Carib Scope

标签： Barbados

巴巴多斯

  • Agriculture officials reject BAS poultry import claims

    Agriculture officials reject BAS poultry import claims

    A public dispute over Barbados’ poultry industry policy has erupted this week, after the head of the island’s leading agricultural industry body accused the government of pursuing contradictory policies that hurt local producers. On Tuesday, senior agricultural regulators and state enterprise leaders pushed back forcefully against those allegations, presenting quantitative data and regulatory frameworks to defend their import management strategy.

    James Paul, Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), opened the debate last week when he criticized the government’s dual approach to the poultry and pork sectors. Paul argued that while state bodies provide financial and logistical support to help domestic producers expand output, the state-owned Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) simultaneously allows large volumes of imported poultry and pork from both regional and international suppliers to enter the local market.

    Paul warned that this mismatch in policy is actively undercutting local producers at a time when both small-scale and large domestic farming operations are ramping up production. He claimed the flood of imports has exacerbated a growing storage capacity crisis, leaving small farmers unable to sell their locally raised stock and pushing key public storage facilities like the BICO cold store close to maximum occupancy. Compounding these challenges, recent ownership changes at major storage infrastructure have left small-scale producers bracing for higher operational fees, shrinking profit margins, and even potential business closure, Paul added.

    But senior leaders from the Ministry of Agriculture and BADMC pushed back against these claims during a Tuesday press briefing held at the ministry’s Graeme Hall, Christ Church office, restricting their formal response to issues in the poultry sector. Chief Agricultural Officer Paul Lucas told reporters that BADMC, the state entity legally tasked with managing all authorized poultry imports, enforces rigorous volume controls at every step of the import process, with all decisions guided by hard market data.

    Presenting import and consumption data for the first six months of 2026, Lucas outlined that domestic demand for poultry remains strong across the island, while total import volumes have actually fallen year-on-year. He noted that Barbados’ domestic poultry production has expanded steadily over the past five years, driven by consistent local consumer preference for chicken as the leading protein source for most households. For the opening half of 2026, total domestic poultry consumption hit more than 8.4 million kilograms, with over 90 percent of that volume supplied by local producers, Lucas confirmed.

    Comparing import volumes across years, Lucas highlighted a clear downward trend: total poultry imports dropped from 582,446 kilograms in the first half of 2025 to just 485,840 kilograms in the same period of 2026. “Based on this data, we are able to determine that the imports have not overshadowed the local production,” Lucas told journalists.

    Fredrick Inniss, BADMC’s acting chief executive, further detailed the regulatory framework that guides the corporation’s import purchasing decisions. He explained that after extensive consultations with poultry industry stakeholders starting in 2021, the BADMC board implemented strict new import restrictions designed specifically to protect the market share of domestic producers.

    Inniss explained that targeted limits are particularly enforced during low-demand “off-shoulder” periods, when imports of chicken wings are capped at just 45,000 kilograms to avoid flooding the local market. While BADMC does facilitate imports of specialty products including turkey wings and turkey necks to meet consumer demand, all imports are aligned with formal agreed frameworks that prioritize local producers, he added.

    Past occasional spikes in import volumes were not arbitrary moves to undercut local farmers, but targeted interventions to address temporary domestic supply deficits, Inniss said. He cited 2024’s 290,000-kilogram whole chicken import program as an example of this strategy, which was launched specifically to cover a temporary shortfall in local production. “It is not simply a wholesale case of the BADMC bringing chicken wings or whole chicken product onto the island to the detriment of the sector,” Inniss said. “We actually are working assiduously to ensure that we work hand in hand with the sector.”

    Ongoing dialogue between regulators and producers is formalized through a dedicated poultry committee chaired by a senior Ministry of Agriculture officer, which ensures that industry concerns are continuously reviewed and addressed, the acting BADMC CEO added.

    Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer Barry Callender echoed these remarks, noting that all ministry policy decisions are rooted in objective data collected directly from producers, restaurant buyers, and other industry stakeholders. “The ministry is responsible enough not to go out there and make wild decisions based on no facts,” Callender said. “The ministry is not going to allow importation that is going to hinder or bring the production of the local farmers into question.”

    In a surprising observation, Callender acknowledged that the sector’s growing storage challenges may stem not from unfair import competition, but from the industry’s own successful expansion. “The production levels within the sector have increased significantly, and that is something that we as a poultry committee and a sector have to look at to see how best we can make sure that the farmers are still satisfied and in some way not hindered by the overproduction,” he said.

  • Judges set limits on using prior convictions, urge pre-sentence reports

    Judges set limits on using prior convictions, urge pre-sentence reports

    The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Barbados’ highest final appellate body, has delivered a groundbreaking ruling that raises the legal threshold for custodial sentences in minor cannabis possession and trafficking cases, overturning a lower court’s three-month jail term and cementing a new precedent prioritizing non-custodial penalties for low-quantity cannabis offences.

    Tuesday’s unanimous decision centered on the appeal of Danny Lamar Husbands, a man convicted of unlawful trafficking of a small amount of cannabis. After pleading guilty to the charge, Husbands was originally sentenced to three months in prison by a lower court magistrate, who justified the custodial penalty by pointing to Husbands’ four prior convictions, which included previous offenses for cannabis possession and cultivation. The magistrate argued that earlier fines had failed to deter Husbands and that his latest offense represented an escalation in criminal activity, making jail the appropriate punishment. Husbands first appealed the ruling to Barbados’ Court of Appeal, which upheld the original sentence, leaving him to turn to the CCJ, which granted him special leave to challenge the decision.

    In its review, the CCJ examined multiple key legal questions related to the sentencing, focusing heavily on compliance with Barbados’ 2001 Penal System Reform Act (PSR). The tribunal was tasked with determining whether the Court of Appeal had erred in upholding the custodial sentence, whether lower courts incorrectly used Husbands’ prior convictions to increase the perceived seriousness of the current offense, and whether appellate judges failed to follow mandatory procedural requirements for sentencing.

    After a comprehensive review of the PSR Act’s text, legislative intent, and existing national and international sentencing jurisprudence, the CCJ reached a clear conclusion: both the lower court and the Court of Appeal had misapplied the law. The landmark ruling clarified that the PSR Act, which was passed as part of a broader national initiative to expand non-custodial sentencing alternatives, explicitly sets a high bar for imprisonment. Section 35(2) of the act mandates that a custodial sentence may only be imposed when an offense is so serious that no other penalty can be justified, a requirement that neither lower court properly addressed. Instead of conducting the mandated threshold analysis, both courts centered their reasoning on deterrence and Husbands’ prior record, a move that contradicts core provisions of the PSR.

    The CCJ further clarified that Section 40(1) of the PSR Act explicitly prohibits courts from increasing the seriousness rating of a current offense solely based on an offender’s prior criminal record. While prior convictions can be considered to identify relevant aggravating factors directly tied to the current offense, they cannot be used to automatically justify a harsher custodial sentence where one would not otherwise be warranted. The ruling also noted that the Court of Appeal violated Section 37(4) of the PSR Act, which requires appellate courts hearing appeals against custodial sentences for hybrid offenses to obtain and review a pre-sentence report if one was not completed in the original trial. No such report was obtained for Husbands’ appeal, marking a second critical procedural error.

    In its final order, the CCJ quashed the original three-month custodial sentence and replaced it with a six-month good behavior bond, a non-custodial penalty. The ruling specifies that if Husbands fails to comply with the terms of the bond, he will be required to pay a fine of 675 Barbadian dollars within 14 days. The tribunal also acknowledged that Barbadian sentencing practice has long favored non-custodial sanctions for small-quantity cannabis offenses, with imprisonment in such cases remaining extremely rare. While it emphasized this existing trend, the court rejected calls to create a rigid inflexible rule requiring non-custodial sentences for all small-scale cannabis trafficking, stressing that sentencing must remain tailored to the specific circumstances of each individual case.

