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SOURCE: CMC: WASHINGTON – The former director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Dominican-born, Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, died Friday of apparent heart failure. She was 71-years-old.

Etienne, who recently retired after 10 years as director, was declared Director-Emeritus on September 30, 2022, at the 30th Pan American Sanitary Conference.

“From a little girl in Massacre, Dominica, walking barefoot, going to school, being as every other child was. If that child can rise to become director of PAHO, then there is hope for every child that walks the streets of the Americas (including the Caribbean),” said Etienne during the ceremony.

During Independence celebrations last year, Dr Etienne was presented with Barbados’ highest honour, the Freedom of Barbados Award, for her extraordinary leadership and friendship to the island during the COVID-19 pandemic. (CMC/BT)

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I was truly shocked and deeply saddened on my arrival in Dubai, to learn of the death of Dr. Carissa Etienne. We last spoke less than a month ago.

Dr. Etienne was a cherished friend of Barbados. She provided round the clock guidance and support during the COVID-19 Pandemic to myself and then Minister of Health and Wellness, Lieutenant Colonel The Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic. Whether at midnight or midday, she was one of the few people who was most there for our country and our people when we most needed it. It was for this reason that the Government awarded her the Honorary Freedom of Barbados in 2022.

On behalf of the Government and people of Barbados, I wish to extend deepest condolences to her loved ones, the Government and people of Dominica and to the wider Pan American Health Organisation fraternity. We shall never forget her commitment and compassion to the people of our Caribbean Community.

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The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training has advised parents and guardians of students of St. John Primary that the school will be relocated to the Messiah’s House of Prayer Wesleyan Holiness Church, Massiah Street, St. John, from Monday, December 4, 2023.

In a statement released today, Deputy Chief Education Officer, Joy Adamson, said this arrangement will remain for the next two weeks until the end of the term on Thursday, December 14, 2023.

“An online meeting will be held with all parents and guardians on Saturday, December 2, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. to update them on arrangements for this relocation. The link will be sent by the school’s Information Technology Coordinator, as accustomed,” she stated.

Mrs. Adamson thanked all the parties involved for their patience and understanding as the Ministry seeks a resolution to the current situation. (BGIS)

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Richard Albert, the William Stamps Farish Professor in Law, Professor of Government, and Director of Constitutional Studies at the University of Texas, Austin, United States, will deliver a public lecture hosted by the Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC) on Wednesday, December 13, at the Henry Fraser Lecture Theatre, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, starting at 7 p.m.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend the lecture, which will be on the topic The Grenade, the Hour Glass and the Sundial: The Lifetime of Constitutions, and engage with the presenter on constitutional issues.

Professor Albert will be on a three-day visit to Barbados, during which time he will meet with the Constitutional Reform Commission. He has published over 25 books on constitutional democracy, including Constitutional Amendments: Making, Breaking, and Changing Constitutions. He is also Co-President of the International Society of Public Law, and founding director of the International Forum on the Future of Constitutionalism, a not-for-profit organisation.
(BGIS)

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There is literally nowhere to operate in today’s environment that does not result in some level of exposure to cyberattacks.

Were people to stop for a moment and count the number of places – institutions, healthcare facilities, attorneys’ offices, doctors’ offices, airlines, stores, banks, government departments, utility companies, government statistical departments, police stations, insurance companies, and their employer – they will discover that a great deal of personal information is scattered across several areas.

Back when that information was stored on paper, access was limited to those who worked directly in those areas and chances of it being removed were also limited. The likely forms of dissemination were photocopying and fax machines.

Today, with email, smartphone cameras, QR codes, Bluetooth, and Internet access, your personal information could be accessed by people in other countries, exposing you to fraud, blackmail, bullying, and theft. Your identity can also be cloned and used for all kinds of nefarious activities.

Our personal data, whether it is your name and address, your medical condition, legal matters, your financial details, information about your family and children, or sources of your income, are all subject to public exposure.

A few years ago, several Barbadians fell victim to automatic banking machine fraudsters from eastern Europe who trained their attention on what they viewed as a soft target.

Luckily, local financial institutions have significantly upgraded their hardware and software, thus mitigating such attacks.

The problem for us is the attacks that are coming our way from bad actors in all corners of the world. Barbados’ global profile has risen and so has our attraction to online attackers.

According to industry experts, there has been a significant uptick in the frequency and sophistication of attacks on the financial and banking sector.

Financial institutions were the second most impacted sector, based on the number of reported data breaches in 2022. Institutions in the United States, Argentina, Brazil, and China were reportedly most affected.

As of December 2022, finance and insurance companies globally experienced 566 breaches, leading to over 254 million leaked records.

Here in Barbados, companies of various kinds have been the subject of cyberattacks and ransomware incidents.

The Massy Group acknowledged in its annual report that it had been the subject of a cyberattack, while a local bulk shopping business had its membership data breached. A leading credit union spent substantial amounts of money to reinforce its cyber security following a breach by attackers who reportedly demanded millions of dollars from the financial institution. It is also understood that a regional company with operations in Barbados reportedly paid ransomware attackers substantial sums to regain access to its stolen business data.

