The Transport Authority chairman has admitted to a gaping hole in the regulation of public transport’s private operators, declaring that it simply does not have enough inspectors to monitor the behaviour of public service vehicles (PSVs) on the road.

Plagued by numerous reports of indiscipline on the road by PSV operators, chairman Ian Estwick declared that more officers are needed to ensure that PSVs operate within the guidelines as they transport commuters around the island.

He said neither the Transport Authority nor the Barbados Licensing Authority had been able to provide the numbers needed.

While there was an adequate number of terminal wardens, they were not allowed to police the roads, he added.

“Right now we’re unable to police the roads as we like because of a shortage of staff both at the Barbados Licensing Authority and the Transport Authority, the Transport Authority chairman said.

“We have terminal wardens but they are restricted to the terminals so we can’t provide them on the road to check on what is happening on the road.

“But we hope if not this year then sometime next year to be having assistance from the Barbados Licensing Authority in terms of their traffic inspectors who would be deployed on the road to ensure that the PSVs really conform to all of the rules and conditions of their permits.”

But during a tour of the Speightstown bus terminal, Estwick expressed hope for a ‘change of culture’ among  PSVs when they move from the roadside to the terminal.

There, he said, the PSVs would be made to adhere to the rules and regulations of operating in the terminal.

Estwick said: “We’re going to try to change the culture and we’re going to do anything we can do to bring about some change in this sector.

“That along with some other measures we are going to introduce on July 31; we hope that these will bring better order into the terminals and also on the road.”
randybennett@barbadostoday.bb

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ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Prime Minister Gaston Browne says Antigua and Barbuda is prepared to acquire further shares in the cash-strapped regional airline, but is unwilling to pay an estimated $88 million (US$44million) being asked by Barbados for the sale of its shares in the airline.

The two countries have been holding discussions on the acquisition of the shares and last week Browne told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that the talks were still ongoing despite media reports in Bridgetown that they had broken down.

Speaking on a radio programme here, Prime Minister Browne said if St. John’s had to settle at the asking price of $88 million “that would be a steal for Barbados.

“We are not in the process of giving away money. We are in the process of creating value and to get fair value for the people of Antigua and Barbuda, so as far as I am concerned, and I have said this to the Prime Minister of Barbados [Mia Mottley], so she knows my thinking, telling her that discussions cannot start at US$44 million.

“So she knows the position and she has since come down,” Browne said, adding that he was looking to an amicable settlement of the negotiations and in the event that does not occur, his administration is prepared to invest directly in the airline.

“And my colleagues will tell you that it was always my first option. The issue about buying Barbados’ shares came about as a result of an impasse in which Barbados said it could not go any further, sell the planes, we said, look we cannot be a successful shrinking LIAT.

“We do not accept that and that’s the case, lets negotiate and we will buy all or some of the shares and they said they will sell up to 90 per cent of the shares. If we are unable to come to a satisfactory compromise then we will just put in our money and buy those shares and we can still get a majority position which is not necessarily what we are fighting for,” he said.

Antigua and Barbuda currently holds 34 per cent of the shares and if it succeeds in convincing Bridgetown to part with its LIAT shares, would have 81 per cent of the airline that employs over 600 people and operates 491 flights weekly across 15 destinations.

St John’s said it would seek to acquire the LIAT shares owned by Barbados, through a take-over of the liability of Barbados to the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

During the radio programme, Prime Minister acknowledged that there’s a back-and-forth situation over a particular matter.

‘What we are saying here, we oppose the sale of the planes to pay off the debt so rather than selling the planes to a third party, Antigua and Barbuda says it would step in and assume Barbados’ shares associated with the acquisition of the planes.

“That’s a simple matter I understand okay. Unfortunately my (negotiating) team got involved in some kind of sophisticated negotiations which would have resulted in a settlement of 44 million. I don’t understand that kind of maths.”

He said what occurred initially is that the negotiation team “based on initial discussions had agreed on a proposal that was put forward. Barbados Government had put forward a proposal for settlement at US$44million and I am told that initially that our negotiating team agreed.”

He said he was disappointed that the negotiating team would have contemplated agreeing to the US$44 million.

“I understand mathematics, I understand percentages and I also understand value for money and I know if we were to settle at US$44 million that would be a steal for Barbados,” he added. (CMC)

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Government is committed to the appointment of 183 staff nurses who have been acting in their positions for up to ten years, Minister of Health Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic has promised.

But he cannot say when scores of acting nurses who have gone months without payment, will receive outstanding monies.

Speaking to reporters at the start of this year’s Pharmacy Week, Bostic revealed the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of the Civil Service have been working tirelessly to have the nurses’ right to security of tenure upheld.

