Carib Scope

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  • Blow after blow

    Blow after blow

    For the people of Jamaica’s Westmoreland parish, the cascading cycle of hardship shows no sign of slowing. Just months after surviving the devastating impact of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, which left countless homes destroyed and communities without power for weeks, residents are now grappling with a fresh crisis: skyrocketing fuel and living costs amplified by global unrest in the Middle East. What was already an uphill battle to rebuild has become an overwhelming struggle, leaving many wondering when their streak of misfortune will end.

    The latest fuel price adjustment from state refinery Petrojam delivered a harsh blow to motorists across the island last week, with both grades of gasoline jumping by $4.50 per litre. The increase pushed the price of 90-octane fuel to $188.57 per litre, while 87-octane now sells for $181.13. As drivers pulled into gas stations across Westmoreland on Thursday, many reacted with frustration and despair, noting they had barely begun to pick up the pieces from the hurricane before this new financial strain hit.

    “Hurricane Melissa mashed me up, and now gas a mash me up bad,” one local taxi operator told the Jamaica Observer. The driver lost the roof of his home and the small side shop he relied on for extra income during the storm. Before the recent price hikes, he typically spent around $3,500 daily on fuel to keep his taxi running. Now, that cost has climbed to at least $5,000 a day, pushing his weekly fuel expenditure over $20,000 – all while he has been unable to raise the fares he charges passengers. With the cost of vehicle parts like tires and batteries also rising sharply, the operator says he and other transport workers are desperate for permission to increase fares to keep up. “It hard, but you have to gwaan because we can’t sit down,” he explained.

    For Cave resident David Israel, the financial pressure is compounded by the costly repairs his home needs after storm damage. To restore safety to his property, he must hire electricians to rewire his home – and post-storm demand has pushed service prices sharply higher. “Everything is compounding since Melissa, and if you’re really not self-motivated and have a driven spirit to just get up back on your feet and move and not being hopeless, it will break your spirit,” he said. Though he feels the constant string of setbacks is frustrating, Israel says he remains committed to rebuilding his life.

    A local teacher in Westmoreland has turned to drastic creative measures to cut back on fuel spending. Rationing trips, carpooling when possible, and walking instead of driving have become routine – and increasingly, he is simply staying home to avoid unnecessary costs. Where he once could make a $7,000 fuel purchase last a full week, that same amount is now exhausted in just two days. While he would welcome a return to work-from-home arrangements to cut down on travel, he notes the shift would only transfer costs to his monthly utility bill, which has already climbed 50% in recent months. “If it’s work from home, we have to be careful how we do that, but I can understand the need to restrict general road movement,” he said.

    Another Cave resident, who identified herself only as Mrs James, says she is relieved to have restored electricity after months running a costly generator. Before power was restored, operating her generator cost roughly $19,000 a week – an expense she is glad to leave behind. But she was shocked to receive a $6,800 electricity bill just two weeks after service was restored. On a minimum wage income, she must now cover that bill, water costs, and school fees for her children, all while still recovering from losing her small business and livestock in the hurricane. “We are just hopeful that some better days are coming, but, to me, it just seems like it’s getting worse than how we expect,” she said.

    For one local business owner, the struggle has reached a new low. Delpert Rodney, a haberdashery owner in Belmont, lost his entire store during Hurricane Melissa. He managed to salvage a small portion of his inventory and store it in a temporary back room as he worked to restart his business. Last Thursday, that remaining stock was completely destroyed in an unexpected fire. “We were at ground zero after Hurricane Melissa, and this happened. It’s really heartbreaking right now,” Rodney said. Just as his business was starting to recover, he has been set back to zero. Even so, he remains resolute: “I’m of the view that once you don’t give up, there is always room for going forward. Once you give up, then everything is dead, but once you keep trying and putting the pieces back together, you will be good.”

    As construction crews work across the parish to repair storm-damaged buildings, many residents are left waiting for relief to match the steady stream of new hardships that have continued to hit their recovering community.

  • FERVET FEVER

    FERVET FEVER

    The 130th edition of the historic Penn Relays Carnival wrapped up on Saturday at Philadelphia’s iconic Franklin Field, where inclement cold and wet weather shook up final results and left Jamaica’s high school relay squads with just one Championship of America title — a downshift from pre-event expectations that marked their lowest title haul in decades.

