Carib Scope

标签： Barbados

巴巴多斯

  • Minister gives nod to sports tourism push

    Minister gives nod to sports tourism push

    A small Barbadian swimming organization pushing to address rising athlete burnout, elevate technical skill-building and establish the Caribbean island as a premier regional hub for sports tourism has secured formal endorsement from the country’s top sports official. New Wave Swim Club, headed by founder and lead coach Akilah Lashley, showcased its ambitious two-week summer development clinic during a recent visit from Minister of Sports and Community Empowerment Charles Griffith at the Barbados Aquatic Centre in Wildey, St. Michael. During the event, the clinic’s 9 to 18-year-old participants – which include current national team swimmers and emerging youth talent – were formally introduced to visiting guest coach Kyle Dougan, who traveled to the island from neighboring St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

    Unlike traditional development models that require promising Barbadian swimmers to travel abroad to access elite coaching and competitive exposure, Lashley’s initiative flips this script by bringing top regional coaching talent directly to Barbados. She explained that the program is rooted in a broader sports tourism strategy designed to keep young athletes close to home during summer training while still connecting them to diverse coaching perspectives from across the Caribbean.

    “This gives New Wave and every other local swim club the chance to refine athlete technique without ever leaving the island,” Lashley said. “We get to learn from regional coaches with a wide range of experience and training philosophies, our swimmers get to stay home for the summer and enjoy their time off while still growing, and everyone gets exposure to different technical approaches that can lift their performance.”

    Lashley emphasized that the initiative is intentionally structured as a collaborative effort for the entire Barbadian swimming community, not just members of her own club. She noted that cross-cluster cooperation is key to raising the overall standard of competitive swimming across the country, and the clinic creates intentional space for coaches and athletes from different local organizations to connect and share knowledge.

    Barbados’ world-class aquatic facilities put the island in a unique position to become the go-to regional destination for swimming development, Lashley added, positioning the country to attract young swimmers from across the Caribbean for training camps and clinics in future iterations of the program.

    Minister Griffith lauded the grassroots project during his visit, framing it as a model that larger domestic sporting organizations should replicate to boost youth development and grow the island’s sports tourism sector. He pointed out that the initiative, led by one of Barbados’ smaller swim clubs, demonstrates what local organizations can achieve through regional collaboration, and that exposure to diverse coaching methodologies can only accelerate young athletes’ progress.

    “Any time we can bring in coaches from different neighboring jurisdictions to share new skills and innovative technical approaches with our up-and-coming swimmers, it’s a win for our entire sporting community,” Griffith said. “These young athletes are still building the foundation of their competitive careers, and opportunities to train with visiting experts give them tools that will serve them for years to come.”

    The minister also signaled that the Barbadian government is open to providing financial and logistical support for future editions of the clinic, with the goal of expanding the program to draw participants from across the Caribbean. Growing sports tourism is a core priority for the current administration, Griffith noted, and expanding this initiative would directly advance that goal while strengthening regional swimming ties.

  • The jack-of-all-trades advantage

    The jack-of-all-trades advantage

    A well-worn verse from Ecclesiastes 11:6 offers a timeless framework for a life well-lived: “Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.” For Dr. Basil Springer, a veteran corporate governance adviser who just closed out 85 years of life, this verse has been more than words—it has been the blueprint for a rich, varied journey that defies the modern pressure to specialize early and narrow one’s focus.

    Looking back across eight and a half decades, Springer says what has shaped him most is not a single, grand career milestone, but the meandering, surprising path that led him to where he stands today. From his teenage secondary school years to the present, he has stepped into dozens of distinct roles: student, competitive cricketer, amateur photographer, scout leader, biometrician, business consultant, active Rotarian, avid traveler, and weekly newspaper columnist. As a young man, his schoolmates jokingly labeled him a “jack of all trades, master of none”—a label that weighed on him for decades, shaping his sense of self-doubt in a world that celebrates narrow expertise. Today, however, Springer wears that old label as a badge of pride, a testament to the choices that made his life resilient and meaningful.

    We live in an era that glorifies hyper-specialization, where young people are encouraged to pick a single career track as early as college and commit to it fully. Choosing to pursue a wide range of interests, Springer notes, often feels like swimming upstream against cultural and professional expectations. But through his own experience, he has learned that diversifying one’s pursuits builds a core skill no salary or promotion can buy: unshakable adaptability.

