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stephaniefchase · 7 years ago

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Bajan Newscap 11/10/2017

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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stephaniefchase · 7 years ago

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Bajan Newscap 10/18/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Wednesday, 18th 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 MidWeek Nation Newspaper (MWN).

TAX SQUEEZE – Charging that some of the country’s most vulnerable citizens, pensioners, are now simply “existing” thanks to the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL), the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP) is pleading with Government to give its members an ease from the dreaded tax. BARP President Edward Bushell told Barbados TODAY that three-and-a-half months after its implementation, pensioners were finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with the rising cost of living forced upon them by the levy. Bushell said with prices already high even before the NSRL climbed from two per cent to ten per cent of the customs value of imported and locally produced goods, and with the economy “going downhill”, BARP had been doing all it could to help its 40,000 members cope. However, he said the levy, along with other tax measures announced in the Budget in May, made it “tougher and tougher” for pensioners to survive. (BT)

GOVERNMENT SEEKING TO RE-NEGOTIATE WORLD BANK MULTI-MILLION LOAN – The Antigua and Barbuda government says it wants to re-negotiate a US$40 million loan which the World Bank had approved for re-building Barbuda that was severely damaged by Hurricane Irma last month. Prime Minister Gaston Browne, speaking on Observer Radio here, said the terms and condition of the loan from the Washington-based financial institution are not in the best interest of the island. Browne, a former banker, said that his government is also seeking the World Bank to reduce the interest rate from the 3.5 to four per cent to one per cent. He said the funds would also be going into non-revenue earning projects. Browne had said soon after the passage of the hurricane that more than US$100 million dollars would be required to rebuild Barbuda, home to an estimated 1 600 people. (MWN)

BIBA SUPPORTS REVOCATION OF FOUR OFFSHORE LICENCES – Barbados’ decision to shut down four international business companies over allegations of money laundering and corruption is a credit to the island’s monitoring systems. This was the view of president of the Barbados International Business Association (BIBA) Marlon Waldron as the sector began another year of celebrating its contribution to the island. Waldron said the action by Government was a tangible indication the country operated a clean jurisdiction for international companies. He told Barbados TODAY that while he did not have details on the firms’ activities, he suspected that “some information came to the attention of some service providers” who were doing their own due diligence. The top BIBA official rejected any suggestion that the discovery would be a blot on the country’s image. Last Friday, Minister of International Business Donville Inniss revealed that the licences of four international business firms were revoked after their beneficial owners were found guilty of engaging in money laundering and corrupt practices in other jurisdictions. In this connection, Waldron was satisfied the announcement by Government was the right move and should not have come from an agency outside Barbados. (BT)

GOVT WANTS $1.8M MORE – Government has sought a further $1.881 million for the David Thompson Health and Social Services Complex, which was opened two years ago. Leader of Government Business John Boyce told the House of Assembly yesterday the money was needed to pay off suppliers and represented the remainder of a sum that was previously sought but was reduced due to Ministry of Finance constraints. “The last time we came here it was clearly pointed out when I spoke that the submission to the Ministry of Finance was in the order of $4.4 million, but that the Ministry of Finance could then only guarantee $2.5 million for payment of the project. So obviously we would have had to come back to the chamber for the remainder and that is exactly what we are doing today,” he said. In his report on the operation of the polyclinic at Glebe Land, St John, Boyce, the Minister of Health, said it had been fully integrated into the health care delivery system and saw about 1 100 patients in September. (MWN)

THROW THEM OUT! – An old boys’ club of consultants is controlling things at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), contends a Government minister. Member of Parliament for St James South Donville Inniss made the charge today in the House of Assembly, as he criticized the island’s doctors, calling for their contracts to be ripped up. Inniss, a former Minister of Health, was speaking during debate on a resolution for an additional $1.8 million to pay contractors for the David Thompson Health and Social Services Complex in St John. The Minister of Commerce called for an overhaul of the way some consultants operated at the island’s main health care facility. However, Inniss said what concerned him was the failure to examine the current arrangement with some senior physicians at the hospital. “My view . . . is that the contracts between the consultants and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital need to be thrown through the window. [They are] not relevant to 2017. The contracts that exist today may have been fine when you had a few with the skills available as they did 30 years ago. “But today, you have an old boys’ network that is continuing to run things in that institution and denying opportunities to others and some of them are running a thriving private practice out there that is creating a lot of pressure on . . . the QEH,” Inniss told the House. The St James South representative called for a serious examination of health care financing in Barbados, revealing that it costs the state $4, 000 each month to treat a single dialysis patient. (BT)

FIX IT MR MINISTER MAP – Minister of Transport and Works Michael Lashley recently announced that Government will be conducting a road improvement exercise expected to cost around $30 million. To that end, the NATION has started our new series 'Fix It Mr Minister' which gives readers the opportunity to highlight roads which they know of and travel each day which may be in need of repair. The reaction has been overwhelming and we are still sorting through the responses and visiting many of the problem areas. To aid in the process, we have created a Fix It Mr Minister map (below), which shows the areas that have been brought to our attention. Areas with blue icons indicate those which our news teams have visited while those with yellow icons are reader submitted which we have not been able to independently verify as yet. This map is a work in progress and is still being updated as information comes in. Please continue to email us at [email protected] to tell us which roads need fixing urgently. We thank those who have already sent in their responses, and we will act on them accordingly. (MWN)

‘AVI STAYS’ – He has been warned by former prime minister Owen Arthur not to do so, but Dominica’s prime minister Roosevelt Skerrit has rejected the former leader’s advice on the appointment of Barbadian economist Avinash Persaud as his special economic advisor on economic recovery post-Hurricane Maria. In an interview with Barbados TODAY last month, Arthur had cautioned Skerrit to think twice about putting his country’s future in the hands of the ex-Paradise executive chairman, given his role in the “mangled” Four Seasons project (otherwise referred to as the Paradise development) in Barbados between 2010 and 2012, while Arthur was at the helm of Government. Arthur had not minced his words, stating that while the wreckage caused to Dominica so far could largely be blamed on category five hurricane winds and rains, “you cannot explain it [wreckage] in the case of Paradise” where Persaud was part of a team trying, but failing, to raise money to pay creditors. However, in a national address last night, Skerrit was full of praise for Persaud, listing the economist’s many accomplishments and the many positions he has held internationally. At the same time, while not mentioning Arthur by name, the Dominican leader took a dig at those who he said “would rather pontificate from a safe distance”. He hailed Persaud as “the principal architect of our external funding and economic strategy” and as the ideal man for the new economic advisory post. During last night’s address, Skerrit also acknowledged “the ongoing and invaluable support” of Irish businessman and Digicel founder Denis O’Brien to Dominica in its “denuded” state. He explained that “after rushing to check on us soon after Maria struck, he [O’Brien] has assisted us greatly by asking his network of influential connections to identify experts who could help us; also, he got them to us or us to them. O’Brien was listed among the world’s top 200 billionaires in 2015, three years after then Haitian president Michel Martelly awarded him with the National Order of Honour and Merit for his investments, contributions and promotion of Haiti. (BT)

LASHLEY: REGION MUST UNITE TO DO MORE – When Caribbean governments and entrepreneurs work together, their collective efforts will make a significant contribution to the region’s development. Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Stephen Lashley, made this suggestion last evening as he addressed the launch of the Annual General and Strategic Planning Meeting of the Caribbean Alliance of Youth Entrepreneurs, Caribbean and Canada (CAYE-C&C), at The Hospitality Institute, under the theme: Fostering a Sustainable Future for our Young Entrepreneurs. Explaining that entrepreneurship was an effective developmental tool, Lashley noted that for it to be most impactful and sustainable, a regional approach to “advancing and showcasing its legitimacy” must be taken. To that end, he assured the CAYE – C&C of Government’s support of that organisation’s development and sustainability. The Minister referenced Goal 8 of the Sustainable Development Goals, which speaks to promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. Lashley further stated that it was important for young Caribbean entrepreneurs to create both a strategic and an action plan, so as to collectively utilise their skills and resources to build businesses that were globally competitive and which contributed to regional development in meaningful ways. Speaking on the importance of closing the gaps in insular thinking, the Youth Minister was of the view that for the region’s future to be sustainable, persons must be willing “to set aside borders and forge regional partnerships”. He noted that with great diversity present throughout the region, such differences could be used to the advantage of Caribbean nationals. The CAYE-C&C is a coalition of 13 organisations from nine Commonwealth countries, including Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and St Lucia. (MWN)

MY DAD RAPED ME! – It was as chilling a story as anyone could ever tell. It was the harrowing story of a 34-year-old woman describing in disturbing detail to a hushed audience of leading jurists, including the country’s chief judge and a member of the region’s appellate court, the nightmare she endured over virtually her entire lifetime as she was raped over and over, and the flippant reaction of law enforcers towards her. Alicia Bailey sent chills down the spines of some and brought tears to the eyes of others as she told this morning’s launch of the Model Guidelines for Sexual Offence Cases in the Caribbean how those close to her, including her own father, had raped her by the time she was four years old. “At the age of four to six years old I was sexually abused by persons who were known as friends of the family. Onwards from that age, I was sexually assaulted into my adult years by my father, family members . . . I was raped on more than one occasion. Those experiences have left a stain on my life,” Bailey said somberly, causing some audience members to bite their lips. Among those who heard her story were Chief Justice Sir Marston Gibson and other High Court judges, Madame Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee of the Trinidad and Tobago-based Caribbean Court of Justice and Canadian High Commissioner to Barbados Marie Legault. They listened intently as Bailey, in control of her emotions, lamented that to this day none of her attackers had been made to pay for their crimes. She explained that this was because she was forced to drop the cases against her family members and refused to report a rape by a man years later after being told by a law enforcement officer it would not succeed because of her history of withdrawing charges. What made her story even more unnerving is the fact that Bailey is the child of a rape victim, her mother also having been sexually assaulted by Bailey’s dad, with whom the mother never had a relationship. And despite having to recall the horror, the mother-of-three tried to force a smile as she shared her experience with the justice system. (BT)

‘RAPE VICTIMS WILL NOT BE RELEGATED TO THE BACKDROP’ – Barbados has become the first Caribbean Community country to be presented with new international guidelines for sexual offence cases. The Model Guidelines for Sexual Offence Cases in the Caribbean, launched today at the Courtyard by Marriott in Hastings, Christ Church, form part of the multi-million-dollar Judicial Reform and Institutional Strengthening (JURIST) project, a five year regional Caribbean judicial reform initiative funded by the Canadian Government. They are intended to provide internationally-accepted best practices for the management of sexual offence cases in the region and offer a rights-based approach to the treatment of complaints and vulnerable witnesses, including children involved in sexual assault cases. Director of the JURIST project Dr Penny Reedie told the launch these guidelines would first be implemented and tested here before being shared with the rest of the Caribbean. She added that several other initiatives were in the pipeline, including a special court for sexual offences. (BT)

TWO-CAR CRASH AT PORTERS – Reports reaching Nation News indicate that there was a two-vehicle accident along Porters, St James. The lone male occupant of one of the cars complained of pains to his chest. The other vehicle, driven by a male, contained passengers that were all children. Three of the four children received minor cuts to their hands and legs, while one of them complained of pains to the neck. (MWN)

BUGGERY-ACCUSED MAINTAINS HE’S IN HIS RIGHT MIND – A 37-year-old man, accused of committing buggery against another, was granted $3,000 bail when he appeared in court today. It is alleged that Orville O’Neil Rawlins of Inch Marlow, Christ Church committed the act on October 16. He was not required to plead to the indictable offence when he went before Magistrate Douglas Frederick. And while there was no objection to his bail, Station Sergeant Neville Reid requested that the accused be made to report to a police station twice a week and stay away from his alleged victim. However, Rawlins objected to the prosecutor’s application, claiming that the allegations against him were “completely erroneous and false”. His objection was denied and he was ordered to report to Central Police Station every Wednesday with valid identification. It was then that Rawlins made another application; this time for the reporting time to be changed to Friday “because that is when I come to town . . . . That’s when the weekend starts [and] I usually party on Fridays”. The magistrate responded saying, “that’s ignorance!” However, Rawlins did not stop there. He went on to ask the magistrate whether the “accuser” and someone else could be tested for drugs because “both of them are literally paros”. It was at that point that Frederick questioned Rawlins’ state of mind. “I don’t have a mental condition . . . . I have multiple degrees,” Rawlins said in response. His case continues on February 26 next year. (BT)

BAIL APPROVED BUT GEORGE STAYS ON REMAND – A “potentially fatal” medical condition suffered by Marlon Omar George today persuaded a magistrate to grant bail to the accused, who had been on remand for multiple burglaries. However, George, of no known address, was forced to return to prison because his surety was deemed unsuitable. The 31-year-old, who is accused of committing three “serious” burglaries – one in December 2016 and two in January this year – will get another opportunity on Friday when he is scheduled to return before Magistrate Douglas Frederick in the No.1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court. He was advised to present a proper surety as his bail will be “hefty”. George’s attorney Angella Mitchell-Gittens today told the magistrate her client would be better served at home due to his medical condition, a point she sought to prove by questioning registered nurse Selwyn Alleyne, who is currently in charge of the medical unit at HMP Dodds. Alleyne revealed that George suffers from myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune illness which affects the immune system’s normal functions such as swallowing and the lifting of limbs. He explained that George can experience “a crisis” without warning, and if left untreated the condition could be fatal, as there is no known cure, although it can be treated via injection. Alleyne also explained that George had been to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital several times for the condition, and while the personnel at Dodds medical unit could treat the accused man, they did not function on a 24-hour basis. Mitchell-Gittens then submitted that being at home under the circumstances was in her client’s best interest. However, the magistrate said while he was not convinced that George could not get the necessary treatment at Dodds he would err on the side of caution. (BT)

THIEF GETS 18 MONTHS – A well-known thief, of no fixed place of abode, will have somewhere to call home for the next 18 months. Magistrate Douglas Frederick today sentenced 52-year-old Andrew DeLisle Carmichael to a year and a half in Dodds prison after he pleaded guilty to stealing a bag and a screwdriver belonging to Rodney Lynch, as well as a stack of bus tickets, two badges and a ticket punch totalling $1,588.49 Carmichael also confessed to stealing a purse, a bottle of cream, a bracelet, a cellular phone, a pair of headphones and a phone case totalling $520 from Keishanna Phillips. Lynch, a bus driver, ventured into the Pine, St Michael area in his private vehicle last Sunday and left the items unattended for about 15 minutes. On reaching home sometime later, he realized the items were missing. That same day, Carmichael grabbed Phillips’ handbag from the front seat of a vehicle, while she was at the rear end plying her trade. Carmichael, who was subsequently arrested for both crimes, was today sentenced to two consecutive nine-month terms in prison. (BT)

THIEFING SPREE – A 49-year-old man, who admitted to robbing four people, will spend the next 36 months at HMP Dodds. Dennis Anderson Holder, of no fixed place of abode, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Douglas Frederick to entering the home of Karen Arthur as a trespasser on May 30 and stealing $1,500 cash, an $800 bracelet, a $5 pair of earrings, a $1,000 chain and pendant and a $1,000 watch. On June 4, he burglarized Natasha Maylan’s home and stole US$550 and £140. He then took a break from his criminal enterprise for almost two months before allegedly robbing Gina Chieffo-Mazzarelli at knife-point on August 18 of a $500 wristlet, a $400 pair of sunglasses, a $20 key card, US $43 and BDS $1,005.14. A day later he robbed Kerry Thorne of a $135 cellular phone, an $810 digital camera and $20 in cash. The visitor, who is in the country on a student visa, was walking near the junction of Rendezvous with Amity Lodge with another foreign student on August 19 when Holder suddenly grabbed her handbag and escaped with her belongings. Today, Holder apologized for his actions after Station Sergeant Neville Reid outlined the offences. “I apologize for what I did. I am sorry for what happened as a result of using drugs I have no control,” he said. In response, Frederick told Holder: “I have to put you out of commission . . . because you are becoming violent.” However, Holder denied that was the case. “I admit that I snatched the woman’s [Gina Chieffo-Mazzarelli] bag but I did not have no knife,” he maintained. (BT)

BFA GOAL – The Barbados Football Association’s (BFA) Wildey AstroTurf will have a new look come next year. With work set to begin on the facility this week, footballers will be in new conditions, with their own lights and brand-new bleachers at the opening of the 2018 season, scheduled to kick off on January 7. BFA’s general secretary Edwyn Wood made the confirmation in an interview with MIDWEEK NATION yesterday. “We received the necessary funding from FIFA [world governing body], and payment has been made to the contractor for the start of the project,” he explained. (MWN)

HOCKEY HAMMER – Barbados faced the might of Canada and were hammered 6-1 on day two of the 2017 Indoor Hockey Pan Am Cup in Georgetown, Guyana yesterday. The Canadians dominated the match and scored six goals in the first half hour before the Hockey Tridents got a consolation goal from the stick of Akeem Rudder in the last minute. Canada, the highest ranked men’s team in the tournament, started the match with a very high tempo and pressed Barbados early, forcing quick unscripted decisions from the Barbados defence and centre players. The quick start and experienced pressing yielded early results for Canada, as Canadian captain and indoor veteran Ken Pereira converted an early chance against fresh Barbados custodian Keenan Knight in the seventh minute. It was a somewhat uneven match in terms of experience, as Pereira celebrated his 400th indoor cap for Canada while Knight was on debut. (MWN)

‘BESSY’ DIES AT AGE 83 – Journalism in Barbados has lost a stalwart of the profession. It was around 6:45 a.m. today that respected journalist Robert Bessy Best passed away at his Derriston Road, Spooner’s Hill, St Michael home at the age of 83. His wife Margaret told Barbados TODAY that for the past three years he had been battling with diabetes. During his illustrious career, he was managing editor of the Barbados Advocate newspaper and lectured in mass communications at the Barbados Community College. For a brief period, he served as editorial consultant and proofreader at the Nation newspaper. Best was also president of the Men’s Fellowship of the St Leonard’s Anglican Church on Westbury Road, St Michael. In immediate reaction to his death, the Nation’s first editor Carl Moore said Best’s passing signalled the end of an era. He pointed out that although he held a law degree, Best’s language was never pedantic or pretentious. According to Moore, Best supported the American professor of English William Strunk’s edict that “a sentence should contain no unnecessary words for the same reason that a machine should have no unnecessary parts”. Moore pointed out that in his time as editor, readers were seldom sent scurrying for a dictionary or thesaurus in search of meanings of rear and unusual words. He said Best was the master of irony and could find it in almost any situation. In his tribute Editor Emeritus of the Nation Harold Hoyte said: “All of us who became immersed in journalism in the late 50s and early 60s looked up to Robert for training and guidance. (BT)

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Bajan Newscap 8/17/2017

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Bajan Newscap 8/9/2017

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

HEAD-ON APPROACH - The cabinet of Barbados and the tourism and national security ministries will be working feverishly in the coming days to negate the bad image created by Monday’s shooting during the climax of Grand Kadooment, the final event of Crop Over 2017. That assurance has come from Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler after Chapman Lane resident Tareid Rock was shot dead in front of shocked revellers, and another 20 people treated for gunshot-related injuries, all part of a bloody end to Grand Kadooment along the Spring Garden Highway. Sinckler said the violent acts on Monday represented a “clear and present danger” to all Barbadians, who should always feel safe, especially on a day like Grand Kadooment, when the country was on show to the rest of the world. “I think what happened yesterday [Monday] raises this issue [of gun violence] to an entirely different level,” Sinckler said to the MIDWEEK NATION yesterday. (MWN)

LASHLEY: THROW BOOK AT CULPRITS - Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley believes that the culprits who spoilt the vibrant festivities on Grand Kadooment Day should be punished to the full extent of the law. Monday’s climax of the Crop Over Festival was marred by several incidents of violence, including the late evening death of a 20-year-old. In the day’s gunplay Tareid Junior Rock of 3rd Avenue Chapman Lane, St Michael was killed in the vicinity of the final stop of the parade along the Spring Garden Highway. In addition, 22 people, including 20 with gunshot wounds, had to be rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. (MWN)

QEH DISPELS RUMOURS OF LOCK DOWN - The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) has responded to rumours circulating on social media that it is on ‘lock down’ and that shooting incidents have occurred on the wards and in and around the immediate vicinity of the hospital. Communications Specialist Lyn-Marie Deane has refuted the rumours, saying such statements are all false and unfounded. She said that following yesterday’s Grand Kadooment celebrations, the QEH responded to a mass casualty incident in which a number of patients presented to the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department (A&ED) with soft tissue and orthopaedic injuries resulting from gunshot wounds. Deane said a few patients had been admitted while the majority were seen and discharged. Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the QEH, Dr Dexter James said there were no reported incidents of violence within the hospital compound or within close proximity to the hospital’s premises. He also said that during his walk around today, patients presenting to the A&ED were seen without any difficulty, and in-patient admissions and out-patient clinics operated as scheduled. “The Board of Management and staff of the QEH will continue to provide a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff and will respond to any imminent threats as the need arises,” James said. He further stated that the Board would continue to work with the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) to strengthen the hospital’s security and in the event that the need arose, the QEH would draw on the RBPF to complement and supplement the hospital’s existing security arrangements. (BT)

MUM: TELL ME WHY - Why did her son have to die? Sandra Rock asked this heart-rending question yesterday as she told the MIDWEEK NATION about the loss of her youngest son Tareid Junior Rock, who was shot and killed on Monday along Spring Garden, as Grand Kadooment was winding down. Rock, of 3rd Avenue Chapman Lane, St Michael, said while there were many violence-related injuries that day, it was only her son who lost his life and she had no idea why. A number of people received non-fatal injuries when the shooting occurred. “I just want to ask the person who kill my son why. Why is my son the only one who died? He was asthmatic and he had a hole in his heart I would understand if those had killed him, but not like this,” she said. (MWN)

COPS LINK SHOOTING TO GANG RIVALRY - The Kadooment day fatal shooting has been linked by police to gang conflict, despite the victim’s mother saying her son was not a gang member. Acting Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith said Tareid Rock, who was 20, was hanging out with friends near Spring Garden when he became embroiled in an altercation with gunmen. “They fired upon him, and he ran in the direction of Spring Garden,” Griffith told CBC-TV. “Consequently he was shot and he fell by the wayside next to Stansfeld Scott.” The police chief said officers had enough evidence to determine the shooting was related to gang rivalry. (MWN)

POLICE SEEKING FOOTAGE OF KADOOMENT SHOOTING - Police want the assistance of anyone who may have captured cell phone recordings or other video footage of the Kadooment Day shooting incident on the Spring Garden Highway. Twenty-year-old Tareid Junior Rock was shot dead during the incident while 18 other people were injured. People with recordings or information are asked to contact CID Central at 430-7189 or 430-7190, police emergency 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800 –TIPS (8477) or the nearest police station. All information received will be strictly confidential. (MWN)

TYRE STOLEN IN BROAD DAYLIGHT - The victim of thieves is asking Barbadians to be vigilant when they see people apparently changing car tyres because they could actually be stealing them. Hilary Moore and her sister fell victim to crooks after they parked the latter’s white Suzuki Swift on Green Hill, St Michael, close to the traffic lights on Kadooment Dayand made their way to the nearby National Stadium to participate in Grand Kadooment. Moore said they parked at about 8:30 a.m. and when they returned at 3:30 p.m. the back left tyre was gone. “Thing is, it was the tyre that was on the road side. They took the tyre, the nuts and the bolts,” Moore said. (MWN)