“There are still concerns about late payments for some people and the fact that a large number of persons have been working for six, seven, eight and up to ten years without being appointed,” Bostic said.

“The Prime Minister had already given approval for those nurses who have done three years’ service or more and who are in good standing, to be appointed and that process is in train at the moment so that most, if not all of those 183 nurses will be appointed shortly.”

The Lieutenant Colonel however said his ministry was not in a position to rectify a situation which has left scores of acting nurses unpaid for months. He however promised the Ministry of the Public Service is working to have the issues addressed.

“Those who are at the bottom of the acting scale cannot be paid until those who they are acting for are paid. It also has to do with personal reports, confidential reports and assessments that have to be done.

“The Prime Minister has assured that a meeting will be held for the various departments and stakeholders so that we can put this thing to rest because this is something that we do not like. We do not like the fact that people are working without being paid,” said Bostic.

During a 15-minute interview, he also revealed that although nurses are back on the job at the Geriatric Hospital, outstanding issues affecting them are yet to be resolved including deteriorating conditions at the Beckles Road, St. Michael facility.

“The issue is concluded to the point that the nurses are all back at work... but the matter is not yet finished, because there are some things that the Minister of Health and the Ministry of Health have to do in order to bring a level of satisfaction for the nurses at those institutions,” said the Lieutenant Colonel.

“The conditions at the district hospital are in need of some serious work and we started the process last year…We do not have all the funds to do all of the work that is required, but the intent is to engage corporate Barbados to come and adopt a ward at each of these hospitals and give some assistance to the state in terms of getting the standards up to where we want them to be and what the nurses and the other staff expect them to be.”

After scores of their colleagues were summoned to the Winston polyclinic to service the controversial 24-hour polyclinic service, Geriatric Hospital staff staged a sickout last Thursday claiming that the remaining staff was not enough to service the hospital. Staff nurses were reportedly even more offended upon hearing the void would likely be filled by nursing assistants, who are less qualified, but this was later denied by the Minister.

“I also assured them that the work being done by nurses in the district hospital is very valued by us in the ministry because we recognise the serious challenges that they have since they are dealing with patients, who, for the most part cannot help themselves and the relationship really between the nurses at the district hospitals who work very hard and are skilled nurses, that relationship is excellent and we do not get any bad or negative reports at all coming from the public in relation to the level of service at the district hospitals,” he said.

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Marilyn Rice-Bowen is the new President of the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP).

Rice-Bowen and three other new members, Treasurer Monica Hinds, and Directors Clorinda Alleyne and Eric Smith were elected at the association’s 24^th Annual General Meeting held last Saturday.

They join current board members, Vice President Dame Billie Miller, Secretary Henry Barrow and Director K H L “Tony” Marshall.

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The Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) is mourning the passing of Police Constable 344, Alfred Clarke who died today at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after a brief illness.

Forty-five-year-old Clarke, a 24-year veteran with the Royal Barbados Police Force was last attached to the Worthing Police Station.

Friends and colleagues have described Clarke, also known as Big Show, as the consummate police officer.

“Today, we reflect with a heavy heart our colleague and cherished friend," the RBPF said in a statement.

Clarke, who received three commendations for outstanding police work, was remembered for his passion and dedication to law enforcement.

He served as a criminal investigator in the Northern Division for many years where he played an integral role in solving a number of crimes.

Clarke was also fondly remembered as an avid karaoke enthusiast. The RBPF said his love for police work was surpassed only by his love for the microphone and singing one of his favourite songs, Andrea Bocelli's masterpiece, Time to Say Goodbye.

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Three former students of the Princess Margaret Secondary School were this afternoon found guilty of manslaughter.

An eight-member jury handed down the verdict just before 4 p.m. in the No. 2 Supreme Court.

The three  - Shaquille Shamal Khalleel Bradshaw and Doniko Javier Alleyne both of Balls Land, Christ Church and Maria Antoinette Goddard of Parish Land C, Balls Land, Christ Church are now convicted of unlawfully killing 11-year-old Ian Elroy Gibson, also a Princess Margaret student, on September 20, 2009.

Their bail was not revoked however, they will return to court tomorrow when Justice Randal Worrell will make a determination on their bail.

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As Scotiabank moves to repay its customers who were robbed by ATM hackers, the bank has announced a new online banking feature to warn customers.

Just over a week ago, several people fell victim to ATM “skimming” in which thieves gained access to accounts by retrieving accounts and passwords as they used their bank cards

Three suspects were highlighted by police, but to date no charges have been laid.

In a statement issued today, Scotiabank said it had already begun the process of reimbursing customers.

It said it was now using technology to alert customers about suspicious activity on their accounts.

