Carib Scope

标签： Barbados

巴巴多斯

  • Senior cops targeted in cocaine probe

    Senior cops targeted in cocaine probe

    A high-stakes narcotics investigation into missing cocaine seized from a Jamaican police storage unit has expanded to target nearly a dozen senior police officers and military personnel, according to insider sources familiar with the case. The sprawling probe was first triggered in early 2024 when two unrecorded parcels of cocaine were uncovered during an internal audit of a storage facility at the now-disbanded Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Division (C-TOC) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), launched after the arrest of C-TOC police inspector Martin Walker. Walker was taken into custody on January 8, after law enforcement found an undisclosed amount of cocaine in his personal vehicle during a routine operation.

    Beyond investigating the unaccounted cocaine found in the C-TOC storage facility, investigators are now working to verify claims that members of law enforcement deliberately underreported the total quantity of cocaine seized during a separate earlier anti-narcotics operation in western Jamaica. The scale and severity of the probe became public knowledge this week, when agents from Jamaica’s Major Organised and Anti-Corruption Agency (MOCA) executed a search warrant at the St Andrew residence of a high-ranking former C-TOC officer. Witness accounts confirm the officer was led away in handcuffs before investigators accompanied him to two additional search locations in St Andrew and Clarendon, where more evidence was potentially collected.

    In an official statement confirming the operations, MOCA communications director Major Basil Jarrett acknowledged that the agency’s agents were carrying out court-authorized search and seizure warrants at multiple sites across Jamaica’s Corporate Area as part of an ongoing, active investigation. However, Jarrett declined to share additional details about the targets or potential evidence collected, citing the extreme sensitivity of the probe. “Due to the sensitive nature of the investigations and today’s operations, I am unable to divulge any additional details, except to say that the public will be apprised of more as soon as we are in a position to safely and responsibly do so,” Jarrett said in a prepared comment.

    Weeks after the initial discovery of unaccounted cocaine in the C-TOC storage facility, JCF Police Commissioner Dr. Kevin Blake ordered the transfer of more than 40 officers assigned to the division, a personnel shakeup that has since been tied to the early stages of the internal investigation. The disbandment of C-TOC followed the discovery of the irregularities, marking one of the most high-profile internal corruption probes targeting Jamaican law enforcement in recent years.

  • Green transition ‘could push up’ electricity prices

    Green transition ‘could push up’ electricity prices

    As Barbados pushes forward with its ambitious shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, a top industry figure has sounded a clear note of caution: consumers should prepare for temporary increases in electricity bills as the transformation unfolds. Stephen Worme, a council member of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry and former chief executive of national utility Barbados Light & Power, outlined the dual infrastructure challenges that are driving these potential cost impacts in an interview.

    Worme explained that the transition requires two layers of investment that cannot be avoided. On one hand, the country must purchase and install new specialized equipment to integrate growing volumes of wind and solar power into its electricity network. On the other, existing conventional fossil fuel-powered generation capacity cannot be phased out prematurely, and must be kept operational to guarantee consistent grid stability and reliability throughout the transition period. This dual system maintenance and expansion means additional operational and capital costs that will ultimately be passed to end users, Worme confirmed.

    “There’s no way around this temporary cost bump,” Worme said. “We need to bring in new infrastructure for renewables, but we also have to keep our older legacy plants running to make sure the transition doesn’t hit disruptions. At this point, it’s too early to put an exact figure on how much rates will rise, but consumers will feel some impact. The good news is that the Barbados government is already working proactively to mitigate these increases as much as possible.”

    Worme emphasized that framing the transition’s cost purely around near-term rate increases is a short-sighted approach. The alternative — letting grid stability slip during the shift — would carry far heavier economic costs for both local businesses and households, he argued. If power supply becomes unreliable, companies across all sectors will be forced to spend thousands on private backup generators and emergency power systems to keep operations running. For consumers, that unreliability would translate to delayed goods, interrupted services and even indirect price hikes as businesses pass on their backup infrastructure costs to customers.

