Amid the celebration of Thursday’s opening of the Marcus Garvey Amphitheatre in Queen’s Park, the Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration strongly objected to the location of the new cultural space, even as it welcomed the honour in the name of the Jamaican Black nationalist leader.

General Secretary David Denny insisted in a video statement posted on Facebook that the theatre should not be in a national park that is named after a member of Britain’s royal family, Queen Victoria.

“And that is because of the thinking and also because of the philosophy of Marcus Moziah Garvey. Garvey was a black revolutionary who defended African people in Africa and the Americas. Garvey built a black conscious movement for African people and for our liberation and I think if we want to honour Garvey, we should honour him with respect. So to place Marcus Moziah Garvey in Queen’s Park which is named after Queen Victoria of the royal family would be an insult.”

Against this backdrop, Denny urged the government to rename the park after Nanny Grigg, who played a major role in the General Bussa Rebellion.

“Nanny Grigg should be seen as our queen. Nanny Grigg would have participated in that Bussa rebellion by helping to educate the slaves and help to create some of the conditions for the Bussa rebellion.

So, therefore, we are saying as a movement that we do not support this idea about placing the Marcus Moziah Garvey Amphitheatre in Queen’s Park. If you want to do that, then you should change the name of Queen’s Park,” he said.

Denny called on pan-Africanists, socialists, the Rastafari community and all citizens who respect the philosophy and opinions of Garvey to object to the location “so that Marcus Moziah Garvey can sit in a proper park in  Bridgetown, Barbados.” (SD)

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Barbados’ ambitious drive toward 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030 is poised to generate a surge of career opportunities in diverse fields, from solar energy to waste-to-energy systems, according to experts at the Barbados Sustainable Energy Youth Forum on Thursday.

Painting a promising picture for young Barbadians, the experts urged them to prepare for roles in a sector pivotal to the island’s economic and environmental future.

Walter Harris, a lecturer in the Faculty of Natural Science at the Barbados Community College, outlined emerging roles in solar, wind and waste-to-energy systems, including positions such as solar panel installation technicians, battery storage specialists, and smart grid analysts.

“Science is a big part of the renewable energy sector,” he said, urging students to focus on Mathematics and environmental sciences to capitalise on these opportunities.

The transition also requires specialists in areas like quality assurance, sales, and marketing, as well as policymakers and accountants to support the industry’s growth.

“We need people to research the sector, innovate as trends develop, and even create startups as energy consultants,” Harris said, noting the opportunities for entrepreneurial endeavours.

Panellists told students of the importance of entrepreneurship in renewable energy, further pointing to opportunities such as app development for monitoring home energy usage and consulting on energy efficiency.

Senior Technical Officer in the Ministry of Energy, Destine Gay, also touched on the possibilities of self-employment, emphasising the benefits of pursuing a trade or skill in renewable energy – a field she describes as in high demand.

“It gives you autonomy, financial control, and a career path that is least likely to be replaced by [Artificial Intelligence],” she said, adding that the sector also offers self-employment opportunities, such as maintaining inverters and electric vehicles or installing renewable energy systems.

Shedding light on the current landscape of sustainable power within the island, Manager of the Renewable Energy Business Unit at the Barbados Light & Power Company Limited, Robert Harewood noted that some 99 per cent of the renewable energy connected to the grid in Barbados is solar.

He further noted that biofuel and waste-to-energy projects are also being explored.

The Barbados Sustainable Energy Youth Forum, part of CARICOM Energy Month, aims to prepare young Barbadians for the opportunities and challenges of the renewable energy sector.

Though the panellists admitted that the goal may not be reached within the specified timeframe, they stressed the importance of prioritising the transition and reducing fossil fuel imports, which currently total 750 000 barrels annually. (SM)

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Noel Lynch has been named as the new Chairman of the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) board.

In addition, the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association’s Chairman, Javon Griffith, has been added as a board member-director.

The other board members are Deputy Chairman Paul Ashby; and Directors Connie Smith, Jefferson Payne, Selena McDonald, Michael Holder, Christian-Kendahl Rock, Niska Best, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport or nominee in the ministry, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance or nominee, and Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.

“The board will continue to carry out its mandate of pursuing the strategic objectives and policy directives of the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, including making the airport a world-class provider and facilitator of air transportation and related aviation services,” a brief statement from the GAIA said.

Lynch replaces Dr Jerry Bruce Emtage as chairman.

Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill extended his appreciation and thanks to Dr Emtage for his work during his tenure.
(BGIS/BT)

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Several regional leaders are set to meet with a high-level United States delegation in Barbados this weekend.

The disclosure came on Thursday from Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley who said the meeting will be with “some decision-makers, and high-ranking members of the United States government, which is currently in transition”.

‘We have a number of issues on the table, not the least of which is something called the Bridgetown Initiative. We have been fighting with the Bretton Woods institutions to treat us more fairly in these difficult times and also to get terms and conditions…for our countries,” he said at a news conference.

The Bridgetown Initiative calls for urgent and decisive action to reform the international financial architecture that was designed at a time when most of the current member states were not independent and when climate risks or social inequalities, including gender equality, were not considered pre-eminent development challenges.

While Barbados continues to play a leading role, it is not an initiative of Barbados alone, but rather a coalition of partners in a movement for global change.

Rowley told reporters: “I have been involved with it, been to Washington on more than one occasion. The US delegation has been to the Caribbean. We thought we had made some progress but it has been crystalising on something called the Bridgetown Initiative which we need to defend and grow and advance to the US authorities and the international financial bodies.”

“Therefore, we will meet in Barbados from Friday afternoon,” he said. “We cannot but be engaged in these issues. They have far-reaching consequences.”

Rowley did not name the other regional leaders expected at the meeting with the US officials or whether these officials are from the outgoing Biden administration or the incoming team of President-elect Donald Trump.

However, Barbados TODAY understands that top Democratic Party politicians Hakim Jeffries and Barbara Lee will lead a congressional delegation that will also participate in the centennial celebrations of Shirley Chisholm’s birth.
(CMC/BT)

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Barbados is set to redraw the cultural landscape with several major heritage and creative projects over the next two years, Prime Minister Mia Mottley revealed on Thursday.

The ambitious plans include expanding cultural hubs across the island, starting with upgrades to Queen’s Park and new developments at other iconic locations like the Newton Burial Ground and the National Botanical Gardens.

