The Combermere school was forced to suspend classes early today following a suspected gas leak.

When a Barbados TODAY team visited the Waterford institution, it was not allowed on the compound and school officials declined to comment on the situation.

Students and teachers were gathered on the playing field before word came around 11 a.m. that the school would be closed for the remainder of the day.

Back in April the school was closed for cleaning as a result of environmental concerns and students were temporarily relocated to the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic.

Today marked the fifth anniversary of the death of former Prime Minister David Thompson, the island’s sixth. Though illness robbed him of serving a full term in office, he made an indelible mark on his beloved country.

Today we reflect on some of the memorable quotes –– from wide-ranging speeches –– of David John Howard Thompson, who is still described by many as a man of the people.

  Barbados is not only an economy. It is a society. We must never forget this. It is a failure to appreciate that this creates the kind of tension we are seeing in relation to the CSME and the movement of people who have cultures and an outlook that differ from ours.

We are pursuing an economic integration model without dealing with social realities. It is a preoccupation with economy rather than society that divorces us from an understanding of what is ours; so that we so easily surrender it and give it to others under the illusion that “if you want to get to Heaven you must first die”.

The first order of business of any Democratic Labour Party Government must be to re-establish that ours is a society in which we must find and pursue our true potential before we can surrender it to others.

–– From the book Barbados Is More Than An Economy, It’s A Society, compiled by Minister of Education Ronald Jones.

The challenges confronting this country are not insurmountable. All that’s needed is a vision, a plan and a commitment to making it happen. Students of politics would recall how 40 years ago this great political party was confrotned with challenges of a more acute nature.

Errol Barrow and his colleagues had a dream and they set out on a crusade –– a crusade to create a just society. They had that as their mission, and they accomplished it.

–– From the book Barbados Is More Than An Economy, It’s A Society, compiled by Minister of Education Ronald Jones.

It is easy, especially in times of economic crisis, for the stakeholders to become impatient at what they see as the slow pace of the integration project, and to declare it dead on arrival.

At Grand Anse in 1989, Michael Manley reminded us that crisis, stagnation and economic recession had been the permanent bedfellows of CARICOM since its inception, engendering as a consequence: “the long period of near-retreat from strategic purpose”.

In 2009, we are again faced by global economic convulsions of unprecedented proportions. These circumstances only reinforce my conviction that regional integration is the last best hope for the Caribbean. Going it alone or fragmenting into unworkable reconfigurations of the regional project cannot be an enduring solution. We must concentrate on strengthening the core, not on proliferating the periphery. 

–– From a speech on Barbados’ immigration policy on July 1, 2009, in Guyana.

Moreover, I believe that it is only when we become aware of the Caribbean Sea as a bridge, and not a barrier, that true regional integration will begin. I feel very strongly about this. We must teach our people to appreciate the Caribbean Sea as an extension of our small islands and the gateway to our future.

–– From a speech at the Caribbean Conference Of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (A Healthy Caribbean) in October, 2008.

We should not for one moment believe that the world revolves around CARICOM. As the economic crisis recedes, some argue that its effects will linger for some time and even longer for the small states of the Caribbean. What does that mean for the CSME? 

Small states in the Caribbean and beyond are now evaluating the implications of a new role for the G20. As the developed and large developing nations craft means to safeguard their economies from another financial crisis, the region must devise an appropriate response within CARICOM and internationally, to ensure that our interests are not overlooked. The major political and social dimensions of true community must be addressed explicitly. That is, they must be recognized, confronted and accommodated.

For too long we have evaded or ignored the obvious decision that we will have to take to bring our region together. How do you integrate small communities, 14 of which are separated by water; of varying ethnicities and cultures and languages; and of differing levels of development and legislative systems?

It is a conceptual and practical challenge but not one beyond our reach or means.

–– From a speech at The Convocation Of The CSME on October 9, 2009.

