A policy that tackles head-on the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS at the workplace has been launched.
The National Workplace Policy on HIV/AIDS covers areas like non-discrimination on the basis of known or perceived HIV status, confidentiality, HIV testing in the workplace, and greater involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS, among others.
A major objective is to provide a framework for prevention of further spread of HIV and mitigation of the socio-economic impact of the virus in the workplace.
Mrs. Sally Anne Bagwhan Logie, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, says the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy must be adhered to.
“An employer should not ask a potential employee on his status. If the person wants to disclose that he is positive, they can do it. We are looking for confidentiality,” Mrs. Bagwhan Logie said.
Health Minister Nickolas Steele says the stigma associated with the virus prevents people from coming forward to be tested or receive medication.
“At the end of 2015 there were five hundred and eighty-four reported cases of HIV and two hundred and sixty-two cases of AIDS, but I can say categorically that because of the stigma society places on both HIV/AIDS some people don’t come forward,” Minister Steele said.
While there is no specific sanction with respect to discrimination for HIV/AIDS infected persons, the Labour Code and Constitution speak to the rights and sanctions for discrimination in the workplace.
Hon Minister for Tourism Senator Robert Tonge
Air access to and from Dominica has significantly improved. So says the Hon Minister for Tourism Senator Robert Tonge. Sen Tonge revealed that since negotiations with LIAT earlier this year, flights that were otherwise difficult to book are now possible.
The Hon. Tourism Minister and the Hon. Minister for Ports, Senator Miriam Blanchard met with the management of LIAT on behalf of government on May 10th 2016.
That meeting gave government an opportunity to state clearly Dominica’s position on the airline’s quality of service to the country as well as to hear directly from LIAT the current challenges facing the airline.
“We had negotiations with LIAT recently and I must say it has gotten better to the point that I was able to travel recently very easily with LIAT being on time. We had a very interesting meeting at my office discussing a very important topic and for the business person one was able to come in the same day and leave on the same day. A couple months ago this was impossible.”
Senator Tonge was speaking at the first Caribbean Aviation Meet Up conference which got underway here on Tuesday, June 14th.
Minister of the Environment and Drainage, Dr. Denis Lowe. (FP)
Significant progress has been made in the collection of waste across Barbados, following the activation of Government’s emergency response (ERT) team.
This is according to Minister of the Environment and Drainage, Dr. Denis Lowe, who has also given the assurance that once the country has passed the present hurdle, all efforts would be made to avoid a re-occurrence.
He was speaking to the media following the presentation of NIFCA Environment Awards for 2014 and 2015 at his Warrens, St. Michael, office yesterday.
The Minister said that significant progress was made in the Pie Corner and Moontown, St. Lucy areas, and along Highway 5, going from Ilaro Court, through to St. Philip, via Boarded Hall and South District in St. George. “These areas are completely clean, and The City and Bay Street areas are [also] doing well,” he said, noting that he received regular updates on the progress being made.
Dr. Lowe said the ERT programme would continue throughout Crop Over, Independence and Christmas, before concluding in February next year. “By then, we would have caught up and been able to replenish our fleet. We have started the process…we are just waiting on the Ministry of Finance to release the funds to purchase the vehicles,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Minister said surveillance teams from Drainage Division were checking wells and culverts, and there was a programme in place for the continuous cleaning of wells.
However, while these measures are being instituted, Dr. Lowe called on the public to assist the Ministry by finding more environmentally-friendly ways to dispose of green waste, which would include lawn grass and tree trimmings, to avoid it being included with their municipal (household) garbage.
“That is putting some extra pressure on the collection programme because of course a lot of those things can be put in…a heap and be decomposed and become part of the composting process,” he pointed out. He warned that such bags would be marked but not collected.
The Environment Minister also challenged journalists to not only highlight waste around the country, but also the fact that it has been collected.
