Brief

Gender-Based Violence Workplace Policy Making Progress

Another progressive step towards addressing violence and harassment in the world of work was taken on Wednesday with the launch of the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Workplace Policy Implementation Spotlight Project.

The launch ceremony, at Ocean 2 Beach Club and Spa, Christ Church, saw the signing of a declaration by eight local and regional companies that will aid Phase 2 of the project being undertaken by the Caribbean Employers Confederation (CEC), through funding from The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the European Union (EU).

The signing of the declaration was welcomed by Minister of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector, Colin Jordan, who stressed that it represented progress. Acknowledging that Barbados was working to root out GBV because it was the right thing to do, he said: “If societies are to thrive, there must be respect for human rights. Preventing and responding to violence and harassment must be treated as a matter that addresses human rights, justice and equality.”

Minister Jordan also noted that violence and harassment in the workplace could be very impactful. “Violence and harassment in the world of work and at work … causes harm to individuals, families, businesses and to the wider society. It affects people’s lives, dignity, self-esteem health and wellbeing.

“It also worsens inequality in societies and undermines business productivity. There should be no place for and no tolerance for violence and harassment,” he stated.

Disclosing that more than one in five persons in employment had experienced violence and harassment at work, whether physical, psychological or sexual, he opined that to address the scourge effectively, it was necessary to know and recognise its prevalence.

The Labour Minister encouraged employers to use the policy as a guide to develop strong workplace policies on GBV, and to do so taking into context national laws and regulations and the nature of organisations. He further noted that employers have a moral and ethical responsibility to create a safe and inclusive workplace for all employees, and having a GBV policy demonstrates commitment and builds a positive image for companies’ willingness to address challenging issues.

Meanwhile, UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Didier Trebucq, in expressing appreciation to Barbados and the other partners for their support and funding of the initiative, said: “As we see women and girls experiencing violence in private and public spaces, GBV has long been advocated as a public issue, and considering the amount of time we all spend in the workforce, we cannot allow the workplace to be an exception to this.

“This is why I want to commend the Barbados Government, and particularly Minister Colin Jordan, for his leadership, on the ratification last year of the ILO Convention 190 to ensure that the work place is free of violence and harassment. This is a major breakthrough for Barbados. Barbados was the second country in the Caribbean to ratify this Convention last year.”

The UN Resident Coordinator also acknowledged that working with companies to implement policies could fulfil the goal of ensuring a safe workplace for everyone. And, he added: “With the 2023 global SDG Summit less than a week away in New York, this is welcomed progress on our work to end gender-based violence in the region and achieving the SDGs for people everywhere.”

The workplace policy on GBV encompasses ILO standards and global best practices. It offers a proposed minimum standard for addressing GBV at work but also in the world of work. The development of the policy, as the first phase of the initiative, saw input provided from a wide cross-section of companies and trade unions across the region. The second phase will focus on the implementation of the policy by participating companies across the region. (PR/GIS)

Brief

Traffic Changes Around Kensington Oval On Cricket Match Days

Members of the public are advised that traffic changes have been put in place for Kensington Oval and its environs on the match days of the ICC Cricket Men’s T20 World Cup.

The Traffic Control (ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies, 2024) Rules, 2024, explain that “match day” means the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 20th, 21st, 23rd, and 29th of June, which are the dates matches are scheduled to be played at Kensington Oval.

However, where matches cannot be played on the specified dates above, there are alternative dates of the 3rd, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 22nd, 24th, 25th, and 30th June, as the case may be. The traffic changes on match days, from 6:00 a.m. to midnight, are as follows:

Fontabelle Road from its junction with H. Jason Jones Complex to its junction with President Kennedy Drive, St. Michael, will be closed to all vehicular traffic.
Kensington New Road, from its junction with Baxters Road to its junction with Fontabelle Road will be a one-way road, with all vehicular traffic travelling in the direction of Baxters Road.
President Kennedy Drive from its junction with Westbury Road to its junction with Fontabelle Road will be closed to all vehicular traffic.
No person shall park any motor vehicle along Princess AIice Highway from its junction with Cowell Street to its junction with Harbour Road.
Pickwick Gap from its junction with Fontabelle Road to its junction with Westbury Road will be closed to all vehicular traffic, except for a motor vehicle displaying a motor vehicle access pass issued by the Barbados Local Organising Committee.
All vehicular traffic travelling along the Mighty Grynner Highway towards its junction with Holborn Circle will be diverted right only onto Prescod Boulevard Road.
No vehicular traffic will be allowed to turn left onto President Kennedy Drive or to proceed onto Fontabelle Road.
No driver or other person in charge of a motor vehicle shall park or allow the motor vehicle to remain stationary on the following roads or adjoining footpaths in St. Michael, except to pick up or set down passengers. Those roads are:
- Fontabelle Road from its junction with Lakes Folly to its junction with President Kennedy Drive
- Pickwick Gap from its junction with Westbury Road to the entrance of Kensington Oval
- Westbury Road from its junction with President Kennedy Drive to its junction with Baxters Road
- President Kennedy Drive from its junction with Richmond Gap to its junction with Fontabelle Road
- Cheapside Road
- Literary Road
- Redman Drive
- Lakes Folly
- Prescod Boulevard
- Princess Alice Highway
- Harbour Road
- Baxters Road
- Kensington New Road
- 10th Avenue, New Orleans
- Richmond Gap
- Passage Road
- Barbarees Hill Road
- Country Road
- Roebuck Street from its junction with Country Road to its junction with the James A. Tudor Roundabout
- Halls Road
- Belmont Road
- Martindale’s Road
- Eagle Hall Road
- Bank Hall Cross Road
- Bank Hall Main Road
- Mighty Grynner Highway, and
- Highway 1 from its junction with Holders Hill to its junction with Tudor Bridge.

Drivers of motor vehicles, pedestrians, riders, or leaders of animals using any of the above-mentioned roads during the times specified in the traffic rules are urged to exercise caution and comply with any order given by a member of The Barbados Police Service in uniform.

Any person who contravenes the traffic rules or fails to comply with any order given by a member of The Barbados Police Service in uniform commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $500, or imprisonment for three months, or both.

These rules do not apply to vehicles used by The Barbados Police Service, the Barbados Defence Force, the Barbados Fire Service, an ambulance service, or any other emergency service. (PR/GIS)

Brief

Barbados’ New Ambassador To Cuba Presents Credentials

Barbados’ new Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba, Dr. Sharon Marshall, presented her Copy of Letters of Credentials to the Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister, Josefina Vidal, on Monday, April 29, 2024.

Ambassador Marshall succeeds Philip St. Hill, following his recent retirement from the Foreign Service.

During the meeting, Dr. Marshall said it was a great honour to represent Barbados in her mother’s birthplace. She also reiterated Barbados’ commitment to cooperating with Cuba, in particular in the areas of health, education, tourism, environment, and agriculture.

Minister Vidal expressed Cuba’s willingness to further strengthen bilateral relations and promote exchanges in all sectors of common interest.

Cuba and Barbados have maintained ties of solidarity, respect and cooperation since the establishment of diplomatic relations in December 1972. (PR/GIS)

Brief

HALO AROUND THE SUN YESTERDAY

All eyes were fixed to the sky yesterday as Barbadians witnessed a rare optical phenomenon called a halo that appeared around the sun. The Barbados Meteorological Office explained that is was simply a ring of light that forms around the sun or moon as either of them retracts off ice crystals present in a thin layer of cirrus clouds. A halo is usually a bright white ring but it can have colours just as was visible yesterday.