    Jamaica College (JC), the most highly anticipated Jamaican squad heading into Saturday’s final competition, entered the day leading qualifying in both the 4x100m and 4x800m Championship of America races, with fans and analysts predicting multiple gold medals for the powerhouse program. When the final baton crossed the finish line across all events, however, JC’s 4x100m win stood as the only Jamaican Championship of America title of the meet.

    That 4x100m victory still cemented Jamaica’s unmatched 20-year stranglehold on the event: starting from a substitution for preliminary runner Malique Dennis, Makaeean Woods teamed up with Nathaniel Martin, Elijah Smeikle, and anchor Kai Kelly to clock a winning time of 40.03 seconds. This marks JC’s fourth all-time title in the event, and their first since 2023, stretching Jamaica’s undefeated streak in the High School Boys’ 4x100m Championship of America all the way back to 2005. Kingston College (KC) of Jamaica took second place with a 40.26 second finish, while St James Academy, the only American squad to qualify for the Championship final, rounded out the top three in 40.38 seconds. Jamaican squads filled four of the top six spots, with St Jago taking fourth (40.43s), Edwin Allen fifth (40.51s), and Excelsior sixth (40.60s).

    For William Knibb Memorial High School, a narrow miss qualifying for the Championship of America final turned into a different gold medal moment: the squad claimed the High School Boys’ International 4x100m title with a time of 40.71 seconds, outpacing 2023’s winning squad St George’s College, which crossed second in 42.27 seconds. Calabar took third in 42.48 seconds, followed by Cornwall College (42.51s), Munro College (42.54s), and Herbert Morrison Technical (42.63s).

    The meet’s final day brought a stark turnaround from the first two days of competition, which had enjoyed unbroken warm, sunny conditions ideal for fast running. Saturday began cool and overcast, with weather worsening through the afternoon into driving cold rain, with temperatures holding steady in the mid-40s Fahrenheit that slowed times and disrupted race dynamics.

    One of the biggest upsets of the day came in the High School Boys’ 4x400m Championship of America, where Kingston College’s bid for an unprecedented fifth consecutive Championship title fell short. Bullis School of Maryland, anchored by Olympic relay gold medalist Quincy Wilson, claimed gold with a winning time of 3:10.15. Archbishop John Carroll of Washington, D.C., took second in 3:13.15, with JC finishing third in 3:13.57 and KC fourth in 3:14.74. Munro College placed eighth in 3:27.73, while Excelsior suffered a fall on the first leg of the race and did not cross the finish line.

    In the 4x800m Championship of America, JC was the only Jamaican squad to advance to the final, and finished fourth with a time of 7:52.27. Union Catholic of New Jersey took the national title in 7:41.14, followed by IMG Academy of Florida in second (7:42.71) and Hackensack of New Jersey in third (7:48.87).

    The result marked the fewest Jamaican Championship of America titles at the annual meet in many years, though the opening two days of competition had already brought major wins for Jamaican squads: on Friday, Edwin Allen retained their 4x100m Championship of America title, while Hydel held on to their 4x400m Championship of America crown, in addition to a small number of individual gold medals for Jamaican athletes.

  • Bus Association Threatens Nationwide Shutdown Over New Fares

    Bus Association Threatens Nationwide Shutdown Over New Fares

    Belize is bracing for a total disruption of national bus services starting as early as next week, after a bitter dispute between the government and the Belize Bus Association (BBA) boiled over into a public standoff over controversial newly announced fare adjustments.

    The confrontation was triggered by the government’s recent publication of updated bus fare rates scheduled to enter into force on Monday. In a sharply critical press statement released Thursday, the BBA rejected the new pricing structure outright, saying that bus operators across the country were never consulted on the changes, never gave their approval, and will not comply with the unilaterally implemented rates.

    The core of the industry body’s anger centers on the government’s process for setting the new fares. According to the BBA, the Ministry of Transportation developed the new pricing using an internal, closed-door calculation formula that excluded any meaningful input from private bus operators. The resulting rates, the association argues, are set at levels that place an unbearable financial burden on daily commuters who rely on buses for work, school, and essential travel.

