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Meetings On Draft Human Resource Policy

NHRD

Human Resource Policy

In an effort to ensure that the National Human Resource Development (NHRD) policy is comprehensive and relevant to the country’s needs, the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development will host two breakfast meetings on Tuesday, May 10, and Wednesday, May 18.
These will take place at the Radisson Aquatica Resort Barbados, Aquatic Gap, Bay Street, St. Michael, at 8:00 a.m. on both days, and will be addressed by Minister of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development, Senator Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo.
A key aim is to provide participants with the opportunity to discuss the contents of the draft NHRD and make any changes deemed necessary.
The Ministry is managing the implementation of the Barbados Human Resource Development Strategy (HRDS), which defines a comprehensive, multi-sector programme that seeks to harmonise human resource development.
As such, the development and implementation of an NHRD policy is expected to strengthen the capacity of our human resources, providing them with requisite skills and by extension, improving the employability and productivity of Barbadians.
An NHRD policy is also being considered against the backdrop that an effective HRDS is an integral part of the wider policy framework for the creation of a climate conducive to attracting and encouraging investment by businesses, thereby sustaining economic development.
The draft NHRD policy has been formulated by the Human Resource Development Advisory Council, which comprises representatives from the private, public and non-governmental sectors.
joy-ann.gill@barbados.gov.bb

38 recognised at 10th Annual Sports Awards

Shanie Angol, PM Skerrit
Shanie Angol accepts award from PM Skerrit

Thirty-eight groups and individuals were honoured for the contribution to sports in Dominica at the 10th Annual Sports Awards.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports hosted the event on Wednesday, May 4th, under the themeHonoring Sporting Achievements.
The Hon. Prime Minister, Dr. Roosevelt Skerrit; members of Cabinet; permanent secretaries; sporting officials and others were among the guests.
The ceremony is the Ministry’s way of showing appreciation for the achievements of sporting individuals and groups that continue to make Dominica proud through their active participation in sporting events throughout the year.
Hon. Minister for Sports and Youth, Hon. Justina Charles, acknowledged that a lot of infrastructural work remains to be done developments but, she says, sports is still a priority area for Government.
“For us a Government, while the need for infrastructural development has become exceedingly important as a result of environmental conditions and most recent natural disaster, this in no way undermines the importance of investing in sports.
“We continue to provide annually, through budgetary allocations for the development of sports on the island. The programmes of the Sports Division are supported annually at a cost of $2m which goes mainly toward youth sports programme and support to community and national sports organizations.”
Minister Charles revealed that a good example of Government’s dedication is the award ceremony’s $50,000 bill.
Trevor Shillingford is Sports Coordinator.
He said, “We are happy with the growth of the sports Awards over the years and look forward to implementing new approaches as we seek to make further improvements while looking towards another 10 years of the event.”
Prizes came in the form of cash, trophies and gifts.
The award for Sportsman of the Year Went to Tyron Theophile for his contribution to cricket, and Sportswoman of the Year Award went to Shanie Angol for her contribution to athletics.

Pierre outlines new infrastructure projects

construction worker

The infrastructure minister made mention of the Kuwaiti-funded Choc/Gros Islet Highway, the east coast highway, and the reconstruction of the Millennium Highway to Cul de Sac.

Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Philip J. Pierre, speaking in parliament during the first round of the budget debate last Thursday, congratulated Prime Minister Dr. Kenny D. Anthony for successfully managing Saint Lucia’s economy.
“Dr. Anthony has managed the economy well, resulting in growth in all sectors, with increased manufacturing output, and agricultural output up by 35 percent,” he said.
There were double-digit performance increases in other sub sectors. Exports, tourism, as well as construction in both the private and public sectors showed growth.
“The economy has not stagnated and performance reports were good,” he said.
The minister outlined several infrastructure projects that will boost the island’s economy – from the Kuwaiti-funded Choc/Gros Islet Highway, the east coast highway, and the reconstruction of the Millennium Highway to Cul de Sac.
“Plans for the north-south link road are in the consultancy stage, with a final report due by June 30,” he said. “The link road project will be financed with a grant from the UK government.”
Minister Pierre also revealed that over 38 kilometers of agriculture feeder roads, also to be financed by Kuwait, have been identified for rehabilitation.
The Sulphur Springs road is now completely rehabilitated; construction on the Canaries and Tomazo bridges will start soon; while an agreement was just signed for a new bridge at Piaye and a new road in Anse La Raye.
For the Choc Bridge, properties are being assessed for acquisition for the widening of the highway.
The transaction timeline for the Hewanorra International Airport project is in place, he added, with a contract to be signed by February 2017. Currently, Saint Lucia has seen interest from three international bidders, all major investors with years of experience in airport building.

