Minister of Home Affairs Wilfred Abrahams sharply criticised Leader of the Opposition Ralph Thorne for suggesting that gender-neutral amendments to the Sexual Offences Act could promote homosexuality through legislation.

During Tuesday’s debate in the House of Assembly, Thorne said that while he supported the bill’s provisions to enhance protections for minors against predatory behaviour, the introduction of gender-neutral language in relation to spousal rape was questionable. He argued that the changes could have maintained references to a “male spouse” and a “female spouse”, which he said would clearly define heterosexual unions.

“The offence may be committed by a male spouse on a female spouse, or by a female spouse on a male spouse. That leaves it clear that the union is heterosexual, but [if] you exclude the words male and female, you may be treading on ground that ought to be introduced to the public explicitly, by the explicit language of any legislation, whether it’s this legislation or legislation dedicated to the issue of the definition of marital unions,” Thorne contended.

Abrahams, however, dismissed Thorne’s assertion, stressing that the previous version of the Act already defined “spouse” in a gender-neutral manner. He pointed out that it was the use of the term “husband” later in the same legislation that had caused confusion.

“In the interpretation section, which is Section 2, [it] says spouse means a lawful husband or wife as the case may be. The problem comes in [where] you got into the meat of the legislation, Section 3, it spoke about a husband who commits the offence of rape is liable on conviction or indictment to imprisonment for life. It defined spouse but used husband. That created confusion,” the Home Affairs Minister explained.

Abrahams added that for several decades, Barbadian law had recognised that sexual assault could be perpetrated by women as well as men, and the amendments were necessary to ensure clarity.

“The question was for many years, ‘What if the female in the relationship is the aggressor? What if the female perpetuates an act of violation against the male?’ It did not meet the standard of rape because a woman could not rape a man. We clarified that years ago,” he said. “The definition of rape was extended to include the violation of the vagina, the violation of the anus, the violation of the mouth. We could not have spouse being defined as a husband or wife and then have the offence of rape in the legislation only referring to where the husband does something and not when a wife does it. We are saying now, everything that a husband can be charged for, a woman can be charged for.”

He further noted that in the Barbadian context, the term “spouse” also encompasses unions where individuals are “effectively” married after cohabiting for several years, and said it was misleading to suggest that the changes were a precursor to the legalisation of same-sex marriage.

“I can tell you at the time of drafting that piece, there was no contemplation being given to any same-sex marriage, any change of legislation. But I will tell you, what gave me some measure of concern was the venom being spewed by the Honourable Leader of the Opposition that he hopes that this offence and protection applied to heterosexual couples, and was not intended to apply to homosexual relationships,” Abrahams said.

“With the definition of rape, any person, also gender-neutral, does x, y, or z to another person without their consent, [that person] is guilty of rape. Whoever he is seeking to exclude is already protected,” he asserted.

The home affairs minister also accused Thorne of attempting to downplay the rights of individuals in same-sex relationships, stating that these persons have the same protections under the law as any other citizen.

“I don’t have to agree with the way somebody lives their life, I don’t have to agree with the choices they make. Quite frankly, I don’t agree with most things that the leader of the opposition does or says, but let anybody come and say he should be excluded from the protection of the law because I don’t like what he represents, then I would attack that person on [his] behalf,” Abrahams declared.

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The CDN $250 000 Cup & Saucer Stakes came off on Sunday at Woodbine Racetrack in the Etobicoke area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Veteran Barbadian jockey Patrick Husbands guided his mount to second by a nose, but he ultimately won via disqualification.

Husbands finished second aboard Scorching, behind Ashley’s Archer in the 1 1/16-mile EP Taylor turf route for Canadian-foaled 2-year-olds.

Coming from the outside post, Kokomo set the early tone in the field of 10. Scorching stalked the leader, whilst No Time and Dilwaala settled in behind the pacesetters. Ashley’s Archer came along the rail in fifth under Sofia Vives.

Ahead by two lengths at the quarter in :23.26, Kokomo continued to run unfettered on the front, followed by Dilwaala and No Time, while the dark bay colt Scorching, tucked in along the rail, dropped into fourth.

Kokomo was still on top through a half in :46.53, upping his advantage to 2½ lengths over Scorching, as others, including the favoured Dewolf and No Time looked to make inroads on the frontrunner heading into the turn for home.

Scorching hit the front early in the stretch, with Dewolf making a challenge. Ashley’s Archer came between the two around the three-sixteenths pole while bumping with Ready for Candy. Ashley’s Archer kicked on to win in 1:42.69.

But the race was not to be decided simply by the finish.

A steward’s inquiry determined that Ashley’s Archer had impeded Ready for Candy, bumping the apparent winner down to fifth, promoting Scorching to the top spot, Dewolf to second, No Time third, and Ready for Candy fourth.

“We got a long, straight run,” said Husbands. “With these babies, you’ve just got a little patient. The last six or seven strides he was on the wobbly side, but he tried. He’s more like an older horse. He’s very smart, very intelligent.”

It was the second straight stakes victory for the son of Mo Town out of the Consolidator mare Samsal after landing top prize in the Simcoe Stakes on August 25 at Woodbine.

Scorching debuted over 5½ furlongs on the Woodbine main track on July 19, finishing second at 35-1.

