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巴巴多斯

  • Humphrey urges construction reform ahead of building boom

    Humphrey urges construction reform ahead of building boom

    As Barbados gears up for an unprecedented wave of large-scale construction activity, Transport Minister Kirk Humphrey has issued a urgent call for sweeping industry reform, calling on stakeholders to modernise outdated building practices, rein in rampant cost overruns, and deliver more climate-resilient infrastructure that stands the test of time.

    Humphrey laid out the government’s ambitious vision for a refreshed, forward-thinking national construction sector – branded “Construction 2.0” – during the opening address of this year’s Barbados Annual Construction and Design Conference, hosted Tuesday at the Wyndham Grand Sam Lord’s Castle. Speaking to an audience of industry leaders, contractors, and public sector officials, he pushed for widespread adoption of cutting-edge digital technology, strict financial accountability across all projects, and intentional adaptation to the growing threats posed by climate change.

    Drawing on his experience leading the country’s social services portfolio in a previous role, Humphrey drew a striking parallel between the outdated regulatory frameworks that once hampered social welfare progress and the current stagnation he sees in Barbados’ construction industry. He argued that even early 20th-century leaders of the nation would recognise current construction practices as largely unchanged from their time, highlighting how the sector has failed to keep pace with global technological advances that have transformed building over the past century.

    “Despite game-changing leaps in construction technology and methodology that have swept the globe since the Industrial Revolution, most of our domestic building practices have remained stagnant,” Humphrey noted.

    The minister shared key takeaways from a recent study tour to Curitiba, Brazil, a city widely lauded for its trailblazing approach to urban planning. Curitiba began developing its data-driven urban planning system more than six decades ago, and the effort has resulted in a centralised digital management platform called an “urban hypervisor”, which integrates data across all areas of urban development – from civil works and national defense to transportation, construction, and climate resilience planning, all in one unified system.

    Following that model, Humphrey confirmed that Barbados is already developing its own integrated digital infrastructure tracking system through the Office of Infrastructure and Planning (OIP) and the National Infrastructure Asset Register (NIAR). Currently, the OIP oversees more than 300 active public and private projects across key sectors including housing, agriculture, and the blue economy, a portfolio of 59 pages of initiatives valued at hundreds of millions of dollars.

    Humphrey stressed that digital integration is the key to solving long-standing infrastructure problems, particularly in road construction and utility management. He called out the all-too-common issue of newly paved roads developing dangerous potholes within mere months of completion, insisting that all new infrastructure must be engineered to withstand more intense extreme weather, the heavier weight of modern electric buses, and growing traffic volumes.

    “I cannot accept that the roads we build today only last one or two years – some don’t even make it 12 months. That has to change,” Humphrey said. “We have to build for our current climate, and we have to build for the vehicles we use now. Today’s electric buses weigh twice as much as the buses we operated a generation ago.”

    He also addressed widespread public frustration over the practice of utility companies digging up newly resurfaced roads to fix broken water mains, explaining that the heavy compaction rollers used during road paving often crush aging, century-old underground pipes, causing leaks just days after a road project is completed. Through digital mapping and the creation of a full virtual model of Barbados’ subsurface infrastructure, the ministry aims to map the exact location of existing pipes and assess subsurface conditions before breaking ground, eliminating costly rework and disruptive traffic delays.

    Beyond technological upgrades, Humphrey issued a stern warning about the need for tighter project management and financial accountability, promising to put an end to the rampant cost overruns and schedule inflation that have plagued public works projects for decades. “Too many people see government projects as a free-for-all: a job that should cost $100 suddenly balloons to $1,000, and a 10-day job stretches out to 100 days. That culture has to stop,” he said. “We have to be far more vigilant in monitoring our projects, and far more disciplined in how we manage public funds.”

    Humphrey confirmed that Barbados is on the cusp of a “massive construction boom” that will transform the country’s infrastructure over the next two years, but he raised urgent concerns about persistent labor shortages across the sector, even as the government offers free vocational training programs to prepare new workers for open roles.

    “It hurts my heart to hear construction employers saying they can’t find workers to hire here in Barbados,” he said. “I want to urge young Barbadians to take advantage of these opportunities: there has never been a better time, with full free training available and immediate job openings waiting for graduates.”

