Reverend: Take the Light Into Lent
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Established October 1895 See inside Monday February 15, 2021 $1 VAT Inclusive Reverend: Take the light into Lent ONE local reverend is encouraging “I know many [people] today feel op- those who cannot see or who may have Christians to take the vision of light pressed because of the pause, and some seen and still do not believe,” said Rev. and glory into the wilderness days of are suffering because of financial diffi- Archer. Lent. culties. My brothers and sisters in She added that some love the central Reverend Suzette Archer shared this Christ, this morning I am here to tell acts of the darkness or those who have message during her sermon at the you that Christ is indeed who He says allowed the changes and challenges to St. George Parish Church yesterday. He is,” said Rev. Archer. suppress the light. Rev. Archer refer- She noted that people who follow enced Mark chapter ten and the story of Jesus must follow Him in the way of the Exposed to the knowledge the blind Bartimaeus. She pointed out cross. of God’s glory that because of his faith, he regained The reverend highlighted that She said that over the past few his sight through Jesus as he recog- everyone has been carrying the weeks, Christians have been exposed nised that God is the light. cross since March 2020, but she to or reminded of the knowledge of The religious leader said that some said people must pick up their God’s glory through the light of Jesus may use the excuse that the Gospel is cross even if it means oppression or Christ. veiled, but it is only veiled to those who Reverend Suzette Archer. suffering. “This knowledge serves as a light to are perishing and lost, she noted. Innotech Group Chair Anthony DaSilva assists with the loading of the cases. SPECIAL DELIVERY THE nation’s Seek and Save initia- With the Seek and Save programme, The local military is also currently organisation is sending out their tive and the Barbados Defence Force which is being conducted by the overseeing the distribution of care pack- thoughts and prayers to all who are ei- will be kept hydrated in the coming University of the West Indies Cave Hill ages as well as carrying out security ther sick with the virus or have lost a days as they continue their fight Campus, counted as one of the national services across the island. loved one, DaSilva said that he hopes the against the COVID-19 pandemic. projects supervised by the Barbados Speaking to members of the media, donation is able to go a long way. The Innotech group of companies Defence Force, the Innotech Group Chairman of the Innotech Group “I hope that this goes some way to as- yesterday donated close to 5 000 bottles handed over 4 800 bottles of water Anthony DaSilva noted that he jumped sisting the efforts of the Seek and Save of Bajan Pure water to the cause, in a bid which is expected to keep operatives and at the opportunity to be of assistance initiative. Notwithstanding whatever to do their bit to bolster the national volunteers refreshed as they carry out when they were reached out to by Haigh the effort is in terms of human power, response. their duties. Communications Inc. Adding that his DELIVERY on Page 3 2 • Monday February 15, 2021 The Barbados Advocate Government facing ‘tricky situation’ GOVERNMENT is in a start of the year, econo- though borrowed, foreign crisis – health, financial, [International Monetary nomic impacts, and their “tricky situation” at mist Kemar Stuart said exchange reserves which and unemployment. Fund] sanctioned BERT response in terms of the this time, finding it the lockdown places the it has in hand if needed, Unfortunately, the busi- [Barbados Economic administration of the pub- hard to balance be- country in a catch-22 situ- the private sector does not ness community does not Recovery and Trans- lic health aspect,” the tween economics and ation. He said not restrict- have that same luxury have the wherewithal to formation] programme,” economist indicated. public health, and it is ing movement could put and cannot support an ex- support any extended he told The Barbados Stating that the greater being suggested that more people at risk of be- tended lockdown, as is lockdown beyond this pe- Advocate. impacts of the COVID unless they find the coming ill, but having being rumoured will occur. riod or for significant Stuart, who is the crisis and lockdown are right mix soon, things many businesses closed is “If they seek to rollback amounts of time. That Director of Business on households and busi- could get worse. subduing economic activ- restrictions now, it will would exacerbate the un- Development, Finance nesses, he said if Reflecting on the most ity and by extension ham- lead to partial recovery, employment