In addition, many commercial bank customers had to be issued new credit and debit cards after their accounts had been compromised.

In the latest annual Financial Stability Report issued jointly by the Central Bank of Barbados and the Financial Services Commission (FSC), cyber threats were identified as among the key concerns of the regulators of our financial system.

As Barbadians embrace electronic transactions and online banking, the Central Bank and FSC cautioned that “a successful cyberattack on a systemically important financial institution can destabilise the entire financial system and, by extension, the economy”.

“A cyber breach of any component of the payments and settlement system can also be very detrimental to financial stability and overall economic activity,” they added.

The danger that cyberattacks pose is significant and though new laws have been introduced, such as the Data Protection Act, there needs to be greater public engagement on the individual rights and the legal obligations of those who store and manage the personal data of citizens.

As Barbados’ Data Protection Commissioner Lisa Greaves cautioned during a public discussion, businesses and professionals such as lawyers and doctors face far-reaching implications for non-compliance with the data protection laws which guide the collection, storage, manipulation, sharing, and erasure of personal information on Barbadians.

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The Dominican doctor who helmed the region’s public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic, earning one of Barbados’ highest awards, died on Friday at age 71.

Dr Carissa Etienne’s death was confirmed by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) from which she retired in January after 10 years as its director. It did not give a cause of death but media reports said the PAHO Director Emeritus passed away in the early hours after collapsing at her home in Maryland, just outside Washington.

Joining health officials at the national and regional level in mourning her death, Prime Minister Mia Mottley described Dr Etienne as a cherished friend of Barbados. Last year, in recognition of her leadership during the pandemic, she was conferred with the Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados.

Mottley recalled the late public health official’s continuous guidance and support, emphasising her pivotal role during the pandemic. She said she was “shocked and deeply saddened” to learn about Dr Etienne’s untimely death. The two spoke less than a month ago, she siad.

“Whether at midnight or midday, she was one of the few people who was most there for our country and our people when we most needed it,” Mottley wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “It was for this reason that the Government awarded her the Honorary Freedom of Barbados in 2022.”

Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George, who closely collaborated with Dr Etienne, called her passing a significant loss for the region. He acknowledged the PAHO leader’s crucial assistance to Barbados during the COVID-19 crisis, providing technical and financial support.

Dr Jarbas Barbosa, who succeeded Dr Etienne as PAHO director, recognised her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as her contributions to addressing other health challenges in the Americas.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to Washington Ronald Sanders, the current President of the Permanent Council of the Organisation of American States (OAS), praised her efforts in steering the countries of the Western Hemisphere through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, securing vaccines, and ensuring essential medical facilities for the region.

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) joined the global community in mourning Dr Etienne’s passing. OECS Director General Dr Didacus Jules spoke highly of her contributions to regional leadership and dedication to public health. He emphasised Dr Etienne’s commitment to addressing health inequities, infectious diseases, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and mental health in the Americas.

Dr Etienne came to PAHO after a 12-year tenure as Director of Primary Health Care Services in Dominica’s Ministry of Health after serving as Chief Medical Officer.

Beginning in 1989, she oversaw a raft of health care reforms in her homeland, including the introduction of universal primary health care coverage and raising immunisation coverage rates to 95 per cent. She also led the widening of coverage for prenatal care and deliveries by trained birth attendants and access to continuous care for chronic non-communicable diseases.

Globally recognised as a public health champion and advocate, Dr Etienne was elected to lead PAHO in September 2012 and was re-elected for a second five-year term in September 2017. She had served in the top echelons of global public health for 20 years, as assistant director of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau from 2003 to 2008 and from 2008 to 2012 as Assistant Director-General for Health Systems and Services at the World Health Organisation in Geneva, Switzerland.

She also challenged the region to make good on the pledges to introduce universal health care and strengthen their health care systems.

“My vision for the Americas is of a society free from inequality where everyone, particularly the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people, can lead healthy, meaningful and productive lives,” said Dr Etienne as she began her second five-year term as PAHO director. “One of my top priorities is ensuring that everyone has access to quality health services without fear of being impoverished.”
(EJ)

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by Emmanuel Joseph

The Barbados Light and Power Company (BLPC) is suing the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) for rejecting its request for an 11.9 per cent rate hike and an 8.79 per cent return on its rate base.
In a statement issued late Friday, the utility accused the regulator of making significant errors in law and policy which it said were affecting its ability to serve its customers.

The unprecedented legal challenge came after the chair of the regulator’s rate hearing panel Dr Donley Carrington announced that Barbadians would learn before Christmas about the revised electricity rates, stressing that it would not be the 11.9 per cent increase requested by the company.

Intervenor Ricky Went expressed confidence that Light & Power would lose in court, while fellow intervenor, retired Lieutenant Colonel Trevor Browne, declined comment, stating only that it was a matter for the commission and the electric company.

BLPC said the legal appeal was necessary to defend “fair and reasonable legal standards” governing the industry, and accused the FTC of making “significant legal, jurisdictional, and procedural errors” in its decision.

“We feel that we are left with no other option than to continue efforts to resolve serious errors of law related to the rate application,” the electricity company said.

“Such mistakes have major consequences on our ability to adequately serve our customers.”