Competition Law training held under the CARIFORUM-EU Capacity building project

Participants
Participants of the training programme (Photo Courtesy The Ministry of Trade and Industry)

May 06, 2016: The Trinidad and Tobago Fair Trading Commission (TTFTC) in keeping with its objective to ‘be a watchdog for free and fair competition in the conduct of trade and business and a facilitator of innovation and development’ participated in a five (5) day training programme under the CARIFORUM-EU Capacity Building project on Competition.

In the Opening Ceremony, Dr. Ronald Ramkisson, Commissioner, Trinidad and Tobago Fair Trading Commission acknowledged the timeliness of the training; he said ‘this workshop comes at a particularly crucial time, given the importance of competition law and policy for sustainable economic development, especially during a time of economic slowdown. It is part of the Commission’s overall plan to educate the business and relevant professional communities about competition policy and its enforcement mechanisms’.
Mr. Ulrich Thiessen, Attache International Cooperation Officer, Delegation of the European Union to Trinidad and Tobago in his Remarks expressed pleasure in the hosting of the training workshop which he stated ‘supports the fulfilment of commitments under the EU Caribbean Economic Partnership Agreement 2008’. He said ‘the EUs interest is long term, knowing that better governance, competition, and trade and specialization will contribute to higher living standards in both regions’. Dr. Taimoon Stewart, Consultant in International Trade and Competition Law and Policy outlined the expectations and methodology of the training programme. Some of the areas the course covered included abuse of market dominance; the economics of competition; bid rigging in public procurement; anti-competitive agreements and merger control regulation.
The workshop consisted of a Level II training programme in competition and was a continuation of a Level 1 training held in February 2016, forms a part of the CARIFORUM-EU Capacity Building project within the Caribbean Forum of the African, Caribbean and, Pacific Group of States (CARIFORUM) in the area of Competition, Public Procurement and Customs and Trade Facilitation in support of the implementation of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
The training included Agencies such as the Telecommunication Authority of Trinidad and Tobago; Regulated Industries Commission; Securities Exchange Commission; Ministry of the Attorney General; Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries; Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA); Tobago House of Assembly; representatives from academia, banking and regulatory agencies from the Bahamas, Suriname and Jamaica; and the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Each participant of the training programme received a certificate of attendance on the final day of the training.
 

Four Confirmed With The H1N1 Virus In St. Vincent And The Grenadines

H1N1

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment has confirmed four cases of the H1N1 virus for the month of April 2016.

A release from the Ministry said that all four persons are now fully recovered and public health surveillance relative to these cases is ongoing.
In February of this year, the Ministry of Health confirmed the first case of the H1N1 virus, commonly known as Swine Flu. The Ministry said the H1N1 flu virus is a communicable disease which is currently an endemic to SVG. The Ministry of Health is therefore urging the entire population to recognize the importance of hand washing as critical to their health and wellness. It said that hand washing is a relatively cheap and very effective way of reducing the spread of infectious diseases which are caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites such H1N1

St. Kitts and Nevis to participate in the 2016 Regional Tourism Youth Congress

One Caribbean

Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 05, 2016 (SKNIS): In keeping with the spirit and vision of CARICOM, to foster regional integration, trade and a ‘Caribbean minded’ approach to solving problems, the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), will be hosting its Annual Tourism Youth Congress slated for September in Barbados, which would see participation from a number of participants throughout the Caribbean.
The Tourism Youth Congress is an aspect of CTO’s State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) and is aimed at giving youth a voice on the same issues that the heads of Tourism Authorities address. In this way, they are able to discuss issues of regional importance from a youth point of view, and are encouraged to be a part of the sustainability of their islands.
Novelette Morton, Senior Tourism Project Officer, briefly explained the procedure of the Tourism Youth Congress and said it “is geared towards students between the ages of 14 and 17 years.”
“And basically what is done is that they are given a number of topics on which they have to discuss as junior ministers of tourism,” said Ms. Morton. “They are given a topic where they have to prepare themselves for three minutes and then they deliver their arguments on why a particular thing should be done.”
In addition to the topics, the students are also given a mystery question which is an approach used to test three core areas. These include having the ability to engage in research; expressing themselves well and; thinking on their feet.
“You find that over the years the competition has shown that persons who are able to think quickly on their feet and who can articulate their thoughts very well are the ones who come out the champions,” she said. “But it is a very important competition.”
This year, the students have three topics from which they will select one for the prepared question section. The topics include the customer’s perception of the brand; fostering entrepreneurship; and creating flow experiences.
On May 26, a local Tourism Youth Congress will be held at the Sir Cecil Jacobs Auditorium at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. The aim of this event is to select the junior minister of tourism who will represent the Federation at the regional Tourism Youth Congress in September, in Barbados.
In 2013, Nevisian student Neila Jones emerged winner of the CTO’s Tourism Youth Congress held in Martinique as part of the SOTIC 2013. Another Nevisian, Rol-J Williams, of the Gingerland Secondary School outshone 10 other competing Junior Ministers/ Commissioners of Tourism from around the Caribbean to emerge victorious during the CTO’s SOTIC 2014, in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.
The CTO, with headquarters in Barbados and offices in New York and London, is the Caribbean’s tourism development agency comprising membership of over 30 countries and territories including Dutch, English, French and Spanish, as well as a myriad of private sector allied members. The CTO’s vision is to position the Caribbean as the most desirable, year round, warm weather destination by 2017, and its purpose is Leading Sustainable Tourism – One Sea, One Voice, One Caribbean.

