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PRESIDENT’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

It is with a feeling of thankfulness that I reach out to greet fellow Barbadians, residents and visitors on this Christmas Day 2022. Some cynics may ask the question what is there to be thankful for and I would reply that there is so much to be thankful for and this brings to mind the chorus that many children will know.

‘Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He’s given
Jesus Christ, His Son,
And now let the weak say ‘I am strong’
Let the poor say ‘I am rich’
Because of what the Lord has done for us
Give thanks’

If I was fully confident with my singing ability, I would sing it for emphasis.

Over the past year, we all know that there have been several events that have impacted on our daily lives. We can readily think of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in the Ukraine, the global effects of climate change and the list goes on.

In many instances, the impact has brought negative economic consequences, such as the increase in prices because of the challenges with supply chain issues. But with our resilience we are still here, finding ways to deal with every adverse situation.

We have seen the reduction in the restrictions in the COVID-19 protocols which have allowed us to engage in many activities. Children have returned to school and there is a sense of some of the ‘pre 2019 normality’. However, COVID is still with us and we have to be mindful of the advice of the Chief Medical Officer and other health officials.

We, in Barbados, have been spared the worst effects of the recently concluded hurricane season and in a general way we have resumed our daily lives as we celebrate at this Christmas time.

The Christmas season has been traditionally the time that Barbadians take the opportunity to travel to spend time with relatives, to make improvements in their homes and to plan large family gatherings and the like. However, more importantly as the chorus reminded us, we celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas time and reflect on the significance of this event in our daily lives.

We enjoy the beautiful Christmas Carols and music, we share the love, peace and hope of the season with the exchanging of gifts and helping the less fortunate among us and there is a general feeling of peace and contentment. And it should be so.

It is at this time, I want us to reflect and think in our own family setting of how we can tackle the increase in violence in our society.

It is not an external problem. We have to play our part to make our families and communities the best that they can be. There is no perfect setting in which we live. The setting for Jesus’ birth was no mansion on the hill but a lowly manger.

We, in Barbados, well know that we are not defined by our environment. We can reach for the stars.

We must instill in our children a love of God, a love of life and a purpose for our lives and we must lead by example. Are we talking with our children? Are we listening to them and spending quality time with them?

I am well aware that times have changed and we are living in a technological age. Family structures have changed and there are the increasing stresses of life. However, the family, whatever the structure, is still the nucleus of our existence and we have to nurture it to care for our children.

There was a time not so long in Barbados when one of the highlights of Christmas was going to church on Christmas morning. How many parents now make the time to take their young children to church at this special time and indeed throughout the year?

Sunday School and church going are not just for the middle aged persons and elderly in our communities. It is for the young to instill and reinforce Christian principles and values, which should be taught in the home as a starting point.

It is the norm in our fast paced environment for parents in every stratum of our society to juggle time-tables for extracurricular activities on weekends but it seems that an hour cannot be included in the juggling for church attendance.

The nativity scene reminds of the importance of family and family support. Parenting is important and my journey thus far has served to reinforce my views that parent education is important and many of our traditional values have merit, even in today’s world.

We have a lot to do within families as a starting point to make a positive difference in our society. There is no better time to start this work than at Christmas when we spread joy, hope and peace, which are associated with the birth of the Christ Child.

We can make a positive difference in the lives of our children and their children. So, I am not only thankful but hopeful and prayerful that we can spread the love and joy of the season by our every action throughout the year, within our families and communities to make Barbados a better place.

I wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year.

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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.