Carib Scope

标签： Barbados

巴巴多斯

  • Martinique takes seat at CARICOM for first time

    Martinique takes seat at CARICOM for first time

    On Sunday, during the opening ceremony of the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) hosted in Saint Lucia, Martinique made history by formally taking its seat as an associate member for the first time. This landmark moment caps a years-long accession process that concluded after multiple key milestones: the French overseas territory signed its accession agreement in Bridgetown in February 2025, ratified the CARICOM Privileges and Immunities Agreement, and its associate membership officially entered into force on June 16, 2026, making Martinique the seventh associate member of the regional bloc.

    Geographically, Martinique holds a strategic position in the eastern Caribbean, sitting just 20 miles north of Saint Lucia — close enough that the island can be seen from the Sandals Grande resort, the venue of this year’s heads of government meeting, on clear days. CARICOM Secretary-General Carla Barnett formally extended a warm welcome to the new member during the opening proceedings, marking the start of Martinique’s formal participation in the regional organization.

    Serge Letchimy, President of the Executive Council of Martinique, framed the occasion as the opening of a entirely new chapter for the island’s regional engagement. Reflecting on the multiyear journey to membership, he noted the unique challenges of integrating into the Caribbean regional framework while remaining part of French and European institutional structures. “It took many years for us to be accepted into CARICOM. This shows how difficult it can be to belong to two institutional frameworks at once. But today, we are here,” Letchimy stated.

    Emphasizing that accession itself is just the starting point rather than the final goal, Letchimy called for rapid concrete action to turn membership into tangible benefits. “This should not be seen as an end in itself. It is only the beginning. We must now move into action. Businesses, financing and investment must now come on board,” he added.

    Outgoing CARICOM Chairman and Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis Dr. Terrance Drew aligned with this view, noting that Martinique’s accession reflects the core founding purpose of the regional bloc. “We believe that together we are stronger. We have a number of institutions that benefit us, and that would be difficult for each country to establish on its own, but together we are able to make them a reality for the benefit of our people,” Drew explained.

    For Martinique, formal associate membership provides a structured, institutionalized framework to deepen engagement with its immediate Caribbean neighbors, a shift from past informal cooperation. Letchimy laid out an ambitious agenda for the island’s tenure in CARICOM: he plans to leverage Martinique’s new positioning to deliver tangible cross-border projects, expand bilateral and regional economic exchanges, strengthen policy coordination, boost people’s mobility across the region, and attract increased investment. His long-term vision positions Martinique as a strategic connectivity hub linking the Caribbean region to the Americas, Europe, and Africa.

    Closing his remarks, Letchimy emphasized the cultural and geographic roots of Martinique’s integration: “We are reconnecting with our common home: the Caribbean. A door has been opened. It truly exists. We must now use it.”

  • CueSports takes pool into schools

    CueSports takes pool into schools

    Barbados’ leading cue sports governing body, CueSports Barbados, is rolling out a targeted grassroots effort to grow the sport among the nation’s youth, anchored by two connected programs: CueConnect and the Pool in Schools initiative. The organization marked a key milestone this week with the handover of a fully outfitted pool table to Grantley Adams Memorial School, a secondary school located in St. Joseph. This donation makes the institution the first educational partner to receive specialized equipment under the new program.

    Daniel Hinds, president of CueSports Barbados, explained that the school-focused initiative grows out of the organization’s long-term vision to embed cue sports in Barbados’ educational landscape, while nurturing sustainable national growth for the discipline. The idea for expanding into schools first took root in 2022, when one of the organization’s members, Davi Davis, launched a youth team called Young Bloods. The team, which remains active today, creates space for young players to compete in local CueSports-sanctioned events, particularly team-format tournaments.

    Building on the success of Young Bloods, the organization worked to formalize a pathway into schools, Hinds said. The connection to Grantley Adams Memorial School came through CueSports Barbados Vice President Sonia Mayers, an alumnus of the institution, who facilitated a meeting with school principal Major Andrew Skeete to pitch the program.

