Barbadians are reminded that nominations for the Pride of Barbados Award 2025 for St. Joseph should be submitted to the National Honours and Decorations Advisory Council by Monday, March 31.

Nominations should be made via the following links:

https://eforms.gov.bb/sc/prideofbarbadosaward – Pride of Barbados Award Portal
https://eforms.gov.bb/f/pbastjoseph – Nomination Form – St. Joseph.

The Pride Of Barbados is awarded to a person who is a citizen of Barbados or is entitled to be registered as a citizen or is a permanent resident, and through sacrifice, diligence, and dedication to service has made an outstanding contribution to community life in a parish or to the improvement of its economic and social conditions. 

The awards shall be conferred on persons who reside in a parish in Barbados and have been nominated by persons who live in the respective parish. They shall also be conferred on persons who formerly resided in a parish in Barbados but now live abroad and who are nominated by persons residing or used to reside in the parish but are living overseas.    (PR/GIS)

The Barbados YouthADVANCE Corps (BYAC) recently celebrated a significant milestone as 132 trainees of Cohort 7 completed their intensive Residential Programme at the Barbados Cadet Corps’ campsite, Paragon Base, Christ Church.

Speaking at the event themed “In Celebration of Growth, Commitment and Dedication”, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Joy Adamson, commended the trainees for remaining committed to completing the programme.

“Today, we celebrate not just the completion of a programme but a journey of growth and dedication that has shaped these young individuals into resilient, disciplined, and confident citizens,” said Mrs. Adamson.

The ceremony highlighted the trainees’ involvement in a diverse range of activities, including drill exercises, first aid training, cultural arts, and sports. Special recognition was given to Platoon 4, the winners of the Drill and Flag Raising Competition.

Mrs. Adamson commended the efforts of the facilitators, wardens, and support teams for their unwavering dedication. She emphasised the importance of continued personal growth and community contribution, encouraging trainees to embrace future challenges with confidence.

The ceremony underscored the trainees’ resilience, discipline, and personal growth, with Mrs. Adamson acknowledging the transformative impact of the programme.     

“These young men and women have developed invaluable life skills that will empower them to face life’s challenges with confidence and purpose,” she stated.

The Permanent Secretary urged the trainees to continue striving for excellence, stressing the value of lifelong learning and community engagement. “Your journey doesn’t end here. Take what you’ve learned and use it to uplift yourselves and those around you,” she advised. 

Mrs. Adamson also encouraged parents and guardians to remain actively involved, supporting their children’s continued development and helping to build a stronger Barbadian society. (PR/GIS)

The World Trade Organization’s eight-week Advanced Trade Policy (ATP) Course, in Geneva, Switzerland, whose Patron was Barbados’ Ambassador to the United Nations, World Trade Organization and other International Organizations in Geneva, Matthew Wilson, ended on Friday, March 14.

The ATP course, which began on January 20, was attended by 28 government officials from developing WTO members and observers, including Barbados.  The aim was to develop participants’ autonomy in conducting WTO-related work, thereby enhancing participants’ expertise in implementing WTO agreements, elaborating trade policies and sharpening negotiation skills.

Ambassador Wilson addressed the participants at the beginning, middle and end of the course, and piloted, for the first time, a one-on-one discussion with the participants on matters ranging from career aspirations to planning for the WTO’s next Ministerial Conference, to navigating the ‘tariff war’.

At the opening of the session, Ambassador Wilson said: “Multilateralism must never be taken for granted. Gaining a seat at the negotiating table is not easy. To influence global politics – whether it be trade, human rights, climate change or the digital revolution, it is crucial to work with other economies on consolidating global cooperation.”

During the eight weeks, the participants focused on WTO legal texts, simulated negotiations, participated in moot court sessions, held round-table discussions and were able to attend various high-level meetings, including the WTO’s General Council, the highest decision making body of the WTO in Geneva, and attending two WTO Presidential lectures.

In his closing session with the participants, Ambassador Wilson said: “Our voices and perspectives as developing countries matter. Many of us are middle powers in size or in influence. We can be the ones that bring balance, that bring more inclusive views and that bring the real world impact of trade policies to the global platform.”

He challenged all the representatives to “go back home and teach what you have been taught, build the capacity of your colleagues, meet with the Chambers of Commerce or business support organisations to share what you have learnt and connect them to the incredible tools and resources available here at the WTO and wider international Geneva.”

Mr. Wilson added: “I need you to go home and be Ambassadors for the WTO and for multilateralism.” 

Participants in the just concluded ATP course came from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. (PR/GIS)