The bank said: “Scotiabank customers affected by last weekend’s fraudulent debit card activity have begun to be reimbursed.

“While investigations are continuing and the matter is in the hands of the authorities, the bank has been in contact with impacted customers and is working with them to have their reimbursements fast tracked.

“We recently introduced Alerts which allow customers to receive real-time notifications about activity on their accounts.

“We encourage customers to sign up for online banking to so that they can benefit from this free feature.”

Declaring it was “committed to keeping customers’ accounts and financial information safe and secure”, Scotiabank urged its customers to be vigilant when conducting debit card transactions.

It said: “We remind customers to use caution when conducting debit card transactions, only use cards at reputable locations, never let the card out of your sight and use the PIN pad discreetly.

“Also, you should never respond to messages that ask for confidential bank information.

“We encourage customers who suspect any fraudulent activity on their accounts to contact us immediately at (246) 426 7000.”

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It was a difficult goodbye today for the relatives and friends of 43-year-old Rupert Patrick Stoute who was brutally killed two weeks ago.

Pain, grief, sadness and tears showed on the faces of the hundreds who gathered at the Kingdom of Life Assembly Inch Marlow, Christ Church, for a lively service to mark the life of the man who did not allow his deafness to stop him from living a full life and having friends all over the world.

His brother Terri Stoute who shed the occasional tears had to be comforted. At one point, Terri buried his head in the lap of his grieving 75-year-old father Rupert Stoute, who also struggled to hide his tears.

Stoute’s 67-year-old mother tried to remain strong as her son’s casket rested just inches away at the front of the church.

[caption id="attachment_304931" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Hundreds gathered at the Kingdom of Life Assembly Inch Marlow, Christ Church for the funeral service of Rupert Patrick Stoute who was killed almost two weeks ago.[/caption]

Members of the deaf community, who accounted for a large section of the congregation, were also clearly hurting over the loss of their dear friend.

Stoute was beaten to death at the entrance of the Fairchild Street bus terminal while trying to protect a female friend who was also deaf. The incident took place around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday July 6.

Mardelle Lucas who read the eulogy spoke about how much the deceased loved life, family, and giving hugs and kisses.

Lucas said Stoute was neither deaf nor dumb, since he saw himself as complete as any other person.

She said he very seldom signed except when he was with his peers and was able to recognize that the phone was ringing although persons in the same room may not have heard it.

“His inabilities did not limit his potential or possibilities or his communication skills. Patrick had three or four cellphones, three televisions, tablets, radios, fire sticks, you name it, Patrick had it.

“He used many social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Skype, and Messenger. If you can think of it, he probably used it. So his circle of friends was endless,” Lucas said.

“Patrick touched and warmed the hearts of so many persons. One couple, tourists to the island, met Patrick over 25 years ago. They heard about his passing and found a way to get to his parents’ house because of how Patrick treated them when he worked at the hotel where they were guests,” she added.

A moving sermon was delivered by Pastor Selwyn Brathwaite who spoke out about the crime situation on the island, which he said was creating tension and uneasiness for residents.

However, the Pastor noted that he does not believe there was a clear-cut solution to eliminate this “national crisis”.

“What I do know is the scripture makes it clear that the Government is responsible for driving terror in the hearts of evil doers.

“The legal system is supposed to drive fear in those who are morally reprehensible. The Government is supposed to send a strong signal to society that this will not be tolerated,” Pastor Brathwaite said.

Kemar Antoine Greene of Isolation Road, Belleplaine, St Andrew has been charged in connection with Patrick’s death. He was remanded to HMP Dodds to reappear in the District ‘A’ Magistrates Court on August 6.

Stoute was laid to rest at the Christ Church Parish Church cemetery.
anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb

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Workers at the state-run National Sports Council (NSC) have been relocated following a walk out today against environmental issues that forced some of them out of the My Lord’s Hill, St Michael headquarters.

[caption id="attachment_304932" align="aligncenter" width="600"] NSC’s operations have been moved to the Wildey Gymnasium due to environmental issues.[/caption]

Acting Minister of Sports Kirk Humphrey told Barbados TODAY a decision was made this afternoon by management to move the NSC’s operations to the Wildey Gymnasium and close the Blenheim facilities for the rest of the week.

“I just spoke to the acting director [Neil Murrell] who informed me that there were some issues in relation to a smell and that there were bugs. I don’t know what kind of bugs…but there were bugs that were found in the building,” Humphrey said.

“And during the course of the weekend, there was a cleaning of the building…industrial cleaning to rid the building of the bugs; and that staff didn’t come in on Monday to allow the building to lose the scent. But that today when they showed up for work, there was still the odour in the building and some traces of the chemical could be seen,” the acting sports minister explained.

