Educaation

Transport Board Prepares For Back-To-School

The Transport Board’s logistical and technical preparations for back-to-school are well on the way.

Chief Operations Officer of the Transport Board, Lynda Holder, recently indicated that the route network had been updated and commuters were able to review the school bus schedule online at www.transportboard.com.

Mrs. Holder also disclosed that the Transport Board would be introducing inspectors to The Alleyne School and the Grantley Adams Memorial School to assist with better bus deployment and to help students move easily through the route network. Inspectors are already assigned to the Daryll Jordan Secondary School and The Lodge School.

She explained that these four rural schools relied largely on the Transport Board’s service as they didn’t have other alternatives. “So, the role of the inspectors is primarily to manage and monitor the services that we deliver to the schools, and if something goes awry, as it can happen, they will be our main link of communication to the schools to say either the bus has or has not arrived, or that they need additional services because we miscalculated the number of children who are taking buses.”

Mrs. Holder also emphasised that the Transport Board would prioritise the transportation of school children from 6:30 to 9:30 a.m., and again from approximately 2:00 p.m., as the aim is to have the bus by the school for when classes are finished. “It does not mean that we ignore the other commuters, but it means our focus and the bulk of our services go towards the schools. This might result in some delays for other commuters. It isn’t that we do not care about other commuters, but there is a responsibility to make sure that the most vulnerable in our society, in this case, students, are not standing on the side of the road for extended periods.”

The Chief Operating Officer further outlined that the Transport Board is enhancing its communication with commuters. Terminal clerks will announce delays and schedule changes to ensure that regular commuters are not left stranded or wondering what has happened.

She advised: “If there are alternatives, you can employ those alternatives. For instance, if you are travelling somewhere along the Bayfield route, and there is no Bayfield bus, but Bayfield has lots of alternatives there; you would be able to decide if you want to take the alternative, or if you prefer to wait in the terminal because you wish to travel with us.”

Ms. Holder added that the Transport Board was wrapping up its major technical and mechanical bus maintenance programme, which is ramped up during the summer. “We are going through our checks again to make sure when school reopens next week, everything is in place and safe for the passengers,” she said. (PR/GIS)

Educaation

The UWI Cave Hill & UNCTAD Sign Partnership MOU

The University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus, the Shridath Ramphal Centre for International Trade Law, Policy and Services, and the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to further trade-related research and cooperation.

The MOU was signed by Principal of The UWI Cave Hill Campus, Professor Clive Landis, and UNCTAD’s Deputy Secretary General, Pedro Manuel Moreno, on Tuesday, June 18.

It was witnessed by Barbados’ Ambassador to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other International Organizations in Geneva, Matthew Wilson, who also serves on the Board of the Shridath Ramphal Centre; Director of the Centre, Dr. Jan Yves Remy, and The UWI’s Cave Hill Dean of Social Sciences, Professor Troy Lorde.

The partnership is a direct outcome of the recent Global Supply Chain Forum held in Barbados in May and builds on almost 20 years of collaboration between The UWI and UNCTAD, specifically concerning annual visits to Geneva by students.

A focus of the partnership going forward will be on joint research, especially in the area of the blue and green economy, building on the Villars Framework, and supporting trade-related data and analysis.

Principal Landis praised the collaboration and said it was an input into the ongoing work on ‘remaking trade’, led by Dr. Remy and other academics under the Villars Framework.

UNCTAD’s Deputy Secretary General Moreno pointed out that the MOU represents a continuation of the long collaboration between UN Trade and Development and the Caribbean.

Ambassador Wilson, who has been involved in the Centre’s MITP Programme for almost two decades, stated: “The policy support and analysis that can result from this partnership will be incredibly useful for the small Caribbean missions in Geneva, which often have to cover a multitude of issues and need quick policy contributions.”

Students of the Shridath Ramphal Centre’s MITP Programme have been in Geneva for two weeks as part of the Joint University Study Tour, where students visit international organisations, CARICOM embassies and missions, as well as private sector entities, to get a first-hand view of how trade practitioners, from a variety of fields and institutions, undertake their tasks and put trade policy in action.

The Barbados Mission in Geneva is hosting four interns from The UWI and the University of Newcastle, who will be shadowing the Barbados team, at meetings of the Human Rights Council and the WTO Trade Policy Review of Canada, where Ambassador Wilson is serving as the discussant. (PR/GIS)

CAPTION: Principal of The UWI Cave Hill Campus, Professor Clive Landis (sitting left); UNCTAD’s Deputy Secretary General, Pedro Manuel Moreno (sitting right); and officials pose with the signed MOU which will further trade-related research and cooperation.

Educaation

National Council on Substance Abuse To Host Cannabis Panel Discussion

The National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA) will be hosting a panel discussion on the topic “The Grassroots of Medicinal and Recreational Cannabis.” This insightful event is scheduled for May 30, 2024 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Chesterfield Brewster Empowerment Center, Silver Hill, Christ Church.

The panel discussion aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of cannabis from various perspectives, including medicinal, recreational, and sacramental use of cannabis. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from the following panellists who are experts in their respective fields:

Mr. Joel Barrow – Nursing Officer, Psychiatric Hospital – Mr. Barrow will discuss the biopsychosocial effects of cannabis on the mind and body of the user.

Dr. Adrian Waterman, Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners – Dr. Waterman will discuss the qualifying conditions for medicinal cannabis use and address common concerns of patients regarding their treatment with medicinal cannabis.

Mr. Corey Beckles, Senior Attorney-at-Law, CBL Chambers – Mr. Beckles will discuss the legal aspects surrounding the sacramental use of cannabis.

Representative from the Barbados Police Service – the new amendment to the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act CAP 131.

The NCSA is committed to fostering informed discussions on health risks associated with using legal or illegal substances and its implications for society. This event promises to be an enlightening experience for all members of the public. For further information please, contact the NCSA at 535-6272.

Educaation

BARBADOS VOCATIONAL TRAINING BOARD

Programmes for January & February 2024 with two new courses, Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Massage Therapy for Beginners. Register today!