4/7/2010 FUN IN THE SUN AT EASTER MONDAY FAMILY FUN DAY By Petal Barclay-Smith Live entertainment, kite flying, games and attractions from
‘Hopey’ the clown brought cheers to the faces of scores of St. Lucy residents
at the annual Easter Monday Family Fun Day at Rockfield Resource Centre. The event which was hosted by Member of Parliament for St.
Lucy, Ambassador Denis Kellman and the DLP St. Lucy Constituency Branch
attracted from the most senior family member to the youngest toddler. Kellman said that the fun day was not just about the free
gifts and food, but that the resurrection of Jesus Christ gave the constituents
more reason to celebrate as they hoisted their kites in the air in remembrance of the risen Saviour. Family members were kept alive by the sounds of the
pulsating rhythm of clean vibes that echoed across the playing field, while
children put away their portable play station and played healthier games like
dodge the ball, ball and spoon and hopscotch among others. The fun escalated as children and adults received fantastic
balloon sculptures created by the clown and they were truly amazed by the
clown’s bizarre and grotesque costume, coloured wig, painted face and his comical footwear. Kellman added that while other events charged for entry,
food, gifts and other activities, his annual Easter Monday Family Fun Day will
always remain free to his constituents. “This is one way of giving back to my constituents to show
my appreciation for their continued loyalty and support to myself and the
Democratic Labour Party,” Kellman said.
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No
better Christmas gifts for raffle winners By Petal Barclay-Smith The most precious present for Mertant Grimes this
Christmas would not be able to fit under his Christmas tree. For the price of $2, Grimes won himself the first
prize of a brand new 32” Flat Screen Panasonic Television, compliments
Shopsmart Inc. at the draw of the Wesley
Hall Junior School Annual Christmas Raffle on Monday. Elated Grimes would be viewing his favourite movies
and television series in fine style during the Holiday Season. The second prize of a packed barrel of groceries and
toiletries was won by Dave Best, who is still overwhelmed with his gift, since
this is the first time he has ever won anything. Best said he was ecstatic
knowing that cost of living at this time of the year has skyrocketed and to “win
a barrel of groceries worth over $1 000, I am very elated.” He plans to share
the contents with his family. Also receiving prizes were Vincent Richards, 3rd
place winner of a $250.00 Gift Voucher from Broad Street Men Store, while the 4th
and 5th prizes of a Small Appliance Bundle, compliments DaCosta
Mannings Inc. and a Basket of Beauty Supplies valued $200, compliments BeCool
Beauty Supplies went to Linda Martelly and Betty Yard. The ticket numbers drawn were:
06669,14768,10298,15170 and 04847 respectively. President of the Parent Teacher’s Association, Shone
Gibbs said everyone would have walked away as winners as their support of the venture
contributed and added value to the development of their child/ward’s education
and the development of the school as a whole, to make it a preferred place for
teaching and learning. Gibbs said, “Funds raised from the Christmas raffle
would allow us to invest in musical instrument, sporting materials and a
roofing facility for outdoor activities.” In addition, he said the school is looking to
install two cold water fountains to make the institution more convenient for
the students. Next year’s raffle is expected to be bigger and
better with plans in the pipeline for a possible 40” television set or a
vehicle.
Youth graduate from Toastmasters program 2009
By Petal Barclay-Smith
It was an evening to remember as several youth graduated from the Cable and Wireless Toastmasters Club Youth Leadership program on Saturday, May 2, after completing seven weeks of training in Public Speaking and Leadership skills.
Participants from the Girl Guides Association, St. Michael School, Harrison College and Foundation received certificates and awards for their participation and achievements at the ceremony held at the Barbados Olympic Association, Wildey, St. Michael.
The youth said they have benefited tremendously from the intense training which has helped them to become better public speakers and to gain the confidence needed to speak in front of an audience.
Participants showcased their skills as they presented prepared speeches, participated in Impromptu Speaking, a Panel Discussion and performed Parliamentary roles before an audience that included their parents, relatives, friends and members of the Cable and Wireless Toastmasters Club.
