Christmas 2024 just got a lot brighter for the 1 000 families of the One Family programme under the Ministry of People Empowerment & Elder Affairs (MPEA), thanks to a donation of $75 000.00 worth of grocery hampers from the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust (SLCT).

Representatives of SLCT, including Grand Patron and founding Trustee Derrick Smith, Trustee Pippa Challis, and Project Coordinator-Administrator Nekei Grant, were recently at One Family’s Warrens office to present the donation to the One Family Project Team.

Minister of People Empowerment Kirk Humphrey, Permanent Secretary Jehu Wiltshire, Social Development Project Manager Nicole Daniel and Project Officer Lisa Holder were present to receive the donation.

Minister Humphrey commended SLCT and thanked its Board of Trustees for their ongoing work in Barbados, and specifically with his ministry, noting that such partnerships could help break cycles of generational poverty in Barbados.

“The Government of Barbados is passionate about the objectives of this One Family project, and we believe in what we are doing. We see One Family as the first initiative with the potential to break the inter-generational cycles of poverty, a purpose and objective that traditional government agencies were not designed for. Traditional approaches have not been holistic enough, and One Family gives the first real opportunity to break that poverty exchange between generations,” Minister Humphrey said.

Commenting in response, Trustee Pippa Challis said SLCT was pleased with the ongoing amazing partnership with MPEA. She said One Family had positively impacted SLCT’s work regarding due diligence and background investigations necessary to make the outreach work more effective.

“Our partnership with the One Family Programme Team is truly beneficial to both organisations, as we work towards one common goal of achieving social change. Our ability to rely on the One Family team to provide accurate, timely and reliable information means that our assistance can reach the most deserving families. Whether it is providing beds, back-to-school supplies or food vouchers, we know that we are reaching the right families. That’s why this collaboration works for us, as much as it works for you.” Challis, further commends the team on their success with the programme thus far and the amazing job they are doing.

One Family Project Manager, Nicole Daniel, said the SLCT donation would significantly boost this year’s hamper donation drive, bringing much-needed supplies and tangible Christmas cheer to the 1 000 families and hundreds of children currently served by the Programme.

“One Family is not a hand-out programme but concentrates on holistic transformation to help every family reach a stage where they can give back to their communities and Barbados.”

(PR)

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Bougainvillea Barbados and Sugar Bay Barbados made joint contributions of BS$10 000 each to The Salvation Army, reinforcing their commitment to supporting the local community during this festive season.

The donations were graciously received by Major Denzil S. Walcott of The Salvation Army, who expressed gratitude for the support.

“These donations will directly benefit the charity’s initiatives, which are crucial in supporting the well-being of vulnerable individuals and families, particularly during the holiday season so we are happy to support The Salvation Army’s ongoing work in our community,” said Dominic Seale, General Manager of Bougainvillea Barbados.

“As a hospitality provider, we understand the importance of giving back, especially during this time of year. It is our hope that this donation will make a meaningful difference” said Both general managers, acknowledged the importance of partnerships with organizations like The Salvation Army to help address the pressing needs of the community. Major Denzil S. Walcott expressed his heartfelt thanks to both hotels for their generosity

“We are incredibly grateful for the continued support of Bougainvillea Barbados and Sugar Bay Barbados. This contribution will assist us in continuing our work of providing hope and help to those in need, especially during these challenging times.”

(PR)

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A new, exciting, and informative podcast is here!

Sagicor, a leading provider of insurance and financial solutions, has partnered with the University of The West Indies (UWI) and the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) to bring you The Wellness Effect, a groundbreaking podcast dedicated to health and well-being.

Launched on December 12, the podcast will be hosted once a month by Dr Kenneth Connell, President of the HCC and Deputy Dean of Recruitment and Outreach at the UWI Faculty of Medicine. He will be joined by co-host Professor Dwayne Devonish, Professor of Management and Organisational Behaviour at UWI.

The Wellness Effect provides a platform for in-depth discussions on wellness topics, offering expert insights designed to transform listeners’ health and well-being. The debut episode, which delves into the health impact of the festive season, highlights an important and often overlooked issue: the increased risk of sudden cardiac deaths during the holidays.

Dr Connell explained, “In the United States, the number one risk period in terms of incidents of heart attacks occurs on Christmas Eve, followed closely by New Year’s Day. These are two peak seasons. Stress causes a lot of changes in hormonal balances, including one important hormone called cortisol. This is thought to regulate your blood pressure and other risk factors such as blood sugar control. So, the risk really does increase (during this time); stress is really killing us slowly, but especially around the holidays. We also don’t sleep as well, so the whole biological rhythm is offset.”

Professor Devonish, emphasised the importance of promoting workplace wellness: “We are the only country that has a National Workplace Wellness Policy that seeks to advance healthy and well-working behaviours. So, like Sagicor, if you’re doing something that benefits employees’ health, it’s going to benefit the bottom line.”

In the inaugural episode, the hosts were also joined by Akil Ifill, Manager of Client Relations within Group Life and Health at Sagicor.

(PR)

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The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) is anticipating that this weekend will mark the busiest period at the Grantley Adams International Airport for the winter season thus far.

While delivering a report at the association’s final quarterly general meeting held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on Tuesday, Chairman Javon Griffith disclosed that Barbados will welcome more than 13 international flights from its source markets.

Notably, five of the 13 flights will originate from the New York area, underscoring the United States market’s growing significance to Barbadian tourism. The US has emerged as the main source market, remarkably overtaking the United Kingdom for the first time since 1994.

