Carib Scope

标签： Barbados

巴巴多斯

  • Barbados team treats 2 700 Venezuelans after earthquakes

    Barbados team treats 2 700 Venezuelans after earthquakes

    In the aftermath of two devastating back-to-back earthquakes that claimed more than 6,500 lives in Venezuela, Barbados’ deployed emergency medical contingent has delivered critical care to over 2,700 affected people and completed 74 surgical procedures since launching operations in July, Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley has confirmed. Speaking to reporters immediately after concluding an official visit to the disaster-hit South American nation, Mottley shared first-hand observations of the widespread destruction and the profound toll the catastrophe has inflicted on local communities. Mottley emphasized that the scale of human tragedy left by the earthquakes is almost impossible to fully grasp, as thousands of families were robbed of their homes, livelihoods, and sense of safety in a matter of moments. “It is tragic to see the scope of loss,” Mottley stated. “I do not think any of us can truly understand what it means to live with this uncertainty: not knowing exactly how many lives were lost, how many families have been impacted either by death or by losing everything — their shelter, all their possessions, and being forced to relocate to temporary camps.”

    This humanitarian deployment marks the latest in a series of regional disaster relief efforts led by Barbados, which previously sent emergency aid to Jamaica in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. The current mission integrates the logistical and operational capabilities of the Barbados Defence Force with clinical expertise from Queen Elizabeth Hospital staff and independent medical volunteers. To overcome on-the-ground challenges — most notably language barriers between the visiting medical team and local patients — the Barbadian contingent integrated Venezuelan local volunteers into their operations, who supported patient care and communication across affected zones.

    “I am proud that Barbados has been able to step up and contribute meaningfully to this relief effort,” Mottley said, as she broke down the structure of the deployment. “It is a collaborative effort between our defense force, our main public hospital, and medical volunteers from both the public and private sectors. In Venezuela’s case, given the context of the disaster, many local Venezuelan nationals also stepped forward to volunteer, largely to help bridge language gaps, and because they could see the tangible difference our team was making on the ground.”

    Operating out of a purpose-built field hospital starting from the third week of July, the medical team has managed a heavy caseload while working under challenging post-disaster conditions. Of the 74 completed surgeries, five were specialized oral procedures, with the remainder ranging from minor to major general surgeries. “Our team on the ground has seen more than 2,700 patients since becoming operational in July, and completed those 74 procedures,” Mottley noted. “It is incredible to see the tangible difference we have been able to make in the lives of people who have lost so much.”

    Mottley pushed back against common assumptions that large nations do not need outside support, noting that even the largest countries can see local response capacity overwhelmed when catastrophic disasters strike. “When we look at Venezuela, we see a large country, but we do not always see that even large countries face localized challenges and gaps after a disaster,” she explained. Beyond the immediate emergency work, Barbados’ field hospital will remain operational in Venezuela until early October, adding sustained capacity alongside broader recovery efforts led by the Regional Security System and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

    The prime minister also recognized key leaders and specialists who contributed to the mission, including Barbados Defence Force command, and a team of medical professionals led by Senior Minister Dr. William Duguid — a dentist who spent one week on the ground providing specialized dental care to local residents.

    Beyond emergency humanitarian relief, Mottley’s visit also marked a key milestone in strengthening bilateral relations between Bridgetown and Caracas. Building on preliminary discussions held in Barbados during late April with Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez, Mottley confirmed that in-person talks during her visit led to the signing of a new joint declaration outlining areas of future cooperation. A Venezuelan official delegation is scheduled to travel to Barbados by mid-September to formalize a series of regional cooperation agreements. The upcoming negotiations will focus on four core areas of mutual benefit: food security, tourism development, expanded international transport links, and joint energy initiatives designed to strengthen the economies of both nations.

    Closing out her briefing, Mottley reflected on the inherent fragility of human life when faced with extreme natural events, and issued a call for Barbadians to maintain ongoing empathy and support for Venezuelan communities still navigating the long aftermath of the earthquakes. “I feel truly proud of what our team has accomplished, but at the same time, I cannot help but reflect on just how fragile life is,” Mottley said. “No one could have predicted two massive back-to-back earthquakes that would take thousands of lives in an instant, and displace tens of thousands more, robbing them of their livelihoods, their homes, and all their possessions.”

