#Irene Sandiford Garner

[thechasefiles]

The Chase Files Daily Newscap 5/23/2018

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Wednesday, 23RD tMay 2018. Remember that you can read full articles via subscribing to Nation News Online, purchasing a Mid-Week Nation Newspaper (MWN), via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS).

WE HAVE 15 HOURS & 20 MINUTES UNTIL THE POLLS OPEN!!

5% SWING – Pollster Peter Wickham is predicting a more than five per cent swing away from the incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP) during Thursday’s general election, well over the two per cent needed for a change of Government. And with the political scientist dismissing the fringe parties’ chances, he said the signs point to a Barbados Labour Party (BLP) victory. “The historic reality is that we have small swing elections and big swing elections. 2013 was clearly a small swing election, this one is likely to be a big swing election largely because the two follow in sequence. So even if I were to set aside any poll data and say, let’s look at it purely in terms of history, we are looking at a swing in excess of five per cent, bearing in mind that the swing needed to change the Government is less than two per cent,” Wickham told Barbados TODAY. However, Wickham refused to project a seat count, although he anticipated that the BLP’s Kirk Humphrey, whom he described as one of the most effective communicators in the region, would give Prime Minister Freundel Stuart a run for his money in St Michael South. “I think that he [Stuart] is in real jeopardy of losing his seat. It takes a 14 per cent swing for him to lose his seat and a 14 per cent swing in this election is entirely possible. So I do believe that Mr Kirk Humphrey is in a very good position to take the seat from the Prime Minister. He has never been a particularly strong candidate. So, all things being equal, I think there is a very distinct possibility he won’t be a Member of Parliament after Thursday,” Wickham said. In his assessment of St John, a traditional stronghold for the DLP from its inception, the political scientist said this election will provide the BLP with its best chance of taking the seat. He based his assessment of the fact that the DLP candidate, George Pilgrim, who is not from the parish, was hand-picked by the party’s top brass, along with the fact that Leroy McClean, son-of-the-soil and protégé of late Prime Minister Errol Barrow, entered the race as an independent, although he said he remained loyal to the DLP. “I think that the Democratic Labour Party is under considerable pressure in St John. I think that it is historic, unprecedented, and if there were an opportunity for the BLP to prevail in St John it would be this election,” Wickham said. “I don’t think the conditions have been as appropriate for a BLP victory in St John for a long time. I don’t think they have ever existed like this before and they probably wouldn’t exist again like this for a long time. So we will see with great interest. So I’m still not prepared to call it, but I would just say that a victory of the BLP there is definitely more possible now than it has ever been before.” The pollster made reference to a recent poll in the rural district, which he said showed a swing in excess of 20 per cent against the DLP, placing the BLP “within striking distance” of the 28 per cent swing needed to capture the seat. Wickham said if McClean splits the DLP votes he could make the difference in that rural riding. “I think that makes him very interesting as a potential option in this election. I don’t know to what extent he has been moving around and having meetings and so on . . . .But my feeling is that he could probably change the course of history in relation to St John, bearing in mind it’s the only seat the Democratic Labour Party holds and has never lost,” the pollster stressed. Wickham predicted that voters would consider their well-being and the economy when they cast their ballots, but would also seek to punish the DLP for its handling of the country during the past ten years. “There are people who would say, ‘I like what has been happening and I want more of this’. They would vote for the Democratic Labour Party. But the ones who feel they have had enough and they want to try things differently, they would vote against the Democratic Labour Party,” he suggested, adding that people would be making a mistake if they assumed this election was about the BLP. “It’s an election where people are voting for or against the Dems,” he contended, while going on to state that leadership will also be a factor, an area he said the BLP has an advantage. The last opinion poll conducted by Wickham’s Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES) in June last year found that 52 per cent of Barbadians preferred the BLP’s Mia Mottley as leader, compared to only eight per cent in favour of Stuart. The CADRES poll also found that 70 per cent of those surveyed at the time were dissatisfied with the DLP administration, while 71 per cent said it was time for a change of Government. (BT)

PM STUART SAYS ELECTION STAKES ARE HIGH – Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has warned that the stakes in the upcoming General Election are high as he cautioned party faithfuls not to underestimate the Opposition and their operatives. “There is nothing they will not do to pervert our electoral processes. I know what I am talking about and I also know who I am talking about. You cannot leave anything to chance in this election the stakes are very high. They are people surrounding the Barbados Labour Party who believe they have had to do without for too long. And that they cannot afford to wait any longer. Take every precaution and understand that your future and your children’s future are at stake,” he said. Stuart was speaking Sunday at a political meeting in Thorpes, St James, where he also advised those working on Election Day, counting votes for the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), to “walk with their own light”. “Next Thursday night votes have to be in all the 30 constituencies. I want to sound a toxin to all those who will be counting votes for the Democratic Labour Party to travel with your own light,” he said to a loud outburst of laughter. The incumbent MP for St Michael South pointed out that just recently on the afternoon, the new Governor General Dame Sandra Mason, was to be sworn in the electricity went off. He then recalled an incident which happened during the 1976 election. “In 1976 in the constituency of St Michael South East a count was on and while that count was going on the Democratic Labour Party candidate John Connell was in the lead and all of a sudden the electricity went off and by the time the electricity came back on his opponent Delisle Bradshaw was in the lead. Make sure you have your own light next Thursday night,” the lawyer said. The PM told Barbadians that Thursday’s General Election was the most important election since post-Independence. “Thursday you have a critical decision to make. Whether you will re-elect the Democratic Labour Party to office and therefore guarantee the continued development of this country, or whether you will gamble with your future by experimenting with a motley collection of well organized self-seekers in the Barbados Labour Party and put Barbados at risk.” (BT)

SINCKLER: REMEMBER WHERE YOU CAME FROM – Chris Sinckler got nostalgic as he addressed his hometown of St Michael North West, reflecting on the work done by his office to help those who came from a background similar to his. He spoke about a little publicised school assistance programme as he pointed to the need to give back and what representation should be. Sinckler, who has represented the constituency for ten years, said that is what coming to high office meant. "When you come to high office you have to remember your grounding. You can't forget where you come from," he told the crowd at the Deacons Farm, St Michael meeting Tuesday night. Stating that he was an unapologetic product of Deacons, Sinckler, the Minister of Finance, added that he did not envy anyone born with a gold spoon in their mouths. However, he was against those who, because of accident of birth, believe they are better than those with a background like those from Deacons and its surroundings. A jubilant atmosphere prevailed when Sinckler made his appearance on the platform. He was ushered on to the stage by a crowd of chanting youthful supporters as calysonian Mistah Dale gave a live rendition of Sinckler's campaign song belting out "Chris, Chris, we going with Chris, we going with Chris. (MWN)

DUGUID QUERIES IF DEMS FLYING IN VOTERS – Is it true that the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is chartering flights to Barbados with voters? This is what Dr William Duguid, the Christ Church West candidate for the Barbados Labour Party, wants to know. Dr Duguid who was speaking at the BLP’s political meeting at Lower Lodge Road, Christ Church Tuesday night said he had asked the question before but there had been a “deafening silence” from the Dems. “I understand that they want to fly in people to vote and I am going to ask Freundel Stuart and Chris Sinckler, is it true that you, the Democratic Labour Party are flying in people from over and away to vote in this election? “Why this is so important, he said, is that  if somebody who lives in New York, or who lives in Canada or who lives in the United Kingdom, comes and flies into Barbados and votes in this election and distorts our democracy; and then get back on a plane and leaves and then the Democratic Labour Party wins, we still have to live with sewage on the South Coast; and we still have to live with the NSRL and we still  have to live with the VAT; but they gone back to where they have come from. That can’t be fair, he roared. While Duguid acknowledged that the DLP “can’t win in Christ Church West because they would have to fly in 20 planes” he said they were targeting marginal areas, “where it can have an effect.” However, he warned that the BLP had a strategy for this plan. “We will counter that because we are going to get out our people in their numbers to vote for the Barbados Labour Party. Because when we get out our votes don’t care how many people they bring in they cannot win on May 24,” he said to loud applause from the gathering. (MWN)

BAJANS HAVE ONE CHOICE ON THURSDAY, SAYS COLIN JORDAN – The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) administration made several bad choices which are affecting the people of Barbados. This was the declaration tonight of Barbados Labour Party (BLP) St Peter hopeful Colin Jordan who was addressing party faithful during a meeting at Silver Sands, Christ Church in an atmosphere that was a mixture of political messaging and entertainment. Jordan said the Stuart administration took a decision to spend millions of dollars to build a new Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) headquarters but refused to purchase new garbage collection trucks. He said a similar decision was taken to build a new multimillion-dollar headquarters for the Barbados Water Authority but was unable to deliver a consistent supply of water to the people in the north of the island. Citing decisions of the administration to impose tuition fees and the severing of thousands of public workers, Jordan called on the electorate to reject politicians who did not care about them but concentrated wealth in the hands of one man he described as the “billion-dollar man”- a reference to a frequent BLP target and businessman Mark Maloney. Meanwhile, in his short address to the crowd as the rains started to drizzle, St Philip South candidate Indar Weir, who is challenging Attorney General and St St Philip South incumbent Adriel Brathwaite, stopped just short of declaring  victory in Thursday’s poll. Weir said the election will be historic and would usher in the country’s first female Prime Minister in Mia Mottley. “We will revolutionize the way Barbados is run” he said adding that free education up to the tertiary level would be restored. Another speaker and first-time candidate John King declared that Thursday’s poll was about the survival of Barbados. The St Philip West candidate, who will be coming up against Minister of Agriculture Dr David Estwick, called on BLP supporters to go out to polling stations early and cast their votes in favour of the opposition party. “We can’t do the job alone,” King said, pleading with party faithful not to believe the win was already in the bag.

(BT)

SANDIFORD-GARNER SAYS PAYNE NEGLECTED ST ANDREW – Irene Sandiford Garner has a question for George Payne. What have you done for St Andrew lately? "I am for St Andrew. I have been the candidate for St Andrew. Now is the time to make the arrangement formal," Garner told a meeting in Belleplaine, St Andrew on Monday night. The Democratic Labour Party candidate for the eastern parish said it is time for people to turn their backs on Payne, who she said has been around for more than two decades, but had very little to show for his tenure. "When I speak of St Andrew I get very emotional. It is the only place I will run," she said of her political aspirations. As rain started to drizzle, the prospective candidate reminded supporters that even after two losses at the polls, she had never stopped working for the people of St Andrew. "When you come to work for people you should never stop. A candidate is not paid to represent anyone. No one can compare the ten years of work done by a candidate to the 27 years of non-productivity by an MP. "You have to recognise when you are being taken for a ride," she said of Payne's tenure in the constituency. (MWN)

NO RIGHT IN THIS - Former Senator Harry Husbands has lambasted Massy Stores for what he claims is blatant political favouritism shown by one of Barbados’ leading supermarket chains at the height of an election. He made the accusations against the Trinidad-headquartered megastore based on what he said he witnessed with his “own eyes” on Sunday while shopping there. Husbands was speaking at a political meeting in Belleplaine, St Andrew on Monday night. “On Sunday evening I went into Massy Supermarket at Warrens and I saw . . . .  I  am not talking about what somebody tell me, I didn’t see it on Facebook . . . I saw the Barbados Labour Party shirts being distributed in Massy Supermarket to the staff. “I know the man and if anybody denies it, I will tell you who it is. I was at the cashier. I saw him come in with the big pile of red shirts under his arm and put them down on the counter. The cashiers were distributing them to staff and they had to take them. When they realized I was watching they took the shirts off the counter and put them down under the shelf,” he said. The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate for St James North stated that if Massy were using its stores as a distribution point for the campaign season, they should have shirts representing all the political parties in the upcoming general election. “If you are using your supermarket to distribute T-shirts for a political party, distribute T-shirts for all the political parties. They should have yellow shirts distributing in there. UPP should be distributing in there, you should got [independent candidate] Natalie shirts in there. I am saying tonight to Massy if you choose a side and you lose, there are consequences. You have no right in this,” he warned. The former educator told the youthful, energetic and attentive crowd to be vigilant of what was happening around them and to use Thursday’s poll to reject such behaviour. “We have to be extremely careful. When I say to you what a slippery slope we are on, it is something that is not part of our history, it is not part of our experience. Where members of the business community are promoting a party you know what challenges we face. But we have an opportunity because we live in a democracy. “We have an opportunity on the 24th of May to bring an end to all of this. And we will do it one X at a time. You see that hero worship, the dear leader, the loving leader in certain places. I fear tonight the way I see these red shirt people behaving, I fear should we be so foolish, should we be so unwise to put power in these people hands on the 24th we will live to regret it for years to come,” he said. However, in a statement this evening in response to Husbands, the management of Massy Stores said it wished to “categorically state that it has not given any political party or affiliate permission to distribute any political paraphernalia within or on our premises. “While we are aware of a related incident involving one of our tenants who sought to engage in this activity within one of our stores, this action was subsequently averted by the management of the store. “We wish to reiterate that Massy is not affiliated to any political organization nor has it been engaged in the distribution of any political paraphernalia,” Massy said in its brief, three paragraph clear-the-air statement on the matter. (BT)

HOLDER: BE WARY OF WOLVES IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING – Democratic Labour Party (DLP) St Joseph candidate Dennis Holder has warned Barbadians to be wary of the “tricks and gimmicks” that may come their way ahead of Thursday’s general election. “Be careful and beware of what will come to you. Be careful what is said to you on the eve of an election. I warn you that at this time you will be seeing a lot of wolves dressed up pretty in sheep’s clothing. “People will say to you what they think you want to hear and you have to be sensible enough to decipher what is fact and what is fiction. We have been hearing a lot of fiction over the last few weeks,” he told the crowd at Belleplaine, St Andrew Monday night. The DLP candidate for St Joseph begged those gathered to take what the Opposition brings to them over the next two days with a “pinch of salt”. He recalled a “false promise” that was made to the residents of St Joseph ahead of the 2008 elections. “In 2007, on the eve of the 2008 general election it was told to the people of St Joseph  . . . that a brand new bridge had been imported for the purpose of fixing the bridge at Joe’s River. Fate had it, that in 2008 the Democratic Labour Party was given a resounding victory at the polls. In came a new minister of transport and works . . . that new minister set out on a task to find this new bridge. “He went to Bridge Street, he went to Bridgefield, he went to Bridge Cot, he went to Bridgetown and up to now he has not found that bridge yet,” the educator said, adding that “it was said because it sounded good”. Holder, in endorsing the candidacy of Irene Sandiford-Garner, said: “You have had two representatives for the last few years. You have had one who is paid by Government and you have had one who has been volunteering her services. Come May 24 you have to do a combination and you have to make sure you have one Member of Parliament going through to represent St Andrew in the House of Assembly.”  (BT)

SOLUTIONS GOVERNMENT WOULD KNIGHT OWEN –The knighting Of Former Prime Minister of Barbados Owen Arthur is a sure thing under a Solutions Barbados government. Leader of the party Grenville Phillips II made this promise on Tuesday night at Queens Park during the formal announcement of his party’s 28 candidates. In a passionate plea to Barbadians ahead of Thursday’s General election, Phillips said much like all of the other Prime Ministers, Arthur must be celebrated for the good things he did. He also thanked members of the Barbados Labour Party and the Democratic Labour Party who served the country over the years, but he said it was time to usher them into retirement. During his speech he also promised that within the first year of a Solutions Barbados government, there would be a billion-dollar surplus. Phillips, an engineer, said this could be accomplished by decreasing debt, cutting wastage, eliminating corruption and depoliticising the civil service. Because the Solutions Barbados members are not lawyers, doctors or career politicians but rather, people with 20 years’ management experience, they were better suited to manage the country’s finances, he said. “They have no experience in getting Barbados in debt... they have experience in building their companies. So the economy will not be a guinea pig for them, he said.  (MWN)

READY TO SERVE – This should be my final article before the General Election and it has been an interesting three years.  We formed on July 1, 2015, and published our complete manifesto on that same day.  We have assembled a group of highly competent individuals who are innovators in their fields.  They have an average of 20 years of management experience which has adequately prepared them to properly manage Barbados’ economy. Our candidates have not assembled to simply sit as opposition parliamentarians and watch Barbados fail – a certain outcome if the economy is managed by any of the established political parties.  Many economists have arrived at the consensus position that neither the BLP nor the DLP has the discipline to properly manage Barbados’ economy and that the IMF would do a superior job. We need to be reminded that both established parties have finally brought us to where Guyana and Jamaica were before their currency was devalued.  They have both brought Barbados to the brink of economic ruin, but now have the gall to promise us the most severe austerity for their gross mismanagement. Independent economist and former UWI lecturer, Michael Howard, has reportedly rubbished the BLP’s manifesto as theoretically unsound and designed only to get votes.  That is his professional opinion.  The DLP’s various plans have been tried for the past decade and have simply not worked to improve our economy. The only plan that has come through rigorous public scrutiny and favourable independent critical review is Solutions Barbados’ non-austerity plan.  We run a surplus in our first year, something that our government has only managed to achieve once in our 52 years of independence. We can verifiably run a surplus while also abolishing VAT and not laying off any public workers or reducing their salaries.  The typical question is – where are we going to find the additional money to replace VAT?  This is a good question.  However, a better question has been asked by the Opposition – what has the Government done with all the revenues it has collected? That we can run a surplus while abolishing VAT and avoiding austerity, simply demonstrates the amount of wastage and mismanagement that the established parties have perfected over the past 40 years.  We do not need to squeeze additional money out of the almost empty pockets of Barbadians.  We will have enough to provide well managed public services and to meet our debt obligations, without austerity. Some think that Solutions Barbados is some type of third party.  Let me declare that Solutions Barbados is not a third or even a second party, but a first party.  Solutions Barbados is the first political party where all of its candidates are born-again Christians from many different church backgrounds but are not divided because of theology.We are the first party to have 13 women, and three married couples as candidates in a general election.  We are the first party to propose an anti-corruption policy that can actually stop corruption and to publish our manifesto for public scrutiny approximately three years before a general election.  We are the first political party with a chartered structural engineer as a candidate or leader. We are also the first political party whose candidates have committed themselves to the electorate, to be faithful to the policies to which they are seeking election, by agreeing to sign a contract with a severe financial penalty for each and every breach. Solutions Barbados candidates are all innovators.  They are all ready, willing and competent to effectively serve the people, properly manage the economy of Barbados, and be held accountable.  We have done our best.  Now Barbados, the choice is yours. (Grenville Phillips II is the president of Walbrent College who has trained over 1,000 late-learners across the Caribbean region.  He is also the founder of Solutions Barbados and can be reached atNextParty246@gmail.com) (BT)

GIVE US A HEARING – Independent candidate for St Andrew Stephen Pollard has blasted the media, accusing it of “bias” against the non aligned candidates. Speaking to Barbados TODAY yesterday, he took particular issue with Starcom Network’s Down to Brass Tacksradio show, which he said had blatantly refused to give the independent candidates a say ahead of the May 24 general election. “The BLP, UPP, DLP and Solutions are not the only people in the political lineup for Thursday. They should have invited independent candidates on the radio to let us give our views of what we would like to see happen in this country of ours,” he said, in relation to the Barbados Labour Party, the United Progressive Party and the Democratic Labour Party . “They want to bull rush the DLP on their programme [but] the Government refuse to go, [so] they should allow one of the eight independent candidates to come every week,” Pollard said, adding that he was so fed up that he was considering picketing the radio station. “It is people like me and [independent candidate for the City of Bridgetown] Natalie Harewood that can cause change and I strongly believe I will bring change to St Andrew,” he added. Pollard also blasted the incumbent BLP representative for St Andrew, George Payne, saying his record was one of non-performance. “If I get elected I am going to Parliament for the people of St Andrew. I’m going with their views and ideas . . .  not like George Payne that gets elected for 27 years and coming to tell you that he ready to serve. What was he doing?” Pollard said that he would bring “real” change to the rural constituency, explaining that the “first thing I will do is find the people in agriculture because few of them [the major political parties] are talking about that. They have no interest in the agriculture. “St Andrew is a great constituency in this country. The sand, the clay and all the stuff that means something in this country, everybody depends on St Andrew and [yet] it is the most neglected constituency,” he lamented. (BT)

RIGHT MOVE – A pressure group that advocates for the legalization of marijuana here has stopped just short of describing a campaign pledge by the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) to decriminalize small amounts of weed as smokes and mirrors. Cannabis Barbados said it viewed with cynicism, the promise which appeared in the DLP’s manifesto that was launched last Thursday. “We have been trying to initiate dialogue with the Attorney General [Adriel Brathwaite] for so long and now at the last minute it is an olive branch or some kind of branch being offered. So I would say this is a welcome stunt. I am just a little bit cynical with the timing of it,” Peter Adonijah Alleyne, the group’s founder, told Barbados TODAY. Alleyne said he “would not come out and dismiss it as a gimmick”, as his organization preferred to wait to see if the DLP would keep its word should it be re-elected in Thursday’s general election. However, despite his reservations, Alleyne said the pledge was a step in the right direction, stressing that “the way forward has to involve some level of decriminalization”.

He also repeated an earlier call for whichever party that emerges victorious in the May 24 general election to expunge the records of everyone who has been convicted of marijuana-related crimes, and for the “dropping of the charges of those who are currently facing charges”. “We cannot acknowledge that this is a good thing and we want to move in that direction and at the same time have persons suffering because of it,” he said. He promised that Cannabis Barbados was ready to assist with the formulation of a policy on marijuana regulation. (BT)

DOUBLE TRAGEDY – Alvina Ambrose and her boyfriend Jonah Williams recently moved to Barbados from St Lucia in hope of a better life. However, those dreams were shattered in the wee hours of last Sunday morning when 36-year-old Williams died in a vehicular crash that also claimed the life of the driver of the Suzuki Vitara in which he was travelling with three other passengers. It was a tragic end to “a night of fun for the boys” as the Vitara, which Collin Dexter Clarke was driving collided head on with a Transport Board bus along Black Rock main road near the junction at St Stephen’s Hill road. The group was on its way to drop Williams at his Baird’s Road, Lower Carlton, St James residence when tragedy struck. As Ambrose was jolted awake with the horrifying news of the death of her boyfriend of seven years, it seemed as if her world was collapsing all around her, as she made the ardous journey from their St James home to the scene of the tragedy in St Michael, with little information to go by except that Jonah was in an accident. “When I got down there . . . I just walked through and I saw one of his good friends sitting down inside the ambulance. . .  and then I asked him, . . . ‘where is Jonah?’ He said, ‘Jonah didn’t make it’ and I just started to scream and bawl,” Ambrose said, her breathing still heavy with grief as she recalled seeing Williams’ disfigured and battered body trapped in the mangled vehicle before it was extracted with the use of the Jaws of Life. It was certainly not the end she had envisaged. In fact, with tears streaming down her cheeks, she recalled that she was the one who had encouraged Williams, who was a gardener by profession, to take up residence in Barbados instead of their St Lucia homeland after they met in Canada. Ambrose explained that Williams normally arrived home by bus around 10:30 p.m., but when she couldn’t reach him that night, she tried to comfort herself with the thought that he would somehow get a ride home. In hindsight, she wished he had taken the bus. “I really do miss him. We had our ups and downs but this wasn’t called for,” she said. Ambrose described her partner as quiet, cool and quite amicable. “Anybody that knows Jonah loves Jonah,” she repeated as she cried inconsolably. Also shaken by the unexpected turn of events was Clarke’s family. The deceased, affectionately known as Terry, was described as humorous and was well liked within his community. When Barbados TODAY visited the Chapman Lane, St Michael home he shared with his mother and father, it was brimming with relatives including cousin Leroy, one of the three surviving passengers in the vehicle that fateful morning. “I lucky to be alive, I lucky to be alive,” the 64-year-old said, seemingly still in a state of shock over the tragedy. However, he was adamant that had he not been wearing his seatbelt, he would have also met his demise. Leroy, who was born in Barbados and raised in Castries, was planning to return to St Lucia on Sunday afternoon, but those plans have now been put on hold as he prepares for the burial of his cousin, after saying farewell to his sister two weeks earlier. While giving praise to God, Leroy, who escaped with minor injuries to his right knee and his forehead and also complained of back pains, said, “if He wasn’t on my side I would have been deceased”. Also reacting to the death, Clarke’s 80-year-old stepfather George Bramble said he was in disbelief when he first heard the news. “He was a very nice fellow but you know sometimes all the nice things don’t live. The vagabonds does live,” he lamented.  (BT)

BYNOE’S FAMILY CLINGING ON TO HOPE – The family of a young man who fell off a Democratic Labour Party (DLP) campaign vehicle yesterday are bracing for the worst, although they cling on to hope of a recovery. Twenty-six-year-old Omari Jabari Bynoe of Glebe Land, St George fell from the back of a truck, which was part of a motorcade staged by Dr Esther Byer-Suckoo, the DLP’s candidate in St George South. His aunt, Sonia Bynoe, said the general worker is hooked up to machines at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) and is fighting for his life. “We out for the worst because we know he ain’t coming back . . . but we are still wishing for the best,” Sonia said, Omari was reportedly sitting on the railing of a white Toyota Hiace pick-up driven by 57-year-old Ken Forde of Sargeant Road, Ellerton, St George when he lost his balance and fell as the motorcade was returning to the constituency office around 4:45 p.m. Upon hearing of the accident Sonia rushed to the scene from her Farm Road, St George home and found her nephew’s in a pool of blood. “It is only yesterday morning he told me ‘Aunty, I on board’. I wanted to know what board he on [but] I ain’t know he gone [with the motorcade],” Sonia said. With the majority of the family camped at his side at the QEH, Omari’s cousin Andre Bynoe told Barbados TODAYthey were all shattered. “It is going to be tough on everybody,” Andre said. Byer-Suckoo was the first on the scene to provide medical assistance after the incident occurred. Andre revealed that the DLP candidate remained at the QEH until after 6 a.m. on Tuesday, encouraging the family to be strong. When contacted by Barbados TODAY, Byer-Suckoo said those who witnessed the accident were receiving counselling. (BT)

POLICE CONTINUES PROBE INTO EPILEPTIC’S DEATH – Around 5 p.m. yesterday Trudy May Nicola Lowe’s lifeless body was discovered in the bathroom of her Edey Village, Edge Cliff, St John home. The 45-year-old, who lived alone in a two-bedroom wall house, was found by her mother Cynthia Lowe, who had last seen her alive on Friday May 18. Although the police are treating Lowe’s death as “unnatural”, her uncle David Jimmy Shepherd suspects that no foul play was involved. Lowe was suffering from epilepsy, a condition that affects the brain and causes frequent seizures. “She was doing alright and thing but you never know because I know she was getting seizures,” Shepherd told Barbados TODAY. Shepherd said he was home when his daughter called with the news that his niece had died, and he rushed to his grief-stricken sister’s nearby home to comfort her. He described Lowe as a quiet and reserved person who did not socialize very often. “She was always to herself,” he said, adding, “she would get the bus [to Bridgetown] and do what she had to do and come back”. Police said they were investigating the circumstances surrounding Lowe’s death, and appealed to anyone with information that can assist with the probe to call the District ‘C’ Police Station at 416-8200/8201.  (BT)

ROACH CAUGHT WITH ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE – A 33-year-old man, who was admittedly “caught red handed” with an illegal substance, has two months to pay a Bridgetown Court a $1,500 fine. Justin Antonio Roach, of Parkinson Field, Pinelands, St Michael, owed up before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant today to possession of 14 grammes of cannabis in 32 Ziploc bags. The drugs were found after police had cause to stop and search him. “Being honest with you officer, I forget I had that in my pocket,” Roach told police at the time he was detained. Today, he wasted little time in accepting responsibility. “Basically I got caught red handed. The stuff was mine and basically that’s it,” Roach told the magistrate. If he fails to pay the amount by July 23 he will have to spend four months in prison.  (BT)

NO MORE MENANCE – A 27-year-old car washer who said he was tired of being “a menace to society” will spend the next 18 months at Dodds prison. Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant handed down the sentence on Ruben Decoursey Jordan, of Fairfield Cross Road, Black Rock, St Michael, today after he pleaded guilty to stealing a $250 bicycle belonging to Mark Boyce on March 7 and a $1,500 cellular phone belonging to Ismail Mohamed on April 29. Sergeant Edwin Pinder told the magistrate that Mohamed parked his vehicle on Tudor Street, The City, leaving the device in the passenger seat. On his return, a security guard informed him that a man had entered the vehicle and walked away putting something in his pocket. Mohamed subsequently discovered the device missing and reported the matter to police. Jordan was developed as a suspect and arrested for the offence. He admitted to stealing the phone but said he had sold it to an unknown person. In Boyce’s case, he parked the bicycle in a shed in his yard and ventured inside his house. He later heard a noise and on looking outside saw Jordan riding off with his property which was later recovered. “Ma’am for the past six years I was under a terrible situation that I can’t even explain to the world – crack cocaine and I in and out of jail. I don’t want to continue like that because I become more vicious and vicious to society,” Jordan said, explaining that he stole from men, women and children alike to feed his habit. “I don’t want to be a menace to society ma’am. It haunting me ma’am. Sometimes I does smoke and cry ma’am,” he said. He then asked for help but the magistrate told him he did not qualify for the programmes on the outside, given his history. Cuffy-Sargeant then imposed the sentence with the order that he undergoes drug rehabilitation while at the St Philip penitentiary. (BT)

12 MONTHS IN DODDS – Thomas Andrew Bailey told police he was in Dover, Christ Church washing a van. However, the 38-year-old, of no fixed place of abode, had no bucket, water or cloth in hand to support his claim. He was therefore arrested and today pleaded guilty to loitering in the area around 2:30 a.m. on May 20. Prosecutor Sergeant Cameron Gibbons explained that the accused was first seen standing behind the vehicle but when the police circled the block they found him crouching. When asked what he was doing there he claimed he was “just washing the van”. However, the police report said the vehicle was dry and he had no tools to do the job. After owning up to the offence, Bailey appealed to Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sergeant for leniency, saying that he was out partying and having a drink in a public area. However his explanation did not suffice. Bailey, who was previously held for similar offences and was only released from prison early last month, was sentenced to 12 months at HMP Dodds. (BT)

TRINIDAD LAWYER REJECTS STUART POSITION ON CCJ – Prime Minister Freundel Stuart’s controversial campaign promise to break with the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as Barbados’ final appellate court if his incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP) were re-elected for a third straight term, is drawing criticism from Trinidad, where the court is based. Senior counsel Israel Khan has dismissed Stuart’s comments as mere political grandstanding, while warning that such a move would amount to a retrograde step by the country, which abolished appeals to the London based Privy Council back in 2005. “I think that it was talk on the political platform because it is almost impossible to pull Barbados back because they would have to have the necessary majority in Parliament. “The Privy Council is also insisting that we [the Caribbean] go our way and it is people with an inferiority complex who insist that they go cap in hand back to the colonial masters and ask them to interpret our laws,” Kahn said during a televised interview in Port of Spain. The CCJ, which was established in 2001 as the main judicial institution of the 15-member grouping, currently handles appeals from only four CARICOM member states, namely Barbados, Belize, Dominica and Guyana, with the remainder, including Trinidad where the court is based, yet to replace the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as their final appellate court. The court also adjudicates disputes arising from the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. However, addressing a DLP meeting in Eagle Hall, St Michael, the Prime Minister, while not going into details, took issue with the operations of the court in its appellate jurisdiction. He said: “I want to say this, Barbados is not going back to the Privy Council because we are not going backward, life goes not backward or tarries with yesterday, but once the Democratic Labour Party is re-elected to office, I am determined to put Barbados on the same level as every other CARICOM country by de-linking from the Caribbean Court of Justice in its appellate jurisdiction. “We went in first and we can come out first,” Stuart said, while pointing out that the CCJ had heard two cases for the year, “one from Barbados and one from Guyana”. And though not commenting on actual CCJ judgments, he made it clear that “ I’m not going to have Barbados disrespected by any politicians wearing robes. It is not going to happen. And I spoke about this privately to the present president of the Caribbean Court of Justice. I don’t want to influence any decisions, I don’t care what they decide. “[However], I think that the attitude coming from Port of Spain leaves much to be desired in terms of how it is treating Barbados and I am not going to have a situation where other countries in the Caribbean keep a safe, safe distance from that court while Barbados supports it,” the Prime Minister added. However, Khan disagreed with Stuart’s assessment of the CCJ, while suggesting that it was a case of sour grapes given recent judgments of the court that went against his administration. “I am one million per cent sure that Barbados is not going anywhere. That is just a political statement. Barbadians have better sense than that. I think the present Government is just peeved that the Caribbean Court of Justice made some decisions against that particular administration,” the senior Trinidadian attorney stressed. Over the weekend Barbadian Queen’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim also reacted strongly to Stuart’s planned pull out saying it was “poorly thought out and a retrograde step,” which would mean that justice for the average Barbadian would rest solely in the hands of judges appointed by the Prime Minister. “When one looks at the high quality decisions and the access to justice that has resulted from the CCJ, I would regard the comments as unfortunate and a retrograde step. I can’t imagine that the Prime Minister soberly thought that this was something that would be appropriate to do. I think this is something that just happens during political meetings so that they can get people to clap and jump up,” Pilgrim said. “It would mean that people of Barbados would have no real appellate court and this is vital especially in a country where judges are appointed by the Prime Minister. However, as I said before, I believe it is just talk because there is no way this could have been soberly thought out.” Also commenting on the development, fellow attorney David Comissiong, who appeared on an Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) political platform this weekend and strongly endorsed the Mia Mottley-led BLP, said Stuart was treading dangerous waters. Comissiong contended that Stuart’s decision seemed to be precipitated by the CCJ’s recent decision to uphold the ruling by Chief Justice Sir Marston Gibson and the Supreme Court of Barbados to allow qualified Commonwealth nationals to vote in the May 24 general elections. He argued that the Stuart administration had already shown a propensity to ignore the rulings of the local judiciary, adding that Barbadians should shudder at the thought of a final appellate system handpicked by him. In her reaction, Mottley, while sharing the position taken by Comissiong, said she was “ashamed of my Prime Minister” over the CCJ decision. The confident BLP leader also said that when elected on Thursday, her administration would appoint two more High Court judges to address the backlog of criminal and civil cases in the court system. This, she said, would address one of the main criticisms of the CCJ about the local judiciary.   (BT)

BARBADOS WINS GOLD AT CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW – For the 19th time, the Barbados Horticultural Society has won a Gold Great Pavilion Award at the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show in London. This year, the Society chose the theme ‘Where Rum Comes From’ for its exhibit. To recreate the island’s natural beauty with a floral representation of a rum still in action, the team travelled with over 70 large shipping boxes, carefully packed with a vast array of colourful blooms and foliage of all hues, shapes, sizes, and textures. The magnificent collection included classic Caribbean favourites such as Heliconias, Anthuriums, Torch Gingers, Bromeliads, Ornamental Pineapples, Banana Flowers, and Orchids; fascinating varieties of indigenous Palms, Ferns, Succulents and Sugar Cane. Pride of place amongst the display belongs to a new Tulip Torch Ginger, Etlingera hemispherica ‘Flower Forest’, named after the Flower Forest Botanical Gardens where it was propagated. Officially registered with the Heliconia Society International, it is a hybrid cross-pollination between two torch gingers, the mother being Etlingera hemispherica, the father undetermined. This was the first time that the new flower had ever been seen outside Barbados. Many observers were also intrigued by the rare ‘Wood Roses’ draped along a length of copper tubing, designed to represent the still. To give authenticity to the exhibit, the team brought with them actual rum barrels, sacks of raw Bajan sugar and cane baskets. And, to add some extra flair, they included three giant cocktail glasses containing rum punch, pina colada, and banana daiquiri, all of which fascinated the tens of thousands of people visiting the Barbados stand. The BHS’ Gold Medal success this year is the latest in a spectacularly successful record of a total of 19 Gold Medals, 11 Silver-Gilt and one Silver during a remarkable sequence of 31 consecutive years at the Chelsea Flower Show.  A Gold Medal at the Chelsea Flower Show is the most prestigious accolade in the horticultural world. A secondary role of the BHS exhibit at Chelsea is to promote the importance of tourism to the economy and lifestyle of Barbados, and to portray how the amazing beauty of our natural environment makes our island such an attractive place to live or visit. The beautiful and striking Barbados – Where Rum Comes From display has generated tremendous interest and inspired numerous compliments from the many thousands of people who have visited the stand so far, and the approximately 165,000 who will continue to do so throughout the week. The working team at Chelsea this year comprises Jenny Weetch, Trevor Inniss, Wayne Ramsey, Jacqui Ferdinand, John Leach, Sally Miller, Julie Alleyne, Trevor Hunte and Peter Whitehouse, with Keith Miller giving support with PR and media work. In addition, there is a small army of other volunteers, headed up by Shirley Anne Howell, who do diligent work behind the scenes throughout the year. The BHS is supported by the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, Virgin Atlantic and other corporate and individual sponsors. (BT)

BVTB SKILLS TRAINING CENTRES CLOSED ON MAY 24 – The public is asked to note that the Barbados Vocational Training Board’s (BVTB) Skills Training Centres across the island will be closed on Election Day, Thursday, May 24. Additionally, the BVTB’s Skills Training Centres at St. Luke’s, Brighton, St. George; C. Lomer Alleyne at Sayes Court, Christ Church; All Saints, St. Peter; and Mapp Hill and Deacons Training Centres, St Michael, will close at 1 p.m., tomorrow, Wednesday, May 23, to facilitate their preparation for use as polling stations. The BVTB’s Head Office at Lawrence Green House, Culloden Road and its offices at the Pine Annex, Pine Road, all in St Michael, will remain open for business on both days.

