Carib Scope

标签： Barbados

巴巴多斯

  • Woman remanded on ammunition, cannabis charges

    Woman remanded on ammunition, cannabis charges

    A 31-year-old self-employed Barbadian woman is now being held at Dodds Prison after facing multiple weapons and drug charges in a Bridgetown district court this week. Marisa Kathey-Ann Jackson, a resident of 9 Rendezvous Ridge in Christ Church, appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Douglas Frederick at District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court No. 1 to answer to four separate offences, all alleged to have occurred on August 18.

    The first charge accuses Jackson of being in possession of 40 rounds of ammunition without the required legal license, a offence that falls under the country’s strict firearms control regulations. Under local court procedure, defendants in such matters are not required to enter an initial plea during their first appearance, so no plea was formally recorded from Jackson during the hearing. Three additional drug-related charges are also laid against her: simple possession of cannabis, trafficking of the controlled substance, and possession of cannabis with the explicit intent to supply it to others.

    Jackson, who is being represented by defense attorney Shakira Emtage, was remanded into custody by Acting Chief Magistrate Frederick, with her next scheduled court date set for September 18. This step was taken to allow law enforcement officials to complete their ongoing investigation into the allegations, and to prepare the case for trial proceedings moving forward.

  • 34 students earn national academic awards

    34 students earn national academic awards

    Thirty-four outstanding young scholars across Barbados have been awarded the country’s highest national academic distinctions for 2026, following exceptional performance across regional secondary examinations and post-secondary associate degree programs. The cohort includes 12 recipients of the prestigious Barbados Scholarship, 21 winners of the Barbados Exhibition, and one student honored with the exclusive Award of Excellence.

    Leading the pack of scholarship recipients, Queen’s College secured seven of the 12 available awards, with the seven honorees named as Azani Blades, Ethan Dear, Chaya Griffith, Kaela Hinds, Joshua Jemmott, Amaris Nicholls and Arrielle Thompson. Two additional scholarships went to Accalia Ince and Asia Inniss of Harrison College, while Abiygayil Wiggins from The St Michael School and two Barbados Community College (BCC) students, Maliqua Cherubin and Kamani Holder, rounded out the scholarship cohort.

    In the Exhibition category, BCC dominated the results, claiming 13 of the 21 available honors. The college’s winning students are Diamond Anthony, Leila Archer, Tremaine Bynoe, Paige Corbin, Krystiana Depeiza, Adannah Farley, Dominic Garner, Nyeka Gibson, Cherisse Mallett, Aziz Mehter, Decara Prescod, Savannah Small and Zyanna Waithe-Marshall. Two Harrison College students, Narisha Ashwanauth and Benjamin King, three from The St Michael School — Kamari Cummings, Sariah Mc Lean and Kaylee Lynch-Proverbs — and three Queen’s College scholars, Anaya Moore, Brandon Squires and Daniel Wickham, also secured Exhibition awards. Salena Rudder is the only recipient of this cycle’s Award of Excellence.

    The results were formally announced by the Ministry of Education Transformation, with Chief Education Officer Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw extending official congratulations to all honorees during the announcement. She framed the recognition as a powerful reminder of why education stands as one of the most critical investments a nation can make in its future. “At this moment, Barbados honours a remarkable group of young people whose performance in the 2026 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination, the Barbados Community College’s Associate Degree programme, and in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate has earned them the nation’s highest academic awards,” Dr. Archer-Bradshaw stated.

    Addressing the award-winning students, she emphasized that their success was no accidental outcome, but the direct result of consistent hard work and deliberate sacrifice. “Behind every grade one, every exceptional GPA, and every scholarship qualification lies a story that very few people see,” she explained. “It is a story of very early mornings and very late nights, of balancing internal assessments with examinations, of choosing commitment over convenience… Today your names are being called because your hard work spoke louder than your obstacles.”

