Barbados has taken the helm of an international group of central bank governors focused on tackling climate change’s financial impact on vulnerable nations, declaring it will amplify the voices of countries grappling with these issues.

Central Bank Governor Dr Kevin Greenidge is chairing the CVF Central Bank Governors Working Group which is dedicated to examining how the climate crisis affects macroeconomics, monetary policy and financial stability across developing countries.

On Thursday, he held his first round of meetings with fellow governors, deputy governors, and other high-level central bankers from six regions within the V20 group encompassing the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, the Pacific and Latin America. The discussions took place on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund’s Fall meeting in Washington.

“Barbados is deeply committed to leadership in addressing the financial challenges faced by climate-vulnerable nations. It’s essential that we don’t leave ministries of finance to tackle climate vulnerability alone. As central bankers, we must align financial systems with sustainable practices. This involves integrating climate-related risks into monetary policy, financial supervision, and investment portfolios.”

A key focus of the group’s work will be the implementation of ‘Lifeline’, a financial safety net that pools foreign reserves from V20 member countries to provide swift assistance to nations hit by natural disasters.

Greenidge outlined plans to integrate climate-related risks into monetary policy, financial supervision and investment portfolios. He also highlighted a new initiative launched by V20 finance ministers to address the climate crisis’s economic impacts.

“Together, we are committed to securing the financial resources needed for adaptation and sustainable development. Barbados remains dedicated to amplifying the voices of vulnerable nations and driving global climate action,” he added.

The V20 Finance Ministers Governors Working Group was established during the V20’s 11th ministerial gathering at the World Bank and IMF Annual Meetings in Morocco in October 2023. (SD)

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A health campaigner warned Thursday that emphasis on breast cancer screening may overlook other deadly diseases affecting Barbadians.

Sharon Cadogan, trustee of the Victorious Warriors cancer support group, said that while increased attention on breast cancer was welcome, other cancers including ovarian and colon cancer were not receiving sufficient focus.

Speaking on the sidelines of the National Library Service’s lunchtime discussion, Breast Cancer and You, Cadogan told Barbados TODAY: “Now that breast cancer is in the focus, you are finding that more and more people are looking to [test] themselves for [breast cancer] but not the other cancers.”

Her comments followed personal testimonies from several group members about their cancer treatment experiences.

“We have ladies with different types of cancers; obviously if the [recognition] is always about breast cancer, they tend to feel a way. We are one of those groups who believe that we need to offer support to other types of cancers,” the cancer support advocate declared.

“If we start to have the same [attention being paid] to the other types of cancers as we have with breast cancer, people will come forward to get tested for those cancers.” 

Cadogan emphasised that their support group welcomes all cancer patients, including men. 

“We support each other throughout our journeys with cancer. We’ve had persons who’ve had colon cancer, we’ve had persons who have thyroid cancer. So it’s not just breast cancer survivors, we welcome everybody including the men who would wish to join.”

Director of the National Library Service, Jennifer Yarde reinforced the importance of comprehensive cancer support: “It is crucial to raise awareness about the importance of early detection, treatment, and support for those affected by this condition. That support is paramount for overcoming the disease,”

She added that Breast Cancer Awareness Month remains a significant event in the library’s calendar, highlighting both women’s health challenges and their crucial societal role. (SB) 

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The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) is set to receive a $130 million injection of funds as part of a major modernisation drive, even as it mounts a fresh campaign to secure donations from Barbadians abroad.

Director of Medical Services Anthony Harris revealed that the first $65 million tranche is “imminent” as the hospital evaluates equipment needs. 

“Medicine is a technologically based practice these days, and so we are going to be expanding,” he said.

The announcement came during Thursday’s handover ceremony where the Barbados Canada Foundation (BCF) donated three transport monitors valued at $92 000 to the island’s public hospital as it nears its 60th anniversary next month.

Harris disclosed that a “fully state of the art CT scanner” is currently being installed in the Accident and Emergency Department, eliminating the need for patients to leave A&E for scans. 

The newly acquired transport monitors are already improving patient care, he noted.

“It allows us to monitor the patient as we move from point to point safely because we would know what all of their parameters are, oxygen levels and so on, for the entire journey,” Harris explained. “We no longer have to make a dash for it so, of course, you can see the benefits of this kind of equipment. It is a vital piece of equipment, no doubt, and it is something that is going to be utilised heavily as we move patients from Accident and Emergency to various areas and vice versa.”

QEH philanthropy officer, Gay Howell said the hospital is intensifying efforts to engage Barbadians abroad due to the increasing need for costly medical equipment. 

“The diaspora are willing to give back, Barbadians living abroad are willing to give back to Barbados and the QEH; they just want to know how they can do it seamlessly,” she said. “That is what I am working on. We are looking to break into the UK market [and] we are certainly working hard to build relationships outside of Barbados, and to ensure that Barbadians know how they can donate to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.”

