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Bajan Newscap 1/13/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is your daily newscap for Friday 13th January 2017 . Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT) or by purchasing a Weekend Nation Newspaper (WN).

OFFER STANDS – Their original offer is now off the table, but as Barbados struggles to get out of an economic rut multi-millionaire investor and financier Andrew Stewart and his business partner Stuart Fordham say they are still willing to help. At the end of 2014, Stewart, the chairman of the stockbroking and investment management firm Ravenscroft Limited, and Fordham, a bond trader, revealed their willingness to help the island raise up to US$1 billion through the issuance of bonds, given its dwindling reserves. However, after about seven meetings over a seven-month period, including some with Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler, Central Bank Governor Dr DeLisle Worrell and Minister of International Business Donville Inniss, the offer, which was put on the table in the wake of a downgrade by the international credit ratings agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P), was refused. One of the concerns of the Freundel Stuart administration was that even though the investors had initially suggested that their global partners were willing to purchase “large bonds” in any currency, the actual proposition was for the bonds to be issued in Euros. However, if Government were willing to reopen the discussions, the bonds could be issued in US currency, Stewart said Thursday, adding that all he would need to do “just as we did two years go, we go and make a few telephone calls” to some of the major investors in the world. Fordham also cautioned that even though they were still willing to help the country, the conditions of the market were now different, including the level of interest rates. However, Fordham said on the positive side, more attractive investments were expected to become available internationally. In terms of Barbados’ most recent downgrades, Fordham did not dismiss the regional rating agency CariCRIS out of hand. However, he said the type of investors that he and Stewart were targetting were more likely to use Moody’s and S&P as their benchmark. While expressing his love for the island and pledging to make continued investments here, Stewart said the international investors and bond buyers had no interest in which political party was in power, but were concerned about the country’s ability to repay them and at the promised interest rate. However, he warned that there was an unacceptably high level of bureaucracy that was negatively impacting investors, including some “major hotels” that would like to expand. During the wide-ranging interview, he also said he believed the level of taxation here was way too high. And while recalling the recent Sagicor relocation to Bermuda, Stewart suggested that Government looks at a possible tax incentive schemes to help keep companies here. He also suggested that there should be “a green channel” in customs for travellers who have nothing to declare. (BT)

CALL FOR DEVELOPMENT BANK - Co-owner of Doyle’s Offshore Sails David Staples has made a strong case for the restart of the Barbados Development Bank (BDB). The state-owned financial institution, which provided loans for new business enterprises, was closed in 1996 as part of the then Government’s restructuring of the financial sector. However, while highlighting the importance of such a facility to the viability of the country’s business sector, Staples said he was prepared to put some of his own money towards its restart. A similar call was made by former Prime Minister Owen Arthur back in March last year. Arthur who oversaw the entity’s closure two years after the Barbados Labour Party [BLP] came to office, suggested in a session of the Lower Chamber, that a new funding agency should tap into a database of laid-off public sector workers who have no chance of regaining their former employment but possessed the requisite skills and needed financing for prospective business ventures. At the time, Arthur had also warned the country’s private sector to stop looking for handouts, while urging businesses to take the lead in creating new economic opportunities. (BT)

DOYLE GAINS STANDARD – DOYLE OFFSHORE SAILS is being heralded by Minister of Commerce Donville Inniss as a gold standard for Barbadian companies to follow. The minister spoke highly of the 30-year-old local sail-making company Wednesday night as it celebrated moving into a new warehouse in Six Roads. Inniss said the country should follow Doyle’s lead and become more export-driven. “Doyle Offshore Sails are a very unique company. Not just a unique product, but certainly the manifestation of the skills and the citizenship of those who put this all together. You’re a shining example of where Barbados needs to go,” Inniss told staff at the company’s headquarters at Six Roads. (WN)

GEL TAKES PEPSI - The fight FOR market share in the local soft drink sector is expected to intensify following a $26 million deal involving Barbadian conglomerate Goddard Enterprises Limited (GEL). For the past 13 years, R.L. Seale & Company Limited has distributed Pepsi and associated products, including Mountain Dew, 7Up, and Ju-C, manufactured in Trinidad and Tobago. However, two months ago, Caribbean Distribution Partners Limited (CDPL), a joint venture partnership formed by GEL and Trinidad and Tobago’s Agostini’s Limited, acquired Pepsi-Cola Trinidad Bottling Company Limited from Central American Bottling Company Limited and Blue Waters Limited.CDPL chief executive officer, Barbadian Tracey Shuffler, said this meant that CDPL now controlled the distribution rights for Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Ocean Spray and 7Up in the twin-island republic and Barbados. CDPL also now owns the rights to distribute Peardrax and Cydrax in these markets. (WN)

