Carib Scope

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  • ‘I feel robbed’: Singer grieves partner killed in North Andros crash

    ‘I feel robbed’: Singer grieves partner killed in North Andros crash

    The tight-knit Bahamian music scene is engulfed in grief after a devastating plane crash last week took the lives of ten people on board, including five core members of the popular local group Da Pond. For Khreasel Glinton, a 35-year-old Bahamian musician, the tragedy brings an unfathomable double loss: her long-term partner and soulmate Rashad Storr, and four other band members she had grown to love as chosen family.

    Storr, 35, and his Da Pond bandmates were traveling to North Andros on a Friday afternoon for a scheduled performance at a local regatta. The short flight, operated by Flamingo Air, was projected to take less than 20 minutes to reach the destination near San Andros Airport. Instead, the aircraft went down shortly before landing, leaving no survivors among the ten passengers and crew.

    Glinton, who had built a five-year relationship with Storr centered on their shared love of music, opened up about the overwhelming waves of sorrow that have consumed her in the days since the crash. “It is heavy on the mind, because sometimes I don’t even know who I might be crying for or who I might be screaming for,” she shared in an interview. “When it comes on me, all I could do is cry.”

    The couple shared a life intertwined both on and off stage: Glinton often performed as a fill-in singer for Da Pond, gradually building deep, lasting bonds with every member of the group. The pair had weathered personal challenges together, shared a vision of marrying and starting a family, and saw each other as each other’s closest confidants. “He was my best friend. I didn’t want to be anywhere else. He didn’t want to be anywhere else. It was just us two in our own little world,” Glinton said. She remembered Storr as a kind, patient partner who dedicated himself to making her happy, and had long held onto the hope that they would spend their lives together.

    The morning of the crash was just another ordinary day for the couple, who were heading to separate performance engagements. Glinton was bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands with the Da Rhythm Band, while Storr traveled with Da Pond to North Andros. Storr dropped Glinton at her airport terminal before heading to catch his own flight, and the pair continued to exchange playful text messages after Glinton landed in Turks and Caicos.

    Glinton recalled joking with Storr about her pilot’s bumpy handling of the InterCaribbean Airways flight, with Storr teasing back that the pilot was just navigating air pockets. That lighthearted exchange was the last communication they would share. Before Da Pond boarded their flight, Storr messaged Glinton one final time, and Glinton asked him to text her when the group landed. She never got that message.

    When a mutual friend first shared news of the crash with Glinton, she refused to believe it. Desperate to confirm the report was false, she reached out to a Da Pond singer who had traveled to Andros on an earlier flight. As calls flooded in from friends and community members checking if Glinton had been on the doomed flight, her band director eventually confirmed the devastating truth that Storr and his bandmates had not survived. Even after seeing video footage of the crash site, Glinton said the loss still feels impossible to process. “It still felt so unreal, and then they started sending like videos of the crash, and I’m just like, this can’t be happening. I just looked at him this morning. I just kissed him this morning,” she said, holding back tears.

    Glinton returned to her home in New Providence on Sunday, supported by her fellow band members as she struggled through overwhelming anxiety during the flight. In the days since her return, she has not been able to bring herself to step into the apartment she once shared with Storr. She has also canceled multiple upcoming performances, as any connection to music now brings immediate, painful memories of the five Da Pond members lost in the crash.

    Alongside Storr, the crash claimed the lives of Da Pond members Giovanni McKenzie, Mateo Winder, Toniquea Gilot and Tra’vis Johnson. Glinton shared tender memories of each band member: McKenzie was one of her earliest and most loyal supporters when she launched her music career; Winder stepped into a big brother role, always offering guidance when she needed it; Johnson was remembered for his magnetic personality and one-of-a-kind captivating voice. The memory of Gilot brought fresh tears to Glinton, who recalled the singer’s beautiful voice and warm spirit, and shared that Gilont had reached out to her just moments before the doomed flight to request a song recording. “The last thing she said to me was that she appreciate me,” Glinton said, her voice breaking with grief.

