标签： Barbados

The Kiwanis Club of Barbados is amplifying its initiatives to encourage more young men to participate in its service and leadership programs. This move comes in response to growing concerns about the declining interest among boys in assuming leadership roles. Karen Bascombe, the outgoing president of the Kiwanis Club of Barbados Benevolence, highlighted this strategic focus during the installation ceremony of 29 new members of the revitalized Key Club at St George Secondary School last Friday. Bascombe emphasized the organization’s deliberate efforts to inspire boys to take on leadership positions, citing the influence of young leaders like Jaheim Carter, the current governor of the Key Club Caribbean Atlantic District. Carter, a 17-year-old sixth-form student at Combermere School, has become a role model for his peers, demonstrating the impact of effective leadership and mentorship. Bascombe noted that Carter’s involvement has already led to an increase in male participation in Kiwanis programs, marking a significant step forward. Carter himself shared insights into the challenges young male leaders face today, pointing out the scarcity of male role models in leadership positions across Barbados. He stressed the importance of self-reliance and personal growth in leadership, urging young men to strive to be the best versions of themselves. Carter’s recent participation in the Key Club International Convention in Orlando, Florida, further fueled his commitment to recruiting more young men into the organization. He expressed his vision for a future where Barbados sees a more balanced representation of male and female leaders, starting with the youth. Carter’s efforts underscore the Kiwanis Club’s broader mission to foster leadership and community service among young people, with a particular focus on addressing the gender gap in leadership roles.

On September 27, 2025, Barbados enthusiastically marked World Tourism Day 2025, embracing the theme ‘Tourism and Sustainable Transformation.’ This year’s focus underscores tourism’s role not merely as an economic engine but as a catalyst for societal progress, community empowerment, and environmental sustainability. For Barbados, tourism is the lifeblood of its economy, generating foreign exchange, creating jobs, fostering entrepreneurship, and offering opportunities across generations. It also serves as a cultural ambassador, showcasing the island’s heritage, creativity, and hospitality to the world. However, realizing tourism’s transformative potential demands more than growth—it requires vision, discipline, and sustainability. Key priorities include strategic governance, environmental conservation, human capital development, resilience against climate change, and equitable distribution of benefits. Javon Griffith, Chairman of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), reaffirmed the industry’s commitment to these principles, emphasizing collaboration among government, private sector, and communities. Despite challenges like rising global costs and climate pressures, Barbados aims to remain a premier, resilient destination. On this World Tourism Day, the nation recommits to leveraging tourism as a force for national transformation, community upliftment, and environmental protection, ensuring prosperity for future generations.

A transformative $262,200 scholarship initiative has been unveiled by the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI) in partnership with the European Union and the Inter-American Development Bank. This groundbreaking program aims to provide financial support to nearly 100 students pursuing careers in the automotive and energy industries. The initiative is part of the Youth Empowerment Programme and will fund SJPI certificate, diploma, and advanced diploma programs in refrigeration and air conditioning.

A transformative $262,200 scholarship initiative has been unveiled by the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI) in partnership with the European Union and the Inter-American Development Bank. This groundbreaking program aims to provide financial support to nearly 100 students pursuing careers in the automotive and energy industries. The initiative is part of the Youth Empowerment Programme and will fund SJPI certificate, diploma, and advanced diploma programs in refrigeration and air conditioning.

Tourism transcends mere travel—it is the lifeblood of cultures, communities, and connections. On World Tourism Day, celebrated annually on September 27, the global community reflects on the journeys that unite the world. This year’s theme, “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” emphasizes not only the economic significance of tourism but also its potential to foster enduring benefits for communities, economies, and the environment. In Barbados, the focus often centers on international visitors and foreign reserves. However, tourism also thrives at home, where locals explore, support, and sustain the island’s treasures. This philosophy underpins Barbados Today’s campaign, “We Vacation Where We Live,” which encourages Barbadians to rediscover their homeland through immersive tours, authentic cuisine, and cozy staycations. The message is clear: the attractions that draw global travelers can also inspire locals to explore and take pride in their own backyard. One such initiative is The Off Road Experience (TORE) Barbados, founded by Zeko Springer. Born during the COVID-19 pandemic, TORE began as a local venture but has since evolved into a unique offering for both residents and visitors. Springer’s vision was to demystify the outdoors while creating an exhilarating experience. “We wanted to add something fresh and unique to Barbados’ tourism landscape,” he explained. TORE’s success underscores the importance of locals understanding and appreciating their own country. “Home drums beat first,” Springer remarked, emphasizing the value of sharing authentic experiences with visitors. Culinary tourism also plays a pivotal role in Barbados’ sustainable transformation. Yelluh Meat, a restaurant in Black Rock, St. Michael, celebrates Bajan heritage through its signature breadfruit bowls. Co-owner Kim Hamblin highlighted the importance of authenticity. “Visitors seek experiences they can’t find elsewhere,” she said. Yelluh Meat’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its sourcing practices, as it exclusively uses locally grown breadfruit. The restaurant also collaborates with the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) to offer immersive tours, teaching visitors the art of roasting breadfruit over wood fires. For those seeking a place to unwind, Paradise Point Apartments in Maxwell, Christ Church, offers an affordable, art-inspired retreat. Founder Shona Catlin designed the apartments to showcase local artistry, with each room featuring murals of iconic Bajan symbols. “I wanted to create a unique yet budget-friendly experience,” Catlin explained. By employing a DIY approach and upcycling materials, she kept costs low while maintaining high occupancy rates. Paradise Point’s success demonstrates that luxury need not be extravagant. As Barbados celebrates World Tourism Day, the island’s initiatives highlight the dual role of tourism: attracting global visitors while empowering locals to explore and cherish their homeland. By embracing local adventures, cuisine, and staycations, Barbadians not only bolster their economy but also deepen their pride in the island’s rich offerings.

