#uwi blackbirds

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 9/27/2017

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

SINCKLER: I DON’T OWN SHARES IN COST-U-LESS – Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler has strongly denied that he is a shareholder in Cost-U-Less, the warehouse-type food and general merchandise store in St Thomas. In an address to party faithful at the Democratic Labour Party’s City branch meeting at the weekend, Sinckler said there had been a rumour circulating that he owed part of the company. While not revealing who he felt had been spreading the rumour, the minister was insistent that he had not even met the company’s owners. “I do not own any shares in Cost-U-Less. I don’t know about the place. I don’t know who the owners are. I have never met them, and I’ve never even been in there shopping,” he said. Sinckler jumped to his own defence as he attacked General Secretary of the Barbados Workers’ Union (BWU) Toni Moore, who last month said while Government had given Cost-U-Less concessions so it could operate here, the American company had felt empowered enough to engage in union busting practices. In fact, the minister sought to turn the tables on Moore, contending that she might have felt “empowered” to attack Government because she was granted duty-free concessions on a top model car. While addressing the BWU’s annual conference on August 26, Moore had called for a boycott of the store. On Saturday, Sinckler accused the trade union leader of picking a fight with the store “then apparently delivered of herself the statement that the reason why Cost-U-Less behaving the way that they behaving is because they get concessions from the Government. “Is this the level to which you stoop? I don’t know what is going on down there at Cost [U-Less] how they treat workers. I don’t know anything about them,” he said. “I have nothing against the lady at all [however], all the time at her conference . . . [she was] up there bashing the Government and talking some things that really just amaze me,” Sinckler added, while making it clear any dispute between the BWU and Cost-U-Less ought to be handled by the Labour Department. “That has nothing to do with the Government of Barbados, but everything you blame on the Government,” he complained. (BT)

INNISS’ 24/7 SOCIETY A DISTRACTION – President of the National Union of Public Workers Akanni McDowall has dismissed recent suggestions by Minister of Commerce Donville Inniss that trade unions were holding back this country’s progress towards a 24/7 society. McDowall said the minister’s complaint was nothing more than a distraction from the pertinent issues that impact workers. Inniss on Sunday accused the unions of placing stumbling blocks in the country’s path towards 24-hour business operations. However, in a sharp retort McDowall charged that Inniss was speaking out of turn, as there was currently no proposal before the unions to initiate discussions on a 24-hour work day. He revealed said the matter was last brought to the bargaining table in 2014 but it failed as a result of unresolved concerns, including premium pay for working on Sundays and public holidays, additional remuneration for night work, transportation for night workers and safety and security at work premises during extended hours. “This talk about a 24-hour system is another attempt once again by this Government to distract the people of Barbados from more pressing and urgent matters that need immediate attention,” McDowall said, listing the fact that public servants have not had a pay rise in nine years and Government’s refusal to grant the employees a coping subsidy in light of the increase in the National Social Responsibility Levy from two per cent to ten per cent as grievances the administration should pay attention to. The union leader also complained that officers acting for more than three years were yet to be appointed and there was still to be an agreed pension plan for employees of the Barbados Revenue Authority. “To my mind these are immediate issues which should be resolved so that workers can again become comfortable in their workplace,” McDowall stressed. (BT)

ELECTION PLOY – Parliament today debated a resolution in support of a near $5 million national debushing exercise, with the Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) raising concern that it might be a cover for the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) to undertake electioneering activity. “I hope that this $4.6 million is not used for feathering the nest of the Government,” said Barbados Labour Party St George South representative Dwight Sutherland during his contribution to the debate, in which he pointed out that in total, more than $12 million had been voted for over the past year for debushing purposes. The Opposition spokesman further charged that this was the “silly season” with elections around the corner; therefore he said MPs had to be vigilant. Earlier, Leader of Government Business John Boyce, in leading off the debate, said the sum of $4 639 775 from the Consolidated Fund would be used to clean up overgrown properties, including those owned by persons living overseas. Boyce said the initial target would be residential areas with 170 general workers expected to find jobs under the programme which is to be led by two coordinators and 12 supervisors. He told the House today that abatement notices had been issued by the Environmental Health Department to the offending property owners. However, Boyce, who is Minister of Health, admitted that abatement notices were largely ignored because the fine for offending landowners was a minuscule 18 cents per square foot. Boyce further acknowledged that Government was one of the chief offenders when it came to overgrown properties which pose health risks by encouraging illegal dumping, rodents and mosquitoes. They are also sometimes used as hiding places for criminals. While supporting the measure, Sutherland questioned the usefulness of Government’s decision to send home workers from state institutions such as the National Conservation Commission, the Drainage Unit and the Beautify Barbados while trying to clean up waysides and lots in an ad hoc manner. Sutherland also called for the re-employment of the displaced workers from these institutions in the new debushing campaigns. However, in his contribution to the debate, Member of Parliament for St Lucy Denis Kellman rejected Sutherland’s claims of electioneering and currying favour with the electorate. He said debushing projects were routine exercises carried out by both administrations over the years.  (BT)

MARIA IS BACK – After six months leave on account of an undisclosed illness, Member of Parliament for Christ Church West Dr Maria Agard made her return to the House of Assembly today and immediately threw her support behind a $4.6 million supplementary for the Ministry of Health. However, while agreeing to the near $5 million national debushing exercise, Dr Agard called on Minister of Health John Boyce to give a full account of its financing, which was to have been raised from the National Social Responsibility Levy. While stating that it was “completely unfair” for taxpayers to foot the bill to clean up the properties of offending landowners, she chided Government for being one of the chief offenders. Dr Agard also called for a higher penalty of $1 per square foot to be imposed on delinquent landowners who allowed their properties to become overrun with bush, while agreeing with Boyce that the current fine  of 18 cents per square foot was not proving to be a deterrent. On the contentious issue of electioneering, the dentist warned that public health could not be treated in such a way, given all that has occurred in the region in recent weeks in terms of the destruction caused by hurricanes in several Caribbean countries. Dr Agard also expressed concern that it only took “a drizzle” for places like Holetown, St James and parts of the Bridgetown to flood. She argued that much of this had to do with the indiscriminate disposal of garbage. In this regard, she called on all Barbadians to commit to keeping the island clean. She also pushed for the establishment of programmes in all schools to encourage children to recycle and to separate their garbage. (BT)

