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MINISTER’S MESSAGE FOR IWD

Message by The Hon. Kirk Humphrey, Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs in celebration of International Women’s Day, March 8, 2023

My fellow Barbadians, it is indeed a pleasure to bring remarks, as Barbados joins with the International Community and the rest of the world in celebrating International Women’s Day 2023. I fi rst of all would like to wish all women a Happy International Women’s Day, wherever they are around the world. As we celebrate this special day in the lives of women, I am cognisant that we are in the month of March, and into celebrating the Month of the Disabled. I therefore extend hearty wishes for a successful month of celebrations to all of those persons with disabilities.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality”, focuses on the use of innovation and technology to empower women and girls and, by extension, bring about gender equality. This theme is closely aligned to that for this year’s United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) meeting in March in New York, which is “Innovation and Technological Change and Education in the Digital Age for Achieving Gender Equality and the Empowerment of all Women and Girls”.

While women in Barbados have made significant progress in several areas of endeavour, this theme reminds us that we must seek to pay attention to the digital divide that disproportionately affects women and girls.

The central tenant of this particular theme is that women and girls are the most negatively affected by the digital divide and that efforts must be made to ensure that the empowerment of women and girls in the digital space should be a priority of countries around the world. While innovation and technology are essential for the empowerment of our women and girls, access must be the starting point buttressed by knowledge and skills to take full advantage of the opportunities and be supported by economic affordability.

Prior to the advent of the COVID 19 Pandemic, the world was already on a path to charting a new way of existence. Persons were accessing a number of social platforms and people were relating to and communicating with each other in ways they had never imagined possible. The age of technological existence was upon us in full and there was the belief that everyone was benefi tting from and making use of the technological advancements. However, the COVID 19 Pandemic demonstrated that this was untrue and that the digital divide, that gap between those who had access to the technology and those who did not, was indeed a reality and that everyone was not in a position to enjoy the benefi ts of the technology.

The empowerment of women and girls through information technology must begin with the ability to access the technology. As a country, we should make all efforts to provide the necessary avenues for women and girls to be able to have access to the technology and therefore to digital spaces. \

During COVID 19, the Government of Barbados through the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training led the way by providing devices to students through the distribution of tablets to various schools around the island. In addition, a number of private companies responded to the call for assistance in equipping students with tablets so they were not left behind.

This is an effort which should be encouraged even in the post-pandemic period. It was refreshing to see that a number of community based organisations, communities and individuals played a role in providing digital access to students who would not have had the opportunity thereby reducing the digital divide.

Our efforts at providing the technology for the empowerment of women and girls must also include the most marginalised populations. It is incumbent on us as a Government and a people to ensure that the less fortunate among us are provided with the devices and appropriate training which allows them to be part of the digital revolution. Through the implementation of the Community Technology Programme, the Government is seeking to provide universal digital literacy for educational and employment purposes which attracted a significant number of women and girls.

I commend the NGOs’ and the Community Based Organisations who are working to enhance the technological capacity of their membership. In this vein, I wish to acknowledge the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) for their work to ensure that the elderly had access to and were trained in technology as well as the Barbados Council for the Disabled for the training programs made available for persons with disabilities. We wish to also thank all the civil society organisations for their work in seeking to enhance and transform the lives of women and girls in Barbados.

The Government has sought to reduce digital inequalities and enhance the economic empowerment of women through Trust Loans and Fund Access Programmes which equip micro and small businesses with the skills necessary to perform in a digital environment.

Even as we advocate for the use of technology for all, it must not be used to exploit or abuse women and girls. We recognise that online gender based violence is real and regrettably becoming more prevalent. We therefore call upon parents and guardians to keep a mindful watch and closely monitor their children’s social media and wider online activity. This country must have a zero tolerance approach to gender based violence in all its forms.

The Government will continue to have conversations with service providers to provide low cost access to technology for all which would benefit women and girls who have been marginalised by lack of access. A prime example of innovation to allow access to digital spaces is through the expanding provision of free Wi-Fi access in the city of Bridgetown.

It is in that spirit of caring and sharing that I want to once again wish all Barbados a Happy International Women’s Day!

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One Family hamper drive gets $75,000 boost from Sandy Lane Charitable Trust

Christmas 2024 just got a lot brighter for the 1000 families of the One Family programme under the Ministry of People Empowerment & Elder Affairs (MPEA), thanks to a donation of BBD. 75,000.00 worth of grocery hampers from the Sandy Lane Charitable Trust (SLCT).

Representatives of SLCT, including Derrick Smith, Grand Patron and founding Trustee, Trustee Pippa Challis, and Project Coordinator-Administrator Nekei Grant, were recently at One Family’s Warrens office to present the donation to the One Family Project Team. Present to receive the donation were Minister, the Hon. Kirk Humphrey, Permanent Secretary Jehu Wiltshire, Social Development Project Manager Nicole Daniel and Project Officer Lisa Holder.

