标签： Barbados

Barbados is set to roll out virtual court hearings across two Magistrates’ Courts starting this month, a long-awaited modernization push designed to cut through systemic backlogs and streamline judicial operations, according to an official announcement from Minister of Legal Affairs and Criminal Justice Michael Lashley on Sunday. While the legal community has broadly welcomed the shift as a necessary update to the island’s justice system, leading defense attorneys are sounding the alarm about critical risks to due process and accused persons’ rights if in-person hearings are sidelined.

Leading the charge of cautious advocacy is experienced defense attorney Lesley Cargill-Straker, who agrees that the criminal justice system needs urgent modernization but argues efficiency cannot come at the cost of fair adjudication. She stresses that core components of a just trial—from confidential attorney-client communication to accurate assessment of witness testimony—depend on in-person interaction that virtual platforms cannot fully replicate.

One of Cargill-Straker’s most pressing concerns centers on remanded prisoners, who currently are guaranteed an in-person court appearance every 28 days. This regular face-to-face contact allows attorneys to take updated client instructions, address emerging legal concerns, complete required documentation, and build the trust-based attorney-client relationship that is foundational to effective representation. Trekking to a prison for every private consultation, she notes, is logistically unfeasible for most legal practitioners. Telephone calls, meanwhile, are often an inadequate substitute due to high costs, strict access restrictions, and widespread distrust among incarcerated people of prison-managed virtual communication tools. Compounding these issues are existing systemic barriers: the prison already faces chronic shortages of private meeting rooms and understaffing that make confidential off-site client communication difficult at best.

Beyond practical legal challenges, Cargill-Straker highlights the human impact of eliminating regular in-person court appearances for remanded people. For many incarcerated individuals awaiting trial, the trip to court is the only chance they get to interact with people outside the prison system—an important consideration for a system focused on rehabilitation and eventual reintegration into society. She also points to gaps that would marginalize vulnerable groups: unrepresented accused people without access to digital devices or reliable internet would be locked out of meaningful participation in their own cases. Even for represented clients, she questions whether magistrates can accurately gauge a witness’s demeanor or detect outside prompting when testimony is delivered remotely via video platforms.

Virtual hearings, Cargill-Straker acknowledges, do bring clear benefits for the legal community. For attorneys who often have cases scheduled in multiple courts across the island on the same day, virtual appearances eliminate the need to rush across Barbados to make a hearing call, or request costly adjournments when simultaneous scheduling makes physical presence impossible. For accused people released on bail, virtual hearings eliminate the need to take a full day off work or rearrange personal commitments just to wait hours in a courthouse for a brief hearing that may end in a minute.

Fellow attorney Rasheed Belgrave shares the broadly positive view of the reform, noting that hybrid virtual-in-person proceedings are already well-established in Barbados’s High Court, so the rollout to Magistrates’ Courts is a natural and manageable expansion. Bail hearings, for example, are already regularly conducted via Zoom in criminal matters, so the model has already been tested locally.

Belgrave adds that the shift will bring significant benefits to the Prison Service, reducing the number of prisoners that need to be transported to court on a daily basis. The current system is already prone to delays: when the prison faces operational challenges, courts are often only notified that the prison transport bus is not running on a given day, leaving attorneys with little option but to accept a new remand date. The change will also boost overall public and court security, Belgrave argues, coming in the wake of recent high-profile prisoner escapes.

Virtual proceedings also offer a critical contingency for when magistrates cannot physically attend court due to unexpected emergencies, a situation that has already been managed effectively with virtual tools in the High Court. Belgrave explains that scheduling specific time slots for different hearing types—including case mentions, adjournments, bail hearings, and legal submissions—allows courts and legal teams to organize their work far more efficiently, cutting down on wasted time and long wait times.

Looking ahead, Belgrave says the greatest efficiency gains will come once the system is expanded to all Magistrates’ Courts, and he has called for extending virtual hearings to the civil division, particularly for maintenance and family access matters. Family cases already take up a disproportionate share of court time, forcing parties to wait for hours for their hearing. Virtual proceedings would cut these delays, and make it easier for social service personnel from the merged Social Empowerment Agency, the National Assistance Board, Welfare Department, National Disabilities Unit, and Paredos parenting programmes to attend hearings without lengthy travel. He says he is optimistic that the technology will deliver meaningful improvements to Barbados’s judicial system once fully implemented.

