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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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Centenarian Celebrates Her Dominica-Barbados-UK Connection

Josephine Bailey Celebrated

One of Barbados’ newest centenarians, Josephine Bailey, celebrated her 100th birthday on September 27, 2024, at her home in Dalkeith Village, St. Michael.

In addition to family members and some close friends, one of her specially invited guests was President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason.

One of Mrs. Bailey’s daughters, Judith Lockhart, shared that her mother was born in Castle Bruce, a village on the east coast of Dominica, where she also attended school. After school, the centenarian, who worked in agriculture, made an initial visit to Barbados around the age of 18 and decided to stay, working in retail stores in Bridgetown.

Ms. Lockhart also shared that her mother had a stall in town where she would take them as small children, to work with her.

“She had a market stall, fruits and vegetables, and then after that she left…. It was nursing that gave her the opportunity to go to England and train as a nurse,” she said.

When asked by Her Excellency whether the centenarian was a disciplinarian, Ms. Lockhart remarked that as teenagers they were allowed to attend social events with the understanding that they were to return “by a particular time” or face being disciplined.

She said her mother insisted that all four of them attend evening classes, even while at school, to learn additional trades and be better prepared for the future. “Mum was very passionate about us doing something with our lives. Her motto was ‘always be independent …and look out for yourself’,” Ms. Lockhart said.

Always goal oriented, Mrs. Bailey applied to be trained as a nurse in the United Kingdom (UK), and became a member of the Windrush Generation, who emigrated there at the invitation of the British Government to be trained and to help rebuild England after the Second World War.

*Barbados’ newest centenarians, Josephine Bailey poses with President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason and family during her birthday celebrations*.

After four years of training, she worked in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), in hospitals such as St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington and Royal Free Hospital in Camden. While in the UK, Mrs. Bailey (nee Lockhart) married a Barbadian and continued living there.

In the latter part of her career with the NHS, Mrs. Bailey worked at the Community Health Centre, which included family planning and home visits to patients. Earning the respect of her patients, peers, and leadership team, she was selected to meet Queen Elizabeth II, during an official visit to open a section of the Queen’s Park Heath Centre.

Mrs. Bailey retired at age 65, returned to Barbados, and settled down in Dalkeith Village, St. Michael, an area with which she was familiar.

She kept active in her kitchen garden and in church at the St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church. She also taught at the St. Patrick’s Primary School; spent time with family and friends; did some cooking and travelled.

Her Excellency presented Mrs. Bailey with a bouquet of flowers, a bottle of non-alcoholic wine and a personalised card, which was followed by a toast to the centenarian.

Mrs. Bailey, a widower, had four children, nine grandchildren (one deceased), and seven great-grandchildren.

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Millie Ifill Fish Market At Weston, St. James Re-Opens

The Millie Ifill Fish Market facility, at Weston, St. James, reopened on Saturday after receiving a BDS $2.7 million upgrade, thanks to the Barbados Port Inc. (BPI).

As part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives, the BPI began upgrading the facility designed by Architectural Designer & Project Manager, Rianne Greaves, in May 2023. Completion of the state-of-the-art vending and fish processing disabled-friendly building occurred in July 2024.

Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill, under whose portfolio the BPI falls, noted that similar to other large-scale community developmental projects, the Millie Ifill Fish Market project is expected to demonstrate a high level of benefits, including enhanced social experiences for residents and visitors, and improved infrastructural development.

He added that the initiative is part of a wider undertaking of Government to upgrade the island’s fishing facilities.

“We hope that this building will serve as a beacon of inspiration to a new generation of workers in the fishing industry, and a testament to this Government’s commitment to upgrading fishing facilities in line with the requisite standards that support fish handling and the retail of fresh catches to the domestic, hospitality, packaging, and distributing sectors,” Mr. Gooding-Edghill stated.

He also highlighted other initiatives under the BPI’s Social Responsibility Programme, including the renovation of the Speightstown Jetty, the Pile Bay Fishing Facility, the Bridgetown Port Fire Station, and the Shallow Draught Marina.

The Minister encouraged users of the facility to be forerunners in the maintenance of the property and upkeep of equipment.

Minister of the Environment, National Beautification, Green and Blue Economy, Adrian Forde; Member of Parliament for the area, Edmund Hinkson; and Chief Fisheries Officer, Dr. Shelly-Ann Cox, agreed with Minister Gooding-Edghill that it was important for those using the facility assist with its maintenance and care the equipment.

Dr. Cox said the upgraded Millie Ifill Fish Market in Weston stands out in the community “as a diamond on the West, not only aesthetically pleasing but fit for purpose”.

She added: “This world-class facility raises the profile and catalyses the sustainable development of the fisheries sector. In our thrust towards aspiring to excellence and promoting seafood quality assurance in the post-harvest sector, this building epitomises the highest standard of excellence. It is outfitted with the amenities and equipment to support the processing and sale of good quality fish and promote the improvement of sanitary measures. The facility also provides a space to encourage social interaction and a hub for fisherfolk and members of the Weston Fisherfolk and Community Organisation.”

The upgraded facility, constructed by Empire Building and Construction, boasts a main office, shutters, an ice machine, a chiller room, a walk-in freezer, a high-tech security system, fish offal storage, a public toilet with disabled provisions, a public shower, separate fish retail and processing areas, vendors bathrooms with showers, a lunchroom, and improved sidewalk with disabled access.

The facility is named after former centenarian and well-known fish vendor Millicent Ifill, who touched many lives in the Weston, St. James community. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Member of Parliament, St. James North, Edmund Hinkson and Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill, unveil a plaque to commemorate the reopening of the Millie Ifill Fish market facility on Saturday, while Ministers Chad Blackman and Adrian Forde and government officials look on.

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ETA For Travel To Kenya Required

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade advises that all persons, including infants and children, must complete an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) form in order to travel to the Republic of Kenya.

This new requirement results from policy changes, which took effect this year, whereby holders of Ordinary Barbados Passports have to obtain an ETA at least 72 hours before their intended visit to Kenya. However, it is recommended that applications be submitted at least two weeks prior to travel to ensure adequate time for processing.

The cost for Kenya’s ETA is US $32.50 per traveller, plus banking and processing fees. The ETA is valid only for a single trip, and a new authorisation must be obtained for every subsequent visit to Kenya.

Holders of Diplomatic Barbados Passports must apply for an ETA at least 72 hours before their intended visit to Kenya, but they will be exempted from payment if certified by letter that they are on official duty.

For ETA applications and guidelines, persons should visit the official website https://www.etakenya.go.ke.