Government

Country Assessment Of Living Conditions Starts In July

Barbados’ true poverty line should be known by January 2025, thanks to the information that will be gained from the Country Assessment of Living Conditions (CALC) 2024, a socio-economic study that will be undertaken over the next six months.

Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey, revealed this yesterday as he launched CALC 2024, at the Warrens Office Complex, Warrens, St. Michael.

Pointing out that the CALC project will empower lives and the nation as a whole, he stressed it was essential to understand ordinary people and ordinary living in the country while also urging Barbadians to participate in the study to be rolled out in July, by the CALC National Assessment Team in his Ministry.

Noting that such a study needed to be done more frequently, as the “spaces in between studies” have “been too long”, Minister Humphrey lamented that data is often unavailable in Barbados and the region.

“Caribbean countries have a history and a very unfortunate record of not having adequate data. There is a dearth of important information on a lot of important topics, and therefore decisions can’t be made. And then when we’re being assessed, we assess on the information that people do not have,” he stated.

The last survey of living conditions was done in 2016. Commenting on this gap, Mr. Humphrey added: “We do not know what it will tell us now, but we do know that we need to know so that we can make informed decisions. I also must say to you that in the intervening years, I have had some concerns that, while perhaps we pursue the information, that a lot of the data that should be used to make decisions are not used to make decisions. Caribbean governments are very good at collecting information sometimes, and not doing anything with it.

Giving the assurance that the information from CALC 2024, would not be “stored on a shelf to gather dust” but would be used to make serious decisions going forward, he stressed: “I also hold the view, having said that we have to do that, it cannot be a kind of made-up conjecture, gut feeling, interpretation of the reality. We need scientific, evidence-based interpretations of people’s realities and to be able to express that as a true representation of what it is that people are dealing with in this country.”

Thirty-five enumerators will be conducting the survey across Barbados, which will help Government assess the living conditions of its people and come up with a poverty line by next year.

Minister Humphrey, while acknowledging that people seem tired of surveys, urged the public to cooperate, be “nice” and respond “with grace” as the country works towards improving the lives of people.

The Country Assessment of Living Conditions 2024 will target some 2,800 households. It is expected to help Government determine the minimum income a household needs to meet its basic consumption and non-consumption needs and understand the dynamic link between poor living conditions and education, health, household size, and employment.

It will also encapsulate the voices of citizens and take on board their recommendations to improve living conditions and allow Barbados to track progress towards national-level goals and international social development agreements, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

CALC 2024 is being undertaken with technical assistance from the Caribbean Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. It comprises four major components – the Participatory Poverty Assessment; the Survey of Living Conditions; the Institutional Assessment; and the Macro-Economic and Social Assessment. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey (second from left) greets Caribbean Development Bank Division Chief, Dr. Martin Baptiste, at the launch of CALC 2024, at the Warren’s Office Complex yesterday. Looking on is Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Jehu Wiltshire and Chief of Operations Officer for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean at the Inter-American Development Bank, Jean-Eric Theinhardt.

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)