Government

Barbados National Energy Company Ltd. – Powering The Future

A new energy era has begun with the creation of the Barbados National Energy Company Limited (BNECL).

And, the Barbados National Oil Company Limited (BNOCL) and Barbados National Terminal Company Limited (BNTCL) have transitioned to this new entity.

Speaking at the rebranding ceremony today, Minister of Energy and Business, Senator Lisa Cummins, said the National Petroleum Corporation (NPC) would be merged with the new entity later. However, she reiterated that members of staff did not have to fear job losses.

“There are no redundancies as a consequence of this transition. All of our jobs in these companies are secure, all of them. I want to assure you of that…. The reason we have not done NPC today, … is simply because it is easier for BNOCL and BNTCL, who are already companies, to be folded into a new company.

“There are still some things that you and I know we need to get done, and we need to get done smoothly. Those things will continue, and then we will fold the NPC, which is a statutory entity, into the BNECL, with everyone’s rightsbeing preserved and neverdisadvantaging people because people sit at the centre of this transition,” she assured.

Senator Cummins said she was looking forward to the completion of the legislative work, and “people-related work”, so NPC could be amalgamated into BNECL.

“When that happens, I want to be able to see all of the work that I have just described come to fruition over the next year,” she stated.

The Minister thanked all the stakeholders involved in the process, including the transition team. She noted that the Inter-American Development Bank has assisted the island’s energy sector tremendously, including in the preparatory work for the amalgamation.

“An extensive amount of analysis has gone in to getting us this far; an extensive amount of detailed work has gone into framing the how and the why; [and] an extensive amount of analysis has gone into not only what this company individually has done, but our place in the world,” she stressed.

Chairman of the NPC and interim Chairman of the BNECL, Dr. Asquith Thompson, described today as an exciting new chapter in the country’s energy journey.

“The amalgamation of the Barbados National Oil Group of Companies marks more than just a structural change. It is a bold step toward energy innovation and national progress. While the National Petroleum Corporation is not yet part of the amalgamation, it soon will be, and we celebrate our shared commitment in anticipation of becoming one unified company.

“This transformation reflects our dedication to optimising operations, enhancing efficiency, and delivering reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions for all Barbadians,” Dr. Thompson shared.

He stressed that BNECL was committed to embracing innovation, and gave the assurance that they would build an energy future that is bright, secure, and sustainable for generations to come.

The rebranding ceremony was held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, and the unveiling of the new signage occurred simultaneously at Woodbourne, St. Philip, and Fairy Valley, Christ Church, which housed the two entities that BNECL has replaced. (PR/GIS)

Government

One Family joins the Healthy Nation Foundation in bringing good health and nutrition to communities

The One Family Programme has launched a partnership with HNI Foundation Inc., the non-profit arm of Healthier Nation Initiative Inc. (HNI), to ensure good health is accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic status. Supported by the Massy Foundation, this mission is looking to make significant strides in improving the health of Barbadians across local communities.

The first joint event in a planned series featured a medical team from Ross University and was held at the Church of God, Chelsea Road, Bayland, St. Michael. It provided health checks to a steady stream of clients and recorded their information for evaluation and follow-up. Clients attending the free health clinics are also granted access to the HNI exercise portal via the website https://hnicaribbean.com.

One Family’s Project Officer for Health and Housing, Rondell Trim, said ensuring optimum access to health care was a key pillar underpinning One Family’s mission and a good fit with partners like HNI and Massy Foundation.

“A key pillar underpinning the One Family mission is health. We cater to clients across Barbados who can benefit from access to medical care and support for a healthy lifestyle, and this collaboration ensures that we can bring that medical care into the community. This helps us to eliminate barriers like lack of transportation and mobility issues,” Trim said. He added that One Family sought to deploy additional mobile clinics that could go directly to homes to serve those who couldn’t afford basic medical care and faced barriers to accessing public care.

Sheldon Jones, co-founder and CEO of Healthier Nation Initiative Inc. and Chairman and director of the non-profit HNI Foundation Inc., said the goal was to make healthcare more affordable and healthy lifestyles accessible for people in Barbados and across the Caribbean regardless of their socio-economic status or resources. He said HNI was established in 2020, followed by the HNI Foundation in 2023, to make health care and healthy lifestyles practical, accessible, and sustainable.

“Our core belief is that health should not be tied to economics, so while HNI was focused on cost reduction, we established the Foundation to focus on outreach to communities. One Family knows where the needs are, and their partnership strengthens our community focus.”

“We are also grateful for the support of the Massy Foundation, which, beginning in 2024, committed to over BBD. $80,000 in funding to provide nutritional verified meal bundles to eligible clients to support the diet and nutritional aspects of their health transformation.”

Gillian Corbin, Project Administrator with Massy Foundation (Barbados) Inc., the charitable arm of Massy Stores, Massy Distribution, and Price Lo Supermarket, said they were pleased to address concerns about the impact of poor diet and nutrition on the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly among the youth.

“Health and the environment are a principal focus of the Massy Foundation, and NCD intervention is critical. HNI’s programme working with Ross University and One Family also speaks to our core values of love and care, collaboration, and continuous improvement,” Corbin said. (PR)

Government

New Financing Facility Being Designed To Transition PSVs To Electricity

A new financing facility is being designed to fund the transition of the PSV sector from fossil fuel to electricity.