BARRACK DEBT STILL NOT SETTLED – After making nearly $150 million in payments to contractor Al Barrack, Government is still leasing the Warrens Office Complex at Warrens, St Michael from Barrack Construction Ltd, Minister of Housing Denis Kellman revealed today in the House of Assembly. Speaking during debate on a $13.7 million supplementary vote to complete the payment of legal fees to Barrack’s attorneys  – Sir Richard Cheltenham, QC; Sir Maurice King, QC; Sir Trevor Carmichael, QC; and Douglas Trotman – Kellman argued that these inherited expenses had proven burdensome to the ruling Democratic Labour Party (DLP) administration. Nine years after a High Court ordered the then Barbados Labour Party-led administration to shell out $34 million for his part in completing the Warrens Office Complex in St Michael, Barrack was finally paid last year. However, his settlement ended up being more than twice the original judgment, due to accrued interest with Kellman complaining today that even though this sum had been paid, Government was still leasing the building from Barrack Construction Ltd because the debt was not totally settled. However, amid the difficulties, he gave the assurance that the DLP would seek to bring the entire Barrack saga to a close while contending that as far back as the September 6, 2006 this matter should have been completed since the debt was accumulating interest at the rate of ten per cent per annum.  (BT)

BOYCE ISSUES WARNING ABOUT MOSQUITO-BORNE ILLNESSES - More than 15, 000 Barbadians were struck by various mosquito borne diseases between 2012 and 2016. This was revealed by Minister of Health John Boyce as he addressed the House of Assembly on a supplemental vote for $4.6 million to fund a national debushing campaign. He reported that there were 11, 533 cases of dengue, 2, 034 cases of chikungunya, 688 reported cases of Zika and 147 confirmed Zika cases, while stating that Barbados and the rest of the Caribbean had to remain on guard against relatively new diseases such as Zika and the re-emerging ones such as yellow fever. Meantime, St James South MP Kerrie Symmonds wants to know how many health inspectors are currently employed by Government and how their services are deployed. The Opposition MP complained today from the floor of Parliament that communities in his constituency did not benefit from the last state-funded debushing project as he chided Government for only using $1.6 million of the $3 million approved for that exercise. (BT)

PAY UP – Delinquent CARICOM member countries must pay up outstanding contributions to the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) to facilitate rebuilding in countries devastated by recent hurricanes. CARICOM chairman Dr Keith Mitchell yesterday implored all member countries, “especially the more developed countries (MDCs)”, to honour their financial obligations to the CDF for the second funding cycle and beyond. “Failure to do so in a timely manner would severely hamper the ability to deliver on its mandate,” Mitchell warned in his address to the Sixth Meeting of Contributors and Development Partners of the CDF in Barbados. He also said the urgent need to complete the replenishment of the fund in this current period was important to wider efforts to mobilise external financing for the development and reconstruction of the region. (MWN)

BARBADOS OWES OVER $14M TO REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND - Barbados owes in excess of US$7 million (Bds$14 million) to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Development Fund, making it the second most indebted to the regional facility, which was established by CARICOM governments to provide financial or technical assistance to disadvantaged countries. The revelation was made today during a CDF meeting at the Accra Beach Hotel at which it was also disclosed that for the period ending December 31, 2016, the fund was owed US$57.2 million, with US$40 million of that amount outstanding from Trinidad and Tobago. The CDF’s financial statement also indicates that the largest culprits are the so-called more developed countries (MDCs), namely Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados ($7.4 million), Jamaica ($945,534) and Suriname ($4.4 million).    Guyana is the only MDC to have paid its entire pledged contribution of US$7.3 million. The so-called less developed countries (LDCS) of Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines owe US$4.3 million, with Kingstown’s total debt amounting to all of US$166. CDF officials fear that the fund is approaching a “critical” stage as more member countries are expected to request assistance. It was for this reason that they called on the MDCs to pay up, a plea echoed today by CARICOM Chairman, prime minister Dr Keith Mitchell of Grenada, and the CDF’s board chairman Sherwyn Williams, when they addressed the sixth meeting of contributors and development partners. CDF Chief Executive Officer Rodinald Soomer said while he was cognizant of the economic constraints facing CARICOM nations, it was crucial that they pay what they owe in order for the fund to continue meeting its obligations. At the end of December last year the total fund balances were recorded at US$119.8 million, an increase of about 5.75 per cent over the previous year. Total expenses reached US$4.82 million, which was 14 per cent lower than it was in 2015. Meanwhile, operational costs were US$9.8 million last year, down from the US$12.6 million in 2015. In 2016 the CDF disbursed loans totaling US$5 million to Dominica, Grenada, Guyana and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Grants totalling US$2.2 million were disbursed to Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica. (BT)

SKERRIT REASSURES OVERSEAS STUDENTS – Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit assured overseas students their education would continue to be taken care of. He said the places of students at the University of the West Indies were secure and he would send a letter to the pro-vice-chancellor requesting that no action be taken against them. “We will make arrangements to keep our commitments to the university. We’re also informing the universities in the United States, where we have large numbers of students, to indicate to them, once the financial system is up, that we will keep our commitment to our students so they can be at school,” he said during his daily press conference in Roseau. He thanked regional governments that had pledged financial support and continued to lend assistance to the island after it was struck by Hurricane Maria nine days ago. (MWN)

