Tourism is this island’s highest performing sector but it is also one of the most vulnerable sectors in the Barbados economy. Dr Delisle Worrell, Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, pointing out the performance of the tourism sector in his first-quarter review of 2010, said, “Long-stay tourist arrivals were up about two per cent in January and February, compared with the first two months of last year. Numbers were noticeably higher from the United States and Canada, but arrivals from the United Kingdom, which remains Barbados’ largest tourism market, were down. Estimated average expenditure per tourist was lower, and the average visitor stayed fewer days. As a result, receipts from tourism were insufficient to provide the usual first-quarter surge in foreign exchange reserves.”His comments bear evidence of the vulnerability of the sector, particularly in the midst of an economic downturn.Tourism executives have had to adjust their strategies, rates and services all in an effort to continue to attract visitors to these shores. In February 2009, Cabinet approved a $15 million stimulus package called the Tourism Industry Relief Product to assist any failing properties and maintain employment in the tourism sector. At the time, Prime Minister David Thompson said the money was for the current financial year and there was the possibility of a further sum in the next.“We looked at options available and we found that a programme of that sort, in addition to the $20 million – $10 million supplementary . . . and $10 million last year – that was already made available to the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA), as well as other initiatives, we think would positively impact on the tourism sector, so that we can mitigate the worst aspects of the current economic crisis,” he said.Meanwhile, hotelier Adrian Loveridge told the Press at the recent opening of the 2010 re-Discover the Caribbean exhibition on April 23 and 24 that Government should consider the possibility of lowering taxes on airfares. Loveridge said that airfares in the region have become a major challenge for Caribbean destinations, as airlift through the Caribbean continues to be inefficient. As a projected tough summer season approaches for the tourism industry, the local hotelier advised that Government consider lowering taxes on airfares. “Airfares in the region are an enormous challenge.” While Government is looking to increase its revenue, this suggestion is at least worth researching, given the importance of the sector. The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) submitted a number of recommendations to Government in 2009 to assist tourism-based businesses during the economic downturn. Among those recommendations was lowering taxes and licensing fees that affect businesses such as car rentals and restaurants.At the BHTA’s 2009 annual general meeting, president Wayne Capaldi said his organisation was still awaiting Government word on suggestions they made regarding the reduction of duties on a basket of food items that attract anywhere between 190 per cent and 200 per cent import duty. Additionally, the BHTA called on the State for rebates on the increases in 2008 land taxes and to provide a hedge against future oil price spikes. Capaldi noted that such actions would have given the sector a better basis for a reduction in the overall cost inputs to the industry and a better opportunity to retain employment at pre-crisis levels. On the side of the small hotels, in February 2010, Intimate Hotels Group chairman Dennis Tull told BARBADOS BUSINESS AUTHORITY that the small hotel sector should be taken into account in the initial stages of planning this new era in marketing Barbados. His comments came just weeks after Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy announced that changes would be coming to the BTA by mid-year. Small hotels in Barbados are hoping that they would be included from the planning stages of this new dispensation.Moreover, Loveridge also weighed in on the topic in the May 3 BARBADOS BUSINESS AUTHORITY when he commented that a national marketing policy wass needed for small hotels. The BHTA’S Staycation initiative, which was introduced in 2009 and continued in 2010, gives Barbadians and CARICOM nationals significantly discounted rates to take vacations at Barbados’ hotels. This was a significant programme that became very successful. The special offer brings a cross-section of accommodation properties to the market at attractive rates.