    Major Skeete welcomed the donation and emphasized the excitement among the school’s student body. “We want to express our sincere gratitude. We are a school of firsts and we thank you,” he said in remarks following the handover. “I can assure you the boys and girls will be at school early to put it to good use and we will be looking after it.”

    Unlike one-off donation projects, the Pool in Schools pilot at Grantley Adams Memorial is designed as a sustainable, long-term program, Hinds noted. Before regular student coaching begins, the organization will host a two-day training workshop for two of the school’s teachers in August, covering core pool fundamentals, proper game etiquette, and program management. The goal of the upskilling is to build local capacity at the school, so that school staff can run ongoing sessions independently after the initial launch phase. Following the workshop, CueSports Barbados coaches will lead structured training sessions for participating students at least twice a month to support skill development.

    Looking ahead, CueSports Barbados has already begun laying groundwork to expand the initiative to four additional secondary schools across Barbados: Deighton Griffith Secondary School, Ellerslie Secondary School, Graydon Sealy Secondary School, and St. Leonard’s Secondary School. Hinds stressed that the organization is prioritizing careful, incremental expansion to ensure every participating school has the resources and support to sustain the program long-term.

    For Hinds and the CueSports Barbados team, the initiative is far more than a simple equipment donation. It represents a deliberate investment in young Barbadians, opening new recreational and competitive opportunities for youth, and securing the long-term future of cue sports across the country.

  • Canal upgrades boost hurricane confidence

    Canal upgrades boost hurricane confidence

    For decades, recurrent flooding has been a persistent source of stress and disruption for communities in Sunset Crest, a neighborhood located in Holetown, Barbados. But as the annual Atlantic hurricane season gets underway, locals say they are cautiously optimistic that devastating flood events will be far less likely this year, following targeted infrastructure upgrades and coordinated community action to address long-standing drainage vulnerabilities.

    The region’s chronic flooding issues have long centered on an overloaded, undersized canal that cuts through the residential area. For years, heavy seasonal rainfall would regularly push the canal over its banks, sending rushing water into local streets, driveways and homes. One long-term Jamestown Park resident, who has lived in the neighborhood for 39 years, shared vivid memories of past flood events with local outlet Barbados TODAY, recalling how deep water would cover entire residential avenues, sweep away residents’ trash bins, and cut off access to homes for those caught out by sudden downpours.

    Major improvements began after authorities completed a canal widening project decades ago, which cut serious flood events to nearly zero for roughly 15 years, the long-term resident explained. That dry spell ended only recently, when an unexpected overflow sent water into neighborhood avenues once again – the first major incident in a generation. Though the resident avoided permanent damage to her property, the experience was unsettling, requiring her to scramble out of bed in the early hours of the morning to stack sandbags at her back entrance after a neighbor alerted her to the rising canal levels.

    Even when floodwaters do not breach home foundations, they still upend daily life, making local roads impassable. The resident recalled one incident where she was forced to wade through ankle-deep water to reach her home after leaving the main road, while a neighbor was stranded at a bus stop for hours until her husband could pick her up. These past traumatic events have left a lasting mark on the community: even with new upgrades in place, locals still keep sandbags stocked at the ready and closely monitor weather forecasts whenever heavy rain is predicted.

    One of the worst historic flood events the neighborhood faced was sparked by blocked drainage infrastructure, when accumulated debris trapped water in residential areas. The resident described a terrifying incident where her family held hands to stay upright against rushing floodwaters, and her father injured his leg when the force of the water threw him back as he tried to open a gate to let the water drain out. That memory, she says, is why residents remain jumpy even at the prediction of moderate rain.

    Beyond the completed canal work, the community is still waiting for two key additional improvements: confirmation that the canal has been fully dredged ahead of this hurricane season, and updates on a proposed emergency evacuation route that was discussed during recent community meetings.

