Business

Ministry of Environment and National Beautification partnered with Atlantis Submarines and hosted Grantley Adams Memorial School

The Shallow-draught, Bridgetown, Barbados- Under the theme “Living Sustainably…Reduce Plastics Pollution to Protect our Blue Economy”., Atlantis Submarines and the Ministry of Environment reestablished its long-standing partnership focused on environmental education, for World Environment day. “ In the early days Atlantis Submarines depended on the Ministry to provide guidance on relevant information of how coral reefs formed and why they are important to incorporate into the Atlantis Submarines School’s program called the Living classroom” General Manager Roseanne Myers, reminisced with Environmental Education Officer Donna King Brathwaite, who were both involved at that time. “The Living classroom program is still operating 36 years after its inception and has seen thousands of children from private and public schools benefit. Today, June 5th, our interaction with the Ministry will not only benefit the students but also sharpen the knowledge of the staff”

Minister of Environment Adrian Forde led the team from the Ministry in interacting with the students of Grantley Adams Memorial to transform the submarine tour into an active learning experience while fully submerged underwater. Tips on why plastics can affect the blue and green economy and how an individual can make a positive impact were shared. The students from Grantley Adams Memorial were led by Principal Major Andrew Skeete and his senior teaching staff, as he had readily agreed to the participation of the forty-six fifth-year students being able to hear from the experts and to interact with Minister Forde himself as he delivered the highlights of his World Environment Day message.

Atlantis Submarines facilitated the presentation of fruit trees donated by the Ministry’s National Conservation Commission to be planted at the school as part of Barbados’ effort to plant one million trees which started prior to the pandemic. It is also a reminder to the children that they can actively make a difference at school and at home and that what we do on land can affect the ocean. Increasing our trees helps prevent soil erosion as well as replenishes the air we breathe and fruit helps us to feed ourselves. The officials from the Ministry outlined the reason for and meaning of the theme adopted here and coincides with the UN World Environment Day theme, fighting plastic pollution, which was further contextualized for Barbados – addressing plastic pollution and being cognizant of the deleterious effects of plastic on the terrestrial and marine environment of Barbados. Mrs. King – Brathwaite further pointed out ‘The living sustainable theme has been in use by the ministry for over 10 years. In celebrating environment month, the theme reminds us that if we are to have sustainable lifestyles and achieve sustainable development as a small island developing state, we must take positive action as it relates to our environment. Reducing plastic pollution can make a tremendous difference”

The Ministry will be raising awareness all month long and Atlantis Submarines will be hosting schools throughout the period and posting messages via social media. The Atlantis Submarines Operations Manager, Robert Hinds also made available one of the PVC “trees”, to be used to establish its coral nursery, which the team will keep the school abreast of. It demonstrates the power of reuse of an item that can be difficult to dispose of by putting it to long-term use for the good of the environment. Throughout the day, it was made clear that though we speak of the Blue Economy to bring focus to the marine environment, as a Small Island Developing State, we must note that there can be no real separation between Green Economy and Blue Economy, given that they are pathways to sustainable development and that as an island, we must always be aware of the impacts that our negative behaviors can have on both the marine and terrestrial resources, almost at the same time.

As the students interacted with the Atlantis Submarines team and listened to the messaging from the Ministry, they were challenged to consider the idea that sustainable consumption and production can eventually help us to reduce our destructive activities and support wise resource use with an immediate focus on reducing plastics in their school and home environment.(PR)

Business

WORLD BANK TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MISSION OCT 7-18

Central Bank of Barbados Partners with the World Bank to Modernise Local Payments System

During April to July 2024, the Central Bank of Barbados engaged in extensive discussions with financial institutions, the World Bank, and other key stakeholders to assess and enhance the local payments market an infrastructure. Following these talks, the World Bank conducted a thorough review of Barbados’ legal and regulatory payments framework and evaluated the Real Time Payments (RTP) system. As a result, the Central Bank, in collaboration with the World Bank, has launched the Barbados Payments System Modernisation Project.

To advance this initiative, the Central Bank will host a World Bank Technical Assistance Mission from October 7–18, 2024. The mission will provide updates on the project’s progress and gather feedback on the next steps. Key areas of focus will include legal and regulatory support, oversight, instant payments system interoperability, payments system usage, and digital financial literacy. (PR)

Business

Barbados To Host Regional Policy Meeting October 8 – 10

Barbados will serve as the host nation for the upcoming Regional Policy Meeting organised by the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) from October 8 to 10.

This event, funded by the Open Society Foundations (OSF) and the European Development Fund (11th EDF), will be held at the Crane Hotel in St. Philip.

Minister of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector, Colin Jordan, will deliver the feature address during the opening ceremony on Tuesday, October 8, at 9:00 a.m.

