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Junior Monarch an investment in the future

Developing Barbados’ next generation of griots is at the core of the Scotiabank Junior Monarch Competition. Andrea Wells, Chief Cultural Officer at the National Cultural Foundation (NCF), reaffirmed that commitment to attendees of the recent launch, at Scotiabank’s office in Warrens, St. Michael.

“It is extremely important to us at the NCF that expressions of our culture through the arts, in this instance through calypso [and soca] are refined, facilitated and showcased,” She said to the contestants, parents, guardians and various representatives.

“Any activity that highlights the best forms of Barbadian culture must be embraced and upheld by the National Cultural Foundation as guardians of Barbadian heritage.”

Wells also expressed the NCF’s gratitude for title sponsor Scotiabank’s involvement in incubating the talents of young practitioners, that goes beyond the financial donation: “You believe what we believe: that the best way to preserve our cultural heritage is to invest in our youth.”

The chief cultural officer used the 2022 Courtesy Garage Pic-o-de-Crop Finals, where five former Junior Monarch contestants made the finals which was eventually won by two-time champion Quon, as a small example of the result borne from the over 25-year symbiotic relationship.

Carol Boyce, Retail, Small Business Needs – Scotiabank, reiterated the bank’s dedication to investing in the competition, saying it “holds such a special place in our hearts” as it “not only as it provides young people with the opportunity to recognise their singing potential but also because it keeps our culture alive.”

Before they face the judges, the 25 semi-finalists will benefit from workshops facilitated by NCF and Scotiabank to hone their creative (songwriting, performing, artistry etc.) and professional (music business, financial literacy etc.) skills from some of the island’s legendary entertainers, and former calypso and soca monarchs, including Stedson ‘Red Plastic Bag’ Wiltshire, Ian ‘iWeb’ Webster, and Terencia ‘TC’ Coward.

Kevin Moore, Cultural Officer, Music Education at the NCF and producer of the event, promises that the competition will be “yet again an amazing display of the vocal and performance skills and talents of our young people.”

The 2023 competition staged in two categories, has seen contestants ranging from ages 7 to 18 hailing from various participating primary, secondary and tertiary schools across the island, including Wilkie Cumberbatch Primary School, Deighton Griffith Secondary School, and Samuel Jackman Prescod – Institute of Technology.

The Irving Wilson School for the Blind Deaf and Autistic had its first participant in the competition through Rashad ‘King Shad’ Applewhaite, participating in the soca category with his song ‘Jam Down.’

Reigning 2022 Scotiabank Junior Monarchs’ Yahandje Daniel and Shontae Alleyne-Clarke were on hand at the launch to perform (“Tek de wine” and “Party Nice Again” respectively) and encourage their counterparts.

“Don’t be discouraged by the low points in this journey. Use them as motivation and teaching tools to better yourself,” said Daniel.

Alleyne-Clarke told her peers to grab hold of the opportunity.

“Learn as much as you can from the mentorship process, work on your stagecraft, mould yourself into being the best artistic version of you and always, always give of your best. You’re going to get a lot of comments, you’re going to get a lot of things people will say that will try to trigger you, but stay focused, and stay in your zone… have confidence in your song and yourself,” she said.

The Scotiabank Junior Monarch Finals comes off on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Garfield Sobers Complex. (PR)

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SISTER RELATIONSHIP CONTINUES BETWEEN CHINA & BARBADOS

Hunan and Bridgetown forged a sister relationship in 2023. China and Barbados have also deepened cooperation in agriculture, especially rice and vegetable cultivation.

Central #China‘s Hunan Province, located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, boasts a rich history and diverse natural landscapes. With renowned destinations like Zhangjaijie National Forest Park and Fenghuang Ancient Town, Hunan is a popular choice for international tourists exploring China.

Don’t forget to try some authentic Xiang cuisine, famous for its hot and spicy flavors and fresh aroma!