    The association also levied direct criticism against the state-owned National Bus Company, accusing the public entity of acting solely as a mouthpiece for government policy. The BBA claims this dynamic creates an inherent, unacceptable conflict of interest that skews the entire process of setting fares, shaping regulation, and communicating with the public about the dispute.

    BBA leaders emphasized that they attempted to avoid this crisis through months of negotiation, putting forward a series of compromise proposals designed to ease cost pressures on operators without shifting the burden to passengers. Those proposals included eliminating the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on essential operating inputs and providing targeted government subsidies to help offset rising costs for operators. According to the association, all of their suggested solutions were rejected out of hand by government negotiators.

    “The government has consistently moved the goalposts throughout our ongoing talks, and now they are attempting to rewrite the narrative to paint the BBA as the cause of this crisis,” the association’s statement read.

    After what the BBA describes as months of bad faith negotiations, the association’s membership has voted unanimously to take collective action. Its demand to the government is clear: authorities must immediately implement a fuel subsidy that caps the price operators pay for diesel at $9.50 per gallon, matching the rate that was in place before the current global fuel crisis drove costs sharply upward.

    If the government fails to issue a formal commitment to meet this demand by the end of Sunday, April 26, all BBA member services will cease operation across the country starting Monday morning. The association framed the standoff as a critical make-or-break moment for the industry and for the livelihoods of both operators and commuters, calling on members of the public to stand with them in opposing the government’s imposed fare increases.

    As of Thursday evening, the government has not issued any public response to the BBA’s ultimatum, leaving commuters, businesses, and policymakers across Belize waiting to see if a last-minute deal can be reached to avoid the widespread shutdown.

  • Fourth Hike in Fuel Prices

    Fourth Hike in Fuel Prices

    Residents of Belize began their Saturday on April 25, 2026, with unwelcome news at gas stations nationwide: the fourth round of fuel price increases has taken effect, driven by escalating geopolitical instability in the Middle East that is roiling global energy markets.

    The core disruption behind these rising costs can be traced to ongoing blockades in the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which a significant share of global oil supplies passes. These disruptions have pushed up crude and refined fuel costs on international markets, and those incremental increases have now reached consumers’ fuel tanks across Belize.

    Price adjustments vary widely across fuel grades, according to data from major operator Shell. Diesel, a critical fuel for freight, public transit, and industrial activity, recorded the sharpest jump, rising $1.41 per gallon from $14.57 to $15.98. Premium gasoline saw a modest uptick of just five cents, climbing from $14.64 to $14.69 per gallon. For everyday motorists, there was one small reprieve: the price of regular gasoline held steady at $13.84 per gallon, avoiding the increases that hit other fuel types.

    Savvy consumers can still find minor savings by comparing prices across different fuel retailers; some independent and regional stations are selling fuel at a few cents below the rates posted at major brand locations.

    The economic ripple effect of this latest price hike extends far beyond individual motorists. Starting Monday, commuters who rely on privately run independent bus services across parts of Belize will face higher ticket prices. Bus operators have announced they will adjust fares to offset the increased diesel costs they incur to keep routes running, passing a portion of the energy price increase on to working people who depend on public transit for daily travel.

  • Judge sets near four-decade sentence for revenge killing

    Judge sets near four-decade sentence for revenge killing

    In a landmark ruling that underscores the Caribbean nation’s firm stance against proliferating gun crime, a Barbados High Court judge has sentenced convicted killer Shawayne Williams to 38 years and 138 days behind bars, emphasizing that judicial institutions have a non-negotiable role to play in curbing violent armed offenses and safeguarding communities.

    Justice Laurie-Anne Smith-Bovell handed down the sentence this week, noting that courts must align their rulings with the public’s urgent demand to tackle the national crisis of gun violence. Williams, a resident of White Hall, St Michael, was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict for the fatal shooting of Tavon Alleyne – cousin of global pop icon and Barbados’ National Hero Rihanna. The attack took place near Alleyne’s home in Eden Lodge, St Michael, on Boxing Day 2017.

