Carib Scope

标签： Barbados

巴巴多斯

  • CARICOM moves towards ferry trial within months as cargo cost-cruncher

    CARICOM moves towards ferry trial within months as cargo cost-cruncher

    After concluding their annual flagship summit in Saint Lucia this week, leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have taken a major step forward in delivering a long-planned regional intra-Caribbean ferry service, approving a limited proof-of-concept trial that could launch within three months using an existing vessel owned by Trinidad and Tobago. The initiative is rooted in a years-long push to address one of the bloc’s most persistent strategic gaps: costly, inefficient intra-regional transport that inflates consumer prices, undermines food security, and slows the growth of cross-border trade and people-to-people connection.

    Under a two-track approach outlined by Mia Amor Mottley, Barbados Prime Minister and CARICOM’s lead prime minister for the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), the bloc will pursue both a short-term trial of an existing vessel while laying the groundwork for a permanent, privately operated service. Mottley emphasized the urgency of the project during Wednesday’s closing press conference, framing the ferry as a core policy tool to fight soaring regional inflation driven in part by global energy market volatility tied to renewed conflict in the Persian Gulf.

    While technical and feasibility assessments continue, CARICOM heads have given the green light to begin discussions with the Trinidad and Tobago government to deploy one of the country’s existing inter-island ferries for a limited southern Caribbean trial. Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar has confirmed the country’s willingness to contribute a vessel for the pilot, noting the nation’s 100-year history of operating inter-island ferry services between Port of Spain and Scarborough. Early discussions have identified the *Galleons Passage*—a 74-meter catamaran roll-on-roll-off ferry commissioned in 2018, with capacity for 400 passengers and 60 vehicles, plus on-board passenger amenities including a cafeteria, bar and VIP lounge—as the leading candidate for the trial. The pilot is expected to launch first in the southern and eastern Caribbean, with initial sailings proposed between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, before any potential expansion.

    To inform long-term planning, CARICOM leaders have tasked the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO)—which has facilitated negotiations between governments and maritime industry stakeholders—and the CARICOM Secretariat to develop a full feasibility dossier. The document will include detailed data on proposed passenger ticket and freight pricing, with an explicit focus on ensuring affordability and accessibility for vulnerable groups and small cross-border traders. It will also outline the project’s underlying financial model, including long-term sustainability projections, capital investment requirements, potential funding sources, and an assessment of commercial risk and public benefit, which will determine whether the bloc grants final approval for a permanent service.

    Mottley noted that the private sector is expected to take up to a year to source purpose-built vessels for a permanent service, while regulators work through the necessary legal and regulatory reforms to enable seamless cross-border movement. A key priority for the coming months will be harmonizing regional rules on license and insurance recognition, a critical step to allow cargo vehicles to roll on and off the ferry at different ports without bureaucratic delay. Leaders also emphasized the need to assess existing port infrastructure and ramp facilities across the proposed trial route to ensure they can accommodate ferry operations.

    The push for a regional ferry is not a new effort: a working group including Barbados, CPSO, the Caribbean Development Bank and other member states has spent years evaluating fast ferry options, particularly for moving agricultural produce across the Caribbean archipelago. Private sector ventures like Barbados-based Connect Caribe have already developed proposals for a linked service connecting Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Eastern Caribbean states, marketing projected ticket prices below $100 USD. The mixed passenger-cargo model is designed to drive down both travel and shipping costs, addressing the well-documented drawbacks of current intra-regional transport options: limited cargo capacity and prohibitively high ticket prices for air travel.

    Despite the renewed momentum, the project has faced repeated delays in past years, tied to challenges including vessel acquisition, port infrastructure upgrades, customs and immigration harmonization, and lingering uncertainty over the level of sustained investor and government commitment. Industry observers have also flagged unresolved concerns: that without careful planning, the service could either become an expensive niche offering limited to wealthy travelers, or become a significant drain on public finances if projected revenues fail to materialize. The summit’s focus on affordability, accessibility and rigorous financial modeling reflects a deliberate effort to address these longstanding concerns.

    Mottley tied the ferry initiative directly to the bloc’s ongoing efforts to shield Caribbean households from soaring imported inflation, amplified by recent renewed tensions between the U.S. and Iran that have pushed up global oil prices. “We are singularly focused on being able to reduce the cost of intra-island cargo, which, in addition to the other measures that we have taken to increase disposable income of our citizens, but also to reduce the cost of freight, the cost of gas, and the cost of electricity,” she told reporters. Acknowledging growing uncertainty from the Persian Gulf conflict, she added that CARICOM governments are committed to working collectively to mitigate impacts on regional populations, even as the ferry project moves forward as a work in progress. Detailed operational negotiations and regulatory treaty drafting are set to begin in the coming weeks, with leaders hopeful the proof-of-concept trial will launch before the end of 2024.

