by MIKE KINGTALKS have broken down between the Barbados Workers Union and the Barbados Employers Confederation (BEC) over the sacking of about a dozen employees from the Elegant Hotels group.And at a hastily called press conference that followed the breakdown of negotiations, BWU General Secretary Sir Roy Trotman said the Chief Labour Officer (CLO) must now intervene.Sir Roy lambasted both the hotel chain and the BEC. He said the BEC’s stance showed that it cared “nothing about workers interests and workers welfare” and added that he was afraid of what Elegant Hotels group was striving to impose on the working class of this country.“The labour movement requires a discontinuation of these acts of aggression that are being taken more and more by employers in this country, at the same time, we are preaching partnership.”Sir Roy said the BEC had openly and defiantly declared that it supported the position of Elegant Hotels chain to terminate workers by merely giving them four weeks notice, or more pertinently by giving them one month pay in lieu of notice.He said that some of the laid off employees had served as many as 16, 20 and 22 years.The veteran trade unionist said he found the behaviour of the hotel chain “reprehensible” and not in keeping with the collective agreement which required that when a worker was terminated, the employer was supposed to give just cause.“It is ironical that the leadership of the BEC has sat down with Government officials and members of the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations (CTUSAB), and we have agreed to a draft employment rights bill in which an employer is to give just notice and is required to give just cause why anyone should be terminated,” he said.Sir Roy said he wondered if the shareholders of Elegant Hotels were aware of “this atrocious behaviour.”Sir Roy said the Elegant Hotels were unwilling to tell the union the reason for the sacking of the workers.
OUR CARIBBEAN: Sharing the dreams of Reds Perreira
by RICKEY SINGHJOSEPH “REDS” PERREIRA has evolved into a name synonymous with sports in the West Indies, and cricket commentary in particular. At 71, the Guyanese lad of humble beginnings, stands proudly among Caribbean icons whose outstanding contributions over the years have enriched this region’s sports.A week ago today, “Reds” – as he is popularly known, a nickname inherited from his boyhood days with a full head of red hair – hosted a kind of “down memory lane” event at the Wanderers Cricket Club in Christ Church.It was to launch his book Living My Dreams, a 152-page work, illustrated with some historical photos of the author and the “greats” of West Indian cricket fame. Additionally, readers will find a collection of 25 “testimonials” from among the big names in the region’s media, sports and culture sectors, and diplomacy and governance, all with a common theme of praise for Reds’ indefatigable spirit to triumph over physical disabilities, social, economic and other disadvantages in pursuit of his love for sport and, above all, anxiety to be a cricket commentator of note.As that doyen of West Indian cricket writers and commentators Tony Cozier has oberved in the foreward to Living My Dreams, his own doubt that “Reds” would be able to complete his fascinating life story was dispelled by a welcome reminder.“I should have known better,” said Cozier, “that a few hundred thousand words should be a breeze for a boy from the Pomeroon in Guyana who wasn’t put off his dream of becoming a cricket commentator by the little matter of a serious stammer, well into his teenaged years, or who shook off the setback of a serious stroke (in Australia) when into his 50s to regain his strength and fervour and be again as active as he ever was . . . .”There were some well known personalities in local and regional media at the launch to bear witness to the remarkable spirit of this quintessential Caribbean national. His dozen years as a pioneering head of the St Lucian-based sports desk of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the score of 145 broadcast Test matches have combined to make “Reds” Perreira a household name across this regionThe West Indian writer and dramatist Ian McDonald, who had encouraged “Reds” to write his autobiography, has noted: “Perhaps it is as a cricket commentator that Reds gained his greatest public fame. But I believe his deepest and most remarkable contribution to all our West Indian lives lies in his life-long love and sponsorship of all sports across the regional board. Nobody equals him in this . . . .”Living My Dreams was first launched in St Lucia and last week in Barbados, one of his “homelands”. “Reds” will do the same in Antigua and Barbuda. He will wrap up the launching series in Guyana where, in December 2004, he had established, with the cooperation of the Guyana Olympic Committee, the Reds Perreira Sports Foundation. His remarkable life story deserves a place on the bookshelves of all with a keen interest in West Indian sports.Let me conclude with the opening statement “Reds” chose to begin with – characteristic humility his life story: “As I look back on my life, coming out of a very humble, rural Guyana country environment and growing up on the banks of the Pomeroon River in the county of Essequibo, it would only be fair to say I have been extremely fortunate . . . .”
