6 Independent Senator Canon Dr John Rogers has described Barbados as a “society under siege”, warning that while a proposed anti-gang law was necessary, legislation alone would not solve the country’s crime problem. “Barbados has become a foreign place,” he said, adding that the country had become foreign not only in terms of demographics but also because of ideologies that had taken root within society. The Anglican cleric called for tougher parenting, stronger community involvement, and a return to discipline as the Senate moved on Friday to tackle rising gang activity and violent crime through the Criminal Gangs (Prevention and Control) Bill. Senator Rogers declared he was speaking on the bill with a heavy heart, noting the approach of several historic milestones, including the 400th anniversary of the settlement of the island, the 60th anniversary of Independence, and the fifth anniversary of becoming a republic. Drawing parallels between the bill...

2 The sisterhood at the Plant Tissue Culture in St Philip facility has become the nurturing force behind a young scientist’s growing ambition to help find a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Senior agricultural assistant Romelia Dabreo has found more than employment within the laboratory’s walls. She has discovered mentorship, empowerment and a sense of purpose among a close-knit team of women who helped transform her curiosity into a passion for scientific research. Surrounded daily by head of the facility Dr Sophia Marshall, senior laboratory assistants Althea Grace and Deslyn Newton, along with laboratory worker Sandra Alleyne-Belgrave, Dabreo said the environment created by the women around her gave her the confidence to thrive in a field she never imagined entering. “I would say it’s a great opportunity for me because the women here are very nice ladies. They like to share their knowledge and they make me feel comfortable and at...

16 Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Canadian counterpart Mark Carnet have wrapped up a series of bilateral talks in Toronto with a commitment to deepen economic and strategic ties between Barbados and Canada.  The discussions, framed as an effort to revitalise a long-standing relationship, centred on expanding cooperation in areas including the creative arts, skills development innovation, climate resilience, maritime research, quantum computing, professional mobility and energy security. Carney underscored the significance of the partnership and praised Mottley’s international role, describing her as a “leader for tomorrow”. He also highlighted the importance of joint action on climate change, adaptation, resilience, climate finance and mitigation, while praising Barbados’ commitment to achieving 100 per cent clean energy. A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said Mottley’s visit was intended to refocus relations by identifying practical measures to make it “easier and better for Barbadians and Canadians to continue to work together”. A...

210 A High Court judge has fined a public service vehicle (PSV) operator $15 000 for the reckless driving that led to the death of a 17-year-old boy, describing the crash as “utterly avoidable”. “This was pure recklessness on the roads that fell drastically below the standard that is expected of a driver of experience and a driver engaged in transporting citizens of this country to and fro on a daily basis,” said Justice Christopher Birch during the sentencing hearing of Tristan Karel Phillips.   Phillips, of Chance Hall, St Lucy, had admitted in the No. 5A Supreme Court to causing the death of Trae Sobers on November 20, 2016 by driving a ‘ZR’ route taxi on Mount Gay Road in St Lucy in a manner dangerous to the public.   Justice Birch said: “The fact that you drive a public service vehicle or a taxi carries with it certain concomitant responsibilities,...

0 A nationwide emergency drill to move Barbados’ fishing fleet out of harm’s way has exposed the scale and urgency of hurricane preparedness, as the fisheries industry races to prevent a repeat of the losses caused by Hurricane Beryl in 2024. The proactive measures come as the fishing fleet continues its steady recovery following Beryl, which severely crippled the island’s maritime infrastructure and decimated a significant portion of its seafaring vessels. Dr Shelly Cox, chief fisheries officer, emphasised that the industry has taken an aggressive stance on disaster readiness, recognising that preparation must be a collaborative and highly synchronised effort. Dr Shelly Ann Cox, Chief Fisheries Officer. (Photo credit: Ricardo Roberts/Barbados TODAY) “The fishery sector has been quite proactive,” Dr Cox said. “We wanted to make sure that we tested our vessel relocation protocols and all our operations.” To achieve this, the fisheries division spearheaded a cross-sector initiative early last...

