46 Four major health facilities being developed under Barbados’ US$175 million Health Services Resilience Programme are expected to be up and running by 2029. The programme covers the new Geriatric Hospital in Waterford, St Michael; Roseville Halfway House in St Peter; an expansion at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Odle’s Glenn Senior Village in St George. The plan also expands digital health services, adding a new health information system to improve access to medical records and connect all levels of healthcare facilities. Officials shared these details on Monday evening during the first public consultation, held by the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Inter-American Development Bank at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Wellness Francine Blackman said the programme is moving forward with multilateral agreements involving the IDB, Caribbean Development Bank, World Bank and the Development Bank of Latin America and the...

90 Barbados and Venezuela have agreed to deepen cooperation in energy, including the commercial exchange of hydrocarbons and oil derivatives, as part of a wider push to strengthen economic ties between the two countries. The agreement also covers food security, education, tourism and transportation, with plans for a direct maritime cargo route and increased trade and investment. The commitments are contained in a Joint Declaration agreed by Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez following high-level talks in Caracas on Monday. Under the energy agreement, Venezuela will provide training and capacity-building for Barbadian personnel, as well as technical assistance in land exploration and fields recovery. The two countries will also explore opportunities for cooperation and investment in renewable energy and related infrastructure and establish a technical working team to monitor the agreements. The declaration follows bilateral talks held in Bridgetown on April 27 and identifies energy, agriculture, fisheries,...

23 A security officer will return to court later this year after denying a charge of assault. Everick Cameron Agard, 43 of Gilkes Road, Hindsbury Road, St Michael, appeared before Magistrate Manila Renee and pleaded not guilty to the charge that on August 21, he assaulted a minor, occasioning him actual bodily harm. Agard was released on $5 000 bail with surety and warned to stay away from the complainant. The matter will continue on November 26 in the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrates Court. (JB)

174 An error in calculating land tax bills has affected 25 807 residential properties valued at over $450 000, Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn announced on Monday. He explained that the affected bills did not fully reflect the updated residential tax bands after the tax-free threshold for residential property was raised from $300 000 to $400 000. “25 807 residential properties were impacted by the overcalculation, and therefore those persons now will be the beneficiaries of paying a little less tax this year, and they were given the opportunity to be able to determine what they do.” Speaking at a press conference at the Barbados Revenue Authority’s office on Roebuck Street, Straughn outlined the corrected tax bands. “The correct residential land tax bands, for the avoidance of doubt, are zero per cent on the improved value up to $400 000. 0.1 per cent on the portion above $400 000 and...

192 A 30-year-old self-employed man was remanded to Dodds Prison for 28 days after being charged in connection with a shooting incident earlier this month. Jason Andre Leacock of 1st Avenue Friendship Terrace, St Michael, appeared in the No. 2 District ‘A’ Magistrates Court before Magistrate Manila Renee. He is accused of firing a gun without lawful authority on Huntes Street, a public place, in a manner that put Mary Rouse and Renee Rouse at risk of death or serious injury. He is also charged with using a firearm without a valid licence and damaging a concrete pillar on a house belonging to Mary Rouse, intending to destroy or damage the property or being reckless as to whether the property would be destroyed or damaged and of intending or being reckless about whether Mary Rouse’s life would be endangered by this act. The alleged offences took place on August 8....

7 About one-third of the Barbados Customs and Excise Department’s staff are expected to retire over the next two to three years as the agency continues its push towards redevelopment, retraining and greater use of technology. Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn disclosed the expected turnover on Sunday as Customs marked its 121st anniversary with a church service at the Power in the Blood Assembly, Tudor Bridge, St Michael. Minister of Finance Ryan Straughn (Photo credit: Lauryn Escamilla / Barbados TODAY) He said continued investment in technology and training would be necessary as the department prepares for a changing workforce, while the Ministry of Finance would continue to support the redevelopment, re-engineering and retraining of Customs alongside other border agencies. “It is important that we set the tone, Comptroller, with respect to what is expected internally such that anyone who engages with the public on your behalf understands the professionalism that...

275 The National Transformation Initiative (NTI) has earned a Special Mention at the 37th Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) Media Awards for its Interview with STARR Bajan – Janelle Skinner. The entry was recognised in the SDG Champion – Digital category, marking NTI’s first submission to the regional awards. NTI was also one of two Barbadian first-time entrants to receive a Special Mention this year. Sponsored by the United Nations Sub- Regional Team for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, the SDG Champion Award recognises stories that advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. NTI, which provides Barbadians with free access to learning and development opportunities through its programmes and courses as well as its partnership with Coursera, selected Skinner’s story because it brought SDG 4 – Quality Education – to life through the experience of a Barbadian learner. In the interview, Skinner shared how she turned to courses on disability, diversity,...

130 (The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of this publication.) Workers within the public and private sectors are today experiencing a transition within the workplace. This has come about primarily because of global dynamics which feature globalisation, technological change, the changing nature of work and the introduction of artificial intelligence. These developments have brought various implications for workers. The transition has seen a shift in the workplace from stable, physically based and human-managed jobs to flexible, digital and algorithm-driven work. While these changes are apparent, workers now have concerns about job security. The notion of a job for life is quickly disappearing as employers are moving towards contract employment. With this comes an erosion of job security, where an employee no longer enjoys tenure and the benefits traditionally associated with long-term employment, including gratuities and pensions at retirement....

897 The Barbados Customs and Excise Department collected approximately $5.46 billion in revenue between 2023 and July 2026, while more than $3 billion was lost through concessions, waivers and suspected tax evasion practices, acting Comptroller of Customs Lynette Padmore has said. Padmore made the disclosure on Sunday during the department’s 121st Anniversary Church Service at the Power in the Blood Assembly, Tudor Bridge, St Michael, where she outlined the challenges facing the department and its plans to modernise its operations. She said revenue collection could have been higher if not for revenue foregone through concessions and waivers, as well as “fraudulent tax evasion practices of undervaluation and under-invoicing”. Aside from revenue collection, she said customs officers operating at the island’s air and sea ports and the General Post Office seized just under 1 000 kilograms of vegetable matter, with an estimated street value of approximately $8 million. They also confiscated...

5 (The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of this publication.)We must first congratulate all candidates who achieved this major milestone in their lives, their 2026 CXC preliminary examination results. For those disappointed with their grades, we hope the grades are an accurate reflection of exam performance and that they receive the empathy and support they need from parents/guardians and teachers.Those who excelled have earned and deserve the commendation they receive. They should not be made to feel they must apologise for their achievements; we should encourage all students to strive for their fullest potential.Most importantly, students should be reminded that while academic results matter, they do not define them. These examinations are just one chapter in their book of life.We also thank the hardworking CXC staff, CARICOM Ministries of Education, schools, teachers, private tutors, students and parents.We are...