Monsanto gives Haiti $4 million in hybrid seeds
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — U.S. agriculture giant Monsanto Co. is donating $4 million worth of seeds to Haiti, the biotechnology manufacturer’s first major foray into the chronically hungry nation.The corporation, based in Creve Coeur, Missouri, announced a pledge this week of 475 tons (431 metric tons) of corn and vegetable seeds. Some 130 tons (118 metric tons) have been delivered and are on their way to farmers as of Friday.“We looked at what would be well-suited to Haitian growing conditions,” said Elizabeth Vancil, the company’s development partnership director.Farmers will have to buy the seeds at markets to avoid flooding the local economy with free goods, but Monsanto will not receive any revenue from the sales, Vancil said. A spokesman for the U.S. Agency for International Development program distributing the seeds could not immediately provide more details.Haiti’s agriculture ministry approved the donation, while UPS and Switzerland-based Kuehne and Nagel are assisting with the shipping and logistics, Monsanto said.The announcement raised concerns in Haiti that the donation would include genetically modified seeds, for which the country does not have a regulatory system. Monsanto representatives said no such seeds will be included.Instead they are sending hybrid seeds, which are produced by manually cross-pollinating plants. The company said the seeds produce larger yields than non-hybrid seeds, but that with such a variety new seeds have to be purchased and planted every year.For decades Haiti has been unable to feed itself, while local farms have been wiped out by competition from cheap foreign food and free food aid — especially from the United States. The U.N. World Food Program estimates 2.4 million Haitians, a quarter of the country, do not have enough to eat.The Jan. 12 earthquake damaged warehouses and roads when it wrecked much of the capital and killed a government-estimated 230,000 to 300,000 people. But the urban disaster had less effect on food than Haiti’s past calamities, such as a string of 2008 hurricanes that ruined market roads and fields, worsening hunger and causing some children to die in isolated villages.“What we’re really focused on now are these first shipments and trying to help during this current crisis,” Vancil said. Doing future business in Haiti “would be good, but it’s not a requirement by any means.”
Venezuelan gas rig sinks
CARACAS – An offshore natural-gas platform sank off Venezuela yesterday, and 95 workers were rescued safely, the government said.All of the workers on the Aban Pearl platform off eastern Sucre state were safely evacuated, and the sinking poses no threat to the environment, Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez told state television.The navy rescued the workers using a frigate and boats after the gas platform disappeared into the Caribbean Sea at 2:20 a.m. Ramirez said.President Hugo Chavez announced the sinking on Twitter early yesterday, saying: “To my sorrow, I inform you that the Aban Pearl gas platform sank moments ago. The good news is that 95 workers are safe.” (AP)
Chappell- Pakistan lucky to be in semis
by EZRA STUARTin St LuciaFORMER AUSTRALIA captain Ian Chappell believes Pakistan are “fortunate” to reach the semi-final stage of the World Twenty20 Championships after a patchy performance in the tournament.The defending champions lost their first two Super Eight matches, but sneaked into the semis due to a superior net run-rate after defeating South Africa in a decisive match on Monday.Pakistan will oppose unbeaten Australia today in the second men’s semi-final at 11:30 a.m. at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.“Having seen the absolute rubbish that Pakistan have played throughout the summer in Australia, I’m surprised that they’ve got this far,” Chappell said in an interview with Sanjay Manjrekar on the cricinfo website.“They’ve got this far mainly because of the mediocrity of others. They haven’t got there through having done anything great themselves, they’ve got there through other teams’ failings,” he noted.“Australia have absolutely hammered Pakistan for the last few months. I think the Australians are so far into the minds of the Pakistan players, it [an upset] would be a monumental turnaround and the biggest boil-over,” Chappell added.But Chappell said he really would like to see Australia being challenged.“I am hoping Pakistan somehow get themselves mentally right to challenge Australia. One, it will be terrific for the tournament and two, I think Australia need it. They need to be challenged.“I wouldn’t be 100 per cent comfortable if I’m Michael Clarke, going into the final – basically we got there unchallenged. You want to have a bit of a threat somewhere along the line,” Chappell reasoned.“I’m not talking about a threat from Bangladesh because you pretty well know in your own mind that you’re going to overcome Bangladesh. But when you get a threat from a major team, you’ve got to work really hard to get back into it,” he added.
