Some parents are not giving children the proper foundation needed to thrive but are allowing “cellphones and Vybz Kartel” to educate them.

That’s the view of Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes as he spoke to the father of a 16-year-old boy who appeared before the court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to stealing over $500 in items.

“If you are not giving them a foundation, how do you expect them to thrive? The family is the first source of creating that value system, the school will reinforce the value system and so will the church,” Weekes said.

He charged that some parents were sending the children off into the “wild” and the cellphones, Vybz Kartel and rappers were educating them.

The teenager of Arch Hall, St Thomas admitted to stealing a laptop and charger, a wireless mouse, belonging to Tyreed Greenidge. On July 1, 2024, Greenidge noticed the items which had been stored in his vehicle missing. The boy became a suspect, and the laptop was eventually recovered.

The young man told the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court that he stole the items to make money to feed his gambling habit. He said that when his parents were asleep, he would take the opportunity to leave the house and go out to gamble.

“He at 16 years old . . . you know how many people get stab, shoot for gambling?” Weekes asked.

“He is a child I talk to morning, noon, night and he doesn’t listen or he hears and it goes through one ear and comes through the next,” his father told the court.

The teen’s dad also said that despite his efforts to ensure the doors are closed when he goes to sleep, his son still manages to find a way out. Despite being enrolled in a behavioural school and receiving “blows”, his son’s troublesome behaviour persists, he added.

The magistrate advised parents to seek out available services to assist with children.

“Nobody is blaming the parents necessarily for the fact that they may have a difficult child. Sometimes having a difficult child, though, maybe because of what is not being done,” Weekes suggested.

The magistrate also emphasised the role of the church in a child’s upbringing.

“I’m not forcing religion down anyone’s throat but if you have a Godless child, the child would not have respect for anybody, including you. If they are given the foundation, they probably would not depart from it, some will – none of us is perfect.”

He urged parents to refrain from calling children “lil man” as it was reinforcing negative behaviour and suggested assigning chores to instil discipline, as well as taking advantage of school services such as guidance counsellors.

The teen was set an evening curfew for 5:30 and cannot leave the house before 6 a.m. Any breaks in curfew stipulations are to be reported by the father. Further, he has until August 12 to decide on a programme of his choice. He must also stay away from gambling and submit to drug testing. His bail was set at $2 000.

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Barbados is grappling with a “crisis” of population decline that threatens the island’s way of life and social systems, Prime Minister Mia Mottley has warned.

“Our country is in a crisis with respect to an ageing and declining population,” she told the House of Assembly on Tuesday. “Our country needs now to take decisions that may be difficult for some but necessary for all. That decision will lead to us committing to maintaining our values and our way of life as we know it.”

Mottley emphasised the urgent need to address the issue: “This is not a case of desire anymore, this is a case of necessity.”

The Prime Minister highlighted the stark reality outlined in the Barbados Population Policy document, laid in the House on Tuesday. She pointed to a declining and ageing population, reduced production levels, and falling tax revenues.

She said: “This country has seen a declining population, an ageing population, a declining level of production as a result, and declining taxation. There will be consequential actions that flow from [the report], once we have heard where all of it settles, and those consequential actions will have far-reaching implications for the state of Barbados, and for the state of families and their way of life in Barbados.

Mottley stressed the importance of maintaining the country’s social care services, which she described as “integral to the health and wellness of Barbadians”. However, she noted that these services “do not come cheap” and rely heavily on tax revenue, which is under threat due to the population decline.

She told lawmakers: “Barbados has a strong caring infrastructure, and it does not come cheap. If we are going to maintain that because we believe in equity and we believe that the most vulnerable must be taken care of, then it means we have to manage carefully how we grow the economy, but equally making sure that the systems that are necessary to make sure that everybody can benefit and improve the quality of life, can be done.”

The Prime Minister called for a frank discussion on immigration and migration as potential solutions to the crisis. She acknowledged the historical contributions of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals to Barbados, particularly in the construction and agriculture sectors, where their presence has helped control labour costs and inflation.

Mottley said: “We have had the opportunity of knowing how CARICOM people have been able to add value to this country, and in areas of construction and agriculture, there was a time where if you did not have those persons living here helping to control the price of work labourers in agriculture and construction, the level of inflation and cost of living would have gone through the roof at a much earlier point. That is why in many countries the absence of available labour has led to cost of living increases.”

“We believe that this thing can be managed properly,” Mottley said, emphasising the need for a “very careful balance” in managing any influx of migrants or returning Barbadians. She added: “This country certainly cannot continue to sustain the way of life and benefits it provides to its people, with a declining and ageing population.”

But the Prime Minister was quick to stress that any immigration measures must not compromise Barbadian values and security. She declared: “So as long as we commit to ensuring that as we bring people, that we can manage their integration into this country, so long as we continue to make sure that our values remain dominant in so doing, then this is the right thing to do.”

shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb

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When a DJ started to play the song Shooting Mood at a fete, shots rang out and a man was seen stumbling before falling on his face.

Principal State Counsel Oliver Thomas who is prosecuting the case along with State Counsel Dr Zoe King gave that information as he addressed the jury at the start of a murder trial on Monday.

Christopher Anderson Shepherd, 25, of Spruce Street, St Michael and Rio Richan Jelanie Malcolm Benn, 33, of Upper Duke’s Alley, Vine Street, St Michael are facing a judge and jury accused of murdering Le Andrew Coward on October 3, 2019.

So far nine witnesses, mainly police officers, have given evidence in the case and more are expected to testify when the trial continues in the No.2 Supreme Court on Wednesday before Justice Randall Worell.