Energy Planning Capacity Building Programme for Grenada

Sustainable Energy

ST. GEORGE’S, GRENADA, Friday, May 06, 2016: The Ministry of Finance & Energy of Grenada in collaboration with the Latin American Energy Organization – OLADE and the Canadian Government are currently working on an Energy Planning Capacity Building Programme.
The aim of this project is to enhance the energy planning capabilities within OLADE’s member countries, particularly within their Energy Ministries or Energy Agencies as well as to develop new skills in the various aspects surrounding energy planning. As part of this programme, the collaborating organisations will implement an Energy Planning Manual.
This manual will provide guidance to all those responsible of the national energy policy and related regulatory framework in the short, medium and long term.
 
In this regard a workshop on Energy Planning Manual Induction will be held on Thursday, May 12th, 2016 at the Bureau of Standards Conference room, from 9:00 am-5:30 p.m. During this workshop the participants will discuss/ engage in:

  • The planning process as an energy policy tool for the development of a sustainable energy sector;
  • The development of energy scenarios and assumptions; and
  • Energy forecasting process, methodology and tools.

In addition, the details of the different phases of the project, as well as the responsibilities and resultant benefits for the energy sector stakeholders will be presented.

Community Policing Plan to be piloted in North-East

Community Policing

A Pilot Project on a Community Policing Plan will soon be implemented in the north-east.

On Friday, April 29th, the Hon. Minister for National Security, Rayburn Blackmore, commended the police department for preparing and presenting the much-anticipated plan for community policing.
“On May 7th, the police will be meeting with residents of Calibishie to set the platform for the commencement of the community policing plan. We have gotten he commitment of the Prime Minister that all the resources that we need shall be provided.
He shared, “I have been reading a number of reports and interacting with residents of communities where homes have been burglarized. Because the criminals wait and study the residents, the burglars operate during the daytime.”
He was referencing criminal activity which could be curbed by community policing.
Minister Blackmoore said to police, “I wish you well.”

CARICOM Foreign Ministers to discuss implications of major global issues

CARICOM

(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)     Amid the unfolding of a number of major geopolitical issues, Foreign Ministers from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will hold the Nineteenth Meeting of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR), 9 – 10 May 2016 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Meeting will provide the Ministers the opportunity for a periodic review of a range of diplomatic matters involving CARICOM’s relations with Third Countries and International organisations.  COFCOR will examine the implications for the Caribbean Community of several emerging issues including the reshaping of the United States relations with Cuba and the pending British referendum on European Union membership.
As the Community seeks to reinforce relations with multilateral organisations, COFCOR will discuss matters regarding the United Nations, the Organisation of American States, The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).
Within the packed agenda, COFCOR will also seek to forge and strengthen ties with Third States including Brazil, Sweden, Japan, and The Netherlands on issues of mutual interests.
Following on the heels of last week’s Ninth UK-Caribbean Forum in The Bahamas, CARICOM Foreign Ministers will devote part of their meeting to discussing the critical elements emanating from that engagement. The Meeting will also discuss border issues, and a range of bilateral topics involving Mexico, Cuba and the Nordic States, and the Unites States.

Appointment of new OSHA Board

Theodore Reddock
Theodore Reddock receives his instrument of appointment to the Occupational Safety, Health Authority and Agency Board

May 6, 2016: The newly appointed OSHA Board received their Instruments of Appointment from Senator the Honourable Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, Minister of Labour and Small Enterprise Development at the Ministry’s Head Office on Wednesday, May 5, 2016.

In her meeting with the Board, the Minister of Labour thanked each member individually for having agreed to serve and expressed her highest confidence in this Board’s ability. The Minister stated that there was need for good governance, accountability and transparency.

OSHA
Group Shot of the new Occupational Safety Health Authority and Agency Board (Photo Courtesy the Ministry of Labour and Small Enterprise Development)

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