    Another local resident, James, noted that conditions have improved dramatically compared to past years, even if some low-lying trouble spots remain. He shared that while he has never had floodwater enter his home, heavy rain regularly causes flooding that snarls traffic near the Rubis Service Station and the intersection by Limegrove, worsening congestion during peak storm events. James’ biggest concern heading into this season is the combination of uncleared drains and high tide, which could push flood levels higher than residents have seen in recent years.

    Like the long-term Jamestown Park resident, James confirmed that past drainage upgrades have delivered clear, noticeable improvements. Though the neighborhood is built on former swamp land, which brings a small risk of structural shifting to homes, he says he has never experienced issues himself. “Whatever it is they’re doing has been working,” he explained, noting that he has only witnessed one major flood since the earlier dredging and drain reconstruction project was completed. His family prepares for storm season by keeping emergency supplies like batteries and candles stocked, and has laminated windows to add extra protection against strong winds.

    James’ top unaddressed concern is an abandoned neighboring property with large, unstable trees that could fall and cause severe damage during strong hurricane-force winds. Still, he praised the work of the local community organization, the Sunset Crest Association, which coordinates regular pickup of yard waste and tree cuttings after residents maintain their properties, sending a collection truck around on a weekly or bi-weekly basis to clear debris that could otherwise worsen flood risk or become a hazard during storms. This grassroots collaboration, paired with government-led infrastructure upgrades, has left the community cautiously hopeful they will weather the 2024 hurricane season without the devastating flooding that has marked years past.

  • Workers set for stronger wage protections

    Workers set for stronger wage protections

    On Tuesday, the government of Barbados announced a firm zero-tolerance stance on worker exploitation, tabling a landmark new piece of legislation in Parliament designed to overhaul existing protections, strengthen employee rights and reshape employer-employee relations across the island nation.

    Labour Minister Colin Jordan presented the Protection of Wages Bill to the House of Assembly, marking the latest step in a broader legislative push to expand worker safeguards ahead of the government’s completion of a full, formal national labour code. Aligned with international labour standards, the bill introduces a range of targeted reforms addressing longstanding gaps in wage regulation and worker security.

    One of the bill’s key updates is the formal legal recognition of wire transfers and direct deposits as valid methods of wage payment, alongside a new statutory right for workers to select their preferred financial institution for wage deposits. Jordan confirmed that employers will be prohibited from passing any associated banking transaction fees onto their employees, while existing requirements mandating that employers give workers reasonable access to convert their wages to cash will remain in effect.

    The legislation also significantly ramps up penalties for unethical employer practices around unauthorized wage deductions. For employers that deduct funds from worker paychecks for designated third-party organizations—including the National Insurance and Social Security Service, trade unions, credit unions, banks, and the Barbados Revenue Authority—but fail to remit those funds, the new bill imposes stiff penalties of up to $30,000 in fines or three years of prison time. “If those monies are not paid over, the penalty is $30 000 or up to three years in prison. Then that $40 or $50 can cost you up to $30 000,” Jordan emphasized.

    The bill codifies existing regulations that classify interest charges on salary advances as illegal, and adds a new prohibition on so-called “retention deductions,” a practice where employers withhold portions of wages to offset potential business risks. Longstanding rules capping total deductions for salary advances and overpayments at one-third of a worker’s total wages will remain unchanged. In a flexibility-focused amendment, however, the legislation removes existing restrictions on wage assignments for mortgages and hire-purchase agreements, giving households more room to manage their personal financial obligations.

    Beyond these rules, the bill mandates that all non-statutory wage deductions require explicit written consent from the affected worker. One of the most transformative reforms included in the legislation grants workers preferred creditor status in cases where an employer faces insolvency, receivership or bankruptcy. This change guarantees that unpaid wages will receive priority during the distribution of company assets, ensuring workers do not bear the full brunt of a business’s collapse.