CANADIAN SISTERS HELD WITH DRUGS AT GAIA - Two Canadian sisters were held at the Grantley Adams International Airport on Saturday, August 5 and slapped with several drug-related charges. They are 31-year-old Caleece Whitney Schrouder and 38-year-old Kiyha Calissa Schrouder. Caleece Schrouder was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis, unlawful possession with intent to supply cannabis, trafficking cannabis, importation of cannabis, unlawful possession of methamphetamine and importation of methamphetamine. She was held with 8.7 kg of cannabis with a street value of $69,600. The estimated street value of the methamphetamine was $420. Kiyha Schrouder had 18 kilogrammes of cannabis with an estimated street value of $144,000. She was charged with unlawful possession of cannabis, unlawful possession with intent to supply cannabis, trafficking cannabis and importation of cannabis. The sisters arrived on the island by air from Canada. Having cleared immigration, they were stopped and interviewed by members of the Drug Squad. A subsequent search revealed 55 transparent packages each containing cannabis concealed in the suitcase of Caleece Schrouder. A further search revealed 12 methamphetamine tablets concealed in the sealed packages containing the cannabis. A search of the luggage being carried by Kiyha Schrouder revealed a total of 102 packages each containing cannabis. The sisters appeared before Magistrate Cuffy-Sargeant in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ today and were both remanded to prison to reappear in the District ‘B’ Court on August 17. (BT)

AUSTIN OWNS UP TO HAVING $51 WORTH IN CANNABIS - A St George man, who is accused of violating the Firearms Act, received an automatic 28-day stay at HMP Dodds when he made his first appearance in court today. It is alleged that Darron Denico Austin of Glebe Land had a firearm in his possession on August 5 as well as two rounds of ammunition without a lawful licence. The 23-year-old was not required to plead to the indictable charges but admitted to Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sergeant that he had 10.3 grammes of cannabis worth $51.53 in his pocket at the time. Austin reappears in court on September 5. (BT)

LANDSCAPER TO ANSWER FOR AMMO AND DRUGS - A landscaper who allegedly had four rounds of ammunition and cannabis in his possession last Saturday, has been remanded to prison until next week. When Zico Anderson Blackman of Fair View Tenantry, Christ Church appeared before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sergeant today in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court he was not required to plea to the charges. The 21-year-old is accused of possession, possession with intent to supply and having a trafficable quantity of the drug on August 5. He is also accused of having the ammunition in his possession on the same date. Blackman, who was not represented by an attorney, will make his second appearance before the magistrate at District ‘B’ Boarded Hall on August 17. (BT)

CRAWFORD ORDERED TO STAY AWAY FROM ALLEGED VICTIM - A 35-year-old man, who allegedly robbed and wounded another man nine months ago, has been warned to stay away from his alleged victim until the case has been settled. There was no objection to bail for Dwayne Andre Crawford of Charnocks, Christ Church when he went before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court this afternoon. Therefore, Crawford who is accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Lance Nurse on November 20, 2016, as well as stealing a $30 wallet and $450 in cash from him, was released on $7,000 bail. His next court hearing will be held at the Boarded Hall Magistrates’ Court on October 6. In the meantime, Crawford must report to the Boarded Hall Police Station every Wednesday before noon with valid identification. (BT)

DRIVER AND CONDUCTOR JOINTLY ACCUSED OF RAPE - Despite strong objections from the prosecutor, two private public service vehicle (PSV) workers – a driver and a conductor – were today granted $8,000 bail each after appearing before a Bridgetown Magistrate on a charge of rape. The offence was allegedly committed on July 22 by 35-year-old Fabian Rohan Springer of 1st Avenue Accommodation Road, St Michael and his conductor 38-year-old Kert Earon Thompson of 1st Avenue, Skeetes Road, St Michael. In objecting to their bail, Station Sergeant Glenda Carter-Nicholls urged Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant to take into account the nature and seriousness of the offence and the fact that the alleged victim was the lone passenger on the vehicle at the time the offence reportedly occurred. The prosecutor also argued that society must be protected from persons who commit such offences while expressing fear that the accused men, who are being represented by criminal lawyer Angella Mitchell-Gittens, could re-offend if granted bail. “This is a public breach of trust,” she added. However, Mitchell-Gittens strongly refuted the prosecutor’s grounds for denying her clients’ bail, saying their occupation “cannot operate to their detriment”. She argued that while the offence before the court was a serious one, it was bailable. The attorney also strongly objected to the prosecutor’s suggestion that her clients would commit “a spate of crimes” if they were granted bail. Following the bail applications, the magistrate ruled in favour of the defence and granted the men bail which they posted with their respective sureties. Their next court date is October 18. In the meantime, Springer must report to the District ‘A’ Police Station every Monday and Thursday before noon with valid identification, while his co-accused Thompson reports to the same station on Tuesdays and Fridays. (BT)

POLICE PROBING SEX VIDEO INVOLVING MINOR - An official investigation has now been launched into a disturbing sex video circulating on social media, in which a 14-year-old boy is seen performing oral sex on an older man. The Child Care Board (CCB) has released a terse statement confirming that it had become aware of the video and police were now probing the matter. “The matter was brought to the attention of the Child Care Board on Friday and all information has been turned over to the police for further investigation and action,” CCB Chairman Kenneth Knight said in the brief statement. Public Relations Officer of the Royal Barbados Police Force Acting Inspector Roland Cobbler had told Barbados TODAY last Friday the Force had not seen the 29-second video, but warned at the time that any social media situations that “involved some level of criminal connotations” would be investigated. “We’ve said over and over again that things like this should not be circulated and, we have also explained that under the Computer Misuse Act there are certain materials that once you send over any form of social media, and you go and you engage and forward it, you are committing an offence and we have asked persons to desist from that sort of activity,” Cobbler had said. (BT)

BAM WANTS KADOOMENT TO GO DOWN ANOTHER ROAD - In the wake of Monday’s shooting incident which left one man dead and marred the climax of the annual Crop Over festival, a spokesman for masqueraders is calling on the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) to change the current Kadooment route. President of the Barbados Association of Masqueraders (BAM) Chetwyn Stewart today suggested that this was necessary in the interest of public safety. “I will say this and I don’t care who get vex with me. It has come to a point where the route has to change. I personally don’t want it cause I grew up with that route. I understand the route. I understand the importance of the route and the people . . . [but] you cannot control the area that it is in now and the number of young people having guns and stuff you cannot control that route any more,” said Stewart, while insisting that change was now necessary. “Safety must be first,” he added. His comments come immediately on the heels of the shooting death of 20-year-old Taried Junior Rock of 3rd Avenue, Chapman Lane, St Michael who allegedly fell victim to gang violence while on the Spring Garden Highway for Monday’s Crop Over last lap celebrations. At least 18 other people – including a six-year-old child, who was grazed by a bullet – are also nursing gunshot wounds as a result of the incident, which occurred after 6 p.m. on the Spring Garden Highway. With police yet to apprehend the perpetrators, Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley today said they should be made to feel the full weight of the law. During a news conference at his Haggatt Hall, St Michael office, Lashley also acknowledged BAM’s concerns, saying all suggestions regarding the governance and execution of the festival would be seriously considered. (BT)

GRIPPED BY KADOOMENT FEVER - After seeing a friend’s pictures of last year’s Grand Kadooment on social media, Sandra Moreno wanted to experience jumping in a mas band. And this year the United States visitor did just that. The Florida resident, who met Maryam Patel at a state university there, told the MIDWEEK NATIONthat she enjoyed the climax of the Crop Over season so much that she will definitely be coming back next year. (MWN)

MARVAY FOR CARIBBEAN FESTIVAL IN BELGIUM - Former People’s Monarch Damian Marvay will fly the Barbadian flag at the 35th Antilliaanse Feestenin in Hoogstraten, Belgium. Marvay is the only Barbadian on the slate for the August 11 to 12 festival dubbed the “biggest, bravest & boldest Caribbean festival in the world”, held in an open-air campsite setting. He will perform on the first day along with Jamaican Shaggy. Trinidadian Farmer Nappy and Kassav from Guadeloupe are on the second night. (MWN)

UNDER-15S ON TOUR OF ENGLAND - Four Barbadians are in a 14-member Windies Under-15 cricket squad that left here yesterday for a two-week tour of England. Seth Agard, Matthew Forde, Antonio Morris and Demetrius Richards are the Barbadians in the squad. Speaking at Grantley Adams International Airport yesterday, minutes before the boys departed, head coach Robert Samuels said the trip was an important learning experience for the teenagers. “This is more like a training session than an actual competition,” he said. “This is about their personal and skill development. It is a good way for the boys to get experience playing in England and understanding the conditions there,” said Samuels, a former Jamaica and West Indies opening batsman. (MWN)

SADA BOWS OUT - This country’s abysmal run at the IAAF World Championships in London continued as yet another Barbadian athlete made a hasty first round exit. This time, it was teenage sprinter Sada Williams, who could do no better than fifth in heat four of the women’s 200 metres yesterday. Running in lane four, next to Bahamian favourite Shaunae Miller-Uibo, Williams, the baby of the Barbados contingent at 19, crossed the line in 23.55 secs, nowhere near her season’s best of 22.80 secs. The top three in each heat were automatic qualifiers along with the two fastest losers. That meant that though Estelle Raffai was much slower than Williams, clocking 23.72 secs, the Frenchwoman was able to advance as she was third in heat five. Miller-Uibo, who is chasing the 200-400 double, was the class of the field, racing home unchallenged in 22.69 seconds. She was off the curve smoothly and executed down the homestretch to finish ahead of Jamaica’s Simone Facey in 22.98 in heat four. (MWN)

That’s all for today folks there are 151 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

#the chase files #nation news #spring garden #gang violence #barbados today #crime #Blogs by Stephanie F. Chase #News Blogs By Stephanie F. Chase

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Bajan Newscap 8/3/2017

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#Crime in Barbados #The Chase Files #Nation News #Barbados Today #Shanley Stoute #Wanted by Police #Come Clean #Import Bill #Freundel Stuart #House #News Blogs By Stephanie F. Chase #Bajan Newscaps #Barbados News Update

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Bajan Newscap 7/30/2017

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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stephaniefchase · 7 years ago

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Bajan Newscap 7/28/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Friday 28th July 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today ((BT), or by purchasing a Weekend Nation Newspaper (WN).

MEETING MOVED UP, BUT UNIONS STILL NOT HAPPY – Not enough! That is the stance of the island’s four major trade unions to the news that Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has set a new date for the meeting of the Social Partnership. Yesterday, through written correspondence from the Prime Minister’s office, the trade unions and the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA) were notified that the planned meeting of August 18 had been moved up one week to August 11. The news comes three days after Stuart had promised while speaking in Parliament that a meeting would be forthcoming. (WN)

AUGUST GATHERING: PM TO HOLD IN CAMERA MEETING WITH SOCIAL PARTNERS NEXT MONTH – Barbadian workers will have to wait until August 11 to hear whether they will be granted any relief from the controversial National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL). Thursday, Chairman of the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA) Charles Herbert confirmed that he had received written confirmation from the Office of the Prime Minister of the date for the tripartite meeting, which was previously set for August 18. However, following this week’s massive protest led by the BPSA and the country’s four major trade unions in a bid to get the Government to hold immediate dialogue with them on the vexed issue of the NSRL, Herbert said the Prime Minister had now agreed to move up the planned meeting of the Social Partnership by one week. “I am assuming that [this] is the Prime Minister’s concession for dialogue,” said Herbert, whose relationship with Prime Minister Freundel Stuart has been noticeably strained over this week’s demonstration, which attracted over 20,000 people. In fact, the Prime Minister has gone as far as to indicate in Parliament this week that the upcoming talks would be nationally televised so that “Barbadians can hear what the Government is about, what the Social Partners are about, both the labour movement and the private sector”. However, Herbert told Barbados TODAY that he had not been officially informed that this particular event would be nationally televised. In any case, he said he only had one objection to having such a meeting take place in the full public glare. “I believe that if the right discussion happens in that meeting, it would be good for it to be televised. [However], I think if televising it makes it an opportunity for political grandstanding, then that would be a shame it is televised,” he told Barbados TODAY Thursday afternoon. “I don’t expect that we are coming to a meeting to be attacked for having a march or to defend why we had a march. Our intention is to come to a meeting to talk about the country’s fiscal strategy,” he said. However, the two sides remain at odds over their accounts of the circumstances leading up to Monday’s protest, which attracted support from Barbadians of all walks of life, including leading members of the business community. (BT)

MIA SHOULD HAVE STAYED AWAY, ARGUES SCANTLEBURY – The leader of one of Barbados’ newest political parties believes that local trade unions have too much power, and has also questioned the presence of Opposition Leader Mia Mottley at Monday’s massive march by public and private sector workers, which was said to be non-political. Apostle Lynroy Scantlebury of the New Barbados Kingdom Alliance (NBKA), in an interview with Barbados TODAY, further argued that the country needed to be fixed and that it could not be done “by doing the same thing over and over again”. “I think there is a right way to do things and a wrong way to do things,” he said in response to the march organized by the trade unions and the Barbados Private Sector Association to press their case for dialogue on the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL). “ I do not think that it is a very good idea to destabilize the country at a time when it is on the ropes,” he said, while taking a shot at the organizers for claiming that the demonstration was not political with Mottley and other Opposition members in attendance. “I say that it was political because the Leader of the Opposition, Mia Mottley, and other members of the Barbados Labour party were very visible in the march,” Scantlebury argued. “ I think both the union and the private sector should have said: ‘Mam, this is not political,” the 46-year-old apostle said, while contending that the organizers should have told Mottley ahead of time that while they appreciated her support, it was best for her to stay away. He also questioned whether the march was successful in sending a message to the Freundel Stuart Government. The apostle also voiced concern over what he saw as “the tremendous disrespect” for the leadership of the country. Scantlebury said the Office of the Prime Minister had to be respected even though he acknowledged that Stuart refused to entertain a delegation of four trade union leaders at his office in Parliament on July 11. At the time the leadership of the Barbados Workers’ Union, the National Union of Public Workers, the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union and the Barbados Union of Teachers were seeking to deliver a letter to the Prime Minister which included an ultimatum for him to grant relief for their members from the NSRL or else. However, after they were turned away by Stuart, the trade unionists proceeded to the Office of the Opposition Leader in the West Wing of Parliament where they hand-delivered a copy of their correspondence to her. Turning to the upcoming general election, the NBKA candidate who officially kicked off his campaign to replace incumbent and former Prime Minister Owen Arthur in St Peter, said he was in the process of meeting with several individuals who have expressed an interest in running under his party’s banner in the poll. Scantlebury gave Barbadians the assurance that if he assumes office he will get rid of the Government’s $15 billion debt in two years. (BT)

CELL PHONE BAN WAS A 'MISTAKE', SAYS JONES – Minister of Education Ronald Jones says his 2009 decision to ban cell phones in schools was a “mistake”. “In Barbados, sometimes out of fear, we are caught up in discussions over whether we should have mobile phones in schools, and I admit banning the use of technology was a mistake I made. “In all honesty, the envelope is being pushed open more than in the past, and if our students are to learn effectively, it is important that they are connected not only to the knowledge flow emanating from the teacher in the classroom, but that they get exposed to information from across the world,” he told the launch of the Caribbean Examinations Council’s CXC Connect new mobile app at Sky Mall Wednesday afternoon, adding that he would have more to say on the matter in a few weeks time. While likening some aspects of the worldwide web to “the Wild West”, the Minister of Education said these elements could be tamed and put to more positive use. He commended CXC for the “dizzying pace” at which it was embracing information and communications technology. Jones admitted that Government was indeed moving in that direction, but said there was still some fear on the part of stakeholders who “feel they will have to take their hands off, but in truth, the hands and technology have to become one”. He made reference to passport applications, which were now done online and delivered to the customer’s door, but pointed out that immigration officers would still be required to stamp them at the island’s ports of entry. Just two months ago, the President of the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) Mary Redman stepped up her warning to the Jones-led ministry not to allow cell phones in schools, saying these devices will only exacerbate the problem of gang activity and pose a major security threat to schools. (BT)

DIGITAL DIVIDE – A new survey shows that resistance to change is the single biggest impediment to companies achieving digital success. The results of the second annual Harvey Nash/KPMG 2017 CIO Survey were presented Thursday at a Chief Information Officer (CIO) Forum at the Hilton Barbados Resort. Over 20 Caribbean companies participated, including 11 from Barbados in the global survey, carried out in 86 countries among 4,500 respondents. However, the KPMG Island Grouping (KIG) component specifically looked at the operations of close to 70 companies in nine countries. Presenting a snap shot of responses from the KIG component, Manager of IT Advisory KPMG (Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean) Mariette Simmons-Browne said low budget was a major challenge facing IT professionals, who were generally pessimistic about an increase in their IT budgets over the next 12 months, with only 35 per cent of respondents expecting an increase. (BT)

CHANGES COMING TO TELECOMS ACT - With the introduction of a third player in the local telecommunications space, Government has given advance notice that changes are coming to the Telecommunications Act. The indication came from the Minister responsible for Energy and Telecommunications in the Prime Minister’s Office, Senator Darcy Boyce, as he addressed attendees recently at the launch of Canadian wireless company, Ozone Wireless Incorporated’s flagship store and corporate offices at Manor Lodge Complex, Warrens, St Michael, recently. Boyce revealed that the act would be amended to address service standards as well as landline service. However, one of the main changes expected will deal specifically with the acquisition of telecom companies by others within the same space. (WN)

SHAME ON THE BANKERS, CRIES CLARKE – Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Credit Bureau (CCB) Grady Clarke has launched a verbal attack on the Barbados Bankers’ Association (BBA), saying it should stay out of the credit bureau business and stick to banking. Clarke has also strongly hinted at moves to stop to the association’s plan to have an international credit bureau set up business in Barbados. At a town hall meeting on Tuesday night, at which Clarke was present and voiced objections, BBA Vice President Ian De Souza announced that the association was currently examining the proposals of two international entities to decide which one it would be allowing to establish the local credit information sharing system. Requests for proposals were sent to five companies, including the CCB, which was the only company not to respond. However, in defending that decision, Clarke said the requirements alone were purposely designed to eliminate his firm. Bruised by the news that an international firm would be brought in to do the job, an animated Clarke told reporters at a media conference today that his 24-year-old firm was more than capable of providing the required service. As he prepares to step up his resistance to the plan with a campaign on social media, he warned the bankers that he would be behaving just like United States president Donald Trump. He is also appealing to the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for support in his cause. Clarke argued that an international firm would only drain the island’s foreign exchange and send jobs overseas. Pointing out that he had some long-serving employees, Clarke cried shame on the commercial banks. The CCB, which offers training and consultation services, currently operates with about ten employees, as well as a number of volunteers. (BT)

SAGICOR LOOKS TO DISRUPT CAR INSURANCE MARKET – Insurance company Sagicor General has introduced a new bundled insurance package aimed at disrupting the industry and capturing the young professionals market. Sagicor on Wednesday launched its Young Professional Insurance Scheme, targeting professionals between the ages of 16 and 40. Vice President of Marketing and Business Development Mark Blakeley said the new package was introduced after an assessment of the existing motor insurance portfolio revealed “heavy demand” for such a policy. Sagicor said the policy comes with a number of benefits, including a $50,000 personal accident limit, coverage of up to $3,000 for personal possessions, and the same for medical expenses, as well as a $10,000 content coverage. Vice President of Underwriting Wanda Mayers said Sagicor General’s business had grown significantly within the last year and the new product was another opportunity for further growth. The benefit package is open to third-party policyholders, except for vehicle repairs where the policyholder was found at fault. The Sagicor officials said they did not foresee the new policy taking away from the company’s existing business. (BT)

JAPAN KEEN TO ASSIST BARBADOS WITH DISASTER MANAGEMENT – Japan is willing to lend its expertise to help Barbados improve its disaster management, so as to allow the island to recover in the shortest possible time after a major disaster. Japan’s Ambassador to Barbados, Teruhiko Shinada, gave this undertaking today during a courtesy call on Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs, Adriel Brathwaite, at his office in Webster’s Business Complex. Ambassador Shinada disclosed that his country had experienced many natural disasters, and was happy to collaborate on any area of disaster management as identified by Government. “Japan is one of the countries that have suffered the effects of many natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis and typhoons, so we have quite a lot of experience in the damage [that is caused by these disasters] and we have the knowledge and experience that we can share with Barbados,” he stated. Additionally, the Ambassador also mentioned that disaster experts from Japan would be visiting Barbados in 2018 to assist the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) with its capacity building efforts. He pointed out that the experts’ work would not be limited to Barbados alone, but would also involve other countries in the region. In turn, the Attorney General welcomed the gesture of assistance with disaster management from Japan, adding: “We look forward to any assistance for CDEMA and for Barbados in disaster management. You do have my commitment that we will do all that we can to ensure that this [collaborative effort] occurs.” Ambassador Shinada also disclosed the provision of approximately US $1 million in equipment grant aid, in collaboration with the Department of Emergency Management. He explained that the funds would go towards the procurement of disaster damage management equipment - some of which should be in the island as early as the last quarter of the year. The two officials also discussed areas of cooperation in culture and sports, and possible assistance with water harvesting or other water conservation techniques. Barbados and Japan established diplomatic ties on August 29, 1967. (WN)

LIMING SITE A DUD – It is not easy going for Daniel DeSouza but he is not prepared to give up yet. The founder of cariblime.net, a social media platform geared towards Caribbean people, said the support was not there yet and he finds this slightly puzzling. Cariblime has not been around that long, having launched in April, but the offerings are already distinctly Caribbean and DeSouza is wondering if people were even aware it existed. “We do have more subscribers than before, more than 150 now, but we are still lacking that support from the local and regional organisations or from Government, I don’t know if they even know we exist. Besides, 150 in a Caribbean of more than eight million people is hardly anything,” he said. (WN)

ABANDONED IN ST. ANDREW – In response to numerous calls and complaints, the WEEKEND NATION has brought this series looking at abandoned Government buildings that are eyesores and health hazards. This is the final edition of the eight-part series. THE PEOPLE of Belleplaine, St Andrew are less than pleased with what they see as the mass exodus of Government entities. Over the years, they have seen the exit of the community centre, courtroom, police station, the Elayne Scantlebury Centre and Ministry of Transport and Works depot, some of which have been left derelict. When a WEEKEND NATION team stopped by the Elayne Scantlebury Centre, four men – Winston Ramsay, Keith Newton, Ralph Morris and Jeffrey Blackman – were shooting the breeze nearby. The men said they felt abandoned. (WN)

HORROR STORIES FROM WESTMORELAND – Westmoreland, St James, has been the scene of carnage on numerous occasions, causing the Ministry of Transport and Works to be galvanised into action to implement safety measures. The WEEKEND NATION spoke to two residents, Sandra Clinton and Bridgett Griffith, who gave heart-breaking testimonies of fatal accidents. SANDRA CLINTON will never be the same. On far too many occasions, the 58-year-old has been awoken from sleep by the spine-chilling sound of car brakes squealing only to stumble and struggle to get outside to see what fresh hell awaited her eyes. Sometimes she is so shaken that she can barely dial the numbers for the Ambulance Service. Clinton’s story is one filled with pain, death and scenes she will never forget. “I am constantly getting up in the night to rescue people. I saw three accidents in one evening; the police were investigating one car and another car ran into the first car under investigation,” she said. (WN)

