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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR THE NEW ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION POLICY

What is the new policy regarding The Barbados Police Service’s (TBPS) handling of road traffic collisions?

TBPS will attend road traffic collisions only where there is:

A fatality;
Serious injury;
A situation where there is a likely breach of the peace or acts of suspected criminality;A mass casualty traffic event; and
A pedestrian-involved accident.

TBPS will also go to the scene of an accident if the free flow of traffic has been severely interrupted or where there is a road safety issue.

What is a serious injury?

A serious injury is one where a person requires hospitalisation; or has any of the following injuries (whether or not the person is detained in hospital) – fractures, concussion, internal injuries, crushing, severe cuts and lacerations, as well as severe general shock requiring treatment.

Why is the policy being introduced?

The management of The Barbados Police Service has recognised that a tremendous number of man-hours are expended on the response to accidents that do not involve serious injuries or road fatalities. There will be a more efficient use of police resources by not attending incidents that do not require a police presence.

When will the policy take effect?

The policy will take effect on Sunday, September 15, 2024.

Is this policy in place in other countries?

It is followed in many countries, including:

United States of America
United Kingdom, and
Canada, to a lesser extent.

What should a person who is involved in an accident do?

It is the duty of the parties to stop and exchange information.

What action does The Barbados Police Service take once a motorist reports an accident to 211?

When the report is made and there is no fatal or serious injury, specific information will be taken to determine whether the presence of a police officer is needed at the scene.

The information includes:

Is the traffic flow interrupted?
Did a driver leave the scene without exchanging the required information?
Is a pedestrian involved?
Is it a mass casualty accident?
Is there likely to be a breach of the peace or an act of suspected criminality?

If it is determined that a police officer is not needed, the person reporting the accident will be informed and advised to contact his or her insurance company.

Where the presence of the police is deemed necessary, police officers will be deployed.

If a motorist feels pain a few days after the accident, what should he/she do?

Motorists should seek medical attention and contact their insurance company.

Have the insurance companies’ accident investigators been trained for this change?

Responders from the insurance companies have been trained by The Barbados Police Service at the Regional Police Training Centre. These courses have been specifically structured so that the insurance companies’ investigators can gather the required information to facilitate any future civil action.

What if the other party does not have insurance?

An investigation will be conducted and if that is proven, the necessary court process may be instituted to deal with the defaulting parties.

What if the other driver leaves the scene before the insurance representative arrives?

The person has 24 hours to report an accident to the police. He/she should also report the accident to the insurance representative. If that person leaves the scene of an accident without complying with the law, he/she may be prosecuted.
Additionally, it is suggested that all persons involved in vehicular accidents should, wherever possible, use their cellular phones to record the scene.

How will this new policy benefit The Barbados Police Service?

The new policy will allow for the more efficient use of police resources and facilitate timely responses to other calls for service and enforcing the law.
The implementation of this new initiative will allow The Barbados Police Service to reduce the response time to emergency and critical situations.

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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)