标签： Barbados

Barbados Police Commissioner Richard Boyce has characterized Saturday’s early morning shooting in Bridgetown as a meticulously planned retaliatory attack stemming from a prolonged feud between two opposing groups. The violent incident, which left ten individuals wounded, occurred approximately at 3 a.m. as passengers were disembarking from the party cruise vessel Dream Chaser 2.

During a joint press briefing with Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Commissioner Boyce revealed that preliminary investigative findings strongly indicate the shooting was anything but random. “Our assessment confirms this was a calculated act of revenge,” Boyce stated. “Two factions engaged in a long-standing conflict deliberately targeted individuals exiting the vessel and opened fire.”

Despite the severity of the event, Commissioner Boyce emphatically maintained that this isolated incident should not diminish the documented achievements of the Barbados Police Service in crime reduction. “The statistical evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates our effectiveness in combating crime throughout my tenure,” he asserted. “This single occurrence cannot invalidate the exceptional work consistently performed by our law enforcement personnel.”

Boyce highlighted the operation’s sophisticated planning as the rationale for deploying top-tier investigative resources. “This was not a spontaneous act but a carefully orchestrated assault, which necessitates the expertise of our most capable detectives to ensure swift apprehension and prosecution of those responsible,” he explained.

Prime Minister Mottley concurred with the Commissioner’s assessment, publicly acknowledging the police force’s success in preventing numerous potential crimes. “Countless incidents have been thwarted through proactive police work in recent years,” Mottley affirmed. “I extend my profound gratitude to the police service for their preventive efforts, particularly during the recent holiday season when additional threats were successfully neutralized.”

An 18-year-old Barbadian national is set to face judicial proceedings this Saturday following his arrest on serious weapons-related charges. Dion Davidson Leacock, residing at No. 21 Dover Crescent in the Cave Hill area of St. Michael, was taken into custody by the Barbados Police Service’s Major Crime Unit after investigators uncovered evidence linking him to illegal firearm possession.

The specific charges filed against Leacock include unlawful possession of a firearm and seven rounds of ammunition. According to police reports, these alleged violations occurred on December 27, 2025, though investigative details remain undisclosed as the case moves through the judicial system.

Leacock’s case will be heard at the District ‘A’ Criminal Court, where prosecutors will present evidence gathered by the Major Crime Unit. The timing of the court appearance suggests authorities are treating the matter with urgency, reflecting the Barbados government’s ongoing campaign against illegal weapons circulation.

The case emerges against the backdrop of Caribbean-wide efforts to combat gun violence, particularly involving young adults. Legal experts note that firearm-related charges typically carry severe penalties under Barbadian law, with minimum sentencing guidelines for certain weapon offenses.

This prosecution represents the latest development in the Barbados Police Service’s targeted operations against illegal weapons trafficking, which has seen increased priority following regional security initiatives. The outcome of Saturday’s hearing could set important precedents for how similar cases are handled throughout the Eastern Caribbean jurisdiction.

Barbados has initiated a comprehensive national campaign to confront a severe literacy crisis, abandoning previous claims of 99% literacy rates. Educational transformation specialist Shawntelle Morgan of I-Teach Transformative Knowledge Solutions Ltd identified 2025 as a watershed moment for the nation’s education system, marked by the Ministry of Education’s ambitious Project SOAR (Strengthen Our Ability to Read) initiative.

The program represents a fundamental shift in educational strategy, implementing mandatory daily reading blocks across primary schools nationwide. Education Minister Chad Blackman has established the definitive goal of ensuring universal literacy by age seven—a direct response to years of declining academic performance in both reading and mathematics.

Morgan acknowledged the government’s recognition of the literacy deficit as a positive development but emphasized that sustainable progress requires evidence-based approaches rather than merely implementing new programs. ‘We require robust assessment mechanisms to identify specific student needs before designing targeted interventions,’ Morgan stated. ‘Effective literacy programs must be tailored to individual learning levels rather than employing one-size-fits-all solutions.’

The literacy expert advocated for an expanded definition of literacy that transcends basic decoding skills to include comprehensive reading comprehension, critical analysis, and higher-order thinking capabilities. This broader perspective aligns with the nation’s objective of developing globally competitive citizens prepared for 21st-century challenges.

As Barbados transitions toward digital educational platforms, Morgan highlighted the necessity of creating interactive resources that accommodate diverse learning styles. These digital tools should enable differentiated instruction and provide multiple avenues for knowledge demonstration, including hands-on activities, model creation, and varied expression formats.

