标签： Barbados

Across Barbados, a quiet, community-led revolution in autism care and support is gaining momentum, driven by a mother’s personal journey and a commitment to ensuring no family affected by autism navigates their challenges in isolation. At the center of this growing movement is Evening Stars Barbados (ESB), a volunteer-led nonprofit organization established in 2025 by Sonia Maloney, whose experience raising an autistic daughter inspired her to turn personal struggle into a mission of widespread change.

In an exclusive interview with local outlet Barbados TODAY, Maloney shared that her 13-year-old daughter’s diagnosis and the subsequent challenges of navigating existing support systems revealed critical gaps that extended far beyond her own experience. After connecting with other parents of autistic children, she confirmed these systemic shortcomings were not isolated incidents, prompting her to launch an organization that could guide families through complex processes and help them avoid the obstacles she had encountered.

The core unmet need ESB was created to address is the lack of structured support for autistic children and their families outside of standard school hours—a gap that places disproportionate strain on low-income and single-parent households. To solve this, the nonprofit has centered its work on three key priorities: direct practical support, community education, and systemic advocacy, all while partnering with established disability organizations rather than competing with them.

Practically, ESB offers two immediate, high-impact services: after-school programming for autistic children and respite care that gives caregivers much-needed breaks to preserve their personal and financial independence. Looking ahead, Maloney has laid out an ambitious plan to expand this practical support with an innovative cooperative model that allows neurodivergent people and parents with marketable skills to sell their crafts and products through an ESB shop, helping families retain economic stability while building community.

Education forms the second foundational pillar of the organization, with monthly workshops open to parents, educators, and community members. Maloney noted that three-quarters of past workshop attendees have been classroom teachers, revealing a clear unmet demand for training: most educators report feeling under-equipped to support autistic students and are actively seeking evidence-based guidance to create more inclusive learning environments. The next public workshop is scheduled for April 14 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Black Rock Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with open registration available via the organization’s Facebook page.

To mark Autism Awareness Month, ESB has also been conducting outreach to primary and secondary schools across the island, leading informational sessions for both parents and teachers to deepen public understanding of autism. Maloney emphasized that one of the most persistent cultural barriers to support is the stigma that leaves many autistic children invisible: many self-regulatory behaviors commonly misunderstood by the general public are simply healthy coping mechanisms for autistic people, a misconception that targeted education can correct.

To build long-term cultural change, Maloney argues that education must start early, teaching younger generations about neurodiversity and how to support their autistic peers. On a systemic level, she is advocating for simple, inclusive changes across all Barbadian schools—not just special education facilities—including adding small sensory-friendly spaces in every classroom to give autistic students the environment they need to thrive. “Inclusion is not segregation. It is making sure every child gets what they need to be able to function,” she explained.

While Maloney acknowledged that public awareness of autism has improved in Barbados in recent years, she stressed that widespread acceptance and comprehensive support remain out of reach for too many families. As a volunteer-driven nonprofit affiliated with the community giving network Give Back Barbados, the organization relies on ongoing support from the public, with recruitment for new volunteers open via ESB’s social media channels.

ESB also prioritizes collaboration over competition, partnering with long-standing local groups including the Autism Association of Barbados and the Barbados Council for the Disabled to amplify existing services rather than duplicate them. At its core, the organization is built on the values of hope, dignity, and radical inclusion, with a vision of a Barbados where every autistic child is valued, fully supported, and given the space to shine. Far from waiting for systemic change to come from the top down, Maloney and the ESB community are building that future from the ground up: “We’re not waiting… we’re helping ourselves. We’re advocating for our communities,” she said.

A fatal shooting in a residential neighborhood of St. Michael, Barbados has left one man dead and another hospitalized, with law enforcement launching a public appeal for information to crack the case. The victim has been formally identified as 42-year-old Andre Omar Burgess, a resident of Baycroft New Road, Bridge Road, St. Michael. The violence unfolded just after 9 p.m. on Thursday in the Deane’s Village area along Hindsbury Road.

According to Barbados Police Force officials, the department’s Operations Control Room got the first alert of trouble at 9:18 p.m., when multiple callers reported hearing gunshots ring out across the neighborhood. Officers assigned to the Bridgetown Division were immediately dispatched to the scene to secure the area and begin initial assessments.

When first responders arrived, they found Burgess unresponsive on the public roadway, directly alongside a parked motor vehicle. A licensed medical practitioner was called to the site shortly after, and officially pronounced Burgess dead at the scene.

