GOOD MORNING TO ALL MY #REALDREAMCHASERS out there. Its a beautiful sunny morning in Barbados. I peeped out the window and saw that we had a little rain and with the heat we have been having the rain is most welcome. Now that the yampie is out of my eyes lets see whats in the news today. WELL DONE GRADUATES! Yesterday was a big day for more than 1 700 students who successfully completed bachelor’s, master’s, postgraduate, and diploma programmes at the University of the West Indies. They shared the spotlight with five outstanding Caribbean citizens. The five were conferred with honorary doctor of law degrees during graduation ceremonies at the Wildey Gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex. They were former politician Sir Henry Forde, QC, retired Anglican Bishop of the Diocese of Barbados Rufus Brome, former St Lucian diplomat and cricket administrator Julian Hunte, former governor of the Barbados Central Bank-turned diplomat Dr Marion Williams and retired Cave Hill principal Sir Keith Hunte. STUDENTS SHOULD PAY - The chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Sir George Alleyne says students should help foot the bill for their education. But speaking yesterday to the penultimate group of Barbadian students to have received completely free education, he stayed away from saying how the cost should be split with Government. He suggested that a cost-sharing formula needed to be worked out. Addressing the graduating ceremony of the UWI Cave Hill Campus at the Gymnasium of the Garfied Sobers Sports Complex, Sir George said while governments should fund public universities because of the public good they serve, students should also contribute to the cost “given the benefits they derive from the institution’s provision of private goods”. THE COUNTRY AIN’T WELL - Amid the crosstalk and the sharp-tongued assertions flying across the political divide, one thing seems clear, and that is that the economy of this country is not well. We can all accept what the immediate problem is. Although we have enough reserves to satisfy the international benchmark, our reserves fell by some $300 million earlier this year. And we have to guard against a higher deficit. Cutting back on our deficit is therefore a major requirement, since no one, not even a country can exist on an ever-increasing deficit without encountering the most dangerous consequences of a mix of bad economics, inconvenient politics and searing hardships bearing on all, but mostly on the poor and vulnerable. POLITICAL ANALYST PETER WICKHAM has suggested that we are facing an unusually harsh economic challenge which has not been helped by the fact that our Minister of Finance (MoF) on this occasion has a limited “toolkit”. Therefore while previous MoFs have successfully implemented structural adjustment programmes, this one appears to be struggling to “impose” his, which could have dire consequences for this nation. It is not surprising that some readers were concerned that I was (yet again) defending Mr Sinckler by suggesting that this crisis was not “his” fault. This presumption is unfortunate, especially as my assertions were supported by evidence of our fragile and peculiar political circumstances. The point needs to be made that while our present political configuration can sustain the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Government in office, it will be difficult for this Government to impact meaningfully on our economic challenges since structural adjustment has never been approached in a political environment (like this), where the MoF cannot “crack the whip”. FOR LOVE OF COUNTRY – If you love Barbados then you will be present in Queen’s Park this evening to hear the Barbados Labour Party stalwarts speak about the economy and the NO CONFIDENCE MOTION cast against Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler. CREDIT UNION EASE - With a growing number of Barbadians unable to pay their debts, the island’s second largest credit union is taking a different approach. Officials of City of Bridgetown Co-operative Credit Union, who reported a delinquency level that was “slightly below” what commercial banks were currently experiencing as a result of the economic climate, are telling challenged members to come in and let the credit union help work out a strategy to get them through their financial difficulties. HIT & RUN –Police are seeking the public’s assistance with information regarding the latest road fatality. Orville Moore of Babbs, St Lucy was walking along President Kennedy Drive, St Michael, around 10:40 last night when he was struck by a motorcycle, driven by an unknown person who did not stop. Moore, said to be in his 60s, died at the scene. The driver of the motorcycle reportedly continued travelling in the direction of the traffic lights at Westbury New Road, St Michael, and police are seeking assistance with any information regarding their identity. TOP COP DEAD - Well knowncrime fighter Inspector Anderson “Invader” Bowen died on Friday night at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. He