.

He contended that too many of them still believed that “once they get a fancy branded product coming in from the US or Europe or wherever, some of them claiming to be organic, that somehow it is more healthy”.

“Sometimes we are producing even better, cheaper, and more healthy alternatives right here in Barbados, and then we don’t get support from the consuming public. I think that those are fundamental issues,” he said.

Meanwhile, Paul believes the recent implementation of the National School Nutrition Policy, which seeks to improve students’ eating habits, will lead to a bump in sales for vendors of healthy produce.

However, he stressed: “The challenge that we face in the sector is that we have now to be able to be consistent, in terms of maintaining the level of production to where consumer demand is. That is something that we have to be pushing constantly.”

shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb

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BICO says mobile salespersons have until month end to sign new contracts

BICO has terminated the current contracts of all its mobile ice cream salespersons, accusing them of breaching agreements with the company.

Executive Chairman Edwin Thirlwell announced on Friday that the independent operators now have until the end of this month to decide if they will accept new contracts.

The decision seemed to catch the contractors off guard, coming on the heels of a settlement with the ice cream manufacturer on new plug-in electricity charges, which had resulted in the salespersons agreeing to resume work after several weeks of strike action.

Spokesman for the independent contractors, David McClean said his colleagues will reassess their working relationship with BICO by May 31.

“They were all in breach,” Thirlwell told Barbados TODAY when asked about the contracts, although not specifying what breaches had occurred. “The trouble is with the old contract, everyone was looking backwards and now we say we will have to look forward and revert to what we had in the first place because the present system is not fit for purpose.”

“We will have to make a few changes to make it up-to-date. There is an extension to the end of May to sort out your bits and pieces, and that’s all there is to do, really,” the BICO boss added.

But McClean expressed dismay that the contracts were scrapped “in the middle of negotiations” about the new plug-in fees which BICO wants salespersons to pay for using electricity in their vans that carry freezers for the ice cream.

“You are going through a situation where you are dealing with a little crisis…. You are in negotiations and BICO cancels everybody’s contract. I still don’t understand it…and saying there is a grace period until the 31st of May…. I don’t know how they are working out that; that seems like something a lawyer would have to explain to me,” he said.

“They want to come and bring new contracts…. I ain’t want any. They could bring whatever new contract they want.”

Asked what the other contractors would do, McClean replied: “I am not sure what the other guys said. They are going to work currently…. They will work and then we will have to assess our options going forward because I know that in everything, in the end, there is victimisation.”

In its dispute with BICO, the contractors had been demanding a review of the new charges, questioning how management had arrived at the rates charged for the electricity used by the vans. They had also objected to the company contracting TMR Sales and Service to determine the electricity usage, saying that the Barbados Light and Power Company should be one doing that, as the only entity authorised to sell electricity in the country.

However, McClean said the readings done by TMR were “more or less in line with what our contractors had done”.

“But the problem was the actual calculations in working out the price of the energy bill…. They wanted us to pay at 58 cents per kilowatt hour. So we got to find out throughout this whole process that it was actually 45 cents per kilowatt hour. Suffice it to say, I believe there should still be some sort of sharing of that rate. BICO is still adamant that we have to bear all the costs. The guys have decided they would go with it.”

With respect to settlement on that issue, Thirlwell said it recognised that the readings put out in the first place were correct and the rate charged was a straight pass-through with no margin of profit for BICO.

“So it was an outbreak of commonsense in the end. That’s all I can say,” the BICO boss said.

McClean noted that the cost was higher for vans with double freezers and contractors with those were to consider using just one freezer.

“So, that is one of the options that the guys are looking at,” he said. “But for now, we will go back to work. Some of the guys were out this morning…. and the others will be back out from tomorrow.”

McClean said that also under consideration was the proposal that meters be installed to provide consistent, true readings of electricity usage.

“During this time frame of between now and the end of May, the meters is something we could look at also…. If we have the meter, the guys would know exactly what their readings are; they wouldn’t have to wait on anybody to tell them,” he explained.