  • Police intercept vessel carrying Opposition Leader

    Police intercept vessel carrying Opposition Leader

    A high-speed maritime incident involving Guyana’s top opposition figure has ignited public debate, after law enforcement intercepted a vessel carrying Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed late Tuesday amid conflicting narratives about what transpired. The confrontation unfolded just before 10 p.m. during a routine joint coastal patrol conducted by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the country’s Coast Guard. According to official police statements, patrol units spotted Mohamed’s unregistered “go-fast” craft entering the mouth of the Demerara River at an excessive speed. Law enforcement activated sirens to signal the vessel to halt, but the craft failed to respond, triggering a high-speed chase upriver that ended at a public wharf in Friendship, a small community located on the East Bank of the Demerara.

    Upon intercepting the vessel at the dock, police confirmed that three people, including Opposition Leader Mohamed, were still aboard the craft. Five additional people who had been traveling with the group were already on the wharf when officers arrived. During the chase, responding officers reported witnessing an unidentified person throw an unknown bag overboard into the murky waters of the Demerara River. To date, investigators have not been able to confirm the contents of the discarded bag, and joint teams from the GPF and Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard are currently conducting search operations to recover the item as part of an ongoing formal investigation into the incident.

    However, the opposition has pushed back aggressively against the official police narrative, offering a sharply different account of the stop. Odessa Primus, General Secretary of the Working People’s Alliance (WIN) and a member of the traveling party who was on the vessel during the incident, disputed key details of police’s version of events. Primus explained that officers initially approached the group only to request boat documentation from Mohamed, who informed responding units that the craft was already docked and he did not have the paperwork on his person at the time. She added that officers subsequently launched a full search of the vessel and all passengers on suspicion of trafficking illegal narcotics, but no contraband or unlawful items were uncovered during the search.

    Opposition representatives further confirmed that one opposition legislator, Natasha Singh, was taken into police custody after a bag holding a legally licensed firearm owned by another sitting legislator, Dawn Hastings, was discovered during the search. Hastings had already disembarked the vessel before the interception and accidentally left the bag aboard, the opposition said.

    Context around the incident adds political weight to the confrontation: Mohamed and his delegation were en route back to the capital city of Georgetown from Guyana’s Region One, where the group had traveled to meet with survivors and family members of victims of the devastating July 18 MV Barima ferry disaster. That maritime accident, one of the worst in Guyana’s recent history, claimed the lives of more than 100 people when the passenger ferry sank off the country’s northwest coast.

  • Tridents suffer first CPL defeat of season

    Tridents suffer first CPL defeat of season

    The 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) delivered a thrilling upset on Tuesday night at North Sound, Antigua, as the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons handed the previously unbeaten Barbados Tridents their first loss of the season by a 30-run margin. The dominant all-round performance from the Falcons pushed them back to the top of the tournament’s points table, with pace bowler Joshua James earning Player of the Match honors for his stellar spell of three wickets for just 18 runs, while all-rounder Moeen Ali anchored the Falcons’ batting innings with an unbeaten half-century.

    Barbados Tridents skipper Chris Green won the toss and elected to field first, a decision that put the Falcons under immediate pressure from the opening ball. Tridents fast bowler Daniel Sams clean-bowled star opener Rahkeem Cornwall with the very first delivery of the match, leaving the Falcons reeling early. By the end of the mandatory powerplay, the Falcons had only managed 40 runs for the loss of two wickets, putting their campaign on the back foot early.

    However, Moeen Ali stepped in to steady the innings with a clinical, power-packed knock. Playing 37 deliveries, Ali struck three boundaries and four towering sixes to finish not out on 56, dragging the Falcons to a competitive total of 155 runs for five wickets from their full 20-over allocation. Supporting contributions from opener Amir Jangoo (26 runs) and Karima Gore (27 runs) proved crucial in building the match-winning total after the rocky start. For the Tridents, Afghanistan spin star Mujeeb Ur Rahman was the most effective bowler, picking up two wickets for 32 runs, while Sams, Ramon Simmonds and Gudakesh Motie each claimed one wicket apiece.

    Chasing a target of 156, the Tridents got off to a promising start, reaching 45 runs for two wickets by the end of the powerplay. Replacement batter Shian Brathwaite, called into the squad to cover injured star Kadeem Alleyne, fell for seven runs, while top-order batter Zachary Carter contributed 17 runs to the early stand. The Tridents looked set at 54 for two in the eighth over, but a collapse changed the trajectory of the match. Wickets fell at consistent intervals, and the Tridents slumped to 95 for seven by the middle of the 14th over.

