Current Events

• Barbados Commits to Drug Treatment Courts
  Bridgetown Barbados, Monday March 25, 2013
  
  The government of Barbados today signed an agreement with the Organization of American States (OAS) to implement a pilot Drug Treatment Court project to promote judicially supervised treatment alternatives to incarceration for drug dependent offenders.
  
  The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite and the Acting Assistant Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) Angela Crowdy concludes the phase of negotiations and opens that of implementation. With the signing of the Memorandum, the OAS fully commits itself to promoting judicially supervised treatment alternatives to incarceration for drug dependent offenders in Barbados. The country now joins a selective group of others that have turned ideas into policies and practices, including Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic.
  
  On introducing the concept of drug treatment courts as an alternative to incarceration for drug dependent offenders last year, Attorney General Brathwaite said “From my end, I have bought into the concept of a drug treatment court. I believe our role is to save as many of our young men and young women as possible. What the court will do is enable us to sit down as a team and do exactly what we are presently doing, but with one objective, the objective is that we want to save the participant – not the defendant, not the criminal, the participant.”
  
  Drug related crime carries implications for backlogs in the court system, cost of incarceration, recidivism, and public health. The OAS, through the Drug Treatment Court Program for the Americas, is supporting Member States to find better ways to treat individuals with a drug abuse problem, prevent violence, promote citizen security, improve neighborhoods and communities, and reduce the risk of relapse into drug use.
  
  Throughout 2012, Barbados has participated in an international training workshop and hosted a sensitization workshop for Drug Treatment Courts (DTCs). Barbados will continue to receive training carried out by the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) of the Secretariat for Multidimensional Security, as part of the OAS Drug Treatment Court Program for the Americas. This has been possible thanks to the financial support and contributions of the government of Canada through the Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program (ACCBP).
  
  Through these activities, judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, police and probation officers, treatment providers, as well as policy makers involved in this process, are able to observe, analyze, and study the model in various countries where the DTCs are already operational. Other organizations, like the CARICOM Secretariat, together with experts from Canada, the United States, and Jamaica, also support the initiative.
  
  The CICAD Executive Secretariat will, as a result of this MOU, begin the process of meeting with the Barbados DTC Steering Committee to work out an action plan for 2013-2014, outlining the steps that will be taken to implement, monitor, and evaluate the DTC project.
  
  For more information about this initiative, contact Drug Treatment Courts for the Americas Project Manager Antonio Lomba, at alomba@oas.org.
• Finalists Announcement for the Caribbean Innovation Challenge 2013
  Hilton Barbados, Thursday April 25, 2013
  
  The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sub-regional Office for Barbados and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT/OAS) are pleased to announce the 20 Finalists of the First Edition of the Caribbean Innovation Challenge (CIC).
  
  At the CIC Finals, the following teams will compete for six awards in three categories: Economic, Social, and Environmental.
  
  Team Name* Country
  Affordable Innovative and Profitable Restaurant Haiti
  Book Line Barbados
  Emerald Energy St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  Environmental Paper Company The Bahamas
  Grace Farm School Trinidad and Tobago
  Greenhouse Organic Technologies Trinidad and Tobago
  Hivesource Trinidad and Tobago
  Ibis Bath & Body Barbados
  Inventive Learner Jamaica
  LCP Industries Antigua and Barbuda
  Luna Maya Belize
  MedRegis Barbados
  Mr. Tallymans Sundried Bananas Trinidad and Tobago
  Paradise Valley Water Park Jamaica
  Red Donor Barbados
  Regional Connectionz Saint Lucia
  Saint Kitts Business Connections Saint Kitts and Nevis
  Shakad Designer Wear Barbados
  Tambran by Tamara Grenada
  Youth and Young Adults International Agency Haiti
  
  *The teams are listed in alphabetical order
  
  After a rigorous selection process involving 493 regional teams, the 20 finalists will showcase their projects at the Finals, Expo and Awards Ceremony to take place on April 25-26, 2013 at the Hilton Barbados, where the teams will be provided with international visibility and feedback from experts and the public, networking opportunities with potential clients and investors.
  
  We thank all of the participants for their dedication, interest, and hard work in this 1st region-wide CIC competition. We are excited to see the development of innovative and creative projects and ideas in action and invite everyone to support the young entrepreneurs by attending the CIC Finals!
  
  
  We also express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to the judges, mentors and resource providers who dedicated their time and expertise to evaluate, provide feedback and encourage participants to successfully complete their projects. To our local sponsors and associates who supported the preparatory business training and provided in-country support, we look forward to your continued involvement and support in future CIC activities.
  
  About the CIC: http://www.youthin-cic.net
  About Youth-IN http://www.youth-in.com
  
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• VISIT TO BARBADOS OF THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE INTER AMERICAN DRUG ABUSE COMMISSION (CICAD)
  Barbados , Friday March 22, 2013
  
  The Assistant Executive Secretary of CICAD of the Organization of American States (OAS), Ms. Angela Crowdy will be visiting Barbados from Monday 25th March 2013. Ms. Crowdy’s mission to Barbados will coincide with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to facilitate the establishment of a Drug Treatment Court (DTC). You may recall that similar courts have been established in Jamaica and in Trinidad and Tobago with the assistance of CICAD.
  
