BARBADOS: The Fair Trading Commission has received complaints from consumers with respect to Digicel’s text message dated April 4, 2016, which stated:
“Congratulations to #TeamWestIndies, Triple World Champions! Digicel is giving you Triple Credit on Top ups of $24 or more on April 4 in honour of our #Champions”.
Consumers have alleged that they did not receive the offer as advertised. When they contacted Digicel to query why the triple credit was not applied to their accounts, they were informed that they should have telephoned a specific number to receive the triple credit.
Please note that the Commission has addressed the matter. Digicel has apologised for the inconvenience caused and “Digicel has agreed to reapply the Bonus credit to all customers who availed [themselves] of the Champions offer”.
Application Of Digicel Triple Credit
Emphasis On Quality Education For Citizens
BARBADOS: Government has continued to place emphasis on providing quality education to ensure that Barbadians are equipped with the skills, knowledge and attitudes required for a competitive 21st century workforce.
This was stated today by Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ronald Jones, as he addressed the start of a two-day workshop for representatives of key organisations involved in the development, implementation and maintenance of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF), at Almond Bay, Hastings, Christ Church.
Facilitated by the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development, the workshop forms part of a scoping mission being conducted from April 11 to 15 between the Mauritius Qualifications Authority (MQA) and the Barbados Accreditation Council (BAC), who have entered into a partnership to share knowledge, experience and expertise for the implementation of the NQF. They are examining policies and procedures developed for this island’s NQF.
Mr. Jones acknowledged that Barbados was aware that greater emphasis had to be placed on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and pointed out that this was why work was ongoing with the University of the West Indies and other international institutions to ensure that from as early as primary school, specific attention was paid to some of these areas, as well as the humanities.
He thanked the team from Mauritius for consenting to assist Barbados at this “critical juncture in the development of its human resources”, and reminded those gathered that the island’s key resource was indeed its human resources.
The Minister noted that the establishment of a NQF, embedded with robust quality assurance processes, would send a strong message of Barbados’ commitment to quality educational provision, and the assurance of a high quality workforce that can compete successfully in the international labour market. And, he added, this could only redound to the benefit of citizens and the country as a whole.
Mr. Jones further stressed that quality assurance would be the underlying foundation of the NQF as the public must be assured that the qualifications are well- designed; are “fit for purpose”; and the programmes/courses of study leading to qualifications are delivered by recognised, accredited tertiary educational providers in Barbados.
“Tertiary educational providers will therefore need to be, at minimum, registered in order to have their qualifications placed on the National Qualifications Framework which will signal they have met minimum standards to operate in Barbados.
“However, the ultimate goal will be to achieve accreditation status – either institutional or programmatic – which will provide global recognition that the institution or programme has met quality standards established by the Barbados Accreditation Council, what most likely would be the follow-through organisation to carry both the qualification framework and the accreditation process,” he said.
Noting that there were generally many positive initiatives occurring in the quality assurance environment in Barbados, the former educator admitted that like other countries worldwide, we faced several challenges including the influx of foreign-based qualifications, some of which may be from bogus institutions, and the increasing number of distance education offerings.
“One only has to look at the local newspapers to see advertisements from foreign institutions, offering programmes through various delivery modes or agents acting on behalf of foreign educational providers.
The prevalence of fraudulent qualifications is not only restricted to the Caribbean but is noted to have reached disturbing proportions across the world,” he observed.
joy-ann.gill@barbados.gov.bb
Barbados Seeking To Break Into Cuban Market
BARBADOS: With the formal re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States (US), Barbados and other CARICOM countries are now seeking to further partner with that country in an effort to take advantage of emerging opportunities.
This was revealed when Industry Minister, Donville Inniss, received a courtesy call from Cuba’s Ambassador to Barbados, Francisco Fernandez Pena, at his Reef Road office this morning.
The Minister disclosed that apart from forging deeper economic relations with Cuba, Government was also eager to engage robustly in trade, and there were a number of companies ready to do business with the Spanish isle.
He confirmed that from May, Bank Breweries Limited would be seeking to export approximately one million cases of beer to Cuba. He added that early next month, a delegation comprising government and private officials would be travelling to Cuba to conduct a trade mission.
Mr. Inniss also pointed out that over the years, Cuba has been committed to providing extensive technical assistance to Barbados, especially in the area of health care.
In turn, the Ambassador noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in December 1972, Barbados and Cuba have maintained a cordial relationship characterised by cooperation and mutual respect. The two officials also touched briefly on the upcoming Cuba International Tourism Fair set to take place in Havana.
