Cuban Doctors to Help Fight Coronavirus
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Established October 1895 Rough seas ahead for some fisherfolk – Page 3 Tuesday February 2, 2021 $1 VAT Inclusive ‘DIVERT FUNDS’ PRESIDENT of the Democratic for them, in these uncertain times. From Labour Party (DLP) Verla De Peiza the recent Central Bank Report though, is suggesting that the Government Redeploy money to the cultural 19 entities out of the hundreds that are should reduce the amount of money in Barbados... have taken up the offer. earmarked for the Barbados industries and agriculture That suggests that is very poorly Employment and Sustainable subscribed, and there are funds Transformation (BEST) Programme, out other sectors in the economy. originally allocated to the programme available,” she said during a virtual panel which was introduced to help with She made the suggestion while stating could be better used elsewhere. discussion on the topic the ‘Vision for the re-engagement of workers in the that the figures show that the BEST “In the BEST programme, I believe it Sustainable Development’ on Sunday tourism sector, and divert some of Programme has been undersubscribed was $300 million that was made night. those funds to shore up and build and she is adamant that the money available to the tourism sector as a prop FUNDS on Page 2 Cuba’s Ambassador to Barbados Sergio Jorge Pastrana (left) speaking with the Cuban doctors and laboratory specialists who recently arrived in Barbados to assist in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. More Cuban doctors to help fight coronavirus CUBA has again answered the call of the stations having successfully completed Reeve, symbol of international solidarity all part of the effort within the Caribbean Government of Barbados for assistance their period of quarantine, the healthcare – we come to tell the brothers and sisters to help our brothers and sisters in dealing in its fight against the COVID-19 professionals vowed to carry out their of Barbados, and specially the health with this terrible scourge we are fighting pandemic. mission to the very best of their ability. personnel of Barbados – that we are by against.” Fifteen doctors and laboratory They did so while at the Cuban their side in this fight for life against Ambassador Pastrana also specialists also belonging to the Henry Monument, Paynes Bay,St. James which COVID-19 and against death,” Dr. complimented Barbados’ Government on Reeve International Medical Brigade of was erected in memory of those who lost Alberto Rodriguez Gallardo said. the facility at Harrison Point, St. Lucy Cuba, arrived on island two weeks ago, their lives in the bombing of the Cubana Cuba’s Ambassador to Barbados Sergio describing it as “state-of-the-art”, adding and will join the 99 who since April last Aircraft off the West Coast of Barbados in Jorge Pastrana went on to express, “We that the teams from Cuba are working in year were contributing to the local effort. 1976. must thank Barbados for giving us the excellent conditions. Yesterday, before taking up their “With the name of Brigade Henry opportunity to be part of this, as we are HELP on Page 4 2 • Tuesday February 2, 2021 The Barbados Advocate Barbadians urged to brainstorm new ideas FUNDS from Front Page cultural industries and agriculture. She opportunities and resources are made De Peiza is suggesting that the funds believes strongly that these two sectors available. can be redeployed to such sectors as the can reap tremendous success if greater “To the cultural industries to allow them to get into the technology, to get online with their products, speaking in particular, to those creatives who need a stage, whether it is written, performance, music, whatever context is in need, they need a stage. That means that they need to be able to reach out to people as opposed to people coming to them, as traditionally we understood a concert, a play, going to the theatre; we can’t do that in the same way now. But if they were given funds to allow them to build their creative thoughts, then we can see how they would be able to first make a living for themselves, and then make a contribution to society, and the same applies to agriculture.Agriculture needs technology, especially on an island,” she insisted. Using the example of Singapore, she suggested that Barbados must do as this President of the Democratic Labour fellow small nation has done, and use its Party (DLP), Verla De Peiza. brainpower to come up with different ways of doing things. our creative people, not just the creative “Their agriculture is very, very sector, but our people are creative”. technical.They use a lot of engineering in De Peiza continued, “Government their agriculture, and if those funds were should be an enabling space so that you made available to the agricultural sector can take