Carib Scope

标签： Barbados

巴巴多斯

  • Jiu-jitsu camp aims to steer youth from violence

    Jiu-jitsu camp aims to steer youth from violence

    A groundbreaking six-week jiu-jitsu summer camp officially opened its doors on Monday in St. Michael, Barbados, built around a unique mission: to equip young people aged 8 to 18 with critical emotional management skills, anger control, and lifelong discipline through structured martial arts training. Running through to August 14, the initiative is hosted at the Israel Lovell Foundation on My Lord’s Hill and organized by the SWC Ryu-Jiu Jitsu Organisation School of Martial Arts.

    In an interview with Barbados TODAY, SWC Ryu-Jiu Jitsu Organisation spokesman Shane Lynton explained that the camp was developed in response to growing challenges young people face with peer pressure, emotional regulation, and exposure to community violence. Unlike common misconceptions that link martial arts to aggression, Lynton emphasized that the program’s core philosophy actively pushes back against violence by teaching calm decision-making and conflict avoidance.

    “The entire purpose of this camp is to create a space where we can support young people to master their emotional responses,” Lynton said. “That is the central goal of our system, alongside building consistent discipline and focused attention that translates to every area of their lives. That’s what this summer initiative is all about.”

    Addressing the common misperception that martial arts encourage violent behavior, Lynton clarified: “I understand why people might assume martial arts promote violence, but our system works to achieve the exact opposite. Even though we teach physical techniques, our first rule is that these skills are never to be used to harm anyone unnecessarily. The core skill we teach is staying calm when you are under pressure. When students head back to school, they will inevitably face situations where others try to provoke them or push them into poor choices through peer pressure. This program trains them to stay centered and make smart choices instead of reacting impulsively.”

    The organization’s core principle holds that self-defense techniques should only ever be used as a last resort. Lynton explained that the philosophy taught to all young participants centers on humility and respect: “We drill into our students that our mindset is, ‘I am humble, I care about you. I do not want to fight, but I will defend myself, my honor, my principles, and my family if I have no other choice.’ Fighting is never the goal here.”
    Beyond the summer camp, the SWC Ryu-Jiu Jitsu Organisation has broad expansion plans for community programming across all age groups. Later this month, the group will launch new evening jiu-jitsu classes for adults, designed to address unmet mental health needs that many adults, particularly men, face. “We know that when it comes to mental health, men often don’t feel comfortable opening up about their emotions, so a lot of us bottle those feelings up,” Lynton noted. “This training system gives them a healthy, constructive outlet to process those emotions while building valuable skills.”

    Lynton also highlighted the practical real-world value of the self-defense training the organization provides, pointing to a recent incident that proved the program’s effectiveness. “Earlier this year, one of our students was targeted in a robbery attempt, and she was able to use the techniques she learned here to escape the attack and protect herself,” he said. “We live in a time where everyone needs to know how to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, and that’s a core part of what we offer.”

    The organization’s next community-focused addition will be a specialized jiu-jitsu and self-defense program designed specifically for senior citizens. Lynton explained that the program was developed in response to high-profile crimes targeting older residents, where elderly people have been attacked and robbed of their jewelry and personal property while out in their neighborhoods. The techniques taught in the senior program will be simplified and adapted for older bodies, but remain highly effective for self-protection. “Even though the moves are straightforward, with consistent training, senior participants will be able to confidently execute them to defend themselves if they are confronted,” Lynton said. “We want to give older members of our community the same chance to feel safe and protected that we give young people.”