The spokesman added that he was still waiting to hear from the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) on the ice cream salespersons’ request for the utility regulator to settle the contract issue for them and provide clarity on the sale of electricity.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT CONFIRMS ‘DISCUSSIONS ADVANCED’ IN BID TO TAKE OVER STATE OPERATIONS

By Emmanuel Joseph

The cash-strapped Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) is on a list of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) which the $3 billion cooperative movement is looking to take over. President of the Barbados Sustainable Energy Cooperative Society Limited, retired Lieutenant Colonel Trevor Browne revealed on Friday that the movement is looking to invest in SOEs including CBC and the Barbados Agricultural Management Company (BAMC). “We are very open to investing in most of them because these are all key national assets, especially the ones that are energy-related,” Lt Col Browne told Barbados TODAY.
“We can confirm that the Barbados co-operative movement – through the Barbados Sustainable Energy Cooperative Limited – has been in advanced discussions with Government and industry officials in efforts to establish financial, administrative and management arrangements for the possible transfer of some significant state-owned businesses over to cooperative and workers’ ownership,” he revealed in an earlier statement.
“This exciting initiative represents a watershed opportunity for the enfranchisement and empowerment of ordinary citizens of Barbados with respect to the ownership and control of key national resources,” Browne said.
He noted that the co-operative movement, which represents over 200 000 citizens, has been one of the most successful enterprises in Barbados in the last three decades.
According to him, this achievement is not only based on the over $3 billion in assets accumulated, or even the billions of loans made to members, but on the large numbers of “highly-effective” leaders, business managers and administrators who have been leading and managing these societies over the years “with impressive success”.
He said the vision of the Barbados Government in conceptualising and leading this initiative has also been in keeping with the local and international stance adopted by Prime Minister Mia Mottley with regard to the enfranchisement of ordinary citizens, people empowerment and building of community resilience. “This obviously represents a major national policy initiative, one that will require careful and detailed planning and execution, and that process is ongoing,” he added.
“At the same time, cooperatives have always been characterised by openness and transparency. And so, the process of consultation and discussions with our various leaders, membership and other stakeholders have already started in earnest,” Lt Col Browne stated.
He explained that over the coming days and weeks, the movement will fully expect to be in a better position to be much more expansive on the details of the initiative.
The president of the cooperative movement acknowledged that the Government would want to do its own consultations and to refine national policy and strategies as needed to support the planned take over. He also conceded that the SOEs and other key stakeholders, private sector interests and the workers involved, will also need to review and refine their own positions.
“The collective co-operative movement is however very enthusiastic about this revolutionary and forward-looking initiative and we certainly look forward to the opportunity to serve all Barbadians by bringing the co-operative principles to these productive enterprises,” Lt Col Browne concluded.
emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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By Jenique Belgrave

