Government

Enhanced Public Awareness Campaign For SDGs

A more robust public education campaign will soon be undertaken in Barbados, with respect to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This assurance came recently from Project Coordinator in the SDGs Unit in the Prime Minister’s Office, Krystal Yearwood, at the end of the National Consultation on the Identification of Priority Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Indicators for Barbados, hosted at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre (LESC), Two Mile Hill, St. Michael.

The Consultation was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment, the Prime Minister’s Office, the United Nations Population Fund and the Joint SDGs Fund.

During an interview with the Barbados Government Information Service, Ms. Yearwood noted that the campaign would focus on the goals and the significance of these to the “average man”.

Elaborating, she stated: “When we hear about the Sustainable Development Goals, we think about it as just the global aspect; but what people really want to know is how do these goals relate to me.

“What sustainable development means for us, for example, is ensuring that we have sustainable and affordable housing for people, and it means ensuring that our physical ecosystems, such as our gullies and coral reefs, are protected. It also means that we’re able to make our social protection programmes more tailored to the needs of the vulnerable, and sustainable development encompasses all these components. In order to ensure that this is understood across the length and breadth of Barbados, public education will be a part of our next steps going forward.”

“What sustainable development means for us, for example, is ensuring that we have sustainable and affordable housing for people, and it means ensuring that our physical ecosystems, such as our gullies and coral reefs, are protected.” – Project Coordinator in the SDGs Unit in the Prime Minister’s Office, Krystal Yearwood

Ms. Yearwood also pointed out that a consultancy team is being led by Dr. Dion Greenidge, who was engaged under the UN Joint SDG Fund entitled, Integrated Population Data and Policy Solutions to Accelerate SDGs Achievement in Barbados and Montserrat.

She added that Dr. Greenidge and his team are currently working on a baseline study to show exactly where Barbados is with regard to specific SDGs indicator data collection and will make recommendations on how to improve data collection across the sustainable development goals indicators.

Explaining the importance of this, the SDG Project Coordinator stressed: “If the data is not being collected, the consultants will recommend how best we can go about collecting that data. Once we have that information, then we’re able to present it to the relevant stakeholders within government, and use it to make informed decisions, and to decide how we will move forward as a country to achieve the goals.”

During the stakeholder engagement at the LESC, Ms. Yearwood shared that the participants had identified a priority list of indicators based on the SDG pillars – people, prosperity, planet, peace and partnerships.

Adding that the priority list of indicators is still being fine-tuned, Ms. Yearwood stressed that the realisation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 required a “whole of government effort and a whole of society approach”. (PR/GIS)

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)