Political activist Cheryl Moore says Barbados is firmly locked in the grip of a culture of fear which is preventing residents from speaking out publicly on issues that affect them.

Moore, a final year student in political science and international relations at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, made the assertion in the wake of her participation in two demonstrations in the city, the most recent against the Municipal Solid Waste Tax.

She said attorney-at-law and political activist Robert “Bobby” Clarke, who organised the demonstrations, “is at the age where you say what you feel and think because you are almost fearless”.

“Generally persons in their late teens and early twenties are also fearless. Clarke and [David] Comissiong are both fearless and have the interest of the common man at heart. They actually believe in creating a better Barbados, which includes every person regardless of their station in life. I come from a very poor background. I do not have a godfather. I have basically done everything on my own. Under these circumstances it is difficult for me to align myself with any other world view,” she said.

Moore, who also goes by the name Oyo Ololara, said that being self-employed gives her a measure of freedom, though this does not protect against victimisation.

“Participating in protest action is a risk you take even as a self-employed person. It is unfortunate that Barbados is the way it is. It is unfortunate that you always have to be mindful of victimisation. People should be able to air their views or get involved in whatever movement. I believe that we have to change the system of governance. Under the Westminster system of government people are confined to minimal participation in the governance of their country.”

Asked about the non-participation of her schoolmates in the demonstrations, Moore said: “Initially, some of the students wanted to participate, but their parents told them ‘look you do not know why those other students are marching. They may have their bread buttered’. These were the warnings their parents were giving them. Their parents were afraid of losing their mortgages and the cars they were driving. Parents were telling their children do not engage in any protest action because it is not the thing to do in Barbados. Not willing to speak out in your own interest is a very backward mindset. It is also a backward mindset for society at large to condemn people for wanting better for themselves.”

Meantime, Moore said she would welcome participation from the opposition Barbados Labour Party or the ruling Democratic Labour Party once there was acceptance that the policies their parties may be backward and counter-productive to long-term national development.

“When a person supports something that basically goes against them, they enslave themselves all over again. That person should ask himself the question: ‘Am I on the right side of history?’”

Thirty secondary school students and young professionals under the age of 25 are this week learning how to prepare themselves for the world of work.

They are participating in the first Rotary International Affairs Summer Academy being held at the United Nations House, Christ Church.

The academy is a partnership between the Rotary Clubs in Barbados and United Nations Development Porgramme, Barbados.

Participants are being exposed to careers in international affairs and would be interacting with professionals of the United Nations and other international organisations based in Barbados.

Lisa Cummins, director of international service for the Rotary Club of Barbados, told Barbados TODAY this morning that the academy was organised because it was recognised that numerous young people did not understand what jobs were being offered in the international community or the skills necessary to meet those needs.

On Thursday, she explained the young participants would be given a taste of what it means to be an international diplomat when they act in that capacity.

“We have brought together a range of experts from within the United Nations system and international relations systems here in Barbados to expose [participants] to what they do on a daily basis and what their job prospects are as a result. We are also pleased to have 15 US [United States] high school students from North Carolina joining us one day of the week. So it is going to be a fantastic experience . . .,” Cummins said.

Meanwhile, Alex McDonald, president of Rotary Club of Barbados urged the participants to think about how they can make a difference in their homes, communities and, by extension, the world.

“We charge you to take this as a very serious week. The fate of the world is in your hands. Let us resolve to treat all men and women on this planet whatever their race, creed or nationality as members of the human family whose destiny we share. Let us respect their rights as we would wish them to respect ours,” McDonald said in his message to participants.

Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has defended his administration’s stance on the Dominican Republic/Haiti citizenship dispute in the wake of criticism by an Opposition Member of Parliament.

The country’s leader indicated in the House of Assembly today that his Government has looked at the issue.

At the same time, he said, the matter was a complex one, which had been discussed with representatives of Haiti on at least two occasions.

However, he said Haiti’s president had asked CARICOM to put further discussion on hold until the matter has been resolved.

Opposition MP Kerrie Symmonds had earlier chided Government for its protracted silence on the dispute which could see an estimated 210,000 Haitians being stripped of their Dominican citizenship because of their parents’ immigration status.

Symmonds, the parliamentary representative for St James Central, was at the time debating the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Bill. The pact was signed in 2008 between the European Union and CARIFORUM countries, including CARICOM and the Dominican Republic.

Symmonds, a former junior foreign affairs minister, said six years on CARICOM was yet to develop the capacity to facilitate accreditation between the region and the Dominican Republic.

The situation, he pointed out, had been made more complicated by political inertia, the non-performance of the Competition Commission, the absence of mutual accreditation agreements and the need for more funds to be pumped into the Barbados Coalition of Services.

Opposition MP Kerrie Symmonds

“We have to get the accreditation right if it is going to be that our service providers do business meaningfully within the European Union. By extension we need to be in a position where we can test the credentials of persons who are coming from the European Union . . . to do business here and to compete with our service providers,” he suggested.