Guilty of loving and trusting women
MONICA WALCOTT says her son Mark is no child molester.“The only thing my son is guilty of is loving women and trusting them. He is a decent, respectful person who never sees the bad in anyone,” she stated.She was reacting to the situation in which Mark Walcott, 41, is presently on remand at Her Majesty’s Prisons Dodds awaiting extradition to the United States. He is expected to serve a 51-month sentence imposed on him by a Florida court seven years ago on a charge involving a 14-year-old girl. Instead of serving the time, he left Florida and returned to Barbados. But his freedom came to an end last month when he was arrested by local authorities.He was accused in Florida, that sometime between July 1, 2001, and February 28, 2008, he intentionally touched the breasts, genitals, genital area or buttocks of a child less than 16 years, or the clothes covering them in a lewd or lascivious manner or that he forced or enticed the girl to touch him.But Monica said that her son’s actions towards the girl in question were not intentional but that he was in a situation where he was being physically attacked and he retaliated. But she stated that a complaint was made against her son only after he ended the relationship with the girl’s mother. She added that she was convinced of her son’s innocence because she intercepted a telephone conversation where money was being demanded from him.Monica said after several court appearances her son was “ill advised” by his public defender to plead “no contest”. “Mark was confused. He thought that by pleading no contest he wasn’t saying that he was guilty or not guilty. But this is misleading because after spending time in jail, he would have been deported,” she said.She stated when her son realised what he had done, he decided to leave the United States and return to Barbados. He had been living there since age 12.Walcott, who emigrated to the United States 39 years ago taking her four children with her, said until that unfortunate incident, her son had never been involved with the law in the United States.“I lived in some very tough places in the United States, but I brought up my children not to get involved in anything around them. All Mark ever did was fall in love with the wrong women. He came back to Barbados, and he found a job and kept out of trouble.”Monica said she was hoping that the United States would not proceed with the extradition because the charge was not a federal one.
Collingwood gives bowlers credit
ENGLAND captain Paul Collingwood may be out of form with the bat but he lauded his team’s bowlers after their World Twenty20 semi-final victory over Sri Lanka at the Beausejour Cricket Ground yesterday.“Full credit goes to the bowlers, who went out there and adapted to the conditions on a slow wicket,” he said in a post-match interview.“I’m delighted with how they performed today. The guys have really been preparing well, analysing the opposition, and seeing where we can take wickets,” he added.He said that while most spectators would love to see an England-Australia final at Kensington Oval on Sunday, defending champions Pakistan deserve respect.Losing Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara was gracious in defeat, acknowledging that their total of 128 for six wasn’t enough for England to chase.“Unfortunately, we didn’t start too well, losing three wickets in the first six overs. Everyone has been hitting the ball well, but we didn’t make the most of our opportunities.”However, Sangakkara singled out Mahela Jayawardene, pacer Lasith Malinga, and all-rounder Angela Mathews for praise in the tournament.“We’ve had a great run, but today is a day we won’t want to remember. We need to do a lot of work but it was a credible performance to get this far.” (EZS)
Lee: Push up bus fares
Increase public bus fares to $2! The Association of Public Transport Operators (APTO) made this call to Government yesterday.APTO president Morris Lee told a Press conference in the Cheapside, St Michael minibus terminal that raising bus fares was one way of helping the owners of public service vehicles (PSVs) to keep their heads above water against the backdrop of increased operating costs.“Given the fact that bus fare has been $1.50 for the last 20 years and all of the goods and services relevant to the industry have increased, what we are saying is that we believe Government should relax the legislation as it relates to the collection of bus fares to allow the operators to at least get $2 per passenger,” Lee said.He added: “At least it would help offset some of the costs that we are burdened with at this time.”Lee said insurance, spare parts, vehicle, transport and other costs impacting the industry had increased over the last ten years while bus fares remained the same.Lee said that Government had the option of including or excluding the Transport Board from the fare increase, given the fact that taxpayers subsidised the Board’s operations.He argued that the PSV operators were not in the same position as –the Transport Board, which received “$5 per passenger” when the taxpayers’ subsidising” was taken into consideration.“We are calling for a PSV increase,” he said. “If Government feels to do it by way of a general increase, it’s not a problem.“What it will do is probably reduce . . . the subsidy of the Transport Board, but essentially the operators right now are finding it extremely difficult to survive.”Lee charged that Government used taxation to penalise PSV operators. “The taxes that we pay are determined, in my opinion, as sanctions; they’re punitive,” he complained. “The taxes don’t bear any relevance to the operations that we carry on.“When you consider that a Transport Board bus pays $800 for a licence fee and we pay $7 250 to do the same chore, when you consider that a Transport Board bus driver pays $80 to renew his licence and the mini-bus driver or the route taxi pays $230, you see the disparity there.”Lee said the situation was compounded by the fact that PSV operators did not get duty-free concessions on their vehicles and paid insurance on the vehicles’ higher value.