    The tragedy has left a permanent hole in the Bahamian music community, as friends, fans and fellow artists mourn the loss of five talented creators taken far too soon.

  • Duke Strachan smiles again as prison officials deliver puppy

    Duke Strachan smiles again as prison officials deliver puppy

    Four months after the fatal shooting of his beloved three-year-old dog sparked national public outrage across The Bahamas, veteran local musician Duke Errol Strachan has once again found reason to smile. The Bahamas Department of Correctional Services has followed through on a public commitment to replace Strachan’s lost companion, gifting him a four-month-old Dutch Shepherd puppy he has named Lassie, along with a full set of supplies to care for the new animal.

    “They compensate me. I’m satisfied,” Strachan shared in an interview this week. “She get along very fine.”

    The veteran musician has already begun basic training for the energetic young puppy, though he has yet to introduce Lassie to the other dogs that live on his Soldier Road property, keeping her separated in a dedicated kennel during this initial adjustment period. For Strachan, Lassie’s arrival is far more than just the addition of a new companion to his home: it represents the correctional department honoring a promise it made after one of its own officers killed his original dog in March 2024.

    The shooting unfolded as a contingent of correctional officers marched along Soldier Road at the conclusion of a funeral procession for retired correctional officer Andrew Sears. Strachan’s dog was fully contained on his own private property when an officer opened fire on the animal, a decision that immediately triggered widespread public condemnation and widespread calls for official accountability for the unnecessary killing.

    Days after the incident, then National Security Minister Wayne Munroe announced that an internal investigation had found no breach of department policy by the involved officer. The controversial clearing of the officer meant no disciplinary action would be taken, despite fierce public backlash over the outcome.

    Beyond the puppy itself, the department provided Strachan with a sturdy new cage, complete official vaccination records, and a monetary cheque to cover future care costs for Lassie. Even as he welcomes his new companion, Strachan says the memories of his original dog remain vivid and meaningful to him.

    “It’s a different situation, totally different,” he explained. “It was mixed with hot cake. This one is purebred, but it was a good dog.” While Lassie can never truly replace the dog he lost, Strachan notes that the young puppy has already begun to build her own special place in his daily life and heart.

    Correction Sergeant Vanrea Armaly-Smith, second-in-command of the department’s K-9 Unit, shared that the entire correctional services team was relieved to see Strachan moving forward and happy again after months of controversy stemming from the March shooting.

    “I was really excited because we finally can get behind this negative situation,” Armaly-Smith said. “The incident that happened prior in March brought us a little closer. He was happy, and we were happy that we could be able to make him smile again in reference to the loss of his dog.”

    Strachan had initially requested a German Shepherd puppy, but the department offered him a Dutch Shepherd puppy from its own K-9 breeding program instead, a breed Armaly-Smith described as notably energetic. All the puppy’s required vaccinations are complete, and no additional routine medical care is needed at this time, she confirmed.

    “We presented him with a cage and a vaccination card for the dog,” Armaly-Smith said. “Basically, the dog will not need any medical attention unless she’s sick. She’s fully vaccinated.” The sergeant also added that Lassie has already impressed handlers by mastering basic obedience commands at just four months old.

  • Memorial held for crash victims

    Memorial held for crash victims

    On a normally lively spot famed for Bahamian rhythms and joyful gatherings, sorrow descended as hundreds of community members came together to mourn the 10 lives lost in the Independence Day plane crash off North Andros. The Pond, the local venue that hosted the candlelight vigil, drew roughly 300 attendees Monday night, with crowds spilling outside into the yard as every space inside was filled by grieving relatives, friends and community leaders.

    Among the ten victims of the crash were five core members of the beloved Bahamian group Da Pond Band: band frontman Giovanni McKenzie, Rashad Storr, Mateo Winder, Toniquea Gilot and Tra’vis Johnson. The other lives cut short included well-known DJ Melvin Henfield, professionally known as DJ Fresh International, Andros natives Quintin Myers and Macaro Rolle, the plane’s pilot Franklyn Cambridge, and 16-year-old Nicholas Oliver Jr., the youngest victim of the tragedy.