(TF)

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A new cricket tournament will launch in Guyana, it was announced on Monday. The Global Super League (GSL) will run from November 26 to December 7, 2024 with five teams competing for US$1 million. The event will feature the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Guyana Amazaon Warriors.

Sanctioned by Cricket West  Indies, and fully supported by the government of Guyana, this will be South America’s first standalone cricket event.

The event will reportedly feature Hampshire, the three-time champions of England’s T20 Blast; The Titans from South Africa; and Bangladesh’s Rangpur Riders. None of the four teams is currently champion of their domestic league.

Sources indicated that Fortune Barishal, the current Bangladesh champions, were offered a spot in the GSL, but declined. Whilst there is speculation that the last team will be from Australia, the GSL ends the week before Australia’s Big Bash League gets underway.

The Global Super League will also clash with the Abu Dhabi T10, slated to be held from November 21 to December 2, and with Bangladesh’s tour of the Caribbean, although that series begins with the Tests from November 22 to December 4, followed by the ODI series, December 8-12, and the T20I series, December 16-20.

The competition is expected to comprise a mini league of 11 matches, with each team playing four matches, and the top two teams progressing to the final. All matches will take place at the Guyana  National Stadium in Providence. The event is set to take place annually, with different  teams from around the world being invited to take part each season.

“The Global Super League has the full support of the Government of Guyana as we  build a world class sports tourism product,” said president Irfan Ali. “Cricket is part of our cultural history, it is that  unifying force, part of our heritage and an integral part of our strategic objective in  economic diversification with a strong emphasis on tourism.

“As Guyana positions itself as a  global shaper in the energy, food and climate landscape, we will use this platform to bring a  world class tournament to our shores.

“I’d like to welcome cricket fans  from around the world to this exciting new event,” added GSL chairman Clive Lloyd. “The passion for cricket in Guyana rivals  that of fans anywhere, and we look forward to celebrating our love of the game and our rich  and vibrant country with both those visiting in person and watching from around the world.  I would like to thank His Excellency Dr Mohammed Irfaan Ali for his vision of a new cricket  event for Guyana, one that will captivate the world.”

(TF)

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Government is looking into whether Barbados should have a sexual offenders registry, Attorney General Dale Marshall has disclosed.

He said two academics have been engaged to investigate the feasibility of taking that step and make recommendations to the government by yearend.

Marshall made the disclosure in the Lower House during Tuesday’s debate on the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

“We’ve looked globally and we see that in the United States, the sexual offender registry is public, so everybody can go and look. In other countries, the sexual offender registry is available only to law enforcement or to institutions where children are involved – so that schools could get information from the sexual offenders registry to see if a potential member of staff is guilty of sexual offences,” he explained.

“The Cabinet of Barbados has not made a policy decision on whether or not we will establish a sexual offenders registry in Barbados. What we have done is invited an esteemed scholar from the University of the West Indies and a criminologist of tremendous respect across the entire Caribbean to do a study for us, to take all the views into account, to do research, and make a recommendation to us as to what direction could Barbados consider going in relation to sexual offenders registries.”

Marshall acknowledged that Barbadians were split on the need for or usefulness of such a registry.

“Some people believe that in our small society where everybody knows everybody else, that it is not necessary. They argue that because cases are held in public, you know the [person] that has been charged and that there is really no need for a sexual offenders registry in that way,” he noted.

“Others argue that it is true that the name of the person would be published if they are convicted, but who sits down and keeps that information in their head? Which school or primary school, who at the Ministry of Education will remember ‘that man was convicted of rape’? Nobody remembers that.

So it may be important to have a central database where limited access can be made available in special instances.”

Marshall said the report is expected to be submitted to his office before the end of December, and thereafter Cabinet will be provided with some proposals. (SB)

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Minister of Labour Colin Jordan on Tuesday announced plans to tie the national minimum wage to inflation to protect low-income workers from the rising cost of living.

He revealed the initiative at the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) Regional Policy Meeting at the Crane Resort, stressing that it would provide muchneeded economic stability for the nation’s workforce.

The proposed indexing will introduce an automatic adjustment mechanism linking wage increases directly to changes in inflation, ensuring that salaries rise in line with the cost of living.

The minimum wage was last adjusted in 2021 and is considered to be an important milestone in protecting workers from exploitation and providing fair compensation. Since then, inflation has steadily eroded the purchasing power of this wage.

Jordan acknowledged this challenge: “It is one thing to set a rate at one point in time, but inflation will reduce the purchasing power of that amount.”

He emphasised the importance of taking action now to prevent workers from falling behind in an economy where prices for essential goods and services continue to rise.

“We are also going to be indexing [the minimum wage] so that the purchasing power of those who earn at the lower levels of our work environment… is maintained at a level where workers are able to live and eat,” the labour minister said, stressing the government’s commitment to ensuring fair compensation for the most vulnerable workers.

The indexing of the minimum wage will replace the current model, where the minimum wage is reviewed periodically—often after several years—which can result in large jumps or wage stagnation.

By shifting to this model, the minister noted, the government was seeking to provide both fair and predictable wage increases for workers. He explained that without this reform, many workers would struggle to maintain a decent standard of living.

He said the new system would allow for more timely adjustments that prevent the “erosion” of earnings.

The move to introduce wage indexing has raised concerns in some quarters. The Barbados Employers’ Confederation (BEC) previously called for a balanced approach that considers both productivity and the cost of living when making wage adjustments.