  • Govt plans new insolvency framework to bolster financial stability

    Govt plans new insolvency framework to bolster financial stability

    Barbados is advancing sweeping reforms to its national financial ecosystem, with a landmark depositor protection bill currently under legislative debate and a comprehensive new bankruptcy and insolvency regime slated for launch before the end of the year, Finance Minister Ryan Straughn confirmed during a Wednesday address to the country’s Senate.

    The legislative package comes as the island nation’s credit union sector undergoes explosive growth, transforming from a niche community financial model into a core pillar of the national economy that now requires updated regulatory guardrails to match its expanding systemic importance. Speaking as the upper chamber began debate on the Protection of Depositors Bill, Straughn emphasized that the legislation is just the first cornerstone of a multi-pronged strategy to strengthen depositor security, boost public trust in Barbados’ banking system, and create a stable regulatory environment that supports the continued expansion of the credit union movement.

    Straughn explained that the upcoming insolvency framework will act as a critical complement to the new deposit protection regime, establishing a clear, streamlined legal process for resolving failing financial institutions. Under the proposed structure, the Barbados Deposit Insurance Corporation (BDIC) will serve as the official liquidator for failed institutions, operating under strict regulatory supervision to accelerate asset disposition and speed up the resolution of claims for creditors and shareholders alike. “These reforms are non-negotiable for building greater public and market confidence in our financial system,” Straughn told lawmakers.

    For ordinary Barbadians, the Protection of Depositors Bill marks a historic shift: for the first time, credit union deposits will receive the same level of state-backed insurance protection that has long been available to traditional bank depositors. The new protections will cover more than 200,000 credit union members across the country, as well as small business account holders and working families who rely on credit unions as their primary financial institution. “What this bill does is stand behind the thousands of Barbadians who have put their savings into credit unions,” Straughn said. “It delivers an entirely new level of security for depositors across every part of the country.”

    The urgent push for updated regulation stems from the sector’s unprecedented expansion over the past 18 years. Straughn reported that total assets held by Barbadian credit unions have skyrocketed from just $403 million in 2007 to nearly $3 billion by the end of 2025, representing an almost sevenfold increase in size. Two credit unions have now grown large enough to qualify as systemically important institutions – a designation that means their failure could pose broad risks to the entire national financial system. Straughn specifically noted that one of these large credit unions is bigger than the smallest commercial bank operating in Barbados, and pointed to a regulatory gap that the new bill closes: one credit union already owns a subsidiary deposit-taking institution covered by existing insurance rules, but the parent credit union itself has never been protected before.

    The reform effort also answers years of advocacy from the Barbados Co-operative and Credit Union League, which has long pushed for equal regulatory treatment and protection for its member institutions. The existing national deposit insurance scheme, launched in 2007, currently covers commercial bank deposits up to a ceiling of $25,000. Under the new legislation, that same $25,000 limit will apply to credit union deposits, and Straughn noted that the threshold aligns with global best practices for deposit insurance systems, which typically target coverage for around 95% of all deposit accounts. In Barbados, the existing $25,000 limit is projected to cover roughly 91% of all eligible credit union accounts, since the vast majority of depositors hold account balances below that cap.

    Straughn clarified that coverage will apply to the full balance of any account under the threshold: a depositor with $19,000 in savings will receive their full balance back in the event of institutional failure, while those holding balances over $25,000 will be covered up to the $25,000 limit. The combination of extended deposit protection and a modernized insolvency process is designed to future-proof Barbados’ financial system as the credit union sector continues to grow and evolve.

  • CHASE hails Windies’ batting display in series victory

    CHASE hails Windies’ batting display in series victory

    On Tuesday, cricket fans across the Caribbean witnessed a historic milestone at Antigua’s Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, as the West Indies sealed a landmark 1-0 Test series victory over Sri Lanka, with the second Test ending in a hard-fought draw. Following the final wicket, West Indies skipper Roston Chase opened up about what made the historic win possible, pointing to the team’s transformed batting consistency as the critical foundation for the result.

    Breaking a 23-year drought against Sri Lanka in Test cricket, the result marks a significant turnaround for the side after a challenging 2023 campaign. Over the course of the series, West Indies batsmen delivered a dominant display with the willow, amassing a mammoth total of 1,234 runs across three innings. The standout innings included four centuries and three half-centuries, a far cry from the batting collapses that have plagued the regional side in recent matchups against Sri Lanka.