  Ms. Crowdy has responsibility for the Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM) which is a diagnostic tool, designed by all Member States, which measures the progress achieved by individual countries and the Hemisphere as a whole, in the dealing with the drug challenge.
  
  The Assistant Executive Secretary is very interested in meeting with stakeholders, to explain what CICAD is doing, to understand better any challenges that thier may face, and to offer assistance where possible.
  
• INVITATION - PRESS CONFERENCE - The Finals, Expo and Awards Ceremony of the Caribbean Innovation Challenge
  OAS Barbados Office at 10:00 a.m, Friday March 15, 2013
  
  The Caribbean Innovation Challenge (CIC) is an international entrepreneur competition
  and business start-up accelerator for young people in the CARICOM Member states.
  
  The First Edition of the Caribbean Innovation Challenge (CIC) that will take place on
  April 25-26, 2013, at the Hilton Barbados Resort in Barbados.
  
  This is a component of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Barbados and the
  OECS Youth-IN program and implemented by the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT).
  
• NATIONAL CONSULTATION ON AN ANTI DRUG PLAN FOR BARBADOS (2013-2017)
  Amaryllis Hotel, Christ Church Barbados, Wednesday March 13, 2013
  
  The National Consultation will be held on 13 and 14 March, 2013 at the Amaryllis Hotel, Hastings, Christ Church
  
  The Organization of American States has been working with the Office of the Attorney General, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA) to elaborate an Anti Drug Plan which will guide national actions in treating with the drug challenge.
  
  The main objective of the exercise is to engage stakeholders and to solicit their views on the implementation of the Anti-Drug Strategy. The National Consultation is the culmination of intensive work and individual sector meetings with a wide cross section of stakeholders.
  
  The keynote address at the opening ceremony will be delivered by the Attorney General, the Honourable Adriel Brathwaite.
• SEMINAR ON INVESTIGATIVE AND OPERATIONAL COUNTERDRUG TECHNIQUES
  Crane Hotel Barbados , Monday February 11, 2013
  
  OAS CICAD IN COLLABORATION WITH ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE (RCMP) AND THE GOVERNMENT OF BARBADOS
  
  Will deliver a two week train the trainer seminar on an investigative technique called jetway
  
  This is a methodology that uses human behaviour to identify airline passengers who may be carrying drugs, money or involved in some other illegal activity.
  
  This training seminar and was delivered in a number of other countries in the Caribbean.
  
  Following the seminar Barbados was selected as the venue for this seminar from Feb 11-23, 2013. at the Crane Hotel St. Phillip
  
  We will be working through the RCMP to identify candidate for the seminars. Barbados and Grenada. These should be people who are concerned with security or screening passengers at the airport
  
  The seminar will include both classroom session as well as practical exercises on site at the airport
  
• OAS Secretary General Congratulates Prime Minister of Barbados
  OAS Washington D. C, Monday February 25, 2013
  
  The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, today sent a letter of congratulations to the Prime Minister of Barbados, Freundel Stuart, for the victory of his party in the general elections of February 21 and for his reappointment as the country’s leader.
  
  In his letter, Secretary General Insulza wrote that the vote showed the confidence of the people of Barbados in the plans of the government of Prime Minister Stuart. The victory, continued the leader of the hemispheric organization, took place in a very competitive environment combined with an exemplary atmosphere of peace, freedom and justice, as is the tradition in the Caribbean country. “I congratulate the people of Barbados,’ he added.
  
  In his conclusion, the Secretary General offered to Prime Minister Stuart and his government “the support of the OAS,” and assured him “that the organization stands ready to work with you in advancing your country’s development objectives and priorities.”
  
• Release of the Findings of the Barbados Drug Information Network (BARDIN) Report 2011 and Panel Discussion
  Savannah Beach Hotel Barbados, Monday January 28, 2013
  
  National Council on substance Abuse (NCSA)
  Release of Findings of BARDIN Report 2011 and Panel Discussion
  "The Role of Data Collection in Drug Policy"
  
  Moderator:
  Mr Jonathan Yearwood, Rresearch & Information Officer, NCSA
  
  Panel:
  Mr. Laurence Clarke, Chariman, NCSA
  Mr. Francis McBarnette, OAS Representative - Barbados
  Hon. Mr. Justice Randall Worrell, Judiciary, Barbados
  Dr. Kenneth George, Ministry of Health
  Mr. Cephus Sealy, Board Member, NCSA
• Barbados Assumes Chair of OAS Inter-American Council for Integral Development
  OAS Washington D C, Thursday January 17, 2013
  
  Press Release
  
  
  Barbados Assumes Chair of OAS Inter-American Council for Integral Development
  
  January 17, 2013
  
  The Permanent Representative of Barbados to the Organization of American States (OAS), John E. Beale today assumed the Chair of the Inter- American Council for Integral Development (CIDI), the main body of the hemispheric organization with decision making power in matters of partnership for integral development.
  