    He also highlighted the current administration’s broader economic policy, which encourages workers to become equity owners in state-owned infrastructure and service providers such as the Transport Board, fostering a greater sense of personal investment in national development projects.

    In closing, Humphrey appealed to Barbadians for patience as the wave of capital works gets underway over the coming years, urging the nation to set aside outdated habits in pursuit of long-term, sustainable progress. “Over the next two years, Barbados will look like one big construction zone, and I ask all citizens to bear with us,” he said. “But at the end of the day, every single one of us will benefit from the stronger, more resilient infrastructure we build today.”

  • Two women, two cancer journeys, one message: screen early

    Two women, two cancer journeys, one message: screen early

    For two women in Barbados, proactive breast cancer screening has transformed life-altering diagnoses into positive treatment outcomes, while shining a light on persistent systemic hurdles including high treatment costs and public health care delays that many local patients face. Forty-nine-year-old Katrina Doughty never expected a routine preventive scan would uncover cancer in 2022. For months after her mother’s death in 2021, Doughty attributed her persistent fatigue and mood shifts to grief and the onset of menopause. It was only when she went in for a scheduled well-woman exam that included both a pap smear and a mammogram that the growth was detected. “I cried for a whole week after I got the results,” Doughty recalled of her diagnosis. A local surgeon initially recommended a full mastectomy of the affected breast with no alternative options, but her family based in New York urged her to pursue a second opinion. When she traveled to New York for retesting, doctors reclassified her cancer as stage 1A, an early-stage diagnosis that allowed for a targeted treatment plan of four rounds of chemotherapy followed by 21 rounds of radiation therapy. Today, Doughty remains on daily maintenance medication, with costs ranging from just $7 to $37 per drug thanks to insurance formulary coverage, and a routine mammogram through the Barbados Cancer Society (BCS) costs approximately $100 for local patients. For Patricia Murray, a veteran science teacher, getting a repeat mammogram was not on her priority list until a push from someone she knew changed her mind. Murray had not undergone screening since 2018, when a former student, working a summer position with the BCS, reached out and encouraged her to book an appointment. That single act of persistence led to an early diagnosis that Murray says likely saved her life. Just two days after her scan, Murray got a call: practitioners had spotted an abnormality that required a biopsy. During the biopsy, a second, previously unseen growth was discovered. “I cried when they told me,” Murray said, adding that she was deeply grateful her mother, who lives abroad, had arranged for a close friend to accompany her to all appointments. Initial samples were tested locally in Barbados, with further confirmatory testing sent to facilities in Miami. The results confirmed an early, non-invasive form of breast cancer. Murray credits her 2018 baseline mammogram with helping clinicians catch the tiny growth that no manual exam could detect. “The abnormality was so small that if they didn’t have the 2018 scan to compare it to, any radiologist could have missed it,” she explained. “I never felt anything, the nurse never felt anything, no one would have picked up on it.” Her surgeon recommended private treatment over the public system, noting that the cancer had displayed aggressive characteristics and public wait times could delay critical care. “I am so grateful I had medical insurance,” Murray said. “I had my surgery done by the first week of November.” Because the cancer was caught at such an early stage, Murray did not need chemotherapy or radiation. She is currently on a 10-year preventive medication plan and follows up with her oncologist every six months. Even with insurance, Murray acknowledges that the burden of a cancer diagnosis remains heavy. “One of the hardest parts is still the cost,” she said. “Even if you go through the public system, there’s still a cost — whether it’s out-of-pocket fees, time lost waiting for care, or the emotional energy it drains from you and your family.” Dr. Shirley Hanoman-Jhagroo, medical coordinator for the BCS Breast Screening Programme, confirms that the challenges Murray and Doughty have encountered are common for breast cancer patients across Barbados. She points to extended surgical wait times in the public sector and prohibitive costs for newer, more effective medications as the most persistent systemic issues. Despite these challenges, Hanoman-Jhagroo notes that treatment protocols have advanced locally in recent years: many patients now receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery to shrink tumors, enabling less invasive procedures, and full radiation therapy services are now available on the island. Even so, she says, public sector delays and limited access to expensive specialty drugs continue to compromise outcomes for low-income patients. Some newer targeted chemotherapy medications cost upwards of $10,000 per month or per treatment, a price tag that puts them out of reach for many uninsured or underinsured patients, who are often forced to pursue less effective alternative treatments. The BCS has worked to address gaps in local care, recently partnering with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) to expand public chemotherapy services. Following a request from the BCS screening program, two existing treatment rooms were fully refurbished and outfitted with seven new chemotherapy treatment chairs. Before the expansion, the QEH could treat just six chemotherapy patients at a time; the upgrade boosts capacity to 13 simultaneous treatments, a change that Hanoman-Jhagroo says will meaningfully reduce wait times and expand access for hundreds of patients seeking care each year. “This expansion will make a real difference in how many patients can receive life-saving treatment every single day,” she added. The stories of both Doughty and Murray underscore a core message pushed by breast health advocates globally and in the Caribbean: routine, proactive screening saves lives by catching cancers at early stages when treatment is far more effective and less invasive. At the same time, their experiences highlight the ongoing work needed to address cost and access barriers that continue to create unequal outcomes for cancer patients across the region.

