标签： Barbados

In a groundbreaking move for educational accessibility, Barbados has announced that Combermere School will become the nation’s first public secondary institution to install an elevator. The initiative forms a crucial part of a comprehensive government program aimed at retrofitting public buildings to ensure full accessibility for persons with disabilities.

Finance Ministry official Ryan Straughn made the significant announcement during his address at the school’s speech day ceremony, committing to a systematic three-year implementation timeline. “Once institutions identify necessary adaptations and provide specifications, the Ministry of Finance will ensure funding availability,” Straughn declared, emphasizing the government’s dedication to inclusive public spaces.

The announcement followed earlier remarks by Board Chairman Captain Reverend Al Walcott, who outlined the school’s own accessibility research initiatives. “We’re determined to ensure that physically challenged students can access the entire campus from first form through upper grades,” Reverend Walcott stated, highlighting ongoing efforts to create barrier-free educational environments.

Straughn, himself a Combermere alumnus, reflected on the historical context of disability accommodation at the institution, recalling how students like Craig Nurse and Kerry-Ann Ifill navigated the campus with peer assistance in the absence of proper infrastructure. “While peer support was remarkable, the physical infrastructure itself now requires modernization,” he observed.

The minister additionally highlighted the critical emergency preparedness aspect of the initiative, noting that as an official hurricane shelter, the school must accommodate persons with disabilities during crisis situations. He established a concrete timeline for implementation, requesting cost estimates by January 15 with guaranteed completion before March 31, 2026.

This landmark project represents the initial phase of a broader national retrofitting program that will eventually encompass all government facilities, signaling a new era of accessibility and inclusion in Barbadian public infrastructure.

In a landmark policy shift, Barbados is fundamentally restructuring its educational priorities to place technical and vocational training on equal footing with traditional academic pathways. The government’s newly launched Tertiary Construction Grant represents a strategic investment in positioning skilled tradespeople at the core of the nation’s economic transformation agenda.

The inaugural awards ceremony, held at the Ministry of Educational Transformation, celebrated the first cohort of recipients who will receive full funding for training in critical construction trades including carpentry, masonry, electrical installation, plumbing, tiling, and welding. These programs will be administered through the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI) and the Barbados Vocational Training Board.

Minister of Training and Tertiary Education Sandra Husbands characterized the initiative as a ‘watershed moment’ for Barbadian education, acknowledging past systemic failures. ‘We have neglected too many children for too long,’ Husbands stated, revealing that approximately 40% of students graduate with proficiency in two or fewer subjects. ‘This indicates not that our children cannot learn, but that we have not created an educational system that helps everyone to learn.’

The minister emphasized the urgent need for a national mindset shift, challenging the longstanding perception of vocational training as a secondary option. ‘People are born with different skill sets, all of which are necessary for life,’ she asserted. ‘Trades are critical to our built environment, critical to economic growth, and critical for national development.’

This educational transformation directly addresses Barbados’ current construction boom, with nine hotels scheduled for development requiring approximately 7,000-9,000 construction workers and nearly 10,000 hospitality staff. ‘We must capitalize on this opportunity to secure the quality of life Barbados wants to offer its citizens,’ Husbands emphasized.

The ministry also announced plans for a modern welding plant at SJPI to meet international demand, noting that skilled welders in neighboring Guyana can earn approximately $3,000 daily—demonstrating the substantial economic potential of technical mastery.

Grant recipients expressed enthusiasm for both the opportunity and validation the program provides. Tiffany Kinch, one of the female participants, shared her journey from informal construction experience to pursuing formal qualifications: ‘I want the actual certification rather than just learning on the job.’ Fellow recipient Faden Blackman, studying carpentry and joinery, highlighted the creative satisfaction and community contribution possible through skilled trades.

Minister Husbands concluded with a call to action for private sector involvement, urging established tradespeople to provide mentorship and workplaces to offer training opportunities, ensuring the next generation fully develops their capabilities.

In an unprecedented move for philatelic history, the Barbados Postal Service (BPS) is set to launch its inaugural embroidered postage stamp this coming Monday, December 8. This groundbreaking issue prominently features an intricately stitched dove, recognized worldwide as an emblem of peace and unity.

The creation of this unique stamp represents a significant international partnership, bringing together the expertise of multiple global entities. The collaborative effort includes the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the United Nations, and the renowned Austrian embroidery specialist Hämmerle & Vogel. This multinational cooperation underscores the universal message of harmony that the stamp seeks to promote.

Technical specifications reveal the stamp will be available in a single denomination of $2.20 Barbados dollars. For collectors and enthusiasts, a specially designed First-Day Cover will be offered at $2.95. These philatelic items will be available through the Philatelic Bureau located at the General Post Office on Cheapside in Bridgetown.

The Bureau will maintain its regular operating hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday, to accommodate purchases and advance orders. This release marks not only a first for Barbadian postal history but also represents a innovative approach to stamp design that merges traditional embroidery craftsmanship with modern postal services.