JESHUA’S HAPPY TO BE BACK – Jeshua Ferdinand is back on Bajan soil and resting comfortably at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The 24-year-old cricketer was playing on the professional scene with Mayfield Cricket Club in the Sussex Premier League when he was suddenly struck down with the paralysing Guillain-Barre syndrome in May. When a WEEKENDSPORT team visited him at the hospital on Wednesday, he was in high spirits, sitting up and surrounded by family and friends. “It is nice to be back home among family and friends. It was a bit challenging to readjust to the conditions, both in the hospital and the climate; it’s very hot here,” he said. (WN)

AMERICAN WOMAN MISSING – Police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing American woman, identified as 22-year-old Lauren Asele Broomes who has been residing at Maxwell, Christ Church. She was last seen by her grandmother Ruth Dorinal sometime around 9:20 p.m. on Monday, July 24. At the time she was wearing a pink or peach coloured dress, a pair of gladiator sandals and carrying a brown coloured bag. Broomes is 5ft 5 inches height, stoutly built, of dark brown complexion, has a round face, brown eyes, large nose, normal mouth, thick lips, short neck, full breasted, erect appearance, square shoulders, pleasant manner and has an Afro hair style. Lawmen are asking anyone with information on her whereabouts to contact the District ‘C’ Police Station at telephone 416-8200 or 416-8201; police emergency number 211; Crime Stoppers at 1-800 –TIPS (8477); or the nearest police station. (BT)

FRIGHT NIGHT – The sounds of gunfire shattered the still of Wednesday night, causing residents of Black Rock, St Michael and surrounding areas to throw themselves on the ground in fear. Sources say shots started close to midnight and continued for what some said was half an hour, with a power blackout occurring during that period. “It just so happen that a generator went out at that time and came back on just about the time it ended,” one resident said. Reports indicate the sounds were of automatic fire as well as powerful booming shots, perhaps from hand cannons. (WN)

POLICE LOOKING INTO REPORTS OF GUNSHOTS AT DEACONS – Police are conducting investigations into reports of gunfire being heard in the area of Deacons, St Michael after 11 p.m. yesterday. Police public relations officer Acting Inspector Roland Cobbler said on responding to the report, no one was seen engaging in the activity. However, he said evidence suggested that gunshots were fired in the area. There were no reports of injury or damage. “As we work assiduously to rid our streets of illegal firearms, we are appealing to anyone who can provide any information to assist with the investigation to contact the Black Rock Police Station at 417-7500, 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800 –TIPS (8477), or the nearest police station. All information received will be strictly confidential,” Cobbler said. (WN)

TEEN GETS WINGS CLIPPED FOR CROP OVER – A teenager who pleaded guilty Thursday to assaulting his mother, will not be allowed to attend any night events for the balance of the 2017 Crop Over season. Eighteen-year-old Roeul Anderson Lavine Husbands of Knights Land, Westbury Road, St Michael committed the offence against his mother, Carla King on July 25, 2017. However, it was the mother who appealed to Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant in No.2 District ‘A’ Criminal Court Thursday to get her son some help. In outlining the facts of the case, Sergeant Cameron Gibbons explained that King came home on the day in question and found her house in an untidy state. When she attempted to speak to her son about the mess, he poked her in the left side of her face. “When that clock strikes six you know where you supposed to be? You must be at home, you will not be attending any Crop Over events,” the magistrate said as she imposed a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew on Husbands. The teenager, who was released on $2,000 bail with one surety, must also report to the probation office for a pre-sentencing report. He returns to court on September 29, 2017. (BT)

WRONG ROAD – A 27-year-old, first-time drug offender came close to being jailed Thursday. Ronaldo Ramon Irvin Browne of Block 3E, Factory Avenue, Wildey, St Michael pleaded guilty before Magistrate Douglas Frederick in the No.1 District ‘A’ Criminal Court to possession of nine grease paper wrappers of cannabis on July 26, 2017. A remorseful Browne said he used the drug at night to help him sleep, but was trying to quit his marijuana habit. “I got to stop using it. I got seven years working and I can’t afford to lose my job,” he told the magistrate after he was nabbed during a police patrol of the Pine, St Michael on the day in question. However, Frederick was not moved by the accused man’s show of penitence and threatened to make him feel the full weight of the criminal justice system. “You didn’t know that you wanted to keep your job before you started using drugs. You are destined to be a paro. You can’t see it? Look at yourself. Continue on this path and you would end up eating from the garbage. “Your face is already starting to show it. It seems that you have been working very hard to get to this court, so congrats you have arrived. You want to see what being a criminal is all about? Have a seat and let me see if I am going to send you up,” Frederick said. In response, Browne promised the magistrate that his drug use days were behind him and pleaded with Frederick to show leniency. Instead of jail time as threatened, the magistrate ordered Browne to 120 hours of community service and promised that if he did it well, no conviction would be recorded when he returns to court on October 20, 2017. (BT)

RAPE ACCUSED GETS BAIL – A Christ Church man, who is accused of rape, has been granted bail in the amount of $5,000. Owen Oscar Bowen of 1A, Regency Park appeared before Magistrate Douglas Frederick in the No.1 District ‘A’ Criminal Court Thursday morning charged with having sexual intercourse with the complainant, knowing that she did not consent or was reckless as to whether she consented. Bowen, who is represented by attorney-at-law Vonda Pile, was not required to plead to the indictable offence. He was ordered to return to court on October 25, 2017. (BT)

ZR CONDUCTOR GETS BAIL ON WOUNDING CHARGE – A ZR conductor was released on $9,000 bail with one surety Thursday afternoon on a wounding charge. Rico Jamal Antonio Forde of Haynesville, St James, appeared before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant in the No.2 District ‘A’ Criminal Court, charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding Everet Branch with the intent to do serious bodily harm. The offence allegedly occurred on September 9, 2016. Forde, who is represented by attorney-at-law Shadia Simpson, was not required to plead to the indictable offence and is due to return to court on October 18, 2017. (BT)

MAN FINED $40 000 FOR COCAINE TRAFFICKING – A Christ Church man has until January 31, 2018 to pay a fine of $40 000 or he will spend two years in prison. David Alphonso Harry, 39, of Bourne’s Land, Silver Sands pleaded guilty to four cocaine-related offences when he appeared in the District “B” Magistrates’ Court today before Magistrate Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell. Harry arrived in the island by air from Trinidad on Tuesday and was stopped an interviewed by police. A search of his luggage revealed two transparent packages containing cocaine concealed within false compartments in a portfolio in his luggage. A further check revealed three more packages concealed in his underwear. Police say the cocaine weighed one kilogramme and had an estimated street value of $50 000. Harry was subsequently arrested and charged for unlawful possession of cocaine, possession with intent to supply, trafficking and importation. He was fined $40 000 for the offence of trafficking and convicted, reprimanded and discharged for the other offences. (WN)

MAN FINED $5,000 FOR GROWING WEED – A 32-year-old St Michael man was Thursday fined $5,000 for cultivating marijuana in his backyard. Edward Ricardo Kellman, of Number 32, Lodge Terrace, pleaded guilty when he appeared before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant in the No.2 District ‘A’ Criminal Court to growing the illegal drug on July 27, 2017. Kellman also pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and trafficking the controlled drug. In outlining the facts of the case, Sergeant Cameron Gibbons told the court that police conducted a search of the accused’s home on the day in question and found one marijuana plant growing in a pot, as well as several others in a fish tank in the backyard. On the cultivation charge, the first time offender was ordered to pay a fine in seven months or face 12 months in prison. He was reprimanded and discharged for the other offences, but is required to return to court on February 28, 2018. (BT)

SPRINTERS’ BAD BLOOD – 2015 World 200 metres champion Dafne Schippers has admitted to having a cold relationship with Jamaica’s Elaine Thompson. The Dutchwoman and the Jamaican share perhaps one of the fiercest rivalries in track and field and it has seemingly worked against them being friendly to each other. The two sprinters now rated among the very best to run the sprints in the modern era have had stirring battles over the past two seasons but while they have been cordial, Schippers admits the relationship between the two has been frosty. “It’s very bad,” Schippers says of their relationship. “I don’t know why. Maybe because we are both big talents. If she says ‘Hi’, I will say ‘Hi’. I am more of an easy person,” she said in an interview with the Daily Mail. “With the European athletes, I can have fun with them. I am an easy person to talk to. If she won’t do that, then OK.” When Schippers won the world title in Beijing in 2015, she ran Thompson down to cross the line in 21.63, the third fastest time ever by a woman. Thompson was timed in 21.66, the fifth fastest time ever. At the Olympic Games in Rio a year later, Thompson turned the tables on her Dutch rival, winning the Olympic 200m title in 21.78 seconds to Schippers 21.88. Thompson (10.71) also won the 100m, a race in which Schippers was fifth in 10.90. The two are expected to meet next month in the final of the 100m at the IAAF World Championships in London where Elaine Thompson is the overwhelming favourite to claim her first 100m world title. (BT)

BLAZING RUN BY BAJAN JETBLUES TO TITLE – Barbados JetBlues male rugby 7s team defeated the Morris men to claim victory in the recently concluded Blazing 7s Rugby Tournament in New Jersey. The Bajans also finished second in the Saratoga 7s Invitational Tournament in New York. George Nicholson, manager of the local organising committee for the Rugby Barbados World 7s, said the results were a huge credit to the standard of rugby in the island. “We could not have asked for a better result. Not only does it motivate our local teams to continue to strive for excellence, but it also shows the world that despite being a small island, Rugby Barbados is a force to be reckoned with,” he said. (WN)

RAVENS DO THE DOUBLE – RAVENS DARTS ACADEMY are celebrating a double success. After recently capturing the Barbados Darts Association’s league title, they retained their knockout crown by defeating A Enforcers in the final at Molly’s Bar in Flint Hall on Tuesday night. By dominating their opponents in most of the categories, Ravens emerged 6-2 winners. In block 1 men’s doubles, the Ravens pair of Anthony Forde and Tahir Sargeant defeated Enforcers’ Roosevelt Drakes and Sylvan Graham in 26 and 19 darts with Forde scoring a maximum of 180. (WN)

FRESH GUARD – Conde Riley is the new president of the Barbados Cricket Association. The veteran cricket administrator defeated challengers Deighton Smith and Erskine King in a landslide victory when the governing body of cricket in Barbados held its elections at the Hilton Barbados Hotel Thursday night. Riley, a former senior banker, received 284 votes, Smith the former first vice-president who acted as president for the past two years, received 80 votes and King, a long-time sports administrator, garnered 85 votes. An elated Riley told the media afterwards that he was surprised but not displeased at his overwhelming victory. The newly elected president said one of his first priorities would be to tackle the issue between the BCA and the Barbados Association of Secondary School Principals. In May the final of the Everton Weekes Under-13 Championship between Combermere and Foundation was abandoned after the schools were withdrawn by their respective principals.There has been a long-running dispute where principals have objected to their best players not being allowed to play for their own schools but mandated to play for the combined schools’ team. Meanwhile, attorney-at-law Calvin Hope is the new vice president. He received 170 votes and in the process defeated Roland Butcher who got 118 votes, Maurice Gaskin who received 107 votes and young Kamal Springer who tallied 37 votes. Hope has been associated with the game for several years both on and off the field of play and as a member of the BCA. He is a former Barbados Under-19 captain and a stalwart of domestic cricket. A large number of members turned out to cast their vote Thursday night, among them were National Hero Sir Garfield Sobers, former Chief Justice Sir David Simmons, Leader of the Opposition Mia Mottley, Attorney General Ariel Brathwaite, entertainer Richard Stoute and chairman of the West Indies selectors, Courtney Browne. (BT)

DAVIS WINS BIG WITH COURTS – HARRIET DAVIS WAS chosen as the biggest winner in Courts (Barbados) Dream Cruise promotion. On Thursday at the Courts Bridgetown branch, Davis, along with about 20 other people, walked away with more than $58 000 in cash and prizes. Managing director at Courts Trisha Tannis presented Davis with her winnings, valued at $20 000. A delighted Davis said she planned to take some of hergrandchildren and her boyfriend as she sails the Mediterranean seas. (WN)

TRAFFIC CHANGES FOR JUNIOR KADOOMENT – The public is asked to note that on Saturday, July 29, a number of temporary road changes will be in place to facilitate the hosting of the Junior Kadooment, which will be held at the National Stadium, St Michael. Between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., the following roads will be closed to all vehicular traffic:

* Codrington Road from its junction with Stadium Road to its junction with Bush Hall Road, St.Michael.

* Stadium Road from its junction with Codrington Road to its junction with Bush Hall Main Road, St Michael.

During these hours, no parking will be allowed on any of the following roads except for the purpose of picking up or setting down passengers: Codrington Road, Bush Hall Main Road, Waterford Road, Bow Road and Butler’s Avenue. At the same time, no person shall park or allow a vehicle to remain stationary along the emergency route or alternate route except for the purpose of picking up or setting down passengers. The emergency route commences at National Stadium and proceeds along Bank Hall, Country Road, Roebuck Street, Halls Road, and Martindale’s Road, St Michael. The alternate route commences at National Stadium and proceeds along Butler’s Avenue, Spooners Hill, Green Hill, Everton Weekes Round-a-bout, Clyde Walcott Round-a-bout, Norman Niles Round-a-bout, My Lord’s Hill Road, Welches Road, Belmont Road and Martindale’s Road, St Michael. (BT)

NCF: BIG CROWDS EXPECTED – “The rain hasn’t stopped any of the events so far this year . . . . I am hoping it doesn’t rain as it would limit the scale of the event and also in terms of patronage as well.” Saying he was speaking subject to correction, Adisa noted that: “Judging from the Semi-finals crowd, which turned out to be one of the biggest we would have had in the last four to five years, this Finals is looking to go along that same route.” (WN)

POLICE PUT SOCA ROYALE PATRONS ON NOTICE – Patrons attending Soca Royale at Bushy Park on Sunday have been informed that a number of policies will be strictly enforced by police. Acting Inspector Roland Cobbler said every person and vehicle entering the venue will be subjected to a search. In addition, glass bottles will be prohibited and will not be allowed into the venue by either patrons or stall operators. Cobbler also pointed out that smoking in public places is against the law and therefore it will be prohibited in the venue “which will be transformed into a public place of entertainment”. (WN)

SWEET SOCA SEMI-FINALS will be broadcast tonight on CBC TV8 at 9:30 P.M for those of you who missed it live.

That’s all for today folks there are 156 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

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Bajan Newscap 7/27/2018

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Thursday 27th July 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today ((BT), or by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

STOP THE FIGHTING – In a stern rebuke of the Social Partners, Minister of Commerce, International Business, Industry and Small Business Development Donville Inniss has called on Government, the labour movement and the private sector to stop quarrelling and get to work to fix the economy. And in what appears to be a direct message to Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, Inniss said the trade unions should be engaged in a discussion on how to ensure ordinary Barbadians move “from being employees to being shareholders”. In an address Wednesday at the 45th annual general meeting of the Barbados Institute of Management and Productivity, during which he sounded like a man with leadership ambitions putting forward his policy position, the unpredictable minister presented his vision of a “new Barbados” where high taxes were no longer, state agencies were fewer and workers were wealthier because they were also business owners. However, he made it clear that Government could not expect to grow the economy by imposing more and more taxes on Barbadians, although he suggested that the austere measures presented by Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler on May 30, which included a rise in the NSRL from two per cent to ten per cent, a two per cent tax on foreign exchange transactions and rises in the excise duty on petrol, were necessary to clear the approximately $540 million deficit. In making reference to the wages bill, Inniss hinted at public sector job cuts eventually, but said the severing of workers would have to be done on a phased basis. (BT)

STUART A LIABILITY – The “hubris, arrogance and stubbornness” that Prime Minister Freundel Stuart continues to display despite growing evidence that Barbadians are fed up with his Government’s policies will cost the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) in the next general election, according to one political scientist. Speaking against the background of Monday’s demonstration organized by the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union, the Barbados Union of Teachers, the Barbados Workers’ Union and the National Union of Public Workers, in collaboration with the Barbados Private Sector Association, Dr George Belle said the turnout was a clear sign that Stuart was a liability to the DLP. An estimated 20,000 people took part in the march in a bid to force Government to compromise on the burdensome National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL), which climbed from two per cent of the custom value of imported goods and good manufactured here, to ten per cent, effective July 1. The retired political scientist said Monday’s demonstration was a clear sign that Barbadians had ignored the Prime Minister’s attempts to pour cold water on the march, when he suggested to a DLP Christ Church West branch luncheon on Sunday that the organizers had threatened social unrest. Also weighing in on Monday’s march was political strategist Reudon Eversley, who told Barbados TODAY the turnout proved that Barbadians were no longer afraid to stand up and be counted. Eversley warned that when Barbadians next go to the polls they would be voting in anger against the DLP. Meanwhile, Professor Emeritus of Economics Michael Howard had some sympathy for Government, saying the administration was having a hard time meeting its financial commitments. It is for this reason, he said, that the trade unions “should consider that Government does not have many options in terms of keeping public sector workers employed. (BT)

STUART TAKES ISSUE WITH CBI – Barbados has expressed concern that some holders of regional passports through the Citizenship By Investment Programmes (CBI) are entering the island and demanding to stay based on their newly acquired status as CARICOM nationals. This development has piqued the curiosity of Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, who revealed the worrying trend last Sunday during a Christ Church West branch luncheon at Almond Bay Caterers. Stuart said that at CARICOM meetings, he had heard other regional heads mentioning the trouble their countries would be in if not for the programmes. Noting that those programmes allowed those countries to pay their bills, Stuart explained that in some cases, people buying citizenship did not even have to come to the country in question to get citizenship or a passport. (DN)

ON HOLD - A promise of a meeting of the Social Partnership by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart might not be enough to avert industrial action. While speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Stuart said he was willing to meet with the labour movement and the private sector “in full glare of the public” to engage in dialogue. However, when asked directly yesterday whether further industrial action was still a possibility, president of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), Akanni McDowall, told the DAILY NATION“nothing is off the table”. McDowall noted that the trade unions were still holding meetings to discuss the way forward. (DN)

BE ON YOUR GUARD! – Be careful! In the wake of Monday’s massive joint public and private sector march, the island’s trade unions have been warned to be cautious about whom they build alliances with. This warning comes from president of the Clement Payne Movement, David Comissiong, who said: “I would just like to say to the trade unions that they have to be conscious of this. It is not everybody who smiles with them, not everybody who marches with them, who really is committed to them and committed to the fundamental interest of the workers.” He made the comments yesterday when asked to give his views on Monday’s march, led by the island’s four major trade unions and the Barbados Private Sector Association, to protest Government’s decision to increase the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) and which saw at least 21 000 Barbadians take to the streets. (DN)

‘WE ARE STILL ENSLAVED’ – Eighty years after the 1937 riots, an Opposition Parliamentarian has charged that Barbados is still not fully emancipated. Barbados Labour Party representative for St Michael East Trevor Prescod levelled the charge Wednesday morning while contending that a lot of confusion currently exists in the country. Prescod specifically highlighted Monday’s massive demonstration against the recently hiked National Social Responsibility Levy, complaining that as soon as “white people” joined the four major unions in taking to the streets, some reactionaries in the political class sought to pull the race card. Prescod did not call any names. However, he went on to lament that within, and just outside, the very precincts of Parliament there remains today at least two towering images that only served to reaffirm his position that the country was still mentally enslaved. “We spent a long time praising [the British Admiral] Lord Nelson. We turned Nelson from facing the west to facing the east. I do not know if those who did it at the time felt they were progressive thinkers,” Prescod said in disparaging reference to the efforts of former Prime Minister Erskine Sandiford [now Sir Lloyd]. (BT)

RIP OFF – Retail stores and supermarkets here are ripping off Barbadians by setting unreasonably high markups using formulas that are unclear to the authorities, Minister of Health John Boyce is suggesting. Speaking in Parliament Tuesday on a motion moved by the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) on the turbulence surrounding the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL), Boyce demanded that small and large retail stores and supermarkets must show how they determine their markups “because they are now making lots of money on the backs of Barbadians”. The minister contended that certain business establishments were able to provide goods and services similar to those being offered by the traditional retailers at “significantly lower rates than are being offered in some traditional sectors”, leaving people to wonder about the difference in prices. It was for this reason, Boyce stated, that the time had come for “us to make it compulsory for certain sectors to demonstrate how they arrive at their prices. Stating that some members of society would benefit from price control, the Government legislator assured Barbadians that the concept was not altogether foreign since “we do it in the drug service. While acknowledging that those involved in business ought to make a profit, the minister complained that it was “the kind of prices that we are required to pay in our retail sector and in our supermarkets, in our regular shops” that caused concern. His comments came a day after the business community joined the top trade unions here in leading a 20,000 strong demonstration against the Freundel Stuart administration’s austerity measures, particularly the NSRL – charged on the customs value of imported and locally manufactured goods – which climbed from two per cent to ten per cent, effective July 1. Prominent businessman Ralph Bizzy Williams has charged that the increase was equivalent to raising the 17.5 per cent Value Added Tax to 27 per cent. (BT)

OFF COURSE - A well-respected regional tourism expert is describing as dumb, some of the crucial strategies being adopted by Barbadian and Caribbean tourism policymakers. In a forthright address to Barbadian hoteliers this morning, Principal Partner in the Bedford Baker Group Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace pulled no punches as he accused regional governments of not understanding what tourism was really about. In his no holds barred keynote speech to the annual general meeting of the Intimate Hotels of Barbados (IHB) at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre (LESC), Vanderpool-Wallace, a former Bahamian minister of tourism, accused Caribbean governments of measuring tourism in a way that made no sense. “We all know that one of the dumbest things we do every single day is to measure tourism by head count. That’s a habit we’ve been in for a long, long period of time because that’s the way we compare ourselves to other people. It makes no sense whatsoever,” the former Secretary General of the Barbados-based Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) said. In furthering his argument, Vanderpool-Wallace made reference to the banking industry, stressing that no bank had ever put together a balance sheet showing the number of people who go through its doors – a suggestion that financial institutions only measured the amount of business they attract from the people who visit them, and regional tourism officials should do the same. He added that no two stop-over visitors were the same, therefore each must be rated on economic contribution. Vanderpool-Wallace also identified the approach to calculating visitor spend as another area that needed to be changed. Therefore, the former minister suggested that policymakers should modify some of these strategies to ensure accurate visitor spend was captured. The former CTO boss also dealt with the controversial issue of the high cost of regional travel, blaming fixed taxes on airline tickets, which he said were “one of the dumbest things” introduced to tourism. He stressed that the close proximity of Caribbean countries to each other made them attractive to neighbouring travellers. However, Vanderpool-Wallace said the fixed taxes increased the burden on visitors from neighbouring countries because they were paying a disproportionate percentage of airfares in taxes. With a hint of sarcasm, he added that it was a genius move to even impose such taxes from both ends of the destination – on both incoming and outgoing passengers. Meanwhile, speaking to Barbados TODAY on the sidelines of today’s meeting, Chairman of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc Alvin Jemmott agreed that Barbados must do everything necessary to be a more competitive destination and to make it easier to attract visitors at the best possible cost. (BT)

