News, Regional News

Barbados Private Sector Warns Job Cuts Could Be Coming

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Thursday March 30, 2017

Barbados’ private sector has put the Government on notice that it can no longer maintain current job levels as it struggles to withstand the pressure from the deteriorating economy.

President of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce Eddy Abed told the grouping’s monthly business luncheon yesterday that businesses have been able to maintain employment for well over 100,000 people, but this was a result of “restraint and maturity.”

“This has however come at a cost of lower profit levels and reduced capital investment in new and existing ventures,” he warned.

Though staying clear of saying the layoffs were imminent, Abed cautioned that it could not be business as usual.

He advised Barbadians to brace for further austerity measures, as he expressed concern that the country’s economic future remains uncertain.

Abed lamented that the island was headed in the “wrong direction with only over-optimistic promises to comfort us.”

Citing a string of economic woes, the BCCI president said Government had failed to halt the economic slide, resulting in staggering debt and successive economic downgrades by rating agencies, among other things.

“Sadly, this calamitous situation has continued unabated; the results are everywhere to be seen. Government services have drastically deteriorated, as generally there has not been any realistic allotment for maintenance or replacement of essential equipment. Yet we are told that our Central Bank continues to print money at the dizzying amount of $50 million per month to pay public servants…”

Stressing the need for an urgent overhaul since time was running out, Abed said Barbadians have to play their role by adjusting to paying their own way for critical services that the Government could no longer afford to fund.

“I am aware that the entitlements that many take for granted for the last two generations must be reviewed and a buffet of options guided by means testing, user fees and outsourcing will have to be embraced.

Unless all Barbadians recognize that the gravy train will no longer provide an easy ride as before, and every citizen must be meaningfully engaged in a work environment, we will forever be chasing an elusive lifestyle that cannot be maintained,” he added

The businessman called for a “reboot of a generally poor customer service and generally low productivity in both the private and public sectors.

Abed urged the Government to take the BCCI’s advice to lower its expenditure, improve the ease of doing business and grow the economy.  

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Business, Entertainment, News, Regional News

Anguilla’s Festival Del Mar, the Caribbean’s best seafood festival

2016 Festival Del Mar crayfish
Published on March 29, 2017

THE VALLEY, Anguilla — One of the premier culinary festivals in the Caribbean, the tenth annual Festival Del Mar in Anguilla, is a must for any foodie – especially those with a penchant for seafood. Local lobster features prominently, as do crab, crayfish, octopus (sea cat), fried fish, and grilled fish of many varieties.

Festival Del Mar, celebrated on Easter weekend, commemorates Anguilla’s seafaring heritage and celebrates all things of the sea in the beautiful fishing village of Island Harbour, located on the eastern tip of the island. This little fishing village has remained largely untouched by tourism and still maintains its local vibe, with colorful boats bobbing in the blue harbor and a fishing pier jutting out to catch schooners and fishing boats, much as it was in the early 1900s.

Traditional cooking and culinary competitions, deep sea fishing competitions, swimming races, volley ball exhibitions and crab races are all “on the menu” for this fun-filled celebration, along with two days of live music and boat racing, the island’s national pastime. This year will see the addition of a water park, which will add to the fun, along with a wading pool for children.

The atmosphere is casual and visitors are invited to wear their swimsuits in case they want to take a dip in the sea. There are also plenty of tented areas for lounging out of the sun and domino games are played throughout the afternoons. The musical headliner will be gospel and country artist Pat Ross who has drawn crowds to the festival in previous years.

Festival Del Mar serves a dual purpose, providing the Anguillian people with the opportunity to celebrate their rich history and offering visitors a window into Anguilla’s unique cultural traditions.

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Health, News, Regional News

OECS laboratories receive new agricultural health and food safety equipment

Published on March 25, 2017

CASTRIES, St Lucia — Regional integration stakeholders convened on March 16 to discuss the current implementation status of the indefinite stay regime and the rights contingent to the free movement of people regime; two critical accomplishments of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) towards the full implementation of the Revised Treaty of Basseterre and the establishment of the OECS Economic Union.

In attendance at the 18th meeting of the free movement of people working group were senior officials from the immigration departments of OECS member states, representatives from the OECS Commission and four OECS Commissioners.

The Commission provided an update on progress towards the implementation of the free movement of people regime and member states were given the opportunity to directly address matters relevant to these discussions.

The meeting also received an update on the OECS Commission’s participation at the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) regional seminar and workshop, which took place between January 31 and February 3, 2017, in St John’s, Antigua.

The working group addressed two major topics discussed at the ICAO regional meetings: the need for the harmonisation of border management systems; and the need to enhance the security of national identification cards. OECS member states took this opportunity to provide an update on ongoing national efforts toward the harmonisation of border security systems and recommendations for advancing this matter were considered by the group.

The OECS was represented at ICAO meetings by senior border control managers, including chief immigration officers from Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines. The Commission was represented by tourism specialist Dr Lorraine Nicholas and regional integration specialist Clarence Henry.

2017-03-15-09.58.33 2017-03-15-09.59.12 2017-03-15-10.12.12 lab_equipment Soil-Lab

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Local news, News, Regional News

OECS officials convene to discuss freedom of movement regime

CASTRIES, St Lucia — Regional integration stakeholders convened on March 16 to discuss the current implementation status of the indefinite stay regime and the rights contingent to the free movement of people regime; two critical accomplishments of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) towards the full implementation of the Revised Treaty of Basseterre and the establishment of the OECS Economic Union.

