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CARICOM Reparations Relay Launched in Barbados

Professor Pedro Welch
Professor Pedro Welch

Reparations Baton and Torch Will Travel Throughout the Region in 2016

The CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC) has launched an International Reparations Relay & Rally Initiative in Barbados that in coming months will take a ‘reparations baton’ and ‘reparations torch’ from one CARICOM country to the other.

Professor Pedro Welch
Professor Pedro Welch

The baton and torch will be presented to the National Reparations Commissions across the region at youth rallies organized under the banner ‘Roots, Rock, Reggae, Reparations’ which will celebrate the principles and programmes of the Caribbean and global reparatory justice movements.
The Barbados launch of the reparations relay coincided with the bi-centennial commemoration of the death of General Bussa, the inspirational leader of the Barbados slave rebellion of 1816. At a cultural/historical ceremony entitled “From Bussa to Barrow,” on Saturday, April 16th at the site where Bussa was killed, Prof. Pedro Welch, chair of the Barbados Reparations Task Force passed the ‘reparations baton’ to the Deputy Consul General of Guyana in Barbados who, in turn, will soon pass it to the Guyana Reparations Commission, which is planning to hold their reparations youth rally in May.  
From Guyana, the baton will be taken to other CARICOM countries during the course of 2016. Beautifully carved from fine Barbados mahogany wood, the baton is a symbol of justice that has engraved on it, a map of Africa, the words “Reparations Now,” and rings representing the 15 CARICOM countries.  The relay will culminate in Jamaica later this year where the Emancipation Rebellion led by Sam Sharpe will be remembered and celebrated.
“In Barbados this weekend we are celebrating and eulogizing the over 1000 enslaved persons who were massacred by British professional troops, and slave owners, in an effort to gain freedom in the War of General Bussa, from April 14-20, 1816,” said Prof. Sir Hilary Beckles, chairman of the CARICOM Reparations Commission.  “We shall create a memorial to the million enslaved Africans whose existence was destroyed in the Caribbean freedom and reparations quest. Between now and then, we will publicly engage many moments in regional history where a million ancestors fought and were destroyed in search of liberty, restitution and reparations.”
Prof. Welch added that the passing of the Reparations Baton from Barbados to Guyana represented an historic moment that “symbolized the maturing of the reparations initiative in the CARICOM countries.” He said that it linked the struggle in Barbados with a wider Caribbean and global movement.
“From the very inception of the Task Force on Reparations in Barbados, it was felt that while there was a Barbadian component to the initiative, there was a wider sphere of operations that would require a Caribbean-wide collaboration. It is in its fraternal association with the regional body that the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Bussa rebellion of 1816 provided an opportunity to initiate the symbolic passing of a reparations baton, sequentially, to other CARICOM countries.  
“Quite apart from the regional focus, the local events in Barbados also provided an opportunity to see how the issue of commemorating a special moment in the historical narrative, namely a slave rebellion, ties this local event into the larger global struggle,” added Dr. Welch.
David Commissiong, prominent attorney/activist and member of the Barbados Reparations Task Force, said that “the sacred mission of our generation of Barbadians must be to live up to and honour the heroic struggles and sacrifices of our ancestors by demanding reparatory justice, and by claiming and appropriating our full human dignity.”
In an address on Friday at a ceremony where a number of Barbadian nationals were recipients of awards for the invaluable contributions they have made to the island, Barbados Prime Minister Hon. Freundel Stuart, who is also Chairman of the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on Reparations, urged the audience to keep the issue of reparatory justice at the forefront within the region.
“We must sensitise our people to the ingredients of this debate and of course to the need to be part of this struggle to ensure that a lot of the damage that has been done as a result of our slave and colonial experience can be repaired not only by our own efforts, which of course we cannot forsake or ignore, but repaired by those who caused the damage in the first place,” said PM Stuart.
 

PROCOM Challenge Poised To Fuel MSME Productivity and Competitiveness

St. Lucia Press Releases
ST. LUCIA:  In today’s constantly evolving business climate, innovation makes all the difference when it comes to increasing competitiveness and improving productivity.

Fiona Hinkson
NCPC Executive Director: Fiona Hinkson

This was the thinking behind the PROCOM Challenge which was launched earlier this week by the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC). The PROCOM Challenge, a collaboration between the NCPC, the Government of Saint Lucia and Compete Caribbean is intended to develop competitive businesses all while fueling innovation and productivity across Saint Lucia.
 
The PROCOM Challenge arrives at a time when enhancing productivity and competitiveness is attracting a significant amount of interest globally. Through this challenge micro, small and medium enterprises based in Saint Lucia are being invited to develop innovative solutions which will seek to address some of the productivity and competitiveness challenges facing the island. The PROCOM Challenge will provide co-financing of up to $100,000 XCD for the development and execution of winning proposals from businesses which focus on methods or technologies to reduce energy costs for business, compliance solutions to meet domestic, regional and international standards, technology to reduce operational costs and solutions to improve business processes.
 