was regarded as one of the force’s top detectives, with a reputation for rounding up some of the more notorious criminal elements, such as the infamous Winston Hall. Bowen was recently put in charge of the clean-up of Bridgetown called Operation Recapture Bridgetown where some may argue that he tormented street vendors and stopped them from earning an honest living. NO MEDALS FOR COPS – Suspended Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin and nine veteran police officers who have court cases pending against the force’s administration, will not be receiving Diamond Jubilee Medals being awarded today. The other cops are Superintendent Jeddar Robinson, Assistant Superintendents Vernella Wiltshire, Elphene Moore and John Maxwell, Inspectors Barry Hunte, Trevor Blackman and Elliott Bovell, and Station Sergeants Vernon Moore and Wayne Archer. However; The man who has replaced Dottin, acting commissioner Tyrone Griffith, will be receiving one of the medals. Do you think that the cops should be given the medals to commemorate their years of service or no? CRIME STUDY – Bishop John Holder like to see the private sector fund a University of the West Indies study on the factors contributing to crime in Barbados. “We want to applaud the heroic efforts of the Royal Barbados Police Force who risk life and limb to ensure that Barbados remains a safe place to live and to visit. We owe them a great debt of gratitude, and the Archbishop and the Commission take this opportunity to call on government to spare no effort in ensuring that the Force is adequately resourced in terms of personnel, training and equipment. ATM HACKER BACK IN BULGARIA - The thirdBulgarian who slipped out of Barbados as police were closing in on the criminal group of Eastern Europeans that skimmed several automatic teller machines (ATMs) is back in his home country. the suspect left the island and headed for Antigua before flying to Britain and on to Switzerland, where he was held by police. At the time he was found with US$10 000. Mark Thompson, Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of crime, confirmed that police in Switzerland released the suspect and he was now back in Bulgaria. Does Barbados have extradition treaties with anyone? Can’t the RBPF contact Scotland Yard, M4 or the CIA to nab this man? AMBULANCES FOR QEH - Improvements are underway at the emergency ambulance service. The assurance came from director of support services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Louise Bobb. She says the changes include a fleet replacement programme with four additional ambulances being added by year end. Ms. Bobb has also disclosed that there has been a decline in call responses in the last year with many people using private transport to get to the QEH for treatment. What she should have disclosed was that MAYBE there was a decline because everytime people called the hospital there were told “NO AMBULANCES WERE AVAILABLE” that along with the public service announcement only call the ambulance service if there was a life-threatening emergency made people use their own PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION. STROKE INCREASE - Did you know that there are at least 47 Barbadians who suffer strokes per month? Well if this is not a wake up call not to let the stress kill you nothing will. Live you life to the fullest. Eat healthy, exercise and dont let NOBODY WORK STRESS YOU because when you cock up & dead the next day they will have a replacement....random thought lol WOMEN & HEALTH - Heart disease is no longer a disease that mainly affects men. In fact, women can be just as susceptible to this disease as their male counterparts. This was revealed by President of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Barbados (HSFB) Inc., Humphrey Metzgen who recently delivered an address at the dedication and official naming of the headquarters building in honour of the Founding Fathers of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados (HSFB) Inc., The Hassell & Symmonds Cardiac Care Centre. “Among women, the mortality in one in three female deaths in the world. This is about one death per minute and it is more than the total number of women who die from cancers, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria combined. Heart disease is no longer a male prerogative. In fact, this disease has spread to unborn children during the mothers’ pregnancy and to young people who are exposed to unhealthy diets, lack of exercise and smoking.” When you then add the male cases to the female cases, you have a dire situation that is only set to get worst over the next two decades, said Metzgen. GENDER BIAS - THERE is a need to challenge some of the existing gender structures in society and how they contribute to the notion of power and control. So says Programme officer Bureau of Gender Affairs, Nalita Gajadhar, who says research shows that the issues that contribute to domestic violence has a lot to do with how power and control are perceived. “And to a large extent, when we are