Government is giving more time before the plastics ban comes into effect.

Instead of the April 1 deadline, an adjustment to the ban on the importation of single-use plastics now puts the effective date at July 1.

Announcing the extension, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Blue Economy, Kirk Humphrey said it is to accommodate vendors and packaging firms who asked for more time to get rid of hundreds of thousands of dollars in product ahead of a national ban on the importation and use of styrofoam and single-use plastics.

“But after July 1, that is it,” he said.

“We have gone as far as we can go to accommodate everybody. I have made some very good friends who are environmentalists and I know they are probably watching television or listening to the radio, and I would get a million Whatsapp messages. But we have to govern for everybody. We have to govern for the environmentalist; we have to govern for the manufacturers, the importers, and the retailers.

“Mr Speaker Sir, I do not feel good knowing a lot of vendors still have a lot of styrofoam containers because they got them legitimately, under the impression that they could still use them after April 1. They were misled because we never said so. Three more months in the whole scheme of things is not going to kill us, but it would do a lot of good for the poor people,” Humphrey said, as he made his contribution to the debate on the Appropriation Bill 2019 in Parliament last night.

Last September, Humphrey announced the ban saying, “We have had all through this process, consultation with the people. I have met with every possible group to discuss how we are going to approach single-use plastics. And in the beginning I must tell you I wanted to ban almost every plastic. But after a lot of consultation, we have brought the list down to a very manageable list.”

“In September, when I spoke to the people who import most of the single use plastics, and the styrofoam, they told me that they need six months to get rid of their stock.

“We were saying January 1, which was three months, but they say if you give me six months I can get rid of all of my stock. So we moved the proposed ban from January 1 2019 to April 1, giving them six months, not on my recommendation; not on the Prime Minister’s recommendation or the recommendation of the Cabinet, but on their recommendation,” he explained.

The Minister said he has been listening carefully to the packaging firms that import single-use plastics, complaining and saying they needed more time to sell their stock.

“And in all fairness to them, from the time we started talking about the ban, people weren’t buying at the same rate. So the six months now became a little more time. But when the people who use the styrofoam plates in the chicken industry, says Mr Minister you cannot ban the styrofoam trays, we said okay, we won’t ban the styrofoam trays.

“When the persons who manufacture plastic bags said you can’t ban it by April 1, we need more time, we said okay we will give you until January first 2020, because we heard the people. Now many vendors are telling us that April 1, 2019, is too soon for them. We are making an adjustment to accommodate the vendors who find themselves in many cases stuck with a lot of styrofoam,” he said.

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Some 700 people have so far received low-interest startup loans from the Government’s Trust Loan Fund, Minister of Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Commerce Dwight Sutherland has reported.

He made the disclosure while contributing to the Budget Debate in the House of Assembly yesterday.

Declaring that the ministry’s support from small business startups does not end with the loan disbursement, Sutherland announced a raft of additional support systems to ensure business viability through entrepreneurship education with support from the Small Business Association (SBA).

Sutherland told the lower legislature: "We are not only giving you money; we are providing support so that your business can flourish. We formed the Financial Literacy Bureau. Thus far, we have been told 270 businesses have been trained.

"I want to thank the SBA and the head for providing that support without any monetary reward because she too supports this Government's mission. It is not only about money. It is about saving people and saving lives.”

He recalled a recent encounter with a benefactor of the loan and subsequent training.

“We trained people in marketing their businesses and financial literacy. We went further and visited most of these businesses. We were pleased to see the reports.

"At the recently-held Agrofest someone in the services sector, selling donuts, invited me to see them display and sell their products. I got to Agrofest on the Sunday at 2 p.m. and indeed that person was sold out. So you tell me if the Trust Loan Fund has not been not been assisting with the small businesses and entrepreneurs in this country?"

He continued: “We will continue holding business fairs across the 11 parishes. The first was at Green’s in St George and indeed it was a success. I have engaged my colleagues to ensure we bring business fairs to every single parish in this country.”

The MP for St George South explained that Government is also looking to promote greater connectivity and corporation between businesses to leverage skills.

He told lawmakers of the formation of a business cluster programme, inviting his colleagues to the Barbados Museum on April 27 to witness the first key cluster being rolled out in the fashion industry.

"We have fashion designers, modelling agencies, seamstresses, making of jewellery and accessories, personnel from the cultural industry, web designers and web promoters and of course, we are not leaving out the Barbados National Standards Institute who will be there to make sure our standards are up to par. We intend to take these businesses beyond the 166 square miles.”

