Barbados Advocate

Established October 1895 See inside Monday March 22, 2021 $1 VAT Inclusive NUPW MAKING STRIDES DURING PANDEMIC PRESIDENT of the National McDowall told those in atten- The NUPW head also re- we continue to work on for our care that we will be able to push Union of Public Workers dance, “We vigorously negoti- vealed that there is now a pol- members. past this moment in our his- (NUPW), Akanni McDowall ated with government to ensure icy put forward by the union “We remain firm in our re- tory... I wish to reiterate that says the union has accom- that the BOSS program was that provides the framework for solve to fight injustices perpe- we remain focused as an objec- plished a lot, even more so voluntary and not forced as flexible working arrangements trated against our membership. tive of representing the inter- in the context of the pan- originally proposed. We have and working from at home. Because quality representation ests of our membership.” demic. been able to make some head- “High on the agenda moving for our workers is our goal, and He gave the assurance that He was delivering brief re- way in improving the lives of forward is a discussion about delivering equality for all is our as the NUPW enters its 76th marks at the St. George Parish public servants by ensuring our altering the senior public serv- defining purpose as a union.We year, it will continue to grow church yesterday as the NUPW public officers were appointed. ice posts and the implications must also continue to be each and adapt to meet the changing starts its week of activities to We are still in the process of ad- for public officers. These are a other's keepers. As we share expectations and demands of its mark the 76th anniversary of dressing who fell outside those snapshot of some of the achieve- what little resource we can. It is membership base. the organisation. specific set of criteria used.” ments and some of the matters only by this kind of collective NUPW on Page 5 Some of the individuals at the St. Philip Polyclinic on Sunday who were waiting for their number to be called to go inside to have their vaccination. Some BARVEN members step forward for vaccine SOME members of the bers of BARVEN had their first preneurs who operate from the probably be coming afterwards” they have also made the deci- Barbados Association of shot of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Fairchild Street Market and the on a different date to be vacci- sion to protect their fellow citi- Retailers, Vendors, and vaccine at the St. Philip BARVEN Outdoor Market. He nated. zens, especially the vulnerable, Entrepreneurs (BARVEN) are Polyclinic. also said outside of persons pres- “Those who have made the de- sick and elderly.” now among persons within soci- BARVEN President, Allister ent, there are other BARVEN cision to be immunized against He stated that within the or- ety who have received the Alexander told The Barbados members who have already this killer virus have made a de- ganisation, there remain some COVID-19 vaccine. Advocate that they comprised been immunised. He further cision not only to immunize members who are hesitant On Sunday, roughly 40 mem- the retailers, vendors and entre- stated “there are those who will themselves against this virus, VACCINE on Page 3 2 • Monday March 22, 2021 The Barbados Advocate The Barbados Advocate Monday March 22, 2021 • 3 Private sector must lead Tougher WITH countries across the earn foreign exchange be- work to be done in that re- other partners to pay at- Caribbean ravaged by the fore COVID-19; it is the gard. The Caribbean tention to them, because COVID-19 pandemic, same now. We are ar- Export head said while it they are the ones you want anti-corruption Executive Director of the guably the most highly in- is now possible to pur- to make sure can have a Caribbean Export debted region on the chase more items online, seamless transition into Development Agency, planet; post COVID-19, many Caribbean business this new era and ease of Deodat Maharaj, says that we’re in the same situa- people still do have web- doing business,” he added. legislation going forward the private tion. Thirdly, and this is sites, which could be pro- Maharaj said that sector must play a greater vital, the State was the hibitive. Caribbean Export is doing role in regional economies. biggest employer pre- “What is going to hap- their part, where financ- In a recent interview COVID-19 and it remains pen I think, is that people ing for such businesses is needed with The Barbados the biggest employer in who are pushing the new concerned. He noted that Advocate, Maharaj said most countries in the re- frontiers of business, those just recently a direct as- SAYING that any at- sulate them, we need to COVID-19 has laid bare gion post COVID-19. But, who are going into renew- sistance grant programme tempt to modernise protect them. We need to our pre-existing vulnera- what is clear is that once ables, those who are em- funded by the European the Prevention of also let judges and others bilities as well as rein- you have one primary sec- bracing business outsourc- Union was approved, Corruption Act of 1929 integrate and understand forced the need to diver- tor that gives most jobs ing, health and wellness, where businesses, which is progressive, senior that if an attempt is sify into new sectors, new and provides most of the those new economies and apply, can receive up to lecturer in Political made, that the law in products and new mar- income, you will continue those businesses will flour- 15,000 euros on a non-re- Science at the UWI some way or the other will kets. As such, he said it is to be vulnerable, whether ish going forward and ex- imbursable basis to sup- Cave Hill Campus protect.” imperative that steps are it's a hurricane, or pan- isting businesses, if they port their business. Cynthia Barrow-Giles Barrow-Giles also ad- taken to change course, demic. I think that COVID don't embrace technology, “But I don't think that has expressed concern dressed the importance of sooner rather than later. has exacerbated pre-exist- and this new way of doing is sufficient, obviously,and that what is currently whistleblowing legisla- With that in mind, he ing vulnerabilities, but business, they will be in therefore what is really being contemplated is tion. “Now, one of the is- maintained that the pri- what it has also done is peril,” he stated. important is that across a “little timid”. sues, though, is when we vate sector has to play a sent a sharp message that Reflecting more on the the region in regional in- Her comments came think about whistleblow- central and leadership role business as usual cannot private sector, he said stitutions, such as the yesterday during radio ing, for instance, we need in the economy to generate continue,” the executive di- while the larger busi- Caribbean Development programme Brass Tacks to try to incentivise peo- jobs, and facilitate the rector stated. nesses in the Caribbean Bank, and others, they Sunday which focused on ple, because we already growth and prosperity of Additionally, Maharaj will be able to adjust and have an important role to corruption and integrity spoke about why it is Caribbean people. To that said that the pandemic adapt to the new normal, play in ensuring that pre- mechanisms in Barbados some people may not wish end, he contended that the has forced countries to em- the micro, small and cious finance for small and and the wider region. to probably get them- role of the State will be to brace technology and dig- medium sized businesses, micro businesses is really Barrow-Giles, while selves involved in, you create an enabling envi- italization, at a much which account for about 60 readily available. And of sharing a wealth of infor- know, disclosing certain ronment for business to faster rate than they percent of the employ- course, government has an mation on the topic, said: things they would have flourish and thrive. would have ordinarily had ment, will need help. important leadership role “It’s not as progressive as seen, because in the first “We were primary pro- to do, in order to compete “It is really important to play to ensure that hap- I would like it to be. And instance, they believe ducers of one export prod- more effectively. But, he for them to get support pens,” he maintained. certainly we can question that what they have seen, uct, or one main sector to said there is still more from government, and for (JRT) why the administration is and what they them- not putting certain things selves engage it is, in fact, on the book. So that I not corruption. don’t understand why in “But what I find inter- the context of 2021, still, esting about that, is that, there is this resistance to whereas the Act very im- the idea that we need to portantly provides certain tackle the issue of elec- assurances to people who tions and political party decide that look, I have financing a great deal. witnessed an act of cor- Not putting it on the ruption – of course, once table. It is absent from the they understand what Anti-Corruption Bill, corruption is – I’ve wit- which is out there in cir- nessed an act of corrup- culation.” tion, and therefore I want Additionally, the senior to disclose that act of cor- lecturer alluded to the ruption to whichever body Integrity in Public Life I want to disclose that act Act, which was rejected in to, whether it be the police Parliament.

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