• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 23

National Food and Nutrition Policy

The CARICOM Secretariat in collaboration with the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) has facilitated the development of a Regional Food and Nutrition Security Policy which was approved by the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) at its special meeting on Agriculture held in October, 2010. The FAO has now given its commitment to assisting with the development of National Food and Nutrition Security (NFNS) Policies and Strategies.

Barbados has already approached the FAO for assistance with preparing its own National. FNS Policy and Plan which will be coordinated by the MAFFI in collaboration with the National Nutrition Centre of the Ministry of Health. This Policy will be multi-sectoral in nature and will therefore involve national consultations with the various government departments, stakeholders in the farming communities, NGOs, and other private sector organizations.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 24

Market Information

As it relates to the marketing of agricultural commodities in Barbados, this is done primarily in an ad hoc manner, with there being limited planning and market information to inform production levels. In this regard, the MAFFI is in the process of engaging the assistance of a number of International agencies who already have a stated interest, in addition to the necessary expertise, in establishing Market Information Systems. The Ministry of Agriculture has been working closely with the Inter-American Institute for
Cooperation in Agriculture (IlCA) in addressing this issue. IlCA has included this and other areas into its four year Country Strategy for Barbados, while the FAO and a number of other United Nations agencies (the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development [UNCTAD] and CTA Community have pledged varying levels of support.

CARICOM has been mandated to establish a regional Market Information System. A meeting was convened during the month of February 2011, in Trinidad and Tobago to develop the elements of the regional MIS (Market Information Systems) framework, action plans and initiatives for the implementation the regional MIS. The main recommendations emanating from the meeting regarding the way forward for the regional Market Intelligence System were:
• The NAMDEVCO/NAMIS model should be pursued by member states.
This is a successful system being used by Trinidad and Tobago
• That the regional MIS system would be housed by NAMDEVCO since they
have the most functional system in the region in addition to having the
expertise and experience with managing an MIS system.
• That member states should give priority to the establishment of their
national MIS.

A technical working group was formed to finalise the planning for the establishment of
the regional MIS. (Barbados has two representatives in this group)

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 44

Culture

Barbados, as Vice Chair of the OAS Inter-American Committee on Culture, participated in the drafting of paragraph 44 of the Declaration of Port of Spain.

Cultural Diversity- Activities in Relation to the OAS Inter-American Committee on Culture

The Inter-American Committee on Culture (CIC) serves as a forum for discussion at the technical - policy level for matters of Culture. It comprises representatives from Ministries of Culture and highest appropriate authorities of OAS Member States. Its main function is to coordinate and to monitor the implementation of the mandates of the Declarations and Plans of Action of the Ministerial Meetings on Culture, as well as of
those that emanate from the Summits of the Americas. The Technical Secretariat of CIC is the Office of Education and Culture of the OAS.

a) Barbados, as Vice Chair of the Inter-American Committee on Culture (CIC), has been intimately involved in the formulation and the implementation of the Work Plan of the CIC.

b) Barbados hosted the Fourth Meeting of Inter-American American Ministers of Culture and Highest Appropriate Authorities in November, 2008.

Preservation of Cultural Heritage

c) Barbados is signatory to all of the UNESCO Cultural Conventions, including the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

d) The Preservation of Antiquities and Relics Bill will be enacted before the end of 2011.

e) The Cultural Industries Development Bill should be enacted within the next five months.

f) Barbados is seeking the inscription of "Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison" on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The final decision on this nomination will be taken at the Meeting of the World Heritage Committee in June, 2011.

g) It is also proposed to restore the Carnegie Library. In 1904, Scottish-American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie donated a grant to sponsor the construction of a dedicated free library in Barbados. Carnegie's grants established free libraries in the United Kingdom, the United States, South Africa, Australasia, and the Caribbean and were part of his global, transnational efforts to promote free public access to knowledge and ideas. The building, located on Coleridge Street, is one of six Carnegie libraries established in the Caribbean. In 1906, the Carnegie Library was the first of his public libraries outside of North America and the United Kingdom to open to the public. It is a coral stone building built in the
English Renaissance style. The Library is now part of the National Library Service (established 1985), which is a major repository for Barbadiana print and non-print documents dating to the 18th century.

h) The "Steel Shed" in Queen's Park in Bridgetown has been restored. This building played a critical role in the building of a modern Barbados and was the place where many voices were heard for the first time. The Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow, National Hero delivered some of his very important addresses at
that location. It is recorded that the late Marcus Garvey spoke to a mammoth crowd in the Steel Shed in 1937. The Steel Shed also housed the meetings of the Moyne Commission, the entity set up to evaluate the causes and effects of the social unrest in the British Caribbean during the 1930s. This building therefore became a critical cultural space in which Barbadians were able to give voice to their aspirations for their families and their nation.

i) Barbados continues to contribute to the preservation of our intangible heritage. One of the ways in which this is done is by an annual contribution to the on-going work of the Caribbean Lexicography Programme of the University of the West Indies. This programme seeks to document and to provide details on the nation languages (dialects) of the region.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 2

The Social Policy Committee of the Cabinet

The Social Policy Committee of the Cabinet has been established to coordinate the work
of the social sector and fast track decision-maldng. It is therefore charged to consider
social policy issues within the purviews, inter alia, of health, education, housing,
employment and welfare. The membership of the Committee comprises the Ministers
under whose portfolios these issues fall. Policy Papers informing on growing trends in
the social sector, emerging challenges and new initiatives are submitted to this
Committee where they are discussed in detailed. Recommendations concerning the
formulation and implementation of policies and strategies to deal with these matters are
also examined and any adjustments made as necessary.

The Inter-Ministry Task Force to Monitor and Strengthen the Social Safety
Net

This Inter-Ministry Task Force provides a framework for the management of social risks.
It is seen as an integral part of social protection and allows for a fully coordinated
sectoral approach to the provision of social services. Its establishment is aimed at
strengthening the social protection network and minimising duplication and
fragmentation in the social service delivery system. Its specific task is to identify the ongoing
risks posed to the vulnerable so that strategies can be put in place to prevent or
minimize dislocation, displacement and exclusion and improve coping mechanisms.
Membership of the Inter-Ministry Task Force is drawn from among the technical staff of
the relevant Ministries and Departments and is chaired by the Minister of Social Care.
Members of the Social Policy Committee of the Cabinet are also in attendance as
necessary.

To date, members of the Inter-Ministry Task Force have been sharing information
concerning the roles and responsibilities of their agencies; assisting with the formulation
of policy and programmes to deal with issues identified; participating in various
activities etc. An important achievement has been the creation of a data base of the
services offered by agencies serving on the Task Force.

Mainstreaming Participatory Governance

Participatory governance is being pursued by government through what is being referred
as the Constituency Empowerment Programme. This Programme can be described as a
local governance system, bounded by the geography of the enumeration districts, which
strengthens the capacity of citizens to bring about positive change at the individual and
community levels, thus contributing to sustainable development at the national level. It
has three (3) dimensions. Politically it is seen as a platform for promoting development
and an avenue through which Barbadians can participate in the decision-maldng process
and hence contribute to national development. Socially, it is a strategy to increase the
effectiveness of development programmes, since the programmes are undertaken in
response to the needs of the constituency which have been identified and prioritised by
its residents. Economically, it allows for a more efficient delivery of services to the
residents and the constituency as the level of bureaucracy will decrease. It also permits
the creation of local livelihoods as residents with the required skills will be on the
frontline of employment opportunities within their respective constituencies.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 2

Mainstreaming Participatory Governance

Participatory governance is being pursued by government through what is being referred
as the Constituency Empowerment Programme. This Programme can be described as a
local governance system, bounded by the geography of the enumeration districts, which
strengthens the capacity of citizens to bring about positive change at the individual and
community levels, thus contributing to sustainable development at the national level. It
has three (3) dimensions. Politically it is seen as a platform for promoting development
and an avenue through which Barbadians can participate in the decision-maldng process
and hence contribute to national development. Socially, it is a strategy to increase the
effectiveness of development programmes, since the programmes are undertaken in
response to the needs of the constituency which have been identified and prioritised by
its residents. Economically, it allows for a more efficient delivery of services to the
residents and the constituency as the level of bureaucracy will decrease. It also permits
the creation of local livelihoods as residents with the required skills will be on the
frontline of employment opportunities within their respective constituencies.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 5

The objective of the Constituency Empowerment Programme is the broadening of the
participatory character of governance in Barbados with the view to ensuring the
equitable development of Barbadian society. It favours a ''bottom-up'' approach to
development and provides the platform on which the social upliftrnent and the
empowerment of all citizens will be pursued. AIl such it is seen as an important aspect of
the Government's overall poverty reduction strategy.

The Constituency Empowerment Programme has been operationalised by the
establishment of thirty (30) Constituency Councils, one in each Constituency. The
membership of each Constituency Council comprises fifteen (15) persons drawn from the
respective constituencies. They represent faith-based organisations and other civil
society organisations as well as individuals who have been nominated by their respective
constituencies. Major political parties are also represented on the Council. These
Councils are expected to partner with their constituents and together find solutions to
local problems. Each Council receives an allocation of $100,000 per annum to finance
their respective programmes.

The Councils are supported administratively by the Department of Constituency
Empowerment. The Officers of this Department are available to give guidance, conduct
training and give financial oversight. The Department also provides the link between the
Councils and the Ministry as well as other agencies with which the Councils need to
interact. The Department also monitors the functioning of the Protocols which have
been established with these Agencies and fast-tracks any referrals. A volunteer
programme is also being developed as part of the Programme to further extend the reach
of the Councils.

Programmes undertal,en by the Councils to date include the conducting of educational
programmes for children and young people; training in the area of entrepreneurial
development; clean-up and beautification campaigns; recreational activities; the clearing
of wells to mitigate flooding especially during the rainy season; and response to
emergency matters. Support to community-based organisations, including sporting
organisations has also been forthcoming.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 78

STRENGTHENING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE
Electoral Processes and Procedures
Barbados remains committed to maintaining electoral processes of the highest integrity and transparency as guaranteed under Section 41 of the Constitution of Barbados. There is a continuous registration process and the Register of Electors is published on January 31 every year so that citizens can confirm that their names are on the Register. General Elections are constitutionally due every five years and are
held within the period due. The last such elections were held in 2008.
Elections in Barbados are managed by the Electoral and Boundaries Commission, established by an Act of Parliament and comprising a Chairman, Deputy Chairman and three other Commissioners. The Conduct of elections is governed by the Representation of the People Act Cap. 12 of the Laws of Barbados and the Representation of the People (Registration of Electors) Regulations, 1990, which
provide the election process from the issue to the return of the Writ.
Several of Barbados election officials have served in Election Observer Missions both regionally and internationally, however, as a result of Barbados's reputation for free, fair and transparent elections, to date, there has been no request from International Organizations for Election Observers to be present at Barbados elections.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 1

STRENGTHENING DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE
Electoral Processes and Procedures
Barbados remains committed to maintaining electoral processes of the highest integrity and transparency as guaranteed under Section 41 of the Constitution of Barbados. There is a continuous registration process and the Register of Electors is published on January 31 every year so that citizens can confirm that their names are on the Register. General Elections are constitutionally due every five years and are
held within the period due. The last such elections were held in 2008.
Elections in Barbados are managed by the Electoral and Boundaries Commission, established by an Act of Parliament and comprising a Chairman, Deputy Chairman and three other Commissioners. The Conduct of elections is governed by the Representation of the People Act Cap. 12 of the Laws of Barbados and the Representation of the People (Registration of Electors) Regulations, 1990, which
provide the election process from the issue to the return of the Writ.

• Date:  12/18/2015    Paragraphs: 1

The Government of Barbados has established the institutional mechanism for the supervision of the emergency management system. The Emergency Management Advisory Council, chaired by the Minister of Home Affairs, recommends policies, programmes and activities to enhance the emergency management programme.
The Government of Barbados through its Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU) is currently engaged in the Coastal Risk Assessment and Management Program (CRMP), which is aimed at building resilience to coastal hazards (including those associated with climate change) through enhanced conservation, and management of the coastal zone. The CRMP’s overall objective is to build capacity in integrated coastal risk management in Barbados, incorporating disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in development planning, control and monitoring of the coastal zone.
In addition, the CZMU through the Technical Steering Committee on Coastal Hazards is engaged in the following:
- The development of an Early Warning System - contributing to the regional network of sea level and seismic detection;
- The investment in and development of public warning systems;
- The development of models for tsunami inundation and coastal flooding from other hazards.

Barbados has been hosting the Caribbean Tsunami Information Centre (CTIC) since its establishment in September 2013. Through the support of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization/ Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the CTIC coordinates capacity building activities for the entire Caribbean region in developing and operating interoperable end-to-end tsunami warning and mitigation systems.
To date, Barbados as well as some of the other countries of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CaribeEWS) has benefitted from a number of programmatic activities of the institution. The regional grouping (ICG/CaribeEWS) continues to be a critical and important resource for all 48 countries and territories within the Caribbean and Atlantic basins. Barbados was the Chair of the organization until 2015.
The Technical Standing Committee on Coastal Hazards is continuing its work in ensuring the implementation of a National Tsunami and other Coastal Hazards Programme which focuses on developing an End-to-End system which comprises hazard assessment, monitoring and detection, warning communication and dissemination as well as public awareness and education for the tsunami and other coastal hazards.
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) of the MED leads the implementation of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan which was approved by Cabinet in January 2013 along with the Dispersant Use Policy. The Plan establishes a national preparedness and response system for oil spills at sea and on land and aims to prevent, mitigate or minimize adverse environmental impacts of oil pollution. In addition to the plan, the National Oil Spill Response team has had several training sessions and Environmental Sensitivity Maps have been developed for the island. These activities have been achieved due to the strong partnership between government regulatory agencies and oil industry stakeholders.
The EPD has also developed a Cabinet-Approved Chemicals Emergency Response Plan. Under this initiative, 18 individuals from EPD, Ministry of Health and the Barbados Fire Service, have recently received training in Emergency Response, with two Fire Officers being trained to Instructor Level.
In relation to the International Health Regulations of 2005, the Government of Barbados has developed an Action Plan to ensure compliance with these regulations. The plan covers Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear health threats, and is led by the Ministry of Health with significant input from the EPD.