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Minister in the Ministry of Transport Peter Phillips has announced a new initiative to partner with privately owned Public Service Vehicles to boost bus service to under-served districts with bus fares set to rise in just over two weeks' time.

Outlining an apparent public-private partnership with the commercial operators, who have long pushed for a steep rise in bus fares, Phillips said minibuses will be brought into work in bus terminals, "will carry the Transport Board brand", and a ply bus routes

Phillips also announced there will be "route rationalisation" but did not elaborate.

Suggesting that the private PSVs will operate like "a Transport Board bus does", the Minister said children and senior citizens will travel for free on these branded vehicles.

The new arrangements are part of the Transport Authority's Transport Augmentation Programme (TAP), an experimental mix of public and private operators on select routes.

The programme, begun by the Freundel Stuart administration, was suspended shortly after the Labour Party Government came to office.

Phillips told Parliament: "Everything that you do on the Transport Board bus you will be able to do on these minibuses which are part of the TAP programme. The TAP programme is designed to help out with the buses. We are working on that now because Barbados’ transport system has to be cleaned up.”

The MP for St Lucy said the ministry must first have the law changed in order to facilitate the programme.

He said: "Before we get to those minibuses  and ZRs coming into the terminal we must change the legislation and get the laws in place that is what we are working on now. I am confident it will come to Cabinet it will be heard before this Parliament and it will be rolled out."

Recapping what had been done in the ministry, he declared a national consultation a success and a precursor to town hall meetings.

Phillips said: "We held the first national consultation on transport. In the coming weeks we will have six town hall meetings and these plans will be discussed.  When we are finished everybody would have had a say and we want to put together the best for Barbados in terms of transport. Things are being put in place. We are doing things that would help everybody.”

In an appeal to his constituents, the St Lucy MP said: "I ask the people in Barbados who live in those rural districts, like the area I represent to trust us. You have trust us thus far so continue to trust us because we are working in your best interest.  I say to the people of St Lucy you have put me here to represent you and represent I will do."

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Attorney General Dale Marshall has vented his frustrations on the issue of bail being granted to persons accused of murder who secure release and then commit other heinous crimes.

“We have a problem with bail,” he declared to the House of Assembly this evening as the Chamber continued debate on the Appropriations Bill 2019.

“The fact is the individual who was arrested yesterday is already on bail for a murder charge and there are several other individuals in this country who are out on bail for murder charges and go on to be charged for other homicides. There are individuals who are on bail for firearms who are given bail and come out and engage in the same kind of activity,” he said.

But he pledged that “115 bad boys” in a 300,000 population will not be allowed to terrorize the country.

“Is it right that a few hoodlums can walk around with guns so that they could terrorize a population of 300,000? The mathematics of it cannot work. It can’t work! As long as I have breath, strength and the support of my colleagues it cannot happen,” he stressed.

Noting that the brazen nature of yesterday’s violent death of 33-year-old Damien Trotman in a crowded food court at Sheraton Centre has captured the attention of Barbadians, he said. “A lot of Barbadians were not taking gun violence seriously until yesterday.”

Marshall told the members of the Lower House, Government cannot deal with the issues plaguing the society alone but rather needed the assistance of the public and especially those who are enabling young criminals including family members who “know what they are doing” but who lack the courage to come forward.

“ . . . because it happened in Sheraton where people are shopping and dining and so on, people are waking up. No! they should have woken up years ago when this problem started. That is another inconvenient truth.

The Attorney General offered his sympathies to those left behind after gun violence but charged they are people in the community who are enabling young people to commit crime for financial gain.

“I am very sympathetic and believe that the life of one person taken by crime is a life too many. I don’t make any judgment that the man who was shot and killed yesterday was somebody who is well known to the law. Everybody has an opportunity to redeem themself. Should that young man had lived he could have gone on to turn his life around and to be a good father and a good husband and to be a credit to our society.

“There are people in our community who want to shelter these ‘bad boys’ sometimes because it represents a source of revenue; sometimes because it represents a false sense of security. But still, they are wailing and crying when these individuals suffer demise through criminal activity. If
you want to save the life of your loved one, get them out of that lifestyle,” he pleaded to the applause of his fellow parliamentarians.

He said some of the gun crimes in Barbados were reported by the Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith to be a form of reprisals.