While addressing the official opening of the Marcus Garvey Amphitheatre in Queen’s Park, the prime minister insisted the city cultural hub must be accessible to the average Barbadian at any time of day.

She said: “Queen’s Park will also see further renovations over the course of the next year or so. We determined… that this must be the cultural hub and the place where Bajans formally and informally can get to know one another and participate; therefore, we will see different hubs. We already have the hub committed to theatre with the very modest Queen’s Park Theatre.”

Noting that there is already an art gallery there, Mottley said the government expects to have artists in residence, a studio, and the headquarters of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) relocated to Queen’s Park.

Declaring that this work will roll out as an evolving undertaking, Mottley said that if Barbados were not in an economic transformation programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the government might have been able to accomplish many of these cultural developments this far earlier.

“To that extent, it is important that I share with you that we, as a government, have now settled the financing of three other major projects that will take place and that one, we already, little by little, in the last five years, put aside money to be able to have it done,” she said.

“But those projects to which I refer, the one for which we have been saving over the last five years and which is now formally started, is the monument at the Newton Burial Ground, in what will become the Barbados Heritage District. And I thank the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc (BTII) for very quietly and patiently going about the business of having that monument ready next year for us.”

“Separately, we have also agreed to have the financing of those three projects… one, a theatre in the Barbados Heritage District at the same location of Newton Burial Ground. You heard me refer just now to the very modest theatre here at Queen’s Park; and before we become 60 years old as a nation, this country must have spaces that are equal to the genius and creativity that our people have had, rather than ‘butting ‘bout’ to try and find somewhere to be able to perform in circumstances where it takes away from that which has been nobly created by our artists.”

Mottley also announced that the Daphne Joseph-Hackett Theatre at Queen’s Park is to be enlarged significantly and would cater not only to those who want to see a reflection of who they are as descendants of Africa but also ensure the space facilitates multi-performances by artists.

She added that the second project relates to the Richard Stoute Amphitheatre at the National Botanical Gardens in Waterford.

“I am happy to report that after months of negotiations, the public servants have now put the Cabinet in a position to agree to that amphitheatre which will also be completed next year and that, we believe, will also be an iconic design and an iconic space for all Barbadians to be proud, reflecting those things that are iconic to Barbados with respect to the amphitheatre there,” said the prime minister.

Mottley identified the long-mooted National Art Gallery as the third project to be rolled out.

She said: “We have agreed that while we had asked at the beginning of the IMF programme, the artists to be able to work together with other philanthropists to get this gallery off the ground, that we are now, having seen the hard work and the results of our hard work and sacrifice, that the Government of Barbados is prepared to step up and play the major role now in making that National Art Gallery become finally a reality.”

The Marcus Garvey Amphitheatre will have a QR code to allow access to the iconic Pan-Africanist’s speeches via any smartphone.

Mottley also said she hoped the NCF would make available audio-visual representations of Garvey’s speeches for those who don’t like to read.

She pointed out that the Marcus Garvey Amphitheatre will join other “sacred” spaces such as Golden Square to give vent to the physical, psychological, and spiritual expressions of all Barbadians.

The amphitheatre will accommodate about 314 people, with an additional 13 wheelchair spaces. It also features a stage space measuring 41 by 23 feet.

The prime minister also hinted that the statue of British Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson, which was replaced by a homegrown monument to the resilience of the Barbadian family in Heroes Square, will find a home elsewhere on the island. She did not elaborate.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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With Christmas just weeks away amid fears of a looming poultry shortage, Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) James Paul appealed for transparency and collaboration in the farming community, warning that secrecy and poor communication risk worsening shortages and undermining public confidence.

He said there needs to be open communication and pragmatic solutions to prevent further disruptions while safeguarding the livelihoods of farmers.

“Producers who have difficulty at the moment in meeting the market needs that they are accustomed to meeting have to come forward and indicate in no uncertain terms what the issues are and what assistance they require in order to solve the issues they are facing,” Paul told Barbados TODAY.

He cautioned that downplaying the supply challenges could lead to misguided policy responses and economic fallout. He likened the situation to the proverbial boy who cried wolf, adding: “If you keep on saying to persons: ‘Oh, we’re on track, we’re going to do it, it’s going to happen,’ you can engender policy responses on the part of the government, which we in the sector would not like to see.”

Barbadians have been voicing increasing concern over potential shortages of poultry, a staple on Christmas dinner tables. While Paul acknowledged the issue’s seriousness, he assured the public that solutions exist and that the agricultural community remains resilient.

“Agriculture is not dying. Interest in agriculture is very strong,” he said, citing increased investments by individuals despite economic challenges.

To support smaller farmers, the government has allocated $2 million to assist with infrastructure expansion, particularly for poultry producers. Paul stressed the importance of this initiative, noting that many small farmers lack access to traditional financing.

“These are small people who cannot go into the bank and get a loan,” he explained. “But these are people who are making significant investments in expanding their poultry production. The $2 million fund that has been placed with the BAS, we are using that to assist small farmers—especially the farmers like pig farmers and, more importantly, your poultry farmers, expanding the houses.”

Paul underscored the importance of protecting the poultry industry from the potentially harmful effects of unregulated imports.

“We are at a very delicate stage in our local poultry industry,” he said. “What I am most concerned about is that we do not go to a situation where we allow unregulated imports to come to this country and jeopardise the livelihood of poultry farmers.”

Paul acknowledged the complexity of the issue, noting that both insufficient and excessive imports could pose risks. “Of course, it could be too little importation also, too. But I really think that we should not overreact to the point where we have too much importation as a result of it.”

Despite widespread concern, the BAS head sought to put the situation into perspective, arguing that it does not yet constitute a crisis.

“Let’s cut it on two levels,” he said. “Yes, it might have been challenging that the [poultry] stock levels are relatively low in some cases or whatever. But as you can see, there are some Barbadians who are still eating poultry every day.”

He pointed to reports from some restaurants that have managed to maintain steady supplies. “I have been at restaurants around Barbados… I’ve also met some restaurants around Barbados that have indicated that they don’t have a problem; they never had a problem in all this so-called shortage,  they did not have a problem in terms of obtaining their regular supplies of poultry.”

Paul acknowledged disparities in access, acknowledging that some establishments and consumers have faced difficulties. “The needs, yes, are being met in some areas, and in some areas, they are not being met. But it does not mean to say that there has been a wholesale failure on the part of the industry.”