    To improve access to justice for workers facing unfair treatment, the bill streamlines the complaint process, allowing cases to be referred to the Employment Rights Tribunal via the Chief Labour Officer while preserving workers’ right to pursue legal redress through the traditional court system. Jordan stressed that the government itself will be bound by most of the legislation’s provisions, noting that the state has a responsibility to set a benchmark for fair worker treatment across all sectors.

    Alongside the introduction of the Protection of Wages Bill, Jordan announced that upcoming amendments to the Employment Rights Act and the Labour Clauses (Public Contracts) Act are already in preparation, and new standardized pay rates and working condition rules for tourism accommodation workers across the country will be rolled out shortly. “I will shortly be establishing new rates of pay and conditions of work for workers in tourism accommodation across the country,” he said.

    Jordan framed the new legislation as a reflection of the administration’s human-centred approach to national development, which balances expanded worker protections with commitments to boosting long-term productivity. “A bill that seeks to amplify our commitment to protection and production. Protection of those people on whose backs, on whose shoulders the development of our country rests so that given that protection, those people, those individuals, those human beings are able to produce, produce for themselves, produce for their dependents, ultimately to produce for their nation, to produce for our nation,” he explained.

    The minister made clear that the zero-tolerance policy on exploitation applies to all workers in Barbados, regardless of origin—including native-born Barbadians, CARICOM nationals and migrant workers. “We have determined that we will not allow exploitation of workers in this country and when I say exploitation of workers, I’m speaking not just to Barbadian-born, but I’m also speaking to CARICOM nationals; I’m also speaking to migrant workers,” he said.

    Jordan also issued a direct, uncompromising message to employers who argue that the wave of labour reforms has created overly burdensome regulatory requirements for businesses. “There are some employers who believe that we’ve been doing too much with respect to legislation. That it may be becoming too cumbersome to have business. I have a simple message for employers; If your business model does not allow you to treat your workers properly, then shut the place down,” he stated.

    Addressing newly established foreign businesses operating in Barbados, Jordan added that all entities operating within the country are expected to respect local industrial relations norms and occupational safety standards. “In some cases, this disrespect for our traditional values is coming from newcomers… I use this opportunity to say to all those who will come, or those who have come, we expect nothing less than decent approaches to industrial relations and to occupational safety and health,” he said.

    The entire piece of legislation is drafted to align with standards set by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which were developed through global tripartite collaboration between governments, employer groups and worker organizations. The Protection of Wages Bill forms part of the government’s ongoing work to develop a comprehensive national Labour Code, a core commitment under Barbados’ Decent Work Country Programme 2025-2030, signed in partnership with the ILO. “That labour code is really the ultimate as it relates to consistency of legislation, consistency of definitions…. It is part of our Decent Work Country Programme 2025 to 2030, which we’ve signed with the International Labour Organisation,” Jordan noted.

    Finally, Jordan acknowledged that robust inspection and enforcement mechanisms will be critical to ensuring the legislation delivers tangible change for workers. “The ministry that I have the honour to lead recognises its responsibility to the workers of the country…. We recognise that if there’s to be decent work, then our ministry, its legal department, but also importantly its inspectorate, have a critical role… We commit ourselves to understanding that role and acting in such a way as to make decent work a reality in this country,” he said.

  • BNSI pushes phased metric move with public campaigns, tools

    BNSI pushes phased metric move with public campaigns, tools

    Half a century after Barbados first launched its transition to the metric system, the island nation’s national standards regulator is calling for an urgent end to the lingering use of imperial pounds in local commerce, warning that incomplete conversion is dragging down trade performance, creating operational friction, and confusing consumers.

    The Barbados National Standards Institution (BNSI) laid out its case this Tuesday, stressing that full adoption of the kilogram as the primary mass measurement unit for all commercial activity is a critical step to modernize the country’s trade practices and cement its standing in the global economy.

    Barbados first kicked off its metric shift back in 1973, joining a broader regional and global push toward standardized international measurement systems. By 1977, the government formalized the transition, passing a new Weights and Measures Act that made metric units the official standard for all government and regulatory use. However, decades on, elements of the old imperial system have stubbornly persisted: while service providers such as fuel stations already sell gasoline by the liter, most retail grocers and traders still list product weights in pounds, creating a patchwork dual measurement system that creates inconsistencies across nearly every sector of the local economy.