The BVTB regrets any inconvenience caused.  (MWN)

Rihanna backing Mottley for PM? – Rihanna’s apparent endorsement of Barbados Labour Party (BLP) leader Mia Mottley, came as a shock to one of her closest friends Leandra Goodridge and caused some excitement on social media. Earlier today, Mottley took over the Instagram Stories of  leading local entertainment website Bajantube. She posted video updates as she went about her daily activities. Goodridge who is a business owner took to her Instagram page and posted a picture of Mottley, with the caption “Watching my next Prime Minister all day on @Bajantube stories”. Moments later, via her badgalriri account Rihanna replied “Yes…. She deserves it!” That short comment had Barbadians buzzing. When contacted, Goodridge, a strong supporter of the Labour Party and St Peter candidate Colin Jordan, told Nationnews the moment was not planned. “I decided to post it because I have a lot of faith in Mia, She is a born leader and I know that with her as head that is the best thing that can happen for the country. “I trust and believe she will make a drastic change in our community. But I didn’t know she (Rihanna) was going to respond… I didn’t even know she did until I got a call saying she did and I was really shocked,” Goodridge said. When asked if Rihanna would be flying in to vote, Goodridge said she did not know. However after the apparent endorsement, Mottley called Goodridge to thank her personally and then she released two videos to thank the long-time friends. “I just want to thank Riri for giving up that love and support, and blessings… You know the whole of Barbados so proud of you and behind you my dear… check ya soon,” Mottley said in the video.  (MWN)

For daily or breaking news reports follow us on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter & Facebook. That’s all for today folks. There are 222 days left in the year. Shalom! #thechasefilesdailynewscap #thechasefiles  #dailynewscapsbythechasefiles

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 4/14/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is your daily news cap for Friday 14th 2017. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Weekend Nation Newspaper (WN).

SHAKE UP – Come election time, some St Michael constituencies will have a brand new look for the Dems. In a major shake-up on Wednesday night, the Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) general council determined that new candidates were needed for the key St Michael East, St Michael South East and Bridgetown constituencies. That decision by the party’s highest ranking body has led to former Members of Parliament Kenny Best and Patrick Todd, along with another losing 2013 candidate Patrick Tannis, being replaced. When contacted yesterday, general secretary of the party, George Pilgrim, confirmed the new picks. In a press statement, he said that for the past three years the party had involved itself in robust analysis, and after 82-plus meetings over the period, had decided on the changes. (WN)

DEES MAKEOVER - The ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is having a makeover of sorts as it prepares for general elections due next year, replacing three losing candidates from the 2013 general election with newcomers. In a statement Thursday evening from General Secretary George Pilgrim, the DLP confirmed that it would field fresh faces in The City, St Michael East and St Michael South East, while suggesting that more changes could be under way. According to Pilgrim, the party had been involved in “robust analysis” over the past three years and held over 80 meetings, which resulted in Thursday’s decision to replace Patrick Todd with former Deputy Chairman of the Rural Development Commission Henderson Williams in the City; Kenneth Best with credit underwriter Nicholas Alleyne in St Michael East; and Patrick Tannis with community activist and Chief Executive Officer of Pinelands Creative Workshop Rodney Grant in the St Michael South East constituency. Among the three, it is Grant’s selection that is expected to generate most of the chatter, as he is replacing a man who narrowly lost to the BLP’s  Santia Bradshaw by ten votes in the 2013 election, and who had remained the DLP’s caretaker in the constituency. Barbados TODAY had reported in February last year that Grant would seek the nomination, much to the surprise of officials of both major parties. Having previously been actively involved with the DLP, he had switched allegiance to the BLP and had chaired one of the Opposition party’s town hall meetings just two weeks earlier. Tannis had refused to comment at the time, but a member of the executive committee of the branch had told Barbados TODAY he was confident Grant would be outvoted when the branch chose the candidate. However, the DLP hierarchy Friday bypassed that process by selecting the community activist. Just as he did last year, Tannis would not comment Thursday, while neither Best nor Todd, Alleyne or Williams could be reached. In the 2013 general election the BLP’s Colonel Jeffrey Bostic polled 2,012 votes to Todd’s 1,888 in The City; Trevor Prescod of the BLP unseated Best, polling 2,452 votes to Best’s 2,333, while Santia Bradahaw recaptured the St Michael South East seat for the BLP, after it was vacated by Hamilton Lashley, who had won it for the party in 2008, before crossing the floor to join the governing DLP. (BT)

DLP REJECTS TANNIS – Reverend Patrick Tannis heard on the radio like the rest of Barbados that he will not be the Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) candidate for St Michael South East in the next general election. He told the DAILY NATION yesterday evening that the hierarchy of the party had not contacted him to inform him about the decision. “I heard on the radio and people told me my name was called and I was no longer the candidate. I am fine; there are others who will work with me,” he said. “The people of Barbados did not reject me.”  The banker, who lost by a mere 12 votes to the Barbados Labour Party’s Santia Bradshaw at his first try at electoral politics in 2013, said he was proud of his performance and what he had achieved in the constituency. (WN)

ST ANDREW SINGS PAYNE’S PRAISES – The threshold for “Payne” appears to be extremely high in St Andrew, where Member of Parliament George Payne continues to enjoy the support of his constituents despite a number of grievances. The Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) parliamentarian, who defeated the then newcomer Irene Sandiford-Garner of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) by a mere 43 votes in 2008, before increasing the margin to 292 in the last election, seems set to retain the seat in the next general election. A four-hour tour of the constituency by Barbados TODAY to test the Pulse of the People revealed that constituents were prepared to give Payne another term, although there was some disenchantment over broken promises and the lack of jobs. Thursday’s visit included stops in the DLP stronghold of Belleplaine, and Hillaby, where Payne is strong. There were common complaints about poor bus service, the state of the roads, and the closure of a number of facilities, such as the Bellplaine Police Station, the community centre, some primary schools and the law court. “There is nothing new to report . . . it’s still the same under both Governments. There is no police station ‘cause they say the crime rate low, there is no court, it is one gas station, there are no supermarkets . . . Up here ain’t even got an ATM [automatic teller machine]. There is no community centre. . . . even to host anything you have to go to the Alleyne School . . . or the primary school . . . . So it’s same under the BLP and the DLP. . . .The roads still bad, the bus [service] still bad,” said one Bawdens resident who asked to be referred to simply as Natasha. Yet, in what seems to be a pattern, the woman swore she would not switch allegiance. The sentiments were similar elsewhere in Belleplaine and Rock Hall, as a mother and daughter who called themselves Butter Cup and Blossom, as well as Kevin Henry and mother of three Tonya Worrell, made it clear that with the current state of the economy they would vote for Payne and the BLP, while in Hillaby, husband and wife Mac and Beverly were somewhat at odds. While Beverly, who “normally vote BLP” said she did not plan to vote in the next election, her husband, a retired teacher who in the past had supported the DLP, said his vote would go to the BLP next time around. “It is common sense. The country is in a rut . . .why should I support her?’ he said of Sandiford-Garner. “No support for her.” However, Payne had his detractors, such as Mealine Taitt, an unemployed mother of seven, who complained bitterly about the bus service, and Ron Alleyne, who “want to see the back of Payne”. Meanwhile, far from being in anyone’s corner, Carmen Devonish placed a premium on her vote. Relaxing in the former National Housing Corporation (NHC) house at Belleplaine housing area, which she now owns, Devonish was blunt about her intentions. “Do my house and you could get my vote,” she said. (WN)

BNCPTA ELECTION COMPLAINTS - The Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) of at least four schools are challenging the election process at the recent annual general meeting of their umbrella body. Letters have been dispatched to the Barbados National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (BNCPTA) and copied to the Ministry of Education outlining concerns about the way its elections were conducted on April 1. The PTAs sources said while they had no problems with the elected members of the BNCPTA, they believed the process was flawed. Yesterday, re-elected president Shone Gibbs confirmed that the BNCPTA executive had received letters from the PTAs of The Lodge School and Lester Vaughan, along with having a meeting with one concerned parent from a primary school. (WN)

SEE SENSE - The Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) is warning that unless the Ministry of Education changes its approach to teachers soon, the current education system will collapse. In the wake of the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) members being threatened with having their pay docked over their recent March For Respect, BUT president Pedro Shepherd said yesterday his union’s members were still to have last year’s docked pay reinstated. He told the DAILY NATION in a telephone interview that the ministry needed to meet with the teachers quickly or face an educational catastrophe. “The BUT is still awaiting a resolution on its matter, the docking of pay for the meetings attended by teachers in late April and early May. (WN)

AIRPORT WORKERS “IN DANGER” FROM PLAYING OF ROAD TENNIS – Employees at Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) are calling on airport management to act decisively to put a stop to the playing of road tennis in the workers’ car park by residents of surrounding communities. The workers complain that the practice places them and the airport at risk, and must end immediately. “We were issued with passes to enter the car park provided for us, but these unknown persons who play road tennis there are doing it without let or hindrance. In addition to breaking into our vehicle, the criminal element among them can assault us as we leave work at night,” one employee told Barbados TODAY. “We see it as a breach of security, but the big question is, why aren’t the security personnel seeing it in that light? Who is there to stop a player from passing on contraband to a departing passenger? There is only wire fence that separates the tennis players from passengers boarding or disembarking from flights,” added the airport worker, who spoke to Barbados TODAY on condition of anonymity. According to the source, with the sport attracting scores of spectators, it could prove to be a perfect cover for criminals, leaving the airport operations vulnerable. He said an open space to the west of the airport could be used for road tennis without presenting a threat to security, as could space near the Rubis gas station at the entrance to the main car park.             Neither GAIA Communication Specialist Keith Goddard, nor the Operations Manager could be reached for a comment on the matter.  (BT)

GAY FRIENDLY – Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community here are not persecuted for their sexual orientation, Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite has said. In seeking to dispel “the notion that homosexuals and lesbians were being targeted across the island”, Brathwaite told Canadian High Commissioner Marie Legault during a courtesy call Wednesday that although buggery was still illegal in Barbados, this did not impact consenting adults, according to a release from the Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS). The Attorney General told the Canadian diplomat that Barbados remained one of the Caribbean islands where gays could exist without fearing for their lives, while stressing that citizens have always been aware and very “tolerant” of same-sex relations within the society, BGIS said. The Canadian government representative told Brathwaite her country “thrives on diversity”, and she hoped that Barbados would eventually come to a place where it was “different from the rest of the Caribbean”. Members of the LGBT community have often complained of a lack of tolerance by the Barbadian public, and discrimination by the business community. Founder of Barbados Gays, Lesbians and All-Sexuals against Discrimination (BGLAD) Donnya Piggott told a symposium on gender-based violence last November that members of the community were being denied employment because of their lifestyles. The BGLAD president also charged that members of the LGBT community were facing domestic challenges, with some of them being kicked out of their homes and ostracized in their neighbourhoods. (BT)

TWENTY-ONE PEOPLE INJURED IN A MASS CASUALTY AT DUKES, ST THOMAS - Twenty-one people were injured in a mass casualty resulting from a three-car smash up at Dukes Bottom, St Thomas around 3:15 p.m. The accident involved a minibus carrying 18 passengers, driven by a 30-year-old man, a motor van driven by a 39-year-old man and a car driven by a 44-year-old woman. The drivers of the car and motor van had to be freed from their vehicles by personnel from the Fire Department. Five people have been listed as seriously injured and according to Police Public Relations Officer Acting Inspector Roland Cobbler, two have already been transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The mass casualty response included two fire tenders from the Barbados Fire Department, under the command of Divisional Officer Errol Gaskin and 13 Fire Officers, four doctors, and staff from the Accident & Emergency Department headed by Dr. Byer; three ambulances, two from the QEH, and one from the Barbados Defence Force (BDF), and personnel from the BDF. Investigations are continuing. (BT)

WOMAN COLLAPSES AND DIES AT CITY BUS TERMINAL – The bustling River Road Bus Terminal came to a standstill Thursday afternoon, when a 60-year-old woman collapsed and died at the transport hub. When Barbados TODAY arrived on the scene, the body of Elizabeth Estwick of The Pine, St Michael was covered with a metallic sheet, while a small crowd was beginning to gather as officers of the Royal Barbados Police Force secured the scene. A vendor who did not want to be named told Barbados TODAY that Estwick had exhibited signs of being “light headed” and passers-by quickly came to her aid. While awaiting medical and police assistance, the woman died around 2 p.m. “People think it was a heart attack or something. She was sitting down just fine . . . before the police came,” the vendor said. The sudden passing of their mother was too much for Estwick’s three children who were too distraught to talk when Barbados TODAY visited their Pine, St Michael home. However, neighbours said they were shocked at the news of Estwick’s sudden death, describing it as a saddening moment. (BT)

MAN DIES IN CUSTODY – Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the unnatural death of a 34-year-old Christ Church man, which occurred between 2:40 and 3:00 this afternoon in a cell at the Oistins Police Station. Lawmen say the deceased was brought into custody at the police station as a suspect, and was subsequently placed in a holding cell. He was discovered hanging by his pants from an iron bar at around 3:00 p.m. (BT)

BACK TO DODDS – After spending 28 days on remand at HMP Dodds, James Ricardo Alexander Fields made a second appearance in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court with not only a change of heart but also hopes of being released. The 26-year-old Bank Hall Main Road, St Michael resident Thursday pleaded guilty before Magistrate Douglas Frederick to possession, possession with intent to supply and possession of a trafficable quantity of cocaine, as well as possession of cannabis. The drugs had a combined street value of $115. Even before the facts were read, the Fields told Magistrate Frederick that he would like to “pay a fine and go home to take care of my responsibilities”. Police prosecutor Sergeant Theodore McClean then told the court that lawmen went to Bay Street, The City, near Harbour Lights Night Club on March 16 after receiving information about suspicious drug-related activity. On arrival, they observed Fields making trips from a lighted to dark area accompanied by some patrons of the club. They stopped him, told him what they had observed and requested a search. Four vials containing a white powdery substance suspected to be cocaine were found in his pants pocket. “What could I really say about them, officer? I like to party like anybody else,” Fields allegedly told police when asked to account for the substance in his possession. He was arrested and taken to a police station where six transparent Ziploc bags containing vegetable matter, suspected to be cannabis, were also found during a second search. “I just had them to have a good time,” Fields told officers at the time. “I get them from a prickle for a deal”. The judicial officer then told Fields that he could not be released Thursday as one of the matters keeping him behind bars was the fact that he was on bail from the High Court on a capital offence and was ordered to report to Central Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, starting March 14 last year. However, the records show that he never complied with the order. “I never had a mentioned date in four years, Sir,” Field declared. The magistrate said that he would look into the matter but, in the meantime, remanded Fields for another 28 days which was not what the accused was hoping for. As a result, he became upset and refused to move from beside the dock for a few moments before prison officers escorted him out the courtroom. Before they did so, Fields also held on to the door of the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court, then the railings of the steps. With some persuasion from the two wardens, he eventually walked back to the cells at Central Police Station. (BT)

MAN ORDERED TO COMPENSATE EX – A woman who was assaulted by her former boyfriend earlier this month appeared in court Thursday and gave her version of what occurred. Tyrone DaCosta Beckles of 3rd Avenue, Parris Gap, Westbury Road, St Michael admitted last week in the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court that he assaulted Neisha Reid on April 5, occasioning her actual bodily harm. On the mentioned date, Beckles went to a club in Nelson Street, The City where Reid was to ask her for keys to their apartment so he could remove his belongings. She refused and the situation escalated, ending with Reid slapping the woman before walking out. Reid told Magistrate Douglas Frederick Thursday that Beckles hit her not once but three times and she had the pictures to prove it. The woman, a Jamaican national, was allowed to get her cellular phone and on it were several pictures of her swollen face. It was also shown to Beckles. She then informed the court that as a result of her injuries she sought medical attention at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital which resulted in fees of $1,000. She provided the bill to the court, saying she must pay it before her six months stay in Barbados is up. The magistrate then ordered that he compensate Reid $1,500 in a month’s time or spend six months in jail. Beckles was also bonded to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for the next six months and for him as well as his friends to stay away from Reid. If breached, he will spend three months at HMP Dodds. (BT)

THIEF BLAMES DRUGS & BOOZE - A 38-year-old man, of no fixed place of abode, was Thursday remanded to HMP Dodds for the next month pending sentencing, after he pleaded guilty to a string of robbery and drug charges. Justin Wayne Jackman admitted to Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant that he entered the home of D’orsus Barker as a trespasser and stole a cellular phone worth $400 and a phone case worth $30 belonging to Marion Martin as well as a purse worth $150 and $596 in cash belonging to Linora Barker. These offences were committed on February 12. Jackman also admitted to stealing two stethoscopes worth $480, a spectrophotometer worth $450 and a flashlight belonging to Shaka Jordan on June 12, 2015. On March 29 this year, he told the magistrate that he stole a printer worth $1,200, a tablet worth $225, a haversack worth $100, a multimeter worth $91, a knife worth $8 and four pens belonging to David Grant. Jackman also pleaded guilty to entering S.P Musson as a trespasser on April 11 and stealing a jigsaw worth $150 and a bolt cutter worth $150 belonging to Frank Armstrong. He also admitted to having two pieces of apparatus in his possession intended for the use of cocaine and possession of cannabis. The magistrate remanded Jackman into custody until May 9 for the facts of the offences and sentencing but not before asking what had become of the stethoscopes and spectrophotometer. “I stash them in an alley because I didn’t have no use for them. That was pure drugs and alcohol, my apologies,” Jackman responded. (BT)

SHAHZAD CHARGED FOR DOPING – The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced that Afghanistan’s wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Shahzad has been charged with an anti-doping rule violation under the ICC Anti-Doping Code. The sample Shahzad provided in an out-of-competition test, which was conducted on 17 January 2017 at the ICC Academy in Dubai and analysed at the WADA-accredited laboratory in Salt Lake City, was found to contain the presence of Clenbuterol, a prohibited substance which appears in Section 1.2 of the WADA Prohibited List (in the category of other anabolic agents). In accordance with the ICC Anti-Doping Code, pending the outcome of the disciplinary process, Shahzad will be provisionally suspended, with such suspension coming into effect on 26 April 2017, unless he exercises his right to challenge the imposition of the provisional suspension before such date. The matter will now be dealt with in accordance with the process set down in the code, and until such time as the process is resolved, the ICC will make no further comment on this matter. Shahzad has to respond to the charge within 14 days. If he fails to do so, he will be deemed to have waived his entitlement to a hearing and admitted to having committed the anti-doping rule violation. Shahzad was expected to be a certainty for Afghanistan’s imminent tour of the West Indies. (BT)

T20 SHIELD UP FOR GRABS - The Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) season will see the introduction of a new T20 Shield competition this year.  This was revealed by director of cricket Steven Leslie during a press conference at Kensington Oval yesterday. Forty-four teams will be vying for the grand prize of $4 000, beginning April 22.  “The competition would create an opportunity for the clubs within the lower divisions, apart from the traditional Elite and Division One clubs. These teams will be playing in a single elimination format across the landscape of Barbados, giving young men the opportunity to stay within their community teams if they choose,” he said. The competition will see some 12 matches on the first day, followed on April 23 with 16 games. (WN)

3WS CREATOR WANTS FENCE AROUND BUSTS – One of the artistes behind the 3Ws busts at Wanstead Park believes his creation is becoming the target of vandals, and he wants it fenced. Arthur Edwards, who along with Frances Ross, crafted the concrete tribute to the legacy of the fearsome batting trio of Sir Frank Worrell, Sir Clyde Walcott and Sir Everton Weekes, said Minister of Industry and Commerce Donville Inniss, the Member of Parliament for the area, should be the driving force behind the security. Edwards was speaking to the DAILY NATION four days after this newspaper discovered that someone had decapitated the bust of Sir Clyde and had placed the head on the ground in front of the other two. (WN)

OISTINS NEEDS TO GROW – As the Oistins fish festival moves to a climax this Easter weekend, a conservationist is telling stakeholders there is much room for growth and expansion in the area.  “Underdeveloped” was the word used by president of the Barbados National Trust, Peter Stevens, to describe the community that has made fishing a cornerstone of its existence. He said while Oistins had maintained its identity, unlike some other communities, work needed to be done to balance its main activity – fishing. “This is not to say that nothing has been done here at Oistins; I’m not saying that at all. It’s just that it appears that it has stalled and that can mean a lot,” said Stevens. (WN)

BREAD & FISH - Barbadians were out and about yesterday trying to gather their share of two traditional treats for Good Friday and the Easter season – hot cross buns and fish. At Vince’s Bakery in Eagle Hall, St Michael, Shandell Clarke said their buns were selling well. She said they took special pride in their once-a-year treat. “We mainly do them on Holy Thursday only. We keep it traditional with the big white cross – some people do something small or just cut a cross but we do it the traditional way. After all, that is a real hot cross bun,” she said. Clarke added that they were going to make around 200 packs – about 800 buns. At nearby Bakers Mart, manager Anderson Nicholls said they had baked their buns earlier this year and had made less. (SS)

That’s all for today folks. There are 261 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[thechasefiles]

The Chase Files Daily Newscap 5/13/2018

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Sunday, 13th May 2018. Remember that you can read full articles via subscribing to Nation News Online, purchasing a Sunday Sun Nation Newspaper (SS), via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS).

ELECTIONS: SPECIAL POLLING ON MAY 17 –Election day workers, including police, are to cast their ballots a week ahead of the May 24 general election. The announcement came in a public notice released at the weekend by Chief Electoral Officer Angela Taylor in which she said special polling will take place on May 17, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Following is the full notice released by the Electoral and Boundaries Commission. “THE GOVERNOR GENERAL, by Order, appointed the 17th day of May, 2018 as the date of the poll for election officers voting at the election to be held on the 24th day of May, 2018. The Supervisor of Elections, in accordance with rule 30(3) of the Rules for Conduct of the House of Assembly Elections set out in the Second Schedule to the Representation of the People Act, Cap.12, hereby gives notice that the poll of election officers including members of the Royal Barbados Police Force will be taken on THURSDAY THE 17TH DAY OF MAY, 2018, during the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at the following polling stations:-

Constituency                    Centre

City of Bridgetown              Donald Henry Auditorium, Bethel, Bay Street

St. Michael South              Dalkeith Old School

St. Michael East                Barbados Community College (Auditorium)

St. Michael South Central     Pax Hill Girl Guides Head Quarters, Belmont Road

St. Michael Central                 The Library, Combermere School

St. Michael South East        Church of the Nazarene, Collymore Rock

St. Michael North East   Grace,    Grace Hill, Moravian Church, Spooners Hill      St. Michael North                                          C.E.F Miracle Centre, Lodge Hill

St. Michael North West             Carlton Club House, Carlton, Black Rock

St. Michael West                    Bethany Evangelical Church, Eagle Hall

St. Michael West Central           Skills Training Centre, Belfield Pavilion, Black Rock

Christ Church West                Bonnets Resource Centre, Bonnets, Brittons Hill

Christ Church West Central          Christ Church Parish Church Hall

Christ Church South            Cuthbert Pilgrim Memorial Hall, Maxwell Road

Christ Church East Central          Garfield Sobers Gymnasium

Christ Church East               Waithe Memorial Auditorium, Providence,

St. Philip North                      Shrewsbury Methodist Church

St. Philip South                      Methodist Church, Rices

St. Philip West                        Wayne Daniel Pavilion, Brereton

St. George North                     Valley Resource Centre

St. George South                     Ellerton Community Centre

St. John                                  BRC Building, St. John’s Parish Church

St. Joseph                           Clifton Hill Moravian Church

St. Thomas                           Vestry, Sharon Moravian Church

St. James North                   Sion Hill Community Centre

St. James South          Caribbean Meteorological Institute, Husbands, St. James

St. James Central             Trents Community Centre

St. Peter                          Alma Parris Memorial School

St. Andrew                    St. Saviour’s Church Annex

St. Lucy             The William Donald George Parish Centre (Old St. Lucy’s Rectory)

(BT)

GRANT CRITICIZES BLP MANIFESTO – The worst manifesto ever! That was how first-time candidate for the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), Rodney Grant described the recently publicised manifesto of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP). The St Michael South East hopeful, who has contributed to several manifestos in the past, made the declaration when he addressed party faithful at a spot meeting in Tweedside Road tonight. He charged that not only were many of the proposals nonsensical but they were potentially detrimental to all Barbadians. Meanwhile, St Michael North East candidate Patrick Todd described St Michael South Central candidate Richard Sealy as one of Barbados' best tourism ministers. And according to Todd, anyone who disagrees is "just jealous".  (SS)

SANDIFORD GARNER SAYS MP GAVE ST ANDREW 27 YEARS OF 'NOTHING' – What has he done for you lately? That was the question repeatedly asked by candidate for St Andrew Irene Sandiford Garner to residents of Orange Hill, St James. She was speaking at a Democratic Labour Party meeting Friday night where accused MP George Payne of doing nothing for the past 27 years. “When you want to represent people you have to ensure that their lives are better than you found them. If an individual did not work for you at 60, they can’t work for you at 70. You need energy, you need vision, you need intelligence. What has he done for you lately? What has he done?” She pointed out that when she first contested the seat in 2008 her slogan was “ready to serve”. However, she accused Payne of using the same slogan which made no sense because he should have been serving all along. “How can you sit in a seat for 27 years and wake up in 2018 telling the good people who repose their confidence in you that you are now ready to serve? What do they do to serve you? What do they do to earn the money that the State pays them? How does your representative pass that hardcourt that is not utilised and ask you for a vote? I am not your MP but I made sure that the Buccaneer works. Why, because I see the value of having those facilities for the youth. It is now refurbished. It now has air-conditioning. It now has 17 computers. I didn’t need to be a MP to do it. I just needed the will to ensure the minister responsible did it.” The DLP candidate said it wasn’t only Orange Hill that was neglected. “It burns my heart to know that I grew up in St Andrew and witness the MP allow the centre down there to run to ruins to the point where men were playing dominoes under a light of a lamp with no water borne facilities. It was not a problem for him to see the degradation of Belleplaine and come back to those people every five years asking for support. What type of conscience does that?” Sandiford Garner also said there was something very telling about the fact that five people are vying to represent St Andrew. “This constituency has about five people looking to unseat the incumbent, it tells you something is very wrong with that individual. One of them is from right here in Orange Hill. You have a very important decision to make for your future and for your children’s future,” she said. (BT)

LASHLEY STANDS BY DLP POLICIES – Minister of Transport Michael Lashley has appealed to the people in the St Michael East constituency to give Democratic Labour Party candidate Nicholas Alleyne “a chance” to represent them. Saying there was “no comparison” between Alleyne and Prescod, Lashley described Alleyne as “a Cadillac” and Prescod as “a donkey cart”. “I want you to give this young man a chance. He is a man for the future,” Lashley said in support of the DLP first-timer during a DLP spot meeting at Licorish Village Thursday night. A former Minister of Housing, Lashley was critical of the Barbados Labour Party’s record on housing and reminded his audience of a DLP policy of transferring National Housing Corporation Units free of cost, once the tenant had occupied the unit for 20 years and paid the rent during that period. Lashley warned the St Michael East constituents to beware of what he described as “fake promises” from the Opposition Leader Mia Mottley, advising his audience to “analyse” those promises against the policies of the Democratic Labour Party He referred to observations made by former Prime Minister Owen Arthur on BLP proposals to fix the economy and urged the Licorish Village audience to “take heed” of Arthur’s warnings that the economic policies proposed by Opposition leader Mottley were “unrealistic.” “It took Owen Arthur to come out in the Press to say that the policies they bringing to you would mash up the treasury, burn up this country.” Lashley pointed out that Prime Minister Freundel Stuart was also constantly reminding people that his government was stabilising the economy, protecting jobs and making sure that social programmes and access to social programmes continued for the vulnerable and the poor.  (SS)

BYER SUCKOO: DEMS PROTECT WOMEN – Don’t tell Esther Byer Suckoo and the women of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) they don’t protect women because they laugh at a joke about Mia Mottley. Byer Suckoo said she, Irene Sandiford-Garner, Kim Tudor and Verla Depeiza had been the targets of members of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) and at no time did party leader Mottley stand in their defence. The candidate for St George South said she belonged to a party which had been protecting women all along and she had been doing the same for the past ten years. As the Minister of Labour, Byer Suckoo said, legislation on domestic violence, sexual harassment and child maintenance were all done under her tenure. In fact, she stated, Mottley was not in parliament when debate was held on the Domestic Violence Act. She said it was the norm to attack opponents in politics, but suddenly, that seemed to be changing. In endorsing St John candidate George Pilgrim, their general secretary, Byer Suckoo told the residents if he worked as hard for the party as he did for them, they would have a great representative. Earlier, Christ Church West Central candidate Stephen Lashley, who was born in St John, told the residents to reject the narrative that the BLP would win the constituency and send a strong message during the May 24 General Election.  (SS)

BLP TO TACKLE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE – The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) is promising a multi-tiered approach to dealing with domestic violence. The vow was made by former Minister of Energy Liz Thompson at a spot meeting at Savannah Road, Bush Hall, St Michael Friday night. "Domestic violence has reached epidemic proportions in this country, and the BLP is taking a zero-tolerance approach for domestic abuse tow ard women, children and men," she said.She added that the party intended to hold abusersaccountable, and intended to put a number of actions in place to help combat these issues.Some of the proposed solutions include anger management and conflict resolution classes, community-based counselling, safe houses for those abused with an equal space for men and restitution and compensation for abuse victims. "We are prepared to give men counselling and put them in programmes to make them feel better about themselves," she said. Meanwhile, Barbados Labour Party leader Mia Mottley said change was going to come.  "To borrow the words of Errol Barrow 'half a loaf is better than no loaf at all' . . . . Give us a chance to show you what we can do for Barbados, because in doing so change will come," she said. Additionally, she said the BLP would run a clean campaign. "We will keep things clean and focused on you. Come out on May 24 and vote. Change has come and we want back our Barbados," she said. (SS)

AIRPORT PRAYER ROOM PROMISE – The Barbados Labour Party is going to add a holy touch to the Grantley Adams International Airport if elected to office. Party leader Mia Mottley, along with candidate for St Michael West Joseph Atherley and City candidate Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic, met yesterday with several worshippers at the Jumma Masjid in Kensington New Road, St Michael, following a worship service. And in responding to their concerns, Mottley confirmed that a BLP Government would be constructing a prayer room at the airport. “We cannot have an international airport without an area that accommodates meditation for prayer for all religions . . . . To that extent, therefore, if we want to ensure we walk the walk and not just talk the talk, we must be prepared to make those adjustments as a country which people come to from all over the world,” she added. Mottley said this was a “reasonable” request and one that was “too simple to be denied”. Additionally, the St Michael North East candidate noted that one of their first orders of business if successful in the General Election would be to address problems with Muslim women and photo ID. “With respect to the issue of photographs of the female members of the community, we recognise that we have to ensure that we meet the concerns of both the international security, but equally the concerns of your community and religion,” Mottley said. “To that extent, I give the commitment myself that within the first month in office, we will meet with members of the community and Immigration Department to ensure there is an acceptable protocol,” she added. (SS)

ST. JOHN MEMBER 'DISGRACEFUL' SAYS CLARKE – Mara Thompson will go down in the parliamentary history of Barbados as the five-minute woman, according to long-serving Barbados Labour Party (BLP) St George South representative, Gline Clarke. Speaking at BLP meeting in Massiah Street Tuesday night, Clarke said Thompson, who succeeded her late husband and former Prime Minister, David Thompson as the Member of Parliament for St John, was known for short speeches.  “The last representative in Parliament in Mara Thompson never lasted more than five minutes any time on the floor of Parliament. It is disgraceful,” Clarke said. He further noted Prime Minister Freundel Stuart’s “bloodline” attack on Opposition Leader, Mia Mottley at the DLP's meeting outside the Netball Stadium in Waterford on Sunday night is contradictory. “If you want to hear about bloodline, Thompson and his wife is bloodline and the Democratic Labour Party cannot come to you and tell you about bloodline because that is bloodline,” Clarke stressed.  (SS)

