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If there are two words that would aptly describe the situation in our Caribbean Community neighbour, they would be “It’s complicated”.

Given the perennial social, economic, and environmental challenges faced by this country, it is difficult for the cynics not to regard the French-speaking country as a nation that has been blighted.

A place of unfulfilled expectations, the country which shares the island of Hispaniola with the Spanish-speaking Dominican Republic, is often spoken of in terms of its potential.

People who have visited the island often speak highly of the creative nature of its people, their cultural assets, their visual arts, music, dance and sculptures. The Haitian artwork is often characterised by vivid colours “spatial composition and spontaneity of painting,” said one description.

The landscape of the country, though scarred over hundreds of years by deforestation, still includes majestic mountainous areas and benefits from several natural harbours. Counted among its natural resources are copper, marble, gold, calcium carbonate, and hydropower, Haiti is a Caribbean nation with so many unfulfilled expectations.

It should never be lost on us in the Caribbean that the plight of Haitians is a combination of external collusion to stunt the country’s ability to excel, coupled with internal machinations for political power and control.

We are aware of the destabilising role played by French colonialists who would never treat as equal a slave colony that managed to defeat the French army between 1804 and 1806.

As the world’s first black republic and first independent Caribbean country, the price of freedom came at a “crippling cost” as France

demanded an “independence debt” that was only erased in 1947.

One is left to wonder if CARICOM’s push for reparations from Europe is successful, what would be Haiti’s reparation cost from France.

What is the reality today on the ground for the mostly poor citizens? It is one of economic collapse, governance failure, and security and food crises, the latter of which has resulted in a population that is barely able to feed itself or secure potable water.

Thousands of Haitians are fleeing the conditions and risking their lives on rickety vessels trying to escape to The Bahamas, the United States and even as far as Jamaica.

Is it fair to describe Haiti as a failed state? As much as we are torn with the idea of describing a fellow CARICOM nation and neighbour as a “failed republic”, the facts do not lie. Groups of marauding gun-toting gangs

roam the streets, while people scramble for food and other necessities.

Whether we attribute Haiti’s failures to the joint efforts of Western powers or a combination of external and internal forces, the result has been, undoubtedly, a tortured existence for most ordinary citizens there.

With a population of 11.45 million, it dwarfs even Jamaica with its 2.82 million inhabitants. All this is important as we in the region seek to assist Haiti resolve the political and security crisis that continues to deteriorate by the day.

After years of political instability that dates back to the rule of François Papa Doc Duvalier who was president from 1957 until his death in 1971 when his son Jean-Claude Baby Doc Duvalier took over, Haitians have earnestly sought a democratic leader that looked out for them.

With a high level of distrust among Haitians for the American government, the US has embraced a CARICOM solution that sees interim Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigning and the formation of a Presidential Council of key Haitian constituents to deal with the political and socio-economic situation.

However, it seems even this solution CARICOM chairman and Guyana’s President Dr Irfaan Ali and a group of select regional experts hammered out, and was regarded as the best option on the table to bring about stability, now looks shaky at best.

President Ali described it fittingly as a plan that was not easy to craft. However, he stressed the need for all stakeholders to recognise that it was their duty “to their people to reach a consensus among themselves now”.

We too are convinced that the Haitian people must be as determined to craft a solution for themselves. They must be as determined as they were in 1806 to fight the colonial powers for their freedom. This present fight is for their very survival.

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Police are investigating a road fatality that occurred at the junction of Farrell’s Road and East Coast Road, St Andrew on Monday evening.

The identity of the deceased had not been released up to late Monday.

According to police, motor car with one male occupant overturned and struck a utility pole around 4:14 p.m.

The man died on the scene.

The accident, which resulted in the pole and live electrical wires being downed, resulted in a power outage in the area. Personnel from the Barbados Light and Power Company responded.

(BT)

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Prime Minister Mia Mottley on Monday offered Barbadians a “no new taxes” budget that she said will secure “our Barbados of today and our Barbados for tomorrow”.

In a more-than-four-hour presentation before a full House of Assembly, Mottley told residents to expect an increase in the price of natural gas but announced a raft of tax credits, and an additional 250 new jobs at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) over the next three years to reduce waiting times and expand available services.

The Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals reflected three themes: growing the economy by four to five per cent; creating a resilient nation and people and sharing a larger slice of the economic pie in a people-centred country.

The prime minister said the creation of a new commercial enterprise to be known as Business Barbados is one of the strategies that the government is to pursue with the public and private sectors to remove blockages and to propel the pace and scope of economic growth.

She also identified increasing public and private sector partnerships; reviewing tax structures and new investment funds; further modernising the tax system; digitisation and re-engineering business processes; unlocking the mortgage market; increasing access to financing for the private and public sectors; unblocking renewable energy investment; and addressing the demographic challenges by population and skills management.

Other strategies outlined included “monetising illiquid and derelict assets in the public and private sectors; exporting capital to diversify investments given Barbados’ limited size and vulnerability, starting of course with the CSME and the wider Caribbean and Central and Latin America basin; establishing the pharmaceutical industry to aid in the protection of citizens’ health as well as export and the earning of foreign exchange.

Mottley disclosed that work is well underway for the launch of Business Barbados.