Addressing the gathering at the Official Launch of the PROCOM Challenge, NCPC Chairman, Mr. Rayneau Gajadhar, stressed on the NCPC’s commitment to improving the business climate in Saint Lucia through its mandate. He said: “We are here once again to deliver on our mandate, by launching the PROCOM Challenge. The Challenge was designed in response to the various barriers faced by the private sector in enhancing their productivity and competitiveness. The NCPC is not satisfied with only identifying problems, but also seek to formulate and be part of the solution.”
 
The PROCOM Challenge complements ongoing reforms by the Government of Saint Lucia to facilitate an enabling environment for business growth. Prime Minister, Dr. Kenny D. Anthony who delivered brief remarks at the activity, emphasized the direct relationship between innovation and economic growth.
 
“We understand that innovation projects are often expensive undertakings due to the associated risk. Therefore, as part of our commitment to supporting firms to be more productive and competitive, the Government of Saint Lucia through the NCPC will be financing the PROCOM Challenge. We have taken the first initiative by providing seed capital for this project. We are therefore looking forward to the success of the PROCOM Challenge and to build upon the success by partnering with the private sector especially the financial institutions and other key stakeholders for continued sustainability and growth of this initiative.”
 
The NCPC’s Executive Director, Fiona Hinkson highlighted the endless possibilities which exist with this new undertaking, “Having recently attended a very information and eye-opening exchange in Arizona and California at the Americas Competitiveness Exchange (ACE) on Entrepreneurship and Innovation, today shows that we are taking steps in the right direction. The best practice that is shown from the recent exchange is the partnerships between the government, the private sector and academia. These partnerships in the US have resulted in innovative products, processes and practices that we can adapt to our realities in Saint Lucia. I believe that the PROCOM Challenge provides us with an opportunity to do so.”
 
While firm-based solutions will be considered, the NCPC is encouraging solutions which can be applied across a multitude of organisations and/or sectors.
 
The PROCOM Challenge will run from April 18th to May 27th, 2016. MSMEs are encouraged to visit the NCPC website and Facebook pages www.stluciancpc.org, www.facebook.com/stluciancpc  or call 468-5571/468-5576 for detailed information on the Challenge.

Registration Open For CIDA Symposium

Register

Barbados Press Releases
BARBADOS:  The Cultural Industries Development Authority (CIDA) is encouraging interested individuals to sign up for its upcoming symposium.
It will be held from Thursday, May 5 to Sunday, May 8, at the Hilton Barbados Resort, and will focus on the key areas needed to monetise and improve the economic viability of the cultural and creative industries.
It will deal with a range of topics aimed at further developing the business savvy of persons in the cultural industries.
Among the subjects to be explored are: Using the value of intellectual property as financial collateral; Taking your fashion and apparel to market; Taking your festivals and music to market; and Film distribution.
Presenters include Founder of the CaribbeanTales International Film Festival, Frances-Ann Solomon; four-time Emmy Award winning Director and Record Producer, Nick Nanton; and writer and music producer, Peter Coppin.
Interested persons are asked to register for the symposium on or before Monday, April 25, and may call theMinistry of Culture, Sports and Youth at 621-2700, for more information.
jamal.weekes@barbados.gov.bb

Bridgetown To Be Beautified

Bridgetown, Barbados

Barbados Press Releases
Bridgetown, BarbadosBARBADOS:  The City of Bridgetown will soon receive a much needed makeover.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, in collaboration with the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will launch the Bridgetown Urban Renaissance Project this Saturday, April 23.
The project, which will begin at Flower Alley, Lower Broad Street, at 10:30 a.m., seeks to address some of the long standing problems that negatively impact the City, such as littering, public urination and the illegal posting of bills.
The project contains a number of elements, including the Artscape Mural Programme that will feature busking, crafts persons, art installations and murals which are expected to transform the lanes, alleys and walls of Bridgetown.
jamal.weekes@barbados.gov.bb

CAIPO To Host Open Day April 26, 2016

Baobab Towers, Warrens.
Baobab Towers, Warrens. (CAIPO)

Barbados Press Releases
BARBADOS:  To mark World Intellectual Property Day on Tuesday, April 26, the Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office will host an open day between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., in their carpark at Baobab Tower, Warrens, St. Michael.