The accused are represented by attorney-at-law Angella Mitchell-Gittens SC.

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Commercial banks have committed to adhering to new Central Bank Market Conduct Guidelines aimed at enhancing transparency and fairness in the financial services industry, according to the head of the banking association.

The guidelines, which came into effect on Friday, set minimum standards for interactions between licensed financial institutions and their clients.

Shimon McIntosh, president of the Barbados Bankers Association said Tuesday that all commercial banks would carefully study the rules and apply them accordingly. This announcement came 24 hours after the Central Bank launched the new guidelines.

McIntosh said: “Each bank in Barbados will carefully peruse the newly published guidelines for alignment within their operations, ensuring adherence and anticipating the customary continuous dialogue between the Central Bank of Barbados and key stakeholders as together we aim for improvement in all sectors of the economy.”

McIntosh said his association acknowledges the Central Bank as the banking industry’s regulator and its jurisdiction to give guidance to the licensees under the Financial Institutions Act while pursuing its mandate of protection of consumers in the market. 

“The TBBA welcomes every opportunity to be engaged in the process of strengthening of the financial sector, ensuring clients’ needs are satisfied and now operating within a context of the global digital and technological transformation,” the banking spokesman said. “TBBA opines that over the years consumers in Barbados have been the beneficiaries of competitive product offerings in the financial sector and they should continue to benefit from a stable and competitive banking industry.

“To this end, the TBBA members will remain focused on balancing the quest for efficiency, safety and modernisation of banking service delivery, to offer all Barbadians a high-quality customer experience in all respects, with the need, like any other business operations, to honour their stakeholder commitments.”

Central Bank Governor Dr Kevin Greenidge emphasised the importance of the guidelines in maintaining consumer confidence and promoting economic growth. “Market conduct really refers to he behaviour in the practices of the various financial institutions and the interactions with consumers, the public, and all the other stakeholders,” Dr Greenidge explained. “It looks at issues of transparency, fairness, and ethical behaviour of institutions right here in terms of products and financial services.”

The guidelines address five key areas: bank fees and charges, accessibility, opening accounts, closing accounts, and complaints. They also offer recommendations for improving communication with customers.

Under the new rules, banks and finance companies must seek the Central Bank’s non-objection at least 60 days before implementing new fees or increasing existing ones. Customers must be notified 30 days in advance of approved changes. The guidelines also prohibit charges for electronic fund transfers or cash management transactions under $10 000 per day.

To promote inclusivity, physical bank locations must be wheelchair accessible and navigable for the visually impaired. Digital interfaces must accommodate various disabilities. As of July 2023, all commercial banks must offer at least one no-fee account and low-fee accounts for vulnerable groups, including pensioners, minors, and students.

The guidelines also outline procedures for opening and closing accounts, ensuring compliance with Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT) laws. Banks must provide clear timelines and periodic updates during the account application process, aiming to decide within three to five business days.

Dr Greenidge stressed the importance of these regulations for maintaining consumer confidence in financial institutions. “By issuing and the financial institutions adhering to these, it ensures that we are able to, one, provide a very transparent system, but also be fair to consumers for their confidence in our financial institutions,” he said.

The governor also highlighted the potential impact on economic growth, stating, “The more transparent you are, the easier it is to do business; it’s clear rules and guidelines, and so market conduct pulls all those together into a coherent, integrated structure that people can easily follow.” 

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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Prime Minister Mia Mottley has pushed back against criticism of new land tax rates, including from one of her own backbenchers, warning that arbitrary reductions could jeopardise the nation’s social care system.

Speaking during Tuesday’s debate on the Barbados Population Policy in the House of Assembly, Mottley addressed opposition mounted by St Philip North MP Dr Sonia Browne to increased rates affecting property owners with two or more acres.

Without mentioning the backbencher and former Cabinet minister directly the prime minister said: “I see others, including members in this House, talking about reducing land taxes just arbitrarily so, without recognising that the consequences of doing so will have an impact on another area of taxes and taxation,”.

Her comments come after Dr Browne sought to lead a protest movement against what she described as “substantial increases” in land tax bills. Dr Browne had raised concerns about stark price hikes, citing examples where some residents who previously paid just over $400 or $3 000 are now facing bills of over $4 500 or $8 300 respectively.

Mottley defended the government’s taxation policy, pointing out previous reductions in income tax and increases in reverse tax credit. “People forget that this government reduced Income Tax levels in 2019 for everybody. Increased reverse tax credit for who can benefit from it. Before you had to be earning $13 000 to benefit from it, now if you earn $25 000 a year, $2 000 a month, you get reverse tax credit,” she said.

The prime minister emphasised the delicate balance required to maintain social programmes. “There is a very delicate balance of what we are carrying, not because the numbers are not there, but on the other hand you are giving out a range of benefits with respect to free education and free healthcare and a number of support systems for the elderly,” Mottley explained. “Barbados has a strong caring infrastructure, and it does not come cheap.”

Underscoring the importance of land tax revenue, Mottley said that “given the significance of land tax revenue for the island’s social care system, a haphazard reduction in land tax collections is not an option”. 

(SB)

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If all goes according to plan Barbados will be importing a number of pregnant dairy heifers from Canada in the coming weeks, Barbados TODAY has learnt.

On Tuesday Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) James Paul reported that since an import ban was placed on cattle coming from the United States two months ago, the farming community was left scrambling to find an alternate source.

However, he said that farmers were deep in talks with an entity in Canada and if all goes well, dairy farmers will be embarking on a fresh import deal.

