Established October 1895 Speightstown to get a boost Page 4 Friday February 7, 2020 $2 VAT Inclusive BACKLOGTHE BARBADOS Water TACKLED Authority has addressed the backlog of over 6 000 burst Minister commends worker-led programme to address burst mains mains in just seven weeks, as a result of a project which was conceptualised and implemented by workers. Yesterday,Minister of Energy and Water Resources Wilfred Abrahams showered the workers with praise, noting that it is through them that the calls to the BWA are now up to date. He also commended the work of the union for making the project a reality. He was at the time giving an update on the Extended Hours Burst Programme at Tamarind Ave just off Country Road where crews were working on repairing a burst which had only been called in the day before. Minister Abrahams described the project as a major victory for the BWA. He said a concerted effort was made to erase the “us against them” mentality which existed in the past, noting that there is a more harmonious relationship between the government, the workers and the union. Minister Abrahams explained that an intensive process was undertaken where every aspect of the BWA was deconstructed and reconstructed to see how processes could be improved. “A large emphasis in that deconstruct-reconstruct exercise was to get feedback from the people who are actually involved in the processes. Management does not know it all. I am a politician, I am a lawyer,I was trained as a lawyer. My knowledge of water is what I learned since I came to the ministry and I became a Minister... Minister of Energy and Water Resources Wilfred Abrahams (right) commended the worker-led iniatiive of the BWA, while BACKLOG on Page 3 President of the Barbados Workers’ Union Division of the BWA Carl Boyce looks on. Spousal abuse an issue in B’dos: Marriage counsellor ONE LOCAL marriage He said that social pressures, added that in these cases, join the therapy while others Greaves outlined in his field, counsellor believes that there is ideals about masculinity, women are the first to come will not come. He explained that men generally tend to avoid a significant issue of spousal relationships with their forward for help. this depended on how long the counselling. He said that it is a abuse in Barbados. dominant mother and abusive “Usually, the female is the abuse has been happening, what part of Barbadian culture and it Marriage and Family fathers in the home are some of person who has been injured in has been happening and the needs to be changed. Counsellor and Director of Life the reasons men are abusive in the relationship, injured ... and general attitude of the person He added that some of the Intervention & Support relationships. she is looking for solutions,” said and how they perceive the education his business is doing Services, George Greaves He noted that in his practice it Greaves. relationship to be. in the community is to help highlighted this during an is usually the females who set He also mentioned that after a males to see that challenge. interview with The Barbados up the appointment for issues period of sessions with the Men tend to avoid Advocate on Wednesday. relating to spousal abuse. He female clients, some males will counselling ABUSE on Page 5 2 • Friday February 7, 2020 The Barbados Advocate Managing Director of the BL&P supporting Barbados Light & Power Company (BL&P), Roger Blackman as he planted a Pride of Barbados tree One Million in support of the One Million Trees Project on location at Trents, St. Trees Project Lucy. Looking on is THE Barbados Light & company’s first large Minister of Energy and Power Company is in scale/utility scale solar Water Resources, full support of the farm in the Eastern Wilfred Abrahams and greening of our local Caribbean. Spanning 42 Parliamentary environment and of acres with 44 496 solar Representative for St. Government’s One panels, the 10 MW solar Lucy, Peter Phillips. Million Trees Project. farm saves approximately Managing Director of Bds$8 to $10 million the Barbados Light & annually in fuel savings Power Company (BL&P), and about 180 000 tomes Roger Blackman recently of CO2 per year. pointed out the above, “Over its three plus as the company held a years of operation, that ground-breaking represents about $26 ceremony for the Clean million in fuel savings for Energy Bridge Project in the island and for Trents, St. Lucy. customers and over 60 000 He noted that his tonnes of CO2 reduction,” company will be Blackman said. supporting the One He further noted that Million Trees initiative by more than 500 Black Belly planting 200 Pride of Sheep live peacefully Barbados trees on the within the solar farm at perimeter of the property Trents and they help to at Trents and following keep the grass controlled. his