News and Business news from Barbados, West Indies

Talma Taking Beach Culture Tour To Germany 30 August 2010
Barbados' most internationally known surfer, Brian Talma, recently left the island for Germany to take part in the Jever SUP (Stand Up Paddling) World Cup in Germany. This tournament is one of the biggest events in Europe and is part of the World Tour. Talma noted before he left that his presence at this competition was two-fold. He wants to compete and possibly win the competition, but he would also use the competition to position Barbados as one of the world's premier surfing destinations.

Banks Premium For Food And Wine Festival 30 August 2010
For six weeks in the autumn months of October and November, the Disney Epcot theme park in Orlando, Florida, will be transformed into a mecca of international food, wine and beer, showcasing regional favourites from countries across the world. And one of the beverages on show will be Banks Premium Caribbean lager, which will be highlighted in the international beer kiosk along with other premium brands from countries such as Germany, Belgium, Canada, and the United States.

Community Independence Celebrations Launched 29 August 2010
The Jackie Opel Amphitheatre was transformed into a dazzling stage for dance, drama and song during the official launch of the Community Independence Celebrations last night. Giving her remarks, Acting Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Community Development and Culture, Celia Toppin, lamented that even though community spirit still existed in the island, the level of cohesiveness that existed in the past was dwindling.

CMFC Sale Finally Closed 29 August 2010
Barbados Public Workers Co-operative Credit Union Limited formally acquired CLICO Mortgage & Finance Corporation (CMFC) on Friday. Several months of negotiation came to an end as Barbados' largest credit union closed on a sale-and-purchase agreement with CLICO Holdings (Barbados) Limited.

Develop Good Workers 28 August 2010
For real headway to be made in our understanding of Barbadian workers, there is need for a better understanding of the psychology of work. Moreover, as important as that, is the need to train employees. That was the view of Sir Roy Trotman, General Secretary of the Barbados Workers' Union (BWU), as he spoke as part of a panel on Thursday night to address the topic of 'The Worker and the Workplace in Barbados - What do We Need to Improve?'. The panel discussion formed part of the official launch of the book 'Understanding the Caribbean Worker' by Reverend Neilson Waithe, which was held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

Legal Rein 28 August 2010
Government is coming with a raft of new business regulations to combat problems such as money laundering, corruption and the financing of terrorism. But it is also moving to ease legal requirements to get trust and other companies to set up in this offshore business centre. Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite made the disclosures yesterday at Hilton Barbados during an address to members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados (ICAB).

Entertainer Pushes Healthy Breakfast As The Face of Kelloggs 27 August 2010
Edwin Yearwood, lead singer of the band Krossfyah, is making strides in his role as the public face of Kellogg's in Barbados. The musician was recently named the official spokesperson of the brand by local distributors, Hanschell Inniss Limited (HIL) and has been engaging consumers to choose healthy alternatives for breakfast as well as between-meal snacks.

Keep Thinking Bigger, Says Holder 27 August 2010
Business needs a new model and Barbados should never settle, as there is always room to improve efficiency. That is the view of the chief executive officer of the Small Business Association (SBA), Lynette Holder. In an interview with BARBADOS BUSINESS AUTHORITY, Holder said that while businesses in Barbados receive high praise, they should always seek to make things better.

Hanschell Inniss Limited Reintroduces Products Here 26 August 2010
Hanschell Inniss Limited has taken over the portfolio and reintroduced to the local market, the product range of Langston Roach Industries Limited, a Trinidadian company. Alix Husbands, Brand Manager at Hanschell Inniss Limited believes that the product range will do well in the Barbados market because it is reasonable and it is of a high quality. He made the comments at a two-day expo which ended at the Savannah Hotel yesterday.

Schools The Focus In Dengue Alert 26 August 2010
The mosquito population is flourishing in the searing heat wave and with dengue cases spiralling to almost 100 this year, the Ministry of Health wants to ensure that schools do not become breeding sites. Chief Medical Officer Dr Joy St John said that dengue fever was very much in the outbreak mode with 98 cases, 18 of which had been hospitalised.

Barbadians Abroad Want To See Barbados Advance 25 August 2010
The recent Diaspora Conference held in Barbados has been described as a very successful event and was a clear indication that Barbadians abroad want to play a part in the further economic development of this country. That's the word from Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Maxine McClean, in an address to the weekend conference of the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP).

