标签： Barbados

Following a 12-month break to mark its 150th corporate anniversary, one of Barbados’ most beloved community pet events, Carter’s Canine Expo, has made a highly anticipated comeback. Now in its fourth iteration, the expo departed from its previous location this year, settling into a spacious new home at the dedicated dog training grounds in Waterford, St Michael, and welcoming hundreds of dog enthusiasts from across the entire island.

Built around the core principle of holistic, responsible pet ownership, the event’s shift to a larger venue came as a direct response to steadily rising attendance in previous years. Organizers prioritized creating a more relaxed, enjoyable environment for both two-legged attendees and their furry canine companions, eliminating the overcrowding that had impacted past editions.

From its launch, the expo has centered public education as its primary mission. This year was no exception: visiting pet owners had exclusive access to one-on-one guidance from leading industry experts covering three core pillars of pet care: nutrition, grooming, and behavioral training. All educational sessions and resources were tailored specifically to help Barbadian pet owners improve the quality of life for their animals, addressing common local care challenges and answering individual questions.

But for many attendees, the undisputed highlight of the day was the expo’s signature Novelty Dog Show. Unlike traditional purebred canine competitions that cater almost exclusively to professional handlers and serious breeders, this show was intentionally designed to be accessible and inclusive for everyday pet owners and their rescue, mixed-breed, or companion dogs.

Speaking on behalf of event organizer Carter’s General Stores, marketing coordinator Tammy-Rose Evelyn, who is a self-proclaimed dog owner of seven canines herself, emphasized the show’s core purpose. “We know how much local patrons adore their dogs, and we know they jump at the chance to show their companions off to the community,” Evelyn explained. “Not every pet owner competes at the high standard of the Barbados Kennel Club, so we built open categories that let the average person participate, have fun, and walk away with a prize just for sharing their dog with the crowd.”

While organizers walked into the day with some initial uncertainty about whether they would fill the expansive new venue, those concerns quickly faded when attendance far exceeded expectations, with organizers describing turnout as massive. Though the stands were packed with excited spectators ready to cheer on competitors, some casual owners did hold back from entering the more skill-focused competition categories. Categories including “Best Trained” and “Best Trick” recorded slightly lower entry numbers, as many owners reported feeling self-conscious about their dogs’ ability to perform on command in a public event setting.

As the day drew to a close, organizers closed the expo with a public commitment to continue growing the event in the years ahead. The 2024 return reaffirms Carter’s long-standing dedication to supporting Barbados’ local pet community, with preparations already set to begin for the fifth annual expo, which is expected to bring another day of tail wags, community connection, and accessible pet education to the island.

Weeks after authorities issued a public wanted bulletin over his alleged involvement in serious criminal activity, Nathan Emmanuel Malik Lovell is now behind bars in Barbados. The Barbados Police Service first alerted the public to Lovell and launched a manhunt for him on April 23, naming him as a person of interest in a high-stakes criminal case.

Law enforcement confirmed Saturday that the wanted man has been taken into official police custody, and he is currently cooperating with investigating officers as they work to advance their case. In a public statement issued following the arrest, the Barbados Police Service extended formal gratitude to both members of the general public and local media outlets for their widespread cooperation and support throughout the search operation.

Tips and shared information from the public helped close the net on Lovell, highlighting the critical role of community collaboration in helping law enforcement locate and apprehend wanted individuals, bringing the multi-week search to a successful close for investigating authorities.

On a quiet, somber Saturday at the Cave Hill campus of The University of the West Indies, the air hung heavy with unspeakable sorrow as faculty, staff and fellow students came together for a moving walk and vigil to honor Daquan Roberts, a promising law student whose life was cut short in a recent fatal shooting.

The pain of the loss was palpable across every corner of the gathering, reaching its most raw and heart-wrenching moment when Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Law Dr. Ronnie Yearwood delivered a tribute that left him overcome with emotion. Struggling to steady his voice through tears, Dr. Yearwood reflected on the cruel turn of fate that flipped what should have been a joyful milestone for the law school into a period of devastating collective mourning.

“This year was supposed to be a celebration — of life, of our students, of the graduation of a new cohort,” he said, his frame visibly shaken by grief. “For every educator who walks this campus, our students are not just names on a class roster. They are people we grow to care for deeply; over time, they become extensions of our own families, as much our children as the ones we raise at home.”