  • Evidence begins in cannabis trial

    Evidence begins in cannabis trial

    A high-stakes criminal trial has kicked off at Barbados’ No. 4 Supreme Court, centering on a man who faces multiple drug-related charges linked to more than 120 kilograms of cannabis intercepted at sea more than six years ago.

    Walter O’neal Prescod, a resident of Emerald Park East in St. Philip, has entered not guilty pleas to all three counts brought against him. The charges stem from an incident dated July 23, 2018, when authorities allege he was in possession of the 121.4-kilogram cannabis stash within Barbados’ territorial waters, illegally imported the controlled substance, and held a traffickable quantity of the drug — a designation that carries severe legal penalties under Barbadian law.

    Over the first days of proceedings, prosecutors have presented key forensic witness testimony to lay out their case against the defendant. Marsha Skeete, Director of the Forensic Science Centre, told the court she took custody of a sealed evidence bag from a law enforcement officer one week after the alleged incident, on July 30, 2018. Inside the sealed container were six transparent, resealable plastic bags holding plant material that underwent full forensic analysis. Skeete confirmed that the tested material matched the genetic profile of plants from the Cannabis genus, consisting of a mixture of seeds, crushed leaves, and plant stalks.

    Additional testimony came from Justice of the Peace Gary Alleyne, who took the stand to recount his observations at the Oistins Police Station three days after the alleged offence, on July 26, 2018. Alleyne told the court he was on location at the station when he conferred with a police officer about the case, while Prescod was present at the station alongside his defense attorney Andrew Pilgrim. Alleyne testified he personally observed a law enforcement officer documenting 40 separate packages, each of which held plant material suspected at the time to be cannabis. To corroborate this on-scene documentation, a police photographer submitted an evidence album containing more than 50 images of the seized packages to the court for the jury’s review.

    The prosecution is being led by Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Alliston Seale SC, assisted by acting Senior State Counsel Paul Prescod. Representing the defendant in the proceedings are defense counsels Sade Harris and Elan Greenidge. A nine-member jury, made up of five women and four men, has been empaneled to hear all evidence presented in the case and deliver a verdict, with the Honorable Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell presiding over the trial at the Supreme Court. As of the latest update, proceedings are ongoing as the prosecution continues to lay out its evidence against the accused.

  • Brathwaite admits firearm offences

    Brathwaite admits firearm offences

    A resident of Foul Bay, St. Philip, has been placed in pre-sentencing custody at Dodds Prison after entering a guilty plea to weapons charges connected to a public shooting that rattled the Silver Sands community nearly three years ago.

    Forty-year-old Rico Jamal Brathwaite requested a re-arraignment hearing in Barbados’ No. 4 Supreme Court, where he formally admitted to two criminal counts: unlawful possession of a 9mm caliber firearm and use of that same weapon without a valid license, offenses he committed on November 9, 2021.

    Details of the incident laid out in court paint a clear picture of the brazen public shooting. On the afternoon of the offense, around 3:45 p.m., multiple officers were stationed at the Silver Sands community police outpost in Christ Church when they heard two loud explosions ring out near a local caravan park. One responding officer looked outside the outpost and spotted Brathwaite and a second male suspect fleeing in the direction of the nearby public park. The accomplice escaped the scene immediately, getting into a black Toyota Axio parked steps from the shooting site and driving off before officers could intervene.

