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Regional Collaboration Vital To Address Shared Challenges

Regional collaboration in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the public and private sectors could be a crucial strategy for dealing with shared challenges, such as disrupted supply chains.

This was the consensus reached yesterday during the “High-level SIDS Ministerial Dialogue: Key Challenges and Opportunities” at the Global Supply Chain Forum at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

The session dealt with ways to address the unique transport and logistics challenges faced by small island developing states (SIDS); fostering collaboration and formulating practical, actionable solutions to boost efficiency, sustainability, and resilience; and the importance of working together as a collective to enhance the economic resilience of the Caribbean and Pacific regions.

It was moderated by Barbados’ Ambassador to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and other international organisations in Geneva, Matthew Wilson, and participants included Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds; ministers and representatives from Curaçao, Fiji, Guyana, Martinique, Seychelles, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands.

Minister Symmonds pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic was an “eye-opener” for the region, in that it forced countries to consider efforts to build greater resilience in their supply chain by finding alternative places to source products, namely food items.

He highlighted CARICOM’s 25 by 2025 Initiative, which is a long-term social and economic partnership between member states, regional organisations, producer groups, development partners and civil society.

It outlines actions and critical areas of intervention aimed at tackling the region’s rising food import bill, improve intra-regional trade, and create wealth and economic opportunity for every CARICOM Member State.

During the session, the CARICOM Private Sector Organization’s Jeffrey Hall provided an opening perspective on the region’s supply chain challenges and possible opportunities.

He highlighted six key areas:

Trade is non-negotiable for small states.
Ships follow the volume – it is a cargo problem, not a shipping capacity problem.
What matters is not the size of the country, it is the attractiveness of the port that makes it draw traders.
Ease of doing business is fundamental – predictability and transparency matter.
Regional trade and re-consolidation are underexploited; and
Capital and financing are key to building ports that people will go to but access to private capital is challenging.

Another key point highlighted during the session was the need for a Vulnerability Index that considers the unique vulnerabilities of SIDS beyond GDP per capita, which would enable middle and high-income SIDS to access concessional funding for development.

The session concluded by adopting the SIDS Ministerial Statement on Sustainable and Resilient Transport and Logistics in SIDS.

The Declaration will be referenced by UNCTAD and small island states at the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States, scheduled for May 27 to 30, 2024, in Antigua and Barbuda. (PR/GIS)

Caption: Barbados’ Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds (left), speaking during the “High-level SIDS Ministerial Dialogue: Key Challenges and Opportunities” at the Global Supply Chain Forum at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, yesterday. Looking on is Curaçao’s Minister of Traffic, Transportation and Urban Planning, Charles Cooper

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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.