Carib Scope

标签： Barbados

巴巴多斯

  • Bajan players shine during CARIFTA Chess Championships

    Bajan players shine during CARIFTA Chess Championships

    The CARIFTA Chess Championships, a landmark hybrid chess tournament bringing together nearly 500 young and senior competitors from 114 nations, concluded on July 12 with Barbados delivering a standout performance across age-group and open divisions, claiming multiple podium positions ahead of the upcoming Central American and Caribbean Games.

    Leading Barbados’ medal haul was FIDE Master Hannah Wilson, who turned in a dominant two-part performance across the youth and open adult sections. Competing in the Under-18 girls’ draw, Wilson outperformed a competitive field of 35 players, racking up seven points across nine matches to claim the division’s gold medal. She then returned to compete in the women’s open section, where she finished tied on seven points with fellow Barbadian Candidate Master Chanon Reifer-Belle. Only a narrow tie-break separated the two compatriots, with Wilson claiming second place and Reifer-Belle taking third in the final standings.

    In other youth divisions, Charis Stuart turned in an impressive runner-up finish in the Under-14 Open. Facing 65 other competitors across nine rounds of play, Stuart posted seven and a half points to secure his spot on the podium. In the Under-12 Open, Jeremiah Farley joined a five-way tie for first place, but was bumped to second overall after tie-breaking calculations were applied. Young competitor Raef Clarke also claimed a podium position in the Under-8 Open, scoring six points to finish third. Nia-Snow Clarke rounded out Barbados’ youth results, taking fifth place in the Under-10 girls’ division with a total of five points.

    In the senior open division, Emar Edwards represented Barbados as the country’s sole entry, finishing 20th overall out of 101 competing players in the large open draw.

    This year’s CARIFTA Chess Championships ran in a hybrid format, with all competitors competing online from monitored national host sites overseen by official tournament arbiters, allowing broad global participation despite logistical challenges. Tournament organizers have called the 2024 event a complete success, citing high participation levels and smooth competition management.

    Looking ahead, Wilson and Reifer-Belle are already scheduled to compete next, representing Barbados at the Central American and Caribbean Games set to run from July 25 to 28 in the Dominican Republic, where they will look to carry their strong CARIFTA form into the next regional competition.

  • Community Vibes summer camp immerses children in culture and creativity

    Community Vibes summer camp immerses children in culture and creativity

    Against the backdrop of warm Barbadian summer, Community Vibes Summer Camp is filling the halls of Westbury Primary School with the sounds of drumming, the rustle of crochet yarn, and the laughter of young learners, as participants dive into a six-week immersive cultural experience running from July 13 to August 21. More than just a seasonal recreational program, the camp is designed to engage local youth with authentic Barbadian heritage while equipping them with practical, income-generating skills – culminating in public performances at the island’s annual Emancipation Day celebrations.

    Curated by veteran youth program leader Glenn Harvey, who has dedicated more than 30 years to summer camp programming and five years leading Community Vibes specifically, the camp offers a diverse lineup of activities tailored to connect young people to their cultural roots. Beyond hands-on workshops in traditional crafts and performance – including crochet, African drumming, folk dance, and handcrafted jewelry making – the camp has organized four educational exploratory tours, inter-camp sporting events, and a cross-community mini carnival open to all cultural youth camps across the parish of St. Michael.

    Harvey, who founded the program after years of youth work, says the camp has built a formidable legacy in competitive cultural crafts over its history, particularly in crochet. “Two years ago, we took home every top honor at the national crochet competition, including the Prime Minister’s Award. Last year, we only missed out on one trophy, claiming all the rest. This year, we’re aiming to sweep the board again,” he shared in an interview Wednesday.

    The planned educational outings, dubbed “tour and picnic” by organizers, take campers to sites of historical and educational importance across the island, ending with group leisure time at popular local picnic spots to build camaraderie among participants. For the upcoming mini carnival, Harvey has partnered with the senior youth commissioner for St. Michael to invite youth from other local cultural camps to join the community event, turning it into a collaborative celebration of Barbadian youth culture. When Emancipation Day arrives, camp participants will take center stage, showcasing the dancing, drumming, and craft skills they’ve honed all summer in public street performances that mark the island’s celebration of freedom.

    A majority of the camp’s attendees hail from nearby inner-city communities, including New Orleans, Baxter’s Road, Westbury Road, and Passage Road, providing structured, positive activity for young people during summer break. Harvey emphasized the value of the program for these youth, noting, “It’s wonderful to see kids keep their minds occupied with meaningful, varied activities, and the government has done excellent work to keep these community camp programs running.” He also praised newly appointed Youth and Culture Minister Senator Shane Archer for recent policy improvements that increased capital funding and adjusted salaries for camp directors and support staff, changes that have strengthened the program’s ability to serve youth.