    Investigating detectives later obtained closed-circuit security footage that retraced the pair’s movements before and during the shooting. The video confirmed the two men drove to the area together, exited the vehicle, and walked to a small convenience store located directly across from the police outpost. Footage shows the second suspect pulling a dark-colored handgun from his waistband and passing it to Brathwaite. Brathwaite then walked toward the street, pointed the weapon eastward up the road, and fired multiple shots into the area before running toward the park, still clutching the firearm. His accomplice fled in the car toward the St. Christopher neighborhood immediately after the shots were fired.

    Brathwaite was taken into police custody just one day after the incident. Court records confirm he voluntarily identified himself in the security footage and provided investigators with the name of his accomplice. As of the arraignment hearing, the weapon used in the shooting has not been recovered by police.

    Acting Senior State Counsel Paul Prescod, who is prosecuting the case on behalf of the Barbados government, accepted Brathwaite’s guilty plea and formally requested Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell to remand the defendant into custody ahead of his sentencing hearing. Prescod noted that while some minor weapons offenses may result in a fine recommendation from the prosecution, the nature of Brathwaite’s charges — which include both unlawful possession and improper use of a firearm in a public place — exceed the threshold for lenient pretrial treatment. “Because this is one which involves use of a firearm and possession of a firearm, which falls beyond the threshold of simple possession, it is at this time I am asking that, based on the type of offences that we are dealing with, I am asking that the now-convicted man be remanded into custody pending sentencing,” Prescod told the court.

    Defense attorney Shadia Simpson, representing Brathwaite, filed a formal request for a full accounting of the time her client has already spent in custody related to the case, a standard step ahead of sentencing. The case is scheduled to resume on December 18 for the sentencing hearing, court records confirm.

  • Robinson eyes Amsterdam podium

    Robinson eyes Amsterdam podium

    One of the Caribbean’s most accomplished distance runners, Carlie Robinson of Barbados, is preparing to depart her home island this Wednesday for what she calls one of the most high-profile competitive opportunities of her entire professional career. Fresh off a string of strong regional performances that have kept her in peak physical condition, Robinson is gearing up to take on the Mizuno Half Marathon, a featured event held on October 18 as part of the prestigious TCS Amsterdam Marathon weekend. Robinson’s momentum heading into the international race comes off two standout results from earlier this year: she claimed gold in the CARICOM 10-kilometer road race hosted in Saint Lucia this past July, and followed that victory with a solid third-place showing at the Venture Credit Union 5K in Trinidad just weeks later. In an exclusive interview with Barbados TODAY, the veteran distance runner opened up about her months of preparation, long-held goal to compete in the Dutch event, and ambitions for Sunday’s contest. Robinson, a fan favorite and well-recognized name on the Caribbean road racing circuit, emphasized that the Amsterdam race stands as one of the most prestigious international events on the global distance running calendar. “This has been a goal of mine for almost four years, when I first added it to my competitive calendar as a must-do race,” she shared. “I’ve put in months of consistent training all through summer, into September, and now into October. I’ve put in all the work, and I’m ready to push hard for a great result.” Her primary target for the race is setting a new personal best time, an outcome she says is well within reach thanks to the course’s unique characteristics. “The Amsterdam course is flat and fast, which is exactly what any runner looks for when they’re targeting a fast time. Based on my training times over the past few months, I know I’m in good enough shape to crack the top 10 overall if everything goes right,” Robinson explained. Having spent the entire 2024 season training and competing in the warm, humid conditions common to Caribbean nations, Robinson says the cooler autumn temperatures expected in Amsterdam could give her an extra edge on race day. She credits her consistent pre-race preparation and long-time training setup for her excellent form heading into the contest. Robinson has trained for over a decade under coach Leo Garnes as part of his Elite Distance program, which also draws a growing group of young triathletes alongside elite runners. The group puts in three dedicated gym sessions each week, and Robinson says the grind of distance training leaves no shortcuts to success. “Distance running is hard work—there’s no way around the pain and the hours of effort you have to put in. But what I’m really proud of is that I do all of my training right here at home in Barbados. The roads of St. Philip know me better than anywhere,” she said. For Robinson, competing on this global stage also carries an extra layer of meaning: she wants to prove that Caribbean-based athletes can compete with the world’s best without relocating to elite training hubs overseas. “When I line up against top runners from Europe, North America, and Africa in these deep international fields, I get the chance to show that we have what it takes here in the Caribbean. We can prepare for big races right at home and still deliver strong results,” she explained. While Robinson acknowledges she will face stiff competition from elite runners across the globe, she remains quietly confident about her prospects in Sunday’s race. She says a top-10 finish would already be a landmark achievement, marking a strong milestone for Barbadian distance running on the international board. “To put that little Bajan flag in the top 10 of an international race this big would be a win in itself,” she said. “If everything lines up and I have a great day on the course, a top-five finish is well within reach. And if everything goes perfectly and I get a little luck, I could even end up on the podium. Realistically, I’m expecting a top-five or top-10 result, and for me, that’s success.”