    In an inclusive gesture, Dr. Archer-Bradshaw also took time to recognize students who did not walk away with top national honors, but still achieved meaningful personal academic growth. “Additionally, I acknowledge those students who did not receive grade ones but whose dedication and perseverance were no less,” she said. “Your performance in the exam was your best performance to date. You put your best foot forward and achieved what you thought was not possible. We are proud of you too.”

    Dr. Archer-Bradshaw also stressed that student achievements are never the product of individual effort alone, and highlighted the critical contributions of educators, school leaders, and family members. She extended gratitude to teachers for the long hours invested in lesson planning, assignment grading, practical skill training, and consistent encouragement that helps students believe excellence is within reach. She also celebrated parents and guardians, noting their quiet sacrifices to fund educational opportunities, steady support during periods of uncertainty, and ongoing reminders to stay focused have been foundational to shaping the young scholars honored across the country.

  • Court file delays leave cases hanging for years

    Court file delays leave cases hanging for years

    Barbados’ Magistrates’ Courts are grappling with a systemic crisis of crippling delays in the completion of case files, with some accused individuals waiting three years or longer to receive the documentation needed to move their cases forward, two top legal experts have revealed. This backlog has extended pre-trial remand stays for many defendants and left both people accused of crimes and their accusers in prolonged legal limbo, creating significant threats to the fairness of the island nation’s justice system.

    Last week, acting Chief Magistrate Douglas Frederick publicly voiced his frustration over the repeated adjournments that result from incomplete files prepared by investigating officers. He noted that while Barbados Police Force is widely regarded as one of the most efficient in the world, capable of apprehending suspects within a week of most reported crimes, the failure to finalize case files after an arrest remains an intractable bottleneck. “Today, the prosecution would have gotten up and would have said: ‘We have no file. We have no file.’ And if you look at the dates of the matter, you will see that it is a little frustrating to people coming and they don’t have the files,” Frederick said.

    Senior Counsel Angella Mitchell-Gittens, speaking in an interview with Barbados TODAY, explained that file delays have become so routine that legal professionals no longer expect files to be ready within the first 12 months after an individual is charged. “I guess generally speaking you expect that there’s going to be a period when there is no file. So on average I would say within the first year I don’t have any expectation of a file and maybe sometimes even approaching the second year you have no expectation of a file,” she stated.

    Mitchell-Gittens traced the root of the issue to systemic under-resourcing, noting that a small pool of overstretched police investigators are responsible for handling all active cases, especially the more complex investigations that require significant time and resources. The human cost of these delays, she emphasized, is far-reaching. For defendants held in pre-trial detention, the delays translate to months or years of unnecessary incarceration before their case even begins. Even for defendants granted bail, the lingering open case can derail employment opportunities and upend daily life for years. Some cases remain unresolved for as long as five or six years, with defendants repeatedly appearing in court only for the matter to be adjourned once again due to a missing file.

    While some judicial officers choose to dismiss straightforward cases that have gone without a file for two years, Mitchell-Gittens noted that there is no universal rule for when dismissal is required – the decision is left to the discretion of individual judges. Crucially, she added, even a dismissal does not always bring closure for the accused. If a case is thrown out without a full adjudication on its merits, prosecution can refile the charges at a later date, leaving defendants in a permanent state of uncertainty about their future.

    Mitchell-Gittens also pointed out that even defendants who wish to plead guilty and resolve their cases quickly are trapped by the backlog. Many people who have admitted wrongdoing have been forced to return to court every 28 days for months on end, simply waiting for their file to be completed. She proposed a procedural change to ease this backlog: courts could accept partial evidence to establish that a case is triable, then transfer the matter directly to the High Court without waiting for a full, finalized file.

    Fellow Senior Counsel Andrew Pilgrim echoed these concerns, calling the failure to deliver complete case files the “fundamental and principal cause of delay in the [Barbados justice] system.” He questioned the logic of arresting and charging individuals when years pass without investigators compiling the evidence needed to proceed with a trial. “What did you charge a person for if you don’t have evidence?” Pilgrim asked, noting that the delays touch both low-level and serious criminal cases. In some instances, he added, arrests are made prematurely, before investigators have done enough foundational work to build a complete file.