  The Chair of the CIDI was received from the Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda, Deborah-Mae Lovell, who held the role for the past six months and who concluded her term highlighting development as a “central” issue in the work of the OAS. "These are interesting times in the chapter of development for the region, and in the last six months we have been working for the Council to address this issue from a broader and invigorated perspective," said the Caribbean ambassador, who also offered her support to the incoming Chair.
  
  For his part, Ambassador Beale said that "Integral development really says it all about the OAS," because in his view it is an issue that affects both developing and developed countries. "Development is the way and the engine of economic growth," he said, recalling that, of all the pillars of the OAS, this is the most important because “this is the one that will help us achieve the other ones.”
  
  During the ceremony, held at OAS headquarters, the new CID Chair announced that he will focus his work on achieving more concrete and achievable objectives with fewer mandates.
  
  The OAS Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, congratulated the representative of Barbados and shared his vision regarding the importance and impact of development in all areas of the work of the organization. "Democracy and development go hand in hand," he said, and expressed his support for the prioritization of greater focus, rather than expansion, of CIDI’s work.
  
  "We have to define the areas in which we can make a difference and discuss and negotiate with other organizations of the Inter-American system the possibilities to share what we have been doing and we want to do," said the leader of the hemispheric organization.
  
  The CIDI reports directly to the General Assembly and is intended to promote cooperation among Member States for the furtherance of their integral development and, in particular, to help eliminate extreme poverty. The Council is composed of all Member States who meet in regular, extraordinary, specialized and/or sectoral meetings.
  
  
  
• THE SELECTED OF THE OAS BARBADOS ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES 2013 ‐ 2014
  BARBADOS , Wednesday January 9, 2013
  
  The following are the results of the award of OAS scholarships for graduate AND undergraduate studies and/or related research for the 2013/2014 academic period carried out by the Department of Human Development, Education and Culture of the Organization of American States.
• Regional Forum on Strengthening of the Inter-American system of Human Rights
  Accra Beach Hotel Barbados, Thursday October 11, 2012
  
  As part of a process of strengthening through the reform of its standards, policies and practices, between August and October 2012 the IACHR is promoting a series of Forums and academic events together with key actors of the Inter-American system of protection of human rights. These events are intended to deepen on the reform agenda and its main themes.
  
  
  
  The forums are the occasion to convene experts, representatives of Member States and organization of civil society, in order to dialogue on the items on the reform agenda.
  The Forum of Bogota, installed by the President of the Republic of Colombia Dr. Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, was the first of this series and it was held on August 22 and 23, 2012.
  
  
  The forums will be open to the participation of any interested person.
  
• Launch of the Caribbean Innovation Challenge (CIC)
  The Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Center , Tuesday October 2, 2012
  
  ""The Caribbean Innovation Challenge, an international competition and start-up accelerator for young entrepreneurs, will be launched at FOROMIC in Barbados""
  
  The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for Barbados and the OECS and the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT) of the Organization of American States (OAS ) are pleased to announce the Launch of the Caribbean Innovation Challenge (CIC) to take place in Barbados on October 2, 2012 at 4:00pm (EST) within the framework of the Foromic Conference http://www.foromic.org/), an event organized by the Multilateral Investment Fund of the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB).
  
  The Caribbean Innovation Challenge is an international competition and business start-up accelerator program for young entrepreneurs in the Caribbean. The CIC is organized and developed by UNDP Barbados and the OECS, and the Young Americas Business Trust (YABT) as part of the UNDP project Youth Innovation (Youth-IN): A Caribbean Network for Youth Development,.
  
  The CIC differentiates itself from other existing business model competitions by incorporating "before and after" stages, focusing on training and mentoring as preparation for the competition, and providing follow up services that include access to finance, networking activities, internships and promotion opportunities – which are key support services for first-time young entrepreneurs.
  
  Representatives from different national and international organizations will be attending, along with prominent and aspiring young entrepreneurs from the Caribbean.
  
  Youth-IN responds to the needs of youth identified in the report of the CARICOM Youth Commission (2010): 'Eye on the Future: Investing in YOUTH NOW for Tomorrow's Community'. Youth-IN promotes Caribbean youth inclusion, youth innovation, youth interest and youth Involvement. The project addresses the challenges of young people in the region and enhances opportunities for young people to make a difference in their communities and their nations.
  
  Phases of the Caribbean Innovation Challenge
  
  1. Online Semi-Finals: Teams complete a concept paper, a business model, a prototype test, a Facebook group or blog, and a collage of promotional photos, videos or graphical presentations.
  
  2. On-site Finals: Teams that qualify for the On-site Finals will make their "pitch" in person to the judges present at the CIC Award competition. The finalists will also have the opportunity to showcase and promote their products, or services, at an international event, that will include representatives from the private and public sectors, international and local organizations, financial institutions, among others.
  