He said a decision was taken today for the staff not to reenter the building and for work to continue for the rest of the week from the gymnasium.

“So the staff will be operating there from tomorrow in facilities that are already there. There might be a case of retrofitting one or two [areas]. It is my understanding that for the most part, the staff is satisfied with that. There were some people, who, as a result of the interaction with the chemicals, were not feeling very well. But for the most part, everybody is satisfied with the decision made to move the staff over,” he added.

Humphrey also told Barbados TODAY a children’s sports camp which had been using the sports council’s compound, would also be relocated to various venues and their parents would be informed accordingly.

“So, to the best of my understanding, the situation there is being handled,” he assured.

Deputy General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) Dwaine Paul welcomed the move, but said he hoped the staff was not jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.

Paul is also disappointed that today’s decision was not taken before against the backdrop of earlier promises to relocate.

“We believe the action should have been more proactive. But we are satisfied that once the workers are being moved to a location that is sanitary and enables them to carry out their duties in the conditions which they deserve to work in, we are satisfied,” Paul said.

The senior union official stressed that the BWU was happy once the gymnasium was going to be cleaned seeing it had been vacated for some time, and that a proper walkthrough was made to ensure workers were not being taken from one problematic environment to another.

This morning when some of the workers who complained of feeling unwell walked out of the sports council’s offices, they reported that there was an infestation of bed bugs and a strong chemical scent.
emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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Government is looking to appoint a Comptroller of Customs along with three deputies.

Word of this came from Minister in the Ministry of Finance Ryan Straughn who was leading off the debate on the Customs (Amendment) Bill 2019 in the House of Assembly earlier today.

“You would have heard the Prime Minister indicate in her address in the Budget that the customs department has not had a Comptroller since 2005. As part of the rebuilding of the Customs Department in the last few weeks we have advertised for the post of comptroller and deputy comptrollers as well.

He continued: “There are meant to be three deputies. This demonstrates the seriousness…. This Government sees the rebuilding of the customs department as a critical department for the success of the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation plan.”

Straughn said along with filling the vacancies, there were changes to the Customs Department’s structure that were already being regularised.

“Once those persons are recruited, we have also engaged a long-time Customs expert to help support that management team. We have also established a Customs Officer 4 position because there were a number of officers within the Customs Department who were performing as clerical officers, who were essentially performing customs functions. But, because of the name of the position you would have some issues with persons being transferred which impacted the department. We are in process of making sure those persons who perform customs functions are so designated as part of the rebuilding effort of the department,” he said.

The Minister explained that the reform was not only about the computer system upgrade to the Automated System for Customs Data (Asycuda World) but the enhancement of the human resources as well.

“. . . For the customs department to be truly effective in the 21st century it means that those persons charged with the responsibility of performing customs duties their skills must also be enhanced. If we are asking persons to engage the technology and use all this data it means the skillset of customs officers for the future must change.”

The Christ Church East Central MP said Government was trying to attract skilled workers to customs.

“We are trying to attract to the Customs Department persons who have an IT background and persons who have an accounting background who can be trained to become customs officers. Those skillsets are critical for allowing Barbados to be effective in using all of this data. The mining of this data and interrogation of this data are critical.”

“In this day and age with the various skills with respect to what is required for trade facilitation... trade is the most data intensive area that one could ever want to be involved in. It means the department must develop a specialism within the context of customs officers with respects to the effective management of the department so that those skillsets become very important…”

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The recent parting of ways between General Secretary of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) Roslyn Smith and the organisation has taken a dramatic twist.

Some five days after the union which she served for 47 years officially announced her retirement, 65-year-old Smith is now alleging unfair dismissal and is claiming close to half million dollars in compensation.

Investigations by Barbados TODAY revealed that the matter is now in the hands of the Chief Labour Officer Victor Felix for him to try to broker a settlement between the two sides.

Smith is claiming $490,613.83 in compensation.

This was confirmed by a letter dated yesterday’s date written by General Secretary of the Unity Trade Union (UTU) Senator Caswell Franklyn to the Chief Labour Officer on behalf of Smith.

In that letter, a copy of which has been obtained by Barbados TODAY, the money is broken down as $405,139.35 as a basic award according to the Fifth Schedule of the Employment Rights Act; $38,000.13 as pay in lieu, based on Section 22 of the law and $47,474.35 for 95 days vacation pay.

“My union acts on behalf of Mrs Roslyn Smith, whose services were terminated with effect from April 3, 2019. At that time, she was on certified sick leave and a patient confined to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,” said the correspondence from Franklyn.

