Carib Scope

标签： Barbados

巴巴多斯

  • Erdiston graduates urged to step up and mentor youth

    Erdiston graduates urged to step up and mentor youth

    At a recent recognition ceremony honoring graduates of the Barbadian government’s flagship youth mentorship training program, Dr. Colin Cumberbatch, Principal of Erdiston Teachers’ Training College, delivered a clear call to action: certificate completion is only the first step, and now trained mentors must step into local communities to support young people directly.

    The ceremony celebrated participants from the program’s first and second cohorts who had successfully finished their required training. While Cumberbatch opened his remarks by commending the graduates for choosing to invest their time in developing mentorship skills, he emphasized that hanging a certificate on the wall does not fulfill the purpose of the initiative. Instead, he challenged every attendee to become an active, visible youth advocate in their home neighborhoods.

    Framing the nation’s young population as one of Barbados’ most valuable strategic resources, Cumberbatch warned that failure to engage with at-risk youth would put that asset at unnecessary risk. “Young people do not need distant, judgmental leaders who dictate from the sidelines,” he explained. “They need guides who will listen first, offer direction without criticism, inspire change without forcing their own agendas, and correct missteps without crushing young people’s confidence.”

    Cumberbatch’s remarks came in the wake of several high-profile local community incidents that have led to widespread unfair negative stereotyping of Barbadian youth. He pushed back against passive public commentary, arguing that inaction in the face of youth disengagement is itself a harmful choice. “Too many of us sit at home complaining about ‘these young people’ without lifting a finger to reach out,” he noted. “When we choose to do nothing, we are not just standing by—we are making the problem worse.”

    To turn this trend around, Cumberbatch issued a simple but concrete challenge to every graduate: upon returning to their communities, each mentor should commit to connecting with at least one young person for ongoing one-on-one guidance. He added that meaningful mentorship cannot be rushed, stressing that effective support requires patience, empathy, and a willingness to meet young people where they are in their lives, rather than demanding instant, transformative change. “You don’t need to organize a massive program to make a difference,” he advised. “Start with one person. Don’t stay at home patting yourself on the back for getting your certificate. Get out, build trust, and show up consistently—that’s how real change happens.”

  • Food & Rum Festival showcases home‑grown flavours

    Food & Rum Festival showcases home‑grown flavours

    Barbados’ highly anticipated annual Food & Rum Festival kicked off over the weekend at Stade’s Rum Visitors Centre, putting island-grown ingredients, local agricultural producers and artisanal fishers front and center in this year’s celebration of Bajan culinary identity. Organizers and lead culinary staff have structured the entire event menu around authentic, hyper-local Barbadian goods sourced straight from communities across the island, building a strong focus on sustainable food systems and supporting local small-scale food producers.

    Lead chef Henderson Butcher, who heads the festival’s culinary team, emphasized that the event’s core mission this year is to center local talent and homegrown supply chains. “We are working with farmers and fisher folk all around Barbados,” Butcher explained at the launch event, where attendees got an exclusive first preview of the dishes and experiences planned for the full festival. Unlike many culinary events that rely on imported ingredients to meet global visitor expectations, this year’s Food & Rum Festival prioritizes direct partnerships between chefs and the island’s agricultural and fishing communities to ensure every dish on offer is shaped by Barbadian produce.

    Alongside its deep commitment to local producers, the 2024 festival is also expanding its global footprint, bringing in guest chefs from Trinidad and across Africa to collaborate with Barbados’ own culinary talent. This cross-cultural exchange creates a dynamic space where Bajan ingredients are reimagined through a mix of traditional local techniques and innovative global culinary approaches, offering attendees a one-of-a-kind dining experience that honors both roots and creativity.

    Among the returning local fan favorites is chef Tremaine Reece, who has built a reputation for blending bold international twists with classic Bajan flavors. “I get excited when we get to use our local produce. Sometimes I put an international twist to it,” Reece shared at the launch. At the preview event, he showcased his signature creative reimaginings of beloved local staples: one standout was a deconstructed ham cutter served alongside bright carambola chutney and a zesty scotch bonnet emulsion, while his modern take on mahi-mahi fish and chips paired crispy matchstick potatoes and classic tangy tartar sauce with a fresh citrus salsa made entirely from local grapefruits, oranges, cilantro and onions.