The restoration of relations between Cuba and the United States was signalled when on March 21 this year, President Barack Obama became the first US President to visit Cuba since 1928.
theresa.blackman@barbados.gov.bb
Government endorses a food and nutrition policy
DOMINICA: The Hon Minister for Health and Environment Dr. Kenneth Darroux, during his World Health Day address on Thursday, April 7th, stated that Government has begun to discuss regulation and just recently endorsed the Food and Nutrition policy that will influence the choices people make.
During the 2015 budget, the ‘sugar tax’ was introduced and implemented.
The Minister also stated that his Ministry had completed the Non-Communicable Disease policy which will give direction to the prevention and management of selected NCDS through an integrated approach.
“A School Nutrition Policy is also in advanced stage of preparation and will guide the development of a school environment that enhances learning and the development of healthy lifelong eating and activity behaviors. Strategies will address areas such as the School Curriculum; Food Service Environment; School Health and Nutrition Services; Parent and Community Involvement. Notwithstanding the Government of Dominica’s support to the already structured programs of the Ministry of Health.”
Pan American Health Organization’s director, Dr. Carissa Etienne, in her World Health Day statement, also highlighted that individuals, Governments and all of society can play a role to help reverse the diabetes epidemic.
In the Health Minister’s statement to the nation on he voiced similar sentiments.
“Strengthening of the regulatory framework must be accompanied by willingness on the part of individuals, families, parents, and school teachers, the NGO and the Private Sectors to be supportive of the measures, to embrace the health information provided and to make the healthy choice, the everyday choice.”
Nutritionist with the Health Promotions Unit, Marynese Titre, had some suggestions that would make a difference in the health of children and adults.
She said “We want to encourage our children to eat more of our natural foods, such as our fruits, our vegetables, ground provisions. Secondly we want them to be very active by getting involved in some form of exercise. Television has its time and place but we would really like them to get involved in walking, skipping and jumping around because it helps make a difference.
“We believe that there is not enough exercise among the adult population and people eat quite a bit of fried foods. We should not do away with the fried foods completely but we can limit the amount we eat. We should try to incorporate other foods such as peas and beans that are high in fibre, it helps with digestion.”
Centre for Special Needs Children Opens in Portland
JAMAICA: Special needs children in Portland and surrounding parishes now have access to a fully equipped centre that will facilitate their holistic development.
The Mickhail Betancourt Building, located in Orange Bay, was established through partnership between the Government and the Digicel Foundation.
It will be operated by the Early Stimulation Programme (ESP) in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
The $30 million facility is named in honour of late resident of the parish and employee of Digicel, Mickhail Betancourt, who volunteered his time and efforts to assisting needy persons.
Speaking at the official opening on Thursday (April 7), Minister of Labour and Social Security, Hon. Shahine Robinson, said the facility is in keeping with the Government’s focus on social inclusion and integration of persons with disabilities.
She praised the work of the ESP staff, and urged them to ensure that the new facility becomes “a focal point for development and growth,” in the parish.
“We hope that the leadership, best practices, and support to be provided at this centre will lay the foundation for increased growth and success,” the Minister said.
She further encouraged Jamaicans to lend support to the parents of children with disabilities “and remind them that they are not alone.”
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Hon. Daryl Vaz, said the state-of-the-art centre will help to “break down any barriers, which would have prevented any child from receiving an education, or some form of training.”
He called for greater respect for persons with special needs, noting that they are important contributors to the development of the society.
Chairman of the Digicel Foundation, Jean Lowrie-Chin, said the organisation is committed to empowering the special needs community, and the centre stands as a testament of that unwavering support.
For her part, Senior Supervisor at the facility, Charmaine Wilks, said the centre will provide “proactive” support to the special needs community.
More than 100 children with special needs will benefit from diagnosis and early intervention services. Teachers have been trained in the areas of speech, behaviour, physical, special education and occupational therapy.
National Summit Highlights Farmers’ Month Activities During April
JAMAICA: The second National Agricultural Production and Food Security Summit is among the activities organized by the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) to commemorate Farmers’ Month 2016, during April.
The summit is slated to be held at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston on April 21 under the theme: ‘Grow What We Eat…Eat What We Grow through Climate-Smart Agriculture’.
Details of the event and other activities were outlined by JAS President, Norman Grant, during the official launch of Farmers’ Month at the organization’s head office in downtown Kingston, on April 6.
The summit will feature discussions on climate change and its global implications for agriculture.
The topics will include: ‘An Analysis of Climate Change in the Jamaican Agriculture Sector’; ‘Practices, Programmes, Policies and Education relating to Agriculture and Climate Change’; ‘Climate-Smart Agriculture and Technology in Jamaica’; ‘Organic Farm Practices and Climate-Smart Agriculture -The Opportunity for Jamaica’; and ‘Emerging Business/Financial Opportunities and Threats’.
