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Barbados Discusses Green Transportation & Trade With China

Barbados and China have discussed strengthening China-Barbados relations through transportation and trade.

This discussion took place on Wednesday between Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds, and Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Ren Hongbin, in the margins of the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Global Supply Chain Forum, on at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

Minister Symmonds pointed out that Barbados aims to transition its transportation sector to renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions and achieve sustainable development as part of Barbados’ efforts to become fossil-fuel free by 2030.

He noted that to date, Barbados had received 59 electric buses manufactured in China, which were procured under the Ministry of Energy and Business’ Sustainable Energy Investment Programme (Smart Fund II). He said 50 more were being ordered.

Mr. Symmonds also pointed out that due to disruptions in the global supply chain, Barbados had been hampered in achieving its fossil-fuel free ambition due to a lack of access to renewable energy vehicles.

“The European vehicles, in many cases, you can’t get the alternative to the one that is the internal combustion engine, because it is not even available or not yet available in our market. And then in the agricultural sector, there are many which are still at the prototype stage, or they are now thinking about it.

“And when you get into your machinery for the fields and the heavy-duty lorries, tractors and big cranes for the construction sector and so on, … through the traditional supply chain we find ourselves lagging further and further behind because our traditional sources of supply are behind,” he stressed.

With regards to trade, the Minister shared Barbados’ goal of becoming an air, sea, and logistics hub for the southern Caribbean.

Mr. Hongbin stated that CCPIT is the largest and longest trade and investment promotion agency in China with 30 representative offices in 30 countries, and shared that it would be expanding its presence in countries.

“Our duty and responsibility for CCPIT is to promote bilateral relations, economic and trade ties with foreign countries. So, I feel that there is a huge potential here for businesses to be deepened and to be expanded between China and the Caribbean region. Of course, we can consider Barbados as a hub,” Chairman Hongbin indicated.

Other areas discussed during the bilateral meeting included China’s International Supply Chain Expo scheduled for November 26 to 30, 2024; the One-China Principle; developing green maritime transportation between Caribbean islands as part of the Belt and Road Initiative; and the potential for collaboration in areas such as renewable energy and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Also present at the bilateral meeting were the Ministry’s Director General, Donna Forde; Director, Foreign Trade Division, Kay Sealy; Senior Foreign Service Officer, Trecia King; Foreign Service Officer, Asha Pitt; China’s Ambassador to Barbados, Yan Xiusheng and members of the CCPIT delegation.

Barbados and China established diplomatic relations on May 30, 1977. (PR/GIS)

Caption: From left to right – China’s Ambassador to Barbados, Yan Xiusheng; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds; and Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Ren Hongbin, pose for a photograph following their meeting yesterday

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One Family hamper drive gets $75,000 boost from Sandy Lane Charitable Trust

Christmas 2024 just got a lot brighter for the 1000 families of the One Family programme under the Ministry of People Empowerment & Elder Affairs (MPEA), thanks to a donation of BBD. 75,000.00 worth of grocery hampers from the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust (SLCT).

Representatives of SLCT, including Derrick Smith, Grand Patron and founding Trustee, Trustee Pippa Challis, and Project Coordinator-Administrator Nekei Grant, were recently at One Family’s Warrens office to present the donation to the One Family Project Team. Present to receive the donation were Minister, the Hon. Kirk Humphrey, Permanent Secretary Jehu Wiltshire, Social Development Project Manager Nicole Daniel and Project Officer Lisa Holder.

Minister Humphrey commended SLCT and thanked its Board of Trustees for their ongoing work in Barbados, and specifically with his Ministry, noting that such partnerships could help break cycles of generational poverty in Barbados.

“The government of Barbados is passionate about the objectives of this One Family project, and we believe in what we are doing. We see One Family as the first initiative with the potential to break the inter-generational cycles of poverty, a purpose and objective that traditional government agencies were not designed for. Traditional approaches have not been holistic enough, and One Family gives the first real opportunity to break that poverty exchange between generations,” Minister Humphrey said.

