Government

Minister Sutherland: Infrastructural Designs Must Be Sustainable

Minister of Housing, Lands and Maintenance, Dwight Sutherland, believes that by sharing knowledge and best practices, stakeholders within the construction industry can drive innovation and ensure that sustainability remains a core value in the country’s building projects.

Mr. Sutherland expressed this view as he delivered the opening remarks at the Third Barbados Annual Construction and Design Conference 2024, under the theme: “Designing and Building for a Sustainable Digital Transformation”, held at the Radisson Aquatica Resort, on Tuesday.

“Our digital transformation efforts should focus on creating structures that are not only efficient but also adaptable to changing conditions, given the increasing challenges posed by climate change. We must moreover encourage open communication and collaboration among architects, engineers, contractors, and clients,” he said.

He described the conference as a significant event which emphasises the integration of sustainability with digital advancements in the construction and design industries.

“This three-day conference …comes at a critical juncture, for the construction sector. Digital transformation is more than just a buzzword; it is a fundamental shift in how we approach our work. It encompasses the integration of advanced technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), as well as the use of drones and artificial intelligence.”

He added that while tools like BIM may empower builders to visualise projects in 3D, conduct real-time site inspections, and analyse data for better decision-making, sustainability in designs and processes must also be prioritised.

Mr. Sutherland stated that Government recognises that access to stable, affordable housing is not only a basic human right, but it will also yield social benefits. He said Government is committed to having 2,000 housing solutions per year, provided between the public and private sectors.

The Housing Minister also disclosed that Cabinet had agreed to some proposed policy measures for public-funded housing, with the identification of new building designs and innovative building technologies being key among these measures.

He explained that his Ministry had embarked on a process of identifying innovative building solutions that utilise environmentally responsible and resource-efficient technologies. This will assist Government in achieving its target of providing affordable homes to lower and medium-income householders at a faster pace.

Mr. Sutherland indicated that his Ministry was also exploring other innovative and sustainable technologies that are suitable for Barbados’ climatic environment and mentioned a recent visit to the USA, where he led a delegation of public officers and private sector professionals, who observed production techniques at factories in Texas and Florida.

He said they toured a utilised building system that combines cold-rolled light-gauge steel, clad with autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) panels to construct cost-effective, resilient structures.

He explained that the cold-rolled light-gauge steel that makes up the frame of the structure is modelled in a 3-D software package that simulates the required environmental conditions, such as earthquake simulation and hurricane-force winds.

The software identifies any failures of the structure to ensure that it meets the required standard and then allows for all the required services to be incorporated into the walls of the structure during the modelling. On completion of successful modelling the software then sends the information to the cold roll machine where the various parts of the structural frame are produced and ready for assembly. These machines can produce all the components of an 800-square-foot house in a few hours.

Mr. Sutherland said the AAC panels have one-fifth the weight of regular concrete, have been employed as green pre-cast building material globally for over 70 years in residential, commercial, and industrial construction, provide excellent sound and thermal properties due to closed air cells in the concrete, and are fire, termite, water, and mould resistant.

“The integration of Autoclave Aerated Concrete products into our building design and construction practices can contribute significantly to a reduction in the number of indoor air quality issues we are currently experiencing, due to mould infestation.

“Its water and mould-resistant properties would provide our buildings with a much-needed layer of protection. The thermal insulating properties of autoclave aerated concrete will lead to cooler, more energy-efficient structures, and its durability will result in lower maintenance costs over the life of the structure…,” the Minister explained.

Mr. Sutherland revealed that a model house designed by an international company will shortly be showcased on the island and said his Ministry is committed to ensuring that the homes being constructed on behalf of the Government are of a high standard and capable of withstanding natural disasters.

“It is accordingly Government’s policy that any international companies desirous of providing housing for the local market should endeavour to ensure that the structures being erected can resist up to Category Five hurricane force winds, with speeds of up to 170 miles per hour,” he said. (PR/GIS)

Government

Barbados Votes To End Embargo On Cuba

Barbados joined the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in condemning the United States’ economic embargo of Cuba for the 32nd consecutive year, when the resolution entitled: “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba” was considered during a meeting held on Wednesday, October 30.

The United Nations overwhelmingly passed the resolution by a vote of 187 (in favour) to two (against), with one abstention. Only the United States and Israel voted against it.

During the delivery of the national statement, Chargé d’Affaires/Deputy Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations, Kereeta Whyte, informed the UNGA that: “The sentiments we express today are not new. They reflect the deep conviction we have articulated in this Assembly over the years. Indeed, since this resolution was first introduced in the General Assembly at its 46th session, in 1991.

“The Government of Barbados once again calls for an immediate end to the embargo and urges the removal of Cuba from the US Department of State’s list of alleged state sponsors of terrorism, a designation that only exacerbates the suffering of the Cuban people.

“We believe that dialogue is the path forward. Barbados values its strong relations with both the United States and Cuba and calls on the US Government to engage in meaningful negotiations with Cuba to normalise relations. This step would not only reduce tensions but also pave the way for greater peace, cooperation, and development in our region.

“Barbados will continue to advocate for the lifting of the economic, commercial and financial blockade, which is critical for the people and Government of Cuba to achieve full prosperity.” (PR/GIS)

Government

MORE WORK NEEDED TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

As the year 2030 quickly approaches, countries, including Barbados, need to speed up their efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This word comes from Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment Senator Chad Blackman, as he addressed Friday’s Validation Workshop for the Baseline Study on the Priority Sustainable Development Goals Indicators for Barbados at the Sagicor Cave Hill School of Business, where he insisted that countries had become too lax in meeting the necessary targets for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which adopted by all UN Member States almost a decade prior.

He said, “We are virtually at the end of 2024, which now leaves us just six years to that magic number of 2030. Whilst there are a lot of goals that Barbados has achieved, the world, including Barbados, has still not met a number of them in the way that we should. And, therefore, we have six years to really redouble, or some might argue, re-triple our efforts, so as to be able to tangibly achieve these objectives. But, we can’t do it alone.
He added, “The government can’t do it on its own; the private sector can’t do it on its own; civil society can’t do it on its own; it has to be government, private sector, civil society, the man on the street…. So that the entire society moves forward in a cohesive way…to meet these targets. Therefore, it calls for an out of box approach so as to ensure that we can meet these targets. Therefore, we have to use all our creativity. We have to use nonconventional ways of trying to help us to achieve these targets.”
Blackman noted that an “out-of-the-box” will be necessary for Barbados and other countries to effectively move the needle to reach the set targets.

Government

XVI Ministerial Forum On Development Starts October 30

The Government of Barbados, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) will host the XVI Ministerial Forum on Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, as a space to discuss opportunities to build resilience against future shocks that continue to challenge development in the region.

The Forum will be held from Wednesday, October 30 to Friday,1 November at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lords Castle. The event will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner, and ECLAC Executive Secretary, José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, and is expected to have over 150 participants, including more than 20 Government delegations from the region. The full agenda is available here.

This gathering builds on the discussions initiated at the XIII Ministerial Forum in Antigua and Barbuda in 2021, which discussed disasters and social protection systems in the context of protracted crises. The XVI Ministerial Forum will discuss how the region can advance and protect social gains in the context of more frequent and intense shocks.

A Ministerial Declaration is expected to be the outcome of the Forum. The Declaration aims to be a roadmap for transformative policy action and impactful initiatives that transcend boundaries, ultimately steering the region toward a more equitable and resilient future.