Already considered an expensive destination, the exorbitant summer fares charged by US carriers will not do Barbados any favours in the coming months, says tourism consultant Dr. Kerry Hall.
She said that with cheaper destinations offering similar products, the anxieties of local tourism stakeholders over the airfare situation are well-founded.
“It is not like paying the airfare and then you are coming somewhere which is affordable so you can take the hit with the airfare,” Hall told Barbados TODAY in an interview.
“Barbados is one of the most expensive destinations in the world. I do not know how, but we are. When you come here you have to look to dole out even more money. So why come here when I could travel to the Mediterranean, the Far East or Singapore for less and those are cheaper destinations. So Barbados now has to be concerned,” she stressed.
She also pointed out that it would be difficult for a destination market to get an airline to lower its fares, if the demand for those flights, regardless of the cost, remained.
Industry stakeholders have been raising concerns in recent days over the thousands of dollars international carriers are charging for travelling to Barbados in the July-August period.
A quick check online today with American Airlines showed that a round trip ticket for a traveller from New York ranged between US$1,500 to US $4,000 during those months.
Meanwhile, for those looking to be in Barbados for the Sweetest Summer Festival’s climax weekend, a roundtrip ticket on United Airlines from Miami in economy class cost US$2,344 and higher.
“These high airfares are horrific, but if the people are paying, the airlines are not going to bring back the prices. Only when that begins to cool off will the airlines, which are trying to recoup their losses for the last two, three years, will bring the prices back down,” Hall said.
Noting that the COVID-19 pandemic and the multiple lockdowns have led to a pent-up demand for travel, the former head of the Barbados Tourism Product Authority said many travellers are now willing to pay top dollar to visit destinations on their bucket list “no matter the cost”.
Leading the tourist charge into the Caribbean is the American visitor who accounted for 51.5 per cent of all tourist arrivals into the region last year.
“The US is leading this rebound. The USA has the world’s most prolific travellers, and they are the ones flooding the world travelling, so maybe that is why when you are flying out of the US, the airlines can afford to raise their prices because they figure the people can afford the money,” she stressed.
She earlier noted: “People have come out of COVID with a completely different mindset. ‘I need to live life to the fullest. I am travelling no matter what the cost’. So no matter what the high air fares are, which are ridiculous, people are travelling and spending their money. That’s what pent-up demand is doing.”
Saying the question now is how long will this last, Hall predicted that at some point middle and lower income travellers will tighten their belts and leave international travel to the higher-earning individuals, which will benefit destinations adopting the quality rather than quantity approach to tourism.
The tourism expert also underlined that COVID may have achieved what the Caribbean has long wished for – a year round tourist season.
“What we have tried to do for decades is to create year-round tourism here in Barbados or the region. We’ve never really quite succeeded because people will come to the Caribbean in winter and go elsewhere in summer, or stay home where it’s warm. You find out that all of this pent-up demand is now spilling over into the trough and into the summer period,” she explained.
jeniquebelgrave@barbadostoday.bb

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Four fire officers and two other motorists were involved in a major accident at a busy intersection as the emergency tender was heading to a house fire in the City on Friday.
According to reports from the Barbados Fire Service, an emergency call was made around 11:32 a.m. about the fire in Tudor Street.
A team from the Bridgetown catchment, based in the Pine, was travelling along the bottom of Government Hill when it was involved in a three-vehicle smash up at the Welches Road traffic lights.
Two fire officers complained of pain in the chest and legs and were transported by ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), while the other two sought a medical evaluation at the private Sandy Crest Medical Centre in St James.
The other person injured in the collision was Waple Brathwaite of Airview, Boscobelle, St Peter, who was also taken to the QEH by ambulance. The 65 year-old was driving a Grand Vitara headed toward the Nita Barrow Roundabout from Welches Road.
Michael Daisley, who was driving the third vehicle – a Toyota Yaris – had been stopped at the traffic lights coming from Tweedside Road. He is from Lot 155 A, Husbands Gardens, St James and opted to seek private medical attention.
Chief Fire Officer Errol Maynard told the media that he was concerned about the wellbeing of those involved in the collision, adding that it would have a significant impact on the fire service.
“It is a major concern firstly for the welfare of the officers because we really don’t want our officers to be injured going to incidents unnecessarily. This also impacted our staffing because these are four officers that we will not have to work and we are already short [staffed]. Then the vehicle here is probably written off and therefore that is one vehicle we don’t have and we are really short of vehicles right now,” he said.
Maynard added that fire officers from Worthing, Christ Church subsequently responded to the blaze in Tudor Street.
The fire chief also encouraged Barbadians to pull over to allow emergency vehicles safe passage when they hear sirens and see flashing lights.
Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams, who was also on the scene, reiterated this message.
“Generally, I’ve observed recently that the beacon and the siren don’t get the respect they require and there are a lot of near misses responding to emergencies,” he said. He urged Barbadians to respect the siren and flashing lights.
The minister said he would check in on the injured woman and fire officers when he left the scene.
(SZB)