Coordinator of the 2009 Youth Leadership program, Marlene Hall said the participants were given the opportunity to practice these skills by delivering speeches and performing leadership roles through a structured training program crafted by Toastmasters International.
Hall noted, “In the past, I have seen children transformed from being shy and hesitant speakers into being very confident and articulate speakers. This course has empowered the participants to take on the responsibilities that they would not have done prior to this training.”
She indicated that the ability to communicate is a highly regarded skill, and the Toastmasters club could help persons develop their ability to communicate and to become a leader.
The seven-week training program included Impromptu Speaking, Elements of Effective Listening, Body Language, Effective Evaluations, Parliamentary Procedures and Vocal Variety. It was a free program sponsored annually by the Cable and Wireless Toastmasters club.
Cable and Wireless Toastmasters Club is affiliated with Toastmasters International, the world’s leading organization devoted to the improvement of individual communication and leadership skills.
Caption:
Participants from the Cable and Wireless Toastmasters Club Youth Leadership program 2009 at the Graduation ceremony last Saturday at the Barbados Olympic Association. At extreme left is president of the Cable and Wireless Toastmasters Club, Pamela Jones-Gaskin.
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4/24/2009
By Petal Barclay-Smith
The Parent Teacher’s Association of Wesley Hall Junior School would be holding its Annual Fund Raising Boat Cruise on National Heroes Day, Tuesday, April 28, 2009 from9 a.m. to 1 p.m. aboard the M.V. Harbour Master.
There would be face painting, jumping tent, lucky dip, musical chairs, treasure hunt with prizes to be won, and the first Wesley Hall Idol competition. Tickets are on sale at the school’s Guard Hut and from the Principal’s Office. Please make every effort to attend this worthy cause.
6/8/2009
Fantastic family affair at Wesley Hall fair
By Petal Barclay-smithIt will be a fantastic family affair at the Wesley Hall Infant and Junior Schools joint annual fair on Saturday, June 13, 2009 from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The fair is a fund raising initiative by both schools and is geared towards purchasing retractable Awnings for outdoor activities and mass events for the children. This venture would also assist the community with its planned activities, since the schools are often utilised by residents in the surrounding environs for other events.
President of the Parent Teacher’s Association, Shone Gibbs in his appeal for family members to support the family fun fair, said that the worthy venture of the coverings would protect the children from the elements of the weather whenever there is an outdoor activity like assemblies.
Gibbs added, “It is an expensive undertaking, but it is necessary for the holistic development of the children. Both schools do not have an adequately sized school hall, but we have been trying to get the children together, with certain limitations to celebrate achievements like sporting activities, Spelling B Competitions and Independence activities.”
While it has often been difficult to get all the children to come together in one area that is comfortable, Gibbs said that the outdoor environment with coverings would be the best solution for the children at this time.
To ensure that this endeavor is a success, family members are asked to come out in their numbers to support the fair which would be full of fun, food and frolic.
Some of the activities planned are lucky dips, slides, horseback riding, jumping tents, Coney Island style rides, pets, go-cart racing, Wheel of Fortune and other challenging games. The activities are for both adults and children to enjoy in a fun-loving atmosphere.
All tickets can be purchased before the fair and are available at both schools. There is also family suites of two adults and three children tickets for a significantly low price.
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6/22/2009
By Petal Barclay-Smith
Mobile phone directory at your fingertips
Barbadians can now enjoy for the first time, Government and business listings on their mobile phones free of cost.
This initiative was made possible by Cell Directories (Barbados) Inc. and it allows customers that have mid range mobile phones with Bluetooth capabilities to access listings of the phone directory at their finger tips.
Managing Director, Cell Directories (Barbados) Inc., Curtis Padmore told Heat that persons would have access to more than 1,500 Government listings and local businesses that are stored on their cell phones and many more unique capabilities.
Padmore said, “The application, which is equivalent to the size of a ringtone, allows users to dial from within the directory, add listings to their personal contacts, add reminders to call selected listings, text listing information to other cell phones, and easily browse and search listings under different categories.”
In addition, the application helps customers to compare items of varying weight and prices while shopping and to access from a database their Consumer Rights Information provided by the Fair Trading Commission.