Dairy farmers are in desperate need of imported stock to boost milk production on the island as the sweltering heat and other factors have severely impacted their animals’ ability to produce sustainable quantities of milk for domestic consumption and external markets.

Currently, there are low supplies of some locally-produced milk products on supermarket shelves.

“We are currently working on an alternative source out of Canada and hopefully we should be able to complete [our discussions] later this week,” he said. He explained that the prospects were “favourable” for the Canadian imports giving dairy farmers some hope. 

Originally, the farmers were planning to spend $1.5 million to import 320 pregnant climate-resistant heifers and the first batch of animals – 214 – was due to arrive by plane in June and the remainder later in the year. 

This plan was halted when the Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Mark Trotman announced in May that there was a ban on importing cows from the United States due to an outbreak of bird flu (H5N1) in cattle, which was also being contracted by farm labourers.

This is the first time globally that human transmission occurred from cattle.

Paul is however concerned that the farmers may not get the quantity of heifers they hope for.

“We won’t have quite the number but we are finalising those details as we speak. I hope that by the end of this week we should be in a position to indicate our arrangement,” he added.

Meanwhile, Trotman told Barbados TODAY in an update that it was still too soon to tell when the ban could be lifted, underscoring the need to protect the local agricultural industry.

“The ban is still in place because it is what we consider an unprecedented and emerging disease and scientists are still doing a lot of work trying to figure out how it is going to behave. So until we get more information on what is safe and what is not safe, [the ban will remain in place] . . . It’s an evolving situation and I may lift the ban depending on what the science says. I cannot tell you when I will lift it, or if I may implement more restrictions as the science develops, it is just too early to say. But scientists in the States are aggressively trying to get a handle on it to understand the epidemiology of it and we will make a decision as the science becomes clearer,” he explained.

The restriction only applies to live cattle and not cattle meat or other livestock or livestock products.

Trotman said that the ban manages an uncertain situation, safeguarding against potentially devastating outcomes should bird flu reached these shores.

“We don’t know and that is the scary part,” he said. “We don’t know if the virus is imported in the cattle, if it is transmissible to other cattle, if it would just affect the cattle that was imported. We know the virus has been isolated in milk and that could have an implication for the milk that we produce from the imported cattle. There are just so many unknowns but those are the potential risks if we had imported them notwithstanding the outbreak that is occurring.” 

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb

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The Court of Appeal has given the green light for a failed 2022 election candidate to challenge a judge’s ruling on the general election. Phillip Nathaniel Catlyn, who ran for the Sovereignty Party in St Thomas, can now proceed with his appeal against a decision by Justice Cecily Chase.

The three-member panel of appellate judges comprising Chief Justice Leslie Haynes, retired Chief Justice Sir Patterson Cheltenham, and Justice Margaret Reifer, on Tuesday tossed out the State’s request for it to strike out the application that was filed on February 2, 2022, as an urgent appeal by Catlyn.

Catlyn, who was in court on Tuesday, had lodged the appeal against a ruling by Justice Cecily Chase. She had thrown out an earlier appeal calling for judicial review of the President’s decision to issue election writs before ensuring quarantined people could vote.

He claims that electors who were in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic were disenfranchised. The claimant argues that thousands of eligible voters under quarantine were dispossessed of their rights because the Electoral and Boundaries Commission made no provision for them to vote.

It was on October 11, 2022, that the respondents – President Dame Sandra Mason and Attorney General Dale Marshall – asked the apex court to strike out Catlyn’s appeal. That application was heard and concluded on April 26, 2023, with the court reserving judgment.

Justice Reifer, who read that judgment on Tuesday, first apologised for the delay, citing the death of colleague Jefferson Cumberbatch, one of the original justices of appeal that had reserved decision and the discovery of certain documents which needed to be dealt with before a decision could be handed down.

“Having taken into account, all the relevant circumstances, and having made a broad judgment after considering the available possibilities, the intrinsic justice of the case, and the overriding objective, we dismiss the respondents’ application to strike out the appeal against the oral judgment of Chase J,” Justice Reifer ruled in the 109 paragraph court decision.

The court also ordered that the costs of a preliminary or interim hearing be ‘costs in the cause’.  This means that the costs of the preliminary hearing will be paid by the party that ultimately loses the cause.

In addressing the way forward, the Court of Appeal said when it considered the criteria relevant to an interlocutory appeal and the overriding objective, “We are of the view that this application within the appeal should fail.”

“The appeal itself, in our view, is a procedural appeal in accordance with CPR [Civil Procedures Rules] 62.10 (1), and should be progressed in accordance with the provisions of this rule, should the appellant consider it the better course of action strategically,” Justice Reifer declared.  The judge also pointed out that the State’s application may have been misdirected, particularly considering that the substantive matter of the claimant’s original appeal was still pending. 

“The substantive action remains alive and unchallenged. We however observe that the force of the applicant/respondent’s submissions, could have more usefully been directed at the substantive action in the court below. Had this been the approach taken, arguments as to the prospects of success of the substantive action, would accordingly have been more relevant.

  “The scope of challenge,” the appellate judge added, “for dismissing a claim or defence is, in our opinion, wider than in a striking out (which is more concerned with form – how the case is pleaded – as opposed to substance), although there is a recognisable overlap of the two.”

The court was unfavourable in its ruling regarding the three grounds to strike out, jointly submitted by the State. One ground claims that Catlyn failed to comply with the procedural requirements of CPR (a broad and general ground), while a second ground contends that the amended notice of appeal discloses no reasonable ground of appeal (effectively a challenge to satisfying the procedural requirements of CPR, but with more particularity.

