Established October 1895 Sir Courtney Blackman, central banking giant, passes away PAGE 4 Wednesday March 17, 2021 $1 VAT Inclusive Union busting ZERO TOLERANCE not acceptable LABOUR MINISTER, Colin Jordan, day of the debate on the Estimates of to a question from Minister of Energy, there is an attempt to reduce the impact says the Government has a zero Revenue and Expenditure 2021/2022 in Small Business and Entrepreneurship, of unions in workplaces. tolerance approach to union the House of Assembly. Kerrie Symmonds, as to whether his “I’m not saying that that is pervasive... busting in this country. “We have zero tolerance when it comes ministry has seen any overt or subtle But I’m saying clearly that I have seen In fact, he is adamant that workers to union busting; when it comes to discouragement on the part of evidence of an attempt to reduce the have to be allowed to come together to preventing the work of trade unions; businesses to stop workers from being effectiveness of workers’ organisations negotiate on their behalf, led by a union, when it comes to limiting in any unionised. Jordan, in response, in this country. I have also seen the or whoever else they want to represent way how workers can organise in explained that while he has not done efforts of the HR [Human Resources] them, and such efforts are not to be furtherance of your own interests,” the any formal research on the matter, there advisors in this regard,” he stated. stifled in any way. He was speaking minister stated. are “a number of things” that have yesterday morning during the second His comments came as he responded caught his attention, which suggest that NOT ACCEPTABLE on Page 3 Case adjourned until March 29 THE proceedings in the lawsuit filed by Opposition Senator Caswell Franklyn against the Government challenging its COVID-19 Directives has been adjourned until Monday, March 29. This new date was set by Madam Justice Jacqueline Cornelius, who heard the case in the Supreme Court yesterday. Speaking to the media after the proceedings, Attorney-at-law, Neil Marshall, who represents Senator Franklyn, explained what occurred. “The issues that we are dealing with right now is the filing of certain documents such as affidavit and response and some legal submissions from the office of the Attorney General, Solicitor General Office, so we are at that stage. Once each party has all these relevant documents and the court has the relevant documents, we will be then in a position to make a complete step forward. We expect that at least by the 29th, we should be back in court and by then we will know definitively how the matter will proceed forward.” Though filed with a Certificate of Urgency, according to Madam Justice Cornelius the case is being dealt with “quickly as opposed to urgently”. Marshall said, “It is still being treated though not urgently, but it is being treated as one of such importance that the court has been prepared to hear it with some alacrity.” Prior to the start of proceedings, Madam Justice Cornelius asked if either counsel wished that she recused herself from the case, given that her husband is a Member of Parliament. Both attorneys – Marshall and Principal Crown Counsel for the Solicitor General Office, Marsha Lougheed – said they had no issue with her presiding over the matter. Speaking to the media, Senator Franklyn said he was not troubled about how things turned out on the day. “I am not bothered as long as I get a Opposition Senator Caswell Franklyn and Attorney-at-law, Neil Marshall (left), exiting the Supreme Court yesterday. matter before the court. It was a short time and the timeline that the judge has then do a bad job. I want this matter to everyone to have a fair chance to do what I want this matter done. This is not about given, I am happy.I don’t want to appear be resolved. Win, lose or draw, I want they are supposed to be doing.” me; this is about stopping Barbados from to be forcing them to do rush work and the courts to decide on it and I want He further said, “I am willing to wait. becoming a dictatorship.” (MG) 2 • Wednesday March 17, 2021 The Barbados Advocate Youth advocates call for overhaul of St. Lucy facility A JOINT statement issued Development Council and Pink violations of trust must be of the GIS. into society; 5.A comprehensive yesterday by four of the is- Parliament; Firhaana Bulbulia, addressed with urgency to im- It was requested that new counselling programme that ad- land’s youth advocacy rep- authorised representative of U- mediately protect victims and facilities be coupled with a dresses the personal circum- resentatives is calling for Report; and CARICOM Youth safeguard their physical and new,more progressive culture of stances and socio-economic chal- urgent change at the girls’ Ambassador to Barbados, mental health.” juvenile justice, including: “1. lenges that both bring children Government Industrial Meghan Theobalds, stood in sol- Calling for a prompt, decisive Installation and proper moni- to GIS and may await them School in St. Lucy. idarity with the online move- and transparent government toring of fully functional cam- when they leave.” It comes on the heels of a re- ment to bring about change response to the systemic issues era and security systems in the The groups also call for full port in another section of the including the #Protectourgirls and institutional shortcomings Girl’s Unit; 2. Full and trans- access to holistic health, med- press over the weekend of a 14- and the petition to “Protect our of Barbados’ juvenile justice sys- parent investigation, assess- ical and dental care for all resi- year-old girl who was placed in Youth”,calling for answers from tem, the unified groups made ment, regrading and training of dents of GIS routinely as well as solitary confinement and was al- the powers that be. a call for the following: “1. all staff in rehabilitative tech- when it may become necessary legedly photographed naked on “Protecting the most vulnera- Complete and immediate aban- niques to ensure that only com- outside of the standard periodic a concrete floor. The alarm was ble within our society such as donment of solitary confinement petent personnel continue to schedule, with mandatory con- raised by Deputy Chair of the women, girls, and marginalised as a disciplinary measure or serve the marginalised youth sultation and/or notification to facility, Marsha Hinds-Layne. youth is of paramount impor- part of the intake process at communities entrusted to this parents/guardians and the con- Yesterday, the Chairman of tance. For this reason, we must GIS; 2. Immediate closure of the institution and that such staff is sent of the minor and legislative the National Youth Policy Co- act now.Not only because of the Girl’s Unit of the GIS located subject to greater, more trans- reform to not only remove ar- ordination Committee, Sade severity of the reported case, but at Barrows, St. Lucy; and 3. parent accountability measures; chaic offences such as wander- Jemmott; Roshanna Trim on also because it is allegedly not Placement of all eight (8) cur- 3. Implementation of gover- ing, but to introduce greater ju- behalf of the Barbados Youth an isolated incident. Habitual rent residents at Barrows, St. nance policies and organisa- dicial discretion with respect to Lucy with their families (or if tional practices that align with sentencing and eliminate the necessary a government-run the UN Convention on the criminalisation of persons who children’s home) with adequate Rights of the Child and guide- are actually victims of crimes Abrahams promises support services for rehabilita- lines on children deprived of committed against them, such tion, including access to formal their liberty; 4. Development of as sexual violence and neglect. education, social workers, psy- a structured educational cur- “We also remain willing and full investigation into chologists, etc.” riculum approved and overseen able to work with any member of The groups say in the long by the Ministry of Education, the public, private or civil society term they are in support of the which ensures that residents of sectors in any way possible to alleged incident at GIS development of adequate facili- GIS leave the institution with support the swift and perma- ties at the Dodds, St. Philip loca- the necessary knowledge and nent resolution of the aforemen- “THE rights of any person, in tion to serve as a new Girl’s Unit skills to reintegrate seamlessly tioned issues,” the group stated. particular a child, should never be compromised. And I don’t want it under my watch.” The words of Minister of Home Affairs, Wilfred Abrahams, in a statement issued on Monday evening, in response to an alleged incident at the Government Industrial School (GIS), which was reported in an- other section of the media and has dominated social media since then. During the alleged incident, Deputy Chair of the GIS, Marsha Hinds-Layne, sounded the alarm of a 14-year-old girl lying naked in solitary confine- ment on a cement floor at the Barrow’s, St. Lucy facility. In response, Minister acknowl- Minister of Home Affairs, edged that the country is out- Wilfred Abrahams. raged and understandably so. “...Because at the end of it, we’re answer for it.” talking about [the] rights of chil- Saying that the Government dren; we’re talking about the Industrial School is not a per- rights of persons who are in the fect institution, he noted that the custody of the State.