    The launch event itself gave attendees a taste of what’s to come, with classic Bajan street food treats like spicy pudding and souse drawing large crowds of excited guests. Rum ambassador Dameain Williams also demonstrated his craft, showcasing the depth of Barbados’ world-famous rum heritage, while mixologist Alex Chandler presented a creative reworking of the classic Bajan Pain-Killer cocktail, crafted with local Barbadian rum brands.

    This year’s event marks a growing movement within Caribbean culinary tourism to center sustainability, local economic support and authentic cultural identity, turning a popular food festival into a platform that lifts up small-scale producers and showcases the richness of Barbados’ agricultural and culinary traditions to both domestic and international visitors.

  • Four jet bridges, redesigned terminal in 12-month project at GAIA ‘to bring disruption’

    Four jet bridges, redesigned terminal in 12-month project at GAIA ‘to bring disruption’

    Barbados’ government has put a years-long, $300 million public-private partnership (PPP) management deal for Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) on indefinite hold, clearing the way for an $80 million terminal expansion project set to break ground this November, Finance Minister Ryan Straughn revealed in an exclusive interview with Barbados TODAY.

    The one-year expansion project, which secured final loan approval from the Caribbean Development Bank and CIBC last week when Straughn signed the funding agreement, will center on a full redesign of the airport’s passenger terminal and add four new jet bridges to upgrade passenger experience. Straughn confirmed that all legal requirements for the funding have been finalized, clearing the final hurdle for construction to get underway in earnest by November. He added that once financing is fully disbursed and construction progresses, travelers should see a vastly improved facility ready in time for the December 2025 winter travel season.

    While construction will not disrupt incoming or outgoing flight operations, Straughn warned that passengers and airport workers should prepare for temporary alterations to regular routines during the build. “In the same way when you go overseas and you see construction underway, that is going to be the case here,” he explained, noting that the 12-month timeline is intentionally tight to minimize disruptions for the traveling public. “That is why we are pushing to get in and out as quickly as possible.”

    The decision to pause the PPP deal, which would have handed day-to-day management of the state-owned airport to a Dubai-Chilean consortium made up of the Private Office of Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and Chilean firm Agencias Universales SA, marks at least the fifth major setback for the project since negotiations first launched years ago. The most recent progress on the PPP came in July 2023, when GAIA Inc., the consortium, and the Barbados government signed a memorandum of understanding covering not just airport operations and upgrades, but also development of a hemispheric cargo hub, expanded airlift capacity, additional luxury hotel development, and job creation. A core goal of the broader PPP plan was to implement full security scanning for all passengers, workers and people transiting the airport to meet United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for Category 1 designation.

    Category 1 status, awarded under International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards, confirms a country’s civil aviation authority meets all global safety regulations, allowing Barbadian air carriers to operate direct service to the U.S. and participate in code-sharing agreements with U.S. airlines. Throughout negotiations for the PPP, the Mia Mottley administration has repeatedly stressed that it will never sell the airport, and that it will protect existing jobs and employee terms and conditions under any future management agreement.

  • Wanted: Chidi Uzomba

    Wanted: Chidi Uzomba

    Law enforcement authorities in Barbados are turning to the public for critical support as they hunt for a Nigerian national identified as Chidi Uzomba, who is currently a person of interest in an active serious criminal investigation.

    The Barbados Police Service confirmed in an official appeal that investigators require Uzomba to undergo questioning to advance progress on the ongoing case. Per the instructions issued by police, if Uzomba locates the appeal, he is instructed to turn himself in at any Barbados police facility, and is permitted to bring a legal representative of his own choosing to accompany him during the process.

    Community members and any members of the public who hold information about Uzomba’s current location are urged to reach out to authorities immediately through multiple dedicated channels. Tips can be submitted to the national police emergency hotline at 211, the anonymous Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-8477, or by visiting the closest local police station in person. Law enforcement officials note that any information provided will help speed up the investigation and ensure the process moves forward fairly and efficiently.

  • Javon Cummins dares you to taste Barbados differently as Barbados Food and Rum Festival

    Javon Cummins dares you to taste Barbados differently as Barbados Food and Rum Festival

    What if one of Barbados’ most beloved traditional dishes, pudding and souse, arrived on a plate nothing like the Saturday afternoon serving generations have grown up with? Acclaimed Barbadian chef Javon Cummins is inviting diners to take that test – and discover how familiar culinary memories can feel brand new when reimagined through a creative, respectful lens.