AG To Update Accountants, Executives 25 August 2010
Barbados' Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite will provide an update on recent and upcoming legislative changes in the International Business Sector. He is scheduled to address chartered accountants and other senior executives attending a workshop hosted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados (ICAB) at Hilton Barbados on Friday, August 27.

Demand For Kidney Treatment Increasing 24 August 2010
There are approximately 200 patients in Barbados who require renal replacement therapy. This is coming from Dr. Emile Mohammed, Consultant Nephrologist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH). Speaking with the media yesterday at the QEH, he said that such cases have increased by 100 per cent over the last decade. "Ten years ago, there were 100 patients on dialysis. In the 1990's, there were around 65 patients on dialysis."

Project To Boost SBA 24 August 2010
Barbados' Small Business Association (SBA) is one of three Caribbean agencies to undergo a major institutional strengthening exercise in an effort to reform the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector. The development comes as part of a project valued at euro$700 000 (BDS$1.75 million) and is financed by Pro(euro)Invest. The project is called Promoting Economic Development Through European And Caribbean Partnership (PED). It will seek to strengthen the capacities of intermediary organisations in the areas of investment promotion and attraction, internationalising SMEs, and networking.

Over 300 Boxers Going For Gold At AIBA 2010 World Women's Boxing Championship 23 August 2010
Over 300 female boxers will be invading our shores starting as early as the end of August. Hailing from close to 85 countries, the female pugilists are all looking to jab, hook and slug their way to top honours in the largest ever instalment of the AIBA World Women's Boxing Championship. The Barbados 2010 predecessor, China 2008, saw 237 boxers from 42 countries taking part in the competition and Barbados won the bid to host the event in 2009 amidst heavy competition.

Budget On The Way 23 August 2010
The much anticipated 2010 budget will be here sooner, rather than later, Acting Prime Minister Freundel Stuart indicated yesterday. Stuart, who is also the Acting Minister of Finance while Prime Minister David Thompson continues to receive medical attention overseas, gave that hint on the final day of the Democratic Labour Party's 55th annual general conference.

Change Face Of Farming 20 August 2010
Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, Dr. Delisle Worrell, says that unless persons involved in agriculture in Barbados perceive their job as comparable to that of a bank manager's, then there will be no viability to sugar and agriculture. The Governor was at the time addressing a gathering at the James Bryan Complex in Market Hill, St. George on Wednesday night, as the St. George Parish Independence Committee held a parish discussion under the theme, "The Socioeconomic Relevance of St. George - The Sugar Basket - The Economic Bedrock of Barbados".

CGI's Harris: It's Fair Play 20 August 2010
Insurance Corporation of Barbados Limited (ICBL) is no longer owned by Government and should not be entitled to state business. So says general manager of Consumers' Guarantee Insurance (CGI) Peter Harris, following recent revelations from a senior ICBL official that his company had lost the National Housing Corporation (NHC) contract to CGI.

Police Force Committed To Tourism Sector 19 August 2010
The Royal Barbados Police Force has pledged further commitment to the local tourism sector, noting that meaningful and lasting partnerships are key if Barbados is to surmount the myriad of challenges it faces in ensuring a top quality and sustainable tourism destination. Speaking during the 5th Annual Multi-Hazard Disaster Management Symposium which was hosted by the Ministry of Tourism at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre yesterday, Deputy Commissioner of Police Bertie Hinds highlighted the importance of safety and security to the Barbados tourism sector.

Hard Work Pays Off For Winners 19 August 2010
There was much to cheer about yesterday when the Ministry of Education officially announced the winners of this year's Barbados Scholarships, Exhibitions and the National Award of Excellence. As revealed earlier this week in the DAILY NATION, Queen's College topped the list with 13 scholarships and nine exhibitions while Harrison College collected eight scholarships and 11 exhibitions.

Help Me To Restore Native Plants, Says Scientist 18 August 2010
A plant biologist is calling on anyone who knows about endangered plants as well as propagation, to get involved with the ongoing 'Native Plant Restoration Project' at the Welchman Hall Gully. Managing Director of the gully, Debra Branker, who received a welcomed donation from the US Embassy yesterday to help with the project, is seeking knowledgeable persons to join her team which currently includes environmentalist Kareem Habir and Damian Greaves from the University of the West Indies.

Grant For Ezee Cricket 18 August 2010
A grant from Caribbean Export is helping to push locally created game Eezee Kricket in several international business realms. While the board game's inventor, James Corbin, did not make the sum public, he told Barbados Business Authority in a telephone interview on Thursday that the grant - which came through the European Union - would go towards market research to tailor the game to the Pakistan and Sri Lanka markets.