    The vigil’s most heart-wrenching moment came during a symbolic final roll call led by prominent Bahamian DJ Rev. Modelled after a pre-departure flight check at San Andros Airport, DJ Rev called each victim’s name one by one, and a representative for the victim stepped forward to light a memorial candle. As echoes of raw grief filled the venue, family members struggled to contain their anguish: some became entirely inconsolable, while others stood rigid, tears streaming down their faces as they clutched their flickering candles. Midway through the roll call, DJ Rev was overcome with emotion and unable to finish calling the remaining names, pausing to compose himself as the community held space for his sorrow.

    The evening opened with musical tributes, worship and personal reflections from those closest to the victims. Bahamian artist Nishie L.S delivered an emotional medley of gospel hymns, but was so overcome by grief at the conclusion of her performance that she had to be escorted off stage by attendees who comforted her as she wept. Rev Annamae Hinsey, grandmother of victim Mateo Winder, shared a personal reflection on her grandson’s life, recalling his early love of music and the years they spent together in church, where she taught him to pray. She told the gathered crowd she had previously received a divine vision foreshadowing tragedy, and spent weeks fasting and praying to understand the vision’s meaning, before God revealed the words “accident, sudden death.” She said she begged for God’s protection for her grandchildren, especially Winder, but finds peace in the knowledge that her grandson gave his life to Christ in his final moments.

    Singer Meredith Williams paid tribute to Da Pond Band leader Giovanni McKenzie, crediting him with giving her her first public performance opportunity when other industry figures turned her away. She highlighted the band’s unmatched talent and their indelible mark on Bahamian cultural and musical life. Multiple members of the Bahamian Parliament attended the vigil, and Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper delivered remarks on behalf of Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, urging the grieving community to lean on their faith during this devastating time and extending official condolences to all those impacted by the crash.

    Speaking to reporters before the vigil, DJ Rev noted the added layer of loss for the venue’s community: The Pond’s owner hails from Andros, and DJ Rev personally knew all five members of Da Pond Band. He reflected that the band was traveling to Andros to celebrate and share traditional Bahamian rake and scrape music, meaning they died doing what they loved while representing their culture. “These people died happy going to Andros to represent Bahamian culture as it pertains to rake and scrape,” he said. “So the legacy will be even bigger.”

  • Fatal Autovía del Este crash involving truck claims at least one life

    Fatal Autovía del Este crash involving truck claims at least one life

    A devastating highway incident unfolded on Tuesday along Spain’s Autovía del Este, when a collision between multiple vehicles claimed at least one life and left several other people wounded, early preliminary law enforcement reports confirm.

    Among the vehicles involved in the crash was a large heavy-duty truck carrying a load of construction materials. As of the latest updates, traffic safety officials have not yet released a definitive count of how many vehicles were impacted by the collision, nor have they shared identifying details of the deceased or injured victims to allow time for next-of-kin notification.

    Immediately after the collision was reported, emergency response teams including fire crews, paramedics and law enforcement officers rushed to the crash site located along the major eastern highway. First responders prioritized extracting trapped passengers and providing urgent on-site medical care before transporting injured parties to adjacent area hospitals for further treatment. Concurrent with rescue efforts, highway maintenance teams worked methodically to clear wreckage from the roadway to restore normal traffic flow as quickly as possible.

    Regional law enforcement officials have formally opened a full investigation to determine the root cause of the crash, with preliminary work focusing on factors including road conditions at the time of the incident, driver error, and potential mechanical failures of any of the involved vehicles. No further updates on the investigation’s progress or the condition of injured victims have been released as of Wednesday morning.

  • Experts urge stronger building safety to reduce earthquake risk in the Dominican Republic

    Experts urge stronger building safety to reduce earthquake risk in the Dominican Republic

    In a collaborative gathering focused on addressing critical natural hazard risks, leading professionals across structural engineering, disaster risk management, and the insurance sector have laid out a clear call for upgraded building safety regulations and expanded earthquake readiness across the Dominican Republic. The call to action came during the public forum titled “Seismic Vulnerability and Structural Safety in the Dominican Republic,” hosted by the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (INTEC) with logistical and financial backing from global risk advisory firm MARSH and leading insurance provider MAPFRE.