    For many participants, the highlight of the camp’s curriculum is the crochet workshop led by veteran instructor Sybil Fiedler, who frames the craft as both a cultural art form and an entrepreneurial pathway for young people. “Crochet is a fiber art where you turn simple string into something tangible and beautiful,” Fiedler explained to a group of new learners earlier this week, as captured in a photo by Lauryn Escamilla. “It’s an art you have to love to master.”

    Walking beginners through the foundational steps of the craft, Fiedler emphasized that every complex project starts with a single chain stitch, encouraging new learners not to grow discouraged by early missteps. “Don’t let this craft master you – you master it,” she told participants. Beyond being a relaxing hobby, Fiedler notes that crochet can open up unexpected income streams for young people, especially teens. “If a friend sees a teen wearing a crocheted piece they made, they’ll often ask for a custom piece, and that’s quick extra cash they can earn on their own,” she explained. By the end of the six-week session on August 21, participants will have crafted granny square bags and a range of other handmade projects that will be displayed at the camp’s final end-of-session exhibition.

  • Slow over-rate costs Windies after thrilling ODI win

    Slow over-rate costs Windies after thrilling ODI win

    A stunning, last-gasp two-wicket win for the West Indies over New Zealand in the decisive fifth One Day International has been overshadowed by an official penalty: the side has received a five percent match fee deduction for falling foul of international cricket’s over-rate regulations. The issue of slow over rates has dogged the West Indies men’s team in recent months, marking a persistent problem that has now resulted in formal disciplinary action despite the side’s positive result on the field.

    Played as a day-night fixture at Bridgetown’s iconic Kensington Oval on Tuesday, the final match of the five-game series delivered a dramatic climax, with the West Indies pulling off a late comeback to secure the win. However, the victory was not enough to overturn the series deficit, with New Zealand holding on to claim an overall 3-2 series win after taking four of the first five matches.

    Fresh off the ODI clash, the West Indies side is now making a swift transition to red-ball cricket, shifting all preparation to their upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan. The first Test of the series is scheduled to get underway this Saturday at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, with the regional side looking to put the over-rate controversy behind them and focus on claiming a series win in the longer format.

    The penalty was handed down by Javagal Srinath, a member of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, the body responsible for overseeing on-field disciplinary matters in international cricket. Match officials ruled after the game that Shai Hope’s side finished the match one full over short of the required minimum over rate after accounting for standard time allowances built into match regulations.

    Under Article 2.22 of the International Cricket Council’s Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which outlines penalties for minimum over-rate violations, players face a five percent fine to their match fee for every over their side falls short of the required target in the allotted playing time. Team captain Shai Hope entered an immediate guilty plea to the offence and agreed to accept the proposed sanction, eliminating the need for a formal disciplinary hearing following the conclusion of the match.

  • Postal Service set for major five-year overhaul

    Postal Service set for major five-year overhaul

    After 175 years of operation under its modern framework, the Barbados Postal Service is set to undergo one of the most sweeping structural transformations in its institutional history. Government officials have laid out an ambitious five-year blueprint to reimagine the century-old agency, expanding its mandate far beyond traditional letter and parcel delivery to become a core driver of national connectivity.

    Home Affairs and Information Minister Gregory Nicholls first announced the transformative initiative this Wednesday, during the opening ceremony of a new customer service training program developed exclusively for postal employees in partnership with the local National Transformation Initiative (NTI). While Nicholls did not release specific granular details of the planned reforms during his public remarks, he framed the ongoing staff training as a critical first step to prepare the postal workforce for the coming changes.

    “The government has chosen to lead, and that is why we are going to pursue a bold vision for the Barbados Postal Service, one that I have described from mail delivery to national connectivity,” Nicholls stated during the event. “I have submitted to the postmaster general a blueprint of how that transformation programme will look over the next five years.”

    In a push to ensure the final reform plan reflects input from across the organization, Nicholls confirmed that all levels of staff will have an opportunity to contribute feedback before the blueprint is finalized. “I’ve asked her [the postmaster general] and management to comment on it, to critique it. Even let your staff have a say in how that is to be constructed so that we can build a transformation model that works for all of us. I hope that we can get into discussing it soon. From mail delivery to national connectivity, those are six words, and they capture a profound shift in how we think about the postal service.”