    Husbands was represented in the appeal by Andrew Pilgrim SC and Martie Garnes. Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Krystal Delaney appeared alongside acting Principal State Counsel Kevin Forde for the prosecution, while State Counsel Rico Yearwood served as amicus curiae (friend of the court) on behalf of Barbados’ Attorney General.

  • Tennis pair puts Barbados on CAC medal table

    Tennis pair puts Barbados on CAC medal table

    The 202X Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games hosted in the Dominican Republic has delivered a milestone moment for Team Barbados, as tennis pairing Stephen Slocombe and Kaipo Marshall secured the nation’s first podium finish of the competition, taking home a silver medal in the men’s doubles event.

    The young duo advanced through multiple rounds of competition to reach the gold medal match, where they ultimately fell in straight sets to the experienced El Salvadoran pair of Cesar Cruz and Diego Duran by a score of 6-1, 6-4. Despite falling short of the top spot, the pair earned widespread praise for their grit and composure throughout the match, which was played under brutal, energy-sapping heat that tested every athlete competing on the outdoor courts. Speaking exclusively from the CAC Games Village to local outlet Barbados TODAY, Barbados’ Chef de Mission Dr. Adrian Lorde commended the pair for their standout performance, emphasizing that they delivered high-level tennis even when facing overwhelming physical challenges from the extreme weather conditions.

    The milestone silver medal is far from the only positive news for Team Barbados at this year’s Games. Pro surfer Chelsea Tuach has already booked her spot in the Women’s Short Board final, guaranteeing the nation at least one more medal to add to its tally heading into competition on Wednesday. Tuach pulled off a strong semi-final win against Venezuela’s Rosanny Alvarez, posting a winning score of 6.87 to advance to the championship round. She will now face Costa Rica’s Rachel Aguero in the gold medal match, with a chance to bring home the island’s first gold of the competition. Dr. Lorde noted that Tuach overcame unexpected adversity to reach the final, revealing the athlete had dealt with a minor medical issue on the morning of her semi-final but still pushed through to secure her spot in the title bout. “We are upbeat after our first medal and we are now on the medal board and we’re quite happy that those guys gave it their all. The heat was terrible but both sides had the heat to deal with. Chelsea had a little bit of a medical problem this morning, but she overcame that to get into the finals, and it shows her resilience and willingness to not give up,” Lorde said.

    Alongside the positive medal news, the Games have brought mixed results for other Barbadian athletes competing across multiple disciplines. In Group B women’s hockey, the Barbadian national side suffered a 7-1 defeat at the hands of Cuba. Taekwondo athlete Chioke Holder was knocked out of the men’s 87kg competition in the quarterfinal round, dropping a 2-0 decision to his opponent. In the pool, Heidi Stoute placed fourth in the fourth heat of the Women’s 50m freestyle with a time of 26.60 seconds, while Amani Millar earned a second-place finish in the second heat of the men’s matching event, clocking in at 24.28 seconds. On the golf course, men’s individual competitor Xzavier Wiggins finished 13th out of 14 athletes after the conclusion of the final round of play.

    Off the field of play, Team Barbados will pause competition on Wednesday to honor the legacy of one of the nation’s most iconic sporting figures: Sir Garfield Sobers. Dr. Lorde confirmed that the Barbados national flag will be flown at half mast across the team’s accommodation in the Games Village, and a short commemorative ceremony will be held Wednesday morning to mark Sobers’ passing. A minute’s silence will also be observed ahead of Wednesday’s women’s hockey match between Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, to allow athletes and attendees to pay their respects to the legendary cricketer.

  • State funeral preparations near end at Kensington Oval

    State funeral preparations near end at Kensington Oval

    As Barbados gears up to bid a final, national farewell to one of its most beloved icons, the Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers, final preparations are underway at the iconic Kensington Oval to welcome a crowd of more than 10,000 mourners for what stands as one of the largest public tributes in the island nation’s modern history.

