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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 18/2/2020

Good Morning #realdreamchasers ! Here is your daily news cap for Tuesday 18th February, 2020. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS), Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

VAUXHALL IN, GRAYDON SEALY OUT –Students of Vauxhall Primary School will be back in the classroom today, but staff and students at Graydon Sealy Secondary School will be at home. Classes ground to a halt last Wednesday after parents and staff raised concerns about an infestation of rats, termites and cockroaches at the Christ Church primary school. Parents said their children were constantly ill and were out of classes for extended periods, while teachers complained of respiratory complications. After a walk-through by Parent-Teacher Association president Adrian Husbands, parents decided not to allow their children back in the classrooms until the issue was addressed by the Ministry of Education. Last Wednesday, Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw, Acting Chief Education Officer Joy Adamson and other ministry officials toured the compound for three hours and said classes would be closed for the rest of the week to allow for the start of refurbishment works, beginning with the female bathrooms, which would extend over the weekend. (DN)

MILLIONS DOWN DRAIN –The Barbados Water Authority (BWA) will be working around the clock to repair a 16-inch burst main at Searles/Woodbourne that apparently is the reason why customers in Christ Church and St Philip have been without water for the past three days. Described as one of the “worst burst mains”, engineers at the BWA unearthed the massive leak yesterday morning while carrying out an investigation of the entire system linked to the Hampton Pumping Station, to determine why the water levels had not returned to normal, following repairs to the pump last Thursday. Taking the media on a tour of the waterlogged area yesterday evening, Minister of Water Resources Wilfred Abrahams lamented that millions of gallons of water had already been lost before the leak was detected. As a result, he said management had taken a decision to shut off the water supply at 7:30 last night in order to give customers time to store water. However, he pointed out that it would take time to repair the main since the wooded area had to first be cleared of trees and bush, then the water which had created a large swamp had to be pumped off before work crews could access the main. “It is not going to be an easy fix,” the minister said as he warned that “to actually do the fix is going to cause significant disruption to service. It cannot be avoided”. (DN)

MORE WATER OUTAGES FOR CHRIST CHURCH & ST. PHILIP – Residents in Christ Church and parts of St Philip who were experiencing sporadic service will be without water for a few more days. Earlier today, a crew from the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) discovered a massive 16-inch burst main in the region of  Woodbourne/Searles, Christ Church. The magnitude of the leak created a huge swampy area, from which workers at the BWA will first have to clear wood and debris and then pump off the excess water before repairs can be effected. As a result, the water will be turned off at 7 p.m. today. Minister of Water Resources Management Wilfred Abrahams says they had a crisis meeting with management and the engineers and decided to explore every option because they could not understand why the levels were not returning. “Millions of gallons of water is being lost out here, but to actually do the fix will cause significant disruption for customers,” he said. Work started immediately and they are getting assistance from several companies. The BWA will put contingency plans in place, including sending out water tankers, but residents in those areas are being urged to do what they can to deal with their own situation. Some parts of St Philip and Christ Church have been without water for the last three days. Last Thursday, after a disruption in electrical power, the BWA suffered pumping equipment failure at Hampton, and later that night, one pump was repaired and another replaced. There was also a 10-inch burst the following night at Pilgrim Road, Christ Church, and it was repaired that same day. (DN)

ISOLATION CENTRE POSES NO RISK TO PUBLIC – The Ministry of Health and Wellness has assured schools, businesses and residents in the vicinity of the Isolation Centre at Enmore, Collymore Rock, St Michael, that the area remains safe. Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Kenneth George, was responding today to concerns raised by some members of the public after the Centre was identified as the facility where anyone arriving in Barbados with symptoms related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) would be placed in isolation and treated. Dr George explained that in the construction of the facility, which has been in place since the public health threat posed by Ebola in 2014, special emphasis was placed on safety and security. “There is a double filtration system that involves HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filtration, as well as UV (ultraviolet) filtration. These systems combined make sure that all the air emanating from the facility is safe.” He shared that the Centre had also been recognised by the Pan American Health Organization as being representative of “best practice”, and posed no risk to the public. The Chief Medical Officer emphasised: “This type of facility was so designed to not only treat Ebola, but also to treat any new and emerging respiratory viruses, such as COVID-19. “In addition, there are bio-security features which relate to the movement of staff and patients into and out of the building,” he assured. He said that the Ministry was committed to providing the public with up-to-date information on this public health challenge and to putting all necessary measures in place to protect residents. (BGIS)

MET OFFICE MONITORING SAHARA DUST MOVING INTO REGION – People with respiratory ailments are being asked to take precautions this week. The Barbados Meteorological Services is monitoring the progress of a thick concentration of Saharan dust haze located in the central Atlantic. The Model data indicates that the plume of dust haze is forecast to affect Barbados as early as Wednesday morning, with an improvement expected around Friday. Impacts will vary due to the sensitivity of individuals and extent of exposure. People with respiratory ailments such as asthma and sinusitis could be affected. Symptoms include irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, sneezing, wheezing and coughing. Precautions should be taken to reducing exposure to this dust. (PR/SAT)

DEMOLITION STARTS ON FIRE STATION IN THE CITY –Demolition of the Barbados Fire Service complex on Probyn Street, The City is underway. Work men started around 8:30 a.m., excavated a wall and demolished a small building in the yard. An official estimated that the main building would be taken down around noon.  To accommodate the work, traffic on Probyn Street has been reduced to a single lane, but all surroundings roads, including Fairchild Street are unaffected.  The removal of the station is the first stage of government’s plan to develop Golden Square Freedom Park. The temporary market and the old National Insurance Scheme building are also scheduled to be demolished. (DN)

PROBYN STREET NOW ONE LANE DURING DEMOLITION – As part of the demolition of the old National Insurance Scheme (NIS) building and the Bridgetown Fire Station, the Ministry of Transport Works and Maintenance will be making some changes to traffic flow. Workers will be removing the traffic signal mast arm from the Probyn Street section of the Fairchild Street/Bridge Street junction today. The other traffic signals at this junction will remain in operation. Motorists are advised to observe the directions and signage of the contractors and workmen on site and road users should also note that Probyn Street will be reduced to one lane only. The old NIS building, Fire Service headquarters and temporary market located along the street are being demolished to make way for the Golden Square Freedom Park. (DN)

COPS ‘IN HIGH GEAR’ ON MURDER CASES –There is a great chance police will soon crack another murder case, says Acting Commissioner of Police Erwin Boyce. During a press conference at the police headquarters in Roebuck Street, Bridgetown, yesterday, he said three out of five murders for 2020 had been solved as far as bringing charges. He added this was a testament to investigators who were relentless in their efforts. “We have never taken off our gloves in the fight of crime and we will never take off our gloves in the fight of crime. The ones that have not been solved are actively being pursued. In some instances, there is light at the end of the tunnel for some.  “Three were solved and the possibility exists that we might solve a fourth in a not too distant time,” Boyce said. In relation to the record 49 murders in 2019, the senior lawman said that 60 per cent of them had been solved, and once Barbadians continued to offer them support, police would be able to do their jobs. (DN)

PERFUME THEIF SEND FOR EVALUATION – The details of how a 57-year-old man made off with a $209.99 cologne belonging to a popular Broad Street store will be given in court in three weeks before his sentencing. But that is all based on what doctors at the Psychiatric Hospital have to say in a report requested by Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant, about Richard Carmichael Best, of no fixed place of abode. Best was sent to the Black Rock, St Michael institution after he appeared before the magistrate and pleaded guilty to stealing the item from Cave Shepherd on February 15. “I want to pay back in a week,” Best said before he was given a March 9 date to return before the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court. (BT)

DEPORTATION FOR WOMAN CAUGHT STEALING – Jamaican Marjorie AnnMarie Campbell is to be placed on the next available fight home. Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant today ordered that the 46-year-old babysitter who resided at Charles Rowe Bridge, St George be deported after she admitted to theft. Campbell, who had been in the country since February 2013 and was given a six-month stay but failed to regularise her status after it expired pleaded guilty to stealing a number of food items including, chicken, lamb, cheese, pigtails, salt fish and chocolate mix from Popular Discounts on February 15. They were valued at $129.40. She apologised for her actions in the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court. Police prosecutor Victoria Taitt revealed that Campbell entered the store around 11 a.m. and was kept under observation by a security officer. She went through the aisles picking up the items as well as to the area of the meats. At one point she was seen putting some of the items in a green Popular Discounts reusable bag. The convicted woman then went to the cashier and paid for some items and when she tried to leave, a search was requested and the groceries that she had not paid for were found in the reusable bag and in another plastic bag. (BT)

ASSAULT CASE ADJOURNED UNTIL MAY – Teenager Keon Kenrico Waithe was granted bail today in connection with an offence against a female teen. The 17-year-old Waithe, of Bosvigo Gap, Eagle Hall, St Michael is accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Jammie-Ann McConney on February 15. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of $1,000. Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant has ordered him to stay away from McConney until the matter is adjudicated. The case comes up again in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on May 11. In the meantime, the accused must report to the Black Rock Police Station every Wednesday by noon with valid identification. (BT)

BULLETS FOUND IN SOCK – When police executed a search warrant at the home of a St Joseph man in 2015 they discovered five rounds of ammunition under his mattress. Today, Kevin Jamar Parris, of Bissex Housing Area, pleaded guilty to the almost five-year-old charge, which occurred on August 26. Crown Counsel Rudolph Burnett told Justice Christopher Birch in Supreme Court No. 5A that lawmen ventured to Parris’ home around 6:25 a.m. After speaking to him and handing over the necessary documents they executed the search. The court heard that in a bedroom under a mattress was a green plastic bag containing a white sock in which there was another green plastic bag. In there was a Styrofoam crate with the illegal ammunition. “I went to a party at St John about two weeks ago and find them up there,” Parris allegedly told police at the time. However, when he was arrested and taken to the police station he denied possession of the bullets. A pre-sentencing report has been ordered on the first time offender who is being represented by attorneys-at-law Amilcar Branche and Sherise King. Parris remains on bail until April 27 when he returns to the High Court. (BT)

NOT DOING ENOUGH – Businesses and charitable organisations are still not doing enough to assist with the reintegration of ex-criminals into society, according to Home Affairs Minister Edmund Hinkson. As he addressed Sunday’s Prison After Care Committee’s Church service at a Nazarene congregation at Westmorland, St. James, Hinkson noted a large number of former prisoners are trapped in a cycle in which they end up behind bars just four years after their release. Citing an InterAmerican Development Bank (IADB) study conducted last year, Hinkson disclosed that 61 percent of the approximately 760 prisoners at Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Dodds had already been in prison. The average time between their previous release and their current arrest, according to the study, is just 44 months and according to the Home Affairs Minister, the business community in particular has a massive role to play. “Coming out of Dodds, there’s a challenge with reintegration into our communities and their involvement in the socio-economic life of this country. The issue, as we said, is that a lot of employers don’t wish to give these people an opportunity and that therefore speaks directly to the issue of the police certificate of character and the Attorney General has stated this is an issue that we will have to take another look at,” Minister Hinkson acknowledged. But he stressed: “The problem is not one for the prisons or the Minister of Home Affairs or the Government. It is a problem for all of us in this society when these issues are our reality. The prison has done a fine job over the last five years for its programming for the reintegration and reformation of its prisoners including the expansion to those who are on remand.” Turning his attention to the aftercare committee, the Home Affairs Minister suggested the organisation’s role is critical in any attempt to strengthen the relationship between ex-convicts and the private sector. “We must look to strengthen the relationship between the private sector and the employers in this country, service organisations, community service organisations, the lions club of Barbados. We have to look to strengthen our links between these types of organisations and business organisations, as well as community service organisations in terms of giving everybody a stake in the rehabilitation and reform of those who have unfortunately come into conflict with the criminal justice system. Because we are all in this together,” Hinkson said. As part of government’s efforts to address the problem, the administration has extended its rehabilitation programmes to incarcerated persons who are on remand. He added that the recent appointment of five new judges and the hiring of judges to deal exclusively with criminal trials would assist in keeping innocent persons out of the system. Preventative measures he added could be found in Government push toward education reform along with initiatives like the youth advance scheme, the building blocks initiative, and the national training initiative. “Prisons can’t be looked at in a vacuum or in a unique situation. All of this is tied up in how we seek to programme and address our societal issues,” said Hinkson. (BT)

ST LUCIA ZOUKS SOLD TO INDIAN COMPANY – The St Lucia Zouks have been sold to a group of investors with extensive experience in high-profile cricket, says principals of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL). According to a media release issued today, K.P.H. Dream Cricket Private Limited is based in India and has “knowledgeable owners who have a track record of success on and off the field in major events. They will bring a huge amount of experience to the tournament and to the St Lucian team”. The Zouks have been part of the CPL since the league’s inception, making the playoffs during the 2016 season. They play their home games at the Daren Sammy International Cricket Ground, a stadium named after the man who has captained them for six of their seven seasons. Last year the Zouks team featured Sammy, Fawad Ahmed, Rahkeem Cornwall, Andre Fletcher, Colin de Grandhomme and Thisara Perera. Speaking about the purchase of the St Lucia Zouks, Mohit Burman of K.P.H. Dream Cricket Private Limited said: “We are excited at the opportunity to invest in one of the most exciting sporting tournaments in the world, and we have been impressed by the vibrancy of CPL over the last seven years. We visualise taking the franchise to the next level and showcasing St Lucia in the best possible light over the coming years.” Pete Russell, Chief Operating Officer of the Hero CPL, said: “We are hugely excited to welcome this ownership team to the CPL family and we are looking forward to seeing where they take the Zouks during the upcoming season and beyond. They bring with them a wealth of experience, which is fantastic news for both the CPL and St Lucia as a whole. During the 2019 tournament the CPL made a positive economic impact of US$13 670 260 in St Lucia and this new ownership group will be working hard to see this figure increase.” St Lucia’s Prime Minister Allen Chastenet welcomed the new owners amidst the hope “new energy and drive will inspire the team to excel”. He added: “Saint Lucians continue to root for the Zouks and we are encouraged by the confidence that Mr Mohit Burman and his team have placed in the players and Saint Lucia. The Government of Saint Lucia looks forward to working closely with the new owners to create a team we can all be proud of.” (DN)

AMAZON SAYS IT WILL START COLLECTING 17.5% VAT – After several false starts, the Mia-Mottley administration appears to have made a major breakthrough in a controversial bid to collect Value Added Tax (VAT) on online purchases from some major retailers. The “Amazon” tax as it has become known, is to be implemented next month according to multinational e-commerce giant, Amazon. The company on Monday informed customers that effective March 1, 2020, “Amazon World Service (AWS) would begin to charge Value Added Tax at a rate of 17.5% to Barbadian customers. The Seattle-based company detailed its intention in an email correspondence titled “Important Announcement” in which it noted that the new measures are consistent with tax legislation which came into effect on December 1, 2019. The company said that a tax compliant invoice would be issued to Barbadian customers from April 1 this year. The email was reportedly sent to all customers whose records indicate that their Billing Address or Contact Address is in Barbados. It explained to customers that the website calculates taxes based on the customer location, which is determined by Amazon’s Account Location hierarchy. To ensure compliance, Amazon has urged Barbadian residents whose accounts are not listed in Barbados, to update their details by visiting the Billing Address and Contact Address page of the AWS Billing Console. “Tax invoices will appear in the Bills page of the AWS Billing Console along with your anniversary and subscription summary invoices starting on April 1, 2020,” the email further explained. “If you receive your anniversary or subscription invoices via email today, you will also receive tax invoices via email starting on April 1, 2020,” it added. Barbados TODAY’s efforts to reach Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs Ryan Straughn for a comment on the developments were unsuccessful. The measure known as the “Amazon tax”, announced during Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s June 2018 budget was initially to begin in October of that year but was shifted two months later to December 1 and then to December 15th. The following year, legislation was introduced to allow the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) to outsource tax-collecting powers to an online third-party and the measure was to be introduced by July 1. This also was unsuccessful. When first introduced, numerous businessmen including former Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) President, Eddy Abed praised the move for placing local retailers and wholesalers on a level playing field with their overseas counterparts. Smaller businesses, however, complained that the measures could cripple their chances of survival by significantly increasing their costs. Nevertheless, changes were made to the Value Added Tax Act last December adding further scrutiny to the VAT collection process. Shortly after, current BCCI president Trisha Tannis expressed concern about compliance from popular international online companies like Amazon, Wal-Mart, Alibaba. Amazon’s expression of an intent to comply therefore suggests a major breakthrough in the Government’s efforts to implement the tax. It is still unclear if other international retailers will follow suit. (BT)

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Bajan Newscap 11/2/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Thurday 2nd November, 2017. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing Daily Newspaper (DN.

STUART: BARBADOS IS A CLEAN, LOW TAX JURISDICTION – Barbados is a clean, well regulated, low tax jurisdiction and not a tax haven! This was Prime Minister Freundel Stuart’s firm message when a delegation from the United States of America, including chief aides and policy advisors to Congressional Members Elliot Engel and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Eddy Acevedo and Eric Jacobstein, paid him a courtesy call recently at Government Headquarters. Those present included US Ambassador to Barbados, Linda Taglialatela; chief of staff of the Barbados Defence Force Colonel Glyne Grannum and acting Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, Mark Franklin. Stuart said from time to time, this country has had to defend its reputation in that area and he called on the US to lend its voice in helping to clear up any misconceptions. “Because companies pay low taxes here, they repatriate large profits to their jurisdictions and that money is invested there, so there is a win-win situation,” he explained. According to him, the international business sector accounts for a significant amount of Barbados’ corporate tax revenue, brings in the second largest amount of foreign exchange and offers good quality jobs. The Prime Minister said another area of concern was Barbados being classified as a high middle income country and therefore did not qualify for necessary concessional financing. He stressed, however, that all countries in the Caribbean were vulnerable and identified hurricanes as being able to wipe out their GDP within a few hours.     (DN)

SLIPPERY SLOPE: BUSINESSES WORRIED THAT NO ECONOMIC TURNAROUND IS IN SIGHT - The President of the Small Business Association (SBA), Dean Straker, says his members are currently walking on “thin ice” after hearing the grim economic news delivered by Acting Central Bank Governor Cleviston Haynes yesterday. Of grave concern to the SBA is the state of the country’s foreign reserves, which have plummeted well below the 12 weeks benchmark to reach just 8.6 weeks of imports or $549.7 million at the end of September, putting more pressure on the stability of the Barbados dollar. “I think this is even more concerning when you realize that this position reflects the situation as at the end of September. So, there is nothing that has happened in October that would have improved the foreign reserves, but a lot has happened that would have further depleted our reserves . . . because importers would have been making their orders for Christmas,” Straker told Barbados TODAY, adding that he expects the reserves to be even less at the end of October. “Of course this is of great concern to us small business members, as the Government has not been able to bring the fiscal situation under control. We continue to spiral downwards, and quite frankly, I think everybody should be concerned,” he said. The SBA spokesman is equally worried that the sector, which has traditionally found it difficult to access finance, could find it even more difficult to secure loans in light of the Central Bank’s announcement of a further tightening of its monetary policy that will require commercial banks to hold 20 per cent of their domestic deposits in stipulated Government securities. (BT)

NSRL COSTS BARBADOS IN DOING BUSINESS REPORT – Government’s controversial National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) has been identified as one of the main reasons for Barbados’ steep drop in the World Bank Doing Business 2018 Report, in which the island is ranked 132nd, down from 119th in the 2016 report. Barbados was not ranked in the 2017 report. “Barbados made paying taxes more difficult by introducing a new National Social Responsibility Levy of two per cent on the value of products before Value Added Tax,” it said in its summaries of doing business reform in 2016/2017. That tax was drastically increased as at July 1 this year to ten per cent. The 2018 report, entitled Reforming to Create Jobs, compared business regulation for domestic firms in 190 economies and the data is “current” as of June 1, 2017. The report was published on Tuesday. In its current position, Barbados now ranks well below Jamaica, which was ranked 70th overall, and trails other Caribbean countries such as St Lucia at 91, Dominica (98), Trinidad and Tobago (102), Antigua and Barbuda (107), the Bahama (119), Guyana (126) and St Vincent and the Grenadines in 129th position. Only St Kitts and Nevis at 134, Grenada at 142, and Haiti at 181 performed worse than Barbados. The decline began in the 2015 report when Barbados was ranked 106th, down from 91st the previous year, when Jamaica was in 94th place. A breakdown of the information revealed that Barbados ranked 89th when it came to paying taxes, with the report stating that it took an average of 245 hours per year to make an average of 29 payments, with a total tax and contribution rate of 35.3 per cent of profit. The country ranked 99th in starting a business, which takes an average of 15 days, while securing construction permits can take up to 442 days, placing Barbados at 155 in that category. Registering a property took 105 days, ranking the country at 133 in this category and getting electricity took 88 days on average with a ranking of 160. According to the World Bank report, Barbados was ranked 133rd when it came to businesses getting credit; 167th for protecting minority investors; 129th for trading across borders and 167th for enforcing contracts. However, the island ranked an impressive 34th for resolving insolvency. New Zealand, Singapore and Denmark were the top three ranked economies in the Doing Business 2018 report. (BT)

NOT FAIR – BARBADOS LIGHT POWER COMPANY’s (BL&P) latest public hearing has sparked a controversy involving intervenors and the Fair Trading Commission (FTC). The electricity company recently applied to the utility regulator for approval to recover the costs associated with its commissioning of a five megawatt energy storage device via the Fuel Clause Adjustment. The DAILY NATION learnt the FTC notified individuals and organisations granted intervenor status that the application would be considered via a “written hearing” and that they would have to meet their own costs of participation. This has reignited a controversy that dates back nearly 20 years, with several intervenors voicing anger at the decision.  (DN)

UPP NOT SURPRISED BY ‘RATHER DISMAL’ ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE –The eight-month-old United Progressive Party (UPP) says it is not at all surprised by the “rather dismal” economic report presented by Central Bank Governor Cleviston Haynes on Tuesday. In a statement today, UPP leader Lynnette Eastmond, who will be carrying her party’s banner in The City of Bridgetown in the next elections, also took issue with a number of statements made by Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler back in May when he presented the national Budget. In fact, Eastmond suggested that much of what the Governor had to say in his nine-month review was “preordained” by Sinckler’s presentation, which she said gave no indication that the Government was serious about achieving an economic turnaround. On the contrary she said, the Freundel Stuart administration has been behaving as if it had the luxury of time on its side, even with the island suffering downgrade after downgrade, which she warned would ultimately limit Barbados’ capacity for commercial foreign borrowing and affect investor confidence both locally and internationally. While seriously questioning whether the island was getting bang for its tourism buck, Eastmond pointed out that though Sinckler’s seemed buoyed by the tourism sector which he said reflected growth  comparable to the “pre crisis” days, the performance of the economy during the first nine months of the year was anything but robust. (BT)

ELECTION UPSET – Don’t count the United Progressive Party (UPP) out of the next elections. With both the incumbent Democratic Labour Party (DLP) and the main Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) expressing strong confidence of victory, the UPP has sounded the warning that neither party is likely to walk away with a clear mandate at the polls, which are constitutionally due by the middle of next year. “It will be a coalition Government,” declared the UPP’s David Gill, in predicting the outcome of the next election. The former Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) stalwart who quit the party earlier this year and joined the UPP after losing his bid to represent the BLP for the fifth time at the polls, said this position was borne out in a recent public opinion poll conducted by political scientist Peter Wickham which showed that several young people neither favoured the DLP nor the BLP. “Gone are those days where you say, ‘if you are going to eat in at me you’ve got to vote B or D’ . . . .Those days are long gone. You cannot tell a young person how to think,” he said. However, Gill is not ruling out the possibility of the UPP scoring an upset victory. In fact, the veteran politician reminded that “in 1961, in this Barbados, when Errol Barrow won he didn’t have a full slate of candidates, but he won the Government. “It was new way thinking, revolutionary, just like the UPP. There were the older head, there were the younger heads, independents, Bees and they all shared the Parliament. “So, if 56 years after, we have gone full circle and Barbados is ready for what was seen back then,” Gill said, while insisting that “it will be three horses in this race. “This is a ‘win and place parlay’ and only with a win and place can you get a coalition Government,” Gill told the small UPP gathering at Edgecliff last weekend in support of area representative Hudson Griffith, who is also a former BLP candidate. (BT)

102 ROADS PATCHED – THE MINISTRY OF Transport and Works (MTW) says it is well on the way to fixing the hundreds of potholes across the island as it embarks on a $30 million road rehabilitation exercise. Permanent secretary Simone Rudder yesterday revealed that last week, MTW had patched 102 roads stretching across each parish. She was speaking during the launch of a pedestrian safety partnership programme between the ministry and the private sector. One of the companies on board was the General Insurance Association of Barbados (GIAB) and the event was held outside the GIAB’s building at the corner of Country Road, St Michael. Minister of Transport and Works Michael Lashley recently announced that Government would be embarking on the road improvement exercise, and had so far contracted C.O. Williams Construction to assist the MTW in this drive. Rudder said crews were working earnestly to adequately cover each parish. She promised weekly updates for the public on the progress of the patchwork. She also said motorists whose vehicles were damaged as a result of potholes could submit a case to the ministry, addressing it to the permanent secretary. She said proof of driver’s licence, valid insurance and information on where the incident occurred were needed, as well as an invoice number if they took action to get tyre(s) repaired. “(Afterwards), persons will be contacted by the ministry’s legal investigators, the matter will be processed and once it is confirmed that the road conditions which caused the damage falls within the remit of the Ministry of Transport and Works, as opposed to work which might have been undertaken by one of the utility companies, then compensation will be given as quickly as possible,” Rudder said. (DN)

GOVERNMENT TO END HOUSING SETTLEMENT IN WHITE HILL – The troubled rural community of White Hill, St Andrew could soon be no more and residents will have little say on the matter. The Ministry of Housing and Lands announced in a statement this evening that the relocation of 22 houses to Farmers, St Thomas, which began in 1999, is set to resume in earnest and there will be no resettlement in the community located in the Scotland District, which is prone to land slippage. The announcement comes on the heels of a visit by Minister of Housing, Lands and Rural Development Dennis Kellman to the affected district, which has been virtually cut off after a major landslide destroyed the main access road in 2014. Just last month, residents who have been pleading to the Government to address their plight took matters into their own hands and started to build a new road. However, according to the ministry’s statement, after observing the extent of the land slippage and its negative impact on the houses, Government officials, including Chief Town Planner Mark Cummins have strongly discouraged any resettlement in the area. The Ministry of Housing has also warned that tough enforcement measures will be imposed to guard against this. Government is proposing to compulsorily acquire the land from White Hill residents once the construction of the new houses are completed at Farmers, St Thomas and is cautioning that those who resist this could be penalized. “Any person who willfully chooses to erect structures in White Hill, St Andrew, are doing so at their own risk, and they will not be eligible for relocation by Government,” the ministry said. Furthermore, once the new houses are allocated to White Hill residents, “the Ministry of Transport and Works and the National Housing Corporation will dismantle and remove the original houses from their locations in White Hill to prevent resettlement,” the statement added. The ministry also disclosed that it had started “periodic monitoring” of the priority areas adding that any new construction will be reported to the Town & Country Development Planning Office, which has the jurisdiction for development control. Five new houses will be constructed this financial year and another seven in 2018 at Farmers. While assuring White Hill residents that they would not be disadvantaged, the ministry said: “The new houses are timber, masonry or mixed material construction and range in size from 412 square feet to 1,300 square feet with an average lot size of 3,000 square feet. “These replacement units are being provided free of cost, while the land on which they are sited is being sold to non-land owners at $2.50 per square foot,” the ministry said. (BT)

ALARM RAISED AT BCC – Classes were disrupted today after the fire alarm was triggered at the Barbados Community College’s Hospitality Institute at PomMarine. The development coincided with protest action by students over the alleged ill treatment of one of their colleagues. At the centre of the controversy is the Acting President of the Guild of Students Kobie Broomes, who is accusing a teacher at the institute of “shouting at him and disrespecting him” after the guild was given permission in writing earlier this week to meet with students at the Hastings, Christ Church campus to discuss matters of concern to them, ahead of next week’s Guild elections. Based on accounts from several students, Broomes had gone over to the teacher to apologize after the 12 p.m. guild meeting ran over into her 1 p.m. class time. However, her response was said to be nothing short of “obnoxious and impertinent”. This led to formal complaints being made to the Director of the Institute Deborah Trotman and to the BCC Registrar Roger Worrell. Barbados TODAY also obtained a copy of a letter sent to the Acting BCC Principal Dr Cheryl Weekes in which the guild condemned in the strongest possible terms what it described as “the gross disrespect” meted out to the acting president. “We expect that the office of the guild [be] treated with utmost respect by the administration of the college. To this extent, we first demand a written apology from the Director of the Hospitality Institute for questioning the rectitude of the President,” the letter said in response to suggestions that the guild was engaging in a “power play” and that students had deliberately set off the fire alarm, forcing the disruption which lasted for about half an hour before classes were able to resume. The guild also described the attitude of the tutor at the centre of the incident as “obnoxious and impertinent”, while suggesting that she had also tried to bar students from attending her class following today’s guild meeting. “Her attempt to grandstand before an audience of students to diminish the mandate of the [acting] president and his council will not be tolerated. To this extent, we also demand a written apology to both the [acting] president and to the students present for the uncouth behaviour exhibited,” the letter adds. The two-page document also outlines the concerns of students at the PomMarine institute, including inadequate ventilation in the student’s lounge, unkempt bathroom facilities, inadequate transportation and matters relating to teacher-student relations. The Guild is demanding a meeting no later than next Monday with the Acting Principal, Registrar and Director of the Hospitality Institute to discuss the concerns, otherwise it says there could be escalated protest action at the BCC early next week. When contacted, Broomes would only confirm that the guild had met today with students of the Hospitality Institute, while its director said she was unaware of any disruption of classes. “We had a fire alarm go off and the school was evacuated. Students were spoken to and they are all back in class,” she told Barbados TODAY. (BT)

NOT POLITICAL - Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) candidate for St Philip North Dr Sonia Browne has poured cold water on claims made by Minister of Education Roland Jones that last week’s protest march at St Mark’s Primary School was political. On Friday, a number of frustrated, placard-bearing parents and guardians picketed outside of the compound, complaining of deplorable conditions at the Government-run, St Philip learning institution. Three days later, Jones publicly accused the Opposition BLP of playing politics with the lives of the students, while suggesting there was no real reason for protests at this time. In fact, while insisting that those involved in last week’s demonstration were agents of the Opposition BLP, he reported that a number of improvements were made to the school in the 2015/2016 academic year, including changing the roof, refurbishing the main building and changes to the toilets. “What I’m condemning is the propagandistic approach taken by some to feather their own nest, ignorant of what has gone before. So in the presence of deliberate ignorance, one gets this deliberate propagandistic approach,” Jones told Barbados TODAY on Monday. However in response, Browne, who has a four year-old daughter enrolled at the school, said Friday’s march was not politically motivated. “There is a history behind that march. We had our first PTA [Parent-Teachers Association] meeting in either late September or early October, nothing to do with politics at all, and it was noted that several of the parents were disgusted by the state of the school. “I made sure that I did not open my mouth so no one could say it’s politically motivated. They came up with the idea to step up action to get the school fixed after letters were sent to the ministry and nothing was done,” Browne said, while insisting that the action had “nothing to do with the Barbados Labour Party”. The BLP hopeful also dismissed Jones’ suggestion that a number of improvements were made to the learning environment. “The toilets are in a mess, the girls bathroom is not tiled, there was not a single seat on the toilet the week before school began.  I, along with some of the parents, put together some money and I personally went to Carters [general store] and purchased the seats. “No tiling is on the floor. In the boys’ bathroom, the urinals were spilling over because the water could not be locked off. The doors stayed open, [so] I am a little unclear as to where the work is,” the concerned parent said, adding that “if anything was done, it was a very slight paint job, but putting icing on a disgusting cake does not make it better”. She also complained that the walkways were “horrible”. “My child fell at least on three occasions through a fence that isn’t fixed properly, [so] I am yet to see these improvements [and] we also have a lot of loose wires that the boys could eventually fiddle with.” Browne, who is also a past student of St Mark’s Primary, suggested that a new school should be built posthaste to accommodate the St Philip students, who she said were unable to accommodate a visit by the then Governor General Sir Elliott Belgrave last year, owing to the school’s unkempt state. “I left that school when I was about eight years old and it looks the exact same way [now],” she said, while dismissing the latest promise by Jones that a new school was coming. “This is election time so I expect to hear things like that,” she said. While not disclosing the next stage of action, Browne, a member of the school’s PTA, said parents would continue to keep pressure on the authorities to restore the century-old school building. “We are giving them sometime to see what can happen. It is only fair. The PTA meets again in a couple of weeks and then we will decide where to go from here, but we will not be letting it rest.  St Mark’s pupils deserve the same as any other school on the island in terms of renovations and new play grounds,” Browne insisted. (BT)

CHEF ADMITS TO UNKNOWINGLY IMPORTING COCAINE – A St Lucian chef today admitted to importing $100,000 worth of cocaine into Barbados, but said it was done unknowingly. In fact, 23-year-old Johnelle Leeanne Pierre of Ti-Rocher, Micoud told Chief Magistrate Christopher Birch she did not have a clue what “cocaine looked like” until the day of her arrest at Grantley Adams International Airport. The mother-of-two explained that “I am in this situation”, having borrowed the suitcase from a cousin. She said it was dropped off by a man mere hours before she was scheduled to leave for the airport, and since it still was in the casing she simply packed her items and left. “I honestly did not have any idea it was there,” Pierre stated adding: “I didn’t even know what cocaine looked like. I don’t even drink alcohol.” After Pierre arrived here on September 25, a dog from the canine unit led border control officers to the drugs, which were hidden in false sides of the suitcase. The St Lucian chef said she had no hesitation when the immigration officer asked to search her luggage, emphasizing the point that she was unaware that she had been transporting cocaine. She further explained that at one point law enforcement officials allowed her to turn on her cellular phone and the same cousin contacted her saying she was worried. She said she informed the relative that her bag had been kept back and “the first thing she ask was to send a picture of the bag. “I was only off work for two weeks and I have my children and she going to drag me into this,” Pierre lamented. Pierre’s attorney George Bennett, who appeared in association with Sian Lange, urged the chief magistrate to be as lenient as possible as the young woman had thrown herself at the mercy of the court and was not known in either jurisdiction. After relaying her story the chief magistrate again remanded her until November 28. (BT)

 JAMAICAN DRUG TRAFFICKER TO BE DEPORTED – Self-confessed Jamaican drug trafficker Patricia Stephanie Rose’s stay in Barbados is about to come to an inglorious end. Rose, who admitted to importing two kilogrammes of cannabis into Barbados, has been handed over to immigration officials for deportation, after a $5,000 fine was paid to the District ‘C’ Magistrates’ Court. “Your time in Barbados is at an end and I can’t say it’s been a pleasure,” Chief Magistrate Christopher Birch told the 21-year-old hairdresser. Rose, of No. 2 Springfield Road, Morant Bay, St Thomas, Jamaica, had been on remand at Dodds Prison since September 29. She pleaded guilty in early October to possession, possession with intent to supply, trafficking and importation of marijuana. She was arrested on September 27 at Grantley Adams International Airport, where customs officials discovered three taped packages containing the illegal substance in her bag after arriving on a flight from Kingston. Rose allegedly told police at the time of her arrest she was doing a friend a favour. (BT)

TWO FINED $30,000 EACH FOR GANJA – Two Barbadian men who pleaded guilty to separate cannabis charges have nine months to pay the District ‘C’ Magistrates’ Court $30,000 each if they want to avoid prison time. One of the men, 51-year-old businessman Winfield St Auban Lowe, lives in the United States, while the other is 31-year-old Tito Mardonna O’Neil Barrow of Block 1G, Bottom Close, Wildely, St Michael. They both pleaded guilty to possession, possession with intent to supply, trafficking and importation of cannabis. Border control officers found 25 pounds of the drug in Lowe’s luggage when he arrived here last Monday from New York. His attorney Lesley Cargill Straker admitted to Chief Magistrate Christopher Birch her client decided “to take this risk” because his business here, which he maintains along with a home, had been in trouble. “At his age he has never been before the court [but] based on circumstances he decided to take this risk,” Cargill Straker said. She urged the Chief Magistrate to be lenient and impose a fine on her client instead of a custodial sentence. “To say I am disappointed is to drop short because as a businessman you should know not what to do,” Chief Magistrate Birch told Lowe. Cargill Straker also represented Barrow, who was found with 26.5 pounds of the drug in 38 packages wrapped in white t-shirts in his luggage. The attorney said Barrow also “felt like he had no choice”. She explained that Barrow had been selling clothes since he was laid off from his substantive job and “that is how the opportunity arose”. The lawyer further explained that due to several circumstances “he felt like he had no choice and made the decision out of desperation”. However, Birch told Barrow: “You know this is wrong yet you did it . . . . Had it not been intercepted you would have been responsible for an influx of illegal narcotics on our streets.” He imposed $15,000 fines on each man for the possession charge, to be paid in nine months or an alternative of two years in prison. They were convicted, reprimand and discharged on the possession with intent to supply charge and reprimanded and discharged on the trafficking charge. For importing the illicit substance Barrow and Lowe were each slapped with an additional $15,000 fine also to be paid in nine months, or two years in prison to run concurrently. They are to return to court by the end of August next year to show receipts. Lowe’s travel documents have been seized.  (BT)

MAN HELD WITH FOUR GUNS AND 99 ROUNDS OF AMMO – A St Michael man is due to appear in the District ‘A’ Court here on Thursday charged with a number of gun and drug related offences. He is 34-year-old Ryan Jason Greene, of Pile Bay, Spring Garden, who was arrested and charged after members of the Anti-Gun Unit executed a search warrant at his residence. During the search three firearms and 32 rounds of the ammunition were discovered. A subsequent search of his motorcar revealed a fourth firearm and 67 rounds of ammunition. As a result, Greene now faces four counts of unlawful possession of four firearms and two counts of unlawful possession of ammunition. He has also been charged with possession, possession with intent to supply and trafficking of cannabis. (BT)

CONDUCTOR SLASHED IN FARE DISPUTE – THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE of the afternoon commute turned bloody and violent yesterday afternoon when three students, one armed with a cutlass, attacked a conductor in front of horrified minibus passengers. While out on assignment in Paynes Bay, St James, a DAILY NATION team came upon the immediate aftermath of the incident after noticing crying onlookers and what seemed to be a commotion centred on a South-bound Speightstown minibus. An injured man staggered out of the vehicle with blood dripping from his hands and his shirt spattered with blood. He was heard exclaiming: “All I want to do is get home.” Shortly afterwards, he got back into the minibus, which drove directly to the Black Rock Police Station. He entered the station and informed officers that three students of the Frederick Smith Secondary School had assaulted him.  (DN)

EX-HUSBAND MUST SPEND MORE TIME - For three hours, McDonald Ricardo Whitehall followed the woman he loved through the streets of Bridgetown. The problem was that woman – his ex-wife – did not take kindly to the attention and called lawmen. That was in February, this year, and Whitehall has been unable to see her since then as he has been on remand at HMP Dodds. And that stay continues for another three weeks after he reappeared in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court yesterday. Whitehall, 47, of Vaucluse Tenantry, Shop Hill, St Thomas, was back in court where changed his plea and admitted he harassed 63-year-old Marguerite Bellamy on February 25, this year. The court had heard from prosecutor Sergeant Theodore McClean that Whitehall and Bellamy were divorced and Whitehall has been constantly harassing her since their marriage ended. He has been begging her to rebuild their relationship, but she has refused. In February, this year, the woman was in Tudor Street, when Whitehall approached her and asked her, once again, about sex and about getting back together. He also professed his love for her. The woman refused his advances, again, and demanded that he leave her alone. She left the area and walked to Trevor’s Way. Whitehall followed her there on bicycle and did so for about three hours. The woman then walked to Cheapside, and Whitehall followed her there too. Eventually, he rode off and the woman called the police. His attorney, Mohia Ma’at, put down Whitehall’s action’s to his love for his ex-wife. The attorney later begged the court to release him on bail pending sentencing. But Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant refused. She pointed to Whitehall’s previous convictions for the same woman.  “Most of his convictions are for offences against the person. He has a history and a pattern dating back to 1989,” the magistrate said. “The court is not minded to release Mr Whitehall. He has a history not just dating back to yesterday, but to yesteryear,” the magistrate declared as she remanded Whitehall back to HMP Dodds until November 22. (DN)

DYNAMIC DUO – Opener Kieran Powell agonisingly missed out on a century, but wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich chose the ideal time to break out of a protracted slump as he and captain Jason Holder carved out polished, unbeaten half-centuries to put West Indies in control of the second and final Test yesterday. At the close of the pivotal third day at Queens Sports Club, the Windies were 374 for seven in their first innings, in reply to Zimbabwe’s 326 all out – a lead of 48 heading into today’s penultimate day. The left-handed Powell top-scored with 90 to fall short of his fourth Test hundred while Dowrich stroked 75 and Holder, 71, as West Indies fought back gallantly against a spirited Zimbabwe side on an attritional day. Shai Hope extended his excellent form with 40 while Roston Chase scored 32 and nightwatchman Devendra Bishoo, 23. West Indies were tested by off-spinner Sikandar Raza, who ended with five for 82 and managed to rock the visitors with key strikes in the second session that left the innings tottering at 230 for seven at one stage. (DN)

CHARLES F. BROOME WINS MENTAL MATHS COMPETITION – Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary has emerged as the winner of the inaugural Primary Mental Maths Competition, after defeating Cuthbert Moore Primary at the Erdiston Teachers’ Training College, Pine Hill, St Michael and gaining the Mental Maths Challenge Shield. Impressed by the high quality of the Finals and the mental acuity of the students, Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ronald Jones, said afterwards: “It showed the immense mathematical aptitude that lies in our primary schools.” The Minister was, however, quick to point out that there was still a long way to go in encouraging all students to respond to Math “in a sensible way” and move the Math scores in the 11 Plus from 54 per cent to higher.  “We need to get those scores up; we need to get children truly appreciating Math, not only the Mathematical high flyer’s in our schools but all children being able to work Mathematically and to pull that area up.  (DN)

MISS UNIVERSE T&T STRIPPED – This country’s Miss Universe T&T pageant first runner-up Martrecia Alleyne is now being considered to replace stripped delegate Yvonne Clarke. The local franchise holder for the pageant, Jenny Douglas, was weighing this option yesterday after she stripped Clarke of her title over an alleged breach of contract nine days before she was due to leave for the international event in Las Vegas. Less than two weeks after winning the title, Clarke was told via email from Douglas that she would no longer be able to represent the country. But during a press conference at the St James studio of soca artiste Fay Ann Lyons yesterday, Clarke demanded an apology from Douglas, saying she did nothing wrong in seeking sponsorship on her own, including from Lyons. She claimed she was left with no choice after all she received from Douglas was an “old black dress” and an admittance they did not have “all the resources” to get her to the competition. “I asked her if there was anything else the franchise could give me beside a dress and she (Douglas) said no. I did not do anything without the authorisation of the franchise holder. She even sent me letterhead from the Miss Universe TT which to this day I did not use,” Clarke maintained at the press conference. She said Douglas told her she could seek sponsorship from anyone locally “except from the Government.” She said from day one of the local pageant she felt something was wrong, as there were several “hiccups” along the way. This, she said, prompted her to document all her conversations with Douglas, including taping telephone conversations. Saying she was forced to dip into her personal finances to prepare herself, Clarke said through a friend she was told to approach Lyons for help. Lyons, Clarke said, had been instrumental in getting her a plane ticket, professional hair and make-up artists and even organising several professional photo shoots. As she went through hardship getting sponsorship, Clarke, who broke down in tears at some points, said she also offered advice to Douglas regarding how to deal with issues on social media. “I said to Jenny digital media management is important because she was getting into feuds with citizens on social media about the way in which the franchise was being run. I told her to avoid social media conflict because it not only brings the Miss Universe pageant into disrepute but it also brings me, as a delegate, into disrepute,” Clarke said. “The reason why I am so hurt by this was because when T&T was bashing her and saying she was unprofessional I was the one who supported her.” She also accused Douglas of deliberately withholding her contract after she signed it some months ago. Douglas also hinted that Clarke may not have had a US visa but yesterday Clarke said she did. Lyons, who also spoke, said she too wanted an apology from Douglas, as all she did was help a “beautiful and talented young lady” realise her dream. She described the incident as unfortunate, saying too many times “we as a people” refuse to support each other. In a statement yesterday, Douglas said, “The Miss Universe T&T committee has voted unanimously to disqualify Miss Yvonne Clarke from representing Trinidad and Tobago in this year’s Miss Universe 2017 Pageant competition.” In an interview with Guardian Media, Douglas  accused Clarke of making statements which “misrepresented” the franchise and of “being on television and begging for money.”  (BT)

RIRI’S BEAUTY LINE RAKING IN THE DOUGH – RIHANNA’S FENTY BEAUTY LINE has been an instant success, with products selling out in mere moments online and in stores. And a new report shows that the Barbadian singer/fashionista’s line has raked in millions in free advertising since its September launch. The 29-year-old star’s line of cosmetics earned her a whopping “US$72 million in media value in one month”, according to Women’s Wear Daily. The brand’s “media value” included the amount of money it earned from free advertising from social media exposure and press, according to a description from Newsweek last Friday. Fenty Beauty debuted September 9 and became instantly beloved for its broad range of 40 foundation shades, collection of cosmic lipglosses, first class brushes and more. On October 13, the brand revealed even more beauty as it debuted its holiday galaxy collection with retailer Sephora. Around the time of the line’s launch, the Wild Thoughts songstress caught up with Teen Vogue to talk about the collection. Though she was happy to talk about how she used the current line, the pop star was tight-lipped about future Fenty developments. “There are endless possibilities coming,” she told the Conde Nast offspring. “You just have to wait and see.” Before the launch of her hit beauty line, Rihanna debuted her second apparel collection with Adidas during New York’s Fall Fashion Week, which was received with rave reviews from fans and fashionistas alike. The Throw It Up singer’s love life is also hitting a high note, according to media reports. RiRi has been getting to know Saudi Toyota heir Hassan Jameel as of late. The pair have been linked since seen kissing in London back in June. This past weekend, the two were seen enjoying a romantic dinner in Boston, where sources said the pair were “super chill” and “relatively quiet”, according to People.  (DN)

That’s all for today folks there are 62 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[thechasefiles]

The Chase Files Daily Newscap 16/1/2020

Good Morning #realdreamchasers. Here is your daily news cap for Thursday January 16th, 2020. There is a lot to read and digest so take your time. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS), Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN)

MURDER PLOT REVEALED – Fidel Nkomo Alleyne and Malissa Carla Griffith made history in the High Court when they became the first accused to plead guilty to murder under the amended Offences Against the Persons Act 2018. This afternoon the confessed murderers took responsibility for the shooting death of 22-year-old Lamar Carter which occurred between February 9 and 10, 2015. They will however not be facing the death penalty even though the amended legislation at section 2 of Cap. 141 stipulates that punishment for a person who commits the offence of murder may be liable on conviction on indictment to (a) suffer death or; (b) imprisonment for life. For Alleyne, of No. 116 Denton Road, Grazettes, St Michael and Griffith, of Rochester Way, Grazettes, St Michael, their murder pleas mean they will not face the death penalty as their matter has been classified as a non capital murder. Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Anthony Blackman in accepting the pleas on behalf of the Crown in the No. 3 Supreme Court before Justice Carlisle Greaves explained that he had discussed the case with the Director of Public Prosecutions Donna Babb-Agard, QC. “We both agreed that this is the type of murder in accordance with No. 32 of 2018 which amended the Offences Against the Persons Act Chapter 141. As it relates to punishment at Section 2 Subsection 1 we are both agreed that this matter does not attract the death sentence. I think that should settle our position in relation to punishment on that matter,” the acting Deputy DPP revealed. He then revealed to the court what occurred before Carter, formerly of Spring Farm, St Thomas, was found dead in a car at Lancaster, St James. Blackman told the sitting that Carter and Griffith were involved in a “troublesome” relationship. Investigations showed, that Griffith suffered physical abuse at Carter’s hand and would discuss the abuse with Alleyne with whom she eventually also had a relationship. During one of those discussions Griffith indicated that she wanted Alleyne to do something for her. “Based on the statements and police investigations, Griffith really wanted Alleyne to permanently take care of Carter,” Blackman said. Investigations showed that the two planned to lure Carter to an area on the premise of conducting “certain business”. Griffith furnished Alleyne with Carter’s number and arrangements were made for the parties to meet in the area of Bagatelle, St Thomas. Carter borrowed a friend’s car to get to the area while Alleyne met him armed with cable ties and a firearm. They then left the area and while travelling along a road in St James, Alleyne ordered Carter to stop and get out the car at gunpoint. A confrontation followed and led to Alleyne hitting Carter with a stone. Alleyne then overpowered Carter, bound him, placed him in the trunk of the motorcar and drove off. He stopped the car again when he heard a cellular phone ringing. “When he went to the trunk and opened it, the obvious happened. Carter bolted and Alleyne gave chase, aimed the firearm in his direction and Carter was shot. Alleyne then took Carter from the area . . . placed him inside the car and drove off.” At one point Alleyne sought the help of a relative on what to do. “The plan was to purchase some gasoline and light the car with the body and dispose of whatever evidence there was.” However police on duty approached Alleyne and his relative while they were checking the source of scraping sound coming from the car. They drove off after being questioned but one of the officers realized that the substance which he had seen on Alleyne’s pants appeared to be blood and the police gave chase. The two were able to evade the cops. Alleyne was later caught at the Grantley Adams International airport where he was about to purchase a ticket to New York. Acting Deputy DPP Blackman explained that during that deadly incident Griffith was in Guyana, which was part of plan. She was detained on her return to Barbados and interviewed. A postmortem attributed Carter’s death to a gunshot to the head, he told the court. The prosecutor also disclosed that while police discovered physical evidence during their investigations, the gun was never found. Alleyne told police he lost the weapon during his escape. (BT)