    The Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been actively engaged in closed-door discussions with the Barbados government to shape a balanced transition framework that prioritizes two core goals: keeping electricity as affordable as possible for households and businesses while safeguarding the long-term reliability of the national grid. “We aren’t just focused on pushing down immediate costs,” Worme explained. “We’re committed to getting the balance right between affordability and keeping the lights on through every stage of this process.”

    Beyond grid stability, Worme stressed that long-term energy security must be centered in any conversation about the transition, especially against the backdrop of ongoing global conflicts that have thrown international energy markets and fuel supply chains into chaos. By building out domestic renewable energy capacity, Barbados can cut its reliance on imported fossil fuels, insulate its economy from global price volatility and lock in greater long-term energy independence. This strategic benefit alone, Worme argued, justifies the temporary near-term costs.

    For Worme, the tradeoff of small near-term price increases for major long-term gains is a worthwhile one. “If we accept paying just a little more now to get this transition right, we’ll end up with lower overall costs, more stable supply and greater energy certainty down the line,” he said. “That’s a net gain for every single Barbadian.”

  • BCCI pitches plan to lower consumer prices

    BCCI pitches plan to lower consumer prices

    As Barbados grapples with persistent upward pressure on everyday consumer costs, the island nation’s leading business advocacy group has formally submitted a comprehensive set of policy proposals to the government, centered on restructuring tax and duty calculation for imported goods to drive down retail prices.

    At a recent press briefing, Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) President Paul Inniss outlined that the proposal is the result of 12 months of ongoing negotiations with the country’s Minister of Business and Energy, focused on the existing Price Compact initiative, a government scheme designed to stabilize essential goods costs. Unlike preliminary discussions that only explored expanding the range of goods covered by the compact, Inniss noted the chamber’s formal submission goes far beyond incremental adjustments, targeting fundamental changes to how import-related taxes are computed.

    Inniss explained that the BCCI has conducted detailed analysis proving that revising the methodology for calculating duties and other levies on goods entering Barbados would translate directly to lower price tags for end consumers. “We actually were able to demonstrate that there is a way in which the calculation of duties and so forth, on entry to the country can actually result in a direct lower price to the customer,” he told reporters. Talks between the business chamber and government remain ongoing, and the BCCI is also collaborating closely with the Ministry of International Trade to develop additional strategies for reining in accelerating price growth across the country.

    Beyond tax policy adjustments, Inniss emphasized that tackling rising consumer costs requires broader systemic reform of Barbados’ business operating environment. Outdated, inefficient operating processes and unnecessary regulatory friction add billions in unnecessary costs to the national economy each year, he argued. “The first challenge for us in Barbados from a business perspective is the ease of doing business, and the amount of friction, the amount of wastage, the amount of inefficient or very archaic ways of doing business,” Inniss said. The BCCI president added that businesses also face headwinds in driving broader adoption of new innovations across the local economy, a shift that often requires large upfront investments from both public and private stakeholders. Streamlining regulatory processes and cutting bureaucratic waste, he stressed, would directly reduce operational costs that are ultimately passed to consumers. “I think if we can fix that, there’ll be positive consequences around costs. I think we can reduce and take a lot of costs out of how we do business and that will also impact the cost of goods and services,” he added.

    Joining the discussion on sustainable price reduction, Winston Moore, Professor of Economics and Deputy Principal of the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill, highlighted the often-overlooked fundamental connection between workforce and operational productivity, long-term price stability, and national economic growth. Defining productivity as the volume of output generated per unit of labor or capital input, Moore explained that productivity gains directly translate to the ability to offer goods and services at lower price points. “If I can get more output given the same amount of labour or more output given the same amount of capital, that means that I’m essentially more productive. Not only more productive, but I can actually supply that good or service to the consumer at a lower price,” he said. Beyond lower consumer costs, increased productivity also drives expanded economic activity and accelerates overall national growth, creating a positive feedback loop for the Barbadian economy, he added.

