Barbados

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Things are beginning to look very interesting in the alternative energy sector in Barbados. In recent months we have witnessed an intensification of practical involvement and investment, from both the public and private sectors. There is now better appreciation that we can generate more of our power needs using solar and wind energy. Last week Government took another positive step when it launched the wind energy project at Chance Hall, St Lucy, under the aegis of the Ministry of Transport and Works.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Evidence of Errol Barrow’s influence continues to permeate Barbados and the Caribbean, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart told a thanksgiving service in memory of the Father of Independence yesterday. Speaking at St Christopher’s Anglican Church, Stuart said he and the members of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), which Barrow co-founded, were “pleased to be his distinguished successors”. Stuart said Barrow lives because the things he stood for were deeply engraved in the hearts of people; and that the things Barrow did were engraved in immortality.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - WITH the heightened political activity currently on in Barbados, it seems only a matter of time before Barbadians get to know just when they will be going to the polls to elect a Government of their choice. Both political parties – the ruling Democratic Labour Party and the Opposition Barbados Labour Party – are in a state of readiness for the elections which will be called by the Prime Minister, the Honourable Freundel Stuart. Some political pundits are suggesting that the poll will be called this month with polling day some time in February.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has been outmanoeuvred by the opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) and is being forced to call a general election, three political scientists say. And they contend that the longer Stuart waits to act, the worse it could be for his Democratic Labour Party (DLP) administration.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC - Barbados and Sweden have signed a protocol to amend the Convention for Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes on income. A statement from the Ministry of International Business and International Transport said the accord went into effect last month after being signed on November 3, last year.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – The Barbados Workers Union (BWU) says it will “definitely” embark upon industrial action after efforts to get the telecommunications company, Cable and Wireless (Barbados) Limited, to retract dismissal letters sent to nearly 100 workers last week failed. BWU general secretary Sir Roy Trotman said that while no date has yet been decided on when the industrial action would start, he was insisting “there will be industrial action but we will determine where, how and when. The time and the hour will be decided when the General Secretary announces”.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - LIAT has apologized to customers travelling to and from Dominica and St. Vincent who have been experiencing an increase in cancelled flights and delayed baggage.
In a release today from the regional airline, it was stated_ “Over the past two weeks customers travelling to/from Dominica have faced an unusual number of cancellations, especially at nights; while customers travelling to/from St Vincent have experienced delays in receiving their baggage”.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - A national strike, which could see thousands of workers on the streets, is now looming following LIME’s decision not to withdraw dismissal letters to 97 employees.
A last-ditch effort mediated by Minister of Labour Esther Byer-Suckoo at the Ministry of Labour’s offices in Warrens, St Michael, failed last night to bring a resolution between the telecommunications company and the island’s largest trade union, the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU).

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - At last some sense has emerged between the leaders of Sudan and South Sudan who have agreed to a set of proposals outlined by former South African President Thabo Mbeki and envoy of the African Union (AU) to bring about a settlement to their dispute.
Relations between these two neighbours have also been tense since the independence of the South in July 2012. Nonetheless, it is a good development that both the flanks of Sudan have responded to diplomacy.

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Barbados’ largest telecommunications company, LIME, has taken the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) to task for threatening to call a national strike over job redundancies at that company.
The union on Monday called on LIME to withdraw the 97 letters of termination issued to workers by today or face industrial action. On January 2 LIME announced the laying off of 97 workers.