“What does that tell us about the Barbados we have today? We have to remove the rose-coloured glasses as the Commissioner said yesterday. Because one person gets shot his comrades want to go after the persons who shot him, and it goes on and on. These people do not give a damn about the effect that it is having on our economy,” he said.

The Attorney General sounded a stern warning to the criminals in light of improvements to the judicial system which will shorten the time to adjudication of criminal matters.

“There are people in our system who believe that they can do as they please and that they can walk up and down in our country and shoot and rob and steal and make mock sport at the lives of Barbadians because they feel the day of reckoning is far off and it would never come.

“Let me give them this promise that the days when court cases in the criminal jurisdiction would take years before they come off will shortly be at an end. We are putting the judges in place to ensure that files will move swiftly. We are giving the Director of Public Prosecutors the additional staff that she needs and additional lawyers as well and we are ensuring that our judicial system is up to the task of dealing with our criminal element,” he said.

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Employees in the food court of Sheraton Mall are still recovering from Thursday’s bloody and brutal attack, which claimed the life of Damien Trotman and sent dozens of civilians scampering for their safety.

Twenty-four hours later, mall workers were seen continuously sterilizing the area where the 33-year-old victim’s bloody corpse once rested. The traumatic event however could not be easily wiped from the memories of eyewitnesses who said the three loud explosions were still ringing in their ears.

Two large bullet holes carved into the wall provided a ghastly reminder of the event.

Workers reported a notable reduction in foot traffic as regular patrons seemingly stayed away. In a popular restaurant footsteps away from the incident, the ordeal was still fresh on the lips of employees and business was exceptionally slow.

“I really didn’t like the atmosphere, because it is one thing to be scared, but to realize that it was so close and you’re in this confined environment with all of these people . . . it could have been anybody. A stray shot could have struck somebody, because the shooter had absolutely no regard for anybody,” said one restaurant supervisor.

“I was in the food court with my two co-workers and I heard the first explosion so we got up and ran straight into the Chinese [restaurant],” said another eyewitness.

“When we came back from hiding, everybody was scattered all over the place. I honestly thought it was a terrorist attack and we saw all of the blind people huddled together on the ground, so we thought they could’ve been shot as well.”

Other mall employees said the incident has left them contemplating their personal safety while at work.

“I will be honest with you. I feel very skeptical, especially at night on Fridays and Saturday when the mall is packed with people, there are all sorts of undesirables walking around and it makes you feel very uneasy. I don’t know if increased security would make a difference, because yesterday, the security was hiding.

“Although there are cameras around, I think some metal detectors are needed at the entrances,” she added.

In a press release, management of Sheraton Mall expressed deep sadness by the tragedy and sought to reassure the public that the area was still safe.

“We wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. Our thoughts and sympathies go out to all those patrons, storeowners, staff, and community members affected by these unnecessary acts of violence,” it read.

“We are also relieved to know that the suspect has been taken into custody by the Royal Barbados Police Force. This brazen act has no place in a destination where families and law abiding citizens congregate to eat, shop, and enjoy each other’s company.”

Potential patrons however were seemingly still filled with skepticism as restaurants recorded one of their slowest lunchtimes in recent memory.

“It’s almost lunchtime today and there’s just a fraction of people here now compared to what it usually is,” said the owner of Foreplay Deli, Phillip Forrester, who predicted the negative impact just the day before.

[caption id="attachment_292314" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Phillip Forrestor, owner of Foreplay restaurant.[/caption]

“Instantaneously there’s the imminent impact that this will have knowing how cautious Barbadians are right now about crime, but I am optimistic right now that it may subside shortly so we can get back to paying our bills and making money.

“There’s never an issue with security at the mall, but obviously people who come into the mall aren’t vetted. We don’t know who they are, their purpose or their reasons as was demonstrated yesterday. So the question is how do you control when someone comes into the mall with the intention of killing people,” he added.  kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb

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Police have arrested and charged a Christ Church teenager with murder.

Christian Jefferson Ifill, 17, a fish processor of #27 Lower Crescent,Gall Hill, was arrested and charged in connection with the March 20 murder of Edward Chase.

Chase was killed at Lower Crescent, Gall Hill.

Ifill is expected to appear at District A Magistrates' Court today.

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The Hilary School Term (Term II) will end next week, for the Easter break.

Public schools will close on Thursday, March 28, for students and Friday, March 29, for teachers.  The break will last for two weeks.

