#Barbados Newscaps By Stephanie F. Chase

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 11/10/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Friday 10th th November, 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing Weekend Nation Newspaper (WN).

SAY YES TO IMF – With a team from the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) currently on island for talks with the Freundel Stuart-led administration, two retired permanent secretaries are calling on Government to bite the bullet and enter into a funding arrangement with the IMF. However, William Layne and Frederick Forde are both cautioning that any such financing plan must be on Barbados’ terms only. The last time the economy was put into IMF hands back in the early 1990s, the bitter fiscal medicine that followed proved too strong for many Barbadians to stomach and was blamed for the eventual collapse of the then Erskine Sandiford-led administration, following crippling street protests. Among the major expenditure cuts instituted then was an across-the-board eight per cent pay cut in the public sector, which was later restored. However, with the economic and social fallout still fresh in its mind and a general election now looming, the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP), though faced with a deficit of six per cent of gross domestic product and dwindling foreign reserves which stood below the desired 12 weeks of import cover at just 8.6 weeks or $549.7 million at the end of September, is very reluctant to seek financial help from the Fund, even though the IMF publicly indicated at the end of its last Article 1V Consultation back in June that it “stands ready to assist the Government of Barbados, including through continued policy dialogue and technical assistance”. (BT)

BARBADOS’ ECONOMIC MODEL OBSOLETE, WARNS INNISS – Minister of Industry, Commerce, International Business and Small Business Development Donville Inniss has rendered Barbados’ economic model obsolete. Echoing many of the views expressed by former Prime Minister Owen Arthur last week when he called for a new model of development, Inniss pointed out that “over the past 50 years Barbados’ growth and development has been based on an economic model which placed much emphasis on preferential access to markets of Barbados’ principal trading partners, incentivized tax regimes for the foreign investors designed to inject foreign exchange earners into the economy and high protectionist barriers implemented to give local enterprise the necessary space to become sustainable”. However, the Government minister warned that this model had now become outdated as evidenced by the demands by international standard-setting agencies to dismantle these systems. It was during last week’s Innovate Barbados 2017 conference at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre that Arthur, who resides in Inniss’ constituency but currently sits as an independent in Parliament, had issued pretty much the same warning. The way he put it though was that “a developmental model based on protectionism, trade preferences, unique tax benefits and on economic sectors which do not make the fullest use of our human capital will lead Barbados into an economic cul-de-sac”. And without making direct reference to any of the current fiscal policies of the Freundel Stuart led administration or the recent promises of the Mia Mottley-led Opposition Barbados Labour Party that it will make tertiary education free again and that it will immediately repeal the dreaded National Social Responsibility Levy if it is elected to Government in the next election, Arthur cautioned that the heavy provision of welfare services by the state was no longer sustainable with Barbados currently grappling with a high deficit of six per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), a high national debt in excess of 140 per cent of GDP and dwindling foreign reserves in the amount of 8.6 weeks of import or $549.7 million at the end of September. With the situation as it stands, Arthur was insistent that there must be a new model of development in which innovation, technology and entrepreneurship are the principal drivers of economic and social activity. This very point was made by Inniss today as he addressed the second annual Students’ Conference, under the theme Chartering the Course, Exploring the Possibilities. In fact, he warned that Barbados stood to be left behind unless it embraced the international technological revolution that was changing the very way in which the financial system works. (BT)

ENOUGH – Chanting “we need a new school” and “enough is enough”, a group of about 25 parents and students protested outside the Belmont Primary School this morning, complaining of deplorable conditions at the Government-run learning institution. Today’s protest came amid the closure of the school, which has been affected over the past two days by a pungent odour that is said to be coming from a nearby farm. On Wednesday, the doors to the My Lords Hill, St Michael institution were abruptly closed just after 1p.m. on  account of the foul smell, and late this evening the Ministry of Education announced that classes would also be suspended on Friday owing to the environmental problem. “The Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation has reassured parents that its officers and those of the Ministry of Health are working assiduously to find the source of the problem,” the ministry said in a brief statement issued by the Barbados Government Information Service this evening. No reference was made to today’s protest. However, when a Barbados TODAY team arrived at the school around 9 a.m. Thursday, it was met by a group of angry parents who openly vented their frustration over the stench, which they said began affecting Belmont Primary over the weekend and was responsible for the invasion of a swarm of flies onto the school’s compound. Today’s protest is second such demonstration in as many weeks following the October 27 action by parents and guardians of the students at the St Mark’s Primary in St Philip institution who also describe the conditions their charges are faced with as deplorable.  (BT)

BALL DROPPED – Barbados’ main advocacy group for men has been given a failing grade for its representation of fathers who have been denied access to their children. The stinging indictment has come from founder of Access for Fathers, Kammie Holder, who said today he was forced to step up and take the lead on the issue because the Men’s Education Support Association (MESA) had simply dropped the ball. “MESA is an organization which has a problem with men calling bad mothers ‘dead beat’ but has no problem with women calling men the same thing. MESA has lost their mandate and it has left me no choice but to start my own [group] to represent men who are going through this issue,” said Holder, who went public on social media last weekend with details of his own bitter child custody battle and has since stepped up a public campaign on Facebook to raise public awareness of the issues confronting men. When contacted for comment today on Holder’s charges, the Chairman of MESA Grantley Osbourne said he preferred to issue his response at a later date. However, MESA is on record as having voiced strong objection to the harsh treatment it says is usually meted out to men when they go to court to deal with paying child support, compared to the women who refuse to let men see the same children they’re providing money for. Back in 2015, MESA went as far as calling for mandatory DNA testing at childbirth in an effort to protect men from paying child support for children that were not theirs. However, while suggesting that MESA is all bark and no bite, Holder also contended that after years of promising to challenge the legal system, the problem remains largely unchecked with frustration mounting among men who continue to be denied access to their children. (BT)

‘NO GENDER BIAS IN COURT SYSTEM’ – A senior jurist has denied that the law courts here are heavily skewed in favour of women involved in custody disputes with the fathers of their children.   Supreme Court Registrar Barbara Cooke-Alleyne said that despite the never ending refrain from male advocacy groups that women seemingly have a license to deny fathers the right to see their children, the court system has made great strides to ensure balance. “I don’t believe that the court is skewed in any way because I am sure that there are some ladies who would say that the court favours men. You can’t win them all and the court is very aware of the gender issues,” Cooke-Alleyne told Barbados TODAY at the Ann Hill School, Pine Road, St Michael this morning following the launch of the Caribbean leadership project, a seven-year, CAD$20 million project aimed at strengthening the capacity of future leaders in the Caribbean to support gender-sensitive public sector reform and work collaboratively towards regional integration. (BT)

ST PETER STUDENTS RECEIVE NEW KINDLES – Class three students of the Roland Edwards and Boscobel Primary schools in St Peter are now better equipped to explore the world of information after receiving new tablets from the Aron & Christina Truss Foundation yesterday. To the delight of the students, the registered charity handed over 78 Amazon Kindle devices, which were donated by Don Thomson, wife Mila and two sons Michael and Daniel, who recently moved to Barbados. Mr Thomson said he was happy to provide the students with the learning tools and urged them to fully use their gadgets. Also on hand for the brief presentation was Barbados Labour Party candidate for St Peter Colin Jordan, who spoke on the behalf of parliamentary representative Owen Arthur. He too encouraged the students to put the tablets to good use and to handle them with care. Founder of the charity Aron Truss heaped praises on the Thomson family, encouraging their two sons and the other students to find ways to give back to their schools and community.   (BT)

SLOW DOWN – Not so fast! That was how Member of Parliament for St Thomas Cynthia Forde has responded to suggestions by some public service vehicle (PSV) operators that students should be banned from their vehicles. Earlier this week some operators called on Government to impose a ban of students travelling on privately run PSVs following an altercation between three students from a rural secondary school and a conductor, which resulted in the conductor sustaining injuries to both arms. However, Forde called for cooler heads to prevail, suggesting instead that all sides meet to explore ways to end violence by students using the public transportation system. (BT)

HAYNESVILLE TENANTS FEAR MASSIVE FIRE – Tenants of the National Housing Corporation (NHC) in Haynesville, St James say they fear it is only a matter of time before a massive electrical fire destroys their homes and their lives. The residents complain that the signs are clear that the 40-year-old electrical system is no longer reliable and poses a threat to the lives of householders. Two weeks ago, fire destroyed one of three bedrooms in an NHC unit in Haynesville, which one of the occupants, 43-year-old Ryan Odle, blamed on an electrical fault. It was the latest blaze which tenants blame on a faulty electrical system which they said keeps showing signs that danger is not far away. The Opposition Barbados Labour Party candidate for the area Sandra Husbands today presented the NHC with a petition bearing close to 200 signatures of concerned tenants demanding that the state agency makes rewiring of the Haynesville units a priority. The BLP candidate said the NHC has been advising its tenants that it did not have the funds to rewire the units or for simple repairs such as replacing doors or toilets. However, Husbands said Government needed to take another look at its priorities and place the tenants at the top of the list. David Rogers was not at home when reporters visited the area this afternoon, but his brother Curtis Rogers explained the challenges facing his sibling. Another tenant, Akera Jones, expressed fears that while her unit has been unscathed so far, it was only a matter of time before fire breaks out there.  (BT)

ST PETER WOMAN MISSING – Police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating 29-year-old Roxanne Matthews, of Collins, Boscobel, St Peter. Matthews, formerly of Broomfield, St Lucy, was last seen sometime around 6 a.m. on Tuesday, November 7, by her boyfriend Hugh Thompson at his Collins residence. At the time she was wearing blue leggings and a faded pink shirt. Matthews is 167 centimeters tall, of brown complexion, thickly built, has an oval face, thick lips, thick short neck,and is full breasted with a protruding stomach. She has her hair braided, speaks with a slur, has an erect appearance and is in the habit of swinging her hands. She is known to frequent Speightstown, St Peter and Broomfield, St Lucy and can be considered as a slow learner. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the District ‘E’ Police Station at telephone numbers 419-1730 or 419-1731, police emergency number 211, or the nearest police station. (BT)

UPDATE: PLANTATION MANAGER SHOT DURING ROBBERY – Supervisor/manager at Bulkeley Plantation, Charles Bynoe, was shot during a robbery this morning. The incident occurred around 11:05 a.m. and left the 64-year-old nursing a gunshot injury to his left foot. Police say Bynoe returned to the St George plantation and encountered two men, one armed with a firearm. Two shots were fired at Bynoe and the men then fled the scene with an undisclosed sum of money. Bynoe was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by ambulance for medical attention. Anyone who can provide information to assist police with their investigations is asked to contact the District “B” Police Station at telephone 437-4311, CID Oistins at 418-2608, police emergency number 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS (8477) or the nearest police station.  (WN)

THEIVES TAKE MORE CARS – Car thieves in Barbados have seemingly found a niche market and are cashing in on it. Within the past three years the number of stolen vehicles has increased almost five-fold. According to police public relations officer Acting Inspector Roland Cobbler, while there were only 22 reported car thefts in 2014, last year that number had ballooned to 106. That figure was still slightly less than the 111 cars stolen in 2015. In 2012 and 2013 there were 68 and 63 cars, respectively, reported stolen. (WN)

BOYCE ACCUSED OF CAR THEFT – A 28-year-old man is out on $5,000 bail after appearing in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on a criminal charge. Rayon Andrew Boyce, of Charles Row Bridge, St George, was not required to plead to the indictable charge that he took a Suzuki Swift motorcar without the owner’s consent, sometime between October 22 and November 7. There was no objection to bail for the accused man, who is due to reappear before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant on January 4. In the meantime, he must stay away from the complainant in the matter. (BT)

THIEF CAUGHT WHILE POSING AS A HOTEL GUEST – A 40-year-old cocaine addict, who pleaded guilty to theft, will spend the next three weeks at the Psychiatric Hospital. Gaylan Alphonso Marshall, of no fixed place of abode, consented to an assessment by doctors at the institution today after his attorney, Mohia Ma’at, appealed for help for his client who had admitted to stealing two hand towels, four soaps, five bottles of mouth wash, three rolls of toilet paper, one body cleanser, five bottles of water and two boxes of tissue worth $78.30, belonging to the Hilton Hotel. Security personnel became suspicious when they spotted Marshall on the eighth floor of the hotel yesterday, carrying two bags. He was questioned and asked whether he needed help. Putting on an American accent, Marshall answered that he was a guest at the establishment and was on his way to visit friends at Worthing, Christ Church. Police were called in and Marshall was arrested after he could not give an account of the items, which he later admitted to taking from a storage room on the eighth floor of the luxury resort. Ma’at told Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant his client was a former waiter and server who has been “sliding down hill” since losing his job last year. “He found himself using not a little spliff, but dope. He says it is out of control and he would like his life back,” Ma’at told the magistrate while appealing for the first time offender to be considered for drug rehabilitation at Verdun House. Marshall returns to court on December 1 to find out whether he qualifies for the programme. (BT)

TEEN HELD ON GUN CHARGES – A 17-year-old, who is alleged to have had an illegal weapon and ammunition in his possession, was today given an automatic 28-day stay at Dodds prison. Jaquan Antonio Richards, of No.16, Lacelles Terrace, Pinelands, St Michael, is accused of having the firearm and 16 rounds of ammunition on November 6, without a valid licence. The teenager, who is being represented by attorney-at-law Shadia Simpson, was not required to plead to the indictable charge when he appeared before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy Sargeant. However, Richards pleaded not guilty to allegedly having $70 worth of cannabis in his possession on the same day. He is due to reappear in the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on December 7. (BT)

CRIMINAL CHARGES LAID AGAINST BOYS IN SCHOOL BUS STABBING INCIDENT – Police have arrested and formally charged two schoolboys in connection with a stabbing incident which occurred sometime around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7, on board a school bus. A third boy, who is 15-years-old, was stabbed twice in the upper left side of his back during the incident. The two school boys, ages 14 and 16, were formally charged with the offence of serious bodily harm. They both appeared before Magistrate Wanda Blair in the Holetown Magistrates’ Court today. The 16-year-old was remanded to prison while the 14-year-old was remanded to the Government Industrial School. Both expected to reappear in Court on December 5. (BT)

MAN WHO ASSAULTED POLICE COMMISSIONER BACK IN COURT – The man who assaulted Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith was back in court today. Dewayne Carlo Griffith, 39, of Crab Hill, St Lucy, was arrested and charged for a number of offences which were committed against the Commissioner in the Crab Hill area on Saturday, October 28. He reappeared in the Holetown Magistrates’ Court and was further remanded to prison, and will reappear in court on December 7. Griffith has been charged with obstructing police in the execution of duty, assaulting police in the execution of duty and resisting police in the execution of duty.  (BT)

‘LORD EVIL’ AWAITS BAIL DECISION – The infamous Andre Omar Lord Evil Jackman will find out tomorrow whether he gets to maintain his freedom. After hearing submissions from Jackman’s lead attorney Arthur Holder and Crown Counsel Oliver Thomas in relation to a violation of Jackman’s bail condition, Acting Judge Alrick Scott deferred his decision until November 10. Jackman, 38, of Stroud Bay, Crab Hill, St Lucy, appeared before the High Court judge today accused of breaching the 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily curfew imposed on him back in May 2016. The state submitted in the No. 4 Supreme Court this afternoon that Jackman’s $175,000 bail should be revoked and that he be remanded to HMP Dodds. However, an incensed Holder told the media after the hearing that his client was being discriminated against. Holder admitted that Jackman had breached the curfew on October 28 in the presence of Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith. However, he contended that the breach was “minuscule”, given that his client had complied with every single bail condition since he was granted bail over a year ago on a murder charge. The attorney-at-law added that the submissions made today were unprecedented in his 18-year career.   The attorney-at-law added that the submissions made today were unprecedented in his 18-year career. Claiming that there were other accused persons who had repeatedly breached the conditions of their bail but had not been hauled before the court, Holder insisted that justice must appear to be done. (BT)

UNDER THE INFLUENCE – A 37-year-old car washer, who was intoxicated when he broke a pane of glass, has two weeks to compensate his victim. Devon Mario Sampson, of 3rd Avenue, Chapman Lane, St Michael, damaged the property belonging to Glen Harvey on November 2. Harvey rents rooms to individuals, including a woman who Sampson is familiar with. On the day in question, the woman informed him that she was not feeling well and closed the door leaving him in the gallery. Moments later she heard the sound of breaking glass and realized that the glass on the door was broken and Sampson was bleeding. She reported the matter when he asked for help with his injured hand. “He was intoxicated and didn’t know what he was doing. Thankfully no one was hurt but himself. In his moment of sobriety he has realized that alcohol is not his friend and any company he should keep,” Sampson’s attorney Mohia Ma’at told Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant. In his submissions for leniency, he also urged the magistrate not impose a custodial sentence but an order of compensation on his client, who is a car washer at the YMCA. The magistrate complied and requested that Sampson pays $100 in compensation in two weeks, otherwise he will have to spend six weeks in prison. Sampson was also placed on a yearlong bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. If he breaches the order and is found guilty of any crime during that time he will face a $750 forthwith fine or three months imprisonment. (BT)

CAWMERE NEW V’BALL CHAMPS – CAWMERE are the new kings of Division 1 volleyball. The Waterford lads predictably captured their first ever Goddard Enterprises Limited senior title in a bittersweet moment at the Wildey Gymnasium on Wednesday night. Key man Barbados captain Shawn Simpson suffered an injury in the second set as Cawmere lost to deposed kings Chargers 25-20, 22-25, 22-25, 16-25. Ironically, in the preceding match, Progressive needed five sets to stop All Stars 25-16, 17-25, 27-25, 24-26, 15-10. That outcome meant that there was no one who could then catch Cawmere and stop them from ascending the throne. Progressive ended the league with 30 points while Cawmere, with one game in hand, are on 33 points. Chargers, with a game in hand, have joined Deacons on 26 points. All Stars are on 14 points with one game against Foundation United who are on 11. (WN)

FIFA FINALLY HERE – FIFA is here to stay, and so is new regional office development manager for the Caribbean, Marlon Glean. Glean confirmed that he had been on the island for the past six weeks and was in the process of finalising plans to move into their South Coast offices at Welches, Christ Church, early next month. The WEEKEND NATION met up with the new head at the Barbados Football Association (BFA) during a site visit for officials to view the progress of construction on phase one of the refurbishment project at the Wildey AstroTurf yesterday. At a press conference to launch this year’s football season in January, BFA president Randy Harris had confirmed that the FIFA regional office would be set up in Barbados the following month. However, the move took longer than expected.  (WN)

GAYLE: ‘THEY TOOK ME LIGHTLY’ – West Indies star batsman Chris Gayle has claimed he was taken lightly in mediation proceedings ahead of his successful bid to sue Australian entity Fairfax Media. Gayle succeeded with litigation against the company for an amount yet to be decided, after it published allegations the batsman had revealed his penis to a masseuse, Leanne Russell, during the 2015 World Cup.  Two weeks ago, a Sydney court ruled that the company had not only acted with malice when it published the allegations but had also failed to establish whether they were true. In typical flamboyant fashion, the batman who had called the allegations ‘deeply hurtful’ has taken to social media platform Twitter, promising to share his story with one lucky media house in an exclusive interview, but there’s a catch, it will cost US$300,000. “I have a very interested successful story to tell!! It can be an exclusive 60mins interview or y’all just have to wait on my next book!” Gayle said via Twitter. “It’s about what transpired in court and behind the scenes in Australia, how they went to bigger heads to get me ban,” he added. “How they want to use me as a scapegoat over a interview-I’ll tell you what I do every day after court, believe me, when I break this down to y’all it will be like a movie!” “No holding back! Bidding starts at US$ 300K ($420,000) for this interview! So much to say & I will! “Even what transpired in the mediation couple weeks before court … they take me lightly but I never scared of the media! I was ready to fight until my last breath! “Who ready for my story just let me know…you will have to visit Jamaica for this interview!”   (BT)

HIT SHOW IS BACK - 1627 And All … back! One of Barbados’ most popular historical and cultural showcases made a triumphant return to the stage last Thursday. At the Ixora Bar and Restaurant at Golden Sands Hotel, scores of people, including tourists, locals and Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy, were present to witness 1627 And All That. After the premiere night, Sealy praised the performances while public relations officer for the event, Jacqueline Collins, said she was satisfied with the response to the event despite having to push it back from the original date. She recalled that the original date for the revival of the historical show was postponed due to bad weather and the closing ceremony of CARIFESTA. The internationally acclaimed presentation with the Pinelands Creative Workshop highlighted Barbadian culture through colourful performances, some drama and skillfully choreographed routines. The event featured folk singing, a stilt walker, the Mother Sally, performers who depicted the traditions and rhythms of the Spiritual Baptist movement and dancers who depicted the revelry of Kadooment Day. (WN)

THE LOGOS RETURNS – The Logos returns It’s been eight years since the world’s largest literary book fair – the Logos Hope- sailed into Barbados waters, and today captain and crew received a warm welcome from officials, who described the visit as long overdue. The mega ship, with its 385-member crew, comprising over 60 nationalities and a library of 6, 000 books, will be docked at the Flour Mill, along the Spring Garden Highway until next Friday. Several dignitaries, including Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education Senator Harcourt Husbands; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education June Chandler; Venezuelan Ambassador Francisco Perez-Santana and United States Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Linda Taglialatela were among the first to board the ship this morning. (BT)

That’s all for today folks there are 54 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 2/20/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is your daily news cap for Monday 20th February 2017. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT) or by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

BIM BIGGER – No one is bigger than Barbados, Neither Governor of the Central Bank Dr DeLisle Worrell, nor his now legal adversary Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler.  “It cannot be about the title of my job. It cannot be about the car I drive. It cannot be about the ostentatious lifestyle. It cannot be about any of those things,” declared outspoken Cabinet minister and St James South MP Donville Inniss last night. And he stressed the bitter dispute which was now engaging the attention of the Court of Appeal would work itself out, as the Government concentrated on “ensuring the economy stays afloat”. Inniss was wrapping up a joint meeting of his constituency and those of St James Central, St Michael North and St Michael North East at his constituency office in Wanstead, St Michael. (DN)

BLPITES BLAST GOVERNOR IMPASSE – Four opposition members last night tore into Government over its legal brouhaha with Central Bank Governor Dr DeLisle Worrell. With the Court of Appeal expected to convene this week to hear the legal dispute over the bid to remove the governor, Marsha Caddle, Reverend Joseph Atherley, Arthur Holder and Member of Parliament Trevor Prescod pulled no punches on the issue during a joint branch meeting at George Lamming Primary School. Caddle, an economist and the candidate for St Michael South Central, warned that this would further hurt investor confidence in the country. “There is no investor anywhere who will look at what is happening in Barbados and want to bring his or her money here. (DN)

SCANDALOUS - Former attorney general Dale Marshall is describing as “scandalous” the ongoing dispute between the Minister of Finance, Chris Sinckler, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, Dr Delisle Worrell. Speaking Saturday at a Barbados Labour Party (BLP) press briefing, Marshall also described the on-going situation as a tragedy. “The future of our economy is now to be determined not by fiscal planners, not by economists, but by three judges in the Court of Appeal whose forte happens to be law – now that’s a tragedy,” Marshall said. The BLP representative for St Joseph noted that the impasse was occurring at a time when the economic future of Barbados was uncertain. He held that this was an additional example to the “nine years of poor governance” under the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), administration. “The people of Barbados are the ones whose fate hang in the balance and whose future and whose currency’s future is dependent not on the collective wisdom of our leaders, but it is dependent on a court decision that is to be given [this] week and that’s what Barbados has come to,” Marshall said. “It is scandalous that we should have an Attorney General appearing in court with the Solicitor General to try to salvage a situation that [has made us] the laughing stock of the Caribbean.” News emerged recently that Sinckler reportedly met with the Central Bank Governor on February 9 and gave him the option of either tendering his resignation by February 13, or be fired. However, Worrell, through his attorneys, filed an injunction in the High Court, barring Sinckler from firing him. (BT)

CONSITUENTS GIVE BLACKETT A FAILING GRADE – The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) caretaker for St Michael central, Arthur Holder, has accused Minister of Social Care, Constituency Empowerment and Community Development, Steve Blackett of being an absentee representative. Addressing journalists outside the derelict home of a family of four in Waterhall Land, Eagle Hall, St Michael, Holder described the state of the constituency as “woeful”. Holder, who toured the constituency on Saturday, said many of the constituents revealed that they had not seen the parliamentary representative for several years. Holder, who toured the constituency on Saturday, said many of the constituents revealed that they had not seen the parliamentary representative for several years. “We have had an absentee representative for the past nine years. It is amazing that when you knock at people’s houses, they say we haven’t seen the person who is supposed to represent us in parliament for the past nine years,” Holder said. “They truly want someone to represent their interests.” Citing issues of unemployment and social services as primary concerns, Holder noted that residents in Quarry Road were complaining of poor street lighting. He said they have also indicated that the Human Resource Centre at Station Hill is now a grazing field for horses. “The issue of jobs is foremost in people’s minds. It is reflective of the poor inadequate policies that cannot be and will never be addressed by the Democratic Labour Party,” Holder noted. “There is a need, obviously, to address our young people. The young out here are crying out for work, people in this country and obviously St Michael central they don’t want to live off welfare,” he added. (BT)

PROJECT HOLD UPS – Prominent businessman Sir Charles Williams has appealed for bureaucratic stumbling blocks, which he said are hindering development, to be removed. At the official opening of his Apes Hill Country Club, Sir Charles expressed frustration at the obstacles he said developers faced while going through the regulatory processes before they could execute projects. The $19 million facility, designed by architect Larry Warren, was funded by the National Insurance Department and Republic Bank. It commands an imposing view across a landscape dotted with luxury villas costing between US$1.3 million and US$6.5 million. Sir Charles sided with views frequently aired by Minister of International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development Donville Inniss, who has been speaking out on business facilitation and the problems business people encountered. (DN)

NEW EQUIPMENT COMPANY OPENS – The economy is not firing on all cylinders, but now is not the time for local businesses to retreat from investing. That’s the position of Barbadian construction firm Innotech Services Limited. At a time when some local firms are looking to cut back, management told BARBADOS BUSINESS AUTHORITY the company recently opened the first stand-alone outlet for subsidiary Innotech Equipment Inc. Overall, the group has pumped more than $8 million in capital investment towards starting the new company. They said it was a signal of confidence in Barbados. Innotech Equipment general manager Martin Deane said there was “a lot of demand” for “skid steer loaders (bobcats), mini excavators, weed whackers, demolition hammers, lawnmowers, plate compactors, and forklifts”. “In addition to the construction industry and the landscaping, one of the things that we are getting heavily involved in, and we have had a very very good response are things for events. “So we have put a lot of investment in stuff like light towers and generators  over the last few months and continue to do so,” he said. Deane said the company, which employs 15 people, saw 2017 as a year of growth “even though the economy is a little tight”. (DN)

SOL PUMP CAP – Consumers will not be exposed to profiteering at the pump with the Sol Group’s pending takeover of the state-owned Barbados National Terminal Company Limited (BNTCL). Neither will its competitors in fuel marketing and distribution be disadvantaged. Those assurances have been given by parties involved in the January 3, 2017 sale agreement, and ahead of an upcoming review by regulator the Fair Trading Commission (FTC). Further, the agreement effectively precludes the likelihood of other rival terminals, which it was felt would then have an adverse economic effect through a likely increase in pricing to consumers as the unit throughput rate per barrel of product would need to be increased. (DN)

NEW STINK IN WORTHING –The smell of sewage returned to a section of the South Coast yesterday. And while the Barbados Water Authority’s (BWA) new director of its Waste Water Recovery Programme said it was as a result of the BWA flushing the system, those in the high-traffic area were upset. In Worthing, Christ Church, water, which smelt like raw sewage, was leaking from two manholes – one in front of FirstCaribbean International Bank and the other outside Worthing Post Office. However, the scent had drifted as far as Massy supermarket and the water was seen running into the drains at the side of the road. There appeared, however, to be no issues to the rear of the supermarket as had been the case during the last sewage leak. (DN)

CULTURE MAY HINDER CARPOOLING –President of the Barbados Road Safety Association (BRSA), Sharmane Roland-Bowen, is sceptical about prospects for a carpooling system for Barbados. She said the local culture may be an impediment to its success. She also did not offer much hope that a park-and-ride system would be successful. “It worked for Cricket World Cup 2007 because the people were all going to the same place at the same time,” she told the DAILY NATION.  “People are not going to put down their vehicle and travel in buses if they do not have the same comfort as travelling in their own vehicles,” Roland-Bowen said, adding Barbadians might try it for a while, but then go back to using their own vehicles. (DN)

TEACHERS SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA - Teachers may be free to do as they wish during their private lives, but they are being asked to keep some activity out of the public domain if possible, even though there is no law governing such. This was the view expressed by President of the Barbados Union of Teachers, Pedro Shepherd, during an interview with Loop News. Shepherd was responding to the suggestion that teachers were being subject to intense scrutiny based on what they do in their private lives. Shepherd noted it would be difficult to keep surveillance on what teachers post to their personal social media accounts. “For me that goes out of the realm of trade unions and out of the Ministry. It’s going to be difficult to actually police it. Maybe if you bring some kind of regulation or include something that says if you are a teacher and you are seen on social media with any lewd or any conduct which may be deemed not suitable for public viewing that you may have a charge to answer for. As it is now it’s going to be very difficult to police it.” However, Shone Gibbs, President of the Barbados National Council of Parent Teachers Association (BNCPTA) said that despite the difficulty in policing, teachers must practice restrain. He told Loop News that even though teachers have all rights to put whatever aspects of their private life out into the public domain that they wish, there still needs to be some accountability for teachers portraying slack behaviour. “If your private behavior brings your profession into disrepute, something’s gotta give. Your private life is linked to your public life and in a case like that what you do in private comes into the public domain and it is not consistent with what is expected of you in public, it is something that should be dealt with.” Gibbs said there are already so many guidelines for teachers but the issue is enforcing these guidelines and taking the necessary action when teachers are found to be in breach. (LN)

MOTHER CURSES TEACHER AS STUDENTS WATCH – The mildest description  a St. Michael mother used to one of her daughter’s teachers, was to call her an “old bat.”  Shevon Natasha Griffith cursed a secondary school teacher last week. She will be sentenced  when she returns before the Holetown Magistrates’ Court on April 24. Griffith’s verbal attack led to her being charged with insulting a teacher. The 35-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence yesterday. The facts revealed that her daughter was in an argument with another student at Daryll Jordan Secondary on February 7. A teacher passed and heard Griffith’s daughter cursing the other student, and spoke to her. The daughter then cursed the teacher.  When she was sent to the Deputy Principal’s office, she refused to go and was later told she would be suspended. Although the student lives with her grandmother, she told her mother about what transpired. So Griffith went to the school the following day with her daugher. However, she refused to accept the suspension letter which the Deputy tried to hand her.  Griffith was reportedly “carrying on” all this time, demanding an audience with the Deputy Head, who refused to entertain her based on her aggressive behaviour.  So, in the presence of her daughter, several students and teachers, Griffith proceeded to call the teacher “an old bat, a nasty ****er and an old greasy ***ch.”  Griffith admitted to the magistrate that she has a problem with anger and needs help. She also said her family and the teacher’s have issues and her daughter complained that that particular teacher “picks” on her.  Magistrate Blair placed the mother on $750 bail and ordered a presentencing report.  (CC)

ALMOST 40 KILLED IN ROAD ACCIDENTS SINCE JANUARY IN JAMAICA  - Statistics from the Road Safety Unit in the Ministry of Transport show that 38 people have been killed on Jamaica’s roads since the start of this year. The statistics show that fatal crashes have decreased by 23 per cent when compared with the same period in 2016.The Road Safety Unit says a total of 12 motorcyclists have been killed since the start of the year compared with 26 for the same period last year. The unit says it is pleased with the decrease in fatalities but is encouraging motorcyclists and pillion passengers to wear appropriate helmets. Meanwhile, pedestrians account for 29 per cent of the road users killed since the start of the year.Clarendon, Westmoreland and St Catherine account for 45 per cent of the overall fatalities. (BT)

TRINIDAD TO BAND SOFT DRINK SALES IN SCHOOLS – Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh has announced that the sale of soft drinks in schools will be banned come April. Deyalsingh said this plan of action was a way to bring a healthy lifestyle to the nation’s children. Deyalsingh said his vision when he became Minister of Health was to address two issues. These were the problem of maternal deaths, which he said have since decreased, and the banning of the sale of soft drinks in schools. Deyalsingh said he intends to roll out “serious policies” for children to have a healthier lifestyle. He called on parents to support this initiative and asked that they stop giving ­sugary drinks and unhealthy foods to their children. He said he was surprised to see children as young as 15 at dialysis centres. He said it costs the State $130,000 for one person per year for dialysis treatment. (Trinidad Express)  (BT)

BARBADOS EVENTS TO CELEBRATE LIFE AND LEGACY OF FIDEL CASTRO – Two major public educational events have been planned for this Thursday and Friday to commemorate the life and legacy of the late Cuban president Fidel Castro. The first of these events will be a panel discussion on the theme “Reflections on Fidel”, scheduled to be held at the NUPW Auditorium, Dalkeith, St Michael at 6 p.m. on Thursday. The panel will consist of outstanding scholars and activists from Cuba, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, US Virgin Islands, Canada and Barbados. The second event consists of an all-day Colloquium on “The Life and Contribution of Fidel Castro” which will be held at the Quadrangle, Faculty of Humanities, Cave Hill Campus of UWI, commencing at 9 a.m. on Friday. The Barbados-headquartered Caribbean Chapter of the International Network in Defense of Humanity, the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba and the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela will be joining forces with the National Union of Public Workers and with the University of the West Indies’ Department of Government, Sociology and Social Work to stage the events.  (BT)

MISSING GIRL TRACED – Police say 16-year-old Zaria Daneisha Greaves, who was reported missing two days ago, has been traced and is safe. Greaves, of Gibbs, St Peter, was reported missing on Friday, February 17. In a press release, police public relations officer, Acting Inspector Roland Cobbler said he thanks the public and the media for their assistance looks forward to their continued cooperation in the future. (BT)

CLERIC KNOCKS GREED – Politicians and priests came under heavy criticism from a visiting Zimbabwean cleric during the Anglican Diocese of Barbados Annual Diocesan Service held at Kensington Oval yesterday. Reverend Dr James Tengatenga said the gross domestic product of some countries was not what it should be, not because they could not produce enough, but because some politicians and business people were selfish and inconsiderate. “If they do not get that kickback and bribes, nothing works,” he said. Addressing judicial systems, Tengatenga said some courts behaved in such a way that it left people wondering if there was any justice. “The idea that somebody else’s child is your child does not work any more; I take care of mine and mine alone is the operating mode." (DN)

BLESSING THE CHILDREN – The Anglican Church in Barbados is dedicated to doing more work with young people through its youth ministry. So says Bishop Dr John Holder, following the annual Diocesan Service at Kensington Oval yesterday. He also said it was the church’s intent to build the youth ministry by looking at its strengths and weaknesses. “Sometimes you hear that we do not have any young people in the church. This morning you will see for yourself we have a significant number of young people in the diocese,” Holder said. (DN)

EXCITING FIRST DAY IN SUPER LEAGUE – The 2017 Super League show jumping calendar is well on its way, featuring its usual thrills and some spills. The first Super League show of seven for the year, which also introduced a new category in eventing, was recently hosted by the Barbados Equestrian Association at Whitehall Equestrian Centre, St Peter. Sara Jones and Sir Glacken led the way in Class one as the first pair to enter the arena in fine form across the 12 jump course, with a clear round in the 1.20 metres in Table A with a time of 59 seconds flat. The pair won over Paige Tryhane and Daisy, who had eight jumping faults but a quick time of 58.59 seconds. (DN)

EIGHT MORE HIT CARIFTA MARK - The Carifta games’ qualifying rush intensified during Saturday’s February Classic at the National Stadium, with eight athletes reaching the required standards. Last year’s double middle distance gold medallist Jonathan Jones of Elite Distance Programme headed the qualifiers, who also included hurdlers Rasheeme Griffith, Nathan Ferguson, Tre Hollingsworth and Hannah Connell. Also making the grade for the April 15-17 Games in Curacao were sprinters Jaquone Hoyte and Kentoine Browne and thrower Triston Gibbons. Their performances brought the number of early qualifiers to 12, with quarter-miler Antoni Hoyte-Small, sprinter Matthew Clarke, triple jumper Jonathan Miller and javelin thrower Kalvin Marcus qualifying at earlier meets. With a number of local athletes resting, the Classic was boosted by just over two dozen athletes from Bermuda’s Cedar Bridge Academy and Bermuda Middle School, who gave commendable performances, with two of them reaching their country’s CARIFTA qualifying standards. (DN)

SUPER 50 WIN DUE TO UNITY- Preparation, planning and professionalism took pride of place in Barbados’ capture of the WICB Regional Super50 One-Day cricket title. Barbados Pride overcame early hiccups when they batted to post a challenging total of 271 for nine before dismissing Jamaica for 212 to win Saturday’s final at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua by 59 runs. The players returned home yesterday to a VIP reception at the Grantley Adams International Airport where they were met by dignitaries headed by Minister of Sport Stephen Lashley, along with Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) officials, and representatives of the sponsors, ICBL. Manager Wendell Coppin, in revealing a few secrets behind the success, praised team analyst Gary Belle for the work he did behind the scenes in providing information on both the Pride players and the opposition. (DN)

Well that’s all for today folks. There are 314 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 12/9/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Saturday 9th December, 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing Saturday Sun Nation Newspaper (SS).