“At the core of the EPA, especially as it relates to services, was the expectation that there would be a CARIFORUM regional accreditation entity which would be capable of accrediting service providers in the Dominican Republic and in CARICOM itself . . . [but] if we have not gotten it right in CARICOM, then we are in a hopeless state of affairs when it comes to CARIFORUM.”

But even as Barbados looks at the EPA, the Opposition MP warned Government to keep a sharp eye on what he termed as “the largest single agreement the world has ever seen” between Canada, the United States, China, Japan and other economic powers.

As a result, Symmonds said, the region’s failure to hammer out a deal with Canada that was almost identical to the EPA by the June 30 deadline, could have serious implications for trade with Barbados and other regional states.

“The mind of the Prime Minister should be on what are the implications for his small, fragile, micro-economy relying heavily as it does on services and the export of services, many of which are exported to Canada, and what would be the impact of this mega trade pact, which would see virtually one half of the globe locked into an agreement with Canada and benefit from market access with Canada on terms that we would be outside of because we have not been part of a successful effort to get the trade agreement with Canada . . . ,” he said. 

Amidst the cries of economic hard times and the pain of layoffs, the Central Bank of Barbados is projecting that the economy will grow slightly this year.

Reporting today on the current state of the local economy, Central Bank Governor Dr Delisle Worrell forecast growth of 0.3 per cent.

Dr DeLisle Worrell

“We expect the economy to pick up in subsequent years to 1.2 per cent in 2015 and 2.5 per cent growth in 2016,” Dr Worrell added.

He announced that output for the economy as a whole remained flat, despite an improvement in tourism.

“Output in tourism is estimated to have increased marginally for the first half of the year. Arrivals from the UK were up 8.2 per cent, but there was a fall-off from the US, Canada and the Caribbean,” Dr Worrell reported.

He revealed that the average length of stay rose by 1.5 per cent and the average spend per visitor was estimated to have risen by one per cent, making this the third consecutive year that average expenditure had increased.  “Average spending has now recovered to the levels of 2008,” he announced.

He also informed the country that preliminary estimates for the first quarter of the fiscal year, show a $5 million decline in government revenue, with VAT receipts down $8 million, corporate tax revenue down $3 million and other indirect taxes recording a cumlutive decrease of $4 million.

The government advisor said, too, that at the end of May, the net indebtedness of the public sector, including state enterprises and the National Insurance Board, was equivalent to 73 per cent of GDP.

“The ratio of external debt service to foreign exchange earnings, remained below seven per cent at the end of the first quarter.  The Government’s financing needs for the remaining three quarters of the current fiscal year are projected to be about $300 million.”

This, the Governor noted, is to be financed by commercial banks’ surplus of funding over the credit needs of the private sector, the surplus of the NIS and funds from the non-bank financial institutions.

Dr Worrell also disclosed that the Freundel Stuart administration owes nearly $100 million to a number of state enterprises.

“Government currently holds $97 million in payments outstanding to major state enterprises, including the QEH, UWI, the waste separation plant, the Barbados Agricultural Marketing Corporation and the Barbados National Oil Company, with respect to expenses incurred in fiscal year 2013/14,” he said.

He said specific funding arrangements would be made to eliminate these arrears, in collaboration with the companies and institutions, to which payments are due.

Looking ahead, Dr Worrell sought to assure Barbadians that the tourism product will be enhanced to the tune of $355 million worth of projects recently completed or currenty underway.

These, he pointed out, include the first phase of the Port Ferdinand Marina, the Bushy Park Motor Racing Circuit, the Apes Hill Clubhouse, an upgrade of the Sandals south coast hotel and refurbishment of hotels and tourism amenities.

He said preparatory technical and financial work was ongoing on the major private sector investment projects such as the Four Seasons and Sandals Beaches and the joint venture cruise ship terminal.

“Prospects are for an increase in airlift capacity out of the major markets for Barbados’ tourism for the coming winter season, with increases of 3 per cent, 10 per cent and 20 per cent out of the UK, US and Canada respectively,” projected Dr Worrell.

He said a three-pronged strategy for the international business and financial services sector includes continual upgrades of this country’s regulatory framework; the extension of its double taxation network; and the development of new markets and products.

In the area of green energy, financial and technical work continues in preparation for the construction of a waste-to-energy plant by private enterprise and the adoption of solar generation by businesses and households, continues to accelerate, concluded the bank chief.

The President of the Students Guild at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill campus says he is pleased with the outcome of a meeting yesterday with top Government officials.

Damani Parris described the near five hour long, closed door meeting with Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and Minister of Education Ronald Jones at Government Headquarters, Bay Street as “productive”.

Parris said that after months of calling for an audience with these officials to discuss the policy of students having to pay tuition fees as of September, he was happy that practical solutions were identified.