Education Must Be Viewed As An Investment 17 August 2010
Education cannot be seen as a costly or unaffordable venture! Professor Eudine Barriteau, Principal (Ag) of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus, made this clear as she spoke at the CARICOM Research Centre during the programme launch of the EDULINK project yesterday.

In QEH Board Hands 17 August 2010
Minister of Health Donville Inniss will speak on the impasse between the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) and the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP). But not just yet. He's giving the board of the QEH enough time to solve the matter. And he has confidence that they will do so in the best interest of the country's major health institution, as well as all Barbadians

Banks Hockey Festival Off And Running 16 August 2010
Teams from far as Germany, South Africa, Canada, United Kingdom and USA and as close as our Caribbean neighbours, Trinidad and Tobago have come to our shores for the 25th annual Banks International Hockey Festival. Starting yesterday evening at the Wildey Astroturf, the festival got underway with a parade of teams which saw around 20 of the 28 registered teams taking part.

BNB Opens At Limegrove 16 August 2010
Barbados National Bank (BNB) recently became the first business to operate at the new Limegrove Lifestyle Centre in Holetown, St James. The branch was officially opened during a cocktail reception attended by a wide cross-section of individuals.

NCF To Work With BTA To Attract New Markets For Crop Over 13 August 2010
The National Cultural Foundation (NCF) will continue to work in the future to attract tourists from new markets to Barbados, in an effort to promote the Crop Festival in the international arena. Chief Executive Officer of the National Cultural Foundation, Dr. Donna Hunte-Cox, noted that one such market will be Brazil, with which Barbados has recently forged linkages.

Philanthropy 'A Useful Tool' 13 August 2010
The region is lagging considerably in utilising philanthropy as a development tool. Richard Jones, consultant to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, made this point last Friday during the inaugural Barbados Diaspora Conference at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre. He was making a presentation on the Better Barbados Foundation during a session on Philanthropy: Expanding The Horizons For Overseas Barbadians And Friends of Barbados.

Optimism Over UK Market 12 August 2010
Barbados' High Commissioner to London, Anthony Arthur, is optimistic that this country will see a turnaround of growth in the UK tourism market. In an interview with the Barbados Advocate, Arthur said that while he is convinced there will be a turnaround, Barbados needs to do things differently and to adjust its marketing programme to suit the situation prevailing in the United Kingdom (UK).

St. Peter Port Well On Way 12 August 2010
Work on the Port Ferdinand marina and villas project has started and is progressing at a fast pace. A trip to the St Peter location on Monday revealed that two huge sets of luxury villas were well under way, while work on the bridge was also moving along. Chief executive officer of Port Ferdinand and managing director of the Jada Group, Philip Tempro, said Port Ferdinand would "be at the top echelons of projects in this country".

Residents Embrace Heritage Tourism Product 11 August 2010
World travellers are looking for more than sun, sea and sand, therefore, the Ministry of Tourism has moved to better its heritage tourism offering by adding a new attraction which will capture the interest of tourists who want a different experience.

Easier Homecoming 7 August 2010
In a matter of weeks, major changes will be made to the Returning Nationals Policy, which as of September 1, will be referred to as the Barbados Network Programme. Word of this came from Acting Prime Minister, Freundel Stuart, yesterday morning as he delivered the feature address at the inaugural Disaspora conference, Barbados Network Consultation 2010 at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre under the theme 'Strengthening the Bonds that Unite Us'.

Gay Beats Bolt 7 August 2010
STOCKHOLM - It turns out Usain Bolt can be beaten. From Beijing to Berlin, it seemed that Bolt and his long, turbocharged strides were more than a match for anyone over 100 metres. But Tyson Gay upset the reigning World and Olympic champion yesterday in a race between the two fastest runners in history.

Ban On Public Smoking Soon 6 August 2010
Effective October 1st 2010, smoking in public places in Barbados will be prohibited. This was the official word coming yesterday from Minister of Health, Donville Inniss, as he announced that the long-awaited legislation prohibiting smoking in public places has been approved by the Cabinet of Barbados and will shortly be laid in Parliament. The minister was at the time speaking at the Ministry of Health's Breakfast Briefing Session on the Prohibition of Tobacco Smoking in Public Places, at the Accra Beach Hotel and SPA, Hastings, Christ Church.