    The multi-stakeholder event created a shared space for academic researchers, insurance industry leaders, and infrastructure planning specialists to collectively assess the Dominican Republic’s exposure to seismic activity and outline actionable steps to boost the ability of buildings and critical public infrastructure to withstand major earthquakes. Unlike many niche academic events, this forum brought together cross-sector expertise that bridges research, practice, and risk financing, ensuring that proposed solutions address every stage of disaster preparedness from planning to recovery.

    Two leading experts from INTEC, researcher Luis Abbott and geotechnical specialist Dr. Claudia Germoso, used their presentations to underline the urgent need for three core interventions: widespread mandatory assessments of existing structures to map current vulnerability, the mandatory adoption of earthquake-resistant design principles for all new construction, and consistent enforcement of current building code requirements to cut down on preventable damage and protect civilian lives when seismic events occur. They noted that many existing structures across the country were built without modern seismic safety considerations, leaving large populations exposed to unnecessary risk.

    By the close of the forum, all participating stakeholders reached a unified consensus that proactive prevention measures, continuous investment in scientific research, expanded technical training for construction professionals, and investment in purpose-built resilient infrastructure are non-negotiable components of any strategy to improve the country’s ability to respond to and recover from future earthquakes. The event itself is part of a years-long initiative from INTEC to advance evidence-based disaster risk reduction and sustainable development across the Caribbean nation, through a combination of academic research, public education, and cross-institutional partnerships between academia, private industry, and public sector bodies.

  • Saudi Arabian national killed in Marigot

    Saudi Arabian national killed in Marigot

    A deadly shooting has shaken the Chinatown district of Marigot, prompting an ongoing active investigation from local law enforcement following the Monday evening incident.

    Emergency dispatch received reports of gunfire in the area at approximately 9:10 p.m., and officers from the Marigot Police Department were immediately deployed to the scene to secure the site and launch initial inquiries.

    Upon arriving at the location, responding officers discovered an unresponsive adult male inside a parked vehicle. First responders quickly assessed the man’s condition and identified a penetrating gunshot wound to his chest. A physician who arrived at the scene shortly after formally pronounced the victim dead.

    Local authorities have since released the identity of the deceased: 33-year-old Abdallah Ragab Abozorik, a citizen of Saudi Arabia. No additional details about potential motives, suspects, or prior connections to the victim have been released to the public as the investigation remains in its early active phase.

    The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force is now issuing a public appeal for community assistance to move the case forward. Any individual who holds information—even seemingly minor details—that could support investigators in solving the shooting is urged to contact the service’s Major Crimes Unit directly at 456-3754. For community members who prefer to share information without revealing their identity, multiple anonymous channels are also available: tips can be called in to the dedicated Crime Hotline at 555, or submitted digitally via the official Crime Hotline mobile application.

  • Three cows perish “excellent” forecast for majority of others

    Three cows perish “excellent” forecast for majority of others

    On Tuesday, July 14, 2026, a senior official from Guyana’s Ministry of Agriculture pushed back on opposition misinformation surrounding the transport of 1,000 pregnant Brazilian heifers imported to boost the South American nation’s domestic beef and milk production, confirming only three animals died en route to the Ebini research station in East Bank Berbice.

    Dwight Walrond, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), told local outlet Demerara Waves Online News that the latest on-the-ground report from his team recorded just three mortalities, contradicting a claim from main opposition party We Invest in Nation (WIN) that as many as 15 heifers had died. Walrond added that while four other animals were experiencing significant cramping, and one remained severely distressed as of Tuesday morning, most of the remaining imported cattle are in stable condition. The mortality count, he emphasized, falls well below the 5% acceptable benchmark for long-distance cattle transport – a journey that covered more than 1,000 kilometers from Brazil’s Roraima State to the Ebini facility.