HIGH PRAISE FOR PILGRIM – Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate for St John, George Pilgrim, has received a ringing endorsement from Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite. During tonight’s national meeting at Gall Hill, St John, Brathwaite, the candidate for St Philip South, likened Pilgrim to two former prime ministers who represented the constituency. Brathwaite said the party’s general secretary should not be seen in any lesser light than the late Errol Barrow, the founding father, and David Thompson. He said Pilgrim was more qualified than most, earning his degrees and opening a business when others were still looking for a job or were working on qualifications. Brathwaite said the “bright, articulate young man” not only had a vision for the people, he had a vision for St John and urged the constituency, which has been very loyal to the DLP, to give him a chance. Pilgrim also should not be counted out because he was not born there like the candidate from the Barbados Labour Party. (SS)

UPP READY TO BRING RELIEF – The United Progressive Party (UPP) is ready to rescue Barbados from the clutches of the labour parties. In its efforts to do this, its 23 candidates are ready to usher in a new creative industries-based “orange economy” and revitalise the island’s struggling fortunes. UPP leader Lynette Eastmond made this pledge to the public Saturday evening as she spoke at the party’s presentation of candidates in National Heroes Square, The City. “The Progressive Party is here to take Barbados out of labour. The United Progressive Party is here to tell Barbadians that, for the first time, we will be looking to own Barbados,” Eastmond said. “No longer must it be that one per cent of the population are to be owners of wealth in this country while the rest of us hold on, hoping to get a pick from somebody,” she explained. With the economy contracting by 0.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2018, Eastmond said the UPP could bring relief to the country’s economic woes by tapping into the creative sector, which she said was valued at $2.3 trillion globally. Instead of solely focusing on tourism, the party leader said, more emphasis would be placed on creatives and other sectors like agriculture, helping to diversify Barbados’ economy for the first time since 1980 and contributing an estimated $3 billion to the economy. While there was not a large audience gathered at National Heroes Square, many passers-by did stop to take note of what the UPP leader was saying. As she grabbed their attention, Eastmond said the new orange economy made plans to provide free tertiary education, cut the food import bill and cut the energy bill, among other plans. Having served as Minister of Commerce, Consumer Affairs and Business Development under the Owen Arthur-led Barbados Labour Party Government from 2003 to 2008, Eastmond said she knew the way to make the plans work. “The question is how are you going to earn more money and the United Progressive Party is the only party that has come to you with an answer. “I know how to do it because I was there when it was being done in the international business sector,” she added. (SS)

UPP CONFIDENT OF WINNING ST JOHN – The United Progressive Party (UPP) candidate for St John Hudson Griffith is confident of capturing the majority of the over 5,000 votes in that rural parish in the May 24 general election. St John, which has long been a Democratic Labour Party (DLP) stronghold, is also being contested by the DLP’s George Pilgrim, Charles Griffith of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), Cherone Martindale of Solutions Barbados and independent candidate Leroy McClean, who is also a member of the DLP. In the 2013 election, the UPP’s Griffith, who was then a member of the BLP, had captured 1,091 votes, losing to Mara Thompson, who copped 4,025 votes for the incumbent party. However, addressing his party’s launch in Heroes Square on Saturday night, he said expects to win the seat in the upcoming poll. “We are going to bring home this election from St John,” declared the former BLP representive who previously lost in both a by-election and a general election in St John. However, while boasting that he was the third person for the BLP to capture over 1,000 votes in the DLP stronghold, Griffith said he was pleased to be representing the UPP this time around, adding that the BLP’s candidate Charles Griffith “cannot pull it off”. “I have outlasted Mara Thompson in St John. I am the next rightful person to represent the St John constituency for the United Progressive Party,” Griffith added.  (BT)

CCJ ARRANGES UNPRECEDENTED SUNDAY HEARING TO CLARIFY RIGHT TO VOTE IN BARBADOS – The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has responded with haste to an appeal from Barbados where a resident of that nation is fighting for his right to vote. The CCJ has set the hearing for tomorrow, May 13 at 11 a.m. Professor Eddy Ventose, a St Lucian national who has lived in Barbados for several years, is seeking to be included on the Barbados electoral register. He alleges that under the prevailing laws he is qualified and entitled to be registered. The Chief Justice of Barbados, sitting as a trial judge, after hearing arguments on the matter, had issued the order compelling the Chief Electoral Officer to allow Professor Ventose to be registered to vote. The Court of Appeal in Barbados on Monday, May 7 ruled that Professor Ventose was entitled to be registered to vote but stopped short of compelling the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) to do so, instead the Court ordered the CEO to determine Professor Ventose's claim within 24 hours. Professor Ventose is asking the CCJ to declare that, as a person who satisfies the necessary requirements, he is entitled to be registered to vote and to order the CEO to enter his name on the final voters' list ahead of its publication this week. The Court’s decision on the matter will also affect other Commonwealth citizens, resident in Barbados for the relevant qualifying period, who are also claiming a right to be registered as voters under the Barbados laws. The application by Professor Ventose for leave to appeal came to the CCJ on Friday afternoon and, in light of the acknowledged urgency of the matter, the Court responded by scheduling the hearing for tomorrow, May 13. The President of the CCJ, the Right Honourable Sir Dennis Byron and the Honourable Messrs Justices Saunders, Hayton, Anderson and Barrow will hear the appeal. It was noted by the CCJ President, Sir Dennis Byron that the Curia court management system played a crucial role in allowing the hearing to heard in such an expeditious manner. The application for the appeal was sent to the CCJ after court hours and the Judges and Registry staff were able to access the documents remotely and quickly put in place the necessary arrangements to hear the appeal. As one of the ways that CCJ aims to be accessible, the Court has embraced the technology which enables the CCJ to have a virtual courtroom. For this matter, the attorneys will have the ability to appear from their Chambers in Barbados while the Judges of the CCJ have chosen to hear the matter in the courtroom. CCJ’s video-conferencing capabilities include a bridging solution where all parties can appear by using internet-connected computers that are equipped with a video camera and a microphone. By using this technology, there is greater flexibility in how matter can be heard, both for the CCJ and for court users. This also has the effect of ensuring that justice moves swiftly. The matter is being live-streamed, as are all the CCJ matters, from Courtroom 1, and the broadcast can be accessed at http://bit.ly/2GaJFlc or from ccj.org.  (SS)

BODY IDENTIFIED AS DAVID DACOSTA KING – Following the unnatural death of Onica King on April 14, David Dacosta King was investigated as a person of interest. On Thursday, April 19, the body of a male was discovered lodged in the rocks along the inner careenage. At the time of discovery, it was in a state of decomposition and further investigations were conducted to determine the identity. This included working closely with the family members of David King. The body was identified by a family member as that of David Dacosta King, the husband of Onica king, and following the positive identification, and the completion of the post-mortem his body was handed over to the family.  (SS)

MURDER ACCUSED REMANDED – Murder accused Adijah Jahmani Younge appeared before Magistrate Wayne Clarke at the District ‘A’ Magistrates Court today. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge of murder and was remanded to Her Majesty's Prison at Dodds until May 15, when the matter will be heard at Oistins Magistrates Court.  (SS)

BOURNE AND HARPER REMANDED TO PRISON – Following an urgent plea from his mother, 21-year-old Hakeem Bourne will be assisted with the rehabilitation that he needs. Bourne, of 2nd Berly Land, Sayer’s Court, Christ Church, appeared before Magistrate Wayne Clarke in the District  ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court today, charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding 48-year-old Terryl Sayers, of No 5052, Millennia Boulevard, Apartment 207, Orlando, Flordia, USA. Bourne’s mother told the court that the 21-year-old had a drinking problem and this was the second altercation he was involved in while under the influence of alcohol. “I think he needs to grow up . . . . I think he needs an environment of rehabilitation,” she said. On Friday, May 11, while in St Lawrence Gap, Christ Church, Bourne got into a dispute at the entrance of the Old Jamm Inn Night Club over the entrance fee. After being removed from the premises by security, he armed himself with a glass bottle and threw it into the night club, resulting in Sayers receiving a laceration to her throat. Bourne was remanded until June 8, 2018. Meanwhile, Jason Omar Harper, of Rochampton Road, Jackson, St Michael, also appeared before Magistrate Clarke in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court today.  He was not required to plea to the indictable charge of possession of a firearm without being the holder of a licence to do so. Harper was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison Dodds until June 8, the date of his next court appearance.  (BT)

ON REMAND FOR FIREARM CHARGE – Jason Omar Harper of Rochampton Road, Jackson, St Michael appeared before Magistrate Wayne Clarke at the District ‘A’ Magistrates Court today.   He was not required to plead to the indictable charge of possession of a firearm without being the holder of a licence to do so. He was remanded to Her Majesty's Prison at Dodds until June 8 to reappear at the District ‘A’ Magistrates Court. (SS)

TWO HOUSES RAZED IN BLAZE – A substantial community effort in Fairfield, St Michael, could not save two houses from being razed and three more from being damaged. When a NATION team arrived at the scene of the blaze around 1 p.m., firefighters could be seen still battling the fire in an effort to save the nearby houses as the inferno had already claimed two homes, despite starting just 30 minutes earlier. A shaken Sophia Jaimangal, who lived in the larger of the two homes with five family members, said the fire started at her next-door neighbour’s house and quickly spread to hers. What made the ordeal more difficult for the Jaimangal family was the fact that the home was renovated just a few months ago. “I just realised I smelt smoke and when I looked through my bathroom window I realised the house next door was totally engulfed and mine would’ve already caught,” Jaimangal said. “There wasn’t really much we could’ve done and I recently renovated my home, it would’ve recently painted and stuff. The house caught quickly and everything was gone,” she lamented. “When I got out there, the older house was on fire and we couldn’t do anything to save that one. So we were trying to see what we could do to save the blue one,” one man called Spooner said. “I just saw the smoke and I ran up there and the family like they were in shock, so I just went and tried to help them get things out of the house,” another resident who went by the name “Sam” chimed in. Both said they were lending a helping hand but had to retreat when the heat and smoke became too much to handle. Other residents were seen filling up buckets and some helped the fire officers with their hoses. Democratic Labour Party (DLP) candidate for St Michael West Central, James Paul, and Barbados Labour Party (BLP) candidate for the area Ian Gooding-Edgehill, both offered their sympathies to the family and said they would be assisting them in getting back on their feet. The number of people who were displaced was unknown up to Press-time.  (SS)

EXPERT READY TO SOLVE SEWAGE PROBLEM – As Minister of Health John Boyce assures the public that the injection wells will be ready by month-end, a sewerage system expert says there is no need for them and he could solve the sewage crisis in a matter of weeks. And, said Murray Chandler, the owner of Polly Septic Services & Equipment Rentals, this would be done without digging up the extremely busy Highway 7 to access the blocked lines. Chandler was one of hundreds of Barbadians who turned up at Accra yesterday morning to take partin the Future Centre Trust’s Walk To Take Back Our Coast. The South Coast sewerage system has been experiencing problems for more than a year caused by blocks and breaches in the network. “We are prepared to go in and clear the line, flush the line, inspect the line and put it back in order within one month. “I will have the lines cleared both here and up by RTs and the line by Bird’s Eye View, by the old Scotiabank right out to Big B Supermarket cleared, flushed and running again and I am going to clear the one by Kentucky within two weeks,” Chandler said. He stressed there need not be any disruption to traffic as his plan did not entail excavating the road to reach the sewer pipes. Chandler went on to dismiss the Barbados Water Authority’s (BWA) much touted 300-foot injection wells which are being readied to take millions of gallons of effluent so BWA officials could get to the blockage in the line. He believes that effluent should be pumped out to sea. “If you have 300 feet of rock, where you will be digging into the aquifer, you do not have any displacement of filtration to take place. “I would say the best way out is out to sea because the sea can handle that pressure. If we contaminate that [ground]water we will have to start drinking bottled water forever because once we make that mistake, we cannot go back and make any changes because it will be underground pollution that we cannot control,” Chandler declared. Meanwhile, Minister Boyce, who is the Democratic Labour Party candidate for the area and who was present at the start, said the injection wells would be ready to take effluent by the end of this month. “Once that is done, the engineering team and the repair team could have access to the pipe which carries the sewage itself,” he said. “The presence of sewage on our roads is something which concerns all Barbadians,” he noted. “We have certainly, at the Water Authority, been putting processes in place to mitigate that and the Ministry of Health continues to monitor the situation to issue the appropriate advisories, to take the appropriate action to make sure that threat to Barbadians’ health and lives is absolutely minimised and that people are aware of what we can do,” he said. (SS)

SEA BREEZE COMPLETES $17M REVAMP –The Barbados’ tourism product has been enhanced with the virtual reconstruction of Sea Breeze Beach House to the tune of almost $17 million. The West Coast property was showcased and officially opened to scores of tourism officials, tour operators and Government officials Thursday, and described as a transformed four-and-a-half star all-inclusive hotel. “We virtually re-built the hotel,” group general manager of Ocean Hotels, Patricia Affonso Dass, said. The investment was welcomed by Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy who stated that close to 7 000 rooms, a record high, would be available in Barbados by the end of 2018.      Affonso Dass said the new 44 luxury suites and 78 other rooms reflected a transformation of the property, in terms of its Barbadian and culinary appeal, substantial reclamation of beach areas and enhancement of its wedding and other services. A Bajan Rum Shop has been added, while lighting and Barbadian art aesthetics are included and an additional 60 staff employed. “We wanted to be sure that when our guests visit us at Sea Breeze Beach House that they feel a sense of connection to the island, the people, the local sounds and flavours and more than anything else felt they were ‘at home’ being cared for rather than served,” Affonso Dass told the function. Sealy stressed the value of a modernised tourism plant and increased rooms to grow the island’s main economic sector. While applauding the investment by Peter Defreitas, chairman of the three-hotel Ocean group, the minister said the island’s room capacity was expected to increase to 8 000 by 2020. “We are on an upward trajectory. This is good for Barbados. Tourism is still at the core of the economy,” Sealy remarked.  (SS)

For daily or breaking news reports follow us on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter & Facebook. That’s all for today folks. There are 233 days left in the year. Shalom! #thechasefilesdailynewscap #thechasefiles  #dailynewscapsbythechasefiles

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The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is calling on the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration to account for the annual $150 000 subvention that is not being paid to any opposition party since there is no opposition in the House of Assembly. Member of the party’s General Council, Irene Sandiford-Garner on Wednesday said the Government should inform Barbadians what is being done with the money since the DLP was whitewashed in the May 2018 and January 2022 general elections. During a press conference at the party’s headquarters, she said there were serious consequences to the withdrawal of the subvention from the 67-year-old political party in a small country like Barbados. “It has implications because it prevents any opposition from functioning, and when you look at the vote tally, the party with the second highest number of votes should receive something to keep working because then you have no democracy. “You have no opposition and then you go into an election before the due period, which is another issue altogether, and you further reduce the level of opposition that you have in a country. These are separate stories that deserve investigations and exposure because I don’t think Barbadians know or understand this first-past-the-post Westminster system Sandiford-Garner,” she said. She said the DLP not receiving any funding from the state to finance the work that must be carried out by an opposing party is a matter of concern that must be reviewed because “no one anticipated that Barbados would ever be in a position where there was no parliamentary opposition”. Read the rest below 👇🏾 https://www.instagram.com/p/ClWALI5g898VI_GgDlY5rPnht7ueAfc_qdeQI40/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 8/30/2019

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Friday, August 30th, 2019. 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 Weekend Nation Newspaper (WN).

FIGHT OVER BANK FEE –More than a year after a legal fight began over a $5 bank fee, the matter is yet to be heard by the Fair Trading Commission (FTC). And attorney Chester Sue is not letting up, no matter how paltry the amount is, insisting that if he does not get a hearing before the FTC soon, he will revert to his original plan to go to the High Court.In May last year, the lawyer made known his intention to challenge Republic Bank over its charging of $5 as a maintenance fee. The customer of more than 30 years had maintained that the court would have to tell him he was wrong to not pay the money.Yesterday, he said that in May 2018 when it first came to light through the Weekend Nation that he intended to take legal action, he received an invitation to take the matter before the FTC. “Given the cumbersome High Court civil procedures and the tardiness of having matters dealt with there, I thought going before the Fair Trading Commission would have been less procedural and the matter would have been quickly disposed. Alas, I have been so wrong,” Sue said.(WN)

PENSION PRESSURE FOR ST. JOHN MAN –Wayne “Ricky” Gibbons of Gall Hill, St John, has suddenly lost his $750 pension which Government replaced with a $24 monthly cost of living allowance. And he doesn’t understand why, since the Government said it would reverse the decision.Gibbons spent more than two decades watching over the Queen Elizabeth Hospital as a security officer until it took its toll and he was forced to retire medically unfit with severe back problems. He agreed to take the gratuity and reduced pension and also applied for the invalidity benefit from the National Insurance Scheme.“At the time, I didn’t know I could apply for invalidity, but two doctors advised me to do it and now that is pretty much all I have. Anyone in a similar situation to me, who wasn’t as lucky to get that advice, would only be getting that cost of living allowance,” he said.Gibbons’ story got worse shortly before Tropical Storm Dorian passed, when a driver lost control and slammed into his parked vehicle on his property.(WN)

STILL NO WORD FROM GOVERNMENT ON OUTSTANDING BENEFITS– Scores of Barbadians on National Insurance disability benefits, who are eagerly awaiting the restoration of their pension from the treasury, are growing restless with Government as another deadline approaches without word from authorities. Leaders of at least two local trade unions say their members, after getting little reassurance from workers at the Treasury Department, have come to them, desperate to find out if anything can be done on their behalf. Last July, after numerous delays, Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ryan Straughn announced that Barbadians receiving their pensions would have the money, which was slashed back in May, repaid retroactively. “We haven’t heard anything either and our members have been making calls to the Treasury and they have said that they have not received any instruction to restore it. So I am a little bit perplexed that the thing has not been restored just yet,” said acting General Secretary of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) Delcia Burke. She told Barbados TODAY, efforts by union officials to provide more clarity have been futile, because treasury workers will only give information to people who are affected. “…But our members are calling us. Minister Colin Jordan said it should be paid by the end of August, but so far nothing has come and I cannot tell you why,” added Burke. The union leader said the near four-month impasse continues to severely affect the livelihoods of the deprived pensioners. “If you are accustomed to a particular amount of money and you understand that money will last till you reach 67 and all of a sudden it is snatched away from you, obviously you would not have budgeted for the loss of that money. So it has been having a very negative impact on people right now. “People have not been able to complete a number of payments. Some people are having difficulty paying their rent and obviously they have to cut down on things like food and toiletries. We would have written to the Ministry of the Civil Service asking for an intervention or at least an explanation. But so far, we have not heard anything,” said Burke. “Pay the people as soon as possible,” the union leader urged. Affected pensioners have recently been contacting Barbados TODAY and popular call-in programmes to voice their frustration at the situation. The issue came to national attention when Janice Harris mounted a one-woman protest outside the Houses of Parliament in May. When contacted, Minister of Labour Colin Jordan said the matter was now squarely under the supervision of his counterpart in the Ministry of Economic Affairs Ryan Straughn. However multiple efforts to reach Straughn were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, General Secretary of Unity Workers’ Union, Senator Caswell Franklyn accused Government of trying to save money on the back of the poor. “These [pensioners] are people who cannot work anymore and are entitled to receive their invalidity benefits under the National Insurance Act. Those benefits are payable until you reach pensionable age. It is not a pension right now and Government has no reason other than dishonesty to cut it. It has never been done before but in this current climate, they are trying to save money on the backs of the people,” he told Barbados TODAY. Franklyn also questioned Government’s decision to write-off thousands of dollars in taxes for members of the business community, while disadvantaging working-class citizens. “It is hurtful. Nobody voted for this and nobody expected that this Government would be so cruel to the very people that voted for it,” said the union leader.(BT)

WHARTON TAKES THE WHEEL – A spokesman for route taxi and minibus workers is the new chief executive of the public bus company, the Transport Board. Fabian Wharton, a former manager of telecom giant Cable and Wireless, was until recently a representative for a new association of public service vehicle workers. In a statement, the Transport Board noted Wharton held different regional positions at C&W, where he was responsible for the consolidation of the data centres resulting in a reduction in operating costs. He was also integral in the retooling of human resources leading to increased productivity and was a key component in the renegotiation of all external contracts. Wharton said in the statement: “I am looking forward to working alongside the team at the Transport Board and excited at the opportunity to continue the excellent work that the Chairman, Board of Directors and Management have been doing.” Chairman Ian Gooding-Edghill and the board have declared that Wharton brings a diverse knowledge base to the management team. Wharton is to begin his tenure on September 1.(BT)

DLP WELCOMES OLD GUARD –There is still a place in the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) for members of the Freundel Stuart cabinet according to recently re-elected President Verla Depeiza. In fact, the party leader feels no threat in the face of consecutive challenges by outspoken former Minister of Culture, Stephen Lashley for leadership of the party which suffered an embarrassing 0-30 defeat at the May 2018 polls. Speaking to Barbados TODAY for the first time since she was confirmed as head of the party, Depeiza says she expects to receive challenges from fellow party members. “They [former DLP ministers] were shying away, but by virtue of their history, they’re all members of general council. All former MPs are members of this party, so they’re entitled to come and participate,” said DePeiza in a brief response to questions about the party’s former leaders. When asked whether she felt threatened by the return of Lashley and other familiar faces like former Prime Minister Stuart and former Minister of Tourism, Richard Sealy at major party events, DePeiza said: “You can only threaten something that belongs to you. The presidency doesn’t belong to me. I will work in my position and my record will speak for itself. That is it.” DePeiza was re-elected President at the party’s 64th Annual General Conference held last weekend and it was widely reported Lashley once more withdrew his bid on the eve of the elections. Since June, when the party’s election process started, DePeiza said she expected to be challenged by Lashley. With her new mandate, Depeiza told Barbados TODAY work still needed to be done to “shore up” the party internally. “If we are strong at George Street, then we can face the country better. But we are tightening up our processes and of course candidate selection has to take place,” she said. According to the president, the DLP was focused on completing its strategic development plan, which involved a number of groups and committees. During the party conference, Former Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner retained the post of first vice president out of a field of nine candidates. Simon Alleyne was elected as second vice president, Andre Worrell as third vice president and Nicholas Alleyne as fourth vice president. “I am very happy,” said Verla, when questioned about her new team. “We have a mixture of youth and experience and that is important for any dynamic organisation so you can see the succession plan. We will switch roles during the year. We will have people acting as spokespersons, people in more administrative roles, but everybody will have the opportunity to work in different capacities in relation to the first vice president. According to Depeiza, the group, supported by the party’s general council, would seek to hold Government accountable on numerous pressing issues ranging from the country’s social services to the economy. “The country is in the doldrums. We have spent the last 15 months spinning top in mud. We have made no progress on any fronts. The Barbados Labour Party when in opposition had a six-month checklist and they have achieved none of those objectives except to improve the foreign reserves. But they have improved their foreign reserves by not paying their bills,” said DePeiza, who described the steps as “retrograde”. “Everything else, including the social services, is in chaos, with the benchmarks and time limits constantly being moved. They keep shifting the goalposts and you keep hearing different dates for implementation. So I don’t have any confidence. I don’t know how much confidence the country can have in a situation like that where you are constantly pushing and shoving and 15 months in, they still don’t seem to know what to do to run the country.”(BT)

BOLDEN FAMILY HOME TO BE FIXED –After fearing their run-down home would not withstand the impact of a passing storm, a St Philip North family has been visited by their MP, who has promised to have their home fixed. But they may have to wait as the Government agencies tasked with restoring their homes lack the cash to finish the job, the parliamentary representative has conceded.  A day after the Bolden family’s plight was highlighted by Barbados TODAY, MP Dr Sonia Browne visited their home today and found a house in bad shape and in urgent need of attention. She said a check with the Rural Development Commission revealed that “a few houses were built but a lot of them fell into disrepair.” The MP told Barbados TODAY: “There is no guarantee that after a hurricane that house will stay up.  “The house will be built over but I can’t say how soon this will be done. But her name is in the system.” Dr Browne said that there is irreparable water damage. She said: “All I can do is try to pull it through but there are a few houses in St Philip North which are like that.  “There is also a problem with a burst pipe but I called the relevant auhorities.” On Tuesday, a Barbados TODAY team came across Beverley Bolden whose dilapidated timber home had become a house of horror as she prepared for Tropical Storm Dorian. She said: “All the back is breaking away.My daughter didn’t sleep the night Tropical Storm Dorian passed because she thought it was going to blow off.  “I would like the whole house fixed because it is too far gone.  “When it rains, the water comes in from the side.” Bolden, who lives with her pensioner mother and a mentally challenged son pleaded for assistance. Browne said help is on the way as both rural and urban development commissions have been contacted but the only setback is a lack of funds. She said: “I spent a good piece of money on this house already. The face sink, piecing together the wood so it wouldn’t break apart but I spent thousands on the house.”(BT)

“MUMMY I GONE” – A St George mother, puzzled by the disappearance of her young adult son, is longing to see his face again. Crying out that her body was feeling tired from worrying about where Rahim Juwan Ward, 22, could be, Barbara Dorant Layne told Barbados TODAY at her Cottage Grove, St George home the only way she would begin to feel better was if she got some form of closure. “Everyday as it goes by, for me, it gets harder because the days are longer. And I still don’t know where he is. No concrete evidence, nothing. “At least I think I would feel better if I get closure, whether he come dead or alive, I would get closure. I want to see him,” Dorant Layne said. Then addressing her missing son directly, she said: “Rahim, if you can hear me, come home. I would please like him to come home. “Calling his phone and it keep going into voicemail up to yesterday morning, after that it just cutting out.” Dorant Layne said what she believes to be a nightmare started around 2 a.m. last Saturday when police knocked on her door and informed her that there was a shooting in St Andrew and her son was in the victim’s company. The injured individual had to receive medical attention, she said, but her son has not been seen or heard since. She recalled that the last time she saw her son was after 5 p.m. on Friday when he told her: “Mummy, I gone”. She said she knew he was headed to his grandmother’s house at Walkers Valley, where he was raised and where most of his friends live. According to Ward’s grandmother, Virgene Dorant, he left her house around 9:30 p.m. Dorant Layne further explained that the mother of Ward’s one-year-old daughter heard him around 10:30 p.m. when he sent her a message via WhatsApp asking what his daughter was doing. As she held her granddaughter, she told Barbados TODAY: “I am at a loss as to what transpired. I don’t know if he get shoot, if he dead, I don’t know anything. “For me, this is a situation that I cannot deal with because I don’t feel comfortable with him out there and not knowing where he is. I can’t sleep, I just cannot sleep. “This is his daughter. She is only a year, and I don’t know where Rahim is. This is taking a toll on me, I just can’t deal with it. I do not know where Rahim is.” The mother of two described her son as private and confidential. She said though he was secretive and genuinely quiet, there were times he was jovial. “Rahim didn’t have any problems, I telling you,” she said. “Rahim was one of those children that was happy and he had everything on a platter. Rahim didn’t have to worry about nothing. “I made sure everything was there for him, and if I didn’t do it, my mother was Rahim’s backbone. “I raised Rahim without a father. My husband raised my son and he is not his father. “My mother made sure that Rahim get the best like any child. I really don’t know the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, I really wish I knew.” Dorant Layne said that she did not know her son, an accounts assistant at the Barbados Public Workers’ Cooperative Credit Union, to be involved in any trouble though she acknowledged disliking the company he keeps. But she said she has never received a complaint about him. She said: “My problem is certain people he associate himself with I didn’t like it. “But that fella that get shoot, I do not know this fella. I have never seen him. “The only friends I know belongs to Raheim are the ones he raise up with, out by my mother. I only moved here in 2005.” Ward, who is about six feet tall, of medium build and of light brown complexion, was wearing a long black jogger’s pants with white stripes at the sides, and a black shirt and black slippers. Police at District ‘B” have appealed for information on the young man’s whereabouts, asking the public to contact the station at Boarded Hall at 437-4311, police emergency 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Tips (8477) or the nearest police station. (BT)

MISSING ARNOLD HUSBANDS – The Royal Barbados Police Force is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing man. He is 60-year-old Arnold Carlos Husbands, of No. 31, 1st Avenue Pillersdorf Development, St Michael.Husbands was last seen about 3 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27, by his aunt Rosina Clarke, 81, of the same address, when he left the residence to go for a walk. He has not been seen since.At the time, he was wearing a red and yellow shirt, long black pants and a blue and white scarf around his head.Husbands is 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a dark complexion. He has a medium build and is clean-shaven with greying unkempt hair. He is missing top and bottom teeth from the front of his mouth and wears spectacles. He has scars to the back of both of his upper arms.Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Arnold Carlos Husbands is asked to contact the District ‘A’ Police Station at 430-7242/7246, Police emergency at 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS (8477) or the nearest police station.(WN)

TIME SERVED –The final two of six Guyanese drug traffickers are homeward-bound after the Barbados Court of Appeal, using its “discretion” released them based on the time already served for trafficking cannabis and cocaine into the island 14 years ago. The court gave each convict credit for time spent on remand and “bundled” the drug offences according to section 22(1) of the Interpretation Act, Cap 1. Chief Justice Sir Marston Gibson in dismissing the appeals against the “safe and satisfactory” convictions noted that there was no lurking doubt about their guilt and that trial “reached a conclusion that is unassailable”. Today’s ruling brought a nine-year appeal to an end in what Chief Justice Gibson described a “legendary” case involving 464.5 pounds of illegal drugs which came to a close today. However, the Court of Appeal allowed the appeals against the December 2009 sentences in the cases against Lemme Michael Campbell and Rohan Shasti Rambarran and varied the sentences “in our discretion to time served”. Today’s 94-page decision handed down by Sir Marston came over three years after the court heard the appeal which was lodged back in 2010. Six persons were arrested, tried and convicted of importation, possession, trafficking of 91.3 kilos of cannabis and 119.4 kilos of cocaine on November 29, 2005. The illegal substances were discovered in 16 hollowed-out logs and two suitcases when lawmen executed a search at the residence of Christopher and Dianne Bacchus. The husband and wife never appealed and have since been released from prison along with two other appellants Somwattie Persaud and Gavin Wayne Green. At the start of today’s proceedings, the Chief Justice declared that the case deserved the description legendary for several reasons. “It was the longest trial in recent memory, and perhaps in the entire history of trials in this country to occupy the High Court of Barbados. The trial took some 14 weeks, resulting in ten volumes of trial transcript consisting of 4,656 pages, a summation volume of 545 pages, and a mitigation and sentencing volume of 136 pages, for a total of 5337 pages of trial transcript,” he stated. In addressing the appellant Rambarran who was represented by attorneys Sir Richard Cheltenham, QC, and Shelly-Ann Seecharan, the Chief Justice pointed out that the trial judge in sentencing stated that he was the “principal or mastermind” behind this illegal enterprise making arrangements to ensure that the illegal drugs were shipped to Barbados. He was then sentenced to 15 years for importation of cannabis; 20 years for importation of cocaine; 15 years for possession of cannabis; 20 years for possession of cocaine; 25 years for trafficking of cannabis; 30 years for trafficking of cocaine. The sentences were to run concurrently from December 11, 2009. In the case of Campbell, who had Arthur Holder and Kendrid Sargeant as his attorneys, Sir Marston reminded the sitting that the sentencing judge indicated that ‘you played a major role in the execution of these offences and there was a high degree of sophistication employed in getting these drugs in Barbados’. He was sentenced to 15 years for importation of cannabis; 20 years for importation of cocaine; 15 years for possession of cannabis; 20 years for possession of cocaine; 20 years for trafficking of cannabis; 25 years for trafficking cocaine. Those sentences were also to run concurrently. However the island’s top judicial officer said the court “must emphasise, therefore, that we do not, indeed cannot, say that the trial judge erred since the rules which we now apply did not exist for the trial judge’s benefit during the sentencing”. Those rules are that a convicted person must be credited their full time spent on remand. “Nonetheless, it is now settled law . . . to be utilised in a pending case are the current rules and not those extant at the time the original determinations were made in the case itself. It suggests an uncomfortable level of retroactivity more often seen in legislation which expressly states that as its purpose. “The fact that the sentences were imposed upon appellants Rambarran and Campbell some two years before a court decision by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) does not deprive them of the right to full credit for the time which they spent on remand prior sentencing,” he stated. He explained that there was also another rule which must be retroactively applied and it involves the “bundling” of offences of trafficking, importation and possession of drugs – according to section 22(1) of the Interpretation Act, Cap 1 of the Laws of Barbados which stated that an offender is not to be punished twice for the same act or omission. As such the court dismissed the importation and possession of cocaine and cannabis charges and focussed on the trafficking charge of both substances. Stating that the court was unable to find evidence that Rambarran was the mastermind or central actor, the sentence was adjusted and began at a starting point of 20 years for trafficking cocaine and 15 years for trafficking cannabis. After taking several factors into account the sentence was adjusted downward to start at 15 years for trafficking of cocaine and ten years for trafficking cannabis. His four months served on remand were then deducted leaving Rambarran with 14 years and eight months for trafficking cocaine and nine years and eight months for trafficking cannabis – to run concurrently from the date of sentence, December 11 2009. The Chief Justice further stated that there was no indication that the case against Rambarran and Campbell was “sufficiently different” in relation to their role or execution of the offence but were “however different to the other four who have all been released from custody”. Campbell got the same starting sentence as Rambarran but after taking in several considerations it was adjusted downwards to 15 years for trafficking cocaine and ten years for trafficking cannabis. His four years and 11 days spent on remand were then deducted leaving him with ten years, 11 months, 19 days for trafficking cocaine and five years 11 months, 19 days for trafficking cannabis, also to run concurrently from December 11, 2009. “We, therefore, conclude that the just thing to do is to vary the sentences to time served and direct the release today of appellants Rambarran and Campbell,” Sir Marston said before the two were escorted out of the Supreme Court by three immigration officials and a representative from the Guyana Consulate.(BT)

BIG DROP IN TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS – Police are recording a drastic reduction in traffic violations and a smaller decrease in the number of road accidents. And this has come in for praise from a well-known road safety advocate.Speaking at the National Consultation on Traffic Management at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on Wednesday night, Sergeant Jennifer Gibson, of the Royal Barbados Police Force’s Research Department, revealed that while 13 323 traffic offences were reported between January and July last year, only 8 777 were reported for the same period this year. She, however, could not provide a reason for the decline.In terms of accidents, 4 671 were reported between January to July 2018, while the number for this year stood at 4 344. Gibson said the most significant reduction occurred in May in which there were 598 recorded accidents this year compared to 708 last year. “Overall, we have three territorial jurisdictions where we capture accident information, which are the Bridgetown, Northern and Southern Divisions,” she said. “Bridgetown tends to have the most traffic accidents by virtue of commercialisation and it is the most traversed area.(WN)