BL&P: FTC RULING KEEPING BILLS HIGH - Barbadians would be paying less for electricity today had the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) not rejected a plan by the country’s power company to hedge fuel prices. That is what top officials of Barbados Light & Power (BL&P) are convinced of as the company for the first time yesterday offered a detailed response to the FTC’s decision to deny its application last March to have customers foot the bill of its plan to purchase large stocks of fuel at a negotiated fixed price. For the second time in two years, the FTC said no to the BL&P’s oil hedging proposal. Last month, the quasi-judicial body told the power company’s top brass they had failed to present a convincing case why they should add the hedging costs to the fuel clause adjustment component of consumers’ light bills. (WN)

NEW LIFE IN ST. PETER – PEOPLE WHO LIVE in the areas surrounding Mile-and-a-Quarter no longer have to travel that distance or more for cosmetic and financial services. The St Peter area has become a target for investors and the recently opened businesses are bringing new life to the area. The Life Complex, which houses a barbershop, a hair salon and a cosmetic/retail outlet and a soon-to-be open credit union branch, has been serving the public since December 17. Speaking to the WEEKEND NATION yesterday, the developer of the recently built complex who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that more development is on its way. (WN)

UNION WANTS NEW BOARD FOR BWA – A new man takes over at the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) in a few weeks’ time and the union believes a new board should join him as well. Keithroy Halliday, a Barbadian who was working as a general manager in Trinidad, is slated to take up the post of general manager from February 1. His new director of engineering is Charles Leslie, while Wayne Richards has been appointed as director of projects. But, said general secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union, Toni Moore, the same way there was a shake-up in management, the same should be done at the level of the board. The union head, who was addressing the media, was speaking to the recent changes at the BWA which have seen Dr John Mwansa, Charles Marville and Stephen Lindo – the three men who were acting in the top three positions for at least five years – being replaced from month end. (WN)

CLICO/ BAICO PAYMENTS COMING - Thousands of policyholders of CLICO International Life Insurance Limited and British American Insurance Company (BAICO) seem set to receive their long-awaited pay out this year. High Court Judge William Chandler last month approved the transfer agreement between CLICO and the two companies which would take over its business, New Life Investment Company Inc (NLICO) and Resolution Life Insurance Limited (ResLife), The judge also ordered that the agreement be dated and executed on December 30, 2016, two weeks after the December 16 decision.Chairperson of the Barbados Investors and Policyholders Alliance (BIPA) June Fowler said eight years of frustration were finally coming to an end. Fowler noted that thereafter the preparation of payments to policyholders would begin. As it relates to BAICO, the agreed completion date for transfer to Sagicor is May 31, 2017. Fowler said the past eight years had been difficult for many of the CLICO policyholders, especially the pensioners, considering they are the most vulnerable of the group.She also expressed disgust that some policyholders had passed away before reaping the rewards of their investments. (BT)

WATER METERS CAUSING RESIDENTS HEADACHES - The installation of new meters has resulted in “gushing” water bills for some shocked Barbadians. Back in 2015, the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) began installing new ultrasonic water metres, mainly in sections of St James and St Michael, which it promised were high-tech and would better serve residents. However, that hasn’t been the case for Lola Millington. Millington, who resides in Grazettes, St Michael, was greeted with a water bill of over $400, two weeks after she received her new meter. One month later, her water bill had escalated to $1100. (WN)

WOMANS BLAMES UDC - A Christ Church woman is accusing the Urban Development Commission (UDC) of creating a headache for her, then attempting to wash their hands of it. “The land here was all part of my grandfather’s property who allowed their grandfather to live there behind us. Now ownership of the land has been given to me. In 1998, the UDC completely rebuilt a house there as the original house was old but they did that without consulting us,” said Sabrina Cherry, who lives along the St Lawrence Main Road. Cherry presented documents from attorney Keith Charles, then representing the UDC, to Cherry’s then attorney Maurice King admitting wrongfully entering negotiations with parties who were not the landowners. It reads in part: “My client in good faith entered into negotiations for the possession and acquisition of the area of land in question with persons other than your clients, who regrettably appear to be the wrong person with whom negotiations should have taken place . . . The Urban Development Commission sincerely regrets any inconvenience caused.” (WN)

ST.PHILIP RESIDENT CRY OUT FOR ROAD – A Belair, St Philip resident whose home is located on the same stretch of road as Government representative Adriel Brathwaite’s constituency office, says road leading into the area is so badly damaged that even her Member of Parliament has deemed it an embarrassment. However, she acknowledged that the situation had not developed overnight. But she said the potholes were allowed to get worse and worse to the point now where they were simply intolerable. While complaining that her appeals for assistance had so far fallen on deaf ears, the British-born resident also reported that the craters in the road had now became a swampy breeding ground for mosquitoes and insects, particularly during the rainy season. She emphasized that for the ten years she has been living in the area, residents had not received a single piece of correspondence from the Ministry of Transport & Works to indicate that were any plans to fix the road, which she said was totally forgotten after the first phase of construction ended. Brathwaite could not be reached for comment on the issue. (BT)

UNSIGHTLY MESS - General Manager of the Sanitation Service Authority (SSA) Roslyn Knight is expressing frustration at repeated indiscriminate and illegal dumping. Garbage lining the streets, blowing across the beach or clinging to wire fencing is becoming a normal occurrence here. And the problem with illegal dumping became worse in mid-2015, with private waste haulers blaming Government’s controversial tipping fee. It is now not unusual to see coconut shells, used tyres, the skeletal remains butchered animals, burnt plastic bottles, rubble from construction sites, withered shrubs and discarded barrels posing an unsightly view in some districts. Knight contended that dumping was condoned culturally, and pleaded with Barbadians to act responsibly and refrain from indiscriminately disposing of their waste. Coconut vendors operating on the highways are among the suspected culprits, with Knight pointing out that the numbers from the Sustainable Barbados Recycling Centre where shells ought to be disposed every other week are not adding up when compared to daily sales. One of the worst-affected districts is Bucks, St Thomas which the SSA is challenged to clear of rubbish virtually every week. Knight stressed that public education and strictly enforced legislation were necessary to prevent indiscriminate dumping. She said the SSA had not previously been made aware of the latest disposal at Vaucluse, but it would investigate the matter. (BT)

STILL TEARS FOR SHAMAR – Heartbroken Clarista “Mabel” Daniel believes her 12-year-old great nephew Shemar Weekes’ death, which initially sparked public outrage, was in vain. Almost two years after Shemar was found hanging in his backyard on May 14, 2015, Daniel said she is disappointed in the authorities after finding out that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Charles Leacock said no criminal charges would be brought against Shemar’s mother Julieanne Weekes or anyone at this time. Daniel had been browsing the Internet when she came across the story posted more than a month ago with the island’s lead prosecutor saying there was insufficient evidence in the file to bring charges after Coroner Manila Renee referred the matter to his office. “To me this is indifference at the highest level and I vow to continue the fight to get justice for Shemar. . . I am anxiously awaiting the official report from the DPP to see what steps can be taken from there,” said Daniel, whose voice cracked with emotion as she spoke about the former Coleridge Parry student. (WN)

BAJANS RESISTANT TO ANTIBIOTICS - Antibiotics are becoming less effective among Barbadians in the treatment of diseases, a leading pharmacist has revealed. Past president of the Barbados Pharmaceutical Society Paul Gibson told a public lecture organized by the National Council on Substance Abuse on Tuesday there was increasing incidence here of resistance to these medicines. “I’m talking something like 60 per cent in some cases for the average antibiotic being used,” Gibson said. It was not entirely clear what was responsible for the growing levels of resistance to this type of medicine. In addition, he said, the fact that many pharmaceutical companies felt it was no longer financially viable to invest in the manufacturing of antibiotics did not help. Gibson said research by the Pan American Health Organization at local health institutions identified certain strains of bacteria that should be focused on, as well as techniques to be adopted to ensure more effective use of antibiotics. He also warned that antibiotics were being “heavily used” in the rearing of chickens, and this could have adverse effects on people’s health. (BT)

DRUG SCRUTINY - The changing trends in the abuse of illegal drugs will be high on the agenda of a stakeholders’ meeting next week on the Barbados National Anti-Drug Plan, approved last year.Law enforcement officers have been grappling with increasingly sophisticated methods of drug trafficking, and local authorities will examine ways to address the problem when they meet at the Savannah Hotel next Wednesday. NCSA is holding a series of activities this month to raise awareness of the dangers of drug abuse, including a Community Give Back programme involving staff serving breakfast at St Ambrose Primary School on January 31. The drug awareness agency will also host Blue Week from January 22-28 to encourage Barbadians to get involved in drug awareness activities, while raising funds for Street Gospel Ministries Inc, a charity which works with individuals affected by substance abuse. (BT)