    BNSI’s statement points out that even though the kilogram is the globally recognized official unit of mass under the International System of Units (SI), pounds remain embedded in day-to-day local commerce. This ongoing dual usage creates a cascade of avoidable challenges that undercut trade efficiency, complicate business operations, and leave consumers confused.

    Because nearly all major international trading partners operate exclusively on the metric system, Barbadian businesses that rely on pounds for internal operations are forced to spend extra time and resources converting measurements for import, export, and cross-border commercial documentation. These repeated conversions do not just add unnecessary labor costs for packaging, labelling, and record-keeping – they also raise the risk of costly calculation errors and miscommunications between trading partners that can lead to delayed shipments and extra compliance burdens for local exporters looking to access global markets.

    Within Barbados’ own borders, the mixed measurement system creates mismatches between commercial practices and the metric standard already used across the country’s education, science, engineering, and technical industries. For consumers, the discrepancy makes it far harder to compare prices and product sizes across brands that use different units, eroding market transparency. A uniform kilogram-based system would make shopping far simpler, clearer, and fairer, BNSI argues, allowing shoppers to immediately identify which product delivers the best value for money.

    To help the country complete the transition smoothly, BNSI has already rolled out a structured phased strategy to expand metric adoption across all sectors of the economy. The plan includes targeted consultation sessions with industry stakeholders and widespread public awareness campaigns. Since 2023, the regulator has hosted a regular series of stakeholder webinars centered on the theme “Pounds to Kilograms” to answer business questions and address conversion concerns.

    Moving forward, additional support will include practical conversion tools, step-by-step guides, and accessible communication resources to help both businesses and consumers complete unit transitions without disruption. Outreach efforts will also include in-market informational signage, radio advertising, social media campaigns, and local community engagement programs to build widespread buy-in for the shift.

    BNSI emphasized that full conversion to kilograms will deliver long-term, meaningful benefits for Barbados’ economy by aligning the country’s trade rules with globally accepted norms. Widespread adoption of metric measurements will streamline cross-border imports and exports, improve accuracy in all commercial transactions, create consistent measurement standards across all domestic industries, and boost consumer and business confidence in Barbados’ marketplace.

  • Commonwealth officials finalise draft on partnerships, investment ahead of leaders’ summit

    Commonwealth officials finalise draft on partnerships, investment ahead of leaders’ summit

    As the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) approaches, senior representatives from the bloc’s 56 member states — most of which are former British colonies — have finalized a draft framework aimed at accelerating global investment and overhauling outdated international financial systems. The gathering, held at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, marked a key milestone in negotiations, with the government of Barbados leading a push to secure formal official recognition for its landmark Bridgetown Initiative ahead of the November 1–4 summit in Antigua.

    Barbados’ top diplomatic representatives in London, High Commissioner Edmund Hinkson and Minister-Counsellor Dr. Ricardo Kellman, took a central role in shaping the draft document during the preparatory talks. According to Hinkson, Barbados’ core priority in the negotiations is securing a public reaffirmation of the Commonwealth’s commitment to the Bridgetown Initiative, which is framed as a critical multilateral platform to address longstanding gaps in the global financial order. The proposal is specifically designed to center the unique economic and climate vulnerabilities faced by small island developing states (SIDS) and low-income less developed countries (LDCs), groups that have long been sidelined in global financial governance.

    The draft agreement reached by representatives lays out a coordinated agenda for collective action across member states. It commits all Commonwealth nations to continuing collaborative work to dismantle deep-rooted structural barriers that have blocked vulnerable countries from accessing critical climate finance. To better respond to growing climate shocks, the framework backs the expansion of innovative financial tools including sustainability-linked financing, disaster-risk insurance and financing instruments, which are intended to deliver fast, predictable liquidity for crisis response, climate adaptation, and addressing irreversible climate loss and damage.