POLICE SEIZE GUNS – The Antigun and Gangs Unit of the Royal Barbados Police Force is currently conducting investigations into the discovery and seizure of five firearms. The discovery was made on Tuesday at the compound of an established courier company.Police have not released the name of the company, explaining that investigations are at sensitive stage.The cargo in which the firearms were discovered had entered the island via the Grantley Adams International Airport. (BT)

WANTED MAN ARRESTED, WILL APPEAR IN COURT TOMORROW ON GUN CHARGES– Wanted man Jakobe Talik Germain, 22, 8th Avenue, New Orleans, St Michael will appear in court tomorrow on gun and ammunition charges. Germain was apprehended by police today at an apartment at Balmoral Gap, Hastings, Christ Church.He is charged with possession of a firearm without a valid licence to do so and possession of 13 rounds of ammunition also without a permit. These offences occurred on Sunday, July 28, at Ashby Alley, Nelson Street, St Michael.Germain is expected to appear in the District ‘A’ Magistrate’s Court.  (BT)

OBSERVATION FOR RUM THEIF – A 23-year-old will spend the next three weeks at the Psychiatric Hospital being assessed on his suitability to be a candidate for Verdun House. Dequan Kaream Bobb, of Garden Land, Country Road, St Michael will make his next appearance before Magistrate Graveney Bannister on September 18 when a report is expected to be handed over to the District ‘A’ Traffic Court. Bobb pleaded guilty to entering Desta’s Bar and Deli between August 18 and 19 and stealing $1,385 in items including 28 bottles of rum, seven packs of snacks, a bottle of tobacco and 27 bottles of assorted beer, belonging to Desta Baptiste.(BT)

ADDICT “ANYTHING FOR A HIT” – Not only did he sell his shoes in order to purchase his drug of choice, but a 30-year-old today told a Bridgetown magistrate that he would sell about anything to get that next hit. Everton Rommell Brathwaite walked into the District ‘A’ Traffic with only a pair of white socks on his feet and no shoes which he told Magistrate Graveney Bannister that he had sold. Brathwaite, of Kew Road, Bank Hall, St Michael made the disclosure as he told the magistrate about his addiction with cocaine and cannabis. He had moments before pleaded guilty to five burglary charges and was sentenced to 30 months in prison. He was ordered to undergo drug rehabilitation and counselling while serving his time. Brathwaite admitted that he entered Crumbz Bakery twice between August 1 and 11 and stole drinks and cash totaling $373.50 to belonging to Curtis Todd. He also pleaded guilty to robbing Deborah Phillips-Small of a handbag and its contents and cellular phone on August 11, total value $790.. The convicted man further admitted to entering the residence of Marilyn Bacchus as a trespasser on July 20 and stealing a $900 boom box and a $400 cellular phone. It is alleged that he had a sword at the time. Esther Goddard also became his victim when he stole $300 cash and a pencil case from her on August 10.(BT)

RILEY’S BACK AT THE HELM –Conde Riley achieved last night what many batsmen have failed to do – keep out a yorker from Joel “Big Bird” Garner. The one-term president of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA), who had previously lost two elections to the giant former West Indies fast bowler, was returned to the position after registering a comfortable victory by a margin of 86 votes during the 17th special meeting of members at Kensington Oval.Before a standing room only turnout on the second floor of the 3Ws Stand, Riley, a retired investment banker, polled 198 votes, while Garner, who served as BCA president from 2007 to 2017, received 112 votes. There were two spoilt votes.Given the interest in the election, the start of the meeting was delayed by almost an hour to allow members to register, and after the polls closed at 7 p.m., chairman of the BCA’s elections committee, Carlyle Carter, announced Riley the winner just before 7:30 p.m.The 66-year-old Riley, who was first elected to the BCA board in 1996, and served as Garner’s first vice-president for the majority of his predecessor’s tenure, attributed his re-election to the work of his board of directors over the past two years. (WN)

LORDE CAUTIONS BAJAN ATHLETES – Chairman of the National Anti-Doping Commission (NADC), Dr Adrian Lorde, is sending a stern warning to Barbadian athletes, urging them to be extremely cautious about using non-prescribed medication. His comments came just days after Jamaica’s sprint sensation Briana Williams tested positive for a banned diuretic.The 17-year-old World Under-20 double sprint gold medallist and Jamaica’s national junior record holder in the 100 metres, returned two positive samples for hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) following tests by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission.The drug, which is on the list of banned substances by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), is used to reduce fluid, swelling, treat high blood pressure, to mask other banned substances and for weight loss. “I want our athletes to be very careful of whatever they ingest. We usually advise them not to take supplements because we cannot guarantee the supplements contain what they say they have in. That is a big issue where anti-doping is concerned. Sometimes they have in stuff that might not be on the list of ingredients. It extends to over-the-counter medications as well,” Lorde said during an interview with NATION NEWS. (WN)

NO PROMOTION AT POSTAL SERVICE – Members of the public are asked to note that the Barbados Postal Service (BPS) is not party to, or associated with a promotion scam offering a S10 Samsung phone, presently being circulated on social media. The scam has been drawn to the attention of the Postmaster General, who has denied the involvement of the BPS in the promotion. (BGIS)

RENAME GOLDEN SQUARE FOR NATION’S HEROES –Pan African activist David Denny has proposed that Golden Square, considered the flashpoint in the July 1937 Disturbances which helped usher in profound social change in Barbados be renamed National Heroes Square. It was at Golden Square that National Hero Right Excellent Clement Payne addressed crowds agitating for improved conditions in the then British colony before being arrested and deported to Trinidad, triggering the riots. Denny, who made the suggestion during an interview with Barbados TODAY, suggested such a change would also mean that Heroes Square would no longer be home to the statue of British naval hero Admiral Horatio, Lord Nelson. He declared: “[Heroes] Square could return to the name Trafalgar Square. I am not comfortable with our National Heroes Square housing Lord Nelson. Our National Heroes Square should represent the heroes of Barbados.” Denny also suggested that once Heroes Square was moved to Golden Square, several monuments should be developed in the area, to recognize the leaders of the 1937 riots and the Easter 1816 Rebellion. He told Barbados TODAY: “We should develop it as a place where Barbadian people can go and pay respects to those fighters of the 1937 period who would have led the process for our emancipation process in Barbados, and that would have helped to bring about the labour organisations and the political parties that would have been able to chart the course for Barbadian people.” During last year’s Day of National Significance on July 26, Prime Minister Mia Mottley suggested it was time to say goodbye to the old National Insurance Building, which neighbours Golden Square. The Prime Minister contended that Golden Square, the venue for many of Payne’s historic speeches, was steeped in unpleasant surroundings. She also said that the derelict building, located in “a prime space in this city”, also blocked the view of Independence Square.Denny, who said he agreed with Prime Minister Mottley’s comments, noted that he believes that other Pan Africanists and the general public would support his proposal. “I don’t think Barbadian people are comfortable with our National Heroes Square accommodating Lord Nelson. Lord Nelson is not a hero for Barbados,” Denny said. (BT)

That’s all for today folks there are 122 days left in the year Shalom!  Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps #bajannewscaps #newsinanutshell

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 4/25/2019

Good MORNING  #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Thursday 25th April 2019. Remember you can read full articles for FREE via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS) OR by purchasing by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

DLP WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED – The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) has complained of a “reprehensible” trend of a lack of media coverage it views as part of concerted efforts to muzzle the party. As the party declared it has appointed new spokespersons, the’s DLP first vice-president Irene Sandiford-Garner told journalists certain media outlets were not covering DLP events. She did not reveal names of media entities guilty of snubbing the party nor did she identify the new spokespersons. The former senator also took issue with the state of political discourse, arguing that there is evidence of attempts to suppress freedom of association. Sandiford-Garner said: “There are times where I have invited every single member of the media and as a former journalist, I find it reprehensible that there are certain sectors of the media who refuse to attend press conferences or any media events by the DLP. “In a democratic society it is dangerous because every single political party should have a voice and it is not up to the media to determine who has a voice and who does not have a voice. Sometimes our own families tell us that they are not hearing us, but they are not hearing us because we are being filtered or not covered at all.” But Sandiford-Garner’s comments closely mirrored the charge made against the DLP administration last year by the Barbados Labour Party, then in opposition, which had accused the state-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation of refusing to cover their events, even when they were being paid to do so. Sandiford-Garner said the DLP, which was ousted from power last May by the BLP, was not about to be muzzled as it still had a duty to the 35,000 people who voted for them in the last election. “This party is the only credible entity in Barbados that has the opportunity to regroup and lead this country again or at least to have an opposing voice. The so-called Opposition in the House of Assembly ran on a Barbados Labour Party ticket,” she said. Adding to her concerns about limited coverage, Sandiford-Garner suggested that DLP members were under threat because of their affiliation.  She made reference to recent comments from Opposition Senator Caswell Franklyn during a sitting of the Upper House, as proof of this threat. “The other day Caswell Franklyn said that you have to weed out Dems from the civil service. This was a most vile and reprehensible statement, which I have not seen any person address in a democratic society. “We have to be very wary of those statements and I would wish Caswell Franklyn would come out and defend that statement because he is a union leader.” But in a sharply-worded response, Senator Franklyn accused Sandiford-Garner of taking his words out of context in an attempt to grab headlines. He told Barbados TODAY that at the time he was referring to remnants of the DLP political appointees still within the system who he said were sabotaging the efforts of the BLP administration. “This woman wants to be noticed and I am not prepared to notice her. She wants to be relevant and I am not going to be the vehicle to make her relevant. “What I said [at the time in question] was that there were DLP operatives in the public service that are frustrating the processes of this current Government. These people are actually going out of their way to make things difficult. “So, [the DLP] can say what they like but I can give examples of operatives who have attempted to sabotage the Government.” He did not provide names. (BT)

DLP STARTS NAMING SPOKESPERSONS – The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) today announced six members who would speak on national issues. President Verla De Peiza named them during a media briefing at the DLP’s George Street, St Michael, headquarters earlier today. Defeated candidates George Connolly and Nicholas Alleyne will speak on innovation and technology, and transport, respectively. Former senator Andre Worrell has responsibility for agriculture and the environment and Gregory Walters has the portfolio for business. General secretary Guyson Mayers will speak on legal issues. De Peiza said she would continue to address issues on finance and economics. The party also announced the remaining activities for the 64th anniversary celebrations this weekend. On Friday night, 150 new members will be inducted, a farmers market will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday and the thanksgiving service will be held at headquarters from 10 a.m. Sunday. This will be followed by a luncheon. (BT)

WRONG MOVE, SENATOR TELLS NUPW – An Opposition Senator is taking the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) to task over its handling of negotiations on behalf of 83 temporary workers retrenched from the Ministry of Transport and Works last October after giving ten or more years of continuous service. According to Caswell Franklyn, head of the Unity Trade Union, the deal to advance gratuities to these temporary workers who were not entitled to severance, demonstrated incompetence on the part of the NUPW. Franklyn argued that Government essentially got away with paying the retrenched workers with their own money. “NUPW is asking Government to pay these workers their gratuity early. What that union is doing is asking Government to compensate those people for sending them home with their own money. The gratuity is already their money; it is not the Government’s money,” said Franklyn. He further argued, “That money was put down there for them because once you are a pensionable Government employee you get 20 per cent less than the person who is not pensionable. So that 20 per cent is kept for you. So that is their money and those workers are not being compensated, they are being robbed.” Last month, the NUPW was elated that Prime Minister Mia Mottley had agreed to the union’s proposal to advance the gratuity of those workers, which would have been otherwise due at the age of retirement. Acting Assistant General Secretary of the NUPW Wayne Waldron told Barbados TODAY, the union received confirmation of Mottley’s commitment to advance the gratuities. The trade unionist explained that instead of workers waiting until retirement age, as the law instructs, they would be able to get their gratuity now. However, the workers will still be required to wait until the age of retirement for their pensions to kick in. The NUPW spokesman revealed that this decision would not just apply to the 83 displaced MTW workers, but going forward, public officers in the same category would benefit, if they were placed on the breadline. “We are happy that Government seems to be committed to settle the matter and [compensate] these MTW workers by advancing their gratuity. This way these workers are going to get a lump-sum payment for being terminated. Government would have made the promise that nobody will go home without compensation. So, we are happy that we have gotten some commitment from Government to compensate these 83 workers,” said Waldron at the time, However, Franklyn argued that the law never intended for employees with more than ten years of service in public office to be sent home. He therefore argued that the NUPW should have taken the matter to court. “I think the NUPW has displayed a measure of incompetence and they were under pressure to claim that they came up with something. They should have read the legislation first and come to a conclusion or put the thing in court and fight for these workers… It is absolute nonsense. This is not about the union trying to look good but rather ensuring that they get justice for these workers,” stressed the outspoken senator.  (BT)

UP TO PAR – A major step has been taken to faciliate the installation of a much needed permanent outfall for the South Coast sewage system. Minister of Energy and Water Resources Wilfred Abrahams today revealed to Barbados TODAY that Cabinet had given its approval for the permanent outfall to be designed by Canadian marine and coastal engineering consultancy firm Baird Associates. He said once everything goes according to plan the new outfall would be in place by October of next year. “Right now we have a stabilisation of the south coast sewage system so it is operating as well as it can without a permanent fix; the permanent fix being the permanent outfall as well as the upgrade and rebuild of the sewage treatment plant to tertiary treatment. “Cabinet approved the first step towards the construction of the permanent outfall with the contractor Baird, so they are going to design and start that process so we can send it out to bids and to tender and get it going,” Abrahams said. “The intention still is to have the permanent outfall construction entirely completed and operational by about September, October next year…” He explained that the permanent outfall would take the water to a depth of at least 30 metres to avoid any effluent issues. Abrahams said even though the temporary outfall currently in place was working sufficiently, it could not be used as a long-term solution. “We are having no problems now at all with the water quality or any effects from the temporary outfall, but the temporary outfall is exactly that, it’s temporary. It was built in a hurry so it will not survive a major weather event. It is not a permanent solution and those pipes are not designed to last for years,” the Minister said. He however, said there was a backup plan in the event the temporary outfall was damaged. Abrahams also revealed that attention was being paid to flushing the sewage system and three contractors had been hired to carry out the exercise to ensure there were no more blockages. “One contractor has finished his part already and that is Project Recycle. Antiseptic Limited I believe is very, very close to completing theirs at which point Polly [Septic Services] is expected to start early in May. By the time Polly is done we would have flushed the entire network and removed all the blockages that are in that system,” Abrahams explained. The Minister praised members of his ministry as well as those from the Barbados Water Authority (BWA), who he said had worked around the clock to bring the sewage system up to par. However, he warned that there needed to be behavioural change from Barbadians if the system was to perform at its optimum level. “We inherited a problem that was years in the making and we’ve managed to get it under control to a point where Barbadians are actually forgetting what was happening a couple months ago and we’ve done that in less than a year,” Abrahams said. “But persons can no longer continue to pour grease and dump wood into the sewers, or drop debris into manholes.” (BT)

EMERGENCY TALKS – Amid reports of worsening money troubles and one prime minister’s publicly expressed fears of imminent closure, the shareholder governments of LIAT are to meet in Barbados at month-end in a bid to save the island-hopping carrier, a senior government official in the airline’s base has said. The Antigua and Barbuda government’s Chief of Staff, Lionel Max Hurst, told Observer Radio in St John’s: “We can only pray that Ralph Gonsalves’ prediction does not come true and that LIAT will be saved. Now on the 30th of this month the directors will first gather in the morning and the shareholders will gather in the afternoon in Barbados and it is our hope that when we come away on [April] 30th, LIAT will still be the carrier of the region.” Hurst said the Gaston Browne administration had also met its commitment to provide its share of US$5.4 million in emergency funds the Antigua-based airline had requested. “Antigua and Barbuda did abide by its promise to provide LIAT with more than one million US dollars and we are very much aware that LIAT is not only a requirement that has to exist but any regional carrier that attempts to do what LIAT does will face the same challenges,” Hurst said. Apart from Antigua and Barbuda, the other shareholder governments of LIAT are St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados and Dominica. In a dramatic declaration last week, St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said the regional carrier may be forced to shut down as fellow Caribbean leaders appeared reluctant to provide a cash injection to keep the airline flying. Speaking on a Grenada Broadcasting Network (GBN) programme, Dr Gonsalves said only Grenada so far had responded with one million EC dollars (US$370,000) to help the airline deal with its financial problems. “Prime Minister [Dr Keith] Mitchell has put in approximately one million dollars towards emergency funding because he is interested in seeing LIAT remain in the sky”, Dr. Gonsalves said. But he also hinted that either a smaller airline or a new carrier from a closed LIAT might emerge from the crisis. Three of the aircraft are owned by the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) that provided the funds to the regional government shareholders to buy them while seven others are leased. The Vincentian leader said: “We probably will have to ask the CDB to sell those three aircraft and operate seven of them and then get other smaller airlines like One Caribbean to fly between here and St. Lucia, rather than get LIAT to fly on one of the routes which is going to Trinidad which is not economical to cut it. “The governments have not been responding so the shareholders are reaching a critical point now and if you ask me, what is likely to happen … there will be a transitional restructuring leading to a closure of LIAT.” In Antigua, Hurst told radio listeners that the connectivity provided by LIAT, which services 15 destinations” is essential to building a single Caribbean nation”. He said several Caribbean governments were pumping subsidies into American carriers serving the region, but were not prepared to assist LIAT in a similar fashion. Hurst said: “The countries of the Caribbean are paying several American airlines… sums of money in something called a minimum revenue guarantee and we see no reason why LIAT ought not to be treated in the same way.” He also noted there have also been calls for other Caribbean governments to become shareholders in the airline.  (BT)

SANDALS CONTRIBUTED TO RECORD ARRIVALS - The head of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association has linked record tourist arrivals to the emergence of Sandals hotel resorts here. BHTA chairman Stephen Austin made the declaration to returning guests at the Sandals Reunion Week at the couples-only, all-inclusive resort’s Dover, Christ Church location on Tuesday. He reported an increase in the number of visitor arrivals from Barbados’ main source markets. Said Austin: “The preliminary arrivals in Barbados from January to March 2019 showed an increase in visitors of 2.9 per cent, which represent 5,971 more visitors compared with last year. This increase can be mainly identified with increased visitors from the UK of 11.7 per cent, Germany 8.7 per cent and the US by 4.7 per cent. “I do believe that Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Barbados have contributed to this increase in visitor arrivals. I also believe that you the awardees have contributed to the increase arrivals and to the success of our little rock we call Barbados.” During the 1970’s-themed event, some 141 couples were recognised – some with special mention – for spending 25, 45, 70, 100 or more than 250 nights at Sandals properties across the Caribbean. Austin called on the awardees to become ambassadors and share their stories with friends, colleagues and family. The BHTA official praised Sandals Resorts International, operators of the Sandals and Beaches brands, for excellence in customer service, dedication, teamwork and guest satisfaction. “We at the BHTA remain committed to working with Sandals and all of our partners to make Barbados competitive in today’s unstable global economic climate. “The Sandals model reassures us all that value for money is vital towards maintaining a sustainable tourist industry. Sandals has become one of the most well-known award winning hospitality brands in the world. “I believe that the economy of Barbados and the overall brand of destination Barbados benefits enormously from the success of Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Barbados.” General Manager of Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Barbados Ramel Sobrino said the combined 552-room properties have been running an average occupancy level of 97 per cent between November 2018 and April 2019, and that forward bookings were looking healthy. “Forecasts for the upcoming months are very high as well,” Sobrino said. “So for months like October and September we already have a view of high occupancy, which is unbelievable and beneficial for all of us team members. The numbers that we see going on is just spectacular.” He attributed the high occupancy levels to high standards and good customer service displayed by team members and the reputation of the destination itself. He said since the opening of the first Sandals property in January 2015 it has increased its employment numbers to over 1,370. Pledging the hotel’s continued commitment to developing the island’s tourism offering, Sobrino said Sandals did not see the current economic situation as an obstacle, adding that he was confident Government would soon be able to put the economy back on a growth path. “I see a lot of light…. I see a lot of interest so I am pretty sure we are going in the right direction,” he said. The hotelier said he was especially encouraged by the investment being pumped into education, infrastructure and renewable energy, adding that they were sure to produce benefits in the future. “And for us with the numbers we have… this occupancy level that you see, together with the team members working together over here with contractors, is a high impact for the economy, and we try to consume as much as we can, under every possibility, what the country produces,” added Sobrino. Asked if plans for the Beaches Barbados project were still on the cards, Sobrino declined to comment, only saying: “I believe it would be wonderful for the destination as a whole and for us as a company (and) I (am) really excited that maybe we will be able to offer this absolutely unbelievable product. “I (am) really looking forward to this becoming a reality for everyone.” The Beaches property, which has been earmarked for the old Almond Bay resort at Heywoods, St Peter, has been thrown into doubt when Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that the hotel officials were seeking an extension to elaborate tax concessions that would effectively bind future Parliaments of Barbados. While not saying if the $840 million project would be cancelled, a Sandals official had indicated that they were “fully committed to supporting and working alongside all stakeholders for the future growth and development of the island”. (BT)

SM@RT MOVES TO HELP REBUILD B’DOS –The Barbados economy could be in line for a major boost, as a US-based development company known as SM@RT, seeks to attract approximately $2 billion in foreign direct investment for development projects over a ten-year period. Officials of the company, who describe it as a Barbadian-owned, US-domiciled sustainability management FinTech solution firm, said it has been in the making for the past three years. In its pre-launch last evening, company officials said the new strategic initiative has two main purposes – to introduce the first “fully eco-designed and sustainable properties” in Barbados for development and investment and to accelerate economic recovery. “Facing increased competition, limited foreign exchange reserves and a national debt burden in excess of GDP [gross domestic product], the road to recovery for Barbados’ economy appeared to be a long and painful one for its citizens. SM@RT intends to change that,” Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the company Robin Belle said in a statement. He explained that the initiative would involve bringing together a global consortium of technology solution companies from diverse economic sectors, including renewable energy, transportation and aquaculture. “These companies are committed to leveraging their new and innovative tech solutions, to drive faster economic growth in Barbados, by attracting a minimum of US$1 billion in foreign direct investment for development projects over ten years,” he said. The release described Belle as a Barbadian social enterprise and technology entrepreneur, and the blockchain advocate and architect of the initiative. “It takes a highly strategic and creative approach, to dramatically transform a country’s economic performance and international standing in the short to medium term. It requires major buy-in and coordinated action by multiple stakeholder groups locally and internationally,” said Belle. The release explained that in an effort to help revitalize economic activity in Barbados, SM@RT will lead a “Barbados crowd funding/marketing campaign with the promotional theme #BuildBarbadosBack”. This will involve the global sale of digital gift vouchers to Barbadians and visitors to the island “who love Barbados and want to play their part in supporting the island’s economic transformation”. “SM@RT will also seek to finance the execution of major development projects in Barbados across 20 different sectors, implementing the advanced technologies of the consortium companies. “This will be accomplished via a Blockchain-based security token offering (STO) in several stages, where international ‘accredited investors’ will purchase ‘revenue share token’ securities tied to specific sectoral development projects,” the release explained. The company, which was formed in October 2016 and already has several partners, says it is politically neutral. The company said on its website that the move by Government to establish a framework for a regulatory sandbox and efforts to list security token offerings on the Barbados Stock Exchange were positive developments.  (BT)  

INCOME TAX JAM – Barbadians rushing to beat the April 30 tax filing deadline, including pensioners having challenges with the new system, are likely to get an extension and avoid the $500 penalty. A well-placed source told the DAILY NATION yesterday the extension should be announced soon. The move is the result of a host of complaints from taxpayers of being unable to complete the process in the new Tax Administration Management Information System (TAMIS) because of missing information.  (DN)

UWI ON BOARD! - The University of the West Indies (UWI) is on board with the Government’s plan to upgrade the public transportation sector and it is anxiously awaiting the arrival of the electric buses before year-end. Speaking today at the presentation of a wheelchair accessible van by the Maria Holder Memorial Trust to the Cave Hill Campus, Principal Professor Eudine Barriteau said the university has been following the national conversation on public transportation very closely and is offering Government help to get the system right. Barriteau noted that Cave Hill as a smart campus is making significant strides in preparing the region for the digital revolution and it is offering to lend support to the new national transport initiative in such areas as the geographic placement of charging ports stations, performance over diverse terrains, battery lifespan among others. Chairman of the Barbados Transport Board Gregory Nicholls said recently that Government had awarded a tender for the provision of electric buses and that the Transport Board was well on the way to having the buses in the country by year-end. “First of all, we have to sit down and negotiate a contract that is beneficial to the Government and people of Barbados while ensuring that the entity which won the bid is happy with the arrangement as well,” he said. Barriteau also made a special call for the new electric buses to be specially outfitted for the disabled community. (BT)  

FORDE: SPEAK OUT ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN -Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs, Cynthia Forde, has condemned the level of violence in Barbadian society, which has claimed the lives of 21 people, including five women, so far this year. Speaking today on the heels of Tuesday’s  murder of a 39-year-old mother of two yesterday, Minister Forde noted that she fully embraced the assertion by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that violence against women, particularly intimate partner violence, was a major public health problem and a violation of women’s human rights. “The impact on women is enormous, even when death is not the end result. There are women impacted by violence who suffer isolation, an inability to work and the consequent loss of wages, and a limited ability to care for themselves as well as their children,” the Minister with responsibility for gender affairs contended. Forde said that the negative effects often extended beyond the women involved to their children, explaining that children who grew up in families where violence was the norm often suffered a range of behavioural and emotional problems. Statistics provided by the Royal Barbados Police Force for 2017 revealed that out of the 439 cases of domestic violence reported to police, 395 cases were perpetuated by male aggressors. Minister Forde stated: “The issue of violence is a societal problem. It is one that calls for all hands on deck, and we must all come together to face this challenge headon. No longer can we continue to treat domestic violence or intimate partner violence for that matter, as a private matter to be dealt with in a private sphere.” She urged people who were aware of conflict within households or neighborhoods not to turn a blind eye, but to reach out to assist those who they perceive may be in harm’s way. “If you know there is abuse in a household or a family, speak out and get help for the person or persons in distress. Contact the police or any of the other social service agencies. Contact the local pastor or counsellors in the churches. “Be a listening ear for the affected person and provide the support system that can give them the strength to extricate themselves from the situation,” she advised while pointing to similar support from other agencies such as the Battered Women’s Programme under the management of the Business and Professional Women’s Club; the Crisis Centre; and the National Organisation of Women. “All of these agencies have a cadre of professionals who are counsellors that will urgently provide the support, confidentiality and services to assist with the necessary comfort and protection for victims,” Minister Forde stated. Equally, she urged  the community to reach out to the abusers. “Whether it’s a friend, a family member, a neighbour or a co-worker, if you know this person is an abuser, intervene. Help is available for those who may have anger issues, substance abuse issues or who know no other way to resolve conflict. Be your brother’s keeper and reach out to them.” The Minister pledged that Government would continue to do all in its power, both legislatively and in terms of enforcing existing laws, to turn the situation around. “Every life lost is one too many, and we all have an important role to play in ensuring that other families are spared the unimaginable suffering of losing a loved one in this devastating manner.” (BT)

FIRE BOMB –An early morning blaze, which witnesses suggest was ignited by a molotov cocktail thrown on a Rock Dundo, St Michael home, has left a family of four homeless. The timber and wall house belonging to Phyllis Rouse was flattened by a ferocious blaze which started around 3:30 a.m. According to neighbours, a cocktail bomb was thrown on a white Toyota car belonging to daughter Sharifa Rouse that was parked in the garage. Neighbours and relatives lost the battle to save the house’s contents. A Barbados TODAY team arrived at the hollowed shell of a home. Neighbours said the family were able to escape. A neighbour told Barbados TODAY that she was awakened by a sound similar to the knocking of a piece of wood. The alarm was raised when her dog started to bark crazily. “It did not start as a spark, it started as a big flame,” the neighbour recounted. She revealed that the family was sleeping when the incident occurred. They were awakened by the shouts and knocking on their doors from neighbours. Echoes of the exploding car reverberated throughout the entire district as the fire spread rapidly from the car to the house and then to neighbouring utility poles, the witness said. She said: “That car burn and burn until there were explosions, the electrical pole caught on fire, we lost power. All this time the fire engine didn’t get here about 45 minutes into [the house] burning.” “That house could have been saved if the fire attenders had responded in an appropriate time because that car burn for a while without affecting the house. “I blame the fire department. Those people could have had a house today if they responded and when they sent a truck, the truck didn’t have any water. “It was just a hot mess”. An elderly neighbour, expressing concern for the homeowner, said: “It hurt me to see that we grow up together and Phyllis work hard and it gone.”  (BT)

NO MONEY PAID; FISHERMAN REMANDED - A compensation order which was not honoured landed a 24-year-old fisherman on remand to Dodds today. When Romario Antonio Walcott of St Lawrence Road, Christ Church appeared before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant he pleaded not guilty to unlawfully assaulting Chana Benedict on April 24 occasioning her actual bodily harm. There were no objections to bail by Station Sergeant Cameron Gibbons who revealed that there was an outstanding warrant out for him in one of the jurisdictions with respects to unpaid money. “The one in Oistins slip me,” Walcott told the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court when he was told of the situation just before he was remanded until May 22. (BT)  

MAYERS FACING GUN AND AMMO CHARGES - He appeared in court on six charges but it was a firearm offence that secured a 40-year-old an automatic 28 days on remand at Her Majesty’s Prison. Peter Ricardo Mayers of My Lords Hill, St Michael allegedly had a 9mm pistol, and ten rounds of ammunition in his possession on April 20. He was not required to plead to the indictable charges when he appeared before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant this afternoon. However, he pleaded not guilty to assaulting Sophia Mayers on December 15, 2018 occasioning her actual bodily harm and issuing the threatening words “I would blow off your head” towards Jelissa Mayers with intent to cause her to believe that immediate unlawful violence would be used against her on March 7, 2019. Mayers, who will reappear before the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on May 22, also denied charges of possession and cultivation of cannabis, which were allegedly committed on April 20, 2019. (BT)  

‘I AM INNOCENT’ – An alleged manslayer who was out on bail appeared in court today on new charges but tearfully told that the magistrate that police had the wrong man. “I am an innocent man. I am not a thief and this is taking me away from my two children,” Dwayne Alister Marshall, of Jackson Main Road, St Michael told Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant this afternoon as he was being escorted out of the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court by prison wardens. The 40-year-old steel bender is accused of using the threatening words “Shirley Hunte I gine kill you and your family” on December 22, 2018 with intent to cause Hunte to believe that immediate unlawful violence would be used against her. He is also accused of using a cellular phone on December 23, 2018 to send the threat “I gine kill you and your family and you can tell the Commissioner of Police I said so.” Marshall pleaded not guilty to the charges, as well as that of possession, possession with intent to supply and possession with intent to traffic cannabis on April 21. He is also charged with entering the home of Kishmar Wickham as a trespasser and while armed with a gun, stole two cellular phones, a gold chain, a pair of gold bangles, a gold ring as well as $3,000 cash, a total value of $12, 299. Sergeant Cameron Gibbons objected to bail for the accused based on the serious nature of the offences. “With respects to the threatening words there is a need to protect the complainant . . . and the accused is presently on bail from this court,” the prosecutor said adding that there was a fear that the accused would re-offend if released on bail. In applying for bail for her client attorney-at-law Angella Mitchell-Gittens argued that all her clients’ charges fell under the Theft Act “not withstanding that there was an alleged use of a firearm”. She submitted that the Magistrates’ Court had the jurisdiction to grant bail on such matters. “Look at his previous grants of bail and see that he appears when required to do so,” the veteran attorney told Cuffy-Sargeant. However, the magistrate stated that while she had the jurisdiction to grant bail she was concerned about the aggravated burglary charge as well as the charge under the Computer Misuse Act and it was on that basis that she was denying bail for the accused. Marshall was remanded to Dodds to return to court on May 22. (BT)

PREDICTABLE 15 – Dynamic all-rounder Andre Russell was today named in a relatively predictable West Indies’ 15-man World Cup squad. But speculation over the possible return of several veteran T20 stars came to nothing as they were overlooked for the ICC showpiece in England next month. The 30-year-old Russell has played 52 One-Day Internationals but has not suited up for West Indies in almost a year. He was recalled for the recent series against England but did not feature due to injury. Left-handed opener Evin Lewis, who has also been on the sidelines for nearly a year, has been recalled in the squad which retains the core of players who featured in the recent five-match home series against England which finished tied 2-2. Debate had raged over the last week about the possible inclusion of the likes of all-rounders Kieron Pollard and the retired Dwayne Bravo but neither was selected. Pollard is currently plying his trade for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) but has had moderate success in his 101 One-Day International appearances in West Indies colours. Bravo is playing for the Chennai Super Kings. Off-spinner Sunil Narine, currently campaigning in the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders, was not considered for selection due to a finger injury, though he has had more concerns about his elbow and international umpires in recent times. Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph might have been considered but his chance of selection was scuppered after sustaining a dislocated shoulder while playing recently for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL where he debuted with a six-wicket haul. “Based on the new selection policy approach which allowed us to consider a number of players that have not regularly appeared in the side over the last two years, we had a wide base of talent from which to choose,” said new interim chairman of selectors, Robert Haynes. “There were a number of tough calls we had to make to settle on our squad of 15, including ensuring there was some continuity in the side, but we believe we have chosen a strong squad of players taking into consideration such factors as experience, fitness, team balance, current form and conditions. “In keeping with tournament regulations, we submitted our squad prior to the deadline date of yesterday. All players named for the Tri-Nations Series could, however, stake a claim to be in the final 15-member squad that will be submitted after the Tri-Series and before the final deadline next month.” As expected, veteran left-hander Chris Gayle heads the batting group and is now set to play his fifth World Cup and his final, following his announcement earlier in the year that he intends to retire from ODIs after the tournament. If there were lingering doubts about the 39-year-old’s form, he quashed them with a Man-of-the-Series 424 runs against England recently and Haynes backed the talismanic former captain to produce at the May 30 to July 14 World Cup. “To have a player the calibre of Chris in the side to lead the batting with his vast experience and his ability to play match-winning or game-changing innings is a blessing for us and the motivation of becoming the leading scorer for West Indies in ODIs is something which I think he will relish,” said Haynes. “Looking at the condition of pitches in ODIs over the last few years in England and Wales, it appears that big totals will be the order of the day, so we believe we have a line-up that can put big totals on the board or chase them, as we have seen from recent matches. “With players like the captain, Jason Holder, as well as Andre Russell in the lower middle-order, we believe we have good depth to our batting which will allow us to play the brand of cricket that will give us the best of chance of winning the World Cup.” Gayle will be surrounded by the youth of Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran, all in their first-ever World Cup. Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel, who will also play his first World Cup, will lead the pace attack which includes veteran Kemar Roach, left-armer Sheldon Cottrell and rookie Oshane Thomas. Holder, Russell and fellow all-rounder, Carlos Brathwaite, will all provide additional firepower in conditions expected to be seamer-friendly. “We are excited about the pace attack led by Kemar and Shannon, and we are confident that any bowling combination we put on the park is capable of providing a serious challenge to the opposition in any conditions,” Haynes said “It will be a long tournament and it will be important for the bowling attack to stay fit and healthy for us to remain competitive and make a strong push to win the World Cup.” One notable omission from the squad is highly talented all-rounder Keemo Paul. He too is cuurently involved in the IPL. His stint with the Delhi Capitals means he was not considered for the Tri-Nations Series and barring injury to one of the fast bowlers selected he seems unlikely to find a late place. Following the upcoming Tri-Nations Series in Ireland, West Indies will stage a one-week camp in Southampton from May 18-24 before launching their World Cup campaign against Pakistan. SQUAD – Jason Holder (captain), Fabian Allen, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Nicholas Pooran, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Oshane Thomas. (CMC/WG) (BT)