McGowan traces Rodney’s roots
Walter Rodney, killed in an explosion in June 1981 in his homeland, Guyana, has been described as a great revolutionary Caribbean intellectual.Professor Emeritus at the University of Guyana, Winston McGowan, delivering the 26th Elsa Goveia Memorial Lecture at the Cave Hill Campus on Wednesday night, traced Rodney’s roots from birth to tertiary level education and the contribution he made to Guyana and the region through his writings. The lecture was sponsored by the Nation Publishing Co Ltd and hosted by the Deparment of History and Philosophy of the University of the West Indies.The audience heard how Rodney was denied work in his homeland, went to an African state and was asked to write the country’s history but was killed before he could start the assignment.It could be said that between 1963 and 1966, during his post graduate career in London that he developed fully into being a Marxist, McGowan said. “This significant development was due in large measure to his participation in the Marxist studies in London consisting mainly of young West Indians who met regularly under the guidance of the well known Trinidadian Marxist lecturer, CLR James and his wife Selma,” said McGowan, a contemporary of Rodney.He added that his foray into Marxism had a tremendous impact on his life and academic work.“Embracing Marxism also served to shape Rodney’s anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist, (and) anti-neocolonialist approach to the world.“He strongly opposed the doctrine of capitalism as an economic system . . . . and instead he advocated socialism where workers’ interests would dominate, a system which he believed in the long run would lay a foundation for effective economic equality and genuine democratic opportunity for all.”McGowan has served as secretary treasurer of the Association of Caribbean Historians and as editor of the Guyana Historical Journal. He is the recipient of the Arrow of Achievement, a national honour conferred by the Government of Guyana for service to sports and education.He was awarded the University of Guyana’s 40th anniversary Distinguished Service Medal. (PW)
Skipper leads Aussies home
CAPTAINS LEAD from the front, and Alex Blackwell did just that last night to propel Australia into the final of the ICC Women’s World Twenty20 Championship.Playing the first day-night semi-final at the Beausejour Cricket Ground, the Aussies defeated India by seven wickets, reaching their 120-run victory target with seven balls to spare.Blackwell came to the crease at No. 3 after opener Elyse Villani went for a “duck” in the first over and fashioned a sparkling 61, embellished with eight fours off only 49 balls.Leah Pouton hit the winning runs, a lofted straight hit for four to finish on 30 not out and carry Australia to 123 for three in 18.5 overs.Player Of The Match Blackwell shared a second-wicket stand of 74 with opener Shelley Nitschike, who made 22.
15 injured in Charles Rowe bridge smash-up
Fifteen people were injured when a Transport Board bus collided with a car at the intersection of Charles Rowe Bridge and Salters Link Road, St George this morning.It is reported that the accident which occurred around 9:20 am, involved a Transport Board bus driven by Rodney Alleyne and a green Hyundai Sanatra being steered by Jeffery Edwards.The Hyundai was being towed by a red jeep driven by Malvin Williams traveling from Salters Link Road. Williams managed to escape the impact but Edwards’ vehicle was hit.However, all three drivers were unharmed.According to a police official, 15 passengers on the bus were injured, two seriously but not life threatening. They were taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further assessment.The mass casualty situation saw personnel from the Royal Barbados Police Force, Barbados Defense Force, the Ambulance services, Department of Emergency Management and the Fire services department responding. (MM)