Businesses in Barbados are being warned to develop digital transformation strategies or face extinction.

This caution has come from Regional ICT Sales Manager for Barbados and the OECS at Productive Business Solutions (PBS) Ashish Uttamchandani, who pointed out that too many organizations continued to operate the way they did decades ago despite the introduction of new technologies.

He argued that by not undergoing a digital transformation, companies would become less competitive and simply forced to go out of business.

“So chief information officers and chief development officers must take responsibility for integrating digital [technology] into their businesses. We need to understand that customer expectations have changed . . . Technology isn’t about speed and bytes, we need to deliver real business value,” Uttamchandani told the opening of the Dell EMC and Productive Business Solutions digital transformation seminar at the Courtyard by Marriott on Wednesday.

“Every situation is unique, context matters, digital transformation is a marathon and not a sprint, and finally, organizations that do not transform and reinvent themselves will find themselves extinct,” he warned.

With the rapid development in technology and emergence of new industries, Uttamchandani said companies must adapt and do so quickly.

“The challenge is that today the environment is moving at a very accelerated rate yet businesses are relatively stagnant to some degree . . . So what we need to be able to do as governments and organizations is to be agile enough to not only be able to react to market demands, but be able to use data to forecast those analytics in terms of consumer behaviour and so forth,” he said.

“The interesting thing is that 45 per cent of business leaders are still at their initial stages of their digital strategy . . . So the world is moving at an accelerated rate yet businesses are nowhere near where they should be for a number of reasons and this varies across regions,” he said.

He said technology was only one component of the digital transformation, adding that one of the key components to drive adoption was that of culture.

He explained that it was important that there was a change in mindset in how people saw digital advancement.

“When you strip away the building the strategic plan and so forth, we are left with people. Culture has been proven several times through several research that it can be an inhibitor or what can propel you as an organization,” he said.

He said companies should create “an environment of innovation and for experimentation”, adding that companies should regularly update their strategies.

He said other critical components of the transformation process were training of staff members and setting of benchmarks.

“So we need to have a very diverse team to be able to achieve this digital transformation,” he said.

He said there were benefits to digital transformation including reduced costs and environmental benefits.

“We need to be able to shift our form of management style. Different generations have different expectations. So we look at cross-training, emotional intelligence and so forth,” he added.

The post ‘Transform or die’, businesses told appeared first on Barbados Today.

The Friends of Venezuela Solidarity Committee (Barbados) has publicly thrown its support behind Venezuelan president Nicholas Maduro, who has been re-elected for a second successive term.

Despite the fact that 17 Latin American countries along with Canada and the USA have denounced Maduro’s Government as illegitimate, general secretary David Denny who travelled to Venezuela along with chairman of the Pan African Coalition of Organizations Onkphra Wells to witness the inauguration of Maduro, told members of the media that the people of Venezuela had embraced their leader.

Speaking at a press conference this week which was also attended by Charge D’Affairs of the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Avero Sanchez Cordero, Denny described it as a “proud and humbling experience” to have been present for Maduro’s inauguration which took place on January 10, 2019.

He said despite efforts by the US and other countries to decry Maduro, he had done an excellent job as president.

“The average working-class person is entitled to a very good standard of living in Venezuela. I was going to Venezuela in the 1980s and conditions were bad, bad under [Carlos Andres] Perez. People were living in some of the worst conditions that you could think about.

“At this present moment when you pass you can see a proper housing development programme, proper healthcare and social missions. We have to do a lot of work to combat that negative information about Venezuela,” Denny said, adding that Venezuela is usually first to the rescue when any Caribbean island found itself in a crisis.

Wells said the fact that 67 per cent of the Venezuelan people had voted for Maduro showed they loved him. He insisted that rumours circulating which purported that the election process was corrupt were simply not true.

“This has been a democratic exercise winning by some 67 per cent of the votes. This is not someone that has stolen an election. The people came out and everywhere today there is talk about freedom and sovereignty and liberty, and yet with this great example in Venezuela there are problems,” Wells said.