    On Tuesday, while Sir Garry’s casket lay in state at the historic cricket ground, work crews moved through the venue putting last-minute finishing touches on the transformation that converted the world-famous stadium from a planned entertainment host to a solemn state funeral site in less than a week.

    Damien Gaskin, chairman of Kensington Oval Management Inc., shared details of the rapid turnaround in an interview, explaining that the venue had originally been booked to host key events as part of Barbados’ annual Crop Over festival, including the popular Rise and Pic-O-De-Crop competitions. Despite the short notice and shift in plans, the venue’s management team pulled off the full transition in just a matter of days, a feat Gaskin credits to the facility’s ongoing culture of readiness.

    “We normally have more time to prepare for major events, but we generally stay in a state of readiness anyway – we are a facility that is used consistently year-round,” Gaskin explained. He added that the recent international cricket test series against New Zealand had left the ground in excellent condition, cutting down on the prep work needed for the national event. Still, Gaskin emphasized that hosting a state funeral requires a very different setup than a professional cricket match, requiring extensive layout adjustments to match the solemnity of the occasion.

    Major modifications to the venue included the construction of a custom stage, installation of new decking, erection of a private tent for VIP guests, and placement of ceremonial decorations and bunting to create the appropriate atmosphere for a national day of mourning. “In terms of the layout, setting up a stage, putting down the decking, putting in a VIP tent, putting up the bunting to have that feel for a state funeral, all that stuff was done in the last few days,” Gaskin said. “Right now we’re just putting the finishing touches.”

    Work teams continued to handle minor cleaning and touch-up work through Tuesday, with Gaskin noting that open-air venues require constant upkeep, especially in the days leading up to a major event. “It’s just very minor stuff really in terms of cleaning. You clean today, tomorrow it’s still dirty, so there are still some minor touch-ups that need to be done,” he said.

    By the time mourners begin arriving on Wednesday, Gaskin said the venue will fully reflect the gravity and respect of the occasion, fittingly honoring the legacy of the late cricket legend. “It should look and feel like we are really honouring the late, great Sir Garry, and we hope thousands come out to pay their respects,” he added.

    Organizers have issued seating tickets for all public stands across the ground, including the 3Ws, Greenidge and Haynes, Hewitt and Inniss, and Hall and Griffith stands, which offer a total capacity of approximately 10,000 seats. With additional contingency arrangements already in place to accommodate extra guests, Gaskin confirmed he expects the final turnout will exceed that pre-planned seating capacity as people from across the island and around the region travel to Barbados to say goodbye to Sir Garry Sobers.

  • Sir Garfield Sobers lies in state as crowds file past at Kensington Oval

    Sir Garfield Sobers lies in state as crowds file past at Kensington Oval

    On Tuesday, Kensington Oval opened its gates to a continuous stream of mourners, ranging from cricket’s most iconic figures to senior public officials and traveling fans, all gathering to pay their final respects to Barbadian national hero Sir Garfield Sobers one day ahead of his official state funeral. What started as a small, quiet trickle of visitors in the early hours of the morning swelled into a steady, patient procession, as people from across the globe came together to honor a man who rose from humble origins to leave an indelible mark on world cricket.

    As final preparations continued for Wednesday’s state funeral, which will be hosted on the same iconic ground where Sobers built much of his legendary career, venue staff worked to put the finishing touches on the event space. Crews pressure-washed walkways and spectator areas, trimmed the outfield grass, and readied the fully erected main stage, transforming the historic ground into a fitting space to host thousands of expected guests for a celebration of Sobers’ extraordinary life.