“We are not denying that waste is built-up around the country. What we have to do is find a sustainable way of keeping the country clean. It is really a partnership. One, it has to do with the diligence of the Sanitation Service Authority to continue to do its work, but it also has to do with householders and persons who make it a habit to litter and to indiscriminately move their waste from one community to another,” he said.
This July, Saint Lucia hotels offer travelers a variety of ways to celebrate Lucian Carnival, the premier cultural event of the year celebrating the island’s African and Catholic heritage, with promotional deals up to 50 percent off standard rates.
One of the Caribbean’s most exciting festivals, Saint Lucian Carnival is a rich display of sights, sounds, and a spectacle that takes place July 13- 19, 2016. As Carnival celebrations begin visitors can learn to lime like a local during a week filled with parties, competitions and exhibitions. From the King & Queen of the Band competition to Junior Carnival, J’ouvert and the Parade of the Bands, Lucian Carnival gives locals, annual revelers and visitors the opportunity to fête through the streets of Castries in true Caribbean fashion.
“A visit during Carnival season is an experience unlike any other, where travelers have the opportunity to become immersed in the Saint Lucian culture one song at a time,” says Tracey Warner-Arnold, deputy director of tourism. “As Carnival continues to grow in tourist popularity, the Saint Lucia Tourist Board in conjunction with our hotel partners are primed to welcome visitors from across the globe.”
For more information on Saint Lucia Carnival and special hotel deals, visit: http://www.stlucia.org/events/carnival/ Saint Lucian Carnival promotions offered by island hotels and resorts include: Anse Chastanet – Soufrière “Sizzling Carnival”
Book a four night stay and receive one night free; book a seven night stay and receive two nights free
Package rates start at $375 per couple, per night in standard accommodations
Breakfast and dinner can be added for $180 per couple, per day; all-inclusive meals and drinks package can be added for $340 per couple daily (meal plans complimentary on free days)
Minimum four night stay required
Book now for travel from July 15 through October 31, 2016
Capella Marigot Bay – Marigot Bay “Carnivaliscious”
Package rates start at $225 per couple, per night for a savings of 50 percent off standard rates; All-inclusive package rates start at $525 per couple, per night, for a savings of 25 percent off standard rates
Package includes a welcome amenity, access to Personal Assistant services, in-room refreshment center; All-inclusive package includes a welcome amenity, access to Personal Assistant services, in-room refreshment center, drinks by the glass at the Grill Room, Bayside Café, Rum Cave, Brut Bar and Pool Bar and daily breakfast, lunch and dinner
Book now for travel through December 19, 2016
Reservations are subject to availability; ultra-premium and top-shelf spirits not included with all-inclusive package
Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa – Vieux Fort “Sizzling Summer Savings”
All-inclusive rates start at $173 per person, per night, based on double occupancy, for a savings of 50 percent off standard rates
Includes access to Caribbean night themed dinner on the Splash Pool Deck; admission to CocoLand Kidz Klub and Water Park, entertainment and activities; unlimited juices, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages; daily meals and snacks; airport transfers; all taxes and gratuities
Book by June 30, 2016 for travel from July 1 through August 31, 2016
Supplemental charge applicable for additional children over three years old
Reservations are subject to availability and valid for new bookings only; offer cannot be combined with other specials
Book four nights or more and receive one night free and a daily $25 resort credit per room
Offer is valid for stays in the following room categories: Gros Piton Suite, Hilltop Dream Suite, Heritage Suite, and Suites at Paradise Ridge
Book by July 31, 2016 for travel from July 1 through December 22, 2016
Use code “4NT” for reservations
Reservations are subject to availability and cannot be combined with other promotions; only one free night per stay; maximum of $300 credit per room, per stay
The Landings St. Lucia – Pigeon Point, Gros Islet “Fun in the Sun”
Package rates start at $417 per night in a one bedroom Marina View suite, based on single or double occupancy, for a savings of 50 percent off standard rates
Includes welcome drink upon arrival, daily breakfast, $50 resort credit on stays of three nights or more, $100 resort credit on stays of five nights or more
Book now through July 30, 2016 for travel from July 1 through July 31, 2016
Belmopan. 16th June, 2016. The Government of Belize has received an initial report that a Belizean vessel with two media personnel was traversing the Sarstoon River this morning when they were approached by a Guatemalan Armed Forces (GAF) vessel, with nine (9) GAF persons on board. The GAF personnel attempted to stop the Belizean vessel, which, reportedly, was traveling along the north side of the Sarstoon Island. The Belizean vessel was able to speed away back to Punta Gorda.