“What is Nicholas Maduro guilty of that he can be classified as a threat to the national security of Venezuela? Is he invading other countries? Is he placing his cohorts to rape, steal and plunder the resources of other people?”

Wells said Maduro had in fact ushered a new age in Venezuela.

The post NGO support for Maduro appeared first on Barbados Today.

An indictment unveiled in the United States today has named former Insurance Corporation of Barbados Limited (ICBL) chief executive officer Ingrid Innes and former ICBL senior vice-president Alex Tasker as defendants.

[caption id="attachment_287894" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Ingrid Innes[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_287895" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Alex Tasker[/caption]

Inniss was identified as a Canadian citizen and a resident of Barbados in the nine-page indictment. Tasker is currently the CEO of Digicel. Neither individual is in the custody of US authorities.

The two are linked to the ongoing case in the United States where former Minister of Commerce Donville Inniss has also been indicted on corruption charges.

Last August 6, Inniss was charged with conspiracy to launder money and two counts of money laundering in the United States.
The indictment accused Inniss of accepting bribes from ICBL in 2015 and 2016 while he was Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development.

The allegation was that ICBL paid him $36,000 to use his authority to ensure that the firm’s million-dollar contract with the state-owned Barbados Industrial Development Corporation (BIDC) which was under his ministerial portfolio was renewed.

Neither Tasker nor Innes could be reached for comment late tonight.

The post Tasker, Innes indicted in US appeared first on Barbados Today.

Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley on Saturday named a team which he said would speak on behalf of the Opposition on national issues.

"I am here this morning with a team of persons representing the interests of Barbadians . . . who are prepared to give themselves to service in the name of the Opposition," Atherley said.

The team includes people who ran in the 2018 General Election under the Solutions Barbados (SB) and United Progressive Party (UPP) banners.

From Solutions are Scott Weatherhead, Alan Springer, Irvin Belgrave, Rev John Carter and Paul Gibson, while Maria Phillips, Bruce Hennis and Paul Forte ran under the UPP.

The group also includes Sylvan Greenidge from Barbados Integrity Movement, lecturer Dr Philip Corbin and Akil Daley.

Atherley, who had previously named his two Opposition Senators Crystal Drakes and Caswell Franklyn, said three more people will be added to the opposition group at a later date.

"This is, for me as Leader of the Opposition, a proud moment. I believe it is for our country a historic moment."

Portfolios

Irvin Belgrave - Home Affairs

Rev John Carter - Agriculture, Food Security and Maritime Economy

Dr Phillip Corbin - Energy, Water Resources and Telecommunications

Akil Daley - Youth and Small Business Facilitation

Sen Crystal Drakes - Economic, Sustainable Development and Climate Change

Paul Forte - Housing, Property Ownership, Works and Maintenance

Sen Caswell Franklyn - Labour, Social Security, Corporatives and Civil Establishments

Paul Gibson - Health, Wellness Services Development and Environment

Sylvan Greenidge - Transportation, Sanitation and Sewage Services

Bruce Hennis - International Business and Trade, Manufacturing and Commerce

Maria Phillips - Justice, Law Enforcement and Penal System

Alan Springer - Creative Economy and Sports Industry Development

Scott Weatherhead - Tourism, Regional and International Transport

Atherley was elected to the House of Assembly as a member of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) but he formed the one-man Opposition days after the May 24 General Election.

He stressed that today's announcement was not the launch of a political party, but said this would come in due course.

The post Atherley names team to speak for Opposition on national issues appeared first on Barbados Today.

The Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Health resumes its fogging programme this week in Christ Church between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. each day.

On Tuesday, January 22, the team will fog Rendezvous Hill, Rendezvous Ridge, Rendezvous Gardens, Amity Lodge with Avenues and environs.

On Wednesday, January 23, they will be spraying Lower Amity Lodge, Rendezvous Hill, Brewster Road, Worthing with Avenues, Bamboo Road, Harmony Hall, Top Rock and surrounding areas.

On Thursday, January 24, areas targeted will be St Lawrence Gap, Paradise Village, Highway 7, Worthing Main Road and neighbouring districts.