“This will be a commercial state-owned enterprise directed by a board of directors drawn predominantly from the business community and run by a CEO at the helm. It will have three divisions under it and it will be positioned strategically in the middle of the local trade and investment architecture by ensuring that all services required from pre- to post-incorporation of companies will be vested in and provided by the operations of that entity,” the finance minister told the House of Assembly

To ensure long-term growth and well-being, the government will prioritise its scheduled national development projects.

“To facilitate the establishment of these public-private partnerships, I propose with the effect from the 1st of April 2024 to establish… a 50 per cent refundable tax credit for investments in projects identified and approved by the government in the context of our national development strategy. The specific areas you will hear throughout this presentation that will benefit from these tax credits that support national development,” Mottley revealed.

She also informed the legislature that the government will be reviewing the tax structures and introducing new investment funds.

The budget also addressed allegations of unsustainable national debt; the cost of living; the state of the roads, particularly pothole repair; access to jobs especially for young people; and managing education reform.

The prime minister was also harsh on commercial banks, describing as madness the length of time they take to approve a mortgage compared to a loan for a car which, unlike real estate, depreciates on day one of its use.

On the issue of renewable energy, she was also heavily critical of the pace at which getting storage into the energy system was happening, citing the matter as one of urgent national energy security.

The long delay in settling the Barbados Light and Power Company’s request for a basic rate hike also attracted Mottley’s wrath even as she announced plans to review the electric light legislation and the operations of the utility regulator, the Fair Trading Commission.

She suggested that immediate solutions are now needed to get storage on the grid.

“We need as a matter of urgency, the Fair Trading Commission’s decision on the current Clean Energy Transition Rider by the BLPC to be delivered so there is clarity and predictability in the market on storage investments by the utility. It is clear for all to see that this country cannot continue to hold strain.

Mottley continued: “Unless Barbadians say to me, and they have not, that they want to see load shedding, power outages and all the negative outcomes that go along with grid instability, we need to take immediate steps to introduce Barbados’ first Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) for the utility.”

The prime minister argued that the number of power outages in the last 10 years has been too much a part of this country’s landscape.

The work of visual artists will also be getting a boost with the introduction of a new tax incentive. With effect from April 1, 2024, a 50 per cent refundable tax credit is introduced for the purchase of local art up to $1 million for the outfitting of investment projects.

Non-gazetted police officers will be regraded to allow them to qualify for duty-free loans while detectives are in for a new allowance that aligns with the dangers of their duties.

Nurses are also to benefit from increased vacation similar to what teachers get, and that much-anticipated Teaching Service Commission will be implemented this year.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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Government is pursuing a strategy for long-term growth which is being built on an ambitious 15-point strategy. They include the following:

• Creating a new body called Business Barbados
• Increasing public and private sector partnerships
• Reviewing tax structures and creating new investment funds
• Modernising the current tax system
• Digitisation and re-engineering business processes
• Unlocking the mortgage market
• Increasing access to financing for the private and public sectors
• Unblocking renewable energy investments
• Addressing the country’s demographic challenges by population and skills management
• Monetising illiquid and derelict assets in the public and private sectors
• Exporting capital to diversify investments given Barbados’ limited size and vulnerability, starting with the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the wider Caribbean, Central and Latin America
• Establishing the pharmaceutical industry to aid in the protection of Barbadians’ health and for export and foreign exchange earnings
• Developing Barbados as an Agri-processing hub
• Incentivising a vibrant creative industry and film industry
• Emphasis on capital projects

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Despite afternoon heat in The City, scores of Barbadians proceeded to the outskirts of Parliament to show their support for Prime Minister Mia Mottley, the Cabinet, and Members of Parliament, as the country waited anxiously to hear Mottley’s 2024-2025 Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals.

It was just after 2 p.m. that MPs, many dressed from head to toe in the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) colour, red, began to arrive. Many lawmakers stopped to greet delighted party supporters who loudly voiced their approval for the current administration’s efforts thus far.

Prior to Mottley’s arrival, MPs Cynthia Forde, Adrian Forde, Edmund Hinkson, Indar Weir, and Attorney General Dale Marshall received some of the biggest cheers, with party members even hugging and giving words of encouragement to embattled MP Neil Rowe.

Most surprising for the afternoon was some of the muted but still visible support former government backbencher turned Opposition Leader Ralph Throne received as he drove in.

Though the excited supporters failed to convey their full satisfaction at their arrival, several Barbadians did momentarily smile and wave to the former member on the government side, with even long-time BLP member Patricia Parris welcoming Thorne affectionately.

Prime Minister Mottley arrived roughly ten minutes before her 3 p.m. address and was presented with flowers before she quickly made her way to several excited supporters who showered her with praise.

Many shouted “Love you Mia” and “Keep up the good job” as the country’s leader made her way through Parliament yard.

One supporter who requested anonymity told Barbados TODAY though she was in full support of the administration, she hoped that something would be done about the high cost of living.

“I would like some of the goods in the supermarket go down [in price]. The poor people suffering, man, and I would like to see that go down, that is the truth. I [also] would not like to see no more taxes,” she said.

One other supporter who described himself as a “man from Christ Church”, said: “Give we something good.”

