Established October 1895 Monday June 2, 2014 $1 VAT Inclusive CLEANING UP THE ACT By Kerri Gooding also look forward to Drainage, Dr.Denis Lowe. yesterday to commence coming “soon” for awhile, stakeholders have to greater penalties to These comments were the week of activities to he said, “…It has been comment, not only BARBADIANS can curb the issue of illegal delivered in an interview mark World Environment there for longer than you governmental finally expect the dumping. with the media after the Day 2014. can even imagine but the stakeholders, but private Environmental Such was according to church service at the Putting to bed criticisms fact is, in drafting sector and citizens. Protection Act in short the Minister of Cathedral of St. Michael that the Environmental legislation you would order and they can Environment and and All Angels held Protection Act has been appreciate that all of the ACT on Page 2 High hopes for sector OUTGOING president of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), Patricia Alfonso- Dass says the accommodation sector is eagerly looking forward to having access to the same suite of concessions that were granted to Sandals Resorts International by Government. Speaking to the media on Saturday night after the awards were presented at the 2014 Biennial BHTA President’s Gala which was hosted at Bellevue House, Alfonso-Dass said once the industry is able Roland Field of Accra Beach Resort (right), who to access such tax breaks, received the Outstanding Tourism Industry Employee hoteliers have the Award – Supervisor, is congratulated by BHTA opportunity to upgrade President Patricia Alfonso-Dass (left) and General and improve their plants Manager of Hilton Barbados, George Stanfield. and steps can be made to help the industry it should really that Government really progress. encourage them to raise has to believe in. Give us Her comments came as their game. the tools and we will she noted that there have “We should never be make it happen,” she been several encouraging afraid of competition. We affirmed. reports in the last few should see it as Acknowledging that weeks relative to the something that really her tenure at the helm of local tourism industry, encourages us to do the BHTA was during a inclusive of the new better and with the difficult time in the interest in the Four concessions on the table, economy, the President Seasons Project and the again this is something indicated that she wants work that is currently that we keep saying, once the industry to continue underway at Sandals we have the means and to see positive steps Casuarina. She admitted the ability and the being made, which would that while the enabling environment eventually turn into “a competition posed by that allows the industry positive jog” and then “a Executive Director of the BHTA and the 2014 President’s Lifetime Achievement these new properties to progress and move positive sprint”. Award recipient, Sue Springer (centre) accepts her award from John Roachford could be scary for some forward, it will; and I of CGM Gallagher Insurance Brokers (Barbados) Ltd. and President of the BHTA, players in the business, think that is something HOPES on Page 3 Patricia Alfonso-Dass. 2 • Monday June 2, 2014 The Barbados Advocate Laws at odds with basic human rights By RuthMoisa Stoute Planning Association important for our well- Caribbean need to fast in the Caribbean,” Sir stigmatisation... is a (BFPA) at its Annual being and that sexuality come to terms with the Alleyne lamented. denial of their basic CHANCELLOR of the General Meeting held last is essential to our fact that there were “It’s even sadder that... human rights”, the University of the West Thursday evening, Sir humanity”. Sir Alleyne “normal variations” in the these laws are a reflection Chancellor argued that Indies, Sir George Alleyne highlighted the remarked that though manner in which that of thinking in our society, Caribbean societies must Alleyne, has cried need for persons to re- humans are sexual sexuality and the sexual societies which proudly be “uncompromising and down governments of examine the notion and beings, matters of urges of persons were embrace constitutions passionate in our efforts the region for interpretation of human sexuality were often a expressed. which speak clearly to the to decrease stigma and continuing to uphold sexuality. He suggested “reflection of defining “Some of our pertinent observation of basic provide access to services “archaic” legislation that one of the challenges binary thought – it is one laws are archaic in this human rights. This is a and to increase which contradicts our going forward would be or the other, things are respect and I fear often... contradiction which I recognition of sexuality as otherwise clear stance how the BFPA treated to good or bad – and this and with some sorrow, often find difficult to a positive aspect of and determination to the issue of groups that would be comforting at that the only countries in embrace...” the human life”. uphold the basics were being marginalised one level but not a recipe this hemisphere in which Chancellor further On this issue, he rights of a human. on account of their choice for fruitful discourse or sex between consenting submitted. concluded, “The Addressing members of sexual expression. dialogue”. adults, males [that is]... is Using the occasion to marginalised groups such and friends of the He was of the firm view The senior academic a criminal offence...those publicly back what he as young people, Barbados Family that “sexual health was charged that the countries are to be found referred to as UWI’s transgender people, sex affirmation in the workers, men having sex Professor Brendan Bain with men, people who are affair that gay lesbian or bisexual, “criminalisation of child brides, girl mothers, consensual sex between they need our help, [they] males, resulting in our compassion.” Sir George Alleyne, Chancellor of the University of the West Indies. Minister promises stiffer penalties ACT from Page 1 on the books to deter illegal dumping and “And therefore we have improve vigilance. been pushing it He emphasised, vigorously to ensure that “Throwing garbage we get all the comments.” around and putting Therefore, he was garbage out illegally and pleased to disclose, things of that nature, it is “…They [the comments] a concern to the are all in now.” government. It certainly He also shared, “The is a concern to our Chief Parliamentary Ministry and we are Council has drafted the working very hard to first draft, re-submitted make sure that we get it for our purview; we’ve the legislative looked it over, we’re framework in place that satisfied that it is in good will beef up the penalties shape to go forward and on illegal dumping and it should be going that would also place a forward to Cabinet greater level of within the next week.” watchfulness from the Additionally, the government side around Minister also spoke of the country relative to having stiffer penalties illegal dumping.” The Barbados Advocate Monday June 2, 2014 • 3 Giving thanks Outgoing BHTA for Crop Over head THE 40th anniversary people as we celebrate of Barbados’ premiere harvest thanksgiving,” he summer festival Crop said. reflects Over officially got “This service serves to underway with a show that we as Service of Christians, as Anglicans, on tenure Thanksgiving and are able to combine the Flower Festival at St music and tradition. We HOPES from Page 1 Peter Parish Church, are able to blend culture yesterday. and religion to show that The president added Rev. Canon Peter it can work together. that her wish for the Haynes expressed to the “We look back with a industry is that it will congregation which sense of joy in the 1970’s “continue to growth from included Minister of as Crop Over started in British High Commissioner Mrs. Victoria Dean (left); and Ms. Wang Ke, Chinese strength to strength” Culture, the Hon. Stephen our country.We are called Ambassador to Barbados (right), were among those who attended the 40th which would allow them Lashley; Chairman of the to rejoice and treasure anniversary church service of Crop Over at St Peter’s Parish Church yesterday. to regain the footing they National Cultural what we have as ours, have lost. Alfonso-Dass Foundation (NCF) distinctly ours – not just a Rev. Haynes also “Through the work and to acknowledge the gifts maintained this was not Maureen Graham; CEO festival, but a way of life. acknowledged the work of help of our historians and given to us,” he expressed. impossible, given the of NCF, Cranston Brown; A way of life which is able the NCF, which is also the National Cultural During the service positive turnarounds other NCF Executives; to touch us in our celebrating a milestone Foundation, those there were cultural already being witnessed and festival stakeholders churches and in our every this year – its 30th engaged in seeking to find presentations from the St in the country’s key that Crop Over is more day activity, a way of life anniversary. He the history and Peter’s Church Boys tourism markets. than a carnival. which causes us as we commended those who expression of our people, Choir,Psalm 150 Dancers “In the UK things are “It is more than a sing and listen to jump carry out is mandate and we thank Almighty God and a drama presentation starting to get a bit better celebration of a way of life, and praise, and recognise those who are for giving us the “All things bring and and we are starting to see but it is about the people the presence of God at stakeholders in the opportunity to beautiful” by Janine more confidence out of of God.