Established October 1895 SEE INSIDE Sunday February 28, 2021 $2 VAT Inclusive SUGAR HARVEST TO START TOMORROW ALL systems are set and Chairman, Winston Best; and at Portvale Sugar Factory, as part of a National Food workers stand ready to com- Jason Marshall, Director of Marlon Munroe meanwhile Security Plan for Barbados, mence the process for the Barbados Sugar Industries added,“It is hopeful grinding op- some critical decisions in rela- harvesting of Barbados’ Limited (BSIL) met with media erations will begin by the end of tion to the BAMC and the sugar sugar crop from tomorrow. officials at Wakefield Plantation the first week of March. As you industry had to be taken. This announcement came as in St. John yesterday,for a press know,there are a lot of bank hol- “We took a decision last year to DLP: Vaccine Minister of Agriculture and Food conference to discuss matters idays in the month of May and finish off bulk production for ex- Security, Indar Weir, and a relating to the 2021 sugar crop. April, so we expect grinding op- port and so now, all of our sugar plan unclear team inclusive of CEO of the “The start of the crop is March erations will be completed will be used in our local market Barbados Agricultural Manage- 1st, which is Monday,” Minister around the first or second week and then for export to the US ment Company (BAMC), Weir announced. of June 2021.” and to the UK. PAGE 2 Orlanda Atherley; BAMC Deputy Operations Manager Minister Weir explained that HARVEST on Page 3 BARVEN welcomes restart of vending PAGE 3 Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Indar Weir (right) on location at Wakefield Plantation in St. John with Chairman of the Barbados Agricultural Management Company (BAMC), Winston Best. CZMU head: Using Greenland for irrigation a good idea A SUGGESTION that the con- be used to develop an aquacul- Management Unit (CZMU) Dr. stabilised, it has established it- tentious Greenland site in St. ture industry, with the poten- Leo Brewster stated, “I think self, and is active in essence as Andrew could be put to more tial for local fishing and or the idea of using the area of the a water retention area. There's practical use, particularly as it creating another avenue for ex- area down there in Greenland, been sufficient time for the cli- relates to providing irrigation port and by extension creating using the water that has accu- matisation of the “pond” itself for farmers, is “worthy of fur- foreign exchange. mulated within that location as to be used for irrigation pur- ‘Behind the ther investigation.” The site was earmarked by a potential source for irrigation poses. So I think that's a good During the recently hosted the then Barbados Labour Party water to farmers in the area, is idea.” Riddim’ programme Let’s Talk About It, administration to be the coun- a very valid one. On the question of whether or which focused on the Blue try’s new landfill, but the multi- “I think that is something be- not it could be also used concep- New show highlights Economy, the suggestion was million dollar project was cause over the years, since the tually for aquaculture he added music producers made from a caller that the scrapped because of environ- location for the original that this may be a bit more dif- “pond” on the site which was mental concerns. Greenland landfill has ‘sea- ficult to visualise. constructed back in 1997, could Director of the Coastal Zone soned’, it has grown up, it has GREENLAND on Page 4 PAGE 21 2 • Sunday February 28, 2021 The Barbados Advocate DLP spokesperson: Vaccine plan unclear GOVERNMENT’S vac- or has incurred high debt cination programme Gibson calls for stimulus to help those in need through no fault of their has being brought own. under the microscope on the island. are set to arrive in 12 cination campaign would economic time for “It is time for the with calls for greater “We have been told that weeks. But can we wait 12 become compromised,” Barbados, she believes the Government of Barbados clarity on when the almost 30 000 Barbadians weeks when the second Gibson challenged. country should have flat- to accept accountability next batch of vaccines have been vaccinated thus dose of many of those Gibson, a pharmacist by tened the curve before for their actions and con- are set to arrive on the far,however,the plan that vaccinated persons would profession, also queried opening. sult with persons who island. is being presented in re- be due in eight weeks. whose science is the gov- “Based on what we are have knowledge of best Democratic Labour spect to the vaccines is un- Logistically you must fac- ernment currently