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The Climate Change Program of the MED, in collaboration with key stakeholders has initiated the process of enhancing national governance mechanisms in relation to access international climate finance by way of the following:
- The Adaptation Fund: Barbados has identified a Designated Authority in the person of the Permanent Secretary of the MED, whose role is to endorse accreditations and applications of national and regional implementing entities as well as proposals for adaptation projects in Barbados.
- The Green Climate Fund (GCF): A National Designated Authority (NDA) has been
established for Barbados. The Director of Finance Mr. Martin Cox is the NDA, while Dr. Louis Woodroffe, Permanent Secretary of Economic Affairs, is the Focal Point for this Fund. Under the GCF, Barbados has requested assistance in accessing and utilizing the fund in the following areas:
. The creation of a strategic framework for interaction with the fund; and
. The development of an initial pipeline of projects and programme proposals.

- The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB): the CDB has developed a Disaster and Climate Change Programme and has allocated funds from the European Investment Bank, to provide low interest rate loans for Private Sector investment in Renewable Energy initiatives.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 60

Risk Mitigation and Early Warning Systems
Barbados has been at the forefront of the charge for a tsunamis and coastal hazards warning system for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions. In fact, Barbados is about to enter into a host agreement with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, to host the first ever Caribbean Tsunami Information Centre, servicing the four major languages of the region, as assisting countries in preparing their people who speak a variety of creoles and dialects. Government, through the Standing Committee on
Coastal Hazards, has been developing its own monitoring and detection systems, conducting hazard assessments, and building a national notification system for hazard alerts. As Barbados is the current Chair of the regional warning system's intergovernmental group, other countries have also been receiving assistance in the development of their own early warning capabilities.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 38

Poverty Reduction Empowerment Programme

The Poverty Reduction Empowerment Programme represents an improvement of the existing Welfare to Work Programme. It is part of the overall empowerment programme offered in the treatment model to recipients of National Assistance and those persons at risk. Clients are offered skills training opportunities to equip themselves for the world of work. Personal development training is also part of the programme. It is based on the philosophy that persons can earn their way out of poverty.

The scaled-up version of the programme will include job placements and work experience as well as psycho-social support. It will also be an integral part of the ISEE Bridge Programme.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 38

Promotion of Continuous Training Programmes in Conjunction with Workers' Representatives and the Private Sector to enable Workers to respond to the Demands of the Labour Market.

The Ministry of Labour through its Barbados Vocational Training Board continues to consult with employers in industry in the structuring of training programmes to facilitate the moulding of a graduate that can adequately respond to the demands of employers as they enter the labour market. In addition, the Board continues to promote apprenticeship training where training is delivered at the employers' workplace. Other areas of collaboration with both the private sector and workers' representatives include:
- development of curricula;
- establishment of technical committees;
- membership on the Board of Directors of the Barbados Vocational Training Board.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 36

Education

The Government of Barbados continues to place considerable emphasis on human and social capital development through significant investments in education and related services. The Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, in collaboration with educational institutions at all levels, strive to provide conducive learning environments to ensure the inculcation of appropriate knowledge, skills, and
competencies among all learners. Major areas of focus are the expansion of Early Childhood Education, the integration of ICT in education, the enhancement of the quality of education at the primary and secondary levels and expansion of access to tertiary education.

Social Development Priorities
Expansion of Nursery Education

The Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development continues to place a high priority on the provision of high quality pre-primary education for all children at the Early Childhood Education level. Currently, there are eight public nursery schools that cater to students in this age group. Four of these pre-primary schools were established in the ECE Expansion Project which was started in 2005. In addition, pre-primary education is offered in all public primary schools as well. While the Government of
Barbados provides the general financing of this expansion programme, the MEHR has established a partnership with the Maria Holder Foundation to facilitate the financing of the construction and establishment of three new Nursery schools in 2011-2012 period.
Primary School Textbook Scheme
In keeping with the Government's pledge to introduce a Text Book Scheme for primary schools, the MEHR commenced the phased procurement and distribution of text books to all primary schools. The goal is to provide text books in the core subject areas of the national curriculum. To date, all public primary schools have been issued with text books to cover the curriculum in Language Arts and Mathematics. The process is ongoing with text books in the area of science being distributed in the current phase. However, the Ministry is aware that approximately 10% of the primary school population experience serious challenges in acquiring the requisite texts and workbooks which parents are required to purchase for their wards. To ensure that this vulnerable group is not disadvantaged in anyway, the Ministry has introduced a programme to cater to the needs of those most in need of assistance with the acquisition of workbooks. The Ministry has included in its 2011-2012 budget the sum of $500 000 to facilitate this programme. This policy was articulated by the Minister of Finance in the 2010 Budget Statement. The Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, in collaboration with the public primary schools, will institute a mechanism to effectively identify and administer this new policy. It is also anticipated that the Inter-Ministry Task Force to monitor and strengthen the Social Safety net will provide another medium through which the Government will be able to provide short and long term assistance to these and other vulnerable groups.

Alternative Education Day School

The existing out-of school suspension facility at the Edna Nicholls Centre was established in 1998 to provide short-term intervention and remediation strategies for at-risk and deviant students. In recent years, there has emerged a growing trend of students who have developed very dysfunctional behaviours that significantly challenge regular schools and that require more long-term intervention and rehabilitation approaches. In some instances, there are students of compulsory school attendance age who are either
expelled from school or by virtue of the deviant behaviours that they display cannot be retained in the regular school setting.

Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development has embarked on an initiative to establish an Alternative Education Day School for "at-risk" students. The programme is intended for students between ages 10 and 16. This institution will offer an alternative curriculum which will be based on the national curriculum. The emphasis in the programme will be to teach students the types of skills they need to become productive members of society while engaging in meaningful life practices.

The Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development is expecting to renovate the old Erdiston Primary School at a cost of approximately $1.8 million to establish this facility.

Psychological Assistance programme

The MEHR continues to provide psychological interventions for various categories of students. Three consultant psychologists and two psychiatrists have engaged by the Ministry of Education to provide services under the Psychological Assistance Programme.


YDS/Sandy Lane/MEHR Primary School Counselling Programme

The MEHR has also embarked on a tri-partite arrangement to provide counselling services to students in primary schools. Five counsellors have been provided through the public-private partnership programme which is currently available in 19 primary schools. Officers of the Ministry have monitored the provision of counselling services and worked collaboratively with the counsellors to manage the cases referred to them. Two hundred and forty three (243) students were seen by the counsellors in the period 2010-2011 for counselling purposes.

• Date:  12/18/2015    Paragraphs: 11

Barbados has a population of 280,000 people and the highest percentage of persons aged 65 and over within the English Speaking Caribbean. According to the Barbados Statistical Service, the percentage of the population over 65 in 2010 was 11.3% and the projected population of older persons over 65 in the year 2025 will be 18%. Hence there is a need to develop, implement and strengthen active and healthy ageing policies and programmes which would allow older persons to remain in good health and “maintain their many vital contributions to the well-being of their families, communities and societies”.
The National Policy on Ageing for Barbados was approved in Parliament in June 2013. The policy is grounded in a philosophy “that embraces the principles of opportunity, equal access, inclusion and active ageing”. The Policy is guided by the International Principles emanating from a number of conventions, especially the Madrid Political Declaration and International Plan of Action adopted at the Second World Assembly on Ageing by the United Nations in 2002. In the Madrid Political Declaration and International Plan of Action, the three priority areas of consideration are: Older Persons and Development; Advancing Health and Well Being; and Ensuring Enabling and Supportive Environments.
The Barbados National Policy on Ageing has as its priority directions: Financial and Economic Security for Older Persons, Health, Mental Health and Health Care, The Physical and Built Environment, the Social Environment, Legislation, Research and Institutional Arrangements.
The National Policy also outlines urgent, short, medium and long term recommendations and the agencies and stakeholders that are slated to address these priority areas. In May 2014, the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development established a Committee with its relevant stakeholders to monitor the National Policy on Ageing and to advise the Government on relevant matters relating to this policy. The Committee is also responsible for formulating a Plan of Action to implement the urgent, short, medium and long term recommendations of this policy.
Inherent in this responsibility, is the Committee’s role of examining the status of older persons in Barbados, with the view to removing, in a phased series of actions over the next ten years, existing barriers in critical areas that may hinder the full participation of older persons in mainstream society.
Policy Initiatives
The following policy initiatives provide for and protect the Rights of the Elderly:
National Assistance Board
The National Assistance Board provides a range of programmes for the enhancement of well-being and the empowerment of the growing elderly population. Among some of the programmes provided are the Home Care Programme and the Seniors’ Recreational Activities Programme. The Home Care Programme is a non-paying service that ensures the elderly are assisted with daily living skills such as cooking, washing, cleaning, grooming and shopping. Participation in social activities and the promotion of active ageing is met through the Seniors’ Recreational Activities Programme which offers opportunities for elderly citizens to engage in arts and crafts, exercise, travel, picnics and other social activities.
Alzheimer’s Disease
In the area of health, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of Dementia that affects many older persons in Barbados and across the world, and there is still no cure. In Barbados, with the current ageing of the population, the number of persons with Alzheimer’s is rapidly increasing along with its impact on society. The Barbados Alzheimer’s Association, National Assistance Board and the National Committee on Ageing continue to collaborate and sponsor relevant seminars and activities in an effort to raise public awareness of the disease.
HIV and the Elderly
Worldwide to date, there has been very little written about the impact of HIV on the older adult population. However, a more recent examination of this issue has revealed that older persons are increasingly affected by HIV, either directly on a personal level, and a much larger number are affected indirectly, through knowledge of, and interaction with family or loved ones.
The Government of Barbados is dedicated to giving the highest priority to addressing the issues of HIV. The raising of public awareness is done through conducting seminars and workshops geared at disseminating information, minimizing at-risk behaviour through the changing of attitudes and practices.
In September 2013, during Senior Citizens’ month, The Barbados Senior HIV Drama Group launched a production entitled, “Take Warning: Granny’s Say on HIV and Sex”. This drama group is made up of cast members, ages 50-92 who take the message of the impact of HIV and the Elderly across Barbados.
Elder Abuse
The Government of Barbados has joined the international response by observing June 15th as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is in support of the United Nations International Plan of Action acknowledging the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue.
Research has shown that elder abuse, neglect, violence and exploitation are issues facing older persons around the world. World Health Organization data suggests that 4 to 6 % of older persons suffer from some form of abuse, however a large percentage goes unreported. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, it is believed that for every case reported, twenty three (23) cases go unreported.
In Barbados, a draft Elder Abuse Protocol is in place to sensitize the public to the issue of elder abuse and conditions which are conducive to this phenomenon. Currently, a Committee made up of relevant stakeholders is developing a plan of action for this Protocol.
Conferences
Since 2002, the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development and the National Assistance Board have been active participants in the following intergovernmental conferences:
- Second Regional Intergovernmental Conference on Ageing in Latin America and the Caribbean, December 2007 in Brasilia, Brazil;
- Economic Commission for Latin America follow-up meeting of the Brasilia Declaration, “For the Rights of Older Persons”, October, 2009 in Santiago, Chile;
- Third Regional Intergovernmental Conference on Ageing in Latin America and the
Caribbean, May, 2012 in San Jose, Costa Rica.

The Government of Barbados will make every effort to participate fully in the strategic review process under the Madrid Political Declaration and International Plan of Action Adopted at the Second World Assembly on Ageing by the United Nations in 2002 and attend meetings, conference and work groups related to this plan.
Despite the many contributions in society that older persons have made, there still exists discrimination, abuse, violence and marginalization. All relevant stakeholders in Barbados will need to continue to work together to respond to the challenges facing older persons in our society. The Government of Barbados is committed to playing a role in addressing these challenges in a comprehensive and collaborative manner for the benefits of all older persons in Barbados and by extension, all Barbadians.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 41

White Paper on Ageing

Barbados has an ageing population. At present Older Persons, those 65 years and over, comprise 13% of the population. As this trend continues, Barbados will be increasingly challenged to provide services for this special public. To this end a National Policy on Ageing is being formulated. As a Green Paper, the Policy was widely circulated and feedback sought. It is now at the stage of a White Paper and is being finalised to be laid in Parliament.

The White Paper will guide all policy initiatives pertaining to Older Persons including Social Protection, Social and Economic Security, Supportive Physical Environments, Older Persons Rights, including Protective Legislation and Health Care. The Paper is also recommending the establishment of an Agency to focus exclusively on Elder Affairs.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 45

PROMOTING ENERGY SECURITY

The National policy of Barbados is geared towards greater energy sustain ability through
the increase use of alternative energy and energy efficiency.

This is being assisted through a reduction of import duties on renewable energy and energy efficiency products as well as income tax deductions for end users.

A legislative review targeting these areas and plans to establish a finance mechanism for the private sector (Energy Smart Fund) are all part of a Sustainable Energy Framework being developed with assistance from the IADB.

Global leadership has been established in the development of solar water heaters over the past 35 years, with over 40% of all buildings having installations. There are also several examples of solar water heart technology transfer to other countries such as Trinidad and St. Lucia.

In addition to Solar Water Heaters other applications targeted include Solar Electricity, Wind, Biodiesel, Ethanol, Biomass cogeneration (sugar industry) and other forms of solar heating.

The Barbados Government is offering leadership in this field by implementing a number of small solar and wind projects with support from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) as well as developing structures and policies to encourage involvement in large scale projects by the private sector.

