Caribbean News

Mia Mottley & Caribbean Leadership – Basil Springer Column

Published

2 years ago

November 3, 2021

“With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand.” – Psalm 78:72

Over the last three years Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s vision, intellect and wisdom has projected her on the local, regional, international scene as an individual who is well-equipped to lead the indigenous Caribbean in implementing solutions which will take the region to the pinnacle of sustainable success.

Her Sunday, October 3 press conference was no exception as she seamlessly addressed COVID-19 management and many topical issues.

The Caribbean nations are too small to be governed efficiently as individual legal and political entities. Caribbean

Dr. Basil Springer

financial risk management has suffered from centuries of European colonial exploitation and neglect. Marketing the Caribbean brand to the world, even in the tourism, entertainment and sports sectors, leaves much to be desired. Collaborative innovative disruptive holistic capital partnership initiatives have not been mobilized to drive our economies. Our people are our most important asset, we must develop them to the fullest.

Let us change our thinking from CARICOM (18m population) to Caribbean (40.5m population) distributed over four heritages – English (6m), French (11.2m), Dutch (0.8m) and Spanish (22.5m).

Let us adapt the “benevolent dictator” leadership style of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew, where fearless decisions are made in the people’s interest and the country grows. This is in contrast to the legacy of a postcolonial soft democracy strategy where the “tail wags the dog” and progress “spins like a top in mud”. A commitment to action-oriented democratic governance is necessary.

My limited knowledge of political science posits that the Barbados Labour Party, with a massive majority in the Barbados parliament, could call a snap election now as the Democratic Labour Party is still in siesta mode, and easily get another five-year term with a comfortable majority.

Immediately, the Prime Minister could start making firmer decisions in the interest of the people of the country without having to worry about the political risk occasioned by the utterings of small groups.

The success of these decisions may then be good examples to other political jurisdictions in the Caribbean.

She could then work on giving her ministers more autonomy, eventually appoint a new leader, and focus her intellect on leadership of a Caribbean coalition for the ultimate mutual benefit of all the Caribbean nations.

Prime Minister Mottley’s warm embrace of her African brothers and other world leaders; Professor Sir Hillary Beckles’ reparations charge to former European colonial masters; and the leveraging of billions of private sector dollars lying dormant in the Caribbean banking system will provide a nucleus of funds to address Caribbean financial security.

Marketing the Caribbean is about satisfying the needs of our residents and the needs of those who visit our shores.

The prime need now is to rid the Caribbean of COVID-19 related challenges led by an aggressive vaccination program in the midst of anti-vaccination propaganda.

The Barbados government, with a new political mandate, could focus on scientifically-based vaccination practices, as was the case for a number of vaccines when I was growing up in the 40s and 50s, with minimum political risk and in the interest of all residents and visitors.

The slogan “VACCINATE: You may save your own life” should be aggressively placed in the vanguard in parallel with the building of Caribbean brand initiatives.

The future Caribbean economic profile can be resplendent as we develop in the areas of Services, Industry, Agriculture and the Blue Economy.

We ought to develop all individuals and support entrepreneurship. And alas, shepherd them with thy skillful hand.

Caribbean News

Paid internship opportunity in Energy Data Collection, Application DEADLINE is April 19

Published

8 hours ago

April 19, 2024

Deandrea Hamilton

April 19, 2024 – The Caribbean Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE) in cooperation with the Energy and Utilities Department (EUD), Ministry of Public Safety and Utilities (MPSU), is looking for a motivated intern to work in close collaboration with regional and national institutions to survey and collect energy-related data that will be used to create the Energy Report Cards (ERCs) for the Turks and Caicos Islands. A stipend for the intern will be provided by CCREEE.

The intern will be based at the EUD/MPSU. The internship program will provide students and/or young professionals with a unique opportunity to work with the energy sector institutions and stakeholders in TCI, gain practical experience in the energy sector, and contribute to the knowledge management functions of the Regional Energy Information System within the CARICOM Energy Knowledge Hub (CEKH).