This disclosure came from Minister of Energy and Business, Senator Lisa Cummins, as she addressed the rebranding ceremony for the newly created Barbados National Energy Company Limited (BNECL), at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre. The Barbados National Oil Company Limited and Barbados National Terminal Company Limited transitioned to this new entity, while the National Petroleum Corporation (NPC) will follow later.

Senator Cummins disclosed that the team from the Ministry of Energy and Business recently met with transport providers to discuss the sector’s transition.

“We have commenced [talks], having received from the Ministry of Finance, in one of those supplementaries that Barbadians don’t always pay attention to at the end of the financial year, the resources…to support the transitioning of the private sector vehicles into electrification.

“Those monies have now been received by FundAccess, and together with FundAccess, the Ministry of Energy team, the Smart Energy Fund and the AOPT and their teams, we are now designing a brand-new facility to finance the transition of the PSV sector into the electric sector,” Senator Cummins told her audience.

She further disclosed that at its meeting last Thursday, Cabinet gave approval for the pre-qualifications process to be launched for the Wind Farm at Lamberts, in St. Lucy.Additionally, she noted that by the end of this week, the public would be updated on the Energy Storage Tariff.

The Minister said Government would be going to the market in another few weeks with a request for proposals for the first tranche of battery energy storage systems.

“We have brought the BNECL into the planning meetings for them, and why? The Government of Barbados has to be an active player in our renewable energy future, and in so doing, I’ve asked the BNECL to be one of the critical partners playing a leadership role in driving battery energy storage solutions across this country, in support of… government-led projects….

“The Government has to begin to support these projects and get them connected to the grid by providing battery energy storage solutions, and the BNECL is meant to be the vehicle to drive that – you are powering our future,” she stressed.

Senator Cummins told the BNECL staff members that they were central to implementing the National Energy Policy and the Energy Transition and Investment Plan. She added that the NPC has an obligation to continue working to build out the natural gas infrastructure, as she pointed out that a lot of detailed work had been done last year with the team.

“And what did that analysis tell us? That there needs to be a capital mains expansion programme throughout the country, and we needed to cost that. The Cabinet has now considered that natural gas expansion programme, and we have committed to go back to Cabinet within a six-month period to roll out a road map for how we can implement it,” she said.

Minister Cummins noted that natural gas exists in the Christ Church and St. Michael corridor, and some places inland, but it was necessary to expand it, so more Barbadians can have access to it. (PR/GIS)

Government

Coleridge & Parry School Wins MIST’s Speak-Off Competition

Minister of Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology, Senator Jonathan Reid, encouraged students participating in the Ministry’s Secondary Schools Science and Technology Speak-Off Competition to be innovative and creative, and not to be afraid to experiment or fail in their endeavours.

The event, which was held separately from the annual Science and Technology Festival for the first time this year, saw students from six schools competing for the coveted MIST Challenge Trophy, at the Courtney Blackman Grand Salle, Tom Adams Financial Centre, Church Village, St. Michael. Those schools were Coleridge and Parry, Harrison College, Princess Margaret, Ellerslie, The Lodge School, and The St. Michael School.

Coleridge and Parry School emerged the winners of the competition and Harrison College copped second place, while Princess Margaret Secondary School came in third position.

“I encourage all of you to be creative, be innovative, to try things, to be brave, and see how to impact the lives around you. It’s important for you to understand that science is not just a distant thing. It doesn’t just exist in books; it’s not foreign. It’s not for other people; it’s for us. It’s every day in Barbados; everything around us, from the lights and the cameras from the desks that you’re sitting at, the chairs you’re sitting in that all have to be designed and created through some means of science and technology, all of it, it’s everywhere.

“So you, too, can shape the future. You just have to be bold… [and] curious. You have to experiment. And in experimenting, you will learn how to try things and if they don’t succeed, try again and learn from failing and try again and go again and shape the future. And that’s key. We are building it together. We are trying new things together, and we won’t always get it right…. That’s what science is all about, experimenting, trying and building,” Mr. Reid told participants.

Students presented on topics such as “The Proliferation of Mobile Apps Has a Profound Impact on Everyday Life”; “AI Holds Tremendous Potential in Healthcare and Personalised Medicine”; “The Environmental Impacts of Microplastics and Food Chains is Staggering and Has Serious Implications for Human Health”; “The Importance of Cybersecurity in Today’s Digital World Cannot Be Overstated”; and “Apart from Solar Energy, We in Barbados and the Caribbean Have Not Embraced Renewable Energy in a Major Way”.

They also received individual prizes such as Most Outstanding Speaker (Prepared Speech), which went to Talisa Boyce from Coleridge and Parry School; Most Outstanding Speaker (Impromptu Speech) – Chelsey Harding from Harrison College; Most Commendable – Daniel Griffith, from The Lodge School; and The Stepping Stones to Excellence Award – Reanna Wray and Kianna Pile, both from The Ellerslie School.

The annual competition aims to develop students’ presentation skills and provide them with an opportunity to present to a live audience. In preparation for the event, students develop a range of skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and research skills as well as examine topical issues within science and technology that address moral and ethical concerns impacting humanity and the environment. (PR/GIS)

Caption: The winning team from the Coleridge and Parry School in this year’s MIST Secondary Schools Science and Technology Speak-Off Competition pose with Science Teacher, D’shauna Marshall