SKEWED JUSTICE - Local attorneys are viewing with suspicion the speed at which a senior police officer facing ammunition charges was able to secure bail. Mere hours after a magistrate remanded Acting Senior Superintendent of Police John Mark Annel to HMP Dodds until October 23, his lawyers Sir Richard Cheltenham and Shelly-Ann Seecharan were able to secure a bail hearing and convince Chief Justice Sir Marston Gibson to release their client on $150,000 bail. Today, President of the Barbados Bar Association Liesel Weekes said it was not the norm for someone facing charges to receive a bail hearing this quickly. Weekes told Barbados TODAY the normal waiting time in recent years has been two to three weeks, insisting that the court must be seen as impartial in the manner in which it grants access to the judicial system. The 56-year-old Annel of Kenrick Hutson Drive, Lucas Street, St Philip is accused of committing six indictable offences under the Firearms Act. He was charged with having 100 rounds of ammunition in his possession on September 20 without a valid licence. It is also alleged that on August 31, September 3, September 9 and September 20, being a member of the RBPF, Annel engaged in willful misconduct which amounted to a breach of public trust by joining the Barbados Rifle and Pistol Federation Inc under the status of a police officer, purchased 100 rounds of ammunition to be expended on that day at the federation’s range at Waterford, and removed the ammunition from the range without expending it. He is also accused of committing a similar offence on August 3, this time with 150 rounds of ammunition. Weekes made a point of stressing that she did not want to attribute improper motives to the court system, while she acknowledged that bail amounts were purely at the discretion of the presiding judge. However, the Bar Association head suggested that $150,000 was low for the charges which the senior police officer is facing. The attorney-at-law also called for all bail applications to be treated with urgency, adding that the haste with which Annel got a hearing must now become standard. It is the same position held by prominent criminal attorney Andrew Pilgrim, QC, who told Barbados TODAY that while he did not have a problem with the expediency afforded Annel, the court must be consistent in dispensing justice. Another prominent attorney, who did not want to be identified by name, was very adamant that “you cannot have one law for the Jews and one for the Gentiles”, while questioning whether Annel, the ballistics expert at the Royal Barbados Police Force, was singled out for preferential treatment. The very passionate attorney was equally insistent that “a new precedent has been set for the future conduct of these matters which must be dealt with the same degree of dispatch”. However, not all lawyers saw the Annel case through the same lens, with Arthur Holder describing the reactions of Pilgrim and Weekes as much ado about nothing. Arthur argued that the senior police officer was not the first to have a matter heard on the same day. (BT)

PRISON OFFICER CHARGED – Members of the Drug Squad have arrested and charged a 54-year-old Prison Officer with possession of 262 grammes of cannabis, with an estimated street value of $1 314. Robin Wesley Wiltshire, of Coach Hill, St John was charged with possession of cannabis, possession of cannabis with intent to supply and trafficking of cannabis. Police executed a search warrant at Wiltshire’s residence and during the search seven taped packages containing cannabis were discovered. He is expected to appear in the District ‘C’ Magistrates Court later today. (MWN)

SANDIFORD TO REMAIN AT DODDS – A St Michael man, who has been on remand for the past two years on robbery and assault charges, was today granted bail by Magistrates Douglas Frederick. However, while bail was posted in the amount of $10,000 for James Jonah Josiah Sandiford, he will remain incarcerated at HMP Dodds since he has other matters pending before the court. The Mayers Land, Lower Richmond Gap, St Michael resident is accused of robbing Victor Maloney of a $159 bag, BDS$825 and US$835 in cash, a $150 passport and a $25 driver’s licence on December 14, 2014. Sandiford, who was 23 years old at the time, is also accused of assaulting Rudolph Small with the intent of robbing him on December 6, 2014. It is also alleged that on March 15, 2015 he robbed Tom Ohlsson of two pairs of spectacles worth US$250, a chain worth US$300, a bag worth US$60, two wallets valued at US$30 and US$100 in cash. Sandiford, who denied all the charges, will make is next appearance in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on October 24. (BT)

ST. LUCIAN FACING DRUG CHARGES – Members of the Drug Squad have arrested and charged a St Lucian woman for a number of drug related offences. Johnelle Pierre, 23, was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to supply, trafficking cocaine and importation of cocaine. Pierre arrived at the Grantley Adams International Airport on Monday, September 25, from St Lucia. Having cleared immigration, she proceeded to the Arrival Hall to collect her luggage. A police dog from the Canine Unit detected the presence of the illegal drugs, and a subsequent search by Customs officials revealed seven black packages each containing cocaine, concealed in false side compartments of her suitcase. Pierre was subsequently arrested and charged. The estimated weight of the cocaine was two kilogrammes, with an estimated street value of $100 000. Pierre is expected to appear in the District ‘B’ Magistrates Court later today. (MWN)

HARRIS DENIES ROBBING AND ASSAULTING WOMAN – A 25-year-old man was remanded to prison today after appearing before a Bridgetown Court on two charges. It is alleged that Mario Leon Harris of Barlett Tenantry, Sargeants Village, Christ Church unlawfully assaulted Hazel Lashley on September 14 and also stole from her a $65 bag, a $35 purse, US$425 and CND$70 in cash. Harris, who is being represented by attorney-at-law Angella Mitchell-Gittens, denied the charges after Magistrate Douglas Frederick read them to him. However, Station Sergeant Neville Reid objected to the accused man’s bail based on the “strength [and] compelling evidence before the court”. The prosecutor also argued that there was need to protect society from Harris as his antecedents showed he had a propensity for such offences. “Efforts are still being made to recover the property and we believe if granted bail he will frustrate those efforts,” Reid added. However, Mitchell-Gittens countered that argument saying that “if anything was going to be recovered it would have been recovered already. “If there was a realistic hope that items would be recovered from him then he would be kept longer by police,” the lawyer argued saying the prosecutor had contradicted himself by stating that the evidence was compelling and yet police were still trying to recover items. Frederick, in making his decision, said the combined objections of the prosecutor were “very strong” and the police needed time to complete their investigation, pointing out that the accused man was already on bail. He then remanded Harris to prison to return to the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court on October 24. And although Harris was cautioned not to say anything, he reported that “I was at work when that thing happen Sir.” “How do you know when it happened?” the magistrate queried, saying that only a date was given not a time. (BT)