Don’t invest blindly – Just stopping short of saying that CLICO did not satisfy its statutory requirements, Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler said that it is the job of the Supervisor of Insurance to whisper to the management of a company that something is not in place, so fix it.   Sinckler issued this clarification this afternoon in the House of Assembly while wrapping up the debate on three money Resolutions to repay CLICO policy holders and investors. He told parliament that the Minister of Finance comes in if the Financial Services Commission instructs a company to fix the problem and it does not carry out the instructions. Sinckler said the Supervisor of Insurance could ask the Minister of Finance to revoke the company's licence. "That did not happen because the Supervisor of Insurance did not ask the Minister of Finance to revoke the licence. There was no recommendation made to revoke the licence of CLICO. But we are not blaming the Minister of Finance. His job was not to get into CLICO spying around, peeping around there to see who is doing what and who is selling what. That was not the Minister of Finance job. His job was not to drive past Leroy Parris' house looking for someone in there, that was not his job. We have to get serious with these matters because people's lives are involved," Sinckler said. He pointed out that in industrialised countries the government bails out the company and leaves out the investors. Sinckler said: "When the 2008 crash came, none of the people who invested in those companies got back anything. They lost 4O1Ks, they lost insurance policies, they lost everything. Barbados has an admirable record as a people and as a government of intervening to help people. We do it all the time and it comes at cost. As a small vulnerable economy with limited financial space and subject to external shocks, we cannot keep doing this. "People have to understand if something is too good to be true, it probably is in fact too good to be true. I say to all Barbadians before they make investments that they do not know anything about, seek advice. Ask a question. Get a good lawyer or get a good financial expert. Don't just let somebody push something in front of you [and you] see a fancy interest rate. Be careful because you may be buying yourself into serious financial difficulties. (SS)

MAJOR PAYDAY: CLICO SETTLEMENT EARLY NEXT YEAR – Government today inched closer to paying out a whopping $91 million in settlements to Colonial Life Insurance policyholders. Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler announced at today’s sitting of Parliament that New Life Investment Company (NLICO), which will take over the operations of the fallen insurance conglomerate, will begin operations on February 18, 2018, paving the way for payouts early next year. Tabling the CLICO International Life Insurance Limited Resolution, which would allow Government to guarantee bonds to facilitate the restructuring of CLICO, the preservation of the investment by policyholders and the transfer to real estate assets of CLICO to NLICO, Sinckler said: “We confidently expect that we will begin to have payments being made to those persons who have been affected or disaffected . . . relative to this matter.” Of the $91 million to be paid out, the minister stated that $16.6 million will go towards approved annuities and maturities, with $15.3 million for annuities and maturities still pending approval. In addition, $11.5 million will be paid for approved death claims, while $13.6 million in death claims are pending approval. Over $17 million in policies had been surrendered before, and just under $13 million after, the judicial manager was appointed, Sinckler said.    He also told legislators that the judicial manager should complete transferring CLICO’s operations to Resolution Life Insurance Limited (ResLife) by December 31. This, he said, would set the first two phases of the transfer process in motion in January 2018, which will entail the judicial manager handing over all CLICO assets and liabilities and the verification of information by ResLife. Thereafter, Sinckler said, the Central Bank will issue the bond in February and NLICO will open its doors. “The company will commence operations in February. Once clean and reliable data is presented, the company can then begin administering those policies on behalf of the policyholders,” he said. Sinckler acknowledged that the transfer of the company from judicial management has been a long, exasperating process, but explained it was a complicated business.  (BT)

ARTHUR: CLICO BAILOUT COULD BE A DEBT TRAP – A former Prime Minister has applauded Government for trying to resolve the near decade-old CLICO collapse, but has warned the Freundel Stuart administration that it might be creating an explosive debt problem for the country in the process. Owen Arthur, who served as the country’s leader and Minister of Finance for 14 years, issued the caution this evening as the House of Assembly debated the CLICO International Life Insurance Company Limited resolution. The former Barbados Labour Party leader, who currently sits as an independent in the House, cautioned that Barbados exposed itself to monumental risks by taking on the debt of private companies when it already faced significant challenges as one of the most highly indebted nations in the region. He pointed to two fellow Caribbean Community countries, explaining that the debt situation had exploded in St Kitts after the government assumed responsibility for the collapsed sugar industry and in Jamaica after the state took over the liabilities of the financial sector. “CLICO Holdings Limited was not a regulated company, the insurance company was regulated, and we are in this problem from which we ought to learn,” Arthur cautioned, while acknowledging that “there were things that were done in this country and elsewhere . . . that have put us in a situation of difficulty”. “We need to solve the CLICO problem, but are you doing the right thing in the right way? Was there a recent valuation of the assets and are the assets you are putting into the statutory fund of the nature that will give the Minister the assurance that what caused the statutory fund deficit in the first instance will not come back to haunt you?” he asked. Moreover, the economist stressed the already precarious debt situation facing the island, as Government sought approval to create and finance new companies to manage the assets of the former CL Financial insurance subsidiary. (BT)

BACKING MALONEY - Two days after developer Mark Maloney expressed frustration over the delay in getting the US$200 million controversial Hyatt Centric Resort off the ground, a Government minister is doing the same. Minister of Health John Boyce this afternoon described the current hold up as absolutely frustrating, saying, “I certainly as a member of Cabinet and indeed as a Barbadian, cannot see any good reason, that having met the conditions of the Town Planner in full, why this project cannot now be executed for the full benefit of [Barbados]. “I get the impression that we recognize the need for this development, we understand the conditions under which the development has to occur, we set the ground rules for the developer, the developer meets the ground rules to every extent, Mr Speaker, and yet there is this resistance which underpins the execution and it is absolutely frustrating,” an emotional Boyce told members of the House of Assembly, in making his contribution to a land resolution in support of a heritage tourism development in the north of the island. Calling attention to an article published by Barbados TODAY on Thursday in which Maloney did not hide his the frustration over the delay in getting the 15-storey Hyatt project off the ground, Boyce said he thought the Member of Parliament for The City Jeffrey Bostic, for whose constituency the multi-million dollar development has been earmarked, should have also publicly expressed concern that the project was not yet up and running. “I know in his heart of hearts he supports the project at Hyatt,” Boyce said in reference to the Opposition Barbados Labour Party representative. The $200 million hotel project, a vital part of Government’s plan for economic recovery, has been the subject of a court battle for the past several months, with attorney-at-law David Comissiong challenging Prime Minister Freundel Stuart’s decision to give the go ahead for the proposed project. Stuart, who is the Minister responsible for Town & Country Planning, has also challenged Comissiong’s request for a judicial review of the permission granted to Maloney to build the multi-storey hotel, arguing that the social activist did not have either a financial or legal leg on which to stand in the matter. However, it is not clear when the current legal wrangling over the proposed Bay Street development will end. (BT)

LOOK OUT FOR COUNTERFEIT NOTES - The Central Bank of Barbados (CBB) is warning citizens to be on the look out for counterfeit money this Christmas Season. “Whether it is someone asking you to breakdown money for them or it is the change you receive after completing a transaction, take a moment to check your money before you put it in your purse or pocket,” said Octavia Gibson, the deputy director of the Bank’s currency division. She also advised tellers and cashiers that they should not feel pressured into not checking the money they receive “because the line is long or because a customer is trying to rush you”, since “checking the notes you receive takes less time than running a credit or debit card transaction. “The key is to be familiar with the security features of Barbadian banknotes. The better you know them, the faster you can authenticate any note you receive.” Gibson said, listing some of the resources the Central Bank has to help the public get to know their notes. “We have detailed information on the Central Bank’s website and we also have booklets, flyers, and posters that we make available free of charge. We also conduct training sessions upon request for companies and other groups. We encourage everyone to learn the security features of our notes, and most critically, to use what you have learnt to protect yourself from counterfeiters,” she added.  (BT)

BHTA APPEALS TO THE AUTHORITIES TO URGENTLY CLEAN UP SEWAGE MESS – On the eve of the busy winter tourism season, which runs from late December to mid April, the Chief Executive Officer of Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) Rudy Grant is calling on the authorities to urgently clean up the sewage mess along the country’s south coast. Responding to recent reports of sewage leaks,  Grant described the situation as both “unacceptable” and “untenable”, while warning that the current image of the south coast was not the one that Barbados would wish to present at this time. He therefore called on the authorities to immediately remedy the problem, while warning that “it had the potential to negatively impact ‘Brand Barbados’ and cost millions of dollars in visitor receipts if it becomes a subject of concern in our source markets. “This matter concerns us not only from the perspective of the impact on the tourism industry, but also as it relates to the welfare and well-being of Barbadians and visitors,” Grant said. He also suggested a three-pronged approach to resolving the problem. “There is a need for an immediate short-term remedy and a plan to ensure that this situation is not exacerbated.  Equally important is a remedial plan to clean the streets as soon as possible after these spills and the communication of this information to residents and businesses [and] there is also a need for a medium to long term-plan to effectively deal with any recurrence,” he said, adding that the BHTA was prepared to work with the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) to effect such a resolution. The BHTA statement coincided with yesterday’s visit by three Opposition Barbados Labour Party representatives – Wilfred Abrahams, Dr William Duguid and Ralph Thorne –  to Worthing, Christ Church, which is one of the areas hardest hit by the foul smelling leaks. During that visit, BLP candidate for Christ Church South Ralph Thorne, who is a Queen’s Counsel, strongly advised the affected residents and businesses to seek legal redress, amid the out-of-control situation, which now poses a health hazard. (BT)

NO TIME FOR GAMES! ESTWICK WARNS BLP ABOUT GAMBLING WITH PEOPLE’S LIVES – Don’t play politics with people’s lives! This was the stern warning issued by Minister of Water Resource Management Dr David Estwick today in response to a strong call made yesterday by the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) for affected residents and businesses along the south coast to take the state-run Barbados Water Authority (BWA) to court over losses incurred over the past year, as a result of a persistent sewage leaks. During a tour of some of the worse-affected parts of Worthings, Queen’s Counsel Ralph Thorne, who is the BLP candidate for Christ Church South, freely dished out the legal advice, while his colleagues Dr William Duguid and Wilfred Abrahams warned that the worsening stench was a national health and environmental hazard waiting to happen. However, speaking to Barbados TODAY outside Parliament this morning, Estwick, who has direct responsibility for the BWA and has been charged with coming up with a lasting fix to the sewage problem, today accused the BLP of preying on the frustrations of businesses and residents in an effort to score cheap political points ahead of the next general election. Responding to threats of legal action, Estwick cautioned that this “would solve nothing”, while warning that the BLP was embarking on a “dangerous game of finger pointing when there was plenty of blame to go around on both sides” in terms of the sordid mess. “It is unfortunate that political games continue to play,” Estwick told Barbados TODAY while making it clear that as a trained physician “I don’t mess around or play with people’s lives or their livelihood”. However, he said what was most dangerous about what BLP was attempting to do was that “they are casting blame”, even though he suggested that they would first have to point the accusing finger at themselves for not having the foresight 20 years ago to build a sewage plant that was capable of handling the current sewage load. “The first thing I would tell them is that they should have built a tertiary plant from the first time and not build a plant that is only primary and sending sewage out to the ocean,” he said, adding that “there are also a whole lot of other things that I have to say, but now is not the right time. With the awful stench of sewage ever present, and strong signs of overflows still visible in patches along the streets, Estwick also reiterated his call for residents and businesses to exercise patience, while assuring that Government understood the urgency of the situation. However, he said the authorities remained restrained by the complexities and scale of the problem. He also revealed a technical support team from outside had arrived in Barbados to begin diagnostics. “We have a team of persons that came in today that have the experience of dealing with similar problems in Trinidad and Tobago. I know the technical persons have also been in contact with persons from Europe and the United States so that we could apply the technology now. It can’t be no guessing game now because once we go to repair and replace we have to know for sure,” he stressed. (BT)

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND EQUIPMENT ON THE WAY – Technical expertise and equipment are en route to Barbados to assist in alleviating the sewage problems being experienced along the south coast. The Barbados Water Authority (BWA), and the Ministries of Health and Tourism issued a joint statement today outlining the steps being taken to mitigate and contain the situation. According to the statement, overseas support and equipment should arrive within the next few days allowing the BWA to start to effect the first phase of the corrective work. Describing the challenges in its south coast network as “complicated”, the Authority has revealed that over the long-term a complete overhaul of the plant will be necessary and additional overseas support will be needed. The BWA has identified a major blockage in its pipes at Worthing, Christ Church, as a significant contributor to the current problem and explained that the equipment being imported would allow its engineers to assess the extent of the blockage and determine how it could be cleared. In the interim, continuous monitoring is occurring and crews are in place to flush and sanitise all affected areas, the agency disclosed.      The Ministry of Health’s Environmental Health Department has also responded to the developments on the south coast by implementing a number of public health strategies. These include increasing its complement of environmental health officers in the area and implementing an enhanced sanitisation programme, as well as education and training programmes for restaurants and food businesses. (SS)

BOYCE DISMISSES AS ‘FOOLISHNESS’ CALL FOR HIM TO RESIGN – Minister of Health John Boyce has dismissed as “foolishness” a call by former Minister of Health Elizabeth Liz Thompson for him to be fired over the long running sewage mess on the south coast. Boyce said the call came as no surprise, although he did not say why he expected it. However, he took a dig at Thompson, who had been sacked by then Prime Minister Owen Arthur back in 1999. Boyce also questioned why Thompson, a former assistant secretary general of the United Nations, was playing an influential role in local politics. “I am not surprised. I know former Minister Thompson was fired from the Cabinet of Owen Arthur. I think she works for the United Nations in some capacity but she seems to still be actively involved in the Barbadian political scene, I don’t know why,” Boyce told Barbados TODAY before entering Parliament this morning to participate in the resolution to divest land in the National Housing Corporation for heritage tourism. Speaking to Barbados TODAY on the fringes of the sixth annual sustainability conference in St Eustatius earlier this week, Thompson said that along with Boyce Minister of the Environment Dr Denis Lowe, Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy, Minister of Water Resource Management Dr David Estwick and Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler should also be sacked immediately because of their failure to effectively manage the sewage crisis. “This is unprecedented in our history to have raw sewage, toilet paper and sewage water just floating in the [Hastings area] around restaurants and around the streets where people live. And with Christmas coming up and the tourist season, it is a disaster, but it is typical of how the Democratic Labour Party have run the country,” Thompson had said. Even more pressure was applied to the authorities yesterday by the Opposition Barbados Labour Party, with its candidate for Christ Church South Ralph Thorne, QC, strongly advising the affected residents and businesses to seek legal redress. But it was a warning by the BLP’s Christ Church West candidate Dr William Duguid, a dentist by profession, that the situation was a “national disaster” that presented “significant risk of gastroenteritis, Hepatitis A, significant enterovirus problems, significant retrovirus problems, estracoli bacteria and a whole host of problems with diarrhea and all sorts of issues” for those who live and work in the area and those who traverse the Worthing and Hastings districts that caught Boyce’s attention. And the minister sought to reassure Barbadians that his ministry was doing everything in its power to prevent an epidemic. “We have been working with the Barbados Water Authority in mitigating the impact of this very serious breach of the sewage plant on the south coast. We have been in a number of high-level meetings to ensure that the officers from the Health Department are out there monitoring and ensuring that the public is aware of the kind of practices that they must maintain to ensure that there is no spread of any kind of disease,” Boyce said. The minister further revealed that he had been monitoring the affected areas, pointing out that plans were in the pipeline to intensify communication to the affected residents and businesses. (BT)

GOVERNMENT WORKING ON NHC FIX – Government is moving to shore up the resources of the National Housing Corporation (NHC). Led by Minister of Housing and Lands Denis Kellman, the administration has initiated a process that could result in the formation of a public-private partnership centred on land in St Peter. In introducing the resolution, Kellman told the House of Assembly yesterday that it was a necessary step. However, even as he pointed out that the state can use lands as commercial property to help solve money problems at the NHC, he insisted: “You do not have gold and sell it at copper prices. “In this vesting it is clear that NHC needs to have some money but NHC also needs to recognise that they need to find the right person because there are some coastal problems down there and if we do not take action quickly there will be no accessibility to this particular piece of land because of beach erosion etc,” he said. “We must first find someone who is capable of purchasing the land, who is capable also of correcting the beach erosion and also who is able to help build out the heritage of the area because, as I said previously, it was a fort.” Kellman, the Member of Parliament of the neighbouring parish of St Lucy, noted an increase in notable businesses that have seen the advantage of investing in the north of the island, adding: “Business people in this country have suddenly recognised that it’s not a crisis.” But even as he touted the benefits of investing in rural areas that are ripe for further development, the minister bemoaned that billions of dollars were being left in the banking system, rather than being invested back into the country. He took particular aim at the management at credit unions, saying that these institutions should not only be about giving and receiving money but also advising clients about the best possible economic activities available. (SS)

HYPOCRITES! JONES SHREDS ADULTS IN DEFENCE OF CHILDREN’S BEHAVIOR – Minister of Education Ronald Jones today unleashed a stinging and unrelenting attack on adults in society who view young people as “ill disciplined”, “no good” and “selfish and all of that”. In an invective laded feature address to students of Graydon Sealy Secondary School, Jones said there were too many “hypocrites” who engaged in “displeasurable behaviour”, yet sought to condemn the youth in the most brutal manner for getting into trouble. He urged the critics to “dig deep into your souls” and unearth their own bad behaviour before pointing fingers at the young people. “There is a view, unfortunately so, that our young people are ill disciplined, they are no good, they are selfish and all of that. Let me at the outset say that I do not agree with any of those descriptions of our young people,” Jones said, giving no clues as to the brutish tirade that was to follow. “I have seen the brutality of words and how it affects our children. I have seen the exposés in our papers on our children. Yes, we do not want our children to portray brutality on our streets, we do not want our children to portray brutality in our schools. Tell me ye hypocrites of the world, when have we as human beings not shown some displeasurable behaviour? “Seek and dig deep into our own souls, into our own consciousness. Remember our villages, our shops, where [we were] in discourse and there were some fights and magistrates courts were called into operation.” He mentioned the Government Industrial School, which he said was established before any of today’s children were born, to curb the “head ears” of that generation. And the very grown-ups who criticize, he said, were the ones engaging in all sorts of unwholesome noises, such as women fighting over “no-good” men. These were the ones setting poor examples for their children to follow, the minister charged. “So, ye hypocrites, not in here,” he stressed. “The noise of adults quarrelling in society is noise that we can do without. The noise of some of our adults fighting with dogs is noise that we can do without. This brutality we can do without. The noise of two women or two men, the noise of two women cursing each other in the vilest way because of a no-good man is noise we can do without. The noise of two women fighting over the no-good man is noise we can do without. Noise of mothers telling their boy children they are just like their fathers is noise that we can do without. The noise of a mother telling her daughter you little ‘wuffless’ thing is noise we can do without. The noise we want is noise that liberates,” the minister continued. Jones said every generation was different and came with its own challenges, adding that it was therefore unfair to expect today’s children “to remember things that they were never told, to remember things that they were never taught, to remember things they were never exposed to”. He said it was reasonable to expect anyone born at the turn of the millennial to be upset for being asked to act in ways they were never exposed to.    This demand on the youth, he said, made it difficult for them to reconcile this “burden” of past realities and their own expectations for the future. “It is grossly unfair, extremely unfair, to place on our children burdens that they are not to carry. They are not to carry the burdens of the past, they are to carry the hope of the future and not the burdens of the past. And for those who attach the burdens of the past to our young people, they are operating in their minds a serious dichotomy, a severe difficulty that they cannot understand because they are still in the process of learning who they are,” he told the audience. (BT)

SCHOOL REPAIRS COULD COST $100M – Secondary schools across the island should benefit from a repair plan that could cost an estimated $100 million. Minister of Education Ronald Jones revealed that his ministry, through its Education Technical Management Unit, was undertaking a preliminary infrastructure assessment of the 21 public secondary schools. “We have carried out a major audit across all of the now 21 secondary schools. And that audit is about to be concluded, everything has been costed,” Jones said during the Graydon Sealy Secondary School’s speech day yesterday. “I can tell you that I was shocked when the people in our Education Technical Management Unit said to me ‘Minister, the cost for these 21 schools is now $100 million.’ “So we’re going to have over the next five years to attack these schools two by two or three by three to bring them up to scratch,” he added. Jones was speaking following opening remarks from school board member Senator Reverend Dr David Durant who made the request to the minister to have a replacement for the now 42-year-old school hall. A rapturous applause from all those present met Durant’s request, as he added he hoped to have this become a reality come next year’s speech day. A quick glimpse at the school hall’s roof showed serious ceiling signs of wear and tear. Durant’s calls did not fall on deaf ears as Jones said that much like the plans for other secondary schools, the Graydon Sealy Secondary School’s issues would be addressed. During this year the Ministry of Education undertook a $1.52 million school summer repair programme to address structural issues at 18 primary schools. These repairs were carried out through a Caribbean Development Bank loan as a part of the ministry’s Education Sector Enhancement Project II. Those repairs were started in July of this year and while expected to be fully completed by August 21 for the start of school, were delayed due to setbacks caused by Tropical Storm Harvey.   (SS)

Alleyne’s top students lauded – The Alleyne School is reaping rewards in the efforts to raise its academic performance. In keeping with its vision of having more students gaining five Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificates and Caribbean Vocational Qualifications, the principal said that last year there was a 25 per cent increase in students taking these subjects. On Thursday, principal Julia Beckles revealed some of the school’s results over the previous school year as she reported on activities at the school over the last academic year. These ranged from academic and curricular endeavours to the start of a building for fifth formers and the launch of a sixth form. She also spoke of the honesty displayed by some students, two of whom – Sarai Boyce and Tameka Walcott – received the Principal’s Good Deed Award for honest endeavour. The duo had returned hundreds of dollars they found in the school’s car park which had been dropped by a distributor. Katiana Worrell and Javone Hope-Greene were awarded the Principal’s Honour Roll for Outstanding Achievement and the Cyril Thompson Memorial Prize for Best CXC Results, respectively. The featured speaker was chief executive officer of the J & T Bank and Trust, Kenrick Cummins, who spoke to them about looking to the future. “You have to decide, current students, what does it mean to you that Alleyne is one of the oldest secondary schools on the island? What does it mean to you that in 1947 your school became the first to admit girls? “What does it mean that greatness has walked these corridors? What will you do with that knowledge? I put it to you that you must summon the power of your past to propel your purpose,” he added.  (SS)

CXC REGISTRAR DEFENDS SWITCH TO E-MARKING – Outgoing Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Registrar Glenroy Cumberbatch is defending a decision taken four years ago by the examination body to introduce e-marking of scripts. Cumberbatch, who has held the top post at CXC since 2014, argued that contrary to charges by teachers’ organizations across the region, including the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) that system was not working effectively, it has significantly cut down on errors. “It has its teething problems but we also had some problems with the face-to-face marking over the period of time. Generally it has worked well for all subjects and we have been able to get better quality and we have had to make fewer changes to grades since we have introduce that system. “It is true that we have to look at the review system but the quality of marking has improved,” said Cumberbatch, who was speaking to the media on sidelines CXC’s annual staff appreciation luncheon and awards ceremony at Turtle Beach Resort in Dover, Christ Church. The e-marking system has come in for harsh criticism from BSTU President Mary Redman, who has charged that CXC has essentially placed financial considerations ahead of the quality of marking. She has also argued that the curriculum development, examinations, certification and education services provider had no way of monitoring who was actually doing the marking. However, Cumberbatch revealed that CXC has now put measures in place to fix glitches and loopholes that have existed in the system. The registrar also commented on the longstanding controversy over payment to teachers for marking school based assessment (SBA) projects, stating that it was the teachers who first called for the introduction of SBAs. The BSTU has maintained that marking SBAs was not part of teachers’ job description and they should be paid for the extra work. The issue has been a contentious one between the Ronald Jones-led Ministry of Education and the teachers, who staged a march on the streets of Bridgetown back in April to press their case. The Ministry of Education subsequently docked the pay of those who participated in the march, which took place during school hours. (BT)

WILLS STUDENTS GIVE BACK – Students of Wills Primary School Helping Hands group are on a mission to spread Christmas cheer, not only to the less fortunate here, but also to those in islands ravaged by the passing of hurricanes this year. According to teacher Shelley Roach, patron of Helping Hands, the school’s fund-raising arm, this year they decided that instead of their usual gift exchange pupils would purchase a gift for a needy child their age. “With the problems Dominica had and so on, [we decided] to do a gift giving to the poor. Every child in the school brought a gift for a child of their age who is needy. There are about 240 children, and some children brought in more than one, so we had almost 300 gifts brought in for the needy. We have given gifts to St Vincent de Paul and to the Care Ministries,” she explained yesterday during a gift presentation to St Vincent de Paul and Living Water Community at the school’s Maxwell, Christ Church compound. (SS)

PAROLE SYSTEM LONG OVERDUE – A call from Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley for an effective parole system to be set up has the support of a former top cop. In fact, retired deputy commissioner of the Royal Barbados Police Force, Bertie Hinds maintained that it was long overdue. Hinds’ comments were made during an interview with the SATURDAY SUN after a panel discussion on domestic violence, held at Mount Zion Mission, Rock Dundo, St James on Thursday night. Hinds, who is presently employed as a consultant criminologist in several countries across the region, asserted that Barbados should use all applicable modern penal practices that could reduce the high recidivism rate. According to him, a parole system could potentially do just this. But having said that, Hinds asserted that there must be a targeted public education programme to stamp out the cultural belief that once imprisoned, people are not fit for society. “So we have to muster public education. This is governmental philosophy and policy, enunciate it, discuss it, let the public deal with it, let the press highlight it. It must be a continuous discussion and it will allay some of the fears of some of the people in our society,” he said. Having more than four decades of policing under his belt, Hinds maintained a parole system could work “easily” because as long as there is a good rehabilitative for reintegration programme, trained programme officials can track signs and progress, thus making a determination as to whether the incarcerated person is ready to return to society. Hinds said once certain requirements were met and the individual was released early, they should be put on a set probationary period. If the terms of the release were breached the individual would be returned to prison to complete the remaining or any additional time. Hinds, the former deputy executive officer of the Regional Security System contended  there should be a transitional programme set up outside of prison to continue the rehabilitative process started on the inside. Suggesting that half way houses were not the solution as they would cause further stigmatization of the individual, Hinds proposed a good Samaritan type approach where different members of the community could welcome one of these persons into their home. “In addition to gainful employment because they accrue a lot of skills when they get into prison but they come out and need work. It can be done at the Governmental level but it must be a comprehensive approach to receive those persons when they come out . . . There must be a system and mechanism outside for one to [fit] back into society as normal.” Hinds emphasised that in a small society like Barbados it will be difficult to reintegrate and so all attempts to reform an individual in prison must be supported by programmes on the outside. (SS)

WARRING COUPLE LOVEBIRDS AGAIN – All’s well in the Toppin household. Yesterday, it was a vastly changed couple who stood opposite each other in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court. Gone were the recriminations and acrimony; in their place were smiles and laughter. The change was so apparent that even the court commented on it. Tony Mervin Toppin, a 49-year-old mason of Lewis Gap, Green Hill, St Michael, was back in court yesterday after confessing last week Tuesday to assaulting his wife Rose-Marie Toppin, occasioning her actual bodily harm. He also admitted to damaging a glass display case that contained 12 pork chops and belonging to her on November 18.  The couple, who have been married for five years, had come to high words in the court as each side traded accusations. As a parting shot before leaving the court, wife Rose-Marie had declared: “I done with you too.” “You’re all smiles today,” the court noted. “Did you give her a kiss this morning?” the court asked. “Yes,” the husband replied, as his wife all but blushed. “And the last words you used were ‘I done with you, too’, to your husband,” Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant said to the wife. “I talked too early,” the wife replied, as those in court applauded loudly. The husband had earlier admitted he had replaced the display case and compensated his wife for the pork chops. And after Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant reprimanded and discharged the husband, the couple left the court with the husband embracing his wife. The court had heard that Toppin, who operates a bar in The City with his wife, had given her $700 to pay rent. However, she went shopping and when she returned her husband asked her about the money. An argument ensued, which escalated into a scuffle and Toppin beat his wife. He said he got frustrated when she decided to leave the shop at its busiest time. However, on an earlier occasion, the woman declared her husband a liar and said he had been drinking all that day. That, she said, was what occasioned his assault on her.  (SS)

BUS STOP – Yesterday, 16-year-old Jaheem Watson, found himself in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court, where he admitted he assaulted conductor Jamal Gibson on Wednesday, December 6 and again on Thursday, December 7. The conductor will give his side next Friday, and the boy has been banned from catching his minibus until then. The boy’s father, who was in court yesterday, denied that his son was a troublemaker. “I don’t get no complaints for him,” he said. “When I asked, he told me that the fellow [the conductor] throw a stone at him and that yesterday [Thursday], he saw the fellow fidgeting and he throw a stone at him,” the father told the court. It was a story backed up by the teenager, who said he was in the van and the conductor had pelted him with a bottle as he was going home. “I was walking the other time and he was fidgeting and I run towards him,” the boy claimed. But the facts, which were outlined by prosecutor Sergeant Cameron Gibbons, told a different story. They showed that minibus B142 was passing Trents, St James, where the boy tried to board it. The conductor refused to allow him on because of his previous bad behaviour. The boy then took up a number of rocks to throw at the bus but the driver moved off. At Eagle Hall, the boy got out of another vehicle and as B142 stopped in the area, he pushed open the bus’ door and struck the conductor in his face over his eye. He then ran, but not before throwing some rocks in the direction of the conductor. The following day, said the prosecutor, the conductor was standing at a bus stop in Barbarees Hill, when the boy and his friends started to pelt him with stones. The conductor, who feared for his safety, took a bus, went to Black Rock Police Station and reported the matter. The conductor was then taken on a street parade and pointed out the boy. “That is a completely different story,” Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant then noted. “I gine tell you what happened from beginning to end. I will tell you the truth,” the boy said. He then told the court he would usually catch the “first van”, but when he tried to board B142, the conductor only allowed girls to get on. “If you conduct yourself how you know to conduct yourself, you will not be refused on the bus,” the court warned him. In the end, the magistrate ordered him to stay off B142, placed him on a daily curfew from 6:30 p.m. to 9 a.m. and released him on $2 000 bail with a surety. The parties return to court on Friday. It was in November that some PSV operators indicated they would no longer be transporting schoolchildren. This, they indicated, was in an attempt to stop the lawlessness on their buses. However, Roy Raphael, the chairman of the Alliance of Owners of Public Transport, warned them against the stance, saying that while he received complaints about the behaviour of schoolchildren, PSV drivers were mandated by law to transport them. (SS)

MOSELEY’S DAY – Opener Shayne Moseley struck his maiden first class century to undergird Barbados Pride’s best batting performance of the season, as they gained the upper hand in their Regional Four-Day contest against Leeward Islands Hurricanes here Friday. The left-hander struck 117 as Pride were dismissed for 394 in their first innings at Warner Park, with all-rounder Justin Greaves carved out a unbeaten 79 and Hayden Walsh Jr, 38. At the close, Hurricanes were making a decent reply at 61 for one, still with a mountain to climb needing 333 runs to secure the all-important first innings lead, heading into the penultimate day of the encounter. Right-handed opener Montcin Hodge was spearheading his side’s fight with an unbeaten 27. Resuming from their overnight 170 for two, Barbados prospered during the first hour as Moseley and fellow left-hander Jonathan Carter extended their third wicket stand to 53 before being separated. Moseley, starting the day on 70, faced 303 balls and struck 17 boundaries while Carter managed 18 from 59 deliveries with two fours. When Carter perished on 221 for three, his dismissal triggered a slide that saw five wickets tumble for just 36 runs as the innings slipped into turmoil. All-rounder Kevin Stoute was trapped lbw to seamer Jeremiah Louis for one to the fifth ball he faced before Moseley’s resistance ended half-hour before lunch when he was lbw to captain and off-spinner Rahkeem Cornwall. The knock for Moseley was his third innings in excess of fifty in what has been his debut season, with half-centuries coming against Jamaica Scorpions and Windward Islands Volcanoes in previous rounds. Kenroy Williams (7) and wicketkeeper Mario Rampersaud (2) followed cheaply to leave Pride in a tangle. However, just when Hurricanes thought they were poised to run through the Pride lower order with the visitors languishing at 257 for seven, Greaves stepped up with another quality innings which denied the hosts any further immediate success. He struck nine fours and a six in an innings requiring 141 balls, anchoring a crucial 80-eighth wicket stand with Antiguan Walsh who faced 82 ball and counted five fours and a six. Walsh eventually departed with the score on 357 and eight balls later, tail-ender Jomel Warrican followed cheaply for four. But Greaves continued to lead the Barbados rally, finding an ally in last man Keon Harding to put on a further 48 runs for the 10th wicket. Harding held out 39 balls for his 16 with two fours before becoming Cornwall’s fifth wicket of the innings, which cost the burly right-armer 116 runs from a marathon 51.4 overs. Louis continued his excellent form this season, picking up three for 80. In reply, Hurricanes were given a sound start by Hodge and left-hander Chesney Hughes, with the pair posting 45 for the first wicket. Hodge has so far faced 64 balls and counted five fours while Hughes, the former English County pro, scored 17 off 47 deliveries with three fours before becoming the only casualty of the innings. (BT)

RPB MIGHT NOT COMPETE – There could be a different Sweet Soca monarch next year, as reigning king Red Plastic Bag has signalled he won’t be competing in 2018. “Competition is not on the cards for me right now,” disclosed RPB in an exclusive interview with the SATURDAY SUN on the sidelines of an event launch on Thursday. “Competition is something that I have always wanted to stop doing and I can’t really say now that I am going to compete again,” he said. RPB, who dominated this year with his song Boat Ride, said his main focus was on making a contribution to Crop Over going forward. “What I want to be able to do every time is to make my contribution to Crop Over. “I don’t necessarily have to be in competition but I believe Crop Over is a product that is growing. It’s vital to our economy at the time. “We have to continue working at it to keep growing so it can continue to benefit Barbados and Barbadians,” he added. RPB revealed that this year he did not want to get involved in the competition initially but was glad he did. However, the Sweet Soca monarch said that for him, victory was not in taking the crown but in having a song which truly impacted the masses. “. . . . Having gone in the competition and reaching the finals, I was excited and worked hard and eventually won. To me, though, victory is not when you are crowned monarch, victory is when a song can impact the people. “I’m just hoping that people continue to embrace the music in Barbados like they normally hold on to a lot of the songs from Crop Overs past, which augurs well for Barbados, he said. Overall, the king said he thoroughly enjoyed this past year. “2017 was a good year. I had fun. It’s always good to be a part of a season where you are making contributions and having fun. If you aren’t having fun you should just quit,” he added.  (SS)

That’s all for today folks there are 22 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 12/4/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Monday 4th December, 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

UNEASE OVER SALE – The sale of the Barbados Hilton is creating some panic at the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) over the possible loss of the $10 million it has invested in the entity. But more significant than that, Government is seeking to sell the profitable hotel for nearly $100 million less than it is worth without going through the recommended procedures for such sales, and without making adequate provision for shareholders, as well as severance for the hotel’s staff. In a paper prepared for the National Insurance Board (NIB) on the sale of the Needham’s Point, St Michael facility, a copy of which was seen by the DAILY NATION, it noted that though a minority shareholder with equity investment of $10 million, the NIS’ rights were not acknowledged and “like everyone else, heard of the pending sale via the [May 30] Budget Speech and the media”. There was no official correspondence or discussion with the minority shareholders of the sale”. The paper noted that apart from this $10 million in common equity shares, the NIB was also a bondholder, having purchased a $17.3 million “bullet bond” which was arranged by Royal Fidelity. Here again, no correspondence was received on the repayment of these bonds. (DN)

CHANGES IN PETROLEUM PRICES EFFECTIVE MIDNIGHT – Effective midnight tonight, the retail prices of gasoline, diesel and kerosene will increase. The new price of gasoline will be $3.27 per litre, up from $3.19, an increase of eight cents. The price of diesel will move from $2.52 per litre to $2.58 per litre while kerosene will now cost $ 1.34 per litre, up from $1.26. These represent increases of six cents and eight cents respectively. These price adjustments are in keeping with Government’s policy of allowing retail prices to be reflective of those on the international market. (DN)

MORE SCHOOL GIRLS DRINKING – More schoolgirls are hitting the bottle, but they and their male counterparts are taking their first sip at an older age. This has been revealed by National Council on Substance Abuse (NCSA) officer attached to secondary schools, Brian Payne, who said the trend, which he called a reflection of society, was causing concern among those charged with formulating plans to tackle drug use and abuse. “It is not the children that are leading the trend,” Payne explained. “The children are following what is happening. This is a true indicator. Whatever you see in the schools is a true reflection of what is happening in the wider society.” Admitting that the last time a survey was done in the schools was in 2013 and officials in the field were eagerly awaiting the next one, Payne said marijuana use and alcohol abuse had seen an increase over the previous survey done in 2006.  (DN)

HEALTH CHECK – Nine out of ten Barbadians over the age of 50 have high blood pressure. And now with the recent lowering of the threshold for hypertension by the American College of Cardiology, that figure, said cardiologist Dr Alfred Sparman, could rise to as high as 94 per cent. Two weeks ago, on November 13, the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association announced the high blood pressure limits would be reduced from 140/90 to 130/80. Optimum blood pressure was around 120/80, while for diabetics their blood pressure reading should be 110-115/70. But, said Sparman and Sir Trevor Hassell, chairman of the Commission on Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, the new lower levels were the way to go as it would force salt-loving Barbadians to take better care of their health. “We eat a lot of salt in our food: that pudding and souse, that pork; that’s a whole lot of salt in there. And you find because of our cultural way of life and also because we are embracing the Western diet a lot, we are going to have some problems,” Sparman said. (DN)

FOGGING SCHEDULE DECEMBER 4 TO 8 - The Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Health will continue its work to eradicate the Aedes Aegypti mosquito next week. On Monday, December 4, areas to be sprayed in St Peter and St Lucy are Maynards Housing Area, Maynards, Jerusalem, Skeete’s Road, Rose Hill, Apple Grove, Mile-and-a-Quarter, Lamberts, Peteres, Josey Hill, Free Hill, Mount View, Rock Hall, Jemmotts and environs. On Tuesday, December 5, the team will be in St Andrew to fog Shorey Village, Savannah Road, Douglin Tenantry Road, Walkers, Bawdens, Babylon Road, Redman Road, Belleplaine, Farrell’s Road, Corbin’s Village, Lakes Development, Lakes Village, Isolation Road, Jordan’s Road, Franklyn Doughlin Tenantry Road and surrounding areas. On Wednesday, December 6, they will be in St George, fogging Newbury, Gun Hill, Country Road, Bridge Cot, Cottage, Market Hill, Eastlyn, Bulkeley Terrace, Cane Hill Road, Connell Road, Good Intent and neighbouring districts. St Michael will be targeted on Thursday, December 7, specifically Wildey, Gas Product Gap, Flagstaff, Ifill Road, Streats Road, Clapham Ridge, Clapham Park, Fordes Road, Club Morgan, Plantain Walk, Bonnets, Bonnets Housing Area and environs. On Friday, December 8, areas to be fogged in Christ Church will be Atlantic Shores, Coral Drive, Pearl Drive, Spring Terrace, Light House Lane, Oyster Crescent, Seaside Drive, Ocean Mist Close and surrounding areas. Householders are reminded to open their doors and windows to allow the spray to enter. The fogging exercise runs from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. each day. (DN)

BLP CONFIDENT OF VICTORY IN ST PHILIP – With elections constitutionally due next year, the opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) is confident of victory in St Philip. Speaking to Barbados TODAY during a motorcade in the St Philip West community on Saturday, BLP candidate John King said the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) has lost its influence in the parish after nearly ten years of neglect. The current representatives also include Dr David Estwick for St Philip West, Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite for St Philip South and Minister of Transport and Works Michael Lashley for St Philip North. “I think the incumbents have done a good job of handing it over to us,” King said. He went on to highlight the “social injustices” that the constituents of St Philip West have been exposed to. He said bad roads and unemployment remain major concerns for the people within the constituency. “When in Barbados have you seen so many people losing their homes and you have politicians arguing about ten per cent? Give me a break,” he said while criticizing the current representative Dr Estwick for his “unsatisfactory handling of issues” such as youth unemployment. “We have a representative that spends a lot of time going into shops and giving them drinks. What are you encouraging them to do, to bury their sorrows in alcohol? It doesn’t work! When they are finished drinking, they still have no jobs, they still have no money, no hope,” said King. He stressed that Barbadians are well educated people and their votes and their futures could not be bought with a drink at a rum shop. (BT)

THREE-VEHICLE SMASH UP ON RONALD MAPP HIGHWAY – Police are conducting investigations into a three-vehicle accident which occurred sometime around 4:30 a.m. Sunday morning along the Ronald Mapp Highway. The three drivers have been identified as 42-year-old David Ifill of Fox Club Road, Gardens, St James; 35-year-old Fidel Edwards of Gays, St Peter; and 43-year-old Kevin Bourne of Lodge Terrace, St Michael. Edwards complained of pain to his right hand and neck, but opted to seek private medical attention. The other drivers indicated that they were not hurt. (BT)

EIGHT INJURED IN ACCIDENT – Eight people were injured in an accident which occurred sometime around 9:50 p.m. on Saturday, December 2 along My Lords Hill, St Michael. Police said a van collided with a guard wall. The van was being driven by 43-year-old Russell Holder of 3rd Ave, Dash Gap, St Michael, who was accompanied by two females ages 22 years and 33 years; and five males ages 21, 22, 23,26, and 28. Holder reportedly lost control of the vehicle in the area of the Israel Lovell Foundation and collided with a guard wall on the opposite side of the road. Holder complained of pain to chest, left leg, and left hand, while all of his passengers complained of pain to multiple parts of their bodies. They were all transported to the QEH by ambulance for medical attention.  (BT)

