Barbados Parliament gives green light to republican status
Prime Minister Mia Mottley says much thought has gone into the decision to transition Barbados to a parliamentary republic, even as Opposition Leader, Bishop Joseph Atherley, raised concerns over the legality of the government’s intended move, despite declaring full support for the impending status.
Parliament voted by a 25-0 margin to amend the Constitution (Amendment) Bill to bring the Republic into force by November 30.
Prime Minister Mottley told legislators that her administration was not rushing into republicanism and that talks regarding the transition began more than two decades ago.
“There can be no rush, therefore, about this Act. This Act has taken long in coming and if we go back, we agreed that there are aspects that are certainly worthy of consultation and that is the majority of the work that relates to the Constitution, we get that and we are committed to that.”
She described as a “simple but functional bill” the constitutional amendment would revoke the Barbados Order of 1966 as an Order in Council of Her Majesty while keeping complete the Barbados Constitution.
The amendment makes provision for a Barbadian to be a Head of State, change the oath of allegiance from that to Her Majesty to now the state of Barbados and to ensure continuity in all of the other aspects of the functioning of the state of Barbados through offices, appointments and commissions.
“This has been a conversation that has been taking place since December 1998. The fact that I was part of the cabinet that agreed to the establishment of this Commission explains why I have so much grey hair now because it has been a long journey. It has been a long journey.
“Indeed one of my greatest regrets is that while there are a few who are still with us the majority of persons who served on this Commission and, in fact the Cox Commission, before have gone to the Great Beyond.”
The government said that the change would bring to an end a British head of state of Barbados ever since English settlers landed here in 1625 and claimed the island for King James I and Prime Minister Mottley maintained that the time had come for the transition as Barbados needed to be in complete control of all of its affairs.
She dismissed any notion that Barbados would change its name.
“What it does is allow us to close the circle with respect to independence and move to another state of our development thereby allowing Barbadians to say to the world that we have the confidence in ourselves to be completely responsible for who we are and what we do and what we say and all that surrounds itself with the nation of Barbados.
“This bill does nothing else but seek to make a Bajan the head of state of Barbados and is as simple as that because that is the lacuna that will take us from one point to another. By also revoking the Order in Council we make the clear statement that we want to be in control of our affairs as a Republic.
“Without that we will continue to always have doubts in the mind of our people as to whether we are truly independent and to whether we are truly in charge of our own destiny because if we have to send to [Buckingham] Palace in order to confer honours, or we have to send to the Palace in order to appoint an Ambassador to a non-Commonwealth country then we do not and cannot say that all power resides and locates within the nation state of Barbados and it is as simple as that.”
She told legislators that together with Atherley they will make a joint nomination for the election of a president of Barbados and a date will then be set for that election and that she expects the process to take place this month.
Barbadians will also be notified as to when the new head of state would be sworn in.
But in his contribution, Atherley raised concerns over the legality of government’s intended move to republican status, despite declaring full support for the move
The Opposition Leader citing unnamed members of the legal profession, said the manner in which government was proceeding to move Barbados from a realm to a republic with a Barbadian Head of State could be unlawful.
Atherley said he was not attacking the government but merely wanted the transition to republican status to be done the right way.
“The Prime Minister said the government has been advised by prominent persons who we have saluted and honoured; Sir David Simmons, Sir Dennis Byron, Justice Sherman Moore, and I have no doubt that the government of Barbados would come to proposing this to the House on the basis of good, legal advice.
“All I am saying is that they are equally prominent persons, legally experienced, trained and acclaimed who are of the view that this is inappropriate,” The Opposition Leader said, adding “I’ve spoken to a number of legal people who hold very strongly to the view that it is inappropriate for the Barbados Parliament to seek to undertake an action that results in what we perceive to be the revocation of an Order in Council of the UK Parliament.
“Can the Barbados Parliament revoke an Order in Council of the UK Parliament?”
Atherley said he did not want a situation where the Barbados government found itself before the law court because it had erred in its procedure.
“We are exposed if we get it wrong. We expose ourselves to legal challenges brought pursuant to or consequent upon any action that we take as a people under the Constitution if it is proven we got it wrong.”
Atherley also opposed the timing to become a republic describing it as “the wrong moment” as Barbados continued to battle the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, questioning whether government had an alternative agenda in ensuring the transition was done speedily.
“I support the move to republic, I support the nomination when it comes in the appropriate format and time but I believe very strongly that we are doing this at the wrong time and that the process leaves much to be desired. I believe they are many out there of the view that we are not getting this right when it comes to the process.
“Beyond the constitutional and legal arguments it is a bad moment with COVID. It is not the right moment. We do not know what next year will bring, we may still be faced down with COVID. I would prefer to believe that by the middle of next year this thing would be gone.”
He also said the November 30 date for the transition was inappropriate as it could diminish the work of Errol Barrow, the Father of Independence.
He suggested that July 26, 2022, coinciding with the Day of National Significance that memorialises the 1937 Disturbances, would be most appropriate.
“I believe frankly that the better date is July 26. We call it a Day of National Significance. It is to me, among blacks, the majority class in Barbados the birth of consciousness, it is the birth of an identity which was evolving and which has set us on a path to this moment and that the move to Republic when we get there, culminates for me what began in the 1930’s and on July 26, 1937,” said Bishop Atherley.
China, Big spender or loan shark?
China hands out at least twice as much development money as the US and other major powers, new evidence shows, with most of it coming in the form of risky high-interest loans from Chinese state banks.
The sheer amount of Chinese lending is startling. Not too long ago China received foreign aid, but now the tables have turned.
Over an 18-year period, China has granted or loaned money to 13,427 infrastructure projects worth $843bn across 165 countries, according to the AidData research lab at William & Mary, a university in the US state of Virginia.
Much of this money is linked to Chinese President Xi Jinping's ambitious Belt and Road strategy. Starting in 2013, it leverages China's expertise in infrastructure projects, and ample foreign currency, to build new global trading routes.
However, critics fear that the high-interest loans funding many Chinese projects are saddling unsuspecting populations in sky-high debt.
And that's news even to Chinese officials themselves. The AidData researchers - who have spent four years tracing all of China's global lending and spending - say that Chinese government ministries are regularly going to them for information on how Chinese money is being used overseas.
"We hear from public officials in China all the time, saying 'Look, you're in the only game in town'," explains Brad Parks, executive director of AidData. "They say: 'We can't get our hands on this data internally'."
A twisting railway running between China and the neighbouring country of Laos is often touted as a prime example of China's off-the-books lending.
For decades, politicians wondered about building such a connection - linking landlocked south-west China directly to South East Asia.
However, engineers warned the cost would be prohibitive: tracks would need to run through steep mountains, requiring dozens of bridges and tunnels. Laos is one of the poorest countries in the region and couldn't afford even a fraction of the cost.
Enter China's ambitious bankers: with backing from a group of Chinese state companies and a consortium of Chinese state lenders, the $5.9bn railway is set to begin operations in December.
However, Laos had to take out a $480m loan with a Chinese bank to fund its small part of the equity. One of Laos' few sources of profit, the proceeds of its potash mines, were used to back the massive loan.
"The loan that China's Eximbank made to cover part of the equity really showcases the urgency of the Chinese state to push through the project," explains Wanjing Kelly Chen, research assistant professor at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Most of the line is owned by the Chinese-dominated railway group, but under the murky terms of the deal, the Laotian government is ultimately responsible for the railway's debt. The imbalanced deal has led international creditors to downgrade Laos' credit rating to "junk" status.
In September 2020, on the brink of bankruptcy, Laos sold a major asset to China, handing over part of its energy grid for $600m in order to seek debt relief from Chinese creditors. And this is all before the railway has even begun operations.
The Laos railway is far from the only risky project that Chinese state banks have funded - and yet, AidData says China remains the financier of first resort for many low and middle income countries.
"In an average year, China's international development finance commitments amount to about $85bn. And by comparison, the US is spending about $37bn in any given year to support global development activities," says Brad Parks.
China has vastly outpaced all other countries in development financing, but the way in which Beijing has reached that level is "extraordinary", AidData says.
China might soon face some international lending competition. At a G7 meeting in June, the US and its allies announced the G7 adopts spending plan to rival China's influence, which promises to fund global infrastructure projects that are financially and environmentally sustainable.
However, the plan might simply have come along too late.
"I'm sceptical that Western initiatives will make much of a dent in the Chinese programme," says David Dollar, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and the former US Treasury representative in China.
"[Those new initiatives] will not have enough real money to address the scale of infrastructure needs in the developing world. Also, working with Western official financiers is bureaucratic and subject to long delays."
The AidData researchers found that the Belt and Road project is facing its own issues. BRI projects were more likely to be associated with corruption, labour scandals or environmental issues than other Chinese development deals.
In order to keep the BRI on track, researchers say, Beijing will have no choice but to address borrowers' concerns.
Source - BBC
No Time to Die gets royal reception at Royal Albert Hall premiere
British royalty mixed with Hollywood royalty Tuesday night in London on the red carpet of the world premiere of the latest James Bond movie, No Time to Die.
Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, joined William's father, Prince Charles, and his wife, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, for a night out at the premiere.
The royal foursome walked the red carpet at London's Royal Albert Hall, where they watched a special screening of the movie, the 25th in the James Bond series and the last that will see Daniel Craig starring as Bond.
The royals were joined at the screening by health care workers and members of the Armed Forces, who were invited in appreciation for their service during the pandemic.
Before watching the film, William, Kate, Charles and Camilla met with the stars of the movie -- including Craig, Rami Malek, Léa Seydoux and Lashana Lynch -- as well as the movie's screenwriters and members of the crew, according to Clarence House.
The royals were also scheduled to meet with Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell, who perform the movie's theme song.
The night out was a rare joint appearance for William, Kate, Charles and Camilla. The last time the two couples attended an engagement together was February 2020, when they visited a veterans' rehabilitation center together in Northern England.
The royals, though, are no strangers to the Bond movie franchise.
In 2015, William, president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), and Kate were joined by William's brother, Prince Harry, at the premiere of Craig's penultimate Bond adventure, Spectre.
Source - ABC
Skerritt and Hinds pay tribute to Khan
Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Ricky Skerritt and West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) president Wavell Hinds paid tribute to former CWI marketing and communications manager, Imran Khan.
Khan died on Tuesday from complications related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). He was 42.
He was the chief communications officer for the Leader of Opposition in his native Guyana, Joseph Harmon, and spent the last week in the intensive care unit of a COVID-19 hospital on the outskirts of the Guyana capital, Georgetown, where he died. He was not vaccinated.
Before returning to Guyana to get into active politics with the A Partnership for National Unity-Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition, Khan held several posts in and around West Indies cricket, including media relations officer for the Windies team, where we worked closely with Skerritt as manager and Hinds as player.
Skerritt said: “Imran loved cricket and he loved working with the Caribbean cricket media who highly regarded him and his work.
“I had the opportunity to work with Imran when I served as West Indies team manager several years ago. I found him to be a skillful professional and an effective servant of West Indies cricket.
“He continued to be an ardent team supporter even after he left CWI to return home to his native Guyana. I have had the privilege of being in contact with him since, and his advice and wisdom were always welcomed. May his soul rest in eternal peace.”
Hinds said: “It is with great regret that I learnt of the passing of Imran Khan, who has served West Indies cricket so well.
“I had the pleasure of being a part of the West Indies team while Imran served as media liaison for several home and away series, and his love and passion for West Indies cricket was always evident in the way he carried out his duties.
“In fact, Imran’s contribution goes beyond his role as media liaison, as he was of great assistance to several players during his tenure.
“My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and the cricketing fraternity. May his soul rest in peace and light perpetually shine upon him.”
Khan was survived by his wife, attorney-at-law Tammy Khan, who was also hospitalized for the viral illness.
Source - CMC
Grenada condemns inequitable distribution of COVID vaccines
Grenada Monday joined its other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries in urging the international community to end the inequitable distribution of vaccines to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, noting also that the island’s economy has also been severely impacted by the pandemic.
Addressing the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Foreign Affairs, International Business and CARICOM Affairs Minister, Oliver Joseph, said the social fallouts and the inequitable access to vaccines, particularly for small island developing states like Grenada, have contributed to undermining the island’s stability.
“COVID-19 has indeed wreaked immense havoc on economies across the world, but with a particular intensity and lasting effect on small economies such as ours. Prior to the first case of COVID-19 on the island in March 2020, the Grenadian economy was on an upward trajectory since 2013, growing at an average rate of 4.5 per cent per year.”
Source - CMC
HURRICANE SAM AND NEWLY FORMED TROPICAL DEPRESSION TWENTY WED 29 SEP 2021
NEWLY FORMED TROPICAL DEPRESSION TWENTY, ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY FORECAST OFFICE SECTION AT NOON, WEDNESDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2021.
…TROPICAL DEPRESSION FORMS OVER THE FAR EASTERN TROPICAL ATLANTIC…
AT 11 AM EDT, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION TWENTY WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 8.3° NORTH AND LONGITUDE 24.6° WEST,OR ABOUT 535 MILES SOUTH OF THE CABO VERDE ISLANDS.
THE DEPRESSION IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 14 MILES PER HOUR, AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, FOLLOWED BY A TURN TO THE NORTHWEST.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 35 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. STEADY STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST, AND THE DEPRESSION IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A TROPICAL STORM TONIGHT, AND A HURRICANE IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.
Haiti elections postponed indefinitely
Prime Minister Ariel Henry has dismissed members of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) throwing into doubt the planned constitutional referendum and elections in the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
The elections and referendum had already been postponed twice due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
In an immediate reaction, André Michel, one of the leaders of the opposition parties, “Democratic and Popular Sector” (SDP), said the “dismissal of the current CEP is an important step in the implementation of the September 11, 2021 agreement.
“We will ensure that the next CEP is credible and legitimate,” he added.
Source - CEP
Regional tourism stakeholders urge greater collaboration as sector emerges from COVID-19 pandemic
Regional tourism stakeholders Monday called for greater collaboration as the Caribbean tourism industry emerges from the impacts of the coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic. A statement issued by the Barbad0s-based Caribbean Tourism organisation (CTO) said that the stakeholders, including academia and development partners, participated in a virtual conference coinciding with World Tourism Day 2021 on Monday.
“As the Caribbean strives to emerge from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Caribbean tourism, it is critical that regional tourism stakeholders, related businesses, academia and development partners work together to further deliberate on current and pressing issues facing the growth of Caribbean tourism.
“Moreover, it is important that these deliberations result in innovative and creative solutions, committed actions and tangible results that would aid in the tourism sector recovery and resilience-building efforts.,” according to the joint communique issued after the conference.
It said the conference was intended to be a demonstration of “a major commitment to the sustainability and inclusive growth of tourism in the Caribbean, in recognition of the impact and value of the sector to the social and economic development of the region.
“Expanding upon this year’s World Tourism Day theme established by the United Nations World Tourism Organization, ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’, the conference titled “The Future of Caribbean Tourism- Redefining the 3 S’s”, sought to examine the challenges, opportunities and best practices for tourism resilience and recovery,” the communique added.
It said that the 3 S’s – Social Inclusion, Sustainability, and Smart Destinations and Businesses – have been identified as three key priorities, which are integral to the region’s recovery strategies and have been central to the conference deliberations.
“The collaborating agencies, having organized and participated in this gathering and envisioning the most desirable evolution of tourism across the regional landscape, reiterate our support for the advancement of Caribbean tourism, noting the sector’s role in contributing to the wider regional development agenda”.
They said that this will be achieved through a number of initiatives including partnerships, advocacy, resilience, local empowerment, human capital development, diversification, technological innovation and knowledge and Information Sharing
“ We recognize the value of collaboration and inclusion and echo the sentiments of the UN Sustainable Development Goal #17 which states that a successful development agenda requires inclusive partnerships at the global, regional, national and local levels-built upon principles and values, and upon shared goals placing people and the planet at the centre,” the communique said, noting that the stakeholders had also indicated that they understand “that for regional tourism to be socially inclusive, we must continue to engage in relevant research, meaningful discussions, and actions that would continually strengthen the objective of ‘leaving no one behind’ and provide a fair chance to the next generation to benefit from sustainable Caribbean tourism development.”
They said they are aware of the region’s vulnerabilities to the impacts of climate change, natural and anthropogenic hazards, and other global events, which have a significant impact on the region’s small open economies.
“Effective protocols for Disaster Risk Management… are pivotal pillars for the viability and long-term growth of tourism; and should incorporate climate adaptation strategies, business continuity planning, and standards and guidelines for effective health and safety management,” the stakeholders said, commending efforts to ensure that people in situations of vulnerability, including women, the youth, differently-abled persons, rural, indigenous and marginalized communities are meaningfully included in the tourism economy.
“We encourage the inclusion of all relevant stakeholders in tourism policy, planning and development activities,” the communique said, adding “we reiterate the importance of education and training in contributing to a highly-skilled tourism work force and by extension the competitiveness of the regional tourism sector.
“We continue to support and advocate for academic, technical, vocational programs and capacity-building initiatives, to further enhance the skills and competencies of the region’s human resources” as well as endorsing the principles and ethos of the “Orange, Blue and Green Economies, which present untapped new opportunities to improve the inclusivity, profitability and sustainability of Caribbean tourism.
The conference was attended by officials from the University of the West Indies, the Inter-American-Development Bank (IDB), the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Organisation of American States (OAS) among others.
source - CMC
WIPA not pressuring players to take COVID-19 vaccine; keeping eye on security concerns ahead of Pakistan tour
The West Indies Players Association (WIPA) will neither be insisting on nor discouraging members from taking the COVID-19 vaccine, even as Cricket West Indies (CWI) continues to get the region’s youth, women’s and men’s players vaccinated. President and CEO Wavell Hinds said each member should make their individual decision on the matter.
“Each human being is made up different. I don’t know if persons have comorbidities and other [things] that would affect them, so they would have to speak to the medical experts, their physicians and their personal general practitioners and see where it goes and if it is healthy and good for them to take, I’m sure that they will speak to their doctor,” he told Television Jamaica. “But I’m not a medical doctor so I don’t think it is my duty to tell somebody what they should do or shouldn’t do.”
Hinds also spoke about possible security concerns over the West Indies tour of Pakistan in December. New Zealand abandoned its tour to the south Asian country earlier this month, citing security concerns, and England withdrew last week from sending their men’s and women’s teams there for similar reasons. Hinds said WIPA is gathering information to help protect its members who have concerns.
“What we have done so far is to reach out to our counterparts in New Zealand and in England – the New Zealand Cricket Association and the Professional Cricket Association in England – and I reached out as well to some of my colleagues that sit on the FICA Board with me,” he said, adding a security report from Pakistan will also be needed. Last week, CWI chief executive officer Johnny Grave said that CWI is planning to fulfil its tour commitments with all countries, including Pakistan.
The West Indies are scheduled to play three ODIs and three T20Is in Pakistan.
Source - CMC
Victory! For the Teacher FC Team
The TCIFAA Football federation held 3 major games over the last couple days in the Providenciales primer league 2021-2022
Over the weekend on September 25th the Teachers FC took on SWAS Sharks FC at the TCIFA National Academy compound. A total of 150 spectators were in attendance for the game cheering the two teams on as they vied on the field for victory.
The first Goal of the game went to the Sharks FC club scored by Brian Gregg at just 6 minutes into the game.
The second goal of the game of was scored by Hayden Williams a member of the teachers FC team at the 25-minute mark, bringing the game to a draw. Which was broken by his teammate Emerson Monestine at the 42-minute mark. Brian Gregg of the Sharks FC scored a last minute shot the 45-minute mark right before halftime.
“Nicolas Lewin” scored at the 54-minute mark putting the Teacher FC in the lead. He was then followed by his teammate Emerson Monestine who scored at the 61-minute mark giving the Teachers FC a 2 point lead.
Kevern De Bellot of the Sharks FC scored at the 65-minute and the 74-minute mark closing the gap and bringing the two teams to a draw for the second time of the game.
Jeff Davilmar of the teachers FC placed the final goal of the game, scoring at the 80-minute mark winning the game for the Teachers FC at 5-4.