NOT SO SAFE – A 54-year-old man who allegedly stole a safe that contained two firearms and other valuables worth over $18,000 has been remanded to HMP Dodds. Edward Dacosta Cumberbatch, of no fixed place of abode, was not required to plead to the charge that he entered Benny Rowe’s house as a trespasser sometime between September 21 and 22 and made away with the $600 safe, two firearms valued at $10,000, a quantity of jewelry worth $2,000, BDS$4,840 and US$300 in cash belonging to the homeowner, as well as a $125 passport. “I don’t know nothing about that . . . . Look at me, I look like I could carry a safe?” Cumberbatch asked, making reference to his small stature. Although his comment caused some chuckles in court, Station Sergeant Neville Reid made it clear that the offence was so serious that Cumberbatch should not be granted bail. The prosecutor told Magistrate Douglas Frederick that the accused man’s prior convictions showed he had a propensity to commit similar offences. “Other persons are also being sought in this investigation and, if granted bail, the accused may interfere and frustrate [its] progress,” Reid said, adding that efforts were still ongoing to recover the stolen property, including the firearms. The prosecutor also objected to bail on the grounds that Cumberbatch had several matters pending before the court. However, in his application for his release, the accused man was adamant that he knew nothing about any guns or a safe. “I was part and parcel of those people that got the gun and the money. I is who take them and show them who is the people, [but] I ain’t got no gun, no money,” he said. It was at that point that Fredrick ordered Cumberbatch to stop speaking, as he had already put ‘his foot in his mouth’. Cumberbatch was remanded to prison until October 24. (BT)

KING PLEADS INNOCENCE –Embattled president of the Barbados Amateur Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation (BABBFF), Manasseh King, says he never refused an official request for drug testing to be conducted at the St Michael Classic in July.  “I have never opposed drug testing. I was president when the bodybuilding federation became one of the first national federations to sign onto the anti-doping code but there is a decent way of doing it,” he said. King has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Committee (NADC) for a breach of its regulations. In a letter despatched to the NADC on July 27, King denied the charge of complicity levelled against him.   (MWN)

WINDIES NEED TEMPO - Finding the right tempo will be key to Windies clawing their way back into the five-match One-Day International series against England, head coach Stuart Law said yesterday ahead of the pivotal fourth encounter at the Oval.  The Australian said the Windies were trapped between the Test and Twenty20 formats at the moment and were having difficulty determining the correct pace of the innings. As a result, they trail 2-0 in the series, having lost the opener at Old Trafford last week Tuesday by seven wickets and the third match in Bristol three days ago by 124 runs. The second fixture at Trent Bridge was rained off last Thursday after only 14 deliveries. “We’re not quite playing at the tempo that suits one-day cricket. We’re caught between Test cricket and T20 cricket,” Law told reporters.(CMC)  (MWN)

CARLTON CLIP UWI BLACKBIRDS – Against the run of play, Phoenix Security Services Carlton were able to maintain a winning 3-2 grip against University of the West Indies (UWI) Blackbirds in the best of five sets of the Goddard Enterprises Limited Division One Volleyball League action last night. Played at the Wildey Gymnasium, UWI in search of their first victory for the 2017 season, got off to a good start by winning the opening set but were unable to stop Carlton who took the contest 22-25, 25-14, 17-25, 25-18 and 15-9 in a two hour and 14 minutes long battle. (BT)

That’s all for today folks there are 96 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[nakeddeparture]

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Reid, who departed Barbados recently, will train and represent Chicago State while pursuing a two-year associate degree.

The former St. Leonard's Boys' student, who also represented the UWI Blackbirds in the BFA premiership, wants to use this opportunity to better himself and his family.

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[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 5/21/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers Here is your daily news cap for Sunday 21st May 2017. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT), or by purchasing a Sunday Sun Nation Newspaper (SS).  

SUSPECTED FOODBORNE ILLNESS AT ST PHILIP DISTRICT HOSPITAL – The Ministry of Health is investigating a suspected occurrence of foodborne illness at the St Philip District Hospital. The incident affected 30 patients between May 15 and 16 and resulted in the admission of one patient, who experienced severe symptoms, to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. According to a senior Ministry official, all of the patients were seen by medical practitioners and samples sent to the Public Health Laboratory for testing. The official added that a Rapid Response Team from the Ministry of Health was investigating the cause of the illness. The Ministry of Health assured the public that all necessary steps were being taken to adequately address the situation. (BT)

NO BED OF ROSES FOR ST MICHAEL SOUTH RESIDENTS – Residents of St Michael South say life in the constituency has not been a bed of roses. Today they joined the man who wants to replace Prime Minister Freundel Stuart as the Member of Parliament for the area in highlighting the issues plaguing them. Kirk Humphrey, the Barbados Labour Party’s (BLP) caretaker for the area, accused  Stuart of ignoring the plight of constituents. He said the lives of women and children are under constant threat, especially at nights, because of poor lighting in the communities. He added that roads and drains in the area are also in a deplorable state. Humphrey noted that parliamentarians win their seats because of the confidence of the electorate; and if their voices are ignored by the people they elect to represent them, then they have the ability to oust them. Humphrey said the Stuart-led administration had failed the constituents with expensive Grotto and Valerie Housing Projects and residents who were anticipating the opening of the high-rise low-income apartment complexes were left feeling cheated. (SS)