FAMILY IN MOURNING – Two daughters are motherless today, and the older is trying to figure out how to break the news to her younger sister. Their 31-year-old mother, Amanda Danielle Byer, died in a road accident in the early hours of yesterday. Byer, the owner of Nails Supplies by Stylish Apparel, located in Sky Mall, Haggatt Hall, St Michael, and who lived at Coral Land, also in Haggatt Hall, lost her life around 4:45 a.m. when the car she was driving struck an embankment and crashed into a coral limestone guard wall at the Israel Lovell Foundation on My Lord’s Hill, St Michael. She received head injuries and succumbed to them on the spot. Her passenger, Jeffrey Callender, 50, of the same address, received an injury to the forehead and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by ambulance. Yesterday at Byer’s mother’s home in Welches Road, St Michael, family members were still trying to come to grips with the tragedy. Byer’s daughter, Takiya, a fourth form student at the Deighton Griffith Secondary School, was holding her two-year-old baby sister, Emery, in her arms and crying uncontrollably. With tears coursing down her face, the older girl expressed concern for the well-being of her little sister. “She is going to keep asking me about her mother,” Takiya said through tears. Byer’s mother was too distraught to speak but recalled that the last time she saw her daughter alive was Saturday night when she brought her two daughters to stay with her before leaving for the 2017 Hennessy Artistry Show at Kensington Oval. Aunt Sheldene Byer described her niece as a “nice girl”. “She would give anybody anything they asked for. I love Amanda. She loved life. She loved all of her family,” she said. Two other aunts – Margo and Sherlann Byer – who were also present, echoed those sentiments, describing her as a very nice person to her family. Meanwhile, Michael James, Takiya’s father, turned up at the house to offer some comfort to his daughter. Yesterday, in the wake of the fatality, residents of the area expressed concern about what they called the dangerous corner of My Lord’s Hill, saying they feared more accidents would occur unless something was done about the area. Byer was the 27th person to die on the roads this year.  (DN)

FEWER DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLS – There have been no deaths related to domestic violence for 2017, and the number of reported cases appear to be down. That was the word from new chairman of the SAVE Foundation, Barbara Daniel-Goddard, who spoke to the DAILY NATION at the culmination of the Purple Walk against all forms of violence on the Richard Haynes Boardwalk, Hastings, Christ Church, yesterday evening. “So far, from the SAVE Foundation perspective, we have had about 30 calls. In relation to seriousness, persons ending [up] in hospital, we do not know that: that would be a police issue. So for this year it has appeared to be less than last year,” Daniel-Goddard said. While hoping the anti-violence messages were getting through, she said the apparent decline could also be as a result of people not reporting cases, or turning to other organisations for intervention. The foundation was looking forward to relaunching and rebranding in January, and Daniel-Goddard said several programmes are in the pipeline. She said the SAVE Foundation’s target was the average man and woman, ranging from those on the block to any position in society.  (DN)

WANTED MAN IN CUSTODY – Twenty-eight-year-old Jermaine Ryan Gill, alias “Tall man” , whose last known address was Haynes Hill, Mapp Hill, St Michael, in now in police custody. Gill was the subject of a wanted bulletin. He was captured by police today at Brittons Hill, St Michael and is currently assisting with investigations. The Royal Barbados Police Force thanks the media and the public for their invaluable assistance. (DN)

SANDY LANE BRINGS CHRISTMAS CHEER TO EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES – Christmas celebrations came early for the staff at the Sandy Lane Hotel as they were treated to a fun-filled day of Christmas cheer on Saturday. A hearty and happy Santa Claus joined the annual Sandy Lane Children’s Christmas Appreciation Party held at the Sandy Lane Bennett’s Golf Turf. The theme for this sixteenth edition was Alice in Wonderland. It aptly followed with the Mad Hatter and Queen Of Hearts attending the event much to the excitement of the 300 children in attendance. The day’s activities included jumping tents, carousel, face painting, an arcade and a human size game of chess which was a replica of the famous scene in the movie Alice in Wonderland. Public Relations Manager for Sandy Lane Risha Daniel, told Barbados TODAY that the event was a relaxing getaway for the staff before the hectic start of a fully booked winter season. “Today is about celebrating the families of our employees. As we move into the season it’s going be a busy time so it’s going to take a toll on everyone so it’s about bringing some cheer,” said Daniel. (BT)

BAJAN, BAND RULE X FACTOR – Another Barbadian has shown he has the “X” factor to succeed at the highest levels. Singer/songwriter Jamaal Shurland, lead singer of the four-member R&B boy band Rak-Su, made history on Saturday night when they won the 2017 United Kingdom The X Factor. Shurland, originally from Spooners Hill, St Michael, before relocating to England when he was 12, was basking in the glory along with band members in rapper, songwriter and poet Ashley Fongho, rapper and producer Myles Stephenson, and DJ, dancer and beat boxer Mustafa Rahimtulla. They became the first band to win the competition since 2011, as well as winning with an original song – Dimelo – beating out talented songstress Grace Davies to secure the top spot. Rak-Su is now only the second band to win the show overall in its 14 series run. It will now release Dimelo alongside veteran entertainer Wyclef Jean and DJ Naughty Boy, and has been signed to show boss Simon Cowell’s record label Syco. After the win, Shurland expressed his thanks for all the support the group had received over the months of competing. Interestingly enough, the other band to ever win the competition, Little Mix, also boasted a member with Barbadian/Jamaican heritage in Leigh-Anne Pinnock. This trailblazing all-girl group also performed Saturday night. In the last WEEKEND NATION, Shurland’s father Emmerson said he had been sent a ticket by his son’s fellow band members to surprise Jamaal before the finals. He said his son was always a talented performer and he felt sure they would go all the way. The elder Shurland was up front and centre for his son’s big victory. Here at home, Emmerson’s wife Heather, Jamaal’s stepmother, was anxiously watching the boys perform on television. She said Davies had a strong performance so she was not sure what the result was going to be, but was overjoyed when the young man she said was like a born son to her, made history.  (DN

MOVADO’S MAGIC – Jamaican dancehall star Movado lifted the FAS7STAR/Yello Hennessy Artistry to a higher level in the early hours of yesterday morning. At about 2:55 a.m. Movado, real name David Brooks, swarmed the stage to awaken an almost lifeless crowd of thousands who packed the grounds of the historic Kensington Oval. It was like all of his fans emerged from the woodwork as soon as he arrived to reel off his hits. I’m On The Rock, Full Clip, Guns Out, House Cleaning, Money Changer, All Dem A Talk were but a few of the tracks that excited the throngs. The promoters should be pleased with the attendance for this year’s production. Dancing space was at premium. Couples were pressed into one, almost. Singles had little breathing room. But none of that mattered. Women screamed while the men expressed their approval with loud chants that ricocheted across Kensington and into the environs of Fontabelle. Movado had something for everyone: “bad man” tunes, lovers’ tunes, you name it: No Care Who Like Me, Fresh Cash, Big League, Destiny and Caribbean Girls. The 36-year-old however had a word of caution for those members of the audience who tried to spoil things as they created a scuffle. He ordered security to usher the aggressors out and continued with I’m So Special, followed up by Beat and Teach and Clear Di Way before ending his hour-long set with Hope and Pray. Beres Hammond was the consummate performer with irresistible love songs in his 60-minute set. However, he too was in keeping with the reserved tone of the night. Nevertheless, the audience was happy to hear, sing and dance along to their favourites from him. Dressed in his usual cap, vest and unbuttoned calico shirt, Uncle Beres’ sweet tenor voice floated richly across the beat. Opening with Can’t Stop A Man, he stuck to romantic songs like Come Back Home, Step Aside, What One Can Do, She Loves Me Now and I Wish, drawing screams from women who offered him their undying devotion. At 62 years old, Beres took a couple moments to interact with his adoring fans but was quickly back to the job at hand.  In his wrap-up, he brought Love Means Never To Say I’m Sorry and a rendition of the incomparable Rockaway which he sang acapella, assisted with the so-called “Kensington Oval choral”. Rihanna, who was featured on the Give Me A Try remix with Sizzla, was among the large audience at the Oval enthralled by Sizzla Kalonji’s dynamism. Sizzla could have gone on much longer and the people would have loved every hit: Simplicity, Guide Over Us, Praise Ye Jah, Be Strong, Holding Firm, Woman I Need You and Dry Cry. He incorporated several local reggae acts into his set, like Buggy Nhakente and Red Star Lion. Burgeoning Canadian rapper/singer Tory Lanez has, for good reason, apparently built up a considerable following locally. The 20 minutes he appeared on stage here for the first time were filled with many highlights. The 25-year-old brought songs like Luv, Litty and Controlla. He however performed too many covers, including those of Beenie Man, Bob Marley and Gyptian. The Bajan acts in the soca session got the ball rolling with the orange-haired songstress Nikita setting a high standard straight out of the gates at 10 p.m. She was followed by Fadda Fox and Lil Rick who closed the 45-minute session. DJs Bard The CEO, Jon Doe and Tammy, along with Indian and Chris Gayle, kept the crowd entertained during the breaks. (DN)

That’s all for today folks there are 27 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 11/5/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Sunday 5th November, 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing Sunday Sun Newspaper (SS).

CBC OWED $1.6M – The state-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) is moving to collect $1.6 million owed by 254 clients. The bulk of that debt is owed by Government corporations and departments with the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) topping the list at $257 783. The ruling Democratic Labour Party, categorised as a private client and not Government, owes the TV station $109 609, the second highest amount. The list of debtors and the amounts was revealed in an email from financial controller Kim Sealy-Lewis to the management team and account executives on August 23 – a copy of which the Sunday Sun obtained. The purpose of the memo was to alert the team how much each client owed and who should receive delinquent letters. (SS)

REPORT: GOVERNMENT OWES MILLIONS - After analysing Government’s financial statements, Auditor General, Leigh Trotman has raised a red flag regarding a number of outstanding loans Government made and which are yet to come to book. The numerous loans are all detailed in the Auditor General’s 2016 report. One of Trotman’s main concerns were advances Government provided to the Barbados Tourism Investment Incorporated without a formal contract. “Amounts outstanding were $141 500 with accrued interest of $19 351. As at March 31, 2016, a formal contract still did not exist between the Government and the Barbados Tourism Investment Incorporated for loans made to that institution. No repayments were received from the BTI during the year under review,” the Auditor General reported. Then there was the Small Hotel Investments Fund, which Trotman revealed in 2007 had been granted a loan of $28 million from Government, with an annual interest rate of 2.5 per cent for its Group Refurbishing Scheme. “The terms of the agreement required that the repayment commence December 31, 2010. As at March 31, 2016 no payment has been made for which the principal and interest due totalled $36 426,” the Audit General stated. Government also guaranteed a loan of $120 million in respect of the Four Seasons Development Project in 2012, and that was called during the 2014 financial year by bankers. The Auditor General explained that the guarantee and outstanding interest was paid to the tune of $124 329 by Government through its holding company Clearwater Bay, and brought to book in the Treasury as an account receivable. “There has been no movement on this account for the past four years,” Trotman complained. “There is no information available on whether there might be a need to write down this receivable, or when or how this amount will be repaid,” he said. When contacted on the matter, Minister of Finance, Chris Sinckler didn’t comment, referring the matter to the Accountant General, who is responsible for all Government payments. Acting Accountant General Dane Coppin, however, said he had no comment on the Auditor General’s concerns. Trotman also confirmed a number of other statutory corporations which owe Government millions. He is advising that a consolidation of Government’s financial statements be conducted as a matter of priority, after the 2016 version was submitted 49 days after it was due. “The Treasury has in the past submitted the financial statements on a timely basis, and it is hoped this occurrence is not part of the trend of late submission of statements by other state agencies,” the Auditor General said. “In any event, the accounts of the Government, rather than being submitted for audit four months after the financial year, should actually be audited by this time. This is because of the need for up-to-date information by decision-makers,” Trotman said. He said consolidation would help in Government’s current accrual accounting system. “Many of these agencies have large outstanding commitments such as loans and other payables, which could make a significant difference to the overall picture of Government’s financial situation, if the consolidation were to take place,” Trotman advised. He said information was obtained from 33 Government agencies for the 2016 report, with combined liabilities (including pending legal obligations) of $1.43 billion. “This is a significant figure, and the absence of information on the remainder of the agencies surveyed indicates the figure, and therefore the potential impact, on the public finances, could be even greater,” he said. (SS)

REPORTS TOO LATE – The list is long, and so are the complaints. Statutory corporations continue to flirt with the laws of Barbados when it comes to the preparation and provision of audited financial reports, says Auditor General Leigh Trotman. In his 2016 report, Trotman has brought to light several Government-established corporations which are in arrears when it comes to the provision of financial statements. Top of the list is the Urban Development Commission (UDC), which was established to undertake the clearance of slums and improve social amenities. “It was previously reported that the audit of accounts for the financial years 2008 to 2014 were outstanding. No information was received from the commission indicating a change. This situation needs to be urgently addressed by the commission,” Trotman advised in last year’s report. (SS)

DLP TO ROLL OUT ONLINE PLATFORM TO INTERACT WITH YOUTHS – The Young Democrats, the youth arm of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is reaching out to the youth to get their views on the issues affecting society. General Secretary George Pilgrim said the Young Democrats will soon pilot an online platform named YES – Youth Effecting Change, which will seek to interact with youth to identify their problems and possible solutions. “The idea of ‘just say YES’ is not a political gimmick, it is an attempt to involve the future of this country in developing policy that affects them,” explained the DLP General Secretary. Today a group of young people over the age of 17 gathered at the Ellerslie Secondary School in Black Rock St Michael to discuss relevant topics such as violence within schools, crime, the influence of dancehall and ZR culture, the use or abuse of social media as well as education and entrepreneurship as part of the DLP Youth Consultation. The students were divided into focus groups to discuss the topics and then reassembled to discuss possible solutions to the problems identified. Pilgrim indicated that the YES platform aims to examine the youths’ perspective on various sectors in society. “By talking we share more and by listening we learn more,” he told the group of young people attending the consultation. Vice President of the Young Democrats, Quincy Jones also encouraged those in attendance to let their voices be heard. “We must recognize that we are the changers … we are the solutions to our problems … we are the future,” said he said. (BT)

C&W BUY-BACK BACKLASH – Cable & Wireless (Barbados Limited) could be facing a major legal battle in Barbados. Several minority shareholders are “angry”. They believe they have been “forced” to sell their shares to Cable and Wireless (Barbados) Limited (C&W) by way of a buy-back, which clears the way for Cable & Wireless West Indies Ltd to take control of 100 per cent ownership of C&W. But they are fighting back. The Sunday Sun was informed that some of them have formed a group and hired prominent attorney Garth Patterson QC, regional managing partner of Lex Caribbean, to help them fight what they called a “grossly unfair and unjust” move by the telecommunications giant. (SS)

ST JOHN FIRE STATION TO CLOSE TEMPORARILY – Members of the public are asked to note that the St John Fire Station will close for minor renovations and repairs from Tuesday, November 14. The station is expected to reopen on Monday, December 11. Personnel attached to the St John Fire Station will continue to serve that catchment area while operating from the Bridgetown Fire Station during that period. Any inconvenience caused is regretted. (SS)

VENDORS BACK ON SAME SPOT – Days after health officials swooped down to clear coconut vendors from Warrens, some reappeared yesterday in the same spot to conduct their business. On Thursday, officials from the Ministry of Health and  the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) accompanied by police officers, cleared the verge along the ABC Highway in an effort to clamp down on the vendors who often leave their empty shells behind. Motorists have also complained about some of the vendors blocking free passage on the roadway as they conduct their business. However, the vendors out yesterday were adamant that they complied with all the regulations. The vendors, who declined to give their names, said the shells left behind were somebody else’s doing. They said they always have water at hand and trucks to transport the shells at the end of every working day. (SS)

MORE THAN A GG: LATE SIR CLIFFORD LOVED HIS FAMILY AND THE LAND - The late Sir Clifford Husbands was today remembered not only as the former Governor General of Barbados, but also as a loving and devoted family man, who also loved the land. Delivering the eulogy at his near two-hour, solemn state funeral service which ended just before noon today at the St Lucy Parish Church, Queen’s Counsel Brian Clarke recalled that Sir Clifford, who was born at Morgan Lewis Plantation in St Andrew was truly “a son of the soil” and could often be found in the agricultural fields with his straw hat on. Clarke also recalled that Sir Clifford had integrated his passion for agriculture with his role as head of state by starting the Governor General’s two-week agriculture summer camp. Despite overcast skies and intermittent showers, several top members of the legal fraternity also turned out to pay their final respects to the island’s sixth and the longest serving head of state, who was also a former Director of Public Prosecutions, Supreme Court judge, Justice of Appeal and Chief Justice of Barbados. (BT)

RENEWED EFFORT TO CLEAR BACKLOG IN COURT CASES – Concerned that just over 50 per cent of the more than 900-strong prison population is people on remand, Government is making another effort to clear the backlog in court cases. Today the Government in association with the National Centre for State Courts and the US Department of State, introduced a special two-day workshop where members of the local judiciary will be able to get a better understanding of the Goodyear Hearings/Maximum Sentence Indications and Plea Agreements. It is hoped that this will result in justice being administered by early and timely disposition of cases through more efficient and effective practices, while at the same time ensuring fairness and transparency. Goodyear Hearings/Maximum Sentence Indications and Plea Agreement allows for the defendants to enter a guilty plea with the defence requesting an indication of the likely maximum sentence. During the opening ceremony of the workshop at the Radisson Aquatica Resort this morning, Chief Justice Sir Marston Gibson again lamented the backlog in criminal cases. US Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Linda Taglialatela highlighted the need for the continued strengthening of the judicial system, saying it was necessary to ensure the security of residents in the region. She said she hoped at the end of the workshop Barbados would be able to realize a reduction in case backlogs, a reduction in trauma suffered by victims of crime, a reduction in anxiety suffered by defendants and savings in cost of valuable resources. (BT)

CRIME STOPPERS BARBADOS NAMES NEW CHAIRMAN – Crime Stoppers Barbados has announced that Oral Reid has been named as its new Chairman of the Board. He previously served as Chairman of Crime Stoppers Barbados from 2011-2013. Crime Stoppers said Reid’s long and distinguished career in law enforcement makes him a perfect choice to head Crime Stoppers Barbados whose mission is to mobilize Barbadians to help stamp out crime by reporting on it anonymously. Reid is a criminologist by training and a former Assistant Superintendent of Police of the Royal Barbados Police Force where he served for 22 years. He is a principal founding member of the Caribbean Association of Security Practitioners (C.A.S.P) and is currently a part-time lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies in the Faculty of Social Studies at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus. He is a member of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (I.A.C.L.E.A) and currently serves as a member of their Professional Development Committee. Crime Stoppers Barbados also welcomed Sherie Holder-Olutayo as its Programme Director. She will be responsible for handling the organization’s public relations and marketing initiatives along with donor engagement and project management. Holder-Olutayo will replace Devrol Dupigny, the former Executive Director of Crime Stoppers Barbados, who is currently working with Crime Stoppers International in the Netherlands. She brings more than 12 years of experience to this role. (BT)

UPDATE: POLICE IDENTIFY ACCIDENT VICTIM – Police are investigating the circumstances which resulted in a road fatality around 5:35 a.m. today, along Pleasant Hall Road, St Peter, at its junction with the Charles Duncan O’Neal highway. Two cars were involved in the accident which resulted in the death of 78-year-old Bentley DeCoursey Belgrave, a Barbadian who resides in the United States, who was the passenger in a car driven by his brother-in-law.  The first car was driven by Irvin Samuels, 71, of Boscobelle, St Peter who was accompanied by Belgrave, whilst the second car was driven by Nayib Straker, 22, of Doughlin Village, St Andrew.   Preliminary investigations revealed that the cars were travelling in the opposite direction along the road, when there became involved in a head-on collision in a corner. Straker complained of pain in his neck, and received several lacerations to his upper body. Samuels complained of pain in his chest, shoulder, and right hip, and received a laceration above his right eye. Straker and Samuels were both transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by ambulance. Belgrave suffered injuries to his chest, and subsequently died at the scene. Investigations are continuing. Anyone who may have witnessed this accident, or can provide any information to assist with the investigation, is being asked to contact the District ‘E’ Police Station, at telephone number 419-1730. (SS)

FATHER GETS BAIL – Dylan Nigel Marius walked out of the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court today on $50, 000 bail after appearing on a charge of unlawfully killing his four-month-old son. The baby, Dellon Marius, was found dead at home on April 3, 2017. It is alleged that the child was left at home unattended and died as a result from suffocation. Marius, who is represented by attorney-at-law Arthur Holder in association with Danielle Mottley and Rhea Layne, was not required to plead to the indictable offence. While Magistrate Graveney Bannister was ready to remand the 39-year-old Walrond Gap, Back Ivy, St Michael resident, the prosecutor Sergeant Theodore McClean said the Crown was not objecting to bail on the grounds that Marius, who is a father of three, had been out on his own since the alleged incident. However, McClean requested that conditions be attached to Marius’ bail. Not satisfied with the prosecutor’s position, the magistrate requested additional facts on the case. In response, Holder explained that Marius was the father of a ten-year-old, a four-year-old and the now deceased four-month-old child. The attorney also argued that his client was neither a threat to society nor a flight risk. With this assurance, Bannister granted Marius bail, which he posted with one surety. However, he first had to surrender his travel documents and must not leave the jurisdiction unless he informs the court. Marius, who will next appear before the Bridgetown magistrate on December 1, must also report to the Hastings Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., with valid identification. (BT)

MISSING: JAVANI DACOSTA IFILL – Police are seeking the assistance of the public in locating a missing man. He is 18-year-old Javani Dacosta Ifill, of 7th Ave, New Orleans, St Michael. He was last seen by his mother Judy Gooding around 7 a.m., on Wednesday, November 1, at home in bed, and has not been seen since. His clothing is unknown.  Javani is 6 feet tall, of slim build, with a light brown complexion and a longish head. He is small featured, and has a long face, pointed chin, small pointed nose, small mouth, with pointed medium size lips. He has large ears, both pierced once. He has space between his top front teeth, a long neck, drooping shoulders, a deep voice, and he speaks with a slur.  He is known to frequent the block Canal at 7th Ave New Orleans, Royal Palm, Pickwick Gap, and the area of Red Sea, Deacons, St Michael.  Anyone with information relative to the whereabouts of Javani Dacosta Ifill is asked to contact the Central Police Station, at telephone numbers 430-7676, or 430-7630, Police Emergency number 211 or the nearest Police Station. (SS)

COACHES BETTER EQUIPPED – Thirty of the region’s best and brightest football coaches have been put on a path to spread the knowledge of the game all across the Caribbean as they were engaged in Barbados this past week in the CONCACAF Train the Trainer Regional Programme. The programme got off the ground on Wednesday at the Parkinson Resource Centre, and the hand-picked group soaked up all the knowledge, skills and expertise on offer from seven of the top instructors under the CONCACAF umbrella. Coaches from Cayman Islands, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados underwent intense training until yesterday in a programme headed by CONCACAF development managers of the Caribbean, Etienne Silee and Andre Waugh, along with the assistance of course instructors Vinimore Blaine, Antone Corneal, Neal Ellis, Jocelyn Germe and Leonard Lake. During the course remarks, Silee, who has spent more than 30 years in the coaching, highlighted the importance of knowing one’s strength and said it was in this strength that the region would find its way forward in the sport. In his first official appearance since being appointed Caribbean Football Union president, Barbados Football Association head Randy Harris drew reference to the United Kingdom’s withdrawal of reparative purchases of sugar and bananas and said that the region now had to find its own way and not wait on the parent federations. (SS)

BAJANS BAG TIME TRIAL SILVER – Jacob Kelly delivered the goods. And not just him either. Amber Joseph won yet another medal for Barbados, while Kelly finally broke through with one of his own as part of the hosts’ successful showing in yesterday’s time trial segment of the Junior Caribbean Elite Road Race Championships. Riding two loops of the 10.1 kilometres course through Lucas Street and Thicketts, Kelly placed second with a time of 29 minutes and 16.52 seconds after leading home Kyle Gill (30:13.97) in a spectacular two-three finish for the Bajans. It marked the end of one of cycling’s most heart-breaking runs, which saw the luckless 18-year-old fall just short time and time again following three straight fourth-place finishes at the same event. (SS)

LOCAL CHESS ACE CAN STILL MEDAL – Top local chess player Orlando Husbands is holding his own in his pursuit to become the first Barbadian to win a medal at the Pan American Under-20 Championships in El Salvador. Husbands, the reigning CARIFTA and Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Under-20 champion, had registered two wins, a draw and a loss after the first four rounds of games. The recently elevated International Master was lying in tenth place among the 26 competitors ahead of yesterday evening’s fifth round of games. Ranked at No. 5 at the start of the competition, Husbands, the only competitor from the English-speaking Caribbean, started the championships with a victory against Jose Lossi of Guatemala before suffering a second-round defeat against FIDE Master Sebastian Donoso of Chile. It could have been considered an upset, given that Donoso’s rating of 2 045 is considerably lower than Husbands’ 2 327. Husbands, one of only two International Masters in the championships, bounced back in the third round to defeat Candidate Master Madrid Ramirez of Costa Rica, but had to settle for a draw against American Maximillian Lu in the fourth round. The championships are being played over nine rounds and will end on Monday. Jamaican Candidate Master Rachel Miller, the only female from the English-speaking Caribbean, was in 14th place among 29 entrants in the women’s division. The CAC Under-20 bronze medallist gained two points from a win in the second round and two draws in the first and fourth rounds. (SS)

HUSBANDS ON THE BREEDERS’ CUP CARD – Seasoned campaigners Patrick Husbands and Rajiv Maragh will bring a Caribbean presence to the Breeders’ Cup, when they both suit up in today’s second day of the prestigious series at Del Mar racetrack. Husbands will ride in the US$2 million 14 Hands Winery Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies for two-year-olds in race four of the cash-rich 12-race programme, which has as its main feature the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. The 44-year-old Barbadian will have the leg up on Wonder Gadot who has already attracted early odds of 8-1 for the event over a mile and sixteenth. Owned by Gary Barber and trained by one of Canada’s top trainers, Mark Casse, Wonder Gadot qualified for the weekend by winning the Mazarine Stakes at Woodbine in Toronto last month, with Husbands in the saddle. Husbands is still searching for his first Breeders’ Cup success after having featured in the event several times in his illustrious career. A seven-time champion at Woodbine, Husbands currently sits fourth in the standings at the western Canada racetrack on 105 wins. Maragh, meawhile, will feature in the million-dollar Filly and Mare Sprint in race six over seven furlongs for the three-year-olds and upward. The 32-year-old Jamaica-born jockey will be aboard By the Moon, owned by Jay Em Ess Stable and trained by Michelle Nevin. Maragh steered the five-year-old mare to victory in the $500 000 Ketel One Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga last August. Unlike Husbands, Maragh already has a Breeders’ Cup victory tucked away, when he won the Dirt Mile back in 2011 aboard Caleb’s Posse. (SS)

NO ISSUE – A ball wasn’t bowled but Kensington Oval had its own test from the International Cricket Council (ICC) yesterday. The outfield, which suffered damage as a result of the staging of cultural events earlier this year, was in less than pristine condition but wasn’t no-balled by ICC officials who also inspected the general infrastructure of the historic venue. Senior ICC events manager, Simon Jelowitz told journalists it was still too early to say whether “The Mecca” would be chosen to host the final of the 2018 Women’s World Twenty20 which is being staged in the Caribbean. The Women’s World Twenty20 runs from November 2 to 25, next year and eight Caribbean countries are bidding to stage the 40 matches, including the grand final. The West Indies women are defending champions. Unlike 2010 when both the men’s and women’s competitions were staged simultaneously, this will be an exclusive women’s event. Jelowitz and his team of high-ranking officials, which includes long-standing pitch consultant Andy Atkinson, a five-member television broadcast team and ICC head of media and communications, Sami-ul-Hasan, had a similar tours of Sabina Park in Jamaica and the Queen’s Park Oval and Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago. They inspected the Guyana National Stadium in Providence on Friday and will be travelling to St Lucia today to examine the Daren Sammy Stadium, followed by visits to Antigua and St Kitts. The team also carried out an evaluation of the 3Ws Oval at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies and Jelowitz said their reports will be submitted to the Cricket West Indies board of directors before going to the ICC for ratification. Jelowitz said weren’t any major concerns with Kensington even though there were several visible grassless patches on the outfield, which is also dotted with man grass. (SS)

LAW: NO NEED TO CHANGE SQUAD – If West Indies head coach Stuart Law had his way, the 15-man squad which toured Zimbabwe would remain unchanged for the two-Test Test series in New Zealand starting later this month. The Australian told reporters that the current group, retained from the England tour last August, were developing nicely as a unit and to make any changes would be disruptive going forward. “I’ve made it pretty open and pretty clear to the chairman of selectors (Courtney Browne) and the selection panel that I think that this group we have together is worth working with,” Law said following the drawn second Test against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club here Thursday. West Indies beat Zimbabwe in the first Test by 117 runs at the same venue almost two weeks ago but were frustrated on Thursday in their bid for a clean sweep when the hosts batted the entire day to force a stalemate. The Test win was their fourth in successive series, following a run of 11 matches without a single victory. They beat Pakistan in the final Test in Sharjah last November, trounced them again in Bridgetown in the second Test of the return home series in May before stunning England in the second Test at Headingley last August. Law, who took over the unit at the start of the year, said those results reflected a gelling of the current side and performances would only get better if the unit were kept together. Top order batsman Kyle Hope is perhaps one of the players whose place will come under scrutiny. The right-hander managed 41 runs in six Test innings on the England tour, including scores of 3, 0, 0 and 1 in his last four outings. The Zimbabwe series saw no change of fortunes for the 28-year-old as he scraped together 60 runs from three innings. Wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich’s place had also come under the microscope following a poor England tour where he scored 24 runs from six Test innings and struggled with his glove-work. He managed 11 and 12 in the first Test against Zimbabwe but then produced a maiden hundred in the second match, to ease the pressure. With New Zealand expected to be challenging series, Law reiterated the importance of resisting the “need to chop and change” at such an important time. West Indies are expected to travel to a preparation camp in Australia before heading to New Zealand for the series which bowls off with a three-day tour match on November 25. (SS)

CRICKET STARS PLAYING FOR THE REGION – Sir Curtly Ambrose and Sir Richie Richardson are coming back to rally ’round the West Indies – right alongside David Rudder himself. Cricketing legends will be coming to the aid of this region once again, serving as the big drawing cards for next Saturday’s Rally Round West Indies T20 Cricket Hurricane Irma/Maria Relief Benefit match at the 3Ws Oval. Cave Hill Academy of Sport director Amanda Reifer made the announcement during yesterday’s launch of the combined fund-raising effort between the University of the West Indies and Cricket West Indies. Beckles himself is slated to take the field in one of two star-studded teams that include the likes of Sir Curtley, Sir Richie, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Franklyn Rose, Daren Ganga, former English cricketer Philip Defreitas and onetime world champion sprinter Yohan Blake. Rudder is expected to perform his legendary Rally ’Round The West Indies anthem ahead of a benefit T20 match that will also see current West Indies players Sulieman Benn, Fidel Edwards and Dwayne Smith partner with UWI players. It’s all in an effort to raise much needed funds for the reconstruction of schools and hospitals in hurricane-ravaged countries Dominica and Barbuda, whose rebuilding costs have exceeded US$100 billion following the aftermath of Irma and Maria. Sponsors Sagicor Group have already pledged US$100 000 to the event, which will be streamed live by Flow Sports to 18 countries around the region. The match, which starts at 8 p.m., is free for all patrons, who are asked to wear blue in a show of unity. Players: Sir Curtly Ambrose, Sir Richie Richardson, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Daren Ganga, Ian Bradshaw, Franklyn Rose, Yohan Blake, Philip Defreitas, Vasbert Drakes, Rayad Emrit, Dale Richards, Tino Best, Floyd Reifer, Sir Hilary Beckles, Dwayne Smith, Sulieman Benn, Fidel Edwards, Justin Bramble, Leniko Boucher, Nicholas Kirton, Gilon Tyson.  (SS)

That’s all for today folks there are 59 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 11/2/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Thurday 2nd November, 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing Daily Newspaper (DN.

STUART: BARBADOS IS A CLEAN, LOW TAX JURISDICTION – Barbados is a clean, well regulated, low tax jurisdiction and not a tax haven! This was Prime Minister Freundel Stuart’s firm message when a delegation from the United States of America, including chief aides and policy advisors to Congressional Members Elliot Engel and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Eddy Acevedo and Eric Jacobstein, paid him a courtesy call recently at Government Headquarters. Those present included US Ambassador to Barbados, Linda Taglialatela; chief of staff of the Barbados Defence Force Colonel Glyne Grannum and acting Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, Mark Franklin. Stuart said from time to time, this country has had to defend its reputation in that area and he called on the US to lend its voice in helping to clear up any misconceptions. “Because companies pay low taxes here, they repatriate large profits to their jurisdictions and that money is invested there, so there is a win-win situation,” he explained. According to him, the international business sector accounts for a significant amount of Barbados’ corporate tax revenue, brings in the second largest amount of foreign exchange and offers good quality jobs. The Prime Minister said another area of concern was Barbados being classified as a high middle income country and therefore did not qualify for necessary concessional financing. He stressed, however, that all countries in the Caribbean were vulnerable and identified hurricanes as being able to wipe out their GDP within a few hours.     (DN)

SLIPPERY SLOPE: BUSINESSES WORRIED THAT NO ECONOMIC TURNAROUND IS IN SIGHT - The President of the Small Business Association (SBA), Dean Straker, says his members are currently walking on “thin ice” after hearing the grim economic news delivered by Acting Central Bank Governor Cleviston Haynes yesterday. Of grave concern to the SBA is the state of the country’s foreign reserves, which have plummeted well below the 12 weeks benchmark to reach just 8.6 weeks of imports or $549.7 million at the end of September, putting more pressure on the stability of the Barbados dollar. “I think this is even more concerning when you realize that this position reflects the situation as at the end of September. So, there is nothing that has happened in October that would have improved the foreign reserves, but a lot has happened that would have further depleted our reserves . . . because importers would have been making their orders for Christmas,” Straker told Barbados TODAY, adding that he expects the reserves to be even less at the end of October. “Of course this is of great concern to us small business members, as the Government has not been able to bring the fiscal situation under control. We continue to spiral downwards, and quite frankly, I think everybody should be concerned,” he said. The SBA spokesman is equally worried that the sector, which has traditionally found it difficult to access finance, could find it even more difficult to secure loans in light of the Central Bank’s announcement of a further tightening of its monetary policy that will require commercial banks to hold 20 per cent of their domestic deposits in stipulated Government securities. (BT)

NSRL COSTS BARBADOS IN DOING BUSINESS REPORT – Government’s controversial National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) has been identified as one of the main reasons for Barbados’ steep drop in the World Bank Doing Business 2018 Report, in which the island is ranked 132nd, down from 119th in the 2016 report. Barbados was not ranked in the 2017 report. “Barbados made paying taxes more difficult by introducing a new National Social Responsibility Levy of two per cent on the value of products before Value Added Tax,” it said in its summaries of doing business reform in 2016/2017. That tax was drastically increased as at July 1 this year to ten per cent. The 2018 report, entitled Reforming to Create Jobs, compared business regulation for domestic firms in 190 economies and the data is “current” as of June 1, 2017. The report was published on Tuesday. In its current position, Barbados now ranks well below Jamaica, which was ranked 70th overall, and trails other Caribbean countries such as St Lucia at 91, Dominica (98), Trinidad and Tobago (102), Antigua and Barbuda (107), the Bahama (119), Guyana (126) and St Vincent and the Grenadines in 129th position. Only St Kitts and Nevis at 134, Grenada at 142, and Haiti at 181 performed worse than Barbados. The decline began in the 2015 report when Barbados was ranked 106th, down from 91st the previous year, when Jamaica was in 94th place. A breakdown of the information revealed that Barbados ranked 89th when it came to paying taxes, with the report stating that it took an average of 245 hours per year to make an average of 29 payments, with a total tax and contribution rate of 35.3 per cent of profit. The country ranked 99th in starting a business, which takes an average of 15 days, while securing construction permits can take up to 442 days, placing Barbados at 155 in that category. Registering a property took 105 days, ranking the country at 133 in this category and getting electricity took 88 days on average with a ranking of 160. According to the World Bank report, Barbados was ranked 133rd when it came to businesses getting credit; 167th for protecting minority investors; 129th for trading across borders and 167th for enforcing contracts. However, the island ranked an impressive 34th for resolving insolvency. New Zealand, Singapore and Denmark were the top three ranked economies in the Doing Business 2018 report. (BT)

NOT FAIR – BARBADOS LIGHT POWER COMPANY’s (BL&P) latest public hearing has sparked a controversy involving intervenors and the Fair Trading Commission (FTC). The electricity company recently applied to the utility regulator for approval to recover the costs associated with its commissioning of a five megawatt energy storage device via the Fuel Clause Adjustment. The DAILY NATION learnt the FTC notified individuals and organisations granted intervenor status that the application would be considered via a “written hearing” and that they would have to meet their own costs of participation. This has reignited a controversy that dates back nearly 20 years, with several intervenors voicing anger at the decision.  (DN)

UPP NOT SURPRISED BY ‘RATHER DISMAL’ ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE –The eight-month-old United Progressive Party (UPP) says it is not at all surprised by the “rather dismal” economic report presented by Central Bank Governor Cleviston Haynes on Tuesday. In a statement today, UPP leader Lynnette Eastmond, who will be carrying her party’s banner in The City of Bridgetown in the next elections, also took issue with a number of statements made by Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler back in May when he presented the national Budget. In fact, Eastmond suggested that much of what the Governor had to say in his nine-month review was “preordained” by Sinckler’s presentation, which she said gave no indication that the Government was serious about achieving an economic turnaround. On the contrary she said, the Freundel Stuart administration has been behaving as if it had the luxury of time on its side, even with the island suffering downgrade after downgrade, which she warned would ultimately limit Barbados’ capacity for commercial foreign borrowing and affect investor confidence both locally and internationally. While seriously questioning whether the island was getting bang for its tourism buck, Eastmond pointed out that though Sinckler’s seemed buoyed by the tourism sector which he said reflected growth  comparable to the “pre crisis” days, the performance of the economy during the first nine months of the year was anything but robust. (BT)

ELECTION UPSET – Don’t count the United Progressive Party (UPP) out of the next elections. With both the incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and the main Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) expressing strong confidence of victory, the UPP has sounded the warning that neither party is likely to walk away with a clear mandate at the polls, which are constitutionally due by the middle of next year. “It will be a coalition Government,” declared the UPP’s David Gill, in predicting the outcome of the next election. The former Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) stalwart who quit the party earlier this year and joined the UPP after losing his bid to represent the BLP for the fifth time at the polls, said this position was borne out in a recent public opinion poll conducted by political scientist Peter Wickham which showed that several young people neither favoured the DLP nor the BLP. “Gone are those days where you say, ‘if you are going to eat in at me you’ve got to vote B or D’ . . . .Those days are long gone. You cannot tell a young person how to think,” he said. However, Gill is not ruling out the possibility of the UPP scoring an upset victory. In fact, the veteran politician reminded that “in 1961, in this Barbados, when Errol Barrow won he didn’t have a full slate of candidates, but he won the Government. “It was new way thinking, revolutionary, just like the UPP. There were the older head, there were the younger heads, independents, Bees and they all shared the Parliament. “So, if 56 years after, we have gone full circle and Barbados is ready for what was seen back then,” Gill said, while insisting that “it will be three horses in this race. “This is a ‘win and place parlay’ and only with a win and place can you get a coalition Government,” Gill told the small UPP gathering at Edgecliff last weekend in support of area representative Hudson Griffith, who is also a former BLP candidate. (BT)