PARRIS TIRED OF WAITING FOR HIS MONEY - Three years after assets held by former CLICO boss Leroy Parris were frozen by the High Court, his attorneys say their client is totally fed up with the long wait for justice. “It is unconscionably long since the freezing order was in place,” Parris’ lead attorney, Hal Gollop, QC, complained Thursday. Stating that his client was not at all amused about the situation, Gollop stressed the need for much swifter justice while pointing out that January 27, 2017 would be exactly three years that the order was in place freezing Parris’ $2.5 million bank account. However, Gollop noted that while he was upset at the length of time the entire process has taken, the wait on a ruling by the Court of Appeal could not be considered unreasonable since this aspect of the case was only heard about three months ago. Gollop and his legal team went to the Court of Appeal in October last year, asking it to reverse the High Court’s decision to freeze his client’s assets. At the end of the appeal hearing, the panel of justices reserved their judgment on the matter. Justice William Chandler had granted the order in an ex parte hearing of the suit brought by CLICO’s Judicial Manager, Deloitte Consulting Limited, against Parris, as first defendant, and his company Branlee Consulting as second defendant. The estate of late Prime Minister David Thompson, represented by his widow Mara Thompson, the executrix, is the third defendant in the matter. However, Parris has so far been unsuccessful in challenging the order, which he said had not only caused him hardship but had also prevented him and his company from meeting their “usual living and business expenses”. As part of the constitutional motion, which was filed against the Attorney General back in 2015, Parris also argued that the delay in hearing a previous application to set aside the order was a violation of his rights, as he sought an unspecified amount in damages. However, the case has been hit by a number of snags. First Justice William Chandler, who gave the original order, recused himself from hearing the matter. Then, another judge, Justice Jacqueline Cornelius, who was set to preside over the case, was rejected by Parris’ legal team on the grounds that her husband, Queen’s Counsel Ralph Thorne, had made adverse public comments on the matter on political platforms. (BT)

POLICE PROBE UNNATURAL DEATH - Police are investigating the unnatural death of John Baptiste Mondesir, 68, of Farm Road, Ellerton, St George. Around 3.15 p.m., Mondesir was discovered by a family member hanging from decorative blocks in a section of the house. (BT)

VEHICLES BROKEN INTO A QEH - For the second time in less than two years, criminals have targeted the vehicles of employees at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH). While the hospital’s chief executive officer (CEO) Dr Dexter James had promised to beef up security in the car parks in April 2015 when seven employees had their tyres slashed, workers are now calling on him to follow through on his promise. In the most recent attack last Thursday night, two QEH employees discovered that the windows of their vehicles had been smashed and their cars, which were parked in the private car park adjacent to one of the hospital’s entrances broken into. A couple days later, a thief also broke into a nurse’s car, which was parked in the car park behind the hospital. (WN)

CUMBERBATCH FACES GUN, ASSAULT AND DRUG CHARGES - A 24-year-old unemployed man this evening began a 28-day stint at HMP Dodds after he appeared in a Bridgetown Court on gun, assault and drug charges. Akeem Jamaal Cumberbatch of 3rd Avenue Licorish Village, My Lord’s Hill, St Michael was not required to plead to the indictable charge of using a firearm without a valid licence. He appeared before Magistrate Douglas Frederick for that offence which allegedly occurred on November 24, 2015, as well as assaulting Shaquon Stafford with intent to maim, disfigure, disable or do him some serious bodily harm on the same date. Cumberbatch was however allowed to plead to possession of cannabis and apparatus intended for the misuse of the illegal substance. He admitted to the offence, which occurred on January 10 this year. He was remanded to jail and will reappear before Magistrate Frederick on February 9 when the court will hear the facts of the cannabis charge. (BT)

CARPENTER ACCUSED OF ASSAULTING POLICE – A 44-year-old carpenter was today placed on $2,500 bail after denying he assaulted two police officers. Standing in the dock before Magistrate Douglas Frederick in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court, David Soloman Forde, a resident of Pipers Avenue, Lodge Hill, St Michael, pleaded not guilty to assaulting and resisting Constables Julian Maynard and Andre Stoute in the execution of their duties yesterday. He is also accused of damaging one of the policemen’s shirt and a whistle – a charge which he denied. With no objections to bail, Forde was granted his freedom after the magistrate accepted his surety. He returns to court on June 9. (BT)

