标签： Barbados

An elderly St Michael resident with mobility limitations finds himself effectively marooned within his own home, besieged by persistent flooding and a rapidly deteriorating mosquito infestation that local inhabitants attribute to a clogged public drainage well.

Seymour Burnett, 77, a decades-long resident of Ashdeane, reports a significant escalation of this problem over recent years. The situation originates from a public drainage well that has become obstructed with debris, causing water to reverse its flow and inundate his property. Burnett describes the flooding events as severe, with water levels occasionally rising to his knees, profoundly disrupting his daily existence.

“My house does be like a boat,” Burnett explained, noting that while floodwaters have not yet breached his home’s interior, they completely encircle the wooden structure, effectively imprisoning him indoors. To combat the ensuing mosquito plague, he is forced to burn at least two insecticide coils nightly.

Attempted interventions late last year proved insufficient. Neil Rowe, the Member of Parliament for St Michael North West, confirmed he escalated the matter to the government drainage department, which subsequently engaged a private contractor for well maintenance—the first such action since 2023. Although contractors removed approximately three skip loads of debris, the work was abandoned prematurely, leaving the well partially blocked and stagnant water accumulating throughout the watercourse. Compounding the issue, a large mound of excavated dirt and debris was left adjacent to Burnett’s property, creating additional pools of standing water.

MP Rowe has apologized for the ongoing inconvenience and disclosed that he has contacted the chief technical officer at the drainage department to secure a commitment for completing the work within the coming fortnight. “Any inconvenience caused to residents is regrettable, and I am personally ensuring that the drainage well will be fully cleared and returned to operation,” Rowe stated. He added that remedial measures, including applying oil to stagnant water to suppress mosquito breeding around Christmas, were undertaken, and that the Ministry of Health would be engaged to address residual public health risks.

The situation has galvanized community concern. André Broomes, a local barber, denounced the conditions as “ridiculous,” expressing fear for Burnett’s welfare and highlighting the inaccessibility for emergency services. The issue has also drawn political attention beyond the constituency’s representative. Ryan Walters, the Opposition Democratic Labour Party candidate for the area, visited the site and criticized the delayed official response, pointing out that the hazard also affects neighboring homes and local businesses. Walters asserted that his involvement came after residents sought alternative assistance due to dissatisfaction with the response from their sitting MP.

Barbados is poised to revolutionize its approach to community care with the impending completion of the Sterling Residential and Respite Facility in St Philip. Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey has announced significant progress on this groundbreaking project, which promises to reshape support services for older adults, children, and persons with disabilities through an innovative community-based model.

The development represents a collaborative effort between the Ministry of People Empowerment, the National Assistance Board, the Barbados Alzheimer’s Association, and Soroptimist International of Barbados. Rather than creating large institutional settings, the facility embraces a modern philosophy of smaller, clustered residences arranged in circular pods to foster genuine community connections and relationships.

Construction is advancing through carefully planned phases. Renovation of the main heritage building is nearing completion, with tender processes for subsequent stages scheduled to begin imminently. The comprehensive complex will eventually include 60-70 residential units, specialized dementia and Alzheimer’s care services, day nursery facilities for children, and fully accessible spaces designed for persons with all types of disabilities.

With an estimated total investment between $10-12 million, the project allocates approximately $2 million for renovating the historic structure while the remainder funds new construction. The first phase will deliver 20-30 residences, with overall completion expected within the first six to seven months of this year.

Minister Humphrey emphasized the intentional design pause taken last year to ensure complete accessibility and inclusivity. The revised plans now incorporate accommodations for physical, sensory, and visual impairments alongside expanded green and social spaces. This ‘caring in place’ approach aims to support both residents and families providing home care.

The government plans to replicate this innovative model across Barbados, with similar facilities already in development for St Thomas and St George parishes, signaling a nationwide transformation in social service delivery.

A potentially tragic incident in Goodland Gardens has ignited urgent calls for infrastructure reform across Barbados. Seventy-two-year-old Lolene Rawlins survived a harrowing fall into an 87-foot well concealed by overgrown vegetation on Monday, prompting immediate rescue operations by the Barbados Fire Service and Roving Response team.

The near-fatal accident has exposed critical gaps in public safety monitoring, particularly regarding abandoned and unsecured wells throughout the island nation. Ministry of Transport and Works crews responded by implementing temporary safety measures at the incident site, including plywood covers and caution-taped wooden barriers.

Local residents revealed this was not an isolated case. Edwin Denny, a community witness, cited multiple previous incidents including a fatal 2019 case where 18-year-old Kyrique Boyce died after a well cover collapsed. “This isn’t the first person,” Denny emphasized, noting similar accidents in St. James where individuals have fallen into uncovered wells.

