The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy will celebrate its annual Blue Fest week from Sunday, October 31, until Saturday, November 6, under the theme Telling Our Story.
The week will begin with a church service at the St. James Anglican Church, Holetown, St. James, at 9:15 a.m.
Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy, Kirk Humphrey, will deliver remarks during this service, while Reverend Beverley Sealy-Knight, will officially open the 2021 fishing season.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, it will be a hybrid service and persons may also view the service by clicking here.
This will be followed by the reopening of Payne’s Bay Fish Market, Payne’s Bay, St. James, on Monday, November 1, at 10:00 a.m. by Minister Humphrey, who will deliver the feature address.
The Minister will also be part of a panelist of speakers during a webinar on Tuesday, November 2, on the topic The Science We Need For The Ocean We Want.
He will be joined by Director of the Coastal Zone Management Unit, Dr. Leo Brewster; Head of the Office of Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions, Dr. Cesar Toro; Professor Emeritus (Marine Affairs) at the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES), University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Professor Robin Mahon, and Programme Officer with the Ecosystems Division of the United Nations Environment Programme, Christopher Corbin.
Persons are encouraged to register for this webinar by clicking here. The webinar is designed to expose the Barbadian public to a range of topical issues related to the mandate of the Ministry, and which are important to Barbados’ future development.
The following day, Wednesday, November 3, manufacturers and importers will gain a better understanding of the standards to be implemented to govern the use of plastics in Barbados during a virtual workshop entitled Implementing Standards for the Disposal of Plastics in Barbados.
The workshop hosted by the Ministry, in collaboration with the Barbados National Standards Institution, will be held via the Zoom platform.
Attendees will be given the link after registering with Consultant at the Ministry, Lee Rose, at lee.rose@barbados.gov.bb, or Senior Administration Officer at the Ministry, Lynn Culpepper, at lynn.culpepper@barbados.gov.bb. Registration runs until Monday, November 1.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Sonia Foster, will address the opening of the workshop, while Legal Consultant to the Ministry, Najla King, and Technical Officer at the BNSI, Lynn Sealy, will facilitate the proceedings.
On Thursday, November 4, persons will have the opportunity to go to the movies at the Globe Drive-In, Adams Castle, Christ Church, to watch A Life On Our Planet.
The Minister is also expected to attend, and persons are advised to arrive early as the movie will begin at 6:00 p.m. sharp.
The week will climax on Saturday, November 6, and seafarers are encouraged to tune in to the Voice of Barbados radio station and share their experiences at sea with host Larry Mayers, from 9:00 a.m.
COVID-19 protocols will be enforced at all face-to-face events.