word, he along with In 2019, the company Minister of Energy and upgraded the substation Water Resources, Wilfred at Trents, to accommodate Abrahams; Parliamentary more of its renewable Representative for St. energy projects. Following Lucy, Peter Phillips and the launch of the Clean centenarian Lescar Energy Bridge Project Carrington who will soon recently, Blackman has turn 101 and who was noted that the company is identified as the oldest planning for more solar resident in the parish, got initiatives at the Trents started by planting ten site, in the future. trees around the Wind generation will perimeter of the property. also be coming soon, as the Speaking to renewable Lamberts Project in St. energy initiatives by Lucy has been BL&P, Blackman rejuvenated. More will meanwhile noted that shared about that back in 2016, the St. Lucy in the coming weeks, Energy Gateway at Trents BL&P’s Managing became the home of the Director said. Centenarian Lescar Carrington (left), the oldest resident of the parish of St. Lucy was invited to help plant Pride of Barbados Trees around the perimeter of the Barbados Light and Power Company’s Trents, St. Lucy property, in support of the One Million Trees Project. Here, he is assisted by Parliamentary Representative for St. Lucy, Peter Phillips. The Barbados Advocate Friday February 7, 2020 • 3 GG joins Japanese Ambassador for celebrations By Cara L. Jean-Baptiste Foreign Trade, Sandra Husbands proudly noted that GOVERNOR General of since the establishment of the Barbados, Her Excellency diplomatic relations between Dame Sandra Mason, joined Barbados and Japan in 1967, Japan’s Ambassador to mutual respect and cooperation Barbados, His Excellency, have served as the foundation of Teruhiko Shinada and his their interaction which allowed wife, Dragana Mitrovic- them to be able to celebrate 53 Shinada for Japan’s National years of friendship, a milestone Day Reception celebrating she considered an incredible the 60th birthday of His achievement. Majesty, the Emperor of The establishment of the Japan on Wednesday night. resident Japanese diplomatic It was truly a special affair as presence in Barbados from 2016 the Governor General arrived has also served as another decked out in traditional strong signal of the friendship Japanese wear and was between the two countries; a welcomed with open arms. friendship that the Minister Ambassador Shinada believes will only strengthen highlighted that Wednesday with the upcoming night’s celebration held reestablishment of Barbados’ significance as it was the first honorary Consulate in Tokyo National Day Reception to be and the implementation of the held in February under the reign non-resident Barbados Minister of Creative Economy, Culture and Sports, John King (left) as he greeted Japan’s of the new Emperor. Ambassador to Japan, His Ambassador to Barbados, His Excellency Teruhiko Shinada. He explained that last year, Excellency Francois Jackman. the former Emperor,Emperor of “Over the years the Heisei, abdicated the throne due relationship between Barbados to his age and added that this and Japan has been was rare as the last abdication of strengthened in a vast array of a living Emperor took place areas, including education, more than 200 years ago. climate change, renewable The Ambassador stated that energy, the Arts, sports, following the abdication of the technology, agriculture and Emperor of Heisei, his eldest disaster management. Cultural son, Naruhito, was enthroned as exchanges and high level visits his successor and current have also featured prominently Emperor, the 126th Emperor,of in our relationship,” she said. Japan. “I am also aware that the He went on to note that since Ambassador continues to make his arrival in Barbados as the efforts to ensure that the first resident Ambassador of Japanese culture is visible and Japan to Barbados, the understood in Barbados. Mr. relationship between the two Ambassador, I wish you well in countries has flourished. our efforts and I pledge Minister in the Ministry of Barbados’ ongoing cooperation.” Japan’s Ambassador to Barbados, His Excellency Teruhiko Shinada (left) and Argentine Ambassador to Barbados, His Excellency Gustavo Martinez Pandiani as they shared a light moment during Wednesday night’s celebration. Fantastic results due to efforts of workers BACKLOG from Front Page the seven weeks in the project “As I said we are extremely has yielded fantastic results.” happy with the results that we It would be foolish of me to He said the workers stepped have achieved and I hope that think that I know what is best up to the plate in a big way. this could be a template going for the Water Authority and I “They said look, let us take this forward for cooperative know how best to plan as our project, let us cost of the arrangements..