When pressed for a timeline on when poultry supplies might return to normal, Paul was reluctant to commit.

“I cannot give you a timeline,” he said. “Because previous timelines have been set based on what was given to me, and that did not turn out. So I would not on this occasion put my neck on the block for somebody to say, ‘I am responsible for something’. All I can do is report on what was said to me.”

Despite this, Paul remains optimistic about the long-term future of the sector. “I do believe that we do have the answers,” he said. “This is not a crisis; it’s a challenge—but one we can overcome together.” (RG)

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Amid the celebration of Thursday’s opening of the Marcus Garvey Amphitheatre in Queen’s Park, the Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration strongly objected to the location of the new cultural space, even as it welcomed the honour in the name of the Jamaican Black nationalist leader.

General Secretary David Denny insisted in a video statement posted on Facebook that the theatre should not be in a national park that is named after a member of Britain’s royal family, Queen Victoria.

“And that is because of the thinking and also because of the philosophy of Marcus Moziah Garvey. Garvey was a black revolutionary who defended African people in Africa and the Americas. Garvey built a black conscious movement for African people and for our liberation and I think if we want to honour Garvey, we should honour him with respect. So to place Marcus Moziah Garvey in Queen’s Park which is named after Queen Victoria of the royal family would be an insult.”

Against this backdrop, Denny urged the government to rename the park after Nanny Grigg, who played a major role in the General Bussa Rebellion.

“Nanny Grigg should be seen as our queen. Nanny Grigg would have participated in that Bussa rebellion by helping to educate the slaves and help to create some of the conditions for the Bussa rebellion.

So, therefore, we are saying as a movement that we do not support this idea about placing the Marcus Moziah Garvey Amphitheatre in Queen’s Park. If you want to do that, then you should change the name of Queen’s Park,” he said.

Denny called on pan-Africanists, socialists, the Rastafari community and all citizens who respect the philosophy and opinions of Garvey to object to the location “so that Marcus Moziah Garvey can sit in a proper park in  Bridgetown, Barbados.”

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It was not so long ago – three years to be exact – when hundreds of nurses in Barbados took to the streets to protest what they deemed “poor staffing and working conditions”, among other issues.

The straw that broke the camel’s back at the time was the contentious mandatory nasal swabbing or COVID-19 vaccination of nurses, which was to be implemented.

In December 2021, around 300 of the over 1 200 active nurses on the island staged strike action. By January, over 100 represented by the Unity Workers’ Union marched along the streets of Bridgetown with placards in hand, chanting: “All I want to say is that they don’t really care about us.”

Placards read: “Well overworked, severely underpaid”; “If we are essential treat us as such”; “Not all heroes wear capes”, “Invest in nurses and we will do the rest”; and “Safe staffing saves lives”.

The nurses went on to hold several marches after authorities failed to address their grievances.
Those nurses were harshly criticised on social media and on call-in radio programmes, with several persons calling on the healthcare workers to return to their duties.

Still, those brave few stood their ground.

At the time, not only were the nurses’ pay docked but Prime Minister Mia Mottley warned that their action could lead to “an unwarranted and potentially dangerous situation”.

She said at the time: “Are they really prepared to undermine the integrity, also, of an industrial relations system that is based on clearly established protocols that are globally recognised and respected? Our actions today will determine what is permissible conduct in the management of our industrial relations going forward.”

The action did not have the support of the Barbados Nursing Association. Then BNA president Valerie Francis-Miller said the association was adamant that a strike was not the way to resolve issues in the national health service and should have been handled differently.

She told Barbados TODAY: “Have some sit-downs with partners and say what the concerns are and have a positive way forward…and that is not to influence or compromise patient care. As nurses, we have a duty of care. Internationally, striking action is done differently for nurses and the action of all nurses coming out and abandoning patients…. That is not BNA’s nursing nature.”

During a press briefing on Wednesday, BNA President Fay Parris issued a dire warning that the healthcare system is under pressure.

Along with a nursing exodus, she cited unresolved issues, such as unpaid allowances and substandard working conditions, as key factors in the growing dissatisfaction among nurses.

“One area that is causing some unrest at this moment is the lack of uniforms and the non-payment of uniform allowance,” she said.

Additionally, four years after the COVID-19 pandemic, some nurses who worked on the frontline have yet to receive hazard allowances.

“So that is one of the issues that we are also putting on the table so that everybody feels recognised and that they are rewarded for their service,” Parris added.

Saying that the Ghanaian nurses who arrived in Barbados recently were here as a temporary measure, the BNA leader called on the government to address the issues by enhancing nurses’ remuneration and improving working conditions.

The argument back then that nurses striking during the COVID-19 pandemic was not the right time is plausible. We can debate the timing of the strike and protest marches of the disaffected nurses in 2021 and 2022, but what we cannot debate, by BNA’s admission on Wednesday, is that many, if not all the issues raised by those nurses still exist today.

One wonders if the BNA and other unions and medical associations had thrown their support behind those striking nurses if the outcome would have been different.

Maybe there would be no need for BNA to lament as it did Wednesday if the issues raised then were taken more seriously by the powers that be; if at least some of the concerns, such as hazard pay, were addressed; if there was evidence that working conditions were enhanced.

Hopefully, this is a lesson to nurses and other fraternities facing challenges that no matter what, a united front and a strong show of solidarity, will benefit all, not just those who choose to speak up and act.

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The two Saint Lucians who used another woman’s belief in witchcraft to dupe her out of tens of thousands of dollars in cash and jewellery, have each been fined $25 000.

Earlier this year, Sabina Isaie, 51, also known as Sabina John of Grosvenor Road, Carrington Village, St Michael and Petular Henry, 50, of Chase Gap, Halls Road, St Michael were both found guilty by a jury of 11 counts of theft, money laundering and putting off forged documents.

These include that they stole $21 690 in cash, six rings, two bangles, one chain and one pair of earrings valued at $2 995 belonging to Cynthia St Juste; and one chain with pendant and four pairs of earrings valued at $459 belonging to Helen St Juste. They also disposed of the cash and jewellery, being the proceeds of theft, between March 27, 2018, and June 7, 2018.

