Farmers can “wean themselves off Government support” and proactively find solutions through their own collective efforts. Such was the philosophy behind the Agricultural Co-operative model as espoused by Co-operative Officer II of the Ministry of Labour and Small Enterprise Development (MOLSED)- David Greaves – in his address to farmers and other agricultural stakeholders at an Engagement Session on Thursday 30th November, 2017, at the Enchanted Gardens Banquet Hall in New Grant (via Princes Town).
The Session – which was facilitated by the County Agricultural Officer (Victoria) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF), Ms. Sati Gangapersad – was geared towards sensitizing attendees on the benefits of: agro-processing; forming an agricultural co-operative and the many services offered to farmers by the State. The Co-operative Officer II (MOLSED), who encouraged both individual farmers and farming groups “to come together” in order to “address common needs”, advised too that the Co-operative model could be the ideal problem solver.
“The Co-operative takes the stress off the individual farmer and in turn, shares the burden amongst its members who formulate solutions to these challenges, together,” Greaves said. He added: “More so, it helps take the burden off the powers that be by empowering you, the farmer, to do things and make things happen for yourself.”
In emphasizing the need for farmers to “become more competitive, profitable and truly advance themselves across the agricultural value chain”, former Chief Technical Officer (MALF) and current Advisor to the Permanent Secretary (MALF) – Patricia La Borde-Grant – admitted that such was a feat which could not be achieved alone but required the collaboration of both farmers and agro-processors as one, unified entity.
Such a union, she said was strategic in positioning its members to have optimum access to the soon-to-be realized, Moruga Agro and Light Industrial Park – an agro-processing and marketing warehouse which is to be operationalized in 2019. “Our agricultural export sector can be revamped when Agricultural Co-operatives access this facility as it will cater for the effective marketing of collective (or combined) quantities of produce where previously, individual farmers and agro-processors would not have been able to avail themselves to such an opportunity,” La Borde-Grant said.
Among those persons and stakeholders present at the Session were: Director (Ag.), Dr. Michelle Mellowes and Deputy Director (Ag.), Hansley Durbal and – both of MALF’s Regional Administration South (RAS) Division – as well as the Praedial Larceny Squad (MALF); Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) and farmers groups from Williamsville, Tableland, Princes Town and Moruga.
Farmers and Agro-Processors encouraged to form Co-operatives
THA update on Virgin Atlantic Airlines
THA update on the disbursement of funds intended for Virgin Atlantic Airlines.
Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles wishes to update the public on action taken at the Division of Tourism, Culture and Transportation regarding monies deposited into an incorrect bank account which were intended for Virgin Atlantic Airlines for payment of airlift arrangements.
This matter was reported to the Fraud Squad of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service and this unit has since commenced its investigation. The Chief Administrator is in receipt of reports from all relevant employees at the division and owing to the seriousness and sever ity of this matter, the Chief Administrator has commenced disciplina ry action against four (4) persons from the Division.
Of the four (4) persons involved, two (2) of these persons are public officers. One (1) other person is employed on contract and the other is employed on a month to month basis. The two (2) persons employed on contract and on a month to month basis have been asked in the public’s interest, to cease reporting for duty with immediate effect. With regards to the public officers, the matter has been referred to the Public Service Commission for appropriate disciplinary action. It must be noted that until advised by the Public Service Commission the two public officers remain on duty at the Division of Tourism,Culture and Transportation.
The Chief Secretary is assuring members of the public that the Tobago House of Assembly is working assiduously in conjunction with the Fraud Squad of the TTPS to ensure that this case is resolved in the shortest possible time and also indicates that due process must be observed. The Chief Secretary takes this opportunity to encourage all officers of the Tobago House of Assembly to carry out their duties with pride, vigilance and honesty at all times.
National Emergency Medical Response Unit
With plans already in the making, Grenada can have it’s first ever National Emergency Medical Response Unit, up and running by the first quarter of 2018.
Health and Social Security Minster Hon. Nickolas Steele made the announcement, on Thursday morning, during his contribution to the 2018 national budget at the Country’s Parliament.
He said that as things changes so too are demands, and that his team at the Ministry of Health continues to explore new initiatives that will improve patient-care and overall healthcare delivery.
Steele told the House that his Ministry (Health) is moving in that direction to address the needs and concerns of the citizenry and outlined some of the measures already taken.
“Mr. Speaker, procurement of ambulances, through the assistance of St. George’s University (SGU), Grenada Electricity Services Ltd. (GRENLEC) and the Maria Holder Memorial Trust, the Government of Grenada through the Ministry of Health is in the process of procuring four new ambulances.