“In the matter before us, the general elections are behind us, but the issue of jurisdiction if not settled, is likely to arise again. We disagree with the submissions of counsel outlined…” Justice Reifer ruled.

Counsel for the President, Alrick Scott KC, had submitted that not only did the appellant’s amended notice of appeal not raise any issue of public law or public interest for this court to consider, he also submitted that the issue of whether an injunction should be granted to prohibit the holding of a general election “because persons are in quarantine during a pandemic, is not one which recurs.”

The court said it is of the view that there are in fact “issues of public law, statutory interpretation, constitutional interpretation inter alia, which are all matters of profound matters of public interest”. Jurisdictional and procedural issues, it said, are of general importance.

“We are confident that these will be recurrent issues that will influence the future conduct of litigation unless and until settled by an apex court. It would be more efficient to dispose of these issues rather than leave if to a further appeal in another case. Such an outcome would be incompatible with the overriding objective,” Justice Reifer declared.

The ruling means that Catlyn, who is represented by attorney Lalu Hanuman, can now proceed with his appeal against Justice Chase’s judgment, which is the substantive case.

Among the remedies being sought by Catlyn is a declaration that the President’s decision to dissolve Parliament and issue election writs without first ensuring that thousands of electors who were in quarantine during the COVID pandemic, are not disenfranchised.

The claimant, according to the judge, also wants the court to declare that the President’s actions were unreasonable, illegal, contrary to law, irrational, or arbitrary.

He is also seeking vindicatory damages which are a relatively rare remedy awarded to complainants of constitutional rights violations or other legal wrongs. The damages are intended to recognise the inherent value of the violated right, beyond any compensation for specific losses or damages.

Roger Forde KC is leading the legal team which represents the attorney general. 

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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I am hearing as usual all the comments about the primary school children gyrating on each other and the reaction is the same as that which we give to crime, deviance and ill health with its attendant social costs. What are the police doing? What are the teachers doing? What are the prison officers doing? What are the doctors doing? What are the nurses doing? What is the “church” doing? Blame the government! Blame the social agencies! Get “back to God” and the list continues.

As is customary we jump on a blame and shame bandwagon. But at the end of it all, the fundamental issue here is a broken society. We fail our children and each other when we fail to educate and properly socialise our people and the young and new entrants to our societies known as children. Let me start with something that is dear to me and that is health.

People generally eat what we are told by other people, is food. Food is basically anything that can be eaten as long as it gets into our mouths, down the oesophagus and into our stomachs. It does not have to be nutritious but as long as we get it down, for many people, it is considered food. The consequence is that people’s health suffers because of the poor quality of what they eat. Education about what should be eaten to maintain health is often ignored at our peril. We, as a state then, have to bear the responsibility for people’s lack of education and the doctors are supposed to perform magic, to deal with people who failed to be educated on simple matters.

The same applies to crime, deviance and all the other social ills. Education is the key along with concerted action and advocacy. Guns don’t kill people by themselves. Some human has to point a gun and pull the trigger. So what is going through a person’s mind during this act? It has to do with education. Proper education will cause an individual to ignore the gun and find alternative dispute resolutions. The same with drugs and everything else. Whatever social needs are to be met, can be solved with education. The fact that an oligarchy controls the goings on of this world and imposes its evil will on the people, can also be dealt with by education. Educated people will fail to comply and the elite will be useless. Armies the world over, are made up of uneducated or improperly educated humans who fight wars for greedy people.

So, to make a long story short, education is the key. Education needs not be formal but people just need to know what they do not already know, in order to solve the many issues that confront us. The information is out there but because too many of us fail to research things, we do what the majority do and say, and too often this is not beneficial to us. Of course, the oligarchy does not want people to be educated but instead, to spend billions of dollars each year on useless things. For example, Black people who are educated about their true beauty and worth and history, will not spend exorbitant sums of money wearing other people’s hair and wearing false eyelashes, bleaching skins and wearing false nails on their fingers, or on expensive clothes and trinkets, An educated person will know that much of what we consume is totally unnecessary. So let us not expect others to do the job that we neglect to do. Education is key to solving our social issues. The more we get of it, the better for all of us.

Ian A. Marshall  

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In honour of Crop Over’s 50th anniversary celebrations, local bandleaders plan to cover Bridgetown with colour on Thursday with a street event,  to pique the interest of Bajans who may be considering joining in Kadooment.

This word comes from President of Barbados Association of Masqueraders (BAM) Jason Thompson, who told Barbados TODAY that the exercise will feature almost all the bands taking part in this year’s Grand Kadooment, with the hope of rising locals’ interest in joining a band this year.

“We have a major activation that is taking place on Thursday around 2 p.m., in town,” Thompson said. “The bands are all moving to Bridgetown where we are doing one big street fair starting at the same helipad [location] where the start for [Kadooment] will be. We are going to parade through Broad Street. All the bands will be out showcasing costumes, some will be out in t-shirts, banners, headpieces.

“We will end in Golden Square where anybody who wants a last opportunity to register for Grand Kadooment can do so,” he explained.

While the BAM previously said that interest from overseas markets continues to be high, he explained that the focus now was to get Bajans on the road celebrating the end of the summer festival.

“We want locals on the road, so we are doing whatever is necessary to get them out on the road. We are not focusing on the overseas market currently. We want more locals on the road especially because it is the 50th year, so we are trying to go back to a lot of traditional stuff with an increase in Mother Sallys, stilt walkers, and Steel Donkeys.”