The first order of business of any Democratic Labour Party Government must be to re-establish that ours is a society in which we must find and pursue our true potential before we can surrender it to others.

–– From the book Barbados Is More Than An Economy, It’s A Society, compiled by Minister of Education Ronald Jones.

 We are all a part of God’s great big family, and the truth, you know, love is all we need. That’s my fondest wish for Barbadians. That we use adversity to refocus our energies on what’s best for Barbados and that we wrap our actions and our utterances in the National Flag and the furtherance of this great nation we call home. That’s my challenge to you. Unite and love.

–– From his final national address to Barbados in October, 2010.

Songs of hope rang out on the street of Halls Road, St Michael late yesterday as grieving, friends and loved ones of Brinsley Warde held a vigil in his memory. Fifty-nine-year–old Warde died following a stabbing incident at John Beckles Drive, St Michael on October 9. Amid tears, the large gathering walked from his neighbourhood to the scene of the crime where they laid candles and flowers in tribute to Warde, described as hardworking and friendly.

The Smith family of Farm Road, St Philip is tonight making a renewed appeal for anyone with information on the whereabouts of their missing mother to come forward and provide assistance.

As such, they have doubled the reward to $10,000 for anyone who provides information that leads to the safe return of 75-year-old Marcelle Smith, wife of former Lodge School principal Aurelius Smith.

“Somebody somewhere knows something. Barbados is small. Imagine if it was your mother, grandmother, wife or friend, how desperate you would be to find them. We need your help,” daughter Tanya Smith said.

She again stressed that her mother had not wandered off but was the victim of a crime.

Tanya Smith

“We have evidence of the crime that unfolded and an accurate timeline of event. The electronic footprint for our mother . . . has enabled us to do this. We know multiple people are involved,” Smith added.

She told Barbados TODAY her mother was not one to wander off and was a very devoted family woman.

“She has a very active social life. She loves to play Bridge. She has a lot of friends not just in Barbados but also around the world. She loves plants, she enjoys gardening and is very proud of her hanging baskets and she loves to cook. She loves her family.”

Smith described what a normal day was like for her mother. “She would get up, she would help my dad. She would talk to her friends and family, she would talk to them and she would play Bridge. She absolutely loved it. She’s has a regular routine which fits around our family. She does the grocery shopping and so on,” the daughter explained.

Declining to go into detail about the impact the situation was having on her family, Smith stressed that it is indeed a hard time. She said they are holding out hope that her mother returns home safely.

Police have intensified their search for the missing woman but have come up empty handed. She has been missing for more than a week and police are also appealing to anyone with information pertaining to her whereabouts to come forward.

Her abandoned car was found on Chelston Park, Culloden Road, St Michael last Sunday. 

Local Cable & Wireless officials were today mum about a possible takeover bid by international telecommunications provider Liberty Global, but two observers described the move as an interesting development.

Telecommunications analyst Hallam Hope told Barbados TODAY he was not surprised by the move, suggesting that the merged operations of LIME and FLOW was a tempting pick for any major global player.

“I have always suggested that it would be a cherry for the picking given the fact there was quite some debt that had been built up as a result the merger. In addition to that I would like to remind people that the LIME and the Cable & Wireless of 2015 is not the LIME and Cable & Wireless of 2003 when we had a very important rate hearing. At that time LIME had a return on investment of four times or more, more than a monopoly like the Barbados Light & Power had. LIME was doing very well. Since then, as a result of competition, their financial standing has deteriorated. It is not that rosy picture anymore, so it could very well be that the new merged company is ripe for takeover.”

Yesterday, the international companies confirmed in separate statements that they were in discussion about the offer by Liberty Global to acquire C&W for cash and shares.

In its statement, Cable & Wireless however asked its shareholders not to take any action.

“There can be no certainty that any firm offer will be made or as to the terms on which any firm offer might be made,” it warned.