    Opening batsman Amir Jangoo finished the series as the top run-scorer, notching 242 runs at an impressive average of 60.37, just edging out captain Chase himself, who accumulated 217 runs at an average of 59.61. For Chase, the win carries extra weight, as the side had struggled to overcome Sri Lanka for decades, both at home and on the road.

    “I’m very elated, especially against a team like Sri Lanka that we have struggled to beat even at home and especially when we go away to them,” Chase said post-match. “So to come here and not just beat them but in a dominating kind of way when we haven’t won against them in 23 years, it feels great, especially after the year that we had last year.”

    The all-rounder explained that deliberate, targeted work on batting improvement was a core focus of the team’s pre-series preparation, a strategy that paid dividends when it mattered most. For years, the West Indies has relied heavily on its bowling attack to deliver results, often leaving bowlers with underwhelming totals to defend. Chase pushed for a cultural shift ahead of the series, challenging batters to give their bowling unit competitive scores to work with.

    “It was mostly the bowling that stood up for us in the majority of the games. It’s something that I really put forward to the guys, that we need to be able to at least give the bowlers something to work with. They raised their hands tremendously in this series,” Chase said. “These are big hundreds and not only that, we turned them into big totals as well. Not just one guy getting 100 and we (the team) probably just getting over 250. For two guys to get hundreds in two innings, that says a lot.”

    Chase also expressed pride in his own standout performance as leader, crediting his teammates for the support that allowed him to lead from the front. “I mean this is the first series where I really had an outstanding performance. I’ve been trying but to go and actually lead from the front, so it feels great. I just wanna congratulate the guys for helping me to achieve this as the leader of the team,” he added.

    The series’ standout performer, all-rounder Justin Greaves, who claimed both Man of the Match and Man of the Series honors, called the achievement the highlight of his professional career to date. “This will be top of the list. Contributing to a team win and then contributing to a series win as well, also the first series win in the test championship for us, so it’s a very big achievement,” Greaves said.

    Greaves, who has now notched three Test centuries in his young career, with two of them coming at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, attributed his success at the venue to familiarity. He currently plays domestic cricket for the Leeward Islands, meaning he has spent hours batting on the stadium’s pitch, learning its idiosyncrasies. “It is home for me at the moment, playing for the Leewards, so I have gotten accustomed to the surface and it’s usually a pretty good one. Once you get in, you know, you could really add big scores,” he explained.

  • Wages protection bill: Moore seeks stronger safeguards

    Wages protection bill: Moore seeks stronger safeguards

    In a heated debate in Barbados’ House of Assembly this Tuesday, Toni Moore — St George North Member of Parliament and General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) — has called on fellow legislators to reopen discussion on several key recommendations left out of the government’s updated Protection of Wages Bill, arguing that the omissions leave critical gaps in safeguards for the country’s workforce.

    Introduced by Labour Minister Colin Jordan, the bill is framed as a modernization of existing wage protection rules, but Moore says its true test lies not in updating language, but in delivering tangible, enforceable protections for working people. One of the core unadopted recommendations she is pushing to revive would tighten statutory language to require that all wages are paid on a regular working day by the established payday. Moore explained that bad actors currently exploit the lack of this rule to delay wage payments to weekends, when all financial institutions are closed, forcing workers who have already completed a full week of work to wait until the next business day to access their earnings — leaving many unable to buy immediate necessities like groceries.

    Moore offered measured praise for one new provision in the bill that formalizes employers’ ability to process authorized deductions from wages for credit union contributions, insurance premiums and loan repayments. She noted that for years, many employers have arbitrarily refused to carry out these deductions even when workers explicitly request them, creating severe financial hardship: workers are often locked out of accessing mortgages without this automated deduction arrangement, and mid-stream cancellation of deductions by employers can push workers into default and financial instability through no fault of their own.

    However, Moore voiced sharp criticism of Section 14 of the bill, which allows employers to recover wage overpayments from future earnings with no statutory time limit. She argued that the open-ended provision is unreasonable, noting that employers could claim overpayments from five, 10, or even 15 years prior, forcing workers to absorb unexpected deductions for errors that were often caused by the employer’s own faulty payroll systems. Citing past issues with underreported payroll errors among former Berger Paints workers, Moore proposed a clear cap on recovery windows, suggesting between six and 12 months as a reasonable timeframe. Though this proposal was rejected during initial drafting, Moore stressed that it must be revisited to protect workers who plan their household budgets around their expected full wages.

