Page 2 - Estimates Debate News Today

The existing Barbados National identification card has breaches that the new digital one should eliminate, says Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology (MIIST) Wayne Marshall. The issue of the card, its replacement and the security concerns came up during the Estimates Debate in the House of Assembly yesterday. Marshall said the issue of a secure ID card was a serious one as the current card …

Overseas markets have a growing appetite for breadfruits from Barbados, and Barbadians are being urged to cash in on the interest. This was reiterated by Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) chief executive officer Mark Hill, who said his organisation had received an order for 2 000 breadfruits on Monday. Hill told the Estimates Debate in the House of Assembly that while this item was being sold in Barbados supermarkets …

Government will soon be reviewing the drawing board to complete a review of the demerit system in the Road Traffic Regulations in an effort to clamp down on lawlessness in the public service vehicle (PSV) sector. This was revealed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Works Santia Bradshaw during the Estimates Debate in the House of Assembly yesterday. She fielded questions and heard comments from parliamentary colleagues …

The potential of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to impact food security is but a sharp reminder that Barbados needs to fast-track its plans to shore up the food and nutritional security of the island. This point was driven home yesterday by Minister of Agriculture Indar Weir, who was fielding questions from his parliamentary colleagues from the Well of Parliament, when the Estimates Debate continued. Weir said that the …

Barbados’ first two medicinal cannabis licences should be issued by June as the fledgling industry enters a new phase that will include more opportunities for Barbadians. This was announced yesterday during the Estimates Debate by Minister of Agriculture and Food and Nutritional Security Indar Weir and chairman of the Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority Anthony Bryan. With Bryan reporting that there were 11 entities now going through the application process, …

Chairman of the yet-to- be established Disabilities Commission, Edmund Hinkson, says with the Estimates Debate starting in the House of Assembly this week, he plans to push for the advancement of the most vulnerable people in society. “People with disabilities must have equal rights legislatively in this country, as everyone else, and must be included in all aspects of our society. Certainly, all three times I’ve been a candidate I …

Cash for some ex-LIAT employees Barbados’ Attorney General Dale Marshall as he presented his government’s plan to make ex-gratia payments to some ex-employees of LIAT. Ex-employees of the fraught-filled regional airline LIAT, who are resident in Barbados, whether Barbadian or otherwise, can now look forward to receiving some ‘cash in their hands’. Barbados’ Attorney General Dale Marshall, speaking during that country’s Estimates Debate to the country’s Parliament last week Tuesda...

Social Share The minimum wage in Barbados should increase to $8.50 an hour – or $340 a week – by April 1, says Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations Colin Jordan. But Government backbencher Toni Moore, who is general secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union, says that wage cannot adequately meet the survival needs of workers at the bottom of the ladder. The minimum wage issue was raised by Moore and Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley while Jordan and officials of hi...

Tense industrial climate Article by March 17, 2021 Minister of Labour and Social Relations Colin Jordan has described the current working environment in Barbados as “tense”. Speaking during the Estimates Debate this morning, Jordan said this was primarily due to the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic had created a sense of uncertainty among both employers and employees. “The working environment can be characterized as tense and there are a number of reasons for that. Ther...

Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley is concerned about the tensions which he says exist in Barbados’ energy sector. The St Michael West representative has also questioned whether Government’s plan to reserve 30 per cent of the renewable energy industry for Barbadians is sufficient. He was speaking yesterday as the Estimates Debate started in the House of Assembly with the Ministry of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship in focus. “It is …