Though unable to go into details, he said two of the items discussed were the structure of the Student Revolving Loan Fund and students having difficulties accessing loans from financial institutions as a result of a lack of sureties and high interest rates.

“At this point we cannot share the majority of the details of the meeting but what we will indicate is that we found the meeting very productive and it was a comfort to the representatives of the student body to hear some of the things reflected by the authorities yesterday.

“We are hopeful that coming out of this meeting going forward that we will have much more productive meetings as promised by the Minister of Education. I must indicate that I am very pleased coming out of this meeting,” Parris stressed.

The Guild President however made it clear that students would still have to pay tuition fees in September. However, he said provisions were being made to ease at least some of the financial burden on their shoulders.

On that note, he said Jones recent announcement that the Ministry of Education was giving out 3000 bursaries  to students was a step in the right direction.

Later this week, the Guild is also scheduled to meet with Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler where the main item on the agenda will be overly harsh student loan packages on offer by some leading commercial banks.

Opposition Member of Parliament Dr Maria Agard says Government plans introducing fees for medical services, and has accused the administration of misleading Barbadians on the reason it is not getting some drugs.

The Barbados Labour Party Shadow Minister of Health told a rally against the Municipal Solid Waste Tax last night that while reducing money available to the health system, Government officials had been hinting at a fee for members of the public needing health services.

“The Democratic Labour Party is laying a foundation for the introduction of users fees in this country,” she said in the auditorium of Foundation School in Christ Church.

“I have noticed a murmuring among the Democratic Labour Party. They have been murmuring deliberately and schemingly,” she said, adding that the first flag was raised last year when during the Budget Debate Barbadians were told there would only be $145 million to run the Queen Elizabeth Hospital –– “when, of course, the CEO, you all know, had determined that the hospital really and truly cannot be managed on anything less than $200 million”.

Agard said that despite that inadequate sum being set for the QEH, there was a budget cut of $35 million from it.

“Now, if you cannot run your establishment on $145 million, how can you run that establishment on $35 million less?”

Agard coupled this underfunding with the QEH’s cash flow crisis of last week, when medical services were restricted to emergency procedures only, because of a shortage of supplies. She noted that during a parliamentary discussion on the matter, Minister of Industry and Commerce Donville Inniss had spoken of a need for alternative funding of the institution.

Agard said the Opposition agreed there was a need to review operating costs for the Barbados public health system.

“But what is so wrong about it is that you want to introduce it at a time when the shared sacrifice that you speak of has had to be borne by the poorest of the poor and those who cannot afford to pay any more taxes.

“Do you understand the continuum that we are facing, and why it is so important to stand up against this one [Municipal Solid Waste Tax]?” she asked the crowd. “Because if we don’t stand up against this one, others will come”.

The shadow minister disputed a Government claim that the quality and standard of care at the QEH had not been reduced.

“. . . Barbadians have suffered as a result of a shortage of drugs. I will not accept a Minister of Health coming and saying that the shortage of drugs may be because there is a shortage globally and internationally, that the shortage might have come about because there is none in Barbados.”

The Christ Church West MP produced a document listing 46 out of 76 vital drugs said to be withheld from QEH because of non-payment.

According to the list, among those withheld is the Xeloda 500mg tablet.

“Xeloda is a drug that is given to patients who are suffering from cancer –– colon cancer, and . . . breast cancer. That drug is unavailable to the QEH . . . because we as a Government refuse to pay our bills, and the patient who is already compromised, and broken and ravaged by a condition that in most times is [permanent], they have to pay for that medication on the streets of Barbados. How can you expect someone who perchance can’t work, because they are ravaged by cancer, to find $2,000?”

Agard also pointed to Kytril, which is used after cancer therapy to suppress vomiting, being sold at $177.62 per box.

“The reason I am saying to you that we need to speak out against the Municipal Tax is that I am warning you your silence is emboldening the Government, and if you let that pass, I’m cautioning you this evening, another tax is coming.”

Agard contended that Government planned permanently transferring the burden of these and other medical payments directly on members of the public, and the Municipal Solid Waste Tax was the beginning of the fees.

“I’m saying to you that if we let this one pass, the Government will not stop there. Another tax is coming; others will come.

“I am calling on the churches that have been patently silent, even though churches ought to be the voice of the vulnerable, I’m calling on sports clubs that keep young people together and engaged and disciplined. I am calling on all other interest groups to speak out.”

The Oppposition Barbados Labour Party is not impressed with the latest economic report card issued today by Central Bank.

Opposition advisor on economic affairs, Dr Cyde Mascoll maintained that the fiscal adjustment package of August last year had failed to achieve any of its objectives.

Dr Mascoll also said there was no evidence of economic growth, nor improvement in the fiscal deficit in spite of a “barrage” of taxes and expenditure cuts.