    Cummins’ modern take on the classic starts with slow-braised pork belly paired with a steamed beetroot and sweet potato pudding. He transforms the traditional mango and Scotch bonnet pickle into a vivid, jewel-toned gel, reinterpreting the staple condiment in delicate forms including light foam and crystal-clear jelly. While the finished plate could easily pass as a work of modern art for a gallery wall, that first bite transports any native Barbadian straight back to lazy Saturday family gatherings, and the beloved relative whose souse was always said to be the best on the island.

    This gentle challenge to rethink tradition sits at the core of Cummins’ culinary philosophy. “Modernisation should never erase memory,” he explains. “If anything, it should give us another way to experience it.”

    Long before he stepped into a professional kitchen, Cummins trained as a visual artist, sketching, painting, and creating handcrafted works. That visual sensibility has become a natural part of his cooking approach, where the plate functions as just another canvas. Ingredients become his colors and shapes, sauces add dynamic movement, and textures bring layered dimension. Even the smallest garnish earns its place in the overall composition. “I want you to look at the plate and be intrigued before you taste it,” he says. “Then, when you finally do, I want the flavour to complete the picture.”

    While aesthetically striking dishes are easy to admire in the moment, they are often just as quickly forgotten. Cummins pursues a far deeper goal: every one of his plates is crafted to carry a distinct sense of place, with robust, layered flavor to give the visual beauty lasting meaning. With 14 years of kitchen experience behind him, he has learned that technical skill does not equal culinary maturity. Any chef can learn to transform almost any ingredient, but true wisdom lies in knowing which core elements of a tradition should remain untouched.

    This balanced judgement has grown sharper with time. Early in his career, Cummins often wondered whether diners would grasp his instinct to take a familiar flavor and reimagine its form. Years of experience have left him more confident, and more restrained: not every interesting idea belongs on a plate, and tradition does not need to stay frozen in time to deserve respect.

    More often than not, the proof of his approach shows on a diner’s face before they ever voice a reaction. At an overseas food festival, Cummins served his reimagined version of cou cou and fish to a Barbadian woman who had not returned to her home country in decades. His dish paired creamy traditional cou cou with fire-roasted fish and a deep, smoky Creole sauce enriched with smoked herring. One bite was enough to change her entire expression, and she spent the rest of the festival returning again and again to sample more of his creations. She talked for hours of her home, her grandmother’s kitchen, and the flavors she had carried with her for years. “For those few minutes, she wasn’t just standing at a food festival overseas anymore,” Cummins recalls. “She was back in her grandmother’s kitchen.”

    That kind of reaction means more than any generic compliment. It proves Caribbean cuisine can travel, evolve, and take unexpected new forms while still holding the essence of home at its core. Cummins wants diners to first feel that spark of recognition, then let curiosity lead them to explore something new. This year, that exploration will come with a spoon, as he turns his creative eye to dessert.

    At the 2026 Barbados Food and Rum Festival’s flagship Liquid Gold Feast, Cummins – best known for his innovative savory dishes – will reveal a lesser-seen side of his culinary skill, drawing on his long-standing background in pastry work. He has chosen soursop and cinnamon as his core mystery ingredients, two staples that open distinct pathways to shared Bajan collective memory.

    Soursop first evokes the creamy, comforting texture of the traditional drink countless Barbadians grew up with. Cummins plans to take that familiar foundation and reimagine it in a lighter, more playful form, playing with contrasting textures, bright citrus notes, and subtle echoes of beloved Bajan sweet bread. Rich creaminess will meet sharp flashes of acidity, soft smooth textures will pair with unexpected crunchy elements. The exact final preparation remains a closely guarded secret – and that secrecy is part of the experience.

    Cinnamon offers a warmer, more fragrant path, filled with endless possibility. Nutmeg and ginger may make an appearance, while a hint of black pepper promises a small, delightful surprise. Pastry work gives Cummins precise control over temperature, shape, texture, and even the order that flavors unfold on the tongue. He aims to create a dessert that stops guests in their tracks when they first see it, greets them with a familiar comforting aroma, then unfolds into a flavor profile nothing like they have experienced before.

    “That tension between ‘I know this flavour’ and ‘I’ve never had it quite like this’ is where I love to create,” he says.