UNIONS NOT DISRESPECTED, SAYS JONES – Disrespect? What disrespect? Minister of Education Ronald Jones has begged that question of the trade unions involved in Monday’s protest march against Government. The march saw more than 21 000 Barbadians take to the streets of Bridgetown to support the trade unions and private sector, who are protesting the increase in the National Social Responsibility Levy from two per cent to ten per cent. The march was led by the island’s four major trade unions – the Barbados Workers’ Union, the National Union of Public Workers, the Barbados Union of Teachers and the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union as well as the Barbados Private Sector Association. (DN)

SBAs MARKED – The SBAs were marked after all. Despite a protracted battle between the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) and Government over whether teachers should be required to correct them, this year’s Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) School-Based Assessments (SBA) have been marked. Minister of Education Ronald Jones has praised the teachers who corrected the SBAs, but president of the Barbados Secondary Teachers Union (BSTU), Mary Redman, said their action was tantamount to “slavery”. Jones told the DAILY NATION that the SBAs were corrected by a cadre of teachers from multiple schools who “responded to their profession” and corrected the students’ work. (DN)

CXC LAUNCHES MOBILE APP – The Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) and the 21st century have finally connected. At Sky Mall, Haggatt Hall, yesterday, the regional examination body launched its new mobile application “CXC Connect”, which will allow users to do everything from checking grades to chatting with officials. In delivering the welcome address, CXC assistant registrar Cleveland Sam explained that the new iOS and Android app signalled another step in the organisation’s electronic age. “We have e-marking, e-testing, e-SBAs and e-authoring. Today’s launch of CXC’s first mobile app is therefore a natural step in progression forward on the ICT journey of the CXC,” Sam said. (DN)

UWI SEEKING TO RAISE US$70M - The University of the West Indies (UWI) is seeking to raise US$70 million to refurbish their four campuses across the region. This was revealed by Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, who was speaking at the launch of the Faculty of Sport at the Mona Campus in Jamaica yesterday. “We are approaching our 70th anniversary next year, and we have launched a capital campaign, and we have focused that capital campaign on the Faculty of Sport. It will focus on implementing the specific structural needs of this faculty of sport,” he said. Highlighting some of the improvements made to the campuses over the years, he noted that the Mona Campus was the least developed. (DN)

YOUTH HERO LEFT WITH A BITTER TASTE – A Barbados Youth Service cadet, who rose to national prominence last March after he helped save the life of a visitor at Browne’s Beach, St Michael, is unhappy with the treatment meted out to him by a police officer during investigations into an incident at a summer camp Tuesday. Seventeen-year-old Dre Browne, who had used his skills learned at the youth service to help the visitor after she was pulled from the sea, however found himself in the situation that left him with no answers. Browne, a camp counsellor for just over a week, said an officer at the station told him that if he were the police on the scene he would put him six feet under ground and claim that he was running away. Browne said the entire incident evolved around 4 p.m. when he and a group of his friends witnessed a fight between two teenagers at the summer camp at Luther Thorne Primary School. (DN)

TEENAGER ATTACKED OUTSIDE SHERATON MALL – Police have confirmed reports that a teenaged male was attacked and robbed at a bus stop outside of Sheraton Mall around midnight Tuesday. The report was first made in a voice note circulated on Whatsapp in which the speaker claimed that his son was attacked and robbed by as many as six youngsters at the Christ Church mall. “Last night my son tell me that five to six men robbed he by Sheraton and beat he up. He share blows but obviously he can’t beat six men. “He got a cut over he eye and also some body blows but he also share some,” the speaker claimed. The man also charged that two other people were robbed outside of the mall last night. When contacted by Barbados TODAY, Public Relations Officer of the Royal Barbados Police Force Acting Inspector Roland Cobbler confirmed that lawmen were investigating the incident. Cobbler also revealed that the alleged victim was a 17-year-old male. He however could not confirm the two other reported robberies. Meanwhile, General Manager of the Sheraton Mall Kim King has expressed regret over last night’s incident and has urged shoppers to be on their guard at all times. “We would like to remind our shoppers that their safety is paramount and we encourage all persons to be vigilant and to report any incidents to the nearest security officer,” she said. Police have appealed to anyone with information that could assist in their investigations to contact the District ‘B’ Police Station at telephone numbers 437-4311; Police Emergency number 211; Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS (8477); or the nearest police station. (BT)

PILGRIM HAILS CCJ RULING THAT SET MURDER CONVICTS FREE – One of this island’s leading defence attorneys expects that more of the guilty will be convicted and the innocent will go free as a result of a recent ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which ordered the release of two convicted Barbadian killers. Queen’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim, who represented Vincent Edwards and Richard Haynes in a murder case for the 2006 killing of Damien Alleyne, told Barbados TODAY Wednesday evening that the ruling by this country’s highest court would also force police officers to gather more sound evidence. He described the CCJ decision as extremely important “in that it is going to cause evidence to improve, it will protect good police officers and it will lead to the guilty being convicted”. Earlier this week, the Trinidad and Tobago-based CCJ found that Edwards and Haynes’ convictions could not be upheld due to the presentation of insufficient evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The only evidence linking the appellants to the murder was their alleged oral confessions made in separate interviews with officers of the Royal Barbados Police Force while at the Glebe Police Station on July 19, 2007, almost a year after Alleyne’s murder. As such, Pilgrim had argued that there was no case for his clients to answer, and after considering his argument, Justice Winston Anderson ruled that the two men should be allowed be walk free. In a concurring judgment, Justice Adrian Saunders also acknowledged that prior to the Evidence Act, an accused person could be convicted solely on an alleged oral confession, provided that the jury was warned that such a conviction may be unsafe. However, the CCJ pointed out that the purpose of the Evidence Act, which was passed by the Parliament of Barbados in 1994, was “to reform the law relating to evidence in proceedings in courts” and to apply “standards that are more stringent than the common law, [compel] the judiciary to be guided by fresh approaches and [require] the executive to make available to the police new technologies”. Therefore, the evidence against Edwards and Haynes had to be reliable, especially given that the punishment on the statute books in Barbados for murder was death, it said. (BT)

WALCOTT ACCUSED OF ASSAULT – A 22-year-old Christ Church man was granted $2,500 bail on an assault charge when he appeared before Magistrate Douglas Frederick in the No.1 District ‘A’ Criminal Court Wednesday morning. Romario Antonio Walcott, of Bamboo Road, St Lawrence, pleaded not guilty to unlawfully assaulting Daniel Cummings on July 23, 2017. Prosecutor Sergeant Martin Rock said he had no objection to his bail, on condition that the accused be made to keep away from the virtual complainant. That request was granted and Walcott was ordered to return to court on October 23, 2017. (BT)

CAR WASHER DENIES SELLING STOLEN BANGLE – A 31-year-old car washer, accused of dishonestly disposing of stolen goods and falsely purporting to have lawful authority to sell precious metals, was Wednesday released on $5,000 bail. Jamar Antonio Reeves of 1st Avenue, Campaign Land, Martindale’s Road, St Michael, pleaded not guilty to the offences when he appeared before Magistrate Douglas Frederick in the No.1 District ‘A’ Criminal Court. It is alleged that on July 19 2017, Reeves dishonestly assisted in the disposal of a stolen article, namely a bangle belonging to Christian Franklyn. It is also alleged that on the same date, Reeves falsely stated that he had lawful authority to sell the bangle. Prosecutor Sergeant Martin Rock offered no objection to bail and Reeves was ordered to return to court on October 25, 2017. (BT)

TAXI DRIVER RELEASED ON $2,500 BAIL – A 44-year-old taxi operator has been released on $2,500 bail with one surety after pleading not guilty to a charge of assault. Victor Anderson Lashley of Passage Gardens, Passage Road, St Michael appeared before Magistrate Douglas Frederick in the No.1 District ‘A’ Criminal Court Wednesday accused of unlawfully assaulting Elizabeth Trotman on March 17, 2017, However, no objection was made to his bail APPLICATION AFTER HE DENIED THE CHARGE. LASHLEY RETURNS TO COURT ON AUGUST 23, 2017. (BT)

STAY AWAY! – A 63-year-old public service vehicle (PSV) operator, accused of issuing threats and assaulting three people, including entertainer Ishaka McNeil, has been released on bail. Clyde Stanfield Phillips of Philips Road, St Stephen’s Hill, Black Rock, St Michael, pleaded not guilty to five charges when he appeared before Magistrate Douglas Frederick in the No.1 District ‘A’ Criminal Court Wednesday. It is alleged that on July 20, 2017, Phillips unlawfully assaulted Tamika Newton and that five days later he repeated the same offence against Newton as well as McNeil and Lyndonna Bynoe. On that same date, he also allegedly told Bynoe, “I gine chop you up”. Prosecutor Sergeant Martin Rock made no objection to bail but requested that the defendant be made to stay away from the virtual complainants. Before granting the prosecutor’s wish, Frederick took note of the number of people making the allegations. “How all these people say you assault them?” he asked, before releasing the accused on $3,000 bail with one surety. Phillips is scheduled to return to court on October 25, 2017. “Make sure and stay far away from the complainants,” the magistrate warned. (BT)

PIC-O-DE-CROP FINALISTS PICK THEIR POSITIONS – Veteran calypsonian Edwin Yearwood will lead the pack at next Saturday’s Pic-O-De Crop finals to be held at Kensington Oval. Edwin, from De Big Show calypso tent, is back in the competition after a more than 20-year absence and he is expected to pull out all the stops to dethrone reigning monarch Aziza. A short while ago, the finalists drew for their positions at the Mount Gay Visitors centre. Chrystal Cummins-Beckles is set to perform second and she will be followed by her colleague Adrian Clarke, both from the De Big Show Calypso tent. Reigning Monarch Aziza will perform at position number nine while iWeb will close the show. The full line up in order of appearance is as follows:

Edwin Yearwood (De Big Show), Chrystal Cummins-Beckles (De Big Show), A.C (De Big Show), Observer (House of Soca), Sir Ruel (House of Soca), Donella (All Stars), Classic (De Big Show), Colin Spencer (All Stars), Aziza (All Stars), Smokey Burke (Super Gladiators) and iWeb (De Big Show.) The final comes off on August 5th at Kensington Oval beginning at 8 p.m. (DB) (BT)

That’s all for today folks there are 157 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

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Bajan Newscap 7/17/2017

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

COURT FIGHT - The Bar Association is taking Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite to court following his failure to acknowledge their concerns about the legality of the mandatory requirement for tax clearance certificates in certain legal and financial transactions. ”He’s not had the courtesy of even acknowledging, far less responding,” Queen’s Counsel Barry Gale, who is leading a team of lawyers representing the association, told the DAILY NATION regarding the letter sent to Brathwaite on June 19. The association had threatened legal action if the Government did not repeal the new law requiring the certificates within two weeks of receipt of the letter. (DN)

DO YOUR JOB, MOTTLEY TELLS KELLMAN – Leader of the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Mia Mottley has called on the Minister responsible for Housing Denis Kellman to spend more time doing his job and less time on call-in programmes. “If he was spending less time on the call-in programmes and in Moon Town he would know that somebody needs to be held for this massive wastage of money and those persons should perhaps be spending time at Dodds rather than walking around Barbados freely today,” Mottley said. The BLP Leader was making reference to the unoccupied lots at the Parish Land Development in St Philip. Speaking to a group of journalists in the area on Saturday during a BLP ‘rubbing shoulders’ event, Mottley highlighted how the housing project which was launched in 2010 was left to rot and decay seven years later. “You cannot have houses shut up for five years, six years and expect that people can find these houses functional,” she said. “This Parish Land Development was about contracts, it was not about the supplying of housing. If it was about supplying of housing it would be full of little children, cars and all kinds of people but this was designed to supply contracts before the last election and empty it stands today,” Mottley added. (BT)

WORKERS DESERVE A STRIKE FUND – Is it really true what I (Bobby Alleyne) heard on Friday from a former senior trade unionist? Would he have been right with what he had to say about the trade unions? Can Miss Toni Moore, Mr Akanni McDowall, Miss Mary Redman and Mr Pedro Shepherd please inform us, the general public, including the members of the collective and individual unions, that there is no strike fund? Does this mean that public officers who take industrial action and are off the job protesting against their employer must with the same mouth and hands reach out to that employer for mercy by granting them the pay for services not rendered. After 75 years of an active, boisterous and sometimes bellicose trade union movement, shouldn’t the protection of workers who must take to the picket line in defence of what is perceived as a stand against wrong, be a priority? The unions, rather than sporting expensive luxury vehicles, which they may have been granted free of duties, should ensure there is good provision within the labour movement for its members. This should include a strike fund. Perhaps Mr David Comissiong, whose wish is to defend every cause, may want to speak, in his very able style, to this uneasy matter. (DN)

STOP PLASTIC BAG FEE – A group of consumers has asked the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) to investigate the “unnecessary” imposition of a fee on plastic bags at retail shops. The group is also urging retailers to stop charging the fee, which proponents say will lead to less use of environmentally unfriendly plastic. A letter was submitted to the FTC on June 26, outlining the group’s concerns about the initiative which got under way last month and has seen some retailers charging consumers 15 cents for plastic bags. The fee is expected to be fully instituted by the major supermarkets from September.The letter was signed by radio talk show host Maureen Holder who has spoken out against the fee on her programme. (DN)

PEACE OF MIND’ WITH BABY CAMERAS – Only one day care centre, out of more than 100 private nurseries on the island, has so far taken up an offer by a local company to install baby video monitors. Andrew Cave of watchyourinfant.com, which installs cameras in day care centres so parents may see their children via a web page, said he was disappointed that nurseries had not bought into it. “The idea behind it is to give parents peace of mind so that if they have a busy schedule they can peek in and see what their child is doing,” Cave said. “They would not have to miss those first steps or that first sound.” Just last month, an issue emerged at Little Treasures Day Care Centre, resulting in parents blasting the nursery on social media for its practices. (DN)

TAXI OPERATORS WELCOME NEW FACILITY – One of the parties that will be directly affected by the demolition of the old entrance at the Bridgetown Port Inc. and construction of the new one is on board with the project. Leader of one of the taxi associations, Anthony Eastmond (below), described the $1.1 million project as “timely” and needed. Yesterday at the start of the demolition, senior port official Karl Branch said the entire process was the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. He admitted that fewer taxis would be allowed in the port during that time but he said they had consulted with the operators ahead of time. (DN)

EYES ON SAFER ROAD – The cries from the people of Westmoreland, St James, have not fallen on deaf ears. The area has been the site of fatalities and near misses over the years. Mary Downes, who was killed on the road last week, was one of the voices who often criticised the bad driving practices she witnessed, as well as the lack of either a roundabout or lights to help regulate traffic. Downes, 61, died on Wednesday when a collision between two trucks caused one of them to veer to the side and strike her while she was standing. On Friday, Minister of Transport and Works Michael Lashley visited Westmoreland where Downes’ family and friends were holding a small tribute. He told the DAILY NATION that ministry officials were there to see how best they could eliminate the dangers posed by the road. (DN)

BOYCE APPEALS TO CHINA – Minister of Health John Boyce is appealing to Chinese authorities for urgent help in the training of Barbadian nurses in the area of critical care nursing. He made the appeal to Chinese Ambassador Wang Ke at the Chinese Embassy on Friday night, during a special farewell reception for the first delegation of the Chinese medical team and welcome of the second delegation. Under that programme, eight Chinese nurses and doctors spent approximately six months in Barbados carrying out medical aide services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) as they also provided a level of support and training to local doctors and nurses in some specialized medical fields. That team will depart in about a week. However, the second batch of eight nurses and doctors arrived on the island last week and will spend one year under the same programme. Welcoming the new group and thanking the first set of medical practitioners for their contribution to the health care system here, Boyce said he wanted to see “even stronger bonds” between the Chinese team and that of the QEH. (BT)

HEALTH RISKS WITHOUT RUNNING WATER - All Anne Browne wants is for her elderly and ailing mother to live out the rest of her years in dignity. At 91 years old, Ernesta Browne has never had the luxury of running water at her house. The family live at Dash Valley, St George, in an area which is considered a water zone and they have not been allowed to instal water on the property. On a daily basis Anne collects buckets of water from her identical twin sister Peggy, who lives next door but who, surprisingly, has water connected to her house. However, Anne, 51, is now at her wits’ end since health inspectors have ordered her not to dig any more outdoor toilet pits on the land even though the one she now uses is full. (DN)

BEAT DRY SEASON BY STORING WATER! – After two years of drought, meteorologists are forecasting general rainfall levels to return to normal for 2017. But despite predicting more rainfall this year for Barbados, chief of applied meteorology and climatology at the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman, is urging Barbadians to take the dry season more seriously. In a recent interview, Trotman said that earlier this year there was some concern about the likelihood of El Niño returning as it was present during the 2015 drought. However, he said their predictions showed the first half of the season would be “wet” and actual events had proven that forecast true. (DN)

LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE – Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education Senator Harry Husbands is advocating that students be equipped with Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQs) and a foreign language when they leave the educational system. Husbands was at the time addressing the 15 winners of the Lawson Weekes Educational Scholarship from the constituency of St Michael North West. He told the class four graduates of Deacons Primary, St Stephen’s Primary, Eagle Hall Primary and Half Moon Fort to get engage and learn a lifelong skill when they enter into secondary. Husbands encouraged to students gathered at the Almond Bay to follow in the steps of Lawson Weekes and be individuals that create jobs not only for themselves but also for others. (BT)

BOA FED UP - The National Sports Council (NSC) still hasn’t given out a cent in grants to any of Barbados’ top athletes after failing to meet the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA) for a proposed joint funding commission. That’s according to BOA assistant secretary general Cammie Burke, who expressed annoyance over the delay and said the BOA was about to pay its second $240 000 grant for the year without any assistance from the NSC. “I don’t think the National Sports Council is serious about funding our athletes and it feels like they just want to piggyback on our efforts because I can’t understand why they don’t see it fit to come back to us and say what their contribution will be,” Burke said. (DN)

TWELFTH WIN FOR APPARITION - Apparition, under a steady ride by jockey Antonio Perch, easily won the feature Season Of Emancipation Handicap over 1 100 metres to give her trainer Boston John a brace at the Garrison Savannah on Saturday. It was an assignment that was made to look very easy on the firm track as the Stephen and Andrew Jardine-owned mare advanced her career record to 12 wins from 34 starts. On leaving the gates she tracked leader Wild Cat Tea who flew away from the stalls with a three-length cushion. Apparition, the recipient of ten pounds, effortlessly joined Wild Cat Tea to share the lead at the three-furlong marker. The pair remained together until the home stretch run when Apparition turned up the heat on Wild Cat Tea. (DN)

FOOTBALL CHIEF PLEASED WITH TEAM – Technical director of the Barbados Football Association, Ahmed Mohamed, is happy with the performance of the national team at the recently concluded Windward Islands Football Association’s Men’s Football Tournament in Grenada despite their bottom finish. “Our performance in general was exceptional. We played four good games; we won one, drew one and lost one as the match against St Lucia did not count,” he said during an interview with NATIONSPORT. Grenada took the top spot with seven points, with Dominica ending on six points as the only undefeated team. St Lucia were third with five points. While St Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados both ended on four points, St Vincent had the better goal difference to leave Barbados in the cellar position. (DN)

ROAD SHOW IN WORKS – The hugely popular Classic Car Revival Show could be hitting the road, or at least the track of Vaucluse, St Thomas, later this year if all goes according to plan. The man behind the biannual event says he is looking to rope in a number of other motoring clubs to present a local road show. George Ullyett was speaking to the Daily NATION as hundreds of car and motoring enthusiasts descended on Content, St Thomas to inspect more than 50 vintage vehicles which sat sparkling in the afternoon sun. This is the show’s fifth year and Ullyett said given the enthusiasm for the Classic Car Show, he was looking to add other events at different locations. (DN)

LEACOCK’S FUNERAL SET FOR JULY 21 – The funeral service for the late Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Charles Leacock, QC, will be held on Friday, July 21 at the Cathedral Church of St Michael and All Angels. The 10 a.m. service willl be followed by a cremation. Leacock’s body will repose in the Colin Parkinson Memorial Chapel, Lyndhurst Funeral Home on Thursday, July 20 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Leacock died last Saturday after undergoing prostate surgery in Orlando Florida. The 59-year-old senior judicial officer is survived by his wife Betty June and two sons Donald and Brian. (BT)

SAVANNAH BEACH HOTEL HOSTS WEDDING FAIR – The Savannah Beach Hotel hosted its inaugural wedding fair on Saturday with everything from invitation cards to personalized decorations under one roof Some 13 wedding planners participated in the event and one lucky couple will benefit from an all expenses paid wedding. “We give patrons the opportunity to come in and have a view of our venue. Come into our home and see how you are being pampered when you come to Savannah Beach Hotel,” explained coordinator Dionne Vaughan. “Everything that they need, we can do and book for you because when you have to go from the church to another venue and you have to look for transportation that is all the costs adding up but if you come to Savannah you get your dress here, your service, your reception and you can also get your honeymoon,” she added. Vaughan said they plan to make the event an annual one. (BT)

THOUSANDS FLOCK TO BRANDONS BEACH FOR PAN PUN DE SAND - Thousands of people have converged on Brandons Beach for the annual Pan Pun De Sand. The pan lovers have packed onto every inch of the beach for the free event. Pan groups from Combermere and the Daryl Jordan Secondary School as well as the Aceworx Community Steel Orchestra kept the crowd thoroughly entertained during the early part of the evening. Pannist Dwight Callendar did a collaboration with Riddim Tribe Dancers and deejays Hutchy and Sizz. The popular Mosaic Steel Orchestra led by David ZigE Walcott also performed. (BT)

T&T DESIGNER: COSTUMES LACK CREATIVITY - With Kadooment day less than three weeks away, a seasoned mas band designer in Trinidad has decried the lack of creativity and imagination in costumes. Makemba Kunle is in Barbados with an exhibition of some of his visual works of art, which are on show at the Caribbean Gallery of Art in Speightstown. “I think the trend is one of the worst things that could happen,” he said of Barbados’ costume designers all but mimicking Trinidadian costume designs, “because the artist, the art of the country, the culture of the country is what would teach us how to be creative and how to use what you have and be resourceful”. “If coming out of being independent countries, coming out of colonialism, if we cannot depend on what we have and on our own imagination to bring into being our own carnival costume, we lost.” (DN)

SMOKEY BURKE TO LEAD OFF SEMIS - Veteran calypsonian Smokey Burke of Super Gladiators will set the tone at the semi-finals of the 2017 Courtesy Mount Gay Pic-O-De-Crop calypso competition. The draw was conducted on Saturday at the National Cultural Foundation’s West Terrace, St James, headquarters. Burke will be followed by former junior monarch Ms Sammy G from the House of Soca, while AC of De Big Show will round off the list of 18 competitors. The semi-finals are scheduled for July 21 at the 3Ws Amphitheater, Kensington Oval, St Michael. The full line-up in order of appearance: 1. Smokey Burke, 2. Ms Sammy G, 3. Billboard, 4. Donella, 5. MR BLOOD, 6 Chrystal, 7. iWeb, 8. Amazing Dre, 9. Colin Spencer, 10. Ms AC, 11. Observer, 12. Classic, 13. Jamal Slocombe, 14. Edwin, 15. Charisma, 16. Sir Ruel, 17. Franswaa, 18. AC. (DN)

That’s all for today folks there are 168 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

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Bajan Newscap 6/16/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Friday 16th June 2017. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Weekend Nation Newspaper (WN).