  Awards
  
  Each CIC Award will include a cash prize of US$5,000
  
  A CIC trophy will be presented to each winning Team.
  
  A Certificate will be presented to each registered Team member as the CIC Winning Team Finalists
  
  The Finals and Award Ceremony will be held in Bridgetown Barbados, April 25-26, 2013.
  
• FOROMIC Barbados, The Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Center, October 1 - 3, 2012.
  Bridgetown, Monday October 1, 2012
  
  WELCOME
  TO FOROMIC
  
  The leading annual microfinance and microenterprise development event in Latin America and the Caribbean comes to the English-speaking Caribbean for the first time in its history. Barbados will welcome participants to Bridgetown from 1-3 October for the XV Inter-American Forum on Microenterprise (Foromic).
  
  Foromic is the most important marketplace and conference in Latin America and the Caribbean focused on micro, small, and medium enterprise finance and development, bringing together delegates from financial and microfinance institutions, associations of microentrepreneurs, government agencies, NGOs, international organizations, academia and more.
  
  In 2011, about 1,300 professionals from over 40 countries gathered in San Jose, Costa Rica, to exchange ideas and knowledge on best practices and strategies to promote entrepreneurship and economic activity in the micro and small enterprise sector.
  
  The event is organized by the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), a member of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs of Barbados.
  
• Sub-Regional Meeting for the Drug Information Network
  St. John's Antigua & Barbuda, Tuesday July 31, 2012
  
  The OAS/Inter-American Drug Abuse Control (CICAD) through its Inter-American Observatory on Drugs (OID) is working to strengthen the capacity of our member states to gather, analyze and report drug-related information. As part of CICAD’s work in the area of information, research & statistics on all aspects of the drug phenomenon, we are proposing to host a workshop on the drug information network (DIN) with selected official from the Caribbean Countries.
  
  This event will provide a forum for the presentation and review of several surveys, studies and information projects undertaken during the last two years throughout the region. It would also allow for preliminary discussions on setting up a regional Drug Information Network (DIN) and training new person to be apart of this network.
  In addition to facilitating the sharing of new information among regional counterparts in this field, the meeting also allows for some training and re-training of new person who have recently taken up responsibilities for drug information network. Some of the key areas of focus in this workshop will be the definition of standard indicators for DINs, the fostering of a commitment by countries to produce annual DIN reports, as well as the implementation of pilot project to improve availability of information from treatment centers in Caribbean Countries.
  
  Mr. Jonathan Yearwood, Research and Information Officer; and Mrs.Laura Seale, Research Assistant, with the of Barbados National Council on Substance Abuse(NCSA)will attend the workshop on the behalf of the Government of Barbados, July 31 - August 3 2012, in St. John's Antigua.
• The OAS and the Government of Barbados, Port Security Training Programmes
  Barbados Port Inc, Bridgetown, Monday April 16, 2012
  
  The Government of Barbados through the Office of the Attorny General has accepted an offer from the Organization of American States to conduct a number of Port Security related training prigrammes.
  The Oranization of American States has engaged the services of Halcrow Inc a registered Recognized Securtiy Company from, Florida,United States of America to conduct this training.
  
  The training is secheduled for April 16- June 2, 2012 and will be facilitated at Barbados Port Inc, University Row, st. Michael.
• Caribbean Small Hotel Forum
  Antigua & Barbuda, Thursday July 12, 2012
  
  The Organization of American States (OAS), in conjunction with the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority with the support of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Government of Luxembourg and the Government of Serbia is organizing a Forum for Caribbean Small Hotels in Antigua and Barbuda as part of the Small Tourism Enterprise Network initiative. This Forum will be held at the Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute, Antigua, July, 12-13, 2012.
  
  Mrs. Bonita Morgan Dir. Human Resources, Caribbean Tourism Organization a facilitator at the forum.
  
  Ms.Julia Bleman of Tropical Winds Apartment Hotel will attend on the behalf the Government of Barbados.
  
  
  The forum will provide opportunities for owners, operators and administrators of small hotels to access new information on service quality, the culture of hospitality, social responsibility, marking, technology tools and information system for the tourism sector and the use of social media among small hotels. This initiative is part of the Office of Tourism Sustainable Tourism Program for 2012 under the auspices of the small Tourism Enterprise Network (STEN) Project which focuses on improving the competitiveness of small tourism enterprises. The forum targets owner/managers of small tourism enterprises in the Caribbean with small hotels of 75 rooms or less.
  
• OAS OID/CICAD Natdin meeting
  St. Lucia, Thursday June 28, 2012
  
  Ms. Laura Seale of the Barbados National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA) will be attending an OAS OID/CICAD Natdin meeting, June 28-29 2012 in St. Lucia on the behalf of the Government of Barbados.
• OAS CICAD Drug Treatment Court (DTE) Model in Barbados
  Hilton Barbados, Tuesday June 19, 2012
  
  The Workshop will explore methodologies and the experiences of countries which have already adopted the DTE model. Experts from Canada, the Untited States of America and Jamaica will attend the Workshop.
• Fourty Second General Assembly of the OAS
  Boliva , Sunday June 3, 2012
  
  CIM Vice President to the OAS, Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner
  Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health in Barbados Will be attending the OAS General Assembly in Boliva.
  
  
• Celebration of OAS Pan American Day Barbados 2012
  The Barbados Museum and Historical Society the Garrison, One of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Friday May 25, 2012
  
  The OAS Barbados Office celebrated Pan American Day 2012 with a reception at the Barbados museum and Historical Society on Friday 25 May, 2012. The reception was held in collaboration with the PAHO, IDB and IICA.
  
  The offices of IICA and PAHO with the OAS mounted booths display information and on-going projects and the IDB in the course of the evening presented a six (6) minute video presentation on a project on coastal zone management. Venezuela Canada, Brazil and the United States also mounted booths.
  
  The reception was well attended by the diplomatic community and a cross section of the national community. The Dean of the diplomatic corp, the Ambassador of Brazil, the Ambassador of venezuela, the British High Commissioner, the Director-General of the Office of Trade Negotiations of CARICOM, Charge d'affaires of Canada were among those present at the reception.
• Caribbean Filmfest June 1-4 2012
  Washington D.C, Friday June 1, 2012
  
  In recognition of Caribbean Heritage Month in June, The American Flim Institute (AFI) Sliver is proud to once again host screenings of the DC Caribbean Filmfest, now in its 12th year.The festival is co-presented by Caribbean Association of World Bank and IMF Staff (CAWI), Caribbean Professional Network (CPN), Institute Caribbean Studied (ICS) and TransAfrica,
• OAS Barbados Internship Program with the Barbados Community College
  OAS Barbados Office, Monday May 14, 2012
  
  Ms. Bianca Johnson, a student at the Barbados Community College will serve as an intern at the OAS Barbados Office for the next four weeks. Ms. Johnson will assist the office in the administrative area.
  
  The assignment will allow Ms. Johnson to acquire relevant work experience and at the same time sharpen her technical skills
  
• OAS/DPS/SMS III Conference of States to the CIFTA
  Washington D.C, Monday May 14, 2012
  
  CIFTA as a program was approved during the First Plenary Session of the OAS held on November 13, 1997. Its purpose was to establish a regional standard for the control of the illicit manufacturing and trafficking in firearms: the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materiales. CIFTA emphasizes the need for authorizations or licenses of export, imports and transit; the reinforcement of the checkpoints for exports, amongst other things. The Convention thus seeks to promote and facilitate the cooperation and exchange of information and experiences between OAS Member States. The Convention established a Consultative Committee gathering a representative for each State Party in order to guarantee its implementation, to promote the exchange of information, to facilitate cooperation and foster training between States.[1]
  
  David Leslie from the Royal Barbados Police force
  will be attending this forum on behalf of the Goverment of Barbados
• UNDP HIGH-LEVEL CONFERENCE OF THE SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES
  Hilton Barbados, Monday May 7, 2012
  
  Achieving Sustainable Energy for All is essential for addressing two of the most pressing challenges of
  our time – reducing poverty and minimizing the risks of climate change impacts. Without access to
  sustainable energy, there can be no sustainable development. The upcoming United Nations
  Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012 (Rio+20), presents the
  international community with an opportunity to establish a global response for making sustainable
  energy for all a reality on the ground in every community and every country.
  To that end, the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2012 the International Year of
  Sustainable Energy for All. The Secretary-General has launched his Sustainable Energy for All (SEFA)
  initiative to identify and mobilize action by stakeholders from across government, business, civil society,
  academia and the development community. Three interlinked objectives underpin the goal of achieving
  sustainable energy for all by 2030:
  Ensuring universal access to modern energy services;
  Doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency;
  Doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
  A High-level Group has been established by the Secretary-General to draw up an Action Agenda, to be
  launched ahead of Rio+20, on the basis of which all stakeholders can make concrete commitments to
  move the world toward sustainable energy for all by 2030.
  United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a member of the High-level Group and partner to
  the Secretary General’s initiative. UNDP also facilitates the implementation of the International Year of
  Sustainable Energy for All at national level, by supporting awareness-raising and advocacy and the
  articulation of plans of action towards the SEFA objectives, at country level.
  UNDP is committed to supporting countries’ efforts to translate the SEFA objectives into actions on the
  ground and recognizes the importance of coordinated efforts between the public sector, the private
  sector and civil society on energy issues.
  
  Mr. Mark Lambrides Chief, Energy and Climate Change Miitgation Department of Sustainable Development and Kevin De Cuba of Department of Sustainable Development will be attending this forum on behalf of the OAS
• The Fourty Second General Assembly of the OAS
  Bolivia, Sunday June 3, 2012
  
  The next OAS General Assembly will be held in Cochobamba, Bolivia, from June 3 to 5, 2012
  
  Welcome to the 42nd General Assembly of the Organization of American States!
  