He said: “The industry has continued to achieve significant milestones, with impressive gains in visitor arrivals and overall industry growth. The island has recorded month-on-month growth every month this year, and this is expected to continue. This Saturday, we expect to have the single busiest day of the winter season at Grantley Adams International Airport. From the United States alone, we will welcome six American Airlines flights, three JetBlue Airways flights, one United Airlines flight, one Frontier Airlines flight, and two Delta Airlines flights, including their inaugural New York JFK to Bridgetown flight.

The aviation milestone accompanies impressive year-to-date performance figures. According to data from the Barbados Statistical Services, international arrivals have surged by 11 per cent between January and September, with 509 673 stay-over visitors compared to 451 491 in the same period last year.

American visitors have increased by 24 per cent, from 128 794 to 176 614 this year.

Other markets have also shown substantial growth. The Canadian market experienced a 14 per cent increase, rising from 54 258 to 63 228 stay-over visitors. The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) market saw a six per cent growth, with arrivals increasing from 65 627 to 70 309.

“The industry has continued to achieve significant milestones, with impressive gains in visitor arrivals and overall industry growth,” Griffith said. He noted that the island has recorded month-on-month growth throughout the year, a trend expected to continue into the new year.

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Over 3 000 children across the island will have their Christmas dreams come true this week as the Department of Community Development’s Christmas motorcade spreads festive joy, bringing gifts and goodwill to communities islandwide.

This marks the third year of the Christmas Caravan initiative, designed to brighten the season by delivering toys and gifts, especially to children, while fostering a spirit of community togetherness.

On Tuesday, the motorcade filled several St Michael communities with excitement, featuring Santa Claus and Minnie Mouse making stops to deliver gifts to delighted children in Kensington, New Orleans, Country Park Towers, Jackmans, Friendship, Nelson Street, London Bourne Towers, The Grotto, Bayville, and Bonnets.

Acting Chief Community Development Officer Yolande Skeete shared her delight at the initiative’s success: “Overwhelming just to see the joy on the faces of the little ones, as they receive gifts from Santa Claus and Minnie Mouse. It brings that whole aspect of Christmas and giving back to the community.”

She added: “It has been tremendous, so much so that we had to decide we are just going to spend 10-15 minutes in an area and then move off.”

Skeete also revealed that this year’s gifts were purchased without the support of sponsors: “The gifts are extremely good and we purchase them from A and B Housewares on Green Hill. We made sure that we got some gifts for the children, some gifts that they can have, not only for Christmas, but certainly, you know, well into the year.”

Looking to the future, Skeete said the department hopes to involve corporate sponsors and government officials.

“We did not seek sponsorship this year, but certainly we are going to corporate Barbados to bring them on board because we know the importance of ensuring that, you know, those entities that they are are also a part of what we do.”

On Wednesday, the motorcade will bring Christmas cheer to Christ Church and St Philip.

Acting Chief Community Development Officer, Yolande Skeete.

“We are going to make sure we impact Gall Hill, Silver Hill, just some areas we plan to visit, and Rock Hall in St Philip.”

Skeete explained that last year’s efforts focused on central and northern parishes.

“We did St Andrew, St Peter, St James, and St Lucy

and St Thomas. Parts of five parishes last year. We finished up close to midnight last year.”

She also noted that, given the challenge of reaching every area in a parish, pop-up events have become an integral part of their strategy.

“Before, we had one at Emmerton, we had one at Rock Hall. There is one scheduled for Station Hill, which is Andrew Allen, that is on Saturday, and then there was one at Drax Hall and Haggatt Hall. So there were like mini parties for the children, but certainly, you know, we try to impact, you know, as many persons as possible.” (LG)

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With just seven days left to reach its $850 000 Christmas Kettle target, the Salvation Army is urging Barbadians to make a final push to help those in need.

The charity has raised over $500 000 so far, said Paul Bernstein, chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, during the distribution of 4,000 Christmas hampers to families on Tuesday at the Army’s Reed Street headquarters.

He said: “We set a target of $850 000, as of today’s date we are now crossing $500 000, we still have $350 000 to reach the target and we only have a few more days to go. We are hoping that the public of Barbados will be aware and make an extra effort.”

Bernstein revealed that, in previous years, public donations have increased in the final days of the appeal.

“We have done this in the past where, in the last week or two, people have come out very favourably and supported us. So we are hoping that will happen again. As you can see, we give out 4,000 hampers, and we feed over 300 people every day,” he said.

“It’s not only about giving out hampers at Christmas; we provide a year-long service, and 85 to 90 per cent of the money that we collect goes towards charity. Once people are aware of that, we will get the support.”

He added: “All mail appeals that come in January and that were sent out in December will go towards that as well.”

The brief ceremony was attended by the President of Barbados, Dame Sandra Mason, who expressed her appreciation for the work of both the Barbados Police Service Band and the Salvation Army, acknowledging the need for kindness and support not just at Christmas but throughout the year.

She said: “Some of you have come to receive your hampers; remember that what you get, you should share with your neighbours, because this year’s theme is Be a good neighbour. So whatever you have, whatever you get today, look and see if your next-door neighbour could use a little bit of what you’ve been given.”

Bernstein urged the public to make an extra effort to donate to the charity in support of those in need: “We’re hoping that the public of Barbados will recognise what we do and will be generous and come out and support us in terms of the number of people seeking assistance.”

He noted an increase in people needing clothing. “We need clothes too. People come in all the time and, wherever we can, we assist with everything. So clothing is very important as well. People have a lot of clothes that they don’t use, and people come here begging for something to wear.”

He acknowledged that while there is an increase in people needing assistance, donations have been declining.