0 The group representing small hotels has warned that a key state-backed financing facility must offer more competitive interest rates if it is to fulfil its role in supporting the tourism industry, as it also flagged concerns about a booking platform that has yet to generate a single reservation. Executive director of the Intimate Hotels of Barbados (IHB) Cicely Denise Callender is insistent that the Small Hotel Investment Fund (SHIF) offer competitive interest rates to reflect its development mandate. Executive Director of the Intimate Hotels of Barbados, Cicely Denise Callender. (Photo Credit: Jenique Belgrave/Barbados TODAY) The SHIF, which is managed by Enterprise Growth Fund Limited and financed through the Public Enterprise Investment Fund, provides financing to small hotels that are IHB members to assist with the refurbishing of their properties, group marketing, training and the procurement of goods and services for membership of the Intimate Group. Callender told the group’s...

690 The accommodation industry is grappling with acute labour shortages, a top industry leader warned on Wednesday, as she reported that hotels were on a “struggle bus” in finding people willing to work. “The biggest challenge that we’re facing is actually trying to find the right talent and the right fit for all the positions that we have available within the industry,” Executive Director of the Intimate Hotels of Barbados (IHB), Cicely Denise Callender, told Barbados TODAY. “It’s becoming increasingly hard to actually find persons who are willing to actually work.” At the chain’s 26th annual general meeting at Ocean Spray Apartments, Inch Marlow, Callender pointed out that there were vacancies across all areas of the industry that needed to be filled, but there was an apparent lack of interest within society to do so. “From housekeeping to the restaurants and waitressing, it is just about every facet that we’re...

30 Livestock farmers are worried that prolonged dry conditions could threaten milk production and animal health amid a shortage of hay – the fundamental nutritional fodder on which animals rely for good health and wellbeing, Barbados TODAY can reveal.  While Ministry of Agriculture consultant Dr Leroy McClean acknowledged a shortage, he insisted that the issue had not reached a critical stage. But President of the Beef and Dairy Producers Association McDonald Stevenson urged the government to provide a solution quickly, especially with weather forecasters and climatologists predicting a heatwave and drought during the Atlantic hurricane season and towards the end of this year. If the predicted dry period persisted for any length of time, animals would start dying, he warned. He also urged Barbadians to brace for a possible milk shortage if the hay is not replenished in short order. Stevenson told Barbados TODAY exclusively: “I have been getting a...

71 Head coach of Extreme Velocity Track and Field Club Glen Williams is pleased with the team’s performance at the recently concluded Whitsuntide Games in Grenada. The group was among a delegation from Barbados that secured a number of medals. Teenaged sprint sensation Jalino Hamlet was named the Most Outstanding Athlete at the Games after setting six new records. In an interview with Barbados TODAY, Williams said he had seen major improvements by the majority of athletes. “I think it was a pretty good meet, certainly the biggest they have put on, featuring about 1100 competitors and to come back to Barbados with the Most Outstanding Athlete’s trophy, I think that we’ve done very well. “Overall we had some pretty good performances, especially in the junior division. As you know, most teams suffer in the junior division, but we had some really, really big improvements,” Williams said. You Might Be...

7 More than 220 entries have been submitted for the revived Party Monarch competition, underscoring strong demand for the platform’s return and signalling a competitive Crop Over season ahead. The National Cultural Foundation (NCF) announced on Monday that 92 performers have registered for the Power Soca category, while 134 entries have been received for Sweet Soca, signalling strong interest in the competition’s comeback after its absence in recent years. President of the Barbados Association of Creatives and Artistes (BACA), Barry Knight, welcomed the response, saying the return of the competition has clearly filled an important gap for performers. “The competition coming back is a good thing. For me, it was a void in terms of artists not having that platform, not only to express their work through a competition format, but also to regain or gain some monetary gains from it as well.” He noted that beyond providing a stage...