The UTU leader told the Chief Labour Officer Felix that on Saturday, July 6, 2019, he met with the NUPW’s legal advisor “and we agreed that the dismissal was unfair”.

“He gave an undertaking to advise that union to rescind the dismissal. I am reliably informed that his advice has been rejected. Instead, the union sent a release to the press informing that Mrs Smith has retired,” Franklyn wrote.

Franklyn’s letter informed Felix that the matter was now being referred to him in accordance with Section 42 of the Employment Rights Act and in compliance with Section 2 of the same legislation as amended.

Section 42 states: “Where an employee believes that there is a dispute or issue concerning an infringement of any right or benefit conferred on him by this Act, or under the provisions of any other enactment dealing with employment standards or other employment rights, he may make a complaint in writing to the Chief Labour Officer.”

Franklyn explained to Barbados TODAY that if the Chief Labour Officer was unable to get the disputing parties to resolve their differences or settle a claim, he would then have to refer the matter to the Employment Rights Tribunal for arbitration.

In a press release issued last Thursday, the NUPW said it had declined to grant Smith any further extensions of her contract and wished her a full recovery and God’s speed during her retirement.

Smith, who had been a patient at the QEH since December last year, was discharged over the weekend. She had submitted a request for a leave extension in a letter dated March 15. At the time union president Akanni McDowall said a decision on the matter should be deferred to the union’s incoming executive committee and national council.

However, in the NUPW’s statement last Thursday, it was noted that Smith was given a previous extension and would now be retired.

“The NUPW announces that Roslyn Smith has retired after 47 years of service. Sister Smith’s retirement would have commenced on October 1, 2018. National Council decided to grant an extension of her employment to March 31, 2019,” the union’s statement said.

Persistent efforts to reach Acting General Secretary Delcia Burke to whom the letter was copied, proved futile, but when contacted president Akanni McDowall told Barbados TODAY: “All I can say is that the matter is being dealt with internally and we await word from the Chief Labour Officer.”

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb

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Bail conditions for three convicted manslayers will be regularised when they return to the No. 2 Supreme Court tomorrow before Justice Randall Worrell.

The adjournment was given moments after Shaquille Shamal Khalleel Bradshaw and Doniko Javier Alleyne both of Balls Land, Christ Church and Maria Antoinette Goddard of Parish Land C, Balls Land, Christ Church were found guilty of manslaughter in connection with the unlawful killing of 11-year-old Ian Elroy Gibson, a Princess Margaret Secondary School student, on September 20, 2009.

[caption id="attachment_304944" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Doniko Javier Alleyne, Maria Antoinette Goddard and Shaquille Shamal Khalleel Bradshaw[/caption]

It took the eight-member jury just over an hour to reach the unanimous verdict for each of the three following four hours of summation by Justice Worrell.

Attorney-at-law Angella Mitchell-Gittens who represents Alleyne and Goddard urged the court to allow her clients to remain on bail pending sentencing.

She submitted that her clients had been on bail and in society for the past ten years and had never missed their court dates either at the Magistrates’ or High Courts. Mitchell-Gittens further argued that the offence had taken place when her clients were 12 and 14 years old. However, she said they were now in their 20s, gainfully employed and Goddard was now a mother of a two-year-old.

“We are cognisant of the fact that having now been convicted their status may very well change. But at this stage for the last ten years they have had an exceptional record for their attendance at court,” Mitchell-Gittens submitted.

Bradshaw has Arthur Holder and Danielle Mottley as his legal counsel. Mottley in making an application for her client to remain on bail pending sentence stated among other things that her client was also gainfully employed, had no issues with attending court and had no previous convictions.

In his submission Principal Crown Counsel Alliston Seale, who prosecuted the case, said while the three had now been convicted of a “very serous” offence he could not in “safe conscience” object to their bail and send them to an adult facility.

“I cannot look at them as they are now, I have to look at them as 12 and 14-year-olds, that is the problem  . . . . But these persons would have been sentenced to a juvenile facility. I can’t in safe conscience ask that they be remanded to an adult facility now . . . . For that reason I cannot in safe conscience object to bail,” Seale said.

In the case, which began on June 3, the jury heard that Gibson collided with a car driven by Gian Holder on Sunbury Road, St Philip on September 18, 2009 after being in an altercation with the three, who also attended the same school. He died two days later at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital from his injuries.

In his closing arguments last week Principal Crown Counsel Seale said it was bullying by the three while next to a busy public road, that caused the death of Gibson when he was forced to escape a beating by fleeing across the street.
fernellawedderburn@barbadostoday.bb

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Just days after officially launching its medical marijuana industry, St Vincent and the Grenadines’ minister of agriculture Saboto Caesar has revealed that Barbadians are showing substantial interest in investing in the burgeoning sector there.

