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BNTF 9 launched in Saint Lucia

BNTF 9 launched in Saint Lucia

A US$2.97 million grant will be allocated toward infrastructure and livelihood enhancement services.

The Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), the Caribbean Development Bank’s flagship program for poverty reduction has contributed significantly to national development in Saint Lucia since it commenced operations on the island in 1979.
In keeping with the theme “Partnering Against Poverty,” the implementation agency for the BNTF program, the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF) recently held an opening ceremony to launch the BNTF 9 program, for which Saint Lucia received a grant allocation of US$2.97 million dollars.
Acting Manager for the Caribbean Development Bank, George Yearwood, said the CBD sought to increase grant resources in order to more effectively tackle poverty in the region.
“After extensive discussions, the CDB has negotiated increased contributions for the Special Development Fund to secure grant resources for a nimbler BNTF program with a more ambitious agenda for tackling poverty in the region. National BNTF projects in Saint Lucia and in eight other countries stand to benefit from a grant allocation of some US$40.8 million, of which Saint Lucia receives an initial amount of US$2.97 million. Saint Lucia is further eligible to receive a portion of an unallocated incentive amount of US$5.2 million to be received at mid-term based on project performance.”
Minister for Equity, Social Justice, Empowerment, Youth Development, Sports, Culture and Local Government, Hon. Lenard Montoute, expressed gratitude to the Caribbean Development Bank for its continued support.
“I am unaware of any donor-funded program that has spawned so many cycles, and indeed almost four decades of the BNTF has taken place. The support that we have received here in Saint Lucia is unprecedented, and I would like to take the opportunity to publicly congratulate the Caribbean Development Bank for its commitment.”
The Basic Needs Trust Fund program has been contributing to poverty reduction in Saint Lucia by providing infrastructure and livelihood enhancement services.
The BNTF program launching was held on Oct. 4 at the Golden Palm Resort in Rodney Bay.

National Thanksgiving Day – Gregory Bowen

Gregory Bowen Message on the Occasion of National Thanksgiving Day

Honourable Gregory Bowen Message on the Occasion of National Thanksgiving Day.

As we once again come together to commemorate our National Thanksgiving Day, let us reflect on how far we have come as a Nation and the road that it took to get us here.
We thank our Almighty Father for delivering us safely from the dark days of our history to the light and hopefulness of the present.
Thirty-four years on, we can truly say that we are a resilient, peaceful and blessed Nation.
Through the years, we have overcome revolutions, hurricanes and economic disasters, through hard work, shared sacrifice, and God’s steadfast grace and mercy, to now live in a land that is safe, stable and steadfastly developing.
Today, we enjoy a maturing democracy—but we did not get here alone.
We are grateful to our many friends and neighbours who have come to Grenada’s aid, time and time again, to help us rebuild, restore and sustain this said democracy and stability that we now experience.
Thanksgiving each year gives us an opportunity to remember the Grenadians and friends of Grenada who are no longer with us; and to recognize and pay homage to their service in the interest of nation-building.
We continue to pray for their families and to thank them for their sacrifice.
It is indeed through collective sacrifice that Grenada is where it is today and we thank everyone who has shared in the sacrifices for our development.
Sisters and brothers,
This Thanksgiving, more than ever, I call on all of our citizens to remember to pay our blessings forward—that is, to ensure that we meet our collective obligation to bless others the way we have been blessed by others.
When we pause and reflect on the recent disastrous hurricanes which have decimated so many Islands in our region and areas of the United States, sparing Grenada, the onus must be on us to reach out a hand in whatever way we can, to assist.
And even while we do so to help our neighbours abroad, let us also do the same here at home and ensure that none of our brothers or sisters is left behind, and that everyone in our beautiful country can experience equality of opportunity and access to resources.
As a Government, we call on everyone to recall the lessons of the past, and to use those as stepping stones toward fulfilling our God-given responsibility of service to each other, in whatever our sphere of influence or opportunity.
Let us always remember that we are a blessed Nation, and that we are working daily to build a more sustainable future for ourselves and the next generations.
Let us therefore remain resolute and united toward our common goal—development.
We fail or succeed together. We are one people.
May God continue to bless this beautiful, strong and proud Nation of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
I thank you.
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Media and Information Literacy in Schools

UWI Develops Material to Improve Media and Information Literacy in Schools.