The Trinity Term, Term III, will begin on Monday, April 15, for teachers, and Tuesday, April 16, for students, and will last for 12 weeks.

This term will be marked by a number of examinations, including those administered by the Caribbean Examinations Council and the Barbados Secondary Schools Entrance Examination, also known as the Common Entrance Exam, which will take place on Tuesday, May 7.

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As promised, insurance giant Sagicor Financial Corporation has launched the first phase of a multi-million dollar senior citizens retirement village project in St George.

The Estates of St George retirement community is being seen by officials as a vote of confidence and a main earner of revenue for the local economy.

Addressing a sod turning ceremony at the location on Friday evening Sagicor Group Chairman Stephen McNamara said with almost 13 per cent of the island’s population being over the age of 55, he believed the investment was timely.

The $170 million investment, which was first made public in December last year, forms part of a wider $400-plus million planned investment for the company. This phase will consist of just over 328 units on about 19 acres of land in Boarded Hall, St George.

“When complete, this project will make a direct contribution to the economy from the generation of net foreign exchange earnings through direct investment. It will also generate employment not only in welfare, but in construction, tourism and in the general services and supply sectors,” said the Sagicor boss.

“Essential to the operations of this facility is the requirement for trained medical specialists and caregivers,” he said, adding that key partnerships would be formed between Sagicor, operators of Origin Inc. in Canada and the Barbados Community College to constantly train and retrain caregivers.

[caption id="attachment_292357" align="alignnone" width="650"] Minister of Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Commerce Dwight Sutherland turning the soil as Sagicor officials launch The Estates at St George retirement community on Friday.[/caption]

There will be 176 stylish independent living residences for sale, each with access to a range of amenities, 40 catered living one and two-bedroom apartments for rent, 28 respite care and rehab rental suits for rent with their own amenities, and 84 skilled nursing and memory care suites for rent, all of which will be done in phases.

While infrastructure work will begin immediately, construction on the state-of-the-art Estates at St George community is scheduled for the first quarter of 2020, and officials are hoping that the first residents will be able to move in by the end of the next year.

McNamara said the country stood to gain immediate tax revenues through job creation, adding that Sagicor would also create long-term investment instruments in both local and foreign currencies for local and international investors.

“In short, the possibilities and the advantages are boundless,” he said.

“This project therefore illustrates our confidence and commitment to Barbados and the wider Caribbean and we commit to the pursuit of opportunities where we can contribute to establishing the region as a force with which to be reckoned,” he added.

Welcoming the project, Prime Minister Mia Mottley reiterated her call for investors to come forward and invest in major projects here, while insisting that Barbados is opened for business.

She said the project “represents a perfect confluence of what Barbados’ future and immediate future must be about”.

“I am happy that Sagicor has taken a lead in this area,” she said.

“Barbados is open for business, and Barbados is not only open for business, but if you understand the essence of who we are the essence of the balance we want to bring towards making sure that there is a win-win situation for anyone, that we can create a development model and an investment model that make sense for each and every one,” said Mottley.

“Barbados is here to tell Sagicor and everyone else that we want to work with you. We are open for business and we want you to help us in the model that allows us to carry as many people with us, recognizing that those who want to live where they love, they also want to live in Barbados even if they are not of here,” she said.

Sagicor Group Chief Operating Officer Ravi Rambarran said Sagicor will be generating awareness and interest in the Estates at St George “among age and income-qualified individuals” within key audience categories.

“Those categories include Barbadians home and abroad, neighbours within the Caribbean, and tourists from the UK, US and Canada,” said Rambarran.

Stating that he hoped the model could be replicated in the region, the Sagicor official also pointed to the benefits of the project to the Barbados economy, saying besides revenue through payroll taxes, it would provide value proposition to Caribbean diaspora and opportunity to interest loyal and repeat visitors to the island, generate foreign exchange “and ultimately contribute to Barbados economic recovery and transformation”.

Officials are hoping to start construction on a high-end medical complex in the same parish to offer a range of specialized care, once the necessary approvals were granted and the Estates at St George is completed. That phase should cost just over $200 million. (MM)

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The 17-year-old who has been charged with the  murder of 34-year-old Edward Chase of Power Crescent ,Gall Hill, Christ Church on March 20 has been remanded until April 18.

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The pleas of vendors and retailers for an extension to the deadline for the ban of single use petro-based plastics in Barbados have been answered.

Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Kirk Humphrey, on Thursday night announced that vendors and retailers will now have until July 1, to use their existing stock, while the ban on the importation of the products will remain April 1, as planned.  In addition, the January 1, 2020 ban on all petro-based plastic bags also remains in effect.

The Minister was speaking during the debate on the Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals in Parliament.

The ban will see products such as petro-based single-use plastic cups; cutlery including plastic knives, forks and spoons; stirrers; straws; plates; egg trays (both plastic and Styrofoam); and Styrofoam containers used in the culinary retail industry being prohibited.

Mr. Humphrey noted that while the original intention was to ban all plastics, government heard the concerns of those in the chicken and manufacturing industries and made the necessary adjustments.

He explained that after the announcement was made in September 2018 by the Prime Minister, his ministry held consultations with key stakeholders, including importers who stated that they would need six months to get rid of their existing stock.

As a result, he said the date for the ban was delayed from January 1, 2019, until April 1, on their recommendation.

“Now many vendors are telling us that April 1, 2019 is too soon for them, and that we make adjustments for people…. We are making adjustments to accommodate the vendors who in many cases find themselves stuck with a lot of Styrofoam,” the minister said.

But, he stated, the new July 1 deadline was “it”.  “We have gone as far as we could go to accommodate everybody,” Humphrey said.

The minister said he did not “feel good” knowing that there were vendors with Styrofoam because they bought it legitimately under the impression that they could still use it after April 1.

“Three more months is not going to kill us, but will do a lot for the poor people who still have to deal with the Styrofoam.

“But after July 1, single use plastics of petroleum base will not be allowed in Barbados because we have to protect the marine environment that we all love very much,” Humphrey stated.

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Starting Monday, March 25, persons visiting the Winston Scott Polyclinic, at Jemmotts Lane, St Michael, will encounter a number of new measures being instituted to safeguard both staff and patients at the facility.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness announced today that the polyclinic, which has been closed since last Thursday, after two violent incidents on the compound, will open to the public at 10 a.m. on Monday.  The late opening is to facilitate a staff meeting to update the workers on the measures being put in place.

From Monday, entry into and out of the polyclinic will be through the main door at the front of the building only.  There will be electronic access controlled by the security guard who will manage the flow of patients into the facility.

Once inside the polyclinic, the security guard will scan persons, using a wand, and direct them to where they need to be.

Further, there will be a limit placed on the number of persons who can accompany the person seeking care.  Children may be accompanied by one caregiver, and this will also apply to adults who may need assistance, including the physically and mentally challenged as well as the elderly.  Discretion will be used in respect of emergency cases.

These are the first set of a number of security measures proposed for the polyclinic and the ministry has given the assurance that similar safety measures will be rolled out at all other polyclinics over time.

The ministry has warned that there will be some delays next week as the new system is implemented.  It has appealed for the cooperation of everyone who utilizes the services at the polyclinic as it upgrades the system to ensure the safety of both staff and patients. (BGIS)

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St Vincent and Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves is not mincing his words about the recent meeting with five Caribbean Heads of Government with United States President Donald Trump.

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Bahamas Prime Minister, Dr Hubert Minnis, President of the Dominican Republic, Danilo Medina, President of Haiti, Jovenel Moise and Prime Minister of St Lucia, Allen Chastanet met with Trump on Friday to discuss Venezuela and energy.

Speaking with reporters at Government Headquarters Saturday evening after a LIAT stakeholders meeting, Gonsalves described the visit with the Caribbean delegation as “troubling”.

He pointed out that there was no true representation of CARICOM as the current chairman of CARICOM, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis Dr Timothy Harris was not invited to the meeting. Neither were the members of the CARICOM advisory committee comprising of Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Trinidadian Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley or Gonsalves himself.

“None of those persons were invited and for it to be a true CARICOM representation you must at least have the chairman so that any discussion of Venezuela in that context . . . it cuts across the agreement mechanisms that we have put in place,” Gonsalves said.

CARICOM, Mexico and Uruguay have signed on to the Montevideo Mechanism , which promotes peace and dialogue amongst the political alignments in Venezuela. The CARICOM states have identified themselves as a Zone of Peace.

While referring to the actions of the US as “a creeping coup d’etat” against a legitimate government, Gonsalves said that CARICOM will not fall victim to the entrapping of others.