BAJANS BETTER OFF THAN BEFORE – Barbadians are better off today than years ago, says Minister of Social Care and Community Development Steven Blackett. The minister gave no tangible evidence to back his claim but said the numbers were higher than those 4 000 people currently registered with the department. “I hear all the talk about children suffering, bellies to them back, but I don’t see that. That is not my experience. I see Barbadians showing thrift and enterprise and doing the wonderful things to help themselves,” he said. “Believe it or not, 4 000 people are on the registry of the Welfare Department. When you consider a population of 270 000-280 000 that is really a drop in the ocean,” he told WEEKEND NATION after the reopening of Lancaster House Wednesday. (WN)

OH NO BLACKETT – Government is being told that it must not use the homeless to score cheap political points. President of the Barbados Vagrants and Homeless Society (BVHS) Kemar Saffrey is expressing outrage that Minister of Social Care Steve Blackett sought to place the genesis of vagrancy on the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP). Blackett said in Parliament on Tuesday that the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) administration had inherited vagrancy from the BLP, prompting Saffrey to issue a stern rebuke. The BVHS founder said when he began working with the homeless in 2007 there were “about 40 persons who we knew were homeless and that would have been under the Barbados Labour Party administration”. However, he said since founding the charitable organization two years later, there had been a rise in homelessness, with “411 homeless persons that have passed through our services between 2012 and 2016 and that is under the current DLP administration”. Therefore, he said, it was not right for the minister to point fingers at the Opposition because the problem has existed under both parties. Saffrey said several factors, including the state of the economy, job loss, lack of family support, as well as drugs and mental health issues play a role in vagrancy, and the society needed to do more to eradicate the problem. BLP candidate for St Michael Central Arthur Holder is also taking Blackett to task over the comment, insisting there was no truth to the allegation. He said the BLP had established the Clyde Gollop Home in Hindsbury Road for vagrants, and acknowledged that the facility had to be expanded under the current administration, arguing this was because there had been a significant increase in the number of vagrants and homeless men here. Holder also pointed to a rise in the number of women and children now seeking shelter, an increase in requests for support from the Salvation Army and a staggering jump in demand for help from the All Souls Church in Bank Hall, which had set up a soup kitchen “which initially catered to 30 persons, but that number has risen to 130 persons per week”. (BT)

SINGLE MOTHERS AT A DISADVANTAGE – A retired National Insurance Scheme (NIS) officer has charged that unemployed single mothers are being disadvantaged by some of the government agency’s regulations, and not receiving benefits he believes they should be entitled to. Stephen Strickland made the allegation late last week as he delivered the Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) lunchtime lecture at the George Street Auditorium, where he charged that the National Insurance Department was out of touch with the realities of the real world. Strickland made specific reference to regulations governing the payment of maternity benefits, which he argued were skewed heavily towards women who were married or in common law relationships. He noted that under the existing NIS regulations, an unemployed, unwed expectant mother must have been living with the father of the child for at least two years in order to benefit from his contributions. If the father of the child is married to someone else, the woman is also prohibited from claiming for maternity benefits based on his contributions. However, the retired public servant, who has taken to pastoring in his golden years, argued that it should not be within the purview of the contributory scheme to assess the moral circumstances under which women become pregnant. The outspoken former NIS employee also expressed concern that archaic regulations within Barbados’ labour laws threaten the employment of women who have more than three pregnancies. (BT)

PSV OPERATORS WANT $3 BUS FARE – The joint committee representing public service vehicle (PSV) owners and operators has written to Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler demanding an increase in bus fares. In the letter dated June 14, 2017 and subtitled, A Call for an Increase in the Fare Charged to Passengers by the PSV Industry and for Duty Free Concessions on Replacement Vehicles, the owners asked for no less than a 50 per cent rise, increasing the fees passengers pay from $2.00 to $3.00. It is their response to the austere budgetary measures announced by Sinckler last month, which include increases of 24 cents and 25 cents per litre in the excise duty on diesel and gasoline, as well as the introduction of a two per cent tax on foreign exchange transactions and a steep jump in the National Social Responsibility Levy from two per cent to ten per cent. Lee contended that privately run PSVs transport “anywhere between 70 to 75 per cent” of the island’s passengers “so therefore the operators are really carrying the burden for Barbados, and I am hoping that the finance minister would see it that way”. He reiterated that Sinckler did not have to raise bus fares if he could present other creative ways to assist the PSVs. (BT)

SPRING GARDEN FLOODED – Work is on to fix the burst 18-inch main at Spring Garden, St Michael. Yesterday afternoon Barbados Water Authority (BWA) employees were on the scene pumping off water from areas near the roadside. BWA’s rapid response and communications manager Joy-Ann Haigh explained that this accumulation of water resulted from heavy rainfall on Wednesday mixed with water from the burst main. “We were clearing the main because we locked it off last night (Wednesday night) to repair it today (Thursday),” Haigh said. “But to repair a main we must clear it. Hence the reason why we cannot fix mains in pouring rain.” She did not provide a timeline for when the burst main would be fixed. (WN)

NEW SERVICES – By the end the year, credit unions in Barbados could be offering a number of additional services to their customers. Vice-president of the Barbados Cooperative & Credit Union League, Hally Haynes yesterday revealed to the WEEKEND NATION that plans were under way for the introduction of foreign exchange transactions and credit card services to the credit union movement. Haynes, who is also the chairman of the league’s financial services committee, said if everything goes according to plan, those services would be available by December 2017. “What we have been doing in recent times is looking at the question of financial services to members of the credit union sector. We have established a committee, which is primarily geared towards rolling out financial services such as foreign exchange and credit card services to the members of the credit union movement,” he explained. (WN)

SEALY UPBEAT ABOUT TOURISM, MYERS CAUTIOUS – While Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy Wednesday night sounded upbeat about the island’s tourism sector, Chairman of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) Rosanne Myers cautioned of uncertainty ahead. The two leaders of Barbados tourism shared their perspectives of the industry at the BHTA’s 65th anniversary celebrations at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, during which past and present members were inducted into the newly established Hall of Fame, while contributors from related industries were recognized for their support for tourism. The minister also referenced the latest announcement by the British carrier Virgin Atlantic that it would launch “the world’s first departure beach” on Browne’s Beach next year, where its passengers can relax on the sand, go swimming, “cool off” in an air conditioned lounge and “check in on the beach . . . and get your boarding pass too”. However, Myers warned “the world is a very uncertain place” and that “from one minute to the other you don’t know what is going to happen”. Therefore, she advised the BHTA had to remain focused and “we have to make sure that we are strategic in our thinking, in our planning because we are facing some crises all over the world”. Barbados received over 630,000 long-stay visitors last year, and tourism officials say it is on course to set a new record this year. (BT)

BARBADIANS WARNED TO CHANGE THEIR EATING HABITS – With 60 per cent of the beds in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) occupied by persons afflicted with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), retired medical practitioner Dr Maurice Smith is urging Barbadians to change their sedentary lifestyles and to immediately address their bad eating habits. The retired gynecologist made the appeal at the University of West Indies Cave Hill Campus this week during Health Week, which runs June 12-16 under the theme Generating Wealth Through Health. Dr Smith argued that the fight against NCDs in Barbados was an uphill battle, with 25 per cent of the population suffering from hypertension, stroke, heart attack and cancer. He disclosed that two to three strokes occurred here on a daily basis with 14 heart attacks were recorded every week. He therefore urged those in attendance to “let food be your medicine and let your medicine be your food”. (BT)

CRIES HEARD – Seventy-one-year-old Ordene Forde could soon wake up from her perennial nightmare to a home fit for habitation. Following the publication by Barbados TODAY earlier this week of a story about the squalid conditions which the Bibby’s Lane, St Michael pensioner must endure, the National Assistance Board (NAB) is promising Forde an improved standard of living. NAB Chairman Dr David Durant and Acting Welfare Officer Kayrene Healis today visited the elderly woman and discovered that her description of her condition as “a state of horror” was just about right. The NAB today said it would tackle the rodent problem, with Healis promising to ask the Environmental Health Department to provide rat bait and follow up to ensure the conditions improve. Healis also vowed to have a private discussion with Forde to ascertain her economic condition in order to determine the level of assistance the welfare agency would offer, while she advised the septuagenarian to visit the Eunice Gibson Polyclinic to check for leptospirosis. Meantime, Durant said the elderly woman ought to be relocated ahead of any possible hurricane activity. The NAB boss also questioned whether the pensioner had any children and why they had not come to her assistance. However, Forde interrupted to explain that of her four children, one lives in a semi-dilapidated structure next door and is a longtime patient of the Psychiatric Hospital, while the other three also faced socio-economic problems and were barely able to meet their rent payments. (BT)

TENANTS SPLIT LEAVING $25000 BILL – A kind-hearted landlord has been left thousands of dollars in debt after two tenants ran off without paying rent. As a result, Olvin Clarke has been forced to take legal action in an effort to recoup the almost $25 000 owed to him. The 71-year-old retiree, who resides at Lot 1, Constant, St George, has two upstairs two-bedroom apartments attached to his home, which he shares with his teenaged daughter. But both of his former tenants have left within months of each other still owing him a substantial amount of money. (WN)

Watch out for telephone scammer – Police are warning members of the public to be on the lookout for a telephone scammer. Lawmen say they have received several reports of an unidentified individual calling households from an overseas number, area code 803, pretending to be a family member and trying to persuade people to remit funds. “The general public is being advised against sending money or engaging in any financial transaction with callers without first confirming that the caller is indeed a bonafide family member,” police said in a brief statement this evening on the matter. “Members of the public are also being advised that they should alert the police of any suspicious calls or activity,” the statement added. (BT)

STILL NO ANSWERS ON MISSING DAD – More than nine months after Marlon “Brando” Smith was last seen alive, police are being asked to come clean with the details surrounding his escape from their custody. The call has come from Smith’s attorney, Queen’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim, who is not satisfied that lawmen are paying enough attention to finding the 37-year-old father of four. Back on September 9, 2016, police reported that Smith had escaped from custody, while being questioned in connection with a serious matter. Describing it as the “most unique situation that I have ever dealt with the police and an escapee from their custody”, Pilgrim said information needed to be forthcoming. (WN)

TENSIONS RISING – Pressure is building at Her Majesty’s Prison Dodds with officers said to be close to breaking point. This revelation was made Thursday by attorney-at-law Gregory Nicholls, the legal representative for members of the Barbados Prison Officers Association (BPOA). During a press briefing at the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) Dalkeith Road headquarters, Nicholls not only accused the prison’s hierarchy, including Ministry of Home Affairs Adriel Brathwaite and Superintendent of Prisons John Nurse, of victimizing his clients, but also warned that protests may be imminent even though prison officers are prohibited by law from taking industrial action. However, when pressed by Barbados TODAY to say if there were plans for a major sickout, Nicholls recanted somewhat saying, “I don’t have any information that a sickout is looming”. (BT)

BAD GRANDPA - Bridgetown Magistrate Douglas Frederick today suggested to a 58-year-old that he had a Jekyll and Hyde persona. This, after he admitted to having illegal drugs in the same house as his grandchildren. The drugs were found when police executed a search warrant at his Dukes Alley, Nelson Street, St Michael home earlier today. Prosecutor Sergeant Martin Rock said when the officers entered the house, Cadogan reached behind the refrigerator and pulled out a plastic bag, which contained 53 wrappings of the vegetable substance, and handed it over to lawmen. A further search was conducted in a rear bedroom occupied by Cadogan, and another quantity of the compressed drug was found. His attorney Mohia Ma’at urged the court today to impose a suspended sentence on his client, whom he said was reaching seniority and had responsibilities although he was retired. That prompted the magistrate to question: “Why keep marijuana with so many children in the house?” The attorney argued that his client would have taken precautions to ensure that the children would not come into contact with the substance, “just in the same way licensed firearm holders do.” “He would welcome the imposition of a fine as opposed to a custodial sentence,” Ma’at also said. “I am warning him that he is running out of paying fines and the next time it may be prison,” the magistrate replied. It was at that time that Cadogan said he only got the drugs from “a man last night”. “Looks like you have a Jekyll and Hyde personality,” the magistrate said as he imposed the suspended sentence for a year. If Cadogan gets himself into trouble during that period, he will spend four months behind bars. “Believe me, I gonna change my life,” he said as he left the dock. (BT)

TWO GIRLS ABSCOND FROM GIS – Police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating two wards of the Government Industrial School (GIS) who absconded while attending the Child Guidance Clinic at the Branford Taitt Polyclinic, Black Rock, St Michael, around noon on Wednesday. They are 16-year-old Trekida Worrell, whose last known address was Greenwich Village, St James, and a 14-year-old minor, whose last known address was Coverly Terrace, Christ Church. Worrell is about 5ft 5 in height, light brown in complexion, with small eyes and protruding bottom lips. At the time of her disappearance, her hair was plaited in a cornrow style, opened at the front. The 14-year-old ward of the state is about five feet in height, petite in size, light brown in complexion, and also has her hair plaited in a cornrow style, opened at the front. Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact the Black Rock Police Station at telephone 417-7500, Police Emergency at telephone number ‘211’, the nearest police station or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS (8477). (BT)

TEEN ON ASSAULT CHARGE – A daily curfew has been imposed on a 16-year-old female who appeared in court yesterday on several assault charges. Brittany Joseph Odle of Block 4D, Farm Road, Deacons Farm, St Michael pleaded guilty before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant to unlawfully assaulting Shekhina Holford on June 1 and again on May 25, occasioning her actual bodily harm. However, she denied that she assaulted Hannah Holford the following day, or that she destroyed a cellular phone belonging to Shekhina Holford without lawful excuse on May 25. Police Prosecutor Sergeant Cameron Gibbons had no objections to bail, but Odle’s freedom came with conditions. Magistrate Cuffy-Sargeant warned her to stay away from the complainants and to be indoors by 6 p.m. every evening. She must not leave her home before 6 a.m. The teenager was granted $5,000 bail, which she secured with one surety. She will return to court on September 27. In a separate case before the District ‘A’ Court magistrate, Theodore Dwayne Cumberbatch denied a criminal damage charge. The Tamarind Road, Black Rock, St Michael resident is accused of damaging a watch and a cellular phone belonging to Ria Charles, without lawful excuse, on June 10. The prosecutor Sergeant Cameron Gibbons said the Crown was not objecting to bail but urged the magistrate to attach conditions. Cumberbatch was released on $8,000 bail, which he secured with one surety. Before he left the court, the magistrate warned him to stay away from Charles. The accused man must also report to the Black Rock Police Station every Wednesday before noon with valid identification. (BT)

DUO ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING WOMAN - Two St Michael residents – a man and a woman – denied an assault charge when they appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court jointly accused of the offence. It is alleged that Sean Andre Antonio Goddard, 27, and Andrea Arlene Best, 50, both of Murray Road, Clevedale, assaulted Shereena Armstrong on June 10, occasioning her actual bodily harm. The two were granted bail in the sum of $5,000 each, which they secured. As part of their bail conditions, they have been warned not to interfere with the complainant. They are scheduled to make their second appearance before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant on September 7. Over in the High Court, Terry Avery Toppin of Chapel Land #1, St Philip denied two wounding charges levelled against him. Appearing before Madam Justice Michelle Weekes in the No. 2 Supreme Court yesterday, he pleaded not guilty to causing serious bodily harm to Dave Harte with intent to cause serious bodily harm or to maim, disfigure or disable him on October 5, 2009. He also denied unlawfully and maliciously wounding the same man on the same date. Following his plea, the matter was adjourned to September 26. Attorney-at-law Angella Mitchell-Gittens is representing the accused man while Crown Counsel Oliver Thomas is the prosecutor. (BT)

PAKISTAN, INDIA FOR ICC FINAL – Rampant India will defend their ICC Champions Trophy title against Pakistan in this Sunday’s final after trouncing Bangladesh by nine wickets in the semi-final, at Edgbaston Thursday. Opener Rohit Sharma (123 not out) led the way, striking his 11th ODI hundred, as India cruised to their victory target with consummate ease in just 40.1 overs after restricting Bangladesh to 264 for 7 despite Tamim Iqbal’s 70. Rohit reached his century with a six off Mustafizur Rahman after putting on 87 for the first wicket with Golden Bat front-runner Shikhar Dhawan (46), the right-hander sealing Bangladesh’s fate in ruthless fashion in an unbroken stand of 178 with captain Virat Kohli (96 not out). Kohli passed 8,000 ODI career runs – the quickest player to do so, in just 175 innings – during his knock. (BT)

SERIES ENDS 1-1 AFTER RAIN RUINS DECIDER - Persistent heavy rain forced the abandonment of the decisive third One-Day International between West Indies and Afghanistan here Wednesday night, leaving the three-match series in a 1-1 stalemate. The adverse weather, which started overnight and continued all day, refused to relent for any significant length of time, leaving the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground under water and play was eventually called off at 7:12 p.m. With the original start time of 2:30 p.m. delayed by 2-1/4 hours, the game was reduced to 43 overs per side when the weather finally eased somewhat late in the evening and officials managed to get the toss spun. Afghanistan called correctly and opted to bat but the revised start time of 4:45 p.m. never came to fruition as the rains returned to ruin any chance of play. (WN)

FOUNDATION & QC BATTLE – Last year’s losing finalists Queen’s College and Christ Church Foundation will now battle for the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Under-13 netball title after commanding victories in yesterday’s semi-finals at the Netball Stadium. QC crushed Coleridge & Parry 19-3 while Foundation were just as mean in beating The Lodge School 13-6 to set up a showdown in next Tuesday’s final. Reana Gilkes netted a perfect 12 goals from 12 attempts while Dominique Blenman’s 3/8 and Liana Leacock’s 4/9 supported admirably. The Husbands, St James girls also dominated in the defensive circle where the imposing Rhashan Hunte and Zakila Coppin limited CP’s shooters with their height and court awareness to just ten shots while snapping up any misses. (WN)

CALLS FOR OVAL STAGE – Kensington oval may be a major player this Crop Over season. And not just at the actual ground either. The new hydraulic stage seems to be getting a lot of interest, as Kensington Oval Management Inc. (KOMI) has been fielding calls from promoters who want to rent the mobile stage for use outside the Oval. An inside source close to the situation disclosed the information just three weeks after KOMI finally acquired the sleek $300 000 piece of equipment. “Apparently KOMI received at least three enquiries to use the stage off the premises and one of them was one of the major promoters who initially called asking about the pricing,” the source said. (WN)

That’s all for today folks. There are 198 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

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Bajan Newscap 6/11/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Sunday 11th June 2017. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Sunday Sun Newspaper (SS).

NUPW: PULL TAXES OR WE MARCH – The National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) is ready to call out its members if Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler does not recall the tax measures in last month’s Budget. The decision to place industrial action on the table was taken late last week during a special meeting of the executive council of the NUPW, headed by president Akanni McDowall. The president was unable to say exactly when the action would be taken, but said the union will give Government until July 1 to roll back the new taxes. “In light of the challenges, the union is calling for the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Christopher Sinckler to either immediately repeal the tax measures or to institute a ‘coping subsidy’ for public servants until salary negotiations have been concluded,” McDowall told the SUNDAY SUN. (SS)

DEBT PLAN FOR NIS, BANK BLASTED – A plan to get the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and the Central Bank of Barbados to extend the time for Government to make interest payments due to the two entities has been blasted by a retired permanent secretary. William Layne, who served in the Ministry of Finance, said the plan announced by Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler in his May 31 Budget would disadvantage the NIS. Sinckler said talks had started with the NIS and the Central Bank to ease interest payments on Government debt. While Sinckler did not go into details on the move, he told the House of Assembly the proposed debt re-profiling would save Government at least $70 million on interest expenses in this financial year. (SS)

PSV OPERATIONS SAY THEY NEED RELIEF - Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators have renewed their call to Government to act promptly to bring them some relief. In a joint statement issued today, Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) and the Association of Public Transport Operators (APTO) pointed to their proposals submitted to the Ministries of Finance, Commerce and Transport over the last three years. The PSV operators noted that following the May 2017 set of national budgetary measures, many businesses across several sectors reacted immediately to confirm that their logical response would be an increase in prices and fees. The PSV operators noted that it is the responsibility of the decision-makers to continually review and assess the impact of these changes, particularly in the case such as in the PSV industry where the passenger fares are legislated. (BT)

SHOPPERS WARNED PRICE HIKE COMING – The controversial new tax impositions by the Minister of Finance are beginning to bite. One major wholesale distributor has already given notice to clients that its prices will start to rise from July 1 and it is likely that retailers will pass on the price hikes to their customers. In his 2017 Budget last month, Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler announced the introduction of a two per cent levy on all foreign exchange transactions that also include online purchases and money transfers. In addition, the National Social Responsibility Levy will jump from two per cent to ten per cent. In a letter dated June 8, Western Wholesale Inc., a Barbarees Hill, St Michael distributor and agent said it would be forced to increase prices by eight per cent. (SS)

SWEET DRINK TAX COULD INCREASE – The ten percent tax on sweet drinks remains firmly in place for now. However, Minister of Health John Boyce has revealed that could soon change as the two-year-old tax is under review and there are recommendations on the table to increase the tax to 50 per cent. Boyce pointed this out yesterday during the fourth annual Caribbean Medical Providers Practising Abroad Medical Conference at Hilton Barbados. The minister told the SUNDAY SUN that based on the analysis of data done so far, the Government was only receiving six per cent income from the ten per cent sweet drink tax as some businesses were absorbing the costs. (SS)

MALONEY OPEN TO VIEWS ON HYATT – It’s not A public relations stunt. That denial came from developer of the Hyatt Centric hotel, Mark Maloney, in relation to an interactive session held yesterday at the Lower Bay Street, Bridgetown site earmarked for the 15-storey hotel that would feature 250 guest rooms and suites and 44 residences. There have been public suggestions that plans for the project were set in stone and that the concerns of residents would not be taken on board at this late stage. “The concerns of people will always be taken on board. We follow process and procedure. We have followed process and procedures up today and haven’t circumvented any process. It’s not a PR stunt. It’s a PR requirement of what we’re doing and nothing that we’re doing is going to be branded as a stunt or circumventing of process,” Maloney told the media. (SS)

UWI OUT $20,000 A MONTH – The cash-strapped University of the West Indies at Cave Hill is forking out $20 000 a month to lease the unoccupied Mutual Building on Broad Street. The multistorey building, which was built in 1894 and is now a World Heritage Site, was handed over in 2014 to be used as a City campus. Vice chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles, who is also a director of Sagicor, the successor of the Barbados Mutual Life Assurance Society, was involved in brokering the deal for the use of the building, but the terms and conditions had not been revealed. However, SUNDAY SUN investigations have discovered that the campus has been paying $240 000 annually to Sagicor. (SS)

BAJAN DICTIONARY WISH LIST – A Barbadian dictionary has not yet been developed, but it is on the wish list of a Barbados-based scholar. Research fellow in lexicography at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, and director of the Richard and Jeanette Allsop Centre for Caribbean Lexicography, Dr Jason Siegel, said, however, that the process was costly and time consuming. Siegel was speaking on the sidelines of a three-day 21st Biennial Conference of the Dictionary Society of North America, which opened yesterday at Accra Beach Hotel. He said that Barbadian academics and others involved in the writing, editing or compiling of dictionaries, a process called lexicography, were feeling the effects of tightened finances, much like their overseas counterparts, which was one of the messages they wanted to communicate. (SS)