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A Barbados Light and Power (BLPC) team, led by Distribution Supervisor Edward Cummins, is on a mission to support the Grenada Electricity Services Ltd. (Grenlec) in its recovery efforts following Hurricane Beryl’s devastation.

Linemen Tremaine Skinner, Shamar Atkinson, Christopher Hoyte and Donny Joseph have joined Cummins on this two-week initiative in Carriacou facilitated by CARILEC’s Disaster Assistance Programme (CDAP), which promotes regional cooperation and joint assistance among member utilities. Roger Blackman, managing director of BLPC and chairman of CARILEC joined the team at the airport to see them off.

CDAP is crucial in uniting member utilities to manage disaster impacts and provide essential manpower and supplies to those in need. Their expertise and dedication underscore BLPC’s commitment to regional solidarity and support in times of need. (PR)

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Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey, is calling for a comprehensive policy in Barbados, focusing on the pressing issues of a declining birth rate and an aging population.

Speaking in Parliament where a resolution on Barbados’ population policy was debated and passed, Humphrey pointed to an urgent need for strategic planning and policy implementation to tackle the demographic challenges and their associated impacts on healthcare and social services.

“We are facing a significant demographic shift in Barbados. Our birth rate is declining and our population is aging at an unprecedented rate. This trend poses serious challenges to our nation’s future, particularly in terms of sustaining economic growth and ensuring the well-being of our citizens,” the St Michael South Member of Paliament stated.

Another key concern was the increasing elderly population and the strain being placed on the healthcare system.

“As the proportion of elderly individuals in our population grows, so does the demand for healthcare services, especially in areas such as eye health. We must be proactive in addressing these needs to ensure that our elderly citizens receive the care they deserve,” the MP asserted, stressing the importance of a well-structured population policy.

“A population policy is not just about numbers; it’s about planning for a future where our resources are used efficiently and our citizens’ needs are met effectively. We need to consider factors such as healthcare, housing, and social support systems to create a sustainable environment for all age groups.

“An aging population can lead to a higher dependency ratio, where fewer working-age individuals support more retirees. This scenario can strain public finances and hinder economic development. Therefore, it is crucial to implement policies that encourage higher birth rates and support young families,” Humphrey noted, while calling for immediate action and collaboration across various sectors.

“Addressing our population issues requires a collective effort from the government, healthcare providers, and the community at large. We must act now to implement a comprehensive population policy that will safeguard the future of Barbados,” the minister urged.

As it relates to the youth population and the dependency ratio, Humphrey suggested a unified approach was necessary to tackle these challenges.

“Our youth are the backbone of our workforce and the future leaders of Barbados. Ensuring their development and integration into the workforce is paramount for our nation’s economic and social stability,” he stated. “A high dependency ratio, where the working-age population supports a larger number of dependents, can strain our economic resources and social services. It is essential to address this imbalance to maintain a sustainable and thriving society.”

He also stressed the need for collective action to address social problems and support youth. “We cannot tackle these issues in isolation. It requires a concerted effort from the government, universities, churches, and the private sector. Each entity has a crucial role to play in fostering a supportive environment for our youth and ensuring they have the opportunities and resources needed to succeed,” Humphrey explained.

The minister noted that, in this regard, there were roles to be played by the varying sectors alongside the government. “The government must implement policies that promote education, employment and social services tailored to the needs of our youth. Universities should focus on providing quality education and vocational training that align with the demands of the job market. Churches and community organisations can offer support and mentorship, while the private sector should create job opportunities and invest in youth development programmes,” Humphrey noted.

He also highlighted the importance of addressing social problems that affect youth, such as crime and substance abuse. “We must tackle the root causes of social problems that hinder the development of our youth. This includes addressing crime, substance abuse, and other societal issues through comprehensive programmes and initiatives,” the minister added.

He also called for immediate and sustained action in order to ensure a sufficient and productive population size, noting that it was not just a matter of policy, but also a matter of collective responsibility. “We must all work together to create an environment where our youth can thrive and contribute to the growth and prosperity of Barbados,” Humphrey urged.

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Hayley Matthews will be joined by even more star power for this year’s Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL). The 26-year-old Barbadian allrounder will lead the Barbados Royalds in their title defence in August, when the third instance of the WCPL bowls off in Trinidad & Tobago.

Final squads were announced on Tuesday 16 July, after the three teams involved in the competition had declared their retentions and new signings, and after the conclusion of the Draft, also held on Tuesday.

Matthews led from the front in lifting the title last year. She ended the season with the second-most runs: 191 in five matches with a strike rate of 132.63. She was also the joint third-highest wicket-taker with seven at an economy rate of 7.44.

A graduate of Harrison College, the dynamic Matthews scored 82 off 59 balls and took two wickets in the final against Guyana Amazon Warriors. The Royals won by eight runs.

Her exploits in the last calendar year led Matthews to being named Wisden’s ICC Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year. She won eight straight T20I match awards, averaged an eye-popping 88 runs per innings, at a strike-rate of 144, and 12 with the ball.

Now, for the upcoming WCPL, Matthews will be paired with Sri Lanka superstar Chamari Athapaththu, the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year. Athapaththu is a top-order batter and offspinner. In 12 T20Is this year, she has scored 371 runs, including 102 against Scotland. Her 13 wickets include a best of 4 for 29 against West Indies last month.

Australia wicketkeeper-batter Georgia Redmayne will also turn out for Royals this year, along with returning legspinner Amanda-Jade Wellington, Australia batter Laura Harris, West Indians Chinelle Henry, Afy Fletcher, Aaliyah Alleyne, and Qiana Joseph.

Wellington was the second highest wicket-taker in the 2023 WCPL with eight in five games at an economy of 4.80.