In attendance at the 18th meeting of the free movement of people working group were senior officials from the immigration departments of OECS member states, representatives from the OECS Commission and four OECS Commissioners.

The Commission provided an update on progress towards the implementation of the free movement of people regime and member states were given the opportunity to directly address matters relevant to these discussions.

The meeting also received an update on the OECS Commission’s participation at the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s (ICAO) regional seminar and workshop, which took place between January 31 and February 3, 2017, in St John’s, Antigua.

The working group addressed two major topics discussed at the ICAO regional meetings: the need for the harmonisation of border management systems; and the need to enhance the security of national identification cards. OECS member states took this opportunity to provide an update on ongoing national efforts toward the harmonisation of border security systems and recommendations for advancing this matter were considered by the group.

The OECS was represented at ICAO meetings by senior border control managers, including chief immigration officers from Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines. The Commission was represented by tourism specialist Dr Lorraine Nicholas and regional integration specialist Clarence Henry.

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Local news, News, Regional News

Commentary: Putting the right pieces of the puzzle together in St Kitts-Nevis

By Dr Neals J. Chitan

Published on March 29, 2017

As a young boy growing up in Grenada, one of my favorite things to do was putting jigsaw puzzles together. However, the most frustrating thing for me was trying to fit 500 pieces together without the picture on the box. Without knowing what picture should emerge the task is longer, harder and most tedious.

neals_chitan7.jpg
Dr Neals J. Chitan holds a doctorate in Social and Behavioral Sciences and is the Grenadian-born president of Motiv-8 For Change International — a Toronto based High Impact Social Skill Agency that is specially dedicated to the social empowerment of individuals, families and communities

Without a clear picture of what it should finally look like, I have tried to fit pieces in areas where they did not belong, even squeezing them into places where they weren’t cut to fit, only to end up with a distorted picture.

Similarly, when it comes to solving the debilitating social disease of homicides, governments must have a clear picture of the results they hope to achieve, thus teaming up the right pieces to get the desired results.

Here is where I must congratulate the vision and efforts of the government of St Kitts and Nevis to piece together a method for sustainable crime reduction, in an effort to combat the rising tide of murder that plagued the Federation in recent years.

According to statements released by Prime Minister Timothy Harris in his cabinet press conference and verified by Police Commissioner Ian Queeley in his press conference, for the first quarter of 2017, the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis has seen a significant reduction in homicides as compared to the recent previous years.

And so, the question comes to mind, “What right pieces have the prime minister and his ministry of national security put together to achieve this result in the first quarter of 2017?”

As an international social skill consultant and crime reduction specialist, I sat in the prime minister’s February cabinet press conference, with ears perked to hear his announcements and plans for the reduction of crime, with emphasis on murder, and I left satisfied that the right pieces were fitted together.

In his presentation, Prime Minister Harris who is also minister of national security, outlined a plan that included:

• Better border surveillance

• Enhanced police training and presence, including the RSS

• Community digital monitoring and lighting

• Enhance forensic training with the contracting of forensic specialist Narace Ramnarine

• Finally, the three months contracting of Dr Neals Chitan, an international social skill consultant and crime reduction specialist.

As I looked on as the plan unfolded, I saw how it fits perfectly into the St Christopher and Nevis Police six point plan and realized that these pieces fitted together and executed well can bring the social change the government is seeking and the people of the Federation deserves.

Although by then, in February, I was already delivering our powerful high impact crime reduction “Project STOP ‘n’ THINK” concepts and sessions in all eight high schools in the Federation, primary schools, prisons, parent associations, communities, churches and sport clubs, I left the prime minister’s presentation even more convinced that, working together, the reduced murder rate we have seen in the first quarter of 2017 was inevitable.

In 2016, as I sat at my desk in Toronto and saw the murder rate in St Kitts and Nevis on the incline to surpass that of 2015, I sent a proposal to Permanent Secretary Osmond Petty advising him of the crucial need to get to the heart of at-risk youth and young adults. I further suggested the need for concepts and strategies that will socially message, inspire and challenge them towards success in their personal lives, while helping them to consider the consequence of their impulsive and emotional decisions that can deliver bitter lifelong regrets.

There is no doubt that the last ten weeks of mixing, mingling and inspiring the masses in St Kitts and Nevis were extremely busy and hectic for me, sometimes doing up to six full length sessions a day, plus meeting with parents seeking help with their rebellious children at nights. However, I must say that we have sown seeds of; respect, good decisions, impulse control and personal success that must be watered and nurtured if we hope to continue that decline in murder and other crimes for the rest of 2017, and I am totally committed to making sure that these seed grow and bear fruits.

The unforgettable friendships, acceptance and trust I have experienced in St Kitts and Nevis range from primary school children to professionals and it is so evident as my wife Patsy and I drive the miles of roadway across the Federation and hear little children, youth and adults shouting us out as we pass, sometimes shouting “STOP and THINK”.

This three-month ‘Project STOP ‘n’ THINK” contract culminates in two spectacular national graduations and rallies in both St Kitts and Nevis. Over 3,000 students and community youth wearing our “Always STOP and THINK before you PROCEED” tee-shirts will parade through the streets of Basseterre and Charlestown on April 4 and 6, as they affirm their decisions to STOP and THINK and reduce crime in St Kitts and Nevis.

It was most definitely my pleasure to be an integral part of this history-making process and I look forward to discussing and negotiating with the ministry of national security as to how to continue and sustain this incredible impact.

Truly, we have gotten to the hearts of the nation’s youth and again, I must proclaim that the government has put the right pieces of the puzzle together.

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