A groundbreaking United Nations study reveals that redirecting public food procurement to local family farmers represents a transformative strategy for enhancing food security, diversifying diets, and stimulating inclusive economic growth across Latin America and the Caribbean. The comprehensive report, jointly presented by the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), demonstrates how structured government demand can create sustainable markets for small-scale agricultural producers who constitute 81% of the region’s farming operations.

Despite accounting for the overwhelming majority of agricultural holdings, smallholder farmers face persistent structural challenges including limited market access, low productivity rates, and heightened vulnerability to extreme weather events. The UN agencies propose that strategic public spending directed toward this sector can simultaneously address multiple development objectives while providing cost-effective solutions to nutritional challenges.

The region has made notable progress with 1.5 million people escaping hunger in 2024, yet significant challenges persist with approximately 181.9 million individuals unable to afford a healthy diet and rural poverty remaining endemic. UN officials emphasize that local procurement policies offer a dual benefit by leveraging existing public budgets while fostering broader economic and social development.

FAO’s Assistant Director-General for Latin America and the Caribbean, Rene Orellana Halkyer, highlighted that “promoting local public food procurement from smallholder farmers has become a key policy direction. This strategy redefines how public spending can drive development and improve nutrition while directly addressing structural barriers faced by small producers.”

WFP Regional Director Lola Castro characterized public procurement as “more than a supply mechanism—it’s a powerful policy tool for inclusion and resilience.” She noted that “short chain and zero kilometer foods multiply economic opportunities for communities, safeguard culinary heritage, and contribute to public health since produce reaches consumers at peak ripeness with enhanced nutritional value.”

The report documents substantial benefits in implementation areas, with participating producers increasing incomes by up to 106% and female participation in public food markets surging from 23% to 61%. Countries like Honduras and Guatemala generated 478 jobs for every million dollars invested through these programs.

ECLAC’s director of Productive and Business Development Division, Marco Llinás, emphasized that “connecting producers to markets is not enough; policies must strengthen productive, technological, and organizational capacities to ensure sustainable integration into value chains while reducing consumer prices and enhancing food security.”

The study concludes that maximizing impact requires synergistic approaches combining public procurement with advancements in science, technology, innovation, and human capital development. The publication provides policymakers, development agencies, and civil society organizations with evidence-based frameworks for integrating local food procurement into national food security and rural development strategies.

In a significant demonstration of corporate social responsibility, Insurance Corporation of Barbados Limited (ICBL) distributed $50,000 in charitable contributions to five nonprofit organizations during a ceremony at its Roebuck Street headquarters on Wednesday. The strategic philanthropic initiative targeted organizations addressing Barbados’ most pressing health and social welfare challenges.

ICBL CEO Goulbourne Alleyne presented $10,000 checks to representatives from The Salvation Army, Variety – The Children’s Charity, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Barbados Cancer Society, and the Diabetes and Hypertension Association. Alleyne emphasized that despite encouraging economic indicators showing 2.7-3% GDP growth, many Barbadian families continue facing substantial hardships that require community support.

The selected organizations were recognized for their decades of consistent service and measurable impact on vulnerable populations. Alleyne noted that their work frequently represents “the critical difference between hardship and hope, between despair and survival” for countless citizens.

Richard Alleyne of the Diabetes and Hypertension Association, celebrating its 50th anniversary, accepted the first donation while highlighting the disproportionate burden non-communicable diseases place on Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s resources. He expressed appreciation for corporate partners “willing to give back to the society that made them successful.”

Sharifa Yard, administrator of the Barbados Cancer Society, detailed how ICBL’s sustained support enables critical outreach programs promoting early detection of prostate, cervical, and other cancers while supporting affected families and children across the island.

Greta Yearwood of the Heart and Stroke Foundation underscored the urgent national health crisis, revealing that cardiovascular disease alone accounts for nearly 30% of deaths in Barbados. The partnership with ICBL funds essential screenings, health education, and life-saving interventions that directly address this epidemic.

Jacqui McDermott of Variety – The Children’s Charity, marking thirty years of service, emphasized the donation’s immediate impact during the holiday season, noting that many assisted children face difficulties “through no fault of their own.”

Major Robert Pyle of The Salvation Army, reflecting on the organization’s 127-year presence in Barbados, shared impressive operational statistics: 1,076 food hampers distributed, 12,640 people provided with essential goods, and 36,444 meals served through feeding programs between January and September alone. He credited these achievements to dedicated donors like ICBL.

The contributions form part of ICBL’s comprehensive year-round philanthropic program supporting civic groups, sports development, education, and disaster relief initiatives. With Christmas approaching, CEO Alleyne reaffirmed that community upliftment remains central to ICBL’s corporate identity, stating: “We believe that when those around us strive, our nation thrives. And when they struggle, it’s our duty to stand with them.”