Established October 1895 Comissiong’s book a ‘gift to the people’ Page 4 Tuesday January 26, 2021 $1 VAT Inclusive Call for Gov’t to facilitate greater participation by locals FEE TOO HIGH in medicinal cannabis industry A CALL has been made from Democratic Labour Barbadians relegated to omy and reduce its re- encourage and facilitate for the lowering of the li- for the licensing fee to Party spokesperson on lower-waged positions. liance on tourism, invest- the participation of locals cense fee for locals and the be lowered to allow Health Courie Cox, who “This sector was worth ment in this industry and into the production of establishment of a credit more local players to expressed concern that approximately USD $13.4 its potential contribution medical marijuana at the facility through Fund enter the medicinal history may be repeating billion in 2018 and its to GDP via direct and in- highest levels of owner- Access where financing cannabis industry cur- itself, likening it to the value is expected to grow direct taxes, makes it a ship. “The high price for a can be disbursed with an rently being developed sugar cane industry to nearly USD $50 billion worthwhile venture.” license is prohibitive. Is interest free repayment in Barbados. owned and managed by by 2024. As Barbados He stressed that gov- this deliberate? If it is not, plan. The call came yesterday the elite class but average seeks to diversify its econ- ernment must do more to then this Party is calling FEE on Page 2 A view of the outside of the Eunice Gibson Polyclinic in Warrens and the lay-by facility at the bus stop. ‘Make better use of lay-bys’ AN appeal has gone out were incorrectly using this sengers and to pickup pas- not see because you have a for operators of Public lay-by. He said by doing sengers and that once they backup of vehicles in the Service Vehicles (PSV) to this they are affecting the have done so, that they general area. So I really better utilise the lay-by fa- flow of traffic coming from would exit the area right want to use this opportu- cility at the bus stop situ- the Everton Weekes here in Warrens.” nity to ask owners and op- ated in close proximity to Roundabout. He continued, “It is erators of the PSV vehi- the Eunice Gibson “I am therefore going to proving to be very difficult cles to exercise good judge- Polyclinic in Warrens. use this occasion to appeal for motorists exiting from ment and utilise the facil- Transport Works and to all the PSV operators the Eunice Gibson ities that we have put in Water Resources Minister, and owners to assist us in Polyclinic when you have place here for the bus stop Ian Gooding- Edghill said this traffic management to take the left turn. It is and the lay-by to drop off Minister of Transport Works and Water he visited the area last exercise by asking them to proving to be very chal- and to pickup passengers Resources, Ian Gooding- Edghill speaking to Friday and it was ob- utilise the lay-by and the lenging and oftentimes and to move on.” media after a briefing yesterday. served that PSV operators bus stop to set down pas- when they exit, they can- PSVs on Page 3 2 • Tuesday January 26, 2021 The Barbados Advocate COVID-19 affecting local farmers’ markets LOCAL small business cated in St. George has for the time being". The vendor revealing that it baked goods, fresh creased revenue. The owners and entrepre- been impacted by the re- Brighton Farmers’ mar- has not opened since the drinks, arts and crafts FMC survey showed that neurs continue to be af- cent surge of coronavirus ket which began over a Christmas period. On the and jewellery. respondents reported fected by the COVID-19 cases and it is currently decade ago operated on south coast, Hastings Barbados is just one of added cost at 93 percent pandemic as most if not closed temporarily. One Saturday mornings from Farmers’ Market which is many countries in which and decreased income at all farmers’ markets have vendor noted how the clo- six to ten. Visitors would located on the premises the small entrepreneur 74 percent. They noted been closed or suspended sure has affected her come to the central of the Art Splash Centre and innovation industry additional costs for their operations. business as it was one of parish to enjoy the array is in a similar predica- has been severely im- personal protective On Monday, The the avenues she used to of freshly baked goods ment. From the organisa- pacted by the pandemic. equipment (PPE), sani- Barbados Advocate promote her brand and and view the display of tion’s social media page, According to Ben tising equipment and the spoke to a few small busi- products. jewellery, plants, soap, in June 2020, the market Feldman of the Farmers’ need to reduce the num- ness owners who are reg- On Facebook, a and other handcrafted operated throughout the Market Coalition (FMC) ber of vendors to ensure ular vendors at the popu- January 4, 2021 post items. week, early in the in California, operators proper social distancing, lar markets across the is- from the outdoor market- In St. James, the morning until afternoon. and vendors of Farmers’ and added staff to land. place stated that the Holders Farmers’ Market Like Brighton and markets are coping with ensure protocols are Brighton market lo- market would be “closed is also closed with one Holders, the market sold increased cost and de- maintained. Cox: People still being FEED programme charged for possession FEE from Page 1 tries, it is essential that field because in this in- embracing we not allow another dustry we consider the av- “As Barbados em- major economic pipeline erage Barbadian being barks on such a lucra- to fall into the hands of able to participate in rela- tive enterprise, I am non-nationals. tion not only to the li- medicinal cannabis making a call to the During a town hall cense, because there is the relevant authorities to meeting last month, Chief costs of set-up, security OPPORTUNITIES are ensure that the owner- Executive Officer of the and everything else, but being made available ship and major players Barbados Medicinal this will be an inclusive through the Ministry of in this game do not Cannabis Licensing and integrative industry Agriculture’s Farmers’ take on the look of pre- Authority Dr. Shantal as stated in our core val- Empowerment and vious leading indus- Munro-Knight announced ues.” Enfranchisement Drive tries in Barbados; most that the licensing fee She once again urged (FEED), for small farmers notably sugar and could be paid over time. that Barbadians think who are interested in get- tourism. “What we are doing is collectively about enter- ting involved in the is- “A vast number of looking to have that li- ing the industry, noting land’s recently launched tourism industry in- cense fee paid over a pe- that “if five average medicinal cannabis indus- vestors channel their riod of time. So a person Barbadians can come to- try. profits overseas. With all with a cultivator license gether and pool together, That’s according to the the lessons learned from Tier one will be able to their financing to get into Chief Executive Officer of the control and influence pay $29 700 in three in- the industry and build as the Barbados Medicinal of these two foreign ex- stallments. This will help entrepreneurs in what- Cannabis Licensing change earning indus- to leverage the playing ever category of license- Authority (BMCLA), Dr. absolutely yes it’s acces- Shantal Munro-Knight. sible”. During a recently held vir- Cox also called into tual press conference, she question government’s in- indicated that those inter- tention to cease charging ested in getting into the persons in possession of cultivation aspect of the small amounts of industry but do not have cannabis. “A $200 ticketed access to land, can when penalty was to be intro- they are applying, signal duced. To this day the re- that you would like to par- vision has not occurred. ticipate under the pilot Just a few days ago four project, which is being fa- Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Medicinal young men were stopped cilitated by the FEED pro- Cannabis Licensing Authority (BMCLA), Dr. by the police and the pun- gramme, through which Shantal Munro-Knight. ishment meted out they can rent the land at a ranged from community reduced rate. gramme is catering to cul- have been, what changes service for one offender to “They will be given tivators in Tier 1, which may need to be made and $1 200 to $3 500 for the some technical inputs as would be farms under an see if and how it can be other three guilty per- well. So for instance, as- acre. expanded to include oth- sons.The highest value of sistance with irrigation, She continued, “So if ers. Acknowledging that the cannabis found on assistance with pesticides, people can get together, the FEED programme’s each of the men was a fertilisers, etc., free. They that can mean 10 farmers, focus is food security, she mere $30. The penalisa- would have access to tech- or 15 farmers working on therefore made clear that tion should stop alto- nical persons as well who that five-acre lot and they do not have any in- gether. will work alongside with being able to be provided tention of intruding on the “The country has to stop them.