For its part Liberty Global said,  “this announcement does not amount to an announcement of a firm intention to make an offer under Rule 2.7 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the “Code”). There can be no certainty that any offer will be made or on the terms on which any offer might be made. A further announcement will be made as appropriate”.

Hope noted that the Liberty Global owner John Malone was in a strong position given the fact that he already has a stake in C&W which he acquired when the company sealed a $1.85 billion deal to take over Columbus International in November last year.

“John Malone already a 25 per cent stake or voting stake in the merged company. He already has quite some influence in terms of the company’s direction. The question is really whether it fits into Liberty Global’s plan to expand.”

Analysts say it is too early to assess the implications of the proposed take over for Barbados and other Caribbean countries which were still trying to adjust the FLOW/LIME deal.

However, Hope noted that there were clear advantages for Liberty Global which operates in 14 countries.

“I can see some commonalities. The new merged company is focused on what they call quad play, where they are providing all the services, entertainment news, digital media, mobile phones, everything, so is Liberty Global. “Another advantage that could be seen from the acquisition, it would give Liberty a cellular provider, which it does not have at the moment. So they would also enter a new market as well. Bear in mind that companies of this scale are global players. There are already into Latin America, North America and the Caribbean would be another piece in their global pie.”

Director-General of the Barbados Consumer Rights Organization Malcolm Gibbs-Taitt was also keeping a close eye on the new development.

Director-General of the Barbados Consumer Rights Organization Malcolm Gibbs-Taitt

“Given that they have tried to takeover FLOW it would be interesting to see if somebody would be able to take over them,” he told Barbados TODAY.

He agreed that while Liberty Global was yet to make a formal offer, he was prepared to welcome a new player to market.

“. . . it would not bother me if someone else take it over. I would hedge any bet I have and suggests that the other player would have to be better than Cable and Wireless,” Gibbs-Taitt said.

sandydeane@barbadostoday.bb

The 2008 economic downturn dealt a blow to Barbados’ real estate sector with the lowering of prices and stalling of several projects.

However, officials are reporting that investor confidence is returning to the market.

Managing Director of CIBC FirstCaribbean Mark St Hill.

“On the international market what we are seeing is that the appetite for properties in Barbados is still very high. However, there are fewer takers,” Mark St Hill, the managing director of CIBC FirstCaribbean, told officials attending the International Property Summit at the Concorde Experience yesterday.

He explained that though Barbados’ real estate market was not reduced in terms of its attractiveness, “a lot of what you are seeing is a direct correlation to the three or four quarters of negative growth in the United Kingdom.

“. . . what that translates to is that we are now starting to see buyers coming out and asking questions,” St Hill added.

Senior valuation surveyor at BCQS James Pollard is also seeing signs of recovery on the international market but he concerned that the domestic market is still quite unsettled.

“We look at lands for example that may have sold at 30 bucks a [square] foot, you will be lucky to get at 25 now. Land that was selling at 20 bucks, again you will be lucky to get at 18 to 20 bucks now. So it has been quite a significant correction, certainly in the domestic market. So I think the domestic market is still a long way to recover, but the international market we are certainly seeing green shoots . . . so yes, there is confidence returning from our prospective,” Pollard said.

However, Ian De Souza, the managing director of Republic Bank Limited believes there are some grey areas that must be addressed by Government to keep investors’ interest growing.

“They have to get all the infrastructure in Barbados [in place]. We have an issue now with security, as we are all aware, that has to be brought under control because certainly if there is one thing, and coming from Trinidad I can tell you, one thing that will scare money way is a break down in security. So we have to get the infrastructural issues right. We have to get the security right and the other services right because that’s what we have control over,” De Souza explained.

St Hill also called on Government to accelerate real estate projects while noting that there was a general feeling that a number of projects were with Government agencies for either approvals or some form of direction to be given.

“I just think we need to accelerate and execute a little better,” he stressed, acknowledging that commercial banks we were also accused of not executing projects fast enough.

