作者： admin

In a heartwarming display of community spirit, the Barbados Public Workers’ Cooperative Credit Union (BPWCCUL) transformed streets surrounding its Belmont Road headquarters into a festive delivery route on Tuesday. A team of staff volunteers dressed as Santa Claus and elves embarked on a special mission to distribute Christmas gifts directly to children’s doorsteps in the neighboring communities.

The initiative, which specifically targeted children aged three to ten years old, also included distributing small treats to elderly residents encountered during the delivery route. Branch Manager Michelle Ashby described the effort as part of the credit union’s ongoing commitment to giving back to both members and non-members alike who support the institution throughout the year.

According to Community Relations Officer Stacy Mottley, this charitable outreach represents a tradition spanning more than two decades, though this year’s approach marked a departure from previous celebrations. Rather than inviting children to their branch facilities, BPWCCUL staff took the festive experience directly into the community, focusing specifically on areas immediately surrounding their Belmont Road headquarters.

The volunteer corps included staff members from multiple branches across the island, including Emerald City and Carlton Black Rock locations. Retail Manager Harriett Franklin emphasized that the initiative reflects the organization’s community-based values and commitment to spreading Christmas joy beyond financial services.

The credit union plans to continue its seasonal community engagement activities in the coming days, strengthening its role as both a financial institution and an active community partner during the holiday season.

A Clapham man has been ordered to remain in custody at Dodds Prison following a court hearing that revealed a history of police reports filed against him by the alleged victim. Marlon Damien Weekes, 42, appeared in the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court facing a serious indictable charge of unlawfully wounding Norman Knight with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on December 18.

During the bail hearing, Prosecutor Police Constable Troy Tudor presented multiple grounds for objecting to release, citing the substantial evidence against Weekes and concerns about witness intimidation. The court heard that Knight required hospitalization for multiple injuries sustained in the alleged attack, adding to the prosecution’s safety concerns given that both men reside as neighbors in the Christ Church community.

Further complicating the case, prosecutors revealed that Weekes is currently on bail for a separate assault matter in another jurisdiction. Constable Tudor emphasized that the complainant had made ‘numerous calls to the police about the defendant’ prior to the December incident.

Weekes denied ever receiving police notices regarding these previous complaints. However, Sergeant Osbourne provided testimony contradicting this claim, recounting one specific response where he found the accused intoxicated and sleeping on a vehicle while holding a pair of scissors. ‘Apparently, he drinks a lot, and I took the scissors from him, and he did not even know,’ the sergeant told the court.

Magistrate Manila Renee, considering the accused’s previous conviction for possession of an offensive weapon despite its dated nature, remanded Weekes into custody until January 20 for further proceedings. No plea was taken during the hearing due to the indictable nature of the charge.

Barbados is experiencing a troubling divergence between economic indicators and social deterioration, according to a stark warning from the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations (CTUSAB). In his annual Christmas address, General Secretary Dennis de Peiza presented a sobering assessment of the nation’s condition as 2025 approaches, highlighting that developmental achievements are being undermined by escalating social crises.

The labor leader identified multiple concerning trends including a dramatic surge in violent crime, with firearms becoming the weapon of choice in a growing number of homicides and assaults. Particularly alarming is the increasing participation of teenagers and young adults in criminal enterprises, signaling deep societal fractures.

Transportation systems have become emblematic of broader disciplinary breakdowns, with de Peiza criticizing the continued indifference of minibus and ZR/route taxi operators that authorities have failed to address. Educational institutions are similarly affected, experiencing erosion of order and discipline while children increasingly embrace subcultures contrary to traditional societal values.

A visible homelessness crisis has emerged alongside rising poverty, destitution, and underemployment—conditions that contradict official reports of strong government revenues and low unemployment rates. This disparity raises fundamental questions about economic distribution and social policy effectiveness.

At the governance level, de Peiza noted persistent concerns regarding transparency, accountability, and integrity in public office, contributing to diminished public trust. He challenged citizens to engage in serious introspection during the Christmas season, asking each individual to consider their role in both creating and solving national problems.

The union leader emphasized that meaningful change requires collective action and unity rather than division, warning that silence and complacency would only exacerbate existing challenges. He urged Barbadians to reclaim their value system, speak against injustice, and resist superficial contemporary values while reflecting on the deeper significance of the Christmas season.