Morgan also addressed behavioral challenges in classrooms, noting that perceived disengagement often masks students’ inability to express knowledge through conventional methods. She championed multisensory instructional approaches that build student confidence and capability, ultimately fostering more positive learning environments and better educational outcomes.

The Barbados Nurses Association (BNA) has launched its 2026 advocacy campaign with urgent calls for strengthened protective measures and improved working conditions, identifying violence against healthcare workers as among the most pressing challenges facing the nursing profession.

In an official statement, BNA President Dr. Fay Parris commended nurses as “the heartbeat of our healthcare system” while acknowledging both significant progress and persistent challenges. The Association celebrated several 2025 achievements including Barbados’ ratification of International Labour Organisation Convention 149, which establishes formal rights and protections for nursing personnel. This ratification marked a substantial advancement in professional standards and working conditions throughout the island nation.

Additional milestones included the approval of the Public Officers Loan and Travelling Allowances Act, which promotes equitable allowance distribution across the profession, and noticeable improvements in environmental safety protocols within healthcare facilities, creating safer environments for both staff and patients.

Despite these advancements, Dr. Parris highlighted several unresolved issues continuing to undermine nurse wellbeing and morale. Protracted delays in approving sabbatical policy logistics have generated widespread frustration among nursing professionals. The ongoing lack of transportation solutions for night and evening shifts remains unaddressed, while systemic staffing shortages have increased dependence on flexi-time arrangements, exacerbating burnout rates.

Most alarmingly, the Association emphasized that violence against healthcare workers and insufficient protective measures represent growing concerns that demand immediate attention. The BNA has consequently pledged to prioritize safe, supportive workplaces and expedited resolution of employment matters throughout 2026.

The Association’s comprehensive agenda includes advocating for practical transportation solutions for late-shift workers, championing legal reforms to protect healthcare workers from violence, and expanding insurance options specifically addressing injury and health coverage. Organizational modernization efforts will enhance member services, while strengthened mentorship programs, wellness initiatives, and professional development opportunities aim to ensure every nurse feels valued and supported.

Furthermore, the BNA plans to increase nursing representation on national boards and policy-making bodies, amplify youth engagement within the profession, and implement membership growth strategies to unify the nursing community under a collective purpose. Dr. Parris concluded with a call for unified action, stating: “The challenges are real, but so too is the strength of the profession when acting collectively.”

The Barbadian government has announced an ambitious timeline to revolutionize its public transportation network, with Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw committing to a comprehensive cashless overhaul for all Transport Board buses by early 2025. This transformative initiative promises to deliver real-time bus tracking and dependable scheduling in a bold attempt to convince motorists to abandon their cars and restore eroding commuter confidence.

Speaking on Wednesday, Bradshaw revealed that the technical hurdles which previously slowed implementation have been successfully addressed, including resolving the single outstanding secondary school issue from the initial educational rollout. While acknowledging that the pace of modernization hasn’t always met public expectations, she emphasized the administration’s unwavering dedication to creating a more reliable and efficient public transit ecosystem.

The technological cornerstone of this upgrade will be the integration of smart card payments with the Transit BB mobile application, enabling passengers to monitor bus locations in real-time, track precise arrival estimates, and receive immediate notifications about service delays. This digital infrastructure aims to eliminate the uncertainty that has long plagued the system, allowing commuters to structure their daily routines around predictable bus schedules.

Bradshaw articulated the vision behind these improvements: ‘Our fundamental objective is to build such robust confidence in the system that citizens feel comfortable planning their lives around it. If people know a bus will reliably arrive at 8:10, they can confidently leave their personal vehicles behind and organize their activities accordingly.’

The government plans to actively engage with communities throughout this transition, seeking public input on route optimization and service expansion. ‘We want to hear directly from citizens about where transportation services are most needed,’ Bradshaw stated, highlighting the collaborative approach between transport authorities, commuter groups, and the general public.

This announcement builds upon momentum generated by earlier successful phases of the cashless transition. October 2024 marked a significant milestone with the introduction of personalized smart cards for school children, granting thousands of students seamless, fare-free travel. This followed the initial December 2023 rollout for senior citizens, who now access free transportation using their Trident ID cards. For cases where cards remain unregistered, drivers utilize electronic tablets to verify eligibility, while manual ID checks provide temporary alternatives.