Treasurer of the Barbados Canada Foundation (BCF) Hugh Graham. (SB)

Howell added: “Earlier this year, we [went] to Kentucky, and we… received a donation of equipment and supplies worth about half a million dollars through the consulate in that area.”

Nigel Whitehall, acting chairman of the QEH board of management, who thanked the BCF for the generous donation, encouraged Barbadians living abroad, particularly those who visit the island, to feel proud of giving back to the island’s main tertiary health facility.

He said: “They must remember when they come back to Barbados, this is the main hospital they will have to visit. So they must make their contributions to ensure that when they come back here, should something go wrong and they have to visit the hospital, that we are in a position to deliver the best and highest quality of service.”

The Barbados Cancer Foundation has so far donated $320 752 worth of equipment and other supplies to the QEH since its creation in 2013. Treasurer Hugh Graham said the charity has been keen from its inception to give back to the QEH, and he expressed hope that it can significantly increase its annual contributions.

“I look forward to when I can say that the total we have donated to the QEH to date is $1 million-plus,” Graham said. “That is when I will probably retire and allow someone else to continue doing it. It gives me personal satisfaction to say that I am doing something worthwhile, giving back to my people in my country.” (SB)

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Barbados needs to attract up to US$3 billion ($6 billion) in annual foreign direct investment to achieve ambitious economic growth targets of six to seven per cent, the Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment declared on Thursday, despite the country achieving its highest-ever ranking on a global innovation index.

Senator Chad Blackman said that while Barbados is now ranked the Caribbean’s most innovative nation in the 2024 Global Innovation Index (GII), it must not become complacent.

“If we want to move from an economy that enjoys three to four per cent growth per year and move into six to seven per cent and above per year, we are going to have to attract at least two to three billion US dollars per year in foreign direct investment,” he told the Barbados International Business Association (BIBA) Global Business Week Conference.

Barbados has ranked 77th out of 133 countries on the GII, positioning it as the most creative country in the region. This placement also marks the country’s return to the index since 2016.

But the minister sought to temper the glowing report with a call for constant innovation and forward-thinking if Barbados is to remain competitive in the global market.

“We must be innovative if we are to remain competitive and to grow,” he said, further underscoring that the country must also ensure sustainability is achieved.

Drawing comparisons with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Senator Blackman noted the importance of maintaining momentum even after reaching key performance targets.

“One of the things that struck me about the UAE as a jurisdiction is their quest for constant success. They set up key performance indicators, they’ve reached them, but they don’t have a view of, ‘I’ve arrived’,” he said.

“The question then becomes, how can we in Barbados, particularly as a jurisdiction, ensure that everything we do is in that focus?”

While Barbados’ recent ranking is an encouraging sign, Senator Blackman against resting on these achievements.

“There can be a natural temptation to believe that because we scored well in the index that we’ve arrived, [but] we constantly have to be in a mode of attaining these key performance indicators, these benchmarks of success, and going beyond,” he said.

Senator Blackman also highlighted the urgency of improving the ease of doing business in Barbados, particularly in areas like company registration. While acknowledging recent improvements, he urged further innovation in this space.

“To establish a company [in the UAE], you can do it yourself online, but also using artificial intelligence, you can literally open a company in six minutes,” he said, comparing it to the longer registration process in Barbados which currently takes several days.

The former diplomat also called for a realignment of the education system to better meet the needs of the business sector. He emphasised that Barbados’ workforce needs to be equipped with the skills necessary for long-term competitiveness.

“There is a misalignment of our educational system and the needs of the international business sector, the local business sector, and where the economy needs to go,” Senator Blackman said, calling for educational reform to ensure Barbados remains competitive for the next 50 years.

He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to working with the business community to remove any barriers to growth, noting that attracting foreign investment is key to achieving higher levels of economic growth.

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Barbadians welcomed the official launch of Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty here on Thursday, seven years after its initial global debut.

Fans of the Bajan pop, fashion and fragrance icon thronged to the launch ceremony at the only authorised retailer of the brand in Barbados, Bridgetown Duty-Free.

Duty-Free Caribbean Island Manager Kathy Harris expressed the company’s excitement about introducing the brand: “It’s an emotional, special, exciting day, and to be launching it with partners as strong as we have in Essence Corp from Miami and the Kendall team, who are obviously in charge of Fenty Beauty, is especially emotional to have them here.”

She noted that a crowd of eager customers had gathered at the doors early in the morning, ready to begin shopping as soon as they opened at 8 a.m.

Content creator Kira P. (LG)

Harris also shared her anticipation of attracting a wider range of customers due to the diversity that Fenty Beauty offers.

“We are offering a brand that’s diverse, and a diverse brand means we can cater to all customers. I think that’s so important in makeup, and having the assortment of any colour to suit any woman in Barbados, internationally and locally, is something that will definitely benefit us.”

She added that both national and international demand for Fenty Beauty has been tremendous, highlighting that the partnership with Essence Corp and the Kendall team has been in development for the past year and a half.