    Each new role Springer took on taught him a new way of seeing the world, sharpening skills that translated unexpectedly to other areas of his life. Photography, for example, trained him to spot small details and read timing—an unexpected advantage when he was waiting to make a sharp catch on the cricket pitch or capture a fleeting, emotional moment off the field. Training in statistics taught him to approach data with intentional, critical questions, a discipline that later transformed his work as a columnist, making his writing more rooted in evidence than unsubstantiated opinion.

    This pattern repeated across every new interest: breadth and depth are not opposing forces, Springer argues. When curiosity is your guide, one area of expertise deepens another. Pursuing a wide range of passions does not dilute your sense of purpose—more often, it clarifies it. By exploring freely across disciplines, Springer discovered strengths he would never have uncovered if he had stuck to a single, narrow career lane from the start.

    Looking back on his life, Springer says the core question he has wrestled with was never “should I specialize or diversify?” It was “how do I channel my energy into work and pursuits that feel genuinely meaningful?” Purpose, he has learned, is not found on a pre-planned map handed to you by family, society, or education systems. It emerges gradually when you show up fully to the things that actually spark your curiosity, and allow those interests to grow and change over time.

    Embracing the jack-of-all-trades journey has given Springer a rich, interconnected tapestry of experiences, lessons, and lifelong friendships. It has kept his life engaging, resilient, and deeply rewarding, even as roles and priorities shifted across decades. If there is one core takeaway from his 85 years of life, it is simple: curiosity is not a flaw or a distraction to be fixed. When you honor that curiosity and nurture it, it becomes a lifelong companion and a powerful guide to lasting fulfillment.

    In Barbados and across the globe, Springer acknowledges that specialized experts are critical to solving the world’s problems. But we also need people who feel comfortable crossing disciplinary boundaries, connecting ideas across silos, and learning publicly as they go. The world’s biggest challenges are deeply complex, he notes, and the solutions we need will be complex too.

    For any young person sitting at a crossroads, wondering whether to commit to one single path or explore many, Springer offers this straightforward advice: try both. Go deep into the areas that demand your focus, and go wide whenever you have the chance to explore a new interest. Trust that the intersections between your different passions will teach you lessons no single subject or career could ever offer.

    After eight and a half decades, Springer says he is grateful for every “hat” he has gotten to wear across his journey. The winding, unplanned path was never a detour—it was the whole point.

    As he enters his 86th year of life and his 34th consecutive year writing his weekly column, Springer closes by expressing gratitude for the journey and for the readers who have followed along with his work over decades.

  • How faith won a Nevisian an unforgettable Barbados getaway

    How faith won a Nevisian an unforgettable Barbados getaway

    For Erica Doras-Pemberton, a belief in her own luck turned a simple competition entry into the dream trip she had long envisioned. Entering the “Win a Trip to Barbados” giveaway with unwavering confidence that her name would be drawn, the 32-year-old Nevisian resident and her husband Winston emerged as the lucky winners, selected from thousands of entries submitted across the entire Caribbean region.

    The all-expenses-paid prize, a five-night, six-day island escape, was sponsored through a collaborative regional partnership between TEMPO Networks, interCaribbean Airways, and Divi Southwinds Beach Resort. For Erica, the trip carried extra meaning: it marked her return to Barbados after a single prior visit, and gave Winston, a security officer by profession, his very first chance to explore the island. It also aligned perfectly with the couple’s first wedding anniversary, which they celebrated on June 29 during their stay that wrapped up on Wednesday, July 8.

    From the moment they arrived, the couple embraced every moment of their getaway, balancing lazy, quiet days at the oceanfront Divi Southwinds Beach Resort with action-packed island tours and scenic stops across the country. Two of the most talked-about highlights for Erica, a self-described Rihanna fan, were stops at the global pop icon’s childhood home in Bridgetown and her private residence on Barbados’ exclusive Platinum Coast. As an avid nature lover, she also counted the experience of standing at the geographic point where the clear blue Caribbean Sea converges with the Atlantic Ocean among her most memorable moments. Watching the currents mix and the landscape shift at this junction left a lasting impression on her, while deep dives into Barbados’ rich cultural history only strengthened her newfound appreciation for the island.

    Erica noted that while Barbados and her home island of Nevis share many deep cultural ties, it was the small, unique differences that made the experience feel special. She highlighted the famously warm hospitality of Barbadian locals, the gentle charm of their common phrase “yes please”, and unexpected local traditions such as the year-round enjoyment of Christmas ham – a custom she found delightfully distinctive.

