Established October 1895 11-Plus slated for June 22 next year PAGE 3 Thursday December 31, 2020 $1 VAT Inclusive Sandals shocked by delisting ...refutes claims of protocol breaches SANDALS Barbados has expressed shock that it was removed from Government’s list of designated quarantine hotels and refutes claims that it has breached COVID-19 protocols. In swift response to the statement issued by the Ministry of Health and Wellness announcing that the world-renowned all-inclusive hotel chain has been delisted by Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kenneth George, effective January 5, Sandals said discussions were ongoing with health officials to determine why it was red-flagged in the first place. “We have always worked closely with the Ministry of Health and CMO to ensure Education Minister, Santia Bradshaw, speaking to the media. that we are in alignment with the national requirements. It is therefore surprising to note that while there are assigned Ministry of Health officials on our resort daily, at no time was any perceived breaches GRADUAL RETURN brought to our attention until we received a letter from the A BLENDED approach to Chief Medical Officer, to which teaching is to continue Students to have more face-to-face classroom time we have responded in writing when Term 2 commences refuting the assertions and on January 5 for students. with the Unit. we are working with the working with the COVID-19 requesting a further review However, preference will “The status quo remains various special needs Monitoring Unit, we will likely and follow-up meeting. be given to special needs as it was from last semester, institutions and the special see the resumption of other “We were amazed therefore pupils, those writing but the intention is that units to ensure that those classes being entered into the that as this conversation was examinations and first we move towards a gradual students can return to timetable at our respective ongoing, we had to read in the formers to have more face- reintroduction of students into normalcy in the school secondary schools.” press that the Minister of to-face classroom time. the school system. Prioritising environment over the course of About the juniors, Bradshaw Health has issued a statement Education Minister, Santia first and foremost, obviously the next couple of weeks”. stated, “We have also given speaking to delisting Sandals Bradshaw,disclosed this as well our smallest kids as well as our She also explained why in priority to first formers because Barbados as a designated as said through a phased special needs and students who addition to Class 4s, fifth and for the most part, many of our quarantine hotel.” approach more students are preparing for examination, sixth formers and those in first formers have expressed It was noted that during a eventually will return to the whether at the primary level first form were given first deep concern that making the call-in meeting with hoteliers school compound. She was at and certainly at the secondary preference. Speaking about transition from primary school on Tuesday, the Minister of the time addressing yesterday’s school level. Over the course of the senior group, she said, to secondary school has Tourism, Senator Lisa press conference at the the next couple months, the “Students who are preparing resulted in many of them not Cummins, noted that the Education Ministry. intention is for us to be able for CXC have had a relatively being able to bond with the Ministry of Health was in Bradshaw said after meeting to work with the COVID-19 rough year, in particular in other students and to meet new discussion with all hotels with education stakeholders, Monitoring Unit very closely, 2020 and many of the students students as they enter the first regarding the protocols. the Health Ministry and the with a dedicated team from who are now preparing for form environment, but they also Sandals further refuted the COVID-19 Monitoring Unit, that Unit, to help education 2021. We wanted to ensure that have not been able to have the implication that there has been “there is overall consensus to make the transition to our they were able also to be not opportunity to really even bond any issue involving the local amongst the stakeholders new norm.” particularly disadvantaged with their teachers as well. We police and guests breaching that we have to move in the Going into greater detail by being out for school. So we believe that this is particularly protocol. “There is no such issue direction of being able to allow about why priority was given to have also given priority to our important as young people are involving any Sandals guests, our students to return to the students with special needs, secondary school students who transitioning from adolescence which was confirmed when it classroom environment fully”. Bradshaw said these students are at the fifth form, sixth into teenage years in particular was brought to the attention of This however will be done more than any others “have form level to ensure that they and we want to make sure the Minister of Tourism. gradually “over the course of particular challenges not can return to the school that we give them the best the next few weeks” as the having the same routine that environment and then over the opportunity to at least have SANDALS on Page 4 Education Ministry works they are accustomed to and so course of the next few weeks some degree of normalcy.” (MG) 2 • Thursday December 31, 2020 The Barbados Advocate A call for help QEH’s bed management programme FOUNDER of the and I do not think they Blessed Widows would want to know their receives $10 000 donation from BCIC Ministries (BWM), wives were left behind, Sharmane Roland- found it difficult to make THE Bed Management effectively deploy the re- been on the island for sponsibility to give back Bowen, is again making ends meet and no one Unit at the Queen sources at their disposal. just three years, with op- to the community,” she an appeal for the sought to help them,” she Elizabeth Hospital “We are very grateful erations also in Jamaica said. Church and society in added. (QEH) will be heading for this acknowledge- and the Turks and Caicos Despite their time in general to offer help to Roland-Bowen is also into 2021 with some ment and generosity Islands, Nurse noted that Barbados only having the widows in need in reiterating her call for much-needed assistance in supporting our it had been a tough year just started, Claims this country. Christian-minded arti- as they were presented Bed Management pro- for all and said that the Supervisor Ramon Roland-Bowen said that sans and professionals to with a donation of gramme. It is a new pro- small token was expected Goodman said that his the ministry,which is now lend their assistance to $10,000 by the British gramme at the hospital to make a meaningful company still had a so- two years old, has been the cause by volunteering Caribbean Insurance and it has been very suc- impact on the local soci- cial corporate responsi- doing good work during their time and services. Company (BCIC). cessful. In times of con- ety. bility to stand by. “At that period, but she “That includes skilled During a short cere- strained resources, you “We thought at BCIC BCIC, we are very pas- acknowledged that the workers such as carpen- mony that was held at can’t just ask for more that the best way that we sionate when it comes to COVID-19 pandemic, ters, painters, gardeners the company’s Manor and more and more. You could show that we could our social responsibility which resulted in the and masons, or profession- Lodge headquarters yes- have to become more give back to the commu- and employee volun- shutdown of the country als such as lawyers from terday, Branch Manager efficient and the Bed nity would be to serve teerism. We could not for several weeks, made within the Church be- Amanda Nurse handed Management Unit is our the Geriatric Unit and to stand idly back and see it somewhat difficult to cause oftentimes these over the cheque to focal point, so that we can help the seniors on this the impact that COVID accomplish all that they women need assistance Director of Medical utilise the beds and re- island. This has been a would have had on the want to. Nevertheless, she but cannot afford it. And Services at the hospital, sources we have more ef- year like no other and society on a whole and said that BWM’s goal re- yes we know things are Dr. Clyde Cave. ficiently and move people this is our way in a small the less fortunate and mains to empower and hard at this time, but it is Noting that the from the tertiary care of way of just giving back do nothing. We also offer equip widows over the age by helping one another Bed Management pro- the hospital into more and showing that we great products and great of 55, who do not have any that we help ourselves,” gramme was a new ini- appropriate placements care. We have been on customer service. But male companions, to not the BWM’s head insisted. tiative at the hospital, Dr. where they deserve to this island now for three, again, we take our social only “stand on their own (JRT) Cave explained that the be,” he said. going on four years and responsibility very seri- two feet”, but excel.