After two years of involvement in the FTC’s rate review process, the national power company, owned by the Canadian energy conglomerate Emera since 2010, expressed disappointment that a reasonable outcome could not be achieved. It charged that the FTC retroactively changed settled decisions, contradicted government policy on energy storage and made arbitrary adjustments.

Among those “settled decisions”, BLPC said, was the treatment of the firm’s Self- Insurance Fund and accumulated depreciation and taxes in a manner that is “punitive” to the utility several years after such settled decisions were made, the company charged.
“Notably, these specific issues were formally raised with, and supportive responses received from, the relevant regulatory bodies (including the FTC itself) [and] were relied upon by Light & Power,” the statement added.
BLPC also accused the FTC of “confiscation of prudent investments already made by Light & Power in good faith and already in service currently providing benefits to customers, and arbitrary and inconsistent adjustments to the test year”.

Assuring customers and stakeholders of its commitment to providing the best possible service, the company said it looked forward to a resolution in the High Court.

“Light & Power has full respect for the legal and regulatory process and will comply in every way necessary to bring this matter to a full and fair close that respects the best interests of customers, the company and the evolving energy needs of the country,” it said.

However, asserting that the FTC’s decision is sound and backed by data, intervenor Went accused the utility of making unilateral changes to depreciation rates in 2012.

He told Barbados TODAY: “We presented a 101-page affidavit that shows clearly the FTC is correct. In some instances, the FTC was most generous. For example, BLPC removed $99.5 million from the SIF [Self Insurance Fund] and paid dividends in one year. FTC gave BLPC 30 years to replenish the SIF. No interest was applied.”

In changing the depreciation rates in 2012, the company suggested that resulted in an increase of $7 million in depreciation expense for plant generation.

The intervenors’ analysis shows an impact of $9.351 million, Went countered, because the company “didn’t make any adjustment for the drop in demand during the pandemic”.

Went added: “There are several other big impacts which are highlighted in the FTC’s decision. We feel confident the court will rule in favour of FTC.”

Following the regulator’s February ruling in which BLPC was ordered to return to the drawing board to recalculate its rate data and resubmit its findings to the FTC, the utility company filed a motion for the commission to review that decision and change its orders.

The company was given a stay of execution on those orders.

But in handing down its ruling last month, Dr Carrington said the company has to comply with those February orders and respond accordingly.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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Barbadians are taking the escalating threat of dengue fever seriously, possibly thwarting a sharp uptick in the mosquito-borne illness, according to the Ministry of Health.

Senior Medical Officer of Health Dr Leslie Rollock revealed in an interview with Barbados TODAY that although the statistics indicate a surge in cases in recent weeks, the crucial threshold for November has not been breached.

Dr Rollock credited the success to the combined efforts of the Vector Control Unit’s fogging programme and the public’s vigilant adherence to preventive measures.

As of November 11, the Ministry of Health reported 1 126 suspected and 165 confirmed cases of dengue fever. Notably, there have been no reported deaths linked to the viral infection to date, according to the Ministry of Health.

In the month up to October 16, the number of suspected cases stood at 647, a significant increase over the 261 for the same period in 2022.

Dr Rollock said: “We continue to have cases so the numbers will increase, but the numbers for November have not reached threshold levels, so it was not too much of a concern. However, the month is not finished yet so we don’t know if when the month comes to an end, we can say we had an outbreak in November as well. But as previously indicated, we had crossed the threshold for October by a long way and not November as yet.

“As it relates to the decrease, I believe it is due to mosquito control measures, which [don’t] just include killing adult mosquitoes. It also involves looking for the larvae and getting rid of them, which people have been encouraged to do. Since people heard that there is dengue out there, more of them have been using insect repellent as well to stop the mosquitoes from biting them. So I think people are heeding the advice the ministry would have disseminated. In addition to the preventative measures, I also think the fogging has become effective but we wait to see by the end of the month if we go over the threshold. However, it is not looking like last month at all, not even close.”

Dr Rollock encouraged Barbadians not to stop maintaining the preventative measures, even as the ministry reports low numbers for November thus far.

“I want them to continue the measures they have been practising and I want to specify some of those measures,” she said. “Use insect repellent, look for mosquito larvae around the home and if you are noticing a lot of mosquitoes in your neighbourhood, call it in and alert your nearest polyclinic. A lot of mosquitoes doesn’t necessarily mean dengue mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti). I’m not sure if everyone is aware but there is also the Culex mosquito but it doesn’t transmit dengue or anything that we have here in Barbados. We refer to it as the nuisance mosquito because it bites and makes you miserable, but it doesn’t transmit any diseases in Barbados.

“So by alerting the authorities, an inspection can be done to identify the type of mosquitoes you are seeing,” Dr Rollock added.

A check with officials in the Vector Control Unit indicated that Barbadians were receptive to the fogging programme.

“We have been getting good reports from the programme,” an official told Barbados TODAY. “Barbadians are aware of the outbreak so when the fogging truck comes out, they are opening up their homes. The crew members are also walking onto properties and fogging backyards and other areas of people’s homes. So the programme has been going well.”