    The Liquid Gold Feast will be held on Sunday, November 8, 2026 at CARIFESTA House in Waterford, as part of the wider Barbados Food and Rum Festival running from November 5 to 8. The event coincides with Barbados’ 60th Independence anniversary, and under the theme “These Fields and Hills”, it centers native Barbadian ingredients and the chefs who transform them as the heart of the experience. Tickets for the Liquid Gold Feast are priced at BBD $350, while a combined ticket for the Rise and Rum event and Liquid Gold Feast costs BBD $500.

    Cummins’ new dessert creations fit perfectly into the festival’s narrative. For him, soursop, cinnamon, citrus and spice are far more than just cooking ingredients – they are clues to the identity of an island that takes its food seriously, where friendly debates over who makes the best fish cakes or pudding and souse are common, and where a shared Sunday lunch carries generations of family history.

    His ambition for the feast is not simply to hear guests praise his desserts as delicious. He would far rather a guest look up from their plate and say, “I understand what you were trying to tell me.” That core message is simple: Barbadian cuisine has roots deep and strong enough to support endless creative invention. Nostalgia and progression can share the same plate. A familiar flavor can be painted in entirely new colors and still speak in an unmistakably Bajan voice.

    So the challenge stands: come to the Liquid Gold Feast, find Javon Cummins, and pause before that first bite. Take in the shape, the fragrance, the small visual clues woven into the plate. Then taste the soursop, or follow the warm notes of cinnamon into its unexpected corners. Does it remind you of a drink you loved as a child, a bake your relative made years ago? Does it introduce you to a Barbados you have never tasted before?

    Cummins wants to hear whether you understood the story he is telling. Just do not ask him to give away the ending before you have finished your dessert.

    ### Full Barbados Food and Rum Festival Schedule & Ticketing
    In addition to the November 8 Liquid Gold Feast, the 2026 festival line-up includes two free public events: Oistins Under the Stars on Thursday, November 5, and International Chef Demos on Friday, November 6. The Rum Route experience will be held November 6 for BBD $200, and the Rise & Rum event will take place Saturday, November 7 for BBD $250. Tickets are available for purchase in person at multiple locations across Barbados, including CS Pharmacy (Bridgetown), Nu Look Company (Roebuck Street), Mpowered (Sky Mall), Très Classe Boutique (Sheraton Mall), A&B Music Supplies (Wildey), Visual Oasis (Six Roads), the Lotto Booth (Speightstown, opposite the Bus Terminal), and the National Cultural Foundation (West Terrace). Tickets can also be purchased online via TicketNation.bb. For the latest updates, follow the official festival account @foodandrumbarbados on Instagram.

  • Cubana at 50: Barbados pledges continued opposition to Cuba embargo

    Cubana at 50: Barbados pledges continued opposition to Cuba embargo

    Fifty years after one of the darkest acts of international terrorism to touch the Caribbean, Barbados has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to principle, using an anniversary commemoration to condemn long-standing geopolitical double standards and call for an immediate end to the decades-long U.S. economic embargo against Cuba.

    The solemn ceremony, held on October 6 at the Paynes Bay monument honoring the 73 victims of the 1976 Cubana Flight 455 bombing, drew regional dignitaries, young students, and diplomatic representatives, including Cuban Ambassador Yanet Stables Cardenas and Guyanese Consul General Harry Hill. Senior Minister Kerrie Symmonds, who also serves as Member of Parliament for St James Central and Minister of Energy, Business Development and Consumer Affairs, led the event, extending the collective condolences and solidarity of the government and people of Barbados to Cuba and the victims’ families.
    Recalling the attack that downed the civilian airliner just three miles off Barbados’ west coast just years after the island nation gained its independence, Symmonds framed the tragedy as the country’s first direct introduction to the harsh realities of transnational geopolitical conflict. All 73 passengers and crew on board were killed in the bombing, which remains a defining stain on Caribbean history.

    “On that day, when the ill-fated Cuban aircraft was downed some three miles off this west coast of Barbados, we took a stand as the people of Barbados, and we have never deviated or departed from that stand,” Symmonds told attendees. “It was a stand which signalled to the world that small island though we were, and still are, we were prepared to stand with principle against injustice.”