Tourism transcends mere travel—it is the lifeblood of cultures, communities, and connections. On World Tourism Day, celebrated annually on September 27, the global community reflects on the journeys that unite the world. This year’s theme, “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” emphasizes not only the economic significance of tourism but also its potential to foster enduring benefits for communities, economies, and the environment. In Barbados, the focus often centers on international visitors and foreign reserves. However, tourism also thrives at home, where locals explore, support, and sustain the island’s treasures. This philosophy underpins Barbados Today’s campaign, “We Vacation Where We Live,” which encourages Barbadians to rediscover their homeland through immersive tours, authentic cuisine, and cozy staycations. The message is clear: the attractions that draw global travelers can also inspire locals to explore and take pride in their own backyard. One such initiative is The Off Road Experience (TORE) Barbados, founded by Zeko Springer. Born during the COVID-19 pandemic, TORE began as a local venture but has since evolved into a unique offering for both residents and visitors. Springer’s vision was to demystify the outdoors while creating an exhilarating experience. “We wanted to add something fresh and unique to Barbados’ tourism landscape,” he explained. TORE’s success underscores the importance of locals understanding and appreciating their own country. “Home drums beat first,” Springer remarked, emphasizing the value of sharing authentic experiences with visitors. Culinary tourism also plays a pivotal role in Barbados’ sustainable transformation. Yelluh Meat, a restaurant in Black Rock, St. Michael, celebrates Bajan heritage through its signature breadfruit bowls. Co-owner Kim Hamblin highlighted the importance of authenticity. “Visitors seek experiences they can’t find elsewhere,” she said. Yelluh Meat’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its sourcing practices, as it exclusively uses locally grown breadfruit. The restaurant also collaborates with the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) to offer immersive tours, teaching visitors the art of roasting breadfruit over wood fires. For those seeking a place to unwind, Paradise Point Apartments in Maxwell, Christ Church, offers an affordable, art-inspired retreat. Founder Shona Catlin designed the apartments to showcase local artistry, with each room featuring murals of iconic Bajan symbols. “I wanted to create a unique yet budget-friendly experience,” Catlin explained. By employing a DIY approach and upcycling materials, she kept costs low while maintaining high occupancy rates. Paradise Point’s success demonstrates that luxury need not be extravagant. As Barbados celebrates World Tourism Day, the island’s initiatives highlight the dual role of tourism: attracting global visitors while empowering locals to explore and cherish their homeland. By embracing local adventures, cuisine, and staycations, Barbadians not only bolster their economy but also deepen their pride in the island’s rich offerings.