UWI Develops Material to Improve Media and Information Literacy in Schools.

The University of the West Indies (UWI) has developed material designed to assist in improving media and information literacy in primary and secondary schools islandwide.
This was disclosed by Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister, Hon. Olivia Grange, who said the undertaking is a collaboration involving the United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Broadcasting Commission and the Joint Board of Teacher Education.
“I am pleased to learn that an outcome of this collaboration is that media literacy will be embedded into the curriculum of local teacher-training colleges,” she further disclosed.
The Minister was speaking at the opening ceremony for the global media and information literacy conference at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston on October 25.
Ms. Grange said it is essential that Jamaicans be able to deconstruct media products in order to evaluate their contents; assign social, cultural and/or economic value to the content; and leverage information and communication tools in their development goals.
“In short, our aim must be to develop the critical thinking skills of our citizens, especially our young citizens, whose upbringing and socialising are influenced by the media,” she said.
The Minister contended that in the existing digital age, persons should have the skills to critically analyse and use media and information.
“Concerns about the impact of media on society, particularly on young people, have resonated for as long as traditional media have existed. But things have to change dramatically,” she added.
Ms. Grange said, over time, consumers have become more active in terms of the media and information they receive.
This, she said, can be attributed to more access to information, more sources of information where mediated forms of communicated are the primary means of delivering information and knowledge, and where misinformation and fake news are unfortunate realities in today’s world.
Activities marking Global Media and Information Literacy Week 2017 are being held under the theme ‘Media and Information Literacy in Critical Times: Reimagining Ways of Learning and Information Environments’. The week runs from October 25 to November 1.

Upgrading the Coastal Highway

Coastal Highway - Belize

Government of Belize signs contract for the updating of a feasibility study and the preparation of detailed designs for the upgrading of the coastal highway.

The Ministry of Works informs the general public that a contract for provision of consultancy services for the preparation of a feasibility study and detailed designs for upgrading of the Coastal Highway (Manatee Road) was signed today between the Government of Belize, Ministry of Works and a reputable Italian Consultancy firm, Politecnica Ingegneria ed Architettura Societa Cooperativa (Politecnica).

Read More: Reconstruction of Faber’s Road

Politecnica will provide consultancy services for the sum of US $995,000.00 (exclusive of local taxes) which provides for the following scope of services:

  • Geotechnical investigation
  • Climate vulnerability Assessment
  • Traffic analysis
  • Environmental and Social Impact Assessment
  • Climate adaptation measures to build resilience in our road network
  • Drainage Design
  • Road Safety Initiatives and awareness
  • Design for replacement/refurbishment of 13 bridge crossings of different spans on the road.

Coastal Highway - Belize

The detailed design of the Coastal Highway will allow for upgrading of 36.2 miles/58 km of road to paved standard, inclusive of climate adaption measures to build resilience against climate change impacts. The consultancy study is to be completed within ten (10) calendar months after contract signing.

Coastal Highway - Belize

The technical assistance is being jointly funded by the Government of Belize together with a grant from the Caribbean Development Bank, utilizing resources provided by the United Kingdom Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF).

