Local

OFFSHORE LICENSING BID OPENS DEC. 1ST

Barbados is expected to open its Offshore Licensing Bid Round on December 1, 2022.

This disclosure came yesterday from Minister of State in Foreign Trade and Business, Sandra Husbands, as she addressed the opening of the three-day Energy Local Content Workshop and Share Fair, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

Ms. Husbands told her audience: “Recently, at the International Meeting for Applied Geoscience and Energy, which was held…in Houston, Texas, the Ministry of Energy and Business formally announced its plans to launch the Barbados 2022 Offshore Licensing Round on December 1, 2022.

Minister of State in Foreign Trade and Business, Sandra Husbands (centre), making a point to Economic Adviser, Commonwealth Secretariat, Victor Kitange; while (from left) Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Debra Dowridge; Chief Project Analyst in the Ministry of Energy and Business, Bryan Haynes; and legal advisor at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Dr Chilenye Nwapi (GIS)

“Interested companies will be invited to nominate acreage from available blocks, for inclusion in the bidding process. The upcoming licensing round presents an opportunity to explore the island’s untapped deep-water potential under a competitive legal, fiscal and regulatory framework.”

Ms. Husbands underscored the importance of the energy sector, saying it was key to transforming the economy of Barbados. In expressing the view that energy is critical to national development, she said it creates and facilitates possible investments, innovations, new industries, and jobs. These, she added, were important to sustain economic growth.

“The new global economy is being driven by renewable energy, energy ownership, and energy investment. These realities and the need to make local businesses viable to compete on the international market help to inform the mandate of the Barbados Energy Local Content Development Project.

“However, the ultimate goal is to ensure that the country’s transition from fossil fuels to 100 per cent renewable energy sources is realised. This way, we can ensure that all Barbadians have access to energy that is reasonably priced, reliable, and sustainable,” she explained.

The Minister told the gathering that Government was supportive of efforts to develop the capabilities and competitiveness of Barbadian manufacturers, service providers, suppliers of goods, and individuals, to enable them to participate more effectively in the emerging offshore oil and gas, and renewable energy sectors’ value chain.

However, she noted that several barriers were identified by Government and the Commonwealth Secretariat as limiting the participation of local suppliers in the energy industry value-chain activities in Barbados.

She stressed that Government, with the assistance of the Commonwealth Secretariat, was seeking to address the challenges by strengthening the policy and regulatory framework for local content development and its oversight capacity.

Ms. Husbands stated: “The Barbados Energy Local Content Project has registered rapid progress since its implementation in April 2022. Already, we have evidenced the benefits of the project as its implementation progresses in full force. For the first time, energy industry stakeholders in Barbados are actively engaged and coordinated in exploring how to cooperate and collaborate among themselves and with Government to ensure that the emerging energy industry opportunities yield new economic gains and decent incomes for Barbadians….

“Our Local Content can certainly strategically position Barbados to succeed in an internationally competitive environment regarding the supply of goods and services relevant to offshore oil and gas, offshore wind, and other renewable energy installations.”

The Energy Local Content Share Fair will continue until today Wednesday, September 28, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., daily. Members of the public are encouraged to tour the various booths on display, which are showcasing projects in the oil and gas and renewable energy sectors, and interact with the various stakeholders. (PR/GIS)

Local

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.

Local

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)

Local

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.