    Walrond expressed cautious optimism that the four animals experiencing cramps will recover, noting that a humane decision will be made to euthanize the severely distressed heifer if its condition does not improve. Per the procurement agreement, any animals lost during the journey will be replaced at no additional cost to Guyana by the Brazilian supplier, with each heifer originally valued at GY$245,000. As for the surviving herd, Walrond reported that most have already acclimated to their new location: “Those animals are already running around in the pastures. They are feeding and they’re resting. They were drinking water last Monday night.”

    The GLDA CEO openly acknowledged one planning misstep that delayed the journey: the team failed to account for Berbice River tidal flows, which slowed the crossing of the herd even with three pontoons available. “I would say that we dropped the ball with respect to the tide. That was something that no consideration was given to,” Walrond admitted.

    The imported heifers are part of a long-term government initiative to grow Guyana’s national cattle herd and expand livestock output. Officials project each mature heifer will produce one calf per year, with low-performing animals culled and high-yielding individuals retained to grow the national herd. The tropical Brazilian breed was specifically selected for its proven resilience to Guyana’s wet and dry seasonal cycles, as well as its natural resistance to ticks and tick-borne diseases that commonly impact local cattle.

    Walrond also addressed public concern over social media claims that some of the 14- to 26-week-old heifers appeared underweight. He explained that reduced forage rations during transport were an intentional, precautionary veterinary measure, not a sign of neglect or poor care. As long-distance transport experts and an experienced veterinarian himself, Walrond noted that overfeeding ruminant animals during multi-day journeys leads to life-threatening complications including bowel impaction, rumen dysfunction, excess bloating, and severe diarrhea. Restricted forage intake keeps animals hydrated and nutrient-stable without putting their digestive systems at risk. “When you have animals being transported on these long distances for so long, this is not something that is outside of the norm but within the next few days when you see those animals, you won’t even recognise them,” he said.

    Finally, Walrond refuted opposition speculation that the herd was originally meant for a private farm along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway, and only diverted to Ebini after opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed publicly posted about the cattle’s arrival from Brazil. He confirmed that the official inter-regional transport permit clearly routed the herd through Lethem, Linden, and the bauxite mines directly to Ebini, with no plan to stop or rehome the cattle along the highway. “There was no need for them to come to Linden whatsoever,” he added.

  • Ministry of Works Employees Block Road Over Outstanding Pay

    Ministry of Works Employees Block Road Over Outstanding Pay

    On Tuesday, public sector employees at the Ministry of Works in Antigua and Barbuda initiated organized industrial action to escalate their demands for long-overdue wage payments. What began as a collective demonstration escalated into a full blockage of the main roadway outside the ministry’s headquarters, disrupting daily movement across the area.

    The industrial action was officially confirmed by George Wehner, a representative familiar with the workers’ grievances, who clarified that the protest was not an unplanned disruption but a deliberate push to secure the withheld wages that workers have been waiting for. To enforce their road blockage, protesters moved heavy-duty trucks owned by the Ministry of Works across the full width of the roadway, bringing all vehicle traffic to a complete halt. This action also cut off routine public access to the ministry’s main compound, as hundreds of aggrieved employees gathered along the perimeter of the facility to voice their frustration.

    The demonstration created cascading traffic disruptions for the entire surrounding neighborhood. Motorists who had planned to travel through the corridor faced extended delays, with many forced to either wait out the standoff or divert onto smaller, less direct alternate routes to reach their destinations. As of this report’s publication, senior leadership at the Ministry of Works and officials from Antigua and Barbuda’s national government have not released any formal public statement addressing the industrial action. There is also no public information confirming when the outstanding wage payments will be disbursed to affected workers, and it remains unclear whether any negotiation talks have been scheduled or are currently underway between worker representatives and government officials to reach a resolution to the ongoing dispute.

  • APUA Announces Adjusted Water Schedule for Some Communities

    APUA Announces Adjusted Water Schedule for Some Communities

    Officials from the local Water Business Unit have announced an emergency adjustment to regional water distribution networks, triggered by a significant drop in surface water reserves at Bendals Valley. The declining volume has pushed water levels below the minimum threshold required for operational extraction from the valley’s natural water sources, forcing an immediate shift in supply routes for the area.

