#Political Circus in Barbados

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 4/6/2018

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Friday 6th April 2018. Remember that you can read full articles via subscribing to Nation News Online, purchasing a Weekend Nation Newspaper (DN) or via Barbados Today (BT).

IT’S A CIRCUS – A circus atmosphere with Prime Minister Freundel Stuart as the ringleader, has “led to the recent establishment of a political party for sex workers”, political scientist Peter Wickham has charged. Wickham today said the announcement this week by adult entertainment consultant Charles Spice Lewis that he was about to launch the Political Prostitutes Party (PPP) – made up of people in the sex industry – to contest the 2018 general election was all part of a mockery being made of the electoral process. And he placed responsibility squarely at the feet of Stuart, whom he said has sunk the process of choosing this country’s leaders into the “realm of the absurd” by his refusal to name an election date even after the automatic dissolution of Parliament on March 6. “We have gotten into the realm of the absurd and I think the fact that we are having this conversation is evidence that we have stepped into that realm a long time ago,” the pollster told Barbados TODAY this morning. “We are already in an historic period where we are going now on a month that Parliament has been dissolved and the Prime Minister has not indicated when the election is going to be called and that is the most absurd thing. So this matter of a prostitutes party is all consistent with the circus that we are now,” he stressed. The issue of prostitution and politics has become a major talking point here since Natalie Natlee Harewood, then a well-known prostitute, announced last month that she would challenge for The City seat in the next election, due by early June. Lewis was named as campaign manager for Harewood, who, a week after her stunning announcement, disclosed she was quitting the sex selling trade to pursue her political ambitions. The two have since parted company, with Harewood posting an angry message on social media yesterday, denouncing Lewis for conceiving the PPP, which he said was inspired by the public reaction to Harewood’s run for office. However, Lewis is not being taken seriously, not just by Wickham, but also by Dr George Belle, himself a political scientist, who often dismisses third parties. “I don’t think anybody should make a serious comment on that, so I am not going to do that. I have already spoken to the issue of third parties and I am not going into anything that anybody comes out with on the spur of the moment. If they want to be taken seriously then let them establish the party first and only then I may consider commenting on them. There is no point just going down the road talking foolishness,” Belle said. In confirming the establishment of the PPP, Lewis yesterday told Barbados TODAY he had been receiving quite some interest from potential candidates interested in representing the interest of “the prostitutes, strippers, you name it”. “I have already received a number of messages from individuals who are interested in becoming candidates. I now have to conduct interviews but I am looking for people with certain qualifications. Certainly they have to come from the adult entertainment industry, whether a former prostitute, stripper, exotic dancer, webcam performer, that is the number one criteria,” he said.  (BT)

POLLSTER PREDICTS UPP WILL CRUMBLE BEFORE ELECTION – Political Scientist Peter Wickham is predicting further defections from the United Progressive Party (UPP) before the upcoming general election, after one of its candidates jumped ship to join the Barbados Labour Party (BLP). Linda Field, who was due to contest the St Lucy seat, quit the party with a few parting shots at UPP leader Lynette Eastmond. Wickham contends that the party was formed out of hatred for BLP leader Mia Mottley, and argued it would fail to hold on to many of its candidiates if it does not change its raison d’être. “Remember that these are parties designed to attack an individual. So if you set up your institution around an aversion to Mia Mottley, people who support that cause will support you but a lot of those candidates are not committed to an anti Mia cause as the founders of the party are,” Wickham told Barbados TODAY this afternoon. “This is a reflection that the rubber has started to meet the road in terms of the political action. Those parties have a good social media presence and communicated and conveyed the view that they were stronger than they are, but once they get to the real politics, which has started, it is difficult for them to be sustained,” he added. The regional pollster contended that while many of the UPP candidates might have signed up believing they would go all out to win the upcoming election, they would come to realize that this was not the party’s major objective. “These candidates joined a party because they expected to win and when they see that they are not getting people over to their side and that all they are doing is splitting the vote, a lot of them are going to fall by the wayside. I expect that by the time we get to the end a lot more of them are going to drop out. This politics is hard. It takes a lot of time and a lot of money and for you to invest that time and energy for vendetta that someone has with Mia Mottley is not going to be easy,” Wickham said. Field, who was the second candidate to drop out after the party booted Charleston Taylor over his position on the decriminalization of marijuana, was critical of Eastmond and the party’s structure. “Unfortunately, I have come to realize that the UPP is not a serious political organization. It has no structure [and] communication with the leadership is limited to WhatsApp and Facebook. Frankly, I don’t think that Ms Eastmond has what it takes to lead and I want to make a difference,” she said. This prompted UPP Christ Church East Central candidate Ogeji Dottin to rush to Eastmond’s defence, describing Field’s comments as “surprising and unfortunate”. “Linda’s statements are not necessarily accurate. The party has a structure, we have our headquarters and we have our regular meetings. We do make use of the technology to communicate and find it a little interesting that Ms Field would attempt to make these sweeping statements to discredit the organization and to discredit Lynette, who most of the candidates have a great deal of respect for,” Dottin said. However, Wickham told Barbados TODAY there was no question that Eastmond was not leadership material. “The first time we ever had her name mentioned in the context of leadership is now. When we had the last public opinion poll I don’t think a single person mentioned her as an alternative leader. As a matter of fact David Comissiong had more support as a leader than her. I don’t think that she even sees her own self in that light,” Wickham said.  (BT)