    During the sentencing remarks, Justice Smith-Bovell referenced the landmark Director of Public Prosecutions Reference No. 1 of 2003 to anchor her decision, stating: “This court has a duty to protect the public as far as it can from the wanton violence perpetrated by some of our young people. Public concern about illegal firearms and violence and the need for general deterrence must be reflected in the sentences passed by the courts. The public are entitled to expect the courts to play their part in fighting the proliferation of firearms and violence. These courts serve the public interest.”

    Details presented during the trial laid out the sequence of the fatal attack: at approximately 7 p.m. on the day of the killing, Alleyne arrived via taxi and pulled over on the main road. Moments after he stepped out of the vehicle, multiple gunshots rang out, leaving Alleyne dead on the ground from multiple gunshot wounds. One eyewitness who observed a male suspect fleeing the scene positively identified the runner as Williams. A second witness corroborated the account, confirming Williams had been in the neighborhood earlier that evening, disappeared just before the shooting, and returned to the area shortly after the gunfire stopped.

    Outlining the multiple aggravating factors that justified a harsh sentence, Justice Smith-Bovell outlined several key details that elevated the severity of the crime. First, the killing included clear elements of premeditation and coordination: Williams brought an illegal firearm to the scene, and evidence suggested he received advance communication to be in the area exactly when Alleyne arrived, indicating an organized ambush. Second, Alleyne was unarmed when he was attacked, leaving him no chance to defend himself. Third, the shooting was confirmed to be an act of retaliation for a previous non-fatal shooting of Williams by a third party. Additional aggravating factors included the use of an illegal firearm that was never recovered by law enforcement, and the fact that the attack unfolded in a public residential area, putting innocent bystanders – including residents of the nearby home and the taxi driver, who later found bullet holes in his vehicle – at grave risk of injury or death.

    To reach the final sentence, Justice Smith-Bovell set an initial starting term of 39 years, adding two extra years to account for Williams’ damaging presentence report, documented history of prior convictions for serious bodily harm and assault causing actual bodily harm, ongoing illegal drug use, and the assessed high risk he would reoffend if released. The judge then deducted 774 days of pre-sentencing remand time Williams had already served, plus an additional six-month credit for delays in processing the case, resulting in the final term of 38 years and 138 days to be served at Barbados’ Dodds Prison.

    In addition to the custodial sentence, Justice Smith-Bovell ordered Williams to participate in a structured suite of rehabilitative programs during his incarceration. Based on psychological and psychiatric assessments, Williams is required to enroll in basic academic and vocational skills training to prepare him for potential reintegration into society after his sentence is complete, as well as any psychotherapeutic programs that mental health professionals or prison authorities deem necessary for his rehabilitation.

    The prosecution was led by Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale SC and State Counsel Paul Prescod, while Williams was represented in court by Senior Counsel Angella Mitchell-Gittens.

  • Govt makes youth protection pledge at child abuse awareness walk

    Govt makes youth protection pledge at child abuse awareness walk

    Hundreds of attendees, including staff from Barbados’ Social Empowerment Agency and a lively cohort of local children, gathered in the Warrens district last week, decked out in coordinated blue attire, for the fifth iteration of the national Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Walk. The event, which kicked off from the parking lot of the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs’ Warrens office complex, drew community members from across the island united behind a shared mission to end child maltreatment and amplify public awareness of this pressing social issue.

    In his opening keynote address to the assembled crowd, Minister Adrian Forde, head of the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, made clear that the island’s government maintains an unwavering, unequivocal commitment to protecting Barbados’ youngest generation. Far from being a purely symbolic gathering, Forde emphasized that the walk reflected a deeper national priority: the long-term stability and global competitiveness of Barbados hinges entirely on how well the country safeguards its children today.

    “These little children that we see before us, their lives must be protected in a special way and that is why we are here,” Forde told attendees. “It is not only for us to talk the talk and walk the walk as we are doing this morning, but equally to do the do as it relates to ensuring that those in the dawn of their lives are protected and given the opportunity to become firm craftsmen of their fate.”

    Forde outlined that beyond public awareness campaigns like the annual walk, the current administration has prioritized tangible, robust policy action to strengthen child protection across the island. A core pillar of this work has been sweeping legislative reform: he highlighted updated child justice and child protection frameworks as foundational to the government’s mission, noting that these new protections align with recently passed legislation designed to safeguard vulnerable elderly residents from abuse. This joined-up approach to protecting at-risk groups across all age cohorts, he explained, embodies the administration’s core governing principle: that every member of Barbadian society deserves to be seen and heard.