(SB)

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• Non-contributory old age pension for people with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and autism as a special needs grant

• Grant for disabled minors to be 50 per cent of non-contributory pension, full pension for adults

• Six new buses over next three years for National Disabilities Unit 

Prime Minister Mia Mottley has unveiled plans to enhance support for people living with disabilities, emphasising the importance of inclusivity and care for vulnerable members of society.

“Persons living with disabilities and their families experience severe challenges,” she said in Monday’s Budget, highlighting the societal obligation to assist them.

The prime minister said there were 833 children and some adults with various special needs attending educational institutions on the island.

However, the prime minister told the Lower Chamber that current regulations limit access to non-contributory old age pensions for only “blind” and “deaf-mute” individuals over 18. She has proposed expanding these categories from October 1 to include conditions like cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and autism, extending support to minors as well.

Mottley said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the special needs grant for minors with these conditions will be 50 per cent of the value of the non-contributory old-age pension, whilst it would be 100 per cent for adults. This measure will cost taxpayers approximately $4 million per year.”

Addressing mobility challenges, the finance minister announced plans to acquire more buses for the National Disabilities Unit, ensuring better transport services.

“The National Disabilities Unit acquired two new buses two years ago and will purchase two more in the coming financial year to further support persons living with disabilities. As resources allow, we will continue to acquire two buses annually for the next three years to ensure that the unit can service the community in need of these services,” she disclosed.

Mottley reaffirmed her government’s existing policy of granting customs duty, excise, and Value Added Tax (VAT) exemptions on wheelchair-adapted vehicles, the aim of which was to ease financial burdens for persons with disabilities and their families. (RG)

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Declaring the current wait to close mortgage and land transactions unacceptable, Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced Monday that the government will be reviewing all the systems and processes related to those transactions.

And recommendations to speed up the process are to be implemented in the “immediate future”.

Mottley identified one of the major challenges to unlocking real estate investments in Barbados as the length of time it takes to complete mortgages and sales of real estate.

“Everybody is complaining, everybody. The banking and credit union sectors have reported to the Ministry of Finance that they have an unprecedented $2 billion-plus of investments in the pipeline, but for some reason, much of it is hampered by the pace at which transactions are being completed,” she reported in her Budget speech. “Sir, this cannot be allowed to continue.”

“We must do what we can to remove the impediments to speedy and effective investments in our country. Our economic growth depends on this.”

Mottley further questioned why it was significantly easier to get a loan to purchase a vehicle than to purchase a piece of the rock.

“Sir, this is madness. And this is in a country where mortgage defaults are in single digits. Bajans pay their mortgages. We know that.”

The prime minister, though saying that it was not a blame game, accused the banking sector of being too rigid and said it was rightfully criticised for demanding far more than is reasonably required to protect its interests.

Lawyers did not go without blame either, with the prime minister, a trained attorney-at-law, saying they were contributing to the hold-up in closing real estate deals.

“How can the legal profession maintain the right to regulate its own fees, charge a minimum fee on each transaction, while at the same time, we are told that the reason for the delay on closing mortgages and sales lies on the shoulders of the lawyers.

“Mr Speaker, the timelines are unacceptable and it is one of the biggest drags on economic development in this country,” she said.

“Sir, the land registry, there are also complaints about that, that that can be a cause of delay. Sir, I am simply saying to us today, we have to modernise how we do land transactions…. I have asked the Minister of Housing and the Attorney General to jointly convene a colloquium amongst all of the stakeholders to review all of the systems and processes related to transactions involving real estate and to recommend and oversee in the immediate future the implementation of these recommendations.”

Until those recommendations are implemented, however, Mottley said the government will get the ball rolling.

“One of the main delays in any land transaction is the investigation of title. This is required because except for lands and registered areas, title to land is not guaranteed…. To bring greater certainty to title and to relieve attorneys of long and complex title searches of state lands, we will shortly be amending the Crown Lands Vesting and Disposal Act to provide that all lands transferred from the state shall have an indefeasible title. In other words, sir, a state guarantee of title,” Mottley said.

“This small measure, Sir, in advance of the colloquium, will go a long way in cutting down the transaction time where the transaction involves state-owned lands. I concede too, Sir, that there are also other inputs into the transaction which are in the hands of the state, and they too must deconstruct and reconstruct and be at the colloquium – the Barbados Revenue Authority Tax Clearance Certificates, the National Insurance Clearance Certificates, the Certificates of Good Standing from the Corporate Registry, and others. We are not leaving any stone unturned in deconstructing this matter with land transactions.

“Where these matters require simply the checking of records, as for the most part they will, we will put systems in place so that they can be accessed within three working days, and eventually, in real time.”
(BT)

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Nearly 250 QEH staff to be recruited over three years, including 150 registered nurses, 20 nurse specialists/nurse practitioners, consultants, registrars, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and paramedics

• Expanded, renovated A&E with doubled cubicles for patient care, dedicated procedure and trauma rooms, and extra staff

• Two new QEH operating theatres within the next financial year, and plans to refurbish the Lions Eye Care Centre to open three additional theatres, totalling 12 

• Screening protocols for colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers at polyclinics to enhance early detection and treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs)

• Replacement of Randal Phillips and Eunice Gibson polyclinics

• Establishment of a Board of Management to oversee polyclinic transformation

• Reforms in mental health services: five action plans for suicide prevention, psychological first aid, workplace wellness, anti-stigma campaign, and maternal mental health, as well as integrating mental health care into communities

Prime Minister Mia Mottley has outlined a comprehensive plan to bolster the country’s healthcare system, addressing concerns and emphasising the nation’s commitment to providing top-quality medical services.