Soca concert returns
THE POPULAR Soca On De Hill is back after a one-year break.A combination of reasons, including the relocation of the Party Monarch and Sweet Soca competitions to the St Peter venue, resulted in organisers 4D Entertainment Inc. calling off last year’s event.Farley Hill is expected to be rocking with the songs of some of the top artistes from the Caribbean on July 18.While not revealing this year’s line-up, a release from 4D Entertainment said they had taken an integrated approach and booked the region’s top acts from Grenada, Trinidad, St Lucia, and the best of Barbados 2010. The organisers have promised patrons a fun-filled eight hours of entertainment in a relaxed and safe atmosphere. (YB/PR)
Canteen closure causes chaos
Millinese Howell has closed her canteen at St Leonard’s Boys’ School, citing both lack of respect for her, and low sales.However her services were apparently missed by some boys who assembled at the school gate, saying they were hungry.Other boys were seen purchasing snacks from vendors outside the compound.Howell who closed shop on Wednesday evening told WEEKEND NATION in a telephone interview yesterday: “For a long time, sales were going down because of the vendors selling outside the gate, as well as another vendor who sells on the compound. “He was supposed to only sell sno-cones, but he sold everything except food. Because of this I could not maintain my staff.”Howell said the final straw came on Wednesday around 8:15 a.m when a child told her he had no breakfast and was hungry.“I went inside to get him some chicken, but when I came back, he was gone and the principal [Joseph King] was there,” Howell said.“I asked him where he [the principal] was when there was all the bullying at lunch time and that it was getting out of hand, but he ignored me. Truthfully, I started to cry,” she added.“He is running away hungry children. I couldn’t take it any more.”When a WEEKEND NATION team arrived around 11 a.m yesterday, students at the gate said they were not being allowed off the compound to get food. However, some of them were seen purchasing snacks and drinks from the nearby vendors.A security officer at the school said King was not seeing anyone. During a subsequent call to the school, it was said neither King nor acting deputy principal Karl Rawlins was on the premises.Deputy Chief Education Officer Joy Gittens, when reached by the WEEKEND NATION, said it was the first time she was hearing about the matter and that she would contact the principal on it.During a subsequent call, Gittens said: “Things were put into place where the students were allowed to buy food from the vendors, things like pizza, which they are accustomed buying.School was closed early today at around 12:45 p.m and hopefully by Tuesday the situation will be addressed. “In the meantime, school will be closed half day tomorrow [today] and the students are advised to bring a snack,” she said.Gittens said the circumstances were abnormal and it was “impossible” for any school to “turn around” a canteen owner within 24 hours. She added that initial plans “fell through”. (CA)
On guard
by MIKE KING THE major school recess is next month and, with hundreds of children expected to flock to the beaches, lifeguards are appealing to parents to be more vigilant.Fabian Larrier, a lifeguard on the Rockley beach coastline, echoed the sentiments of his colleagues across the island.“There are going to be scores of children on the beaches in a few weeks’ time and it helps a lot if the parents keep a close eye on their children. Prevention is better than cure,” he said.Earlier in the week, general manager of the National Conservation Commission, Keith Neblett, said the commission was undertaking a training programme that should soon see an increase in lifeguards.“We are short of lifeguards. We have over 80 lifeguards stretched around the island, and the minimum number you need to be effective at most of the lifeguard huts is three. “We are currently on a programme where at the end of May we should have at least ten new lifeguards that would add to the numbers and increase the level of safety on our beaches,” he said. Big, tough Richard Jones, another lifeguard posted at Rockley, was quick to call a spade a spade.“We want bigger red flags. We want more security in terms of police presence and we want more respect from the public. Far too often they ignore the regulations,” he said.Larrier was in total agreement.“One of the biggest obstacles facing the lifeguards is cooperation from the public. The public do not cooperate as we would like them to. It would make our job a lot easier if they would heed our advice.”Over at Dover, lifeguards Adrian Bynoe, Terry Harewood and Diana Ross say they are prepared to deal with any challenge that comes their way over the next few months. They agreed that cooperation from the public was important if they were to reduce the rescues.At Enterprise, Don Vaughan and his team called for better pay and improved facilities. They wanted a more elevated tower that would provide a better vantage point.“When you are on the same level as the people in the water, you don’t always pick up their heads so easily,” Vaughan said.Rockley is the only beach facility that has a solar-powered public address system and siren to alert swimmers to potential dangers. Larrier said it was a step in the right direction, but more still needed to be done.“We do have the only siren, but Dover, for example, has electricity running towards their tower. We have no electricity inside of the tower and that has to be looked at.”Mikey, who limes on the South Coast, says some of the lifeguards do a good job, but he was concerned that others were not as committed as they should be.“Some of the lifeguards are not like the lifeguards of before. Many of them are just about looking for women, and a few of them take a nap every now and then.”Larry Walcott, who frequents Miami Beach on Enterprise, agreed that some of the lifeguards needed to take their job more seriously.
Run that got away
by HAYDN GILL in AntiguaAnother low-scoring Digicel Twenty20 International, played out on another difficult pitch at the Vivian Richards Stadium yesterday, ended in a heart-breaking defeat by one run for West Indies that gave South Africa a 2-0 series triumph.For most of their chase of 121, West Indies always looked behind the eight-ball, but there was a semblance of hope when they started the final over from fast bowler Ryan McLaren 15 shy of the target.Darren Sammy almost turned from villain to hero in a short matter of 24 hours, collecting ten runs from the first three balls, courtesy an edged boundary to third man and another four that included two overthrows and desperate dives.It brought the equation to five from three balls and a fair-sized crowd was now on its feet in anticipation of a win.They would leave the stadium with more disappointment for the second successive day.Sammy managed a single to square-leg from the fourth ball and Narsingh Deonarine was run out off the fifth, trying to complete a second run with another big dive.Out came Jerome Taylor to see if he could get three off the final ball. It was squeezed out to point and a single was not enough, leaving West Indies at 119 for seven in response to South Africa’s 120 for seven.The hosts will look back and probably feel that they tried to press the accelerator a little too late.Truth be told, however, the pitch was never easy to bat on. Fluent strokeplay wasn’t on the cards and the fast bowlers gained generous bounce in both innings of the match.After the early losses of openers Chris Gayle to a good ball from pacer Dale Steyn that pinned him on the backfoot for a second-ball duck and Andre Fletcher to a nondescript stroke that was caught by the ’keeper, Dwayne Bravo and Shivnarine Chanderpaul consolidated with a third-wicket partnership of 68 in which neither batsman dominated.Bravo’s 40 took 42 balls and Chanderpaul spent 37 balls over 29. By the time their stand was broken in the 15th over at 77 for three, the asking rate had climbed to 8.60.Kieron Pollard arrived at No. 5 in a situation to which his big-hitting methods are ideally suited. The tough nature of things was perhaps underlined by the fact that he didn’t score at better than his usual a run-a-ball rate.While Chanderpaul went trying to be innovative, both Bravo and Pollard were out trying to launch the ball out of the ground.On both occasions the ball went sky-high before landing in the hands of fielders who might have been relieved against the background that both batsmen had been earlier let off.Having failed to chase 137 the previous day, this was an even bitter pill to swallow for West Indian supporters.They would have been satisfied with the team’s effort in the field that restricted the South Africans after Gayle again won the toss.Fast bowler Jerome Taylor hardly bowled a bad ball in claiming three for 14.He removed both openers, the first in almost identical fashion to the previous match after wicketkeeper Andre Fletcher held a neat leg-side catch after the ball came off Loot Bosman’s glove.South Africa’s middle never got going either and after they were reduced to 59 for five in the 12th over, they required a sixth-wicket stand of 57 between debutant David Miller and Johan Botha to rally them to a fighting total.The 20-year-old Miller quickly adjusted to the surface to hit 33 off 26 balls, while Botha made his first of two meaningful contributions with a supporting 23 off 22 balls before both were dismissed in the final over.Botha came back to feature with his off-breaks at a critical stage by removing Chanderpaul, Sarwan and Bravo, and was the clear choice for the Man Of The Match award.