Two has already arrived and two should be arriving within the next couple of weeks. These ambulances would be deployed to bolster our emergency response within the Community and Hospital Services.”
“It also signal our intention collaborate with key stakeholders and citizens and to established sustainable emergency ambulatory care service in Grenada. Planning for this service is ongoing and it’s expected to be implemented during the first quarter of 2017.”
According to the island’s Health Minister the ambulances would be based at one central dispatched location.
“Mr. Speaker what this means is that there would be a central facility, that when someone calls for an ambulance there would be one number nation-wide in one central location where the call is received and at that location there is an awareness of where every single ambulance is on the island and how to direct an ambulance to a specific person in any area of Grenada Carriacou and Petite Martinique.”
Health officials say that the Unit when fully operational, will be staffed with professionally trained personnel and professionally managed to improve emergency response times and quicker access to medical services that can save lives.
Gender-based violence campaign
The Ministry of National Mobilization embarks on sixteen days of activism against gender-based violence campaign.
The fight against gender based violence in this country continues as the Ministry of National Mobilisation, Social Development, the Family, Gender and Youth Affairs, tackles this serious issue which plagues the Vincentian society.
The Ministry has embarked on its 16 days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence Campaign, under the theme, “Leave No One Behind: End Violence Against Women and Girls”. The Campaign began on 25th November, and will run to 10th December. Through this initiative, a number of activities will be held during this period to raise awareness among Vincentians on the issue.
As part of activities to mark the 16 days of activism, the Ministry held a press conference on Monday, 27th November, to brief the media and the public about the roles and responsibilities of the key agencies in addressing domestic violence in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The press conference was also the platform for introducing the members of the newly established National Commission on Gender-based Violence. This Commission was established by cabinet as an advisory commission to function as an oversight body for the implementation of a multi-sectorial response to Gender-based Violence in which state and civil society partners collaborate.
Assistant Co-ordinator of the Gender Affairs Division, Ms. La Fleur Quammie-Harry, said that the 16 days of activism is used as an opportunity to galvanize actions to end violence against women and girls. She noted that through this program they hope to engage the males, as it is important to partner with the men to accelerate progress in preventing and ending violence against women and girls.
Minister of National Mobilisation, Social Development, the Family, Gender and Youth Affairs, Hon. Frederick Stephenson, provided background information in relation to the National Commission on Gender-based Violence. According to Minister Stephenson, a number of efforts, including law reform, were undertaken by the Government of this country to address gender-based violence. He added that the newly established National Commission on Gender-based Violence is also a part of such efforts. He introduced the members of Commission and urged them to work diligently to end gender-based violence in this country.
Representatives from some of the organisations that comprise the National Commission on Gender-based Violence, namely the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police and the Gender Affairs Division, brought some enlightenment on the protocols and procedures to domestic violence reports, respective to their organisations.
Gender-based violence against women is a human rights violation, and both a cause and consequence of unequal power relationships between men and women. It is a public health concern with serious consequences on women’s physical, sexual and reproductive and mental health. The Ministry’s 16 days of activism to end gender-based violence against women and girls culminates on 10th December.
Running in Heels – Book Launched
Under the patronage of Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy, the Governor General of Saint Lucia, the book “Running in Heels” was launched on Tuesday, Nov. 28, to coincide with the international observance of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence.
The event, which was attended by an assemblage of women from the political arena who have represented Saint Lucia, past and present, was held at Government House.
Running in Heels: Women and Politics in Saint Lucia 1961 to 2016 was published by the Division of Gender Relations, with funding support from the Saint Lucia National Commission for UNESCO and technical support from the InterAmerican Commission on Women (CIM) at the Organization of American States (OAS).
Written by Yasmin Solitahe Odlum and Barbara Jacob Small, the book is said to be an essential guide to understanding the past, the present and the future of women in politics. Co-author Yasmin Odlum extended words of appreciation from the Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM).
The publication seeks to highlight the political experience of women in elective politics from 1961 to present.
Jamaica Condemns Slave Trading in Libya
The Government has condemned the acts of slave trading which has been reported in Libya.
“This human indignity is unreservedly and entirely condemned by the Government and we commit to working with the international community to curtail this despicable trade in human beings, wherever it occurs across the world,” Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith said.
She made the comments during the sitting of the Senate on Friday (December 1), following local and international media reports of persons being sold as labourers in slave auctions.
Senator Johnson Smith said the United Nations, along with its member states must continue to publicize and educate citizens of the existence and different forms of modern day slavery and its consequences, especially on the most vulnerable.