The Government will continue to expand its local oil exploration that stands at approximately 1000 barrels/ day while making rights available to the private sector for the off-shore exploration through appropriate bid mechanisms.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 46, 47

The National policy of Barbados is geared towards greater energy sustain ability through
the increase use of alternative energy and energy efficiency.

This is being assisted through a reduction of import duties on renewable energy and energy efficiency products as well as income tax deductions for end users.

A legislative review targeting these areas and plans to establish a finance mechanism for the private sector (Energy Smart Fund) are all part of a Sustainable Energy Framework being developed with assistance from the IADB.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 50

Global leadership has been established in the development of solar water heaters over the past 35 years, with over 40% of all buildings having installations. There are also several examples of solar water heart technology transfer to other countries such as Trinidad and St. Lucia.

In addition to Solar Water Heaters other applications targeted include Solar Electricity, Wind, Biodiesel, Ethanol, Biomass cogeneration (sugar industry) and other forms of solar heating.

The Barbados Government is offering leadership in this field by implementing a number of small solar and wind projects with support from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) as well as developing structures and policies to encourage involvement in large scale projects by the private sector.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 51

The Government will continue to expand its local oil exploration that stands at approximately 1000 barrels/ day while making rights available to the private sector for the off-shore exploration through appropriate bid mechanisms.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 58

Monitoring the impact of climate change

Barbados is one of seven countries participating in the UNDP Global Environmental Facility (GEF)/WHO funded project captioned "Piloting Climate Adaptation to Protect Human Health". This project aims to identify, evaluate, promote and implement climate adaptation policies and strategies to minimise the impact on human health. Barbados has established a Climate Change Focal Point in the Ministry of Health to lead the project implementation.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 57

The Governments of the Small Island Developing Sates (SIDS) recognise that the primary responsibility for the implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (MSI) lies with themselves and their national and local stakeholders.. Barbados' progress has to be characterised as fair given the prevailing conditions and ongoing global crises. There have been many successes but significant challenges still remain.

Barbados has met and exceeded many of the targets set by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Barbados still remains one of the few countries in the Western Hemisphere to develop and implement a national policy for sustainable development. The Barbados Sustainable Development Policy (BSDP) is our National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS), which provides a national framework, guidelines and
principles that we can employ in our everyday activities. The policy promotes a motto of "Doing the right thing by doing things right".

The Caribbean region has been categorised as a "Global Hot Spot". Climate change will have a profound impact on the region and creates significant implications for living and lifestyles. The Government of Barbados recognises that in order to fulfil the MDGs pertaining to the environment, certain global environmental sustainability challenges needed to be overcome. The Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA), the MSI and Agenda 21 provide the overarching framework and template for achieving environmental sustainability.

Water Resource Management

Barbados is the 15th most water scarce country with infrastructure that faces challenges. However, when in relation to domestic water producers in the western hemisphere, the efforts of the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) compares favourably. The water authority is pumping at near maximum capacity which puts ground water aquifers under significant pressure. The BWA is currently being restructured in order to keep pace with the challenges that lie ahead.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 58

The Caribbean region has been categorised as a "Global Hot Spot". Climate change will have a profound impact on the region and creates significant implications for living and lifestyles. The Government of Barbados recognises that in order to fulfil the MDGs pertaining to the environment, certain global environmental sustainability challenges needed to be overcome. The Barbados Programme of Action (BPOA), the MSI and Agenda 21 provide the overarching framework and template for achieving environmental sustainability.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 65

In respect of marine and coastal resources, Barbados has embraced the concept of island systems management, recognizing that the entire island is a coastal zone. In this context, integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) has been the framework implemented with great success for more than 25 years. Additionally, given that many climate change impacts being experienced by Barbados and other Caribbean SIDS are within or near the land/water interface, Government has further sought to ensure that internationally recognized tools for climate change adaptation are well integrated into its mature ICZM
program. Emerging issues which Barbados is currently addressing relate to increased incidences of coastal hazards, both as a result of climate change, and increased seismic activity across the globe. Consequently, resources and expertise will be brought to bear on these hazards, further enhancing both social and economic resilience.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 63

Pollution Management
The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has executed a number of projects and initiatives over the last two years which covered policy development, monitoring and evaluation. The activities ranged from the revision of the ambient air quality policy to the review of the Standard Operating Procedures for the Department. From amending the national oil spill contingency plan development of guidelines on fuel and waste oil handling, storage and disposal practices. The department also liaises with other government departments regarding the management of solid waste.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 64

Parks, Protected Areas and Green Spaces
Through the work of the Natural Heritage Department, Barbados is in the process of establishment of the National Park and a system of protected areas for the island. This will safeguard the biodiversity of the area including terrestrial ecosystems, habitats and species, create and support opportunities for sustainable local economic development through rural tourism and promote recreation and tourism within the Park which respects its special environmental qualities and where possible provides social and
economic benefits for local communities.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 6, 11

Gender Equality

The Government of Barbados is in the process developing a National Policy on Gender and is committed to the development of all women. In the political arena, there is a level playing field for women and men to enter and actively participate. The Government has discerned that women are generally more reluctant to enter this field which is normally predominantly male, but has sought to encourage women to find their niche in politics. The Bureau of Gender Affairs in conjunction with the Caribbean Policy Development
Centre have embarked on a number of training initiatives designed to empower women
to take up the political mantle

A Barbadian female politician, Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner, currently sits as one of
the three Vice-Presidents of the Commission on Women (CIM) and serves as a positive
model for the women of the country.

The Government of Barbados strives to protect the rights of all women and children and seeks to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence in accordance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women "Convention of Belem do Para. Legislation has been passed in order to protect against incidences of Human Trafficking. A National Task Force on Human Trafficking currently exists but must be formalised. A Protocol on Human Trafficking to complement the legislation is being drafted.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 6

Protection of all people particularly women and children from sexual and economic exploitation

Barbados has ratified Convention No. 182 (the Worst Forms of Child Labour) and is committed to the precepts of that Convention. The Ministry of Labour has performed the important role of sensitizing its stakeholders and members of the public about the scourge of the worst forms of child labour through educational workshops, the print and electronic media.

• Date:  12/18/2015    Paragraphs: 15

The World Health Assembly resolution WHA62.14 identified the following three overarching recommendations of the Commission on Social Determinants of Health:
1) To improve daily living conditions
2) To tackle the inequitable distribution of power, money and resources; and
3) To measure and understand the problem and assess the impact of action
The Conference further reaffirmed the political will to make health equity a national, regional and global goal and to address current challenges including eradicating hunger and poverty; ensuring food and nutritional security, access to affordable, safe, efficacious and quality medicines as well as to safe drinking-water and sanitation, employment and decent work and social protection; and protecting environments and delivering equitable economic growth through resolute action on social determinants of health across all sectors and at all levels.
Specific commitment was made to:
- Adopt better governance for health and development
- Promote participation in implementation and development
- Further reorient the health sector towards reducing health inequities?
??Strengthen global governance and collaboration
- Monitor progress and increase accountability
These tenets agreed on at the 2011 World Conference on the Social Determinants of Health are being actively incorporated in policies, plans, programmes and services delivered by the Government of Barbados.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 35

Other Programmes and Policy Initiatives
HIV/AIDS and Persons with Disabilities

Barbados continues to pursue an expanded response in the fight against HIV / AIDS. The
Ministry responsible for HIV / AIDS and its Agencies have been active both in the area of
prevention and care and support. In recent times, however, increased attention has been
paid to Persons with Disabilities who because of their disability are often excluded from
the messages coming out of the HIV / AIDS Programmes, especially those who are
intellectually challenged.

To this end, the Ministry through its HIV/AIDS Coordinator, the National Disabilities
Unit and the Ministry of Education, Special Education Unit has been working to develop
material to aid the communication process on behalf of such persons. To date a number
of posters have been produced and work continues on the production of a Manual for
teachers and parents.

For those who are visually impaired, existing literature is being translated into Braille.
Audio books are also being considered for both the hearing impaired and those who may
not be able to read.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 33

Barbados has already approached the FAO for assistance with preparing its own National. FNS Policy and Plan which will be coordinated by the MAFFI in collaboration with the National Nutrition Centre of the Ministry of Health. This Policy will be multi-sectoral in nature and will therefore involve national consultations with the various government departments, stakeholders in the farming communities, NGOs, and other private sector organizations.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 26, 31

Access to comprehensive health care

Barbados' policies on health are predicated on the philosophy that health care is a
fundamental right of Barbadians. Consequently, Barbadian citizens and permanent
residents are guaranteed universal access to health services, including formulary drugs,
in the public sector, without requirement for co-payment or user fees.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 28

Barbados recognises the importance of implementing the Global Strategy on the
Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) and has committed to
executing the components of the CARlCOM Regional Plan of Action on Noncommunicable
Diseases which was an outcome of the Declaration of the Heads of State and Governments of the Caribbean Community (CARl COM), Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic Non- Communicable Diseases, 2007.

In 2007, Barbados established a high-level National Chronic Diseases Commission to plan, guide, monitor and evaluate the national policy on NCDs. The Commission has developed a five-year plan for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. Consultations were held with stakeholders in the private and public health care sectors to chart the way forward in adopting the Chronic Care Model in the management of non-communicable diseases.

Initiatives to improve the surveillance of NCDs and their risk factors have commenced with the establishment of the Barbados National Registry for Chronic Diseases in 2008 (the first of its kind in the Caribbean); the mapping of risk factors and disease prevalence with the implementation of a STEPS survey (2007); and participation in the development of a minimum data-set of indicators to monitor chronic diseases and their risk factors across the Caribbean region (CAREC, 2009). It is envisaged that these initiatives will be supported and strengthened by the development and implementation of the regional surveillance system for non-communicable disease, which will be financed by the Inter-American Development Bank.

Barbados is committed to reducing the levels of the modifiable risk factors for tobacco use, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. The Government of Barbados ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2005 and in 2010, enacted legislation to ban the sale of tobacco products by and to minors, and to prohibit smoking in public places. In addition, Barbados is pursuing an initiative in conjunction with other Caribbean countries to regulate and standardise the packaging and labelling of cigarettes in keeping with the FCTC.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 29

Barbados recognises the importance of implementing the Global Strategy on the
Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) and has committed to
executing the components of the CARlCOM Regional Plan of Action on Noncommunicable
Diseases which was an outcome of the Declaration of the Heads of State
and Governments of the Caribbean Community (CARl COM), Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic Non- Communicable Diseases, 2007.

In 2007, Barbados established a high-level National Chronic Diseases Commission to
plan, guide, monitor and evaluate the national policy on NCDs. The Commission has
developed a five-year plan for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.
Consultations were held with stakeholders in the private and public health care sectors
to chart the way forward in adopting the Chronic Care Model in the management of non-communicable diseases.

Initiatives to improve the surveillance of NCDs and their risk factors have commenced
with the establishment of the Barbados National Registry for Chronic Diseases in 2008
(the first of its kind in the Caribbean); the mapping of risk factors and disease prevalence
with the implementation of a STEPS survey (2007); and participation in the development of a minimum data-set of indicators to monitor chronic diseases and their risk factors across the Caribbean region (CAREC, 2009). It is envisaged that these initiatives will be supported and strengthened by the development and implementation of the regional surveillance system for non-communicable disease, which will be financed by the Inter-American Development Bank.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 32

Measures are being taken to improve diet through the development and promulgation of National Food-based Dietary Guidelines (2009), including guidelines for reducing salt and sugar in foods fed to children in schools ("Nutritious and Healthy Foods in Schools: nutritional and Practical Guidelines for Barbados") and other educational institutions, as well as the launching of an initiative to chronicle levels and sources of dietary sodium. The National Chronic Diseases Commission in January 2011 convened a consultation
with local food producers and manufacturers to sensitise them to the initiative to reduce dietary salt intake, and to prepare a plan of action for the lowering of salt levels in locally manufactured foods.

A National Task Force on Physical Activity was established in 2008 to engage all strata of the society and all ages in increasing physical activity and to develop national guidelines on physical activity for healthy living.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 33

Measures are being taken to improve diet through the development and promulgation of National Food-based Dietary Guidelines (2009), including guidelines for reducing salt and sugar in foods fed to children in schools ("Nutritious and Healthy Foods in Schools: nutritional and Practical Guidelines for Barbados") and other educational institutions, as well as the launching of an initiative to chronicle levels and sources of dietary sodium. The National Chronic Diseases Commission in January 2011 convened a consultation
with local food producers and manufacturers to sensitise them to the initiative to reduce dietary salt intake, and to prepare a plan of action for the lowering of salt levels in locally manufactured foods.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 26

Barbados remains committed to the implementation of the International Health Regulations. In 2011, the Ministry of Health established a committee to review local legislation and to recommend changes consistent with Barbados' commitments under the International Health Regulations, as well as to review and develop protocols and standard operating procedures at the ports of entry.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 34

Having developed a National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan since 2006, Barbados has been revising and strengthening its national influenza surveillance capacity to prevent, detect and diagnose influenza virus infection. Particular attention has been paid to the integration of the virological and epidemiological components of the system and laboratory capacity was enhanced through training provided by the Caribbean Epidemiological Centre (CAREC).

As part of its pandemic preparedness, Barbados provides influenza vaccines to health care workers and to vulnerable population groups.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 35

Halting and reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS

Barbados is currently implementing the second Government of Barbados/World Bank HIV/AIDS Project, which inter alia, focuses on improving access to most-at-risk populations (MARPS) and key vulnerable population groups. This Project seeks to deliver a package of services that meet the criteria for accessibility, acceptance, coverage, intensity, linkages and quality of data. The project also seeks to improve the use of all available media especially new media and social networking to effectively administer
behaviour change communication; to undertake research through which evidence-based interventions can be implemented; and to implement efficient and effective monitoring & evaluation mechanisms. Currently, the National HIV / AIDS Commission is conducting a behaviour change communication campaign that targets the elimination of stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.

Antiretroviral therapy remains available and accessible to all persons meeting the
criteria for treatment.

Barbados remains committed to the reduction of the incidence of mother-to-child transmission of HIV to less than 5% by 2015 as well as maintaining the current transmission rate of less than 1%. The coverage data on the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) was determined in accordance with UNGASS indicator Number 5, which assesses the percentage of HIV infected pregnant women who received anti-retroviral therapy to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission. The PMTCT coverage was 91.4% in 2008, 82.1% in 2009 and 88.5% in 2010.

Barbados is scaling up its PMTCT programme to improve maternal and child survival by achieving universal access to comprehensive PMTCT services. The following are the key components of this programme:

1. Review and update the guidelines on treatment for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission to strengthen the treatment programme for HIV positive mothers;
2. Develop and implement a national training curriculum for PMTCT; and
3. Monitor the implementation of the national PMTCT Policy across the health sector of Barbados.

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In 2013, the Government of Barbados ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). Since ratification, a committee has been established to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the UNCRPD, demonstrating the commitment of the Government to ensure that the needs of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are met.
The National Disabilities Unit (NDU) provides a wide range of services and programmes which seek to create supportive environments, promote equal opportunities and empower PWDs. The NDU provides PWDs with assistive/mobility devices; recreational activities, transportation services and infrastructural adjustments which allow for better accessibility in their homes.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 40

Increased National Assistance Rates

National Assistance in the form of cash transfers have been increased in several
categories namely children, the able-bodied unemployed, Persons with Disabilities and
the Severely Disabled over the last five years, the most recent being in the rate paid on
behalf of children.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 40

As part of the National Policy on Disabilities, the Ministry through the National Disabilities Unit is formulating an Action Plan which will expedite the implementation of policy pertaining to disability Issues. This will include the introduction of new legislation or the amendment of existing legislation.

Ratification of the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

As part of the Action Plan, Barbados proposes to ratify the Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities to which it became a signatory in 2007.
As a means of providing a more efficient and effective personal social service delivery
system, Barbados has sought to reposition the personal social services sector.
Institutional frameworks have been strengthened to facilitate a more coordinated
approach. Methodologies have been upgraded with the use of technology which permit's
the formulation and implementation of evidenced-based policies. New programmes and
initiatives have been introduced which have seen a shift from the idea of dependence on
welfare to that of empowerment. Where necessary, cash transfers as well as assistance
in-kind have been increased so that persons at risk can better cope with the prevailing
economic crisis.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 85

Domestic Laws

The Ministry's legislative programme includes the development of the following pieces of legislation - An Employment Rights Bill, Anti-discrimination legislation and Sexual Harassment legislation. It is also planned to proclaim the Safety and Health at Work Act 2005.

The Employments Rights Bill is at an advanced stage of preparation. It seeks to confer on persons, primarily employed persons, new employment rights. This Bill inter alia protects persons from unfair dismissal and the infringement of other employment rights. It ensures that employees are given full details of their employment particulars. An Employment Rights Tribunal will make determination on such matters.

Drafting instructions have been prepared for anti-discrimination legislation. Through this legislation, no person shall unfairly discriminate against an employee or prospective employee in any employment policy or practice on the basis of race, place of origin, political opinion, colour, creed, sex, marital status, pregnancy, age, medical condition or disability. An important aspect of the proposal is the identified need to empower officers assigned to the Ministry of Labour's Project Unit whose mandate includes investigating and recording cases of discrimination against persons living with and affected by
HIV/AIDS.

Sexual Harassment legislation seeks to provide remedies in respect of acts of sexual harassment. The Employment Rights Bill will determine complaints made under the legislation with regard to sexual harassment and will make awards in accordance with the powers given under the legislation.

The Ministry of Labour is currently addressing two (2) important matters before proclaiming the Safety and Health at Work Act 2005:
- carrying out an audit of the workplaces in the public sector to determine the extent to which safety and health conditions conform to the Act;
- obtaining consensus through discussion among the tripartite constituents with regard to Section 104 of the Act - the right to refuse dangerous work.

• Date:  12/18/2015    Paragraphs: 5

The Government of Barbados is committed to promoting sustainable energy practices both on the supply side, mainly using renewable energy sources and on the demand side, by encouraging energy efficiency and energy conservation as a means to reduce the country’s dependency on fossil fuels, enhance security and stability in energy supply, improve the economy’s competitiveness and achieve greater environmental sustainability.
One of the major challenges faced by Barbados is its too high dependency on fossil fuels which risks undermining the country’s competitiveness and its economic and social development. A significant percentage of the country’s electricity generation is fossil-fuel based. Power generation represents the main use of fuel in the country (50%) followed by transport (33%). Barbados produces some oil through the state-owned Barbados National Oil Co., but domestic demand (10,000 barrels per day) greatly exceeds local supply (less than 800 barrels per day). During the period 2003-2013, Barbados’ average annual fuel import bill stood at BBD$542.306 million which was in excess of 7% of GDP. The importation of petroleum products therefore represents a significant expenditure and drain on Barbados’ foreign exchange reserves.
The Government’s energy policy therefore seeks to increase the share of economically viable renewable energy in Barbados’ energy mix and to achieve savings in the country’s consumption of electricity as well as efficiency in the use of non-electric energy use especially in transportation.
Structural reforms in the energy sector are being undertaken as part of a broader exercise within the Government’s Barbados Growth and Development Strategy. It is also being done within the context of the country’s effort to transition to a Green Economy. One of the driving forces in establishing a Green Economy is the Government’s desire to reduce the importation of fossil fuels.
Barbados will attempt to replicate with other renewable energy systems what the country has achieved successfully with solar water heaters. Barbados has the fifth highest penetration of solar water heaters in the world of over 33%.
In an effort to support renewable energy and energy efficiency as one of the engines of the economy, the Government has established an extensive system of tax and other concessions. The Government is further seeking to restructure the economy, in part through the development of new technical skills in this area with a view to creating hundreds of “green jobs”.
In a land scarce country fortunate to enjoy a tropical climate all year round, there has been the thrust to facilitate the erection of solar electricity systems on the roofs of commercial and government buildings and houses. This initiative has resulted in a multitude of projects which will provide public buildings including schools, polyclinics, community centres, police stations and fire stations with solar photovoltaic systems. Some of these systems are intended to provide emergency power during disasters to assist the country in disaster risk management.
The Government has not limited itself to generating electricity from the sun alone, but is pursuing a diversified energy mix in the transformation to a green economy. The roadmap comprises projects which include the construction of a waste to energy plant as well as the conversion of biomass into electricity at a sugar factory.
Other projects and programmes currently in progress include the exploration of the use of ocean energy for power generation, the procurement of electric vehicles, the distribution of energy efficient lights for households, the retrofitting of Government buildings with LED lights in addition to the replacement of the over 25,000 streetlights with LED lights. A National Sustainable Energy Policy and Road Map for the energy sector will also be completed in 2016.
Furthermore, a new regulatory regime has been established in the form of the Electric Light and Power Act to facilitate the sale of electricity to the grid from renewable energy resources. The electric grid currently has an estimated cumulative installed capacity of approximately 9 Megawatts of intermittent renewable energy (mainly solar electricity systems) with another 11 Megawatts pending from independent power producers (IPPs). The utility is also in the process of establishing a 10 Megawatt solar photovoltaic farm.
In lending assistance to the private sector, Government has established a low interest fund to provide financial and technical support for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
These initiatives are all being undertaken within a comprehensive public awareness programme of the promotion of renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy conservation in the island.
Against this background, Barbados has established a new target of 50% of power generation to be derived from renewable energy by 2020 and a current target of 22% increase in energy efficiency by 2020.

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In the mid to late 1990s, it became evident to Government that in view of the rapid developments in the telecommunications industry, including Barbados’ commitment in 1997 on telecommunications under the World Trade Organization General Agreement on Trade in Services, Barbados had to reform its telecommunications legal and regulatory framework.
Consequently, in December 2000, the Government of Barbados, in its Green Paper on Telecommunications Sector Policy, identified the overall policy objectives as follows:
- providing access for customers to basic telecommunications services in accordance with Universal Service Obligations;
- establishing competitive telecommunications prices;
- promoting state-of-the-art telecommunications technology which facilitate the provision of services comparable to those offered in developed countries;
- encouraging continued investment by offering a reasonable rate of return to investors;
- providing a reasonable and equitable basis for new telecommunications service providers to be able to enter the market and in the long-term thus allowing competitive market forces to assist in price setting and regulation; and
- promoting a more efficient and responsive regulatory environment for communication services.

These policy objectives form the basis for the establishment of the (current) Telecommunications Act which replaced the 1991 Telecommunications Act. The current Telecommunications Act was established:
“to ensure inter alia
(a) the establishment of a framework for authorising the ownership and operation of telecommunications networks;
(b) the provision of telecommunications services on a competitive basis allowing the widest possible access to those services at an affordable rate;

(c) the prevention of unfair competitive practices by carriers and service providers in the management of telecommunications under this Act, the Fair Trading Commission Act and the Utilities Regulations Act; and

(d) the overall development of telecommunications in the interest of the sustainable development of Barbados, taking into account the introduction of advanced telecommunications technologies and an increased range of services and the preservation of public interest and national security.”

The establishment of the Telecommunications Act signalled the start of the implementation of the sector liberalization process, during which four (4) Mobile Telecommunications licences were issued, five (5) International Telecommunications licences, three (3) Domestic Telecommunications licences, seven (7) Internet Service Provider licences and many other smaller (value-added) categories. However, due to certain forces including market forces, the sector is going through a consolidation phase, which has accelerated in the last twenty months.
In approximately two years, the sector has seen the fixed (Domestic and International) telecommunications market effectively moving from five (5) competitors (LIME, Columbus, Telebarbados, Karib Cable and Digicel) to three (3) (LIME, Columbus and Digicel). However, following the acquisition of Columbus by Cable & Wireless Communications, the market now has two players, Cable & Wireless (Barbados) Ltd. and Digicel.
Ever since full liberalization of the telecommunications sector, Barbados has witnessed dramatic growth in its telecommunications and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) services sector. Indeed in the recently published International Telecommunications Union’s (ITU) 2015 edition of the “Measuring the Information Society” report, which publishes the annual ICT Development Index (IDI), Barbados is ranked 3rd behind the USA and Canada in the Americas and 29th in the World. Also, it should be noted that Barbados has significantly improved its IDI score from 6.04 in 2010 to 7.57 in 2015. Below are some key indicators that reflect the status of the Barbados Telecommunications/ICT landscape and status.
- Island-wide 4G Mobile networks with plans to establish LTE networks in the coming months.
- Fiber Optic Network(s) that practically cover the entire island.
- 327,090 mobile subscribers (greater than 100% penetration).
- 77,158 Broadband subscribers.
- 135,775 Landlines.
- 16 FM radio stations.

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The informal economy may be described as that part of the economy that operates outside structures of taxation, social security, the collection of statistical information and labour standards as well as regulation. Establishments which operate in the informal economy usually adhere to most laws and are not engaged in major criminal activity.

Barbados recognises informality as both a product of the market system we operate and a driver of the market system. The informal sector can be seen as an element of the economy that is rich in potential, to spawn, incubate and nurture businesses enabling them to develop and grow into the more formal structures.

Mechanisms for transfer into the formal economy
A policy approach of support and assistance to persons in the informal sector has been adopted. While it is recognised that the informal sector will always be with us, we are unfailing and steadfast in continuing efforts to promote the formalization of those in the informal sector to ensure that persons in that group are able to enjoy decent work and access the same benefits of persons employed in the formal sector. In that regard the following mechanisms are in place to assist those in the informal economy to transfer into the formal economy:
Social Security
All self-employed persons are required by law to be insured under the National Insurance and Social Security Scheme. Self-employed persons are entitled to Sickness, Maternity, Funeral, Invalidity, Old Age and Survivors’ Benefits.
Business Incorporation
To officially establish a business name, one completes a one page form and pays a small fee. A limited liability company can be established with relative ease.
Entrepreneurship business training and development - Small businesses are encouraged to become involved in relevant organisations, namely the Small Business Association and the Barbados Association of Vendors (BARVEN). The Government provides technical assistance to young business persons through its Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme which facilitates the development of businesses in areas such as business planning, marketing and budgeting.
Enterprise Growth Fund
Medium-sized enterprises can access financial resources through the Enterprise Growth Fund, which also manages sectorial funds such as the:
- Agricultural Development Fund
- Energy Smart Fund
- Industrial, Investment & Employment Fund
- Innovation Fund
- Small Hotels Investment Fund
- Tourism Loan Fund
- Fund Access

Raising Operating Standards

Health authorities in Barbados work continuously with persons in the informal sector to raise the standards of their operations. The aim is to attain and maintain certain basic standards that ensure the maintenance of good public health, and engenders confidence in the quality of products offered by small operators, particularly those in the food and catering industry.
Physical Facilities
The Government provides physical facilities and amenities at strategic locations throughout the country, to facilitate the operations of small scale operators.
Labour Standards
Labour standards are applicable to persons engaged in employment regardless of the size of the organization. It is recognized however, that the oversight of labour standards in the informal sector presents particular challenges. On-going public education activities, administered by the Labour Department, contribute significantly to reaching persons in the informal sector as it relates to labour standards.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 15

Poverty Reduction Empowerment Programme

The Poverty Reduction Empowerment Programme represents an improvement of the
existing Welfare to Work Programme. It is part of the overall empowerment programme
offered in the treatment model to recipients of National Assistance and those persons at
risk. Clients are offered skills training opportunities to equip themselves for the world of
work. Personal development training is also part of the programme. It is based on the
philosophy that persons can earn their way out of poverty.

The scaled-up version of the programme will include job placements and work
experience as well as psycho-social support. It will also be an integral part of the ISEE
Bridge Programme.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 15, 16

Decent Work

Government through its medium term economic strategy has implemented a number of measures aimed at improving employment prospects. These include:
- investments in capital projects;
- increased funding to entities like Fund Access to assist such institutions in providing technical assistance to small and micro enterprises;
-maintaining employment levels within the public sector and using the mechanism of the Social Partnership to encourage the private sector to do likewise by adopting measures such as reduced work hours and implementing shift systems; and
-pursuing additional double taxation treaties in the effort to further develop the international business and financial services sector.
As the Ministry of Labour pursues its mandate of facilitating the provision of decent and
productive work for Barbadians it will focus on a number of activities and programmes
during the fiscal year 2011-2012. This will inter alia entail the following:
• assisting in employment generation through the sourcing of job opportunities for Barbadians in both local and overseas markets;
• formulating policies and implementing legislation with a view to promoting rights at work and enhancing other employment conditions, relations and opportunities; ensuring there is an adequate supply of well trained manpower in various branches of economic activity through improved delivery of training and expanded programmes;
• enhancing the Barbados Labour Market Information System to deliver reliable, accurate and relevant information to key agents in the labour market;
• continuing the development of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Programme as the principal means of workforce development and mobility;
• continuing to ensure the maintenance of a stable industrial relations climate by (i) enforcing and promoting labour, including workplace safety and health standards; and (ii) promoting good industrial relations practices throughout the public and private sectors;
• promoting standards of appropriate behaviour in the workplace;
• promoting a supportive, ethical and human rights environment in the workplace for people living with and affected by HIV / AIDS and other life threatening illnesses; and
• implementing a decent work country programme with the support of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 18

The Government of Barbados strives to protect the rights of all women and children and seeks to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence in accordance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women "Convention of Belem do Para. Legislation has been passed in order to protect against incidences of Human Trafficking. A National Task Force on Human Trafficking currently exists but must be formalised. A Protocol on Human Trafficking to complement the legislation is being drafted.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 15

Domestic Laws

The Ministry's legislative programme includes the development of the following pieces of legislation - An Employment Rights Bill, Anti-discrimination legislation and Sexual Harassment legislation. It is also planned to proclaim the Safety and Health at Work Act 2005.

The Employments Rights Bill is at an advanced stage of preparation. It seeks to confer on persons, primarily employed persons, new employment rights. This Bill inter alia protects persons from unfair dismissal and the infringement of other employment rights. It ensures that employees are given full details of their employment particulars.
An Employment Rights Tribunal will make determination on such matters.

Drafting instructions have been prepared for anti-discrimination legislation. Through this legislation, no person shall unfairly discriminate against an employee or prospective employee in any employment policy or practice on the basis of race, place of origin, political opinion, colour, creed, sex, marital status, pregnancy, age, medical condition or disability. An important aspect of the proposal is the identified need to empower officers assigned to the Ministry of Labour's Project Unit whose mandate includes investigating and recording cases of discrimination against persons living with and affected by
HIV/AIDS.

Sexual Harassment legislation seeks to provide remedies in respect of acts of sexual harassment. The Employment Rights Bill will determine complaints made under the legislation with regard to sexual harassment and will make awards in accordance with the powers given under the legislation.

The Ministry of Labour is currently addressing two (2) important matters before proclaiming the Safety and Health at Work Act 2005:
- carrying out an audit of the workplaces in the public sector to determine the extent to which safety and health conditions conform to the Act;
- obtaining consensus through discussion among the tripartite constituents with regard to Section 104 of the Act - the right to refuse dangerous work.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 16

Facilitating and promoting the movement of enterprises and workers from the informal to the formal sector, without adversely affecting the rights of workers

This cross-cutting issue falls under the ambit of several Ministries. In Barbados, there is no large scale effort to carry out the activities described in the above caption. However, it should be noted that the National Insurance Department which is responsible for administering the social security scheme, continues to promote to small business and individuals, the need to be insured against a number of contingencies so that should they occur, the worker would enjoy some level of social protection in their time of need.

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Protection of all people particularly women and children from sexual and economic exploitation

Barbados has ratified Convention No. 182 (the Worst Forms of Child Labour) and is committed to the precepts of that Convention. The Ministry of Labour has performed the important role of sensitizing its stakeholders and members of the public about the scourge of the worst forms of child labour through educational workshops, the print and electronic media.

• Date:  6/18/2011    Paragraphs: 18

The Government of Barbados strives to protect the rights of all women and children and seeks to eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence in accordance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women "Convention of Belem do Para. Legislation has been passed in order to protect against incidences of Human Trafficking. A National Task Force on Human Trafficking currently exists but must be formalised. A Protocol on Human Trafficking to complement the legislation is being drafted.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 17

Migrants and their rights

In 1967, Barbados ratified ILO Convention No. 97 (Migration for Employment). Regardless of their status, migrant workers are covered under the labour laws of Barbados and have access to the services of the Labour Department thereby receiving advice with respect to their terms and conditions of employment.

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Constituency Empowerment Programme
The Constituency Councils are facilitated through the Constituency Empowerment Programme (CEP). The Constituency Councils operate in thirty (30) constituencies across the island as delineated by the Electoral Boundaries Commission. The CEP aims to enhance the capacity of citizens to participate in the development agenda and contribute to positive change in their lives and community. Therefore, this programme ensures a ‘bottom-up’/participatory approach to development and provides a platform for socio-economic upliftment and advancement.
The programme strengthens civil society and the economy by empowering communities to negotiate with government and influence public policy, providing a check on the power of government. Also, through its contribution to participatory development this programme contributes to the effectiveness and efficiency of Government’s social development programmes and ensures sustainability. The Constituency Councils act as direct links between the local community and central government and allow citizens to have direct involvement in activities which will foster their personal development and contribute to the country’s development.

Community Development Programme
The purpose of the Community Development Programme is to mobilize and sensitize community members to the resources, skills and opportunities in their community and assist them in taking necessary actions to improve their socio-economic conditions. The projects and programmes offered at community centres across the island seek to expand the skills and capacities of the poor and vulnerable, enhancing their capability to earn a living and improve their social conditions. The programme also promotes the development and empowerment of communities, community-based and non-governmental organizations and serves as a catalyst for national development.
The programme offers a variety of skills training courses at community centres across the island to develop a spirit of self-reliance, entrepreneurship and enterprise development, leading to sustainable development and the reduction of poverty. An additional component of this programme is the Community Technology Programme (CTP). In this highly technological era, the CTP makes computer training and internet access readily available to the citizens of Barbados to improve technological literacy.

Cultural Industries Development Authority
The Cultural Industries Development Act which was proclaimed in February 2015, makes provision for the establishment of a Cultural Industries Development Authority. The Authority is responsible for promoting, assisting and facilitating the efficient development of the cultural industries and designing and implementing suitable marketing strategies for the effective promotion of the cultural industries.
The Act also encourages public-private sector partnerships and partnership with all stakeholders through the establishment of the Cultural Industries Development Fund which is managed by the Authority. The purposes of the Fund are to:
1) finance cultural projects and programmes that are designed to develop the cultural industries sector and train cultural entrepreneurs, cultural practitioners, cultural administrators and cultural workers;

2) provide cultural entrepreneurs with non-repayable grants to enable them to participate in local and overseas events, workshops and seminars and allow for training, marketing and export, and product development; and

3) provide repayable grants and loans for cultural projects and provide equity financing to allow investors to inject funds into cultural businesses and in return to take an equity share in the capital of such businesses.

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Since 2008, the Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit (formerly the National Task Force on Crime Prevention) has strengthened its crime prevention campaign in schools and communities. Information garnered from research is used to develop crime prevention programmes targeting at risk populations. Several partnerships were established with the Royal Barbados Police Force, judiciary, schools, churches and international organisations to build the capacity of the department as well as to share best practices for crime prevention. The programmes developed include:
- 11+ programme - targets children who sat the Common Entrance Examination and are transitioning to secondary school;
- Dispute Resolution and Conflict Mediation programme - targets at risk students in Secondary school;
- No Witness, No Justice programme - targets children in Secondary School;
- Girls talk and Boyz to men - target teenagers with gender relevant information on crime and sexuality;
- Art Competition - primary and secondary school students are encouraged to depict through art crime prevention strategies that could be implemented in schools and communities.
In November 2014, the United Nations Children’s Fund collaborated with the National Task Force on Crime Prevention and co- sponsored a one-day workshop for 300 secondary school students on the topic of cyber-crimes.
Addressing the behavioural challenges presented by students across secondary schools, especially, those that have been deemed to be “at-risk” continues to be a priority for the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation. In recent years, there has emerged a growing trend of students who have developed very dysfunctional behaviours that significantly challenge regular schools and that require more long-term intervention and rehabilitation approaches. In this regard, the Horizon Academy Alternative Day School was opened in January 2015 for students of compulsory school attendance age who are either expelled from school or by virtue of their deviant behaviours cannot be retained in the regular school setting. The school offers an alternative curriculum which is based on the national curriculum. The emphasis in the programme is to teach students the types of skills they need to become productive members of society while engaging in meaningful life practices.

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The Government of Barbados has embarked on a number of measures to protect women from the scourge of domestic violence. One such measure has been the review of the Domestic Violence (Protection Orders) Act 1992. This review has led to a number of proposed amendments to the Act which seek to strengthen its relevance to the growing incidences of domestic violence.
In addition to a review of the Act, Government has also sought to strengthen the institutional response to domestic violence. With this objective in mind, the Government has established the Family Conflict Unit within the Royal Barbados Police Force in 2013. This initiative has served to create a greater impetus for domestic violence interventions among the (constabulary) police officers.
Since 2012, Barbados has implemented the Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme, a sixteen-session curriculum for men designed to encourage and support them in achieving a violence-free lifestyle. It is premised on the principles of victim safety and perpetrator accountability. The PfP programme asserts that violence is intentional and that abusive behaviours are chosen methods for gaining control of persons and situations. The programme uses a psycho-educational approach in order to convey that violence is unacceptable and that violent habits can be broken. The key message is that violence is a choice, that participants are responsible for their choices, and that they alone are accountable for the consequences of the actions they take.

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United Nations Convention on Transnational Organised Crime
Barbados ratified the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organised Crime and three supplementary protocols in October 2014, namely the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children; the Protocol against Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air; and the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition.
The Convention provides a framework to effectively prevent and combat transnational organised crime. States Parties are legally bound to implement provisions such as the obligation to criminalise participation in an organised criminal group, money laundering, corruption and the obstruction of justice. The Convention also outlines measures to be implemented by States Parties to prevent, investigate and prosecute these crimes.
The three Protocols contain specific provisions aimed at preventing, combating and punishing trafficking in persons, the smuggling of migrants and the illicit manufacture of and trafficking in firearms, their parts, components and ammunition.
Barbados signed the instruments to become a State Party to the Convention and its Protocols in September 2001.
Arms Trade Treaty
Barbados became a signatory to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) on September 26, 2013 and is currently taking the necessary steps to ratify this legally binding instrument which is intended, inter alia, to prevent and eradicate the illicit trade in conventional arms and prevent their diversion.* Barbados ratified the Arms Trade Treaty on May 21, 2015.

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Various training opportunities have been provided to the Royal Barbados Police Force through the Government of the United States and Canada in areas such as forensics, polygraph examinations, and crisis negotiation.

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Although community policing and the Neighbourhood Watch Programme continue to be at the fore-front of crime prevention initiatives, a range of specific crime prevention strategies are currently in use by the Force as a counter to increase criminality. Most of these measures fall under the rubric of situational crime prevention and include initiatives such as target hardening, high police visibility, property marking, environmental design, security audits and education.

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Anecdotal evidence suggests that Barbados might be a destination country for the exploitation of workers from other countries within the region, with exploitation being in the form of prostitution or work in the night entertainment sector.
The National Task Force for the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons was established in February 2012. The Task Force is directed by the Barbados Operations Guidelines for the Identification and Protection of Victims of Human Trafficking and the Protection of Victims of Traffickers. The guidelines are linked to the United Nations Protocol and the objectives include the following:
- To provide guidance to all stakeholders in responding to suspected cases of human trafficking;
- To facilitate the successful investigation and prosecution of cases of human trafficking;
- To protect and assist the victims of such trafficking with full respect for their human rights;
- To promote cooperation among all stake holders in order to meet these objectives; and
- To encourage and facilitate the maintenance of a victim-centred approach by all stakeholders in the performance of their duties.
For many years, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) collaborated with partners in Barbados to counter human trafficking. The IOM works to help ensure the orderly and humane management of migration, to promote international cooperation on migration issues in the search for practical solutions to migration problems and to provide humanitarian assistance to migrants in need, be they refugees, displaced persons or other uprooted people. IOM also assists governments in the development and implementation of migration policies, legislation and administrative mechanisms.
In 2013, the IOM focused on a series of training courses aimed at building capacity of technical stakeholders in the Caribbean region to identify and assist victims of trafficking, and improve criminal justice efforts. More recently, in April 2014, the IOM sponsored a sensitization session for judiciary officials. Additionally, in June and November 2014, the IOM held two workshops aimed at strengthening institutional mechanisms for criminal justice. The workshops focussed on national plans of action and tools required to collect and analyse data. It also focussed on public awareness and memoranda of understanding as components of a national plan. These activities are part of a three-year regional capacity building project to combat human trafficking.

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STRENGTHENING PUBLIC SECURITY
The Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) continues, at the strategic level, to formulate and implement policies consistent with Supply and Demand Reduction and Harm Reduction with respect to illicit drugs. The Force has strengthened its information sharing capability in the region and internationally through specific systems, training and education. By virtue of this our capability to monitor and interdict drug trafficking has been greatly enhanced.
Our Harm Reduction focus has been targeted at public education, alerting the community to the dangers and ramifications of the use and abuse of illicit drugs.
Specifically, the RBPF has expanded its Drug Awareness Programme in Primary Schools, through the Drug Awareness Resistance Education Programme or (DARE). It is contemplated that this programme will be extended to our Secondary Schools.

