Established October 1895 Businesses told to maintain COVID-19 protocols PAGE 5 Thursday June 24, 2021 $1 VAT Inclusive UNIVERSITY COLLEGE STILL ON THE CARDS WORK continues on the concept of “absolute priority” in the Institute and Hotel PomMarine, the She spoke of her Government’s the University College of Barbados development of this country. Jean and Norma Holder Hospitality commitment to seeing the UCB finally (UCB), intended to bring the three Prime Minister Mottley made the Institute and Hotel PomMarine, in come to fruition, as she explained that state-owned tertiary institutions comments as she delivered the feature honour of the “renaissance couple”, who the concept is one that dates back two under one umbrella, with Prime address yesterday afternoon at a she said gave their all and their best decades. Minister Mia Amor Mottley stating ceremony to rename the Barbados to the building of this nation and the that she believes it remains an Community College’s Hospitality Caribbean. UCB on Page 2 The sign now reads the ‘Jean and Norma Holder Hospitality Institute and Hotel PomMarine’. The official unveiling was done yesterday by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley (right) and Dr. Jean Holder (partially hidden). Upgraded A&E Department to receive first patient on Saturday: Bostic By Marsha Gittens occurred at PAHO/WHO headquarters. with.” patient on Saturday.” The reopening of this Department to He outlined, “For one, the staff had to The Health and Wellness Minister THE renovated and expanded Accident the public was initially slated for an be trained on the equipment, everything emphasised that Saturday will not be the and Emergency (A&E) Department at earlier date in June. Bostic explained the had to be in place and then there were official reopening of the A&E. He stated the Queen Elizabeth Hospital is set to reason for the delay was to allow for one or two little areas that were not a date will be announced “once I have receive its first patient this Saturday. arising issues to be addressed. He stated quite as good as we anticipated and we cleared it with the Prime Minister for the Minister of Health and Wellness, these have now been resolved. didn’t want to open the facility with any official opening, but we want things Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic, “We had a slight delay in the opening difficulties whatsoever not having been to be settled, we want the place to be disclosed this as he spoke to The of the Accident and Emergency resolved. So those issues have been operational before we officially open it”. Barbados Advocate on the sidelines Department for patients that is, not the resolved and I am advised by the The QEH A&E Renovation and of yesterday’s handover ceremony of official opening because that follows, and Executive Chair of the hospital that the Expansion project commenced in March donated medical masks by the Federal this was due to the fact that there were Accident and Emergency Department, 2020 and work was carried out in three Republic of Germany to Barbados. This one or two things that had to be dealt the new department, will receive its first phases. 2 • Thursday June 24, 2021 The Barbados Advocate BCC and Hospitality Institute have important role to play UCB from Page 1 we made is that it was plained that in part it was Jackman Prescod Barbados,” she main- have the ability to learn a more important for us to the vision of the late Institute] and Erdiston tained. foreign language. “...It almost hurts my guarantee access to our Norma Holder, who was Teachers’ Training With that in mind, “I’m told that they’re heart to reflect that this children, to our young the principal of the College in the interim, she said the Barbados doing it now, and I’d like plan and work for the people to our educational Barbados Community continue to expand their Community College and to ensure that it is deep- University College of institutions, before we College from 1988 to programmes. But at some the Jean and Norma ened because the oppor- Barbados has been going started to move with the 2004, that led to the point, the reality of us Holder Hospitality tunities for example, for on since 2001, and that creation of a new institu- Government establishing having a single institu- Institute have an impor- Barbadian hotel and the framework for the tion that could potentially the framework for the tion dealing with the tant role to play in help- hospitality and tourism statute and the different have increased costs, UCB. provision of Applied Arts ing to get to that stage, workers to work in the organisational arrange- because by raising it to “I still believe that it is and Sciences, as opposed helping to ensure that Americas, must not be ments were completed as the level of a University an absolute priority in to simply the academic Barbados can continue to limited