NCC DENIES IT HAS BEEN REHIRING WORKERS – The National Conservation Commission (NCC) is again rejecting claims it has been rehiring workers since retrenching some 300 in 2014 as part of Government’s public sector cost-cutting exercise. General Manager Keith Neblett told Barbados TODAY this afternoon reports suggesting that the state agency was bringing back workers were  “definitely not true”. “We are not rehiring any workers. As people go home, we replaced them. That is not any rehiring. We have been doing that for more than a year or two. It is nothing unusual. All we do is replace people as they go home. If you call it rehiring, call it rehiring,” Neblett said. “If you retire or die. That is basically it,” he added in explaining when workers are brought in. At the same time he refused to say how many of those who had retired or died had been replaced, or if any more would be replaced anytime soon. However, a person who is soon to begin working with the statutory agency told Barbados TODAY the NCC would begin hiring in two weeks. In April last year, the NCC announced the appointment of 103 workers with effect from the beginning of that month. At that time, Minister of the Environment and Drainage Dr Denis Lowe had sought to set the record straight following a meeting with newly appointed workers and the NCC’s Board of Management at Almond Bay Caterers. “Since the retrenchment, we lost 87 workers due to retirement, death or other means. We took a position in concert with Government’s position not to hire additional persons . . . .We have only hired eight people so the story that is being told is untrue that the Commission has hired 170 people. That is a myth,” Lowe emphasized then. In addition, he had stated that the NCC had satisfied all its obligations to retrenched workers, with many of them even receiving letters of recommendation from the state agency to pursue and chart new career paths. The state enterprise is currently entangled in a legal fight with The Crane Beach Resort over beach access amidst a public outcry over what is being seen as efforts by the hotel to privatize the beach. A number of protesters converged on the beach last Saturday, declaring “dah beach is mine”, a line from the hit song Jack by veteran calypsonian and Cultural Ambassador Anthony Gabby Carter, who has accused the luxury resort of evicting vendors from the beach last month. Sean Alleyne, the hotel’s general manager, had told Barbados TODAY the dispute was not with the vendors but with the NCC, which he blames for granting licences for vending on lands owned by the resort, and which he threatened to sue. But in response, the state entity, which is responsible for managing and regulating parks and beaches, has since declared there are no private beaches in Barbados. Neblett also disclosed that a survey would be conducted shortly to determine once and for all, where beach land begins and ends.  (BT)

FUMES FROM QUARRY STILL BIG PROBLEM – The flames that engulfed the reduced Lower Estate Quarry are gone, but months later fumes, likened to an acrid, chemical smell, are still being experienced by residents in its environs. Residents of Lower Estate, St Michael, and also Airy Hill and Rowan’s, St George, are questioning why. At The Palm, Lower Estate, St George, a father of a four-year-old son and five-month-old babies said he had to take the babies over to a grandmother’s house out of fear of having them in that environment. While choosing not to give his name, the young man who recently completed his house and moved in November last year said: “It is good that we have the grandparents nearby that we can take them over to, but the up and down, back and forth is not ideal,” he said. A few houses away Montex Miller said after her son spent so much to build a house, they could not enjoy it and were like prisoners since they had to keep their doors and windows closed all the time. She said the smell was really bad last week and over the Easter weekend it was almost suffocating. Her five-year-old grandson had been affected by a cough, runny nose and sneezing, while she had to use antibiotics and nasal spray. Candace Depaul who also lives at Rowans, St George, said the fumes and whatever gases were emanating from the quarry were affecting her health. “I get home about 9 p.m. and leave home at 6 a.m., but from the time I get home I get hoarse from a sinus drip that stops once I am back at work”.  However, one Airy Hill resident called for patience while the owner Anderson Cherry dealt with the matter:  “He [Cherry] said he is going to move it, but it can’t just happen so.” While refusing to give her name, she questioned why Barbadians were so quick to jump on the bandwagon and crucify each other.  “If it was a white man, them did not going to be getting on so, we too like to fight we own. I aint fretting myself; I will give him some more time to get the situation sort out,” she said. However, businesses in the Lower Estate industrial area said their staff was being affected and they had to be footing the cost to keep the work environment amenable. Euclyne Holder of Carter’s General Store said they had to pay a local company to clean the filters three times a week and was also tasked with purchasing air fresheners to spray in the store’s aisles. Even after that he said they noticed a fall in sales. Holder said he had a cashier on sick leave, and though they were trying to keep staff comfortable, on days when it is very unbearable some staff had to leave early. Annalise Corea, office manager of Crane & Equipment Ltd, said they had to install an air purifier, which also had to be cleaned every three weeks instead of the recommended two months. She expressed concern about staff who worked outdoor and only had dust masks for relief. Supervisor at the quarry, Glenroy Bispham, who has been doing daily videos which he shared with the media and other stakeholders, said the only thing going into the quarry was rock and soil, which they used to cover the area where the fires had occurred. However, owner of the quarry, Anderson Cherry, said they were working daily with the relevant ministries to have the matter resolved. “I believe it will come to an end soon,” Cherry said. Cherry said they had written the Ministry of Health to get an extension on the four weeks they were originally given to remove the waste from the quarry. This week they were cutting up metals to be packed in containers and shipped out of the island. The tyres will be removed afterward.   (WN)