GOB is investigating this incident in an effort to verify all its particulars including that the media vessel was in Belize’s waters. In the meantime, Guatemalan authorities have communicated that they attempted to stop the vessel to inquire as to the reason for the taking of pictures of their naval base.
GOB is thus seeking to confirm the details of the Channel 5 version of events. GOB makes clear its firm position that if the report is accurate, the incident would constitute a breach of the spirit of the Confidence Building Measures and must also be rejected as prejudicial to the ongoing diplomatic efforts, including next week’s meeting in Washington, to establish a bilateral Cooperation Mechanism for the Sarstoon.
The hospital hosted a laparoscopy workshop aimed at developing surgical techniques.
Saint Jude Hospital hosted prominent surgeon Professor Dilip Dan, for a three-day workshop aimed at developing surgical laparoscopic techniques, earlier this week.
The laparoscopy workshop ran from June 13 – 15, with surgeons from Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Trinidad, and Barbados performing three operations daily. Monday’s session was headed by Professor Dan.
The workshop comes ahead of the 14th annual conference of the Caribbean College of Surgeons which will take place from June 16 – 18 at the Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa in Vieux Fort.
The conference will feature a variety of presentations from a cadre of distinguished local, regional and international surgeons, ranging from the management of gastro-intestinal bleeds and updates on the latest technology in cancer diagnosis and management, to advances in trauma and burn management.
The Premier and Minister of Health of Turks and Caicos, Dr. Rufus W. Ewing, is among those expected to be in attendance.
The annual conferences have enabled the Caribbean College of Surgeons to help increase the quality of surgical care for patients in the Caribbean via a global mix of experiences that continues to raise Caribbean standards and education in the art and practice of surgery.
Laparoscopic surgery, also known as keyhole surgery, allows surgeons to use small incisions guided by a camera to perform operations. The result is more cosmetically appealing since it leaves minimal scarring.
Saint Jude Hospital first began performing laparoscopic surgery in February 2016, affording the treatment to citizens in the south.
Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, delivers the keynote address at the Jamaica Diaspora Northeast United States Talawah Awards gala on Saturday in Queens, New York. (Photo: JIS)
Diaspora Policy will maximise contribution of overseas Jamaicans.
Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith, says the Government’s move to adopt a National Diaspora Policy will provide a framework to maximise the contribution of overseas nationals for Jamaica’s development.
She noted that the policy, to be implemented in short order, will also address issues of concern to the diaspora.
Senator Johnson Smith was addressing the Jamaica Diaspora Northeast United States Talawah Awards gala in Queens, New York, on June 11.
She noted that the Government is committed to deepening and strengthening engagement with the Jamaican diaspora, which remains an invaluable asset to the country.
“Indeed, engagement and involvement of the diaspora is a major pillar of Jamaica’s foreign policy, and the Ministry and its missions overseas will play a greater role in this new thrust,” she said.
The Foreign Minister pledged that the Ministry will use innovative methods and create new paradigms to ensure that “you the diaspora have a great voice and greater involvement in our nation”.
Senator Johnson Smith said the Ministry is also seeking to broaden its outreach to non-traditional locations where Jamaicans live and work. This includes the Caribbean, Asia, Africa and Latin America.
She lauded members of the diaspora for their philanthropic contributions, which she said have made a significant impact on many lives and communities in Jamaica.
he Hon Minister for National Security, Rayburn Blackmoore
The Hon Minister for National Security, Rayburn Blackmoore is calling on nationals to redirect their energy to nation-building as opposed to inciting violence.