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Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey has expressed concern about bullying and fighting among schoolchildren and the fact these incidents were going viral on social media.
And he says plans are in train for the Child Care Board (CCB) to help the Ministry of Education bring the situation under control.
He raised the issue on Wednesday during a press conference to launch Child Month 2023.
“I would not be in clear conscience if I said that I was not concerned about the amount of bullying and fighting that you see in the schools, that you see on social media, that you see on the streets.
“You know, it is not the norm for Barbadian society. I know there were always fights, but social media has made it seem like there is more. But I also think, in some cases, that we have lost the capacity to reason and that is why I think parenting programmes are so important,” Humphrey said.
He said CCB social workers would be made available to the Ministry of Education, as required, to help authorities deal with some of the issues in schools.
Minister Humphrey added that he was working alongside Minister of Education Kay McConney to establish a secure treatment facility where troubled youth in the school system can be sent to benefit from professional interventions.
He insisted that much effort must be placed on dealing with problematic children in schools before sending them into the justice system.
“So I think that is something on which we really have to ponder, with the view to changing the circumstances of our children. The other thing, of course, is people ask all the time what happens when these cases are reported.
“[People say] ‘I have reported a case, and I haven’t seen any follow-through’. But a number of things happen beyond the initial report. The officers cannot get the support of the parents sometimes to finalise these cases.”
The Minister added: “People come forward, and then when it is time to give the official statement, they back down. Or when officers return to the community, there is a level of hostility. I am asking people to respect the officers of the Child Care Board and the new child protection agency when established in law.
“Of course, there are penalties in the new legislation that are serious for dealing with that, but I do not think we should begin by looking at the penalties. If you really care about the nation’s children, it is the sensible thing to let the officers do their work.”
(AH)

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HEALTH AUTHORITIES TO MOUNT EFFORTS TO BOOST CHILDREN IMMUNISATIONS

By Jenique Belgrave

A fall-off in vaccination coverage is leading the Ministry of Health and Wellness to re-energize its immunisations programme.
With a goal of 95 per cent coverage for children under two, Minister of Health Senator The Most Honourable Dr. Jerome Walcott outlined that his department will be reviewing vaccination registers, visiting nurseries and ramping up its outreach efforts to vaccinate children who have missed their shots over the past three years largely due to the impact of COVID-19.
Between birth and three years, children are expected to be administered a number of vaccinations and boosters in an effort to protect them against a range of illnesses including measles, mumps and rubella, hepatitis A&B, diphtheria, and tetanus. The pandemic however, derailed the vaccination programme due to fears from exposure risks and availability of immunization resources as personnel was diverted to other duties associated with the pandemic.
The health minister said: “We continue to focus on reversing the downward trends in vaccination coverage and vaccine preventable disease surveillance.”
“We are now embarking on a number of community outreach activities to achieve at least 95 per cent coverage in all childhood vaccines among children less than two years of age and to meet the standards of a high-performing surveillance system respectively,” he stated.
The minister said that parents with children not up-to-date on their vaccinations should therefore expect a call from their local polyclinic in the near future to schedule an appointment. Public health nurses will also be heading into nurseries and daycare facilities to check vaccination cards and send written notices to parents of children missing shots.
Walcott’s comments were made in his address on Friday to launch the State of the World’s Children 2023 Unicef Report ‘For Every Child, Vaccination’ at the United Nations House in Marine Gardens, Christ Church.
Also speaking during the event, UNICEF Representative for the Eastern Caribbean Pieter Bult stated that 67 million of the world’s children missed critical vaccinations due to the pandemic and an increase in vaccine hesitancy.
“While the backslide in Latin America and the Caribbean has not been as deep as the rest of the world, an average of seven per cent in this region are not receiving even a single dose of vaccines and across the Eastern Caribbean the situation is worsening with the number of so-called ‘zero dose’ children increasing…Without urgent intervention consequences of failing to vaccinate children will become more severe in years to come,” he stated.
He therefore called for the political commitment and sustainable financing to pull the vaccination numbers up in the region.
jeniquebelgrave@barbadostoday.bb