In her Budget speech to the Parliament, Mottley acknowledged public discourse surrounding healthcare, particularly focusing on the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, while asserting Barbados’ status as a leader in regional healthcare.

“We have just come out of the worst public health crisis in over a century, impacting our healthcare system,” she said. “It is not my intention to duck the concerns and complaints being made by residents about the healthcare system, particularly the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Make no mistake, Barbados has one of the top healthcare systems and top health institutions in this region and every day, lives are saved.”

But, the prime minister gave an assurance of ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare services, particularly at the QEH, including a significant increase in staffing, with nearly 250 personnel expected to join over three years in a bid to improve operational efficiency.

These increases will include recruiting 150 registered nurses, and 20 nurse specialists/nurse practitioners, along with consultants, registrars, and additional pharmacists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, social workers, paramedics/EMTs and other paramedical staff.   This is expected to cost the government an estimated $17 million a year.

Mottley added some of these new hires would add to those already working in the Accident & Emergency Department and would see the wait time for services decrease and improve coverage during the three shifts currently in operation.

The prime minister also updated the Lower Chamber on the work being done on the A&E project, the final phase of which is almost complete. She announced during her budget that remedial work to phase two (the new block) will be completed by May.

“On completion, it will be an expanded facility, where the number of cubicles for patient care will be doubled. In addition, inter alia, there will be a dedicated procedure room, a minor cases room, a larger trauma room, a cardiac-care unit, an x-ray room and a CT-scan room. In addition, the A&E staff complement will be substantially increased with increased numbers of consultants, senior registrars, registered nurses, nursing assistants, orderlies and departmental aides.

“Before the end of the next financial year, the QEH will move from seven to nine theatres being fully operational. Meanwhile, plans are being put in place to repair the roof and refurbish the Lions Eye Care Centre. This will facilitate the opening of three additional theatres, which will bring the total to twelve. With these theatres and the concomitant recruitment of additional surgeons, anaesthetists and their aides will allow for more operating time thus reducing the waiting time for eye, gynaecological and joint replacement surgeries.”

Discussions are underway for a $130 million loan to upgrade equipment, including acquiring an MRI machine and a linear accelerator, she added.

Shifting the focus to primary care at polyclinics, the prime minister highlighted a renewed emphasis on preventing and treating non-communicable diseases (NCDs). “We are implementing screening protocols for colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers,” she announced, underscoring efforts to enhance early detection and treatment.

The prime minister also announced plans for various degrees of refurbishment or expansion and the construction of two replacement polyclinics at Randal Phillips in Oistins, Christ Church and Eunice Gibson at Warrens, St Michael, over the next three years, with a focus on providing resilient facilities. 

The government, she added, was currently in talks with the Saudi Fund for Development to finance the project.

To oversee polyclinic transformation, Mottley has proposed establishing a Board of Management, tasked with construction, maintenance, and procurement.

“All the doctors, the nurses, all the doctors, the nurses and core staff will remain in the employment of Central Government but will be working in facilities managed and directed and maintained by this board. This will allow for the efficiency that we need rather than having the complaints of this is not there and that is not there. Somebody must come to work every day to manage the plant, equipment and facilities of the polyclinic system in this country. 

“We’re also committed to addressing the challenges . . . and a word to the wise is sufficient. You should see relief coming soon.  Special attention is also being paid to ensure that the effective functioning of the 24-hour walk-in clinic at the Wilson Scott Polytechnic is there. Under the . . . the former [Minister of Health] Lieutenant Colonel [Jeffrey] Bostic, we established these extended hours. We are now going to recruit additional staff and additional security to be assigned here. And it is expected that the refurbishment and beautification of that clinic will be completed in three weeks.”

Additionally, mental health reforms are underway, with plans to roll out five action plans catering to suicide prevention, psychological first aid, workplace wellness, an anti-stigma campaign and maternal mental health, and also, integrate mental health care into communities.

“With the transfer of more clients of the outpatient department of the psychiatric hospital to the mental health clinics at the Polyclinics. The plan is to transition the outpatient department to a day hospital with the capacity to treat acute care situations and address various mental health crises while reducing the need for admissions where possible,” Mottley added while introducing measures to support public health infrastructure, including a 50 per cent tax credit for laboratory construction, effective April 1.

“These initiatives aim to ensure Barbados’ healthcare systems and institutions are world-class,” Mottley affirmed, underscoring the government’s commitment to prioritising the health and well-being of its citizens. (RG)

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Prime Minister Mia Mottley has outlined several incentives for the nursing profession, including a uniform allowance and additional vacation for those with over 15 years of continuous service.

Meanwhile, in the teaching profession, centres for special needs and gifted children centres are slated to benefit from hefty tax credits. 

In her Budget statement, the prime minister announced that the government had agreed to a National Compact with the Barbados Nurses’ Association to recruit and retain nurses. It will be a formal agreement outlining the roles, responsibilities, and commitments of both parties in addressing the issues and needs of the nursing profession.