The reigning champions have also drafted two players who were with their squad in 2023, wicketkeeper Rashada Williams and exciting batter Trishan Holder. They welcome Shabika Gajnabi, Cherry Ann Fraser, and Djenaba Joseph, who were all with the Guyana Amazon Warriors last year. They have also drafted local allrounder Naijanni Cumberbatch.

The Royals will get their 2024 Massy WCPL campaign underway in a finals rematch on 21 August. They will hope to be the last team standing once again when the tournament concludes on 29 August. All seven games will be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, in San Fernando, Trinidad & Tobago.

Elsewhere, hard-hitting former West Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin will lead 2022 champions Trinbago Knight Riders in their title quest. Having announced her retirement from international cricket in 2022, the St James Secondary School graduate has been a fixture of international women’s franchise cricket.

Dottin, who preceded Matthews in making the transition from track and field to cricket, was the first ever women’s cricketer to record a T20I century. Now aged 33, the “World Boss” was still shy of her 19th birthday when she thrashed an unbeaten 112 against South Africa in the opening match of the 2010 ICC Women’s World T20 at Warner Park in Basseterre. St Kitts & Nevis.

She leads a largely veteran squad that includes Barbados’ Knight sisters, Kycia and Kyshona, along with Shamilia Connell, Jahzara Claxton, Zaida James, Jannillea Glasgow, Chedean Nation, Anisa Mohammed, Shunelle Sawh, Samara Ramnath, Meg Lanning, Jess Jonassen, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Shikha Pandey.

Glasgow and Nation were with the Royals in WCPL 2023.

34-year-old Barbadian medium pacer Shakera Selman, previously a member of the Royals, will now link up with former West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor to try to get the Amazon Warriors their maiden title.

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The House of Assembly has approved a resolution to vest 2.01 acres of land at Pilgrim Place, Christ Church, in the National Housing Corporation (NHC) for housing development.

The former St Bartholomew’s Girls’ School site is set to provide 36 new homes, addressing a fraction of the country’s pressing housing needs.

Minister of Housing Dwight Sutherland introduced the resolution, describing it as “a significant step towards addressing the housing needs in the country”. He revealed that the land became available after the closure of St Bartholomew’s Girls’ School in 1995 and was transferred to the state by the Ministry of Education in 1996.

Sutherland highlighted the urgent demand for housing, citing over 10 000 applicants at the NHC. Recent disasters, including fires and Hurricane Elsa in 2021, have necessitated the rebuilding of approximately 1 400 houses. “The 36 housing solutions that St Bartholomew has are just a dent in the ocean,” he said.

The minister outlined other ongoing projects, including Concordia Gardens, Ginger Works, Searles, and Lancaster, which aim to provide hundreds of new homes. He reported progress on existing developments: “We have finished some 85 houses, 100 per cent. And we are working on homeowners accessing these mortgages in a shorter time frame. We recognize what our challenges were,” he added.

Christ Church East MP Wilfred Abrahams expressed strong support for the resolution, praising the chosen site in his constituency as “a perfect place” for housing. He emphasised the community’s desire to remain in familiar surroundings: “People don’t want to move from where they are… They want to move within their own area of familiarity.”

Responding to Abrahams, Sutherland provided updates on additional projects in Christ Church East, including 70 completed houses at Atlantic Reefs and plans for 36 affordable homes in Coverley. He projected a total of 339 new housing solutions for the constituency in the near future.

“So the Member for Christ Church East is well endowed with housing solutions for this year and into next year,” he said. “If you add the 267 that you will get and 72 if my math is correct, that’s 339 housing solutions going to Christ Church East.”

Sutherland acknowledged the challenges but assured progress across the island: “We are on our way to ensuring that we achieve our target. It is a challenge, of course. We are trying to choose sites where we have infrastructure. Services are present. And that will minimize the length of time we take to construct our houses.”

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A mix of culture, creativity, and community, with a splash of vibrant Kooyman colour, spiced up the festival atmosphere in the Kooyman Megastore car park last Saturday, as the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) and Kooyman announced Kooyman’s sponsorship of the Foreday Morning Jam for the second consecutive year.

The event provided an electrifying kickoff to the August 3 event, as the energetic Amory Spinny Holder gave revellers a taste of what’s in store for 2024 with his trademark  Cultural Cardio session in the car park.

Highlighting Kooyman’s commitment to local culture and fostering community creativity, CEO Juri Kooyman said the company was pleased to extend its partnership with the NCF as the lead sponsor of the Foreday Morning Jam.

“This sponsorship recognises the rich cultural heritage of our Bill Festival and its positive impact on the community, and Kooyman is pleased to support and help preserve these traditions. Our sponsorship of Foreday Morning Jam also provides a platform for creative expression. We know that by investing in cultural events, we can inspire future generations to contribute and continue to build the bond of community,” Kooyman stated.

The CEO said Kooyman was thrilled to have two exceptional Bajan entertainers, Amory Spinny Holder and dancer Nandi Yard, on board with the megastore this year, adding even more energy to Foreday Morning0.

“Nandi and Spinny are innovative, energetic, and exemplary young entertainers whose passion for Crop Over and culture makes them an excellent fit to share the message of community, culture, and creativity that we at Kooyman want to communicate.”

Once again, this year, exciting treats are in store for Kooyman customers, who will benefit from special in-store promotions and product discounts on paint products.

