Established October 1895 See inside Sunday May 24, 2020 $2 VAT Inclusive TAKINGTHE Barbados Christian GOVT’S LEADing, the wearing of face masks Council is standing firm and continued provision for with government’s decision Chairman of Barbados Christian Council speaks out vulnerable members,” he not to reopen places of wor- added. ship at this time. in debate to further ease restrictions on churches Wilkinson urged churchgoers Entering the debate, which to remember the church is has seen several church Government on reopening our stressed such steps will be crit- the unpredictability of the co- never closed, adding, “We take leaders and members of the places of worship”. ically important if the nation rona virus; that fulfilling our seriously the responsibility to public request a further In a press statement yester- and its people were to be kept mission as a church, fellowship, navigate this national tragedy easing of the restrictions day,he stated that government safe. worship, evangelism and min- with wisdom, compassion and placed on these establish- had requested churches submit “While we are anxious and istry are all to be expressed or patience.” ments, Chairman of the protocols to be implemented to excited about the possibility of carried out by persons with or The Chairman’s words came Council, Major Darrell minimise the possible spread our places of worship reopen- without a building; and that against the backdrop of a fifth Wilkinson, said it stood “res- of the virus in the case of a re- ing, we don’t want to be care- provisions will have to be made member of a Bridgetown olute” and would “trust the opening, an appeal which has less and seek to force the in terms of restrictions on the church testing positive for health authorities and been met by the Council. He Government to do so knowing size of crowds, social distanc- Covid-19 yesterday. COVID plans in place for QEH, defends Gibson PEOPLE’S Party for Democracy surgery had to be put off for one and Development spokesperson day due to the facility not being on Health, Paul Gibson has ready, but that is not the case, weighed in on the recent action the reason for the delay as I un- taken against Dr. Maurice derstand it was never to do with Waldrond. the surgery,but about the safety It has been suggested that Dr of the patient and the need to Waldrond may have been repri- have additional human resource manded for voicing his concerns sign-offs and approvals to en- on a call-in programme about sure anesthesia nursing staff inadequacies of the hospital in complements were adequate.” light of the COVID-19 pan- Gibson maintained that the demic. matter raised by Dr. Walrond However, Gibson pointed out could have been handled differ- that a clear COVID-19 plan has ently. been put in place in the event “He reports to the Director of that there is a COVID positive Medical Services, who then re- patient needing a procedure. ports to the Executive Chair of He noted that a facility was the hospital.Why would you not designed with a negative pres- even discuss or engage and ex- sure and all relevant tools near plore that process first, before the major hospital to perform going to the media? Why would surgery. he write the CMO to the exclu- In fact, Gibson, told the media sion of the Head of the chain of that he understands that sur- command? Did he speak to his gery was completed on a boss, the CEO before going to COVID-19 patient. the media or before contacting “Let me take this opportunity the CMO?” to compliment a well-raised, Gibson said Dr.John Gill had highly respected Barbadian sur- a process in place for doing sur- geon, Dr. Sahl Griffith, for suc- gery for non COVID-19 patients cessfully using the newly de- at the QEH. “Surgeries are signed facility to perform a com- being performed as we speak.” plex, lifesaving but highly suc- He noted that the OBGYN, cessful procedure on a very ill paediatrics and the Intensive COVID-19 positive patient. He Care teams all have their plans used the same facility success- in hand. fully and the QEH did not have According to Gibson, “The to be compromised. conversation should be about People’s Party for Democracy and Development spokesperson on Health Paul Gibson. “Persons said there that the DEFEND on Page 3 2 • Sunday May 24, 2020 The Barbados Advocate Child care a priority as businesses look to reopen A BALANCE must be Hill School of Business who are impacted by pol- what are the likely impli- not be at ease if you are can we mitigate those struck between re- and Management’s webi- icy decisions. And it is not cations of the moves that worrying what your older risks,” she stated. opening businesses nar on the topic ‘Coping a judgement - it is simply are considered,” she said. children are getting up to; The Talent amid the pandemic to with Challenges – an observation - because Underwood made the if you are worrying Development Specialist’s get the economy going Strategies for HR whenever you are formu- point while indicating that whether or not the comments came as she again, and ensuring Managers’, as she fielded lating policy it is impera- for employees who have younger ones that you left noted that women for the there are adequate op- questions from the online tive, well let me say advis- children, the absence of behind - they are safe most part bear the heavi- tions available to en- audience about the impact able, because it doesn’t al- adequate child care could [and] they have adequate est burden when it comes sure the safety and that the reopening of busi- ways happen, but you negatively impact their supervision. So it is part to child rearing and where wellbeing of children nesses could have on need to look at the all cat- performance on the job. and parcel of the complex child care is non-existent, when their parents are women’s place in the egories of stakeholders “The harsh reality is nature of policy formula- they may have weigh at work. world of work, where child who will have a vested in- that without adequate tion in that we absolutely going back to the job So says Talent care options are not pro- terest in the policy that provisions for child care need to cast as wide a lens against the fact that no Development Specialist, vided. you are developing, and and this is from at the as possible to see who is provisions have been Joan Underwood. Her re- “I think it is a lack of you need to do some pro- level of babies right up to going to be impacted by made for the safe and ef- marks came yesterday due care and attention to jections and if possible the teenagers in your this policy, what is the po- fective care of their chil- during the Sagicor Cave the multiple stakeholders consultation, in terms of household, you mind can- tential downside, and how dren. (JRT) CARICOM looking to creatives for input, ideas ASSISTANT Secretary Secretariat had been well as the regional uni- General in charge of monitoring the develop- versities," he said. Human and Social ment of the virus almost He also commended Development at the daily. He also disclosed CARPHA and CDEMA for CARICOM Secretariat, that the Secretariat had what he referred to as yeo- Dr. Douglas Slater, told re- been working closely with man service to the Region. gional culture stakehold- the Caribbean Public He revealed that a ers from government and Health Agency Regional Public Health the artistic community (CARPHA) and the Protocol was now being that their input and ideas Caribbean Disaster developed to guide the re- were crucial to post Emergency Management opening of the Region. COVID-19 resilience. Agency (CDEMA) along According to him, all the He was speaking at the with other Regional components may not be beginning of the 'First stakeholders and part- ideal to all Member States Regional Dialogue on ners from the onset. He and he expected that some Culture in a COVID-19 noted that there had also may not use it in its en- Environment' which was been significant engage- tirety. But the idea was to held virtually recently. ments with the air and have a baseline to be used. “The Region looks to cruise line industries. “We expect, depending you as an important He explained that other on the situation in partic- stakeholder to provide it sectors were also engaged, ular Member States to with your inputs and through special meetings have some adaptation of ideas. If there was ever a of the various regional that protocol,” he said. time that we need culture Councils noting that During the meeting, and creativity to address “COVID-19 impacted on participants gave an Participants during the 'First Regional Dialogue on Culture in a COVID-19 our challenges, it is now,” every aspect of the overview of the situation Environment” which was held virtually. Dr. Slater opined. Region’s economic devel- in their countries as it re- He said the meeting opment.” Some of the lates to culture, particu- including addressing edged the increased use of on duties and charges on was timely and addressed areas that received the at- larly regarding cancelled roadblocks to artists mon- online platforms for per- inputs to the sector for a an issue that was very rel- tention of special meet- events and festivals.