“Our aim is to reach customers who are always on the go and need fast reference to important information. The application is not a website to be accessed by mobile phones. It is a mobile application that you download on your cell phones to access hotline numbers and other listings right at your finger tips,” Padmore added.
Cell Directories would be officially launched Friday, June 26, at the Small Business Development Centre, Fontabelle, St. Michael at 10 a.m. Padmore said after the launch of version one, which promises to be “More than A-Z”, there would be more innovative ways for businesses to advertise on cell phones, and at the same time, to provide additional benefits to the public.
Padmore indicated that Cell Directories promises to be a dynamic product offering with great potential for growth and development, not only in Barbados but throughout the Caribbean.
Barbadians can access the company’s website, www. 246celldirectories.com to download the free Cell Directories software to their mobile phones.
Further, customers also have the option of visiting the Ground Floor Norman Centre or Sheraton Food Court, with Bluetooth turned on and they would automatically receive the application on their mobile phones.
5/20/2009
By Petal Barclay-Smith
Optimist International Caribbean District Conference
Minister of Tourism, Richard Sealy will deliver the feature remarks at the Caribbean District of Optimist International Third Quarter Conference this weekend.
Almost 200 delegates, including Optimists from Jamaica, Antigua, Anguilla and Montserrat are expected to attend the conference scheduled for May 23-24, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. at the Accra Beach Hotel, Rockley, Christ Church under the Chairmanship of Caribbean District Governor Judith Reid.
The Opening Ceremony would highlight the youth, with remarks from young Barbadian orator Mr. Theo Jones, who at 17 years of age won the Optimist International Oratorical Contest in 2008. He would speak on: “Today’s Children…Tomorrow’s World”.
A special highlight of the conference would be the attendance and participation of the International Vice President, Eddie Wint and the Chairman of the International Board of Directors, Theo Golding, who created history when he was elected the first Caribbean National and Black man to lead an International Service Organization.
Among the items on the agenda are elections of district officers for the Optimist Year October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010, who would complete the executive team of Governor-Elect Gene Douglas, who would serve as the Governor of the Caribbean District for that period, as well as workshops and training sessions.
Optimist International is a non-for-profit service organization with over 72,000 members that primarily work with children, under the motto “Friend of Youth” and it operates under the theme: “Bringing out the Best in Children”. The international organization spends over US $78 million annually in projects and programs reaching over six million young people worldwide.
The Caribbean District has been the fastest growing district of Optimist International with over 2,500 members in Jamaica, Antigua, Anguilla, Barbados, Bahamas, St. Vincent, Grand Cayman, Montserrat, St. Marten, Curacao, Suriname, and St. Lucia.
Barbados’ seven clubs are: Optimist Club of Barbados- Bridgetown, Optimist Club of Barbados- North, Optimist Club of Barbados- Central and the Optimist Club of Ernst & Young Caribbean, Sunshine Optimist Club of Barbados, Optimist Club of UWIChill, and Optimist Club of Barbados South.
These clubs have over 250 members and carry out a number of service projects across the island including literacy programs, environmental projects, mentorship, and social infra-structure projects.
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Local call centre expanding
By Petal Barclay-Smith
The NCO Financial Services (Barbados) is increasing its employee-base locally to 1 000 this year.
During a press conference to report on the job growth at its Harbour Industrial Park, Bridgetown, location, yesterday, Consultant, John Jordan said that there is a need for more than 1 000 employees in 2007, an increase of over 40 per cent in one year, from the current employment level of 700 Barbadians.
Noting that the expansion is testament to NCO’s confidence and commitment in Barbados, Jordan said that it began last November, and will be constant and consistent throughout the first and second quarters of this year.
The delay in the expansion, if any, he said, would be getting adequate space, and adequate parking facility for the staff.
According to Jordan, “With NCO, it is really organic growth within the organisation, as individuals are being promoted to higher levels, and it is also individuals who have been hired with professional degrees.”
He added that it is truly the quality of the employees which “caused us to select this location in 2003, in comparison to other islands that we are located in today. That is why we are expanding here. The awards our employees have won are also testament to the higher level of expertise in customer service ability that Barbadians have shown our clients.”