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STRENGTHENING PUBLIC SECURITY
The Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) continues, at the strategic level, to formulate and implement policies consistent with Supply and Demand Reduction and Harm Reduction with respect to illicit drugs. The Force has strengthened its information sharing capability in the region and internationally through specific systems, training and education. By virtue of this our capability to monitor and interdict drug trafficking has been greatly enhanced.
Our Harm Reduction focus has been targeted at public education, alerting the community to the dangers and ramifications of the use and abuse of illicit drugs. Specifically, the RBPF has expanded its Drug Awareness Programme in Primary Schools, through the Drug Awareness Resistance Education Programme or (DARE). It is contemplated that this programme will be extended to our Secondary Schools.
Transnational Organized Crime
The RBPF has developed a capability in its Financial Crimes Investigative Unit to investigate and submit for prosecution, crimes of Money Laundering. Current Legislation has been given a recent and welcomed boost to the Forces capability through the promulgation of the Transnational Organised Crime (Prevention and Control) Act 2011-3. Complementing this, the Force has deployed more investigators to the unit responsible for such investigations.
The RBPF's Contingency Plans for terrorist incidents are subject to continuous update. Related training and simulations complement the updates. Continuous networking with international agencies in the fight, against terrorism heightens the Force's awareness of any possible terrorist threats.
Since 1982, the Force embarked on Community Policing as a crime prevention strategy and philosophy. Currently new crime prevention strategy and philosophy treat to pervasive public engagement through Community Policing and Problem Solving; the desirable integrated approach. This approach has led to the better management of Crime Prevention and has had the distinct utility of identifying criminal gangs and
associated criminal behaviour.
Firearm crime poses a threat to individual and community well-being. This criminal activity can drive fear throughout our communities hence the Force accords it the seriousness with which it should be treated. There is a specialized unit to deal with the more organized and sophisticated aspect of firearm crime and the movement and use of ammunition. At the strategic level, the Force uses its international connections to
monitor illicit manufacture and trafficking in firearms and ammunition. Recently the RBPF has been calling for and now has the capability of tracing the origins of firearms and ammunition used illegally.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 76

Transnational Organized Crime
The RBPF has developed a capability in its Financial Crimes Investigative Unit to investigate and submit for prosecution, crimes of Money Laundering. Current Legislation has been given a recent and welcomed boost to the Forces capability through the promulgation of the Transnational Organised Crime (Prevention and Control) Act 2011-3. Complementing this, the Force has deployed more investigators to the unit responsible for such investigations.

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The RBPF's Contingency Plans for terrorist incidents are subject to continuous update. Related training and simulations complement the updates. Continuous networking with international agencies in the fight, against terrorism heightens the Force's awareness of any possible terrorist threats.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 75

Firearm crime poses a threat to individual and community well-being. This criminal activity can drive fear throughout our communities hence the Force accords it the seriousness with which it should be treated. There is a specialized unit to deal with the more organized and sophisticated aspect of firearm crime and the movement and use of ammunition. At the strategic level, the Force uses its international connections to
monitor illicit manufacture and trafficking in firearms and ammunition. Recently the RBPF has been calling for and now has the capability of tracing the origins of firearms and ammunition used illegally.

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The provision of high quality pre-primary education for all children at the Early Childhood Education (ECE) level continues to be a top priority for the Government of Barbados. To this end, access to ECE for all children has been improved and expanded over the last decade. The policy of provision of public ECE has ensured that no child from a vulnerable group or no disadvantaged child would be excluded from receiving quality early childhood care and education in Barbados.
Currently, there are ten public nursery schools that cater to students in the 3 – 4 years age category. Six of these pre-primary schools were established in the ECE Expansion Project which was started in 2005. In addition, pre-primary education is offered in all public primary schools as well. While the Government of Barbados provides the general financing for this expansion programme, the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation has established a partnership with the Maria Holder Foundation to facilitate the financing of the construction and establishment of three new Nursery schools in the 2015-2017 period.
Protecting children from economic exploitation and from any tasks that may interfere with their education and integral development, according to the principle of the effective abolition of child labour, which is contained in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998); as well as preventing and eradicating the worst forms of child labour according to Convention 182 of the ILO (1999)
Barbados has embarked on a programme of sensitization of the national community on the issue of child labour and related matters. This initiative commenced in November 2014 with a Government Information Service radio interview with the Chief Labour Officer addressing the issue. A series of public service announcements are planned for release on radio and television.
Raising awareness about the adverse effects of adolescent pregnancies on the integral development of the adolescent and their offspring, as well as fostering their health and well-being
The matter of Adolescent Health is currently addressed by the Ministries of Health; Culture, Sports and Youth; and Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (METI) and the Barbados Family Planning Association.

The Ministry of Health is in the process of finalizing the Draft National Adolescent Health Policy of Barbados which is designed to provide a blueprint for comprehensive plans, programmes and services for the adolescent population. The draft policy recognises that investment in adolescent health is essential for attaining and maintaining a favourable national health profile, and its goals are outlined as follows:
- Collect appropriate data to inform the development and revision of relevant policies, laws and programmes;
- Ensure adolescents have access to appropriate information and comprehensive education and skills training to adequately prepare them for a healthy transition into adulthood;
- Train adolescents, healthcare workers, teachers and other key stakeholders to promote and administer appropriate healthcare for adolescents;
- Foster multi-sectoral partnerships among relevant stakeholders to address adolescent needs;
- Provide health care services that are affordable, acceptable and accessible to all adolescents; and
- Create a safe and supportive environment to facilitate the implementation of health programmes to benefit all male and female adolescents.

The National Youth Policy, approved by the Cabinet of Barbados in February 2012, outlines a framework for action on youth development and identifies key strategy areas including the family, core values and lifestyle diseases. One of the goals of the policy is to ‘enable young people to tackle lifestyle diseases, especially HIV/AIDS’.
However, there is an inherent conflict in accessing healthcare services. The age at which adolescents can legally consent to sexual intercourse is 16 years, but the legal age at which reproductive health services and commodities can be accessed is 18 years. This gap in accessing quality sexual and reproductive health services presents a barrier to comprehensive healthcare and the Youth Policy seeks to address this discrepancy by recommending the amendment of relevant legislation to align the age of consent with the age of access so that young persons, from age 16, have the right to obtain sexual reproductive services and to get tested for HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) without their parent’s consent.
School-based sexual and reproductive health education is provided at primary and secondary schools through the Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) curriculum, and jointly delivered by the Ministries of Health and Education.
The Barbados Family Planning Association also provides adolescent services through a Youth Advocacy Movement and a Youth Drop-in Centre. These programmes allow adolescents to participate in peer counselling, educational outreach, and advocacy. Youth are therefore offered tools to assist them in making informed decisions and thus improve their quality of life. The Council for the Disabled focuses on providing Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) services through its ‘SRH WINDOW’, ensuring that persons with disabilities have access to counselling, referrals and medical services.

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Decent, Dignified and Productive Work
The Government of Barbados has developed and amended enabling legislation to ensure that its workforce enjoys decent, dignified and productive work and that those in the informal sector enjoy basic rights and conditions.
Such legislation includes:
- The Employment Rights Act which seeks to confer on persons new employment rights. For employees, the right to be consulted before they are laid off or placed on short time; the right, if dismissed for redundancy or laid off, to priority rehiring in certain circumstances; the right, where employment has ended, to a certificate giving particulars of the employment including, where the employment ended by dismissal (should the employee so wish), a statement of the reasons why he was dismissed; the right not to be unfairly dismissed; the right to register a complaint of unfair dismissal and for the Employment Rights Tribunal, which has been established to determine issues relating to employment rights, to make a determination on such matters.
- The Shops Act and the Holiday with Pay Act have been amended to address the issue of working conditions.
- Amendments have also been made to the Safety and Health at Work Act, and new legislation in the form of the Anti-discrimination Bill and the Sexual Harassment Bill
are currently being formulated.
- The Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development (MLSD) continues to oversee the implementation of provisions related to those International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions which have been ratified by Barbados. MLSD also works closely with the competent authorities of the various conventions to monitor activities related to these instruments and to ensure that the country remains compliant.

Quality of Education
Barbados continues to place considerable emphasis on human and social capital development through significant investments in education and related services. The Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation and educational institutions at all levels, strive to provide conducive learning environments to ensure the inculcation of appropriate knowledge, skills, and competencies among all learners. Major areas of focus are the expansion of Early Childhood Education (ECE), the integration of Information Communication Technology in education, the enhancement of the quality of education at the primary and secondary levels, technical and vocational education and skills development, teacher training and teacher preparation and the expansion of access to tertiary education.
Over the period 2000-2015, Barbados continued to provide significant investment in educational, social and other support services to ensure that all children from birth to age 16 have equal access to education. These include free textbooks at the primary level, a subsidized textbook loan scheme at the secondary level, free travel on state-owned buses, a subsidized school feeding programme, a school uniform grant, free health care and subventions and bursaries to Government-Assisted private schools.
In Barbados, the concept of quality of education articulated within the Dakar Framework for Action has been embraced. While quality is not framed and defined specifically in the national legislation, at the central administration level, emphasis has been placed on policies and programmes that focus on the characteristics and learning outcomes of students, the training and competence of teachers, the process of pedagogical delivery by teachers and their interaction and impact on learners, appropriate and relevant national curricula, effective school leadership and good governance and equitable and adequate resource allocation.
Since the goals of universal primary and secondary education have been achieved, a focus on the quality of the education system provides a better assessment of the provision of education services at all levels. Such areas include the following:
- Academic qualifications of teachers
- The proportion of professionally trained teachers in the teaching service - In the area of professional development, the Erdiston Teachers’ Training College offered a range of In-service professional certificate courses over the period since 2000. Some of the courses included the Vocational Teachers’ In-service Training, Early Childhood Education, Special Needs Education and Physical Education. Throughout the period, a pre-service Introductory Course for Novice teachers was also offered.
- Maintaining pupil-teacher ratios –Barbados can be regarded as having excelled in this performance indicator

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MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
The Ministry of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development designs and implements programmes and projects that address the following:
The National Assistance Programme
The National Assistance Programme is offered by the Welfare Department. This programme provides assistance to poor and vulnerable citizens who are unable to earn a living to support themselves and their dependents because of illness, injury or other special circumstance. The National Assistance programme has two components:
i. Monetary Assistance/Cash Transfers: This allows poor and vulnerable individuals to meet their daily needs; and
ii. Assistance-in-Kind: This comprises the provision of food vouchers, dentures, spectacles, clothing, hearing aids, prostheses, furniture, the facilitation of burials, the payment of house and land rents and utility bills – water and electricity.
The National Assistance Programme endeavours to provide an opportunity for needy citizens to meet their needs and improve their social condition through the provision of financial assistance and assistance in kind.

Poverty Reduction Empowerment Programme
The Poverty Reduction Empowerment Programme (PREP) provides skills training to clients of the welfare department to facilitate their personal development and give them an opportunity to utilize these marketable skills to elevate themselves from a status of dependency to independence through employment. This programme responds to the realization that it is not enough to simply provide the poor and vulnerable with hand-outs but it is also vital that they are provided with opportunities to develop and expand their capabilities and lift themselves out of poverty. PREP aims to enhance personal and social development; increase knowledge and skills; promote the transfer of learning; promote job retention; and enhance and developing self-efficacy.
Identification – Stabilization – Enablement – Empowerment (I.S.E.E.) Bridge Pilot Project
The Country Assessment of Living Conditions (CALC) is a national study which was conducted in 2010 using quantitative and qualitative research to assess the current conditions affecting the welfare of people living in Barbados. The study indicated that despite a large number of social services offered to reduce poverty many individuals have been unable to break the cycle of poverty and as a result there are large numbers of poor multi-generational households. The I.S.E.E. Bridge project aims to reduce intergenerational poverty, using the household as the focal point of intervention to improve the overall quality of life of poor and vulnerable household members. This programme represents a paradigm shift in the efforts to reduce poverty in Barbados and it moves away from the traditional emphasis of “stabilizing” to that of “empowering” the poor and the vulnerable. The intervention focusses on four critical areas:
i. Identification/Assessment: Where the poor and vulnerable are identified and their needs assessed.
ii. Stabilization: The immediate needs are addressed.
iii. Enablement: Where skills to survive are imparted.
iv. Empowerment: Where individuals are imbued with the capacity to succeed and excel in society.

The overall objective of the project is to Build a Road for Individual Development towards the Goal of Empowerment (BRIDGE).
The programme is built on seven pillars of intervention, namely; i) Personal Identification, Health Promotion, Education and Human Resource Development, Employment, Income/Social Benefits, Housing Conditions and Family Dynamics. Minimum conditions are attached to each pillar which household members are required to meet before graduating from the programme. This process is supported by intense psycho-social support.

MDG 2 – Achieve universal primary education
Since the 1970s, Barbados attained universal access to primary education and this has been maintained. There have been consistently high levels of pupil participation by both sexes which has corresponded with high completion rates and high effective transition rates for pupils from primary education to secondary education.

MDG 3 – Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
The Bureau of Gender Affairs (BGA) is the national machinery responsible for the integration of gender in all national policies and programmes. The BGA functions to mainstream gender and to ensure the integration of gender and development into all areas of national development plans and policies so that women and men can benefit equally from existing opportunities.
Gender mainstreaming is an integral component of the Bureau’s activities. A number of training and sensitisation programmes are implemented to expand gender awareness and promote social change at the community level which will remove barriers to the attainment of gender equality. Gender sensitivity programmes are also implemented within primary and secondary educational institutions to increase awareness of gender issues among children with a view to promoting harmonious future generations.
A major accomplishment of the Bureau of Gender Affairs is the National Policy on Gender, which will form the framework of the major work of the Bureau over the next five years. The development of the policy is in the final stages and the policy document should be completed by 2015. This policy will act as the guiding framework through which gender perspectives are being brought to the forefront of national planning, legislation, programmes and activities in order to advance development.