by the absence of far back as 2008. But College, it therefore car- our development as we go areas, which The offer degrees in Applied capacity to speak fluently when you inherit an econ- ries with it certain other forward, and I still believe University of the West Arts and Sciences, as well in a country in which they omy that is literally be- obligations,” she said. that it is critical that we Indies is better placed as Associate Degrees. may find opportunities. leaguered, you have to Prime Minister ensure that the Barbados so to do ... must be a “We started this Whether we like it or not, make difficult choices. Mottley, who is a former Community College and priority for the people process, first and fore- the majority of countries And the first choice that Minister of Education, ex- the SJPI [Samuel and Government of most, with the Associate that occupy this hemi- Degree of Performing sphere speak Spanish, Arts and the Associate and we need therefore to Degree of Fine Arts, and ensure that that is as in- then we moved to the tegral to the average per- Hospitality Institute to be son coming through here able to offer these similar in terms of their ability to programmes. Before work in an environment Norma Holder, they were speaking fluently,the key not being offered,” she things that they need to said. be able to communicate Meanwhile, the PM as a hospitality worker in said that she is of the Spanish, in Portuguese, strong belief that the and whether we like it or work of the Barbados not, in Mandarin, because Language Lab and the more and more, we are Hospitality Institute going to be faced with a must be “fused as one”. world that is dominated This, she explained, by greater presence and would allow every stu- transactional activities by dent coming through the the Chinese civilisation,” Hospitality Institute to she indicated. (JRT) COVID-19 update: Seven new cases, 13 in isolation SEVEN new cases (one virus. male, six females) of Since February 2020, COVID-19 were recorded the public health labora- on Tuesday,June 22, from tory has conducted the 490 tests conducted 181,192 tests. by the Best-dos Santos Meanwhile, 92,874 first Public Health Laboratory. doses of the vaccine have Thirteen people are been administered under presently in isolation. the National Vaccination The total number of con- Programme for COVID- firmed cases is 4,052 – 19.The number of persons 1961 females and 2091 receiving second doses males – and there have and are fully vaccinated is been 47 deaths from the 67,392. Berinda Cox Fish Market closing early today MEMBERS of the public business accordingly. Any are advised that the inconvenience caused by Berinda Cox Fish Market this early closure is re- will close at 2:00 p.m. gretted. today,Thursday,June 24. The market will re- Persons are therefore sume regular operations asked to conduct their on Friday, June 25. The Barbados Advocate Thursday June 24, 2021 • 3 Pharma Wellness programme to help Barbadians live healthier lifestyles MEMBERS of the gramme, which began who had previous health Anglican Church will enrollment at the be- challenges related to be the first to benefit ginning of this month, NCDs, commonly called when Pharma is expected to produce co-morbidities. Hence, Wellness in the a healthier Barbados, whether vaccinated or Community encouraging better not, this programme will, CEO of Pharma Wellness International, Lennox Prescod, outlining the finer Preventive eating, exercising and like the vaccine, provide details of the programme. Healthcare/Wellness developing healthy additional protection to Programme hits the lifestyles. help persons monitor, most. I look forward to have as many people Going on to state that ground. With an aim to During a launch cere- control and improve their the development of this physically, mentally and in 2018 his ministry change the lives of mony hosted yesterday at blood sugar, blood pres- community programme spiritually well to see ad- recognised the need to 2,000 persons, the pro- the Christ Church Parish sure, cholesterol levels and to hearing about the vancement as a country. focus on wellness, he Church, Anglican Bishop and other health risks as many success stories I “In order for our coun- added that a National of Barbados the Right well as to build their re- am sure will come from try to experience the eco- Workplace Wellness Reverend Michael sistance to any possible it. COVID-19 has shown nomic growth that we Policy was established to Maxwell said that he was infection of COVID-19 us the importance of would all want, in order ensure that every dimen- certain that the pro- virus and any serious maintaining good health for our country to be able sion of societal wellness gramme would foster and complications,” Bishop and this is precisely the to provide sustainable was paid attention to and encourage a more active Maxwell said.