Recently, two employees, Kimmelle Austin and Jamilah Goring, received Supervisor of the Year and Employee of the Year awards respectively at BIDC’s 50th Anniversary award ceremony.
Having started with 25 employees back in 2003, Jordan indicated that NCO is not a call centre of here today, gone tomorrow, and he added, “We have been here for four years, and plan to be here four years from now.”
NCO is also working for the top ten financial institutions in the US like banks, credit card providers, lenders as well as for some of the major cell phones and land line providers.
As NCO’s revenue for 2005 was over US$1 billion, Jordan declared that this is by far the largest organisation in Barbados, providing call centre services, business process, outsourcing services.
NCO operates a global network of close to 100 operations centres running on a centralised data platform, and its core purpose is to deliver quality customer-focused outsourcing services.
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DLP stepping up political activity
By Petal Barclay-Smith
There will be a heightened political activity for the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) this year, so says General Secretary, George Pilgrim.
The Party would be off and running with its 2007 mass canvass series from January 13, followed by a week of activities to celebrate the founding father, the late Rt. Excellent Errol Barrow.
Pilgrim said that Party Leader, David Thompson has already indicated the party’s readiness by his management of the selection of all thirty candidates.
In his response to the incident at Porters, St. James, a week ago, Pilgrim said that “it must be placed in the context of the public utterances by the Prime Minister, regarding his Government’s adamant views on the sale of lands to foreign investors as a means of paying bills, and that land must reach its highest economic value.”
Pilgrim indicated that those public utterances have served to re-establish and further develop an agenda of “social exclusion.” He added, “This social exclusion has now reached a crescendo where the almighty dollar is seen as the single important component in the transaction between state policy and the wishes of the people.”
However, the General Secretary revealed that one of the immediate priorities of the DLP, upon returning to office, is to restore trust in public office that has been “destroyed by Arthur’s bashment policies. It is no wonder that our lifestyles mirror the concerns of those of our neighbours when the question of the price of progress is asked.”
He also declared that unless Barbados has a clear policy articulated by the Party Leader, where land can be zoned and leashed, this country will be “auctioned off to the highest bidder.”
In addition, Pilgrim said, “We have seen what the lack of clear policy regarding the sale of land in South Africa did. We have also seen what South Africa law makers are willing to do. They have taken the matter to Parliament in an attempt to secure the country for its citizens.”
Pilgrim therefore called on all Barbadians to condemn this policy of a ‘two Barbadoes’ “as created by the Owen Arthur Administration, and insist that as a country, Barbados deserves better in the twenty-first century.”
Roach: Heavy taxes, bans to stop tobacco use
By Petal Barclay-Smith
A national and regional appeal is sounded for a concerted effort against the pervasive destruction of tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs use on our youth.
In an effort to launch a crusade against drugs, a call has been made for the imposition of heavy taxes, bans on advertising, sponsorships and sale restrictions of the legal gate-way drugs, along with mandatory warning labels.
That strong plea was made on the occasion of the 18th Annual Drug Awareness Month, of the National Committee for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (NCPADD), under the theme, ‘Save our Youth’.
During his address to launch the Month, yesterday, anti-drug activist and President of NCPADD, Pastor Victor Roach said that HIV/AIDS, gambling, crime, violence, accidents, suicide, illiteracy and health and social problems, as a result of drug use, are threatening the future generation.
Roach said that the concentration on our youth is because drug abuse, like an octopus, has tentacles which visit most diseases, disability and death, on the most vulnerable section of our community.
He observed that across the region, Governments have to face social upheaval and unprecedented economic challenges, directly or indirectly related to the drug problem, which he said, has brought kidnapping and extradition to our shores in uncomfortable levels.
In addition, Roach indicated that leaders and decision makers of CARICOM should be targeted to demonstrate the necessary leadership to reduce and control drugs, as well as to, “secure greater commitment from American, European and other allies to provide increased assistance for demand and supply efforts, given our geopolitical relationships.”
However, Roach noted too, that saving our youth, is an investment in our communities, “as we must address families, schools, law enforcement, the health sector, the workplace and the youth, not just for today, but tomorrow as well.”