Bernstein said: “Donations have cut back a bit, I guess because of the cost of living and people’s commitments. We are not the only charity; people give to other charities as well, so they split their donations. But for us to be behind, obviously, we’re seeing a decline.”

The Salvation Army’s divisional business manager, Sherma Evelyn, underscored the importance of the community being aware of where the funds go: “It is very important that people know we don’t keep it; we give it back to our neighbours so that we can assist someone.”

(LG)

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Popular fabric and home décor store Abed’s has opened a new store in Welches, St Thomas, after nearly two years of planning and preparation.

The new store occupies two spacious storeys and provides a completely different shopping experience for customers.

Nikita Abed-Caplen, brand director at Abed’s, expressed excitement about finally opening the store located in a new business development in Welches.

She shared that the store offers a broader selection of items: “We have some new items that we don’t currently have in our other stores, and there are many more expanded product ranges to come.”

With a team of 40 to 50 staff members, many of whom have been training since the summer, the store is ready to serve its customers, she said.

“We’re so happy to see both new and some of the experienced staff members now up here. So many of our beloved team are here, so I’m sure customers will spot lots of people that they know from both of our stores.”

Abed-Caplen revealed that the store is currently open from 9 am to 8 pm, with adjusted hours for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

“We’re just so excited to have people in before Christmas, our home décor collection is full. We’ve got a bit of something for everyone, from beautiful curtains and chairs and blackout panels to gorgeous faux flowers, plants, and of course our new expanded collection of accent furniture and tables. We have cushions, we have glassware, we have crockery, we have pillows and bedding and comforter sets and you name it, it’s here.”

She added: “So no matter what room you’re looking at sprucing up for the holidays, to welcome friends and family there, we hope you come by and see what we’ve got here.”

(LG)

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Motorists will have a three-month grace period to comply with new regulations on vehicle tints after the law comes into force in January 2025, Attorney General Dale Marshall confirmed in Parliament on Tuesday.

Marshall explained that while the legislation to amend the Road Traffic Act and related regulations have been prepared and laid in Parliament, debate will be deferred to early January 2025.

The delay ensures that tint meters, which are critical for enforcement, arrive on the island without shipping disruptions during the Christmas season.

“Matters relating to the acquisition of the best available tint meters are well in hand, and these tint meters have been ordered and are en route to Barbados,” Marshall said.

Once enacted, the regulations will take effect immediately, but Marshall reassured motorists that a threemonth grace period will allow vehicle owners sufficient time to ensure compliance with the new rules.

“These measures will not prohibit the use of tints but will restrict excessively dark tints that obscure visibility into vehicles,” he noted, adding that this aligns with global standards aimed at improving public safety.

The attorney general stressed that the initiative is intended to enhance the effectiveness of The Barbados Police Service as it works to secure a safer Barbados.

“This measure seeks to protect the interests of all Barbadians, and we look forward to the public’s fullest cooperation in the new year,” he said.

The announcement follows public dialogue since the prime minister’s initial revelation of the regulations in September 2024.

The grace period will allow drivers and vehicle owners to make necessary adjustments before enforcement begins.

(SM)

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As Barbados’ political leadership attempts to address many of the issues confronting society like the destabilising rise in serious crime, there must be an admission that not every problem can be solved through legislation.

As societies evolve, they are going to be challenged with new and evolving difficulties to which traditional prescriptions may not be as effective as expected.

Today, the scourge of gun violence is tormenting citizens of almost every Caribbean society. Barbados, though relatively safe with a violent crime problem that does not reach the levels as have affected some of its neighbours, is by no means insulated.

The island has already reported a record high number of murders, at 49, and residents are hoping that murder cases do not reach the 50 mark.

Dale Marshall, the island’s Attorney General and Member of Parliament for St Joseph, put it simply, “We cannot continue on our current path.”

As he addressed the Latin America and Caribbean Security and Justice Summit which was staged in Barbados days ago, Marshall said the 49 murders for 2024 was the highest in the country’s history.

He conceded there was a need to abandon what he termed outdated crime-fighting methods and for a strategic shift to more sophisticated, data-driven strategies.

Furthermore, Mr Marshall holds the view that beating  back crime will require more advanced and collaborative efforts between agencies and groups.

It is an entirely reasonable position to take as criminals have become more sophisticated and more diabolical. The mass shooting in The City earlier this year when three men were gunned down and several others injured during an early morning attack on a bar, as well as the reported kidnap, torture and killing of two St Philip men, represented a defining, hellish turn in the manner of crime on the island.

With the majority of murders resulting from shootings, it is the possession of guns, and access to these deadly weapons that is most disturbing for Barbadians.

Important also, is the seeming glamorisation of the gun lifestyle. It emanates from the movies, music, video games, and more. This pervasive presence of guns in our cultural and media ecosystem is being blamed, in part, for the situation which confronts this nation.

In the midst of the search for solutions, has come a proposal from the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations (CTUSAB) for a national ban on the importation and sale of toy guns.

To many who support the concept, this was a quick, easy fix. Remove the toy guns from the sight of children and half the problem is solved.

General Secretary of CTUSAB, Dennis de Penza argued that just as marijuana was seen as a gateway drug to much more destructive narcotics, toy guns represented a gateway to the real firearms.

“This is something I feel very, very strongly about,” de Peiza assessed, arguing that toy guns were providing practice to make perfect the shooting skills.

In the General Secretary’s estimation any “right-thinking government” that wanted to take action at the base of the problem would pursue measures that attacked the culture surrounding guns.

Newly minted president of CTUSAB Ryan Phillips comes from a law enforcement background as an experienced and well-respected prison officer who has also served internationally.

