Established October 1895 Report: Long working hours increasing deaths from heart disease, stroke PAGE 5 Tuesday May 18, 2021 $1 VAT Inclusive Miss Universe Barbados honoured to have represented this country THOUGH not crowned the winner, Miss Universe Barbados, Hillary Ann Williams, considers it an honour to have represented her country at Miss Universe 2020. Williams took to the big stage on Sunday night during the 69th staging of the competition at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. This event was televised live internationally. She came up against 73 other female delegates who all vied for the prestigious crown. At the end of the night Miss Mexico, Andrea Meza, was FROM LEFT: Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal of The UWI Cave Hill Campus, Professor Eudine Barriteau, and Chief Executive crowned the winner. Miss Officer of the BMCLA, Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight, signing the documents to make the MOU between the two entities official. Brazil, Julia Gama, was the runner-up. Taking to social media yes- terday, Williams wrote on her personal Instagram page, “While this wasn’t the outcome we were hoping for, I still feel PLANS TO GET nothing but gratitude and pride. I went out on one of the largest international stages to represent not only Barbados, but so many women whose story resonates with mine. I’m not defined by a crown or YOUTH INVOLVED sash, but by the lasting impact I will leave for women COMING out of a Memoran- said it is hoped the internship ing to move forward with, is the our community has first,” she around the globe. While dum of Understanding programme will be one of the establishment of a germplasm said. this chapter was exciting, (MOU) signed yesterday be- “priority pillars” in the memo- bank. The BMCLA head said it Munro-Knight went on to say exhilarating, and exhausting, tween The University of the randa of agreements that are will be a long-term goal, but that the BMCLA is also working I’m ready to continue writing West Indies, Cave Hill being developed through the noted that it is very critical for closely with Cave Hill Campus’ the next chapter of my Campus and the Barbados MOU, between the Campus and the development of the industry. TradeLab Clinic, managed legacy.” Medicinal Cannabis Licen- agencies of the Ministry of “We have listened very well to by the Faculty of Law and Williams, who is the owner of sing Authority (BMCLA), is Agriculture and Food Security. what our stakeholders have been Shridath Ramphal Centre for her own Digital Marketing to be an internship pro- “Out of all of the things that saying to us... and we understood International Trade Law, Policy agency, also thanked everyone gramme for students to get we could do under this MOU,for that one of the missing links in and Services, in the area of intel- who supported her journey as hands-on experience in the me, that is one that I'm most ex- terms of how the industry was lectual property (IP). She Miss Universe Barbados and medicinal cannabis industry. cited about... And so with this established, was that we have explained that this is another an advocate against gender- Speaking yesterday morning partnership, as well, we are very not rolled out a framework by missing pillar in the industry. based violence. moments before signing the excited about the opportunity to which we could actually look and “It's something that we are ex- During the preliminary MOU in the main conference provide a comprehensive intern- see what we had here in tremely excited about – that round this past Friday, room at the Campus, Chief ship programme, where we can Barbados, and the extent to whole thing of being grounded, Williams wore a custom-made Executive Officer of the BMCLA, have young people working with which that could play a part and ensuring that our commu- Henris Cloud Nine gown. Dr. Shantal Monro-Knight, said the Authority, and then in the within the medicinal cannabis nity has ownership, has involve- She was commended by such a programme would be “ex- future, not only within the industry. And so the establish- ment and participates. And members of the Miss tremely strategic” in terms of Authority, but wider within the ment of a germplasm bank by therefore ensuring that we have Universe Barbados team via building an industry in which industry; and that is critical,” she which we could collect local cul- a robust intellectual property their Instagram page on how Barbadian young people can see said. tivars, would allow us then to framework is also very, very crit- confidently and well she car- themselves taking part in. Moreover, she said another again, be able to make sure that ical,” she said. ried the gown. Her comments came as she priority area that they are hop- we are grounded within what (JRT) (MG) 2 • Tuesday May 18, 2021 The Barbados Advocate Class 3 students of the Elliott Belgrave Primary School joined the launch of the ‘Clean and Green’ initiative, assisting National Conservation Commission (NCC) personnel with the plants. ‘Clean and Green’ initiative under way in St. Peter RESIDENTS of Gays, St. Peter can soon boast of a redeveloped clean and green space thanks to the Ministry of the Environment and National Beautification. Recently, a team from the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) and the National Conservation Commission (NCC) cleared a portion of land at Gays Road to make way for the Ministry’s ‘Clean and Green’ initiative,which is already well under way across several parishes. Clean and Green aims to improve the landscape of Barbados by removing un- sightly garbage from areas where waste is accumulated and transform those sites into beautiful gardens and parks. “Now the whole notion of our ‘Clean and Green’ is not only to have a presence in this little country Barbados as we know it, but to recognise our international com- Minister of the Environment and mitments too.And what we are doing here National Beautification, Adrian Forde. when we clean the environment, and green it, we are saying to the rest of the of climate change, and this area in St. world we are very serious about our Paris Peter is really on the frontline of those Agreement,” Minister of the Environment issues, and I am referring to issues in re- and National Beautification, Adrian lation to the supply of potable water. Forde, pointed out during the launch. “While government is working hard to “We are serious about keeping our tem- address that issue – the desalination plant peratures at the level which there are at Hope is now back online; we are also supposed to be. So that is why govern- going to be having a temporary desal plant ment moved with alacrity to ensure that at Colleton; and we are actually address- what we do in the energy sector in terms ing the water issue as a whole-of-govern- of going green; what we do in terms of the ment matter. So it is no longer only the transport sector with the electric vehicles, Ministry responsible for Water Resources run in sync [with] what we are doing in that is involved…because running potable the Ministry of the Environment by pro- water is one of the minima that could be viding the trees to reduce our greenhouse expected by householders in 2021.And so gas and our emissions – that is part of our we realise that we have a challenge; we re- mitigation effort as it relates to climate alise we have to work hard to address it change.” and we understand that part of that This national project features a bulk challenge comes as a result of climate waste collection exercise, community en- change. gagement sessions,de-bushing and beau- “And what we are doing here is starting tifying of unsightly areas per parish, and a process of not just addressing the issue developing and maintaining behavioural of providing space for recreation for resi- change using the four planks of Reduce, dents where they can come relax, play Reuse, Recycle, and Recover. sports or watch their children play in the Member of Parliament (MP) for St. play park…Besides that aspect it is also Peter,Colin Jordan, commended the proj- important that young children recognise ect which will benefit residents of Gays, that we have a responsibility to our envi- Boscobelle, Collins, and the Mount, in ronment.There is damage, there is degra- particular. dation, but we have a responsibility to do He also highlighted, “We are living in a what we can to address it and, in some world where we are suffering the ravages cases, reverse it,” Jordan said. (TL) The Barbados Advocate Tuesday May 18, 2021 • 3 Community Post in Haynesville gets spruced up RESIDENTS of Haynesville, St. James lighted some of the programmes which now have a refurbished Community Post are conducted at the Community Post, to enjoy thanks to hard work of partici- which he said was established in 1991 by pants of the Prince’s Trust International the Royal Barbados Police Force “at a Team Programme. time when criminal activity in The facility was handed over recently Haynesville was at its worst”. He added during a ceremony at the location. that having the facility there, where Addressing proceedings, Delivery Partner young persons can engage in wholesome Manager for the Prince’s Trust activities, has aided in bringing about International, Inspector (ag) Roland change in the area. Cobbler,highlighted the work undertaken “I am pleased to report, and I believe through the Community Project con- this can be supported by the officers, that ducted by 13 participants of the pro- Haynesville is no longer considered a gramme.