“We in CARICOM have to be very alive to the mischief that some persons may be up to , to seek to divide us in a manner which we ought not to be divided and therefore reduce the extent of our work,” he contended.

Broaching on the Venezuelan Petro Caribe preferential arrangement which has been ceased due to the sanctions imposed on Venezuela, Gonsalves contended that it would be “ridiculous” for the 17 Caribbean states to abide by an energy agreement by self-proclaimed president Juan Guaido.

“It is entirely ridiculous that you bring something to an end through sanctions and then the beneficiary politically, Mr Guiado  is going to offer an energy agreement. We look stupid or something?”

“We are not supporting the principles of non-intervention and non-interference and no threats or force or sanctions. We are not holding a position on these things because we have a Petro agreement. We are doing so because of high principle and our commitment to international law,” he further added.

Gonsalves said a video conference will be held at Accra Beach Resort with the Canadian Government acting as an interlocutor for the Caribbean Governments to speak to Guaido and his representatives.

“I just want to keep CARICOM viable and I don’t have to try and make the CARICOM civilization great again we are an alive civilization of legitimacy. We have a history of achievement and we have a trajectory for ennoblement. We are not better than anybody and nobody is better than us and you must not try to divide us.” (KK)

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Beekeeping has been identified by Government as a sector to generate wealth and create employment opportunities for the youth, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Indar Weir said

The Minister’s reports came while delivering the opening address at the Beekeeping Forum hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Barbados Apiculture Association at Gall Hill Resource Centre, St John.

He said during a three- to six-month period, a developing beehive could produce up to 40 000 pounds of honey for the selling price of $20 000 per pound. Weir indicated that investment in the apiculture sector could fuel entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.

“Bees can play a role in the employment of youth, especially females who though not keepers in their own right, can develop a small business centered around the bottling and sale of honey,” Weir said.

“We do recognize the importance of the development of strong cottage industries in Barbados where we can engage females more and find better ways to help them to become entrepreneurs and therefore [reduce] that gap between opportunity and societal affairs where they then tend to become victims of the criminal elements.”

Weir revealed that the Ministry was undergoing a Farmers Empowerment and Enfranchisement Drive which seeks to engage disadvantaged youth and other members of society in the agriculture sector. He also said the Scotland District would be used as one of the prime areas for apiculture development.

“Under our Farmers' Empowerment and Enfranchise Drive [we] give young people a chance to participate in the planting of trees, fruit trees and intercropping where they are given the opportunity to plant legumes so that they get that burst of income,” Weir stated.

He emphasized that bees play a critical role as not only pollinators but also the creation of products such as royal jelly, beeswax, and pollen.

Also in attendance at the beekeeping forum was parliamentary representative for St John, Charles Griffith. He said that he sought to provide opportunities for his community through the apiculture initiative and he would strive to make his constituency the leading honey producers in the island.

“We have the land, we have the guys on the block who are asking and begging for a second chance and it is part of my remit to ensure that every possible avenue for them to get involved in the process is there. I commit to ensuring that the blocks of St John, in particular, but those young people in St John, who are unemployed see apiculture as the vehicle, a viable option to move them towards the next level,” he said.

Ena Harvey, InterAmerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) representative to Barbados was also in attendance to present a honey extraction to the region’s fastest-growing beekeeping association, the Barbados Apiculture Association. (KK)

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CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) foreign ministers on Saturday met with Venezuela’s Opposition Leader Juan Guaidó, who has declared himself the interim president of the South American country.

The meeting took place in Barbados and while Guaidó was not physically present, he joined the deliberations by video conferencing. Two members of his delegation, were however present for the talks that were also attended by Canadian High Commissioner to Barbados, Marie Legault, who has a long career in international diplomacy.

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Leader of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), Prime Minister Mia Mottley is reminding members that without people, the 81-year-old institution is nothing.

Delivering remarks at the Party's Founders' Day Service, held at Calvary Moravian Church, Roebuck Street, this morning, Mottley said she wanted her leadership to reflect that people matter at the beginning, middle, and end.

She said because people matter, there was realism to life, which is not a fairy tale.

"And in our own lives, we know heights, and we know terrace. In our lives we know times when we have to pray, and when we have to bow. In our own lives we know times when we can jump in jubilation. Our journey is no different,” Mottley said.