PEACEMAKER DIES AFTER BID TO PART FIGHT – An elderly peacemaker collapsed and died metres away from his home after attempting to part a fight on Wednesday night. An eyewitness said almost a dozen people, including young children, teenagers and parents were in the brawl, which started on the compound of the O’Level Institute and continued on the road near the National Housing Corporation’s Country Park Towers. Robert Quinton, 70, died at 1st Avenue, Alleyne’s Lane, Passage Gardens, St Michael, and another eyewitness said he was kicked moments before he fell. The animal lover had been trying to rescue a teenager. Antonia Alleyne told the Weekend Nation if you were cold, her father probably would have offered you the clothes off his back. The father of 11 once worked at the School Meals Department before becoming a security officer. Yesterday, from the verandah of his home, a very hoarse Alleyne was still trying to come to grips with her dad’s sudden passing. She wasn’t surprised he tried to help someone out, especially since the girl involved in the fray was his friend’s daughter. She often stopped at the house after classes. Still, Alleyne was surprised he intervened in the brawl. “If you are stranger and you wanted something to eat, he would give you, but going in the midst of a fight . . . that’s not something he would normally do,” she said.  “We were standing here and he was talking to me about going to buy [dog food] . . . but then he went over there to see what was happening when he realised she hadn’t come over yet.” Alleyne did not leave immediately and checked to see if her children were safe. “So when I got there, I saw what he was doing and then I started to quarrel with him and say, ‘You too old for this; why you in the mix of this?’,” she recalled. “Every time he took the girl out of the fight, she kept turning around and going back,” his daughter said.   She added after her father walked away from the crowd, she spotted the teenager and told her to go home. “After I turn my back to my father, the woman from next door tell me ‘you father fall down’. So I can’t say he get kick ’bout, because I didn’t see any of that.” Police investigations into this matter are continuing. (WN)

PETITION TO STOP CASE AGAINST MUM – More than 700 signatures have been garnered for the petition launched by the African Heritage Foundation calling for Director of Public Prosecutions Donna Babb-Agard to discontinue the case against Felisha Holder who was charged with reckless driving resulting in death. In mid-March, Holder was charged with causing the death of her 11-year-old son Abijah Holder-Phillips in the June 25, 2015 crash at Coverley, Christ Church. President Paul “Simba” Rock, said the foundation was hoping to get 5 000 signatures by African Liberation Day, May 25, at which time the petition will be delivered to Babb-Agard and followed by a rally in Queen’s Park. Rock called for the case against Holder to be discontinued on the ground that back in 2012 the structure at Coverley was deemed illegal and unsafe by the Town and Country Planning Department. Quoting a document from the Ministry of Transport and Works file No. 3221 Vol. 4, Rock said it was recorded that “the entrance is not well designed, and it utilises the hard shoulder which, as designed, creates a challenge for motorists”. He questioned why the contractors had not been “called to task” or why the Town and Country Planning Department had not removed the structure as they had done with other illegal structures. Keturah Babb, trustee of the foundation said, “There is provision for the DPP to use his or her judgement and discretion in proceeding with a case, and we think that on moral and technical grounds this charge should be discontinued.” Babb called for sensitive reporting on the issue, hoping that what is carried in the media did not lead to more hurt for Holder and other family members. The petition was launched online and Rock said a signing would be held at headquarters on Two Mile Hill, St Michael, on April 28, National Heroes Day.  (WN)

