Established October 1895 Hunt on for male bank robber who dressed as a woman Page 4 Friday May 14, 2021 $2 VAT Inclusive BSTU content with CARPHA advice THE Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) says while government takes its lead from international bodies such as the Centres for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organisation and UNICEF,guid- ance should also be taken from closer to home as it relates to rec- ommendations for social distanc- ing in the classroom during the ongoing pandemic. BSTU President Mary-Anne Redman, while giving a synopsis of a meeting held on Wednesday with high level education and health officials, maintains the WORK ONGOING: Repair work has continued at pace on the Richard Haynes Boardwalk in Hastings Christ Church. The unwavering position that the 3ft Barbados Advocate was in time to see these workmen replacing boards at the popular spot for both tourists and locals. social distancing must be revised, citing recommendations from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA). According to Redman, “...We understand the importance of tracking trends, keeping up to date on approaches to contain- ment, treatment etc….but often UPP AGAINST what is recommended globally still has to be contextualised to suit what happens regionally or locally …. especially as that re- lates to the availability of our re- sources as compared to those of other places, our cultural habits ‘REPORT IT’ APP etc. “Often when persons speak of being ‘guided by the science’, the THE United Progressive warded to a disciplinarian. haviour displayed by our young though we know that humans lie Union’s concern is the extent to Progressive Party (UPP) is The statement said that ac- people, on or off school premises”. we still believe that they would which that wider science has vehemently opposed to the cording to recent news reports The concern of the UPP is that not do so for frivolous reasons. been juxtaposed against the nar- touted anonymous student the Barbados Ministry of just like beauty, bad behaviour is This is of course untrue.” rower ‘behavioural science’ of our behavior reporting software Education, Supreme Counselling in the eye of the beholder and the The deputy chair highlighted people, to secure the outcomes of the Ministry of Education Services for Personal exuberance of youth is often con- that the new surveillance tool that we need.” called the SafeZone, Report Development and the Maria sidered to be bad behaviour by comes on the heels of the passage It is for this reason, Redman It App. Holder Trust have come together many when they are no longer of the Data Protection Act 2019 states that the BSTU is far more According to a statement re- to launch an app available on the young. which seeks to protect the per- comfortable with and promotes leased yesterday by UPP Deputy Google Play and Apple Store. It is “Indeed quite often the gath- sonal data of individuals. The the recommendations of Chairperson Lynette Eastmond, understood by the UPP from the ering of boys in groups compris- personal data of individuals is in CARPHA as best practice for the titled ‘One bad APP to spoil the newspaper reports that the pur- ing more than two is the catalyst effect information from which the reopening of schools. bunch’, taking actions in the best pose of the device was to facilitate for the presumption of bad be- individual can be identified. She “This is a regional organisation interests of the child is an oft re- the general public in monitoring haviour. In the real world of expanded by saying that with with the awareness of our cul- peated prescription. Eastmond and reporting on the behaviour of Barbados, with which some are any such piece of legislation, one tural and resource context and explained these actions some- minor children. unfamiliar, individuals will can anticipate that there will be their recommendation is at least times caused much disagreement Referencing that report, threaten “to get people lock up” exceptions and gave the example 6ft physical distancing in a con- as to what might be in the best Eastmond quoted Shawn Clarke and succeed. Inevitably with this of the administration of justice text of full vaccination coverage interests of the Barbadian child of Supreme Counselling and new-found power will also come and the carrying out of other nec- for teachers, among other things. and asked if it was in the best in- Development Services as saying threats of expulsion and they essary public functions. “The Ministry of Health is terests of the child to have their that the App “can be downloaded may succeed,” said the state- “One of the measures imple- however holding fast to the every instance of bad behaviour and used by anyone in our society ment. “These dishonest individu- mented to safeguard privacy is BSTU