“So I think all the stakeholders need to put Barbados on top and execute a bit faster because there are many individuals that are gearing up to invest in this country,” he said.

Interested buyers are predominantly British, American and Canadian, with some Russian and East Europeans. Many are said to want a second home, or a rental or retirement investment in a year-round destination.

Barbadians need not fear the pending buyout of local conglomerate Banks Holdings Limited (BHL) by overseas interests.

Amid intensifying public debate over major bids by two foreign beverage manufacturers – Trinidad and Tobago’s ANSA McAL and the St Lucia-registered SLU Beverages Limited  —  for takeover of BHL, the country’s business minister Donville Inniss today broke his silence on the move.

He pointed out that it was the duty of the state-run Fair Trading Commission (FTC) to ensure fair trade and that local consumers’ rights were protected, adding that in matters of this kind, the Government’s only obligation was to ensure the laws were followed, the rules of engagement adhered to, and that such transactions met all the necessary regulations.

“Beyond that, there is nothing the State can do. The State is not going to go and buy shares in company because we want it to be Barbadian. Not only we can’t afford it, but even if you had all the money in the world, it would be a bad act on the part of any Government to take up taxpayers’ money and go and invest in a private enterprise, just to say, it is flying the Barbados flag,” he warned.

Speaking on the sidelines of a ceremony marking the seventh anniversary of the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Europe at his Warrens, St Michael International Business office, the Minister contended that Barbadians were far too passive in business.

“Some of our companies quite frankly have sat here and have allowed themselves to be seen to be undervalued, which is a shareholder matter that shareholders have to get involved in,” said Inniss.

He drew attention to companies which may have 1,000 shareholders on record and only about five were active, pointing out that “they may be the five [that have] the majority shares”.

He suggested that some people only bought shares for tax purposes or to be able to boast of having them, but did not attend meetings or even read company reports.

The Cabinet Minister also expressed the view that some people only sat back and waited until the cheques for dividends arrived home.

However, Inniss called for a wider public debate on why so many Barbadian companies were being taken over by outside investors and questioned what results were being seen from the money spent in areas of tertiary education, social services and infrastructure.

He said the development called into question this island’s boast of a high literacy rate and competency skills.

“[In spite of this] we are not seeing more Barbadian companies going and taking over enterprises outside of Barbados. It may be that we are risk averse, and that has worked to our advantage in some instances . . . because I think if we had not been as conservative we would have seen more companies collapse along the way, or it may just be laziness, I don’t know!”

His wish is that more Barbadian shareholders and companies would get actively involved in mergers and acquisitions.

“There is a whole world out there that we need to be part of, and stop complaining when others come into our shores,” advised Inniss.

He zeroed in on the finance and insurance sectors, saying his particular worry was about the numbers in these industries, while suggesting there was need for more strategic alliances to be forged.

“It may be a case of having a company in Barbados that has excelled in a particular area in goods and services that may need to go in the OECS for example and forge a strategic alliance, but instead, we sit back here in Barbados [and] we want the Government to protect everybody from everything and when it doesn’t work out that way, then we want to throw our hands in the air in despair, and believe that the world is coming to an end.”

Inniss also suggested that a lot of good could actually come out the looming takeover.
For example, he said, the Brazilian company Ambev, which owns SLU Beverages Limited, may be able to expand BHL by bottling other drink brands in Barbados.

He also listed opportunities for transfer of technology and for locals to see themselves as part of a larger global enterprise.

“I don’t know that I can have the same fear of some people about plant closing down and people losing jobs; I think we need to be a little more optimistic,” said Inniss, while pointing out that there were also opportunities for individuals who may have wanted to part company with their shares to get a decent value for them.

“For the economy it may mean foreign exchange coming in if it is outsiders purchasing,” he said.