At the same time the minister is making it clear that even though St Vincent has gotten out of the blocks first, the Caribbean is essentially running on the same team, as it relates to maximizing the earning potential from the plant, which is transitioning from an illegal drug to a mainstream cash crop.

With eight cooperatives, representing 150 growers, as well as 12 regional and international stakeholders, the Vincentian minister revealed that some Barbadians have recognised the business potential and are just as eager to get in on the ground.

“We have seen a trend, this includes the OECS and Barbados, where persons are showing significant and very keen interest in the industry,” Caesar said.

This development occurs at a time when Barbados is on the verge of embarking on its own medical marijuana industry, pending the requisite legislative framework.

However, Caesar is confident that the interest shown by Barbadians in St Vincent’s medical marijuana sector, does not translate to potential investment being pulled from the soon-to-be established medical cannabis industry in Barbados.

In fact, he is of the view that the teething problems that will inevitably come with developing a new sector, will serve as lessons for fellow Caribbean countries seeking to get their piece of the multi-billion-dollar industry. He argued that Barbadian investors would likely use the knowledge and experience gained in St Vincent to build out the sector at home. He also expressed confidence that the St Vincent and the Grenadines model is going to be an “excellent one to follow” and therefore there would be no need to re-invent the wheel when Barbados begins its industry.

“What will happen is this. Persons will come to St Vincent and the Grenadines, they will participate in the project and when it opens at home they would have all of the factors of production and they would use the knowledge garnered in St Vincent and do their investments at home. So, I don’t see the fact that persons may choose to participate in Jamaica, Antigua or St Vincent because they are coming earlier in the game, as detrimental at all to the industry at home in Barbados,” Caesar explained.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines was able to launch its medical marijuana industry earlier this month, the culmination of a process which began 20 months ago. Thus far the majority of people issued licences to grow marijuana are those who have been long-standing cultivators of the crop during its prohibited years.

In his interview with Barbados TODAY, Caesar revealed that the St Vincent and the Grenadines’ government has successfully gained buy-in from the public, despite longstanding social concerns surrounding the recreational use of the drug. He noted that openness and transparency were key to accomplishing this.

As Barbados now seeks to convince its population to go the route of the medical marijuana sector, the Vincentian agriculture minister, endorsed the Mia Mottley administration’s strategy of not conflating the medical debate with the recreational one.

“We had a very clear policy outline from the beginning as to where our markers were going to be. From the get-go, we realised that international law only permits the use of cannabis for scientific research or for medicinal purposes, said Caesar, who is an attorney-at-law.

He further noted, “We did not have to go into a very long discussion and debate because just like what Barbados is doing, we did not tie up the recreational use of cannabis in the discussion. If we had gone the route of including recreational use in the debate then we would have had to engage international legal experts in order to go outside the international parameters, which would have made the conversation more winding and longer.”

However, he made it clear that St Vincent’s speed in getting to this stage, was due to the fact that the Ralph Gonsalves administration treated the establishment of the legislative framework as an everyday task. Additionally, St. Vincent’s long history of marijuana cultivation also played a major role.

“We were fortunate to have a young legal mind, who had experience in drafting similar legislation in Jamaica and she came up with the first draft. We also worked with international experts in this [legal] field from the United States, Canada, Europe and Columbia. This was really an everyday job. It wasn’t something that you were able to do part-time. I think that this sort of dedication, added to the fact that we have a long history of producing cannabis, really made it a lot easier for us to cover it in that short space of time.”
colvillemounsey@barbadostoday.bb

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Declaring climate change an “existential threat”, Prime Minister Mia Mottley is seeking to enlist the Barbados Defence Force in the fight against the phenomenon’s effects.

For this role, the BDF’s Sea Cadets are to be drafted into the island’s sea defences, noting that her administration has made $1.5 million available to the BDF to recruit 1,000 Sea Cadets.

“If we do not start to deal with the scale of the problem by having the scale of the solution necessary, then we would have lost the battle before it even started.”

She did not explain how the Sea Cadets would be deployed in the climate change battle.

In a speech at the BDF’s medal awards ceremony in the Lingwood Hall at the BDF headquarters at St Ann’s Fort, The Garrison, the Prime Minister revealed that such was the scale of the problem that Government intended to expand the programme soon.

In addition to training young people to combat the impacts of climate change, Mottley contended that the programme also enabled young people to get much-needed structure and discipline.

Mottley said: “I thank the Barbados Defence Force in readily accepting this challenge and I say to you that it is the intention of my Government to expand both the numbers and the funds available because we believe that there is as good but no better a noble pursuit for the training and maturing of young people in this country, particularly as we continue to fight the existential threat of climate change.