    Prior to this change, 11 distinct communities spanning across the region relied exclusively on the Bendals Water Treatment Plant for their daily water access. These affected residential areas include Bendals Village, Bendals Road, Bathlodge, Cashew Hill, Whenner Road, Brownes Avenue, Martins Village, DeSouza Road, Tindale Road, the Eastern Section of Golden Grove, and Golden Grove Extension. Moving forward, all these communities will draw their water from two alternative sources: the Ffryes Reverse Osmosis (RO) Plant and the limited number of active wells that remain operational within the Bendals Valley itself.

    The Ffryes RO Plant, a key desalination facility that already provides water to large swathes of the southwestern part of the country, currently serves 10 additional communities directly. These include Big Creek, Ebenezer, Jennings, Bolans, Crab Hill, Johnsons Point, Urlings, Cades Bay and Old Road. With the addition of 11 more communities to its customer base, the expanded load has placed increased pressure on the facility’s distribution infrastructure.

    As a result of this expanded service area, the Water Business Unit has warned customers that service disruptions and changes are to be expected across both the newly added and existing service zones connected to the Ffryes RO Plant. Common issues that residents may encounter include reduced water pressure from household taps, shorter windows of active water service on scheduled days, and longer gaps between planned distribution rotations.

    To manage the strained supply, the regional water authority has implemented a rotating service schedule that allocates available water resources across all affected communities in sequence. Officials have issued a public appeal to all residential customers: when water service is active at their property, households should store sufficient water for upcoming off periods in a responsible manner, and all residents are urged to maintain consistent water conservation habits in their daily use to stretch the limited available supply.

    In closing, the Water Business Unit expressed gratitude for the public’s cooperation and patience as the organization works to navigate the current water scarcity challenge and manage the region’s limited available water resources in the most equitable way possible.

  • Final farewell to ‘visionary’ fisheries chief Cox

    Final farewell to ‘visionary’ fisheries chief Cox

    On Monday, Barbados gathered to lay to rest one of its most promising public servants, Chief Fisheries Officer Dr Shelly-Ann Cox, who died suddenly at 38 while carrying out work she loved. Family, friends, representatives from uniformed services, and senior government officials joined members of the island’s fishing community to honor the visionary leader whose transformative legacy is expected to shape Barbados’ fisheries sector for generations to come.

    Dr Cox collapsed and died on June 13 while presenting awards at a community fishing event held in Weston, St James. Appointed to the top fisheries role in January 2023, she made history as the youngest person ever to hold the position, and only the second woman to serve as a chief fisheries officer across the entire Caribbean Community bloc. Her groundbreaking appointment marked a milestone for young leaders and women in marine management across the region.

    Speaking at the official funeral service hosted at Wildey Gymnasium, Prime Minister Mia Mottley told gathered mourners that Dr Cox died while actively serving the fishing community she had dedicated her entire professional career to. “She did not observe from a distance. She was serving. She was giving. Right there,” Mottley emphasized, noting that while Dr Cox’s life was cut tragically short, her impact on the nation would never be forgotten.

    “We will always wish that she had more time. But let us also remember that a life cut short is not a life of no consequence. Her life was short, but her contribution was not small. It was great. Her example will not only endure. It will inspire,” the prime minister said. She reassured Dr Cox’s family that the entire nation had benefited immeasurably from their loved one’s service and commitment to public good.

    Mottley first encountered Dr Cox through the government’s Future Barbados leadership development program, where the young professional immediately stood out for her clear sense of purpose and innate leadership ability. “We wanted to create something that would give our young people opportunity to express themselves, to learn, to share and to drag us into the future with them. Shelly was part of that first cohort. Her purpose that very first day at Ilaro Court became absolutely clear to me,” the prime minister recalled. When the role of chief fisheries officer opened, Mottley said she had no doubt Dr Cox was the right candidate to lead the sector, and the young leader never disappointed.