BAIL FOR COZIER - Wayne Bernard Cozier, 30, of Waterhall Land, St Michael was also granted bail when he appeared before Magistrate Frederick. Cozier is accused of assaulting De Andrea Harding, occasioning her actual bodily harm, as well as damaging a cellular phone belonging to the complainant on January 7. He denied the charges. After presenting a suitable surety Cozier, who was represented by attorney Shadia Simpson, was released on $3,000 and ordered to return to court on June 9. (BT)

BAIL FOR YEARWOOD - Samuel Wendell Yearwood of #7 Hilltop Road, Pinelands, St Michael denied unlawfully and maliciously wounding Damian Williams last Christmas. The self-employed 54-year-old was released on $3,000 bail after securing a surety. He returns to court on June 9. Under the conditions of his bail release, Yearwood must stay away from the complainant. (BT)

BAIL AT LAST - After several bail applications and four months on remand, Ricky Kenneth Yearwood of 3rd Avenue Grazettes, St Michael, was finally granted his freedom today, but not without some stringent conditions. His release came after a hard fought battle between prominent attorney Hal Gollop, QC, and police prosecutor Sergeant Janice Ifill in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court. Yearwood is charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding Jameelia Wahid on October 8 and damaging a motor van belonging to her, as well as trespassing in her house with intent to inflict serious bodily harm on her.He denied all three charges when he made his first court appearance and has been on remand since October 12. However, Gollop argued that the case was a summary matter that would be heard before the magistrates’ court. “It is not an ordinary wounding matter, Your Worship. . . . It involves matters of the heart . . . inflamed passions,” the Queen’s Counsel said. Magistrate Frederick pointed out to Yearwood that he had given him such a chance on the last occasion when he was granted bail. At the same time, he acknowledged, “this is a mere allegation, I agree . . . Matters of the heart sometimes go beyond logic . . . but the ball is in your court.” Yearwood was then granted $10,000 bail with one surety and will appear in the No. 2 Magistrates’ Court on February 3. However, Frederick warned him not to venture near Wahid’s residence or that of the business the two shared in Black Rock, St Michael, pointing out to Yearwood that while he was incarcerated the business continued without his input.Yearwood must also report to a police station every Wednesday by 10 a.m. (BT)

OFF TO DODDS FOR TRESPASSING - A man who was unable to give a valid reason for being on the property of his ex-girlfriend’s mother, will spend the night in jail. When he went before Magistrate Douglas Frederick this afternoon, Mikal Turique Worrell of Miller’s Gap, Farm Road, St Peter pleaded guilty to loitering on the premises of Cheryl Mcalmont and was unable to give a satisfactory account of himself. The 21-year-old shop assistant was in a relationship with the complainant’s daughter, but after the relationship came to an end he was forbidden from stepping foot on the premises. However, police prosecutor Neville Watson said it was around 5:30 this morning when the complainant and her husband heard a noise near the shed in their backyard. They investigated but found nothing suspicious and went about their business thinking it was a “wild cat”. They left the backdoor open and proceeded to take a shower when they noticed Worrell entering the house and making his way to a bedroom. The husband went to investigate and found Worrell hiding at the side of the bed. He gave no reply when asked to give a reason for being there. The police were called in. “You were caught red-handed,” Magistrate Douglas Frederick told Worrell. However, Worrell denied being in the bedroom. “I was on the premises but I was not in the house. I was in the yard waiting to talk to my ex-girlfriend,” he claimed. Frederick then questioned Worrell about his reason for being on Mcalmont’s property when he was warned not to go there. “I am very sorry,” Worrell said. He told the court the Mcalmont’s home was located in Brittons Hill. “I went to a session at that side, in St Lawrence Gap,” said the young man. Magistrate Frederick, who wanted to investigate the matter further, remanded Worrell to HMP Dodds until tomorrow, after his surety was unable to make it to the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court to sign his bail. (BT)

STADIUM MOVE - Joel Garner appears to have new responsibilities – those of managing the National Stadium. WEEKENDSPORT investigations have revealed the current West Indies cricket team manager has taken over as the Stadium superintendent in the wake of Colin Spencer’s resignation towards the end of last year. Garner, the current president of the Barbados Cricket Association, has been a technical officer at the National Sports Council (NSC) for close to 20 years and his new responsibilities come at a time when the stands at the Stadium have been condemned. When a WEEKENDSPORT team arrived at the National Stadium yesterday morning, Garner was observed pulling into the car park. When he alighted from his vehicle, he declined comment even before he was asked to confirm or deny his new post. (WN)