Holding: Not my cup of T
LONDON – Michael Holding has come off the long run, continuing his verbal assault on the Twenty20 format and taking aim at the game’s administrators.The West Indies fast bowling legend has launched a passionate defence of Test cricket, which he believes is being seriously threatened by the shortest format of the sport.“I am not interested in Twenty20 at all,” he told CNN International in an exclusive interview to promote his new autobiography, No Holding Back!“Maybe I am an old fogey, but I think it is destroying Test cricket,” said Holding who admitted he disliked the format so much that he turned down TV commentary work on the recent T20 World Cup in the Caribbean.“Kids should be playing Test cricket, and then maybe progressing to T20 once established. But now, with all the money available in T20, top young players are not going to be interested in playing the five-day game,” he added.Holding has become the latest international cricket personality to bemoan the Indian Premier League (IPL), and the way it has thrown money at players.“When you can earn US$800 000 for playing six weeks in the IPL, why waste six years trying to earn that sort of money in Test cricket?” he asked.“If this isn’t controlled properly, Test cricket will die. “When I was playing, people said, ‘Test cricket is too slow,’ so they brought in 50 overs-a-side, one-day cricket. Now it’s down to 20-overs. “What happens next? Fifteen overs? Ten overs?”Holding has placed the blame for this development squarely at the doorsteps of the International Cricket Council (ICC).“The ICC needs to look at how football’s governing body FIFA runs things,” he said. “The ICC are letting the Indian Cricket Board dictate how cricket is run, and that is all wrong.“India is where the money is in cricket at the moment, but that doesn’t mean they should have a say in how cricket is governed.”He continued: “FIFA wouldn’t let Brazil dictate how to run football, and cricket shouldn’t let India have more of a say just because they have money there.“Basically, the ICC is governing cricket so badly that soon nobody will pay any attention to them at all. If Test cricket is boring, it is because the ICC are handling the calendar all wrong.”In this regard, Holding has thrown his support behind a two-tiered system in Tests, which may effectively hurt his own West Indies.“Bangladesh are playing a series in England soon, but who cares?” he asked.“Imagine, if there was a two-division system, six teams in each, with promotion and relegation . . . India to face Pakistan, with the losers being relegated to Division 2 – now that would be a Test series to watch!” (CMC)
‘Bring the good,but leave the ugly’
by Carol Ann Tudor From Pickerings to Nesfield, Hannays and Harrises, the sentiment is the same.St Lucy residents welcome the new development plans for the Pickerings area, which Prime Minister David Thompson announced last Tuesday in the House of Assembly, but they want to caution against bringing “bad behaviour” into the parish.Although the new venture, which will comprise a massive housing development with construction of 1 161 residential units, a 200-unit hotel, private day-care, a primary school, recreational amenities, doctors’ offices, a health clinic, barber shops, a cinema and more seems like a dream come true, residents are still wary about the project.Over in the nearby Hannay’s district, where the project will stretch almost into their backyards, Michael Springer said development could be “good and bad”.“I have been hearing it for a long time, but development has its good and its bad. If there is a cinema that would be welcomed, and in St Lucy there are not many barber shops or doctors, so the development would be good, but we have to be careful with those new residents coming down here,” he said.Another resident, “Tek 9”, said he hoped with the new development that he as a landscaper could get some work, and issued a caution against bringing “bad behaviour” into St Lucy.“Right now, down in St Lucy is quiet, so I hope they pick and choose who get houses down here, cause we don’t want that bad behaviour down here.”A nearby group of youngsters playing dominoes said they welcomed the new facilities as well, since “St Lucy could do with some entertainment”.“We would be glad to get some activities down here. St Lucy is too quiet. The fact that the area is dead though is a good thing, ’cause we don’t want no bad behaviour down here,” one young man said.Over in Nesfield, a stone’s throw away from Pickerings, auto body repairman John Hinds said it would be very good to have a new development in the area.“It would be good to bring more activity into the area because it has been a long time in coming. This area could use some development,” Hinds said.Farmer Marcus Hinds from Pie Corner said he, too, felt positive about the new developments.“Development is good, but it comes with different cultures, but we have to be ready for change. I believe all these new things coming to St Lucy will bring great development.”Residents in Harrises, St Lucy, said they too welcomed the new development.“I think it’s a great idea. It’s just a stone’s throw away, and to be able to get all the care you need and recreational facilities too in St Lucy is more than welcome,” said “Hartley Cat”.