As demand for Fenty beauty products is expected to rise, the company has expanded its team to enhance the shopping experience. 

From left: Guillaume Bona, VP Sales Essence Corp; Gina Grivas, Senior Branding Marketing Manager; and Gabriela Mier y Teran, Area Manager for the Caribbean. (LG)

“We have three specialised makeup artists who have been fully trained by the brand, ensuring they can cater to any customer who walks through the door. Today, we’ve already seen the benefit of that, with our artists being able to colour-match and help customers make the right shade decisions,” Harris said.

Content creator Kira P said this development is a game changer for Barbados, noting that many customers who previously ordered online or waited until travelling to purchase Fenty products can now buy them locally. 

“If there’s one place it should have always been, it’s home. So I’m glad it’s here finally,” she said, adding that she hopes the Savage Fenty lingerie line will soon be available here as well.

Duty-Free Caribbean Island Manager Kathy Harris (left) and Brand Manager for Duty-Free Caribbean, Kay Richards Inniss. (LG)

Another fan of the Fenty Beauty products, Jaliea Lovell, shared her support for the brand’s inclusivity and her excitement about its arrival in Barbados: “Rihanna took the pioneer role in being inclusive, offering a wide range of foundation shades.”

Content marketing specialist Adia Millar praised the brand’s decision to team up with local makeup artists “who are passionate about the brand and the artistry of makeup”. She also appreciated the interaction and communication from the Fenty team.

An official revealed that several products have already sold out, with the hopes of receiving a new shipment soon.

The Bridgetown Duty-Free island manager announced that some exciting new products would be introduced in a few weeks for the holiday season. 

“We can’t wait to bring the holiday collection, along with the assortment we’re currently offering, including a variety of special sets for the festive season. You’re going to be very happy, and all of our customers will be excited,” Harris said. (LG)

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There is a recently published text entitled Born to Rule, co-authored by British academics Aaron Reeves and Sam Friedman, and published by Belknap Press. It examines the British elite, particularly its educated upper class, persons who attended the British public schools like Eton and Harrow and who went on to ‘Oxbridge’, – Oxford and Cambridge.

When the British government decided to abolish the Common Entrance Examination in Britain, it was claimed by many on the ideological left that it would somehow abolish or seriously alter the British class structure. No such thing has happened. With some modifications that have allowed for some degree of upward mobility, the British class system remains as intact as it has ever been. Social stratification is primarily a product of the economic system, more specifically the capitalist mode of production. It is not in any large measure a product of an education system. For one thing, the British never touched the top public schools like Eton, Harrow and Winchester and the British House of Lords still exists to this day. The British people will never abolish the monarchy or its aristocracy. There are still State and religious denomination schools in Britain that have some form of selection as a requirement for entry.

The text by Reeves and Friedman indicates how some aspects of British elitism have changed. It examines the case of Sir Peter Daniell who attended Eton. Although he was not considered a bright chap, he went on to one of the Oxford Colleges in 1927 “after his cousin had ‘a quiet word’ with the Colleges”. He subsequently took a job in his father’s financial firm and was later granted a knighthood becoming Sir Peter Daniell. His admission to both Eton and Oxbridge were aspects of what Malcolm Gladwell calls ‘legacy admissions’ – access to elite educational institutions based on who your father or mother or cousin was and what zip code you came from. This was the kind of crass elitism that the introduction of the 11-Plus in Barbados in 1959 fundamentally changed.

A picture on page 209 of my text, Harrison College: A Pictorial Memoir, (2019) shows that of the 21 boys in Form Prep 2 in 1955, only three were identifiably black. Those were Trevor King, Sterling Blades and Walwyn Blackman. The latter two are now deceased.

Errol Barrow’s January 1962 abolition of the fee-paying structure in the older grammar schools fundamentally negated many of the socio-economic biases in the Barbadian educational system. It was a strategic attempt to foster a more liberal meritocracy and, to some extent, it worked in terms of accelerating upward social mobility.

According to the Economist Magazine’s review of the text, Reeves and Fieldman used two measures to determine who constitutes the British elite. The first is what the reviewer terms “an extremely narrow measure” – those mentioned in Who’s Who, a guide to the powerful, first published in 1849. The second measure is more specific – the truly wealthy elite who the authors number at some 6 000 persons or a mere 0.01 per cent of the British population.

One of the interesting things about the British elite class is how its make-up has changed over the years. Using the Who’s Who measure, according to the authors, the British elite used to comprise a large number of clerics and military men. This is apparently no longer the case. It now includes lawyers, media personalities, and women who constitute one-third of those currently in that group. By the way, women were not included in Who’s Who in Britain until 1897.

The reviewer suggests that the British elites have changed. They are, according to the writer, more diverse and better educated. They “no longer slide into Oxbridge based on their connections”. The contemporary elites also have a wider range of interests no longer confined to golf, hunting and equestrian pursuits. They are, claims the writers, now more focused on the arts, the theatre, cinema and popular sports like tennis, soccer and cricket.