In the face of a deepening literacy crisis, education experts in Barbados are advocating for the integration of the Barbadian dialect into the classroom as a foundational tool for teaching. This call comes as recent data reveals alarming declines in literacy rates among students, with many underperforming in English assessments. Last year, the National Task Force on Literacy Education reported that 20% of students scored below 50% in the Barbados Secondary Schools Entrance Examination, while 13% scored below 40%, and some even achieved zero percent. These figures underscore the urgent need for innovative strategies to enhance English proficiency and academic outcomes across primary and secondary schools. Literacy specialist Shawntelle Morgan and Dr. Ronald Francis, Secretary of the Society for Caribbean Linguistics, emphasized the importance of cultural pride in education. Their remarks coincided with the Oxford English Dictionary’s (OED) September 2025 update, which included 12 Caribbean words and phrases, such as ‘bobolee,’ ‘broughtupsy,’ and ‘cou-cou.’ Dr. Francis highlighted that this inclusion signifies global recognition of the Caribbean’s linguistic legacy, urging the region to value its dialects without waiting for external validation. He pointed to historical post-colonial attitudes that marginalized Creole and local languages, stressing that teaching in a language students understand significantly improves learning outcomes. Morgan echoed this sentiment, advocating for a dual-language approach where the Barbadian dialect serves as the teaching foundation while students also master Standard English. She argued that this method not only enhances academic performance but also boosts student engagement and self-esteem by validating their cultural identity. Both experts emphasized the importance of code-switching, encouraging students to see the ability to move between dialect and Standard English as a strength. Morgan also dismissed concerns that dialect use might hinder students, asserting that mastery of one’s native language facilitates the learning of a second language. The OED’s recognition of Caribbean terms, she noted, affirms the region’s role as a producer of language and culture, challenging the notion that Caribbean speech patterns are inferior. The newly added words carry rich cultural significance, reflecting the Caribbean’s unique linguistic and culinary heritage. As Barbados grapples with its literacy challenges, the integration of dialect into education emerges as a promising pathway to fostering both academic success and cultural pride.

The Supreme Counselling for Personal Development is advocating for increased government collaboration and financial support to fully implement its Alternative to School Suspension Programme. This innovative initiative aims to replace traditional suspensions with structured interventions and counselling, addressing the root causes of student misbehaviour rather than merely sending them home.

Sean Clarke, Chief Executive Officer of the organisation, emphasised that the programme is fully prepared for launch but remains stalled due to a lack of funding. ‘Everything is in place except the funds to get going,’ Clarke stated during the Igniting Change Empowering Futures seminar at Sky Mall. ‘We have the infrastructure, the classroom, the facilitators, the coordinator—everything is ready.’

Clarke criticised the current practice of suspending students without meaningful intervention, arguing that it fails to address behavioural issues and often exacerbates them. ‘There’s no evidence that sending students home works,’ he said. ‘Instead, they return to school and repeat the same or worse behaviour.’

The programme offers a 10-day supervised engagement during the suspension period, followed by 10 weeks of counselling to help students reset their trajectory. Clarke highlighted the readiness of the team, which includes psychologists, coordinators, and follow-up services, but stressed the necessity of sustainable funding. ‘Psychologists and other professionals need to be paid,’ he said. ‘We also provide meals for students, which adds to the costs.’

Proposals have been submitted to the Ministries of Education and People Empowerment, but no funding decisions have been communicated yet. Clarke expressed optimism but urged urgency, stating, ‘While the grass is growing, the horse is starving.’

Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw, Chief Education Officer, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting students facing emotional and behavioural challenges. She highlighted the expansion of the Student Support Services Unit, which now includes over 40 professionals, and its positive impact on students through programmes focused on self-esteem, emotion management, and conflict resolution.

Clarke, however, emphasised that addressing student behaviour requires a collective effort. ‘Government has its role, but churches, schools, and parents must also come together,’ he said. ‘This is everybody’s business.’

Fabian Sargeant, founder of the Men Empowerment Network Support (MENS), has voiced his support for Acting Chief Magistrate Deidre McKenna’s proposal to introduce mandatory paternity testing in child maintenance court cases. McKenna, speaking at a recent public forum, advocated for state-funded, compulsory DNA testing to ensure fairness and certainty for fathers involved in such legal disputes. Sargeant, while endorsing the idea, emphasized that mandatory testing should be limited to court cases rather than being applied universally. He clarified, “Mandatory testing should only apply to cases before the court, not as a blanket policy across the country.” However, Sargeant expressed concerns about full state funding, suggesting that paternity tests should be affordable for fathers. He stated, “The cost of testing should not be prohibitive. It should be reasonably affordable to men.” Additionally, Sargeant called for legal consequences in cases where paternity tests reveal a man is not the biological father, arguing for reimbursement or redress. “Men who have supported a child for years, only to discover they are not the father, should not bear the emotional and financial burden alone,” he said. He also highlighted the fear many men have of requesting DNA tests due to potential denial of access to their children. Melissa Savoury-Gittens, president of the National Organisation of Women (NOW), also supported mandatory testing in court cases but pointed out systemic flaws in the current child maintenance system. She criticized the practice of arresting men for non-payment, arguing that it does not address the root causes. “Instead of imprisoning men, we should investigate why they are not paying. Is it unemployment? If so, we should help them find jobs so they can support their children,” she said. Both Sargeant and Savoury-Gittens agreed that the focus should be on creating a fair and supportive system for all parties involved in child maintenance cases.