    To push the system to reform, Pilgrim urged judges and magistrates to set firm, non-negotiable deadlines for prosecution to complete files. “Give the prosecution a deadline, say ‘I’m going to give you a year to be ready and if you’re not ready in a year, I’m going to dismiss it’, it will have a greater impact on the police,” he argued. He noted that while courts have historically granted police additional leeway to account for chronic understaffing, this flexibility has ultimately removed any incentive for the system to address the backlog and improve efficiency. Beyond prolonged detention and uncertainty, Pilgrim added that delays also weaken the quality of evidence, as witnesses’ memories fade years after the alleged crime – a problem that impacts both civilian and expert witnesses alike.

  • UWI scientists eye non-chemical alternatives to curb vector-borne diseases

    UWI scientists eye non-chemical alternatives to curb vector-borne diseases

    Barbados is poised to become the next site for cutting-edge mosquito-borne disease control research, as scientists from The University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill’s Centre for Biosecurity Studies move forward with plans to test a locally developed lethal ovitrap and evaluate a globally successful biological control method that has drastically cut dengue rates abroad.

    For years, Caribbean nations like Barbados have relied heavily on chemical insecticides to curb populations of disease-carrying mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus – the primary vectors for dangerous illnesses including dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika. Growing concerns over chemical resistance and environmental impacts have pushed researchers to pursue sustainable, targeted alternatives, and two promising options are now moving toward local assessment.

    The first tool under development at UWI is the lethal ovitrap, a purpose-built trap designed to mimic the small, dark water-filled breeding grounds that container-breeding Aedes mosquitoes prefer. The design is deceptively simple: a dark water-holding container fitted with a fine mesh screen positioned below an egg-laying surface. When female mosquitoes enter the trap to lay eggs, the eggs drop through the mesh into the water below. Larvae hatch and develop, but any emerging adult mosquitoes become trapped beneath the mesh and cannot escape to continue spreading disease. Centre director Dr. Kirk Douglas calls the device a mass adult mosquito removal tool that expands the existing vector control toolkit and reduces dependence on chemical interventions.

    “It’s an innovation we have started at the Centre for Biosecurity Studies at UWI Cave Hill,” Douglas explained in an interview with Barbados TODAY. “We are hoping to launch a formal field trial soon, where we will monitor treatment areas to measure how these mass removal devices reduce transmission of not just dengue, but a range of other vector-borne diseases.”

    Alongside the ovitrap project, the centre is closely tracking the global performance of Wolbachia pipientis, a naturally occurring endosymbiotic bacteria that has emerged as a leading biological control alternative. The bacteria, which lives naturally inside the cells of many insect species, works by blocking viral replication inside mosquito bodies, preventing them from spreading dangerous diseases to humans.

    Wolbachia-based control relies on two core mechanisms. When male mosquitoes carrying the bacteria are released into wild populations and mate with uninfected wild females, the resulting eggs do not develop due to cytoplasmic incompatibility, gradually reducing overall mosquito populations. In the population replacement strategy, both male and female Wolbachia-carrying mosquitoes are released, establishing a bacteria-carrying local mosquito population that cannot transmit viral diseases. The approach has already delivered dramatic results in large-scale international trials, with an Indonesian cluster randomized trial recording a 77% drop in confirmed symptomatic dengue cases and an 86% reduction in dengue-related hospitalizations compared to untreated control areas.

    Initial skepticism about the method’s scalability and real-world effectiveness has largely been laid to rest by growing empirical evidence, Douglas noted. Currently, the United States is conducting final evaluations ahead of rolling out Wolbachia releases in warm, high-risk states including California and Florida, where mosquito-borne disease outbreaks are a recurring public health threat.

    For Barbados, where dengue outbreaks regularly strain public health resources, the method offers a long-term, sustainable way to manage vector populations at the source. “When you target the mosquito itself through biological control, you prevent new infections at the root, which makes outbreak management far more effective,” Douglas said. The UWI centre will continue monitoring global research and trial results to assess whether the Wolbachia method is a viable strategy for Barbados, alongside advancing the upcoming lethal ovitrap field trials. As public health officials around the world grapple with rising mosquito-borne disease cases linked to climate change, the research in Barbados could offer a model for other small island nations facing similar vector control challenges.

