The 2025 graduating class of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus, has set a new benchmark for academic excellence, achieving the best results in five years. Out of 37 students, 36 successfully passed their final clinical exams, with 14 earning honours and four receiving distinctions. The remarkable achievement was celebrated during the Hippocratic Oath Taking Ceremony held at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Auditorium on Thursday. Dr. Damian Cohall, Dean of the Faculty, lauded the performance as one of the most outstanding in recent memory. He noted that 36 out of 38 candidates passed, with one granted a medical exemption. The ceremony marked the culmination of a rigorous five-year journey, including three years of pre-clinical studies and two years of clinical rotations in local hospitals and health centres. The final assessment, the unified Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) clinical exam, took place on May 30. While the event celebrated academic success, it also emphasized the deeper responsibilities of the medical profession. Dr. Cohall reminded the graduates that medicine is not just about knowledge but also about compassion and ethical practice. He highlighted the evolving landscape of healthcare, shaped by artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and robotics, but stressed that the human touch remains irreplaceable. ‘ChatGPT may become your medical colleague, but your humanity, judgement, and compassion cannot be programmed,’ he said. Dr. Anthony Harris, Director of Medical Services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, echoed this sentiment, urging the graduates to focus on patient care in an era of rapid technological advancement. ‘Medicine remains a personal profession,’ he said. ‘At the end of the day, it’s a human being in front of you who needs care.’ The Hippocratic Oath, a centuries-old tradition, served as a solemn reminder of the ethical and moral responsibilities that come with the title of doctor. The Class of 2025 was encouraged to prioritize patient care and uphold the noble values of the profession, even as the medical field continues to evolve.
标签： Barbados
巴巴多斯
-
Vonda Pile can no longer practise law in Barbados
In a decisive ruling, the Court of Appeal has mandated the immediate removal of Vonda Minerva Pile from the roster of licensed attorneys. The appellate board, comprising Chief Justice Leslie Haynes and Justices of Appeal Francis Belle and Margaret Reifer, issued the verdict following the Barbados Bar Association Disciplinary Committee’s recommendations. This action stems from Pile’s prior conviction and imprisonment for criminal misconduct during her legal practice. The court has also ordered that all client files under Pile’s management be transferred to the Registrar within a seven-day period. Pile was convicted on June 5, 2019, for embezzling $191,416.39 from her former client, Anstey King, between April 29, 2009, and October 26, 2010. Although she faced additional charges of money laundering, she was acquitted on that count. After serving a three-year sentence for theft, Pile had resumed her legal career, a move now definitively halted by this ruling.
-
Wife of cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers passes away
One of the most iconic figures in global cricket is navigating an immense personal loss, as Jackie White, the long-term partner of Barbadian cricket great Sir Garfield Sobers, has died at 73. White passed away on Tuesday at the couple’s home in Highgate Gardens, St. Michael, following a prolonged battle with illness.
Widely regarded as the greatest cricketer to ever step onto a pitch, 88-year-old Sir Garry Sobers holds a unique status as the only living male national hero of Barbados. For decades, White stood alongside him as his closest companion, both at home and in the public world of international cricket that defined his life.
Officials from the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) have shared their grief and extended formal condolences to the legendary athlete following the news of White’s death. Steven Leslie, marketing and communications manager for the BCA, reflected on White’s warm personality and deep connection to the global cricket community. “After learning of Jackie’s passing, the entire BCA community is deeply saddened, knowing how central she was to Sir Garry’s life and his journey in the sport,” Leslie explained.
Leslie went on to note that White was a constant presence at every major regional and international match Sobers attended, and her gentle, approachable demeanor made her a beloved figure among those who worked in cricket circles. “Once you had the chance to get to know her, her incredibly caring nature shone through. She was always cordial, engaging, and made everyone feel welcome,” he added. “The entire BCA extends our deepest condolences to Sir Garry, and we hold him in our prayers through this incredibly difficult time.”
Sobers, a former captain of the West Indies cricket team, built a career that redefined the standards of all-round cricket performance. Across 93 Test matches, he scored 8,032 runs and claimed 235 wickets, a statistical achievement that few players have matched. In 1958, he set a then-world record for the highest individual Test score with an unbeaten 365 runs, a record that stood for nearly 36 years before it was broken by fellow West Indian batsman Brian Lara. Today, his legacy as a transformative figure in the sport remains unchallenged, even as he mourns the loss of his life partner.
-
Barbadians asked to help with return tickets for Haitians
A group of 15 Haitian migrants, recently evicted from a rental property in Bonnetts, Brittons Hill, St Michael, have been relocated to the Salvation Army Hostel on Reed Street. The relocation occurred last Saturday evening, providing shelter for nine of the young men displaced by the sudden eviction. These individuals, aged between 21 and 36, had been legally residing in Barbados under visitor status with six-month permits, though most have since seen their return tickets expire.
Barbados Ambassador to CARICOM David Comissiong expressed uncertainty regarding the duration of their stay at the hostel but commended the Salvation Army’s humanitarian initiative. “I must acknowledge my profound admiration for their caring Christian ethos,” Comissiong stated. “Their readiness to assist these vulnerable individuals exemplifies the kind of humanitarian outreach that could significantly transform our society.”
The ambassador clarified that while the migrants are not illegal residents, their financial circumstances have become increasingly precarious. Many fell victim to a fraudulent scheme, paying between US$2,500 and $3,000 to an agency in Haiti that promised employment and accommodation in Barbados—promises that proved entirely false upon arrival. Having exhausted their resources, the group now depends on charitable support for basic necessities.
Comissiong and Reverend David Durant, former Government Senator and Chairman of the National Assistance Board, have launched an appeal for financial assistance to secure return flights to Haiti, estimated at BDS $600 per person. Additionally, they seek food donations since the Salvation Army’s Feeding Centre only provides lunch daily.
The eviction was initiated by landlord Anthony Mayers, who cited property maintenance issues and unexpectedly high utility bills—a water bill reaching BDS $1,200 within one month—as reasons for terminating the arrangement.
Reverend Durant, who initially sheltered the migrants at his Restoration Ministries Church, reported positive responses from the Barbadian community, including a pledge of BDS $1,500 toward return tickets. “This demonstrates that as a CARICOM nation, we are not indifferent to those in need,” Durant remarked.
Through a translator, the Haitian migrants conveyed their gratitude for the assistance received while initially expressing concerns about potential deportation. Ambassador Comissiong reassured them of their legal status but emphasized the prohibition against seeking employment during their stay.