His position on the issue is rather dogmatic. If there is no evidence that toy guns are beneficial to the society, then they needed to be banned.

There is irrefutable evidence that “mock guns” have been used to commit crimes as the image of gun drives so much fear into the heart of potential victims of crime that there is no contemplation that the weapon could be a fake.

Those who do not see the point of such a heavy-handed move argue that toy guns have been around for ages, that gun-toting bad men have been in our movies and in the popular Westerns genre, so why deprive children now.

Taylor & Francis, a British-based company that publishes peer reviewed journals and articles, offered an interesting perspective in a 2021 article titled Boys, weapon toys, war play and meaning-making: prohibiting play in early childhood education settings?

The research found that teachers enforced stereotypes that certain toys were suitable for boys and that there was “a greater acceptance of boys’ playing with toy guns and weapons”.

The point is that a decision on the banning of toy guns is just part of a much bigger issue that requires deep research and not superficial responses.

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Crime Prevention Officer with The Barbados Police Service, Inspector Roger Babb, is warning householders, especially the vulnerable, to be careful when interacting with persons purporting to be from private and governmental organisations offering assistance with issues at their home.

In addition, Inspector Babb said the public should beware of persons offering items for trade.

He stressed that criminals will try various schemes to commit crime, and encouraged the public to consider the following crime prevention tips to minimise the risk of being a victim.

• Always ask for identification and check it carefully before allowing an uninvited person into your home.
• Use the services of persons you know and trust.
• If in doubt, don’t open the door.
• Don’t be coerced into making a quick decision.
• Never pay cash up front, or go to a bank or ATM with anyone offering you help.
• Be cautious with individuals offering items for trade, you do not have to engage them.

Con artists can be persuasive and aggressive; if you feel intimidated by them, call the police at 211.

(BGIS)

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Housing Minister Dwight Sutherland has given assurances to the nation that despite setbacks, the government’s ambitious 10,000-home construction project is finally gaining momentum, with significant progress expected in the new year under its HOPE and steel-frame housing initiatives.

Initially, the government set an ambitious target of constructing 10 000 houses in five years to address the backlog of 20 000 applications at the National Housing Corporation (NHC). The houses were to be constructed in-house via the NHC, in collaboration with the Rural Development Commission (RDC), Urban Development Commission (UDC), Home Ownership Providing Energy (HOPE), and through joint ventures with the private sector.

But over the past three years, only 1 337 houses have been constructed due to challenges with labour, weather, land acquisition, and shipping delays, the minister acknowledged.

As he opened Solaris Court housing project at White Park Road, St Michael, Sutherland provided a breakdown of the housing project, adding that construction is expected to accelerate in the new year, particularly under the HOPE project and the steel-frame housing initiative.

The minister reported that 974 of the 1337 houses were built by the public sector, while the private sector accounted for 349. Public sector housing solutions were delivered through the East-West Project, HOPE Inc, NHC’s Joint Venture programme, the Hurricane Elsa project, and the ministry’s relocation projects.

Under HOPE, 146 houses were completed, including 75 at Vespera Gardens, Lancaster, St James, and 11 Duravilla houses at Clifden, St Philip.

In relation to the Hurricane Elsa rebuilds, 513 homes were reconstructed by the UDC, RDC, and NHC, while 679 homes were repaired. The government spent over $58 million on rebuilds and $27 million on repairs.

For residents affected by land slippage or requiring relocation due to squatting, 29 homes were rebuilt. These included five residents relocated from White Hill, St Andrew, and 20 from Rock Hall, St Philip.

Under the East-West Project, which involves expert Chinese steel-frame housing contractors, 95 housing solutions were erected, comprising single detached units, quadruplexes, and duplexes. An additional 22 units are at various stages of construction in Bullens, St James; Sargeants Village, Christ Church; and River Crescent, St Philip. Another 33 units are expected to be completed at Dodds North by May 2025.

Sutherland acknowledged the challenges surrounding the East-West Project. Following Hurricane Elsa in 2021, the government sought to purchase 150 light gauge steel-frame houses, but delays in shipping and labour-related issues, including visa and paperwork challenges for contractors, caused significant setbacks. The project also faced substantial cost overruns, rising from an estimated $23.64 million to $52.72 million.

This issue garnered widespread media attention and became a hot topic on the radio call-in programme Down To Brass Tacks, where callers expressed frustration over the steel frames reportedly rusting at a storage facility in Six Roads, St Philip.

He said: “We have 25 Chinese workers in the country; back then they couldn’t come in because of challenges with transit visas, but they were able to clear that, and that’s why we saw such speed occurring . . . The material that has been used to construct these East-West houses are the materials that have been floating about social media in Six Roads. I encourage people to go to Six Roads and have a look and see now what is the state of Six Roads where we stored the containers for these houses. It is a totally different state; we have utilised all of that material . . . And I say without any apology that we have solved the problems that we had with the East-West Project and we will soon deliver the East-West Project to you, the 150 houses to you.”

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb

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Real Madrid are the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 2024 champions after beating Pachuca 3-0 in Wednesday’s final.

Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr were on target for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who rounded off a superb year in style at Lusail Stadium.

“These two days have been incredible for me,” said Vinicius Jr. “Yesterday, I received the award for best player in the world – and today I came here and won and was named the best player of the match.”

Exactly two years after scoring a hat-trick at the same venue in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final, Mbappe applied the finishing touch to a slick team move to put Madrid in front. Jude Bellingham played in Vinicius Jr, who produced some dazzling footwork to take the ball around Pachuca goalkeeper Carlos Moreno, before squaring for the Frenchman to slot into an empty net.