  • ‘Grandfathers’ enlisted to steer young men

    ‘Grandfathers’ enlisted to steer young men

    In a push to reverse rising rates of delinquency and violent behavior among young males across the island nation, Barbados is preparing to launch a groundbreaking intergenerational mentorship initiative in the coming weeks: the Grandfather Programme. The project, announced Friday by Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Adrian Forde during a media briefing at the Warrens Office Complex, pairs experienced senior men with at-risk young males in local communities, filling a critical gap in positive guidance and role modeling for the country’s youth.

    Forde emphasized that the targeted focus on young men stems from widespread, visible challenges the population is currently facing, issues that play out regularly in the country’s court systems and community spaces. Spearheaded by the Division of Elder Affairs, the core mission of the programme is to leverage the decades of lived wisdom and practical knowledge held by older generations, equipping impressionable young men with the foundational values and coping skills they need to navigate life’s obstacles.

    “This initiative is designed to build the intergenerational connections that our communities desperately need right now,” Forde explained, noting that widespread social shifts have left many young people without consistent, positive male guidance. Unlike centralized mentorship schemes that require participants to travel outside their neighborhoods, the Grandfather Programme is structured around local community roots. Volunteers will work directly with young people in their own residential areas, creating comfort and trust through familiar surroundings. For example, a senior man living in the parish of St Andrew will have the flexibility to mentor local youth within that same community, a structure organizers say will help foster long-term, meaningful relationships.

    Forde expressed strong optimism about the programme’s potential to drive durable, positive change if it receives broad buy-in from communities across Barbados. “When fully realized, this project will deliver the intergenerational shift our society needs to support our young people,” he said. To date, a number of senior volunteers have already stepped forward to participate through existing men’s organizations across the island. Even with this early momentum, organizers are still actively recruiting additional volunteers who feel they have the experience and commitment to make a lasting difference in the lives of local youth. The appeal is open to all eligible senior men across Barbados, with organizers emphasizing that even small contributions of time and guidance can strengthen communities and curb cycles of violence and delinquency.

  • CAPE Success, CSEC gains highlight local CXC results

    CAPE Success, CSEC gains highlight local CXC results

    Barbados has delivered strong academic results in the 2026 round of regional Caribbean examinations, posting a near-94% overall pass rate for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) while recording consistent improvement in key core subjects for secondary-level assessments. The outcomes were officially announced by Chief Education Officer Dr. Ramona Archer-Bradshaw during a ceremony at the Ministry of Education Transformation, where the country’s top Scholarship and Exhibition award winners were also honored.

    Breaking down the 2026 CAPE data, Dr. Archer-Bradshaw noted that candidate registrations grew slightly year-over-year, rising from 4,999 in 2025 to 5,196 this year. Of that cohort, 5,022 candidates completed their scheduled subject sittings, with 4,710 earning passing marks to bring the national overall pass rate to 93.8%. Female candidates made up 55.4% of test-takers, while males accounted for the remaining 44.6%.

    Performance across the two CAPE units remained uniformly strong: Unit 1 recorded a 93.1% pass rate, while Unit 2 hit 95.1%. Female students posted a 94.3% overall pass rate, edging out their male peers who logged a 93.2% pass rate. Seventeen Unit 1 subjects achieved a perfect 100% pass rate, spanning disciplines from French, History, and Literatures in English to technical and innovative fields including Information Technology, Green Engineering, Animation and Gaming Design, and Building and Mechanical Engineering Drawing. For Unit 2, perfect pass rates were recorded for subjects including Art and Design, Food and Nutrition, Geography, Sociology, and Spanish. An additional 23 subjects across both units posted pass rates between 90% and 99%.