102 ROADS PATCHED – THE MINISTRY OF Transport and Works (MTW) says it is well on the way to fixing the hundreds of potholes across the island as it embarks on a $30 million road rehabilitation exercise. Permanent secretary Simone Rudder yesterday revealed that last week, MTW had patched 102 roads stretching across each parish. She was speaking during the launch of a pedestrian safety partnership programme between the ministry and the private sector. One of the companies on board was the General Insurance Association of Barbados (GIAB) and the event was held outside the GIAB’s building at the corner of Country Road, St Michael. Minister of Transport and Works Michael Lashley recently announced that Government would be embarking on the road improvement exercise, and had so far contracted C.O. Williams Construction to assist the MTW in this drive. Rudder said crews were working earnestly to adequately cover each parish. She promised weekly updates for the public on the progress of the patchwork. She also said motorists whose vehicles were damaged as a result of potholes could submit a case to the ministry, addressing it to the permanent secretary. She said proof of driver’s licence, valid insurance and information on where the incident occurred were needed, as well as an invoice number if they took action to get tyre(s) repaired. “(Afterwards), persons will be contacted by the ministry’s legal investigators, the matter will be processed and once it is confirmed that the road conditions which caused the damage falls within the remit of the Ministry of Transport and Works, as opposed to work which might have been undertaken by one of the utility companies, then compensation will be given as quickly as possible,” Rudder said. (DN)

GOVERNMENT TO END HOUSING SETTLEMENT IN WHITE HILL – The troubled rural community of White Hill, St Andrew could soon be no more and residents will have little say on the matter. The Ministry of Housing and Lands announced in a statement this evening that the relocation of 22 houses to Farmers, St Thomas, which began in 1999, is set to resume in earnest and there will be no resettlement in the community located in the Scotland District, which is prone to land slippage. The announcement comes on the heels of a visit by Minister of Housing, Lands and Rural Development Dennis Kellman to the affected district, which has been virtually cut off after a major landslide destroyed the main access road in 2014. Just last month, residents who have been pleading to the Government to address their plight took matters into their own hands and started to build a new road. However, according to the ministry’s statement, after observing the extent of the land slippage and its negative impact on the houses, Government officials, including Chief Town Planner Mark Cummins have strongly discouraged any resettlement in the area. The Ministry of Housing has also warned that tough enforcement measures will be imposed to guard against this. Government is proposing to compulsorily acquire the land from White Hill residents once the construction of the new houses are completed at Farmers, St Thomas and is cautioning that those who resist this could be penalized. “Any person who willfully chooses to erect structures in White Hill, St Andrew, are doing so at their own risk, and they will not be eligible for relocation by Government,” the ministry said. Furthermore, once the new houses are allocated to White Hill residents, “the Ministry of Transport and Works and the National Housing Corporation will dismantle and remove the original houses from their locations in White Hill to prevent resettlement,” the statement added. The ministry also disclosed that it had started “periodic monitoring” of the priority areas adding that any new construction will be reported to the Town & Country Development Planning Office, which has the jurisdiction for development control. Five new houses will be constructed this financial year and another seven in 2018 at Farmers. While assuring White Hill residents that they would not be disadvantaged, the ministry said: “The new houses are timber, masonry or mixed material construction and range in size from 412 square feet to 1,300 square feet with an average lot size of 3,000 square feet. “These replacement units are being provided free of cost, while the land on which they are sited is being sold to non-land owners at $2.50 per square foot,” the ministry said. (BT)

ALARM RAISED AT BCC – Classes were disrupted today after the fire alarm was triggered at the Barbados Community College’s Hospitality Institute at PomMarine. The development coincided with protest action by students over the alleged ill treatment of one of their colleagues. At the centre of the controversy is the Acting President of the Guild of Students Kobie Broomes, who is accusing a teacher at the institute of “shouting at him and disrespecting him” after the guild was given permission in writing earlier this week to meet with students at the Hastings, Christ Church campus to discuss matters of concern to them, ahead of next week’s Guild elections. Based on accounts from several students, Broomes had gone over to the teacher to apologize after the 12 p.m. guild meeting ran over into her 1 p.m. class time. However, her response was said to be nothing short of “obnoxious and impertinent”. This led to formal complaints being made to the Director of the Institute Deborah Trotman and to the BCC Registrar Roger Worrell. Barbados TODAY also obtained a copy of a letter sent to the Acting BCC Principal Dr Cheryl Weekes in which the guild condemned in the strongest possible terms what it described as “the gross disrespect” meted out to the acting president. “We expect that the office of the guild [be] treated with utmost respect by the administration of the college. To this extent, we first demand a written apology from the Director of the Hospitality Institute for questioning the rectitude of the President,” the letter said in response to suggestions that the guild was engaging in a “power play” and that students had deliberately set off the fire alarm, forcing the disruption which lasted for about half an hour before classes were able to resume. The guild also described the attitude of the tutor at the centre of the incident as “obnoxious and impertinent”, while suggesting that she had also tried to bar students from attending her class following today’s guild meeting. “Her attempt to grandstand before an audience of students to diminish the mandate of the [acting] president and his council will not be tolerated. To this extent, we also demand a written apology to both the [acting] president and to the students present for the uncouth behaviour exhibited,” the letter adds. The two-page document also outlines the concerns of students at the PomMarine institute, including inadequate ventilation in the student’s lounge, unkempt bathroom facilities, inadequate transportation and matters relating to teacher-student relations. The Guild is demanding a meeting no later than next Monday with the Acting Principal, Registrar and Director of the Hospitality Institute to discuss the concerns, otherwise it says there could be escalated protest action at the BCC early next week. When contacted, Broomes would only confirm that the guild had met today with students of the Hospitality Institute, while its director said she was unaware of any disruption of classes. “We had a fire alarm go off and the school was evacuated. Students were spoken to and they are all back in class,” she told Barbados TODAY. (BT)

NOT POLITICAL - Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) candidate for St Philip North Dr Sonia Browne has poured cold water on claims made by Minister of Education Roland Jones that last week’s protest march at St Mark’s Primary School was political. On Friday, a number of frustrated, placard-bearing parents and guardians picketed outside of the compound, complaining of deplorable conditions at the Government-run, St Philip learning institution. Three days later, Jones publicly accused the Opposition BLP of playing politics with the lives of the students, while suggesting there was no real reason for protests at this time. In fact, while insisting that those involved in last week’s demonstration were agents of the Opposition BLP, he reported that a number of improvements were made to the school in the 2015/2016 academic year, including changing the roof, refurbishing the main building and changes to the toilets. “What I’m condemning is the propagandistic approach taken by some to feather their own nest, ignorant of what has gone before. So in the presence of deliberate ignorance, one gets this deliberate propagandistic approach,” Jones told Barbados TODAY on Monday. However in response, Browne, who has a four year-old daughter enrolled at the school, said Friday’s march was not politically motivated. “There is a history behind that march. We had our first PTA [Parent-Teachers Association] meeting in either late September or early October, nothing to do with politics at all, and it was noted that several of the parents were disgusted by the state of the school. “I made sure that I did not open my mouth so no one could say it’s politically motivated. They came up with the idea to step up action to get the school fixed after letters were sent to the ministry and nothing was done,” Browne said, while insisting that the action had “nothing to do with the Barbados Labour Party”. The BLP hopeful also dismissed Jones’ suggestion that a number of improvements were made to the learning environment. “The toilets are in a mess, the girls bathroom is not tiled, there was not a single seat on the toilet the week before school began.  I, along with some of the parents, put together some money and I personally went to Carters [general store] and purchased the seats. “No tiling is on the floor. In the boys’ bathroom, the urinals were spilling over because the water could not be locked off. The doors stayed open, [so] I am a little unclear as to where the work is,” the concerned parent said, adding that “if anything was done, it was a very slight paint job, but putting icing on a disgusting cake does not make it better”. She also complained that the walkways were “horrible”. “My child fell at least on three occasions through a fence that isn’t fixed properly, [so] I am yet to see these improvements [and] we also have a lot of loose wires that the boys could eventually fiddle with.” Browne, who is also a past student of St Mark’s Primary, suggested that a new school should be built posthaste to accommodate the St Philip students, who she said were unable to accommodate a visit by the then Governor General Sir Elliott Belgrave last year, owing to the school’s unkempt state. “I left that school when I was about eight years old and it looks the exact same way [now],” she said, while dismissing the latest promise by Jones that a new school was coming. “This is election time so I expect to hear things like that,” she said. While not disclosing the next stage of action, Browne, a member of the school’s PTA, said parents would continue to keep pressure on the authorities to restore the century-old school building. “We are giving them sometime to see what can happen. It is only fair. The PTA meets again in a couple of weeks and then we will decide where to go from here, but we will not be letting it rest.  St Mark’s pupils deserve the same as any other school on the island in terms of renovations and new play grounds,” Browne insisted. (BT)

CHEF ADMITS TO UNKNOWINGLY IMPORTING COCAINE – A St Lucian chef today admitted to importing $100,000 worth of cocaine into Barbados, but said it was done unknowingly. In fact, 23-year-old Johnelle Leeanne Pierre of Ti-Rocher, Micoud told Chief Magistrate Christopher Birch she did not have a clue what “cocaine looked like” until the day of her arrest at Grantley Adams International Airport. The mother-of-two explained that “I am in this situation”, having borrowed the suitcase from a cousin. She said it was dropped off by a man mere hours before she was scheduled to leave for the airport, and since it still was in the casing she simply packed her items and left. “I honestly did not have any idea it was there,” Pierre stated adding: “I didn’t even know what cocaine looked like. I don’t even drink alcohol.” After Pierre arrived here on September 25, a dog from the canine unit led border control officers to the drugs, which were hidden in false sides of the suitcase. The St Lucian chef said she had no hesitation when the immigration officer asked to search her luggage, emphasizing the point that she was unaware that she had been transporting cocaine. She further explained that at one point law enforcement officials allowed her to turn on her cellular phone and the same cousin contacted her saying she was worried. She said she informed the relative that her bag had been kept back and “the first thing she ask was to send a picture of the bag. “I was only off work for two weeks and I have my children and she going to drag me into this,” Pierre lamented. Pierre’s attorney George Bennett, who appeared in association with Sian Lange, urged the chief magistrate to be as lenient as possible as the young woman had thrown herself at the mercy of the court and was not known in either jurisdiction. After relaying her story the chief magistrate again remanded her until November 28. (BT)

 JAMAICAN DRUG TRAFFICKER TO BE DEPORTED – Self-confessed Jamaican drug trafficker Patricia Stephanie Rose’s stay in Barbados is about to come to an inglorious end. Rose, who admitted to importing two kilogrammes of cannabis into Barbados, has been handed over to immigration officials for deportation, after a $5,000 fine was paid to the District ‘C’ Magistrates’ Court. “Your time in Barbados is at an end and I can’t say it’s been a pleasure,” Chief Magistrate Christopher Birch told the 21-year-old hairdresser. Rose, of No. 2 Springfield Road, Morant Bay, St Thomas, Jamaica, had been on remand at Dodds Prison since September 29. She pleaded guilty in early October to possession, possession with intent to supply, trafficking and importation of marijuana. She was arrested on September 27 at Grantley Adams International Airport, where customs officials discovered three taped packages containing the illegal substance in her bag after arriving on a flight from Kingston. Rose allegedly told police at the time of her arrest she was doing a friend a favour. (BT)

TWO FINED $30,000 EACH FOR GANJA – Two Barbadian men who pleaded guilty to separate cannabis charges have nine months to pay the District ‘C’ Magistrates’ Court $30,000 each if they want to avoid prison time. One of the men, 51-year-old businessman Winfield St Auban Lowe, lives in the United States, while the other is 31-year-old Tito Mardonna O’Neil Barrow of Block 1G, Bottom Close, Wildely, St Michael. They both pleaded guilty to possession, possession with intent to supply, trafficking and importation of cannabis. Border control officers found 25 pounds of the drug in Lowe’s luggage when he arrived here last Monday from New York. His attorney Lesley Cargill Straker admitted to Chief Magistrate Christopher Birch her client decided “to take this risk” because his business here, which he maintains along with a home, had been in trouble. “At his age he has never been before the court [but] based on circumstances he decided to take this risk,” Cargill Straker said. She urged the Chief Magistrate to be lenient and impose a fine on her client instead of a custodial sentence. “To say I am disappointed is to drop short because as a businessman you should know not what to do,” Chief Magistrate Birch told Lowe. Cargill Straker also represented Barrow, who was found with 26.5 pounds of the drug in 38 packages wrapped in white t-shirts in his luggage. The attorney said Barrow also “felt like he had no choice”. She explained that Barrow had been selling clothes since he was laid off from his substantive job and “that is how the opportunity arose”. The lawyer further explained that due to several circumstances “he felt like he had no choice and made the decision out of desperation”. However, Birch told Barrow: “You know this is wrong yet you did it . . . . Had it not been intercepted you would have been responsible for an influx of illegal narcotics on our streets.” He imposed $15,000 fines on each man for the possession charge, to be paid in nine months or an alternative of two years in prison. They were convicted, reprimand and discharged on the possession with intent to supply charge and reprimanded and discharged on the trafficking charge. For importing the illicit substance Barrow and Lowe were each slapped with an additional $15,000 fine also to be paid in nine months, or two years in prison to run concurrently. They are to return to court by the end of August next year to show receipts. Lowe’s travel documents have been seized.  (BT)

MAN HELD WITH FOUR GUNS AND 99 ROUNDS OF AMMO – A St Michael man is due to appear in the District ‘A’ Court here on Thursday charged with a number of gun and drug related offences. He is 34-year-old Ryan Jason Greene, of Pile Bay, Spring Garden, who was arrested and charged after members of the Anti-Gun Unit executed a search warrant at his residence. During the search three firearms and 32 rounds of the ammunition were discovered. A subsequent search of his motorcar revealed a fourth firearm and 67 rounds of ammunition. As a result, Greene now faces four counts of unlawful possession of four firearms and two counts of unlawful possession of ammunition. He has also been charged with possession, possession with intent to supply and trafficking of cannabis. (BT)

CONDUCTOR SLASHED IN FARE DISPUTE – THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE of the afternoon commute turned bloody and violent yesterday afternoon when three students, one armed with a cutlass, attacked a conductor in front of horrified minibus passengers. While out on assignment in Paynes Bay, St James, a DAILY NATION team came upon the immediate aftermath of the incident after noticing crying onlookers and what seemed to be a commotion centred on a South-bound Speightstown minibus. An injured man staggered out of the vehicle with blood dripping from his hands and his shirt spattered with blood. He was heard exclaiming: “All I want to do is get home.” Shortly afterwards, he got back into the minibus, which drove directly to the Black Rock Police Station. He entered the station and informed officers that three students of the Frederick Smith Secondary School had assaulted him.  (DN)

EX-HUSBAND MUST SPEND MORE TIME - For three hours, McDonald Ricardo Whitehall followed the woman he loved through the streets of Bridgetown. The problem was that woman – his ex-wife – did not take kindly to the attention and called lawmen. That was in February, this year, and Whitehall has been unable to see her since then as he has been on remand at HMP Dodds. And that stay continues for another three weeks after he reappeared in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court yesterday. Whitehall, 47, of Vaucluse Tenantry, Shop Hill, St Thomas, was back in court where changed his plea and admitted he harassed 63-year-old Marguerite Bellamy on February 25, this year. The court had heard from prosecutor Sergeant Theodore McClean that Whitehall and Bellamy were divorced and Whitehall has been constantly harassing her since their marriage ended. He has been begging her to rebuild their relationship, but she has refused. In February, this year, the woman was in Tudor Street, when Whitehall approached her and asked her, once again, about sex and about getting back together. He also professed his love for her. The woman refused his advances, again, and demanded that he leave her alone. She left the area and walked to Trevor’s Way. Whitehall followed her there on bicycle and did so for about three hours. The woman then walked to Cheapside, and Whitehall followed her there too. Eventually, he rode off and the woman called the police. His attorney, Mohia Ma’at, put down Whitehall’s action’s to his love for his ex-wife. The attorney later begged the court to release him on bail pending sentencing. But Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant refused. She pointed to Whitehall’s previous convictions for the same woman.  “Most of his convictions are for offences against the person. He has a history and a pattern dating back to 1989,” the magistrate said. “The court is not minded to release Mr Whitehall. He has a history not just dating back to yesterday, but to yesteryear,” the magistrate declared as she remanded Whitehall back to HMP Dodds until November 22. (DN)

DYNAMIC DUO – Opener Kieran Powell agonisingly missed out on a century, but wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich chose the ideal time to break out of a protracted slump as he and captain Jason Holder carved out polished, unbeaten half-centuries to put West Indies in control of the second and final Test yesterday. At the close of the pivotal third day at Queens Sports Club, the Windies were 374 for seven in their first innings, in reply to Zimbabwe’s 326 all out – a lead of 48 heading into today’s penultimate day. The left-handed Powell top-scored with 90 to fall short of his fourth Test hundred while Dowrich stroked 75 and Holder, 71, as West Indies fought back gallantly against a spirited Zimbabwe side on an attritional day. Shai Hope extended his excellent form with 40 while Roston Chase scored 32 and nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo, 23. West Indies were tested by off-spinner Sikandar Raza, who ended with five for 82 and managed to rock the visitors with key strikes in the second session that left the innings tottering at 230 for seven at one stage. (DN)

CHARLES F. BROOME WINS MENTAL MATHS COMPETITION – Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary has emerged as the winner of the inaugural Primary Mental Maths Competition, after defeating Cuthbert Moore Primary at the Erdiston Teachers’ Training College, Pine Hill, St Michael and gaining the Mental Maths Challenge Shield. Impressed by the high quality of the Finals and the mental acuity of the students, Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ronald Jones, said afterwards: “It showed the immense mathematical aptitude that lies in our primary schools.” The Minister was, however, quick to point out that there was still a long way to go in encouraging all students to respond to Math “in a sensible way” and move the Math scores in the 11 Plus from 54 per cent to higher.  “We need to get those scores up; we need to get children truly appreciating Math, not only the Mathematical high flyer’s in our schools but all children being able to work Mathematically and to pull that area up.  (DN)

MISS UNIVERSE T&T STRIPPED – This country’s Miss Universe T&T pageant first runner-up Martrecia Alleyne is now being considered to replace stripped delegate Yvonne Clarke. The local franchise holder for the pageant, Jenny Douglas, was weighing this option yesterday after she stripped Clarke of her title over an alleged breach of contract nine days before she was due to leave for the international event in Las Vegas. Less than two weeks after winning the title, Clarke was told via email from Douglas that she would no longer be able to represent the country. But during a press conference at the St James studio of soca artiste Fay Ann Lyons yesterday, Clarke demanded an apology from Douglas, saying she did nothing wrong in seeking sponsorship on her own, including from Lyons. She claimed she was left with no choice after all she received from Douglas was an “old black dress” and an admittance they did not have “all the resources” to get her to the competition. “I asked her if there was anything else the franchise could give me beside a dress and she (Douglas) said no. I did not do anything without the authorisation of the franchise holder. She even sent me letterhead from the Miss Universe TT which to this day I did not use,” Clarke maintained at the press conference. She said Douglas told her she could seek sponsorship from anyone locally “except from the Government.” She said from day one of the local pageant she felt something was wrong, as there were several “hiccups” along the way. This, she said, prompted her to document all her conversations with Douglas, including taping telephone conversations. Saying she was forced to dip into her personal finances to prepare herself, Clarke said through a friend she was told to approach Lyons for help. Lyons, Clarke said, had been instrumental in getting her a plane ticket, professional hair and make-up artists and even organising several professional photo shoots. As she went through hardship getting sponsorship, Clarke, who broke down in tears at some points, said she also offered advice to Douglas regarding how to deal with issues on social media. “I said to Jenny digital media management is important because she was getting into feuds with citizens on social media about the way in which the franchise was being run. I told her to avoid social media conflict because it not only brings the Miss Universe pageant into disrepute but it also brings me, as a delegate, into disrepute,” Clarke said. “The reason why I am so hurt by this was because when T&T was bashing her and saying she was unprofessional I was the one who supported her.” She also accused Douglas of deliberately withholding her contract after she signed it some months ago. Douglas also hinted that Clarke may not have had a US visa but yesterday Clarke said she did. Lyons, who also spoke, said she too wanted an apology from Douglas, as all she did was help a “beautiful and talented young lady” realise her dream. She described the incident as unfortunate, saying too many times “we as a people” refuse to support each other. In a statement yesterday, Douglas said, “The Miss Universe T&T committee has voted unanimously to disqualify Miss Yvonne Clarke from representing Trinidad and Tobago in this year’s Miss Universe 2017 Pageant competition.” In an interview with Guardian Media, Douglas  accused Clarke of making statements which “misrepresented” the franchise and of “being on television and begging for money.”  (BT)

RIRI’S BEAUTY LINE RAKING IN THE DOUGH – RIHANNA’S FENTY BEAUTY LINE has been an instant success, with products selling out in mere moments online and in stores. And a new report shows that the Barbadian singer/fashionista’s line has raked in millions in free advertising since its September launch. The 29-year-old star’s line of cosmetics earned her a whopping “US$72 million in media value in one month”, according to Women’s Wear Daily. The brand’s “media value” included the amount of money it earned from free advertising from social media exposure and press, according to a description from Newsweek last Friday. Fenty Beauty debuted September 9 and became instantly beloved for its broad range of 40 foundation shades, collection of cosmic lipglosses, first class brushes and more. On October 13, the brand revealed even more beauty as it debuted its holiday galaxy collection with retailer Sephora. Around the time of the line’s launch, the Wild Thoughts songstress caught up with Teen Vogue to talk about the collection. Though she was happy to talk about how she used the current line, the pop star was tight-lipped about future Fenty developments. “There are endless possibilities coming,” she told the Conde Nast offspring. “You just have to wait and see.” Before the launch of her hit beauty line, Rihanna debuted her second apparel collection with Adidas during New York’s Fall Fashion Week, which was received with rave reviews from fans and fashionistas alike. The Throw It Up singer’s love life is also hitting a high note, according to media reports. RiRi has been getting to know Saudi Toyota heir Hassan Jameel as of late. The pair have been linked since seen kissing in London back in June. This past weekend, the two were seen enjoying a romantic dinner in Boston, where sources said the pair were “super chill” and “relatively quiet”, according to People.  (DN)

That’s all for today folks there are 62 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 10/22/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Sunday, 22nd October, 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing Sunday Sun Newspaper (WN).

$12m TAG – It is listed as an attractive three-storey hotel and beach bar facility, but Tropical Escape Hotel at Paynes Bay, St James, like many other tourism properties across the island, has been on the market for many years. Several real estate companies have For Sale signs posted outside the dormant hotel which, according to the listing, comprises 58 spacious rooms and a colourful bar area, together with a separate dining room, kitchen facility and offices. It is going at BDS$14 million, a drop from its original $20 million price tag. (SS)

BE WARNED! – International investors have been warned that Barbados is “in critical condition”. They were also told that the Government and the private sector are so “terrified” about the consequences of a foreign debt default that Barbados is likely to pursue domestic debt restructuring and turn to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for help. NN Investments Partners, a Netherlands-based firm managing about US$280 billion in assets for a large number of international institutional and individual investors, gave that assessment in a recent report circulated to “professional investors”. The Sunday Sun understands that a team from the asset management company visited Barbados earlier this year before the May 30 Budget was delivered. (SS)

‘IT’S HARD’ FINDING FUNDS FOR PROJECTS – Hotelier Adrian Loveridge says investors looking to get involved in tourism projects in Barbados would have to raise money in non-conventional ways since banks are not lending. Despite a report from KPMG indicating that banks were becoming more confident to lend to the tourism industry in the region, Loveridge says not so for Barbados. “Basically the economic climate is such that it’s difficult to borrow money,” said Loveridge, the owner of Peach & Quiet Hotel at Silver Sands, Christ Church. Mentioning the multiple economic downgrades Barbados had received, he charged that “the established financial institutions, commercial banks and risk capital people virtually cannot lend money to Barbados or entities within Barbados because it doesn’t fit the lending criteria.  (SS)

SEVEN YEAR OLD AFRAID TO GO HOME – A woman who put her sister in court last year for mistreating her three children is at her wits end because a niece is now refusing to return home. For two weeks the seven year-old child has been staying with her grandmother and aunt who live next-door to her mother, but the aunt told the Sunday Sun the child was simply refusing to go back home because she was afraid of her mother. “Me and my mother have done everything to try to get this child to go home, but all she does is cry and run. I don’t know what else to do because she frighten for the mother,” the 44-year-old woman said. However, the child’s mother, who lives a mere five feet from her sister and grandmother, accused them of having “poisoned her mind against me”. (SS)

GOING WITH TOURISM – Banks and other financial institutions in the Caribbean are once again financing tourism projects in the region, even if cautiously. While Barbados is among countries about which banks are more “bullish”, the non-bank institutions are not favouring this market. This was revealed in the annual Caribbean Hospitality Financing Survey by professional service company KPMG, which looks at financing trends and the outlook for the region’s hospitality and tourism industry. For the past decade financial institutions have been extremely reluctant to lend for major projects, whether new buildings or acquisitions. But this year’s report points to a new optimism. (SS)

BARBADIANS DEVIATING FROM GOOD VALUES, SAYS GORDON – As Bishop of the diocese of Bridgetown Reverend Jason Gordon gets ready to take up a new post, he is urging Barbadians to get back to traditional values, accusing the authorities of focusing more on profits and residents of creating an unsustainable lifestyle. Gordon, who served as consecrated Bishop of Bridgetown and Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines for the past six years, has been elected Archbishop of Port of Spain. He is to be appointed by the end of this year. During a media conference on Friday at his Jemott’s Layne, St Michael office to make the official announcement, Gordon encouraged residents not to lose hope despite the current economic and social circumstances facing the country. However, he said it was time Barbadians get back to a value system based on traditional values where people are satisfied with what they have and live within their means. The cleric said Barbadians seemed to have replaced traditional values with a new set of “liberal capitalist model” where it was now “about get rich [quick] or die trying”. Pointing out that past political leaders Errol Barrow and Tom Adams “both put development of people ahead of the profits of companies”, Gordon said the same could not be said about recent and current political leaders. The Roman Catholic bishop said what was needed was a change in values. Monsignor Vincent Blackett described Gordon’s departure as a bittersweet one, saying the news of his appointment as archbishop came as a shock since the local diocese was getting used to the idea of him being in Bridgetown “forever”. Gordon will replace Archbishop Joseph Harris who resigned earlier this year. Gordon will become the 11th Archbishop of Port of Spain with that archdiocese having responsibility for five dioceses or provinces – Trinidad, Barbados, Guyana, Curacao, and Suriname. (BT)

FAMILY, FRIENDS MOURN JOGGER - A fun loving person with a love and a zest for running. That’s how Desmond Rowe, her coach of the past two years, described June Sonia Knight who lost her life in a tragic car accident yesterday. Knight, said to be her in 50s, of Grazettes New Road, St Michael, was one in a group of joggers who was running along Arch Hall Road on the Ronald Mapp Highway yesterday morning when she and fellow jogger Dr Yolanda Alleyne were involved in a collision with a vehicle driven by 27-year-old Daniel Haynes of Jackmans, St Michael. A witness at the scene explained a second vehicle was involved and contributed to the accident, in which driver Haynes lost control of his car. The person added the driver of that vehicle did not stop at the scene and that Haynes was traumatised by the accident. (SS)

POLICE APPEAL FOR INFORMATION – Police are continuing their investigations into the road fatality which occurred sometime around 5:40 a.m. today. The incident occurred along the Arch Hall section of the Ronald Mapp Highway, in the area of the Lawrence Johnson roundabout. It resulted in the death of June Sonia Knight, of Grazettes New Road, St Michael, and injuries to Yolande Alleyne of Clearview, St James. We are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this accident, or can provide any information to assist with the investigations. Please contact the District ‘D’ Police Station at 418-1729, or 419-1726. (SS)

UPDATE: POLICE IDENTIFY MAN SHOT LAST NIGHT – Police have indicated an inaccuracy in their earlier press release. It stated that a man had died in the shooting incident at Silver Hill, Christ Church, last night. The man, identified as Andrew Prescod, 34, of Welches, Oistins, Christ Church, was shot in the incident but is still alive. During this incident − which occurred around 11:35 p.m. at Silver Hill, Christ Church − two females, ages 21 and 29, received gunshot injuries, whilst a motor vehicle was damaged. Preliminary investigations revealed that Prescod, and the two females, along with other persons, were in the area liming, when suddenly several gunshots were heard coming from the opposite side of the road. As a result, Prescod received a gunshot to the head, whilst the 21-year-old female was shot in her right knee, and the 29-year-old female was grazed on her chin, by a bullet. Prescod and the 21-year-old female were taken to the QEH by ambulance for medical attention. Investigations are continuing. Anyone who can provide any information to assist the investigation is being asked to contact the Oistins Police Station, at 418-2612, or 418-2658. Police Emergency number 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS (8477), or the nearest police station. (SS)

IN WIFE’S DEFENCE – A 44-year-old man, who slapped a barman twice for allegedly making sexual advances to his wife, will know his fate next Friday. Alphonsa Claudius Philip Griffith, of Pearl View, Kingsland Terrace, Christ Church, admitted to unlawfully assaulting Greg Hackett on October 19, occasioning him actual bodily harm. Hackett, who is employed at a Dover, Christ Church establishment, was reportedly sitting on a bench speaking to someone when Griffith walked up and demanded an apology from him for making sexual advances to his wife. Hackett refused which resulted in Griffith slapping him. The self employed man persisted with his demands and with the apology still not forthcoming, he slapped Hackett a second time. Police were called in and Griffith was arrested. “He was up in her face making sexual advances,” the husband insisted. However, Magistrate Douglas Frederick said today he was not prepared to make a ruling in the matter until he heard Hackett’s side of the story. Griffith, whose guilty plea was in breach of a yearlong bond imposed on him by another magistrate on a traffic charge, was therefore remanded to prison until October 27 after he was unable to pay the required 1,500 forthwith fine. (SS)

STAY AT HOME DAD MUST BE ON BEST BEHAVIOUR – A 27-year-old stay-at-home dad must be on his best behaviour for the next six months if he wants to avoid spending three months at Dodds prison. Magistrate Douglas Frederick imposed the bond on Omar Anthony Monlondon of Perry Gap, Roebuck Street, St Michael today after he pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis. A quantity of cannabis seeds was found in a tray in Monlondon’s bedroom when police executed a search warrant at his home earlier today. “I had them there to pelt way but forgot,” he said in his own defence, while admitting that he was caught off guard by police. Asked whether he could pay a fine, the accused man told the magistrate, “I baby sit every day. I have four children.” Unable to pay a fine and not eligible to perform community service, the magistrate entered into a “gentleman’s agreement” with Monlondon: He must stay out of trouble and not smoke. If he is found guilty of any crime within the next six months, he will go to jail. “I appreciate that Sir,” was Monlondon’s reply as he left the dock. (SS)

BROWNE BACKS NO-VOTE RESOLUTION – Apparently one board member also thinks he shouldn’t have a ballot. Not even to vote for himself. Barbados Olympic Association (BOA) director Trevor Browne has sided with the Athletics Association of Barbados (AAB), even as a presidential candidate, having agreed that BOA board members shouldn’t be allowed to vote at Wednesday’s elections. Browne made the case in a press statement yesterday after the AAB tabled a resolution to suspend the voting rights of the BOA’s 11 directors so as to avoid any one candidate starting with a possible 11-vote advantage. “Careful study of the resolution indicates that it calls for a redress of a long-standing situation of inequality and bias which any democratic and well-meaning person would support,” wrote Browne. (SS)

HOPE HIGH AND DRY AT 90 – The enterprising Shai Hope was left stranded agonisingly short of a third Test hundred as West Indies lost seven wickets in a dismal final session to be bowled out cheaply, giving minnows Zimbabwe the advantage on the opening day of the first Test here yesterday. Hope stroked a composed unbeaten 90, while opener Kieran Powell chipped in with 56, but the Caribbean side found it difficult to cope with Zimbabwe’s spinners on a turning track at Queens Sports Club and were humbled for 219 in their first innings. Leg-spinner Graeme Cremer took four for 64 to reach 50 wickets in Tests, while left-arm spinner Sean Williams prised out three for 20. The Windies collapsed from a healthy position of 175 for three about half-hour after tea, losing seven wickets for a mere 44 runs in quick time. (SS)

WINDIES ‘A’ CRUSHED – West Indies ‘A’ failed with the bat for the second time in as many days, after left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara claimed a 12-wicket match haul to send them crashing to a 280-run loss in the second four-day “Test” yesterday. Asked to chase 425 at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium, the hosts tumbled to 144 all out in their second innings. (SS)

ONE MORE WIN – The old boys keep finding new ways to win. Pan American International Insurance Warrens are now just one win away from yet another title, having gone on a late 15-2 fourth-quarter run to beat City United Celtics 74-60 in Thursday’s Game 1 of basketball’s First Division finals. Clinging to a tenuous 59-55 lead at the Wildey Gym, the reigning KO kings finally put away the series opener by accounting for 15 of the game’s next 17 points in another of those trademark Warrens runs. It was the 17th win in 18 appearances for a veteran-laden star-studded side that has hardly been challenged all season while steamrolling to what seems a certain double. (SS)

BAJANS MAKING TAEKWONDO HISTORY – Taekwondo Barbados (TAB) now boasts the country’s first two certified International Referees (IRs), Ogeji Dottin (4th Dan) and Ken Harewood (2nd Dan). The two IRs successfully completed the Pan Am Taekwondo Union’s (PATU) Referee Certification and Refresher Course. The technical events were conducted in two separate competition disciplines; Kyoroogi (combat), and Poomsae (patterns). The courses were held in Las Vegas, Nevada, two weeks ago. Barbados went on to make a major impact at the 2017 World Taekwondo (WT) President’s Cup, as Harewood was selected to judge during the international event.  (SS)

MASTERS BACK WITH BUMPER MEDAL HAUL – As traditional as hearing Jingle Bells in December, Barbados’ more mature athletes returned from the Huntsman’s World Senior Games in St George, Utah yesterday clanging and jingling their way out of the Arrivals Hall at the Grantley Adams International Airport. With smiles matching the brightness of the 27 gold and 22 silver in a total of 57 medals, the athletes were met by several well-wishers including Senator Jepter Ince and Senator Reverend David Durant. Manager, former Olympian Rawle Clarke, could not hide his joy over the team’s performance. “This year, we were represented by a number of athletes who would have placed second and third in the past at the national level because the first placed athletes had qualified for another event in Alabama which clashed with the Senior Games. They missed the Senior Games which disqualified them from going to Utah.  (SS)

TALMA BOOK GOES BEYOND THE SURF – Brian “De Action Man” Talma’s book Brain Smiles Life Sings: The Last Of The Bronze Class will highlight a matter seldom touched in Barbados. The book will include a chapter called Different Rules For Different Fools, which will examine the discrimination Talma says he experienced as a result of looking different and being a surfer in the broader society of Barbados. “We have a massive problem in Barbados. Race is a big issue. Even my children who look white are, like, ‘Daddy, I don’t feel comfortable’. My children are, like, ‘Should we be white or black?’ I think everyone should see eye to eye; everyone should be able to communicate despite their race,” he said. During an interview with Saturday Sun Sport recently, Talma said the autobiographical account, expected to be released by next year’s Beach Culture World Tour, will uncover the realities of being mixed race, as well as exploring the themes of discrimination, belonging, family life and overcoming in the midst of hardships. (SS)

SUCCESS STORY – Find an issue. Create the solution. Collect the pay cheque. And repeat. That was the advice from millennial class valedictorian Zachary Phillips, who delivered the address on behalf of the 2017 graduating class at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, yesterday morning. Phillips, who earned a Bachelor of Laws (first class honours), urged the graduates to do more than just collect the larger pay cheque. Though rejoicing in the fact that they all made it as a group, Phillips reminded them that graduation was not the end of their journey. He asked that as they embark on the path to their own success they do not forget to bonds they formed, and he encouraged them to work towards the success of “our islands in the sun”. (SS)

MAS IN THE GAP – St Lawrence Gap was alive with the sweet sounds of carnival yesterday afternoon. The sun was hot, the music hotter and the 200-plus people who wined their way through the Gap and on to Sandals Resort had a blast. There was something in the music that drew workers from the various hotels, guest houses and resorts along the stretch out from their stations to take in the rainbow of colour and the merriment. The tug of the, at first, distant sound was so powerful that the tourists who came out to get a glimpse of the mini carnival and locals alike waited long minutes in the sun and in the few cool spots before they spotted the music truck, with Jamar Browne on the wheels of steel, followed closely by the revellers.  (SS)

That’s all for today folks there are 71 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 10/16/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Monday, 16th October, 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

WELL HOUSE START IN 2 WEEKS – Motorists and residents are being promised relief from pothole-filled roads across the island. It has come from Minister of Transport and Works Michael Lashley, who said repair work would soon begin. His comments came as he toured Harrismith Road, Well House, St Philip yesterday, after residents complained about the time it was taking to fix the thoroughfare. Resident Grantley Pilgrim said the road had been bad for more than 40 years. “We have been told so for a long time and nothing happens. Someone just come and throw down some marl fill and quick so it gone wash out when the rain falls,” Pilgrim said. (DN)

PSV SOLUTION – Government does not have to own buses to have a successful public transport system, says president of the Association of Public Transport Operators (APTO), Morris Lee. He contends that Government only needs to put the appropriate systems in place to properly regulate the privately-owned public service vehicles (PSVs); to ensure the average working class Barbadians get an efficient, cost-effective service with low fares, and that the most vulnerable in the society – the elderly, children and physically challenged – are catered for. That model and the building of two multi-purpose terminals, argued Lee, would save Government about US$20 million annually while generating millions of dollars in economic activity that would boost employment. And he was adamant that the PSVs could not hold Government to ransom for increased fares in such a plan, as some had suggested. (DN)

RE-TEST EM – Don’t just fine and take away the licence of law-breaking motorists; make them retake their driving test as well. This is what one official of the Barbados Road Safety Association wants to see as scores of offending motorists once again contributed thousands of dollars in fines to Government coffers after another Call Day in the Bridgetown Traffic Court. This time, two hours of sitting by Magistrate Graveney Bannister added $6 600 in fines as civilian, route taxi and minibus drivers pleaded guilty to offences like speeding, running red lights and setting down and picking up passengers at places other than bus stops. Public relations officer of the Barbados Road Safety Association, Richard Cox, was full of praise for the forthwith fine stance of the Bridgetown Traffic Court. But he wanted punishment of traffic offenders taken a step further. (DN)

JAMAICA GOV’T LOOKING TO INTRODUCE PREVENTIVE DRUG TO REDUCE THE SPREAD OF HIV – As the controversy rages over the introduction of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in Jamaica’s schools, the Ministry of Health is considering introducing the equally controversial HIV prevention method, Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). A PrEP pill is designed to be taken by HIV-negative individuals to prevent the contraction of the virus, and is hailed as a ‘magic pill’ in some circles; others have argued that it could contribute to a culture of “complacency and unprotected sex”. But with the 2014 Global AIDS Response Report indicating that an estimated 30,313 Jamaicans were living with HIV and approximately 25 percent of them unaware that they were infected, the health ministry is considering all its options. In the meantime, Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton said that with the support of donor funding, the HIV/STI/TB Unit is in the process of recruiting a consultant to conduct a PrEP pilot in 2018. The pilot will determine the recommendations made to the ministry re the implementation of PrEP. The WHO has reported that the efficacy of oral PrEP has been shown in four randomised control trials to be high when the drug is used as directed. Persons who take PrEP daily are said to reduce their risk of getting HIV from sex by more than 90 per cent, but the drug can also be taken just around the risky sexual act. (BT)

TREND IN CANCER TESTING – Father and son combinations have emerged as a trend in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in Barbados. Speaking to the DAILY NATION on Saturday at the fifth and final testing PSA testing at Cancer Support Services, Belmont Road, St Michael, president Kathy-Ann Kelly-Springer said over time they had noticed more fathers and sons come in to be tested together. “So the father might come, bring along the son and vice versa; son come and bring along the father, and then you have brothers encouraging each other, which I think is good. It’s taking some time, but I must say based on statistics so far for the year, I find we’re reaching more men, because we’re seeing a lot of new persons coming out. “We have the regulars who come to us every year, then we have persons that come to us twice a year, just to keep a history of their information, and then we have those who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer coming to us to keep check on how the prostate is doing,” she stated. (DN)