MAJOR UPGRADE FOR THE CITY - Bridgetown is set to get a major facelift with improvement in lighting, sanitation and refurbishment of some of its iconic landmarks. Chairman of the Tourism Development Corporation (TDC), Martin Ince, told the SUNDAY SUN work on the repainting and repair of Broad Street’s blue cast iron lights was already in progress, while plans were in train to repair damaged garbage bins and to replace the palms which, like the street lights, were originally placed to enhance the streetscape. The TDC city upgrade, being done in conjunction with the Barbados Chamber of Commerce, is included in the $640 000 package which the TDC plans to invest in tourism-related projects across the island over the next six months. President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Eddie Abed, said that organisation had also been investing in projects to revitalise Bridgetown and had contributed thousands of dollars to the lighting of several streets around the city last year. (SS)

GET DRUNK DRIVERS TOO - Insurers and a road safety advocate have called for breathalysers for the umpteenth time following the disclosure that the laws are to be changed to penalise mobile phone use while driving. Last week, Minister of Transport and Works Michael Lashley said that the Road Traffic Act and Regulations were being amended to make specific reference to cellphones, tablets and other hand-held devices. Offenders could face fines up to $3 000 and or imprisonment of more than a year. President of the General Insurance Association of Barbados, Michael Holder, in supporting the change, pointed out that an industry survey in 2015 showed that almost four out of every ten accidents resulted from distracted drivers. “We had undertaken an industry survey and what it said was that 38 per cent of these accidents were caused due to driver distraction, the driver was on the cellphone, appeared to be texting, reaching for the dashboard or paying more attention to something or someone on the road,” he said.  (SS)

SCHOOL ROCKED BY DEATH OF TEEN – DESPITE LIVING WITH a life-threatening respiratory condition, Jaquan Turney was bright-eyed and full of life. Unfortunately, he did not live long enough to realise his potential. He was just 13-years-old when he lost the battle against asthma. Still, his death was sudden and has left a veil of sadness at the Princess Margaret Secondary School, which he attended. “He was fun-loving, talkative . . . . He was the centre of attention. He was always saying something to make you laugh,” grieving mother Gail-Anne Turney said.  (SS)

TEENAGER SHOT IN EDEN LODGE – Police are conducting investigations into a shooting incident which occurred around 7:35 p.m. yesterday at Eden Lodge, St Michael. Demarco Cumberbatch, 18, of Eden Lodge was shot in his abdomen during the incident. Police said Cumberbatch was walking through a track in the area when he was approached by a man who shot him before fleeing the scene. He was transported by ambulance to the QEH for medical treatment. Anyone who can provide any information to assist the police with this investigation is being asked to contact the nearest police station. All information received will be treated confidentially. (BT)

CHRIST CHURCH MAN INJURED IN ACCIDENT – A Christ Church man had a lucky escape when he crashed his motor car into a utility pole along Weston Main Road, St James, this morning. He has been identified as 37-year-old Alistair Leppo of Goodland Gardens, Christ Church. Police said the accident happened around 4:45 a.m. Leppo complained of pain to his body and opted to seek private medical attention. Investigations are continuing. (BT)

DUNWOODY SHOWS HE’S ALPHA MALE – ALPHA SHARKS have gone further out front. The defending champs have all but secured themselves another Aquatic Centre Invitational Championship following Nkosi Dunwoody’s latest record-breaking performances in the pool yesterday. With the multi CARIFTA gold medal swimmer recording seven victories on the day, Alpha extended their lead on rivals Pirates to 275 points after finishing the penultimate session on 1 007 points. Pirates did well to tally 732 points behind the efforts of Zachary Taylor and the Treasure sisters McKayla and Danielle. (SS)

BISHOP STARS AS SPOONERS HILL REBUKE NEWBURY – Spooners Hill Firebirds blazed to a 4-1 record by outshining Newbury All Stars 59-29 on Friday in the Division 1 netball league at the Netball Stadium. The experienced Lydia Bishop led the way with 46 goals from 51 attempts as Firebirds, who returned to Division 1 this season, added another win to those secured against C.O. Williams Rangers, Barbados Under-21s and UWI Signia Blackbirds “B”. The lone loss was to Pine Hill St Barnabas. Bishop received support from the shorter Kellyann Knight, who scored 13 goals from 26 attempts. Charlene Jordan (16/31), Stacey Brewster (11/17) and Nicole Gill (2/3) fought to avert Newbury’s fourth successive loss. Newbury started well, locking the scores from one up to eight, and taking the lead at 6-5. However, their challenge fell away and that proved to be their only lead of the match. (SS)

STILL, HAZELL BACK FOR SOL RALLY – After an eight-year absence the pair of Jonathan Still and Heath Hazell are back. But they are entered in Group B for Sol Rally Barbados, so as not to interfere with the other BMW competitors chasing class and championship points this season. “Stillo”, as he is affectionately called in local and regional motoring circles, is a four-time Rally Barbados class winner and is returning to the event in a newly-built Quality Tyre/Markham Construction BMW M3 with long-time friend and co-driver Hazell, with whom he shared his earlier events and championship wins. A favourite with fans both at home and abroad, he retired after his fourth consecutive SuperModified class win in the 2009 Sol Rally Barbados to concentrate his efforts elsewhere, but admits that he has been increasingly feeling like “a fish out of water”, despite driving the Zero Car for a few years at the head of the big event. (SS)

BCA NOD FOR UWI – The University of the West Indies (UWI) will compete in the Barbados Cricket Association’s (BCA) competitions as a club from this season and will no longer be restricted to fielding bona fide students.  BCA’s director of cricket Steven Leslie confirmed the change in status in an interview with SUNSPORT. “UWI, following a recent decision by the BCA board of management, has been given club status and that is reflected in the amendments for 2017,” Leslie said. The changes have been outlined in the BCA’s Special Conditions and Regulations of Play for the 2017 season. (SS)