Participants will also explore the extent to which practical adaptable climate-smart methodologies and technology solutions can be provided to the nation’s farmers.
Other activities throughout the month include plant propagation training in Enfield, St. Mary on April 13; farmers’ information sessions at the Devon Community Centre in Manchester on April 19, and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) in Kingston on April 21; and a farmers’ market to be staged at the JAS Parish Office in Morant Bay, St. Thomas on April 29.
This year’s commemoration of Farmers’ Month marks the 33rd consecutive staging since its launch by the JAS, to recognize the contribution of Jamaica’s farmers to national development.
Activities are staged under the theme: ‘Grow What We Eat…Eat What We Grow’.
Water shortage concerns being addressed by Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Ministry of Finance
ST. KITTS: Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 11, 2016 (SKNIS): Minister of Public Infrastructure, Honourable Ian Patches Liburd, recently stated that his Ministry along with the Ministry of Finance is doing all in its power to help citizens weather out the drought.
The minister stated that Mansion residents, including those living in Phillip’s Village, Molineux and Borryeau, have been greatly affected by the lack of rainfall.
Prior to the launch of the project to improve the water supply in these areas, Minister Liburd said he received a message from a resident that resonated with him as he noticed the need for a solution was needed more than ever.
“I responded that we are addressing the problem and what we are doing now shows that actions speak louder than words,” said the minister.
He added that he commends the people of the area and the people of the entire country for their level of tolerance “during these difficult periods of drought.”
“We are taking the people’s tolerance level into consideration,” said Minister Liburd. “We are spending over $600, 000 on top of the $5 million budgeted for the Water Department. So, we want to thank the Ministry of Finance for its help.”
The minister mentioned that equipment was also sourced to access the water supply in these areas. In fact, six vehicles were handed over to the Water Department recently.
Minister Liburd also praised the “innovative thinking, as well as the management and staff of the Water Department for discovering that the area was in excess of 160,000 gallons of water.” He said that it is hoped that this can be used as “a departure to find water in excess in other areas and use it in spite of the shortage of rainfall and deficits.”
He revealed that issues in Basseterre, where its aquifer is exposed and susceptible to sanding intrusion will also be addressed.
“We are looking north of the Airport, and as the Prime Minister (Dr. the Honorable Timothy Harris) mentioned, $300,000 will be spent to find water there just under Bayfords.
“Studies will be done and there are positive feelings that an estimated 1 million gallons of water could be found to augment the water source in Basseterre which requires some 2.5 million gallons per day,” said the minister. “We are working and we are not just sitting by. We are doing what we have to do and spending money wisely.
NQF Workshop From Starts April 12
BARBADOS: Policies and procedures developed for this island’s National Qualifications Framework (NQF) will be examined next week by members of the Mauritius Qualifications Authority (MAQ), in collaboration with the Barbados Accreditation Council (BAC).
This is when the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development (MLSD) facilitates a two-day workshop for representatives of key organisations involved in the development, implementation and maintenance of the NQF.
The sessions will be held from Tuesday, April 12 to Wednesday, April 13, at Almond Bay Caterers, Hastings, Christ Church, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The workshop is part of a scoping mission being conducted from April 11 to 15 between the Mauritius Qualifications Authority and the BAC, both of whom have entered into a partnership arrangement to share knowledge, experience and expertise for the implementation of the NQF.
One of the objectives of this partnership is to implement an integrated, internationally-comparable, credit and standards-based NQF in Barbados.
This will involve building capacity within the tertiary educational training institutions and the BAC; assisting with the populating of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) qualifications into the NQF; and formulating a work plan to inform the implementation of the NQF.
The development and implementation of the NQF is a critical activity under the Barbados Human Resource Development Strategy 2011-2016. This Strategy is being implemented by the MLSD with funding from the European Union.
The consultancy for the design and development of the NQF ended in 2014, and is a framework with eight qualifications levels and one Access Level, reflecting the current system of education and training in Barbados.
During the Stakeholder Consultation Workshops for the NQF, it was recommended that a pilot programme should be implemented to test the NQF policies and procedures which have been developed. The April 12-13 sessions seek to provide such an opportunity.
Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ronald Jones, will address the official opening of the workshop on Tuesday, April 12, at 9:00 a.m.
He will speak to an audience comprising the Programme Manager (Education) of the Delegation of the European Union, various Permanent Secretaries and Deputy Permanent Secretaries, the Chief Education Officer and Deputy Chief Education Officers.