    Beyond sightseeing and cultural exploration, the trip offered the couple something equally valuable: uninterrupted, quality time together away from the busy demands of their everyday work and family lives. Erica, who works as a junior clerk, explained that the getaway gave them the chance to unwind at their own pace, whether they were relaxing on the resort’s beach or wandering the popular dining and entertainment district of St Lawrence Gap.

    When asked to sum up her experience in three words, Erica described Barbados as “unforgettable”, “beautiful” and “welcoming”. As the couple prepared to return home to their children, who had followed along via the photos and videos Erica documented throughout the trip, she extended her gratitude to the competition organizers and already plans to return to the island – next time, bringing her whole family along.

    Gercine Simmons-Layne, Sales and Marketing Manager at Divi Southwinds Beach Resort, emphasized that the competition campaign demonstrates the unique value of regional partnerships in growing Barbados’ tourism sector by introducing first-time visitors to the island. “Hosting the winner of this giveaway reminded us why we love what we do,” she said. “As a friendly, accessible resort steps from the beach and close to nearly every major attraction on the island, Divi Southwinds All Suite Resort is the perfect base for a first trip to Barbados. TEMPO Networks has such a strong, trusted connection to Caribbean audiences, and it was so exciting to welcome Erica and Winston to our island. We hope this is just the first of many return trips for them.”

  • Double Monarch: Mikey Mercer claims Sweet and Power Soca crowns

    Double Monarch: Mikey Mercer claims Sweet and Power Soca crowns

    In an unprecedented display of artistic dominance that has sent shockwaves through the Caribbean soca community, Mikey Mercer etched his name into the history books of Barbadian culture on Sunday night, claiming both the coveted Sweet Soca Monarch and Power Soca Monarch titles at the Banks Party Monarch Finals. Held against the lush, vibrant backdrop of the National Botanical Gardens, the annual competition was broadcast in partnership with leading local radio station HITZ 106.7 FM, drawing thousands of in-person attendees and a global online audience of soca fans.

    What makes Mercer’s victory all the more remarkable is his flawless performance across both divisions. In a feat never before seen at the event, the artist earned a perfect score of 100 points in both finals, walking away with a combined total prize purse of $200,000 in winnings. It was a masterclass in performance skill, stage presence, and cultural connection that left judges and audience members alike in awe.

    Mercer first claimed the top spot in the Sweet Soca category with his infectious track *Real Feters*, securing the division’s championship trophy and a $100,000 payout. Following him in the Sweet Soca rankings was Mr Blood, whose performance of *Crop Over Forever* earned 68 points to land second place, taking home $50,000 and a trophy. Khiomal secured third place with *Back To When*, scoring 61 points for a $40,000 prize, while Ross rounded out the top four with *Come And Go*, notching 52 points and a $20,000 payout.

    Mercer did not slow down heading into the Power Soca division, the higher-energy segment of the annual competition. Delivering a high-octane rendition of his track *Like Ah Bajan*, he once again impressed all five judges enough to earn a perfect 100-point score, adding the Power Soca crown, its matching trophy, and another $100,000 to his night’s haul. Shaquille GFG took second place in the Power Soca final with *Afterall*, scoring 75 points to claim $50,000, while veteran performer Lil Rick secured third with *Best Ting*, scoring 62 points for a $40,000 prize. Nikita completed the top four in Power Soca with *Extraordinary*, earning 55 points and a $20,000 payout.

    Speaking to the roaring, elated crowd immediately after his second win was announced, the newly crowned double monarch shared his heartfelt gratitude for the support he received throughout the competition. “I love wunna bad, bad, bad,” Mercer told the gathered audience, bringing the historic night of competition to a close with a display of genuine affection for the home crowd that carried him to victory.

    Photographers Kemar Holder of Barbados TODAY captured moments of Mercer celebrating with his prize cheque and trophies, as well as his electrifying stage performance during the Power Soca final, preserving the historic night for local cultural archives.

  • Mourners pay respects to late Chief Fisheries Officer Dr Shelly-Ann Cox

    Mourners pay respects to late Chief Fisheries Officer Dr Shelly-Ann Cox

    On a quiet Sunday in St Michael, dozens of mourners from across Barbados gathered at Lyndhurst Funeral Home on Passage Road to honor the life and legacy of trailblazing Chief Fisheries Officer Dr Shelly-Ann Cox, one day ahead of her official state-aligned funeral. Family members, close friends, professional colleagues and ordinary members of the public joined the solemn gathering, lining up through the chapel’s halls to pay their final respects, view Dr Cox’s casket, sign official condolence books, and wrap Dr Cox’s grieving family in emotional support.

