标签： Barbados

In a significant ruling at the District ‘B’ Magistrates’ Court, a 40-year-old resident of Bayville, St Michael, has been handed substantial financial penalties for multiple drug-related violations. Hassan Gregg O’Neil Alleyne, residing at Grants Avenue, entered a guilty plea before Magistrate Douglas Frederick during Friday’s proceedings.

The defendant faced comprehensive charges including possession, trafficking, intent to supply, and importation of illegal cannabis substances. According to official police reports, the criminal activities occurred on December 30, 2025, involving a substantial quantity of 3.20 kilograms of suspected cannabis. Law enforcement authorities estimated the confiscated drugs’ street value at approximately $25,600.

Magistrate Frederick imposed a $10,000 fine against Alleyne, mandating complete payment within a strict ninety-day timeframe. The court established clear consequences for non-compliance, stating that failure to meet the financial penalty would result in a nine-month custodial sentence at the Barbados Prison Service facility in Dodds. This case represents the ongoing judicial efforts to combat drug trafficking operations within the region.

The Barbadian government has finalized compensation for prison officers who performed extended duties during the COVID-19 pandemic, concluding a protracted dispute over unpaid wages that had persisted for nearly four years. According to a Friday announcement from the Ministry of Home Affairs, all eligible officers have now received payments for working 12-hour shifts under hazardous conditions while classified as essential workers.

The resolution follows years of mounting frustration among protective service personnel. Earlier disclosures revealed that prison officers alone were owed over half a million dollars for extra duties dating to 2021. Superintendent of Prisons DeCarlo Payne had previously confirmed that administrative preparations were complete, with fund disbursement awaiting action from the Ministry of the Public Service.

In its statement, the government characterized the payment as “not merely a financial transaction but a long-overdue act of recognition and fairness” toward officers who worked under “immense pressure and personal risk.” The Ministry specifically acknowledged that prison personnel played a critical role in maintaining both institutional security and broader societal stability throughout the health crisis.

Officials attributed the delay to manual processing requirements amid ongoing modernization of government financial systems. Three ministries—Home Affairs, Finance, and Public Service—collaborated to resolve the outstanding payments.

The government issued a formal apology for the prolonged wait, recognizing “the frustration and hardship that this postponement may have caused, especially given the immense sacrifices the officers made when the nation needed them most.” Authorities pledged to improve administrative systems to prevent similar delays in future cases involving extraordinary service.

Barbados law enforcement authorities have formally charged a minor with murder following a violent incident that resulted in the death of Timothy Trotman last month. Adae Xavier Scott, a 17-year-old resident of Military Road in Bush Hall, St Michael, now faces serious criminal charges in connection with the alleged homicide that occurred on December 22, 2025.

The Criminal Investigations Department in District ‘A’ executed the arrest and subsequent charging of the teenager, marking a significant development in the ongoing investigation. According to official police statements, the case involves a fatal stabbing that has sent shockwaves through the local community.

Scott is scheduled to make his initial court appearance before the District ‘A’ Criminal Court on Friday, January 2, where formal proceedings will commence. The case represents another troubling instance of youth involvement in violent crime, raising concerns about juvenile delinquency and public safety measures on the island.

The Barbados police force has emphasized its commitment to thorough investigation and due process in handling this sensitive case. As the judicial process moves forward, community leaders and law enforcement officials are calling for calm while awaiting the court’s determination of facts and eventual adjudication of the matter.

A significant development has emerged in Barbados’ judicial system as authorities formally pressed murder charges against Malik Isiah Blackman, a 16-year-old resident of Bush Hall, St Michael. The charges stem from the fatal incident involving Andy Arthur, which occurred on December 21, 2025.

The Barbados Royal Police Force confirmed that the juvenile suspect, residing at 4th Avenue on Park Road, now faces the gravest of criminal accusations within the island nation’s legal framework. The judicial process will commence with Blackman’s initial court appearance scheduled for January 2, 2026, at the District ‘A’ Criminal Court in Bridgetown.

