Moontown

As Barbados continues to be plagued by the slimy pests, known to most as the Giant African Snail, a leading Entomologist is urging members of the public to “step up their game” and start increasing the number of snails collected.

According to Entomologist at the Ministry of Agriculture, Ian Gibbs, “although the number of snails that the Ministry is getting right now is pretty good, it’s still not quite up to the amount that we were getting in recent months, especially during the latter half of last year.”

Noting that since the bounty’s inception in March 2009, to the end of January of this year, some 175 tonnes of snails were collected and burned at the Ministry’s Graeme Hall headquarters, Mr. Gibbs pointed out that this figure represented a significant withdrawal of material from the breeding pool of snails in Barbados.

He said: “Each one of these pests that you pick up and destroy has the potential to produce up to 1200 eggs per year, most of which hatch and produce more snails, and subsequently, each of those go on to produce an additional 1,200 eggs per year.  So, if you do the arithmetic you will see what a horrendous figure you would end up with in a short space of time.”

Describing the eradication process as an “ongoing challenge”, the agriculture officer lamented the fact that the public had this mistaken belief that it was the Ministry’s problem and not one of national concern.

“Let me just say that this is a problem for everyone, especially for those persons that live in such heavily infested areas as St. Michael, St. James, St. George, St. Thomas, St. Andrew and St. Joseph.  People need to realise that they have an obligation to take part in this programme, not only as a way to regulate or manage the Giant African Snail on the island, but it is also a great way of making some additional cash. 

Stressing that persons could take the herbivores to his unit at the Ministry of Agriculture where they would be weighed on site, the entomologist stated that if individuals could not get to the Ministry, they could call the Graeme Hall facility at 434-5107 and a team would come and weigh the snails on site.  

“You see, we have made this as unproblematic as possible for persons, so there should not be any excuses.  In some instances we have had up to 1,000 lbs of snails being collected in a single day, and that represents approximately $1,000. 

“You don’t have to be living in any of the infested communities; any Bajan, anywhere on the island could collect the Giant African Snail,” he reiterated.

The agriculture officer also called on other organisations such as the 4-H Foundation, the boy scouts, girl guides, schools and church and community groups to participate in the bounty programme, deeming it an environmentally sound way of dealing with the snails.

Mr. Gibbs clarified: “The bounty is 50 cents per pound for live snails.  And, the reason we say live snails is because these creatures after they die tend to get rather smelly.  So, if they are alive, it’s better that we at the Ministry handle them, so that persons get away from that smell.”

The bounty was introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture as a means of garnering more public support and interest in collecting and destroying the Giant African Snail. 

Barbadians are again being urged to assist the Ministry of Agriculture in the campaign to eradicate these pests. (BGIS)

Maia Chung-Smith

Highya Ziya, who has released ‘Guide and Protect’ in support of the autism cause. - photo by Mel Cooke

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Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer

Orlando ‘Highya Ziya’ Bryan has done several recordings, released and unreleased, before Guide and Protect. However, it is that song, recorded at John Bigs studio and accompanied by a video, which he seems most enthusiastic about - and with good cause.

It is specifically about autism, Highya Ziya advising:

“Guide and protect the disabled ones

Seek them a helping hand

For the purpose that they come to do

Might help me and you”

“Maia Chung (who created Jamaica’s first autism foundation) is a lady who I have seen for a very long time, from she was working on CVM. I like how she reach out; she is a humanitarian,” he said.

Bryan pointed out that Chung reached out in a situation where she could have retreated into herself, as “sometimes when you have a kid like that it bother you, you want to focus on yourself, to what you are going through. Those children take time”.

Musical interpretation

Highya Ziya met Chung in 2008 and, “Me start reason with her from there”. He says she told him he has a good voice and encouraged him to do a song about autism. “And I just put the song to reality,” he said. It was written along with Mark Writer.

He said he is also a member of the foundation.