    “Shelly did not disappoint. She excelled. She had the mind of a scholar, the instincts of a practitioner, but above all else, the heart of someone who cared,” Mottley said. She praised Dr Cox’s rare ability to bridge academic expertise and on-the-ground understanding of the challenges facing ordinary fisherfolk, a skill that set her apart as a leader. “The scholarship never separated her from people. She understood the policy, but she understood the reality of the work in the market,” the prime minister added.

    This unique combination of vision and attention to detail was on full display in Dr Cox’s work shaping the national Barbados Fisheries Policy and steering the passage and implementation of the landmark Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Act. “It was probably her management of the complex Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Act of 2025 that we saw her amazing skills and her capacity to bring vision into life, dotting every ‘i’ and crossing every ‘t’. Very often you do not find that capacity for vision married with that capacity for detail,” Mottley noted.

    The prime minister also highlighted Dr Cox’s steady leadership in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, which destroyed the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex in July 2024. Mottley recalled that Dr Cox made repeated visits to the damaged site, focusing entirely on restoring the critical industry that supports hundreds of Barbadian households. “Shelley’s unflappable stance ensured that even when fishermen, those depending on the industry, panicked, hers was a steady voice. That’s remarkable for someone so young, but with a clear, clear mission,” she said. “We know what we have lost,” Mottley added, acknowledging the enormous gap left by Dr Cox’s passing.

    Nikola Simpson-Kellman, a close friend and colleague of Dr Cox, echoed that reflection in an earlier tribute, noting that Hurricane Beryl was one of the only times she ever saw Dr Cox overcome by emotion. “Almost always had a smile on her face; even when she was facing challenges, she was inspired and gifted and guided. The only time that I ever saw Shelley crying was just after Hurricane Beryl, when the complex was a scene of utter devastation and heartbreak,” Simpson-Kellman said.

    Addressing Dr Cox’s young son, Shay Ocean Cox, Mottley said no words could ease the loss of his mother, but he must always carry with him the knowledge of how deeply she was respected and loved by the entire nation. “You must know that your mother served this country greatly. You must know her work has been spoken of with pride,” she said. The prime minister issued a call to members of the Fisheries Division and the broader fishing community to carry forward the work Dr Cox started, noting that the greatest tribute to her legacy would be to bring her transformative vision to completion.

    Damien Prescod, another friend and colleague, described Dr Cox as an exceptional public servant whose deep passion for the ocean drove her mission to reform and revitalize Barbados’ fisheries sector. “Within the span of three years, Shelly and her A-Team revitalised the local fisheries sector. One only had to enter the halls of the Fisheries Division since she assumed the role of Chief Fisheries Officer to feel the renewed sense of purpose and contagious energy that emanated from personnel within the various departments,” Prescod said.

    He added that Dr Cox prioritized investing in the people around her, believing every worker deserved the chance to grow professionally. “She met them where they were at and provided them with the tools to evolve and elevate professionally. No one was left behind,” Prescod said, recalling Dr Cox’s relentless work ethic, which often saw her sending work messages to colleagues before dawn. When he once asked where she found the energy for such a demanding schedule, her answer was always the same: “If we don’t do it, who will?”

    Prescod credited Dr Cox with advancing science-based fisheries management across the island, leading innovative work on the productive use of sargassum seaweed, expanding opportunities for women and young people in the fisheries sector, and steering the industry’s recovery after Hurricane Beryl. While her passing has left a void that can never be filled, he said the community must ensure her vision endures. “There will never be another you, and this space will never be the same. However, the mission continues. We will honour your legacy and do our best so that the shared vision of world-class transformation continues, rooted in deep collaboration,” Prescod said.

    Simpson-Kellman echoed that call, urging colleagues to carry forward Dr Cox’s work while honoring the friend she was to so many across the island. “We are forever grateful and privileged to have been in your physical presence. As you would often say to me on our birthdays, friends like you are the greatest gift. Shelly, you were and are the greatest gift to so many,” she said.