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

Government

Mental Health Workers: Champions Of Change Across Communities

Employees of the Psychiatric Hospital have been urged to see themselves as champions of change across Barbados, to lessen the stigma of mental illness.

This message was conveyed by Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Davidson Ishmael, at the 2025 Employee Rewards and Recognition Ceremony of the Psychiatric Hospital, last Saturday, at Mahogany Ridge, Plum Tree Road, St. James.

Held under the theme Excellence in Healthcare Delivery, the event saw the Minister lauding staff, for “a tremendous job” and encouraging them to continue working to uplift their brothers and sisters, as they daily handle acute cases of mental health.

Mr. Ishmael, who stressed that many people needed an uplifting hand, given the several mental health challenges faced by society, suggested a comforting word or hug, could help bring such persons back from the precipice.

He praised the hospital’s anti-stigma campaign and emphasised it needed to be embraced to break down the mental blockades which lend to persons taking a stand-off approach to mental illness.

The Minister stated: “I want us, as champions of mental health in our country, to see ourselves as bigger than the Psychiatric Hospital and see yourselves as part of the messengers that have to go out there on a daily basis, within your various conversations, …wherever people are….

“Take a moment to encourage those who are around you to take better care of their mental health, so we can avoid, and we can pull back some of this discrimination, some of these unfortunate incidents that we are seeing in our country because we really have to do better in this country, and it begins with all of us.”

He also reminded staff that excellence in mental health required not only clinical knowledge and technical skill, but profound empathy, patience, resilience, and an unwavering belief in human dignity. And Mr. Ishmael stressed it was for this reason several of them were being honoured for consistently demonstrating this belief, not only through words but through action.

“You remind us that compassion is not just a value. It is practice. You are the reason that hope reaches the hopeless, and healing touches the broken,” he stated.

Several staffers received long service awards for having spent 10 to 40 years at the Black Rock, St. Michael institution. Social worker, Cecilia Ramsay received the 40-year award while Senior Nursing Officer, Alfred Alleyne was bestowed the 35-year award. Both were presented by Minister Ishmael.

Three people received the Hospital Director’s Award – Infection Control Officer, Selvin Greenidge; Deputy Principal Nursing Officer, Michelle Moore; and Department Aide, Rodney Stuart. The hospital also recognised its retirees and presented the “Friends of Psychiatric Hospital Award” to four persons – Peter ‘Peter Ram” Wiggins, Geoffrey “Biggie Irie” Cordle, Nikita Herbert, and Faith Callender – for their voluntary service to the institution and championing mental health initiatives. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Senior Nursing Officer at the Psychiatric Hospital, Alfred Alleyne (right), is presented with the 35-year award by Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Davidson Ishmael at the hospital’s awards ceremony last Saturday.

Government

EDMUND HINKSON RESIGNS

Speaker of the House of Assembly The Hon Arthur Holder shortly after the sitting began today read a letter of resignation submitted by the Hon. Edmund Hinkson representative for St. James North.

The letter stated ‘In accordance with Section 45 (1) b of the Constitution of Barbados, I hereby give notice that I shall resign from the Parliament of Barbados a the Member for the Constituency of St. James North effective Friday April 25th, April, 2025 at 10am.

Government

Prime Minister Mottley Pays Tribute To Pope Francis

The world today feels like a lonely place with the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis. For me, Pope Francis was the beacon of global moral strategic leadership.

I confess that it was Pope Francis’ writings and teachings that guided and inspired me through the dark and desolate days of the COVID-19 pandemic, as I worked with others to lead Barbados through that period of grave uncertainty. He was, in every sense, my hero.

I was later humbled to have spent time with him late last year, where he reinforced in me the importance of always aligning our hearts, our heads, and our hands with our faith – to see, hear, and feel all people, so that we may help them, and to protect our planet.

His voice comforted and inspired many. His hands led him to places where others dared not go, and His heart knew no boundaries. His humour and his laughter were not only infectious but calming.

Let us, each and every day, see, hear, and feel people—to fight the globalisation of indifference. In so doing, we will walk the road he paved tirelessly to the very end of his life.

If we dare to live with heart, to serve with courage, humility, and to love without borders—then Pope Francis still walks among us.

May His soul forever rest in peace. (PR/GIS)