“These promotions are our way of giving back to the community and ensuring that everyone can join in celebrating this season of Crop Over and the Foreday Morning Jam, which this year also coincides with Kooyman’s ongoing celebrations marking 85 years of service to the Caribbean,” Kooyman said.
(PR)

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A looming population crisis is threatening to undermine Barbados’ economic stability and social fabric, St James South MP Sandra Husbands has warned.

She told Parliament that the nation’s demographic challenges could make it “difficult for us to create a viable society where people can create a decent living for their families”.

Speaking as the House of Assembly debated and passed a resolution on Barbados’ population policy, Husbands highlighted a range of interconnected issues, including an ageing population, skills shortages and the climate crisis.

With a population of just 270 000, Husbands cautioned that the tax burden on working-age Barbadians was becoming increasingly onerous, potentially jeopardising essential services and the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

“If we do not very quickly start putting things in place to address our population crisis, we will have spoken about the fact that you will have insufficient contributions to your NIS, which will collapse,” she said.

Husbands painted a stark picture of Barbados’ demographic future, predicting that more than half of your people by 2050 will be over the age of 60. She argued that this shift, coupled with a preponderance of low-wage jobs, would stifle economic growth and development.

To counter these trends, the MP called for a concerted effort to upskill the workforce. “Higher skilled labour means you can attract a better quality of investor into the country. Skilled labour will give you better enterprises and will give you better economic outcomes,” she said.

The minister of state for education praised government initiatives aimed at transforming the education system, including the construction gateway programme and training in cutting-edge fields such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. She emphasised the importance of lifelong learning and remedial education in literacy and numeracy to “enhance the quality of the population”.

Addressing the needs of older Barbadians, Husbands advocated for the development of a “silver economy” with part-time work opportunities for seniors to supplement their incomes. She stressed the importance of providing affordable, high-quality goods and services tailored to the elderly.

“The elderly needs a set of services and goods provided to them in such a way that those goods and services are within their reach, within their means, and are delivered to the quality level that allows them to be able to comfortably live in their home,” she said. “One of the things that we have to spend some time thinking about is how we are going to create economic opportunities for seniors to be able to work again,”

The MP’s warnings come as Barbados seeks to build a “prosperous and sustainable” future in the face of multiple challenges, including the ongoing climate crisis and its potential impact on food and water security.

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Minimum standards of pay for workers in the hospitality accommodation industry will soon be introduced.

This announcement was made by Minister of Labour, Colin Jordan, during Tuesday’s debate in the Lower House where discussions resumed on the Barbados Population Policy 2023.

Jordan said: “The Chief Labour Officer has advised that she has completed her consultations and very soon I will return to this Honourable Chamber to establish minimum rates of pay and conditions of work for those who are employed in the tourism accommodation sector. This will be done pursuant to a bill that is now an act that we passed in this chamber – Labour Clauses Concessions Act,” he explained.

The Act made provisions for the revocation of concessions to businesses which failed to comply with standards set out in the legislation.

Jordan also noted that paid paternity leave may soon also become a reality.

“We are still exploring the possibility of paid paternity leave. We’ve had a number of meetings and we are getting close to being able to come back to Cabinet, because Cabinet has agreed in principle, pending studies from the actuary and others. There must be a quality of child rearing that takes place in Barbados and for that to happen fathers must be involved. You can’t just be involved in bringing the sperm and the egg together.”

The minister said that the government was willing to make a case for provisions to be made by workplaces for mothers who breastfeed their children.

“They must be able, for example, to express their milk and store it so that they can feed their children. Research has shown that children who are breastfed are better socialised and have lower rates of disease further in life.”

The Barbados Population Policy 2023 is in response to the draft policy prepared by the Barbados Population Commission which highlights a number of issues leading to Barbados’ low population growth over the last several decades. It outlines steps to address the negative growth which could have a severe impact on the local economy.

(SB)

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The Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) and Guardsman (Barbados) Limited are partnering to offer BARP members discounts on electronic security services.

The initiative has been welcomed by the association and president Marilyn Rice-Bowen who said the discount partnership puts the cost of the security system in reach of members, especially those who live alone and on a fixed income.

“This partnership gives peace of mind to our members, as they can rest easier knowing their life, the lives of their family members, along with their property, are all protected,” she said.

Omar Estwick, general manager – finance, international markets at Guardsman, said the company is happy to be associated with BARP as a security services partner. He explained that they will be offering members on presentation of their valid BARP card, a discount on monthly service, installations and devices.

“In keeping with BARP’s vision of existing in a society where people live in safety and security, we (Guardsman) are committed to playing our part, Estwick added. “We value the safety of Barbadians and continue to provide high quality and effective electronic security systems and services, including 24-hour monitoring and response.

“This partnership is more than us being a discount partner, as it is in keeping with the Giveback 20 initiatives we launched this year, in recognition of our 20th anniversary of operations in Barbados. Our team will also be facilitating free Robbery Prevention Awareness and Response sessions for BARP members via Zoom, and we encourage them to take advantage by participating,” said Hurtado Mitchell, general manager – operations at Guardsman.

Rice-Bowen welcomed the sessions and said: “These fall right into our educational campaigns and we look forward to hosting them with Guardsman as well.”

Guardsman also confirmed its sponsorship of BARP’s ‘Platinum Soca’ at the Barbados Yacht Club on July 27, as security services provider. (PR)

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Panama City, Panama – July 17, 2024 – The Embassy of Barbados in the Republic of Panama was honored to receive Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Prunella Mason, FB, GCMG, D.A., Q.C., LLD, President of Barbados on June 29, 2024. This marked the first-ever Presidential visit to Panama, signifying a historic moment in the bilateral relationship between the two nations.