SEWAGE WARNING – There will be ramifications for businesses and homeowners who continue to dump grease and oils into the South Coast Sewage Treatment Plant. The dumping of fats, oils and grease into the system was so bad, said the Barbados Water Authority’s (BWA) manager of its Waste Water Recovery Programme, Patricia Inniss, that the authority would be sending letters to offending persons. She was speaking to the DAILY NATION in the wake of issues which resurfaced after Saturday’s heavy rainfall. There were reports of sewage seeping from under manhole covers on Hastings Main Road and Worthing, Christ Church, as well. There are about 120 business and 40 restaurants in the tourist belt of Peronne Village, Worthing, Worthing View, Rendezvous, Hastings and St Lawrence Gap, and the BWA has been engaging them in how they could reduce the amount of oils, fats and grease entering the system. (DN)

FLOOD WARNING DISCONTINUED – At 9 p.m. tonight the Barbados Meteorological Services discontinued the flood warning that was in effect for Barbados. An extensive cloud-mass remains well entrenched across the Lesser Antilles. However, radar imagery shows a general reduction in showers in the immediate vicinity of Barbados. Thus, the flood warning for Barbados has been discontinued.  (DN)

SEARCH ON FOR MISSING CHILDREN – Police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating three missing children. They are Rianna Daniesha Toppin and Mercedes Disire Bibby, both 13-years-old, and Caleb Joshua Toppin who is two-years and 11-months. The children, all of #7 Chapel Land St Philip, were last seen sometime around 11:10 p.m. on Saturday, October 14 in the area of Halton Terrace. At the time Rianna was wearing a white dress and a pink hooded jacket. Bibby was wearing a pink and white dress with the back out, while Caled was wearing a short sleeves shirt and a ¾ pants. Rianna is 5 ft 4” tall, slim build, dark complexion, has shoulder length hair, a small head and a long face, brown eyes, and small ears both being pierced once. Mercedes is 5ft 8’ tall, slim build, brown complexion, has brown eyes, a broad nose, and forehead. Caleb is of brown complexion, has brown hair, a round face, full eyes, small ears, and a broad nose. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of these children is being asked to contact the District ‘C’ Police Station at telephone numbers 416-8200 or 416-8201, police emergency number 211 or the nearest police station. (BT)

14-YEAR-OLD STUDENT OF DARYLL JORDAN SCHOOL MISSING – Fourteen-year-old Shania Alia Mkysia Lashley of Prescod Bottom, Bank Hall, St Michael, has been traced and is safe. Lashley was reported missing on Saturday, October 14. The administration of the Royal Barbados Police Force thanks the public and the media for their assistance in this matter and looks forward to their continued cooperation in the future. (DN)

CHARGE – Police have arrested and charged a Christ Church man in connection with a case of theft, committed after 4 a.m., on Friday, October 13, at Mount, St George. He is Roland Romel Layne, 37, of #2 Edey Village, Christ Church. Layne was arrested and charged for the theft of 80 lbs of cassava, the property of Sundale Trading Company. Layne also faces two counts of assault. Layne was confronted by two watchmen in a field at Mount, St George while he was allegedly in the process of stealing cassava. During the confrontation, Layne escaped. The matter was subsequently reported to the police. During the course of investigations, Layne was brought into custody and subsequently charged for the offences. Layne is expected to appear in the Oistins Magistrates Court tomorrow.  (DN)

CLARKE STILL WANTS HOME FOR ROAD TENNIS – Dale Clarke still wants to see one of his many dreams for road tennis realised with a home for the indigenous sport. Clarke, whose Professional Road Tennis Association (PRTA) has transformed the face of road tennis over the past decade with lucrative prize money, including cars to the men’s and women’s champions, has reiterated an earlier call for a home for the sport. “We should have a permanent home and that is something that made me smile. I remember earlier this year, the Minister [of Sport Stephen Lashley] was saying that they had invested $500 000 into road tennis. It would’ve been fantastic if you could’ve gotten half of that to give us an indoor home, just a start and then build on it,” Clarke told NATION SPORT in a recent interview. He noted that the smooth flow of the recent Barbados Public Workers’ Cooperative Credit Union’s Monarchs Of The Court at the makeshift Big Rock Arena on Spring Garden Highway was affected as a number of days had to be rescheduled due to rain. (DN)

HUSBANDS GETS CLOSER TO TRIPLE FIGURES – Veteran rider Patrick Husbands continued to inch towards the 100-win mark for yet another Woodbine season when he produced a brace on Saturday’s ten-race card. The Barbadian scored in Race 5 with 3/5 favourite Lyla Lorraine before following up with another win in Race 7 with 5-1 chance Majestic Fever. Husbands has 96 wins for the season which wraps in two months, and lies fourth behind runaway leader Eurico Rosa da Silva on 150. Three-time former champion, Luis Contreras, sits second on 135 with Rafael Hernandez third on 116.  (DN)

HOPE SPEARHEADS BATTING AS WI SHINE – Batsmen Shai Hope, Roston Chase and Kraigg Brathwaite all gathered half-centuries as West Indies made a bright start to their cricket tour of Zimbabwe here yesterday. Opting to bat first on the opening day of the three-day tour match against Zimbabwe at the Bulawayo Athletic Club, the Caribbean side ended on 301 for six with Hope top-scoring with 85, Chase stroking 79 and Brathwaite chipping in with 53. Kyle Hope, Shai’s older brother, missed out on a half-century with 42, while seamer Michael Chinouya, who played his only two Tests against New Zealand last year, was the best bowler with two for 55. In the only warm-up match before the first Test starting next Saturday, West Indies made the most of the outing with their main batsmen getting among the runs.  (DN)

FINAL PUT BACK – Disappointing and not suitable for a final. That’s how captains Allan Branch of Windward and Adrian Maynard of BRC described the conditions at the Foursquare Oval in St Philip, yesterday. They were speaking to NATION SPORT long before attempts by officials to get play underway in the Barbados Cricket Association’s (BCA) Shield 40-over final, were officially abandoned without a ball being bowled. From as early as Saturday when the opening day of the BCA’s seventh series Elite match between ESA Field Pickwick and the Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme was washed out it was obvious it would’ve required a minor miracle for play to be possible due to be wet conditions. That miracle never materialised, even though an attempt was made to switch from one pitch to another where it appeared the bowlers’ run-ups were somewhat firmer. (DN)

SOROPTIMISTS SHOW THEY CARE – The Soroptimist International of Jamestown got their observance for today’s World Food Day off to an early start over the weekend. Members had their hands full on Saturday packaging hot lunches to be delivered to people as far as St Lucy, who could not make it to the Dockside Bar and Restaurant, Shallow Draught, Spring Garden, to sit and have a meal. Those who could were treated to a full fare of food and drink. President Cheryl Niles said there was also a little extra for the 60 or so people who were treated. “The object is to be able to help someone. What we’re going to do after they’ve had their lunch is give them a little care package to take with them. I call it something for another day. So you’ve got some sweet potatoes, some English potatoes, some tuna, some sausages, English apples, green bananas, some carrots, canned peas, tea, bottled water, butternut squash, rice – a nice array of stuff. “There is always that person who opens the fridge or the cupboard and go like, ‘I don’t have anything’. And we want to make sure that tomorrow you have something else, or something else to put with that little something that you have,” Niles added. Tomorrow, the group will partner with the Barbados Youth Business Trust to roll out a nine-week programme for young people, who are recently out of school and trying to find their way. Niles said the youngsters would be taught how to manage their own businesses – from business plan right up to getting them off the ground. (DN)

That’s all for today folks there are 77 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 10/14/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Saturday, 14th October, 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing Saturday Sun Newspaper (SS).

CHERRY’S QUARRY TO BE CLOSED – Businessesman Anderson Cherry has agreed to wind down his quarry in six months following months of complaints by residents in and around the Lower Estate site. Should he fail to do so, residents will take him to court over Project Recycle Ltd. The annoucement of the pending closure was made on Thursday night during a town hall meeting at Church of God Salters, St George, where residents heard that Cherry’s lawyers and Member of Parliament and attorney, Dale Marshall QC, who represented the residents, had reached an agreement. Since February, residents in St George communities such as Airy Hill, Salters, Flat Rock, Lower Estate and Hothersal Turning in St Michael have been complaining about the “toxic” smell coming from the quarry. Many said they felt trapped in their homes as they often have to close all doors and windows to keep the stench out or even flee at night so they can have a decent rest. They also said that as a result of the coconut shell, tires and other waste brought there, the rodent population had increased. (SS)

MIXED VIEWS ON RIHANNA DRIVE – It may be “shut up or drive” for some residents of Westbury New Road, the proposed area to be renamed Rihanna Drive in honour of Barbados’ megastar. Not all agree with the form chosen to celebrate hometown music idol Robyn Rihanna Fenty, who started out as a chart-topping 17-year-old singer, but broke into acting, fashion and recently turned the make-up world on its head with her Fenty Beauty line catering to almost every shade of skin. Shortly after yesterday’s announcement by officials from the Ministry of Tourism, the Saturday Sun team visited the Grammy winner’s former neighbourhood, which she sometimes recognises in acceptance speeches and after which she named her record label, Westbury Road Entertainment. Some residents in Westbury, which is known for the island’s largest cemetery, approved of the decision, while others were not completely sold. (SS)

IMF PROJECTING ECONOMIC GROWTH OF 2.4 PER CENT FOR SOME CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Friday said economic prospects for the Caribbean are generally improving and that growth in the tourism dependent economies in 2017-18 is projected to be 2. 4 per cent, up from 2.1 per cent last year. In a report titled “Latin America and the Caribbean-Stuck in low gear” the Washington-based financial institution said that the baseline projections reflect data available before the impact of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, which hit the Caribbean recently. It said that the data do not, therefore, reflect the devastating impact of these hurricanes on a number of countries in the region and the risk they pose to their growth outlook, at least in the short term. But in the report, the IMF noted that for commodity exporters, growth is projected to rise in 2017–18 to 1.3 per cent, from –3.3 per cent in 2016. It said that in a number of cases, weather swings and hurricanes are expected to take a toll on overall growth this year, including in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, and Haiti, which is still rebuilding from the effects of Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. The financial institution in its Regional Economic Outlook report noted that slightly faster growth is projected for 2018, based on the acceleration in global demand, as well as country-specific factors, such as the expected entry into full operation of a new international airport in St Vincent and the Grenadines. It said reconstruction activity following the hurricanes could have a positive impact on growth in subsequent years beyond what is projected in the baseline. (SS)

4 BAD APPLES – Four international businesses yesterday found out the hard way that Barbados’ reputation will not be compromised. Their licences were revoked after being found guilty of engaging in money laundering and corrupt practices. This was revealed by Minister of International Business Donville Inniss, who told the SATURDAY SUN he had immediately acted on information received Thursday. “It has been drawn to the attention of my ministry that there are four licenced international business companies, for whom the beneficial owners have been found guilty of corrupt practices, money laundering and other illicit activities in other jurisdictions, namely, the United States of America.  (SS)

AG TRIES TO OUT RAGING FIRE DISPUTE – An urgent meeting to head off any further industrial upheaval within the Barbados Fire Service has been arranged. Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs Adriel Brathwaite has secured a meeting with the executive of the Barbados Fire Service Association and the Chief Fire Officer Errol Maynard. With the essential service hit by largescale sickouts and reports of discontent among fire officers, Brathwaite hopes the talks would address the grievances of officers. It is illegal for members of the Fire Service to take strike action. The meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. tomorrow at the Fire Service’s Cheapside, Bridgetown offices. Barbados TODAY investigations revealed several officers were on certified sick leave this week and this has compromised operations at the country’s five fire stations. It is also understood that officers are disgruntled about several issues, including complaints that personnel who were on duty in hurricane ravaged Dominica as part of the Urban Search and Rescue team were scheduled to work on the same day they returned to the island without any rest time or de-briefing. Earlier this week Brathwaite told reporters many of the problems stemmed from a breakdown in communications with several matters being linked. Meantime efforts to reach the Fire Chief were unsuccessful and head of the Fire Service Association Corrie Bridgeman declined to comment on the situation. (BT)

POLICE STILL INVESTIGATING DEATH – Police are continuing their investigations into the unnatural death of 56-year-old Tyrone McDonald Cherry, of Hutson Alley, Reed Street, St Michael. His death occurred sometime between yesterday and today, in the water at the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex, Princess Alice Highway, St Michael. Cherry, who was employed at the complex, was found floating in the water at the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex around 7:55 a.m. this morning, and his body was subsequently retrieved by member of the Barbados Coast Guard. Police are awaiting the results of an autopsy to guide investigations. (SS)

MAKE CRIMINAL LAW A CHOICE – With as many as 700 people on remand at HMP Dodds, the Attorney General is urging 53 new attorneys to consider the practice of criminal law. Adriel Brathwaite said while the high number of those on remand was unacceptable, there might be an ease to the situation as plea bargaining comes on stream in the next few weeks. He was speaking at a Special Sitting in the No. 1 Supreme Court held to admit the new attorneys to the Bar yesterday. The ceremony was witnessed by members of the judiciary, the magistracy, the Barbados Bar and Solicitor General’s chambers as well as scores of relatives and friends. “(Yesterday) morning, I saw a report that suggested that we had around 700 individuals on remand which is unacceptable − that situation. And I want as soon as possible to see how we can remedy that situation,” he told the special sitting.  (SS)

GOLLOP HELD - A 45-year-old St Michael man, accused of having four firearms and 217 rounds of assorted ammunition without valid licences, has been remanded to Dodds prison until November 10. Edward DaCosta Gollop, of School Lane, Halls Road, St Michael, was not required to plead to the indictable offences when he appeared before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant this afternoon in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court. The guns, along with 100 rounds of 7.62 calibre ammunition; 97 rounds of .45 calibre ammunition and 20 rounds of .32 calibre ammunition, were reportedly discovered by officers of the Anti-gun and Tactical Response units of the Royal Barbados Police Force when they executed a search warrant at Gollop’s residence on October 9. The 45-year-old, who is being represented by Queen’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim, in association with attorney Sian Liange, is also accused of possession, possession with intent to supply and trafficking of cocaine and cannabis. Gollop is further charged with laundering of BDS$69, 818 and US$2,461, which were reportedly the proceeds of crime, and of offering the US currency for sale even though he is not an authorized dealer. (BT)

SCHOOL BOYS CAUGHT WITH OFFENSIVE WEAPONS – A report has been ordered into the lives of two 16-year-old boys who admitted to taking offensive weapons to school for protection. Jamili Dontre’ Bynoe of No. 70 Cane Vale, Christ Church pleaded guilty to possession of a scissors without a reasonable excuse, while Jaquan Rashawn Bowell of Grazettes New Road, St Michael admitted to having a flick knife without lawful excuse. The offences where committed at Richmond Gap, St Michael yesterday. Police responded to a report of an altercation among a group of students and the two boys, who reportedly came to the school armed, were searched. Bynoe told the police that he had the scissors to protect himself from other students while Bovell said he had the knife to protect himself because some guys in the area were constantly interfering with him. In addition to ordering reports on them, Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant imposed a daily 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew on the teens and warned them against taking weapons to school. The two, who each posted $1,500 bail,  are to return to the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court  on December 8 and have also been warned not to associate with each other. (BT)

RATTAN CURSES POLICE OFFICERS – A 35-year-old painter was granted $3,000 bail today after pleading guilty to two of three criminal offences, including cursing an officer of the law. Ranchand Rattan of St Leonard’s Avenue, Westbury Road, St Michael denied assaulting Gail Ramsay on August 10, but admitted to using insulting language towards constable Pauline Winson at Batts Rock Beach. The accused man was reportedly sitting on a table at the location when the police officer spoke to him. In reply, he reportedly told her, “I can do what I feel like, cause you is a p****”. He also admitted to having camouflage in his possession on the same day. Today, he told Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant that he had “no sense” of the assault charge. “I am not aware, I don’t understand the name of the person,” he explained. That case continues on November 14 when Rattan will also be sentenced for the other two offences. (BT)

DRUG ACCUSED COUPLE TO SPEND WEEKEND APART - A couple who pleaded guilty to separate charges under the Drug Offences Act will spend the weekend apart. Lolita Cherry-Ann Henry-Dottin of Deacons Road, St Michael admitted to knowingly permitting the handling of cannabis on her premises. The 45-year-old shopkeeper was charged for the offence earlier today after police discovered a cannabis plant while executing a search warrant at her residence in the presence of her boyfriend Atiba Tafari Gooding. “I keep it there for my boyfriend Atiba,” Dottin said when asked to account for the plant. The first time offender, who was today granted $3,000 bail with one surety by Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant, is due to return to court on November 14. In the meantime, her partner who is 31-year-old farmer and fisherman was also granted $9,000 bail on eight charges of possession, possession with intent to supply, trafficking and cultivation of 1.5 pounds of cannabis, valued at $3,000. However, he was remanded to HMP Dodds until October 16 after he was unable to present a suitable surety to the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court. The illegal drugs weighed 1.5 pounds and had a $3,000 estimated street value. (BT)

CASHIER CAUGHT WITH MONEY – A 23-year-old cashier, who stole $295 from her workplace, has been ordered to perform 180 hours of community service. Kadeja Michelle Maynard of Block 3B, St Matthias Housing Area, St Matthias, Christ Church admitted to stealing the money from Mmm I Like I Like Incorporated on October 12. Sergeant Cameron Gibbons said the owner of the business realized that the money was “turning up short”. A review of the cameras showed the accused taking the cash and placing it under the cash pan without issuing any receipts. The matter was reported to police and Maynard confessed to committing the act. According to the prosecutor, she also handed over a sum of money, which was hidden in her sock. “I do apologize for what I have done,” Maynard told Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant today. The woman, who was represented by attorney-at-law Shadia Simpson, was granted $3,000 bail. She returns to court on December 8 to give an update of her service. In the meantime, she has been warned to stay away from her former place of work. (BT)

WARRENS ADVANCE – The old boys are on to another final. Former national captain Zahir Motara drilled 11 treys as knockout champs Pan American International Insurance Warrens advanced to basketball’s First Division finals via Thursday’s 100-61 Game 2 rout of Police at the Wildey Gym. It was an impressive performance to say the least from Motara, who finished with a game-high 37 points after scoring at least one triple in each quarter. But it was in the third period where he was most prolific, knocking down four three-pointers in succession including one on a huge four-point play from the corner. (SS)

BUTTON LOOKING FORWARD TO FESTIVAL OF SPEED – FORMER Formula One champion Jenson Button is looking forward to his appearance at the second Barbados Festival of Speed at Bushy Park today. The 37-year-old British driver arrived in Barbados on Friday night and will be one of the main attractions for today’s event which gets going at 2 p.m. “I’m really excited. This is my first time in Barbados for 12 years. It’s lovely to be back,” Button said moments after emerging from the arrivals hall at the Grantley Adams International Airport. “I’m looking forward to spending a bit of time here. I can’t wait for the Festival of Speed. It will be a lot of fun and hopefully we’ll have a lot of fans there.” Button emerged as champion Formula One driver in 2009 but last year he announced he would compete only as a reserve driver this year. During today’s day/night event, he will go up against a Twister aerobatic plane around the circuit. “It’s always interesting racing against different machinery. Racing against a plane is always exciting,” Button said. “I really don’t know how that is going to pan out but it should be fun. There are so many different activities happening that I can watch as well. I’m very much looking forward to it.” Button is the second Formula One champion to appear at the Festival of Speed following the participation of fellow Brit Lewis Hamilton last year. He jumped at the opportunity to come after the organisers approached him. “They got in touch. I’ve always been a fan. I know Lewis pretty well. He’s been out here previously and also a few of the drivers that came out for another event at Bushy Park. They really enjoyed their time here,” Button said. “I was asked if I was interested to take part and I said ‘off course, why wouldn’t I be?’  I don’t know why it has taken me so long to come back. It’s crazy. I’m looking forward to the next few days. The event is the main reason why I am here, but (I also want) to see a bit more of Barbados.” (SS)

AGRO MIGRATION STUDY – The Ministry of Agriculture is embarking on a new research programme to determine the reasons that small farmers are migrating from rural communities. Speaking at a farmers’ market at Graeme Hall, Christ Church, Deputy Chief Agricultural Officer Leslie Brereton said farmers migrated from rural areas in search of better self-improvement opportunities but stressed that rural development could be the answer to the issue. “Rural development could address the root causes of migration, including poverty, food insecurity, inequality, unemployment, lack of social protection and natural resource depletion due to climate change.” Brereton added that the ministry had a unique role to play in relation to rural migration by assisting in the improvement of agricultural production and productivity. He said small farmers contributed greatly to food security in the island and when a number of them migrate to urban areas or out of the country it created a vacuum.  (SS)

SHOPPING LIKE THE BLIND – Intrepid shoppers at Carlton Supermarket experienced what it felt like to shop blind on Thursday, as the world marked World Sight Day. The immersive project was put on by the Lions Club of Bridgetown with assistance from representatives of the National United Society of the Blind.  Shoppers at the Black Rock, St Michael supermarket were blindfolded and they had to attempt to do aspects of their regular shopping. While at the cash register, the shoppers relied on other senses such as touch and even smell to figure out what products they were buying. Some of the items included oil, canned foods, ketchup, peas, spices and fruit. (SS)

CARPENTER NAILS IT - Carpenter Jason Hinkson now has an additional tool to help him get the job done. It has come in the form of a brand new Mazda 3 he won in the Courts Barbados Limited, Vroom Vroom Summer Promotion. Before landing his prize, the 35-year-old Hinkson had to travel with his tools by bus or borrow his brother’s car to take him to job sites. All of that anxiety dissipated when he calmly collected the vehicle from managing director Trisha Tannis and other management at the Bridgetown store yesterday. He had bought a Whirlpool washing machine and refrigerator. Hinkson said he felt good. “I was not even looking for the car . . . I thought it was something different,” the father of an 11-year-old son said. (SS)

That’s all for today folks there are 78 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 8/17/2017

Good Morning  #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Thursday, August 17TH, 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Daily Newspaper (DN).

RING THE BELL! – Two of Barbados’ leading political scientists have reiterated their call for Prime Minister Freundel Stuart to call early elections so the country’s critical economic and social problems can be addressed urgently. Political scientist and pollster Peter Wickham and retired Dean of the University of the West Indies Faculty of Social Sciences Dr George Belle were firm in that call, with the latter suggesting that the current administration is bankrupt of ideas to fix the country’s woes. He argued that Democratic Labour Party (DLP) parliamentarians should also be concerned about their political future because they too will be negatively affected the longer the party stays in office. Though not always in agreement with the retired lecturer in political science, Wickham was on the same page with him on the call for an early poll. The pollster argued that an election would either force the DLP to come up with a plan if Stuart did not have one or, alternatively, give way to someone else with a plan. During separate interviews with Barbados TODAY both Belle and Wickham also addressed Stuart’s role in last week’s Social Partnership meeting at the Hilton Barbados Resort, although they had different takes on the issue. Belle questioned Stuart’s chairmanship of the meeting, arguing that the role should have been delegated to Minister of Labour Senator Dr Esther Byer-Suckoo. The political scientist further contended that the country saw no leadership from the Prime Minister, only a “pedantic summation” at the end of the discussions. But Wickham argued that Stuart’s performance was consistent with what he believed to be his function as the country’s political leader. “Stuart has no desire to take control of the situation nationally. I think that we would have been foolish to expect that he would have done something different to his consistent position, which is that the ministers will run the Government, while he supervises as chairman,” the pollster told Barbados TODAY, reiterating that Stuart’s style of leadership was not one of engaging the public. “He has no desire to engage on these issues. None. He has a desire to chair and to facilitate and that is exactly what he did.” Wickham said Barbadians should not expect Stuart to change at this stage of his political career. “That is his articulated and defended leadership style. He is not moving away from it now. He wants to be a chairman, not a leader,” he argued. (BT)

MAXWELL FOLK FIXING ROAD - The badly-damaged Maxwell Coast Road is finally being fixed. That news would undoubtedly make residents happy, if only it was not them who were shelling out thousands of dollars to repair it themselves. In the baking midday sun yesterday, a few irked residents watched as a “Bobcat” laid out marl in an attempt to fill the pothole-infested path in the Christ Church district. They told the DAILY NATION the road had rapidly deteriorated due to the constant traffic of construction trucks from the nearby luxury property, Sandals Royal Barbados. (DN)

CARIFESTA ‘NEVER UNDER THREAT’ - Minister of Labour Dr Esther Byer Suckoo has strongly denied reports that CARIFESTA XIII was under threat. In fact, the Government senator insisted recent meetings held at the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) involving the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) were only centred around wage negotiations. Meetings were held on Monday and Tuesday at he state-run organisation in the Pine, St Michael, and attended by officials from both the CBC and the BWU. “There was never a threat to disrupt CARIFESTA. The meetings at CBC were merely wage negotiations. There was no meeting about any threat to disrupt CARIFESTA because the unions understand that CARIFESTA isn’t a local event, but a regional one,” she said. “There was never a threat of industrial action by the union.” (DN)

GOING PLACES - Chairman of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc (BTMI) Alvin Jemmott believes the country’s efforts at expanding the tourism product is bearing fruit, especially as other destinations enter the marketplace. With the country preparing to welcome an estimated 2,000 visitors for the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) from August 17-27, Jemmott said the cultural spectacular was coming at an ideal time for the industry. Meantime, the BTMI chairman has revealed that the former home accommodation programme had evolved from what was envisaged. That initiative, first highlight over a decade ago for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, and was developed to cater for the projected increased arrivals due to the region’s staging of mega sporting event, during what is a peak travel season. Homeowners were invited to use the spare capacity in homes to accommodate tourists. Drawing reference to programmes like Airbnb, he said the number of yearly booking through this platform indicated that market was steadily increasing. He further told Barbados TODAY that effort were ongoing to entice visitors to these shores beyond the tradition means; with a heavy focus on new media. (BT)

PELICAN VILLAGE TENANTS WANT TO TAKE OVER THE CRAFT MARKET - Pelican Village on Harbour Road, St Michael could receive a new lease on life as early as the end of this month, if the tenants win the tender bid to manage the outlets there. In anticipation of taking control of their destiny, they are in the process of forming a cooperative, and have established links with the Barbados Cooperative Society (BCS) to ensure their venture is a success. The tenants have also formed ties with the Barbados Tourism Product Authority, the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, the National Cultural Foundation and the Barbados Museum to draw on their expertise, Managing Director of Bajan Art Forms Onkphra Wells, told Barbados TODAY. Wells is one of the driving forces behind the project. Minister of Industry, Commerce and Small Business Development Donville Inniss reported last December that tenants had owed the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) some $15 million in arrears, up from $10 million in 2014. Since then, Government has been seeking to outsource management of the under-patronized Pelican complex. (BT)

TURKEY BUSINESS SOARING AGAIN AT CHICKMONT - Three years after a major fire cost more than $770,000 in losses and depleted the turkey stock at a farm operated by Chickmont Foods Ltd, the company is reporting that things are back to normal. A fire at ZRS Farms on August 26, 2014 damaged a pen and affected the estimated 7,600 two-week-old turkeys that it housed. General Manager and Director of Chickmont Foods Edward Albecker said at the time there was no need for Barbadians to worry about any turkey shortage as a result of the fire. Today, while Albecker did not go into details about the company’s recovery, he told Barbados TODAYin a brief interview, everything was “pretty much” back to normal with the turkey producing arm of the company, and business overall was booming. In fact, he said besides having enough turkeys and chicken to serve the local market, the island’s main poultry producing company had witnessed an estimated five per cent increase in the sales of eggs over the last few weeks. The Balls Plantation, Lowland, Christ Church company is an amalgamation of poultry companies, Montrose Limited, Chickgrowers Limited and Super Poultry Farms Limited. The Barbados Egg and Poultry Producers Association (BEPPA) gave the assurance that there was no shortage of supply and that the price of eggs had not increased. (BT)

SUGAR TWIST - A fresh attempt is being made to bring the stalled Andrews sugar project in St Joseph back to life. Nearly one-and-a-half years after the High Court upheld an injunction by Andrews Great House owner Emile Peter Elias to shut down the US$250 million venture, Government is returning to court to argue that the wrong officials were sued. With the project on life support, Elias’ attorney Ebrahim Lakhi told Barbados TODAY the Freundel Stuart administration had applied to the court to have Chief Town Planner Mark Cummins and the Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite, QC, removed as the subjects of the injunction. He said the administration was contending that it was Stuart, in his capacity as Minister responsible for Town Planning, who should have been sued in the first place. Lakhi said the authorities were objecting to the judicial review application which said the chief town planner had exceeded his jurisdiction in granting planning permission for the project. (BT)

STILL NO SETTLEMENT IN SIGHT TO HYATT CASE - After ten hours of arguments spread over two days, those involved in the Hyatt Centric legal battle are no closer to a settlement. A High Court judge today adjourned the hearing until tomorrow, after close to seven hours of legal arguments today. This after Barry Gale, QC, representing Hyatt developer, the Mark Maloney-led Vision Development Inc, spent three hours last Wednesday trying to convince Justice Sonia Richards at the Supreme Court that attorney-at-law David Comissiong had no legal standing to attempt to stop construction of the US$100 million hotel. The hearing resumed this morning around 10:30 with Gale completing his arguments, followed by Queens Counsel Hal Gollop, who is representing Prime Minister Freundel Stuart. Following an over two-hour session the parties broke for lunch, after which Comissiong began presenting his arguments from around 2:40p.m. on why he requested a judicial review of the permission granted by the Prime Minister, in his capacity as Minister responsible for Town & Country Planning, to Maloney’s company to build the 15-storey hotel on Bay Street, The City. At around 6 p.m. the judge adjourned the hearing until 10:30 a.m. tomorrow, at which time Gale and Gollop will reply to any points that may have emerged from Comissiong’s four-hour presentation. (BT)

LIAT LAUNCHES TICKETING PARTNERSHIP WITH NINE AIRLINES - LIAT, the Caribbean Airline will this week open access to more destinations with the launch of its Interline Gateway. The Interline Gateway hosted by Travel Port will allow LIAT customers to book tickets with LIAT along with any Interline partners. The product which will be available through the LIAT Call Centre will see passengers being able to book tickets which include a LIAT flight along with flights from any of the nine interline partners: JetBlue, Caribbean Airlines, British Airways, Corsair, Virgin Atlantic, Air France-KLM, Air Canada, Surinam Airways, and WinAir. The payments for these tickets will be made via credit or debit cards. This will now allow LIAT passengers to make one booking via LIAT for their travel as well as have LIAT assistance in case of changes. “LIAT is always looking at ways to improve the product we offer our customers and allowing them to access the destinations offered by our interline partners is another way we are doing this” stated chief executive officer, Julie Reifer-Jones. Reifer-Jones noted that the Interline Gateway has been in development and LIAT was happy to bring this added benefit to the market. Customers who wish to use the service can call the LIAT Call Centre and speak to an agent about booking a reservation. The Interline Gateway will be accepting bookings from August 15. (DN)

CITY CRIME PLEA - A leading cleric has called for a national conversation on crime in Barbados, and one that includes those actually involved in criminal activity. Monsignor Vincent Blackett of the Catholic Church made the plea as a consultative process that will see churches, non-governmental organisations and businesses in Bridgetown provide solutions to the upsurge in crime in the area kicked off yesterday. The Henderson Williams City Development Foundation held an emergency meeting at Hilton Barbados where a large contingent from various churches in The City, as well as business and community leaders, gathered. “I came in here this morning and I looked at people around the table, but there are many pockets. Missing are people who occupy The City but do not live there,” Blackett said. (DN)

GUNPLAY IN THE PINE - While residents of The Pine, St Michael said they were used to outbreaks of gunfire, the brazen manner in which two men were shot last night came as a surprise to many of them. At around 9 p.m. 40-year-old Kerwin Depeche and 35-year-old Ryan Quimby were hanging out with other men at a shop in the area of Block 5, Bottom Close in Wildey, St Michael when an unknown assailant exited a van and opened fire on the group of men, injuring Depeche and Quimby. Depeche was shot in his right foot, while Quimby was shot twice in his left thigh. When Barbados TODAY visited the area, known as Dungeon, residents were prepared to comment, but on strict condition of anonymity. Some described the incident as chilling, but most said it was unprecedented in its brazenness. Another concerned person blamed old rivalries for the violence in the community, although he did not suggest this to be the case with last night’s shooting. Another resident sought to hold the country’s political leaders responsible, suggesting they were not setting good examples. He also said the authorities were placing attention of the wrong people, expending energy on the “ghetto youth”, while the real culprits responsible for importing illegal guns were left untouched. (BT)

BRADSHAW CALLS FOR MORE INTERACTIVE FORM OF POLICING - Member of Parliament for St Michael South East Santia Bradshaw is calling for a kinder and gentler form of policing and more community activities to combat the worrying rise in gun violence. In the wake of a shooting last night that left two men nursing injuries, the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) parliamentarian was particularly concerned about the manner in which lawmen interact with the youth in her constituency. It was around 9 p.m. when 40-year-old Kerwin Depeche and 35-year-old Ryan Quimby were hanging out with other men at a shop in the area of Block 5, Bottom Close in Wildey, St Michael when an unknown assailant exited a van and opened fire on the group of men, injuring Depeche and Quimby. Bradshaw said the shooting was unfortunate, considering the fact that there had been ongoing efforts to ensure residents felt comfortable at home. However, she also said the Royal Barbados Police Force needed to change its approach to policing the area, suggesting that the perceived aggressive method was not working. In condemning the violence, Bradshaw said there were several reasons for the surge in gun crimes, with joblessness at the top of the list. The Opposition politician told Barbados TODAY community centres within the constituency needed to be upgraded to offer opportunities for the youth to become engaged in productive programmes. (BT)

LEAVE IT TO US! - Law enforcement officials are cautioning against vigilantism after the latest shooting incident caused shock and fear in a St Michael community. Police reported that sometime after 9 p.m. on Tuesday, an unknown assailant opened fire in the area of Block 5, Bottom Close, Wildey. As a result, Kerwin Depeche, 40, also from Wildey, received a gunshot injury to the right foot, while Ryan Quimby, 35, of Bush Hall, St Michael, was shot twice in the left thigh. Depeche and Quimby were liming by a shop with other men when a van pulled up. The shooter got out and opened fire on the group. The two were transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by private vehicle for medical attention. Some residents accused police of inadequate patrols and only appearing after the fact, and said they would have to defend the block. (DN)

WANTED MAN SURRENDERS - Forty-seven-year-old Shanley Vergusson Stoute, who was the subject of a wanted man bulletin, is now in police custody. Stoute, who is also known as Stoute Man, of Parish Land, Christ Church, surrendered to police, accompanied by an attorney, Tuesday, August 15. He is currently assisting police with investigations. (BT)

BAIL FOR WOMAN WHO ALLEGEDLY HELPED WANTED MAN - A mother of two who allegedly helped a wanted man evade police earlier this year, was granted her freedom yesterday after spending five months on remand at HMP Dodds. Ashley Danica Anita Jones was released on bail after Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant accepted her two $5,000 sureties, but with strict conditions. The No. 17 Birch Path, Regent Hill, Pinelands, St Michael resident had been on remand since February after appearing in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court charged with perverting the course of public justice through a series of acts, when she provided wanted man Livardo Hinds with daily meals, concealed his whereabouts and gave his name as Livardo Weekes to protect him from prosecution. Jones must not associate with Hinds until her case is settled and she will also have to report to the District ‘A’ Police Station every Monday and Thursday with valid identification The accused woman, who was represented by attorney Romain Marshall, returns to court on November 23. (BT)

BAIL FOR WOMAN ACCUSED OF HARBOURING ALLEGED SHOOTER - Twenty-four-year-old Patrice Deisha Downes, who was accused of harbouring shooter Reco Omar Grimes, was released on bail when she appeared in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court yesterday. Grimes was charged with discharging a firearm in the Fairchild Street market on August 11. Downes of Hothersal Terrace, St Michael, was not required to plead to the charge that knowing or believing that Reco Grimes had committed serious bodily harm, she did an act with intent to impede his apprehension or prosecution, sometime between August 11 and 12. There was no objection to bail, and Magistrate Cuffy-Sargeant released her with two sureties of $5 000 each. Downes, who was represented by Angella Mitchell-Gittens, was ordered to report to Central Police Station every Wednesday. The accused returns to court on November 22.  (DN)

HINDS CHARGED OVER KADOOMENT DAY VIOLENCE - A St Michael painter accused of engaging in violent behaviour with other persons on Kadooment Dayis out on $10,000 bail. Thirty-year-old O’Neal Clavis Nile Hinds of Belle Gully, St Michael was not required to plead to the indictable charge when he appeared before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant yesterday, accompanied by his attorney Shadia Simpson. Although Hinds has a case pending in the High Court, there were no objections from prosecutor Station Sergeant Glenda Carter-Nicholls when it came time for a bail application to be made. However, Hinds, who walked with the aid of crutches, must report to Central Police Station every Friday before noon with valid identification as a condition of his bail release. He makes his second appearance in the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on November 10. (BT)

HOLDER GETS $5,000 BAIL - There were no objections to bail when Lamar Jamal Holder appeared before a Bridgetown magistrate today charged with committing two indictable offences. It is alleged that 32-year-old Holder unlawfully and maliciously wounded Ryan Benskin on July 13, and engaged in violent conduct with other people. The 3rd Avenue Licorish Village, My Lords Hill, St Michael resident was granted $5,000 bail and ordered to report to the District ‘A’ Police Station by noon every Wednesday with a valid form of identification. Holder returns to court on October 17 when two other co-accused men are scheduled to appear before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant. (BT)

MAGISTRATE ADVISES YOUTH AGAINST GOING WRONG ROAD - A local magistrate has encouraged Barbadian youth to take advantage of the numerous opportunities being made available to them to be leaders and role models. Magistrate Douglas Frederick gave the advice to the 11- to 16-year-olds who were at the closing ceremony of the Shaping Adolescents to Function in their Environment (SAFE) Zone summer programme last Friday. Broaching the issue of gun violence, the magistrate contended that until a solution is found to address that problem, the island would remain in a worrying state. President of SOS Fabian Sargeant added that more social workers were needed in primary and secondary schools. In light of the acts of violence that have been seen on traditional and social media, he said, an intervention was needed to bring about much change. (BT)

EX-BLOCK LEADER TELLS HOW TO HELP YOUTH - A former block leader has put forward several suggestions he thinks can help get the nation’s youth back on track and away from criminal activity. Winston “Iston Bull” Branch, former block leader from Chapman Lane, The City, said finance was important to make the youth more self-sufficient and able to run their own enterprises.  He listed agriculture as a viable option, pointing out there was a lot of idle land that the youth could be given access to. They also needed access to loans, which would be channelled into money-making ventures where they could work for a salary These points were made during Branch’s contribution at an emergency meeting at Hilton Barbados yesterday by The Henderson Williams City Development Foundation to discuss crime in The City. (DN)

HIV A HARD LESSON - Educating children about HIV/AIDS is proving to be a challenge for social workers. This observation was made by community nutrition officer, Stacia Whittaker, of the HIV/AIDS Food Bank. She said children were joining adults in prejudice against people living with the disease. Whittaker, who has been with the Food Bank since 2003, said the level of discrimination in the country was saddening. She added that teaching children about the illness was proving to be difficult as they ignored the information given by social workers and listened to the myths they heard from adults at home. Speaking on the sidelines of a donation yesterday of food supplies and toiletries by the Barbados Defence Force’s summer camp Camp Energy, she said: “The Ministry of Health, Education and Labour have portfolios that deal with HIV/AIDS education, so there is a lot of information out there. (DN)

LUCKY PINK - Former international cricketers Franklyn Stephenson and Roland Butcher think that even if the West Indies can make the adjustment to playing under lights in the opening Test at Edgbaston today, the three-match series will prove to be a major challenge against an England side in their own conditions. Stephenson, who played County cricket in England for Gloucestershire, Nottinghamshire and Sussex, told NATIONSPORT yesterday he hopes the team can quickly adapt to the pink ball, which will be used in England for the first time. “The pink ball is relatively novel and I hope that that works in the boys’ favour. Not all is against them but I am not holding out much hope for the West Indies in this Test series,” he said. Stephenson said that Jason Holder’s men can take some heart from the solid performances in the pre-series tour matches. (DN)