Earlier this month, fogging took place in several St Lucy communities including Checker Hall Development. Several residents reported increased sightings of mosquitoes due to the heavy downpours.

Some said they and other family members had contracted the virus and were glad to see the fogging truck in their district.

“I don’t mind once these mosquitoes are killed because they give you dengue and cause people to lose lives; so I am 100 per cent for the fogging,” said Rommel Babb. “I even going and open my niece’s home so the fog could go through it.”

Nicole Hinkson said: “I’m glad that the fogging programme has been restarted because I have noticed that since it was discontinued, there has been an increase in mosquitoes. So I am relieved it is running again.”

It has been two years since the last national fogging programme was implemented.

On Friday, it was announced in a government statement that the Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness will continue its fogging exercise next week in St Michael, St Joseph, St Philip and St James.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb

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After almost two years of work behind the scenes, Norwegian low-cost, long-haul carrier Norse Atlantic Airlines touched down in Barbados on Friday afternoon.

Just over 160 passengers were on the flight out of Gatwick Airport, London which arrived at the Grantley Adams International Airport shortly after 4 p.m.

The Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc (BTMI) UK Director Cheryl Carter told journalists that the road to the flight’s completion was lengthy, but all players involved were satisfied with the outcome.

“We have been working with the team for I’d say, close to 24 months, from the first day that they expressed an interest in flying to the Caribbean and flying to Barbados. We obviously have been also working with the [Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association] to make sure that Norse can pair their seats with the accommodation . . . . The intention is to operate up to five flights a week between now and the middle of April next year, so we are really pleased,” she said.

Captain of the inaugural flight, Ian Manson, said it was a great experience flying the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft into Barbados.

“We flew over 4 000 miles today [to] some beautiful views, and what a fantastic welcome from all of the representatives of Barbados,” he said. “We brought with us about 160 passengers today. We are going to be upping the loads during the winter and we are excited to bring more passengers and more explorers to the beautiful island of Barbados.” (SB)

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The National Insurance Scheme (NIS) officially transitioned to the National Insurance and Social Security Service (NISSS) on Friday, as the changes to the social security legislation passed by lawmakers this week came into force.

Under the changes to the National Insurance and Social Security Act that created the country’s social security system in 1967, the NIS and the Barbados Social Security Board were merged into the NISSS as a state-run agency.

Emerging from the new agency’s first staff meeting at the NISSS headquarters in Culloden Road, Minister of Social Security Colin Jordan told reporters that the move was not only about improving service delivery but also improving working conditions.

He said: “We spoke to a very satisfied team of employees who have committed themselves to going forward with the organisation, going forward with a focus on improving service to the public. We have committed as a government and as the executive management of the organisation to ensuring our promise that the workers of the National Insurance and Social Security Service will move forward in the organisation with no benefits reduced. Our commitment to them is that we will continue to do all that we can to make sure that their positions are improved.”

“I have asked them as we move forward in improving the service and the performance of the organisation, that they be an important part of that work by giving us their suggestions as we’ve done in the past.
We will continue to use those suggestions to deconstruct and reconstruct to make sure that the Barbadian public, all those who contribute and who may have reason to make claims on the various funds of the National Insurance and Social Security Service, those workers are served well.

“We know that the issue is not just the performance of individuals. It also involves the processes that we use and sometimes the public is at the receiving end of a person who is not able to respond or who is not sensitive to their plight, but because there may be systems in place that do not allow them to do what the claimant may consider to be in the best interest. We are in the process of doing that – deconstruction and reconstruction.

And we have engaged with our workers, our team so that they can be fully a part of that process.”
Last month, Jordan said that most of the staff had decided to remain while 20 opted out and were placed elsewhere in the public service. On Friday, he said the workers were generally pleased about the transition even though some raised concerns about the details of the change.

Although the legislation to support the move had been passed in both Houses of Parliament, Jordan explained that the mechanics of the transition were “still a work in progress” and everything would be smooth sailing once there was participation of workers at every level of the process.

“We’ve committed that we’re going to do all in our power as a government to make sure that they are, that they feel fully, a part of the team, fully a part of the process and that they can be assured that their interests will be looked after.

“The basic terms and conditions have been addressed. There are some details that are to be still put together and we are working with our team and with the workers’ representatives, the union, to make sure that those are all signed, sealed and delivered. But basic terms and conditions, statement of particulars, those have been finalised; organisational charts, all the essential components that allow for transition have been completed. So there’s nothing significant that is outstanding at this point.”

After the media briefing, a number of NIS workers were rewarded for their contributions. One such employee was Toni Bishop who was honoured for her 35 years of service to the NIS. (SZB)

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The Dominican doctor who helmed the region’s public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic, earning one of Barbados’ highest awards, died on Friday at age 71.

Dr Etienne came to PAHO after a 12-year tenure as Director of Primary Health Care Services in Dominica’s Ministry of Health after serving as Chief Medical Officer.

She also challenged the region to make good on the pledges to introduce universal health care and strengthen their health care systems.

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InterCaribbean Airlines soared to new heights on Friday following the unveiling of its cutting-edge Flight Support System in Barbados, solidifying its commitment to enhancing connectivity and flight options for regional travellers.