    A formal guard of honor stood watch around the flag-draped casket, which was sheltered in a large marquee erected on the playing field. Among the first to pay their respects was fellow cricket great Sir Wesley Hall, who paused in quiet reflection beside the casket from his wheelchair. Outside the venue, crowds of fans gathered to snap photographs beside the three iconic statues that stand at the oval’s entrance: those of Hall, Sir Charles Griffith, and the late Sir Garfield Sobers himself.

    A host of other former West Indies cricket stars joined the solemn procession throughout the day, including Dwayne Smith, Philo Wallace, and Ryan Hinds, the former captain of the Barbados national side. Cricket figures and administrators from across the world have already traveled to Barbados to attend Wednesday’s funeral service, among them legendary former West Indies captain Brian Lara. Lara famously broke Sobers’ 36-year-old record for the highest individual Test score in 1994, when he hit 375 not out against England in Antigua; Sobers had set the original 365 not out record against Pakistan in 1958.

    Legendary West Indies opening batsman Sir Gordon Greenidge shared his reflections on Sobers’ legacy with reporters outside the viewing tent. “I think he had a great innings. Batted well, bowled well, fielded well, what is left to be said about the great man?” Greenidge said. “It’s just one of those sad moments where unfortunately we all have to encounter at some stage in our lives, but we never think it was going to go the way it went or so soon. He will be missed by everyone.”

    Greenidge emphasized that while Sobers was a beloved son of Barbados, his fame and impact stretched across every corner of the globe. “Wherever he went or wherever you mentioned the name Sir Garfield Sobers, everyone knew who he was and wanted to talk about the man. What I think people will miss most about the man is his presence. I’m one of those who always wanted to be in the company of Sir Gary because when he spoke, especially about cricket, you listened. I can say no more, but may he rest in peace.”

    Dame Sandra Mason, President Emeritus of Barbados, was among the high-profile dignitaries that took part in Tuesday’s viewing, pausing for a moment of quiet respect before departing with her delegation. Veteran Barbadian cricket coach Roderick “Roddy” Estwick, who counted Sobers among his greatest influences, also made the trip to Kensington Oval to say goodbye. “We had to do it right, obviously he’s done so much for the country, you know, he put Barbados on the map when he played and was the greatest cricketer that ever lived,” Estwick said.

    “When you look at his figures, you see what an outstanding cricketer he was, but for me he was more of a gentleman. He always had a kind word, always had advice. He would always try to point you in the right direction, so I only felt fitting to be here this morning.”

  • Seales leads Windies to historic Pakistan triumph

    Seales leads Windies to historic Pakistan triumph

    On a memorable Tuesday at Trinidad’s Brian Lara Cricket Academy, young fast bowler Jayden Seales delivered a career-defining performance, claiming his fourth Test five-wicket haul to lock in a historic 90-run victory for the West Indies over Pakistan in the opening match of their series. What unfolded across four days of fluctuating momentum ended with a dominant finish from the home side, capping off a contest that kept cricket fans on the edge of their seats from the first over to the last.

    The day of decision opened with West Indies in a precarious position, resuming at 126 for seven in their second innings having built a narrow overnight advantage. Tail-end batters Kemar Roach and Shamar Joseph extended their stubborn partnership to 61 runs, adding 28 crucial runs to push the home side closer to a competitive lead. After Mohammad Ali removed Joseph for 38, late contributions from Roach, Jomel Warrican and Seales himself pushed West Indies’ overall lead past the 200-run mark, setting Pakistan a 211-run victory target with a day and a half of play remaining. Pakistan’s pace spearhead Mohammad Abbas then claimed the final two wickets of Roach and Warrican to pick up his seventh five-wicket haul in Tests, finishing with figures of 5-22 from 15.5 overs, leaving the visitors with a realistic chance of chasing down the required total to take an early series lead.