BAJANS MORE TOLERANT OF GAYS – More than 15 per cent of Barbadians still express hatred towards homosexuals. But a majority of the country is still either tolerant or accepting of homosexuals, with the numbers that could genuinely be described as “homophobic” amounting to approximately 17 per cent of the population, a recent study has shown. The 2013/14 study was conducted by the Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES), headed by political scientist Peter Wickham, and was facilitated through a research grant provided by Barbados’ HIV/AIDS Commission to look at local attitudes towards homosexuals. In addition, the study shows Barbadians are adamantly opposed to violence against homosexuals because of their sexual preference. (SS)

RIHANNA LOVES CHOPARD WITH NEW JEWELLERY COLLECTION - Rihanna made her first appearance at the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday night and also debuted some pieces from her jewellery collaboration with Chopard. Rihanna has teamed with Caroline Scheufele, Chopard's co-president and creative director, to produce a collection titled, Rihanna ♥ Chopard. It will include high jewellery pieces marketed as the Rihanna ♥ Chopard Joaillerie Collection and a collection of limited edition pieces marketed as the Rihanna ♥ Chopard Haute Joaillerie Collection, made with “Fairmined” gold The Rihanna ♥ Chopard Haute Joaillerie Collection was officially unveiled to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Festival de Cannes red carpet and celebrate Chopard’s 20th year as the official partner of the Cannes Film Festival. (SS)

ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS – “Love you for who you are, and don’t let society tell you how you should express yourself.” That is the message 19-year-old Theona Hinds aims to communicate through her art. For as long as she can remember, art has been a big part of her life, with her parents Theo and Michelle Hinds being artists themselves. Hinds recalled that she just drew at first and did not take art seriously until a few years ago when her mother’s contagious passion for creating art “spilled onto me”. It was while in sixth form at The Lodge School that she was introduced to clay by her Art and Design teacher. And while she was simply experimenting at the beginning, she eventually grew to love the medium. Hinds now draws, paints, and creates Plaster of Paris moulds, but clay modeling is her main love. Hinds recently displayed two pieces of her artwork in an exhibition at the Barbados Community College (BCC). The two-part series was entitled A Celebration Of Flaws, with the displays My Flaws Are Beautiful and Perfect In My Imperfections. The clay varnished pieces were more than just works of art; they carried strong messages for young girls and women. (BT)

HARD TIMES HIT KAISO TENTS –CALYPSO TENTS finding it harder to attract sponsorship have been told that they need to reinvent themselves in order to remain relevant. Tent officials noted that the funding challenges continued even as the Crop Over Festival generates economic activity second only to Christmas. Eleanor Rice, manager of the All Stars tent, said that according to the economic figures the festival generated significant expenditure from which many businesses across all sectors benefit. “Still the treatment meted out to this economic driver [Crop Over] by many in the public and private sector leaves much to be desired. At government level, the frustrations continue of working with impractical requirements of the Barbados Revenue Authority,” said Rice, who praised her major sponsor Cave Shepherd for its almost two decades of support. (SS)

ALL STARS READY FOR FESTIVAL SEASON – CAVE SHEPHERD ALL STARS is moving ahead with confidence this year as they try to keep the calypso crown on their heads. Last year they copped the monarchy with Aziza who will be leading the other 14 calypsonians as the tent opens May 27 at Almond Resort in St Peter. Tent manager Eleanor Rice said the tent had “established a pedigree among Barbados’ best tents and we value this acknowledgement greatly”.  She was speaking at Cave Shepherd Broad Street, the home of the tent’s main sponsor, in the presence of her calypsonians and supporting sponsors. These are BIMAP, Golden Sands and TMR. Rice said the tent had already prepared itself for the season by having a number of interactions among members. - Rice defended the social commentary element which she said might be elevated to the level of classics but there “are those genres which cause listeners convulsions with the shallow depth of lyrics and absence of creativity, but they get the level of airplay on our radio stations”.  She castigated those businesses that did not contribute to sponsorship to the festival and thanked those businesses which “unequivocally demonstrate social responsiveness, and receive and give, for mutual benefit”.  This year’s cast includes calypsonians Aziza, Colin Spencer, Kid Site, Ronnie De Announcer Clarke, Miguel, Donella, Shawnie, Fabee, Screwface, Niqa, Dija, Charisma, Hee Haw, Camera Man and Richard Antonio. (SS)

SWEET SOCA AT MEGA CALVACADE – The numbers might have been subpar but the soca was sweet for days at the Hott 95.3 Mega Cavalcade at Checker Hall, St Lucy. Those who gathered on the playing field enjoyed every last drop of soca from seasoned artists as well as some newcomers. The Mega Cavalcade, which kicked off the three-month long festival, introduced fresh faces, including Aidan, to the public. Also known as Nadia Holmes, Aidan brought incredible zeal and boundless energy to her performance. Reggae artist Makka Tree was also an unfamiliar face to the crowd but nevertheless, he delivered, rousing loud cheers from his supporters. Things started to get heated when the bashment soca artists hit the stage. As soon as the song by Jah Reddis and Hardware was teased, there was a rush to the front of the stage. Young and old were ready to Up de Ting! The duo maintained a high energy performance which was followed by Scrilla and Faith Callendar who performed Gimme – Callendar’s first attempt at the genre. Marzille and Stabby gave the patrons an impromptu performance of some love music singing hits like Thinking of You and Let’s get it on, to the delight of the crowd. Unfortunately, that was cut short due to time constraints and they quickly moved onto Oops and Peep Back to which the crowd went wild. Another crowd favourite, 2016 Bashment King, Stiffy reminded patrons why he holds the crown. The artist worked his magic on the crowd and had them singing his songs word for word. The Groovy Soca Monarch, The General,  Edwin Yearwood also had his troops chipping and pelting waistline to past and present songs. Meanwhile, Damien Marvay romanced the crowd with his sweet vocals and boundless energy. He was one of the few performers to introduce one of their Crop Over 2017 songs singing newly released Antidote and previous hits Survive The Weeknd and I Know the Face. Closing off the cavalcade with a bang, the Hypa Dawg, Lil Rick had the crowd begging for more with Iz A Bajan, Way Up and All Iz Rum. Even as the crowd lined off to go home, small groups gathered on the field reluctant to leave, highlighting that the Mega Cavalcade was a good party and a good time.(BT)