problems, in- and Investment with Government can ease the recent lockdown the pering revenue collection but it will not have the in- creasing pressure on the Stuart & Perkins restrictions somewhat in Government has had to by the Government. tended impact for great re- already burdened NIS Caribbean, said based on terms of movement, that impose in an effort to con- He said while the covery, because the public [National Insurance the rising number of cases, would reduce some impact trol the spread of the Barbados Labour Party health threat still re- Scheme], which we all it is safe to assume that on households and busi- COVID-19 virus, given the Administration can draw mains. Unfortunately, we know is a target for re- the lockdown is not yield- nesses and ease the finan- upsurge in cases since the down on the healthy, are facing a three-pronged structuring by the IMF ing the intended results. cial and unemployment However, he said it is good crisis. that the rate of recovery “At the moment the poli- versus death is still quite cies which were rolled out, high, and Stuart insists which are targeted at the every effort must be made most vulnerable groups, to ensure this does not is the only cushion be- change. tween poverty and ex- To that end, he said treme poverty for many Government must seek to Barbadians,” he sug- improve its response to gested. the virus. His comments Meanwhile, Stuart is came as he said there are urging Government to still improvements needed also not put politics before in reducing the backlog people.As a ruling govern- of test results, timely ment, he said it is likely collection of positive pa- faced with having to ap- tients, adequate provision pease the electorate to of swabs and reagents keep itself viable. and the provision of haz- “Obviously, the main or ard pay to frontline work- one of the main tasks of a ers. political party in power is “Government should to remain in government, continue to focus on en- and so some decisions will couraging citizens to pro- be made based on the sur- tect themselves – mask vival of the political party up, social distance and as opposed to the overall sanitise. But they also benefit of the country, have to find a greater syn- which is not a good idea, ergy between easing new and that will be my cau- restrictions on move- tion to the Government,” ments, the social and eco- he concluded. Economist Kemar Stuart. The Barbados Advocate Monday February 15, 2021 • 3 BAMP: Don’t listen to hearsay! THE Barbados 19; and publication of a Association of Medical vaccine schedule for each Practitioners (BAMP) category of persons to be appreciates that de- vaccinated, in the inter- spite the national ‘call est of transparency and to arms’ for vaccina- equity, as soon as possi- Lt. Col. Junior Browne (left) and Innotech Group Chairman Anthony DaSilva pose with the cases of water tions, many individu- ble. yesterday just after the official handover. als have real concerns The medical prac- and questions. titioners also suggest the BAMP acknowledges vaccination of all persons that Barbadians are over 18 years of age in ac- Corporate Barbados urged to do more faced daily with a deluge cordance with the recent DELIVERY from Page 1 time all around for local have been stretched, same amount, everyone of information from interim guidance from manpower, money, gov- businesses and individu- there’s no two ways about can’t do the same efforts, 0various media, most of the World Health ernment support, if we als, DaSilva urged all those it, since the beginning of but surely there is some- which favours the world- Organisation (WHO), save only one person then who can help to offer some last year,but surely we can thing that everyone can do wide rise of vaccine hesi- which gives important that was an investment assistance to the fight. do more as corporate to assist this national ef- tancy. scientific evidence and that we ought to have “This is a challenging Barbados and we ought to fort because that’s what it Therefore, the um- rationale for the use of made,” he said. time for Barbados and assist where we can. is.This is a fight that we’re brella organisation of the AstraZeneca vaccine Noting that it is a tough Barbadian companies Everyone can’t do the in together,” he said. (MP) Barbados’ doctors and in the over 65s. They also medical students is en- recommend increasing couraging all citizens not the vaccine schedule to to rely on hearsay about an 8–12-week dosing in- Dr. Forde: the COVID-19 vaccine terval in accordance with government has acquired the scientific evidence from India, but to take that highlights increased Patients the opportunity to “talk efficacy (immune re- to your doctors and seek sponse) with the longer stealing their opinion on informa- time between two doses.