They were also found guilty that between May 18, 2018, and June 7, 2018, with intent to defraud Republic Bank Barbados Limited, they put off a job letter and three payslips bearing the letterhead of 2 Advanced Electronics, knowing the same to be forged; that with intent to defraud Republic Bank Barbados Limited, they put off three credit union statements bearing the letterhead of the Barbados Public Workers Cooperative Credit Union Limited, knowing the same to be forged; that with intent to defraud Republic Bank Barbados Limited, they put off one estimate bearing the letterhead of Advanced Electronics (1992), knowing the same to be forged; and that with intent to defraud Republic Bank Barbados Limited, they put off a telephone bill bearing the letterhead FLOW, knowing the same to be forged.

The two were also convicted of stealing $300 in cash belonging to St Juste on March 27, 2018, and disposing of the stolen money between March 27, 2018 and June 7, 2018.

During the sentencing hearing in the No. 5 Supreme Court, Madam Justice Pamela Beckles spoke about the victim impact statement and noted that Cynthia St Juste had been contacted by the accused persons who claimed to be able to tell her the person responsible for stealing money from her.

St Juste, who is also Saint Lucian, said she had grown up hearing stories about witchcraft and found it easy to believe the accused and eventually developed a fear due to threats that the accused would harm her family members and dog.

“The complainant did not know at this stage that the accused were getting the information from her niece who was residing with her and who was the person stealing money from her and passing on the information to one of the accused’s daughters who would then relay it to her mother. She therefore did whatever the accused persons demanded from her and parted with her money, jewellery and even her mother’s jewellery. She stated that the circumstances of the case had caused her much embarrassment and ridicule from her family and members of the community,” Justice Beckles said.

The judge noted that St Juste, while suffering financial loss as a result of the incident, did not want any compensation but wanted the two women to be jailed for what they had done.

Justice Beckles gave a starting sentence of six years for both the theft and money laundering offences and three years for the charges of putting off forged documents. Two years were deducted for several factors, including the duo’s favourable pre-sentence reports, and credit was given for the 249 days they spent on remand.

“I do not consider either of you to be a threat to society and, therefore, can find no basis for further incarcerating either of you,” the judge said, noting their previously clean records, their roles as mothers and breadwinners for their families, and that they had been gainfully employed.

She also stated that the court could not ignore the fact that Isaie’s youngest son had many health challenges and depended on her for his care.

“Studies have shown that the imprisonment of a father or mother entails the forcible separation of a child from parents and therefore impacts on the child’s rights under Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights. The sentencing court, it has been said, should therefore obtain information on dependent children and then conduct a balancing exercise weighing the rights of potentially affected children against the seriousness of the parent’s offence. This court has obtained this information and is of the view that the further incarceration of Ms Isaie would have a detrimental effect on this child,” Justice Beckles argued.

She ordered the women to each pay $12 500 on the first theft charge with Isaie to pay $7 000 forthwith and the balance in five months, while Henry was required to pay $5 000 forthwith and was given six months to settle the balance.

Regarding the first money laundering charge, both women were given 12 months to pay $12 500.

Failure to pay either fine will result in three years imprisonment.

Isaie and Henry were convicted, reprimanded and discharged on the other theft and money laundering charges, while the putting off forgery charges were given as time served.

Isaie will return to court on April 24, 2025, for review and Henry on May 27, 2025.

Principal State Counsel Olivia Davis prosecuted the matter. The two accused, who were self-represented during the trial, were represented by  King’s Counsel Michael Lashley in the sentencing stages.

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Five local non-profit organisations have been awarded the inaugural Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Member Lines’ Owen Arthur Scholarship Fund.

Those awarded US$5 000 (BDS$10 000) each were Unborn Justice, The SAVE Foundation, The Ashley Lashley Foundation, Lifelong Skills Training Inc., and Young Nature Conservationist Association.

The US$25 000 (BDS$50 000) Scholarship Fund, named in honour of the former Prime Minister of Barbados, the late Professor Owen Seymour Arthur, is an initiative of the FCCA’s Foundation charitable arm. It is intended to support the educational efforts of future generations throughout the Caribbean and honour Professor Arthur’s memory.

Speaking during the presentation on Wednesday, Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill noted that it was a proud moment for Barbados, and for the first cohort who will benefit from the Scholarship Fund.

He thanked the FCCA for choosing Barbados to be the first recipient.

Gooding-Edghill said: “The introduction of this scholarship reflects the close relationship cultivated between Barbados and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, and we’re humbled to have been chosen as the first Caribbean destination recipients. I must say that it is heartening to celebrate Mr Arthur’s legacy as a very strong Barbadian leader who played such an instrumental role in developing the country’s cruise industry partnerships….

“I take this opportunity to express sincere gratitude to the FCCA’s team and their own CEO, Michele Page, who worked closely with Mr Arthur over the years. We appreciate their commitment to spearheading initiatives, which aid in enhancing the welfare of the youth and empowering disenfranchised groups throughout Barbados and the region.”

Also attending the presentation ceremony was Arthur’s widow, Julie Arthur, who also served as one of the judges determining the scholarship awardees.

She extended congratulations to the scholarship fund recipients, noting that it was a significant achievement for them, having had their organisations “cemented in history’s page in being chosen to chart a new legacy and a path for Owen’s life work”.

She thanked Minister Gooding-Edghill, staff at the ministry, the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., the panel of judges, and especially the FCCA, for honouring her late husband by creating the scholarship fund.

“The entire Arthur family expresses heartful thanks to Michele Page, chief executive officer, the board of directors and the executive of the FCCA Foundation for, in a tangible way, recognising and memorialising the work my late husband would have done to advance the cruise industry and his commitment to investing in our young people in honouring him with this scholarship fund,” Arthur said.

She encouraged the awardees, as they pursued their various related endeavours, to always maintain the high standards for which her late husband was known and respected, and wished them success in their ventures.

Paige shared her thoughts about the Owen Arthur Scholarship Fund: “To all my friends in Barbados, I want to remind you, Owen Arthur was a very, very special man and he was my friend. We are so honoured that we are able to put into place this year the Owen Arthur Scholarship Fund. As you know, the children are our lifeline; they’re our future; that’s why it is so important that we do this to honour Owen Arthur.”

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The Ministry of Energy and Business has announced that a new Sustainable Energy Youth Empowerment Programme, set to launch next year, will be offering scholarships in refrigeration and air conditioning as well as motor vehicle technology.