“There are so many different ways I can put it but I have come to love the simplicity of communication and the appropriateness of repetition and therefore I say to you as I say to others across the nation that many hands make light work.

“If we could take our young people as they enter secondary school and imbue in them a sense of patriotism, a sense of service, a
sense of commitment, then I believe that we would have gone further in building the platform for the prosperity and security of our nation.”

Mottley charged that it was the Defence Force’s duty to make all of its youth programmes attractive to young people.

This afternoon, 219 officers received medals, which included the categories of Meritorious Service Medal, General Service Medals and the Regional Security System Medal. colvillemounsey@barbadostoday.bb

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Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley has called on law enforcement authorities to address the threat posed by criminals, as lawmakers moved to enact legislation to secure the ports of entry.

During debate on amendments to the Customs Act which were approved this afternoon, Atherley called on authorities to step up their game in halting the movement of illegal guns through the ports.

He told the House: “Mr Deputy Speaker, you and I both know that these things don’t move on their own.

“These are inanimate objects that do not have a life of their own so they are moving at the hand and mind and brain of somebody or somebodies somewhere.

“And we can have all the advance passenger information, all the advance cargo information, but we’ve got to treat to the criminal element that so interposes itself in the process as to seek to counter every positive initiative that the Governments of Barbados over time have sought to put in place.”

Atherley argued that criminals need to be dealt with at all levels of society.

He declared: “A guy from Black Rock shoots a guy from Brittons Hill; we will bury the guy from Brittons Hill and lock up the guy from Black Rock.

“But we don’t ever touch the big hand that puts the guns in those small hands.

“I am simply saying primary responsibility is to protect this country and we put in place these systems to help us better do that, but we’ve got to make sure that no effort is spared to get the people who do their very best, despite these systems to achieve the criminal purposes among us to the detriment of all of us.”

The Opposition Leader urged the Government to reach a level of sophistication in crime prevention “that matches or surpasses that of the criminal element”. Atherley said criminals are “organising” and “assuming better levels of sophistication all of the time”.

The MP for St Michael West also called for an improvement in revenue collection at the Customs Department, which he hopes will ease the burden of taxation.

“And I really hope that that is an objective that is achieved in short order because there are those who would tell you the Customs is one of the biggest potential departments of revenue generation for Barbados and a lot of revenue is lost by deficiencies in the system,” said Atherley.

“If we can improve our revenue collection, in this case through the customs department, we can reduce our over reliance on otherwise burdensome measures of taxation.”

To achieve this, he added, Government also needs to get a handle on “this business of profiteering that is pursued by some among us”.

“Profit making is fine, profiteering is then another issue and hopefully we can treat to that to ease the burden on some of the rest of us,” Atherley said.

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The security of our borders is critical in order for Government to keep its citizens safe. Now, special focus has to be paid to cyber security.

So says Minister of Health Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic who was speaking during the debate of the Customs (Amended) Bill 2019 in the Lower House earlier today.

He welcomed the reform coming to the Customs & Excise Department because it seeks to address some border security issues.

“It would be remiss of me as one who is grounded in security if I did not speak to this Bill in relation to overall security regime of this country. I believe strongly that for too long the security of our country and our region, seems to be the responsibility of other players … But piece by piece we are starting to grab hold of our security.”

The Minister added: “Our security regime encompass air, sea and land and I would even venture to say certainly within the last few years we ought to be looking at cyberspace as well because that is becoming a serious threat not only to our national security, but it is an international threat. That is an area we have to focus on as well.”

Bostic said cyber security becomes vital because the very computer systems we now so heavily depend on can be attacked at any time.

“Cyber security is a real threat and one that we need to pay some attention to. I know for sure there have been cyber attacks within our space without going into any details. We certainly do not have the capacity to deal with something like that on our own and an integrated approach is absolutely necessary … An approach that would formulate some cyber emergency alert teams with the region that will be able to assist any member state that is impacted.”

The Health Minister also spoke of the need to have checks in place to secure public health.

“Port health, our public health at our borders is extremely important and must be constituted as an element of the whole security structure. Once we have all of these in place and we take ownership for these systems I believe as a country we would be in a very good position to provide for the safety and security of all persons who reside on this rock.”

The upgrades are to be implemented at the Customs & Excise Department in September in time for one of the Port’s busiest periods at Christmas.

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Finance Minister Ryan Straughn has identified training and communications as priorities for Customs.

He told the Lower House during debate on the Customs (Amendment) Bill this afternoon there has been no consistent training for the Customs Department over the last few years.