    But Pakistan’s chase got off to a disastrous start almost as soon as it began. In just the third over, with five runs already on the board, the consistently reliable Roach sent down a searing delivery that brushed Imam-ul-Haq’s glove on the way through to the wicketkeeper, handing West Indies the first breakthrough. Azan Awais followed back to the pavilion shortly after, chasing a wide half-volley from Seales and edging a simple catch to the keeper, leaving Pakistan at 21 for two. Seales struck again in his very next over, trapping Salman Agha lbw for a duck to plunge the visitors into crisis at 25 for three, with Pakistan limping into the lunch break at 28 for three still needing 183 runs to win.

    After the interval, Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan showed brief glimpses of fight, with Rizwan hitting two consecutive boundaries off Seales and Azam finding the midwicket rope off Joseph. But the momentum shifted back to West Indies almost instantly when medium pacer Justin Greaves, the hero of the first innings with the ball, produced two quick strikes. He bowled Rizwan for 11 in his first over of the spell, then trapped Aamer Jamal lbw for a duck just one over later, dropping Pakistan to 50 for five. The situation worsened three runs later when Ali Usman chased a full delivery from Roach and edged a catch to Greaves at second slip, reducing the visitors to 7/6 wickets down.

    Shan Masood, who hit a century in Pakistan’s first innings but batted down the order due to a finger injury, managed only three runs before driving loosely at Seales straight into the hands of Joseph at backward point, all but ending any remote hope of a Pakistan recovery. By the time Seales knocked over Khurram Shahzad’s middle stump and Joseph caught Mohammad Ali at second slip, Pakistan had slumped to 71 for nine, with the match seemingly destined to end before the tea break.

    But a stubborn late partnership between Abbas and Azan frustrated West Indies, with Abbas hitting four entertaining boundaries and Azam bringing up his 32nd Test half-century, carrying Pakistan to 114 for nine at the tea break. Their 49-run stand for the final wicket prolonged the contest, but it could not prevent the inevitable. Shortly after tea, Seales fittingly finished the match by trapping Abbas lbw for 23 off 33 balls, wrapping up Pakistan’s innings at 120 all out in 40.2 overs. Seales finished with stunning match-winning figures of 5-20 from 14.2 testing overs, securing the 90-run win and extending Pakistan’s miserable away form to eight consecutive Test defeats on the road.

    Greaves, who claimed seven wickets across the two Pakistan innings, was named Player-of-the-Match for his all-contributions with the ball, finishing with 2-12 in the second innings. Roach also chipped in with two key wickets to end with 2-27 for the match, rounding out a dominant collective bowling performance from the West Indies side.

  • Diplomatic, cricketing communities in Ghana join Barbados in honouring Sir Garfield Sobers

    Diplomatic, cricketing communities in Ghana join Barbados in honouring Sir Garfield Sobers

    Across Accra, Ghana, two distinct communities—international diplomats stationed in the country and Ghana’s cricket fraternity—have united with Barbados to pay tribute to the legendary life and enduring legacy of The Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers, following his passing. Tributes have poured in through in-person visits, official diplomatic communications, and handwritten condolence messages from across the globe. To formalize these acts of remembrance, the Barbados High Commission in Accra opened a public Book of Condolence at its chancery on Wednesday, July 22, and the book will remain available for signing until the day of Sir Garfield’s State Funeral, scheduled for Wednesday, July 29.

    In the first wave of tributes, a roster of senior diplomatic leaders visited the commission to add their signatures to the condolence book. Attendees included H.E. Surinder Bhagat, India’s High Commissioner to Ghana; H.E. Kufa Edward Chinoza, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador; H.E. Daniel Mahongo of Zambia; H.E. Rosemary Mbabazi of Rwanda; H.E. Andrei Ordash, Ambassador of the Russian Federation; and H.E. Rosa Liliana Gómez Cárdenas de Weston, Ambassador of Peru. They were joined by lower-ranking diplomatic representatives, including Mr. Emanuel Chitende, First Secretary at the Angolan Embassy, and Mr. Dominic Atsou Hemadzo, who signed on behalf of the Embassy of the State of Palestine.