According to NCPADD’s President, “We must save our youth for the alternative is unthinkable: A hopeless future. Let us draw on the courage and strength exhibited in hosting CWC 2007 and fashion ourselves into a drug-free Caribbean. Let us Save our Youth.”
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New Year’s Day Carnival at Hilton colourful
By Petal Barclay-Smith
It was much fun and frolic at the Hilton Barbados as guests and workers jumped and gyrated at the hotel’s annual New Year’s Day Carnival.
The celebration was a fitting start to a successful year and it began with a tour throughout the hotel, with loud noise, given the carnival spirit, and culminated at the Light House Gardens.
The old, young, and very young dressed in costumes danced their way around the hotel, along with characters like Mother Sally, the Limbo Dancers, Green Monkeys, Stiltmen, Grass Skirt Crew and the Carnival Girls.
As some staff added to the entertainment, Recreational Manager of the Hilton, Julian Boyce said that this year, the festival was bigger, better, longer and more colourful, thanks to Dawn Lisa’s Promotion.
He added, “The guests have been amazing all week in the last two weeks. We have been doing a lot of activities. The guests have participated in everything and they are willing to ‘let their hair down’ and have a good time. We had 40 costumes, and those ran out, so we got created and give head bands.”
The Hilton is presently benefiting from some 75 to 80 per cent occupancy and Boyce said that things can only get better for the hotel.
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Husbands: Deviant behaviour in schools
By Petal Barclay-Smith
There is a shift from drug use by school children to gambling and deviant behaviour.
As the Drug Education and Counselling Services is reporting an increased in bad behaviour by mostly boys in schools, Director and Chairman, Roger Husband said that it is DECS’ intention to target all schools in Barbados to start prevention methods and conduct counselling for the children.
At a church service to mark its Third Anniversary at the Collymore Rock, Nazarene Church on Sunday evening, Husbands said that while some of the children do not have fathers, DECS conducts one-on-one counselling sessions with young boys and girls with drugs or behavioural problems, and that much success has being observed in their behaviour.
“We are getting more cases of deviant behaviours than in drugs. We do mentorship and we keep our eyes on these boys, so they do not slip up. Some of them do not have fathers, so we become fathers for them. We have a lot of success stories and because they are minors, we cannot divulge the information,” Husbands said.
He added that the Service had visited over 150 churches in Barbados, and its mandate is to go into all the churches, offering education on the dangers of drugs and drug addiction. DECS is therefore appealing for more mentors and volunteers to intensify the efforts in schools, and to intensify the efforts on the block.
“We also want to challenge the drug lords, asking them to put requirements on people who they will sell to. This is one of the things we are trying to negotiate with them.
We have gotten a threat already from a drug lord saying that he will kill us if we don’t stop what we are doing, which means that, we are causing some influence on the block,” Husbands declared.
However, Husbands noted that the response from the men on the block is excellent. “They have asked us to come and pray for them, some of them have given their lives to the Lord, some of them go to rehabs, some of them also made a change and we get jobs for them, they call us on a regular basis.”
DECS is also looking for funding to finance its operation and is appealing to the Government and corporate Barbados to lend a helping hand so that the organisation can realise its goal which is to reduce drug dependency in our communities, with education and counselling services, primarily to young boys and girls.
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2/2/2007
Estwick: Debt situation worse than before
By Petal Barclay-Smith
The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is reporting that Barbados’ debt situation is worse than was previously reported.
Making that revelation was Member of Parliament for St. Philip West, Dr. David Estwick, who said, that this is so, because the Government continues to allow sizeable off-budget expenditure that is not being captured under central government debt and guaranteed debt.
Speaking at the DLP’s weekly luncheon at its George Street, St. Michael headquarters yesterday, Estwick said that the Barbados Labour Party’s Administration has engaged in “three build-operate-lease and transfer projects (BOLT). These include the New Prison, Operation Free Flow and the New Hall of Justice building.”
In each of these projects, Estwick indicated that there is a private sector/public sector partnership, where “the private sector builds the project for a total cost, and leases the project back to the Government for a specified period, during which Government pays a lease that covers the principle to build the project and an interest, as profit to the builder of the project.”