MURDER ACCUSED SAYS SORRY FOR EXPOSING WIFE – He filmed his naked wife and then distributed the video to all and sundry. Yesterday Applon Ishmael Ithamar Parris said he did it out of frustration. “I apologise for my behaviour,” the technician of Taitts Road, Brittons Hill, St Michael, told the Oistins Magistrates’ Court. “It was done out of frustration. I should never have embarrassed my wife,” the limping man, who had been shot by police, added. Parris, who was charged with the murder of Constable Shayne Welch on March 26, had just confessed to using a computer – a smartphone – to send an electronic communication that was obscene and intended to cause distress to his wife Diana Parris to whom he intended its contents to be communicated on March 26. He was not required to plead to the murder charge. Parris was also charged with unlawfully assaulting Acting Station Sergeant Leslie Arthur with intent to prevent his lawful apprehension, in District C’s jurisdiction on March 27, as well as entering Grethel Payne’s house, between March 26 and 27, and stealing a cell phone belonging to her, in District E’s jurisdiction. He did not plead to those charges. Magistrate Elwood Watts told Parris the charge for sending the obscene video was the “kind of offence that should attract a custodial sentence”. “Your wife naked on social media? You should have been more sensitive than that,” the magistrate told Parris as he ordered a pre-sentencing report on the video charge. The magistrate remanded Parris to HMP Dodds. The accused will appear at the District “C” Magistrates’ on April 10; at the District “E” Magistrates’ Court on April 12, and he will reappear on May 3 at the Oistins Court. Prosecutor Station Sergeant Rudolph Burnett said Parris and his wife Diana were having marital problems and, as a result, she became involved with Constable Shayne Welch who lived in Kingsland, Christ Church. It was around 5:30 a.m. that Parris broke into Welch’s home and videotaped his wife naked in bed at Welch’ home. He then sent that video out, with his Samsung smartphone, to a number of people. (WN)

PARRIS REMANDED TO DODDS – Murder-accused Applon Ishmael Parris has been remanded to prison. The 26-year-old of Taitt Road, Brittons Hill, St Michael appeared before Magistrate Elwood Watts at the Oistins Magistrates’ Court today charged with the March 26 murder of Constable Shayne Welch. He was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded to HMP Dodds until May 3, 2018. Parris pleaded guilty to malicious communication and was sentenced to three months in prison. He was not required to plead to a charge of assault to prevent lawful apprehension as this matter was a District 'C' matter. It was adjourned to be heard by that court on April 10, 2018. Parris also faces a burglary charge. He was not required to plead to this matter which will be heard in the District 'E' Magistrates’ Court April 12. (WN)

FEUDING BROTHERS – A 27-year-old man, who allegedly stabbed his brother, was granted $10,000 bail with strict conditions when he appeared in the Oistins Magistrates’ Court today. Tremaine Renaldo Nathaniel Gill, of Wilson Village, Lodge Road, Christ Church, was not required to plead to the charge that he wounded Damian Gill on April 1 with intent to maim, disfigure or disable him or to do some serious bodily harm to him. Station Sergeant Rudolph Burnett objected to bail for the accused on the grounds that he had charges pending before the court and the complainant was still hospitalized at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. However, Gill’s attorney Andrew Clarke told Magistrate Elwood Watts that his client was self-employed and was complying with all the conditions previously imposed as it relates to other court matters. The lawyer said based on his information the injured brother was up and walking. He also submitted that his client was willing to make other living arrangements as the two resided in the same household. Watts ruled in favour of the defence and granted Gill bail on condition that he reports to the Oistins Police Station every Wednesday before 9 a.m. with valid identification. The accused must also be off the streets from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily and must reside other than with his brother. Gill returns to court on May 8.  (BT)

DOG OWNER FINED $400 – The man whose Great Dane and bull mastiff dogs mauled an 81-year-old woman as she was walking through Brighton Crescent, St Michael, earlier this year, was fined when he reappeared in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court yesterday. But it’s up in the air whether Christopher Maurice Straker will get back the two dogs, which were confiscated by the Animal Control Unit in January. The court heard that January was not the first time the Animal Control Unit had been called for and had confiscated the dogs. Officers from the unit had done so once before. Yesterday, the 45-year-old contractor of No. 18, Brighton Crescent, St Michael, changed his plea and confessed to two counts on the charge, under the Dog (Licensing And Control) Act, that on January 19 he unlawfully permitted the dogs to be in a public place, Brighton Road, when they were not on a leash or a lead. Magistrate Douglas Frederick, who said he took into consideration the man’s early guilty pleas and that it was his first offence, fined Straker $200 forthwith for each dog or seven days in prison. The fines were paid. The maximum fine under the act was $250 or three months for each dog. Straker then inquired if he could have his dogs returned but Magistrate Frederick explained that was not in his purview and he would have to make a request to the Animal Control Unit. Prosecutor Sergeant Edwin Pinder, who outlined the evidence, said 81-year-old Enid Small, a Barbadian-Canadian who was on one of her many visits to the island, left her Brighton Crescent home in January to go for a walk. On her way back home, an hour later, she saw two dogs, which ran at her. (WN)