WINDIES NOT FAZED BY UNDERDOG TAG - Inexperienced West Indies will hope to silence their many detractors when they clash with a dominant England in the historic day/night opening Test at Edgbaston here today, in what is likely to be their sternest challenge in recent times. Written off long before arriving here for the three-Test series, the Caribbean side, with just three wins in their last 23 Tests, are expected to be put under intense pressure from an England squad still buoyant from their emphatic series win over South Africa last month. Further, the Windies have not won a Test here in 17 years and are also without a series win in nearly three decades, since Sir Vivian Richards presided over a 3-1 victory in 1988. Captain Jason Holder, on his first tour of England since taking over the helm of the side two years ago, told reporters here yesterday that despite being underdogs, he had been boosted by his side’s form in the recent first-class tour matches.  (DN)

MAXED OUT! - There may be nine Barbadians on the Windies cricket team but most of Barbados won’t get to see them in England anyway. SportsMax, the region’s exclusive rights holder of the England tour, is no longer airing on MCTV, as the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) owes hundreds of thousands of dollars to International Media Content Limited (IMC), owner of SportsMax. SportsMax chief executive officer Oliver McIntosh confirmed the news after IMC issued CBC a termination notice yesterday for failing to “fulfil its obligation to pay IMC as per its agreement” for the last six months. “We would have assumed that since SportsMax is part of a bigger subscription package, that the funds that MCTV received for the channels would’ve just flowed to us, but that hasn’t been the case for a period of time that we estimate to be more than half a year,” explained McIntosh in an exclusive interview with DAILY NATION.  (DN)

U-15S DEFEAT PUERTO RICO - Barbados’ footballers sustained their winning streak yesterday, defeating Puerto Rico 2-0 in a top-of-the-table CONCACAF Under-15 Championship clash at the IMG Academy in Florida. Substitutes Thierry Gale and Nazario Adamson came off the bench to score a goal each in the second half to lead the team to victory. Coach Renaldo “Pee Wee” Gilkes, while admitting the match was harder than the one played against Guadeloupe, said the boys handled the pressure really well, paced themselves and scored at the appropriate time. “It was another difficult one. The competition is very very high over here. All of us [are] in Division 2 of the CONCACAF competition. The weather conditions were a bit more favourable. There was a bit more breeze . . . and I think we were able to settle down and play our brand of football,” Gilkes said. (DN)

34 FOR GOODWILL SWIM MEET - A 34-MEMBER Barbados team will leave the island tomorrow for Guyana to compete at the 23rd Goodwill Swim Championships. This short course meet will be contested over three days from Friday to Sunday and competition is open to regional swimmers in the eight and under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-14, and 15 -17 age groups. Swimmers who competed at the CARIFTA Swim Championships earlier this year, are not eligible for the meet, which will be held at the National Aquatic Centre on the East Bank of Demerara. Apart from Barbados and hosts Guyana, the other participating countries are Suriname, Bermuda, The Bahamas, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados. (DN)

BEAUTY’S BACK - When seven-year-old Beauty was rescued by a team from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) three months ago, she was nothing but skin and bones. Now the loving pitbull crossed with an unknown breed is healthy and lively again, and was the centre of attention yesterday when youngsters from the Barbados Defence Force’s Camp Energy visited the RSPCA on Spring Garden, St Michael.   (DN)

DANIEL CRAIG CONFIRMS HE WILL RETURN AS JAMES BOND - British actor Daniel Craig has confirmed he will reprise the role of James Bond one last time, ending months of speculation.  Craig made the revelation during an appearance on the US TV programme The Late Show on Tuesday. Asked by host Stephen Colbert whether he would return as James Bond, Craig responded: “Yes”, to cheers from the audience.  Craig has appeared four times as the spy with a taste for martini: in Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall and Spectre. Eon Productions, the company that runs the movie franchise, said on its website that the 25th Bond movie would be released in US cinemas on November 8, 2019, with a traditional early release in Britain and the rest of the world. Asked by Colbert whether he would appear in any further Bond movies after that one, Craig said no. “I think this is it. I just want to go out on a high note and I can’t wait,” he said. (DN)

That’s all for today folks there are 136 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 8/15/2017

Good Morning  #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Tuesday, August 15TH, 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

GOVERNEMNT PAYING LIP SERVICE - President of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) Akanni McDowall is charging that the outcome of last Friday’s meeting of the Social Partnership was another indication that the Freundel Stuart-led Cabinet does not take workers’ concerns seriously. And he says a meeting of the island’s four major trade unions – the NUPW, the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU), and the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) – will be convened shortly to discuss the way forward. Representatives of the trade unions and the private sector met with Stuart and other government officials for eight hours at the Hilton Barbados Resort last Friday, during which the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL), which increased from two per cent to ten per cent as of July 1, featured prominently. In his closing remarks, the Prime Minister said although the NSRL was being viewed by its critics as the “sin against the Holy Ghost”, his Government was forced to “bite the bullet” in an attempt to address the large fiscal deficit. He repeated an earlier assertion – denied by the trade unions – that when Government met with leaders of the labour movement on June 23, they agreed to wait until September 30 to see how the levy would performed. Stuart further contended that he had made a promise that, depending on its performance, Government would be willing to seriously consider either a coping allowance or serious discussions on a salary increase. He therefore implored the unions to stick to the agreement. However, like BWU General Secretary Toni Moore, McDowall categorically denied that such an agreement had been reached. The NUPW boss told Barbados TODAY while they went into the discussions hoping for a resolution, the contentious issues were left unresolved. The NUPW leader would not say whether the unions would resume actions to force the administration to accede to their demands for a 50 per cent reduction in the NSRL. (BT)

STEPHEN NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT ECONOMIC RECOVERY - The writing had been on the wall for the Barbados economy for some time, and Government should have taken the necessary steps to avoid the current situation, says economist Jeremy Stephen. And he is warning that unless some tough medium-term strategies are employed investor and consumer confidence will not return anytime soon. The economist said Government must find ways to increase tourism spend; while carrying out public sector reform; finding new drivers of economic growth; and ways of ensuring food security while giving incentives to farmers to improve the performance of the agriculture sector. However, Stephen said those efforts were being stalled due to international occurrences, the lack of political will, tight fiscal space, and Government’s inability to understand what needed to be done and the tools required to execute proficiently. The economist said it seemed Government was afraid to take risks and the “bold decisions” that were needed, adding that it was now too late for any form of public debt refinancing without hurting its ability to repay its Credit Suisse loan. The latest Central Bank report indicated that the economy grew by 2.2 per cent, but the reserves dropped to just 9.7 weeks of import or $635.5 million, well below the 12 weeks benchmark. Stephen told Barbados TODAY while he welcomed the 2.2 per cent economic growth, when inflation and other factors were considered he was “not overly impressed”. He said he did not expect investor and consumer confidence to return for another two to three years, although he anticipates an uptick in spending as the country approaches a general election. He added that any government assuming office following the next election, would have to drastically cut expenditure in order to help boost investor confidence. In a separate interview, Executive Director of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAB) Reginald Farley said it was necessary for Government to implement a “coherent” medium-term strategy to ensure sustained economic growth, as well as growth in the foreign exchange reserves. Pointing out that the major challenge for the economy remained the high fiscal deficit and low foreign reserves, Farley said there was also a need to boost investor and consumer confidence. The former Minister of Economic Development said while taxation was necessary Government simply could not tax its way out of its current economic problems. He said while ICAB was pleased with the overall 2.2 per cent GDP growth, which was driven mainly by tourism, he was concerned that the debt and Government expenditure continued to be “a drag” on the economy. (BT)

BUS TERMINAL DELAYED AGAIN - The multi-million-dollar River Bus Terminal complex on Nursery Drive, The City faces yet another delay, with the new completion date set for the end of this year. By then, the project will be just about a year-and-a-half behind schedule, although Director of the Barbados Transport Authority Alex Linton could not immediately say how much the delay would cost the taxpayer. Back in November 2015, Minister of Transport and Works Michael Lashley had said construction on the terminal would start in January last year and be finished by August. However, he announced in April 2016 that a revised deadline of June 2016 could not be met due to financial constraints, and set October as new finish date. This afternoon, Linton said a meeting was scheduled with stakeholders for tomorrow to discuss continuing plans for the project. The new terminal is expected to accommodate about 300 commuters in the main section. It will also house Transport Authority offices on the second floor, an outpost for the Royal Barbados Police Force, transport inspectors and the umbrella organizations for the privately-owned public service vehicles. Lashley has said the terminal will also have bathroom facilities and an internet cafe on the third floor for disembarking students so they could engage in productive pursuits while awaiting the arrival of their parents who may be employed in the city or its environs. (BT)

PSV OPERATORS DISCUSS FARE HIKES WITH SINCKLER – Privately owned public service vehicle (PSV) owners and operators have finally held their long requested meeting with Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler on demands for a hike in bus fares and duty-free concessions. However, at the end of today’s talks, they are no closer to a resolution, as they must now prepare a detailed proposal for discussion at a future meeting, Chairman of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) Roy Raphael told Barbados TODAY this afternoon. He said their request for increased bus fares and duty-free concessions on imported vehicle parts is based on the rising cost of doing business, which has been compounded by the recent imposition of the National Social Responsibility Levy. He also said that following public concerns about the conduct of PSV operators, the organization assured Sinckler that there were two model routes – Sugar Hill and Howells & Ivy – where the operators adhere to the rules, including the wearing the uniforms and keeping law and order. Meanwhile, Director of the Barbados Transport Authority Alex Linton said there were signs of an improvement in discipline among the PSV operators. (BT)

TAXI-MEN: NO TO UBER - The world-wide ride-hailing transportation service Uber is making moves to enter the Barbados market but local traditional taxi operators are fuming over the news. Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy last week disclosed that Uber officials “have been to Barbados and they are talking with the officials responsible for that sector, the Ministry of Transport and Works.” But the idea is not sitting well with some of the principals of taxi operations here. “It is going to kill taxis altogether,” declared Charles Layne, president of the Bridgetown Port Taxi Co-operative Society Limited which has a membership of over 130.  “I can’t believe that Government would want to do that” Layne said yesterday in disbelief, adding: “Right now we are going for 3 000 taxi permits and nearly 2 000 ZMs.” He suggested Uber would affect the taxi operators in Barbados “tremendously” and argued the island was “too small” to accommodate the Uber service. (DN)

GARBAGE SCHEME FACES FURTHER SETBACK - At least one private waste hauler has pulled out of a deal with the state-owned Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) over a lengthy delay in payment for garbage collection. Truckers, who last October reached a deal with Government to help clear mounting garbage, recently complained they had not been paid for several months, with the SSA owing in excess of $1 million. Minister of the Environment Dr Denis Lowe admitted to Barbados TODAY on the sidelines of Friday’s Social Partnership meeting at the Hilton Barbados Resort that “there have been some challenges recently in the area of pay”, but the issue was being sorted out, and the waste haulers were well on the way to receiving the outstanding monies. However, Managing Director of Project Recycle Anderson Fat Child Cherry today confirmed that neither he, nor the other waste haulers had been paid. This notwithstanding, he was quick to point out that he was understanding of Government’s financial position and he was committed to working with the SSA in these difficult times. An official of another company also confirmed to Barbados TODAY that his company also had not been paid and was holding out for payment. The official, who did not want the company named, also suggested that the SSA was finding itself in a similar predicament to last year, when an inadequate supply of vehicle to service the country led to overflowing receptacles and huge piles of garbage littering streets and sidewalks. It was those problems that led Government to agree a scheme last October with Project Recycle; Williams Liquid and Solid Waste Management; Garbage Master Limited; Simpsons Trucking Skip Services; and Forde’s Freighting and Rental Service Limited to improve the island’s waste collection. The deal was for six months in the first instance at $411 per hour, but was later revised to $300 per hour, VAT inclusive. During a row with the truckers in February over the revised fees, Lowe had suggested that while the programme had been useful in terms of assisting the SSA with waste collection, it might have run its course. He also explained at the time that the SSA was in a position to sustain between 20 to 24 trucks on the road daily. On Friday, the minister told Barbados TODAY the almost 50-year-old SSA had evolved, as had its needs. He noted that the equipment that the waste collection agency used to service the island 20 to 30 years ago was all but obsolete. Lowe said studies had been conducted and the results submitted to Cabinet, and a debate would soon follow in Parliament on the findings of the reports. Barbados TODAY understands that there was to be a meeting with the various stakeholders, this evening to address the outstanding issues. (BT)

CDB FUNDS $1.7 MILLION SCHOOL REPAIRS PROGRAMME - The Ministry of Education is to spend approximately $1.7 million to upgrade primary and nursery schools ahead of the start of the new school year in September. Director of the Educational Technical Management Unit of the Ministry of Education Richard Harrison said in a release the repairs, funded by the Caribbean Development Bank, began on July 7 and are scheduled to be completed on August 21. According to the release the ministry is expected to spend $1.52 million of the total to carry out priority repairs at 18 schools across the island. The refurbishment programme will address problems with roofs, bathrooms and nutrition areas, as well as electrical rewiring and storage improvements. The new school year begins on Monday September 4 for teachers, and Monday September 11, for students. (BT)

COME BACK OR PAY BACK, JONES TELLS SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS - Minister of Education Ronald Jones has issued a stern warning to the island’s latest national development scholarship winners that they must either come back home upon completion of their studies or pay back whatever was spent on educating them abroad. The Ministry of Education has offered scholarships to Dawn-Marie Armstrong, who will pursue a professional doctorate in sports and exercise psychology; registered nurse Roseanna Lewis, who will be pursuing her master’s degree in occupational health, safety and environmental management; Hallam Connell, who will study for a BSc in Animal Science; Natalya Brathwaite, who will be working towards a master’s degree in forensic accounting; Matthew Banfield, who will pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Music Performance; and Peter Bernstein, who will pursue MSc in Clinical Neuropsychology. Four of the six will study in the United Kingdom, while the other two will pursue their further education in Canada and New Zealand. Additionally, Sharice Francis has been named as the island’s latest Commonwealth scholarship winner and will be heading to the University of Aberdeen in Scotland to pursue her master’s degree in human rights law and criminal justice. Francis was offered a 2017 Chevening Scholarship earlier this year but turned it down in favour of the Commonwealth scholarship. The national development scholarships are offered in areas identified as critical to the island’s development. Jones said although the country was going through its fair share of financial and economic challenges, Barbados continued to look out for its young people. He advised the recipients to be “an ambassador for Barbados, not only in your behaviour, but in the quality of your work”.   (BT)

DECLINE IN CXC NUMBERS - The Barbados-based Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) is reporting a decline in the number of candidates who registered for major exams in the 2016-2017 academic year. Delivering the assessment at the CXC’s headquarters this morning, Director of Operations Stephen Savoury announced there was a one to two per cent drop in the number of entries in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exam (CAPE), even though registration was up for courses in the Caribbean Vocational Qualification and the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence. CXC Registrar Glenroy Cumberbatch told reporters he was aware of falling population rates across the region, however only about 21 per cent of candidates eligible to write CSEC exam were doing so. Meanwhile the CXC has recorded a slight improvement in this year’s CAPE examination results, compared to last year’s figures. Cumberbatch said 92 per cent of the candidates received grades one to five this year, compared to last year’s figure of 90 per cent. According to the registrar, new subjects were introduced in the last academic year, including Financial Services, in which 71 per cent of candidates received grades one to five, and Green Engineering which had a 78 per cent pass rate. The examination results were delivered to the Ministries of Education around the region today, and will be released to the students on Friday. (BT)

MORE TIME NEEDED FOR LEARNING, SAYS CXC REGISTRAR - IF REGISTRAR OF the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), Glenroy Cumberbatch, had his way, schoolchildren would get more time in school than they currently do. He told the DAILY NATIONyesterday at a press conference to announce this year’s Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) results that today’s work environment was more demanding than ever, so it made sense for children to take extra time to better prepare themselves. “The [CARICOM] Regional HRD (Human Resource Development) committee is looking at strategies to improve human resource development and one of the issues coming up is the number of people leaving school without adequate qualifications and that giving them additional time at school may be a good way of trying to better prepare them before they leave. “Twenty years ago the work you were doing was low to semi-skilled, but in today’s economy, there are not many of those jobs; [now] you have jobs where you need some kind of vocational or academic qualifications. (DN)

STUDENTS PUT SCIENCE TO THE TEST - Seventeen-year-old Diego Lascurain was among students breathing a sigh of relief Friday after successfully completing a programme focused on boosting the skills of teens in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). He was one of three Queen’s College students taking part in the 2017 edition of the Student Programme for Innovation in Science and Engineering (SPISE), the others being Matthew Clarke and Shanna Edwards. “The tools were great, the classes were great and the homework was manageable. To be honest, I think it’s good that it’s intense because when you’re learning and its full immersion rather than doing one hour per week,” said Lascurain. He was initially concerned about taking four weeks out of his summer vacation for the programme, but now has no regrets.  (DN)

FORCE UNDERMINED! EX TOP COP HINTS AT SUBVERSION AND MEDDLING IN RBPF - Former Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin has spoken publicly on issues related to the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) for the first time since the Caribbean Court of Justice dismissed his request for special leave to appeal his removal from office four years ago. In an hour-long interview with Barbados TODAY, Dottin shied away from making any direct accusations, choosing instead to speak in general terms. He also did not address specifics of his own removal in June 2013 when he was ordered by the Police Service Commission (PSC) into early retirement “in the public interest”, saying while he felt the public had not had the full details, he would wait until after his legal matter was settled before talking about it. However, Dottin spoke of subversion of the promotion process, and stopped just short of accusing the authorities of political interference in the running of the Force. Describing himself as a strong believer in the commissioner’s independence, Dottin, who ran the RBPF from 2003 to 2013, said he had experienced problems in freely doing his job. One of the most controversial issues towards the end of his tenure was that of promotion. The PSC angered Dottin and several officers when it rejected his recommended promotions list and replaced it with its own. Fourteen officers have since sued the PSC over the decision. The retired chief told Barbados TODAY there was something fundamentally wrong with any policy that ignored the commissioner’s input in relations to promotions. His substantive case concerning his dismissal remains to be heard by the Barbados High Court. He has asked the Court to determine that there is no such concept as “administrative leave” and that he could not have been compulsorily retired in the public interest under the Pensions Act. Asked if he had experienced political interference while he was the commissioner, Dottin would not be drawn into giving a direct response. However, he said there were “red lines” that should not be crossed, noting that this had to do specifically with situations where subordinates in the force would bypass the commissioner and appeal directly to authorities outside of RBPF. (BT)

MAN CHARGED IN RELATION TO FAIRCHILD STREET SHOOTING - Police have arrested and formally charged a Christ Church man in connection with last Friday’s shooting incident in the area of the Fairchild Street Market. A woman and a man were left nursing gunshot injuries. The accused is Rico Omar Grimes, 28, of Lot #1 Maxwell, Christ Church. He was charged with two counts of serious bodily harm, two counts of endangering life and one count of use of a firearm. Grimes is expected to appear in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court tomorrow. (BT)

CONTONE CONVICTED CALYPSO SINGER JAILED FOR HOUSE BREAK-IN - In his 2017 calypso release, he sang Come back Tomor, but those were not the words Contone heard from Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant when he appeared in court today. He will actually have to wait six months before he can be released from HMP Dodds. The entertainer, whose real name is Derrick Anderson Brathwaite, broke into a house and fell asleep on a mattress, and was also found with a passport that was not in his name, as well as a number of old cheque books earlier this month. “I is an entertainer, and I get drunk . . . I guilty because I drop sleep,” Contone told Magistrate Cuffy-Sargeant even before the charge that he had entered the house of Albert Selby sometime between August 9 and 12 as a trespasser, with intent to commit theft, had been read. Selby’s house, which is unoccupied but contained personal effects, was secured last Wednesday. When the caretaker returned to the property three days later, about 10 a.m., he heard noises coming from upstairs. Contone was found and questioned and he admitted that he had broken through a back door. “That building I just went in and lay down. I ain’t tief nothing,” Contone, who was also wanted by the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court, said. (BT)

COACHES MUST HAVE C-LICENCE - All premier league clubs are required to have C-licence coaches by the 2019 football season. In making the announcement, chairman of the Barbados Football Association’s (BFA) technical committee, Adrian Donovan, said clubs were informed of the requirement in 2016 to give them sufficient time to acquire coaches with the necessary qualifications. “The response has been good and the club officials and coaches understand that if we intend to take our football to another level and to take it seriously, then we have to take these steps,” Donovan told NATIONSPORT. “We had D-Licence courses arranged and now two C-licence as it stands now.” (DN)

HARD STARTS - Former queens Deacons and Chargers made poor starts to the 2017 Goddard Enterprises Limited senior knockouts when the new season served off on Sunday night at Oldbury, St Philip. Deacons were stunned by Club United 25-14, 19-25, 21-25, 25-19, 9-15 while Chargers surged from two sets down to then lose in five to Carlton 16-25,  22-25, 25-22, 25-6, 11-15.  Those opening matches proved to be an ideal launch for the new points system, with Club and Carlton earning three points and Deacons and Chargers two. Previously, Club and Carlton would have earned five points each for winning their matches and Deacons and Chargers would have gained two each for winning two sets. (DN)

CHESS PLAYERS IN FIGHT FOR FINISH - Three barbadian players are battling for podium finishes at the Central American and Caribbean Youth Chess Championships in Panama. After the seventh round of matches yesterday morning, Under-12 competitors Leigh Sandiford and Vanessa Greenidge, and Under-18 entrant Gabriella Cumberbatch were still in contention for top three places. Cumberbatch, the 2015 national women’s champion, was in joint fourth on four points ahead of the eighth and penultimate round of matches yesterday evening. After losing her first game against Cuban Woman FIDE Master Mesa Martinez, Cumberbatch bounced back to defeat the higher-ranked Carolina Hau of Panama in the second round and Jamaican Davicia Chambers in the third round. She suffered defeats in the next two games before earning another point through a bye. (DN)

LAVINE A CUT ABOVE THE REST - Shaquile Lavine put on an outstanding display when the National Bodybuilding and Physique Championships took place at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on Saturday night. The young bodybuilder achieved a rare double with the capture of the senior and junior Mr Barbados titles. Lavine won the senior Mr Barbados title after a keenly contested battle with Ramon Broomes. In the physique competition, Hadley Hoyte retained his title after fighting off a stiff challenge from the likes of Terry Went and Fabian Eristee in the height class for contestants up to 173 centimetres. Alex Ifill won the height class for competitors up to 174 centimetres, with John Thompson of Wellness Centre placing second and Julien Jones of Twin Gym placing third. The consistent Jamil Jones of J & S Fitness won the keenly contested men’s muscular physique category which was being staged for the first time. Second place went to Twin Gym’s Jermaine Bradshaw who last competed in 2013, while Ryan Bascombe of the Fitness Workshop took the third position. The graceful Ramona Morgan of J & S Fitness continues to shine in the figure competition. She brought a completely toned package to once more emerge in winners’ row. The Thompson sisters Lynette and Dionne placed second and fourth respectively while Kara-lyn Belle came third. Belle, who trains at the Hilton Sports & Wellness Club, had previously taken first position in the 2015 and 2017 Mr Bridgetown competition. The symmetrically proportioned schoolteacher Shakira Doughlin continued her reign in the Bikini Fitness Contest. Doughlin has been a model of consistency over recent times and is the reigning St Michael Bikini queen. On the night she was simply an exquisite cut above the rest. Vanessa Jones came second and Natasha Joseph had to settle for third position. Doughlin, who has previously represented Barbados at the regional and international level, is scheduled to fly Barbados’ flag at the Central American and Caribbean Championships next month in Mexico. Julia Davis of Brute Force won the women’s physique title but was the only entrant in that category. With the Saturday evening show going into Sunday morning, it begged the question why organisers staged a ‘contest’ in a category with just one competitor. (BT)

QUERY OVER BAJAN JAILED IN CANADA - “Mr. Scotland IS being held in prison for no real reason at all.” This was the declaration of Ontario Superior Court Judge Edward Morgan, speaking about the prolonged detention of Barbadian Ricardo Scotland, who has been in a Niagara maximum security jail for the past 18 months. Scotland has no criminal record and is not considered dangerous to society. Yesterday, Morgan ordered Scotland freed and was emphatic in his criticism of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), saying that “although the government cannot provide a clear rationale for Mr Scotland’s initial or continued detention the reason for this lack of clarity is itself clear to me: there is no rationale”. Scotland, who is father to a 13-year-old daughter, had languished in a Canadian immigration detention jail in Thorold Ontario for about 18 months while Canada’s federal authorities try to deport him to Barbados. This is despite the fact that he hasn’t been convicted of a crime and is seeking refugee status to remain permanently in the country. Scotland had faced criminal charges four years ago but the proceedings were stayed, meaning no conviction.  (DN)

SECURITY TIGHT - With 2 000 ARTISTES from 27 Caribbean countries heading to Barbados this week for CARIFESTA XIII, police say they will draw on all resources to make it secure, including calling on private security. CARIFESTA is coming on the heels of a spate of murders and brazen shootings, including an incident on Kadooment Day which left 20-year-old Tareid Rock dead and 18 bystanders injured. Seeking to allay any fears surrounding the safety of CARIFESTA, which has not been held in Barbados since 1981, Assistant Commissioner of Police William Yearwood yesterday insisted they were up to the task. “There is no need of high fear in coming to Barbados for CARIFESTA,” stressed Yearwood, who joined Inspector Wayne Archer at the final pre-CARIFESTA media briefing to give a comprehensive preview of the security plans for the ten days of CARIFESTA activity.  (DN)

GRAND CARIFESTA PARADE - Delegations from 27 Caribbean countries will take to the streets of Bridgetown on Friday in a spectacular procession to Kensington Oval for the opening ceremony of CARIFESTA XIII. The parade of countries participating in the estimated $6 million regional event being staged in Barbados, begins at Queen’s Park at 3:30 p.m. and ends at Kensington Oval where thousands are expected to turn out for the official opening of the Caribbean cultural extravaganza, which runs from August 17 to 27. Giving the final pre-festival media update yesterday, Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley said there was a “very high level of interest” in CARIFESTA. He encouraged Barbadians to line the parade route and also to support the more than 500 events which will showcase the best the Caribbean has to offer in literature, music, craft, art, dance, film and theatre at 27 venues. (DN)

That’s all for today folks there are 146 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 8/12/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Saturday , August 12TH, 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Saturday Sun Newspaper (SS).

‘WE’RE IN TROUBLE’ ECONOMIC SITUATION WORSE THAN WHAT HAS BEEN REPORTED, WARNS ARTHUR - Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur says by any measurement today’s Social Partnership consultation on the economy was an abysmal failure for the simple fact that no common ground was achieved on the vexing issue of the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) or the way forward for the economy generally. Back in May, Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler had announced a $542 million austerity package, which included a hike in the NSRL from two per cent to ten per cent, with a view to wiping out a $537 million deficit. However, the onerous tax package has been met with strong resistance from both the private sector and trade unions, who continued today to agitate for relief on behalf of their constituents. While saying he was impressed with the way in which the General Secretary of the Barbados Workers Union Toni Moore forcefully put forward the union’s position during today’s consultation, Arthur, who chaired the Social Partnership for 14 years as Prime Minister from 1994 to 2008, said it was telling that the only commitment given by Government at the end of today’s eight hour consultation with the private sector and the unions, was for more dialogue on the economy. “We are in a stalemate!” declared Arthur, who also suggested that the talks had amounted to nothing more that “titillating theatre”. He explained that “a serious social partnership does not have to have a meeting to agree that it should consult. In the absence of any firm commitment by Government, Arthur also said it was quite clear to him that the NSRL was not going to be adjusted, despite the demands for relief, from unions in particular. He also warned that the economic and financial situation facing the Government was far more dire than either Sinckler or the Central Bank was prepared to admit at today’s meeting. “I believe the reserves are now under $600 million, five hundred and eighty something [million]. That puts a new complexion on it, and if you would recall there were certain things that were supposed to have been there to boost reserves  – the privatization of the BNTCL [Barbados National Terminal Company Limited] and the inflows from certain projects and they are not happening. So the prospects for an increase in the reserves, based upon inflows, is something that you have to put a question mark on again, and so we are in trouble,” Arthur said, while stating that a clear explanation still needed to be given on the severity of the island’s fiscal problems. “It is a dangerous stalemate,” he stressed, adding that “we now have to open our minds to new thinking because I don’t think we can go ahead just saying that we can’t make any adjustments, because if we don’t make the adjustments, there is a likelihood that this whole thing can come crashing down around our ears.” Arthur also took issue with the presentation made by Acting Central Bank Governor Cleviston Haynes for the simple fact that a lot of his financial information was only up to June. On the question of the NSRL, Arthur also said the consultation should have asked and answered the question: “Are we in line at least to achieve the objective of that Budget through the social responsibility levy to have no deficit in nine months?” While suggesting that such would be a massive achievement, he further questioned: “If the policies are not going to achieve their purpose and are counterproductive, what does the Government have in mind to replace it? (BT)

MOORE ANNOYED BY PM’S COMMENTS - Comments made by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart during yesterday’s Social Partnership meeting have offended general secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union, Toni Moore. Speaking after yesterday’s day-long meeting at the Hilton Hotel, Moore said Stuart’s remarks towards the end of the meeting had left a bitter taste in the union’s mouth. Moore said that in delivering his closing remarks, Stuart had given the impression that the unions had agreed with the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL). Stuart said: “When we met with the labour unions on June 23 . . . the unions made some of the same points that they made here today that it should be reduced and that it was potentially going to be a little burdensome and so on.  (SS)

THE BULL HAD TO BE HELD BY ITS HORNS, SAYS STUART - Prime Minister Freundel Stuart told Barbadians today that the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) was not introduced “by stealth”, but resulted from extensive discussions among experts in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs and the Central Bank. Stuart gave Barbadians this assurance today while wrapping up an eight-hour meeting of the Social Partnership at the Hilton Barbados Resort. “The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs is possessed of some of the most creative talent you can find anywhere in Barbados or the Caribbean. We have experts in Government; we have experts whom we consult outside of Government and we have expertise in the Central Bank. There are also very ordinary people in the society who make suggestions to us from time to time. That is where the NSRL had its genesis,” he stressed. The Prime Minister also said that given the country’s serious deficit problem, officials of the Ministry of Finance had sought to deal with it incrementally. However, he said this brought howls of protest from many quarters about how much money the Central Bank was printing for the Government. “The bull had to be held by its horns. I do not get into the business of fortune telling, and economic forecasting is a very slippery business. We need hope that the policy works. That is what every Minister of Finance and every government has to do. It is what every business manager has to do as well. It is what every manager in every context has to do – put policy in place, put all the necessary pillars of support around that policy and work towards its success,” he said. His comments were in response to concerns levelled by the trade unions and the private sector about the way in which Government was going about resolving the island’s economic challenges. (BT)

GIVE NSRL TIME - Give the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) a chance! That appeal has come from Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, who does not believe that the recent eight per cent hike in the controversial NSRL has been implemented for a long enough time for a conclusive decision to be made on its effectiveness. Stuart made the declaration yesterday evening while delivering closing remarks at the meeting of the Social Partnership at the Hilton Hotel. Led by the labour movement and members of the private sector, over 20 000 Barbadians took to the streets last month in protest of the increased NSRL. (SS)

HILTON, BNTCL ‘SALES CRITICAL’ - The expected proceeds from the divestment of Hilton Barbados and the Barbados National Terminal Company Limited (BNTCL) will be key in boosting Barbados’ flagging foreign reserves. This was the assessment of Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, Cleviston Haynes, as he fielded questions from the media at Hilton Barbados yesterday. His comments followed the bank’s release of its review of Barbados’ economic performance for the first half of this year. This showed that despite economic growth of about 2.2 per cent and a slightly narrowed fiscal deficit, import cover stood below ten weeks. Haynes said the reserves dropped because of heavy external debt service obligations, which came during the second quarter. (SS)

NUPW WANTS TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO NSRL FUNDS - The country’s largest public sector trade union wants to know what the Freundel Stuart administration has done with the monies collected from the controversial National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) introduced last September 1 at a rate of two per cent of the customs value of domestically manufactured goods and on goods imported into Barbados. When Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler introduced the measure last year, he said it was meant to raise $142.1 million annually – $89.2 million in the 2016/2017 financial year when prorated from September 1, 2016 – to assist “in offsetting the costs associated with financing public health care service provision in Barbados”,  to finance a new fleet for the Sanitation Services Authority (SSA) and to procure parts for the existing fleet. The already unpopular tax became a major bone of contention this year between Government on one side, and the trade unions and the business community on the other side, after it was increased to ten per cent effective July 1. (BT)

ANOTHER SLOWDOWN CENTRAL BANK REVISES ITS GROWTH FORECAST FOR 2017 -The Barbados economy, which grew by an estimated 2.2 per cent during the first half of this year, is expected to slow by the end of 2017. Acting Central Bank Governor Cleviston Haynes gave the revised projection today as he addressed a meeting of the Social Partnership at the Barbados Hilton Resort. While suggesting that growth would be “in the region of 1.3 per cent to 1.8 per cent, compared to earlier estimates of 1.5 to 2 per cent”, Haynes explained that the economy remained very challenged with the international reserves plummeting to $635.5 million or just 9.7 weeks of import at the end of June. This is even further below the 12-weeks benchmark, from the $705.4 million or about 10.7 weeks of import as at the end of March. Making a presentation to Government, private sector and trade union leaders that was also nationally televised, Haynes said the drop in reserves was due mainly to Government’s expected external debt service obligations and the ongoing delays in securing planned foreign investment inflows. He said while the foreign exchange reserves were “still manageable” the situation still offered no comfort as it could put further strain on the island’s ability to maintain its 2-to-1 peg to the US dollar. Haynes warned that even if the reserves should rise in the third quarter, they were expected to dip again at the end of the year due mainly to debt servicing and should therefore be dealt with as a matter of priority. (BT)

NSRL HITS PRICE OF LOCALLY MADE UNIFORMS - The price of school uniforms has gone up and sales have gone down. And it is all because of the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL), says president of the Small Business Association Dean Straker In his address to the Social Partnership at Hilton Barbados today, Straker said sales were down 20 per cent from the start of the month when compared to last year and it was general consensus among other manufacturers. He said it was a “retrograde step” for the NSRL to be applied on final sales and would be less of a burden on inputs like fabric and thread, for example, since the Small Business Association was not against paying its share to grow the Barbados economy. It was also causing a headache for businesses to tender for jobs or make quotations because the cost of inputs was constantly changing. Straker said those who buy local would think twice because it was costing more. “The automatic thing is to look elsewhere and to see how I can get this item at a cheaper price. And invariably if you can get it at a cheaper price in Barbados, it is going to be imported,” he pointed out. These products were likely to be from China and Taiwan and would not be to the same standard. Straker said he also had a big problem with asking workers – whom they were struggling to keep employed – not to take a wage increase when they also have to pay the NSRL. He urged government to reconsider how the tax was implemented since they were paying it at every stage of the process including raw materials, rent, utilities and wages. (SS)

RESIDENTS PARALYZED BY FEAR OF REGULAR SHOOTINGS - A pall of terror hangs over Black Rock and its environs, made thicker by Monday’s killing of 20-year-old Taried Junior Rock of 3rd Ave Chapman Lane, St Michael during Grand Kadooment on Spring Garden Highway, residents say. An explosion of gunfire in the waning moments of the street jump up also left approximately 18 people nursing injuries, including a six-year-old boy who was grazed by a bullet. However, even before Monday’s incident, residents of Black Rock and the nearby Deacons community were no strangers to indiscriminate shootings. Only days earlier, rapid volleys of gunshots rang out in Deacons Farm just after midnight in an apparent celebration of last month’s release of death row inmates Vincent Edwards and Richard Haynes. The violence is generally attributed to gang warfare, a suggestion that was given credence by Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite and Acting Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith who declared on Tuesday that there were 16 criminal gangs operating in the Black Rock area. The fear gripping law abiding residents was obvious when Barbados TODAY visited the troubled communities that straddle St Michael West Central represented in Parliament by James Paul, and St Michael North West represented by Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler. Since the most recent outbreak of violence, there has been increased police presence in the Black Rock area. It is a welcomed development for one elderly woman from Rosemont, who said while she did not really fear living in the area, she felt safer knowing that lawmen were patrolling her community. However, not everyone is pleased with the increased police activity. Two Rosemont men who sat in their verandah as they spoke with Barbados TODAY, made it clear they were concerned that children were not playing outside because of the shootings. However, they were terribly aggrieved at the frequent visits by heavily armed police, arguing that Rosemont was being unfairly targeted. “Police come all hours of the night. Police moving through here every minute of the day, even before Monday’s incident. They run through with guns and the fellows on the block feel harassed . . . . All they doing is trying to pressure the fellows into reacting to them in a way that would cause them to arrest them,” the younger man told Barbados TODAY He also bitterly complained that during last Monday’s Kadooment Day the area was almost locked down by police “but still nothing ain’t happen here . . . the shooting happened on Spring Garden”.    In Belfield, Grazettes and Fairfield most of the residents said they were not living in fear because their communities were generally quiet. However they are worried about the safety of their children, and the impact the gun violence could have on the country and its tourism. (BT)

TOO MUCH TALK AND NO ACTION - One social worker is pleading with Government to implement programmes that benefit the youth in order to keep them out of trouble. Chief Executive Officer of Supreme Counselling for Personal Development (SCPD) Shawn Clarke said the authorities promise much, but deliver little, leaving young Barbadians free to fall to the temptation to get involved in crime. Clarke told Barbados TODAY the talk-shop mentality had to be discarded and the mechanisms and programmes needed to help young people, put in place. SCPD is a non-profit focusing in on crisis intervention, with special emphasis on persons experiencing substance abuse, family and behavioural problems and other issues that may arise within the community. Clarke revealed there was an increasing number of troubled young people who need intervention, many of whom were looking for “quick fixes”. The youth counsellor added that too many young people lacked the capacity to be empathetic, nor did they value life. The community activist said a dramatic drop in the number of youth and community groups and programmes had a negative impact on young people, who did not have as many activities to engage their time as was the case in the past. As a result, he said, the idle hands somehow ended up following the wrong crowd and engaging in mischief. (BT)

POLICE APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE IN FAIRCHILD STREET SHOOTING – Police are investigating a shooting incident that occurred sometime after 3 p.m. today in the area of the Fairchild Street Market, St Michael. The incident resulted in a 41-year-old woman, as well as a man in his late thirties receiving gunshot injuries. Preliminary investigations suggest that the assailant saw the male, who is known to him, in the area of the Fairchild Street Market and opened fire. As a result the female who was sitting by one of the stalls received a gunshot injury to her right thigh, while the male received two gunshot injuries, one to his foot and one to his back.  The woman was transported to the QEH by ambulance, while the man transported himself in private vehicle to the QEH for medical treatment. Anyone who can provide any information to assist with this investigation is asked to contact the CID Headquarters at 430-7189, or 430-7190. Police Emergency at telephone number 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS (8477), or the nearest police station. All information received will be strictly confidential. (SS)

NEARLY FOUR MILLION IN DRUGS INCINERATED - The Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) today continued its efforts at ridding the island of illegal drugs. The RBPF destroyed 7,500 marijuana trees, 1,600 pounds of loose marijuana and 4.5 kilogrammes of cocaine at the incinerator at the Bridgetown Port. Assistant Superintendent of Police Peter Gibson, who supervised the operation, said the marijuana had a total street value of $3.5 million, while the cocaine was worth $250,000. Gibson said the drugs were seized from various locations around the island in 2016 and during the first half of 2017 and that the related court matters had been fully adjudicated. (BT)