    The Falcons’ bowling attack delivered a clinical finish to wrap up the victory. The Tridents were bowled out for 125 runs in 18 overs, with Rivaldo Clarke top-scoring for the side with 27 runs off 26 balls, and Kevlon Anderson adding 22 runs to the total. Beyond James’ match-winning three-wicket haul, Alzarri Joseph took two wickets for just 12 runs, Shadab Khan claimed two for 23, and Sufiyan Muqeem picked up two for 36, capping a dominant all-round bowling performance from the Falcons.

    In his post-match remarks, Tridents captain Chris Green reflected that his side had played solid cricket for much of the contest before losing momentum. He highlighted the promising partnership between young batters Clarke and Anderson, which he said had given the Tridents a strong platform to chase the target. According to Green, a controversial caught dismissal proved to be the turning point that shifted momentum entirely to the Falcons. “For us it just felt like we panicked a little bit and that gave the game away,” Green said.

    The result ended the Tridents’ perfect start to the season, which had seen them claim back-to-back wins in their opening two matches. Green emphasized that the side would take the loss as a learning experience rather than letting the defeat derail their campaign. “In T20 cricket you’re going to play good games, you’re gonna play bad games. Sometimes you win those bad games, sometimes you lose those good games. It’s a matter of fine margins,” he noted.

    With three matches completed and seven remaining in the group stage, Green maintains his side remains in a strong position to advance. “We’re still in a really good position, but I think your key word there is learning, and we are a young side and we’ve got to keep learning,” he added.

  • CXC invigilators await fees as ministry targets mid-September clearance

    CXC invigilators await fees as ministry targets mid-September clearance

    Across Barbados, more than 900 temporary workers who served as invigilators, supervisors and examiners for this year’s May-June CXC examinations – including the CSEC and CAPE assessments – are still waiting for their earned compensation. The country’s Ministry of Education Transformation has confirmed that while initial payments have already been disbursed, a full verification and auditing process is required before all funds can be released, setting a mid-September deadline for settling all confirmed, error-free claims.

    Permanent Secretary Kim Belle, in an exclusive interview with Barbados TODAY, outlined the complexities behind the delayed payments. She explained that the 900-plus claims do not translate to one claim per worker, as many individual invigilators submitted multiple claims for different exam sessions they oversaw. Claims begin flowing into the ministry in July immediately after the conclusion of the exam period, but automatic payment is not possible: every submission must be cross-checked and audited to ensure the amount requested matches the actual hours worked and services rendered.

    “Processing doesn’t stop when a claim is submitted,” Belle noted. “We have to review every line to make sure we’re paying the correct amount for the work that was actually done. Only after that verification is complete can we move forward with disbursement.”

    While all verified, “clean” claims are on track to be settled by mid-September, a share of submissions contain discrepancies that will extend processing times, potentially into November in the most complex cases. The most common discrepancy involves mismatches between the work hours invigilators reported on their claim forms and the hours logged by senior exam supervisors. Resolving these issues requires reaching out to individual workers for additional confirmation, a process that can involve multiple rounds of back-and-forth communication.

    New invigilators face additional delays for a separate reason: the ministry must first create a new profile for them in its central accounting system before any payment can be processed, adding an extra step that established workers already in the system do not require.

    For many of the unpaid workers, most of whom are unemployed people relying on this seasonal exam work to cover basic living costs, the delay has created significant financial strain ahead of the new academic year. One unpaid invigilator, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed deep frustration with the ongoing holdup and lack of clear communication from authorities.

    “We unemployed people worked all through May and June for these exams, and we still haven’t seen a cent,” the worker said. “Every time we call the ministry or the CXC council, we just get another excuse. We have school supplies and new uniforms to buy for our kids, household bills to cover – what are we supposed to do? The people who process these payments get their full salaries every month, but we check our bank accounts over and over for money that never comes.”

    Belle pushed back on the timeline for the most extreme cases, emphasizing that November only represents a worst-case scenario for disputed claims, and she remains confident that the vast majority of payments will be finalized far earlier. “For the most part, these payments should be completed very soon,” Belle said. “I really don’t want us to have to go all the way to November. Right now, we’re on track to wrap up all confirmed claims by mid-September as planned.”