If Reeves and Friedman are right in their analysis, the changed nature of British elites indicates the truth of what formal schooling can and cannot do in the context of a capitalist democratic society that allows for choice. It can modify and mollify the rigid class structure by affording upward social mobility for an aspiring working class prepared to grab the opportunities provided by schooling. However, it cannot fundamentally alter the systemic socio-economic architecture which is essentially a product of the capitalist mode of production. That mode of production distributes its rewards and surpluses unevenly, thus creating class stratification which tends to replicate even as it modifies and mollifies hierarchical structures.

I once read a conservative journal which suggested that there may be an element of elitism that is inherent in material culture. That ostensibly conservative notion was a bit too rich for my liberal temperament. However – and here is where my liberalism shows – liberal democratic policies, particularly where they function within capitalist economic framework societies, must persistently seek to modify the grosser aspects of stratification, including those socio-economic biases that feed into formal schooling.

The historical record would suggest that social layering is not a product of the 11-Plus and its abolition will not in itself obviate social class distinctions. It didn’t do so in Britain and it won’t here in Barbados. There is a whole constellation of factors that account for the existence of social hierarchies. Historically, Barbados’ class structure was based on the British metropolitan paradigm which was class-ridden. This was compounded by our colonial obsession with race and complexion, which is a derivative of race. A caller to Down to Brass Tacks claims that the Common Entrance Examination is the source of classism in Barbados because people who attended certain schools in Barbados like to exercise what he calls “bragging rights”. The caller also claims that he has done “research” into the issue. The connection between social stratification and formal schooling has been widely studied by several educational sociologists on both the ideological right and the Left. It would be good to see the learned gentleman’s expert findings. Those in education should avoid abolishing an exam based on anybody’s prejudices and positive or negative misgivings about themselves. You first have to come up with a viable alternative that fosters greater social justice. Social justice does not mean an egalitarian society which, as Gladstone Holder used to point out, can only be created within the context of a tyranny; one that negates individual parental and student choice.

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Barbados will be able to tap into a €100 million (BDS$218.8 million) loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for projects that secure clean water supply, improve collection and treatment of wastewater and solid waste, and upgrade flood prevention across the region.

The island is one of 14 Caribbean countries that will benefit from the joint initiative announced by the EIB and Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) on Thursday. The EIB loan will boost CDB support for the identified projects.

Along with Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago will be eligible for the EIB-supported investments.

The investments will help countries adapt to more frequent periods of drought or intense rain caused by climate change and contribute to environmental sustainability through reduced ocean pollution.

Acting CDB President Isaac Solomon said this initiative – the two banks’ latest mutually beneficial collaboration – provides access to additional concessional resources to the 14 states, representing almost three-quarters of CDB’s borrowing member countries.

“More importantly, those countries represent over 19 million people. Resources such as these are therefore deeply appreciated, as adequate water and sanitation services, and the prevention of water-related disasters, are key to achieving and maintaining development in our region,” he said.

EIB Vice President Ambroise Fayolle, speaking from Washington DC, acknowledged that investing in sustainable water management is vital for the Caribbean small island developing states being impacted by extreme weather and climate change.

“The vulnerability of small island states on the frontline of climate change is at the centre of discussions here in Washington. Working together, we can achieve a far greater impact in tackling these challenges than working alone. Partnerships like the European Investment Bank’s longstanding relationship with the Caribbean Development Bank mean that we can contribute to projects and initiatives such as the one we have signed today, that support communities and our precious ocean ecosystems as well,” he said.

Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships said that the European Union is committed to supporting its Caribbean partners in the face of climate change and extreme weather through the Global Gateway investment strategy.

“Resilient infrastructure is at the heart of this,” she said as he noted that Caribbean states emit a fraction of the global greenhouse gases, yet are facing the most devastating effects of climate change.

The EIB and the CDB have successfully worked together to support projects benefitting the Caribbean region since the EIB’s first loan to the CDB in 1978.

(PR/BT)

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Asif Iqbal Padmore will have to fork out $31 000 in fines or spend almost five years behind bars for illegal firearm, ammunition and drug offences.

“These are serious offences that warrant substantial fines,” stressed Madam Justice Wanda Blair in the No. 4A Supreme Court on Thursday during sentencing.

Padmore, 44, of Henley Land, St John had previously pleaded guilty to having a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol without a valid licence and seven rounds of ammunition without a valid permit, on January 31, 2019.

Justice Blair informed him that he would have to pay $20 000 for the illegal firearm in six months or serve four years, eight months in prison; and either $7 000 in four months for the ammunition or spend four years, eight months behind bars. The sentences are to run concurrently.

He was fined $4 000 forthwith for having a trafficable quantity of cannabis — 1.6 kilogrammes — on the same date. Failure to pay would result in 18 months imprisonment. Padmore was convicted, reprimanded and discharged for the charge of possession of the illegal drug.