UP TO $5000 TO PLAY MAS – If you are “kraving” a quality Crop Over experience, look to spend thousands of dollars. But the reason for that, says Avery Hackett, bandleader of Krave The Band, all boils down to quality, craftsmanship and unique designs. It is also about the entire experience. That is why their costumes are being sold for US$2 200 for frontlines; midlines can start at US$770 in some instances and backlines can cost US$525 and more. And while many people are raising eyebrows at the prices, most of the sections have been sold out. To register, revellers have to pay a 50 per cent deposit on costumes, and one of the two queen pieces, which cost US$2 500 each, has already been snatched up. (SS)

Gospelfest 2017 to launch – The 2017 Barbados Gospelfest gets underway today, Sunday, May 21 with a thanksgiving church service at the Western Light Nazarene Church, Oxnards, St James beginning at 8 a.m. The annual Joseph Niles Legacy Lecture will place on Monday, May 22 at the L.V. Harcourt Lewis Room of the Barbados Public Workers Cooperative Credit Union on Belmont Road, St Michael beginning at 7:30 p.m. The lecture will be delivered by Austral Estwick, veteran musician, sound engineer and founding member of the island’s number one gospel band, PROMISE. Barbados Gospelfest continues to be an avenue for Barbadians to experience spiritual upliftment through various art forms. (BT)

Christopher, Shaquille’s dream comes true - The suspense and wait are over. Loud cheers erupted when Christopher Millar and Shaquille Haynes were announced as the winning couple in this year’s Forever I Do Dream Wedding Competition at Hilton Barbados last night. The elated couple won the hearts of Barbadians and the judges before a packed audience shortly before 9 o’clock. Six couples were in the contest with the winners walking away with about $25 000 in prizes. The chief judges were Keith and Kay Robertson. Yesterday’s Forever I Do Seminar and Expo was the final event in the competition now in its 16th year. It is hosted by the Nation Publishing Company. (SS)

That’s all for today folks. There are 224 days left in the year Shalom! #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps Follow us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram for your daily news. #bajannewscaps #newscapsbystephaniefchase

[stephaniefchase]

Bajan Newscap 1/9/2017

Good Morning #realdreamchasers! Here is your daily newscap. Remember you can read full articles via Barbados Today (BT) or by purchasing a Daily Nation Newspaper.

SPEND PLAN –STORE OWNERS ARE so desperate to get the 800 000 cruise passengers expected to visit Barbados this year to spend money in Bridgetown, that they are willing to pay to shuttle them there. In any event, head of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), Eddy Abed, said the days of visitors being picked up from the port, bypassing The City centre before returning to the port should come to an end. “We have 800 000 cruise ship passengers that are half a mile away at the Bridgetown Port and we need to get them into the centre of Bridgetown,” he said. “If you leave [them] to their own devices, they are not going to come. If you leave it to the tour companies, they are not going to bring them. So we need to say no more picking up passengers inside the port. (DN) 

VENDORS IN TIGHT SPOT - It’s now up to officials in the Ministry of Housing and Lands to decide if the entity representing the island’s wayside vendors gets to lease the temporary market facilities at Cheapside. But the head of BARVEN (Barbados Association of Retailers, Vendors and Entrepreneurs), Alister Alexander, said the delay was preventing the association from approaching financial institutions for aid to construct decent structures on the site. Alexander told the DAILY NATION BARVEN had submitted an application, last year, to the Ministry of Housing and Lands to lease the property at Cheapside. The vendors were relocated to Cheapside in 2006 as the island prepared to host Cricket World Cup 2007. The relocation was supposed to be temporary but the vendors are still there, in the same structures, today. (DN) 

GREASE IN SEWERS – The Barbados Water Authority (BWA) is still working on correcting last year’s South Coast sewage fiasco. But even as the agency continues its post-mortem of the debacle, it is becoming clear that Barbadians played a role in the overflows. Yesterday morning, BWA personnel were hard at work flushing sewerage lines in Rendezvous, Christ Church. The director of the BWA’s Waste Water Recovery Programme, Patricia Inniss, said this action was part of a scheduled and systematic flushing programme to reduce the chances of overflow as much as was possible. As the team worked to clean the choked lines, Inniss explained that the BWA had discovered several unexpected household materials that should not be in the sewerage lines and which were exacerbating the situation. (DN) 

FLAGS TO STAY - Despite the apparent calls from the Ministry of Transport and Works (MTW) for the Barbados Road Safety Association (BRSA) to remove its fluorescent “pothole marker” flags, the association says it will be doing no such thing. BRSA president Sharmaine Roland-Bowen has said that if MTW personnel want the florescent yellow markers moved, they are going to have to do it themselves. A defiant Roland-Bowen spoke to the DAILY NATION yesterday, one day before the MTW’s islandwide emergency roadworks pothole-fixing programme kicks into high gear. “[MTW] told us we were in contravention of some act, so basically we would have to remove them,” she said. “But I am waiting to see when they would send us a written document instructing us to move them or if it’s just verbal.” (DN)

SUPER MARINA - Superyachts may be sailing by, but the chance to have the long-touted super marina has not passed Barbados just yet. That’s the word from Stuart Layne, chief executive officer of the Barbados Tourism Investment Incorporated (BTII), who said plans for the Bridgetown Pierhead Marina project were still very much on the cards. However, it probably would not be built before 2020, or even later. “We are involved in many projects and in the process of doing others, and the marina is still one of them,” Layne told the DAILY NATION in a recent interview. “It is still actively on the cards, but there are several factors involved before it can be constructed.”  (DN) 

