Barbados has made significant gains since attaining independence in 1966, writes Lyn-Marie Blackman, 29, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Barbados. But with several societal, institutional and governance issues facing the island, where can it go from here? Being a Commonwealth Correspondent has been an enriching and rewarding experience that I would not trade for anything. My …

“Barbados youth comments on 50 more years” Read More »

Cultural ideas around food are subject to change, thanks to a fast-moving globalised world. But as Ashley Foster-Estwick, 25, a Correspondent from Barbados explains, disrupting old food cultures can leave populations at risk with poor health and unmet needs. Culture is usually defined as the ideas and attitudes that form the habits of a particular sect …

“Food trends have mixed impact on the public” Read More »

The scourge of elderly abuse made headlines earlier this year, writes Lyn-Marie Blackman, 30, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Barbados. She reminds younger Barbadians to honour those who paved the way for the social and economic development they enjoy today. This May, a video of an elderly woman being mistreated by an auxiliary nurse in an …

“Elder abuse dishonours family and society” Read More »

As Barbados prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary of independence, Ashley Foster-Estwick, 25, a Correspondent from Barbados, looks at the water crisis that affects residents, government and the agricultural sector. As the festivities move into full swing, attracting thousands to our shores and boosting patriotic sentiments, there is another side to the Barbadian sentiment. It’s the …

“Water conservation is critical to agriculture” Read More »

The green revolution has made its mark on many aspects of society, writes Ashley Foster-Estwick, 25, a Correspondent from Barbados, but has not yet fully integrated into a part of life that is a routine issue for women. The green philosophy has been branded as the new wave of environmentalism that forges a consistent analysis …

“Menstrual hygiene and green philosophy” Read More »

Lyn-Marie Blackman, 30, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Barbados, writes that being a Commonwealth Correspondent has been a rewarding and enriching experience. She wrote this article as a thank you to the Commonwealth Secretariat, and to encourage young people to be all they can be in life.  My young people, you are bright and are the future, you …

“Embracing positive attitudes for the future” Read More »

Recent appointments to the national Senate raise questions about commitment to gender equality, writes Alicia Wallace, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Nassau, Bahamas.  On December 11, 2016, Hon. Loretta Butler-Turner became the first woman to serve as Leader of the Opposition in Parliament in The Bahamas. This followed a petition by seven Free National Movement (FNM) …

“Senate postings highlight gender issues” Read More »

An increase in the crime rate is an opportunity to look at society and at ways to reduce crime through prevention and intervention, writes Lyn-Marie Blackman, 30, a Commonwealth Correspondent alumni from Barbados. For the past several months in Barbados there has been an upsurge in criminal activity, primarily perpetrated by young men. As an individual who …

“Society has a role in crime prevention” Read More »

An increase in the crime rate is an opportunity to look at society and at ways to reduce crime through prevention and intervention, writes Lyn-Marie Blackman, 30, a Commonwealth Correspondent alumni from Barbados. For the past several months in Barbados there has been an upsurge in criminal activity, primarily perpetrated by young men. As an individual who …

“Society has a responsibility in the crime rate” Read More »

In Barbados, Errol Barrow day on 21st January is a public holiday marking the birth of the Father of Independence and the island’s first Prime Minister. Ashley Foster-Estwick, 25, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Barbados, writes that it is also a day for reflection on Barrow’s education policy. Errol Barrow enunciated many quotes during his tenure in politics, …

“What is the real price of being a student?” Read More »