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Prime Minister Mottley praised by PAHO

PAHO Director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, praises Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley during the second National Humanitarian Awards Ceremony at Kensington Oval, along with President of Barbados The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason

The leadership, vision, and determination of Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been lauded by Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Carissa Faustina Etienne.

The plaudits came Sunday November 20th, following Dr. Etienne’s acceptance of the island’s highest Humanitarian Award, the Honorary Freedom of Barbados Award, at the second National Humanitarian Awards Ceremony, held at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown.

President The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, presented the award at the event that also recognised the yeoman service given by a wide cross-section of front-line workers during the pandemic.

Dr. Etienne, whose award was for her leadership team and friendship to Barbados during “the darkest days of the pandemic”, said to PM Mottley: “I applaud your leadership, your vision and your determination. The caliber of your leadership was fully evident during the pandemic as you so ably steered your country and so skillfully shepherded CARICOM and CARICOM heads during the early dark days of COVID 19.

“You repeatedly sought the advice of our experts and acted boldly while respecting the science and international norms and standards. I was so proud of you as I do hope that your people are, that it became a singular pleasure to provide technical cooperation to you and Barbados through those challenging times. Yes, we became midnight friends in an unprecedented battle.”

Frontline workers and support staff across all sectors were also reminded by the PAHO Director that they were heroes who had served admirably “in one of the worst periods in the history of public health”.

“We celebrate you today, (Sunday) we celebrate your resolve, your commitment to serve others and your sheer determination to get the job done no matter what!” the PAHO Director stated.

Noting that her expression of gratitude was not only for the award and recognition but also for the opportunity to have served the island, she called on Barbadians ‘to search deeply within”.

She declared: “All of us have been touched and we will never be the same again. We must harness the diligence and determination, this strength, this humanity, to rebuild our families, our communities, and our nations. Grateful, also to her organisation,

Dr. Etienne added: “I describe myself as a servant leader, and at PAHO I have been blessed with a staff whose dedication and commitment is second to no other. I humbly receive this award with them in mind and reiterate my sincere gratitude to the national authority and people of Barbados.” (PR/GIS)

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SPECIAL POLLING DAY NOTICE

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FundAccess To Host Legal Clinic Workshop from May 13th

Entrepreneurs will soon get another opportunity to learn about critical legal matters that are key to the operation of their businesses.

FundAccess will be hosting The Legal Clinic Workshop, which will commence on Tuesday, May 13, and continue each Tuesday, until May 27, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The workshop will be facilitated by Attorney-at-law Ondene Kirton and participants will discuss Understanding Business Legal Structures; Contracts & Agreements; Employment Law & Compliance; and Examination of the Various Laws Relating to Small Business.

During those sessions, the participants will be exposed to sole proprietorship, partnerships, corporations – pro and cons; how to choose the right legal structure for a business; the importance of contracts in business operations; avoiding common contract pitfalls; and employee rights & employer responsibilities, among others. Some of the pieces of legislation to be examined include the Employment Rights Act and National Insurance and Social Security Act.

Interested persons may attend the workshop in person at FundAccess’ Pinfold Street, Bridgetown location, or online via the Zoom Platform. To register, click on the following link: https://bit.ly/3Fu09Jv.

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Centenarian Built On Firm Foundation Set By Grandmother

“Trust God first” is the mantra of one of Barbados’ newest centenarians, Athelstan Browne, who celebrated his 100th birthday on April 29, 2025, at his home in Montrose, Christ Church, surrounded by family and friends.

One of his specially invited guests was President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason.

Mr. Browne shared that he grew up “not knowing a mummy” as his mother passed away at age 23, when he was two years old, and his brother was only one year old.

Crediting his grandmother for his upbringing, Mr. Brown remarked: “I had a real good, good grandmother that raised two of us, and everything we learn before we went to school, she taught us.”

Pointing to a humble yet deeply religious upbringing, Mr. Browne said: “I and my brother slept on the floor. Our grandmother spread things down there, and she just put the pillow under our head.”

He recalled that they had to sing the hymn “Under the Blood” before going to bed, and first thing in the morning before they had breakfast, which usually consisted of “a cup of tea and two biscuits”. Adding that the hymn was “our song”, Mr. Browne sang the hymn from memory.

Stressing that his grandmother was a great provider, he noted: “My grandmother had land, and she would work the land…. We would eat raw potato, raw okras, (green) peas, cucumbers…. The only thing we did not eat was raw yams and eddoes.”

Mr. Browne continues to enjoy his ground provisions “with a little rice”, as he likes his rice with green peas, and if available, chicken boiled with the rice. “I am a fish man,” he remarked, eating it either fried or with a “stew sauce”.

Continuing to nurture his Christian beliefs, he joined the Mount Ararat United Holy Church (currently in Dayrell’s Road, Christ Church) in 1967, at age 33, and has continued there ever since.

Once the Superintendent of the Sunday School at the church, Mr. Browne is still instrumental in providing leadership to the youth there. “I have a crowd of young people at church that love me…especially when I have to talk to them…. It is what they should hear and what they should have,” he said.

The centenarian was raised in Montrose, Christ Church, and attended the Christ Church Boys’ School (now Milton Lynch Primary School). After leaving school, Mr. Browne initially took to agriculture but then worked cutting soft stone in two quarries in Christ Church.

In 1947, at the age of 22, he decided to join the US Farm Labour Programme and took the first Pan American Airlines flight out of Barbados. Over 10 years later, Mr. Browne returned to Barbados and married Monica Browne (deceased). Together, they built the house where he currently resides.

Returning to his roots in agriculture, the centenarian worked at the Ridge Plantation, Christ Church, until retirement. He also planted and reaped ground produce at home, as well as planted and cut canes.

Mr. Browne, who is generally in good health and has a sharp memory, still works around the home and enjoys reading, which he does without glasses. He also keeps in touch with his family in New York and North Carolina, and will do some travelling, but he is always ready to return home.

After toasting the centenarian, Her Excellency remarked: “You are in the midst of a lot of love, and I am sure you are going to enjoy the rest of your birthday. I am really happy to have met you. I am grateful for the work that you still continue to do with our young people because a lot of them lack direction, and we, nowadays, don’t take enough time to sit down and speak with them…. We don’t remind them that they are important, that they are somebody.”

Mr. Browne responded: “You got to make them understand what … the Lord expects of them… We have to acknowledge the Lord.”

Mr. Browne has two children, 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. (PR/GIS)

Caption: President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, and Barbados’ newest centenarian Athelstan Browne take a walk outside during his birthday celebrations in Montrose, Christ Church