    Globally, Moore noted that digital transformation, new technologies and artificial intelligence have emerged as the core drivers of productivity growth for both labor and capital across developed and developing economies. However, he warned that Barbados risks falling behind global competitors if it fails to prioritize investment in new tools and workforce upskilling as technological shifts reshape industries worldwide. “One of the important things we must do as a nation is that we have to make sure that not only are we utilising these technological services, but we’re not falling behind,” he said. To keep pace, he added, the country must allocate sustained investment to workforce training and digital infrastructure, ensuring both local businesses and workers have the skills and resources needed to leverage new technologies for maximum productivity gains. “It needs investing in training, investing in the technology to make sure that our companies and that labour is also trained to best utilise this technology at the end of the day,” Moore said.

  • BCCI eyes South America supply routes to bypass costly North American shipping

    BCCI eyes South America supply routes to bypass costly North American shipping

    As Barbados grapples with persistent cost-of-living and affordability crises, the country’s leading private sector business organization has mapped out a targeted strategy that could slash prices of key imported food staples by at least a quarter, if proposed logistics overhauls are implemented.

    In a public forum focused on addressing rising living costs held Thursday, Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) President Paul Inniss outlined the private sector’s ongoing efforts to overhaul food supply chains, eliminate avoidable markup costs, and ease financial pressure on local households and businesses. Currently, most of the Latin American-origin food sold in Barbados follows an indirect shipping route: products are first sent to North America, then transported south to the Caribbean island, a circuitous path that piles on extra logistics and handling charges that are ultimately passed to consumers.

    Inniss told attendees of the forum, which also included University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill campus Deputy Principal Professor Winston Moore, that BCCI has already identified alternative overseas source markets that can supply fresh fruits, vegetables and other core food items at lower base costs. The organization has been working around the clock to connect its member businesses with these new supply options, after confirming that direct, efficient shipping from these markets could deliver the 25% retail price cut.

    “We have met recently with the Brazilian Ambassador to discuss trade logistics, and our review confirmed that nearly all Brazilian food products already sold in Barbados travel through North America before reaching our ports,” Inniss explained. “This roundabout arrangement adds massive unnecessary costs to local businesses. While securing lower base prices from new source markets is a key breakthrough, the biggest hurdle we now face is fixing the logistics to move these goods directly to Barbados.”

    If the private sector can establish reliable, efficient direct shipping links from Latin American source markets to Barbados, Inniss confirmed the 25% price reduction for imported produce and other foods is a achievable target. He added that while global supply chain disruptions are outside of Barbados’ control, local stakeholders can leverage innovation, streamlined processes and better cross-sector collaboration to cut unnecessary costs across the entire business ecosystem.

    As part of its broader cost-reduction push, BCCI has also built close working partnerships with key local stakeholders including Bridgetown Port, the Customs and Excise Department, the banking sector and the energy industry. The organization’s goal is to identify, reduce or eliminate unnecessary administrative delays, hidden charges and frictions that drive up operating costs for businesses and consumer prices. Inniss emphasized that solving Barbados’ cost-of-living challenge is a collective responsibility: no single institution or sector can deliver relief alone, requiring coordinated action from government, the private sector, labor groups, regulators and ordinary Barbadians.

    Professor Moore also shared details of UWI’s contributions to the national effort to lower living costs. The university is training new cohorts of specialized graduates in data analytics and software engineering, who will enter local businesses to implement innovative, cost-cutting operational improvements. Recognizing that food and energy are the two largest components of local consumer costs, UWI has also launched research initiatives through its Centre for Agricultural Research and Innovation to develop new solutions to boost domestic agricultural production, alongside ongoing work to address high energy prices.

