Law enforcement officials in Barbados are turning to the public for urgent help to locate an elderly man who has been missing for weeks. 85-year-old Joseph Brathwaite, who also goes by the aliases ‘Norman’ and ‘Nou’, was last spotted by members of the public on 1 April 2026 in his home neighborhood of Gill Land, Eastmont, St John.
Brathwaite lives with two critical health conditions that put him at heightened risk of harm while unaccounted for: he is completely blind in his left eye and lives with dementia, a condition that can impair his ability to navigate unfamiliar areas or recall his personal details. Investigators have released a detailed physical description to help community members identify him: he stands roughly five feet six inches tall, has a slim build and dark complexion, with distinct features including large sunken eyes, a broad bulbous nose, thin lips, oversized ears and sagging cheek tissue. He speaks with a distinct Barbadian accent, has a naturally abrupt communication style and a deep speaking voice.
When he was last seen, Brathwaite was wearing a simple green crewneck T-shirt and black three-quarter length pants, and he was not wearing any footwear. Police confirmed he is known to regularly travel between two St. John areas: Small Town and his home neighborhood of Gill Land, so search efforts are currently focused on these regions.
Authorities are urging anyone who may have spotted Brathwaite since 1 April, or anyone who holds any information about his current location, to reach out to investigators immediately. Tips can be submitted directly to District ‘C’ Police Station via the phone lines 416-8200 or 416-8204, to the national police emergency hotline at 211, to the anonymous Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-800-TIPS (8477), or in person at any local police station across the country.