Government has paid out close to $2.5 million in severance to former employees of Caves of Barbados. This was revealed by Minister of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Kerrie Symmonds on Tuesday in the House of Assembly. The Jamaican nature adventure company Chukka was awarded the management contract for Harrison’s Cave effective December 31, 2020, and there had been some dispute among displaced staff related to their severance. Symmonds said …
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Minister of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Kerrie Symmonds (right) along with outgoing chairman of the Barbados National Oil Company Limited (BNOCL), Alex McDonald, in conversation following the opening of the brand new annex at the Fairy Valley headquarters of the state-owned oil importer on Tuesday. (Picture by Sandy Pitt.) Social Share
Government says it is not yet convinced that external factors alone are responsible for price hikes in this country.
With the public outcry growing louder over the rising cost of living, including accusations of price gouging by the business sector, Minister of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Kerrie Symmonds says he has instructed the Department of Commerce to conduct a thorough review of recent price movements in Barbados.
Barbados Today May 26, 2021
Leader of the Opposition Bishop Joseph Atherley has urged Government to revolutionize the National Housing Corporation (NHC) and reform land policy to give more working-class Barbadians the ability to own a piece of the rock.
He made the call in the House of Assembly as he blamed the current housing policy for benefitting the privileged and keeping the plantation economy system alive and well.
But in an impassioned response, Minister of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Kerrie Symmonds stoutly defended the Government’s track record and cried shame on Bishop Atherley for choosing to ignore its progress and continued efforts.
Lawmakers raise drinking age to 18
Article by May 12, 2021
The age limit to legally buy or consume alcohol is to be raised to 18 under a new Liquor Licences Bill, lawmakers in the House of Assembly agreed Tuesday.
Minister of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Kerrie Symmonds told the House of Assembly that anyone caught selling alcohol to those under 18 or encouraging them to become involved in the business of selling liquor could be charged and fined up to $10,000, up to five years in prison, or both.
Symmonds explained: “Under the old legislation which we seek to repeal today, at age 16, you could do all of these things. You could get a drink, go and buy it and walk out with it. You could be in a rum shop and a youngster comes in and you could employ him in the process of a business which is engaging in the sale and consumption of intoxicating beverages.”
Article by Social Share
Government is making it easier for people to obtain liquor licenses as it moves to repeal the 1957 Liquor Licenses Act.
The Liquor License Bill 2021 being debated by the House of Assembly today takes the responsibility for the issuing of liquor licenses out of the hands of the law courts and vests those powers of administration and implementation in a civil Liquor Licensing Authority to be set up under the Ministry of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
The Authority, to be headed by a director, will be responsible for administering the proposed new legislation; issuing licenses; supervising licensees and the operation of licensed premises and for the general enforcement of the Act which also provides for the issuing of nine categories of liquor licenses.