Noting that this annual lease is debt to the government and the people of Barbados, the St. Philip West MP said that if this debt is factored into the debt analysis, “the island’s debt predicament is even more serious.”
While the BLP has argued that the debt service ratios are adequate, and that they have borrowed to build capacity, Estwick noted that “in the 2004 and 2005 budgets, the Prime Minister said that the levels of public sector and central government debt were unsustainable, while some Government pundits are telling Barbadians all is well, in direct contradiction of the Prime Minister.”
According to Estwick, “It is accepted that external borrowing to build capacity is acceptable, if the gestation period for the investment to start to generate returns and earn foreign exchange in not excessively long, and if that investment contributes to the earning of foreign exchange and increase productivity, driven by capital accumulation and total factor productivity.”
However, the revenue from the exports of goods and services as stated in the Balance of Payment Publication of the Central Bank for 2006 is $2.1 billion dollars, while the import bill alone is $3.2 billion “and growing, and this does not include the external debt of $244 million dollars”, Estwick added.
He is therefore suggesting that what is needed in Barbados is increased output in the short to medium term. “Ever since 1995, economic growth in Barbados was led by the non-traded sectors that consume foreign exchange, not produce it.
“Our fiscal balance became a deficit in 1997, the External Current Account became a deficit in 1997, and both economic parameters have worsened over the past nine years. Where is the evidence that the BLP has the capacity to reverse these destructive trends?” Estwick asked.
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1/30/2007
Government to lead by example
By Petal Barclay-Smith
In an attempt to reduce Government’s fuel costs, Ministries and Departments will have to purchase diesel vehicles of engine size below 2500cc, and consider installing legitimate fuel saving devices in all vehicles.
These measures would be put in place if a National Energy Conservation Programme is to achieve maximum effectiveness and if Government is to provide leadership.
This revelation was stated in the Draft Barbados National Energy Policy, December 2006, which was recently laid in Parliament.
The Draft Policy stated that if Government is to embark on its own Energy Conservation Programme, then the use of alternative vehicle power sources such as Natural Gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas, Solar, Ethanol, and bio-diesel should be considered.
In addition, effective numbers and correctly sized ceiling fans should be the preferred cooling method. In cases where appropriately sized fans are found to be effective, they should be replaced by air conditioners.
And, where air conditioners are unavoidable, there should be energy efficient systems, with all air conditioned rooms effectively sealed against air leakage.
However, existing Government buildings and high energy using institutions should be subject to periodic energy audits beginning in the fiscal year 2006/2007. At the same time, all new government buildings would be made energy efficient, and this too, would be done through audit of designs and modification of architectural plans.
The Draft Policy indicated too, that Government would encourage private sector investment in energy efficient buildings, by choosing them over other buildings to host conferences, meetings or accommodating Government offices.
It was also revealed that lighting in all government buildings should be provided by fluorescent bulbs or more efficient systems. This would apply to all new government buildings as well as existing buildings.
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1/12/2007
Harper: Drugs legal or illegal kill
By Petal Barclay-Smith
Within the school system, deals are being made for sex, the acts that are done within the confines of toilets, at one school, were promoted to the class room, which make tears come to the eyes of those who seek to bring some order to the classroom.
Chairman of the Child Care Board (CCB), David ‘Joey’ Harper made that revelation yesterday, and he is questioning if children are still answerable to their parents, or have they become a part of the new system?
Speaking on Alcoholism, as it relates to children, drugs and domestic violence, Harper said that police presence in front of schools early in the morning is non-existent, “deals are brokered right before our eyes, children are recruited, and the sale of drugs within the compound are carried on with an efficiency that is mind boggling.”
Harper’s message was delivered at a seminar to mark the 18th Anniversary of Drug Awareness Month of the National Committee for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Dependency, with the theme, ‘Save Our Youth’, at the Barbados Workers Union headquarters, Harmony Hall, St. Michael.
He added, “We shudder when our young girls are called ‘headmistresses,’ and not because of their academic prowess. Cell phones are recording the sordid escapades of children who have lost their way and allowed not even pleasure, but simply the thrill of doing what they do before cameras, that have become so much a part of our society, and one has to use every level of leverage to invoke action by the authorities.”