HOUSEHOLD TRAINING IN CPR BY 2020 – An effort is on to save lives in cases of emergency. The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Project (SCAP) is hoping to have at least one person in each household trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by 2020, and access to defibrillators in high- trafficked areas such as malls, gyms and movie theatres. The Sandy Crest and Coverley Medical Centres, Regal Development Solutions and Caribbean Health Solutions have partnered in the life-saving training project revealed yesterday at Sandy Crest. Dr David Byer, co-manager of the project, said the aim was to have one person in every household able to response in cases of emergencies. (SS)

TOP COP: BAJANS NOT TALKING – It’s block versus block, and bad-man versus bad-man perpetuating gun violence on the streets of Barbados. And according to Acting Commissioner of Police, Tyrone Griffith, plenty of Barbadians in villages and communities have vital information about people involved in drug trafficking and gun-running, but refuse to help lawmen end the shootings which have become widespread in recent months. In the last few weeks, a number of shootings have occurred in Barbados, with four in as many days between June 1 and June 5. “Generally speaking, members of the public assist the police in Barbados, but when it comes to guns, we have intelligence which indicates a lot of information is in the public domain that is not being brought to the police. Every instance of gunplay we would like to get to the bottom of. It is in their own interest to help us,” Griffith told the SUNDAY SUN. (SS)

MUM AT LOSS OVER SON’S KILLING - For Doreen Small, the reality that her son Stephen Agard was gunned down hasn’t quite sunk in. This is despite the fact that she rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital when she received the news and saw what looked like “20 bullets” in her son’s body. “I haven’t accepted it yet because he ain’t look like he is dead,” she told the SUNDAY SUN hours after the incident happened in Black Rock yesterday.“But I’m hoping that by night answers would come,” she said. (SS)

BODY FOUND IN HANGMAN HILL – The body of a man who appears to be in his 20s was discovered in a track at Hangman Hill, St Thomas this evening. Police responded to a report and found the body of a man lying on his back. He was wearing a grey tee shirt and a dark grey pants. Investigations into this matter are continuing. Anyone who can provide any information that can assist with these investigations is asked to call the District ‘D’ Police Station at 4191729 or 4101726, Police Emergency 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIPS (8477) or the nearest police station. All information received will be strictly confidential. (SS)

CYCLIST INJURED IN ACCIDENT ALONG BLACK ROCK MAIN ROAD – A cyclist was injured during a collision with a car on Saturday afternoon along Black Rock Main Road, St Michael. Haynes Riley, 24, of Beckles Road, St Michael complained of pain to his left leg and neck and was transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by ambulance. Tracia Nicholls of Kingsland Heights, Christ Church was the driver of the car, but she did not report any injuries. The accident occurred around 12:45 p.m. Investigations are continuing. (SS)

WOMAN HELD WITH GANJA CONCEALED IN WATER HEATER - Members of the Drug Squad have arrested and charged a 28-year-old Christ Church woman in connection with four drug related offences. Keisha Natasha Grandison, 28, of Brathwaite’s Gap, Dayrells Road, Christ Church was arrested and charged with possession of cannabis, trafficking of cannabis, possession with intent to supply cannabis and importation of cannabis. The police say Grandison made arrangements with another person in the U.S. to have items sent to her. These items included a water heater, which had cannabis concealed in it. On Wednesday, June 7 she presented the necessary documents and collected her cargo. As a result of information received, she was subsequently seen and stopped by police. A subsequent search of the water heater revealed nine wrapped packages, all containing cannabis. The cannabis weighed 17.5 kg and with an estimated street value of $140,000. Grandison appeared before Magistrate Cuffy-Sargeant in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court today was granted bail in the sum of $10,000 with two sureties to reappear in Court on June 12. (BT)

WALCOTT STEALS THE SHOW – Experienced jockey Rickey Walcott enjoyed a pleasant steal at the Garrison Savannah yesterday. Walcott triumphed in the feature 1 800 metres St Ann’s Garrison Handicap with the Jean-marc Cozier owned and trained filly Stolen on the Barbados Turf Club’s Historic Bridgetown and Its Garrison Raceday. Walcott and Stolen turned the tables on the favourite Spartacus with jockey Anderson Trotman the pair that defeated them the last time they met over the distance. Walcott also took the Chamberlain Bridge Handicap, courtesy another front-running ride astride favourite San Souci. Rasheed Hughes was the day’s most successful rider, winning three races on Burbon Street, Katrara and Siavonga. Jarelle Beckles rode a brace astride Won Grand and Carbon Copy. Beckles gave trainer Anderson Ward a double as he also won with Pay As You Go. (SS)

That’s all for today folks. There are 203 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

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Bajan Newscap 5/9/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is your daily news cap for Tuesday 9th May 2017. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

BUS BOARD: NOTHING TO DO WITH AD - An advertisement being circulated on social media might not be the doings of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), but that’s not to say it isn’t in support of it. At the same time, the state-owned Transport Board has distanced itself from the ad which features one of its buses. In the ad which has also been circulated on Instagram, two men – one of whom is elderly – board the bus only to be told by the driver, played by popular comedian Seth Xcel Bovell, that bus fare had risen from $2 to $5 as a result of the Transport Board being privatised by the current Government. “Don’t let this nightmare become your reality. Don’t vote Dems. Don’t let them sell off everything,” it stated. (DN)

NO CHANCE - The new political parties that emerged recently have no foundation and no chance in the general election due next year, according to David Comissiong, the controversial political activist and leader of the People’s Empowerment Party (PEP). In fact, Comissiong believes the new movements “should not even be considered as political parties” in the absence of a history of engagement, a philosophy or political agenda. Any serious party, he said, would not spring up shortly before an election with little to show in terms of its history and guiding principles. “I don’t consider those entities parties. I encourage anybody who wants to get involved in the public and political life to do so, so I welcome any involvement. But honestly, if you are going to designate yourself as a political party with any credibility then you can’t jump up within a few months of an election and say, ‘here we are’. You need to have been engaged in the society, in the important issues that confront the people; you need to have been showing that commitment over a period of time, you also need to have a philosophy, you need to have a policy agenda,” Comissiong told Barbados TODAY. Already this year, Barbados Integrity Movement (BIM) led by Neil Holder, and the United Progressive Party (UPP) under the chairmanship of former Barbados Labour Party (BLP) senator Lynette Eastmond, have announced plans to contest the poll. Both parties are said to comprise mainly disgruntled BLP rejects, and join Solutions Barbados, under the leadership of Grenville Phillips II, as the new parties bidding to upset the established parties – namely the main Opposition BLP and the ruling Democratic Labour Party. While Solutions Barbados, made up only of business people, has named nine candidates, the UPP had named only one, and BIM is yet to announce a single person to carry its banner. (BT)

BSTU CALLS URGENT MEETING – Something’s happening, the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) is telling its members. And today, the BSTU is summoning all shop stewards to an urgent meeting. It will take place at the Union’s headquarters, Patrick Frost Centre, 8th Avenue, Belleville, St Michael, starting at 3:30 p.m. After this, shop stewards are expected to host a meeting at their respective schools on Wednesday to update union members on the status of unresolved industrial relations issues. (DN)

LEAVE 11-PLUS ALONE –A former teacher and Minister of State in the Ministry of Education is 100 per cent behind the Common Entrance Examination remaining the method of determining what secondary schools children attend when they leave the primary school level. Cynthia Forde, a former primary school teacher of 25 years, told Barbados TODAY that the exam, formally called the Barbados Secondary School Entrance Examination (BSSEE), is a fair way to assess students for the transition. Amid calls for the exam to be scrapped, the Member of Parliament for St Thomas expressed her support for the test on the sidelines of a Barbados Labour Party media briefing in the St Philip South constituency yesterday afternoon. “It has always been my understanding and my experience that the bank manager’s child will write the exam at the same time as [the child of] his maid or gardener, and once that child has the ability and the training to write that examination, both of them could probably go to the older grammar schools or to the newer secondary schools, or perhaps go and get a bursary,” she said. Forde, who served as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Culture before becoming Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sport, said it was best not to tinker with the structure of the BSSEE without proper thought or guidance. (BT)

BOSSES: FLAWED LAW – THE BARBADOS EMPLOYERS’ CONFEDERATION (BEC) wants adjustments made to the 2012 Employment Rights Act (ERA), with executive director Tony Walcott arguing that it is heavily skewed against the employer. At a press conference at its Brittons Hill, St Michael offices yesterday, Walcott said while the act was intended to secure the rights of employees in the workplace, “sometimes too far . . . takes you right”. “I think there needs to be an adjustment in the swing of the pendulum and we need to get some balance into the process,” he pointed out. Walcott said employers continued to battle with challenges posed by some provisions of the law. This had forced the BEC to submit a 14-page document of suggested changes. (DN)

STILL NO CLEAR NATIONAL SHUT DOWN POLICY – Nearly eight months after the passage of Tropical Storm Matthew last September, local employers say they are still awaiting clarification from Government on its national shutdown policy. In this context, she expressed concern that there was still no clear national shutdown procedure, even after some business operators – including Cabinet minister Denis Kellman – were heavily criticized for keeping their private establishments open and calling out their employees during Matthew’s passage on September 28. The actions, which drew strong condemnation from Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs Adriel Brathwaite who had told a news briefing at the headquarters of the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) in Warrens, St Michael in the immediate aftermath of the storm that it was nothing short of “irresponsible” for businesses to place their employees’ lives in danger by asking them to report to work despite a national shutdown. His position was supported at the time by then Acting Prime Minister Richard Sealy who had said Brathwaite was looking into the matter with a view to possibly making it mandatory to comply with state-declared orders to shut down. Minister of Commerce Donville Inniss had also joined in the condemnation of businesses that put the “almighty dollar” ahead of the safety and security of consumers and staff in times of disaster. However, since then, employers have called for further clarification from Government on the protocols for a national shutdown, given that the DEM’s Policy Framework and Standard Operating Procedures for the Systematic Shutdown and Reactivation of Barbados in times of severe weather, tropical storms or hurricanes lists supermarkets – as well as utility companies, minimarts, shops, pharmacies, general stores, including hardware stores and lumberyards, companies that provide public transportation and telecommunication providers – as essential services. However, Estwick told reporters at a media conference at the BEC’s Breamer Court, Brittons Hill headquarters today that the issue was far from settled. She also raised the issue of national productivity, suggesting that while the Social Partnership had served the country well over the years, it was time for the partners to revisit the arrangement, “so that the valuable time spent regularly at these important meetings result in defined path and accountabilities for improvements desired. (BT)

MORE TOUR OPERATORS COMING FOR CONNECT BARBADOS – The Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc (BTMI) will welcome significantly more tour operators from around the world to its premier business-to-business marketplace, Connect Barbados, this year than it did last year. To date, 87 international tour operators have registered, compared to 50 in 2016. Now in its 12th year, the three-day conference, which begins on Wednesday, will be hosted under the theme One Team, Winning Together. Invitations were extended to tour operators across all of the island’s major source markets – the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, Europe and the Caribbean and Latin America. The participating tour operators have signed up to meet with local partners, including hoteliers and attractions providers, in a series of more than 700 meetings to date. (BT)

NEW IMMIGRATION HQ HIT BY FURTHER DELAYS - There have been further delays in Government’s plans to relocate the offices of the immigration department to the repurposed Barbados Tourism Investment Inc (BTI) car park on Princess Alice Highway in Bridgetown. Work began last year on the new headquarters and Government had given its assurance to officers that they would be out of the woeful conditions at Careenage House on Wharf Road, The City by June of this year. However, Minister with responsibility for Immigration Senator Darcy Boyce today revealed that work would now be completed by August instead. He gave no reasons for the delay when he addressed the Immigration and Customs Officers’ Border Security Workshop at the Barbados Defence Force headquarters at St Ann’s Fort, Garrison, St Michael. Nonetheless, Boyce made it clear the new timeline was not an indication that Government was neglecting the officers’ longstanding concerns. (BT)

UK FAMILY’S STRUGGLE TO GET HOME – The Harrhy family have been coming to Barbados for more than 40 years, but they could not imagine their latest trip was going to be a nightmare. Things went wrong from the start when 87-year-old David Harrhy collapsed during the flight with his wife Margaret, 84, and son Christopher, 46, from their home in South Wales to Barbados. Their relative, Istvan Racz, then had to fly from Wales to try and arrange his family’s return home. “My family left the UK (United Kingdom) on April 18 on a British Airways flight when my uncle took a turn for the worse. He collapsed and had to be given oxygen. From what I gather, the flight crew thought it better to take him back home, but it was determined logistically this couldn’t happen, so he was brought to this hotel,” he said. (DN)

UNFAIR DEAL - For six years beach vendor Lavonne Alleyne has been plying her trade at the Fitts Village beach in St James, but it has never really been smooth sailing. Alleyne, who rents beach chairs and umbrellas to tourists and sells handmade jewellery, told Barbados TODAY she has faced constant harassment and victimization from the beach rangers, and whatever she does appears to be a problem. The beach vendor said the NCC had promised to investigate her complaints, but nothing was done. In the meantime, the situation is worsening, she said, with the NCC neglecting to provide a proper working area. As a result, she has lost some of her property to the high seas, an upset Alleyne said. Alleyne lost over 60 chairs last year to a suspicious fire, but she said she would not be deterred. “Two months ago I have had my jewellery and my tables washed away in the sea. I used to set up close to the entrance; it gives me better access to the tourists that come from the ship, . . . but when the water gets high it’s problems. I tried many times to get the NCC to put us in the park which they did for about five months and they put us back on the sand again. The last time I tried for them to put us in the park it was so much confusion around here with the rangers and a cleaner . . . . If the sea is rough, they tell me they don’t care where I put my things. I asked them if they have a conscience and they said, ‘it has gone through the window’ and we are not to put our things back in the park. All she wants is to ply her trade in peace at a spot that she enjoys, the beach vendor told Barbados TODAY. “I’m not wealthy, my family isn’t a big name family, [I’m] not a high society person. [I am] just a poor woman on the beach hustling, trying to make ends meet,” she said. Efforts to reach the NCC were unsuccessful up to the time of publication. (BT)

BWA TO CARRY ON WATER RULE - No watering of plants or washing of cars will be permitted in Barbados until at least 2018, as the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) looks to continue its water restriction initiatives. Director of engineering Charles Leslie disclosed that the BWA was recommending that the water ban, which was started last year and twice extended, be continued. The main reason for the extension of this moratorium was the prediction of an average upcoming rainy season, which although welcome, would be insufficient to offset two years of drought. “In 2015 and 2016 we had drought conditions in the region so our underground aquifers would have been affected by the lack of rainfall,” Leslie said during a telephone interview with the DAILY NATION. (DN)

SHOOTING ROCKS THE WHIM - The Bayley’s Road, The Whim, St Peter community is in disbelief and wondering what next following last night’s shooting which left a 40-year-old man nursing an injury to his left hand. In what is believed to be a robbery attempt, Kirkdayana Springer of the same address was shot around 10:15 last night. Reports indicate that he was liming with a friend when they approached by two males demanding money. A resident who asked to be identified only as Roslyn, told Barbados TODAY the community was a peaceful one and was not used to this sort of violence. Roslyn said she heard the gunshots soon after she had gone to bed. Not daring to venture out, she peeped out in an attempt to catch a glimpse of what was happening. The grandmother of seven told Barbados TODAY she was now concerned for the safety of her family and her neighbours, and was wondering if the incident would have a lasting effect on the small community. Police are still carrying out investigations into the shooting and are appealing to anyone with information to contact District E Police Station, the police emergency hotline or Crime Stoppers as soon as possible. (BT)

BEATEN OVER BATH - As the debate on banning corporal punishment rages on, a mother appeared in court yesterday after knocking out one of her ten-year-old son’s teeth and damaging another in the course of beating him. The boy had refused to take a bath. The weeping 40-year-old woman admitted to serious bodily harm and was admonished by Magistrate Elwood Watts in the Oistins Magistrates’ Court. He told her what she had done was not corporal punishment but she had beaten the boy as though he was a man. (DN)

CHILD ABUSE – A mother of five from Christ Church will return to the Oistins Magistrates’ Court in July for sentencing after she admitted to assaulting her ten-year-old son. The 40-year-old confessed before Magistrate Elwood Watts that she willfully caused serious bodily harm to the child on April 27. According to the prosecutor Station Sergeant Rudolph Burnett, the mother became angry with the child after he refused to bathe properly for school. After sending him back to the bath numerous times, she punished him by beating him with a wooden stick. However, she subsequently abandoned that punishment and began “cuffing the child with her fist”. One of the blows struck the child’s mouth, breaking an upper front tooth and damaging another. The matter was brought to the attention of police by a child care officer, and officials removed the child from the residence temporarily. The mother, who has no previous convictions, broke down in tears in court Monday as she sought to explain to Magistrate Watts what led to her acting the way she did. “I am truly sorry. It was a constant ongoing thing,” she said. The woman explained that she had spoken to the child’s father about his behaviour and although he too had spoken to the boy, it “did not make a difference”. However, the magistrate told the woman: “He is still a child but you beat him like a man.” “That’s not corporal punishment,” he added, telling her that it was a case of abuse. With no objections to bail from the prosecutor, the mother was granted bail in the sum of $1,000, which she secured with one surety. She is expected to make her second appearance before Magistrate Watts on July 14 when she will be sentenced. (BT)

FARLEY ON GUN & AMMO CHARGE – A gardener from Seales Land, Government Hill, St Michael has been remanded to jail for the next 28 days on two serious charges. Romell Kemar Farley is accused of having in his possession an unlicensed firearm and four rounds of ammunition on May 2. He was not required to plea to those two offences when he appeared before Magistrate Douglas Frederick Monday morning. The 29-year-old, who was represented by attorney Naomi Lynton, is scheduled to reappear in the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on June 6. (BT)

VENDOR DENIES STEALING FROM BATH TWICE – A 32-year-old vendor has been remanded to prison until June 2 for allegedly stealing drinks, condoms, cigarettes and cash from a bar earlier this year. Corey Omar Nicholls of Yearwood Road, Sugar Hill, St Joseph appeared before Magistrate Wayne Clarke over the weekend in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court. It is alleged that he entered the Gemini Bar on March 13 as a trespasser and stole 20 bottles of liquor worth $1048; 36 packs of condoms worth $96; six packs of cigarettes worth $57.50; and $540 in cash belonging to Ricardo Brown. He is also accused of going back to the same bar two days later and stealing seven bottles of liquor worth $270. Nicholls denied both charges on Saturday. He was sent up to the St Philip based penitentiary for 28 days after Magistrate Clarke heard both the prosecution’s grounds for bail to be denied and Nicholls’ application for his freedom. (BT)

BAIL FOR MULTIPLE ACCUSED – Several accused were granted bail over the weekend when they appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates Court to face separate offences. Tramaine Jamar Waithe of Small Land, Bridge Gap, St Michael is accused of dishonestly receiving certain goods, namely a bicycle belonging to George King, knowing or believing it to be stolen. He denied the allegation. With no objections from the prosecutor, he was released on $2,000 bail, which he secured with one surety. Waithe returns to court on July 3. Also making a second appearance in court on that date will be Jason Jamar Carmichael of #4 Reece Road, Brittons Hill, St Michael. It is alleged that the 25-year-old sales clerk used the threatening words, “You is a p**** and you gine get some bullets” towards Adrian Belle on May 3, with intent to cause him to believe that immediate and unlawful violence would be used against him. There was no objection to bail and Carmichael was released on $3,000 bail, which he secured with one surety. However, as part of his bail conditions, he must not interfere with, issue threats to or harass the complainant. Anson Andell Andique Latchman and Leroy Augustus Brewster, both of #23 Oxnards Heights, St James, are accused of assaulting Ruel Phillips on April 1, occasioning him actual bodily harm. Latchman, 20, and Brewster, 25, both pleaded not guilty to the charge. They were granted bail in the sum of $2,000 each and ordered to return to court on May 11. Kathyann Nicole Severin of Kirtons, St Philip, who is accused of two assault offences, has a July 31 court date. The 27-year-old cashier is accused of unlawfully assaulting Krishann Bentham and Maiya Robinson on November 14, 2016. She said she was not guilty of the charges and was granted $2,000 bail. Andrew Jerome Riley of Belfield, St Michael is scheduled to make his second appearance on July 31 as well. The 49-year-old maintenance supervisor is charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding Stacey Gooding-Riley on May 5. With no objections from the police prosecutor, the accused was granted $2,000 bail with one surety and warned not to interfere with the complainant. All the accused appeared before Magistrate Wayne Clarke in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on Saturday. (BT)

STERN WARNING FOR BLACKETT – Darius Romain Blackett must return to the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court with a surety on June 1 if he wants to avoid spending more time at HMP Dodds. Magistrate Douglas Frederick made the ruling today as he granted the 2A Meadow Road, Wildey, St Michael resident, who has been on remand for the past four days, his freedom. Blackett had been incarcerated at the St Philip institution from last Thursday after appearing late for an ongoing burglary case. He is charged along with four other St Michael men – Jandolph St Clair, #6 Hilton Row, Princess Royal Avenue, Pinelands; Shaquille Deshone Maynard, of 2D Meadow Road, Wildey; Jamar Kovar Yearwood, of #5 Glendale Close, Golden Rock, Pinelands; and Shaquille Akeem Farley of 2nd Avenue Park Road, Bush Hall – with entering the National Housing Corporation as trespassers on April 7, 2011 and stealing 800 feet of cable worth $8,000 belonging to the corporation, and at the time of the alleged offence had a cutlass in their possession. When he appeared before Magistrate Frederick today, he was warned to ensure that he attend court on time in the future. The magistrate then asked him whether he was complying with his other bail conditions. The magistrate chastised the burglary accused for breaching his bail conditions, warning him that he was jeopardizing his surety’s $5,000. (BT)

LESSON IN BALLER’S KILLING – In life, Sherwin Success’ talent on the football field knew no limits. But after being gunned down in Wotton, Christ Church, last Saturday evening, Success’ former football coach Terry Sealy said he hoped the death of his former star player would be a lesson to the younger generation. Speaking to the DAILY NATION yesterday, hours after Success succumbed to multiple gunshots to his upper body, Sealy recalled the onfield life of the 30-year-old, formerly of Kingsland, Christ Church. “To be honest, in terms of football, you could not beat him in terms of natural raw talent. He would have played at the highest level, which was then called the Premier League,” a saddened Sealy said. (DN)

CHAMPIONS – All it took was one match-winning strike from national Under-16 forward Thierry Gale for Pine Hill St Leonard’s Boys to clinch their third consecutive Under-16 Coca Cola Barbados Secondary Schools Football Knockout title this evening.

Both St Leonard’s and Combermere came into today’s final undefeated but the Waterford lads knew the odds were against them playing against perennial powerhouses St Leonard’s Boys at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex. But that did not in any way deter them from taking the fight to the defending champions. (BT)

TUACH TO COMPETE IN JAPAN – Barbados’ top ranked international surfer, Chelsea Tuach, is heading to Japan on Saturday to compete at the prestigious Women’s 3 000 Ichinomiya Chiba Open. The 21-year-old Tuach, who heads the World Surf League North American qualifying series with 1 420 points, is currently training in Bali, Indonesia. “The surf is incredible and allows me to train every day in a variety of conditions,” noted Tuach, who is ranked among the top 21 surfers in the world. The qualifying series 3 000 event will be held in Ichinomiya, which is the site of the 2020 Surfing Olympics. Tuach is No. 8 seed, with Hawaii’s Alessa Quizon the top seed in the event, which runs from May 20 to 28. (DN)

ALLEYNE, ONEAL FIRST TO WIN TROPHY – Chefette Mud Dogs Safari champions Leslie Alleyne and Chris O’Neal have taken the first lien on the Audley Croney Memorial Trophy. The pair, driving the Simpson Motors/Shell Spirax/Shell Rimula/Maxxis Isuz D-Max came from behind to win the recently held April Safari, organised by the Barbados Rally Club (BRC), with 907 penalties. Jean-Marc Cozier and Andrew Croney, in a Honda Pioneer, had to be content with second place with 1529 penalties. At the prize-giving ceremony at the Barbados Clay Target Shooting Association (BCTSA) Club House at Searles, Christ Church, last Thursday night, second-place finisher Croney presented the new trophy, named in honour of his late father, to the winners. (DN)

BAJAN PAIR WIN GOLF TOURNEY – A decisive birdie on the last hole by Julian Jordan secured the Ramon Baez-Romano Trophy for Barbados as he and James Johnson combined to win the Caribbean Mid-Amateurs Golf Championship in the Dominican Republic last weekend. Playing in the 2017 Caribbean Classic Championships, at Punta Cana, the Barbadians staved off host country Dominican Republic to win by two strokes when the hometown players were threatening to deny the defending champions a second straight victory in the division. Jordan and Johnson completed the 54-hole two-ball/better-ball tournament with a gross 203, while the DR team of Lino Guerrero and Juan Campusano finished second on 205. Jamaicans Sean Morris and Owen Samuda were third with a gross 217. (DN)

BLACKBIRDS’ SEVEN SPREAD THEIR WINGS – Signia UWI Blackbirds’ domination of local netball has expanded to the national squad with seven players from the double-crown queens being selected for the Barbados team which will clash with powerhouse Jamaica in a three-test series in Jamaica from May 19 to 22. Barbados, who are ranked 12th in the world are in a bid to hold on to that ranking or improve on it before the July 1 cut-off period in order to make the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast. Following the battle with the Sunshine Girls, who are ranked at number four, the Bajan Gems are expected to take on Northern Ireland. Top of the coop from the Blackbirds is tough midcourt player Teresa Howell, who will be making her senior team debut, along with Rashida Chase, who is currently vying to retain her Under-21 spot when that team head off to the World Juniors in Botswana in July. (DN)

WI EYEING ROSEAU WIN – Kieran Powell said West Indies were keen to put in a really big effort to win the decisive third and final Test of the current series against Pakistan, starting on Wednesday at Windsor Park. The Windies are eager to prove that their stunning 107-run victory in the second Test which ended last Thursday at Kensington Oval in Barbados was no flash in the pan, as they aim to win their first Test series in four years and over a side ranked higher for the first time in eight years. Powell has returned to the side for the series against the Pakistanis, starting with the preceding One-day Internationals, following a three-year, self-imposed exile. Prior to his walking away, Powell had been clearly identified as the other half of the solution to the opening batting problem that had plagued the side. Things have not quite worked according to plan. Though Powell had gotten starts he has failed to carry on and the problem at the top of the order has been compounded by a lack of success for the typically reliable Kraigg Brathwaite. With captain Jason Holder, strike bowler Shannon Gabriel and head coach Stuart Law roundly criticising the Kensington Oval pitch, the surface at Windsor Park for such a crucial match will come into sharp focus. Not for Powell though. The West Indies left-handed opener was philosophical about the pitch and how he tries to prepare for each game. (BT)

HUSBANDS, WALCOTT SHINE IN CANADA – Barbadian jockeys continue to rule the track in Canada. Yesterday veteran rider Patrick Husbands kept in touch with the leaders in the early exchanges at Woodbine when he rode a handsome triple on the day’s 10-race card. Husbands, who celebrates his 44th birthday later this month, rode winners in race six with Conquest Lemonraid, in race nine with Commute and in the day’s final race with Brilliant Charlie, to snatch a share of the headlines. Husbands lies third in the standings on 12 wins from 43 rides, four adrift of leader and defending champion, Eurico Rosa da Silva, and just two behind the second placed Rafael Hernandez. (BT)

That’s all for today folks. There are 236 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

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stephaniefchase · 8 years ago

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Bajan Newscap 2/11/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is your daily news cap for Saturday 11th February 2017. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT) or by purchasing a Saturday Sun Nation Newspaper (SS).

OWEN’S PUPPETS –Former Minister of Energy Elizabeth Thompson is pointing an accusing finger at her ex boss by implying that he was behind the island’s newest political party as a means to get at Barbados Labour Party (BLP) leader Mia Mottley. Thompson, who served as Minister of Energy and Environment in the Owen Arthur-led BLP administration, Friday launched a broadside at Arthur and Lynette Eastmond, who yesterday launched the United Progressive Party (UPP), mere weeks after reportedly stating she was a member of the BLP and was not involved in any other political movement. Eastmond, who contested and lost the last three general elections on a BLP ticket, was introduced as the chairman of the new party, something that Thompson did not allow to go unnoticed in a lengthy Facebook post. “I found the fact that the person who led the interview was described as chairman and not party leader, most interesting,” she wrote. “It will be interesting to see who they attract and what their platform is. This group [is] united by dislike of the leader of the BLP and sharing common bonds in their inability to win seats or nominations.” The former minister led a stout defence of Mottley, with whom she served in the Arthur Cabinet, suggesting that the current BLP leader had survived Arthur’s every attempt to get rid of her. Having failed, Thompson said it had become obvious from Arthur’s recent utterances that he had resorted to forming a party of disgruntled BLP politicians as his latest effort to humiliate Mottley. “OSA [Owen Seymour Arthur] did not manage to get rid of MAM [Mia Amor Mottley] by abusing her publicly; he did not accomplish it by not going to Parliament; he did not accomplish it by being silent on important national issues; he did not accomplish it by threatening to leave and then actually leaving the BLP. “So when in recent weeks, almost coinciding with talk of the new party, he was again engaging in serious national discourse in a way that we know he is fully capable of doing . . . finally, he has revealed his latest hand, or should I say, his instrument. If this is the new game, then the UPP is the United Puppets Party . . . or the United Political Puppets.” This notwithstanding, Thompson held out hope that Mottley and Arthur would put their differences aside and “unite for the sake of the country”. She said they did not have to be friends, they “just have to work together for the greater cause of country and citizen”. Otherwise, she said, the UPP would be an asset to the incumbent Democratic Labour Party, which is currently struggling to maintain Barbadians’ faith in its ability to govern. “If I were FS [Freundel Stuart, the Prime Minister], even if I was contemplating an early election, I would sit back, give the UPP time to pull BLP supporters, give them time to raise finance and candidates, wait for the Old BLP and the New BLP to start cannibalizing each other and their leaders,” she said, even while insisting that the country needed “strong, visionary, competent people, united to take the country forward and utilizing skills, intellect and experience”. (BT)

DON’T TOUCH THEM –The Freundel Stuart administration is being given a stern warning not to touch certain state entities if it ever were to go on a privatization drive. Barbados’ Ambassador to the Caribbean Community Robert Bobby Morris Friday said some statutory bodies were simply too important to be placed in the hands of the private sector. Privatization has been a vexing issue since the 2013 general election campaign, and with the economy continuing to struggle, leading economists, including former Prime Minister Owen Arthur, have been pushing Government to divest the statutory corporations. The administration has largely ignored this advice, other than the announced agreement to sell the Barbados National Terminal Company Limited to the Sol Group for $100 million. Morris admitted that a number of state agencies were draining Government’s resources and should be sold. However, he said there were those that served a public good, and they ought to remain under Government management. He made specific reference to the Child Care Board, the National Sports Council, the Barbados Vocational Training Board, the Public Utilities Board, the Electoral and Boundaries Commission and the Welfare Department, asking “can we put that out to private sector? I believe not”. The historian lauded the performance of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc and the Barbados Tourism Product Authority, created after the disbanding of the Barbados Tourism Authority, as examples of reformed state entities that work well. He also described planned changes at the National Cultural Foundation as a good move. However, he suggested that some serious restructuring was needed at other state entities to get them functioning at their optimum. (BT)

GO AFTER PRIVATE SECTOR –Barbadians’ docility and submissiveness allow the private sector to get away with ignoring their financial commitments to the country, one accountant has charged. Secretary of the Institute of Internal Auditors’ Barbados Chapter Krystle Howell Thursday night told a meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Bridgetown at the Goddard’s Training Room on Fontabelle it was time for Barbadians to stand up and demand from local businesses money which they owe Government. To prove her point Howell made reference to the last report from the Auditor General which showed that a number of companies owe Government over $500 million as at March 31, 2015, and that sustained attempts to recoup the outstanding funds had failed. She said it was an indication that some private sector companies would “rather see the country go down” than take up their responsibility. Speaking on Information in Today’s Society: Impact and Consequences, the auditor did not limit her concerns to the private sector. She also challenged Barbadians to speak out on some Government decisions, including the printing of money by the Central Bank and Government’s high spending on imports. She said Barbadians should stop “sitting back and just watching it happen and saying, ‘it is not my fault I am not getting involved in that’”. Pointing to the recent uproar over potholes, she said in order for things to improve here, Barbadians needed to become assertive. (BT)

MORRIS: TREAD CAREFULLY WITH PAY DEMANDS - Former trade unionist Robert Bobby Morris says while he is prepared to leave the final decision on any salary increases to both Government and his former colleagues in the labour movement, the Freundel Stuart administration should proceed with extreme caution on such proposals. “As I say, I don’t like to interfere with these things,” Morris told Barbados TODAY right after delivering Friday’s Democratic Labour Party luncheon lecture at the party’s George Street, Belleville, St Michael headquarters. However, he said: “If Government looks at the situation and that increase could worsen their situation, worsen the deficit that they plan, erode further the debt situation they have, the Government would have to make a decision and to come to the people and say, ‘listen, I would like to do that but not at the expense to be putting pressure on [Government].’” The retired labour leader further warned that “the matter was not an emotional thing at all”. In fact, were pay increases left to him, they would all be based on some performance factor. “I would love to see the day when all salary negotiations, private and public sector, have a performance factor related,” he stressed. Morris, who spent approximately 30 years in the trade union movement, also pointed out the private sector pay hikes were only given to workers “where it can be afforded”. He also said that even though workers in the public sector had not received a pay rise in a number of years, it did not mean they were not receiving bigger pay packets, since some had been receiving annual increments. However, as the island’s largest public sector union, the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) prepares to meet with temporary public officers here on Monday to update them on salary talks with Government, President Akanni McDowall is contending that Government can afford to pay public workers a salary increase. “We don’t believe that Government does not have enough money to pay public servants. We just believe that Government is mismanaging the money that it has,” McDowall told Barbados TODAY Friday evening, while insisting that civil servants had been made to suffer too long. (BT)

CBC STAFFERS “SICK” - Some of the staff at the lone state-run television station were sick yesterday, and it had to do with money. But the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation’s general manager said the number of those who called in sick had no impact on the operations of The Pine, St Michael facility. Reports were that staff at CBC had staged a sick-out in protest over long-delayed wage negotiations. Shop steward Kent Jerson declined to comment and referred the SATURDAY SUN to the Barbados Workers’ Union. Efforts to reach the BWU’s senior assistant general secretary Orlando “Gabby” Scott or deputy general secretary Dwaine Paul were unsuccessful. (SS)

MORE NURSES NEEDED – President of the Barbados Nurses’ Association (BNA), Joannah Waterman, is calling for the nursing complement at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to be increased. Shortly after her installation as the new president at the BNA’s 80th annual general meeting, Waterman signalled to Minister of health John Boyce she would be agitating for an increase in nurses at the goverment’s health care institutions, as well as for improved working conditions and remuneration, during her term of office. The minister was not present at the meeting at Accra Beach Hotel but Waterman nonetheless directed her remarks to him. “We are cognisant of the current economic climate . . . but as the largest, most mission-critical population in the health sector, we deserve to have our needs adequately addressed,” she said. (SS)

HYATT APPROVED - The final decision on the controversial Hyatt hotel on Lower Bay Street, the City will be announced in two weeks, official sources have said. The sources told Barbados TODAY that approval had been given by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart for construction of the multi-million dollar development to begin, and Town Planning officials were simply putting the finishing touches to the agreement before the announcement is made. According the officials, lawyers have advised that an environmental impact assessment (EIA) was not required under the Town & Country Planning Act, therefore there was no reason for any further delay to the US$100 million Hyatt Centric Resort. Social activist David Comissiong had demanded that an EIA be done before permission was granted to the developers of the 15-storey property, and had threatened a lawsuit to prevent construction from beginning unless the study was done. Stuart had announced at the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry luncheon on January 25 that “within the next seven days I expect to be in a position to give planning permission” for the project. He had also said he expected “all of the outstanding pre-conditions would have been satisfied” by the time he was ready to give the go-ahead. It was just yesterday that Comissiong had claimed that important legal conditions had not been met at the time the Prime Minister made his announcement. Armed with a document obtained from the Town Planning Department’s registry, the attorney-at-law pointed out that several segments of the form had been left blank. “It is worthy of note that none of these conditions were satisfied when Stuart gave the assurance that approval would be given in another seven days, but could have been the outstanding pre-conditions that would have to be satisfied within the seven day period,” Comissiong charged. (BT)

UNITY CALL TO STOP ECONOMIC ROT - Barbados has the ability to pull itself up by its own bootstraps in order to stave off any worsening of the local economy. And it is against this background that the Barbados Private Sector Association is appealing to all sectors to join ranks to come up with solutions to the problems that threaten the island’s economic health. “We believe that local circumstances are entirely within our control and that we have the capacity to resolve the problems confronting us,” said the association in a statement yesterday. “We have two huge advantages that can help make this happen. First, our size. In a small country like Barbados we can turn things around quickly. Secondly, the vast, but largely untapped intellectual potential of our people, both at home and abroad. (SS)

EASTERN PULL –St. Philip it is! The eastern parish is still the fastest growing parish when it comes to residential homes. Chief Town Planner Mark Cummins said a steady stream of Barbadians have been making the parish their home since the 1970s in spite of several recent large housing projects in the neighbouring Christ Church approved by the Town and Country Development Planning Office. He pointed out that in Christ Church a development at Staple Groves was recently completed and within the last six months permission was granted for a development of turnkey (contractor-designed) houses at the Ridge, an area just east of Edey Village. That project involved more than 700 houses and there is another project in the vicinity of the Blackman Gollop Primary School expected to have more than 100 housing units when completed. (SS)

CHARGE THEM –"Backyard tattooists" who prey on schoolchildren should feel the sting of the law. That view was expressed by tattoo artist of over 20 years Ryan Gaskin, who said there could be a link between the underground market and the growing number of school-aged children getting "inked". Recently the head of the Barbados Association of Guidance Counsellors, Saul Leacock, raised concerns over the trend, noting that some teens were sporting visible tattoos and multiple piercings. He encouraged parents to be more vigilant about their children’s dress and conduct at school. Gaskin said unlicensed tattooists, informally known as "scratchers", should face charges and or jail time for conducting business with minors, which he said was a form of assault. (SS)

IT WASN’T ME –Murder accused Damien Lecoursey Reveira could know his fate next week. Madam Justice Jacqueline Cornelius adjourned his murder trial until next Monday, after the 27-year-old who is charged with the shooting death of 31-year-old Anderson Ashby more than six year ago, addressed the court and defence attorney Andrew Pilgrim, QC said he was not calling any witnesses. “I don’t know anything about any set up, Ma’am. All I know about is selling a gun, Ma’am. These men kill this man and they are home on bail and I am here fighting for my life this morning, Ma’am,” Reveira said in an unsworn statement from the dock of the No. 5 Supreme Court. It is alleged that Reveira killed Ashby in a gun deal gone wrong on October 9, 2010, on the Belfield playing field in Black Rock, St Michael. Principal Crown Counsel Elwood Watts is prosecuting the case, which is being heard by a 12-member jury. (BT)

JAMAICAN WOMAN JAILED FOR IMPORTING DRUGS WORTH $50,000 – A 38-year-old Jamaican woman is to spend the next 18 months in jail here after pleading guilty in the District ‘C’ Magistrates’ Court to importing four kilogrammes of cannabis with an estimated street value of Bds$50,000. Roseanne Rocky Simmons was also sentenced by Chief Magistrate Christopher Birch to a further 18 months in prison for possession of cannabis, after she was unable to pay the required fine of $5,000 for each of the two drug offences. However, her sentences will run concurrently. Simmons was also reprimanded and discharged for the offence of trafficking and convicted, reprimanded and discharged for the offence of possession with intent to supply. The visitor, who arrived here on Wednesday from Jamaica via Trinidad, was caught with five taped packages containing the illegal drugs in a false top of her suitcase. (BT)

MAYERS ON AMMO & GUN CHARGE – A 20-year-old man will reappear in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court in 28 days on firearm and ammunition charges. Shoiad Akimian Jaleel Mayers, of Long Gap, Spooner’s Hill, St Michael, was remanded to HMP Dodds Friday when he went before Magistrate Douglas Frederick to face the two indictable charges. The offences allegedly occurred on February 5. Mayers, who was not required to enter a plea, was represented by attorney-at-law Romain Marshall. He returns to court on March 10. (BT)

FRAUD, THEFT CHARGES –A MAN ACCUSED of pretending to be a prison officer and an agent of the Director of Public Prosecutions has ended up in jail on remand. Cleve Anderson Hoyte, 48, of Brighton, St George, appeared in the District “C” Court on both fraud and theft charges yesterday in connection with $70 000. He is to appear in two other courts on the charges. When he went before the District “C” Magistrate’s Court, Hoyte was not required to plead to the indictable charges that he dishonestly obtained $800 from Felicia Thompson by falsely representing that he was a prison officer, Mark Reece, and was assisting in the bail for her son Akeem Thompson who was on remand at HMP Dodds. (SS)

PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION FOR CLARKE –An unemployed man who is listed as having no fixed place of abode, will call the Psychiatric Hospital home for the next three weeks at least. Justin Dave Clarke pleaded guilty to entering Rezults Auto sometime between February 8 and 9 as a trespasser and stealing shock absorbers worth $300. However, the facts of his offence were not read in court today by prosecutor Sergeant Martin Rock after Magistrate Douglas Frederick realized that the 29-year-old was “not tracking” and was slow to answer questions asked of him. He has to be assessed and observed at the Black Rock, St Michael facility and will return to the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on March 3. (BT)

FISHERMAN CONFESSES –A fisherman who has been on remand on three drug charges, Friday admitted to committing the offences that occurred almost four years ago. Shirland Holder of Bathsheba, St Joseph pleaded guilty in the No. 5 Supreme Court to possession, importation and trafficking of 227.5 kilogrammes of cannabis on the night of May 3, 2013. Principal Crown Counsel Anthony Blackman told the court that lawmen, acting on information, ventured to Tent Bay, St Joseph on that date and took up various vantage points on a cliff. Using night vision equipment, they spotted motor vessel M416 with the name Madeline approaching the bay from a northerly direction. The vessel which had two occupants stopped a short distance from the shore and, according to Blackman, the men were seen throwing some bulky packages into the sea. One of the men then jumped into the water and started moving to shore with some of the packages that had been tossed overboard. The bundles were then pulled ashore, about 25 metres away from where officers were located. The vessel piloted by the other man then turned and sped off. As police made their presence known, the man who later identified himself as Holder tried to run away but was apprehended. When the packages were examined in Holder’s presence and found to contain vegetable matter, he was asked to account for having it and he told lawmen: “Officer, it is weed, I know.” He was also asked what he meant by “weed” and he replied: “Marijuana.” Holder was taken into custody and told of his right to an attorney. “I ain’t worrying with the lawyer now. I just want to lie down and catch myself,” replied Holder who declined to give a written statement. “You hold me pun de scene, I ain’t giving no statement.” The Crown’s representative also told the court presided over by Madam Justice Jacqueline Cornelius that Holder also identified the vessel the following day. “I know de boat well. . . . That is the boat we bring de weed on,” said Holder who was subsequently charged. Friday, a prison officer informed the court that Holder had already spent 1,377 days on remand at HMP Dodds. Justice Cornelius then ordered a pre-sentencing report in preparation for sentencing. The 50-year-old returns to court on May 5. (BT)

FORDE THE FASTEST – Harrison College, one of the most revered schools in Barbados, held their annual sports day yesterday, and with Jonathan Jones, Aren Spencer, Layla Haynes and Caleb Massiah leading the way, are poised to be a major force at the Secondary Schools Championships. The tag of fastest boy at the school went to Division 2 athlete Julian Forde, a member of the champion house Dalton. Forde, clocked the fastest time of the day in the 100 metres, racing across the finish line at the school ground on Crumpton Street in 11.43 secs. The smooth-striding Forde sprinting to the finish line well clear of Armstrong’s Jide Griffith to the delight of spectators. (SS)

SOARING SPARTANS - THE SPARTANS are generally known to be warriors, and Cumberbatch Spartan Striders (Green House) showed that they were cut from that cloth at Alleyne School Sports yesterday. At the sports day held at the National Stadium, there were also four records broken in the 200 and 400, and the 4x400 open races. Jadon Holligan of Cumberbatch Spartan Striders clearing the bar during the high jump to earn himself the title in the Under-17 Division. (ss)

KING’S HIGH POINT –DARIAN KING has recently been getting the better of Victor Estrella on the court. And now off of it, too. King is now the highest rated men’s player in the Central American and Caribbean Tennis Confederation (COTECC) region after finally going past Estrella in the recent ATP rankings. It’s the first time King, ranked No.139 in the world, held the honour. His Dominican Republic counterpart owned that position for a number of years after cracking the world’s top 100 in 2014. However, the 36-year-old Estrella dropped 60 spots this week, falling out of the top 100 and landing 17 places behind King at No.156. (SS)

FLORETTE THE ONE TO BEAT - The Suzanne Miller-owned smart three-year-old filly Fleurette heads a small field of six in Saturday’s Grandstand Posse And Bubba’s Sports Bar Trial going 1570 meters. Fleurette won her most recent start on January 14 in the Michael Parravicino Memorial Breeders Stakes And Trophy defeating the useful colt Zip Code. The Victor Cheeseman-trained animal will be looking for two stakes in a row, but standing in her way could be the talented 3-year-old colt Black Rock. Black Rock, owned by Suzanne’s husband Luther G Miller III and trained by Jonathan Simpson is coming off a second place finish on January 14 going the sprint trip of 1100 meters. Post time for the first race Saturday is 1 p.m. Selection for the feature race the Grandstand Posse Trial are Fleurette, Black Rock, Butterfly and De Girlz Dem Sugar in that order. (BT)

MARVAY & RAM IN ISM FINALS - Marvay's name IS on the lips of many in Trinidad and Tobago. The first timer has made it into the finals of the International Soca Monarch competition in the twin-island republic. Marvay was rushing to a show when contacted and manager Katrina Chandler couldn't contain her excitement when speaking to NATION ONLINE. "I was pretty confident that Marvay would make the cut. His song is huge, his fan base is growing by the minute. He is forever humble and genuine and I believe that is what the Trinis love about him. Let's not forget that voice! I expect him to do well. He is ready for the big stage." The list, just released, has on 22 finalists and another Bajan, Peter Ram, joins Marvay to make the final count. While Ram is no stranger to the soca scene, Marvay is a fresh face in that genre. His popular Know The Face placed him second in the Sweet Soca Finals for Crop Over 2016. Ram's Good Morning was also a monster hit for 2016 and is being used by at least three pan bands for Panorama 2017 in Trinidad. King Bubba FM, Marzville and Biggie Irie were the other three Bajans in the semifinals held last week. Marvay's co-manager Ingrid Holder said: "I'm very happy for Marvay. I want the Bajan posse to come to Trinidad and support on Finals night February 24. (SS)

Well that’s all for today folks. There are 323 days left in the year ;) Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

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stephaniefchase · 8 years ago

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Bajan Newscap 2/7/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is your daily news cap for Tuesday 7th February 2017. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT) or by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

BRAKE IT - The fire chief is concerned, and so is the head of the ambulance service, in the wake of an upsurge of serious accidents and incidents. Chief Fire Officer Errol Maynard is appealing for care on the roads, while head of the Emergency Ambulance Service, Dr David Byer, wants to see a reduction of incidents. Yesterday the two told the DAILY NATION that it had been a busy first five weeks of the year for their essential services. Fire officers have been called upon to extricate a number of victims from mangled cars and ambulance personnel have been kept busy ferrying them to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for medical treatment. (DN)

BOYCOTT THEM –Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) James Paul is fuming over a business entity’s importation of 900 cases of coconut water from Guyana, and he is appealing to Barbadians to boycott the imported drink. While its economic contribution to the economy is not immediately clear, the coconut water business is a thriving one here, with vendors in open lorries and vans lining the country’s highways and roadways, never short of willing buyers. In fact, the booming highway coconut water trade is so successful that it is taking a toll on the dried coconut business, leaving bakeries to consider importing dry nuts. One farmer recently told Barbados TODAY that the demand for green coconuts was so high that the chances of finding a dry coconut on his one-acre plantation in St Philip “are about the same as finding gold”. The fact that the product is so readily available here makes the decision by the business to import even more puzzling to Paul. (BT)

RECKLESS WITH RESERVES –Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), James Paul, is throwing cold water on a local company bringing in hundreds of cases of coconut water into the island. An upset Paul said yesterday that some businesses which took up large chunks of the country’s foreign exchange in ventures like these should have a harder time getting access to the reserves. Speaking during a Press conference at the BAS’ headquarers at The Grotto, St Michael, yesterday, he revealed that the bottled coconut water was being imported from Guyana. He said while he did not know the name of the business responsible, over 900 cases were in the waiting. (DN)

LOWE DEFENDS SSA MOVE - Government has ordered an immediate review of the $411 per hour rate for private waste haulers who have been assisting the state-run Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) since last October with its national garbage collection. However, Minister of the Environment and Drainage Dr Denis Lowe today denied that his ministry had already gone ahead and unilaterally implemented a reduced rate of $300 per hour, following an outcry by the private waste haulers themselves who have accused the SSA of unilaterally cutting their pay. The matter has been the subject of a recent bitter exchange of letters between the truckers, the SSA and Lowe himself in which the haulers complained that their fees were cut without their consent. Barbados TODAY has been privy to several pieces of correspondence, including one in which the private haulers expressed their horror at being told that some of them would be paid less than what had been agreed at talks last October on a deal to improve the island’s waste collection. (BT)

SLOW START TO SUGAR HARVEST – The 2017 sugar harvest officially got under way yesterday, but the early part of the day was not busy for the sole sugar factory, Portvale. When a DAILY NATION team visited the Blowers, St James factory, manager Raphael O’Neal said they expected to be grinding soon but no canes had started to arrive as yet. “This is the first week; everyone is now falling into place,” he said. O’Neal said he expected the canes to start arriving after lunchtime, but noted that the container trucks [that carried the long blue bins] which belonged to the Barbados Agricultural Management Company, were still at the weighing and transfer stations at Carrington’s, St Philip and Bulkeley, St George, waiting for canes to be transported to Portvale. Chairman of the Barbados Sugar Industry Limited, Patrick Bethell, said several farmers had started to harvest but it was a matter of having the trailers ready to transport the cane. He said plantations at Fisherpond, St Thomas, as well as Searles, Christ Church, had already started harvesting but he was unsure of the status of the other farmers. “Some have cut, some are ready to cut; they are just waiting for transportation,” he added. Bethell said from discussions he had with some farmers, they were also awaiting inspection of the trailers by the Ministry of Transport and Works before they could go on the road. “Other than that, people are ready to go. I think that by tomorrow [today] we will be in much better gear to go.” (DN)

LASHLEY TALKS FOOD SECURITY – Plant more trees that produce fruits that can be consumed or turned into products. Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth Stephen Lashley was speaking during the launch of the National Productivity Council’s Planting Pride Initiative at Crystal Gardens, The Glebe, St George, yesterday. “We are aware that food security is an important aspect of our national development and every opportunity that we get, we must encourage our country to get back to the traditional practice of growing our own food to reduce the food import bill,” he said. He added it was critical given the context of recent national discussion about the state of the economy and low levels of productivity. (DN)

CARIBBEE BETTER OFF TORN DOWN - There are fears the unoccupied Caribbee Hotel on Hastings Main Road, Christ Church, could become a security risk for people walking along that section of the Richard Haynes Boardwalk. The property, owned by businessman Elias Haloute has been on the real estate market for several years, and reports suggest the building could be falling into a state of disrepair, noticeable on the seaside. Barbadian-born Canadian citizen Paul Mayers said the once popular Barbadian hotel was now “an eyesore” that should be rebuilt or removed. The former Harrisonian, who grew up in Drax Hall, St George, and migrated to Canada at age 14, was here on a two-week holiday and last week expressed concern about the security threat posed by the building. (DN)

OUT OF CONTROL – An out of control unregistered accommodation sector, including the increasingly lucrative Airbnb, will “water down” the Barbados tourism product, one hotelier has charged. General Manager of Sugar Bay Barbados Beach Resort Morgan Seale believes these homestay programmes must be held to the same standards as the rest of the accommodation sector and regulation is the only way to achieve this. With over two million listings in 191 countries, Airbnb is the largest of these community marketplaces where people list their homes or apartments for easy online booking for short-term lodging. These accommodations are normally much cheaper than hotels, and have grown in popularity in recent years, biting into the profits of the formal sector. Hotelier have been lobbying for the regulation of these rental platform, and New York City has made it illegal for anyone to rent out a whole apartment on Airbnb for fewer than 30 days, after politicians and tenants’ rights groups complained the company had made it harder to find affordable housing in the city. While no reference was made to Airbnb at the time, Seale suggested the property had been listed on the short-term home rental service’s platform. Seale said in addition to the risks, the properties were not operating on a level playing field, thus hurting the formal accommodation sector. This appears to be supported by Smith Travel Research (STR), the American company that tracks supply and demand data for multiple market sectors, including hotels. Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) Rudy Grant confirmed that new guidelines were being drafted, to include regulation of the short-term rental programmes. However, stating that the issue went far beyond Airbnb, Grant told Barbados TODAY it was critical that the entire accommodation sector be regulated to ensure they all meet minimum international standards. (BT)

INSURANCE COMPANIES HAPPY WITH SAFER PSVS – Four months after introducing the Safer PSV – an insurance scheme for the public service vehicle (PSV) sector – officials are reporting an improvement in the behaviour of PSV operators, suggesting this could result in “more reasonable” premiums for the industry. However, Marketing Business Development Officer of Sagicor General Andre Barrow pointed out that this would be dependent on more PSV operators signing on and improving their behaviour, thereby displaying a lower level of risk to the sector. The Safer PSV, which began last October, is an insurance plan spearheaded through a partnership between Sagicor General and the Insurance Corporation of Barbados Limited (ICBL). The initiative incorporates ICBL’s underwriting knowledge and experience with the sector, with Sagicor’s telematic monitoring device, to develop a framework through which they would offer the insurance coverage to the sector. The main objective of the initiative was to improve the general perception of the local public transportation system, mostly due to “frequent incidents of risky and horrendous acts performed on the road by some drivers”, ICBL’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer Goulbourne Alleyne had said during the launch last year. (BT)

TICKET NATION –Event planners, promoters and organisers now have a new and enhanced option for efficient and cost effective ticket printing, sales and gate management. The Nation Group is pleased to launch Ticket Nation, an easy, user friendly event and patron management system. Prior to its official introduction, Ticket Nation worked with many small to large events over the last nine months, with great success and offers a wide range of valued added, customer centric services. “Given our experiences with our own projects and following discussions with key promoters and event coordinators, we understand it takes a lot to stage a successful event. Key to this is effective management, evaluation and analysis of ticket sales, all of which we facilitate. Ticket Nation offers an efficient, transparent and flexible package to ensure seamless registration, sales and ticket redemption. With Ticket Nation, whether you are running an event with 30 people or 30 000 you can rest easy that our system and team will work well for you,” stated Kelly Johnally, Digital Manager of Nation Group and lead manager for Ticket Nation. (DN)

COST OF CRIME ‘ALARMING’ IN REGION – An Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) study says many countries in the region are spending enormous sums in crime prevention, security and supporting their penal systems. The IDB research conducted in Latin America and the Caribbean estimated that US$261 billion was being spent annually on responding to crime and violence, which represented about 3.5 per cent of the region’s gross domestic product (GDP). According to Ana María Rodríguez, manager of the IDB’s Institutions for Development Department, “crime has reached alarming levels in many countries. By providing estimates of the costs of violence at the regional, sub-regional and national levels, the study will help governments and international cooperation agencies better allocate resources, as well as design better policies to control and prevent crime”. (DN)

BULLIED - Details are beginning to emerge of some of the issues confronting 16-year-old Chante Natasha Yarde before she reportedly took her own life. The teenager was discovered by her mother hanging from a rafter in their home at Mission Road, Brittons Hill, St Michael sometime after seven on Friday night. It is believed she committed suicide. However police are continuing their investigations into her death. Barbados TODAY visited the area several times between Friday night and Monday only to find that the house where she lived was shut and uninhabited. Monday the gap was virtually abandoned with no more than two elderly women and one man walking the road, with one of the women simply advising that no one was home. However, posts on Yarde’s now seemingly deleted Facebook page told a tale of a teenager with a lot on her mind. In a thread with a male said to be Yarde’s best friend, the teenager asked if “you realize a lot of people at school used to insult me for various reasons?” When her friend attempted to reassure her by telling her it was because she was pretty, Yarde responded, “I don’t think I’m pretty”. During the conversation she also indicated that she did not make friends at school. Following Yarde’s death, the friend also posted an angry message on Facebook, accusing unnamed people of bullying the child which “drive her to this”. The post and the thread have also been deleted. Monday, counsellor Shawn Clarke told Barbados TODAY he had seen the teenager’s page and had sensed a cry for help that no one had taken seriously. The Chief Executive Officer of Supreme Counselling Services also felt the child had been a victim of bullying. Clarke said this was a lesson to adults and communities to be more vigilant to ensure they are aware of what is going on with the young people. Clarke also urged parents and guardians not to see counselling as something bad, and urged them to use the services of professionals to help young people who might be having a tough time. In addition, Clarke said the society also needed to teach young people how to be more assertive. (BT)

PRIEST SAY DIOCESE WITHHELD PAYMENT –Two well-known priests who sued the Anglican Church over their pensions have revealed a loophole in which others working past normal retirement age can immediately collect pension and a salary from the church. Former dean Dr Frank Marshall and rector Canon DeVere Murrell had reached 65 in November, 2010, and October 3, 2011, respectively, but continued working – Marshall as dean of St Michael’s Cathedral and Murrell as rector of St Matthias Church. They were initially receiving pension and salary, but the pension was stopped in 2012, leading to the two challenging the decision in a 2014 case against their employer the Barbados Diocesan Trustees. Attorney Brian Barrow lodged the case, which initially involved three priests before the third cleric withdrew. (DN)

BEACH DISTURBANCE LANDS TWO BEFORE COURT – Two men charged with causing a disturbance at the Dover Beach facility faced different fates today. Andrew Ricardo Turney, 38, of Coverley Land, Christ Church and Romario Antonio Walcott, 21, of Bamboo Road, St Lawrence, Christ Church were charged with the February 4 offence.Police Prosecutor Sergeant Martin Rock told the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court the men frequented Dover Beach on a daily basis. However, on the day in question, Walcott approached Turney while he was in conversation with a Caucasian man. A heated argument ensued and the two grabbed each other, each man demanding that the other leaves the area. This resulted in a scuffle and both men arming themselves with bottles, which caused tourists and locals alike to scamper. National Conservation Commission (NCC) rangers on the scene alerted the police. Walcott chased Turney into the seating area in the beach facility, causing people there to flee. After hearing from both men, Magistrate Douglas Frederick ordered Walcott to perform 80 hours of community service while Turney was placed on a bond to keep the peace for six months. If he breaches the bond he will have to pay the court $700 forthwith or spend three months in prison. He was also fined $350. (BT)

GO-BETWEEN IN GUN SALE TESTIFIES –The murder trial of Damien Lecoursey Reveira entered its third day with Principal Crown Counsel Elwood Watts calling three more witnesses to the stand. Reveira, 27, of 4th Avenue, New Orleans, St Michael, is accused of the October 9, 2010 murder of Anderson Ashby. Ashby lost his life after an alleged gun deal turned deadly at the play park in Belfield, Black Rock, St Michael. Reveira, who is represented by Andrew Pilgrim, QC, was allegedly on the team selling the firearm and Ashby on the purchaser’s end. This morning, Derek Springer who drove Anderson and his brother Christopher to the point of sale admitted that he left the two – both of them his cousins – at the location when “shots began to beat off”. Springer was driving a white Toyota that night. He told the No. 5 Supreme Court he knew Dario Herbert wanted to sell a firearm and that Christopher wanted to purchase one. He recalled that on the night of October 9, 2010, Christopher and Anderson were with him, as well as Romonde Cadogan, and they later met up with Herbert. However, the location of the purchase was changed, and they ended up going to the Belfield pasture. He said a man pointed a gun at his head but he pushed it off. He said he did not know whether his cousin Christopher, the deceased Ashby, or anyone else had a gun. He also told court in response to questions from Watts that he did not know who fired the shots that night. Asked by the Crown’s representative what happened to the Ashby brothers whom he had driven to Belfield, Springer answered: “I left them there.” He also admitted under cross-examination by Pilgrim that while Herbert went to the location with him, he did not know whether he had shot the deceased. Cadogan also took the stand today. He admitted that he left home with Springer but said he knew nothing about a gun transaction. He said Springer left with Christopher, Anderson and Omar, but later returned alone and was “acting afraid”. Herbert also gave testimony today but, like Cadogan, he told the court he knew nothing about the purchase of a firearm or going to Belfield on the night of October 9. The matter was then adjourned until tomorrow when the Crown is expected to call four more witnesses. (BT)

ALISTAIR COOK CALLS IT QUITS - Alastair Cook has stepped down from his role after 59 Tests as England captain. His appetite to continue had been questioned during England’s 4-0 defeat to India before Christmas and Cook has now confirmed he will pass on the captaincy, with Joe Root his likely successor. Appointed in August 2012, Cook led the team in more Test matches than any other England captain. His record includes Ashes victories at home in 2013 and 2015, as well as series wins in India and South Africa. With 24 Test wins, he is joint-second as England’s most successful captain but five losses in seven Tests over the winter meant he also eclipsed Michael Atherton’s record for defeats. (BT)

HIGH PRAISE - He may be the man of the moment, but Damien Applewhaite is still giving credit where it’s due. Barbados’ new Davis Cup captain isn’t stealing anyone’s thunder, having given Darian King and Haydn Lewis all the praise for the country’s first ever Group II tie victory on foreign soil. Applewhaite strongly acknowledged the efforts of his top players just a day after the Bajans completed a historic 3-2 win against hosts Paraguay in his debut tie at the helm. “Darian continues to perform exceptionally well when wearing the Barbados gold and blue. His experiences on tour just make him the right person to go out there and perform in these conditions for each tie. Also Haydn as well, who is very valuable in doubles. They link up quite well and they’re pretty much the backbone of the squad,” Applewhaite said. (DN)

DEDICATED SWIMMERS REWARDED – Each year, sporting fraternities come together to recognise their top performers; and, for the Barbados Amateur Swimming Association, there was no difference Sunday night when they did the same at Radisson Aquatica. Last year, the sport of swimming saw many achievements by the juniors, and while the seniors did not copy their juniors, they too were rewarded for their hard work and dedication. CARIFTA open water swimming has seen an increase in participants from many countries over the last four years, and last year Barbados entered competitors in both the male and female categories to test their endurance for the supremacy of the water. The crew of two, who were first-time competitors in this area, did not disappoint. The award for the Best Open Water Swimmers at CARIFTA 2016 went to Rebecca Lashley and Kent Mullins. (DN)

WALES SHARE LEAD AFTER 1-0 WIN – Weymouth Wales joined the Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme (BDFSP) at the top of an early-stage table with a narrow 1-0 win in the Barbados Football Association’s Digicel Premier League at the National Stadium on Sunday. Wales overcame gutsy Belfield, thanks to a second-half penalty from Romario Harewood, which proved enough to secure all three points. In another game, BDFSP held on to claim a creditable point against a reinvigorated Ellerton. Shaquille Belle had given Ellerton a much deserved lead in the 24th minute, but BDFSP responded through Shaquille Boyce in the 32nd, and navigated a strong second-half push to take a share of the spoils with a 1-1 draw. (DN)

ORANGE MAKE THEM SEE RED – Spurred by victrix ludorum Celesia Coppin, Orange House crossed the finish line first to win St Martin’s-Mangrove inter-house championships at Rices Playing Field last Friday. Orange amassed 616 points, Gold followed with 596 and Purple had to settle for third with 590. Coppin seized that title after performing outstandingly on track to total 47 points. She won the Under-13 girls’ 200 metres, 400 metres, 600 metres and long jump and placed fourth in the 100 metres. Jethan Bovell, competing for Purple House in the Under-11 boys’ division, was named victor ludorum. He won the 100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres and long jump and placed third in the 800 metres and the cricket ball throw to gain 50 points. Gold’s Kiara Marshall, running in Under-11 division, recorded 35 points after winning the 100 metres, 200 metres and 400 metres and took third place in the 600 metres. In the Under-13 boys’ category Renico Taitt-Best gained 20 points for Red after winning the 100 and 200 metres. The Under-9 athletes couldn’t be left out in Orange’s victory. Jakeem Hall and Makela Clarke recorded 28 and 26 points, respectively. Hall won the 80 metres and 100 metres and took silver in the 150 metres while Clarke won the 80 metres and placed second in the 100 metres and 150 metres. (DN)

FORGET ISIS – Trinidadian Islamic scholar David Muhammad is accusing Caribbean governments of paying too much attention to the so-called Islamic State and too little to the ballooning murder rates. The Nation of Islam representative for Trinidad and Tobago and the Eastern Caribbean told a gathering at the Crumpton Street headquarters of the Clement Payne Movement that the region’s political leaders were seeking to please the United States by beefing up anti-ISIS legislation while violence among their nationals was wrecking Caribbean communities. “You know what is so ironic? The Caribbean region is probably the only part of the whole world along with Central and South America where there have been no terrorist attacks in the last ten years . . . but our governments are talking about national security legislation against terrorism to impress the American government that we care more about their laws than our own problems, when we have the highest murder rates here,” he said at Saturday’ forum for Barbadian Islamists and Pan-Africanists. The English-born Muhammad is an author and University of the West Indies graduate with degrees in education and sociology. He is here to hold community meetings and promote his book, African Studies, which presents a Caribbean perspective of African history. (BT)

MIXED VIEWS OF EXPO - There was lots to see, do, taste and learn about at the Girlfriends Expo Arts Festival held over the weekend. Yummy cocktails, delicious cupcakes and cheesecakes, loads of skin care and beauty products, beauty tips, health checks, art and an art party were there for the taking at the two-day the event themed La Dolce Vita. Sisters, mothers and daughters, and girlfriends gathered at the Concorde Experience to shop, laugh and hang out, and get a taste of “the good life” at the annual event that attracts hundreds of women. There was a mixed response from patrons. Some who were attending for the first time just wanted to soak up the experience, while others complained it was “boring” when compared with previous editions. (DN)

GOOD SHOWING BY BAJANS – BARBADIAN ARTISTES represented well last night at the semi-finals of the International Soca Monarch in Trinidad. The more than four-hour long show saw five Bajans coming to the stage with dancers as props for their songs. Out first at No. 10 was debutant Marvay who received many compliments via social media on the live stream. He did Know The Face which placed him second at Soca Royale in the Sweet Soca Finals at Bushy Park and also earned him the People’s Monarch title. Backstage, he told CNC3 Television he appreciated the love and support of the Trinidad posse. Peter Ram, no stranger to Trinidad, came at position number 16 with Good Morning and changed up some of the lyrics to suit his location. Biggie Irie, the only non-Trinidadian to win the competition in 2007 with Nah Going Home, came at position 41 with Money Well Spent. First-timer Marzville brought his energy with Bang Bim. Peforming at number 45 in the second half, he brought out Bajan artiste Stabby De Guard to do some waistline wukups. Rounding out the Bajan invasion was King Bubba FM at number 57. He flew over from a show in Guadeloupe to perform Calling In Sick. “The monitors were horrible during my performance. I couldn’t hear myself at all and that forced me to shout and go off key a lot. A lot of artistes complained for the same thing,” he told NATION Online. “In 36 hours we flew from Miami to Guadeloupe, did the show there, then had to fly to Dominica with a five-hour layover, then flew to Antigua and then St Lucia just to get to Trinidad. I’m definitely calling in sick today and my birthday is Tuesday.” Edwin Yearwood and Lil Rick, who are the 2016 Soca Royale monarchs for Barbados, opted not to perform. - DN)

EASTMOND TIES THE KNOT - A woman who allegedly launched a post-Valentine’s Day attack on retired politician Rawle Eastmond in 2011 and was subsequently remanded to Her Majesty’s Prisons Dodds, is now his blushing bride. The former Barbados Labour Party Member of Parliament for St James North and Haniyfa White, 36, were married over the weekend in a private ceremony at Accra Beach Hotel. Back in February 2011 White had pleaded not guilty in the Holetown Magistrates’ Court to unlawfully entering in a wanton or insulting or threatening manner on Eastmond’s premises at Upper Carlton, St James, and to unlawfully assaulting him. Part of the conditions of her bail imposed by Magistrate Ian Weekes was that she stayed away from the Eastmond premises and also from his family. In December 2010 a criminal charge had been brought against White for using threatening words against Eastmond’s then wife. At that time White was also on bail on a charge of murdering Julene Bryan on May 15, 2007. Eastmond confirmed today that he had tied the knot but said it had been a private affair. (BT)

Well that’s all for today folks. There are 328 days left in the year ;) Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

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