    The senior minister used his address to push back against what he called the selective morality and hypocrisy that continues to shape global responses to terrorism and economic policy. He pointed to a long-standing historical double standard: key figures linked to the 1976 bombing have never been held fully accountable for their roles, evading justice in foreign nations despite clear identification of their involvement. Symmonds emphasized that the global fight against terrorism cannot be a flexible tool shaped by political convenience, arguing that opposition to terror must be an unwavering principle regardless of ideology or economic interests.

    “We do not believe that you can be against terrorism today, but because of issues of ideology, philosophy, or economic policy preference, that you are against terrorism tomorrow. It is either that you stand for it or you stand against it,” he said. “If the fight against terrorism is a principle when twin towers are brought to the ground wrongfully, illegitimately, wickedly, then the fight against terrorism must be a principle when evil men seek to place a bomb on board an aircraft and destroy the lives of innocent people.”

    Beyond honoring the victims of the 1976 attack, Symmonds used the commemoration to reaffirm Barbados’ long-standing solidarity with Cuba, pledging that the island government would continue to leverage every international diplomatic forum to push for an end to the U.S.-imposed economic embargo that has been in place for more than six decades. He described the embargo’s ongoing impact on Cuba’s 10 million people as a deliberate, slow-moving humanitarian tragedy, pointing to widespread shortages of essential goods, crippling power outages, and strained public health systems that have pushed ordinary Cuban civilians into desperation.

    “I use the word inhumanity because when people are starving, it is inhumanity,” he said. “I use the word inhumanity because when mothers cannot have running water in order to cook for their children, it is inhumanity. To watch a country be brought to its knees and a 10 million population be left in desperation conflicts with what we understand to be human development. It is a tragedy which is being rolled out in slow motion, and it is a tragedy which we can avoid, should avoid, and must at all costs continue to urge to be avoided.”

    Symmonds also noted that Barbados and the broader Caribbean region owe Cuba a profound debt of gratitude for its decades of solidarity and support across critical sectors. He highlighted the work of Cuban medical brigades that saved countless lives across small Caribbean nations during periods of crisis when larger international partners offered little to no assistance, filling critical gaps in specialized care from cardiac surgery to ophthalmology. He also celebrated the lasting contributions of Cuban athletics coaches and the thousands of educational scholarships Cuba has provided to young Caribbean people, including constituents from his own St James Central constituency who have gained life-changing skills through the program.

    Reaffirming that Barbados remains one of Cuba’s most steadfast allies in the Caribbean, Symmonds assured Ambassador Cardenas that the government would continue to advocate for mutual respect between nations, international justice, and the elimination of unilateral measures that disproportionately harm civilian populations. He closed the ceremony by expressing hope for a more equitable global order, renewed regional cooperation, and confidence in the enduring resilience of the Cuban people as they navigate ongoing economic and social hardship.

  • Straughn urges checks on online financial platforms

    Straughn urges checks on online financial platforms

    Against a backdrop of exploding growth in unregulated digital financial products and rising online fraud, Barbados’ Finance Minister Ryan Straughn has introduced landmark legislation to govern the virtual asset sector, while issuing an urgent public warning that Barbadians could lose their savings to unlicensed fraudulent platforms if they fail to verify provider credentials.

    Straughn tabled the Virtual Assets Service Providers Bill before the country’s House of Assembly this Tuesday, outlining that the new regulatory framework is designed to achieve two core goals: reinforce consumer protection, and arm regulatory bodies and law enforcement with the legal tools required to crack down on digital financial fraud. As global financial markets continue to evolve rapidly, bringing new digital products into mainstream use, clear legislation is critical to give the Barbadian public greater certainty around their virtual asset investments, Straughn told assembled lawmakers.

    The rapid proliferation of mobile apps and digital financial offerings has left ordinary consumers far more exposed to unvetted investment opportunities, with many people failing to conduct basic background checks to confirm the legitimacy of the entities behind advertised products, Straughn explained. Many consumers are lured by eye-catching promotions that fail to prove the substance and reliability of the virtual asset services on offer, a gap the new legislation is explicitly designed to close.

    Under the terms of the proposed bill, any entity seeking to offer virtual asset services to Barbadian residents will first be required to obtain an official operating license from the country’s Financial Services Commission (FSC), and must complete the same rigorous regulatory due diligence process that already applies to traditional financial institutions including banks, credit unions, insurance providers, pension funds and mutual funds.