Dr. Yearwood went on to speak to the one-of-a-kind, unbreakable bond that forms between legal educators and the students they mentor. The Faculty of Law, he explained, does not merely teach statutes and case law — its core mission is to nurture young minds and guide the next generation of legal leaders to live out core values of justice and integrity. That close, nurturing work, he said, makes this senseless loss cut even deeper, leaving the entire department fractured on a deeply personal level.

“I truly do not have the words to capture how sad and broken I feel, how broken all of us are here,” he said. “As a father to a son myself, I cannot begin to fathom the agony that Daquan’s family is carrying right now. I am so, so, so sorry for your unbearable loss.”

For the entire duration of the remembrance event, that heavy, muted grief hung over the entire campus. Even senior faculty leadership, accustomed to stepping forward to steady the community in difficult times, struggled to find language that could match the depth of loss shared by every member of the UWI Cave Hill family.

The Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies has launched formal procedures to grant a posthumous Bachelor of Laws degree to Daquan Roberts, a high-potential third-year law student whose life was abruptly ended by a recent outbreak of gun violence. The landmark decision was publicly announced by Deputy Principal Professor Winston Moore during an on-campus vigil and memorial walk held Saturday, an event organized to celebrate the short but meaningful life Roberts built during his time at the institution.

Speaking on behalf of the university’s principal to a crowd of mourning relatives, teaching staff and fellow students, Professor Moore acknowledged that the entire campus community has been left reeling by an incident of this magnitude, even as the university’s core mission remains centered on nurturing the next generation and building brighter futures for its students.

“Daquan came to this institution to earn this degree through years of consistent effort, unwavering dedication and personal sacrifice,” Professor Moore told attendees. “We hope this honor can bring a small degree of comfort to his family, as they take solace in knowing that his academic journey here has been fully recognized and celebrated by our institution.”

Beyond being just a name on the university’s student registry, Roberts is remembered by the campus community as a deeply committed scholar who entered the legal field with the goal of advancing equal justice for all. Professor Moore called the young student’s death a senseless, horrific tragedy, noting that while the Cave Hill Campus has never experienced a loss of this kind in its history, deadly gun violence has become a depressingly normalized crisis across the broader regional society.

“Gun violence does not merely end a single life—it steals an entire future,” Professor Moore emphasized. “It robs our community of a son, a friend, a classmate, and a future attorney who could one day have stood in a courtroom to advocate for those who had no other voice to speak for them.”

In closing, the Deputy Principal challenged the entire university community to turn its shared sorrow into determined action. He called on all attendees to speak out loudly against the ongoing wave of violence that is cutting short the lives of young people across the region, and to work toward creating safer learning environments where all students can pursue their education free from fear. The event concluded with a formal commitment from the university: the institution will stand in unwavering solidarity with the Roberts family in the years ahead, and will ensure Daquan’s legacy remains a permanent, honored part of the Cave Hill Campus’ history.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Barbados’ flagship cost of living support programme has successfully completed its first round of payments, delivering much-needed financial relief to more than 54,000 eligible residents across the island, the National Insurance and Social Security Service (NISSS) confirmed in an official announcement Friday evening. A total of $5.4 million has been disbursed to registered qualifying recipients, with payments processed and issued this Monday, according to NISSS Chief Executive Officer Kim Tudor.

Designed to counter rising household expenses, the Cost of Living Cash Credit (COLCC) provides $100 in monthly assistance to qualifying low-income and senior residents for a full 12-month period. Funded through the national Consolidated Fund, the initiative is overseen by NISSS on behalf of the Ministry of Finance, with outreach efforts already underway to expand access to every eligible Barbadian, regardless of their location.

Breaking down the first round distribution, Tudor explained that just under 30,000 beneficiaries received their funds via direct bank transfer, while more than 24,000 were sent physical cheques through the postal service. Eligible groups covered in this initial disbursement include existing NIS and public sector pensioners, individuals receiving special needs grants, and seniors aged 65 and older who do not currently receive any form of pension income. Separate payments for April were issued directly to general welfare recipients through the Social Empowerment Agency (SEA), Tudor added.

In a statement highlighting the agency’s longstanding commitment to Barbadians, Tudor emphasized: “We said we would deliver and we did. Every eligible registered beneficiary received their $100 by direct bank deposit or cheque. This is NISSS doing what it has done for over fifty-eight years: honouring its commitment to the people of Barbados.”

As of last Thursday, a further 1,189 people have completed new registrations for the programme, a surge that followed targeted community registration drives held at three accessible locations: the Speightstown Resource Centre on Queen’s Street in St Peter, SEA’s Six Roads office in St Philip, and the Southern Plaza location in Oistins, Christ Church. Tudor stressed that the government is committed to reaching eligible residents outside of the capital’s central corridor, noting: “The COLCC is for every eligible Barbadian — not just those who live near Bridgetown. We are taking registration to where people are, and we will continue to do so until every eligible person has been reached.”

For added convenience, residents can also verify their eligibility and complete the registration process online through the official programme portal at colcc.nis.gov.bb. To complete registration, applicants must present a valid national government-issued photo ID. Those opting for direct deposit are also required to provide a recent bank statement head to confirm their account details.

NISSS is currently urging two specific groups to prioritize registration: seniors aged 65 and older who are still waiting for their pension applications to be approved, and individuals who will turn 65 between the programme’s launch date of April 1 this year and March 31, 2027. “These groups are eligible to receive the COLCC from the month of their 65th birthday until March 2027,” Tudor confirmed.

Per the programme’s scheduling rules, any new applications submitted after April 20 will not be processed until the next monthly payment cycle on May 20, with the first payment including all retroactive funds owed for April. The full programme runs for the entire current fiscal cycle, from April 1 2025 through March 31 2027, and is subject to renewal by government ministers after the initial term.

A deadly workplace accident at Barbados’ ReadyMix Lears quarry has left one worker dead and three others injured, prompting a formal joint investigation by national labour authorities and law enforcement that the Barbados Workers Union (BWU) is closely monitoring as it waits for official findings. The incident, which unfolded last week when a piece of heavy work equipment being set up by on-site employees suddenly collapsed, trapped four workers under the structure, killing one at the scene. Since the tragedy occurred, the BWU has moved quickly to engage with workers and company leadership to ensure affected employees receive the mental health and practical support they need.

During an occupational health and safety conference hosted by the BWU this Friday, senior industrial relations officer Janelle Farley shared a public update on the union’s response to the incident, speaking with local outlet Barbados TODAY to outline the sequence of actions taken over the past week. “Within hours of the incident being reported, our team traveled directly to the quarry site to speak with workers who were present, check on their immediate well-being, and gather first-hand accounts of what occurred,” Farley explained. “The following day, we returned to join a company-wide general meeting between management and staff, where leadership laid out their planned approach to addressing the tragedy and supporting affected teams.”

At present, full responsibility for the formal probe into the incident’s root causes rests with the Barbados Labour Department and national police force. Farley noted that thorough workplace accident investigations require time to complete, and the BWU will remain on standby to participate in follow-up processes once official recommendations are released. “We expect this investigation will take several weeks to wrap up, after which the competent authority will share formal conclusions and next steps with the company,” she said. “As the representative body for the workers, we expect to be included in all discussions moving forward, but for now we must wait for the official findings.”

To date, both ReadyMix and the BWU have prioritized mental health support for all workers impacted by the traumatic event. According to Farley, the quarry operator has already stepped up to provide free counselling to any employee who wants support, and has committed to covering all care and costs for injured workers and their families, commitments the BWU confirmed during its post-incident meeting with management. “The company has followed through on its initial promises to treat injured workers and arrange counselling for all staff who were affected by what happened,” Farley said. “Any worker that requested counselling has received it, and management has made clear they will stand by the injured workers and the family of the deceased worker.”

BWU general secretary Toni Moore opened the health and safety conference by extending formal condolences to all those touched by the tragedy, emphasizing the profound ripple effect that a fatal workplace accident has across an entire work community. “Our hearts go out to the family of the worker who lost their life, to the workers who sustained injuries, and to every single person who was on site that day,” Moore said. “This is an unimaginable shock: you work alongside a colleague one minute, and the next you are doing everything you can to resuscitate them, only to lose them, while others are hurt. The entire worksite feels this loss, and we stand with all of you as you process it.”