The community has initiated grassroots efforts to identify hazardous sites, with resident Christopher Alleyne advocating for collaborative action between citizens, authorities, and media. “Instead of sitting back and talking, you can get involved and do your little piece,” Alleyne urged, promoting community-led hazard reporting.

However, frustration simmers among residents who believe warnings were historically ignored. One visibly angry resident questioned the reactive approach: “Nobody speaks about it until somebody has jumped in there, so who next is going to die in there?”

Ministry officials acknowledged systemic challenges. Drainage Supervisor Troy Jones admitted many wells remain undocumented due to their secluded locations. “Sometimes it takes a situation like this for us to be aware,” Jones stated, confirming the incident would improve future mapping and identification efforts.

While temporary measures are being deployed, officials note that permanent solutions require coordinated long-term planning. The incident marks the latest in a series of well-related accidents, including a 2019 National Conservation Commission worker’s survival story and a 2022 case where a young man survived a 42-foot fall with minor injuries.

The tranquil neighborhood of Ealing Park in Christ Church became a scene of national celebration as Doreen Claudine Irene Cummins, Barbados’ latest centenarian, was honored with a special presidential visit. Marking her 100th birthday on Wednesday, Mrs. Cummins received President Jeffrey Bostic at her home where she shared laughter, wisdom, and remarkable life stories with distinguished guests and family members.

Displaying sharp wit and vibrant personality, Cummins greeted President Bostic with historical perspective, noting that while a governor general had previously visited her mother in the same household, she particularly valued the current presidential acknowledgment. “Thank God the best president get to sit down with me,” she remarked with cheerful appreciation.

Born in 1926, Cummins asserted her continued mental acuity despite her advanced age. “I was born in 1926, and you know that I know everything,” she confidently declared to the assembled company.

President Bostic praised her milestone achievement with cricketing analogy, observing: “This is a significant achievement. It seems as though now we are having more centenarians than we are having batsmen making hundreds for us. This is really wonderful.”

Cummins reflected on her extensive working life that began at age 13 after attending St Thomas Girls’ School. She detailed her professional journey from Spring Farm, St. Thomas to St. Michael, where she initially worked as a shop assistant earning $7 weekly before advancing to entrepreneurship. “I keep a rum shop for 40 years,” she recounted of her business tenure.

When soliciting advice for contemporary youth, Cummins emphasized the foundational value of respect that characterized her generation. “Listen to me, in my day it was the same thing. All that is different, we had respect for old people. If you saw an old person you would run and hide. But the young people ain’t care,” she observed regarding evolving social norms.

The mother of five attributed her longevity to simple culinary pleasures and traditional practices. When questioned about her secret to extended vitality, she humorously cited “breadfruit coucou” accompanied by white rum. Upon inquiry regarding current consumption, she responded with unequivocal frankness: “Of course I do… every day whenever I eat my food. That is what is keeping me good.”

The celebration included family members and local MP Wilfred Abrahams, creating an intergenerational gathering that honored both Cummins’ personal journey and Barbados’ cultural heritage.

In a significant national address, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has issued a powerful appeal for citizens to actively participate in restoring the nation’s social cohesion. Speaking at Wednesday’s inauguration of the first Social Empowerment Agency (SEA) client center in Six Roads, St Philip, Mottley positioned the new integrated social services model as a cornerstone of broader societal transformation.

The Prime Minister articulated a compelling vision where poverty reduction and community strengthening require collective action beyond government intervention. “The battle to lift families from dependence to independence to nurture interdependence must happen not because government alone is integrating services,” Mottley emphasized, “but through combined efforts of public sector, private enterprise, and community engagement.”

Mottley framed participation as both moral imperative and practical necessity, particularly urging economically stable citizens to join the One Family Programme. She challenged conventional notions of support, stating: “You can always give money, but money isn’t the only currency that helps to empower. The currency that helps to empower most is a listening ear and a helping hand, a warm heart, and voices that literally encourage others.”

The Prime Minister illustrated this philosophy with a recent case where a business owner opted for restorative justice over prosecution for several youths in trouble. Through mediation involving parents, officials, and religious leaders, agreements were established to reward positive behavior—including academic improvement—with tangible support such as sporting equipment and transportation to recreational activities.

Mottley connected this approach to Barbados’ cultural and religious values, reminding citizens: “If we don’t be the country that gives people a second chance, what is the basis of the religious faith of Christianity, if it is not about redemption and opportunities, and forgiveness?” Her address positioned social empowerment as both practical governance and national ethical commitment.