PLOT TO MURDER LOVER – Frustrated with the abuse sustained at the hands of the late Lamar Carter confessed murderer Malissa Carla Griffith told her friend Fidel Alleyne the deceased “liked to buy weed” and “anybody can catch Lamar like that”. That evidence was revealed today as Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Anthony Blackman detailed the facts of Carter’s shooting death, which occurred between February 9, and 10, 2015 moments after Griffith pleaded guilty to murder in the High Court. Griffith, of Rochester Way, Grazettes, St Michael, was 25 at the time. In a statement to police she revealed that she met Carter in 2010 at a cock fight in St Thomas. They exchanged numbers and she “started to fall in love with Lamar”. They eventually entered into a relationship but things “started to go downhill” during the second year. “Every time I attempt to leave the relationship Lamar would put a black handle knife to my throat and tell me that I can’t leave him. I was afraid of Lamar.” She also alleged that Carter beat her three times when they took a trip to Canada in 2013. “I started to get frustrated and wanted to leave the relationship  . . . sometimes I would tell my friend Fidel Alleyne . . .  Fidel would often tell me to leave out Lamar,” the statement said. Griffith further revealed that in December 2014 they got into another argument and “he slap me in my face twice and shocked me with a black taser”. She relayed that incident to Alleyne telling him that she wanted to be happy. “Fidel told me not to worry that just now I will be happy.” She subsequently travelled to Guyana in January 2015 to purchase clothes and informed Carter during a conversation that she might be pregnant. “He told me to do what I want to do. I got so vex and curse Lamar . . and blocked his number”. According to the statement read by the prosecutor, Griffith got in contact with Alleyne the following day and told him she was vexed with Lamar and frustrated and that “I wanted him out of my f****** life and that I wanted him dead.” “My head was so offset that I told Fidel that Lamar like to buy weed and tell him anybody can catch Lamar like that and gave him Lamar’s cellular phone number.” The statement continued: “I messaged Fidel the Sunday and ask him if he collect my money and do the things for me. All he reported and say was that he going to make me happy.” Griffith said she was informed by a friend on February 10, 2015  that Carter had been killed. “I did not believe him so I messaged Lamar’s [relative] and she told me Lamar was dead. Griffith will know her fate when she reappears in the No. 3 Supreme Court before Justice Carlisle Greaves on Friday, January 31. Her attorney-at-law Angella Mitchell Gittens waived a request for a pre-sentencing report. Her bail was revoked today and she is now on remand at Dodds. (BT)

CONFESSED MURDERER SAYS HE WAS SO BLINDED, HE DID NOT KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG – Fidel Nkomo Alleyne told police he was “so blinded by love” for his co-conspirator that he took the life of 22-year-old Lamar Carter back in February 2015. Alleyne, of No. 116 Denton Road, Grazettes, St Michael made the confession to police when he dictated a statement on what led to Carter’s shooting death between February 9 and 10. Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Anthony Blackman gave the details of that statement taken on February 11, 2015 moments after Alleyne pleaded guilty to murder in the No. 3 Supreme Court before Justice Carlisle Greaves. Reading the statement Blackman said Alleyne told police that his co accused Malissa Carla Griffith, who today also pleaded guilty to the same murder, confided in him about a year before that Carter “does abuse she” and she had to visit a health facility on many occasions. The statement said that after discussing the situation with Griffith several times, she ask him if he could help her. “I ask how? She say like do he something.” However, he kept putting if off, following months of conversations about what he was do . “I was so in love with she that I was blinded by love of what is right from wrong. Finally we come to a decision that the best time to do it would be when she was out of the island,” the prosecutor revealed to the court. Despite this he told police he tried to avoid the situation for weeks while Griffith was overseas but she kept calling asking ‘when I gine do it?’ He finally responded ‘tomorrow’, meaning February 9, 2015. “She told me that if I don’t do it, we friendship over. I did not want to lose her friendship because she is the only thing I have gine on in my life right now,” the statement read by Blackman said. “I was just suppose to beat up on he.” Alleyne and Carter later met at the Bagatelle roundabout. “I get in he car and we drove a little way down the road and I pull out my gun and I tell he to get out the car . . . He ask me what gine on and I tell he this is a robbery. We start to scuffle and I tried to subdue he. He went down on the ground and I pulled the trigger and the gun went off hitting he head,” Alleyne said in the statement. He said police later approached him but he subsequently drove off. He later realised the police had on the flashing lights but he did not stop. During that time he apologized to his relative for getting him involved. They evaded police and got out the car on a hill and ran across a pasture. It was at that time that he lost the gun. He then took back roads, changed clothes, and contacted his relative to find out whether he had gotten home and messaged Griffith. “She asked me if I do the thing and I tell she ‘yes it turn bad’. She asked me what I do with the phone and I tell she I left it in the car. She tell me I is a c***. I tell she you believe I do that fuh you and all she could tell me is that I is a c***.” Griffith then told him that she was returning to the island the following day and she would “link up”. But he borrowed a suitcase and sweater from a friend, went to the Grantley Adams International Airport and purchased a ticket to New York. “I tell myself that if the police hold me I gine confess,” the statement said. Alleyne returns before Justice Greaves on Friday, January 31 for sentencing after his attorney-at-law Andrew Pilgrim, Q.C. waived the request for a  pre-sentencing report. Alleyne’s bail was revoked today and he was remanded to HMP Dodds. (BT)

TWO CHARGED WITH ROBBING KFC – Investigators of the Royal Barbados Police Force need an “unfettered chance” to find the other suspects connected to the Kentucky Fried Chicken (Barbados) Limited robbery, Magistrate Douglas Frederick today said as he remanded two men charged with the offence to Her Majesty’s Prison Dodds for the next 28-days. Junior supervisor at the fast food franchise Alvin George Chung, 36, of Searles Plantation, Christ Church and Noel Lionel Taylor, 42, of Galloway Lane, Waterford, St Michael will be housed at the St Philip jail until February 12. The duo is charged with robbing Llewelun Walthrust, on December 31, 2019, of BDS$69, 881.68 and US$1,259.50 belonging to the KFC. Police say the robbery took place at KFC’s corporate offices located on Hincks Street, St Micheal around 10:40 a.m. The charge is indictable and as such the accused could not enter pleas. Sergeant Krishna Graham objected to bail on the grounds that police were still on the hunt for two other persons and there were fears that the two men would interfere with investigations if released at this time. The prosecutor also submitted that society needed protection from the accused as she informed Magistrate Frederick that Taylor is alleged to have committed the crime while on bail for a pending matter. But in arguing for her client’s pretrial liberty, attorney-at-law Angela Mitchell-Gittens while conceding that Taylor was on bail said the matter was two years old. The lawyer added that her client reported for his court hearings whenever he was required to do so. She urged the court not use the pending charge “to his detriment” given the time span between the two allegations. Regarding the fact that police were still searching for other suspects Mitchell-Gittens stated that the objection had a “shelf life”. She also revealed that Taylor had been in police custody for the past 13 days describing it as “an inordinate” amount of time for a person to be held. “I do not know how it will benefit Taylor . . . the fact that these persons are being sought should not affect his right to his liberty.” “The protection of society is a serious matter but persons are charged, not convicted . . . . At this stage what they have is an allegation. Even though the charges are serious they are not so serious that bail can’t be extended even further,” Mitchell-Gittens submitted. Kaviar Callendar is legal counsel for Chung. He echoed the senior lawyer’s arguments for bail but went on to inform the court that his client was before the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court with a clean slate as he was not known to any court in the jurisdiction. Callendar noted that the objections aimed at protecting society were “premature” at this stage as the public had “nothing to fear” from Chung given that the charge against him was at this time, a mere allegation. Urging the court to exercise its discretion in granting his client bail, Callendar informed the magistrate that Chung was a father of an eight-year-old and played an active role in his life. He however, admitted that the one “aggravating” feature was Chung was employed as a manager with KFC and given the complaint, would be out of a job. Magistrate Frederick acknowledged the “good points” coming from both sides but also noted that police investigations were still active. “We still have to give the police an unfettered chance at finding these people. But this [objection] has a shelf life. It will be difficult for you to get bail,” he said before remanding the two accused. (BT)

LEGALISE SAME SEX MARRIAGE - It is “unfortunate” that well-known public figure and political consultant, Peter Wickham could not be married in his country of citizenship, a regional gay rights advocate has said. Maurice Tomlinson, a Jamaican working closely with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to have the country’s sodomy laws struck from the Offences Against the Person Act is challenging the Mia Mottley administration to go the distance by not only legalising same-sex intimacy, but marriage as well. “Many people have said that we should just do decriminalisation first and then do marriage equality as has happened in many other jurisdictions. My position is that there is no need for the Caribbean to proceed in that way. There is clear evidence that neither decriminalisation, nor marriage equality harms the society,” said the Jamaican advocate. “They actually help the societies because for one thing, Caribbean people will now be sure that their partners are with them because they want to be. Partners of the opposite sex will not just be with them because societal pressure forces it,” noted. Over the weekend, Peter Wickham married his partner of ten years in Strasbourg, France witnessed by friends and family. The event has become a talking point for many on social media since it was reported in the local press. But according to Tomlinson, quite a few of “us” have been married outside of our jurisdiction. “This is very unfortunate considering how we as Caribbean people view family, weddings and marriages. This means that many of our family members are denied the opportunity of partaking in these joyous occasions because of our restrictive laws. But the sheer sadness is just one aspect of our reality,” he said.  In fact, Tomlinson, who is married to a man and splits time between Canada and Jamaica, has urged the Barbados government, to move as swiftly on gay rights issues as it has with the ban on single-use plastics and marijuana legalisation for certain purposes.  In addition to his argument on human rights, Tomlinson says the move would allow more homosexuals to come forward for treatment with issues like HIV. He argued it would also help to address issues relating to immigration, taxation, property and inheritance, allowing tourists to have the same protections under spousal laws as they have in their own jurisdictions. This he claimed was preventing Barbados and many other regional countries from taking advantage of almost two billion dollar global LGBT-tourism industry. “If for example a tourist falls sick at the hotel and they go to the hospital, the other partner would be a legal stranger under our laws and couldn’t make any decisions for them,” he explained.  Tomlinson, who believes one day very soon, Barbados will have no choice but to adjust its policy believes when that day comes, there will be further implications for other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries. He explained: “The absence of the recognition is in direct violation of the convention which opens us to sanctions from the Organisation of American States, but it will also create complications if Peter [Wickham] or someone in Barbados wants to have their marriage recognised under the convention. “If they relocate to another Caribbean country and their family wishes to join them, then those relationships must be recognised by those Caribbean countries or they would not only be in breach of the Inter American convention, but also the CARICOM Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, because the CARICOM treaty provides for the Right of Establishment including bringing your family, and I cannot see how the CCJ would find in any other way,” Tomlinson contends. Government has not responded to the challenge to Barbados’ buggery laws lodged by the Inter American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), which for Tomlinson represents an admission that those laws are indefensible. He added that after conversations with representatives from the IACHR the deadline had been extended in early 2019 but expired at the end of the year. “Because the Caribbean has the dishonour of having the last remaining anti-sodomy laws in the Western Hemisphere, and Barbados’ life imprisonment is by far the worst penalty, the court is very interested in taking up this matter so I expect it will be prioritised and expedited,” he said. (BT)

PATH TO CITIZENSHIP FOR WEALTHY – Government is building a new immigration platform to allow high-net-worth individuals who want to reside and invest in Barbados to get permanent residency status and ultimately citizenship. Minister of Home Affairs Edmund Hinkson said Cabinet recently approved the new immigration policy which would make it easier for those who want to invest in Barbados’ economy. “Cabinet has approved that persons who fulfill that category, similar to Canadian immigration and some other countries, we will allow them permanent residence in this country, and after being here as an ordinary resident for three years out of five or six years following that, to become citizens of this country,” he said. Speaking to members of the media at St Alban’s Primary where he delivered remarks to students during a special presentation today, Minister Hinkson noted that the change in policy was a significant undertaking because of the need to give persons such as high-net-worth individuals “a psychological feeling” that they are part of Barbados and can commit to help build this country. “We can’t do it with the population that we have now, in terms of building this country and moving us to the next level, which is the vision of the Mia Mottley administration. We have to look to open up our country a bit more to people who can be productive. “Now we are not talking about people who are going to be a security risk, or people who are criminals or who would be looking to bring drugs and create havoc in this country because obviously we have security testing and scrutiny to ensure that we get the best of people,” he said. “We have a lovely country here to offer and these are people who would be able to build businesses in Barbados to create employment. These are people who will buy properties in Barbados and obviously to buy properties you will need to employ people who are in the construction industry. “We need to build capacity and to increase our population with productive people and this is going to happen in a way by building platforms to attract both CARICOM citizens and also people from outside of CARICOM who are willing to help build our country,” Minister Hinkson added. (BT)

FIREMEN TO GET STATE OF THE ART STATION – The Barbados Fire Service (BFS) will be headquartered at Prince Road, Pine, St Michael, on the same compound as the CXC buildings. This announcement came from Minister of Home Affairs Edmund Hinkson who also told journalists today that the proposed state-of-the-art facility will replace the Probyn Street Bridgetown headquarters earmarked for demolition. After that takes place, he said, some firefighters would be relocated to a temporary fire station at Prince Road while others would be accommodated at the Worthing, Christ Church, and Arch Hall, St Thomas, stations. “Arrangements are being made to retrofit a building in the same compound as the proposed new fire station in Prince Road. The building is managed by the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Maintenance. But that building has to be refurbished. The Barbados Tourism Inc. is facilitating and providing funding for this. “But we are also looking in the longer term while the construction of the new fire station takes place, at the British American buildings in Upper Collymore Rock, St Michael. But again that building would have to be refurbished and retrofitted to accommodate a temporary fire station on the first and second floors,” he said. Following Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley’s announcement that the fire station and nearby old NIS building at Fairchild Street would be demolished to accommodate the Golden Square Freedom Square, it was reported that firefighters were unhappy with a relocation to outfitted containers at Bay Street. However, Minister Hinkson put this down to the firefighters not being aware of planned developments. He explained that the containers were an outpost for firefighters carrying out inspection and other duties in the City to relax and take a break. “The executive of the Fire Service Association is involved and has been kept abreast of these developments and my understanding is that they are satisfied that the best is being done and they don’t have any issues,” Hinkson said. The Home Affairs minister said the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) has agreed to fund the construction of the new station for which the survey plan was recorded at the land registry last week. He explained that the Ministry of Housing was now preparing a paper outlining further details for the proposed fire station which is to be presented to Cabinet for further approval. “Ultimately we will ensure the improvement of the fire service’s framework and what we offer to the people of Barbados. We do not know when a natural disaster will come, but we have to be prepared for it. “I can assure you as Minister of Home Affairs that we are creating the environment for the improvement of the Fire Service both in terms of infrastructure, development, training, and administration,” he added. (BT)

POLICE BAND SOS – After 130 years, the future of the Royal Barbados Police Force Band is being threatened by a lack of fresh blood, a member of the police high command has warned. But Deputy Commissioner of Police Oral Williams’s suggestion that Government lower the age for entry into the police cadet corps from 16 to 14 so as to replenish numbers, was met with scepticism from the minister for the police – Attorney General Dale Marshall. Marshall was present as Williams spoke at a medals ceremony to mark the band’s anniversary at Prince Cave Hall at the band’s headquarters, the St Cecilia Barracks at District ‘A’ complex on Station Hill. Directing his comments to the Attorney General, Williams said: “Like the general force, this institution is short-staffed. “The situation I am told has nothing to do with the non-existence of applicants ready to join the institutions. Currently, we have no cadets on our premises.” “The previous practice of bringing staff in at age 14 was based on the principle of being able to bend the tree while it is young. “As it stands now we have to wait until age 16 and then until age 19 in order for them to become a constable. “This state of affairs must change if the band is to survive and perform the way where we are internationally recognized.” The Deputy Commissioner revealed that in the meantime, stop-gap measures have had to be employed in order to ensure the band’s continued survival while making it clear that this state of affairs was untenable. Williams said: “I have had discussions with the management of the band and made suggestions to avoid a diminution in sound quality and performances occasioned by the sparsity in numbers, at least for the short term. “We can’t afford to do business as usual and lose this institution.” As he followed Williams with his own speech, Marshall gave an assurance that the issue would be addressed but expressed doubt about lowering the recruitment age for cadets. He declared that that police band was too vital an institution to lose, as it remains one of the key examples of the softer side of policing, one that is loved by all Barbadians. Marshall said: “Even when some members of the public seem to be losing respect for police officers as they do their jobs in enforcing the law, everybody in the police band is loved by the public. “It demonstrates the other side of policing, outside of the show force and apprehending criminals. “The side that the Royal Barbados Police Force band represents is an equally important side.” (BT)

BLUE ECONOMY BIZ START UP REVEALED – Turning sargassum seaweed into bioplastic and fish offal into fuel are among four maritime industry startups to receive backing from the United Nations Development Programme, the UNDP has announced. The ventures were unveiled at a UNDP blue economy accelerator lab’s Blue Tank session at UN House. During the Blue Tank, eight innovators pitched their concepts to a panel of judges who provided them with feedback. In the end, four of them were selected for “blue lab funding”. The quartet of startups selected receive funding of up to $30,000 (US$15,000), were Bio Plastic Creation, focusing on making biodegradable products from sargassum seaweed and cassava starch; Bajan Digital Creations Inc. which focused on coral reef mapping using underwater drones; Ten Habitat, which focused on developing a traceable fisheries brand; and NRG, which will develop biogas and fuel from fish offal.  The blue lab is part of 60 UNDP global accelerator labs working to reimagine development in several areas for the 21st century, according to UNDP officials. The lab for Barbados is focused on the blue economy and is aimed at supporting innovative solutions to some of the problems. Magdy Martinez-Soliman, UNDP resident representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, gave the participants the assurance that they would receive the necessary backing throughout the life of their projects. He said while there was a need for fresh ideas, he believed some old concepts could be dusted off and tweaked in order to solve some of the region’s problems. Adding that Barbados and the rest of the Caribbean could come up with their own solutions by creating a “culture of innovation”, Martinez-Soliman said the blue economy was one area that could do with some innovative ideas. Ahead of the presentations, he said: “I do think business-as-usual has a place in some sectors of the industry.“I think that repeat of tested and travelled pathways have a place and can be presented as an economically viable alternative. “So I don’t see it necessarily as something that is wrong. “But I do value it as something that is wrong in the knowledge management sector. “In the knowledge management sector, the new idea needs to supersede the old idea. “The new ways of doing things need to somehow get rid of the old ways that are obsolete, and that is why our blue lab encourages innovation.” Martinez-Soliman said the UNDP was keen on providing support for local, grassroots innovators because it believed that the power of local knowledge is important to developing solutions to “intractable problems”. It was last year that the UNDP Blue Lab issued a call for solutions in November last year. After receiving 35 proposals, officials then narrowed down to eight. During Monday’s session, all the groups were given five minutes to make their pitch, which was then followed by questions from the audience and the judges. Nikola Simpson, head of Exploration for the Blue Lab UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, said she was pleased with the steps being taken by local authorities to develop and protect the blue and green economies. She said the UNDP was also pleased about the new initiatives that were being developed by the young people in the Blue Tank “We are really excited about the level of innovation that we are seeing from innovators within the region,” she said. Pointing out that the region depended heavily on the blue economy for a lot of its revenue, she said all residents had a key role to play in protecting it. Simpson also gave the assurance that all the project concepts would be monitored and evaluated carefully by both the innovators and the UNDP. (BT)

WEIR: FARMING, TREE PLANTING CONFLICT RIDICULOUS – Minister of Agriculture Indar Weir has rushed to the defence of the National Tree Planting Project, dismissing as bordering on “ridiculous” farmers’ concerns of trees taking up valuable pasture lands for their livestock. Outcry emerged after it was announced that substantial grasslands at Hope Plantation, St Lucy are to be used as part of the ambitious exercise to plant two million trees across the island by the end of 2020. Weir told Barbados TODAY that he failed to see the farmers’ complaints as there is no arrangement for anyone to use the lands at Hope Plantation. He said: “I don’t know of any farmers’ concerns because no one has approached me. “Secondly, I don’t know of any farmer whose rights have been infringed upon at the Hope Plantation because those lands have been identified for a major project by the Ministry of Education. “The fact that a farmer has been using the Hope Plantation to provide grass or hay for other farmers, would mean that the farmer must demonstrate that he has a legitimate right to do so in terms of an agreement.” The Minister said the issue was brought to his attention by head of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) James Paul. Weir pointed out that through Paul, an invitation was extended to farmers to come to his office and discuss any concerns that they may have about the tree planting exercise. But, he said, no farmer has so far taken up the offer. Weir declared: “I extended that invitation to the farmers and no one has come to me to complain about how the tree planting exercise was affecting them. “I also spoke to James Paul and I told him to inform the farmers that they can come to me if they have any concerns because we are a Government about empowerment, not disenfranchisement. “I am yet to hear from any farmer that feels like there is a threat to his or her existence by way of the tree planting exercise. “There is a systematic way that the tree planting exercise is being done, so I don’t see how it is going to affect farmers. “There are distances between the trees, and you can still get the hay if you need it. Equally, there are alternative lands that can be used. “You can’t complain about access to lands when there is no arrangement in place. This is Barbados and we must have discipline in this country.” Weir suggested critics needed to familiarise themselves with the project before they start “accusing Government wrongfully.” He assured farmers that the tree planting initiative will not interfere with farming, noting that intercropping was an available option. “Farmers can still plant crops such as legumes and peanuts between the trees. “So, I do not see a major issue. The last time I checked, one could still plant things like yam and potatoes under trees. “So, the whole notion that farmers would be impacted, is a conversation that borders on ridiculous.” Paul suggested the BAS backed the livestock farmers’ concerns. He questioned where Government would find the land space to facilitate a project of this magnitude. He told Barbados TODAY: “Farmers have been coming to me with concerns about where Government is going to plant all of these trees. “Even the number that they are talking, which is a million to two million trees, we have to ask ourselves how they are going to accomplish this when some of this land is farmland. “It may be grassland, but it is still farmland and we have to ask ourselves if this number of trees is really realistic in the context of the Barbadian land space. “From the way I see it, they are compromising the ability of farmers to use the land to plant on or use it for grass for their animals. “We need to know how much more grasslands have been identified for this project because it makes no sense that one would use agricultural land to do it.” (BT)

GOVT TURNING BACK ON SMALL MARIJUANA FARMERS – Government is using liberal policies on marijuana to secure economic opportunities for the rich, while denying small farmers a stake in the billion-dollar industry. In the process the Rastafarian community is being disrespected, according to Democratic Labour Party (DLP) President, Verla DePeiza. While large investors line up for grower’s licences permitting them to plant cannabis for medicinal purposes, DePeiza fears government’s five-acre allotments represent a deliberate attempt to exclude working-class farmers.  “The ordinary Barbadian does not have access to that quantity of land for that piece of legislation to have any meaningful impact in their lives. Once again it is relegating our people to be workers for others instead of creating opportunities for entrepreneurship and that is why I registered my objection to that piece of legislation,” DePeiza recently contended. Despite the objections, Minister of Agriculture, Indar Weir yesterday revealed the first licences would be issued no later than the beginning of February. When pressed on whether the average citizen would be able to afford a medicinal marijuana licence, Weir replied: “Frankly, I don’t know what the average man means; the average man cannot invest in Coca-Cola.” Meanwhile, DePeiza argued this was not the only instance in which government appeared to be uncaring on the issue of marijuana. She also accused authorities of marginalising the Rastafarian community in the way it constructed the Sacramental Cannabis Bill tabled in Parliament late last year which allows marijuana use only in the precincts of their place of worship. “Again, how that piece of legislation is scripted pits them directly against the church, directly against people who are in the illegal drugs trade, pits them directly against the code of society and they very rightly have rejected it,” DePeiza stressed as she backed The Ichirouganaim Council for the Advancement of Rastafari (ICAR)’s decision to blank the bill. “It has no meaningful application in any event if you tell them that they have a constitutional right and then you seek to hide them off from everybody else. You are creating an ‘us against them’ situation once again. It makes them outcasts once again. We have to find ways to deal with difficult questions. Difficult questions must be faced head-on and I am not satisfied that we have gone in the right direction under this administration in terms of rectifying the wrongs,” the DLP leader said. And, as the government prepares to distribute the marijuana cultivation licences, DePeiza, a long-time advocate for marijuana decriminalisation, has asked government to move more speedily to pardon those Rastafarians criminalised by the previous system. She also warned that numerous young people have gravitated to a life of crime after convictions for possession of small quantities of cannabis has left them with blemishes on their criminal record. “Unwittingly, we have set a significant portion of our young people outside of society. Not just by the use, but by the fact that if they receive a conviction, they can no longer get a police certificate of character and cannot find meaningful employment on the right side of society. That immediately puts them at cross purposes with society. They are immediately out of contemplation for any legitimate job opportunities and that is one of the first paths to crime,” DePeiza contended She added: “Because we have ostracised them for years, we know how it has impacted on the Rastafarian community. I have put my neck on the line since the 1990’s campaigning for the decriminalisation of marijuana precisely because I observed how it separated young people, not that only young people use, but they tend to be the ones who get caught.” (BT)

CITY SHELTER NOW OPEN, GREETS FIVE – First five then eight people have spent the first two nights in the City’s first purpose-built homeless shelter since the Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness officially opened its doors on Spry Street. The association’s president Kemar Saffrey said five men slept at the shelter on Monday night, and about eight people, including women, were there the following night. And people are already showing interest in the shelter’s services, he reported. Saffrey told Barbados TODAY: “It is yet early and people are still finding out that the shelter is now open, but we are seeing that growing interest. “The numbers picking up and people are calling. “Since Monday, we find that the guys coming to register early in the day to come back the night but sometimes they don’t turn up because they may be out late working for people or doing something else and when they finish they may think it is too late to come, but we would try to accommodate some of them.” The shelter opens at 6 p.m. and closes at 10 p.m. until the following morning when breakfast is served. He pointed out that while most people seeking to use the shelter are from St Michael and Christ Church, the Alliance to End Homelessness’ has been working with a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who would be able to use the shelter for their purposes as well. Saffrey said: “We have been out on the road on Monday and Tuesday letting our clients know that, yes, we have opened officially. “The first night my office team went home as late as 11 o’clock making sure that everything was in order. “So we are in our early days yet and we have been working hard to ensure that people are comfortable when they get here.” The shelter is equipped to accommodate 90 persons per night, according to Saffrey. He added: “The important thing is that even if one person sleeps a night, that is one person that we know that we took off the streets and we feel good about it. “Before, there was no other place that these people who we consider to be homeless could go, but now they do. “And we are seeing homelessness from different perspectives. We are seeing fire victims who have nowhere to go, and we are seeing men living on the streets. “We are seeing women with nowhere to go and we are seeing men coming out of jail and have nowhere to go. “So we know that there are people who will need to use our shelter and we are just asking Barbadians for their continued support and to help anyhow they can.” The alliance president also issued a reminder that the shelter was not intended to be a residential centre, but rather a place where people sleep at night. During the day, the shelter’s staff would be available to provide those in need with the necessary tools for their reintegration into society, said Saffrey. (BT)

LAWRENCE T GAY CLOSED FOR REST OF THE WEEK – The Lawrence T. Gay Memorial Primary School will remain closed for the rest of the week while the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training looks for an alternative venue. The school, which is located at Spooner’s Hill, St Michael, was closed today and Ministry officials met with staff to hear their complaints and concerns. Officials also met with representatives of the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Ministry of Labour and Social Partnership Relations. The latter Ministry continued investigations in the surrounding community today amidst complaints by staff and students of itchy skin and burning eyes. This will be an ongoing exercise.  At the conclusion of all meetings, Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, Santia Bradshaw, agreed that the school would be closed for the next two days and her Ministry would again engage the services of REA Environmental International to monitor and conduct air quality tests at the site.  This requires samples being sent overseas.  Over the next two days, the Ministry will investigate possible locations to house the 496 students and staff of this school, starting with the Class 4 students.   Identifying a location requires space for school furniture, adequate bathrooms and serving area for lunch and security. There is also a need to transfer furniture and materials from the school to the new site and securing insurance for the duration of the occupation of the site. Officials from the Ministry of Education will address parents of the school at a planned PTA meeting tomorrow, Thursday, at 5 p.m. at the nearby Grace Hill Moravian Church. (BGIS)

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 1/30/2019

Good MORNING #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Wednesday 30th January 2019. Remember you can read full articles for FREE via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS) OR by purchasing by purchasing a Midweek Nation Newspaper (MWN).

CARICOM HOLDS OUT HOPE FOR PEACEFUL SOLUTION IN VENEZUELA – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders Monday held talks with United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, as well as the permanent representatives of Canada, Russia, the European Union and the African Union, on the ongoing political situation in Venezuela. A communiqué issued following the talks at the United Nations noted that the Caribbean leaders had expressed their “grave concern over the untenable situation” in the South American country and “strongly urged that further deterioration would seriously aggravate the plight of Venezuelans”. “The Caribbean Community is steadfast that the region must remain a Zone of Peace,” the communiqué stated. The United States is leading a number of western and Latin American countries in recognising the Venezuelan Opposition Leader, Juan Guaidó, who last Wednesday declared himself the interim leader of the South American country. But Russia, China and Cuba are among countries that are supporting President Nicolas Maduro, who was sworn into office earlier this month for a second consecutive term as head of state. Washington and its allies have accused Maduro of suppressing democratic rights in the country and have called for his removal. Caracas has broken off diplomatic relations with Washington and Maduro has accused the powerful North American country of engineering a coup to remove him from office. The CARICOM delegation, which was led by its chairman and St Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris and including his Trinidad and Tobago counterpart, Dr Keith Rowley and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, had during their deliberations with Guterres” emphasised its commitment to the tenets of Article 2(4) of the UN Charter which calls on states to refrain from the threat or the use of force. CARICOM has been consistent in the critical importance it accords to the key principles of non-interference and non-intervention. “CARICOM reaffirmed the view that there was an urgent need for meaningful dialogue leading to a peaceful internal solution for the Venezuelan people. The Caribbean Community is resolute in its belief that it is never too late for dialogue since the consequences of no dialogue will be dire,” said the delegation that also included Grenada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Peter David and the CARICOM Secretary General Irwin LaRocque. The communiqué noted that the United Nations Secretary General extended his offer of good offices, circumstances permitting, “to facilitate dialogue and negotiation between the parties” and that CARICOM “indicated its readiness to work assiduously to bring the parties to the negotiating table”. The communiqué noted that as a result, the CARICOM leaders Monday engaged with various officials from Canada, the Russian Federation, the European Union and the African Union as well as with President Maduro and the Foreign Minister of Mexico “with a view to reduce tensions and build a platform for dialogue”. “Further engagements will take place in the next few days as the situation remains fluid,” the communiqué noted. Earlier, in a statement, the Office of the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, had stated that the regional leaders had expressed optimism that the UN would assist in establishing the roadmap towards peace and security for Venezuela. According to a statement, Prime Minister Rowley expressed hope that in the not too distant future there will be significant improvement and a diminishing of tensions in Venezuela. “We believe in the coming days there will be work towards dialogue so that the internal difficulties in Venezuela can be approached without intervention and interference from those who may have a different approach,” Rowley said in the statement. The statement noted that “coming out of the meeting the CARICOM delegation is satisfied that if the conditions for such can be met the UN will assist in establishing the roadmap towards peace and security for Venezuela and the region”. The meeting with the UN Secretary General followed an emergency meeting of CARICOM leaders last Thursday where it was decided that the regional body should engage the global organisation. Following the discussions here, the CARICOM delegation held a meeting with the Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations, Marc-Andre Blanchard, and are also expected to meet with officials from Russia, China and Venezuela. The 15-member CARICOM grouping has remained divided on the issue and earlier this month, Jamaica, Haiti, the Bahamas, Guyana and St Lucia supported a resolution at the Organisation of American States (OAS) in not recognising the second five-year term of Maduro, while Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname voted against the measure. St Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, and Belize abstained during the vote while Grenada was not present. In the statement that followed Thursday’s conference, the regional leaders nonetheless “reaffirmed their guiding principles of non-interference and non-intervention in the affairs of states, respect for sovereignty, adherence to the rule of law, and respect for human rights and democracy. “Heads of Government reiterated that the long-standing political crisis, which has been exacerbated by recent events, can only be resolved peacefully through meaningful dialogue and diplomacy,” the statement said, noting that they have “offered their good offices to facilitate dialogue among all parties to resolve the deepening crisis.” Last weekend, a senior UN official told the UN Security Council that all actors must exercise maximum restraint and avoid any further escalation. “The protracted conflict in [Venezuela] has had a grave impact on the population, with high levels of political polarisation, growing humanitarian needs and serious human rights concerns,” said Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. She urged all parties to respect human rights and the rule of law, warning that the situation could spiral out of control. Diplomats from St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda also addressed the UN Security Council meeting. (MWN)

ARTHUR SCOFFS AT IMF DEAL – Barbados essentially gave up a chunk of its sovereignty when it signed on the dotted line to receive the US$290 million loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This is the suggestion of former Prime Minister Owen Arthur, who argued that pre-conditions of the IMF arrangement demonstrated scant respect for the sovereignty of Barbados. Speaking this morning at the University of the West Indies Global Belt and Road Research Symposium at the Errol Barrow Centre for Creative Imagination, UWI Cave Hill Campus, Arthur charged that by subjecting itself to an independent IMF oversight, Government had surrendered exclusive rights provided by the constitution of Barbados. “There is a need for all international organizations to exhibit respect for the sovereign rights of all nations. In relation to this matter, the Constitution of Barbados vests exclusive powers in the Cabinet of Barbados within the context of the exercise of collective responsibility. Yet, the recently concluded IMF programme requires that there has to be an independent evaluation committee to oversee the way in which the Government of Barbados carries out the agreement,” said Arthur. The former Prime Minister, who also held the portfolio of Minister of Finance from 1994 to 2008, suggested that the concept of independent oversight implied that Barbados and other countries that accessed IMF funds were incapable of managing their own affairs. “The Government of Barbados must live up to terms of its agreement with the IMF but it should not have to answer to any entity in carrying out its executive powers on the matter. Joint commissions for overseeing the carrying out of obligations are common but the concept of an independent commission carries the stigma, that left to themselves, countries that benefit from access to the IMF resources will indulge in anticipated wrong doing,” he said. In making his argument Arthur pointed out that such conditions were not part and parcel of financing options available in China. “Thus far, China has entertained no such misgivings in its relationship with Caribbean countries and it is to be anticipated that none will arise in the future,” he said. Arthur further argued that this was not the only manner in which Government has shot itself in the foot where the IMF arrangement is concerned, having agreed to conditions that several of the sanctioning countries could not be bothered to attain themselves. “Barbados has recently had to agreed to an IMF programme central to which has been the agreement to reduce its debt to GDP ratio and to realize the largest primary surpluses of any country in the world. Both of these will take a toll on the wellbeing of our people. That fiscal consolidation programme had to be sanctioned by countries like Japan and Italy, which has the highest debt to GDP ratio of any country in the world, and are doing nothing about it,” lamented the outspoken economist, suggesting that the IMF has prevented Barbados from using measures that have served advanced countries quite well in the past. “Under that programme, Barbados had to agree that it would not use any restriction or any other devices that can hurt international prosperity as a means of solving our balance of payment problems or to protect its small and medium-sized industries. Yet we too easily forget that in the early stages of their development, the advanced countries of today used protectionist devices to safeguard their domestic enterprises to telling effect,” he stressed. (BT)

‘ADJUSTMENT FATIGUE’ – A leading political economist is warning the Government that Barbadians may soon suffer structural adjustment fatigue under the current International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme and that alternative concessionary financing may be necessary. As a matter of fact, head of the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies, (SALISES) Dr Don Marshall suggested that while Barbadians are prepared to bite the austerity bullet, the current mood indicates that patience is wearing thin even though the programme is in its early stage. “The reality is that the measures and the austerity are hard. Barbadians are prepared like Kittians, Grenadians and Jamaicans to give it a go. However the political leadership as well as the political ruling elite will be wise to take note of the domestic mood and the capacity for adjustment fatigue,” Marshall told Barbados TODAY.  He therefore contended that Government must seek to buffer the possible social fallout by pivoting to other sources of concessionary financing such as China. “We are right now in a four-year arrangement that requires us to perform at levels of permanent surplus target, in terms of our budget, of six per cent. They [IMF] have asked us to sustain that six per cent for the majority of the four years as a pre-condition for assessing any further loans from the IMF and other support institutions. We have to be in a position now with the Chinese monies on offer to be able to leverage globalization much wiser,” said Marshall The political economist argued that the global financial order is much broader than what the “IMF would have the region believe”, noting that there is a shift towards China, as the Asian nation is emerging as another pillar for alternative financing. “We must not shut off this option but look at it, see what loans we can gather. We have to note that it provides you with the fiscal space to do things and make critical decisions. Certainly in Barbados’ case I would recommend that just after we meet certain targets that we should look to diversify our reliance from the IMF and associated agencies and move towards lending coming from China at this point,” he said. He noted that like any other lender the Chinese lending would come with some conditions. However he argued that these conditions were less onerous than those imposed by the IMF. “There is evidential research from Peru to Brazil and some small island Pacific states that this lending has helped. Vanuatu has benefited from this, having emerged from very devastating cyclone and hurricane to reach levels of development thanks to Chinese lending,” Marshall pointed out. The UWI lecturer asked to square his position against the fact that action taken under the IMF-approved  Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) programme, has earned positive feedback from two credit rating agencies. Earlier this month, regional ratings agency, the Caribbean Information and Credit Rating Services Limited (CariCRIS), upgraded Barbados’ local currency rating to CariBB with a stable outlook, up from CariD, while projecting economic growth of about one per cent this year.  The upgrade came two months after the New York-based Standard & Poor’s (S&P) raised its long- and short-term local currency sovereign credit ratings on Barbados to ‘B-/B’ from ‘SD/SD’ (Selective Default). However Marshall made it clear that these measuring sticks do not paint an accurate picture. “If you are in an IMF program, you’re joining a particular elite idea and agreement about how these economies ought to run. The credit rating agencies are part of that consensus. So I’m not surprised by the upgrades and so on. You could impress creditors but not voters. You could impress party supporters, but you may not really impress a citizenry,” he explained. (BT)

NO COMPROMISE ON SECURITY AT PORTS – The introduction of kiosks at the Grantley Adams International Airport will not allow persons to “ease” into Barbados. That assurance has been given by Minister of Maritime Affairs and the Blue Economy Kirk Humphrey, who has also reassured Barbadians that they have no reason to fear. Speaking during debate on the Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2019 in Parliament today, he said countless Barbadians had made lives for themselves and their families by migrating. And while he said he had no issues with non-nationals coming to the country in search of better, he maintained that the kiosks were not being used for that purpose. “If anybody understands the Barbadian story, the Barbadian story is an immigrant story . . . if Barbadians want to benefit from our capacity to go to other people’s countries then we must allow people to come to this country too,” Humphrey said. “We have these fears, and this idea that we are putting in place these kiosks so anybody could come amuses me…there are pros and cons to having these machines, of course there are, but there are pros and cons around immigration period. In fact, there are very few issues I think as polarizing as immigration is to many people and there are very few persons who find themselves in the middle.” Humphrey said he had never been of the view that persons come to Barbados with the intention of taking more than they could give. In fact, he said any check of the records would show that the prison was not populated by immigrants. “These are fears fueled by xenophobia that in many cases we inherited because of the way we perceive ourselves as a people. We fear our own selves,” he insisted, while adding that the Barbados Labour Party’s (BLP) constitution referenced the idea of regionalism. “Issues that pertain to immigration are complex and issues pertaining to immigration are rooted in something that is deep and rooted in something that is philosophical. We have come to a point in Barbados where we recognize that we have to do things differently.” (BT)

THIRD AIRPORT ATTEMPT TO START FEB 1 – Due to increased border patrol security at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA), immigration officials are no longer needed in the airport’s departure lounge. Minister of Home Affairs Edmund Hinkson today revealed that these officials would be relocated from that area along with some of those from the arrival hall. He admitted that while the move had been attempted unsuccessfully on two previous occasions he believed it would be successful this time around. “The Cabinet of Barbados has agreed that the immigration department officials will be removed from the departure hall as of February 1. This has been tried on two previous occasions and on both occasions immigration officials were reinstated there. Both administrations have tried this, only to put immigration back in. “We are confident that we can try this again because of the enhanced border security details that are now available and that have been put in place because of the APIS (Advanced Passenger Information System), the real-time transmission of information of each and every passenger that is now available to the authority of Barbados and that is the main reason why immigration was restored in the past,” Hinkson said. “The public of Barbados can be fully satisfied that we will not compromise the security of our borders in any way,” he assured. Hinkson said currently there were times when there was a backup of people after they had booked into the departure lounge sometimes because of the “three layers of security” with which passengers were confronted. That he said began with a guard situated outside the departure hall who checked passports to ensure the picture and the holder of that passport matched, followed by a further checked by immigration officials inside and then for a baggage inspection check. “Of necessity with one of the layers there is a backup and long lines of people, some of whom need to board the flight because the flight is going to leave soon, people are getting nervous and all of this can negatively impact on your experience in Barbados even though you’ve had a great time,” Hinkson said. “Therefore Cabinet has decided to remove one of the layers and we are satisfied that this can be done.” He said immigration officials would still remain at the airport to question suspicious persons. (BT)

EASIER PROCESS WITH NEW EQUIPMENT – The installation of additional kiosks at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) will not only decrease the waiting time for persons arriving in Barbados, but will also free up immigration officers to do other important duties. That is according to Minister of Home Affairs Edmund Hinkson, who made the comments during debate on the Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2019, this morning in Parliament. In introducing the bill, Hinkson said while there were currently 17 kiosks at the GAIA, government was looking to install more to make life easier for visitors and locals alike on their arrival in Barbados. He said the amendment would formalize the use of the kiosks and provide for the replacement of ED (Embarkation/Disembarkation) forms, which all persons travelling to Barbados were required to complete. According to him, the forms were outdated and required persons to provide unnecessary information. He also described the stamping of passports as “redundant and repetitive”. The minister explained that the kiosks would scan the passport, take a photo and prompt the passenger to respond honestly to a series of questions, all using biometrics. “The practical aspect is that 17 kiosks were purchased by the previous administration, we came and found them, 16 are functional at the present time and it is our intention as soon as financial resources allow, to get more kiosks, because with our growing tourism market and arrivals and of course increased travel we anticipate that the17 that are there would not be adequate enough in the long term,” Hinkson said. “This whole process ties into the whole context where we are making life easier for all those, whether local citizens or tourists who arrive in Barbados.” Hinkson said all persons over the age of 19 would be allowed to use the kiosks which he expected would greatly reduce the current waiting times. “For a tourist, the point of contact in Barbados at the airport is their first point of contact and we all know first impressions count a lot. The typical tourist wants to get off the flight, get out the airport, go on the beach, go and drink some Bajan rum, you want to start enjoying your vacation. You don’t want to be held up at an airport more than is necessary,” he said. However, Hinkson gave his assurance that security would not be compromised. (BT)

TIME NOT RIGHT – Opposition Leader Reverend Joseph Atherley has questioned the timing of Government’s decision to remove Immigration officials from some sections of the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA). Minister of Home Affairs Edmund Hinkson had earlier revealed that Cabinet had taken a decision to move personnel from the departure and arrival halls effective February 1. However, during his contribution to the Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2019 in Parliament this afternoon, Atherley queried whether government had properly thought through the move. “While I, in principle, have no problem with the removal of such because we see it happening elsewhere, at the same time we still have to admit that it is still in place in very many places in this world and we have to utilize those systems when we travel to other people’s countries,” Atherley said. “But the point is this, it has to do with the timing. Today as a country we are trying to wrestle the evil of that rising tide of serious gun violence and criminal activity to the ground. Today we are becoming increasingly aware that the phenomenon of violent crime is not a matter that is localized, but that it is organized trans-regionally, trans-nationally and therefore the issue of cross border activity becomes a critical consideration. I find it a bit challenging that when we are faced with that rising spectre of criminal violence and we are met with an understanding that part of the dynamic contributing to that is cross border travel and movement, I find it a little challenging as to the timing of removing officers from the departure point at the airport.” He admitted that while he was not against the shift, he believed it had to be done at the proper time. “I have no problem with their removal at the right time and over time, but it is this government that must judge and it is this particular minister that must judge whether or not this is the appropriate time to do that,” the Opposition Leader maintained. Atherley however, said he had no problem with the introduction of additional kiosks, once it was properly managed and once issues of privacy were appropriately dealt with. (BT)

BARBADOS KEEPING UP WITH TECHNOLOGY –Any use of technology which will improve the efficiency of how business is conducted in Barbados should be welcomed. That is the view of Minister in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Maintenance Peter Phillips, who has wholeheartedly supported the introduction of kiosks at the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA). While saying that the new kiosks would remove the sometimes lengthy wait in lines at the airport, Phillips said all departments of Government needed to be up-to-date with technological advancements. “We have come to the time in this country where we have to make full use of the technology that there is available to us and we want Barbadians to know that we are working on this,” Phillips said during debate on the Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2019 in Parliament this morning. “It is a work in progress. It is not something that will happen overnight as there are many areas and aspects you have to consider and even in that you have to make sure that the security is tight. Everybody wants to make payments online and so on, which is good and which is the intention, but in doing all of that we have to make sure that all of the systems are in place. “This Act would have gone through several processes, several reviews and even went through a pilot project to ensure it was working the way we want it to work,” he added. Phillips said that even at his ministry, they were currently looking at ways in which to introduce technology in an effort to speed up processes. “The truth is that with the introduction of any new system there is more often than not some teething problems and we want persons to bear with us and to actually share with us comments on the experience, so that if something needs to be tweaked or corrected it can be improved. “That is where we want our country to be. We must be at the cutting edge where technology is concerned and where the use of technology is concerned in all areas, not just at the airport or at the seaport, but in all areas across the business area within the country,” Phillips said. (BT)

SANDALS HAILS PROGRESS AT ITS SHOWPIECE BEACHES HOTEL - Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sandals Resorts International (SRI) Adam Stewart says he is pleased with the progress of the multi-million dollar Sandals Beaches Resort currently under construction in Barbados. “For us being in Barbados is an absolute honour and a privilege and we are incredibly proud of how we are built and having the Sandals brand there,” Stewart told Barbados TODAY on the sidelines of the 26th annual World Travel Awards. That event formed part of the Caribbean Travel Marketplace being held in Jamaica this week. “[Sandals Beaches Barbados] is coming on. In terms of design it is one of our finest masterpieces that we have ever done. It will be an incredible hotel. We are getting there slowly but surely. We spent an absolute fortune on the beach works making sure that it is prepared and the site is ready and it is stunning. West end Barbados it is as good as it gets,” said Stewart, as he commented on the progress of the US$400 million project. After several setbacks, it was last year that officials officially started minor construction along the beach, at what was formerly the old Almond Beach Resort in St Peter. The project is expected to last about 27 months and employ about 1,800 people throughout the process. Earmarked to be Sandals’ most elaborate property, Beaches Barbados will consist of about 600 rooms, a number of unrivalled amenities including a six-lane bowling alley, water slides, an on-property train, a zip line and numerous global gourmet restaurants. Between its two properties – Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Barbados – the company currently employs over 1,200 Barbadians in full time positions. Stewart said that number would easily double when the hotel is completed by the end of next year. He said he was especially proud of the company’s investment in Barbados’ struggling economy and its contribution to employment. “We have our two Sandals properties – Sandals Barbados and Sandals Royal Barbados – and if you think about it, in a space of seven years our company would have invested just shy of US$800 million and at that point will be employing permanently, somewhere in the order of 3,000 to 3,300 Bajans,” said Stewart. “If you look all around the Caribbean there are very few companies that have invested that much money in a lifetime let alone in a seven-year period. So for us, we are very proud of that,” he said. While stating that SRI was not yet up to speed with government’s proposed hotels development plan for Barbados’ southwest coast from the Savannah Hotel in Christ Church to the Paradise Beach in St Michael, Stewart said there were no immediate plans for future investments in the Barbados market from his company. Sandals started its first operation in Barbados in 2013. (BT)

ABRAHAMS: YOU WILL PAY FOR ABUSE OF SEWERS - Abusers of the south coast sewerage system will feel the full weight of the law if found guilty of misuse. The warning has come from Minister of Energy and Water Resources Wilfred Abrahams one week after a manhole at Rendezvous, Christ Church, was found to be “weeping”. He told THE NATION the “slight blip” was “picked up immediately” in the process of “careful monitoring” of the system. A bypass pump on Worthing, Christ Church, was checked and serviced and all the lines connected to or near that pump flushed to correct the problem. “What we realised when we removed the covers, was that the sewers were full of grease again. We pumped off a lot of it to clear out the sewer line, but I guess with the inflow of tourists for cricket and with the heavy operations on the South Coast, the businesses are back to their practice of dumping grease down in the sewer,” Abrahams explained. (MWN)

BWA: THREE PUMPS WORKING AGAIN - Barbados Water Authority (BWA) crews have completed emergency repairs on three out of four pumps impacted by a power outage at the Applewhaites Pumping Station. These have all been successfully reinstalled and are working. Repair work on the fourth pump is ongoing. With these three pumps back in operation, the BWA is now pumping more water into the distribution network. Consequently, the water supply to a number of districts in St James, St Thomas and St Joseph that experienced outages or low pressure over the past two days, should gradually return to normal as the pressure increases. As is usually the case, the BWA remains committed to assisting any customers still affected by outages via water tanker until their supply returns to normal. (MWN)

CLEAN UP LAND – Landowners who don’t upkeep their properties are being put on notice. Minister of Environment and National Beautification Trevor Prescod, has issued this warning, asking the owners to ensure their estates were cleared of bush and the dreaded cow itch vine.  “All land owners whose lands are in that kind of state, overrun by bush, especially with cow itch, I would like to encourage them to do what is right to make sure they debush and clean their land so the state would not have to intervene.” He cautioned that if the state had to do the cleaning up on private property, “then the owners can rest assured” the bill would be sent to them. His comments came in the wake of the ongoing removal of bush from around Blackman And Gollop Primary School, which on several occasions has been affected by cow itch. (MWN)

FALLEN TREE LEAVES ROAD IMPASSIBLE – A tree has fallen across the road at Quarry Road, Blackmans, St Joseph. As a result, the road is impassable, and motorists are asked to use an alternative route. A team from the Ministry of Transport, Works and Maintenance is on the scene.  (MWN)

