Chief Education Officer, Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, believes that the Wizdom CRN Sustainable Stock Market Game has united secondary school students across the region on the goal of financial literacy, and will help to create global citizens.

Dr. Archer-Bradshaw was speaking at the recent inaugural awards ceremony for the competition, at the Ministry of Educational Transformation, Constitution Road, St. Michael. It was held under the theme “Replicating Success: AI in Education, Financial Literacy for Sustainable CARICOM Economic Transformation”, and was hosted by the Ministry, in collaboration with the Barbados Stock Exchange (BSE) and the ANSA McAL Group of Companies.

She said the Ministry has always been in the forefront when it comes to technology, and has focused on introducing programmes and initiatives to adapt to a world that is rapidly becoming more technologically advanced.

Dr. Archer-Bradshaw noted that Coding and Robotics was introduced in 2022; Digital Literacy in 2023; and in 2024, the Ministry partnered with the Ministry of Energy and Business in the introduction of a Financial Literacy Programme, which was offered to 50 schools.

The Education Chief encouraged the awardees to be creators and consumers of information. “One of the things that the Prime Minister always speaks about…is the fact that we don’t just want you to be consumers of information. We want you to be creators of information. We want you to think outside the box. We want you to come up with homegrown solutions to our everyday problems, and the homegrown solutions should be marketable. Think about how you can use technology to make these solutions marketable,” she stated.

In his address, Managing Director of the Barbados Stock Exchange (BSE), Marlon Yarde, revealed that his organisation made CARICOM history as the first stock exchange in the region to host an official awards ceremony for this competition.

“This speaks to our shared regional vision, one where financial literacy, capital markets and economic opportunities extend far beyond our borders. None of this would have been possible without the vision, leadership and innovation of Wizdom CRM Caribbean Limited, established in 2022,” he added.

 The BSE executive told the participants that they are pioneers of a new financial era and that the lessons learnt will not only empower their personal financial growth, but will also serve as a catalyst for regional economic development.

“This competition leverages AI to make financial content concepts interactive, personalised and engaging, ensuring that every student, regardless of their background and grace, can grasp these essential skills. AI is revolutionising education, and you are the forefront of this transformation. Today is not just about celebrating winners, it’s about celebrating the future.”

Marketing Manager of Ansa McAl, Rachel Pilgrim, said that company chooses to invest in initiatives like Wizdom CRM because it believes in creating a better world, by inspiring better choices.

“Through this platform, our company has been able to directly impact…students in the region, ensuring these students learn about the importance of budgeting, saving, investing and trading stocks in the AI driven learning platform,” she stated.

According to Ms. Pilgrim, financial literacy is not just about understanding numbers and markets, but it is a powerful tool for transforming communities and creating opportunities for growth in a region where opportunity can sometimes feel distant.

“As we continue to invest in initiatives like this one, we’re not only investing in education, we’re making an investment in a brighter, better future for our entire Caribbean region,” she added.

Loki Clarke of Queen’s College was the Cycle One winner for the Wizdom CRM Sustainable Stock Market Game in Barbados. The other awardees were Joseph Yeung Chou (Harrison College); Ajani Webster-Worrell (Queen’s College); Ayden Cumberbatch (Combermere School); and Andrew Greenidge (Harrison College).

The Wizdom CRM Sustainable Stock Market Game Platform was rolled out during the first term (September to December) of the 2024/2025 academic year. It enabled students to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and gamification to equip them with skills like saving, budgeting, and investing, and is designed to immerse students in the dynamics of the financial world, through an AI powered simulated stock market environment. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Chief Education Officer, Ministry of Educational Transformation, Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw (third from left) making a presentation to Cycle One winner for the Wizdom CRM Sustainable Stock Market Game in Barbados, Loki Clarke of Queen’s College, while (from left to right) Managing Director of the Barbados Stock Exchange, Marlon Yarde; Education Officer, Randy Eastmond (partially hidden); and Marketing Manager of Ansa McAl, Rachel Pilgrim, look on. 

The University of the West Indies (UWI) has signed a landmark licensing and distribution agreement with Banks Holdings Ltd. (BHL) to introduce a new, locally produced, low-calorie shake to the market. Developed through years of research at UWI, the beverage is designed to provide significant health benefits, particularly for individuals managing diabetes.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at the Cave Hill campus, UWI Principal Professor Clive Landis linked the product’s origins to the Barbados Diabetes Reversal Study, which began in 2015.

“The journey of the idea came from 2015 when we undertook the Barbados Diabetes Reversal Study. We were able to demonstrate that you could reverse diabetes in Barbadians using low-calorie shakes as the foundation of a quite intensive six-week diet,” he explained. “All of this is underpinned by science, it’s all published in the academic literature, it’s all safe and ethically sound.”

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted access to imported low-calorie shakes that were central to the study, prompting UWI researchers to innovate by developing their own formula using locally sourced, plant-based ingredients.

“We were very fortunate to have a student who came to us as a qualified chef and is now pursuing a doctorate in public health. She was able to formulate our own shakes using plant-based, locally sourced ingredients that offer more exciting tropical flavors. These new shakes also contain no added sugars, unlike other similar products,” Landis noted.

The collaboration with PineHill Dairy—BHL’s subsidiary and part of the global beverage giant AB InBev—took over two years of testing and reformulation to ensure scalability. The final products, Taste the Caribbean and Tropical Green Fig, maintain the same protein and fiber content as other drinks in the sector but derive their natural sweetness from local ingredients like mango, pineapple, and sweet potato.

The new beverages are set to hit supermarket shelves before the end of the year, offering Barbadians a healthy, homegrown alternative in the functional drink market.

Caption: Khadija Marshall, Commercial Manager of Banks Breweries Barbados Ltd, signing the new licensing agreement with Principal of UWI Cave Hill Professor Clive Landis

All staff to receive redundancy payments

The Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) is set to undergo a major restructuring at the end of the month, resulting in job redundancies as the organization transitions to a fully digital system.

During a staff meeting yesterday, employees were informed that all existing personnel will receive redundancy payments and other benefits as part of the restructuring process. Special Advisor on State-Owned Enterprises, Oliver Jordan, outlined the compensation package, stating:

“The government has agreed to provide severance at four weeks per year of service, notice pay in accordance with the Employment Rights Act (ERA) or contractual agreements—whichever is greater—outstanding vacation pay as of the exit date, employee assistance, and pension arrangements. The Ministry of Finance has also committed to honoring all CBC pension obligations under the existing pension plan.”

CBC CEO Sanka Price emphasized during the CBC News Night broadcast that while the decision was difficult, it is a necessary step to secure the long-term sustainability of the national broadcaster.

“CBC is not closing; we are simply evolving into something better,” Price stated.

He further noted that the need for restructuring had been evident for years.

“Plans for transformation have existed since 2016, but they were not implemented as they should have been. Had those plans been executed, we would not be facing the financial difficulties we are experiencing today.”

Despite the transition, Price assured the public that CBC’s current services will continue without major disruptions.

The Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), which has been actively involved in discussions to ensure a fair process for employees, also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting affected workers. BWU General Secretary Toni Moore, in a press release, stated:

“From the outset, the BWU has been steadfast in ensuring that CBC employees are treated fairly and with respect. We fought to secure a severance package that acknowledges their contributions and the uncertainty they have faced, while exceeding standard provisions. Beyond financial compensation, we recognize the emotional toll of such transitions, and we want every CBC employee to know they are not alone.”

Moore acknowledged that while not every detail has been finalized, the union is satisfied that the transition plan can now proceed.