UNCERTAINTY OVER DREAM OF BECOMING JOCKEY - Brenda Hinkson was at home when she received the terrible news that her son had been shot. Her son, Akeem Hinkson, was one of the victims of the Monday night mass shooting at Spring Garden. He was hit no fewer than four times – in both legs, an arm and his side. The Chapman Lane, St Michael resident said she couldn’t believe the news at first. “My oldest son get a message and tell me then another family member who works with the NCF (National Cultural Foundation) call and tell me he get shoot. That’s my last son, that wasn’t easy to hear,” she said. Hinkson said Akeem, 18, still has two bullets lodged in his body – one in his right foot and another in one of his shoulders. He was hit in both legs but she said he had not gone to surgery as yet. An aspiring jockey, it is unknown whether he will be able to continue pursuing his dream. “I couldn’t believe that was my son when I went to the hospital. I couldn’t believe how many people there that did get shoot. “My son was with a girl and she get shoot too and she already get surgery but not him and I don’t know why not. He was supposed to go Tuesday and then [Wednesday] night but it keep getting put back,” she said. Hinkson said her son was keeping a brave face but had a swollen right leg where the bullet is lodged. She said she did not know what was happening to Barbados concerning all the gun violence and could only wait and see how her son would fare. The WEEKEND NATION contacted the Queen Elizabeth Hospital about Hinkson but was told they would be unable to release any information on patients. (SS)

BAJAN COACHES IN LEAD - Barbados will be a front-runner in coaching education as a result of the introduction of the CONCACAF B-Licence course. That was confirmed by CONCACAF coaching instructor Joe Supe during the opening ceremony for the second CONCACAF C-Licence course on the island at the Barbados Football Association’s offices yesterday. “Barbados is far ahead of everybody. Once we finish with the B course you’ll probably be the first to be recommended or implemented. You are ahead of Costa Rica now in terms of courses. They kind of stopped and lagged a little bit on the education part. “When we started the programme four years ago we recommended that this country be one of the first to get access to coaching education because of your strategic planning, desire to grow and be better and you have done a wonderful job in achieving the strategic goals,” he said. (SS)

DEACONS COACH WANTS FOCUS ON THE POSITIVES - We need to invest more time, effort, and most of all finance in communities like Deacons. This was the declaration made by Robert Jones, coach of Deacons FC Youth, during a press conference for the Caribbean Children Charity Shield Soccer Classic at the Pinelands Resource Centre on Wednesday. “It’s unfortunate that I should be having this conversation based on all the labels and stigmas going on in our community at present. “Fortunately for us, nothing that happened within the last couple of days was anything affiliated with Deacons; it probably happened within the area, but not a direct affiliation,” Jones said in reference to the Kadooment Day shootings. (SS)

BDF CAMP STARTS ON MONDAY - Eighty children will get an opportunity to learn vital life skills during the Barbados Defence Force’s annual summer camp, which will run from August 14 to September 1 at St Ann’s Fort. Camp Energy, which is in its 11th year, has as its theme: A Day in the Life. In addition to presentations on various professions, campers will visit organisations to receive information and observe the work of a variety of skilled professionals. Some of those areas will include Veterinary Science (RSPCA); Policing (RBPF); soldiering (Barbados Coast Guard); Justice (Oistins Magistrates’ Court); Exotic Pet Rearing (Barbados Reptile Association) and Horse Grooming (Sandy Turf Stables). The campers will also visit the HIV/AIDS Food Bank on August 16, at 1:30 p.m., and a Sports Day will be held on August 30, at Paragon Base, Christ Church, from 9 a.m. There will be a closing ceremony for the camp on September 1 at the Paragon Base, at 10 a.m. Camp Energy provides the campers with an opportunity to enhance their self-discipline; build individual character development; develop an awareness of individual responsibility and appropriate social behaviours; as well as increase their knowledge and awareness of community needs through service projects. This camp is hosted by the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Committee of the Barbados Defence Force. (SS)

COUGARS KEEP PACE - Lady Cougars are still keeping up the pressure on Pinelands. Toni Atherley finished a handful of assists shy of a triple-double as Lady Cougars blew out Burger King Clapham Bulls 62-30 during Thursday’s No.1 Beauty Supplies and Beauty Exchange Women’s basketball league. Playing in Clapham, the national captain dropped 20 points, 12 rebounds and five assists to help Cougars improve to a 7-1 record – just one game behind unbeaten leaders and defending champs Preferred Insurance Brokers Pinelands (8-0). The contest was never close either, as Cougars led from start to finish after scoring 12 of the game’s first 13 points while holding Bulls to just one point for the opening seven minutes on their own home court.   (SS)

POLLARD SWAGGERS IN TRIDENTS WIN - Rain spoiled an enthralling encounter after heavy hitters Kieron Pollard and Darren Sammy slammed exhilarating half-centuries, but Barbados emerged with a 21-run victory under Duckworth/Lewis to hand St Lucia Stars their third straight loss in the Caribbean Premier League, Thursday night. Pollard was devastating in an unbeaten 83 off a mere 35 balls as Tridents, opting to bat first at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground, amassed a tournament-high 196 for four off their 20 overs. New Zealander Kane Williamson got his first decent score with a measured 46, while fellow opener Dwayne Smith chimed in with 36. Seamer Kyle Mayers was the best Stars bowler with two for 30.  (SS)

PM’S TOAST TO CROP OVER - It was the last blast for hundreds of guests attending the Prime Minister’s ninth annual Crop Over Reception on Thursday night. Stars of this year’s festival took to the stage to give performances that reflected the excitement of the competitive Crop Over musical events that produced kings and queens. Winner of Sweet Soca, Red Plastic Bag; Party Monarch Lil Rick; Junior Monarchs Sparkle T and Mizz Kibaba and Pic-O- De-Crop winner iWeb transferred their competition night energy to the Ilaro Court stage, belting out their winning hits. In turn, cocktail glasses and plates of sumptuous fare were temporarily set aside as guests danced and waved on the grounds of Ilaro Court transformed with colourful lights and bunting, creating a festival atmosphere days after the curtain officially came down on Crop Over 2017. (SS)

That’s all for today folks there are 149 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 8/3/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Thursday, August 3rd , 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

UNHOLY ALLIANCE: EX TRADE UNIONIST SLAMS PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BUSINESS AND LABOUR – A retired trade union leader is describing the “marriage” between the labour movement and the private sector as an unholy alliance. The well-respected veteran trade unionist, who preferred to remain anonymous, contended that businesses were now merely seeking comfort within the trade union movement. He charged that unlike the 1991 economic crisis when public officers bore the brunt of the then Erskine Sandiford (now Sir Lloyd) administration’s fiscal policies resulting in 5,000 being sent home, Government’s recent austerity measures had left no sector untouched. He emphasized that it was no longer a “one-sided public officer” who had to shoulder the recent increase in taxes, particularly the controversial National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) which jumped from two per cent to ten per cent. Late last month, the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA) joined forces with the island’s four major unions in staging a 20,000-strong march in a bid to force the Freundel Stuart administration to the negotiating table to discuss the way forward for the economy, including a reduction of the NSRL. (BT)

MARSHALL PRAISES BLACK BUSINESSES – Historian Trevor Marshall has credited black business people for carving out a niche for themselves despite the many obstacles they had encountered over the years. He pointed to constant pressure from the Bridgetown oligarchs or the Big Six as he called them as he highlighted the accomplishments of numerous black-owned businesses. “Black people really have created a niche for themselves. They’re not cockroaches running around but they have not yet booted out the masters. Indeed, the masters are still here but there is entrepreneurial activity in a starkly colonial society,” he said. Marshall was delivering the Emancipation Day lecture The Emergence Of Black Businesses after 1900 at the Barbados Archives Department, Black Rock, St Michael Tuesday before a standing room-only audience.  (DN)

COME CLEAN! – The Barbados Association of Masqueraders (BAM) is calling for a formal investigation into the results of last weekend’s Junior Kadooment contest, following objections raised by some of the bandleaders. Last Saturday 25-year-old Kevin Small walked away with the coveted Best Junior Band award for his Fifth Element band, Candy Land 246, beating out veteran bandleaders Gwyneth Squires and Trevor Nicholls, who had to settle for second and third place respectively, despite capturing most of the category prizes. Budding bandleader Sanka Price also captured a number of category prizes with his Blackbird Productions band A Living Legend and His Music – A Tribute to the Mighty Gabby. However, since last weekend’s event some of the bandleaders have expressed surprise over the result while calling on the organizers to explain how the decision was reached. Squires has also threatened to take the matter to court if necessary. After meeting with members of his association on Monday night, BAM President Chetwyn Stewart, who was only made aware of the situation after he returned to the island on Sunday, told Barbados TODAY it was decided that a formal letter of complaint would be lodged with the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) requesting an official investigation, given that some bandleaders received a number of awards but still could not place in the Best Junior Band competition. While acknowledging there was a point system in place, Stewart said it was now a matter of “just looking and seeing how the points were given” with a view to determining “who should have won and who shouldn’t have won. Small’s Fifth Element, which had six sections and 221 masqueraders, was not only adjudged Best Junior Band, but also won the prize for Most Colourful masquerade band. However, Squires’ larger band, which portrayed Kites at De Garrison Savannah, captured the Junior King and Best Flag Person awards, while Nicholls’ Young Spirit Community Group band Colour Me Crop Over captured the Community Costume, Fantasy and BMA Brands of Barbados awards. He also placed second in the Environmental category while Price’s band won in the Folklore, Tropical and Historical categories. In light of the controversy, Small, who secured his third win in four years and who has been participating in the competition for the past 11 years, told Barbados TODAY on Monday that he was somewhat disappointed with the position taken by his fellow bandleaders, given that in the past he had walked away with more awards than others who had won the competition. When contacted Wednesday, Chief Executive Officer of the NCF Cranston Browne said he could not comment publicly on the matter at this stage because there was a process of arbitration that must be followed.(BT)

NO SBA BOYCOTT TO SPEAK OF, SAYS JONES – Minister of Education Ronald Jones has suggested that “only one per cent” of teachers answered the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union’s (BSTU) call not to mark this year’s Caribbean Examination Council (CXC)-administered school based assessment (SBA) projects. The BSTU has been contending that correcting the SBAs was not part of teachers’ job description and therefore they should be compensated for marking the external exams. However, Jones told Barbados TODAY that despite the BSTU’s strong outcry, the ministry had received nearly 100 per cent cooperation from Government-employed teachers in grading this year’s projects. Jones also denied that retired teachers were paid to mark the exams, insisting that a few had volunteered their services to his ministry, amid the ongoing row with the BSTU. However, BSTU President Mary Redman told Barbados TODAY only a handful of her members had marked the SBAs, and some retired teachers were indeed paid to help with the process. As the dispute between the BSTU and the Ministry of Education escalated earlier this year, the ministry had threatened to slap teachers with misconduct charges if they refused to correct the SBAs. Redman said while a large number of the teachers stood behind the decision taken by the union, some of them still went ahead and corrected the exam, which forms a necessary component of various CXC certification programmes. The BSTU president also warned that her union would keep up the fight for teachers to be paid for correcting the projects, while stating an increasing number of teachers across the Caribbean were demanding payment for marking the SBAs. (BT)

APPLICATION FORMS FOR SIXTH FORMS NOW AVAILABLE – The Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation has advised that forms for entry to the various sixth forms across the island are now available. They may be obtained from the Examinations Section of the Ministry at the Elsie Payne Complex, Constitution Road, St Michael. Only one form will be issued per student and once completed, they should be returned to that section with copies of examination results attached. The deadline for return of application forms is Monday, August 21, between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. (DN)

UPDATE: MINISTRY SHARES DETAILS OF EMERGENCY LANDING – The ministry of Tourism and International Transport has revealed details about this morning’s emergency landing of flight NASA 426. There were 20 persons on board the aircraft which was undertaking operations on behalf of NASA. A statement from the Ministry said the four-engine P3 plane left Grantley Adams International Airport at 6:18 a.m. for the Ascension Islands. At 40 miles south-east of the island, the pilot reported a full emergency due to a fire in one of the engines which was shut down. Local emergency personnel were called out. The pilot indicated that the plane would dump fuel to lose weight and arrive at GAIA at 7:15 a.m. Officials said it was decided the aircraft would hold for two hours as it had 11 hours and 45 minutes of fuel on board and the new estimated time of arrival was 9 a.m. NASA 427 landed safely at 8:31 a.m. After the aircraft landed and was parked at position #22, a runway inspection was conducted between 8:38 a.m. and 8:45 a.m. and the runway was found fit for operation.    The emergency stand-down was given at 8:42 a.m. by the Airport Fire Service. The Airport Ambulance, Fire Service and Police were decommissioned. An officer from Department of Emergency Management along with the GAIA Inc. chief operating officer visited the aircraft and spoke to the crew and other personnel. The airport remained operational during the incident and remains fully opened.  (DN)

SEALY REACTS TO SUSPENSION OF AVIANCA SERVICE – Minister of Tourism and International Transport Richard Sealy says he is confident  a positive resolution will be found, after the Colombia-based Avianca Airlines was forced to immediately suspend its Bogotá to Barbados service last Friday. The move to curtail flights that require passage over Venezuelan airspace came amid ongoing political and other turbulence in Caracas that has already led to the Donald Trump administration in the United States announcing sanctions against 13 senior Venezuelan officials. Just last week, opposition forces in Caracas had also scheduled what turned out to be a flop of a “48-hour strike”. To make matters worse for Avianca, its chairman and main shareholder, German Efromovich, has known links to the region’s right-wing elites, including Argentina’s Mauricio Macri and Colombia’s Alvaro Uribe. In fact, according to the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo, Argentina’s judiciary is currently investigating Efromovich and Macri for a business deal involving presumed illicit association, and fraud against the public administration, among other things. However, without going into detail on the current problems facing the airline, Sealy pointed out that during the course of the past two years Barbados had enjoyed a “healthy working relationship” with Avianca, and “this partnership has served to provide a platform for several new opportunities in the emerging Latin America market. In announcing the suspension of flights last Friday Avianca said, “due to operational limitations”, it had decided to suspend flights between Bogota and Barbados indefinitely. (BT)

US BANS TRAVEL TO NORTH KOREA FROM SEPTEMBER 1 – A ban on travel by U.S. passport holders to North Korea will take effect on September 1 and Americans in the country should leave before that date, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday. Journalists and humanitarian workers may apply for exceptions to the ban, the department said in a public notice. The U.S. government last month said it would bar Americans from traveling to North Korea due to the risk of “long-term detention” there. The ban comes at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and North Korea, which has been working to develop a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the United States. North Korea will become the only country to which Americans are banned from traveling. American student Otto Warmbier, sentenced last year to 15 years’ hard labour in North Korea, returned to the United States in a coma on June 13 after being released on humanitarian grounds, and died June 19. The circumstances surrounding his death are not clear, including why he fell into a coma. North Korea has said through its state media that Warmbier’s death was “a mystery” and dismissed accusations that he had died as a result of torture and beating in captivity. The State Department issued a notice in the Federal Register on Wednesday declaring U.S. passports invalid for travel to, in or through North Korea. The restriction takes effect in 30 days, and applies for one year unless extended or revoked by the secretary of state. Professional reporters or journalists, representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross or the American Red Cross traveling on official missions, those traveling to North Korea for “compelling humanitarian considerations” and those whose requests are “in the national interest” may ask for a special validation of their passports in order to travel to the country, the State Department said. North Korea is currently holding two Korean-American academics and a missionary, a Canadian pastor and three South Korean nationals who were doing missionary work. Japan says North Korea has also detained at least several dozen of its nationals. (DN)

BAG FEE IN STAGES – Some businesses are already charging the 15-cent plastic bag fee and have been doing so since May, while others are awaiting their branded reusable bags before they start charging for single-use plastic bags. The introduction of a fee was an initiative of the Plastic Bag Deterrent Working Group, which comprised the Future Centre, retailers and BICO and was announced last November. Director of the Future Centre Trust, Kammie Holder, said they had ordered the bags for different supermarkets and different retailers, but some bags take eight to ten weeks to arrive here. He said Jordans Supermarket ordered over 5 000 bags while Massy ordered 80 000, and some stores have ordered bags, but said they will give the first set away for free and then charge for extras.  (DN)

ANOTHER CALL TO SLASH FOOD IMPORT BILL – As government adjusts legislation for offshore drilling, a senator is advising it to seriously consider ways of slashing its significant food import bill. Senator John Watson said getting a handle on food imports would be far easier to achieve than reducing oil imports at this time. He was debating the Offshore Petroleum (Amendment) Act, 2017 in the Senate yesterday. The senator once again suggested utilising waste land, saying that Government could acquire those that were idle and “properly compensate” the owners. (DN)

WATSON: CUT FOOD IMPORT BILL – Watson: Cut food import bill Independent Senator John Watson wants Government to focus on reducing the island’s $500 million food import bill, as it presses ahead with its plans for offshore oil exploration. Speaking Wednesday during debate on the Offshore Petroleum (Amendment) 2017, Watson noted that oil and food accounted for the bulk of Barbados’ imports, and according to him, it should be easier to cut food imports. He also recommended the introduction of programmes to encourage young people to invest in agriculture. (BT)

RAIN HALTS VICTORY – Rain denied Barbados the opportunity of recording a fourth consecutive win and securing the Regional Under-15 cricket title, when the contest against Guyana, played at the KMV Oval in Lakes, St Andrew, yesterday, was abandoned at 4:45 pm due to rain. Both teams were forced to settle for one point and the Barbadian youngsters will now have to wait until their final match against Trinidad Tobago at North Stars tomorrow, to get the opportunity to confirm themselves as 2017 champions. Set a revised target of 64 for victory from 30 overs, Barbados started confidently and had reached nine without loss in four overs when the fourth interruption of play sent the players from the field for the final time. (DN)

WRIGHT FINISHED 4TH - MATTHEW WRIGHT is back and very nearly returned to the podium too. The Bajan triathlete couldn’t have asked for a better comeback to the sport, having finished fourth at last week’s second leg of the Triathlon Ontario Cup Series at the Toronto Triathlon Festival. Competing over the sprint distance, Wright completed the event in 54 minutes and 13.50 seconds to place behind training mates Mike Lori and Taylor Forbes and third-placed Myles Zagar. It was the first race in three months for the former CARIFTA gold medallist, who broke his toe during April’s BFIT Camtri Sprint Triathlon American Cup here in Barbados and couldn’t run or ride for the next six weeks. (DN)

SYDNEY SIMMONS PASSES – Former teacher, broadcaster, manufacturing executive and author Sydney Simmons has died. Reports are that he had been ailing for some time and passed away in hospital Tuesday. Simmons started as a teacher at Erdiston Model School in 1962 and later moved into radio, becoming one of the earliest scriptwriters for the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). (DN)

NOT OUR HOME – The Barbados National Trust (BNT) is contending there is an “unholy rush” to tear down this country’s heritage sites, as the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) prepares to demolish the birth home of Roland Edwards, the musical composer of the Barbados National Anthem. Speaking to Barbados TODAY Wednesday morning at Chapel Street, Speightstown, St Peter where the two-storey derelict structure stands, BNT President Peter Stevens appealed to the authorities to spare the building. A near ten-year struggle by Edwards’ grandson Randolph Woodroffe to save the 19th century stone building was dealt a significant blow last month when Justice Pamela Beckles discharged an injunction which had prevented the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and its contractors from demolishing the historical building. Although Woodroffe has secured a seven-day stay of execution, with the way virtually clear for the demolition of the building, Stevens suggested the celebration of Barbados’ 50th Independence anniversary was nothing more than lip service, arguing that scant respect was being paid to those who had contributed to that milestone. The building had been earmarked by the EPD for demolition since 2003 and was close to being torn down in May 2008 before it was saved by a last-minute court injunction. The BNT president argued that an overwhelming majority of the northern community was in support of preserving the structure for posterity, contending that residents had joined forces with engineers from the trust to erect a security barrier and remove 40 per cent of the structure, which the EPD had deemed a risk to society. The building had been earmarked by the EPD for demolition since 2003 and was close to being torn down in May 2008 before it was saved by a last-minute court injunction. The BNT president argued that an overwhelming majority of the northern community was in support of preserving the structure for posterity, contending that residents had joined forces with engineers from the trust to erect a security barrier and remove 40 per cent of the structure, which the EPD had deemed a risk to society.  (BT)

HOMELESS SIX – Thirty-five-year-old Heidi Yorke has a house but no home to live in. This is the conundrum facing the mother of four and grandmother of one, who is appealing for assistance in finding secure accommodation for herself and her family. Her children are aged 20, 18, 11 and three, and her eldest daughter is pregnant with her second child. “I need a house today,” cried the frustrated woman when she visited the DAILY NATION yesterday – a decision she made after trying in vain for nearly a year to get a home of her own to live in. (DN)

POLICE SEEK INFORMATION ON EARLY MORNING FIRE – Police are appealing for information on this morning’s fire which destroyed a car and house at Cave Wood Road, Tichbourne, St Michael. The house was owned by Majorie Alkins of Ivy Main Road, St Michael and occupied by 61-year-old Margaret Belgrave, her daughter Julia Belgrave and two children ages 18 and 8. Julia owned the car. Three fire tenders and eleven fire officers under the command of Divisional Officer Errol Gaskin responded to the blaze which broke out around 2 a.m. Anyone who can provide information to assist with these investigations is asked to contact the District ‘A’ Police Station at 430-7242, or 430-7246, police emergency number 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS (8477) or the nearest police station. (DN)

POLICE HAVE RENEWED THEIR APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE IN LOCATING DARIO DRAYTON – The Royal Barbados Police Force is seeking the assistance of the public in locating a man wanted in connection with serious criminal matters. He is Dario Devon Drayton, alias ‘Scooby’ or ‘Luke’, 25 years, last known address Turton Gap, Gittens Road, Government Hill, St Michael.  Drayton is about 5’6” in height and slimly built with a light brown complexion. He has a small nose, small protruding ears, small brown eyes and thick lips; a low haircut and a scar on the centre of his forehead. Drayton is advised he can present himself to the District ‘A’ Police Station accompanied by an attorney-at-law of his choice. (DN)

Police are still seeking the public's assistance in locating Shanley Stoute – The Royal Barbados Police Force is seeking the assistance of the public in locating a man wanted in connection with serious criminal matters. He is 47-year-old Shanley Vergusson Stoute, alias “Stoute Man”, last known address, Parish Land, Christ Church. He is about 5’11” in height, slimly built, has a clear complexion and brown eyes. Stoute is being advised that he can present himself to the Oistins Police Station, accompanied by an attorney-at-law of his choice. (DN)

HAIRDRESSER PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO ASSAULT – A 26-year-old hairdresser has been released on bail after pleading not guilty to assaulting another woman. Renee Patricia Drakes of Arthur Seat, St Thomas appeared before Magistrate Douglas Frederick in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court Wednesday charged with assaulting Shannel Laurel Walker on June 24, occasioning her actual bodily harm. With no objections from the prosecutor, Drakes was released on $2,500 bail with one surety. The accused woman will make her second court appearance on October 30. In the meantime, 29-year-old Kenroy Sergio Crichlow, of 3rd Avenue, Bibby’s Lane, St Michael has denied damaging a tent belonging to John Beckles on July 31 without lawful excuse, as well as resisting Station Sergeant Anthony Cadogan in the execution of his duties. Crichlow, who also appeared before Frederick Wednesday, was granted $2,000 bail with one surety, after no objections were made. His case continues on September 13. (BT)

MAN REMANDED ON FIREARM, AMMO CHARGES – A St. Lucy man was remanded to prison today after appearing in court charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and five rounds of ammunition. Twenty-six-year-old Ramon Rheco Renaldo Boyce of Peterses Gap, Josey Hill was arrested on Sunday during an “illegal fete” at Collins, St Peter. He appeared before Magistrate Wanda Blair in the Holetown Magistrates Court and was remanded until August 30. Police say members of the Antigun Unit also recovered a shotgun from the area but no arrest was made in that regard.  (DN)

VISITOR HELD WITH 1.5 GRAMMES OF CANNABIS – An American visitor was ordered to pay costs of $250 dollars today after pleading guilty to the possession and importation of 1.5 grammes of cannabis worth $7.50. Police say 36-yearold Kelly Michelle Belgrave arrived in the island on Monday and a search of her luggage by Customs officials revealed cannabis in a transparent Ziploc bag concealed in pants. Police were informed and she was arrested and charged. Belgrave appeared before Magistrate Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell in the District ‘B’ Magistrates’ Court and was reprimanded and discharged.  (DN)

BLOODY ENDING AFTER BOAT CRUISE CLASH – A boat ride turned out to be a rocky one for two men, but it was nothing like the fun-themed boat ride referenced to in a popular calypso. Instead, one man was left with a bandaged and bruised head as they both stood in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court dock charged with causing a disturbance. Anthony David Williams, 41, of Upper Collymore Rock, St Michael, and David Andre Dickenson, 32, of Block 13C Haynesville, St James, pleaded guilty to committing the offence along Wharf Road, The City. Prosecutor Sergeant Robert Jones told the court that both attended a cruise on the Jolly Roger on Tuesday and got involved in a dispute. It was said that Dickenson was dancing and interfering with a female relative of Williams. (DN)

CEASE AND SETTLE! – Two more entertainers have joined the chorus of voices calling for an end to violence. Romell Sanctuary Bennett and Omar Marzville McQuilkin have joined fellow entertainers Lil Rickand Peter Ram in asking Barbadians to cut out the use of guns, which seem to be the weapon of choice in recent murders and injuries. Sanctuary and Marzville, finalists of the Starcom Network’s People’s Monarch competition, the winner of which will be announced tomorrow, shared their views about violence during a meet-and-greet session at Cave Shepherd’s main branch at Broad Street, The City, yesterday. “Well, I come from a peaceful side of the country, St John, and we don’t see violence often, but I am encouraging people to drink responsibly and not to do anything stupid on the road for Foreday and Kadooment or at any fetes,” said Sanctuary. (DN)

SPEAK UP – Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley is all for Prime Minister Freundel Stuart being more engaged with the public. Lashley stated his position Tuesday amid heightened tension between Government and trade unions and the private sector. However, even as he made the case for a more “people-centred” style of governance, Lashley said he did not believe the head of government should be the only one holding public dialogue. Speaking at an Emancipation Day lecture at the Barbados Archives Department, Black Rock, St Michael, he insisted that other members of the Social Partnership should do the same. (DN)

KANYE WEST SUES TOUR INSURERS FOR $10 MILLION OVER CANCELLED SHOWS – Rapper Kanye West has sued Lloyd's of London for nearly $10 million in insurance pay-outs he claims he is owed after cancelling his tour last year when he was hospitalised with a "serious, debilitating medical condition." West's tour company, Very Good Touring Inc., filed the lawsuit claiming breach of contract in federal court in Los Angeles on Tuesday, saying that syndicates of Lloyd's of London insurance market had delayed paying the rapper's claim for his cancelled shows. The lawsuit said the Lloyd's syndicates had suggested "they may deny coverage of the claim on the unsupportable contention that use of marijuana by Kanye caused the medical condition." West, 40, abruptly cancelled his Saint Pablo tour in November 2016 with more than 20 shows left. He was hospitalised following a week of no-shows, curtailed concerts and political rants. The lawsuit, which seeks a jury trial, says West has submitted evidence to prove his medical condition did not allow him to continue the tour. It said his behaviour at his November 19 concert in Sacramento, California, was "strained, confused and erratic." The next day, the rest of his tour was cancelled and on Nov. 21, West was admitted to a Los Angeles psychiatric facility with what the lawsuit called a "serious, debilitating medical condition." He was released on November 29, and is still being treated, the lawsuit said. Details of his ailment have never been released. Lloyd's is an insurance market housing more than 80 syndicates in London. Spokesman Stewart Todd said in a statement the company could not comment on the specifics of the West case. (DN)

Prince Philip retires – The Duke of Edinburgh met Royal Marines in his final solo public engagement before he retires from royal duties. The 96-year-old announced his retirement in May, after decades of supporting the Queen as well as attending events for his own charities and organisations. Prince Philip has completed 22,219 solo engagements since 1952. Prime Minister Theresa May took to Twitter to thank him for “a remarkable lifetime of service”. She added that she hoped he “can now enjoy a well-earned retirement”. As Captain General of the Royal Marines, the duke attended a parade to mark the finale of the 1664 Global Challenge – a series of strength and endurance challenges raising funds and awareness for charity. While his diary of engagements will come to an end, Buckingham Palace has said the duke may still decide to attend certain events alongside the Queen in the future. The Queen’s public schedule will continue as normal. Cpl Jamie Thompson, 31, who attended the event – which was held in the rain outside Buckingham Palace – said it was “historic”. “This is the duke’s last royal engagement and we’re a part of it, the Royal Marines are a part of it – so it’s an absolute honour,” he said. Cpl Thompson ran 1,664 miles over 100 days with Corporal Will Gingell, 33, as part of the challenge. The duke also met Sgt Matt Burley, a physical training instructor, who swam 1,664 lengths underwater over 10 days, and Lt Col Aldeiy Alderson, who ran 100km (62 miles) in 12 hours wearing his Royal Marines uniform After hearing about their exploits, he told the group of marines: “You all should be locked up.” The duke was also handed the 1664 Global Challenge baton, before raising his hat and waving it to acknowledge three cheers in his honour. Earlier, Lady Myra Butter, who has known Prince Philip since the age of eight or nine, told Radio 4’s Today programme he was “very spirited, a young normal boy full of fun… we loved when he came to stay”. Asked about what the duke would do next, she said: “I’m sure that he won’t disappear, he will be greatly missed by everybody. “He’s been such a stable character in all our lives – he’s always there and he’s always been there for the Queen and I think we’re very, very lucky to have him.”  (BT)

That’s all for today folks there are 150 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 7/30/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Sunday 30th July 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today ((BT), or by purchasing a Sunday Sun Newspaper (SS).

IN THE RED – Some Crop Over event promoters have been swallowing losses all season and may call it quits before next year’s festival. Investigations by the SUNDAY SUN reveal that in the midst of increased operating costs after the National Social Responsibilty Levy (NSRL) was introduced by Government on July 1, many promoters refused to raise their prices of admission, and also held steady on drinks and food, shooting themselves in the foot in the process. Brewster’s Road Crew’s spokesperson Tremayne Austin said his organisation now has its fingers crossed, hoping their final event, Bucketfest, scheduled for tomorrow, can make a windfall.“Everything has gone up in price. But if everything goes well we really need it for that event to make a profit,” he said. (SS)

AIRNB HOST SHOULD PAY – A regional tourism expert is siding with those people who feel providers of visitor accommodation in Barbados through agencies such as Airbnb should be taxed. Former Bahamas Minister of Tourism Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, an internationally distinguished expert in travel, tourism and hospitality, expressed that view recently. “When the government is going to be bringing in additional airlift to the destination and have to guarantee that airlift, the people who are benefiting from that airlift ought to be contributing to that airlift and one of the ways to do that is through the payment of taxes.” Vanderpool-Wallace who now heads  Bedford Baker Group, the company of professional advisors he founded, was responding to a question about the stance taken by the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association (BHTA) that Airbnb hosts in Barbados should be taxed. (SS)

STUDY CALLS FOR TAX – A detailed study into home accommodation vacation rentals by the Barbados Tourism Product Authority (BTPA) has just concluded that the subsector should be taxed. It also recommended that homes listed on websites such as Airbnb be subject to licensing and registration as well as inspection to ensure that they meet minimum health and safety standards. The study investigated the pros and cons of the tourist accommodation rental platforms but focused on Airbnb, the online marketplace whose success has led to public calls by the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association (BHTA) for the industry to be regulated. When contacted about the study, Dr Kerry Hall, chief executive officer of the BTPA, told the Sunday Sun that it was one of many undertaken by the BTPA.  (SS)

NO RUSH (SS) TO START SOLAR FARM - Barbados’ first locally owned solar farm has finally been granted approval by Government. But that doesn’t mean it will become a reality just yet. Chairman of Williams Industries, Ralph ‘Bizzy’ Williams had been waiting for nearly four years for the solar farm to be approved by the Town and Country Planning Department, but now he’s in no rush to start throwing money into it. Williams is waiting to see what a planned review of the alternative energy sector by Government turns up before pumping a proposed $5 million into the project. (SS)

CONJUNCTIVITIS ADVISORY: RESIDENTS TOLD TO BE VIGILANT - The Ministry of Health has advised the public to be vigilant following reports of conjunctivitis or “red eye” outbreaks in the region of the Americas over the last 10 weeks. Since May 6, 13 countries have recorded increased cases of the infection compared to previous years. These include The Bahamas, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Suriname, St Lucia, Mexico and the Turks and Caicos Islands. The outbreak in Dominica occurred between May and June, while in St Lucia, increases were noted since mid-July. Laboratory investigations revealed viral causes of infection. While the Ministry of Health in Barbados has not recorded any unusual increase in cases up to the present, it has reminded residents that conjunctivitis can be an infectious or allergic condition and if it is infectious, it is highly contagious with symptoms lasting two days to three weeks. Symptoms include redness behind the eyelid, spreading up to the white of the eye; swelling of the eyes, making them appear puffy; excessive tears; a discharge from the eye which dries up during sleep, causing crusting around the eyelids; and discomfort with bright lights. The Ministry advises that medical attention should be sought if there is discoloured eye discharge, severe eye pain, problems with vision, increased swelling, redness and tenderness in the eyelids and around the eye, and feeling unwell with a fever. To prevent the spread of infection, the Ministry recommends that persons wash their hands often with soapy water and keep hands away from the eyes and the face. Additionally, people should not share items such as eye drops, tissues, make-up, towels or pillowcases. Parents and guardians are also advised that children with conjunctivitis should remain at home and not attend day care or summer camps. (BT)

DOING AWAY WITH DANGER – It’s been an uphill battle ridding the landscape of derelict buildings. It’s also been extremely difficult, said the retired head of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), recouping the cost of that demolition. Jeffrey Headley, who headed the department for over 30 years, told the SUNDAY SUN he had to “fight hard to get a few [buildings] down”. He believed the department was now hamstrung by a lack of finance.  (SS)

7 DAYS STAY UNTIL DEMOLITION – The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) has scored a major legal victory in its battle to demolish the derelict Speightstown, St Peter home of the man who composed the music of the National Anthem. Justice Pamela Beckles discharged the injunction which had prevented the EPD and its contractors from touching the Chapel Street two-storey building of Roland Edwards. But their hands are tied for at least seven days as the court granted Douglas Trotman, the attorney for Edwards’ grandson Randolph Woodroffe, a stay of execution. The 19th century stone building has been earmarked by the EPD for demolition since 2003 and came within days of being torn down in May 2008, but was saved by a last-minute court injunction. (SS)

MORE PATROLS FOR SHERATON – In the wake of an upsurge in the number of young people being robbed near the popular Sheraton Mall complex, management of the facility is seeking to ensure the safety of patrons. The Royal Barbados Police Force is about to increase its presence at the Christ Church facility as well. Senior Superintendent of Police Colvin Bishop, who is in charge of the Southern Division, told the SUNDAY SUN that though there had not been a general increase in criminal activity at Sheraton and the surrounding Vauxhall area, police have noticed that on Tuesdays, when a high number of adolescents are in the area, there have been more reports of property being taken. Public relations officer Acting Inspector Roland Cobbler has promised something will be done to stem the tide of assaults on young patrons using Sheraton. (SS)

COPS PROBING VIDEO THREAT – “We will not be intimidated.” That’s the message from the top brass of the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) for those who want to undermine the efforts by lawmen to rid Barbados of illegal guns. Assistant Commissioner with responsibility for crime, Erwin Boyce, was clear yesterday while responding to a voice note and video circulating on social media that served up some serious threats to police. Boyce said the Force would certainly investigate the origins of the video since threats to officers would not be tolerated. (SS)

CHRIST CHURCH MAN WANTED BY THE POLICE – Police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a man who is wanted in connection with serious criminal matters. Forty-seven-year-old Shanley Vergusson Stoute, who goes by the alias Stoute Man, last resided at Parish Land, Christ Church. He is about 5’11” in height, slim build, of clear complexion and has brown eyes. Stoute is being advised that he can present himself to the Oistins Police Stationaccompanied by an attorney-at-law of his choice. Any person who knows Stoute’s whereabouts is being asked to contact CID Oistins at 418-2608 or 418-2609, police emergency at telephone number 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS (8477), or the nearest police station. The public is reminded that it is a serious offence to harbour or assist wanted persons and any person caught committing this offence can be prosecuted.  (BT)

GEMS RULE OUT REGIONAL CONTEST – THE CARIBBEAN NETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS return this year from August 20 to 26 after being dormant for more than ten years but it looks like the Bajan Gemswill not be dazzling in St Lucia. Barbados Netball Association president Nisha Craigwell, who is also vice-president of the Caribbean Netball Association, broke the disappointing news just hours after it was officially announced that the Gems had qualified for next year’s Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast. “It is a question of finance as at this stage we have no money to attend the senior tournament in St Lucia. We were in a race against time to qualify for Commonwealth and some of our sponsors like the Barbados Olympic Association, the National Sports Council and the Arts and Sports were very generous in assisting us to take part in the three tournaments to raise our ranking and qualify,” she said. “The timing of the regional tournament would not have helped as the cut-off date for the readjusted rankings was July 1. I had already sensitised the Caribbean Netball Association that it was highly probable that the Gems would not have taken part in the regional tournament. (SS)

PLAYERS GET PRIZE MONEY – THE PLAYERS HAVE been paid. At long last. The Massy United Insurance Clash Of The Titans controversy came to an amicable end when the players finally received their prize money from the Professional Road Tennis Association (PRTA) nearly four months after the tournament’s completion. PRTA chief executive officer Dale Clarke confirmed the news to SUNSPORT after disbursing the cheques on Wednesday at The Sauna in Hindsbury Road. “It’s good to see the issue has been resolved with Dale Clarke and the players because next week would’ve been four months and I think this needed to be settled before the next tournament,” said Clash Of The Titans runner-up Julian “Michael Jackson” White, who collected $6 000. (SS)

STOUTELY TON – Kevin Stoute hasn’t been able find a place in the Caribbean Premier League but he continues to shine on the local circuit. The ICBL Empire all-rounder stroked his way to a century against Home Improvement & Hardware Supplies Maple on the first day of their third round Barbados Cricket Association Elite Division match at Bank Hall yesterday. Batting at No. 3, Stoute ended the day unbeaten on 134 that was the backbone of second-placed Empire’s 284 for nine. (SS)

ALL roads lead to SOCA ROYALE at bushy park, St. Philip but don’t be in a rush to get there. take your time on the road and drive safely. this is going to be one of the best soca royales ever! all the finalists have worked hard so let’s cheer on each and every one of them. Don’t bring any valuables, weapons or pissy bad-mind attitudes! de only thing that we want to be stink & dutty is yuh wukking up! if yuh mash or brush somebody say sorry quick! if yuh gin through a crowd – “say excuse me please”. if a woman or man don’t want to dance wid yuh, don’t get vex, SMILE & move along. All eyes will be on Barbados because this is our PARADISE; don’t mind some people looking for COLLATERAL, they will have to find that in the WINNER’S CIRCLE as all of us do our part to CARRY FESTIVAL cause bet your bottom dollar the artists will GIVE IT TO YA proving that Crop Over is a BLESSING so if you see me faltering PICK ME UP so all of we can enjoy this BOAT RIDE and end the night with an ANTIDOTE.  Men you will be called upon to Infuse the place with your ENERGY cause the women will try to RUN IT as people do bad to the FETING AND BRASS.  As for me & Foxye D 2 AH WE will LEGGO then stand still as we try to figure out if when the FOWL COCK crows SOCA FAMALEEZ will turn the place UPSIDE DOWN but all we know is that Bushy Park TUN UP!

That’s all for today folks there are 154 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 7/22/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Saturday 22nd July 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today ((BT), or by purchasing a Saturday Sun Newspaper (SS).

