Moontown

Lingering concerns over the threat of influenza A (H1N1) have led campus officials at the University of the West Indies, Mona, to cancel all non-academic public gatherings for a further three days.The matter again will be assessed on Wednesday, read a press release issued yesterday.

On September 6, it was reported that some three students were confirmed to have been infected with the virus, better known as swine flu. Well-placed sources told The Gleaner that a total of 60 students were showing flu-like symptoms.

The UWI said yesterday that during a meeting last week with members of a monitoring committee formed to assess the situation, it was confirmed that most of the affected persons presented mild flu-like symptoms, with the majority having a full recovery within 36 hours.

The UWI, however, reiterated that neither suspension of classes nor closure of the institution was warranted at this time.

The Guild of Students of the University of The West Indies, Mona says students are now less anxious since the detection of the H1N1 cases on Friday.

The president of the Guild, Vishwanauth Tolan says instead, students are trying to ensure that they observe the measures to reduce further infections.

However Mr. Tolan says despite the improvements, students still have concerns about the restrictions on some activities.

He says the Guild will continue to have dialogue with the University’s administration to keep the student population informed.

In the meantime, the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona, says it will resume scheduled social activities on the campus on Wednesday.

The university had placed a ban on all non-essential activities last week following the confirmation of three HIN1 cases.

The UWI says following a meeting of the campus administration on Friday a decision was made to postpone the events for another four days.

However the university says most persons showing mild flu-like symptoms since the confirmation of the three H1N1 cases have recovered.

It’s advising, students, staff and other persons to observe the necessary precautions and hygiene practices to reduce the spread of the virus.

Former minister without portfolio in the finance ministry Don Wehby has revealed that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has suggested that the public sector wage bill be cut.

Mr Wehby, who has now returned to the private sector, was the Government’s point man in the exploratory discussions on a return to the IMF.

Jamaica will be seeking US$1.2 billion in balance of payment support from the fund.

According to Mr. Wehby based on the IMF’s suggestion the wage bill should be cut by about $15 billion.

The government has not spoken much about the possible conditionalities of the IMF loan.

The Prime Minister Bruce Golding has only said Jamaica would be imposing its own conditions, as it gets ready to return to the IMF.

SALT FISH AND RICE; COU COU

GROUND PROVISIONS; MACARONI PIE

BAKED PORK; BAKED CHICKEN

CREOLE FLYING FISH; FRIED KING FISH

GRILLED BARRACUDA; LAMB STEW

FISH GRAVY;  TOSSES SALAD

COLE SLAW

by TONY BEST

UNEMPLOYMENT in Barbados has dipped, falling into single digits.

While the decline was relatively small, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance David Thompson sees the national job picture as an indication that Barbados’ economy is not falling off a cliff.

“I think Barbados is weathering the storm. That’s how I would describe it as,” he told BARBADOS BUSINESS AUTHORITY. “Obviously, there are issues that concern us greatly. We are doing our best to ensure that we stabilise our economy in the face of external challenges that are confronting us.”

He added: “We are also doing our best to ensure that levels of unemployment do not increase. Basically, we are now in the phase of what you may describe as preparing Barbados for the post-recession period. Believe it or not, the latest unemployment statistics actually show that unemployment is at 9.9 per cent.”

According to the Central Bank, unemployment at the end of March 2009 was 10.1 per cent.

Joblessness had dipped under eight per cent in 2007 but spiked as the global economic recession affected tourism, the flow of foreign direct investment and resulted in a significant slowdown in construction. All of these contributed to layoffs or reduced work-hours.

According to Thompson, the fall in unemployment did not make a “significant difference”, but he was quick to insist that it was a sure sign that the Government’s economic strategy was working.

“It indicates that our attempts to stabilise jobs in the Barbados economy have met with success . . . . That’s one of the critical objectives of our economic policy at this time.”

He noted that the drop in the jobless rate ran counter to what was happening in neighbours like Jamaica and The Bahamas.

SMALL BUSINESSES continue to increase despite challenges posed by the current recession.

President of the Barbados Small Business Association (SBA), Celeste Foster, reported an increase of more than 400 members during the past year, just 15 per cent below the SBA’s target of 500 for the period.

Speaking at the launch of Small Business Week 2009, at the SBA’s Pelican Industrial Park offices, Foster said membership growth had been recorded even in the face of challenges such as layoffs. She saw this as proof that small business grew while big businesses tended to fail in times of recession.

The SBA president welcomed strategic business alliances and support from corporate partners like Scotiabank, which is working with SBA for Small Business Week.

Scotia’s senior manager, marketing, Tony Phillips said the bank’s commitment would be reflected across the range of activities in which it would be engaged during Small Business Week which runs from September 20 to 26.

“We are committed to helping them to meet their top business goal - to grow sales and revenue, and to overcome major challenges such as improving cash flow, managing debt as well as costs,” Phillips said.

There will be a careers showcase at the SBA’s Pelican Park headquarters during the week, at which CEO Lynette Holder will help students to develop an appreciation for the world of work, and for various sectors of industry. (GC)

by GERCINE CARTER

FORMER PRIME MINISTER OWEN ARTHUR is back in the political fray to ensure the Barbados Labour Party recaptures power.

Arthur declared his return to mobilise and energise the Barbados Labour Party, telling constituents of St George North and South constituencies last night: “I am here this evening because I am fully committed to doing all I can do to ensure the return of the Barbados Labour Party to power.

“It is my only mission and nothing will distract me.”

To rousing applause from a packed St George Secondary School hall, Arthur stated: “I have come this evening with a simple message that there is no position in this society that is too small for me, for me to serve this great party”.

And he sent a strong message to his fellow colleagues in the Opposition BLP on how the party must operate.

“The Opposition must be that entity that keeps Government on its toes. The Opposition must be the institution in the country that is always focussing the concerns of the people, in such a way that those concerns must be heard and those concerns must be acted upon . . . for the betterment of the people that we purport to serve.

“The Opposition Barbados Labour Party once I am part of it, must be the voice of the people,” Arthur stated.

And he said his was not a “lust for office” but an effort “to save Barbados”, claiming that Barbadians were “worried because there is a dangerous slide in their circumstances”.

“Nowhere is that slide more dangerous and the diminution of the Barbadian circumstances worse than in relation to the state of the Barbados economy,” Arthur told the cheering St George constituents.

Arthur was harshly critical of the economic policies of Prime Minister David Thompson.

Quoting declining tourism figures for the period between July and September, the former Prime Minister, Arthur described it as “a catastrophe” which he blamed on a Government “determined to reverse everything his Government had done”.

Arthur charged that the Thompson administration was “seeking to reverse important policies that worked”.

He was also critical of Government’s management of the Social Partnership, and its housing policies.