Baobab Towers, Warrens.
Baobab Towers, Warrens. (CAIPO)

In keeping with this year’s theme: Digital Creativity: Culture Reimagined, a number of small business owners, persons from the creative sector and students from the Science Department at the Barbados Community College will display a diverse range of products showcasing different aspects of intellectual property.
This includes traditional knowledge, homemade wines, herbal products, digital photography, plant varieties and basketry. Cultural presentations by Dancin’ Africa; dramatic pieces by two NIFCA award winners; as well as Addington Forde reading his Ossie Moore stories will also take place throughout the day.
From 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., personnel from the Heart and Stroke Foundation will offer health checks, while Intellectual Property literature by staff of the Intellectual Property section will be distributed to members of the public.
Additionally, 15 students each from the Lester Vaughan School, Sharon Primary, Eden Lodge Primary, Alma Parris Memorial and Wesley Hall Schools will tour the Office. The public is invited to attend.
theresa.blackman@barbados.gov.bb

Olympic champion Usain Bolt joins PAHO to promote vaccination

Vaccination Week in the Americas 2016

The “world’s fastest man” lends his image and voice to support this year’s Vaccination Week in the Americas

Washington, DC, 20 April 2016 (PAHO/WHO) – Jamaican track superstar Usain Bolt has joined the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in a campaign to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination in protecting health and preventing disease.

Usain Bolt, Go for the Gold, Get Vaccinated! from PAHO on Vimeo.
The six-time Olympic gold medalist and 11-time world champion sprinter appears on posters and in a public service announcement (PSA) encouraging people to get vaccinated.
 
The PSA, posted on Vimeo, and posters are part of PAHO’s 14th annual Vaccination Week in the Americas campaign, which highlights the life-saving benefits of vaccines. Countries throughout the Americas celebrate Vaccination Week each year with activities focused on reaching populations who lack regular access to health services.
 
“Being the best athlete I can means staying healthy – including keeping up to date on my vaccines,” Bolt says in a social media post for the campaign. In the PSA, he says “I’m up to date on my vaccines. Are you?” and urges viewers to “Go for the gold” and get vaccinated.
 
“Go for the gold – Get vaccinated!” is the campaign slogan for this year’s Vaccination Week in the Americas, which takes place from April 23 to 30. It references the upcoming 2016 summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, in which Bolt is scheduled to compete.
 
“Vaccination is one of the most effective means we have to protect the health of children as well as adults,” said PAHO Director Carissa F. Etienne. “Having a world-class champion like Mr. Bolt supporting our campaign will help us reach more people with information on the benefits of vaccination – and for that, we are enormously grateful.”
 

Jones: We’ve Cleared The Air

Ronald Jones
Education Minister, Ronald Jones and officials of his ministry meeting with agricultural stakeholders today at the Ministry of Education. (Ministry of Education)

Barbados Press Releases
BARBADOS:  Several of the misgivings regarding the Hope Agricultural Institution have been resolved.
This assurance has come from Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ronald Jones, who recently held a meeting with stakeholders at his Ministry’s Culloden Road office.

Ronald Jones
Education Minister, Ronald Jones and officials of his ministry meeting with agricultural stakeholders today at the Ministry of Education. (Ministry of Education)

Mr. Jones met with representatives of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), including its Chief Executive Officer, James Paul, “to consider working cooperatively and collaboratively in the realisation and establishment of the Hope Agricultural Training Institute”.
Acknowledging that during the past month there “were gaps in communication which lead to misunderstandings arising as to the scope and objectives of the project”, the Minister stated that measures have been put in place to prevent further confusion.
He then assured the BAS officials that all information going forward would be shared. “To achieve this, we’ve put in place an implementation committee which has on board several of the stakeholders in agriculture,” he said.
The Education Minister revealed that the committee would comprise representatives from the BAS, the Barbados Vocational Training Board, the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic, the Barbados Community College, and the Ministry of Agriculture, among others.
Mr. Jones added that a Memorandum of Understanding would be put in place to “set the parameters as we work together over the coming years”. Earlier this month, concerns were voiced over the repurposing of 45 acres of quality grassland at Hope Plantation in St. Lucy.
The objective of the Hope Agricultural Institution is to act as a partial training ground for students of the Barbados Community College and Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic, as they seek to complete their Associated Degree and Diploma and Certificate in Agriculture programmes.
jamal.weekes@barbados.gov.bb