The rollout, set to launch later this month, will serve as a test case for how the hybrid model can balance modern efficiency with long-standing commitments to judicial fairness.

Four years after it was first rolled out as an emergency response to widespread COVID-19 economic disruption, Barbados’ Project CARE has been reborn as a permanent national initiative focused on lifting vulnerable households through sustainable agriculture, improved food security, and income generation. What began as the Community Agriculture Response and Empowerment, a stopgap measure to counter pandemic-era supply chain breakdowns and widespread income loss, has evolved into a core pillar of the country’s social and economic development strategy, with a new mandate to build long-term household resilience, nurture agricultural entrepreneurship, and strengthen national food and nutrition security.

The relaunch event brought together a cross-sector coalition of stakeholders, including ministers from the social care and agriculture portfolios, sitting parliamentarians, local community leaders, and representatives from two leading regional and global agricultural bodies: the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Unlike the original programme, which centered on distributing basic inputs for backyard gardening, the revamped Project CARE expands its scope to include hands-on technical training, instruction in climate-smart farming practices, support for small-scale aquaponics systems, and training for small livestock rearing operations. Through intentional alignment with existing national social development programmes, officials are working to create clear pathways for participants to grow from small-scale household food production to full-fledged commercial agricultural businesses.

Neil Rowe, Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly and MP for St Michael North West, emphasized the programme’s transformative potential for marginalized groups and whole communities when supported by collective action. “Agriculture can help us build second chances,” Rowe remarked. He highlighted the diverse range of people the initiative is designed to serve: residents who have past mistakes and are looking to rebuild, young people yet to find their professional path, families struggling to make ends meet with insufficient income, and individuals who simply need a vote of confidence to pursue their goals. Rowe stressed that sustained impact cannot be achieved by parliamentarians or farmers working alone, noting, “When the government, communities, farmers, schools, businesses and individuals work together, we can create opportunities that have a lasting impact.” He framed the relaunched initiative not as just another agricultural policy, but as a targeted investment in people, local communities, and Barbados’ long-term future.
Adrian Forde, Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, centered his remarks on the interconnectedness of social development, agricultural innovation, and climate change adaptation. He noted that local farmers play an irreplaceable role in national stability amid accelerating environmental volatility, drawing a parallel between the vulnerabilities of low-income households served by social programmes and the challenges facing Barbados’ agricultural sector. “Our agriculture is fierce with the vagaries of climate change,” Forde said. “In the same way that persons in the One Family programme are faced with vulnerabilities as it relates to poverty, lack of proper housing, and lack of proper food and nutritional supplies, our agriculture is equally faced with pests and climate change vulnerabilities.”

Forde praised the programme’s integration of climate mitigation strategies, including natural drainage systems adapted from traditional Barbadian conservation practices, and paid tribute to the ingenuity of local producers. “Farmers turn what is called the soil – Barbadians may call it mud as we know it – and produce money. If farmers are magicians, don’t forget it. You are the only people who can turn soil into money, and that, my friends, is true magic,” he said. Forde concluded that the revamped Project CARE positions Barbados as a proof of concept for small island developing states, demonstrating that even nations facing unique structural challenges can build resilience, address food insecurity, and move closer to the goal of national food self-sufficiency.

Against the quiet backdrop of the small, tight-knit Pickwick Gap community, a remarkable local milestone unfolded on Tuesday: Emsey Nevadney Leach-Linton, the sole surviving descendant of the original settlement where she was born and raised, marked her 101st birthday, surrounded by generations of her family, the soft sound of traditional hymns, heartfelt praise, and warm peals of laughter. The joyful gathering was led by Sis Theresa Crichlowe, who opened the celebration with a dedicated prayer for the centenarian, captured in photos by local photographer Shamar Blunt.

For Denise Leacock, Leach-Linton’s youngest surviving child, the occasion carried a special weight of gratitude. As the primary caregiver for her mother alongside her husband, Leacock shared that she never could have imagined her mother would reach such an extraordinary age, even after welcoming nine children into the world. Two of Leach-Linton’s children have already passed away, leaving seven surviving offspring to honor their matriarch.