MORE THAN A NAME CHANGE – In recent years, the Oistins Fish Festival, along with other local festivals has been labelled a dying tradition and as such, its rejuvenation and transformation has been no simple undertaking. The annual event was planned and executed with deliberate attempts by organizers to bring young, innovative and energetic ideas to the fore and fuse the traditional with the contemporary. For chairwoman Toni Thorne, the task of leading a team comprising members as young as 18 years old has been a learning experience, which could only occur under the guidance of those who have gone before. “I don’t have any regrets and that is predominantly because I have a really good team,” Thorne told Barbados TODAY on the penultimate day of the festival. “We have a large team of the older stalwarts and an extra 15 newer persons who came on board with me and everybody is working very hard. “We are working free of cost, but everybody has the best of intentions for the festival and we share one common vision and a common goal. I think that as a result of that, things are going quite well. Obviously, you cannot please everyone. There will be kinks here and there, we will make mistakes and we have made mistakes, but I believe for a first year we are pretty pleased with how things are going,” she said, adding that local festivals in general were in desperate need of revival. “People have been complaining about local festivals. People want to come out and see local innovation and it has not been easy because when people are accustomed to doing something a certain way for the last 40 years, it is hard to convince them. This festival is youth-led and when you have young people trying to change things, people will always say that you are upstarts and don’t know what you are doing. But it has been a very interesting experience and it will continue to be that way,” she said. The controversial name change which removed the word ‘fish’ from the Oistins Fish Festival generated chatter among Barbadians despite receiving the blessing of the festival’s founder, Lady Stella St. John. In reality, this eventually emerged as one of the smaller changes to the four-day event. Added to the traditional Greasy Pole, Dolphin Skinning and Flying fish boning competitions, a number of new competitions, events and offerings have emerged. “I think that once we get over the fact that we took a word out of the festival’s name and we look at the fact that we have a new vision and great intentions and we want to grow the festival, I think that Bajans, once they come and see what we want to do and that it is a festival for all, not just people of certain religious or certain political affiliations, then the festival can only grow from here.” In addition, Thorne told Barbados TODAY that a major part of rejuvenating local festivals is the provision of trade spaces for newer and more innovative business people. “We have the cane juice man, we have cobs corn and the Muslim community has also played a very big part. We also had our mobile cinema which is a new element and the Muslim community has come out for that and we have had a number of interesting stalls. “We want examples of Bajan excellence, so we want to be able to still have the plastic toys and so on, but our aim will be to push local innovation,” she said, adding that her determined team would be coming with even better ideas in the years ahead. (BT)

ALLEYNE’S GOAL – Two years after establishing itself as a sixth form school, the Alleyne School is setting its sights on winning a Barbados Scholarship, Principal Julia Beckles has declared. Beckles made the bold prediction before staff, students and alumni in attendance at the 234-year-old school’s Founder’s Day service. Praising the work done by past leaders of the Belleplaine, St Andrew school, she challenged students and staff to add value to the school’s legacy. “We expect to make it bigger and better than it was, when it was first given to us and of course we have been doing that over the last 234 years,” she said, while praising the organisers of a new internal scholarship for sixth formers. “Just one year and seven months later, on the first day of the new term, our PTA president called me and announced the establishment of the sixth form scholarship,” she added. Students have the opportunity to receive a $2,000 scholarship to help with sixth form studies or in pursuit of a career after they leave sixth form. The principal reminded students preparing to sit Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Caribbean Secondary Education (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE), that an extremely high standard was expected of them. Beckles declared: “You need to work hard because you are supposed to gain grades one to three in CSEC and grades one to five at CAPE. But we are asking that you gain at least three grade ones and we hope that you will be motivated to work hard. “We expect that in another few years, the Alleyne School would be speaking about having won an exhibition and of course look forward to gaining its first Barbados Scholarship.” During the service, numerous awards were presented to outstanding students, alumni and former staff members, among them Claire Noel, a former teacher of 37 years, and Ayanda Jordan, who received the Alleyne School Alumni Scholarship. The school also received the donation of a telescope from alumnus Dr. Errol Byer (Sr), a New York-based ostetrician/gynecologist. Delivering the feature address, past student and final year medical student at the University of the West Indies, Makeda Edmee, examined the necessary factors for taking the Alleyne School into the 21st century. While praising improvements to the school’s curriculum and the willingness of teachers to go above and beyond the call of duty, the young med student prescribed a number of “propellants” which students ought to adapt to excel in the 21st century. She identified simple character traits like hard work and confidence as imperatives as the rural eastern school charts its path for the future. (BT)

MANDELA ARRIVES FOR VISIT WITH PM AND BUJU SHOW – Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Ndaba Mandela, touched down in Barbados earlier today. This is his first visit to the Caribbean and he said he was looking forward to all the island had to offer. He will visit with Prime Minister Mia Mottley tomorrow and attend Buju Banton’s Long Walk to Freedom concert on Saturday night. He leaves on Sunday. (BT)

BIG BEE WEEKEND PLANNED – Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Member of Parliament (MP) for St. Andrew, George Payne says the party’s annual Heroes Day picnic will be filled with surprises. And while he isn’t making any promises, Payne has hinted that dancehall sensation Buju Banton may be in attendance. Police officers, BLP officials and other stakeholders gathered at the Barclay’s Park on the Ermy Bourne Highway for the site visit in preparation for this weekend’s event. In addition to a number of entertainers, Payne has promised the event will be “Buju-mania” on the beach. “Many of the artists have given their time gratis and I am hoping that we have an enjoyable time up here, especially because it is the weekend of the Buju show and it will be Buju-mania down here at Barclays Park,” he said, while opting not to give specifics. “I am not saying that he will be here, but don’t be surprised, because I have been told that there will be a surprise and I am not too sure whether that surprise will be Buju, but down here will be ‘bare’ Buju-mania on the 29th of April.” Payne told media personnel that he expected a large turnout for the event, while revealing that approximately 150 buses would be used to transport supporters. “Normally this picnic is the biggest in Barbados and we are hoping that we can keep up that trend. As I speak, we expect 150 buses, not necessarily from the Transport Board, because we are also involving a lot of the private concessionaires including minibuses, route taxis etc. “We have included all 30 constituencies including St Michael West. Some constituencies have as many as 20 buses and I believe if we had 500 buses available in Barbados, all buses would be taken. I am looking out for all Barbadians, not necessarily just Barbados Labour Party (BLP) supporters, because if you look at it, the Barbados Labour Party got almost 80 per cent of the vote in the last election, so the whole of Barbados is expected to come,” he said. National Heroes Day is celebrated on the birthday of the BLP’s founder, Sir Grantley Grantley Adams. “Last time this area was blocked and there were a number of people who wanted to come and could not get here. We are trying to get persons who would not otherwise be able to get directly to the site here at Barclays Park transported from another area.” Payne also revealed that more celebrations were being planned to commemorate the party’s historic victory at the polls last May. “The 24th of May was a historic event in Barbados and it was the first time that any political party won all 30 seats. We haven’t identified the spot as yet but we are hoping to have a big celebration on the 24th of May as well,” he said. (BT)

For daily or breaking news reports follow us on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter & Facebook. That’s all for today folks. There are 250 days left in the year. Shalom! #thechasefilesdailynewscap #thechasefiles# dailynewscapsbythechasefiles

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 5/27/2018

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Sunday, 27th May 2018. Sunday Sun Nation Newspaper (SS), via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS).

PM MOTTLEY NAMES 30-MEMBER CABINET, ALONG WITH 12-GOVERNMENT SENATORS – Newly installed Prime Minister Mia Mottley today announced a 30-member Cabinet, including two ambassadorial-level advisors. These are former Deputy Prime Minister Dame Billie Miller, who is to be appointed Ambassador at Large and Plenipotentiary, and economist Dr Clyde Mascoll, who is to be appointed as Chief Economic Counsellor in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment headed by Mottley. In making the announcement, the Prime Minister said Dame Billie and Mascoll would attend Cabinet as necessary given the task that is required to get Barbados out of its “perilous” economic state. In addition to the key finance and economic affairs portfolios, the Prime Minister will also have responsibility for national security, as part of the enlarged Cabinet team, which also includes a new Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy to be headed by development specialist Kirk Humphrey; and a Ministry of the Creative Economy to be headed by entertainer John King, who will also take charge of the culture and sports portfolios. There is also a People’s Empowerment and Elders Affairs Ministry, headed by Member of Parliament for St Thomas Cynthia Forde, as part of the new-look Cabinet, which has ten more members than the previous Freundel Stuart-led administration. The full team is to be sworn in here on Sunday. The Primer Minister also announced  a total of 12 new senators, with Barbados Labour Party (BLP) elder Sir Richard Cheltenham heading the list. He is to be appointed President of the Senate while another BLP stalwart and former Cabinet minister Rudolph “Cappy” Greenidge is due to be appointed his deputy. Today Mottley also revealed some key appointments to be made to the Parliament once it is convened. (BT)

MOTTLEY MAKES PROVISION FOR TWO OPPOSITION SENATORS – In the absence of an official Opposition, Prime Minister Mia Mottley today announced that an amendment is to be made to the Barbados Constitution to make provision for the appointment of two Opposition Senators. And based on its performance in the May 24 poll, those two senatorial positions are being offered to the Democratic Labour Party, as the political party which mustered the second highest number of votes in the just concluded poll in which Mottley’s Barbados Labour Party (BLP) was swept to power after capturing all 30 seats in Parliament. Following consultations with Governor General Dame Sandra Mason today, Mottley said that in the event the DLP chooses not to take up the offer of the two Senate seats, the Governor General, acting in accordance with her advice as Prime Minister, would proceed to appoint two other representatives to the Upper Chamber. Today, Mottley also announced a 30-member Cabinet team headed by herself, as well as a 12-member Government senatorial team, headed by BLP elder and Queen’s Counsel Sir Richard Cheltenham, who is to serve as President of the Senate. (BT)

OUTSPOKEN DLP CANDIDATE REACTS TO MOTTLEY’S CABINET ANNOUNCEMENT - Posting on the Facebook page of the St Andrew Branch of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), defeated DLP St Andrew candidate Irene Sandiford-Garner pointed out that “in her first 24 hours [as Prime Minister] Mia [Mottley] added 14 new ministers and three staff each”, which she calculated would cost the Treasury “$664,000 a month or $8 million a year”. “#MiaCares#Pray4Barbados,” the former parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport added, following this afternoon’s announcement by Mottley of her new Cabinet and senatorial team of 12, which is much larger than the 20-member Cabinet team headed by former Prime Minister Freundel Stuart whose Government was ousted from power on Thursday. In a humiliating defeat, Stuart’s DLP did not retain a single seat as Mottley’s Barbados Labour Party (BLP) romped to power with a clean sweep of the 30 seats in the House of Assembly. Earlier, Sandiford-Garner, who lost by more than 2,000 votes to the BLP’s incumbent George Payne in the rural riding, had publicly conceded defeat in the same social media group.“The people have spoken,” she said in a post made on Friday morning, while congratulating the new Government of Barbados. “Thanks to each and every person in St Andrew who remained steadfast. I did my best. “Remember: God is in control; whatever he does is well done,” Sandiford-Garner added. Defeated St Lucy candidate and former Minister of Housing and Lands Denis Kellman also took to Facebook yesterday morning to “thank the people of St Lucy and all those who helped, for the support given to me over the years”. The five-time Member of Parliament who lost this time around to the BLP’s Peter Phillips by over 2,000 votes, congratulated “Phillips and his team for the transformation. “I wish the church leaders well with their job ahead,” Kellman added without elaborating. However, more gracious in defeat was the DLP’s St James South candidate Donville Inniss, the former Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development, who was also trounced by the BLP’s Sandra Husbands in Thursday’s poll. Husbands polled 4,012 votes to Inniss’ 1,674, but in accepting defeat, Inniss posted: “The people have spoken and the decision is to be respected. Congratulations to aĺl of the BLP candidates. The new DLP shall rise again.”Former Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth Stephen Lashley also publicly thanked his constituents in Christ Church West Central “for reposing confidence in me over the last ten years. “I congratulate the BLP on its win. Our people have spoken. God bless you all,” he said, following his defeat by BLP candidate Adrian Forde by 2,760 votes. Defeated St Michael West Central candidate James Paul also acknowledged that “the Democratic Labour Party has suffered a heavy defeat”. However, Paul, who polled 865 votes to the BLP’s Ian Gooding-Edghill with 3,291, said the major defeat “does not mean that the party is vanquished. “The party will rebuild and return even stronger to continue its mandate. The loss will be learnt from and will embolden the party to do better in the future. It is the intention of the party to remain true to its core,” Paul added. Former Minister of Education Ronald Jones, who lost by 2,728 votes to the BLP’s Ryan Straughn, also said: “I wish to express my sincerest thanks to the people of Christ Church East Central who gave me an opportunity to serve them for some 15 years in the Parliament of Barbados. “My journey is now concluded at this level. I move on to new journeys and new sacrifices. May the good Lord bless this country. Thanks to all of you.” (BT)

JONES CALLS IT A DAY – Former Minister of Education Ronald Jones has called it quits as a politician. He made the announcement on his Facebook page yesterday. “I wish to express my sincerest thanks to the people of Christ Church East Central who gave me an opportunity to serve them for some 15 years in the Parliament of Barbados. My journey is now concluded at this level. I move on to new journeys and new sacrifices. May the good Lord bless this country. Thanks to all of you,” he wrote. Jones, a former teacher and president of the Barbados Union of Teachers, was the longest serving Minister of Education. During his tenure, he extended the number of sixth form schools, opening up more opportunities for children at The Ellerslie School, The St Michael School, Christ Church Foundation School, Springer Memorial Alexandra School, Alleyne School and St Leonard’s Boys’. In collaboration with the Maria Holder Trust, extensive investment was also made in nursery education through the construction of plants at Gall Hill and Oldbury. Under the Six Nursery Schools Project, nursery schools were also to be constructed at Government Hill, Holders Hill, Sayes Court and Deacons. A few people thanked Jones for his service. He lost his seat in last Thursday’s General Election when the Democratic Labour fell to a devastating 30-0 defeat. Former Prime Minister Freundel Stuart also announced his retirement from elective politics during his concession speech.  (SS)

ECONOMY IN DIRE STRAITS – Barbados’ economic situation is even more dire than initially thought – so serious that our BD$2 to US$1 exchange rate could be in jeopardy. An analysis of the just released International Monetary Fund (IMF) Barbados Staff Report for the 2017 Article IV consultation that the Freundel Stuart administration refused to make public since January, revealed the agency was extremely concerned about Government’s inappropriate fiscal policies, poor implementation of reforms, and an overall lack of confidence, all of which contributed to Barbados’ large fiscal deficits, high debt, and low foreign exchange reserves. The report stated that the May 2017 budget sought to address the increasing funding challenges and falling reserves “with an ambitious fiscal adjustment that aimed to eliminate new funding requirements”, including receipts from the sale of the Barbados National Terminal Company Limited (BNTCL) and Hilton Barbados Resort. The large adjustment was also intended to reverse the debt trajectory, but would slow growth and increase inflation. “However, weaker than expected revenues and budget implementation slippages suggest that the deficit is likely to remain significantly higher than planned with correspondingly large funding requirements. Debt also remains unsustainable, while low and falling international reserves raise vulnerabilities,” said the report. It warned that reserves may not stabilise if the sale of the BNTCL and Hilton did not materialise, if there were fiscal slippages and private investment inflows are lower. It also advised against any new Central Bank funding of Government (printing money) as this could erode reserves and jeopardise the exchange rate peg. “Low international reserves pose a critical vulnerability. Indicators point to a modest overvaluation of the exchange rate, and reserves have continued to decline in the face of low official and private (investment) inflows. These declines reflect concerns about fiscal and debt sustainability,” said the report, which noted that notwithstanding a narrowing in the current account balance, reserves continued to fall, nosediving to US$274.8 million or 1.6 months of imports at the end of September 2017. Reacting to the international reserves situation, regional economist Marla Dukharan said “the ratio of the monetary base versus the level of international reserves, reached BBD12.28 per USD1 in reserves in January 2018, improving only slightly to BBD11.12 per USD1 in March 2018”. In layman’s terms, this means that instead of holding at least USD$1 in reserves for every BBD$2 in circulation (which was the case until July 2013), the Central Bank only has USD$1 for every BBD$11.12 in circulation – which means the value of the Barbados dollar has been severely eroded and debased. The Trinidad-based economist noted the urgency of the reserves situation as US$60 million is due for repayment next month on the US$225 million Credit Suisse AG Cayman Islands loan which was negotiated in 2013. The interest rate on that loan has jumped appreciably because one of its built-in provisions was for a hike in interest rates in the event of a downgrade below BB - (by Standards and Poor’s (S&P) or Fitch ratings) or below Ba3 (Moody’s). Barbados has suffered at least eight downgrades since then. It should be noted that both S&P and Moody’s ratings are presently overdue, with another downgrade possible given that Barbados’ fiscal situation has not improved, and reserves have declined further.  (SS)

ST GEORGE MAN WHO FELL FROM TRUCK PASSES AWAY – Omari Jabari Bynoe, 26, who fell off a Democratic Labour Party (DLP) campaign vehicle on Monday of this week, has died. Bynoe of Glebe Land, St George was reportedly sitting on the railing of a Toyota Hiace pick-up truck when he lost his balance and fell into the road. Bynoe suffered serious brain injuries and was transported by ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he subsequently passed away. (BT)

MOTORCYCLIST, PEDESTRIAN INJURED IN ACCIDENT – Police and ambulance personnel are on the scene of a serious accident at St Barnabas, St Michael. It involves a motorcyclist and a pedestrian. Both of them received injuries.  (SS)

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 5/7/2018

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Monday 7th May 2018. Remember that you can read full articles via subscribing to Nation News Government Information Services (BGIS).

DEMS LAUNCH WITH BANG – We too can party. That seemed to the response of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and its supporters as the DLP threw its fans a soca party Sunday night. But partying aside, the faithful were warned that the May 24 elections would be a watershed event. Twenty-four hours after the Barbados Labour Party turned Weymouth Playing Field red, a crowd of thousands, clad in the DLP’s trademark yellow and blue colours, transformed an area between the National Stadium and the Netball Stadium, in the constituency last held by Barbados Labour Party leader Mia Mottley, into a sea of colour. The popular artistes, though, had one message. Dem Now; Dem Again. Or as Scrilla screamed: “We sticking with them.” And the crowd agreed. Holding the posters of their candidates aloft, the people jumped and wined and sang along to the popular calypsos. They cheered when candidate Ronald Jones joined Sanctuary on stage for his campaign song and they roared when he followed the singer’s exhortation to “juck, juck, juck”. Then, the lights were dimmed and the candidates filed onto the stage. And as the lights were raised, the crowd roared their support. But it was the arrival of Prime Minister Freundel Stuart at 7:50 p.m. that drove the Dems into a frenzy. He then took his place in the centre of the front row, flanked and backed by the other 29 candidates who will be going to the polls on May 24. Master of ceremonies and the party’s campaign manager, Robert “Bobby” Morris, brought a note of sobriety to the proceedings. “This is a watershed election. It’s like 1961 and 1986 all over again,” he declared. “We are fighting to save the soul of Barbados. This is a very important election. We are up against some forces – the forces of the dynasty as opposed to the forces of the meritocracy,” the historian told the crowd that swelled as the night grew. Early speakers included St Andrew candidate Irene Sandiford-Garner, who lambasted the BLP and Mottley.

(DN)

ALL FIRED UP – The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Sunday night launched an attack on Barbados Labour Party (BLP) leader Mia Mottley in the heart of the St Michael North East constituency. Abandoning their stamping ground of Independence Square, The City, for its first major event in the May 24 General Election campaign, the Dems took the fight to the St Michael riding where Mottley has been reigning since 1994. Several of the night’s nine speakers questioned her competence to be a Prime Minister – as touted by her supporters – and cited the internal falling out with members of her party. In his 45-minute address, which ended at quarter past midnight, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, the last speaker, said the DLP’s existence was to fight the notion that anyone’s bloodline entitled them to be privileged so that there was no one who could anchor their achievement to their family. Stuart, who had long promised to “explain” Mottley, argued that she was privileged and believed her bloodline gave her a sense of entitlement. “We cannot allow those kind of thought processes to cast root again in Barbados; we left that behind a long time ago,” he told the thousands gathered outside the National Stadium at Waterford, St Michael. The Prime Minister went back to an article in March 2002 when Mottley became a Queen’s Counsel where then Chief Justice Sir David Simmons, in his citation, stated “. . . whose bloodlines spell and portend limitless and boundless opportunities for even greater achievement”. Stuart said the days of people getting through based on their bloodline were long gone. In an atmosphere which was sometimes celebratory and other times serious, the speakers used unflattering pictures of Mottley as they reviewed her tenure as Minister of Education and the EduTech programme, which they blasted as a failure, along with the burning of HMP Glendairy Prisons under Mottley’s watch as Attorney General. Stuart went through a list of candidates within the BLP line-up, including George Payne, Ralph Thorne, Gline Clarke and Kerrie Symmonds, and questioned their ability to stand up to Mottley. Both Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler and Minister of Agriculture Dr David Estwick warned that promises coming from Mottley on the platform could not be achieved. Sinckler referred to a promise of increasing non-contributory pensions, pointing out that any increase there would run into millions and the contributory pensions would also have to increase. He pointed out that the prison burning had left the country with an annual $30 million debt. Estwick said Mottley appeared to have a magic wand that could solve every problem, including the South Coast sewage crisis. He criticised her suggestion that the businesses there should be closed down and Government pay workers while the Barbados Water Authority worked on the crisis. He described as “hogwash” Mottley’s proposal to get rid of the National Social Responsibilty Levy and other taxes, while increasing givebacks to the people.   Patrick Todd, the DLP candidate who is up against Mottley, reminded those on hand that she had been beaten before and he intended to win the seat back for the DLP. The team, which has dubbed itself the People’s Army, was missing two from among its ranks. Dr Denis Lowe, candidate for Christ Church East, was said to be still recovering from knee surgery and had spent the day canvassing, while St Michael North candidate Kim Tudor was under the weather.  (DN)

MOTTLEY UNVEILS BLP’S REMEDY – Cutting out wastage, stamping out corruption and reprioritizing the country’s expenditure, will give a Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Government all the money it needs to fulfill all of its campaign promises. This from Opposition Leader Mia Mottley, who went into a little more detail about how her party intends to pay for some of its signature plans, which include the repeal the controversial National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL), restoring free tertiary education, raising pensions and fixing the south coast sewage problem. Along with the plans unveiled over the last several months, Mottley promised civil servants, who have been pushing for a salary increase for almost two years, that she would be meeting with the trade unions shortly after taking office to discuss this issue. She also revealed that if it is determined that an increase cannot be immediately afforded, a living allowance would be provided within three months. Speaking to more than 20,000 people  (estimated by party officials) at Weymouth at the official launch of the BLP’s campaign ahead of the May 24 general election, Mottley attempted to answer her critics, who continuously demand that she shows the math behind what they deem to be overly ambitious promises. “There are those naysayers who say ‘well how you going pay for it?’ We I have come to Weymouth tonight to talk to you the people of Barbados. I have come tonight to tell you that this country of ours that has a $10 billion economy and a $4 billion Government expenditure, can be no different from what each an every one of you householders have to face every day and every week in this country,” Mottley said. The BLP leader argued that in like manner to a discerning householder, those with the responsibility for Barbados finances must know when to restructure debt as well as possess the ability to determine the country’s wants from the urgent needs. “When they [ruling Democratic Labour Party] ask with temerity, ‘how you going do it?’ they know as well as I do that they have had at their fingertips the tools to make decisions about choices and about rejigging how we spend our money. I have come to Weymouth to tell you that this is not rocket science,” Mottley said. In her hour-long speech, the Opposition Leader explained that the BLP was not making promises which were out of whack with the economic times but rather they were outlining the social safety nets and institutions to be safeguarded in the period of belt tightening to come. “Education means something to us and your ability to go the QEH [Queen Elizabeth Hospital] and go for treatment means something to us. In order to do this there has to be a cutting out of the wastage, and the corruption and what we have seen is this Government over and over, making decisions that put you the people at the bottom of the totem pole. How do you build a five storey building at Vaucluse and forget to buy 35 garbage trucks,” questioned Mottley, who was referring to the estimate $29 million to build a new headquarters for the Sanitation Service Authority. “Do you mean to tell me that a Government that has $4 billion in expenditure cannot buy 40 buses to put your children and your parents in buses on time? We will do it. We will buy the 30 garbage trucks that are necessary to keep Barbados clean. We will deal with the south coast sewage problem immediately. The days of pensioners getting $77.50 will be no more. From June 1 pensioners will get $225 every two weeks,” Mottley said to an eruption of applause.  (BT)

DEES GO AFTER MOTTLEY – The incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP) officially kicked off its election campaign here on Sunday night, with one woman and one woman only on the minds of each and every DLP speaker – Opposition Leader Mia Mottley. During the six-hour long political meeting, DLP officials made no bones about saying why they had chosen to hold their campaign launch at the National Stadium in Mottley’s St Michael North East constituency. In fact it was simply attack after attack on the Opposition Leader, beginning with DLP St Andrew candidate Irene Sandiford-Garner who sought to suggest from the outset that Mottley was unfit for the post of Prime Minister, but was determined nonetheless to “force feed the population” on this idea. However, Sandiford-Garner strongly urged Barbadians to keep their thinking caps on as they prepared to elect a new Government. She was followed by Minister of Social Care Steve Blackett who was simply vicious in his onslaught against the Opposition Leader as he sought to show that there was nothing special about Mottley, at times even labelling her “an imposter” and suggesting that she was as “shallow as Brandons Beach at low tide”. Blackett also urged Barbadians to question Mottley’s views on domestic violence and other social issues. The onslaught continued with DLP candidate Patrick Todd, who is seeking to unseat Mottley in St Michael North East. While suggesting that it was time for Barbadians to tell Mottley “adios mi amor” (goodbye my love), he drew a line from Tarrus Riley’s popular reggae song as he further urged voters to ensure that Mottley “Don’t Come Back”. Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth Stephen Lashley was next and he was later joined by Minister of Transport and Works Michael Lashley, who is also an attorney, in not only attacking Mottley on the controversial issue of her legal qualifications, but also over her alleged involvement in the Crab Hill Police Station fiasco. Both men also suggested that Mottley had a lot to answer for in terms of Edutech and other failed projects which occurred under her watch as Minister of Education in a previous Barbados Labour Party (BLP) administration. Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler and Minister of Agriculture and Water Resource Management Dr David Estwick also made it clear they were present to discuss leadership and in particular the leadership of the BLP, while promising that there would be plenty time later in the May 24 general election campaign to address other issues, including pressing matters to do with the economy. However, Estwick did not miss the opportunity to seek to clear his name over the persistent problem of sewage leaks along the south coast. In fact, while reading from official documents, he charged that BLP stalwart Sir Henry Forde had warned the former BLP Government as far back as 1994 about constructing the sewage plant along the south coast, but no one listened. However, he said the Mottley-led BLP was now seeking to lay full blame for the embarrassing mess on the shoulders of the incumbent DLP. Estwick was also joined by Sinckler in attacking Mottley’s plans for resolving the current sewage issue, suggesting that she had a “magic wand” for everything that was wrong in Barbados. Before a large crowd of party supporters, the majority of whom were decked out in party colours – bright yellow and blue shirts with the words “Do D Ting! Vote Dems” printed on the front, and on the back “We staying wid Dems!” – Sinckler also called on Mottley to answer two questions, namely, who was funding her political campaign that she was spending “ostentatiously” on and whether something was psychologically wrong with her, while dismissing her plans to purchase 50 garbage trucks, repeal the dreaded National Social Responsibility Levy, give public servants a pay increase, hike old age pensions and restore free tertiary education immediately as simply unattainable as they would cost the Treasury in excess of $400 million. At the same time, Sinckler, who has been under pressure for his handling of the economy in recent years, suggested that the BLP leader was getting funding from a billionaire from Africa, while making reference to the Jihadist militant organization based in northeastern Nigeria, known as Boko Haram. Prime Minister Freundel Stuart wrapped up the night’s assault on Mottley claiming that she was approaching the office of Prime Minister with a sense of “entitlement” while he felt passionately that leadership had absolutely nothing to do with blood lines. Absent were Christ Church East candidate Dr Denis Lowe, who DLP campaign manager Robert Bobby Morris said was still recovering from knee surgery, and newcomer Kim Tudor, the candidate for the St Michael North constituency, who Morris said was “a little under the weather”. (BT)

IT’S NOMINATION DAY FOR BARBADOS – Today is Nomination Day in Barbados, where political hopefuls will be officially nominated to run for office in the May 24 General Elections. A record high of 125 candidates are expected to hand in their nomination papers over the course of the day. This figure is a significant increase over the 67 candidates who participated in the 2013 elections. The two major parties − the Barbados Labour Party and the Democratic Labour Party − are expected to field a full slate of 30 candidates. Also in the running are candidates from the United Progressive Party, Solutions Barbados, Barbados Integrity Movement, Bajan Free Party and the People’s Democratic Congress. A number of independent candidates are also in the running, with two in some constituencies.  (DN)

CANDIDATE TOLD APPOINTMENT REQUIRED – Solutions Barbados candidate, Angela Edey, turned up to hand in her nomination papers without an appointment at 9:50 a.m.   The St. Michael West Central candidate was told by Returning Officer, Leonard Walters, that she had to make an appointment. Edey was given 12 noon as the time to return. (DN)

SUSAN READY TO SERVE – Solutions Barbados candidate Susan Corbin has been officially nominated to contest the St Thomas seat on a Solutions Barbados ticket in the May 24 General Election. The 55-year-old entrepreneur arrived at Lester Vaughan Secondary School this morning in time for the 10 o’clock start of the process. There was little fanfare. Joan Boyce-Shorey was the proposer and Lorien Clarke the seconder. Justin Canoville and Heather Clarke acted as witnesses. Corbin had no agent at the time. The returning officer is Halcourt Bovell. Corbin said if he elected she would be especially looking to assist youth and the elderly. (DN)

LEWIS GOING FULL STEAM AHEAD – In 18 minutes Solutions Barbados’ Kenneth Lewis was done with his nomination process. He left the same way he came in, quietly. With two proposers and two seconders they signed the relevant documents with returning officer Walter Jones and elections clerk Mario Riley. The newcomer said he was elated the process was over and happy to be running for the people. He said in two weeks his campaign would be full steam ahead and he expects to give Stephen Lashley a fight. "Everything is in God's hands," he said repeatedly. He didn’t bring an agent and he was told he has until 3 p.m. to do so.  (DN)

SKIP EMPTY ON SATURDAY, OVERFLOWING SUNDAY – Less than 24 hours after an empty skip was placed near the old Fairchild Street Market in The City, the garbage has become so much, it’s overflowing again. Two mattresses have been leaned against the side of the skip; boxes of what looked like documents have been piled on top; and the rear of a television, a stove and computer could be seen wedged among the scores of bags dumped inside. And the man whose team spent at least four hours cleaning the spot last week Sunday was frustrated. “It is really, really disgusting because the last time it was cleaned, people had dead dogs in plastic bags. I am extremely frustrated,” the representative from the company Express Skip Services said on Sunday. The man, who declined to give his name, said a full skip was removed on Saturday and an empty one placed in its stead. “And, lo and behold, I passed there this morning [Sunday] and I took a series of pictures – a bed, mattress, old stove, the same place,” he said, his voice filled with frustration. “And I can guarantee you that by tomorrow morning [today], that place is going to be full of garbage because the skip is full,” he said, adding the skip was removed six days a week. He said the skip was there for use by vendors in the market. (DN)

PETROL PRICES RISE – Effective midnight Sunday, May 6, the retail prices of gasoline, diesel and kerosene will increase while the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) will fall. The new retail price of gasoline will be $3.40 per litre, up from $3.31. The price of diesel will move from $2.60 per litre to $2.61, while the price of kerosene will be $1.46 per litre, up from $1.36. These represent increases of nine cents, one cent and ten cents per litre, respectively. The retail prices of LPG will be adjusted from $169.88 to $162.39 per 100 lb cylinder, a decrease of $7.49; from $47.57 to $45.70 per 25 lb cylinder, a decrease of $1.87; from $42.03 to $40.38 per 22 lb cylinder, a decrease of $1.65; and from $38.21 per 20 lb cylinder  to $36.71, a decrease of $1.50. The adjustments in the retail prices of these products are in keeping with Government’s policy to allow retail oil prices to be reflective of those on the international market.  (BT)

RUBBISH FIRE AT BONNETTS UNDER CONTROL – The sound of a fire engine racing through Bonnetts St Michael caused a big alarm moments ago for residents who were gathered outside their homes to witness the nomination process at Bonnetts Resource Centre. However, it was a rubbish fire which, so far, has not interrupted the proceedings. Fire officials are on the scene dealing with the situation which residents lamented was happening far too often. They say persons usually dump on the unoccupied land and then light it. One resident in close proximity had to summon an ambulance for her asthmatic relative. (DN)

ZR FOLK MOURN DRIVER’S DEATH – Gunshot victim Dwayne Forde will be missed by his route taxi family. Black flags and bandanas hanging from public service vehicles (PSV) in the River Van Stand told of the grief and shock by operators who lost one of their own on Sunday. Route taxi driver Forde, 33, better known as “Bush”, was shot during an altercation in The City early yesterday morning. According to police, Forde, of Ruby Park, St Philip, was at the Mad Pub Bar at the junction of Combermere Street and Bay Street. They said they received a report from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital around 5:50 a.m. that an injured Forde had been transported there. A ZR conductor who gave his name as Michael, said he was with Forde, who usually plied the No. 10 Silver Hill route, when he died. “I left there early. I didn’t even spend an hour over there [Nelson Street] ’cause I feel a funny vibe. As I come down in a van this morning a man tell me, ‘You hear ‘Bush’ get shoot in he belly last night twice?’,” he said. “I said, ‘Bush got shot? But he isn’t anybody that looks for trouble’. I couldn’t even believe the man when I heard it for the first time,” he added. Michael said his PSV colleagues too were shocked. None of them wanted to speak on the tragedy. “He was a cool and irie man. He wasn’t a man that was disrespectful in any way unless you pushed him. He was always irie. Nice yute man; he was never a harsh person,” Michael continued. “Right now it’s harsh on ‘nuff’ people; that’s why people don’t want to talk that sort of way. If he was here right now, I could guarantee you he’d be here drinking a brandy or a whisky because he’s that kind of person.” Family members declined to comment when the NATION visited Forde’s residence.   (DN)

MAGISTRATE: PROSECUTE THOSE WHO VIDEOTAPE COPS – A Bridgetown magistrate says the time has come for people who videotape police to be prosecuted, as he cautioned the public about trusting the videos that were circulated on social media. Magistrate Graveney Bannister’s comments came as a video of an incident in the Nursery Drive Terminal, allegedly involving accused Travis Tremaine Brathwaite, of Sealy Hall, St Philip, and Constable 2077 Dennis Murray, went viral last week. The video showed the constable kicking and cuffing Brathwaite before the lawman was pulled off the accused by another constable. Brathwaite was subsequently arrested and charged with obstructing, assaulting and resisting Murray, as well as damaging Murray’s police shirt which belonged to the Crown, all on May 3. Brathwaite’s attorney Shamar Bovell had said he would be instituting a private prosecution against the lawman on behalf of his client. “I think we need to prosecute people for taping policemen,” said Magistrate Bannister, who heard the matter against Brathwaite and fellow public service vehicle operator James Anthony Andrews, of Apple Hall Terrace, St Philip, in the Bridgetown Traffic Court on Friday. Stressing that he knew about cameras, having worked with them previously, the magistrate said such videos did not paint a true picture of events which transpired. “I know about cameras. They’ve got trick cameras. You can select what you want to select and delete what you want to delete,” he said. “The videos paint a picture of what people want to see. They are not there at the beginning. Sometimes they are halfway, sometimes they are edited. You cannot rely on them alone,” the magistrate said, as he advised members of the public to go willingly “when an officer is trying to arrest you”. Brathwaite and Andrews, who each faced four charges, were both remanded to HMP Dodds for 28 days. They return to court on June 1. (DN)

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 2/20/2018

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Tuesday February 20th 2018. Remember that you can read full articles via purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper or via Barbados Today.

