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New Lawyers Admitted To The Bar

Important amendments to the Legal Professions Act have been sent to the Barbados Bar Association by the Law Reform Commission for review.

Attorney General Dale Marshall shared this news today as he addressed the hearing for admission of 53 lawyers to practise law in Barbados, in Court Number 1, Supreme Court Complex, Whitepark Road, St. Michael.

Mr. Marshall urged that the consultative process be completed soon, so officials could move to the next level.

He said over the years, the law profession had been criticised by some members of the public and it was necessary to erase that stain.

“Lawyers have always been maligned. More often than not, unfairly so. But well publicised incidents involving attorneys and their handling of client’s money, generally involving jail terms, have served to even further cement the perception commonly held that lawyers are dishonest.

“Three or four bad apples have tainted the reputation of a profession that currently has over 1,000 practitioners in this island. We have to erase that taint; all of us,” he stressed.

The Attorney General expressed regret that some lawyers had become known for not working on their clients matters with dispatch. He reminded the new lawyers that the interest of the client is paramount.

“You are engaged to provide a service to a client. For that service, you are entitled to a fair fee, nothing more. You serve the client, and you must do so to the best of your ability. And if you cannot handle a matter, be courageous enough to admit that it is beyond your skill set and either ask the client to go elsewhere, or seek advice from an attorney who has those skills. Your client is important; your interests are entirely secondary,” he indicated.

Noting that a varied group of people had been admitted to the bar today, he pointed out that very few had expressed a willingness to practise criminal law. He said over the years, the judges had bemoaned the “very evident” unwillingness to practise criminal law.

“I urge that more of you consider the practice of law on the criminal side. We have invested large amounts of public funds in increasing the number of Criminal Courts from two just six years ago to eight, today. We have also increased the number of prosecutors in the DPP’s Office by more than 100 per cent. We now hope to see an increase in the number of persons practising,” Mr. Marshall said. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Front row, left to right – Solicitor General Anika Jackson; Attorney General Dale Marshall; Chief Justice, Leslie Haynes; and Bar Association President, Kaye Williams, pose with the new lawyers on the steps of the Supreme Court of Barbados.

Local

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)

Local

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

Local

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