    Under the new vision, the Barbados Postal Service will no longer operate solely as a mail delivery agency. Nicholls outlined that the reimagined service will act as a connective hub linking local communities to critical government services, connecting individual people to new economic opportunities, helping small and medium entrepreneurs access regional and global markets, and integrating isolated communities into the national economy. This shift will be achieved through expanded reliable logistics networks, targeted digital innovation, and continued commitment to trusted public service, he explained, noting that “the Barbados Postal Service must become far more than a postal operator.”

    Realizing this ambitious vision will require substantial cross-cutting investment, Nicholls emphasized. Upgrades will cover core infrastructure, cutting-edge digital technology, strengthened end-to-end logistics systems, modernized physical facilities, and the development of new public-private and cross-sector partnerships. However, he stressed that investment in the postal workforce is the most critical component of the entire transformation. “But above all else, it requires people because no matter how sophisticated our technology becomes, no matter how modern our abilities become, no matter how many services we introduce, none of these investments will achieve their full value unless the people who represent this organisation every day are equipped, motivated, and inspired to deliver excellence.”

    Nicholls encouraged postal employees to embrace the upcoming changes, noting that the overhaul will bring new technologies, expanded professional responsibilities, and unique career growth opportunities for staff. He urged workers to position themselves as active partners in the transformation process, rather than passive observers of institutional change.

    NTI Director Dr. Allyson Leacock expanded on the purpose of the ongoing staff training program, officially named “The Art and Heart of Service”. She explained that the curriculum goes far beyond basic customer service training, aiming to shift organizational culture from transactional service delivery to heartfelt, community-focused public service.

    “We are going to add to the arsenal of skills that we know you already have because, as the Barbados Postal Service, you are our very best friends…you are custodians of all that matters for us. Mail is more than an item; it is a promise that you execute with great skill and distinction,” Dr. Leacock told attendees.

    She noted that participating postal workers are joining a growing global movement of postal sector reform that centers new values for the evolving digital ecosystem, emphasizing that worker mindset is just as critical to successful transformation as technical skill development. “In demonstrating the values of a new generation, a new digital ecosystem that requires all of us to shift how we work, and that is what this training really will capture: the importance of the mindset alongside the skill set.”

    The training curriculum covers a broad range of competencies tailored to the transformed service, including digital literacy, inclusive service through disability etiquette, professional deportment, personal branding and communication skills, and core training in organizational ethics and integrity. Dr. Leacock added that the program also aims to help staff understand how organizational culture and systemic transformation work together to achieve long-term success.

    Barbados’ postal tradition stretches back to 1663, when the British Post Office established a packet agency on the island. However, the modern formal postal system was not established until August 1, 1851, when the country passed its first Post Office Act to structure the service. The agency issued its first official stamps and launched formal inland mail delivery just eight months later, in April 1852.

  • Sun rises on new Barbados-Antigua route as carrier makes maiden flight

    Sun rises on new Barbados-Antigua route as carrier makes maiden flight

    On Wednesday, Caribbean regional carrier Sunrise Airways marked a major milestone in its regional expansion with the official launch of a new twice-weekly direct air service connecting Antigua and Barbuda and Barbados, a development welcomed by tourism and aviation leaders across the region as a critical step forward for Caribbean integration and economic cooperation.

    The inaugural flight touched down at Barbados’ Grantley Adams International Airport just after midday, capping off years of steady growth for the airline. Founded in 2010 by former Haitian pilot Philippe Bayard, who also serves as company president, Sunrise Airways launched commercial operations in 2012 and has built its footprint across the Caribbean gradually, offering both scheduled passenger services and custom charter flights. Headquartered in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, the carrier has prioritized expanding its Eastern Caribbean network in recent years, filling gaps in regional connectivity that have long limited travel and trade between island nations.

    During a celebratory press briefing following the inaugural flight’s arrival, Sunrise Airways CEO Gary Stone framed the new route as a core part of the carrier’s long-term “One Caribbean” strategic vision. This vision centers on knitting Caribbean island communities closer together while unlocking new opportunities for tourism, cross-border commerce, business exchanges, and family travel across the region.

    “We are incredibly proud to launch operations at Grantley Adams International Airport, located in one of the Caribbean’s most iconic and well-regarded travel destinations,” Stone stated. “This direct link from Antigua and Barbados will elevate regional connectivity, give travelers far more flexible options for cross-island trips, and allow passengers to experience the warm hospitality and industry-leading service that sets Sunrise Airways apart.”

    Stone emphasized that the route launch carries far more significance than simply adding a new stop to the airline’s route map. “Today, we are not just inaugurating a new air route,” he explained. “We are strengthening commercial, tourism, and cultural ties, while driving forward inclusive economic growth and deeper integration across the entire Caribbean community.” As of 2024, Sunrise Airways has served millions of passengers across 20 destinations spanning the Caribbean, North America, and Central America, a milestone that Stone says reflects the company’s unwavering commitment to serving the region’s travel needs.