MDG 4: Reduce child mortality
Antenatal and child-health services in the polyclinics and the Neonatal and Paediatric Intensive Care Units at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital were instrumental in improving infant survival rates. Nurses received specialist training in neo-natal care to complement these services.
Perinatal conditions and congenital abnormalities were the leading cause of death among children under 1 year old. Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births (less than 1 year) was 10.7 in 2012 while neonatal (0 to 27 days) infant mortality rate was 8.3, and the post-neonatal (28 days to <1 year) infant mortality rate was 2.5.
The health of infants and children is dependent on controlling the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases and Barbados has been successful in meeting international targets in this area. In 2013, Barbados was awarded the Caribbean Public Health Agency shield for excellent surveillance for immunization diseases under the Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI). The country continues to maintain zero cases of polio, neonatal tetanus, measles, rubella, yellow fever and congenital rubella syndrome. Over the past two decades immunization coverage has been consistently high, between 90-93%.
New vaccines added to the EPI include Hepatitis B, Haemophilus Influenza, Pneumococcal and Varicella. The most recent of these, the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine, was included in the immunization programme in January 2014. Initially girls eleven years and over in twenty-three (23) secondary schools were given the vaccine and preparation is now being made for the inoculation of a second cohort of girls.
The programme for the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) started in Barbados in 1995. Prior to its implementation, HIV transmission rates to infants exposed to HIV was 27.1%. However, by 2012, HIV transmission rates were reduced to less than 1%.
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MDG 5: Improve maternal health
Barbados has maintained low maternal mortality rates with six maternal deaths recorded between 2007 and 2009 resulting in a maternal death rate of 0.8 per thousand live births. Enhanced continuity of care is being articulated in ongoing revisions of established antenatal guidelines. Protocols for identification of high risk pregnancies have also been developed and implemented. All pregnant women have access to ante-natal and post-natal care which is provided through the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, eight polyclinics and two out-patient clinics. All births and post-partum care for mother and child are attended by trained health professionals. There have been no reported cases of congenital syphilis in the last seven years. Barbados continues to provide technical assistance in Paediatric care to its Caribbean neighbours.

MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
HIV/AIDS
Given its significant achievements, the Barbados HIV/AIDS programme is regarded as a model in the Caribbean region. This success is now augmented by the universal availability of antiretroviral treatment for individuals living with HIV, resulting in a significant reduction in mortality and improved quality of life for affected individuals and their families. Added to this is the reduction in mother-to-child transmission, with no reported cases since 2007. This success has been achieved in conjunction with international and regional cooperation.
Transmissions continue to trend downwards with 138 new HIV cases recorded in 2012. At the end of 2012 there were 2,024 people living with HIV, and the HIV prevalence in 15-49 year olds for 2012 was estimated at 1.2%. There has been a reduction of AIDS mortality rates from 50% to less than 10% and Barbados has achieved universal access to treatment. All donated blood is screened for HIV as part of the Blood Safety Programme at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
A National HIV Testing Policy was developed, launched and disseminated to all stakeholders in 2013. A Rapid Testing Pilot Project was implemented to expand access to HIV testing services in Barbados and the service is now being offered routinely at select polyclinics. In 2013, national guidelines were updated according to WHO global and regional guidelines.
An initiative to strengthen the health sector’s response to HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) through integration of services and community involvement is slated to be implemented by 2017. This initiative, estimated at a total cost of $ 20,651,320 is being funded through a Co-operative Agreement Project by the World Bank, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and the United States Centre for Disease Control.
The National Strategic Plan for HIV Prevention and Control 2014-2020 was approved for implementation, and its major focus is the prevention of HIV and sexually transmitted infections. Activities under this Plan are carried out by the National HIV/AIDS Commission, and are designed to benefit key populations at higher risk, and people living with HIV (PLHIV). Under this programme, the Ladymeade Reference Unit (LRU) Laboratory was established as a fully developed functioning molecular suite providing clinical services including immunophenotyping for Leukemias and Lymphomas.
The LRU, a specialty facility offering outpatient medical care, was opened in June 2002 and comprises a multi-disciplinary clinic and laboratory. In keeping with international best practices, the clinic provides Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART) for PLHIV.
The laboratory facilitates assessment and monitoring of PLHIV by measuring CD4 counts and HIV-1 RNA (or Viral Load) levels. Through the LRU, Barbados now has the capacity to act as a resource centre for the region in the treatment and control of HIV and other diseases.
The anti-retroviral therapy programme has been responsible for the decline in the AIDS case fatality rate, as well as the prevention of mother-to-child transmission in Barbados. Data from the case-based surveillance system positions Barbados to undertake the certification process to verify achievements, thereby placing us among the first English Speaking Caribbean countries to have achieved regional targets. Specifically, these achievements translate into the following milestones:
- Significant reduction in newly diagnosed HIV infections during the period 2001-2010.
- Significant expansion of HIV care and treatment services through decentralized testing.
- Referral to care, care and treatment expansion and sustained high coverage, currently estimated at 86% of those who need it.
- Reduction of AIDS mortality rates from 50% to less than 10%.
- Reduction of mother-to-child transmission of HIV to 2% or less. Barbados has no reported cases of transmission of HIV from mother to her child in the last four years.
- Reduction of the incidence of mother-to-child transmission of HIV to 0.3 cases or less per 1000 live births.
- Reduction of the incidence of congenital syphilis to 0.5 cases or less per 1000 live births. Barbados has had no reported cases of congenital syphilis in the last seven years. Additionally, our programme includes Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) within family planning and STI and HIV prevention services.

Malaria
Malaria is not endemic in Barbados but active wetlands surveillance continues for the vector of this disease.
Other Diseases
Barbados’ Tuberculosis Control programme has been designed and executed based on World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and WHO STOP TB partnerships global plan. The indicators and targets set for 2015 (incidence rate, prevalence rate, mortality rate and case detection rates) have been achieved, in addition to targets for the needed response to address the specific challenges of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and the TB/HIV co-epidemic. The TB control programme has also enhanced the surveillance activity at port of entries.
There were (4) four confirmed cases of TB in 2012, and (5) in 2013. Laboratory services and requisite training has also been enhanced.
Dengue fever is endemic in Barbados but there was a trend downwards for 2013 with 1,140 confirmed cases and an index below two. Vector control strategies, including source reduction and chemical control, remain a principal prevention strategy with continued inspections of premises, investigations of mosquito complaints and maintained surveillance at sites, including ports of entry and wetlands. At August 2014 there were 100 confirmed cases of dengue fever, representing a reduction of over 90% when compared with the 1,100 cases reported at August 2013.
MDG 8: Develop a global partnership for development
In terms of health, Barbados has developed global partnerships with a number of organizations with the aim of strategically strengthening its health service system and enhancing delivery of programmes and services.
HIV/AIDS World Bank Project
In addition to the development of the HIV/AIDS programme, cooperation through the HIV/AIDS World Bank Project is also directed at developing health information systems (HIS) and services and bringing them in line with international standards, including the obligations to World Health Organization (WHO) regulations.
To date a health data dictionary (HDD) consultancy has been completed and the dictionary developed. A data governance structure has also been established and Cabinet has approved the use of World Bank procedures to acquire an electronic HIS. The Ministry is also currently investigating surveillance software in collaboration with PAHO.
Caribbean Public Health Agency
The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is the new single regional public health agency for the Caribbean. It was legally established in July 2011 by an Inter-Governmental Agreement of which Caribbean Community Member States are parties. The agency began operation in January 2013.
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems are critical components for the development of comprehensive national health sector strategic plans. To facilitate this development, Barbados has partnered with CARPHA to conduct M&E training for programme heads. Basic and advanced training in M&E techniques has been delivered and CARPHA is currently working with specific departments in the design and implementation of M&E plans.
In addition, CARPHA is the repository for mortality surveillance in the region and the Ministry provides the organization with annual mortality reports for Barbados.
The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS
The Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP) comprises CARICOM states as well as regional and international partners. The partnership aims to scale up the response to HIV/AIDS in the region.
The Caribbean HIV/AIDS Regional Training Network
The Caribbean HIV/AIDS Regional Training Network (CHART) was established in 2003 for the purpose of contributing to systematic capacity development among institutional and community- based health care workers. Healthcare workers in Barbados have been trained through this initiative.
Centre for Disease Control
Centre for Disease Control (CDC) of the United States of America has added value to the laboratory strengthening exercise now being under taken in Barbados. A project to amalgamate the individual laboratories has been developed to achieve economies of scale and enhanced efficiency and effectiveness in the operations of services carried out by the Public Health Laboratory, the Leptospira Laboratory and the Ladymeade Reference Laboratory. The Government of Barbados has secured funding for this project from the State Department of the Unites States Government through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
The CDC has also assisted with surveillance efforts in relation to identifying high risk groups and the management of infectious diseases.

PART - 2 -

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 9

Social Care

Conscious of the impact of the global recession on the country and the implications this
has for the poor and the vulnerable, the Barbados Government has scaled-up its efforts
to combat poverty in all its dimensions and remains steadfastly committed to
strengthening efforts to reduce social disparities and inequality and to halve extreme
poverty by the year 2015. This has been done essentially to safeguard the level of
progress made as a nation and to maintain the quality of life that Barbadians have been
able to enjoy, especially over the last four decades. To this end, institutional frameworks
are being strengthened and participatory governance is being mainstreamed. Social
protection is receiving special attention with the emphasis being shifted from that of
mere stabilisation to that of the empowerment of the poor and those persons at risk
including Persons with Disabilities and Older Persons. The goal of these strategies is to
promote human prosperity and in the process, ensure sustainable economic growth and
maintain social development.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 4, 8

The Social Policy Committee of the Cabinet

The Social Policy Committee of the Cabinet has been established to coordinate the work
of the social sector and fast track decision-maldng. It is therefore charged to consider
social policy issues within the purviews, inter alia, of health, education, housing,
employment and welfare. The membership of the Committee comprises the Ministers
under whose portfolios these issues fall. Policy Papers informing on growing trends in
the social sector, emerging challenges and new initiatives are submitted to this
Committee where they are discussed in detailed. Recommendations concerning the
formulation and implementation of policies and strategies to deal with these matters are
also examined and any adjustments made as necessary.

The Inter-Ministry Task Force to Monitor and Strengthen the Social Safety
Net

This Inter-Ministry Task Force provides a framework for the management of social risks.
It is seen as an integral part of social protection and allows for a fully coordinated
sectoral approach to the provision of social services. Its establishment is aimed at
strengthening the social protection network and minimising duplication and
fragmentation in the social service delivery system. Its specific task is to identify the ongoing
risks posed to the vulnerable so that strategies can be put in place to prevent or
minimize dislocation, displacement and exclusion and improve coping mechanisms.
Membership of the Inter-Ministry Task Force is drawn from among the technical staff of
the relevant Ministries and Departments and is chaired by the Minister of Social Care.
Members of the Social Policy Committee of the Cabinet are also in attendance as
necessary.

To date, members of the Inter-Ministry Task Force have been sharing information
concerning the roles and responsibilities of their agencies; assisting with the formulation
of policy and programmes to deal with issues identified; participating in various
activities etc. An important achievement has been the creation of a data base of the
services offered by agencies serving on the Task Force.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 10

The Inter-Ministry Task Force to Monitor and Strengthen the Social Safety
Net

This Inter-Ministry Task Force provides a framework for the management of social risks.
It is seen as an integral part of social protection and allows for a fully coordinated
sectoral approach to the provision of social services. Its establishment is aimed at
strengthening the social protection network and minimising duplication and
fragmentation in the social service delivery system. Its specific task is to identify the ongoing
risks posed to the vulnerable so that strategies can be put in place to prevent or
minimize dislocation, displacement and exclusion and improve coping mechanisms.
Membership of the Inter-Ministry Task Force is drawn from among the technical staff of
the relevant Ministries and Departments and is chaired by the Minister of Social Care.
Members of the Social Policy Committee of the Cabinet are also in attendance as
necessary.

To date, members of the Inter-Ministry Task Force have been sharing information
concerning the roles and responsibilities of their agencies; assisting with the formulation
of policy and programmes to deal with issues identified; participating in various
activities etc. An important achievement has been the creation of a data base of the
services offered by agencies serving on the Task Force.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 4

The objective of the Constituency Empowerment Programme is the broadening of the
participatory character of governance in Barbados with the view to ensuring the
equitable development of Barbadian society. It favours a ''bottom-up'' approach to
development and provides the platform on which the social upliftrnent and the
empowerment of all citizens will be pursued. AIl such it is seen as an important aspect of
the Government's overall poverty reduction strategy.

The Constituency Empowerment Programme has been operationalised by the
establishment of thirty (30) Constituency Councils, one in each Constituency. The
membership of each Constituency Council comprises fifteen (15) persons drawn from the
respective constituencies. They represent faith-based organisations and other civil
society organisations as well as individuals who have been nominated by their respective
constituencies. Major political parties are also represented on the Council. These
Councils are expected to partner with their constituents and together find solutions to
local problems. Each Council receives an allocation of $100,000 per annum to finance
their respective programmes.

The Councils are supported administratively by the Department of Constituency
Empowerment. The Officers of this Department are available to give guidance, conduct
training and give financial oversight. The Department also provides the link between the
Councils and the Ministry as well as other agencies with which the Councils need to
interact. The Department also monitors the functioning of the Protocols which have
been established with these Agencies and fast-tracks any referrals. A volunteer
programme is also being developed as part of the Programme to further extend the reach
of the Councils.

Programmes undertal,en by the Councils to date include the conducting of educational
programmes for children and young people; training in the area of entrepreneurial
development; clean-up and beautification campaigns; recreational activities; the clearing
of wells to mitigate flooding especially during the rainy season; and response to
emergency matters. Support to community-based organisations, including sporting
organisations has also been forthcoming.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 4, 8, 9

Enhancement of Social Protection Strategies

Poverty in Barbados is considered to be relative rather than extreme as defined by
international development institutions. The country also boasts of having one of the
most comprehensive social safety nets in the Caribbean. However there are pockets of
poverty which appear to be generational that are deemed unacceptable. Breaking this
cycle of poverty has been difficult in that strategies tended to stop at stabilising acute
situations rather than transforming them. Hence many of the persons falling victim to
intergenerational poverty made little effort to emerge from their state of dependency.
Recognising this, Barbados has sought to move away from the concept of dependence on
welfare to that of empowerment. To this end, new interventionist approaches have been
adopted which are supported by the use of information management systems and
technology as well as research. National Assistance rates have also been increased.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 8

The ISEE Bridge Programme, which captures the operational framework guiding
interventions in the Personal Social Services Sector, is an initiative aimed at reducing
intergenerational poverty. Its introduction was based on the conclusion that more
attention needs to be placed on the household as a focal point of intervention to improve
the quality of life of the poor and vulnerable within the household if intergenerational
poverty is to be reduced/eliminated.
A Pilot Programme, targeting 30 households will commence in July 2011 in association
with the Organisation of American States. The intervention will include intensive
psycho-social support as well as assistance from other agencies of Government and Civil
Society to address the expressed needs of the identified households. The Programme will
ultimately assist in strengthening the intervention methodologies utilised by the Welfare
Department.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 9

Information Management and Research

A barrier to efficient and effective delivery of social services has been the inability to
retrieve existing data to inform policy and enhance the social service delivery system. To
this end, the setting up of a National Social Care Information Management System is
being pursued and a Website activated. A Country Assessment of Living Conditions has
also been conducted.

National Social Care Information Management System (NASCIMS)

Acknowledging that the global environment has evolved as a knowledge-based society,
development policy and strategies are becoming increasingly dependent on the flow of
intelligent up-to-date information. Given the nature, scope of work and potential impact
on national development, the mandate of the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency
Empowerment and Community Development - with six (6) critical departments and a
staff complement of approximately four hundred (400) persons, there was an urgent
need of a technologically advanced, network. The process of setting up this network has
begun. When completed, it will efficiently and effectively share vital information for the
conducting of the work of the Ministry.

The establishment of NASCIMS will allow for service excellence to clients and the
general public. It will also provide for up-to-date information on the status of social
development in Barbados and inform policy-making and development strategies, It is
anticipated that there will be the connectivity of all departments.; the expedition of
information sharing; accurate departmental statistics; the efficient transmission of
information; remote access of files and resources; and the centralization of information
and data on shared servers where it is managed for confidentiality and security.
NASCIMS will also greatly assist with client tracking.

To facilitate this initiative, all Departments under the Ministry are being computerised.
It is hoped that eventually all Agencies will be linked to allow for information sharing,
case conferences, etc.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 10

Budget allocations to assistance in-kind have also been increased to meet the demand
coming from persons who may not be on welfare, but who may be at risk in the current
circumstances. At present, assistance in-kind includes the payment of utility bills,
(water and electricity) house and land rent, food vouchers, clothing, educational
assistance (books, uniforms etc.), spectacles, dentures and prostheses.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 4, 8

Poverty Reduction Empowerment Programme

The Poverty Reduction Empowerment Programme represents an improvement of the existing Welfare to Work Programme. It is part of the overall empowerment programme offered in the treatment model to recipients of National Assistance and those persons at risk. Clients are offered skills training opportunities to equip themselves for the world of work. Personal development training is also part of the programme. It is based on the philosophy that persons can earn their way out of poverty.

The scaled-up version of the programme will include job placements and work experience as well as psycho-social support. It will also be an integral part of the ISEE Bridge Programme.

• Date:  12/18/2015    Paragraphs: 7

Barbados Human Resource Development (HRD) Strategy
The Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development (MLSD) is collaborating with the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (METI) and the European Union (EU) to implement the Barbados Human Resource Development (HRD) Strategy 2011-2016. This strategy defines a comprehensive, multi-sector programme that seeks to harmonise HRD efforts and realize the vision of “an efficient, well-coordinated, effective, knowledge-led, and demand-driven HRD system responsive to global conditions and Barbadian aspirations”. Parliament approved the HRD strategy in 2010 and the implementation of the HRD Strategy officially began in January 2011 with the signing of the Financing Agreement between the Government of Barbados (GOB) and the European Union (EU).
The HRD Strategy adopts a holistic approach to human resource development which facilitates strategic linkages among stakeholders and defines the policy and programme interventions, outputs, outcomes, and indicators for the following five (5) broad strategic pillars:
1. Creation of an enabling environment for human resource development through institutional strengthening and capacity building;
2. Development of an internationally-recognised national qualifications framework;
3. Development of a demand-driven professional development and training services;
4. Rationalisation of knowledge management systems and improved information access; and
5. Enhancement of research to improve innovation, entrepreneurship, and development capacity.
A significant element of Pillar 5 is the improvement of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through the creation of policies and programmes which would enable them to contribute in a more meaningful way to economic development. To this end, the Government is working with the small business sector in its efforts to build capacity and develop and implement mechanisms which would allow prospective entrepreneurs and existing business owners access to micro-financing. An analysis of best practices in SME development in other jurisdictions is also being undertaken.
It is expected that with the successful realization of these goals, Barbados will achieve increased international competitiveness, sustainable growth and reduced poverty. The Barbados HRD Strategy will also assist in addressing the current symptoms of the downturn in the economy while mitigating the risk of longer term impacts by providing a stronger, more flexible and responsive infrastructure for human resource and skills development and improving employability and overall productivity.
Given the multifaceted and integrated approach to HRD under the strategy, the programme’s delivery will be spread across multiple organizations. To support the necessary coordination of the programme, the HRD Programme Implementation Unit has been set up under the MLSD and it is headed by a Programme Coordinator. A Programme Steering Committee was established to provide technical support and oversight throughout the life of the programme.
Conset Bay Pilot (Fisheries) Project
The Ministry of Environment and Drainage, through the Policy Research, Planning and Information Unit and the Cabinet Approved Conset Bay Pilot Project Governance Committee, continues to make a case for on-going work under the Conset Bay Pilot Project, Phase II. There is scope for collaboration between the Organisation of American States, the community-based Conset Bay Advocacy Group and Barbados National Union of Fisher-folk Organisations (BARNUFO), in further enhancing an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries and terrestrial resources management at the community level within this water-shed.
It should be noted that the community has already developed and promulgated its own Local Sustainable Fisheries Code to promote responsible fisheries development and management. Opportunities for the enhancement of economic diversification through traditional and non-traditional fisheries and water-shed management initiatives have been identified, and would benefit from financial and technical support going forward.
Cultural Industries Development Act
The Cultural Industries Development Act was proclaimed by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Hon. Stephen Lashley, M.P. on February 1, 2015. The Act recognizes the vital contribution of the cultural industries to sustainable development and seeks to promote the cultural industries though the provision of incentives for cultural workers. Specifically it provides for the establishment of a regulatory framework to facilitate and encourage the sustainable growth and development of the cultural industries, funding for cultural projects and duty-free concessions and income tax benefits in respect of cultural projects and related matters.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 7

Conscious of the impact of the global recession on the country and the implications this
has for the poor and the vulnerable, the Barbados Government has scaled-up its efforts
to combat poverty in all its dimensions and remains steadfastly committed to
strengthening efforts to reduce social disparities and inequality and to halve extreme
poverty by the year 2015. This has been done essentially to safeguard the level of
progress made as a nation and to maintain the quality of life that Barbadians have been
able to enjoy, especially over the last four decades. To this end, institutional frameworks
are being strengthened and participatory governance is being mainstreamed. Social
protection is receiving special attention with the emphasis being shifted from that of
mere stabilisation to that of the empowerment of the poor and those persons at risk
including Persons with Disabilities and Older Persons. The goal of these strategies is to
promote human prosperity and in the process, ensure sustainable economic growth and
maintain social development.

Institutional Frameworks

Given its configuration, it is understood that the current global economic and financial
crisis will further expose Barbados' economy to external shocks that will test the capacity
of its resilience and ability to cope. Further, if not correctly handled, the situation has
the potential to erode some of the gains made over the years in the social sector and slow
progress in the effort to empower the poor and the indigent. As a consequence,
Government was required to talce a pro-active stance, and to adopt an integrated
approach to the delivery of social services to mitigate the negative impact of the crisis.
Among the responses of Government was the establishment of two institutional
frameworks, the Social Policy Committee of the Cabinet and the Inter-Ministry Task
Force to Monitor and Strengthen the Social Safety Net.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 13

Mainstreaming Participatory Governance

Participatory governance is being pursued by government through what is being referred
as the Constituency Empowerment Programme. This Programme can be described as a
local governance system, bounded by the geography of the enumeration districts, which
strengthens the capacity of citizens to bring about positive change at the individual and
community levels, thus contributing to sustainable development at the national level. It
has three (3) dimensions. Politically it is seen as a platform for promoting development
and an avenue through which Barbadians can participate in the decision-maldng process
and hence contribute to national development. Socially, it is a strategy to increase the
effectiveness of development programmes, since the programmes are undertaken in
response to the needs of the constituency which have been identified and prioritised by
its residents. Economically, it allows for a more efficient delivery of services to the
residents and the constituency as the level of bureaucracy will decrease. It also permits
the creation of local livelihoods as residents with the required skills will be on the
frontline of employment opportunities within their respective constituencies.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 13, 20

Programmes undertaken by the Councils to date include the conducting of educational
programmes for children and young people; training in the area of entrepreneurial
development; clean-up and beautification campaigns; recreational activities; the clearing
of wells to mitigate flooding especially during the rainy season; and response to
emergency matters. Support to community-based organisations, including sporting
organisations has also been forthcoming.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 13

Website Development

The Website as developed will provide information on the services of the Ministry and its
Agencies. Ultimately, application forms to access the various services will be made
available on line.

The Country Assessment of Living Conditions had four main components. These were
the Survey of Living Conditions, a Participatory Poverty Assessment, an Institutional
Assessment and a Macro Social and Economic Assessment. This Assessment is expected
to inform on the extent and cause of poverty in Barbados and the existing poverty line. It
will also chronicle the experience of persons living in poverty and evaluate the
institutions that deliver the services.

The field work for the assessment is completed. The findings are being compiled and the
first draft of the report is expected to be ready for submission in June 2011. As a follow-up,
a Poverty Eradication Action Plan will be formulated.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 12

Promotion of Continuous Training Programmes in Conjunction with Workers' Representatives and the Private Sector to enable Workers to respond to the Demands of the Labour Market.

The Ministry of Labour through its Barbados Vocational Training Board continues to consult with employers in industry in the structuring of training programmes to facilitate the moulding of a graduate that can adequately respond to the demands of employers as they enter the labour market. In addition, the Board continues to promote apprenticeship training where training is delivered at the employers' workplace. Other areas of collaboration with both the private sector and workers' representatives include:
- development of curricula;
- establishment of technical committees;
- membership on the Board of Directors of the Barbados Vocational Training Board.

• Date:  12/18/2015    Paragraphs: 3

The Government is upgrading the Health Information System (HIS) with support from the World Bank. An upgraded HIS will facilitate improved evidence-based decision making, policy development and research.
To date a health data dictionary consultancy has been completed and the dictionary developed to provide the framework for a comprehensive HIS. A legislative review has been conducted to strengthen the regulatory framework. Similarly, an assessment of training needs has been conducted.
Barbados introduced the new Health Information System – MedData, in 2014, which will strengthen the capability for management of patient records, clinician order entry, supply chain management, appointments and discharges, and the generation of health statistics. While MedData is being rolled out at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and at two of eight polyclinics, there is a mandate for its expansion to the remainder of the public healthcare system by June 2016.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 43

Information Management and Research

A barrier to efficient and effective delivery of social services has been the inability to
retrieve existing data to inform policy and enhance the social service delivery system. To
this end, the setting up of a National Social Care Information Management System is
being pursued and a Website activated. A Country Assessment of Living Conditions has
also been conducted.

National Social Care Information Management System (NASCIMS)

Acknowledging that the global environment has evolved as a knowledge-based society,
development policy and strategies are becoming increasingly dependent on the flow of
intelligent up-to-date information. Given the nature, scope of work and potential impact
on national development, the mandate of the Ministry of Social Care, Constituency
Empowerment and Community Development - with six (6) critical departments and a
staff complement of approximately four hundred (400) persons, there was an urgent
need of a technologically advanced, network. The process of setting up this network has
begun. When completed, it will efficiently and effectively share vital information for the
conducting of the work of the Ministry.

The establishment of NASCIMS will allow for service excellence to clients and the
general public. It will also provide for up-to-date information on the status of social
development in Barbados and inform policy-making and development strategies, It is
anticipated that there will be the connectivity of all departments.; the expedition of
information sharing; accurate departmental statistics; the efficient transmission of
information; remote access of files and resources; and the centralization of information
and data on shared servers where it is managed for confidentiality and security.
NASCIMS will also greatly assist with client tracking.

To facilitate this initiative, all Departments under the Ministry are being computerised.
It is hoped that eventually all Agencies will be linked to allow for information sharing,
case conferences, etc.

• Date:  6/21/2011    Paragraphs: 14

Trade

Barbados has always been committed to an open, transparent and rules-based multilateral trading system. To this end, Barbados has been a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) since that organisation was established on January 1,1995.

Barbados has joined like-minded countries in the WTO in an effort to ensure that our concerns are taken on board and appropriate responses framed to those concerns.

In the regard, Barbados is the coordinator of the group of Small Vulnerable Economies, whose efforts are geared towards ensuring that the inherent characteristics of the smallest members of the WTO are recognised and that these states are not marginalised by the results of the ongoing Doha Round of negotiations.

The work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade is structured in order to ensure that the appropriate infrastructure is implemented and capacity is built which will permit Barbados to derive benefit from participation in the multilateral trading system and expanded trade.