    Moore also put forward another key reform demand: immediate payment of all owed wages when employment is terminated, even in cases of summary dismissal. She argued that once an employment relationship ends, all outstanding payments should be settled when the National Insurance Scheme termination certificate is issued, unless the two parties agree otherwise. She added that while automated payroll systems may not always accommodate immediate off-cycle payments, manual adjustments can and should be made to deliver timely payment to dismissed workers, allowing them to move forward without financial uncertainty.

    Another major concern Moore raised centers on Section 29 of the bill, which excludes workers under “cooperation agreements” from the law’s protections. She warned that this vague language opens the door to widespread worker misclassification, particularly for people in informal work and the growing gig economy, who will be left without any wage protection if employers intentionally reclassify their employment status.

    Beyond the Protection of Wages Bill, Moore used the debate to renew longstanding calls for broader reform of Barbados’ Employment Rights Act. She pointed out that inconsistent employment tribunal procedures, arbitrary caps on compensation awards, and widespread difficulties enforcing tribunal rulings continue to block workers from accessing meaningful justice. For example, she noted that the current act allows tribunals to set their own procedural rules, which led to one high-profile case where the tribunal chair adopted complex Supreme Court rules — turning what was supposed to be a accessible, streamlined process for workers into a costly, overly litigious battle. To this day, there are no consistent, standardized rules across tribunals, creating unpredictable procedures and requirements that disadvantage workers who rarely have the resources to navigate shifting legal expectations. “Workers deserve predictability,” Moore emphasized.

    Moore also called out a problematic misinterpretation of the Minimum Wages Act by a major local company identified only as BEC. The company is classifying sales commissions as part of the statutory minimum wage, allowing it to pay a base wage lower than the legally required $10.71 an hour, with the difference made up by variable commissions. Moore explained that this practice erodes workers’ financial stability and hurts their ability to qualify for mortgages and other loans, noting that the complaint has been sitting with the Labour Department for almost a year without resolution.

    To make all existing and new labour laws effective, Moore stressed that the Labour Department needs both adequate staffing and targeted resourcing — a distinction she drew, noting that headcount alone does not guarantee capacity to deliver. The department needs sufficient resources both to educate employers and workers on new laws, and to consistently enforce protections across all workplaces. She added that public education on labour rules is a foundational requirement for any effective legislation.

    Closing her remarks, Moore clarified that she supports the Protection of Wages Bill as a meaningful step forward for worker protection, but said it requires targeted refinement to deliver on its promises. “We don’t expect perfection, so we will not stop it, but what we expect is that we will continue to work at it, to improve on it, to make sure it delivers in very practical ways to the people on whose behalf all of us in here commit to serve,” she said, pledging to continue advocating for stronger, more inclusive labour laws across Barbados.

  • Humphrey: Wage Bill protects workers’ dignity

    Humphrey: Wage Bill protects workers’ dignity

    When the Protection of Wages Bill was tabled for introduction in Barbados’ House of Assembly this Tuesday, Minister of Transport and Works Kirk Humphrey delivered a full-throated endorsement of the landmark labor legislation, describing it as more than a routine policy update – and a foundational safeguard for human dignity.

    Humphrey emphasized that the bill reaches far beyond incremental technical tweaks to the country’s existing labor regulatory framework. Instead, he argued, it was crafted to shore up worker protections amid a fast-evolving global economy, ensuring that all working people are treated fairly and afforded basic respect in their employment relationships. He opened his remarks by applauding Labour Minister Colin Jordan for his sustained commitment to advancing worker rights through targeted legislative reform.

    Unlike physical capital such as land or buildings, Humphrey noted, labor carries unique human stakes that demand explicit legal protection. “Labour is different. Land does not have a family. Land does not have to go to the supermarket at the end of the day… Buildings don’t get up on mornings and dream dreams for their children. Labour is different,” he told the chamber. For working people, delayed wage payments are not just an administrative inconvenience – they can upend access to basic needs and life opportunities, he stressed, recalling a firsthand account from one of his constituents during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the constituent’s salary was delayed, she could not cover her monthly internet bill, and her child was locked out of remote learning classes. “That is the reality of labour,” Humphrey said.

    The legislation includes several key provisions that Humphrey backed, starting with rules formalizing direct deposit as a valid payment method and enshrining workers’ right to choose which bank receives their salary. He noted that while digital banking tools have the potential to simplify payroll processes for employers, those technological advancements should not be used to erode worker autonomy. “Technology should make it easier to pay workers, but it should not make it easier to deny them their rights,” he said. “I like that this bill allows the employee certain freedom because it recognises that the wages, though paid by the employer, are owned by the employee… I get to tell you how I want my money.”