    “ If there is anybody that wants to provide a virtual asset service to any Bajan, they must first come and get licensed with the Financial Services Commission, and go through the same regulatory process, like everybody else, to ensure that Barbadians are protected. We need to ensure Barbadians that there is a regulatory framework to protect them,” Straughn said.

    Even with the new regulatory regime in place, however, Straughn stressed that government oversight cannot replace individual consumer vigilance, urging all Barbadians to cross-check any virtual asset service provider with the FSC via its official website, fsc.gov.bb, before committing any funds. “I urge Barbadians, before you click on something saying that is going to be a forex trading platform or is a crypto this or a crypto that, please check with the Financial Services Commission to see whether the person even made an attempt to register and to provide these services to you. Because once that money is gone, it gone,” he warned.

    The minister noted that scammers are increasingly leveraging social media advertisements and in-app pop-up promotions to target potential victims, often baiting them with false promises of unrealistically high returns. A common tactic, he illustrated, sees pop-up ads for fake trading platforms offer users the chance to turn a $100 investment into $500 in less than a week. While the Barbadian government and FSC are developing technical blocks to restrict access to confirmed fraudulent platforms, Straughn cautioned that online scammers constantly adapt their tactics, meaning consumers must remain permanently alert to risks.

    Referring to the Central Bank of Barbados’ recently launched BimPay digital payment system, which was designed to simplify everyday transactions, Straughn added that the convenience of modern digital financial tools does not eliminate the need for users to verify the legitimacy of any service provider before transferring funds. Unlike transactions processed through regulated traditional financial institutions, which offer clear pathways to recover lost or misappropriated funds, unregulated digital transfers offer no such safety net for consumers who fall victim to scams.

    Straughn also issued a call to action for consumers who have already lost money to digital financial scams: instead of staying silent out of embarrassment, victims should report their experience to authorities. Official reports of scams allow law enforcement to launch investigations, and collaborate with partner agencies in other jurisdictions to trace and recover stolen funds.

    Beyond consumer protection, the new legislation is also a critical step to safeguard the integrity of Barbados’ entire financial system, preventing criminal groups from exploiting unregulated virtual asset activity to launder money or circumvent legal financial requirements, Straughn explained. As virtual asset transactions increasingly cross national borders, the minister added that Barbados will coordinate closely with its CARICOM regional partners to address shared risks collectively, building a coordinated regional response to digital financial fraud.

  • Gale double seals dramatic tridents comeback

    Gale double seals dramatic tridents comeback

    On a blustery, rain-soaked Monday at the Wildey Technical Centre, Bolton Wanderers winger Thierry Gale delivered a pair of late goals to power Barbados to a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Group B’s basement side Bermuda, cementing the Tridents’ place at the summit of Concacaf Nations League League B Group B after the four-game international window. The result left Barbados with 10 points from three wins and one draw, holding a narrow advantage over second-place Saint Lucia – who had jumped into the top spot hours earlier after a 1-0 win over Guadeloupe – who sit on nine points. Guadeloupe trails in third with four points, while Bermuda remains winless and stuck at the bottom of the group without a single point to their name. From the opening kickoff, the hosts carved out the first clear opportunity of the match in the ninth minute, but forward Omani Leacock dragged his shot wide of the mark, setting the tone for a frustrating first half for the home crowd. Barbados maintained consistent pressure on a well-organized Bermudian defensive block, with Jaheim Neblett testing the opposition twice, but neither chance found the back of the net before the break. For Bermuda, the outing marked a clear improvement from their lopsided 4-1 defeat at the hands of Barbados just weeks earlier on October 2, with the side showing far more defensive cohesion and tactical organization than their previous meeting. As the match ticked toward the final 15 minutes, home fans growing increasingly restless as the Tridents, led by head coach Kent Hall, pushed relentlessly for a breakthrough that would not come. In a cruel twist of irony for the hosts, it was Bermuda who broke the deadlock against the run of play in the 75th minute. Forward Djair Parfitt exploited a moment of confusion in the Barbadian penalty area after a quick sequence of passing from the visitors, slotting home the opening goal to silence the packed home stands. Stung by the late concession and facing the humiliation of a home defeat to the group’s lowest-ranked, winless side, Barbados upped their intensity in the attacking third. Just four minutes after falling behind, the equalizer arrived thanks to familiar chemistry between former school teammates Niall Reid-Stephen and Thierry Gale. Reid-Stephen delivered a pinpoint cross into the penalty area, which Gale met with a perfectly placed curling right-footed shot that left Bermudian goalkeeper Jahquill Hill with no chance, drawing the hosts level in the 79th minute. The goal marked Gale’s sixth strike of the Nations League window and his 13th international goal for Barbados – but the in-form winger was not done. Three minutes after leveling the score, Gale found the back of the net once again, crashing a clinical finish past Hill at the near post to put Barbados ahead. The home fans, who had braved the inclement wet and windy conditions to cheer their side on, erupted into wild celebrations that held through the final minutes of stoppage time until the final whistle. The result not only confirmed that Barbados cannot be relegated from League B, but also moves the side within one win of qualifying for the Concacaf Gold Cup – the most prestigious and high-profile regional men’s football competition in the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football. Following the final whistle, head coach Hall praised his entire squad for their resilience under challenging match conditions, noting that while Gale’s historic goalscoring run would dominate headlines, the comeback victory was a full-team effort. “I am so proud of the boys because the team has done so well to get to this point despite a nervy match from start to finish,” Hall told reporters. “I cannot express how proud I am of them and my staff.” For Gale, the two-goal haul has cemented his status as one of the breakout stars of this edition of the Nations League, but the winger says he remains focused on improving his consistency both on and off the pitch, with the long-term goal of ranking among the greatest Caribbean footballers of all time. “I try to be consistent, even off the pitch – making up my bed every morning, I try to be consistent,” Gale said. “My dream is to play at the highest level and to be the best ever Caribbean player, or at least one of the best. I am nowhere near there yet so I’m just getting started.”