He is supporting statements by the Chief of Police, Daniel Carbon who, on Monday, June 20th, expressed concern over radio talk show comments which he believes incite violence and acts of lawlessness.
The Hon. Minister believes that nationals should focus their attention on more important matters.
“In concurrence to what the Chief of Police has said I believe that there are so many positive things we can be doing as a people. We are just bouncing back from the ravages of Erika and we should have a responsibility to embark on the national reconstruction effort. People have the right to express themselves but there are provisions in law for that to be done.
The fact of the matter is an act does not have to take place for the offense of incitement to be committed. The mere utterances which will cause one to contemplate and think or to create the impression that you are asking somebody to break the law would constitute the offense of incitement.”
Hon. Blackmoore emphasized that a key priority of government is the safety of its citizens.
“The state will continue to provide the police all the support that the police department requires to ensure that peace is maintained and the spirit of law is maintained in this country.”
Industry Minister, Donville Inniss, presenting a token of appreciation to Hennessy Brand Ambassador, Maurice Hennessy at yesterday's function at Sandy Lane. (C.Pitt/BGIS)
Barbados is on the “radar” as being the leading consuming country per capita of the Hennessy International brand.
And, as it celebrates its 50th year of Independence, as well as 77 years of partnership with Hennessy, Barbados is on its way to establishing the “perfect relationship” with the 250- year-old brand.
That is the assertion of Industry Minister, Donville Inniss, who delivered the feature address last night at Hennessy’s Cocktail reception, at the Spa, Sandy Lane Hotel, St. James.
Stating that it was not just about the many years Hennessy has been in Barbados and its contribution to this country at its golden milestone, Mr. Inniss reinforced that it was also an opportunity to celebrate a product that has been “quietly but steadfastly” gaining ground in this country, to the point that Hennessy is now the premium drink locally.
He continued: “Barbados, certainly in terms of the global footprint of the Hennessy brand, is perhaps one of the most significant locations for the sale of Hennessy. I think that if there is one significant point that we can gather here … is the fact that this product that started back in Cognac, France by an Irishman in 1765, has today captured in a bottle what is the epitome of strong family values and, of course, years of producing a high quality product.
“And, perhaps there lies a lesson for all of us involved in industry to recognise the importance of sticking to our values, the importance of ensuring that there is consistency and quality in whatever you produce and whatever you do. And, that to me is the most different aspect of the Hennessy brand that we can certainly capture and reflect on here in Barbados.”
The Industry Minister also thanked the Hennessy Artistry group and the Crop Over bands for their “immense work and partnership going forward”.
He further added that Barbados exported some $85 million in rum-based products on an annual basis, and when he reflected on the statistics for the last five years, Barbados has been exporting on average over $49 million in spirits.
“That should indicate to you that this economy and society recognises the fact that we have a growing international clientele manifested through our tourism sector that needs to have options, and Hennessy is a significant part of that option that we afford to those who visit our shores, and Barbadians as well who wish to have the option in what they consume,” Mr. Inniss underscored.
Persons planning to travel to Brazil for the Olympic Games in August are reminded that they will need to be vaccinated against yellow fever.
The Ministry of Health, in an advisory issued today, informed persons travelling to all areas endemic for yellow fever that they should receive the vaccine at least six weeks prior to travelling, or as soon as their travel arrangements were known.
It further advised that the vaccine provided lifetime immunity, and so those who had been vaccinated in the past and were in possession of their yellow fever certificate, did not need to be vaccinated a second time.
The vaccine is administered at the Winston Scott Polyclinic, Jemmotts Lane, St. Michael, and members of the public should call 227-7725 to make arrangements to receive it.
Endemic areas for yellow fever include some countries in South and Central America, as well as Central and Sub-Saharan Africa. The Ministry has assured the public that it is closely monitoring the international yellow fever situation.