NO SMOKING SIGNAL –Graphic images showing the harmful side effects of smoking could soon be coming to local cigarette boxes. Word of this has come from Minister of Health John Boyce who said the new move would be the topic at the ministry’s management meeting today. He made the disclosure as he addressed a branch meeting of the Democratic Labour Party’s Christ Church South constituency, at the St Lawrence Primary School last night. He said cigarette smoking and the labelling of tobacco products were two of the outstanding items “which will come under the scrutiny of Parliament very soon”. (DN)

SHEEP SHOT – A small farmer is counting his losses after a number of his prized Black Belly sheep were shot dead when they wandered on to a neighbouring St John farm. And as District “C” police investigate, the man accused of being behind the killing has agreed to replace four sheep. The two sides dispute the number killed; owner Jason Ashby put the figure at 12. It was about four days ago, said witnesses to the incident, that some of Ashby’s flock were shot, loaded on to two trucks and driven away. Ashby, 31, of St John, was at work when the incident occurred. However, reports said his 78 sheep escaped after a rotted gate at his small farm broke.  (DN) 

FORT LAUDERDALE SHOOTER  - The suspected killer in the Ft. Lauderdale rampage, 26-year-old Esteban Santiago, was charged on Saturday with performing an act of violence at an airport, which could earn him the death penalty if he is convicted. Santiago was charged with an act of violence at an international airport resulting in death and weapons charges. Earlier, the FBI announced that Santiago apparently travelled to the airport for the purpose of carrying out the bloody rampage. Santiago told investigators that he planned the attack, buying a one-way ticket to the Fort Lauderdale airport, a federal complaint said. Authorities don’t know why he chose his target and have not ruled out terrorism. Terrorism may have been a “potential motivation” for the attack on Friday that killed five people, Special Agent in Charge George Piro said during a news conference. Later in the afternoon, police in Alaska said they had returned a handgun to the Florida airport shooting suspect which was temporarily taken from him when he underwent a mental evaluation late last year, according to a Reuters report. Anchorage Police Chief Christopher Tolley said it was not immediately clear if it was the same gun used in Friday’s deadly rampage. Officials told a news conference the gun was returned to the suspect because the Iraq war veteran had not committed a crime. (BT)

UWI BLACKBIRDS COLLECT – The 2017 Barbados Football Association’s Digicel Premier League kicked off yesterday evening. But before the action got going at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex, 2016 champions UWI Blackbirds were officially presented with their trophy. UWI clinched the title by one point ahead of Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme. (DN) 

USC U-17 CHAMPS OUSTED - All good things must come to an end and so has st george south’s reign as champions of the national sports council/youth development programme under-17 community football tournament. st michael north west atoned for last year’s semi-final defeat with an impressive 2-1 victory over the previously unbeaten title-holders in a round of 16 knockout stage match at briar hall on saturday afternoon. ridon pilgrim gave the deacons-based st michael north west the lead in the 24th minute but shaquan clarke got a second-half equaliser for st george south in the 41st minute. nadico smith became st michael north west’s hero when he displayed plenty of skill to score the game winner in the 49th winner. (DN)

SUNRISE, WELCHMAN HALL TRIUMPH –Youth upstaged experience when the Barbados Cricket League (BCL) held the finals of their Twenty20 competitions at Blenheim ‘A’ yesterday. Sunrise Cricket Club and Steve’s Building Works Welchman Hall both scored overwhelming victories over Transport North and Lucky Horseshoe/S.Y. Adams Welches to take the Everton Weekes and the Garfield Sobers Cups, respectively, before a lively crowd. An expertly paced second wicket partnership between youngsters Zachary McCaskie and Jafari Toppin lifted Sunrise to a seven-wicket win over the “Northeners” in the morning fixture while Welchman Hall romped to victory over defending champions Welches by 55 runs in the afternoon’s feature match. McCaskie smacked half a dozen fours and a couple of sixes in a knock of 62 that earned him the Man Of The Match award after he and Toppin (36) had posted 94 in pursuit of 126 for six made by the “Transporters” who won the toss.  (DN) 

BELGRAVE IS TOP CREATIVE WRITER - Kerry Belgrave was last night awarded the Frank Collymore Literary Awards 2016 top prize, and Linda Deane did the double by taking the second prize and the Prime Minister’s award. Belgrave received the honour in the Grand Salle of the Central Bank for his piece, ‘@bb.now/techculture?’, a collection of poems looking at the new ‘tech’ language, and the generational and communications break from the old language. Deane copped second prize for an anthology that discovers the grace and gravity of supposedly ordinary lives. This compilation also earned her the Prime Minister’s Award for the entry that best represents Barbados in a new and interesting light. Carleone Blackman, was awarded third place for the piece ‘Sons and Lovers’. Hounourable mention went to Christine Barrow, for ‘Black Dogs and the Colour Yellow’; Justin Holder, for ‘Heaven Home’; and Peter Laurie, for ‘Dancing to Music at the End of Time’. The 2016 competition saw 71 entries, compared to 77 of the previous year. (BT) 

SCHOOL SPIN & SPAN – Airy Hill, St. Joseph residents are calling for the appointment of a permanent maintenance worker at St Bernard’s Primary School. They made the plea yesterday as scores of them took up the task of ridding the rural school of overgrown bush and weeds, which they said harboured rodents and made the school an eyesore. Lead spokesman for the group, Prince Nowell, said residents sprang into action after seeing the state of the school and its surroundings. Many of the volunteers were men, women and “boys on the block” who either attended the primary school or have children there. They made their way from nearby communities such as Lammings and Sugar Hill to get the work done from as early 7 a.m.  (DN) 

There are 25 Days until Girlfriends Expo & Arts Festival (February 4th & 5th) and you can purchase your tickets from Ticket Pal.

To all our nation’s teachers who are returning to work today remember we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child. Well that’s all for today folks. There are 356 more days in the year  ;) Shalom!  #thechasefiles #dailynewscaps