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GHANIAN NURSES ARRIVE

More than 100 nurses from the Republic o Ghana arrived this morning on a two year contract to enhance the complement of nurses in Barbados.

Welcome party including Mrs. Juliet Bynoe Sutherland along with Kwesi Asabir and Felix Nyante of the Republic of Ghana

During a press briefing this morning the group was welcomed by Mrs Juliet Bynoe Sutherland of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) as well as from the Republic of Ghana, Kwesi Asabir, Director Human Resources, Ministry of Health, Felix Nyante, Head of the Health and Training Institute and Ernestin Boakye-Yiadom Projects and Events Office. Mrs Juliet Bynoe Sutherland in welcoming the delegation and the contingent of nurses told the press that from the group of nurses 56 will be assigned to the QEH and 66 will be assigned to the polyclinics, psychiatric and geriatric hospitals under the Ministry of Health.

Dr Asabir stated that Ghana has had a strategic plan to train nurses, producing 20,000 nurses annually however recognising that they are unable to consume such numbers they have embarked on a programme to provide assistance to countries. That assistance is in the area of providing health care services, exporting some of the nurses abroad. Barbados through its Prime Minister has been the first country to receive a cohort of nurses. Stressing that covid has taught that the world is a global village where countries who have share their skills with those who have little or are in need the Republic of Ghanian please to enter this arrangement with the country of Barbados.

Felix Nyante in speaking to the media stated that he wanted to assure Barbadians that the nurses are well trained, have followed global and International standards and are well equipped and trained to carry out for their functions.

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Ecumenical Service For Legal Year 2024-2025 Next Monday

The Ecumenical Service to mark the commencement of the Legal Year 2024-2025 will be held at the Cathedral Church of St. Michael & All Angels, St. Michael’s Row, The City, on Monday, September 16, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

Justices of Appeal, Judges of the High Court, Masters of the High Court, Magistrates, and Legal Practitioners are expected to be in attendance.

Jurors and other members of the public are encouraged to attend the service and to be seated by 8:30 a.m.

Meanwhile, the public is also advised that the High Court and the Magistrates’ Courts will sit at 1:00 p.m., on September 16. (PR/GIS)

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NCSA Celebrates Campers at Project S.O.F.T. Camp Graduation

The National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA) proudly hosted the graduation ceremony of its 22^nd annual Project S.O.F.T. (Safeguarding Our Future Today) camp on Saturday September 7^th, 2024, celebrating over 40 new graduates. This transformative programme, which aims to prepare young people transitioning from primary to secondary school, continues to be a vital part of NCSA’s commitment to substance abuse prevention and youth development.

Chairman of the NCSA, Mr. Hadford Howell in his address, praised both the camp staff and participants for their hard work and dedication. He emphasized that while the programme’s name might imply softness, the work required is anything but soft. He remarked, “There is nothing SOFT about this long-standing and commendable NCSA programme. The work put in by camp staff and the children is HARD but rewarding.”

Since its inception in 2002, Project S.O.F.T. has impacted the lives of over 700 young people and their families in Barbados. In this year’s camp, participants engaged in drug education, team-building exercises, and life skills development, all designed to help them navigate the new challenges they will face in secondary school.

In his inspiring message to the graduates, the Chairman likened them to pearls—precious and valuable, offering advice using the acronym “PEARL” encouraging them to resist Peer Pressure, to draw on their families Experiences, to be Ambitious, to be Responsible and to Listen, Learn, Lead and Love as they move forward in life.

The NCSA continues to play a significant role in shaping young lives through Project S.O.F.T., and the organization looks forward to seeing the future success of its graduates. “Who knows,” the chairman added, “perhaps in a few years, you will come back to help us by being a counsellor at a Project S.O.F.T. camp.” (PR)

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CHILDREN TREATED TO A DAY OF FUN

Some of the children receiving their back to school goody bags from BNOCL CEO, James Browne and Tradewind Tankers represented, Mikel Juan Panek

Over 300 children in Barbados enjoyed a day of fun and excitement at the recent Back-to-School Giveaway sponsored by Tradewind Tankers and the Barbados National Oil Company (BNOCL). The free event featured a variety of activities as well as free school supplies, food and drinks,

Tradewind Tankers, a shipping firm that operates and owns a diverse fleet of oil/chemical tankers and dry bulk carriers is a vendor of BNOCL, was eager to give back to the Barbadian community in a meaningful way. The company’s involvement in the Back-to-School Giveaway was a testament to its commitment to corporate social responsibility.

“We were thrilled to be a part of this wonderful event,” said Mikel Panek from Tradewind Tankers. “It was an opportunity for us to make a positive impact on the lives of young people in Barbados.”

Samantha Hazlewood-Ermay, Marketing & Public Relations Officer at BNOCL, expressed her satisfaction with the event’s success. “The Back-to-School Giveaway was a wonderful experience for everyone involved,” she said. “The children were overjoyed to receive school supplies and enjoy the festivities, and we were delighted to be able to support local small businesses as well.”

BNOCL and Tradewind Tankers are already looking forward to hosting a similar event next year, providing even more opportunities for Barbadian children to benefit from their generosity. (PR)