Despite these concerns, Jordan confirmed that a Cabinet paper outlining the specifics of the indexing mechanism is being prepared for submission to ministers later this month. Once approved, the new framework will be incorporated into Barbados’ wage policy, ensuring that the earnings of the country’s lowest-paid workers keep pace with inflation in the future. (RG)

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The 2024 edition of Run Barbados had officially been launched, with officials reporting that it continues to attract high interest from overseas competitors.

During a brief press briefing at Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) headquarters in Warrens on Wednesday, organisers promised this would be an exciting edition of one of Barbados’ key athletic events which runs this year from December 6-8.

“Run Barbados has grown from humble beginnings to become one of the premier sporting events in the region, attracting runners from all over,” said BTMI Director of Marketing, Robert Chase. “Participants from across the globe will join Barbadian runners for not just the races, but a true celebration of health, wellness and the unique charm of Barbados.”

Read more in tonight’s epaper.

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A backbencher in Parliament has criticised the slow pace of justice for rape victims in Barbados but has also called for some protection for rape accused, who are often condemned for life by society even if they are found to be innocent.

Dr Sonia Browne, Member of Parliament for St Philip North, told the House of Assembly on Tuesday that it was wrong to have people who were sexually violated as children face their accusers sometimes a decade later as adults.

Her comments came as the Lower House debated the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill 2024.

“Rape, it follows a person. I can’t speak of obviously personal experience, but I have had people close to me in terms of patients and so on, and regardless of the age that this happened, the assault, the abuse, it goes with them almost . . . for life,” Dr Browne told the House.

“Some manage to put it behind them in terms of subconscious, but invariably, it always comes up. And one of the things that I want to blame for this is the speed, or lack thereof, of the court system in Barbados…. I have seen people who have been raped at 10 years old and 10 years later, 14 years later, [the case] never came to a resolution.

“One in particular, she just decided to drop the case for fear that people might find out it’s her; for fear that she has a good job now and she doesn’t want that to be a part of it because Barbados is small, and things come out,” the MP told her colleagues.

At the same time, the medical doctor insisted that protections ought to be provided to those who have been accused of rape and other sexual offences as well.

She cautioned that a person who is charged based on an allegation is often smeared for life in Barbadian society, even if he is found innocent in the court or it was uncovered that the rape allegation was a lie.

“I have had a personal friend that picked up a lady on the way, and the person asked for money. [They said] if you don’t give me money, I will report you to police for rape. Before you know it, the person is in court, name all over the newspaper . . . all over the news, and if that person happens to be innocent . . . it doesn’t matter.

“You have that stain, so sometimes I think we need to start moving in the direction of protecting both the accused and the accuser. [I’m] not supporting rape by any measure, but every case is not a guilty case,” Dr Browne argued.

(IMC1)

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Parents have been warned that one of the most popular online games played by children has been deemed to be dangerous for youngsters due to the number of sexual predators who lurk in the online community.

Minister of Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology Marsha Caddle issued the caution Tuesday as she contributed to debate in the House of Assembly on the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill 2024.

She told the Lower House: “There was a recent report that assessed the danger of certain common online activities that children do. And one of the ones that was flagged . . . is a game that many of our children play. So it is not necessarily Fortnite or Grand Theft Auto . . . . but Roblox – which is something that seven and eight and nine and ten-year-olds play – has been deemed as one of the most dangerous. Not necessarily because of the game itself, but because of the communities that convene around these games and the conversations that take place and the fact that there are adults and others who would seek to do harm lurking in these environments, engaging our children.”

The St Michael South Central Member of Parliament told the House that child grooming by adults online was often invisible.

As a result, she stressed the importance of protecting young people in those environments.

In her contribution to the debate on the amendment, Caddle rejected the approach of seeking to be “polite” when addressing “something that was not polite at all”, as she referenced the matter of sexual violence.

“To say that somebody ‘troubles’ somebody, I do not use that language. And I do not know what you mean when you use that language. Was the person raped? Sexually assaulted? What was the act? It’s only when we get real and confront what is happening to people that we understand the severity of what we are dealing with here,” she insisted.

“A girl who was sexually assaulted was not ‘troubled’ and she was not ‘interfered with’. And similarly, the language in the media has to be frontally addressed. Because so often we are talking about cases of rape, we are talking about cases where a minor, as this legislation says, cannot consent.

“Until we start to get very clear in our language and not treat things under the cover of giggles and blushing and acting as if it is some kind of little community secret, it is only then that we will start to really address and start to have a frank conversation beyond legislation,” the MP told her parliamentary colleagues.

Caddle was also critical of the practice of sexualising children. She referenced the way young children are dressed by parents and guardians.

“We over-sexualise children from zero to 14 years old. And then at the point at which children are actually fully coming into their sexual identity, we tell them, ‘you’re not a woman in here’.

“Which is it? It is time for us to be able to have a real and frank conversation about sexual expression throughout a person’s life cycle. So that we don’t have these hushed tones and whispers when the wrong thing happens in our communities, in our schools, in our sporting and social clubs, in our churches,” Caddle insisted.

(IMC1)

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A Barbadian man who was deported from Canada some 13 years ago appeared in a local court on Tuesday on a cocaine-related charge, telling Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes that he used the drug to stay alive.

Terrance Walcott, of no fixed place of abode, admitted in the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court that he is a cocaine addict but also said that he used the illegal substance for medicinal purposes as well.