Bridgetown, capital city of #Barbados, serves as the country’s political, economic and cultural center. The Port of Bridgetown is an important seaport for international trade in the region. Tourism, offshore finance and light manufacturing are some major industries there, while flying fish is a beloved local delicacy and a symbol of Barbadian cuisine.

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Streamlined Process For Vehicle Registration In Barbados

The Barbados Revenue Authority (the Authority), the Barbados Licensing Authority, general insurance companies, and the Barbados Police Service have collaborated to enhance the vehicle registration system for private vehicles.

This initiative represents a significant step toward improving efficiency, convenience, and compliance for vehicle owners and law enforcement.

Under the new system, owners of private vehicles seeking to renew their vehicle registrations will no longer need to visit the Authority’s payment centres to update and receive the registration disc. Instead, private vehicle registrations will now be completed online, streamlining the process for thousands of motorists across Barbados. Vehicle owners are encouraged to register and familiarise themselves with the digital platform, accessible at https://portal.bra.gov.bb.

Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Ryan Straughn, noted: “This collaborative effort represents a major step in modernising the way we serve Barbadians. By digitising this aspect of the private vehicle registration process, we are not only improving convenience for the public but also strengthening the integrity of our registration and insurance systems while working to reduce the lines in our offices.”

When vehicle owners renew their insurance, the policy details from the general insurance companies will be used to update the owner’s vehicle registration records in the licensing system. This initiative ensures that vehicle registration records within the licensing system are current and compliant with the requirements of Section 5(4) of the Road Traffic Act, which mandates annual vehicle registration.

By integrating insurance compliance into the registration process, vehicle owners will be able to download their Digital Vehicle Registration Card upon successful upload of their insurance details.

Carolyn Williams-Gayle, Senior Manager, Headquarters Services at the Authority highlighted that the information discrepancies will prevent the generation of a Vehicle Registration Card.

“As with any digital transformation, accuracy of records is essential. During the testing of the system, we identified four issues which will prevent the registration card from being generated. Issues may arise due to data entry errors such as incorrect license plate, chassis, engine or VIN numbers; missing information; mismatched records or lapsed insurance policies.

“To assist vehicle owners, we designed the system to provide real-time error notifications when an issue is detected. These messages will specify the nature of the discrepancy and direct users to the appropriate avenue for the issue to be rectified,” she shared.

“Currently, 75 per cent of the general insurance companies which serve Barbados have uploaded their data to facilitate the generation of the Vehicle Registration Card and we thank the insurance companies for their participation in this process. However, where insurance details have not been uploaded, the registrant will still need to visit their insurance company and the Authority’s offices in person to access their Vehicle Registration Card.”

The Authority’s Contact Centre is available at 429-ETAX (3829) to answer any questions that citizens may have. As part of the ongoing digital transformation, the team expanded the scope of the project to allow the Barbados Police Service to digitally verify the validity of vehicle registrations. The adoption of these digital solutions seeks to make the roads safer and compliance easier for all citizens. (PR/GIS)

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Palestinian Ambassador Calls on Minister of Agriculture

Ambassador of the State of Palestine, Dr. Linda Sobeh-Ali, recently paid a visit to Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Indar Weir, at the Ministry’s headquarters, Graeme Hall, Christ Church.

In attendance were Permanent Secretary Terry Bascombe; Chief Agricultural Officer, Michael James; and Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer Barney Callender.

The meeting focused on sustainable agricultural practices, food security, and the potential for international collaboration to bolster Barbados’ farming sector.

Both the Ambassador and local representatives underscored the importance of support for sustainable agriculture. They discussed the growing role of advanced technologies – like hydroponics and greenhouses – to overcome the island’s limited soil and resource challenges. Adapting these innovations to Barbados’ specific environment was highlighted as essential.

Other areas touched on include poultry production and the link between food availability and national security.

Ambassador Sobeh-Ali expressed concerns about potential threats to the poultry supply chain, emphasising the need to strengthen resilience through modern farming methods and government-backed initiatives.