  • New initiatives as Barbados prepares to host the CPL

    New initiatives as Barbados prepares to host the CPL

    As the kickoff of Barbados’ hosting stint for the 2025 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) draws near, national sports authorities have confirmed that all preparations are proceeding according to schedule, with a packed slate of community-focused, cricket development, and public health initiatives set to run alongside the tournament’s on-field action.\n\nYouth, Sports and Community Empowerment Minister Charles Griffith gave the update following a high-level coordination meeting at his ministry’s Sky Mall Haggatt Hall headquarters, where he joined CPL Chief Executive Officer Pete Russell and members of the local organizing committee to review final logistics. This year, all 16 matches set to be held in Barbados will take place at the iconic Kensington Oval, with play getting underway on September 5 and the tournament culminating in the CPL final on September 20.\n\nBeyond the competitive matches, Griffith has expressed strong approval for the suite of new community programs CPL is rolling out across the island, many of which are designed to nurture grassroots cricket talent and expand access to public health resources. On September 10, a special charity exhibition match will be staged in partnership with the Tridents Trust, with the dual goal of raising public awareness for both breast and prostate cancer, two of the most common cancers affecting Caribbean communities.\n\nTo nurture the next generation of Barbadian cricket talent, the ministry is partnering with the Franklin Stephenson Academy to host a four-day cricket clinic running from September 7 to 10. The clinic will offer specialized coaching to 100 young aspiring grassroots players, giving emerging talent access to professional guidance that many would not otherwise receive.\n\nFor casual fans eager to engage with the sport outside of match days, CPL will roll out interactive virtual cricket experiences across high-foot-traffic locations around Barbados. A portable professional batting simulator will be set up at sites including Bridgetown’s Independence Square and Freedom Park, allowing fans of all ages to test their skills against virtual bowling attacks and enjoy interactive cricket fun ahead of the tournament’s biggest matches.\n\nPublic health will also take center stage through a regional wellness initiative launched in partnership with national health ministries and local non-governmental organizations. Free health screening for blood pressure, cholesterol, breast cancer, and prostate cancer will be available to all ticket holders at tournament venues, a program aligned with the public health mantra that “prevention is better than cure,” as Russell emphasized. Russell added that CPL’s planning team has already completed full coordination with Kensington Oval Management Incorporated to integrate the screening services seamlessly into venue operations for the duration of the Barbados leg.\n\nTo celebrate the Caribbean’s rich cricketing legacy, a CPL Hall of Fame induction dinner will be held on September 15 at Bridgetown’s Hilton Hotel. This year’s event will honor two new inductees from across the region, plus will feature a special lifetime achievement award for Barbadian national hero and cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers, in recognition of his unparalleled contributions to the sport globally.\n\nPlans are also in final development for additional youth outreach, which will see CPL players visit local primary and secondary schools across Barbados for interactive engagement sessions, giving young fans the chance to meet their sporting idols and inspire the next generation of Caribbean cricket stars.\n\nSpeaking after the coordination meeting, Griffith said he was confident that Barbados would deliver a safe, successful, and memorable leg of the 2025 CPL, highlighting the collaboration between national authorities and CPL leadership to make the tournament beneficial for both cricket fans and the wider Barbadian community.

  • Young Farley shines at chess showdown

    Young Farley shines at chess showdown

    One of the most anticipated annual events on the global competitive chess calendar, the World Open Chess Tournament, is currently underway in Philadelphia, and a young Barbadian prodigy has already captured early attention with a stunning breakout performance.

    At just 12 years old, Jeremiah Farley is the youngest competitor in a four-player delegation representing Barbados at the event, and he has exceeded all early expectations in the Under 2000 rating division. Across his opening five matches, Farley has racked up an impressive 4.5 points, putting him in a six-way tie for second place in a field of 218 players. He sits only a half point behind the current leader, Shreyas Rajendra, putting the young teen in striking distance of the division title with multiple matches still to play.

    Farley’s road to his current ranking has been defined by consistent momentum: he opened the tournament with three back-to-back victories, before settling for a hard-fought draw against American competitor Jeremiah Beckles in the fourth round. He quickly regained his winning form in the fifth round, notching another victory against U.S. player Gabriel Burgos to solidify his top-tier standing.

    Jeremiah Farley is not the only member of his family competing at the event; his father Jefferson Farley is also part of the Barbadian delegation, competing in the Under 1600 rating division in his first ever international chess tournament. The elder Farley has faced a steep challenge in his debut outing, having earned 1.5 points through his first five matches, and he remains focused on improving his standing across the remaining fixtures.

    Rounding out the Barbadian team are two seasoned veteran national competitors, Emar Edwards and Justin Parsons, both competing in the Under 2200 rating division, which features a 263-player field. Edwards got off to a blazing start, matching young Farley’s opening streak with three consecutive wins, but dropped his next two matches to hold three points from five outings. He currently ranks 71st in the division, and will aim to climb the leaderboard in his final three matches. For Parsons, the tournament has been an uphill battle so far, with just two points earned across five games. He notched a much-needed confidence-boosting win in his most recent match against American competitor Navid Hakim, leaving him poised to improve his performance as the tournament progresses.

    All four Barbadian competitors now look ahead to their remaining matches, with 12-year-old Jeremiah Farley already cementing his status as one of the tournament’s early breakout stories.

  • EDITORIAL: Promoting prevention as a key to healthy ageing

    EDITORIAL: Promoting prevention as a key to healthy ageing

    Barbados is celebrating a major public health milestone: life expectancy for its citizens has reached an all-time high, a tangible reflection of decades of advances in medical care, rising living standards and consistent social progress. Yet this achievement comes with pressing new challenges that demand a fundamental shift in how the nation approaches health and wellness. While extending lifespan is a victory to be proud of, the ultimate goal must be extending healthy, active years of life, not just adding time to a person’s later years. Today, the island nation confronts a rapidly growing burden of non-communicable chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke and multiple forms of cancer. Alarmingly, these conditions are now being diagnosed in younger populations than ever before, creating cascading strain on families, local employers, and Barbados’ public healthcare infrastructure. The long-term fiscal implications for the country’s National Insurance and Social Security Service are equally stark: as more retirees require ongoing expensive medical care at a time when their personal income drops sharply, the system faces mounting unsustainable pressure. The encouraging news, however, is that the vast majority of these chronic conditions are preventable, can have their onset delayed, or can be managed successfully if caught in early stages. This reality makes a new collaborative initiative between three leading local organizations – the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP), Urgent Care Barbados, and Beacon Insurance – a particularly important development worthy of national recognition. The partnership marks a decisive cultural and practical shift away from the traditional reactive model of treating illness only after symptoms emerge, toward a proactive approach that prioritizes keeping people healthy from the start. For far too long, common medical practice has encouraged patients to only consult a physician when they experience clear discomfort or noticeable health issues. Many people wait until persistent headaches become debilitating, until blood pressure spikes to dangerous levels, or until diabetes has already caused irreversible damage to vital organs like the eyes, kidneys and heart. By that point, intervention is almost always more complex, far more costly, and far less effective in restoring full health and function. Preventative care upends this reactive cycle. Simple routine screenings – annual full body check-ups, continuous blood pressure monitoring, blood glucose testing, cholesterol panels, and age-appropriate cancer screenings – can flag emerging health risks long before any symptoms appear. In most cases, early intervention can stop serious complications from developing entirely, allowing people to maintain active, productive lifestyles well into their later years. This proactive focus is especially critical for Barbadians between the ages of 40 and 59, a demographic that often faces overlapping financial and caregiving responsibilities. Most people in this age group work full-time, support children through secondary or tertiary education, manage mortgage payments, and care for their own elderly parents. A sudden serious illness in this life stage can trigger devastating financial strain that impacts every member of a household. Prioritizing preventative care is therefore as much about protecting long-term financial security as it is about protecting physical health. The broader economic benefits of a prevention-first model extend well beyond individual households as well. Treating advanced, late-stage chronic disease is exponentially more expensive than preventing it. A single routine screening test costs only a tiny fraction of what is required for emergency surgery, ongoing dialysis for kidney failure, an extended inpatient stay at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, or long-term rehabilitation following a life-altering stroke. Every illness prevented or caught early reduces healthcare spending for individuals, private insurance providers, and the public health system alike. As one of the countries with the oldest population demographics in the world, Barbados is already grappling with the fiscal and logistical pressures of an ageing citizenry. As the number of retirees drawing pensions grows, the share of working-age people contributing to the national social safety net shrinks. While public healthcare spending is administered separately from National Insurance, poor health among older adults has a measurable ripple effect: it drives higher disability claims, reduces workforce participation, leads to more early retirements, and increases demand for social support services. A healthier population, by contrast, allows more people to remain active, independent, and contributing to the economy for far longer. These realities make a clear case: national wellness must be elevated to a top policy priority for Barbados. A culture of prevention needs to be embedded into everyday life, through accessible education that encourages healthier eating, regular physical activity, routine preventative check-ups, up-to-date vaccinations, evidence-based stress management, and public health campaigns that discourage tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption. Even small, consistent adjustments to daily habits today can eliminate the risk of major, life-altering health crises down the line. BARP has long been a leading advocate for healthy ageing in Barbados, and this new initiative is the latest reinforcement of that longstanding commitment. Through the programme, BARP health plan members receive a free annual physician-led wellness consultation, designed to encourage people to take proactive control of their health before illness develops. This model is not just a public health intervention: it is a practical, high-return investment that will save lives while reducing the crippling financial burden of advanced chronic disease across the system. The cross-sector collaboration between BARP, Urgent Care Barbados and Beacon Insurance is equally notable as a blueprint for future public-private partnerships to address population health challenges. The true measure of a successful healthcare system should not only be how many people it treats after they become ill, but how many illnesses it prevents from ever occurring. Data from the World Health Organisation confirms that stroke, heart disease, diabetes and cancer have consistently ranked as the leading causes of death in Barbados for decades. The vast majority of these conditions are linked to modifiable risk factors that can be identified and managed through routine screening and widespread adoption of healthier lifestyle habits. Shifting the nation’s entire health culture from reactive to proactive will not happen quickly. It will require sustained public health education, ongoing encouragement for individuals to prioritize their wellness, and expanded, affordable access to preventative screening services for all communities. It also requires every Barbadian to accept personal responsibility for their own long-term wellbeing. Good health is one of the most valuable assets a person can have, and it deserves consistent, regular attention – not just occasional concern when a crisis arises. As Barbados continues to adapt to the demographic reality of an ageing population, expanding access to preventative healthcare must be treated as one of the nation’s most important long-term public investments. A prevention-first approach improves quality of life for all age groups while easing the persistent systemic pressures that come with an ageing society. The ultimate goal for the nation is clear: enable all Barbadians to live longer, in full, good health. Initiatives like BARP’s prevention-first partnership serve as a critical reminder that quality healthcare begins long before a person ever becomes a patient.

  • Bajan-made gin captures Gold at Gin Masters

    Bajan-made gin captures Gold at Gin Masters

    Barbados’ centuries-old legacy of spirit craftsmanship has earned new global attention, after a homegrown gin produced at the island’s Stade’s West Indies Rum Distillery claimed top honors at one of the spirits industry’s most prestigious international competitions. Citadelle Bajan, a 100% Barbadian-made gin, took home a Gold Medal at the 2026 Gin Masters, an annual tasting contest organized by leading industry publication *The Spirit Business* that is widely counted among the most respected judging events for premium gins worldwide.

    What sets Citadelle Bajan apart from other gins on the global market is its deep ties to Barbados’ iconic rum-making heritage. Unlike most traditional gins crafted from grain bases, the award-winning spirit is distilled from a molasses foundation, a nod to the island’s 323-year history of rum production. It is then infused with a signature blend of Caribbean botanicals: locally grown grapefruit, hibiscus, bay leaf, and lemongrass, resulting in a bright, layered profile that reflects the island’s terroir. Notably, grapefruit itself was first cultivated in Barbados in the mid-1700s, adding an extra layer of local identity to the gin’s flavor profile.

    In a statement following the award announcement, Andrew Hassell, Managing Director of Stade’s West Indies Rum Distillery, emphasized the win as a testament to Barbados’ enduring distilling expertise. “Barbados has an extraordinary distilling culture, and Citadelle Bajan is one more expression of what can be created here,” he said, crediting the on-island production team for the achievement. “This recognition belongs to the people behind it, the teams who worked together and brought a Barbadian point of view to a French gin brand.”

    Citadelle Bajan is a regional offshoot of the globally renowned Citadelle Gin brand, which traces its origins to France. The parent brand has already cemented its reputation for excellence, collecting more than 180 international awards to date. Its past honors include Spirit and Gin of the Year at the 2024 Bartender Spirits Awards, and a Master Medal — the competition’s highest distinction — at the 2025 Gin Masters.

    Stade’s West Indies Rum Distillery itself carries a long legacy of Caribbean spirit production. Founded in 1893 in Brighton, St. Michael, the facility spent more than a century producing iconic Bajan rum before it was acquired by French spirits conglomerate Maison Ferrand in March 2017. Today, alongside Citadelle Bajan, the distillery produces a range of award-winning spirits including Planteray Rum and Stade’s Rum.

    The 2026 Gold Medal win puts a spotlight on a growing trend in Barbados’ spirits sector: the emergence of a homegrown gin industry that builds on the island’s existing rum-making expertise. Craft distillers across the island have adapted traditional rum fermentation and distillation techniques to create gins infused with native Caribbean botanicals, carving out a unique niche in the global premium spirits market. Citadelle Bajan is not alone in this space; it joins other local Bajan gin labels such as Perkins & Sons, produced by the family-run Hopewell Distillery, which also draws on rum-making traditions to craft its distinctive products.

    Industry observers note that the expansion of Barbados’ gin segment offers a new avenue for the island’s spirits sector to grow its global footprint, leveraging the existing international reputation of Bajan rum to introduce a new line of award-winning products to consumers around the world.

  • Goal rush in BFA Women’s League

    Goal rush in BFA Women’s League

    The opening weekend of the Barbados Football Association’s Kotex Women’s League delivered high-scoring drama across three matches, with a combined 19 goals hitting the back of the net to kick off the new season. Action got underway on Saturday at the BFA’s Technical Centre in Wildey, where RF Prime put on an unmissable attacking masterclass to crush Police by a staggering 9-0 margin. Forward Daphne Watson-James led the rout with a clinical hat-trick, and the goal spree did not end there: Danisha Antoine, Jamiliah Neblett-Phillips, Jesse Robinson, Kerisha Catlyn and Keidasha Thomas all got on the scoresheet, cementing RF Prime’s dominant first impression of the campaign.

    In Saturday’s evening fixture, another exciting matchup saw Mavericks secure a solid 4-1 victory over White Hall. Strikers Felicia Jarvis and Makayla Alleyne stole the show for the winning side, each netting two goals to steer their team to a comfortable opening weekend win. The only match scheduled for Sunday brought another high-scoring contest, as Empire claimed a convincing 4-1 win over Technique to round out the weekend’s action. The opening three games set a high-tempo, attacking tone for the rest of the league season, leaving fans expecting more offensive fireworks in upcoming matchups.

  • Scientists probe Saharan dust–sargassum link

    Scientists probe Saharan dust–sargassum link

    Six decades after it first began tracking atmospheric conditions, Barbados’ iconic Ragged Point atmospheric monitoring station is turning its long-running data collection toward a pressing regional ecological question: could nutrient-rich dust carried thousands of miles from the Sahara Desert be fueling the massive sargassum blooms that have plagued Caribbean coastlines in recent years?

    The new research initiative was announced Monday during anniversary celebrations for the station, which is operated under the Barbados Atmospheric Chemistry Observatory (BACO) in partnership with the University of Miami. Now recognized as one of the world’s longest uninterrupted records of atmospheric aerosols and climate conditions, the site has transformed scientific understanding of how Saharan dust travels across the Atlantic to the Caribbean, North America and the Amazon Basin, researchers noted.

    Cassandra Gaston, a University of Miami atmospheric sciences professor and principal investigator for the Ragged Point site, explained that while existing research has documented two well-known impacts of transatlantic Saharan dust—worsened respiratory illness for vulnerable populations and reduced hurricane intensity— the link between dust and sargassum growth remains an uncharted frontier. Massive accumulations of the brown seaweed have increasingly washed ashore on Barbados and other Caribbean islands in recent years, causing disruptions to fishing, tourism and coastal ecosystems, but the exact drivers of the blooms are still not fully understood.

    “We’re curious if dust is part of what’s feeding these massive sargassum arrivals,” Gaston told reporters during the briefing. “We know dust carries critical nutrients that support marine life, and both dust and sargassum follow consistent transatlantic circulation patterns: dust moves with wind currents, while sargassum drifts with ocean currents. That overlap made us ask if there’s a causal connection.”

    Gaston emphasized that the research is still in its early stages, and scientists have not yet confirmed if a meaningful relationship exists. Beyond answering a core ecological question, the team hopes the findings could open new pathways to mitigate sargassum blooms before they reach Caribbean coastlines.

    The research also builds on a growing body of work that recognizes the dual role Saharan dust plays in global climate and ecosystems. Beyond its less desirable impacts, dust delivers essential nutrients that fertilize marine and terrestrial ecosystems, supporting natural carbon sequestration that helps regulate global atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. “Dust is a natural climate regulator,” Gaston explained. “The nutrients it carries feed photosynthesis in the ocean and biosphere, pulling carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and sequestering it long-term. That’s a critical service we can’t ignore.”

    For hurricanes, the effect is similarly well-documented: Saharan dust events create a layer of hot, dry air across the tropical Atlantic that strips hurricanes of the moisture they need to intensify, a trend that has been studied for years by researchers at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other institutions.

    But the 60 years of continuous data from Ragged Point has also revealed a worrying new trend: Saharan dust is now arriving in increasing volumes outside of its traditional peak season. “We’re seeing larger dust outbreaks in winter and spring, which were not historically peak periods,” Gaston said. “We’re also getting more wildfire smoke from African blazes during these off seasons, including an unprecedented large event last winter that we’ve never seen in our entire 60-year record.”

    Researchers emphasized that the Ragged Point station’s long, uninterrupted dataset is irreplaceable for global climate science. “There’s no other site with a comparable long-term record of aerosols and climate conditions,” Gaston noted. “It’s been a pivotal site for the global scientific community, and its data has been instrumental in improving everything from climate models to air quality forecasting for the region.”

    For the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), the long-term dust record from Ragged Point is critical for refining regional air quality forecasts. Andrea Sealy, a CIMH meteorologist and chair of the World Meteorological Organization’s Pan-American Sand and Dust Storm Warning Advisory and Assessment System, said regional agencies are now working more closely with public health sectors to develop targeted advisories for Saharan dust events.

    “When dust outbreaks occur, we tailor advisories specifically for these events, bringing multiple sectors together to keep the public informed,” Sealy explained, adding that research into Saharan dust impacts has expanded dramatically in recent years to cover everything from renewable energy generation and public health to microbial ecosystems and hurricane development.

    For people with pre-existing respiratory conditions, Gaston advised taking simple precautions during heavy dust events, similar to the health protocols widely adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Wearing a well-fitting mask is very effective at blocking dust particles,” she said. “If you have a pre-existing condition, staying indoors as much as possible during major events is a good precaution.”

    Edmund Blades, a retired microbiologist who collaborated with the Ragged Point facility for more than 30 years, praised the longstanding partnership between the University of Miami and Barbados, noting that sustained investment in equipment, staff and cross-sector collaboration has built a legacy that benefits the entire Barbadian public. “Over decades, that consistent commitment has allowed this work to grow and deliver real value, and that’s something the public here really appreciates,” Blades said.

  • Carlton & A1 Braves win dominoes knock out title

    Carlton & A1 Braves win dominoes knock out title

    The Barbados National Dominoes Association’s annual Knock Out tournament wrapped up in dramatic fashion over the weekend, with Carlton & A1 Braves emerging as the top competitors to lift the championship title at the host venue of Barbados Defence Force (BDF) Headquarters. This victory marks the squad’s second major dominoes championship of the calendar year, cementing their status as one of the nation’s top competitive dominoes teams.

    In the final matchup, Carlton & A1 Braves delivered a commanding performance against 37 Family KC’s Joint, securing a decisive 72-58 win that left no question of their superiority on the dominoes table. The team’s success was anchored by two standout players: Carolyn Chihuahua Harbin-Goddard and Siebert Saunders Jordan, whose coordinated play netted a combined 22 points to power the squad’s offensive push throughout the match.

    The star pair did not secure the win alone, however. Supporting teammates Joan De Pony Griffith and Xavier Duncan turned in consistent, critical performances, adding a further 15 points between them to extend the team’s lead and hold off any late comeback attempts from their opponents. For the runners-up 37 Family KC’s Joint, top scorers Troy Gobin and Torque Sealy put up a solid fight, finishing the final with 15 combined points, but could not close the gap against Carlton & A1 Braves’ cohesive play.

    Before the award ceremony, the third-place playoff saw another clear-cut result, as French Village outmatched Peace and Love to claim the final podium position with a comfortable 70-53 victory. Leading French Village to success were David Brathwaite and Gregory Best, who together contributed 15 points to their team’s win.

    Looking ahead to the next event on Barbados’ competitive dominoes calendar, the highly anticipated Village Three Hand tournament is scheduled to kick off on July 9, with teams across the country already preparing to compete for the next national title.

  • Top students begin internships after UWI outreach programme

    Top students begin internships after UWI outreach programme

    A select group of high-achieving secondary school students across Barbados is on the cusp of launching their first formal work experience this month, capping off half a year of targeted skills training built to address a longstanding gap between classroom academic achievement and real-world employability. The 2024 cohort, drawn from 16 local secondary schools, has successfully completed the University of the West Indies (UWI) Global Campus Alumni Outreach Programme – officially titled *Preparing Today for Tomorrow’s Challenges – Transforming Children’s Lives (PTFTC-TCL)* – and is gearing up for four-week private sector internships set to begin July 15. On Monday, participating students gathered for a comprehensive pre-internship orientation at the Roy Marshall Teaching Complex on UWI’s Cave Hill Campus, where they received detailed guidance on professional workplace expectations ahead of their placements with partner organizations.

    Now marking its tenth anniversary, the PTFTC-TCL initiative was launched in response to a critical observation from regional educators: many students who excelled academically still lacked the soft interpersonal and professional skills required to smoothly transition from secondary school into the workforce. The six-month foundational curriculum covers a range of practical, job-focused competencies, including professional communication, workplace etiquette, financial literacy, interview preparation, leadership development, and core professional conduct.

    Speaking at Monday’s orientation, Michael Chen, a programme representative for PTFTC-TCL and a former participant who parlayed his own internship into a permanent role at UWI Global Campus, congratulated students on earning their spot in the cohort after standing out throughout the training period. Chen explained that the orientation session was designed to demystify the private sector workplace for young participants, framing the pre-internship preparation as a critical step to set students up for success. “The main reason for today’s orientation is to teach you what is expected when you go into different companies and how to behave and what to expect,” he said.

    Drawing on his own personal trajectory, Chen encouraged students to push past any initial nervousness about entering a professional environment, emphasizing that the experience would build lifelong habits. “After getting used to it you learn how to schedule yourself better, not to be late, how to be on time,” he noted, adding that the internship could open unplanned career pathways. “The internship is a good opportunity for you to learn and grow and this is a real work experience… You may even get the opportunity to stay on such as me. I stayed on with the Global Campus and I’ve been here for three years.”

    Aryanne Williams, a member of the 2023 internship cohort who completed her placement at the Barbados Association of Retired Persons, shared her firsthand experience to help ease this year’s participants’ anxiety. Williams recalled that she entered her internship with significant trepidation, shaped by common anecdotes about difficult workplace interactions. “I was extremely nervous, extremely scared because I heard all the horror stories about… bad customers, people coming and shouting in your face,” she said. However, the experience far exceeded her expectations, thanks to supportive on-the-job mentorship that taught her practical customer service skills and conflict de-escalation. Working in the organization’s accounting department also solidified her long-term career goal of becoming a forensic accountant. Williams urged the 2024 cohort to make the most of the four-week opportunity: “This internship brought a lot of insight on the world of work, how to dress, how to behave and it was a really good opportunity… I believe that for this month of July… y’all will learn a great set and y’all will have a very good time.”

    Sandra Griffith-Carrington, UWI Cave Hill Campus Officer of Alumni Relations, used the orientation to emphasize that employers evaluate far more than just task performance during internships. “You need to showcase that you have grown over the six months programme and you need to be able to meet people for the first time and have a conversation with them,” she told students. Griffith-Carrington noted that the programme has a mixed track record of outcomes: past participants have gone on to secure permanent roles through their internships, but others have left negative impressions on partner employers. “We have had some people who have gone on to have permanent jobs and we have had some others whom we got complaints about. And so I don’t want to get any complaints here,” she said.

    Griffith-Carrington outlined core ground rules for the interns: arrive on time, maintain professional dress, limit personal mobile phone use during work hours, avoid office gossip, and communicate respectfully with supervisors and colleagues. She also stressed that asking for clarification is far preferable to completing a task incorrectly, noting that mistakes waste employers’ time and erode trust. “There is nothing wrong in asking. It is better that you ask me to explain something than you go on your own and do it and do it wrong because you would have wasted your employer’s time,” she said. She further encouraged students to demonstrate proactivity by seeking additional work once they complete assigned tasks, adding that initiative and consistent professionalism are key traits that employers notice and remember. For students hoping to secure full-time work after the internship, Griffith-Carrington advised them to leverage their connections: “Go to your teachers. Go to your principals… Let them know, ‘I’m ready to work. I have done PTFTC-TCL. I’m transformed. I need a job.’”

  • Relatives: Slain Black Rock businessman may have been targeted for jewellery

    Relatives: Slain Black Rock businessman may have been targeted for jewellery

    A quiet residential neighborhood in Black Rock was shaken by a violent pre-dawn killing on Monday, when a 40-year-old local father was shot multiple times outside his family home, in a attack relatives believe was carried out for robbery. Local law enforcement confirmed that officers were dispatched to Belfield Road just after 5:10 a.m. following an emergency call about the shooting. When first responders arrived at the scene, they found the victim, identified by family as Deon Pilgrim, suffering from several gunshot wounds across his body. Despite quick arrival of authorities, Deon was pronounced dead at the site of the attack.

    When journalists from Barbados TODAY arrived at the family property hours after the shooting, visible bloodstains still marked the concrete of the front verandah and the nearby muddy ground where Deon’s body was found. Grieving relatives had gathered inside the home, struggling to come to terms with the sudden, violent loss of their loved one.

    Davidson Pilgrim, Deon’s uncle, spoke to reporters about the frantic moments after the shooting. He explained that he received an urgent early morning call from his mother and sister notifying him of the incident, and he reached the property by around 5 a.m. “His body was lying there by the verandah, no life,” Davidson recalled.

    Deon shared the home with his mother, grandmother, and his only daughter. Both older women were inside the residence when the gunshots rang out. According to Davidson, Deon’s mother heard four shots ring out, with the final sound she caught being her son calling out for his grandmother.

    Family members say several pieces of valuable gold jewelry that Deon was wearing are now missing, including two thick gold chains, a bangle, and multiple rings, leading them to conclude the attack was a targeted robbery that turned deadly. The shooting triggered such severe distress for Deon’s mother that her blood pressure spiked dangerously, and she was rushed to a local hospital for emergency medical care.

    In remembrance of their nephew, Davidson described Deon as a gentle, hardworking man who built his livelihood selling food at a weekly Friday canteen. “Deon was a cool guy, no violence or nothing, he work for what he want… he’s a loving person. To my knowledge, you can’t say nothing bad about him,” Davidson shared.