    Barbados’ Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill echoed that optimism, noting that the new connection will deliver a substantial boost to the Caribbean’s intra-regional tourism sector. “The Caribbean remains Barbados’ third largest source market for visitors,” Gooding-Edghill shared. “Last year alone, we welcomed more than 102,000 travelers from across the Caribbean region, and with increased intra-regional air capacity, we are confident that visitor numbers will continue on an upward trajectory.”

    Like Stone, Gooding-Edghill framed the launch as more than just an expansion of air service. “Today’s launch is more than the arrival of a new flight,” he said. “It is a vital step forward in deepening the bonds of our Caribbean family and strengthening intra-regional travel connectivity.” The minister emphasized that consistent, reliable airlift is the backbone of the Caribbean’s tourism industry, supporting small and large businesses, attracting foreign direct investment, and keeping extended Caribbean families connected across island borders.

    Gooding-Edghill added that the route will create mutual benefits for both Antigua and Barbuda and Barbados, giving travelers a new direct option that eliminates the need for inconvenient connecting flights between the two destinations. Beyond the two core markets, the minister highlighted the ripple effects of Sunrise Airways’ broader regional network: the new link will give Barbados-based travelers improved access to 10 other Caribbean destinations, including Haiti, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Martin, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. It also opens new pathways for international travel, thanks to Sunrise Airways’ existing routes to major U.S. cities including Boston, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Newark, which could strengthen Barbados’ overall global connectivity in the long term.

    “As we celebrate today’s milestone, Barbados continues to reaffirm its commitment to continuously review our options as we seek to enhance and drive more arrivals to the destination,” Gooding-Edghill added.

    To serve its expanding network, Sunrise Airways operates a mixed fleet of owned and leased turboprop and jet aircraft, tailored to meet the unique needs of Caribbean travel: five Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia turboprops, three British Aerospace Jetstream 32s, one Cessna Caravan 208, and two Airbus A320-200 jets. This fleet mix allows the carrier to efficiently handle both short-haul inter-island flights and higher-capacity long-distance routes to the United States.

  • Sir Garfield Sobers (1936-2026) Friends of Democracy pays tribute

    Sir Garfield Sobers (1936-2026) Friends of Democracy pays tribute

    The global cricketing community and the Caribbean island nation of Barbados are in collective mourning this week, after the passing of one of cricket’s most iconic figures, The Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers. The National Hero of Barbados died last Friday, just a handful of days before he was set to celebrate his 90th birthday, prompting an outpouring of remembrances and accolades from across the world.

    In an official statement released to the public, Friends of Democracy (FOD) general secretary Steve Blackett captured the deep sense of loss that has spread across Barbados and the wider Caribbean region. Blackett, who previously served as social care minister during the 2013 to 2018 Democratic Labour Party administration, emphasized that Sir Garfield’s influence stretched far beyond the boundary ropes of the cricket pitch.

    “Barbados, the Caribbean, and the cricketing world mourn the passing of one of the greatest sportsmen ever to grace the game,” Blackett said. “Sir Garfield Sobers was far more than a legendary cricketer. He was an ambassador for Barbados, a symbol of excellence, humility, determination, and national pride. His achievements placed our small island on the world stage and inspired millions across generations.”

    Blackett walked through the unmatched athletic milestones that cemented Sir Garfield’s status as a global sporting legend early in his career. At just 21 years old, the Barbadian all-rounder produced what remains widely regarded as one of the greatest batting innings in the history of international cricket: an unbeaten 365 runs against Pakistan, a world record for the highest individual test score that stood unbroken for 36 years. Later in his career, he made history again when he became the first player in first-class cricket to hit six consecutive sixes in a single over – a feat that still ranks among the most iconic moments in the sport’s long history.

    Far from being a one-sport athlete, Blackett noted, Sir Garfield’s talents extended far beyond cricket. He was an accomplished golfer who represented Barbados in international competition, and he also enjoyed a celebrated tenure playing for Nottinghamshire in England’s competitive County Championship.

    “His excellence was not confined to cricket alone,” Blackett said. “Today, we celebrate a life that changed the game forever and honour a man whose legacy will never fade.”

    Sir Garfield’s contributions to national and global sport have been recognized with some of the highest honours possible. In 1998, he was named a National Hero of Barbados, the country’s highest civic distinction. Today, his legacy lives on through the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, the highest individual honor awarded by the International Cricket Council, which is presented annually to the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year.