“The journey of this party is the journey of the people. And to that extent, I ask us simply, let us stay focused. Let us remain anchored in those values that have inspired not only Grantley Adams, but all who were surrounding him, at every stage of every level, and all who came on the journey subsequently. And let us remember that our journey is not only to bring along those in the country, but to be able to inspire those who we must bring to help this journey of the party. We can sometimes take it for granted, but I ask all of us not to."

The leader pointed out that there were many young people in society, in need of support, love and mentorship. She said the BLP was one of the institutions with a duty to reach out to the youth in whatever way possible.

"And I don't mean in politics, I mean in that simple way that I spoke when I first became leader in 2008. That we have to help people to sleep easier when the night come. And those people don't only mean old people, it doesn't only mean poor people, it means any and everybody. And there are multiple ways in which we have the skills and the capacity to make people lives different,” Mottley said.

"I ask therefore individually and collectively to rise up and to make that difference. Be that difference that our country so badly needs, that our people so badly want, and that our legacy so much requires from us. And if we can do that, then we can lift our heads high knowing full well that we are truly on a new journey, but anchored in a set of legacy and values that have been there to inspire so many, but shall remain, to inspire many more."

Reverend Adrian Smith addressed the topic Stay The Course, in his sermon.

Smith advised those gathered that if they are to stay the course, they must learn from the past through remembering their story and lessons learnt. He encouraged the party's leadership not to be arrogant, but to place God at the forefront of all policies and decisions.

"The call for us is till to live lives that are righteous, to live lives that are holy. And it does not just apply to the Prime Minister, it applies to everyone. You see that's the problem. We only want leaders to do what is right, but you who follow the party, and you who sit in the pew, you got to do right. The church is not just the preachers with the collar, the church is everybody. The party is not just the executive, the party is everybody," the Reverend said.

The party's executive, Members of Parliament, and members of Calvary Moravian, participated in the over two-hour service. (AH)

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The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall attended service at the Cathedral of St Michael and All Angels, this morning to end their trip the island.

They joined Governor General Dame Sandra Mason, members of their entourage, and parishioners, for the service which started at 11:30 a.m.

Bishop Michael Maxwell, who greeted the Royal couple, told them during his sermon, that he saw their visit as inspired and commissioned by God.

"God has called and inspired you to embark on these special tours, of touching base with the Caribbean brothers and sisters, as we now share a special bond, of being a connected Commonwealth community,” he said.

“As God has been hearing our cries over the years, I believe he sent you to visit us, like Moses. To see first-hand the economic, social, and moral issues that are currently affecting us here in the Caribbean; and to assist us in addressing them, to pledge your support.”

Dame Sandra, and Prime Minister Mia Mottley bade farewell to Their Royal Highness, at the Grantley Adams International Airport, before they left the island to head to Cuba on a first official trip by the monarchy, to the Spanish speaking country. (AH)

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Police are continuing investigations into a fatal accident, which occurred, around 12:30 a.m.

According to lawmen, the male victim whose name has not been disclosed, was driving a Toyota car along the Spring Garden Highway from Bridgetown towards Speightstown.

The driver ran off the road, directly opposite the Oran Bond.

The car flipped several times and the victim was thrown out of the vehicle.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

(more details as they come to hand.)

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Police have identified the man who died in a road accident along the Spring Garden Highway at 12:30 a.m.

He is Brent Alan Jones, 29, of Bridgefield, St Thomas.

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Retailers and buyers of plastic products are getting a brief reprieve from the ban of single-use plastics.

While the bar on the importation of single-use plastic and Styrofoam packaging will still take effect on April 1 as planned, Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy Kirk Humphrey has announced that vendors and distributors have until July 1 to use their existing stock.

General manager of Direct Packaging Vernolyn Mitchell told Barbados TODAY that she is extremely grateful for the extension because her company is currently storing 400 to 500 cases of plastic products.

Mitchell said: “I am too happy for the extension because there are too many products in here that we would have to dump.” She added that the April 1 deadline was short notice.

The general manager did not believe she would be able to get rid of all her stock of plastics by July 1 but declared that the distribution company would be out of Styrofoam products by April 1.

Although the company was not thoroughly ready for the ban, Mitchell said, it has already begun to gradually roll out biodegradable vegware products at their outlets in Hincks Street, Bridgetown and New Century Complex, Top Rock, Christ Church.

Mitchell also revealed that Direct Packaging will be undergoing a “total transformation” from plastics and Styrofoam to PLA plastic, paper and card. They will also be importing substitutes for petroleum-based plastic bags, which are to be phased out by January 1, 2020.