The initiative, executed in collaboration with a local tertiary institution, is part of the government’s broader push to prepare the next generation for opportunities in renewable energy.

Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Kevin Hunte made the announcement on Thursday, during the Barbados Sustainable Energy Youth Forum, one of the flagship events for Energy Month this year. The forum is made possible with the assistance of the Inter-American Development Bank and the European Union.

The Sustainable Energy Youth Empowerment Programme will run for three years and offer scholarships in energy-related trades to help meet the country’s sustainable energy goals.

“We hope you will be able to benefit from these opportunities and others that are specifically crafted for you,” Hunte told the student audience at the forum.

He also encouraged the student audience to get in on the transition to renewable energy by using alternative sources of energy and reducing electricity usage where possible.

“We want to encourage you to promote energy conservation. So, turn off the light when you leave the room. Turn off the fans when you leave the room, for example. It is aimed at reducing the oil import bill and, more importantly, preserving our environment,” the permanent secretary advised.

Students were also encouraged to actively engage with experts and bring their newfound knowledge home.

“Ask your parents to see the electricity bill, break down what your household uses, and encourage energy-efficient practices,” Hunte said, further urging young people to pass on their knowledge to their parents, friends, colleagues, and neighbours.

Organiser of the forum and Project Manager in the Ministry of Energy, Rosalind Griffith highlighted the event’s focus on youth engagement in the renewable energy transition.

“Our aim is to continue to lay the foundation for a sustainable energy sector, and what better way to ensure that than by getting the youth plugged in as early as possible?” she said.

Griffith further noted the importance of preparing young people to capitalise on opportunities in the developing energy economy underscoring the opportunities it presents.

“Some [opportunities] may appear latent at this time, but they will emerge, and we want our youth to be ready to capitalise when they do,” she said.

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Aspiring entrepreneurs who honed their skills in the Community Impact Programme toasted a successful showcase at the Community Development Department on Thursday, as the event highlighted their creativity, determination, and potential for thriving businesses this festive season.

The exhibition and marketplace marked the culmination of a 12-week programme at seven community resource centres, offering courses in cosmetology, hair braiding, nail technology, and soap making, among other skills.

Acting Chief Community Development Officer Yolande Skeete said the programme was partly to boost participants’ sales.

“This is just a snippet of what would have been done during 2024, but the exhibition at this time is to showcase the products and have some publicity for the participants and of course, some sales as well,” she said.

Skeete revealed that more community and resource centres will participate in a larger exhibition next year at Sky Mall, in February.

“The participants are excited; they’re excited to have the opportunity to showcase their products and, of course, to get some sales as well,” she said.

One of the participants, cosmetologist Marisa Bynoe, completed the hair braiding course, learning knotless braids, box braids, rope twists, island twists, natural hair styling, and feeding cornrows. She described her experience as tremendously refreshing.

“My aim was to enhance my qualities and get better at learning what they’re doing. I can say going to the programme, my style and quality have increased by, I would say, by ten,” Bynoe said.

She hopes to see an influx of customers for the upcoming holidays.

“Thus far, since I’ve been here, I’ve had a couple of persons ask a lot of questions. So I’m hoping that for the Christmas season, I can see a ramp-up in the number of clients I have from coming here today.”

She advised Barbadians to participate in the free courses: “Take part in all of these activities that the community centres have to offer because there’s nothing like being self-employed and, you know, given what we went through in COVID, COVID told us that you needed to be self-sufficient.”

The cosmetologist added: “This will help especially persons who are finishing school. There’s the CAPE [Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination], there are so many things that can be done at the community centre, and they will encourage all persons to get involved.”

One of the hair braiding tutors, Shantelle Jones, proudly displayed her uniquely designed and styled mannequin heads adorned with Bajan colours. She said she challenged her students to style a head based on the theme, Barbadian Hairstyles 2024. Her creation depicted hair braided into the style of a hat on the head of a mannequin resembling President Dame Sandra Mason.

She hopes her students will gain many clients from the day’s exhibition: “You know, Christmas sales and hairdos for the season and a big set of clients who will pay.”

Jones described the experience of teaching 20 women as “awesome”.

“I also learnt other stuff from other students, and also I took my skills and put it to the students as well,” she said.

One of her younger students, Melissa Corbin, 17, proudly displayed her mannequin head styled in black, yellow, and blue braids, a product of the 12-week course. She said she learnt a lot from the programme, even though she was nervous at the beginning.

Another participant, Beverly Layne from the Briar Hall Resource Centre Group, said she and her team have been making products for seven years and hoped to see more people join so they could pass on their knowledge.

“We need to get some more seniors or younger ones in the group that would give the ones who were there before the opportunity to teach the ones that are coming in, so that we can expand and do more stuff – younger people that are active and willing to do the things that the older ones are doing,” Layne said.

Her group produces a variety of seasonings, such as pepper sauce and homemade curry powder, as well as skincare products, all made at the resource centre where they meet once a week.

The exhibition also showcased skincare and cosmetology products, handmade crafts, and clothing.

Participants joined from community resource centres in Briar Hall, Rices, Greens, Valley, Belleplaine, Boscobelle, Ellerton, and St Thomas.

(LG)

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Xavier Went is the winner of the local aspect of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Member Lines’ Junior Essay Competition on the topic, How can my country and cruise lines work together for more sustainable cruise calls?

The announcement was made at the presentation of awards on Wednesday at the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport in Warrens.

Went, who entered the competition while at St Lawrence Primary School and is now a student at The St Michael School, won a cruise voucher for two. His entry was submitted for the FCCA’s Junior Division Regional Essay Competition, as the winner of the local junior essay competition. In that competition, he placed third and was awarded a tablet. In recognition of his outstanding performance, St Lawrence Primary was awarded US$1 000.

Speaking on his first and third-place positions, he said: “It feels exhilarating as I wasn’t expecting to come third. I only expected to come first in the juniors, but I wasn’t expecting to come third in the regional.”

Mercedes Morris, a student of Queen’s College, who entered the competition while she was at the Imperial Private School, placed second in the local junior competition. She was awarded a staycation for two.

“I’m really grateful and happy that I won a prize,” she said. “It’s a really big achievement; it’s second out of the entire Barbados, so I’m really happy.”