“I look at it through the lens of going global and bigger business,” Inniss said.

emannueljoseph@barbadostoday.com

A St Philip woman was remanded to HMP Dodds yesterday after appearing in court on charges of robbing and causing serious bodily harm to an elderly man.

Quanelle Laticha Best, 29, of Gemswick, will reappear in the District ‘C’ Magistrates’ Court before acting Chief Magistrate Christopher Birch on November 2.

The unemployed woman was not required to plead to the indictable charge of robbing Merville Pollard of a Barbados identification card and $800 on October 20, or causing serious bodily harm to Pollard on the same date, with intent to maim, disfigure or disable him.

Sergeant Azel Skeete objected to bail on the grounds that Pollard was still hospitalized and the offences were serious.

The prosecutor also said that his latest report suggested that Pollard, reportedly in his 60s, “has to be assisted”.

Best was represented by attorney-at-law Mohia Ma’at.

The proposed integration of the public and private transport service will begin from December 1.

Director of the Transport Authority Alex Linton rolled out the schedule for the six-month Transport Authority Service Integration (TASI) pilot project at a press conference this afternoon.

He revealed that the first phase of the TASI, which is geared at improving efficiency within the transport system, would see six minibuses, five transport board buses and two route taxis operating on three routes from two bus terminals.

Alex Linton, director of the Transport Authority.

“The three routes – Martin’s Bay, Sturges, Edey Village – all of them coming out of Bridgetown. Two of them will be operating from the Fairchild Street Terminal, one of them the Princess Alice Terminal.

“We will be monitoring and doing continual assessment of this pilot project throughout. We would be doing service quality, we will be doing head counts, we will be going to the customers asking them how they like it. If they don’t like this, we will be tweaking it with the operators. We want to have the best of all worlds,” Linton explained.

Assistant director of planning at the Transport Authority Carolyn Yarde noted that the operators involved in the pilot TASI project would be identified by a decal placed on their vehicles that would operate on a scheduled service and ticketing system.

“Another change for this project will be the introduction of ticketing by the private operators. Tickets will be issued for every category of passenger – paying passengers, school children, the elderly, the disabled and police officers.

“We believe that the ticketing initiative will more accurately access the efficacy and efficiency of the project.

“Transfers in the event of a breakdown, we anticipate that those will be seamless, in that one will be able to move easily from one type of taxi unit to another without having to pay any additional fare,” Yarde explained.

Transport inspectors would also be placed on buses to monitor, ensure operators’ compliance along the routes and give feedback for the duration of the project, which ends in May 2016.

Surveys and other data collection methods would also be used to collect information on the TASI, which officials are confident will be a success.

The service is set to begin at 5 a.m. on December 1 with public and private operators down to hit the roads at alternate times to ensure a level playing field between the two entities. The status quo remains with the elderly and school children getting the service free.

However, Linton revealed that the initiative, which he believes would be of great benefit to all involved, received only a “moderate” response from the private operators.

“I would have loved to see a greater degree of response and the thing is we did present this to the associations since January . . . but being honest a lot of the private operators have different focuses at this time which is unfortunate because if they focus on this, they will realize that there is money here,” he said.

Human resource managers have been told they need to embrace change in order to grow the island’s human capital and compete with other developing nations.

The advice came from the executive director of the Barbados Coalition of Services and Industries, Lisa Cummings, in her address to the recent annual conference of the Human Resource Management Association of Barbados at the Radisson Aquatica Resort.

Speaking on the theme Change, Challenge And Opportunity, Cummings said professionals also needed to upgrade their skills to put themselves on par with those operating in the international market.

“Historically we have marketed Barbados as that country that has gifted the world and the region with highly skilled professionals. I want to say to you that as we effect change we have to look at the composition of those highly skilled professionals.

“Are we still producing the same professionals today that we produced 20 years ago in a world that has changed substantially since then? Are we still focusing on the same types of priority sectors that we focused on 20 years ago, when so much change has taken place since then?