    On outstanding trade facilitation reforms such as seaport pre-clearance procedures – a change that would also reduce consumer prices by cutting clearance delays – Lalu Vashwani, chair of BCCI’s Customs and Trade Facilitation Committee, set a target of October 1 for resolving the open issue. However, he stressed that meaningful progress will require increased commitment and collaborative will from all involved stakeholders.

  • New Geriatric Hospital set to open by year’s end

    New Geriatric Hospital set to open by year’s end

    Barbados’ flagship new geriatric care facility is moving steadily toward its planned launch by the end of 2026, with national health authorities wrapping up the final stages of preparation ahead of opening. During a Wednesday virtual public consultation focused on the second phase of the Geriatric Hospital and National Rehabilitation Centre project, Francine Blackman, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Wellness, confirmed that the facility remains on schedule to welcome its first patients in the final quarter of this year.

    “Right now, we are anticipating that in the last quarter of 2026, we will have the facility fully operational and open to patients,” Blackman stated during the consultation. She added that major construction work on the site is almost complete, and project teams have shifted their focus to outfitting the building with critical medical and operational infrastructure. “We are putting the final finishes on the building itself. We have already issued requests for proposals to source everything from patient beds to privacy screens for clinical areas. We are also working diligently to lay the groundwork for the hospital’s digital connectivity and full IT infrastructure, which will be core to its daily operations.”

    Once open, the new facility will deliver a major expansion to the island nation’s ability to provide long-term and specialized care for its aging population. Dr. Shayna Parris, a consultant at the existing Geriatric Hospital, explained that the current 260-bed facility on Beckles Road will be replaced by a phased expansion at the new site. The first phase of the new hospital will immediately bring total bed capacity up to 300, and completion of the second phase will add an additional 270 beds, pushing the total capacity to 570 once the full project is finished.

    The expanded capacity will require a corresponding increase in clinical and administrative staffing, and health authorities have already launched recruitment drives to fill these new roles. “With more beds serving more patients, we need to grow our team across medical, nursing, and administrative departments to maintain safe and adequate patient-to-provider ratios,” Parris explained. She noted that the ministry has prioritized hiring local candidates first, only turning to international recruitment if qualified local applicants are not available for open positions.

    Notably, the new hospital’s design goes beyond traditional clinical care to address the holistic needs of elderly patients, including dedicated space for spiritual care and support. “The design team gave thoughtful consideration to integrating spiritual care into the facility, recognizing that whole-person care extends far beyond medical treatment and medication,” Parris said. The building will include dedicated rooms for chaplains and regular worship services, and hospital leadership plans to build active partnerships with local churches and faith-based organizations to deliver these services to patients who want them. “We respect that elderly patients have spiritual and psychosocial needs that are just as important as their medical needs, and this facility is designed to meet all of those needs,” she added.

  • Faith groups get youth development grants

    Faith groups get youth development grants

    Barbados is launching a new wave of youth empowerment opportunities after the government named 10 faith-based organizations as the first recipients of grants from its landmark $5 million youth development fund. The successful groups were announced on Thursday, following a competitive selection process that saw 26 proposals submitted to the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and the Third Sector earlier this year after the initiative was first unveiled.

    The first cohort of funded organizations includes the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgetown, Gospel Lighthouse, United Church of America Inc., Melchizedek Ministries, Kingdom First International Church Inc., Combined Faith Christian Sports Evangelism Ministry, New Testament Church of God Barbados, Methodist Church of Barbados, East Caribbean Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and Kingdom Life Ministries. Spanning the entire island nation, these geographically distributed groups are set to roll out targeted programming to reach young people in communities across Barbados.

    Third Sector Minister Colin Jordan has publicly encouraged Barbadian youth to take full advantage of the new opportunities created by this programme. Speaking to media after the announcement, Jordan shared his expectation for broad youth participation, saying, “We expect that wherever the programmes manifest themselves, wherever they’re conducted, wherever they’re executed, that our young people will grab hold of them to the extent that the organisations will come back to say, there is so much demand that we need more funds to build out to impact even more of our young people.”