IRRESPONSIBLE! – An incensed member of the Police Service Commission (PSC) has described Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s recent attack on the body for its handling of promotions in the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) as highly irresponsible. Retired Deputy Commissioner of Police and former top crime sleuth Keith Whittaker has taken Prime Minister Mottley to task for the statements she made last Friday at a news conference at Parliament Buildings to address the current upsurge in gun violence in the island. Mottley launched a verbal assault on the then Guyson Mayers-led PSC as she promised to deal with the issue of promotion which she said had eroded the morale within the police force. “We are satisfied that the greatest cannibalization of the Royal Barbados Police Force took place in the last few years. It cannot be allowed to happen again. You cannot attack an institution and expect it to prosper…You cannot have successive Commissioners of Police making recommendations for promotions in the police force based on their perceptions of performance and merit and discipline, and then have a Police Service Commission completely ignoring those recommendations and choosing to promote who they want on criteria known only to them,” she told reporters. But in an equally strident rebuke, Whittaker, who represents the interests of the force on the PSC, this morning lambasted the PM Mottley for lumping everyone on that constitutional body and labelling them in the same manner. “It is a very irresponsible act…and it is not fair to get on national TV and lambast the Police Service Commission without being aware of all the facts,” the respected former senior cop told Barbados TODAY. Noting that he was not a political person, the retired senior police officer said it was sad that Barbados had come to this juncture. “I am not interested in no politician or no political party. I am interested in Barbados and the Royal Barbados Police Force. And that is what I am trying to do on the PSC. I am transparent in everything that I do. Tell her that. If they find the chairman [former] political, that is a matter [for them]; I am not political,” Whittaker stressed. Whittaker told Barbados TODAY he was hurt by the Prime Minister’s comments. “After serving 40 years in the Royal Barbados Police Force, it hurts me to know the excellent service that I gave in the force and then I could be pulled in the gutter by the Prime Minister lambasting the PSC…putting all in one basket. I am not in that,” he declared. Whittaker, who was in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for lengthy periods during his four decades in the force and linked to the apprehension of some of Barbados’ most notorious criminals, sought to defend his reputation as a “professional”. “I have a proper character…integrity…I serve; I get shot at; I get dynamite pelt at me for fighting for this country; I get urinated on while waiting for criminals … for this country… and then to be labelled like that. I’m annoyed. “All of these things I did for this country, then to be lambasted by a Prime Minister. It is wrong…to me. I’m hurt,” he lamented. Meanwhile, Whittaker told Barbados TODAY he was not sure if the Prime Minister had consulted with the PSC on the appointment of former Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin to be a consultant to the sitting COP Tyrone Griffith. The PSC, which is headed by new chairperson Margot Greene QC, is responsible for advising the Governor General on appointments in the police force, and to remove and exercise disciplinary control over persons holding or acting in such offices. Apart from Greene and Whittaker, the other members of the commission are the Reverend Vaughn Watson, Neville Lewis and Shirley Farnum. This is the first time that a retired commissioner of police has been returned as a consultant to the force and/or government on matters related to crime. The Police Act makes no provisions for the appointment of such a consultant to a sitting Commissioner of Police nor obliges a sitting Commissioner of Police to adhere to any advice given by a civilian consultant. Neither former PSC chairman Guyson Mayers nor current chairman Greene could be reached for comment.  (BT)

MURDER NO. 9 – A Grazettes St Michael mother is crying her heart out as she mourns the tragic loss of a son. As police carry out investigations into the circumstances which led to the death of 29-year-old Jabar Lashley who allegedly died at the hands of a teenager, his grieving mother Marcia Clarke told Barbados TODAY that while she would not publicly speak out about what she was told caused her son’s death, she would say that he should not have died senselessly. “Jabar should not die like this. I don’t understand how he died like this. This is senseless,” Clarke lamented as she dealt with the pain of losing the last of her three boys. Police public relations officer Sergeant Michael Blackman said that sometime around 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Lashley was at Dore’s Sport Bar, at Gunsite Road, Brittons Hill, St Michael, where he was involved in an altercation with a juvenile. The young man was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by a private vehicle, where he died around 10:40 p.m., after undergoing surgery. “The juvenile is currently assisting police with investigations,” Sergeant Blackman said. An emotional Clarke, recounting her son’s last moments alive, said when she got to the hospital after she received the devastating news, doctors told her what no mother would ever want to hear. “They told me that he only got a ten per cent chance of surviving,” Clarke recalled. “But ten per cent ain’t no chance to live. You would talk about 50/50, but at ten per cent you could as well say he dead. When they told me ten, I say Jabar gone. Actually, he was just there like he passed already because he wasn’t breathing or nothing. So I just hold he hands and tell he that I love him,” she said. The 53-year-old mother said she last saw the former Ellerslie Secondary student on Sunday when he came to her home for lunch and they had an enjoyable time chatting and laughing. At that same time, they made plans to attend Lashley’s eight-year-old son Xaier Mayers’ school’s sports which were held today. “The sports was supposed to be today. Then I hear this thing happen. I don’t know how my son gone. I trying to be good, but my heart hurting me. He was too sweet to go down like that. He got a family. That little boy believes in Jabar. He likes Jabar so bad. He left a sweet eight-year-old boy. He liked jokes. When it comes to jokes you would get Jabar laughing. He would come and blow the car horn shouting ‘mom I here, mom I here’. He was a sweet boy,” the mother said. Clarke said she spent most of the day waiting to hear Jabar blowing the horn signalling for her to get out the house for them to head to the school sports. Meanwhile, Shakira Mayers, the mother of Lashley’s son and partner of 10 years, said she would be the first to admit that Lashley was not perfect, but he was a loving boyfriend and a caring father to their son and also her firstborn. Speaking at her Bibby’s Lane, St Michael home where Lashley also lived, Mayers said she spoke to the man who told her he would marry her someday moments before he was stabbed. “The last words he said to me was ‘be outside’ and I said whatever Jabar. I say just come. Then when I saw the time coming up I was rushing to get outside and then my friend called to ask me if I heard. I was like heard what? . . . I just left work. I didn’t know how I was getting to the hospital but I just left,” Mayers said. “He had surgery. Then they took him to the recovery room and we went and we saw him, and he was still breathing, I believe with the machine,” the 30-year-old recalled. Mayers said she has heard “so many stories” about the incident that she does not know what to believe. “There are so many flip sides to this story, but I know one side got to be true,” an emotional Mayers said. Lashley was also supposed to collect his son from at the barber where he dropped him off for a haircut, not too far away from where the incident took place. “When he saw that his dad was taking long to come back for him he knew something was wrong. He was supposed to go back to him, and in that short space of time this happened. I didn’t even know where the children were. Jabar couldn’t talk to tell me where the child was. It was such a rough evening,” Mayers said. “He and his son had a really good relationship, so I know he is hurting. But he is such a sweet son. He telling me ‘mummy you got to be strong. Don’t cry. Just be strong and remember the fun times that you and daddy had. We gine be alright’. But I know he is hurting. They born like a day apart,” the young woman said as she spoke about her Xaier who attended his sports today. Barbados TODAY understands that the altercation came about after Lashley spoke to the alleged perpetrator about a matter which involved the breaking and entering of his vehicle. Gunsite Road was quiet when Barbados TODAY visited just after midday. As Police carried out investigations, several residents said they were shocked about the incident which they believe should never have happened. One resident who is familiar with the teenager said he has had a troubled upbringing and sometimes made decisions that caused him to have to face the juvenile system. (BT)

FATHER SUCCUMBS TO STAB WOUNDS – Shakira Mayers last spoke to her boyfriend Jabar Lashley on Monday evening when she contacted him to pick her up from work at 5 p.m. He never showed up. Lashley, 29, was involved in an altercation at Gunsite Road, Brittons Hill, St Michael, and was stabbed. He was transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he died after 10 p.m. “Last time I saw him alive was on Monday morning when he took me to work. We spoke about 4:30 yesterday [Monday] evening when I called him to let him know to collect me from work for 5 p.m.,” his girlfriend said. Mayers said when she first heard the news, she did not think it was that serious, but made her way to the hospital immediately. “It’s only when I got at the hospital around 6 p.m. that I knew something was wrong. There was so much traffic on the road so it took me a while to get there. “The doctors spoke to us after 10 and told us things weren’t looking good. He was just there with machines helping him to breathe. I stayed all night hoping that he would wake up; then we were told he was gone,” she said, fighting back tears. (MWN)

HOLDER REMANDED ON WOUNDING CHARGE - A Christ Church businessman charged in connection with the incident that left another man with severe injuries to his hand, has been remanded to Her Majesty’s Prisons at Dodds, St Philip for 28 days and will return to court on February 26. Corie O’Neil Holder, 39, of 179 Regency Park, Christ Church, appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court before Acting Magistrate Anika Jackson and was not allowed to plead to the indictable charge of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Alban Mottley of Newbury, St George, on January 15, 2019, with intent to maim, disfigure or disable him. The incident is alleged to have taken place at Station Hill, St Michael. Prosecutor, PC Kenmore Phillips had asked the court not to grant bail because of the seriousness of the offence and the complainant was at the hospital awaiting surgery. His counsel, attorney-at-law, Kendrid Sargeant had described him as a fit candidate, but the acting magistrate remanded the businessman because of the medical report and after checking his antecedents. (BT)

DRUG ACCUSED GRANTED BAIL – Ken DaCosta Murrell pleaded guilty to two drug charges but not guilty to two charges involving a policeman. As a result, he was granted bail in the sum of $750 and the matter has been adjourned until February 12 to the Traffic Court. Murrell, 37, of Second Avenue Park Road, Bush Hall, St Michael, appeared before acting Magistrate Anika Jackson in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on four charges.  He pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of cocaine and having apparatus fit and intended for use in connection with cocaine, but not guilty of resisting PC Jason Chambers and unlawfully and maliciously wounding the same policeman.  The incidents allegedly occurred on January 28, 2019. The unemployed man is represented by attorney-at-law, Naomi Linton. (BT)

$375 FINES – A Bridgetown magistrate has issued her second warning in a week, that using marijuana is still illegal in Barbados, despite the fact that discussion was ongoing about medicinal marijuana, Acting Magistrate Anika Jackson presiding in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court made the remarks after two accused Roxanne Rosette Gill a 31-year-old hairdresser of Newton Crescent, Pine, St Michael and 57-year-old self-employed Anthony Hyvestra Blenman of Maxwell Coast Road, Christ Church were jointly charged with unlawfully having cannabis worth $10 on January 28. They both pleaded guilty. When the matter was called, they appeared without counsel but the court was informed that attorney-at-law Mohia Ma’at was on his way to represent the duo. According to the facts outlined by Prosecutor, PC Kenmore Phillips, police officers went to Newton Crescent, Pine, St Michael and saw a parked car with Blenman in the front passenger seat with the door open and Gill standing by the open door. When lawmen  approached the vehicle Gill removed a white cigarette from her mouth, put her hand in her pocket and then passed a white piece of paper to Blenman and started to walk away. When asked to open the folded paper, police saw one greaseproof wrapping, one paper wrapping and a partially burnt cigarette with vegetable matter, suspected to be cannabis, and Blenman said “I tell she police coming to give me the spliff.” The defence counsel submitted that the two were not charged together, adding that police came back for Gill about an hour after they had taken Blenmanaway. In begging for leniency, Ma’at said that Gill is a mother of two and lived with her family including parents and siblings, and Blenman is a senior and his prior offences dated back to the 1980s. The two apologised to the court. The acting magistrate said that they were adults and ought to have known better. She fined them $375 each, payable in three months or on default, three months in jail. (BT)

MITCHELL’S CRY – It seems Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Dave Cameron will not be copping a break from Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell anytime soon. Just days after West Indies’ 381-run demolition of England at Kensington Oval within four days, Mitchell, has poured cold water on the West Indies win, warning once again that unless there is a change in the current administration of CWI, instances like the weekend victory over England in the opening Test will remain one-off occurrences. The veteran leader who has been one of Cameron’s staunchest critics over the past three or more years argued that sustained success on the field could only be achieved by proper leadership and management, and a governance system “that promotes the interests of the players”. “We have seen West Indies perform well in a particular game in the past but as one who understands the game well, I know you cannot make a final judgement on the performance of a team by one game,” Mitchell said. “As they say in areas of intellectual activity, maybe that’s a one-off. I don’t like one-off. I like it to be clear there’s a permanent change in attitude.” He added: “As I have said over and over, unless the administration changes, I do not think we will see the kind of performance we need to.” Mitchell is a former chairman of CARICOM’s Prime Ministerial subcommittee on cricket and has continued to lobby for governance reform in West Indies cricket. During his tenure, he found himself at odds with the current Cameron-led administration when he endorsed the CARICOM-commission Governance Report, which among other recommendations, called for the “immediate dissolution” of the current board and the appointment of an interim board “whose structure and composition will be radically different from the now proven, obsolete governance framework.” CWI dismissed the recommendation as “impractical” and an “unnecessary and intrusive demand”. Mitchell agreed while there was an abundance of talent in the region, West Indies were suffering from a lack of leadership. “I always believe we have the talent in the region; I never think we are short of talent,” he pointed out. “Maybe we will not see a Gary Sobers or Brian Lara emerging, but we have the talent to ensure that we can extract the maximum performance, but it requires the leadership, management and governance system that promotes the interests of the players and the unity of the region as a whole. “I think that is the fundamental thing that is lacking and I hope we see a change in that regard.” Cameron has copped criticisms from Mitchell and others despite greater financial reward being obtained by a greater number of players under his tenure and more age-group cricket being played around the region. CWI has also been part of the Caribbean Premier League introduction in the region, as well as the regional Professional Cricket League Meanwhille, West Indies face England in the second Test of the three-match series starting on Thursday in Antigua with speedster Shannon Gabriel and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich having recovered from minor injuries picked up in the opening Test. Gabriel limped out of the fourth day’s play at Kensington Oval last weekend with a bruised toe while Dowrich also sat out proceedings with a sore back. West Indies team manager, Rawl Lewis, confirmed today there were no major injuries in the squad as they chased a historic series win. “[There are] no worries at all. There will always be little niggles after a hard Test match but they are all ready to go,” Lewis said. He added: “We practised from 2 pm to 5 pm and everyone was there nice and healthy and strong and looking pretty good.” Gabriel had little impact in the opening Test claiming just two wickets but worked up a fair turn of pace in the second innings before having to go off after lunch. Dowrich, meanwhile, batted outstandingly in the second innings to finish unbeaten on 116 but was replaced by Shai Hope behind the stumps for the entire fourth day. West Indies named an unchanged squad for the upcoming Test but have added fast bowler Oshane Thomas as a 14th man, after the Jamaican acted as cover for fellow pacer Alzarri Joseph for the first Test in Bridgetown last weekend. (BT)

FORMER TEST MEN LAUD WI – Former Test players John Shepherd and Robin Bynoe say consistency and self-belief must be the benchmark for the West Indies team after their stunning and emphatic 381-run victory over world number three ranked England last weekend at Kensington Oval. Like most fans, Shepherd and Bynoe were surprised by the performance of Jason Holder’s men, who defied all odds to beat England in four days. “I was surprised at the win. I wanted them to be competitive. I didn’t want them to just roll over, but they did much more than that. The West Indies were brilliant. They defied all expectations. “Let’s be fair. I would say 80 per cent, maybe more, never thought West Indies would have won, or at least would have won by the margin they won by,” said Shepherd, who played the first of his five Tests on the 1969 tour of England. (MWN)

FAN’S CHANCE OF A LIFETIME – Never mind the result. For one English fan, watching the first Test between West Indies at Kensington Oval was a dream come true. John Edge has wanted to visit the Caribbean for 50 years to watch a Test match. The 70-year-old, however, didn’t have the time or the money to come over to the West Indies. He finally made it last week, thanks to the help of his family and others. It wasn’t even a disappointment that England suffered a massive defeat by 381 runs. “It’s absolutely brilliant. It’s a dream come true. It has been on my bucket list of the last 50 years. I can’t praise enough how much I wanted to be here,” Edge told NATIONSPORT “I am a cricket fan. I like England, I like West Indies. It was just an ideal place to watch a game of cricket.”  (MWN)

BFA KICKING FOR THE FUTURE – The Barbados Football Association (BFA) is set to start the Future Tridents Development Programme when the National Youth Cup competition kicks off on February 9. This was revealed by technical director Ahmed Mohamed during a recent exclusive interview with THE NATION. Working under the tagline Train With The Best, Play With The Best, the new competition during its first year will see eight elite teams fielded from the Under-13 Division. The second year would see the introduction of the top players in Under-15s, while year three is set to include the Under-17s. “Starting this year, the players would be able to train three times a week step by step. The main goal is to focus on the players’ development, as it takes five to seven years on average to develop a player. The Future Tridents Development Programme is not about winning, it is about development,” he explained.  (MWN)

URGENT O NEGATIVE BLOOD DONATIONS NEEDED – The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) Blood Bank is issuing an urgent appeal for O negative blood donations. A positive, A negative, AB, B positive and B negative blood donations are also needed. Donated blood will help replenish the QEH Blood Bank’s supply to ensure that blood is readily available for patients with serious medical needs such as cancers, blood disorders, premature babies, cardiac procedures and trauma victims. Volunteers between the ages of 18 and 70, who weigh at least 110 pounds, and are in generally good health are asked to donate blood at the National Blood Collecting Centre located at Ladymeade Gardens, St Michael, between 8 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. on weekdays or 8 a.m. and 12 noon on Saturdays.  (MWN)

PAUSE FOR PRAYER - At midday on Friday, all of Barbados is being invited to pause for one minute to pray for peace in response to the spate of violence currently being experienced. The initiative, which has as its theme Pause for a Cause, is being spearheaded by the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs. Minister in that Ministry, which also has responsibility for Ecclesiastical Affairs, Cynthia Forde, met today with faith leaders to garner support for three days of prayer and reflection from midday Friday, February 1, through Sunday, February 3. The Minister explained that while everyone is asked to pause at midday on Friday to pray, persons are also encouraged during the 72 hours to attend any gathering for prayer and reflection. Churches, mosques and other places of worship will be opened to facilitate this. The Minister urged the full participation of the population in the Weekend of Prayer and Reflection, noting: “Whatever we do during this weekend, it should be reflective. Some of our people are falling through the cracks and it is time to seek divine intervention to get the country back on track.” Activities are also being planned for February, as part of this initiative. These will include a Day of Love, Peace and Commitment on Wednesday, February 13, and a faith-based consultation to devise strategies aimed at helping persons in communities to develop coping skills, particularly in the area of conflict resolution.(BGIS)

For daily or breaking news reports follow us on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter & Facebook. That’s all for today folks. There are 335 days left in the year. Shalom! #thechasefilesdailynewscap #thechasefiles# dailynewscapsbythechasefiles

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 1/3/2019

Good MORNING #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Thursday 3rd January 2019. Remember you can read full articles for FREE via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS) OR by purchasing by purchasing a Daily Newspaper (DN).

OPERATORS NEW DRIVE – Some fed up public service vehicle (PSV) drivers and conductors have ditched both the Association of Public Transport Operators (APTO) and the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT).  There is now another association in play, formed yesterday and yet officially unnamed, following a work stoppage which was not sanctioned by either organisation.  Rumblings about a strike circulated with a WhatsApp voice message earlier this week calling for such action to occur yesterday in protest of the proposed new Transport Authority uniforms as well as other issues.  This prompted an impromptu meeting on Tuesday called by Minister in the Ministry of Transport, Peter Phillips, with the Transport Authority and the two bodies. Afterwards, the ministry released a statement saying the strike was called off while negotiations continued. However, this did not sit well with some members of the PSV community who gathered near the Flour Mill on Spring Garden yesterday and refused to work.  The assembled ZRs and minibuses plied routes including Bowmanston, St John; Bush Hall in St Michael; Fairy Valley, Newton, Silver Sands and Rendezvous, Christ Church; Melrose, St Thomas; Greens, St George; Wanstead, St James, and Speightstown in St Peter. (DN)

PSVS UNITE – Declaring they had scored two major victories from today’s shutdown of transit service, Public Service Vehicle (PSV) drivers and conductors have formed their own association. Following a six-hour strike by operators that culminated with a meeting at the National Union of Public Workers’ (NUPW), Dalkeith, St Michael headquarters, scores of workers voted to form the PSV Workers Association . During those elections,  Shawn Best was elected as president while Ricardo Forde was elected vice-president. The workers were welcomed by the country’s largest public sector union, with leader Akanni McDowall pledging the union’s assistance in helping the workers address a list of grievances. The developments brought an end to the operators’ strike that began just after 9 a.m. before being officially called off at 3:15 p.m. PSV operators in Bridgetown as well as those in Speightstown took their vehicles off the road in protest of the Transport Authority’s decision to require drivers and conductors to buy clothing that carried its logo, among other issues. In delivering a brief statement after the meeting which was attended by chairman of the Transport Authority Ian Estwick, as well as chairman of the Authority’s Public Relations Committee Tim Slinger, spokesperson for the new association Fabian Daddy Fabian Wharton told journalists that a meeting with the Transport Authority had been set for next Monday to deal with the workers’ issues. Until then, PSV operators would return to work, he said. “As you are all aware sometime this morning PSV workers in Barbados would have withdrawn their services. This action is not an action on the part of the AOPT [Alliance Owners of Public Transport] or the APTO [Association of Public Transport Operators], the two representative bodies of PSV owners in Barbados,” Wharton said. “Members of the Transport Authority attended that meeting and they received the feedback directly from the drivers and they have asked for a couple days in order to take back that information and feed it back into their systems to have a discussion and then to get back to us.” In disclosing that the strike had been called off with immediate effect, Wharton apologized to members of the public. “We do apologize to the travelling public, but sometimes you have to take a stand for the things that you believe in. As of 3:15 p.m. today all public service vehicles will return to normal duty,” he said. “We also understand that there are some of us who are not extremely happy with the turn of events, in terms of returning to work immediately, but what we can say is that if there is any disruption in our services tomorrow it will be insignificant.” Speaking to the media moments later, McDowall told reporters the NUPW was willing and able to fight on behalf of PSV workers. “We just observed what happened here today and we were not fully apprised of all of the issues effecting the PSV workers. Today we heard some of the issues and we said we would follow through with them to make sure that some of the concerns they expressed are resolved. “Once they allow us to be that voice, we will make sure that all of their issues are resolved in a timely manner,” the NUPW president said. But McDowall expressed shock at some of the issues that the PSV workers faced. “I don’t agree that some of the issues that they have should be existing in 2019. I don’t want to trivialize the issues because it might seem small to me but it would be big to them, but I’m hoping that a lot of the issues which are affecting them are resolved soonest. “When and if given the opportunity to represent them we will do so vehemently,” McDowall declared. The NUPW president also noted that several PSV operators, although working for private concessionaires had expressed an interest in becoming members of the public sector union. (BT)

PSV OPERATORS TOLD TO GET BACK ON ROUTES – Stop the strike! This is the plea of Public Relations Officer of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) Mark Haynes who was speaking on Starcom’s Down to Brasstacks today as PSV operators went on strike and parked their vehicles.  The operators are currently gathered at the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) headquarters on Dalkeith Road, St Michael as negotiations take place. Members of the Transport Authority, including chairman Ian Estwick, director Alex Linton and chairman of the public relations committee Tim Slinger and NUPW president Akanni Mcdowall are all present. At the center of the dispute is the issue of uniforms which have been mandated by the Transport Authority and a law which states that if found guilty of two traffic convictions and suspended, they will be unable to work for six months. This development has left scores of commuters stranded in various districts of the island. When a Nation team visited the Constitution River Terminal there were hardly any operators in the line. Many were however, stationed outside the terminal engaged in conversations. The Association of Public Transport Operators (APTO) has issued a statement on the situation, calling on Government for fair treatment while outlining a number of grievances.  (BT)

GIVE US A SECOND CHANCE – Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators across the island are ready and willing to clean up their act and improve the public’s perception of them, but they need the support of authorities to make it happen. President of the newly-formed Public Service Vehicle Workers Association, Shawn Best gave the assurance after members stopped working around the island on Wednesday morning, stranding passengers in some of the island’s busiest arteries at Speightstown in the north and in the City. The passionate bus driver with over 20 years under his belt, was the first to admit that PSV drivers had earned a bad reputation over the years for reckless driving, loud music and sloppy attire, but said they were ready to improve their image. “We are looking to make a change. If the ministers are working with us, we are willing to work alongside them in getting things done. Right now we have a transportation issue in Barbados. We don’t have enough buses, but you know any thriving economy needs transportation to get people to and from their jobs. “It is a fact that they are people who do nonsense in the industry, but this is a new year and the men would like a change and the men want to change this whole system,” said Best. Indicating Tuesday’s work stoppage was not intended to hold government to ransom, he stressed that, “they [government] also have to work with us.” Best took issue with the lack of dialogue on a number of policies recently implemented, including the new uniforms, harsh penalties being handed down in the country’s courts and an excessive number of permits which were wildly distributed under the previous administration. “There are new laws that if you get reported twice, your licence will be taken away for six months to one year. If I come out here and get reported for having my shirt tail out or stopping at places other than a bus stop, that is six months I am at home. Now my family is going to suffer for six months. People are asking if there’s nothing else we could do, but people are being laid off everyday in Barbados. “If I go to court tomorrow and I go before a particular magistrate in the Bridgetown Magistrates’ Court, I may have to pay $1000 forthwith or spend 100 days in jail. A man may go in front of the same magistrate on a gun charge and he gets bail,” he said while arguing that often times Transport Board bus drivers were not being held to the same standard as PSV operators. As it relates to the new uniform, Best again stressed that drivers had no problem with wearing a uniform, but complained that the new ones were two expensive and potentially uncomfortable for drivers. “We want uniforms that will make us more comfortable. We have no problem with the transport authority selling a PSV crest costing $15-$20 that each man could buy a crest, put it on his grey shirt and when you’re coming out, you are a PSV worker along with your badge. If you don’t wear your crest, then you are not a part of this association and police can tell you to step off of the van,” he added. In addition, Best also appealed with authorities to use better judgment with the granting of PSV permits. He said under the previous DLP administration, already heavily-serviced areas were flooded, creating a “glut” on these routes. “One of the things that the ministry needs to do is to redistribute some of the permits. “Other places in Barbados are lagging badly in relation to transportation. They just took three ZR’s and sent them up Horse Hill (St Joseph) and they have no problems…The ministry can improvise and try to ease the men by taking some of these overcrowded routes and ease the situation which is making the men hustle even harder to make the extra money.” (BT)

DEES DO OR DIE – The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) could face extinction in coming years if its leaders do not undertake strong rebuilding efforts and come up with a set of strategies to reclaim confidence in the party. This assessment from lecturer in Political Science at the University of the West Indies Dr Kristina Hinds, who told Barbados TODAY that although there were still ardent DLP supporters, confidence in the party took a massive hit this year and would require major rebuilding. Taking a look back at 2018 and what the country could look forward to in the coming year, the political analyst insisted that there was no guarantee the DLP would remain a political force although it has been around some 60 years. She said the rebuilding process should also include the rallying of constituents and gathering of new support. “Otherwise, it is possible for another political party, I would say the UPP (United Progressive Party) in particular, to perhaps gain some of the ground that the DLP may have lost. But it (the UPP) too would have to do a lot of building and strong messaging and get candidates out there, some faces, apart from [its leader] Lynette Eastmond,” explained Hinds. “I think that the DLP has a large task ahead of it because the party was unable to secure any seats and it really does have to rebuild and find a way to gain a level of public confidence. I think the DLP really needs to do this quickly if it wants to have a future and not be a defunct political party. I think that the Democratic Labour Party ceasing to exist is definitely a possibility if they don’t use the next year or two very wisely and find some new and vibrant candidates and some messaging that resonates with people,” she warned. By the same token, she told Barbados TODAY that the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) had some work of its own to do. While Hinds agreed that the BLP would not suffer any major damage as a result of ongoing austerity measures, she believed some candidates, who were “fortunate” in the last general election, would have to build a good reputation over the next four years in order to hold on to their seats. “So in some ways, there are members of the Barbados Labour Party who would have to keep campaigning even though they are in power. I think they are just fortunate to have been washed in by the tide of discontent and similarly they can be washed out,” she said. However, she said with no elections around the corner, the BLP had the opportunity to complete some of the most difficult tasks and hope that they pay off over the next couple of years so that by the time it’s campaigning season, they have some successes that they can ride on going in the next election. In her assessment of 2018, the politics lecturer said it was quite mixed with a lot of anticipation leading up to the general election, followed by euphoria after the BLP captured all 30 seats, and then optimism and a level of sobriety “now that we have realized what the strategy is for economic recovery”. In a separate interview, veteran political scientist Peter Wickham told Barbados TODAY he believed this year heavy emphasis would remain on the rebuilding of the economy. He believed the restructuring of the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) and Transport Board “will take a lot of political energy”. Wickham said he was also anticipating the promised constitutional reform this year. As for the DLP, the pollster said he was looking forward to hearing who the “spokespeople” for that political party would be. “I think that will be the key initiative that I am looking for on their side. I think the spokespeople, especially the ones in economics, will tell us a bit about how the DLP is shaping up as an institution,” he said, pointing out that the party would require “people with economic muscle” in order to regain the confidence of the population. “I think that really is the DLP’s major deficiency now that they have to identify a candidate or spokesperson that has the kind of economic backbone that could match up to Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Minister in the Ministry of Finance Ryan Struaghn, Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs Marsha Caddle, Economic Advisor Clyde Mascoll and Avinash Persaud, which is fairly awesome,” said Wickham. So far only businessman Ryan Walters has expressed an interest in running for a St Michael constituency. Wickham said he would assume that the new DLP President and former Christ Church West candidate Verla De Peiza would also be interested in running for a seat in the future. “Whether she would go where she was before or change to St John is another matter. Wickham said while he did not see the ongoing restructuring having an adverse impact on the BLP’s chances in future elections, he believed the party’s popularity would “wax and wane” in between, which is normal. Taking a look back at 2018, Wickham told Barbados TODAY he believed it was a “turbulent” year for politics. “It was turbulent and novel. I have not seen a political year with as much activity as this; that was as impactful as this, especially when we consider that it was not only Barbados, but Guyana, Antigua, Grenada. So it was a heavy year politically,” he said. (BT)

‘A TIME TO HEAL’ – After taking serious hits to its membership last year, in 2019 the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB), has declared it’s embarked on a mission to consolidate and heal divisions in the labour movement. CTUSAB president Edwin O’Neal suggested the umbrella union body was concerned about its show of strength in the new year. “In this year CTUSAB is concerned about healing and growing and that is something that I am really serious about,” said O’Neal. Last month, the Barbados Prison Officer’s Association (BPOA) broke away from CTUSAB on the same day that a prominent critic urged the fire and police associations to also quit CTUSAB. Following the court appearance of BPOA president Trevor Browne on a charge relating to allegedly “endeavouring to seduce four prison officers from their duties”, the association’s consultant, Senator Caswell Franklyn, declared that the prison officers had pulled out of CTUSAB. He contended the move was designed to protect Browne and other prison officers from liability under a 1982 amendment to the Prison Service Act, which prohibits prison officers from belonging to a trade union. At the time General Secretary of CTUSAB Denis Depeiza told Barbados TODAY that such decision must come from the membership of BPOA and not from a single individual. Depeiza added that CTUSAB had not received any word from BPOA indicating its intention to leave the congress. Three months earlier, the Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union (BSTU) publicly threatened to sever ties with CTUSAB over differences with the hierarchy. Back in February the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) held a vote on whether or not remain in CTUSAB. O’Neale revealed this morning that his organization is still not aware of BPOA membership taking a vote to leave CTUSAB and has seen no sign that others may be leaning towards severing ties. “No one else has indicated that they want to leave but I did not go out and ask a question to the membership about that and one does not normally ask that type of question. So, for all intents and purposes, all of the members of CTUSAB are in good standing. It is difficult to say if the BPOA is still a member of CTUSAB but if the spokesmen are saying that they are not then I don’t see how I can say that they are,” he said while drawing the analogy that an official divorce is not necessary for a marriage to be over. But O’Neale declared: “Regardless of any differences, we intend to make sure that our organisation remains strong. Our job first and foremost is to look after the welfare of the workers and that must always remain our primary focus.” Five years ago, the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) quit CTUSAB, contending that the umbrella body and the Ministry of Labour were conspiring against the union. Then BWU General Secretary Sir Roy Trotman said the union’s decision to cut ties with CTUSAB was “an effort to prevent a deliberate effort to marginalize the Barbados Workers’ Union and to prevent this trade union . . . from exercising the voice we have used effectively over more than 70 years to develop the cause of workers in both the public sector and in the private sector”. (BT)

‘FAIR TO MIDDLING’ CRUISE EARNINGS, SAYS FCCA – Cruise tourism generated some $142 million (US$71.03 million) for the Barbados economy last year, putting its performance half-way between 36 Caribbean destinations, according to the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA). But while the island scored high in visitor satisfaction, just over four in ten cruisers who called at Barbados don’t intend to return to the island. The latest FCCA cruise analysis survey placed Babados 18th among the 36 destinations participating in the survey. It reported that among all destinations, the industry generated nearly $6.8 billion (US$3.4 billion) in direct spending by passengers, 79,000 jobs and $1.8 billion ($903 million) in employee wages. The data, which was collected up to October 2018, looks at the economic impact of the cruise industry on each destination, passenger attributes and satisfaction and passenger, and crew and cruise line spending, among other things, for the 2017/2018 cruise year. The cruise industry employed 2,351 Barbadians, the 10th highest employment numbers, the survey said. While arrivals to Barbados for the year reached 730,900 passengers and 330,000 crew, only 630,800 passengers and 127,800 crew members disembarked their ships – a total of 757,800 onshore passengers and crew. On average, each passenger spent  $166.24 (US$83.12), leaving $104.86 million (US$52.43 million) in Barbados. Average spend per crew was $109.8 (US$54.90), totalling $13.88 million (US$6.94 million), while total cruise line spending reached $23.32 million (US$11.66 million). In a 2015 study, the total passenger spend was US$43.30 million and crew total spend reached US$4.5 million – a 21.1 per cent and 54.1 per cent increase respectively for the 2017/2018 period. The survey said 56 per cent of transit passengers bought a tour and some 51.6 per cent of those surveyed said it was their first time visiting the island. On average passengers spent 4.02 hours onshore during their cruise visit here. Cozumel led all 36 destinations with US$474 million in cruise tourism contribution, followed by the Bahamas with US$406 million, Jamaica with US$245 million, the Cayman Islands with US$225 million and the USVI with US$185 million. Combined, these five destinations, with US$1.5 billion in direct expenditures, accounted for 46 per cent of the total cruise tourism expenditures among the 36 destinations. The Bahamas, with 2.97 million combined passenger and crew visits, had the second highest volume of visits in the Caribbean. Thus, each visit generated an average total expenditure of $136.53 across all passenger and crew visits. “Only five of the top eight destinations can be considered high volume destinations with more than one million passenger visits during the cruise year – Cozumel (3.5 million) the Bahamas (2.4 million), Jamaica (1.8 million), the Cayman Islands (1.6 million) and Puerto Rico (1.1 million). The remaining three – St Kitts (979,000), USVI (944,000) and St. Maarten (784,000) each had under 1 million visitors in the 2017/18 cruise year,” said the 110-page document. It pointed out that direct expenditures per passenger across all destinations remained virtually unchanged from $133.78 during the 2014/2015 cruise year to $133.25 during the 2017/2018 cruise year. This slight decline in the average per passenger spend was largely due to “a decrease in the watches and jewelry category”. “In addition, fewer passengers spent money on taxis and local transportation this year compared to 2014/15 – 18.7 per cent versus 23.7 per cent – resulting in an overall weighted average decrease of about $0.61 per passenger,” it added. “These decreases were only partially offset by increases in the average expenditure per passenger for shore excursions, and local crafts and souvenirs which increased by 8.3 per cent and 11 per cent, respectively,” said the findings. The report also noted that damages from hurricanes Irma and Maria resulted in nearly two million fewer passenger visits to St Maarten and the USVI – the top two destinations in terms of average per passenger spend in both studies. “Had these two destinations received a similar number of onshore visits as in the 2014/2015 study, the overall year-over-year average per passenger spend would have actually increased,” it explained. The Caribbean remains the world’s most popular cruise destination, with the 36 destinations welcoming 29.5 million passengers and 11.3 million crew arrivals during the review period. “Of these, just under 39 per cent of the crew, 4.4 million, and 85 per cent of the passengers, 25.2 million, disembarked and visited the destinations,” it explained. On a scale of one to ten, Barbados received one of the highest scores, 8.20, for overall satisfaction among guests, with 93 per cent satisfied and seven per cent not satisfied. This placed the country 7th on the satisfaction scale, behind Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta, Curacao, Aruba, St Kitts, Mazatlán. But only 57 per cent indicated that they were likely to return to the destination while 43 per cent were not likely to return. Passengers to Barbados were also highly satisfied with their purchased tour, knowledge of their guide, professionalism of their guide, value of their tour, taxis and/or local transport. (BT)

NO CAN DO CHRISTMAS DAY SHOPPING, SAYS ABED – The idea of Bridgetown being opened on Christmas and other public holidays is a non-starter for prominent businessman Eddie Abed – unless Bridgetown is made a duty-free zone. Abed was responding to concerns raised by Minister of Tourism Kerrie Symmonds after cruise ship visitors found City shops closed on Christmas Day and New Year��s Day. Although closed stores has been the norm during the holiday season, the minister declared that the practice must end. Symmonds told Captain Bart Vaartjes of the cruise ship Zuiderdam, which made an inaugural call at the Bridgetown Port on Monday: “I want this to be the last year, captain, that folks like you come here bringing thousands of people to our shores at Christmas time and the streets of Bridgetown are dead. I think that we all have to understand that tourism is our business and we all must seriously be playing our part.” But Abed told Barbados TODAY that such an arrangement under the current business construct was simply not feasible, declaring that businesses cannot meet the expenses associated with opening on holidays. The Holidays with Pay Act governs the overtime employers are required to pay workers on bank holidays. “To open a shop on a Sunday and a bank holiday requires tremendous overheads because it is not only a staffing issue and the overtime to go with it, but there is the question of the other inputs that go into running a shop. So, one must first make sure that there is enough activity to cover that overhead but historically there has not been,” Abed explained. The former head of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) argued that Barbados was not among the most competitive shopping jurisdictions on cruise ship routes. “The reality is that the tourist coming into Bridgetown to shop, want to do so at competitive prices. By that I mean that prices must not only be competitive to what they get in their home country but also the other islands they have already visited or will visit. We have so few players in tax-free merchandise in Barbados that the offerings tend to be limited and from what I heard, the competitiveness is not as good as it could be. The other retailers do not have the merchandise nor the pricing that would attract the tourist, hence they do not open,” he said. The fabric merchant called on Government to declare Bridgetown a duty-free zone in a bid to increase the port of call’s competitiveness which would ensure that shops open during holidays. “Let us make Bridgetown a duty-free center so that not only tourist could purchase duty-free but also locals with foreign currency. Once we have a basic market into which we can sell, you can find many new players coming and the question of opening on holidays will be a moot point because the demand will outstrip the need,” said Abed, who revealed that he and other business owners have tried to open at Christmas in the past but those attempts “failed miserably”. “This question of Bridgetown opening on Sundays and public holidays is one that has been around for a while. One of the driving forces for opening shops in the Bridgetown Cruise Terminal was to mitigate that issue. You would find that those retail outlets that cater to duty-free merchandise also have a store in the cruise terminal and for them there is no need to duplicate that resource,” he told Barbados TODAY. (BT)

BEACH NOT BLOCKED – A beach bar has taken over a significant section of the popular Batts Rock, but its French owner is denying it is barring Barbadians from the beach. Jules “Papa Jules” Gualdoni is dismissing a WhatsApp message which was being circulated over the weekend, indicating that a foreign entity had been given a licence to operate at Batts Rock, St Michael, and that it had “effectively taken over the Bajan people’s beach”. La Cabane, which was opened four months ago, features a bar and cooking area while several tables, chairs and benches occupy the beachfront under white umbrellas. Gualdoni said he was given permission to operate by the National Conservation Commission (NCC).  He maintained he was not seeking to privatise the beach, pointing out that the bar was open to both locals and tourists, and there was no restriction of access through the area, located next to the lifeguard station. “It’s a beach; we are just renting the space. People can walk through,” Gualdoni told the DAILY NATION yesterday. (MB) 

RESPECT THE FORCE – Respect for law enforcement must be maintained at all cost. This firm assertion comes from Deputy Commissioner of Police, Erwin Boyce, in wake of reports that his officers were shot at in the wee hours of New Year’s Day. “It is a major concern to us and we will put all the energies required for such an investigation into it. All of the investigative energies to bring the culprit or culprits to justice will be brought to bear,” warned Boyce. It was reported that two of three occupants of a fleeing vehicle escaped after police responded to a burglary in progress at Rendezvous, Christ Church around 3:45 a.m.Acting police public relations officer Sergeant Michael Blackman reported that lawmen were acting on a tip-off when they ventured to the location. On arrival they intercepted a blue motorcar, which sped off towards Forde’s Road.Officer Blackman said shots were fired at the police from the fleeing vehicle before it was abandoned near Forde’s Road. The underbody of the police vehicle was damaged. The “getaway” car was also damaged. There were no reports of injuries. However, this afternoon Boyce told Barbados TODAY that while it was not the first time officers were allegedly attacked in the line of duty, the shooting was clear indicator that respect for law enforcement must be given close attention. “We will be naïve if we were to say that we do not expect that people would not challenge us from time to time. Because of the nature of policing, which deals with the correction of behaviour, people will challenge us. But we must monitor the level of disrespect for authority and disrespect for law and order. We need to take corrective, preventative action early in order to stop any developing trend,” he said. The Deputy Commissioner made it clear that there was no reason to push the panic button just yet; as such attacks on police were rare. However he contended that whenever such incidents rear their head, they must be nipped in the bud. “This is not a regular activity or something that we encounter very often but when it is done we look at all of the issues so that we could respond or pre-empt any such activity,” he added. The force’s second-in-command also told Barbados TODAY that the police were always working on new deterrent measures and he therefore expected that efforts would be ramped up in coming weeks. “We are always revising and relooking our legislation. We are always looking at the way that we do things.  This includes our public relations because we are always looking at the force’s image within the society. These adjustments are necessary to fine-tune our responses and to make our organization as current as it could be,” he pointed out. Tuesday’s incident was a fiery start to 2019, on heels of growing concerns over gun violence last year. At the end of 2018, Barbados recorded close 30 murders with a large number involving the use of a firearm. (BT)

FAMILY STILL AT A LOSS – A St. Michael family is still seeking answers regarding the killing of their loved one. Almost four months after the bodies of Daniel Griffith and his friend Dario Yearwood were discovered in an apparent double murder on a visit to Jamaica, Griffith’s family said they were no closer to information regarding who killed the father of two. It was reported that in early September last year, the burnt and partially decomposed bodies of the Barbadians were found in some bushes two days after arrival. In an interview with the DAILY NATION, Petra Fenty, Griffith’s eldest sister, said that since news of the murders, her family had received no information from either local or Jamaican police officials with respect to whether they were closer to apprehending the murderer(s), or obtained any further knowledge surrounding what led to the deaths. (DN)

NO SURETY, SO OFF TO DODDS – A 34-year-old man landed on remand for the next 28 days after he was unable to get a surety to sign his bail. Damian Ricardo Connell, of No 39 Piedmont Park, Long Gap, St Michael is charged with assaulting and resisting police constable Troy Mason on December 30 while he was executing his duties. He pleaded not guilty to the two offences and also to stealing two cellular phones worth $700 belonging to Terry Jordan on the same day. Magistrate Douglas Frederick remanded the accused until January 30 to reappear in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court. (BT)

NO OBJECTION TO BAIL FOR MAYERS – A St Thomas man who allegedly wounded another on Christmas Day will make his next appearance in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on April 11. When McPherson Lee-Anderson Dacosta Mayers, of Church Gap, Hillaby, appeared before Magistrate Douglas Frederick today he denied unlawfully and maliciously wounding Wilbert Stoute. There was no objection to bail from prosecutor police constable Kevin Forde. Mayers was granted $3,000 bail, which he secured with one surety. (BT)

ACCUSED TO STAY AWAY FROM BABY’S MOTHER – A water quality officer charged with wounding the mother of his child was granted $2,500 bail when he appeared in court today. It is alleged that Wesley Andrew Devere Walcott, of Foursquare Valley, St Philip unlawfully and maliciously committed the act against Joy Ann Brathwaite on December 31. He was not required to plead to the charge as it allegedly occurred in the District ‘C’ jurisdiction. He will make his next appearance in that court on January 10. In the meantime, Magistrate Douglas Frederick ordered that he stay away from the complainant and not go to her workplace. “To tell the truth I don’t want to see she. I will send somebody for my child and when I have to take her back send the same person . . . . To get my child money every week, I will put money in one of my accounts and give her the bank card to access it,” Walcott told Frederick in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court before he was released. (BT)

HOSPITAL REALITY CHECK FOR ADDICT – Cocaine addict Chaquan Taurell Shawniko Pilgrim will know in three weeks whether he qualifies for drug rehabilitation.The 23-year-old, of Lot 200 Rendezvous Gardens, Christ Church was remanded to the Psychiatric Hospital until January 23 for observation after pleading guilty to having an apparatus in his possession for the misuse of the illegal drug. He told Magistrate Douglas Frederick that he uses cocaine as a “means to escape from reality”. The magistrate however pointed out that the drug had “landed you hard and right back to earth”. Pilgrim responded: “At one point in time I got that escape that I wanted. I am trying to stop.” His mother also addressed the court telling the magistrate that “I was struggling with him for the past three years. . . . I would like help for him.” According to the prosecutor police were on patrol along Golf Club Road, Christ Church when they saw Pilgrim crossing a nearby street while fidgeting and acting suspiciously. He was approached and a search was requested to which he consented. In his pocket was a hard, transparent plastic bottle with a hole at the top containing cocaine residue. (BT)

ASHBY REMANDED UNTIL JANUARY 30 – Accused Jamar Leon Ashby will make his next appearance before this island’s chief magistrate in another 28 days for allegedly stealing most of the contents from another man’s house. The Montrose, Christ Church resident is accused of entering the home of Luther Mayers between September 23 and October 1, 2017  and stealing over $24,000 in items including a $12,000 living room set worth, $2,900 in tables and a $1,000 television set. Ashby was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which allegedly took place in the District ‘B’ jurisdiction. He is also accused of stealing a $1,500 motorcycle belonging to Anthony Hoyte on December 18, 2018. Among the objections to bail raised by police prosecutor Constable Kevin Forde was that the accused he had a propensity to commit such offences. “I have nothing to say right now,” Ashby said when asked by District ‘A’ Magistrate Douglas Frederick whether he would like to make an application for bail. He was remanded and will make his next appearance before Chief Magistrate Christopher Birch on January 30. (BT)

‘INTOXICATED’ – After taking one look at Magistrate Douglas Frederick today, 55-year-old Richard Dacosta Jordan decided to plead guilty to a criminal charge in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court. “I came here and plead guilty because I don’t want to waste the court’s time. I see your face don’t look right. You don’t look pleased. I know you, you are usually a handsome fella but it look like you stressed out already for the year,” Jordan of no fixed place of abode told Frederick, causing those in court to erupt with laughter. The accused admitted to the charge that being a reputed thief he loitered at Capri Condominiums located in Christ Church on December 16 with intent to commit burglary. Prosecutor Police Constable Kevin Forde said a resident encountered Jordan near the pool area and asked him his reasons for being there. He reportedly replied that he was waiting for a guest who had gone upstairs. The apartment owner also confronted him but he fled the scene by climbing over a metal fence and onto Rockley Beach. He was confronted later that same day but again fled. However, video footage showed Jordan trying to open several doors near the pool area with no success. On his arrest he was shown pictures of his deeds taken from the footage and he admitted to the crime. However he gave the magistrate a different account today. “The complainant came to Worthing Police Station and I was on an identification parade. He did not pick me out he picked someone else,” Jordan said to which the magistrate then said that he could not accept the plea if that was the case. “Then sir I did it. I did it. I did it,  I don’t want to go to St Philip,” the accused said, declaring that he was “intoxicated” when he first entered the dock. Frederick replied: “I must vacate the plea and give you a chance . . . for sober reflection.” Jordan was remanded to Dodds and will return to the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on January 30 when he tells the magistrate whether he is guilty or not guilty of the crime. (BT)

HOLDER IS NUMBER TWO – West Indies captain Jason Holder has started the new year as the number two-ranked all-rounder in Tests and in the top 10 of the bowlers’ rankings. In the latest rankings announced Monday by the International Cricket Council, Holder has risen two places in the bowlers’ rankings to 10, placing him among the elite bowlers in the longest format. As a result of his progress, he also jumped two places in the all-rounders’ rankings, and is only now behind Bangladesh captain Shakib-al-Hasan. His rise comes despite missing the recent tour of Bangladesh through injury. Holder had an outstanding year with the ball, claiming 33 wickets from six Tests at an amazing average of 11.87 – the best by any bowler in a calendar year for the last hundred years. The 27-year-old seamer picked up 12 wickets during Sri Lanka’s three-Test tour of the Caribbean and followed up with 16 scalps in a two-Test home series against Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Seasoned all-rounder Deandra Dottin is the only West Indies player to make it into the ICC Teams-of-the-Year. The 27-year-old was named in the One-Day International squad but missed out on a spot in the Twenty20 International XI. Team selection was based on performances during the calendar year 2018 and Dottin managed to post only modest numbers, with 114 runs in five ODIs with one half-century, while bagging 11 wickets with her sharp medium pace. She also failed to really spark in the T20 format where she underwhelmed during the historic ICC stand-alone tournament last November in the Caribbean, gathering 121 in five innings. Dottin snatched a career-best five-wicket haul during the championship to end with 10 wickets. There was no place in the ODI squad for 20-year-old West Indies opener Hayley Matthews despite her maiden hundred against South Africa last September. She finished 2018 with 164 runs at an average of 32. And her captain Stafanie Taylor was also snubbed despite averaging 50 in ODIs this year and taking seven wickets with her off-spin. (BT)