    Dr. Archer-Bradshaw emphasized that the achievements of this year’s scholarship and exhibition recipients carry extra weight against the backdrop of the nation’s strong overall CAPE performance. She congratulated all awardees, noting that their success was the product of consistent, often unseen effort: “Your accomplishments did not happen by chance. Behind every grade one, every exceptional GPA, and every scholarship qualification lies a story that very few people see. It is a story of very early mornings and very late nights, of balancing internal assessments with examinations, of choosing commitment over convenience… Today your names are being called because your hard work spoke louder than your obstacles.” She also extended recognition to students who did not earn top honors but pushed through challenges to deliver their best possible performance, saying the education community is equally proud of their perseverance.

    Alongside the CAPE outcomes, Dr. Archer-Bradshaw shared results for the 2026 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC), the region’s secondary-level graduation assessment. A total of 22,967 candidates registered for the exams across 42 test centers, including 21 public secondary schools and 20 private institutions, with 21,047 completing their assessments. The national pass rate for grades one to three stood at 69.9%, just slightly below the regional average of 72.18%. For CSEC, male students recorded a 70.9% pass rate, a narrow lead over the 69.2% pass rate for female candidates.

    Notably, Barbadian students outperformed regional averages in all core CSEC subjects, building on three consecutive years of progress. The national CSEC Mathematics pass rate rose to 47% this year, five full percentage points above the regional benchmark of 42.15%. Dr. Archer-Bradshaw highlighted that Barbados has now held a regional lead in mathematics pass rates for three straight years of consistent growth. CSEC English A posted an 82% pass rate, exceeding the regional average of 80% and marking a clear improvement from 2025’s lower result, while English B hit a 60% pass rate, a 1.2% increase year-over-year.

    Several public secondary schools delivered dramatic turnarounds in core subject pass rates, earning official praise from the Chief Education Officer. St. George Secondary School recorded an extraordinary 61.8% jump in its mathematics pass rate compared to 2025, while other schools posting double-digit mathematics gains included Coleridge and Parris School (up 23.6%), Parkinson Memorial Secondary School (up 22.8%), The Alexandra School (up 13.1%), and Christ Church Foundation School (up 10.7%). In English, Darryl Jordan Secondary School stood out with a 48.7% increase in its pass rate, a result Dr. Archer-Bradshaw called truly outstanding.

    The 2026 exam cycle also marked a historic milestone for regional assessment, with the launch of the pilot for the Caribbean Examinations Council’s new Caribbean Targeted Examination Certificate, a modular approach to CSEC certification. The pilot launched with Module One for CSEC mathematics, enrolling 589 students from six Barbadian secondary schools. Of that group, 493 completed the assessment, and 358 earned passing marks for an overall 72.6% pass rate. Female candidates posted a 76.6% pass rate in the pilot, compared to 68% for male candidates. Dr. Archer-Bradshaw added that education officials are optimistic the next phase of the pilot will deliver even stronger outcomes.

    Closing the announcement, Dr. Archer-Bradshaw credited collective effort across Barbados’ education ecosystem for the year’s strong results, emphasizing that no student succeeds alone. She thanked teachers for their countless hours of lesson preparation, assignment grading, practical training, and encouragement that helps students pursue excellence. She also recognized principals and school leaders for building high-expectation learning environments rooted in strong leadership and positive school culture. Gratitude was also extended to parents and guardians for their sacrifices, encouragement, and unwavering support, as well as to Ministry of Education Transformation staff for their ongoing work to reform and strengthen the national education system, so every student can reach their full potential. Echoing a core theme of the event, Dr. Archer-Bradshaw reaffirmed that education remains one of the most valuable investments any nation can make in its future.