Preliminary investigative work has already shed light on the sequence of the attack. Investigators confirmed that Burgess was engaged in a conversation with a second man when three attackers, all wearing masks to conceal their identities, approached the pair without warning and opened fire. Both men were hit by gunfire before the three suspects fled the area on foot.

The second victim, who suffered non-fatal injuries, was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in a private vehicle by bystanders immediately after the attack. As of the latest update, he is still receiving ongoing medical care for his wounds, and no further details about his condition have been released by authorities.

The case remains an active investigation, with detectives still working to piece together key details including the motive for the attack, the identities of the three masked suspects, and any potential connections between the attackers and the victims. To speed up progress in the case, police are urging anyone with even small pieces of information to come forward. Witnesses who were in the area at the time of the shooting, or residents who may have noticed suspicious activity in the hours before or after the attack, can submit information anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1800-8477, reach the 24/7 police emergency line at 211, or contact investigators directly at District ‘A’ Police Station via phone at 430-7242 or 430-7246.

A beloved pillar of Barbados’ religious and local community marked a historic life milestone this week, as Ena Jones celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by loved ones and national leadership, and opened up about the core values that have shaped her extraordinary century of life.

The birthday celebration, held at Bethel Methodist Church where Jones has been a dedicated, long-time member, drew a crowd of family, close friends, and Barbadian President Jeffrey Bostic, who joined the occasion to honor the island’s newest centenarian. Even at 100, Jones impressed every attendee with her quick wit, sharp recall of life events, and gentle, steady composure. Looking back on decades of change and challenge, she shared vivid anecdotes from her youth, from carefree days attending community dances to the quiet hardships and resilience of life during World War II.

When President Bostic asked Jones what wisdom she would pass on to younger generations during a warm, lighthearted conversation, her response was brief but deeply resonant: *“Try to be the best you can. Do not follow bad company…. If you see a person going the wrong way, don’t follow.”*

As a formal tribute to Jones’ remarkable milestone, President Bostic presented the centenarian with a celebratory gift basket holding fresh flowers, a bottle of non-alcoholic wine, and a personal birthday card on behalf of all Barbadians. The card read: *“Reaching the remarkable age of 100 years makes you a national treasure. This calls for celebration, and so I salute you. Accept my heartfelt congratulations and those of the people of Barbados on this most significant day in your life. Happy birthday, and may God continue to shower His blessings on you.”* Bostic went on to hail Jones as the event’s “Birthday Queen” and lead a toast to her long and meaningful life.

For those who have known Jones for years, her warmth and love of life have long made her a central part of the church community. Wendy Darlington, a fellow member of Bethel Methodist Church and long-time friend, recalled how the pair first connected: they bonded after sitting next to each other in the same pew one Sunday, and eventually formed a close bond that has lasted for years. Jones’ cousin, Stevenson Tull, shared that even after he and his family moved to the United States, stopping by Jones’ home during return visits to Barbados became a beloved family tradition. Confident in Jones’ continued vitality, Tull said, *“She loves life, she takes care of herself, she made it to a hundred and I know that we are going to celebrate another birthday… for her.”*

In a post-celebration interview, Jones reflected that reaching 100 was a milestone she never imagined possible. Neither of her biological parents lived to see their 100th birthday, and Jones lost her mother at a young age, growing up raised by her adoptive mother, Ms. Trotman. When asked what she credits for her long and healthy life, she pointed to three core principles: intentional discipline, unwavering faith, and the intentional choice to step away from negative influences.

Expanding on her guidance for young people, Jones emphasized the value of steady, purpose-driven living: *“Live a clean life. Work… don’t worry about other people and what they do… and that’s how you get through life.”* She noted that she enjoyed the pleasures of youth in her earlier years, but always prioritized making intentional choices to build a stable, fulfilling long-term life.

Faith, Jones added, has been a foundational guiding force throughout every stage of her journey. Her biological mother first introduced her to church as a small child, and Jones has maintained a deep, consistent spiritual practice that she says saw her through every hardship and joy across 100 years. Jones described her 100th birthday as “very cool and quiet”, saying she approaches the milestone with deep gratitude for every year she has been given. Far from slowing down, the centenarian continues to bring joy and wisdom to everyone around her in her community.

Each dry season, residents of St George and St John parishes brace for smoke, ash, and disruption. This year, however, a relentless wave of blazes that blanketed both communities in toxic haze this week has pushed frustrated locals to speak out, demanding officials finally address the root causes of the annual crisis instead of only responding to emergencies after they break out.