FERDINAND ON THE MEND – Barbadian cricketer Jeshua Ferdinand is almost out of the woods as he battles a rare autoimmune disorder. Ferdinand fell ill while playing cricket in East Sussex, England in 2017. He only managed to play two games before he became ill and had to be hospitalized. He was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome which is a rare autoimmune disorder which is characterized by rapid onset of muscle weakness caused by the immune system damaging the body’s nervous syndrome. The twenty-five-year-old told Barbados TODAY that he was back home in Barbados and his recovery was going smoothly thus far. “It has been up and down. I am now back from England. Right now, it is all positive. It has been positive for the most so I cannot complain,” he said, adding that undergoing therapy with Jeffery Gay Jr. at Halos Health had resulted in vast improvement. “I came out of Queen Elizabeth Hospital and I was working with my personal trainer but unfortunately I had to stop and I started working so the times were really difficult. So, a guy I used to play cricket with does massages and at the time I needed a massage so I met [Jeffery] through him. I asked him about the gym that he had and I decided to take a leap and told him I wanted to work with him as a trial and this is two months that I was with him and it has been great improvement since then,” Ferdinand told Barbados TODAY. The former Lodge School student and passionate cricketer said that both his legs were affected by the autoimmune disease. However he now generally has mobility in his legs though with limitations in his ankles. “Both legs were affected but the right side of my body was affected more. But, right now I have full motion except for my ankles to my toes the movement is minimum. But from my waist down to my ankles,” he said, adding that his family was thankful that he was alive and well. “From the time I came home they were thankful even though I had to spend a couple weeks in the QEH. They were thankful for life. Now that I am walking that is a major thing that I have come so far,” Ferdinand said, adding that since being diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome he had a new appreciation for life and faith. “For sure [I appreciate life] and faith. You know God has brought me through a lot. You know a lot of people have been praying and it has been a major help as well. I am thankful for life. Because reading up on Gullian-Barre Syndrome it can be life-threatening and thankfully I did not reach that point. Although I was not able to walk and was bed-ridden for a while, the fact is that I am still alive and there is no need to be in an induced coma like a lot of people I read about. I am thankful for that,” Ferdinand said, adding that at the moment he was not in need of any financial assistance as his medical bill had been cleared. “Right now, no, I would not need the funds right now. I am past the worst. The hospital fees have been paid in full. It is just a matter of rehab and continuing therapy that need to be paid right now,” he said, adding that he hoped to return to England and continue his passion which was playing cricket. “That is my hope. I hope that I would be able to play cricket again. For sure I will be back in England,” Ferdinand said, noting he would like to thank everyone who has assisted him. (BT)

MAXIE TAYLOR PASSES ON – Musician Maxie Taylor has passed. Taylor, who was a drummer with the group Ivory, is said to have suffered a heart attack. He is the writer of two well-loved Barbadian songs Things Fall Apart and When You're Not Around, penned when he was still a teenager. More recently, Taylor showed a lighter side with his “Pastafarian" weather reports on Facebook. His tongue-in-cheek forecasts, delivered in full Bajan dialect, were done with a colander on his head. (DN)

For daily or breaking news reports follow us on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter & Facebook. That’s all for today folks. There are 362 days left in the year. Shalom! #thechasefilesdailynewscap #thechasefiles# dailynewscapsbythechasefiles

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 11/22/2018

Good MORNING #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Thursday 22nd November 2018. Remember you can read full articles for FREE via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS) OR by purchasing by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

TUDOR FIRED – Chief executive officer (CEO) of the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC), Shawn Tudor, has been given his walking papers. It is understood that Tudor, the brother of defeated Democratic Labour Party candidate Kim Tudor, was informed on Wednesday that his contract with the BADMC was terminated with immediate effect. His sacking comes mere weeks after Tudor expressed his shock to the media that more than a quarter of the workers at the corporation had been laid off. He also claimed his signature was attached to more than 60 letters of retrenchment for workers without his knowledge or say-so. In the termination letter dated November 20 and signed by board chairman and former Government minister Anthony Wood, a copy of which was obtained by the DAILY NATION, it charged that Tudor had committed four acts of “gross/major misconduct” in breach of the corporation’s policies and procedures manual. (DN)

RELIEF IN SIGHT – Vendors at Grantley Adams Memorial School breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday after learning that a resolution to the impasse between them and the school’s management was on the horizon. Alistair Alexander, president of the Barbados Association of Retailers, Vendors and Entrepreneurs (BARVEN), met with them at lunchtime and assured them the issue had been resolved. This after Prime Minister Mia Mottley told this newspaper on Tuesday there was a place at the school for both the canteen operator and the vendors, and that she would be asking Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw to intervene. “It has already been resolved. The Prime Minister has spoken on the matter,” Alexander said, pointing out that he had received communication from the Ministry of Education yesterday morning informing that he would be further contacted. “I am sure the details will soon be rolled out.” (DN)

BWU VETTING CBC LIST – The Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) will be examining the list of names on the chopping block at the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). During that time, any “challenges” which arise will be addressed before any cuts are made. General secretary Toni Moore told the media on Wednesday outside the Pine, St Michael offices of the state-owned corporation that they spent just over an hour meeting with board representatives. “Right now the union is in possession of that list and we are in discussion with the persons likely to be impacted to see whether there are any grey areas, before communicating to the company so that a final clean list can then be drawn up.” (DN)

THIRTY-THREE JOBS SAVED; RADIO STATION TO CLOSE –The state-run Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) is shutting down one of its three radio stations as the company prepares to retrench 78 workers from across all departments by the end of this month. Following talks today between management, staff and the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) at CBC’s Pine, St Michael studios, Special Adviser to the BWU Sir Roy Trotman told reporters that radio station 94.7 FM will be closed while announcing that 38 fewer employees will be retrenched than the original 116 proposed. Sir Roy also noted that an additional 17 workers had agreed to accept voluntary separation packages. He said that during negotiations with the corporation, the union accepted its position that the CBC is not currently a viable undertaking and it therefore needed to cut staff in order to facilitate growth. “We have thought to go along with the CBC in the hope that we could rebuild it and then move ahead on a sounder footing…and on that basis, we have managed to get down the involuntary separations which were intended to be 116, and those involuntary separations have gone down now to almost to late in the 70s. Some of that has been brought about because of voluntary retirements of course,” he said. Sir Roy, a retired general secretary of the BWU, told reporters that when the union met with the staff, they were advised to scrutinize the list of those going home to ensure it reflects the last-in first-out policy agreed to by both parties. He said the BWU also told the employees they must check the list for those with special skills and if they found hardship cases, both the union and CBC should be informed. “Because there are institutions which the Prime Minister has put in place to deal with those hardship cases to make sure that we don’t get destitute persons or destitute homes resulting from the programme that she has had to embark upon,” the veteran trade unionist stressed. Sir Roy said the union had been making staff aware that there will be temporary job opportunities being made available at the CBC as well as for contract arrangements and casual labour. “We are not putting that forward as viable alternatives, but we have been having to explain what the possibilities are for everybody,” he said, adding that lots of the workers are still worried about what their termination would mean for their families, their mortgages and the resulting pain. Sir Roy said the BWU has therefore offered to help the retrenched staff in any way it can to mitigate the losses taking place. The union adviser noted that every department will be affected by the retrenchments and he listed for example, the television department, 94.7FM radio, the production division and News and Current Affairs. He revealed that the other radio stations will be restructured. Sir Roy said even though the union had been able to get CBC to reduce the original number of retrenched employees, he was still not happy with the current level. “Still not as much as we should have liked because anybody who is leaving work at a time like this is in a position that brings some level of precariousness into that person’s household,” he lamented, adding that some workers have already gone home, while certain others have expressed a desire to leave tomorrow. He is of the view that those leaving should part ways in as smooth and hospitable a manner as possible and refrain from “burning any bridges”. (BT)

BWA STAFF GETTING INCREASES – The near-800 workers at the state-run Barbados Water Authority (BWA) will soon start receiving a five per cent increase in their wages and salaries. In making the announcement late last night following more than seven hours of talks with management at the BWA’s Pine, St Michael headquarters, General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union Senator Toni Moore also revealed that agreement had been reached on how outstanding merit increments would be paid out as well. “We’ve reached agreement on the five per cent increase being applied to staff of the water authority,” Senator Moore told reporters while flanked by special adviser and predecessor Sir Roy Trotman, president of the BWA’s union division Carl Boyce and other members of the workers’ delegation. Two weeks ago, when Sir Roy led the union’s team to negotiations with management in the absence of the General Secretary who was overseas, he reported progress on pay talks including performance increments which go back about ten years. “We are also looking at the matter of harmonization of scales and salary points where there have been variations over the period. There is also the question of application of the five per cent that the public service generally received with effect from April,” Sir Roy told Barbados TODAY back then. However, when she spoke with reporters last night, Senator Moore did not spell out the details of the wage and salary raise or when workers would start seeing it in their pay packets. In a separate statement issued two weeks ago, the BWA said the meeting with Sir Roy was cordial and covered a number of outstanding items, most of which arose out of an agreement settled between the last administration and the BWU in March 2016. “These included among other matters, staff compensation, the provision for retroactive pay in relation to back pay for the periods 2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 in relation to bargaining unit 1 and the period 2006/2007 through 2018/2019,” the statement said. The company said that in addition to discussions on those long outstanding matters, there was consensus on the five per cent salary increase retroactive to April 2018. “The meeting acknowledged that the BWA is not a contributor to the Severance Fund and therefore uniquely had to source funding for the in-cash payment of the severance.” the BWA’s press release confirmed. As far as the outstanding increments are concerned, the BWU leader said last night that agreement had also been reached, but she did not say when that payout would take place. “There was agreement reached two years ago on merit increments that were owed to staff. However, the implementation of those still had to be finalized especially at a time where the position of the management of the water authority has been that it cannot afford a payout of any large sum of money in cash,” said Senator Moore. “So we have been working through the rudiments of how the agreement would be met…and I think that it is pretty safe to say following our discussions, that we have a clear position on that,” she added. Turning her attention to the ongoing retrenchment of public officers as part of Government’s restructuring programme under the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) plan, the BWU boss said the union and the BWA now have to meet again to thoroughly discuss the layoff issue. “The context for the discussions has not been set, so determinations on numbers have not been made. What the Authority has signalled is that, like other state-owned enterprises, they would be looking first and foremost at the rudiments which have been established at the level of the Social Partnership. They have signalled an intention to look at voluntary separation,” she added. Senator Moore said the water works company has also pledged to honour the last-in first-out policy when the issue is raised during follow-up negotiations.  (BT)

EMPTY PROMISES’ – Psychiatric Hospital nurses say they are at wits’ end over pay issues which has not been settled despite assurances by Minister of Health and Wellness Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic. It was back in October at a church service held at Abundant Life to celebrate Mental Health Month that Lt. Col. Bostic assured the workers at the Psychiatric Hospital that they would receive overdue their wages by month-end. “Let me assure you that we have requested a list of all such persons throughout the entire health sector. This has reached me I have looked at it and I have forwarded it to the Ministry of Finance. “On Thursday, a copy of that list will be delivered to the Prime Minister and we intend to resolve those issues by month end,” Bostic then said, to loud applause from the congregation which included management and staff of the Psychiatric Hospital. Now in November, a nurse who said she was speaking on behalf of her hospital co-workers said that the situation was reaching  boiling point with some nurses ready to walk off the job. Speaking to Barbados TODAY on condition of anonymity, the nurse said that some nurses were frustrated that they have not received their salary in six months nor have they been appointed to permanent posts. “If you are not getting any salary for six months then you cannot come to work . . . . What we are tired of is not getting the salary and getting promises of appointments and right now the nurses cannot take it anymore. It is either [the Director of the Psychiatric Hospital David Leacock] goes or we go,” the nurse said. The nurse then levelled withering criticism on behalf of the nurses at the hospital administrator. “He is not managing the hospital properly and we cannot take it anymore. The Minister needs to rid the Psychiatric Hospital of the Hospital Director and get our salaries straight and give us our appointments or we are going to walk off the job,” the nurse, who claimed authority to speak on their behalf said. The nurse claimed that the situation was so dire at the Psychiatric Hospital that some members of staff were coming to work hungry with nothing to eat. “What you can do? There is nothing you can do. The nurses in the Psychiatric Hospital [are] suffering greatly,” said the nurse who claimed the pay issue had forced some nurses to leave for Bermuda. “It is not like we do not want to be here and work in Barbados but it is that we cannot take the management at the Psychiatric hospital no more.” Absenteeism is high because the workers are not being paid, the nurse told Barbados TODAY. Some of the nursing staff of the hospital reportedly had their children removed from day care for being unable to pay the fees, the source added. “We even had situations where the nurse’s children are being turned back from nurseries because you cannot pay the nursery and if you open your mouth and say something you are getting victimized by management. Management … [victimizes] you for asking questions.  Imagine going to your senior supervisor and saying to them, ‘I have not been paid in months; what am I going to do? Is there anything?’And you are being told, ‘I [have not] received my acting salary yet.’ It is really disrespectful,” the nurse said. The source also reported some colleagues have been forced to do additional jobs, in violation of civil service rules, so that they can make it to work and feed their children. “It is not fair that you are working in a Government job and you have to work an extra job to get money to go to a Government job. Because, even so, it is against the law,” the nurse told Barbados TODAY. Another vexing issue for the nurses is appointments, said the source, who noted that despite working at the hospital for years, some have not yet been appointed to permanent positions. “A lot of us have been in the hospital training for years. Every six or so months they are asking you to bring in qualifications for the hospital and a CV and the nurses are tired. The nurses have been acting in those positions for years, we should not have to go through this interview process,” the nurse told Barbados TODAY. The workers also claimed they were being unfairly handled by at least one senior nurse, who reportedly told nurses that they did not deserve to be appointed and that if she had her way none of the current staff would be appointed. A union official confirmed the nurse’s claims that some have not been paid in up to six months despite the assurance which was made back in October. When contacted, the Psychiatric Hospital’s director, David Leacock, told Barbados TODAY he could not speak to some of the concerns raised. He suggested that the nurses should report their concerns to the Ministry of Health. “I really cannot speak to any of the concerns that [have] been raised until I am made aware of them  other than  to say that appointments are not in our remit and we would wait until such time until the necessary things are done and I cannot speak to anything else on that matter,” he said. (BT)

RETRENCHED WORKERS COULD BENEFIT FROM TAX CUT, SAYS ECONOMIST – A well-known local economist is suggesting that Government’s decision to slash Corporation Tax by 80 to 90 per cent, could help the private sector absorb recently retrenched public workers. University of the West Indies lecturer and former president of the Barbados Economic Society (BES) Jeremy Stephen, contends that businesses now have the fiscal space to either raise salaries or hire more workers. “The hope would be that since the private sector has all of this [fiscal] space now, they could pick up the slack from the public sector, given that the Government has sent home all of these persons. You now have an 80 to 90 per cent reduction in tax rate. The unions definitely must now ensure that the private sector cannot argue that they don’t have the fiscal or profitability space to hire people or at least raise salaries,” Stephen told Barbados TODAY this afternoon. On Tuesday Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced the massive reduction in corporation tax from 25 per cent to a rate between 1 to 5.5 per cent. Mottley also made it clear that she wants businesses to share the benefits with Barbadians. The Prime Minister outlined that as of January 1, 2019 all corporate entities in Barbados would be taxed on a sliding scale. Businesses with taxable income of up to $1 million will pay 5.5 per cent. Corporations with taxable income up to $20 million will be charged a rate of 3 per cent while those that earn up to $30 million will pay 2.5 per cent. Those with taxable incomes of more than $30 million will pay 1 per cent.  Currently Barbados’ corporation tax ranges from five to 25 per cent. This afternoon Stephen noted that while some pundits may argue that Government was risking a major reduction in its tax revenue, it was in fact a well calculated gamble. He pointed out that Government only earned ten per cent of its tax revenue from the Corporation Tax and this shortfall could be made up and even surpassed should the tax base be increased as a result of the cuts. “The potential for widening the tax base is there because Barbados now seems attractive with its low tax jurisdiction and the fact that it is in line with the OECD requirements. Those rates that Government came up with will not result in a major loss in tax revenue. Even if it did, the losses will not be substantial enough to dampen tax revenue because Corporate Tax revenue is only 10 per cent of the total taxation. The biggest intake for Government is VAT and personal income tax,” he explained. The economist also revealed that he also expects a bump in this country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a result of the new tax regime. “Now that these firms have been brought onshore it means that GDP automatically should go up. As a matter of fact I could almost guarantee that GDP will rise simply because when you take the activity of these offshore companies and bring them onshore, their activity will be considered as part of our GDP,” he explained.  (BT)

MARINE INDUSTRY SET TO CASH IN ON TAX CUT, SAYS HUMPHREY – In just 24 hours of Prime Minister Mia Mottley announcing an 80 per cent reduction in Corporation Tax, there is already increased interest in building new businesses within the fishing and marine sector. This revelation came from Minister of Maritime Affairs and Blue Economy, Kirk Humphrey, who told Barbados TODAY that already people, who were previously deterred by Barbados’ tax regime, are now reconsidering the country as a destination for business ventures. “The Prime Minister described it in a way as being brought to this moment because we were signed onto it without even being ready for it, but the way the Government has responded is amazing and persons are seeing Barbados in a new light practically overnight,” said Humphrey, who gave an example of the new-found keenness to do business under Barbados’ new low tax regime. In an interview with Barbados TODAY on the sidelines of a Sargassum symposium at the 3Ws Oval, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, the Minister revealed “as soon as I finished speaking this morning, a young man came to me and said that they’re looking at creating a regional body for tackling the sargassum issue because the Government of Barbados has now lowered the taxes so much that while they were not looking at Barbados at all, overnight Barbados has become the place where they want to house that regional body.” Yesterday Mottley gave local businesses an early Christmas present, announcing a massive reduction in corporation tax from 25 per cent to between 1 to 5.5 per cent. The development means that local businesses will now be operating here on a level playing field with their international counterparts following Government’s decision to overhaul the tax regime to be compliant with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This morning, Humphrey predicted that the interest he has seen since the announcement will be widespread in the business sector in the coming months. “This is an example of what will happen, not only in the fishing industry but in all sectors. There are going to be people who want to come to Barbados because it is now a low tax jurisdiction and do their businesses,” he said. However the Minister warned that there was still significant work to be done to make Barbados the ideal destination for doing business including making it easier to set up and operate businesses. “It wasn’t only the tax rate, it was also the time it took to set up a business in Barbados. It took too long or it was just too bureaucratic and too cumbersome. Some people had ideas to work in Barbados and they left. So, yes, we’re going to lower the tax rate because it makes sense, but also we have to make it easier to do business in this country, he added. (BT)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE SPEAKS ON E. COLI LINKED TO ROMAINE LETTUCE – The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is aware of the outbreak of E. coli infections linked to romaine lettuce in the United States and Canada. As of November 20, 2018, there have been 32 confirmed cases of E. coli illnesses in the United States and 18 confirmed cases in Canada. The United States Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centre for Disease Control, are coordinating with the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, in investigating this outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in the United States and Canada. People infected with E. coli can have a wide range of symptoms appear within one to ten days after contact with the bacteria. These symptoms include: nausea, vomiting, headache, mild fever, severe stomach cramps and watery or bloody diarrhoea. Although some persons may not get sick at all, they can still spread the infection to others. Others may feel as though they have a bad case of upset stomach, and, in some cases, individuals may become seriously ill and must be hospitalised. Most symptoms end within five to ten days. There is no real treatment for E. coli infections, other than monitoring the illness, providing comfort, and preventing dehydration through proper hydration and nutrition. People who develop complications may need further treatment, like dialysis for kidney failure. You should contact your health care provider if symptoms persist. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is recommending that consumers avoid eating romaine lettuce and salad mixes containing romaine lettuce until more information on the source of the contamination and the status of the outbreak can be determined. (BGIS)

ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICE CLOSING FOR CLEANING – The public is advised that the office of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Investment, located on the 3rd Floor, Warrens Office Complex, Warrens, St Michael, will close at 2 p.m. on Thursday, November 22, and all day on Friday, November 23. The office will again be closed on Thursday, November 29, to facilitate industrial cleaning. Any inconvenience caused by these closures is regretted. (BGIS)

PROTECT US – The organization representing policyholders and investors of the collapsed Clico International Life Insurance Limited is asking the High Court to shield bonds set aside for its successor company from the Government’s bond restructuring process. The Barbados Investors and Policyholders Alliance (BIPA) is asking the High Court to prevent any possibility of the Government altering the terms of the bond which had been set aside for its successor company – New Life Insurance Company (NLICO). BIPA president June Fowler said when her organization and the Clico judicial managers appeared in court this afternoon, the matter was adjourned for two weeks so BIPA officials can get documents from the lwayers of the judicial managers that were pertinent to the case. “The judge also wants to have other parties present . . . so he gave us two weeks to December 7 when we should have everything in place,” Fowler told Barbados TODAY. “The NLICO bond that was set aside to pay the EFPA [Executive Flexible Premium Annuity] policyholders, we are seeking to determine that that bond should not be included in the BERT [Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation] programme. It should be separate from the other bonds that the Government is restructuring. So we are challenging that,” she explained. Under the BERT plan the Mia Mottley Administration has embarked on a debt restructuring programme in which it exchanged the old bonds of pensioners for new instruments, but with more unfavourable conditions. But the move which saw bond maturity payouts stretching to 15 years and interest payments significantly slashed, sparked an outcry by pensioners and their organization – the Barbados Association of Retired Persons (BARP). This caused Government to intervene after most of the bondholders had signed up to bring relief to the affected pensioners. Just last week, Government made good on its promise under the domestic debt restructuring programme and pensioners 60 years and over were to have started receiving a cash payment of up to $20,000 since Monday. This disclosure came from Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Ryan Straughn, who said Government had amended the repayment terms for those individuals 60 years and above in receipt of pension benefits as of September 1, 2018. Straughn explained that the new terms for pensioners would bring relief and would be a cash payment of up to $20,000, and a cash payment of up to $30,000 would be made in March 2019. (BT)

CHILDREN HURT IN ACCIDENT – Two young children are nursing injuries after being struck by a truck on their way home from school. According to reports, around 3:27 P.M., two students of the Hilda Skeene Primary School ages nine and five were walking home along Union Road, St Phillip from the direction of Duncan Road. Acting Police Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Michael Blackman could not give an update on the condition of the children. However, the blood-spattered road, broken glass and vehicle damage gave some insight into the incident. Sergeant Blackman said a group of dogs in the area, appear to have contributed to the accident. “On reaching a residence in the area which has three large dogs, the dogs started to bark and the students ran across the road, crossing traffic. A truck travelling along the same road struck both students causing head and other body injuries.” The children were transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Police has asked that anyone with information about the accident should contact the nearest station. (BT)

GUNMAN PLEADS GUILTY – St James resident Amandeo Kephar Henderson Yearwood today pleaded guilty in the High Court to gun, ammunition and wounding charges. Yearwood, of No. 5 St Catherine Close, Haynesville admitted before Madam Justice Pamela Beckles to using a firearm without a valid licence on May 3, 2014 as well as unlawfully and maliciously wounding Damien Reece on the same day. He also entered a guilty plea to possession of a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and possession of 17 rounds of ammunition on May 4, 2014. In accepting Yearwood’s plea, Senior Crown Counsel Krystal Delaney went on to outline the facts in the No 5 Supreme Court. The prosecutor revealed that on the first mentioned date Reece was at a shop at Halls Village, St James with other persons when a car drove up with three people who got out and started to shoot. People on the scene reported hearing between ten and 15 gunshots. Reece she revealed recognized “Kephar” as one of the shooters and so too did eyewitnesses who noted the vehicle’s licence plate. Reece fled the scene when he heard the shooting and only later realized that he had been injured in the hand. He was taken to hospital where he was treated for a gunshot injury to the upper left arm. A warrant was executed at Yearwood’s residence, which he shared with other family members the following day. The illegal gun was found in a laundry basket, containing a magazine and 15 rounds of ammunition. Lawmen then asked him to hand over the clothes that he was wearing the day before and contained in his jeans were another two rounds of ammunition. Yearwood who was 26 years old at the time was detained and under caution, police asked him about the gun and he replied: “That is the gun you find at my house this morning.” Justice Beckles ordered a pre-sentencing report into Yearwood’s life and adjourned the case to January 16, 2019 for the sentencing phase after the prosecutor also gave details of Yearwood’s statement to police on his arrest.  (BT)

SHOOTER’S CONFESSION – The sentencing phase of a wounding case against a St Michael man will continue in the No.5 Supreme Court on January 16, 2019. This after Madam Justice Pamela Beckles ordered a pre-sentencing report into the life of Fabian Nathaniel Bourne of Brown’s Land, Black Rock, after he pleaded guilty today to unlawfully wounding Corey Francis with intent to do him serious bodily harm or to maim, disfigure or disable him on September 13, 2012. Senior Crown Counsel Krystal Delaney in reading the facts revealed that Francis was playing a game of dominoes near a shop at Alkins Land, Black Rock with his friends on either September 9 or 10 when Bourne approached selling fish. Francis informed him that no one was interested in getting the fish, as it was too expensive which enraged him and resulted in him spewing expletives at Francis. Three days later – on September 13 – the men were again at a game of dominoes at the same spot when Francis looked up and saw Bourne coming towards the group on a bicycle. He threw the bike on the ground and stood about ten feet away, held out a gun and fired in Francis’ direction causing him to flee. Francis was later transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment after he realized that he had been injured in the back. Bourne, who was 23 years old at the time of the offence, was later taken into police custody and informed of the report made Francis. “Yes I shoot he because he beat me and unfair me a couple of days before,” Bourne told lawmen when questioned. He further stated: “I pelt it [the gun] in de sea down by the Flour Mill. I get it [the gun] from a man name Eric house when I used to live wid he . . . but he dead now.” Bourne also gave police a statement detailing what took place on that day six years ago. He detailed some of the facts given by the prosecutor but added that on a night in 2012 Francis who he referred to as “sister” pushed him out the shop after telling him that the fish was too expensive. They then had an exchange of words. “I put my hand in my bag to get money to buy a drink and sister run round de shop and come back wid a piece of wood and hit me on my back,” Delaney read. The accused statement revealed that as a result one of the bags of fish burst and his catch fell to the ground. Bourne said he rode home after and contemplated whether to make a report to police or handle the situation himself. “I tell myself ‘do he something’. So I went in Eric bedroom and tek up he 22 gun and wrap it in a scarf and had it in my right hand,” the statement read. Bourne went on to detail that he rode back to the bar where the men were still playing dominoes. “De men start running [and] sister run down de side of de shop. I walk de side sister was running, see he . . . point de gun at he and pull de trigger and a shot fire off. “I tek up my bicycle, went home, change my clothes, ride down by my mother, went down by the Flour Mill and pelt the gun in the sea,” the statement read. (BT)

LEGENDS: WINDIES WOMEN FOR TITLE –Two of the greatest players in the game’s history have thrown their full support behind West Indies Women, in their bid to win the ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup on home soil. Sir Viv Richards, who is listed among the top cricketers of all time and Clive Lloyd, regarded worldwide as one of the best captains of all time, have given their backing to Stafanie Taylor’s team as they go in search of their second global title. “Congrats to captain and members of the team for reaching the semis and wishing them all the best in pursuit of a second consecutive World T20 title. So far, they have shown great skill and professionalism. Even when they were in tight situations they fought well and battled back,” said Lloyd, who oversaw West Indies’ capture of the 1975 and 1978 50-overs World Cup in England. “We have seen grit and determination to be the number one team in the world. They’re unbeaten (in this tournament) at the moment, and to win the title they will have to play unbeaten throughout . . . that would be a remarkable feat.”  (DN)

GLORY BECKONS – West Indies Women and Australia face off in tomorrow’s semifinal of the ICC World Twenty20 Tournament with victory the only option for both. It makes for a tantalizing encounter. West Indies Women have played unbeaten in the tournament, and have been imbued with the spirit and support of thousands of West Indian fans who have flocked to their games in unprecedented numbers in Guyana and St Lucia. More of the same is anticipated when they take to the field tomorrow afternoon in Antigua. Through its sudden flaring up at the back end of the group stage, the Women’s World T20 is now certifiably a blockbuster. Tomorrow’s semifinal is a straight rematch of the 2016 final. Back then, Australia were the team coming into the final without any losses in the tournament. Tomorrow, West Indies will be that team, but barely. England gave them a scare and questions about their middle order that they’ll be grateful to have had time to think about. While it wasn’t as resounding as Australia’s 48-runs thrashing at the hands of India on Saturday, it was the wake-up call they needed. Australia will be the better-rested team, heading into this fixture with six days of no cricket and time to re-energise in Guyana, which has been far more pleasant over the course of the tournament than rain-hit St. Lucia, where West Indies played all their games. They had some issues with their top and middle order against India, but will know their strength lies in the pace duo of Ellyse Perry and Megan Schutt. Perry is three away from 100 wickets in T20Is, and 52 away from 1,000 runs. There are many ways to view this contest, and in most of them, the best-case scenario for Australia depends on this question: how quickly can they dismiss West Indies’ engine room that is Hayley Matthews, Deandra Dottin, and Stafanie Taylor at the top of West Indies’ batting? These three fired together only once during the group stages against Sri Lanka and it resulted in their biggest score of the tournament of 187. Kycia Knight has also shown form during the tournament providing a number of important runs at critical stages. Taylor is West Indies’ most prolific batter, but she’s not had a great year with the bat. The captain and No. 3 has one fifty in 12 innings in 2018, and has largely been a bowling all-rounder in this tournament based on her numbers. She has two ducks in four innings so far, and if West Indies ever needed her to step up, now is the time. They felt severe tremors when Matthews and Taylor fell in the space of three balls against England, and she’ll be keen to not only prevent that from happening but to join the openers among the runs. West Indies have been rescued from shaky situations by their bowlers, spearheaded by Dottin, and some spectacular ground fielding and catching. If they can add a consistent batting performance tomorrow to these efforts they could bring broad smiles to the anticipated crowd of over 11 000 at the grounds and thousands watching from their televisions across the region. West Indies have made a change only once in this tournament, and that was right at the start against Bangladesh when they brought in Anisa Mohammed for Chinelle Henry. They don’t have injury worries and should field the same team as the England game. Australia’s batting has centered around Alyssa Healy. She was Player of the Match in the first three matches and could have made a big difference at least to the start of Australia’s chase against India if she hadn’t suffered a concussion. The word from Australia’s camp is that she has been training during the break, which is an encouraging sign. Healy has recently emerged as one of Australia’s most consistent batters, and has got them off to quick starts routinely over the last two months or so. Should she be back to full fitness, Australia’s batting will hinge on whether she can keep her epic run of form going when the stakes are raised even higher. Healy was in the nets in the lead-up to the game and should walk back into the team. They could also bring Georgia Wareham back in place of Tayla Vlaeminck, who made her debut against India. The venue at North Sound hasn’t hosted a T20I in five years, but results in other formats suggest it will not be an easy pitch on which to make runs. India failed to chase 190 in a 50-over match last year, and Bangladesh lost a Test by an innings and 219 runs earlier this year. Teams:West Indies women (possible XI): 1 Hayley Matthews 2 Deandra Dottin 3 Stafanie Taylor (capt) 4 Shemaine Campbelle 5 Natasha McLean 6 Britney Cooper 7 Kycia Knight (wk) 8 Chinelle Henry 9 Afy Fletcher 10 Shakera Selman 11 Shamilia Connell Australia women: (possible XI): 1 Beth Mooney 2 Alyssa Healy (wk) 3 Meg Lanning (capt) 4 Ashleigh Gardner 5 Elyse Villani 6 Rachael Haynes 7 Ellyse Perry 8 Sophie Molineux 9 Delissa Kimmince 10 Georgia Wareham 11 Megan Schutt (BT)

KOLIJ SWEEP AGAIN – No Danielle Titus, no problem! Harrison College dominated the pool yet again, even without the country’s best backstroker, having swept the girls’ and boys’ titles of the Secondary Schools’ Swimming Championships for a seventh successive year on Wednesday at the Aquatic Centre. It was as if Titus never transferred to St Michael, as Kolij were still more than 100 points better than their crosstown rivals to cop a seventh straight girls’ crown. Yet Harrison College were made to work for their eighth boys’ cup after long-time adversaries Queen’s College presented a real challenge in the 13-14 division behind Christopher Pollard, Niel Skinner and Kai Trotman. But CARIFTA multi-gold medallists Nkosi Dunwoody and McCallum Clarke proved to be too much as the Kolij lasses amassed 284 points to QC’s 210.  (DN)

SENATORS TO BISHOP-DESIGNATE: STAY WITH US -  Newly named as Anglican Bishop of Barbados, Reverend Michael Maxwell has been urged not to resign from his position as an Independent Senator. The call came from several of his colleagues in the Upper House today, including President of the Senate Sir Richard Cheltenham and Opposition Senator Caswell Franklyn, as they congratulated him on his elevation to the head of the former state church. Maxwell had signalled his intention to discuss his position with Governor General Dame Sandra Mason before making a decision on his future in the Upper Chamber. The 47-year-old Rector of Holy Trinity Church was chosen by the House of Bishops in the Church of the Province of the West Indies last Friday to head the island’s largest religious denomination. This follows months of deadlock as the Anglican Synod could not choose one of two contenders. But, while praising his achievement during the first sitting of Senate since his appointment, Sir Richard told Maxwell he believed he would better serve his country while continuing as a Senator. He said that although Maxwell was coming into his religious office at a challenging time, his role as a Senator would allow him to address critical issues at a national level. “He comes into office at a time when the country is facing many crises, including the financial and economic ones of which we are all aware of. Of greater importance in my view is the crisis of values which we are experiencing. “Bishop, you have an opportunity to fill a gap; the voice of the church, and provide a message that is uplifting, inspiring and relevant. I hear that you are considering whether or not to resign from the Senate and I urge you not to do so, for this is one of the many platforms that you have for delivering the church’s message,” Sir Richard said. “We value and enjoy your company and so do not lightly decide to leave us.” In his brief congratulatory message, Senator Franklyn also encouraged Senator Maxwell to stay on. “We are fully constituted as the Lord Temporal and the Lord Spiritual. We now have the spiritual aspect… and I pray that the good Senator would see it fit to stay among us, because although I only met him six months ago, I have been impressed by him so far and I would like to continue to be impressed by him,” Franklyn said. “I don’t want to put too much pressure on him, but I hope that he stays among us for the duration.” In thanking his colleagues, Senator Maxwell said he would need more time before making a decision “At this stage I cannot tell you yet. I know that you are praying that it is possible so I can stay on, but I am going to need a little bit more time to think about it, but I will be willing and ready and if God desires me to continue I will indeed continue to serve. “It has been a pleasure serving you thus far,” Maxwell said. He said while he never imagined he would have become a Senator, he believed God put him in that position to prepare him for his role as an Anglican Bishop. “Becoming a Senator was nothing I dreamt of and nothing I aspired to be in this island of ours. Not that I wouldn’t want to serve our nation of course, but to this high level I never expected that such a calling would come my way. “But it is pretty much unfolding now as to why I would have been called by Her Excellency to serve in this capacity, because maybe God was preparing me for yet another step to be taken in my life and so even though I might not have understood it then, I am believing that the picture is now becoming a little more clearer for me, recognizing that the Bishop has to be in touch at the national level with what is going on, especially as it relates to offering guidance and responding to certain issues affecting our people,” he declared. (BT)

DEYAL NEWEST RHODES SCHOLAR – Zubin Deyal is the latest Commonwealth Caribbean Rhodes Scholar. The 20-year-old University of the West Indies graduate says his focus is on improving the economies of Caribbean countries after he completes his dual masters in economics and development, and financial economics. The announcement was made by Governor General Dame Sandra Mason, who is also chairman of the Commonwealth Rhodes selection committee, yesterday at Government House. While hailing from Trinidad and Tobago, Deyal was born to a Trinidadian father – NATION columnist Tony Deyal – and a Guyanese mother in Barbados. He spent one year here before moving to other Caribbean countries such as Belize and Antigua and Barbuda, before returning to Barbados for school. Deyal said these experiences gave him a greater understanding and appreciation of Caribbean cultures. “In the future, I hope to work on developing the capital markets of the Caribbean,” he said. “So that we may actually have well-functioning economies that encourage growth within our countries and our region.” Corporate secretary of the Commonwealth Caribbean Rhodes Trust, Peter Goldson, said this year’s ten candidates came from Trinidad and Tobago, The Bahamas, Barbados and Jamaica. (DN)

“O HOLY NIGHT” – The 23rd annual Carols by Candlelight which comes off December 9, promises to be an enchanting show which should get all patrons in the Christmas spirit. The assertion came from Chief Executive Officer of First Citizens Bank Carole Eleuthere-JnMarie who said the annual event has become a staple on Barbados’ Christmas calendar. “The Rotary Club Carols by Candlelight event has very nicely embedded itself into the Bajan Christmas calendar of must-see events. Quite frankly, it is my opinion that this event is becoming a true Bajan Christmas tradition uniting thousands of people in celebration of good cheer as the event emphasizes the magical feeling that only Christmas can convey,” Eleuthere-JnMarie said, adding that the lighting of candles at the event symbolizes the theme of peace, generosity, and kindness. President of the Rotary Club of Barbados Shawn Franklin said all monies collected from the event will be disbursed into the community through the many programmes that the Rotary Club supports during the Yuletide season. “You could rest assured that every single cent from the event goes back to the community and it is money well spent for sure,” he said, adding that Carols by Candlelight is one of the biggest events for the Christmas season. President-elect of the Rotary Club of Barbados Peter Williams said that given the harsh economic climate of Barbados the organizing committee decided to lower the ticket price from $40 to $35 BBD – which allows one adult and two children. Meanwhile, Past President of the Rotary Club of Barbados Norman Barrow said the performers were making contributions as well. “All the [performers] who give their services [to Carols by Candlelight] do it for free and do not charge us anything to do so,” Barrow said. This year, Carols by Candlelight which will be held on December 9, 2018 at Ilaro Court shall have performances from Poonka and the Ruk a Tuk International Band, Dance Group Ascending Stars, Ki’ann Browne, Dance Group- Powerhouse Studio, Mr Dale, Kite, Trinity and Kareen Clarke, John Yarde, Natahlie Burke, Natahlie and Tamara Marshall, Blood and the Darryll Jordan School Steel Orchestra. The event is sponsored by First Citizens International Bank which has been sponsoring the event for the past four years. (BT)

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 11/8/2018

Good MORNING #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Thursday 8th November 2018. Remember you can read full articles for FREE via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS) OR by purchasing by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

SHADOW CABINET – During its five-year tenure, the incumbent Government of Barbados led by the island’s first female Prime Minister Mia Mottley, will be closely monitored by citizen organization, The Shadow Cabinet. The recently formed group which is led by youth and community activist Corey Lane, also includes social development and community activist Kemar Saffrey, community worker Melissa Savoury, social commentator and the first youth Prime Minister of Barbados’ Youth Parliament Jason Carmichael and leadership specialist and missionary Imran Richards. The organization was established because of the changed political landscape following the May 24 election, with the Barbados Labour Party recording a landslide victory and securing all 30 seats. For the first time in the island’s history, there was no Opposition. The frontbench position normally left to the Opposition has been assumed by Lane and his team of young independent thinkers who seek to not only scrutinize the policies and actions of Government but also provide sound alternatives and educate the masses as well. Interim chairman of the Shadow Cabinet, Corey Lane told Barbados TODAY that the body sought to use social media and traditional forms of media to reach the public. They will also be employing the use of an app, Cit View, where Barbadians can receive real time information on policies passed in Parliament and ask questions. Lane said the organization had no political preferences and would not serve to act as a mouth piece for Government or other political institutions. “I have fundamental problems with adversarial politics because at every step of the development of a small nation like Barbados you have 50 per cent of itself fighting against itself. A nation against itself cannot stand which is why we are saying let us have some intellectuals, let us have some independents, let us have some voices both young and old analyzing what is happening,” said the interim chairman. However, as the island embarks on the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) Plan, there has been much debate about its last in first out approach. “Simultaneously with modernizing Government, you are using the last in first out which mainly displaces young people. So you are going to modernize the Government system with the older people in the system. Obviously that cannot be the best way going forward. “I believe that a good mix of experience and youthful creativity and exuberance could augur well for the Barbadian economy and society,” Lane said. The community activist also commended the Mottley administration for its quick response and carefully thought out policies during their 164 days in Government but said the ball was dropped in its delivery. “Where my disappointment comes is really in the implementation, the nuts and bolts of the engine room. I think that is where they are falling down,” Lane said. Lane also expressed concern over the lack of youth engagement and conversation on the country’s changes and the public’s reluctance to educate themselves on the country’s economic future. “A lot of people listen to rumor and heresy so that is why this body needs to come, do the reading, do the research and do the unbiased analysis as much as possible,” he said. The Shadow Cabinet will be made up initially of ten members and will seek to have a full slate of 21 Shadow Ministers by January 2019.  (BT)

‘IN POOR TASTE’ – LASHLEY ON ‘SICK MP’ COMMENT – Former St Michael South East MP Hamilton Lashley has described as being in “poor taste” a call by Democratic Labour Party (DLP) General Secretary Guyson Mayers to gear up supporters for a possible by-election because of a sitting MP’s illness. The comments were an apparent reference to his successor as MP Santia Bradshaw, who has gone public with her fight against breast cancer. “I would not be part of any talk of a by-election as a result of [anyone’s] health because I want them to get better and that would mean that the individual would continue to fulfil their role. Right now at this moment any talk of by-election is out of synchronization with reality and in poor taste. I believe all parties should be wishing the [sick person] well,” said Lashley. It was during a meeting of the DLP’s three St. Philip constituency branches last month that Mayers told  the party faithful: “We do not have five years put down; we have a Member of Parliament who is very ill, and no one knows if or when there will be a by-election in that constituency, and we hear there are rumblings in the party with one of your (St. Philip) candidates whose head is on the cutting board, so we have to be in a state of readiness in case things fall apart, as they sometimes do.” The DLP General Secretary did not state the constituency or the name of Members of Parliament to whom he was referring. But Lashley told Barbados TODAY that while he is not clear to whom his former party colleague was referring to, such talk could be seen as insensitive to anyone fitting the bill, which may include Bradshaw. Back in August during a meeting with her constituents in the presence of Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Bradshaw announced that she had been recently diagnosed with the early stages of breast cancer. “I come to you tonight in the spirit of openness… a few weeks ago I discovered a lump in my breast… the good news is that it is treatable because they have found it early,” she said at the time. On Tuesday, Bradshaw returned to Parliament for the first time since beginning treatment for illness. She received a rousing welcome from her colleagues in the Lower House. Lashley extended best wishes to his successor and implored all political parties to do the same. “First of all, I want to wish Bradshaw a very speedy recovery and believe everyone across the political divide should wish well. We cannot let politics get in the way of how we treat one another and how we behave to each other as human beings,” Lashley stressed. (BT)

CANCER MEDS DELAY – SOME CANCER PATIENTS in Barbados are having difficulty sourcing vital chemotherapy drugs. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) says there is no shortage, but there are problems with equipment which mixes the drugs and a temporary solution has been put in place. Reports reaching the DAILY NATION indicated the hospital had run short of the required medication, with some people turning to Trinidad to source them. Management at local pharmacy Collins declined to comment, while president of the Barbados Cancer Society, Dr Dorothy Cooke-Johnson, said they were offering assistance. “We are aware the QEH is having difficulty with the medication so we have been providing some for a few patients, those we already have been assisting in some way. I do not know why this is happening as I have not enquired, but I hope it can be rectified soon. It’s too difficult a situation for a country to cope with, not to have chemotherapy drugs,” she said. Hospital chairman Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland sought to allay any fears, saying the hospital was not short of drugs as this would be catastrophic. (DN)

20 YEARS TO FIX HOUSING MESS – Minister of Housing, Lands and Rural Development George Payne fears it will take 20 years to fix the housing “mess” he said was left by the last Government. Payne said the National Housing Corporation (NHC) was grappling with millions of dollars in losses at housing projects across the island. The St Andrew MP also told the House of Assembly yesterday that while the authorities could “point fingers at individuals” regarding some unspecified financial matters in housing, “we just do not have the evidence to go further and it is a loss that we will have to accept”. He noted there was an NHC waiting list for Barbadians seeking housing, but the country’s housing stock was “depleted”. Payne did not foresee this problem being solved within the next five to ten years. The minister was wrapping up debate on a resolution to vest Crown lands at Chancery Lane, Christ Church, in the National Housing Corporation. The resolution was passed. “We have a situation now where in the present economic situation, notwithstanding how we might feel in terms of the Government being responsible for housing everybody, it is more or less an impossible task,” he said. “What we have seen in the past ten years is a number of structures. You may call it a so-called housing programme by the Democratic Labour Party. Some of us have been critical of the National Housing Corporation but obviously even the National Housing Corporation has been sabotaged by the last Government.” He said the NHC lost $4 million on the first phase of houses built at Lancaster, St James, and a $1 million loss on the second stage. This was in addition to about $500 000 lost on the housing project in Parish Land, St Philip. “As I speak, Constant [St George housing project] has just been completed and . . . the average cost per house is something like $270 000 and the houses were sold at $100 000,” he added. The attorney also referred to “a situation during the past ten years where contractors were assigned to various developments [and] the National Housing Corporation was not at all involved. “I am not saying that the minister was the person who personally selected those contractors, but you have situations where the contractors were selected, the ministry had no knowledge with respect to the selection of the contractors, none of the contracts went out to tender, the National Housing Corporation at the level of the chairman and the management of the National Housing Corporation did not know about the contractors,” he told the Lower House. The NHC’s challenge also included people not paying rents owed, and the minister said there were situations at the NHC “where tenants were specifically told not to pay rents, and rents have accumulated to the tune of $59 000”. In such circumstances, said Payne, “it is difficult for us to figure what we will do with respect to those persons who have applied to National Housing Corporation for housing because . . . the housing stock has been depleted.  (DN)

BAD PATH TO TAKE – Every effort must be made to ensure some public transportation remains in Government’s hand, and not allow the private sector to control it all. That was the call from the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) yesterday, as it gears up for a meeting with Transport Board workers on Sunday to discuss the organisation’s future. “We have been meeting with the Transport Board and it has put forward an idea of the vision, which the ministry and the chairman of the board together have for the future of transport,” Sir Roy Trotman, consultant to the BWU general secretary, said during a Press conference at Solidarity House. “And my concern is that we have to guard transport systems. If there are three important things in which a Government in office has to treat as a first social obligation [they] are medical care, education and transportation. (DN)

NEW ROUTE – Route taxi and minibus owners have delivered a fresh wish list – including a long-standing call for a bus fare increase – to Prime Minister Mia Mottley, the bus owners’ spokesman said today.  “That [bus fare hike request] is still very much on the table,” Mark Haynes, the AOPT public relations officer told Barbados TODAY.  The president of the Association of Public Transport Operators (APTO), Morris Lee, said the proposals followed the Prime Minister’s instructions to the body.  Industry stakeholders, including chairman of the Transport Authority Ian Estwick and Director Alex Linton met recently at Parliament Buildings to discuss progress on the proposals. But officials have continued to decline spelling out their details. “[The meeting] was just an update on what the Prime Minister has asked us to do, that we have done and sent back to her. We are waiting to hear what the Prime Minister’s response is going to be,” Lee told Barbados TODAY. “The Prime Minister told us to prepare a proposal that speaks to improvements in the sector. We did that. She further had instructed that when it was done, to pass it onto the Minister of Transport and have further discussions with him, which we have completed. And she indicated that after those discussions were completed that the Minister of Transport would report back to her,” he said.  The APTO president said that after this process was concluded, the Prime Minister would then summon another meeting to discuss the state of the transport industry.  “We have done what we were supposed to do in terms of compliance and therefore we are awaiting a response to the compliance that we have essentially participated in,” he added. Back in late August, one of the groupings of PSV owners insisted it still wanted a fare rise following talks with Prime Minister Mottley and Minister of Transport, Works and Maintenance, Dr William Duguid. Amid reports of a likely increase in fares from two to three dollars, the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) has said it would continue to demand an increase for ZRs and minibuses until an agreement was reached with Government.  “The cost of the fuel tax [which took effect on July 1] has really placed a burden on the sector. We have that still on the table and we are in talks with the Government on an increase. We have been asked to submit proposals and we acceded to Government’s request,” Haynes stressed. The PSV owners have also complained that the new fuel tax of 40 cents per litre on diesel and gasoline, and five cents per litre on kerosene, was having a devastating impact on their businesses with spending for route taxis increasing to $6,741 from $2,250, while minibus operators are paying out $10,861, up from $3,625. Following the July 10 talks with the Government, Lee had said the owners were optimistic that their cries would be heard.  “We had a very productive meeting. Essentially the Government recognizes the significance of transport to Barbados and the contribution it has made over the years. We have agreed to come together on this because we understand that it would take more than one meeting. We have been given a blank sheet on which to draw on in terms of what we want to bring to reality,” Lee said then. The operators have also been seeking duty-free concessions on new vehicles. Despite calling for a bus fare hike, Lee expressed confidence that a solution could be arrived at that did not increase the burden to commuters or put additional drain on the public purse. (BT)

ROAD CHECKS VITAL – If Barbados undertook proper inspections of its major roads and highways it would save the country some valuable money when it came to road repairs. So says consultant engineer to Government, Grenville Phillips II, who is responsible for overseeing the Ministry of Transport, Works and Maintenance’s ongoing roadworks on the ABC Highway. He was speaking to the DAILY NATION Tuesday night as crews from C.O. Williams Construction were digging up asphalt on the section from West Road to the streetlights at the top of Hinds Hill, St Michael, in preparation for repaving. During the process, they discovered a number of deep cracks that had penetrated the underlying surface. Phillips said a continuous road inspection programme would also cut down on the time it took to fix them. (DN)

CONCESSIONS LEAKING REVENUE? – A top official of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has suggested that Barbados and other Caribbean islands review the tax incentives they currently grant individuals and businesses. Deputy Division Chief in the Caribbean Division 1 of the IMF’s Western Hemisphere Department Dr Arnold McIntyre, expressed concern that regional governments could be losing millions of dollars in revenue from these concessions. This, he said, was not healthy given that the region was struggling economically. “When we look at what is underpinning these large deficits and we look at the revenue side, we have pervasive tax incentives,” McIntyre told the 33rd Adlith Brown Memorial Lecture at the Grande Salle of the Central Bank of Barbados on Tuesday night. He said IMF estimates suggested that legislative and discretionary tax incentives being granted by some Eastern Caribbean states were leading to revenue losses of between four and nine per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). “We have significantly undermined our revenue base. In many ways, the granting of tax incentives has been seen as a single panacea to overcome the widespread distortions and inefficiencies in the countries. That is, we have provided a solution but we haven’t tackled the problem,” he said. Pointing to Mauritius, McIntyre said that country’s parliament had decided some time ago to remove the ability to grant tax incentives from the authority of the minister, adding that “there is a lesson there” for the region. He said Caribbean economies also had weak expenditure controls, pointing out that there was especially “significant” fiscal risk in relation to state-owned enterprises. He explained that in the region central government finances amounted to about 8 per cent of GDP, compared to the five per cent of GDP in emerging markets. However, the economist said when government expenditure extended beyond central government to include the non-financial public sector, that wage bill could reach up to 20 per cent of GDP. “We have built up a very large state and what has happened, it has become costly and we don’t have the growth rates and associated revenue streams to maintain it,” he said.   (BT)

