Government

Barbados & Togo Keen On Developing Partnerships

Barbados is keen to develop a mutually beneficial relationship with the West African country Togo through public and private sector partnerships in areas such as business, tourism, and culture.

Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment, Senator Chad Blackman, disclosed the areas of possible partnerships with the Mayor of Agoé-Nyivé 1, Akoeté Adanbounou, during a media briefing yesterday at the Ministry’s Third Floor East, Warrens Office Complex, Warrens, St. Michael location.

Minister Blackman noted that the Togolese delegation arrived on the island on Sunday, February 23, and this was a reciprocal visit following one last year by a delegation from Barbados to Togo, headed by Minister Blackman, and officials from Invest Barbados, including Chief Executive Officer, Kaye-Anne Greendige.

He said although there are formalised diplomatic relations at the government level, the real focus of the partnership will be on unlocking tangible benefits for citizens.

The Minister pointed out that the visit is aimed at exploring ways to make a Barbados-Togo partnership a reality. The focus will be on facilitating cargo transport and commerce between Barbados and Togo; investigating the regulations and policies needed to address and unlock partnerships; discussing the potential for tourism and cultural exchange between the two regions; and identifying opportunities to expand the relationship beyond just economic ties, such as in education and innovation.

“The purpose of it (visit) also this week is to explore how we can now build out, particularly for our business sector in Barbados, what are the opportunities Togo can present for our business sector, and by business sector, I don’t only mean the traditional aspect of business where we mean to establish companies, but also our young entrepreneurs must see this as an opportunity for them to be able to tap into the fast-growing economy that is Togo,” Senator Blackman said.

He added: “Now is the time for us to really rekindle our lineage with Africa. Not only in an emotional sentiment because of course that is where we are from, but now do it in a way that brings tremendous success and opportunity to Barbadians and equally on the reverse side to Togolese. And how do we build that out? Through partnerships and technical cooperation where necessary.”

Senator Blackman indicated that Togo is moving towards being a “smart city” with smart manufacturing, with advanced infrastructure and is home to the largest port in West Africa, the capital Lomé, which boasts state-of-the-art facilities.

“Togo has the largest port in West Africa…. They can clear their cargo from the ship to the actual customer in 12 minutes. So, these are the sorts of skill sets that we have to now leverage with Togo,” he said.

Mayor Adanbounou stressed that the visit is important for developing partnerships that would be advantageous to both parties.

“So, our visit … to you is to continue the discussions following up from last year. We have our technical persons from the technical branches of Togo Invest and Invest Barbados [and] we are going to discuss seriously how this dream can become a reality,” Mr. Adanbounou said.

Also present for the briefing was Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Patrick McCaskie; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Invest Barbados, Kaye-Anne Greenidge; and from Togo, Second Deputy to the Mayor, Limazie Peyebinesso; Chief Executive Officer of Togo Invest, Ekue Mivedor; Economic Assistant to the Mayor, Maza Halo Gnassingbe; and Athiel Greenidge, a Barbadian with business ventures in Togo. (PR/GIS)

Government

Attorney-At-Law Sandra Rawlins Is New Public Counsel

Attorney-at-law Sandra Rawlins is the new Public Counsel in the Office of Public Counsel, Ministry of Energy and Business.

Ms. Rawlins was appointed on promotion to the position with effect from April 15, 2025.

The new Public Counsel said she was grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Barbados and promised to do her best along with her staff, to protect consumers’ rights and advocate for them in accordance with the law.

“My immediate plans for the organisation are to handle consumer complaints expeditiously; to have a website set up before the end of this financial year; and to continue our programme of education to consumers and suppliers,” she shared.

Prior to this appointment, she acted as Deputy Solicitor General with responsibility for Contracts and International Law, in the Solicitor General’s Chambers for about two and a half years.

Ms. Rawlins was called to the Bar in Barbados in 2006, after successfully completing the Legal Education Certificate at the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago. She has a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom, and a Master of Laws from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, in Corporate and Commercial Law.

Since 2007, she stated, she “has gained valuable legal experience, including litigation”, while working in the Solicitor General’s Chambers. In 2017 and 2018, Ms. Rawlins briefly served as an acting Magistrate in the District A (Criminal Court) and District C Magistrate’s Court.

Before entering the legal profession, Ms. Rawlins was a graduate teacher at two secondary schools, having joined the Barbados Public Service in September 1984. (PR/GIS)

Government

Chad Blackman Sworn In At State House

Minister of Educational Transformation, Chad Blackman, was today sworn in as a Member of the Cabinet and Member of Parliament by The President of Barbados, Her Excellency The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, at State House.

After the brief swearing-in ceremony, Dame Sandra congratulated Mr. Blackman, who is the new Member of Parliament for St. James North.

The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley; Deputy Prime Minister, Santia Bradshaw; Attorney General Dale Marshall; Senior Ministers Kerrie Symmonds and Dr. William Duguid; other ministers; and Mr. Blackman’s parents Delvin and Jacqueline Blackman, among others.

Ms. Mottley congratulated the new Minister and lauded some of his attributes. She thanked Mr. Blackman “for his extraordinary humility, commitment to people, discipline and willingness to engage persons at all levels….

“I ask only that you remain humble, … [and] committed to serving the people of Barbados”, she urged.

Additionally, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the Minister’s parents, saying that over the years, he had set a fine example in being committed to serving at all levels.

Ms. Mottley said a vacancy now existed in the Senate Chambers and a new Senator would be announced shortly.

Meanwhile, Mr. Blackman thanked the Prime Minister for again reposing confidence in him and allowing him to serve in the Cabinet.

He continued: “I commit to working to ensure that the country’s educational transformational journey is one that, of course, is exciting, but equally rooted in understanding where we have to go, bearing in mind the nuances that we have as a country to take into consideration, as the global community that we operate under constantly changes.

“And, therefore, we have to change and adapt to it, equally putting Bajan values and ideas to the fore because the world must benefit from the intellectual capacity that we have in Barbados.”

Mr. Blackman said he was again looking forward to serving at the ministerial level and promised to continue working on behalf of the people of Barbados. (PR/GIS)

CAPTION: Minister of Educational Transformation, Chad Blackman, is congratulated by parents Delvin and Jacqueline Blackman, at State House

Government

CHAD BLACKMAN TO BE SWORN IN TODAY

Chad Blackman is set to be sworn in on Thursday as the new Member of Parliament for St James North, following a resounding win in Wednesday’s by-election. Representing the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), Blackman captured 84 per cent of the vote.

He secured 2,723 of the 3,231 ballots cast, leaving his nearest challenger, Felicia Dujon of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), far behind with 468 votes. Steffanie Williams of the Community Empowerment Party received 21 votes, while Alex Mitchell of the Bajan Free Party garnered seven. A total of 12 ballots were rejected.

With just over 8,500 registered voters in the constituency, the turnout stood at approximately 38 per cent.

When asked about how he felt after securing victory, Blackman said he was humbled, adding, “I see this, yes, as a victory, but now the real hard work begins. I made a lot of commitments to the people of St James North and, of course, the people of Barbados, and it’s really now to get on to the business of work.”