  • Bayview Hospital offers ‘first’ virtual link to cancer specialists, nurse

    Bayview Hospital offers ‘first’ virtual link to cancer specialists, nurse

    Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in Barbados, responsible for roughly one in four fatalities island-wide, with nearly half of all diagnoses hitting adults during their prime working years. This public health burden does not just impact individual patients and their loved ones – it ripples through workplaces, communities, and the nation’s overall social fabric. To address this unmet need for continuous, patient-centered support, Bayview Hospital has launched the Caribbean region’s first fully virtual cancer navigation support programme, a groundbreaking initiative designed to complement local clinical care and reshape how patients experience their cancer journey.

  • The Navigator’s Table Brings Fire and Rum to Barbados Food and Rum Festival 2026

    The Navigator’s Table Brings Fire and Rum to Barbados Food and Rum Festival 2026

    Against the backdrop of Barbados’ 60th Independence anniversary celebration, the 2026 Barbados Food and Rum Festival, running from November 5 to 8, is set to welcome a standout new addition: two curated culinary experiences from Best Dressed Plate (BDP), hosted at the iconic Crane resort. Perched on a clifftop overlooking the soft pink sands of Crane Beach along the island’s southeast coast, The Crane is a natural fit for this weekend of heritage-focused food storytelling. With a history stretching back to 1887, it holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating hotel in the entire Caribbean, making it the perfect venue to honor the roots and evolution of regional Caribbean cuisine.

    BDP’s event lineup, headlined by its residency series The Navigator’s Table, adds two compelling new draws to an already stacked festival schedule, bringing together top culinary talent from across the global Caribbean diaspora to collaborate alongside local Barbadian chefs, with menus rooted in the fire, smoke, and rum that have defined the region’s food identity for centuries.

    The first experience, FLAME, an open-fire beach BBQ, will kick off on Friday, November 6. This is no ordinary backyard cookout: it draws direct inspiration from the Indigenous Taíno people, who first roasted meat over open flames on a raised wooden frame they called “barbacoa” centuries before the term barbecue entered common usage. Taíno communities spanned the Caribbean from what is now Puerto Rico (once called Borikén) to Jamaica, and food historians widely trace the island’s iconic Maroon jerk cooking tradition back to these early open-fire cooking techniques.

    To honor this ancestral heritage, FLAME will feature Puerto Rican whole-roast lechón, prepared by Puerto Rican Chef Manolo Lopez alongside The Crane’s own Executive Chef Vanessa Dugarte. Making his festival debut is Rasheed Philips, a Atlanta-based pitmaster and runner-up from Netflix’s hit series *The American Barbecue Showdown*. Rounding out the guest chef lineup is Chef Quei Slobert of Harlem’s legendary Charles Pan-Fried Chicken, bringing the beloved Caribbean-style fried chicken tradition to the Barbados coast. Tickets for FLAME are priced at US$100 per person, inclusive of all-rum cocktails sponsored by Bajan1966, and attendees are encouraged to come with hearty appetites ready for a smoky, flavor-packed meal.