Founder and Chairman Lyndon Gardiner personally welcomed eager passengers, offering them a new flight experience as they set off on journeys to diverse destinations curated by InterCaribbean.

Gardiner is confident that introducing the Flight Support System will revolutionise the airline’s customer service, particularly at the Grantley Adams International Airport.

“We’re able to deliver consistently because we now have employees that have a vested interest in the outcome of our business being successful,” Gardiner told Barbados TODAY.

“We have put a tremendous amount of effort into fixing the problems that had happened in the past.”
Noting the significance of Barbados within InterCaribbean’s regional operations, Gardiner believes the innovative system is a game-changer, poised to elevate passengers’ experience.

According to him, the service rollout not only underscores the airline’s commitment to competitiveness but also serves as a strategic move signalling InterCaribbean’s long-term presence and contribution to the aviation sector in the region.

“We’re investing for today and for tomorrow because with this move that we’ve made, it’s not only physical equipment and assets, but it’s also human capital and staff that we have are going to be the face of the airline to the customers in this region,” he said.

The cost of the investment, Gardiner stated, was “millions of Barbadian dollars,” and said it was necessary to make the company viable within the Caribbean.

With regards to seeing similar services roll out in any of InterCaribbean’s over 20 other destinations, the airline’s chairman said: “We certainly don’t intend to reinvent the wheel everywhere we go.”

“I think Barbados being a Southern Caribbean hub, we needed to fix the service issues that we had in Barbados and, in doing so, the service we give in the other islands is going to be better, because a lot of times the plane leaves here late [and] we’re unable to complete missions in other islands.

“We have business partners in other destinations that are delivering…. We agreed on the service-level agreement and for the most part, those business partners are living up to that. So we feel that Barbados was consistently lagging and we feel that with this effort, we’ve fixed it,” Gardiner said.

Before the take-off of each flight on Friday morning, the airline executive thanked passengers for choosing InterCaribbean and committed to providing them with quality service with the introduction of the Flight Support System.

Adding an extra dash of excitement, some fortunate travellers won complimentary flights courtesy of InterCaribbean which will mark 32 years in aviation next February.

Meanwhile, at a launch reception on Wednesday, prime minister Mia Mottley welcomed the airline’s continued expansion, declaring that Barbados was happy to see a further strengthening of interregional travel.

“There was a time two years ago, when literally everybody did not believe that it would have been possible. And while we continue to hope and work cooperatively with our brothers in Antigua to be able to seek how best they can do what they need to do with a reconstructed LIAT, whether as a cooperative partner or otherwise, we also recognise that this country will always support market forces in the area of air travel to be able to ensure that the customer is given as many options and the best possible options for travel.

“ . . . . The reality is that Caribbean people need options in order to be able to ensure that our economies can be as dynamic as possible, and that is at the core of the CARICOM Single Market and Single Economy too. On behalf of our people, we are glad that you have chosen here as a southern hub.”

Mottley told the gathering that she believed that this was the natural trajectory for the country.

“We did it naturally because of our geography; we must do it deliberately because of our economic trajectory, and if we can do that with respect to logistics, that is what we need in order to be that [entry port] in the west, just as Singapore became an [entry port] in the east.

“I have every confidence, therefore, that the stated confidence that you have in this market is just what we need for others to understand that not only are we open for business, but we will walk with you hand-in-hand to ensure that even through difficult times you can make it,” the Prime Minister said.

She commended airline officials for the decision to bring forward the timeline for establishing the Southern hub, disclosing that talks on the plans took place pre-COVID.

“This really is a testimony to resilience,” declared Mottley.

“We all know what COVID did to airlines and air travel, and indeed, this region has been a serious victim of it.”

Gardiner admitted that the airline has had its share of challenges, in Barbados, since starting in 2020.

“Choosing to come here during the pandemic at a time when everyone else was shuttering was a courageous act of faith . . .. Yes, I was absolutely convinced that the move was no gamble but an enormous opportunity to get ahead of our planned date for Southern Caribbean operations in 2025.”

He added that the move boosts interregional travel, economic progress, and regional integration.

“We have acquired new aircraft, some of which have already entered service. We are seeing the difference that the extended capacity is making in helping the flight schedules and more effective deployments. . . . [Within] the last few months, we have embarked on a massive recruitment drive to harness the capabilities and enterprise of locals, adding to the hundreds of skilled employees working daily on various islands to bring about better connectivity in our region,” the airline executive said.

He added that Flight Support Barbados has already made “a substantial down payment to the Barbados community and economy” by hiring 53 new employees.

“As we continue to develop our operations and increase capacity, so will opportunities for even more employment to develop mutually beneficial relationships with local businesses.

The synergy will not only support our growth but also contribute to the overall economic development of the Barbados community,” Gardiner said. (RT/FW)

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By Shamar Blunt

Barbados requires a fresh strategy to tackle the social problems amid growing numbers of homeless people and mental health challenges, the minister for welfare said Friday.

Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey put the spotlight on a raft of evictions of entire families as he addressed officials at a stakeholder consultation on homelessness at the Sagicor Cave Hill School of Business and Management.

He said that with the continuing breakdown of family and community structures in society, more people are being forced into homelessness at an alarming rate, with women and children no longer being spared.

The minister told the forum: “I have become very concerned in the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, that almost every week there are about three or four cases of evictions. A lot of this is not necessarily persons being evicted from a landlord they have to pay, a lot of this is family members evicting, or as we say in Barbados ‘putting out’, other family members.

An emerging trend is that people are now putting out women and children.

“Previously, children would be accommodated either by the family member or by another family member or family friend, but we are now seeing people evicting children as well. So there is a change in the nature of our homelessness, inasmuch as we are seeing an increase in homelessness.”

In addition to homelessness, the COVID- 19 pandemic has exposed several other social issues, he said.

“In a post-COVID environment we saw, especially immediately after COVID, a level of compassion and concern, but that is quickly going away,” Humphrey said.

“We are returning to normal, but Barbados has to have a new normal. COVID was as much a social issue as it was a health and a medical issue. In fact, the real repercussions of COVID are social. [Anecdotally] we saw during COVID, an increase in domestic violence for sure. We heard of children when they went back to school after the schools were reopened – reporting and the statistics will bear it out – that there was an increase in the number of reports, by children, of abuse.

The schools then became an opportunity for them to report that abuse [from] when they were home, and we saw a number of families falling apart within that COVID time.”

Kayrene Heallis, a National Assistance Board social worker attached to the 24-hour Clyde Gollop Shelter, observed that the number of people being deported to Barbados is another rising factor in homelessness.

“A lot of the gentlemen that return to Barbados through the route of deportation, seeing that they were in the ‘big countries’ for a number of years, when they come back – [because] some of them were gone [since] they were seven, some were five – they don’t know where to find their family. A lot of them would have left the existing family members where they were living, so when they come back then, they don’t know where to start,” she said.

In the face of these mounting challenges, including drug use and suicide, Humphrey called for a modern and effective social policy, crafted jointly by the government and various charitable and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

“It has to be a social policy that makes sense for all of us,” he said. “It cannot be a policy for the NGO community, and one for the private sector, then one for the government. It has to be a policy that is crosscutting, that makes sense for Barbados.

“We need a system that works, and I think one of the bigger questions that we have to ask and answer is,

‘What is happening in our households that is driving young people to this increase in drug use [and] this recent increase in suicide as well?’ That is why I am saying we cannot have these conversations in isolation,” the minister contended.

shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb

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The Barbados Water Authority (BWA) says crews are conducting emergency repairs on a large-sized main in Montrose on Saturday.

Residents in Montrose, Gall Hill, Water Street, Lodge Road, Best Road, Durants, Kingsland Gardens, Plumgrove, Newton, Silver Hill, Thornbury Hill and surrounding areas may be affected by a water outage or low pressure as a result.

Water tankers will assist residents of these areas as a temporary measure.

Customers with queries are reminded that they can contact the Authority at 434-4292 between 8:30 a.m. and 12 midnight. Updates can also be viewed on the Authority’s website and social media pages.

The Barbados Water Authority apologizes for the inconvenience this emergency repair at Montrose, Christ Church has caused.

(PR)

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“Bim, I love you. Bim, I am proud of you.”

The opening lines of Dr Stedson RPB Wiltshire’s patriotic song were met with loud cheers as the beloved veteran of calypso appeared at Soca Goes Gold on Wednesday night.

The concert was staged on the eve of Independence Day at the new Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle Resort and Spa, St Philip. The evening of calypso kings was a jam-packed, standing-room-only show.

The audience rose and surged to the front of the stage when RPB, beloved ‘King of St Philip’, emerged. His scintillating set ranged from social commentaries Mr Harding, De Country Aint Well and What Kind of World to party favourites Spontaneous, Something’s Happening and Boatride. The cheers peaked when RPB was joined on stage by Mac Fingall for their megahit Ragga Ragga.

With a lineup of former monarchs, it is a hard task to select just one stand-out moment. Each performer showed their star quality as they provided a snapshot of their kaiso careers. Classic’s set included Coffee, In Bed Together, Conscience, Tell Dem Calypsonians and One Song. Starting with his debut material in the calypso arena, Mr Blood included Sport Billy, Mistakes and Speak My Mind. The consummate performer drew on his Square One days for Plumber and Pussy Cat.

Extempo exponent Adrian Clarke showed off his quick wit as he dropped bars on some audience members. Looking dapper in a crisp white suit, his vocals were on point. With offerings including Nice Time, Soca You, Judgment Day, Put Dat in Your Song and Anansi, he excited attendees.

Senator John King returned to his entertainer roots, taking control of the stage. He energised the crowd serving up a sweet mix from his extensive catalogue. From Fool’s Paradise, I’m Back to I’m Calypso, the crowd loved it all. He heated them up with Sexcellent, Wreck Ah Bumper, and Jump and Wave. King even threw back to his Johnny Ma Boy days with I Want a Plantation and Tribute to the Skipper.

Reigning Calypso Monarch Ian iWeb Webster rallied through his recovery from the flu with Still My Home, Karaoke, Salesman, and his most recent title-winning track Brain.

Among the veterans was Serenader, who pleased with Soca Coup, Steel in Dey, Breakdown and Juck Fuh Juck.