follow- seeing, the cases are still practices when handling Party spokesperson on clear and misleading. tor in the lead times for ing. increasing, and we really global pandemics,” he said. Health, Paul Gibson, in a “We have heard the vaccination so that per- He alluded to an article don’t know what the true He challenged that statement issued yester- Prime Minister state that sons can be vaccinated published in another sec- prevalence of COVID-19 is while it was said that the day, made a call for the she will be asking for con- early. tion of the media where in society. Ideally, we BLP is taking the lead in BLP administration to tell tributions to the Vaccine “If we do not have the the President of BAMP would have liked to have helping poor people, giv- Barbados how many vac- Fund to pay for our next logistics of the vaccine in Dr. Lynda Williams noted seen the cases per one ing out hampers is not cines do we currently have batch of vaccines which place, then the entire vac- that while it is a difficult thousand leveling off and enough. the positivity ratio at less “Stimulate the economy, than five per cent. provide jobs, develop in- Flattening the curve dustries, this is also a core means allowing for the responsibility!” he ex- spread of the epidemic so horted. that the peak number of The DLP spokesperson people requiring care at a on Health maintained time is reduced and the that with so many positive health care system does persons staying home and not exceed its capacity,” not being picked up by she said. the authorities due to lo- He added: “What is fit- gistical administrative ting to note is that reasons, the aggressive BAMP’s President also spread of COVID-19 re- stated that she was not in sulted. discussions with the Gibson stated that the Prime Minister about people of Barbados need the reopening. Thus, I to know the truth about join with Dr. [Melissa] COVID -19 as it is impact- Goddard in asking whose ing families on a mental, science is she following? physical and economic Not only whose science is level. “Many families are she following, but where now on the breadline be- is her compassion for cause of the Government’s those who would have lost mismanagement of their lives due to this dis- COVID-19. Convoluted ease. Where is the empa- speeches mean nothing to thy?” persons when they are Gibson opined that hungry, unemployed, and there needs to be a stimu- trying to figure out a way lus plan to ensure that no to keep their bills paid and one in Barbados is hungry food on the table.” Democratic Labour Party spokesperson on Health, Paul Gibson. The Barbados Advocate Sunday February 28, 2021 • 3 Day nurseries to remain closed IN light of the recent an- March 1, the Child Care are reminded to ensure thanks the public for its nouncement by Prime Board has advised that all that they provide a safe understanding, as it con- Minister Mia Amor government day nurseries and secure environment tinues to work in the best Mottley, in relation to the will remain closed until for their children during interest of the nation’s staggered reopening of the further notice. this period. children. country from Monday, Parents and guardians The Child Care Board (Child Care Board) Higher sugar yields expected this year HARVEST from Page 1 port to you that because This being the case, we of the favourable rainfall, are actually on the path to our yields are expected to starting this year’s sugar be about 17.84 per acre in harvest and in so doing, 2021, versus 12.14 in we have certain projec- 2020. So all around, every- tions that we are looking thing is trending in the to meet out of this year’s right direction”. harvest,” Weir said. CEO of the Barbados “If I were to compare Agricultural Management what we produced last Company (BAMC), year, sugar cane yields Orlanda Atherley later re- President of the Barbados Association of Retailers, gave us 90 000 tonnes and vealed that given the pres- Vendors and Entrepreneurs (BARVEN), Alister this year we are project- ent COVID-19 pandemic, Alexander. ing 107 000 tonnes, so measures are being put in therefore we are increas- place to ensure that those ing. We’ve produced 7 200 working in the sugar in- tonnes of sugar and we are dustry can do their jobs, BARVEN deliberately reducing that whilst having the correct now to 5 200 to satisfy the personal protective equip- domestic consumption ment (PPE) and meeting welcomes restart and then for export, as I the relevant health and said,” he added, noting as safety protocols, such as well that production of the sanitisation of hands of vending molasses will move from and social distancing.