    The weekend’s centerpiece event, The Navigator’s Table: Barbados Food & Rum Edition, will follow on Saturday, November 7 starting at 6:00 PM. This exclusive 8-course dinner places rum—Barbados’ most famous export—center stage, with rum featured in every dish and every pour, reimagined through the unique culinary perspectives of four acclaimed chefs. The lineup of participating chefs includes Renee Blackman, a returning veteran of the Barbados Food and Rum Festival marking her third year at the event; Nathaniel Mortley, better known by his cooking brand Natty Can Cook, who makes his festival debut fresh off a breakout year at his London restaurant 2210 by NattyCanCook, which earned 2025 honors including a spot on Condé Nast Traveller’s “One to Watch” list and a ranking among Time Out’s best new London restaurants; Lonie Murdock, who brings her creative take on Caribbean cuisine from Canada, fresh off celebrating the one-year anniversary of her Washington D.C. restaurant Isla, which has already hosted former U.S. President Barack Obama and other high-profile guests; and Omar Walters of local Barbadian favorite Omar’s Kitchen & Rum Bar, who rounds out the chef lineup. This 8-course tribute to Barbados rum is priced at US$175 per person, inclusive of rum cocktails sponsored by Bajan1966.

    Notably, three of the four chefs participating in Saturday’s dinner are also honorees of the Caribbean Culinary Impact Awards, an initiative BDP launched in 2024 to recognize chefs, restaurant owners, food entrepreneurs, and creators who are advancing Caribbean cuisine across the globe. Blackman received the 2024 Trailblazing Chef Award, Mortley was named 2025 Rising Star Chef for the UK, and Murdock took home 2025 honors for Best Restaurant and Trailblazing Chef in Canada. These awards align with the core mission of The Navigator’s Table: reconnecting the global Caribbean diaspora to the region’s culinary roots. To date, the residency series has brought 14 diaspora chefs to the Caribbean, making it one of the most high-profile chef residencies led by Black and Caribbean creatives in the region.

    “Every time we bring the diaspora home, the food tells the story before anybody says a word,” said Nneka Nurse, Founder and Chief Flavor Officer of Best Dressed Plate. “FLAME takes us back to the fire, to what the Taíno knew long before anybody called it barbecue. On Saturday, rum gets the seat of honor in every course. And our Culinary Impact Award honorees get to show everybody exactly why they won. Barbados is turning 60. We came to give people something to crave.”

    Beyond the November festival, BDP has already announced its final 2026 event for The Navigator’s Table: Holiday Tradishon, a four-day celebration of Caribbean holiday cuisine running from December 3 to 6. Rejecting the commercial focus of modern holiday seasons, the event centers the idea that the best holiday gift is the food shared around the table. Four chefs from across the region will bring their home islands’ traditional holiday menus to Barbados: James Beard Award 2026 semifinalist Chef Raúl Correa from Puerto Rico, owner of the farm-to-table open-fire restaurant BACOA Finca + Fogón that honors jíbaro culinary heritage; Chef Brigette Joseph, a 20-year veteran of sharing Trinidad and Tobago’s multicultural food traditions who will bring classics like parang, pastelles, and sorrel; Chef Alain Lemaire, a Haiti-born, Johnson & Wales-trained chef who led the first all-Haitian dinner at the James Beard House in 2018, who will feature the iconic Haitian Independence Day dish soup joumou; and local Barbadian Chef Damian Reid, owner of Baobab Kitchen known for hyper-local sourcing of Indigenous produce and bush teas, who will share Bajan holiday favorites including great cake and jug-jug.

    Founded in 2014 by Nurse, Best Dressed Plate is a Caribbean culinary and cultural strategy company that produces public food events, represents culinary talent through its BDP Talent Connect program, and partners with tourism boards and food brands to center local creators in telling authentic Caribbean food stories. Nurse also serves as Academy Chair for the Caribbean Region for World’s 50 Best Restaurants North America and as an IGCAT Global Expert for the Caribbean, cementing BDP’s role as a leading voice in global Caribbean culinary spaces.