The fogging exercise concludes on Friday, January 25, in Dover Gardens, Headley Road, Dover Terrace, Dover with Avenues and environs.

Householders are asked to cooperate with the officers of the Vector Control Unit by opening their doors and windows to allow the spray to enter.

The post Fogging schedule for January 22 – 25 appeared first on Barbados Today.

An increase in the number of judges and additional resources for the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) are just some of the initiatives on the cards to assist with the growing incidents of crime across Barbados.

Attorney General, Dale Marshall, today took issue with the fact that Barbados had in some cases as many as 1,000 matters on indictment waiting to be heard in the High Court, some of which date back to a decade.

“If the criminal element feel they could do as they please and appear before the court and get bail and the next thing they hear about the case is five years from now, they would feel they could do what they feel like in our society. They say justice has to be swift [and] the end of that justice is the court system,” he stated.

He was at the time addressing members of the media at Police Headquarters before going on tour of “hot spots” in Bridgetown, accompanied by the High Command of the Royal Barbados Police Force and the Barbados Defence Force. He was also joined by Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Kirk Humphrey.

Marshall said that a number of changes will be happening with the judiciary over the coming weeks, while the DPP’s office will be getting additional resources as Government moves to bring about efficiencies in a number of areas.

He disclosed that two new court rooms were installed at the Supreme Court Complex on Whitepark Road, St. Michael, to accommodate two new criminal judges. In addition, the Attorney General also disclosed that he was taking other initiatives to Parliament soon to increase the size of the judiciary.

“The Prime Minister has agreed to give us more judges. There are a number of things we can do. The burden is not only on the police. The police will do with the investigation and the arrest, but the judiciary also has to do its work. If [a person is] convicted, prison has to do its work as that is a place of punishment and rehabilitation, but the communities also have to do their work,” he maintained.

The post More improvements coming for law courts appeared first on Barbados Today.

Seven repeat visitors to Barbados who have visited Barbados over a time span of nearly  40 years were recognized for their loyalty Friday night at the Gun Hill Signal Station.

Robert and Bonnie Fraser (43 visits), Ken and Adrienne Layton (42 visits), Shirley Eyre (42 visits) and Robert and Shelagh Ffoul-kes-Jones (35 visits), received awards of recognition from Minister of Tourism and International Transport Kerrie Symmonds.

Canadian couple Robert and Bonnie Fraser described Barbados as their “second home”. After first visiting in 1976, they were elated to have been recognized on a national level.

“I should almost be giving one of these [awards] back to Barbados for saying thank you for being such a fantastic place,” Robert Fraser said. He told the media that he was captivated by the warmth of the island and its people.

“When we got here the warmth of the people, the warmth of the security blanket that you feel around you when you come here. You don’t feel any kind of alienation

We have travelled all around the world and we call this our home away from home,” he said.

Minister Symmonds applauded the repeat visitors for embracing the island and its inhabitants. He said that the repeat visitors were Barbadians by choice who have supported and rallied for the island through its ups and downs.

“We believe that this country has benefited richly from the loyalty of all you who have been here in some instances 25, 30 and as often as 50 times and that is a phenomenal testimony about how you feel about us and we owe you an undying debt of gratitude for that commitment . . . We are building a partnership because in good times and bad you all have been here for us.” (KK)

The post Repeat visitors recognized appeared first on Barbados Today.

CMC – The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) has honoured Barbadian-born Justice Sylvia Hinds-Radix with its 2019 Diversity Trailblazer Award.

During its annual meeting on Saturday, NYSBA said it honored Justice Hinds-Radix, an associate justice, New York State Appellate Division, Second Department, for her “extraordinary efforts” in creating “opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds.”

She was also honored by the NYSBA – during its 142^nd Annual Meeting at the New York Hilton Midtown, midtown Manhattan – for mentoring other lawyers and for promoting “equality and diversity in the workplace.” 

The NYSBA’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion presented the award to Justice Hinds-Radix. 

Her colleague, Justice Cheryl Chambers, New York State Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, introduced Justice Hinds-Radix.