“It is something that in listening to the Customs Officers when we [the Labour Party] were last in office, it was a matter of, in a sense, routine, that training took place.

“As we rebuild the department and where officers can be redeployed internally with respect to the department, then it means that there must, as a matter of course, be an enhancement of the training of the officers, and the engagement from that perspective, in order for the Customs Department to be in a position to respond to the myriad of queries that would confront it on a consistent basis.”

He also pointed to the need for the department to establish a social media presence to facilitate interaction with the public.

“Two weeks ago, I asked whether or not the Customs Department had a social media presence and the answer was no.

“And I asked myself how it is that you’re in the 21st Century and a department as critical as the Customs Department does not have some social media presence with a view certainly of being able to communicate with people almost in real time.

“The reality is that as a critical department which we have deemed to be fundamentally important to the success of the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation programme, it must as a matter of course… be able to communicate with the public, with the various stakeholders, in a manner that’s as effective as possible.

“Because much of what has been put out into the public domain it is not always 100 per cent accurate and therefore the department must be, in my view, in a position to communicate with the public and say what is and what isn’t.”

Straughn added that such communication will be a critical part of the department’s reform agenda, in keeping with Government’s commitment to openness and transparency.

In addition to social media, he also called for the departments to move some of its services, particularly payments, online in an effort to increase efficiency.

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The Moravian Church has been hailed for its contribution to the post-Emancipation West Indies, as church leaders meet here for the synod of the church’s province in the Eastern Caribbean.

Addressing the opening service at Calvary Moravian Church last night, Prime Minister Mia Mottley pointed to the church’s efforts to secure education and employment opportunities for formerly enslaved people in the 1800s.

“Your church rose to the challenge of the day to understand that emancipated slaves could only appreciate freedom if they were capable first and foremost, of being educated, and secondly of being able to earn for themselves in an environment that was bitterly, bitterly opposed to their living.”

She noted the response of the church, particularly after the Located Labourers Act was passed after Emancipation in 1838. Under the law, workers remained bonded to the plantation and could only retain housing on estate lands by continued labour.

“But what did you church do? Your church made it its own business to create not just schools but to also train craftsmen, giving people the option, recognising fundamentally that freedom is about choice, and if you don’t give people options they don’t have the ability to make choices for themselves and their families,” she told the 32nd Provincial Synod of the Moravian Church Eastern West Indies Province.

On the issue of families, the Prime Minister said “we are losing the battle before our children reach 16 years old”, and appealed to the community to ensure that they instil in the youth a moral compass to guide them.

Mottley returned to the theme of values and principles that she highlighted at the last week’s regional conference of Church of God of Prophecy.

“We need to be able to create an army of young people across this Caribbean region that are rooted in principles.

“And I don’t mean to be sanctimonious because that’s not what is needed but they need the basic principles and values to make decisions for themselves on a day to day basis in the schoolyard, in the playing fields, in the churches, in the school classrooms, in their homes, in the small things.

“Because if we miss on the small things then they become large and they become incapable of being reined back in.

“And at the very time that the world is caught in isms and schisms and incapable of accommodating how one can live next to each other, we have a duty to be faithful to those values that will show you how one another can live next to each other.

“And if we can do that in this Caribbean region then we can hold to its being a zone of peace first and foremost, and then we can hold to each of us as a nation being able to punch above our weight.

“Because more than ever the world needs voices that are rooted in values and principles that are designed to be able to make a better life for each and every one of us.”

The chairman of the Barbados Christian Council, Major Darrell Wilkinson, highlighted the need for good governance in Christian churches as well as in Governmental and non-Governmental organisations.

According to him, the current demand for improved governance arose out of “multiple failures by individuals and groups to protect the interests of stakeholders and the integrity of institutions”.

He said: “We are living in a complex and constantly changing society that is looking for hope and meaning of life.

“A world that is looking to see the reality of the risen and the ascended Christ in us who are called of God.

“They are looking for integrity and accountability in the Churches and we need to deliver it.

“With these rapid world changes, we as Christ’s disciples need to examine our commitment to the ministry we have accepted, ordained and appointed by God so to effectively demonstrate accountability bringing hope, healing and purpose to a lost and frustrated world.”

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Argentinian national Joaquin Alberto Lobo will appear in the District ‘A’ Magistrates' Court tomorrow charged with two counts of theft of money.

Lobo, 33,  of Caseros, Buenos Aires, Argentina arrived in Barbados on July 3, 2019.

He is accused of stealing $3, 040 in money belonging to the Barbados Public Workers Credit Union Limited between July 6 and 7.

Lobo is also charged with stealing $79, 770 in money belonging to CIBC First Caribbean International Bank (Barbados) Limited between July 5 and 8.

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