At the center of the problem lies vast stretches of abandoned and under-managed agricultural land across the island’s rural agricultural heartland. For decades, dozens of fallow plantations once used for sugar cane and vegetable cultivation – including the Pool, Henley, Wakefield and Todds properties, formerly owned by the defunct insurance conglomerate CLICO – have been overrun by invasive, fast-growing species: cow itch vine and river tamarind. These dense, dry plants act as perfect fuel for seasonal brush fires, creating massive blaze zones that spread quickly and generate thick, acrid smoke that drifts into residential and commercial areas.

For long-time St George resident Brad Harper, the severity of this year’s fires hit him unexpectedly while driving through Middleton. What he first assumed was a mechanical fault in his car’s air conditioning system quickly revealed itself to be dangerous air pollution. “The smoke was very irritating to the sinus,” he recalled. “I was driving with the AC on, and at first I thought something was wrong with the vehicle, so I checked all the instruments and everything looked fine. It wasn’t until I rolled down the window that I realized just how hazy the outside air had become.” That evening, a return trip to the area with a friend confirmed his worst fears: conditions had grown even worse, with smoke thick enough to cause persistent respiratory irritation. Having lived in the region for most of his life, Harper said he has never seen smoke levels this high, even as local fire chiefs have already acknowledged a steady increase in the frequency and scale of these fires in recent years.

The blazes are far more than a minor inconvenience: they pose a direct, daily threat to vulnerable community members. Susan, an asthmatic woman in St George, described this week’s smoke as suffocating, with a strange oily quality that triggered persistent coughing fits. “It wasn’t pleasant because the ashes and the smoke from the ashes had me coughing a lot, and I’m asthmatic too,” she explained. “It feels like burning tires, that thick black smoke. Then after it fades, everything gets covered in a white coating of ash. It’s not good at all.”

Local small businesses have also suffered direct financial losses. Taylor, who owns a mini-mart in St Judes, St George, was forced to close her shop early and throw away contaminated stock after soot and ash blew into her store, covering fresh produce and other goods. “It was really bad,” she said. “It even got on the vegetables. We had to pack up early because the ashes and dust were blowing right past the place. It’s terrible for people with sinus issues. They’ve got to get rid of the cow itch – it’s affecting all of us, even small children. I just hope they find a way to stop these huge smoke plumes from impacting our daily lives.”

In St John, local farmers have a front-row seat to the growing crisis. Maria Simpson, who farms land in Wakefield, says the constant cycle of fires means emergency fire crews are spread thin across the parish, with new blazes breaking out almost daily. “This is ridiculous,” she said, gesturing to the charred, blackened horizon stretching across the former plantation. “Every single day there’s at least one fire truck out from the station. If you have one fire here, another breaks out behind it, and you hear sirens nonstop. This is a real public health crisis. It’s unbelievably hard.”

Simpson points out that the common practice of controlled burning to clear cow itch only makes the problem worse during the dry season. When the invasive plants are burned, dry particles of cow itch blow across the region, worsening respiratory irritation, and the infestation has already grown out of control, alongside unmanaged brush and even wild monkey populations on the abandoned land. Instead of reactive burning, she says officials should focus on early intervention: “Deal with them from early. If they could remove the plants before they start to flower and spread, that’d be real good.”

For long-time St John resident Mavel Knight, the fires came right to her doorstep this week, forcing her to lock herself inside her Massiah Street home from mid-afternoon through the entire night as a blaze on Donkey Hill poured smoke into her neighborhood. “Last night there was so much smoke because there’s just so much unmanaged bush, that’s what creates all that smoke,” she said. “I had all the windows closed. To be truthful, I didn’t open the house at all. I told my daughter I was buckling down, I wasn’t moving, I kept the door locked.”

The frustration with years of inaction is most palpable in Cherry Grove, where resident Marcia Clarke says the community has been stuck in a repeating cycle of cleaning ash and dealing with coughing fits for decades. She traces the problem directly to failed land management: what were once productive sugar cane fields are now neglected tinderboxes waiting to ignite. “Yesterday, I had to wash my clothes three times,” she lamented. “And then you have to close all the windows in the house. Years ago, when this area out front was sugar cane, we didn’t have this problem. But from the time the grounds got out of hand, this is what we get. We’ve told our member of parliament, but nothing ever happened. It’s terrible up here in St John.”

As this week’s smoke begins to clear, residents of both parishes are left with the same unresolved problem, and their call for action has never been louder. With local fire services pushed to their breaking point and community public health at severe risk, locals are demanding a comprehensive, long-term plan to manage overgrown abandoned farmland and break the annual cycle of devastating seasonal bush fires. Until that plan arrives, as Simpson puts it, residents remain trapped in a “ridiculous” cycle of fire, smoke, and disruption.