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Minister Straughn Holds Talks With IMF Mission Chief

Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Ryan Straughn, has expressed renewed confidence in the Barbados Economic and Recovery Transformation Programme (BERT).

He said Government would continue to emphasise the benefits of the programme to the entire country because it had “catalysed a whole set of access to other things beyond what we had initially anticipated”.

Minister Straughn gave the undertaking on Monday, as he, along with Minister in Economic Affairs and Investment, Senator Chad Blackman; Central Bank Governor, Dr. Kevin Greenidge; and other senior government officials met with Barbados’ International Monetary Fund (IMF) Mission Chief, Michael Perks, and his team during a staff visit at Government Headquarters.

Mr. Straughn stated: “Our job really is to ensure that the reforms continue to be implemented because they are important, and the Barbados Economic and Recovery Transformation Programme is critical to Barbados’ future success. Therefore, irrespective of what happens politically, these are the things that we have done, and will continue to do…”

The Minister pointed to the upcoming World Cup Cricket T 20 finals and other key events slated to be held in the county as a sure sign that confidence was returning in several key areas.

He assured the IMF team that Government was “even more committed today and energised to ensuring that these things happen in a timely manner”.

Mr. Straughn also reminded the team that Barbados had been removed from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) List of Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring, also referred to as the FATF Grey List.

He shared that there were 53 areas that needed to be addressed when they came to office in 2018. Minister Straughn said last December there was one area to be dealt with and now “Barbados is officially off the FATF list”.

He continued: “So, the EU (European Union) and those who had us on those various lists will be addressed shortly in relation to upping the compliance based on what we have done for the last five years to address some of those issues.”

The Minister also mentioned continued work with the Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office to provide better business facilitation and enhanced regulation of growth.

Mr. Straughn stated that he also wants to see greater business opportunities; and the recruitment of the right skills set to ensure consistent communication among the business community to facilitate accurate reporting with regulation agencies for the exchange of information, among other things.

He also provided an update on the global minimum tax framework, the proposed Patent Box Regime to unlock opportunities to attract overseas businesses for the purpose of carrying out research and development into new products, specific internet portal related investments, and other areas.

Meanwhile, Dr. Greenidge gave a report card on the island’s economic performance saying that the island had met all of its targets at the end of last year.

He added that the economy grew by 4.5 per cent last year and this was “on top of the 13.2 per cent the year before. So, we are back to our pre-COVID levels…slightly bigger in nominal and real terms. There are some areas like agriculture, manufacturing, and the changing business model of one of our major players – the Arawak Cement Company”.

He continued: “But generally, our unemployment level is one of the lowest…. In fact, the only time it was that low was when we did the Kensington Oval for World Cup in 2007, and ironically this year, we are doing some investment in that area, so we expect that to support strong growth.”

Mr. Perks congratulated the Government of Barbados on being removed from the FATF Grey List, deeming it a “major achievement”. “Even though the public may not really understand it, the board feels really strong about it, so that was a big thing,” he underlined. (PR/GIS)

CAPTION: Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment, Ryan Straughn, speaking at yesterday’s meeting with new IMF mission Chief, Michael Perks at Government Headquarters while Minister in Economic Affairs and Investment, Senator Chad Blackman (right), Central Bank Governor, Dr. Kevin Greenidge (third from right); and other senior government officials, look on.

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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