“And if that is the case, are we still in a position to say that we are indeed producing what the market needs?”

According to Cummings, the island’s human capital is its greatest asset, and transformation is a must in order for Barbados to take advantage of opportunities on the international market.

“Our human capital has competition from places like China which is exporting the most CEOs in the world . . . . There’s competition from countries like Malaysia that are aggressively producing finance officials, and are not just working in farms, but are developing innovative solutions to business problems.

“We cannot coast by on the things that we thought were competitive 20, 30, 40 years ago,” she said.

The BCSI head noted that another area that needed to be improved was the quality of goods and services being exported from Barbados, if they were to live up to their “world-class” label.

“We think it’s patriotic to hold up Barbadian products in certain services and processes as world-class, and being on top of the world and being able to compete with those that come from anywhere else in the world. The time has come for us to assess whether that statement in its entirety is indeed true.

“It is unpatriotic for us to hold things up that are best or average and call them world-class and think that that is patriotism. It is not.

“We’re not doing ourselves any favours, because the world in which we’re operating, the change in which we are now being made to operate, does not allow us to celebrate average. It doesn’t allow us to celebrate mediocrity.

“Not when we’re competing with the Singaporeans. Not when we’re competing with the Rwandans. Not when we’re competing with the Europeans and the Americans and the Canadians, and whoever else and wherever else they’re coming from,” she said.

Cummings also made reference to the recent loss of preferences for Caribbean products such as bananas and sugar on the European market, and the subsequent negotiations for Economic Partnership Agreements with Europe, noting that these two events set the stage for change in the way of doing business in the region.

“Whereas before, historically, you were on a preferential basis, the change that came meant that you were suddenly being required to compete with them on the same terms.

“Those things led to a number of opportunities . . . led to a change in narrative, and we started talking about things like innovation, competitiveness, economic transformation, entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial development. Human resource development became a huge deal because human capital formation was one of the key things that was at the core
of all of this change.

“How do you, especially in a small, open developing economy like ours, develop the human capital that becomes the underpinning of all your economic ambitions? Of all your social development ambitions, of all your human development ambitions, how do you create the human capital that we call in economics human capital formation?

“How do you create that that will in turn give rise to the notions of innovation and competitiveness and so on,” she put
to the audience.

Cummings stressed that Barbados could not afford to hold on to decades-old mindsets and practices if it was to make its mark on the global stage.

Barbados could have a hospice for breast cancer management and care by 2017, obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Shirley Hanoman-Jhagroo has revealed.

Delivering a Library Service Lecture on Breast Cancer Awareness at the Fairchild Street institution recently, Dr Jhagroo revealed that the country was in need of better facilities for the treatment of the disease, which is the number one killer of women worldwide.

“What we are trying to do by this time in 2017 for sure is going to be a hospice and it is going to be up in St David’s. The land was donated by the Living Water Community and there is a group from the States that has joined and partnered with them and I saw the plan and it is going to be beautiful.

“Hopefully we will be able to take some of those patients into the hospice there and they will die with their dignity,” she told an audience of mostly women.

The facility is being constructed by a non-governmental organisation and Dr Jhagroo noted that while it will not be free of cost like C12 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, it will be beneficial to patients.

Dr Shirley Hanoman-Jhagroo

With Barbados recording two to three new breast cancer cases a week, and one death per week, Dr Jhagroo who is also an oncologist is recommending that more be done to treat patients.

“Barbados has adequate facilities for early detection of breast cancer and breastfeeding [but] what is needed urgently is a cancer care institute; a well-equipped one, better radiotherapy and of course all the necessary chemotherapy drugs be available free of cost to cancer patients.

She said she also has a vision for the country where patients under age 40 are offered breast reconstruction at the time of mastectomy or lumpectomy.