  • Munro‑Knight targets farm contracts, eyes export markets

    Munro‑Knight targets farm contracts, eyes export markets

    Barbados is advancing a sweeping initiative to connect local small-scale farmers with more stable, lucrative markets, with senior government officials announcing plans to expand formal purchase agreements between agricultural producers and the island’s leading retail chains. The policy push comes as part of the administration’s broader effort to strengthen domestic agricultural output, grow the national agro-processing sector, and unlock new international export opportunities for Barbadian produce.

    Agriculture Minister Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight shared details of the plan in an interview with Barbados TODAY, on the sidelines of the early-September reopening of Massy Stores’ Worthing location in Christ Church. The initiative aligns with a directive from Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who used the reopening event to call for formal farmer purchase agreements to be institutionalized as a permanent, standard component of supermarket operations across the country.

    Currently, more than 50 active purchase agreements are already in place for smallholder farmers through the Farmers Enfranchisement and Empowerment Drive (FEED), a program run by the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC). During the reopening, Prime Minister Mottley emphasized that farmers cannot reasonably be expected to scale up production without guaranteed demand from major buyers. To back the policy, she committed that the government will allocate $2 million in quarterly funding to support the expansion of these purchasing arrangements.

    Moving forward, BADMC will partner with Export Barbados alongside Massy Stores and other retail stakeholders to foster growth in Barbados’ emerging agro-processing industry. Munro-Knight acknowledged that the current framework for contract approval and buy-in still requires refinement to operate more efficiently, noting that streamlining administrative processes remains a key priority for the government.

    In addition to expanding retail partnerships, BADMC has been directed to increase purchasing opportunities for producers through its in-house pack house facility. Working with Export Barbados and Minister Jonathan Reid, the government is currently negotiating formal supply agreements with large regional supermarket chains including Massy and Popular, with plans to onboard additional major buyers in the coming months.

    Beyond Barbados’ domestic market, the administration is actively targeting international export opportunities, a critical shift given the small size of the island’s local consumer base. To advance this goal, the government will convene a dedicated technical expert working group tasked with identifying high-potential foreign markets, mapping out which crops can be produced at commercial scale locally, targeting strategic public and private investment, and outlining pathways to access these new overseas markets.

    Munro-Knight stressed that building a robust, sustainable export sector for Barbadian fresh produce will not happen overnight, and urged local farmers to remain patient as the government works through the required regulatory, infrastructure and market development steps. She noted that meeting international quality standards, completing mandatory product testing, and maintaining consistent year-round production are all non-negotiable requirements to successfully enter and compete in global export markets.

  • Barbadian racer joins Nissan for 2026/27 Formula E season

    Barbadian racer joins Nissan for 2026/27 Formula E season

    One of open-wheel racing’s rising stars from the Caribbean, Barbadian driver Zane Maloney, has finalized a high-profile switch to Nissan for the upcoming 2026/27 FIA Formula E World Championship, marking a pivotal career step that puts him in position to compete for top grid positions after two challenging seasons with the rookie Lola Yamaha ABT squad. The Nissan Formula E program officially confirmed the deal Tuesday, revealing that Maloney will pair with 34-year-old veteran Oliver Rowland, who is returning for his seventh consecutive season with the Japanese manufacturer, as the series enters its transformative fourth-generation (GEN4) car era.

    For Maloney, the 24-year-old who earned the nickname “The Boy from Barbados” in global racing circles, the move represents the breakthrough opportunity he has worked toward since entering Formula E in 2024 alongside the newly established Lola Yamaha ABT entry. In an exclusive interview with Barbados TODAY, he opened up about the decision, framing it as a natural next step in his pursuit of competitive success.

    “It’s a huge chance for me at this point in my career, and I couldn’t be more excited to get started,” Maloney explained. “When I joined Formula E, I signed on with an all-new manufacturer in Lola. We knew going in that results would take time, that building a new program from scratch over an existing car generation would be a steep challenge. After two seasons, I’ve grown a lot there, but as a driver, my goal is always to fight for positions at the front of the grid. When the opportunity to join Nissan opened up, I grabbed it with both hands, and I’m ready to put in the work to get to the front.”

    Nissan brings a proven winning pedigree to the partnership, a stark contrast to the developing program Maloney leaves behind. The Japanese outfit claimed the Formula E drivers’ championship just two seasons ago and finished fourth in the team standings last year, a track record that Maloney says made the move irresistible. “This is a team that is accustomed to winning races and fighting for titles, that’s what drew me here,” he said.