    Beyond in-person visits, the high commission has received formal diplomatic Notes Verbales conveying condolences from the Embassy of Spain and the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See. Written condolence messages have also arrived from heads of mission and diplomatic representatives spanning five continents: Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Nations that have shared messages of sympathy include Liberia, France, Algeria, Suriname, Cuba, Kenya, Canada, Angola, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Mozambique, Namibia, Malaysia, South Sudan, Egypt, Hungary, and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic of Western Sahara.

    Separately, Ghana’s cricket community held its own tribute at Achimota, the historic home of cricket in the country. While Ghana’s national Under-19 cricket team played a practice match against the local Achimota Cricket Club, leadership and members of the Ghana Cricket Association gathered to sign the condolence book. Key figures in attendance included Association President Mr. Emmanuel O. Asare, Treasurer Ms. Angela Allotey, Organising Committee Head Mr. Nii Okai Evans, and the head coach of Ghana’s senior men’s national cricket team.

    Ms. Allotey emphasized that Sir Garfield’s contributions to global cricket will continue to serve as a source of inspiration for upcoming players across the African continent. For his part, Mr. Evans shared warm personal recollections of his meetings with Sir Garfield over several years in both England and Atlanta, United States, noting that those conversations left an indelible mark on his own career and love for the sport.

    In closing, the Barbados High Commission issued a statement of sincere gratitude to all those who took time to visit the mission, sign the condolence book, or send messages of sympathy. Officials noted that the widespread outpouring of respect from across the world reflects the universal acclaim and esteem in which Sir Garfield was held, confirming that his impact stretched far beyond the borders of Barbados and the boundaries of the cricket pitch.

    (Photo credits: All photographs contributed by attendees and the Barbados High Commission)

  • Police searching for missing 13-year-old girl

    Police searching for missing 13-year-old girl

    Law enforcement authorities in Barbados are turning to the public for urgent assistance as they search for a 13-year-old teenager who has not been seen for seven days. Kemera Murray, who resides at Blackman Field in The Pine, St Michael, was last spotted in the North Close neighborhood of Wildey, St Michael on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, according to an official statement from the Barbados Police Service.

    Investigators have released a detailed physical description of the missing teen to help community members identify her. Kemera stands approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, has a slim build, and dark skin. Her distinguishing features include long limbs, a round facial structure, a flat forehead, and small facial features including her eyes, nose, mouth and ears. A small scar on her right temple serves as a key identifying mark; she also holds an upright posture when walking and speaks in a soft tone of voice.

    Police confirmed that Kemera is known to regularly visit two areas in the adjacent parish of Christ Church: Oistins and Sayers Court. Investigators are urging any resident or visitor who may have seen the teenager, or has information about her current location, to come forward immediately with details.

    Members of the public with tips have multiple contact options to share information. They can reach out directly to District ‘A’ Police Station via the phone lines 430-7242 or 430-7246, call the 211 police emergency hotline, submit anonymous information through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS (1-800-847-7), or visit any local police station to speak with an officer in person.

  • Authorities to ensure reproductive health care continuity during emergencies

    Authorities to ensure reproductive health care continuity during emergencies

    Against a backdrop of rising global instability and growing regional uncertainty, Barbados has launched a landmark collaborative initiative to safeguard critical sexual and reproductive health services for vulnerable populations when disasters or humanitarian crises strike. Led jointly by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Barbados’ Ministry of Health and Wellness, the effort kicked off this week with a two-day Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) Readiness Assessment and Action Planning Workshop, held at United Nations House in Hastings, bringing together public health leaders, emergency response teams and representatives from cross-sector key agencies.

    Barbados’ Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kenneth George used the opening address to warn against overconfidence, noting that while the island nation has not faced a large-scale humanitarian disaster in recent years, this track record is no excuse for complacency. “Disasters can strike anywhere, even here in Barbados,” George emphasized. “Our recent period without major crises does not justify inaction – if anything, it demands increased vigilance and proactive preparedness.”