“With mastectomy you remove the whole breast, you are not doing it for cosmetic reasons, you are doing it for medical reasons, so when insurance companies say reconstruction for cosmetics, no we are not going that route. She [a breast cancer patient] is aged 40, she probably will live to age 70 with one breast or part of a breast if she had a lumpectomy, so she has to wear prosthesis for the rest of her life.

“It helps her in her recovery period [and] for her self-esteem when she wakes up from surgery to find that she has two breasts, so that is what I am going to lobby for in January,” the doctor explained.

Despite the concerns raised, Dr Jhagroo said she is pleased with the country’s breast cancer awareness programme which she said had seen more women as well as men being screened.

Missing school girls, 15-year-old Mykayla Springer of Arch Hall, St Thomas, and 15- year-old T-Shona Boyce of Upper Bakers, St Peter, have been traced, police said this morning.

The two girls were reported missing yesterday.  The police report said at the time that they had left home around 7:00 a.m. the previous day wearing their school uniforms and had not been seen since.

Police are investigating a serious accident which occurred about 9:40 p.m. on Friday  at Sion Hill Road, Sion Hill, St. James, where a pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle.

Pedestrian, 36-year-old Dave Hurley of Sion Hill, St. James was involved in an accident with a motor van driven by Dwayne Harris, 34, of Lower Carlton, St. James.  Hurley was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by ambulance and he was pronounced dead on arrival. (PR)

Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agriculture Society, James Paul, would like more private sector entities to support the local agriculture sector, especially those who receive “healthy subsidies” from government.

Addressing the recent Annual General Assembly of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), Paul noted that the BAS’ continuing relationship with Sandals and Massy Super Centre has been a bonus for the local farmers who would otherwise not have a market for their produce.

“We have to fight and ensure that we get what is ours even in the face of those who seek to impose a regime that would lead to the undermining and eventual destruction of the sector.

“It is amazing that we have sectors in this country that benefit to a large degree from healthy subsidies and allowances from the state and which claim a significant percentage of government expenditure already saying ‘give us more’,” Paul said.

He added that the BAS would welcome some gratitude form some of those businesses, as well as moves to develop linkages that provide markets for the local farmers.

“It would not be ungracious on their part to at least work with local agricultural producers to source the required quality and quantities of produce required,” he said.

James Paul, CEO of the Barbados Agricultural Society.

Paul told the audience that if Sandals can honour their commitment to buy local produce, “why therefore can’t all our existing local hoteliers demonstrate a concerted effort to work with the sector to increase their purchases of locally produced agricultural products?”

According to him, support from the private sector is needed now more than ever because of the economic challenges facing the country, and it would also provide an opportunity to maximise earnings from tourism by encouraging more expenditure on locally produced items.

“Further there are those who claim that somehow the average tourist cannot be attracted to locally-produced agricultural commodities.  However if that is the case how come it is that so many of them are attracted to Oistins to wine and dine on the same foods that Bajans eat. We need to get past the myth and deal with the reality.

“The private sector of this country needs to face up to the fact that the business model that they are operating does not meet the current needs of the country.

“The private sector needs to accept the fact that they are critical foreign exchange earners but they must think outside the box to fulfil this mandate,” Paul told the meeting.

Paul noted that the BAS is constantly seeking out new opportunities for advancing agricultural production, and partnerships are important in their efforts.

According to him the Society’s membership of regional farmers’ organisations such as the Caribbean Farmers’ Network and the Caribbean Agri Business Association has assisted in defending farmers’ interest at the regional level.

“It has helped to promote the concept and understanding that fair trade can work and that we need not succeed at the expense of each other.

“The BAS is therefore seeking to use these relationships to develop its local relationships with Massy Super Centre and to increase the quantities of agricultural produce purchased,” Paul said.

Air traffic controllers at the Grantley Adams International Airport remained off the job for the second straight day today, protesting working conditions.

Members of the management team were forced to man the control tower after the workers called in sick.

Deputy General Secretary of the Barbados Workers Union, Dwaine Paul, confirmed to Barbados TODAY that the workers were off the job.