    Maloney waste no time jumping into preparations: he will travel to Nissan’s Paris-based factory early next week to meet his new engineering team and support staff, before official pre-season testing for the 2026/27 season gets underway. The new campaign kicks off in December 2025 at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia, and the young driver says he plans to spend as much time as possible at the factory ahead of testing to get up to speed with the team’s processes and the all-new GEN4 car.

    The GEN4 regulations represent one of the biggest shake-ups in Formula E history, bringing massive performance gains that fundamentally change the car’s handling. The new cars will jump from 350 kilowatts of power in attack mode to 600 kilowatts, adding more downforce, an active differential, and far faster acceleration – with 0 to 100 km/h acceleration that makes it the fastest accelerating race car in the world. Maloney says the new characteristics of the GEN4 car actually play to his experience, drawing a parallel to the open-wheel machinery he drove during his FIA Formula 2 career.

    “It’s a whole new beast compared to the current generation car,” Maloney noted. “More power, more complexity, a completely different driving dynamic. It’s much closer to what I was used to in F2, and with the faster cornering and higher top speed, I think I’m going to feel right at home in this new package. It’s a big challenge, but I’m not daunted by it – I’m eager to get behind the wheel.”

    Despite the move, Maloney made a point of expressing deep gratitude for his two seasons with Lola Yamaha ABT, the new manufacturer that gave him his first shot at Formula E. Though he only notched three top-ten finishes across two seasons with the team, he says the experience was invaluable to his development as a driver and a person.

    “Lola and everyone at ABT gave me my first opportunity in this championship, and they’ve helped me grow so much over the last two years,” he said. “Starting as a new manufacturer halfway through a car generation is an incredibly tough task, but we took on the challenge together, we got some solid results along the way, and I made a lot of great memories. I have nothing but appreciation for everyone there, they’re incredible people.”

    Maloney’s new teammate, veteran Oliver Rowland, has welcomed the Barbadian driver to the squad, saying he is confident Maloney’s junior career success and two years of Formula E experience will put the team in strong position for the GEN4 era. “I’m delighted to continue with Nissan for our seventh season together,” Rowland said. “With the GEN4 car coming in, we’re going to see a big step in performance and it’s something we’re really excited for. I’m looking forward to Zane joining the team, he’s had a great junior career and two years of experience in Formula E, which puts him in a good position to start Season 13 strongly.”

  • Codrington Road to close for National Stadium works

    Codrington Road to close for National Stadium works

    A key stretch of Codrington Road located in the parish of St Michael is set to be fully closed to all vehicular and pedestrian traffic starting Thursday, August 27, local infrastructure authorities have announced. The closure, which will impact the section between Stadium Road and Waterford Road, has been scheduled to support the ongoing construction and upgrade efforts of the National Stadium Redevelopment Project. The Ministry of Transport and Works, which is overseeing the related infrastructure adjustments for the project, has issued an official advisory to all road users in the area outlining new travel protocols. To minimize travel disruption, the ministry has designated adjacent Stadium Road as the official diversion route for all motorists who would normally travel along the closed segment of Codrington Road. Officials are also warning drivers to plan ahead for unexpected hold-ups on alternative routes, as the change in traffic flow is expected to cause temporary congestion during peak travel hours. In addition to pre-planned route adjustments, authorities are urging all road users to pay close attention to newly installed directional and warning signs placed throughout the affected zone to ensure public safety and smooth traffic movement. No exact timeline for the re-opening of the road segment has been released as of this advisory, with the duration of the closure tied to project progress. Updates on construction timelines and road access will be issued to the public as work advances, the ministry confirmed.

  • Maloney, Skeete share honours in BRC double-header

    Maloney, Skeete share honours in BRC double-header

    On August 23, the Barbados Rally Club (BRC) hosted its highly anticipated Double-Header Summer Sprint, a event that doubled as the seventh and eighth rounds of the 2026 BRC Driver’s & Class Championship, delivering edge-of-your-seat competition that ended with Mark Maloney and Dane Skeete sharing top honours after an exceptionally close battle across the event’s two directional runs.

    A field of 46 competitive entries gathered at the St John and St George stages for the weekend’s racing, with pre-event proceedings opening with a respectful minute of silence held at the Colleton Plantation Yard service area. The moment of remembrance honored three beloved figures of the Barbadian motoring community—Dave Crawford, former Motoring Club Barbados Inc chairman Glyne Greaves, and Harold ‘Doc’ Morley—all of whom passed away in the weeks leading up to the event.

