Director and Founder of the Bim Literary Festival, Esther Phillips, has expressed concern about the number of persons who cannot read.
And, Ms. Phillips said the festival is designed to give assistance in correcting this deficiency by promoting literacy and encouraging the love of literature.
She made the comments to the media today after delivering brief remarks at the start of the Bim Literary Festival and Book Fair at the National Library Service in Independence Square.
She added that a Children’s Lit Fest was also developed as part of the three-day activity to encourage children to read from an early age.
She underscored the importance of the festival, saying that it highlighted the literary heritage of Barbados by giving persons an opportunity to celebrate what writers had done for 50 years.
“It gives us the opportunity to look at our iconic writers like George Lamming, Kamau Brathwaite and Austin Clarke, as well as highlight our more contemporary writers,” she explained.
Ms. Phillips described the festival as not only being about entertainment but intellectual stimulation. “And there is something really wonderful about having a room full of people whose brains are firing with all kinds of wonderful ideas, some controversial and some innovative, and we will have the privilege of being exposed to them,” she stated.
Fifty Years of Independence is the theme of the festival, which takes place in and around Independence Square, including the National Library Service, Days Books Store, Waterfront Café and the Festival Tent. It will feature a variety of Barbadian and Caribbean authors, who write on various themes and in a range of styles, as well as readings, panel discussions, workshops and master classes.
The festival’s launch will be tomorrow, Friday, May 13, at Ilaro Court. Evan Marshall, son of renowned American writer of Barbadian parentage, Paule Marshall, will receive the Writers’ Ink’s Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of his mother, from Prime Minister Freundel Stuart.
Ms. Marshall’s first novel, Brown Girl, Brownstones, published in 1959, celebrates her visits to Barbados as a child, and a dramatised excerpt of the book was performed today at the National Library Service. The first Bim Literary Festival was held in 2012.
St. Lucia Governor General, Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy
The lecture series is designed to honor the intellectual contributions and influence of Her Excellency, Dame Pearlette Louisy.
The Governor General Legacy Committee has embarked on an initiative to preserve and maintain the legacy of the Governor General.
On May 9, members of the Governor General Legacy Committee gathered at Government House to host the first lecture.
The Governor General Lecture series is designed to honor the intellectual contributions and influence of Her Excellency, Dame Pearlette Louisy.
Sir Marcus Setchell, a retired surgeon/ gynecologist who delivered Prince George of Wales, delivered on the topic, “How Royal Births Changed History 1509 – 2013: A reflection of improved child birth outcomes.”
Governor General, Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy thanked the committee for the initiative.
“Let me take this opportunity to publicly to thank the legacy committee for the initiative. It takes a certain amount of goodwill and faith in the recipient to devote that type of time and effort to preserve, or rather, to build my legacy.”
The Governor General Legacy Committee is hoping to gain public support as they continue to unveil various projects.
The first disbursement of funds from the budget of “Genetic improvement in Sheep and Goat project between Belize-Taiwan” for the present year 2016.
The Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) is pleased to announce that on Wednesday, May 11th , 2016 , Ambassador Benjamin Ho handed over the first disbursement of $155,628.80 US fund from the budget of “ Genetic Improvement in Sheep and Goat Project” to the Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Gaspar Vega in his capacity as Minister for Agriculture. With the fund of present year it would cover expenses related to house maintenance, materials and equipment purchase, stock breeding, paddock seed/fertilizers/chemicals procurement and so on. The project seeks to improve and develop the genetic blood lines of both the sheep and goat livestock through natural breeding and the artificial insemination programs.
The “Genetic Improvement for Sheep and Goat Breeding Belize-Taiwan Project” was signed on December 2, 2015 by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture Hon. Gaspar Vega and the Ambassador of the Republic of China(Taiwan) H.E. Mr. Benjamin Ho. It is a three-year project with an approved total budget of approximately 1.62 Million US Dollars of which the Government of Belize will contribute 0.35 M US$ and the Taiwanese Government will finance 1.27 M US$.
The main objectives to be accomplished through the project are as follows:
Improvement and development of the National Small Ruminant Center at Central Farm,
Introduction of quality breeding stocks and renew breeding stock so as to improve the productivity of breeding stock.
The capacity building and technical trainings of the ministry’s livestock technicians and officers, and the small ruminant producers in the country including the establishment of a traceability registry for the herd.
Sheep and goat production have tremendous growth opportunity on the national market but also on the regional export market. This project will complement other ongoing initiatives and place the industry on a firm footing for development. In particular the traceability/registry component will provide the base on which an export market could develop.
ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA, May 11, 2016 – GIS: It is with a deep sense of sadness and nostalgia that I, and other cricket fans all over the world received the news that Tony Cozier, lifelong cricket commentator and analyst extraordinaire, has passed away.
As Prime Minister of Grenada and as Chair of the Cricket Committee under CARICOM, I extend my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Cozier, and indeed to the many fans around the Caribbean and the world who often look forward to his analyses.
The cricketing world has lost an icon who left an indelible mark on sports journalism by blazing a rich career trail in the footsteps of his father Jimmy, and whose oral and written commentaries span more than five decades.
