分类： society

The Barbados Water Authority (BWA) has issued a notice to residents and businesses in St George regarding a scheduled meter installation in Dash Valley. The installation is set to take place on Monday, October 27, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. During this period, areas along Highway 5 (west of Dash Valley Road), Hanson Heights, Monroe Road, and nearby districts may experience reduced water pressure or temporary water outages. The BWA has advised customers to store sufficient water supplies to mitigate any disruptions. The authority has extended its apologies for any inconvenience caused by the necessary maintenance work. This initiative is part of the BWA’s ongoing efforts to improve water management and service delivery in the region.

The Barbados Police Service (BPS) is taking a significant step towards enhancing transparency and accountability, as Acting Commissioner of Police Erwin Boyce recently endorsed independent investigations into complaints against law enforcement officers. His remarks, made during a press briefing, underscore a progressive shift in the BPS’s approach to modern policing, where external scrutiny is seen as vital for maintaining public trust.

Barbados is rallying its citizens and global partners to confront the escalating climate crisis with a robust $11.5 billion investment plan aimed at building resilience and ensuring sustainable development. Senator Shantal Munro-Knight, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, emphasized the urgency of collective action during her address at the Climate Finance for Action Empowerment Partnership workshop held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

Senator Munro-Knight underscored the immediacy of the climate threat, describing it as ‘too urgent, too present, too real, almost too tomorrow.’ She stressed that Barbados, as a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), cannot afford to retreat from the challenge. ‘This is not one the government can do alone,’ she asserted. ‘It requires consensus, innovation, and partnerships to face this crisis head-on.’

The minister highlighted the difficult choices Barbados must make, balancing climate resilience with maintaining essential services like education, housing, and water. She pointed to the country’s strategic initiatives, including the Roofs to Reefs Programme, which links environmental protection from rooftops to reefs, and the Blue Green Development Bank, designed to attract private capital for climate-resilient investments.

Barbados has also implemented innovative financial mechanisms, such as climate budget tagging to track public spending on climate action and amendments to the Procurement Act to ensure sustainable government spending. Additionally, the country’s debt conversion programme has freed up nearly $50 million for a sustainability fund supporting projects across government, private sector, and civil society.

Despite global economic uncertainty, Senator Munro-Knight insisted there can be no retreat from Barbados’ climate commitments. ‘We must continue to think innovatively about how we crowd in and press finance and international agencies for a widening of space,’ she said.

Ricardo Marshall, Director of the Roofs to Reefs Programme, echoed the call for reform, criticizing the global financial system for disadvantaging small island states. He lamented the insufficient financing available for disaster-stricken nations, citing the inadequacy of the COP30 loss and damage fund. Marshall emphasized the need for science-driven policies and innovative financing strategies to build a more resilient Barbados.

Both leaders urged national and international stakeholders to unite in addressing the climate crisis, emphasizing that Barbados’ survival depends on decisive, collective action.

A recent study conducted by Professor Dwayne Devonish of the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill has revealed that Barbados is not yet fully prepared to implement its newly enacted Child Justice Act. Despite significant progress in developing a child-centred justice system, the country faces substantial hurdles in operational readiness. The report, exclusively obtained by Barbados TODAY, highlights that resource limitations, infrastructural deficiencies, and insufficient institutional coordination are major barriers to the Act’s full implementation. The research evaluated operational capacity, legal clarity, and organisational preparedness within the child protection and justice sectors. While the law’s intent—focusing on rehabilitation, diversion, and safeguarding children’s rights—aligns with international standards, the necessary support systems and resources lag behind. Key challenges include inadequate staffing levels, insufficient child-friendly facilities for interviews and rehabilitation, and weak information-sharing systems. To address these issues, the study proposes the establishment of a Child Justice Steering Committee to oversee national coordination and progress. Additionally, it recommends regulatory clarifications, targeted recruitment and training, and investment in suitable infrastructure. The report also advocates for a shared electronic information system to enhance data exchange and case monitoring. Strengthening inter-agency protocols and public awareness campaigns are further emphasized to ensure the Act’s success. While Barbados has laid a strong legislative foundation, the study underscores the need for enhanced implementation infrastructure, capacity building, and leadership. A structured monitoring and evaluation framework, coupled with dedicated funding, is essential to transform the nation’s approach to youth justice, prioritizing rehabilitation and child protection.