    The first leg of the sprint sent competitors racing from Kendal in St John to Ellesmere in St George, where Maloney delivered a blistering run that saw him cross the line eight-tenths of a second ahead of Skeete to claim the round 7 win. When the route reversed for round 8, however, Skeete bounced back in dramatic fashion, edging out Maloney by a razor-thin margin of just eight hundredths of a second to take the second leg victory.

    The event saw no shortage of standout performances beyond the top two overall contenders. Jamaican driver Kyle Gregg secured a third-place finish in round 7, while Stuart Maloney, Mark Maloney’s compatriot, worked through early technical challenges to climb to third place in round 8. Mark-Anthony Hinkson, the highest-placed two-wheel-drive competitor across both legs, turned in an impressive consistent performance that saw him crack the overall top 10 in both the first and second runs, a feat that earned him widespread praise from spectators and fellow competitors alike.

    Speaking to reporters after the final results were posted, Mark Maloney reflected on his successful day, crediting focused preparation rather than luck for his strong results. ‘I know I have the ability and I just have to make sure my head is clear. I know it’s not luck,’ he said, noting that Stuart Maloney’s morning power steering issues kept him from mounting a tighter challenge at the top of the leaderboard. ‘Unfortunately Stuart had power steering issues in the morning, as I’m sure he would have been much closer but the day was impeccable for me.’

    Full official results for round 7 of the 2026 BRC Driver’s & Class Championship are as follows: 1. Mark Maloney (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) – 2 minutes 26.63 seconds; 2. Dane Skeete (Subaru Impreza WRC S12) – +0.82 seconds; 3. Kyle Gregg (JAM, Ford Fiesta Rally2) – +1.13 seconds; 4. Josh Read (Ford Fiesta Rally2) – +1.34 seconds; 5. Mark Thompson (Citroen C3 Rally2) – +1.82 seconds; 6. Stuart Maloney (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) – +2.50 seconds; 7. David Husbands (Ford Fiesta R5) – +8.26 seconds; 8. Brian Gill (Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo) – +8.89 seconds; 9. Kurt Thompson (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) – +9.19 seconds; 10. Mark-Anthony Hinkson (BMW M3) – +10.43 seconds.

    For round 8, the official finishing order was: 1. Dane Skeete – 2 minutes 24.34 seconds; 2. Mark Maloney – +0.08 seconds; 3. Stuart Maloney – +0.70 seconds; 4. Josh Read – +2.07 seconds; 5. Kyle Gregg (JAM) – +2.59 seconds; 6. Mark Thompson – +4.55 seconds; 7. Brian Gill – +6.01 seconds; 8. Kurt Thompson – +6.23 seconds; 9. Mark-Anthony Hinkson – +6.24 seconds; 10. David Husbands – +8.26 seconds.

  • BHTA hails growth of Adopt-A-School futsal tournament

    BHTA hails growth of Adopt-A-School futsal tournament

    The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) community-focused Adopt-A-School Futsal Tournament is hitting new strides in its sophomore year, with organizers reporting significant growth in participation and a marked rise in on-court competitive quality. This year’s iteration has drawn 24 total teams, an addition of 8 squads compared to the tournament’s inaugural 2023 staging, marking a 33 percent expansion in just one year.

    Hosted at the dedicated futsal facility at The Oasis in Kendall Hill, Christ Church, the tournament entered its second weekend of round-robin play this week, with organizers highlighting that the event has retained the electric energy and good sportsmanship that defined its debut, while stepping up the intensity of matchplay.

    Tessalee Moore, BHTA’s Special Projects Manager, shared that the second round of group fixtures delivered the kind of tightly contested, high-stakes matches that have turned the community tournament into a anticipated annual fixture for Barbados’ tourism and hospitality sector. “From last year’s opening edition to this year’s competition, we’ve kept the same high level of energy, competitiveness and camaraderie across all matches,” Moore explained. “The level of buy-in and support from every participating team has been incredibly encouraging, and the BHTA couldn’t be happier with how the tournament has progressed in just two years.”

    Moore emphasized that the standard of play has improved dramatically compared to the inaugural event, a shift she attributes to both the larger pool of participating teams and the higher level of preparation squads have brought to this year’s competition. “Last year set a strong foundational benchmark for what this tournament could be, and this year teams showed up far better prepared to compete,” she said. “We’ve already seen a string of extremely close matches and a handful of unexpected upsets that have made every game feel exciting and unpredictable.”