Pachuca had, in fact, started the game brightly and Luis Rodriguez fired an early warning shot, but Thibaut Courtois was equal to his powerful drive.

Madrid, however, gradually started to stamp their authority on the game and, after Mbappe put them ahead, the striker almost made it 2-0 when he rifled a 20-yard shot just past the post.

Madrid would double their advantage just after half-time, with Rodrygo curling home wonderful effort from the edge of the penalty area. There was a VAR review as Bellingham was standing in an offside position when Rodrygo took aim, but the referee judged he was not interfering.

Pachuca, to their credit, refused to buckle and captain Salomon Rondon saw a sweetly struck free-kick well saved by Courtois. The veteran striker then went even closer to reducing the deficit when his header went inches over the bar.

Madrid, however, put the game beyond doubt late in the piece. Vinicius – fresh from being named The Best FIFA Men’s Player on Tuesday night – converted an 84th-minute penalty to crown a dream trip to Qatar for the Brazilian.

Award winners

Aramco Player of the Tournament: Vinicius Jr

adidas Golden Ball: Vinicius Jr

(FIFA)

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Barbados has secured a fresh injection of US$56 million ($112 million) from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after exceeding expectations in its fourth programme review, signalling strong economic growth and impressive strides in climate resilience initiatives.

The funds come as the country continues to impress international partners with its homegrown economic recovery and transformation plan, BERT 2022, and its climate policy agenda.

The IMF Executive Board review also underscored that the country’s economic growth remained “robust” in 2024, further meeting all structural benchmarks under the programmes.

The new disbursement includes US$19 million ($38 million) under the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and US$37 million ($74 million) under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), bringing the combined total payout to some US$242 million.

This financial injection further supports the government’s economic recovery and climate resilience efforts.

In its review, the IMF praised the progress of the BERT 2022 and what it described as the island’s ambitious climate policy agenda.

“The implementation of Barbados’ homegrown Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) programme and its ambitious climate policy agenda remains strong, supported by the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) arrangement,” saidIMF Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, Bo Li, in a statement.

The release highlighted the expansion of the country’s economy by 3.9 per cent between January and September 2024, driven by growth in tourism, business services, and construction.

It further highlighted that unemployment fell to its lowest level since 2008 in the first half of the year, while inflation moderated due to easing global commodity prices and lower domestic service costs.

The IMF also noted the strength of Barbados’ external position, with the current account deficit narrowing to 5 per cent of GDP during the first nine months of the year and international reserves reaching US$1.6 billion, providing over seven months of import cover.

Despite these positive developments, the IMF acknowledged ongoing vulnerabilities.

“While the outlook is positive, Barbados remains vulnerable to global shocks, climate change, and natural disasters, as demonstrated by Hurricane Beryl,” Li noted, highlighting the damage it caused to the fishing sector and coastal infrastructure.

The statement, however, noted that the macroeconomic impact was moderate due to the timing of the hurricane during the off-peak tourist season.

Barbados met all quantitative performance criteria, indicative targets, and structural benchmarks for the fourth review under the EFF.

The release shared that the government comfortably exceeded its primary fiscal surplus target for the first half of the 2024/25 financial year and is on course to meet its year-end goal of 3.8 per cent of revised GDP.

It further stated that public debt declined to approximately 105 per cent of GDP by the end of September 2024 and that authorities remain committed to achieving a debt-to-GDP ratio of 60 per cent by 2035.

Li also noted that critical progress is being made on fiscal reforms, including strengthening revenue administration, improving public financial management, and enhancing public investment and procurement.

“These measures are critical to preserve fiscal sustainability and create space for public investment,” he stated.

“Efforts are also ongoing to achieve more inclusive and sustainable growth, with a focus on strengthening the business environment, mobilising domestic savings, and investing in skills and education.”

Li highlighted the importance of the exchange rate peg, describing it as “a key anchor for macroeconomic stability”.

Following the country’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, he urged the government to maintain momentum to strengthen its anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) framework.

Hailing strides made by the government on its climate policy agenda, Li acknowledged the new Electricity Supply Bill which was tabled to promote competition in the electricity market and encourage renewable energy investments.

He also noted that the Central Bank of Barbados has adopted a strategy to monitor and assess climate change risks, safeguarding financial stability and resilience.

The IMF top official further praised the government’s innovative debt-for-climate swap, which will generate savings for investments in water supply resilience, environmental sustainability, and food security, with Li commending the island’s efforts to mobilise international climate financing. 

shannamoore@barbadostoday.bb

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World Athletics president Lord Coe is convinced “real deal” and newly crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year Keely Hodgkinson has already ascended to British great status.

Hodgkinson surged to surprise 800 metres silver at the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics before meeting expectations as the favourite to claim her first Olympic gold in Paris this year.

The 22-year-old has, since Tokyo, twice collected silver at world championships, and will look to go one step further at the 2025 worlds next September in Japan.

“She’s there,” said Coe, when asked about Hodgkinson’s status in the British pantheon. “She’s there. You don’t win a Europeans and an Olympics and effectively smash a national record that has stood for a long time, and finish number two on the ranking list in the world, without being there.

“I think the question is how long will she be able to maintain that, from being so relatively young in doing that?

“But, yeah, she’s up there. I would be hard pushed to place any female athlete significantly above her in the history of our sport in the last 50 years.”

Hodgkinson ran a personal 800 metres best of 1:54.61 at the London Diamond League meet in July, still some way off Jarmila Kratochvilova’s world record 1:53.28.