your idea and run with it. That as well, then we can be off and running is the vision that I am seeing how we and we have land in CLICO lands.Again, can put our own money, because that’s they can be used to facilitate this process. basically what it is for,our own money,to So we have a solution in terms of the work for our own people, and then have space, we have a solution in terms of the that spin off benefit and be able to export capitalisation, and we just need to allow to the region, to the world”. Barbados, several Eastern Caribbean countries receive indicative allocation of COVID-19 vaccine ON January 30, 2021 Barbados, and close to being authorised by WHO several Eastern Caribbean Countries Emergency Use Listing (EUL). Because who signed agreements with the EUL has yet to be granted by WHO in COVAX Facility were informed of the respect of this vaccine, the Facility have for indicative allocation of COVID-19 now only provided an indicative number vaccines. In a written letter to each of doses, covering the next two quarters. ministers of health the COVAX The main objective of this allocation is facility advised that vaccines will be countries are as quickly as possible as delivered effective mid to late they can begin vaccinating their priority February with 357 600 doses of the populations. AstraZeneca AZD1222 vaccine, Astra The members states are advised to take Zenceca vaccine to Barbados, necessary actions in the roll-out and Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, COVID-19 vaccination plans to ensure Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. timely procurement and delivery of the Lucia, and St. Vincent and the vaccines. Furthermore, the timing of the Grenadines. The indicative delivery of doses is subject to PAHO distribution is based on current establishing supply agreements with the communication of estimated manufacturers. availability from manufacturers. The next steps to access the allocation The COVAX Facility has managed to include countries to have the necessary secure significant doses of vaccines from indemnity and liability frameworks, various manufacturers. The allocation including the required legislative was determined by the World Health framework, in place in order to complete Organisation (WHO) panel of experts and an agreement directly with AstraZeneca. GAVI taking a big step towards equal This preparatory work and arrangements access to COVID-19 vaccines.The Facility are important to ensure a successful has informed the countries its vaccine introduction of a COVID-19 vaccine in the allocation for the 1st and 2nd quarter of coming weeks.The PAHO Representative 2021. These are the first of the assigned to Barbados and Eastern Caribbean doses to satisfy COVAX’s agreement with Countries, Dr.Yitades Gebre, encourages the countries. member states to take the required next As communicated by PAHO and the steps as promptly as possible, and not COVAX facility from previous later than the end of February, to avoid communication, the COVAX Facility has idle doses and potential delays in receiving managed to secure significant doses of these vaccines through the Facility and vaccines from various manufacturers. In the PAHO Vaccine procurement addition, these are authorised or very mechanisms. The Barbados Advocate Tuesday February 2, 2021 • 3 Rough seas ahead for some fisherfolk By Marsha Gittens February 3 to 17. cold storage at the Market in Oistins. business was good for them. They stated “It will bother the boats mostly “It is going to affect us a lot because Barbadians over this period visited the VENDORS at the Berinda Cox Fish because they have boats that have ice they had some boats that already take Market in their numbers to stock up on Market anticipate business will be and everything ready to go out but they ice and diesel already.Government isn’t fish. greatly impacted over the next two can’t go. Who had the ice had to get rid reimbursing us the vendors because we “Sales were great over the weekend. weeks when the Market is closed of the ice off the boat or let it stand and have a lot of fish and there is nowhere The morning [Monday] now start so we due to the National Pause. melt. The ones that had ice and went out to put the fish because right now have to wait to see what is going on Speaking to The Barbados had to hustle back here with very little management asking you, whatever fish later, [but]… things will pick up later on Advocate on Monday,fish vendors said catch, so it bothered them a lot and in you have inside the blast freezer and though,” stated Tyrone who at the time some fishermen have already begun to turn, it will bother us because we will the chill room, they are asking you… was going to clean dolphin for a feel the effects of the impending not be able to work but all is for the now to remove the fish out of the Market customer.