He is of the view that the unemployment rate has to be over 13 per cent, rather than the 11.7 per cent reported by Dr Worrell, in the face of over 3,000 public sector job losses in the first quarter of this year.

The Opposition advisor also observed that the Central Bank’s foreign reserves declined by 51 million in spite of the foreign borrowing of almost $450 million between December 2013 and the first quarter of 2014.

“In September of last year the Central Bank said the fiscal adjustment package provided a platform for economic growth. This is at variance with what most economists believe and even the Minister of Agriculture Dr David Estwick repeated as recently as yesterdaym, his criticisms of Government’s fiscal adjustment strategy,” stated Dr Mascoll.

“It is impossible for the fiscal adjustment package to meet the two objectives of growth and foreign reserves at the same time. The Governor of the Central Bank needs to answer the following questions:

‘Why is it that the Government and the NIS continued to be the main financiers of the fiscal deficit through the printing of money providing some 83 per cent of Government’s financing requirement in April to June of this year. Is this printing of money not contrary to the commitment given by the Central Bank to the IMF in the Article IV report in February of this year?”

The Opposition economic spokesman also said that the Governor needs to explain the decline in the foreign reserves, notwithstanding the borrowing of $450 million since December of 2013.

“Would the reserves not be $650 million or about eight weeks of export cover were if not for that loan from Credit Suisse; and finally why has the fiscal deficit not improved in the face of the fiscal adjustment package of the government”?

Government’s retrenchment of thousands of public sector employees have put an estimated $20 million back into the Treasury and the Central Bank of Barbados is saying that the fiscal adjustment measures under which the job cuts were made, appear to be working.

However, Central Bank Governor Dr Delisle Worrell said today that unemployment has been rising because of the ongoing retrenchment programme.

Reporting on the current state of the economy, Dr Worrell told the country that even though the average rate of unemployment over the four quarters ending March was 11.7 per cent and slightly higher than the previous year, the fiscal adjustment measures taken by the Freundel Stuart administration between August 2013 and March this year, seem to have started to restore the balance of infows and outflows of foreign exchange.

Dr Worrell also said that the foreign reserve trends for the first six month of the year had reverted to the pattern of the years from 2009 to 2012.

“Reserves declined by $51 million, compared to a fall of $119 million on average for those years.  At the end of June, the stock of reserves stood at $1,093 million, representing 15.1 weeks of import reserve cover,” the Central Bank Governor added.

He also announced that the fiscal adjustment measures had dampened the demand for imports, resulting in them falling by 1.4 per cent for the first half of this year.

“The Fiscal Consolidation Programme yielded an estimated $51 million in the first quarter of the fiscal year.  The Consolidation Tax brought in $9 million, and the tax on commercial bank assets $4 million,” Dr Worrell noted.

He revealed that grants to pubic institutions were also reduced by $9 million and outlays on goods and services declined by $9 million.

The bank head also disclosed that the overall deficit was down as well.

“The overall deficit for the first quarter was $214 million, $5 million lower than for the same period last year.  The primary deficit for the quarter improved by $30 million to $21 million,” he stated.

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

The Barbados Labour Party is in the process of a countrywide awareness and mobilization campaign, rallying people against the Municipal Solid Waste Tax, in a push that culminates Sunday at National Heroes Square.

The party launched the drive last night to a full auditorium at Foundation School, Christ Church, where economic advisor Clyde Mascoll, Member of Parliament Dr Maria Agard, 2013 general election candidate Desmond Sands, Senator Wilfred Abrahams, Senator Jerome Walcott and Opposition Leader Mia Mottley told the gathering that if they were so motivated, they had options such as street protests against the levy, or they could indicate hardship in paying if it was
a financial burden.

A “help desk” with stacks of “hardship” forms was provided in the school auditorium for those who wanted to indicate to Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler that they were unable to make payment on this tax, the first instalment of which was due on July 28.

“I want to hear you talking. We will move to St James on Thursday, and we will have spot meetings across the island on Friday,” Mottley said. “We’ve had several meetings with a number of organizations. The bottom line is we will have a national meeting in Heroes Square Sunday night.

“We need to listen to the people . . . .

The Opposition Leader rattled off the names of ten organizations, ranging from those in the private sector to the Boy Scouts and
a church group, that had made known their objections to the tax.

“What we have heard are the institutional voices of Barbados with the possible exception of the unions . . . . I trust and pray that they would make their position
known soon. But I want to hear the people this week.”

Fielding a question from the floor on whether the BLP would call on the people to take to the streets in a march against the tax, Mottley said: “We would assess; but if the time comes, when I tell you come, come.”

If we are to benefit from the Economic Partnership Agreement we have to get up and work.

Government legislator Denis Kellman issued this stern advice today as the House of Assembly continued debate on the trade and economic pact.

The Member of Parliament for St Lucy said the cultural industry and the hotel sector were well poised to help market Barbadian products to European visitors.