  • Christ Church club seal second successive promotion after just one season in Division One

    Christ Church club seal second successive promotion after just one season in Division One

    A small Christ Church-based football club is celebrating one of the most impressive ascents in Barbadian domestic football, after booking its place in the Barbados Football Association’s top-tier Premier League for the 2027 season with two consecutive promotions. Parish Land locked in their promotion following a tense 3-2 win over Technique this Wednesday, a result that pushed the side to 53 points and second place in the Division One standings. With only one final round of regular season matches left to play, third-placed Pinelands has already been mathematically eliminated from catching Parish Land for the second and final promotion spot. What makes this milestone even more remarkable is the speed of the club’s climb: Parish Land spent just one season competing in Division One after earning promotion from Division Two, also in a single season. Club president Kemar Ward shared that securing Premier League promotion was the team’s core target from the very first kick of the current campaign. “It was always a goal from the beginning. We were a really united unit and played together and for each other like a big family,” Ward said in a post-confirmation interview. When breaking down the keys to the team’s historic success, Ward highlighted the side’s dynamic attacking force as a standout strength, noting that Parish Land has netted more than 50 goals across the current Division One season. He also added that the club’s defensive organization has been equally solid, conceding only 22 goals so far. The confirmation of Parish Land’s promotion came even after Pinelands earned a 3-0 win over Empire that lifted the side three spots to third in the table with 47 points. Even with maximum points from their remaining fixture on August 26, Pinelands cannot close the 6-point gap to overtake Parish Land for the promotion slot. Pro Shottas, the other team that has already secured promotion to the Premier League, currently sits atop the Division One standings with 55 points, leaving the league title still up for grabs in the final match week. If Pro Shottas drops points with a loss in their final game and Parish Land secures a win, the Christ Church club will overtake the league leaders to claim the Division One championship title. Ward, however, struck a realistic tone when talking about his side’s chances of topping the table. While he is confident his team will put in a winning performance in their final fixture, he expects Pro Shottas to hold onto their lead. “I don’t see them losing honestly, but it was a good season. We fought it out twice and they won the first game while we won the second and everyone dropped some points in between. We ended up also drawing one more game than them and this is where the difference in points came about. We began the season with the intention of being promoted and are fine with second place to be honest,” Ward conceded. Now that their Division One campaign is all but wrapped up, the club will shift its focus to the upcoming Prime Minister’s Cup, which is scheduled to kick off on September 7. Ward noted that Parish Land will enter the cup competition in peak physical and competitive form, thanks to the tight end to their regular season and a recent run of consistent wins. For Ward, who has overseen the club’s climb since taking over as president, the back-to-back promotions are a point of particular pride. “We actually only spent one year in Division One. Most of the other teams spent several years at this level and some even got demoted. We only spent one year in Division Two as well. Since I became president, we got promoted each season,” he said. In other Division One matches held this Wednesday, Whitehall claimed a narrow 3-2 win over Notre Dame, Deacons delivered a dominant 13-4 victory over Fitts Village, and Potential Ballers beat Greens by a 3-0 scoreline.

  • BVTB doubles down on culinary training

    BVTB doubles down on culinary training

    Barbados’ public vocational training sector is seeing explosive growth in interest for culinary arts education, prompting the Barbados Vocational Training Board (BVTB) to rapidly scale its international cuisine programming and explore new industry partnerships to meet unmet demand. That is according to top BVTB officials, who shared new enrollment details during the agency’s 2026 orientation rally, where more than 350 aspiring learners registered for courses in the current semester.

    Gerard Prescod, BVTB’s Director of Training, revealed that the board’s flagship international cuisine programme has already tripled in size in just a few years, growing from an initial two classes to six full sections today. With application volumes continuing to far outpace available spots, Prescod confirmed that agency leaders are already planning a further doubling of capacity to 12 classes once current expansion work is completed.

    “The response to culinary training, particularly for core specializations like professional cooking and pastry arts, has been absolutely overwhelming,” Prescod told attendees at the orientation rally. “Every segment of the learner population is eager to develop skills in cooking, baking, and pastry production, leading to the unprecedented demand we are seeing for these programs.”

    Sophia Moore, Assistant Director of Training Operations at BVTB, added that strong demand for culinary training extends beyond traditional young trainee cohorts, with mature learners also driving growth in the board’s specialized evening programming. Moore noted that the board offers three evening class sessions per year specifically designed for working adults and older learners, and every session hits full capacity well before the registration deadline.