JOB SEARCH – Scores of displaced Government workers have been interviewed by recruiters from Ross University, which is set to start operation in Barbados from January next year. The interviews were held at the Warrens Office Complex, between 9 am and 4 pm. on Wednesday. Many of those interviewed had submitted their application letter and resumes online. There were also those who received word the interviews were taking place and turned up at the location, with their qualifications, asking for a chance to be interviewed. “Ross put out their vacancies and anybody can apply to those vacancies. Given the fact that we had persons displaced, she [the Prime Minister] had made the arrangement with Ross to interview Government workers and give them an opportunity to get their foot in the door,” Acting Director of the Barbados Employment and Career Counseling Service, Yvette Walcott-Dennis, told a Barbados TODAY team. The Acting Director said she was happy displaced workers were given a chance to be employed once again. She said her department was happy to be able to facilitate the process. “I think the interviews are going very well. Initially they had said they would interview about 75 persons, but today we had around 90 workers that we entered to be interviewed, and some persons still turned up anyways because they would have heard from a friend or something, and we asked that they be accommodated. “But, understandably, we know that we cannot accommodate everybody. The whole process though is a Ross initiative, they are filling their vacancies, we are just coordinating this end to assist the displaced public workers,” Walcott-Dennis said.  (BT)

CHILD CARE BOARD HEADQUARTERS TO CLOSE EARLY TODAY – The Child Care Board has advised that its headquarters, located at Cheapside, Bridgetown, will close at 12:30 p.m. today, Thursday, November 8. This closure is to facilitate attendance at a funeral for a former employee. Director of the Child Care Board, Joan Crawford, has advised that this closure will only be applicable to its headquarters and all other departments will remain open. (BGIS)

FRAUD OF NIS CHECKS – The National Insurance Department is reminding businesses that before they disburse cash for National Insurance Scheme (NIS) cheques, they should enforce strict procedures to verify the validity of cheques and the identity of the recipients of the funds. The department issued this reminder today, and indicated that it had received reports of fraudulent activity involving pension cheques. “Businesses are cautioned that banks, credit unions and post offices are the authorised institutions for the encashment of National Insurance cheques, therefore honouring such cheques would be at your own risk,” the department warned. (BGIS)

CCJ PRESIDENT RESPECTS THE OUTCOME OF REFERENDA IN ANTIGUA, GRENADA – President of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Justice Adrian Saunders, said that the court would continue “ongoing initiatives with justice sector bodies” in Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada despite the population in those two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries voting in favour of retaining the London-based Privy Council as their final court.  “While the news is not what we hoped for, we respect the people of both nations and their decision,” Justice Saunders said in a statement following Tuesday’s referenda in the two countries. “One of the positives that came out of this exercise is that there was sustained public education in both nations and the conversation about the CCJ intensified. We can see the fact that there was more interest in our website, ccj.org, and on our social media platforms, on LinkedIn and Twitter.” “As we begin to implement our strategic plan for the 2019-2023, which includes a renewed focus on public education, we will certainly be taking advantage of the increased audience, and the interest that has been piqued, to provide more information about the work of the Court,” Justice Saunders said. The governments in Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada had hoped to join Belize, Barbados, Dominica and Guyana as the only CARICOM countries that are full members of the CCJ that was established in 2001 to replace the Privy Council as the region’s final court. The CCJ, which has both an Original and Appellate Jurisdiction, also functions as an international tribunal interpreting the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that governs the 15-mdmber regional integration movement. Justice Saunders said despite the defeat, the CCJ “will naturally continue ongoing initiatives with justice sector bodies in each of these countries, and the wider Caribbean, through the JURIST project and otherwise”. The turnout in the referendum in both countries were low. In Grenada, of 21 979 votes cast, some 9 846 persons voted to adopt the CCJ as the final Court of Appeal, while in Antigua and Barbuda, there were 9 234 votes against and 8 509 votes in favour of the adoption of the CCJ.“These results will not, of course, deter us from serving with distinction those nations that currently send their final appeals to us. As well, the Court will also continue to process and hear applications from all CARICOM States, and from CARICOM itself, in our Original Jurisdiction, and our justice reform work in the region will also continue,” Justice Saunders said. The CCJ noted that Grenada has an Original Jurisdiction case currently before the Court and that the JURIST Project, which is a multiyear justice reform project being implemented by the CCJ on behalf of the Conference of Heads of Judiciary of CARICOM states, is working on a Sexual Offences Model Court to be housed at the High Court of Antigua and Barbuda in 2019. The CCJ Academy of Law is also hosting a legal conference in Jamaica in December 2018 at which jurists from both countries, as well as the wider Caribbean, are participating, the CCJ added. (DN)

JUDICIAL REFORM A MUST – Opposition Senator Crystal Drakes says with a price tag of over $30 000 a year to house an inmate in HMP Prison Dodds, Barbados has to look at “serious judicial review and reform”. She is also suggesting Barbadians should engage in self-examination to discover the motivation behind the kind of violence sweeping across the island. In her contribution to debate on the Offences Against the Person (Amendment) Bill 2018 earlier today, Drakes was worried about the rampant gun violence plaguing Barbados as well as the high level of incarceration at Dodds. She noted the Barbados Prison Service 2016 report put that figure at the end of December of that year at approximately 919 offenders, and argued because of what it was costing taxpayers to keep prisoners behind bars, “we now cannot simply say lock them up and throw away the key”. The Opposition Senator commended the Government on moving “towards a more holistic approach to sentencing” in amendments being made to sections of the existing laws. Government Senator Crystal Haynes supported the Amendment stating Government was taking meaningful action to address the crime situation. With 950 cases awaiting trial, it was appropriate she said, to have appointed three judges to address the backlog. “We really have to have a deeper conversation on how we as Barbadians see justice; how we administer it along with enforcement of penalties such as fines, community service, curfews,” Haynes said. She also suggested restorative and rehabilitative programmes should be discussed “openly and frankly”. (DN)

SENATOR MCCONNEY: START CRIME PREVENTION PROCESS EARLY – Government Senator Kay McConney has said if we use the current systems we have in place to deal with deviant behavior among school children more effectively, we should see a difference in the levels of criminal activity on the island. She made this point during her contribution to the debate on the Offences Against the Person Bill Amendment, which seeks to do away with the mandatory death penalty in murder cases. She mentioned the success of the Royal Barbados Police Force’s Juvenile Liaison Scheme, which caters to children up to the age of 16. “That scheme not only deals with the child but also their parents. Police officers charged with looking after it do not only deal with children who end up in trouble, but they also speak to principals about any potential ‘problem children’ in their midst. The last statistics I got from them date back to 2010, and showed that only about 20 per cent  of the children they were tracking found themselves back in the penal system after coming under the programme, which meant that 80 per cent of them stayed on the straight and narrow path.” Another programme she mentioned was the Princes Trust, which she said has reaped considerable success in its two years in existence here. “We have had  four cohorts with 12-15 young people between the ages of 16 and 25 and there are residential and community projects associated with it. So far, some 70 per cent  of the students who have passed through it have either gone back to school, vocational training, or found jobs.” Senator McConney said, “This level of primary intervention is important, and we should also consider studies determining the levels of peer contagion among our youth, that is, the people our children associate with influence their behaviour for better or worse, as this might be helpful in the long run.” Senator Lindell Nurse agreed with her suggestions, adding that “Every child should be involved in some sort of extra-curricular activity, whether it is Cadets, Scouts, Brownies, Guides, music, dance or sports, as these will keep them busy and bring about a level of discipline that will help them to resolve conflicts.” He also said a bigger issue was at hand. “We are fixing the legislative part of it, but you cannot legislate behavior and there are a lot of psychological issues behind criminal activity. Unfortunately Barbadians still stigmatize mental health conditions, but seeing specialists in that field may be helpful to people who find themselves in these situations.” (BT)

TIME WASTING – A prominent local attorney-at-law is fuming over what he sees as blatant time-wasting in the Barbados court system. This morning a frustrated Andrew Pilgrim QC questioned the logic of scheduling cases for dates that the magistrate is on vacation, thereby adding to the slowdown of an already overwhelmed system. Noting that that the issue is by no means new, Pilgrim, an outspoken and respected lawyer, expressed fresh annoyance in statement sent to Barbados TODAY. The release came after his clients, businessman Arthur Charles Herbert and Christopher Glenn Rogers, had their matters adjourned until March 27, 2019 when they appeared at the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. Sitting Magistrate, Douglas Frederick is currently on vacation. Meanwhile, co-accused Walter O’ Neal Prescod, a sailor, will return to court on December 4, this year. “Almost every media house yesterday referred to the fact that Charles Herbert, Chris Rogers and Walter Prescod will have to return to court for a new date and they will have to wait to have their matter resolved. I just wonder if anybody in Barbados is getting the bigger picture here that we adjourn matters to dates when we know there will be no hearing, deliberately wasting the time of litigants,” said Pilgrim, who argued that the occurrence only served to delay justice. In his four-minute lament, the attorney contended that it was not only his clients whose time is being wasted but he predicted that for the remainder of the month close to 40 litigants per day will turn up to the court in question in vain. “On every day probably during this month 40 or more Barbadians will turn up to the District ‘A’ Court Number one. There will be no magistrate and their time will be wasted for the entire day and their cases will not be advanced whether to be dismissed, tried or otherwise. It is a complete waste of our time that was avoidable,” he pointed out. This morning Barbados TODAY contacted the office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court Barbara Cooke-Alleyne QC, but efforts to get a comment on the claims were unsuccessful. However Pilgrim made it clear that there could be no reasonable excuse as vacations were planned in advance so therefore provisions should have been made. “ Either those cases should have been adjourned to a period when the magistrate would have returned or they should be dealt with by a magistrate who was put on while he is not there. Is it so hard to work out when the magistrates are going to be on vacation so that you could have someone holding on for them? If that is the case, then adjourn the matters to a date outside of the vacation,” he stressed. Pilgrim said “This is a whole month that is going to be a waste of time for 40 litigants everyday. This is time that Barbados does not have to give. We need our people to be productive instead of standing in a line outside of a court to get a date on which nothing will happen.” (BT)

NEW COURT DATES FOR DEATH ROW CONVICTS – Almost a dozen inmates who are currently on death row at Dodds prison will have to be resentenced once the Offences Against the Person Bill 2018 is amended. That is the word from Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Senator Dr Jerome Walcott, as he spoke today during debate on the amendment which seeks to repeal the mandatory death sentence for persons convicted of murder in Barbados. He said the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the island’s highest appellate court, had already ruled that it was unconstitutional. “They are currently 11 persons who are on death row in Barbados and based on this ruling, they will now have to be resentenced because their sentences are now considered by the CCJ to be unconstitutional,” Dr Walcott said. “There are 62 persons awaiting trial for murder and six for manslaughter. If we were not to pass this bill today, it would put our judicial system in a quandary. You would have 68 persons who are there to have trials done and at the back of that, at the end of it all, judges will know that they are confined by the mandatory death sentence, but if they convict someone and sentence them at the end of the day they know that the CCJ has already ruled that that is unconstitutional.” Dr Walcott explained that the amendment was not about removing the death penalty from the statute books. However, he contended that Barbados had signed on to several conventions which clearly state that a mandatory death sentence was not lawful. “I believe that we are in a bind. We have survived over the years. We have discussed and we have utilized our mandatory death penalty and we have debated it. We have made promises to amend it. We’ve made promises to the UN and we’ve made promises to the Inter-American Court of Justice, but I think our reckoning time has now come.  (BT)

REPORT ORDERED – The Magistrate’s Court has asked for a probation report on a 26-year-old man who pleaded guilty to drug possession. When Chad Aaron Lynton, of Corner of 4th Avenue, New Orleans, St Michael appeared before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant today he admitted that he had five grammes of marijuana in his possession yesterday. Police were on duty in Lynton’s community when he was seen riding along a footpath. He jumped off the bicycle when he saw the police and began walking back in the direction from which he came. He was detained when he entered a nearby shop. Lynton was given a February 1, 2019 date to return to the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrate’s Court after his $1,500 bail was accepted. (BT)

BAIL ON ASSAULT CHARGE – A 26-year-old Guyanese man accused of assaulting his wife is now on $5,000 bail. Khayum Kharoon Nazmoon who lives at No. 2 Apartments Villa Road, Brittons Hill, St Michael is alleged to have committed the offence against Premawattie Katwaru on October 22 occasioning her actual bodily harm. The prosecutor had no objections to bail but asked Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant that the accused surrender his passport to the District ‘A’ Magistrate’s Court and requested that he stay away from his wife. The order was made and Nazmoon, who was represented by attorney-at-law Samuel Legay, was released after his surety was accepted. The accused will make his second appearance in court on January 29, 2019. (BT)

COSTLY TRIP – Drug trafficker Tyrique Kheele Michael Cuffie who arrived in Barbados on Monday with more than his personal effects in his suitcase is facing two years in prison. The 21-year-old Canadian from Lombard, Toronto, was sent to HMP Dodds today after he was unable to pay a $20,000 fine by the end of the day’s sitting at the Oistins Magistrate’s Court. Cuffie arrived at the Grantley Adams International Airport on around 3:39 a.m. Station Sergeant Glenda Carter-Nicholls said he then proceeded to customs where his suitcase was searched and 20 vacuum-sealed packages containing a vegetable substance were found. “I know drugs in my suitcase,” Cuffie allegedly told police when asked to account for the 7.6 kilogrammes of marijuana which had an estimated BDS$60,800 street value. Addressing Magistrate Elwood Watts, Cuffie apologized for his actions before the fine was imposed on the charge on importation. He was convicted, reprimanded and discharged on the charges of possession, possession with intent to supply and possession with intent to traffick the illegal substance. (BT)

NSC LIGHTS STILL OFF – THERE was still no light at the end of the emergency meeting, as the floodlights at a number of National Sports Council (NSC) facilities will remain off for the time being. A furious NSC chairman Mac Fingall says the issue of tampering and vandalism of token boxes must come to an end, following the thousands of dollars which the sports council lost due to illegal usage of the lights. It comes after a more than two-hour long meeting on Tuesday night at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium chaired by Fingall, at which players, coaches and administrators of local sports took the opportunity to voice their concerns about the situation. General secretary of the Barbados Football Association (BFA), Edwyn Wood, director of cricket at the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA), Stephen Leslie, and president of the Barbados Road Tennis Association, John Chandler, were all present. Two weeks ago, Fingall revealed that Barbadians had cheated the NSC out of a large sum of money. He said at least $560 000 was lost in lights last year.  (DN)

SENIOR FAILURE – Despite an abysmal international record after 10 years in West Indies colours, middle-order batsman Kieron Pollard’s place in the team has been justified by outgoing coach Stuart Law. Speaking after the Windies’ loss in the second Twenty20 International against India yesterday, Law said Pollard was a motivator in the dressing room and quite capable of performing on his day. Pollard has made 20 runs in two innings so far and his solitary over in a tight situation in Kolkata went for 12 runs and shifted momentum towards the hosts. India were reeling at 57 for 4 at one stage. But Law said Pollard brought much more to the table, and not just on the cricket field. “Pollard brings a lot, both on and off the field. With the youngsters in the squad, it’s someone like Pollard who motivates them in the dressing room. “He’s a senior member of the squad, and we all know what he’s capable of when he gets going. But yeah, Pollard isn’t in the side only because of what he brings inside the ground. He’s one of the biggest motivators of the youngsters, and he’s just a game away from reminding us why he’s such a T20 force. Look, Pollard himself would not be pleased with his show on the tour so far, and he’ll be itching to finish the series in a blazing manner.” After 101 One-Day Internationals, the burly Trinidadian has managed just 2 289 runs at an average of 25.71 with three centuries and nine fifties. The white ball specialist’s record in T20I is even worse, having played 58 matches, scored 788 runs at 19.70 with just two fifties. His List A record is just slightly better with 3 134 runs at an average of 26.55 with three centuries and 15 fifties. In 433 T20s played across the globe in franchise cricket, Pollard has amassed 8 531 at 30. 14. Law addressed the potential of the squad, noting there were a number of fantastic cricketers in the team “We have got some fantastic T20 players. But, now it’s just about playing for pride. It’s time for them to dig deep and play for pride, and give it everything in the last game. If we play anywhere near to our potential, we can beat any team on the day. We need to improve a lot to get to that stage.” “The team does have a lot of potential, and ‘potential’ is a horrible word because talk is cheap and actions speak louder. But it’s the experienced guys who need to stick their hands up and do the bulk of the work. They’re supposed to usher the youngsters in, but they’re not quite doing that. It’s a young team, though, and they’re learning on the job. Regardless of being the current T20 champions, we don’t have the same team here and learning on the job against India in India can be mighty tough.” The West Indies will now travel to Chennai earlier than the hosts as the India players embark on a two-day Diwali break. But with the series already decided, there’s an opportunity for them to field left-handed hard-hitter Sherfane Rutherford possibly in place of Pollard, and the left-arm quick Obed McCoy in the final T20I to see what those two bring to the table. Captain Carlos Brathwaite bemoaned the fact that West Indies were without two designated opening batsmen. Brathwaite said that the makeshift approach taken by the management – with regards to their opening pair – had forced the West Indies to always have a rocky start with the bat in the series. In the first game in Kolkata, West Indies’ opening pair of Denesh Ramdin and Shai Hope – neither batsmen are regular T20I openers – lasted all of 15 deliveries, scoring only 16 runs between them, while in Lucknow, a new opening pair of Hope and Shimron Hetmyer fared only marginally better with a combined tally of 21 runs in 22 deliveries. With Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis opting out of the series due to personal reasons, Brathwaite said that the team was simply trying to make do with the resources that were available to them. “We didn’t come to the tour with an out-and-out opener, so we are still trying to find our best opening combination. There were a few theories in the first game and also this game, on how we wanted our batting order, for different reasons. Ultimately neither worked, because we failed to get a good start. But we’re working with the players we have on tour, and it’s difficult to choose the best batting pair, but we’re trying. Up until a theory works out, it will look bad and give the pundits something to say,” Brathwaite said. While expressing disappointment at the team’s bowling in the second T20I – including his own – Brathwaite heaped praise on right-handed batting all-rounder Fabian Allen, who bowls left-arm orthodox spin. Alleyne has bowled well in both matches so far. “The way Fabian Allen bowled in the middle, and he kept the openers under wraps and eventually got Shikhar out. It is hard to look at the negatives sometimes, just need to take the small positives and go away with them.”  (BT)

HOME BOYS BOW OUT – Predictably, mighty United States ruled the pristine conditions and waves on the East Coast at Bathsheba yesterday, but not a single hometown boy advanced to the quarter-finals of the Live Like Zander Pro surfing event at the Soup Bowl. Jacob Burke, Caleb Rapson and Ocean Gittens all failed to make it through to the quarters of the event named in memory of Barbadian surfer Alexander Venezia, who died last September. The United States landed 14 of the last 16 spots, with Japanese-American Taro Watanabe, delivering the best wave score of the day, an impressive 9.5, that comprised four impressive manoeuvres.  Burke was arguably the best of the Barbadian juniors on show, but he had to settle for third place in Heat 5 behind Crosby Colapinto of the United States and Thomas Debierre of France. This event for entrants under the age of 18, carries a first prize cheque of US$2 500.  (DN)

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 11/3/2018

Good MORNING #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Saturday 3rd November 2018. Remember you can read full articles for FREE via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS) OR by purchasing by purchasing a Saturday Sun Nation Newspaper (SS).

AXE STALLS – Layoffs at the state-owned Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) have been placed on hold, but management has agreed to pay workers the five per cent salary increase which, it was earlier revealed, they were not entitled to. These were two of the main issues emerging this afternoon from some four hours of talks between the employees’ bargaining agent, the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) and, management of the CBC at the Pine, St Michael studios. Regarding the retrenchments, special advisor and former General Secretary of the BWU, Sir Roy Trotman said that matter was not discussed because the established process was not followed by the CBC. Sir Roy told Barbados TODAY the layoffs, which were expected to take place by the end of last month, have been put on hold pending the outcome of a meeting next week to specifically address the issue. He said after the state-run broadcaster and the union had first concluded talks on a number of outstanding matters such as salary increases and increments, its management officially informed him it was restructuring. “We made the suggestion to them they should in fact follow more closely the provisions within the Employment Rights Act, and particularly the understanding that we have arrived at regarding the protocol of the Social Partnership,” he said. “The CBC was very conscious that that is something which may not have been done exactly how it should be done. So they agreed that they would hold fire and have further discussions on it among themselves. And we have agreed to come back at 2.30 [pm] on Monday to start looking at the question of rationalization,” Sir Roy added. Asked if the terminations had therefore been put on hold he replied: “Yes. That is what the position is right now.” He also said the two sides have not yet talked about how many of the estimated 260 workforce have been earmarked to go home. “We have not started that discussion in any way whatsoever,” the BWU special advisor stressed. But while the retrenchment talks had gone nowhere, Sir Roy reported better news for all staff with respect to outstanding pay. “The meeting today was not just a question where we discussed just layoffs, we also looked at the matter of some outstanding issues. We had to deal with the matter of the outstanding five per cent. We also had to deal with the matter of outstanding increments, which was a matter that we stood up outside here at CBC for last year…and we have reached agreement on those two matters,” the former general secretary told Barbados TODAY. He noted that the major question left is whether the monies would be paid in cash or bonds. “But we will have that as an ongoing discussion,” Sir Roy said. He was also asked about his meeting yesterday with the Transport Board which is to undertake a full restructuring in phases that involves layoffs as well. “The Transport Board yesterday put a proposal…very specific proposal regarding laying off about 50 persons or so. These are persons who received letters of appointment sometime in April of this year. We have to meet those workers and discuss the matter with them, possibly on Monday,” he revealed. Sir Roy told Barbados TODAY the board management then spoke generally about its plans going forward over the next few years. He said the board’s plans would constitute a full paper which will be presented overtime. Sir Roy disclosed that the chairman of the board, Gregory Nicholls, will address a general meeting next week that includes the United Commercial Autoworks Limited (UCAL). “And we are hoping that at that time, he will have some discussions which will allow UCAL to know, whether UCAL would be in a position to offer some of those people any work,” the special advisor to the BWU told Barbados TODAY. He noted that in terms of specifics, the union only addressed those 50 workers who were appointed in April this year and are earmarked to be sent home. But while Sir Roy said he was not aware of any other layoffs up to the time of this interview,  Barbados TODAYreceived reports that management of the state-run Barbados Agricultural Management Company (BAMC), was in the process of retrenching some of the workers at the lone sugar factory at Portvale, St James. There were reports that staff would be cut from 169 to 104. General manager of the BAMC, Leslie Parris, told Barbados TODAY, this was all speculation. “We don’t operate that way. We go through the process. As you are well aware, the Government has cut its budget to the SOE [state owned enterprises] and within that context, we have to look at the resizing of the operation. That process is underway now, and we have not made any decisions. Such decisions are made in consultations with the staff and the union,” Parris said. (BT)

PAY INCREASE FOR CBC WORKERS 5% – The hard blow of inevitable job cuts at the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) has been somewhat softened by the fact that employees there will finally get the five per cent salary increase promised to all public workers. It gets sweeter for them, too, as Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) advisor to the general secretary Sir Roy Trotman also revealed those workers will also receive the four increments promised to them last year. Sir Roy spoke to the Nation yesterday following a four-hour meeting with CBC management at its Pine, St Michael headquarters. This comes even as some of the 250 members of staff at that state-owned enterprise are expected to be cut as Government continues its mass retrenchment exercise. “We have reached an agreement that the CBC workers will get that five per cent and we are hoping that will be paid to some of them as a matter of urgency,” Sir Roy said. (SS)

CHECK-MATE – Cashing a cheque without an account with the corresponding bank will now cost you $10 – at Scotiabank. Earlier this week, the bank introduced the charge for anyone without an account at the financial institution but wanting to cash a Scotiabank cheque there.  This fee, which customers were alerted to by tellers as they conducted business in branches, is the latest fee since there was an $11 increase on user fees for account holders. In September, account holders found out, some via their statements, that the monthly service fee would increase from $5 to $16 effective the end of September. Only last month, RBC Royal Bank, although they did not introduce a fee, also made the decision to cease cashing their cheques for customers who do not have an account with that institution. When queried about the latest charge, a Scotiabank official told The Nation the fee was introduced “because banks charge customers”. (SS)

CENTRAL BANK TO ISSUE NEW SECURITIES – The Central Bank of Barbados today advised that the restructured securities under Government’s new debt offer will be issued on November 15, 2018. The Bank explained that technical and data issues had delayed the process. “The Bank regrets not meeting the original October 31 deadline. We are working assiduously to complete the process by mid-November,” the Bank said. The Bank also reminded investors that they will receive e-statements and not physical certificates for the new instruments. 97 percent of the participants in the debt swap accepted the new offer, which includes a reduction in interest rates, an extension of maturities and selective principal reductions. (SS)

‘NOT SO FAST, ARTHUR’ – Social activist and attorney-at-law Robert Bobby Clarke is suggesting that former Prime Minister Owen Arthur’s support for sale of the Barbados National Terminal Co Ltd (BNTCL) and the Barbados Hilton, was in effect an indictment of a similar decision he made during his administration. It was during a forum hosted by the Women and Development Unit of the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill on Wednesday night that the ex-prime minister made the declaration of support for the sale of the state entities. The recently ousted DLP administration had drawn heavy criticism for attempting to do the same. In his presentation, Arthur said selling the Hilton and the BNTCL was a better alternative to the taxes implemented under the Mia Mottley administration. Arthur said he is aware the sale would be an unpopular decision. He mused that he still bore the  scars from deciding to sell the Barbados National Bank (BNB) as Minister of Finance. He said, “We sold it and the BNB is worth three times what it was then and employs twice as many people”. Clarke is contending that Arthur, a leading economist, was admitting to giving away one of the state’s cash cows. He said these companies were paying considerable taxes to the  Government before they were sold. “That is a remarkable admission by Mr Owen Arthur former Prime Minister of Barbados. His comment shows that if the Barbados National Bank had not been sold and had continued being the property and the business of the Barbados Government, the present Government would not have had to go to the IMF [International Monetary Fund] to try to put its finances on a better footing,” said Clarke, in a statement released Friday afternoon. Clarke said it was that same mentality that pushed Government to sell the Insurance Corporation of Barbados Limited (ICBL), its interest in the (Barbados) Hilton Hotel and its attempt to sell the Barbados National Oil Company. Clarke said the history of such sales show the monies were never used to improve agriculture and food production which could have reduced Barbados ballooning food bill. “They were not used to improve the fishing fleet and stop the importation of tinned sardines, herring, tinned salmon, salt fish and fresh fish from Trinidad and Tobago.  They were not used to develop more means of production to cut down on imports,” he said. (BT)

COMMISSIONG DEFENDS GOVERNMENT’S HANDLING OF JOB CUTS - Ambassador to CARICOM and Attorney at-law David Comissiong says Government was well within the parameters of the Employment Rights Act when it began staff cuts at several state-owned entities as the roll out of the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) programme continues. He said the position of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) and the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) that Government had circumvented the six-week consultation provision under the legislation did not hold water. “Some are behaving as if the General Secretary of the BWU [Toni Moore] has not spoken publicly about how long and involved the consultations with the Government has been, or that out of such consultations emerged agreement on the principle of last in first out,” Comissiong told Barbados TODAY. The outspoken social activist also accused the unions and some sections of the media of “behaving as though the Prime Minister has not spoken several times about the plans to involve many of the displaced workers in near future work contracts or private sector employment…. In other words, Government has addressed all of the issues stipulated in the Employment Rights Act.” Section 31 of the Employment Rights Act of Barbados stipulates that “where it is contemplated that the workforce of the business of an employer (inclusive of a statutory corporation) will be reduced by ten per cent or any other significant number, before dismissing an employee, the employer shall: Carry out consultations with the affected workers or their representative (that is, their Trade Union). Commence the consultations not later than six weeks before any of the affected workers is dismissed.” The Act also says the consultations must determine the proposed method of selecting employees who are to be dismissed, the proposed method of carrying out the dismissals, as well as the period over which the dismissals are to take place. The legislation also covers measures the employer might take to find alternative employment and mitigate the effects of the dismissals. On Wednesday, the retrenchment of 55 workers at the Barbados Agriculture Development Marketing Corporation (BADMC) aroused the ire of the NUPW. At the same time the BWU was up in arms over a letter demanding the management of the Rural Development Commission (RDC) cut staff that same day. NUPW Deputy General Secretary Delcia Burke accused the Government run agencies of attempting to blindside the union while Assistant General Secretary Wayne Walrond said the development was tantamount to “starting a war.” Comissiong has rejected the notion of callousness in the manner in which Government has gone about the retrenchment exercise, pointing to Government’s plan to setup a household mitigation unit to stem the fallout. “Government has a correct understanding of its duty to defend and uphold the general welfare of our populace, he said. (BT)

ENTREPRENEURSHIP THE WAY FORWARD – Barbados’ youth minister says there is a brave new world of opportunity opening to the country’s young people. In his feature address at the opening of Global Entrepreneurship Week, Minister of Youth and Community Empowerment, Adrian Forde, said the BLP is taking a new approach to enterprise development with the establishment of Trust Loans and that youth could benefit. “The recently launched Trust Loans will provide $10 million per year for each of the next five years to seed a Trust Loans Fund to assist existing small businesses or potential small business startups, in assessing security free loans of up to $5000 each,” Forde said, adding that these loans will lead to increased entrepreneurial activity. “Increased entrepreneurial activity will go a long way in building more entrepreneurial citizens and excite our young people about getting involved in business, a borderless world where the technology opens new opportunities that were unavailable to previous generations,” he said. Global Entrepreneurship Week was launched at Sagicor Cave Hill School of Business with the theme, Building A Productive Economy Through Resilient Entrepreneurs on Friday morning. General Manager of Barbados Youth Business Trust Cardell Fergusson, said this year’s theme was chosen to tie in with national initiatives that foster economic activity. “We therefore believe that by providing the young persons with the skills and resources that are needed to start a business, as well as support, we will be creating a class of persons who are able to contribute toward economic growth [as] we all have a part to play in the recovery and growth of the economy. Our part is the creation of productive entrepreneurs who stay the course,” Fergusson said. Senior Business Development Officer The Barbados Agency for Micro Enterprise Development Limited (Fund Access) Karen Sue said that since the organization started in January 1998 to the present date has approved loans totaling 60.8M. “From inception in January 1998 to October 31, 2018, Fund Access has approved loans totaling 60.8 million dollars to 1, 522 clients. Of these 724 were new businesses and 798 were expansions. Also approved for this period were 134 additional loans and 257 refined loans. 2313 jobs were created,” she said, adding that their business development officers work closely with businesses to ensure that closures are minimized. “Our business development officers work assiduously to ensure business closures are minimized through close monitoring of said business, provision of technical assistance and of course training and development. All this speaks to our continued commitment to entrepreneurship, which we see as the backbone of our economy while emphasizing integrity in lending, as any young person can walk into the offices of Fund Access and be judged solely on the quality and viability of their application and nothing else,” Sue said. The official start of Global Entrepreneurship Week begins on Sunday, November 11 with a church service at Christ The King Anglican Church at 8 a.m. and ends on Sunday, November 18 with a hike to Bath, St John.  (BT)

ICAB PAST PRESIDENT APPOINTED TO GLOBAL ACCOUNTING BODY -  Immediate Past President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados (ICAB) and Partner with EY Lisa Padmore, has been successfully appointed to the Board of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) at its Council meeting in Sydney, Australia on November 1, 2018. IFAC is the global organization for the accountancy profession dedicated to serving the public interest by strengthening the profession and contributing to the development of strong international economies. IFAC is comprised of over 175 members and associates in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing almost 3 million professional accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce. Lisa was nominated by ICAB, who has been a member of IFAC since 1981. She was the 4th female President of ICAB between May 2015 – May 2017, and prior to her appointment to the Board of IFAC, served on the Professional Accountancy Organization (PAO) Development Committee of IFAC as the representative of The Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada) from January 2017 to October 2018. On accepting the nomination to the Board, Lisa commented: “I am humbled and honoured to be nominated by ICAB to serve the profession at this global level, and to be able to bring the challenges and concerns of our region to the attention of the leaders of the global profession. The accounting profession globally is at a cross-road, and IFAC as an institution has to adapt and evolve to not only manage the current hurdles, but anticipate the future trends and be an organization that is ready to serve a future-ready profession.” (SS)

GRASS PIECE IN THE VALLEY – The state of the area around The Valley Resource Centre in The Glebe, St George, has become a cause for concern by users of the facility. The waist-high grass, neglected plants and garbage in the bush belie the fact the centre is located next to the parish post office and an automatic banking machine and across from the police station. Classes and programmes are still being held there. Resident Kenmore Brathwaite said it looked like a place for grazing animals.“This is supposed to be a lawn, not a grass piece for goats and sheep. How can this be a community centre? Somebody is not doing their job,” he said. Cuthbert Nicholls said the situation was “not commendable” and could be a breeding ground for pests and vectors.  (SS)

EARLY CLOSURE AT CHARLES F BROOME – Parents and guardians of Charles F Broome Primary School were summoned to collect their children just after 1 p.m. Some of the parents said, they were informed by way of a Whatsapp group message which stated that the school was closing early due to environmental concerns. A Nation News team was just in time to see parents collecting their wards. However the Principal denied to give any comment on the matter. (SS)

ABRAHAMS NOT BOTHERED BY POTENTIAL LEGAL BATTLE OVER GSC – Minister of Energy and Water Resources Wilfred Abrahams is not fazed by the possibility of legal challenge by a minor opposition party over Government’s use of the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) to collect the Garbage and Sewage Contribution (GSC) tax. In an interview with Barbados TODAY, Abrahams said he was confident Government was standing on solid legal footing and welcomed the declared intent by the Lynette Eastmond – led United Progressive Party (UPP) to test this. “The UPP is free to approach the court over this if they wish to because that is what the courts are there for. No citizen should be afraid of approaching the court to get a ruling on what is fair and just and legal. But I stand behind the Government entirely on this one. So they would do what they have to do,” said Abrahams. While the BWA moves to ramp up disconnections as result of ongoing customer rebellion against the tax, the two-year-old UPP has revealed that its “legal team is reviewing this situation and will escalate to the courts if required. “As far as the UPP can determine, under the BWA Act there is no penalty for the non-payment of the tax as is typical in tax legislation. Government should never require a Social Services Act to do the work of a Taxing Statute,” the UPP said in a statement The UPP argues the BWA has now been made into a Government tax collector, but outside the purview of the Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA). In addition, the UPP contends that such an approach runs counter to the United Nations General Assembly (UN) Resolution 64/292, of which Barbados is a signatory. In it, the UN explicitly recognizes the human right to water and sanitation and acknowledges that clean drinking water and sanitation are essential to the realization of all human rights. The resolution calls upon UN member states and international organizations to provide financial resources, build capacity and transfer technology to help countries, in particular developing countries, to provide safe, clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for all. However in his response to the UPP’s charge, Abrahams said that the humanitarian component of the argument was non-starter. He said the UPP was misleading the public into thinking that Government had imposed on the basic human rights of Barbadians. “In the same way that you paid for water before, you are still paying for water now. Government must contemplate access not free access. Even the vulnerable in Barbados through the mechanisms of Government still access these things. So these rights are not denied to anyone,” he said. The Minister said that the measures were not intended to be permanent and that Barbadians needed to decide if they were willing to sacrifice in the short term to fix this country failing infrastructure, which included the compromised south coast sewage system. “The alternative is sewage back on the street and we do nothing about the poor garbage collection. At some point people need to decide if we are serious about getting Barbados back on track,” Abrahams said. The Minister strongly disputed the UPP’s assertion Government’s approach to collecting the GSC was out of touch with the economic hardship facing Barbadians, noting that special provisions had been made for those with extenuating circumstances to apply for relief from the levy. Last Friday, BWA Chairman Leodeane Worrell revealed that customers were flat out refusing to pay the GSC tax, which has resulted in revenue at the BWA plummeting by 40 per cent between August and September. Worrell said the BWA was merely the conduit for collecting the $1.50 per day tax. This meant that even though customers were paying their bill minus the levy, the BWA was still obligated to take the GSC from the amount paid. At the press conference summoned by Minister of Energy and Water Resources Wilfred Abrahams in the Committee Room of Parliament, Worrell revealed that on average the BWA hauls in $10 million in monthly revenue. Since the introduction of the tax on August 1, the intake for the cash-strapped public water company dropped to about $6 million. The situation threatens to worsen the company’s outstanding arrears, which to date run to $15 million.   (BT)

DOMINICA HINTS AT LEGAL ACTION AGAINST ROSS UNIVERSITY – Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said his administration is prepared to take legal action against the US-owned Ross University regarding the ownership and occupation of buildings on lands that had been leased to the off-shore medical institution that has since re-located to Barbados. Earlier this year, Ross University left Dominica under controversial circumstances after having been on the island for the past 40 years. The university later defended its decision to re-locate to Bridgetown saying it had been taken “after considerable deliberations, including a review of our academic and infrastructural requirement and future plan”. The Skerrit Administration said it had informed the Ross University School of Medicine that it could have resumed its operations on the hurricane struck island even before the start of the January semester in 2019. In a July 9, three-page letter to Wardell, Prime Minister Skerrit had indicated that plans were advanced for the resumption of classes in Portsmouth, north of her Skerrit, speaking at a meeting with Dominicans residing overseas, said that Dominica had entered into an agreement for the lease of the land in the north of the island where the university had located its campus. “The campus belongs to the state. A lease agreement was entered into Ross University and the government of Dominica leasing the 27.2 acres to Ross and in that lease it states very clearly and even our existing laws make it very clear also, that if you are leasing property and anything they build upon it, it will belong to the owner.” “So we really want Ross to hand over these buildings to us sooner rather than later. The Attorney general (Levi Peter) is in discussions with them and the sooner they can get out, the better for us. “If they do not want to move when we want them to move we will take them to court as simple as that,” Skerrit told the meeting. He told the visiting Dominicans that the government is in discussions with at least four entities for a replacement to Ross University. He said another entity is due here later this month “to look at the possibility of setting up a medical school here. “Out of this four there is one that we can literally sign right away with but we want to ensure that have an interest the opportunity to come into Dominica, to look at the campus and to engage us and to see which is the best one we want to pursue it with”. In August, Skerrit said he had also appointed a task force, headed by prominent cardiologist, Professor Gerald Grell, to assist in the engagements with the parties.  (SS)

POLICE CONSTABLE CHARGED – Police Constable 1042 Richard Toppin 48 years of Salmonds St. Lucy has been arrested and charged for the offence of inflicting serious bodily harm on Ryan Taylor. This incident occurred around 3:50 p.m on October 11 at a shop at Waverly Cot St George. Richard Toppin is expected to appear in the District ‘A’' Magistrate Court today Saturday, November 03. (SS)

POLICE PROBING A SHOOTING AND STABBING – Police are currently on the scene of a shooting incident at Princess Royal Ave. Pine St. Michael. One man was reportedly shot and another stabbed multiple times. Both victims were taken to QEH by ambulance. (SS)

STUDENT CAUGHT WITH DRUGS – Mercy pleas of a police prosecutor-turned-defence barrister are all that stand in the way of a 17-year-old high school student gaining a criminal conviction ahead of CXC certificates after fellow students were caught smoking cannabis at school. Attorney-at-law Neville Reid today urged a Bridgetown magistrate to intervene after the teen was caught yesterday with 23 grammes of the herb in his school bag and an apparatus to weigh the drug. The first-time offender was called to the principal’s office after five students from first, second and third form were caught smoking marijuana on the school’s compound, with two scissors and a knife in their possession. They revealed that the teen was their supplier. The police were called and when the boy, who is not known to the law courts, was asked to account for the cannabis he initially said he found it outside the school, according to Sargeant Edwin Pinder, the prosecutor. He was told that this was the second time that he had given such an excuse when found in possession of the illicit drug. But the boy’s lawyer questioned why the necessary steps where not taken after the first incident to help the teen who is in the process of writing his CXC exams. “It is not a pretty picture if this is the second time he was found with drugs. Why were steps not taken to stop him from going down that path?” Reid, a former station sergeant, queried. The defence attorney then informed Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant that the student was “doing pretty well in school” and currently resided with his 74-year-old grandmother having lost his mother five years ago. He further submitted that the elderly caretaker was “shocked” at the charge, as the teen was “not known to give any trouble”. “Some intervention [such as] counselling is needed from the Probation Department . . . . The scissors and the knife were not found in his possession . . . but he has taken responsibility for the drugs. “I believe, Ma’am, that this is one of the cases that the court could intervene and save him from a life of crime and from going down the wrong path. The fact that he is still in school at 17 years old [pursuing] his CXCs shows that all is not lost. I believe that he can benefit from counselling . . . I believe the circumstances need to be fully investigated [in the form] of a pre-sentencing report,” the attorney added. The magistrate agreed to the probation report and granted bail to the student who pleaded guilty to charges of possession, trafficking and intent to supply. He will know his fate when he returns before the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrate’s Court on February 8. (BT)

ANTHONY GETS COURT’S LENIENCY – A 50-year-old who habitually picked up bottles on the property of a Hastings, Christ Church hotel, landed in trouble with the law when he came across and assaulted a security guard. Now Rodney David Anthony, of St Matthias, Christ Church, must adhere to the conditions of a three-months bond if he wants to avoid paying a $500 forthwith fine or spending the alternative of four weeks at HMP Dodds. Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargaent imposed the sentence on the unemployed man after he pleaded guilty to assaulting Ja-mar Howell on November 1 as well as stealing two cases and 48 bottles worth $32 belonging to Calypso Caribbean Resorts. Sergeant Edwin Pinder revealed that Howell received information that someone was seen on the hotel premises. When he went out to investigate he came across Anthony who had the items in his possession. However as Howell tried to stop him, Anthony pulled a scissors and swiped at him while uttering threatening words, which resulted in Howell shouting for help. Attorney-at-law Kadisha Wickham told the court that her client was “sorry” for the incident and had given the undertaking not to return to the property. She further submitted that although he was known to the court, Anthony was the sole caretaker of his 80-year-old mother and added that to impose a custodial sentence on him at this time would render him incapable of caring for her. Wickham also revealed that her client and others were in a habit of “picking up bottles” on the property and the security guards were familiar with them. However, Howell, she explained, was unknown to Anthony and the situation deteriorated from there. (BT)

YARDE PAYS FORTHWITH FINE – A labourer had to part with $1,000 of his hard earned money today after he had a change of heart and pleaded guilty to four-year-old drug offences. The forthwith fine which was imposed by Magistrate Douglas Frederick carried a three-month prison sentence and Akeyle ILike Yarde, Sealy Land, Gall Hill, Christ Church, who admitted that he had the quantity of marijuana in his possession on August 16, 2014, paid the amount. Station Sergeant Carrison Henry told Magistrate Douglas Frederick that police were along Kellman Land, Black Rock, St Michael when the accused who was the pillion rider on a motorcycle was seen. However, on approaching the police the driver of the cycle lost control and both parties fell. Yarde was subsequently seen fidgeting with his pocket, a search was requested and 82 wax paper wrappings containing the illicit substance were discovered. (BT)

SPREE ENDS – Crusher Site Road, St James resident Andre Shamar Freeman today revealed that he returned to his criminal ways after he lost his job at a construction site. The 31-year-old made the disclosure after he pleaded guilty to burglarising five places before Magistrate Douglas Frederick. Freeman who is known to the court since 2004 admitted to entering CM Motors as a trespasser between April 14 ad 19 and stealing a $300 angle grinder; a $1,200 cooking set; five sanding disc pads worth $75 and 15 t-shirts worth $75 belonging to Jeffery Chandler. He also pleaded guilty to entering the home of Che Cumberbatch as a trespasser between July 15 and August 31 and stealing a $300 drill, two cellular phones worth $4,300, BDS$400 and US$1,500 cash as well as the home of Rehana Horton on August 30 and stealing two tablets worth $400 and US$60 cash. Cumberbatch, who is known for committing burglaries, also pleaded guilty to entering the home of Vicki Roach on October 1 and stealing a $400 cellular phone and three bottles of Vita Malt worth $12. He also threw in the towel to entering the home of Michelle Barrow between October 10 and 11 and stealing a $1,300 play station, four electronic games worth 716, a $150 gold ring, a $100 gold anklet, two pairs of gold earrings worth $150, two silver rings worth $80 and a pair of silver earrings worth 20. Some items were recovered and Magistrate Douglas Frederick granted a restitution order for the items to be returned to the rightful owners. Station Sergeant Carrison Henry said in all cases the complainants returned to find their places compromised after leaving them secured. However, Cumberbatch’s troubles with the law are far from over as he returns before the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrate’s Court on November 29 accused of committing two indictable burglary offences. (BT)

BOA IN BOXING’S CORNER – The Barbados Olympic Association (BOA) is fully behind providing funds for the development and advancement of local boxing but its hands are currently tied due to an internal issue with the international boxing federation. This was revealed by president of the Barbados Olympic Association, Sandra Osborne, while speaking to the Nation yesterday. “The position that we find ourselves in with boxing is that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has mandated all national Olympic committees not to support any athletes in the sport of boxing through Olympic solidarity or Pan Am Sports funding, because of an issue that they are having with the president of the International Boxing Association. “We cannot spend money we have received from the IOC because there has been a ban created worldwide. So funding that we would normally assist athletes with, we are unable to apply towards boxing,” she said.  (SS)

BEACH WRESTLING TOMORROW – The third annual Barbados Beach Wrestling International Cup has graduated from eight to 75 competitors this year, says president of the Barbados Wrestling Association, Rollins Alleyne. The two-day event scheduled to commence tomorrow at Pirates Cove as part of the Barbados Olympic Association’s (BOA) Independence Invitational Games will feature grappling, freestyle wrestling on Saturday and will conclude Sunday with beach wrestling. According to Alleyne, marketing and advertising as promised by the BOA for this event were not enough, and he added that hard cash was needed to stage an event of this magnitude that attracted international competitors. (BT)

TROUBLING NUMBERS – The issue of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) continues to be a priority for the Ministry of Health and Wellness and it has put a significant level of resources and effort into addressing them. Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Arthur Phillips stressed Government’s commitment to controlling and preventing NCDs today when he delivered the feature address during the opening ceremony of the annual Health Fair, at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI). Pointing out that NCDs were a burden on individuals and society, Dr Phillips continued: “More than 25 per cent of adults (25 years and over)… live with one NCD. And more than three quarters of our adult population have at least one risk factor. In terms of what the health system sees, more than six out of every ten visits to our primary care or outpatient settings are for NCDs and about 70 per cent of our deaths are attributable to NCDs.” According to him, NCDs had been included in the world’s sustainable development goals and there was a target of 25 per cent reduction from the baseline by 2025, or 30 per cent reduction by 2030. “Unfortunately, the reality in Barbados right now is that we are projected, if we continue on our current path, not only to miss the 25 per cent reduction but to increase by 11 per cent. That is the reality on the ground; that we are going in the wrong direction in terms of the levels of these illnesses in Barbados and therefore in terms of the impacts on us as individuals and the country… This is a very, very, very serious issue and while there are reasons to be optimistic, there are no reasons to be complacent,” he stressed. Dr Philips said Barbados had been allocating resources, including time, effort and funds, to address non-communicable diseases. “And while we have not yet received the full level of return on that investment that we need to see, the reality is that our efforts have not gone unnoticed,” he pointed out. He noted that the country recently received an award for its work in seeking to prevent and control NCDs. The acting Chief Medical Officer said the main categories of NCDs were cancers, cardiovascular disease (hypertension and strokes), diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases. He pointed out that these groups made up the largest burden of illness around the world and unfortunately, the patterns were similar in Barbados. He explained that the diseases were driven by four key risk factors and highlighted them as an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco consumption and harmful use of alcohol. He added that these modifiable risk factors then contributed to other risk factors – increased blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, high levels of fat in the blood, overweight and or obesity. Dr Phillips lauded the SJPI for hosting the health fair for the past ten years, saying it created an environment that would help persons focus on their health. (BGIS)

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 10/29/2018

Good MORNING #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Monday  29th October 2018. Remember you can read full articles for FREE via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS) OR by purchasing by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper (DN).