‘The General’ – Edwin Yearwood – did what he does best, as he pumped up the audience with Oba and Sak Passe, then further thrilled with Home Sweet Home, Voice in My Head and Something Greater.

The show proved to be one giant sing-along session for calypso lovers. The incomparable icon, Gabby, led the top-class showing with crowd-pleasers like Culture, Calypso, Hit It, Dr Cassandra, Jack, and Boots.

As the crowd exited the venue around 1 a.m. on Independence Day, there were murmurs of appreciation for a show well done.
(STT)

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The Barbados Consumer Empowerment Network (BCEN) and the Barbados National Union of Fisherfolk Organizations (BARNUFO) issued the following joint press statement on Saturday, announcing a resolution on fish weight concerns:

The Barbados Consumer Empowerment Network (BCEN) and the Barbados National Union of Fisherfolk Organizations (BARNUFO) convened in a collaborative meeting on November 23, to address the growing concerns raised by consumers regarding discrepancies in fish weight and pricing. Officers from the Fisheries Division were also in attendance.

The discussions focused on finding common ground to ensure consumer satisfaction and fairness in transactions involving the sale and purchase of fish.

After thorough and constructive dialogue, both parties are pleased to announce that a meeting of minds has been achieved, leading to a mutual understanding of the issues at hand. The BCEN and BARNUFO have collaboratively developed a set of initiatives and guidelines aimed at addressing and rectifying the concerns raised by frustrated consumers.

Key Points/Guidelines Coming Out of the Meeting:

Transparent Weighing Practices: BARNUFO commits to implementing transparent weighing practices across all member vendors to ensure accuracy and fairness in the determination of fish weights.
Consumer Education Campaign: BCEN and BARNUFO will collaborate on an extensive consumer education campaign to inform the public about fair market practices, understanding fish weights, and their rights as consumers.
Quality Assurance Measures: BARNUFO in collaboration with the Barbados National Standards Institution (BNSI) and the Markets Division will establish and enforce quality assurance measures to guarantee that consumers receive fish of the specified weight and quality, as advertised.
Open Communication Channels: Both parties recognize the importance of maintaining open communication channels and the importance of clear communication during the sale and purchase of fish. BCEN and BARNUFO will establish from time to time a forum for ongoing discussions to address emerging concerns and foster a continuous dialogue between consumers and fish vendors.
Training and Capacity Building: Both parties commit to working collaboratively on delivering training and capacity building initiatives in partnership with the Fisheries Division.

In a joint statement, representatives from BCEN and BARNUFO expressed their commitment to working together to ensure a fair and transparent marketplace for consumers while supporting the livelihoods of fish vendors.

“We believe that this collaborative effort with BARNUFO will significantly contribute to building trust between consumers and fish vendors. Transparent practices and ongoing communication are crucial for the integrity of the fish markets,” Executive Director of BCEN Maureen Holder said.

President of BARNUFO Vernel Nicholls said: “We are committed to implementing the agreed-upon measures to address the concerns raised by consumers. We believe that these initiatives will not only enhance consumer confidence but also contribute to the overall improvement of service in the fish markets in Barbados and enhance the operations of fish vendors.”

Both BCEN and BARNUFO appreciated the engagement to resolve the matter and are confident that the proposed initiatives will auger well for consumers and fish vendors across Barbados.

(PR)

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Barbadian Youth Ambassador Ashley Lashley inaugurated her Hug4Hope initiative in Barbados on Saturday, aligning it with the United Nations-endorsed 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, which runs from November 25 to December 10.

In Bridgetown, adorned with a Show Some Love With a Hug sign, Lashley embraced individuals, aiming to raise awareness, spread love, and foster unity in Barbados.

Lashley expressed the motivation behind the initiative, stating, “One in every five women and girls globally has experienced some sort of physical abuse.”

She said the goal of creating awareness during the 60 days of activism was to extend support not only to survivors of gender-based violence but also fostering compassion and unity among individuals facing various challenges.

Highlighting the alarming rate of suicides, especially among young people, Lashley, as a youth ambassador and UNICEF youth advocate, noted her concern for this issue.

Recognising the hesitations due to COVID-19 concerns, Lashley introduced a virtual hug symbol — an emoji that individuals can share with friends and tag three persons in, providing an alternative way to express love and unity.

She told Barbados TODAY, “There are different ways of showing love and unity to persons that you care about, whether it’s in-person or virtual, and that’s the message that we want to spread.”

According to the United Nations, the UNITE to End Violence Against Women initiative, launched in 2008, is a long-term effort to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls globally.

Led by the UN Secretary-General, the initiative supports the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence campaign and encourages collaboration among governments, civil society, women’s organisations, young people, the private sector, media, and the UN system to address the pervasive issue of violence against women and girls.

(RT)

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Sivers Tha Third, whose real name is Darian Kevin Sivers, reached international acclaim when he became the first Barbadian rapper to be featured by Shout Out Miami — an international magazine with well over a million readers.

Coming off of his international success. Sivers Tha Third released his 12 Days of Independence project, which reflects on Barbados’ nationhood as the island celebrates 57 years of Independence.