Asked if the Briton would be capable of going under the Czech athlete’s 41-year-old marker, two-time Olympic 1500 metres champion Coe replied: “I’d love to see that for all sorts of reasons, actually.

“I’d love to see it because I think she’s the real deal. She’s already going to finish her career with something I never managed, which is an Olympic title at 800. I tried it twice, so I take my hat off to her.

“Look, a second is a lot in athletics, it’s a huge gap, but I just think she’s got the scope and the ability, and she’s got the coaching structure as well.

“She comes from a very good endurance base, and she is what I would describe as a slightly old-fashioned 800-metre runner, and that may be helpful.

“I’m also probably going to get a massive post bag on this, but I think it also helps that she comes from the northern athletics tradition, which does understand the nature of cross country, and real endurance-based athletics.

“So I think she can make that. I think she can bridge that gap, but I don’t kid myself.

“One second, in reality, is a distance. But I think she’s got the scope and the capability, and she’s certainly got the coaching structures.”

Coe was quick to point out that it was someone from athletics, middle and long-distance runner Christopher Chataway, who was crowned the inaugural Sports Personality of the Year winner in 1954.

The current World Athletics chief won it himself in 1979 – before claiming Olympic gold in Moscow and Los Angeles – and was twice a runner-up, while Sir Mo Farah’s turn in 2017 was the last time someone from athletics took home the prize.

Asked what impact the win might have for Hodgkinson, Coe replied: “I don’t know what the viewing figures are right now but it’s not going to hurt her.

“The fact that there’s conjecture and people are talking about her and (were) talking about the sport in the lead-up can only be a good thing.”

(Independent)

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The minister responsible for housing and lands, Dwight Sutherland has vigorously defended the government’s ambitious initiative to build 10 000 houses in a short time frame, despite mounting criticism over the use of prime agricultural land for some projects.

Sutherland said the programme was being guided by science and was in line with the amended Physical Development Plan.

He was responding to critics who condemned the government’s decision to convert 6.35 acres of land at the Bullen agricultural station in St James. The  project will see the creation of a new residential development featuring 36 housing units, a children’s home, and an entrepreneurial centre.

Stressing that the project was not being done willy-nilly, he told the audience during  the National Housing Corporation’s official launch of Solaris Court, at White Park Road, St Michael on Wednesday: “Don’t listen to the naysayers and the commentators about us taking up agricultural land; they have their jobs to do . . . Any good planner would tell you our lands are agricultural land. There is a Physical Development Plan that we follow and it was passed in the House of Parliament; anyone can pick it up and read it. The Physical Development Plan [was] led by Senior Minister Dr William Duguid and it [was developed using scientific methods]; when we take up land it is not done arbitrarily.

“Agriculture has its rightful place in this country; [it] is one of the key ministries. We don’t fight for space for land. Every single Cabinet paper that is prepared within the Ministry of Housing and Lands and Maintenance goes to [the Ministry of] Finance and [the Ministry of Agriculture] when it comes to the use of land; even if it is private land, it goes to the [Ministry of] Agriculture for comments. We sit around a table as a Cabinet and we address it, and if it is a no, yours truly, the prime minister will tell us it’s a ‘no’. We do it by science and we do it orderly and cordially.”

Over the past several months, residents and leading agricultural figures have publicly vented their concerns about arable land being repurposed for commercial and housing developments.

Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society James Paul said there was a ‘worrying trend’ of large-scale landowners allowing their fertile land to run into bush and then applying for a change of use to the Planning and Development Department.

He was referring to a sign advertising 16.91 acres of land for sale and approved for commercial development at Constant Plantation in St George back in August.

In April, several residents in Bannatyne, Christ Church objected to the development of 12.2 acres of land at the historic Newton Plantation, which houses a slave burial ground, from being subdivided into a housing project of 58 lots. The Planning and Development Department rejected the proposal in August, stating that it conflicted with growth management policies in the approved Physical Development Plan 2023.

Sutherland acknowledged how expensive it was for the average Barbadian to own the proverbial ‘piece of the rock’, adding that through the ambitious 10 000-houses scheme, the government was capping the price of land, building materials, and labour.

He said it was the dream of every Bajan to own their own home, pointing out that housing solutions could also be used as a strategy to address the surge in criminal activity on a long-term basis.

Sutherland said the home and family were the first agents of socialisation and if there was not a proper foundation in which children could grow and develop, they could go down a negative path.

He said: “We believe the time has come that if you truly want to address crime, we have to do it through housing. Gone are the days when we built housing units without recognising that we need to put social workers in these facilities, policemen in these facilities, and public servants in these facilities. Why? These become mentors for these little children. So we eliminate a society of persons who you or some would want to call problematic.

“Some people turn to crime and some people turn to behaviour that is not socially acceptable because they have not been surrounded or given the opportunity to do something else that is wholesome. When you build housing units with social workers, policemen, public officials, and teachers, we are creating an equitable, just, and developed society where our young people can indeed flourish and become global citizens with Bajan roots. That is exactly what we are doing here; you know housing is a very powerful instrument . . . and we’re using it to impact the quality of life of people.” (SZB)

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A leading academic has weighed in on calls for a ban on toy guns in Barbados, arguing that such measures are misguided and ineffective in addressing the root causes of gun violence.

Professor Dwayne Devonish, a management and organisational behaviour expert at the University of the West Indies, insists that parental guidance and community intervention hold the key to curbing youth delinquency and crime.

Professor Devonish spoke to Barbados TODAY in response to the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) urging authorities to ban toy guns, claiming these seemingly harmless items were inadvertently fostering a culture of violence among the nation’s youth.