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By Marlon Madden

The island’s newest commercial bank is on a mission to ensure that all Barbadians have access to a bank account, escape high bank fees and earn higher interest rates on deposits.
And according to Chief Executive Officer of Sagicor Bank (Barbados) Limited George Thomas and Chief Client Officer Lee-Anne O’Selmo, the fully digital bank has been receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from Barbadians since starting operations on March 9.
“We had a lot of people coming and asking to open accounts. So far, we have seen a steady flow of clients onboarding on a daily basis, a certain number of accounts being opened on a daily basis,” O’Selmo told Barbados TODAY in an interview on Friday.
She said in addition to making it easier for young people to have a bank account, Sagicor Bank was keen on helping to raise the level of financial literacy among Barbadians.
“It is something that kids need to learn; it is a life skill,” she said as she also disclosed that a senior citizens account and youth account were expected to be launched later this year.
Thomas added that while Sagicor Bank was presenting itself as an additional option for Barbadians, some customers were going as far as moving their money from other financial institutions.
“We are not telling people to switch banks. We are an alternative, another channel, but we are seeing people coming in and transferring [funds] and we encourage people to avail themselves of our low to no fee approach and our relatively high interest rates on deposits,” the CEO said.
Sagicor Bank, which hired 45 team members, offers a range of products and services, including several savings accounts, a deposit account which is equivalent to a chequing account, credit and debit card and loan services, bill payment and transfer options.
While there is no physical branch, customers and prospective clients are able to chat with experts online or visit the bank’s Worthing Corporate Centre.
There are currently eight Sagicor Bank automated banking machines (ABMs) across the island and officials said they were already looking at the possibility of increasing that number.
Thomas said it was after listening to the needs of the market for an easier, safer and simpler way of banking without the lines that the decision was taken to establish a fully digital commercial bank.
Noting that individuals are able to open an account in as little as 10 minutes via the Sagicor Bank Barbados Limited mobile application, he said the requirements were not onerous even as the company ensured compliance with all regulations and Know Your Customer rules.
“So, we have made that onboarding experience very easy…. We are a low-fee bank and our primary accounts do not attract fees and we actually pay above market interest on our long-term deposit accounts,” Thomas said.
Sagicor Bank currently offers a local currency deposit account that attracts no fees, and interest rates ranging between 1 per cent and 1.25 per cent.
“We were designed to be efficient and it is that efficiency that allows us to be more economical,” the CEO said while declaring that Sagicor Bank was “the endpoint of digital transformation” when it comes to banking.
Stressing that the financial institution was working closely with regulators to continuously improve and roll out a suite of services to satisfy the needs of clients, he said he was “very optimistic” that it would put a dent in the number of people without a bank account.
Thomas said the plan was to engage every demographic while maintaining the necessary protection and keeping risk at a minimum.
“So, it is not just for the millennials and the Gen-Zs, it is for everybody. There is a continuous dialogue and we are proactively going out to meet with the elderly to understand what they need and how they feel about the technology and how we can engage with them. We are also meeting with the disabled individuals, as well, to ensure that we are as maximally inclusive as possible as we evolve,” he explained.
The banking executive gave the assurance that the digital bank was secure.
He said Sagicor Bank has a “relatively small group of very highly trained and talented people focused on delivering high levels of service” as well as state-of-the-art artificial intelligence that is able to detect a potential problem even before it occurs.
Thomas added that the financial institution also had plans to work closely with regulators to make it easier for individuals to invest in stocks and bonds.
Sagicor Bank (Barbados) is a subsidiary of Sagicor Financial Corporation.
marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb

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Tent managers are anticipating biting social commentary and more young calypsonians on the stage during the 2023 Crop Over season.
Some of them who spoke to Barbados TODAY said the response from young artistes has been encouraging so far. In fact, manager of C.O. Williams House of Soca, Sharon Carew-White, said the interest has been high.
“It’s actually been a great response. I would put it down to having a young brigade, Rannan, Quon, Doyenne, in the finals [of the Pic-O-De-Crop Competition] last year,” she said.
Noting that while many younger performers usually enter the arena interested in the bashment soca genre, a growing number of them had showed interest in social commentary, “which speaks volumes because with the likes of Gabby being 75 and Grynner and the others getting down, you have continuity of the artform, at least, in a good crop of young persons.”
Carew-White said this interest was highlighted during the recent recruitment of performers for the tent.
“We did 19 persons and I was surprised that many of those persons were social commentators. The young people are not frightened to speak about issues; they like to do it in a witty style. I think you are going to get a lot of wit… a lot of young people want to say what is on their mind,” she said.
Though Carew-White remained mum on what patrons can expect from her tent which opens on June 17 at the Derrick Smith School and Vocational Centre in Jackmans, St Michael, she promised they would have a good experience.
“We are going to give you what we promised you last year, which is great kiaso, great entertainment and nice nights out. People last year were saying ‘I want to get out, I want to release some stress’…. This is the place to do it – in the House of Soca.”
Juliana ‘Julie’ Sealy of Carters Shining Stars Calypso Tent also reported a “good” response from young calypsonians.
“I have some younger persons on board, which is part of the mandate for Carters Shining Stars where I want to mix the old with the youth, so that they will be able to pass on information so that we would not have that generational gap,” she told Barbados TODAY.
Sealy, whose stage name this year is Lady Virtue, also disclosed that her songs have been completed and she is expecting tight competition.
“My song would have finished since last year and that motivation from the NCF [National Cultural Foundation] [to start] early has helped me also to motivate my tent mates. We are in a good place for this Crop Over season, and I really look forward to it,” she said.
“I have been fortunate to listen to almost all the songs coming out of the tent this year and believe me, they are a good mixture of political commentary and the issues that are going on in Barbados. The tent is bringing that, I must say.”
Manager of the Super Gladiators Tent Winston Alleyne said his preparations were nearing completion.
He said the plan for the season includes paying tribute to two stalwarts who were instrumental in the tent’s formation.
“This is going to be a very exciting year for us. A lot of people don’t know that our tent was really started by Singing Francine and Peter Roy Byer…. That is not a widely known fact. This year, we really want to honour their initiative by putting on a spectacular show for sure,” he told Barbados TODAY.
“The band is waiting to get all of the scores so that they can start doing rehearsals. [We] will definitely make a splash for 2023. As usual, we will bring some very hard and very biting commentaries because we have to be the voice of the people,” he added.
shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb

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The majority of Barbadian taxpayers have filed their 2022 personal income tax (PIT) returns on time as the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) recorded a 71 percent compliance rate for the period.
Reviewing the recently concluded season, BRA’s Communications Officer Erica Lazare said the process “generally went well” with the organisation experiencing the customary sharp increase in online traffic and calls on the May 2nd deadline date for filing.
Admitting that there were some persons who encountered difficulties in submitting their tax returns online before the cutoff point, she encouraged them to lodge objections for consideration, assuring that there would be recourse for those with legitimate claims.
“The final day saw a significant increase of users on the TAMIS system and while we had a relatively high percentage of filers, at some points TAMIS slowed a bit but most importantly, was still working. We do appreciate some people had issues, which may have prevented them from filing their PIT on time. In those instances, we ask those persons to go to their Account tab and submit an Objection for consideration. Make sure to include as much detail as possible,” she said.
BRA also saw more persons opting to use the online feature to pay owed taxes..
“Online payments increased once again and this reflects taxpayers’ improved payment performance. We intend to publish some of the tax filing metrics on its website quite soon,” she shared.
Lazare stated that almost 8000 persons took advantage of BRA’s tax clinics and in-person Customer Service facilities during the season, with close to 11,000 calls fielded by the Contact Centre, the majority of which (77 percent) required help with resetting their password.
She advised taxpayers to save their usernames and passwords in a safe place as most persons only access the system once a year and may forget these details, and added that the authority is also working with the developers to improve the password reset process.
She also urged persons to verify their third-party information and file accurate returns as early as possible to avoid any last-minute rush, and to ensure that bank or credit union details are available should a refund of tax result from filings.
The communications officer Lazare revealed that the authority is currently conducting a debrief of the filing season with a view to collating recommendations for improvements in the future.
She also reminded persons filing the 2022 Reverse Tax Credit that they have until December 31, 2024, to file.
(JB/PR)

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On behalf of the people and Government of Barbados, I wish to convey my warmest  congratulations to Their Majesties King Charles III & Queen Camilla on their coronation.

