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Call For More To Be Done To Assist Vulnerable Persons

Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey, is calling for more to be done this year with respect to issues related to persons with disabilities, the elderly, gender, and children, although he is pleased with the progress made over the last two years.

Mr. Humphrey made this clear last week, as he addressed the start of the public lecture entitled This Is My Story, delivered by Senator Andwele Boyce, at the Grande Salle, Tom Adams Financial Centre, Church Village, St. Michael.

Urging those gathered to become partners with the Ministry as it tries to push for change, he outlined how this was going to be very important in 2024.

“The truth is that we still have a fight because a number of our employees do not want to hire persons with disabilities. Our policy recommends a quota that persons should have to hire, but we know that persons should be able to do that of their own free choice.

“And, we would rather have like voluntary compliance than be forcing persons to be able to do that. But hopefully, these are the kinds of things we need … and I look forward to what this year has in store for all of us and I look forward to having a better Barbados for persons with disabilities,” he said.

While also listing some achievements over the period, Minister Humphrey stated: “I believe that we have done, now, a policy on perhaps all the important things in the Ministry – disabilities, the elderly, gender, and children. We are working on the legislation…. We’ve done all of that important work, and…now there’s more conversation…. You know, we’ve just finished the Budget, and the Estimates Debate, and for the first time, I think you’re getting more conversation around social issues than you actually are around the economics of the Budget.

“And even though we may have differing views, the fact is that people are talking about it [social issues]. And that, in itself, I think is a victory because people were not talking about these issues in a central way for a very long time.”

Mr. Humphrey also expressed satisfaction with the work done earlier by the team, led by Chair of the Advisory Committee on Disabilities, Edmund Hinkson, that began “the conversation to look into the rights and improving the lives of persons with disabilities”. He noted that the draft legislation was now with the Chief Parliamentary Counsel and should soon be debated in Parliament, this year.

He further pointed out that persons with disabilities stood to benefit from the increase in the Budget, in terms of access to the National Insurance Scheme.

“We’ve given it to more people. Fifty per cent for children now; autism is going to be able to access it and persons with Down Syndrome. In fact, any person who’s severely disabled is going to be able to access that financing…. I just feel like we’re doing a lot of good things,” he shared.

However, the Minister noted that beyond all the statistics, policies, programmes, and numbers, it was necessary to hear the story of a person with a disability.

Referring to Senator Boyce’s presentation, Mr. Humphrey stressed: “I think what is going to drive policy and what’s going to drive change and what’s going to move the hearts of people, is actually the story – the authentic, genuine story of a person who has lived a life with a disability and who can share that perspective, in an honest, open way.

“And that is what this session is really about. And I believe when this story is properly told it will move the audience, but it will allow us to move policy. And those of us who have very good stories inside of us, which I really believe is all of us, we are duty bound to share those stories with the next generation, so that they can understand the struggle. But more importantly, so that they become part of the process of change. And, I believe that in listening to Andwele tonight, we will be in a position to better do that.” (PR/GIS)

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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