BFA GOING BY RULES - THE HIERARCHY of the Barbados Football Association (BFA) has hit back at female coaches of the Women’s League. In an article which appeared in Monday’s edition of the DAILY NATION, a group of coaches aired their grievances after both president Randy Harris and general secretary Edwyn Wood stated unequivocally that the decision to deduct six points for teams not appearing for scheduled games, was in keeping with the association’s rules. Subsequent to that, Harris sent a statement to the press stating the association’s preference for settling matters behind closed doors. “Such an approach is best for the image of the sport, and this is the path both myself and the board will be taking as I see all stakeholders in football as one family,” he said. (WN)

HEARTBREAK FOR KING – Another major, another gut-wrenching exit for Darian King. The king of swing is feeling more like the heartbreak kid now, having suffered yet another painful defeat in the second-round of qualifying at the Australian Open yesterday. Playing against American Denis Kudla on court 15, King squandered a one-set lead and a late break in the third set before losing an agonisingly tough 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 contest to the 18th seed. It was his third straight second-round defeat in the qualifying rounds of a Grand Slam following similarly heartbreaking losses at last year’s Wimbledon and US Open. (WN)

WARRENS WIN AGAIN – League queens Pan American International Insurance Warrens continued their trek towards a perfect season of double crowns when the Goddard Enterprises Limited senior volleyball knockouts were played Wednesday night at Oldbury. Warrens moved to 3-0 and stayed at the top of the table in the preliminaries by handing Burger King Clapham Toners their third straight loss 25-13, 25-13, 25-20. Toners were undone from early by the serving of Talya Layne, with Jamelia Corbin, Rhe-Ann Niles and Xhane Greenidge being too potent in attack for Warrens. Layne exploited Toners’ poor reception with some powerful flat serves which launched advantages of 8-1 and 16-6 in the first set. (WN)

MOUNT GAY REGATTA NEXT WEEK – The Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. is gearing up for a packed sporting events programme this year, beginning with the Mount Gay Round Barbados Race series next week. The BTMI has designated 2017 the Year of Sports Tourism, and its manager for sports, Devon Chase, told Barbados TODAY that the Mount Gay regatta is expected to be as exciting as last year’s. According to him, 33 boats have so far registered for the event, which is now into its 81st year. This year the BTMI will be hosting four new sporting events, namely the OK Dinghy World Championships 2017 and the Golden Oldies World Cricket Festival in May; the Finn Masters World Championship 2017 in June, and the stand-up paddling competition, the Dragon World Championship, in October. Thirty overseas teams have registered to date for the May 7-14 event, and the BTMI estimates over 600 visitors, including sailors, friends and families will attend. A further ten local teams are also registered to compete. (BT)

BATTLE READY – Barbados Pride might be one of the strongest teams on paper heading into the West Indies Cricket Board’s NAGICO Super50 Competition but they are not about to become complacent on the field, says coach Emmerson Trotman. During Thursday’s trial match played at St Catherine’s Cricket Ground in St Philip, Trotman acknowledged that there were several West Indian players on the team but that meant nothing when it came to cricket. In addition he also explained that having home advantage didn’t really say much because it all came down to execution on the day. Barbados are scheduled to feature at home in Group B against Jamaica Scorpions, Guyana Jaguars, Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners and ICC Americas team. The full squad reads: Holder (captain), Anthony Alleyne, Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Kraigg Brathwaite, Jonathan Carter, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shai Hope, Ashley Nurse, Kemar Roach, Kevin Stoute and Jomel Warrican. (BT)

MACHEL’S MOMENT – Internationally-acclaimed Trinidadian soca artiste, songwriter, record producer and actor Machel Montano was the first recipient of the inaugural Barbados Independent Film Festival Digicel Award for Artistic Excellence, presented at the festival’s gala opening at the Walled Garden Theatre of the Barbados Museum Wednesday night. Montano was elated to receive his award from acclaimed veteran American actor and film producer Stephen Lang, widely recognised as the villain of Avatar fame. (WN)

There are 21Days until Girlfriends Expo & Arts Festival (February 4th & 5th) and you can purchase your tickets from Ticket Pal.

To all our nation’s teachers who are returning to work today remember we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child. Well that’s all for today folks. There are 352 more days in the year ;) Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps

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