SMITH ADMITS TO STEALING BUG SPRAY AND LUNCHEON MEAT FROM POPULAR – A 49-year-old unemployed woman will spend the night at HMP Dodds after pleading guilty to theft. Alicia Sheldene Smith, of Block 1E, North Close, Wildey, St Michael, admitted to entering Popular Discounts on Spry Street, The City, on Wednesday and stealing a can of insecticide, two cans of luncheon meat, a pack of chicken seasoning and a bottle of mayonnaise. The prosecutor, Sergeant Edwin Pinder, told Magistrate Douglas Frederick that Smith, a “recognized shoplifter”, was kept under observation when she entered the supermarket around 1:30 p.m. She reportedly picked up a shopping basket and placed it on her wrist along with two other plastic bags before she was seen taking up items and placing them in the basket, as well as in one of the bags. She then proceeded to the cashier where she paid for what was in the basket and tried to exit the store. However, Smith was stopped and searched and the police were called in after the items were found. “These ain’t come from in here,” Smith declared when asked to account for the items. However, CCTV footage showed otherwise. Smith’s attorney Mohia Ma’at told the magistrate that she was a mother of four children and only one was employed. He also suggested that the items taken were things that could be used by her family. However, the magistrate pointed out that he had earlier convicted, reprimanded and discharged her on a theft charge last December. He then remanded Smith to the St Philip penal institution until Thursday when she is due to know her fate. (BT)

JAMAICA: $300M IN FAKE GOODS SEIZED, SIX PEOPLE ARRESTED – The police raided two stores operated by Chinese in downtown Kingston yesterday and seized what they described as fake brands valued at more than $300 million. But the operation, carried out by the Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime (CTOC) Investigation Branch, angered some people who said they had no problems with the goods and that they made a living by buying products from the store for resale. Six Chinese nationals — five men and a woman — were taken into custody during the operation that commenced about 9 a.m. at 84 and 88 Princess Street. Head of CTOC, assistant commissioner of police Fitz Bailey, who was at the scene, said both stores had what appeared to be counterfeit products of various brands. “We have identified a significant amount of counterfeit products — shoes, Adidas, Nike, Louis Vuitton, you name the brand — and so we are in the process of seizing those items, which is going to take us a good while,” Bailey told reporters outside the stores. The seizure, he said, is part of efforts by CTOC to clamp down on counterfeit goods across the island. “We have a mandate, and wherever our information leads us, wherever we get the evidence, we are going to pursue, whether it’s breaches of the IP (Intellectual Property) legislation or any other legislation. We will pursue persons who are in breach of the law,” Bailey said. However, while the police conducted the operation, a number of people who said they were among the stores’ customers fumed. “Mi come fi buy something and a bare police. Mi come fi buy crepe fi sell back. Mi cyaah buy America crepe fi sell back, it is too expensive and it nuh good neither,” said a vendor who gave her name only as Meme. The woman, who said she has four children, told reporters that she has been vending for decades and has been purchasing items from the Chinese for a long time. “Mi cyaah read and mi nuh have no O’ level; mi nuh have nuh dis, mi nuh have nuh dat. It send mi pickney go university. A it mi live off of; mi buy a every store as long as mi can get it. Chiney a don, mi love dem. Mi cry fi dem. If dem head hurt dem, my head hurt mi too. Without dem mi cyaah live,” Meme complained. “Without the Chiney mi cannot live, mi a tell you from mi heart; you know the reason why? Mi get all credit from dem; nuh black people nah trust mi nothing. Although unnuh [police] say a rubbish, a nuh rubbish fi wi, a good, good things. A inna Chiney wholesale mi buy dah shoes yah and look pon it. Mi wear it; I don’t know weh I don’t do with it. Dem fi low dem,” she said, taking off her shoes to show reporters. Meme, who was adamant that nothing was wrong with trading in illicit goods, said that the Chinese give customers the opportunity to purchase “name brand” goods. “Explain to us wha wrong, wah wrong with Chiney coming here and buying. Wi cyaah buy a America, yuh know how much people never wear a real Adidas or a Reebok until when Chiney come in, so how Chiney fi wrong fi do business?” she asked, eliciting support from other people. Another woman, Kamesha Morgan, who was wearing a pair of Nike sneakers she said she had purchased from one of the stores two years ago, insisted that as soon as the stores are reopened she will be shopping.  (BT)