DIVIDE ON MARCH - There appears to be discord among the private sector following yesterday’s announcement of a joint protest march between Barbados’ major trade unions and the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA). During a press briefing yesterday at the Barbados Secondary Teachers Union (BSTU), Belleville, St Michael, BPSA chairman Charles Herbert said they were urging the private sector to shut shop on Monday and allow employees to participate while still receiving full pay. However, a check with Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) president Eddy Abed revealed this did not have the chamber’s full support. He sent the SATURDAY SUN an emailed response to another email sent to all private sector organisations by the BPSA, signed by its president, Anne Reid. (SS)

WE MARCHING! – Some of this island’s leading businesses, including one of the largest private sector groupings, are on board with Monday’s national march called by trade unions and the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA). However, Chairman of Williams Industries Inc Ralph Bizzy Williams is making it clear that the action being taken by his company is not in support of any political party, but “just to impress on Government that we want to meet urgently to find a better way to close the fiscal deficit”. While complaining that the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) was causing “bare confusion with our accounting systems”, the prominent businessman also charged that the recent increase in the NSRL from two per cent to ten per cent was equivalent to increasing the 17.5 per cent Value Added Tax to 27 per cent. In support of Monday’s march by members of the BPSA and the labour unions, Williams told Barbados TODAY he would be closing all but three of his companies – Ionics Fresh Water Limited, which is a desalination plant; Sustainable Barbados Recycling Centre, which handles garbage disposal and Big Gases Limited, which supplies oxygen to the hospital – which he said could be considered “essential services that should not be disrupted”. Late this evening, Barbados TODAY also received a copy of communication sent by Chief Executive Officer of Automotive Art Douglas Armstrong to members of staff advising that the company “fully endorses the initiatives of the BPSA” and would therefore be closing its to facilitate participation in the march. Barbados TODAY also understands that similar communication was sent to workers at Caribbean Label Craft, which is a member of the Goddards Group, as well as to other private sector employees on Friday. However, not everyone in the business community seems to be on board with Monday’s march. This afternoon, Executive Director of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Carlos Wharton said in a statement to members that although the BCCI’s Council was in agreement that “dialogue with the other Social Partners is important, we do not believe that this march should have been the first course of action taken”. However, Wharton said the BCCI Secretariat had been instructed to inform members of the march, which takes place from 10 a.m. until noon. When contacted, BCCI President Eddy Abed declined further comment on the matter. However, Abed has been insisting on the need for tripartite dialogue, and for Government to explore alternatives to its recently announced austerity Budget, which he said “gives us the pain”. But fed up of waiting for Prime Minister Freundel Stuart to respond to their demands, General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union Toni Moore announced during a 1:30 p.m. press conference today at the headquarters of the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) that the march, which is slated to begin in Queen’s Park, was a “united effort for all of us to show our commitment towards achieving what is best for Barbados. (BT)

MORRIS: ACTION ABOUT POLITICS - The current tumultuous industrial relations climate in Barbados has very little to do with industrial relations and everything to do with politics. So says Ambassador to CARICOM Robert “Bobby” Morris, who is warning Government to take action and ensure the trade union and private sector combo does not become the norm and ultimately destroy the Social Partnership. The prominent historian and veteran trade unionist made his opinion clear yesterday as he claimed the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU), National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) and Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) were all acting with political intent. “What we are seeing is an attempt by the trade unions and the private sector to wrestle power away from a duly elected Government,” Morris said following a Democratic Labour Party (DLP) lunchtime lecture. (SS)

MORRIS SAYS REDMAN’S ACCIDENT WAS CONTRIVED - A former trade unionist has seemingly made light of the accident in which President of the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) Mary Redman damaged ligaments in her left ankle while participating in a march last week Tuesday. Former Deputy General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) Robert Bobby Morris Friday said the accident seemed “a bit contrived”. Redman twisted her ankle at Queen’s Park, The City when the area on which she stepped after completing her presentation gave way. “You realize that Mary Redman has a membership of about 350 people, and you realize that the woman went into the park with about 400 [people] and she was the only person who a hole found. I can’t understand. Four hundred people in the park and the hole found the foot of one person – the trade union leader – and the Leader of the Opposition had to lift her up, apparently,” Morris said while delivering a lecture at the Democratic Labour Party’s headquarters as part of the party’s weekly Astor B Watts lunchtime lecture series. However, his comment was not funny to Redman who told Barbados TODAY Friday afternoon she was slowly on the mend. The BSTU leader expressed surprise at the comment, describing it as strange, unbelievable, sad and offensive, and she called for an apology from Morris. “I cannot imagine what would make him think that I would be part and parcel of something contrived. Towards what end?  To achieve what?  I am so disappointed in him, honestly,” Redman said. “For him to make such a statement I believe it is really beneath him and it is surprising because he knows me for years in relation to trade union matters and he has never in the years that we have known each other, known me to be in a position of compromise of my integrity or honesty as an individual. So for him to ascribe dubious motive and dishonesty to an incident that occurred with me is distressing to me because he is calling my character into question and I take umbrage with that, and I think that he owes me an apology. That is the truth,” she protested, adding, “that alleged behaviour by him is bringing his credibility into question”. Redman has been on crutches since the accident and the healing process is expected to take between six and eight weeks. (BT)

BAR OWNERS WATCHING NSRL - Some bar owners across the island are still playing a wait-and-see game to determine whether their liquor prices will go up this Crop Over season as a result of the recent increase in the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) and other tax measures. Banks Breweries reportedly implemented increases in its products from as early as July 1 when the NSRL increased from two per cent to ten per cent, while manager at Bryden Stokes, Jeffery Evelyn confirmed that some prices went up from the same date and others increased from July 17, when a two per cent tax on foreign exchange transactions took effect. Speaking to Barbados TODAY before the levy came into effect, owner of Chop Arts Sports Bar in Baxter’s Road, the City, Troy Trotman said he was waiting to see how much the prices from distributors would increase before taking a decision on whether his would go up. But shop steward Jennifer Harper said she expected that even with an increase, customers would still continue to purchase alcohol. Owner of Crystal Waters Beach Bar in the south of the island, who gave her name only as Debbie, also indicated no decisions had yet been made on price increases “because it hasn’t been a notable change” since the rise in the NSRL. Meantime, the owner of Mullins Beach Bar, who did not want his name published, confirmed that prices at the St Peter establishment would increase. (BT)

JONES LAMENTS OBSESSION WITH GUNS – Minister of Education Ronald Jones has expressed concern about what he described as a new love affair some of the region’s youth have with guns. And he suggested that because of “corrupt processes in our societies”, some of the most sophisticated guns could be found in the hands of these young people who then act as though they are all-powerful. “So the idiot, the fool, the clown, gets that power against the palm of his hand and . . . he is now a God, because the potential to take life is in his grasp. These are the dichotomies within our space,” Jones said Friday as he outlined what he said were two streams of behaviour in Caribbean societies – constructive and destructive. “Voices must be added and the contradictions must be removed from those who want to be part of the total collective. We have to change our space. We have to ensure that those who put products of destruction in our youth’s hands must be stopped,” added the outspoken minister who said authorities in Caribbean countries seemed incapable of stemming the flow of illegal guns into their territories. Jones voiced his concerns Friday morning as he addressed the closing ceremony of the Caribbean Technical Entrepreneurship Programme (CTEP) at the Accra Beach Hotel. The programme, financed by the World Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank, saw the participation of 164 young entrepreneurs from the Eastern Caribbean and Haiti. Jones said while there was a set of youth who create “mayhem”, there were other sensible, rational youth, like those who participated in CTEP, who were constructing “strong pillars all across the region” as part of a new Caribbean economy and society. (BT)

BORDER AGENCIES ‘CAN POOL RESOURCES’ TO FIGHT DRUGS, GUNS - Border agencies across the region can fight illegal shipment of drugs and guns by pooling resources, says Acting Commissioner of Police Oral Williams. He was speaking to participants yesterday at the closing ceremony of the Maritime Operations and Planning Course. The project, funded by the European Union and the Regional Security System (RSS), carried a fitting theme of Strength Through Unity and was focused on strengthening law enforcement and border security in the RSS member states. Participants came from the Barbados Defence Force and Coast Guard, Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force, Royal Grenada Police Force, St Kitts and Nevis Defence Force, Royal St Lucia Police Force and the St Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard. (SS)

MORE POLICE NEEDED – The Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) needs another 200 good men. Assistant Commissioner of Police William Yearwood said Thursday the Force is understaffed and young people of quality are needed to help boost the numbers. The RBPF currently has about 1,300 officers in its ranks. “It is over 200-plus officers the Force is short of. Because of persons who have retired, some . . . have resigned and been dismissed from the Force, we are in need of young persons to come forward and join, particularly males. We do have a good quota of females but we are in need of males,” he disclosed. “It means we have [fewer] police officers on the ground, which is less visibility. We have been doing our . . . best with what we have presently, but certainly having those added numbers would make it easier for our members in terms of the workload.” Yearwood spoke about the RBPF’s staffing issue on the sidelines of a celebration ceremony for eight teenagers who successfully completed the Prince’s Trust International Team Programme. He told reporters that more needs to be done to encourage young people to enter the RBPF, including offering more attractive salaries and benefits. “We have a lot of young men who are hyped to join the Force. Some of them have the education but they choose not to come to the Force. There are certain things that need to be done by authorities to make the Force more viable to encourage others to join the Force . . . . Salary is one, of course, that can be looked at, and also certain benefits and allowances that can be given,” the senior cop said. (BT)

LIE DETECTOR TESTS COMING FOR CUSTOMS OFFICIALS, BRATHWAITE SAYS - Customs and Immigration officers may soon be forced to undertake lie detector tests as part of Government’s offensive against the importation of illegal guns. Without naming any of the departments, but convinced there are “some undesirables” in border control agencies, Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite Thursday warned the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) and Barbados Coast Guard ought not be the only law enforcement agencies requiring their officers to take polygraph tests. “At the risk of causing a national shutdown in Barbados tomorrow [Friday], let me say this also. We need to move to the state where all agencies that look after our borders have to go through the same integrity testing, or shall I say polygraph . . . as required by our marine unit, by our Coast Guard, by certain sections of the force if they want to serve in some sensitive positions. We really need to,” Brathwaite told a joint news conference with Acting Police Commissioner Tyrone Griffith. Brathwaite’s reference to a national shutdown appeared to point to the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), which in August 2015 expressed outrage at comments by Griffith that customs officials were either deliberately or unwittingly allowing illegal guns into the country. From an investigative view point, it is clear that there is an abundance of high calibre weapons and large quantities of available ammunition on the streets. What is also clear is that [those] weapons are not lawfully manufactured in Barbados and the wider region, so they are being smuggled into the island. Our intelligence suggests they are coming through legitimate ports of entry, either assisted by officials, or not detected by them at our borders. This is an untenable situation which has to be addressed if we are to stem the flow of these weapons,” Griffith had said at a news conference, provoking an angry NUPW to described the comment as “inflammatory and without basis”. “If police intelligence suggests that these guns are coming through legitimate ports of entry, then officials should be identified and charged for this illegal activity,” the union had said in a statement. “The union considers the commissioner’s statements to be inflammatory and without basis; and believe they only serve to tarnish the reputations and integrity of all customs officers.” It was not immediately clear how the NUPW, currently involved in industrial action to press Government into compromising on the vexing National Social Responsibility Levy, will respond to the latest concerns raise by Brathwaite. The country’s top legal adviser suggested the introduction of polygraph tests would help lift the lid of suspicion over the border control officers, adding that Barbadians need not become sensitive and feel that everyone inside the agencies was crooked. (BT)

‘VOID CREATED’ BY DPP’S PASSING - Barbados’ justice system has been diminished by the loss of Director of Public Prosecutions Charles Leacock QC. Chief Justice Sir Marston Gibson made the comment yesterday as he spoke highly of Leacock’s many achievements and aspirations during his funeral service at the Cathedral of St Michael and All Angels. Leacock passed away on July 8 while in Orlando, Florida, where he was undergoing prostate surgery. He was 59 years old.  (SS)

CCB REACTS TO PAYNE’S MURDER - The state-run Child Care Board (CCB) Friday expressed deep sadness over the tragic death of one of its longstanding employees. Fifty-eight-year-old Colleen Payne of Lodge Hill, St Michael was shot while trying to use the Royal Bank of Canada’s automated teller machine (ATM) at University Drive, Black Rock, St Michael around 9 p.m. on Monday. She later succumbed to her injuries at the state-run Queen Elizabeth Hospital. In brief statement issued on Friday evening, CCB Chairman Ken Knight noted that Payne had been employed with the child protection agency for the past 36 years and had given exemplary service to the organization. At the time of her death, she was attached to the Nightengale Day Nursery. “We are deeply saddened by the loss . . . our thoughts and profound condolences are extended to her husband, daughter and loved ones, at this time,” Knight said, adding that “our focus continues to be that of supporting all of our staff, particularly Mrs Payne’s colleagues at the Day Nursery”. Police are questioning three men in connection with the shooting death, which has brought to 19 the number of murders so far this year, compared to 21 for all of last year. Just Thursday, the island’s top law enforcement officials, Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite and Acting Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith, admitted to a worrying spike in gun-related murders so far this year. Griffith told a joint news conference with Brathwaite at Police Headquarters on Roebuck Street, The City that 15 of the 19 murders this year were committed with firearms, which were used in nearly 80 per cent of murders this year. (BT)

FAMILY’S PLIGHT - Ernest Lynton and the family he has made his own have found themselves with nowhere to call home and are appealing for help. Over the past few weeks the St Michael family of seven has been experiencing hard luck, compounded by unemployment, and have had to move from house to house. They are in dire need of financial aid and basic living necessities. Lynton, 48, was renting a Blackman Field, The Pine, St Michael house for more than five years, where he lived with girlfriend Lisa Greene and her four children, aged 12 to 18, and her grandson. However, the house was in need of serious repairs and two weeks ago they were told to leave. (SS)

CAR BURSTS INTO FLAMES ALONG EAGLE HALL - This was a car problem no mechanic could fix. The Barbados Fire Service had to be summoned to extinguish a blaze after a car caught fire along Eagle Hall, St Michael just after 3 p.m today. The driver of the car, who only gave his name as Junior, said he borrowed the car from his friend to run an errand. Junior, a mechanic, said the car “just shut down” and he noticed smoke coming from the bonnet just before it became engulfed in flames. “It just shut down and I see the fire coming from the bonnet. I was going to the mechanic shop to get a part for another vehicle,” he explained. (SS)

STILL ‘NOT A CENT’ FROM NSC – Barbados’ medal–winning effort at the World Relays may all be for naught. The men’s 4x100 relay squad and Barbados’ other IAAF World Championships qualifiers could be missing from the London line-up next month, as the National Sports Council (NSC) is still to provide funding for the team to travel two weeks before the meet. Athletics Association of Barbados (AAB) president Catherine Jordan confirmed the news in a telephone interview yesterday as her body awaits word ahead of the August 4 start to the games. “I have started to talk to the Sports Council already so I am hopeful something gets done the closer we get to the championships because it’s a shame that this would happen after our team did so well at the World Relays with a silver medal,” said Jordan. (SS)

FARLEY TAKES CHESS LEAGUE – International master Terry Farley has hit the front of the second qualifier for the 2017 Digicel Barbados National Chess Championships after he defeated previous leader Kemp Lynch in their round six clash last Thursday evening at the Bridgetown Chess Centre. With this result Farley now takes the lead with five points, a half of a point ahead of Lynch and Jerome Harewood who both sit on four and a half. Farley defeated Lynch with the black pieces in what turned out to be an anti-climactic result for many who thought the young Lynch would have made a tough fight of it. However, after starting aggressively with the white pieces Lynch soon quickly ran into difficulties on his queenside and succumbed to defeat. (BT)

BIRKETT KEEPS COOL AGAINST LOCKHART – Andre who? Finals MVP Keefe Birkett says he wasn’t too fazed about facing Andre Lockhart, figuring he’d be better served focusing on his team’s performance than worrying about a one-on-one matchup in Thursday’s Game 5 of the Co-operators General Insurance Premier League basketball finals at the Barbados Community College. “It’s just a game of basketball at the end of the day and the game is played five on five so it’s not really between me and him. Yeah, we played against one another but it’s a team sport and our team came through in the end,” Birkett said. (SS)

ARCHER MAKES CAREER-BEST STRIKE - Exciting Barbadian seamer Jofra Archer snatched career-best Twenty20 figures as he helped fire Sussex to a comfortable victory over Hampshire, in the English T20 Blast here Thursday. Playing at the Ageas Bowl in the South Group, the 22-year-old right-armer claimed four for 18 in a brilliant four-over spell, to restrict the hosts to 126 for nine off their 20 overs. In reply, Sussex eased to their target with 16 balls remaining, earning their first victory in four games while ending Hampshire’s unbeaten streak. Batting first, Hampshire were powered by Tom Alsop who top-scored with 64 from 50 deliveries with five fours and two sixes but he was the only one to pass 15 and one of only three players in double figures. Archer struck early, prising out captain and opener James Vince (3) and Sean Ervine (2) cheaply as Hampshire slumped to 30 for two in the fifth over. Alsop then joined with Lewis McManus (12) to add 48 for the fifth wicket and rebuild the innings before Man-of-the-Match Archer returned to help engineer yet another decline. In reply, Sussex were guided by Ben Brown who struck 42 while Chris Nash got 32 and Laurie Evans, an unbeaten 24. Former Barbados and West Indies speedster, Fidel Edwards, went wicket-less in three overs which leaked 29 runs. (SS)

CLOUD TEN POSTPONED - BREWSTER’S ROAD CREW’S Cloud Ten event has been postponed. The premium all-white event was scheduled to be held last night at Balls Park, Christ Church. However, organisers announced the postponement earlier Yesterday. A new date and venue have not been announced. (SS)

TEN TO FACE AZIZA IN CALYPSO FINAL - Ten calypsonians will take on reigning Pic-O-De-Crop queen Aziza on August 5.  The announcement was made early this morning at Kensington Oval following the performances of 18 semi-finalists. Ten contestants were announced instead of nine because of a tie. The finalists are Colin Spencer and Donella of Cave Shepherd All Stars, De Big Show's AC, Classic, Edwin, iWeb and Chrystal,Smokey Burke of Gladiators and Observer and Sir Ruelrepresenting House of Soca. No reserve was named. (SS)

That’s all for today folks there are 162 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 7/13/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Thursday July 13th 2017. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today ((BT), or by purchasing a Nation Newspaper (DN).

STOP THE THEATRICS – Former Prime Minister Owen Arthur Wednesday called for cooler heads to prevail in the local trade union movement, while warning that Barbados’ “vast” economic problems will not be solved by “political theatre or gimmickry”. Reacting to Tuesday’s failed attempt by the leaders of the island’s four major trade unions to get an immediate audience with Prime Minister Freundel Stuart while Parliament was in session, Arthur told Barbados TODAY he “fully respected” and supported Stuart’s stance in the matter, while describing the unions’ effort to get urgent tax relief as “misguided” and “totally out of order”. At the same time, the former Barbados Labour Party (BLP) leader, now Independent Member of Parliament for St Peter, took a swipe at the current Opposition BLP Leader Mia Mottley for seemingly upholding the unions’ behaviour, while insisting that the Office of the Prime Minister must be respected, “especially by those who aspire to hold that office”. Though making it clear that he was neither defending Stuart nor the current failed economic policies of his Democratic Labour Party Government, Arthur contended that the Office of the Prime Minister was currently being disrespected in a way that would not have been tolerated by him, and certainly not by his predecessors Errol Barrow or Tom Adams, whose tongues “would have been sharpened on both sides”. Although they were unsuccessful in meeting with Stuart, the unions were accommodated by Mottley, who not only came out of the Chamber to receive them, but also took them into her office on the west wing. However, Stuart’s letter, as well as two other pieces of correspondence which were intended for the independent members of Parliament had to be left at reception. Up to Wednesday afternoon, Arthur, who was absent from Parliament Tuesday, was yet to receive his correspondence. But he cautioned the unions that with the local economy on the brink of collapse, he would not allow himself to be used as “a stage prop in a political opera”. While making it clear he was not pleading a case for Sinckler, who has been under pressure from the unions to reduce the amount of taxation he has imposed on the country and to grant a “coping subsidy” for public servants, Arthur warned that Government had simply run out of options. “If the minister buckles and cuts the taxes, then he has to find an alternative way of paying the bills. What are those? I have said that in my view the only alternative way is [policy based loans from] the IMF, IDB, CDB. Are [the unions] prepared to come and go there with me?” Arthur enquired. “I would love to sit down and discuss if you had to deal with the state enterprises what you should do, but just to hand me a letter on the way into Parliament under a tree in the hot sun, that is not for me! “And I think it is disrespecting the office really,” he said. (BT)

PM DENIES REFUSING TO MEET WITH UNION LEADERS – Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has denied that he refused to meet with trade union leaders yesterday, as they tried to present him with a letter outlining their concerns about the National Social Responsibility Levy. Stuart said he was expecting one person to deliver the letter to him at Parliament but when told that all the leaders wanted to be present, he agreed and waited for them to be shown to his office. He assumed that this message was delivered to them. He stated: “I waited upstairs in my office at Parliament for upwards of one half of an hour for the persons who were to deliver the letter. “When I inquired about the delay, I was told the trade unionists were meeting with the Leader of the Opposition and they would come to me afterwards. “Subsequent to that, I got a follow up message that the union leaders will leave the letter downstairs Parliament because their police permission had imposed timelines which they did not want to breach. So it is not true to say that I refused to meet with the union leaders” Stuart gave a background to the way the events unfolded. “On Monday afternoon, when the officer from the Special Branch was making me aware of this matter, in readily agreeing to receive the letter, I indicated that I saw nothing wrong with making myself available to the person who was going to hand the letter over.” However, according to the Prime Minister, the police officer communicated on Tuesday that all the union leaders wanted to be present and he acquiesced (agreed to) in their request. The Prime Minister underscored the importance he attached to the receiving of the letter explaining: “On Tuesday, around 12:20 p.m., I got up while Minister of Finance, Christopher Sinckler was speaking; I got up and left the Chamber, a practice I don’t ordinarily follow. I do not leave the Chamber when my Ministers are speaking. But I considered this occasion significant enough to justify my varying that practice”  The Prime Minister stated that he had received and read the letter while reiterating his respect for the trade union movement. He pledged Government’s continued commitment to working with all stakeholders, including the trade unions, towards the well-being of citizens.  (DN)

UNIONS PRAISED FOR ‘UPPING DE THING’ ON GOVERNMENT - Three political scientists and a veteran trade unionist have thrown their support behind the trade union movement as it wrestles with Government over the recent hike in the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) and its failure to provide a coping subsidy for workers. However, retired head of the Department of Government, Sociology and Social Work, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Dr George Belle has gone the extra mile in warning that the combined force of the unions could potentially close down the country. The island’s leading trade unions – the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU), the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT), the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) and the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) yesterday gave Prime Minister Freundel Stuart 48 hours to respond positively to their demands for a reprieve from the austerity measures announced in the May 30 Budget, or face a possible national shutdown. The threat came after the leaders of the four unions aborted an attempt to hand-deliver their request in writing to the Prime Minister after Stuart said he was expecting one person to deliver the letter to him at Parliament, but was told that all the leaders wanted to be present. In assessing the political developments today, Belle told Barbados TODAY that members of the group had showed mature leadership when they declined the Prime Minister’s offer to meet with just one of them. He also suggested that Tuesday’s march for tax relief was justified, given the dire economic conditions that have been created by the current policies of Government. While throwing his support behind yesterday’s March by the trade unions, political scientist and pollster Peter Wickham suggested that the trade unions might have to bring the country to a total standstill for Stuart to realize that there was a problem. “I do not have a difficulty with a total standstill of the country. I have no problem with a 48-hour ultimatum. I think it will become necessary for the unions to go to the next step. The 48-hour ultimatum would not mean anything to Stuart,” Wickham cautioned. Meanwhile, veteran trade unionist Caswell Franklyn contended that 48 hours was too much time, while arguing that it was high time the unions took a stand, with a view to getting rid of the current Government. “The unions should have had this country shut down until the Government goes,” Franklyn, who is general secretary of the Unity Workers Union, told Barbados TODAY. “How much more damage can this Government do? It is about time they go. This Government has done more damage to the island than Hurricane Janet,” he added. (BT)

DOC: CUT WAGE BILL – As the major trade unions drag Government over the coals and threaten a national shutdown because of soaring taxes, a former Central Bank governor says it is the size of the public sector that is the single biggest problem facing the country. Government has been borrowing hundreds of millions of dollars annually over the past nine years to pay nearly 20 000 civil servants and maintain the operation of 60 state entities. Dr DeLisle Worrell, who was fired by Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler last February after long-running battles with the bank’s board of directors, is giving the same warning he gave while governor: Government is too big and the expenses associated with a large public sector must be cut. (BT)

GOLLOP DEFENDS HIS ROLE IN HYATT CASE - Queen’s Counsel Hal Gollop has come out swinging against radio commentators who have questioned why he was representing Prime Minister Freundel Stuart in the Hyatt court matter, particularly since the senior counsel works at the law firm founded by Stuart. Not only has he dismissed any notion that Stuart would benefit financially from his involvement, but Gollop was adamant there was nothing unusual about a lawyer from a private law firm representing Government. Deputy Solicitor General Donna Brathwaite, QC, was initially representing Stuart as Minister responsible for Town & Country Planning in the matter in which political activist David Comissiong is seeking judicial review of the multi-million-dollar Hyatt project. However, Gollop and his son, Steve Gollop, appeared on the Prime Minister’s behalf when the matter came up last week. The situation has raised some eyebrows, with hosts and callers to VOB’s Down To Brass Tacks call-in programme questioning whether Harford Chambers, founded by the Prime Minister, would benefit from the Hyatt matter. Since then, Gollop has gone on the war path over the comments, charging that there was a deliberate attempt by some to make it seem like Harford Chambers would reap the sweets of him being Stuart’s legal counsel. The Queen’s Counsel stressed that every lawyer who works in Harford Chambers was a sole trader. Gollop, who is also chairman of Government’s Employment Rights Tribunal, also pointed out that it was not out of the ordinary for an attorney in private practice to represent the Government of the day. The senior lawyer also took a swipe at two of the hosts on the VOB radio call-in programme saying, “I understand this is the silly season, but one would expect responsible people would rise above the level of silliness that this season is demonstrating. “I’m condemning Peter Wickham and David Ellis,” Gollop said. (BT)

KESTER GUY IS NEW FSC CEO - The Financial Services Commission (FSC) has a new chief executive officer.  Kester Guy, who was acting in the post since January this year, has been given a clear mandate by the FSC board of commissioners to head the local regulatory body. Chairman of FSC, Sir Frank Alleyne, made the official announcement to staff on Tuesday morning indicating that Guy had been fully endorsed by the commissioners as “the right person to take FSC forward”. Sir Frank explained to the over 50 staff members gathered to welcome their new CEO, that the process of selection was very extensive. Guy, who moves from his substantive post of deputy CEO, supervision & regulation, is the second board-appointed CEO at FSC.  He is a career regulator and economist with an extensive background in research and quantitative analysis. His most recent post before joining FSC was that of assistant director at the Central Bank of Barbados. He has also held the post of CEO of Barbados Deposit Insurance Cooperation, senior economist at the Central Bank of Barbados and economist at the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago. (DN)

BLAME THEM – Despite Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler’s protestations of innocence, it has emerged that the Ministry of Finance is not entirely blameless in the delay of a settlement to the Colonial Life Insurance Company Ltd (CLICO) and British American Insurance Company (BAICO) Ltd matter, at least in the case of the BAICO transfer. Barbados TODAY investigations revealed that the Ministry of Finance, Sagicor, which is to take over the BAICO portfolio, and the BAICO judicial manager KPMG, have been engaged in a continuing back and forth which has stalled progress towards a resolution. The May 30 deadline for the transfer of BAICO’s individual life and annuity policies to insurance giant Sagicor was missed, prompting the judicial manager to propose a new transfer completion date of July 31, 2017. KPMG also pointed out that recent valuation estimated that Government support would be $88.4 million, as opposed to the previously estimated $90 million. A major part of the delay stemmed from Sagicor’s concern about the economy and Government’s financing, given the island’s junk status rating. A July 2, 2017 court document which followed a meeting on June 9 between Sagicor and the ministry showed the insurance company had repeated a number of concerns, raised previously in a May 25, 2017 letter to the judicial manager. At the June 9 meeting, Sagicor had asked that the parties await a more favourable outlook on Government’s debt re-profiling and the economic environment. It had also called for a protection clause, approved by the court, to be included with Government bonds issued as part of the transfer, essentially protecting their face value; or that the interest of the proposed Government bonds increase from the proposed range of 7.75 per cent to 8.95 per cent to a range of 10.25 per cent to 11.75 per cent. (BT)

DEATH BY ROADSIDE – The death of 61-year OLD Mary Downes has left a St James community shocked and those who knew her scarred. Screeching car tyres and loud bangs as metal collides with metal are familiar sounds to Westmoreland residents because of the frequent vehicular accidents at that busy junction on the Ronald Mapp Highway. However, not even the experience of previous accidents could have prepared those who knew the mother of six for the way she died yesterday. Two trucks collided at the intersection and the impact reportedly caused one of the vehicles to run into Downes, who had just disembarked a bus and was standing beside the road. She died at the scene – the 16th person to die on the country’s roads this year.  (DN)

MINISTRY TO FIX BLINKING PROBLEM – The green light has been given for those faulty traffic signals to finally be repaired. For the past few weeks, several have been malfunctioning, resulting in them displaying flashing red lights. Those at Wanstead, Hinds Hill, Eagle Hall and Bank Hall in St Michael, parts of The City as well those in Rendezvous, Christ Church, were among those affected. A press release from the Ministry of Transport and Works said the equipment necessary to fix the lights had been previously unavailable. However, it added the ministry now had access to that equipment, and workers would immediately begin to resolve the issue. (DN)

$250 000 BOOST FOR BATHROOMS - A $250 000 vandalism-proof facelift. That’s what four bathroom facilities at key visitor spots around the island have been given by the Tourism Development Corporation (TDC).  It’s all about improving the tourism product, said chairman of the TDC, Martin Ince, as he revealed the corporation was looking to partner with the National Conservation Commission (NCC) and the Barbados Tourism Product Authority (BTPA) to refurbish other facilities in the future. Ince told the DAILY NATION the four public toilets were in dire need of repair and since the TDC’s focus was on the tourism product which a visitor would experience, the corporation decided to refurbish the facilities, which were also widely used by locals. (DN)

EIGHT CALVES STOLEN – A plantation supervisor is crying out for stiffer sanctions for farm theft after thieves took away eight of the farm’s Red Poll calves. Nicole Greenidge, of Canefield Plantation in St Thomas, said the animals were stolen some time between April 16 and June 10. The sprawling, 400-acre dairy farm has over 400 cows. Acknowledging that livestock theft was nothing new to the business, she, however, stressed that it was costing them big bucks and “it was time for it to stop”. “Approximately ten to 15 calves are stolen each year,” she said.  (DN)

THEFT ACCUSED REMANDED - A Fairfield Crossroad, Tudor Bridge, St Michael resident was remanded to prison until August 9, after appearing before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant accused of breaking into a house two days ago. Kevin Ryan Cornibert is charged with entering the dwelling home of 78-year-old Bresford Davis as a trespasser on Tuesday, and stealing cash and items valued at $230. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and prosecutor Sergeant Cameron Gibbons objected to bail. Gibbons asked the court to take into account the seriousness of the crime of which Cornibert is accused, the age of the complainant, and also pointed out that the accused had missed his last court date in another matter. “I fear that if you grant him bail, he will not surrender himself to this court,” Gibbons stressed. Amidst strong protest from the accused, who insisted that he had kept all of his court appointments, Magistrate Cuffy-Sargeant granted the prosecution’s request. “We keep records here, Mr Cornibert, and I am going by my records,” she said. (BT)

ROBBERY ACCUSED TO SPEND CROP OVER ON REMAND - A 25 year-old St Michael man will spend the remainder of the Crop Over season in prison, after being remanded until next month on a robbery charge. Dario Jean-Luc Holder-Branch, of 1st Avenue Gooding Road, Station Hill, appeared before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant in the No. 2 District ‘A’ Criminal Court Wednesday morning. It is alleged that he robbed Charles Husband of $5,150 on February 24, 2017. Holder-Branch pleaded not guilty to the offence. He is set to return to court on August 9. (BT)

‘I DID IT FOR MY GIRL’ - A 31 year-old man who claimed that he only acted as the lookout in a robbery at Pirates Cove because he needed money for his pregnant girlfriend and to pay rent, has been remanded to Her Majesty’s Prisons at Dodds until Friday. Horatio Walter Labodie, of Dunlow Lane, St Michael, appeared before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant Wednesday morning in the No. 2 District ‘A’ Criminal Court charged with entering the storeroom of Pirates Cove as a trespasser on July 2, 2017, and stealing four cases of brandy valued at $5,357.67. He pleaded guilty to the charge. Giving the facts of the case, Sergeant Cameron Gibbons revealed that the accused was a former employee of Pirates Cove and had acted as the lookout while others entered the premises and removed the property. Labodie attempted to explain to Magistrate Cuffy-Sargeant Wednesday why he committed the crime. “The reason why I do it is because my girlfriend is pregnant and I was behind on my rent and the men offered me $1,000 if I kept my mouth shut,” said Labodie, who also asked the court to take into account the assistance he gave to the police in identifying the other persons of interest in the matter. However, since the other accused persons are in police custody, the magistrate said she preferred to sentence everyone involved on the same date in order “to be fair.” She then remanded Labodie. (BT)

I’M NO THIEF! - “I am not a thief!” A despondent and emotional Dale Clarke, president of the Professional Road Tennis Association (PRTA), made that declaration during a press conference at the Harbour Road, St Michael studio of Trident 10 television yesterday. “I am tired walking around Barbados with everyone saying: ‘That is the thief!’”, he said. “It is painful. I have children and people are saying to them that their dad is a thief. “All I have done is work hard. I have dedicated the last 16 years of my life to taking our indigenous sport and trying to get it as the No. 1 racquet sport in the world.” (DN)

WORK IT OUT – MARK “Venom” Griffith, who is still to receive his winner’s cheque of $12 000 for the Clash Of The Titans tournament, says the time has come to resolve the pay dispute between the Professional Road Tennis Association (PRTA) and the players.  “I would like the matter resolved, along with many of the other players, as quickly as possible,” Griffith said, adding that he wanted it done “in the best interest of all parties – the players and also Massy United as well as the Professional Road Tennis Association”. “I do not know what has happened behind the scenes because I am not given those rights to know such,” he said, adding that such details would be between the organisers and the sponsors. (DN)

JONES, WORRELL ON PAN AM JUNIOR TEAM – CARIFTA gold medallists Jonathan Jones and Aaron Worrell are among eight who will be representing Barbados at next week’s Pan American Junior Championships in Peru slated for July 21-23. Jones (below) will race in the 800 metres while Worrell will compete in the ten-event decathlon.  The team also includes St Leonard’s sprinter Jaquon Hoyte, who captured a silver medal at this year’s Carifta Games in Curacao. The full team is: Tristan Evelyn (women’s 100 metres), Jaquon Hoyte (100 metres), Matthew Clarke (200 metres), Kentoine Browne (200 metres), Rivaldo Leacock (400 metres hurdles), Triston Gibbons (shot put and discus), Aaron Worrell, (decathlon) and Jonathan Jones (800 metres).  (DN)

WINDIES DEFEAT YOUNG PROTEAS - Opener Bhaskar Yadram struck a critical half-century but West Indies Under-19 were forced to overcome a late innings slump before pulling off a two-wicket win over South Africa Under-19s in the second Youth One-Day International Wednesday. Set a modest 208 for victory, the Young Windies were coasting along at 165 for three in the 39th over but suffered a collapse where five wickets tumbled for 35 runs in the space of 31 balls. Tottering on 200 for eight in the 44th, the Caribbean side were rescued by the lion-hearted Jeavor Royal who ended unbeaten on 31 off 17 deliveries, to take the team over the line. Yadram had earlier top-scored with 81 off 116 balls while captain Emmanuel Stewart chipped in with 45 off 69 balls. The five-match series is tied 1-1, with the next game scheduled for Friday at the same venue. (BT)

GEMS FINALLY END LOSING STREAK – THE BAJAN GEMS outplayed Singapore 68-44 to score their first win in the Netball World Youth Cup in Gaborone, Botswana, yesterday. The most precious stone in the Gems’ outlay, Shonica Wharton, returned from injury to score a record 63 goals from 64 attempts. That display doomed Singapore to a winless preliminary round in Group B. Ending fourth in Group B will see the Gems playing Scotland this evening at six (midday Barbados time) for the ninth to 16th positions. Australia topped the group, finishing with a 65-35 win over second-placed South Africa. Yesterday the Caribbean battle between Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada saw the former triumphing 76-35.  (DN)

DURANT GIVES UP $9.5M FOR TEAM – Golden State kept just about every piece of their NBA championship roster, and even added a couple, thanks to Kevin Durant’s selflessness. With some serious luck and a giant wage bill, the Golden State Warriors managed to keep just about every member of their NBA championship roster, and even added a couple of players. That feat was achieved in no small part to Finals MVP Kevin Durant literally taking one for the team and accepting a $9.5million pay cut.  “I knew he was going to give up enough money to allow us to keep Andre (Iguodala) and Shaun (Livingston). I didn’t know he was going to go beyond that. A remarkable gesture,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr told Bay Area News Group.  “I told him it reminded me a little bit of Tim Duncan and his time with the [San Antonio] Spurs. He made max money and then at key times in his career he took a little less so they could add a player here and there.” Stephen Curry cashed in this offseason with a five-year, $201 million deal that set an NBA record for about two weeks before James Harden topped it by nearly $30 million. But with the flexibility Durant afforded Golden State, the front office was able to add Nick Young and Omri Casspi. As it stands, backup center JaVale McGee is the only target remaining. “The way the league works, the way the CBA works, it really kind of is up to the star player at key times to take a little haircut here and there,” Kerr said.  “Whether that’s fair or not, I don’t know. But I do know that Tim knew it was dramatically helping his own career and KD understands the same thing. In the end, he’s going to make a fortune in his career. Already has and he hopefully is going to win more titles and that’s what he cares about.” (BT)

NOTHING NEW – The decision by two bands to pull out of Grand Kadooment does not appear to be bothering Chief Executive Officer of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) Cranston Browne. He insisted yesterday that it was not strange for bands to drop out of Crop Over’s main event, and revealed that registration this year is the highest it had been in 15 years. Browne was speaking at the official launch of Republic Bank Grand Kadooment, held at the bank’s Warrens, St Michael branch, against the background of popular band Fantasy and Ravers opting out of the big jump-up, citing financial challenges. To support his contention that it was no big deal, Browne said that participation in Grand Kadoomentsaw a 37.5 per cent increase between 2014 and 2017. This year, 33 bands have registered to go on the road on August 7. He therefore warned stakeholders that with the festival attracting international attention, they should be cautious of what they put out there. (BT)

VETERANS STICKING WITH KADOOMENT – While two bands have pulled out of Crop Over 2017, two veteran bandleaders say they will stick it out, no matter what. The tough economic climate – partly impacted by an increase in the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) from two per cent to ten per cent and the introduction of a two per cent tax on foreign exchange transactions – has resulted in Fantasy and Ravers pulling their bands this year. However, Gwyneth Squires and Betty West, who have numerous Grand Kadooment awards between them, have admitted to having it rough this season, but said they will be on the road this year. At the same time, they have appealed for whatever assistance they can get. She said she sympathized with the bands that had decided not to be part of the jump-up this year. However, the veteran bandleader, who is celebrating her 26th year in the industry, said she would push forward. She expects costume sales to pick up as Grand Kadooment, which is 27 days away, draws closer. She explained that she realized early how the economy was shaping up and based on that, in addition to the lack of sponsorship, she decided not to bring a Kiddies Kadooment band this time around. Regarding the increased NSRL, West said she believed she dodged a bullet by importing the majority of her materials early. (BT)

That’s all for today folks there are 172 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase