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‘Gran’ Is Happy To Have Strength At 100

Celebrating her birthday on October 8, 2024, was one of Barbados’ newest centenarians, Muriel Walker, who was joined at her residence in McClean’s Gap, Britton’s Cross Road, St. Michael, by family members and close friends.

The President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason was one of her specially invited guests.

Mrs. Walker shared with Her Excellency that she is “happy ”, and attributed her happiness to having “the strength to welcome, to say hello”, noting that “not too many people make this journey”.

The centenarian, who has a deep trust in God, believes that people are worrying too much, and this can affect their longevity. Mrs. Walker admitted that she faced several challenges growing up, and in those days, “it was not a nice time”. Noting that one had to have “a set mind”, she said: “Young people have to set their mind to be somebody or to be nobody.”

She also stressed the need to enjoy life and to always be truthful, cautioning that when it comes to the truth, we should always be prepared to prove it. “You can’t always be on your guard, live a life… ya got to show that ya telling the truth,” she said.

Mrs. Walker also shared that individuals need to take charge of their lives and not watch what others are doing or gaining. “You have to get a grab of your life, not ‘she’ life or ‘he’ life, you(r) own life and decide what you can make out of your life,” she pointed out.

As part of his tribute to his mother, Hugh Walker, the centenarian’s only child, shared that his mother instilled in him good morals and the need for a good education. Mr. Walker remarked: “If it is one thing that mum always made sure of, that she impressed on me, ‘always get a good education’, and to be strong and truthful and to live life in a positive manner.”

Born in Josey Hill, St. Lucy, Mrs. Walker, attended St. Clements School, St Lucy, and later, Speightstown Girls School. As a result of her large family, she was invited by a family friend to stay with the family as they had no children. During her stay with that family, she performed many domestic duties for the family.

After school, she became a domestic for several families until she met and married Harold DaCosta Walker (now deceased) and they eventually settled down in the current location of the family home in McClean’s Gap, Britton’s Cross Road, St. Michael.

While married, Mrs. Walker remained at home and raised their only child. She took the initiative and converted some land next to the house into a kitchen garden, to help feed the family and to earn some money. Some of the produce included bananas, plantains, sugar apples, pumpkins, passion fruit, green peas, and avocado.

*President of Barbados, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, presents centenarian Muriel Walker with a bouquet on her 100th birthday.*

The centenarian was very active in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, at Collymore Rock, St. Michael, and earned a licence to preach. She served as President of the Women’s Association and was appointed as a Church Missionary.

Mrs. Walker was instrumental in raising funds for the Church to assist with the building and general maintenance. She was happy to be able to show the awards and certificates of appreciation she received due to her work at the Church.

While not as physically active as before, Mrs. Walker continues to engage with her friends and family. She listens intently to church services and receives communion at home.

The centenarian enjoys eating everything, strives to be as independent as possible, and turns to her caregivers only when necessary.

When Dame Sandra inquired about how she would spend the rest of her day, Mrs. Walker replied: “Enjoy you all’s company, get something to eat and go and lie down and sleep and when I wake up, I [will] pray.”

Dame Sandra presented the centenarian with a bouquet of flowers, a bottle of non-alcoholic wine and a personalised card. She thanked Dame Sandra for the gifts, and at the flowers, she remarked: “They are pretty…. This is my joy.”

At the end of her visit, Her Excellency said: “It has been a pleasure being here and I want you to enjoy the rest of your day… Thank you all for having me and it has been a beautiful morning. I thoroughly enjoyed it and please continue to take good care of her, she is a treasure.”

Mrs. Walker has one living sibling, a son, and one granddaughter

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Minister Humphrey Leads Social Dialogue On Behalf Of Caribbean Region

Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey, delivered powerful remarks on social development at the 40th Session of Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean(ECLAC) held in Lima Peru, from October 9 to 11, 2024.

The agenda focused on the identification of strategies to address impediments to the achievement of sustainable development in the region.

The meeting was intended to stimulate discussion and solutions in four key areas of development: productive development, inequality and social inclusion, sustainability, and financing for development. It was notable for the official launch of the ECLAC document “Development Traps in Latin America and the Caribbean: Vital Transformations and How to Manage Them”.

Mr. Humphrey, in his address on the topic “How to reduce inequality and foster inclusion and social mobility”, noted the redoubled efforts of ECLAC to include the Caribbean in meaningful dialogue.

He also lauded the renewal and increased stridency of Caribbean SIDS voices in international financial and development forums such as ECLAC’s.