LIKE HITLER: SINCKLER WARNS BAJANS COULD FEEL LIKE GERMANS DID AFTER NAZI LEADER’S RISE – In a stunning twist to an election campaign that threatens to slide into the gutter, Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler has compared Opposition Leader Mia Mottley to Nazi leader Adolph Hitler. In a stinging attack on Mottley’s fitness to lead the country, Sinckler last night told Democratic Labour Party (DLP) supporters at a joint meeting of DLP branches in the Christ Church constituencies that Barbadians would rue the day they voted for the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), in very much the same way Germans would forever regret Hitler’s rise to power. Sinckler told those gathered at Deighton Griffith Secondary School that when the Austrian born Hitler was appointed chancellor in 1933 Europe was facing economic turmoil similar to the problems facing Barbados today. This, he said, led to the rise of despotism in Germany, a lesson he encouraged the country to heed on voting day, due by the middle of the year. “Hitler came around at a very difficult time for Europe and for Germany . . . .The people in Germany who elected Hitler some years after were caught saying, ‘oh my God, what have we done?’ The people who elected [United States president Donald] Trump, who believed that they must get a change at all cost are now huddled in their living rooms asking each other, ‘oh my God, what have we done?’” Sinckler said to cheers from the party faithful. Hitler’s rise to power came at a time when millions were unemployed because of the Great Depression. He had become popular after his release in prison in 1924 for a failed coup attempt, by delivering vitriolic speeches attacking the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I, and promoting pan-Germanism and anti-semitism. He assumed the title of fuehrer – leader and chancellor of the empire – in 1934, a position he held until his death in 1945. During his reign as the country’s leader he introduced fascist policies, eugenic policies that targeted children with physical and developmental disabilities, later authorizing a euthanasia programme for disabled adults, and persecuted gays. Hitler also started World War II and his Nazi party was responsible for the genocide of nearly six million Jews. While Sinckler did not indicate that Mottley would be engaged in such atrocities, he also said little to suggest where the similarities between the two began and ended. Instead, he said because of the level of education here, Barbadians ought not repeat the Germans’ mistakes. “They say that Barbadians have one of the highest literacy rates in the world and I have always been told that with great power comes great responsibility. So I ask you tonight, do you want to be in the same position as the post-Hitler Germans, or do you want to continue to have a leader who has the moral, ethical and legal qualifications to be the Prime Minister of Barbados?” the Minister of Finance said, also hinting at the repeated accusations that the Opposition Leader did not hold a legal education certificate. Sinckler also harked back to a 2013 lawsuit brought by Member of Parliament for St Andrew George Payne against his BLP colleague and first-time parliamentary representative for St James North Edmund Hinkson, saying it shed light on how those in the BLP camp viewed Mottley. The suit was linked to an incident at the BLP’s Roebuck Street, St Michael headquarters on February 25, 2013, during which Payne was said to have accused Mottley of “treacherous and disloyal” conduct in the general election four days earlier, by aiding defeated DLP candidate Irene Sandiford-Garner in her campaign against Payne. Sinckler contended that apart from what was said about the BLP leader by those she now leads, Mottley’s own behaviour during her political life disqualified her from ascending to the highest office in the land. “Here we have in Barbados a person who from the words of her own colleagues in the Barbados Labour Party that this person is not equipped to assume the highest office in the land as Prime Minister of Barbados. Folks, this not the president of the Olympic Association or the chairman of some social club, this is the Office of Prime Minister. There are some who just come out of the woodwork and become Prime Minister but when you have two-and-a-half decades of a person, you cannot say you did not know who they are. “You can’t say that you have not been told, but you don’t need to be told because you have powers of observation . . . .You have seen it – the bullying, the unleashing of people to conduct the nastiest campaign. You are seeing it with your own eyes,” Sinckler stressed.  (BT)

BEES HAVE NO PLANS SAYS SINCKLER – A pig in a poke is what Minister of Finance Chis Sinckler says the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) is selling to the Barbadian public.  Speaking at a Democratic Labour Party (DLP) meeting at Deighton Griffith School on Sunday night, he maintained that while the BLP was always quick to criticise every attempt his party made to turn Barbados’ economy around, it was never as eager to put forth its mandate for the country. He queried whether the BLP even had a mandate for this country. Touting the new Barbados Sustainable Recovery Plan prepared by Government, the labour movement and the private sector, which was laid in Parliament last week, the St Michael North-West MP admitted that while it might be the party’s fifth or sixth plan as suggested by political opponents, at least they were making every effort to move the country forward, unlike the present Mia Mottley-led Opposition. “The point is, not one of them who is supposed to be practising or preparing themselves to become the Government, could engage on these Estimates. They found themselves dancing all around [the Barbados Sustainable Recovery Plan] because . . . they could not find themselves to criticise the Social Partners for producing this document.” He challenged Mottley, who described the new plan as a “glorified to-do list”, to bring an alternative to be held up to public scrutiny. Sinckler said the BLP was asking Barbadians to treat their lives as a lucky dip. “You are going to get a pig in a bag, or so you think, because when you open it . . . whether it is in a poke, a bag or a blanket, it ain’t really what it is. They are marketing something to you and you don’t even know what it is you are getting . . . . “Not a word about how they are going to fix roads, rebuild the foreign reserves, bring down the deficit; nothing.”  (DN)

‘UNGRATEFUL BEES’ – The Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) is dismissing as “so much garbage”, accusations that it disrespected former Prime Minister Owen Arthur during his farewell speech in Parliament last week. The ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) last night complained that it was left to the Government side to pay homage to the Member of Parliament for St Peter, even though he was the longest serving Prime Minister in a BLP administration and had given more than 30 years of service to the party. Speaking at a joint meeting of DLP branches in the Christ Church constituencies, both Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler and Minister and Transport and Works Michael Lashley tore into the opposition party for not properly recognizing Arthur in the House when he said goodbye. However, Member of Parliament for St Joseph Dale Marshall, who served in Arthur’s Cabinet from 2003 to 2007, dismissed the argument as a none issue. “I am not responding to that. This is so much garbage that I am not going comment on it. Let them find something else to talk about this week,” Marshall told Barbados TODAY. Arthur, who led Barbados through economic prosperity from 1994 to 2008, announced last week that he was attending his last sitting of Parliament after 35 years as a legislator. “Today I will be making my last speech ever . . . . I am retiring,” Arthur told Barbados TODAY as he prepared to climb the steep steps of Parliament to participate in the debate on the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure 2018-2019. Arthur resigned from the BLP July 2014, a year-and-a-half after losing his second straight election, claiming the party had lost its soul under Mia Mottley as political leader. He had stood down as BLP leader in 2008 following the party’s defeat in the general election that year only to return in October 2010, and stepped aside again following the 2013 defeat, in favour of Mottley. But a major fault line had developed in the relationship between the two, which became even more evident after the former leader quit the party. Lashley said the BLP parliamentarians were ungrateful for failing to pay tribute to Arthur following his contribution to the debate. “Only last week we saw how the Barbados Labour Party treated their former leader, who made some of them ministers, who gave his final speech and not one of them came back in there and paid tribute to their former leader. Not one of them came back and say ‘we thank you former Prime Minister for giving us the opportunity to serve in your cabinet and that you made us men and women’. How ungrateful can you be?”  Lashley said, while arguing that Arthur had rebranded the BLP from a party for aristocrats to one which related to the working class. “There were many in that party who said that a poor man who was the son of a shopkeeper could [not] become Prime Minister of Barbados. He was too poor until they recognized that they could use this man to connect with the working class and this is how they treat a man that put his life out for the party,” Lashley added. Meantime, Sinckler supported Lashley’s position, warning that Barbadians could expect more of the same ingratitude if they elect the BLP to office in the next general election, constitutionally due by the middle of this year. “It was disrespectful and insidious from the BLP and it then took our Prime Minister Freundel Stuart to get up and give commendation to Arthur in his final speech. That is the quality of character that you are talking about this side [DLP] and the quality of political scallywags on the other side. “I am not surprised because they had an annual conference and they had a booklet celebrating leaders of the BLP and left out Owen Arthur, the longest leader of the BLP. Could you imagine that? Now if they would treat him like that and he led them to the stars for 15 years and won three elections and got some of them elected that couldn’t get elected any other way, how do you think they would treat ordinary Barbadians?” Sinckler questioned. (BT)

NEW PARTIES DRIVEN BY REVENGE, MOTTLEY SAYS – Barbados Labour Party (BLP) leader Mia Mottley has described the fledgling United Progressive Party (UPP) as a party of discontented people who are driven by revenge because they were rejected as candidates for the BLP. However, Mottley said the BLP was prepared for all and sundry this election campaign, no matter the party. Speaking last night at a party meeting at Grantley Adams Memorial School, the BLP leader also accused both the UPP and Solutions Barbados of being in collusion with the governing Democratic Labour Party (DLP), in an attempt to keep her party out of office. “If they want to bring all of their candidates to come against us, bring them on. This notion that you can fight and fight an Opposition, if that’s what titillates UPP and Solutions [Barbados], then so be it. But it is the strangest political plan that any of us have ever seen, because we are not the Government of this country. But if people are motivated by a vendetta, bring them on,” Mottley said, adding that the BLP was focused on “the mission to rescue this country”, and there was nothing the DLP could do to sidetrack it. “There is nothing that their nephew or their niece can say or do, and I mean Solutions [Barbados] and I mean UPP,” she said. Mottley listed UPP leader Lynette Eastmond, who has failed on multiple occasions in her bid to win a parliamentary seat, as well as members Hutson Griffith, Wendell Callender and David Gill, among those who were rejected by the BLP, and who now seek another party. “Lynette did not get to run in Christ Church East Central or St Philip West, but that is because the people of those constituencies thought that John King and Ryan Straughn are better to run for them,” Mottley said, adding that the situation was similar in St John where party supporters chose Charles Griffith instead of his namesake, Hutson Griffith and in St Michael South Central where David Gill,  who won the seat for the BLP back in 1999, but lost to Richard Sealy in the three successive national elections since, lost the nomination to economist Marsha Caddle because “the people of St Michael South Central thought Marsha Caddle was better than him”. Of Callender, she said, “he run there, he run here, he run through a proxy, and he run [to UPP]”, and party members had no place for him. However, she had little to say about Dr Maria Agard, who in November 2015 was kicked out of the BLP after a nasty row with Mottley, and who last week announced she would join the UPP. “Well, well, well . . . enough said, enough said,” Mottley stated. Dr Agard last week led a spirited defence of her new party against attacks by BLP parliamentarian George Payne, who suggested during the Estimates debate that the UPP was being financed by the DLP, and that it was formed strictly to attack the BLP. “The law of Barbados allows minority or opposition parties to receive a subvention. Let me assure you that any money the UPP receives from the governing administration, it is the subvention to which it is entitled,” Dr Agard retorted, as she went on to remind Payne, the Member of Parliament for St Andrew, it was the BLP that introduced subventions to opposition parties after it assumed power in 1994. “The Constitution of Barbados allows for the formation of political parties by people in this country who believe they have the intellectual capacity to serve the island at the highest level. I wish to stage categorically that the United Progressive Party was not set up to oppose the parliamentary opposition,” she said.  (BT)

DESAL PLAN CONSTRUCTION COULD FACE BLOCK – Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler has intervened in a matter that could potentially put construction of the desalination plant at Spring Garden in dispute. During a town hall meeting held by the Barbados Water Authority at the St Stephens Anglican Church earlier tonight, members of the Alleyne family represented by siblings Sandra and Garlon, highlighted the fact that the plant is being constructed on a piece of their land. They said it was acquired by Government several years ago, and they are yet to be paid for it. Sandra also disclosed that a great aunt is still being billed for land tax and water. Sinckler, who was in the audience, told reporters that an investigation will be conducted. He said it seemed like the acquisition of the land was incomplete, and that the Alleynes would have to be compensated for the land with the requisite interest. He also said they could be refunded any monies paid on the two bills.  (DN)

TOPPIN WORRIED HYATT COULD WORSEN SEWAGE PROBLEM – Government is being asked to disclose whether or not there will be an adequate sewerage system in place upon construction of the controversial Hyatt Centric Resort on Bay Street, The City, to avoid a repeat of the sewage problems being experienced in Bridgetown and the south coast. Although the High Court has ruled that attorney-at-law David Comissiong has the legal right to challenge Prime Minister Freundel Stuart’s decision to grant permission for work to commence on the US$100 million project, Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler said last week when he introduced the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, that work would begin on the project this year. However, Ronald Toppin, the Member of Parliament for St Michael North, has questioned whether an adequate sewerage system would be put in place to accommodate that 237-room hotel. Pointing to the already burdened Bridgetown and south coast systems, Toppin also asked why Stuart, who has responsibility for Town and Country Planning, was refusing to undertake a comprehensive environmental impact assessment. Toppin, the Shadow Minister of Tourism, warned that the 15-storey hotel could worsen the sewage problem. “The Prime Minister . . . has been really adamant in relation to the Hyatt hotel and he is defiant of the whole issue of the need for an environmental impact assessment, but I would trust that having had now the situation where sewage is rampant on the south coast and since it now start to filter down here in the Bridgetown area, that the Prime Minister would recognize the need for an environmental impact assessment in relation to the construction of the Hyatt hotel on Bay street,” Toppin said in the House of Assembly last week. “That will add so much sewage to Bridgetown that it would be foolhardy to decide that you are going to proceed now without recognizing that you have to do a study as to what the impact would be on [the sewerage system],” he warned. Construction of the long-awaited hotel is facing a legal challenge by attorney-at-law David Comissiong, who, along with the National Trust, had opposed the planned project on environmental grounds from the very beginning. Government has argued that the multi-storey property was urgently needed to help improve the island’s struggling economy, which is projected by the International Monetary Fund to grow by a jaundiced 0.5 per cent this year amid burdening debt, a stifling fiscal deficit and tumbling foreign exchange reserves. However, Comissiong, who has made it clear there is no injunction preventing work from starting on the project, is arguing that the development must be subjected to a comprehensive environmental impact assessment that includes wide public participation. While stating that he was not opposed to the construction of the Hyatt, Toppin said he simply wanted to ensure that it would not compound an already troubling sewage problem, which has prompted travel and health advisories by Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. (BT)

MARCH MERGER – The planned merger of Barbados National Oil Company Limited (BNOCL) and the National Petroleum Corporation (NPC) is expected to be completed by the end of next month. And the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), which represents the workers, is confident there will be no major layoffs, if any at all. Kim Best, the project manager in the Project Execution Unit at NPC announced the date and promised that the authorities would ensure workers would be given assistance in making the transition. “We currently have the ad in the paper for the employees’ integration consultancy. . . . This is to help the employees of the two entities cope with the change that is required in order to merge into one organization – because we are going from two different backgrounds. One is a Government-based type of operation whereas the other one is more like a private sector operation. So there will be some changes required,” she explained. The NPC currently has a 25 per cent stake in the BNOCL, which has more than 100 employees. When asked by Barbados TODAY to shed additional light on the pending merger and whether it would affect staff numbers, BNOCL General Manager Winton Gibbs declined to comment. However, NUPW Assistant General Secretary Delcia Burke told Barbados TODAY the union had been kept abreast with the merger plans and she was satisfied there would be no adverse impact on employment levels at NPC. “We have been notified. This has been going on for a long time. The thing about NPC is that NPC always keeps the union informed,” she said. “What they have done is that they have let people go by the process of attrition and as people pass away they have not replaced them unless it is absolutely necessary. And they have said that they don’t foresee any loss of jobs at this stage.” Back in March 2014, Barbados TODAY reported that the two entities were discussing an amalgamation in an effort to streamline costs. That came a year after Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler had announced in his 2013 Budget that 18 Government entities were in line for merger or closure. The BNOCL-NPC merger is going ahead amidst the pending sale of the Barbados National Terminal Company Limited (BNTCL) to the Sir Kyffin Simpson-led Sol Group. The Fair Trading Commission (FTC), in a November 23, 2017 decision, determined that the proposed sale of the BNTCL in its current form was likely to cause “anticompetitive effects”. However, the FTC said the board indicated that it would be prepared to approve the completion of the transaction if some requirements were met. The merger of the BNOCL and NPC also comes against the backdrop of calls from various organizations for Government to reform state agencies. Addressing this morning’s function at the IDB, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Senator Darcy Boyce did not address the merger. However, he said the new energy efficiency project would help the two entities improve their operations. “Government, through two of its organizations that do not get any subsidy from the Government . . . will become a major producer of electricity from renewable energy sources,” he said, adding that the two corporations would continue to examine the possibility of producing energy from liquid waste.  (DN)

‘BILL COMING TO ADDRESS DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE’ – Unregulated business enterprises in Barbados will not be able to escape the legal dragnet of the Freundel Stuart administration, with the ushering in of the new fiscal year. These enterprises were put on notice this afternoon by Minister of Labour, Dr Esther Byer-Suckoo as she led off debate on the 2018-2019 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure in the Senate. In her two-hour presentation, Byer-Suckoo warned that the newly established Minimum Wages Board would be on their case. “That Board . . . will build on the work of the council, the shops council before [it] to ensure that [it] not only speaks to wages, but [to] terms and conditions in several of our sectors, especially those that are not regulated. So that is high on the agenda of this coming year . . . ensuring that the Minimum Wage Board can advise the minister on terms and conditions in some of these unregulated sectors and there are quite a few of them,” she said, adding that the board had already been informed about the areas of greatest concern. She told the Upper Chamber that the mandate of her ministry had been broadened beyond the traditional practice of merely addressing labour disputes, to creating an environment that facilitates a better quality of life for employees, ensuring decent wages are paid, and protecting the rights of workers and employers. (BT)

FED UP! FAIRY VALLEY RESIDENTS APPEAL FOR RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION – Give us a proper transportation service! This is the cry of residents of Fairy Valley, Christ Church, who said they were fed up of the daily waits for what seems like eternity for a bus. The residents said this problem has been ongoing for a very long time, but it has escalated in recent times, with only one Government run bus from the state-owned Transport Board serving the community located just behind Grantley Adams International Airport. To add insult to injury, they said, privately run public service vehicle (PSV) operators who serve the 3D route, which includes the airport and Oistins, were refusing to travel the full distance, forcing commuters to disembark before completing their journey. “The PSVs just go to Parish Land, straight to the airport and back down to town. They don’t come up here. If you get in the van and they ask you where you are going and you say Fairy Valley they say, ‘we aren’t going up there’ and people have to get out and walk,” an upset Shelia Robinson told Barbados TODAY. Chairman of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport Roy Raphael told Barbados TODAY his association had been made aware of the situation, while warning that it was illegal for PSV operators to refuse to complete a designated route. Efforts to reach Marketing and Corporate Communications Manager at the Transport Board Lynda Holder for a comment proved unsuccessful up to the time of publication. (BT)

LODGE STUDENTS PUT OUT OF BUS – A parent is demanding answers after saying his child was one of several Lodge School students put out of a Transport Board bus in the rain yesterday without good reason. The parent, who requested anonymity, said it was the responsibility of the Transport Board to ensure the nation’s children got to school safely and he did not understand the logic behind putting the children out. His daughter told the DAILY NATION that she was waiting at the bus stop in Six Roads, St Philip, as usual with a group of around 30 schoolmates when a bus, alternately showing both Grantley Adams Memorial and Lodge School destinations, drove up. “I had caught this particular bus once before and it took us to school then, but this time, after passing the prison [Dodds], the driver pulled up at the bus stop at the bottom of the hill leading past District “C” Police Station and told us to get out as he was going to Grantley Adams. “We told him the bus was marked for Lodge School too but he got upset and told us he didn’t care and to get out. It was raining and I didn’t have a coat and the bus stop didn’t have a shelter so we all stood there in the rain,” she said. The student said some of the students managed to board a passing bus and a minibus but she and four of her friends were left behind. It was then that a friend of hers borrowed her phone to call her mother, who then came and picked them up and took them to school. “We were very far from Lodge. My friends’ mum was very upset about it but at least we still got to school on time,” she said. The student’s father was also very upset, calling the incident a breach of trust. “I’m very annoyed and I’m sure the children and the parents are too. We trust the bus system to take our children safely to school and this negligence shows how uncaring and irresponsible some of these drivers are. This is a total disregard for the safety of these children,” he said. The student took a picture of the bus ticket, dated yesterday, which shows she boarded the bus at 7:36 a.m. According to the ticket, the route is 124 and the bus number is 85. The DAILY NATION attempted to get a comment from the Transport Board but to no avail. General manager Sandra Forde was in a meeting when the paper called and marketing and corporate communications manager Lynda Holder was on leave. A supervisor referred the paper to the Mangrove depot as this area had jurisdiction over the route but a supervisor there said he did not know about the incident and advised that the NATION call the Fairchild Street terminal. However, as this was around 4:30 p.m., the NATION was informed that the complaints department was already closed for the day and the relevant supervisor was also gone for the day. The Lodge School was also contacted on the matter. However, the school offered no official comment, only saying they had made the Transport Board aware of the matter and it was being investigated.   (DN)

MINISTRY ASKS BSTU FOR MORE TIME – After being issued with an ultimatum to meet with the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) by tomorrow to discuss the worrying rise in school violence or face the wrath of educators, the Ministry of Education has requested a three-day extension. This afternoon BSTU President Mary Redman told Barbados TODAY her union wrote the ministry on Thursday demanding the meeting and received a response the following day, explaining that travel commitments made it difficult for the ministry to hold the meeting tomorrow. Instead, the Ronald Jones-led ministry proposed to meet with teachers on Friday to discuss the recent spate school violence, which has attracted national attention. However, Redman would not disclose it the teachers, who met this afternoon to discuss the issue, had agreed to the proposed deferment. “I can confirm that we received a letter from the Ministry of Education proposing the new date. The teachers met today and we have sent off our response to the Ministry of Education only this afternoon. We are not sure if they have received our response as yet and it would not be proper protocol for them to read it in the press first,” Redman explained, while expressing surprise at the speed with which the ministry responded to teachers’ demand. “It only goes to show that they can show urgency when they want to,” she said. Scores of teachers gathered at the National Union of Public Workers headquarters at Dalkeith, St Michael last Wednesday, where a unanimous decision was taken to present the ministry with the ultimatum. During what was a rare opportunity for the media to listen in for most of the session, at which passions ran high at times, the teachers also moved to call out their membership to a meeting on Wednesday of this week if the ministry dismisses their demand. “We are going to give this as an ultimatum and the understanding, since the ministry has a way of ignoring our ultimatums, if that ultimatum is not met then we are going to have to do something about it,” Redman said at the time, while accusing the ministry of not caring for the welfare of teachers. “I see that the ‘something’ will require a mass meeting on Wednesday the 21st to finalize where we go from here,” Redman had added. She also emphasized the fact that nearly two years after Minister of Education Ronald Jones had promised to establish a committee on violence in schools, nothing had happened in this respect, adding that should Jones agree to the meeting, the union would again call for such a committee. (BT)

SCHOOL POLICE NOT FEASIBLE – THE ROYAL BARBADOS POLICE FORCE is not in a position to place police officers in schools that may have serious problems with children in terms of violence.  This is according to Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police, William Yearwood, as he spoke at the 26th anniversary Lions Club of Scotland District charter dinner at Accra Beach Hotel on Saturday night. “The Ministry of Education and the administration of the schools must grapple with any situation on site . . . . Some teachers and principals do not have the impact which the profession once had, and I wonder what became of the ‘prefect system’ in secondary schools,” he said, adding there might be need to review certain policies, as law enforcement officers would only visit the schools from “time to time”. Highlighting the recent upsurge in violence among children in the schools, on the streets and on public transportation, the former educator said it was a concern for both the administration within the schools and the force. “The root cause of violence and other anti-social behaviours being displayed by some of our youths are multi-faceted, and can be linked to several determining factors . . . ., he said. In 2017 there were 236 cases referred to the Juvenile Liaison Scheme, compared to 282 cases in 2016, 322 in 2015 and 286 in 2014. Those 236 cases in 2017 involved 260 students – 188 boys and 72 girls. There were 89 criminal cases referred to the Scheme, with the most prevalent involving causing a disturbance, armed with an offensive weapon, assault, possession of illegal drugs, theft and wandering, which occurred mainly in the 14-15 age range. “The force has a policy of referring the offending children to the Juvenile Liaison Scheme if parents consent to do so . . . .” Yearwood stressed. “The force is cognisant that success in combating the scourges of violence can be achieved through a multi-dimensional approach. In this regards, non-governmental agencies, and civic-minded members and organisations of our society, all have an important role to play in the process of reducing or removing crime and violence from our society,” he said. (DN)

CHILD KICK PROBE – The Child Care Board is on alert and the Royal Barbados Police Force is investigating a case of what appears to be child abuse in relation to a video sent to the DAILY NATION which shows a young woman kicking a baby in the head and face multiple times with her right foot. As a man in the background tells the woman to stop kicking the baby and picks her up, the mother moves on the bed and tells the child she hates her. Another video, reported to be of the same people, shows the baby crawling outside on the ground and a man saying: “She call sheself a mother, in a house sitting down and she child through a door.” When the man (who is filming) calls the mother to take the child, she appears in a vest and underwear and takes the little girl inside. Yet another video shows her feeding the child with some large portions while a male voice again speaks to her about the way she is treating the baby. Director of the Child Care Board, Joan Crawford, said yesterday the video of the kicking was sent to one of their officers and they had in turn referred it to the police. She added that no moves had been made by the state agency in terms of care for the child as they were waiting on the police to get a name and location. Police public relations officer Acting Inspector Roland Cobbler confirmed they were aware of the incident. “Once anything is on social media that has criminal connotation, we will investigate for sure. The video has been drawn to our attention and we will be investigating,” he said. Meanwhile, the kicking drew strong condemnation on the social networks where the videos were first posted. Some said the young woman needed mental health support. One person charged that the Child Care Board did not do enough and that was why “so many people treat their children badly” while others out there would love to have a child to take care of but could not get any. The person who did the recording was also admonished for failing to report the matter to the Child Care Board. Commenters were not sure if he was the father but said he should have also reported the matter to the police.  (DN)

MAN SHOT DEAD – Less than two months into 2018, Barbados has recorded its fifth suspicious death, three of them gun-related. Last night, Adrian Rommel Griffith, also known as “Laddy”, was gunned down in Belleview, Waterford, St Michael. Police said 34-year-old Griffith was shot a stone’s throw away from his home. Investigations revealed that around 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Griffith was walking through a track on his way home with his 24-year-old girlfriend when a gunman approached and shot him multiple times before fleeing the scene. His girlfriend, who was unhurt, ran screaming for help. Griffith succumbed to his injuries at the scene. When a NATION team visited the area yesterday, many residents were tight-lipped about the incident. However, one resident, who requested anonymity, said she didn’t know the deceased very well since he only recently moved to the area. “I was by the standpipe Saturday morning early and he came up there with a pan cart to wash some clothes. When I heard the news this morning I couldn’t believe it was him,” she said. The resident said she heard the gunshots the night before. “I never thought those gunshots took the life of someone. Hearing gunshots out here is the norm, so I didn’t think anything,” she said, adding that generally she felt safe in the area. Griffith’s death follows the shooting death of Kesmar Shaquille Codrington, 23, of Brownes Avenue, Bayville, St Michael, on Friday. Codrington was shot sometime around 5:05 p.m., while at Bay Street, St Michael. Police are questioning someone in connection with his death. On January 9, Terrence Brathwaite was shot at Silver Hill, Christ Church, and died from what appeared to be a wound to his left side. Last Thursday, Shirley Rogers, who had no fixed place of abode, was found dead under a bus shed on the Princess Alice Highway opposite the bus terminal. No one has been arrested in relation to this incident. On January 1, homeless man 69-year-old Tyrone “Pitiful” Stoute was found dead on the compound of People’s Mart, Tudor Bridge, St Michael. Police are appealing to anyone with information on these matters to contact the District “A” Police Station at 430-7242, 430-7295, the hotline at 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS (8477), or the nearest police station.  (DN)

I DIDN’T KNOW – Director of Ouch Boutique Grenville Ricardo Delpeache says he believed he was buying genuine PUMA products when he purchased them from store fronts in the United States. The 44-year-old businessman of Passage Gardens, Passage Road, St Michael stuck to that position as he gave evidence today before Magistrate Graveney Bannister in his trial on charges related to selling fake PUMA items. Delpeache is accused of selling PUMA Fenty by Rihanna Creeper Sneakers and PUMA Fenty slippers; and exposing for sale 17 Puma slippers, seven single shoes and 31 backpacks that were allegedly counterfeit in May last year. “I only shop in store fronts [that] I believe to be registered and governed under US laws,” the boutique owner told the court today. He explained that the 17 pairs of slippers were from a batch of two dozen which he had purchased in early 2016 for US$50 per pair. Delpeache retailed the product for BDS$200, while he bought the backpacks for $19.95 plus tax. He further stated that he thought the products were genuine as he examined them and “they were marked PUMA”. “I does look at the one on display before I buy them as I can only see the one on display . . . . Then I rush and pack them in the suitcase but I don’t keep the boxes,” he testified, adding that he also did not read the labels on the shoes or the bags. When asked by the prosecutor, Acting Assistant Superintendent of Police Trevor Blackman, how he determined the products were genuine, Delpeache said: “Because the item classify the brand itself . . . . The name is marked on the item [but] I don’t look at the label.” He was adamant that he believed he was buying genuine PUMA “because they were marked PUMA”. “I had no training in the PUMA brand,” Delpeache added. After hours of cross examination by the prosecutor, Delpeache’s lead attorney Satcha Kissoon submitted that the charges against his client were wrongfully brought as they should have been laid against the business and not Delpeache.  “So all those charges are wrong . . . the COP [Commissioner of Police] had to charge Ouch. There is no doubt that he bought the items through Ouch Boutique and Ouch Boutique sold them,” the lawyer said. The defence attorney further argued that his client believed he had purchased products from places with genuine merchandise in the US and he was not an expert in picking out which shoes were fakes. He added that his client was not a “large retailer with sophisticated knowledge of brands”, although he had been in the business for 20 years. “You can’t punish him because he is a small retailer. He is not to know [what’s fake and what’s not] . . . . And he paid a proper price for the shoes, from a proper seller, so how should he know? “Mr Delpeache or Ouch has an extremely good defence that the goods he purchased were genuine. The slippers sold, there is no evidence that says those slippers were counterfeit,” Kissoon added as he asked for the charges against his client to be dismissed. However, the prosecutor was adamant that Delpeache was rightfully charged as the director of Ouch Boutique. Magistrate Bannister is expected to make a ruling after the prosecutor’s full submissions tomorrow morning. (BT)

TAXI DRIVER GETS CRIMINAL RECORD – Before today, Kimal Chad Simpson did not have a conviction recorded against him, although he had been charged in the past. That all changed for the 33-year-old Hunte Street, Baxters Road, St Michael resident when he appeared on a charge of having 2.5 grammes of cannabis in his possession on February 17. Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant imposed a $500 fine on the father of one after his attorney-at-law, Shadia Simpson urged the court to show her client some leniency. “A conviction will be recorded this time,” the magistrate said in imposing the fine, after it was confirmed that the man had been previously before the court. The drugs were found in his pocket by police on patrol along Browne’s Beach. “I had it to smoke with my friend off the ship,” he told lawmen when asked to account. He has one month to pay the fine in order to avoid spending four weeks at HMP Dodds. (BT)

GREENIDGE CHANGES PLEA AFTER THREE YEARS OF DENIAL – A St Michael drug accused who had been maintaining his innocence for more than three years threw in the towel. Jaleel Radi Saabir Greenidge, of Greenfield, Roebuck Street, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Douglas Frederick to having $40 worth of the illicit substance. The drugs were found in a cereal bowl in his bedroom when police executed a search warrant at his residence on December 27, 2014. Greenidge admitted to lawmen then that the 7.5 grammes of cannabis belonged to him. He told Frederick he had maintained a not guilty plea because he was not working, but said he was now employed and seeking to travel in the near future. “I want to get this over with,” he said. But the magistrate pointed out to Greenidge that if he had not wasted the court’s time, he would have long completed the community service which would have been imposed on him as a first-time offender. Greenidge has 80 hours of community service to complete by April 13 if he wants to keep his criminal record clean. (BT)

NEW MISS HOLETOWN CROWNED – Sheryl Forde is the new Miss Holetown Queen of the Festival. Early this morning at the Frederick Smith Secondary School in Trents, St James, the 20-year-old rose to the top above five other contestants. The six beauties competed in swimwear, formal wear and the often dreaded interview segment. Forde won a trip on LIAT to any Caribbean destination and she will represent Barbados as the Jaycees Pageant next year. Runners up were Sara Forde who placed third and Tyanna King who came in second. (DN)

For daily or breaking news reports follow us on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter & Facebook. That’s all for today folks. There are 314 days left in the year. Shalom! #thechasefilesdailynewscap #thechasefiles  #dailynewscapsbythechasefiles

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 10/19/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Thursday, 19th 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).

BES PRESIDENT PREDICTS ANOTHER DOWNGRADE FOR BARBADOS – Barbados should brace itself for another downgrade by the international rating agencies before year-end. That prediction is coming from president of the Barbados Economic Society, Jeremy Stephen, who was a panellist at a discussion for International Business Week at the Grande Salle, Central Bank, on Tuesday night on the topic Thriving In Crisis. “I said it earlier this year that two would come, and another one would definitely come, just given the environment that we are in,” he forecast. Stephen has been saying for some time that there was a “reluctance” by the Government to change, when the economic crisis started in 2008, and then it moved too late with its responses. “The Minister of Finance, no offence to him, has always been right at the wrong time. I’m being blunt about it, but it’s just that the policies have been right, but they’ve been far too late. With that in mind, we’ve reached a situation where drastic remedies will have to be taken on both the on-shore side of the country and off-side,” he stated. He said the on-shore side would be things like the increase in the National Social Responsibility Levy and the effects on local businesses, and getting access to foreign exchange. Stephen, who had some of his students from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill in the audience, said one of the “easy” solutions could have been “something as controversial as basically rescheduling your debt” back in 2012. He said that would have put the country on a road to recovery on the debt profile by now.  (DN)

WILLIAMS INDUSTRIES FEELING THE ECONOMIC PINCH – A top official of one of this island’s leading conglomerates says while there are still many positive features to Barbados, the ease of doing business is certainly not one of them. “There are so many fundamentally strong parts of Barbados, fantastic education, the rule of law, the process is generally followed, there is a high degree of talent here, but it’s not easy doing business,” cautioned Tom Hall, chief executive officer of the Williams Industries. Participating in a panel discussion hosted by the Barbados International Business Association at the Central Bank’s Grand Salle last night, Hall took particular issue with the recent 400 per cent hike in the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) on the customs value of imported and locally produced goods, which was announced by Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler in his May 30 Budget. In fact, he said the entire Budget had come as “a shock”, while the NSRL, which formed part of a $542 million austerity package, has had the effect of making the domestic business environment more difficult. “It makes it very hard to trade in those circumstances. You get not only the increased costs . . .  but just trading in this environment is very difficult,” Hall said, while further cautioning that “you can’t change something so radically without warning. “That makes people nervous. I’m going to be more nervous going into the next Budget,” he said. The CEO of the 22-company conglomerate also complained that amid  low foreign reserves and tighter exchange controls, Williams Industries was struggling to get access to hard currency to expand its operations. “So it’s a major risk and with risk comes a reduction in demand for that investment,” Hall said, while assuring, “we have a lot of interested parties wanting to work with us”. (BT)

LASHLEY HEARS PSVS CRY FOR NSRL EASE – Some financial ease may be on the way for the privately owned public service vehicle (PSV) sector. Minister of Transport and Works Michael Lashley said today he had heard their cry for duty-free concessions and increased bus fares to help cope with the burdensome National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) and was feverishly working to come up with an answer. Lashley, who was speaking to Barbados TODAY this afternoon on the fringes of the 10th anniversary parade and awards ceremony of the Barbados Prison Service at Dodds, St Philip, said he recently met with the PSV operators who presented their case to him, and he intended to take the issue to Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler and Cabinet shortly. “Whatever we can do at the ministry we will try to assist because they are very important to the public transport system. We are currently looking at their duty-free proposal. Once we look at it, fashion it out and look at the conditions to get duty-free, particularly in the PSV sector, and once that is acceptable to the Ministry of Finance and Cabinet, then we will go,” Lashley said, adding that he would discuss the matter further with the operators. PSV owners and operators have long pleaded with Government for duty-free concessions to replace an aging fleet. (BT)

INNISS NOT WORRIED ABOUT FEMALE RIVALS – Member of Parliament for St James South Donville Inniss is not losing sleep over the fact that both his declared opponents for the seat are women – Sandra Husbands of the Opposition Barbados Labour Party and Cristal Austin of the United Progressive Party. However, Inniss told Barbados TODAY he expected a tough campaign, therefore, he would not be complacent. When political scientist Peter Wickham predicted earlier this week that the incumbent Democratic Labour Party could count on four safe seats in the next general election, Inniss’ was not among the four. But he said skill and commitment would determine the winner of the seat. “Having two female opponents is not a big issue for me. I am not one to focus on gender issues. I welcome women being involved in areas that were traditionally male dominated, but the truth of the matter is that we have had females in politics now for many decades, so the issue of women in politics should not be a big issue. It is more a matter of skills and commitment to the cause. “I am very mindful that I do have a significant challenge in St James South. I am not going to stand here and tell you that the re-election of myself as parliamentary representative for St James South is going to be any walk in the park. I have never, upon entering active politics, for one moment, felt that there is room for complacency or that I can sit back, relax and think that I have it locked down,” he stressed. Notwithstanding, a confident Inniss told Barbados TODAY he would continue to focus on areas of concern for his constituents as he seeks a third term. Inniss maintained that the imposition of a number of taxes and removal of some allowances by the governing party had made it more difficult for his constituents to meet their daily commitments. He said he would try to explain to constituents why the DLP had taken certain economic decisions. “I am [more]. . . concerned about my constituents’ ability to pay their bills on time and their ability to better secure their children’s future and about the kind of infrastructure they have around them, than I am concerned, quite frankly, about people’s private life,” Inniss said. “It will not be an easy campaign. I have never had one decent campaign in St James South. It has always been one of mudslinging, accusations of nefarious activities, very nasty personal attacks on myself and my family and I expect that such will continue. But that is not my style,” Inniss said.  (BT)

SENATORS BLAST CULTURE OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT – Government senator Irene Sandiford-Garner yesterday identified herself as a victim of sexual harassment, telling the Senate: “I have been sexually harassed; I have even been, as they say, assaulted.” She was among a number of senators who yesterday not only welcomed the Employment Sexual Harassment Prevention Bill 2017, but also slammed the “culture” of sexual harassment in Barbados, with one even calling it a “disease”. Sandiford-Garner, the parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, related personal incidents of sexual harassment and inappropriate actions by male bosses and work colleagues.  She stated that many women who suffered the indignity of the sexual advances did so in silence. Their vulnerability, she stressed, was compounded “by the fact that they are generally the sole breadwinner in the family, making them fair game for sexual predators”. Another Government senator, Verla De Peiza, declared that sexual harassment was so prevalent in Barbados that it was tantamount to a “disease”. The attorney at law said what presently existed in the workplace, and the conditions under which people worked, “where insinuation and innuendo is the order of the day, constitutes our culture, means that we have a culture of sexual harassment. “But I wonder if culture is really the word we need to use. Is it cultural or is it endemic, because it is more like a disease in Barbados,” she said. Minister of Labour, Senator Dr Esther Byer said while the legislation was not perfect, they could not “could not wait any longer”. “Thirteen years in the making was more than enough. There are people out there who needed this legislation, who need this protection, who need to know that they do not have to suffer in silence . . . (DN)

RAINS DRENCH POLICE BARRACKS – The recent heavy rains have been anything but a blessing for lawmen at the District “A” Police station. Their living quarters at the Station Hill, St Michael complex have been left soggy following the frequent downpours in the past weeks. Photographs obtained by the DAILY NATION highlighted the plight of the officers who want the problem fixed urgently. They show missing ceiling tiles, with water getting into the officers’ barracks leaving pools of water, as was the case last weekend when the island was drenched by torrential rainfall. One officer, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said the problem had been ongoing for years. “They attempted repairs about twice since I was here, but it was going on before. A man came, but . . . it even worse than before,” the officer said. The lawman also pointed out that with the constant rain, the barracks had also become a breeding site for mosquitoes. “The pictures only show one side of the barracks. There are two barracks, and both have the same issues, but the side shown in the photos is the worst, and that is actually a good day. On a bad day we have to walk through water to get to our lockers, and move our beds away from the wall.”  (DN)

PRISON BOSS WORRIED ABOUT RISKS TO OFFICERS AT DODDS – The island’s top prison officer is expressing concern over daily security risks being faced by officers at the HMP Dodds. However, Prison Superintendent Lt Col John Nurse told Barbados TODAY this afternoon that there was little prison officials could do about those risks. The prison chief said officers were in the presence of potentially violent inmates daily, and had to contend with prisoners and members of the public bringing in infectious diseases and inmates with mental problems. Nurse first raised the issue of risks when he earlier addressed the parade and awards ceremony in the presence of Acting Minister of Home Affairs Michael Lashley and Permanent Secretary Gail Francis-Vaughn. He noted that prison officials have to manage inmates who come from all strata of society, having been detained involuntarily, and at varying security levels. Nurse said, too, that staff had to deal with a variety of irregularities, unpredictable or even violent situations, including possible disturbances inside the facility, while having to handle obnoxious tasks such as preventing the smuggling of illegal drugs and other contraband. Although he declined to be specific, Nurse said there were areas in the prison service that needed urgent attention despite “major transformation in its work priorities in response to changing needs and new developments” over the past 15 to 16 years. Therefore, Nurse called on staff and management to remain focused on the core functions of rehabilitation and training. (BT)

CLERK GUILTY OF STEALING $1.1M – It took just under an hour for a nine-member jury to all agree that Anderson Ryan Ince stole more than $1 million from the Psychiatric Hospital. Ince, of Hannays, St Lucy, and formerly of Yearwood Road, Sugar Hill, St Joseph, was found guilty of stealing $1 118 500 belonging to the Black Rock, St Michael, institution, between August 1, 2003 and August 1, 2005. The five women and four men of the jury also convicted him of money laundering, having engaged in transactions totalling $1,118 500, which were the proceeds of crime during the same period. While the verdict was being read, Ince sat stone-faced in the dock staring straight ahead. Before he was led out of No. 2 Supreme Court, Justice Michelle Weekes informed him that he would be remanded at HMP Dodds pending a pre-sentencing report. Ince returns for sentencing on December 13. The 43-year-old, who worked as a clerk at the hospital, had denied both charges. However, the jury heard that he had strategically crafted and was the mastermind behind the 44 cheques that were written out to both Anthony Nurse and Terryann Badenock. They further heard that he had lived a lavish life off the proceeds, having purchased two cars, practically refurbished his then fiancée Marsha Gill’s home in St Joseph, and had showered his lady friends with expensive jewellery purchased from Colombian Emeralds. (DN)

GARDENER'S BAIL REVOKED – For what Magistrate Douglas Frederick called gross disrespect toward both the courts and his surety, Frederick Alfred Haynes will spend the next 28 days at HMP Dodds. Haynes, 44, of Waverly Road, Enterprise, Christ Church, was charged with stealing a bottle of Cognac, valued at $113.55, belonging to Massy on August 23, 2014. At the time he had pleaded not guilty and was released in $1 000 bail. He was also charged two months later on October 30, 2014, with stealing one bottle of Givenchy cologne from Cave Shepherd. He also denied the matter and was granted $1 500 bail. However, when he was scheduled to reappear in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court on Monday, he did not. When the magistrate asked Haynes the reason for his no-show, he said he needed to secure a new surety. “Sir, me and my daughter had a falling out, and she decide to withdraw as my surety. I didn’t have a surety then, but I come here with my child mudder today to sign for me,” the gardener said. Magistrate Frederick then called the new surety to the witness stand. “His own daughter signed bail for him when nobody else would. She decided to withdraw, and when he came to court and saw her here he said, ‘Wait, you come to withdraw your bail for true?’ and left. She has no money to pay the court and she is pregnant. Now you come to sign bail for him? If you sign bail for him and he does the same to you and you come in here crying, I would keep you too,” the magistrate said. He added that Haynes’ behaviour showed a major lack of respect. “Your behaviour toward your surety was disrespectful, and you have no regard for the court. I am keeping you,” he said. Haynes interjected, stating that he had to keep his “li’l boy” every day. “Can I say something sir?” he asked. “No. I don’t want to hear,” the magistrate declared before remanding him. He returns to court on November 15.  (DN)

NINJA MAN RELEASED FROM ‘MENTAL’ – Well-known street character Ninja Man was today transferred from the Psychiatric Hospital to HMP Dodds on a charge of committing sacrilege. The 60-year-old, of no fixed place of abode, whose real name is Anthony FitzPatrick Lynch had been at the Black Rock, St Michael institution for the past three weeks being assessed by doctors. Ninja Man is alleged to have entered the St Michael’s Cathedral, a place of divine worship, sometime between August 6 and 8, stealing a $125 crucifix and a $25 surge protector belonging to the church. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge. The accused man will make his next appearance before Magistrate Douglas Frederick on  November 15. (BT)

JAMAICAN MAN ACCUSED OF RAPING GIRL – A 33-year-old Jamaican man, accused of raping a 14-year-old girl, has been remanded to HMP Dodds. Rayon Autorney McBean allegedly committed the act on October 12. He was not required to plead to the indictable offence when he appeared before Magistrate Douglas Frederick this week. Pointing out that the non-national had no significant ties to Barbados and had overstayed his welcome after he was granted a 21-day stay on arrival in February last year, Station Sergeant Neville Reid argued that McBean was a flight risk. Reid also argued that the minor, who has mental challenges, must be protected from the accused man. McBean will make his next appearance in the No.1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on November 13. (BT)

ANGRY TEEN – A 19-year-old St Michael resident has been ordered to attend anger management classes after pleading guilty to assault. Magistrate Douglas Frederick handed down the order to Adam Waithe of Small Land, Bridge Gap after he admitted to assaulting Jarad Nowell on October 14, occasioning him actual bodily harm. Waithe had reportedly given Nowell $325 to purchase parts for the gas tank of his motorcycle. However, according to the police prosecutor, he began cursing and harassing Nowell for the gas tank even though he was informed that the money was short. On the aforementioned date, Nowell was about to enter his home when he felt a “hard cuff” to the side of his face, which caused him to fall to the ground. “I was talking to him and was flinging my hands and hit him. Me and him was switching words,” Waithe explained. However, based on the facts presented in court, the magistrate suggested that Waithe had anger issues and needed to be taught conflict resolution. Waithe, who was granted $1,500 bail, returns to court on February 26 next year when a report is expected from the Probation Department. (BT)

DOMINICA WELCOMING 'VOLUNTOURISM' IN WAKE OF HURRICANE MARIA – While it has taken a hard hit following the passage of Hurricane Maria one month ago, Dominica’s tourism sector is open for some business. In a statement yesterday from Daphne Vidal, project officer for the island’s tourism agency, the Discover Dominica Authority, a welcome was issued to ‘voluntourists’ interested in visiting to help recovery efforts in the hurricane-stricken island. Hurricane damage assessment efforts within the industry are still ongoing. Of the 73 hotel properties on record, 27 have been severely damaged or destroyed with “serious to total destruction of structures, including roofs, electrical and plumbing.” However, 32 properties which account for just over half of the island’s total room stock suffered only moderate damage and are “able to operate now or in the near future.” Flights and sea voyages to the island have resumed on a limited basis. The DDA said that regional air carrier LIAT as well as Seaborne Airlines have “resumed commercial flights to Dominica and are operating at a limited capacity.” LIAT is operating commercial flights to Dominica as follows: Return flight to Antigua (LI624) will operate on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday departing Antigua  at 11:30am and  Dominica at 1:10pm;  Return flight to Barbados (LI601) will operate on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday departing Barbados at 10am and Dominica at noon. This schedule will run until November 7th when the airline will update its schedule. L’Express de Iles ferry service is also operating services to Guadeloupe, Martinique and St. Lucia from the Roseau Ferry Terminal. The island’s vaunted natural sites suffered with the passage of the storm. Access roads have been damaged and all tourist sites and natural attractions are still currently closed until repair work can be done. Underwater, 35% of reefs at dive sites were damaged and all of the island’s nine dive operators are closed for business. Most will not be operational until January 2018. (DN)

KING GIVING BACK TO DOMINICA WITH BENEFIT MATCH – The stars are coming out with the king of swing to give back to Dominica. Local tennis fans will get another chance to see their ace at home, as Darian King is set to feature in next week’s upcoming Barbados Cup Charity Exhibition alongside Bajan personalities DJ Puffy, West Indies cricketer Sulieman Benn and sports journalist Justin Marville. The event is scheduled for October 26 at the National Tennis Centre will see King and his fellow Davis Cup teammates participate in a number of fun events and doubles matches to raise funds for Dominica and the Barbados Tennis Association. “Originally we wanted to go with the normal tennis exhibition but we thought it was best to go outside of the tennis community because when people watch or play tennis for the first time they tend to get addicted to the sport,” said King’s older brother and co-organiser Christopher King. “It’s something new for Darian too because he’s always wanted to give back and now he’s getting off the serious tennis, so it gives him a chance to unwind, have fun and still give back while connecting with his fans. “And the charity really is about helping out the junior programme to help out our kids with travelling to tournaments, so eventually in a couple years Darian can have another Bajan out there on the tour with him,” he added. The exhibition, which includes comedian Carl “Alf” Padmore, radio personality Carol Roberts, Member of Parliament Santia Bradshaw and DJs Salt and Don, will be centred around a number of doubles matches along with other fun events like target games.  (DN)

ST. CYPRIAN'S WIN ZONE – St. Cyprian’s Boys’ may not look as strong as when they captured the National Primary Schools road tennis titles in 2015 and 2016 but yesterday they showed that they should not be written off from taking the three peat. Led by the versatile Alex Stewart, St. Cyprian’s made a clean sweep of Zone 3 in the 2017 Cave Shepherd/Berger Royale/A One Supermarkets action which continued at the Rubis Courts, Brighton. Stewart, who is a cricketer, squash player and NAPSAC athlete won all of his matches against St. Judes and Milton Lynch before sharing his second sow in the tie breaker with St. Giles by trouncing Kylani Clarke 21-8. Teammates Nathan Mascoll and Amari Forde followed suit in ensuring that the repeat champions sweep St. Giles in the tie-breaker. Mascoll beat Isaiah Griffith 21-10 and Forde pipped a determined shotster Keshon Walrond 21-19. St. Judes, who normally challenge for a second round spot was the only team to take a game from the champions. (DN)

ORANGE NEW QC SWIM CHAMPS – Orange are back in control of the pool. Youth was being served yesterday, as juniors Kyla Beckles and Makayla Clarke turned in powerful performances in the youngest age group to spearhead Orange’s title-winning performance at Queen’s College swimming sports. The dynamic duo actually accounted for 100 points between them in the 12-and-under division at the Aquatic Centre, leading their house to the overall crown as well as the girls’ title in very overcast conditions. Orange finished with an overall tally of 398 points – more than 100 better than their nearest rivals Blue, who placed second with 285. They had an even wider margin of victory in the girls’ championship, where Orange amassed 288 points to blow Yellow out of the water after the defending champs finished with 162. Led by joint victor ludorum Jacob Coles and CARIFTA triathlete Christopher Pollard, Red took home the boys’ title with 234 points to relegate Blue (169) and Orange to second and third respectively. (DN)

18 TEAMS FOR RUGBY 7S TOURNAMENT – THE Rugby Barbados World 7s International Tournament is expected to see a growth in participation this year. During Tuesday’s media launch at the headquarters of the Barbados Olympic Association, tournament organiser Brian Stollmeyer said 18 teams had confirmed their participation for the December 9-10 tournament at Trents, St James. Stollmeyer said newcomers Project Waterboys from Scotland, the Titans women from the United States and defending champions North East Academy are strong invitational teams, while the Atlantis teams are feeder teams for the United States national teams. Stollmeyer said there was interest from another 20 teams, who have not yet confirmed their attendance. (DN)

DOMINICA WORLD CREOLE MUSIC FESTIVAL CANCELLED – The 20th edition of Dominica's World Creole Music Festival has been cancelled, a casualty of the severe damage inflicted on the island during the passage of Hurricane Maria exactly one month ago. Notice of this came from the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) in a press statement today. The DDA release stated: "Following the passage of Hurricane Maria on September 18, 2017, Dominica suffered severe infrastructural damage, destruction of property including hotels and loss of life.  The damage suffered by hoteliers and private home owners, coupled with access challenges has made it difficult to stage the World Creole Music Festival to the high standard that patrons have come to expect. Furthermore, given the present circumstances in Dominica, the national priority is to provide relief supplies and restore basic infrastructure and utilities." The three-night festival had been set to feature Machel Montano, Mavado, Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons and Sweet Mickey among others. In a subsequent statement, the DDA outlined the process by which patrons can get their refunds. Those with valid tickets and receipts from online ticket purchase should present them at the office of the Dominica Festivals Committee between October 23 – 31, 2017. Patrons must also present a valid ID.  Once the information is received and processed, refunds will be made during the week of November 6, 2017.  The Dominica Festivals Committee is unable to facilitate refunds without proof of purchase of World Creole Music Festival tickets. Refund of tickets purchased online can also be facilitated through www.ticketpalcaribbean.com. The Dominica Festivals Committee expressed its sympathy "with all Dominicans for the loss suffered during the passage of hurricane Maria" and stressed its committment to "rebuilding Dominica better as we continue on the road to recovery."  (DN)

JUNIORS SHINE AT NIFCA – BRANDON BYER-MALONEY is the cutest pothole you will probably find anywhere in Barbados. While the real ones are found on the roads, he was on stage in the Major Noot Hall of Combermere School on Sunday during the final night of this year’s NIFCA Performing Arts semi-finals. In a drama presentation written by his principal Tyrone Marshall, the Gordon Walters Primary student came to “set the record straight” because as a pothole, he got no respect for all the good he did. He put a case as to why he is and should be recognised as A Loyal Citizen Of Barbados. He said were it not for him and his relatives, motorists would speed along the highways, but they had to be “ready like Freddy” and stay alert when driving on a road. The piece, directed by teacher Deborah McCollin, was humorous and relatable. It should get him to the finals as well as his other entry titled Glenburnie By Bus, written by McCollin in the theatre category. There were a few other stand-outs acts on a night dominated by dance. Louise Woodvine Dance Academy’s Sound Of Silence was just as beautiful. The choreography was seamless and a delight to watch. The dancers received rousing applause as they brought an end to the first half.  The Orchard Movement’s 9 took a creative look at the effects of the recent hurricanes on the region. It was an evocative choreography that effectively used costumes, lights and fog to create the trauma, as did Dancin’ Africa Junior Company’s Silent Victims Of Warfare, which carried the strong message about pollution and how plastic bags, cans and indiscriminate dumping harm the environment and kill marine life.   (DN)

That’s all for today folks there are 74 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 6/3/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Saturday 3rdJune 2017. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Saturday Sun Nation Newspaper (SS).

PM’S NEW RIDE – Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has a brand new ride. Amid all the talk about austerity, Stuart is now driving around in a sleek S-Class Mercedes Benz, fresh out of the Simpson Motors showroom at Warrens. The S-Class is said to be valued at $350,000 duty free or over $700,000 inclusive of duties. (BT)

GIVE US MORE TIME, SAYS LASHLEY – A Government minister says the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) needs some more time to fix the economy. Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley made the comment as he contributed to the Budget debate last night, saying that the past eight years of the DLP’s rule has been “a relatively short space of time in which to correct some of the most deep-seated structural challenges” the DLP found when it took over in 2008 after 14 years of Barbados Labour Party (BLP) rule. The Christ Church West Central Member of Parliament contended that, even now, Barbados continues to be impacted by global economic forces, adding that the issues pertaining to the fiscal deficit continue to be critical. Citing one example of the debt that “continues to stranglehold Barbadians”, he said Government has to find about $30 million every year to pay in connection with the prison at Dodds. But he pointed to the ongoing refurbishment of the Wildey Gymnasium and the upcoming CARIFESTA as activities that would help to bring to Barbados much needed foreign direct investment and inflows of capital to boost reserves. “It’s a festival that will see, coming to Barbados, some 3,000 artisans and performers; a festival that will benefit the economy because of the use of hotels, accommodation, taxis and other goods and services,” Lashley said. “We believe that this festival, which will help to propel and showcase the region as a centre for culture industries, is happening at the right time for Barbados.” Barbados will host CARIFESTA from August 17 to 27. (BT)

KELLMAN: I’VE DELIVERED – Denis Kellman has defended his stewardship of the Ministry of Housing, saying that despite his frequent posts on social media, he was very much working hard and delivering housing solutions to Barbadians. The Member of Parliament for St Lucy sought to assure the nation that he has not been “idling” or “wasting taxpayers’ money”, as he contributed to the just-ended debate on the 2017 Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals. Kellman outlined what his ministry has done since 2013, as he dismissed any suggestion that he spent too much of his time on Facebook, instead of carrying out his mandate as Minister of Housing. To assure the country that he was on the right track, Kellman pointed out that the Liberal Democrats in the United Kingdom had admitted that rent-to-own was one of the fastest ways to help people to property ownership. Under a rent-to-buy arrangement, a qualified applicant can move into a National Housing Corporation property they wish to purchase and pay $500 a month while the legal work is being finalized, he explained. Kellman also accused members of the Opposition Barbados Labour Party of “running with the fiction and not the facts” as it relates to occupancy levels at the Grotto high-rise apartments. He said while they were claims last week that only three people were living in that complex, there are currently 59 residents. (BT)

DON’T GO THERE MIA – Prominent Queen’s Counsel Hal Gollop Friday issued an open challenge to Opposition Leader Mottley to shed the protective cloak of Parliament and to come outside and repeat the same scurrilous allegations she made against him this week in the House of Assembly. While echoing the views expressed by his dear friend and legal ally Prime Minister Freundel Stuart last night, Gollop Friday spoke out in his own defence, after Mottley, under the cover of Parliament, brought the character of the Chairman of the local Employment Rights Tribunal into serious question. While charging that exorbitant fees in the amount of $1.5 million were paid by the Stuart-led administration in relation to projects at the Barbados Water Authority (BWA), Mottley effectively cast a wide net, in which both Gollop and Stuart were entangled, as she promised to uncover and root out corruption in both high and low places. Mottley also raised a question mark over the Prime Minister’s election in St Michael South, while suggesting that he may have had some strong outside help. However, in his own defence, Gollop said Friday that “in respect of the charge which would give the impression that I was out in a constituency in St Michael South handing out envelopes on Election Day, thereby, buying votes, I would simply ask the Leader of the Opposition, to come out from behind the protection of parliamentary privilege and go as far as Parliament Square and repeat the statement. “I say no more,” he told Barbados TODAY, while warning that legal action could also follow. Only last night, Stuart sprang to Gollop’s defence against what he said were attempts by Mottley to sully the character of his friend of 50 years. Declaring that their friendship goes back to 1967, the Prime Minister had also challenged the Opposition Leader to repeat the charges on the outside, even as he accused her of seeking to paint Gollop as a rogue after she had personally invited him to serve on a four-member commission to draft a republican constitution for Barbados. Mottley, who was in Government at the time, had also asked Gollop to serve for 14 years on the board of the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) from 1994 to 2008 and had also reportedly offered Gollop the post of Solicitor General on contract, but Stuart said he had personally advised him not to accept the job even though he claimed that Mottley had assured Gollop that she would look after his son if he had agreed to do so. (BT)

MIA’S OFF THE MARK ON WYNDHAM – A Government spokeswoman has taken serious issue with a claim made by Opposition Leader Mia Mottley in Parliament this week. In fact, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner has described as “a blatant untruth”, Mottley’s declaration that construction on the US$200 million Wyndham Grand Resort in St Philip was started without the requisite Town & Country Planning approval. “Senator Sandiford-Garner [in] a Facebook posting talking about building H4 going up. Would you believe yet again this Government is breaching the law in the constituency of the Attorney General [Adriel Brathwaite], building the building without Town Planning permission?” Mottley told the Lower House on Wednesday. But speaking to Barbados TODAY on the sidelines of a tourism town hall meeting at Hilton Barbados Resort on Thursday, Sandiford-Garner said it was “unfortunate” that Mottley had sought to bring the project into disrepute. However, Mottley contended even though the sections of the Wyndham project were covered by the CLICO plans, the overall development was still awaiting planning approval. However, Sandiford-Garner, who is the ruling Democratic Labour Party’s candidate for St Andrew, argued that it made sense to jumpstart the project, which has been plagued with delays, by commencing work on the areas for which permission had already been granted, until full approval was given. (BT)

MINISTER OF TOURISM GETS FAILING GRADE – Member of Parliament for St Michael North Ronald Toppin has described as “a spectacular failure” the performance of Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy over the last nine years. Making his contribution to debate on the 2017 Financial Statement and Budgetary proposals, Toppin said Sealy has been living in a “bubble” while Barbadians from all walks of life continue to feel the pinch. He said that unless something was done, the Ministry of Tourism would continue to underperform, stagnate and be nothing more than the vehicle that created a very special elite group to build and consolidate significant wealth in this country, while ordinary Barbadians fail to improve their lot. Toppin further argued that while there has been talk from Government officials about record numbers of visitor arrivals over the last two years, Sealy was “glossing over” the decline in the amount of money spent by tourists while they are in Barbados. He referred to the Leader of the Opposition’s response to the Budget earlier in the day, when she noted that the amount spent by tourists last year was less than visitor spend in 2007. Meantime, responding to Sinckler’s Budget presentation, Toppin said the people of Barbados deserved a lot better than they have been getting from the Democratic Labour Party Government over the last nine years.  (BT)

FIGHT ON – Having made it through by a somewhat comfortable 400 vote margin in the 2013 general election, Member of Parliament for St Philip South Adriel Braithwaite appears to have a tougher battle on his hands to retain the seat when Prime Minister Freundel Stuart finally rings the election bell. Brathwaite polled 3,514 votes in the election to 3,114 by Anthony Wood of the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to help the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) secure a narrow victory. But with the country mired in economic turmoil, voters in the constituency appear ready to rebel against the ruling party, catching Brathwaite in the potentially troublesome winds. “I have nothing to do ever again with the DLP. I can’t have faith in you when you say no layoffs and then lay off thousands of civil servants,” said a longtime DLP supporter at Oldbury Gardens who wanted to be called George Clarke, although he made it clear it was not his real name. “I never favoured the BLP, but they got my vote this time. I am very distraught with the DLP for the things they have done to this country.” The state of the economy was brought up again and again, as many of the constituents struggling to make ends meet seemed bent on punishing the representative. (BT)

BMEX BLUES – Barbados’s premier trade show has become the first major victim of the tough austerity measures introduced by Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler when he delivered the 2017 Financial Statement and Budgetary Proposals on Tuesday. A number of the leading local manufacturers have pulled out of this year’s Barbados Manufacturers’ Exhibition (BMEX) at the last minute, blaming the Budget which was approved in the early hours of Friday morning following a contentious debate. President of the Barbados Manufacturers’ Association (BMA) Jason Sombrano said the morale of the business community, especially the established entities, had taken a hit following the announcement of the tough fiscal measures. (BT)

BARBADIANS MUST BOYCOTT FLOW, says Gibbs-Taitt – Telecommunications consumers are being urged to boycott Flow after the provider announced that rates would rise from the beginning of next month. Consumer rights advocate Malcolm Gibbs-Taitt has seen the planned increase as the action of a callous corporation which believes it can get away with fleecing Barbadians. Flow announced Thursday that come July 1 there would be a five per cent increase to the rates of all consumer voice and data post-paid mobile plans, excluding the recently launched Combo plans. It justified the hike by stating it resulted from “our continued investment in our network to provide our customers with world class products and services”. This did not sit well with Gibbs-Taitt, the director general of the Barbados Consumer Research Association, who told Barbados TODAY there was no justification for a rise in rates. (BT)

FEES GOING UP – Private medical care in Barbados will increase from July 1. This is as a result of expected increased costs due to the hike in the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) to ten per cent, the imposition of a two per cent tax on foreign exchange transactions, and higher costs for fuel with a spike in the excise rate. Already, Barbados’ largest private medical facility, Bayview Hospital, has notified doctors of the impending increase via an email circular sent on Thursday by their administrator Jules Reid. That email stated: “In light of the Budget address that the Minister of Finance, the Hon. Christopher Sinckler, recently delivered, we would like to place you on alert that we are left with no alternative but to increase our rates effective July 1, 2017. (BT)

GITTENS STILL WAITIN ON PLACE TO CALL HOME –Two months after her childhood home at Kendall Hill, Christ Church was demolished as a result of an eviction order, 88-year-old Edmunda Gittens is still waiting on her parliamentary representative and Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley to fulfil his promise of a new home at Brighton, St George. Back in March, Lashley, the Member of Parliament for Christ Church West Central, gave resolute assurances that the National Housing Corporation (NHC) and the Rural Development Commission were working behind the scenes to construct a permanent four-bedroom home for Gittens in Brighton. However, Gittens, who is still residing in temporary housing provided by the Welfare Department, told Barbados TODAY she felt as though she had been forgotten by the authorities. However, when asked about the promised home for the elderly woman, Public Relations Officer for the Rural Development Commission Wendy Burke said her organization had no record of Gittens’ case. Lashley, who has been in Parliament all week for the Budget debate, could not be reached for comment on the matter. However, Chairman of the National Assistance Board Senator David Durant sought to assure that plans for the new home were still in the pipeline, even though he reported – in direct contradiction to Lashley’s earlier promise of a four-bedroom house – that Gittens was now in line to receive a two-bedroom dwelling. “We are in preparation to construct a two-bedroom home for her in Brighton, St George with the assistance of the National Housing Corporation and we have workmen scheduled to use the skeleton of her former home to build a more modern two-bedroom home, and construction is set to occur very soon,” said Durant, who was visibly upset over Burke’s comments. He promised to update the media when ground breaking work commences.  (BT)

CALL TO EASE GANJA LAWS – The zero tolerance stance on marijuana needs to end. Andrew Pilgrim, Queen’s Counsel mixed no matters yesterday as he spoke on the controversial topic while speaking at the inaugural Barbados Bar Association Whitsun Weekend Law Conference at Hilton Hotel. Speaking to the packed conference room, Pilgrim explained that crimes related to marijuana in Barbados were, in many cases, treated more harshly than other heinous crimes such as murder. And with there being no current regulation due to its criminalisation, Pilgrim noted the status quo was creating grounds for more problematic behaviour. (SS)

BRA EMPLOYEE ACCUSED OF THEFT – Police have been called in at this island’s central revenue collection authority following reports that thousands of dollars have gone missing. Barbados TODAY was unable to confirm the precise amount. However, late Friday evening lawmen confirmed that they had  arrested and formally charged a female employee of the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) with two theft-related offences. Karla Cherese Morris, 33, of Mount Friendship, St Michael is accused of stealing money belonging to the Crown on May 15 this year. She has been formally charged with theft of money and falsifying an account, and is expected to appear in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court Saturday in connection with the offences. Barbados TODAY understands that the administrative assistant, who was recently on sick leave, was reportedly nabbed from a plane and taken in by police for questioning over the missing funds. In a brief statement Friday evening on the matter, BRA said that in the execution of its internal audit function it discovered a number of “anomalous transactions which appeared to indicate fraudulent activity. “As is required by the governing legislation of the Financial Management Audit Act Cap 5., the Authority reported the incident to the Financial Investigations Unit of the Royal Barbados Police Force. “The incident has now become a matter under investigation by the police, therefore the Authority is unable to comment any further,” the brief statement added. However, the development comes at the height of concerns about the slack way in which the BRA currently operates. In his latest report for 2016 which was released earlier this week, Auditor General Leigh Trotman reported on the findings of a detailed audit of the operations of BRA. Based on that investigation, Trotman said there was worrying evidence of several infelicities, including a shortage of vital financial accounting information, understated tax revenues and unverifiable refunds balances. And even though no shares have been issued by the central revenue collection agency, it was laughable that a figure for share capital was reported in BRA’s statement of changes of equity for the 2015/2016 financial year. “This is misleading and should be corrected to reflect a more accurate assessment of the activities of the Fund,” the Auditor General has warned. In his 152-page report for last year, Trotman also reported that even though BRA reported assets of $3.7 million and liabilities of $392,000, there were no schedules or other forms of documentation presented to support these balances. At the same time, grant income from the Ministry of Finance in the amount of $28 million was understated by $4.3 million, while the Authority’s expenditure was said to be overstated by $309,000. As for the figure of $37 million which was given for income tax refunds and $105 million for corporate tax refunds, these could not be verified; neither could the Authority’s Statement of Administered Revenue, which was recorded at $2.1 million. The Auditor General’s review of BRA’s accounting records also revealed an unexplained difference of $749,000 between unreconciled cash and unpresented cheques as at March, 31, 2016. There was a further difference of $1.2 million between what was presented in the schedules and the statement of administered revenues. More alarmingly, property taxes came up short by $57 million after a comparison was made by the Auditor General of the expected revenue and actual taxes collected.  (BT)

BODY FOUND IN HAGGATT HALL – Police are conducting investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death of 26-year-old Omar Ricardo Douglas, of Dash Valley, St George, whose body was discovered last night along Monroe Road, Haggatt Hall, St Michael. Around 8:25 p.m., police received a report of the body of a man lying in a pool of blood along the roadway. On responding to the area, they discovered the body with what appears to be gunshot injuries. The police are asking anyone who can provide any information to assist with their investigations to contact the nearest police station. (BT)

MAN SHOT IN ZR – Yesterday’s shooting on board a public service vehicle has left another young man with gunshot injuries. Raheem Farnum, 20, of 2nd Avenue, Vauxhall, Christ Church, received two wounds from a single bullet that hit him in the left forearm and left side. In May last year, Farnum was also nursing a gunshot wound to the leg after a shooting incident in the same district. Yesterday’s incident occurred around 10:15 a.m. at Vauxhall Main Road and Farnum was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by a private vehicle for medical attention. (SS)

THREE CHRIST CHURCH MEN ON MURDER CHARGE – Three Christ Church men will appear in the District ‘A’ Magistrates Court tomorrow charged with the murder of 19-year-old Ajay Ricardo Smith. They are 28-year-old Shavar Theodore Ward of Hopewell Road, 29-year-old Lamar Diego Akked Holder of Pegwell Boggs and 31-year-old Undre Emerson Hassani Thompson of Chancery Lane. Smith’s lifeless body was discovered on Wednesday, May 24th on the hard court opposite the St Christopher Primary School with a number of gunshot injuries. (BT)

ZR MAN GUILTY – The driver of the ZR vehicle involved in an accident that resulted in schoolgirl Zakiyah DeFreitas losing her arm two years ago was found guilty on four traffic offences and is to be sentenced in August. Magistrate Graveney Bannister, in delivering his decision against Matthew Ricardo Daniel, warned drivers of public service vehicles (PSV) about their responsibilities. “The driver of a public service vehicle has a high duty of care as they carry precious cargo (people) . . . . The road is not a playground and a driver of a PSV should not accede to any request to do foolishness on the roads and endanger people’s lives by causing grave injuries,” the magistrate said in the Bridgetown Traffic Court of the District “A” Magistrates’ Court. Daniel, 42, of Licorish Village, My Lord’s Hill, St Michael, was found guilty of wanton driving, dangerous driving, driving without due care and attention and driving without reasonable consideration on June 9, 2015. (SS)

DRAYTON REMANDED TO DODDS – A 21-year-old man has been remanded to prison after appearing in a Bridgetown court charged with an offence in which firearms were allegedly used, along with several traffic offences. Romono Anthony Drayton of Turtons, Gittens Gap, Government Hill, St Michael was not required to plead to the indictable charge that he, on May 27, together with other persons, used unlawful violence and their conduct taken together was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene to fear for his personal safety. The auto repairman who appeared before Magistrate Graveney Bannister in the District ‘A’ Traffic Court denied that on May 25, knowing or believing that a motorcycle was stolen, dishonestly received the vehicle. However, he pleaded guilty to driving a motorcycle on My Lord’s Hill Main Road on May 25 with no drivers licence, no registration, no insurance, without due care and attention, and with fraudulent plates. Police prosecutor Sergeant Theodore McClean told Magistrate Bannister that police responded to a collision between a motorcar and motorcycle along the mentioned road. However, by the time police arrived the motorcyclist had fled the scene with his bike. On investigation, lawmen discovered the name of the perpetrator. On May 29, Drayton reported to the District ‘A’ Police Station as part of bail conditions imposed on him for a previous charge and while there he was interviewed and admitted to being in the collusion. In submitting Drayton’s conviction card to the magistrate, McClean said that while he had convictions they were not traffic related. After taking into consideration the submissions from the prosecution and the defence, Magistrate Bannister ruled that police needed time to complete their investigations in the matter. He also pointed out that the alleged firearms were yet to be recovered and that for those reasons, the accused had to be remanded. Drayton will appear before the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court, where the case has been transferred, on June 23. (BT)

HARDING GETS TWO HEARS FOR THEFT – A 41-year-old man who admitted to carrying out nine thefts earlier this year will spend the next two years in prison at HMP Dodds. Magistrate Douglas Frederick handed down the sentence on Ricardo Anderson Harding, of no fixed place of abode, Friday. Harding’s stealing spree began at the start of the year. He admitted in the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on his last appearance to stealing a blower worth $300; a plane worth $350; a saw worth $200; an angle grinder worth $275; and a generator belonging to Christophe Allman, sometime between January 25 and February 5. Harding also confessed that he stole three toolkits worth $1,700; a vacuum cleaner worth $150; two car stereos worth $800; three speakers worth $300; and a spray gun worth $50 belonging to Adrian Clarke, sometime between April 28 and May 2. He pleaded guilty to stealing from Bajan Motors, three stereos worth $2,400, four car wheels worth $1,200 and two jacks stands, sometime between May 3 and 4. Harding admitted that in the same period, he stole a $2,600 Hilti and a $230 grinder belonging to Kirk Worrell, as well as two toolkits worth $550 belonging to Akil Lewis. He further confessed to entering the house of Pasadina Trotman as a trespasser, sometime between April 28 and 29, and stealing three hammers worth $300; a saw worth $40; two squares worth $100; a plane worth $180; a trowel worth $40; a crow bar worth $40; a vice grip worth $30, a wrench worth $40, a chisel worth $30, a tape worth $60, a pan cart worth $250, and two shovels worth $100 belonging to Dexter Bishop. The man also burglarized the home of Ernest Hill on May 3 and made away with two toolboxes as well as a socket set belonging to Cardinal Branker on March 7 and on May 6, he stole a box containing two socket sets worth $500, a spanner set worth $150, a breaker bar worth $45 and other tools worth $200 belonging to Siegert Noel. Police prosecutor Sergeant Martin Rock said Harding entered the homes of his victims and made away with the items. All of them were not recovered.  (BT)

$4M RALLY ROAR – Barbados stands TO benefit in excess of $4 million at the end of this weekend’s Sol Rally Barbados and the recently concluded FLOW King Of The Hill events. This is according to Barbados Rally Club (BRC) chairman Mark Hamilton. “In terms of foreign exchange earnings and local business flows within the economy that revolve around the rallies for the two weekends, I will say we stand to earn just over $4 million,” he told the SATURDAY SUN.Hamilton said King Of The Hill attracted some 90 entrants overall, and the big rally show this weekend was set to attract about the same number, with participants from 17 countries, including host nation Barbados. (SS)

FIRST GAY MARRIAGE TAKES PLACE IN BERMUDA – Bermuda’s first gay marriage has taken place, but it was not immediately known who the couple are.  News of the gay wedding broke on Thursday during a Supreme Court hearing. The wedding was referred to during the hearing before Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons regarding her landmark ruling on May 5 which opened the door to same-sex marriage in the island. The hearing is to determine the exact terms of the judge’s order declaring that gay marriage is legal in Bermuda. It was originally also set down as a costs hearing although that issue will now be dealt with at a later date.  Justice Simmons asked counsel if a same-sex marriage had taken place in Bermuda yet. She was told by two lawyers at the hearing that the first marriage took place on Wednesday. No other details were immediately available. (SS)

NEW BLOOD IN JUNIOR MONARCH – Eleven newcomers are included among the semi-finalists announced for this year’s Scotiabank Junior Calypso Monarch competition. And out of that number eight are in the younger category. The National Cultural Foundation said there was a genuine interest from juniors younger than the previous specified age group and this year a decision was taken to lower the entry age from eight to seven. You can look out for some healthy sibling rivalry in both categories with Emari Browne Star Browne and younger brother, newcomer Savir De Rock Browne in the 7-12 age group and between Asher Dynamo Murrell and his older sister Faith Miracle Murrell in the senior category. It is definitely a family affair for the Murrells’ with cousin Samara Sammy-Jo Murrell as a reserve also in the 13-18 age group. There are also two reserves in the senior category in Sammy-Jo and Trevon Callender (The Mighty King) based on scores. (SS)

NEW SOCA ENERGY FOR CROP OVER – Soka Kartel and Energy Band are no more. But welcome The Alliance. During the annual Crop Over in the City last evening, former Soka Kartel front line singers Anderson Blood Armstrong and Michael Mikey Mercer announced that band members had gone their separate ways and the two had formed an alliance with Energy Band, which had a lone lead singer, Kirk Brown. The three front line singers Blood, Mikey and Brown already have a song together – I Love That – which is getting airplay. And while they’re moving on, Mikey has not forgotten the support given to Soka Kartel which dominated the Party Monarch scene for four of the six years of the band’s existence. (BT)

That’s all for today folks. There are 215 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 4/4/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is your daily news cap for Tuesday April 4th 2017. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

NOT GOVERNMENT’S JOB – It should not be left to Government to raise Barbadian children, nor is it the responsibility of the church or the school, says Parliamentary Secretary in the Minister of Education Senator Harry Husbands. In an address last Saturday to the annual general meeting of the Barbados National Council of Parent-Teacher Associations (NCPTA), Husbands lashed out at parents who leave it to institutions and individuals to raise their children, while playing minimal role in the offspring’s upbringing. “Yes the school is important, yes the work that teachers do is important, yes there are delinquent teachers, but all of those things you can recover from. You cannot depend on your parliamentary representative, you cannot depend on the church, you cannot depend on the school. “There are these summer camps that Government sponsors, that should be the very last resort. There are parents in this country who wouldn’t take their vacation or part of their vacation during the summer time, they prefer to send the [children] to camps. Do we want our children to be raised by the Government? Whether it is mine or the other one, do we really want that for our children?” Husbands asked. “We as parents are called to perform these duties. Anything that Government does, your church does, anything that PAREDOS does, anything your parliamentary representative does, is extra. That’s the icing on the cake. But that can’t be the first point of reference in the rearing of your children . . . we have to stand up and take responsibility.” The Government spokesman on education linked deviance among students to the absence of proper parenting. He backed up this assertion by pointing to information gathered by the Students Services section of the Ministry of Education. Husbands told the NCPTA he had been “extremely disobedient” as a student, but with the intervention of his parents, he was able to make something of himself.  (BT)

FED UP TEACHERS MARCHING – Teachers are taking to the streets tomorrow, accusing the Ministry of Education of ignoring violence in schools and disrespecting teachers to the point of dismissing them without a hearing. In the latest clash with the ministry, the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) is encouraging other unions, including the Barbados Union of Teachers, National Union of Public Workers, Barbados Workers’ Union and the Coalition of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados, to join the action. The BSTU said that in a week-and-a-half the union had three complaints of student violence against teachers from one school. It was still waiting a year later for mandatory quarterly meetings and teachers had to put up with bashings from their own employer. (DN)

SBAS NOT SO HARD – Barbadian teachers are being offered advice on how to lighten the work involved in correcting school-based assessment (SBA) projects for the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC). Former CXC Head of Examinations Administration and Security Susan Giles said the secret lies in getting back to basics. The Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) has been engaged in a long running battle with the Ministry of Education over the SBAs, with the union insisting its members will not mark the projects unless they are paid for this service. The BSTU has maintained that SBA is a private examination that falls outside the curriculum, and it adds significantly to teachers’ workload. However, Giles said it would appear that in some schools teachers were waiting until the end of the second year to mark the projects, which could account for complaints “about how much work it is and how much marking it is”. Stressing that she was not prepared to enter the debate over whether or not teachers should be paid for the yearly evaluation exercise, the former CXC official told Barbados TODAY it was up to teachers to make the SBA a lot more “teacher friendly”, explaining that the process could be made a lot easier if teachers stuck to clear deadlines. Giles added that assignments that were not part of group projects should be given as homework or should be done in class. The former CXC administrator said the SBA was designed to help students who did not do well “in the examination environment”, adding that parents also had a critical role to play in ensuring their children meet the deadlines. (BT)

SLUGFEST – With just two days to go before members of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) choose their next president, the mudslinging has intensified between incumbent Akanni McDowall and his challenger, Deputy General-Treasurer Roy Greenidge. In a press conference this afternoon at the NUPW headquarters, Greenidge attacked McDowall’s legacy, claiming his opponent was attempting to take credit for issues that had been resolved before his presidency, or even those yet to be concluded. McDowall had come under fire last week from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), which dismissed the union president’s claim that, “it was only after intervention from the NUPW that orderlies were allowed to work as emergency medical technicians”. Today, Greenidge raised the issue, charging he was not surprised as McDowall had made a habit of misrepresenting the facts. However, in a swift response, McDowall accused Greenidge of being “grossly disingenuous” as he was on the NUPW council which unanimously approved the choice of attorney. He also revealed that other members were being represented in court by attorneys outside of the retained legal counsel. In addition, the NUPW president told Barbados TODAY that Greenidge’s smear campaign reeked of desperation, “as there was no claim that the BIDC workers were reinstated”. McDowall also provided Barbados TODAY with copies of letters dated May 26, 2015, addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of the QEH, in which the NUPW made representation on behalf of the orderlies. The union leader also repeated an accusation that the Freundel Stuart administration was trying to influence the internal election, claiming that the QEH action was were the latest example. “Again, I ask the question . . . why is it NUPW so important at this point that the Government regains control of the union? The NUPW executive demands that Government desist from attempting to influence the outcome of the election,” he stressed. (BT)

TEAM SOLIDARITY: WHAT WE WILL DO – Team Solidarity of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) wants to improve the tarnished reputation of the union, leader Roy Greenidge promised yesterday. They will also make appointments and the qualifications order a priority as well as address the union’s membership and the level of their participation. During a press briefing yesterday at the NUPW complex in Dalkeith, St Michael, Greenidge said that while wages and salaries were important, there were even more critical issues on which the union had to focus. He promised his team would put these issues on the front burner should they prove successful in tomorrow’s union elections. (DN)

UNIONS UNDER ATTACK - Social activist David Comissiong is accusing two of the three sectors of the Social Partnership – Government and the private sector – of engaging in “an open conspiracy” against the trade union movement. And, Comissiong charged, the plot also involved other “collaborators” who use coded language such as “privatization”, “down-sizing of the public sector”, “retrenchment of public workers” and “pain” in their attacks on the labour movement and workers. It was not immediately clear what prompted the attorney-at-law and political activist to issue the release. However, the island’s largest public sector union, the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) has come in recently for criticism by senior Government operatives for the “militancy” of its leaders. For example, it was on March 26 that Minister of Education Ronald Jones and Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport Irene Sandiford-Garner had gone on the offensive against the NUPW top officials, suggesting they were in bed with the Mia Mottley-led Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP). Without calling the NUPW by name, Jones told a branch meeting of the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) at the Alleyne School in Belleplaine, St Andrew that trade union leaders were “holding the hands of the political leader and marching up and down”, a clear reference to participation of members of the NUPW’s top brass in the recent Opposition-sponsored march against the Stuart administration’s handling of the economy. In reference to the upcoming NUPW election scheduled for Wednesday, in which President Akanni McDowall is being challenged by Deputy General-Treasurer Roy Greenidge, Jones said: “We know that they meet. Every one of those persons on a particular side is [a] member of the BLP — strong and diabolical supporters of the BLP. . . so they are running as a team. They could as well call themselves Team BLP.” His position was strongly supported by Sandiford-Garner, who called on the NUPW to “leave politics out of trade unionism. In addition, last Friday, former union president Walter Maloney, who has been linked in the past to the DLP, suggested the NUPW had lost its way under McDowall’s leadership, and had destroyed in one fell swoop the mutual respect between the trade union and Government. However, Comissiong believes the leaders of all the trade unions are under attack and in for a “monumental battle and will need all the support and solidarity they can get”. He acknowledged that the economy is in crisis, but felt Government should not treat the unions as enemies. The NUPW has demanded a 23 per cent pay rise of public workers – a figure which has been roundly criticized by many in the administration, while the Barbados Workers Union is demanding a 15 per cent increase. Also last week, the private sector warned it could no longer afford to maintain jobs out of sheer patriotism. Though not explicitly stating that layoffs were on the horizon, President of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Eddy Abed told a BCCI business luncheon at the Hilton Barbados Resort that as a result of the “restraint and maturity exhibited by the private sector” the country had been able to maintain employment at well over 100,000 people. He also said the sector had chosen to put social considerations above the bottom line for a protracted period, to its own detriment, but that it could not be business as usual. (BT)

$209m blow – The struggling Barbados economy is losing $145 million a year as the cost of treating non-communicable diseases (NCDs) continues to soar, according to Minister of Health John Boyce. Boyce Monday morning told a consultation on a National Strategic Plan for Health that the treatment of hypertension and diabetes alone accounted for 58 per cent of expenditure by the Barbados Drug Service last year. In addition, he said the losses due to lost productivity took the cost of fighting cardiovascular diseases and diabetes well above the $200 million mark. The minister quoted from a report on the Investment Case for NCD Prevention and Control in Barbados commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Health Organization in 2015, which estimated that “while BDS$64 million was spent on the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, it was indicated that our economy may be losing as much as BDS$145 million annually due to missed work days, low productivity and reduced workforce participation. (BT)

CONSUMERS CUTTING CORD - Consumers are “cutting the cord” but Cable & Wireless is determined not to let its fixed voice business die. C&W Caribbean president Garry Sinclair said the worldwide trend, where more consumers were ditching the traditional landline telephone for technological mobility, was a feature of the Barbadian market the company could not ignore. The Jamaican said “fixed voice [service] is in a structural decline, in other words, it’s a lifestyle issue”. Sinclair said the idea was not to let fixed voiced services “die”, but to “increasingly find ways of bundling and packaging it with the more popular tools in order to ensure that people get the utility out of it, because it is still the safest and most reliable means of communications through natural disasters even, and all kinds of disruptions. Meanwhile, Sinclair said economies in large Caribbean markets including Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica were “struggling” but said C&W intended to “commit to assisting in any way in helping these economies to improve”. (DN)

PILOTS: NO WAY - Count us out. That’s the unswerving and up-front position of pilots working with the regional airline LIAT in relation to any late payment plan. And when the Leeward Islands Airlines Pilots Association (LIALPA) meets today at an emergency meeting in Barbados with management of the cash-strapped airline, its shareholders and a delegation of unions representing LIAT’s staff, the agitated body will not be compromising its position. LIALPA president Captain Carl Burke told the DAILY NATION yesterday members would not be signing on to any move by LIAT to implement a late payment schedule to its employees. The proposed move is expected to run for five months. (DN)

SEX TALKS - The Ministry of Education is being asked to set clear guidelines for the teaching of sex education in the island’s schools. During a fiery hour-long television debate Sunday night on the contentious issue of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), Chairman of the children’s charity ProtEqt Children’s Foundation Dr Veronica Evelyn stopped just short of describing the teaching of the subject as a free-for-all. Evelyn, whose charity and advocacy group works in schools across the island, charged that there was no policy on what should be taught, or no consistent content, and the teachers lacked the proper training needed to deliver the health and family life education (HFLE) programme. CSE is one of the United Nations’ key strategies for combating the spread of HIV and AIDS among children and young people, and is described by the UN agency UNESCO as “an age-appropriate, culturally relevant approach to teaching about sex and relationships by providing scientifically accurate, realistic, non-judgemental information”. UNESCO says that by adopting a comprehensive strategy, CSE emphasizes “an approach to sexuality education that encompasses the full range of information, skills and values to enable young people to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights and to make decisions about their health and sexuality”. However, it has sparked controversy here, with Government legislator and church leader David Durant recently charging that CSE was “one of the greatest assaults on the health and innocence of children” and has an almost excessive focus on teaching children how to obtain sexual pleasure or gratification in various ways, including masturbation, anal and oral sex. This led to a stinging response from George Griffith, a social worker and former executive director of the Barbados Family Planning Association, who wrote in a column in Barbados TODAY that Durant’s opposition to the subject was “rooted in a set of deep-seated myths and downright misinformation based on denial and failure to accept that in this day and age, our children cannot be insulated from the realities of today’s 21st century world”. The former BFPA chief was among the five-member panel appearing on Sunday night’s television show. However, it was left to the association’s Youth Development Officer Keriann Hurley to repel many of the charges – both direct and inferred – including concerns by Ambrose Carter, the Pure Sex Centre founder, whose organization promotes abstinence before marriage. However, Hurley told the panel, which also included President of the Youth Advocacy and Outreach Movement of the BFPA Kamal Clarke, that the children got the full truth about sex. Despite the strong differences, all the panellists agreed there was need for sex education in schools, but it ought to be delivered in an age-appropriate manner. (BT)

EXCEPTIONAL UWI STUDENTS TO BE REWARDED – Scholarships, awards and prizes valued at nearly $700,000 will be presented to students at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill when the campus holds its annual Student Awards ceremony tomorrow. The event, themed Aligning Access with Excellence, will enable benefactors and donor representatives to meet and greet their protégés at the awards presentation, and later spend time getting to know each other at an informal reception. Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Eudine Barriteau noted the awardees were selected through a “highly competitive and rigorous process”. She added that the awards validate the recipients’ tenacity, and also “epitomize diligence and hard work, exemplified by (their) exceptional scholastic and sporting achievements”. While lauding the students for their high scholarly achievements, the principal also applauded those who have excelled in debating, mooting, cricket, football, netball, and track and field, and noted the outstanding achievements which have earned the Academy of Sport national acclaim in several sporting disciplines. The principal noted that UWI graduates continue to excel in their various spheres of endeavour across the region and internationally, and she thanked regional governments for their continued support in developing the region’s human capital. (BT)

AGROFEST GROWING ON  YOUTH – Several young agriculturists walked away with a number of prizes from this year’s Pinnacle Feeds AgroFest 2017 awards ceremony held last Saturday. Richina Gaskin-Evelyn, Blair Alleyne, Jelani Hunte, Rashid Parris, Anthony Turton, Ronaldo Fields and Dwayne Brown were some of the younger faces who impressed the judges at the agricultural exhibition in February with the quality of their animals. At the ceremony held at the Dining Club in Newton, Christ Church, the youngsters where cheered on and encouraged to keep up the good work by members of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS). Chief executive officer of the BAS, James Paul, said AgroFest 2017 was a success and thanked those involved in coordinating the show for their efforts and determination. He told the DAILY NATION that the number of young prize winners showed that one of the purposes of AgroFest – to attract younger generations – was paying off. He added that he would like to see more families involved in farming to further sustain the agricultural industry. Paul said that for the next year, he planned on making contact with more primary and secondary schools to improve the level of school participation in the agricultural exhibit. (BT)

BAJAN ESCAPED BEING DEPORTED - A Barbadian and a Vincentian are among 47 individuals who have escaped being deported to their homelands under United States President Donald Trump’s new strict immigration policy. The Barbadian, who was not named, was charged with sexual assault – carnal abuse – while the Vincentian was accused of assault. Both were indicted in New York City. They were among several individuals from Mexico, Nigeria, Colombia, Ecuador and some other Latin American countries who were released from detention locations throughout the US between February 5 and February 10, without being handed over to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for possible deportation. ICE yesterday began what is to be a weekly publication of naming jurisdictions that decline to detain immigrants who can be subject to deportation, on its website. (DN)

POLICE INVESTIGATE DEATH OF A BABY – Police are conducting investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death of a four-month-old baby boy, which occurred sometime between 7 a.m. and 5:40 p.m. today at the family’s home located at Back Ivy, St Michael. According to police, the baby was mistakenly left at home by the parents during the morning, and was later discovered unresponsive. (BT)

FIRE LEAVES FIVE HOMELESS - Five people were left homeless after fire swept through Windsor Road, Bank Hall, St Michael around 4 a.m. The blaze destroyed three wooden houses, and damaged two others. The four-bedroom, one-bathroom home of 76 –year-old Violene Griffith and her son 48-year-old Robert Griffith were destroyed whilst the home of 46-year-old Grace Price received structural damage. A five bedroom, two-bathroom wooden house owned by 56-year-old Gloria Greaves was also affected by the fire along with two other unoccupied houses on the property. According to police, Greaves and her family members were jolted from their sleep by an explosion. The family discovered the house was on fire and quickly made their escape. The blaze quickly spread to the nearby houses. Three fire tenders and fourteen fire officers under the command of Divisional Officer Errol Gaskin responded to the blaze. Police are continuing investigations. (BT)

$8 500 fine for dangerous driver – IN SENTENCING a bus driver for dangerous driving, a judge has pointed out that drivers of Transport Board buses and public service vehicles (PSVs) have significant duties of care, especially within terminals.  Justice Jacqueline Cornelius was speaking last Thursday as she fined suspended Transport Board driver Clare Ramon Nevero Hinds $8 500 for dangerous driving in an accident that claimed the life of an 89-year-old woman. On September 21, 2015, Hinds, 52, of Perfection Road, Bush Hall, St Michael, pleaded not guilty to causing Edna Sandiford’s death by dangerous driving on March 3, 2012, but admitted to dangerous driving on the same date.  Defence attorney Arthur Holder said his client, who suffered with diabetes and hypertension, was now doing taxi service, having been on suspension. (DN)

GUYANA: MAN ALLEGEDLY GARDENS AROUND WIFE’S MAKESHIFT GRAVE - It surely must have taken someone with a certain level of cold-bloodedness to daily tend to a garden that is just next to the spot where one’s murdered wife is buried. But that’s exactly what Mibicuri farmer, Sunildat Balack, apparently did for almost a year. When police went to the spot where 44-year-old Balack said he had buried Lilwantie Balack, it was observed that the alleged killer had planted a row of bora plants about a foot from the area. There is speculation that the farmer had cultivated other crops at the same spot during the months that Linwantie Balack lay buried there. On Friday, police unearthed a skull and a few bones from a six-foot-deep grave, which was located about 100 metres from the couple’s Lot 117 Mibicuri North, Black Bush Polder home. But they found no clothing with the remains. This indicated that the killer dumped his victim naked into the makeshift grave he had dug on his two-and-a-half-acre farm. Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said yesterday that police will be taking DNA samples from the slain woman’s relatives, and these samples, along with others from the remains, will be sent to a laboratory in Brazil. He indicated that the suspect is likely to appear in court tomorrow. The farmer’s 21-year-old lover has since been released. Police said that Sunildat Balack, also known as “Red Man”, had confessed on Thursday to strangling Linwantie Balack, called “Darling”, and burying her in the family’s backyard. He had reportedly committed the act on September 6, 2016, when the couple had argued about her wanting to go to the United States. To cover his tracks, the alleged killer reportedly told neighbours that Linwantie, was on holiday in the US. Just about three months ago, the suspect brought home “a girl”, and he told neighbours that “Darling nah come back, that she tek somebody over deh.” Lilwantie Balack’s horrible fate only came to light on Wednesday after her daughters, who had become increasingly suspicious about their father’s conflicting stories, contacted the police. (BT)

SUSPICIOUS SUICIDE - Questions are being raised and a call for an investigation has been made along with a threat of legal action, following the death of a Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) soldier. Warrant Officer Omar Samaroo, 47, was found slumped in a dormitory at Camp Cumuto, Wallerfield with a gunshot wound to the head last Tuesday, and died hours later at hospital. His death was ruled a suicide. But some people aren’t so sure that’s what it was, and Opposition Senator Wayne Sturge says he intends to take legal action if the TTDF does not investigate the circumstances surrounding Samaroo’s death. (BT)

TESTING GOOD FOR ATHLETES – LET THE drug-testing continue! That’s the unanimous cry of physical education teachers following the random testing of athletes at the Barbados Secondary Schools Athletics Championships (BSSAC) for the use of performance-enhancing drugs, last week. After a number of athletes from various schools were tested during the two-day finals at the National Stadium last week, at least four coaches, in separate interviews, told NATION SPORT they agreed with the decision to conduct such tests as the practice prepared them for what is to come. Athletes at the Under-17 and Under-20 levels are usually tested for use of banned performance-enhancing substances at the start of the athletics season each year. (DN)

BARACUS UPSETS HINDS - Darius “Baracus” Gaskin scored a remarkable come-from-behind upset over fourth-ranked Dario Hinds when the Massy United Insurance Clash Of The Titans road tennis quarter-finals were completed on Sunday night at the Dover courts.  Gaskin, who is ranked one spot lower than Hinds, seemed willing to maintain that position after he squandered a 7-3 lead to lose the opening game. However, he rebounded to take the match 16-21,21-19, 21-12. Hinds, who probably ranks only second in hiscolour coordinated tennis outfits, took charge of the first game with a number of dazzling smashes, complemented with Kodak poses, which thrilled the large crowd. (DN)

LAKERS IN TOP FORM AGAINST PINELANDS – Maybe the Husbands squad was the super team all along. Lumber Company Lakers sent a message to the Co-operators General Insurance Basketball Premier League, welcoming back national players Kregg Jones and Mark Bridgeman in Sunday’s 88-66 statement win over champs Orange 3 Pinelands at the Barbados Community College. The win may have shifted the conversation, and the balance of power in the league, after all eyes were on St John’s following their huge offseason haul. It also served to put Lakers back atop the standings, helping the league leaders bounce back from their only loss this season. (DN)

BAJAN DAVIS CUP TEAM CONFIDENT - The Barbados Davis Cup tennis team has never been more ready for an international assignment. This confidence was revealed by team captain Damien Applewhaite at a press conference at the Barbados Tennis Association yesterday, ahead of the tie against Guatemala starting Friday. “I think that this is the best preparation that we have had leading up to a tie ever. We are coming off a good win in Paraguay that was the first away win in Group 2 ever, so the team will use that going into this tie against a very competitive Guatemalan team,” Applewaite said. He said it will be a tough fight over the next weekend at the National Tennis Centre in Wildey, as Guatemala will alsobe buoyed by their victory over Mexico. (DN)

TRIDENTS FINISH EIGHTH IN TOURNEY – The Hockey Tridents took to the field Sunday for the last time in Tacarigua, Trinidad and Tobago with national pride to play for. In the 1:30 p.m. sun the Bajan boys put everything into avoiding the wooden spoon against Chile. For the first five minutes both teams seemed tentative probing each other sparingly. Chile would have the first clear chance releasing one of the forwards and causing custodian Keenan Knight to produce another top save for the tournament and the first of this game. With one minute left in the first period the Hockey Tridents would get the first penalty corner of the game but the insert proved to pacy for the stick stoppers, the resulting counter causing last second excitement. Chile, however, were not able to convert and they went into the break 0-0. Chile would go first and Vincente Martin beat Knight for pace, 1-0 to Chile. Akeem Rudder would be smothered by the Chilean custodian, keeping the Chilean lead. After the next pair of shootouts where both Barbados and Chile didn’t score with Knight coming up with a big save, Warner kept Barbados in it by skilfully placing the ball in the back of the net. Justin Catlin, needing to score, fumbled the ball and that would lead to an easy save. The Hockey Tridents would finish in eighth place at the Hockey World League Round Two. (BT)

MANY UNHAPPY WITH BATHSHEBA MURAL – “LIVE A LIFE worth dreaming of”. Though a positive message to some, it has proven to be a nightmare for others as a recently painted mural with this message in Bathsheba, St Joseph, has caused an uproar among residents. The structure at the centre of the row previously received worldwide recognition when it was featured in a 1996 episode of The Bold And The Beautiful with “Ridge Forrester”, played by Ronn Moss, and “Brooke Logan”, played by Katherine Kelly Lang, who were on the island for filming. The episode, which was shot on March 25 that year, also highlighted other areas of the island such as the Animal Flower Cave, Welchman Hall Gully and Sam Lord’s Castle. (DN)

That’s all for today folks. There are 271 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase