#chris sinkcler

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 8/12/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Saturday , August 12TH, 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Saturday Sun Newspaper (SS).

‘WE’RE IN TROUBLE’ ECONOMIC SITUATION WORSE THAN WHAT HAS BEEN REPORTED, WARNS ARTHUR - Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur says by any measurement today’s Social Partnership consultation on the economy was an abysmal failure for the simple fact that no common ground was achieved on the vexing issue of the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) or the way forward for the economy generally. Back in May, Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler had announced a $542 million austerity package, which included a hike in the NSRL from two per cent to ten per cent, with a view to wiping out a $537 million deficit. However, the onerous tax package has been met with strong resistance from both the private sector and trade unions, who continued today to agitate for relief on behalf of their constituents. While saying he was impressed with the way in which the General Secretary of the Barbados Workers Union Toni Moore forcefully put forward the union’s position during today’s consultation, Arthur, who chaired the Social Partnership for 14 years as Prime Minister from 1994 to 2008, said it was telling that the only commitment given by Government at the end of today’s eight hour consultation with the private sector and the unions, was for more dialogue on the economy. “We are in a stalemate!” declared Arthur, who also suggested that the talks had amounted to nothing more that “titillating theatre”. He explained that “a serious social partnership does not have to have a meeting to agree that it should consult. In the absence of any firm commitment by Government, Arthur also said it was quite clear to him that the NSRL was not going to be adjusted, despite the demands for relief, from unions in particular. He also warned that the economic and financial situation facing the Government was far more dire than either Sinckler or the Central Bank was prepared to admit at today’s meeting. “I believe the reserves are now under $600 million, five hundred and eighty something [million]. That puts a new complexion on it, and if you would recall there were certain things that were supposed to have been there to boost reserves  – the privatization of the BNTCL [Barbados National Terminal Company Limited] and the inflows from certain projects and they are not happening. So the prospects for an increase in the reserves, based upon inflows, is something that you have to put a question mark on again, and so we are in trouble,” Arthur said, while stating that a clear explanation still needed to be given on the severity of the island’s fiscal problems. “It is a dangerous stalemate,” he stressed, adding that “we now have to open our minds to new thinking because I don’t think we can go ahead just saying that we can’t make any adjustments, because if we don’t make the adjustments, there is a likelihood that this whole thing can come crashing down around our ears.” Arthur also took issue with the presentation made by Acting Central Bank Governor Cleviston Haynes for the simple fact that a lot of his financial information was only up to June. On the question of the NSRL, Arthur also said the consultation should have asked and answered the question: “Are we in line at least to achieve the objective of that Budget through the social responsibility levy to have no deficit in nine months?” While suggesting that such would be a massive achievement, he further questioned: “If the policies are not going to achieve their purpose and are counterproductive, what does the Government have in mind to replace it? (BT)

MOORE ANNOYED BY PM’S COMMENTS - Comments made by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart during yesterday’s Social Partnership meeting have offended general secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union, Toni Moore. Speaking after yesterday’s day-long meeting at the Hilton Hotel, Moore said Stuart’s remarks towards the end of the meeting had left a bitter taste in the union’s mouth. Moore said that in delivering his closing remarks, Stuart had given the impression that the unions had agreed with the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL). Stuart said: “When we met with the labour unions on June 23 . . . the unions made some of the same points that they made here today that it should be reduced and that it was potentially going to be a little burdensome and so on.  (SS)

THE BULL HAD TO BE HELD BY ITS HORNS, SAYS STUART - Prime Minister Freundel Stuart told Barbadians today that the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) was not introduced “by stealth”, but resulted from extensive discussions among experts in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs and the Central Bank. Stuart gave Barbadians this assurance today while wrapping up an eight-hour meeting of the Social Partnership at the Hilton Barbados Resort. “The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs is possessed of some of the most creative talent you can find anywhere in Barbados or the Caribbean. We have experts in Government; we have experts whom we consult outside of Government and we have expertise in the Central Bank. There are also very ordinary people in the society who make suggestions to us from time to time. That is where the NSRL had its genesis,” he stressed. The Prime Minister also said that given the country’s serious deficit problem, officials of the Ministry of Finance had sought to deal with it incrementally. However, he said this brought howls of protest from many quarters about how much money the Central Bank was printing for the Government. “The bull had to be held by its horns. I do not get into the business of fortune telling, and economic forecasting is a very slippery business. We need hope that the policy works. That is what every Minister of Finance and every government has to do. It is what every business manager has to do as well. It is what every manager in every context has to do – put policy in place, put all the necessary pillars of support around that policy and work towards its success,” he said. His comments were in response to concerns levelled by the trade unions and the private sector about the way in which Government was going about resolving the island’s economic challenges. (BT)

GIVE NSRL TIME - Give the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) a chance! That appeal has come from Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, who does not believe that the recent eight per cent hike in the controversial NSRL has been implemented for a long enough time for a conclusive decision to be made on its effectiveness. Stuart made the declaration yesterday evening while delivering closing remarks at the meeting of the Social Partnership at the Hilton Hotel. Led by the labour movement and members of the private sector, over 20 000 Barbadians took to the streets last month in protest of the increased NSRL. (SS)

HILTON, BNTCL ‘SALES CRITICAL’ - The expected proceeds from the divestment of Hilton Barbados and the Barbados National Terminal Company Limited (BNTCL) will be key in boosting Barbados’ flagging foreign reserves. This was the assessment of Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, Cleviston Haynes, as he fielded questions from the media at Hilton Barbados yesterday. His comments followed the bank’s release of its review of Barbados’ economic performance for the first half of this year. This showed that despite economic growth of about 2.2 per cent and a slightly narrowed fiscal deficit, import cover stood below ten weeks. Haynes said the reserves dropped because of heavy external debt service obligations, which came during the second quarter. (SS)

NUPW WANTS TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO NSRL FUNDS - The country’s largest public sector trade union wants to know what the Freundel Stuart administration has done with the monies collected from the controversial National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) introduced last September 1 at a rate of two per cent of the customs value of domestically manufactured goods and on goods imported into Barbados. When Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler introduced the measure last year, he said it was meant to raise $142.1 million annually – $89.2 million in the 2016/2017 financial year when prorated from September 1, 2016 – to assist “in offsetting the costs associated with financing public health care service provision in Barbados”,  to finance a new fleet for the Sanitation Services Authority (SSA) and to procure parts for the existing fleet. The already unpopular tax became a major bone of contention this year between Government on one side, and the trade unions and the business community on the other side, after it was increased to ten per cent effective July 1. (BT)

ANOTHER SLOWDOWN CENTRAL BANK REVISES ITS GROWTH FORECAST FOR 2017 -The Barbados economy, which grew by an estimated 2.2 per cent during the first half of this year, is expected to slow by the end of 2017. Acting Central Bank Governor Cleviston Haynes gave the revised projection today as he addressed a meeting of the Social Partnership at the Barbados Hilton Resort. While suggesting that growth would be “in the region of 1.3 per cent to 1.8 per cent, compared to earlier estimates of 1.5 to 2 per cent”, Haynes explained that the economy remained very challenged with the international reserves plummeting to $635.5 million or just 9.7 weeks of import at the end of June. This is even further below the 12-weeks benchmark, from the $705.4 million or about 10.7 weeks of import as at the end of March. Making a presentation to Government, private sector and trade union leaders that was also nationally televised, Haynes said the drop in reserves was due mainly to Government’s expected external debt service obligations and the ongoing delays in securing planned foreign investment inflows. He said while the foreign exchange reserves were “still manageable” the situation still offered no comfort as it could put further strain on the island’s ability to maintain its 2-to-1 peg to the US dollar. Haynes warned that even if the reserves should rise in the third quarter, they were expected to dip again at the end of the year due mainly to debt servicing and should therefore be dealt with as a matter of priority. (BT)

NSRL HITS PRICE OF LOCALLY MADE UNIFORMS - The price of school uniforms has gone up and sales have gone down. And it is all because of the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL), says president of the Small Business Association Dean Straker In his address to the Social Partnership at Hilton Barbados today, Straker said sales were down 20 per cent from the start of the month when compared to last year and it was general consensus among other manufacturers. He said it was a “retrograde step” for the NSRL to be applied on final sales and would be less of a burden on inputs like fabric and thread, for example, since the Small Business Association was not against paying its share to grow the Barbados economy. It was also causing a headache for businesses to tender for jobs or make quotations because the cost of inputs was constantly changing. Straker said those who buy local would think twice because it was costing more. “The automatic thing is to look elsewhere and to see how I can get this item at a cheaper price. And invariably if you can get it at a cheaper price in Barbados, it is going to be imported,” he pointed out. These products were likely to be from China and Taiwan and would not be to the same standard. Straker said he also had a big problem with asking workers – whom they were struggling to keep employed – not to take a wage increase when they also have to pay the NSRL. He urged government to reconsider how the tax was implemented since they were paying it at every stage of the process including raw materials, rent, utilities and wages. (SS)

RESIDENTS PARALYZED BY FEAR OF REGULAR SHOOTINGS - A pall of terror hangs over Black Rock and its environs, made thicker by Monday’s killing of 20-year-old Taried Junior Rock of 3rd Ave Chapman Lane, St Michael during Grand Kadooment on Spring Garden Highway, residents say. An explosion of gunfire in the waning moments of the street jump up also left approximately 18 people nursing injuries, including a six-year-old boy who was grazed by a bullet. However, even before Monday’s incident, residents of Black Rock and the nearby Deacons community were no strangers to indiscriminate shootings. Only days earlier, rapid volleys of gunshots rang out in Deacons Farm just after midnight in an apparent celebration of last month’s release of death row inmates Vincent Edwards and Richard Haynes. The violence is generally attributed to gang warfare, a suggestion that was given credence by Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite and Acting Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith who declared on Tuesday that there were 16 criminal gangs operating in the Black Rock area. The fear gripping law abiding residents was obvious when Barbados TODAY visited the troubled communities that straddle St Michael West Central represented in Parliament by James Paul, and St Michael North West represented by Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler. Since the most recent outbreak of violence, there has been increased police presence in the Black Rock area. It is a welcomed development for one elderly woman from Rosemont, who said while she did not really fear living in the area, she felt safer knowing that lawmen were patrolling her community. However, not everyone is pleased with the increased police activity. Two Rosemont men who sat in their verandah as they spoke with Barbados TODAY, made it clear they were concerned that children were not playing outside because of the shootings. However, they were terribly aggrieved at the frequent visits by heavily armed police, arguing that Rosemont was being unfairly targeted. “Police come all hours of the night. Police moving through here every minute of the day, even before Monday’s incident. They run through with guns and the fellows on the block feel harassed . . . . All they doing is trying to pressure the fellows into reacting to them in a way that would cause them to arrest them,” the younger man told Barbados TODAY He also bitterly complained that during last Monday’s Kadooment Day the area was almost locked down by police “but still nothing ain’t happen here . . . the shooting happened on Spring Garden”.    In Belfield, Grazettes and Fairfield most of the residents said they were not living in fear because their communities were generally quiet. However they are worried about the safety of their children, and the impact the gun violence could have on the country and its tourism. (BT)

TOO MUCH TALK AND NO ACTION - One social worker is pleading with Government to implement programmes that benefit the youth in order to keep them out of trouble. Chief Executive Officer of Supreme Counselling for Personal Development (SCPD) Shawn Clarke said the authorities promise much, but deliver little, leaving young Barbadians free to fall to the temptation to get involved in crime. Clarke told Barbados TODAY the talk-shop mentality had to be discarded and the mechanisms and programmes needed to help young people, put in place. SCPD is a non-profit focusing in on crisis intervention, with special emphasis on persons experiencing substance abuse, family and behavioural problems and other issues that may arise within the community. Clarke revealed there was an increasing number of troubled young people who need intervention, many of whom were looking for “quick fixes”. The youth counsellor added that too many young people lacked the capacity to be empathetic, nor did they value life. The community activist said a dramatic drop in the number of youth and community groups and programmes had a negative impact on young people, who did not have as many activities to engage their time as was the case in the past. As a result, he said, the idle hands somehow ended up following the wrong crowd and engaging in mischief. (BT)

POLICE APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE IN FAIRCHILD STREET SHOOTING – Police are investigating a shooting incident that occurred sometime after 3 p.m. today in the area of the Fairchild Street Market, St Michael. The incident resulted in a 41-year-old woman, as well as a man in his late thirties receiving gunshot injuries. Preliminary investigations suggest that the assailant saw the male, who is known to him, in the area of the Fairchild Street Market and opened fire. As a result the female who was sitting by one of the stalls received a gunshot injury to her right thigh, while the male received two gunshot injuries, one to his foot and one to his back.  The woman was transported to the QEH by ambulance, while the man transported himself in private vehicle to the QEH for medical treatment. Anyone who can provide any information to assist with this investigation is asked to contact the CID Headquarters at 430-7189, or 430-7190. Police Emergency at telephone number 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS (8477), or the nearest police station. All information received will be strictly confidential. (SS)

NEARLY FOUR MILLION IN DRUGS INCINERATED - The Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) today continued its efforts at ridding the island of illegal drugs. The RBPF destroyed 7,500 marijuana trees, 1,600 pounds of loose marijuana and 4.5 kilogrammes of cocaine at the incinerator at the Bridgetown Port. Assistant Superintendent of Police Peter Gibson, who supervised the operation, said the marijuana had a total street value of $3.5 million, while the cocaine was worth $250,000. Gibson said the drugs were seized from various locations around the island in 2016 and during the first half of 2017 and that the related court matters had been fully adjudicated. (BT)

UNCERTAINTY OVER DREAM OF BECOMING JOCKEY - Brenda Hinkson was at home when she received the terrible news that her son had been shot. Her son, Akeem Hinkson, was one of the victims of the Monday night mass shooting at Spring Garden. He was hit no fewer than four times – in both legs, an arm and his side. The Chapman Lane, St Michael resident said she couldn’t believe the news at first. “My oldest son get a message and tell me then another family member who works with the NCF (National Cultural Foundation) call and tell me he get shoot. That’s my last son, that wasn’t easy to hear,” she said. Hinkson said Akeem, 18, still has two bullets lodged in his body – one in his right foot and another in one of his shoulders. He was hit in both legs but she said he had not gone to surgery as yet. An aspiring jockey, it is unknown whether he will be able to continue pursuing his dream. “I couldn’t believe that was my son when I went to the hospital. I couldn’t believe how many people there that did get shoot. “My son was with a girl and she get shoot too and she already get surgery but not him and I don’t know why not. He was supposed to go Tuesday and then [Wednesday] night but it keep getting put back,” she said. Hinkson said her son was keeping a brave face but had a swollen right leg where the bullet is lodged. She said she did not know what was happening to Barbados concerning all the gun violence and could only wait and see how her son would fare. The WEEKEND NATION contacted the Queen Elizabeth Hospital about Hinkson but was told they would be unable to release any information on patients. (SS)

BAJAN COACHES IN LEAD - Barbados will be a front-runner in coaching education as a result of the introduction of the CONCACAF B-Licence course. That was confirmed by CONCACAF coaching instructor Joe Supe during the opening ceremony for the second CONCACAF C-Licence course on the island at the Barbados Football Association’s offices yesterday. “Barbados is far ahead of everybody. Once we finish with the B course you’ll probably be the first to be recommended or implemented. You are ahead of Costa Rica now in terms of courses. They kind of stopped and lagged a little bit on the education part. “When we started the programme four years ago we recommended that this country be one of the first to get access to coaching education because of your strategic planning, desire to grow and be better and you have done a wonderful job in achieving the strategic goals,” he said. (SS)

DEACONS COACH WANTS FOCUS ON THE POSITIVES - We need to invest more time, effort, and most of all finance in communities like Deacons. This was the declaration made by Robert Jones, coach of Deacons FC Youth, during a press conference for the Caribbean Children Charity Shield Soccer Classic at the Pinelands Resource Centre on Wednesday. “It’s unfortunate that I should be having this conversation based on all the labels and stigmas going on in our community at present. “Fortunately for us, nothing that happened within the last couple of days was anything affiliated with Deacons; it probably happened within the area, but not a direct affiliation,” Jones said in reference to the Kadooment Day shootings. (SS)

BDF CAMP STARTS ON MONDAY - Eighty children will get an opportunity to learn vital life skills during the Barbados Defence Force’s annual summer camp, which will run from August 14 to September 1 at St Ann’s Fort. Camp Energy, which is in its 11th year, has as its theme: A Day in the Life. In addition to presentations on various professions, campers will visit organisations to receive information and observe the work of a variety of skilled professionals. Some of those areas will include Veterinary Science (RSPCA); Policing (RBPF); soldiering (Barbados Coast Guard); Justice (Oistins Magistrates’ Court); Exotic Pet Rearing (Barbados Reptile Association) and Horse Grooming (Sandy Turf Stables). The campers will also visit the HIV/AIDS Food Bank on August 16, at 1:30 p.m., and a Sports Day will be held on August 30, at Paragon Base, Christ Church, from 9 a.m. There will be a closing ceremony for the camp on September 1 at the Paragon Base, at 10 a.m. Camp Energy provides the campers with an opportunity to enhance their self-discipline; build individual character development; develop an awareness of individual responsibility and appropriate social behaviours; as well as increase their knowledge and awareness of community needs through service projects. This camp is hosted by the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Committee of the Barbados Defence Force. (SS)

COUGARS KEEP PACE - Lady Cougars are still keeping up the pressure on Pinelands. Toni Atherley finished a handful of assists shy of a triple-double as Lady Cougars blew out Burger King Clapham Bulls 62-30 during Thursday’s No.1 Beauty Supplies and Beauty Exchange Women’s basketball league. Playing in Clapham, the national captain dropped 20 points, 12 rebounds and five assists to help Cougars improve to a 7-1 record – just one game behind unbeaten leaders and defending champs Preferred Insurance Brokers Pinelands (8-0). The contest was never close either, as Cougars led from start to finish after scoring 12 of the game’s first 13 points while holding Bulls to just one point for the opening seven minutes on their own home court.   (SS)

POLLARD SWAGGERS IN TRIDENTS WIN - Rain spoiled an enthralling encounter after heavy hitters Kieron Pollard and Darren Sammy slammed exhilarating half-centuries, but Barbados emerged with a 21-run victory under Duckworth/Lewis to hand St Lucia Stars their third straight loss in the Caribbean Premier League, Thursday night. Pollard was devastating in an unbeaten 83 off a mere 35 balls as Tridents, opting to bat first at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground, amassed a tournament-high 196 for four off their 20 overs. New Zealander Kane Williamson got his first decent score with a measured 46, while fellow opener Dwayne Smith chimed in with 36. Seamer Kyle Mayers was the best Stars bowler with two for 30.  (SS)

PM’S TOAST TO CROP OVER - It was the last blast for hundreds of guests attending the Prime Minister’s ninth annual Crop Over Reception on Thursday night. Stars of this year’s festival took to the stage to give performances that reflected the excitement of the competitive Crop Over musical events that produced kings and queens. Winner of Sweet Soca, Red Plastic Bag; Party Monarch Lil Rick; Junior Monarchs Sparkle T and Mizz Kibaba and Pic-O- De-Crop winner iWeb transferred their competition night energy to the Ilaro Court stage, belting out their winning hits. In turn, cocktail glasses and plates of sumptuous fare were temporarily set aside as guests danced and waved on the grounds of Ilaro Court transformed with colourful lights and bunting, creating a festival atmosphere days after the curtain officially came down on Crop Over 2017. (SS)

That’s all for today folks there are 149 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 10/10/2014

The end of the work week is here and I simply can not believe how quickly it has flown. Soon it will be Halloween, Thanksgiving, Independence & Christmas. Don't balk at the first two holidays because everything the Americans do Bajans like to do to. Let's see what's in the news.

NUPW VS BCC - The National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) has thrown down the gauntlet. If the Barbados Community College (BCC) fails to meet with the union no later than Monday, then expect strike action the next day. He said the union had exhausted all attempts to have BCC’s management deal with several issues affecting the 400-odd staff members, ranging from tutors and part-time tutors to ancillary workers.

NO TO IMF - visiting Kittitian politician Deputy leader of the People’s Labour Party Sam Condorhas endorsed Barbados’ decision not to enter a structural adjustment programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to remedy its economic ills.Condor suggested Barbados and other Caribbean countries needed to increase their cooperation to reverse the downward economic slide. He also called on politicians to put aside their differences and put the welfare of the people first, as he charged that greed was partly to blame for prevailing economic conditions.

FOUR SEASONS - The ill-fated Four Seasons project is to put before Parliament for debate. Apparently a firm prospectus has now been agreed to by shareholders and the Government, outlining to potential investors the way forward for the Clearwater Bay development.

1.5 MILLION DOLLAR BAIL - After two weeks on remand at HMP Dodds, businessman Rodney Levi Wilkinson was granted bail by the High Court yesterday. And he will be allowed to go home as soon as he can find enough people to satisfy the $1.5 million bail sum set by Justice Maureen Crane-Scott. The accused, of Friendly Hall, Jackman’s, St Michael, who was the former chief executive officer of GEMS Hotels, is accused of dishonestly obtaining the money, through his companies, from Globe Finance and Nassco Finance Ltd, between 2013 and this year.

TERRIFYING LIGHTNING - Terrifying thunder accompanied by lightning flashes yesterday left a hole in the concrete ceiling of a classroom at the Ellerslie Secondary School.Scared children screamed and ran believing that gunfire had erupted around 1 p.m. when the island was in the midst of a flood watch for certain areas.

CANABIS CEREAL -42 year old GUYANESE NATIONAL Denroy Emroy Bailey of Baird Road, Weston, St James.is expected to appear in the District “B” Magistrates’ Court today on four drug charges. According to police, he was arrested yesterday after Customs personnel at the airport bond opened a package shipped from Canada and found compressed cannabis hidden in six boxes of cereal.

CHIKENGUNYA OUTBREAK -Shadow Minister of Health Dr Maria Agard believes many more Barbadians than reported may be coming down with the chikungunya virus and she has called on government ministers to treat the situation with a greater sense of urgency. She said while the Ministry of Health was reporting 40 confirmed cases, doctors were daily being confronted with “hundreds of suffering patients manifesting symptoms of the mosquito-borne viral infection”.

QEH PREPARED - The construction of a fully-equipped Isolation Unit at the Enmore Health Centre of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital is well underway. Last month, Minister of Health John Boyce announced that the four-bed facility would be part of the Ministry’s action plan to ensure the island is fully prepared to deal with highly contagious infectious diseases, including Ebola.

SERVICE DOGS - The legislation needs to be amended to make service dogs readily available to members of the disabled community and give the animals full access to all public places.This call was made by members of the Barbados Council for the Disabled (BCD) yesterday. While president of the council, Senator Kerryann Ifill, said there were still many laws to be changed, sensitising the public was the first order of business.

That's all for now where the news is concerned. My buzz word for today is "CREATE" Infuse your life with action. Don't wait for it to happen. Make it happen. CREATE your own future. CREATE your own hope. CREATE your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your CREATOR, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen... CREATE A BETTER YOU, right now, right down here on Earth.Here is wishing yourself a beautiful day and a fantastic weekend. <3 Shalom :)