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National Honours Committee To Be Involved In Renaming Facilities

The National Honours Committee will be tasked with the responsibility of renaming public buildings and facilities thereby removing that function from those “in the corridors of political power”.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley made the announcement recently while delivering the feature address at a dedication ceremony for The Leroy Trotman Customs House, University Row, Bridgetown.

The facility was named after Sir Roy Trotman, a stalwart in the trade union movement, who was employed with the Barbados Workers’ Union’ (BWU) from July 15, 1971. He was the BWU’s General Secretary from August 29, 1992, until August 30, 2014.

The Prime Minister told the gathering that Cabinet had decided that the naming of facilities and institutions should not be an arbitrary exercise or in “the province of those who happen to occupy the corridors of political power”.

Ms. Mottley stated: “We therefore ask the National Honours Committee that exists and may act only on the eve of Honours conferred at Independence or with ‘We Gatherin’ Pride of Barbados next year…that it also takes responsibility for consideration and recommendation to Cabinet for the naming of facilities and grounds.”

The Prime Minister stressed that over the last six to eight weeks “two sets of letters” from communities recommending persons had been received, and she believed that the process should be encouraged but in a more structured arrangement.

“We believe this is something that ought to be encouraged rather than just left as an ad-hoc arrangement. It allows the country to own and consume pride and to reward appropriately people outside of the immediate vision of the newspapers . . . and to give appreciation and due honour where it is deserved.

“This is important because that little girl or that little boy watching you and listening to you, Sir Roy…must come to understand your name adorns this building, not simply because we love you but because you put in the effort, stood for something and that made a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of Barbadians and tens of millions of workers across the globe,” Ms. Mottley underlined.

During the ceremony, Sir Roy accompanied by his daughters Dr. Paula Trotman-Hastings, Lesley Trotman-Edwards and grand daughters Amber and Michaela Hastings, thanked his immediate family, his trade union family and well wishers.

“I want to thank all those dear souls from either side who have dared to stand with us in difficult times and have now joined with us in these blessed times,” he said. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, Senior Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. William Duguid, Minister of of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill and Sir Roy Trotman, savouring the moment before cutting the ribbon to officially declare the building open

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NCSA Celebrates Campers at Project S.O.F.T. Camp Graduation

The National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA) proudly hosted the graduation ceremony of its 22^nd annual Project S.O.F.T. (Safeguarding Our Future Today) camp on Saturday September 7^th, 2024, celebrating over 40 new graduates. This transformative programme, which aims to prepare young people transitioning from primary to secondary school, continues to be a vital part of NCSA’s commitment to substance abuse prevention and youth development.

Chairman of the NCSA, Mr. Hadford Howell in his address, praised both the camp staff and participants for their hard work and dedication. He emphasized that while the programme’s name might imply softness, the work required is anything but soft. He remarked, “There is nothing SOFT about this long-standing and commendable NCSA programme. The work put in by camp staff and the children is HARD but rewarding.”

Since its inception in 2002, Project S.O.F.T. has impacted the lives of over 700 young people and their families in Barbados. In this year’s camp, participants engaged in drug education, team-building exercises, and life skills development, all designed to help them navigate the new challenges they will face in secondary school.

In his inspiring message to the graduates, the Chairman likened them to pearls—precious and valuable, offering advice using the acronym “PEARL” encouraging them to resist Peer Pressure, to draw on their families Experiences, to be Ambitious, to be Responsible and to Listen, Learn, Lead and Love as they move forward in life.

The NCSA continues to play a significant role in shaping young lives through Project S.O.F.T., and the organization looks forward to seeing the future success of its graduates. “Who knows,” the chairman added, “perhaps in a few years, you will come back to help us by being a counsellor at a Project S.O.F.T. camp.” (PR)

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CHILDREN TREATED TO A DAY OF FUN

Some of the children receiving their back to school goody bags from BNOCL CEO, James Browne and Tradewind Tankers represented, Mikel Juan Panek

Over 300 children in Barbados enjoyed a day of fun and excitement at the recent Back-to-School Giveaway sponsored by Tradewind Tankers and the Barbados National Oil Company (BNOCL). The free event featured a variety of activities as well as free school supplies, food and drinks,

Tradewind Tankers, a shipping firm that operates and owns a diverse fleet of oil/chemical tankers and dry bulk carriers is a vendor of BNOCL, was eager to give back to the Barbadian community in a meaningful way. The company’s involvement in the Back-to-School Giveaway was a testament to its commitment to corporate social responsibility.

“We were thrilled to be a part of this wonderful event,” said Mikel Panek from Tradewind Tankers. “It was an opportunity for us to make a positive impact on the lives of young people in Barbados.”

Samantha Hazlewood-Ermay, Marketing & Public Relations Officer at BNOCL, expressed her satisfaction with the event’s success. “The Back-to-School Giveaway was a wonderful experience for everyone involved,” she said. “The children were overjoyed to receive school supplies and enjoy the festivities, and we were delighted to be able to support local small businesses as well.”

BNOCL and Tradewind Tankers are already looking forward to hosting a similar event next year, providing even more opportunities for Barbadian children to benefit from their generosity. (PR)

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Caribbean Association Of Probation And Parole To Launch Next Week

Regional efforts to address crime and promote the rehabilitation of offenders will receive a boost, next week, with the launch of the Caribbean Association of Probation and Parole (CAPP), in Barbados.

On Monday, September 9, and Tuesday, September 10, 20 delegates from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, the Turks & Caicos and Trinidad & Tobago, will meet with their local counterparts at the Sagicor Cave Hill School of Business and Management, Cave Hill, St. Michael. The event will begin at 9:00 a.m. on both days.

The purpose of the CAPP is to serve as a platform for coordination, collaboration, and capacity-building among its member countries. The regional association is also expected to facilitate the development and implementation of standardised practices, advocacy for policy reforms, and resource mobilisation for probation services.

Representatives from the Barbados Probation Department’s key stakeholder agencies will also attend the two-day event. They include members of the Judiciary and the legal fraternity; the Government Industrial School, the Barbados Prison Service, The Barbados Police Service, the Child Care Board, the National Council on Substance Abuse, OAS/CICAD, the Maria Holder Trust and UNICEF.

Other stakeholders slated to participate are the Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit, Drug Education and Counselling Services, UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Sandy Lane Charitable Trust, the Division of Youth Affairs, the Ministry of Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology, The University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus and Scotiabank.

Monday’s opening ceremony will feature a keynote address by Professor of Management and Organisational Behaviour at The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Dwayne Devonish. That day’s agenda will also include a panel discussion entitled: “Challenges and Opportunities in Probation Parole”, led by representatives from Anguilla, Jamaica and The Bahamas.

On Tuesday, September 10, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Alliston Seale will be the featured speaker. The day’s agenda will also include a panel discussion on “Innovations in Probation and Parole”, led by participants from St. Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos.

The event will close with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding among member countries. (PR/GIS)