    Jordan noted that all 10 selected projects share a unifying core mission: to enhance young people’s lives and overall wellbeing, nurture their untapped talents, and support them in making positive life choices. He emphasized that the grant programme fulfills a key pledge made to youth and faith-based organizations in the ruling party’s 2026 electoral manifesto.

    “Faith-based organisations are able to, through impactful proposals and the execution of those proposals, engage our young people in meaningful activity, with the understanding that we are building those young people, that we are building their families, building their communities, and allowing them to create pathways for their own personal, social, and economic development and empowerment,” Jordan explained. He added that the grants also reflect the government’s commitment to advancing national development through collaborative partnerships with non-political community organizations.

    The minister outlined the government’s overarching vision for the initiative: “We want to see a country of young people who are realising their potential, their skills, their aptitudes. We want to see young people who are confident. We want to see young people who are productive. We want to see young people who are hopeful. The lack of hope produces a lot of the challenges that we see. Out of your programmes, we expect to feel and see an increase in the level of hope among our young people. So this is a moment to celebrate.”

    Jordan stressed that addressing the complex challenges facing young Barbadians requires coordinated engagement across all segments of society, including families, schools, community groups, and non-governmental stakeholders. He highlighted the unique role faith-based organizations play in building a cohesive, prosperous society, noting that their core values often resonate more deeply with local communities than those of secular groups.

    “It is from you that values have more resonance, and I phrase it that way because it is not necessarily that you are the only ones who share values. However, because you’re faith-based organisations, it resonates more. It is received by the public, by our population, maybe in a different way, from those who may not be of faith,” he said.

    The selection of the 10 organizations was overseen by a dedicated evaluation and monitoring committee, which assessed each proposal based on its projected community impact and the submitting organization’s proven capacity to deliver results effectively. Jordan noted that six additional strong proposals were deferred during this round, but remain in consideration for approval later in 2024.

    “We recognise that some organisations may have strong ideas and ideas that have the potential to make significant positive and meaningful impact, but may require some support in terms of strengthening the proposal, clarifying the goals, identifying the objectives well, and developing a plan for implementation,” he explained. In some cases, the committee identified projects with untapped potential that exceeded what was outlined in the initial application, and government teams will work with these organizations to refine their proposals moving forward.

    Going forward, the evaluation and monitoring committee will conduct ongoing oversight of all funded projects to ensure they stay aligned with their agreed-upon goals and deliver the intended benefits to youth. The full $5 million in funding will be disbursed by the Ministry of Finance in line with approved project timelines.

  • National rehab centre planned for Waterford

    National rehab centre planned for Waterford

    Barbados is moving forward with a transformative healthcare infrastructure project, announcing the development of a purpose-built National Rehabilitation Centre as the centerpiece of the second phase of the Geriatric Hospital expansion at Waterford. Officials confirmed the new facility this Wednesday during a virtual public consultation, outlining a broad mandate to serve patients recovering from a wide spectrum of acute and chronic injuries and health conditions. Dr. Gerry Warner, Director of Support Services at the island nation’s primary public healthcare facility, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), detailed the five core pillars that will guide the centre’s operations: comprehensive clinical rehabilitation, community reintegration support, workforce training and professional development, rehabilitation-focused research and innovation, and public health advocacy for disabled populations.

    Unlike fragmented rehabilitation services currently available across the country, the new centre will operate as both an inpatient and outpatient facility, delivering care through a multidisciplinary team of specialized providers. The facility will cater to patients living with the aftermath of strokes, spinal cord damage, amputations, severe burns, physical trauma, neurological and rheumatological disorders, sports injuries, and multiple other chronic and acute conditions, including pediatric non-neurological cases and late-stage cancer. Warner emphasized that rehabilitation care will extend far beyond traditional clinical treatment, prioritizing patient independence through a holistic care model.