  The General Assembly is the supreme organ of the Organization of American States. It has as its principal powers, in addition to such others as are assigned to it by the Charter, the following:
  
  To decide the general action and policy of the Organization, determine the structure and functions of its organs, and consider any matter relating to friendly relations among the American states;
  To establish measures for coordinating the activities of the organs, agencies, and entities of the Organization among themselves, and such activities with those of the other institutions of the inter-American system;
  To strengthen and coordinate cooperation with the United Nations and its specialized agencies;
  To promote collaboration, especially in the economic, social, and cultural fields, with other international organizations whose purposes are similar to those of the Organization of American States;
  To approve the program-budget of the Organization and determine the quotas of the member states;
  To consider the reports of the Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the observations and recommendations presented by the Permanent Council with regard to the reports that should be presented by the other organs and entities, in accordance with the provisions of Article 91.f, as well as the reports of any organ which may be required by the General Assembly itself;
  To adopt general standards to govern the operations of the General Secretariat; and
  To adopt its own rules of procedure and, by a two-thirds vote, its agenda.
  The General Assembly exercises its powers in accordance with the provisions of the Charter and of other inter-American treaties.
  
  
  
• OAS Assistant Secretary General Speaks on CARICOM issues in Barbados
  Barbados, Friday April 20, 2012
  
  Reference: E-133/12
  April 23, 2012
  
  
  
  The Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Ambassador Albert Ramdin held discussions in Barbados on Friday with a series of officials including the President of the Caribbean Development Bank Dr. Warren Smith and high ranking members of the diplomatic corps. The Assistant Secretary General, who recently returned from the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia, met with officials in Barbados on ways to improve support and coordinate issues affecting OAS Member States of CARICOM.
  
  During the meeting with the President of the Caribbean Development Bank, discussions were held on areas for further collaborations between the CDB and the OAS in the areas of climate change, energy, initiatives to assist vulnerable groups, as well as initiatives on strengthening Civil Registries and the Puente in the Caribbean project.
  
  According to the high ranking OAS official, “We recognize the need to strengthen collaboration with all agencies to serve member states, especially in of financial constraint. We will continue to work together, to network where we can, and communicate with all partners on these issues.”
  
  The OAS Assistant Secretary General also met with officials of St Vincent and the Grenadines, who were in Barbados at the time.
  
  As part of his visit, Assistant Secretary General Ramdin addressed a conference on Peace in the Caribbean. According to the diplomat, the Caribbean region is home to some of the most stable democracies in the hemisphere, and while democracy must be safeguarded, governments across the region must intensify their efforts to address issues of crime and violence. “Sound government policy must continue to be supported and executed. Without adequate good governance, security cannot be guaranteed,” added Ramdin.
  
  For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.
  
  
• Department of Goverment, Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences The University of the West Indies, Course in Community Psychology.
  University of the West Indies, Barbados, Friday March 23, 2012
  
  The OAS Barbados Office will be part of a panel of development agencies which will hear presentations made by students of the University of the West Indies taking a course in community Psychology.The course seeks to examine psychological and social issues within the society as well as highlight ways to prevent or reduce their incidence.
• Caribbean Green Economy Forum
  Barbados, Wednesday March 28, 2012
  
  Caribbean Green Economy Forum, Sharing regional green economy experiences and identifying policy implementation support mechanisms for advancing the Caribbean sustainable development agenda scheduled to take place at the Almond Beach Resort Heywoods,
  St. Peter, Barbados
  
  Mr. Cletus Springer, Director of Department of Sustainable Development will be attending this forum on behalf of the OAS
• OAS/SMS/CICTE Major Events Regional Workshop
  Panama City, Wednesday May 23, 2012
  
  Tyrone Griffith of the Royal Barbados Police Force
  will be attending the Major Events, to be held in Panama City , May 23-25, 2012.
  
• Inter American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA) Seminar on Investigation of the Sale of Drugs over the Internet”, from April 16 to 19, 2012, Barbados .
  Barbados, Monday April 16, 2012
  
  The objective of the training workshop is to provide the participants with practical and systematic instruction and exposure to methods and tools that can assist them to monitor, identify and investigate the sale of drugs over the internet. The maximum class size for this seminar will be 24 participants with 12-15 coming from the host country and the remaining participants coming from Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
  
  
  
  The seminar is funded by the Government of Canada. It will be delivered by two specialists from the Swedish & Germany Police. The program will include both theoretical and practical sessions with participants completing case studies and various tasks on line using computers.
  
  
  
  
• The Barbados Technology in Education Conference organized by the Barbados Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development will be held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Center on March 15 – 17, 2012
  Barbados, Thursday March 15, 2012
  
  The aim of the conference is to highlight and enhance the pedagogical use and integration of instructional technologies in the Barbadian educational system.
  
  The theme, "Transforming Barbadian Education: Learning Powered Through Technology", embraces the diverse topics which will be discussed and debated in the planned workshop forums.
  
  One of the presenters received an invitation from the Barbados Ministry of Education.
  
