#beautifulbarbados | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

stephaniefchase · 7 years ago

Text

Bajan Newscap 8/11/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Friday , August 11TH, 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).

CLICO ‘VICTIMS’ PARRIS, STUART AND SINCKLER AMONG 20,000 TO RECEIVE PAYMENT - Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and his close friend, former CLICO boss Leroy Parris, are among a list of 20,000 policyholders set to partake in the millions to be transferred to the two new companies which are to take over the CLICO business – New Life Investment Company Inc (NLICO) and Resolution Life Insurance Limited (ResLife) – as the process begins towards a long-awaited settlement. The massive list also shows a number of other prominent Barbadians, ranging from politicians, to lawyers, and present and past police officers. Today’s publication was an update from the judicial manager of CLICO International Life (CIL) Deloitte Consulting Limited confirming active policies and outstanding claims as at June 30, 2017.

In a 120-page advertisement, the judicial manager informed policyholders and claimants to verify their information. The judicial manager also asked active policyholders and claimants as at June 30, 2017 who did not see their names on the list, to contact CIL to make an appointment. They are asked to bring their original policy and or claim information to the head office on Walrond Street in Bridgetown. On the list are also close to 400 names for death claims. Of significant note is a policy in the name of Leroy Parris listed under the category ‘Surrenders’ but in care of his wife Faye Wharton-Parris among the 200-plus names under that category. Following the transfer, those who opted for the surrender option, as well as pensioners and matured policies are expected to receive payments.

Chairperson of the Barbados Investor and Policyholders Alliance (BIPA) June Fowler had told Barbados TODAY there has to be a 90-day period for the publication and verification of policyholder information, following the High Court’s approval, which took place last week. After that, she said, there would be a waiting period of up to four weeks – the transfer should take place after the second week if there are no issues, after which payment should begin for the death claims, maturity and pensioners. Policies that are still active would then require people to start paying their premiums. Some of the prominent figures listed for matured policies include Assistant Commissioner in charge of crime Lybron Sobers, as well as the Prime Minister. He also has an Ordinary Life policy under the Active Policy listing. Retired Assistant Superintendent of Police Vernella Wiltshire was also listed under the Active Policies Ordinary Life category.

The Term Life policies listing included Director of Security at the University of the West Indies Oral Reid, Minister of Labour Dr Esther Byer-Suckoo, Auditor General Leigh Trotman, political scientist and pollster Peter Wickham and former police officer Glen Hinkson, who now resides in Canada. The majority of the prominent figures in Barbados however, had Executive Flexible Premium Annuity policies. They include head of the HIV/AIDS Commission Jacqueline Wiltshire-Forde; Barbados Labour Party candidate for Christ Church West Dr William Duguid; Pic-O-De-Crop judge Woodbine Davis; owner of Popular Discounts supermarket Bertram Hall; cricketer David Holford; former tourism minister and current CEO of the Barbados Cricket Association Noel Lynch; former Anglican priest Edward Gatherer; lawyer Leroy Inniss and parts dealer Percy King. On that list are also former CLICO boss Leroy Parris; former Senator professor Velma Newton; former president of CLICO Holdings Barbados Ltd Terrence Thornhill; former BLP Member of Parliament Sir Louis Tull; former police chief Grantley Watson; Parris’ wife, Faye Wharton-Parris, and her current business partner Jerome Ishmael. Independent Member of Parliament for Christ Church West Dr Maria Agard and Government Senator Jepter Ince are listed under the Flexible Premium Annuity Policy category, while the Lifetime Advantage Policy listing included General Manager of the National Housing Corporation Lanette Napoleon-Young and Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler. One Annuity policyholder who did not want to be identified told Barbados TODAY whatever he received from the company would be “a welcomed bonus. A number of prominent businesses were also affected by the CLICO collapse. Listed under the Executive Flexible Premium Annuity Policy, Corporate were companies such as the Nation Publishing Company, Starcom Network Inc, First Citizens investment services (Formerly CMMB Barbados Ltd), Harmony General Insurance Ltd, the Barbados Association of Retired Persons and the Branlee Consulting Services Inc, a company founded by Paris. Parris, the former CLICO executive chairman, is currently involved in a legal battle to release over $3million in assets which have been frozen by the court. (BT)