“We anticipate that this compact through various incentives – financial, non-financial, professional, educational or personal development – will result in more nurses opting to remain in the health sector at home and to continue providing quality care for their families and our people.

“Like those in the teaching profession, as an act of good faith before the compact, we agree now today that members of the nursing profession will also benefit from an additional six weeks’ vacation after 15 years of continuous service in the year that they reach that or any other year that they choose. So instead of that one year getting six weeks, they will get 12 for that year,” she said.

Describing the situation where nurses have to wait “unreasonable times” to receive uniforms, the PM also pledged that her administration would be providing them with a uniform allowance

Meanwhile, she indicated that from September 1, 2024, 22 master teachers will be assigned across secondary schools to support teacher effectiveness and improve instructional quality.

The finance minister said that a Teaching Service Commission supported by a Secretariat and established by the Ministry of the Public Service will also be established in this fiscal year. It will, among other things, look to improve efficiency and effectiveness in recruitment and appointment;  disciplinary matters; and training and professional development.

As far as special needs education is concerned, Mottley said increased financial resources have been allocated to ramp up diagnostic testing and screening of 1 000 children per year, expert intervention, capacity building through teacher training, assistive technologies, individual education plans and increased bursaries for special needs learners who cannot be accommodated within the mainstream school system.

“To further aid in the provision for special needs education, with effect from April 1, 2024, I propose to introduce a 75 per cent tax credit for the provision of educational and life skills facilities for persons with special needs to encourage private sector investment,” she said. “In addition, at the other end of the spectrum, we recognise there are gifted children amongst us that also need to be catered for. Therefore, with effect from April 1, 2024, I propose to introduce a 50 per cent tax credit for the provision of educational centres for gifted persons.” (JB)

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Dairy farmers under financial strain amid declining milk production have been targeted to get financial aid from the government amid a raft of measures to boost food production announced in the Budget on Monday.

Declaring that over the past decade, milk production had “suffered badly”, Prime Minister Mia Mottley said the dairy industry now needed a four-fold climate-smart agricultural intervention to turn it around to increase output and exports.

She disclosed that assistance will be rendered in several areas.

• Rebate on cow purchases raised from 50 per cent (max $4 000) to 80 per cent (max $6 400) per cow, costing $2.048 million
• $1,000 incentive per young heifer for stock replenishment 
• 45 per cent rebate on hay purchases for three years 
• Rebate on establishing pasture lands increased from $202 to $1 000 per acre 
• 60 per cent rebate (max $40 000) on forage harvesters, trailers, and other harvesting equipment   
• Rebate for infrastructure repair increased from 25 per cent (max $60 000) to 40 per cent (max $600 000) 
• 60 per cent rebate (max $60 000) for upgrading to innovative and digital technologies 

“I hope that this will give the dairy industry strength again and we have signals that there is the potential for a serious export market again, but we do not have the supply of milk in the country. This is critical,” Prime Minister Mottley said.

The measures are a means of achieving the targets of importing 320 climate-resilient cows to increase milk output by 50 per cent and to restart exports by the end of this year; increasing feeding to optimal levels in the short term to improve productivity per cow and producing a combination of feed concentrate and highly nutritious forages among others.

Mottley also disclosed that the government was working to enhance water solutions for the farmers through the Farmers Empowerment and Enfranchisement Drive (FEED) programme.

“The Barbados Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) will be expanding the irrigation networks in conjunction with the Barbados Water Authority to include pump houses and distribution piping at Wakefield, I met with the farmers there, promise made, promise being delivered to you,” she said, pointing to farming areas in Spencers, Christ Church; Bath, St John and St Lucy’s Mount Poyer and Spring Hall estates.

“The cost of this water works will be $4.6 million, and the money will be provided to the BADMC who will contract the Barbados Water Authority for the benefit of those farmers.

“As part of the debt for climate swap currently being negotiated with the Inter-American Development Bank, the Green Climate Fund and the European Investment Bank, the Water Infrastructure for Food Security at River in St Philip will be one of the key climate adaptation measures,” the finance minister added.
(FW)

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Two new respite and daycare facilities are to be built in Barbados over the next year as the government moves to address the “crisis” of a rapidly ageing population with the prediction that one in two Barbadians will be over 65 years old by 2050.

Furthermore, private investors who fund the provision of elder care facilities and hospices will be eligible for a 50 per cent tax credit on their investment.

These measures were revealed by Prime Minister Mia Mottley in response to the challenges thrown up by declining births and ageing citizens which, she said, ultimately challenge a country’s economic growth.

The situation is now urgent, she told the House of Assembly.

The two facilities are to be undertaken by the National Assistance Board (NAB) and designed along the lines of the Soroptimist’s Village at Eden Lodge, St Michael.

Outlining the reality of the impact of ageing on this country, Mottley said that 60 per cent of the population is over 35 and 25.6 per cent over the age of 60 among the 269 090 total population determined by the 2021 census.

“This is a crisis,” she told the Lower Chamber.

The real challenge, she explained, is whether Barbados is producing a population with the skills and knowledge to remain competitive and meet the needs of the economy with skilled and unskilled labour.

The prime minister said: “This dual deficit poses a challenge to achieving rates of equitable and inclusive growth that is required for our development. This is our objective. Our birth rate in 2023 was 10.58 births per one thousand people, a decline from 2022 of .26 per cent.”