The now-convicted man was represented by King’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim.

Agreeing with prosecutor Principal State Counsel Joyann Catwell’s submission that the concealment of the firearm and drugs were aggravating factors, along with the seriousness and prevalence of the offences, the judge said mitigating in Padmore’s favour was the fact that there was no evidence the firearm had been used to commit any crime.

His eight previous convictions and the fact he was determined to be at medium risk of reoffending were also considered, while he got credit for his early guilty plea, remorse and cooperation with police.

The judge gave a starting point of eight years for the firearm and ammunition charges and three years for the cannabis. This sentence was reduced as discounts were awarded for his early guilty plea, the delay in his case being adjudicated and the time he spent on remand.

“Although it has been said that the combination of drugs, firearms and ammunition is a deadly combination and usually warrants a custodial sentence, the court is of the view that a custodial sentence is not warranted given the small quantity of drugs involved – and your previous convictions were mainly for small quantities of drugs,” Justice Blair said.

“While the court has tempered justice with mercy, the court must send a strong message that laws of this country must be obeyed and convicted persons must be appropriately punished for their crimes. I have noted Mr. Pilgrim’s view that you smoke weed and the shift in our society relating to this practice. However, everyone still has to operate within the ambit of the law irrespective of his or her view. The fact that you were found with drugs and a firearm begs the question as to your real reason for having these items, and the court cannot overlook the fact that you have previous convictions for drug-related offences.”

The matter will be reviewed on February 28.

According to the facts, police arrived at Padmore’s residence on the mentioned date to execute a search warrant. A woman appeared at the side window, the officers identified themselves and asked her to open the door, but she closed the window and walked away. Police could hear a toilet being repeatedly flushed. The woman returned to the window while talking on a cell phone, but again ignored the lawmen’s orders to open the door.

An officer gained entry through one of the windows and unlocked the door for the others who searched the home.

A black drawstring bag was thrown through the bathroom window, landing close to police officers outside. When it was opened, a black firearm with a magazine was found.

Other officers found Padmore, who identified himself, in a bedroom on the bed. During the search, a small quantity of cannabis was found in that room and in the kitchen in two buckets and a shoebox.

When asked to give an account, Padmore told the officers: “That is marijuana I had growing in the gully.”

Questioned about the firearm and ammunition, Padmore claimed ownership and admitted to not having a licence or permit for them.

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A 17-year-old ward of the Marina Brewster Centre in Farrs, Alleynedale Hall, St Peter has gone missing.

Police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating the teenager, Kizzianne Latavia Tudor, who was last seen about 6:30 a.m on Thursday. At the time she wearing the uniform of the Barbados Youth Advance Corps.

According to the description provided by police, Kizzianne has a light brown complexion and is 5’ 5” tall. She has black, straightened hair, a broken front tooth, and wears one bob in each ear. She is small-breasted and has dark marks on both arms from mosquito bites.

Kizzianne is also said to have a pleasant manner and she speaks with a light voice.

Anyone knowing her whereabouts is asked to contact the District ‘E’ Police Station at 419-1730, Police Emergency at 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS (8477), or any police station.

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Two St Michael men who were the subjects of police ‘wanted’ bulletins have turned themselves in.

A statement from the Barbados Police Service said Ramario Rashawn Best-Hinkson, 18, of Green Park Lane, Baxter’s Road and Sergio Delacey Browne-Agard, 29, of No 28 Lascelles Terrace, Pinelands, presented themselves to the District ‘A’ Police Station on Thursday, the same day the wanted notices were issued.

The two are now assisting police with their investigations into serious criminal matters.

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Barbados must accelerate its efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015.

Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment Chad Blackman shared this view as he delivered the opening remarks at the Validation Workshop of the Baseline Study United Nations Joint Sustainable Development Goals Fund Joint Programme at the Sagicor Cave Hill School on Friday.

The Sustainable Development Goals aimed at building peace and prosperity for people and the planet include no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well being, quality water, sustainable cities and communities and climate action.
Minister Blackman noted that though much work has been done over the past few years, stakeholders at the national and private sector level need to redouble their efforts.

“The government reaffirms and is fully committed to realising the promise and aspirations posed by the 2030 agenda. However the reality remains that although improvements have been made in a number of areas, substantial action must be taken in order to reach the targets set by that agenda,” he said. (SB)

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“None of us can change the past, but we can commit with all our hearts to learning its lessons and to finding creative ways to right the inequalities that endure.”

Those were the comments of King Charles III, the head of the British monarchy, on Friday as he addressed the Commonwealth summit in Samoa. It remains unclear whether this is a coordinated British government stance on reparations, but it surely seems that way.

Just 24 hours earlier, the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, made it clear to the BBC that the United Kingdom was “not going to be paying out” reparations for the transatlantic slave trade, in which untold numbers perished on slave ships and in the Atlantic Ocean, while millions of survivors were condemned to lives of dehumanising slavery on sugar plantations across the Caribbean and the Americas.