The Minister also highlighted the need for the region to create an enabling environment to spur national and regional development characterised by relevant, fit for purpose institutions that reflect our respective capacities.

Mr. Humphrey warned against the phenomenon of “isomorphic mimicry”, where institutions are created to address problems but are not endowed with the resources or capacity to fulfil their mandate, thus being doomed to failure.

While addressing the matter of persistent inequality, the Minister identified the recent historic trajectory of development in the region, recalling the progression from agricultural-based societies to the emphasis in the English-speaking Caribbean on a services-based economic model.

In noting this, Mr. Humphrey remarked that the region became so good at the provision of services that the goal posts were moved despite the fact that we were ‘playing by the rules’ of the international financial regime.

He posited that the constant framing and reframing of the global financial rules continues to stymie the abilities of the region to achieve fundamental and sustainable development for its citizens.

The Elder Affairs Minister acknowledged the efforts of Barbados and other English-speaking Caribbean countries to frontally address inequality in their societies noting substantial and continuing investments in public goods citing Health, Education, National Insurance, Social Protection and progressive taxation policies, even in the face of low levels of regional and international economic growth.

While noting these are vital yet insufficient efforts, Minister Humphrey exhorted the international financial and development community to reshape their operations and take full cognizance of the existential realities of the Caribbean and other Small Island Development States. (PR/GIS)

CAPTION: Minister of People Empowerment & Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey (centre), speaking at the 40th Session of Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) held in Lima Peru recently

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New Lawyers Admitted To The Bar

Important amendments to the Legal Professions Act have been sent to the Barbados Bar Association by the Law Reform Commission for review.

Attorney General Dale Marshall shared this news today as he addressed the hearing for admission of 53 lawyers to practise law in Barbados, in Court Number 1, Supreme Court Complex, Whitepark Road, St. Michael.

Mr. Marshall urged that the consultative process be completed soon, so officials could move to the next level.

He said over the years, the law profession had been criticised by some members of the public and it was necessary to erase that stain.

“Lawyers have always been maligned. More often than not, unfairly so. But well publicised incidents involving attorneys and their handling of client’s money, generally involving jail terms, have served to even further cement the perception commonly held that lawyers are dishonest.

“Three or four bad apples have tainted the reputation of a profession that currently has over 1,000 practitioners in this island. We have to erase that taint; all of us,” he stressed.

The Attorney General expressed regret that some lawyers had become known for not working on their clients matters with dispatch. He reminded the new lawyers that the interest of the client is paramount.

“You are engaged to provide a service to a client. For that service, you are entitled to a fair fee, nothing more. You serve the client, and you must do so to the best of your ability. And if you cannot handle a matter, be courageous enough to admit that it is beyond your skill set and either ask the client to go elsewhere, or seek advice from an attorney who has those skills. Your client is important; your interests are entirely secondary,” he indicated.

Noting that a varied group of people had been admitted to the bar today, he pointed out that very few had expressed a willingness to practise criminal law. He said over the years, the judges had bemoaned the “very evident” unwillingness to practise criminal law.

“I urge that more of you consider the practice of law on the criminal side. We have invested large amounts of public funds in increasing the number of Criminal Courts from two just six years ago to eight, today. We have also increased the number of prosecutors in the DPP’s Office by more than 100 per cent. We now hope to see an increase in the number of persons practising,” Mr. Marshall said. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Front row, left to right – Solicitor General Anika Jackson; Attorney General Dale Marshall; Chief Justice, Leslie Haynes; and Bar Association President, Kaye Williams, pose with the new lawyers on the steps of the Supreme Court of Barbados.

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Barbados To Mark International Day Of The Girl

Barbados will lend its voice to the issues impacting girls, when it joins with the UNICEF Eastern Caribbean Area Office, UN Women, and USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean Office to mark International Day of the Girl, today Friday, October 11.

The day is considered a significant global occasion to celebrate girls worldwide, amplify their voices, and advocate for their rights.

To commemorate the day, the three entities will host an #Activate Talk discussion featuring young people from Barbados and across the Eastern Caribbean. It will take place at the UN House, Marine Gardens, today from 10:00 to 11:15 a.m.

Director of the Child Care Board, Roseann Richards, will deliver remarks on behalf of Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey, as well as participate in the session.

The theme for International Day of the Girl is “Girls’ Vision for the Future”, and it is deemed relevant in light of the recent Eastern Caribbean U-Report poll, which underscored concerns about girls’ rights and experiences of sexual harassment and abuse. (PR/GIS)