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

Christ Church Girls’ School Wins ‘Battle Of The Bots’

The Christ Church Girls’ School is the winner of the Barbados Light and Power (BL&P) Company Limited’s ‘Battle of the Bots’ Primary School Coding and Robotics Competition for 2024.

On May 30, the BL&P, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, launched its competition entitled ‘Battle of the Bots’.

The competition saw entries from Classes One to Four students at nine primary schools across the island. Those schools were Christ Church Girls’, Ellerton Primary, Milton Lynch Primary, West Terrace Primary, St. Lawrence Primary, Sharon Primary, Blackman Gollop Primary, Arthur Smith Primary and St. Christopher Primary.

The all-girls contingent also nabbed the number one spots in the Go Construct and Go Construct IQ segments. Meanwhile, the students from the Blackman and Gollop school, who were second-place winners, were awarded the prize for the Best All Round team. The third to fifth-place winners were Arthur Smith Primary, Ellerton Primary and West Terrace Primary, respectively.

Chief Education Officer, Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, while delivering her remarks ahead of the presentation of prizes yesterday, said the competition was not just an event, but a journey of exploration, collaboration, and relentless pursuit of excellence, through the use of funding and the combination of the efforts of students, participants, teachers, and coaches.

Dr. Archer-Bradshaw further stated that initiatives such as the coding and robotics competition have a transformative power in shaping young minds, preparing them for challenges and opportunities of tomorrow, while paving the way for a great future.

“The competition has taught them that success is not merely about winning trophies or accolades; it’s about the journey of personal growth and development that each participant has undertaken. Through competitions such as these, our students learn the invaluable lesson of teamwork and of harnessing individual strengths to achieve collective greatness,” she said.

The Chief Education Officer added that the ethos of this collaboration instilled in the children the importance of cooperation, communication, and mutual support and respect, skills that are fundamental, not only for competition, but in all aspects of life.

“The pursuit of being the best is the cornerstone of competitions such as ‘Battle of the Bots’. It is about setting ambitious goals, pushing boundaries, and exceeding expectations…. This robotics competition has allowed students to learn the value of perseverance and self-determination; qualities that pave the way for achievement and success, not just in schools, but in future careers and the relationships that they may form,” she said.

Dr. Archer-Bradshaw also told the students that striving for greatness is more than ambition, but it is a mindset and a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.

“This ‘Battle of the Bots’ has challenged our students to think creatively, to innovate, to find solutions to complex problems. They have learned that through this process there is greatness, and this greatness is not an end point, but a journey to constant evolution and refinement,” she stated.

Highlighting that the Ministry recognised that commitment to lifelong learning is critical to education transformation, the Education Chief said that through this initiative, the students had developed a passion for discovery and exploration that extends far beyond the competition arena.

She also pointed out that the participants had embraced the culture of curiosity and continuous learning; a mindset that prepares them not just for today’s challenges, but for opportunities and prospects for the future. She added that the goals of empowering students to reach their full potential and cultivating essential skills for success had been reached.

Dr. Archer-Bradshaw encouraged the students to applaud their principals, teachers and coaches while acknowledging that their guidance and support were the driving force behind their overall success.

“As we witness the achievements and milestones of today’s competition, let us remember that the true measure of success lies not in the trophies won, but in the lives transformed and the futures inspired, thus leading to a bright future for every child,” 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.