“I am indeed honored and humbled to be receiving this Diversity Trailblazer Award and to join the ranks of those pioneering individuals who have already received this prestigious award,” said Justice Hinds-Radix in her acceptance speech. “I am grateful to the many individuals on whose shoulders I stand, who paved the trails and who made tremendous sacrifices so that folks like me can stand here before you.” 

She said she is “the daughter of two of the hardest working people I have ever known, and I believe that if you were to look in a dictionary for the definition of the term trailblazer, you would find their names.  

“It was these two people, who instilled in me the need to understand that everyone has a contribution to make and that diversity matters,” Justice Hinds-Radix said. “Because diversity matters, it is important to ensure that I pave the way for those individuals who can and will work diligently to ensure that they make this world a better place and are granted an opportunity to use their perspective in showing how much better people’s lives can be when given the chance to excel.” 

Justice Hinds-Radix said she was “truly grateful for the blessings that I have been given by my Creator and my family.  

“I stand here as someone who can say to you, unequivocally, immigration matters and the diverse perspectives that immigrants bring to the table can and do help to enhance our nation,” she added.

She said she was born on an island (Barbados), of only 166 square miles; and, as a teenager, she migrated to New York.

“And now, I am an Associate Justice in this state’s second highest court,” Hinds-Radix said. 

“Only in this nation can we see such dreams come to fruition; and, we must, therefore, always fight to ensure that we are able to maintain these achievements as part of the American dream.”

At a time when immigration and immigrants are increasingly under attack by US President Donald J. Trump, she said it was “important that the facts, with reference to their (immigrants) contributions, be highlighted in a way that does not mislead.”

The NYSBA noted that Hinds-Radix was the first administrative judge in Kings County (Brooklyn) Supreme Court of Caribbean descent. 

During her tenure, NYSBA said she developed a summer internship programme for law students at the Supreme Court, which still serves 120 students from diverse backgrounds annually. 

It said Hinds-Radix is co-chair of the Commercial and Federal Litigation Section’s yearly programme on career strategies for attorneys of color. 

While stating that the Appellate Court on which she sits is the busiest in the nation, Justice Hinds-Radix has described as “interesting and fulfilling” her role on the New York court.

“The challenges are different from sitting on the trial court,” she told the Caribbean Media Corporation.

“The Appellate bench helps to shape the law in the State of New York,” she added. “It has been interesting and fulfilling, because it gives me an opportunity to help shape the law and have an impact on things statewide and community wide.” 

Hinds-Radix, who is married to Grenadian-born dentist Dr Joseph Radix, said the Appellate court, on which she sits, gets the vast majority of appellate cases in the State of New York. 

“People on the bench have integrity, and they work every day to ensure the public gets the representation they need and deserve,” she said. 

Prior to her appointment to the New York State Appellate Division in 2012, Hinds-Radix served as Administrative Judge for Civil Matters in the Second Judicial District for 3 ½ years. 

In her capacity as Administrative Judge, she oversaw both the New York State Supreme Court, Civil Term and the New York City Civil Court, which also encompasses the Housing Court of the City of New York. She supervised both the judges in these courts and the non-judicial staff. 

She was elected to the Supreme Court, Kings County, in November of 2004 and served as a New York City Civil Court Judge, from 2002 through 2004, spending her first year in the Criminal Court of Kings County. 

The post NY State Bar honors Barbados-born justice with Diversity Trailblazer Award appeared first on Barbados Today.

Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Kerrie Symmonds says the tourism industry’s end of year results for 2018 were “very good”. But he warns that gun violence can possibly put a damper on the sector.

Symmonds, who was speaking with members of the media on the sidelines of a reception for repeat visitors held at the Gun Hill Signal Station, revealed that the shooting in St Lawrence Gap last year could have left a bad impression on the visitors who witnessed it.

“Tourism is our business. Running about the street with a gun and shooting one another over foolishness is unacceptable! We have to spend long hours working on something that we shouldn’t spend long hours working on because we have to try to contain the fallout of every instance when that happens,” said Symmonds.

He pointed out that the marketing point of the island’s tourism sector of cleanliness, friendliness and safety was in a bind. He stressed that the threat to the island’s safety needed to be wrestled to the ground.