talking about the structures in society and what it is that socialises us, we realise that the church is one of the main socialisers in terms of maintaining society and instructing values and principles by which we live,” she said. She suggested that society must therefore seek to move from hierarchy to partnership, and the church must lead the charge. MOUNT GAY STAYING AFLOAT - While Mount Gay is experiencing a dip in sales locally and regionally, the company continues to be fully operational. Moreover, Mount Gay has no intention to lay off staff or reduce its operations.This is according to Raphael Grisoni, managing director of Mount Gay Distilleries Limited. He was responding to comments made during a recent press conference by the opposition, Barbados Labour Party. He acknowledged that the refinery has been closed for the past four weeks but it has not been a problem. He also confirmed that local and regional sales have been down in the face of the economic downturn. However, Mr. Grisoni says Mount Gay continues to focus mainly on external markets like Australia, the United States, Europe and Canada, where they continue to do very well. One thing that we know for sure is that “Bajans too love a rum!” THE FORGOTTEN EMPIRE THEATRE - Just days after debate on the Cultural Industries Bill which focused on the importance of that sector to the development of Barbados, the country’s iconic Empire Theatre building sticks out like a sore thumb in The City. Built in 1922 but abandoned three decades ago, the historic building has gradually deteriorated. Last January, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth Stephen Lashley said Cabinet had approved a $10 million proposal to turn the Empire into a 290-seat theatre, a craft brewery manufacturing Barbadian beer and also a visitor centre and small museum. He said work would begin on the Probyn Street facility when the necessary approvals were granted by the Town and Country Planning Department. However, to date, there has been no word on when that work would begin or if the Town and Country Planning Department was any closer to granting permission. PHOTO FOR DAVID - At the start of a week of activities to honour David Thompson, a new weatherproof photograph of the late Prime Minister has been mounted on his headstone. GLAMORGAN WANTS OTIS GIBSON - The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has denied reports that Ottis Gibson, West Indies’ head coach, is in contention to take over at the Glamorgan cricket club, according to ESPN Cricinfo. BBC Wales had reported that Gibson is being highly considered for the coaching job at Glamorgan. Gibson has been in his current role since 2010 and signed a three-year contract extension earlier this year, after interest from Warwickshire.“Ottis is not aware of this,” Crickinfo has quoted a WICB spokesman as saying. “He signed a new three-year contract this year and is focused on his role as the West Indies head coach.” Gibson oversaw West Indies’ victorious World Twenty20 campaign last year and the team has won its last six Tests in a row—their best run since 1988. Under his tenure, West Indies has also moved up the test ranking to number five. POSITIVE YOUTH - Teenager Shaquana Quintynehad the golden arm for the West Indies women’s cricket team in their Tri-Nation Twenty20 International Series match against traditionally-strong England at Kensington Oval on Friday night. The 17-year Barbadian leg-spinner became only the second West Indian to take a five-wicket haul in T20 Internationals, earning career-best figures of five for 16 to bowl the Windies to a 11-run triumph to follow up on Monday’s 23-run victory over New Zealand. This former Garrison Secondary School student has proven that it does not matter where you go to school. If you have a dream and the passion to pursue it then all things are possible. I remember her when she first started school and she was very vocal about playing cricket for the West Indies. She was encouraged to pursue this without abandon. Her parents partnered with her teachers to ensure that success always remained in reach and today we can clearly see that she is writing her name down in the history of international cricket. Today I tip my hat off to this young lady a #realdreamchaser and an inspiration to many. $12 USD TO READ THE BARBADOS ADVOCATE ONLINE – I was really disturbed when I went on barbadosadvocate to read the news to be met with a subscription charge. I will not be paying to read the news !! Casting Call for the 2nd Let’s Do This Filmz movie “TWO SMART” will take place in the conference room of the Ministry of Education, Elsie Payne Complex, Constitution Road, St. Michael today from 4pm. Well that’s all for today folks. As you go about your day remember NEVER BLAME ANYONE FOR THE MISTAKES THAT YOU MAY. You are essentially who you create yourself to be and all that occurs in your life is the result of your own making. Have a fantastic day #realdreamchasers
Posted on: Sun, 20 Oct 2013 11:39:51 +0000
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