  • First dedicated firearms court opens as plans for a second await completion

    First dedicated firearms court opens as plans for a second await completion

    In a landmark step to address a growing backlog of firearms-related cases, Barbados officially launched its first specialized gun court on Tuesday, marking a major shift in how the island nation processes violent gun crime proceedings. While the first court has begun hearing cases, the government has not yet announced a firm launch date for the second planned specialized tribunal.

    The court’s inaugural session was held at the No. 2 Supreme Court, presided over by newly elevated Justice Douglas Frederick. Ten accused persons were arraigned during the first sitting, with one defendant entering an immediate guilty plea. The start of proceedings was only briefly delayed by a late-arriving prison bus, even with Justice Frederick already seated on the bench, and official business got underway shortly after 10 a.m. Principal State Counsel Rudolph Burnett has been assigned to prosecute the cases heard before the new court.

    Plans for the two specialized gun courts were first unveiled by the Barbadian government earlier this year. The split structure is designed to separate newer cases from older matters dating before 2025, streamlining processing for both batches of offences and cutting through the systemic backlog that has slowed justice for gun crimes. Speaking to reporters, Minister of Legal Affairs and Criminal Justice Michael Lashley confirmed that work on the second court is still ongoing, noting that while a suitable physical location has already been secured, additional preparations are required before it can begin operations. Lashley was unable to provide a concrete timeline for the second court’s launch.

    To address ongoing delays across the court system, Lashley highlighted expanded use of digital technology as a key solution. He argued that routine proceedings, particularly arraignments and guilty plea hearings, could easily be conducted via virtual platforms such as Zoom — a change that would resolve recurring challenges tied to prisoner transportation and limited availability of criminal defense attorneys. For context, all 10 arraignments during the first session could have been held virtually, Lashley noted, even though they proceeded in a physical courtroom this time around.

    Virtual scheduling could also give legal professionals more flexibility, Lashley explained. Virtual hearings could be slotted for the afternoon, allowing defense attorneys to complete in-person matters at other courthouses earlier in the day before handling remote proceedings from their offices. Beyond technology, Lashley also acknowledged the systemic shortage of criminal defense attorneys across Barbados. While a structured calendar system has already been trialed to ease the strain, he called for new measures to improve coordination among practicing attorneys and expand opportunities for early-career lawyers to gain experience in criminal and criminal defense law. “We need now to look at exposing young attorneys to the criminal law and to criminal defence law,” Lashley stated.

    The inaugural session drew senior legal and law enforcement leadership, including Commissioner of Police Sonia Boyce and Deputy Commissioner Adrian Broomes, who attended to observe the proceedings. Senior Counsel Angella Mitchell-Gittings, speaking on behalf of the Barbados Bar Association, congratulated Justice Frederick on his elevation from the magistracy, praising his track record of careful, equitable rulings over his career. “We look forward to appearing before you, and we pledge our support to your court and coming here when required to do so,” Mitchell-Gittings said.

  • UWI seismologists: Prepare for quakes

    UWI seismologists: Prepare for quakes

    In the wake of two powerful earthquakes that struck Panama and Venezuela in recent weeks, the University of the West Indies’ leading seismology expert has issued a renewed call for Caribbean nations to embed natural hazard preparedness as a permanent national priority.

    Dr. Erouscilla Joseph, director of the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI SRC) based in Trinidad, told local outlet Barbados TODAY that the recent tectonic events have reignited critical conversations around community readiness, inter-agency emergency response coordination, and the structural resilience of Caribbean infrastructure. She emphasized that the region’s geological positioning makes it inherently prone to a wide spectrum of concurrent threats, not just seismic activity.

