Established October 1895 Increase in tax revenue projected – Page 3 Friday February 21, 2020 $2 VAT Inclusive NO WASTAGE Kooyman CEO addresses foreign exchange concerns IT is not the aim nor goal to export foreign part of your community home improvement and of regional chain currency.If you do business and these means investing building materials, will lift Kooyman to export in any market you are in and reinvesting in the itself up again a bit more,” foreign currency from with an investment like Barbadian community,” he he stressed. this island. this one, you are there to added. In addition, van de In speaking to the media stay for the long-term. It Saying the US$40 Woude noted that the first yesterday at its new store may very well be that we million project was signs of recovery were at Kendal Hill, Chief use any cash generated to completed on time and already showing within Executive Officer of do extra additional within budget, the CEO the Barbados economy, Kooyman Holding investments in the stated that it would bring a especially within the International, Herbert van economy, so yes I hear the difference to the way construction sector. de Woude, sought to criticism, but I do not agree persons shopped for “I spoke to a lot of people address the fears with it,” he said. building and hardware in the construction expressed by some Van de Woude stated it supplies and highlighted business and they see a lot members of the public of was natural for a company its competitors would have of new projects coming the mega store using up to pay out dividends to its to step up their game. their way. When we first foreign exchange at a time shareholders, but “aside “Our Drive Thru will started visiting in 2016, when the country could ill from that we are not speed up the way 2017 I feel much more afford it. aiming for that as a goal in contractors work and the optimistic... in the public so “If you put in US$40 our philosophy”. competition will have to do I am confident that we are million into an economy, it “We are here for the long- something to get to a here just in time to be a will take some time before term and want to become different level than what part of the recovery of the Chief Executive Officer of Kooyman Holding you earn enough to export as good a corporate citizen we are offering. I think the Barbadian economy,” he International Herbert van de Woude spoke on the that. That is not our aim as possible and become a whole sector – hardware, said. (JMB) ease of using the Drive Thru system. Airbnb – good for Barbados? IN the last decade, the use the properties and of mass booking sites like traveller reviews like Airbnb, VRBO and their earlier competitors, HomeAway, which but adding the ability for provide alternatives to rooms within a home to the mainstream or be rented online, and, traditional more recently, the ability accommodation options, to book attractions, has literally gone viral, restaurants etc. in the and now represents a destination at the same credible threat to hotels, time. Collectively, they apartments and guest introduced disruptive houses/B&Bs across the technology which would world. In fact, so popular impact the tourism have these sites become, industry world-wide, and that they are now would come to be known creating residential colloquially as the Airbnb housing shortages, phenomenon (despite the particularly in or near big other players involved). cities around the world. Some argue that these VRBO, or Vacation high-tech booking sites Rental By Owner, first enable rooms in homes started in 1995, as an and whole apartment online showcase and units and houses to be booking platform that seen world-wide and allowed owners seeking to leased for short-term let their properties to periods, which is bringing broaden their exposure down the cost of travelling and, perhaps, to avoid generally, and permitting higher real estate wider participation in the commissions. HomeAway, global tourism industry. a similar site, started in According to their 2004 and shortly website, Airbnb alone afterwards acquired boasts seven million VRBO, enhancing its registered properties in software. Then came 220 countries, and over Airbnb in 2008, with its 250 million users. game-changing software, Customers taking advantage of some great deals at the recently opened Kooyman store. allowing travellers to see AIRBNB on Page 6 2 • Friday February 21, 2020 The Barbados Advocate Tree planted to honour outgoing Republic Chair REPUBLIC Bank Barbados the RFHL family we celebrate the questions asked,” it was joined its sister branches all those occasions. However, as revealed. across the region recently in benefactors of his exemplary Central Bank of Barbados honouring their outgoing leadership and mentorship, we Secretary, Elson Gaskin, also Chairman by planting a tree felt we needed to have our own spoke briefly during the to signify his legacy. Ronald expression of gratitude for his ceremony as his organisation Harford, who enjoyed a 57- dedication to our profession. It is gifted Republic the space for the year career, will be because of Ronald Harford’s tree and said that there could immortalised throughout wisdom, vision and spirit that never be too many trees and that Caribbean as Saman trees the Republic Financial Holdings they were pleased to accept what were planted in every Ltd. is now the largest they consider a gift to the people country where Republic indigenous bank in the of Barbados.“We hear a lot these operates. Caribbean with holdings in 12 days about the environment and With the local tree being regional territories and Ghana climate change and we can planted in Church Village Green in West Africa. We are truly a never have too many trees. In during a ceremony,Harford was Pan-Caribbean financial entity the same way that your retired described as an example of because his scope and vision Chairman has put down roots excellence by Republic Bank extended far beyond Trinidad in the banking industry in the Barbados Managing Director, and Tobago,” Clerk said. region, may this tree, in the Anthony Clerk. Getting his start He went on to call him a ‘true same way as it grows and in the industry in the mail room regionalist’ saying that he loved spreads, be indicative of his and working his way up the every island as he moved around continued legacy,” Gaskin said. ladder, Harford resigned to end Caribbean for work. “Wherever Saman trees are big, ruddy his tenure as Chairman of Barclays had a presence in the trees native to South and Republic Financial Holdings region, Mr. Harford eventually Central America and known for Ltd. (RFHL) last December, went there to work. He not only having thick and wide foliage picking up accolades such as the immersed himself in what the and Clerk likened Harford’s Chaconia Medal Gold and an bank was doing but he spent career of close to 60 years to the honorary Doctorate of Law by time learning the cultural norms trees. “Saman trees by nature University of the West Indies St. and practices of the places where are very expansive trees. They Augustine Campus. he was stationed, developing are very wide trees that provide Highlighting these friendships and connections. No a lot of shade. As Chairman of Republic Bank Barbados Managing Director, Anthony Clerk, is recognitions, Clerk said that one wonder then that as Chairman, the bank, he would have flanked by St. Ambrose students; Head Girl Taehanna Hintzon of his greatest achievements he was also able to speak so provided a lot of shade for the and Deputy Head Boy Jesiah Williamson after they helped him remains the expansion of the incisively on issues across the ones who worked below him, plant the tree. Republic Bank has a special relationship with the bank outside the shores of region and discern answers nurture them and provide good City school as it falls within the environs of the Independence Trinidad and Tobago. “Within before others even understood examples,” he said. (MP) Square branch. The Barbados Advocate Friday February 21, 2020 • 3 Landship loses member THE last original member of The Queen Mary detachment (Goodlands Landship and one of Barbados’ oldest Dock). persons will be laid to rest this week. Husbands was also well known for Felix Husbands, better known as being an active radio listener, a lover of Uncle Felix, passed away earlier in the dogs and his fondness for his bicycle month of February at age 101, was which he was seen riding everywhere actually born in Panama, after his father around the island. Duncan Husbands, a carpenter, and his Though he lived to a very old age, he mother went to work on the construction remained active, as he was determined of the Panama Canal at the time. After to live his life the way he wanted it and his birth, his mother sent him and his not to be reminded of his long lifespan. three siblings, two brothers and one He refused to walk with any aid and sister, back to Barbados to live with her according to those closest to him, was brother in St. Thomas, with her fond of dressing himself without any returning to Barbados after her help, and keeping his lovely home in the husband went on to Cuba. best of states with his constant tidying. Though not much was known about Felix Husbands leaves no children where he attended school, for most of his behind, however, him as his wife, life he worked as a Public Servant Gwendolyn Husbands who died in 2014 attached to the Ministry of at age 92, were known to look after kids Communications and Works in the of family and friends, who called them position as a ‘roadmender’.