LEVY ON TABLE - The issue that brought 21 000 people onto the streets of Barbados has been placed on the agenda of items to be discussed when the much anticipated Social Partnership meeting comes off today. It’s the contentious National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL). This has been revealed by president of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW), Akanni McDowall, who was speaking as the tripartite committee faces the glare of the cameras at the Hilton Hotel. The levy was raised from two to ten per cent by Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler and went into effect from July 1. There has been a universal outcry against the levy, which businesspeople, economists, and labour leaders have indicated will cause a sharp increase in the cost of living. (WN)

SWEET DRINK TAX ‘NOT ADDING UP’ - Minister of health John Boyce is still waiting to see the impact of the ten per cent tax that was imposed on sweetened beverages two years ago. Boyce said though there was collaboration between his ministry and beverage manufacturers, more work was needed. He was speaking during the third annual Barbados Food Law and Industry Conference, which was held at the Accra Beach Hotel on Wednesday. “Government has been instrumental in the provision of nutritional counselling throughout the island and the provision of guidelines on nutrition and healthy foods in schools as well as the provision of food-based dietary guidelines.” (WN)

SEALY: CROP OVER TOO BIG FOR NCF - Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy and Minister of Culture Stephen Lashley are at odds about the future direction for the management of the Crop Over Festival. Sealy suggested Crop Over had become so big that the time may have come to shift responsibility for its execution from the National Cultural Foundation (NCF) to a separate entity with responsibility for the festival only. “I think that at some point, Crop Over has grown so large and is getting so much larger, that the arrangements that surround it institutionally may have to be reviewed,” Sealy responded when asked whether the festival had achieved its original goal of attracting visitors to Barbados during the slow summer months. “When Crop Over was resurrected it was largely a tourism effort to get visitors here. I think you would have to say that based on the numbers coming in here now, particularly people visiting friends and relatives, there is no question it has achieved its mission.” (WN)

FESTIVAL SHOCKER - A Barbadian visiting home for the first time in 20 years may not ever return after he became one of the victims of the Spring Garden mass shooting. Only giving his name as Clement, the man said he was here from New York to take in Grand Kadooment with his wife when shots were fired and he felt a sudden pressure in his side. “I’m born in Barbados but live in New York. I was just here trying to enjoy Crop Over with my wife; the last time I was here was in 1997. We came in August 1 and were supposed to leave on the fourth for the Grenada festival, but everything ruined now. “We were down Spring Garden dancing on the side of the road watching the trucks go by. It was around 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. and up to that point, we were having a great time. The next thing you know, you hear ‘pow, pow!’ and I turned to make sure my wife was all right and I get hit,” he said. (WN)

AIRLINE RAMP SLIP RUINS VACATION - Albert Leacock has been coming back to Barbados for years but this last time has left such an unpleasant taste in his mouth, he is contemplating whether he will return or not. His ordeal began almost immediately on arrival here. He said he had caught the early JetBlue direct flight [from New York] and had landed in Barbados at around 4 a.m. on July 28. “I was disembarking from the plane but whoever put the ramp there just push it and leave it – no lights, no supervision. It was raining heavily and as soon as I step on it, I slipped and fell from the top and bounced all the way to the bottom,” he said. Leacock said he slid head first and bruised his ribs and his left leg, which ended up underneath the ramp. (WN)

SAFETY UPGRADES FOR WESTMORELAND - Safety improvements are coming to the danger junction at Westmoreland on the Ronald Mapp Highway. That assurance has been given to residents of Westmoreland, St James and surrounding districts by Minister of Transport and Works Michael Lashley. Speaking during a town hall meeting at the Westmoreland Church of Nazarene on Wednesday night, Lashley said he was fully aware of the issues facing residents. However, he explained that before any changes could be made to the highway, the technical staff at the Ministry of Transport and Works would first have to be consulted. (WN)