    To support this holistic approach, the centre will be divided into three purpose-built zones tailored to patient needs. The main clinical zone will house hydrotherapy pools, an assistive technology research and testing lab, private consultation suites, and multiple specialized therapy gyms. The residential zone will feature fully accessible accommodation with modified bathrooms and dedicated space for visiting family members, allowing patients to practice independent living skills while still receiving ongoing inpatient care. The outdoor zone will be designed as a therapeutic and recreational space, including graded walking paths with varied tactile and uneven surfaces to help patients rebuild balance and mobility, plus a simulated track surface to support competitive and recreational athletes recovering from injury.

    The multidisciplinary care team will bring together specialists from across rehabilitation disciplines, including physiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, psychologists, prosthetics and orthotics technicians, recreational and behavioral therapists, vocational counselors, and podiatry specialists. Beyond direct patient care, the centre will serve as a regional training hub to upskill local and Caribbean healthcare workers in advanced rehabilitation practices, and will function as a centralized research hub for innovations in assistive devices and patient-centered rehabilitation models.

    Warner explained that the new centre addresses a growing public health need on the island, pointing to rising rates of severe traumatic injuries linked to increased violent crime, including gunshot wounds, and ongoing road traffic accidents. He noted that by delivering more intensive, coordinated rehabilitation care, the facility will not only improve long-term health outcomes for patients but also generate long-term economic savings for Barbados by reducing permanent disability and the associated public welfare costs. In partnership with the University of the West Indies, the Barbados Community College, and other local health training institutions, Warner said the centre has the potential to establish Barbados as a regional leader in comprehensive rehabilitation care. Ultimately, the project’s core mission is to advance health equity, by empowering members of the disabled community to regain full independence and participate fully in community and economic life.

  • Scotiabank marks 70 years in Barbados

    Scotiabank marks 70 years in Barbados

    Seventy years after first establishing its presence in Barbados, Scotiabank is marking this major corporate milestone with a full slate of cross-stakeholder celebrations, strategic policy discussions, and impactful community giving that honors its legacy and lays groundwork for future growth on the island.

    The commemorative events brought together top regional leadership from Scotiabank, local government officials, long-standing clients, employees, and non-profit community partners across multiple activities centered on the bank’s decades-long role in Barbados’ economic development. A senior executive delegation, led by Jabar Singh, President of Scotiabank Dominican Republic and the Caribbean, and Gayle Pazos, Senior Vice-President and Head of Caribbean South and East, traveled to the island to meet with key national leaders and strategic partners. During these meetings, the delegation held formal discussions with Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn, covering the Barbadian government’s core economic priorities, the evolving regional financial landscape, and pathways for expanded private investment that supports sustained national economic growth.

    At Scotiabank’s flagship Bridgetown branch, executives, local management, and guests gathered to unveil a custom commemorative 70th anniversary wall, which features tributes to the clients, staff, and institutional partners that have supported the bank’s operations across its 70 years in the country. Branch Manager Rico Layne joined Country Head Suzette Armoogam-Shah, Singh, and Pazos for the official unveiling of the installation.

    A highlight of the anniversary celebrations came during a gala evening that brought together hundreds of stakeholders from across the public and private sectors. During the event, Scotiababad recognized long-standing “legacy clients” and retired and current employees who have been integral to the bank’s success in Barbados, and announced two landmark $70,000 charitable donations to local non-profits I Am A Girl and Walkers Reserve, a contribution that aligns with the anniversary theme of giving back to the Barbadian community that has supported the bank for seven decades. Tokens of appreciation were also presented to multi-generational legacy clients including Norman and Amy Barrow of A&B Music Supplies, to honor their decades-long partnership with the institution.