Noting that drugs legal or illegal is a killer, the CCB Chairman also indicated that drugs are rushing into the sporting arenas, with football games now being the domain where some of the most sophisticated dealers frequent.
“The legitimate pharmaceutical companies are to share the blame for the changing attitude towards drugs, performance enhancing drugs are touted on every link on the internet, the domain of the young.
“VIAGRA, CIALIS and every other bit of garbage with a brand name available to bring old and some young men back to life. It is not surprising that our young men and women, indoctrinated at such a young age, drift into the hands of men and women who offer them steroids so that they can perform better to win a race or lift a heavier weight,” Harper said.
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1/18/2007
PEP supporting Drax Hall Woods residents
By Petal Barclay-Smith
Government has once again been called upon to enunciate a clear “no nonsense” Government policy, that Barbados will be a country, in which the collective rights of the community to beach and land access will take precedence over individual private property rights.
Speaking on the backdrop of a report which stated that “Management of Drax Hall Plantation, St. George, placed boulders across a public pathway blocking residents of Drax Hall Woods…,” the Peoples Empowerment Party (PEP) said it is supporting the residents in their struggle with the owners of that Plantation.
As such, President of PEP, David Comissiong said, “Once again, a large wealthy landowner in Barbados is attempting to deprive Barbadian villagers of a public “right of way” that they have used and enjoyed for decades.”
He noted that at the Party’s inaugural Annual General Conference, last Sunday, “our party unanimously passed a resolution calling upon the Government of Barbados to enunciate a general public and government policy committing Government to defending and preserving established and traditional public pathways and rights of ways in Barbados.”
Comissiong said that over the past decade, foreign expatriates and wealthy Barbadian landowners have increasingly asserting the notion, that their private ownership of land gives them the right to gated communities, and to private and exclusive access to beaches and other valuable tracts of land.
Noting that this creeping notion must be nipped in the bud at the highest level of Government, Comissiong reminded citizens that “public rights of way are recognised by the laws of Barbados.”
He added, “Indeed, a public right of way can be created in circumstances where the members of a community use a particular pathway over private land for a considerable period of time. This seems to be the case with Drax Hall Plantation and the residents of Drax Hall Woods.”
The PEP therefore wants the Government to take the side of the community in these disputes and to assist affected villages and communities in securing their collective rights.
Such assistance, Comissiong said should include government funded “legal aid.”
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1/13/2007
World Bank Report urges to invest in youth
By Petal Barclay-Smith
Developing countries which invest in better education, healthcare, and job training for the young people between the ages of 12 and 24, could produce surging economic growth and sharply reduced poverty.
That was according to a new World Bank Report 2007: Development and the Next Generation, which stated that there has never been a better time to invest in youth, because they are healthier, better educated than previous generations, and they will join the workforce with fewer dependents, because of changing demographics.
The report indicated that, failure to seize this opportunity to train them more effectively for the workplace, and to be active citizens, could lead to widespread disillusionment and social tensions.
The Bank’s Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics, Francois Bourguignon said, "The opportunities are great, as many countries will have a larger, more skilled labor force and fewer dependents. But these young people must be well-prepared in order to create and find good jobs."
It was also stated that far too many young people, some 130 million, 15-24 year olds, cannot read or write. Secondary education and skill acquisition, the report said, make sense only if primary schooling has been successful. This is still far from being the case and efforts have to be reinforced in this area.
In addition, more than 20 percent of firms in countries such as Algeria, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Estonia, and Zambia, rate poor education and work skills among their workforce as 'a major or severe obstacle to their operations.' Overcoming this handicap starts with more and better investments in youth.
"Most developing countries have a short window of opportunity to get this right before their record numbers of youth become middle-aged, and they lose their demographic dividend. This isn't just enlightened social policy.
“This may be one of the profound decisions a developing country will ever make to banish poverty and galvanize its economy," says Emmanuel Jimenez, lead author of the report, and Director of Human Development in the World Bank's East Asia and the Pacific Department.