    Additionally, the draft encourages widespread scaling up of a broad suite of climate-resilient and innovative financing and insurance mechanisms. These include sovereign guarantees, sustainable development bonds, cross-border risk-sharing frameworks, blended public-private finance, low-interest concessional loans, dedicated climate resilience provisions, and debt-pause clauses that allow vulnerable nations to suspend debt repayments in the wake of climate disasters.

    On one high-profile issue — demands for reparatory justice for the historic harms of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade — officials agreed to delay a final decision for the bloc’s foreign ministers, who will take up the matter at the opening of the upcoming CHOGM. The campaign for reparatory justice first emerged in Barbados before spreading across former British colonies in the Americas, making it a key priority for many small Caribbean member states of the Commonwealth. Once foreign ministers review the full draft package at the start of the summit, they will vote on final adoption before it is put forward for endorsement by attending heads of government.

  • Central Bank warns public about fraudulent WhatsApp calls

    Central Bank warns public about fraudulent WhatsApp calls

    The Central Bank of Barbados has issued an urgent public warning regarding a coordinated fraudulent scam operating via WhatsApp, where bad actors are using the bank’s official branding to trick individuals into disclosing sensitive financial data. According to the bank’s official advisory, the deceptive calls originate from international phone numbers carrying the Pakistani country code (+92), and falsely claim affiliation with both the Central Bank of Barbados and its digital payment service BiMPay.

    In a clear statement released to the public, the institution emphasized that these unsolicited communications never came from the Central Bank of Barbados. The bank further clarified that it has a strict policy against reaching out to members of the public out of the blue to discuss BiMPay or any of its other services, eliminating any possibility that legitimate bank representatives would initiate such contact.

    To help the public avoid falling victim to the scam, the Central Bank is urging all individuals to exercise extreme caution when receiving unexpected communications asking for personal information. Specifically, officials warned against sharing any sensitive financial details, including account passwords, personal identification numbers (PINs), and one-time security codes, regardless of how legitimate the caller’s claim of affiliation may appear.

    For those who have already shared confidential information with the scammers, the bank outlined immediate steps to mitigate harm. Affected individuals are instructed to contact their respective financial institutions right away through official, verified contact channels. Recommended protective actions include changing all account passwords and PINs, and monitoring account activity closely for any unauthorized transactions.

    The advisory also notes that community members who receive these suspicious calls should report the incident to the Barbados Police Service in appropriate cases, to help law enforcement track and disrupt the scam operation. For anyone needing to verify information or reach the Central Bank directly, the bank provided its official contact details: the main PBX line at 436-6870, and the dedicated BiMPay hotline at 424-2729.

    To further protect the public, the Central Bank encouraged individuals to only seek information about the bank and its programs through its verified official digital channels. These include the bank’s official website at centralbank.org.bb, and the dedicated BiMPay website at BiMPay.bb, which serve as the only authoritative sources for up-to-date, accurate information about the institution’s work.

  • CARICOM seeks CCJ guidance on secretary general reappointment

    CARICOM seeks CCJ guidance on secretary general reappointment

    A long-simmering dispute over the reappointment of CARICOM’s top leader has pushed the regional bloc to turn to its judiciary for clarification, marking a test of the Caribbean integration project’s commitment to rule-based conflict resolution.

    The impasse emerged after the government of Trinidad and Tobago formally raised objections to the procedural framework used to reappoint Dr. Carla Barnett to the post of CARICOM Secretary-General. Following a two-day heads of government retreat held this week, regional leaders announced a unified agreement to formally request an advisory ruling from the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to resolve the deadlock.

    In an official public statement released Tuesday, CARICOM confirmed it will initiate proceedings under Article 212 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, the core legal document that underpins the 15-nation regional bloc. The statement explicitly acknowledged Trinidad and Tobago’s call for judicial review, noting that the CCJ was established specifically to serve as the authoritative body for interpreting the founding treaty of CARICOM.