Walcott, who seemed disoriented and distracted at times while responding to questions from Magistrate Weekes, is charged that on October 6, he had apparatus for misuse of cocaine while on Hastings Road, Christ Church.

The accused, who has seven previous convictions, four of them drug-related, pleaded guilty to the offence.

He was given a sentence of three months in Dodds Prison, but that was suspended for 12 months. The chief magistrate warned Walcott that if he flouted the law within the next 12 months, he would end up behind bars.

Outlining the facts of the case, Station Sergeant Chrisna Williams said officers on patrol saw Walcott walking along Hastings Road carrying a lady’s bag, which aroused their suspicion.

He was searched, with his consent, and the apparatus was found.

When asked if he had anything to say before the sentence was imposed, Walcott gave a brief history of his life dating back to his robbery conviction in Canada two decades ago, his six-month stint at the Psychiatric Hospital, his failure to take medication supplied by that mental health institution for a month, and government’s provision of antiretroviral treatment for him for HIV.

He indicated to the court that his drug of choice was cocaine and the only time he smoked marijuana was when he was going out to party.

Chief Magistrate Weekes’ parting advice to Walcott was that he should take advantage of this chance of freedom to help himself.

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A young unemployed man of Rock Hall, St Philip has been released on $10 000 bail with one surety on a charge of having sexual intercourse with a minor girl.

When Kadeem Juron Small, 26, went before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes in the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, he was not required to plead to the indictable offence. The alleged offence occurred on May 9 this year.

Though the prosecution maintained its objection to bail, Small’s attorney Angella Mitchelle-Gittens SC mitigated successfully that her client deserved to be released on bail.Though agreeing to Small’s pretrial release, the chief magistrate attached some strict conditions to his bail. He will have to report to the Oistins Police Station every Tuesday and Saturday by 1 p.m. He was also ordered to stay away from the complainant.

The case was adjourned until February 11, 2025.

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Barbados senior men’s national football team is one win away from winning their group, and earning promotion back to League B in the Concacaf Nations League.

The Bajan Tridents, currently sitting top of Group A in League C with a perfect record of six points from two matches, are set to take on United States Virgin Islands (USVI) on Wednesday night at the Wildey Turf.

If victorious, Barbados who is unbeaten so far in this edition of the tournament, will take an unassailable lead in the Group with nine points.

It would be on the back of two impressive results against USVI and the Bahamas at the Bethlehem Soccer Complex in St Croix last month. Since then the squad has been hard at work going their paces ahead of the crucial reverse matches against the same opponents.

Since his full-time appointment as head coach, it will be Kent Hall’s first home game in charge and the former Barbados midfielder is optimistic of victory.

“I think we have genuine belief that we are going to win the games but it is very important to understand that nobody is coming to give you points. International football does not play like that. We have to make sure that we apply ourselves,” Hall said.

“We are going for another six points but the biggest things right now would be to keep everybody focus. It is easy to drop your guard when things are getting comfortable so we have to make sure that everyone stays focussed. We have a responsibility to the public to put on a good show,” he added.

Hall however admitted that the preparation this campaign has been impacted.

“Unfortunately it has been a stuttered at times, it is always nice when you are in that camp environment and you have everyone able to train on queue. There are certain things that are hindering at times but once we get on the pitch, the guys have been applying themselves.”

Nevertheless, the head coach is calling on on local fans to flock to the turf to show support for the squad.

“We hope that the home fans come out and support the guys. We know that sometimes we may have some players that are foreign based and the fans don’t have a big relationship with those players but I am hoping that with this squad the fans would recognise and we would get the support that we want for the matches.”

“We are setting our sights solely on these games right now but we have to be mindful that they are games further on that we have to prepare for and we must be able to have the resources to be at our very best so those considerations went into this. There is a lot of talent here although not everyone has the international experience but it is a situation whether we can give people the opportunities to prove themselves,” he said.

Hall also gave an insight into the style of play fans can anticipate.

“You can expect that when we have the ball, we will be definitely trying to play football. We want to be adaptable to whatever situations. We are going to try to keep it on the floor and when we get it there, we will try to move it quickly and it should be easy on the eye to get the ball in the back of the net.”

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Barbados is arguably one of the most desirable places in the world to visit or reside. The large number of people who pay thousands of dollars to come to this destination is evidence of that attraction.

Like most societies, however, the island faces the scourge of sexual abuse, sexual violence and predatory behaviour by some maladjusted, depraved, and broken individuals who live among us.

On Tuesday, Attorney General Dale Marshall piloted several amendments to the Sexual Offences Act in Parliament to address the void created following a 2023 ruling that the offence of buggery, under Section 9 of the Act, and the offence of serious indecency, under Section 12, were unconstitutional.

The St Joseph MP, who has faced fierce criticism over his handling of the consequential portfolio of the Attorney General’s Office, has held up his busy legislative reform agenda to demonstrate his commitment to modernising the local justice system.

He has hailed the rapid expansion of judicial officers on the criminal and civil benches, improved physical judicial centres, and the establishment of tough laws to stem increasing gun crimes and to make it harder for those accused of murder and gun offences to access bail.

These are all measures that must be applauded.

However, Tuesday’s sitting of Parliament demonstrated just how much more attention is required to right a justice system that has failed so many citizens.