The population growth has not only slowed down, it has declined, she added.

“What we are facing is the position of most developed countries of an ageing and declining population.”

Prime Minister Mottley queried whether Barbados is producing a population equipped to meet the needs of the local economy as it evolves since so much depends on skilled workers.

Saying she is more concerned about whether this country has the pool of labour skills it needs than the position of the reserves, she said the predictions are that by 2050 one of every two Bajans will be over the age of 65.

“This is a national crisis,” she added. “Only 40 per cent of the population is under the age of 35.”

Mottley said Barbados needs to redouble its efforts to meet the skills deficit and be able to drive growth and deal with other social impacts.

She also addressed the related issue of the increased numbers of those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

With these incidents on the rise, Mottley said, the state will be embarking on a programme to raise awareness for those dealing with loved ones to stem abuse, poor treatment and even abandonment of the sufferers.

She said recognising the family as the main care for the elderly, the NAB will be working closely with the Alzheimer’s Association to teach the necessary skills to deal with these older members of households.

“This is by no means an easy experience, but it is our hope that together as one Bajan family we can support each other when it comes to taking care of our seniors,” she added. 

(SP)

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• Target of building 10 000 homes in five years under the Home Ownership Providing Energy (HOPE) project 
• Additional 2 561 housing solutions to be created in St. Philip and St. Lucy through a National Housing Corporation-private sector joint venture separate from HOPE

Barbadians can expect to see a ramping up of the construction of houses under the Home Ownership Providing Energy (HOPE) housing project in the coming months, Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced Monday in the 2024/2025 Budget.

Admitting that there had been several challenges in meeting the “ambitious objectives” of the housing project to provide 10 000 homes in five years. Mottley said several systems have been implemented to try to address some of the issues hampering the construction process, including the procurement of materials and the bottlenecks in executing mortgage transactions.

“We have had some problems with HOPE, and the structure and the systems were not sufficient, and we are now in the process of completing those systems and the employment of persons necessary so that we can roll out an industrial scale in terms of procurement, in terms of surveying, in terms of construction, in terms of every aspect of getting a house up and running, because this is not as simple as building five or ten houses when you are looking to build the kinds of numbers that we want to build,” she said.

Pointing out that 1 119 houses were built and delivered to homeowners through the HOPE project, the PM stressed “What we did in two years, we must now be doing in one year and therefore it is not beyond our reach, but we need to be able to make it happen”.

Acknowledging that she was not happy with the current situation, she nevertheless expressed her belief that the targets could still be achieved.

She pointed out that the joint venture programme to be embarked on between the Ministry of Housing, the National Housing Corporation and private sector providers would result in another 2 561 housing solutions being created in St Philip and St Lucy, separate from the HOPE project.

Commenting on the government’s decision to engage with a Chinese company to help the island in the rebuilding process after the passage of Hurricane Elsa, she pointed out that while the original intention was for Chinese labour to do the work, this had not worked out as the personnel could not get transit visas to Barbados, leaving the island for use local labour which was more expensive.

She said, however, that an assessment conducted by an independent quantity surveying team, BCQS, demonstrated that while the costs were over the original budget, they were in line with market expectations compared to the resources out of China.
(JB)

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Government is looking to introduce several initiatives to drive interest in various sporting events, including a lucrative football tournament in which the winner will earn $100 000.

This was revealed by Prime Minister Mia Mottley this evening in the 2024/2025 Budgetary Proposals and Financial Statement, where she also disclosed plans were in the works to hold Formula E races at Bushy Park, and to launch a T20 cricket tournament.

The Prime Minister’s Challenge would be the most lucrative football competition held on the island, rivaling the LIME Pelican Challenge which ran for three years from 2011 to 2013, and also offered a $100 000 prize to the winner.

“We will discuss with the Barbados Football Association the introduction of a semi-professional football tournament, featuring 20 teams islandwide from across the parishes with a grand prize of $100,000, and other prizes below that, offering thrilling competition and financial support for our soccer players,” Mottley disclosed.
Pointing to the last two major football competitions, the Lime Pelican and David Thompson Memorial Football Classic tournaments, she said this new event was intended to culminate in November, paying every player from the very first match.

Mottley noted that the pay in the opening games would start at $100 per player and increase as the tournament progressed.
In addition, Mottley also spoke on the island’s intention to once again become a power hub in motor racing, pointing out that it would be setting its sights on hosting Formula E races.
“The Government of Barbados through the National Sports Council has entered a partnership with the Barbados Motoring Federation and Bushy Park to provide $180 000 a year, to make available a significant number of days almost every weekend to all of the motoring and motorcycle clubs in this country in order to have Barbados as a bustling hub for motoring events and to allow us to attract people here from across the region for various rallies

“…We signal the intention to work with all interested parties to make Barbados a hub for hosting Formula E racing, consistent with our commitment to the blue and green economy, the electric cars. I am told that the extension for this track will also accommodate the quarter-mile races that are now held on our roads, but will be much more safely held in an environment that is off-road like that,” the Prime Minister stressed.
Mottley also touched on plans to establish a T20 Block Cricket initiative, to create coaching certification for road tennis and lay two more athletic tracks in the north and south of the island to expand opportunities for athletes.
As backing for these, she announced the introduction of a 50 per cent tax credit for the provision and development of entertainment and sports venues from April 1, 2024.
“This measure is designed to boost investment in sports venues, ensuring world-class facilities for our athletes and affirming Barbados as a premier sports tourism destination and as a destination for the development of sports for our people,” Mottley added.

jeniquebelgrave@barbadostoday.bb

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A 74-year-old man convicted of indecently assaulting an eight-year-old boy in 2017 has avoided prison for now and will have a year to pay $5 000 to help his victim get further counselling.