Leach-Linton’s life is inextricably tied to the land of Pickwick Gap, originally named Powers Gap before it was renamed decades ago. Having never left the community she grew up in, she is now the last remaining member of the original founding families that once called the small settlement home.

Reflecting on the secrets behind her mother’s long and fulfilling life, Leacock pointed to two foundational pillars: her unwavering Christian faith and her lifelong devotion to her family. Growing up, Leach-Linton prioritized raising her children in the church, making sure every child attended Sunday school, midweek prayer services, and congregational gatherings, alongside creating lasting memories through community picnics, park trips, and local exhibitions. “She is a good mother, she looked out for her children, and she made sure they were well turned out,” Leacock told reporters.

Leach-Linton’s long life was far from an easy one. Orphaned at just 17 when her own mother passed away at age 50, she was forced to take on grueling manual labor from a young age to survive. In the era of her youth, that work meant taking physically demanding jobs serving white landowners, a life of constant movement that kept her on her feet from dawn to dusk. She often traveled between work sites across Spooners Hill, carrying meals for labor crews at multiple locations every day. “it was real hard work… if they give out now, that ain’t nothing,” Leacock said, summarizing her mother’s enduring work ethic.

Today, at 101, Leach-Linton spends most of her days resting, and her family has prioritized keeping her comfortable and cared for in her final years. Leacock notes that her mother’s long life defies all family precedent: her father passed away at just 58, and her mother at 50, making her 101 years all the more extraordinary. “It’s by the goodness of God,” Leacock said.

The centenarian’s legacy now spans four generations, boasting a large extended family of nine children, 14 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren, many of whom gathered at Tuesday’s celebration to share in the historic occasion alongside close friends.

Barbados is gearing up for a historic three-month celebration of two major national milestones: 60 years of sovereign independence and five years as a republican state, with Prime Minister Mia Mottley at the helm of the launch.\n\nIn an official video address delivered Tuesday that marked the official kickoff of the anniversary activities, Mottley announced a new inclusive tradition for the 90-day countdown: every Friday will officially be designated as Barbados Day through the final main celebration date of November 30.\n\nThe prime minister urged all Barbadians across the island and abroad to embrace this weekly celebration by showcasing their national pride. She called on residents to wear the country’s iconic national colors — deep blue, gleaming gold, and solid black — fly the national flag at homes, businesses, and public spaces, and share their celebrations across social media platforms to connect with loved ones and build collective excitement ahead of the November 30 anniversary.\n\nDubbed the “60 and 5” milestone, this moment carries deep national significance for the Caribbean nation. Mottley emphasized that the extended celebration period is designed to give all Barbadians time to reflect on the country’s decades-long journey since independence, honor the struggles and obstacles the nation has overcome to reach this point, and look forward with confidence to future growth and opportunity.\n\nA range of community-focused events are planned across the 90-day period, alongside the return of beloved traditional Independence activities. Ahead of the main November 30 event, Mottley announced that the official “60 and 5” anniversary logo will be unveiled in the coming weeks, with clear guidance provided for local businesses, nonprofits, and community groups that wish to apply to use the logo for their own events.\n\nKey new events include a national clean-up and beautification initiative called “Leh We Paint Barbados”, a national oratory competition named “My Voice My Barbados” that is open to primary, secondary, and tertiary students across the country. There will also be a public lecture series exploring the nation’s history, a national concert, a formal President’s Gala evening, the grand opening of the new Richard Stoute Amphitheatre, and the long-awaited inauguration of the Newton Slave Memorial, a project that honors the island’s historical connection to the transatlantic slave trade.\n\nLongstanding traditional Independence activities will also make a comeback this year after recent disruptions. These fan-favorite events include the National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA), the annual Bridgetown city lighting ceremony, the Spirit of the Nation showcase, the popular Food and Rum Festival, the formal National Parade, and the interfaith Ecumenical Service.\n\nThe entire 90-day celebration will culminate on a high note with the Prime Minister’s Cup, a popular annual football competition that has grown into a beloved Barbadian tradition in recent years.\n\nMottley added that the national organizing committee behind the celebrations will publish a full event calendar in the near future, and will provide support to local communities and groups that want to organize their own local events to add to the national celebration. Closing her address, the prime minister urged all Barbadians to use the coming three months to reflect on the nation’s progress, give thanks for the gains achieved, and celebrate all that makes Barbados unique.