“All of the air traffic controllers are off the job protesting the unsanitary conditions under which they are asked to work. All of the workers reported sick today and the union supports the action taken by the workers,” Paul said.

No one from the Ministry of International Transportation could be reached for a comment on the situation. (NC)

Police have confirmed the discovery of a body in Rolling Hills, St George.

Lawmen have given no further details at this moment but said their investigations are ongoing.

Barbados TODAY will bring you more details as they become available.

Police and fire officials have recovered a decomposing body from a ravine at Rolling Hills, St George.

Police Public Relations Officer David Welch confirmed tonight that the discovery was made just after 7 p.m. by lawmen who were assisted by fire officials in pulling the body from the grassy terrain around 9:30 p.m.

Lawmen are yet to positively identify the body believed to be that of a woman.

However, the discovery follows the disappearance of 75-year-old Marcelle Smith on October 13.

Just yesterday, Smith’s family doubled a financial reward offered for news of her whereabouts from $5,000 to $10,000 after an intense search by lawmen this week for the Farm Road, St Philip resident proved futile.

Family members were not immediately available for comment tonight. However, her daughter Tanya has been insistent that her elderly mother had not wandered off from home but was the victim of a crime.

“We have evidence of the crime that unfolded and an accurate timeline of event. The electronic footprint for our mother . . . has enabled us to do this. We know multiple people are involved,” Smith said on Friday.

An early morning car crash has claimed the lives of four young women.

Details are still sketchy but police have also confirmed that a fifth woman, who was travelling with the deceased, was critically injured and had to be rushed to hospital, where she is fighting for her life.

The 3 a.m. accident occurred at Two Mile Hill, St Michael.

The scene of this mornings car crash.

One of the victims of this morning’s deadly car crash was Shameka Shepherd, who celebrated her birthday on Saturday.

The 23-year-old of Long Bay, St Philip is a former student of Deighton Griffith secondary.

She was among a party of five friends, who had just come from a celebratory event, when the silver grey Suzuki motor car they were travelling in, crashed into a guard wall on Two Mile Hill, St Michael.

Also deceased are Shakira Shepherd, 22, of Long Bay, St Philip; Waveney Johnson, 25, of Atlantic Park, St Philip; and Kayrie Brathwaite, 18, of Long Bay, St Philip.

From left, Shakira, Shameka and Nakisha Shepherd.

Police say Shakira, Shameka and Waveney died at the scene while Kayrie and a fifth passenger, Nakisha Shepherd, 23, of Long Bay, St. Philip, were taken to the hospital by ambulances. Kayrie died at the hospital and Nakisha is in critical condition.

Members of the Barbados Fire Service assisted in the recovery of a body from the badly damaged car.

Transport Minister Michael Lashley, who was among those gathered at the scene, expressed shock and sadness over the tragedy.

He told Barbados TODAY the victims, who were all from St Philip, had previously participated in the St Philip carnival.

“This is a very tragic day for me as a parliamentary representative,” he said.

As a mark of respect, Lashley has cancelled his annual karaoke event, which was scheduled for later today.

One man is currently assisting police with their investigation into the disappearance of St Philip resident, Marcelle Smith, police announced today.

Seventy-five-year-old Smith has not been seen or heard from since October 13, and her family has been appealing for the public’s assistance in locating her.

Marcelle Smith has not been seen since October 13th.

On Friday Smith’s daughter, Tanya Smith, announced that the family would double the $5,000 reward for anyone with information on the whereabouts of her mother.

A statement issued today by police public relations officer, Acting Assistant Superintendent David Welch, confirmed that police recovered the body of a woman from a ravine at Halton Plantation, St Philip yesterday.

According to Welch the body, which was in an advanced state of decomposition, was recovered with the assistance of members of the Barbados Fire Service.

The body has not been identified.

A post mortem will be carried out.