The top three places in the senior division of the local essay competition went to Shamario Walkes of the Alexandra School; Nevaeh Holder of Queen’s College; and Malik Straker of the Lester Vaughan School, respectively. Walkes was awarded a cruise voucher for two; Holder got a staycation for two; and Straker received a day pass for two.

Holder said she was “extremely excited and happy to have come second in this competition because I wasn’t actually expecting to place…so I’m just grateful to be here”.

She and Went encouraged their peers to participate in the competition next year, advising students entering to do their research on the topic thoroughly to gain a holistic view and use personal experiences in their essays.

Speaking about the importance of the essay competition, Minister of Tourism Ian Gooding-Edghill said it represents the first steps of engagement with some of the island’s future tourism practitioners who will steer future innovations and influence positive change within the sector.

“Since 1995, Barbadian students have benefited from their participation in the FCCA’s Essay Competition. The initiative is part of the FCCA’s developmental programming to further the educational development of students around the Caribbean. This essay competition has been a critical starting point for young people to gain knowledge about the importance of cruise tourism, its benefits, and of course, the pertinent issues affecting our cruise industry,” he said.

“It also provides the opportunity for us to hear from young people, and again, from their perspectives regarding sustainable tourism expansion. Furthermore, it’s always enlightening when they express what measures can be put in place to enhance the visitor experience,” he added.

The minister thanked all the students who participated in the competition and extended congratulations to all winners “on a job well done”. (BGIS/BT)

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An impressive lineup of competitors is due to face the start line this weekend, as the Barbados Auto Racing League Inc (BARL) is hosting its annual Independence ¼ mile Acceleration Test this Saturday, Independence Day, at Bourbon, St Lucy. This will be the club’s third ¼ mile and second Independence event since returning to the Bourbon strip in June of last year.

Club chairman Stefan Hinds expects that Andre Bryan’s fastest time of 11.4336 seconds is likely to go down significantly. Bryan set that time in his two-wheel-drive Toyota Corolla SR at the 2023 Independence event. But a highly-anticipated clash between Steve King in the Percy King Auto Parts Nissan Skyline and Andre Waithe in the DRE Tuned Tuning Mitsubishi Colt should see both dip into the nine-second bracket in their four-wheel-drive machines.

The ongoing battle between the Ford and BMW camps will resume this Saturday. Sammy “The CEO” Cumberbatch is looking to turn the tables in his BMW E35 535 Turbo, having been narrowly beaten by 0.016 seconds by the Kennedy Leacock-owned Ford Escort MK1 Cosworth at their first meeting last June. Piloting the Escort this round will be engine builder and tuner Tommy Field, and the BMW camp is pulling out all stops to come out on top this weekend.

Another eagerly anticipated battle will be between stablemates Andre Droopy Bryan and Kevin Pizza Man Griffith in their Eastside AutoWorks prepared Toyota Corolla SR and Toyota Corolla DX machines, respectively. The pair will also face a strong challenge from the recently crowned Time Attack Champion Tremaine Forde-Catwell in a Datsun 1200 4AGE 20V Turbo.

The top 10 leaderboard stands as follows: 1st Steve King-11.224; 2nd Sammy Cumberbatch-11.24; 3rd Andre Bryan-11.4336; 4th Jerome Holder-11.578; 5th Kevin Griffith-11.917; 6th Tremaine Forde-Catwell-11.945; 7th Alec Doodnauth-12.2332; 8th Shane Bryan-12.25; 9th Brizane Best-12.39; and 10th Kevin Cumberbatch-12.6119.

With the progression in the level of competition since 2023, some drivers will have to fight on their hands to maintain their place in the top 10.

Hinds stated the day will be filled with action, food, and drinks on sale all day and DJ Naldo rocking the turntables. BARL is also partnering with the St Lucy Parish Church’s Bajan Doflicky and Karaoke which will be held in the church car park.

(PR)

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Veteran Barbados trainer Saffie Joseph Jr is going for a fourth straight Championship Meet trainer’s title, as the prestigious winter Thoroughbred show got underway on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Florida, USA.

“I feel like we are in a good position. We have the quality and we also have the numbers,” Joseph said on Wednesday. “We should have a good chance of doing it.”

Joseph, 37 years old, attained 66 wins in 2023-24 to lift his third trainers title in a row. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher had won 18 consecutive Championship Meet titles before Joseph claimed the 2021-22 crown with 58 wins and repeated in 2022-23 with 47 winners.

“Todd had won 18 in a row. We were the first one to beat him. It definitely gives you a boost,” Joseph admitted. “It’s the Championship Meet, quality winter racing. Everyone is watching Gulfstream at that time, so it’s a big accomplishment in my career. You hope you can keep going and build on it, so to repeat the next year was probably as big as the first year.”

Pletcher finished second last season with 37 winners. Joseph also won in excess of US $3.4 million in purse earnings.

Joseph runs Corinne and Bill Heiligbrodt’s Bellavinino in the $115,000 Wait a While Stakes. Drayden Van Dyke, who earlier this month teamed with Joseph to win the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) with Soul of an Angel, rides from post 7.

The Bajan champion also saddles Ramsey Pond in the Wait a While. Edgard Zayas will have the ride on the three-year-old filly from post 9 Soul of an Angel is being pointed toward the December 26 Rampart Stakes, a one-turn mile for fillies and mares that could advance her toward the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) February 22. The latter race is at 1 1/8 miles around one turn.

“If we decide to go to the Saudi race, she’ll go in the Rampart. If we change it, she’ll go to the Rampart and then the Madison at Keeneland,” Joseph said. “The key to her is one turn. She’s obviously decent at two turns, but at one turn, she’s a different quality of a horse.”

Joseph, who clinched his 11th consecutive title at Gulfstream during the Sunshine Meet, said multiple Grade 2 winner Skippylongstocking would also be pointed toward the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational. Skippylongstocking won the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) before defending his title in the Charles Town Classic (G2).

The Championship Meet will be highlighted by Gulfstream Park’s two marquee races, the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational on January 25 and the $1 million Florida Derby on March 29. The $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf remains the only other Grade 1 event on the schedule.