    Among the family members receiving condolences was Marvon Cox, Dr Cox’s father, who opened up about the overwhelming outpouring of support that has reshaped his understanding of his daughter’s far-reaching impact. He remembered his daughter as an extraordinary person whose kindness and dedication touched lives across every corner of Barbados’ fishing and scientific communities.

    “‘Shelly was an amazing girl… I mean amazing with a capital A,’” he told reporters on site. “She was the type of person that would go above and beyond just to make people comfortable, just to make people happy. She loved people.” In the weeks since her sudden passing, Marvon Cox said he has heard countless stories of his daughter’s quiet generosity and professional leadership from people who crossed paths with her — from junior researchers she mentored to boat owners she worked with across the island. “I am now beginning to see that she was much more than I thought,” he added.

    Marvon Cox also reflected on the moment that forever changed his family’s life: the phone call delivering news of his daughter’s sudden death. “It was almost unbelievable when I heard what the other person on the other side of the phone was actually saying. I just couldn’t believe it,” he recalled. Despite the overwhelming grief of losing his 38-year-old daughter far too soon, he said his Christian faith has been his anchor through the difficult weeks of mourning, allowing him to stay strong for the rest of the family. “I was able to stand up to it because I am a man that knows God. God helped us to get through things, get over things, and He keeps you… So I have been able to remain strong from then up to this point.”

    Dr Cox died suddenly on June 13 at just 38 years old. A rising star in Caribbean fisheries management, she stepped into the role of Chief Fisheries Officer for Barbados in January 2023, making history as the youngest person ever to hold the position and only the second woman to serve as a chief fisheries officer across the entire Caribbean region. Her sudden death sparked a widespread outpouring of tributes from across the sector: colleagues, fishing community leaders, former students and public officials have all praised her dynamic leadership, deep compassion, and unwavering commitment to advancing the sustainability and development of Barbados’ critical fisheries industry.

  • ICE will bring the SOCA vibes

    ICE will bring the SOCA vibes

    Barbados’ iconic Crop Over festival will kick off its Grand Kadooment weekend in high spirits this year, as ICE Events246 brings back its wildly popular ICE SOCA series with a brand-new tropical-themed installment: ICE SOCA – Tropical Paradise. Scheduled for Thursday, July 30 at the Green Acres venue in The Belle, St. Michael, this year’s event promises a fully immersive celebration that blends top-tier soca music, diverse local cuisine, and premium entertainment tailored for returning attendees and first-time visitors alike.

    Designed to keep energy high from the opening set to the closing encore, the 2026 edition is structured around three dynamic, genre-spanning musical segments, each headlined by some of Barbados’ most beloved soca talent. Backed by a full live band, the opening Sweet Soca segment will feature fan-favorite acts including Edwin Yearwood, Grateful Co and Hypasounds. Next, the Bashment Soca segment will ramp up the vibe with headliners Mole, Mastaa T and Jordan English, before the high-octane Power Soca closing segment takes over, starring Tionne Hernandez, Lil Rick and Mikey. In total, nine of the island’s top soca performers will share one central stage, creating a continuous flow of music for attendees to enjoy.

    Beyond the stellar musical lineup, ICE SOCA has built its reputation for reimagining the festival food experience, and this year is no exception. Unlike many festival events that charge separate for entry and refreshments, ICE SOCA – Tropical Paradise will operate as a fully food-inclusive gathering, with 10 premium food stations scattered across the venue offering a wide range of local and regional culinary delights. Patrons will have unlimited access to food throughout the entire night, eliminating long lines at food vendors and letting guests focus on enjoying the celebration.

    Organizers from ICE Events246 shared that every detail of this year’s event has been curated to deliver an unforgettable, memory-making Crop Over experience that stays true to the festival’s roots of joy, community, and vibrant culture. “ICE SOCA – Tropical Paradise captures everything that makes Crop Over special: the unbeatable energy, the bright colors, and the excitement that brings people together year after year,” the team explained. “We’ve put together an incredible lineup of homegrown talent, elevated our food offering to new levels, and built an atmosphere where guests can celebrate with friends in true VIP style from the moment they walk through the gates. If you’re searching for the perfect launch to Grand Kadooment weekend, there’s no better place to be.”