    The minister issued a clear call to collective action for all Barbadians, urging community members to remain vigilant and proactive in identifying and reporting signs of child abuse, neglect, and abandonment. “We have asked persons that if they see something, they say something. If they hear something that they are suspicious of — abuse, neglect, abandonment — that they equally say something,” he said. “Appreciate the fact that these little ones are under our care and each one of us is duty-bound to look after their lives.”

    As participants prepared to set off on the awareness walk, Forde reiterated that the ultimate goal of all government and community efforts is to make space for young Barbadians to pursue their dreams, in a safe and supportive national environment. He stressed that even a single child lost to abuse or neglect represents a failure the island cannot afford, committing the government to continuing progress across legislative and social interventions to protect youth.

    “We are going to do everything from a legislative perspective to a social perspective to ensure that these little ones have a tangible space in this country,” Forde said. “That is their dream. We are here to fulfill their dream; we are duty-bound to fulfill our dream. Recognize that our young people, those in the dawn of their lives, are the most important gift to our country.”

  • US President rushed from event after gunshots reported

    US President rushed from event after gunshots reported

    On the evening of Saturday, April 25, 2026, an ongoing annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C. was abruptly interrupted when reports of possible gunshots triggered an immediate security response, leading to the emergency evacuation of U.S. President Donald Trump from the venue.

    The high-profile gathering, organized by the White House Correspondents’ Association for media and political figures, was in progress when the unidentified sounds matching gunfire were detected nearby. Within seconds, uniformed and plainclothes Secret Service personnel moved swiftly to surround the president, who was speaking at the podium, and escorted him rapidly away from the event space to a secure location. The entire incident unfolded in front of hundreds of attendees and was captured live on camera by dozens of national and international news networks that were broadcasting the dinner to global audiences.

    Clips of the emergency evacuation quickly circulated across social media platforms in the hours after the incident, showing agents forming a tight protective shield around Trump as they rushed him out of the main hall. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, launched an immediate response to the scene. According to official updates from the Associated Press, law enforcement officers have already taken one individual of interest into custody.

    In a media briefing held shortly after the incident was contained, President Trump shared new details about the suspect, confirming that the individual was wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying multiple weapons when authorities approached their location near the venue. As of the latest update Saturday night, authorities have not released additional information about the suspect’s identity, potential motives, or whether any bystanders or law enforcement officers were injured during the incident or the arrest operation. This remains a fast-moving developing story, with additional updates expected from federal and local law enforcement in the coming hours.

  • UPP to launch manifesto and campaign website ahead of election

    UPP to launch manifesto and campaign website ahead of election

    As the countdown to the April 30 General Election ticks down, the United Progressive Party (UPP) has centered public input in shaping its policy agenda, building its electoral platform around ideas submitted directly by the electorate. UPP Political Leader Jamale Pringle explained that the party launched a public call for submissions early, inviting party candidates, local citizens and permanent residents to raise their most pressing concerns and share actionable solutions that align with their daily needs. Given the compressed timeline leading up to the election, this crowdsourcing approach was designed to ensure the party’s platform reflected grassroots priorities rather than top-down mandates.

    After reviewing hundreds of public submissions, party leaders filtered proposals based on two core criteria: their potential to deliver broad, tangible improvements to the national economy and residents’ quality of life, and their feasibility to implement once in office. The selected ideas have been integrated into the party’s official election manifesto and campaign policy rollout.

    Over the course of the ongoing campaign, Pringle has already presented a wide slate of innovative programs and policy commitments that a UPP administration would advance immediately after taking office. A large share of these unveiled policies directly target the soaring cost of living that has strained household budgets across the country, while a full suite of additional social and economic relief measures is detailed in the party’s formal manifesto.

    To keep voters engaged and informed throughout the election process, the UPP has also launched a dynamic, highly interactive official campaign website, myupp.org. The platform hosts detailed public profiles of all the party’s election candidates, a timeline of the UPP’s political history, publicly accessible versions of the current national voter lists, and step-by-step instructions to guide voters through the casting process on election day.