Often Barbadians retreat to a victim mentality when the country’s flaws are exposed for the world to see. This was evidenced by the reactions of some to the frequent bashing the island received from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) over the exceedingly slow pace of administration of justice, seen in the appeals from the local courts that it has adjudicated.

During the House of Assembly debate, the attorney general revealed that sadly, more than 500 sexual offences cases are caught up somewhere in the legal system awaiting trial.

This is shameful and a stain on the country that there could possibly be hundreds of women and men, boys and girls, who took the brave step of reporting such violations but are yet to have them resolved by the courts.

We have no doubt that there are many more unreported crimes of a similar nature and whose victims are likely suffering in silence and shame.

“Sexual offences are one of those things people don’t like to talk about, but the number of sexual offences cases simply must be brought down in exactly the same way that we are bringing down the number of firearm cases to be tried, the number of murder cases to be tried, and I am satisfied that this administration is making a dent,” Attorney General Marshall told the Lower House.

“I am sorry to all of the individuals, both men and women, whose cases have been languishing in the system for many years, but we are getting there, and we are committed to getting there,” he offered.

There is an equally important aspect of this crisis that has not been given as much attention – the rights of the accused. These persons also deserve to have their day in court to either account for their crimes or clear their names.

It is shameful that a child that was violated while still at primary school, some 10 or 12 years later is asked to come to court as an adult woman or man to recount a horrible and life-altering experience.

While the MPs sparred in Parliament over the terminology of the amendments and whether same-sex arrangements were being introduced into the laws, the amendment that requires all court evidence by complainants in rape cases to be held in camera is a welcomed provision.

The added protections that provide for specific sexual consent for people with mental disorders or physical disabilities are also praiseworthy, as well as the provision for spousal rape.

At the same time, the administration has been urged to address the issue of the age of consent and the anomalies that have been created. There are many who still cannot reconcile a situation where a 16-year-old can consent to sexual intercourse with an adult but cannot seek medical attention without the consent of a parent or guardian until the age of 18. That the same 16-year-old can have sex but not get married, vote or purchase alcohol until the age of 18 makes no sense.

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The pharmacy at the Eunice Gibson Polyclinic in Warrens, St Michael, will be closed this Friday, October 11, to facilitate the rollout of the Barbados Drug Service’s (BDS) new Pharmacy Management System that is expected to result in an improvement in patient records management, treatment, and pharmaceutical health care and safety.

It will reopen on Monday, October 14, when the system is fully implemented. The pharmacy at Eunice Gibson is one of many pharmacies under the aegis of the BDS, in addition to the Psychiatric Hospital Pharmacy, which will have scheduled closures until Monday, October 28.

On the dates of the closures, clients may access pharmaceutical services at any polyclinic pharmacy or outpatient clinic pharmacy. All clients are reminded that they must present their Barbados ID card to access pharmaceutical services.

Clients who need refill medications must present their medication containers to facilitate the refill process. Persons are likely to experience a temporary increase in wait times for pharmaceutical services for approximately four weeks.

The management of the Drug Service regrets any inconvenience which may be caused and encourages members of the public to arrange their business accordingly.

(BGIS)

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Bad bosses and toxic workplaces are the main drivers of a high rate of employee turnover in several businesses across the island, according to the Human Resources Management Association of Barbados (HRMAB).

HRMAB President Nicholas Roberts said this trend could pose serious challenges to the sustainability and growth of companies if not tackled effectively.

“There is no way to sugarcoat it; [it comes down to] poor leadership and toxic work environments. I think a lot of leaders speak at people and not to people and with people and, by extension, they create toxic work environments,” he said on Wednesday on the sidelines of HRMAB’s Annual Conference, at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Hotel in Long Bay, St Philip.

Roberts warned that younger generations, particularly millennials and Gen Zs, are more willing to leave positions that do not align with their core values: “What the generations before would put up with and stay in a job for 10,15, 20, or 25 years, they’re not going to put up with. They are going to come in, and if it is not a work environment that is working out for them, they are going to leave. That is the reality of it, and we are going to see it more and more as generations become younger and younger and come into the working environment.”

He noted that the trend is not limited to Barbados, but is also prevalent across the region and internationally. “We are definitely seeing younger people and people generally leaving workplaces because of the type of environments that they are forced to work in, whether it be toxic working environments or they’re just not assimilating with what is expected from them based on the level of poor leadership that they see they’re being given or what they’re being asked to give to the organisation in return.”

Roberts also stressed that toxic work environments can have a detrimental impact on employees’ health.

“If it is that you’re coming into a working environment that is toxic, it is going to impact your health, both mentally and physically. When we look at the NCD [non-communicable disease] rates within the country, when you see people that have hypertension, high blood pressure, heart issues, all of these . . . some of these things can be attributed to the type of issues that people are facing at work. It’s the stress of coming to work and working in a toxic environment,” he said.

However, the HRMAB president acknowledged that employees also contribute to negative work environments.

“When some people come into the workplace, they treat the workplace as if it is school; a lot of gossiping, a lot of backstabbing, a lot of people trying to climb the corporate ladder and trying to kick down the person behind or in front of them to get what they want,” he noted.

Roberts argued that while human resources managers should play a critical role in managing workplace toxicity and promoting effective leadership styles, the profession is often overlooked and misunderstood in many businesses.