“We encourage all countries to take the necessary measures within their borders to identify and eliminate this abhorrent practise, and in this regard, we note and welcome even with caution announcements emerging from the African Union/ European Union Summit in Cote D’Ivoire…where specific actions are to be taken to address the situation of migrants of Libya,” she said.
In the meantime, Senator Johnson Smith said even as the acts in Libya are condemned, Jamaicans should also focus their outrage and offence on issues occurring locally.
“Modern day slavery is not limited to the inhumane treatment of African migrants on the continent. It includes the young girl in rural Jamaica answering an advertisement in the paper promising on the job training in customer service, who finds herself forced into prostitution or threat of death if she seeks to run away.
“(It also) includes the young boy who lost his parents and is taken in by a member of a neighbouring community but who is made to work seven days per week, not attend school, not play, and he is given little food or drink, but an abundance of beatings,” she added.
Senator Johnson Smith said the Government is taking steps to increase awareness of the different practices and working to reduce the vulnerabilities of the population.
“In that regard, work has crossed administrations, and we have established an inter-ministerial National Taskforce Against Trafficking in Persons, in which the Foreign Ministry is involved,” Senator Johnson Smith informed.
She said as part of the country’s campaign against human trafficking, Jamaica was most recently an active participant in the United Nations High Level Meeting on Trafficking in Persons, held in September 2017.
Senator Johnson Smith said while legislative frameworks are in place and task forces have been trained, “we still have to look around us and be aware of matters that should be reported.”
Meanwhile, as Jamaica observes the International Day for the abolition of Slavery today (December 2) Senator Johnson Smith reiterated the importance of safeguarding human dignity.
“Let us pay special attention to the most vulnerable among us, as no form of slavery should be excused or tolerated in our societies. We must all remain vigilant to ensure the eradication of this scourge that is a stain on humanity, whether on the continent of Africa, or right here at home,” she said.
For his part, Acting Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate, Dr. Floyd Morris said “we on this side are fundamentally opposed to any form of slavery. Slavery has been a scourge on humanity.”
Vector control training for Health Department
Vector control training for Environmental Health Department.
The Ministry of Health and Wellness recently held a three-day training workshop for Vector Control Officers on the use, maintenance and repair of thermal foggers. The workshop was completed on Dec. 1.
The training was undertaken by Renard Xaviere from Power Farms in Barbados, and was aimed at capacity-building within the Department of Health to improve its response to controlling the mosquito population on island.
“This workshop is another phase of vector control preparations,” said Chief Environmental Health Officer, Wenn Gabriel. “Vector borne diseases are a serious threat to us in Saint Lucia as well as the entire Caribbean. In the past five years or so we have had three major outbreaks of vector borne diseases and therefore we believe we need to prepare. We have been doing so by training our staff.
“We’ve had training with respect to the entomological aspects of vector control, we have also done some training in testing for resistance as it pertains to some of the pesticides that we use in vector control, and we will train our vector control staff on the safe handling of equipment used in mosquito control.”
Foggers are a one of the critical machines used within community based programs to reduce, control and prevent the spread of mosquito borne diseases.
CEO of Power Farms in Barbados, Renard Xaviere, said while there may be concerns, that foggers may not be environmentally friendly, he believes that the fogging process is very lucrative and harmless [to humans] in the fight against mosquitoes.
“Fogging remains the most cost-effective way to disperse pesticides into the environment where the mosquito is very prevalent,” Mr Xaviere said. “I think it will be here for a long time. Scientists are working on better products that can last longer, but it [fogging] is pretty safe. I know there are some detractors, but it really is the most cost effective and safest way to really combat this particular pest.”
At the end of the training, the environmental department expects a reduction in down time of machinery, improvement in fogging techniques, and an overall strengthening of the department’s response to mosquito borne disease outbreaks.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) continues to provide support to the Department of Environmental Health in the fight against mosquito borne diseases.
Second fire at Soufriere Hospital
A fire erupted at the Soufriere hospital on Saturday, Dec. 2, at about 7 p.m., causing extensive structural damage and the loss of vital pieces of equipment and supplies.
This is the second fire to have occurred at the hospital in less than four weeks.
The previous fire, reported on Nov. 9, was quickly contained by the swift action of staff, the residents of Soufriere, and fire officials. It caused little damage to the facility. The second fire, however, developed into a torrid blaze that raged to the back of the facility.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Merlene Fredericks, and other senior health officials were on hand to assess the extent of the damage, and to put in place an emergency plan of action for the continuation of health services for the people of Soufriere and environs.