on Page 6 recorded, reviewed and for- to report any kind of negative be- als rely on the fact that even NO TO APP on Page 3 2 • Friday May 14, 2021 The Barbados Advocate Freewinds helps SVG IN a bid to stave off a humanitarian were well-known to the people of St. crisis following the eruption of the Vincent, and have formed friendships and La Soufriere Volcano in St. Vincent, business relationships with individuals the cruise ship Freewinds sent thou- here. sands of pounds of vital relief sup- “Their donations would go a long way plies to Kingstown. towards assisting many displaced per- Over 13,000 pounds of water storage sons,” she stressed pointing out as well tanks, respirators, blankets, tools and hy- that a team of Volunteer Ministers from giene kits were delivered in the 40-foot the Church of Scientology,also contacted container from Miami recently to help and put into place by Freewinds, is al- the 16,000 persons evacuated from their ready in the field supporting the Red homes in the red and orange zones. Cross and are actively engaged in cleanup Through a coordinated effort with the activities. St. Vincent and the Grenadines Medical Port Captain of the Freewinds, Ken Association and the SVG Bar Association, Weber outlined the ship’s readiness to as- Volunteer Ministers as they started to unload the 40 foot container to sort the supplies were made ready for distri- sist in times of need. and deliver supplies to shelters housing evacuees. bution at the various shelters. “The Caribbean is our home.Whenever President of the SVG Bar Association disaster strikes in the region, the hit the region between 2015 and 2017. it rapidly. Regardless of the situation, Rene Edwards lauded the Freewinds Freewinds is always ready to assist. However, this is our first volcano, but the the Caribbean can count on the team in its response to the disaster relief Previously we have provided disaster re- handling is basically the same, find out Freewinds to do whatever it can to pro- efforts, noting that the vessel and staff lief on different occasions after hurricanes what is needed and wanted then provide vide help,” he assured. PM Mottley describes panel’s report as timely and excellent PRIME Minister Mia Amor Mottley has Ms. Mottley said the findings and rec- lenges without addressing vaccine equity; again called for global leadership in the endorsed the report of The Independent ommendations of the report “are exactly technology transfer and other trade-re- COVID fight. Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and what is needed” to help the world come lated issues; international financial sup- “Now is the time for global leadership, Response, describing it as “timely and ex- closer to winning the battle with COVID- port in the fight against the pandemic, and in fact, now is the time for the conven- cellent work”. 19. “Barbados and other countries like and the post-pandemic economic recovery, ing of an urgent global summit, so that we The Co-Chairs of the Independent mine have been calling on the interna- which must be green, resilient and inclu- can put these issues behind us and get on Panel, former President of Liberia, Ellen tional community for urgent global ac- sive,” the Prime Minister suggested to the business of stopping people from Johnson Sirleaf, and former Prime tion. We believe that many of the chal- She stressed that countries must have dying from COVID, and allowing coun- Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark, lenges have been addressed in this re- the fiscal space to pursue that post pan- tries to resume the path to development presented their findings and recommen- port. demic recovery, which must be financed. and recovery,” she insisted. dations for action to curb the COVID-19 “In the immediate, the global commu- In thanking the Panel for the compre- The Prime Minister expressed pandemic, on Wednesday. nity cannot effectively address these chal- hensive recommendations, Ms. Mottley Barbados’ commitment to play its part. The Barbados Advocate Friday May 14, 2021 • 3 Health Minister: Get vaccinated! BLP must answer HEALTH MINISTER, Lt. Col. Jeffrey On Wednesday, International Nurses “(Barbados) moved from 375 cases or so questions on D. Bostic is urging Barbadians to get Day,the Minister of Health and Wellness for almost the entire year up to a certain vaccinated. spoke to the media on the Psychiatric point in December and within six weeks, This comes as Barbados records its Hospital grounds about coronavirus cases we had more than 3,000 cases. So I say housing 46th COVID-19 death, a 66-year-old and the progress health officials have that to say this, we have come a long way Barbadian woman who passed away on made during the start and peak of the we have been doing very well but it is not IN the name of transparency, several May 11.