  Ms. Cecelia Martins
  Unit Chief of the Educational Portal of the Americas in the OAS Department of Human Development, Education and Culture, Ms. Martins is a specialist in coordinating and implementing projects in the area of virtual education and training initiatives.
  
  
• Caribbean Conference on Trade Policy, Innovation Governance and Small State Competitiveness June 11-13, 2012 Shridath Ramphal Centre, University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, Barbados
  Barbados, Monday June 11, 2012
  
  
  This international trans-disciplinary conference will focus on the practice and theory of trade policy for small states in the contemporary global economy drawing on the experience and lessons from the Caribbean region. In particular, we invite submissions from academics and practitioners on the following themes:
  Trade Policy, Negotiations and the Implementation Agenda
  - Regional Trade Policy Formulation and Implementation
  - The CARIFORI;M-EU Economic Partnership Agreement
  - The Canada-CARICOM Trade Agreement
  Trade Diversification and Regional, Diasporic and Global Markets
  - Trade and Innovation Governance
  Trade and Export Facilitation
  Diasporic Trade, Investment and Entrepreneurship
  V Trade Policy and Innovation Governance in Key Strategic Sectors
  Food Security
  Renewable Energy Climate Change
  A select number of papers will be published in an edited volume.
  
• Consultation On The Small Business Development Centre Model and the Caribbean at Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre Barbados, March 08,2012
  Barbados, Thursday March 8, 2012
  
  Barbados will be part of the five-country pilot project, funded by the United States government through the United States Mission to the OAS, to expand the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) Model to the CARICOM region. The other countries are Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, and St. Lucia. The selection was based on the assessment submitted by Barbados identifying its institutional framework for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and how the SBDC model could be adapted to suit its own unique realities.
  
  
  
  The OAS Department of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism will oversee the execution of the project and be providing overall guidance. Our colleagues at Caribbean Export in Barbados will participate actively in the project. They will be contacting your office in the coming days to organize a first visit to your country to conduct consultations with key stakeholders. The University of Texas at San Antonio, which has assisted with the creation of a network of over 100 SBDCs throughout Mexico and has helped adapt the model in El Salvador and other Central American countries will be providing technical expertise.
  
  
  
• Drug Treatment Court Study visit exchange program and CADTCP Conference in Canada
  Canada, Sunday February 26, 2012
  
  The Hon. Mr Justice Adriel Braithwaite Attorney General of Barbados, Hon. Mr. Justice Randell Worrell of the Barbados Supreme Court and Ms. Yolande Forde Manager of the National Drug Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA), are three participants that will participate in a series of activities under the umbrella of the Exchange and On-Site Study Program,coinciding with the celebration of the 4th International Conference on Problem Solving Courts and Innovative Approaches to Justice to be held at the Sheraton Hotel,Toronto, Ontario. February 26-March 3, 2012. This event has been organized in cooperation between the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), Secretariat for Multidimensional Security (SMS) of the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Canadian Assoiation of Drug Treatment Courts Professionals (CADTCP), throudh its National Problem Solving Courts Institute (NPSCI).
• ICAO National Aviation Security (AVSEC) Screener Certification Program Workshop .Trinidad.
  Port of Spain Trinidad , Monday February 27, 2012
  
  Mrs. Tracey Forde-Baily Barbados participant of the Barbados Civil aviation department and Unit. Chief Air Traffic Services will be traveling to the ICAO National Aviation Security (AVSEC) Screener Certification Program Workshop in Trinidad, from the 27th of February to the 2nd of March 2012 by OAS/CICTE
  
• Assessment of the effects of Drainage wells (suck wells) and karst sinkholes on the ground water quality of Barbados
  Barbados, Tuesday September 27, 2011
  
  The HACH kit is equipment donated to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) will assist them with improving their water quality monitoring program
• THIRD MEETING OF MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC SECURITY IN THE AMERICAS
  PORT OF SPAIN,TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, Thursday November 17, 2011
  
  Press Release
  
  Ref: 1/11
  
  
  
  
  Ministers and officials responsible for public security in the region will gather in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on 17 and 18 November, 2011 for the third meeting of Ministers responsible for Public Security in the Americas (MISPA III). This forum was created by the Organization of American States (OAS) in 2008 to foster dialogue and to advance effective cooperation at the hemispheric, sub regional and national levels to reduce crime, violence and insecurity in the region.
  
  This third meeting of the MISPA will focus on knowledge sharing, technical assistance and the exchange of practices and lessons learned in the area of police management. The three key areas of police management which will engage the MISPA will be:
  
  1. Modernization of Police institutions within a democratic framework;
  2. Police professionalization and training; and
  3. Cooperation on police information systems and the enhanced use of technology.
  
  Barbados will participate in this important meeting and will be represented by the Honourable Adriel Brathwaite, Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs and Mr. Bertie Hinds, Deputy Commissioner of Police.
  