    Building on the success of previous sold-out editions, including the well-received 2025 event that drew thousands of satisfied attendees who praised the accessible food layout and lively crowd energy, ICE SOCA has quickly become one of the most anticipated annual events on the Crop Over calendar. It draws soca enthusiasts from across Barbados and international visitors who travel to the island for the festival, all seeking premium service, seamless event organization, and the kind of infectious, uplifting vibes that only a top-tier soca celebration can deliver.

    For the latest information on ticket availability, pricing, event updates, and VIP booking options, attendees can follow ICE Events246 on Instagram and Facebook at the handle @iceevents246.

  • Untapped demand for Caribbean travel revealed by Barbados campaign, says TEMPO CEO

    Untapped demand for Caribbean travel revealed by Barbados campaign, says TEMPO CEO

    A recent regional tourism marketing campaign centered on Barbados has exposed significant unmet demand for Caribbean getaways, especially among diaspora communities residing in the United States, campaign organizers have confirmed.

    The promotion, branded as the “Win a Trip to Barbados” initiative, was spearheaded by TEMPO Networks in strategic collaboration with interCaribbean Airways and Divi Southwinds Beach Resort. According to Frederick A. Morton Jr., founder and chief executive officer of TEMPO Networks, the campaign delivered impressive engagement metrics: it generated over 14,000 content impressions, drove more than 22,500 participant interactions, and captured the attention of over 1,800 unique active users.

    Breakdown of participant data shows that nearly 69% of all entrants were located within the United States, with additionally robust engagement recorded from both local Caribbean markets and diaspora communities across the globe. For Morton, these results align with a growing pattern that has emerged across the network’s recent destination marketing work. “This Barbados-focused campaign reinforced a trend we’ve spotted across multiple recent destination initiatives, including separate campaigns for the U.S. Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands,” Morton explained. “In every project, we’ve seen the same pattern: high engagement from both on-island Caribbean audiences and the broader U.S. market. This makes clear that there is enormous untapped demand for Caribbean travel, and that demand is especially strong among the global Caribbean diaspora.”

    Beyond highlighting unmet demand, the campaign also validated the enduring power of culturally rooted messaging in driving tourism growth, Morton added. “The level of audience connection we built shows that when Caribbean stories are told in an authentic way, audiences respond enthusiastically,” he said. He went on to note that destination marketing delivers the strongest results when it is authentic, culturally resonant, and distributed through platforms that already hold the trust and sustained attention of Caribbean-centered audiences.

    The campaign’s grand prize winners, Erica and Winston Doras-Pemberton, recently wrapped up their five-night, six-day complimentary stay at Divi Southwinds Beach Resort, after flying to Barbados via interCaribbean Airways this Wednesday.

    Morton emphasized that the competition is part of TEMPO’s more than 20-year mission to boost regional travel across the Caribbean. The network’s first “Win a Trip” promotions, which first built a loyal audience, were launched in early partnerships with the now-defunct regional carrier LIAT, he recalled.

    Looking ahead, TEMPO Networks plans to scale this successful campaign model across the entire Caribbean region. “We expect to announce another exciting partner destination in the near future, as we work to make these campaigns a consistent core offering of TEMPO’s tourism development work,” Morton said.

    He also added that the results of the Barbados campaign provide a replicable blueprint for expanded cross-sector collaboration across the Caribbean’s tourism ecosystem, bringing together airlines, hotels, media outlets and tourism boards to drive shared growth.

  • Teens seek common ground through culture, conversation

    Teens seek common ground through culture, conversation

    On a recent Friday, 37 teenagers aged 14 to 18 from Barbados and the United States gathered at Barbados’ Skymall for a one-day collaborative workshop designed to tackle common youth mental health struggles through arts-based practice and cross-cultural connection. Titled *Finding My Voice, Embracing My Culture, Strengthening My Mind*, the event was co-hosted by two youth-focused organizations: Barbados’ Pinelands Creative Workshop (PCW) and the U.S.-based Taratibu Youth Association (TYA).

    The workshop was rooted in a core belief that creative expression offers a more accessible and authentic pathway to emotional processing than traditional talk-based settings, serving as a tool to help young people navigate anxiety, familial conflict, identity formation, and other common adolescent challenges. For PCW, this initiative builds on the organization’s longstanding mission to leverage creative arts as a vehicle for youth empowerment and healthy development.

