Established October 1895 SBA CEO gives breakdown of low wages prior to hike PAGE 3 Monday April 5, 2021 $1 VAT Inclusive BAND OF HEROES By Marsha Gittens BAM president: Four bandleaders deserve top honour should be added to the list of National Heroes, in addition to recommending PRESIDENT of the Barbados same Winston Jordan and he was the getting us to where we are at today.So of what should be placed in the location Association of Masqueraders (BAM), bandleader of the band Wednesday 2000. course, if it was left to me or if I could give where the Lord Nelson Statue once Anthony Layne, would recommend But Kenny Bovell was also the President an input, those names would go down for stood in National Heroes Square, the four of this island’s top bandleaders of BAM and he would have been one of sure.” City. to be given National Hero status. the persons who started BAM, and he Within recent weeks, Prime Minister Thursday April 15 is deadline for peo- Responding to a question of who he was very instrumental in getting Crop Mia Amor Mottley,while speaking in the ple to offer their recommendations in would select from among the stakehold- Over, along with all the others I must House of Assembly,said it is time for a re- writing or via email to the Division of ers of the Crop Over festival, Layne said add, where we are at today.” examination of the institution of heroes Culture, Prime Minister’s Office. There Kenny Bovell, Gwyneth Squires, Betty He added, “I think Winston Jordan’s again. The Order of National Heroes Act are presently ten National Heroes, West and the late Winston Jordan. name should be there and I think Kenny was first passed by Parliament in 1998. with The Right Excellent Sir Garfield “Kenny Bovell would have been way Bovell, Gwyneth Squires and Betty West. She also indicated that Barbadians will Sobers being the only one currently before your time. He was in the era of the They have played a significant role in have a chance to suggest persons who alive. Reverend: Jesus is in control YOU cannot control Jesus or put him in a box. Bishop of the South Caribbean District of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas, Superintendent of the Circuit, Reverend Derick A. Richards, gave this message at the James Street Methodist Church yesterday. Reverend Richards made the point that people’s journey with Jesus will be on his terms, not theirs. “This is a walk of faith, not a walk where we are in control,” he said. He emphasised that faith in Jesus is a journey and a progression, as he refer- enced the story of Christ after his crucifixion. Speaking about the period of darkness that occurred after Jesus’ death, the reli- gious leader said based on this narrative, people are called to believe while it is still dark. He also reminded the congregation that even in darkness, “Jesus Christ is risen”. Reverend Richards acknowledged that the pandemic has brought darkness into our lives, and many people are struggling to see God’s purpose at work. However, he assured the congregation that,“This pandemic and the many issues of life that existed before the pandemic and made worse by and during the pan- demic will lead to celebration and thanks- giving.” Referring to the resurrection of Christ and John’s Gospel of the resurrection, the reverend said that by living through the darkness, people catch a glimpse of the new life. “Hope springs to life even if darkness ‘JUST CHILLING’: Barbadians re-emerged the day after Good Friday to make their way across the island, ahead seems to overwhelm us and is impossible of the restrictions of Easter Sunday and Easter Monday today. Some took the opportunity to hang out outside some bars to take. God dwells while it is still dark,” in Bridgetown, and this was one scene which The Barbados Advocate happened across last Saturday. said Rev. Richards. 2 • Monday April 5, 2021 The Barbados Advocate COVID-19 update: 11 new cases, eight recoveries THERE were 11 new pos- isolation. A total of 103 So far, the public health itive COVID-19 cases – persons are currently in laboratory has conducted three men and eight isolation. 142,972 tests. women – identified on To date, there have been There have been 63,738 Saturday, April 3, from 3,679 confirmed cases of people vaccinated – among 433 tests con- the virus – 1,774 females 26,344 men and 37,394 ducted by the Best-dos and 1,905 males. The women – during the first Santos Public Health number of recoveries since phase of the National Laboratory. March 2020 is 3,534. Vaccination Programme Eight people recovered COVID-19 has claimed for COVID-19. and were discharged from the lives of 43 people. (BGIS) Company aiming to lower carbon emissions HAVING seen a 39 per cent reduction in CO2 over the 2005 levels, officials of Emera, which owns some Caribbean electric utilities including the Barbados Light and Power, are fixing their attention on further reductions. This point was high- lighted in the Emera 2020 financial state- ments as Barbados and the international com- munity grapple with transforming their en- ergy systems and lower- ing carbon emissions, while dealing with the vexing issue of climate Scott Balfour, CEO and change. President of Emera. “Carbon reduction is central to our strategy existing coal units no and has been a key driver later than 2040; and of growth and innovation – at least an 80 per at Emera for over 15 cent reduction in carbon years,” said Scott Balfour, emissions by 2040. CEO and President of Just over a year ago the Emera. BL&P broke ground on a “We are continuing our Clean Energy Bridge. A progress by setting clear, company official said the clean, achievable goals Bridge was designed to and a vision to achieve maintain a reliable and net zero carbon emis- resilient supply of elec- sions by 2050,” Balfour tricity as Barbados tran- added. sitions to 100 per cent The company has said renewable energy. that with existing tech- The country has also nologies and resources set 2030 as the deadline and the benefit of for an end to fossil fuel supportive regulatory import, and has set aside decisions, it plans and at least 30 per cent of expects to achieve the renewables for small following goals: businesses. – 55 per cent reduction The Emera Group re- in carbon emissions by ported a 13 per cent 2025; growth in annual earn- – an 80 per cent reduc- ings last year, from ongo- tion in coal usage by 2023 ing regulated operations, and the retirement of less corporate costs. The Barbados Advocate Monday April 5, 2021 • 3 SBA CEO gives breakdown of low wages prior to hike CHIEF Executive Officer She noted in those stats that $350. So the total is 10 527.” of the Small Business 1 632 were receiving between Dr. Holder revealed that with Association (SBA), Senator $200 and $250 per week; and the information coming from the Dr. Lynette Holder, says prior another 1 063 receiving $150 to BRA and the NIS, these employ- to the recent wage increase, $200 per week... ees are from the formal sector. there were over 10 000 per- “And then can you imagine “So this is what we’re talking sons earning a salary of $350 that…2 199 were actually get- about – 10 000 workers approxi- weekly, with a group of over ting less than $150 per week. mately that would be at that low 2 000 people earning less This is actually happening in income category,and that would than $150 a week. Barbados today, that there are have gotten under $350 per She made the revelation yes- people…getting less than $150,” week.” terday during the Brass Tacks Holder noted. General Secretary of the Sunday radio programme, which The stats also indicated that Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) focused on the recent minimum 2 435 were getting between $250 Senator Toni Moore said it is im- wage hike in Barbados. to $300 per week portant to acknowledge that Crediting economist Senator Holder said the data these workers are from the for- Ambassador Dr. Clyde Mascoll indicates that prior to February mal sector. for his 2021 research, who as- of last year, of the 20 710 low “... And that’s what the BWU sessed information from the wage workers, there were many has been saying... we have to Barbados Revenue Authority employees earning less than push this. The transition of and the National Insurance $350 per week. workers from the informal to the Department, she said the two “A significant number,a signif- formal sector, because it has im- sets of data analysed suggested icant number of persons were plications not only for wages, but that there are some 20 710 work- actually earning less than $350 also has implications for social ers that were considered low per week. protection, social insurance, wage workers – that is, that “So 2 199 under $150; 1 063 health insurance coverage, all of Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Association would more or less be paid less under $200; 1;632 under $250; these things will be impacted.” Senator, Dr. Lynette Holder. than $25 000 per annum. 2 435 under $300; 3 198 under (JH) ‘Face Ripple effect? THE new minimum wage order companies. fears has gone into effect, paving the There is also speculation that way for a number of employees consumer prices could also be in Barbados to benefit from an increased as businesses look to with faith’ increase in earnings.