MORE GUN AND DRUG ‘CATCHES’ - In search of fast money, a growing number of fishermen are after another type of catch, says the former head of the Barbados National Union of Fisherfolk Organisations (BARNUFO). Angela Watson, who served as BARNUFO’s president for seven years between 1999 and 2006, said there had been an increase in the number of fisherfolk using their vessels to transport illegal guns and drugs. In an interview with the WEEKEND NATION, Watson said that during her time as president there were some cases where fishermen were found to have been engaging in the illegal practice. She said the situation had since developed into a growing problem. (WN)

POLICE INCREASE PATROLS IN BLACK ROCK - Residents in Black Rock, St Michael have noticed an increase in police presence since the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Taried Rock at Grand Kadooment on Monday. A trio of mounted police officers wearing bullet proof vests could be seen patrolling the area when Barbados TODAY visited Fairfield around 1 p.m. today. Over in Rosemont, a resident who requested anonymity told Barbados TODAY the police presence had increased in the community, while pointing out that on Kadooment morning members of the Royal Barbados Police Force had their command station located in the Deacons area. However, he said the number of police officers patrolling the area had started to rise after Monday’s shooting. “I don’t have to tell you about the vehicles coming through here, you can see for yourself . . . . They come through here every ten to 15 minutes. [Sometimes,] they run through with guns [at] all hours of the day and night . . . . I have been told that drones are flying around the area as well,” he said. In addition, the resident said despite the fact that Monday’s shooting took place on Spring Garden Highway, lawmen continued to make their presence felt in Deacons. It was apparent around 4:50 this afternoon when Barbados TODAY spotted a Task Force vehicle entering Deacons and proceeding to a nearby location where approximately ten men and women had gathered. Along the stretch of Deacons only a few children could be seen playing on a nearby court, as some residents continued to insist that their community was safe. “I feel safer with the increased [police] presence,” one elderly resident said. Attorney General Adriel Braithwaite on Wednesday said there were 16 gangs of troublesome youth in the Black Rock, St Michael environs, and that he would introduce legislation to give members of the Royal Barbados Police Force additional powers to arrest the worrying wave of gun violence. (BT)

NEW PARTIES WANT ACTION TO CURB GUN CRIMES - The business-friendly political party Solutions Barbados wants to know why lawmen cannot identify the people behind the illegal guns and drugs that end up on the streets of Barbados, while “the boys on the block” know where to source them. Solutions Barbados is among three fledgling political movements to express concern about the violence, in the wake of Monday’s shooting at Grand Kadooment, which resulted in the death of 20-year-old Taried Junior Rock of 3rd Ave Chapman Lane, St Michael and injuries to at least 18 other people, including a six-year-old boy. The United Progressive Party (UPP) said it was prepared to “stand with all those willing to take urgent action to pull Barbados back from the precipice”, while Citizens’ Action Partnership (CAP) promised to support a joint effort to tackle gun-related crime. UPP Shadow Minister of Home Affairs Maria Phillips said Barbados had witnessed an alarming increase in gun-related crimes, stressing while the party did not want to “spread despondency and alarm” it could not deny that the crime situation was escalating. Meantime, CAP leader Wendell Callender told Barbados TODAY the current spike in gun crimes was nothing new, but it must be dealt with comprehensively. (BT)