Parliamentary representative for St Lucy Denis Kellman

“We cannot expect people to market our country for us,” he insisted, while criticising Opposition members who made comments critical of the agreement.

Kellman believes that the products produced by Banks Breweries, including the flagship Banks beer, could easily benefit from the EPA in light of their high standards and quality.

“It’s obvious that if the EPA is to work that we must have something to sell but at least we can identify [local] products.

“There are many products on the European market that fetch a much better price on the European market than in Barbados. What is needed is cooperation . . . we need to bring the private sector together to create synergies and allow them to have an appreciation and understanding that if we are to tackle these issues they cannot operate on a piecemeal basis . . . ,” he said.

“The best [opportunity] is within the hotel industry where we promote our local products. Allow people to have an appetite for what we are producing and that is the best way we can market.

“When we bring them [tourists] here, we cannot be feeding foreign [food] or clothing them in foreign [clothes], we must allow them to have an appreciation for what we are producing.”

Kellman also argued that the economy should be far less dependent on services with more attention given to the manufacturing of products.

Government can do nothing if property owners refuse to pay the Municipal Solid Waste Tax, and Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler misunderstood the law when he said people facing hardship must pay, then seek a refund.

These views were put forward by attorney-at-law Senator Wilfred Abrahams to Barbadians gathered at the Foundation School last night for a rally against the new tax.

“There is no provision at all in this act for the Government to come behind you for the money if you don’t pay it. There is no provision in this act for the Government to seize your land, and sell your land if you do not pay.”

The Barbados Labour Party senator hurriedly went on to make clear he was not inciting non-payment of the levy.

Senator Wilfred Abrahams.

“Now understand, I am not telling you all to not pay the tax. I would never stand up here and say do not pay the tax. I am saying if you read the act, the act says if you are experiencing hardship you can apply to the minister for a remission or refund.”

On the issue of payments, he said a recent statement by Sinckler pointed to his misinterpreting of the law’s wording.

“The Minister of Finance got up and told the public of Barbados that you have to pay the tax first, and then explain why there was a hardship so you couldn’t pay it, and then ask to get back the money that you pay, which you couldn’t pay in the first place. That is complete nonsense.”

Abrahams reasoned that where the law provided for remit or refund, the term remit pointed to relief from payment that could be granted before payment was made.

“Remit also means to alleviate from pain, to exempt from pain or to waive,” the attorney said.

He compared that new law to what obtained in the Land Tax Act.

“If you are experiencing hardship, you can write for relief from your land tax, and they can waive or adjust it. And they can do this before you pay.

“A lot of people have done it. The pensioners do a lot of it. People who are in difficulty know that if you cannot pay your land tax you can write asking for relief before you pay.”

Abrahams then read out the relevant clauses in both laws to show that despite the wording being the same, Government was proposing to apply them differently.

“They took the wording out of the Land Tax Act and put the same wording in the Solid Waste Tax Act, but are telling you that where you can write before you pay the tax for your land tax, with the exact same wording you cannot write under the Solid Waste Tax.”

A call has been issued for Government to urgently put in place a system to allow Barbadian entertainers easier access to financing to help push their products overseas.

Opposition MP Santia Bradshaw, an entertainment attorney, said the cost of accessing the European market was very high and many artistes had not been able to meet the requirements for funding by the Barbados-based Caribbean Export.

In her contribution to the House of Assembly today on the Economic Partnership Agreement Bill, Bradshaw said this issue had limited the ability of artistes to benefit from the EPA.

Opposition MP Santia Bradshaw

“An artiste who wants to be able to take his service and be able to perform in the European community cannot freely go to Caribbean Export and apply for funding without fulfilling certain criteria. He will first have to incur the cost of incorporation. He will either have to be associated with an established company carrying out certain services and there is a provision for you to be in the business for at least two years,” she said.

“There needs to be some degree of urgency as it relates to identifying for the creative sector ways in which there is access to funding and funding, not just a carte blanche approach, but it has to be specific and you have to have persons who understand not only the European market but the type of creators you have in the industry and the type of opportunities that exist in order for us to take advantage of what may meet us on the horizon in the European community,” said Bradshaw, the St Michael South East parliamentary representative.

She said the absence of a cultural industries authority was also a hindrance to local entertainers interested in marketing themselves in Europe.

“This again is another failing of the Democratic Labour Party administration. 2008 is when this [EPA] document would have been signed and we are now in 2014. We are still no closer in the creative sector to having access to funding to be able to be able to exploit a number of the opportunities, not just opportunities that would have passed us by in the last six years, but opportunities that present themselves within this document,” Bradshaw said.

Silence continues to be the major challenge in the battle against child sexual abuse in Barbados, according to Minister of Social Care Steve Blackett.

However, he said understanding new technologies is the strongest weapon in this battle.