Minister Humphrey commended SLCT and thanked its Board of Trustees for their ongoing work in Barbados, and specifically with his Ministry, noting that such partnerships could help break cycles of generational poverty in Barbados.

“The government of Barbados is passionate about the objectives of this One Family project, and we believe in what we are doing. We see One Family as the first initiative with the potential to break the inter-generational cycles of poverty, a purpose and objective that traditional government agencies were not designed for. Traditional approaches have not been holistic enough, and One Family gives the first real opportunity to break that poverty exchange between generations,” Minister Humphrey said.

Commenting in response, Trustee Pippa Challis said SLCT was pleased with the ongoing amazing partnership with MPEA. She said One Family had positively impacted SLCT’s work regarding due diligence and background investigations necessary to make the outreach work more effective.

“Our partnership with the One Family Programme Team is truly beneficial to both organisations, as we work towards one common goal of achieving social change. Our ability to rely on the One Family team to provide accurate, timely and reliable information means that our assistance can reach the most deserving families. Whether it is providing beds, back-to-school supplies or food vouchers, we know that we are reaching the right families. That’s why this collaboration works for us, as much as it works for you.” Mrs Challis, further commends the team on their success with the programme thus far and the amazing job they are doing.

One Family Project Manager, Nicole Daniel, said the SLCT donation would significantly boost this year’s hamper donation drive, bringing much-needed supplies and tangible Christmas cheer to the 1,000 families and hundreds of children currently served by the Programme.

“One Family is not a hand-out programme but concentrates on holistic transformation to help every family reach a stage where they can give back to their communities and Barbados.” (PR)

Caption: Pictured from left are SLCT Project Coordinator-Administrator Nekei Grant, One Family Project Officer Lisa Holder, SLCT Trustee Pippa Challis, Derrick Smith, SLCT Grand Patron and founding Trustee, People Empowerment Minister, the Hon. Kirk Humphrey, Permanent Secretary Jehu Wiltshire, and Social Development Project Manager Nicole Daniel.

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Men’s programmes lighting the way with support from Light & Power

Barbadian men are stepping up to mentor and inspire a new generation of male leaders to reach their full potential and light the path to a brighter future.

On International Men’s Day recently, two such organisations were recognised and supported with financial donations from the Barbados Light & Power Company (Light & Power). The Rites of Passage: Boys to Men program, led by Anthony Seale and Reverend Derick Richards of the James Street, Speightstown Circuit of the Methodist Church, and the Purpose 180 Foundation, founded by Nigel Jules, were both lauded for their contributions during a presentation held at Light & Power’s Garrison, St. Michael Headquarters. Both organisations spoke about the impactful initiatives they have established to support young men in Barbados.

Light & Power said it was pleased to support programs focused on mentoring and uplifting at-risk young men.

“These programs are crucial in empowering young men to reach their full potential, and Light & Power is pleased to support and partner with initiatives like Rites of Passage and Purpose 180 that actively work to create brighter futures for the next generation of young male leaders.”

Both programs focus on mentorship, character building, and equipping young men with tools to overcome challenges and achieve personal and professional growth. (PR)

Caption: Light & Power employees, including at left, Communications Advisor Adriel Richard, and to the right, Chano Belle, Manager, Finance (Supply Chain) and Curtis Brewster, Supervisor, Dispatch and Quality Control, with visiting organisation representatives Nigel Jules of the Purpose 180 Foundation (second from left), and Reverend Derick Richards and Anthony Seale of the “Rites of Passage: Boys to Men (BTM) programme” of the James Street/Speightstown Circuit of the Methodist Church in Barbados (at centre)

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Yearwood wins first 5k Run/Walk

Kristian Yearwood won the inaugural 5k Run/Walk to Help 5k held on Sunday. He clocked 21:36 in the running race, 2nd place went to Ralf Luther in a time of 22:05, followed by Fr. Andy Nyga in 3^rd with a time of 23:40. The top three runners in the female segment were Adeline Lamorell,27:17, Phillipa Sylvester, 30:46 and Sumaya Desai, 47:22.

The event was organized by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgetown and is a fund raiser for church’s ministry to the poor in our community as well as to assist the Child Card Board. What started last year as a fun walk now features competitive 5k races in running and walking. The blend of race running and walking along with fun walking should see the event attacking a cross section of participants.

Anderson Maughan was the winner in the walk race in the male segment with a time of 30:59, he was followed by Anthony Phillips in 34:50 and Akil Bryan in 37:40. Angela Jackson crossed the line in 36:31 to win the female walk race she was followed by Fay Waithe in 40:42 and third place was taken by Mary Moseley in 41:57.