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When the river behind her home surged and the wind ripped the roof off her kitchen, Tasheva Hinds knew it was time to flee. The mother of four was at home in River Lane with her family of seven, including a five-month-old baby, when Hurricane Melissa ravaged St Ann. ‘The river rose rapidly, and then the bathroom and kitchen roof were torn away,’ Hinds recounted to Barbados TODAY. ‘The children’s room was blown off, and water poured in from every direction.’ The family braved torrential rain and fierce winds to seek refuge at a nearby police station, where an officer helped them reach a shelter. ‘It was terrifying,’ Hinds admitted. ‘Trees were falling, and the river was rising uncontrollably.’ Days later, Hinds, still clutching her baby, surveyed the ruins of her home. ‘I’m grateful it wasn’t worse,’ she said, determined to rebuild. Nearby, Tina Wilson faced a similar ordeal. She was preparing dinner when the storm hit. ‘I saw the roof lift off and told my daughter to run with the baby,’ Wilson recalled. ‘I stayed to save what I could, but the house was swept away.’ Wilson and her family sought shelter in a friend’s unfinished concrete house, narrowly escaping as a massive tree crushed their home. ‘We lost almost everything,’ she said, ‘but we’re alive, and that’s what matters.’ Both families, like many in River Lane, are now salvaging what remains, clearing debris, and burning ruined furniture. ‘If we can get materials to patch up a shelter for the children, we’ll be content,’ Wilson said, embodying resilience in the face of disaster.

The Ministry of Educational Transformation in Barbados has unveiled a groundbreaking literacy initiative, Project SOAR (Strengthen Our Ability to Read), aimed at transforming the nation’s future by enhancing reading skills among both children and adults. Minister Chad Blackman, speaking at the launch of Literacy Week at St Giles Primary School, emphasized that literacy must become the country’s ‘superpower’ in the absence of traditional resources like military strength or vast natural reserves. ‘Our strength lies in our ability to lead in thought and influence global decisions,’ he declared. The campaign, set to roll out aggressively in the coming weeks, will focus on ensuring every child can read by age seven while also addressing adult literacy challenges. Blackman highlighted the collaborative nature of the initiative, involving government, private sector partners, and NGOs. He urged parents to actively support the program, stressing that literacy is essential for children to thrive in a globalized world. The minister also linked poor literacy to societal issues, such as youth frustration, and called for a nationwide effort to achieve full literacy. Project SOAR will utilize community centers, schools, and online platforms to make literacy accessible to all, marking a transformative step in Barbados’ development.

A dispute over unfair dismissal and union representation has sparked a walkout at Portvale Sugar Factory in Barbados. Over a dozen workers staged a protest on Monday, standing in solidarity with a colleague who was dismissed on Friday following a verbal altercation with a junior manager. The incident reportedly began when the employee parked his vehicle inside the factory compound, a violation of company rules, to protect it from grass clippings during maintenance. When instructed to move his car, the situation escalated into a heated argument, leading to his termination. Caswell Franklyn, General Secretary of the Unity Workers Union, condemned the dismissal as “unfair, unreasonable, and stupid,” alleging that the worker was not given a fair hearing. Franklyn claimed that management had already prepared the dismissal letter and termination certificate before the hearing, violating legal procedures. He also criticized the factory for refusing to recognize the Unity Workers Union as the legitimate representative of the workers, instead favoring the Barbados Workers’ Union, which reportedly has no members at the factory. Workers expressed additional grievances, including unpaid overtime during the harvest season, with some working up to 56 hours without compensation. Franklyn suggested that the dismissal may be retaliatory due to the worker’s union affiliation. The workers have vowed to continue their protest one random day a week until the matter is resolved. Management was unavailable for comment, and other employees were instructed not to speak to the media. Before leaving the compound, all workers removed their names from the attendance logs, signaling their collective dissent.

The Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) has called for immediate written protocols regarding the storage and disposal of outdated materials in schools following the discovery of rat bite marks on records at Deacons Primary School. This incident prompted a comprehensive inspection and cleanup effort last week. BUT Vice President Julian Pierre, responsible for occupational safety and health, joined officials from the Ministry of Educational Transformation’s Education Technical Management Unit (ETMU), the Ministry of Health, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) representatives, and school staff to assess the situation on Monday. Pierre emphasized the urgency of addressing rodent infestations and ensuring a safe environment for students and staff. He highlighted the need for clear guidelines on record retention and disposal, stating that principals should not bear the sole responsibility for such decisions. The union also advocated for standardized procedures to handle rodent sightings, noting that janitors have previously been instructed to clean up droppings before health officials arrive, potentially compromising safety. Following the inspection, Pierre acknowledged the significant cleanup and maintenance work completed over the weekend, including sealing entry points, replacing windows and doors, and removing debris. The Ministry’s communications consultant, Gaynelle Marshall, confirmed that the school was made safe for reopening, with ongoing upgrades planned. Deacons Primary Principal Sylvia Atherley expressed satisfaction with the repairs, emphasizing the school’s commitment to health and safety. Area MP Neil Rowe also praised the efforts, noting improvements in bathrooms, windows, and plumbing. While further work is needed, all parties agreed that immediate concerns have been addressed, and classes have resumed. BUT pledged to continue monitoring the situation to ensure long-term safety.