Restricted visits to Ward C2 at St. Michael Geriatric Hospital

conjunctivitis

Due to an outbreak of conjunctivitis on Ward C2 at the St. Michael Geriatric Hospital on Beckles Road, St. Michael, the Ministry of Health is advising family members that visits to patients on that ward will not be allowed until the situation resolves.
Relatives of patients on Ward C2 are asked to call the Geriatric Hospital to make arrangements for the delivery of clothes or other items.  Additionally, the 
Ministry is urging visitors with relatives on other wards not “to wander on to other wards”.  
Members of the public, who are themselves experiencing conjunctivitis, are asked not to go to the Geriatric Hospital. They are also reminded to practice good hygiene, including washing their hands before and after visits to the institution.  
All visitors should, however, follow instructions given by management and staff at the Geriatric Hospital while on the premises.  
Management of the Geriatric Hospital has indicated that steps are being taken to treat those patients who have been affected and to ensure that proper hygiene practices are followed by staff and patients.   This is in the interest of the health of patients, staff and visitors.
The Ministry of Health regrets any inconvenience caused as a result of this temporary measure and thanks the public for their cooperation at this time.

PAHO at the centre of Barbados’ Health Care transition

PAHO

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has been at the forefront in the transformation of Barbados’ health care system since post-independence by providing training opportunities for health professionals and providing support during disaster.
Acting Minister of Health, Donville Inniss espoused the “Barbados in PAHO” success story during an awards ceremony and cocktail reception to honour eight health heroes at its Dayrrels Road, St. Michael, headquarters last night.
Giving a snapshot of Barbados’ health profile in 1966, Mr. Inniss recalled that, life expectancy at birth was 62.7 per cent for men and 67.4 per cent for women.  Additionally, one in every thousand pregnant woman died in child birth and 48 of every 1000 infants died within the first year of life. He described this situation as unacceptable indicators of health status which established the need for strong policy responses to turn the situation around.
However the Minister noted that the island had since made significant strides in health care and pointed to its high ranking on the United Nation’s Human Development Index. This is as a result of progressive policies in health, specifically in terms of nutrition, environment and sanitation, public health nursing and increasing allocations for child health services, especially the provision of immunisation for vaccine preventable diseases.
 
He also mentioned policies in associated sectors such as education, labour, housing, transport and economic development as helping to buttress the island’s social development.
The Acting Minister contended: “In all of these achievements, PAHO played a pivotal role, whether in the professional development of our health care workforce, providing fellowships for many, especially nurses who were assisted to pursue advanced training in health care specialties, as well as dental health and environmental health among other areas.”
He continued: “PAHO was also by our side providing support during times of crises such as the response to disease outbreaks or natural disasters or through technical support for programmes such as EPI, vector control, mental health, essential medicines, health systems, NCDs, family health and HIV and TB prevention and control programmes.”
Mr. Inniss said the Barbados in PAHO story represented a transformation of the island’s health care. He further stated that the adoption of the primary health care strategy ushered in the decentralisation of the delivery of health care services through the polyclinic system, ensuring more equitable access to health care for Barbadians.
He added: “Our primary health care services continue to evolve to take on board innovative approaches to health and development.  There has been a growing acceptance of the need for greater inter-sectoral collaboration between Government, civil society and the private sector to bring collective action and more resources on board to help people to lead healthier lives. This approach has been embodied in our newest polyclinic, the David Thompson Health and Social Services Complex which was opened in 2015.”
During the evening’s proceedings, eight health heroes were honoured for their work in various aspects of health.  Dr. Elizabeth Ferdinand was rewarded for her work in PAHO’s Expanded Programme on Immunization; Noreen Merritt for diabetes awareness, prevention and education; Senator Dr. Carol Jacobs for work in HIV/AIDS, and Dr. Elliott Doughlin for work with non-communicable diseases.
Also recognised posthumously was Dr. Oscar Jordan for his work with non-communicable diseases, Dr. Ermine Belle and Dr. George Mahy for their work in mental heatlh and Dr. Shirley Hanoman Jhagroo, for her work in breast cancer awareness and prevention.
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital won a special award for its Baby Friendly Initiative while PAHO staffers Sandra Jones received a long-service award and Shirley Augustine the retiree’s award.
The PAHO Barbados office  was also the recipient of a  framed citation presented by the Acting Minister of Health to the Director of PAHO, Dr. Carissa Etienne.