    Another provision limits the total value of coin payments an employer can issue for a single wage payment, capping coin amounts at $10. Humphrey framed that rule as a basic matter of respect for workers who have already earned their pay. “I get to tell you that I don’t want my money in bare coins. I get to tell you under this bill now that you can’t pay me any more than $10 in coins,” he said.

    Humphrey also highlighted the bill’s balanced approach to overpayments, noting that it creates clear legal pathways for employers to recover accidental overpayments while blocking unauthorized wage deductions that would cause undue financial hardship for workers. “This bill is really essentially about fairness. If you want to do it, let’s come to terms. The bill requires some consent,” he explained.

    Critical to the legislation, he added, are new protections for workers when their employing company enters insolvency. The bill places workers ahead of other creditors for unpaid wages, a provision Humphrey called long overdue – arguing that working people should never be forced to bear the cost of poor business decisions they had no part in making. “It should never be so, and I like that this bill protects the employee in those circumstances,” he said.

    Finally, Humphrey praised the bill’s requirement that all official public notices related to the legislation be made accessible to people with disabilities, framing accessibility not as an act of charity but as a fundamental human right. “The accessibility that is built into this bill is not charity… it is your right,” he said.

  • AI era forces rethink of jobs training, hiring

    AI era forces rethink of jobs training, hiring

    Artificial intelligence has already established a foothold in workplaces across the Caribbean, and human resource leaders in Barbados are sounding a clear call to action: local organizations must rapidly overhaul their approaches to staff training, recruitment, and talent management to retain global competitiveness over the coming decade. The warning comes as the Human Resource Management Association of Barbados (HRMAB) prepares to host its annual People Development Conference this mid-October, with this year’s summit centered on the urgent theme “Workforce 2030: Ready or Not”. The event will focus on equipping local industries to navigate the exponential rise of automation and sweeping digital transformation.

    Tisha Peters, president of HRMAB, explained that the role of human resource departments across the island has evolved far beyond its traditional scope of back-office administrative tasks such as payroll processing and regulatory compliance. Today, HR teams operate in a drastically shifted landscape shaped by three major disruptions: cross-border remote hiring enabled by digital connectivity, persistent domestic brain drain, and breakneck technological advancement that outpaces many organizations’ adaptive capacity.

    Addressing widespread anxiety among local workers about AI’s impact on employment, Peters emphasized that the technology is not an approaching future threat—it is already present in workplaces across the country. “Many organizations are still struggling to integrate AI into their daily operations,” Peters noted. “The question is no longer if AI will arrive; it is how we prepare our workforce to thrive alongside it.”

    Peters pushed back against common narratives that AI will lead to mass job elimination, pointing to projections from the World Economic Forum which estimate that AI and automation will generate 12 million new roles globally by 2030. Instead of erasing work entirely, she argued, AI is reshaping the nature of existing roles and spawning entirely new career paths that barely existed a half-decade ago. “Five years ago, no one had heard of positions like prompt engineer, AI trainer, AI ethics and compliance officer, or chief AI officer,” Peters said. “These roles did not exist, and today organizations across the world are actively recruiting for these positions.”

    The widespread public access to general-purpose AI tools including ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity has already reshaped core HR processes, particularly recruitment—and Nicholas Roberts, former HRMAB president and chair of the conference organizing committee, warns that the shift has created unforeseen new challenges for hiring managers. Roberts explained that a growing share of job seekers now leverage AI to draft and refine their application materials, from resumes to cover letters, creating a disconnect between polished written submissions and a candidate’s actual on-paper skills.

    “AI can absolutely produce a refined, compelling resume tailored to a job posting in seconds, which can be a useful tool for many applicants,” Roberts said. “But the problem emerges when candidates show up to interviews and cannot back up what is on that polished CV. They cannot speak credibly to the skills and experiences listed, and they cannot demonstrate proficiency in the abilities they claim to have.” This trend places additional strain on HR professionals, who invest time in shortlisting candidates based on strong applications, only to discover critical skill gaps during the interview process.