    “We consistently see a high volume of qualified applicants for international cuisine, commercial cooking, and baking programs across all our offerings,” Moore explained. “These trade areas consistently maintain one of the highest demand profiles of any program we run, regardless of the learner demographic we are serving.”

    Beyond expanding in-class capacity, BVTB is also working to boost career opportunities for its culinary trainees by deepening ties with Barbados’ thriving tourism and hospitality sector. Prescod announced that the agency is developing a new three-year apprenticeship program that will place trainees directly with corporate and hospitality partners across the island to gain on-the-job experience. The board also offers a flexible implant training model, where BVTB’s expert instructors travel directly to partner workplaces to deliver customized skills training for staff.

    Already, BVTB’s culinary training program has built a strong reputation with Barbados’ leading hotel brands, with trainees regularly getting hands-on experience at top properties. Prescod cited a recent example where six BVTB trainees supported kitchen operations at the island’s Girlfriend’s Expo, and following the event, executives at Wyndham Sam Lord’s Castle Castle Resort immediately invited the group back for further work opportunities. Prescod added that BVTB’s two lead culinary instructors bring decades of industry experience and extensive professional connections to the program, helping open doors for trainees seeking work in Barbados’ competitive hospitality sector.

  • Vocational training board turns away trainees as demand outstrips capacity

    Vocational training board turns away trainees as demand outstrips capacity

    The Barbados Vocational Training Board (BVTB) is grappling with a critical capacity shortage as overall demand for hands-on vocational training continues to outpace available spots, even as the organization struggles to draw younger participants into core construction trade programs. As more than 350 new prospective trainees gathered for an orientation rally at the C. Lomer Alleyne Skills Training Centre in Sayes Court, Christ Church this Thursday, BVTB Training Director Gerard Prescod confirmed that nearly all courses for the upcoming semester have already reached their maximum enrollment limits.

    One of the most striking mismatches between demand and demographic participation centers on the board’s popular Construction Gateway initiative, which was designed to prepare a new workforce for Barbados’ growing construction sector. With 1,500 total applicants vying for spots across BVTB programs this intake cycle, Prescod noted that Construction Gateway is overwhelmingly drawing mid-career and older learners, while younger aspiring trainees show little interest in entering construction trades. Instead, younger applicants are gravitating toward other technical fields, including air conditioning repair, refrigeration technology, and general mechanical work.

    “Right now, we do not offer electric vehicle (EV) training at BVTB, so interested learners are heading to the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute for that training,” Prescod explained. “Once we update our curriculum to add EV training, we expect we will be able to attract more of those young applicants to our programs.”

    Even as the board works to adapt to shifting industry demand, outdated legal restrictions and limited infrastructure continue to cap how many learners it can serve. A long-standing provision in BVTB’s founding legislation limits class sizes to a maximum of 16 trainees per course, a rule that has not been updated to match current demand. To work around this cap, the organization has partnered with local schools to share underutilized campus facilities, and expanded Construction Gateway classes to off-site satellite locations, allowing it to double enrollment in high-demand trades including masonry, plumbing, and tiling.

    BVTB Assistant Director of Training Operations Sophia Moore noted that the organization has operated at full enrollment for years, with only minor shifts in demand for specific programs from year to year tied to broader industry trends. “Some of our most in-demand programs now run multiple sections a year,” she explained. “For example, we now train 32 masonry students annually instead of the original 16. But we still face hard limits from our available facility space, the number of certified trainers we can employ, and our authorized training sites. Even with the satellite sites for Construction Gateway, we still can’t keep up with total demand.”

    This semester, the board is reintroducing automotive training and autobody repair programs after a period of adjustment, and the response from applicants has already overwhelmed available spots: 20 learners expressed interest, but only 16 can be accommodated under the existing class size rule. BVTB is also working to update its automotive curriculum to match changes in the regional vehicle market, sending current instructor demonstrators to receive specialized EV training ahead of launching a full program. The organization is also seeking corporate donations of diesel engines to expand training, as its current fleet of training engines is almost entirely gasoline-powered.