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1/9/2007
NCPADD supports Anti-tobacco legislation
By Petal Barclay-Smith
At least one anti-drug activist welcomes the announcement by Minister of Health, Dr. Jerome Walcott that an Anti-tobacco legislation will be debated in Parliament shortly.
President of the National Committee for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (NCPADD), Pastor Victor Roach told this newspaper that the adoption of a ban on smoking in public places in Barbados, fulfils the framework contention on Tobacco Control requirements for the implementation of effective legislation.
Roach said that the news from Minister Walcott must be encouraging for our youth, for since January 2001, some thirty million persons worldwide have died because of tobacco-related diseases.
“It is good news for our smoke-free Cricket World Cup campaign, and other host countries should follow our lead. Reduction of risks from fires, reductions in heart disease, lung cancer and increased productivity are some of the key benefits of the legislation,” Roach said.
NCPADD is however worried about the proposal to have designated smoking in restaurants and bars. “This is based on the consensus in the scientific community that there are no safe levels of exposure to second hand smoke,” Roach noted.
He is therefore questioning how “smoke will be prevented from leaving one area and entering another. Our concern is for the likely impact of second hand smoke on restaurants and bars staff and patrons. We believe there is still time to address these concerns.”
Nevertheless, Roach said that this action is a triumph for the Ministries of Health, Heart Foundation and other stakeholders.
Walcott indicated that the legislation has gone before Cabinet and that some amendments have being made. He added that the finalised document should be ready for discussion in Parliament by the middle of February.
April 4, 2010
Aral Sea Almost DRIED UP: UN Chief Calls It 'Shocking Disaster'
NUKUS, Uzbekistan -- The drying up of the Aral Sea is one of the planet's most shocking disasters, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Sunday, as he urged Central Asian leaders to step up efforts to solve the problem.
Once the world's fourth-largest lake, the sea has shrunk by 90 percent since the rivers that feed it were largely diverted in a Soviet project to boost cotton production in the arid region.
The shrunken sea has ruined the once-robust fishing economy and left fishing trawlers stranded in sandy wastelands, leaning over as if they dropped from the air. The sea's evaporation has left layers of highly salted sand, which winds can carry as far away as Scandinavia and Japan, and which plague local people with health troubles.
Ban toured the sea by helicopter as part of a visit to the five countries of former Soviet Central Asia. His trip included a touchdown in Muynak, Uzbekistan, a town once on the shore where a pier stretches eerily over gray desert and camels stand near the hulks of stranded ships.
"On the pier, I wasn't seeing anything, I could see only a graveyard of ships," Ban told reporters after arriving in Nukus, the nearest sizable city and capital of the autonomous Karakalpak region.
"It is clearly one of the worst disasters, environmental disasters of the world. I was so shocked," he said.
The Aral Sea catastrophe is one of Ban's top concerns on his six-day trip through the region and he is calling on the countries' leaders to set aside rivalries to cooperate on repairing some of the damage.
"I urge all the leaders ... to sit down together and try to find the solutions," he said, promising United Nations support.
However, cooperation is hampered by disagreements over who has rights to scarce water and how it should be used.
In a presentation to Ban before his flyover, Uzbek officials complained that dam projects in Tajikistan will severely reduce the amount of water flowing into Uzbekistan. Impoverished Tajikistan sees the hydroelectric projects as potential key revenue earners.
Competition for water could become increasingly heated as global warming and rising populations further reduce the amount of water available per capita.
Water problems also could brew further dissatisfaction among civilians already troubled by poverty and repressive governments; some observers fear that could feed growing Islamist sentiment in the region.
Ban also is taking on the region's frequently poor human rights conditions.
That is likely to be an especially tense issue when he meets Monday with Uzbek President Islam Karimov, who has led the country since the 1991 Soviet collapse and imposed severe pressure on opposition and civil rights activists.
The meeting comes less than two weeks after the U.N. Human Rights Committee issued a report criticizing Uzbekistan, including calling for fuller investigation of the brutal suppression of a 2005 uprising in the city of Andijan. Opposition and rights groups claim that hundreds were killed, but authorities insist the reports are exaggerated and angrily reject any criticism.