GALE STORM – Kyle Gale has created quite the storm. Former Olympian Victor Houston appears to be at odds with local track and field officials over Gale being stripped of his CARIFTA gold medal after questioning the validity of that disqualification. The 44-year-old Houston expressed his concerns in a Facebook chat while arguing that Jamaica’s protest of Gale stepping on the line came long after the Bajan quarter-miler already received his 400 medal. But Athletics Association of Barbados vice-president Noel Lynch cleared the air, having explained that video evidence is permissible at any time under the new rules of track and field. “I’m not sure if Victor is totally familiar with the rules and how they’ve changed, and this is not just for track and field, but if you have video evidence then you are free to bring it to the officials’ attention long after the fact,” Lynch clarified. “I think the situation is such that if that evidence was even brought a year later then Kyle would be stripped of his medal then too. And what happened was that Jamaica immediately mounted the protest after they had video evidence that Kyle stepped on the line. “The officials would’ve sat in their room and looked at their own video evidence that clearly showed he indeed ran on the line, and more than once; so it was brought to our attention. so the disqualification stood up,” he added. The contention comes less than a week after Gale captured the hearts of all Bajans by clocking a sensational 47.07 seconds in the 400 metres to shatter Usain Bolt’s Under-17 boys’ record. But Gale visibly crossed lanes on at least two occasions, although it wasn’t immediately spotted by the officials on track as no flags were raised during the race. The news then broke a day after Gale was disqualified when Jamaican officials provided video evidence of the infraction. However, Houston, who serves as an assistant coach at Missouri State, took issue with the ruling for several reasons. “There are so many red flags about this DQ that he should never lose his medal. You have 30 minutes after a race to protest. That did not happen,” wrote Houston in the post. “His medal was given about an hour after the race so no protest could have been filed because the medal would not have been given during the protest. After a medal has been given you can’t take the medal back unless the kid was tested positive for PEDs, and he was not.” “The official did not see it and put up a yellow flag. If a Jamaican team member had film from the stands it is not admissible for an official protest. The Bahamian officials should have never listened to that protest after the medals were given because the time frame to protest had already passed,” he added. Lynch refuted Houston’s understanding of the rules though, saying that any type of video can be brought forward as evidence while explaining there is no time frame on the stripping of medals. “In the world of sports nowadays everyone has a camera so no one is trying to allow people to get an unfair advantage when technology can be used to get things right,” said Lynch. “As I explained, the protest and disqualification was brought to our attention and we had none other than Esther Maynard present there as an ATO (area technical official) and she saw there was irrefutable evidence that Kyle stepped on the line more than once.” (WN)

BUMPY START FOR BAJANS – The Gold Coast hasn’t proven lucrative so far. Team Barbados really went down under yesterday after suffering a rough start to the 21st Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. None of the squad’s squash players advanced to the medal rounds of singles play, while triathletes Jason Wilson and Matthew Wright both placed outside of the top 20. Competing in a sprint triathlon, Wilson finished five minutes behind eventual gold medal winner Henri Schoeman of South Africa to place 23rd in a time of 58 minutes and 14 seconds. Wright came in 32 seconds later to end up in 25th overall. Squash players Shawn Simpson, Meagan Best and Amanda Haywood then all bowed out in the round of 32 in their respective singles draws. Haywood defeated Caroline Laing 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 5-11, 11-7 in the previous round only to lose 11-6, 11-5, 11-5 to Laura Massaro five hours later. Reigning two-time Caribbean women’s and US Open junior queen Best also lost in straight games (11-5, 11-1, 11-8) to Alison Waters of England. Simpson took a game off of Guyanese Sunil Seth before ultimately falling 11-8, 11-8, 8-11, 11-4 in 27 minutes. Barbados didn’t fare any better on the tables, as the men’s table tennis side dropped their Group 3 fixture 0-3 to Singapore. Tyrese Knight lost 11-9, 11-6, 11-5 to Shao Feng Ethan before Mark Dowell fell 11-1, 11-8, 11-9 to Xue Jie Pang.Dowell then paired with Kristian Doughty to lose the doubles to Pang and Feng 11-2, 11-3, 11-4. Best, Simpson and Haywood are slated to return to the floor today for the consolation singles rounds, while the men’s table tennis team face Mauritius in their second Group 3 match. Olympian Alex Sobers will swim in the third heat of the men’s 200 metres freestyle before Barbados face the top-ranked Australians in a Pool A netball encounter.  (WN)

BARBADOS UNDER-15 CRICKET CHAMPS AGAIN -  Barbados repeated as champions of the West Indies Under-15 Cricket Tournament after defeating Guyana by four wickets in their decisive top-of-the-table fifth and final round match at Kensington Park on Wednesday. The young Barbadians ended with 26.2 points while Guyana were second on 24.5 with host country Jamaica third on 13.2, followed by Windward Islands (12.6), Trinidad and Tobago (12.4) and Leeward islands (7.7).    It was Barbados’ fifth title at this level following triumphs in 1997 in St Lucia, 2004 in St Vincent, 2012 in St Kitts and last year on home soil. (WN)