The President’s visit was primarily to represent Barbados at the inauguration of H.E. Jose Mulino, President of Panama on July 1, 2024. However, the visit also underscored the significant contributions of Barbadian workers to the construction of the Panama Canal and the broader development of Panamanian society. The historical links between Barbados and Panama were further highlighted through events hosted by the Administration of the Panama Canal, the Panama Canal Library, and the Panama Canal Museum.

The Embassy of Barbados hosted a dinner in the President’s honor, themed “Barbados-Panama, un solo Puente… (Just One Bridge…).” The event brought together members of the Barbadian community and friends of Barbados. Ambassador H.E. Ian Walcott delivered opening remarks, and Master of Ceremonies, First Secretary, Michelle Carter highlighted the President’s pioneering career as Barbados’ “Lady of Firsts.”

The President met with Barbadians who have made significant contributions to various sectors in Panama, including aviation, education, and telecommunications. Guests were treated to a cultural display of ‘Los Congos,’ an Afro-Panamanian cultural manifestation, and the musical stylings of Trinidadian-born saxophonist and steelpan player Antonio Roboteau, also known as Panasax.

The President was accompanied by her son, Mr. Matthew Goodin, and her Aide-de-Camp, Lt (Coast Guard) Jamal Wiggins.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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The idea must never go forth that Barbados’ current problems with violent crime and lawlessness cannot be remedied. Barbadians must not throw their hands into the air in despair or succumb to a defeatist attitude. Indeed, we believe that for every lawless citizen with evil intent in the island, there are hundreds bent on being productive citizens and contributing to the upliftment of themselves, their families and the country.

Many have offered solutions, some practical, some whimsical, a few spiritual, some based on police interventions, some social, some political, and  on and on the debate has raged. No reasonable suggestion should be dismissed.

Neither ammunition  nor guns are manufactured in Barbados. Yet, there seems to be a proliferation of small, medium and high-powered weapons on the island. They are being used constantly and the ammunition seems to be inexhaustible.

It has been determined by the hierarchy of the Barbados Police Service on multiple occasions, that these weapons are entering the island through our ports of entry. It, therefore, begs the question: What kind of investigations, surveillance, sting operations, and financial background checks, have been carried out to determine the possible identities of the people at these entry points who may be facilitating this illegality for personal gain?

We are not aware of any arrests emanating from within the airport and seaport, inclusive of ‘private’ entry points, to suggest that robust action has been taken to identify and apprehend persons who might be involved.

Authorities have attributed much of the violence and sporadic murders to the illegal drugs trade. Yet, other than the occasional interception of drugs at sea or on Barbadian soil, there is no evidence to suggest that the main players are facing any major threat to their illicit businesses.

The advantage of living in such a small country is familiarity with one’s neighbours. We know drug dealers, drug runners, we know their associates, their wealth accumulation, yet they seem to prosper unhindered and untouched by authorities.

They associate with law enforcement, social workers, politicians, lawyers, port workers, et al. In many instances, these individuals have built their nefarious enterprises from humble beginnings to a stage where they own apartments and top-end vehicles; they appear to launder money in stores, restaurants and other seemingly legitimate businesses. They also reportedly contribute to political campaigns.

There is no evidence that some of them pay taxes. One is left to wonder: How can such individuals operate in a dot of a country with such impunity and for such extended periods of time without apprehension? Where are the financial investigators? Where are the tax authorities? Where are the next-door neighbours and co-workers who fail to report to authorities any suspicious movement they witness in their villages, at their work sites, on the fishing boats, on the conveyor belts, in the containers at the ports of entry? Crime escalates when citizens become numb to its occurrence.

There is the suggestion that the politicisation of the Barbados Police Service has been a disincentive to robust policing. There is the belief that this has been to the detriment of the general public. Whether this is so or not, is debatable. What is not debatable is that the office of the Commissioner of Police must be seen by the rank and file, and the public, as the person at the helm of battling criminality on the streets.

Under the Police Act, the head of that institution is accountable to the head of state which is the President. The Commissioner of Police is responsible for operational matters within the country. It, therefore, provides curious optics when a head of government makes official public announcements about the formation of special units within the constabulary. That is not the domain of politicians.

The police must be allowed to do their job without intrusion. They must be allowed to explain to the public that all crime is organised but organised at varying levels. To trumpet the establishment of an organised crime unit in 2024 would lead the most disinterested citizen to query what the police force was doing prior to 2024. The organisation would be the first to indicate that it has always been investigating organised crime. The impression should never be conveyed to the criminal elements or law-abiding citizens that the Police Service is playing catch-up or operating in an environment that they are constantly being reactive.

Of course, social interventions are critical. The symbolic holding of moments of silence solves absolutely nothing. Greater employment opportunities must be found for school leavers. Those who do not show an inclination towards academics must not be abandoned.

Technical training and accompanying working opportunities must be found for these individuals. The Barbados Youth Advance Corps has provided a terrific opportunity for young people who might not have made the best use of their secondary school tenure. It ought to be expanded both in terms of recruitment and courses offered as a matter of national urgency.

Indeed, government should examine the possibility of compulsory national service for lawless youth or those convicted for crimes as an alternative to imprisonment.   The church has an important role to play in the fight against criminal behaviour. But prayer alone will not suffice. The clergy will have to enter households, the trenches, the trouble spots and interact with families, especially the youth.

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A meeting will be held for prospective candidates seeking admission to practise law in Barbados on Friday, July 26, at 2:30 p.m., in the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court Complex, Whitepark Road, St Michael.

The Acting Registrar of the Supreme Court is encouraging prospective candidates to attend this important meeting.

(BGIS)

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