JIS Visiting Schools on Jamaican Culture and Heritage Tour

Jamaican Culture and Heritage Tour

The Jamaica Information Service’s (JIS) annual Heritage Month School Tour is under way, with 22 institutions across the island being targeted to receive donations of books and posters published by the agency on aspects of Jamaican culture and heritage.
Schools in St. James, Westmoreland, Hanover, St. Ann, St Catherine, St. Thomas, Kingston and St. Andrew have already been visited, with institutions in Manchester, as well as others in Kingston, to benefit from donations.
“The JIS is mindful of the importance of the preservation of Jamaican culture and heritage. We are playing our part in imparting this information to Jamaicans, particularly students, by contributing our publications to school libraries to enhance the teaching and learning in this area,” said Chief Executive Officer of the JIS, Donna-Marie Rowe.
The publications donated are ‘Jamaican Folk Customs and Beliefs’, ‘Proud to Be Jamaican Activity Book’, ‘Jamaican Honours and Awards’, ‘The Right Excellent Nanny of the Maroons’, ‘A Fi Wi Heritage’, ‘The Maroons’; packages on the national heroes and emblems, as well as new posters on Marcus Mosiah Garvey, and the Morant Bay Rebellion.
Mrs. Rowe explained that the visits by the JIS team to schools are mutually beneficial and present an opportunity to interface with a segment of the population being targeted through programming.
“We visit the schools at the height of the festivities to celebrate the work of our national heroes. At this time, the students prepare cultural items, some of which are original pieces. Their performance is an expression of their understanding of the impact our heroes had on society and their legacy they have left behind. We record them for use in upcoming JIS programmes on radio and television, and also as part of the process of preservation,” she noted.
Principal of Sheffield All-Age School in Westmoreland, Elizabeth Harvey, in explaining the significance of the celebratory period in the schools noted that, “It’s a time when we pause to reflect on the contribution made by our ancestors as well as persons still alive, to our blessed country.
“It is no secret that the heritage boasted by Jamaica is second to none… . Not only are we known but we have made an impact on the culture of many countries. Our music, colourful language and religious practices have penetrated every continent, thus we can say we have a great heritage and a great legacy,” she added.
Pointing to the sacrifice made by the national heroes, she noted that Jamaica’s legacy did not come “by chance, but as a result of those men and women who defied the odds and have given their sweat, tears, and some their lives to ensure that we can enjoy the Jamaica we have today”.
The JIS Heritage School Tour is in keeping with the agency’s thrust to facilitate the integration of the organisation into the fabric of the community.
In July, the agency donated publications to the Jamaica Intensive Reading Clinic, a literacy intervention programme, which catered to 1,500 children at 18 locations across the 14 parishes.
Meanwhile, the agency’s annual JIS Heritage Competition is under way, which involves students in primary, high and tertiary institutions competing in essay, poster and photography contests, respectively.
The competition, which this year focuses on Jamaica 55, will close on October 31.

Scientific research on the La Soufriere Volcano

La Soufriere Volcano

Scientific research to be conducted on the La Soufriere Volcano and the communities located near the volcano.

The National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO), in collaboration with the Seismic Research Centre (SRC), of the University of the West Indies, and a team of Researchers from the United Kingdom Research Council’s Global Challenges Research Fund, will be conducting scientific research on the La Soufriere Volcano and the communities located near the Volcano during the period 27th October – 3rd November 2017.
The general public and residents in communities close to the volcano are asked to note that as part of the research, drones will be flown in the following communities on the following dates:

  • 27th October – Spring Village, Rose Hall, Troumaca, Rose Bank, Chateaubelair, Wallilabou
  • 28th October – Colonaire, Georgetown, Langley Park, Rabacca, Sandy Bay and New Sandy Bay
  • 29th October – Sandy Bay

Residents in these areas can interact with the scientists during the flying of the drones and share their experiences and knowledge from the 1902 and 1979 eruptions of the La Soufriere Volcano.
 