“HR professionals still struggle within organisations to be seen as strategic business partners. A lot of leaders within businesses leave a lot to be desired. They do not take the advice given to them from their HR practitioners,” he said, adding that HR personnel are often relegated to administrative functions or tasked with carrying out unpleasant duties on behalf of management. “[We are seen as the] people that hire and fire staff or we do the dirty work . . . . While that may be a [small] part of the job, our biggest role within organisations is to shape strategy and to impact strategy when it comes to people.”

The HRMAB president urged business owners and managers to better utilise the expertise of HR professionals and work to improve employee relations. He stressed that HR is often privy to critical information on employee frustrations and workplace issues, which could be used to formulate solutions for the future.

“HR is supposed to help guide and support and encourage and strategise when it comes to culture . . . . You can only do that when you have a leadership team in place that is going to help you do that. By and large, the leaders within any business are the ones that are supposed to be responsible for how they lead teams, how they guide teams, and what is expected from people,” he said.

Roberts cautioned that if the advice of HR professionals is ignored, they may either conform to the existing culture or leave the organisation in frustration.

“When you have an HR person that feels as if their advice is not being heeded or being acknowledged or being listened to, they either throw their hands up in the air and leave the organisation, or they just go with the status quo,” he said.

The HR professional also criticised some businesses for using superficial measures to address deeper issues. He said they often “put plasters on sores” rather than deal with the source of the problems.

“They like to throw staff parties, they like to do pizza parties . . . but they’re not fixing the core issue and the problem. It’s just icing or sugar on top of a very bad-tasting cake . . . . They don’t fix what is at the root of the issues and problems within the business.”

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb

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The new amendments to the Sexual Offences Act, which criminalise grooming and protect minors from sexual activity, may not be sufficient to address the island’s deeply rooted cultural acceptance of such behaviours, according to women’s and children’s advocate Dr Marsha Hinds Myrie.

Speaking to Barbados TODAY, Dr Hinds Myrie welcomed the legal changes as “undoubtedly a step in the right direction” but stressed that a “major cultural shift in public attitudes is necessary to curb such behaviours, which have become far too common in society for too long”.

The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act, introduced by Attorney General Dale Marshall and passed in the House of Assembly on Tuesday, introduces new protections for minors, defines the new offence of grooming, and criminalises acts that expose children to sexual activity.

Dr Hinds Myrie emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach combining legal reforms with educational initiatives.

“I agree with the AG that there is a way in which grooming is [unfortunately] very culturally accepted so that a law alone against grooming will not fix that,” she said.

“Along with the law, what we need is a cultural re-engineering such that people go through educational processes and they go through cultural change to then understand that grooming is detrimental, it is harmful, [in] the various ways that it happens. I think if we put the cultural piece together with the legal piece, then we are on our way to solving the problem,” she said.

The former head of the National Organisation for Women warned that relying solely on legislation would be insufficient: “To just put in dissuasion in the law alone is not going to fix it because we know that we have perhaps a plethora of law in Barbados that lives in the books only, and then when we try to connect it from the book into the lives of individuals, we have difficulty achieving that.”

She also expressed concern over the definition of a minor as someone under 16, arguing that this approach could leave older youths vulnerable.

“An individual who is 18 years old is still in a period of youthfulness and may still be in a position where they can be taken advantage of, with respect to certain types of behaviours and societal trends,” she explained, citing Canadian legislation as an example of a more nuanced approach.

Responding to the government’s announcement that two academics would research the viability of a sexual predator registry, Dr Hinds Myrie was sceptical: “Commission of inquiries and academic reports are the hills upon which things go in Barbados to die.”

She highlighted the urgent need for a family court system to address the backlog of cases involving sexual abuse of minors, particularly those compounded by vulnerabilities such as poverty or disability.

Dr Hinds Myrie noted that calls for such a framework have been ignored for decades.

“Since 1992, we have been trying to establish a family court and in 2024 we are still just talking about it,” she said.

“I raise the issue of family court in the context of sexual offences because the reality is . . . a lot of the sexual abuse that happens in Barbados is not what we call stranger danger, it is danger at the hands of people who are known to the family unit of the person who has been endangered or is it in a position of authority in some way connected with that family. Since 1992, we have been collecting the evidence to show us and to make clear why something like a family court in Barbados is important.”

shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb

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The retired judge who once ran the quasi-judicial Employment Rights Tribunal (ERT) has slammed the plan to transform it into a full-time body, urging the tribunal be elevated to High Court level.

Retired Justice Christopher Blackman said on Wednesday that the government’s proposal is futile unless the tribunal’s rank is upgraded to reflect its importance.

“It has to rank above a magistrate’s court and near to a High Court level, otherwise all you will end up with is a full-time frustrated chairman,” he said, stressing that without this elevation, the change would be ineffective. “You will be spinning top in mud if you have a full-time chairman and there is not a fundamental change in the status of the tribunal.” 

His comments came a day after Minister of Labour Colin Jordan announced at a regional policy meeting hosted by the non-governmental Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) at the Crane Resort that the ERT would transition to a full-time tribunal by the end of the year.

“I expect that the Employment Rights Tribunal, that tribunal set up by the Employment Rights Act, will be able to move to a full-time tribunal before the end of this calendar year,” he stated, noting that the full-time operation would help streamline processes and reduce the longstanding delays in resolving employment disputes.

Justice Blackman argued that merely changing the tribunal’s structure would not address its fundamental shortcomings. He noted that its current low status meant that lawyers prioritise other courts over the ERT, hindering its effectiveness.