GOD CHOOSE BLP – A church leader yesterday declared it was God who chose the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to lead the country at this time. However, Reverend Stephen Gittens has warned the governing party that it must stamp out corruption, or else the same God would find someone else to do it. Delivering the sermon on the final day of the BLP’s 80th annual conference at The Lodge School in St John, he told party faithful they had reason for celebration as they had found favour with God during the May 24 General Election. “No matter how well your campaign machinery performed, no matter how brilliantly your strategies were implemented, it was God’s favour upon this party,” Gittens said. “The political scientists might say it was a swing vote. The people may say it was a vex vote. But the priest will say it was God’s vote. God chose you. God picked you. God elected you.” But while offering congratulations and blessings to the party which swept the Democratic Labour Party out of office 30-0, he urged the Government to adequately deal with recent revelations of corruption. “There’s been a lot of talk about corruption. I believe the Barbadian public has heard enough and had enough talk as it relates to corruption. Barbadians need justice to be served and served with all its weight and grace. (DN)

NEW BLP EXEC – THE TOP BRASS of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) remains unchanged. Following internal elections today on the final day of the 80th annual conference, Prime Minister Mia Mottley remains president and George Payne chairman. Senator Jerome Walcott will also continue as general secretary. Meanwhile, Davidson Ishmael was elected as treasurer after former treasurer Reginald Farley was appointed as High Commissioner-designate to Canada. First vice-president is Minister of People Empowerment Cynthia Forde, second vice-president is Minister in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Maintenance Peter Phillips, while third vice-president is Minister of Maritime Affairs Kirk Humphrey. (DN)

PM MOTTLEY PRESENTS GOVERNMENT'S REPORT CARD – Prime Minister Mia Mottley on Saturday presented her Government’s five-month report card, on the progress made on its mission critical agenda, even as she urged supporters to stay focused. Delivering the feature address at the Barbados Labour Party’s 80th Annual General Conference at The Lodge School auditorium, the political leader said her party was given a mandate like no other in the history of the county. However, she explained that her administration had been methodically going through the task of rebuilding the country since assuming office following the 30-0 victory in May 24 general election. “This is our moment in time to stay focus. This is a relay race. We have to get each leg of the relay right. We have to deal with our debt . . . and I have to tell you that we are on our way to dealing with it,”  Mottley told the packed school auditorium, pointing to decisions made on the domestic debt exchange and the suspension of the international debt payments on June 1. “Many thought that we were doing the wrong thing by suspending the payments. They have now come to recognize as we conclude the domestic debt exchange successfully I may say, by having 97.6 per cent of those eligible to vote, voting and by having 99.6 per cent of those voting, voting in favour of the new bonds. “. . . And while some are uneasy, we have done that domestic debt exchange while leaving no financial institution in this country insolvent. We have done it by asking everybody to help us bear the burden and the savings to the country will be significant,” she said. In the coming weeks and months she said her Government would focus on the external debt exchange. “The meetings are taking place but I could assure you that in the case of Grenada and St Kitts the debt exchanges took one to two years – I remind you today is five months that the Government has been sworn into [office]”. Against the backdrop of  “perilously low” foreign reserves the country’s first female Prime Minister said that her administration had to face the International Monetary Fund “more so for a prognosis that others would trust because going to them was more about locking access to other forms of capital”. The IMF’s October 1 stamp of approval on the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) programme has given the country access to capital from other financial bodies, with the Caribbean Development Bank being the first to come on board, she explained. “The magic is not in signing the loan, the magic is in the confidence that the board of the Caribbean Development Bank has displayed in the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation plan because nobody lends you money if they don’t believe in what you are doing. Within a few weeks the Inter-American Development Bank will have the opportunity to cast their judgement on that plan,” she added. Mottley then turned her attention to Government’s handling of other “mission critical” issues, citing the removal of the National Social Responsibility Levy, the road tax, the “iniquitous” tax clearance certificate, the south coast sewage issues and others, saying, “promise made, promise delivered”. “I am happy that I can stand before you today to be able to report progress on the mission critical agenda. Have we gotten a hundred per cent? Not yet, but . . . six months is not over yet either, the BLP leader stated. Mottley revealed that there was a possibility the Government may . . . need to ask for two or three more months on the mission critical agenda “because of the depth of what [we] have found and what [we] continue to find. “But what we have done is to gain substantial progress in the task of dealing with our debt, the task of dealing with our reserves that have been stabilized by the continued assistance of the international financial [community]. . . having confidence in our programme and recognizing that this transformation programme requires stability of our foreign reserves if we are to garner the confidence of those who want to invest either locally or internationally,” the Prime Minister explained. “I say to you . . . that we have not reached where we want to reach . . . it is five months, but we are well on our way . . . .We will not forget ever that we were elected to solve the people’s problems mission critical or otherwise . . . to transform the people’s lives [and] by extension the nation,” she added. (BT)

TRAVEL BITE –Government is mandating its senior officials cut back the cost on overseas travel. Minister of Foreign Affairs Senator Jerome Walcott said this was one of the sacrifices being made to share in the efforts to get the country back on good economic footing. He told the Nation the Mia Mottley administration was very mindful of the difficulties some Barbadians, particularly retrenched workers, were facing through the ongoing debt restructuring exercise. At the October 18 meeting of Cabinet, it was decided that effective last Monday, October 22, officials would be relegated to fly a particular class when travelling overseas on Government business. For instance, according to the official circular of the notice, ministers as well as permanent secretaries and officers of related grades would now fly economy class for flights of four hours or less. For flights in excess of four hours, it would be business class.  (DN)

PAYNE VOWS GOV’T WILL PURSUE THOSE WHO ‘RAPED’ THE TREASURY – Barbados Labour Party Chairman, George Payne, last night vowed that the government led by his party will be “relentless” in pursuit of those who he said “raped the Treasury” among wrongdoings. Addressing the opening session of the BLP’s 80th annual conference at Lodge School, Payne accused the past Democratic Labour Party government of leaving “this country on the 24th of May 2018 is a tale of sadness that has left us all in tears”. Using strong terms such as “plundered” and “pillaged” in describing what he contends the Barbados economy and society have suffered, the party’s second highest office bearer said, “the premature renewal of contracts; appointment of incompetent functionaries; the mysterious invoicing, and exorbitant payments to professional associates; the free allocation of housing to lackeys; the illegal award of contracts to underlings; the victimisation of Opposition supporters and relatives; the shredding and disappearance of documents and equipment; the rape of the Treasury, all on the eve of a general election speak for itself”. He said that boosted by the “resounding mandate to rescue the country” his party received when it won all 30 parliamentary seats in the elections, “we will be relentless in our efforts to gather all evidence to assist in the prosecution of those persons who have put us in this position”. (BT)

CONTRACT PROBE –A plumbing company formed in February, 2016 was able to land a $5 million contract with the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) five months later even though it had tendered the highest bid. NATION investigations revealed that Dr David Estwick, the then Minister of Water Resource Management sent an email to former chairman Dr Atlee Brathwaite, on July 31, 2016, recommending that Ortus Plumbing and Plumbing Supplies, be granted the contract totalling $5 288 025.34, to provide pipes and fittings for 36 months to the BWA as part of its mains replacement programme. That decision was made less than a month after the board had short-listed three other tenders out of ten local and overseas companies; and recommended that the BWA enter into negotiations with two - HD Supply Water Works, an American company with over 80 years experience, which had submitted a bid for US$1 588 825.00 and SCL Sales and Services Inc. a local company in operation since 2009 and which submitted a bid for US$1 683 099.50. (DN)

DISBURSEMENT OF 2017 TAX RETURNS TO COMMENCE THIS WEEK: PM – Prime Minister Mia Mottley has assured residents that the long wait for the disbursement of their 2017 tax returns is over. “. . . Next week [you will] start to receive your 2017 income tax refunds on time for the first time in years . . .” Motley said to loud applause as she delivered the feature address at the Barbados Labour Party’s 80th Annual General Meeting at The Lodge School auditorium on Saturday. “You will hear me on November 8 outline the deal that we have as I promised that I would do for the pensioners of Barbados, as we move even to remain current in the payment of our bills, because when you next week start to receive your 2017 income tax refunds on time for the first time in years you will understand  . . . that we continue to be true to our word.” Meantime, Mottley said her Government will on Wednesday launch a Trust Loan Programme. She said there are too many people in Barbados who cannot open a bank account or apply for a loan from a financial institution. “The things that does humbug me . . . the layoffs. Who feels good about layoffs? But we have reduced it to a minimum,” Mottley said, adding that the Government is conscious of the need to create opportunities and enterprise even if a person is laid off. “When the others were laid off in 2014, they had to wait one, two and three years for their money and some I am told still didn’t get. I asked the country and public servants to make sure that persons can go home with cheques, in many instances they have, in some instances they have not and I want it corrected. If it isn’t corrected in a day or two it will be corrected in a week or so,” Mottley promised even as she revealed coming plans in other areas. But the Prime Minister raised concerns about the gun violence plaguing the country. “We need a Barbados where people can sleep easier when the night comes . . . because you see what happens when idle hands have nothing to do and I will not sleep easy . . . when there is shooting with gun play all about Barbados, that humbugs me at night,” Mottley said. “I understand the realities of life . . . but those realities on this 166 square miles cannot include automatic guns.” (BT)

WEDNESDAY DEADLINE –Most of the staff have gone, and now they have only two more days before the free food runs out. There is still no electricity and running water, and some are still waiting to be refunded thousands of dollars while the head of the institution sits in jail awaiting trial. That is the latest predicament facing about 35 to 40 students of the controversial Washington University of Barbados, housed at Casa Grande hotel in Oldbury, St Philip. Earlier this month, the chief executive officer of the university, Gopi Venkata Rao, was charged with four counts of issuing bad cheques to Casa Grande. It was also revealed that he owed nearly $3 million inclusive of the use of the facility. “People are moving out. They are going to India, Guyana, St Lucia and European countries. There are only about 30 or 40 people left,” one student, who requested anonymity, told the Nation over the weekend.  (DN)

ALL LESTER VAUGHAN STUDENTS TO RETURN TO SCHOOL TODAY –The Ministry of Education Technological and Vocational Training is informing parents that all classes of the Lester Vaughan School will return to school today Monday 29 October This includes the first and second formers who were home last week. (DN)

FOGGING SCHEDULE FOR OCT 29 – NOV 2 – The Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness will be in St Philip, St James, Christ Church and St Lucy this week, as it continues the fogging programme aimed at controlling the mosquito population in the island. On Monday, Oct 29, the team will fog Harrismith, Bequest Tenantry, Bequest with Avenues, Shrewsbury Drive, Shrewsbury Garden with Avenues, Harmony Hall, Content Cot, Coles Terrace, Blue Dolphin Drive, Coles Crescent, Coles Close, Coles Road, Merricks Tenantry Road and surrounding areas in St Philip. On Tuesday, Oct 30, the areas to be sprayed in St James will be Lower Carlton with Avenues, Bairds Road, Weston, Douglin Road, Crick Hill, Taylor’s Gap, Garden Tenantry, Garden, Fox Club Road, Reid’s Gap, Husbands Gap and neighbouring districts. On Wednesday, Oct 31, the targeted areas are Highway 7, Hastings, Rockley, Casa Blanca, Rendezvous Hill, Worthing Main Road, Worthing with Avenues, Bamboo Road, Beckles Road, St Lawrence Gap, Paradise Village and surrounding areas in Christ Church. Districts in St Lucy will be visited by the fogging team on Thursday, Nov 1, among them Rock Hall, Rock Hall Drive, Jemmotts, Durham’s, Mount View Road, Alexandria, Mount Gay, Mount Gay Village and the environs. On Friday, Nov 2, the Vector Control Unit will return to St James to spray Orange Hill, Hope Road, Jackmans Alley, Walcott Gap, Boyce Gap, Whooping, Beckles Gap, Gilkes Village, Baywoods and neighbouring districts. The fogging exercises will be carried out between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. each day. Householders are reminded to open their doors and windows to allow the spray to enter.  (BT)

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO RECORDS ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE – Another earthquake was felt in sections of Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday. The Seismic Centre at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St Augustine Campus says the 4.1 magnitude earthquake occurred at 11:36 a.m. (local time). (BT)

LILIAN WILLIAMS IS BARBADOS' NEWEST CENTENARIAN – Retired vendor Lilian Williams celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends at her Bibby’s Lane, St Michael home. The mother of two and great-grandmother of three was bubbly as she enjoyed the company of Governor General Dame Sandra Mason. Her daughters Eileen Bryan and Norma Sobers described her as a hard worker. “It was just myself and my sister, so we had to do the same things that boys would have done. Get up and get some work done before we go out to school and we had to come home in the evenings and do the same thing again. [We would] do things to help them as they were always out working,” Sobers said. She was joined by her sister Eileen who said that their mother was a vendor as she sold sweet potatoes and other ground provisions in and around the environs of St Michael. “She was self-employed. She used to sell potatoes and things. She had her mule cart and she would get up and go 5 o’clock in the mornings,” Bryan said. Bryan said their mother was a devout Christian and grew up attending the St Matthew’s Resurrection but she now attends Bibby’s Lane New Testament Church of God. “My mother, she went to St Matthew’s all her early years but after both of us went away [to England] she had a problem with her feet so she stopped at New Testament Church of God,” she said. Dame Sandra Mason presented Williams with a bouquet of flowers as well as a birthday card from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, a card from herself as well as toasted and sang Happy Birthday to Williams who was born on October 28, 1918. (BT)

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 10/12/2018

Good MORNING #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Wednesday 17TH October 2018. Remember you can read full articles for FREE via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS) OR by purchasing by purcha sing a Midweek Nation Newspaper (MWN).

MORE MAY GO HOME – Government has identified 1 500 public sector workers for imminent retrenchment, but more jobs could be cut, depending on the outcome of restructuring efforts at some key state-owned enterprises (SOEs). However, Government’s senior technical adviser Dr Kevin Greenidge on Tuesday stressed initiatives, including the public sector digitisation programme, outsourcing of services and private sector projects, were likely to provide job opportunities for the affected individuals. He also said the fact the majority of stenographer/typists and clerk/typists expected to lose their jobs were female, did not mean the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) programme was targeting a specific gender. On Monday night at a National Union of Public Workers meeting, general secretary Roslyn Smith had charged that a major part of those earmarked to be cut were stenographer/typists and clerk/typists, posts dominated by women. She added it was an attack on women in the workforce.  (MWN)

UP TO 2,500 ‘TO GO BY NEXT FISCAL YEAR’ – As many as 2,500 public workers will be jobless when the dust settles on the Government’s restructuring exercise, the Barbados-born International Monetary Fund economist embedded as the Government’s senior economic advisor has announced. The figure of 1,500 announced by the Prime Minister on Monday is only the start, Dr Kevin Greenidge told journalists at the Central Bank in an update on the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) plan. And he’s hinted that those who are sent home will be among the first to be tapped for a massive scheme to digitize mountains of paper in the Government in the first steps towards creating e-government in which services and payments will be accessible via smartphone and computer. The first batch involves central government workers, mostly temporary employees in those Government departments and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) that are easier to restructure, Dr Greenidge suggested. But additional retrenchments amounting to no more than 1,000, would be next in line in what the economist described as larger and more complex entities – the Transport Board, the Barbados Water Authority and the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC) among them. “The 1,500 mentioned . . . of course, the Central Government will send about 800 . . . . The remainder will come from the SOEs for the restructuring for the remainder of this fiscal year. But I also mentioned that we got to do some “heavy lifting” which can’t be done this year,” said the senior economic advisor. He referred to a recent online survey of 5,000 users that identified out of 93 state-owned enterprises and government agencies which ones are deemed essential, highly desirable, optional and optional but delivered elsewhere. “And that gives a sense of those institutions that we can tackle in this fiscal year…the Caves [of Barbados], KOMI [Kensington Oval Management Inc] . . . those that we think we are going to get efficiency right away. And then there are some that we all know, we don’t have to do any survey . . . if you have to restructure [them], you would have to do some heavy lifting. Transport Board, [Barbados] Water Authority, BADMC. You can’t do them in one [this year]. So they must go over to the next fiscal year . . . to modernize and bring them up to speed,” Dr Greenidge told reporters. “So that the 1,500 . . . of course, the 800, we have already started to cover, but the remainder now will come when we start when we deal with those that we can, and they are online. So when you start to deal with Transport Board and Water Authority over the next fiscal year too, [it] is heavy lifting. You have to address all; it makes no sense stopping,” he argued. But the IMF economist was quick to add that with the job cuts will also come reemployment in the next fiscal year of those who were retrenched in the first place. He assured that with the full digitalization of Central Government starting early next year, most of the 800 being retrenched from Central Government would be reemployed. “Those persons would also be getting – we discussed this with the Social Partnership – a form with options before they do . . .what you want to do, here are the options that are available . . . . The digitalization project we hope to start by the beginning of next year, most of those persons will be back in, and that is financed by IDB [Inter American Development Bank]. Those persons would also be trained in areas to help them provide services long after that [digital] project is over,” he stated. Dr Greenidge said job opportunities which would become available through the training include medical transcription, medical coding and legal transcription. (BT)

‘NO GENDER BIAS IN JOB CUTS’ –The Mottley administration has rejected claims by the main public sector trade union of gender bias in the job cuts phase of the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) plan. Last night, General Secretary of the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) Roslyn Smith told a press briefing at its Dalkeith Road headquarters to update members on Government’s plan to retrench 1,500 workers that the majority of those targeted – 955 in Central Government – were single mothers and other females with mortgages and rents to pay. But this morning the Government’s senior economic advisor Dr Kevin Greenidge – a Barbadian on secondment from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) – denied the union’s claims. “There clearly could be no specific policy to look for gender,” Dr Greenidge told journalists at the Courtney Blackman Grande Salle of the Central Bank of Barbados, while stating that 814, not 955, were going home from Central Government and that the majority of them were actually males. He noted that the selection process only considered posts which were not necessary and not the holders of the positions themselves. But Greenidge outlined some posts to be eliminated which were held predominantly by one gender or the other. “If you look at the overall Central [Government], among the 800, I am sure that most are males because MTW [Ministry of Transport, Works and Maintenance] is the largest component . . . Post Office and one or two in there. If you look at the only category of stenotypists, clerk typists, it would happen to be females. But the answer you could clearly see . . . that’s the nature of the position,” he said. “Stenotypist, clerk typists tend to be a post which we would not have in a modern day, but by default they tend to be a post mostly held by women. But that’s . . . 219,” he said. The number to be cut from MTW is 293. “Those tend to be mostly males, lifting concrete [and so on],” suggested the Government senior economic advisor. The Ministry of Transport, Works and Maintenance, Barbados Postal Service, School Meals Department, security guards, stenotypists, and clerk typists are the departments and posts earmarked for the job cuts. Stressing that the job cuts programme was not a numbers game, Dr Greenidge contended that if it were so, Government could have merely sent home people without addressing the root problem. “Even take [the] Post Office. The structure of the Post Office we had when it was first established . . . when last have you received a personal letter from anyone? So is that the right structure that we need, given the technology that we currently have? E-billing is possible . . . . Pay your bills online and your taxes et cetera. So the delivery of this service may have to be relooked,” he added. General Secretary Smith said she was disappointed with the way in which the Mottley Administration went about introducing its job retrenchment programme. “Yes, we recognized that there will be layoffs, but at the same time, we believe that we should have had more time for consultation on such a sensitive issue . . . .Females as the householders, they are the single parents, they have to look after their children, they have mortgages and rents to pay.  When you do like that . . . to them . . . just cut them off, despite the fact that they’re saying they have been doing their best, they have been straddling more than one job in the department,” an emotional union leader said. “So I am a little bit disappointed in the way that things went, and you just cannot hand the union your decision and that’s it? So I maintain that we should always have a place within the collective bargaining arrangement. That is what we are here for, and I don’t want anybody to be side-lining the NUPW,” she declared. But in an apparent move to clarify the General Secretary’s comments, union president Akanni McDowall, who shared the press briefing with Smith and other members of the executive, told reporters that balance must be brought to bear on the issue. “There were steps . . . when we requested information and we received that information. You have to bring a balance to this thing. We had meetings with the Social Partnership. There was information that was given at the Social Partnership and the union requested additional information as the General Secretary said, and the information was given to us,” McDowall said. “I believe that the process is a difficult one. It is going to impact each of us differently. I mean, for us who have to deal with it up here [at NUPW headquarters] of course we are concerned about those workers who have to go home. None of us really want to see any worker being put on the breadline . . . although we understand this is a difficult discussion, we have to make sure that we manage it in the best possible way because workers are really depending on us,” the union president said.  (BT)

BARBADOS CREDIT RATING ‘TO RISE BY YEAR-END’ - After lingering in ‘junk’ territory for years, Barbados’s investment grade is projected to begin rising again by the end of this year, the Government’s senior technical adviser Dr Kevin Greenidge said today. Before the end of the year, Barbados’ sovereign credit rating will start to go back up again in face of 22 credit downgrades during the past decade, he told journalists. “I don’t have that as a major concern,” he declared. Suggesting that confidence in the economy will soon return, Dr Greenidge said he did not share the concerns that investors will in future avoid Barbados Government securities because of the financial fallout being experienced by pensioners, other citizens, firms and commercial banks who bought debentures, treasury bills and treasury notes. “It comes a point in time if you don’t pursue proper policies, that fundamentally will ruin your ability to pay [debt]. In all of those cases, confidence will return and people will eventually invest in Government again. Because when you are going to make an investment decision now, emotions are high . . . but when you are going to make an investment decision, you look at fundamentals . . . you look at the ability of the person you are investing in to repay,” Dr Greenidge said. And he is certain that over time, the IMF-funded Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) programme would restore and correct all the fundamentals that existed before. He reminded Barbadians that the country could not repay in the past because the debt was too high, running fiscal deficits that averaged seven and a half per cent of the Gross Domestic Product, the sum of goods and services produced in the country. “Confidence is being restored…just as the international community is investing, locals will find it necessary because[of] the excess income and wealth you have to start to invest again. And unlike what you are thinking, I have no concern that people would be coming after Government paper,” the economist told reporters. He added that the investment community is already looking and evaluating what Government was not doing. (BT)

SHOCK AUDIT – An independent auditors’ report has revealed an appalling finance and accounting mess at the state-owned Transport Board from as far back as seven years ago. And there has been an absence of audited financial statements at the cash-strapped, state-owned, bus company since then, according to the financial probe. The audit, which inspected financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2011 and conducted by accounting firm Ernst & Young last year could not confirm the source of $48.9 million the Transport Board received. When Barbados TODAY reached out to the Chairman of the Transport Board Gregory Nicholls tonight, he confirmed that the auditors had an issue with the source of the $48.9 million which was received by the bus company. “I can confirm that the $48.9 million of which you speak, the issue the auditor had was that there was no substantiated information to confirm the revenue. But it was money the Transport Board received from transfers to Crown Government for subsidies for paying for pensions, school children et cetera. But that money has already been spent, so it is not an issue. It is that there was no ability of the auditors to confirm that the money came into Transport Board. So they had issues with that,” Nicholls, an attorney at law, said. He noted that when the auditors checked with the Government, which is the usual source of funding, they did not get a satisfactory response. The auditors seemed to face problems of one kind or another in being able to dig deeper to ascertain the basis for a series of financial transactions, according to the report dated December 6, 2017. The Ernst & Young investigators issued a “disclaimer opinion”, citing five key areas in which they found difficulty in accessing critical information from Transport Board management, preventing them from carrying out their responsibility to express an opinion on the financial statements in accordance with international financial reporting standards. Auditors give a disclaimer when they are unable to give a definite opinion. A lack of properly maintained financial records or the absence or insufficient support from management usually prompts this opinion, one of four possible opinions in audits. A disclaimer opinion may be issued if an auditor has not had the opportunity to fulfill crucial tasks, such as observing or reviewing certain procedures or operations. Under the sub-heading of Basis for Disclaimer of Opinion the auditors said they were unable to access the inventory application and therefore could not perform their audit procedures on the inventory balance of $4,410,902 (2010:$3,704,495). “We were also not able to audit the associated income statement accounts,” said the report. The chartered accountants also revealed that they could not verify clearance of a significant portion of the balances in the Board’s accounting records for cash, which are supposed to match the corresponding information on the bank statement. This, the investigators reported, related to the bank’s information which is supposed to support an overdraft balance of $9,922,328 (2010: $4,659,916). “Consequently, we were unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence for the overdraft balance as of 31 March, 2011 and revenue amounting to $48,973,325 (2010: $46,716,228) for the year ended 31 March, 2011,” the auditors disclosed. The Ernst & Young officials outlined other cases in which they experienced stumbling blocks in doing the job they were hired by the Board to do. “We were unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence for additions to leasehold buildings and buses amounting to $77,437 (2010: $244,966 and $3,652,221) respectively,” the report stated. The auditors recorded repeated hurdles at the state-run bus company in trying to do a thorough inspection of its books. “We were unable to confirm Government contributions included in equity capital amounting to $37,242,870 (2010: $18,393,480) and consequently we could not opine on the fairness of equity capital of $452,416 384 (2010: $415,173 514),” the probe added. The independent auditors said, too, they were unable to examine the associated comprehensive income statement accounts. “We were unable to obtain sufficient and appropriate audit evidence for accounts payable and accrued liabilities amounting to $937,969. As a result of these matters, we were unable to determine whether any additional adjustment to the financial statements might have been required,” the report noted. The Ernst & Young chartered accountants also drew attention to Note 2 in the financial statements, which recorded a net loss for the Board of $59,745,448 for the year then ended March 31, 2011 (2010: $64,682,167). And as at that date, the report pointed out, the bus company’s deficit amounted to $108,750,951 (2010: $86,248,373). “These conditions indicate the existence of material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt about the Board’s ability to continue as a going concern without the support of the Government of Barbados,” the auditors concluded. It was the management’s responsibility for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in accordance with international financial reporting standards, the auditors stressed. “And for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error,” the independent audit report said. Nicholls told Barbados TODAY the board had indicated to auditors Ernst & Young dissatisfaction with the absence of audited financial statements going back to 2011. “They have told us what is the problem in terms of the production of each financial statement and we have put the necessary arrangements in place to complete the audit to bring us into compliance with the requirements of the law,” the board chairman said. He said the Board was working “assiduously” to complete reports for the years 2012 to 2015.  He said the auditors have agreed what they would put into those reports according to their professional assessment of the situation. “They have also told us that they are in a position, because of the review of the financials in ‘15,’16,’17 to do those. We are putting that in place so that the Transport Board could be brought up to compliance,” the attorney added.  (BT)

LIFELINE FOR NEAR 100 000 – Barbadians who have savings and loans with two of the island’s largest credit unions are being assured they will not face user fees, or an increase in interest rates for loans.  And some of those who are likely to lose their jobs in the coming weeks, as Government cuts its workforce, have been offered a lifeline by the Barbados Public Workers’ Co-operative Credit Union Ltd (BPWCCUL). Group chief executive officer of the Barbados Public Workers Group of Companies, Glyne Harrison, said the credit union would be rolling out the service for its near 100 000 members this week. “We have a financial relief centre . . . that is geared just towards that, looking to see how we can help stressed-out members in terms of persons who may be impacted either by direct layoffs or the threat of feeling the harder times,” Harrison said.  (MWN)

PROSPERING DURING ‘SUFFERATION’ - We are the victims of an intense propaganda campaign, designed to mislead us into thinking that mass-suffering is the only economic solution for Barbados. It is not. It is like an overweight person being advised by surgeons that the only method of losing weight is to traumatise the body by surgically removing excess fat. There is a proven non-traumatic solution of diet and exercise. The proven non-austerity methods of lowering taxes, eliminating corruption and properly managing public services, can conservatively achieve a surplus of over $1B in the first year. However, despite the Prime Minister’s promise that all ideas would be allowed to contend, only the severe austerity methods proposed by the BERT economic surgeons were allowed to contend. So, families need to prepare to survive. The advice that I am sharing in this week’s column was to be shared with the approximately 3,000 sent home under the DLP administration. However, the all-aboard unions would not allow me anywhere near their laid-off members. Now that it is the BLP’s turn to send home a similar number in two phases, let me bypass the unions and make the offer public. Whether you have left school with many or no academic certificates, or whether you have been laid-off, fired, or never worked, this advice is for you. We are offering a four-month employment-preparation workshop, where you will be practically finished to be a productive employee or self-employed person. Our training assumes that you dropped out of school in first form. Therefore, regardless of how poorly you performed at school, you can achieve a practical standard of competence and confidence in: reading, writing, speaking, drawing, calculating, reasoning, planning, managing, innovating and creating. You will also be trained to conduct business in Barbados, and to take advantage of favourable tax treaties with the US. It will be an intense four months of training where results are guaranteed to those who do the work. Therefore, only participate if you are serious. If you are participating, but there is no improvement, then the fault is not yours, but ours. The aim of the training is that every graduate will find employment, or become self-employed and earn foreign currency. You may register anytime during October 2018 for a start date of Monday November 5, 2018.  Register by sending an e-mail to NextParty246@gmail.com giving your name. There is no cost for the first batch of persons who register, and there is no size limit for the first batch – we will train all who register. Parents whose children are not working should encourage them to register. Persons who recently got out of prison and cannot find a job should register. Employers who have unproductive but honest employees that they wish to retain should encourage them to register. Anyone who plans to pursue illegal acts because they think that that is the only way to make money is encouraged to register. Those that were sent home under the DLP, and those preparing to go home under this administration are encouraged to register. Every unemployed person on a block should register. It is time to prosper during this manufactured and unnecessary ‘sufferation’. I will be responsible for your training. My approximately 30-year diverse engineering career, together with my eight years of formal teaching as President of Walbrent College, prepared me to take highly complex information and explain it in a simple manner, so that everyone can understand. As the 2014 winner of the National Innovation Competition and a successful business owner, I do not just talk the talk. Grenville Phillips II is a Chartered Structural Engineer and the founder of Solutions Barbados.  He can be reached at NextParty246@gmail.com (BT)

‘BAJAN ALERT’ APP JOINS UP ESSENTIAL SERVICES – In the wake of “fake news” emanating from anonymous sources regarding natural disasters, crime and other serious events, a new app has been launched to ensure Barbadians get accurate and timely alerts directly from the agencies responsible for handling them. The Bajan Alert app was launched today at the Barbados Water Authority’s Pine headquarters. “Apart from the passion I have for helping people in emergency situations, the real reason for developing the app was that over the years we have seen a lot of fake news in and around Barbados. I remember as recently as Tropical Storm Kirk two weeks ago, people were putting up videos of flooding that occurred two years ago in other countries and crediting it to Barbados, and we need to nip these practices in the bud early before they cause Barbadians to panic unnecessarily,” Director of Bajan Alert, Kemar Saffrey, said. The Bajan Alert app brings together all of Barbados’ essential services, including the Royal Barbados Police Force, the Barbados Ambulance Service, the Barbados Fire Service, the Barbados Water Authority, Transport Board, Barbados Port Inc., GAIA Inc., the Department of Emergency Management, the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the island’s major media houses and other agencies. “Presently, most of the essential services have their own platforms but people, especially younger ones, do not really follow them, so we thought of developing an app where all of the services are under one umbrella so they can reach the same number of people,” Saffrey explained. The app is free to download for the general public and all essential services and provides quick alerts, he added. “For example, if the BWA says there is a ruptured main, they would key in their code from a phone or laptop, and send out an alert based on the type of alerts they can send out. A logo will come up, they can pin the location and then send it out to the public. They can add details where necessary also.” But, he stressed that these alerts would be sent out only for matters that would affect a significant portion of the population, such as “hurricanes, tsunamis, gas leaks, mass casualty incidents”. In the event that the island’s main telecommunications providers are “knocked out of commission” during a storm, alerts can be sent via the SMS messaging format. Alerts are available for 24 hours unless the relevant agencies need to update them. Best known as the head of the Barbados Vagrants and Homeless Society, Saffrey, who along with Wendell Beckles developed the app, said they hoped to have 30,000 subscribers on board before yearend, and over 100,000 before the start of next year’s Atlantic hurricane season in June. He commended the corporate entities represented on the app for “powering the app under their corporate social responsibility banner, and that is how we have been able to offer it free”. The app developer said the duo has been approached about offering the service elsewhere in the Caribbean and are “looking at partnering with CDEMA in order to facilitate that”. Bajan Alert is accessible on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/warningbajans/) and is available for download as a smartphone app in the Android (Google Play Store) and iPhone (iTunes) environments. (BT)

BARBADOS BLACKLISTED – The forum of the world’s richest nations has placed Barbados on a blacklist of 21 countries whose so-called “golden passport” schemes are deemed a threat to efforts to combat tax evasion. While Barbados does not have a citizenship-by-investment (CBI) programme, this country was placed on the list because of its provisions for a Special Entry and Residence Permit, according to the report. The Freundel Stuart administration had offered High Net Worth Individuals the option to be granted indefinite Special Entry Permits.  The Special Entry Permits allow non-nationals to enter and depart from the island as they wish, as well as stay for indefinite periods of time. According to several offshore finance and expatriate advisory websites promoting the initiative, non-nationals with a net worth of over US $5 million were to find “making a living, working and retiring in Barbados easy”. “A high net worth individual (HNWI) may apply for a Special Entry Permit (SEP) which gives him/her the right to reside, but not to work in Barbados,” according to local advice website, businessbarbados.com. The Immigration Department has Special Entries listed among its services on its website but makes no mention of what the holder is entitled to. In the list released on Tuesday, Barbados is among seven Caribbean territories, with the remainder comprising European and South American countries running with citizenship by investment or residency by investment (CBI/RBI) schemes. Among the neighbours listed are Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Kitts and Nevis, which has sold 16,000 passports since relaunching its programme in 2006. The Paris-based organization analyzed the residence and citizenship schemes operated by 100 countries and named those jurisdictions that they believe attract investors by offering low personal tax rates on income from foreign financial assets, while also not requiring an individual to spend a significant amount of time in the country. Those wishing to “hide assets held abroad” could misuse these passports, the OECD argued. Pointing out that citizenship by investment scheme had ballooned into a US$3 billion industry, the OECD warned that the ease with which the wealthiest individuals can obtain another nationality is undermining information sharing. “Identity Cards and other documentation obtained through CBI/RBI schemes can potentially be misused to misrepresent an individual’s jurisdiction(s) of tax residence. Potentially high-risk CBI/RBI schemes are those that give access to a low personal income tax rate on offshore financial assets and do not require an individual to spend a significant amount of time in the location offering the scheme,” the OECD explained. Minister of Home Affairs Edmund Hinkson, who holds the responsibility for the Immigration Department, promised to provide a response after investigating the development, he told Barbados TODAY. Over the years Barbados has remained vehemently opposed to the citizenship by investment programme. As recently as last year, then Prime Minister Freundel Stuart raised concerns that its occurrence placed pressure on the freedom of movement among CARICOM nationals. Stuart reported that nationals of non-Caribbean countries took advantage of a Citizenship by Investment programme offered in a CARICOM member country to obtain passports of that territory and exercised their right to remain in Barbados for least six months without question as guaranteed under the CARICOM freedom of movement provisions. But he made comment on the impact that multiple entry visas afforded by Barbados own programme for rich non-nationals might or might not have had on the issue. At the time, Stuart spoke of the powerless position that the immigration authority found itself in when two such persons had opted to remain on the island after the United States Embassy for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, refused their applications for visas to travel to the US. “The American Embassy turned down the applications for the visas, but the persons involved said ‘we are not going back to where we came from, we have a right to six months stay in Barbados and we want to stay here under our six months stay under the freedom of movement regime,’” Stuart said. The former Pirme Minister said that the distress brought upon Barbados because of the uncertainty of the motive of these two CARICOM ‘nationals’ who are not welcomed in the United States is precisely what he was fighting against when in the past he objected to the citizenship based on investment programmes offered by sister territories. “I have fought them [heads of governments] at CARICOM over those programmes … because I say to them, when you grant these people citizenship of your country and Barbados is not a part of the transaction, those people become CARICOM citizens and have, based on our freedom of movement arrangements, the right to come into Barbados when they like and how they like although we don’t know them,” he said at the time.  (BT)

LAWMAKERS EYE CRIMINAL FORFEITURE – Laws are coming to help the Government go after the proceeds of crime, Attorney General Dale Marshall has revealed. Government is in the process of developing stronger legislation for criminal asset forfeiture, said Permanent Secretary Yvette Goddard in a speech delivered on Marshall’s behalf at a Mutual Legal Assistance workshop at Courtyard Marriot this morning. “Barbados is critically reviewing current legislative frameworks. The Cabinet of Barbados recently agreed to revisit its legislation relating to persons who benefit from criminal conduct. The Proceeds and Instrumentalities of Crime Bill is currently under study,” he said. Among areas to be considered are: the confiscation of terrorist assets, establishment of formalized asset-sharing abilities between countries, a Specific Asset Recovery Division in the Attorney General’s office and the creation of a dedicated confiscated assets fund established in accordance with the provisions of Part V of Transnational Organized Crime (Prevention and Control) Act 2011-3. Government was also considering the introduction of civil forfeiture legislation and strengthening criminal confiscation regimes against those who have been reasonably suspected of having gained assets through illegal means, it was revealed. Many criminal networks use cutting-edge information technology to orchestrate their criminal activities, to the extent that they have been able to develop prosperous business from their ill-gotten gains, the Attorney General said in the speech. The workshop, which draws together law enforcement officers from across the region, was reminded that Barbados was by no means alone in this thought process. Based on the recognition that crime has the potential to jeopardize the region’s stability as well as its investor confidence, most Caribbean territories were moving towards strengthening their laws to grapple with the increasing sophistication and complexities of crime, the Government’s chief legal advisor said. It was for this reason Marshall praised the forum as an additional opportunity to “strengthen linkages while serving as a precursor to formulating joint policy and legislation”, he said. “Let us not overlook the fact that criminal activity can damage the stability, confidence and reputation of countries within the region. It is recognized that such activities as human trafficking, fraud, insider trading, identity theft, money laundering, terrorism financing and security issues, have the potential to present the region with new challenges. “We must remember always that investors are monitoring our activities. Correspondingly, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) recognizes that this is also important to develop laws and protocols to strengthen regional responses to some of these activities,” the Attorney General’s speech continued.  (BT)

AULD LANG SYNE IN JAIL – A 35-year-old mason will spend Christmas and the New Year at HMP Dodds. Shane Omar Grazettes, of Phillip’s Road, St Stephen’s Hill, St Michael, was sentenced to nine months in prison today when he appeared before Magistrate Douglas Frederick. Grazettes who is known to the law courts pleaded guilty to destroying a shed to an unknown value, belonging to Marva Layne on October 14, as well as resisting and assaulting police constable Pedro Morris in the execution of his duty on the same day. Police were responding to the report made in relation to a damaged shed when the complainant identified Grazettes. As officer Morris approached the suspect he allegedly stated: “I have nothing to say to you” and then attempted to walk away. As the officer tried to detain him Grazettes started to struggle and struck the officer in the face. Grazettes was eventually subdued. “I apologize to the officer. I was under the influence of alcohol. I did not know about his face [but] I had a little spliff on me and I was trying to get away,” Grazettes told the magistrate just before he was sentenced to three months in prison on each offence. The sentences will run consecutively. (BT)

NO BAIL FOR ALLEGED CAR THIEF – Theft accused Jamar Kevin Lee Blackman, of no fixed place of abode, has claimed that while his fingerprints were found in a stolen motorcar he was not the one who took it. Blackman was not required to plead to the indictable charge that he stole the $40,000 vehicle and a $300 key belonging to Debra Nicholls on August 27. Station Sergeant Carson Henry objected to his bail based on his antecedents which showed he had a history of committing such offences, fears that he would interfere with the witness whom he knows as well as the seriousness of the offence. In his application for bail, Blackman told Magistrate Douglas Frederick that he has appeared in court every time he was granted bail although he did not have any matters pending at this time. “I tell them who it is that take away the car . . . because the people that do it does come around me. I end up borrowing the car to go for ice . . . that is how my fingerprints get on the car,” Blackman told the magistrate before he was remand to HMP Dodds until November 13. (BT)

‘HUNGRY’ TEEN GETS SIX MONTHS – Nineteen-year-old Selwyn Brian Miller does not have to wonder where his next meal is coming from for the next six months. The 2nd Avenue, Newbury, St George resident told Magistrate Douglas Frederick this afternoon that he committed a criminal offence because he wanted “something to eat”. The teenager made the comment after he pleaded guilty to loitering in David Cave’s yard on October 13 with intent to commit burglary. Cave was at home on the aforementioned date when he heard the neighbour’s dogs barking. He looked out and saw Miller on his property carrying a fruit picker and a bag containing paint cans. Miller ran away towards Collymore Rock when the homeowner came out to investigate. He was later apprehended by police. “I duh want something to eat that day. I was stealing paint to sell,” Miller revealed this afternoon. His guilty plea also triggered a six-month bond imposed back on July 6, which carried a one-month prison sentence. He was then sentenced to five months at HMP Dodds, which will run consecutive giving him a six-month prison term. (BT)

CHRONIC BOOZER – A self-confessed excessive drinker must be on his best behaviour for the next 12 months if he wants to avoid spending six months in prison. Gregg Sylvester Sealy, of No 75 Galloway Path, Waterford, St Michael found himself in trouble with the law when he committed three offences while under the influence of alcohol. When Sealy first appeared before Magistrate Douglas Frederick three weeks ago he pleaded guilty to having possession of cannabis on September 23. He had however denied assaulting and resisting special constable Kerryann Burnett in the execution of her duties on the same day. Station Sergeant Carson Henry said the special constable was at Rockley Beach when she noticed Sealy entering a car. He then reversed hitting her car which was parked nearby. As she approached he was seen smoking a cigarette with a pungent odour. She spoke to him and tried to retrieve the cigarette but instead, Sealy held on to Burnett’s waist and spun her around. They were subsequently separated. “To be honest with you I don’t even remember getting into my car. I woke up in the police station . . . and don’t know how I got there. Everybody told me I can’t control my drinks but I just like to drink,” Sealy, who was represented by an attorney today, previously said in his defence. The magistrate also ordered that Sealy attend and complete the walk-in drug rehabilitation programme at the Psychiatric Hospital. He will return to the No.1 District ‘A’ Magistrate’s Court for a progress report on January 16, 2019. (BT)

HISTORY OF COLLAPSING – When Timothy Leroy Daniel left home around 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 15, his common law wife, Marva Green, patiently waited for him to return. He never did. On Monday, Green heard her daughter, Sofia, calling out at the gate of her home in Suttle Street, The City. Thinking she had brought Daniel home, her joy was shattered when she was told his body had been found along the ABC Highway. Earlier that day, C.O. Williams Construction workers stumbled across the decomposed body in a bushy area around 9:40 a.m. while debushing the Cummins section of the highway at Hinds Hill, St Michael. Police later revealed that Green’s national identification card was found on the body. “I had feel real hurt,” Green told THE NATION last night at District “A” Police Station, Station Hill, St Michael. “When my daughter told me, I broke into tears.” When a NATION team visited Daniel’s former place of residence in Sion Hill, St Patrick’s, Christ Church, his brother Hasley Stuart, nephew Ryan Daniel and cousin Harriott King were not aware he had passed away. (MWN)

‘BUMPY’ GONE! – Police appear close to formally identifying a badly decomposed body found yesterday near Hinds Hill, St Michael as that of Suttle Street pensioner Timothy Daniel. The body appears to be that of a male, clad in a T-shirt and boxers. A national registration card found in the boxers bears the name Timothy Leroy Daniel, aged 70, police said in a statement today. Daniel was reported missing since September 25. When Barbados TODAY visited The City community, some residents said they were hoping it was not Daniel, fondly known as Bumpy. Friend Walter Thomas said that Daniel was a retired worker of the Ministry of Transport and Works attached to the Eagle Hall depot, who was fond of “rum, beer, and Guinness”. Thomas recounted he saw his friend acting strangely in September, shortly before his disappearance. “A morning I saw him [with] shirt on his feet, short pants and a bag on his back acting strange through the alley there. In the night time when I came out by him, he had two white plastic bags to go to St George. The wife tell me that Bumpy put on a green shirt and run through the gate and gone. I ain’t saw him since then,” he said. “She went to the police station and made a statement that she husband is missing and she do not know where he is. Next thing they said that he was in Holetown as he used to like to follow the cricket,” Thomas told Barbados TODAY. Another friend, Anthony Collins, described Daniel as an ardent cricket fan. “I just know that he was a jovial guy, a fun-loving guy. He was an ardent cricket fan of the West Indies and YMPC. He was a lover of Collis King especially and he was the kind of man that would follow YMPC anywhere all over Barbados,” Collins recalled. Collins said that it would be devastating if police confirm that his friend has met such a tragic end. “It is sad to hear what happened but this is what happens in life and life must continue but it is sad he was a good guy,” Collins said, adding that now Bumpy had retired, his routine was drinking rum and making people laugh. “Normally he would be out here at the shop on a morning early; he would come and drink some rum with the guys. That was just his routine: just being out here and talking and making fun.” “I will miss that spirit, that kind of jovial kind of guy He [would] cuss and get on bad sometimes but he meant nothing by it,” Collins said. Other residents who spoke to Barbados TODAY echoed the description given by the two friends of an elderly man who enjoy talking about cricket and drinking rum. A road crew from C.O. Williams Construction stumbled upon the body believed to be that of the missing man atop a well while debushing an area off the Cummins section of the ABC Highway near the Hinds Hill junction. (BT)

LAW SUSPENDED BY ICC FOR OPENING TWO ODIS – West Indies head coach Stuart Law has been slapped with a two-match suspension by the International Cricket Council after being found guilty on a disciplinary charge of making “inappropriate comments” to officials. Law also received a 100 per cent fine in addition to three demerit points and with an accumulated four demerit points in a 24-month period, will now miss the first two One-Day Internationals of the five-match series in India which bowls off Sunday in Guwahati. The incident occurred on the third day of the final Test in Hyderabad on Sunday when Law entered the TV umpire’s room following the dismissal of opener Kieran Powell in the second innings, and made inappropriate comments. Law also visited the fourth umpire’s area where he also directed similar comments at the official, within the earshot of players. “Law was found guilty of breaching Level 2 Article 2.7 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to ‘public criticism of, or inappropriate comment in relation to an incident occurring in an International Match or any Player, Player Support Personnel, Match Official or team participating in any International Match, irrespective of when such criticism or inappropriate comment is made’,” the ICC said in a statement. “As Law had received a 25 per cent fine and one demerit point during the final day’s play in the Dominica Test against Pakistan in May 2017, with the addition of these three demerit points, he has reached the threshold of four demerit points, which, pursuant to article 7.6 of the Code, have now been converted into two suspension points.” The Australian pleaded guilty to the charge and accepted the sanction set out by match referee Chris Broad. West Indies lost the match by ten wickets inside three days to suffer a clean sweep in the two-match series. Law made headlines earlier last month when he announced his intention to quit the Windies side at year end, following two years in charge.  (MWN)

PRIMARY SCHOOLS SHIFT NORTH STARS – President of the Barbados Cricket Association, Conde Riley, may not have given up on the North Stars Cricket Ground in St Lucy, but officials of the Guardian Group Herman Griffith Primary School’s Cricket Competition have. This was revealed by competition coordinator Sherwin Campbell at Tuesday’s launch of the 38th annual tournament at the Guardian Group headquarters. “This year, there will be no matches at North Stars due to a request from school officials. No one is comfortable playing at North Stars at this particular time. In the distant future, we will have games there,” said Campbell, the former Barbados and West Indies opening batsman. “Parents don’t want to take their children to a ground that isn’t safe. They want to feel comfortable with them being there. It is important at this level. At the senior level, it might be different because obviously they are adults, but at the junior level, you don’t want to take that sort of risk,” he said.  (MWN)

EATING PROPER SEES DAISY TO 100 – If you live a full life and eat to your heart’s delight, you may live to see your 100th birthday, says Barbados’ latest centenarian, Gwendolyn “Daisy” Mayers. She celebrated her milestone yesterday surrounded by relatives, friends and neighbours at her Savannah Road, Bank Hall, St Michael home. Governor General Dame Sandra Mason, who brought Daisy a bouquet, champagne and two birthday cards, was enjoying her company so much that she told her aide-de-camp and security officers she wanted to stay on a while longer. She also invited Daisy to Government House, adding she was free to stop by whenever she wanted. The centenarian said life was not only about working hard, but being happy and sharing that happiness with others. When asked what she thought contributed to her longevity, Daisy, who is diabetic, replied sharply: “Eating proper. I eat everything. I must have something proper and I would advise the youth to do the same too.” Although she suffers from pain in the knees, Daisy stays active. She said she enjoyed baking, washing clothes and cleaning her house, as those activities kept her independent. A day and night nurse tend to her weekly. She had two children but the eldest, Colin Mayers, passed away in April. She has five grandchildren and seven great-grands. Daisy grew up in Hillaby/Turners Hall, St Thomas, and later moved to Jackmans, St Michael. In 1966 she emigrated to the United States, where she stayed for over 20 years, before returning to Barbados. The devout Christian, a member of St Matthew’s Anglican Church, thanked God for allowing her to reach 100. She later dined with loved ones at a hotel. (MWN)

For daily or breaking news reports follow us on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter & Facebook. That’s all for today folks. There are 76 days left in the year. Shalom! #thechasefilesdailynewscap #thechasefiles# dailynewscapsbythechasefiles

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 10/5/2018

Good MORNING #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Friday 5th October 2018. Remember you can read full articles for FREE via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS) OR by purchasing by purchasing a Weekend Nation Newspaper (WN).