In a separate interview, Chung said the foundation generally encourages people to volunteer in their area of specialisation. In Highya Ziya’s case she said they needed a song, as “we want everyone to know what life is like for the disabled person”. She wanted a song that would be like an anthem for the disabled and is happy with Guide and Protect.

“It has been the musical interpretation of our ideology,” she said.

Some promotional push went into the song last year and, although it has not yet been released commercially, Bryan says people have been asking where they can get copies.

Highya Ziya claims that he is the first artiste to do a song of that nature and also shoot a video for it. That video was shot at the Mona Rehab, the Abilities Foundation and in Trench Town, near Culture Yard.

Reach out to them

With those locations, the video has moved beyond autism to encompass other conditions and Highya Ziya says when he was doing the video “by just observing the disabled ones and reasoning with them, telling them we were going to reach out to them with the video, it got them excited to know someone reach out to them. They are great people. Many of them are athletes who go to Olympics and they don’t get that justice”.

He said being among them “is a joy, the calm and the humility them show me, it make me feel calmer and go deeper into myself. Sometimes them more dedicated to you, the love them show you, then other people”.

Chung emphasises that all the persons who worked on and participated in the video - Slingshot directed, Redface handled the editing and Asha co-produced along with herself and Highya Ziya - were volunteers.

“It’s all a culmination of showing there is something among Jamaicans to be ‘bigged up’. We give, we care, it’s not all about flash,” she said.

Now Highya Ziya wants to follow up with another song, Care For The Children, which addresses another issue.

“You hear about so many kids missing, me just want to reach out,” Highya Ziya said.

“We all in the society need to guide and protect the weaker,” Chung said. (Jamaica Gleaner)

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt (right) crosses the finish line ahead of United States’ Tyson Gay (second from right) and compatriot Asafa Powell (foreground left) during the Men’s 100m final at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Berlin, Germany. - AP photos

Tyson Gay (left) beats Asafa Powell to claim victory in the 100m final during the British Grand Prix Athletics at Gateshead Stadium, earlier this year.

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The world’s fastest man Usain Bolt has joined the 100m field for the DN Galan-Samsung Diamond League meeting in Stockholm, Sweden where he will face countryman Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay for the first time since last year’s IAAF World Championships in athletics.

World sprinting’s ‘big three’ will clash for the first time this season on August 6th at the Olympic Stadium, organisers have announced, adding even more fireworks to the event that already had Powell and Gay confirmed even while organisers worked to secure the financing for Bolt’s participation.

The last time the three met, Bolt set a world record in the 100m, clocking 9.58 in the German capital of Berlin, with Gay finishing second in 9.71. Powell, a former 100m world-record holder himself with 9.72, finished third on that day in 9.84.

Top three sprinters

Meet director Rajne Soderberg said yesterday it was “a great pleasure” to have the world’s top three sprinters running in Stockholm.

“It is a great pleasure to confirm and host this exciting race,” said Soderberg. “It will strengthen DN Galan’s positioning within the world of sports.”

This unique meeting between the world’s greatest 100m sprinters is being sponsored by Samsung it was further pointed out.

The race will also be the first of just two meetings between ‘The Big Three’ this year, with the second clash set for the Samsung Diamond League final in Brussels on 27 August.

Interestingly, Stockholm is the site of Powell’s only victory over Bolt in nine races against his powerful compatriot. Powell got the better of the Olympic and world double sprint champion, weeks before the Beijing Games.

Speaking to the BBC, Soderberg fuelled the flames and hinted of possible revenge for the superstar Bolt.

“I think it was the only (100m) race he has lost in his (professional) life, so he probably wants to come back for revenge,” said Soderberg. “He (Bolt) had missed a couple of races (with injury) and did not want to run more 200m, so it is a great honour to have him. This will increase interest in the meeting for the future and (talk of the race) will linger on for years.” (Jamaica Gleaner)

Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

TAXPAYERS may have to fork out US$57 million or approximately J$4.8 billion as exit fees from a currency-swop arrangement.

Parliament yesterday approved a loan guarantee to refinance a €204.4-million loan from Bandes - the development bank of Venezuela - which goes towards the financing of Highway 2000.