As Prime Minister of Barbados, I recognise that our two nations share a deeply complex and rich history. By this token, I equally recognise the common values we share, and celebrate the friendship that has blossomed, and has not been wilted, by Barbados’ progression from a Colony to a Republic. This indeed is a friendship which is founded on mutual respect.

His Majesty The King’s championing and advocacy on matters related to the climate crisis and sustainable development has been a beacon of hope and inspiration for millions across the globe.

In addition, his passion for young people which led to the establishment of The Prince’s Trust, has benefited thousands of young persons across the Commonwealth, including in our own country.

Meanwhile, I look forward to continuing the work with fellow leaders and nations under the umbrella of The Commonwealth, which the late Queen Elizabeth II has established as the quintessential platform for countries across the world to come together and address the pressing global issues of our time.

Under His Majesty The King’s leadership, I believe this association will prove vital in navigating the complex issues and ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.

Once again, I sincerely congratulate Their Majesties King Charles III & Queen Camilla on their coronation.

May their reign be a symbol of stability and transformation to the world.

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TEEN ADVISES PARENTS, YOUTH AT NATIONAL CHILDREN’S SERVICE

By Anesta Henry

Fourteen-year-old Seventh-day Adventist School student Meshach Blackman is appealing to parents and guardians to look to God for the strength, skills, knowledge and attitude to raise their children the right way.
Delivering a powerful, thought-provoking sermon at the National Children’s Service at the Abundant Life Assembly in Bank Hall, St Michael on Friday, Blackman also told parents they had a responsibility to raise a generation of more stable and secure youth.
“This is what we want – less gangs, less gun warfare, less toxic environments in our schools, less school dropouts, less children with poor self-control and so many other social and emotional issues. I am sure that this is one of the primary aims of our Government as we move towards a better Barbados,” he said, adding that parents should want their children’s names called in public for good deeds and not wrongdoing.
Blackman suggested that parents had to set the example, by their own behaviours.
“Manage your stressors and conflicts well. Pick your battles and determine what is important. Be the kind of adult that you want your child to become. Remember, what we will be is what we are now becoming. Be insistent, consistent and persistent as you parent. Don’t be afraid of us, we will thank you later.
“Love your children as God loves you, unconditionally. We are a gift from God; affirm us and bless us. This will feed our emotional wellbeing and we will make better choices. Give us a sense of self worth, value and identity that is rooted in what God says about us, how he feels about us and what Jesus has done for us,” he said.
The young man who commanded the attention of the audience with his strong delivery and use of scripture, stressed that when children were raised to honour and obey God’s word, their lives would be more peaceful, and they would be happier and less likely to bend to peer pressure.
Speaking directly to his peers, he said they had a responsibility to their parents, community and the country, to be obedient and make good choices.
“Stop folding under negative peer pressure that can lead to decisions [that] negatively affect your life chances. Stop deceiving your parents and breaking their hearts with disappointments.
“Remember, boys and girls, they are not perfect and many of them are doing the best they can. When you know better, do better in spite of your circumstances,” Blackman said.
Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey reminded the hundreds of children who attended the service that they were awesome, strong and destined for greatness.
He said the past three years had been difficult for Barbadian children who experienced the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters as well as the dramatic changes taking place worldwide.
Nevertheless, the Minister said that the Government and state-owned agencies continued to look after children, making sure they live and thrive in a generally safe environment.
“I want to call all of us here to action. Parents, this is a time when your children are dealing with some of the most difficult circumstances. It is no ease in life if you missed three years of school, one way or the other.
“I want to commend the parents because I know this has not been easy, but I encourage the parents to spend more time with their children. I am asking the parents to monitor who they are letting keep their children.
“And I say this because as much as Barbados is a nice place to be, not everybody is nice. There are many people who see children as an opportunity,” said Humphrey who also applauded teachers for the work they have been doing.
The lively, well-coordinated two-hour-long service included several entertainment pieces and prayers and worship led by children from various schools.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Director of the Child Care Board (CCB) RoseAnn Richards, Chairman of the CCB Catherine Jordan, and Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw also attended the service coordinated by the CCB.
anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb

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Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey wants to see more being done to address the stigma surrounding local parenting initiatives.

