Established October 1895 Route taxi owner and driver fined for breaching COVID-19 Directive PAGE 2 Tuesday February 23, 2021 $1 VAT Inclusive B’DOS OFF BLACKLIST THE European Union (EU) has country has been moved to a state-of-play compliance issues with the exchange of the hearing or the conducting of the removed Barbados from the tax document included in Annex II of the information standard as set by the actual supplementary review, which blacklist that it placed this country Council conclusions, pending the outcome Organisation for Economic Co-operation hasn’t yet been scheduled a definite date, on last year. of that review. and Development (OECD). He said that but sometime later this year,” he stated. The revelation came yesterday morning According to the EU, that state-of-play removal from the list was expected, given Toppin went on to say that the when the EU Council adopted the newest document identifies jurisdictions which the application that was made last year Government is very pleased to have list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for do not yet comply with all international for supplementary review. the country’s name off the list, as is the tax purposes and Barbados was not tax standards, but which have made “You will recall that in November last international business sector. He made on it. The EU in a statement released sufficient commitments to implement tax year,I told you that Barbados’ application the point while laying the blame for yesterday, explained that Barbados was good governance principles. to have a supplementary review in the blacklisting at the feet of the last added to the list in October 2020 after it Speaking to the development, Minister relation to compliance with that standard administration because of its failure to received a ‘partially compliant’ rating of International Business, Ronald Toppin, had been approved by the OECD. Once meet certain requirements between from the Global Forum. Having then been confirmed Barbados’ removal from the that was approved, it meant that 2015 and 2018. granted a supplementary review by the blacklist, explaining that the initial automatically Barbados had to come off of Global Forum, it explained that the inclusion came about as a result of the European Union’s blacklist, pending OFF BLACKLIST on Page 3 From left: Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr. Clive Landis, Immunologist and Chairman of The UWI COVID-19 Task Force; Professor Christine Carrington, Professor of Molecular Genetics and Virology and Member, The UWI COVID-19 Task Force; and Professor Peter Figueroa, Chair, PAHO Regional Immunisation Technical Advisory Group. COVID-19 vaccines ‘on the same level’ A PROFESSOR of Molecular Genetics vaccines are on the same level – they are “That’s a slight difference, but each of deaths and hospitalisations, and “it and Virology at The University of the all excellent vaccines – they all prevent these vaccines have advantages and appears even better in some age groups”. West Indies (UWI) has rated the COVID- severe disease; they prevent death and disadvantages. And one of the great “We just had some recent data from 19 vaccines by Moderna, Pfizer and they do so very effectively.” advantages of all of them is that Scotland which showed that there was a Oxford-AstraZeneca as being “on the However, she said that each of the regardless of their efficacy against mild, 94 per cent reduction in hospitalisations same level”. vaccines are made on a slightly different moderate, severe disease overall – they among the elderly, who were the first to Professor Christine Carrington, who is platform, explaining “they have slightly all have exceptional efficacies against receive the vaccine in Scotland by a member of The UWI COVID-19 Task different formulations and slightly hospitalisation or severe disease that AstraZeneca.While the Pfizer had about Force, gave this assurance during an different ways in which they work”. causes you to go to the hospital, and an 87 per cent reduction. open forum for members of the public She went on to point out that Moderna death.” “So, they are all performing very well and regional media on COVID-19 and Pfizer vaccine efficacy are both in the Moreover, Professor Carrington said and in some settings, the AstraZeneca is vaccination, yesterday. 