PENSION PINCH – Already heavily in debt, the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) finds itself in a position where contributions alone can no longer cover benefits, with the Government’s debt crisis expected to eat into its investment returns and cash reserves even further, a financial service expert has warned. Actuarial consultant Lisa Wade has called for the NIS to issue its 2017 official report, suggesting that it would spur discussion on reforming the social security system. She said that up to 2012, contributions were ahead of benefits. But although this ended in 2014, the scheme was earning enough from its investments to cover the shortfall. She explained: “Up to 2012, we had $570 million in contributions, and $515 million in benefits. In 2014, we hit a tipping point with $530 million in contribution and $560 million in benefits. However, there was significant investment income earned every year, which is what NIS is using now to pay its benefits. Once again, in 2014 in terms of investment income and contributions we had $772 million, and all payments amounted to $584 million, so there was a surplus of $188 million.“Investigations carried out in 2014 showed that 2034 was a key year in which contributions plus investment would be less than benefits plus expenditure, so there has been some need to examine the system to see what we should do, because by 2034 it was projected this reserve fund would be drawn down on to meet benefit payments, and it was projected it would cover six years of expenditure and would be fully depleted by 2054. “But what has happened then is that prior to debt restructuring, it looked like we would have eight-and-a-half years of expenditure in the fund, but post restructuring it’s looking more like six years.” The consultant said Barbados’ ageing population held serious implications for the future of the 51-year-old scheme, now mired in $430 million in debt. “A significant number of Barbadians are now over 55 years old, so the proportion of the population not working and contributing to the NIS is growing. So, you have a situation where more people are drawing benefits, but fewer people are keeping it going with their contributions. Now what does this mean for society in terms of resource allocation? Do we focus on the younger people or the retirees?” she queried. The actuary, from the Canadian actuarial consulting firm of Eckler, was addressing participants at the firm’s investment policy review at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre. She spoke on the subject of the debt restructuring plans’ impact on pension funds. Wade called on the NIS to complete its report for the period ending last December 31 as quickly as possible to give a better picture of its present state. “Given the multidimensional nature of pension schemes, we must have consultations on its future with all parties involved and reach a broad-based consensus on any proposed pension reform.” (BT)

PUBLIC WORKERS CREDIT UNION ‘UNDER SCRUTINY’  - The island’s largest credit union is coming under intense scrutiny from a group of concerned members calling for an urgent special general meeting to get answers from the board to what they consider some troubling issues. But the directors of the Barbados Public Workers Cooperative Credit Union Limited (BPWCCUL) plan to bare all to the membership in an attempt to prevent “a totally false picture” of impropriety from emerging at the billion-dollar credit union, Barbados TODAY has learned. With tomorrow being the deadline given by the group for the directors to respond to their request for the meeting, spokesperson for the concerned members, Marsha Hinds, said their agenda includes discussion on the forensic audit which the credit union’s supervisory committee had urged since last year. “We clearly said [in a letter to the board] that we wanted to discuss the changes to the governance structure of the credit union; that we wanted to discuss the suggestion by the supervisory committee for a forensic audit to be done and that we wanted to discuss any and all other matters relating to the financial management and prudence of the credit union,” Hinds-Layne told Barbados TODAY this afternoon. But a top official of the credit union dismissed the group’s claims regarding the forensic audit, suggesting that they gave an incorrect impression that something was amiss at the credit union. “The question of an audit: these are things being thrown about which paint a totally false picture. People are saying things without any evidence. It is not good, giving an impression that there is something there to be hidden,” said the source who declined to be identified as he was not authorized by the board to speak on the matter. Hinds-Layne had charged the board appeared to be dragging its feet on having the meeting to deal with their concerns. But in a swift rebuttal, the official told Barbados TODAY that the meeting will be held in two weeks, with updates on the group corporate redesign and the supervisory internal audit on the agenda. “We are going to come with a full presentation . . . . All members can come and ask whatever they want to,” said the executive, adding that nothing will be hidden as there is nothing sinister going on in the credit union. Since the cooperative financial institution was formed in May 1970 with the savings of civil servants and public sector workers, it has grown into one of the nation’s financial powerhouses with more than $900 million in assets from 73,000 members. In an historic move in 2010, BPWCCUL acquired Capita Financial Services Inc., a mortgage and finance company which operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary in Barbados and St. Lucia. (BT)

PAY DELAY – The National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) is pressing for a speedy end to the “exploitation” of Psychiatric Hospital nurses who have not been paid for up to six months, General Secretary of the NUPW Roslyn Smith said tonight. The top civil servant in the Ministry of Health is said to be looking into the case, Barbados TODAY has been told. Smith sent the names of the nurses to the Personnel Administration Division which were then placed in the Government’s electronic payroll system, she said. “But there are other persons that I understand, that it has something to do with the appraisal of the workers in order that the information can be sent on for them to be paid,” she said. The appraisal is a personnel function within the Psychiatric Hospital which, Smith said, has to be addressed urgently. “When it comes to workers working six months, nine months and not being paid, it is an area of concern because persons are then expected to be at work, appearing in the appropriate uniform,” she told Barbados TODAY. “You have [to buy] toiletries and other things that make you fit for work. And you are just going and you still have you mortgage and your rent to pay and no money. I don’t take that lightly. That is like exploitation,” she added. The union leader said she will be pushing for the nurses to be paid especially considering that other public sector employees have been given their salaries complete with the Government’s five per cent increase while the psychiatric nurses have not even received their normal monthly pay. “It is a lopsided affair. So, I am trying to bring balance to the whole thing that those workers be paid their salary. Other persons have received the five per cent and looking towards receiving the back pay . . . so we are trying to have a level playing field,” the NUPW general secretary said. “You can’t be working that length of time and people [employers] now trying to get you on to the system to be paid because you are prompted. People are paid to do that job and I am quite sure those persons who are given that task and they fail to do it and you had to hold back their salary until that is done, it would be another story. So it is a thing of looking after your brother,” Smith contended. She expressed concern about the sloth with which administrative personnel logged the unpaid nurses into the payroll system so they could be paid. “You getting paid and you know that their destiny is in your hands to be paid and you are not making an effort to have it done. That is fundamentally wrong,” she said. The Barbados Nurses Association said it was also looking into the case of the unpaid caregivers. “We will be investigating the matter,” said president Joannah Waterman. The director of the Psychiatric Hospital David Leacock told Barbados TODAY the matter was being addressed by the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health. (BT)

D-DAY FOR BONDHOLDERS – If you hold Treasury Notes, Treasury Bills and Debentures in the name of the Government of Barbados, you have until five o’clock Friday evening to accept the proposal for restructured debt, the IMF official attached to the Government has said. The official, Barbados-born economist Dr Kevin Greenidge, who has been embedded in the Government as a senior technical advisor, issued the reminder while accepting that the proposed haircut and drawn-out payment terms would be difficult for many Barbadian citizens holding Government paper. Government recognized that the terms were difficult ones, as individuals and pensioners were being asked to stretch out the repayment of their debt to 15 years, and accept reduced interest rates, he said in a Government Information Service release. “But these changes have become necessary because the debt burden is otherwise unsustainable, and continued repayments would only further undermine the Barbados dollar,” he noted. The Central Bank is to tally the responses to the offer letters and an announcement should be made on the final decision a week from Friday, he announced. “After that, the Central Bank will place the new bonds in accounts for each person and input the bank payment information it receives. As part of the modernizing process, the Central Bank will no longer send out physical certificates for the new bonds, and will need to collect previously issued certificates for Notes and Debentures. Interest payments will be made on December 31, 2019, for the new bonds,” he explained. (BT)

WISHLIST FOR BOOSTING SMALL BUSINESS – A 50-million-dollar war chest and a guaranteed market for entrepreneurs are included in a three-prong wishlist to boost small businesses that their association wants Government to implement. And the President of the Small Business Association (SBA), Dean Straker, has urged an end to “piecemeal” approaches and broken promises in boosting money, markets and management for small and medium business enterprises (SMEs), if they are to help rebuild Barbados’ economy. Speaking during the Association’s 25th Annual Awards Ceremony, Straker called for greater access to capital, access to markets and training and education of entrepreneurs. “For some time we have been lobbying for improved financial resources for the sector, not the piece-meal responses we have seen in the past, but a significant effort that will impact the volumes of SMEs needed to create economic activity.” While the association welcomed the new administration’s trust loans initiative, Straker did not think it would be enough to “drive the kind of growth needed within the economy. “So the Government may need to look at the small funds available and establish one major fund that can be leveraged to create a pool of $50 million or more to finance entrepreneurial development in the next two years,” he said On access to markets, Straker called on Government to make good on a past promise to procure more of its products and services from SMEs. “The previous administration promised to dedicate 40 per cent of their purchases to us but that never materialised. Since Government is a major buyer of goods and services, it represents an opportunity for SMEs to capture markets.” Beyond that, however, SMEs must seek to export, and in that respect, “export schemes that have been dormant in some agencies need to be revived and technical assistance provided through whatever mechanism is most capable, to build capacity among SMEs to make their products more internationally viable.” On the third prong – regarding training and education for entrepreneurs – Straker cited the success of the SBA’s community training programme in association with the Rural Development Commission over the last 15 years. But, the SBA president said, “We must also ensure entrepreneurs can manage their resources properly or they will fail to achieve sustainable growth.” Straker stated that as Barbados embarks on its recovery process, “the SBA will have to explore greater alliances with policymakers, the donor community, business support organisations and academia, to network on development strategies that will catalyse SME growth.” The big winners on the SBA’s awards night included the Copyright Society of Artists, Composers and Producers (COSCAP), which received the Group Member Sectoral Award, while O’s Inc. won an award for Agro-Processing as well as the Minister’s Award. “Caribbean Dreams” magazine won the President’s Award, while the R.L. Mark Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award and the coveted Small Business of the Year prize went to ten-year-old food and beverage firm Terasu Inc., formed by chef Michael Hinds. (BT)

‘STOP WASTING VISITORS’ TIME’, REGION TOLD – If time is money, then one hospitality industry specialist believes Barbados and other regional tourist destinations are losing significant sums each year due to time wasted at certain points along travellers’ journeys. Tourists visiting the Caribbean could spend less time going through fast tracked processes like clearing immigration and checking in at hotels, according to Vice President of Sales and Head of Marketing in the Americas for Busy Rooms Ltd, Casey Davy. He argued that if the time spent on those activities could be reduced, regional destinations could witness a jump in their revenue intake as tourists find more time to enjoy the destination and spend more on entertainment, food and shopping. “One of the most underrated concepts is time. You travel for three hours to get to the airport and you are ready to spend money because you are ready to enjoy your time, but you spend an hour in immigration or an hour checking in. That is money the destination is not getting,” Davy told participants during the annual Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2018 here. Davy, who was part of a panel discussion on modernizing visitor experiences, could not give an estimate of the revenue that destinations could be losing as a result of delays. But he later suggested to Barbados TODAY that the visitor’s trips could be enhanced, especially for inter-regional travellers, given that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was considered one region. Busy Rooms Ltd describes itself as a revenue, marketing and distribution service company, which connects accommodation providers with online distribution outlets. “Individuals have to be spending time in lengthy lines when they could be spending more money in the destination and or get into where they need to quicker. It is a huge issue in terms of revenue that the economy is not getting,” he said. “So the issue of fast tracking through immigration is something that needs to be handled very quickly and efficiently within the Caribbean especially for inter-Caribbean travel. Individuals travel from one destination within the Caribbean to another and still have to go through lengthy processes in immigration [this] could be between an hour to an hour and a half at times,” he stressed. Government recently installed more than a dozen automated passport kiosks at the Grantley Adams International Airport under a pilot project aimed at fast tracking the immigration process. In addition to automated passport control kiosks, governments could consider introducing the registered travel service, in order to allow CARICOM nationals to have faster entry through each island’s border. “Individuals can easily swipe a card and fast track themselves through the immigration process. It is not just an [issue] that needs to be solved by technology, it requires the interaction, communication and collaboration with governments and it can only start there. The technology will come in to assist and enhance that procedure that is agreed upon,” he explained. During the panel discussions on Wednesday, officials also raised concern about the slow pace in which the region was moving to embrace technology in order to help modernize and enhance the visitor experience. And while members of the audience raised concern that technology could displace some jobs, panelists argued that new jobs could be created, while using Uber and blogging as examples of opportunities that were created from new technologies. (BT)

AIR SPACE – Just as Barbados added more taxes to airline tickets, Caribbean governments are being told lower taxes and a single airspace would “free up the Caribbean skies” and encourage more intra-regional travel. High taxes and a lack of cohesive legislation continue to be the major hindrances to the expansion of the airline industry and inter-regional travel within the Caribbean, say industry experts, who placed the long-standing issues back on the table during the State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2018 here. Among those leading the charge against the high taxation was the island-hopping airline LIAT, which is part owned by Barbados. LIAT’s Legal Counsel Diane Shurland challenged participants in a panel discussion on regional aviation to book a LIAT ticket online to realize that government taxes accounted for approximately half the airfare in many instances. “I challenge you to go on liat.com and search for flights let’s say between Barbados and Antigua or St Lucia and Antigua and then when you pull up the fare, look at it closely . . . it is a rap sheet of taxes,” she said. “It is near impossible to encourage people to travel to support the tourism industry if you have growing taxes, fees and charges. It is near 50 per cent of your ticket cost and look at the description of the charges and judge for yourself. It makes the industry extremely difficult,” she added. When Barbados TODAY searched for a ticket between Bridgetown and St John’s for travel for one week from January 20, the cheapest price found was US$379.70. Of that amount there were eight Barbados taxes and fees amounting to US$141.95. The airfare alone was merely US$80. On the return leg from Antigua and Barbuda there were six charges amounting to US$77.75, while LIAT’s price was also US$80. Barbados, the majority shareholder in LIAT, has long been criticized for its high taxes associated with travel going back over successive administrations. But that did not stop Government from introducing a fee of $70 (US$35) on travellers within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and $140 (US$70) on international travel, which took effect October 1, as part of a wider revenue-raising austerity package. Agreeing that ticket prices were simply too high because of the various government taxes, Chief Executive Officer of InterCaribbean Airways, Trevor Sadler, suggested that governments charge regional travellers only a portion of the tax rate that they apply to international travellers. “Air service is a critical component. Unfortunately, many governments have seen it as the cash cow. The airport is like Las Vegas . . . and naturally you just keep trying to extract a little more and a little more,” he said. By taxing the regional travellers less than international travellers, economies in the Caribbean could experience an increase in tourist spend, Sadler argued. “People are going to put that money in taxes back into the economy be it one more night at an hotel, two more beers, three more dinners, four more t-shirts. “You just might not be able to measure it in the same way. This is how we can address inter-Caribbean travel, by reducing taxation. It will surely stimulate a greater amount of travel,” said Sadler. He declared that his company would be introducing a new flight from one of its destinations to Barbados this coming winter. But he declined to say from where the Turks and Caicos-based airline would fly to Barbados and when the exact commencement date would be. He would only disclose that it would be “a couple flights per week and then we would build frequency with the potential to connect to other markets”. LIAT’s Shurland also welcomed movement in relation to the CARICOM Multilateral Air Services Agreement (MASA) with the signing on of several of the 15 member-states earlier this year. But she said implementation of the agreement was simply too slow, suggesting it was time regional governments “free the Caribbean skies”. “We have no domestic flights. All LIAT’s flights are international flights in one Caribbean. That is something that really must change,” she said. Pointing to the experience of travel during the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean, Shurland added that this was “the best time for Caribbean travel”. “We moved freely, we moved frequently and we moved without restrictions. Was there any crisis, any security issues out of that movement? No. Why then in the Caribbean must we treat our travelling public, locals and tourists alike, as if they are flying between New York and London every day, why can you not move freely?” she asked. The experts’ comments came as they participated in a panel discussion on the topic Aviation: The Sky is the Limit, as SOTIC continued here at the famed Atlantis resort.  (BT)

NO BEDBUG INFESTATION – While bedbugs are a public nuisance, they are not a public health problem. Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kenneth George said Barbados does not have a bedbug infestation, only isolated reports, most of which they could not confirm following investigations. However Chief Environmental Health Officer Francina Bascombe advised anyone who suspected they had bedbugs in their home to seek professional help, as they were resistant to conventional insecticides. (WN)

GIVE YOUR BEST, STUDENTS TOLD – Being the “brightest” in your class is great. But that will not always help you to land the job. Chief Research and Planning Officer Ricardo Norville made these remarks to several secondary school students today at the Queens Park Steel Shed during the EDUNATION Forum. “You could be the brightest person in the pack but if you can’t communicate and if you have an attitude, you still won’t have a job,” he said. During his presentation, he also encouraged students to work on improving their attitudes and deportment. Norville, who sits on several panels which select scholarship winners, said according to studies conducted, some school-leavers were lacking in good conflict resolution skills as well as innovative skills. “Some people would walk into an interview with a T-Shirt, bag on the side smelling musty. “So work on your game, you’re not going to get very far if you do that because we have to keep international standards too. “When you work for us and you have to go outside there and work. You don’t represent only yourself, you represent the country of Barbados,” Norville advised.  (WN)

QEH LABOUR WARD TEMPORARILY RELOCATED – The public is asked to note that the Labour Ward of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital has been temporarily relocated to Ward B2, located on the second floor of the main building. This provisional relocation was prompted by the malfunction of the air conditioning unit used to cool the ward, and took effect from yesterday, and will continue until Friday, December 14, to allow for the necessary repairs. The QEH regrets any inconvenience caused. (BGIS)

BTPA TO CLOSE AT NOON TODAY -  The Barbados Tourism Product Authority (BTPA), located at Warrens Office Complex, Warrens, St. Michael, will close at noon today, Friday, October 5.  This is to allow staff to attend a funeral.  Normal business hours will resume on Monday, October 8.  (BGIS)

NATIONAL DISABILITIES UNIT CLOSED UNTIL MONDAY –The National Disabilities Unit, located at the NUPW Headquarters, Dalkeith, St. Michael, was closed today, as a result of an electrical problem.  The office will re-open on Monday, October 8. (BGIS)

MISSING: KISHMAR COLLYMORE – Police are seeking the assistance of the public in locating a missing boy.  He is Kishmar Collymore, 16, of Apartment 1 Ronn Court Apartments, Rendevous, Christ Church.  He was last seen yesterday around 6 p.m. by his mother Keisha Holmes of the same address. At the time, he was wearing a baby blue short pants, a burgundy, dark blue and cream ¾ shirt and a pair of brown Adidas slippers. Kishmar is of slim build, with a dark complexion. He is about five feet eight inches tall, and he has a longish head and face, normal forehead and protruding ears.  His right ear is pierced once and his left ear is pierced twice.  He has dark brown eyes; a medium nose with flared nostrils and his teeth protrude slightly.  He has a tattoo of clasped hands on the right side of his chest with the word “Victor” written under it.  Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Kishmar Collymore is asked to contact police emergency number 211, Crime Stoppers at 1-800 -TIPS (8477), District ‘A’ Police Station at 430-7246, or 430-7242 or the nearest police station. (WN)

TRUCKER’S BRUSH WITH DEATH – Coleridge Parris was visibly shaken by the moment that could have been his last. The 65-year-old freighter was driving along the Graeme Hall stretch of the ABC Highway when a white SUV came flying towards his blue truck. If not for the jersey barrier separating the dual-carriage way highway, the jeep driven by 64-year-old Orlando Cozier would have crashed directly into his truck. Stunned by the sight that was unfolding in front of him, a startled Parris slammed into a pole, damaging the fender of his vehicle. Cozier of Kingsland, Christ Church, who was removed from the overturned vehicle by firefighters, was taken to hospital. Speaking to Barbados TODAY as police closed off the highway to investigate the accident, Parris was still in disbelief. It all happened so suddenly that he still could not process the details, he said. “I was coming down the road on the right lane and I just see the jeep come around a corner, little past a white van, and the guy . . . went airborne,” Parris recalled. He went on to reveal that vehicle bounced into the barrier once before flipping over and landing on the side of the road. “I glad he didn’t come over the bar because he would have had me good,” he added. As Parris spoke to Barbados TODAY, Cozier’s son, who declined to reveal his name, appeared distraught at the scene. No further details of the condition or injuries of the elder Cozier were available up to news-time. (BT)

MAN INJURED IN HIGHWAY ACCIDENT– One man was injured in a serious accident on the Barrow section of the ABC Highway around 3:10 this afternoon. He is 64-year-old Orlando Cozier of Kingsland, Christ Church, who was the driver of the lone vehicle involved in the accident. Cozier was extracted from his vehicle by personnel from the Barbados Fire Service and taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.  (WN)

WOMAN CHARGED WITH THEFT – Police have charged 29-year-old Erica Sabrina Chandler with theft. Chandler, of #2 Erdiston Hill, St Michael, was accused of stealing items today, while at Sunset Crest, St James. She appeared before Magistrate Wanda Blair at the Holetown Court where she pleaded not guilty. She was granted $2 000 bail with one surety and is scheduled to reappear on February 12, 2019.  (WN)

MESSAGE LEADS TO 100 HOURS COMMUNITY SERVICE – The woman who was charged last month under the Computer Misuse Act, has been ordered to serve 100 hours of community service. Kimberly Natasha Stuart, 29, of 5th Avenue Marshall Gap, New Orleans, St Michael, was not required to plead to using a cell phone to send an electronic communication that was intended to be obscene and intended to cause Keisha Mitchell annoyance, distress or anxiety on September 20. Stuart admitted to the offence when she appeared before Chief Magistrate Christopher Birch on September 27. She remains on $750 bail, and is scheduled to reappear before Magistrate Wayne Clarke in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court on January 15. (WN)

SUSPENDED JAIL TERM FOR PAYNE – A 57-year-old painter was handed a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to having four cocaine rocks in his possession. Police found the contraband on Harold McDonald Payne, of Ashdean Village, St Michael, while they were on patrol at Black Rock, St Michael yesterday. They spotted him riding a bicycle while holding two pieces of lumber on his shoulder. According to Acting Station Sergeant Cameron Gibbons when Payne saw the officers he dropped the lumber. He was stopped and questioned about the items and a search of his person was requested to which he consented. The drug worth $40 was found in a cigarette box. He was sentenced to eight months in prison which was suspended for a year. (BT)

DRUG OFFENDER TO GET AN ASSESSMENT  - A 47-year-old man will spend the next three weeks at the Psychiatric Hospital being assessed by doctors. Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant sent Ricardo Orlando Streaks, of no fixed place of abode, to the institution after he pleaded for help for his drug addiction. He had moments before pleaded guilty to having two cocaine apparatus in his possession. He will return to the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrate Court on October 31. (BT)

ACCUSED GUNSLINGER REMANDED – A 27-year-old man got an automatic 28-day stay at HMP Dodds when he appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrate’s Court today. Raphael Monroe Trotman, of Munroe Village, Dash Valley, St George, is accused of entering the home of Junior Phillips as a trespasser on August 8 and inflicting serious bodily harm on him while he was armed with a firearm. He is also accused of using a firearm on the same day while allegedly committing the crime of aggravated burglary. Trotman, who is represented by attorney-at-law Shadia Simpson, was not required to plead to the indictable charges. He has been remanded to return before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant on November 1.  (BT)

CONTEMPTUOUS! – If accused David Nathaniel Lynch thought an apology for his “extreme” expletive-laden outburst in the District ‘A’ Magistrate’s Court 24-hours prior would suffice, he was sorely mistaken. Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant today sentenced the 24-year-old, of Roger’s Road, The Ivy, St Michael, to a one-year jail term for contempt of court. It’s the first time since being called to the bench, that Cuffy-Sargeant has ever had to impose such a sentence as she has previously admonished or ordered that the offender be removed from the court as prescribed by law. This afternoon, Lynch who explained that he had been “on remand for four calendar years” apologised for yesterday’s outburst. “It pains my brain that I am in jail so long, four calendar years, and nothing is being done with my matters, not even a file ma’am . . . and the prosecutor saying one thing every month,” Lynch, who is charged with several offences under the Firearms Act said. “This playing with my mind ma’am because it seems to me that I am being unfaired by this court, ma’am. So I am asking for your forgiveness for using disrespectful language towards you, ma’am. I am also asking you for your sympathy from your heart to forgive me,” said Lynch, who had told the magistrate, among other things, to “carry your r******,” as he left the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrate’s Court yesterday. However, that apology fell on deaf ears today as Cuffy-Sargeant explained to Lynch that she had been “working very hard” and “trying my best” to get his matters going but they were time-consuming as he was charged for “several very serious matters” including those under the Firearms Act that involved not only different co-accused but also several complainants. She further explained that he had previously mentioned that one of the complainants in a 2014 case was no longer interested in her case but that person had not given the court any such indication while others had said that they wanted their matters to go to trial. “So it is unfair to say to the wider public that nothing is being done. These are complicated matters . . . and as a result of a simple request . . . you turned on the court and utterly disrespected the court.” Making it clear that it was her duty to safeguard the court the magistrate informed Lynch that he was not the only one with rights as an accused person but that the complainants also had rights. “When you come to court . . . certain protocols . . . must be followed. You did not only disrespect the court but you also disrespected the prison officer . . . and the prosecutor who were trying to calm you down yesterday. “That type of behaviour cannot be overlooked as . . . [it] was extreme. It is also not the first time that you have behaved that way and this court has accepted several apologies from you and tried to work with you,” the magistrate explained as she handed down the sentence on the grounds that Lynch used violent, insulting, indecent, abusive language in court and to a sitting magistrate. Cuffy-Sargeant further explained that she had admonished Lynch on several occasions in the past for his behaviour and had also ordered him to be removed from the court. The other penalty for such an offence is the imposition of a fine. However, the magistrate made it clear that the sentence was for contempt in the face of the court and not on the charges that Lynch currently faces. Those cases, which include the use of a firearm with intent to commit the indictable offence of wounding with intent and engaging in conduct that placed six people in danger of death or serious bodily harm, will come up again for hearing on October 31. (BT)

OVAL PITCH BLACK –The resumption of play after lunch in the Super50 contest between Barbados Pride and Leeward Islands Hurricanes, has been delayed due to an issue with the lights. Barbados posted 181 for nine after winning the toss and opting to bat, but a technical issue with the lights has delayed the response from the Hurricanes for more than 90 minutes. Chief executive officer of Kensington Oval Management Inc. (KOMI) Ben Toppin told the media that an additional generator is being brought in to power the lights at the southeastern end of the ground. The remaining light towers are currently working. According to Toppin, the problem seems to be related to a burst main earlier in the day that may have flooded the underground connection due to the high water table following the recent rains. (WN)

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 10/4/2018

Good MORNING #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Thursday 4th October 2018. Remember you can read full articles by purchasing Daily Nation Newspaper (DN), via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS).

POLICE: SAY SOMETHING – If you know someone who is keeping a gun or carrying one, report it to the police. That is the appeal from Deputy Commissioner of Police Erwin Boyce, as officers were called to investigate yet another shooting on Wednesday. The morning quiet of Garden Land, Country Road, St Michael, was shattered by four gunshots. Police said Renico Murray, a resident, was shot around 10:30 a.m. and taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by private vehicle. “We are always asking people for any information that can lead to offenders or persons who commit crime. That public appeal is not limited to those recent events. It is a very general appeal where if you know something, say something,” Boyce told THE NATION. “If you know somebody who is holding a firearm, who is keeping a firearm, who is carrying a firearm, you can identify a police officer and share the information with them,” he said. (DN)

PRIESTS READY TO HELP PARENTS – Chairman of the Barbados Christian Council, Canon Noel Burke, is urging parents with troubled children to reach out to the church for assistance. Speaking against a background of the current spate of gun violence across the island, the Anglican priest said churches were “open morning, noon and night and persons must avail themselves of the opportunities to speak to pastors, since many churches had people trained to deal with children, young people and their issues”. Over the last week, there have been a number of incidents involving the use of guns, with one resulting in death. Observing that young people were often the perpetrators of violent crime, Burke urged parents to be aware of what was happening with their children. “From early, parents have to learn to supervise what their children are doing, what their friends and what their linkages are,” Burke said.  (DN)

FIRE LEAVES FAMILY OF FIVE HOMELESS – A Christ Church family of five is now homeless after fire destroyed their home at Silver Hill this afternoon. Forty-year-old Junior Lowe, 27-year-old Shanice Am, 60-year-old Abdul Am and two children ages 12 and eight lived at the wooden house. Seven fire officers and two fire tenders responded to the blaze, which occurred around 1:15 p.m. Police are continuing investigations.  (BT)

POLICE INVESTIGATE COUNTRY ROAD SHOOTING - Police are currently on the scene of a shooting in Country Road, St Michael. Reports are that an unidentified male was shot and was taken to the hospital by private vehicle. Residents in the area told THE NATION that just before 11 a.m. four gunshots rang out, followed by loud screams.  (DN)

CHEESE THIEF GOES HOME – Forty-year-old Gaylan Alphonso Marshall is a free man. Marshall, of no fixed place of abode, who spent the last 28-days on remand at HMP Dodds was today sentenced to time served. He recently pleaded guilty to stealing $57.85 worth of items from Massy Stores when he appeared before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant in the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrate’s Court. Marshall, took four blocks of cheese from the store’s Worthing, Christ Church branch and was observed by a security guard. (BT)

PRESCOD ON WOUNDING CHARGE – A 27-year-old mechanic has been banned from venturing into Nelson Street and its environs until a wounding charge against him is fully ventilated in court. Rasheed Kamal Prescod, of Bartletts Tenantry, Sargeant’s Village, Christ Church, who was granted $5,000 bail, must also report to the Worthing Police Station every Thursday by noon with valid identification. Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant imposed the conditions after Prescod pleaded not guilty to a charge of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Anthony Mapp on October 1. Prescod who pleaded not guilty to the charge will return before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant on January 17, 2019. The accused is represented by attorney-at-law Marlon Gordon. (BT)

STICKY FINGERS DUO – Two homeless burglars, 47-year-old Richard Ricardo Jordan and 27-year-old Damien Shamar Griffith, have been sentenced to over two years at HMP Dodds. The duo, who were both recorded as having no fixed place of abode and have a long history with the court, appeared before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant today. Both men admitted that they entered De House Bar and Grill as trespassers between September 24 and 25 and stole an assortment of alcoholic beverages as well as 14 empty cases of bottles and a cooler bag with a total value of $2,748.50 belonging to Kimberly Neblett. Jordan also admitted to returning to the bar and grill between the 27 and 29 September, this time on his own where he stole two cases of beer, a bottle of petroleum gas, a case of chicken and a tent valued $1,015 in total, also belonging to Neblett. The two burglars also hit the offices of Power by Four during the same period and stole a bag, a CCTV monitor, a remote control and $216 worth of drinks with an overall total of $606 belonging to Chetwyn Stewart. Jordan also returned on his own and stole a jacket, three t-shirts, two bags and a paddle tennis racket worth $521. Griffith also struck on his own on September 29 and stole a cellular phone worth $400 belonging to Fabian Durant also from the Power By Four office. In all the burglaries the owners of the establishments secured their businesses but returned the following day to find one of their doors damaged and their property missing. Both men asked for help for their drug addictions when they were given a chance to explain their actions. “Ma’am, I suffer from short-term memory loss,” Griffith, who is described as having quite a history for committing similar offences, revealed as he pointed to a scar to the back of his head. “Your Worship, after all this Ma’am . . . I still face a problem that I really wanted help for . . . . I still believe that there is a God and no one can’t take that from me . . . . I will just like some help,” Griffith explained while Jordan who the magistrate said had an even longer history before the court said: “I was given 27 months before and I was awarded the [drug rehabilitation] programme and not one day that I was in jail that I get the rehab programme. I left jail and still didn’t get it. I would like to come back before you when I finish this sentence so you can send me to a programme.” The two were sentenced to two years in prison and two nine-month sentences to run consecutively. (BT)

NO UBER! – Bridgetown Taxi operators today shouted a loud no to the suggestion that ride-sharing phenomenon Uber could soon reach Barbadian shores. When Barbados TODAY visited the Independence Square Taxi stand this morning, drivers said they feared Uber would deprive them of their livelihoods. Taxi operator Steve Yarde said that the industry was already unsustainable, adding that drivers only enjoy five flourishing months a year. “The island is saturated with taxis as it is now and the amount of work that is sustainable cannot sustain everybody. There are probably five good months in a year and then it is ‘dog eat dog’ out here to get a job,” Yarde said, adding that with the ailing economy some Barbadians, were unable to afford to take a taxi opting instead for a minibus or route taxi. “The economy is sluggish at the moment. There are a lot of people who cannot afford and I am talking locals now; who cannot afford to catch a taxi. So, they catch ZR’s or buses.  So, if [Uber] were to come here now I do not know how it would work really. I think having local people using their cars to pick up other people obviously would affect everybody that is in the taxi business in a negative way,” he told Barbados TODAY. Yarde was of the opinion that Uber would be a waste of time as most taxi operators receive work from trusted clientele, some of whom have been transported by a particular taxi for years. “You find the guys that are working in the local market have their own clientele and these people are faithful to them because they can trust work. Females that want to go out feting would prefer to drive with their own taxi guy that they know for years, he said, adding that some days taxi men could operate an entire day an only receive a minimum of $10 or $20. “Uber has a good representation in the international market as it is right now; I do not know if bringing it to Barbados will make any sense as it is a waste of time. All it is going to do is confuse the whole [taxi industry] in Barbados with the amount of taxis we got that laying idle because you could be you there whole day and only make $10 or $20 a day, Yarde said. “I think it is a backward step as far as I am concerned where the Government has decided to grant these people a permit to operate in Barbados,” he said. Another taxi operator, who wished to be unidentified, expressed ominous feelings of the impact the San Francisco-based peer-to-peer transport company could have in Barbados but also suggested it would fail. “I don’t feel good. Things out here hard already and then when they come it will be harder. Well, it will not only affect my one it will affect other people. I do not feel it will last long in Barbados a lot of people will not want to catch that,” he said, adding that tourists already preferred to catch the PSV’s which they refer to as the “Reggae Bus” and are not keen to take a cab. “Up to the other day, I was driving some tourists and they said they would prefer the ‘reggae bus’ and the Transport Board bus because they like the music playing in their ears,” he said. The taxi operator said that Government’s announcement that they would explore Uber would not benefit cab drivers whose main income is from the number of fares they receive per day. “If Uber come, it is not going to benefit we that out here hussling trying to get a dollar to feed we family; that is [taking] bread out of we mouth,” he said. Minister of Tourism Kerrie Symmonds appeared to share the taxi operators’ lack of enthusiasm for the ride-sharing firm’s entry into Barbados, saying he wanted to meet with taxi operators. “We want to meet with taxi operators within the next week or two with a view of discussing options on how to improve business. We’re not enthusiastic about Uber generally because that will allow persons with deep pockets to become dominant so we are trying to make the small man get a greater share,” the Minister said as Tourism Week began last week. But in Broad Street, the minister’s words were met with the loud expletives of furious taxi men who were fearful of Uber’s impact on their industry while saying they were convinced it would fail here. “Do not bring that ‘bout hey we don’t want [no] Uber; we want money. Do not bring Uber, bring ships, bring tourists that spending money,” said a taxi operator who called himself ‘Dragon Slayer’. Another opined that as some Barbadians do not have credit cards, they would not be able to use the Uber service. “Everybody ain’t got a credit card to book a taxi. For the very few people who goin’ benefit is the companies like Foster Ince and them, not the single man working. Them [taking] the bread out of we ‘mout’ every single day, every day. Men out here cannot see a $100 when the week come and got families to support that is nonsense. People want to see money in their hand first before you think of bringing anything else in Barbados,” he said. Still another taxi operator, identified as ‘PG’ said that Uber’s implementation would be disadvantageous to Barbados as it would come on top of higher fuel prices which the taxi drivers say have already bitten into their daily take-home pay. “My first job was a little after 10 and that was just a $10 job. Come across here and looking again to see if anybody would need a taxi and see if I get a job…. When you do get a job and it is just a $15 or $20 it goes back in gas and you have nothing on your hands,” she said, adding that day to day operations would become rougher if Uber were to set up shop here. “It is going to be real rough because it is very, very,, very tight,” she said. “You cannot expect to bring outside life or outside living to run Barbados the same way. Because things are real rough here, you have to be making money to going to the store to buy things,” said PG. But fellow taxi operator, Ian, noted that the taxi operators already have a system similar to Uber’s meter system as they deem their rates based on the distance traveled. “If Uber come here what we are offering is the same thing as a fare thing. So it will be a competition between us and Uber,” he said, adding that taxi operators may have to pay Uber a fee, which may not beneficial to operators. “Another thing is that we would have to give Uber a fee; I feel it is not going to work,” he said. In Heroes Square, one taxi operator said that he was hurt that after voting for the Barbados Labour Party administration it had announced a fuel tax and allowed the possibility of Uber which he believes is unfair to taxi operators. “It is not fair to we! We now have to pay more for gas. We have too many taxis on the road already. Everybody got to live but if you bring in Uber the taxi men in Heroes Square are not for it!” he sternly told Barbados TODAY. But taxi operator John Nelson said that he believed Uber would bring change to public transport. “I do believe it would change the transport system in Barbados. I believe there will be some fallout as it relates to taxi operators and so on but I do not know. It has never been tried here before. I do not think that Taxi drivers will be willing to be incorporated with Uber. To be honest, I do not know,” Nelson, said. (BT)

PLEA TO GOV –  Senior insurance executive Edward Clarke is urging Government to reconsider the “punitive” debt restructuring terms it has offered pensioners and other individual bondholders. He is also concerned financial institutions are so “severely impacted” by the domestic debt exchange programme there will be “some negative impact on the capital funding in Barbados”. Clarke, who is executive vice president and general manager of Sagicor Life Inc.’s Barbados operations, told THE NATION that while domestic creditors had until tomorrow at 5 p.m. to respond to the debt offer, it was important for Government to find a way to ease individual investors. “The individuals who have invested in Government bonds [face] significant impact and I believe that there is a need to review . . . how people will be impacted,” Clarke said. (DN)

40 BUSES AFFECTED BY TROPICAL STORM KIRK – The Transport Board issued a statement today informing the public of some of the challenges the authority is facing. The release stated that due to the passage of Tropical Storm Kirk “a number of buses which traversed areas with rushing and/or high water levels experienced damaged panels and electrical issues”. This resulted in about 40 out of the Board’s 110 buses having to be removed from service. Seventeen of those buses are now back on the road. The Board is also waiting to receive a replacement for a shipment of parts that was damaged at the port in Jamaica, and this impacted those vehicles awaiting inspection at the Ministry of Transport Works and Maintenance. The Board offered apologies for the inconvenience and asked the travelling public to remain patient as the issues are addressed. (DN)

SEWER FIX SOON – A race against time is on to fix the outstanding sewage issues on the South Coast – with the finish line being the December 15 start of the vital winter tourist season, the Government acknowledged today. “I appreciate the urgency… and we have started the process of the fix and we aim to have this rectified as soon as possible,” Minister of Energy and Water Resources Wilfred Abrahams has told Barbados TODAY. Promising to provide the country with a more detailed update later, Abraham made the brief comments amid queries by prospective and regular visitors who have been writing Barbados TODAY from overseas to find out when the Worthing Beach in Christ Church would reopen. One visitor said she and her family were planning to come to Barbados for the winter season and stay near the Worthing Beach which they were interested in enjoying. Back in August a would-be visitor asked: “Please would you let us know what’s going on at Worthing Beach again?” And last month, another writer wrote: “When did it close? What’s affected? When will it reopen? What hotels are affected? We plan a visit in the Fall. How bad is the beach at Worthing? What has caused the beach to be closed for months?” In mid-August, the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Beautification closed the beach for the repair and restoration of the South Coast sewerage network. It said that the continued closure comes as a result of wastewater entering the Graeme Hall swamp, aided by the heavy rains. In an effort to protect the swamp and its environs, in addition to keeping the wastewater from again surfacing on the streets of the south coast, the sluice gate at Worthing was opened to allow the overflows to exit via Worthing Beach during low tide, the ministry said. The Ministry also informed the public that the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) will conduct daily nearshore testing and will continue to monitor conditions on the beach. The National Conservation Commission (NCC) was expected to ensure that warnings remained in place for the duration of the closure. The closure of the beach has adversely affected business for the two beach bars at Worthing with their owners telling Barbados TODAY sales have plummeted while still having to pay rent to the NCC. General Manager of the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) Keithroy Halliday has said that engineers and other workers were hard at work trying to repair the sewage network and was hoping it could be finished within a month or earlier. (BT)

BWA ‘TO FILL HOLES, FIX ROADS’ – Short of cash, but the state-run Barbados Water Authority (BWA) is moving to resurface the roads it dug up to fix to burst mains. A BWA team, led by Corporate Communications and Rapid Response Manager Joy-Ann Haigh, visited the affected areas to start restoration work on the trenches, which potentially pose a danger to motorists and other road users, particularly at night. “We recognize there is a major problem with road reinstatement after the trenches are dug in an effort to repair these mains. We have some financial challenges as everybody should know by now. The BWA is cash-strapped. So there are some delays in getting this done,” Haigh said while standing next to an open trench at Rollins Road, Brittons Hill, St Michael this afternoon. She said the authority is working on a plan to ensure all of the open trenches are restored faster. “In the meantime, we will be taking pictures of all of the reinstatements and post them on our Facebook page, share with [Government Information Service] and all the media houses as a public service announcement. We are going to make sure the public is aware there are trenches in specific areas and you must proceed with caution,” she said, adding that this would be done until repairs can be completed in a timelier fashion. Saying that the BWA’s priority was the safety of the travelling public, Haigh said securing the holes was a necessity in addition to the erection of more easily visible signage for night-time road users. “We normally secure, but we recognize that we may need to improve some of the areas with lights and that is what we are going to do. So we are out here [Rollins Road] reinstating some of them,” said Haigh. Trenches were excavated at Oldbury, St Philip, White Park Road in front of the Supreme Court, Cummins Road [Brittons Hill], and Royal Westmoreland, among “a number of areas”, the BWA manager said. She conceded that the open trenches have been a concern to the public, adding that the concerns had reached the BWA’s line minister – Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Wilfred Abrahams who she said is looking at how best the reinstatements can be done. “We certainly don’t want any injury or loss of life as a result of good work being done, but we need to make sure the trenches are reinstated. And left me repeat, we are going to secure them better and we are going to put public notices on our social media…you must like our page to get that information, as well as GIS and all of the reputable media houses will be assisting us in getting this information out as best as possible,” Haigh said. Acting Senior Superintendent of Works with the BWA Randy Phillips, who accompanied Haigh, said restoration work could not be started today on the trench at Rollins Road. “The reason why we can’t get this hole backfill right now at Rollins Road, Brittons Hill, St Michael is because it has a lot of water in it and then there is some excess material that came back in, that we need to get the [backhoe] to come and clear it out properly so we could get a good base. Then we could put in our two-down and be able to compact it, then it would be done in the required way,” Phillips told Barbados TODAY. “But hopefully by tomorrow, I assure you this job would be done,” the BWA official stressed. The team then journeyed to nearby Cummins Road to assess a similar problem. (BT)

ACCRA BACK FROM BLACKOUT – One of the most popular South Coast hotels is back in business today following a series of electrical problems that began with Tropical Storm Kirk last Friday. The Accra Beach Hotel and Spa at Rockley, Christ Church was forced yesterday to give its guests the option to check out or stay on after a badly damaged mains transformer forced the hotel to run its generator which eventually gave out. “We had the storm. First our transformer was damaged severely and then we run it with the generator… because it is always heated…it runs 24 hours a day… then we had an issue yesterday because of that,” general manager Suresh Mohickoraja told Barbados TODAY this afternoon. “Unable to restore, we gave the guests option – if they want to check out or remain in the hotel. And today, we have a new generator and the hotel is back on stream,” Mohickoraja said. He was responding to reports which claimed that the Barbados Light and Power Company had disconnected the hotel’s electricity because of a $200,000 unpaid bill. The general manager challenged anyone to bring proof of the unpaid bills while at the same time pointing out that the damaged mains transformer which sparked the outage can still be seen at the front of the property. He said the storm also knocked out the pool’s pump so the pool is now out of order.   (BT)

MAKE ‘CARIBBEAN GLOBAL TOURISM CENTRE’  - Barbados and other Caribbean tourist destinations are being challenged to transform the region into a global centre for tourism excellence that drives innovation in the industry Bahamas Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis has urged regional officials to explore “ground-breaking” ways to improve the tourism product, saying that he was confident Caribbean tourism would continue to be the leading engine for economic growth and development. “We must broaden our Caribbean brand in tourism. Our region must be known for extraordinary visitor experiences and services. We must also be known as a global centre of excellence for all aspects of tourism development. In so many ways the potential of our region is untapped,” he said. The Bahamian leader urged industry figures to ensure “greater retention of more tourism earnings within our region and a greater dispersion of wealth within our economies”. He made the call on Tuesday night during the official opening ceremony of the State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) 2018 at the Atlantis hotel resort here. “Tourism continues to evolve at a pace that requires us to constantly innovate in order to maintain market share and to meet the expectations of our visitors. We must keep pace with such innovation. But we must also be the drivers of global innovation,” said Minnis. Highlighting employment opportunities within the industry, Minnis pointed out that travel and tourism was one of the largest and fastest growing sectors of the global economy, but questioned why the region was still falling behind despite a rich heritage and culture that could be better marketed. “Why, then, has the Caribbean never really attracted many of the tourism-related businesses outside of our region which rely on our region for their profitability, why are we so narrowly focused on servicing our local visitors only instead of also focusing on providing tourism services to the wider world?” the prime minister queried. Calling on the region to ensure “greater ownership” of tourism, the leader told the packed room of delegates, which included Minister of Tourism for Barbados Kerrie Symmonds and fellow regional ministers, that for far too long a brain drain has been allowed to sap the region. “Would we not retain far more of our talent within our region if we engaged architects, engineers, accountants, artisans, attorneys, interior designers, energy specialists, new media communication specialists, software developers, and others in providing tourism services to countries and destinations across the wider world instead of focusing only on personal services in our own individual countries?” he said. Insisting that the Caribbean should be more than a place to visit, Minnis said Caribbean leaders therefore had a two-fold mission to make the region a place for the rest of the world to also “relish and delight in”. “We must ensure that we deliver the very best range of exceptional personal services to our own visitors. We must also become far more focused on providing global tourism services. In the short run, this might require our attracting to our region subsidiaries or units of some of the existing global travel companies,” he explained. During the ceremony, which was dotted with cultural presentations from this northernmost CARICOM member nation, Minnis also called for “one of the core objectives” of the region to be to help create “economic benefits from tourism for micro- small- and medium-sized businesses”. “This means greater diversification across various tourism platforms as well as greater linkages with other economic sectors,” he said. “Let our region become a global centre where tourism talent will cluster to the benefit of the people of the Caribbean,” he added, while describing the Caribbean brand as one of the most powerful.  (BT)

RELOCATION OF COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICE OFFICE – The offices of the Community Legal Services Commission have moved to Building No. 2, Manor Lodge Complex, Green Hill, St Michael. The contact number is 535-9900. (BGIS)

TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING CLOSED FOR THE WEEK – The Town and Country Planning Department will remain closed for the rest of the week. George Browne, the acting Chief Town Planner told THE NATION that a decision had been made to close the Garrison St Michael offices, which has been plagued by environmental issues, for the remainder of the week. Staff walked off the job yesterday complaining about the state of the building which has been leaving a number of them falling ill with respiratory problems. Browne said he was awaiting a decision from authorities on the next move. That department falls under the Prime Minister’s office. It now joins the growing list of government buildings plagued by environmental problems. (DN)

TRAFFIC EASE COMING TO ST. MICHAEL DISTRICTS – Government is taking efforts to improve the flow of traffic around the Ivy and Welches, St Michael area. During a town hall meeting at the Springer Memorial School last night, Ministry of Transport, Works and Maintenance technical officer Lorraine Graham informed residents of plans to make a number of roads in the area one way to ease traffic woes along Government Hill and My Lord's Hill. The roads up for this treatment are Martinique Road, Welches Terrace, Mayer's Road and Back Ivy Road. (DN)

BAJANS GRAB SIX MEDALS – Barbados captured three silver and three bronze medals at the Caribbean Table Tennis Championships in Jamaica. President of the Barbados Table Tennis Association Dale Rudder told THE NATION it was the largest medal haul over the last decade. “This is our biggest medal haul in the last ten years and we will not rest on our laurels as training resumed [Monday], one day after returning from Jamaica. I’m extremely proud of our overall performance,” said Rudder. Tyrese Knight gained silver in the Men’s Under-21 Singles, while Rudder and Angela Reid both obtained silver  in the Men’s and Women’s Over-45 categories, respectively.   (DN)

BEACH GAMES LIKELY – A Caribbean Beach Championships may be on stream for 2020, says Cameron Burke. The chairman of the Barbados Independence Invitational Games (BIIG) was speaking to THE NATION after the official launch of the third edition of the November games on Wednesday at the Barbados Olympic Association headquarters. “We are still in the embryonic stage as far as the Caribbean Games are concerned. Our beach festival this year is the testing ground for expansion of what we will do in the future. Volleyball is the marquee sport that we are using and they are trying to build back up their Sizzling Sands [Beach Volleyball Sunsplash series] competition. If that happens, that brings in Antigua, St Kitts, Trinidad and Tobago and a lot of the other Caribbean countries will come in for that. “We are also pushing beach football to get involved. That is another area where we can bring in other Caribbean countries. Once we are able to build the brand and get people interested, then we can step up our game. Maybe in the next two years we should be focusing on the Caribbean Festival. That will be out of the BIIG Games. We may have a Caribbean Festival by itself and then the BIGG Games to follow,” he said. (DN)

AN ICON PASSES – The death of outstanding Trinidadian steel pannist and arranger, Ken Professor Philmore, has not escaped the fraternity in Barbados. Philmore who was involved in a car accident on September 24, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday. He was driving his Toyota Hilux north along the Solomon Hochoy Highway in Trinidad when he picked up a skid near Claxton Bay. The vehicle flipped several times and Philmore was thrown out of the cabin. He suffered severe internal injuries in the crash which occured Trinidad & Tobago’s Republic Day holiday. He sustained broken ribs and his lungs had collapsed. The 58-year-old arranger for Fonclaire Steel Orchestra began his love affair with the instrument at a young age. He was responsible for hits such as Pan By Storm, Pan Ecstasy and Pan In the Party. Philmore amassed international fame, performing on stages such as the Apollo Theatre, Carnegie Hall and The Royal Albert Hall. Barbadian pannist David ZigE Walcott last stood on stage with the Professor in 2015. The Professor was an iconic character he grew up hearing about from teachers and fellow performers. It was during his interactions with Philmore that Walcott was captured by his generous and kind spirit. “Professor was a very loving, energetic man. He wasn’t necessarily the type that was calm and just settled. He was very loving, a people’s person and that also translated into his music, the way he was passionate for music,” said Walcott who described the Professor’s death as a very sad loss for the regional fraternity. Walcott recalled Philmore’s performances with legendary calypsonian Lord Kitchener and his trademark beret that he wore during the early stages of his career. Cultural officer for Music Ronald Davis relayed his condolences on behalf of the acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Cultural Foundation, Wayne Webster. “We recognized the passions he had for steel pan, not only in Trinidad but throughout the world. He would have made…  invaluable contributions towards pan music,” stated Davis. Philmore was also known for advocating for the fusion of pan with jazz music and due to his ingenuity he would have performed at Pan Fusion at the Prime Minister’s residence in 2012. Having interacted with Philmore on the numerous occasions he came to Barbados, Davis reminisced about his willingness to impart advice and instruction to local pannists. “Without even being prompted, he would offer help and assistance by way of advising our youngsters on how to hold the sticks. If he saw that people were playing wrong notes, he would offer to correct them,” said Davis who also described Philmore as caring and selfless. (BT)

NIFCA KICKS OFF – Bridgetown and Warrens came alive with pops of colour, culture and creativity last Saturday as stakeholders in the island’s creative economy gathered to commence celebrations for the 45th National Independence Festival of Creative Arts (NIFCA). Throngs of Barbadians gathered in The City to see the spectacle entitled NIFCA Pun De Road. From 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., the road show featured an array of cultural talent from literary artistes such as DJ Simmons, Winston Farell, Janine White, dancing from Dancin’ Africa, Barbados Dance Centre, the Pinelands Creative Workshop and the Livy and Betty Alleyne Dance Centre. There were theatrical presentations in the middle of The City from Jennifer Walker and Yolanda Holder-Capandeguy and performances from Crystal Cummins-Beckles and Sistaz. It was followed by a 45-minute concert in Warrens. The road show travelled from the headquarters of the National Cultural Foundation in West Terrace, St James to pit stop at several points in Bridgetown before heading to Massy Stores Centre at Warrens, St Michael. It featured seasoned artistes and young, up-and-coming awardees who owe their careers to the recognition they received on the NIFCA stage. (BT)

EXCEPTIONALLY COMPELLING – Mahalia’s Corner last Sunday wasn’t for those who sought to sit down and just listen to the music.  The finale of the eighth season of spellbinding musical talent ended with the crowd on their feet, singing and having a good time. Kerwin Du Bois’ stellar 40-minute performance was not to be missed. Du Bois was itching to jump around on the stage as he performed some of his greatest soca singles from throughout the years. At the end of the show, the Trinidadian soca artiste was dripping in sweat, his bandana remained intact but his white t-shirt was off and he stood in front of the packed Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre auditorium in his black vest and one hand in the air. He instructed the crowd to raise their hands and party as one as he belted Circles. From start to finish, DuBois was exhilarating, lively and dynamic. Accompanied by a live band with the crowd as his chorus, he rattled off No Apology, Too Real, Feteland, Unforgettable, Baccahnalist, Monster Winer, Ah Thing and more. He manoeuvred the stage expertly much like the Pied Piper and had the audience focused on his every word and note. The young and the old were out of their seats and jammin’. For their last acoustic performance, 2 Mile Hill catered to the eclectic group gathered with some old school hits like After The Love Is Gone by Earth, Wind & Fire and Marvin Gaye’s Sexual Healing to Lauryn Hill’s Ready or Not, Just One of Those Day’s by Sizzla and their 2018 release Conversation. Aside from the headliner, some of the brightest stars shone during the Open Mic segment when Frederick Smith Secondary student Theres Lambert received a standing ovation. Lambert’s performance of I’m A Weirdo by Lonely Island was mesmerizing and exceptional. Rhea Layne’s mixture of reggae, soca and R&B fused with her playful onstage personality also revved up the crowd. Layne sang her single Speakah, Allez by Teddyson John and also did a medley of familiar reggae hits to the delight of the audience. When the show closed, a sense of riveting energy remained in the air, with high anticipation of what patrons can expect for the Christmas edition. Speaking to Bajan Vibes, Mahalia Cummins said she was overjoyed at the success of the month-long season and revealed that Christmas preparations were already in process. “I continue to be blown away by the talent that Barbados has and the fact that people are still hungry for a different type of event to attend,” said Cummins.  (BT)

AND I AM TELLING YOU – Shontae Alleyne-Clarke dominated the Richard Stoute Teen Talent Competition with her powerful renditions of Jennifer Hudson’s And I Am Telling You and Bridge Over Troubled Waters. The 11-year-old student of Combermere School showed her sass as she passionately sang the two songs delivering astonishing runs.  She received a standing ovation, screams, cheers, and whistles from the audience as they sat and watched a superstar performance emerge from the body of an 11-year-old. Some members of the audience shouted – ‘Shontae now win!’ There was huge jubilation after the delivery of And I Am Telling You as persons were shocked that Clarke could hit and in some cases surpass the notes sung by internationally renowned artiste Jennifer Hudson. She was eventually declared the winner of the 6-12 competition, thereby creating history as the first contestant in decades to score above 900 points. Clarke amassed 937 points to the delight of her family, friends, and the audience who jumped, cheered and cried as they watched her take the coveted trophy. However, it was not an easy walk in the park as she was keenly challenged by seven-year-old Kenaz Bit Bit Walker who expertly delivered Unchained Melody and Please Give Bit Bit The Crown. Young Bit Bit has a voice that surpasses his age with a crystal clear tone which is absolutely beautiful. He received a well-deserved second place as he amassed 856 points for his renditions which left the audience screaming, whistling and cheering at the quality of singing emanating from the seven-year-old. Let’s not forget the stellar performance by Crayshanda St Hill. From her first note, it was evident that she came to win as she sang with confidence and grace which was met with her killer vocals. St Hill expertly delivered the song No More Rain, receiving screams, whistles, and cheers from the audience at the amount of vocal range that she possessed. But it was her performance of Hallelujah that left the audience speechless as they sat and listened to her beautiful runs and riffs which highlighted her powerful voice. At this time, the audience noted that they were unsure as to who had placed 2nd in the competition as both Walker and St Hill had given their all to their performances. However, St Hill had to settle for a well-deserved third place with 821 points. At the end of the night, Chief Judge Sheldon Hope credited the parents for allowing their children to look like they were children competing in a junior competition. He also took the time to acknowledge the individual that placed 4th in the competition. That person was nine-year-old Roneisha Alleyne who wowed the audience with her vocal range as she effortlessly hit the high falsetto notes in Rise Up and The Climb.  She is definitely one to watch as she matures. Her voice is mind-blowing at the tender age of nine. Special mention was also made of seven-year-old Tykairi Sargeant who truly dramatized all the elements of his Michael Jackson songs to the point that it could be said that it was a tribute to the late King of Pop. In the first half as he sang Ben he came onto the stage holding his pet rat and passionately sung about his friend Ben who a lot of persons did not understand. In the second half, Sargeant not only sang another Michael Jackson song but came out dressed in the full Michael Jackson ensemble matched with the white sparkling gloves. He entertained the audience with his beautiful voice and his moves which involved him throwing the hat off the stage just like MJ did in his concerts. The contestants and members of the audience were treated to a surprise guest performance by young Barbadian Trinity Clarke. The audience screamed and shouted; some took out their phones to capture the moment as she sang Wings Beneath My Wings and God is Good. It must be noted that all seventeen performers did an excellent job and must be commended as they made the show held on Sunday the spectacle that it was. Next week, it is the turn of the Teen Talent semi-finals. The first preliminary kicks off on Sunday at Divi South Winds at 7 p.m. (BT)

BUDDING TALENT – The annual series of lunchtime concerts put on by the Ministry of Education during Education Month got off to a good start this afternoon in the Food Court at Sky Mall. Patrons at the mall took time out from their shopping and lunch breaks to take in some of the musical talent coming out of Barbados’ primary and secondary schools, with the performers in today’s concert hailing from some of the schools located close to the popular shopping facility. Three pupils from the Luther Thorne Primary School performed Beautiful Barbados while twelve members of the Grantley Prescod Memorial Primary School sang My Help a cappella style. Young Kenaz Bit Bit Walker, who is now building a reputation for himself in a variety of genres, truly touched the audience, including Minister of Youth Affairs Adrian Forde when he sang Amazing Grace without missing a beat. Three students from the Springer Memorial Secondary School took the advice they got from yesterday’s Founders Day service at their school to “add to their school’s goodly heritage” with their classy solo performances. First-formers Crayshonda St. Hill and Sarai Gaskin did justice to No More Nights and Hallelujah respectively, while senior student Kaley Alexander’s strong alto voice was on point when she performed Little Me. Weslon Samuels from Parkinson Memorial Secondary School, who was a crowd favourite last year, put his own spin on Lionel Richie’s Hello, and his two schoolmates, Rashad Boyce and Selwyn Sivers, handled themselves well with Tarrus Riley’s Don’t Come Back. While taking in some of the action, Minister of Youth Affairs Adrian Forde was impressed with what he saw and gave a brief address in which he stated, “I see some great talent here, and since the Government of Barbados has committed to using the creative culture of our young people to take this nation forward, I urge you to keep on developing your skills, not only in music but in other areas of the creative arts as well.”  (BT)

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 9/24/2018

Good MORNING #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Monday September 24th 2018. Remember you can read full articles by purchasing Daily Nation Newspaper (DN), via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS).