But expresssing concerns about the public information disseminated by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Mitchell told Barbados TODAY that a number of her customers were uncertain about which products were to be banned.

Mitchell said: “We are unclear about the required materials that will be ban such as soufflé cups. We are not sure if the soufflé cups and plastic cups are under the same ban . . . We need a little more explanation from the [Ministry], detailing the cups and other items; certain things we need to know.”

But a Harbour Road food truck vendor, Sandrine Redman, said that the Government should not extend the ban. She argued that Barbadians were hesitant to change and needed a shove in the right direction.

[caption id="attachment_292491" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Food truck vendor Sandrine Redman[/caption]

Redman said: “They already made the change in Guyana over a year ago so I accustomed to it.

“It doesn’t make sense you keep talking about the price because you have to face it. It is better for me so I am going to use it.”

Although she was in support of the move, the Guyana-born vendor disclosed that her food truck has not yet discarded of its plastic and Styrofoam containers because it was still on the market.

Over in the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex, vendors expressed alarm over the 2020 ban on plastic bags. Sandra Hinds, who has been working in the market for over 30 years, wanted to know what would be the alternative packaging.

[caption id="attachment_292492" align="aligncenter" width="279"] Fish vendor Sandra Hinds[/caption]

“When they take away all the plastic from us we can’t put the fish in plate nor bowl to give the people. It is going to affect we a lot,” Hinds said. katrinaking@barbadostoday.bb

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The more frequent travellers on Transport  Board buses will pay less per trip. This was outlined today by Prime Minister Mia Mottley who said commuters could save up to $14 when the Transport Board rolls out its new discounted fares.

Come April 15, when bus fares move from $2 to $3.50, the Government says it intends to offer an ease to frequent users of the bus system.

Tonight, while wrapping up the 2019 Budget debate, Prime Minister Mottley explained which tickets will be made available and the value of the trips.

“They [Ministry] would issue ten trip tickets, 14 trip tickets, 20 trip tickets and 28 trip tickets. They will roll out this in the proper way. The discounts will range from 30 cents to 50 cents per bus ride depending on how many you buy. Instead of paying the equivalent of $3.50 you could pay as low as $3.00 per bus ride.

“I have been told that a ten trip ticket will cost $32 saving $3; a 14 trip ticket will cost $44 saving $5; 20 trip ticket $62 saving $8; 28 trip tickets will cost $82 and will save $14. Or to put it in simple, simple terms when you buy that 28 trip ticket you are purchasing bus fare at $3 and not $3.50. The beauty in this is that also these tickets can be used by your children or neighbour or whoever else because what is being clicked is the ticket and not the individual.”

However, the Prime Minister pointed out that while the increase was inevitable the onus was now on Government to ensure they delivered a quality, safe and timely service to users.

“Our duty now is to make sure we have the number of buses operating to time, safe and to make sure it is just not the transport board buses that are operating to time and safely but all of the public service vehicles. We have agreed with the PSVs that there will be systems put in place and amendments to the law to ensure we can reach there.

“The Minister of Transport has assured me tonight that the Ministry will be meeting with PSVs to see how they too can put systems in place for high-volume users. The TAP [Transport Augmentation Programme] programme the minister spoke about already has committed 40 privately-owned PSVs to work on transport board routes and to makre sure the transport board can have those routes plied successfully.

Drawing reference to the cost of transportation in other neighbouring countries, PM Mottley who is also Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment, said they would not penalise people for living far or working at night as is done elsewhere.

“In other Caribbean islands people pay bus fares according to journey. We determined 30, 40 years ago across all administrations that we were not going to penalise people for living in St Lucy and St Philip. This country needed a level of equity as it relates to transport in the same way we have that equity as it relates to education and healthcare. This is who we are. This is the Barbadian way. Some countries they charge more for buses that come at night, we have not done that either. We believe that to simply place  a burden on persons who have to work shift will be counterproductive…”

While admitting she preferred not to be the leader to have to implement the increase, Mottley assured Barbadians that she empathises with them as it relates to the added burden the increase is likely to cause.

“I would rather not be the Prime Minister leading a Government that would have to take the difficult decision that an entity earning $20 million a year and spending $63 million a year could not continue with that. The difference between the revenue and the spending is completely unsustainable. The stories that people tell I empathise with. But we knew all along that what we set as a fare we also would be prepared for serious volume discounts . . .”

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