    Both Peters and Roberts agree that Barbados must act quickly to shore up its education and professional training systems to align with the shifting job market. While Caribbean economies have historically adopted new technologies at a slower pace than larger global markets, Roberts warned against delaying adaptive action. “Training a new generation of workers and upskilling our existing workforce to meet the demands of future jobs will take time,” Roberts said. “But we cannot bury our heads in the sand and wait for these changes to arrive before we act. We need to look at what roles global markets are already hiring for, what skills are in demand, what projections tell us about future work, and start training our young people today.”

    Despite the growing adoption of automated marketing materials, digital operational systems, and AI tools across Barbadian businesses, HRMAB leaders maintain that human capital remains the island’s most valuable economic asset. When asked whether Barbados could ever see fully automated workplaces with no human staff on-site, Peters remained deeply skeptical. “To be honest, I do not see that happening,” she said. “Even an automated factory still requires human oversight and intervention when unexpected issues arise. People will always be at the heart of every organization, no matter how advanced technology becomes.”

    Peters stressed that uniquely human strengths—including critical thinking, emotional intelligence, ethical judgment, and empathetic leadership—are exactly the soft skills workers need to cultivate to remain irreplaceable as AI becomes more integrated into daily work.

  • HRMAB opens talks on future of work ahead of October conference

    HRMAB opens talks on future of work ahead of October conference

    As Barbados navigates a growing set of interconnected workforce challenges ranging from looming skills outflow to cutthroat global talent competition and rapid workplace transformation, the Human Resource Management Association of Barbados (HRMAB) is preparing to host a landmark national conference this October to map a path forward for local organizations.

    Scheduled for October 14 and 15 at the Hilton Barbados Resort, the two-day event carries the theme “Workforce 2030: Ready or Not”, and launches at a moment when Barbadian employers are grappling with three systemic shifts: evolving employee expectations, historically tight local labour markets, and rising competition from international businesses that now outcompete local firms for top domestic talent. The core goal of the gathering is to equip organizational leaders with actionable, practical strategies to integrate emerging workplace tools, upskill existing workforces, and reframe people management as a core strategic priority rather than a back-office administrative function. Most notably, conference organizers are calling on all business leaders across the island to treat technological upskilling as an urgent immediate goal, not a distant project to be addressed years down the line.

    Speaking at a recent media launch held at the Sky Mall conference facility in Haggatt Hall, HRMAB President Tisha Peters outlined how the role of human resource management has fundamentally shifted in recent decades. What began as a largely administrative function focused on routine back-office tasks is now a central driver of both organizational performance and national economic productivity. “When I started my career in HR, our discussions revolved around recruitment, payroll, employee relations and compliance,” Peters explained. “Those responsibilities are still important, but today our role reaches far beyond that basic scope. We no longer just support business strategy – we help build and shape it.”

    Peters issued a sharp warning against clinging to outdated models of people management, noting: “No organization, in Barbados or anywhere across the globe, can afford to relegate HR to a back-office function any longer. That is because people are not just one part of a business strategy – people are the strategy. Organizations rarely collapse because they lack a formal strategic plan; they struggle because they consistently underestimate the human element of organizational change. You can purchase cutting-edge technology, you can redesign internal processes from the ground up, but intangibles like trust, effective leadership, and a strong organizational culture have to be built incrementally – one conversation, one leadership decision, one intentional choice at a time.”

    With 2030 just a few years away, Barbadian businesses now find themselves competing directly with international companies for skilled local talent. The widespread adoption of remote work has amplified this challenge, making it simpler than ever for Barbadian workers to secure well-paying roles with overseas employers without relocating off the island. This dynamic has stoked widespread concerns about a growing brain drain that could strip local industries of their most skilled workers.

    Compounding this shift is the unprecedented generational diversity of today’s workplaces, which now span five generations from the Silent Generation to Gen Z. Peters framed this diversity as a unique asset rather than a problem to be managed, noting: “The pace of change has accelerated dramatically, and the decisions our organizational leaders make over the next few years will shape Barbadian workplaces for the next decade and beyond. This generational diversity is not a problem to be fixed – it is an opportunity to be leveraged. The organizations that will thrive in the coming years are those that learn to bridge gaps between generations, not manage each group separately. And the one asset that no competitor can copy is your organizational culture.”

    Nicholas Roberts, HRMAB’s immediate past president and chair of the association’s People Development Conference Committee, emphasized that the issues to be addressed at the conference are not limited to HR professionals – they touch every corner of Barbados’ economy. “These are not simply HR issues. These are core business issues, and they are issues that are impacting our entire national economy, which is exactly why this conference is so critical,” Roberts said. “If your organization is thinking at all about its long-term future, this conference is for you.”