    Sophia Greaves, chief executive officer of PCW, emphasized that the collaboration marked another milestone in the organization’s work to connect creative practice with youth mental health support. “This is part of our ongoing collaborative journey,” Greaves explained. “We’re working with Taratibu Youth Association to use creative methodologies to help young people work through all kinds of complexities – from anxiety and fear to internal family conflict, and the growing pains of transitioning from adolescence to young adulthood.”

    Greaves noted that creative outlets – ranging from dance and singing to visual art – enable young people to articulate emotions that often feel impossible to put into words, giving on-site mental health professionals clearer insight into participants’ needs to develop targeted coping strategies. “This space allows for emotional freedom of expression in a way that isn’t rigid or clinical,” she said. “Whether a participant dances, sings, or draws, our in-house psychologists get a genuine picture of what they’re struggling with, and can start guiding them toward healthy coping strategies.”

    Against a backdrop of rising reports of disorientation and isolation among young people globally, the workshop prioritized root-cause healing in a safe, supportive environment. The event also complements PCW’s existing Career Life Management Programme, and Greaves voiced her hope that similar arts-focused mental health initiatives will be integrated into schools and community programs across Barbados as a strategy to reduce youth violence.

    Dr. Yanique Edmond, a TYA representative and board-certified mental health and trauma specialist, emphasized that performing arts and emotional wellness are inherently linked, especially for young creatives. “To sustain a creative practice without it breaking you down or causing unaddressed trauma, you need a solid mental health foundation,” she explained. “When you channel other people’s emotions and pain into your art, it can easily become overwhelming if you don’t have the skills to process it.”

    The workshop’s core curriculum was designed to teach teens to first identify their emotions, then channel those feelings into creative expression in healthy, constructive ways. “The goal is to turn that emotion into art that becomes a source of hope and builds resilience,” Edmond said. “This doesn’t happen on its own. Teens need guidance from knowledgeable adults to support them on their journey to wellness.”

    This cross-border workshop is part of TYA’s broader international effort to connect young people through cultural exchange and advance a holistic, African-rooted framework for mental health that integrates mind, spirit, and body. The organization has hosted similar initiatives across Ghana, Togo, Benin, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and St. Croix, centered on elevating interconnected African cultural traditions of holistic wellness that have been practiced for generations.

    After a full day of discussions, skill-building, and cultural exchange, participants translated their takeaways into original improvised performances, spanning dance, music, poetry, and spoken word. The pieces centered on themes of personal resilience, cultural identity, and hope, drawing directly from the day’s conversations.

    Dr. Dominique Charlot-Swilley, a clinical child psychologist from Georgetown University and TYA delegate, added that the workshop builds on more than two decades of international cultural exchange, but with an explicit new focus on emotional wellbeing. She noted that the event highlights a unifying truth often overlooked in global discourse: “There are so many similarities between us, even though the world often tries to make us feel divided. That narrative of difference simply isn’t true.”

    Cross-border exchanges like this allow young people from different national contexts to recognize their shared experiences of adolescence, while learning from one another’s cultural perspectives. “Young people all over the world are navigating trauma,” Charlot-Swilley noted. “We have more access to other people than ever through social media, but so many teens still feel deeply isolated and alone.”

    As social and emotional pressures on adolescents continue to grow, she emphasized, creating intentional safe spaces where teens can openly discuss their emotions, embrace their cultural identities, and build connections with peers across borders is more critical than ever.

  • Govt opens doors for 92 young interns

    Govt opens doors for 92 young interns

    Starting this Monday, 92 young Barbadians will step out of the classroom and into real-world public service workplaces as participants in a newly relaunched Summer Internship Programme, a collaborative initiative led by the country’s Ministry of Home Affairs and Information and the Office of the Attorney General.

    The incoming cohort was officially welcomed during a press briefing held Friday at the Barbados Postal Service, where current Home Affairs and Information Minister Gregory Nicholls opened up about the origins of the programme, noting it was first launched by former Home Affairs Minister Wilfred Abrahams, who now serves as Attorney General. When Nicholls took over his ministerial role, Abrahams prioritized continuing the youth-focused initiative, and the pair worked across teams to expand placements across all relevant government departments. With 15 to 16 separate agencies falling under the Ministry of Home Affairs alone, the programme now offers diverse placement opportunities across multiple sectors of public service.

    Designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and professional work, the summer internship positions participants across more than a dozen government departments and public agencies, including the Probation Department, Immigration Department, Barbados Postal Service, Government Printery, Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation, Government Information Service, National Council on Substance Abuse, Barbados Meteorological Services, Department of Emergency Management, Barbados Prison Service, Government Industrial Schools and the Barbados Broadcasting Authority.

    In his address to the new intern cohort, Nicholls framed the programme as far more than a temporary summer job, positioning it as a foundational stepping stone for the next generation of national leaders. He encouraged participants to approach their placements with curiosity, humility and a commitment to learning, advising: “Do not see yourselves as summer workers; see yourselves as learners, as explorers, and as future leaders. Be curious, ask questions respectfully, of course. Observe, seek to understand not only what is done, but why it is done. Every task, no matter how small it may be, offers a valuable lesson.”

    Nicholls also highlighted three core traits he said would help interns get the most out of their experience: resilience, strength of character and respect. Acknowledging that new roles often come with uncertainty and unforeseen challenges, he noted that growth only happens when people push past their comfort zones. “There are moments when you encounter challenges. You’ll be asked to perform tasks that you have never done before, you may make mistakes and you may feel uncertain at times, that is perfectly normal. Growth often occurs when we step outside of our comfort zones,” he said. He added that robustness – defined as discipline, professionalism, punctuality and initiative – is key to building trust with supervisors and making a lasting positive impression. Nicholls closed by reminding participants that regardless of their future career paths, Barbados needs the energy, creativity, integrity and vision of its young people to move forward.

    Attorney General Abrahams, who founded the programme, explained that it fills a critical gap in youth development: it teaches unwritten professional skills that are rarely covered in formal education, including workplace dress codes, professional etiquette, communication norms and workplace professionalism. He also shared that the programme has a proven track record of creating long-term employment pathways, noting that many past participants have been hired as full-time staff by the departments where they interned.

    Abrahams pointed to the impact of the 2023 cohort’s placement during Hurricane Beryl, where interns at the Department of Emergency Management gained hands-on experience in disaster response, from processing emergency calls to coordinating public safety shutdowns. “This is not just something to spend the time on in the summer. We want to teach you about life, we want to teach you about work,” he said, adding that parents are encouraged to engage with their children about their experiences to fully integrate the learning.

    The attorney general added that the internship also drives transformative personal growth, helping young people shift from a student mindset to that of a working young adult. Sharing an example from his own constituency, he said many past participants entered the programme raw, undisciplined and unfocused, but left with clear direction and professional maturity that changed the trajectory of their lives.

    Participant feedback on the programme has been overwhelmingly positive, with many young people saying it addresses a critical gap in youth employment preparedness. Amiah Padmore, an aspiring psychology professional, called the opportunity “a great chance” to build foundational experience ahead of her planned career. “I feel very good. I feel like this is a great opportunity for me and I will definitely have experience doing things like this because I want to go into psychology. And I like to talk to people,” she said. While she has no preference for her department placement, she plans to make the most of every experience, noting that many young people like herself lack exposure to how professional workplaces operate. “It’s important because people like me are very misguided. They don’t have much knowledge about the work and how it operates or what to do, so it’s just for them to practice or get into it to know what to do,” Padmore explained.

    Seventeen-year-old Davidson Griffith, a participant with experience in the Barbados National Youth Parliament and a past youth ambassador advocating for students with disabilities, echoed that excitement. Griffith, who has dyslexia, said the programme gives young people a rare chance to build interpersonal skills while contributing directly to national development. “I feel extremely great it’s an opportunity for young people to come together and to develop their interpersonal skills as it pertains to serving the public of Barbados and contributing to the development of Barbados,” he said. Prepared to serve in any assigned department, Griffith said he hopes to set an example for other young Barbadians, encouraging them to take advantage of the opportunities the government provides. “My interest in this internship is to serve. If it’s serving in whatever department that the internship offers, I just want to be there to serve the people of Barbados and to be an example for young people of Barbados, especially young men in Barbados, that the government is providing these opportunities and don’t take them for granted,” he said.