    In remarks during the celebrations, Singh emphasized that the 70-year milestone is first and foremost a testament to the deep, enduring relationships Scotiabank has built with the people and institutions of Barbados. “Seventy years in Barbados is a remarkable milestone and a testament to the enduring relationships we have built with our clients, communities and stakeholders. Barbados has been an important part of Scotiabank’s Caribbean journey, and we are proud of the role we have played in supporting the country’s growth and development over the decades,” Singh said.

    Looking ahead to the bank’s next chapter in the region, Singh reaffirmed Barbados’ central role in Scotiabank’s long-term regional strategy. “As we look ahead, Barbados remains central to our ambition to be our clients’ most trusted financial partner. Our focus is on deepening client relationships, enhancing the way we serve our clients, strengthening connectivity across the Caribbean while leveraging the reach and expertise of our global network, and continuing to invest in our people, whose talent and dedication are at the heart of everything we do,” he explained.

    Armoogam-Shah echoed this sentiment, extending gratitude to all stakeholders that have supported Scotiabank across its history in the country. “This anniversary is a celebration of the people and partnerships that have shaped Scotiabank’s journey in Barbados over the past 70 years. We are grateful to our clients, employees, community partners and generations of Barbadians for the trust they have placed in us,” she said. “As we honour our history, we remain committed to helping individuals, families and businesses achieve their ambitions and build a stronger future together.”

  • Murrell jailed after breaching bond

    Murrell jailed after breaching bond

    A 37-year-old Barbadian man has been sentenced to one year of incarceration at Dodds Prison, after pleading guilty to theft and violating a court-ordered peace bond he received just two months prior. Mario Michael Rommell Lamar Murrell, a resident of Beckles Road St Michael, entered guilty pleas before District ‘A’ No. 2 Magistrates Court Magistrate Manila Renee on two separate charges: stealing a $119 radio from the local retail outlet Prosales on August 24, and possession of drug paraphernalia linked to cocaine misuse, found in his possession on August 25.

    The conviction pushes Murrell’s total criminal convictions to 27, marking a decades-long pattern of run-ins with the legal system. Prosecuting Sergeant Kenmore Phillips laid out the sequence of events that led to the latest charges for the court. On August 23, Murrell visited the Prosales store to drop off a mobile phone for repair services. He returned the following day to check on the progress of his device; when the store employee stepped away to locate the phone, Murrell slipped an unsecured radio into his possession and exited the store without completing payment. Once the cashier alerted the employee that the radio had not been purchased, the theft was reported to local law enforcement. Officers took Murrell into custody the next day, and a routine search during processing turned up the cocaine-use paraphernalia.

    Court records show Murrell’s most recent court appearance came just two months earlier, in June 2024, when a magistrate granted him a six-month peace bond. The terms of the agreement were clear: if Murrell kept the peace, he would avoid jail time, but any violation would trigger an automatic three-month prison sentence. When asked about the breach of the bond, Murrell took responsibility, telling Magistrate Renee, “Yes ma’am, I know I broke the bond. I have a drug problem.”

    In handing down the sentence, Magistrate Renee called attention to Murrell’s extensive criminal record, noting that he had been in and out of prison almost every year for most of his adult life. “You are 37 years and have a long list of convictions. You must try and do better. Get help when you go up there,” the magistrate said. The 12-month sentence for the theft charge will run at the same time as the three-month sentence triggered by the bond violation. For the possession of drug apparatus charge, Murrell received a conviction, formal reprimand, and immediate discharge, with no additional prison time added to his sentence.

  • Estwick: DLP must prepare new generation of leaders after three 30-0 defeats

    Estwick: DLP must prepare new generation of leaders after three 30-0 defeats

    Barbados’ main opposition Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is standing at a critical crossroads this weekend, as party delegates gather for a three-day annual general conference kicking off Friday to select a new president between two veteran former cabinet ministers, Dr David Estwick and Stephen Lashley. The race comes after the DLP suffered three straight 30-0 general election wipeouts dating back to 2018, leaving the once-dominant party mired in political wilderness and tasked with charting a path to recovery ahead of the next constitutionally mandated election in 2031.