Reeves said she understood why Commonwealth leaders, most of whom represent former slave colonies, would make such demands. However, she emphasised that it was not something the British government would commit to.

Meanwhile, the British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, was outlining his priorities at the Commonwealth discussions, and reparations did not feature among them. Starmer preferred to focus on what he termed “sexier topics” like the challenges of climate change rather than on the years of exploitation of black Africans and their descendants, whose labour helped to establish the British Empire as one of the most powerful in modern history, or the enduring effects of slavery and racism that still impact people across the Commonwealth.

“That’s where I’m going to put my focus – rather than what will end up being very, very long endless discussions about reparations,” he was reported as saying.

Without a tinge of sympathy, empathy, or consideration for the sensitivities of the Commonwealth’s majority member countries and their representatives, the British Prime Minister drove his point further: “Of course, slavery is abhorrent to everybody; the trade and the practice, there’s no question about that. But I think from my point of view… I’d rather roll up my sleeves and work… on the current future-facing challenges.”

Whether Starmer is shamelessly insensitive or completely ignorant, his comments on the issue are worthy of condemnation. The outright rejection of legitimate claims for reparations led by the Caribbean Community, without so much as an apology, is a slap in the face for Britain’s former colonies.

The remarks of King Charles III, the British Prime Minister, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer appear to be choreographed, perhaps aimed at quelling the growing calls for reparatory justice.

Once viewed as an outlandish demand, restitution for the violent exploitation of Caribbean ancestors is increasingly recognised as a legitimate issue. The remnants of the racism that fuelled the slave trade cannot simply be dismissed.

As social historian Verene Shepherd, Director of the Centre for Reparation Research at the University of the West Indies, Mona, outlined in an article for the UNESCO Courier, there remains a lack of awareness of the “enduring financial implications for the enslaving societies as well as for the slaves and their descendants.”

Shepherd writes: “Governments and institutions that benefited from the conquest, chattel enslavement, and colonialism are being demanded to acknowledge the role they played in these systems, and to make adequate restitution.” She adds, “The key demand is for these entities to recognise that their wealth was created from the destruction of countless racial and ethnic communities, cultures and societies, which continue to have far-reaching implications on their ability to thrive.”

A critical question remains: Are Caribbean countries too consumed with managing struggling economies to devote the necessary time and resources to bring this battle to its logical conclusion?

Other groups, such as the Jews and, ironically, the former slave owners, have benefited from reparations. Why, then, is it so difficult for Britain and other European colonisers to accept that reparatory justice must be extended to the descendants of African slaves, whose forced labour built empires from which the industrial powers still profit?

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The Government of Barbados, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) will host the XVI Ministerial Forum on Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, as a space to discuss opportunities to build resilience against future shocks that continue to challenge development in the region.

The forum will be held from Wednesday, October 30 to Friday, November 1 at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lords Castle. It will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Mia Mottley, UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner, and ECLAC Executive Secretary, José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, and is expected to have over 150 participants, including more than 20 Government delegations from the region.

This gathering builds on the discussions initiated at the XIII Ministerial Forum in Antigua and Barbuda in 2021, which discussed disasters and social protection systems in the context of protracted crises. The XVI Ministerial Forum will discuss how the region can advance and protect social gains in the context of more frequent and intense shocks.

A Ministerial Declaration is expected to be the outcome of the forum. The declaration aims to be a roadmap for transformative policy action and impactful initiatives that transcend boundaries, ultimately steering the region toward a more equitable and resilient future.

(BGIS)

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Authorities on Friday raised alarm over unsustainable fishing practices, warning that the capture of juvenile fish and overfishing could imperil both the food source and tourism.

The Fisheries Division issued an urgent appeal to fisherfolk to adopt more sustainable practices, particularly regarding the catching of undersized fish and intensive fishing of single species.

Speaking during a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) tour, Raliyah Green, data collection officer at the division, encouraged fishermen to stop these unsustainable practices.

“When it comes to sustainable fishing, we at Fisheries are trying to stop the fishermen from overfishing one species of fish because when you overfish a species, the chance of you getting adult fish lessens the more you fish that species,” she said.

“Sometimes, especially when the sailing boats go out and catch jacks or the ice boats catch dolphins or any type of fish, you will find that they have some juveniles. While you cannot prevent juveniles from being with the bigger fish, we [want that] if a fisherman is at sea and he catches a juvenile fish and he realises that, [we want him] to release it back [into the sea] so that it can become an adult.”

Green noted that catching juvenile fish reduces the likelihood of catching adult fish from certain areas and, over time, could negatively impact the industry. Most of the juvenile fish being caught are dolphins, along with reef fish such as chubs and potfish, she added.

Green stressed that Barbados’ tourism sector, as well as the local population, depended heavily on fresh fish, and the Fisheries Division wanted sustainable practices maintained to ensure multiple generations had access to an abundance of fish.

“It is a very big concern because one of the attractions of Barbados is fish. No fish and we would be losing a part of Barbados, so we need fish,” she said. “So it would be great if the fishermen put back the fish once they are alive. It doesn’t take that long for fish to mature, but if you catch a fish less than five pounds, that would be considered a juvenile and that is what we are trying to avoid.”

Several fishermen over the years have complained that it is harder to fish now than before. They report having to go out further and stay out at sea longer for bountiful catches.

To address this issue, the Fisheries Division has set up Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs), floating devices placed in various areas of the island’s waters to attract fish.

“They were placed in different areas around the island so the fishermen can go to those sites and catch fish because it’s an attraction site for the fish. Adult fish go to the FADs, and fishermen catch them and bring them back, giving the juvenile fish a chance to become adults. Not every fisherman goes to a FAD every day, but when you do, the chances of you catching big fish increase,” Green explained.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb

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A sexual assault on an elderly woman has been denounced as “the worst manifestation of elderly abuse” by a government minister who has demanded the full force of the law on the assailant.

The incident, which took place at Kensington New Road, St Michael, involved an 85-year-old woman, prompting calls from officials for increased community vigilance and support for elderly residents.

The Barbados Police Service confirmed they received a report of the sexual assault last Sunday and said that investigations are at a sensitive stage.

Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey called the incident “reprehensible” and demanded maximum legal penalties for the perpetrators. 

“If indeed persons have done this and are convicted of such, I hope they get the fullest treatment the law provides,” he said.

Humphrey vowed the ministry’s full support to help and protect the elderly and advised Barbadians to be guardians of their neighbours: “I would also advise neighbours and families to check in on their elderly relatives as much as possible.”

Speaking at the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) 29th-anniversary picnic at the National Botanical Gardens, President Marilyn Rice-Bowen expressed grave concern about the incident and the impact on elderly residents.

President of the Barbados Association of Retired Persons, Marilyn Rice-Bowen. (LG)

“Everybody in Barbados ought to feel safe when you are home, and to think that someone can break into a senior’s home and apart from burglarising the home, actually raping the senior. It’s not a comforting thought,” she said.

Rice-Bowen, who called for swift apprehension of the perpetrator, extended wishes of strength to the victim during her recovery. (LG)

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The Barbados Bar Association (BBA) is ramping up efforts to assist the government in reducing the backlog of criminal cases clogging the judicial system. The initiative follows the latest in an ongoing barrage of criticism by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) over ongoing court delays.

The Bar on Friday highlighted the recently-held inaugural Criminal Law Seminar at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle Resort, supported by the US-UK Criminal Justice Reform Project, as one of the strategies being used to equip younger attorneys to handle more complex cases.

The partnership is aimed at advancing the transformation of the criminal justice system.

Convenor of the Bar’s Criminal Law Committee, Martie Garnes, noted that given the limited number of attorneys practising criminal law, the association is committed to training and mentoring more junior lawyers to take on serious cases that would typically be adjourned when senior counsel are unavailable.

Garnes explained that the adjournment of cases tends to delay their completion, thereby adding to the backlog.

“The reality is, we are training more attorneys to get into criminal law, and once you have more attorneys in that area… it is basically going to come from a mentorship programme where you have the more senior attorneys bringing through the younger attorneys,” he told Barbados TODAY on Friday.

“It is not going to have an immediate impact…. It is almost like an investment. We are trying to invest in the future of the Bar, so that, at least within six months to a year, we will start to see younger attorneys doing the more major offences such as assault, possession of ammunition, possession of firearms—those types of offences.”

Garnes added that all the senior counsel participated substantially in the recent seminar and have committed to helping younger attorneys, passing along the knowledge they have gained.

Garnes said the aim is not only to build quantity but quality lawyers who can render representation similar to that of their seniors, giving clients the confidence they deserve.

The intensive training seminar brought together just over 100 delegates, including judges of the Court of Appeal and High Court of Barbados, senior and junior attorneys from the Bar and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, police prosecutors from the Barbados Police Service, and recent law graduates. 

(EJ)

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by Emmanuel Joseph

A major probe has been launched into water quality findings that reveal animal waste pollution of the crucial Three Houses Spring in St Philip, which supplies water to area farmers.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Indar Weir made the disclosure on Friday, vowing to prosecute the person or persons responsible.

“Tests were carried out on the water at Three Houses Spring. This water obviously is water that flows from the head of the spring all the way down to Browne’s Pond. The tests that were carried out showed that somebody was diverting animal waste from a pig pen or something into the stream,” Weir told Barbados TODAY exclusively.

“That matter is being investigated. There is a management committee in place at Three Houses under the Three Houses Spring Management Act, and those investigations, once proved, the person is going to be prosecuted.”
Some farmers who rely on the spring have expressed concern about the potential negative health effects the polluted water could have on them.