TOUGHER ROAD LAWS COMING – Legislation to combat drink driving and the use of cellular phones while behind the wheel is still on the cards, Minister of Transport and Works Michael Lashley has reiterated. However, during a spirited town hall meeting in his St James North constituency, Opposition Member of Parliament Edmund Hinkson wanted to know how soon. Last night’s meeting came against the backdrop of two fatal accidents within the space of four months along the Ronald Mapp Highway which claimed the lives of 61-year-old Mary Downes on July 12 and 48-year-old Anderson Joseph back in March. Back in October 2015, 36-year-old Dave Hurley was also struck down in the same area. In response to concerns raised by residents about speeding and bad driving along the highway, Lashley assured that changes were coming to the Road Traffic Act. However, Hinkson wanted to know when the actual amendments would be presented to Parliament. Back in May Lashley had promised that the Road Traffic Amendment Bill would be presented to Parliament immediately after Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler presented the 2017-18 Budget. However, the move remains outstanding even though the Budget was tabled at the end of May and approved. (BT)

DRUG BUST - Police are investigating the discovery of over half a million dollars’ worth of illegal drugs this week. The latest drug bust was on Tuesday, when members of the Drug Squad and the customs Enforcement Division of the Customs Department seized 82.5 pounds of cannabis valued at $300,000, and 4.5 kilos of cocaine valued at $225,000 from among cargo imported into the country. (BT)

HYATT CASE ADJOURNED AGAIN - The legal heavyweight fight over the US$100 million Hyatt Centric Resort is set to continue next Wednesday after today’s hearing was adjourned. In a hearing that was initially scheduled for early May, but was first adjourned until July 7 because the assigned judge was on holiday, lawyers representing Prime Minister Freundel Stuart and Hyatt developers, the Mark Maloney-led Vision Development Inc, spent three hours today trying to convince Justice Sonia Richards at the Number 9 Supreme Court that attorney-at-law David Comissiong had no legal standing to attempt to stop construction of the hotel. The legal heavy hitters, including Barry Gale, QC, who represents Visions Development Inc, and Hal Gollop, QC, representing Stuart, began their oral submissions around 11 a.m. and concluded at 2:30 p.m. when the hearing was adjourned. (BT)

BIG MISTAKE LIAT! - The decision to appoint Barbadian Julie Reifer-Jones as the new chief executive officer of the cash-strapped regional airline LIAT has been described as nothing short of a mistake by frequent flyer and airline commentator Robert Pitcher. The regional businessman told Barbados TODAY he had absolutely no confidence that Reifer-Jones could turn around the fortunes of the troubled regional carrier, given that she had acted in the position several times in the past without making a difference. Reifer-Jones, an accountant, was appointed as the airline’s chief executive at the beginning of this month, almost a year after British-born David Evans quit the post. She is the first woman to be appointed to the top position at the airline, which is owned by the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Reifer-Jones said she was delighted over her appointment and was looking forward to delivering an improved level of service from LIAT to the region. However, Pitcher said he failed to see how that could happen under her watch, given that the Antigua-based carrier continued to struggle financially while she held the post of chief financial officer. He is therefore predicting that she will not last long in the position. At the same time, Pitcher is maintaining that the entire LIAT board of directors should be fired and a new board installed, made up of businesspeople from shareholder countries, including former Antigua and Barbuda Senator Aziz Hadeed, Barbadian businessmen Ralph Bizzy Williams and Mark Maloney, and Dominican hotelier Gregor Nassief. He said apart from bad management, he believed poor planning had contributed to the airline current troubles. (BT)

BRA TREASURY BUILDING OFFICE NOW ON 4TH FLOOR - The public IS advised that the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) has temporarily relocated its Customer Service Department at the Treasury Building to the fourth floor, to facilitate renovation works being carried out on the ground floor. Communications manager Carolyn Williams-Gayle said that the renovations formed part of the Authority’s overall plans to enhance service delivery. “This section is the first point of contact for many people and these renovation works are part of the Authority’s ongoing efforts to improve service delivery. We have undertaken renovations at our offices in Holetown, The Pine and some at the Treasury Building, and now we are continuing those works with the ground floor renovation,” she explained. Williams-Gayle said that it was expected that once the renovation was completed, the section would be “more comfortable, visually appealing and the flow of customers through the department significantly enhanced”. (WN)