Madam Justice Wanda Blair sentenced Dacosta Walcott to 33 months in prison, suspended for three years, and instructed the resident of Prerogative, St George, to pay the compensation. Last year, Walcott had been found guilty of committing the offence against the minor on July 31, 2017.

The boy’s father had told the court that on the mentioned date, Walcott had been visiting their home. He said he was outside speaking with friends and when he entered the house, he saw his son sitting on Walcott’s lap. He pulled him off and realised that Walcott’s penis was visible.

In his defence, the convicted man claimed that the boy had pulled out the penis himself.

Speaking on the seriousness of the offence, Justice Blair chastised the man for taking advantage of a vulnerable child.

“That a hardback man like you would try to blame an eight-year-old child for your dirty deeds….” she said.

Outlining the aggravating factors of the offence in the No. 4A Supreme Court, the judge pointed to the age of the complainant and the now-convicted man, the position of trust that Walcott held as he had been a friend of the victim’s father for many years, that it took place in the boy’s home, the nature of the offence, and the psychological impact it had on the complainant.

Giving a starting sentence of three years, Justice Blair deducted three months as a result of several factors, including Walcott’slow to medium risk of reoffending, his failing health and his belated expression of remorse.

If Walcott is convicted of any offence during the three years of the suspension of his sentence or fails to pay the $5 000 compensation, he will spend 33 months in prison.

Senior State Counsel Joyann Catwell and State Counsel Maya Kellman prosecuted the case, while defence attorney Martie Garnes represented Walcott.

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Goddard Enterprises Limited (GEL) recently held outreach sessions with Parkinson Memorial Secondary School girls in observance of International Women’s Day. The goal was to provide the youth with the keys to financial success.

GEL Chief Financial Officer Natasha Small advised the teenage girls to start saving money now.

“Try to save between 10 to 20 per cent of your money,” said Small, suggesting the students open accounts with financial institutions to save their allowances, monetary gifts and other funds.

During the session focused on financial success, she underscored the significance of cultivating a disciplined approach to money management. She introduced the girls to the ABCs of financial management: Attitude, Behaviour, and Choices. Small stressed the value of early savings, budgeting, and responsible spending habits, suggesting weekly budgeting exercises using school allowances.

Small illustrated budgeting techniques using a family budget and encouraged discussion on handling deficits and surpluses.

Practical suggestions included cost-cutting measures such as bulk buying and carpooling. Throughout the session, she employed adages and Biblical verses to reinforce her points, cautioning against materialism and debt traps.

“Your worth is not in your possessions,” Small told the students, cautioning against overspending on possessions to increase self-worth. She advised separating wants from needs and recycling clothes rather than constantly buying new items.

On debt, the CFO said: “Choose debt wisely.” Discussing credit cards, hire purchase and lending methods, she warned: “Beware of get-rich-quick schemes; don’t be fooled by instant gratification, rather be prepared to work for what you want in life.”

Stephanie Catling-Birmingham, Divisional People Manager at Courtesy Garage Limited, led an afternoon session on personal branding, work ethic, and professionalism. Students engaged in activities aimed at identifying personal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. They were advised to cultivate authentic personal brands and exemplary work ethics, emphasising traits like punctuality, integrity, and professionalism.

Catling-Birmingham outlined 15 workplace etiquette tips, including respectful and appropriate attire. The students actively participated in discussions and evaluations, expressing enthusiasm to apply their newfound knowledge. They pledged to implement the lessons learned from both sessions into their lives.

The sessions aimed to cultivate financial literacy, personal branding and professional skills in the students. Organisers reported the students were actively engaged and promised to apply the lessons learned. (PR/BT)

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An animal welfare advocate has described as deeply troubling the government’s revelation that close to 1 000 dogs were euthanised last year, and has suggested more lives could be saved if the Animal Control Centre waived fees for transferring the dogs to other organisations.

During Friday’s Estimates debate, Chief Environmental Health Officer Francina Bascombe disclosed that given the rising number of animals in the seven kennels at the Animal Control Centre, euthanasia had become the last available option.

“We are working with the animal welfare persons. People have a problem with the whole concept of euthanisation; however, we have nowhere to keep them. Persons are giving them up so euthanisation is the way we have to go. We are trying to rehome and there is a small market for that. Last month we would have had 127 [dogs] in and only about 12 of them we were able to get rehomed,” Bascombe said.

In a press release on Monday, Karen Whittaker, founding CEO of Ocean Acres Animal Sanctuary, called the development “tragic”, and called on better strategies to be placed on the table to tackle the issue.

“We are deeply troubled by the recent reports of nearly 1 000 dogs euthanised by the Animal Control Centre in Barbados. This tragic increase highlights the pressing need for comprehensive and compassionate strategies to tackle the root causes of stray animal populations in our communities,” she said.