3rd International TVET Conference

3rd International TVET Conference
Senior Marketing and Business Development Consultant for the Joint Committee for Tertiary Education and Chair of the Education and TVET Conference, Jacqueline Knight-Campbell

Third International TVET Conference Slated for November 29 to December 1.

The Joint Committee for Tertiary Education (JCTE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, will host the third International Conference on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) from November 29 to December 1 at the Holiday Inn Resort in Montego Bay.
The JCTE’s Senior Marketing and Business Development Consultant and Conference Chair, Jacqueline Knight-Campbell, says the event will bring together individuals and organisations that are collaborating to develop the education sector.
“It will explore the building of educational partnerships; strategic leadership for institutional growth development; and professional development in higher education”, she said.
She was speaking at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank at the agency’s head office in Kingston on Tuesday, October 24.
The conference, which will also be supported by Delaware State University in the United States, will include concurrent sessions, workshops, exhibitions and panel discussions.
Among the key events are a power breakfast, where heads of local and international companies will engage representatives from educational institutions in dialogue; and an awards ceremony to recognise outstanding educators, the Tertiary Student of the Year and outstanding corporate local and international individuals who have made indelible contributions to education.
“It is a leadership conference that will provide the platform for building awareness on the readiness, activities and international exposure and exchange of what is happening in education,” Mrs. Knight-Campbell said.
Additionally, she said persons are being invited to present research papers at the conference that should be submitted to the JCTE by Thursday, November 9.
The focus areas include developing partnerships for an integrated approach to internationalising tertiary education; enhancing career through networking industry certification and professional organisations; and financing tertiary education for growth and sustainability, both locally and internationally. For further information on registration for the conference, persons may email the
JCTE at: jctesecretariat@gmail.com, and for the submission of research papers: jctepr@gmail.com. Persons may also call 632-4136, 616-7620 or visit www.ucj.org.jm.

Belize Prime Minister Meets the President of Mexico

President Peña Nieto

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto arrived today, October 25, to participate in the IV CARICOM Mexico Summit.  On hand to receive him was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Wilfred Elrington.

Though this is President Peña Nieto’s first visit to Belize, he emphasized that the visit is not merely protocol but reflects longstanding relations that is evidence by the substantive cooperation and bilateral engagement.

Peña Nieto met with Prime Minister Barrow in a private bilateral meeting in which both Heads reviewed the state of play of the longstanding and friendly bilateral relations between Belize and Mexico, as well as cooperation in areas of mutual interest at the global level.

In appreciation of the excellent bilateral relations that exists between the two countries President Peña Nieto presented a full-size replica of an OLMEC Head to the people and Government of Belize.  The Head was installed at the inner circle of the North Ring Road Roundabout in Belmopan.

In the area of cooperation several important announcements were made. President Peña Nieto formally informed Prime Minister Barrow that Mexico will be supporting the opening of a secondary school in Toledo District modelled after the Escuela Secundaria Tecnia Mexico in the Corozal District. He also announced the three-year programme supporting the provision of partial scholarships to 25 low-income Belizean students for studies at Escuela Secundaria Tecnia Mexico.

Mexico and Belize also agreed to continue cooperation in maritime security between the two countries.  In addition to the long term ongoing capacity building programme provided to the Belize Coast Guard by the Mexico Naval Academy, President Peña Nieto offered support for the construction of two large patrol boats, measuring 30 meters in length for use by the Belize Coast Guard in its patrolling duties.

On the economic front both Heads agreed to the importance of strengthening trade and investment through the conclusion of the negotiation of the Partial Scope Trade Agreement (PSA).  President Peña Nieto committed to the prioritization of the negotiation of the PSA between Belize and Mexico for the first semester of 2018, following the conclusion of the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

On the aspect of strengthening the legal framework between the two countries, both Heads were pleased to note that cooperation in the areas of air transport, land transport, education, and transboundary hydrocarbons were to be consolidated shortly with the imminent signing of agreements in all four areas.

The meeting concluded with the conferral of the Order of Belize from Prime Minister Barrow to President Peña Nieto.

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