As a cricketer myself, playing for Grenada and Windward Islands and in the years that followed, I was among the proud and passionate Caribbean cricket fans following West Indies exploits around the world through the voice of Cozier.
Cozier was a true Caribbean man, and an ardent supporter of West Indies Cricket. Only recently, he again lent his strong voice in the ongoing efforts to reform WI cricket.
As probably the best known cricket journalist in the Caribbean, Cozier was respected by cricket lovers all over the world and his well-informed perspective on the varying aspects of the game, will be sadly missed.
CARICOM Foreign Ministers have put measures in place for closer cooperation with Sweden and the Netherlands even as they seek to place issues impacting the development of Small Island Developing and Low-lying States (SIDS) in the spotlight.
The Ministers at their just concluded 19th Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR), in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, met with their counterparts from the two European Union (EU) Member States.
Aware of Netherlands’ strategic position as the current President of the European Union, COFCOR engaged the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Bert Koenders on climate change, particularly its impact on SIDS and low lying States. While acknowledging the diplomatic success of COP21, the urgency of operationalisation of the Agreement was stressed. The concerns of the Community over blacklisting by EU Member States, and the withdrawal of correspondent banking services, both of which had an adverse impact on CARICOM States were also presented to the Minister.
Discussions with Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom centered on issues such as climate change, renewable energy, water management, ocean security, citizen security, as well as a proposal by Sweden and the Nordic countries to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate cooperation in a range of areas.
According to the Communiqué issued at the end of the Meeting, Foreign Ministers also considered CARICOM’s relations with a number of other Third States, and regional groupings, as well as with important development partners with whom the Region enjoys long-standing ties. In acknowledging that many of these relationships were undergoing dynamic changes, they considered how best to position CARICOM to take advantage of these changing realities. They also deliberated on the Region’s priorities and challenges within key regional, hemispheric and multilateral bodies including the United Nations, the ACS and CELAC.
In relation to the United Nations, the COFCOR recalled the active participation of the Community in the successful meetings in 2015 on Financing for Development, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and COP21, noting the significance of the outcomes or CARICOM SIDS. With regard to climate change, the Communique noted that Foreign Ministers encouraged the early ratification of the Paris Agreement as well as the need for mechanisms to ensure access to climate financing such as the Green Climate Fund.
Given the importance of the maritime environment to the sustainable development of SIDS, the Ministers discussed the Region’s response to matters relating to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ). In this regard, they called for greater representation of CARICOM Member States at the annual meeting of the International Sea Bed Authority (ISA).
The Ministers pledged the Community’s continued commitment to the work of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). They welcomed Cuba’s appointment as Chair of the Executive Board of the ACS, and their hosting of the Seventh ACS Summit scheduled for 4 June 2016 in Cuba, and reaffirmed the importance of CARICOM’s participation at the highest level.
The Ministers also reflected on the activities that CELAC will undertake in 2016 following the Fourth CELAC Summit which took place in Ecuador in January 2016. They articulated CARICOM’s priorities within CELAC, including matters critical to Small Island Developing States and low-lying coastal States, implementation of recently concluded global pacts such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, COP21 and Financing for Development, cooperation with sub-regional integration mechanisms and with extra-regional partners.
In sombre reflection, the Ministers reiterated the Community’s solidarity with Ecuador following the devastating earthquake and aftershocks that ravaged that country in April 2016, and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
The Ministers also recognised the International Decade for People of African Descent as an opportunity to bring awareness to the challenges facing persons of African Descent and for pursuing the case for reparation.
They also noted the observance of the Tenth Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the importance of the adoption of the Petion-Ville Declaration of 2013 by CARICOM Member States. In this vein, they underlined the importance of implementing the proposals of the Declaration in ensuring the rights of differently-abled persons in an inclusive society for all.
Belmopan. May 11, 2016. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed today by the Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) H.E. Ambassador A. Joy Grant and the Commissioner of Police Mr. Allen Whylie.
According to the FIU, the MOU will strengthen the cooperation that currently exists and facilitate the analysis and investigation of suspected money laundering, associated predicate offences, and the financing of terrorism and proliferation. Implementation of the MOU will increase the potential sources of information available to both the FIU and the police to fight crime and remove the profit from criminal activities. It also provides the framework for joint operations where the strengths of each party may complement the other and add value to the process.
This is the second several MOUs that are being negotiated between various stakeholders within the Government of Belize and the FIU.
Sen. Hon. Minister for Legal Affairs , Home Affairs and National Security and Leader of Government Business, Victor Philip La Corbiniere
An an open ship registry will enable the registration of foreign-owned ships and may provide greater opportunities for qualified Saint Lucians to work, Sen. La Corbiniere said.
A sitting of the Senate took place on Tuesday.
Among the bills down for consideration was the Shipping Ammendment Bill.
Sen. Hon. Minister for Legal Affairs , Home Affairs and National Security and Leader of Government Business, Victor Philip La Corbiniere presented the bill. He stated that the amendments would help make way for an open ship registry in Saint Lucia.