Though Whittaker explained that the sanctuary was more than willing to take on more abandoned dogs at its property, the ongoing costs associated with taking these animals from the Animal Control Centre have been challenging.

“The current, counterproductive process of Animal Control asking Ocean Acres to take in Animal Control dogs, but compelling us to buy them, needs to be revised, particularly as adoptable dogs are being euthanised that we would take if it was not for the ongoing charges. We advocate for a system that incentivises cooperation rather than creating barriers. We propose solutions such as waiving fees for dogs transferred from Animal Control to registered animal welfare organisations like Ocean Acres, or providing subsidies to cover the cost of care for animals in need,” she said.

The animal welfare advocate further stated that more needs to be done to improve the education and awareness training for pet owners, to effectively reduce the high levels of stray animals still being seen around the island.

“Education plays a crucial role in addressing the root causes of stray animal populations. We must work together to raise awareness about the importance of spaying/neutering, responsible pet ownership, and the resources available for pet owners facing challenges in caring for their animals,” Whittaker said.

She added: “At Ocean Acres, we believe in working together with stakeholders to find humane solutions to the challenges facing our animal companions. We stand ready to collaborate with the government, including [Agriculture] Minister Weir and Minister of Health and Wellness Senator Jerome Walcott, to develop and implement policies that prioritise the welfare and well-being of animals in Barbados.” (SB)

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Two St Michael men have been remanded to prison after appearing in court today charged with raping an underage male.
Remy Rock of Small Land, Bridge Gap, Black Rock, and Jerry Husbands of 1st Avenue Goddings Road, Station Hill were denied bail when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes in the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court.
They are charged that on August 22, 2023, they had sexual intercourse with the minor without his consent.
Husbands is additionally charged with having a male under the age of 16 years in his dwelling for the purpose of having sexual intercourse with him.
Rock and Husbands were remanded to Dodds until April 14.

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Arriving at Parliament to deliver his response to the Budget presented by Prime Minister Mia Mottley on Monday, Leader of the Opposition Ralph Thorne was rushed by supporters who warmly embraced him.

(Photo by Shamar Blunt)

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Barbados finds itself in the unenviable position of being a food-insecure nation. As Ambassador Chelston Brathwaite powerfully outlines, we currently produce only 20 per cent of the food we consume, leaving us dangerously dependent on imports. With global shipping issues, climate change, and conflicts like the war in Ukraine driving up food prices worldwide, our already high food import bill is set to increase substantially in 2024.

This striking level of food insecurity represents an existential threat to the sustainable development of our nation. Beyond the economic vulnerability of being beholden to other countries for our food supply, our reliance on imported processed foods high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats is quite literally killing us. Barbados suffers from extremely high rates of diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and obesity – chronic non-communicable diseases that can be directly linked to poor nutrition and diets centred around imported junk food rather than fresh, local produce.

The data are staggering – eight out of ten deaths in Barbados are caused by these preventable illnesses. One in three of our children is already overweight or obese, putting them at grave risk for developing NCDs like their parents. Productivity is being decimated, healthcare costs are soaring, and economic growth is being massively constrained as our human capital is sapped by widespread, diet-driven disease.

Clearly, the path to greater national sovereignty, better public health outcomes, lower healthcare expenditures, and a brighter future for coming generations lies in prioritising food security through robust domestic agricultural production.

We must heed Ambassador Brathwaite’s call and rapidly form the proposed task force to chart a course towards food independence and nutritional self-sufficiency.

This multifaceted task force, pulling in all relevant government agencies, private sector groups, nutrition experts, and other key stakeholders, should be empowered to conduct a thorough examination of our food import bill and local production capabilities. Sensible policies, incentives, financing mechanisms, and public-private partnerships can then be crafted to rapidly scale domestic agriculture and replace imported staples with locally-grown, healthier equivalents wherever possible.

In addition to direct production support, we must invest in developing processing capacity, storage, and distribution networks to get more fresh homegrown produce into shops, restaurants, schools, and homes across the island at affordable prices. A public education campaign touting the benefits of nutritious, Bajan-grown fruits and vegetables should go hand-in-hand with these steps.

The government’s new school nutrition policy is a good start, but a much bolder, whole-of-society effort is urgently needed. Food security is not a partisan issue – it is an issue of national survival. The sustainability of our economy, public health system, workforce, and human potential all hinge on our ability to feed ourselves with quality, locally sourced food.

And in this case, the message is no less irrepressible than the messenger. As a former director of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), he has an intimate understanding of agricultural policies, food systems, and the challenges facing developing economies in feeding their populations. His tenure as our ambassador to China also likely afforded him insights into that country’s relatively successful shift towards greater food self-sufficiency. And his recent service as an independent senator demonstrates his commitment to advocating for pragmatic, non-partisan solutions in the national interest. With such a wealth of relevant experience, Ambassador Brathwaite brings immense expertise and credibility to this issue that demands we take his proposals seriously.

Prime Minister Mottley’s vision through the Mission Barbados initiative is to transform our island into a “sustainable, prosperous, inclusive and resilient nation”. But that goal will remain elusive if we don’t solve the food security crisis. The government ought swiftly to form and empower the proposed food security task force to do just that. Our future prosperity and the health of every Bajan depends on it.

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