Caribbean Times 98th Issue - Thursday 22nd September 2016

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2 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g Thursday 22nd September 2016 UWI to honour Dr Prince Ramsey By Everton Barnes The man who has been at the centre of the fight to bring awareness and attention to HIV/AIDS in Antigua and Barbuda and throughout the Caribbean, is being honoured by the University of the West Indies. The UWI Open Campus has formally announced that it will confer on Dr. Editor’s Note Caribbean Times is printed and published at Woods Estate/Friars Hill Road. The Editor is Justin Peters. Contact: Caribbean Times, P.O. Box W2099, Woods Estate/Friars Hill Road, St. John’s, Antigua. Tel: (268) 562-8688, Fax: (268) 562-8685. Visit us online at our website: www. caribbeantimes.ag We ask you to send: Pertinent news items to news@caribbeantimes.ag. Advertisement inquiries to accounts@caribbeantimes.ag. Letters to the editor to editor@caribbeantimes.ag Sir Prince Ramsey, an honorary degree of Doctor of Science (DSc) at its commencement ceremony in St Kitts on October 8. Dr Ramsey has been a champion in the fight against stigmatisation of people infected with HIV and he has helped to focus the attention of many in society on the dangers of the disease and what steps to take to avoid infection. In the early years of the disease, when contracting HIV was a virtual death sentence, Dr Ramsey was moved by compassion and he immediately undertook a two-pronged mission; dedicating himself to educating people about the disease while helping those who were infected, cope with the debilitating illness that eventually led to death. He traversed the length and breadth of Antigua and Barbuda lecturing to schools, churches, community groups, the social clubs and every that people gathered. He also became a regular fixture on national television talking about the disease. “I have spent over thirty years teaching, lecturing, explaining, answering, clarifying every aspect of HIV infection and transmission while at the same time being a friend, a counsellor and a companion those many who were infected by the HIV/AIDS,” Sir Prince stated. He noted that the he always felt that education would be one of the most effective tools used in the fight against the disease as education may bring about lifestyle changes that will lead to a reduction in the number of cases. This philosophy took Informative, reliable, enriching! Think you have a good news story; did you witness anything that is news-worthy; did you take that valuable picture; things happening in your community but there is no outlet or voice for you? You can earn just by telling your story. Call Caribbean Times at (268) 562 8688 Email: editor@caribbeantimes.ag Or news@caribbeantimes.ag Reach us now with that breaking news! Dr. Sir Prince Ramsey him of a journey across the entire Caribbean archipelago. “I have lectured from the Bahamas to Suriname and even in Belize in Central America. These visits also include addressing audiences in Martinique and Guadeloupe and the Spanish speaking territories,” he revealed. On his latest award, Dr Ramsey said it brings him special pride as it comes from his Alma Marta, the UWI. “This is a special award for it places me in very special company such as Eric Williams, Michael Manley, Sir Arthur Lewis, Alexander Bustamante among other notable Caribbean statesmen and women who have been similarly honoured in the past,” he observed. Sir Prince and his wife Lady Ava will journey to Basseterre for the award ceremony and it is expected that several of his close friends and associates will also be present for the conferral.
Thursday 22nd September 2016 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 3 SJDC workers down tools in protest Minister of Tourism, the Hon., Asot Michael listens to the concerns of employees of the St. John’s Development Corporation. By Everton Barnes Scores of workers employed by the St John’s Development Corporation downed their tools on Wednesday as they walked off the job to protest non-payment of outstanding back-pay. General Secretary for the Antigua Trades and Labour Union, Hugh Joseph, said approximately 60 workers from the various divisions of the SJDC – The Public Market, the Multipurpose Cultural Centre and Heritage Quay – were involved in the action. He said the workers are owed back-pay dating back to 2013 and in July this year, the corporation had indicated that it would need ‘at least a year’ before it would be able to pay. Negotiations between the two parties on shortening the payment schedule seemed to have been making little progress and on Wednesday, the union called out its workers to down tools. SJDC Executive Director, Neil Butler, confirmed that back pay amounting to just over $1 million is owed to the workers but he added that since taking office the new management has been implementing several outstanding labour issues that it inherited. For example, he said the new management signed the collective agreement with the union which was negotiated back in 2013. Additionally, he added that wage increases under the agreement have already been implemented. According to Butler the increased payroll meant that the corporation would need time to be able to settle the back-pay. A meeting was a hasty arrangement involving representatives from SJDC, their attorneys and Minister of Tourism Asot Michael. During the meeting an agreement was reached where the workers will receive the first tranche of the outstanding amount at the end of November. Both parties have also pledged to meet again by the middle of November to work out a payment schedule with which they can agree.
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Caribbean Times 98th Issue - Thursday 22nd September 2016

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