Addressing attendees of PAREDOS 1st parenting seminar at Solidarity House on Saturday, Humphrey noted that from his experience in the past of championing a number of parenting initiatives with Pinelands Creative Workshop and other organisations, there appeared to be a fear from several parents that such programmes were for “bad” parents.
At the seminar, titled ‘Managing Self, Influencing My Child, Fostering a New Family,’ the People Empowerment Minister stressed that such beliefs needed to be addressed in order to help deliver the help and assistance that is needed for families.

“It occurred to me then, that a lot of what people can receive when we say we are doing parenting programmes is perhaps the idea that we think they are bad parents. That is not what a parenting programme is about; I think that if you are going to get that right, we have to reshape that idea that people are bad parents,” he said.

“You are not a bad parent … these are difficult times and I think everybody now needs help. The times have changed and the tools that were given to many of us as parents are now ineffective tools in a modern society.”

Humphrey also added: “I say to you without fear or contradiction, our children desperately need help. They need help because the society is changing, yes, but look at all the things to which they are [now] exposed [to].”

Humphrey noted that though the country has a number of social systems at its disposal to help citizens, these policies have not kept up with many changes that have occurred throughout the society, and as such, need to be addressed by all stakeholders in cooperation.

“We built a society, we built a government, we built our social benefits system on the idea that there were other infrastructures, other systems to help parents out. Those things are gone. We have to relook at our social system, we have to relook our social benefits, to make sure we put more in place to be able to help people.

“We also have to call institutions … we have to call back on the churches, we have to call on these NGOs also to step up. Everybody has to step up or we will lose this battle, and make no doubt about it, this is a battle.” (SB)

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Lennox Yearwood, who represented the Massy Foundation, said: “We are delighted to have contributed a grant of $55,849.50 to aid in the provision of wheelchairs for beneficiaries. This is not the first time [that] we have helped the Wheelchair Foundation, but this time it’s the biggest grant that we have given them so far.”

“We understand that while some persons may be born with a mobility challenge that makes a wheelchair a requisite lifestyle tool, we are also cognisant that physical challenges can be thrust upon us due to illness, accident, the graceful privilege of old age, or even the ever-present non-communicable disease, diabetes, which can lead to amputations.

“Our only hope is through these collaborative efforts, our donations will allow those who have been affected to experience a better quality of life with greater independence,” he said.

Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey thanked Massy for their generous donation, and stressed more needs to be done to improve the lives of those living with disabilities.

He said the promised national policy to address persons with disabilities will soon make its way to parliament.

“I must tell you that I have now in my hand, and I am taking [it] to Cabinet very soon, the national policy to address persons with disabilities, and draft legislation. We hope to implement … those two documents I now have in my hand and will share with the Cabinet very soon, because we have to improve the lives of persons with disabilities in Barbados,” he said.

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A house was destroyed by fire at Passage Road, St Michael, on Sunday morning. Fire personnel are on the scene carrying out investigations.

(More details as they come to hand)

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The public is advised that on Monday, May 8, there will be no sitting of the Criminal Division of the Supreme Court of Barbados, which comprises Criminal Courts 2, 3, 3A, 4, 4A, 5, and 5A

In addition, there will be no hearings conducted at all Magistrates’ Courts island-wide. However, the offices of the respective Magistrates’ Courts and the other departments of the Registration Department will remain open.

The reason for these closures is to facilitate the attendance of the Judiciary, Magistracy and the Registrar at a symposium on the Criminal Justice System in Barbados, which will take place at the Hilton Barbados Resort.

The Registration Department regrets and apologises for any inconvenience these closures may cause.

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