The minister was addressing the opening of the first of two sensitisation conferences for health professionals under the theme Let’s Break The Silence On Child Sexual Abuse at the Hilton Barbados in Needham’s Point, St Michael this morning.

Blackett said sexual predators were not only lurking in neighbourhoods and schools, but on the internet as well and warned that this could have long term consequences for the island.

“Everyone knows that child abuse is morally wrong yet a minority of the population continues to breach the trust of children and exploit their innocence and status. As adults, parents, guardians and professionals who come into contact with children on a daily basis we must educate ourselves about these things, in particular, the technology. Whenever the opportunity arises offer appropriate and sound advice to those children who engage our attention. Children represent a vulnerable population since they depend upon others for their development . . . As a result, we need to take the necessary steps to assist them. We, as adult citizens of Barbados, need to reclaim our children from whatever negative forces that overshadow their development,” the minister said.

During the period 2008 to 2009 and 2012 to 2013, the Child Care Board recorded 1,013 referrals of alleged child sexual abuse out of a total of 5,800 referrals.

This number, Blackett stressed, was significant since it represented approximately 17 per cent of all referrals.

However, he noted that it is difficult to determine the magnitude of the problem due to significant under-reporting.

Today’s discussion focused on Mandatory Reporting Protocol conducted by Legal COnsultant Faith Marshall-Harris; How Do You Know? Sexual Abuse Awareness, The Investigation Process conducted by Inspector Caroline Blackman-Alleyne of the Sex Crime Unit, as well as How To Respond To The Psychological Needs Of The Child And Family Post Disclosure Of child Sexual Abuse by pediatric and adult psychiatrist Dr Shirley Alleyne.

After almost a decade of hard work and an investment of approximately $2 million, the expanded medical intensive care unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, renamed The Sir Richard Haynes MICU, has officially opened.

However speaking at the opening and renaming ceremony held in the hospital’s auditorium this evening, Head of Department Medicine at the QEH Dr Anne Marie Hassell said the unit needs more critical nursing staff to fully function. While the unit has 11 beds, five more than before, the number of nurses remains unchanged.

Hassell, the driving force behind the expansion, appealed to Minister of Health John Boyce for additional staff while expressing gratitude for the new equipment.

The request was reiterated by acting Chief Executive Officer of the QEH Louise Bobb, who noted that many Barbadians suffer from strokes, heart attacks, asthma and pneumonia. She suggested that the demand for intensive care facilities would increase as a result.

“The MICU is in good hands at the moment, but we are still in need of a cadre of critical care nurses and every effort will be made to develop the full multi-disciplinary team of clinical, paramedical and auxiliary staff required for the 11-bed unit. Evidence is beginning to show that interventions involving palliative care, ethics consultations, and other methods to increase communication between healthcare personnel, patients, and patients’ families may be helpful in decreasing length of stay in the intensive care unit.

“I expect that the near future of the MICU at the QEH will see multi-disciplinary opinion and appropriate management planning cover all aspects of patient care from medical therapies and nursing care through to nutritional advice and psychological support as our measure of successful outcome will include how critical illness has impacted life after the ICU. Our challenge will be to maintain the appropriate levels of funding, training, and equipment,” she said.

“This transformation to a state-of the-art facility is where we have begun to take intensive care to yet another level of consistent, evidence-based and high quality patient care. What this will allow is for all appropriate patients with reversible pathology and a reasonable chance of returning to an acceptable, reasonable quality of life, to continue to benefit from intensive care at the QEH.

“Moreover, in respect of the numerous requests from prospective visitors and potential immigrants on the services that we offer here at the QEH, we can now add greater synergy to the tourism product in being able to deliver and sustain quality intensive care services for visitors to
this island.”

Today’s reopening of the Sir Richard Haynes Medical Intensive Care Unit came more than 40 years after it was first opened by Haynes. This evening the late parliamentarian was lauded for his foresight and contribution to the field. His widow Lady Carol Haynes and other members of his family were on hand for the event.

The Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA) and the Barbados Economic Society (BES) have raised questions about the economic performance report issued yesterday by the Governor of the Central Bank.

BES head Jeremy Stephen said the report made little mention of some projects that were expected to see some major investment in the economy such as the Four Seasons project and the Pier Head Marina. Saying that capitalization of those projects would lead to “some level of balance” by creating employment, Stephen said clarification was needed on what stage the capitalization of those projects were at.

BES head Jeremy Stephen

“So the question remains as to what facilitation or what types of facilitation have occurred to ensure that the financing of these projects are even more imminent than previously stated. And we would also want to know how soon these projects are expected to commence,” said Stephen.

At the same time the economist warned that any source of foreign direct investment should be carefully pursued in light of the recent Moody’s downgrade. Stephen also cautioned that if sovereign debt was not immediately accessible funding for the major projects outlined could become “even more problematic”.

He went on to congratulate the Government on its efforts to bring down the fiscal deficit, but said more work was needed.