Other guests expected to be in attendance are the Principals of the Erdiston Teachers’ Training College, the Barbados Community College and the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic, as well as the Executive Directors of the TVET Council and the BAC.
joy-ann.gill@barbados.gov.bb
Saint Lucia to Sign and Ratify Paris Climate Change Agreement
ST. LUCIA: The Government of Saint Lucia will sign and ratify the Paris Agreement on Climate Change when the Agreement is opened for signature on Friday 22nd April, 2016 during a High Level Ceremony to be hosted by Secretary General Ban Ki Moon at UN Headquarters.
Saint Lucia played a leading role during the negotiations that led to the adoption of the historic climate change agreement in Paris in December 2015. The
country’s minister for Public Service, Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology, Sen. Hon. Dr James Fletcher led a strong CARICOM negotiating team that fought for and was successful in getting many critical issues reflected in the Paris Agreement. Saint Lucia’s minister also served as one of the ministerial facilitators appointed by then COP21 President Laurent Fabius to help reach agreement on some of the difficult issues. Hon. James Fletcher chairs the Regional Task Force on Sustainable Development that was established by CARICOM Heads of Government and he is also the chair of the Regional Coordinating Committee on Climate Change.
The High Level signing ceremony is expected to attract more than 130 nations, with over sixty world leaders expected to sign the landmark climate agreement on Earth Day, 22nd April, 2016. This will mark the most ever signatures for a UN Agreement on an opening day. Hon. James Fletcher will lead Saint Lucia’s delegation and sign the Paris Agreement on behalf of the Government of Saint Lucia. By also depositing its instrument of ratification, Saint Lucia will become one of the first countries to have ratified the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement will legally come into force when at least 55 countries representing 55 percent of global emissions ratify it.
In addition to representing Saint Lucia at the High Level Signing Ceremony for the Paris Agreement, Hon. Dr. James Fletcher has been invited to participate in the High Level Thematic Debate on Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, which will take place at UN Headquarters on Thursday 21st April, 2016. This event, which is being hosted by the President of the UN General Assembly, is expected to bring together global political, business and society leaders to increase international awareness and political momentum around the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Directors across the region benefit from The Caribbean Governance Training Institute
Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 11, 2016 (SKNIS): The Caribbean Governance Training Institute (CGTT) in collaboration with the Financial Services Regulatory Commission (FSRC), St. Kitts Branch, is currently hosting a Chartered Director Programme which runs from Monday, April 11 to Wednesday, April 13, at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.
In an interview with the St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service (SKNIS), Dr. Chris Bart, Chairman and Co-Founder of the CGTT in St. Lucia, praised the Federal Government for recognizing the importance of the programme.
“I think it is exceptionally forward-thinking of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis to see and recognize the kind of work that we are doing here and its benefits to the many directors the government ultimately have to appoint to its own commission,” he said, while adding that the Government should be applauded.
The chairman explained that the team is currently in the Federation to assist in raising the governance literacy standards of directors from the Caribbean region including St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda and the British Virgin Islands, to the 21st Century levels. Another objective is to give the directors “the knowledge, competence and the courage to take up the new found role which will basically guarantee that they will not fall prey to the bad practices that have caused so many well-known global corporations to fail in the past.”
Commenting on the morning’s opening proceedings, Dr. Bart stated that the sessions were designed to introduce the directors to the major principles of corporate governance and advise them as to the two major jobs that all great directors are ultimately called upon to carry out.
“One, is to make sure that the organization is making great decisions rather than satisficing or compromising decisions,” he said. “The second of course is to provide high level stewardship activities that will help protect the organization and protect them especially from what we like to call the four evil sisters of corporate governance.”
Dr. Bart said that the four evil sisters in reference are misallocation, misappropriation, misrepresentation and misconduct. He noted that the evil sisters are present in every organization and directors need to be very vigilant and do all in their power to keep them away.
He said that the Chartered Director Programme is a life changing method.
“It is a transformative process that we put our directors through,” said Dr. Bart. “They will never be able to enter a boardroom again with the same perspective and attitude and their job now will be to help their fellow directors begin the same transformation process that will help lift their governance practices up to 21stCentury standards.”
Dr. Bart explained that on Wednesday night, the directors will sit a very difficult and challenging two hour examination. He stated that once they return passing grades they will earn the right to use the designation Chartered Director and insert the post-nominal “C.Dir.” after their names.
Fifteen directors representing all aspects of organizations including the public and private sector, government commissions, the education sector and universities are in attendance at the 3 day workshop.
Dr. Chris Bart is also the Founder of The Directors College in Canada. From its inception in 2003 to 2013, he served as its inaugural Principal and Lead Professor. The Directors College provides a diverse group of seasoned directors, experienced executives, and governance scholars who all offer practical and real-life examples through discussion, insights, and simulations.