“Lawyers are not going to leave the Supreme Court to come to the tribunal. You have to change the hierarchy of the tribunal to the level of the Supreme Court or near its level,” he contended.

Justice Blackman, who also chaired the Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC), cited his own experience as ERT chairman, recalling how a particular attorney lectured him during his tenure to illustrate the tribunal’s perceived low status. 

“He took me through all the aspects of the Act to point out that ‘we were the lowest of the low,’” the former chairman recounted.

He argued that if the government was serious about reform, it needed to adopt the model of the Industrial Relations Court in Trinidad and Tobago, which operates on par with the High Court. 

“This proposed full-time chairman will achieve nothing unless the structure of the tribunal is altered near the hierarchical level of the High Court,” Justice Blackman insisted.

The tribunal, established under the Employment Rights Act of 2012, provides a formal avenue for workers to resolve disputes involving unfair dismissals and other workplace grievances. The panel has been hampered by its part-time structure and frequent backlogs, with the number of unresolved cases reaching as high as 206 at one point.

Jordan acknowledged these issues and emphasised the need for a more robust operational framework. He noted that the government’s plan to make the ERT a full-time tribunal was part of a broader strategy to reform the Employment Rights Act.

A white paper detailing these reforms is expected to be submitted to ministers soon, said Jordan, adding that the changes were imminent. The paper will include the necessary steps for transitioning the tribunal to a full-time operation, providing a legal framework for the tribunal’s expanded role.

The minister added that resources would be increased to match the tribunal’s expanded role, including additional staffing and equipment. He explained that the government aims to enable the tribunal to hold multiple hearings simultaneously, thereby tackling the backlog of cases more effectively.

In addition to introducing new rules and transitioning the tribunal to full-time operation, Jordan said the government recognised the need for increased resources to support the body’s expanded role. He noted there will be a “need for expansion of resources” which includes human resources and equipment to manage the tribunal’s workload more effectively.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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Attorney General Dale Marshall has voiced his confidence in the efforts of the police and the armed forces in response to a recent surge in violent crime.

“Let us allow the efforts of the police to take root,” Marshall told reporters on the sidelines of the CARICOM IMPACS/INTERPOL’s 8th High-Level Meeting of the Dialogue on an Effective Multilateral Policing Architecture Against Global Threats at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre. “At this point in time, I’m not going to make any comment other than I’m satisfied with the efforts that have been put in by the members of the police service, supported by the Defence Force.”

The escalation in violent crime last month, most notably the deadly bar shooting on Nelson Street in Bridgetown, has heightened public concern and led to widespread calls for urgent action. The increase in gun violence has also impacted various sectors, including healthcare, with medical professionals raising alarm about the strain on resources and the extensive care needed for some victims.

Marshall acknowledged the seriousness of the situation but pointed out that crime patterns often fluctuate. 

“There’s a lot still to be done, but my experience tells me that there will be spikes over the years. Sometimes it’s quiet, sometimes you get spikes,” he explained. “I’m not in any way making any predictions or pronouncements about the situation as it stands. All I will say is that I’m pleased with the work that has been done, and I’m satisfied that there’s a level of, perhaps I could say, tranquillity in Barbados at this point in time.”

Despite his cautious optimism, Marshall called on Barbadians to continue supporting the government’s crime-fighting efforts. 

“We will continue to keep the pressure on and continue to support the police service, and I want the country as a whole to continue to support the crime-fighting effort,” he said. (RG)

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Thirteen-year-old student of The St Michael School, Jaylen Brewster Howard, is the overall winner of this year’s National Letter Writing Competition for Young People.

With 178 points, he edged out second-place winner Layla Browne of Queen’s College by one point, while Ahron Austin, of the Reynold Weekes Primary School, placed third with 141 points.

The competition, which was hosted by the Barbados Postal Service, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and was open to writers between the ages of nine and 15, saw hundreds of entries from across the island and was judged by a panel of educators under the supervision of Education Officer for English, Gloria Haynes.

Now in its 20th year nationally, it falls under the aegis of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) – the international agency responsible for governing and coordinating the exchange of mail worldwide.

Jaylen was shocked to learn he was awarded first place from the hundreds of entrants.

“It was great to be inspired to do something for my island, to represent my island. Honestly, I don’t really know how I really feel right now. Just feel great to win and get all these gifts,” he said.

Asked about the inspiration behind his winning entry, he said his English teacher Collette Applewhaite told him about the competition and encouraged him to enter. The second-form student said he wanted to make his teacher proud, so he worked hard to submit his letter within a week. He confirmed that he will be entering next year’s competition.

Jaylen’s mother, Jillian Brewster, said she was proud of her son’s achievement.

“I honestly didn’t even know that he entered the competition. I just . . . got the call and I’m just overwhelmed and I’m very proud of him because I know he enjoys writing. He actually wants to be a writer, so this is . . . a good path for him; it’s a good result of his hard work and I hope he keeps it up,” she said.

Jaylen’s winning entry has been submitted to the UPU’s International Letter Writing Competition for Young People.

In this year’s competition, participants had to write on the following which was provided by the UPU: “At 150 years old, the UPU has served people around the world for more than eight generations. The world has changed enormously since then. Write a letter to future generations about the world you hope they inherit.”

(BGIS/BT)

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Barbados has received the Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) Rising Star In Postal Development Award.