Social Partnership Important To Barbados

Social Partnership

Barbados Press Releases
Social PartnershipBARBADOS:  Barbados’ Social Partnership has been, and continues to be, at the heart of this island’s social and economic progress, and it fuels the nation’s drive towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient green economy.
Prime Minister Freundel Stuart expressed this view earlier today while underscoring the importance of partnership during his address at the High-Level Thematic Debate on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the 70th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.
Explaining that the social partnership is a tri-partite governance mechanism comprising representatives of government, labour and the private sector, Mr. Stuart emphasised the critical nature of partnerships.
He said: “Partnership remains the single most important factor in realising the promise of the 2030 Agenda at global, regional and national levels. Barbados has historically recognised, and reaffirms, the concept of Partnership for Development in the pursuit of its national sustainable development agenda…
“Given its [the Social Partnership’s] success in Barbados, I believe that countries with similar characteristics can adopt this sustainable development governance model. Barbados stands ready to cooperate.”
Mr. Stuart highlighted the assistance provided by the UN system in facilitating the country’s recent Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Assessment exercise, along with the ongoing United Nations Development Assistance Framework. According to him, both initiatives are critical to Barbados’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) alignment process.
“A key lesson from Barbados’ MDGs assessment is the need for a strengthened, inclusive and accessible system of data and statistics to support the national monitoring of the SDGs. This is a major challenge which hinders our capacity for evidence-based policy making and monitoring.
“I call on the global partnership for Agenda 2030 to establish a “Capacity 2030 Platform for Sustainable Development Statistics in SIDS”, without which, SIDS will be unable to participate meaningfully in the High Level Political Forum,” the Prime Minister stated.
Mr. Stuart expressed the view that the adoption, last September, of the 17 SDGs which form the basis of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development offered a ray of hope to a world beset by complex and ever-increasing challenges, and represented a new framework for global transformation.
“The successful implementation of the SDGs is inextricably intertwined with a wider concept of finance for sustainable development. This includes public and private finance, as well as financing from bilateral and multilateral sources. Once again, I underline the importance of making specific provision for the unique vulnerabilities of SIDS,” he stated.
The Prime Minister reminded all that we live in an interdependent world, and that if wealthy nations did not take care of the weak, poor and vulnerable, the concerns of the latter “would end up right on their doorstep”.
sharon.austingill-moore@barbados.gov.bb

Central Statistical Office releases the Index of Retail Prices for March 2016

Massy Stores

Trinidad & Tobago Press Releases
Massy Stores TRINIDAD:  April 21, 2016: The Central Statistical Office is pleased to announce the release of the Index of Retail Prices for the month of March 2016. The information is based on data collected in the survey of retail prices during the month of March 2016.
 
Index of Retail Prices
The Index (All Items) was 103.3 in March 2016 from 103.4 which was recorded in the previous month (February 2016) as shown in the table below.
The Index for Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages decreased from 109.6 in February 2016 to 108.6 in March 2016, reflecting a decrease of 0.9%. Contributing significantly to this decrease was the general downward movement in the prices of pumpkin; bodi; apple; spinach; tomatoes; callalloo bush; canned sardines; cucumber; onions; and garlic. However, the full impact of these price decreases was offset by the general increase in the prices of fresh sea food; eddoes; pork ham; fresh duck; edible oils; melongene; dried, salted or smoked pork; biscuits; dried pigeon peas; and fresh pork.
A further review of the data for March 2016 compared with February 2016 reflected an increase in the sub-indices for Clothing and Footwear of 0.4% and Health of 0.8%. However decreases were noted in the sub-indices for Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco of 0.4%.
 
Inflation Rate
The Inflation Rate for March 2016 (measured as the percentage change in the Index for January to March 2016/January to March 2015) was 3.0%. This represents an increase from 2.9% which was recorded in the previous period (January to February 2016/January to February 2015)
 
Central Statistical Office releases the Index of Retail Prices for March 2016 1

Minister Garcia launches Secondary Schools National Track and Field Championships

Track and Field

Trinidad & Tobago Press Releases
Track and FieldTRINIDAD:  April 21, 2016: The Honourable Anthony Garcia, Minister of Education, is assuring hundreds of secondary school track and field athletes that his Ministry will continue to work diligently to provide as many opportunities as possible, through sports, to enable them to realise their true potential. He said, “We at the Ministry of Education, stand committed to providing opportunities, so that our students can develop to their full potential. Our aim, in the Ministry, is to provide excellence in education; and track and field must form an integral part of the educational offerings that we have at our Ministry.”
 
Minister Garcia was speaking at the official launch of the two day Annual Secondary Schools National Track and Field Championships 2016 which is being held on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st, April, 2016 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. The event is hosted jointly by the Ministry of Education and The Secondary Schools National Track and Field Association.
 
Minister Garcia also expressed confidence that secondary school athletes will excel in track and field events at the Championships, which he said bodes well for the nation’s long term Olympic goal of winning ten gold medals in the 2024 Olympics, “I am sure that excellence will prevail in everything that you do. It is important that we focus and we have uppermost in our minds, on performance and what our performance will mean to all of us because, as you know, our goal is by the 2024 Olympics, that Trinidad and Tobago athletes would be able to bring home, at least ten gold medals. And today, this event could be deemed as the start of that journey and I’m sure that when 2014 meets us, we will be able to achieve these goals. I’m certain about that.”
 
Minister Garcia further said he believed that the future of track and field in the country is bright and that all of the athletes participating in the Games are winners. Over one hundred (100) schools and over three hundred (300) athletes will be participating in the Championships.

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