    “We live in an inherently multi-hazard setting,” Joseph explained. “It is not only earthquakes we face — we also contend with volcanoes, hurricanes, intense storms, and flooding. These are daily risks we live with, so our planning has to adopt a comprehensive multi-hazard approach.”

    Geologically, the two recent major quakes occurred across different segments of the complex tectonic plate network that surrounds the Caribbean Plate, the large slowly shifting slab of the Earth’s crust that underlies much of the Caribbean region. Panama sits at the convergence of the Caribbean, Cocos, Nazca, and South American plates, with a small microplate nestled between these tectonic masses. While nearby subduction zones (where one tectonic plate slides beneath another) drive regional seismic activity, the recent Panama earthquake originated from strike-slip movement, where rock masses slide horizontally along a fault line.

    In northern Venezuela, the earthquake stemmed from the same type of strike-slip interaction between the Caribbean and South American plates, where long-building tectonic stress releases suddenly in the form of a major quake.

    Though UWI SRC’s seismic monitoring networks focus primarily on the Lesser Antilles and do not directly track fault activity in Central America, Joseph noted the tectonic processes driving earthquakes in Panama and Venezuela are nearly identical to those shaping seismic risk along the Caribbean plate boundary. The 7.7-magnitude Panama quake, in particular, occurred in a subduction zone geologically similar to the eastern Caribbean subduction zone that the Lesser Antilles island chain sits on.

    A key characteristic of large tectonic events, Joseph explained, is the extended sequence of aftershocks that follow as tectonic plates readjust to their new positions. The two major quakes that struck Venezuela in August have already produced a long aftershock sequence, a pattern that seismologists commonly observe in active tectonic zones. “These aftershocks can continue for weeks or even months before the plates return to their normal steady rate of movement,” Joseph said, drawing a parallel to active zones within the Pacific Ring of Fire, where subduction processes regularly produce prolonged aftershock sequences.

    Joseph clarified that tectonic disruption in one part of the globe does not automatically translate to increased immediate seismic risk along distant, unrelated fault lines. Seismic activity in Panama and Venezuela does not mean the Eastern Caribbean faces a higher near-term risk of a major quake than it normally does, she stressed. Instead, the events serve as a critical reminder that the region’s inherent risk has not changed, and preparedness must be a continuous effort, not just a short-term response to a recent disaster.

    “Disruption in one region does not automatically translate to new tectonic stress in other areas,” she said. “But the processes that drive seismic activity here are the same subduction-related movements happening across our region. We are always exposed to this type of movement, so we must always stay alert for large events. This does not mean our risk has gone up because of what happened in Venezuela or Panama. We have always had this level of risk, because we live in a subduction zone setting, and these events are a natural consequence of that.”

    Joseph has advised regional governments and disaster management agencies to take concrete, long-term action: updating and enforcing modern building codes, reinforcing critical public infrastructure, and carrying out regular community evacuation drills. As the Caribbean grapples with overlapping climate and geological threats — from hurricane and tropical storm activity to volcanic eruptions — experts stress that risk reduction requires coordinated action across national government departments, emergency agencies, and local communities.

    These efforts cannot stop at short-term public awareness campaigns, Joseph added. Preparedness measures need to be embedded into long-term government infrastructure planning, local community development blueprints, and institutional emergency response frameworks. “When we talk about preparedness, it has to be comprehensive,” she said. “That is the only way we can build more resilient Caribbean societies.”

  • Three men remanded on firearm charges

    Three men remanded on firearm charges

    Three men facing separate indictable charges related to illegal firearms, ammunition and drug trafficking have been ordered into pre-trial detention at Dodds Prison, with their next court appearance scheduled for November 10.

    The accused appeared this week before acting Magistrate Shakieda Sealy at the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court, with each hailing from different parishes across Barbados. The youngest of the three, 18-year-old Ajani Ricardo Cooper, resides at Longford Place, Waterford, Bush Hall in the parish of St Michael. He stands accused of being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and two rounds of ammunition, with the alleged offense taking place on October 9.