    Until the CCJ delivers its formal advisory opinion, regional leaders have agreed to maintain the current status quo around Barnett’s reappointment. The bloc emphasized that this negotiated approach will allow the dispute to be resolved peacefully, without disrupting the day-to-day operations of CARICOM’s core institutional functions or prejudicing the legal position of any involved party.

    Beyond addressing the immediate reappointment dispute, CARICOM leaders used the retreat to reaffirm their commitment to a wider, ongoing review of the bloc’s governance architecture. This review was first mandated at the previous CARICOM conference held in St. Kitts and Nevis, with the explicit goal of strengthening institutional governance and boosting the overall effectiveness of the regional body.

    Heads of government stressed that the ongoing governance review does not call into question the professional or personal integrity of any member state or individual involved in the current dispute. Instead, they framed the process as a reflection of the bloc’s collective commitment to continuous institutional improvement and upholding the highest standards of good governance across the region.

    In closing, the statement reaffirmed all participating leaders’ continued dedication to the founding ideals and core objectives of CARICOM. Despite current divisions over the reappointment process, leaders reiterated their intention to maintain collaborative work to advance shared regional interests and address the common challenges facing Caribbean nations.

  • Jiu-jitsu camp aims to steer youth from violence

    Jiu-jitsu camp aims to steer youth from violence

    A groundbreaking six-week jiu-jitsu summer camp officially opened its doors on Monday in St. Michael, Barbados, built around a unique mission: to equip young people aged 8 to 18 with critical emotional management skills, anger control, and lifelong discipline through structured martial arts training. Running through to August 14, the initiative is hosted at the Israel Lovell Foundation on My Lord’s Hill and organized by the SWC Ryu-Jiu Jitsu Organisation School of Martial Arts.

    In an interview with Barbados TODAY, SWC Ryu-Jiu Jitsu Organisation spokesman Shane Lynton explained that the camp was developed in response to growing challenges young people face with peer pressure, emotional regulation, and exposure to community violence. Unlike common misconceptions that link martial arts to aggression, Lynton emphasized that the program’s core philosophy actively pushes back against violence by teaching calm decision-making and conflict avoidance.

    “The entire purpose of this camp is to create a space where we can support young people to master their emotional responses,” Lynton said. “That is the central goal of our system, alongside building consistent discipline and focused attention that translates to every area of their lives. That’s what this summer initiative is all about.”

    Addressing the common misperception that martial arts encourage violent behavior, Lynton clarified: “I understand why people might assume martial arts promote violence, but our system works to achieve the exact opposite. Even though we teach physical techniques, our first rule is that these skills are never to be used to harm anyone unnecessarily. The core skill we teach is staying calm when you are under pressure. When students head back to school, they will inevitably face situations where others try to provoke them or push them into poor choices through peer pressure. This program trains them to stay centered and make smart choices instead of reacting impulsively.”

    The organization’s core principle holds that self-defense techniques should only ever be used as a last resort. Lynton explained that the philosophy taught to all young participants centers on humility and respect: “We drill into our students that our mindset is, ‘I am humble, I care about you. I do not want to fight, but I will defend myself, my honor, my principles, and my family if I have no other choice.’ Fighting is never the goal here.”
    Beyond the summer camp, the SWC Ryu-Jiu Jitsu Organisation has broad expansion plans for community programming across all age groups. Later this month, the group will launch new evening jiu-jitsu classes for adults, designed to address unmet mental health needs that many adults, particularly men, face. “We know that when it comes to mental health, men often don’t feel comfortable opening up about their emotions, so a lot of us bottle those feelings up,” Lynton noted. “This training system gives them a healthy, constructive outlet to process those emotions while building valuable skills.”

    Lynton also highlighted the practical real-world value of the self-defense training the organization provides, pointing to a recent incident that proved the program’s effectiveness. “Earlier this year, one of our students was targeted in a robbery attempt, and she was able to use the techniques she learned here to escape the attack and protect herself,” he said. “We live in a time where everyone needs to know how to keep themselves and their loved ones safe, and that’s a core part of what we offer.”