    The conference program will feature a robust lineup of keynote addresses, interactive hands-on workshops, and panel discussions, with speakers joining from both Barbados and international destinations. Confirmed featured presenters include Theresa Hall and Dr. Shane Ram, along with Barbados’ Minister of Labour Colin Jordan, and contributing speakers Davina Layne, Vennell Sandy-Paterson and Leslie Lee-Fook. Key topics scheduled for discussion include strategic workforce planning, skills mapping, international talent attraction, employee retention, workplace well-being, and the evolving role of technology in modern work environments.

    “Technology will continue to evolve at a rapid pace, but strong leadership, adaptable workforce skills, and engaged, committed employees will always remain the foundation of successful organizations,” Roberts said. “The organizations that choose to keep investing in their people today are exactly the organizations that will be best positioned to succeed not just in the present, but for years to come.”

  • Lawes called up for ODI series, Hetmyer opts out

    Lawes called up for ODI series, Hetmyer opts out

    After a standout performance at the 2024 ICC Under-19 World Cup earlier this year, emerging wrist spinner Vitel Lawes has earned his first call-up to the West Indies senior men’s One Day International squad for the upcoming five-match home series against New Zealand. The 15-man squad named by Cricket West Indies includes Lawes for the opening three fixtures of the series, which will be split across venues in Guyana and Barbados.

    Cricket West Indies announced the squad composition in an official media release, noting that the young spinner has already integrated with the senior setup, having joined the team’s pre-series preparatory camp ahead of the New Zealand clash. To support Lawes’ transition to international senior cricket, former player and current development coach Nikita Miller has been temporarily added to the team’s management group for the first three matches of the tour.

    While the addition of the highly touted young spinner brings a fresh boost to West Indies’ spin bowling options, the squad will have to navigate two notable absences for the series. All-rounder Shamar Springer has been forced to withdraw from the entire contest following the passing of his mother, and experienced all-rounder Keemo Paul has been named as his direct replacement in the full squad. Additionally, explosive top-order batter Shimron Hetmyer will not feature for the regional side, after he received a pre-approved No Objection Certificate to fulfill his playing commitments in Major League Cricket in the United States.

    For West Indies, the series against New Zealand carries significant weight as the side continues its preparations for the 2025 ICC 50-over World Cup. Currently, Daren Sammy’s side sits outside the automatic qualification positions for the tournament, after a rain-disrupted home series against Sri Lanka last month in Jamaica ended in a 1-0 series defeat for the hosts.

    Head coach Daren Sammy emphasized the high stakes of every remaining fixture ahead of the World Cup, noting: “Every series we play from here on leading up to the 50 Over World Cup, we view them as must-win scenarios. The matches against New Zealand provide the best opportunity for us to continue our improvement as an ODI unit while winning more matches for the people of the Caribbean.”

    Sammy added that Lawes’ inclusion is part of the team’s long-term strategic plan to build depth ahead of the global tournament: “The inclusion of Vitel Lawes is strategic as we continue our long-term vision of exposing players who can complement the team in conditions that best suit their skill sets.”

    The full 15-member squad for the opening three matches of the series is: Shai Hope (Captain), Ackeem Auguste, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Vitel Lawes, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford and Jayden Seales.

  • French Guiana becomes CARICOM’s eighth Associate Member

    French Guiana becomes CARICOM’s eighth Associate Member

    In a landmark double expansion for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), French Guiana has officially become the regional integration bloc’s eighth Associate Member, marking the second new accession in just 48 hours. The historic milestone was reached on Tuesday during the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, hosted this year in Saint Lucia.

    During the meeting’s official ceremony, French Guiana signed the formal accession agreement that outlines the terms and status of its associate membership within the bloc. The document was signed by two key leaders: Philip J. Pierre, current Chairman of CARICOM and Prime Minister of host nation Saint Lucia, and Gabriel Serville, President of the Territorial Collectivity of French Guiana. A photo of Serville signing the agreement has been released by CARICOM, crediting the organization for the image.

    With the completion of the accession process, French Guiana is now eligible to take part in all ongoing activities of the CARICOM Conference of Heads of Government, granting the South American territory greater formal access to regional cooperation frameworks across the Caribbean.

    This rapid sequence of new accessions follows hot on the heels of Martinique’s acceptance as CARICOM’s seventh Associate Member. Martinique’s membership, which was agreed via a February 2025 accession signing and completed through the formal ratification of CARICOM’s Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities, is set to enter into full legal effect on June 16, 2026. The back-to-back additions of the two French overseas territories mark one of the fastest periods of expansion in CARICOM’s recent history, deepening the bloc’s ties with European territorial partners in the broader Caribbean region.

