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Barbados Water Academy In The Works

A Barbados Water Academy is to be established at the Barbados Community College to supplement ongoing efforts to teach Barbadians to be good water conservationists, given the island’s water scarcity situation.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley made the announcement on Wednesday, as she delivered the feature address during the Water is Life Caribbean Water Conference, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

Ms. Mottley shared with regional and overseas stakeholders and those online, that Principal of the Caribbean Institute for Metrology and Hydrology, Dr. David Farrell, is to be the Chairman of the Academy’s Advisory Committee.

She said the aim of the academy is to transform behaviours, improve skills and to develop a cadre of water monitors, some under 10-years-old, to educate their relatives and friends about the dangers of water wastage.

“This is not highly academic and esoteric – a middle class thing. This has to be a mass-based movement of water monitors telling the person in the house, ‘you hear don’t leave on the pipe when you brushing your teeth; turn it off!’; right back to harassing people, ‘why you ain’t change the toilet yet to the one that flushes less; it doesn’t use up as much water’.

“We want them to speak in the language that people understand…to transform the behaviour, not because the Government wants to look good, or the water authorities want a better bottom line, but because water is life for that household,” Mottley stressed.

The Prime Minister also stated that the academy would offer specialised training to equip persons with the scientific and engineering skills needed by the Barbados Water Authority, as the country seeks to come up with new ways of tackling the water crisis.

She reminded the audience that Barbados, like other countries in the region, was facing a groundwater crisis that needed to be addressed urgently.

“We roll off from the tip of our tongues that some of the most water-scarce countries in the world are found in this region…. The reality is that the other difficult conversation we need to have is to begin to confront the things that we have done for decades or centuries that can no longer be sustained,” Ms. Mottley said.

The two-day conference was organised by the United States Agency for International Development, in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport, Works and Water Resources.(PR/GIS)

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EBC Officers Conducting Verification Of Addresses Exercise

The public is advised that Registering Officers from the Electoral and Boundaries Commission (EBC) are in the field conducting a verification exercise to confirm the address of each registrant. This activity is in accordance with the Representation of the People Act Cap 12, Section 12.

EBC Registering Officers will be wearing the department’s branded T-shirts with the official ID prominently displayed as they visit residents in districts across the island.

Householders are encouraged to cooperate with the Registering Officers and secure their pets or animals during the visit. (PR/GIS)

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Police Service Tips For A Safe Bank Holiday Weekend

As persons prepare to attend various events over this extended weekend, Crime Prevention Officer with The Barbados Police Service, Inspector Roger Babb, is encouraging them to “stay in control” as they enjoy themselves.

Inspector Babb reminds members of the public that drinking alcohol impairs their ability to make good decisions, and drinking and driving may result in accidents that can be fatal.

The Crime Prevention Officer shared these useful tips:

Do not feel pressured to drink alcohol; it is okay to say no.
Do not drink and drive, always have a sober designated driver.
If you drink, do so in moderation and never leave your drink unattended.
Do not let anyone bring a drink for you.
To avoid having your drinks spiked, buy your own drinks, and watch the bartender make or open them.
If you think your drink was tampered with, let someone know and seek medical attention.
Be cautious with strangers and do not accept drinks from them.
Be aware of your surroundings.
Never mix alcohol with other drugs.
PR/GIS

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SANDALS BARBADOS RECEIVES (CARPHA) AWARD

Sandals Barbados is the proud recipient of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Healthier Safer Tourism (HST) award.

The presentation was made recently at the Ministry of Health and Wellness office located in the Frank Walcott Building, St. Michael, Barbados.

Accepting the award for the Luxury Included Resort was General Manager Bruno Couesnon.

In his brief remarks Couesnon thanked every one of the team members who contributed to the resort’s recent accolade.

“It’s always nice to win awards; but it takes a team effort to achieve the results for which we are being recognized, today. The health and safety of our guests and team members are important to us and it is great to be selected and celebrated by CARPHA for doing our part and succeeding,” said Couesnon.

Executive Director of CARPHA Dr. Lisa Indar commended the hotel for achieving this internationally recognized award and praised its commitment to health and safety procedures.

“The 2019 Covid pandemic led to global shut down of tourism but it also demonstrated the resilience of the Caribbean by being able to bounce back. Part of that bouncing back was to be able to create a healthier and safer tourism experience and the reason you are here today is by being part of the tourism health programme and implementing proactive measures,” said Dr. Indar.

Some of the benefits of this award include being regionally and internationally recognized for healthier safer tourism endorsed by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO); the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

The award is the only traveler’s health award where compliance is assessed – it is measurable and verifiable, ensuring the safety of the tourist facility, staff and guests. It also gives a comparative, marketing advantage and gives value to the quality of service.(PR)

CAPTION: Sandals Barbados General Manager General Manager Bruno Couesnon (L) accepting the CARPHA award from Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kenneth George