The Meeting will see regional policymakers, civil society organisations, and international partners gathering to tackle the Caribbean’s most pressing challenges, including sovereign debt, food and nutrition security, and to chart a new course for governance, development, and climate resilience, all aimed at improving the lives of Caribbean people.

Speaking about the important timing of the upcoming meeting, Officer in Charge at the CPDC, Richard Jones, stated: “Now it is of paramount importance as Caribbean nations face a convergence of complex challenges that threaten to derail sustainable development and the well-being of their citizens. At this critical juncture, the region grapples with persistent poverty, rising inequality, food insecurity, and the existential threat of climate change.”

According to data provided by the CPDC, small economies, burdened by the legacy of colonial extractive practices, remain vulnerable to external shocks, such as global price fluctuations and natural disasters. Climate change, in particular, presents a grave risk, with increasing hurricanes and rising sea levels threatening entire economies, especially those reliant on tourism and fisheries. The Caribbean loses an estimated three per cent of its GDP annually, due to natural disasters, underscoring the urgent need for robust, coordinated regional responses.

To address these critical issues, the Regional Policy Meeting will feature an impressive lineup of regional and international thought leaders who bring deep expertise in policy, development, and advocacy, including:

Jwala Rambarran, former Governor of the Central Bank of Trinidad & Tobago, who will address the urgent need for financial stability and reforming international financial institutions.
Grace-Ann Cornwall, Social Development Professional, will provide insights on empowering vulnerable groups and NGOs across the region.
Christon Herbert, CPDC Policy Officer, will lead discussions on climate resilience, insurance solutions, and disaster risk financing.
Meghna Abraham, Director of Open Society Foundations, will highlight the importance of international solidarity in achieving sustainable development goals.
Jeremy Stephen, economist and development finance expert, will present innovative approaches to debt relief and financial stability.

Other key speakers will be Assistant Secretary-General CARICOM Single Market and Trade Ambassador Wayne McCook; Director and Senior Research Fellow, Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies, The University of The West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Dr. Don Marshall, and Florida-based International Consultant on Food and Nutrition Security and Sovereignty, Dr. Tigerjeet Ballayram.

Agenda – “The Main 8”

Over the three days, the meeting will drill down into eight critical policy areas under the theme “Forging Ahead”, which addresses the eight most urgent challenges threatening progression in the region:

Sustainable Development
Reform of International Financial Institutions
Debt Relief and Financial Stability
Empowerment of Vulnerable Groups
Capacity Building for NGOs
Food and Nutrition Security
Climate Resilience
Good Governance

Mr. Jones, stated: “These areas are not only crucial but also interconnected. For example, the Caribbean’s food security is directly impacted by climate change, while sovereign debt threatens the region’s ability to invest in resilient infrastructure; we will therefore focus on comprehensive solutions that encompass a range of considerations.”

Noting that progress was already underway by the CPDC in many of these areas, he added: “By building on existing projects and facilitating high-level discussions, the Meeting seeks to generate momentum for collaborative action on food security, financial mechanisms, and policies that prioritise the empowerment of vulnerable communities, ultimately fostering a more resilient and equitable Caribbean.” (PR/GIS)

Business

Annual Education Awards Ceremony

Light and Power Employees Co-operative Credit Union Limited (LPECCUL) Celebrate

The Light and Power Employees Co-operative Credit Union Limited (LPECCUL) recently hosted its annual Education Awards and Trevor Browne Scholarship ceremony; this event recognises academic excellence and promotes the importance of education within the community. This year, nine junior saver members who would have sat the Common Entrance Examination were awarded. Each student received prizes and cash vouchers. While the Trevor Browne Scholarship, was awarded to Melissa Austin, who is currently pursuing a degree in Physical Therapy in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at UWI Mona Campus.

The highlight of the event was an inspiring keynote address delivered by Lt. Col. Trevor Browne, a founding member of LPECCUL, who shared his insights on the importance of education and personal development. His words were echoed by the President, Sheena Edwards, who emphasized the credit union’s ongoing commitment to supporting the educational aspirations of its junior members and their families. Additional remarks were given by other board members and members of the management team, all underscoring the role of financial literacy and good budgeting practices in shaping the future of the next generation.

Lt Col Trevor Browne presents scholarship

In addition to the presentations and speeches, the students received valuable guidance on financial literacy, underscoring the Credit Union’s philosophy of promoting financial empowerment from a young age. The event aimed to equip students with knowledge and tools to manage their financeswisely, as they move forward in their academic journeys.

Once again, congratulations to this year’s awardees for their performance in the Common Entrance:

Teyen Bostic – The St. Michael School

Maria Gill – Christ Church Foundation School

Neymar Gill – Graydon Sealy Secondary School

Rommaldo Holford – Queen’s College

Nathan McKenzie – The Lodge School

Remy Nurse – The St. Michael School

Akil Priddee – Challenor School

Jaylan Priddee – Deighton Griffith School