BDF weeds out three
by WADE GIBBONSThree soldiers were thrown out of the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) for failing drug tests.Acting Deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Atheline Branch told the WEEKEND NATION the BDF’s mandatory drug testing policy was reaping success.“As you would be aware soldiers here carry weapons. So for us to have somebody under the influence is particularly dangerous. So as a result we have instituted the drug testing policy and we have zero tolerance because of the nature of the job itself,” she said.Branch added: “By doing the drug testing, we have it to be somewhat of a deterrent. You want the soldiers to know they will be tested and hopefully that will keep them away from using any forms of illegal drugs because it seems to be very prevalent in society.”Underscoring the necessity for being vigilant in such an essential service, the BDF’s acting deputy chief of staff explained that the organisation drew its soldiers from society and they had to go back into the various communities when they were off-duty. Branch, who returned to Barbados last year after an extended posting overseas, said compulsory drug testing had been in place for at least the past year and was done at both recruitment and in-service stages.“Every case is investigated first. If the soldiers are found out, they are interviewed by a panel to discuss what has occurred,” she said.A check with public relations officer of the Royal Barbados Police Force David Welch revealed that drug testing was also part of their protocols, but only at the recruitment stage.Chief Fire Officer Wilfred Marshall said no drug testing procedure existed within the Barbados Fire Service, while an official of Her Majesty’s Prisons at Dodds, St Philip, said that service had initial medical testing for recruits, inclusive of urine checks, but no in-service drug testing regimen.Branch said the response to the drug testing strategy at the BDF had been favourable. “Everybody gets tested. So it is not something that is a surprise. They all know about it. We talked extensively with the soldiers before it was instituted. The policy itself was posted on our notice boards so they could be fully aware quite a while before it was actually instituted,” she said.Branch explained that every few months the BDF’s hierarchy highlighted drug testing awareness. She said this was necessary because of new people coming into the service. • [email protected]
THE LOWDOWN: Allo! Allo!
by RICHARD HOADLong ago in the cold North Land, so the Inuit say, there was only one fire. A man and his small boy were Keepers of the Fire. The man tended the fire at night, the boy during the day.One day the man went hunting and didn’t return by nightfall. The tired boy at length fell asleep and, as the fire died down, a huge polar bear stomped it out with his great wet feet.“Now all the people will be so cold, they will have to leave the North Land,” said the bear. “I will have it all to myself.” But a little grey robin had been watching. And when the bear left he found a tiny ember still glowing. He fanned it and fanned it with his wings until the fire was blazing again. Nor did he stop until the boy awoke next morning. The robin’s breast was burned a fiery red by the flames and remains so to this day, but he didn’t care. For wherever he alighted in homes throughout the North Land, fires began to burn. The bear was very angry.“Mark my words,” he grumbled, “that robin is who start global warming.” Although he doesn’t realise it, Carl Moore and I share similarly unhappy views about much of the present, including cricket, and not abundant hope for the future.But should we columnists stomp out the flickering fires of hope for a brighter future or, like the robin, fan the embers and bring them alive?Right now the dilemma over my farm’s future is driving me round the bend. We need to do some costly upgrading, but how can we risk investing when time and again Greenland swamps the supermarkets with cheaper milk? I have had to take refuge in old hymns like:There is a Greenland not far away/ At H. Benn’s beck and call/ Where all our dreams are crucified/ For no good reason at all./ We do not know, we cannot tell/ Why they should keep us down/ But we believe they want to be/ The only goat milk around.Oh dearly, dearly, must we pay/ Our facilities to upgrade/ While they can spend taxpayers’ money/And sell cheaper than lemonade./ Oh Haynesley, Haynesley, hear our cry/ And do not let us fail/ Unlock the gates of ignorance/ Let fairness now prevail.However, instead of ranting, let’s fan(?) some random fires:First, a friend named Ben. Ben fixes anything – milking machines, fridges, coolers, ovens, TVs, microwaves, ice cream mixers, fans, power tools, chicken processing equipment, you name it, saving this country vast foreign exchange. Where there’s Ben, there’s hope.Ben is also my philosopher. He feels Moses stressed certain commandments relevant to a rebellious people crossing a wilderness. “If the homo thing is as bad as we think, it would be specified in the Ten Commandments.” He’s right, but is it specified? “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, nor his wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ???” I rest my case. Secondly, Mr Patel tells me how about 30 young Indian boys are raising sheep on unused lots. This is great news just when I feared Bajan traditions of livestock-keeping were dying out.Thirdly, the stark mathematics of democratic voting is beginning to hit home. Simply this, in any given democracy the group reproducing fastest will in the not too distant future command political power. Put bluntly, all you need to achieve political power is unprotected sex. Lots of it! And some groups are already working feverishly towards this.Finally, this column usually stays clear of yeast infections. But in the public interest we must draw attention to a remedy mentioned by Monday columnist Annette Maynard-Watson.A lady apparently healed herself by the nightly introduction of, as we understand it, an aloe leaf to the offended area. That is outside our realm of competence. Our concern, however, is that some husband returning home late with a few beers in his head may get amorous. The wife engrossed in her true romance novel lets him have his way.Suddenly, a length of green aloe appears, then whoosh! “Allo! Allo!” he exclaims in dismay.“No, dear,” she corrects him, “it’s aloe vera.”By this time, however, he’s already hit the road running, naked, screaming . . . .