“We lost the mental health section, the maternity section, and a fully stocked storeroom with medical supplies. We also lost some new equipment funded by the 10th European Development Fund,” Dr Fredericks said.
Investigations have begun into the cause of the fire and although the primary healthcare section of the hospital was not damaged, all salvageable items within the facility will be removed and relocated until both the investigation and an assessment of the damage has been completed.
The CMO also reported that the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) had been alerted to the fire as replacement supplies and equipment may need to be procured.
The Minister for Health and Wellness Sen Hon Mary Isaac extended her sympathies to the people of Soufriere. She assured however that her health team is moving swiftly to relocate all services.
“Our medical team is doing their best to ensure that services offered at the Soufriere hospital continue uninterrupted at different facilities,” she said. “Counseling services will be made available to anyone who may be traumatized as a result of these events. I wish to thank Fr. Albert for allowing us to use St. Isidore’s Hall as our outpost for non-emergencies such as mental wellness, and the treatment of non-communicable diseases, and to everyone else whose spirit is with us as we go through this tragedy, I say thank you. I ask that the people of Soufriere and all of Saint Lucia bear with us as we continue to ensure that we maintain peace and tranquility on our beautiful island.”
Meanwhile, Principal Nursing Officer, Kerthney Surage, outlined the immediate plan of action for the continuation of services.
“Emergency services will now be offered from the Etangs Wellness Centre. Etangs will be operating on a 24hr basis. All primary healthcare services will be relocated to St Isidore’s Hall, which is in the middle of the town of Soufriere. We will be operating from this site from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays.”
The PNO added that due to the fire, the Soufriere hospital has been decommissioned, and the arrangements temporary, until a longer lasting solution is arrived at.
Education Ministry Committed to Transformation
State Minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, says the Ministry is committed to the process of transformation through education.
He notes that the Ministry has earmarked $153 million to further advance the Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme across 70 high schools in the island, and is pushing for TVET to be integrated at the tertiary level.
Mr. Green, who was speaking to JIS News at the International Education/TVET Conference on November 30 in Montego Bay, highlighted that there is a direct drive and push from the Ministry, not only from a policy perspective but from a practical side.
He said efforts will not only be made to integrate the TVET programmes into high schools but also to communicate to the “tertiary sector that this is the direction”.
“We unveiled, last year, occupational degrees, which are really tied into our TVET areas, and what that does is transition our children from level-two certification into an actual degree,” he outlined.
Mr. Green lauded the efforts of the Joint Committee on Tertiary Education (JCTE) for hosting the conference as a means of bringing together different players within the educational sector to build partnerships.
Meanwhile, he challenged the JCTE to make every effort to re-socialise parents, teachers and students about the importance of skills training, “to move it from the conversation as a secondary form of engagement, as a backup plan, (and) to get some of the best and brightest students into the skill areas”.
“We want to ensure that the tertiary student is adaptive, is bold, is confident, innovative and has critical-thinking skills. That is what we want to see from our tertiary students, so that they can easily transition from one field to the next,” he said.
The integration of this model, he said, has already contributed to the reduction of youth unemployment and will further result in “a greater match between training and employment”.
The JCTE Third International Conference on TVET was held from November 29 to December 1 at the Holiday Inn Resort under the theme ‘Building Educational Partnership through Strategic Leadership, for Institutional Growth, Development and Sustainability: Enhancing Professional Development in Higher Education’.
Budget 2018 not for ‘Fat Cats’
The 2018 National Budget is a “good-natured budget” that benefits the ordinary man and woman, Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, said as budget debates began today in the National Assembly.
Minister Gaskin stressed that the measures in the 2018 budget “are all clear commitments to the man in the street, the woman in the street who are looking to enjoy their share in the good life.”
The Minister explained that the personal income tax measures allow persons who are laid off and unable to find a job, to recover taxes they paid from the previous year. Budget 2018 proposes that the minimum personal allowance of $720,000 be given in full regardless of whether a person works for the entire year or a part of the year.
“This measure speaks to the ordinary man, woman, worker and lets them know our government is fair and considerate and wants the best for them,” Minister Gaskin noted.
Additionally, the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on low-cost housing units below $6.5M is a measure targetted to young people and ordinary working persons to ensure they can become homeowners, Minister Gaskin pointed out.
Other measures such as concessions to employers who provide day care services and amnesty to all delinquent tax payers are all indications that budget 2018 is “a people focused budget.”
Minister Gaskin noted these measures clearly disproves the claim by Opposition Member of Parliament Ifraan Ali that there is “nothing in budget 2018 is there for the ordinary man”. Minister Gaskin and MP Ali opened budget debates.