(Gulfstream)

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The Accident and Emergency Department (AED)  is again reporting a significant increase in the number of patients presenting for treatment with various medical complaints.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) assured the medical team is working to manage the current surge, but it is reminding members of the public to seek other options for medical assessment and treatment to avoid any extended wait in the department, particularly if the case is not urgent.
The hospital explained that life-threatening conditions, under the AED’s Triage System, will continue to be seen and treated immediately. Other individuals who present to AED with conditions considered less urgent during the current surge will in some cases have an extended wait for treatment.
The hospital advised patients to call the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS/Help Desk) at 536-4800 using regular or WhatsApp calls between 9 a.m. and midnight.
“Our medical personnel will be able to give an initial assessment and provide advice on your next course of action for treatment,” it said.
Patients are also urged to seek treatment at the 24-hour clinic at Winston Scott Polyclinic at Jemmotts Lane, St Michael or contact their private medical physician for advice on their condition.
The hospital assured that updates will be provided as AED medical team manages the surge, and apologised for the inconvenience caused.

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Students and staff at the Gordon Walters Primary are mourning the passing of teacher Judith Rowe-Spencer.
Spencer, who was on the job just yesterday, died at her home this morning, the Ministry of Education confirmed.
The news left students and staff visibly shaken and the ministry deployed a senior education officer and grief counsellors to the school this morning to offer counselling and support.
Once the counselling session had concluded and lunch was served, regular classes were suspended for the remainder of the day.
The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training has extended condolences to the family and friends of Rowe-Spencer.

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The Barbados National Standards Institution (BNSI) is poised to revolutionise the island’s infrastructure and address longstanding concerns about the quality of its roads with the introduction of an asphalt laboratory, set to be operational by early 2025.

The lab aims to improve the quality of road materials, support critical infrastructure projects like the airport runway, and further position Barbados as a leader in climate-resilient construction standards.

Acting Deputy Director of the BNSI, Fabian Scott, outlined the initiative during the 2024 BNSI Visibility Conference on Friday, noting that the procurement of specialised equipment is well underway, with some already on-island and others en route.

He also shared that training programmes for staff will run concurrently with the set-up of the lab for it to become operational in the shortest possible time.

“In the coming months, we are looking to set up a new asphalt laboratory. We are currently procuring the equipment, so some of the assets are on the sea and some are already here. We are just waiting to have the complete lot of equipment so we can begin to set up the lab,” Scott said.

“We also need to train people; we will be doing that simultaneously. New staff will be hired who have previous experience in working in and managing asphalt laboratories. We’ll be working with them to have the staff trained and certified.”

The lab, Scott said, is a response to longstanding concerns about road quality in Barbados. It will also provide testing services for specialised projects such as airport runways which, according to him, require adherence to stringent international standards.

“We are looking to ensure that the quality and grade of the asphalt we have here is good and superior. For example, the airport runway has very specific requirements and needs to be paved on a cycle. It is easier and more cost-effective for the construction firms who have been awarded the contract for paving the airport to come to us to get the testing done,” Scott said.

The BNSI representative further noted the lab’s importance in supporting the local economy, particularly construction firms.

“[We need] to have an internationally approved runway because if we don’t have a runway, we don’t have people, business… coming. So we are making that intervention as part of our support of the macro economy,” Scott added.

The facility will also benefit national road networks and private developments, offering testing to improve pavement durability.

“We do believe that it will help in a lot of ways with respect to our pavement programmes, so we look forward to having it up and running, ” Scott said.

Minister of Industry, Innovation, Science, and Technology, Marsha Caddle, commended the initiative, describing it as a major milestone for the region and the Barbados economy.

“Of all the things BNSI has worked on, the new asphalt lab and what it means for the region and the income-earning trajectory of the BNSI, is one that excites me. I know it’s targeted for completion in the next quarter of next year,” Caddle said.

She addressed public scepticism about the durability of roads, emphasising the importance of setting higher standards for materials and methods.

“There’s often a lot of conversation about the building of roads in Barbados. One of the areas of greatest conversation has to do with the notion that as soon as the road is built, then another agency has to come and carry out works that affect that road,” Caddle said.

She noted the role of ageing underground infrastructure and heavy machinery in contributing to road deterioration, linking these challenges to the lab’s importance.

“This is where BNSI comes in with respect to building methods, rehabilitation standards, and the quality of the material being used to make sure it fits our environment and is resilient,” the minister said.

Further noting the lab’s potential for regional and international influence, the minister said, “The lab will enable Barbados to set a standard for asphalt production that has to do with the effects of the climate crisis on our infrastructure and the increase in vehicular use. This is also an opportunity to provide the service to the region… and the world.”

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Manufacturers of registration number plates support the new requirement, which takes effect next Monday, for all licence plate makers to be registered annually with the Barbados Licensing Authority (BLA).

The change, which falls under a newly amended Road Traffic Act, is being implemented in a bid to regulate the trade and root out counterfeiters.

Under the law, only registered individuals and businesses will be authorised to make registration number plates and motorists will be expressly forbidden from obtaining plates from an unregistered manufacturer.

Kenneth Harris, a licence plate manufacturer based in The Pine, next door to the Licensing Authority, believes the regulation is long overdue.

“There are people out there making plates but they are not authorised to make plates,” Harris said. “They will just go and bring the machine and if their friend wants a plate, they make a plate in whatever style their friend needs.”

“The regulation is the letter height must be three inches and it must be a specific font that is used. And there are a lot of vehicles up there with different types of font on the road.”

Harris added that while the cost of registration may seem high, it is a necessary step to run his business which he has operated for years.

“I would say it is a little high, but if that is the cost, that is the cost. If you want to continue making plates, you have to pay the price,” he said.

Alfred Howard, a licence plate manufacturer with over 40 years of experience, was not discouraged by the new regulations.

“I don’t mind. If we have to pay $500 and then $200 yearly, that’s not a problem,” Howard said.

The BLA will on Monday begin accepting applications from current licence plate manufacturers and businesses interested in becoming certified.

To apply, individuals or businesses must provide the Licensing Authority with their name and address, the business or company details, a certificate of registration issued under the Registration of Business Names Act, or a certificate of incorporation issued under the Companies Act for registered companies. Any additional information requested by the BLA must also be submitted.

Application forms are available for download on the Barbados Licensing Authority’s website at bla.gov.bb. Once approved, the applicant must pay an initial fee of $500 to the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) to complete the registration process.

Upon payment, a certificate of registration will be issued, which must be displayed at the business premises. The certificate will be valid for one year from the date of issue.

Only certified manufacturers will be listed on the Licensing Authority’s website as authorised to produce and issue vehicle registration plates, the BLA said.

