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Minister Humphrey Outlines Government’s Initiatives In Support Of Girls & Women

Women in Barbados have made significant progress in every sphere of endeavour, according to Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs (MPEA), Kirk Humphrey.

Speaking in New York at the headquarters of the United Nations, Minister Humphrey observed ahead of International Women’s Day, how the briefing serves to remind everyone to pay attention to the gender digital divide that disproportionately and negatively affects women and girls.

Mr. Humphrey added that Government recognises that digital literacy and innovation must address both access and affordability to achieve gender parity.

“Barbados remains committed to ensuring that even as we advocate for the use of technology for all, it must not be used to exploit or abuse women and girls,” the Minister emphasised.

He also pointed out to the global assembly some of the initiatives Barbados is pursuing. These include:

Our Bureau of Gender Affairs, together with UN Women, is in the process of launching a Gender Equality Communications Campaign to raise awareness of gender mainstreaming, which would target both the private and public sector, as well as Members of Parliament, Civil Society and the general public.
Our Ministry of Education established a mentoring programme entitled Girls Power-Tech Barbados 2018 for girls aged 13 and 14, which provides opportunities for girls to enter into careers in STEM (Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics).
During COVID 19, Government, together with the private sector, provided computer devices to all students who did not have access to devices for online and virtual learning.
The Government continued the Community Technology Programme which targets the most marginalised communities but particularly women and girls who traditionally would not have had access to computer training and technology.
In 2016, Barbados enacted a revised Domestic Violence Legislation, which adopted a zero-tolerance approach to gender-based violence in all its forms. The legislation expanded on the definition of gender-based violence to include harassment and stalking online and in digital spaces.
Barbados has sought to reduce digital inequalities and enhance the economic empowerment of women through a process of issuing indigenous micro loans known as Trust Loans to persons who are unable to obtain financing from established financial institutions. Furthermore, through our Fund Access Programme small businesses owned by women have been equipped with the technological skills necessary to compete in a digital environment.
To allow for greater access to digital spaces for women and girls, the Government has provided free Wi-Fi access in our capital city of Bridgetown.

Minister Humphrey and Permanent Secretary Jehu Wiltshire were attending the fifth plenary meeting of the 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. (PR/GIS)

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SPECIAL POLLING DAY NOTICE

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FundAccess To Host Legal Clinic Workshop from May 13th

Entrepreneurs will soon get another opportunity to learn about critical legal matters that are key to the operation of their businesses.

FundAccess will be hosting The Legal Clinic Workshop, which will commence on Tuesday, May 13, and continue each Tuesday, until May 27, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The workshop will be facilitated by Attorney-at-law Ondene Kirton and participants will discuss Understanding Business Legal Structures; Contracts & Agreements; Employment Law & Compliance; and Examination of the Various Laws Relating to Small Business.

During those sessions, the participants will be exposed to sole proprietorship, partnerships, corporations – pro and cons; how to choose the right legal structure for a business; the importance of contracts in business operations; avoiding common contract pitfalls; and employee rights & employer responsibilities, among others. Some of the pieces of legislation to be examined include the Employment Rights Act and National Insurance and Social Security Act.

Interested persons may attend the workshop in person at FundAccess’ Pinfold Street, Bridgetown location, or online via the Zoom Platform. To register, click on the following link: https://bit.ly/3Fu09Jv.

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Centenarian Built On Firm Foundation Set By Grandmother

“Trust God first” is the mantra of one of Barbados’ newest centenarians, Athelstan Browne, who celebrated his 100th birthday on April 29, 2025, at his home in Montrose, Christ Church, surrounded by family and friends.

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

Mr. Browne shared that he grew up “not knowing a mummy” as his mother passed away at age 23, when he was two years old, and his brother was only one year old.

Crediting his grandmother for his upbringing, Mr. Brown remarked: “I had a real good, good grandmother that raised two of us, and everything we learn before we went to school, she taught us.”

Pointing to a humble yet deeply religious upbringing, Mr. Browne said: “I and my brother slept on the floor. Our grandmother spread things down there, and she just put the pillow under our head.”

He recalled that they had to sing the hymn “Under the Blood” before going to bed, and first thing in the morning before they had breakfast, which usually consisted of “a cup of tea and two biscuits”. Adding that the hymn was “our song”, Mr. Browne sang the hymn from memory.

Stressing that his grandmother was a great provider, he noted: “My grandmother had land, and she would work the land…. We would eat raw potato, raw okras, (green) peas, cucumbers…. The only thing we did not eat was raw yams and eddoes.”

Mr. Browne continues to enjoy his ground provisions “with a little rice”, as he likes his rice with green peas, and if available, chicken boiled with the rice. “I am a fish man,” he remarked, eating it either fried or with a “stew sauce”.

Continuing to nurture his Christian beliefs, he joined the Mount Ararat United Holy Church (currently in Dayrell’s Road, Christ Church) in 1967, at age 33, and has continued there ever since.

Once the Superintendent of the Sunday School at the church, Mr. Browne is still instrumental in providing leadership to the youth there. “I have a crowd of young people at church that love me…especially when I have to talk to them…. It is what they should hear and what they should have,” he said.

The centenarian was raised in Montrose, Christ Church, and attended the Christ Church Boys’ School (now Milton Lynch Primary School). After leaving school, Mr. Browne initially took to agriculture but then worked cutting soft stone in two quarries in Christ Church.

In 1947, at the age of 22, he decided to join the US Farm Labour Programme and took the first Pan American Airlines flight out of Barbados. Over 10 years later, Mr. Browne returned to Barbados and married Monica Browne (deceased). Together, they built the house where he currently resides.

Returning to his roots in agriculture, the centenarian worked at the Ridge Plantation, Christ Church, until retirement. He also planted and reaped ground produce at home, as well as planted and cut canes.

Mr. Browne, who is generally in good health and has a sharp memory, still works around the home and enjoys reading, which he does without glasses. He also keeps in touch with his family in New York and North Carolina, and will do some travelling, but he is always ready to return home.

After toasting the centenarian, Her Excellency remarked: “You are in the midst of a lot of love, and I am sure you are going to enjoy the rest of your birthday. I am really happy to have met you. I am grateful for the work that you still continue to do with our young people because a lot of them lack direction, and we, nowadays, don’t take enough time to sit down and speak with them…. We don’t remind them that they are important, that they are somebody.”

Mr. Browne responded: “You got to make them understand what … the Lord expects of them… We have to acknowledge the Lord.”

Mr. Browne has two children, 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. (PR/GIS)

Caption: President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, and Barbados’ newest centenarian Athelstan Browne take a walk outside during his birthday celebrations in Montrose, Christ Church