“We will destroy the Barbados economy if it is that we have people shooting one another because somebody get horn or because somebody's girlfriend chose to be with another man. We have to come to an understanding that every time this happens we are losing a massive amount of not only money but our reputation is taking a massive hit out there.”

Symmonds also revealed that the recently established Cruise Development Commission will soon be providing a final audit of the ports of entry and overall visitor experience.

“ I think we have to sit with the people in the craft sector as a whole . . . I have told the BTMI (Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc) that we have to have an opportunity to bring all the craft vendors in Bridgetown onto Trevor’s Way on a Friday night. Bring with them the music and the food and we have an opportunity for visitors to experience Bridgetown by night.”

He argued that competitors across the region were creating opportunities for visitors to experience culture and the arts and Barbados could not afford to be satisfied with its current product while the industry was constantly transforming. (KK)

The post A ‘very good’ year for tourism, says Symmonds appeared first on Barbados Today.

It's a busy Errol Barrow Day at the Bridgetown Port.

Three cruise ships are docked at the port today.

A BT team saw several visitors as well as locals making the rounds in The City.

The post Cruise visitors make rounds in The City appeared first on Barbados Today.

Police are searching for 18-year-old Lindi London who went missing while swimming on Sunday.

London, of Cottage Crescent, St George, was reported missing around 8:30 p.m.

He was last seen at the “Hot Pot” Brandon’s Beach, St Michael, where he went to the beach with two friends and encountered difficulty with strong currents.

Members of the Coast Guard and Marines are conducting a search for him.

The post Man, 18, missing while swimming at Brandon’s Beach appeared first on Barbados Today.

Police are investigating an accident with injuries which occurred around 2 a.m. along Edgehill, Main Road, St Thomas, on Sunday.

A mini bus, registration number B110, owned by Abdea Patel, was badly damaged and the driver Gregg Clinkett, 31, of Marshall and Parkinson Gap, Fairfield, St Michael, complained of shoulder and foot pain.

Clinkett reported that the bus hit a pole, overturned and slid on its left side due to brake failure. He lost control of the vehicle.

Three other passengers received minor injuries and were taken to QEH by ambulance.

An apartment was also damage in the accident.

The post Minor injuries reported after serious accident appeared first on Barbados Today.

Police are investigating the death of a 41-year-old police constable on Sunday.

Police say that around 8:40 p.m., officers at Crab Hill, viewed the lifeless body of constable Donette Cadogan of Apartment #1, Josey Hill, St Lucy.

She reportedly complained to a sibling of feeling unwell and subsequently collapsed and died.

No foul pay is suspected.

The post Police investigating sudden death of woman constable appeared first on Barbados Today.

Police are searching for 18-year-old Lindi London who went missing while swimming on Sunday.

London, of Cottage Crescent, St George, was reported missing around 8:30 p.m.

He was last seen at the “Hot Pot” Brandon’s Beach, St Michael, where he went to the beach with two friends and encountered difficulty with strong currents.

Members of the Coast Guard and Marines are conducting a search for him.

The post Man, 18, missing while swimming at Brandon’s Beach appeared first on Barbados Today.

Barbados has recorded its first road fatality for 2019.

Mario Peters, who was involved in a serious accident with his motor cycle on Bay Street Road, near Harbour Lights, on Friday, January 3, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday.

Peters had been hospitalized at the QEH since the accident.

He was 24 years old.

The post Barbados records first road fatality for 2019 appeared first on Barbados Today.

The St Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway tours got off to a spectacular start this morning, when the fully booked three-carriage train, Badger, took to the track for the first time in Barbados.

With close to 100 people aboard, the first train ride left the starting point at St Nicholas Abbey and went on a journey of almost two miles, passing through a limestone path down the scenic Cherry Tree Hill and back.

During the approximately 45 minutes journey, tourists and locals had the opportunity to learn more about the rich history of the area.

[caption id="attachment_288007" align="alignnone" width="650"] Officials are pleased that tourists and locals are enthusiastic about the train ride.[/caption]

Co-owner of St Nicholas Abbey Simon Warren told Barbados TODAY he was pleased with the response.