    Campaign Director Chester Hughes emphasized the party’s confidence in its people-centered platform, noting, “We are very pleased with what we’re able to offer the various stakeholders. We are confident that these solutions will lift the People and the Country and bring the sunshine back to Government.”

  • Police warn public against joining gangs

    Police warn public against joining gangs

    BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — In the wake of a sharp uptick in fatal shooting incidents across the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis that has left three young men dead in recent weeks, national law enforcement authorities have launched a renewed public outreach campaign, issuing a clear reminder that gang association of any kind constitutes a severe criminal offense under recently updated national legislation.

    The string of gang-linked violence has prompted the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force High Command to ramp up anti-gang enforcement operations and publicly outline the harsh legal consequences tied to gang involvement, leaning on sweeping amendments to the country’s Gang (Prohibition and Prevention) Act that were enacted in 2025. These legislative changes dramatically increased criminal penalties for gang-related activity to curb rising organized crime in the country.

    Per the updated legal framework, nearly all forms of gang connection are outlawed: establishing a gang, holding active membership, and even attempting to join a criminal gang are all criminal offenses. The maximum prison sentence for those convicted of basic gang membership reaches 30 years, while gang leaders and individuals who coordinate ongoing gang criminal activity can face up to 40 years of incarceration.

    The amended legislation also criminalizes a broad scope of gang-enabling activities that often fly under the public radar. This includes recruiting new members, pressuring or coercing people into joining gangs, and blocking members who wish to leave these organizations. Even indirect assistance to gangs — such as hiding gang members from authorities, supplying illegal firearms, ammunition or other critical resources used for criminal activity — carries lengthy prison sentences for accomplices.

    A key new offense added in the 2025 amendments is retaliatory gang violence against people who resist gang recruitment, leave gangs, or cooperate with police investigations. Any acts of violence, intimidation or harassment targeting these individuals carry a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, matching the strictest penalties for top gang leaders. Additionally, the legislation now punishes impersonating a law enforcement officer to advance gang activity with up to 30 years behind bars.

    Beyond lengthy prison terms, the law allows for fines as high as EC$100,000, permits courts to order the seizure and forfeiture of any assets tied to gang-related criminal operations. This specific provision is designed to target and dismantle the financial infrastructure that allows organized criminal gangs to operate and expand in the federation.

    In their official public statement, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force stressed that all forms of gang association carry severe, life-altering consequences that extend far beyond immediate criminal charges. Authorities are urging all residents to cut off any ties to gangs and avoid any association with these criminal groups. Law enforcement is also calling on community members to step forward to report suspected gang activity, emphasizing that public cooperation is critical to keeping local communities safe and reversing the recent rise in gang violence.

  • Wanted: Miguel Mikey Robertson

    Wanted: Miguel Mikey Robertson

    Law enforcement authorities in Barbados are turning to the public for critical support in a ongoing investigation, issuing an official appeal to track down a man identified as Miguel “Mikey” Robertson, who is currently wanted for questioning linked to severe criminal activity.

    The Barbados Police Service (TBPS) has released key details to help community members identify Robertson. According to the official release, the suspect’s last confirmed residence was #11 Hilton Row, located in the Princess Royal Pine neighborhood of St Michael. Investigators have also shared physical descriptors: Robertson stands roughly five feet six inches tall, has a dark complexion, and maintains a slim build.

    As part of standard police procedure, TBPS has extended a formal advisory to Robertson himself: he is permitted to voluntarily surrender at the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters based at the Black Rock Police Station in Black Rock, St Michael, provided he is accompanied by a legal representative.

    For members of the public who may have information about Robertson’s current location, authorities have outlined multiple accessible channels to submit tips. Anyone with relevant details can reach out directly to the CID team at Black Rock Police Station via phone at 417-7505 or 417-7500, call the national police emergency line at 211, contact the anonymous crime tip hotline Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477, or visit any closest local police station to share information in person.

    In a key reminder for all residents, TBPS stressed that knowingly sheltering or providing any form of assistance to a wanted individual is classified as a serious criminal offense under Barbados law. Any person found to have aided Robertson after this public appeal will face prosecution, authorities confirmed. This official appeal was issued as a public notice from the Barbados Police Service.