The professor dismissed the idea as ineffective, emphasising that there is no scientific evidence linking childhood play with toy guns to violent behaviour involving real firearms in adulthood.

He said: “I don’t think a wholesale ban on the importation of the sale of toy guns is going to make any dent into the gun violence situation.

 “I understand where their head space is, [because] there is this anecdotal belief that toy guns can desensitise children to the dangers of real firearms by making the guns appear harmless and fun, but let me just say here, I am a believer in science. Based on my research there is no sufficient evidence to confirm that the use or play of toy guns with children, will translate to the use of illicit firearms for violent purposes in adulthood.”

Professor Devonish also warned against the broader implications of banning toy guns.

“It creates a slippery slope context, in the sense that if you want to ban toy guns, what would stop you now from banning video games with gun violence, or movies and cartoons involving gun violence? I don’t think it’s a substantive recommendation,” he said.

He added: “I think we should focus more on poor parenting, mental issues, and exposure to actual violence that children might be enduring or experiencing. Those are more significant contributors. There is a responsibility and role with parents or guardians to guide and educate children on the difference between play and real violence. [Banning toys] is a slippery slope situation I think we should avoid.”

Professor Devonish called for a more robust approach to tackle gun violence at its core. He urged The Barbados Police Service and law enforcement agencies to intensify efforts to combat the importation, sale, and transfer of illicit firearms within communities.

“We need to get much more aggressive. The Barbados Police Service and law enforcement need to get extra aggressive in terms of cracking down on the importation and the sale and transfer of illicit firearms in this country,” he explained. “We need to arrest the problem at the core level of the communities and the spaces in which these illicit firearms are being exchanged and traded.”

He stressed: “[We need] to have much more medium to long-term interventions like conflict resolution, community programming [and] policing needs to improve. We need to look at our education system, we need to have a great influx of counsellors at the primary and secondary schools, and parents and guardians need the support from interventionists to help manage the at-risk situations they are facing.” 

shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb

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This festive season, 200 girls experienced the joy of giving and receiving, thanks to a remarkable initiative that brought together a coalition of organisations committed to uplifting communities and nurturing the next generation.

The gift-giving initiative is a collaboration between the I Am a Girl Non-Governmental Organization, the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, the Barbados Tourism Marketing Incorporated, Rhapsody of the Seas, and Diamonds International.

The presentation was held at the Holy Innocents’ Primary School in St. Thomas.

Alien Olliviere, Founder of the I Am a Girl NGO, expressed her gratitude towards the partners of the project: “Those who made today possible, we thank you. You showed that your health is helpful by ensuring that love was spread in abundance. This Christmas season, your contribution, whether to time, resources or experience, is not just appreciated. It is absolutely vital kindness, generosity, and empathy.”

According to the CEO of BTMI, Andrea Franklin, initiatives like these uplift children and showcase the heart of Barbados to the world.

She said: “We are delighted to bring a little light to the lives of 200 young children from across our island, ensuring they receive some extra cheer this Christmas season. These gifts represent more than just tangible items; they are symbols of love, care, and a commitment to nurturing the next generation.”

Franklin also highlighted the opportunity this presentation provided: “This gift-giving project therefore underscores our shared values of compassion, connection, community, and most importantly, creating a positive circle of support for our children. This also creates an opportunity for us to come into the community and tell you a little bit more, to showcase a little bit more of what tourism really is.”

Principal of Holy Innocents’, Jacqueline Brome, expressed gratitude for partnering with the school to bring holiday cheer to the children: “This event for Christmas time is a time of sharing, and we have truly appreciated that you have chosen the children of our school to be the recipients of these gifts, as well as the children from the I Am a Girl NGO. The students are delighted, and we are sure that they will treasure this generous donation that the sponsors have so graciously extended.”

She also mentioned that the event serves as a tangible way to bring curriculum concepts to life.

“This activity is evidence of tourism at work, and in particular cruise tourism. The value of generosity is also being demonstrated; the students throughout the term and the year would have been given opportunities to share, and now they are receiving. They will also be reminded that for whom much is given, much is expected.”

Franklin explained the benefits of the collaboration with its partners: “Our collaboration today highlights the powerful role tourism can play in fostering goodwill and bringing positive change to our communities.”

She called on the children to be ambassadors for Barbados: “We want all of you, as you go about your daily life, to be ambassadors for this country as well. I hope today fills your heart with joy and reminds you that you are deeply valued and cherished. You represent the future of Barbados, and we are committed to ensuring that you continue to have opportunities to grow, thrive, and shine.”

(LG)

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Patrons can explore the all new Christmas Market before the show this year.

 Mahalia’s Corner, the popular talent showcase by homegrown internationally acclaimed group, 2 Mile Hill, is back with a special Christmas Corner at Wyndham Grand Barbados on Sunday, December 22nd at 8 p.m.

The CIBC Mahalia’s Christmas Corner, a highlight on the local holiday calendar since it began in 2014, is a magical Christmas themed night, featuring musical delights from seasoned entertainers and talented newcomers as well. The 2024 lineup includes Krisirie, Raphael Saul, Iana Adu and a few other surprises.

This year, patrons can arrive early from 6 p.m.,  and stroll through the all new CIBC Mahalia’s Corner Christmas Market to discover unique gifts, stocking stuffers, and holiday treasures.

2 Mile Hill’s Front Woman, Mahalia, said she is very excited about the show this year. “Christmas always brings a feeling of newness and anticipation, and I always feel that way when it’s time for the Corner,” she explained.

“So with the new venue, new invaluable relationships and new stuff for everyone to experience, it’s all coming together to make the perfect Christmas mix,” she added.