    Beyond the on-court action, Moore noted that feedback from participating players and team staff has been overwhelmingly positive. The tournament brings together workers from across Barbados’ critical tourism and hospitality sector, giving employees a rare chance to connect with peers from other organizations outside of the pressure of their daily work roles. “Teams really value the opportunity to get together, step away from the workplace, and decompress through a shared love of futsal,” Moore said.

    Most importantly, the event ties recreational competition to a meaningful public good: all participation supports student and educational development initiatives across Barbados, a purpose that resonates deeply with every competing squad. “Players love that just by showing up and playing, they’re contributing to a greater cause that lifts up education across the country,” Moore added.

    The latest round of matchplay over the weekend delivered a wide range of results across the group stage. On Saturday, St James Travel & Tours Sunlinc Five Star Fast Track secured a clean 3-0 win over Apes Hill United, while Hilton Barbados Resort claimed a narrow 2-1 victory against Barbados Yacht Club. Hotel Indigo shut out Montrose Holdings Limited 3-0, Wyndham Grand Barbados and The Mango Bay Group played to a scoreless draw, and Barbados Conference Services Limited defeated The Crane 5-2. The fixture between Oasis All Stars and Grantley Adams International Airport also ended in a 0-0 draw.

    Sunday’s matches brought more competitive action, with Coral Reef Club cruising to a 3-0 win over Barbados Port Inc. Aventa Ltd edged out Harbour Lights CK UVA 3-2, and Caribbean Aircraft Handling picked up a 4-2 win over a combined BHTA NSC squad. Accra Beach Hotel & Spa & The Abidah by Accra played to a goalless draw against The Club Barbados Resort, while Ocean Hotels claimed a 2-1 win over The Sandpiper. Barbados Marriott Collection secured the same 2-1 margin of victory against Foster & Ince Tiami Catamaran Cruises.

  • Sandy Crest training facility eyes TVET accreditation

    Sandy Crest training facility eyes TVET accreditation

    As one of the region’s established healthcare providers, Sandy Crest Medical Centre is celebrating two decades of service with a major milestone that expands its mission far beyond the original scope of patient care. During the August 23 anniversary celebration, Managing Director Brian Charles announced the center’s in-house training facility is on the verge of securing official accreditation from the national Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council, a step that cements the organization’s growing role in shaping the future of local healthcare.

    Charles noted that the push into formal healthcare education marks a natural evolution for the center, which first opened its doors as a dedicated emergency and urgent care facility 20 years ago. Over the past two decades, Sandy Crest has steadily expanded its service offerings to meet shifting community needs, growing far beyond its acute care roots to offer full-spectrum family wellness programming. Today, the organization prioritizes proactive public health, placing equal focus on preventive care and healthy lifestyle promotion alongside treatment of existing illness, aligning with modern global healthcare trends that emphasize long-term well-being over reactive treatment.

    The upcoming TVET accreditation, Charles explained, represents a new chapter in the center’s commitment to healthcare excellence. The training division was developed to address two key gaps in the local healthcare ecosystem: nurturing a skilled new generation of clinical and support professionals, and fostering entrepreneurial growth across medical and paramedical fields. Unlike traditional academic healthcare programs, Sandy Crest’s training model leverages the center’s decades of on-the-ground clinical experience to give learners practical, real-world skills that translate directly to in-demand roles in the sector.

    “This initiative grows from our core belief that strong healthcare is about more than caring for the patients walking through our doors today,” Charles said during the anniversary address. “To build a resilient, high-quality healthcare system, we have to invest in the professionals who will serve communities decades from now, and create space for new ideas and businesses to grow in medical and allied health fields.”

    Looking ahead to Sandy Crest’s third decade of operation, Charles outlined a continuing strategy of adaptive growth, shaped by rapid shifts in the global healthcare landscape. He pointed to accelerating advances in medical technology, rising patient expectations for personalized, patient-centered care, and changing community health needs as key drivers of future development. These changes, he noted, bring both operational challenges and unique opportunities to innovate and improve service delivery.

    Charles reaffirmed the center’s long-term commitment to expanding access to care, investing in professional development for existing staff, and integrating new technologies to elevate patient outcomes. “As we enter this next chapter, we remain focused on upholding our mission to be a leader in patient-centered care,” he said. “By embracing innovation, growing our educational offerings, and staying responsive to the needs of our community, we will continue to raise the bar for healthcare excellence in the years ahead.”