SCOPE OF WORK

The CCREEE in collaboration with the EUD/MPSU will collect specified data and information that will be used to develop the TCI Energy Report Cards which will be made accessible through the CARICOM Energy Knowledge Hub (CEKH). The hub may be accessed by registering at https://cekh.ccreee.org. The Energy Report Cards will also offer important support to the CCREEE work program, including support for energy planning and the development of sustainable energy projects.

DESIRED PROFILE

Bachelor’s degree or on course for completion of one by December 2024.
Interest in the energy sector and willingness to learn about the socio-economic, technical and environmental aspects of the energy landscape; studies in sustainable energy, environmental sciences or related fields are an asset but not a National or resident of one of the relevant countries.
Proficiency in English.

INTERNSHIP TIMEFRAME

The internship will run for a period of eight (8) weeks from May 27 to July 19, 2024.

APPLICATION

The intern applicant should send their application (motivation letter and CV) on or before April 19, 2024 to recruitment@ccreee.org and copy eud@gov.tc.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Caribbean News

Earth Day 2024: Planet vs Plastics – A Call to Action for Reducing Plastic Waste

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2024

Shanieka

As Earth Day approaches on April 22nd, the DECR is rallying the community to join the global movement towards reducing plastic waste and safeguarding our planet’s future.

Plastic pollution remains one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, threatening the health of our oceans, wildlife, and ecosystems. With an estimated 8 million tons of plastic entering our oceans every year, the need for action has never been more urgent.

This Earth Day, the DECR urges you to take meaningful steps towards reducing plastic consumption and waste. From single-use plastics like straws and bags to microplastics that infiltrate our ocean and food chain, every piece of plastic avoided makes a difference.

By embracing reusable alternatives, recycling responsibly, and advocating for policies that prioritize sustainability, we can all play a role in mitigating the plastic crisis. Together, we can create a cleaner, healthier planet for future generations.

Join us this Earth Day in committing to reduce plastic waste and protect our precious environment. Together, we can make a difference.

Tune into the DECR’s social media by following us on Instagram @DECR_TCI or on Facebook at DECR Environmental Education & Outreach Group.

Caribbean News

Senior Teacher Endorses Robot to Assist in Educating Infant and Primary School Students

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2024

Shanieka

KINGSTON, April 17 (JIS):

Senior Teacher at Alpha Infant School, Sabrina Raymond-Hunter, has endorsed the ‘ICHEETAH’ robot, a smart educational AI-powered tool that will advance the way young children learn and interact with technology.

The robot, developed by CHEETAH Toys and More, LLC, is designed to engage and educate children at the infant and early-primary levels of education in a fun and interactive manner, supporting their cognitive development and preparing them for future academic success.

Speaking at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank on April 16, Mrs. Raymond-Hunter recognised the potential of this cutting-edge technology and its ability to enhance the learning experience for young children.

“I am really excited about this product. I was able to get this into my classroom of 23 students and they are super excited about this. We have had it for three weeks and this is a game changer,” she said.

The Senior Teacher, who also serves as the school’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Designate, added that the students’ learning has been enhanced since incorporating the technology into her teaching.

“It has enhanced it a lot because you know the boys, especially, once they are happy and find something that is fun, they will want to do it. My boys started off a little bit rocky, but since they got this robot, they are spelling, identifying words and reading,” she noted.

Having yielded positive results from utilising the technology, Mrs. Raymond-Hunter is encouraging other schools who are not yet on board to do so.

“I’m encouraging all the other schools to get on board, and if for any reason you need a demonstration, come to Alpha. I’ll show you exactly how we use it to get our students on board and on level with everyone else. Learning should be fun, and with iCHEETAH it definitely is,” she shared.

The robot is outfitted with several interactive features, including voice recognition, games, and educational content, making learning engaging and exciting for young learners.

CONTACT: SHERIKA HALL