    Twenty-three-year-old Malcolm Ajani Hazzard, a resident of Husbands, St Lucy, faces identical firearm-related charges from the same date, though he is accused of holding 41 rounds of ammunition rather than the two Cooper is accused of possessing. The third defendant, 27-year-old Jamar Jamalli Rowe of Endeavour #1, Orange Hill, St James, faces more extensive charges. Rowe is accused of illegal possession of a firearm and six rounds of ammunition on October 10, one day after the offenses linked to Cooper and Hazzard. Beyond the firearm charges, he also faces allegations of possessing 410 grammes of cannabis — a quantity classified as traffickable under local law, with an estimated street value of 2,050 Barbadian dollars — and intending to supply the illegal drug to others.

    Under the jurisdiction’s court procedures, the three men were not required to enter formal pleas to the indictable charges against them, which are reserved for trial at a higher level of court. Ahead of their November 10 hearing, all three have been remanded into custody at Dodds Prison. Case management procedures have split the proceedings across two local courts: Hazzard and Rowe’s cases have been transferred to the Holetown Magistrates’ Court, while Cooper’s case will remain in the Bridgetown court system for the continuation of proceedings.

  • Barbados embassy remains closed after Panama earthquake

    Barbados embassy remains closed after Panama earthquake

    Four days after one of the most powerful seismic events to strike Panama in half a century, the Embassy of Barbados in Panama City remains closed, with all operations shifting to remote work while structural engineers conduct mandatory safety inspections of the diplomatic facility. Ambassador Amanda Martinez told local Barbadian outlet Barbados TODAY that all 10 embassy personnel and their family members have been accounted for and confirmed unharmed, a outcome that has been framed as a major relief amid the widespread disruption caused by the quake.

    The 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit at 12:56 p.m. local time last Friday, marking the strongest seismic event recorded in Panama since the 1970s. Its epicenter was positioned roughly 200 kilometers from the capital Panama City, where skyscrapers and major bridges swayed during the initial tremor and subsequent aftershocks. As of the latest updates from the Institute of Geosciences at the University of Panama, researchers have documented more than 400 aftershocks, including a 6.6-magnitude tremor that hit moments after the main quake. While the frequency and intensity of aftershocks have declined steadily each day, authorities across the region continue to urge caution.

    Reflecting on the experience, Ambassador Martinez noted that the quake came as an unexpected and frightening jolt for all embassy staff. “We’re all doing relatively okay after what was a rather big earthquake, a sizable earthquake for Panama,” she said. She also clarified the whereabouts of personnel during the event: of the 10 total staff, eight were in Panama when the quake struck, while two were outside the country on official work travel within their assigned jurisdiction, and have since returned safely. The ambassador added that the mission benefited from prior crisis experience, drawing lessons from colleagues who navigated a major seismic event in Venezuela to inform their immediate response.

    In the immediate aftermath of the quake, the embassy’s first priority was conducting rapid safety checks for all staff and their families. Once that initial step was complete, the diplomatic mission turned its attention to outreach for Barbadian citizens in the country, both members of the long-established diaspora and visiting tourists. The small Barbadian community in Panama confirmed they were all unharmed following the mission’s coordinated wellness check.

    The embassy also provided support to multiple Barbadian tour groups caught in the quake. One group that was scheduled to depart the country on Saturday received a visit from Ambassador Martinez at their hotel ahead of their return flight to Barbados over the weekend. Other groups opted to extend their stay in Panama and have not reported any further safety issues.

    Barbados has deep historical ties to Panama dating back to the early 1900s, when tens of thousands of Barbadian workers migrated to the region to help construct the Panama Canal and transcontinental railway. Many of these workers settled permanently in Panama, forming a large descendant community. However, Ambassador Martinez noted that fewer than 20 members of the Barbadian diaspora in Panama are officially registered with the embassy. She is now urging all unregistered Barbadian citizens living in the country to complete registration, a move that would streamline emergency communication and speed up support during future crises.

    After the Panamanian government declared a national state of emergency on Sunday, the embassy’s staff contributed donations of non-perishable food, personal hygiene items, and specialized supplies for infants and older adults to a central donation hub at Panama City’s Parque Omar. The collection drive was coordinated by the Office of the First Lady of Panama, as part of national relief efforts for the most impacted communities.

