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Barbados Awarded 2024 “Rising Star In Postal Development”

On World Post Day, October 9, Barbados received the Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) “Rising Star In Postal Development” Award.

The award was presented during the UPU’s 150th anniversary event, in Berne, Switzerland.

The organisation, founded in 1874, is a United Nations specialised agency with its headquarters in Berne, Switzerland. It is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players and helps to ensure a universal network of modern postal products and services.

Barbados’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations, World Trade Organization and other International Organizations in Geneva, Matthew Wilson, accepted the award.

“On behalf of the Government of Barbados and the Barbados Postal Service, I am incredibly honoured to receive the award of the 2024 ‘Rising Star in Postal Development Award’, and we are humbled to be a winner from among more than 100 countries across the globe,” Ambassador Wilson stated.

He noted that the role of postal services over the years had been pivotal in providing seamless communication to businesses and loved ones, locally, regionally, and internationally.

UPU’s Director General, Masahiko Metoki, also emphasised the critical role of postal services in today’s interconnected world.

He stated: “Postal services are more than delivery systems – they are channels for commerce, pillars of infrastructure, and catalysts for socio-economic development. To all award recipients and postal workers across the globe: your dedication connects communities, empowers businesses, and unites the world.”

Mr. Wilson credited the “dedicated and experienced” team in the BPS’ International Postal Affairs Unit for their work, especially over the last year.

He noted that the BPS purchased upgraded scanning equipment, which allowed for the successful renewal of a service agreement with American Airlines. As a result, the BPS was in a position to resume mail services to all Latin and South American countries.

“As one of the indices for this award is postal reach, this was a critical tactic for the organisation and undoubtedly proved fortuitous in contributing to gaining this award. The International Postal Affairs and Business Development teams are an outstanding example of postal pride in the work they were undertaking and the obvious results that may have translated into Barbados receiving this award,” the Ambassador indicated.

He also shared that the BPS expanded its European reach and with the additional service in the Caribbean with Caribbean Airlines and particularly Virgin Atlantic, the service to some Caribbean countries increased as well. At present, the organisation is also working with interCaribbean Airways to improve capacity to additional islands, and is also seeking to liaise with the newest iteration of LIAT.

Mr. Wilson said the award was also given based on the efficiency of BPS’ inbound Express Mail Service delivery and its ability to maintain its resilience, that is, the postal capacity to overcome economic, social, technological, and environmental shocks sustainably.

Barbados has 17 post offices and customers may visit them to conduct business, from posting mail items to paying their utility bills to changing their pension cheques and welfare grants.

The BPS also provides other third-party agency services, such as the collection of school fees, Barbados Association of Retired Persons’ membership fees, and Student Revolving Loan Fund payments, and it delivers passports and other documents, on behalf of the Immigration Department. Drivers’ licences are also delivered to residents.

Each year on October 9, designated postal operators around the world come together to commemorate the founding of the Universal Postal Union. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Barbados’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations, WTO and other International Organizations in Geneva, Matthew Wilson, accepting the award from the UPU Director General, Masshiko Metoki.

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SPECIAL POLLING DAY NOTICE

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FundAccess To Host Legal Clinic Workshop from May 13th

Entrepreneurs will soon get another opportunity to learn about critical legal matters that are key to the operation of their businesses.

FundAccess will be hosting The Legal Clinic Workshop, which will commence on Tuesday, May 13, and continue each Tuesday, until May 27, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The workshop will be facilitated by Attorney-at-law Ondene Kirton and participants will discuss Understanding Business Legal Structures; Contracts & Agreements; Employment Law & Compliance; and Examination of the Various Laws Relating to Small Business.

During those sessions, the participants will be exposed to sole proprietorship, partnerships, corporations – pro and cons; how to choose the right legal structure for a business; the importance of contracts in business operations; avoiding common contract pitfalls; and employee rights & employer responsibilities, among others. Some of the pieces of legislation to be examined include the Employment Rights Act and National Insurance and Social Security Act.

Interested persons may attend the workshop in person at FundAccess’ Pinfold Street, Bridgetown location, or online via the Zoom Platform. To register, click on the following link: https://bit.ly/3Fu09Jv.

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Centenarian Built On Firm Foundation Set By Grandmother

“Trust God first” is the mantra of one of Barbados’ newest centenarians, Athelstan Browne, who celebrated his 100th birthday on April 29, 2025, at his home in Montrose, Christ Church, surrounded by family and friends.

One of his specially invited guests was President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason.

Mr. Browne shared that he grew up “not knowing a mummy” as his mother passed away at age 23, when he was two years old, and his brother was only one year old.

Crediting his grandmother for his upbringing, Mr. Brown remarked: “I had a real good, good grandmother that raised two of us, and everything we learn before we went to school, she taught us.”

Pointing to a humble yet deeply religious upbringing, Mr. Browne said: “I and my brother slept on the floor. Our grandmother spread things down there, and she just put the pillow under our head.”

He recalled that they had to sing the hymn “Under the Blood” before going to bed, and first thing in the morning before they had breakfast, which usually consisted of “a cup of tea and two biscuits”. Adding that the hymn was “our song”, Mr. Browne sang the hymn from memory.

Stressing that his grandmother was a great provider, he noted: “My grandmother had land, and she would work the land…. We would eat raw potato, raw okras, (green) peas, cucumbers…. The only thing we did not eat was raw yams and eddoes.”

Mr. Browne continues to enjoy his ground provisions “with a little rice”, as he likes his rice with green peas, and if available, chicken boiled with the rice. “I am a fish man,” he remarked, eating it either fried or with a “stew sauce”.

Continuing to nurture his Christian beliefs, he joined the Mount Ararat United Holy Church (currently in Dayrell’s Road, Christ Church) in 1967, at age 33, and has continued there ever since.

Once the Superintendent of the Sunday School at the church, Mr. Browne is still instrumental in providing leadership to the youth there. “I have a crowd of young people at church that love me…especially when I have to talk to them…. It is what they should hear and what they should have,” he said.

The centenarian was raised in Montrose, Christ Church, and attended the Christ Church Boys’ School (now Milton Lynch Primary School). After leaving school, Mr. Browne initially took to agriculture but then worked cutting soft stone in two quarries in Christ Church.

In 1947, at the age of 22, he decided to join the US Farm Labour Programme and took the first Pan American Airlines flight out of Barbados. Over 10 years later, Mr. Browne returned to Barbados and married Monica Browne (deceased). Together, they built the house where he currently resides.

Returning to his roots in agriculture, the centenarian worked at the Ridge Plantation, Christ Church, until retirement. He also planted and reaped ground produce at home, as well as planted and cut canes.

Mr. Browne, who is generally in good health and has a sharp memory, still works around the home and enjoys reading, which he does without glasses. He also keeps in touch with his family in New York and North Carolina, and will do some travelling, but he is always ready to return home.

After toasting the centenarian, Her Excellency remarked: “You are in the midst of a lot of love, and I am sure you are going to enjoy the rest of your birthday. I am really happy to have met you. I am grateful for the work that you still continue to do with our young people because a lot of them lack direction, and we, nowadays, don’t take enough time to sit down and speak with them…. We don’t remind them that they are important, that they are somebody.”

Mr. Browne responded: “You got to make them understand what … the Lord expects of them… We have to acknowledge the Lord.”

Mr. Browne has two children, 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. (PR/GIS)

Caption: President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, and Barbados’ newest centenarian Athelstan Browne take a walk outside during his birthday celebrations in Montrose, Christ Church