90’s, and AstraZeneca is between 76 to that AstraZeneca, which has a lower doing even better,” Professor Carrington “I would definitely say that all of the 82 per cent. efficacy than the Pfizer, is preventing expressed. (TL) 2 • Tuesday February 23, 2021 The Barbados Advocate Nine in breach of protocols NINE individuals ap- peared in the District ‘C’ Magistrates’ Court yes- terday accused of attend- ing a lime in breach of the COVID-19 protocols. Each person’s case was heard by Magistrate Elwood Watts. These indi- viduals were among the 18 people who appeared before the court on the day charged with breach- ing aspects of the COVID- 19 Directives. The nine accused con- travened Paragraph (3) Subparagraph (1) of the Emergency Management Rebecca White as she left court with her attorney, Kwani Rawlins. (COVID-19) Curfew (No.3) Directive 2021 Charged in relation to Dale Clarke as he leaves District ‘C’ Magistrates’ Paragraph (6) Sub-para- an event which occurred Court yesterday. graph (1) clause (d) (ii) on February 7 are: Akeem of the Emergency Maloney of New Orleans, Management (COVID- St. Michael, who is set to 19) Curfew (No.3) reappear on August 9; Route taxi Directive 2021 by attend- Khalil Jessamy of ing an event known as Oxnard, St. James, who a lime. They all pleaded was represented by attor- not guilty. ney, Frederick Alleyne owner and Charged in relation to and will reappear July an event which occurred 21; Calvin Griffith of on February 6 are: Vauxhall Gardens, Christ driver fined Connie Graham of Rock Church; Davia Graham of Hall, St. Thomas; Damien Worthing, Christ Church, Smith of Parish Land, who was represented Christ Church; and by attorney, Michael for breaching Annette Johnson of Eden Lashley, QC; Orvin Lodge, St. Michael. They Febuary of Bayville, St. were all represented Michael, who was repre- by attorney, Angela sented by attorney,Harry COVID-19 Mitchell-Gittens. They Husbands; and Rebecca were all granted bail in White of Kingsland Erskine Belgrave pleaded guilty to stealing cassava the sum of $3,000 with Heights, Christ Church, on February 19 and breaking curfew. one surety each. The who was represented by Directive cases are adjourned until attorney, Kwani Rawlins 21. These six were all of $3,000 with one surety July 27. and will reappear on July granted bail in the sum each. (MG) AN owner and driver wearing a mask, however of a route taxi yester- at the time when he was day found himself be- stopped by the police, the fore the law court for mask had rode down incorrectly wearing below his nose. He said he his face mask. did not know when it rode Dale Clarke, of Bibby’s down that he was in Lane, St. Michael, ap- breach of the law. peared before Magistrate Clarke, who said he has Elwood Watts in the been driving a route taxi District ‘C’ Magistrates’ for the past 10 years, apol- Court. ogised to the court for the He was charged with breach. contravening Paragraph Magistrate Watts told (11) Clause (b) of the Clarke ignorance of the Emergency Management law was not an excuse. He (COVID-19) Curfew pointed out there were (No.3) Directive 2021 on many ads carried via the February 4, 2021. He is media which highlight charged with travelling on the appropriate way face a public service vehicle to masks should be worn. He wit route taxi registration was fined $250 payable ZR 301 plying route 15 forthwith or seven days in along Dayrells Hill Road, prison. The fine was paid. without wearing a face- Clarke was one of 18 covering which covers his people who appeared be- mouth, nose and chin. fore the court on the day Clarke, who was not ac- charged with breaching companied by a lawyer, aspects of the COVID-19 pleaded guilty to the Directives, which covered charge. He explained to the period February 3 to the court that he was 28. (MG) Attorney Lynette Eastmond (left) making her way from court with her client, Denton Crichlow. The Barbados Advocate Tuesday February 23, 2021 • 3 Walters to Government: Do more to assist Treatment of small businesses during pandemic criticised THE Government has businesses. “Can you imagine a vil- this vulnerable group.” come under a tongue “Outside of their lage shop in the worse The First VP also lashing on their treat- Trust Loan Fund, the and most uncertain lamented recent ment of small business Government has failed times having to invest comments by current and entrepreneurs the small business sec- in cash registers, label Minister in charge of during the COVID-19 tor. Last year COVID-19 machines, etc. in fear of Small Business, Kerrie pandemic. support was offered, but being shut down? This is Symmonds, who sug- It comes from First to access it was almost an establishment that is gested that persons were Vice President of the impossible. The qualify- catering to $20 and $50 seeking to trick the sys- Democratic Labour ing bar was set way too transactions at a time, tem and was quoted in Party,Ryan Walters, who high, so it never reached how was that fair then?” another section of the maintains that small the pockets of the small Walters lamented media as saying, “Quite businesses and entrepre- business owner.” that more recently, frankly, we are thinking neurs have been largely He challenged that Government announced about reporting them to sidelined by the current during that first lock- a National Pause from the police.” administration and now down, the then Minister February 3 to February “Minister Symmonds especially during the Dwight Sutherland 17, offering small busi- now wants to lock up COVID-19 period.