    Closing his statement, Blackett extended FOD’s deepest sympathies to all those impacted by Sir Garfield’s passing. “The Friends of Democracy extend our deepest condolences to Sir Garry’s family, friends, former teammates, and to all Barbadians during this time of national mourning,” he said. “May The Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers rest in eternal peace.”

  • BAS warns of crisis as meat imports squeeze producers

    BAS warns of crisis as meat imports squeeze producers

    Barbados’ top agricultural industry advocacy group has renewed its lobbying push for government intervention to rein in meat imports, warning that an unprecedented surplus of locally produced pork and poultry has filled national cold storage facilities to capacity and pushed hundreds of domestic farmers to the brink of crippling financial hardship. \n\nJames Paul, chief executive of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), told reporters that domestic meat producers are operating under unsustainable pressure, as overstocked cold storage leaves nowhere for farmers to house their finished products amid a supply-demand mismatch spurred by unregulated cheap foreign imports. To resolve the growing crisis, Paul is calling on the Barbadian government to launch a full review of existing trade regulations, close loopholes that allow under-taxed imported meat to enter the market, and implement temporary restrictions or a full suspension of competing foreign meat imports. This pause, he argues, would give the domestic market enough time to absorb the current surplus of local product before it leads to widespread farm failures.\n\nPaul emphasized that the large capital investments local farmers made over recent years to expand production capacity and boost operational efficiency are now at risk of being completely wiped out by the flood of cheap imported meat entering the country through unclosed regulatory gaps. The domestic pork sector, he said, has suffered the most severe damage from unfair foreign competition, with impacts rippling through major buyers and processing facilities across the entire island. \n\nMany imported pork products enter the country at reduced duty rates through regulatory loopholes, Paul explained, putting local producers at an impossible price disadvantage that locks them out of key market segments. HIPAC, one of the largest institutional purchasers of local pork in Barbados, has been forced to drastically cut the volume of local pork it buys due to intense underpriced competition from imported alternatives, he noted.\n\nThis drop in domestic purchasing comes at a time when local pig farmers deliberately expanded their herds and upgraded production facilities to meet projected domestic demand, leaving thousands of farmers stuck with unsellable excess stock and creating a fast-escalating crisis for the entire livestock industry, Paul said. The poultry sub-sector faces an equally urgent scenario, he added, with cold storage infrastructure stretched far beyond its designed limits. Both large commercial poultry operations and small independent producers are currently sitting on record high inventory levels, creating crippling operational bottlenecks that slow work at hatcheries and processing facilities across the country.\n\n“We do recognise that we have a glut of poultry on our hands. We have been talking constantly, and we know that the cold storage down there is full to the brim. Also, for some of the larger producers, the stocks are up, and then of course a lot of our smaller producers are coming on at the same time,” Paul said. He added that just one week prior, at least one major processing facility was unable to process and distribute all scheduled birds for market, offering clear proof of how severe the current backlog has become.\n\nPaul argued that Barbados’ domestic agriculture sector has reached a level of maturity where local producers can fully meet the island’s entire demand for fresh meat without relying on foreign suppliers. “We are reaching the stage where our local poultry industry should be able to satisfy 100 per cent of the demand for fresh poultry; we do not need to import anything. There is no reason for us to be going shopping abroad to whatever Caribbean destination people feel like going to or in the United States to find these products when we have them here. We need more than talk in the industry right now — we need action,” he said.\n\nFailure to act on the import imbalance, Paul warned, puts both private farmer investments and public government funding at serious risk. Many local producers took out loans through a $2 million government-backed investment program administered by the BAS to upgrade their farm facilities, and unregulated imports will make it impossible for many of these farmers to make their loan payments, he said. The BAS will continue supporting farmers through the application process with the Ministry of Agriculture to help boost farm resilience, Paul said, while continuing to push for urgent, decisive policy action to restrict imports and resolve the current glut.

  • St Philip folk push for safe spaces, restored heritage sites

    St Philip folk push for safe spaces, restored heritage sites

    Residents of St Philip parish in Barbados have secured formal commitments from Prime Minister Mia Mottley and local parliamentary representatives to advance long-delayed projects restoring and expanding the parish’s recreational and heritage spaces. The pledges came out of the latest community Ideas Forum, held Monday night at Princess Margaret Secondary School, where locals gathered to lay out pressing needs for shared public spaces that serve young athletes, aging residents, community organizers, and the island’s tourism sector.

    Many of the appeals centered on expanding access to safe recreational infrastructure, a need framed by residents as critical to supporting youth development and steering young people away from involvement in criminal activity. Long-time community advocate Jones, a committee member of the popular Long Bay 5K run, opened the call for increased public investment in recreational facilities to keep local youth productively engaged.

    Sherwin Greenidge, a Gemswick resident, expanded on this demand, putting forward a detailed proposal for a combined community recreation and wellness center on a vacant, previously used plot of land in his neighborhood. Greenidge noted that for more than 25 years, local residents have advocated for development on this site, pointing to unmet needs across multiple demographic groups. Talented young football and cricket players who currently hone their skills at the Dodds detention facility would gain a dedicated public space to practice, while older residents like himself would no longer need to compete with vehicle traffic to walk for exercise in the Gemswick area.

    Under Greenidge’s plan, the multi-use facility would include outdoor playing fields, a pavilion, a gym, and a dedicated walking and jogging track, supporting both elite youth athletic development and routine healthy activity for all residents. He added that the center could also double as an emergency resource hub during natural disasters, expanding its public value beyond recreation.

    Fellow Gemswick resident Jim Brown echoed Greenidge’s call, delivering an impassioned appeal for upgrades to the neighborhood’s existing playing field—an improvement he has lobbied consecutive governments to deliver for more than 30 years. Brown noted that the upgraded field could host cricket, netball, walking groups, and provide a safe gathering space for local youth.

    Responding to these requests, St Philip South Member of Parliament Indar Weir confirmed that preliminary talks over land acquisition for the proposed Gemswick recreation center began with former housing minister Dwight Sutherland, and that Prime Minister Mottley first committed to the project ahead of the 2018 general election. Progress was derailed by the global COVID-19 pandemic, but Weir reaffirmed the government’s commitment to delivering both the new center and the playing field upgrades.

    “I am strongly supporting Jim Brown and Sherwin to make sure we have the facility delivered to the people at Gemswick,” Weir said. “This also came up in the last election campaign, and I can also give you the assurance that I discussed it with the prime minister…The youngsters, when I canvassed the area, also reminded me that they needed to make sure they have that facility delivered to them.”

    Weir also addressed resident calls for dedicated safe walking spaces, revealing that negotiations are already underway with the private owner of Oldbury Woods to open the land for public use. He added that there are ongoing discussions to redevelop the wooded area, which is home to a large concentration of mahogany trees, into a national mahogany park that would include public vending opportunities for local entrepreneurs, leveraging its strategic location to drive community economic activity.

    Beyond recreational infrastructure, long-time local educator Betty-Lyn Estwick pushed for urgent restoration of the iconic Ragged Point Lighthouse, a key historical and tourist site that has fallen into disrepair. Estwick argued that the rusted, unmaintained site is not fit to welcome visiting tourists, and called for it to be redeveloped into a safe public recreational space with new landscaping and seating. She also highlighted the need for improved maintenance and restoration for other Barbados heritage sites including Mount Hillaby and the Morgan Lewis Windmill, and called for the reinstatement of the Parks and Beaches Commission, the former agency replaced by the National Conservation Commission that previously oversaw management of public recreational and heritage spaces.

    “How do we feel comfortable telling visitors, these are our places of interest, and then we don’t take care of them? If tourism is our business, let us take it seriously and let us really play our part,” Estwick said. “If you bring back parks and beaches and you give them good supervisors, let them see that you’re serious, they can have responsibility for looking after these places and keeping them looking the way they should look.”

    Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams backed Estwick’s call, noting that expanding and diversifying Barbados’ tourism and recreational offerings beyond the island’s most well-known sites is a key priority, and he would personally advocate for moving forward with the lighthouse restoration. St Philip North MP Dr. Sonia Browne also confirmed support for the project, adding that a formal proposal for a lighthouse museum centered on the site’s historical heritage has already been submitted to government for consideration.

    In closing out the forum, local resident Carl Padmore called for a new performance space at Princess Margaret Secondary School to be named in honor of pioneering Barbadian theatre figure Osbert McLean, and pushed for greater preservation of Six Roads’ unique historical heritage and its contributions to St Philip’s development.

    Addressing attendees after the public comment period, Prime Minister Mottley delivered a firm pledge that her government would deliver a permanent auditorium and amphitheater facility for St Philip during its current term, contingent on the island avoiding major natural disasters that would disrupt government budget priorities. “I give you a commitment that we will have a proper amphitheater auditorium-type facility for the people of St Philip that will happen in this term, God willing and God willing that there are no further natural disasters that will take us off track,” Mottley said.

  • Health officials mull colorectal cancer screening rollout – PM

    Health officials mull colorectal cancer screening rollout – PM

    During a public policy forum held Monday night at St Philip’s Princess Margaret Secondary School, Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that the island nation’s Ministry of Health is currently conducting feasibility assessments for a national colorectal cancer screening program, a long-missing public health initiative that local medical leaders have repeatedly called for. The discussion was sparked by Dr. Marek Stobinski, a recently relocated gastroenterologist who practices at Bayview Hospital and a local private clinic, who used the forum platform to push for urgent investment in early detection infrastructure for colorectal cancer.

    After moving to Barbados, Dr. Stobinski told attendees he conducted a search to identify existing preventive public health programs where he could contribute his expertise, only to find no national colorectal screening framework currently exists. “I started looking for prophylactic programmes, and I cannot find any in Barbados, so I’ll be the biggest advocate for a colorectal cancer screening programme in Barbados,” he stated.

    The gastroenterologist emphasized that colorectal cancer is no longer an illness confined to older populations, sharing a recent case of an otherwise healthy 40-year-old patient he diagnosed with the disease to illustrate the gap in preventive care. “I had my concerns that we need to do something before the cancer spread, and it will be too late for treatment,” he added.

    Public health data confirms that early detection drastically improves outcomes for colorectal cancer patients: precancerous growths called polyps can be removed quickly before they develop into malignant tumors. Dr. Stobinski noted that removing early-stage polyps takes as little as 15 minutes in most cases, a simple outpatient procedure that prevents cancer from developing and spreading to other parts of the body.

    Prime Minister Mottley echoed the physician’s call for urgent action, sharing a personal and cultural touchstone to underscore the need for widespread screening. She pointed to the 1999 death of beloved Barbadian and West Indies cricket legend Malcolm Marshall, who passed away from colorectal cancer at just 41 years old. “How old was Malcolm Marshall when he died? You think he would’ve died if he had the screening and they did the surgery?” she asked attendees.

    Mottley also shared that she undergoes routine colonoscopies herself, explaining that timely polyp removal cuts the risk of developing colorectal cancer dramatically. “If you find the polyps and remove them, you do what? Minimise. Doctors tell me don’t ever use the word extinguish, but you minimise the chance of cancer to almost zero,” she said.

    Dr. Sonia Browne, the Member of Parliament for St Philip North and a practicing general practitioner, added another key consideration to the discussion: while launching a screening program is critical, ensuring consistent follow-up care for patients identified as high-risk remains a major systemic challenge. “The headache seems to be the follow-up when you do have, you found the patient,” she noted. Even so, she stressed that investing in upfront screening and early intervention is far more cost-effective than covering treatment for late-stage, advanced cancer that could have been prevented.

    Alongside the announcement about colorectal screening, Mottley revealed that the Barbadian government is also evaluating the potential introduction of GLP-1 receptor agonists, the widely used class of anti-obesity medications that includes semaglutide, liraglutide, and tirzepatide. The government is currently weighing whether the long-term public health benefits of expanding access to these drugs outweigh their higher initial costs, the prime minister explained.

    Mottley argued that the government must avoid short-sighted cost-cutting that leads to higher health spending down the line, noting that obesity is linked to a range of serious, costly complications including amputations and kidney failure that require ongoing dialysis. “We’re not going to end up being penny wise and pound foolish, but we will be strategic in our deployment of resources to be able to help people help themselves and to save lives,” she said.

    The World Health Organization recently issued landmark clinical guidelines that conditionally recommend GLP-1 receptor agonists for long-term weight management in adults living with obesity. The global health body stresses that these medications must always be paired with lifestyle interventions including balanced diets and regular physical activity to deliver sustained benefits. Clinical trials confirm GLP-1 drugs help most patients lose 10 to 20 percent of their starting body weight by reducing appetite and persistent food cravings. However, the medications are associated with common mild to moderate gastrointestinal side effects, and most patients regain significant weight if they stop taking the drug.

    At the close of the forum, Mottley reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding preventive screening for three of the most common high-burden cancers: breast, prostate, and colorectal. “Because if you get in early, you do what? Give yourself a credible chance of recovery and full life again,” she said.

  • Parris powers Barbados to back-to-back U-19 titles

    Parris powers Barbados to back-to-back U-19 titles

    The CWI Rising Stars Under-19 Men’s 50-over Championship concluded on Wednesday with a historic display of all-round cricket that saw Barbados retain their title, led by a match-winning performance from Justin Parris that capped an undefeated run through the tournament. In the tournament-deciding final held at Liberta Sports Club, Parris turned in a once-in-a-generation double performance: a brilliant, pace-setting century with the bat followed by a devastating five-wicket haul with his off-spin, steering Barbados to a dominant 116-run victory over Jamaica.

    Barbados’ batting got off to a rocky start after Jamaica won the toss and put the defending champions in to bat. Jamaica seamer Jahdae Moore removed opening batter Gadson Bowens for just eight early on, but a 74-run second-wicket stand between Kelani Clarke (49 off 44 balls) and Jordan Graham (21) steadied the innings, moving Barbados to 95 for one by the 16th over. A quick flurry of wickets from Jamaican bowler Alixandre Elliot turned the tide back in Jamaica’s favor: Elliot removed Clarke, snared Graham for 21, and Demarco Scott bowled Seth Smith for three to drop Barbados to 101 for four midway through their innings.

    It was here that Parris stepped up to rescue his side. Partnering with Kemar Dixon, the all-rounder steered Barbados back into control with a 108-run fifth-wicket stand. After Elliot dismissed Dixon for 48 and Jahidi Hinds for one, Parris combined with R’Jai Gittens (37 off 19 balls) for an aggressive 80-run eighth-wicket partnership off just eight overs, pushing Barbados to 291 for seven after 48 overs. Parris brought up his century in the penultimate over of the innings, finishing with 100 runs off 98 balls, including 12 fours and one six, before being dismissed shortly after. Rajeev Parsooram closed out the innings with a quick 14 off five balls, leaving Barbados on a competitive total of 320 for nine after 50 overs. Elliot finished as Jamaica’s leading bowler with 4 for 40, while Moore took 3 for 58.

    Chasing 321 for the title, Jamaica never recovered from a disastrous start. Barbados pace bowler Asher Branford trapped opener Odane Binns lbw for seven, had Joel Williams caught for a duck and removed Demarco Scott also via lbw, leaving Jamaica reeling at 46 for three. After Tyson Gordon Jr was dismissed for 28 by Hinds, Demario Hall and captain Pajay Nelson put on a 58-run fifth-wicket stand to bring Jamaica back into the contest at 131 for four. But Parris, who had already won the game with his bat, closed out the contest with his spin: he removed Hall for 47 to break the partnership, and went on to take the wickets of Ryan Lyttleton, Geovanni Grey, Elliot and Moore to finish with five wickets for just 35 runs. Parsooram took the key wicket of Nelson for 36, leaving Jamaica all out for 204 in 43.5 overs. Branford finished with 3 for 19 to support Parris’ match-winning spell.

    The victory marked Barbados’ sixth consecutive win of the tournament, securing their second straight title and cementing their place as one of the most dominant teams in the recent history of the competition.

    In the third-place playoff at Bethesda Sports Ground, Trinidad and Tobago cruised to a comfortable seven-wicket win over the Leeward Islands to claim third place in the tournament. The Leeward Islands, who chose to bat first, produced their poorest batting performance of the entire tournament, bowled out for just 88 runs in 26.5 overs. Renaldo Fournillier led the collapse, taking three of the first four wickets to fall, and finished with 4 for 26, while Daron Dhanraj took 2 for 14. Only Tanez Francis (22), Eirette Richards (19) and Lyhte Brown (13) reached double figures for the Leewards, who lost their last six wickets for just 40 runs. In response, Trinidad and Tobago lost three early wickets for just 20 runs, but captain Brendan Boodoo remained unbeaten on 49 off 46 balls, combining with Tariq Richards for an unbroken 41-run fourth-wicket stand to see the side home at 89 for three in just 15.1 overs.

    At the fifth-place playoff held at Pigotts Sports Ground, Guyana earned revenge over the Windward Islands, beating them by 53 runs just days after losing to the side in the final round of group matches. Guyana’s batters struggled for the second match running, with only Dhanesh Persaud (53 off 73 balls) and Emmanuel Lewis (43) offering significant resistance. The pair put on a 92-run partnership after Guyana slumped to 72 for five in the 22nd over, but after Lewis was dismissed, Guyana lost their last five wickets for just 20 runs, all out for 184 in 49.2 overs. Theo Edwards was the Windward Islands’ leading bowler with 3 for 12.

    In their chase, the Windward Islands lost captain and opener Theodore Edward to the second ball of the innings, but Derwin Lewis and Earshino Fontaine put on 46 runs to keep the contest alive. After Lewis was trapped lbw by Adrian Hetmyer, wickets fell at regular intervals, leaving the Windwards at 76 for five. A 37-run stand between Tyler Venner (24) and Khavaughn Bartholomew (27) briefly revived their hopes, but Gilbert Griffith dismissed both to end the comeback. Griffith finished with 4 for 19, while Romario Ramdehol took 2 for 13 and Hetmyer took 2 for 38, bowling the Windward Islands out for 131 to secure a 53-run win for Guyana.