BAJANS CHAMPIONS AGAIN – For the second night this week a large crowd of sports fans and family is expected to turn up at the Grantley Adams International Airport to welcome home champion performers. On Tuesday it was the turn of the CARIFTA team, and Thursday night the Barbados junior volleyball squad returns after retaining their Cazova Under-21 crown in Suriname on Tuesday night. The Bajans defeated pre-tournament favourites Haiti 25-10, 25-17, 25-16 to become the first country in the 11th edition of the tournament to win and repeat without dropping a set.  It was somewhat of a surprise considering that all of the coaches from the other four countries had tipped the first timers Haiti to take the top spot. Barbados had also launched this year’s tournament on Saturday night with a straight-sets win over Haiti, who held the upper hand 22-15 in the opening set but hardly threatened afterwards. Best spiker Jean Phillips Byol played with great venom throughout the event. However, with all of the Barbados juniors boasting experience in their respective division one teams, the champions showed their worth in neutralising the French connection. Cousins Akeel Oxley and Ashe Oxley relished the setting of number one playmaker Chad Callender to stun Haiti easier than the first clash.  The blocking of Akeil Williams proved crucial in maintaining Barbados’ dominance.     Captain Brandon Callender, twin brother of Chad, played a good all-round game, while Kadeem Morris once again was solid in attack as well as with his ground play. By targeting Byol and shutting him down at the net while blasting Haiti’s shocked net and ground defence, Barbados muscled their way to a facile win in the opening set of the finals.  Sticking to that game plan, the Bajans sauntered to victory and the title, although Haiti made some late surges to get back into the contest. In addition to claiming the overall title, Barbados snatched four of the eight individual awards. Akeel, who won the schools’ MVP for Christ Church Foundation last week, was voted MVP at Cazova. His cousin Ashe was voted Best Outside Power Hitter while the Best Blocker was awarded to Williams. Callender was elected Best Setter.     The victory was extra sweet for coach John Stuart, assistant coach Elwyn Oxley and manager Valmay Stapleton, who have all captained champion Barbados squads at the Cazova level.  It was sweeter still for Oxley as he is the father of Ashe and the uncle of Akeel.‘Spectacular performance’ “What made this tournament interesting as well was that Barbados, in the last junior championship, won without losing a set and came back and defended without losing a set. That in itself is a spectacular performance,” said former Caribbean MVP Elwyn Oxley. “These boys put down one of the best performances I have witnessed of any Barbados team, particularly in their wins over Haiti.” The young champions, who return from South America Thursday at 9:45 p.m., have booked tickets for the Norceca Under-21 tournament to be held in Nicaragua in June. (WN)

NO LOVE FOR BUJU IN T&T –The concert is 13 months away but already the LGBT community in this country is expressing its displeasure with Reggae singer and one of dancehall’s stalwarts, Buju Banton’s schedule visit to T&T in 2019. It has resolved there should be no promoting of artistes who promote violence against against LGBT people. In the past some of Banton’s lyrics spoke directly and violently against homosexuality. When asked to confirm if this displeasure was true, Colin Robinson, director of the Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation (CAISO), said, “Why wouldn’t LGBT people be concerned about Buju performing here? If there are folks marching at Parliament and the Hall of Justice every Friday who don’t want to share our country with us, why would it be a surprise that LGBT people aren’t happy to share our country with Jamaican homophobes?” At the same time Robinson cleared up any concerns of a grand plan being circulated on social media, to stop the artiste from performing in T&T. He says, “CAISO isn’t part of any local plans, if they exist. The visit is 13 months away. We have enough work to do here and now. And I have no idea if Buju will still be the person he was when he gets out of jail.” Robinson noted T&T has had robust responses to irresponsible hate speech in the past, some by the state itself. “Rayad Mohammed was charged for saying the things Buju sings about the Prime Minister’s family, Mavado was banned for his violent lyrics, the Equal Opportunity Commission is not afraid to take a hate speech case, he says, whether it comes from a teacher or a musician.” He said artistes like Banton should use their influence to promote upliftment, peace and love and should make meaningful donations to causes that fight for the rights of people regardless of the category. Banton born Mark Anthony Myrie would have expressed his views on the topic of homosexuality in his 1993 smash dancehall hit titled ‘Boom bye bye.’ The chorus, “Boom bye bye inna batty bwoy head, rude bwoy no promote no nasty man dem haffi dead,”spoke of death being the reasonable penalty for homosexuality. The song though still quite popular in the Caribbean cannot be played on Jamaican frequencies. It has remained controversial over the 27 years since its release. And is an offence in countries like Canada, the US, UK and other countries in Europe where LGBT people have gained some acceptance and legal protections. Upon his release from prison in December of this year, Banton is carded to make his first ‘freedom’ appearance in T&T at a concert date set for April 22, 2019. The ‘Wanna Be Loved’ singer’s nine-year sentence for drug trafficking in 2009 will end on December 8, 2018. During these nine years at the McRae Correctional Facility in Georgia, Banton obtained a Master’s degree in music. The grammy-award winning singer and songwriter’s marketing team led by Jodian Ebanks told the Jamaican Observer during a press conference held on March 25 aboard the Love Harmony Cruise, the artiste was excited about getting back on the road and to performing. She explained T&T was chosen for his first place of concert only after colliding schedules with Jamaican artistes originally billed for Banton’s release concert in Jamaica didn’t allow for it to go as planned. In 2006, Time magazine called Jamaica “the most homophobic place on earth.” Angeline Jackson, human rights activist and executive director of Quality Citizenship Jamaica (QCJ), wrote in 2015, “Jamaica’s ‘anti-sodomy law’, a holdover from British colonial rule, criminalises “the abominable crime of buggery” and acts of “indecency” between men.” She said few had been convicted under the law, but many use it as pretext for unfairness and violence. Broadcasting companies have cited it when refusing to air ads promoting tolerance and respect for LGBT people. And dancehall music artistes have used it to justify violent homophobic lyrics. The T&T Guardian tried to contact the T&T promoter responsible for bringing Banton to T&T next year to get his views on the concerns of the LGBT community, but all efforts proved futile.  (BT)

