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New Facility At BARP To Ensure Digital Access

A new facility at the Hastings, Christ Church headquarters of the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) has been designed to give seniors digital access to all their transactions in a comfortable setting.

This was emphasised recently when President of BARP, Marilyn Rice-Bowen, declared open its new Legacy Foundation BARP Members Business Centre.

Noting it was birthed to ensure members are both trained to use and are using the various digital platforms, she attributed the Centre’s genesis to October 1, 2021, World International Day for Older People, where the chosen theme “Digital Equity For All Ages”, resonated with BARP.

“We thought that we should have a dedicated space for seniors to access the digital spaces and of course that was before and during COVID-19,” Ms. Rice-Bowen said.

The president also noted it was borne out of the realisation that about a third of BARP’s members had email addresses but no access to equipment. Lamenting this, she said: “So, you would send messages and you would realise that they are never opened. So, during COVID we realised that persons needed to be exposed to the digital platform because, to be honest, it ain’t going anywhere it is here to stay.

“Initially, when the computer and all the digital spaces were being developed, people were saying don’t worry with that; that ain’t going last too long, but it is here to stay.”

She described the new facility as a project where members can come and be exposed, use the internet, and be trained how to use the internet, for instance, to file for visa application; to meet statutory obligations, to obtain a passport, etc.

Acknowledging that BARP sought funding from the Legacy Foundation, she commended Haniff Moore and his team as well as the various Boards and directors of BARP for their “pure volunteerism”.

Mrs. Rice-Bowen, who also reflected on last week’s outages caused by CrowdStrike, said it must be realised that digital “is the way that we are going, and they are not turning back”.

Adding that BARP must ensure all members are fully equipped, she revealed that her organisation would be deepening its relationship with Legacy’s other half, the Barbados Public Workers’ Cooperative Credit Union Ltd., to have access to its automatic teller machines (ATMs) so that seniors could get the experience and exposure to the world of the ATMs.

“We want to make our seniors very comfortable with all aspects of the technology,” she said noting these included all digital platforms and the ATMs, and BARP was intent on this due to concerns about financial abuse of seniors, who may at times seek assistance in the sphere and end up sharing their passwords and cards with other people, hence giving access to their monies.

Mrs. Rice-Bowen also assured all members that BARP would hold their hands and escort them through any changes in their lives. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Kirk Humphrey (left), and Chairman of the Legacy Foundation, Maureen Graham applaud as President of the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP), Marilyn Rice-Bowen (right) officially opens the new Legacy Foundation BARP Members Business Centre

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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)