“The reason I decided to release this 12 Days of Independence project is because I feel like every year independence takes a back seat to the discount sales and Christmas songs and shows,” he said.

“As there are 12 days of Christmas, I wanted to dedicate 12 Days of Independence. The only way I knew how to do that was to produce music. I pitched it to my team and in 2022 we released the first installment of the project. I intend to release one every year, 12 songs, 12 visuals which depict both the positive and the negative aspects of Barbadian culture.”

Sivers Tha Third said he became infatuated with music at 10-years-old after being introduced to Notorious BIG and Method Man through his brother Antonio Sivers who was playing rap music in their home. Since then, he has been making a name for himself in both the local and international market and his project 12 Days of Independence is a beautiful blend of hip-hop and rap that has an international sound but with some Bajan flavour.

Speaking about the project, he said it was produced by Mad Mixy and has some notable Barbadian entertainers featured on the 12 songs.

“Mad Mixy is featured on the song Bamsey, the lovely Leigh Phillips is featured on the song Bread and EZ Billy, formerly known as Billy Kincaid, is featured on Drinks and Spage on Tease. I decided to utilize these artistes to relieve the dark and sometimes serious tone of the music on this year’s project, ” he said.

The former student of St Michael School and Harrison College said the album contains something for everyone as it delves into many themes which are reflective of Barbadian society in 2023.

“The project touches on pride and industry, slavery, pension, childbirth and child rearing, diabetes, sugar consumption, love, as well as fetting. The album could be best described as a zeitgeist of Barbadian cultures and stories that I have collected from the early 2000s till present date. Some of the verses are a bit lengthy but if the public takes the time to listen to them, they will slowly realise each one has its own charm,” he said.

Sivers Tha Third noted that Barbados means the world to him as he has found memories of listening to oldies music by his grandmother. To this end he said his favourite song on the album is Sugar. The song, which draws parallels between the cutting of the sugar crop and the new ways Crop Over is depicted, is definitely a conversation starter.

The album was released on November 30 on all streaming platforms.

(Write Right PR Services)

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The National HIV/AIDS Commission must be reorganised to properly address the needs of Barbadians who depend on the organisation to live quality lives, says Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey.

“We have to restructure the HIV/AIDS Commission. Things have changed but I did not want to convey the impression to anybody that as part of that restructuring, we would get smaller,” he said at a research symposium held on Friday at Radisson Aquatica Resort in Aquatic Gap, St Michael.

“In fact, the opposite is true – that as we now lead in this fight against HIV/AIDS, the unit has to become bigger . . . . We need to do more things, we need to focus and we need to get priority back onto this HIV fight and this HIV cause . . . . In many ways, I thought we’d become a little too quiet actually.”

Humphrey added that the government alone could not do what is required to change the landscape of HIV/AIDS in Barbados, pointing out that it would also entail the support of the community.

“You cannot build any meaningful policy of any kind that is not built on the people who are either experiencing it, working with it, or dealing with it in one way or the other,” he said.

“The tragedy for most policies is that we talk about these things and we exclude the very people who are supposed to be involved in the fight, and it makes no sense. And so we end up with a lot of policies on paper that do nothing to advance the interests of people. We have to be able to change that and to make sure that policies make sense.”

Back in August, the minister disclosed that the commission would be converted into a Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Unit stating that HIV/AIDS could be treated in the same way that any non-communicable disease was.

On Friday, reiterating the importance of making that move, Humphrey said it would help address the issues associated with the stigma of HIV and AIDS.

“HIV, being a sexually transmitted disease, continues to carry a stigma and that stigma is perhaps the bigger burden, in many ways, than the disease itself. It is related to the history of disease. Many people hear about HIV and AIDS and they cast their minds back – their judgemental minds – to homosexual males, particularly black males and that this disease is for that audience only. Well, even if it were so, so what? . . .

So men and women who refuse to have conversations about HIV and AIDS carry their minds back to the time when we were ignorant about the disease and allow that ignorance to determine their actions today, which in itself is ignorant. And therefore, we have to be able to fight stigma,” he stressed.

“One thing that is sad is that we continue, regrettably, to be a society that judges people; that is a judgement that is reserved for the Lord. And in our judgement, we deny people the opportunity to benefit from all that Barbados has to offer.

“We speak of growth, we speak of development, but that development is a distorted development so that not everybody benefits from the development. Or we speak of growth but that growth is not inclusive, so everybody is not allowed to be able to participate in the growth of the country. It cripples the country, it cripples the capacity of the people who are involved in this fight to be able to lead, and it cripples the quality of life of the persons that we are trying to serve; and Barbados has to do a lot better than that,”
Humphrey said.

The theme for World AIDS Day 2023, which is internationally recognised on December 1, is Let Communities Lead.

In a welcome address, Director of the National HIV/AIDS Commission Lynn Armstong said the theme highlights the invaluable contributions of communities, grassroots organisations, and support and advocacy groups in raising awareness, providing care and treatment support, and addressing the stigma linked to HIV.

“It further accentuates the need for participatory and inclusive approaches which put affected communities in the vanguard of decision-making, policy formulations and intervention development and implementation,” she said. (SZB)

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