“Therefore, as [has] been echoed, we do expect that some further form of fiscal consolidation will be expected throughout the rest of the year,” Stephen told Barbados Today.

“With that being said we do expect further drags on the economy, in that it would impact the fiscal consolidation programme mainly on the tax side.”

In relation to Government owing a number of agencies and statutory corporations, Stephen said he believed the administration was trying its best to “fix that situation”, adding that a committee was set up to “hopefully” be more action-oriented. Stephen also warned that Government should continue to, as a part of its draw back on expenditure, cut wastage in statutory corporations.

Meantime, BPSA president Alex McDonald, said the association would be seeking clarification to some aspects of the report on Friday when the Social Partnership meets with the Governor of the Central Bank. He said the board of directors of the association would meet tomorrow to discuss the areas they are concerned about.

“We listened to the comments on trading and non-trading sectors. Those are some of the areas we would want to get some clarification on,” added McDonald.

marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb

First there was a claim that Land Tax Clearance Certificates would not be issued if the Municipal Solid Waste Tax is not paid. Now, reports have emerged that the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) has taken a policy decision not to issue the certificate to anyone who has not paid all other taxes.

The charge has been leveled by attorney-at-law and parliamentary representative for St James North Edmund Hinkson, who is questioning the legality of the decision.

“We now understand, and it has been confirmed, that the BRA is requiring that a form be completed and submitted to them by virtue of which that authority will check to see if you have any arrears of any other taxes, which that authority has the power to collect before issuing a Land Tax Clearance Certificate.

“You have to fill out this form giving your identification number, your National Insurance Number and other details. Armed with this information, the BRA will check to find out if you owe any arrears of Income Tax, Value Added Tax, Excise Tax or if you are a corporate entity, whether you owed any arrears on Corporation Tax under the Income Tax Act. Again, we in the BLP say that the BRA has absolutely no legal authority to adopt that stance,” Hinkson argued.

He accused Government of attempting to collect taxes by illegal means and warned that this would have a negative effect on business transactions. The St James North MP disclosed that members of the legal profession only became aware of the new policy decision after legal clerks paid the Municipal Solid Waste Tax and were told that they would have to fill out the form indicating that all other taxes had also been paid.

Noting that some statutory bodies owe Government millions of dollars in Value Added Tax and Income tax, Hinkson questioned what this would mean for the National Housing Corporation, Transport Board and other agencies.

“We know that the National Housing Corporation is into the sale of properties even though they have not sold any property since the last general election, but they are into it. What is going to be the position when the NHC is going to be unable to obtain a tax clearance certificate? Are they not going to be able to transfer any of the properties to tenants who are buying them? This has serious implications and repercussions that have clearly not been thought out,” Hinkson argued.

He pointed out that the new arrangement may disqualify some persons and companies from tendering for some contracts even where the tendering process does not identify some areas of taxation.

Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler is standing behind his administration’s record on procurement and award of state contracts.

Responding to Opposition claims that the process was not transparent and small contractors were being put at a disadvantage, Sincker told the House of Assembly last evening that the lack of openness with Government procurement does not mean unethical or illegal behaviour.

In fact, he said, the system in Barbados is one of the most complete processes in spite of bureaucratic challenges.

Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler

“This Government’s record . . . on procurement can withstand any scrutiny in relation to the award of contracts and I stand by that because most of them, if not all, have to come through the Ministry of Finance anyway and I can tell you that there is no surreptitious activities happening in relation to Government procurement . . . ,” Sinckler said.

He went on to deny claims by political activist David Comissiong and others that Government has agreed to purchase unsold homes at the multi-million dollar residential housing development at Coverley in Christ Church.

“It is that type of dangerous foolishness that gives people the impression that people are in Government making sweetheart deals with people. I want to say that nothing can be further from the truth in relation to that project at Coverley. It is simply not true,” he said.

“The Government is not buying any houses up there; we are not interested in buying any. We have not entered into any agreement to buy any houses that are not sold and those are the facts. There are people in Barbados who like to create their own straw men and then knock them down because it gives them the opportunity to be heard.

“The NHC has entered into an arrangement where they have provided the land, the developer is spending the company’s money building those houses and selling them and the corporation gets a percentage of the [sale] on each house plus the sale of the land,” he added.

Of the estimated 1,026 houses constructed at Coverley, only about 400 have been sold.

Sinckler said this is commendable given the state of the economy.

He also disclosed that Government is pushing ahead with plans to introduce a bill for the establishment of a National Procurement Authority before yearend.

According to the finance minister, this is part of Government’s fiduciary responsibility to make the process of procurement more efficient and better targeted.

Men in Barbados are now said to be making significant inroads into one of the oldest professions known to women – prostitution.

According to youth activist and Director of Drug Education and Counseling Services (DECS) Roger Husbands the offering of sexual favours for money is just as prevalent these days among men as it is among women, especially in areas in and around The City at night.