The show still features the Open Mic segment, where some amazing local talent has been discovered over the years, and a Spotlight Artist segment, which became a part of the showcase a few years ago.

(PR)

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The Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) on Tuesday urged a renewed focus on sustainable and fair employment opportunities for all citizens to combat rises in crime and the cost of living.

CTUSAB General Secretary Dennis de Peiza told journalists the trade union congress was concerned about the links between unemployment, underemployment, and the rise in violent crimes, despite official statistics that put the unemployment rate at seven per cent.

De Peiza questioned whether this figure reflects the true picture, especially among young people. He highlighted the prevalence of temporary, short-term, or casual work among youth, often coupled with substandard wages that fail to meet the standards of decent work.

He said: “It would appear that many young persons are not employed, or are employed on a temporary or short-term basis, or engaged in casual work.

“Moreover, the fact that they are paid substandard wages falls far from what is acceptable under the provision of decent work, and therefore jobs on offer may not appear to be attractive to this age group. If this is what prevails, then it is more than likely a real contributing factor to the social deviance and criminal activity which is being experienced.”

He added: “CTUSAB suggests that at this time, there is a call to action on the part of the government and the private sector, to see the creation of sustainable and secure jobs as a priority. Getting young persons off the block and being productive in society must be seen as a means to arrest the problem of social deviance and the associated crime and violence.”

De Peiza called on the government and private sector to prioritise the creation of sustainable, secure jobs as a strategy to combat youth unemployment and its associated social challenges.

He stressed the importance of delivering on promises for upcoming projects and ensuring they create meaningful employment opportunities for Barbadians. De Peiza warned against the growing trend of importing labour under the pretext that locals are unfit for certain jobs.

The CTUSAB general secretary continued: “A lot of the plans and promises of projects to come on stream, we have to ensure that those things happen. But when we do that, we have to make sure that there are jobs for Barbadians. This whole thing of importing a whole lot of people from all over the place… it seems to me that we always want to import workers and claim that there are no Barbadians fit for the job. If we start that practice, then we are going to have a problem.”

He stressed that there was a need to rethink investment strategies, moving beyond high-rise apartments and condominiums, which create minimal employment opportunities.

De Peiza said: “I must admit that there are a lot of opportunities for different types of investment to happen in Barbados. We look around, and we do not seem to believe that unless we have some big establishment, that there is nothing happening. There are things that can be created, but they need the necessary funding.

“The whole approach by the government and the private sector to how we will build out the economy has to change. It cannot be just building high-rise apartments and condominiums where there is no need for a high level of employment. We need to have continuous employment and move away from short-term hiring to sustainable levels of employment which would make a difference to the employment levels in our country.”

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A High Court judge handed down a seven-year starting sentence on Rommell Johnaton Bishop for the death of his older brother, Robert St Pierre, saying it was clear from the submissions of the prosecutor and defence that he had suffered at the hands of the deceased.

But after making several deductions, Justice Randall Worrell informed Bishop that he had 454 days left to serve but suspended the sentence for three years.

Bishop, of Harlington Road, St Philip, pleaded not guilty to murdering St Pierre on May 4, 2011, but guilty to manslaughter.

Justice Worrell said during Wednesday’s sentencing hearing: “There was a stabbing, and there actually is no other information before the court except what you have put forward. You indicated that it was you who injured your brother in this most unfortunate case, and clearly, those injuries led to his death. I have to take into consideration as well that there must have been, in this case, technical and non-technical provocation and probably non-technical self-defence, but it is quite clear from the prosecution and the defence that you suffered at the hands of your brother. It is quite clear that what has been said may have placed you, as [Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Allison] Seale has said, probably at a new realm of battered brother syndrome.”

Mitigating in Bishop’s favour, was the fact that he was 17 years old at the time of the offence, had a clean criminal record, cooperated with police, and had endured violence at the hands of his brother, said the judge. Those factors led to one year being deducted from the seven-year starting point.

Justice Worrell then discounted one-third for the convicted man’s early guilty plea, 826 days for the time he spent on remand, and 180 days for the delay.

Noting that during their sentencing submissions, Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale SC and Andrew Pilgrim SC had urged the court not to incarcerate Bishop as there was an element of provocation in the matter, Justice Worrell agreed with the State’s position that the convicted man should be monitored by the court for some time, stating it would be appropriate that Bishop was held to some degree of responsibility through a suspended sentence.

“If you commit another offence punishable by imprisonment for a period exceeding six months, then you would be brought back to court and sentenced for this 454 days as well as whatever sentence pertains to any subsequent offence,” the judge told Bishop as he stood in the dock of the No. 2 Supreme Court.

The court had previously heard that the father of the two brothers left them at home and returned before midday. Upon entering the house, he saw blood in the area of the partition between the dining room and kitchen and found St Pierre’s body. He went to a neighbour and called the police.

Initially denying knowing anything about his sibling’s death, Bishop later confessed to the killing, saying: “I sorry I lie. I is who stab my brother. Robert does beat me all the time.”

In his written statement, the convicted man said he had been in the kitchen when his brother entered the room and began asking about money and chucked him. Bishop said his brother then began searching him while he was fighting him off.

The statement read in part: “He then start to beat me bout. I take a knife from the sink and went in the bedroom. He come in the bedroom behind me and then push me on the bed and start cuffing me. I was able to get ‘way and I was able to stab he with the knife I had. I stab he but he still come behind me and when I went in the kitchen, I stab he again and then he drop just as he was running towards the cupboard. I went in the yard wash de knife off, and bathe afterwards, make breakfast and left the kitchen leaving my brother.”

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