    Both contenders hail from the DLP’s established old guard, but Dr Estwick has positioned his campaign around a platform called Renewal With Purpose, laying out a detailed roadmap for the party’s revival in his official presidential proposition ahead of the vote. In outlining his vision, Dr Estwick, a three-time election contender who represented the St Philip West constituency, pushed back on narratives that the party needs full reinvention, arguing instead that incremental, purpose-driven renewal is the correct path forward. He emphasized that the DLP’s repeated defeats stem from systemic shortcomings in leadership, policy development, public messaging and public confidence in the party’s governing readiness—not a lack of quality among its candidates, a trend he says is borne out by the party’s repeated attempts to field new candidate slates that still ended in total defeat.

    Notably, Dr Estwick rejected the urge to deflect blame for the DLP’s current struggles onto other members or later generations of leadership. Having served as a cabinet minister in the DLP’s 10-year administration that lost power in the 2018 wipeout, he acknowledged shared responsibility for the party’s trajectory. “I therefore cannot, and will not, stand before this party and pretend that responsibility for our present circumstances belongs only to those who came after me. We have all travelled this road together. We must now find the courage to rebuild together,” he said.

    He also stressed that the contest is about more than just filling a party office, telling delegates: “The larger question is: what kind of Democratic Labour Party does Barbados now need, and what must we do together to build it? That is the reason I offer myself for service as president of the Democratic Labour Party.” Dr Estwick added that the DLP must not reduce its purpose to simply defeating the ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP), noting that defining itself solely by opposition to its rival would erase the party’s core mission to serve the Barbadian public. “If the sole purpose is to defeat the Barbados Labour Party, then we have defined ourselves by our opponents rather than by the people we exist to serve,” he argued.

    Dr Estwick opened his campaign with a pledge to run a constructive race, committing not to undermine his opponent to win votes and vowing to treat Lashley’s supporters as partners in the broader work of rebuilding the party founded by Errol Barrow, Barbados’ National Hero and Father of Independence. If elected president, he has committed to delivering five core outcomes: uniting the fractious party, restoring its founding purpose, rebuilding its grassroots organizational structure, reestablishing it as a credible alternative government, and nurturing the next generation of DLP leadership.

    On the first priority, party unity, Dr Estwick pledged to foster a new political culture where contribution, ability, commitment and integrity—rather than factional affiliation—determine opportunities for service, adding that internal disagreement should be respected while the party unites behind final decisions. For restoring purpose, he said the DLP must translate its decades-old core values into actionable solutions for modern Barbadian challenges, so that both members and the general public can clearly distinguish the DLP’s approach to national development from other parties.

    On organizational rebuilding, Dr Estwick argued that the DLP has become overly election-focused, noting that a party cannot gain strength on the campaign trail if it is inactive between votes. He pledged to rebuild the party from the grassroots up, empowering local branches, constituency groups and ordinary members, while embedding political education and accountability into the party’s daily operations across the island. To reestablish the DLP as a credible governing alternative, he said the opposition must move beyond merely criticizing the ruling BLP and develop concrete, alternative policy platforms across every major issue affecting Barbadians—from the economy and cost of living to health, education, housing and technology—ultimately positioning the DLP to lead national conversation rather than just react to it.

    Finally, on developing new leadership, Dr Estwick said the success of his presidency would not be measured by how much power he consolidates, but by how well he prepares a new generation of leaders to take the reins after he leaves office. He called on senior party members to act as mentors rather than gatekeepers, noting that experience and youth can complement each other rather than compete. “Younger members must receive genuine responsibility. They must have opportunities to develop political judgement, policy knowledge, organisational skills and constituency experience. Senior members must become mentors rather than gatekeepers. Experience and youth are not opposing forces. The strongest Democratic Labour Party will combine both,” he said.