Peter Bunting, the member of parliament for Central Manchester, told Parliament yesterday it was his understanding that “the cost of unwinding the cross-currency swop, were it done yesterday, would have been US$57 million or J$5 billion in losses”.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding did not contest the figure, but said that even in that ballpark, the taxpayer might still not be hard hit.

Discounted buy

Golding told the House of Representatives that Government intends to repurchase the Bandes bonds at a discounted price.

“Given the nature of the market and the nature of the bonds, we would be able to purchase them at a significant discount,” Golding said.

“Even in that (Bunting’s speculated) ballpark, we expect to be able to pay out that cost and still end up with US$30 to US$35 million to finance NROCC’s (National Road Operating and Constructing Company) obligation for the extension of Highway 2000.”

The refinancing of the loan guarantee became necessary after the Development Bank of Jamaica, in 2008, entered into a debt-swop arrangement to protect itself against a devaluing euro in which the debt was denominated.

But the deal went belly-up during the recession when the euro regained its position, leading to losses for the Government on the interest due on the debt as well as the interest. At the time of the debt swop, it cost US$1.54 to purchase the euro. The rate has since gone down to US$1.10.

Bunting, an investment banker, argued that the country needs to be given an accounting of the cost of the transaction to the country. He argued that while the losses may be close to US$60 million at this point, the interest losses to the country have not yet been taken into account. (Jamaica Gleaner)

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com

By Renuka Singh

Work is continuing on the upcoming national budget, Finance Minister Winston Dookeran said yesterday.

But this time, a “fresh approach” has been used for budget preparations, he said.

A new interactive method that included discussions with several key sectors of the community was used to help prepare for the government’s fiscal package.

The last budget for 2009/2010 was delivered in Parliament in September last year and had a deficit of almost $8 billion.

Dookeran was speaking to reporters yesterday as he exited the St Mary’s Anglican School, Tacarigua where he voted in the local government election.

He said he was still “working hard” on the preparations for the People’s Partnership first budget.

He said he had already met with representatives from the business sector, the labour sector and others, including youth groups.

“A lot of interest has been shown in the budget, I am very encouraged by that,” he said.

The business community was interested in changes within economic policy, he said.

“I was most pleased with the young population, looking for what they refer to as advancement, innovation and those types of things. It was very encouraging that people were not approaching the budget in the traditional way, which was ‘what can we get out of it’,” he said.

He said even though previous administrations included the business community in talks to help formulate previous budgets, this was the first time such an “elaborate programme of discussions” was organised. (Trinidad Express)

By Curtis Rampersad Business Editor

An “early” national budget is expected to focus on issues like the near collapse of CL Financial and CLICO, as well as increasing food production and making it easier for entrepreneurs to get loans from banks.

Finance Minister Winston Dookeran said yesterday the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) would need to focus on increasing food production, given the impact of rising food prices on inflation.

A restructuring of the State enterprises sector, including special purpose companies, is also being looked at.

Dookeran was speaking yesterday at a luncheon hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad hotel in Port of Spain.

“The challenges are enormous,” and the country needs to shift from an industry-based economy to one that is driven more by human development, he said.

Although baseline trajectories suggest the economy could be disrupted and the State’s inherited deficit could increase, Dookeran said there was still some “wiggle room” to rebuild a platform for growth and fiscal consolidation.

Asked about problems contractors faced with getting paid for work on State projects, Dookeran said he recognised that the bills were piling up and that the process to work out payments for them was being addressed.

He said the national budget would be delivered earlier this year but would not give an exact date.

The previous 2009/2010 budget was delivered in Parliament on September 7.

Appointments of directors to State boards is also being addressed now, he added.

Deliberations on how to address CLICO and CL Financial are also ongoing and the State will have to come up with a solution soon, he said, adding that he knew policyholders had been waiting for payments from CLICO for 18 months.