“It went very well. We were fully booked, it went very well,” he said.

“People were enjoying it. They said that they were glad we now have a train in Barbados again. The people were very, very happy,” said Warren.

Officials are hoping the new attraction will provide a major boost to the island’s heritage tourism product.

Currently, the locomotive train, which will operate six days a week, from Sunday to Friday, consists of three carriages, holding up to 32 passengers each. (MM)

The post St Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway tours off to smooth start appeared first on Barbados Today.

The United Progressive Party (UPP) may now be left licking its wounds after three of its former candidates left to join the Opposition.

However, the relatively young political party said it was not daunted and would continue to “build strong” and represent the interest of Barbadians.

In a Facebook post the UPP, which failed to capture a seat in the last election, in which the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) took all 30 seats, said it expected that Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley would form a new political party.

It was on Saturday that Atherley announced a team he said would speak on behalf of the Opposition on national issues.

He stressed that the announcement was not the launch of a political party, but said that would come in due course.

Maria Phillips, Bruce Hennis and Paul Forte, who ran under a UPP ticket in the last election, were part of the 13 members named among the Opposition team.

The UPP described the move as an interesting one, stating that its members had the freedom of choice.

“As expected, Joseph Atherley is forming a new Party. As you know Atherley contested the election under the BLP and in a surprise move crossed the floor to sit in the Opposition seat. Three of the individuals who appear in the media photograph contested the last election under the UPP banner. To the best of our knowledge and belief they have left the UPP.

“The development is an interesting one for those who study politics as Barbados seeks to build a multi-party democracy. The UPP in a statement immediately after the last election gave its candidates the freedom to choose,” it said.

The party, which is led by attorney-at-law Lynette Eastmond, said it would continue to build strong and continue to represent the interests of all Barbadians.

“It is clear that there is a certain amount of discontent among Barbadians as they are not seeing the transparency and access which they were promised during the last election.

“The UPP has made it its business to keep its channels of communication open with all parties and will continue to do so in the interest of Barbados,” the UPP added.

Atherley, who was elected to the House of Assembly on a BLP ticket, formed a one-man Opposition mere days after the May 24 general election.

He had named two Opposition Senators – Crystal Drakes and Caswell Franklyn, who were also named as spokespersons for the Opposition on issues of national importance. He said three more people would be added to that group of senators at a later date.

His Opposition group also consists of former Solutions Barbados candidates Scott Weatherhead, Alan Springer, Irvin Belgrave, Rev John Carter and Paul Gibson.

There are also Sylvan Greenidge from the Barbados Integrity Movement and lecture Dr Philip Corbin and Akil Daley.

“This is, for me as Leader of the Opposition, a proud moment. I believe it is for our country a historic moment,” Atherley said on Saturday. (MM)

The post UPP not daunted by defectors appeared first on Barbados Today.

Police are investigating the discovery of a body in St Lucy Monday afternoon.

Police said that around 5:40 p.m., officers responded to River Bay where the lifeless body of an unidentified adult female was found.

The post Woman’s body found in St Lucy appeared first on Barbados Today.

Police are on the scene of an unnatural death at Vauxhall, Christ Church.
Reports are that an elderly woman has been killed.

The post Police probe unnatural death in Christ Church appeared first on Barbados Today.

Police have taken a man into custody for questioning as they commence investigations into the death of an elderly woman at a senior citizens home in Vauxhall, Christ Church.

Police were called to the Vauxhall Senior Citizens Home just after 6 p.m. on Monday January 21 for reports that one of the residents there had been injured.

Acting Senior Superintendent of Police at the Southern Division Bruce Rowe said on arrival, officers found the body of an elderly woman who had died of suspected stab wounds.

“There is a person in custody assisting us with the investigation but we will not disclose any names at this time because of the fact that we have to notify family members,” Rowe said.

The superintendent confirmed that the man in custody was also a resident at the home.

The post Update: Police investigate homicide at senior citizens home appeared first on Barbados Today.