Barbados TODAY understands that “very high” levels of E. coli bacteria were discovered in the spring. The faecal bacteria is commonly found in the intestines of humans and animals.
While most strains are harmless and play a role in digestion, they are also tell-tale signs of certain disease-causing pathogens.

The spring has not only been the source of sustenance for centuries but the centre of water management policy in the country dating back just as long. The current law governing the spring is an update on the Three Houses Spring Act of 1713.

The Three Houses Spring (Management and Control) Act, passed last year, punishes polluters with a fine of $25 000, up to two years in prison, or both. The offender may also be ordered to take action to fix the spring. The law forbids anyone who diverts, dams, blocks, or pollutes the spring; or installs any device or contrivance in or near the spring which may interfere with the free flow of water.

The state-owned Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) also has the authority to order an offending person to take action to rectify the condition of the spring.

If that person fails to comply with the BADMC’s order, they may lose the right to use the water from the spring.
Approved individuals are also entitled to use the water from the spring, free of charge, for purposes such as shorebird hunting, model boat racing, fishing, maintaining a bird or wildlife sanctuary, bathing, or religious practices.

They are also permitted to abstract and use the water from the spring solely for agricultural production, including food production, horticulture, aquaculture, landscaping, or the maintenance of grounds and curtilages.
emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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Poor understanding of digital safety among Barbadians is undermining efforts to strengthen the nation’s cybersecurity infrastructure, the Minister of Industry, Innovation, Science, and Technology has warned.

Speaking at a panel discussion on digital safety on Wednesday, Marsha Caddle emphasised that whilst the government remains committed to enhancing its cybersecurity capabilities to protect citizens’ data, there is an urgent need to educate the public about proper data management practices.

“I think most important [to] the cyber hygiene of your institution and of the country, is the people. What are the steps, what are the practices that individuals and organisations take every day to make sure that your last line of defence, the people who are using the software working in the institutions understand the risks and do not take unnecessary risks with information,” Caddle told attendees at the Staying Safe in a Digital World event, organised by several financial institutions.

She expressed concern that many citizens continue to treat password security and authentication systems casually, displaying a worrying lack of vigilance in their online behaviour.

“There is this notion that the Internet is a place where knowledge happens, and so I will click on something and I will start to understand… not realising that that is one of the easiest ways to get access to things people should not have access to,” she explained.

Whilst highlighting the government’s planned Tier Three data centre, scheduled for completion within three years, Caddle cautioned that the facility’s enhanced secure storage capabilities could be compromised without improved public awareness of personal data security.

“If we are going to say to people ‘keep your data with us’, it means that job number one is our cybersecurity efforts. A big part of that is knowing which information you have, what is on your servers, if you lose this information, do you know what you have lost?” she said.

“We can spend all the money on protection and other things, we can go where the technology is going and have intelligent systems that are going to tell us [data has been compromised], but the real investment that needs to be made is in training and learning and awareness raising about how to stay safe.”

The panel discussion also heard from Marilyn Rice-Bowen, president of the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP), who advocated for targeted digital safety education for senior citizens.

She said: “As Barbados moves closer to the year 2050, when it is projected that half of the population will be 65 and older, educational and modelling good online practices across all generations can protect privacy, increase safety of self-information and money. We view today’s panel’s discussion as a step in the right direction, as it fits in neatly with our efforts to build awareness, and teach members how to use the net safely.” 

(SB)

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The Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) will soon launch its new members portal to enhance its discount programme and help members save costs, says President Marilyn Rice-Bowen.

Speaking at BARP’s 29th-anniversary picnic attended by 400 members following a scenic Freedom Bus Ride through various historic sites, she said the purpose of the portal and revamped discount programme is to help members cope with the rising cost of living.

“In the last few months, the organisation has been meeting with members of the business community to secure discounts for you. So we’re gonna launch that very shortly; you’ll be able to access the portal on your phone by the end of December,” Rice-Bowen told members, adding that BARP plans to provide digital training at its Legacy Centre to ensure members can use the new online portal.

She further advised: “Whenever you go shopping, you ought to ask for that discount. We are all concerned about the cost of living in Barbados. Our way of addressing that is by ensuring that numerous business places across the island are offering discounts. So do not leave home without your discount card.”

BARP will offer its 22 000 members free non-emergency health checks, affordable eye care and essential services.

Rice-Bowen added that the association has negotiated a discounted rate with the Barbados Diabetes Centre for its members.

The BARP president also spoke about plans to make it easier for members to get to activities at night, as she noted the challenges some experience driving at night because of inconsiderate drivers.

“A lot of our members cannot attend activities at night because we have some people who drive with these bright lights, so you cannot attend the cantata, the concerts, the graduations or anything like that. We are in the final stages of negotiating with a reputable taxi company for the BARP taxi. What the BARP taxi will do is that you will order this taxi at a cost – it’s not a free taxi, but you will be able to order that taxi and let that taxi take you where you have to go,” she disclosed.

(LG)

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