    The organization’s next community-focused addition will be a specialized jiu-jitsu and self-defense program designed specifically for senior citizens. Lynton explained that the program was developed in response to high-profile crimes targeting older residents, where elderly people have been attacked and robbed of their jewelry and personal property while out in their neighborhoods. The techniques taught in the senior program will be simplified and adapted for older bodies, but remain highly effective for self-protection. “Even though the moves are straightforward, with consistent training, senior participants will be able to confidently execute them to defend themselves if they are confronted,” Lynton said. “We want to give older members of our community the same chance to feel safe and protected that we give young people.”

  • New initiatives as Barbados prepares to host the CPL

    New initiatives as Barbados prepares to host the CPL

    As the kickoff of Barbados’ hosting stint for the 2025 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) draws near, national sports authorities have confirmed that all preparations are proceeding according to schedule, with a packed slate of community-focused, cricket development, and public health initiatives set to run alongside the tournament’s on-field action.\n\nYouth, Sports and Community Empowerment Minister Charles Griffith gave the update following a high-level coordination meeting at his ministry’s Sky Mall Haggatt Hall headquarters, where he joined CPL Chief Executive Officer Pete Russell and members of the local organizing committee to review final logistics. This year, all 16 matches set to be held in Barbados will take place at the iconic Kensington Oval, with play getting underway on September 5 and the tournament culminating in the CPL final on September 20.\n\nBeyond the competitive matches, Griffith has expressed strong approval for the suite of new community programs CPL is rolling out across the island, many of which are designed to nurture grassroots cricket talent and expand access to public health resources. On September 10, a special charity exhibition match will be staged in partnership with the Tridents Trust, with the dual goal of raising public awareness for both breast and prostate cancer, two of the most common cancers affecting Caribbean communities.\n\nTo nurture the next generation of Barbadian cricket talent, the ministry is partnering with the Franklin Stephenson Academy to host a four-day cricket clinic running from September 7 to 10. The clinic will offer specialized coaching to 100 young aspiring grassroots players, giving emerging talent access to professional guidance that many would not otherwise receive.\n\nFor casual fans eager to engage with the sport outside of match days, CPL will roll out interactive virtual cricket experiences across high-foot-traffic locations around Barbados. A portable professional batting simulator will be set up at sites including Bridgetown’s Independence Square and Freedom Park, allowing fans of all ages to test their skills against virtual bowling attacks and enjoy interactive cricket fun ahead of the tournament’s biggest matches.\n\nPublic health will also take center stage through a regional wellness initiative launched in partnership with national health ministries and local non-governmental organizations. Free health screening for blood pressure, cholesterol, breast cancer, and prostate cancer will be available to all ticket holders at tournament venues, a program aligned with the public health mantra that “prevention is better than cure,” as Russell emphasized. Russell added that CPL’s planning team has already completed full coordination with Kensington Oval Management Incorporated to integrate the screening services seamlessly into venue operations for the duration of the Barbados leg.\n\nTo celebrate the Caribbean’s rich cricketing legacy, a CPL Hall of Fame induction dinner will be held on September 15 at Bridgetown’s Hilton Hotel. This year’s event will honor two new inductees from across the region, plus will feature a special lifetime achievement award for Barbadian national hero and cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers, in recognition of his unparalleled contributions to the sport globally.\n\nPlans are also in final development for additional youth outreach, which will see CPL players visit local primary and secondary schools across Barbados for interactive engagement sessions, giving young fans the chance to meet their sporting idols and inspire the next generation of Caribbean cricket stars.\n\nSpeaking after the coordination meeting, Griffith said he was confident that Barbados would deliver a safe, successful, and memorable leg of the 2025 CPL, highlighting the collaboration between national authorities and CPL leadership to make the tournament beneficial for both cricket fans and the wider Barbadian community.