  • Lending bottlenecks, short-term rentals targeted to ease pressure on homebuyers

    Lending bottlenecks, short-term rentals targeted to ease pressure on homebuyers

    Barbados’ luxury property sector has experienced rapid growth in recent years, driven by strong foreign investment, large-scale high-end development projects, and a series of policy wins that have boosted the island’s global appeal. But this expansion has come at a cost: growing concerns that young professionals and middle-income local families are being locked out of home ownership, pushing the Mia Mottley administration to roll out a multi-pronged plan to expand access to affordable housing for Barbadian citizens.

    Housing Minister Chris Gibbs recently laid out the full scope of the government’s intervention in an interview with Barbados TODAY, acknowledging that first-time buyers and middle-income earners now face unprecedented barriers to entering the property market. Chris Hassell, president of the Barbados Estate Agents and Valuers Association (BEAVA), confirmed that the island currently operates as a clear seller’s market, a trend fueled by residual demand from the popular Welcome Stamp remote work visa program, the country’s successful removal from international financial crime watchlists, and its longstanding political and economic stability.

    While Hassell noted that there is strong unmet demand for properties priced between $250,000 and $500,000 – a range that aligns with the needs of most middle-income Barbadians – available inventory in this bracket remains extremely limited. Gibbs echoed this assessment, describing the current market landscape as an overwhelming challenge for young people trying to gain their first foothold in property ownership.

    “The truth is, our young people are seeing a market where the prices seem out of reach. I can remember my dad bought his first piece of land for $18,000. Our young people today would be asking, ‘In what universe?’” Gibbs said. “The ministry has to play a role in allowing our young people to participate in what they see as a booming economy, and it is our responsibility to make sure that they can also take part in the tremendous growth that we are seeing in the country.”

    One key factor squeezing long-term housing supply, Gibbs explained, is the rapid growth of short-term vacation rentals, particularly platforms like Airbnb. Many property owners have shifted long-term residential units to the short-term market to capitalize on far higher rental yields, a trend visible even in the minister’s own neighborhood. To ensure policy is tailored to actual community needs, the ministry is currently analyzing anonymized data from roughly 7,000 internal citizen housing records to map unmet demand and identify priority groups for support.

    At the core of the government’s plan is a shift to industrialized, cost-effective construction techniques. The administration is pushing to adopt modern building technologies – including prefabricated steel-frame construction sourced from South American suppliers – that cut development timelines and reduce overall building costs. “We are looking to obviously increase the supply of affordable homes using technologies such as steel-frame technology,” Gibbs explained. “We are also engaged in a number of joint ventures so that we can find partnerships where we can build large-scale developments faster.”

    Beyond expanding supply, the government is targeting longstanding financial barriers that prevent qualified buyers from securing home loans. Gibbs identified two critical bottlenecks: lengthy mortgage processing times and strict lending criteria that exclude many middle-income and first-time buyers from accessing full financing. To address this, the government is exploring regulatory and policy adjustments to reduce lender risk, making it possible for more borrowers to qualify for 100% mortgages. Senior government stakeholders including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Housing, and the Office of the Prime Minister are all collaborating to streamline approval processes, cutting down wait times and ensuring capital recirculates faster to support new development.

    A formal, mandatory social housing policy is also in the works, which will require a fixed percentage of all new large-scale residential developments to be subsidized units priced between $100,000 and $200,000. This price range is targeted at what Gibbs called the market’s “sweet spot” – lower-middle income buyers and vulnerable households who need support to transition out of rental housing and into ownership. The policy will not only address immediate demand, the minister noted, but also prioritize knowledge transfer to local construction workers and developers to build long-term capacity in Barbados’ building sector.

    “Whatever partnerships we engage in to bring technologies here, we will most certainly be transferring that knowledge to Barbadians as well,” Gibbs said. “If anybody is desirous of building a factory here that can print homes – because that is where it is going – we will have that expertise transferred here.”

    The all-encompassing strategy also includes a long-term wealth-building component called “land to legacy,” which will support citizens to save for property purchases in interest-bearing long-term accounts over 15 to 20-year timelines. The program is designed to address the structural economic shifts that have put home ownership out of reach for a generation of young Barbadians, ensuring they can build intergenerational wealth alongside the country’s growing property sector. Gibbs emphasized that the plan centers data-driven, citizen-focused policy, noting that the ongoing analysis of 7,000 household records ensures interventions will match the actual needs of the population, leaving no vulnerable groups behind.