    Pointing to mounting global disruptions and ongoing regional challenges, including the protracted humanitarian situation in Venezuela, George stressed that emergencies can escalate rapidly with little warning. While food, clean water and emergency shelter are universally recognized as immediate post-disaster priorities, he argued that sexual and reproductive health care is too often sidelined despite its life-saving importance.

    “Consider a pregnant woman going into labor mid-disaster, or a young girl seeking protection from gender-based violence in an overcrowded emergency shelter,” George said. “Sexual and reproductive health is not a luxury during a crisis. It is a life-saving priority and a fundamental human right.”

    Global health data underscores the stakes of this work. The World Health Organization estimates that two-thirds of all preventable maternal deaths and 45 percent of newborn deaths occur in regions impacted by conflict or natural disasters. Dr. George explained that UNFPA research has repeatedly shown that timely, prioritized reproductive health services in crises reduce preventable mortality, cut disability rates, lower the risk of unintended pregnancies, and improve support for survivors of gender-based violence. Without coordinated, cross-agency preparedness, he added, years of hard-won progress in improving maternal and child health outcomes can be lost in an instant. That makes the current workshop a critical step to protect those gains.

    De-Jane Gibbons, UNFPA Liaison Officer for Barbados and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), echoed that sentiment, noting that emergencies inherently amplify the risk of sexual violence and unintended pregnancies, making advance preparedness non-negotiable. “It is our shared collective responsibility to ensure that childbirth does not become a life-threatening experience simply because of crisis conditions or a shortage of essential supplies,” she said.

    The workshop is structured to deliver actionable, country-specific outcomes. On its first day, participants conducted a comprehensive review of Barbados’ current response capacity, existing service delivery frameworks, and inter-agency coordination mechanisms, with a focus on identifying unaddressed gaps and weaknesses. On the second day, attendees will turn those assessment findings into a concrete national action plan, using scenario-based response exercises to test existing national capabilities and map out exactly what resources will be needed to fill gaps.

    Gibbons emphasized that long-term success will depend on sustained cross-sector collaboration, noting that key stakeholders including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, national polyclinics, the Bureau of Gender Affairs, the Department of Emergency Management, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), and other regional partners will all need to work in lockstep to ensure that vulnerable populations can access uninterrupted essential care, even when crisis hits.

  • Tuach advances to shortboard semis at CAC Games

    Tuach advances to shortboard semis at CAC Games

    Elite athletes representing Barbados have delivered a mix of standout and solid performances across multiple sporting disciplines at the ongoing Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games hosted in the Dominican Republic, with one top surfer punching her ticket to the next stage of competition.

    Chelsea Tuach, Barbados’ leading female professional surfer, secured a second-place finish in her preliminary heat, a result that earned her a coveted spot in the men’s shortboard semifinal scheduled to take place Tuesday. Following her successful qualifying run, Tuach is set to face off against Venezuela’s top surfer Rosanny Alvarez in the knockout round for a spot in the final.

    In the men’s shortboard surfing competition, Barbadian contender Jacob Burke wrapped up his tournament run with a respectable fifth-place finish, wrapping up the country’s surfing contingent results for the Games.

    Beyond the waves, Barbados picked up a thrilling win in men’s Group A hockey action, overpowering Guatemala 4-2 in a competitive matchup. The Caribbean side’s victory was fueled by a brace from forward Kanye Wharton, with additional strikes from Ahijah Springer and Khodi Gibson sealing the three points for Barbados.

    In men’s individual golf play, after three full rounds of competition, Barbadian golfer Xzavier Wiggins holds down 13th position in the tight 14-player field, with more play set to come to determine the final medal standings.

    One of the most dramatic comebacks of the day for Barbados came in the Men’s Rugby Sevens draw, where the side overturned a 0-5 halftime deficit against Costa Rica to rally for a dominant 24-5 final win. Forward John Simon led the team’s second-half charge, finishing the match with five total points to anchor the comeback victory.