“At present the registry forms part of the Division of Maritime Affairs within the Saint Lucian Air and Sea Ports Authority, and an officer there is responsible for the registration of ships. In recent times the trend has been towards an open ship registry and this of course is to enable the registration of foreign owned ships.
“Within the Caribbean, the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Saint Kitts Nevis, Saint Vincent, Grenada and the Grenadines all have open ship registries.”
Sen. La Corbiniere went on to list the benefits.
“There are economic and other advantages of having open ship registries which allow for foreign ships to be registered. It also ensures that owners can choose employees from an international labour pool and in particular persons who are qualified from Saint Lucia will probably have greater opportunities to work on some of these boats.”
All bills presented within the sitting of the Senate were passed including the Burial and Cremation Bill, and ammendments to the Elections Bill and the Tourism Stimulus and Investment Bill.
Renowned American writer of Barbadian parentage, Paule Marshall, will be honoured during the launch of this year’s Bim Literary Festival and Book Fair on Friday, May 13, at Ilaro Court.
Her son, Evan Marshall, will receive the Writers’ Ink’s Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of his mother, from Prime Minister Freundel Stuart during the ceremony.
Ms. Marshall’s first novel, Brown Girl, Brownstones, published in 1959, celebrates her visits to Barbados as a child, and a dramatised excerpt of the book will be performed on Thursday, May 12, at the National Library Service.
Described as one of America’s finest contemporary black writers, the outstanding writer has an impressive body of prize-winning work, including Soul Clap Hands and Sing (1961), Reena (1962), Some Get Wasted (1964), To Da-Duh: In Memorandum (1967), The Chosen Place, the Timeless People (1969), Praisesong for the Widow (1983), and Daughters (1991).
Early in her career, Ms. Marshall wrote poetry, but later returned to prose. In 2010, the 87-year-old won a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards. This is an American literary award dedicated to honouring written works that make important contributions to the understanding of racism and the appreciation of the rich diversity of human culture.
The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) increased by 8.4 per cent in February 2016, when compared with the previous month.
According to data produced by the Barbados Statistical Service, the increase in the index was due to increases in Mining and Quarrying by 41.7 per cent and Manufacturing by 14.9 per cent.
Meanwhile, a decrease was recorded for Electricity, Gas and Water by 3.9 per cent.
The IIP for February recorded a decrease of 0.2 per cent, when compared with the previous year. A decrease was reflected in the index for Manufacturing by 3.0 per cent. Meanwhile, increases were recorded for Mining and Quarrying by 25.1 per cent and Electricity, Gas and Water by 2.3 per cent.
Output for the Mining and Quarrying Sector increased by 25.1 per cent when compared with the previous year, due to an increase in the index for Stone Quarrying by 39.3 per cent. A decrease was recorded for Mining by 18.2 per cent.
Production in the Electricity, Gas and Water Sector increased by 2.3 per cent when compared with the previous year, due to increases in the generation of Electricity by 4.9 per cent; and Natural Gas by 5.4 per cent. However, a decrease was recorded in the index for the consumption of Water by 7.7 per cent.
Year-on-year output for the Manufacturing Sector for February declined by 3.0 per cent, due to decreases recorded in the indices for Food by 13.0 per cent; Wearing Apparel by 77.3 per cent; Furniture by 4.6 per cent; and Other Manufacturing by 3.1 per cent.
Meanwhile, increases were recorded in the indices for Beverages and Tobacco by 5.1 per cent; Chemicals by 11.5 per cent; Non-metallic Minerals by 2.7 per cent and Electronic Components by 2.1 per cent.
Minister of Labour, Senator Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo. (FP)
“Every Barbadian has the right to an education and to a job that makes them feel fulfilled.”
This assertion came from Minister of Labour, Senator Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo, as she delivered welcome remarks at the first of two breakfast meetings, to discuss the draft National Human Resource Development (NHRD) Policy.
Speaking at the Radisson Aquatica Resort under the theme: Unleashing Barbadian Aspirations Through Building A Globally Competitive Workforce, Senator Byer Suckoo emphasised the importance of cultivating a national environment where citizens felt a “sense of satisfaction that they are doing what they were meant to do”.
“The role of Government, employers and of our social partners including our unions; is to be able to create that environment for such opportunities, so that every Barbadian if they want, can reach for it,” she stated.
The draft NHRD policy is expected to aid in achieving this mandate, by focusing on a framework of five strategic pillars geared towards the improvement of employability and productivity.
In a brief overview, Human Resource Development Specialist for the Barbados HRD Project Unit, Orville Lynch, identified the five pillars as: creating an enabling environment for human resource development through institutional strengthening and capacity building; developing a framework of internationally recognised qualifications; establishing demand-driven professional development and training services; rationalising knowledge management systems and improving information access; and enhancing the nation’s innovation and entrepreneurship capacity.
The meeting culminated with an open-floor discussion, which engaged a cadre of representatives from the public, private and Information Communications and Technology sectors. Discussions will continue next Wednesday, May 18, at the Radisson Aquatica Resort at 8:00 a.m.