Commenting in response, Trustee Pippa Challis said SLCT was pleased with the ongoing amazing partnership with MPEA. She said One Family had positively impacted SLCT’s work regarding due diligence and background investigations necessary to make the outreach work more effective.

“Our partnership with the One Family Programme Team is truly beneficial to both organisations, as we work towards one common goal of achieving social change. Our ability to rely on the One Family team to provide accurate, timely and reliable information means that our assistance can reach the most deserving families. Whether it is providing beds, back-to-school supplies or food vouchers, we know that we are reaching the right families. That’s why this collaboration works for us, as much as it works for you.” Mrs Challis, further commends the team on their success with the programme thus far and the amazing job they are doing.

One Family Project Manager, Nicole Daniel, said the SLCT donation would significantly boost this year’s hamper donation drive, bringing much-needed supplies and tangible Christmas cheer to the 1,000 families and hundreds of children currently served by the Programme.

“One Family is not a hand-out programme but concentrates on holistic transformation to help every family reach a stage where they can give back to their communities and Barbados.” (PR)

Caption: Pictured from left are SLCT Project Coordinator-Administrator Nekei Grant, One Family Project Officer Lisa Holder, SLCT Trustee Pippa Challis, Derrick Smith, SLCT Grand Patron and founding Trustee, People Empowerment Minister, the Hon. Kirk Humphrey, Permanent Secretary Jehu Wiltshire, and Social Development Project Manager Nicole Daniel.

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Men’s programmes lighting the way with support from Light & Power

Barbadian men are stepping up to mentor and inspire a new generation of male leaders to reach their full potential and light the path to a brighter future.

On International Men’s Day recently, two such organisations were recognised and supported with financial donations from the Barbados Light & Power Company (Light & Power). The Rites of Passage: Boys to Men program, led by Anthony Seale and Reverend Derick Richards of the James Street, Speightstown Circuit of the Methodist Church, and the Purpose 180 Foundation, founded by Nigel Jules, were both lauded for their contributions during a presentation held at Light & Power’s Garrison, St. Michael Headquarters. Both organisations spoke about the impactful initiatives they have established to support young men in Barbados.

Light & Power said it was pleased to support programs focused on mentoring and uplifting at-risk young men.

“These programs are crucial in empowering young men to reach their full potential, and Light & Power is pleased to support and partner with initiatives like Rites of Passage and Purpose 180 that actively work to create brighter futures for the next generation of young male leaders.”

Both programs focus on mentorship, character building, and equipping young men with tools to overcome challenges and achieve personal and professional growth. (PR)

Caption: Light & Power employees, including at left, Communications Advisor Adriel Richard, and to the right, Chano Belle, Manager, Finance (Supply Chain) and Curtis Brewster, Supervisor, Dispatch and Quality Control, with visiting organisation representatives Nigel Jules of the Purpose 180 Foundation (second from left), and Reverend Derick Richards and Anthony Seale of the “Rites of Passage: Boys to Men (BTM) programme” of the James Street/Speightstown Circuit of the Methodist Church in Barbados (at centre)

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Yearwood wins first 5k Run/Walk

Kristian Yearwood won the inaugural 5k Run/Walk to Help 5k held on Sunday. He clocked 21:36 in the running race, 2nd place went to Ralf Luther in a time of 22:05, followed by Fr. Andy Nyga in 3^rd with a time of 23:40. The top three runners in the female segment were Adeline Lamorell,27:17, Phillipa Sylvester, 30:46 and Sumaya Desai, 47:22.

The event was organized by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgetown and is a fund raiser for church’s ministry to the poor in our community as well as to assist the Child Card Board. What started last year as a fun walk now features competitive 5k races in running and walking. The blend of race running and walking along with fun walking should see the event attacking a cross section of participants.

Anderson Maughan was the winner in the walk race in the male segment with a time of 30:59, he was followed by Anthony Phillips in 34:50 and Akil Bryan in 37:40. Angela Jackson crossed the line in 36:31 to win the female walk race she was followed by Fay Waithe in 40:42 and third place was taken by Mary Moseley in 41:57.