(LG)

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A retired Court of Appeal judge, a prominent entrepreneur, and a global public servant have been conferred with Barbados’ highest national honour for 2024.

Retired Justice Christopher Blackman, Richard Edghill, and Senator Elizabeth Thompson are this year’s recipients of the Order of Freedom of Barbados (OFB), as announced in the National Independence Day Honours List on Friday.

Justice Blackman is recognised for his distinguished judicial career as a Justice of Appeal and High Court Judge, his “exemplary service to Barbados, and his exceptional leadership” of the Constitutional Reform Commission. The first chairman of the Employment Rights Tribunal (ERT), he stepped down from that post to lead the commission.

The OFB, which is conferred for distinguished and extraordinary service to Barbados, the Caribbean, the Caribbean Diaspora, or humanity at large, also honours Thompson and Edghill for significant contributions in their respective fields.

Commenting on his award on the eve of Barbados’ 58th Anniversary of Independence and a week before his birthday, Justice Blackman expressed both surprise and gratitude. 

Senator Elizabeth Thompson.
(FP)

“I didn’t expect it. I am humbled to have been considered. Certainly, when I was growing up this had never crossed my mind, but I accepted it,” he told Barbados TODAY, as he expressed gratitude to those who made it possible for him to reach this stage. “It’s an early birthday present.”

Former Barbados Labour Party Cabinet minister Thompson is honoured for her international work as a public servant, particularly her efforts at the United Nations, and her role in addressing the climate crisis while promoting sustainable development for small island states.

Her work in the Senate and on the Parliamentary Reform Commission has also been honoured.

Thompson admitted the recognition came as a surprise but expressed deep gratitude.

“It is so overwhelming. It is such a tremendous shock, and I’ve been so deeply moved to have been considered. I have served my country for a very long time; it has been my honour and my pleasure to do so,” she told Barbados TODAY.

“But to be recognised in this way,” Thompson added, “I give thanks to God. I wish my parents were here. But I am grateful for the love and support of my sister and her friends who have kept me grounded over the years and a man who has supported me in the best and the worst of times.”

She also expressed gratitude to her former constituents in St James South, Thompson contended that their “overwhelming support”, going back to 1994 when she was first elected to the House of Assembly, kept her in public office and public life.

Prominent entrepreneur Richard Edghill is celebrated for his contributions to engineering, construction, and real estate, as well as his role in Barbados’ economic and environmental development.

Edghill is being conferred with the nation’s highest honour for his illustrious career as an engineer and contractor, as well as his sterling contributions to the construction, real estate, hospitality, and tourism industries in Barbados.

This recognition also acknowledges his renowned entrepreneurial endeavours, which have significantly contributed to the social, economic, and environmental development of Barbados.

The Order of Freedom of Barbados has also been awarded to two other global icons in an honorary capacity.

This honour acknowledges a distinguished person who is not a citizen of Barbados but whose contributions make it desirable for the nation to confer such recognition.

The recipients are Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and musical doyen Edmond Eddie Grant.

Prime Minister Modi is being honoured for his “leading role and reputation for responsiveness and care. Under his strategic leadership, the Government of the Republic of India took urgent action to assist countries like Barbados with Covishield vaccines, which changed the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and minimised its social and economic impacts”.

Grant is being cited for his exceptional achievements as a global cultural icon, innovator of unique music genres including soca and ringbang, vociferous promoter of indigenous music, socio-political commentator, and matchless talent as a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.

The OFB also honours Grant’s excellent contributions to the development of local, regional, and international recording artistes.

The 37 honourees on the 2024 list also include three recipients of the Order of the Republic, which recognises distinguished national achievement and merit.

General Superintendent of the Wesleyan Holiness Church and spiritual advisor to the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Reverend Dr Joel Cumberbatch, journalist and cultural promoter Anthony Altureo Al Gilkes, and entrepreneur Jeffrey Hoyte are being conferred with the nation’s second highest honour.

Rev Cumberbatch is receiving his accolade for his distinguished career as a spiritual advisor, administrator, and educator, including playing a leading role in revising the religious education curriculum throughout the Caribbean. His dedicated service to ministry and the church, particularly the local, regional, and international Wesleyan Holiness Church, and his outstanding contributions to youth and community development have also been recognised.

“It’s a good feeling. You know, as Christians we don’t serve with the view of getting rewards. But at least it is good to know that there are those who think highly of the work we have done and continue to do in our country and in the region as well,” the church leader told Barbados TODAY.

“And I want to thank all those concerned for the gesture, for the honour; and the truth is, I think it will further motivate me to continue to serve.”

Gilkes’ accolade is for his illustrious career as an activist, internationally acclaimed, award-winning investigative journalist, and a founding member of the Nation newspaper.

A well-known promoter, Gilkes is also being acknowledged for his outstanding accomplishments as a public relations and communications consultant and cultural entrepreneur, as well as his principal role in researching and reviving the former plantation celebrations that marked the end of the sugar cane harvest, leading to the launch of the inaugural Crop Over Festival.

Gilkes told Barbados TODAY he was delighted at being chosen for the award.

“I am very happy to have what I have done over the years – not only in entertainment/promotions and culture – recognised to the point where I am now the recipient of my second national honour for having made significant contributions to the two fields,” he stated.

Gilkes recalled that his first award was a Silver Crown of Merit (SCM) in 2007, specifically for his career in journalism.

“This award now will cover my extensive work in journalism as well as my extensive work in the field of entertainment and culture. I am not one to walk around and pat myself on my back, but it is gratifying and I am thankful that the powers that be have seen it possible to recognise me again,” Gilkes said.

Meanwhile, Hoyte’s award is for his nearly 60 years of distinguished work as an entrepreneur. His efforts paved the way for his extensive contributions to Barbados’ economic diversification. Hoyte’s notable achievements, innovation, and expertise in the retail, waste management, and green energy sectors, along with his unwavering dedication to providing employment opportunities, shaping the next generation of entrepreneurs, and building resilient communities, contributed to this recognition.

National awards are also being conferred on individuals who champion the cause of underserved children, philanthropy, meteorology and hydrology, theatre, the labour movement, education and community development, veterinary services, humanitarian work, Barbados’ indigenous sport of road tennis, the performing arts, nursing and healthcare, youth and community development, athletics and sports administration, with a focus on Special Olympics, and volunteerism and social activism.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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