This case marks another serious criminal proceeding involving juvenile defendants within the Caribbean community. Legal experts note that the timing of the court appearance—scheduled during the traditional holiday period—underscores the judiciary’s commitment to addressing violent crimes without unnecessary delay. The case will proceed under Barbados’ legal statutes regarding juvenile offenders tried as adults for severe offenses.

The community of Bush Hall, typically known as a peaceful suburban area, has expressed shock over both the tragic loss of life and the young age of the accused. Local authorities have increased community outreach programs while emphasizing the importance of due process and comprehensive investigation before reaching judicial conclusions.

Three young Barbadian men have been remanded to Dodds Prison following their appearance at the Oistins Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Facing an extensive list of firearm-related and criminal charges, the defendants include Lennox Ramon Whitehall (18, Gall Hill, Christ Church), Romel Ryan Nanton (20, Round Rock, Silver Sands, Christ Church), and Rishon Ricardo Walcott (17, Hill Side, Gall Hill, Christ Church).

Acting Chief Magistrate Deidre McKenna presided over the hearing where the trio, allegedly involved in multiple criminal incidents across Bridgetown and Southern divisions between October and December 2025, were not required to enter pleas for the indictable offenses. The court has scheduled their next appearance for Monday, January 26, 2026, with case transfers to specialized criminal courts scheduled for early January.

The charges reveal a pattern of serious criminal activity including multiple counts of firearm use, aggravated burglary, serious bodily harm, and assault with intent to rob. Whitehall and Nanton face joint charges including the serious bodily harm of Shawn Freeman and wounding with intent against Dianna Freeman-Maynard on November 16, 2025. Whitehall and Walcott are jointly charged with the aggravated burglary of Babb’s Minimart and theft from Stephen Babb on November 15, 2025.

Additional charges span multiple incidents across both divisions, including multiple aggravated burglaries at commercial establishments such as KG’s Minimart, T&T Variety, Best Mart Inc, and J’s Variety. Whitehall individually faces the most extensive list of charges, including endangering life, robbery, and multiple firearm offenses across different dates in October, November, and December 2025.

The case has been distributed across judicial districts with District ‘A’ matters transferred to Criminal Court No. 2 for January 6, 2026, and District ‘B’ matters proceeding to the District ‘B’ Magistrates’ Court on January 7, 2026.

The National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) of Barbados has declared its unwavering commitment to aggressively champion improved wages, enhanced job security, and better working conditions for public servants throughout 2026. President Kimberley Agard delivered this firm pledge in her New Year’s address, highlighting the critical timing of upcoming salary negotiations amid escalating living expenses and economic pressures facing workers.

Reflecting on the achievements of 2025, Agard acknowledged significant progress in regularizing positions for officers who had been acting in various roles for over three years, ending prolonged periods of professional uncertainty. This development marked a substantial victory for job security within the public sector.

The union leader emphasized that the NUPW would maintain vigilant oversight of national priorities affecting public workers, particularly the ongoing Job Evaluation Exercise, which serves as a crucial mechanism for ensuring equitable and transparent compensation structures. Agard also addressed the transition of government departments into State-Owned Enterprises, asserting that such organizational changes must not compromise workers’ rights or conditions.

With salary negotiations imminent, the NUPW’s approach will extend beyond mere monetary increases to encompass comprehensive improvements in employment terms and conditions. The union intends to ensure that compensation packages accurately reflect the substantial contribution of public servants to national development while addressing the realities of current economic challenges.

Additionally, the organization plans to strengthen industrial relations frameworks, enhance the capabilities of shop stewards, and guarantee that workers’ perspectives are integral to all decision-making processes affecting their livelihoods. Agard concluded by expressing gratitude for members’ resilience and reaffirming the union’s dedication to professionalism, progress, and people-centered development throughout Barbados’s public sector.