The award was presented during the UPU’s 150th anniversary event, in Berne, Switzerland, on Wednesday, recognised as World Post Day.

Barbados’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations, World Trade Organisation and other international organisations in Geneva, Matthew Wilson, accepted the award which he said was earned for the Barbados Postal Service (BPS) reach, the efficiency of its inbound Express Mail Service delivery and its resilience.

“On behalf of the Government of Barbados and the Barbados Postal Service, I am incredibly honoured to receive the award of the 2024 Rising Star in Postal Development Award, and we are humbled to be a winner from among more than 100 countries across the globe,” he said.

Ambassador Wilson noted that the role of postal services over the years had been pivotal in providing seamless communication to businesses and loved ones, locally, regionally, and internationally.

UPU’s Director General Masahiko Metoki stressed the critical role of postal services in today’s interconnected world: “Postal services are more than delivery systems – they are channels for commerce, pillars of infrastructure, and catalysts for socio-economic development. To all award recipients and postal workers across the globe, your dedication connects communities, empowers businesses, and unites the world.”

Ambassador Wilson credited the “dedicated and experienced” team in the BPS’ International Postal Affairs Unit for their work, especially over the last year.

He noted that the BPS purchased upgraded scanning equipment, which allowed for the successful renewal of a service agreement with American Airlines. As a result, the BPS was able to resume mail services to all Latin and South American countries.

“As one of the indices for this award is postal reach, this was a critical tactic for the organisation and undoubtedly proved fortuitous in contributing to gaining this award. The International Postal Affairs and Business Development teams are an outstanding example of postal pride in the work they were undertaking and the obvious results that may have translated into Barbados receiving this award,” the ambassador said.

He also shared that the BPS expanded its European reach and with the additional service in the region with Caribbean Airlines and particularly Virgin Atlantic, the service to some Caribbean countries increased as well. At present, the organisation is also working with interCaribbean Airways to improve capacity to additional islands and is also seeking to liaise with the newest iteration of LIAT.

Ambassador Wilson said the award was also given based on the efficiency of BPS’ inbound Express Mail Service delivery and its ability to maintain its resilience, that is, the postal capacity to overcome economic, social, technological, and environmental shocks sustainably.

Barbados has 17 post offices and customers may visit them to conduct business – from posting mail items, to paying their utility bills, to changing their pension cheques and welfare grants.

The BPS also provides other third-party agency services, such as collection of school fees, Barbados Association of Retired Persons’ membership fees, and Student Revolving Loan Fund payments, and it delivers passports and other documents, on behalf of the Immigration Department.  Drivers’ licences are also delivered to residents.

Each year on October 9, designated postal operators around the world come together to commemorate the founding of the UPU. The United Nations specialised agency is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players and helps to ensure a universal network of modern postal products and services.

(BGIS/BT)

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The Barbados Postal Service (BPS) forged a strategic partnership with global logistics firm DHL to launch a co-branded Worldwide Express Service in a bid to expand its reach in rapidly growing e-commerce.

The collaboration, announced by Minister of Home Affairs and Information Wilfred Abrahams on World Post Day, Wednesday, represents a significant shift for the 172-year-old postal agency as it looks to counter the logistical disadvantages of not having its own fleet of aircraft. The move is designed to position the national postal service as a viable competitor against international courier companies.

“This collaboration allows the BPS to provide a competitive option for express deliveries, ensuring that our customers can rely on us for high-quality service even in the most challenging circumstances,” Abrahams said.

The agreement with DHL comes as the BPS seeks to address a decline in traditional letter mail and adapt to the surge in parcel deliveries, a trend spurred by the global rise in e-commerce.

According to the minister, the BPS is now equipped to support local businesses looking to tap into this market.

“The BPS has positioned itself to capitalise on this growth, expanding its capacity to handle parcels and becoming a vital partner for small and medium-sized businesses,” he added.

In addition to boosting its international presence, the BPS is also working to enhance its regional services through partnerships with Connect Caribe ferry service and interCaribbean Airways to improve the movement of mail throughout the Caribbean. Abrahams noted that these initiatives are key to addressing long-standing logistical challenges in the region.

As part of its broader modernisation strategy, the BPS will implement a new postal software system, PostGlobal, developed by Reason Solutions Ltd. The system will offer features such as SMS shipment notifications and a domestic real-time electronic postal money order service, which Abrahams said will “make the BPS more efficient, responsive, and aligned with the needs of a modern economy”.

The BPS is also stepping up its sustainability efforts, aligning with the government’s goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2030. It has introduced three electric vehicles to its fleet and plans to continue incorporating eco-friendly technologies.

“We have already added three electric vehicles to our fleet, and we plan to continue expanding our use of environmentally friendly technologies, including packaging,” Abrahams stated.

Reflecting on the evolution of the postal service, the minister remarked: “Today, the BPS is more than just a mail carrier; it is a partner in economic development, a champion of sustainability, and a trusted provider of essential services.”

Organised postal services in Barbados are among the world’s oldest and the first in the British West Indies, dating back to the reign of King Charles II in 1663 when the British Post Office began a packet service that relied on ships to carry mail between England and Barbados. An Act of Parliament in 1851 allowed for the establishment of an Inland Post Office. The first postmaster was appointed shortly thereafter, and the first stamps were issued on April 15, 1852, which is now celebrated as the anniversary of postal services.

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