THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE “creeping into Barbadian society” is the No. 1 worry for Barbadians, followed by crime and gangs, drug abuse and guns.
This is according to the Barbados at 50: National Values Assessment survey, details of which were released yesterday (October 9, 2017) at the Sagicor Cave Hill School of Business.
The national survey, conducted by the Special Studies Unit of the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) between January and March of this year, captured the views of more than 1 000 respondents, representing a wide cross-section of Barbadians, and showed that citizens were also concerned about the infiltration of American culture, a heavy focus on materialism, the rejection of hard work, a laid-back attitude, and a sense of entitlement within the society.
Among values which respondents wanted the country to discard were intolerance, adoption of other cultures, gossiping and substance abuse; while those respondents wanted Barbados to keep certain values such as loyalty to family, mutual respect, thrift, hard work and courage.
The survey also targeted educational institutions, including tertiary level organisations like the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic and the University of the West Indies, and sixth forms.
Ri Ri lookalike featured
THERE’S A “new kid in town” who is the spitting image of superstar, Rihanna.
She is Boston model, Andele Lara, and when she began her catwalk career in 2014 at age 22, the British press said she was Ri Ri’s mirror-image.
Three years later, Elle Magazine is featurin
g Lara, stating that she “is a Rihanna doppelgänger down to a T”.
Elle added that as far as celebrity lookalikes go, things are usually pretty hit and miss. “We mean, yeah, some of them are absolutely spot-on…but most are off the mark. That being said, we have to give credit where credit’s due (in this case).”
With identical green eyes, and the shape of the face and lips, the Boston-based Instagram star is making the world do double- and triple-takes.
Venture into any one of Lara’s Instagram posts, and the comment section may look like this:
“Take a look at Lara’s most Rihanna-esque moments and judge for yourself.”
Massive food project at Dukes
A MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR agri-business development project will be constructed at Dukes Plantation, St Thomas, on land gifted to the University of the West Indies’ Cave Hill campus five years ago
Local newspapers today reported that Town and Country Planning approval had now been given for construction of the UWI/Dukes Agri-business-Science Development Park on the 28 and-a-half acres of land presented to the university by Duke’s owners, Vanessa and Charles Edghill.
At the media launch of the project yesterday (October 9, 2017), UWI principal Professor Eudine Barriteau said the Barbados Government had secured US$34 million (BDS$68 million) from the People’s Republic of China to fund it, through the island’s bilateral aid programme with that nation.
Construction is to begin in the first quarter of next year, with the project scheduled for completion in two years.
Shortly after the land was given in 2012, former director general of the Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture, Dr Chelston Brathwaite introduced a ten-year food and nutrition plan to generate over 4 000 jobs and save $100 million in foreign exchange. The plan, based on a partnership between farmers, the Government, private sector and the University of the West Indies (UWI), was launched at Dukes.
With Barbados’ food import bill hovering around $700 million annually, the project is a timely one.
Racial inequality in UK revealed
Black, Asian and minority ethnic people are twice as likely to be unemployed than white British adults, while Afro-Caribbean people, including thousands from Barbados, are several times more likely than whites to be stopped and searched by the police, arrested and jailed despite being no more likely to commit crimes.
This is part of a British Government racial disaparity audit which was published today (October 10, 2017) on the new Ethnicity Facts and Figures website, showing how people of different races are treated in areas including health, education, employment and the criminal justice system.
The “entrenched” disparities in the life outcomes of British ethnic minorities and white people have prompted Prime Minister Theresa May to urge institutions to help ensure race is never a barrier.
A considerably higher unemployment rate among black, Asian and minority ethnic people than white British adults and lower home ownership among Blacks are among the findings to come out of the report.
Among the findings are:
- Black Caribbean pupils are permanently excluded at three times the rate (0.29 per cent) of white British pupils (0.1 per cent)
- The unemployment rate for black, Asian and minority ethnic people (8 per cent) is nearly double that of white British adults (4.6 per cent), with a larger gap in the North (13.6 per cent) than the South (9 per cent)
- White people, Indians and Pakistanis are more likely to own their own home than Blacks and Bangladeshis , and there are disparities in home ownership even after taking account of age, geography, income and socio-economic group
- Chinese and Asian secondary school pupils perform better than white and black children, particularly those eligible for free school meals, although Pakistani pupils consistently fall behind, and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children do significantly worse
- Ethnic minorities are under-represented at senior levels across the public sector
- A high percentage of people of all ethnicities feel they “belong to Britain”, with little variation between groups (white 85 per cent, Asian 84 per cent, black 81 per cent)
The report has prompted campaigners to urge ministers to lead the way in tackling the inequalities, but also to acknowledge that society as a whole must change to ensure a level playing field for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) Britons, as well as white people.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission meanwhile called for a “comprehensive and coherent race equality strategy” from the Government.
Its chairman David Isaac said: “The findings of the race audit do not come as a shock to us….Only by taking focused action to tackle race inequality can Britain become a fair country in which individuals can reach their potential and our communities can live and work together to create a strong economy and a cohesive society. ”
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More oil as Guyana looks set to be major producer
ECONOMICALLY STRUGGLING Guyana is expected to be one of the leading oil producers in Latin America in less than a decade.
According to a senior analyst with Wood Mackenzie, a global leader in commercial intelligence for the energy, metals and mining industries, two recent major discoveries offshore could lead to Guyana producing over 350 000 barrels of oil per day by 2026.
This follows reports last weekend that Exxon Mobil Corporation had discovered more oil on the Stabroek block offshore Guyana, northeast South America, with the Turbot-1 well, following previous discoveries at Liza, Payara, Snoek, and Liza Deep. An additional well on the Turbot discovery is being planned for 2018.
The most recent drill encountered a reservoir of 23 metres of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone in the primary objective, the company stated.
Pablo Medina, Wood Mackenzie’s senior analyst, Latin America Upstream, said this latest discovery puts Guyana on the map as the country currently does not produce any oil.
“We expect around 350 000 to 400 000 b/d (barrels per day) of oil production by 2026,” said Medina, “making Guyana one of top oil producers in Latin America.”
Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd. is the operator and holds the main percentage of interest in the Stabroek block, while Hess Guyana Exploration Limited and CNOOC Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited are the other interest holders.
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