IN BREACH - Bodybuilding seems headed for another big showdown. Not at Nationals either. Barbados Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (BABFF) president Manasseh King may have run afoul of the World Anti-Doping Code after reportedly failing to be compliant with the National Anti-Doping Commission (NADC) at July’s St Michael Classic. According to a source close to the situation, two local doping control officers informed King of their intention to do drug testing at the show only to be met with resistance from the BABFF head. Such an action would be deemed an anti-doping rule violation under article 2.9 of the World Anti-Doping Code titled “complicity”. (WN)

GRANT: INVEST MORE IN SPORT - Chief Executive Officer of the Pinelands Creative Workshop, Rodney Grant, is calling for a greater investment in sport across Barbados. “There are some things we can’t stop, but there are a lot of things we can prevent by doing the right thing,” he said during a press conference for the Caribbean Children Charity Shield Soccer Classic at the Pinelands Creative Workshop on Wednesday. “Sometimes we look upon ordinary people, and we undervalue their value. We question their ability to contribute to important development paradigms. Only last week the Hamilton Lashley Foundation concluded a cricket tournament in Meadow Road. In speaking with Hammie, I recognised the Foundation produced many national youth cricketers (WN)

$15 000 PICK-UP - This year’s Starcom Network’s People’s Monarch, Sanctuary, picked up his winning cheque of BDS$15 000 yesterday at Cave Shepherd on Broad Street. As a way to thank his fans for their support in the popular competion, he rendered his song Pick Me Upto the scores of people who attended the presentation. Sanctuary is the 15th winner of the People’s Monarch competition. (WN)

BASHMENT SOCA ‘AN ENTRY POINT’ - In spite of the criticism bashment soca has received, radio programme director Ronnie Clarke is giving it two thumbs up. Over the years, bashment soca has been a topical public debate, especially on call-in programmes. It is seen as negatively influencing the behaviour of young people with lewd lyrics. However, Starcom Network’s programme director Ronnie Clarke played down the critiques about the calypso subgenre. Speaking at the sidelines of a presentation of $15 000 to People’s Monarch Sanctuary at Cave Shepherd Broad Street on Wednesday, Clarke said that bashment soca was a necessary element of the Crop Over season as it attracted people to the festival who may not otherwise be interested in it. (WN)

XHOSA APOLOGISES FOR BELOW PAR KADOOMENT EXPERIENCE - The management OF Xhosa Barbados has apologised to its patrons following a bitter-sweet Grand Kadooment. The band started the season on a positive note by carrying out a charitable exercise and later putting on a spectacle at its band launch. Xhosa also copped a number of prizes including Most Colourful Large Band and Best Party Band on Monday. However, the experience was marred by a number of challenges including delays in handing out costumes, poor communication and food and drink shortages on the road. During a press conference today, band leader Jeremy Nicholls addressed many of the concerns and said each member would receive a personal apology. He said patrons’ feedback would be taken into consideration as the band regrouped for 2018. (WN)

Rihanna's Crop Over costume goes viral - Social media almost collapsed under the reaction to Rihanna's costume on Monday as the singer attended the Crop Over festival in Barbados. The 29-year-old had teased fans by uploading photos of her new turquoise hair on Instagram over the weekend. But the look was completed on Monday as she stepped out in a jewel-encrusted costume with green and pink feathers. (And not much else). Part of Rihanna's outfit was designed by DBleudazzled - a line specialising in bedazzled costumes. The owner of the company, known as Bleu, told Billboard she had to provide the tights at very short notice - with Rihanna's team only requesting them last Wednesday. The rest of her outfit was put together by local designer Laura Austin, according to Vogue. "Crop Over used to be celebrated with people wearing simple T-shirts," Austin said. "Over the years however, designers started getting creative. Today it's very important to dress up in full costume to really and truly feel the Crop Over vibe. It's exhilarating, free, and radiant." (BBC)

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

#The Chase Files #beautifulbarbados #Barbados Today #Weekend News #clico #NCF #cri #crime #Blogs by Stephanie F. Chase

0 notes