NURSES TAKING FLIGHT – The Psychiatric Hospital is losing its most precious commodity. And the country’s loss is quickly becoming Bermuda and The Bahamas’ gain. Dozens of registered nurses specially trained to work at psychiatric facilities have chosen to take their talents to the northern Caribbean instead, mainly because they have been unable to be appointed to the more than 100 vacant posts available at the Black Rock, St Michael institution. The DAILY NATION has learnt that morale was at an all-time low at the hospital, with almost 100 temporary nurses not knowing when their next pay cheque would come. The temporary nurses make up almost half of the hospital’s entire staffing complement. (DN)

STOUTE, COSCAP IN MONEY ROW – Veteran entertainer and Teen Talent pioneer Richard Stoute is singing the blues. He laments he has never received “one red cent” in royalties for his music from COSCAP, the Copyright Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. The author of Goodbye Bajan Girl, Rocksteady Christmas, Mr Rich Man and Unity, among “a whole lot of other original songs”, says he feels very hurt. “I became a member of PRS [Performing Rights Society] in 1985 and they would send me money for my music played in Germany, England and Holland. “My attorney wrote CBC [Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation] years ago and asked them why I had not received any royalties from them for my music played in Barbados,” Stoute told the DAILY NATION in an interview. (DN)

GOVERNMENT EXPLORING UBER TAXI SERVICE – Governement is exploring travel options for Barbadians utilising the Uber service with taxi operators. Speaking during the service in celebration of tourism week at The Church of St John the Baptist, Holder Hill, St James, Minister of Tourism Kerrie Symmonds said this was one of the ways that the Mottley-led administration intended to take Barbados into the future. After the service, he elaborated to the NATIONNEWS on what the plans were. “We want to meet with taxi operators within the next week or two with a view of discussing options on how to improve business. We’re not enthusiastic about Uber generally because that will allow persons with deep pockets to become dominant so we are trying to make the small man get a greater share,” he said. Symmonds explained Uber taxi was a mobile app where potential customers could contact participating taxi operators in their area and would have access to information pertaining to that operator. He said it would prevent taxi operators from waiting around “hoping and praying” for customers. (DN)

PLANS PROGRESSING FOR TRUST LOANS, JOB PROGRAMME – Budding Barbadian entrepreneurs can look out for the promised trust loans by year-end. And hopefully, by the first quarter of next year, the First Jobs Initiative will be officially ready for roll out. Minister in the Ministry of Economic Affairs & Investment Marsha Caddle made this disclosure tonight.  Caddle who is also the Member of Parliament for St Michael South Central was speaking at her Tweedside Road office after a new executive was elected. She reminded members about the Barbados Labour Party's campaign promises made during the election. Despite next year’s tentative rollout timeline, the minister said they have already been doing some work in this regard. “MPs are not waiting for the initiative to start. We are trying on our own to partner with private sector companies in our communities to pair them with young people,” she said. During her address, she mentioned youth empowerment as one of their focuses. Though Caddle suggested employment levels could be better, she said that there was more to empowerment than that. “We know there are high levels of unemployment. When I first came to St Michael South Central and started working I realised we had an entire generation of young people who had never worked before.... And evidence shows that the longer you stay out of the job market, the greater the chances that you will never work and so for me that group of people is extremely important. That’s one of the reasons why we established the trust loan and we will have that programme available before the end of the year. “And the truth is a lot of young people don’t mind working for themselves. There are a lot of talented young men. Some of them build their own shops and are tradespeople and have other kinds of skills so the trust loan will give them up to $5 000 on the first occasion to be able to invest in their own businesses,” Caddle said.  (DN)

SMALL BUSINESS WEEK LAUNCHED – The Small Business Association (SBA) kicked off its 2018 week of activities with its church service at the First Baptist Church this morning. Under the theme The Role of SMEs in Building Sustainable Economies, the organisation will host several other events throughout the week. On Tuesday, the SBA will host their Youth Forum at Bagnall Point Gallery in Pelican Village. Thursday will feature a bus tour and community outreach and the SBA will host their annual general meeting and Award ceremony on Friday at the Savannah Hotel in Hastings, Christ Church. (DN)

YOUTH WEEK KICKS OFF – The Ministry of Youth is committed to creating safe spaces for the island's young people. Minister of Youth and Community Empowerment Adrian Forde said this was the ministry’s main focus during this year’s National Youth Week and beyond. “We are focusing on creating safe spaces where young people can express themselves as young people. As I said the creative element of our country must be that element that drives our economy. “The pool of creativity lies within the depths of our young people so we have to create spaces and environments where their talents are exposed, where their thoughts, creativity, innovation and imagination are exposed,” the minister explained. Forde was speaking at a church service yesterday morning at Bank Hall Church of the Nazarene to mark the beginning of National Youth Week, an annual celebration of youth development in Barbados. This year’s theme is Save Spaces for Youth and the week will run from September 23 to September 30. Forde said the government must walk hand in hand with the young people so their visions and dreams could be made a reality. (DN)

NEW MEDIA TEAM FOR US EMBASSY – The US Embassy recently introduced its new media team in the Public Affairs section to members of the Barbados media at a reception at Radisson Aquatica Resort. Public affairs specialist Kwayne Sanchez and social media assistant Nikisha Toppin socialised with representatives of the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation, Nation Publishing, Barbados Today, Loop News, the Barbados Advocate and other representatives of local media. In her welcoming address, Ambassador Linda Taglialatela restated the importance of a good rapport between the Embassy and the media, while toasting the new Embassy employees.  (DN)

CLERGY TOLD TO SAY 'NO' TO GAY MARRIAGE – Do not give in to performing gay marriages, Pentecostal senior pastor Edwin Bullen is telling his fellow clergymen. He urged them to be as resolute as their counterparts in St Vincent, who rejected that government’s attempt to have a conversation with them about same-sex marriages. The senior pastor at Christ Is The Answer Family Church in Battaleys, St Peter, was just back from a trip to Mustique, an island in the St Vincent and the Grenadines chain. “In St Vincent the government called the pastors to sit down and have a conversation on same-sex marriages and the church told them we have no conversation because God said . . . we have no conversation. It is a waste of time having a conversation about what God has already settled. It is a waste of precious time,” he said.  (DN)

THREE INJURED IN ACCIDENT ON ABC HIGHWAY – Three people suffered injuries in an accident on the ABC Highway around 1:50 a.m. According to police, two cars collided at the junction near the Deighton Griffith Secondary School and one vehicle overturned. The driver of the overturned vehicle was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital by ambulance. His injuries were not disclosed. The other driver was accompanied by a female. They both suffered injuries to the head and feet and opted to seek private medical attention. Police are continuing investigations. (BT)

ONE INJURED IN SHOOTING INCIDENT IN NEW ORLEANS, ST MICHAEL – One person was injured in a shooting incident at New Orleans, St Michael around 9:30 last night. Police have recovered a large number of spent shells from various types of weapons. The victim sought private medical attention. Police are continuing investigations.  (BT)

FREDERICK SMITH SECONDARY SCHOOL REMAINS CLOSED TODAY – The Frederick Smith Secondary School, at Trents, St James, will remain closed today, Monday, September 24. The school was closed on Friday, as a result of an environmental issue. It will reopen on Tuesday, September 25.  The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training regrets any inconvenience which may be caused. (BGIS)

ST LEONARD’S BOYS’ SCHOOL CLOSED TODAY - The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training has advised that the St Leonard's Boys' School, at Richmond Gap, St Michael, will be closed today, Monday, September 24, as a result of environmental problems. It will reopen on Tuesday, September 25.  The Ministry thanks parents and guardians for their understanding. (BGIS)

FOGGING SCHEDULE September 24 to 28 – Christ Church continues to be the primary target of the Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, as it seeks to control the mosquito population on the south coast of the island. On Monday, September 24, the team will fog Balmoral Gap, Marine Gardens, Queen’s Way, Halls Gap, Hood Road, Exeter Road, York Road, Old Navy Road, Nelson Road, Rendezvous Hill, Rendezvous Ridge, Rendezvous Gardens, Amity Lodge with Avenues and environs. On Tuesday, September 25, the areas to be sprayed are Hastings, Rhystone Gardens, Browne’s Gap, Rockley Village, Rockley with Avenues, Bynoe Road, Dayrells Road, Rendezvous Hill, Brewster Road, Worthing with Avenues, Bamboo Road, Beckles Road, Harmony Hall, Top Rock and surrounding areas. On Wednesday, September 26, the targeted areas are Dayrells Road, Rockley Terrace, Rockley, Blue Waters, Garden, Peronne Gap, Golf Club Road, St Lawrence Gap, Paradise Village and surrounding districts. Highway 7, Hastings, Rockley, Casa Blanca, Rendezvous Hill, Worthing Main Road and neighbouring districts will be sprayed on Thursday, September 27. On Friday, September 28, the team will concentrate its efforts on the Graeme Hall Swamp and environs. The fogging exercises will be carried out between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. each day. Householders are reminded to open their doors and windows to allow the spray to enter. (BGIS)

For daily or breaking news reports follow us on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter & Facebook. That’s all for today folks. There are 99 days left in the year. Shalom! #thechasefilesdailynewscap #thechasefiles# dailynewscapsbythechasefiles

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 9/23/2018

Good MORNING #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Sunday September 23rd 2018. Remember you can read full articles by purchasing Sunday Sun Nation Newspaper (SS), via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS).

SWEET MOVE – The Ministry of Education is stepping up efforts to reduce child obesity in Barbados. The Sunday Sun has obtained a copy of a memo sent out earlier this month, with several guidelines that every school is expected to implement this first semester of the school year. Part of the plan is ensuring that at least two days a week, only healthy fruit and water will be allowed on more than 90 school compounds, in a large-scale effort to promote healthy lifestyles. As a result of a noted increase in weight in schoolchildren, the ministry is asking schools to introduce ‘Water Wednesdays’ and ‘Fruit Fridays’, two initiatives aimed at getting children to start and maintain healthier lifestyles.  (SS)

WORKERS BEING EXPLOITED – Barbadians who refuse to make National Insurance Scheme (NIS) payments under the guise of being self-employed run the risk of becoming destitute, say a construction magnate and a trade unionist. Their warnings come amid revelations that established construction companies are being displaced by new players in the sector because of the latter’s practice of hiring people as self-employed workers, and in so doing, not paying statutory commitments like NIS, or even liability insurance in the event the individuals are injured on the job. “This allows these companies to tender for jobs at a lower figure, yet make big profits. “None of the established construction companies are managing to secure work these days. The reason being is that they follow the law . . . . The new system for employing people in construction in Barbados is that you don’t pay any [statutory commitments],” said Allan Evelyn, the founder, president and chief executive officer of Rotherley Construction Inc. (SS)

RESIDENTS URGED TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT – Barbadians are being urged to play their part in protecting the environment from calamities such as climate change. Minister of Environment and National Beautification Trevor Prescod made the appeal during today’s National Arbor Day celebrations held at the National Botanical Gardens. Prescod not only wants residents to clean their surroundings but to protect and or plant at least two trees to help the island and by extension the National Conservation Commission (NCC) with its reforestation efforts. “The preservation of trees and the reforestation is significant to the mitigation of the challenges of climate change. This makes it imperative that we protect our own existence,” said Prescod, whose Ministry recently embarked on the second phase of the National Beautification Clean Up Campaign which saw 42 derelict vehicles removed from the Bonnetts, Brittons Hill, St Michael district. “This National Beautification Clean Up Campaign is intended to engender a cultural and psychological shift in the way Barbadians view their household space and their communities . . . . Barbados can be the cleanest country in the world . . . it is about a mindset and we can reach it,” he stated. However, General Manager of the NCC, Keith Neblett told individuals they should be mindful of areas in which they plant trees. “We must take heed as to where we plant the various tree species ensuring that their root structures do not cause damage to properties. We must ensure that they do not suffer ill health which in turn could also lead to property damage” Neblett said. Meanwhile the winners of the Primary School Tree Investigation Competition were also awarded during today’s ceremony. Phoebe Broomes of Half Moon Fort Primary copped first prize in the ages 7-9 category. (BT)

PASTOR’S WARNING – Two years after he was dismissed as senior pastor of the People’s Cathedral, Pastor Andre Symmonds is cautioning church leaders to beware of the temptations they will encounter in the course of their work. Next Sunday, Symmonds officially takes over the leadership as senior pastor of Calvary Temple Community Church, another Pentecostal assembly in St Philip. His election came after a two-year hiatus during which he underwent counselling after being accused of sexual misconduct within his former church. In a Sunday Sun interview, Symmonds conceded there might have been a semblance of impropriety on his part in the circumstances, which he suggested might have been more glaring because “I was the pastor”.  (SS)

SAMUEL JACKMAN PRESCOD MEMORIAL LECTURE NEXT WEEK – The 14th Samuel Jackman Prescod Memorial Lecture will be held on Thursday, September 27, in the auditorium of the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology, Wildey, St Michael, beginning at 7 p.m. It will be delivered by Vice President, Information Technology and Chief Information Officer at Coppin State University in the United States of America, Ahmed El-Haggan. The topic will be: Digital Disruption and Innovation in Higher Education: Implications for Barbados. (BGIS)

MAURICE BYER MEN’S GROUP TO MEET ON MONDAY – When the Men’s Health Group at the Maurice Byer Polyclinic meets on Monday, September 24, the featured speaker will be the group’s vice president, Wayne Yearwood. Yearwood, a former senior executive at the Barbados Light and Power Company Limited, will speak on the topic: The Benefits of Incorporating Energy Solutions into One’s Lifestyle. The meeting begins at 6:15 p.m. at the polyclinic in Station Hill, St Peter. (BGIS)

TROPICAL DEPRESSION #11 FORMS – The area of low pressure just east of the Lesser Antilles has become Tropical Depression #11. At 5 a.m. Tropical Depression #11 was located near 13.0N 53.5W or about 405 miles (650 km) east of Barbados. A statement issued by the Barbados Meteorological Services at 6 a.m. today said the system is presently drifting towards the west near 5mph (7km/h). A slow westward or west-northwestward motion is expected during the next couple of days. Estimated minimum central pressure is 1007 MB or 29.74 inches. Maximum sustained winds are 35mph (55km/h) with higher gusts. Little change in strength is expected during the next 24 hours since strong westerly shear is expected to persist and will most likely prevent the depression from getting any better organised. Thus, the depression is forecast to dissipate to an open wave/area of low pressure by Sunday night before it reaches the Lesser Antilles.  Regardless of development, some isolated pockets of moderate to heavy showers and occasional gusty winds are still likely to affect Barbados by Monday, September 24. This statement will be updated if conditions warrant. (SS)

EVELYN GREAVES PASSES SUDDENLY – Noted trade unionist and former Cabinet Minister Evelyn Greaves has died.  The 78-year-old, a former High Commissioner to Canada, died suddenly today at his home. He leaves to mourn his wife Francillia and two daughters.  (SS)

STATEMENT BY PM MOTTLEY ON PASSING OF EVELYN GREAVES –The following is a statement by Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley on the passing of E. Evelyn Greaves. It is with profound sadness that I learned of the passing of Mr. Evelyn Greaves this morning. The circumstances of his passing are still unclear, but the suddenness will certainly be deeply upsetting to his wife and family.  I urge Barbadians to keep them in their thoughts and prayers over the coming days and weeks and give them the time and space to come to terms with his passing. Evelyn Greaves was well known on the local, regional and international political and trade union landscape, and latterly as a diplomat.  He most recently represented this country as the High Commissioner to Canada during the years 2008-2015.  Prior to that he served with distinction as a Deputy General Secretary and Head of the Barbados Workers Union Labour College, from 1974 to 1996.  As a politician, he faithfully represented the constituency of St Lucy from 1971 until 1981, and again between 1986-1994 during which time he served as a Minister in both the Barrow and Sandiford Administrations. Evelyn’s life of service to Barbados was recognised when the Gold Crown of Merit was conferred on him for his meritorious service to trade unionism.  He is an example of dedication, commitment and service to country above self.  It is worthy of emulation. To his wife, Francilia and daughters Stacey and Lauralynn, I extend condolences on behalf of my family and the country. May he rest in peace. (SS)

DLP STATEMENT ON PASSING OF EVELYN GREAVES – The following is a statement from president of the Democratic Labour Party Verla De Peiza on the passing of Evelyn Greaves. On behalf of the officers and members of the Democratic Labour Party I wish to express our deep shock and sadness on learning of the passing of Comrade Evelyn Greaves. Evelyn Greaves was an integral part of the fabric of the DLP almost from its inception. He lived his belief, that the masses of the people deserved champions devoted to their betterment. This drove him, both as a trade unionist and as a politician. That philosophy fuelled what was arguably his toughest political struggle, which saw him spend a period of sabbatical away from the limelight. He remained committed to the cause and worked behind the scenes to ensure his party was again representative of the people. When called upon, there was no hesitation in being pressed into service again, as High Commissioner to Canada, and more recently, he operated as a campaign manager. In this present rebuilding process, he again offered his services and was eager to become active again. On a personal note Evelyn Greaves, or Uncle Lyn as he was known to me, was a part of the fabric of my life from childhood. As my political career developed, he became and remained a champion and mentor. He was a proud St Lucy man, an unwavering supporter of our party and champion of the people. Our party will feel his loss acutely and our hearts go out to his wife Francilia; his daughters Stacey, and Laura-Lyn; his beloved grands and entire family. We believe Barbados is the poorer for his passing. (SS)

For daily or breaking news reports follow us on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter & Facebook. That’s all for today folks. There are 100 days left in the year. Shalom! #thechasefilesdailynewscap #thechasefiles# dailynewscapsbythechasefiles

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 8/16/2018

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Thursday 16th August 2018. Remember you can read full articles by purchasing Daily Nation Newspaper (DN), via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS).

GRIPPED BY FEAR – Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s announcement yesterday of impending job cuts in the public service as part of the conditions for an International Monetary Fund bailout has left a sense of fear and panic among civil servants, according to the island’s largest public sector trade union. In addition, the National Union of Public Workers (NUPW) said Mottley’s disclosure sent shock waves through the service, as it was totally unexpected. “There is fear in the air because persons called yesterday. As a matter of fact before I even heard it I received a number of calls but I was not able to tell anybody anything because we do not have any details,” Acting General Secretary Delcia Burke told Barbados TODAY. “All we have to go by is a broad statement. If you say you’re going to lay off workers, people are going to get worried because they do not know who is going to be sent home and we can’t help them because there was no discussion with the union,” she said. Mottley yesterday signalled that “serious decisions” had to be made about the structure of Government to save the ailing economy – from accounting practices to job cuts. Declaring that Barbados was at the place “where we need to tighten the belt”, Mottley however gave her word that “no man, woman or child” would be left behind in the restructuring process. She also hinted that the cuts would be focused around the statutory corporations. Mottley said the full details would be released shortly, but she left no doubt of a coming major overhaul of debt-ridden state agencies, while promising her Government would not be callous in cutting jobs. “Within two weeks we will be speaking to the people of Barbados as to what we believe to be the road map for phase 2 and phase 3 under the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation Programme,” she told Parliament as she laid the Public Service (General) Order 2018, which paved the way for public servants to receive a five per cent wage hike from this month. A key plank of that restructuring is bringing order to millions of dollars in transfers to public entities. Burke told Barbados TODAY the statement took the union off guard, and she called on the Prime Minister to meet with the NUPW as a matter of urgency to explain how her administration planned to proceed with the job cuts. “It was just a statement made on air without any discussion with the union. So we now need to sit down and have a discussion to see where Government is going. We can’t even begin to talk about things like last-in-first-out because we have no idea where this is going. It is obvious that the Government is going to need to talk to us because they can’t come and announce cuts just like that,” Burke said. However, despite the fear and concern, the trade unionist said, she was somewhat heartened by the Prime Minister’s promise to handle the process with a measure of sensitivity. “There are going to be some people who might opt to go home on their own. So I am hoping that if you are going to layoff persons then you give them a choice to take a package. So I believe that is where the sensitivity should come in,” Burke said. (BT)

DROP MINISTERS – As the Mottley administration gets ready to restructure the public service, leading to job cuts, Opposition Senator Caswell Franklyn is already suggesting a target for trimming – the Cabinet. Franklyn complained that the size of Cabinet was itself a strain on the Treasury, saying that if she was serious about spending cuts she should start by cutting two-thirds of the 30 ministers, ministers of state and parliamentary secretaries. “You have a situation where now every little item on a portfolio you get a minister for. So that protects the Prime Minister from a backbench rebellion but it takes some money out of the Consolidated Fund that should be there. They should be on the backbench and go and look for a job,” Franklyn told the Senate today. He argued that the only ten portfolios that were needed were: Labour, Health, Education, Finance, Agriculture, Office of the Prime Minister, Office of the Attorney General, Foreign Affairs, Public Works and Ministry of Trade. “Every other ministry that you have could fit into one of these,” the outspoken Upper House parliamentarian declared. While laying the Public Service (General) Orders 2018 resolution in the Lower House on Tuesday Mottley indicated that some “serious decisions” would have be made about the structure of Government to save the ailing economy under phase two and phase three of the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation Programme. While stating that coming job cuts were inevitable, Mottley promised it would not be a callous exercise and may include voluntary exits for some workers. But as the resolution came before the Senate today, Franklyn insisted that those being sent home should not be “the people who are living from pay cheque to pay cheque”, as he accused the last administration of doing when it sent home more than 3,000 workers back in 2013/2014 in order to save more than $140 million. “They wanted numbers and they get rid of some numbers, but let me tell you how to fix these numbers,” Franklyn said today in an apparent recommendation to the Mottley administration. “Permanent Secretary makes six times the salary of a person at the bottom of the salary scale,” he said. “Right now we got more permanent secretaries and more ministers than we need. So start at that level. Take out some of these ministers because some of them got jobs but no work. And if these ministers have jobs but no work, his permanent secretary and deputy permanent secretary and his [administration] and finance officers got the same thing – jobs but no work,” he argued. Franklyn concluded that Mottley deliberately made the Cabinet the size it was, saying it was in an attempt to avoid putting people on the backbench so they did not cross the floor, given the Government’s one-party rule of the 30-seat Lower House. “So you put everybody on the front bench to make them Cabinet ministers but that cost money. So if you are going to send home people, take them out of the Government payroll that are not necessary,” he said. The senator also suggested that if the Prime Minister was looking for other places to cut she should get rid of ministers within ministries and use parliamentary secretaries instead. “You don’t appoint a minister to assist a minister. There is no junior minister in Barbados you know, and senior and junior depends on salary . . . all ministers get the same amount of money . . . so you’ve got two ministers in the ministry and one working junior to the next. That is a joke,” he said. He also questioned hiring practices within Government, accusing both main political parties of giving jobs to associates, friends and families, or making last-minute changes to qualifications in order to accommodate them in various posts. (BT)

GRANT: DO WE REALLY NEED TWO TOURISM AGENCIES? – A tourism government official-turned-private sector executive who now sits in the Senate has queried whether there need be two separate government agencies manage the island’s tourism product. Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, Senator Rudy Grant, referred to the Barbados Tourism Product Authority (BTPA) and Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) as “two sides of the same coin that were not functioning in the country’s best interest,” as debate continued on the Airport Service Charge (Amendment) Bill in the Senate on Wednesday. The new service fees are expected to generate some $95 million in revenue, $75 million of which will be used to finance the BTMI and BTPA’s operations, while the other $20 million will be used for the Ministries of Tourism and Civil Aviation, and to honour Barbados’ commitments as a shareholder in the regional airline, LIAT. He suggested that with the split of tourism product management between two agencies, there was less money available to market Barbados. “Destination marketing requires going into the marketplace every single day, meeting with all the stakeholders, and if you are not doing the necessary promotion, you will not get the numbers coming. Some years ago, when BTMI got $59 million US, it went ‘dark’ in the marketplace. There was very little being done, and we experienced a drop in visitor numbers,” Senator Grant, who once served as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism in the Owen Arthur administration, said. “It is important for the destination marketing people to ensure that the numbers we have tie in and match the needs we have. So it is important that we examine the factors impacting on visitors coming to our destination, and design strategies to deal with them,” he added. He also addressed the need to enhance service at the Grantley Adams International Airport since it formed visitors’ first impression of the island. “We can do all the marketing and promotion we want, but when a visitor lands at the airport, that is ‘the moment of truth.’ So we have to make sure they have an exceptional experience, and Immigration, Customs, the Red Caps and everyone else they will meet there must contribute to that. Barbados is no longer merely competing with its Caribbean neighbours, but the entire world,” Senator Grant said.  (BT)

FIVE PER CENT PAY HIKE COULD BE ‘DISASTER’ FOR HOSPITAL – Long strapped for cash, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) could face financial “disaster” with the five-percent pay hike for public officers that has been back-dated to the start of the fiscal year last April 1, an independent senator warned today. Senator Dr Christopher Maynard argued that any hike in salary would have to come from the hospital’s current budget, which would have preceded the pay raise. The QEH, which is already coping with the government’s slash of transfers to state agencies, has not requested a subvention to cover the increase, estimated to cost the hospital as much as six million dollars a year, he told the Senate. Speaking on the Public Service (General) Orders 2018, the parliamentary resolution ordering the salary increase, Senator Maynard said this could spell disaster, especially because it was coupled with the introduction of a new payroll tax to pay for health care, which is to take effect on October 1. “So one would expect that at the end of 12 months, the QEH will pay out an additional $5.6 million from a short budget and it will cause pain,” said the ear, nose and throat specialist. It was in her June 11 mini-budget that Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mia Mottley announced that public servants would get a five per cent salary increase across the board, to be applied from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019. She also announced that the Health Service Contribution would be implemented in October at a rate of 2.5 per cent, with employers paying 1.5 per cent and employees paying 1 per cent. The government is hoping to raise $45 million a year. While he would usually be pleased about a pay increase, he believed it would “bring some pain” for the QEH, Senator Maynard told the Upper Chamber. “Over the last several years our major health care institution, the QEH, has had a deficit in terms of what its subvention has been and what has been requested and what’s possible,” he said. “It has only been one year, I think, in the last five years when the QEH received a little bit more than requested. So it runs a deficit of millions of dollars every year. We had the repeal of the NSRL [National Social Responsibility Levy], which thankfully reduced the QEH’s expenses by just over a $1 million. [But], the five per cent salary upgrade will cost the QEH some money, probably close to $5 million, from a budget that is already strained and short,” said the senator, adding that the new levy to be implemented in another two months’ time would cost the hospital an estimated $1.3 million and therefore add “on the strain that it already has”. The QEH usually runs on approximately $200 million annually, but its budget for the 2017/2018 financial year was approximately $155 million. Of that amount the hospital itself received $146 million, the Emergency Ambulance Services received $3.1 million, while $1.2 million was allocated to the medical scheme and $4.7 million to capital projects. The pay increase and the levy meant “further problems” for suppliers  to the hospital who were “already stressed because they are not being paid”, Senator Maynard said. Querying whether the $45 million to be raised from the Health Service Contribution was “additional money” earmarked for the hospital, Senator Maynard said he was worried that if it was not then the lone general  hospital could find itself in deeper financial difficulties. “If we have a health care system and an acute care hospital that is already cash-strapped and its creditors are crying out, when we extract another $5.6 million from its budget it will add to the difficulties for the people who come to the institution to receive care. So while we might have a five per cent increase and we feel happy, we have to bear in mind that we may have some pain at a time when we can’t bear it,” warned Senator Maynard.  (BT)

HIGH DEPENDENCY UNIT AND WARD B8 TEMPORARILY RELOCATING – The public is kindly asked to note that High Dependency Unit (HDU) and Ward B8, which is currently housed in the HDU, of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital are being temporarily relocated. The HDU will move to the hospital’s Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) located on the first floor of the main building; and Ward B8 will move to the Cardiac Suite located on the first floor of the Lion’s Eye Care Centre. This provisional relocation will take effect from 4 p.m. on Friday, August 17, until Friday, August 24, 2018, to facilitate the industrial cleaning of the HDU. The QEH regrets any inconvenience caused.  (DN)

GOVERNMENT REPORTS DRAMATIC RISE IN SYPHILIS AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN – There has been a dramatic rise in the number of pregnant women here contracting syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection (STI). In a release today through the Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS), the Ministry of Health and Wellness revealed that the number of cases rose from an average of two a year through to 2015 to 17 in 2016, and the country is on course to record a similar rate for last year. The ministry did not say what was responsible for this sudden and steep rise, but it expressed concern at the “abnormally high rate of syphilis in pregnant women and, by extension, an increase in the number of babies born at risk for congenital syphilis”. It quoted Dr Anton Best, the senior medical officer of health with responsibility for the HIV/STI programme, as saying  the previous national outbreak was mainly seen in men. The BGIS release focused extensively on the threat of congenital syphilis to babies and unborn children, with Dr Best stating that effective prevention and detection of congenital syphilis depended on the identification of the STI in pregnant women. He noted that the guidelines by the Ministry of Health and Wellness made it clear that all pregnant women should be offered a screening test for syphilis at booking and at 28 weeks’ gestation. The medical practitioner explained that congenital syphilis was a potentially severe, disabling and often life-threatening infection seen in infants and that the disease was transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy and/or delivery, “and this could cause severe illness in babies including premature birth, low birth weight, birth defects, blindness and hearing loss. It could also lead to stillbirth and infant death”. “The foetus is at risk of contracting syphilis when the mother is in the early stages of infection, but the disease can be passed at any point during pregnancy, even during delivery, if the child has not already contracted it,” he explained. “To prevent congenital syphilis, it is imperative that all pregnant women be screened for syphilis during pregnancy. And for those that are found to have syphilis, prompt therapy with penicillin should be administered.” Dr Best advised all sexually active persons in Barbados to get annual sexual health checks including screening for syphilis, HIV and other STIs. Everyone diagnosed with syphilis should be treated and monitored in accordance with the guidelines from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the BGIS release said. (BT)

PM MOTTLEY AND FORMER US AG TOUR MUNICIPAL COMPLEX  - Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and Attorney General Dale Marshall today accompanied former Attorney General of the United States of America, Eric Holder Jr., on tour of the municipal complex in St Joseph, which bears his name. And at the end of the approximately one-hour tour of the Eric Holder Jr. Municipal Complex, they all remarked on how well the building was being maintained. Prime Minister Mottley said: “I want to thank those who occupy these premises, the place is in a wonderful shape; and in Barbados where maintenance has been an issue for so many public buildings, it is refreshing to see . . . .” She added that when the project was conceptualised, it was anchored with a maintenance programme and the benefits of such were evident. She reiterated that through the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Maintenance, Government was committed to the creation of a new framework by law to establish a sinking fund so that buildings could be maintained. Mottley highlighted the fact that some of the workers at the facility lived in the parish and noted that institutions were often best served by people who had intimate knowledge and strong ties to the communities. “This is an example of where we need to be going in the rest of the country in terms of allowing a more local touch and that is why the Government is intent on the creation of the People’s Assemblies, to allow for a greater devolution of our governance arrangements to the people who are affected by the services that are being provided to them,” she explained. Mottley described the former AG as an illustrious Barbadian, who represents the best of this country’s values. “He has had a distinguished career in the US and is globally recognised as one of those citizens who has upheld the rule of law in this very difficult and challenging time in the world’s history,” she stated. Holder said he was pleased to be in Barbados and at the complex he dedicated nine years ago. He continued: “It is nice to see how wonderfully maintained this is and how important this is to this community.” He stated that Prime Minister Mottley and the Attorney General were engaged in a serious process that would help this nation deal with the problems that confronted them when they came to office. “I have great confidence in her abilities; she is not only a colleague I respect, she is a friend and I think Barbados is indeed very lucky to have her leading this great nation,” the former Attorney General stated. Attorney General Marshall thanked Holder for his interest in the public library, describing it as “one of the finest assets” of the complex. He continued: “I know that you have indicated an interest in giving tangible support to the use of that library, especially by our younger children, and I look forward to engaging with you further on that particular exercise.” Holder is vacationing in Barbados and leaves the island later this week. The Eric Holder Jr. Municipal Complex houses the Tamarind Hall Branch Library, a post office and District “F” Magistrate’s Court and Police Station. (BGIS)

TRINIDAD: ACTING AG AND COUNCILLOR DRENCHED WITH WATER BY ANGRY RESIDENTS -  Acting attorney general and member of parliament for Laventille West Fitzgerald Hinds was given an unceremonious bath with flood water yesterday by constituents in Beetham Gardens and chased from the area. But in an almost immediate response, at least one MP and other social media users who viewed footage on a CNC3 news report and other photos on social media condemned the attack and expressed outrage by the disrespect shown to the government minister. MP for Moruga/Tableland Lovell Francis stated: “So your MP comes to visit you in a time of crisis and a UNC activists encourages you to disrespect him in the most vile of ways. And all of your problems are solved. Mission accomplished.” Parliamentary secretary in the ministry of agriculture Avinash Singh described the attack as “very unfortunate”. The PNM’s D’Abadie/Omeara group commenting on the incident said: “Our members of parliament work day and night to ensure representation of the highest order for constituents. We’ve seen the tireless work by our member of parliament here in D’abadie/O’Meara. As such we wish to condemn the disrespectful behaviour of some residents of Beetham Gardens to their MP Fitzgerald Hinds of Laventille West. We take great observation of such behaviour of those wearing yellow t-shirts who choose to accept this behaviour. We must be ever mindful of those we allow to influence our actions as a people. One of the attackers, had what appeared to be bottle of beer, in his hands as they taunted and splashed flood water on Hinds. Hinds and local government councillor for the area, Akil Audian, had gone to the area to see the effect of the steady rain and flooding when residents became irate and complained about the lack of representation by the two representatives. Over 40 homes in the area where affected, residents said. Residents say this is the third time for the year they were affected by floods and blamed a recently constructed cylinder on the nearby Beetham highway for causing their woes. During an interview with Guardian Media, Hinds and the councillor were drenched with a bucket of flood water. Hinds told the residents that there will be consequences for their actions. “I am not allowing this to happen. I came to the community to help those affected,” he said. His words did not deter the residents, who threw buckets of water at him. Hinds and Audian ran to safety. Speaking afterwards, Beetham resident Anderson Wilson said the residents were unhappy with the type of representation by the government. “We are upset over the way things are happening, this is the third time for the year, we are faced with floods,” he said. Wilson justified the actions by the residents saying it was their way of expressing how they feel. In a telephone interview, Audian said after the incident people who were affected by the floods were not the culprits. He said it was sad to see that level of behaviour by the residents. (BT)

FORMS FOR SIXTH FORM AVAILABLE FROM MINISTRY -  The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training advises parents and guardians who are desirous of having their children/wards enter sixth form, that application forms are available from the Ministry. The public is required to collect, complete and return the forms to the Ministry by Monday, August 20. (BGIS)

TELEPHONE SYSTEM AT PRISON OUT OF SERVICE THIS WEEKEND – Members of the public are asked to note that the telephones at the Barbados Prison Service (BPS) will be out of service on Saturday, August 18, and Sunday, August 19. This is to facilitate the transition of the Service to the Government Wide Area Network system. Once service is restored, the Barbados Prison Service may be reached by contacting the PBX at 535-7300. The Superintendent may be reached at 535-7304; the Head of Operations may be contacted a535-t 7362; the Head of the Female Prison at 535-7349; the Head of the Medical Unit at 535-7380 or the Duty Manager at 535-7359. The fax number for the BPS headquarters is 535-7401 while the Administration Block may be faxed at 535-7402. (BGIS)

‘LED ASTRAY’ – A Savings Plus employee who was “was taken advantage of” has pleaded guilty to stealing just over $550 worth of mainly alcoholic drinks from his place of work. Twenty-one-year-old Daniel Laurie Gaskin of No. 5 Lakes Close, Eden Lodge, St Michael confessed to taking two cases of Guinness, a case of Smirnoff, two cases of beer, one case of coke light and four cases of Deputy beer worth $556.72 from the Savings Plus warehouse at St Michaels Row, The City on August 10, and delivering the items to a stall at Nursery Drive, The City. Prosecutor Sergeant Edwin Pinder said Gaskin did not follow the store’s guidelines for removing drinks. However, the young man’s attorney Duana Peterson argued her client did “not deliberately set out” to commit the offence and was “led astray by someone who was older [who] influenced him to make the wrong choice”. “This is out of character for him. He was taken advantage of,” the attorney said, adding that her client was willing to apologize and compensate the store. “I would like to apologize to the court, to my family [and others]. This will never happen again,” Gaskin told Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant, who ordered a pre-sentencing report and set an October 26 date for Gaskin to  return to court after granting him $500 bail. He was also warned to stay away from all Savings Plus outlets until the matter is adjudicated. Meantime, a 44-year-old carpenter was released on $1,000 bail when he appeared before Cuffy-Sargeant, charged with dishonestly receiving two cases each of Banks and Deputy beer worth $185.96 on August 10, knowing or believing them to be stolen from Savings Plus. Percy Junior Gill of No.1 Peidmont Park, Long Gap, St Michael Gill pleaded not guilty to the offence and since there was no objection to bail on condition that he agreed to staying away from all Savings Plus outlets until the completion of the case, bail was granted. Gill returns to the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrate’s Court on December 17. (BT)

MARVILLE DROVE THROUGH RED LIGHTS, FOUND WITH WEED – When Chad Randy Marville of Madison Terrace, Deacons Farm, St Michael ran a red light yesterday he set the stage for a marijuana charge against him. The police said they caught up with the 36-year-old was stopped a short time after he ran the red lights at the junction on Bank Hall and Bush Hall, St Michael, and when they approached the vehicle there was  a strong smell of marijuana coming from the driver’s side. A search was requested and a plastic bag containing 45 grammes of weed with a street value of $300 was found in Marville’s pocket, the lawmen said. “I does smoke de ones in de plastic bag and de ones with the wrapping I had for somebody,” Marville allegedly told police at the time. A pre-sentencing report was ordered into the life of the first-time offender who will return before Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant on October 24, having been granted $1,500 bail. (BT)

HAM THIEF PLACED ON SIX-MONTH BOND – A 39-year-old man who admitted to stealing two hams and two chickens worth $241.16 from A1 Supermarket in Black Rock, St Michael, has been placed on a six-month bond. Magistrate Kristie Cuffy-Sargeant yesterday ordered Kevin Leondre Clarke of Block 1B, Deacons Court, Deacons Farm, St Michael to be on his best behaviour during the bond period or face a $750 fine forthwith, with the alternative being two months in jail. The District ‘A’ Magistrate’s Court heard that Clarke, who is known to the court, entered the supermarket around 6:35am on August 13 and was observed near the cold meat freezer. He later walked past the cashier with a bag over his shoulder and as he proceeded out of the store he was stopped and searched, and caught red-handed with the items.  (BT)

For daily or breaking news reports follow us on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter & Facebook. That’s all for today folks. There are 137 days left in the year. Shalom! #thechasefilesdailynewscap #thechasefiles# dailynewscapsbythechasefiles

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The Chase Files Daily Newscap 8/7/2018

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is The Chase Files Daily News Cap for Sunday 5th August 2018. Remember you can read full articles by purchasing Daily Nation Newspaper (DN), via Barbados Today (BT) or Barbados Government Information Services (BGIS).

INNISS ARRESTED, CHARGED IN US – Former Minister of Industry and Commerce Donville Inniss is in hot water in the United States. The outspoken 52-year-old politician was arraigned on money laundering charges in a US court today and released on US$50 000 bond. According to the United States Department of Justice’s official website, Inniss was arrested in Florida last Friday and was arraigned today before United States Magistrate Judge Julie Sneed in the Middle District of Florida at the federal courthouse in Tampa. Inniss has been accused of accepting bribes from a Barbadian insurance company in 2015 and 2016 when he was a public official.  According to the Department of Justice, Inniss was a legal permanent resident of the United States during the time of the charged conspiracy. Efforts to reach the former minister tonight proved futile. (DN)

MIA: BRING BACK THE ’POT – Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has indicated the Crop Over Festival needs to be re-examined for ways in which it can be improved. Sharing her thoughts on the festival when she made a stop at the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.’s Black Rock stall yesterday, the Prime Minister said thought should be given to reintroducing Cohobblopot, which was discontinued in 2015. “I think we need to examine the festival, where we are. There are things that will always continue to be the same,” Mottley said. But she noted Cohobblopot for her was “not just a show” but “always an attitude to Barbados’ development, building the best out of us by putting all of us together and coming up with something that is unique to the Bajan.” This is why she thought it should be back on the calendar, while consideration should be given to adding new events, considering the interests of the generations of Barbadians who will be exposed to the festival in the future. (DN)

SMALL TAKES TOP AWARD – Twice is nice. Designer Kevin Small has once again taken the Robert Weekes Award for Best Festival Designer in the Republic Bank Grand Kadooment. The young bandleader for Fifth Element brought Street Talk for his theme this year. Since he won best band for Junior Kadooment he has the most value points needed to cop the prestigious award. His prize this year is a car from MQI and $7 500 cash. Small also copped 11 other individual prizes including Small band Of The Year, Traditional, Presentation Of The Year,  Most Colourful Small band, Community Costume and Best Individual Male which he wore himself, among others. He placed third in Best Band On The Road.   (DN)

LIL RICK'S MUDDA SALLY TAKES TUNE OF THE CROP – Tune Of The Crop belongs to Lil Rick. The hitmaker can claim supremacy this year in the National Cultural Foundation’s Crop Over festival. Musically that is. Apart from the Pic-O-De-Crop competition which he didn't not enter, he has placed first (Sweet Soca), tied with himself for first second and third (Foreday Morning Jam) and now can claim the Tune Of The Crop title. He placed first with Mudda Sally, earning himself $7 500. He then placed third with True Story, adding $2 000 to the tally for today. Mikey squeezed in between to take second place with Feting Family, earning himself $5 000. Mikey is also the People’s Monarch and Party Monarch for 2018. (DN)

GRAND PROPOSAL FOR ALEX AND INGRID – Visitor Alex Petalas today made a grand gesture to his girlfriend Ingrid Robinson when he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him during the Republic Bank Grand Kadooment. On top of the Aura truck, in front of hundreds of revellers, Petalas expressed his unadulterated love for Robinson before asking her the question at approximately 1:11 p.m. She responded with a loud yes, and her response was met with loud cheers and applause from those on the truck as well as those on the ground, after the deejay offered congrats over the mic. The newly engaged Robinson stood staring at her ring in awe for several minutes while wiping tears away. The couple are visiting from San Francisco and played mas with Aura today and said they thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was the perfect celebration for their engagement.  (DN)

SECURITY, SANITATION ON THEIR TOES – Security and sanitation crews were on the ball as usual yesterday during the Republic Bank Grand Kadooment. Police and soldiers were spotted all along the routes, ably supported by the men and women of the Roving Response Team. “Basically our role as emergency responders is to assist any agency, whether it be medical or logistical, through the Department of Emergency Management. We also give accurate reports on the number of bands which have passed,” said responder Stephen Niles, who was posted at the Brighton staging area. He said it had been quiet up to 1 p.m., but cautioned that things usually got hectic later in the day. “People start to get drunk and misbehave and then there are medical issues,” he said. By the end of the day and up to press time, police had reported only minor incidents. As for the annual clean-up, the Sanitation Service Authority was seen along Black Rock, St Michael, around 7 p.m. collecting the plastic bottles, pieces of costumes and general refuse. Supervisor Rudolph Bascombe estimated it would take them another hour and a half to finish but assured they were on schedule. (DN)

PM RAPPED FOR ACCEPTING UNIVERSITY – Some irate Dominicans have harshly criticised Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley for accepting the relocation of Ross University School of Medicine. One even called for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to sanction the newly elected leader for what has been termed an “act of economic aggression” against a sister nation. Last Friday, hours after Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced Ross University would be leaving Dominica after 40 years, Mottley and Adtalem Global Education president and chief executive officer Lisa Wardell were in turn revealing Barbados would be the new home of the American university. Dominicans expressed their anger and disappointment on social media. What made the cut even worse, one argued, was that it happened after Skerrit flew to Barbados and met with the new Prime Minister following the May 24 General Election, which the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) won by a clean sweep of the 30 seats at stake. (DN)

For daily or breaking news reports follow us on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter & Facebook. That’s all for today folks. There are 148 days left in the year. Shalom! #thechasefilesdailynewscap #thechasefiles# dailynewscapsbythechasefiles