SOCA STRAIGHT UP AT DAQUIRI BEACH – PURE VIBES! That pretty much summed up the highly anticipated show Gimme Soca which came off last weekend. From as early as 8 p.m., soca lovers started to assemble at Daiquiri Beach, Bay Street, St Michael, for what was expected to be a spectacular Saturday night, given the proposed line-up. The featured international and local artistes did not disappoint. To set the pace, local artistes Hypasounds, Mole, Scrilla, Jawga De Champ and Fadda Fox got the crowd going. Though rain threatened at times, the soca junkies were able to jam without interruption. The first of the overseas acts was Motto out of St Lucia, who joined Fadda Fox for a performance of Shell Down That. It went from St Lucia to Trinidad, the Land of the Humming Bird. Lyrikal did Cloud Nine, Dip and Roll and Loner. Soca princess Patrice as usual was the one the crowd was waiting on and she did not disappoint. Dressed in a very eye-catching jeans outfit, Patrice joined Lyrikal to perform their duet Criminal Wine and the two put down some dance moves that had everyone’s full attention. She also did Old And Grey, Big Girl Now and Like It Like This, which was originally sung with Kes. Patrice, who is very popular in Barbados, also got up close and personal with the crowd during Sweet Fuh Days. Shal Marshall, performing his 2018 hit song Splinters, then hit the stage to further hype the crowd and as it sang along. Up next was Voice, the three-time International Soca Monarch. He really just needed to stand centre stage, let the backing deejay run his track and the crowd was quite content in singing his mega hits Year For Love, Cheers To Life and Far From Finished for him. Of course, he didn’t let them sing alone. He faced some technical difficulties during his set, and even temporarily left the stage. The slight glitches were fixed and he returned to give the cheering crowd more. Skinny Fabulous closed out the show with hits like Party Start, Push It, Watch Thing, Monster and When The Lights Go Down. At the end of his performance, mirroring the end of last year’s show, Skinny invited all artistes back on stage to sing parts of their songs to allow the still hyped crowd a chance for one last jam.  (WN)

ZULU GOES STAR GAZING – Band launch season is here. Before scores of spectators recently at the Daphne Joseph-Hackett Theatre, Queen’s Park, Zulu International Inc. made its intentions known that it is one of the bands to watch. It was the first band to reveal its Grand Kadooment costumes for the upcoming Crop Over Festival. This year, the self-proclaimed “fun” band’s theme is Hidden In The Stars and each of its nine sections is titled: UWO (Unidentified Wukking Object), Supernova, Nebula, Milky Way, (Black Hole) SagiA, Comet, Aurora, Stargazers, and Apollo. General Manager Aundrea Wharton said male revellers would lead three sections of the band for the first time, a deliberate effort to separate the sexes, based on their theme. “The celestial objects that we were depicting for the females didn’t seem to fit with the males at all in terms of the nature of masculinity. So given that, we are studying celestial objects . . . we let the guys be the ones who would have been able to explore these phenomena – Apollo and Stargazers,” Wharton said. The team of designers include lead designer David Dewer and Natalie Fonrose of Trinidad and Tobago and Kat Gittens and Janiece Springer of Barbados. “We have made a real effort to give local designers an opportunity to showcase their talent. “So we have given the opportunity to two Barbadians to produce for us this year and they have done a great job,” he said. Grand Kadooment will be held on August 6 this year.  (WN)

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