    On the diplomatic front, Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley released an official statement of solidarity on Saturday, reaffirming the deep historical and cultural bonds between the two nations and extending an offer of official assistance to Panama. “We are grateful for the initial reports that no lives have been lost or injuries sustained,” the statement read. “But we know that even where lives are spared, the fear, uncertainty and disruption experienced by families and communities are very real. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Barbados stands with Panama.”

    Crucially, the Panama Canal—one of the world’s most vital global trade corridors—remained fully operational throughout the seismic event and its aftermath. “One thing that did not shut down during the earthquake and since was the Panama Canal,” Ambassador Martinez confirmed. “The Panama Canal Authority remained operational during this entire period. While the visitor centre had closed temporarily over the weekend, the Panama Canal itself did not close at any point.”

    Two other major transport hubs, the Colon Free Trade Zone and Tocumen International Airport, did suspend operations temporarily to allow for structural safety checks, leading to initial flight delays and disruptions. But as of the latest updates, all major transport infrastructure has resumed normal operations.

    Barbados’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs has maintained a active travel advisory for Barbadian citizens planning to visit Panama, urging all travelers to exercise caution. Panamanian authorities are currently directing the bulk of their emergency resources to the southern and interior provinces that suffered the worst damage from the quake. The advisory also strongly reminds all prospective visitors to purchase comprehensive medical and travel insurance before departing for the country.

  • WINDIES NOD: Wickham earns maiden Test call-up for Bangladesh series

    WINDIES NOD: Wickham earns maiden Test call-up for Bangladesh series

    A standout run of form in regional domestic cricket has earned 23-year-old Barbadian batsman Kevin Wickham a long-awaited call-up to the West Indies Test squad, ahead of the side’s upcoming two-Test tour of Bangladesh kicking off October 28 in Mirpur. This series marks West Indies’ final two fixtures in the ongoing 2025–2027 ICC World Test Championship cycle, carrying meaningful ranking implications for the regional side.

    Wickham’s consistent performances this domestic season made his selection impossible to ignore. The young batsman notched three consecutive centuries in this year’s regional championship, with a personal best score of 153 in that stretch. He also entered the history books for Barbadian cricket, becoming just the third player from the island to record twin centuries in a single regional first-class match since 2000, joining established Test veterans Kraigg Brathwaite and Ryan Hinds in that exclusive group.

    Wickham’s promotion is one of several key adjustments Cricket West Indies (CWI) has made to the Test squad, most driven by proactive workload management for key players. White-ball captain Shai Hope has been rested for the red-ball series, following a grueling stretch of matches across all three international formats. CWI made the call to limit Hope’s playing time ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier scheduled for February 2025, prioritizing keeping him fresh for the 50-over tournament.

    Star fast bowler Alzarri Joseph is another notable absentee from the squad. Following a routine medical check-up and consultation with specialist clinicians, CWI announced Joseph had been withdrawn from the tour with his full agreement. The governing body explained the decision was designed to mitigate long-term injury risk, noting that the physical demands of red-ball cricket—particularly two consecutive Tests in Bangladesh, where fast bowlers must deliver repeated high-intensity bowling spells over multiple days—create a far greater workload and injury threat than shorter white-ball formats. Joseph remains eligible for selection in shorter-format fixtures in the coming months.

    Filling Joseph’s place in the squad is all-rounder Keemo Paul, who gets a fresh opportunity to impress at the Test level. Meanwhile, opening batsman John Campbell makes his return to the Test squad after a hamstring injury forced him to withdraw from West Indies’ tour of Pakistan earlier in 2024. Beyond these two changes, the core of the squad remains unchanged from recent outings.

    West Indies head coach Daren Sammy laid out the side’s clear objectives for the series, noting that finishing in the top half of the ICC World Test Championship rankings has been a core goal since the current cycle began. “Winning the upcoming series would move us closer to it. Playing Bangladesh in their own conditions will be challenging and we’re ready for that,” Sammy said. A series victory over Bangladesh would lift West Indies to sixth place in the ICC Test rankings at the end of the current cycle, a marked improvement from their eighth-place finish in the previous 2023–2025 cycle.

    The full 16-man West Indies Test squad for the Bangladesh series is as follows: Roston Chase (Captain), Jomel Warrican (Vice-Captain), Joshua Bishop, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Joshua Da Silva, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Keemo Paul, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales and Kevin Wickham.