  PRESS RELEASE
  OAS BARBADOS OFFICE
  WEDNESDAY 16TH NOVEMBER, 2011
  
• OAS CICAD NCSA Workshop for the Stakeholders of the Barbados Drug Information Network (BARDIN)
  Bridgetown Barbados, Tuesday October 18, 2011
• Promoting Firearms marking in latin America and the Caribbean
  Bridgetown Barbados , Tuesday October 4, 2011
• Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF 2011) October 12-14 Barbados
  Hilton Barbados, Wednesday October 12, 2011
  
  As part of the Government's drive to highlight the thrust towards the long term energy security of Barbados the Government has announced that it will co-host the 2011 Caribbean renewable Energy Forum (CREF 2011), the region's biggest gathering of renewable stakeholders. Gathering upwards of 300 Caribbean and international delegates and run in conjunction with CARICOM, the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and the Organization of American states (OAS), the conference aims to catalyze the development of economically-sound renewable energy projects across the Caribbean.
  
  Confirmed speakers include:
  
  The Hon. Freundel Stuart, Q.C., M.P., Prime Minister, Government of Barbados
  Senator Hon. Darcy Boyce, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Government of Barbados
  
  Hon. Clive Mullings, Minister of Energy & Mining, Government of Jamaica
  Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, Deputy Premier, Cayman Islands Government
  Hon. Walter H. Roban, JP, MP, Minister of Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy, Government of Bermuda
  Hon. Kenneth McClintock, Secretary of State, Puerto Rico
  Ambassador Carlos Pascual, Special Envoy for International Energy Affairs, U.S. State Department
  Wayne Crawley, President & CEO, Emera Caribbean Limited, Emera Inc. - Canada
  Ambassador Albert R. Ramdin, Assistant Secretary General, Organization of American States (OAS)
  Don G. Roberts, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, CIBC World Markets Inc.
  Peter Williams, Managing Director – Barbados Light & Power
  Dr. Leonard Nurse, Chairman, Barbados National Oil Co.
  Adrian Katzew, Director, Mexico & The Caribbean – Vestas
  Mark Tippett, President – North Star Development
  Lynn Tabernacki, Managing Director, Renewable Energy & Sustainable Development Finance – OPIC
  Craig O’Connor, Director, Office of Renewable Energy – US Ex-Im Bank
  Gabriel Goldschmidt, Head of Infrastructure, Latin America & The Caribbean – International Finance Corporation (IFC)
  Rick Tallman, Founder & Partner – Renova Capital Partners
  Hon. Dennis Lister, J.P, M.P, – Bermuda
  Dr. Steve Oney, Chief Science Officer – Ocean Thermal Energy Corporation
  Will Wynn, Former Mayor, Austin, Texas; Former Chairman – Austin Energy
  Philippe Benoit, Sector Manager, Energy - World Bank
  
  Ralph "Bizzy" Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Williams Industries
  Gary Putt, Executive Director - New Zealand Geothermal Institute
  Jason Timothy, Project Coordinator, Geothermal Project Management Unit, Commonwealth of Dominica
  
  Julian Despradel, Head of Alternative Energy and Energy Conservation, Comisión Nacional de Energía (CNE) – Dominican Republic
  William Lajousky, Managing Director, Renova Capital Partners – USA
  
  
  
• OAS/CICTE Crisis Management Exercise
  OAS Barbados, Thursday November 17, 2011
  
  The general purpose of the Exercise would be to strengthen the capacity of the
  current security arrangements in the event of an incident at a port facility within
  the framework of the obligations established by the International Ship and Port
  Facility Security (ISPS) Code for the protection of ships and port facilities.
  Through this exercise we also hope to detect coordination problems, difficulties
  in the decision making process and also contribute to that process through
  discussions between the various port security and maritime authorities.
  The main objective of the Exercise would be to analyze, mainly at a tactical and
  strategic level, the complex and multifaceted interaction, capabilities and
  mandates of each agency involved in the response to a crisis at the port facility,
  to improve coordination between these agencies and to generate discussion and
  recommendations towards mitigating vulnerabilities.
  The Exercise normally entails the participation of the first-responders as well as
  the security managers of the port and the maritime authorities, including port
  facility security officers, police, coast guard, and all other agencies that would be
  called upon to react in the event of a real emergency.
  The organization and implementation of this Exercise will be coordinated by the
  CICTE Secretariat in and implemented by the United States Coast Guard.
• Forum on Campaign Financing hosted by the Department of Electoral cooperation
  OAS Barbados, Wednesday December 14, 2011
• OAS/CICTE Coordination Meeting
  OAS Barbados, Thursday October 13, 2011
• visit of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to Barbados - Presentation by Ambassador Albert Ramdin Assistant Secretary General of the OAS and discussion on the Inter American Democratic charter
  OAS Barbados, Monday October 10, 2011
• Regional Workshop on Agriculture - Tourism Linkage (September 20-22, 2011)
  OAS Barbados, Tuesday September 20, 2011
• 2nd Caricom TWG Meeting Courtyard Marriot Barbados (September 12-16, 2011)
  OAS Barbados , Monday September 12, 2011