The $2 billion gasoline subsidy may also be addressed shortly in time for the budget.(Trinidad Express)

Teachers are not going to disrupt the start of the new school term at Alexandra School.

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Mary Redman: . . . . BSTU has agreed to an orderly start of the new school year.”()

By: Trevor Yearwood

Teachers are not going to disrupt the start of the new school term at Alexandra School.

The Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) gave this assurance yesterday after lengthy talks with Minister of Education and Human Resource Development Ronald Jones about problems at the school.

BSTU president Mary Redman told the DAILY NATION it was in response to commitments Jones gave in addressing concerns of the staff.

The union had threatened to carry out some form of protest at the St Peter school if a number of complaints, including the docking of pay “in bad taste”, were not fully dealt with by the start of new term in September.

Redman said the union had four hours of “cordial, productive” talks yesterday with Jones and other senior Ministry of Education officials at the ministry’s Dame Elsie Payne Complex in Bridgetown, agreeing on a number of issues.

“Given all the above, and everything else being equal, BSTU has agreed to an orderly start of the new school year,” she reported.

“We were pleased with the level of seriousness and commitment that the minister brought to the talks and we look forward to more of the same.”

According to Redman, the Ministry of Education has agreed to “a full institutional inspection” for Alexandra School, looking at weaknesses as well as strengths.

Redman said the union had made the suggestion at an earlier meeting, the idea being for the authorities to scrutinise all elements of the school, including the pedagogy, leadership and finances.

She reported too that Government instructions in a letter to the school to dock the pay of teachers who went on strike in January will be put on hold until the completion of pay negotiations between the union and the Government.

Negotiations

“This means for us in the BSTU we can now continue our negotiations with ministry officials,” she noted. “That letter had brought us to an impasse.”

“Both the Ministry of Education and the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union recognise the need to hastily resolve all the outstanding issues, and to this end we have committed ourselves to the resolution of all the outstanding issues during the next two to four weeks,” she added.

The two sides were said to have agreed on the need to speedily implement decisions reached at earlier meetings but left hanging.

BSTU, Jones and senior ministry officials are to have a follow-up meeting next week. (Nation News)

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DR WARREN JESTIN, senior vice-president and chief economist at Scotia Economics of Scotiabank in Canada, says the global economy would be characterised by uncertainty over the next ten years.

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Andy Armstrong (left) talking with Dr Warren Jestin. ()

DR WARREN JESTIN, senior vice-president and chief economist at Scotia Economics of Scotiabank in Canada, says the global economy would be characterised by uncertainty over the next ten years.

He made this point yesterday at the monthly luncheon of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), at Hilton Barbados where he was the featured speaker.

Jestin said that businesses would relish security in access to credit, exchange rates and commodity prices, but “we are dealing in a world that almost certainly will be less certain over the next decade. We have changed financial markets fundamentally”.

Following up on his presentation at a breakfast business forum at the same venue on Tuesday morning, he reiterated China’s powerful position in the world and that its growth spurt would influence the balance of global economics.

“We have absolutely no idea where the government in China is going to invest its $2.4 trillion worth of foreign reserves over the next five years. Maybe they will leave them in treasury bills and bonds, maybe US [United States] interest rates will stay low, maybe they will invest in the energy sector.

“They may decide to go into direct investments in many other areas, maybe in tourism, maybe in a variety of infrastructural projects all of which creates an uncertainty that is very uncomfortable,” he said.

The economist said business leaders had to juxtaposition their search for economic certainties with the design of business models that could be adaptable to economic flux.

“If anything has been learned over the last 24 months it is that change can be extraordinarily rapid and that we have to be able to adapt to those. The companies that cannot are the ones that may well fall by the wayside.

“We believe that the demand that is coming out of many emerging economies which will be driving commodities the next three to five years will be strong enough to keep commodity prices high. . . .

“I would love to be able to offer you certainty in the economic forecast. We are not able to see an environment that is clear. What we see is wide ranges of outcomes. And we have to be cognisant [and be] able to adjust within that range to alternative outcomes,” Jestin said. (Nation News)