Vanguard News
Rejiging Akwa Ibom economy: The Udom Emmanuel interministerial model
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By Emmanuel Sam
When in January 2021, Governor Udom Emmanuel promised to rejig the state’s economy with a #50 billion capital to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and empower Akwa Ibom youth through inter-ministerial direct labour jobs, many thought it was a tale by moonlight. But not only was the economy rejig with funds, but the Governor ended up pumping in a whopping #55 billion recreating a state that has become a major construction site.
That’s not all. To further show his commitment to the empowerment of the middle class and youth, the Governor also injected #1 billion for the interministerial direct labour jobs meant to empower the grassroots who form the bulk of our rural dwellers.
Education officials have once again
raised the ire of the country’s two teachers unions, amid allegations that COVID-19 protocols established before the resumption of school are not being implemented across the board.
The concerns are expected to dominate the unions’ talks with senior civil servants on Wednesday as the country grapples with the second case of the deadly virus at a secondary school within the first seven days of the new term.
On Monday morning, students of the Ellerslie Secondary School were turned away from classes because of what was later identified as a positive case within the student population. Late last week, a student of the Princess Margaret Secondary School tested positive and another at St George Primary School was said to have been exposed to the virus.
May 12, 2021
The death toll from the coronavirus pandemic rose by one Tuesday while health authorities closed yet another school after a student tested positive for the virus.
The woman, a 66-year-old Barbadian, died Monday night, Health and Wellness Minister Lt Col Jeffrey Bostic announced Tuesday night.
Lt Col Bostic revealed that the woman had a history of hypertension, diabetes, and shortness of breath.
He said: “She was a primary contact of a COVID positive patient on the 5th of May, 2021.
“She had a negative first COVID-19 test and presented for her second test yesterday. Sometime after returning home, she regrettably passed away. Sincerest condolences [are] extended to her family and friends.”
Article by Social Share
The Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) is currently investigating a report of another positive case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in a secondary school.
President of the BUT Pedro Shepherd told Nation News that while he had not yet received official confirmation from the Ministry of Education, he had received reports that a Sixth Form student at the Ellerslie Secondary School in Black Rock, St Michael has tested positive for the virus.
“I am still awaiting word from the ministry, but if this is indeed the case, it is going to be the expectation going forward as schools open back up. I don’t think we need to panic over these things at this stage, we have to quarantine, isolate and manage the situation,” Shepherd said.
Barbados Today May 9, 2021
With public health officials giving the all clear to St George Primary School and Princess Margaret Secondary School after the Ministry of Health investigated COVID-19 exposures, Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw is imploring parents to use these cases as a cautionary tale to their children, to take the health protocols seriously.
During the COVID-19 update on Sunday, Bradshaw said though most students were strictly abiding by the health protocols currently in place, some were still not following the health rules consistently.
“There have been many concerns regarding the school environment; I have heard much concern about whether the students are wearing masks, and for the most part, a lot of our students are wearing their masks and abiding by the various protocols. I would urge parents to use this exercise as a learning curve for many of you,” Bradshaw said.