    Registrar Dr. Cheryl Gibson outlined additional new programs the board has launched to meet evolving industry needs, including a new mini excavator operation program, alongside the recently added autobody repair, painting, and finishing courses. She added that BVTB is also exploring the use of training simulators to enhance the learning experience for trainees across all programs. The board also plans to bring back small-engine repair training in the near future to fill another gap in the local skilled labor market.

    Even with these adaptive measures, high demand means hundreds of qualified applicants are turned away each intake cycle. Clerk-typist Shelly-Ann Alexander confirmed that popular programs including skid-steer operation, cosmetology, and international cuisine all had to reject qualified applicants this semester due to lack of space and training capacity.

    Prescod emphasized that the most impactful long-term change to address the capacity crunch would be updating the outdated legislation that caps class sizes at 16 learners. “The 16-person limit has been in place since long before I joined BVTB, and it no longer matches the current demand for skilled workers across Barbados,” he said. “Adjusting that rule would let us expand access to the training that so many Barbadians are seeking, and help meet the labor needs of our growing key industries.”

  • Back-to-school assistance applications ‘near 3 000’

    Back-to-school assistance applications ‘near 3 000’

    As the 2024 academic year approaches in just three weeks, Barbados’ Social Empowerment Agency (SEA) is already gearing up for one of its busiest annual periods, with more than 2,900 requests for back-to-school financial support already logged by the organization. SEA Executive Director Colleen Walcott shared details of the agency’s preparations in an interview with Barbados TODAY, outlining how the non-profit is shifting its operational focus to meet surging demand for educational assistance.

    Walcott explained that the window from July through mid-September consistently ranks as the highest-traffic period for the SEA, as the organization prioritizes getting eligible children the support they need to start the school year without financial barriers. “Over the next two months, alongside all our ongoing core services, our primary priority is educational assistance — we’re focused on getting support to families as quickly as possible to make sure no child starts the school year unprepared,” Walcott said.

    Demand has gotten off to a particularly strong start this year, with 700 new applications submitted in the first full week of open enrollment alone. That figure only accounts for direct community applications, Walcott clarified, and does not include students receiving support through partnered initiatives such as the One Family program, or assistance for children in residential and foster care systems. Unlike many assistance programs that set a hard early deadline for applications, the SEA keeps enrollment open through mid-September to accommodate late applicants, often referred to as “stragglers,” who may face uncertainty over enrollment status or school placement ahead of the term. Even after the first day of classes, Walcott noted, parents can still submit applications for support.

    The majority of requested assistance goes toward covering two core back-to-school costs: textbooks and school uniforms. Unlike programs that distribute restricted retailer vouchers, the SEA provides direct cash assistance to give families full flexibility over where they shop. “If we gave a voucher restricted to a single retailer, that retailer might not have the item a family needs, or another store might offer a lower price,” Walcott explained. “Giving direct monetary support lets families make the choice that works best for their budget and their needs, no strings attached.”

    Alongside ramping up back-to-school operations, the SEA is in the middle of a major island-wide service decentralization push designed to reduce overcrowding and wait times at the agency’s central St. Michael headquarters. By expanding community-based access points across Barbados, the organization has already seen a notable drop in pressure on its main office, with growing visitor numbers at regional hubs in Oistins and St. Philip, both strategically located near existing community centers and other public essential services.

    The expansion effort hit a major milestone last Friday with the official opening of a new client center in St. Lucy, housed in the renovated Bentham Client Centre. Additional locations are already in the works, with the next regional hub scheduled to open next month in September at Lower Collymore Rock, in the repurposed “Maxwellton” building that previously hosted the National Disabilities Unit. Long-term plans also include a new center at the former Welfare Department office in The Glebe, St. George.

    All five planned initial centers are being developed through repurposing and retrofitting of existing vacant government buildings, though future locations will require new construction to meet the SEA’s growing operational needs. Ultimately, Walcott said, the entire expansion project is focused on one core goal: bringing critical social services directly to underserved communities across Barbados, while continuing to reduce the operational burden on the overstretched central St. Michael office.