Husbands spoke during a press conference at the DECS’ Bay Street, St Michael headquarters at which he blamed the upsurge in male prostitution on the economic situation. He said many of those he spoke to said it was a last resort for them but they were in need of the money.

The DECS head further revealed that several married men were among those buying services.

“I know fellas who are not in my programme but they are out there selling their bodies just to survive,” Husbands told reporters.

He said “a lot of youngsters come [to this facility] and they talk to you. When I talk to some of them, it is about quick money; they just want money now.

“One fella said to me that one man introduced him to the option of having sex for money and he has a girlfriend and a child that he cannot support . . . so he went and had sex with the man and then it became one day, and then three times, and then four times.”

Husbands said the man also introduced the male prostitute to other men and now he was having sex with other men as well, as he tried to support “not only his child but his girlfriend and where they live”.

The DECS head said that while he had no empirical evidence, he was aware that the trend was becoming a societal issue and needed to be looked into by officials.

“Some people know about this already and they see it. I go and speak at churches and workshops and I bring up this issue and people already know what I am talking about. It is a reality that this is a problem in our society.

“It is happening and it is increasing whether it increases by two or three males a year going to do this. Fellas are finding ways however necessary to get money and they don’t care what they have to do. As one fella says, ‘it is all about eating and survival’.”

The outspoken youth activist added: “If you go into Bridgetown you would see some of them standing up there waiting for men to come up in their cars. Some of them walk all around and flag down cars to get favours from men. So they won’t do it early on mornings but late at nights into the wee hours of the morning making an industry for themselves.”

Husbands said one young man told him he makes a $1,000 a night on sexual favours “so you have these issues that are out there and need to be addressed”.

The youth activist pointed out that he did not have the solution to this problem. However, he believed that young males needed to be empowered and it should start in the school system. He said while he was hearing from these young men that they were not finding moral jobs, he often urged them to seek employment overseas.

“I have spoken to my young people about traveling and working overseas because you can go overseas and find jobs,” he said.

He also commented: “I still do not understand how it is that a boy can leave primary school, secondary school and still cannot read and write. I have them in here that don’t have the basic knowledge of how to read and write. So we need to go back to our education system and find out what is going on.

“I saw a report [card] the other day that had 38 per cent and that person came first, so at the end of the day we [have] got problems with our education sector too. But we would wait for somebody to come from overseas and evaluate to tell us that we have problems.

anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb 

Barbadians could soon be paying significantly more for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), commonly referred to as cooking gas.

This is because the National Gas Company of Trinidad & Tobago (NGC), through its subsidiary Phoenix Park Gas Processors Ltd (PPGPL), has decided after about 23 years of supplying the Eastern Caribbean with LPG, to sell most of its production to Trafigura B.V.

Reliable industry sources, speaking to Barbados TODAY on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the Trinidad-based company had decided to sell its production, and that “a large contract” has been awarded to the international commodity trading firm Trafigura. A second one could be awarded as early as next week.

“I can confirm to you that PPGPL has changed the process to offer the supplies of Propane and Butane from their processing plant in Trinidad,” said the source who is close to the transaction.

“The effect of this and the concern of them awarding a large tender to Trafigura is that as a result the prices for LPG in the region will go up and for those people who were buying directly from PPGPL, who are now facing the reality of either now buying from Trafigura or bringing product from other sources, this will result in a very significant increase in the cost of LPG to consumers . . . It was a very large contract that was awarded to Trafigura earlier this year. A second one is still in the process and PPGPL has not yet decided how to award that tender,” the source added.

Noting that LPG was an essential commodity for the region, the industry player said it could also affect businesses that were involved in the trading of the gas.

“LPG is regulated throughout the region and it means that the regulated prices will have to reflect the increases in acquisition cost . . . there is a new tender out there that has not been awarded. Once that tender is awarded by PPGPL we intend to inform the government of the impact that this is going to have on the increase prices of LPG throughout the region,” said the industry consultant.

Another source, with intimate knowledge of the contract, has expressed concern that should Trafigura be given all the contracts the situation could prove “catastrophic for the cooking gas market in the region as this would make cooking with LPG comparable with cooking with electricity.”

The industry player explained: “Phoenix Park has one last outstanding [request for proposal] for the supply of LPG, which should have been awarded on July 1, 2014 for first deliveries of LPG October 1, 2014. The award of the [request for proposal] have been further delayed but should be awarded by the end of this month,” the source said warning that “if Trafigura B.V. wins this product they could hold the Eastern Caribbean to ransom or they could have other plans for this LPG that do not include the Eastern Caribbean.

“Under either scenario the Eastern Caribbean might not get LPG from Trinidad,” the source said.

In Barbados Rubis and Sol are the two major suppliers of LPG.

Operators of Rubis declined to comment on the matter while up to the time of publication this newspaper did not get a response from Sol.

marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb