Civil Society Organisations Have Vital Role to Play

Established October 1895 Harrison’s Cave to reopen on July 2nd PAGE 5 Saturday June 5, 2021 $1 VAT Inclusive CRUISE RESTRICTIONS CRUISE ships will no longer be able to anchor off the West coast of the island. This from Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Kirk Humphrey, during a press conference to reveal some new resolutions coming out of his ministry. Speaking to members of the media yesterday at his Cube Blue headquarters, Minister Humphrey outlined some of the changes put on the books to ensure the preservation of the island’s marine space. The island’s coral reefs have been a hot topic in recent weeks after the Centre for Resource Management and Environ- mental Studies (CERMES) published a report estimating that 3.8 million square metres were damaged between March and September last year. Humphrey noted that the report, in conjunction with the work done by the Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU), al- lowed for changes to be made to the way things are done as much of the work about to be undertaken had been in train over the last two to three years. “A lot of the things that came forward were not things that occurred for the first time in the last year. Some of the issues where persons were anchoring and so on were issues that were existing for years. Carlisle Bay has been an an- Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Kirk Humphrey, speaking during yesterday’s media conference. choring point for how long? Decades. Mega yachts have new, but it gave us the opportu- days of the pandemic, Minister the pivotal role the island likelihood of this being re- been anchoring on the West nity to look at these things from Humphrey made no excuses for played in the lives of thousands. peated again is rare. We had a coast for a long time, so some of a new perspective,” he said. the damage done to the reefs, “Just remember this was an lot of cruise ships in Barbados the things are not necessarily Harkening back to the early but reminded Barbadians of extraordinary situation – the NEW RULES on Page 3 Civil society organisations have vital role to play A GOVERNMENT minister (DAC) Civil Society Days 2021, is important information for ing on expanding the kinds of strengthening our collaboration says there is greater scope for which was held from May 27- civil society to have, to be able to financial operations that civil with civil society, and what we civil society and government to June 4. know what are the entry points; society organisations can get have been trying to do is actu- work together, and as such, the According to Minister Caddle, what are the available re- involved in because of the very ally expand civic space,” she Barbados Government is taking as part of that effort, the sources; and what is the data important work that they do,” said. steps to better facilitate civil Government is seeking to pro- that can drive some of their ac- she said. The minister continued, “And society organisations (CSOs). mote a more open approach to tion,” she stated. Minister Caddle made the it’s interesting to hear from Minister in the Ministry of data sharing. Moreover, she told those at- point while contending that the other regions, because even as Economic Affairs and “We’re in the process, for ex- tending the virtual meeting Government recognises and we were dealing with lockdowns Investment, Marsha Caddle, ample, of setting up dashboards that Barbados is working on leg- appreciates the important role that were made necessary be- spoke to this in a virtual high that will be open to the public, islation to ensure there are that CSOs play in society. cause of the pandemic, one of level event yesterday,entitled ‘A that give key information on guidelines for how CSOs oper- “We have found in Barbados the things that we tried very Call to Action – Enabling Civil how Government is making ate, how they are held account- that the only way that we’re much to do, was to be able to Society in the Context of public sector investments [and] able and the space that they are going to address these co-occur- give space to even some of these COVID-19’. It was the final the kinds of resources that are given to function. ring crises that are financial, emerging movements... In the event of the OECD Develop- available for collaborative work “So we are working on a re- climate and health, in terms of context of the pandemic, there ment Assistance Committee with civil society.We think that vised Charities Act, we’re work- the COVID pandemic, is by CSOs on Page 5 2 • Saturday June 5, 2021 The Barbados Advocate (Left to right): Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator Dr. Jerome Walcott; Catholic Priest Father Clement Paul; Bishop-elect of the Roman Catholic Church, Neil Scantlebury; Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley; and Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Cynthia Forde, sharing a light moment after the courtesy call. PM meets with Roman Catholic Church’s Bishop-elect SOCIETAL issues, area. In addition, she such as gun violence, said homework clubs and practical ways to were needed, proffering solve them were dis- the view that they would cussed recently when make a difference in the Bishop-elect of the lives of young people. Roman Catholic During the discussions, Church Neil Scantle- the Prime Minister ac- bury, paid a courtesy knowledged that Govern- call on Prime Minister ment must find a way of Mia Amor Mottley, at better deploying its re- Ilaro Court. sources with regard to And, Ms. Mottley told social services; high- Bishop-elect Scantlebury lighted the importance of that she looked forward the Barbados Youth- to seeing how Govern- ADVANCE Corps, and ment could work with the stressed the need to faith-based communities have more young people to help stabilise the so- trained in sports. cial fabric of society. Bishop-elect Scantle- “Let us agree to work bury, who will be or- together in key areas to dained next Friday, said ensure there is no social the Roman Catholic implosion of our society,” Church would work on she urged, adding: “I its youth programmes have every confidence we and do its part to reach will make it, but it re- out and help. He spoke quires daily reinforce- about the Catholic ment.” Church’s HUB pro- The Prime Minister gramme and its success said it was necessary to stories in helping ensure that the moral people. compass of young citizens was working. ‘Love people in She stressed that spite of’ Government would do He added that people what was required, in- needed to not only love cluding utilising its themselves, but reach out National Transformation and help others. The Initiative, and suggested Prime Minister agreed, that the Church also had saying the reboot mes- a role to play and would sage must be “love peo- have to do its part. ple in spite of”. Mottley congratulated Parents urged to play the Bishop-elect on his el- their part evation, saying “it is an However, she noted that absolute sense of pride” parents also had a re- to have him return to sponsibility to instill that Barbados and be in strong moral compass in charge of the Diocese of their children. She added Bridgetown. that this internalised set Those attending the of values, which helps courtesy call included persons determine right Minister of Foreign from wrong, must be re- Affairs and Foreign inforced by every institu- Trade, Senator Dr. tion these unattached Jerome Walcott; Minister young people interact of People Empowerment with. and Elder Affairs, Cyn- Ms. Mottley underlined thia Forde; Permanent the critical importance of Secretary in the Prime parental education, and Minister’s Office, Alies expressed a desire to Jordan, and Catholic work with the faith- Priest Father Clement based community in this Paul. The Barbados Advocate Saturday June 5, 2021 • 3 South, West coasts to be marine managed areas THE South and West coasts of this Barbados (CORALL), he said while while these structures were rated as well we will be talking about some new island are to be designated Marine “Folkestone’s boundaries will remain ex- ‘Good’ 40 years ago, regulations as it relates to fishing,” Managed Areas. actly as they are, essentially as a ‘No “CERMES has just done a report card Humphrey noted. “On the west coast, we are going to be Take’ zone”, negotiations will take place which looks at all of the reefs around Reiterating the importance of partner- running from Fitts Village to Weston, with the fisherfolk regarding the other Barbados and there is no coral around ships in achieving goals for the best of the and on the south coast, we are going from areas along those coasts. Barbados currently being defined as community,he said this was especially so the Pierhead to Rockley,” Minister of He explained this is being done as it ‘Very Good’. So we have gone from ‘Good’ in vulnerable and developing countries Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy was the only way to ensure that fish was to ‘Very Poor’ and therefore this tells us and therefore commended CORALL and Kirk Humphrey outlined. provided for future generations. there is a necessity for us to start man- the United Nations Development Speaking during yesterday’s virtual The minister stated reports indicate aging this space.We have to look at water Program’s Global Environment Facility launch of a coral restoration documen- that Barbados’ coral reefs have deterio- runoff that pollutes this particular space, Small Grants programme for their tary entitled ‘Corals in Living Colour’ by rated so much in the past four decades we have to look at issuing practices in efforts in restoring this island’s reefs.

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