BHTA Wants Foggy Area Cleared 6 August 2010
The Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association (BHTA) is seeking clarification on how a ban on public smoking will impact the hotel sector. BHTA executive vice-president Sue Springer admitted yesterday that despite hearing the definition of "public places" she was still in the dark about how hotels would be classified for the ban. She expressed her concern at the Accra Hotel & Beach Resort, where Minister of Health Donville Inniss announced the ban, due to come into effect from October 1.

Upgrades For BCC 5 August 2010
The Barbados Community College (BCC) has the potential to become a world class educational institution. Therefore, in an effort to do just that, a move toward allowing the college to award its students' degrees is one of the major initiatives which is currently being explored. Minister of Education and Human Resource Development, Ronald Jones, made these disclosures as he toured the campus yesterday...

One Caribbean 5 August 2010
Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines wants a deepening of economic integration and greater functional cooperation across the Caribbean. He made his appeal at the opening ceremony of the Fifth Assembly of Caribbean People at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus on Tuesday night.

Export Numbers For March Encouraging 4 August 2010
After a slow start to the year relative to the first few months of 2009, the value of domestic exports from Barbados to its CARICOM neighbours during the month of March this year have provided some encouragement for the remainder of 2010.

Top Marks For Kadoo Clean-Up 4 August 2010
As Barbadians jumped and wined in gay abandon along the street on Kadooment Day, hard-working sanitation workers were one step behind them picking up garbage. And General Manager of the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA), Stanton Alleyne, has lauded the workers, saying they have done a tremendous job in removing tonnes of garbage left behind during the four days of Crop-Over activities over the weekend.

Senator Speaks On ICBL, BNB Shares 3 August 2010
Government appears to have started the process of disposing its remaining shares in the Insurance Corporation of Barbados Limited (ICBL) and the Barbados National Bank Incorporated (BNB). Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Senator Darcy Boyce has said so, while at the same time rejecting suggestions of an anti-private sector posturing by the government.

Festival Stage 3 August 2010
Politicians, sport stars and business executives came out in droves at Grand Kadooment, the final phase of the Crop-Over Festival, yesterday. Cricket great Brian Lara, football ace Dwight Yorke, beauty queen Wendy FitzWilliam and renowned bodybuilder Bernard Sealy were among the big names enjoying the annual all-day street party that stretched this year from Warrens to Spring Garden Highway.

Unshackle Your Minds 2 August 2010
The Emancipation Village on Spring Garden highway was a hive of active last evening as persons taking part in the Emancipation Walk ended their journey. Acting Prime Minister Freundel Stuart; MP for the City, Patrick Todd; Dr Deryck Murray, Director of the Commission for Pan African Affairs and Steve Blackett, Minister of Culture were just a few who participated in the symbolic walk starting at Independence Square.

Gabby Lashes Out At Critics 2 August 2010
The Mighty Gabby has dismissed as "nonsense" criticisms that his Latin-flavoured song Ole Ashe was not calypso. The 62-year-old veteran, who returned to this year's competition at the 11th hour, after a two-year hiatus to win the Pic-O-De-Crop crown on Friday night with Haiti and Ole Ashe, said the latter song was "nothing but calypso" fused with a Brazilian/Venezuelan flavour and "infused" with spooge, calypso and African rhythm.

GOL Airlines A Good Decision For Barbados 1 August 2010
The fact that GOL Airlines has had to increase its carrier capacity for flights into this island within one month, aptly defends the Barbados Tourism Authority's (BTA) decision to pursue the Brazilian market. This is according to Minister of Tourism, Richard Sealy, as he disclosed that for the last two weekends, the flight was overbooked from Brazil, leading the airline to make the decision to upgrade from a Boeing 737 to a Boeing 767 to meet the demand.

Big Rain Jam 1 August 2010
No rain could stop this Foreday jam. Instead, the heavy showers gave the thousands of revellers more motivation to "drink drinks", "wuk up" and "get on bad" as they made their way from the Princess Alice Highway to Spring Garden Highway in this year's Foreday Morning Jam sponsored by Roberts Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

Positive Outlook On Economy 17 December 2009
Barbados has managed well despite a difficult year in 2009 and the country is well poised to work its way out of these economic conditions by the latter half of next year. That is according to Prime Minister David Thompson, who was speaking to the media after a book presentation to him by Cynthia Wilson at Ilaro Court yesterday. Speaking about the economy this Christmas season, he said, "Most of the private sector operatives that I have been speaking to, particularly in the distributive sector, have said that they are doing better than they had anticipated..."