标签： Barbados

Barbados is poised to revolutionize its agricultural sector through a landmark infrastructure initiative designed to convert sewage into a sustainable irrigation resource. The Climate Resilient South Coast Water Reclamation Project, a five-year development program, will provide treated wastewater to farmers at government-regulated prices, potentially reducing irrigation expenses significantly.

Government officials confirmed that pricing structures for reclaimed water would be determined at the ministerial level, separate from the Barbados Water Authority’s purview. Current rates have already decreased from $1.80 to $1.00 per unit in recent years, with further reductions anticipated once the new system becomes operational.

Technical specifications reveal an advanced multi-stage purification process beginning with mechanical screening to remove solid debris. The wastewater will then undergo biological treatment, particle filtration, and reverse osmosis purification—utilizing technology similar to the Spring Garden desalination facility—to achieve the Ministry of Agriculture’s strict standard of 450 milligrams per liter of total dissolved solids.

Dr. John Mwansa, Technical Adviser for the Barbados Water Authority, emphasized the climate-resilient design elements: “The new treatment plant is being constructed four meters higher than existing facilities as protection against storm surges and rising sea levels.”

The comprehensive system includes a 25-kilometer transmission pipeline extending along the ABC Highway toward St. George Valley, with ultraviolet and chlorine disinfection preventing biological growth within the distribution network. During rainy seasons when irrigation demand decreases, excess treated water will recharge aquifers through five injection wells, creating sustainable water reserves.

Additional project components involve drilling new boreholes at Gibbons Boggs and upgrading the Bridgetown Sewage Treatment Plant to supplement water supplies toward the Botanical Gardens region. The Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation will manage distribution through existing irrigation networks, though farmers won’t receive reclaimed water until construction concludes in approximately five years.

In a decisive courtroom ruling, former calypso monarch Aziza Kebret Tsgaye Clarke was exonerated on Thursday when the No. 5 Supreme Court determined she had no case to answer regarding charges of assisting an offender. Justice Pamela Beckles delivered the judgment, characterizing the evidence presented by police investigators as “manifestly unreliable and poor.

The prosecution, led by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Krystal Delaney and Senior State Counsel Kevin Forde, had accused Clarke of transporting Hakeem Stuart from Briar Hall to Graeme Hall, Christ Church on March 21, 2019, allegedly to impede his lawful apprehension for murder or another arrestable offense. The State contended Clarke had knowledge of Stuart’s actions.

Following the closure of the prosecution’s case earlier this week, Clarke’s defense team—comprising senior counsels Michael Lashley, Angella Mitchell-Gittens, and defense attorney Sade Harris—filed a no-case submission. They successfully argued that the prosecution failed to establish any evidence demonstrating their client’s awareness of Stuart’s alleged crimes.

Justice Beckles ruled emphatically in favor of the defense, stating: “Having reviewed all the evidence before the court and all the submissions, I conclude that the case against the accused is not very thin. It is less than thin!” She further explained that even considering circumstantial evidence at its strongest, and drawing all reasonable inferences favorable to the prosecution, no properly directed jury could conclude guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

The judge highlighted the critical failure of the investigation, noting that the evidence from investigating officers was “so discredited upon cross-examination that they failed to make up the case for the prosecution.”

Emotional scenes unfolded in the courtroom as Clarke, a resident of Bonnetts, Brittons Hill, St Michael, broke down in tears upon hearing the verdict. Justice Beckles instructed the jury of six women and three men to return a formal not-guilty verdict.

Outside the Supreme Court Complex, Clarke expressed her gratitude to supporters, stating: “I don’t really have much to say. I just want to thank God, thank my lawyers, thank the judge and the jury and everybody who supported me on this journey. It wasn’t much people, but I am thankful for the few I had. God is the greatest.”

The Barbados Consumer Empowerment Network (BCEN) has issued a scathing critique of both corporate entities and government institutions for their inadequate response to escalating living costs, asserting that citizens bear the full brunt of economic shocks without meaningful protection. Executive Chairman Maureen Holder characterized the situation as a systemic failure where every external cost increase is automatically transferred to consumers without absorption or restraint.

Holder dismissed recurring justifications for price surges—including global inflation, insurance premiums, shipping disruptions, and geopolitical tensions—as deflection tactics. She particularly condemned the recent trend of blaming minimum wage increases for price hikes, labeling this narrative as ‘deeply unfair’ to low-income workers who have faced years of eroding purchasing power.

‘The fundamental issue isn’t imported inflation alone but a local policy failure and absence of market governance,’ Holder stated. ‘In our concentrated import market, consumers lack meaningful choice to discipline prices, while transparency tools like price-checking apps provide visibility without affordability.’

The consumer advocate detailed how costs move seamlessly through the supply chain—from freight and port charges to wholesale and retail margins—with no evidence of temporary margin compression or efficiency gains. This ‘pass-through economy’ structure leaves households spending substantial portions of income on groceries while reducing quality and nutritional standards.

BCEN proposed a comprehensive food price shock strategy featuring time-bound tax relief on essential items, voluntary margin restraint during crises, and robust enforcement against unjustified price increases. The organization emphasized that global tensions and wage improvements should not serve as excuses for inaction, calling for shared burden-bearing during economic stress.

‘What’s occurring represents policy failure, not inevitability,’ Holder concluded. ‘Barbadians require fairness, accountability, and leadership—not just explanations—as prices rise uniformly across the nation without corresponding relief measures.’

In a landmark development for social equity, the Barbados government has initiated a transformative water infrastructure project that will bring piped water for the first time to three historically marginalized communities. Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced the breakthrough during the launch ceremony of the Climate Resilient South Coast Water Reclamation Project at Harmony Hall, Christ Church.

The communities of Belle and Bellevue in St Michael and Bayley Alley in St George have endured decades of infrastructural neglect that prevented residents from securing home financing or properly developing their properties due to the absence of reliable water access. Mottley emphasized that this project represents more than just utility installation—it signifies a fundamental shift in these citizens’ relationship with their nation and their ability to participate fully in Barbadian society.

The Prime Minister contextualized this initiative within broader national efforts to modernize what she described as a structurally inadequate water system, much of which dates back to the 19th century. The Barbados Water Authority has already completed over two kilometers of the required 3.7 kilometers of mains replacement needed to serve these communities.

The project’s next phase, scheduled to commence in March, will involve installing sewer infrastructure in Belle and Bellevue, with a customized technological solution planned for Bayley Alley due to its unique layout. Mottley projected that within twelve months, the water access hardships that have long defined daily life for these residents would become “a conversation for our history books.”

Senior Minister of Infrastructure and Planning Dr. William Duguid highlighted that the upgraded South Coast sewage treatment plant represents a turning point from the disruptive 2018 sewage crisis. The project resulted from extensive coordination involving more than 270 stakeholder meetings with international partners including the European Investment Bank, the Green Climate Fund, and the Inter-American Development Bank.

The enhanced facility will employ advanced tertiary treatment processes, including reverse osmosis technology, enabling wastewater reuse for agricultural purposes and aquifer recharge—a critical sustainability measure for the island nation.