  • CARICOM leaders promise action as households feel cost-of-living pressure

    CARICOM leaders promise action as households feel cost-of-living pressure

    As household budgets across the Caribbean continue to buckle under the weight of soaring cost-of-living pressures, regional leaders and private sector stakeholders have struck a landmark agreement on a comprehensive package of policy and infrastructure measures designed to cut import expenses, strengthen cross-border connectivity, eliminate internal trade barriers, and expand access to affordable essential goods for ordinary consumers. The sweeping commitments were finalized during the second High-Level Breakfast Dialogue, a high-stakes gathering that brought together CARICOM Heads of Government, the CARICOM Private Sector Organisation (CPSO), and the OECS Business Council (OBC) in Saint Lucia. The event ran alongside the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government, held under the central theme “Meeting the Affordability Challenge: Toward a Proactive Agenda for Member States and the Private Sector.” Held on July 6, the dialogue drew more than 120 senior attendees, spanning private sector leadership, heads of state from 13 CARICOM member nations, organized labor representatives, international development partners, and senior officials from leading regional institutions. Throughout the day-long discussions, participants zeroed in on actionable, practical solutions to reverse the trend of rising consumer costs, with priorities including cuts to transportation and logistics overhead, expanded import diversification, increased intra-regional investment, and tighter integration between the Caribbean’s key tourism sector and local production industries. One of the most high-priority outcomes of the dialogue was a consensus around advancing cross-regional movement, with leaders voting to move forward with plans for a private-sector-led regional ferry service that will cut travel and shipping costs across member states. Attendees agreed to a September 2026 deadline to put in place the full regulatory framework required for mutual recognition of insurance, operating licenses, and road taxes — a set of regulatory changes widely seen as a non-negotiable prerequisite to launching the ferry service. In the near term, leaders have committed to advancing interim operational arrangements to get the private-sector-run service up and running ahead of the full regulatory rollout. The dialogue also marked a milestone for regional air cargo connectivity, with attendees formally welcoming the launch of operations by Executive Air Cargo, a new carrier that has already begun moving agri-food products across CARICOM member states, opening new markets for small regional producers and cutting supply chain delays. Turning to long-standing barriers that have stifled intra-regional trade, participants agreed to adopt a targeted “pairwise” approach to address the 57 non-tariff barriers that local businesses have repeatedly identified as major restrictions on cross-border commerce. Under the new framework, the country imposing a trade barrier will work directly with the affected trading partner, supported by private sector stakeholders and relevant government agencies, to develop binding, time-bound solutions that remove unnecessary restrictions. Discussions also outlined major potential cost savings through import diversification, with analysis showing that the region could cut annual expenses by roughly $2 billion by shifting a portion of non-fuel imports to regional suppliers instead of relying on overseas sources. Participants also noted that additional long-term savings will come as Caribbean nations accelerate their transition to renewable energy, reducing their heavy dependence on costly imported fossil fuels. In addition to long-term structural reforms, attendees also debated immediate, short-term measures to ease cost pressures on working households. Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley put forward a bold call for a formal tripartite compact bringing together national governments, the private sector, and organized labor, focused on capping and lowering prices for a core basket of essential consumer goods. According to the official statement from the meeting, Mottley also urged private businesses to accept narrower profit margins on essential products to help ease the financial strain on consumers across the CARICOM region. The dialogue also prioritized unlocking regional capital for strategic infrastructure investment, with a focus on high-impact sectors including renewable energy generation, seawater desalination, utility-scale battery storage, and port modernization. Participants agreed that all open regional investment opportunities should be published on a single unified regional platform to improve access for local and international investors, with agriculture singled out as a key sector requiring targeted investment and attention. Attendees also reaffirmed their long-standing commitment to completing the Tourism Linkages Project, an initiative designed to strengthen economic connections between the Caribbean’s $59 billion tourism industry and regional agriculture, manufacturing, and service sectors, ensuring more tourism revenue stays within local communities. On climate policy, private sector representatives reaffirmed their broad support for ambitious global climate action, but raised urgent concerns about the potential negative economic impact of the International Maritime Organization’s Net-Zero Framework on Caribbean consumers, small island developing economies, and the regional tourism sector, which relies heavily on affordable maritime shipping for goods and visitor arrivals. To ensure all agreed commitments are implemented on schedule, participants approved the establishment of dedicated working groups with clear timelines and measurable performance targets to track progress and hold stakeholders accountable. The CPSO will partner with the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee to lead the implementation of the full agreed policy agenda. The dialogue concluded with a unified public commitment from governments, the private sector, and organized labor to prioritize the delivery of practical, people-centered measures that will deliver tangible, meaningful improvements in quality of life for all residents of the CARICOM community.